October 8, 1904.]
BRITISH AND FOREIGN TRADE AT SINGAPORE.
We extract the following paragraphs from the admirably compiled Report of the Regis trar of Imports and Exports. on the trade of Singapore during 1903 -
The trade of the year 19.3 cannot be termed satisfactory.
Imports record a fair expansion generally in quantities and values, but exports show an actual dollar decrease.
The rise in import dollar value was over 8 per cent, and in sterling value nearly 12 per cent.,
+
Exports declined in dollar value by about per cent., and inc eased in sterling value by 2 per cent.,
Яame
extent
as
These sterling values are applied to all articles irrespective of country of origin. but the value of goods from silver currency countries is not affected by fluctuations in sterling exchange to the articles from a gold country.
In accordance with its expressed intention of giving a fixed sterling value to the dollar, the Government imported a new Straits dollar to take the place of the Mexican and British coin current, and in furtherance of this policy, prohibited its export to places outside the Colony and Federated Malay States, at the same time disallowing the further import of Mexican and British dollars.
The Federated Malay States Government found it necessary during the year to place a duty on tin ore intended to be smelted outside the Colony, an American company having taken steps with the object of exporting the ore to the
United States.
The industry was probably considered to be too intimately bound up with the welfare of the Colony and the Federated Malay States. to permit of its subjection to the speculative operations of American trusts.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
SINGAPORE HARBOUR SCHEMES.
This is an extract from the speech of the chairman of the Singapore Chamber of Com- merce, delivered on September 22nd:
I venture to say there is no member present, who would not welcome any rational scheme that may ensure a convenient boat harbour to relieve the Singapore River. A strong and influential body of opinion however undoubtedly exists against throwing away millions of dollars on costly harbour works wherein a comparatively small portion of our shipping would derive benefit, and the protection for which is only required during a few months in the year.
44
scheme
If Mr. Matthews' plans were based on a far- reaching scheme, which would ultimately in- clude the ocean-going steamers, there might be less objection raised, but there is no such intention, as, to use his own words, the enormous expenditure. which would be required for the provision of effective shelter over an extensive area
even if a
‘practicable scheme could be devised. would not be justified under any circumstances." We contend therefore that the present scheme is far too elaborate and too costly for the requirements of our I know there is local trade.
a tendency the any criticism upou to meet by the assertion that it has been decided by an expert, and that outside criticism is therefore beyond the pale of controversy or discussion. Allow me to make the attitude of the Chamber quite clear in that respect. We do not criticise the scheme on technical grounds. We have no desire to override Mr Matthews acknowledged authority as an expert of high standing. W. do, however, and can express our judgment engineering science are not unequal to the task of finding an alternative scheme more suitable to the requirements of our port, without the enormous expenditure the fulfilment of Mr. Matthews' plans will entail. Moreover, we be- lieve that instead of waiting 8 to 10 years to overcome the difficulties of the present situa tion. a modified scheme could be evolved, which within half that period would be attend-
that the facilities within the reach of modern
ed with a full measure of success. Free Press.
The effects of American tariffs and Protectionist policy had been sufficiently demonstrated by the action of the United States Government in not only placing a high duty on refined cocoanut oil from this market. which showed a trade with the United States in 1902 of over $93,000, and for a portion of 903. of $110,000, but of attempting to collect the RIVER STEAMER BURNT OUT. duty on all previous shipments, the result finally being that the local company was obliged to to sell its plant to a firm on the American sea. board.
The two principal features which exercised most influence on trade during the year were the constant fall in the market prices of staple articles of produce, and the fluctuations in exchange.
Out of a total European value of 9.9/10 million dollars representing met ls imported, the United Kingdom sent to the value of 6.9/10 million, an increase of 39 per cent. showing large advances in hardware and ironware. machinery, corrugated iron, brassware and especially telegraph materials.
The continent of Europe sent to the value of nearly 2.7/10 million dollars, an increase of over 48 per cent., the absolute increases being Kingdom, of which telegraph materials contri- buted over 4 million, and about $870,000 increase for the Continent.
close on two million dollars for the United
Decreased export values are seen to the United Kingdom by 64 million dollars, or over 10 per cent., while to the United States the value increased by over 34 million dollars, or 9 per cent., and to the continent of Europe by 7/10 million dollars 1 or over 44 per cent.
•
This unsatisfactory state of affairs is by some attributed to The cheap freights to America, and the free exercise of optional bills of lading to Continental ports at minimum rates, results directly attributable to the [operation of the Shipping Ring called the
Straits. Homeward Conference.
|
Mr. E. A. Ormiston, the manager of the Mercantile Bank of India, Limited, at Hong- kong, recently received a telegram from the London office that the directors have declared an interim dividend of 5 per cent. on "A" shares and 5 per cent. on 'B" shares, free of income tax.
-10:
The 65-ton, Chinese-owned, river steamer Saining. Capt. Ip Fuk. was burnt out, while anchored at East Point, and sank on the
27th ult. She had 2,800 cases, representing about
100 tons, of kerosene oil aboard, besides 20 tons
of general merchandise, and was about to leave
for the West River. Some 1.500 cases were
pany,
and 1,300 with the
insured with the Commercial Insurance Com- North China Insurance Company, the effected at $3 per case, aggregating $8,400.
insurances being
At about 11 p.m. the vessel appeared to be making water, while, as a matter of fact, oil was leaking from the oil-cans. The firemen went down below to rake up the fires and get steam on the donkey boiler, so as to rid the ship of the supposed water. Red cinders from the donkey, it is said, must have by some means got into the hold and started the fire.
The vessel was burnt to the water-line. The water made its way into her hold, and she sank. The blaze was very fierce, reddening the sky over a great area. From the very appear. ance of the huge tongues of fire it was at once concluded that it was an oil-ship. The Fire Brigade came out with their fire-float, but it burning oil. At daylight kerosene was floating was, of course, no good pumping water on to all about the harbour, and could be smelled everywhere.
& Co. is the owner of the vessel.
The compradore of Messrs. Gibb. Livingston
The brigade and fire-float, under Mr. E. R. Hallifax and Mr. H. G. Baker, rendered what assistance they could. When the police boat arrived on the scene those on board, 13 in number, jumped overboard and were all rescued by P.C. 62 Norman. There was a dog, however, which remained on the burning vessel for quite half sa hour, when Mr. Langley, inspector of the water police, went near with his boat and whistled. The dog jumped overboard, and was rescued in a very sorry plight indeed, for the hair had been almost completely singed off its back. The
helpers did not tow the ship away," because she might have got adrift, a danger in the harbour. They thought it much safer to leave her and let her burn herself out where she was. When the vessel sank, at about 1.30 a.m., a remarkable spectacle was witnessed. She went by the stern, the bow up in sir. There was a hissing, & roar of the smothering flamas, a dense volume of smoke, and the steamer, all but a small piece of the funnel, disappeared from view. For some 50 square yards the water was covered with burning oil. What was feared, at the time, was that it would float in' towards the Dutch Petroleum Co.'s works. The tide, how- ever, was setting towards the Lysemun Pass, so it carried the oil in this direction. The float. with some four hose-pipes, kept playing water around the edge of the oil, but it burned for an hour. It is said that the steamer's composite bottom had something to do with keeping her afloat so long. The float had just made fast to her, with the mooring chain (that of the float), to try and hold her in case the vessel broke adrift, when she sank. Those on board the float were obliged to let go the chain.
BLAZE AT WEST POINT.
i
4.
HOUSE GUTTED - TWO PERSONS INJURED.
No. 45, First Street, a coolie dwelling-house, A was completely gutted on the 25th ult. ricksha-puller residing there was sɔ burnt about
the face that he was removed to hospital; and a little girl had her hands blistered. It is generally understood that the place was not insured; no doubts seem to be entertained about its being an accident. The occurrence is reported
as follows:-
As Mr. Collett, the police inspector in charge of Western District, was sitting down to his lunch, at 1.50 p.m. yesterday, a report of a house being on fire in First Street—which afterwards proved to be No. 45—was made to him. Almost immediately afterwards the clock tower bell clanged a general alarm in Queen's Road Central; and the fire brigade, under Mr. Baker (chief inspector of police), hurried to the scene. They were not long in getting there
bat
even in the few moments that elapsed the conflagration had 80 spread that tongues of fire were protruding from both first and second floor windows. At 2 p.m. the firemen directed a jet of water on to the burning building, a ground, first and second floor Chinese house. Some little delay was caused by one of the hydrants being out of order, obliging the men to connect up with a more distant one. The fire escapes were promptly put into position, allowing the ladder men to play
scene
water in the most effectual manner. throng of Chinese, men, children and even women carrying infants, crowded in a dense mass round about. They became such a nuisance, indeel, that the police were obliged to handle the foremost and most daring, thereby causing such a panic that a European approach- iug the
had to almost fight his way to prevent himself from being charged down. The fire was well under control in about half an hour; and completely extinguished some 30 minutes later. By this time, although the walls and roof were intact, the interior was completely gutted. The firemen thought it advisable to remove the roof. This one of them did by standing sheltered in an arched window and directing a strong play on to the pottery overhead, sending showers of water and masonry in all directions.
It was afterwards gleaned that at the time of the outbreak the Chinaman mentioned, who was subsequently removed to hospital, waN. asleep. Waking up with a start, he made a mad rush for the staircase, where he was so badly burned that he was obliged to return to the room-imprisoned with almost certain death before him. Neighbours, however, in a Queen's Road house backing First Street, observed his. distress, and managed to make a plank oon. nection from window to window. The man's life was thereby saved, for he managed to crawl across at no little risk of falling. His face was. in a bad state, and the hair singed off head and eyebrows. The little girl managed to "run the gauntlet" shortly after the outbreak, but not 'without burning her hands.
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