!
June 12, 1905.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
area of
355
a matter such as this. If the Peking A COLONIAL LAND OF PROMISE. and other tropical products, the State Par- authorities take any measure dealing with the levy of internal dues by the Provincial officials the latter may reasonably refuse to pay as large an amount as before to the Imperial Revenue, and it is open to them with a great deal of plausibility to represent that it may be impossible for them to maintain order in their Provinces if they are interfered with in so important a point -as the levy of local Revenue. The question, whenever raised, is thus one of considerable complication. Even where the authorities at Peking have by Treaty declared that goods shall be free from
internal dues, it has been found that modes
are discovered by which this can be evaded. The stipulation holds good as long as the cargo is in foreign hands, but as soon as it passes into those of the natives, it is not difficult to find means of raising the customary internal dues upon it. Mr. BYRON BRENAN is, no doubt, correct in the suggestion which he made; but the great difficulty is how to carry it out. To do so effectively nothing less than a radical change in the whole system of Government in China would be required. The independent action of Provincial authorities would have to be to some extent restricted; and that of the Central authority at Peking increased. This, it is clear, must be a matter of great difficulty and can scarcely be looked for as within any measurable distance of practical politics." Something might possibly be done to bring about an understanding between the Pro- vincial and Central authorities 40 their mutual advantage and also to the benefit of trade; but this is a matter which would require very careful handling. Still, there are manifestly points at which it would be to the benefit of the Provincial revenues that a change should be expected. At least the system of internal dues could be put upon a more regular footing than at present, and if this could be accomplished the local authorities might in time see that a large income could be derived by smaller imposts on an expanded trade, than by continuing, as is in many instances the case, to kill the goose which should lay the golden eggs. Mr. BRENAN does not (as may well be expected) hope for very much from the Chinese themselves; but seems to think that possibly they may learn something from the Japanese, who are far more advanced in all matters of finance and commerce.
liament, in 1904, passed "The Northern Territory Tropical Products Act," which allows for an area of 5,000 acres being granted to any one person. Terms under agreement of 14 years are made easy. After the first seven years of occupation, in which period a certain area is to be cul- tivated, rent at the rate of 1d. per acre will be charged. Provided the conditions of the agreement are fully complied with, the fee simple of the land can be acquired on payment of the sum of 2s. 6d. per acre. For cattle and horse breeding the land appears well adapted. Some of the beat
horses used in the late South Africau war came from the interior of the Territory. The area at present under pastoral lease represents 148,000 square miles, of which 111,997 square miles is declared stocked. There is a considerable area devoted to sheep and goat pasture, and an immense expanse of as yet unoccupied land. The latest returns show the number of horned cattle to be 291,970, horses 15,763, sheep 51.538, and goats 12,972. Some portions of the pastoral land may be had on applica- tion for lease for 42 years at the annual rental of 6d. per square mile for the first seven years, 18. per square mile for the second seven years, and 28. per square mile for the third seven years, and for the remainder of the term at such an amount per square mile as shall be fixed by valuation. The population of the Northern Territory, exclusive of aborigines, in 1903, was estimated at 4,132, or 0.01 to the square mile, and this in a country capable of sustaining a population of several millions ! What a place for a TOLSTOY colony seems here offered.
(Daily Press, 6th June.) The least known portion, perhaps, of the Australian Commonwealth is that immense tract of country, embracing an about 323,620 square miles, or 335,116,800 acres, formerly known as Alexandra Land, and constituting the middle of the three sections into which northern or semi-tropical Australia is divided. The country is under the tentative control of the South Aus tralian Government, which is seriously handicapped in its endeavour to develop the rich natural resources of the land by reason of there being no regular communication, save by sea, which involves a voyage round fully one-half of the island-continent, Another bandicap is a wilful one, the pre- judice against Chinese or Indian labour. There are several harbours, the principal being Port Darwin, one of the finest in the Commonwealth. Another fine port, of great size, is situated at the entrance to the Victoria River. There are several large rivers, most being navigable for a considerable distance. Numerous import- ant discoveries of gold, copper, tin, iron, lead, and other minerals have led
many practical men to believe that a great mineral future lies before the territory. A limited portion of the metalliferous country is being worked by Australasian, European, and Chinese syndicates, but the scarcity and dearness of labour has proved a formidable difficulty. The country is semi-tropical, but white settlers, taking due precautions as regards dietary and personal cleanliness, do not suffer any ill-effects. The rich fertility of the soil is unquestionable. Large blocks of excellent land for growing semi-tropical produce, such as maize, cotton, and indigo, are readily obtained at low rates. The plantain and banana grow wherever they are stuck in the ground, and produce excel- lent fruit, A number of cocoanut-trees planted several years ago are in splendid condition. Pineapples of delicious flavour By buying things cheap from the Chinese; reach maturity with great rapidity at and selling things dear to them." Palmerston, Port Darwin. The custard Undoubtedly that is fairly representative apple," also known as the "soursop," and of the genesis of a settlement like Shanghai. the papaya yield most delicious fruit. The nucleus of the colony was composed of The tamarind-tree grows well, and the importers
and exporters. Now that cultivation of the cinchona tree is being Shanghai is a city, and has almost the attempted, a large number of cinchona population of one, such an answer needs 'If;" he said, "Japan should come out of the plants having been planted. The guava qualification.
The importer and exporter present war successful and take the future thrives also, as likewise the rosella, and their staffs might at first live on the development of China under her guidance Splendid specimens of the mango are Chinese. They now live upon each other. we might look forward to great improve obtained at Port Essington. The lemon That is to say, the population has grown ments in our trade." Of course it would and orange trees appear to take kindly to the like a snowball, in consequence of its own be too much to expect the Chinese to sub- soil and climate. In vegetables the melon necessities. The exporter's staff needed mit themselves entirely to Japanese tribe succeeds admirably, and will soon grow things from the importer, who was at first guidance in such a matter; but still it is not as weeds in certain favourable localities. The importing only for the Chinese. This impossible that China will be much more yam and sweet potato are being cultivated demand swelled the number of importers. influenced by Japanese counses than before; with great success. Arrowroot has been tried As in the case of all swelling communities, and Japan, knowing much more than
on a small scale, and thrives exceedingly other needs arose which had to be supplied any European nation of the details of well. Experiments with sugar cane have been by and in the community. The community Chinese administration, and being able to only partially successful, but of its ultimate became in this sense a self-supporting com- suggest action on their own lives, may profitable cultivation there can be no ques.munity; it was no longer a collection of possibly find some means of doing awaytion. It is believed that the tea-plant would migranta; it was a municipality; it had with the internal dues that would be thrive in many districts. Indian corn has taken root, As it has a past, it now has acceptable alike at Peking and in the been sown in several portions of the terri-a future, which cannot be said of a few Provinces; or at least of placing the system tory, and success having attended the upon such a footing that it would no longer experiment, its cultivation will soon be hamper the progress of commerce to so greatly extended. Superior samples by serious an extent as has hitherto been the different growers have been exhibited in
Adelaide. In provender for cattle the couch gra83
case.
The steamer Langdale reports that at about 2 p.m. on the 9th inst., when about 20 miles east of Pedro Blanco rock (between Hongkong and Foochow), she sighted 14 vessels of war well inshore, steering to the N.E. The feet comprised one first-class battleship, one cruiser and three flotillas of torpedc-boats and destroyers
-four in each flotilla-and some transports.
"
+1
MUNICIPAL TRADING AT SHANGHAI.
Daily Press, 7th June.
Were a "man in the street" in London asked how the population of Shaughai gained a living, he would perhaps answer:
merchants temporarily dwelling on the China coast and making profit out of the natives. A very large proportion of the profitable business of Shanghai is now the buying from and selling to each other of its in-
habitants. thrives in a wonderful manner, and is
eaten with avidity. The buffalo-grass also The cultivation of the soil is, at present, promises to grow both rapidly and well.
almost exclusively in the hands of the Chinese, whose operations are principally confined to vegetable gardening. With a view to encourage the cultivation of cotton
The supply of electric light and power is one of the self-created demands think, the individual business men have no referred to; and a business which, we
moral right to claim by way of perquisite. This preamble leads up to the question of Municipal trading, which has again been agitating the minds of the people at the
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