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THE RONGKONG WEEKLY ERESS AND
ner of vicarious charges, such as freight- age for the double journey, insurance and so on, is able to work up the imported cotton, send it back, and undersell the mills in India which
of the article attributes this remarkable result in a measure to Japanese shipping subsidies, longer working hours, and lower wages, but these reasons are not convincing.
India like Japan is a country where labour is cheap and the working hours long. The difference any, in these conditions would not we imagine, exercise a dominating infi tence.] As to the shipping subsidies, that merely reduces to some extent Japanese disability, but does not remove it. It looks as if mill-owners in India need waking up.
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got ones shaved during the whole period, so that his personal appearance at the end, was not very prepossessing. The dull monotony of his days was varied by frequent scoldings, although occasionally he was kindly addressed. He are put to no extra expense at all. The writer finally moved to a broken down, ramshackle bit shop, still in the same villagɔ, where the furni- tars was so little, that Lai was called upon to sleep on the floor. It was from this house that His re-capture was effected. The long confine ment, and the rigorous exclusion from all out side communication bad by this time reduced Lai to s truly pitiable state, and he began to despair of ever seeing his family again. It seems that this particular robber band is notorious, and that they have put to death more than one of those they have held for ransom. This gruesome information
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detalled to Lai în as vivid A manner possible. When discovered, Lai was quite unable to walk; his legs were swollen, and he was in a state of. prostration, physical and mantal, closely approaching collapse. Meantime bis family had moved en masse from the village to Canton, where they were overjoyed to see him again. Like him, they too bad lost all hope, He was released on the 26th of the second month: but a period of close apon five weeks rest and treatment were required before he was sufficiently well to return to bis studies.
Lai's father paid the soldiers about $350 for their work of rescue. He was, it appears, quite well known in Kong mi where he was detained so long: but, as his movements from one house to another had always taken place very late at night-and in native villages no one but robbers and wild beasts are encountered out of doors between sunset and sunrise he had never
been seen, and his presence there was known only to the robbers A petty thief had been caught, by soldiers, and this man had guessed where Lai was confined owing to the movements of the robber chief. He communicated his suspicions to the authorities and was promised his own liberty if what be had said should turn out true. It was this chance information which really led up to Lai's ultimate rescue.
TRADE AND COMMERCE,
COMMERCIAL MOBALITY.
One of the most encouraging developments (says the Parsi”) in our at present depressed cotton industry is the trade which has sprung up with Great Britain, Indian low count-yara being sucosssfully placed on the English mar- kets. Not only is the manufacture from our own staple and export of the finished product to England a thing which obviously ought to be possible, bat the endeavour to maintain and increase the footing which our manufactures have thus obtained should have a good effect on the commercial morality of all ranks of spin ners from the mill-agent to the coolie. When the benighted Chinaman was our only customer it did not seem to matter much what we gave him. The yarn might be of any length, and only approximate thickness, and when it was suggested that legislation should be passed with
the object of ensuring a passable standard of honesty, some even of the most progressive of our millowners protested, saying that owing to the unskilled and irregular workers on whom the Indian co'ton industry depends, greater accuracy (except at a ruinous expense) was impossible. However the Chinese demand has fallen off, and the new English customers protest that they must have yarn which it professes to
be, or they will not buy it all, however cheap. The desired reform is pretty certain to take place, for in face of the alternative, old impossibilities vanish and conscientious work will be found comparatively easy in every department,
JAPAN'S TRADE WITH INDIA, The "Indian Trade Journal" pablishes some
interesting facts in connection with to trade between India and Japan some of which (says
the "Times of India”) merchants and millowners
in this country, will do well to note. Of the total amount of raw potton imported into the Kobe district during 1907 India supplied more than half, a satisfactory condition so far as It goes, but curiously enough a large amount of the raw material returns to the country in the shape of towels, shirts and under drawers. In other words, Japan after paying all man-
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TAIREN AND NEWCHWANG,
last year
The value of imports at Tairen (Dalay) for Y14.570,000, which compares with the values of was 128,920,000 and of exports Y17,530,000 for imports and Y2,130,000 for exports at Newchwang for the same year.
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It will thus be seen that the imports of Tairen show an excess of over Y10,000,000 on the figures of Newehwang, while experts are some T10,000.000 less, but in the aggregate Tairon is 830,000 ahead of Newchwang.-Japa Chronicle
HEAVY IMPORTS BY THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT.
A vernacular
contemporary, the Japan Chronicle observes, points out that while private enterprises are now giving orders abroad only for pressing needs, the Government is importing heavily machinery, shipbuilding materials, rails, and armas, which are arriving in large quantities Every N.Y.K. steamer is filled with such cargo on its homeward bound voyage. The regular steamers of the Nippon Yusen Kaisha have proved inadequate, and the goods are being brought out by steamers chartered in England The activity in the importation of the gooda ordered by the Government may be judged from the fact that every steamer on the European line galls at Kure, Maizuru, Yokosuka, and other naval stations. This pressure of business in Government imports may last two or three months yet. Each steamer carries a cargo con- sisting of 3,000 to 4,000 tons of steel or iron and three to five 6-inch guns. The machinery and plant for the Hokkaido Steel Foundry and the materials for the South Manchurian Rail、 way are also arriving in large quantities. Of the goods ordered by private companies, spin ning machinery and plant are said to form the balk.
THE CAMPHOR INDUSTRY.
future of the camphor industry of the Empire, Anxiety is felt in Japan in regard to the
It is pointed out that the annual vaine of camphor produced in Japan has hitherto been T1,000,000 and that of Formosa Y4,000,000 the world has amounted in value to Y5,000,000 while the total demand for camphor throughout
or Y6,00 1,000. Thus the world's demand has this point, however, in increase in the demand been almost exclusively supplied by Japan. At forced up the price with the result that the production of camphor has largely increased the process of making artificial camphor is Moreover gradually being perfected, and the quality has improved so much that it can hardly be dis tinguished from natural camphor.
Conse quently is production has inoressed to a great extent, the output last year reaching a value of about Y5.000,000. Thus the production of camphor in the world has increased to a value of Y13,000,000 at a bound. Owing to the great industrial activity last year throughout the world, a profit of about Y300,000 was made Formosa). on camphor produced in Japan (exclusive of But the trade has how become greatly depressed, showing a tendency to over production, and it is feared the depression will the markets of the world, while if the pro- continue so long as no change takes place in duction of artificial camphor increases the camphor trade of Japan will be greatly affected.
in South China and elsewhere.
formed the Waiwapa and the varidas Foreign The German Minister in Peking has in: Ministers in the Capital that he has been rested with the power of exercising authority over the Turks in China.
CANTON,
[July 20, 1808.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.)
PREPARING FOR CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMİNTİ
A cablegram was received by the local authoritiens few days ago stating that A Manchu Reader of the Imperial Academy named Man Pan, had most strenuioonly urged that the proposed parliament for China should be established within the next three years. His arguments must have carried weight with the Central Government as on Thursday the newly-established Government Institutiom, called the "Self Government Investigation Bureau," issued a proclamation of which the following is a translation :-
"The number of scholars and gentry recommended by the officials of the Self- Government Investigation Bureau to bè members of that institution from different Prefectures, Districts, &o., (in Kwang Tung) har already reached its limit. It is now absolutely necessary to fix an early date for the inaugura- tion of the Baresa. In order to give suficient time for the learned scholars, gentry, &o, to proceed to Canton we have appointed the 20th day of the 7th moon for the inauguration of the institution, and the first deliberation will take place on that day. There will pori- tively be no postponement. We sincerely trust that you will, one and all, obey this proclamation. You are required to report your arrival and register your names and addresses without fall ten days before the opening of the Bureau, At the appointed time you are requested to attend the inauguration ceremony attired in your official robes and hats! Do not compromise the affair by neglect or procrastination,"
AN APPRAL T♪ TH: THRONI Some time ago the Committee of the Belt- Government Association petitioned Viceroy Chang to memorialise His Majesty to gracionaly remit the field taxes and also to order that special funds be granted for the relief of the districts affected by the flood. The Viceroy replied that he had sirsady sent a memorial to the Grand Council describing the pitiful state of affairs, but that it was not proper for him to make suggestions to the Throne with regard to granting money. As regards the remission of taxes he believed the Throte would grant a remission; in any case an enquiry would have to be made in the affected distriots to ascertain the real
with the people. amount of damage done. His sympathies are
GOVERNOR CHANG ON THE WAR PATH. The first batch of students in the survey department of the Two Kwong Military College
Province recently applied to the Colle for 12 o mpleted their course of studies about th months ago.
military purposes. He said that as soon as the students to survey the Kwangsi Province for plans are ready, printed copies will be dis tributed to all the military offers of that ledge of the territory and thus will be able to province so that they may acquire a full know- manoeuvre with more precision in the event of
Governor Chang of the Kwangali
a rebellion or war. The Governor intends to call the attention of the Government to all the important places where forts and garrisons are necessary, and also to the places on which
'foreigners have their envious eyes,'
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A second batch of students has been invited to join that institution and the President of the
College was authorized by the Viceroy to issue a proclamation of which the following is z literal translation:
"This proclamation is issued to inform the students, gentry, merchants, etc., whose children have au inclination to present themselves for the Two Kwang Military College. From the examination to enter the survey department of 5th day of the 7th moon to the 25th day of the 7th moon the College will be open for the registration of candidates, and those who call after that date will not be received. Candidaton are requested to call personally at the College;
ment of their place of origin, relationship & and must bring their photographs with them; they are required to furnish a writte nstate- for the last three generations, and name the gentry or firm who recommended them.
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