April 11, 1895,]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
from inland. marts affirm that the sales of brick tea, white raw silk, oils, hides. skins, and Manchester goods is restricted; and although | wool. The last-mentioned export has assumed a special requirements, such ав demands conspicuous position and promises to become an for army supplies, may have created important staple, the production increasing within a temporary abnormal stimulus and induced the period 1884-94 from 34,800 piculs to 226,000 larger orders, the result is merely an increase in piculs. Chinese wool, though now of low grade, the aggregate importation of all varieties of may, when improved in quality, become a formid..
wool- cotton goods, namely, 14,057,000 pi ces, or only able rival to the Australian prodnet, for as a 124.000 pieces over the exceedingly low aggre growing country the resources of China are still gate, 13,933,000 pieces, of 1893. Moreover, un- undeveloped, and the area of production north sold stocks at the end of 1894 were unusually of the Yangtsze river and in Mongolia is as vast large, as the anticipated consumption was over- as that of the colonies; and with silver at its estimated. That the China market for cottons present price, China could defy competition from should prove so singularly inexpansive is ascribed all gold-standard countries. Of raw colton, to the high price of textiles caused by low ex. 747.000 piculs were exported, against 576,000 change. This contention is at least supported piculs in 1893. Japan continues to be the prin by statistics, which show that in 1890, when ex-cipal consumer, over half a million piculs being change averaged 5s. 2d. per Haikwau tael, the shipped to that country; bat a noteworthy fea- offtake of cotton goods reached, say, 17,400,000 tare in the trade is the export to Europe of over pieces, and 18,600,000 pieces, in 1891; but on 104,000 piculs, and so long as the favourable the tael declining to 3s. 2d. the importation exchange prevails. it is probable that the Euro- dwindled to under 14.000.000 pieces the rise in pean demand for the excellent cotton from price placing these goods beyond the reach of Central China will be maintained. In 1884 the millions of consumers. Yet during the five total export was only 53,500 piculs. The im- years 1890-94 the area of consumption was ex-provement in the tea trade, noticed in last tended by the opening of Custom-houses in three report, has been maintained. The total export immense provinces-Yunnan, Kwangsi, and of all kinds was 1.862,000 piculs, estimated at Szechwan, each as large as kingdoms in Eu- lk. I ls. 31,854,000, or 41,400 piculs in quantity rope. In connexion with textiles it may be and Hk. Tls. 1.296,000 in value over the total noted that the local cotton mill destroyed by fire for 1893. The gain in black tea was 27,000 in 1893 is rebuilt and working on a larger scale; piculs; in brick tea, for the Asiatic Russian in tablet tea, and, as intimated in the last report, the year market, 13,200 piculs; and 1895 will probably see at least 360,000 spindles, for the same destination, 2,200 piculs. Green 3,000 looms, and numerous cotton gins ready to tea declined by 2,770 piculs, expansion in this operate in some 15 mills in course of construc- article being checked by the untaxed Japanese tion or to be erected at Shanghai, Ningpo, and leaf, In white raw silk there was also a con- the Yangtsze ports. The contest for supremacy spicuous advance, the export for the year amount- between gold and silver paid industries will being to 73,269 piculs (including 4,344 picnls watched with keen interest. To the reflective reeled in the Shanghai steam filatures), or 5,218 onlooker it would seem that, when both con- piculs in excess of the shipments of 1893. The testants are equally equipped as regards ma- season's crop was comparatively large and the obinery, unless silver is remonetised, the conflict foreign demand good; the low sterling exchange can only terminate in the Occident seeking refuge reduced the laying-down price to a figure hither- in protectionism, just as Australia, Canada, and to unknown, and so conduced to an increased the United States have sought shelter behind consumption. Yellow silk, much of which is of that bulwark from cheap Chinese labour As inferior quality, dropped from the exceptionally compared with the statistics of the previous year, large export of the previous year, 12,315 picals, all kinds of yarn were in demand, the importa- to 9,933 picule. The export of wild raw silk tion of Indian and Japanese twist exceeding the 16.240 piculs, though large, was exceeded in total of 1893 by 153,700 piculs. Woollen fabrics 1890; but the shipment of refuse silk, 66,475 of every variety exhibit a serious decline and re- piculs, surpasses previous totals. The same may present a shrinkage in value of over one million be said of silk piece goods and pongees sent taels. The arrivals of metals, with the exception from Canton, Hankow, and Shanghai. In the of steel, compare favourable with those of the aggregate the exports of white and brown sugar preceding year; but, as with cotton goods. expan-exceed the totals of the preceding year, but do sion in this trade cannot be looked for with not call for special uote, the figures for 1894 prices so greatly appreciated by low exchange. being below those already recorded. Straw braid Old iron is imported in larger quantities than has become a leading industry, and, despite other kind. In 1891 the aggregate reached complaints of unsatisfactory quality, continues to the maximum of 859,000 piculs; but the de- advance. The export-all from North China- mand, with the decline in exchange, has now is the largest on record, and amounts to 120,600 fallon to 509,000 piculs. On the outbreak of piculs. In 1884 the total was 78.100 pienls. war the price of (coal rose enormously; and in In the table of exports a highly oreditable gain anticipation of extraordinary demand and a is noticeable against camphor, firecrackers, hair, possible embargo being placed on the export of hemp, skins, and tobacco," fuel from Japan, the arrivals were exceptionally large, aggregating 486.000 tons, or 57,000 tons more than in 1893. Both American and Russian kerosene oil appear in the returns for con- spicuously larger deliveries than in former years, the statistics of the American product exceeding those of 1893 by 14,950,000 gallons, and of Rus- sian oil, introduced into the Chinese market in 1888, by 4,748,000 gallons. Storage tanks for the latter oil are established at Shanghai, Amoy, and Swatow The sugar which appears in the import table for 1,823,000 piculs is largely the product of Hongkong refineries (and ori- ginally of Chinese provenance), for which com- modity there seems to be an ever-increasing demand, the deliveries during the year exceeding the importation of 1893 by 270,000 piculs. Statistics of Straits produce bear, on the whole, favourable comparison. Foreign rice (6.440.000 piculs), imported so largely by the Kwangtung province, falls far below the consignments in 1893, the deficiency, however, being made good by supplies from the Yangtsze ports, amount- ing to 4,662.000 piculs.
!
b.) Exports-Stimulated by a low rate of sterling exchange, the demand for (hinese pro- duce has been brisk, thus augmenting the total assessed value of experts from Hk. Tis. 116,600,000 in 1893 to Hk.Tls. 138,100,000 in 1894, or an in- crease of Hk.Tls. 11,400,000. The majority of staple commodities contributed to this gain, as will be seen on reference to the export table; but foremost in the list are cotton, black tea,
(c.) Re-exports.-The reshipments to foreign countries, chilly Japan and Russian Manchuria, show an increase in value over the total re-exports of 1893 of Hk. Tls. 1,579,000.
4.Shipping. The shipping trade was active and rates of freight remunerative, especially in the coasting traffic. Of vessels employed in the foreign trade, the total entries were 4.059, of 3,804,000 tons, or an increase of 24: entries, aggregating 221,000 tons, over the figures of 1893. In the coasting trade the entries amounted to 14.770, of 10.995,000 ton's, or a trifle less than for the preceding year, 48 several Chinese steamers ceased running in consequence of the war.
T
Net imports, market value Less re-exports to Korea Net imports into China... Deduct import duty.. Deduet opium duty
273
Hk. 11s. 104,102,911
432,133
161,670,778
4,652,202 6,944,166
11,596,368
150,074,410
10,505,209
139,569,201
Hk. Tls.
Imports, less duty, etc.. Deduct 7 per cent. for charges, eto,
Exports to foreign countries, market value 128,104,522 Exports to Korea...
892,868 Less imports from Korea
439,358
5-Treasure. The net shipment of gold bars attained the high total of Hk. Is. 12.774.000 (£2,044,025), wb ch exceeds the export of 1893 by Hk. Tls. 5.315,000. The importation of silver bullion and sycee was Hk. Tls. 87,120,000, against Hk. Tls. 20,687,000 during 1893. Shipments of sycee, Hk.Tls. 10,731,000, were about the same as for the previous year, Hk.Tls. 9,883,500; but adding together the value of gold and silver bullion, inwards and outwards, the result gives a net importation for the year of Hk. Tis 13,613,000, as compared with Hk.Tls. 2,945,000 in 1893.
6.—Values.—The following statement of the estimated value of the foreign import and export trade, exclusive of bullion. is calculated in the same way as in the report for 1890:-
Total exports
Add duty, estimated at.. Add 8 per cent. on market value for
charges, etc.
453,510
128,558,032 5,847,367
10,284,643
144,690,042
H. Korson, Statistical Secretary. Shanghai, 12th March, 1895.
COLONIAL COURT OF ADMIRALTY.
2nd April.
IN APPEAL.
BEFORE THE FULL COURT AND COMMANDER W. C. H. HASTINGS (Assessor).
THE SCOTTISH ORIENTAL COMPANY, LIMITED, V. THE RIO.
Mr. J. J. Francis, Q C., appeared for the plain- tiffs, who are the respondents, and Mr. A. J. Leach, Q.C., Acting Attorney-General, repre- sented the defendants, who are the appellants..
The Acting Attorney-General said this was an appeal from the judgment of the late Acting Chief Justice, Mr. Ackroyd, sitting in Admiralty, who awarded the plaintiffs the full amount claimed, $20.000, in respect of services rendered by their shiph Pra Chom Klao to the steamer Rio, which was rescued, when in a somewhat critical condition about 10th September last. The appeal was brought to the full court. It was the first time that an appeal of this kind had been brought to the full court, and it was by reason of the Colonial Court and Admiralty Jurisdiction Act, which was passed in 1890. For merly all appeals from the Admiralty Court were to the Privy Council, but under this Act the judgment of the lower Court was subjected to appeal to the local Court.
His Lordship, interrupting, said he thought it would be better, to have an assessor in the case, as he did not know how much of the matter might hinge on nautical matters.
Mr. Francis said he did not object.
The Acting Attorney-General, continuing, ex- plained that the Scottish Oriental Steamship Com- pany were the owners of the Phra Chom Klao, the plaintiffs it appeared that on the 10th Septem which was worth £20,000. From the petition of
ber whilst the Phra Chom Klo was on her way from Bangkok to Hongkong she saw signals of distress.
She neared the distressed vessel, which was the Rio, and there was some agreement between the two captains, whereby the Rio cap- tain accepted offer of towage from the captain of the Phra Chom Klao leaving terms of pay. ment to be settled in Hongkong. The petition went on to say that the Rio was at the time on a voyage from Saigon to Hongkong, with a cargo of rice and 800 Chinese passengers. Two days after she left Saigon the shaft broke aud the stern tube was damaged, the consequence being that the vessel leaked heavily. She had then been drifting for two days, and the petition set forth the services rendered by the Phra Chom Klao in rescuing the Rio from a dangerous and critical condition, as in case of heavy wea ther or & typhoon she would have been in great danger of total loss. The petition further stated that the Phra Chom Klao ran a considerable risk in effecting the rescue and was delayed 24 days. The value of the Rio was said to be $65,000, and the cargo was valued at $14,000. The writ in the action claimed $20,000
for services rendered, and the total amount was awarded by the judge. The answer set up was that the Rio was not in an absolutely helpless condition, and it also set up that the claim was one of towage only, and that the question of
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