Directory_and_Chronicle_1931 — Page 1061

WUCHOW

州梧

Tú chau

Wuchow, opened to foreign trade on June 4th, 1897, by the Special Article of the Burmah Convention, is situated on the Sikiang or West River at its junction with the Fu or Kuei (Cassia) River. By the steainer routes at present authorised it is distant about 220 miles from Hongkong and Canton. Wuchow is the limit of navigation for ocean-going steamers; but, during eight months in the year, vessels drawing not more than 3 feet can reach Kueihsien (150 miles beyond Wuchow), and Nanning (360 miles from here) can be reached almost all the year round by boats drawing 2 ft. The population of the city and suburbs is estimated at 50,000; it is slowly increas- ing, more especially in the riverine suburbs, which comprise the business quarter. The annual inundations caused by the rise in the river-there is an average difference of 60 feet between the winter and summer levels-are a source of great inconvenience to the inhabitants and at times bring about a total cessation of business. To obviate this, the principal steamship offices, the Custom House and likin stations, together with numerous restaurants, are located on pais (houses built on pontoons), moored alongside the river bank. In July, 1924, Wuchow was visited by a very high flood- 73 feet 9 inches-which is the second highest on record. In winter the only local industry worthy of mention is boat building; when the river falls the foreshore is lined with matsheds, where native craft of all descriptions are constructed. The situation of Wuchow makes it the natural distributing centre for the trade between Kweichow, Eastern Yunnan, Kwangsi, and Hongkong and Canton. The future is full of promise, and Wuchow is sure to make a bold bid for second place as the largest trade mart in the south of China. Local merchants are making strenuous efforts to divert to Wuchow, vid the Liuchow and West Rivers, the trade of south-eastern Kweichow, which is principally supplied via the Yangtsze. Attempts are being made to work the manganese, antimony, copper, and tin mines which abound in the Kwangsi Province.

TRADE

The gross value of the trade coming under the cognisance of the Maritime Cus- toms had steadily grown to Tls. 23,237,078 in 1920, but subsequently, owing to frequent military operations and the disturbed state of the country, the trade diminished to Tls. 11,952,197 in 1922, this being the smallest figure on record since 1908. The value of trade recovered to Hk. Tls. 17,485,294 in 1923 and Hk. Tls. 21,030,247 in 1924, but owing to the boycott of Hongkong, in 1925 it fell again to Hk. Tls. 13,604,856. The boycott ended in October, 1926, and the trade for that year recovered to Hk. Tls. 17,291,745. In 1928 the figures further increased to Hk. Tls. 27,942,671 as compared with Hk. Tls. 23,004,288 in 1927, but fell again in 1929 to Hk. Tls. 21,860,065 owing to military disturbances.

During the first four months of 1929 fairly bright prospects prevailed at Wuchow. Subsequently, owing to hostilities between Kwangtung and Kwangsi, all traffic on the West River above Samshui was prohibited, the result being that Wuchow was cut off froin all communication with the outside world. Shipping with Hongkong and Canton entirely ceased for 30 days, and junks were commandeered for the transportation of troops and stores. The spring crops were abundant, but, through lack of transporta- tion facilities, farmers, were unable to market their produce. Autumn rice and other crops were excellent, but had scarcely had time to reach Wuchow for shipment when war clouds again gathered and the port was once more blockaded, and prices rose abnormally. From April onwards the Hongkong note was quoted at a high premium over the Chinese dollar, greatly hampering the purchase of goods from Hongkong, This situation lasted until October, when the banks of the Colony agreed to accept and pay out silver dollars on the same basis as the notes of the issuing banks, and the high premium previously demanded took a downward course. Nearly all shipping companies suffered heavy losses owing to repeated blockades and to keen competition amongst themselves. Traffic on the Upper West River and its tributaries was inter-