1874 — Page 208

4. The search of native vessels leaving or approaching this Port has not been relaxed by the Chinese Cruisers, although the complaints, at one time so frequent, have not of late heen heard. This may be accounted for by the traders, seeing they have to give way to the squeezes of the Customs' Cruisers and get but small satisfaction from the Chinese Autliorities when complaining, quietly submitting themselves to what they cannot avoid. Whether this has any material effect on the trade and consequent prosperity of the Colony is a matter of dispute, but certain it is that, taking the year 1867 as a starting point, it being the year in which this Government took cognisance of the Arrivals and departures of Junks, the rise of that trade was steady until it reached its culminating point in May 1872, and, it has since then as steadily gone downwards. A glimpse at the accoin- panying diagram will render this clearer than any wordy description.

5. There has been an increase in the trade between this Port and Siam, probably in a measure due to the introduction of steam-vessels into that trade. The old and nearly worn out sailing vessels at one time employed in the Siamese trade are fast disappearing. There has also been an increase in the number and tonnage of vessels arriving from India and Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, also a slight rise in the tonnage from the Philippine Islands. The principal decrease is of vessels and tonnage from Great Britain, Coast of China and Formosa, Cochin China and Japan.

6. Of the tonnage of the different classes of vessels arriving at this Port, 38 per cent are steamers, 10 per cent are foreign sailing vessels, and 52 per cent are Junks. Of the steam-ships, 73.5 per cent were British, 11.8 per cent French, 5.8 per cent American, 4.6 per cent German; the remainder being made up of Spanish, Chinese and steamers of other nations. Of sailing vessels, exclusive of Junks, 49 per cent of tons, or nearly the half, are British, and 51 per cent are foreign.

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7. In my last Report, I alluded to the probability of the lights to mark Cape d'Aguilar, Green Island, and Cape Collinson being in their places before the close of 1874. The late arrival of the materials from England has delayed this, but, the lanterns for Cape d'Aguilar and Green Island having arrived, there is every likelihood that the light on Cape d'Aguilar will be exhibited on the 16th The light for Cape Collinson has not yet April, and that on Green Island on the 1st May next. arrived.

8. The year 1874 has been a most disastrous one to shipping in all parts of the world. Here, and in the neighbourhood, we have the following casualities to record:

9. A Typhoon of unusual violence visited this place on the morning of the 23rd September last, causing a destruction of ships and loss of life fortunately not of frequent occurrence in this Colony.

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10. The total destruction of and loss of many lives on board the British steamer Mongol in the neighbourhood of the Port on the 12th December.

11. The total loss by fire of the United States' Mail Steamer Japan on the 17th December, and loss of life on board of that ship, a few miles from here. These are most distressing occurrences to record in one year.

12. I reported fully on the Typhoon in October last, but attach that document to this Report as it may perhaps be thought a fitting supplement to the usual Returns published in the Colony's Blue Book.

13. A Marine Court enquired into the circumstances attending the loss of the Mongol, which vessel went down a few minutes after she struck on a well known rock, inarked on the Adiniralty Chart, near the South Nine Pin Island. The Master and Chief Officer being drowned, the Court thought it advisable not to offer any opinion as to the faultiness or otherwise of those answerable for this serious calamity. The evidence appeared in the public press, and a copy was, in the usual way. forwarded to the Board of Trade.

14. An enquiry in the matter of the loss by fire of the Japan, was held at the United States' Consulate, resulting in the full acquittal of the Master, and censuring the Chief Engineer. A few remarks on this loss will be found in the report on Emigration for the year.

EMIGRATION.

15. The gross total number of Emigrants leaving here in 1874 is 3,098 more than were carried in the preceding year. Of males, there were 3,197 more, but there has happily been a decrease of The increase of males has children and female adults; the reasons for which will appear further on. been to the Australian Colonies, Bangkok, and the Straits Settlements. The last named Colony takes a large number of men for the purpose of working the tin mines in that Settlement and its neighbourhood.

16. No reports of accidents to Emigrant Ships leaving this Port have been made for a long period. All the vessels appear to have made fair average passages and with few deaths or much disease. The latter is probably, in some measure, attributable to the great care which is taken in the selection of good Chinese Surgeons for charge of the ships that have no European trained Medical

wen on board.