Directory_and_Chronicle_1935 — Page 881

SAMSHUI-WUCHOW

A487

such as rice, caviare, cheese, etc. The immediate result was that the heavy "dumping" of foreign rice, the total value of which for the year represented 72% of the total value of foreign imports of this port, has been greatly held in check ever since., During the latter half of the month of November, when the rumour of a coup in Fukien caused a run on the Provincial Bank, Canton, the banknotes of $5 and $1 denominations* suffered a depreciation here which continued throughout the end of the year. The total value of imports from, and exports to, abroad coming under the cognizance of the Customs during 1933 were G.U. 3,533,000 and Standard $840,000, respectively as compared with G.U. 3,008,000 for imports and Standard $910,000 for exports in 1932.

DIRECTORY

亞細亞

ASIATIC PETROLEUM Co.

CHINA), LTD.-Cable Ad: Petrosilex;

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

關水三

CUSTOMS, CHINESE MARITIME

(SOUTH

Assistant-Chan I-kan

Tidesurveyor and Harbour Master-

T. Thoresen

Examiner-R. M. Ogden

#

美

STANDARD-VACUUM OIL Co.--Cable Ad:

Acting Commissioner --- Hau King Son Standvac

WUCHO W

州梧 Wu-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 steamer 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 about 65,000; 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 other Tax Offices 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. The highest record-79 feet 6 inches-occurred in 1915. In winter the only local industry worthy of mention is boat building; when the river falls the foreshore is lined with

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, via 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.