Directory_and_Chronicle_1931 — Page 1060

980

SAMSHUI

Excursions of one or two days enable one to climb Mt. McCleverty (2,000 ft.), at the mouth of the Samshui Reach; or Ting Hu Shan (4,000 ft.), behind the celebrated temple known to foreigners as "Howlik," near which is to be found the popular bathing pool and fall; or the hills forming the first gorge, from which used to be quarried the famous ink-stone known throughout China as Tuan Yen. Perhaps the most interesting of the sights in the neighbourhood are the Seven Star Hills, which are situated close to the pleasant town of Shiu Hing, some 30 miles from the port. These hills, formed of pure white marble rising to a height of about 400 feet from the plain, hold many temples-some apparently elinging to the sides of the cliffs-and caves and grottoes. The fine bronze figures of more than life-size in one of these temples are well worthy of attention. Fair snipe shooting is to be obtained in the winter, and an occasional pheasant, partridge, quail or duck may be added to the bag. The attractions of good sport and pleasing surroundings have made Samshui a week end resort for some of the Canton community confined to the small island of Shameen.

A telegraph service is maintained from Sainam. A nice building for the Post Offiee, situated alongside the road leading from the railway-station to the stone jetty, was completed and opened to the public on September 9th, 1921. There are no Consulates established; the Consuls within whose distriets Samshui lies reside either in Canton or Hongkong.

TRADE

The history of trade during 1929 at Samshui is, with few exceptions, the same as that of Wuchow. Twice during the year steamer traffic between here and Hongkong was totally suspended owing to hostilities. The uncertainty caused thereby was further increased by the fact that it prevented river gun-boats from performing their usual duty of patrolling the West River, full advantage of their absence being taken by the piratical bands which infest the Canton Delta to carry on their nefarious operations. In consequence of the construction of roads in Shiuhing and other stage ports, motor- ears appear for the first time in the port statistics, 11 passenger cars being imported. The difficulties experienced by local merchants in shipping export cargo at Samshui continue to be a handicap to the export trade, Steamers coming down river from Wuchow usually seem to be fully laden when they reach Samshui, and consequently exports from here are continuously being shut out. The cassia trade showed con- siderable activity. The port was visited by two floods during 1929 in one case followed by a disastrous typhoon, which passed elose to the port on the night of the 22nd August. The eity wall at Samshui is being demolished, and some of the brieks will be used for the construction of a public garden to be built near the present south gate. The construction of a road along the dike from Samshui to Sainam is scheduled to be undertaken shortly.

The net value of the trade coming under the cognisance of the Customs during 1929 was Hk. Tls. 6,148,331, as compared with Hk. Tls. 7,586,227 in 1928, Hk. Tls. 5,462,065 in 1927, Hk. Tls. 1,890,280 in 1926, and Hk. Tls. 4,245,082 in 1925.

DIRECTORY

亞細亞

ASIATIC PETROLEUM CO. (SOUTH CHINA),

LTD. Tel. Ad: Petrosilex, Tapcolo;

Code: 6th edn. A.B.C.

R. E. Vidal, in-charge

BRITISH-AMERICAN TOBACCO Co. (CHINA),

LTD.

Yat Kee, agents

關永三

CUSTOMS, CHINESE MARITIME

Acting Commissioner-F. H. Maas Assistant-Hsieh Yu Chan

Tidesurveyor and Harbour Master-

R. J. Hillier

Chief Examiner-I. Y. Vylegjanin

美

STANDARD OIL CO. OF NEW YORK

記 逸 Yat kee

YAT KEE, Commission Agents

Agencies

"British-American Tobacco Co. (China),

Ld.

Kam Hing Steamship Co.

Kwai Lum Steamship Co. Sai On Steamship Co.