Directory_and_Chronicle_1910 — Page 785

WEIHAIWEI

807

and debris from the hills. During three-quarters of the year these river beds are dry. All the hills are terraced for cultivation as far as possible. The total area of the leased territory is about 285 square miles.

The strata of the mountains are metamorphic, consisting of beds of quartzite, gneiss crystalline, and limestone, cut across by dykes of volcanic rock and granite. Gold is found in the territory, and has been worked by the Chinese, and silver, tin, lead, and iron are said to exist. Proper boring operations, under European management, for gold have now been undertaken. Good building-stone and a rich non-hydraulic limestone are found. The territory contains some 330 villages, and the population is estimated to be 150,000. There are four small market towns, where fairs are held every five days.

The Chinese inhabitants are either fishermen or farmers, and are a peaceful, law- abiding folk. The chief export trade is in salt fish, which is carried in Chinese junks to Southern China. On late years a large export trade in pea-nuts has also grown up. The import trade chiefly consists of timber, firewood, and maize from Manchuria, paper, crockery, sugar, and tobacco, kerosene oil, cotton yarn, piece goods, liquid indigo and other dyes.

The Government of Weihaiwei is administered by a Commissioner appointed under the Weihaiwei Order in Council of the 24th July, 1901. Under this Order the Commissioner is empowered to make Ordinances for the administration of the territory. There is a High Court established, in which all jurisdiction, civil and criminal, is vested, subject to an appeal to the Supreme Court in the Colony of Hongkong. District Magistrates' Courts are also provided for. The Commissioner resides on the mainland at Port Edward. The village communities are administered through their headmen in accordance with Chinese laws and usages, and the people have now entirely acquiesced in the newly-established régime. All purely civil matters are left as much as possible to the village headmen. There is perhaps, no place in China occupied by foreigners where labour is so cheap. Weihaiwei is now a fairly regular port of call for many China coasting steamers sailing northwards from Shanghai, and there is a regular weekly service subsidised by Government to run all the year carrying mails and passengers between Shanghai and Weihaiwei. This enables the public to reach Weihaiwei via Shanghai at any time of the year. Weihaiwei is now the northern naval base of His Majesty's China Squadron. The harbour is well lighted by two light- houses at the eastern and western entrances. The climate of Weihaiwei is exceptionally good, and the winter, though cold, is dry and bracing. A European school has been established, to which boys from other treaty ports, Hongkong, &c., are now sent. A land and building society, formed in Shanghai, has already erected several commodious European bungalows. There is a large hotel on the mainland capable of accom- modating over one hundred people. Both on the mainland and on the island good roads have been made round the coast by the local government for the convenience of foreigners, and there are recreation and parade grounds in both places. In addition to the leased territory there is a zone of influence over which Great Britain holds certain rights. It comprises that portion of the province of Shantung lying East of the meridian 12.40 extending over an area of 1,500 square miles.

The native city of Weihaiwei (which lies on the mainland opposite the island of Lin Kung) is a walled town of about 2,000 inhabitants. By the provisions of the Wei- haiwei Convention of 1898 this town still remains under the jurisdiction of the Chinese authorities. The town is a poor one, and the greater portion of the enclosed area not built on, but cultivated for vegetables. A Chinese sub-district deputy magistrate resides in the city of Weihaiwei.

No customs duties of any kind are collected at Weihaiwei. By agreement, the Chinese Government is permitted to make use of the Bay of Weihaiwei for its fleet, so far as is compatible with British interests. Weihaiwei was originally strongly fortified by the Chinese.

Twelve large forts in all were planned and erected for the Chinese Government by Mr. von Hanneken. Eight of these forts and all the guns were completely destroyed in the China-Japan war of 1895.

The revenue collected during the year 1908 amounted to $83,277, while the expen- diture amounted to $168,740. The grant in aid for 1909 was £4,400.