We R
June 12, 1909.]
SHIPPING NOTES.
The Ostasiatisk Kompagni, of Copenhagen is having a steamer built in Holland for the Siamese coasting trade.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
The author of "The Ocean Carrier" (Mr. J. Russell Smith, Ph. D,) is much impressed as to opening of the Panama Conal. It will, he the disturbing results which will follow the maintains, give such an added opportunity for ressels to switch from route to route. Here is an indication of probable switching The salaries of some of the new Port ofIt is now the custom for liners going out London Authority officials are fixed thus:-dock and warehouse manager £1,50); chief engineer £2,000; comptroller £1,000 per annum.
The steamer Theseus was to leave Shanghai on Tuesday afternoon, the 8th inst., for Foochow, where she will load the first of the new season's tea for the London market. It is intended to try and make a record passage home.
from Europe to China to end the voyage at Yokohama. But once in Yokohama, the most economical route for the return is by way of America, provided Panama were passable. The steamers could discharge and receive cargo at Hongkong and continue from Yokohama to San Francisco. Shanghai, and
The freight conditions in this part of the world would favour this practice, because the trade, from China and Japan toward Europe is much lighter than that going the other way. The steamers at Yokohama are, there. fore, in straits for freight, and it would be natural for them to seek the abundant freights of California, and thus adopt the practice that is being, and has been long, The New York Journal of Commerce an- followed by many sailing ships that have nounces that the American-Hawaiian Steamship discharged cargoes in the ports of East Asia. Company have inaugurated a new steamship This prediction is further strengthened by the service between New York and Japan, China recent establishment of a line of steamers and the Philippines via the Tehuantepec running from England to China and Japan, railway. The journey is to be performed in 42 days.
The Douglas steamer Haiching, (Capt W. C. Passmore) which arrived on Tuesday, reported passing at 6.15 p.m. on the 8th inst, a Japanese steamer at anchor off Haimun Bay 15 S. W. of Breaker Point light, apparently broken down.
We have received from the publishers (Effingham Wilson, 24 Threadneadle Street, London E. C.) a copy of the third edition of a little volume on "Charter-Parties and Bills of Lading," by Mr. Lawrence Duckworth, barrister-at-law. This little work is probably already known to many readers. It contains all the well-known principles of English law on the subjects dealt with, and in this revised edition all the more important decisions since the last issue published in 1904 are included.
*
In an interesting report on the shipping and navigation of the port of Antwerp for last year Consul-General Sir Cecil Hertslet states that for the first time since 1900 the navigation returns of all shipping entering Antwerp
and then for the sake of a return cargo going on to Portland and Seattle, securing nearly a ull cargo of wheat, returning thence to Asia, where such other cargo as may be secured is added, and the whole carried westward through the Suez Canal to Europe. If the Suez Canal tolls should be as low as those at Panama (which is very unlikly) the use of the American route by regular lines from Japan to Europe would be probable, because the temptation of Pacific boat freight would continue strong and would certainly, as at present, draw many tramp vessels across the North Pacific. "
JAPANESE INDUSTRIAL
ENTERPRISES.
THE QUESTION OF DIVIDENDS.
showed a falling off in 1908. While British The Jiji Shimpo has an article on the subject shipping fell from 5,653,239 tons in 1907 to of the dividends likely to be paid by the 5,323,090 tons in 1908, German tonnage in-principal companies for the current half year, creased from 2,895,043 tons to 3,134,792 tons. Since 1900 German tonnage visiting Antwerp has increased by 100 per cent.
*
The German Government is considering a fully-worked-out scheme for building a ship canal from Kiel to join the Elbe-Trave canal. This means placing the entire basins of the Elbe and the Oder in connection with Kiel. The canal will be nearly sixty miles long, and will cost nearly two millions sterling. The strategic importance of this great work is manifest. When built it will also be easier to supply Kiel with the coals and iron necessary for naval purposes,
re-
has
per cent.
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503
former group consist of the Asano, the Hokkaido, the Suzuki, the Aichi, the Milaws, the Osaka, Nippon, the Saga, and the Toss; the latter the Kizuguwa, the Chuỏ, the Onoda, the group, of the Iwaki, Toa and the Sakura. These 15 have virtually arranged to form a price of cement is low, but the demand has trust so as to avert competition. The market
be good hopes for the industry.-Japan Mail. become comparatively brisk and there seem to
FAR EASTERN TELEGRAMS.
SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST AMERICAN PETTY OFFICERS.
Tokyo, June 8th. A Court-Martial has been opened on the flagship of the U. S. Philippine Squadron, now at Hakodate, to investigate a charge brought against two petty officers of selling gun mounta to Japanese.
has consequently been delayed.
The departure of the squadron from Hakodate
JAPAN AND GREAT BRITAIN.
Tokyo, June 8th. The Japanese Press comments favourably upon the change in British opinion, led by The towards questions affeicting China, and welcomes Times regarding Japan's attitude
China's readiness to re-open negociations.
A CHAPLAIN'S RESIGNATION.
Tokyo, June 8th.
Dr. J. Ingram Bryan, the minister of All Saints Church, Kobe, has resigned, the notice taking effect in July.
11
[The interest attaching to this announcement resides in the fact that Dr. Bryan has been under a cloud for some months past. Letters signed * B appeared in the Japan Mail some months ago gravely aspersing the character of the foreign community of Kobe. Dr. bryan was taxed with being the author of these letters, and he published through his Church Committee an equivocal denial which the Japan Chronicle discussed in a manner which placed the rev. gentleman in & still more unfavourable light before the public. Members of the Church declined to pay their usual con. tributions to the Church funds until Dr. Bryan had unequivocally denied the authorship of the offending letters, but he does not seem to have done so to the satisfaction of the Kobe community, as references to the matter continue to appear at short intervals in the newspapers.]
[FROM THE
CHEUNG NGOI SẢN PO”]
RAILWAY LOANS.
Peking, June 7th. The Szechuen-Hankow and the Canton- Hankow railway loans, amounting to £5,500, 0 ', will be subscribed by the Hongkong and Shang- hai Banking Corporation, the Deutsch-Asiatische Bank, and the Banque de l'Indo-Chine. The amount will be divided between the two railways. The loans will be issued at £95, five per cent. interest, redeemable in ten years.
The Tokyo Stock Exchange, we read, has actually derived from its daily transactions sufficient money to pay a dividend of 13.2 per cent., but as in addition to this it has realizen nearly a million yen owing to the appreciatiod of State securities, it is expected to pay a dividend of 15 per cent. This Company's shares are now quoted at nearly 156, so that they are on less than a 5 per cent. basis. The Tokyo Gas Company also has dona markably well. Since the commencement of the year the demand for its staple increased by 20 per cent., and it will certainly be able to pay a dividend of 13 per cent. while at the same time placing ample funds to its reserves. The Tokyo Electric Light Company The s.s. Patella, built by Messrs Swan, again is stated to be booking about 7000 ad- Hunter, and Wigham Richardson, Wallsend, ditional orders for lights every month, and it for the Anglo- axon Petroleum Company,
will be able to pay a dividend of 12 Limited, London, underwent her official liquid. As for the Tokyo Railway it remains con- fuel trial recently. This vessel, which is similar spicuously impoverished so far as dividend is to the s.s. Conch recently completed by the same concerned. Its receipts during the half year builders for this Company, is also fitted with all have exceeded the figure for the preceding the latest improvements in tank steamers. half year by about 150,000 yeu, NO that Her dimensions are 418ft. by 51ft. 3in. possibly it may be able to scrape together by 31ft., and she will carry about 7,700 tons enough to pay a dividend of 5 per cent.. deadweight of oil and bunkers on a moderate but such a figure compares almost ludicrously draft of water.
with the profits of the Electris Light and the Gas Companies which also have the use of the The P. and O. Company announce their 'pro- public streets. The Dai Nippon Beer Company gramme of autumn departures from London, has begun to find a larger sale for its staple, Marseilles and Brindisi to India, Australia, and expects to pay a dividend of 12 per cent, China, &c. The Bombay services will be chiefly, As for the Tanko 8. S. Company, there appears and the Australian services entirely, supplied by to be some uncertainty. The demoralized state the new steamship of the "M" class. There of the coal market has greatly affected the will be two supplementary departures to Bombay Company's income, and whether it will be able on October 6 and November 3 respectively, of to pay a larger dividend than 6 per cent. is said 7,000-ton steamers carrying one class of to be doubtful. The Kei Hin Railway also is
A native was arrested on Tuesday on a charge passenger only at intermediate fares equivalent in a very unfavourable condition. Owing to its
of breaking into to the second-saloon rates of the mail steamers. losses connected with the Fujimoto affair it will
a general merchant's store at 298, Des Voeux Road Wost, a week ago, and The Mantua, the latest addition to the P. and probably not pay a dividend of more than 2 or stealing pewter to the value of $260. The goods 0. fleet, will make her maiden departure on 3 per cent. June 5 to Australian ports. The Malwa is to
were found concealed in an underground nullah Speaking of the cement-manufacturing in- sail on the 2 th inst. from London on a three dustry, the Hochi Shimbun says that there are
near the waterfront, apparently ready for ship- ment. The defendant was charged at the weeks' cruise to the Azores, to be followed by 15 companies in all, 12 of them dating from ante Magistracy yesterday, and the case was re- further cruises.
bellum" days and 3 from post bellum. The 'manded for a week.
The materials for the construction of the bridges and the rails are to be supplied partly by Chinese and partly by foreigners
An English engineer will be engaged for the Canton-Hankow railway and a German engineer will be engaged for the other railway, both to be appointed by the presidents of the railways and under their control.
signed shortly.
It is expected that the agreement will be
H