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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND an active part in the erection of the Institute. The conditions ander which seamen take their leave ashore were very different years ago from what they were at the present time. When he was a young officer the seamen had their leave ashore at long intervals, and the first
seaman had then was idea a
to get drunk as soon as he got ashore. If he did not his But that friends did not think much of him.
It is con- state of things was altered now. sidered a disgrace for a seaman to get drunk. (Applanse). Formerly a drunken seaman was refused admission to his ship and was sent ashore How different things were now. to get sober. When a seaman has taken too much he is promptly taken on board, but he was glad to say that the number of men sent on board was very low. (Ap. plause). With the establishment of an institu- man could go ashore, enjoy tion like this a himself, read the papers, play a game, and sit down if he did not want to do anything, or o to sleep-a very harmless sort of way of amusing oneself (laughter)—if one has nothing the to do, and he need not spend anything for good of the house.”
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they could do very well without it now. To such carping critics I would say, not only that it is absolutely necessary to improve the condition of those classes, but that it is impossible to prevent such improvement. There is a law controlling our physical and moral being which forbids us to believe in the fixeduess of any condition of life. If men do not advance, they go back. If they do not grow better, they inevitably grow worse. This is a law which reigns throughout universal nature. Every one must admit that the present age is distinguished above all others by the qualities to which I have referred, viz., the desire and power to advance. To resist such progress is impossible. If it were possible it would not be lawful. Such resistance would amount to wilful rejection of benefits scattered in our path by an all wise Providence, Let me say something more. As to the necessity for these Institutions so as to enable men to keep abreast of the times, look at the valuable discoveries which have been made throng the vast and varied fields of natural science, Look to the new powers which have been added to the telescope and the microscope. Look to the telegraph darting its messages with lightning speed
The Right Rev. Bishop BURDON appealed to through thousands of miles of space. Consider those present to support the collection plate as the mighty agency of steam, the telephone, and much as possible. There was no doubt about the endeavour to comprehend the still undeveloped need of such an Institute as this, and he sug. might and uses of electricity Is there any hu- gested that instead of giving dollars, it would be man being who can say that his or her position better to write out a cheque for £10. which After Mr. Goldsmith in the world is not affected by these marvels? would represent $100. Many years ago Sir Robert Peel said of the had got a few £10 cheques the debt would be steam engine and railroad when they were in cleared. Mr. Goldsmith was going home in a their infancy."They are speeding the inter-short time, and he (the speaker) was sure that course between mind and mind. They are creating every one wished to see him return stronger in new demands for knowledge. They are fertilising health and better able to carry on his good work. the intellectual as well as the material waste. (Applause). They are removing the impediments which obscurity or remoteness or poverty may have opposed to the energy of real merit " Those, ladies and gentlemen, were words of soberness and truth. If they applied to the state of things existing forty years ago, how much more do they apply now owing to the gigantic strides of all knowledge in the meantime ? What, then is the duty of all wise men and women who find themselves placed in the midst of changes so numerous and vast It clearly is to assist all classes to get as much benefit as possible from all these good things which are thus placed within their reach. We cannot star'd still; we cannot stop the progress of the current; we must turn the stream, which is hurrying people forward, into the best, the safest, and the most profitable direction. Well, ladies and gentlemen, by snp. porting this Institution, by extending to it our friendly aid and sympathy, we can assist in this great and progressive work. The object of this Institution and of kindred institutions is not to raise men out of the condition of life in which God has placed them, but to raise that condition itself. The Kowloon Institution is, as Mr. Goldsmith bas stated, for the purpose of providing innocent recreation, amusement, and instruction to two classes of persons-sol- diers and sailors-two classes upon whom we rely and for whom we have the greatest possible re- spect, and to whom we are much indebted. To soldiers we look for protection in time of peace and war, and to sailors we look for guidance over the mighty deep in times of calm, storm, or tem- pest. This Institution promises to be a great suc- cess. It has been and will be a great boon to many hardworking honest men, and in now declaring it open may I express the hope that God's bless- ing may rest upon it, and that it may be of last- ing use and benefit not only to the present generation, but to the generation of soldiers and sailors yet unborn. (Lond applause.)
Lieut.-General DIGBY BARKER said the sat- isfaction he felt in assisting in the erection of a mat shed had been further increased by finding from the statistics of the Institute how very much it had been appreciated, especially by the soldiers of the Garrison. Such an institution was of very great advantage to soldiers and, speaking as representing the military, he wished to tender his most hearty thanks to Mr. Gold- smith for the great boon he had conferred upon the soldiers and others, and he con- gratulated the reverend gentleman upon the great success which had attended his efforts, and hoped that he would be rewarded by seeing the institution free from debt that evening. (Applause).
Commodore BOYES, on behalf of the Royal Navy and the merchant service, thanked Mr. Goldsmith and all those who had kindly taken
Captain MCLEOD spoke in eloquent terms of Mr. Goldsmith's work among the seamen, and of the chits which he occasionally sent round to the various ships. The speaker then proposed a vote of thanks to His Excellency for his kind attendance at the Institute. There was a reality about this work which was well worthy of sup- port, and every day they saw more and more the need of it, and no one saw more need for it than the sailors themselves.
Colonel O'GORMAN seconded the resolution, which was carried amid spontaneous applause.
Colonel BARROW returned thanks to the many ladies who had rendered kind assistance, and said that he was sure every one would regret that this was the last occasion on which they would be favoured with the presence of Mrs. Barker.
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[April 11, 1895.
disadvantages and disquieting causes against which trade has had to contend, the statistics reviewed hereunder are eminently satisfactory.
2.-Revenue. The gross collection amounted to Hk.Tls. 22,523,600, or Hk.Tls. 534,300 more With the exception of Indian than in 1893. opium, each division of trade contributed to this increment. Import duties, exclusive of opium, aggregated Hk.Tls, 4,652,200, and show a gain of Hk.Tls. 461,100; both the Western and Asia, tio trade participated in this advance. Export duties, foreign and domestic, also excluding amounted to Hk.Tls. \8,685,200, of opium, Hk.Tls. 281,500 in excess of the figures of the previous year, the receipts from this source ex- ceeding the maximum collected during the most prosperous days of the tea trade. The revenue from native opium, Hk.Tls. 363,100, yielded an increase of Hk.Tls. 198,900 over the receipts of 1893, but both the import duty and likin derived from Indian opium disclose a further marked decline, as compared with the figures for the previous year, of Hk.Tls. 117,160 on account of duty and Hk.Tls. 312,430 on likin, or a total de- crease of Hk.Tls. 429,590 from this source of re- Tonxe,
8. Foreign Trade.-As regards textiles and other staple imports from gold-standard coun tries, it cannot be said that there is any indica- tion of recovery from the retrograde movement, ascribed to the appreciation of gold enhancing prices and curtailing demand, which characterised the trade of 1-93. In the last report reference was made to the blighting effect of high prices on consumption, notably at the great inland emporium of Chungking, in Szechwan, from which new port such great commercial results were expected, as by opening it to foreign trade all imports could be laid down, at a distan of 1,500 miles from the coast, without prepayment of the 24 per cent. half tariff duty, or transit dues, chargeable prior to its being made a port of entry. As will be seen from the Chung- king report, so far from the opening of that market creating an increasing demand for cotton goods, the effect of the appreciation of prices has produced a contrary result, for the importa- tion of piece goods has receded from 775,000 pieces, upon which half tariff transit dues were paid, in 1890, to 542,000 pieces, though now free from that charge. Steadier but lower exchange benefited exports, and enabled shippers of China produce to lay it down in gold-standard countries at naparalleled low cost. Several articles now find a market abroad which formerly did not leave China; and the present high price paid for gold bars entitles that commodity to rank after tea and silk in aggregate value of any
THE FOREIGN TRADE OF CHINA IN article enumerated in the table of exports.
1891.
The following is the report on the trade of China in 1894 by the Statistical Secretary of the Imperial Maritime Customs:-
(a.)-Imports.-The net total valué of merchandise imported aggregates Rk.Tls. 162,000,000, or Hk.Tls. 10,700,000 over the esti- mate of the previous year. Enhanced valua... ⠀⠀ tions, due to the further appreciation of gold, 1.-General. It is gratifying to record that contributed towards this increase; but numerous notwithstanding the numerous adverse influences articles show a conspicuous advance in quantity under which commerce laboured, especially as well as value, notably Indian yarn, metals, during the latter half of the year, the results coal, flour, kerosene oil, matches, sugar, and shown should be so favourable. During the government stores. Opium, however, diminished spring serious drought prevailed in the South,in quantity, but yielded a marked increase in and, concurrently, the bubonic plague appeared value. The total weight landed was 63,125 in Canton and Hongkong; business with the piouls, the lowest importation on record within the past 20 years. and less by 4,983 piculs than in colony suffered a severe check, and traffic was hampered by the introduction of quarantine at 1893. This decline is attributable to greatly most coast ports. In summer the political out-reduced production and additional taxation in look became very threatening, and culminated India, which raised the price as much as on 1st August in a declaration of war against Tls. 100 a picul, thus materially lessening Japan. This announcement naturally produced its chance of successful competition with great uncertainty and dread of attack at the the home-grown drug. That Chinese opium coast ports, a state of affairs no less unsettling to is rapidly displacing the imported article be questioned. The tariff intro- trade than war itself. Measures of coast defence cannot were adopted and certain anchorages barricaded duced in 1891, substituting a fixed duty (Tls, or partially closed, causing considerable incon-64 80 per picul) in place of the undetermined venience and extra expense to shipping, and provincial charges, appears to be working resulting in an increase in rates of freight, satisfactorily, judging from the increased passage, and insurance; at the same time aids to quantity passing through the Custom-honse at navigation were removed at many ports. Floods Chungking, 6020 piculs, for domestic use, and at damaged cereals in the North, and during the Lungchow and Mengtsz, 700 pionls, for export to Tonkin. The value of cotton goods and yarn autumn a succession of destructive typhoons in
amounts to Hk.Tls. 52,100,000, or Hk.TIs. South China injured the rice and sugar crops; while the mobilisation of troops throughout the 7,000,000 more than in 1893. The total quantity provinces withdrew large bodies of men from of piece goods imported advanced insignificantly, although shirtings and American drills and their peaceful pursuits, which disturbed in- dustries and entailed additional taxation on trade sheetings exhibit a considerable increase; but it to meet the increased military expenditure, would be delusive to infer from these improved During the year sterling exchange fluctuated returns of certain classes of goods that the over 15 per cent., or, for demand drafts, from falling off caused by the appreciation of gold, 88. 14d. (the highest rate) per Shanghai tael to which characterised the trade i cottons of the 28. 8d. Taking into consideration the many previous 12 months, had been arrested. Reports
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