July 27, 1907.]
"
consistent decrease. Mr. PARE makes one, remark sufficiently suggestive to quote. "Arms smuggling from Hongkong, Macao, and Kwang-chow-wan has been very rife for some years past, and it seems somewhat of a retribution that the insecurity Dow resulting from this nefarious trade should affect indirectly foreign commerce.*
Lappa returns by Mr. E. V. BEENAN showed a distinct falling away, owing probably to the diversion of the course of trade to the Kwang-chow-wan-Macao route. The reduction in net value appears to be at the rate of about one million taels per annum. Last year the net value of Lappa trade was Tls. 15,383,943. Kongmoon it was Tls. 3,732,207, a slight increase. Mr. G. MOULE, the Acting Commissioner seems to think the stories of piracy were exaggerated, and he notes the difficulties of dealing with such pirates as do exist. More interesting is the con- tribution of Mr. K. H. VON LINDHOLM, the Acting Commissioner at Samshui. He refers to 1906 as a year of floods, scarcity, piracies, and typhoons.
At
Opinions are often expressed in respect to the West River trade, indicating feelings of dis appointment with the past and a somewhat despondent view concerning the future. The disappointed feeling may be due to the fact that more was anticipated than one reasonably had a right to expect. One is justified in such a view when one has often heard and still occasionally hears people speaking about the West River and the Yangtze at the same time. How misleading Buch a view is will easily be seen when it is considered that the Yangtze, as far as naviga. tion is concerned, stretches from the rich and fertile Kiangsu on the ses through many provinces well into Ezechwan, perhaps China's most fertile and richest province; while similarly, the West River only traverses Kwangtung and Kwangai. Though the delts of the former is undeniably fertile and well cultivated, it is at the same time overpopulated and subject to floods, and cannot, even with good crops, maintain its population, but is dependent on foodstuff from outside; while as regards the mountainous Kwangsi it has hitherto-whatever
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. must be very considerable, otherwise merchants would hesitate before paying one full export and one and a half import duty besides the freight,
Ha affirms that piracy was no more prevalent than in other
years, notwith. standing the prominence given to it; and that the foreign press were not quite fair to the Chinese officials, who did all that could be done. In these parta piracy for ages has been looked on in much the same light in which smuggling was regarded by the coast populations in Europe a hundred years ago, and all the inhabitants of a village as a rule are not only friends but also relations, and everybody-from the old the naked urchin riding a water buffalo on woman picking cotton on the river bank to the embankment-inform, help, and abet the culprits.
At Wuchow, says the Acting Commis- sioner, Mr. C. E. TANANT, bad weather means bad trade, and the year 1906 was a bad one.
The American boycott seems to have been more effective there than else- where. "The most important feature of the year was the appearance of a steamer running in competition with the pooled West River companies. The result was a lowering of freights, to the great benefit of trade generally." The net value of the trade, Tis. 10,554,816, was not sufficiently decreased to illustrate the badness of the year's business. At Kiungchow, until the typhoon of September, things generally had been keeping fair pace with the record year of 1905, but that storm, says Mr. CHAS. KLIENE, Assistant-in-Charge, brought the trade of the port to a deadlock, for Hong- kong is its chief entrepôt. After a month's waiting, however, so much bustle imported into the last two and a half months of the year that the record of 1905 was surpassed. The island port thus showed its capabilities and possibilities. The lichee and pineapple cannery failed owing purely to careless management. "An era of unprecedented progress seems to be dawning" in Hainan. The net valuo of the trade was Tls. 6,737,000.
WAI
ment." Tonkin has taken away its business, Pakhoi has been "a great disappoint- and unless the railways come to revive it, it seems likely to dwindle to an unimportant status, says Mr. J. H. Loway, the Assistant- in-Charge. The net value of its trade shows a persistent decline, from Tls. 3,013,256 in 1904, and Tis. 2,824,423 in 1905, to Tla. 2,478,862 in 1906. In the foregoing paragraphs we have been able to do no more than skim the mass of information contained in this volume, which to those interested in greater detail should be cheap at two dollars.
it may develop into in the future, when its mineral riches are taken in hand-been best known for scarcity and rebellions. But if the ex- pectations in the past were, perhaps, too optimi- stic, the present despondent view for the future has no real justification. The opening of Nanning may give rise to somewhat more trade, and this will also be the case when the mines in Kwangsi are opened; and, what is more important, the resources already at band have not been exhausted. The North River still remains practically a terra incognita to the foreign merchant, and although the trade probably would not be very considerable, and the naviga. tion for launches and their tows is difficult at certain times of the year, Szewui for instance, can always be reached. The geographical position of Samshui fits it in an exceptional degree as a distributing centre for certain foreign goods as, for instance, kerosene oil and cotton piece goods and yarn, which
The Police have been unable to ascertain the could be stored here and subsequently sent into
causes of the fire which occurred in the godowns the interior by native boats towed by launches
of Messrs. Barretto and Co. in Wyndham and covered by transit passes.
Street on Tuesday evening, but believe that the In order that the West River trade become more of a
outbreak was due to the fusing of an electric success, it is. however, essential that it should
wire in the office. Shortly after six o'clock follow its natural course without being inter- when the godown was looked everything appear- fered with or hampered by any other considers ed to be in order, and it was not until nine tions, and its natural course is not entailing o'clock that the fire had gained sufficient hold transhipment-vid Canton, to which it, how.
to attract attention. Then the flames were bur. ever, is linked by old traditions and associating through the doors and mounting high in tions difficult to disregard, but direct to and air, greatly to the alarm of residents above who from Hongkong, ie, the place where the
were about to more out their furniture until importing steamer arrives from, and the assured by Laspector Warnock that they were exporting vessel departs for, abroad.
in no immediate danger. Inspection of the Native goods, such as nankeens, paper, and cotton premises yesterday morning showed that No. 3 oord, are, as mentioned in previous reports, godown was gutted, that No. 2 was damaged shipped to Hongkong and Macao, and then, by water, and that No. 4 was damaged by fire having become "foreign" goods and entitled and water. The stook in hand at the time was to transit pass, brought back and sent into the considerably more than the smount on which interior under transit pass. The distance insurance had been affected, and the loss is these goods have to travel, is, the number estimated at $15 00). There is stook insured of barriers and Hkin stations they have to with the South British Insurance Co., of which pass before reaching their ultimate destination, Moars. 8. J. David and Co are agents to the
extent of $55,000.
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HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held on the 23rd instant in the Council Chamber.
PRESENT :-
His Dro-LLINO THỊ OFELORE ADID STERING THE GOVERNMENT, Hon. Mr. F. H. MAY, O.M.G.
Hon. Mr. A. M.THOMSON(Colonial Secretary). Hon. Mr. H. H. J. GоMÉERTZ (Attorney- General).
Hon. Mr. C. McI. MESSEE (Colonial Tram- surer).
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Hon. Mr. W. CHATHAM, O. M.G. (Director of Public Works).
Hon. Mr. A. W. BREWIN (Registrar, General).
Hon. Mr. F. J. Badeley (Captain-Enperin- tendent of Police).
Hon. Dr. Ho KAI, M.B., C.M., O.M.G. Hon. Mr. WMI YUK. Hoa. Mr. E. OSBORNE. Mr. A. G. M. FLETCHER (Clerk of Councils).
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read, and confirmed.
FINANCIAL MINUTES,
The COLONIAL CENTARY, by command Government, laid on the table Financial His Excellency, the Officer Administering the Minutes Nos. 31 to 32, and moved that they referred to the Finance Committee.
The COLONIAL TREASUERE seconded, sud the motion was agreed tɔ.
FINANCIAL.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY, by Command of H.E. the Officer Administering the Govern Finance Committee (No. 5), and moved ment, laid on the table the Report of the
sdoption.
the motion was agreed to.
The COLONIAL TREASURE 1econded, and
PAPERS.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command H.E. the Officer Administering the Covera- ment, laid on the table the following piper. The report of the Hongkong Yotaniéer Corps for the year April 1st, 1906 to March 31, Hongkong Subsidiary Coins; and the Deepston 1907; the Correspondence on the subject of from the Secretary of State with regard to nection with the typhoon of September report of the Committee of Inquiry in 1906.
INSURANCE COMPANIES ORDINANCE. The ATTORNEY GENERAL movel the geog reading of the Bill entitled An Ord Companies. In doing so he mid :—In relating to Life Fire and Marine Tar quence of certain opnsiderations which bare por forward, I propose to drop at present provisions in this Ordiganes relating and Marine Insurance Companies. These of the Bill may be proceeded with lar otherwise, a mày sem expedient. portion of the Bill relating to life surance follows closely the provisions Life Insurance Acts of England and the securit is similar to that required to be given under Imperial Act.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded. And the motion was agreed to.
The Council resolved itself into committe and considered the Bill slags by clango.
On resuming, the Arronxay GHERBAL reported that the Bill had passed committee with certain amendmentà, "kal passed its second reading.
FACILITIES FOR A FORNIGH COMPANY The ATTORNEY-GÜNEŞÅL moved reading of the Bill entitled A'n Ordinanco landsche Handal-Maatschappij portai giving to a Foreign Company called for oscrying on its business in the
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, the motion was agreed to.
Council then resolved itself into of the whole Council, And lào Hill San clause by clause,
On Council resuming.. GEXEBAL reported fast the Bui through committee wilkout as moved that it be read & third
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