Directory_and_Chronicle_1926 — Page 979

FR

NANNING

甯南 Nan-ning

An Imperial Edict issued in 1899 authorised the voluntary opening of Nanning at Trade Mart, but it was not until 1st January, 1907, that the port was formally opened o foreign trade. Nanning is a "Fu" city and is situated on the left bank of the Yu- iang, the most important tributary flowing into the West River from the south, nd is 368 miles above Wuchow and 213 miles below Lungchow. It lies in the entre of a wide and fertile plain at a sharp bend of the river, which here describes early two-thirds of the arc of a circle and, according to the report of the West River Survey of 1915, is some 400 feet above mean sea-level. The climate is healthy, he temperature in the height of summer seldom exceeding 90 degrees (F.) and in the winter not falling below 40. Nanning is the capital city of the Province and the seat of the Civil and Military Governors. About one mile south of the walled city is the area which has been set apart as the Commercial Settlement, in which are situated the foreign merchants' business offices and residences, the Customs Establishment, and the Settle- ment sub-Post Office. The Settlement was purchased out of Provincial public funds, and the laying out of roads, constructing and repairing the bund, and the maintenance of law and order within its boundaries are in the hands of a Board presided over by the Superintendent of Customs. Land within the Settlement cannot be purchased, but may be leased for a period of 30 years, and on expiry the lease may be renewed for another period of 30 years. Foreigners desiring to lease land within the Settlement must make their application through their Consul.

Next to Wuchow, Nanning is the most important port in the Province. For the last three years, the Province has been subjected to great political unrest which has, for the present, arrested the completion of those signs of progress which had, until a few years ago, been making such headway. The work on the two projected well- constructed roads-the one leading towards Wuming, some thirty miles due north of Nanning; and the other leading towards Wuchow--has long since ceased and such parts as were completed have been allowed to fall into disrepair and are now in a very bad condition; the proposed waterworks to supply Nanning with a plentiful supply of good potable water remains in abeyance; the motor-cars owned by the more highly- placed officials have entirely disappeared; and the Bund, which was built in 1907 by an inexperienced Chinese contractor has fallen into ruins, most of it having subsided into the river after the annual highwater season, and now, in some places only about 10 feet frontage of what was once a good macadamised road of 40 feet in width separ- ates foreign properties from the river bank. Under the Settlement Land Regulations the up-keep and maintenance in repair of the Settlement Bund devolves upon the Provincial Authorities, but with these constantly changing with the rise and fall of the various political factions now warring against each other and with a depleted treasury nothing is likely to be done to remedy the present appalling condition of the Bund unless diplomatic pressure is brought to bear in the interests of the foreign property-holders on the Bund sites.

The net value of the trade of the port in 1924 was Hk. Tls. 6,640,466, as compared to Hk. Tls. 5,736,508 for the previous year. The Province abounds in natural wealth, both mineral and agricultural, and, given a period of peace and security within its borders and along its wonderful waterways and through the neighbouring province of Kwangtung to the sea, a return to prosperity would speedily ensue. The natives are not averse from progress, but the foreign capitalist is required to stimulate them and direct their ideas into new channels.