November 3, 1902.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
"goods claiming the old Tariff privileges being en route to the East up to the last possible moment."
"attributable to disorder and consequent spare population." There is no doubt much truth in this. Without admitting that regulations have not a good deal to do with The total value of foreign goods imported the restriction of trade, we may well recognise into Shanghai in 1901, exclusive of re- that piracy, by land and water, is still more exports, was estimated at one hundred and disastrous in its effects. Unfortunately the fifty-five and a half millions of taels, thirty disturbed state of the West River country five and a half millions better than in 1900 is not only tra litional but is particularly and six millions better than in 1899. It is marked in late years. Until this is more very satisfactory to read that the countries vigorously dealt with than hitherto, the which showed most largely in the improve- West River trade cabunt but suffer heavily. I ment were India, with a trade of 12 Happily usither the Chinese Government's | million taels; Hongkong, with 10 millious: Commissioner nor the British Consul now and the United States, with 64 millions. tries to conceal the gravity of the burden. It is to be noted that Hongkong Mill yarn imposed upon commerce by the disorderly was imported into Shanghai for the first condition of Kwangtung and Kwangsi. time in 1901, to the extent of 2,550 piculs. The Chinese authorities have no excuse if Exports and re-exports during the year they shut their eyes to the serious damage showed an increase of two and three-quarter which their country is suffering through millions of taels on the 1900 figures. The the uncontrolled license of the law-breaking items which improved in demand were element in the Two Kwang provinces. With bristles, curios, fungus, hemp, hides, the advent of a now Viceroy to Canton it is sesamum seed, vegetable oils, and animal. high time that the British Government and vegetable tallow. More raw silk, too, made another representation with regard to was exported than in 1900, but the trade is the state of affairs on the West River. described by Mr. Honson as unprofitable Hongkong should support such a repre. to both buyers and sellers, to the former ou sentation to the utmost extent of its power. account of the fall in exchange and to the lafter owing to the fluctuations in tael rates. A big decline occurred in the export of tea. The crop was only a fair average one," ad, says the report. had it not been for the small stocks in the United States, Canada, and Great Britain, plus shortage of supply, the prices paid could never have heen maintained." As with imports and exports, the coast trade showed a very considerable increase on the previous year's figures, and the inland transit trade was Hourishing. Mr. Honsox draws attention to the fact that out of 10,202 passes applied for only 184 were on behalf of foreign lips. During the year 177 passes were applied for for German goods, and three each for British and Japanese goods forwarded
SHANGHAIS TRADE IN 1901.
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(Daily Press, 30th October.) At the beginning of the year 1901 the prospects of the trade of our northern neigh- bour, the port of Shanghai, did not look of the best. The troubles up north, if not at their height, were at least still very grave, trade there was almost at a standstill, hostilities of a kind were being carried on without cessation, and it could not be fore told when or even whether the Imperial; Court would be persuaded to return to Peking. The columrcial prosperity of Shanghai was still encountering the trials, as Mr. H. F. Hossox, the Commissioner, writes in his trade report for Shanghai in 1901, of "wild rumours intended to 'bear' markets, increase in duty levies, floods, pestilence, and destitution in the Yangtsze Valley." Yet, in spite of all, the season proved a financially successful one for most branches of commerce, and no failures of any moment occured in either foreign or native mercantile circles. Indeed the 1901 trade figures showed a gain of 22 per cent. in gross and 20 per cent. in net value over those; of 1900, and 78 per cent. gross and 90 per cent. net over those of the first year of the decade figures which must be admitted to be gratifying. The most noteworthy "feature of the season," says Mr. HoBSON,
was the raising of the maritimne Import | Duty to an effective five per cent., "and the removal from the duty-free list of "articles formerly figuring in it, with "the exception of foreign rice, cereals, "flour, and coined and uncoined gold and · "silver. A sweeping change like this might well have caused great hardships to merchants; but the introduction of the new régime, though attended with much, anxiety and trouble, caused less friction than might have been anticipated, thanks "to the acceptance by the Customs of a "temporary specific tariff on piece goods compiled by the American, British, German, and Japanese Associations of "Commerce." The revenue collected was the highest on record for Shanghai, its total of Hk. Tls. 8,152,696 being Hk. Tls. 32,000 better than the total of 1899, the previous record year. Every heading showed increase, especially those of Import and Export Duties: "This is the more satis- factory," says the Commissioner, since "little of the increase noted can be due to
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THE WATER SUPPLY.
(Daily Press, 31st October.)
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It was curious to think, in the midst of the gloom and damp which marked the greater part of yesterday, that in two days' time the Colony might be reduced once more to the “ enjoyment of a curtailed water supply. The quantity of rain which has fallen since Mr. CHATHAM's notice was issued cannot have altered the situation, and we may therefore take it that, in default of very wet weather to-day, we shall awake to- morrow to find that our water supply is only available during the hours specified in the Water Authority's advertisement. After the unusally wet season which succeeded the last water-famine, this necessity of resorting so early to an intermittent supply is a striking comment on the wisdom of the authorities responsible in the past for the present supply of water in Hongkong. But we might conveniently forget the mistakes of the past, did we only feel secure about the future. Can we feel so secure? It is to be feared not yet. We know that, according to the 1903 Estimates, $60,000 are to be devoted to the item of Additional reservoirs, Tytam draining Kowloon area," and $250,000 to that of waterworks, gravitation scheme." Yet, as we pointed out a short time ago, there was a most disappointing lack of reference in H.E. the Governor's opening speech at the Legislative Council to the progress of the new waterworks, It had been hoped that before the arrival of another winter the Colony's water-storage capacity would be materially added to and future famines rendered improbable. This year, though we had a very heavy rainfall, compared with the length of the wet season, the fact that the rains ceased almost a month before the normal date has brought about a state of affairs but little more promising than As we remarked when dealing Under the head of shipping, we find that with this subject recently, we are prepared 3698 steamers and 484 sailing vessels to go on short commons sooner this year, entered Shanghai in 1901, with a tonnage and we have learnt some lessons in the of 5,395,925 tons. These figures are in way of economy, but we have got to face excess of those for 1900, the previous record another possible famine. What steps, we year, by 1,350,000 tons. The British, are well justified in asking, does the American, and German flags all made dis- | Government propose to take to meet the tnct gains, due to some extent to the trans. I scarcity? Is the provision of an intermit- fer from the Chinese flag of the China, tent supply to be the only measure of relief, Merchants' Hecet. The total number of British steamers entering the harbour and the tonnage were 1,982 and 2,829,229. Germany claimed 533 steamers, of 851,622 tons; Japan, 444 steamers, of 644,042 tons; China, 343 steamers, of 411,781 tons; the United States, 158 steamers, of 193,719 tons and France 52 steamers, of 110,395 tous. Britain had also 115 sailing ves sels, of 33,865 tons.
the interior,
In addition to what we have mentioned ¿bove, all further that we uced refer to in Mr. HOBSON's interesting report is that Ik. Tls. 3,148,856 gold and Hik. Tls. 1,518,477 silver were exported from Shang- hai in excess of imports in 1901.
The Foochow Daily Echo of the 18th ult. ays-The following official notification was issued this afternoon by H. B. M. Consul:
The Chiness authorities state that Nantai is
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frequented at present by a large number of natives of the dangerous classes, who endeavour to screen their malpractices by pretending to be in the service of foreigners. The authorities request me to warn British subjects to exercise rigilance with regard to such persons. From the city we learn with reg at of the death, on the 14th inst., of Sister Jésus de los Dolores, of the Foundling Hospital, from cholera, aged 43, a native of Navarra. The deceased lady was formerly the Director of the college of S. Catharina in Manila and came to Foochow in 1898.
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last year.
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unaccompanied by a hastening on of the new works? A, statement by the Govern- ment at the next meeting of the Legislative Council would not only be very welcome but may also be considered as due to the publie on whom the hardships of a water- famine fall. We hope that the opportunity will not be lost.
CLEANSING OPERATIONS FOR THE COMING WINTER.
(Daily Press, 1st November.) We suggested, twelve days ago, that the Sanitary authorities should explain what measures of plague prevention it was pro- posed to take during the coming year in this Colony. On the 16th ultimo a proposal by Mr. E. OSBORNE to repeat the general cleansing campaign of the winter of 1901-2 was defeated. Dr. ATKINSON, Principal
Civil Medical Officer and President of the Board, then suggested that the Board should recommend that s me temporary inspectors be engaged, whose duty it would be to visit the houses and ascertain the state of cleanliness or otherwise of these houses. If
they are dirty, said Dr. ATKINSON, the Chinese should be given, say, a couple of weeks to undertake the work of cleaning them; then let the houses be revisited at the end of the fortnight, and if they are still
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