Directory_and_Chronicle_1933 — Page 938

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CHANGSHA

Yiyang (36. miles north and 53 northwest of Changsha respectively) north- wards to the boundary of the Province and extending westwards to Taoyuan and Shihmen, ie the entire area surrounding the Tungting Lake, and the destitution in this part, was acute. It is estimated that two million people were rendered homeless, twenty-five thousand people drowned with monetary losses of one hundred million dollars.

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Repairing the Dykes in the flooded area has been attended to with the help of the National Relief Committee and by next flood season it is antici- pated all important Dykes will have been repaired. In common with the general world depression exports from Hunan have been poor compared with previous years.

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BEANS.

For the second year in succession, this article proved a failure as far as exports of it were concerned. The quality of the crop was very poor, and prices ruled high owing to the need for food-stuffs created by the serious floods in the Yangtsze valley.

WOODOIL.

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Very little business was done in this article, and supplies from original centres must have been diverted into other channels. The lack of confidence due to political factors in the province, doubtless had something to do with this...

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ANTIMONY.

Changsha again featured merely as a gambling centre, stocks of the actual metal,i.e. Regulus, being carried principally in Hankow. Dealers, how- ever in the main incurred losses through holding their stocks in Hankow and Shanghai, and consequently Changsha will probably resume its former importance as the legitimate centre for export business.

There was practically no business done by foreign firms in Changsha in this article.

ORES.

This business is drawing to a close, as the Shui Kou Shan mine is rapidly becoming exhausted. The Lead Ore produced now, amounts only to about 400 tons a month, all of which is taken over by the local Lead Works, whose needs amount to 700/800 tons per month. It is probable that the local Lead Works will have to close down unless new deposits are discovered. Zinc Ores, the mine had a substantial stock of Sands, and but for this, the drop in production would render business of almost neglible proportions.

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The Hunan Metals Business Department is searching for new deposits, and have a prospect in view at Hengshan. Lack of funds is interfering with the work, and the local Government is endeavouring to get over-seas Chinese, especially those in the Straits Settlement, to invest money for the purpose in view but have so far failed in their endeavour.

ENGINEERING.

Electric Light Plant. The Sintoon Trading Company secured the order for the extension to the existing plant, on what, it is generally understood, are very unsound terms. This additional plant is now in Shanghai, and will, we believe, shortly be brought here for installation.

AVIATION.

Messrs. Arnhold & Company sold to the Hunan Aviation Bureau, eight De Havilland Moth aeroplanes, six of these are the Trainer type, and two are Puss Moth designed for passenger requirements.

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The volume of trade passing through the Changsha Custom House for year 1931 was Haikwan Tls. 36,312,446 which compares with Haikwan Tls. 35,536,870 in 1930, Haikwan Tls. 37,877,340 in 1929, and Haikwan Tls. 38,695,- 810 in 1928. The increase in the Custom House Return for 1931 is partly due to the railway having been interrupted for 3 months as no cargo could be transported by train during this period.