May 19, 1906.]
bare to the bone, and also a slash with sharp instrument just below the loft thigh. Owing to the bravery of the Indian staff, he was enabled to retreat to one of the | offices in a fainting condition. He recovered quickly and returned to the compound. While one lot of convicts were attacking the gaoler and Mr. Weatherhead, a separate gang attacked the warder in charge of the ironworks.
The
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
Lobel, lately came here with a scheme for the construction of a railway from the centre of Siberia to Behring Strait, the idea of the American syndicate which he represents being to ran a tunnel under the Strait and continue the railway through Alaska so that one could if necessary travel by land from Paris to Washington. The syndicate wants the excla- sive right to exploit the land and the minerals general encounter seems to have taken contained in the land for a distance of twelve place in the compound, as when the alarm was kilometres on each side of railway. That given Mr. Weatherhead rushed out to the mat-right of exclusive exploitation would cease at fine shop door, where he was met by a prisoner the end of ninety years and the Russian Govern. with the sword of the warder who had been first meat would have the right to buy the line thirty :tacked, and others with stone-masons' bammers. years after the beginning of the exploitation. The Indians were defending the gate when the Most of the workmen would be Russian. Europeans ran there to make sure that no-ous The Imperial Council, the Railway Depart could escape.
The police at Wayside Stationment and all the newspapers are against this must have heard the reports of fire-arms before scheme, however, being convinced that it would they were communicated with, and the small lead to complications with the nation which had staff of this station were smartly upon the scene
advanced the money for the line. of the affray. The general fracas lasted nearly half-an-hour and one man, besides Vah Mao-mao, was shot dead on the spot and several others wounded, three so badly that it is reported that amputation of limbs may be necessary.
With the assistance of the police, the foreign gaolers were able to get the various gange of convicts back into their cells. The main fight. ing undoubtedly took place round the matting shop in the compound, but the difficulty of the situation can be understood when we state that it was impossible for the defenders to concen- trate their brts, as all the convicts seemed to be trying to escape, and were so rushing abont that some of the d fenders were cut off in their endeavours to prevent this. There is one redeeming feature about the whole affair and that is, that it was proved beyond all question that the Indians were brave and loyal. A great risk to themselves, they not only fought to prevent escapes, but did so shoulder to shoulder with the Europeans, and in more than one case dashed in to rescue, when it might have been reasonably expected that they had sufficient to do to keep themselves from being seriously if not mertally injured. The Europeans, too bre themselves excellently beside the head gaoler the only other one hadly injured was Mr. Anderson, who had his left shoulder clashed about with a knife. So far as we can ascertain besides those mentioned the o‘her European on duty was Mr..Sims.
At the time of the outbreak there were over ninety convicts out at work on the roads in charge of warders, and the time of the attempt
to break out was well-chosen.
A large mob gathered outside the geol during the trouble, but the strong force of polio
them back.
RUSSIA IN THE FAR EAST.
(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT)
kept
St. Petersburg, April 7th. The new condition of things is making Russia and Japan now display a great deal of activity in north-eastern Siberia. a country which, had Russia won the late war, would have lain wasle and unexplored for centuries to come, for the Japanese would have been afraid to enter it and the Russias would have had plenty of better land to exploit. The Japanese are said to be about to send commercial expeditions to examine the Siberian coast, but Mr. Motono refuses to r tare a definite answer on this point, saying that his Legation is "not yet established". The Russians are soon sending two expeditions to Kamtolatka
One, an overland expedition, is financed by one, of the merchant princes of Moscow, the other which is headed by a well-known explorer called Schmidt, will go by sea along the northern coast of Siberia and will spend several years on the trip. Some of the best scientists in Russia will accompany these expeditions, and Mr. Schmidt will see if it is at all poes ble for Russia. by charting the coast and establishing several coeling stations, to send war-ships or transports to the Far East by the northern route,
Meanwhile Russia seems resolved to do all she i to construct the Amur railway, which will enable her to dispense if necessary with the Chinese-Eastern Railway, and she seems deter mined to construct it with Russian money, altbongh it is hard to say where that money will come from. A French traveller, M. de
CORRESPONDENCE.
ANOTHER CHINESE OPINION.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE
AILY PRESS.
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COMMERCIAL:
373
BILK.
MAY, 11TH,
The home markets are unchanged. Raw Bilk. -- Since our last issue total purchases amount to 10 bales Gold Kiling at 11s. 325, a decline of Tis, 30 per picul on the last price quoted. Yellow bilk.-- The demand principally runs on Mienchews, but Mienyangs and Wangchows have also been dealt in at declining prices. Hand Filatures.-Very little doing, holders have weakened in consequence of the continued rise in exchange, most of whom do not care to carry their stocks into the new
Steam Filatures. -No business to report.. Tussah Filatures.—A small business has been done this week on the basis Tls, 367) for Spinning Girl & Cocoons. New Crop.-Reports from the producing districts are of a satisfactory nature, but it is too early to form any estimate of the crop. Mulberry leaves are good and plentiful. Waste Silka-Nothing doing.”
season.
CANTON, 18th May, 1906:-First Crop.—So far it is impossible to ascertain any exact figure, but the crop will be much reduced owing to the large floods which have spoilt the Mulberry Troek. Long-reels. The stock in 5th and 6th crops is nearly exhausted. A fair number of contracts in now silk have been made at prices varying according to the individual feeling of the dealers for delivery June to September. At the close u mady holders have withdrawn from the market sowing to the very bad weather prevailing. From sales made we quote for 6th crop silk: Fres. Wing Cheong Sing 11/13 at $990, Wing King Lun 9/11 at $925, Wing Po Cheong 10/18 at $900, Kwong Shun Hang 11/13 at $905, Wai King Wo In New Crops: Beat 2me. erdre 18/22 at $750 to 18/22 at $777), Yoe Wo Cheong 18/22 at $776. $755, Best 2me. ordre 22/26, 28/80 at $745 to $780, Best 3me, ordre 11/13, 13/15, 14/18 at $740 to $750. Short-reels.-The stock in 5th and 8th crops is
Hongkong. May 14th. 818-In Saturday's issue of your paper report is given of an interview your reporter has had with Mr. Shelton Hooper. He is reported as having said that the reason of the Chinese not taking advantage of the many to crowd together. This can hardly be the vacant houses in the Colony is because they like
case, nor is it their "elo custom", as is borne out by the fact that overcrowding does not exist in towns in their own country. Even in Canton, a city with a population of a million and a quarter inhabitants, overcrowding is not known in its busiest part. The reason for this The rental there is cheap and the houses are built in quite a different style. I should think everyone would like to have a garden and a detached villa as a residence for his family, but one has not always the luck to be able to do so. The earnings of the poor coolies average from 89 to $12 a month, it is only natural that they want to crowd together as many as they can to share a floor, as the more they do the less rent they have to pay. The cause of the present overcrowded" state of
is not far to seek.
Hongkong is, I am inclined to think, due more to the high r. at prevailing than to any- thing else.
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anished. American burers have shown a desire to operate, but at far lower limits than those asked by holders; nevertheless some contracta have been booked on the basis of 8805 for extra A 14 16, and $785 for extra A 24/28. Waste Silk- Has been considerably dealt in during the fort- night. There is very little old sonson's produce now left. Bome contracts in Now Waste have been placed for July/October delivery, but for the last 2 or 3 days holders have been reluctant to sell to arrive, Stock of silk in Canton: 800 bales
RAW COTTON,
Hongkong, 18th May.-Moderate business at a decline of %} to $1 per picul. Stock about 800 bales. Bombay..
$18.00 to $20.00 per pol.
Bengal (New), Rangoon
and Dacen
21.00 to 23.50 ↑
Shanghai and Japanese... 20.00 to 27.00 Tungchow and Ningpo.
Reported sales 200 bales.
26.00 to 27.00
KOBE MARKET REPORT. The Kobe Market Report, published under the direction of the Hiogo and Osaka General Cham- ber of Commerce, and dated Kobe, 1st May, 1908,
It is quite true that the further you get from the centre of the town the cheaper is the rent, as far as shops are concerned, but it is not at all so in the case of family houses. Take, for instance, a house east of No. 2 Police Station (there are many vacant houses here), the rent there is about $16 per floor per month. This rate, if not higher, must be equal to the rente of houses in side lanes in less busy parts of the Central and Sai-Ying-Pun districts. Why then should the Chinese move away from their work, to keep away from their relatives and friends and at the same time having to pay for tram à re, and be subjected to the difficulty of getting medical assistance in case of sick-reported. ness among the members of their family?
As to tram cars, it is equally true that the the Tramway Company should run workmen's Cars, but the Chinese do not avail themselves of them
so much as they might have done. The many accidents that have occurred entail ing the loss of human lives, have so alarmed the Chinese that they say they prefer to walk or ride in ricksha than to run the risk of losing their lives. In the interess of the Tramway Coy. themselves as well as the public at large, the cars should be allowed to stay a bit longer at the statione, as at present the passengers hardly have the time to get into or alight from the car before the next bell is rung to start. Unless ample time is given to alight the passengers naturally scramble to get out before the car actually stops.
Yours faithfully,
Government made it # condition that
8. 0
states
IMPORTS.
Cotton. The market generally has ruled very dull and no transaction of any consequence is
The home prices aro very well maintained. while here the market has been
adversely affected by the decline in yarn quota- tions. Shirtings.-Cotton Goods and Fancies.—- Nothing new to report. Worsteds and Woollens. -Values at Osaka are lower than at the begin- ning of the spring season. Prices for PAW material are still going up at home. Window Gla-Unchanged and quiet. Arrivals expected will easily fill demand. Metals-Very little business passing. Bar-iron has advanced at home which, however, has not had any effect upon values here so far. Pig-iron is unchanged. Wire- nails:- Heavy shipments have arrived which have made an advance impossible. Galvanised Shoots are weaker at home; prices have declined. Sugar-Beet.-No change but a dull market. Cabe-Hongkong Refined. A general dullness prevails and there is no enquiry. Osaka Refined. -The market is very quiet. ́ ́ At the suction held on the 20th April 4,500 bags were withdrawn consequent upon the extremely low prices offered. Bice. No change since last report; stocks in Hlogo are given sa 760,000`baga.
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