reports that some Chinese isuing a steamship company to run two steamers regularly between Kobe and Shanghai, via Nagasaki. It can command Chi- nese business. An experiment will be made by at first chartering steamers, and one vessel has already been secured.
We (Mercury) learn that the Newchwang lightship which we reported a few days ago to be overdue at her destination left Chefoot on the 12th December for Shanghai, to winter there. She anchored off the Amberstock, dut- side the Tungsha Lightship, on the 16th and on the 18th was taken in tow by the Chuentiao and | brought inside to Woosung,
At Shanghai a year's imprisonment each has just been given to two Chinamen for defac ing two Chartered Bank notes, of $5 and $1 value, so as to make them appear of the value of $500 and $100 respectively and for passing them, well knowing them to be below their value. thereby defrauding the complainants. viz., two Chinese bankers, of the amounts named, in Tiendong Road on the 19th Decem-
ber.
The Amoy Gazette of the 16th December saysWe very much regret to have to chronicle the death of Mrs. C. T. Gardner, the beloved wife of Mr. Gardner, H.B.M. Consul at this port, which occurred yesterday morning at her residence in Kulangsoo. The funeral took place this morning at 7.30 a.m. and was attended by the Consular body, the members of the whole foreign community, and the captain, officers, and detachment of bluejackets from H.M.S. Caroline now in harbour.
The
Looker-on in the Japan Gazette says :-' ladies are taking to cycling in Yokohama and when once it becomes popular amongst them we may look for developments in quite unexpected quarters. There still lingers in the minds of many a prejudice against this form of amuse. ment, but even in such a conservative community as ours that is not ineradicable. A visitor, an American I believe, has been seeu iu bloomers and a short jacket. The bifurcated garments are not things of beauty and there is room for much improvement. The question of a lady cyclist's dress is still a puzzling problem. Skirts are evidently very inconvenient, and knicker- bockers are neither fashionable nor graceful. But whatever the dress finally adopted it will be pretty. Bloomers are not pretty. On the contrary they make the handsomest women look ridiculous.
Keen competition is going on between the inhabitants of Fukuoka and Karatsu about the selection of a new port for foreign commerce, remarks the Japan Mail. These two places
were in former times centres of trade with China, Fukuoka being the older. It is now generally felt that the rapid growth of industry and trade in Kyushu will necessitate the opening of a new port for foreign trade in the north of the island, and consequently great efforts are being made by the inhabitants of each place to have their own port selected for the
purpose. As a practical means of attaining their object, they are competing with each other in schemes to im prove their harbours. In the case of Karatsu, the port designed is not the one usually known by that name, but another in the same bay a little to the eastward, named Funakoshi. De- putations from both towns are now competing in Tokyo for the help of capitalists, and are also seeking to sound official views.
Our Anjer correspondent writes under date of 18th December:-Early yesterday morning a storm of unusual severity with vivid lightning and thunder and very heavy rain passed over Bodjong Aujer. The tom-tom sounded for a Baudjir at eleven o'clock. I went at once to see that the boats were properly secured and on re- turning to my house I found a rush of water coming from the mountains with great violence, which entirely flooded the place, the water not finding sufficient outlet to the sea. The water
rose above two feet and flooded my house, which is only a foot from the ground, leaving a mass of mud all over the place. The other houses being raised about three feet from the ground escaped. On making enquiries into the cause of the flood we found that some large landslips had occurred at the foot of the mountains some two miles from us. The water subsided about two o'clock. At the time of, writing it is still. threatening rain and blowing hard from the westward.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
Reliable private advices inform ds (China Gazette) that there is serious friction between Baron Schenk Zu Schweinsberg, the German Minister in Peking, and M. von Brandt, the ex-Minister, who is now devoting his attention to mercantile questions Baron Schweinsberg's reputation as a diplomatist stands very high in Peking and also with his own Government and he very naturally objects to any dictation from his venerable predecessor as to how he should manage his business.
13
a picul
Settlements reported since 13th instant:—
Pingsuey Moyune Tienkai Fychow Local Packed
-chts.
1,792 shipped.
2,694 at Tls. 14.75 to 27:00
831
82
11
164 shipped.
Total...... 4,568 |-chts.
13.50 to 29.00
20.25
Total settlements from opening of the market. to date :- Pingsuey...180,916 }.chts.agairɛt 162,111 1-chts. Moyune 117,805
104,809 Fychow, Tienkai $2,260 23,862 Local P'ked. 22,621
"
1
76,535
"
"
18,097
17
17,136
Total... .437,462 J-cuts. Total 378,688 -chts. Total arrivals to date are:-441,828 half-chests,
The China Gazelle says:-Numerous enquiries Chinese Government for experienced and com- have lately been in progress on behalf of the
eigners being excluded to proceed to some place petent navigators, British only, all other for- abroad to bring out a new fleet of warships to China. Some have been already engaged by Wang Wen-shao. Viceroy of Chibli, or his de. against 379,236 half-chests to same date last year. puties, and tempting terms are offered to the right men. exactly they are to go but from information It is very difficult to learn where that has reached us we believe the ships have been purchased from the Chilian Government, the Japanese or Chinese during the war. which was willing to part with them to either
The China Gazette of the 21st December says:-There are no less than three vessels badly ashore up the angtsze at the present their owners in trusting to native pilots. The moment, all undoubtedly due to the economy of first is a large two funnelled Chinese man-of-war, which has been stuck abore Wuhu for some four mouths. She has had her stem badly twisted in the efforts hade to get her off. but she is still hard and fast and bids fair to remain in her present position for many a long day. Then there is a Chinese despatch vessel belong. down in a tearing hurry and piled herself high ing to the Viceroy Chang, which was coming up abreast of the Calliope shoal. Thirdly, the steamer Smith, belonging to the defunct Formo- san Government, is stuck on the shore at Gravener island with very little chance of getting off until next year. So much for Chinese pilots.
At Kobe on the 23rd December a fire occurred on the steamer Azer. From the Chronicle we learn that the fire broke out in No. 2 hold, where coolies bad bed discharging American cotton shipped at Yokohama. There were about fifty bales to be discharged when the fire smoke was quickly noticed and the bales were occurred, and the hatches were open, so that the soon hoisted on to the deck and deluged with charred, but the cotton being so tightly packed water. Most of the bales were more or less it was able to offer a good deal of resistance to the fire. The Russian and Japanese men-of-war in the harbour sent really help, but fortunately the ship's crew were quite able to cope with the how the fire occurred; it is conjectured that it outbreak. Though it is not definitely known resulted from the coplies smoking- a lighted match, perhaps, being thoughtlessly thrown
bay on the 24th, but as inspections by Lloyd's surveyor and the surveyor of the Marine In- surance Company were necessary, the departure of the ship was postponed till daybreak on the 25th.
down. The Azamor was to have left for Bom-
rates.
COMMERCIAL.
TEA.
SHANGHAI, 27th December.-(From Messra. Welch, Lewis & Co. circular).-Black Tea.- A small business has been done at about previous
The following settlepients are reported:
reported Ningehow... 452 1-cht at Tls. 12 & picul Wenchow 201 shipped. Oonam
nt Tls. 13
213
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"
EXPORT OF TEA FROM CHINA TO GREAT BRITAIN.
Canton and Macao Amoy Foochow
1895-96
lbs. 6,902,824 440,673 .11.175,408
1804-95 lbs. 6,797,828
719,368
14,357,248
21,394,493
39,243,179
43,268,937
Shangbai and Hankow,20,724,674
EXPORT OF TEA FROM CHINA TO UNITED STATES AND CANADA,
Amoy..... Foochow
Shanghai
1995-96. lbs. 11,59,937 6,066,651
1891-95
lbs.
16,535,397
4.626,555
.27,873,078
24,972,926
45,532,666
46,134,878
EXPORT OF TEA FROM CHINA TO ODESSA.
1893-06 Ihs.
1894-95
lus. 22,555,223
Hankow and Shanghai...27,210,863
EXPORT QF TEA FROM JAPAN TO UNITED STATES AND CANADA.
Yokobanta Kobe
1895-96
lbs. .29,236,741 .18,012,100
1891-95 Ibs. 27,938,522
16,15,509
47.248.841 44,095,031
SILK.
SHANGHAI, 26th December.- (From
Messrs.
Cromie and Burkill's circular.)-London tele-
grams dated 23rd instant report the Silk market quiet," Gold Kiling 5,1), and Blue Elephants
holidays, the business done this week has been on 10/74. Raw Silk.-Partly owing to adverse news from Europe, as well as the States, and Christmas
for a renewal of business generally. a very small sca'e. The Chinese remain very firm in their demands, and seem inclined to wait
Tsatlees.-
A small parcel of Blue Elephants have been taken at Tls. 430. Taysanms.-Small business at qi¬ta- tions. Yellow Silks-Soveral parcels have changed hands at prices which show a light advance. Arrivals, as per Customs Returns, from the 19th to the 24th December are 476 bales of White, 126 bales of Yellow and 79 bales of Wild Silk Re-reels and Filatures.-No business to report. Waste Silk.-A parcel of Curlies I, II, III has been taken at Tls. 68. and there are now no stocks of this article. There is a small business doing in Hunkow Frisonets (whole bales) at Tls. 17. Pougees.-Small transactions at previous
rates.
Purchases included:-Tsatlees.-Blue Elephant at Tls. 430. Tayzaam.-Green. Kahing] Gr Almond Flower 1 at T. 322), 9/12 Moss Gold Bear Ext 1 at Tls. 255. Skeins.-Chingyung at Tls. 227 to Tls. 2421. Yellow Silk-Mien chew at Tls. 287, Fooyang at Tls. 2071 to Stock.-9,463 half-bests, against 4814 half. Tls. 2171. Wongyi at 11s. 1973 to Tla 2124, Wong- chests at same date last year.
chow at Tis. 195, Szechong at Tls. 175.
Total
871 1-chests.
EXPORT OF SILK FROM CHINA AND
JAPAN TO EUROPE.
1895-96
Green Teas.-Ping-y.-Settlemen's reported ea. The market has been quiet. Tea-men are are almost entirely on native account. Country firm in their demands but buyers are unwilling to give any advance on previous prices. Arrivals expected from the country. Steamer rates to have been small and very little more can now be Shanghai New York via ez Chual have been reduced to Yokohama
Canton £1.1.0. though rats to London remain at £2. 10. 0 for 40 cubic féet.
1894-95
bales.
bales.
43,064
$2,571
11,148
8,046
14 199
13,058
68,411
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