1909-09-04 — Page 3

COMPANY MEETING.

COTTAM AND CO., LTD,

A general meeting of the shareholders of Cottom and Co., Ltd. (In Hquidation), was held yesterday afternoon in the King Edward Hotel. Mr. Benreville, the liquidator, prosided, and the only others prosent ware Blessrs. J. Walker, F. 8. Royner and T. Potrio.

The liquidator presented a final statement showing the liabilities of the company to be 874,334.43 and the total assets $3,552.09, leaving i deficit of 870,782.34.

ז'

..

After an explanation of the accounts, Mr Petrie addressed the mosting. He expressed regret that none of the ex-directors of the coma- pany were present at the last mooting of the company, bat nevertheless he could not allow the opportunity to pass without making some remarks. Continuing, he said-It is obvious from what the liquidator has said that our money is lost; every cent of it, and that eron our creditors stand little chance of recovering their due. It is a deplorable business, gentle men, for which promoters and directors of the company might well bury their hands. In four years this Company, for various raons that have been explained and some that have aver been explained, has gone through its entire ospital of 860,000. Previous to that, gentlemen,

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4TH, 1909. An idea of the clone commercial relations I only 409 ota, say, 286 chest, the valas THE TRADE OF CANTON FOR

existing between Hongkong and Canton may be rose, in spite of the drop in exchange, by 1908.

gathered frora the fact that, of the total trade of a short ordinary dise in ruger the that is to say, by 2,059,996 Haikwad Canton with Forslys countries in 1906, amount taell Mr. Acting Coral-General Fox, in his ing to 73,976,427 taals (9,863,5242), Hongto the enhanced sale prices of the drag in India keng's share was 70,333,835 taels (9,377,4457.), or almost 95 par vent. annual report says -

Exporte. The majority of the 27 British arms, including eight British Indian anter prises, ootablished in Canton are interested ex- alusively in exports as buyers and shippers. Of these experts the most important are, in their order of value, silk, mats and matting, esssin, sad-although this once famous commodity is fast disappearing from British merchants

Canton is the natural distributing contre for the two provinces of Kwangtung and Kwangsi, the former with an area of 100,000 square miles and a population of 31,865,000, being one of the largest and most densely po- pulated provinces in China, the latter, with an Area of 77,000 square miles and a population of only 5,100,000, the most thinly populated and least developed of all the eighteen provincos.

ledgers-tos

Two large motor passenger boats, of English make, are now running on the West River mcently bean parchased by the Canton-Hankow above Wushow, two American machines have Railway, and the Chinese Admiral's new yacht, the maximum and minimum prices obtained for built in Hongkong, is twin-screw metor Bergal, Benaree and Malwa opium in 1906 launch, developing 100 horse-power with two moters. Smaller launches of various patterns being much higher than those obtained in 1907. For Hongkong dealers the year's workings in are coming into use for harbour work and opium are, described as unsatisfactory, the towing purposes in the Delta, attempt of the Chinese authorition to regate and restrict the sale of raw opium in this province having seriously disturbed the normst curse of the grade. In Canton the business is in the hands of native dealers, who report a fairly good

Fear.

加

I am indebted to several gentlemen for thePablo opium smoking, in divans and restan. It is remarkable that there is hardly one town or district of any importance from a com- following notes on the trade in the above-men-rante, has practically ceased owing to the strict

inforcement of the

regulations by the police, mercial point of view within an area considerably Honed articles. larger than that of the British Isle that

The total production of raw silk, which term but there would appear to be little diminution cannot be reached by water from Canton.covare all qualities of silks span from cocoons in the amount of opian smoked privately, and Goods are habitually transported on these reared in China, was 37,000 bales, yielded by the authorities have so far failed to induce

smokers to take ont licencEA. waterways to points in the Provinces of Yunnan, oight crops. Merchants and spinners had a Knoiohon, Kwangsi, Human and Kiangsi.

fairly good year, but producars suffered as crops were uniformly poor or only of median quality and quantity.

The number of foreign residents, which until ten years ago remained stationary at between 300 and 350, had increased in 1905 to 1,200 and is now (April, 1909) close on 1,350.

The total foreign population of Cantan is probably over 1,500

But few lots on either concession now remain unbuilt on, and the value of land and house property strih otoestan, asteuring 12, 10 on the British concession, 12,645 square foot, which changed hands, in 1885, for some 4,000 dol, was recently sold by publio notion for 37,800 dol. (3.1501.). This works ont at 21,745 dol. nor Chinose mon 1 wars foot.

As these licences take the form of a printed document on a board some 12 inches square, which must be produced by the helder when purchasing opium, this reluctance on the part of smokers is not to be wondered at.

The quantity of native opium shown in the part of the total customs returns forms only import through other channels, authorised and estimated at some 5,000 piculs illicit, which

A feature of the year's trade was the consider able increase July to use in the export to America. From approximately 9,000 balos were shipped to New York, as against 4,000 during the same period in 1907. The demand is due to the introduction of a new grado of piece-goods, for which Canton raw silk has been per annum.

most adaptable.

of

A loud dealer informs me that & markel My informant saya that serious complaints falling-off was noticeable last year in the quar have been made with regard to the poor quality tity of native opium coming down from of Canton flatures and raw silk ganerally durYunnan, Kwoichow, and Szechuan, and be ing the past year, Spinners in the interior, who attributes this partly to the fact that the partial considerably from the general deprés- stoppage cultivation in North China has that quarter, and partly to the fast that the price of native opium has risen owing to the Tung Chuan tax of 115 toels per pion) now imposed.

TRADE-MARKS AND PATENTS. The increased sale for articles of farelka manafectare has encouraged the imitation of foreign trade-marks and patents. It is satis factory to be able to record that the Chinese authorities in Canton are showing a disposition to protect British trade-marks, the most recent ease being the fining of a native shop-keeper for importing a spurious imitation of a well-known brand of sendensed milk.

The authorities. do not, however, extend this protection to patent articles, holding apparently that there is a distinction between the imitation of a trade-mark, with obvious intent to defraud, and the imitation of an article where the copy may be to all intents and purposes as good as the original.

NOTES ON LOCAL INDUSTRIES. Among the more recently established fao. tories and undertakings making use of labour- saving machinery, the following may be com mended to the notice of British manufac- turers ——

it was a private business oaming 25 per cont, equala 6.6 mou) or 2.98 dal., say, 5s. per square suffer the end of 1907, 30ught to recoup created an increased dermand for the drug an estimated output per diem, 500 barrels of

profit on's capital of 140,000. At least so we were told by the prospectus. Well, gentlemen, that prospectus was either a concoction to wheedle money out of our pockets, or something has been radically wrong with the working of the company. We have all heard of alleged defalcations of a former manager, of his neglect of the business, etc., but these alone, if true, Bre for the company being in the position it is in to-day. A few loyal shareholders have endeav oured to get at the real truth. It has been like knocking on a wall of granite. The real facts

not sufficient

reason

concerning the promotion of this company, where the ospital was banked and whether it was all subscribed or not are still a sealed book in so far as the shareholders are covered. The minute book of the company, a book which ought to have been kept with the greatest care and accuracy, is sufficient proof itself of the grealy indifferent manner in which the affairs of the

son at.

It is dangerous to prophesy in the East, but themselves by dismissing their skilled hands everything seems to point to Shameen becoming and working with unskilled labour at lower more and more the business contre of Canton.vages. The consequence has been a general

The price of an ounce of boiled native opium, The settlement is most conveniently situated at deterioration of their production. One large the front doar, as it were, of the business European time, which has installed a special quarter of the city; it is easily accessible to plant fer dealing with the Canton product, at a best quality, is now about 6 mace 4 candareans Chinese merchants and dealers, who have cost of 750,000 fr., threatens to destroy it and (la. 8d.), as compared with 8 mace 8 candareena natural aversion to crossing the water, and its give up Canton silk altogether unless a consid-(2s. 4d.) for the Indian article. extra-territorial status and immunity from srable improvement in the quality of raw silk Chinese official control are strong inducements is shown. to the merchant class to conduct their basinass transactions on the concessions.

Shameen has moreover, the great advantage of a water frontage measuring some 200 or 300 yards, facing that section of the harbour reserv. ed for the anchorage of ocean steamers, and the river steamer wharves commenco on the other side of the narrow defence creek at the east end of the French concession.

The new Chinese band, or embankment, now in course of constraction, will in time connect Shamsen, by a bread road suited to vehicular traffic, with the terminal stations of the Canton Hankow and Canton Kowloon Railways at

Sha and Tai Sha Tau,

Wong

On the other hand, I am informed that the Canton product is at best a low grade silk, the semi-tropical climate, with its variableness and uncertainty, making the rearing of high grade cocoons almost an impossibility. European sphing machinery would undoubtedly give hotter resulte, hat its cost is prohibitive.

origin of 1907.

MATS AND MATTING.

Opium smoking in Canton is gradually be coming a luxury, indulged in by well-to-do people only, who prefer to pay a little more to get the foreign

of the above list enables one to A Per form an idea of the immense business done in foreign goods in Canton, and the varied require meats of

the Canton market.

company have been looked after. Gentleman, can come up with the tide and anchor in deep (Cantonese product is, I am informed, distinctly/pared to sapply the desired information.

Ocean steamers drawing as much as 17 feat water of Shameen; river steamers, drawing not at any state of the tide.

A list of the principal articles of foreign origin imported into Canton with their values for 1907 and 1908 is given. The Coneal addı -- I do nos propose to make any detailed com- ments on this List, but I would suggest that any s report who is interested in any reader of this particular import should communicate with this effort will be Consulate General, stating as exactly as possible the particulare required, and no

Inquiries addressed to Consulates in China on trade matters are often of so general and vague a description that it is exceedingly difficult to Kingdom

would only take the Consul a a little mere into their confidence with regard to the scope of their business, the nature and cost of the articles they deal in, and the torms they are prepared to offer, he on his part would do his best to tell them what demand existed for the articles in question, and what chances there were of business being done.

The Canton Government Cement Werke. Built at u cost of 300,000 del. Machinery, consisting of a main steam engine with three boilers (500 home-power), elevatore, grinding machines, drying plant, crushing machinery, supplied at an additional cost of 320,000

Those works are 400 lbs, not each.

now in operation, under German supervision, the management being Chinese.

With special facilities for obtaining cheap limestone and cheap labour, and a growing demand for comment on railways and other works, they should, if capably managed, prove a poying concern,

Canton Waterworks — These waterworks, built at a oest of 1,500,000 dol, under

of the supervision

A British engineer, wore opened in Augast, 1908. The machinery,

ing 6,000,000 gallons of water every 24 hours. all of British manufacture, is capable of supply The water, taken from the river a few miles are Conton, appears to be of good quality, and already some 40 miles of piping have hoon laid down in the city and suburbs, from which water is supplied to over 10,000 subscribers.

The waterworks are under Chinese manage-

Canton Electric ment, no foreigners being employed.

Works. Those Light by the Chinese Light and works, erected Power Company of Hongkong, are situated at the Ng Sin Moon (South Gate). The plant is up to date in every detail, and with the exception of an engine in of British manufacture. rade petroleum, the total brake horse-power being 600, five steam engines of a total brake herse-power of 730, four Babcock-Wilcox water- tube boilers, burning Japanese coal, anti one Green's economiser, Induced draught is used, Contrado and Worthington condensers. The staff consists of two engineers, one mains superintendant and 121 Chinese.

corner manner in which the meetings of this more than 9 fost moor alongside the wharves hand, the Japanose article is more artistic, dake adequate replies. If firms in the United It consists of three Diesel oil engines burning:

The city, with its 1,250,000 inhabitants, at a moderate estimate, is one of the largest and probably the wealthiest of the great cities of

China.

The falling-off in the quantity of matting exported from Canton in 1908 is attributed to the weak demand from America-the principal market for Canton matting owing to a commercial depression following on the financial tho A compared with Japanese matting, the more durable of the two, but, on the other if it does not last so long, sunbles purchasers to make a change of pattern from time to time.

It is said that a falling-off in the quality of straw used in the manufacture of Canton matting has been noticeable during the past few years. Dalege say that owing to the comparatively low price realised by the farmers for their straw, the latter are unable to expend the same amount on fertilisers as they used to, and therefore cannot produce the same quantity of long fibre straws.

JAPANESE BOYCOTT,

It will be noticed that the Japanese boycott, now to all intents and purposes dend, in respon sible for serious falling-off in the import of Japanese products, such as marine delicacies, matches and piece.goods.

SKIN SCALP

HAIR HANDS

Cleansed Purified and Beautified by

CUTICURA SOAP

The constant use of Cuticura. Soap, assisted when necessary by Cuticura Ointment, not only pre serves, purifies and beautifies the skin, scalp, hair and hands, but prevents clogging of the pares, the common cause of pimples, blackheads, inflammation, irrita- tion, redness and roughness, and other unwholesome conditions. All who delight in a clearskin, soft, white hands, a clean, wholesome scalp and live, glossy hair, will find that Cuticura Soap and Ointment realize every expectation.

-1

Bola tantarhout she world. Depole: Londen, zỸ, Chatterbaum 89. Faris, C. Ruedas Palz: Austra Ứng Ha Town & Co....Bydney: India, B. B. Faol. Ohleusta; Chine, Hong Kong Drug Co.; Japan Kanye, Lod., Tokio; to. Atrien, Lennon, Ltd., Cape

& Chem. Dorpu Bro, 155 Caliumbus Ave.

Post-tren from London depot, Mberat sample of DESIVES, WILEi az-page book on kao akin,

54--23

"NIMROD'S" ADVENTURES.

CHARTED ISLANDS THAT DO NOT EXIST, On the homeward voyage of the Nimrod, the

rassel of the Shackleton expedition, farther geographical work of the highest interest has been carried out, adding considerably to the scientific value of the work of the British

Antarotic expedition.

The work includes tho establishment of the fact that no fewer than four islands or groups of islands shown on all Admiralty charts do not exist. The Nimrod had to search for these islands in very rough seas, and when there were sixteen hours daily of absolute darkness,

On Macquarie Island was found a solitary

The Nimrod, under the

not a little of this disaster is due to the holo and company have been conducted. The publicity of

The city of Canton-te which a distinguished the Pross, regardless of the information it traveller not long age applied the name of would have conveyed to our competitors, would," Nightmare City" such was the impression in the end, I am mre, have been beneficial. that its labyrinth of dark and narrow streets, This disgraceful and discreditable business will the weird and often repulsive display of animal and vegetable food-stals, and its harrying ben warning to those of us who have lost our chattering stream of yellow humanity mada money to beware for the future of amateur upon him-is now wall within the beaten track company promotion. There is still one hope of tourists, and therefore needs no detailed

description in this place. left, and that is that the whole thing will be sifted out to the bottom by the Government, and with this object in wisw I would ask any ahareholder, who would care to do so, to jain me in a petition to His Excellency the vestigation. The case is too extraordinary part in all the Chinese communities of Americs, doarsar straw, the residue of that used for Canton returns of the Imperial Maritime Cusannrise. Consumers connected to Mains inhabitant with two da ciemand of Captain Governor oraying him to order a public in- and the fasts that oquld be put before His Australia and in the van of the movement

placed themselves Excellency far too grave to pass unnoticed. towards reform and constitutional government. Gentlemen, we cannot afford to throw good In Canton may be seen more markedly than in money after bad, but such a petition could be any other Chinese city at the present day the drawn up at trifling cost and His Excellency, visible effects of China's awakening in the shape of patristic societies, whose leaders discuss the questions of the day, more particularly those relating to foreign affairs, at publicly a young and irresponsible Press, which is rapidly acquiring, many of the worst features of "yellow journalism"; and that unreasoning dislike and suspicion of foreign nations, which find expression in the boycott.

feel sure, would do the rest.

I

There were no further reniarks and the meeting terminated.

wild

Kor

and

"Tob,

Bomber

AL

over

Its people, famous for their enterprise and business capasity, have spread all over the Empire, and are to be found playing a leading Peninsula. They have

THE PORT OF CANTON.

The coursesong of straw used in the manufao- ture of ordinary grades of matting in 1908 is also to some extent attributable to the low which prevailed. This favoured a oxolange large export to America of narrow Ningpo, the finest quality of Chinese matting, with the result that other grades had to be made of narrow Ningpo,

The present tariff in force in the United States is such that matting costing more than 10 cents gold per yard (erpart price from Canten after duty and other charges have been deducted para a duty which is so high as to put the higher grades of Canton matting, except when a low rate of silver prevails, out of the field.

for the ordinary grades of Canton matting i

This falling-off in the quality of straw used having the effect of diverting a certain amount of business to Cochin-China, where what is known as Cochin matting is made. One of the largest Chinese dealers in Canton has quite recently acquired an interset in the manufacture of "Cochins,

Cookin, mating is in many ways inferior to the Canton article, but it appears to be a growing industry which may bolors long serionsly affect the Canton trade.

That trade is, moreover, already suffering from ndocrased output of straw, the enhanced price of Hos making it more profitable for farmers to cultivate paddy instead of matting straw. Considerable areas, in what are known as the matting districts, have, I understand, been given over to rice.

CASSIA LIGNEA.

The average prices in 1908 were higher than in the previous year, attributable to a short ago of supply and a brisk demand. Prices at the end of the year were on a level that has not been reached for a considerable period.

The quality showed an improvement, especially spite of the action taken by the Cards Guild in regard to colours, but Chinese producers, in and the Chamber of Commerce in 1907, still pursue their suicidal policy of giving short weight.

ON THE WORLD'S ROOF-TREE, The difficulties of an overland journey from

As regards the last named institution, matters St. Petersburg to India are graphically describ od by Mr. H. Whitaker in the August have now come to sack a pass that any attempt Dumber of Travel and Exploration. Having on the part of a foreign firm in Canton to prese home a claim, however jart, against a native to rejoin his regiment (the Rife Brigade) in on India and wishing to try his luck among the merchant, is met by the throat of a boycott. In a recent flagrant cass of the imitation of a trade I sheep and iber of the Thian Shan Mount-

his be travelled by train to Taah-mark on certain underclothing of British Chinese magistrate excused Met the rapital of Bassist Turkestan, by manfuture, the nonviction and impose as "taranta, with relays of ponies from there to exemplary fine on the wore that if he did so the Kalja and thence on to Yarkand with a guide, firm importing the goods would lose all their thres caravan men, eight ponies, and an business in Canton. escort consisting of two Chinese soldiers. this stage the difficult part of the journey

The expert of masts for packing parppamielis If the description applied to Canton in an old began.

"Between Saion Beger of ponies Commercial Directory of the year 1842, "one steadily increasing, A small Continental business, says Mr. Whitaker, *** groat. auceursb from exhaustion, hunger, cold and the of the greatest emporiums in the East, ranking boa lately sprang op, and there is some inquiry effects of the rarified sir. Some idee of the sea port of trade either before or immediately from the United Kingdom. sotaal number that perish may be obtained from after felt to no longer hold good. Canton, the fact that for over one hundred miles the the oldest Treaty port in China, road is clearly marked by their skeletons, which amongst the four largest ports in China.

Taking the whole raine of the steamer borne are scattered along it at intervals of from thirty to fifty yards. My caravan lost five trade, Canton in 1907 took third place, after oat of eleven ponies. As a Pathan with Hankow and Shanghai, and, as regards direct whom I travelled remarked, This is indeed trade with foreign countries, Canton was second starvation road. Between Kalja and Srins only to Spansion in the trade of the port, which

Shanghai, I crossed twenty-three passÓN 10,000 feet, five of them being over 17,400 has been especially noticeable during the past feet. As there are no bridge in these moun six years, ahould receive a strong impetus with tains, during the summer caravane are often the advent of the two main lines to Hankow delayed for days at a time by a swollen river. and Hongkong, while the advantages it possssas On one occasion we had to ford one stream in good and cheap labour, facilities for transport, thirty-one times in six miles. Another day, and coal mines within easy reach, assure uwing to the depth of the river at two places, Canton's futras as a great manufacturing it was necessary to use ropes in hauling the baggage up elifs and in dragging ponies up. streams in a carrout against which they were unable to swim. The difficulties of one pass were increased by a snowstorm, which obscured all landmarks, causing our guide to lose his way and lead us into deep snow drifts. Two pontas died

from exhaustion, bat by hard work on everybody's through

the drifts we got across, and at 9, p.m. estop was

moonlight,

11,000 feet, on the Yuldu by

Plains. That night the thermometer registered 23 The Muzart Pass out of 25 degrees of frost. Thian Shan into

Foreign imports would have shown a decline Turkestan is between 12,003 and 13,000 feet; but for the large increase (2,059,906 teels) in and Kves up to its name, which means "ley, for on the south side the track leads down a the value of Indian opium, and an increase in glacier. The path goes backwards and for- kerosene oil (1251349 tonls). wards to avoid the crevasses, and owing to tais (7.999,706 taels) is due to increased imports of The considerable rise in native imports it

took

eight hours to over a distance which as the crow flies is barely five miles. At one place beans, groundnuts, native oplum and rise, the the track lands over an almost perpendientar latter a special import to relieve the distress wall of ice in which steps are cut. It was really caused by the disastrous floods in the Caator wonderful to see the loaded ponies being lowered Delta in June and July of last year. by means of their tails down this 20 foot joe-staircase,

centre:

I think I have said enough in the foregoing sketch, necessarily brief and imperfect, to demonstrate to British merchants and unafas. turers that Canton is a market worthy of their partionlar attention

COMPARATIVE VALUE OF TRADE OF CANTON IN 1908.

The business in cassia bark was poor, un doubtedly a result of the inferior qualities supplied in recent years, which had the natural effect of entailing orders.

TEA

EICH.

18,

Electric energy is supplied to Canton city and the foreign settlement of Shamson by means of overhead high-pressure mains, carried on iron and wooden poles. The primary pressure is 2,000 volte: The secondary or house service

100 volts.

The current la alter- pressure, In comparing the values of other imports it nating The supply on Shameen is con- should be borne in mind that in many cases the tinuous, that in the city being from sunset to toms do not necessarily represent the total Shameen, 167; Canton city, 2,642; Total, 2,809.

Total number of 8 andis power (equivalent) J. K. Davis, left Bydney on May 8. On May import of any particular commodity. There is

There are in addition to the above the Cant, in fine, clear weather, the vessel passed over position assigned to Royal Society Kaland, still an important junk trade between Heng lamps connected (March 1, 1909), 25,510. kong and Canton, and even foreign importerston Arsenal, smokeless powder factory, the with no land in sight. A sonating was taken provincial mint, a paper mill, a cigarette in the nighbourhood, and bottom reached with often find it pays them to import such geeds as

Niga of var om sugar do, by junk, paying duty factory, several small shipbuilding and abip 2,450 fathoms of line. Captain Davis then at the native customs.

repairing yards; the railway works at the ter- stood cast and then south, but saw no mini of the Canten-Kowloon, Canton-Hankow land in the vicinity. After satisfying himself The big drop in the import of foreign rise and Canton-Sanshui railways, and the new river that the island did not exist, he proceeded to due to the good harvests in the Yangtze Val-banding, now in course of construction, which Macquarie Island, the southernmost of the off- islands of New Zealand. It lies 545 miles ying ley, whisk enabled Cantor to draw the balls of requires steel bridges and landing stand have south-west of Stewart Island, and was discovered its supplies from Wuhu and Yangtese ports Lest, however, any British firm thontd

its attention called to this page and take in the early part of the best century by s Colonial sealing vessel. It is twenty-one miles instead of Baigon and Bangkok.

The import from Yangtze ports, 6,175,538 the trouble to send out illustrated catalogues. pienis, an, a matter of fact, considerably and circulars and make enquiries with regard long and five miles broad, and is the home of

I take this opportunity of repeating what my seats. shore normal, owing to heavy shipments for to the openings, for machinery above indicated, countless marisds of penguins, sea-birds sail predecessor wrote last year, that catalogues, more especially of railway material, are useless, and that the only way to obtain orders is to follow the German and American example and send out competent men who will flud cuteract ly what the Chinese want, tell them exactly what they can supply and for how much, and is short be prepared to exercise that patience, tact and business acumen without which in these days big orders are not obtained in China, British maanfacturers are too often content to be represented by merchants in China, who, however willing they may be to push their wares, have not the time to devote to the busi- ness and are without with the necessary expert knowledge.

the relief of sufferers by the floods.

YARN.

In round figures the import of Indian yarn from Hongkong into the province amounted last year to:---

Canton and Fatahan Swatow

Bales.

20,000

50,000

West River East River Sainam (none Bamshui)

Total

50,000 15,000 15,000

150,000.

FLQUE.

Flour is becoming more popular every year, and regularly appears in the form of bread nad bisonits on the tables of the middle and upper classes.

The import is almost entirely the product of American mill. Australian dour, which had peared from the returns last year, being unable to assumed a prominent position in 1907, disap compete with its old-established American rival, and for the same reason the local flour mill in Hongkong, which was established for the purpose of supplying the China market, two yest age, was obliged to close its doors,

It will be noticed that, whereas the quantity of four imported last year shows a decrees of orar 27,000 emts, values rose seme 329,000 teels. This is due to the Canton valuation The prophecy, oft-repeated in Canton trade having been raised from 2.90 taals per picul for

One tima valuable ten 1907 returns to 4.03 taels for the 1908 returns. reports, that Canton's

I take this opportunity of pointing out that trade with Europe was doomed to gradual extinction, unless the Chinese paid more the valuss given in the customs returns are attention to the proparation and packing of net port values, but uniform values supplied the tea leaf, would seem to have been falailed annually to each port for its use by the Statisti- In his 1907 report the Commissioner of Comes Department in Shanghai. This explains missioner of Customs wrote: "Canton, tens are the discrepancies that are often noticed in the not worth mentioning," and Inst year's export natoms returns bet wear their values, say, for flour or oil, and the current market price of was smaller than that of 190? by 4,501 lbs.

I am convinced that it is for this reason that. so many large or ers for railway material have, during the past year, gone to German" and American Arms.

JAPAN'S FINANCES.

DETERMINED ATTEMPT TO COPE WITH NATIONAL-DEBT:

In his report on the Japanese Budget for the financial year 1909-10, Mr. Hobart Hampden, the acting Japanese Bouretary of the British advance on its immediate predecessors, Embassy at Tokyo, states that it represents an

A visit was paid to the south-east point of the island, and scone specimens collected, and then the Nimrod proceeded along the const north- wards. As she drew near Nugget Point two huts were seen on the shore, and also the wreck of a vessel high and dry on the beach.

DRAMATIO MELTING, Captain Davis says "Suddenly, to our surprise, a column of smoke rose from the smaller of the two hats. As we had heard nothing of anyone living on the island, this was extraordinary. Presently, with the glasses, we could make out the figure of a man standing at the door of the smaller of the huts watching our approach. We came to anchor, and the bout was lowered and headed for the shore,

"The man, who had been watching us from the hut, now walked down to the beach, nocom- panied by two little dogs. There was a heavy surf, but our Crusoe-like friend, after pointing out the best landing-place, walked into the water and assisted in beaching the boat

indebtedness. Thus the smount set apart for and found no land. rutting paths Part at

A drop of no less than 7d. in the average sterling value of the Haikwan tsel in 1908, compared with its average value in 1907, readers comparison of the sterling values of the trade of Canton daring 1968 and preceding years somewhat misleading.

silk and tea.

"We soon ascertained that his name was William McKibben, and that he had been a member of a party which had visited the island in the previous season in order to obtain seal and penguin eil. When the season was over, and the party's vessel filled with barrels of oil, he had elected to remain on the island by him sel! order to collect oil for the following season. He did not mind the Loneliness at all

Captain Daris then proceeded to the charted position of Emerald Island, over which he passed on the night of May 31, with bright It is pointed out that economies estimated st

moon shining. No land was sighted, and a nearly 6540,000 have been effected in fixed heavy sea made it impossible to take soundings, departmental expenditures, and that a determined On June 2 the Nimrod arrived in the vicinity attempt is in progress to cope with the national of the position assigned to the Nimrod Islands

SOUNDING BY LANF-LIGHT. "We passed over the charted position of the the amortisation of public bends during the year £5,186,000, and it is the declared policy of the Government to redeem not less than islands in olear weather with nothing in sight, 45,101,167 sunnsly, the present reel loans he reported "after steaming ust site, L The competition of Indian and Ceylon teas

being discontinued "for

milea the position, it now being dark, I has proved too much for the Chinesa article,

Renowed recourse to railway loans, however, hove to and attempted to sound, which Japanese coal is now shipped direct to Canton may be anticipated sooner or later, while a small although the latter is admittedly puror and more wholesome than its rival,

principal markets for Canton tes at present are Peru, by steamer instead of, as heretofors, to Heng-on is continuated in the Budget for subtle operation was performed in a kind of blizzard, undertakings in Formoss. The sotual result by lamp-light, with the ship rolling heavi Havana, Bouth Africa, America and Australia, kong with transhipment into junk or lighter,

shown in the Budget has been achieved, addle all the time. We slacked out 1,140 fathoms, hut obtained no bottom, so love in again, as the of certain being for the most wherever, in short, Cantonese reside, the trade

Chinese hands

In the absence of good roads there is. at the secretary, by the postponement present no demand for motor cars, but the continuing expenditures and the maintenance wind was coming away in force squalls from the waterways which take the place of rouls offer of existing sources of revenue, including what are popularly termed the "three bad taxes." an almost unlimited market for motor boats.

Motors will undoubtedly in time take the There are the sartar on railway tickets, the place of the stents launches towing native textiles consumption lax, and the salt monopoly, passenger boats, referred to in the introduction all of which were imposed to meet the Russian

conthinees to this report proves that their intrcinction, permanent taxes. of kerosene oil proves a bar to

part in

I am told that the quality of Canton tess is quite as good as ever it was, but dealers, being hle to dispose of their goods in Chim and the marketa above mentioned, take little interest in the European market.

to

It is a pity that the Cantonese do not, in view of the present revival of China tes in the United Kingdom, make some attempt recapture this important market. "OPIUM DEPORTS.

those commodities.

COAL

MOTOR BOATU.

+

Exports of native produce show a falling off of 7,589,764 tasis, chiefly owing to a decrease in the values of those staples of Canton, matting How To DE BEAUTIFUL--Keep your com

Re-exports of foreign goods consist chiefly of plexion, Mrs. Ellen's Crème Charmante, Tait kerosene oil transhipped to Wout River ports, Chucmant and Special Skin Tonic and Poudre and native re-exports are made up of beans, Charmant, will enable you to do it. Her groundnut oil, and other northern produce

It will be noticed on Table 2 at the end Specialities for the Skin are the study of a

this report that whereas the import Metime. A. S, Watson & Co. Ltd. Sole Agent imported by direct steamier and returned to foreign opiam into Canton decressed by about one-sixth of the cost of an oil motor.

[453

Canton for sale.

war expenditure, bat are still retained as semi-

solution of the difficulty may be found in the The general and two supplementary Budgets recently invented "suction gas" plant which for the year 1909.10 exhibit a total revenue of Lasa consumption of cost of under-1-1b. per £52,974,031, against an estimated expenditure

of horse-power per hour, and which will, I under- of £52,973,196. The War Offies and admiralty,

south-west."

The Nimrod part, visited the position of no land, after tacking backwards and forwards Dougherty Island, and found floating ice, bat and making a thorough search Captain Davis reports that he is of opinion that the "island" charted by Captain Dougherty and later by the commander of another vessel was really an iceberg, which has long since melted.

The sun was shining for only a few hours a day when the Nimrod made her search, and the long hours of darkness made the work dificult

of stand, enable gas-propelled meters to be run at Estimates amonat together to £16,327,000, or but the sulp passad right over the charted

about three-tenths of the total outlay,

position. Captain Davis then proceeded to Mon Video, and is at present on his way to Englan