July 11, 1904.]
THE FRENCH CONVENT.
0-
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
THE TRADE OF NEWCHWANG.
The report of Mr. Consul Fulford on the trade of the port of Newchwang for the year 1903 has been issued by the Foreign Office in the series of diplomatic and consular reports Mr. Fulford says:-
On the 9th inst. Mrs. May, who was attended by Captain Hodgson, A.D.C., visited the French Convent and distributed the prizes won by the scholars during the past year. Among those who attended the function were Consul and Mrs. Liebert and Mr. E. A. Irving. Inspector
The net value of the trade of Newchwang of Schools. The ceremony was preceded by a
carried by foreign vessels in 1903 amounted to musical entertainment in which most of the 47,682,059 Haikuan taels (£6,276,516) compared scholars took part. After the distribution of with 42.692.135 Haikuan taels (£5,549,977) in prizes Mr. Irving, on behalf of Mrs. May. 1902. With the exception of the year 1899 addressed the students, and the proceedings were
these are record figures. They exceed, indeed, concluded by the singing of the National those of 1899. if the large import of railway Anthem. The prize-winners were as follows:-
material in that year be deducted from the list Standard I-Alfred Ramsey, Dermot Dixon, of foreign sundries. This importation was, of Amino Madar. Flora Knight, Florio da Silva, | course. for the Russian line and was quite Luccano Cordeiro, Jack Rogers, Jessie Rogers. distinct from the ordinary business of the coun- Considering the uncertainty of the Patrick Julya, Bessie Brett, Elfrida Dixon, try. Willie Pearce, Mabel Cotton, Fok Chi, and political situation throughout the entire open Albert Desjardins. Standard II-Ormond season from April to November, the fluctuations Masso, Marguerite Marty, Esther da Silva. of exchange, and the competition of Dalny and Ernest Brett, Nieves Fortis, Lilio da Silva, Port Arthur. the year's trade was satisfactory Julia Loyzaga, Louise Chapman. Lizzie so far its bulk was concerned. Whether it was Leonard, Healima Madar, May Leonard, Marie
as remunerative as usual to the native mer- Choreso Julyan and Rhabia Ismael. Stand- dard III-Gracie Murray, Marie Souza, Conebito Fortis, Rosie Boanas, and Carmen Loyzaga. Standard IV-Alice Cayler, Dorothy Terril, Marguerite Pagne, Minnie Goldenberg and Lily Ballin. Standard V-Becky Silas. Gertrude Milne Elsie Rendle, Ethelvino Alleo, Florence Murray, Georgina King and Clara Goldenberg.
Standard VI-Louisa Silas, Mabel Cayler, Constance Jorge, Ina Ramsay, Ida Alves, Rachel Silas and Hilda Cabral. In the course of the proceedings Miss Louisa Silas read on address to Mrs. May, expressing the thanks of the Mother Superior and the scholars for her kind attandauce.
UNITED STATES INDEPENDENCE
DAY.
The Fourth of July was observed by the American community in Hongkong in as quiet a manner as usual. The Stars and Stripes were much in evidence. All the men-of-war in har- bour dressed ship. but no salute was fired at noon, presumably because no American man-of- war, destroyers excepted, was in harbour. Consul-General and Mrs. Bragg were "at home" at the "Crow's Nest." Barker Road, from 4 to
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chants is a more open question. In addition to the above figures treasure to the amount of 2,569,908 Haikuan taels (£338,639) was im. ported, and to the amount of 2.287,659 Haikuan taels (£301,446) was exported during 1903."
A shipping table annexed to the report shows the biggest figures on record in the history of Newchwang, but a large proportion of the vessels entered and cleared were in ballast. The table shows that, out of a total tonnage of 578,757, 205,700 tons were British, 245,659 Japanese, and only 28,228 Russian. In a total export trade of £1,341,746 the share of Japan was £1,235,262 and that of Russia nil; £324,947 out of a total import trade of £770,990 is credited to Japan. while sea-borne Russian imports only totalled £3,294, and goods reaching Newchwang through what Mr. Fulford terms Russian Manchuria were valued at £23,619. Mr. Fulford gives the following account of the trade of Port Arthur and Dalny in 1903 :-
"It will be seen from this report that the trade now carried on at Port Arthur and Dalny has not sensibly affected the trade of this port.
As a matter of fact the business done at thos3 ports is so far not Manchurian trade as under- stood at Newchwang. With the exception of a certain quantity of wild silk and beans shipped to Dalny, both imports and exports at the two Russian ports may be said to be unconnected with the ordinary trade of the country. The figures for the shipping at both places are large and therefore deceptive.
..
At Port Arthur 824 steamers of 557.794 tons entered in 1901, 989 of 760,755 tons in 1902, and 1,105 of 806.193 tons in 1903. No statistics are available of their cargo, which was chiefly supplies for the Russian troops. navy, railway, or population."
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boisterous İ be getting
concluded that discretion was the better part of valour and consequently sent my engineers below to stand by the engines and to get a good head of ste m. I at first thought that the men had b «arded the launch simply out of curiosity, bat was speedily undeceived when it became evident that they were there for loot, for they began to hustle my men about and handle everything that was moveable. At la-t the brass helmet of the binnacle caught their eyes, and two of them attempted to remove it. This I of course resisted, with the result that there was danger of being overpowered. I consequently jumped down the cabin and procured my revolver, a large size 45 cal. Colts. Two men had the audacity to follow me down the cabin steps, but a couple of smashing blows on the jaw from the butt of the revolver sent them to the right-about and I got on deck. My three quartermasters, seeing me come up, armed themselves with pieces of firewood and iron bars, and we proceeded to After about 10 minutes of clear the deck. lively work, we succeeded in doing so, when I attempted to get up anchor. We were anchored with a kedge and 3 inch line, the chains not being available on of the temporary housing covering up the This the fishermen' resisted,” hold- capstan. ing on to the line and trying in every way to impede our movement.
7 p.m.
This is the first anniversary since the official recognition of "The Star-Spangled Banner as the National Anthem of the United States, and we may therefore conclude that it figured At Dalny 717 steamships of aggregate ton. more prominently in the harmony of the cele-nage 290,227 tons entered in 1902 and 792 brations than heretofore. When the selection was steamships entered in 1903. Imports in 1903 under consideration there were several patriotic were valued at £3,310,664, of which total tea in songs to choose from. Included in the list were transit for Russia alone accounted for £1,928,474.
Yankee Doodle,” "Hail Columbia," Mar- Exports were valued at £186,911, of which rice, || ching through Georgia," Dixie," Mary. beans, millet, and wheat accounted for £58,629. land,' "My Maryland," and the flood of less known ballads inspired by the civil war. Most of these, however, are tinged with the sectionalism engendered by the great struggle, and none of them were sufficiently and universally well enough known to express the patriotism of an entire people. At first con- siderable prejudice was felt against the Star- Spangled Banner as a national hymn, as the air is foreign. It came to the people of the United States from the Tyrol through an English adaptation, but had never been at all well known until adapted to the immortal words of Keyes. This same prejudice against things foreign was shared by the air of "My Country Tis of Thee." and this, too, with more reason as this same air is that of "God Save the King, and of one of the German national airs. So it was felt by many that the United States should
"About 6.30 p.m. Wednesday, June 8th, the be slow in adopting either of these
as the
weather setting in thick and rainy, I decided to expression of her nationality.
Yesterday marked the 128th anniversary of anchor for the night at Namki Island. I there-
the United States' independence.
we
AN
UNPLEASANT ADVENTURE
WITH PIRATES.
A GOVERNMENT LAUNCH SURROUNDED.
supplied us with the following particulars of an Messrs. Geo. Fenwick & Co, Ld.. have incident which occurred to the Government launch Alexandra on her voyage hence to Weihaiwei. The Report is by Capt. Ellis, who thinks that its publication may be of service to others navigating small craft along the coast.
fore entered an inlet on the N. W. side of that island and found good anchorage for a small vessel in 4 fathoms of water and sheltered from 5th On the night of the inst. several all winds except N. W. Upon dropping anchor, houses in the Conduit Road, hear, the launch was immediately surrounded by
entered by burglars. were
Evidently & upwards of 100 fishing boats, who came from the neighbour every conceivable nook and corner and lined operating in gang hood. Several articles were missing from the launch ten deep all round. The occupants the houses in question yesterday morning, but of these boats swarmed aboard the launch from we have not heard of any substantial individual all directions. My men could not understand & word of their dialect, and as they appeared
loss.
was
account
"At length I was obliged to fire a shot over them, and that waving no effect I fired a second through the bows of a of the most prominent boats, and thea succed-fit in shortening in the liue and dragged the an fhor iuto deep water by going full speed asteru, when I was able to pick it up, not, however, without consta itly threatening the howling mob who persisted in clustering round the launch.
puc
in
After turning round and getting full speed on her, I gave one fellow the stem in good style, cu.ing him down and capsizing the occupants, who were all picked up by their comrades. This seemed to damp their ardour and I got away all right, being obliged to a very unpleasant night through fog and rain. I am firmly convinced that if I had not got out as I did, the launch and orew would have remained there for good, the vessel being simply posted as missing; for a more piratical gang does not exist than the fishermen on this part of the coast."
Tue Alexandra performed the voyage from port to port in 94 days; deducting stoppages, the actual steaming time was 7 days. Immediately on arrival a two hours' trial was made, when a speed of ten knots was easily attained. The Officers representing the Government expressed them- Belves as highly pleased with the vessel and gave Captain Ellis a commendatory testimonial.
A JOURNEY IN MONGOLIA.
•
accom-
The Foreign Office has issued as a Parlia- Report mentary paper, China No. 3, 1904, a by Mr. George J. Kidston on a Journey in Mongolia." Mr. Kidston, who was panied by Mr. J. A. Flaherty, of the China Consular Service, left Peking in September last to visit Dolon Nor, the great trading centre of all Mongolia, between the Gobi Desert and the broken upland marked in our maps as the King- ham Mountains. From Dolon Nor the travellers were compelled by the heavy snow to make a dash for Hailar, instead of carrying out their original intention to continue northwards as far as Puir Nor and then to return via Urga and Kalgan to Peking. Mr. Kidston's report con tains much interesting information with regard to the country and the people, and it is illus. trated with excellent reproductions of snapshots -an entirely new departure, as far as we are aware, in a Parliamentary paper. Of perhap more immediate interest in connection with
current events in Manchuria is the account Mr. Kidston gives of Hailar, the first important station on the Manchurian section of the Trans- Siberian Railway.
Hailar is divided into three district settle. ments; the yamen and its surroundings, which I have already described; the old Chinese town of one long street with one-storeyed mud houses in which the troops are quartered; and the railway town, with the station, the Russo- Chinese Bank, the quarters of the railway. guard and some trading establishments and
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