July 29, 1901.]
1
WATER RETURN.
Level and Storage of WATER IN RESER- VOIRS ON THE 1ST JULY, 1901.
LEVEL. 1900.
1901. Above overflow. Below overdow. Tytam
0 ft. 7 in. 27 ft. 114 in. Pokfulam
1 ft. 3 in. 10 ft. 7 in. Wongnaicheong 0 ft. 3 in. 44 ft. 10 in. STORAGE GALLONS.
Tytam
>
1900. 389,840,000
1901. 189,580,000
Pokfulam..... 68,740,000 * 43,040,000 Wongnaicheong 30,782,000 23,000
<
Total...... 489,282,000 232,643,000 CONSUMPTION OF WATER IN THE CITY OF VICTORIA AND HILL DISTRICT DURING THE MONTH of June.
1900.
1901.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. interference without consideration and with such sternness as will bring palpable results. How that is to be done, Great Britain's gunboat policy toward China in the past will show. Bat, in particular, no consideration must be shown to an incapable and corrupt government. The farce of keeping the Court at Hsianfu must be put an end to at once.*
Our contemporary continues at great length in the same strain, advocating stern measures and no consideration to either the rebols or the government of China, especially should it be proved that the government is still fostering these anti-foreign outbreaks. A sure sign that the Court favours the rebels is deduced from the fact that Prince Pu-chüu has left Hsianfu and joined his father, Prince Tuan. The writer says it is most improbable that the Empress Dowager was ignorant of the heir-apparent's departure. He is absolutely convinced that the friendliest of relations exist between Prince
Consumption 97,401,000 111,119,000 gallons Tuan and the Empress Dowager, and thinks
Estimated popu-
...
lation Consumption per
206,500 212,500
head per day.
157 17.4 gallons CONSUMPTION of Water in KOWLOON PEN-. INSULA DURING THE MONTH of June.
1900. Consumption... 9,190,300
Estimated popu-
lation
Consumption per
28,200
1901. 11,911,000 gallons
29,400
head per day..Æ“ 10.8 13.5 gallons The Government Analyst reports that the water is of excellent quality.
W. CHATHAM,
Water Authority.
ARE WE AT THE END?
Tuan is only waiting for a sign from Hsianfu again to attack the foreign devils. The whole article is thoroughly pessimistic in tone, and from the writer's point of view little or no hope exists of the integrity of China.
95
advance would take place. The local average" price declared was $74.90 per picul, an increase of nearly $2 on the 1899 average price. To the United Kingdom nearly 26,000 tons were sent, an increase of over 8,000 tons, and to the United States of America nearly 14,000 tons, a | decrease of 5,500 tons.
Coal imports are the heaviest on record having increased by 123,000 tons. Japan coal has considerably incrased its average price and shows an increase of 162,000 tons over the previous year's figures. Cardiff coal impor- tod decreased in quantity by 15,000 tons, Australian coal imported decrased by 20,000 tous and Borneo coal by 19,000; while Bengal coal showed the same as in 1809, viz., 75,00J2 tons.
The
enormous expansion in the Sumatra petroleum industry is worthy of note. No less than a quantity equal to over 1 1/5 million cases of 65 lbs. each was imported, representing two-thirds of the whole supply. Datch Borneo for the first time figures in the returns as a supplier of this oil, having sent 132,000 cases, American and Russian oils both declined and Burma sent only 52,000 casos-less than half the previous year's supply. The total tonnage of merchant vessels
THE STRAITS SETTLEMENTS IN arriving and departing was 14,469,405 as com-
1900.
pared with 13,187,010 in 1899. The Light dues amounted to $158,572.
Four hundred and twelve new vessels aggregating 9,487 tons were built in Sing-
GENERAL.
The annual report on the Straits Settlements for 1900, bearing the signature of Mr. Kyn-apore during the year. Hersley as Acting Colonial Secretary, is now published. It shows that the revenue for 1900 amounted to $5,386,927, the three Settlements contributing as follows:-Singapore $3,244.431, Penang 81,736,13", and Malacca $406,366. There was an increase of $186,901 as compared with the revenue for 1899.
December, 1900, was $2,053,134 as compared with $2,693,065 on the same date in 1899. The Colony has no debt.
British dollars to the value of $21,571,488 were imported by the local Banks alone, as compared with $29,349,725 in 1899. Other dollars to the value of $3,988,750 were imported by the Banks. The revenue of the three Municipalities amounted to $1,684,149, and their xependiture, including a sum of $13,260 expended on Loan Works in Singapore, to $1,737,962.
COMMERCE.
The expenditure was $6,037,684, as compared This is the question asked by Ostasiatische | with $5,060,523 in 1899 and $4,587,366 in 1898. Lloyd of the 12th inst., in a most pessimistic The balance to the credit of the Colony on 31st editorial article. Our contemporary after re- calling its opinion published about three months ago, goes on to say that we know just as little now as to the real situation. In fact none but the different diplomatic officials know really what takes place in North China, and there is every reason to doubt if even they have any certainty. Of course there is no lack of assurances that things will straighten them selves out and regain their normal state, but that one must reckon with the habitual slowness of the Chinese, and therefore not expect the quick settlement of a matter in which so many important points are involved; Trade with countries having a gold standard everything will eventually be settled amicably increased by 17 per cent. with silver countries and with mutual goodwill.
by 5 per cent., but included in the former class In Europe and America, our contemporary are places under Dutch rule where silver dollars continues, people listen with great satisfac- are for all purposes the only medium of exchange. tion to such farcical peace assurances. wish that everything may be
The Freights are still controlled by the Shipping as it is Conference and during the year frequent altera- represented is father to the thought. In tions of rates have taken place. New York tin Germany the government is effusively thanked importers pay 15/- a ton compared with 27/6 for having at last broken away from China and withdrawn the troops. "As it is in our native land, so it seems to be in the homes of all the other Allies. But we, who are a few thousand miles nearer, and can feel the influence of the conditions prevailing in North China, cannot understand these ebullutions of joy,"
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claim it may be noted that 13 sailing vessels cleared from Singapore with cargces in 1900, of which 2 only were for Marseilles.
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paid by the Liverpool consignee-a distinct advantage to the American Tin-plate maker over his Welsh rivals. Meanwhile it is re- ported that Macassar and Java are receiving cargo formerly sent to Sigapore. The grow. ing influence of Germany as an oversea carrying power in these waters is more marked than The Ostosiatische Lloyd then proceeds to ever, and this result is largely due to the refer to the alarming reports which have tactics of the Shipping Conference who, not reached Shanghai from the North about a content with ousting tramp steamers from recrudescence of the troubles of last year and theso Sens, now notify that Shippers are the powerlessness of the Chinese authorities warned that shipments by sailer may be pro- against rebellion, and continues:-"The fact is hibited (except to Marseilles) to all Conference that the secret conspiracies in North China supporters." In connection with this prohibition have not been rooted out, and that fresh risings are taking place all over the North. In our opinion there are only two causes possible. Either the anti-foreign movements: are still fostered by the Chinese Government, or the Chinese authorities have no power to suppress them Accepting for the nonce that the latter is the cause, in this case the Allies must first consider The value of exports of merchandise exported whether after having left sufficient troops to from the Colony increased by 237 million dollars guard the lives and interests of their country or 11 per cent, the total export trade in 1900 men settled at Tientsin, Peking, Paotingfu being nearly 240 million dollars or £241 million and other places, it is necessary
or sterling. Tin exports valued over 61 million advisable to intervene further.
We dollars, an increase of nearly 5 million, due to think, taking everything into consideration an increased output combined with an increased that it is, and that the withdrawal of troops average price. before definite results have been obtained will Tin exports recorded 48,000 tons, an increase' be a cause of grave danger to the Fowers in- of about 3,000 or 6 per cent., although the terested. The Allies ought to prosecute their anticipation was general that a considerable
The value of Imports of merchandise in- creased by over 333 million dollars of over 134%, the total amounting to nearly 279.9/10 million dollars or £281 million sterling,
The population of the Colony which was 512,342 by the Census of 1891 is new estimated to be 617,595. During the year 1900 there were registered 14,814 births, of which 7,700 were malo and 7,114 female children.
Speaking gonerally it may be said that there
the Colony as a whole, intimately connected are many signs of the increasing prosperity of
as it is with the welfare of the Federated
Malay States. The towns of Singapore and George Town, Penang, continue to extend. Immigration from China and India shows satisfactory increase. The value of town property has enormously increased. The letting of the Excise Farms for the next triennial period at such a greatly enhanced rate, not withstanding the high price of opium, may be taken as an index of the prosperity of the place. Concurrently with a general increase in trade and business the cost of living has advanced enormously. House rent both in Singapore and Penang has risen greatly while the price of labour and building materials deters many from investing their capital in building operations. The increased output and high price of tin in the Federated Malay States, the bulk of which finds its way to the smelting works in the Colony, have largely contributed to the wealth of the popula tion, especially the many of whom have made fortunes ont of tin and invest a large proportion of their gains in the Colony.
TRADE OF SINGAPORE.
The Annual Report on the Straits Settle- ments for 1900 contains the following remarks on the trade outlook of the Colony :-
The tonnage of German shipping in these waters has enormously increased of late and the Germans have principally benefited from the action of the Shipping Conference, which by arbitrarily raising freights has tended to drive trade to other neighbouring ports. Produce, for instance, is now shipped direct from Macas- sar "which formerly found its way to Sings- pore. Of late years trade with the Philippines has declined, copra, coffee and other produce being now shipped direct to Europe or America There is still a considerable import of hides. It is impossible to say at present what effect the transfer of these islands from Spanish to American rule will have on the trade of this Colony. From Bangkok paper it appears that whereas formerly 80 per cent of the ship- ping that entered that port was British, now Germany has the lead. Of the 440 steamers that entered the port in 1900, 44 per cent, were under the German flag and 38 per cent. under the British. Of the total value of cargoes from foreign countries, 58 per cent. came by German vessels, and 34 per cent. by British. Of the outward cargoes to foreign countries, 54 per cent. went in German, and 34 per cent. in British bottoms.
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