THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 15TH OCTOBER, 1864.
415
WAGES.-The wages of labourers for shipping average from 25 to 30 cents a day; Carpenters 313 to 50 cents; Caulkers
37 cents.
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.-The picul of 100 catties, or 140lbs. English, the quintal of 4 arrobas or 100s. Spanish, equal to 1012s. English; the arroba, of 25lbs. Spanish.
PRODUCE. The country round Iloilo, and in the province and island generally, is very fertile and extensively culti- vated. It is well peopled, and there are towns of 18, 20, 30, and 40 thousand inhabitants in the vicinity and interior and on the coast. Nearly all the tropical productions can be grown on the island, but the chief articles of export are: Sugar, which is at present the most important, Tobacco, Sapanwood, Rice, Hides, Hemp (imported coastwise) Cattle, and a large quantity of valuable native textures made of the fibre of the pine-apple leaf, silk, hemp and other fibres. These textures are mostly for native consumption in the Archipelago. The quantity of Sugar has increased rapidly since the opening of the port to direct foreign trade, and next season (1865), may amount to 21,000 tons, including arrivals from the contiguous island of Negros.
At the fine island of Negros the planting of cane is being much extended. The bulk of the plantations are owned by natives, but a number of Europeans have formed estates there and several steam mills for crushing cane have recently been erected. Very productive land in good positions, is to be had; labour is not scarce; conveyance of produce by sea to the Iloilo market is safe and expeditious, and intending planters could scarcely find a more eligible district.
COFFEE-Thrives well, but is not yet cultivated on a scale to allow of export.
The population of the province of Iloilo is now 595,000; that of the island of Panay 863,000; Negros 140,000. Direct Imports from Europe have recently taken place at Iloilo and the amount of European goods consumed is becoming important.
Iloilo, 1st July, 1864.
Additional Note, regarding light-houses to be erected at Iloilo.
Two lights are to be placed by the Spanish Government in the South western entrance of the port of Iloilo. One, a third class light, is to be situated at the point marked G. in the plan of the recently made survey, a mile S. 30° W. of Point Cabalig. The other will be of the fourth class and placed at the Fort in the Port of Iloilo. The point marked G. is of rock, about 160 feet high and quite clear, as is also the shore running to the south of it. rom this point (G.) the south part of the Otong bank bears N. 85° W., consequently any vessel entering the port from the South, by keeping well in to the Light before taking up that course towards the North, will completely clear the bank.
The South point of Panay bears from the Point G., S. 70° W. The light on the Iloilo Fort determines by its position all the S. E. edge of the Otong Bank and by it vessels can pass safely through all the channel formed by the Bank and the Guimaras coast with the advantage that it (the light,) gives also the N. W. edge of the Guimaras Bank, to the South of Point Bondulan. On this account a vessel beating up should not lose sight of the Fort light.
No. 157.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
A Godown of from 3 to 500 Tons Capacity is required by the Colonial Government for the storage of Materials expected from England for the Mint.
The Godown will be taken for 6 months certain, and a power of renewal by Government for a further period of 6 months will be retained.
Possession to be given on the 1st Proximo.
Tenders for the above, stating situation, price per month and capacity, will be received at the Surveyor General's Office up to noon of Saturday, the 22nd Instant.
By Order,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 8th October, 1864.
No. 146.
W. H. RENNIE,
for the Colonial Secretary.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
Tenders will be received at the Surveyor General's Office on or before Monday the 17th Proximo, for the erection of the Hongkong Mint. Plans and Specification may be seen on application between the hours of 11 A. M. and 3 P. M.
By Order,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 17th September, 1864.
W. H. RENNIE, for the Colonial Secretary.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.