میشه
October 20, 1000:1
for that in the near future, and it is meanwhile satisfactory to note the hopeful prospects for their success. The figures above given were appreciably added to by the importation of rail- way material to the value of £502,778, and u considerable portion of the imported treasure was doubtless for payment of the large number of Chinese coolies employed by the Russo- Chinese line.
The net import of foreign goods was £3,266,390, against £1,511,067 in 1898. Even after deduoting the 500,000 for railway plant, the increase is still extraordinary. The prin- cipal items are opium, £109,490; cotton goods, £2,033,700; woollen goods, £50,690; metals, £119,536; and sundries, £945,033. In the large increase of cotton goods import Eng land did not share, English yarn, jean, and sheetings all diminishing. Japanese goods, on the contrary, increased greatly. Mr. Fulford says:The growth of the direct trade of the port with Japan is remarkable, both in exports to and imports from Japan. The figures for the latter were £258,600 in 1899, against £84,555 in 1898.
The total net exports in 1899 were of the value of £3,092,362, against £2,462,611 in 1898. Of this amount £1,303,685 went to fereign countries and £1,788,677 to other Chinese ports. Of the exports to foreign countries, goods to the value of £1,213,769 went to Japan. The total tonnage entered and cleared at Newchwang in 1899 was 1,006,418 tons, made up of, 44 sailing vessels of 25,496 tons and 1,120 steamers of 980,922 tons. The progress made by the Japanese flag in the previous year was fully maintained, and for the first time in the history of the port the Japanese flag takes the lead in the number of vessels. In tonnage the British flag is ahead. The increase of Japanese vessels is the natural result of the great increase of direct trade with Japan, and determination of the Japanese to be their own carriers. The trade of Japan with Manchuria is assuming very large proportions; nearly one- half of the exports, principally beancakes and leans, from Newchwang going to that country, while Japanese manufactured goods are finding a readier market in Newchwang.
The most noteworthy events in connection with the port in 1899, continues Mr. Fulford, were the progress of the two railways; the one from Tientsin being called the Chinese Railway and the Russo-Chinese line called the Chinese Eastern Railway. The Chinese Railway is now in working communication with Ying-tzu (the real name of the port of Newchwang, a town distant 30 miles to the north-east). Regular time table traffic at present ceases at Chin-chow- fu, 286 miles from Tientsin.
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As regards the Russo-Chinese line the rate of progress anticipated in the last report has not been realised for several reasons. Owing to the outbreak of plague during the latter half of the year audithe attempt to keep the Chinese coolies engaged on the railway within the railway lines, considerable discontent prevailed, and thousands left the works, causing still greater derangement and delay in the work of construction. Nevertheless the line is now practically open for construction trains between Ta-lion-wan and Monkden, with a continuation to Port Arthur, and a branch lime from Ta- Shih-Ch'ino on the main line to this port. During last year a great quantity of plant and material was landed at the port and conveyed by this branch to the main line, but the Russian steamers are now diverted to Port Arthur, and the material conveyed up the main line. It was desired to run the main line close to Moukden, but on account of strenuous Chinese official objections, the route, followed is to the west of that town, the nearest point being 10 miles from the city. The terminus of the Chinese line is at Hsin-Min-Ting, 40 miles to the west of Monkden, on the west side of the Liao river.
Of the coal-mines at 10 miles east of Yen-tai | on the Russo-Chinese line. Mr. Fulford says:- The coal field is large, but at least five years must elapse before it can be properly opened ont, or any great surplus be available for export. It is, however, olear that eventually this port (Dalny), and Port Arthur will be closed to Tientsin and Japanese coal, The coal, though good steam coal, is somewhat dirty, but this will be remedied to a great extent by the use of cleaning plant already ordered.
Inquiries were made during the year as to
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
the possibility of steam-launch navigation, under the Inland Waters Rules, on the Liso River The conclusion arrived at by those interested was that the navigable waterways of the Liao River were so limited, and would be so complete. ly commanded by the Russo-Chinese Railway, which will run practically parallel with them, and have the advantage of continuous transit from more distant centres of trade, that it was not worth the investment of the necessary cap. ital and the inevitable struggle with vested in terests for the attainment of what was likely to be a short-lived advantage,
KIUKIANG.
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emselves”.
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launch, but after a few trips the withdrawn, and since then the Chi panies have had the field to
Nanchang Mr. Brady says:-" Under the
Of the trade by the Poyang Lake and to sent Rules for Inland Water Navigation, it is doubtful if steamers would find it profitable to engage in the trade two difficulties lie in the way, the opposition which the advent of stea mers under a foreign flag would be sure to give rise to on the part of the Provincial Govern- ment, and the antagonism of the native junk masters; the impossibility, too, of opening firm or even a warehouse for the storing of cargo would also militate against the success of the undertaking.
It may be said in conclusion that the trade of the port waits with mingled hope and apprehen- sion to see the effect which the completion of the railways will have upon the business of the district. Such facilities of transport cannot year to introduce the Chinkisng system of ont- A vigorous attempt was made during the fail to increase the volume of trade, but it reward transit trade in Kinkiang, but it met with mains to be seen if they will divert it into other such determined opposition in the part of lekin channels.
administration, whose interests were threatened, that it met with little success. The officials hold that foreigners have only the privilege of bringing down their own goods from the in- Treaty gives them the right to extend this terior under pass, and they deny that the protection to goods the property of their native clients. This has been the practice for many years at Chinkiang, and though it undoubtedly stimulates the export trade it cannot be denied that it inflicts serious loss on the Provincial Exchequer, all goods, whether foreign or Chi- nese owned, escaping lekin en route to the port of shipment, and being subject only to the pay- ment of the 24 per cont. transit duty to the Imperial Customs.
This Yangtze port has shared in the un- precedented development of China trade in 1899. It is gratifying to note, says Mr. Consul H. F. Brady, who writes the report for last year, that there has been an advance of considerably over 1,000,000 taols on the figures for the previous year-which were themselves the record for the port. The net volume of trade was 18,562,941, divided as follows:-foreign imports 7,924,471 tls., native imports 1,584,362 tls., exports 9,054,108 tls.
sheetings (English, Bombay, and American), Among Imports the main increases were in cottons, cottonyarn, lead, dyes, and matches, both European and Japanese, Indian opium increased 345 piculs on 1898; the result without doubt, says Mr. Bardy, of the good harvest of last year. The increase is unlikely to be maintained, as the drug costs too much for the ordinary smoker. Russian kerosene increased about 90 per cent., American was steady, but Sumatran showed a large falling off. Korosene now figures as one of the most important items in the customs returns. Sugar, the only import handled by foreign firms in Kiukiang, is the product of the Hongkong refineries. The trade is developing but liable to fluctuations, accord- ing as the local crop is good or bad.
show a marked improvement, due to the good Nearly all the articles composing the exports harvest which was reaped throughout the pro- vince. There were no floods, and the people were able to cultivate the low-lying lands adja cent to the banks of the rivers, which in many years are devastated by inundations before the crops can be gathered; hence such articles as beans and peas, ground nuts, hemp, indigo and sesamuin seeds, were all the excess of local requirements and were exported in large quan- tities. Chinaware, which is the special industry of Kiangsi, continues to increase in quantity, though it cannot be said that the ware is improving. Little care and less skill is bostow ed on the manufacture, and now that crude aniline dyes are employed in its decoration it is even depreciating in the eyes of the Chinese.
does not appear to have been a very profitable Of tea Mr. Brady says:-"The past season or prosperous one for foreign buyers, many of the shipments having met with a poor reception on the London market; and native dealers also seem to have been badly hit. The returns show än improvement on the two preceding years, but a considerable shrinkage is anticipated in the coming season.”
Native imports are of little interest to the foreign merchant and call for no remark.
The number of vessels entered and cleared during the year was 3,389, of a total tonnage of 2,866,196 tons, but the actual number of vessels which were employed as regular traders to the port amounted to only 21, of which 13 were British, 5 Chinese and 3 Japanose. The latter, however, having no wharf accommodation, con fined their attention to the native passenger traffic, and did not participate in the carrying trade, which may be said to have been carried on exclusively under the Chinese and British flags, the former being interested therein to the extent of nearly 5,700,000 taels (£855,000) and the latter to 12,800,000 taels (£1,920,000)
The British flag is still unrepresented on the Inland Waters. A British firm attempted to engage in the trade by means of a chartered
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HONGKONG.
Since last week's issue there have been four year are now:-1.079 cases, 1,021 deaths. cases of plaguo, all fatal: The figures for the
The return of visitors to the City Hall Library and Museum for last week shows that 446 non-Chinese and 137 Chinese visited the former, 208 non-Chinese and 2,151 Chinese the latter institution.
the 15th inst. a man struck him in the face and As a Chinese boy was going an errand on took some money from him. Fortunately the man was caught, and on the 17th inst. he was. sentenced to three weeks' haid labour.
Early on the 17th inst. a district watchm dragging a couple of wooden spars along. He saw a Chinaman near the Ching Hing Theatre took him to the Police Station and enquiries disclosed the fact that the man was taking away something which did not belong to him, for doing which he has been sentenced to three weeks' hard labour.
by Inspector Warnock and a number of police A number of gamblers caught playing potze at No. 25, Elgin Street, were fined on the 12th inst. two $15 for keeping a gaming house and the rest 83 each for gambling. Two of the men wero without queues. So anxious were they to out their queues, which were held by a constable. escape from the clutches of the police that they They wore, however, captured again almost immediately.
On the 11th inştant P. C. Wiltshire Was police pinnaces when he saw a cargo koat laden on duty near Kernedytown in one of the with goats and sheep, there being 80 of the former and 45 of the latter. There was no some of them were lying down while others were room for them all to stand, and consequently standing upon them. Ng Hop, the master of the boat, appeared before Mr. Hazeland on the 12th inst. and was fined $10, or 14 days, for cruelty to animals.
quarters at West Point. Temporary accommo The Government purpose erecting new police dation is to bo provided for them in a mat-shed. tion. which is being put up on the Prays Reclama-
On the 13th inst. Inspector Baker and a Chinese detective visited the mat-shed. and found some men sleeping there. Two escaped through the window and two were arrested. One of the latter had 12 cents in pocket and the other nothing. They Inspector they had nowhere to go. taken before Mr. Hazeland on the 15th in of the defendants said he father, who he was told had Yaumati. They were 14 days, as roguss and
o priach for
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