CANTON NOIES.
(From Our Own Correspondent)
CANTON. 3rd November.
LI KA CHEUK.
The native newspapers have been telling, about the execution of Li Ka Chouk which' took place last week. Sho tly after the present Viceroy came to anton Ka Cheuk was recalled and on his arrival in Can on was put in prison. It appears that some zolders under his control committed some depredations in the south of the province. S'e Cut olic chapels were destroyed For this destruction | Li Ka Cheuk was held respon ible. To some who were better acquainted with the methods pursued by the Viceroy Li Ka Cheuk's positi was considered a very serious one. Yet few believed that he was d be executed. It is true that years ago i was at the head of some robbers and gained_bis'office as magistrate by giving up to the officials some of his former friends. But during his time of prosperity Li had made many friends and these friends stood by him for a while. When they found that their efforts were of no avail they left Li to his fate and denied having been friendly to him. It was in the yamen of this Li that the Gage-street murder was planned.
THE VICEROY.
The Viceroy continues under the care of the foreign doctor. may be that after his month's leave has expired that he will be further excused. It is rumoured that the Viceroy has said that he cannot live in the south and wants to be sent orth. It is certain that the Viceroy has not paired the affection of the people and very little sympathy is ex- pressed for him in his present trouble. This is quite a contrast to the feeling of the people when Viceroy Tao Mu lay sick. Then on every hand expressions of sympathy were heard.
Canton, 4th Noveinber IMPROVEMENTS,
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1903..
lers be requested to leave the. Forbidden City, and that a site outside the sacred walls be selected as the "foreign quarter." What reply has been given to this enlightened proposal i do not know, but it is perhaps in harmony with the information gleaned from various quarters
that there is a covertly hostile spirit in Peking The French Lega'ion is I notice getting into position two disappearing guns. I do not know whether this is the correct name for them. They are be ng mounted on solid con. crete platforms and drop out of sight after
each shot is fired.
Na Tung has gone to Tientsin to buy pre sents for the Empress 'owager There are not supposed to be any, but this astute official knows better dan not to have some ready. A grea' deal of money has been reaching the Court for some time past from Tientsin.
MR, W. MORGAN SHOSTER,
l'efore
Among the passengers arriving from Manily per the Zafry on Tuesday, was Mr W. Mor gan Shuster, Collector of Customs at Manila, who is leaving for the United States, where he will spend a well-earned vacation, departing from the Philippines a farewell dinner was given and was attended by ne y every avilad military official of prominence in Manila. Governor Taft spoke in iri hest pa se of the guest of the evening and, accèrding to an exchange, the praise was not of the artificial kind so often heard at banquets, but came straight from the heart and was applauded to the echo. Commissioner ide lowed the Governor with a humorous address speaking
glowing terais of the Collector. Mr. Shaunster replied in words abounding in appreciation of the high honours heaped upon him.
YONG AM-PHO,
THE IRANS-SIBERIAN
*MAIL ROUTE.""
The Shanghai Times says that two mails were received in that part on the 23rd ultimo for the very first time by the Sibarian route from Europe, and the time of transit being only 23 days it established a record, inasmuch as this is the first time the Siberian Route has been tested for eastward mails. The mails which were received were dated the rat and 2nd October which shows that they can be brought here by about 10 or 12 days earlier than those sent via the Suez Canal. This new route is at present only used by the German and French post offices. The British Past office say they are unable to use the route owing to their low pustal tariff, which renders it impossible to pay the high Russian transit fees. The Imperial Chinese post office, how ever, uses this route, but owing to not sending the letters in sealed bags, objection is raised that letters are liable to be detained in transit by the Russian pastał authorcie..
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN MANILA.
On the night of the 26:1 ultimo a godown belonging to essrs. Marlead & Co, situated at the corner of Calles Principe and Lara, was almost completely des toyed, together with its contents, about 4.500 bales of hemn, the value of which is roughly estimated at 160,000 pesos, The buil ing was, solidly constructed, with uns walls and a galvanised iron roof. Evry possible, ffort was made by the fireinen nd police to save the building and its contents but the roof had fallen in and near y all the hemp had been consumed be are the fire could be got under. Information is to band to the effect that the godown ant merchandise were fully insured, though news has not yet transpired as to the companies that are in- terested in the luss.
FOR ST. LOUIS WORLD'S FA'R,
WARSHIPS AT KOBE
Kobe harbour is now the rendezvous of quite a number of foreign war-ships, there being yesterday no fewer than ten at anchor here, reports the local Chronicle of 27th ult. These vessels included the British 1st-class battle ship Dreux, the 2nd-class twin-screw cruiser Taldor, the gun-boat Britomart, and the twin- srew sloop Algerine; the German crusier Bussard and the gun-boat Jaguar; the Italian cruiser Viltor Pisani; and the U.S.S. battle- ship Kentucky (the flagship of Rear-Admiral Evans), the cruiser Oregon, and the gun-boat nupolis. It was thought yesterday that the Amerian, vessels would remain here for some time, but orders word issued in the afternoon for the Kentucky to proceed to Yokohama, and the Mastor-at-Arms and other of the ship's officers were ashore last evening recalling all the ship's company at once. The vessel was to leave for the northern port this morning, this sudden order being thought to be due to the fact that Rear-Admiral Evans is at presei seriously ill, the trouble being the result of wounds in the knee received some years ago | during active service.
THE PACIFIC CABLE,
INTERVIEW WITH THE MANAGER.
SOME INTERESTING FIGURES.
Sydney Chamber of Commerce, the president, At the last meeting of the council of the Mr. G. S. Littlejohn, reported the result of an interview with Mr. C. H. Reynolds, general manager of the Pacific cable, regarding certain improvements which he had secured for the commercial community.
Mr. Reynolds, said the president, stated that correction messages would be called for free of initial charge in the merchant, who would pay uitunately, only in the event of the cable being proved correct, That was a great concession, as persons using, the cable were at present obliged to dopost the cost of calling for the also-been arranged for commercial firms to correction and the cost of the reply. It had make deposits of fixed sums of money to stand against their cables until exhausted, an advan- tage in comparison with the existing system, wliereby cables must be prepaid in cash. Mess ges would also be issued in duplicate, as was now done by the Eastern Extension- Company..
The stay of the British vessels will vary. The Ocean was to have remained here until Fri lay, but we understand she leaves for Yokohama With regard to the establishment of inde to-morrow night. The crew of the British pendent offices in Sydney, Mr. Reynolds said battleship has been making extensive prepiraihe Pacific Board would not undertake the ex- tians for the illumination of the vessel by pense, as it would involve the contributing electricity in bonour of the Emperor of Japan's Governments (the partners of the cable) in the birthday, but the residents of Yokohama will
heavy expense of rent and management. The now have the benefit of this display. The board should have the advantage of the postal Britomart, according to present arrangements, and telegmph organisation of the Australian caves pori on Friday for Nagasaki, while the Governments. They did ant wish to go to the Yo bọt (Caplain Bayly's ship) will probably expense of erecting a separate wire to South- remain here at least ten days. We also learn port (Queensland). Mr. Reynolds considered that the Albion, the flagship of Rear-Admiral that if the public thought the national all-red. the lion. A. G. Curzon-Howe, C.V.D., C.B., route deserving of a fair share of business, they C.M.G., the second-in-command of the British would support it. Every effort would be made feet on the China stalion, is expected to arrive to deserve success. The cable, in bis opinion, here to-day or to-morrow.
would prove invaluable in time of war. The board intended to gain for their customers all facilities enjoyed by the users of the Eastern
ACCIDENT TO A RUSSIAN STEAMER.
The Dutch torpedo boat Sphinx which arrived at Colombo on the 17th ultimo from Europe, reported having spoken the Russian Volunteer Fleet steamer Kitz in Lat. 80° 12 N. and Long. 724 E. The Kiev had lost one. propeller, and was proceeding west with the her screw steaming about seven knots, "The Kiev arrived at Colombo on the 12th ult. from Singapore, and left the next day for Odessa via Perim.
route.
The cable, Mr. Reynolds pointed out, was only opened for traffic in December last, con- sequently three months' revenue was all that could he set off against 27 years' expenses from the first initiation of the business. The figures were:-Expenditure—2) years to March 31,
1033.......་་་
£120,000 Revenue: Three months of above-
period ending March 31, 1903 ... 18,310 L101,670 That loss would have to be, made good by the parties to the scheme somewhat as
United Kingdom Canada
All the ships of the Pacific Mail Steam Ship Company which have called at Manila of late have brought through Hongkong vast quantities of exposition shipments, enough to build a whole village. Dr. Gustave Niedertein, of the Exposition Heard, who is in charge of the Inular Government's exhibits, sailed from longkong on the re built liner, China, of the P. AL 5. S. Co. on Friday, accoin. panied by his two secretaries. On the way across the Pacific they will catalogne the 7BE E. & A. CO?S 3.5. "EMPIRE" | follows: extensive list of plants, animals, curios, ele, and upon arriving at St. Louis Dr. Niederlein will superintend the housing and instalment of the exhibits. No time, money or brains have been spared in le effort to give the Philippines good representation at the Fair. Every tube, industry, art and profession of the Islands will be faithfully represented, and the American people, both in the Philippines and at home are taking the keenest interest in the great scientific and educational work.
It is now a mater of frequent occurrence for Wavellers, when passing Yong Am-, hin, tu he A wonderful change has taken place on the detained by the Russian sentry. Yong Am-- PHILIPPINE ISLAND EXHIBITS river at Canton. The "Flower Boats" have pho is situated on the left bank of the Yala- all been moved. Visitors to Canton must
River, which is the boundary between Korro have noticed, the large boats just below the
and China. From a military paint of view steamer landing. These boats have anchored Yong Am-pho has little importance. Yarg in this place for years. Year by year the A-pho-is merely an anchoring harbour for Bumber has increased. For some time it has small coasters, and the disinbuting port for been difficult to keep the boats from occupying goods going into the interior. It is, however, the space necessary for the steamers to pass
an important place for trade. The reason the up and down. Many augmpts have been
Russians are 50 anxious to get a lease made to shift the boats but without success.
of the place is mainly in order to try A few days ago the boats were served with
to obtain the monopoly of the trade of notices to move. The new anchorage is just
northern Korea and to bring the country at the head of "Datch Fully." The 'river is
under their pawn sphere of influence This now cleat from the steamer waarfs down fact can be proved by Russia's attitude uppn below the Metical Missionary Societies' the opening of the Manchurian ports in the Hospital. The shifting of these but his neighbourhood. Though there may be some made a decided improvement in the ap-Russian military prepantion in that district, pearance of Canton. The Chinese say that
yet this is either merely to protect the Russian the foreigners want the old anchorage to build Timber Felling Company's claims or to terrify houses upon. Others say that the "band"
the Korean authorities. The building of forts is soon to be built and this space is needed.
or batteries at Yong Am-pho at this date and Lupia the present improvised scale, if true, is a nice faree and of no real value whatsover from a military standpoint. In case of war between Japan and tussia, if such anlikely contingency should arise, Yong Am-pho would be of no dise as a site for forts or as a strategical point, For Russia, Chinhai Ray is beyond comparison aval base between Vladivostock and Port the most important port at which to have a Arthur-China Gazette.
CHANTING WAI BEHEADED,
When Viceroy Shen returned from Kwangs he was met by a number of small guard boats and steam launches. When the crackers of welcome were let off a bullet flew past the head of the Viceroy. Because of this the man at the head of the guard boats was arrested and kept in prishu, Last Monday he was be. headed. There was no evidence to prove that the shot was fired by Chan Tung Wai but he was responsible for the conduct of those under him and had to pay the penalty. He was executed on the common execution ground. There are many protests because of the way the trial was conducted. The small officials say that it is impossible to get an impartial
trial.
LI KA CHEUK.
RUSSIAN RAILIPAY SCHEME IN MONGOLIA,
ABOOT JAPAN'S BIG. RICH CROP
THE YACHT OF THE PACIFIC AND THE CHINA SEAS.
4
The precision which characterised the de- parture of the E. and A. Company's steamer Empire on the stroke of noon on Wednesday, following upon her record-breaking trip of 18 days 12 hours from Hongkong to Sydney, occasioned unusual commendation not only in shipping circles, but called forth unstinted praise from regular passengers, round-the- world tourists, and theatrical identities alike All whom our representative has seen agree that a passage in the Empire through the Eastern Seas is an ideal yachting trip, says a Sydney paper. On her recent smart trip from Hongkong to Sydney, The Rev. J. J. Nesbit, a well-known English clergyman, who, held Divine service on board, at iis conclusion, made a graceful departure from the conven tional by addressing Captain lelms in terms, of warm eulogium of himself and officers and the E. and A. Company generally. Said Mr.
fellow-passengers are now about to enter upon the last segment of our cicle round the world, and I can sincerely say that, after many thou. sands of miles of travel by land and sea, we shall ever reard that section of it from Japan by China to Australia in your beautiful steamer Empire as one of the brightest and- most delightful experiences of our lives."
The native papers are in error in saying the Alongolia? If not Great Britain, surely Japan giving Day this nutmn with much genuiné Nesbit: "My wife and I and many of our
Li Ka Gheak has been beheaded. He is still in prison. A few days ago he was thrust into the inner prison from which few men come forth unless
is 10 go to the execution ground. The Chinese regard Li's case as hopeless. The fact is he has not the money to buy himself free. A number of friends are willing to help, but their purses are not deep enough. The ex-Namoi Poy, who was relieved from office shortly after Viceroy Shen arrived, has contributed over $30,000 towards the Viceroy's expenses and as a result he is likely to be allowed to live. The newly dismissed Nam Hoi, Wong Sung, huts been compelled to contribute $140,000 inwards the Viceroy's amusements. No Viceroy of the Two Kwangs has forced so much money out of the officials under him. This may be beller than squeezing the people, but it really amounts to the same thing. The more the Viceroy squeezes the more he men under him squeeze, it is rather amusing to hear the exi
pressions of pleasure from the people who rejoice that the Viceroy is squeezing the officials.
Canton, 5th November, EXECUTIONS.
THE EX-NAM HOI MAGISTRATE.
is any power likely to protest against Russia's scheme for the railway conquest of w. test against But it is becoming clearer that Great Britain will not take any steps against such n Russian move, even though her interests in the various pro- vinces enumerated in this anicle, 4. z., Shansi, Kansuh and Chibi might be hampered by this projected railway. The notes exchanged between Sir Charles cott and Count Mouravieff on the 28th, April, 1899, recognize the Russian right to establish rail- ways outside the Great Wall The British Government will therefore never utter a word against this projected raway. The other powers have no interest of any kind whatever in the matter and even Japan has nothing special to say as she has no irrect relations with Mungoha, which is too far away in the interior from Manchuria and Nonh China, With Great Britain and Japan acquiescing it is easy for Russia to push on her schemes in Mongolia without any protest or obstruction from outsiders
allowed to complete the conquest of Mongolia, Two courses are suggested before Russia is as she has consua mated the conquest of Man-
churia.
G Either Japan or Great Britain should get the concession for building the railway between Eleven men were beheaded at the public Kalgan and Tientsin execution grounds two days ago. Among trade.
2. The opening of Kalgan to international these was the head gaard at the Nam Hai yamên. This min was accused of taking
As mentioned in this article Kalgan is the bribes and demanding squeezes from those gateway of all trade with Mongolia. The relation who had cases at the yamên. The charge was between Kalgan and Tientsin is just about the easily proved and the man tried to escape. He
same as that of Hankow and Shanghai. Let got out of the yamên under the presence of
us see for a moment what are the lines of trade going to the barber and then tried to leave the mostly carried on in Kalgan. The most in>- city. He was captured, and immediately sent sheep want (which amounts to 40 million portant articles exported from that place ate to the execution ground.
picufs per year), camel's wool, which is all The ex-Nam Hoi magistrate Poy has be exported to Tienisin on the back, of camels on trial for two days at the Pun U's office. The and mules. The number of camels passing through Kalgan down to Tientsin before the charges against him are under one hendatter port is frozen during the winter season, 'extortion." It is well known that this is no less than 10,000 per day. From this it magistrate made a very large fortune white in can be seen that the business of Kalgan has office. Already he has been mulcted of $300,000 by the Viceroy. If he is able to free imports from Tientsin to Kalgan me tea and an intimate bearing upon Tientsin. The chief himself from the clutches of the law, as repre- general merchandise. sented by the present Viceroy, he 'will have little of his fortune left,
The tradal districts served by Kalgan are the whole of Mongolia, the basin of the upper part of the Yellow River, and Kansuh, Mills far woollen lextile factories are yearly in creasing in number in Japan and there is accordingly a great d mand for want, beth of quality may be inferior to that from Australia, the sheep and camel. Even though the
yet the Japanese demand for wool should be quite easily supplied by Mongolia. If such a supply of wool is to go to Japan the construction of a railway between Tientsin and Kalgan and the opening of Kalgan to international trade will be important for Japan.
HOSPITALS threatened.
The Wai Oi, Kwong Tsai, and the Canton Hospitals have been served with a notice to pay a large sum of money within a certain given time or have their piemises destroyed. This is most likely the work of some low fellow who wished to play a joke. ke notice is taken of the letters sent ant there is no probatuluy that the threat will be carried out. Even robbers have enough sense to let benevolent institutions, such as the above, aline. Some low scamp has sent the letters to create some excitement, but he has failed in his purpose.
The Japanese are now harvesting the best rice crop they have had in ten years. They expect to get nearly 48 million koku or not quite 30 million bushels. This is about 10 million koka abive last year's crop At 12 yen per koku this will give the farmers an income of 120,000,000 yen above what they got last year, so they can celebrate their Thanks enthusiasm
An extra bounty of 120 million yen is something to rejoice over, and would be especially so if Japan should be led into a war in the near future, Japan's rice crop is worth more than any other one product of the coun- y, so if she can find some way of increa sing her rice output she can add much, to the wealth of the country. The total amount of cultivated land in this empire is about 12 million acres, or about one-tenth of the area of the state of California. It is said that there are 15,000 acres of good up-land in the province of Hyuga alone that can be turned into excellent rice fields with proper system of irrigation. Local authorities in Bunga, Hyuga and in other parts of Kushiu have been doing some excellent work during the past few years in the way of irrigation and turning dry fields into ex cell:n rice land. They have even cut tunnels through mountains for this purpose, but only about 1,500 acres out of the whale Land thus turned into good rice fields available district has yet been reclaimed.
increases five or six times its original value. It is a paying business and it only requires a few years to pay back the cost of constructing the irrigation works. I was given these facts by one who has been
with the prominently connected
work already done. If the Japanese Government could set aside a few million yen, say the cost of one cruiser, as a permanent irrigation fund, it would prove to be one of the greatest helps to national wealth that they have ever under taken. The last U.S. Congress set aside such a fund for the arid west and it is universally tion undertaken for many years. The Ameri caknowledged to be the wisest piece of legisla
can people, too, are beginning to open their eyes to the possibilities of money making and the good food there is in rice. All those low.
lands in southern Louisiana and Texas are
HONGKONG BOUND SHIP
SHORT OF PROVISIONS.
The Palgrave, a large four-masted ship of 3,978 tuns, anchored in Watson's Bay, Australia, on 8th ult, after a protracted passage.
She is fr m New York bound to Hongkong, and her voyage thus far occupied 140 days. The vessel ws compelled to make for Sydney to replenish supplies, the stack of provisions on board having been almost exhausted owing to the long passage.
showing a combination of heavy weather. She The Palgrave had a trying time, the Ing-book left New York on May zo. in the North Atlantic gales were experienced, and again after passing the Cape of Good Hope. She was roughly bandled in the gales which raged as she made her casting. The squalls at times were of hurricane fury, and the accompanying heavy seas swept over the vessel, without, however, doing any serious harm. The Pal grave made Tasmania towards the end of September, and she had a further spell of
stormy weather off the coast, during which she was driven as far north as Seal Rocks.
THE CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY.
}
POINTS FROM THE REPORT. Through the kindness of the local agents being turned into great rice fields and many millions of dollars have have been invested in (Messrs. Holme, Ringer & Co.) we have been the preparation of the field and irrigation able to glance through the annual report of that canals. They are beginning to employ Japa remarkable corporation, the Canadian Pacific nese labour and japanese rice seed which Railway Company, for the year ending June is considered heater than the rice used there 30th, 1003, and which was put before the share heretofme. The land being level and rich holders at Montreal on the 7th ult. The and with proper canals the supply of water general details of the report have not an interest at this distance sufficient to as unlimited, so they can produce ice, al a comparatively srall cost when they get in justify their quotation, but one is repaid by a good way. The man has predicted that they glance at the wonderful figures of the company's business. Their gross earnings for will be shipping r ce from Texas to China and lapan in the near future, just as the north-west the year were $43.957.373, and their working is now shipping flaur by the shiploads. One expenses $28,120,527 er 63.97 per cent. The can hope that this may speedily be done if it earnings are, therefore, 3603 per cent, or plenty of cheap food. Millions of people in dolars to be spent in the acquirement of other will provide the millions in this country with $15.836,846. The report speaks incidentally of the expenditure of hundreds of thousands of Japan cannot afford to eat rice except as a luxury and smaller railroads, and goes on to ment on on special occasions. I know of a man with a family of seven being supported on a monthly briefly that "the land sales for the year salary of 15 yen, or a little over two yen each.
amounted to 2,639 617cres, for the price of know another one, the headmaster of a country induce shortness of breth, but at least they 59,695,673." These figures are calculated to school who gets a salary of 17 sen and he gives one half of that every month to pay off the prepare one for the statement whick closes debts of bis dead father, and with the other half the report, to the effect that the shareholders he supports himself, and wife and two children, will be asked to authorise the Directors
to expend capital I know a woman who gets a salary of 13 yen
to an amount not exceeding $4,500,000". They and she supports-herself, her mother and sister (From Our Own Correspondent).
and helps keep a brother in school. These are pale into insignificance when we tub, how not low class poor people, they are educated over to the condensed balance sheel, which, and wear good clothes. They live well com is headed by the line "Cost of Railway and TIENTSIN, 22nd October.
$242,769,210.31. pared to many others. It is almost incredible Equipment.... There are more native soldiers in the
One THE Viceroy Hsi Liang, of Sz:chuen, wired lo how little these people can live on when they cannot help that first thoughtless question as cápitul} than 1 recollect to have seen before, the Wai We-pu on the zoth ult, that while it try, and again it is astonishing how they can
to what that odd cent was expended. Lower so much so that the fact led me to inquire. has been, decided to build the railway between
down we find that the cash in hand amounts to There are over 5,000 "police" otherwise. Chengtu and Hankow with Chinese funds, in the swim.-E.x.
make the money fly when they get it and get
more than nineteen million dollars; and a page: soldiers round the Palace precincts. Twenty many fritish surveyors and engineers are al-
or two further on we are met by the statement | thousand are being kept in excellent drill at ready actively engaged in the survey. He
that acquired securities held total about eighty Tungchow, besides those at Paoting, so the wishes the Wai Wu-pu to communicate this
four million dollars! Last, but not least, one North is not so badly off for troops as has fact to Sir Emest Salow, the British Minister,
finds that the Company controls a railway been sometimes stated. Chang Chi-tong recent- so as to stop what the Viceroy calls this ar
mileage of a little more than eleven thousand 17 presented a secret memorial to the throne bitrary conduct on the part of the British
Only a Rockefeller can read such a report as urging that all foreigners including the Minis engineers,
this without emotion.-Nagasaki Press,
A DEATH AT THE RAILWAY. (7)
A Mr. Wilson, who has been employed at the Railway, died this morning, and will be buried this afternoon.
TIENTSIN:
But if the powers most interested sit still as at present and if nothing is done at once, the whole of the trade of Mongolia and Kansul and the neighbouring provinces will pass into
the hands of Russia alone.
The problem of Mongolia is hardly less pressing than that of Manchuria ; but it has not yet attracted international interest. It is time attentions were given to it by the outside world.
China Gazeti.
·
IT is s'ated that the Russian administrator at Newchwang proposes to organise a Municipal council with two British and one American member, their decisions to be subjected to the administrator's approval,
1
Deficiency
Victoria...............** New South Wales Queensland .... New Zealand
£28,055 -
28,055
11,222
11,222
11,322 ............$1.222
The estimates for the next financial year, to March 31, 1974, were :--
EXPENDITURE.
Interest..... Head office. Cable stations
77.545
4,400
26, ca
Repairing ships, salarice, etc... 19,500 Renewals and depreciation..... 35,509 Miscellaneous
Total......
2,155
£165,500
It was anticipated that the receipts for the year would amount to £73,400 The result of the year's operations would, therefore, probably be
Expenditure
£165,500 Revenue......................re cœmm).
73,400 :
£92,100
Deficiency........ The loss would have to be apportioned amongst the Governments concerned in the following proportions ---
United Kingdom. Canada... Victoria...
New South Wales Queensland
New Zealand
£25 409 ********* 25,409 10,172 ***... 10,172 ............
10,172 10,172 The Lotal loss for the two years would, there- fore, not fall far short of £193,790, of which the New South Wales share would be £21,394. The interest charge, £77,500, would remain stationary for 50 years, but at the expiration of that period the money borrowed to construct the cable would have been repaid, and that annual charge would thereupon cease.
Australia, Mr. Reynolds said, paid one-third of the annual charge, but it was to be remem- bered that we were paying off the cost of the cable in instalments, and were laying up money for a new cable, besides writing off depreciation the estimate made by the Parliamentary coin on buildings and ships. The traffic was up to it, and he hoped that with increased pros- perity in Australia the traffic would improve, and justify the estimates made, which calculated on a 10 per cent, increase each year. The drought had so far prevented that forecast being realised.
The objects of the cable were to strengthen the ties of the British Empire, and to relieve this great continent from the disadvantage of having only one company to depend on,
.....
"COCKTAILS” FOR FIVE.
SAN INCREASED GOLD
PRODUCTION:
© ITS EFFECT ON THE MONEY, MARKET...
For the last week of September the amounts Associated Banks, the Bank of England or of gold coin and bullion held by the New York
"available "on" the Continental-Money Markets. beyond any expectation. Despite the large de were simultaneously reported to be satisfactory mand usual at this time of the year for the clear. ance of transactions connected with the barvests and despite the close of the quarter, the Dis- although a new rise had been anticipated almost count rates everywhere could be left unaltered,
as a certainty. This fact deserves 10 be special- ly noticed as a clear and satisfactory indication that the available amount of gold in clculation
or in the vaults of the Bauk suffices for the exchange. The dragging of the cover too
·present requirements of trade and international short for its claimants, as Bismarck used to characterise the situation in the period of an the eighties of last century, seems to have sub- appreciable dearth of gold in the beginning of sided; for otherwise just now, after the crisis in the Stocks and Shates Markels, it might have been reasonably expected that the Na- tional Banking institutions would have been quite determined to prevent a decline in their specic. That there was no keen-com- petition for attracting gold to the vaults of the Banks, may be explained from the fact that, on the whole, sufficient reservas are available in consequence of the extraordinary rapid increase of the production of geld during the last twelve years. When Bismarck coined his epigrammatic saying, the production of gold was at the lowest ebb. The world's production of gold amounted from 1851 tỷ 180, on an average, to 195,300 kg. a year, declining to an annual output of 173,000 kg. in the period from 1871 to 1880 and even to 154,960 kg from 1881 to 1885. Therewith, however, the niinimum was reached. It is true that even the average of the five following years (1886 to 18,0) remained behind the average production in the period from 1871 to 1880. But since 1891, the South-African gold fields turned the tables, yielding results that left all carlier. year beating their own record, until, in 1899, recorded figures, behind them, and year for
the climax was reached. In that year, the world's production of gold was estimated to be. 2 times larger than eight years before. From the natural decline during the war of 1900 and Igor the production of the Witwaterstand field recovered almost entirely, already in 1902.
In the ten years from 1891 to 1900 the world's production of gold amounted to not less than 430 million. £. As the gold in circulation or deposited in the Banks was, in 1891, estimated at only 740 millions; and as of the newly unearthed gold not much more than 120 millions will probably have been absorbed for industrial purposes, we arrive at the con- clusion, that the amount of gold available for monetary and banking purposes was, in these ten years, increased by two-fifths of its total.
-It is now "clear that this rapid increase of available gold made it, in this period, compara tively easy for the countries going over to the gold system to accumulate the necessary reserve fund within a short time, · Austria- Hungary reached the culmination point of her gold purchases already in 1893, Russia was hoarding gold principally from. 1891 to 1898, the Japan could successfully Introduce gold standard in 1897. As now the most urgent requirements for the monetary stability of these countries bave been fulfilled, and as for the future large purchases of gold may be expected only from Mexico and China, it is to be presumed that this state of Faturated complacency as regards gold will be maintain- ed for some time. If, now, the large produc tinn of gold is kept at its present height, it may be anticipated that the purchasing power of gold in the world's market is more likely to diminish than to be increased, and that the calamity of permanent reductions in the prices of manufactured goods on account of an in. sufficient supply of goft will not, as in the seventies and eightles of lest century, occur again in the present decade.--Gr.
JAPAN AND MEXICO.
The Mexican Government, which has re cently enacted strict quarantine regulations against Chinese emigrants, has now notified the application thereof to Japan also, and that ships from Japan and China are allowed to call at Manzanillo alone, Mr. T. Sugimura, Japa- nese Minister Plenipotentiary there, is pro testing, on the basis of the commercial treaty between the two countries. The Japan Times, of the Mexican Government, says that it will editorially dealing with this step on the part be the result of the pressure brought to bear upan it by the men, mostly capitalists and manufacturers, interested in the introduction of Chinese labour and in discriminating against the Japanese. The Mexican Government ex. poses itself to the serious charge of infringing the most favoured nation clause in the Japanese treaty with that country. ・・
COMMERCIAL.
PUNJOMS.
and extremely popular marine superintendentLd, informs us that a telegram was received
The Secretary of the Punjom Mining Co.,
from the roines on Thursday stating that the mill starts again on the 5th instant, 15 stamps: running..
RAUB REPORT.
The general manager's report for the four weeks ending toth Oct, 1903, is as follows:-" The mine measurements, and assay results of prospecting work, prepared by the mine manager, show a total of 148 ft. for the period sinking, 91 ft. driving, and 25 ft. crosscutting (4 weeks) under review, made up of 32 ft.
as against a total of 225 ft. for the previous
A good story is told against a well-known
at Sydney. The gentleman referred to was at one time in command of a steamer trading the rule of the service for the captain to conduct between Australia, China, and Japan. It was Divine service on board every Sunday. On ons particular Sunday the captain had some friends in his cabin, and the number included Jr. (now Sir Malcolm) M'Eacharn. The captain, not noticing that it was near the hour for church, rang his bell, and the "boy" having answered the summons, was ordered to bring up five "cocktails.". While the boy was away the church bell talled, and immediately the captain and his friends left the cabin for the saloon. A few minutes later, to the amuse- four weeks ment of the passengers, the boy arrived in the Mines-Naw, Main Shaft.This has been saloon carrying a tray bearing the five cock-sunk zo ft making a total depth of 181 ft. The tails. He took up his position alongside the
water is on the Increase somewhat, but the
service was not stopped; hut the "boy" disap- parson-captain, the latter being just about the ground remains unchanged. The hauling middle of the firt prayer. It is said that the
engine and boiler, were brought into use shut peared after one glance from his master.
the middle of the month, and since then the sinking has gone on at a fair speed. The skip roads in the two hoisting compariments nra being fixed; and all other timber is being put in as progress" made in sinking, which will avoid any detay when the first level is reached. Bukit Koman-340ft. Level South-To this. has been added az ft., making a total of 170.ft. The lode is 42 in, wide, and assays 13 dwt. per lon, showing a further improvement in width. and gmdezentend
BRITISH 9, FOREIGN SHIPPING.
BRITAIN LOSING PRE-EMINENCE,"
According to a London telegram of the 19th September, the Times says that Great Britain is rapidly losing her pre-eminence as the world's curier.
340 ft. Level North-Hera 17 ft. have been The foreign share of the shipping trade in driven, making a total of 136 ft, north of the foreign paris is, the Timer says, increasing shaft. The lode, 50 in, wide, is worth 31 dwri by 12,000,000 tons annually; while Great Bri-This level, bas now been surveyed, and the end, tain's share as diminished from one-half to is found to be 12f heyond the Not Winze one-third.
from the 240 ft, level." · To make connection Foreign tonnage in British home ports, the with this, the winze is now being proceeded paper continues, is increasing thrice as fast as, with. “p British; but British shipping retains predomi- || 240 ft, T orth, Drive on Hanging Walls sence in the colonial trade, "though some of | Branch - This has been advanced 14 ft making; the colonies treat British shipping as unfairly a total of 38 It. The lode averages 33 in and as foreigners do"
is wer.h & det. These figures indicate a slight falling off,
“Any retaliation against foreign shipping, adds the 7′imes," necessitates the cordial and continuous support of the colonies."
raa ft. Level South, drive off air shaft. This was started during the month, its object;balag