C
32
great favour. Straw braid, matches, bathing towels, matting, lacquer-ware, umbrellas, cigar- ettes, seaweed and mushrooms, all show more which was or less increase. Cotton yarn, affected by the advance of raw cotton, coal, which suffered from the want of shipping, and copper, which was largely purchased at home for war purposes, experienced a slight falling off. The abundant harvest of rice, barley, and wheat, and silk cocoons amply compensates for this. Had the crops of rice and barley, which are the pricipal food of the Japanese, men and horses, failed, the strain on the money-market could not have been avoided, as large imports of the staples would have had to be made.
"The harvest of rice, &c., this year as pared with last year is as follows:
1904. Koku.
com.
1904. Koku.
Barley and wheat Rice
19,642,242 13,545,105 50,859,798 -46,475,038 1,828,444 1,659,681
Silk cocoons
Although the rice and barley harvests were so successful, the import of rice was valued at some 56,000,000 yen and that of barley at 8,000,000 yen. But had the harvest this year failed, what would have been the result? It would have brought about a great excess in the value of imports, and the economical condition of the Empire would have been seriously affected."—Kobe Chronicle.
to
According to a report of the Swiss Consul- General in Yokohama, remarks the Deutsche Export Revue, no one would have dared, ten years ago, to predict Japan's wonderful develop ment. In 1893 its foreign trade was about $93,500,000; in 1903, $303,500,000. The bank deposits of Tokyo in 1895 amounted to less than $18,500,000; in 1903 they had risen to
Osaka amounted $66,500,000; those of $5,000,000 in 1893 and to $38,500,000 in 1903.
The same surprises await one in connection with Manchuria and Corea. That there is room for European products there is proved by Japan's marvellous progress and development. Man churia, properly administered, is as susceptible was Japan. of progress and development as The same is true of Northern Chins, with rich resources in minerals, particularly coal.
Splendid results await anyone who will give the material furnished and to be furnished by Chins good leadership. The large commercial cities, Colombo, Singapore, Bangkok, Penang, Saigon, Haifong, Hongkong, Shanghai and Kiauchau, are striking examples of what the peace-loving Chinese can accomplish.
Here in the East, trade would be impossible but for the Chinese. Even in Japan the Chinese have made themselves indispensable. What is true of the English, French and German sphere of influence in the East is just as true of the regions presided over by Russia. The life of Port Arthur, Dalny, Nicholaevsk, Vladivostock, Harbin, Chaborovsk and Blagovestchensk, depends upon the activity of the Chinese inhabitants. The final result will, however, depend upon the type of men who assume the lead when pesce is again restored. More merchants Tha will want to come here from the West. efforts of the great Powers to secure a place for their agents in the East is easy to understand. Progress and prosperity will go along faster under the aegis of the West than they ever would were the initiative efforts left to the East. China's opposition to strangers, to new trade forms, to railroads, is confined to China proper. Where the Chinaman a stranger, and im. migrant, a colonist, he is far more pliable and Thus the funda- adaptable than any other. mentals upon which a foreign trade may be built up are in the East. Everybody is getting ready to be on hand.
8
England and the United States are ready to follow in the footsteps of Japan, knowing full The well that first come will be first served. opening up of Manchuria and Cores is foregone conclusion, let the war end as it will Japan, victorious, is bound to be the leading power in nation in the East. The balance of the Orient will be at Tokyo rather than at Peking. Japan, victorious, means the removal of the last barriers to the Island Empire's marvellous progress in commerce and manufac- tures. Once the land of Japan is able to be freely bought and owned by the stranger within her gates, capital will flow into her banks and thence into her factories, mines, etc.
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
A SHANGHAI INQUEST.
An inquest was opened at Shanghai on Dec. the circumstances to enquire into 31st attending the death of John W. Graham, a broker, formerly of Hongkong, and various Chinese ports.
A. L. Anderson identified the body as that of J. W. Graham, who was formerly his partner. The inquest was resumed on 2nd January. Dr. Ernest Louis Marsh said that he was
or
(January 14, 1905.
explode and the stove would not remain alight. In witness's opinion an accident with the stove might easily have happened. Witness remember- ed on one occasion turning the stove out at 2 o'clock one morning. When he opened the office at 7 o'clock the room was full of gas.
By a juror-On settlement night it was not unlikely that a broker would work all night; witness had done so himself in that office.
The Coroner said that was all the evidence he proposed to take. The question the jury had to decide was whether deceased met his death through misadventure or whether he had Mr. purposely turned on the gas stove. Anderson's evidence was important as showing that the stove had to be lighted with care.
Mr. McCann, recalled, and questioned by a juror, said that on two or three occas.ons he bad met deceased out early, and he had explain- called in to No. 4, the Bund, at 9.59 on Satur-ed that he was working late the previous night day morning. The body was rigid and old and and had slept in the office. was seated on an office chair in front of a desk. It was in an attitude of sleep. The head was bent forward. There were no marks of injury any marks of violence, but there was a distinct odour of coal gas in the single room which formed the office. Witness at Coroner's request made a post-mortem examination in the At this afternoon with Dr. Moore-Graham. more particular examination of the body no evidence of violence could be found, but the blood and tissues were everywhere in a condi- tion usual in death from suffocation by coal gas. DISASTROUS FIRE AT HONGKONG. In witness's opinion death was due to suffoca- fion by coal gas, while deceased was sleeping in a small unventilated office. When witness got to the office the gas stove was not turned on, but gas was still escaping from the bracket on the wall.
The jury, without retiring, agreed that deceased met bis death through misadventure.--- N. C. Daily News,
SEVERAL CHINESE BURNT TO DYATH.
A serious fire occurred at No. 168, Hollywood Road, on the 11th instant, wherein several The fire broke Chinese were roasted alive.
out on the ground floor of the shop, and Dr. G. R. Moore-Graham said that he was although the brigade were promptly notified and were quickly on the spot, by the time they called in to No. 4, the Bund, about 9.40 a.m. on Saturday. Deceased was seated in his chair, arrived the fire had a strong hold and was his hat on and with his hands in his pockets, burning fiercely. Their efforts to stay its pro- gress were not successful until it had caught on apparently asleep. On making an examination, witness found that he was dead and had been to a house, No. 39, Square Street, at the back of Hollywood Road. This house, together with dead for some hours. Witness thought the gas stove had been turned off when he arrived, but
the one in which the fire originally occurred, there was a strong smell of gas in the room.
was gutted. Nothing but the bare walls was By a juror-When the post-mortem examina-standing when our reporter visited the scene on Jan. 12th. The houses destroyed contained of tion was made all the organs were found to be
four stories, and it was the residents perfectly healthy.
the third and fourth floors who perished in the flames.. There is no right-of-way between the two houses, hence when the staircase was the upper floors burnt, the residents on
veritable death trap. were caught in The corpses of a woman and two children
Pau Woa-foo stated that he was the office boy at the Russian Consulate. He knew Mr. Graham through seeing him go in and out. Witness was returning about 1 a.m. on Saturday when he saw Mr. Graham trying to open the door, A ricsha coolie told- witness that Mr.
Graham had been trying to open the door for over half an hour and had not succeeded. Witness did not stop to see when deceased would get in. By his appearance witness thought he must be under the influence of
drink.
that he Was Mr. Chang Ah-kwei said Graham's office coolie. He began work about 7.30 am. When he went to the office on Satur day morning he found the door unlocked. He entered and found Mr. Graham sitting in the office chair. Witness opened the window and tidied the office. There was a strong
up smell of gas in the room. Witness at once turned off the gas in the stove. It was not lit, but gas was escaping. The stove had never given any trouble before. He thought his master was asleep, so after opening the window and tidying the room, he left. Mr. Graham had never slept in the office before, to his knowledge.
By & juror-Deceased was not in the habit of going back to the office late at night. Witness would not know if he did go back.
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as the police were were dug out from the debris in the Holly- wood Road shop, and informed there were others burnt in the Square Street house, a gang of coolies under On the after- the charge of Sergeant Macdonald were sent to search among the rains. noon of January 12th the charred body of woman was unearthed and later, four further corpses, charred beyond recognition, were found huddled together on part of. the first floor of the Hollywood Road houso which
The premises had not collapsed.
Three men have been insured for $1,500. arrested in connection with the outbreak, so that probably further developments will be chronicled.
were
When the Police ceased operations last night, the bodies of nine residents had been excavated The search will be continued from the ruins. this morning.
HONGKONG REGATTA.
MANILA TO COMPETE.
Witness said when he got back to the office late at 9.30 a m. he tried to wake his master but
The Manila Boat Club has practically accept could not. He then thought Mr. Graham was dead and went to report the matter at the Club.ed Hongkong's offer to compete at the forth- Basilio Mayno Carion said that when he was coming Hongkong Regatta-that is, if four leaving the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank men can get away. Answers have not yet been received from Shanghai and Singapore. Inter- after midnight on Friday he met deceased in a ricsha near the Jinkee Road. He was in a very port four-car races will be limited to one crew from each port, as there would be no room sleepy condition.
for more boats, otherwise heats would have to be rowed off previously.
Henry Edward McCann stated that he was a sharebroker. About 9.35-a.m, on Saturday he went into the office. He noticed a strong smell of gas but did not notice the condition of the stove. Witness went into the Club to see if he could find Dr. Moore-Graham, as a bystander said he was there. He then returned to the office and telephoned to the police station. Witness knew deceased fairly well, and so far as he was aware deceased was not in financial difficulties.
A. L. Anderson, recalled, said that he was formerly deceased's partner and that four years ago the gas stove in their office had to be worked with cars. If the valve were opened full when one was about to light the stove, the gas would
Quite a number of boats are entering for the Governor's Cup race, including, it is said, the Royal West Kent Regiment, the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Company and Cadets,
The rowing course, a mile in length, will be from Kellet's Island to near the Oil Pier.
A. Sub-Committee has been chosen-Messrs. Gale--to arrange the orews in the Junior Fours F. W. L. Warre, G. A Caldwell and C. H. Those entitled to enter are oarsmen who race. are not rowing in the Interport events or cases Governor's Cup.
The Chino Mail has presented a Cup to be sailed for by members of the Corinthian Yacht
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