476
(4)
crease of tonnage, whilst British ocean-going steuners show a decrease of 201 entries aggregating 275,360 tons, the chief causes of which are attributable to the continued failure of the rico crop and the deflection of the Siamese rice trade owing to the plague and famine in India.
Foreign shipping, on the other hand, shows an increase of 263 ships and of tonnage aggregating 280,731 tous, the shipping under the Japanese flag having been more than doubled since 1896, and showing an increase of 153,343 tons. German shipping, on the other hand, shows a decrease of 11,000 tons. Shipping under other foreign flags shows a more or less substantial increase, but there has been an appreciable falling off of vessels classified as "Junks in Foreign Trade” and "Junks in Local Trade" which is attributable, inter alia, to the failure of the rice crop and to the increased river steamer traffic.
TRADE.
The trade of 1897 was on the whole unsatisfactory from a local point of view, and more especially in imports, which were adversely affected by the low rate of exchange and the scarcity of the circulating medium-factors which not only restricted business but greatly curtailed profits.
In cotton piece goods business opened dull, but improved; during the sum- mer a healthier tone prevailed, transactions being above the average of recent years, due possibly to some stimulus derived from the opening of the West River in June, but later in the year an adverse exchange restricted demand, while at the close business came to a standstill owing to the extreme tightness of money. The result was a falling off in the volume of business as compared with 1896, and this was even more marked in the case of fancy and woollen goods.
The trade in English cotton yarns compared favourably with that of the preceding year, and is reported to have been profitable to dealers, but the margin of profit to importers was slender.
Compared with the business transacted in 1896, the trade in Indian yarns must be pronounced as unfavourable. The prevalence of plague in Bombay, the prohibition of import into Tonkin during three months of the year, the violent fluctuation in rupee exchange, and the serious fall in the dollar prices of yarn during the final quarter of 1897 combined to check the import of the Indian pro- duct and promote that of its Japanese rival.
In metals and sundries a fair business was transacted although not very profitably to importers, the fluctuations of exchange and tightness of money serving to handicap operations.
Although the import of foreign opina showed a slight increase over that of 1896, the trade in this commodity proved generally very unprofitable, chiefly on account of the unfavourable exchange between India and China. The native drug owing to the high rates asked for the Indian product gradually but steadily re- placing the latter in the Chinese markets.
The volume of the import of flour in 1897 was somewhat less than in the previous year (3,312,116 sacks as against 3,831,499 sacks in 1896) consequent
on the higher rates prevailing, but the trade was profitable to importers, who for the most part had bought forward at prices much lower than those ruling on delivery.
The trade in kerosine oil continues to show a steady increase, the import both in case and in bulk comparing favourably with that for 1896.
:
S
Q
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A considerable development was apparent in the coal trade in 1897, the import of between 700,000 and 800,000 tons being larger than in any preceding year. Prices rose steadily throughout the year and have continued appreciating during the current year.
Since the opening of the West River to foreign trade on the 3rd June last, regular communication has been established, and it is hoped that this new outlet will, in course of time, prove of considerable advantage to the commercial interests of the Colony.
PUBLIC PEACE AND GOOD ORDER.
The criminal statistics for the year may be regarded as satisfactory, although they do not compare favourably with those for 1896. Owing to the diminished population during that year on account of the plague epidemic, there is the import- ant factor of an increased population since 1895 to be taken into consideration, and a comparison with the latter year is therefore a more reliable indication of im- provement in this direction.
The total number of cases reported to the Police in 1895 was 13,376 and in 1897 9,629. In the former year, however, 10,608 were of a minor nature leaving 2,767 serious cases as against 2,896 serious cases in 1897. Whilst therefore the year 1897 compares more than favourably with 1895 as regard minor offences, it shows an increase of 129 cases of more serious crimes.
It is unnecessary here to make more than a passing reference to the grave irregularities which were discovered in the Police Force during the year or to make inrther remark than that apparently long standing abuse of authority has been revealed and that the most stringent measures have been taken to suppress further irregularities of this nature,
CONCLUSION.
There is but little to add the particulars given above regarding the year 1897, which was of an exceptionally uneventful nature. In his previous despatches Sir W. ROBINSON has solly reviewed the general progress of the Colony during his tenure of office-fancially, commercially, and socially-that I have been content to limit this desperth within the somewhat narrow limits of statistics. I remark, howevthat during my term of office here as General Officer Commanding my observasi has convinced ine of the Colony's present prosperity and future possibilities.
I have the fronont to be
may
Your most obedient,
hunrble Servant,.
Mark
Major General,
Administering the Government.
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