CO129-258 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1893 [1-4] — Page 156

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There is also, I submit, much force in the following observations made by the Colonial Secretary in speaking to supply Committee.

In We have here no statistics of exports and imports and it is therefore impossible actually to prove the volume of our trade by the irrefragable evidence of incontrovertible figures. In default of such we must have recourse to inferential indications. These are not wanting. One of them is the amount of shipping frequenting the port. It must be presumed that ships do not come here for nothing. In 1890 the shipping of the port exceeded that of any previous year; it was, however, surpassed by that of the following year, and the present year bids fair to eclipse the record of 1891. Another indication is the amount of bank-notes in local circulation. So far from this amount falling off, the returns show that it has largely increased. In November, 1882, it amounted to $4,777,055; in November, 1890, to $5,563,539; in November, 1891, to $5,702,198; at this date it is $5,999,712.

Then again, to take an article which has come rather prominently before the public lately, petroleum. My office has been recently besieged with applications for temporary licences, the usual accommodation being quite insufficient for the supply. I am aware that there was an abnormal glut in the island owing to some alteration of the likin in China, but the figures with which I was made acquainted in connection with recent applications for temporary licences show that the trade is simply enormous. In addition to this my hon. friend on my right, the senior unofficial member, has applied for leave to erect extensive premises in Kennedy-town to be permanently licensed for the storage of petroleum. And as if this were not enough, Messrs. Arnold, Karberg & Co. are erecting tanks for storing importations in bulk on a scale sufficient to supply a large portion of Southern China. This is but one item; if we knew as much about others we should perhaps gain a clue to the explanation of the extraordinary increase in the shipping of the port.

To take another item: a conversation which I have recently had with those concerned in connection with the amount of water they require from Government for their business shows that the output of sugar is on a vast scale. As to the coal trade of the port and the immensely important and extraordinarily favourable prospects that await Charbonnages in the immediate future, my hon. friend on my right has himself given me some very interesting information, but as it was given in the course of a conversation...