1875 — Page 212

7. Of the Countries whence the vessels included in this return have arrived, there have been entered 26 vessels having a tonnage of 19,394 tons more from the Australasian Colonies than caine here 1874. The trade between this and the Coast of China and Formosa has largely increased, 188,871 uns having been entered in 1875 more than was the case in the previous year; and, it may reasomaly he expected that the intended opening of the Port of Hoi How in Hainan will lead to a still further increase. The trade with Cochin China has improved to the extent of 98,563 tons. Continent of Europe trade has slightly improved, while that with Great Britain shows an increase of The trade with Siam has increased by 50 vessels and 38,034 tons, the increase being conveyed in vessels other than Siamese.. With regard to the trade between this and India, there is a

35,591 tous.

decrease of 13,647 tons.

With the

8. The trade with the Australasian Colonies has much improved since the steamers of the Eastern and Australian Mail Steam-ship Company have regularly established their line, and these have been largely supplemented by occasional vessels leaving this for Cooktown in the Northern extreme of Queensland. This trade, hitherto conducted by sailing vessels, will soon be wholly in the lands of steani-ship owners, the navigation of the passages to and from Australia ot offering many impediments to their safety.

9. Of the 3,562,774 tons of shipping entered in the books of this Office during the year, 45.2 per cent arrived in Junks, 43.7 per cent in Steamers and 11.1 per cent in European and American built Sailing vessels.

10. Excluding the Junk trade it will be found that 1,951,855 tons of registered shipping arrived in vessels other than Chinese built, 79.84 per cent of which was brought by Steam vessels and the remaining 20.16 per cent by Sailing vessels of all nations. Of this large percentage of Steam over Sailing ships 77.77 per cent is due to British Shipping, 9.60 per cent to French, 3.81 per cent to German, and the remainder to vessels under other flags.

11. Large as the proportion of Steam shipping is over Sailing shipping, it is much greater in fact, as the Steam-ships of the present day carry so much more weight than their registered tonnage gives them credit for; while Sailing vessels do not carry much cargo over and above their registered tonnage. 12. On the 16th April, 1875, the light on Cape d'Aguilar was first lit, it is a first order light and was seen from the deck of H. M. S. Hornet at a distance of twenty-three miles. Through the kind- ness of Commodore PARISII, R.N.,—the Surveyor General and the Officers of this Department were enabled to verify the distances at which Cape d'Aguilar and also Green Island lights could be seen, the latter is a fourth order light and was distinctly seen at a distance of eleven miles. Many Captains have testified to the value of the two lights, and when Cape Collinson light is exhibited, which it will be shortly, the approaches to Hongkong will be distinguishable at all hours and in all weather. Cape Collinson would have been lit long since, but that through some mismanagement a part of the appa ratus was sent to the Cape of Good Hope.

13. It is satisfactory to report that, but one typhoon (south-eastern edge) passed near the Colony in 1875. This was on tlie 31st May last, and from the sheltered position of the Harbour very little damage was done afloat. Macao and the Canton river felt the full force of the storm, and there is one sad shipwreck, that of the Poyang to record with the loss of many lives near Macao.

JUNK TRADE.

14. There is an increase in the numbers of Junks frequenting the Port from places on the Coast, but there is a decrease on the tonnage showing that a smaller kind of craft is being used. The Junk trade with Macao has decreased by 22,889 tons and 103 vessels. Probably a goodly proportion of the cargoes that would otherwise have been conveyed in native vessels has found its way here in the daily steamers. Macao suffered from two typhoons in two successive years losing a large number of Junks which have not been and probably never will be replaced.

15. Applications have been made to run Steam-launches between this place and Namtao a City on the left or East bank of the Canton river about twenty-seven miles from Hongkong, Although the proposal has been prominently brought to the notice of the Chinese Authorities, as yet permission to run a foreign built boat into a non-consular Port has not been granted.

EMIGRATION.

16. There has been an increase of 51 per cent in the emigration of Chinese from Hongkong in 1875 over 1874. The discovery of gold in the North of Queensland has led to a large enigration of Chinese to Cooktown, 8,325 persons having gone to that newly established Port.

17. There has also been an increase during the year of 5,535 Chinese to the Straits Settlements and of 3,180 Chinese to California.

18. Many of the Chinese who left for Cooktown have returned, some of them discontented with the hardships which usually accompany the gold digger; while others have come back having been successful, and, as the voyage is an easy and a quick one, they have come to spend their new year holiday in their native country.

19. It is impossible to say how much gold has been brought from Cooktown, as the Chinese krep the gold in their own possession rather than place it in the hands of the Captain and pay a small freight for its security.

the

20. During a short visit that I paid to Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland, during

I was greatly interested in ascertaining how much or how little Chinese had gained by

last summer,