366
SHIPPING NOTES.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Chinese papers in the North report that a foreigner has put a scheme before the Chinese Government for the establishment of a steamer service on the Yellow River. The scheme in- cludes an undertaking to repair the embank- ments of the Yellow River from time to time.
The Kochien Transportation and Tow Boat Co. is understood to be sending some of its tugs and lighters to Hankow with a view to starting business there. The Shanghai Tug and Lighter Company's tug Samson has taken sixteen lighters to Hankow, having an aggregate ton- nage of between 3,500, and 3000, which con stitutes a record for towage on the Yangtze.
The new N.Y.K. steamer Kitano-maru, just built at the Mitsu Bishi Yard, Nagasaki, deve- loped a maximum speed of 17.266 knots and an average of 17.20 knots during an official trial trip. Compared with her sister-ship, the Atsuta- maru, the speed of the new steamer was 0.193 knots higher. The vessel is expected to arrive at Yokohama not later than the 7th May.
The Directors of the Nippon Yusen Kaisha have published a denial of the rumour which has been circulating in the Japanese press that the Com- pay suffered a heavy loss in the last half year, ending 31st March. The Jiji, in which this denial is published, gives currency in the same issue to a rumour that in consequence of the heavy loss sustained by the Toyo Kisen Kaisha, the Government authorities have suggested a combine of the N.Y.K. and T.K.K., and that in case the former consents to do so, the proposed amalgamation of the two steamship companies will be effected in the near future.
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Mr. Asano, President of the Toyo Kisen Kaisha, interviewed in Nagasaki, said that the Tengo-maru's sister-ship will be completed in 1910. A cargo-boat of 1,900 tons, now in course of building at Nagasaki, will undergo a trial run
next autumn. The number of the San Fran-
cisco liners of the Company will then be increased to six and that of the South American liners to four, these calling at Nagasaki in addition to Kobe and Yokohama.
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The tonnage of Japanese steamers which have been lying idle since last winter once reached about 90,000, but has now decreased by about 50 per cent., namely to some 51,500, the number of vessels being 25. This is due to the restoration of coal transportation, and to the re- opening of timber exportation from the Ħokkaido and of the North China service.
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The fourth general meeting of the Japan Chinese Steamship Company is to be held at the end of May, when the business report for this term is to be submitted. It is said by that no dividend will be Japanese papers declared, as the business has not been favourable on account of the decrease of water in the Yangtzekiang, coupled with the severe petition of the British, German, French and Chinese steamships.
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com.
is a very small island without any inhabitants, A promontory juts out to the southward, and it was near the end of this that the Indrani went ashore. So long as the fine weather lasts the vessel is in no danger.
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the
A well-known skipper on the China coast has just retired from Botive service after thirty-four years service with China Merchants' Steam Navigation Com- pany. We refer to Captain J. Warwick. In order to fittingly mark the esteem in which he is held by his sea-faring and shore friends, Captain Warwick just prior to his departure from Shanghai was entertained at the Masonic Club and presented with a magnificently-fitted suit case. Captain J. P. Lowe, who made the presentation, took advantage of the opportunity to wish their departing friend a pleasant journey home and many years of enjoyment and health amind the bracing air of Hartlepool Captain Lowe also expressed the hope that Captain Warwick would find time in the future to visit his old friends again.
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After several disappointing results, the endeavours to raise the sunken steamer Kalomo at Singapore have crowned with the success which is the reward of persistent effort. The ship may now be said to be practically salved, though there a great deal more work to be done before she can be thoroughly examined. The Kalomo caught fire on December 16 and was to have loft Singapore the following day for Cebu, Manila, Swatow and Japan. She was lately commanded by Capt. R. Linklater, who took charge when she was launched last year by Messrs. R. Duncan and Company Ltd., at Port Glasgow. She is one of the American- Vanchurian liners, for whom Messrs. Bucknall Bros. are managers, and Messrs. McAlister and Co. are agents at Singapore. The ship has a register of 5,019 tons, and is 400ft. long, 52ft. 3in. broad and 20ft. lin. deep. She was built with a deck and spar deck, both steel, and has a deep framing. The vessel was engined by Messrs. Ranken and Blackmore, of Greenock, the machinery incind- ing triple expansion engines, three cylinders 28in. 45in. and 75in.-5lin. The ship is regis. tered at London, and flies the British flag and is classed 100 A1. at Lloyd's.
INDIA'S OPIUM POLICY.
The full introductory Budget Statement by the Hon. Sir Guy Fleetwood Wilson, is now to hand. Paragraph 32, relating to the Indian Government's Opium policy has an interest for readers in China. It states:—
Our Opium policy in the coming year will be in consistent adherence to our promise to China, and our exports will again be reduced by ten per cent. The very unsettled prospects of the Industry, the repeated alarms of local mono- polies in China and the speculative character of much of the Malwa trade, make it very difficult to forecast our receipts. We intend however to sell 42,300 chests of Bengel opium during the financial year, for which we assume an average price of Rs. 1,350 a chest. In Malwa we surmise that between 8,000 to 9,000 chests will pay pass duty in preparation for the ship The Standard Oil Company's full-rigged shipments of 1911. The net result is a very heavy King George, reached Stapleton, U.S.A., on
drop of £1,468,200, in total receipts as com. February 29th, 134 days out from Hongkong. pared with the artificially inflated income Captain Tucker was ill with what was believed to of the current year. For the future the be beri-beri, and he was removed to the Marine position remains as described by Sir Edward Hospital on Staten Island. One of the crew, it Baker in last year's Financial Statement. We is stated, had complained of pains in his ankles continue to reduce our exports until 1910, before the ship left Hongkong and he died in when the whole question will be re-examined the Indian Ocean. Others of the crew also with reference to the progress which China has suffered from the disease, but it was still an
made in its reforms. While bearing evidence open question at the date of the latest reports to the strength of a genuine anti-opium whether the disease was beri-beri or a form of movement in certain classes of Chinese society, the reports which we receive are conflicting as regards the curtailment of cultivation and production in China. The matter however has been under the enquiry of the International Commission which sat at Shanghai last month, and at which the interests of India were represented by Mr. J B. Brunyste. The proceedings of the Commission have not yet reached the Government of India; but in the meanwhile it is well that we should be prepared, as far as possible, for the-possibility of further losses in our opium revenue. For tunately there is some hope that the change will
scurvy.
Japan papers by yesterday's mail mention with regard to the British steamer Indrani which recently went ashore on the island of Mushima, in the Inland Sea, that an examina- tion of the bottom has revealed near the bow of the vessel a large gash nearly twenty feet in length, caused through the steamer grinding on the sharp rocks as she went ashore. Divers were busy at work patching up the broken plates, and the vessel will be thoroughly overhauled on her arrival at Kobe. Mashims the Chronicle says
[May 1, 1909.
not affect the landed interest in Bengal ghd the United Provinces so seriously as at one time we feared. The profits of other high cropping show some tendency to oust the poppy, especially in Behar, and a large contraction in area seems practicable without very grave detriment to rural well-being. For the next poppy season accordingly we are arranging to license a maxi- mum of 600,000 bighas-a very material reduc- tion from the 900,000 odd bighas which were cultivated only three years ago, when this ques- tion first arose. In parts at least of the native territory where Malwa opiam is grown, the problem of the falling China trade is a more difficult one, and it is now engaging our sympathetic attention.
FAR EASTERN TELEGRAMS.
[FROM THE "CHUNG NGOI SAN PO."]
ESTIMATED REVENUE OF CHINA.
Peking, April 27th. The Foard of Finance has estimated that the revenue for the current year will amount to Taels 150,000,000.
RETRENCHMENT.
Peking, April 27th. The Peking Government intends to abolish the posts of Tartar General and Vice Tartar General of the various provinces.
THE BOXER INDEMNITY.
PAYMENT OF FURTHER INSTALMENTS POSTPONED.
Peking, April 28th. at a meeting of Foreign Ministers held at the United States Embassy, it was unanimously agreed that China should defer the payment of the remaining instalments of the Boxer Indemnity for some years, in order to enable her to carry on the work of reform.
AIRSHIPS IN JAPAN.
war,
It is a common belief to-day that great wars of the future will be waged in the air rather. than on land and sea; and every Power seems intent upon the invention and construction of really efficient aeroplanes for warlike purposes. The Japan Times is therefore exceedingly gratified to learn that a new and nearly perfect specimen of the aeroplane has recently been invented, finished and patented by Mr. Isaburo Yamada, whose name is not unfamiliar on account of the already meritorious services in connection with the aeroplane. The necessity of possessing truly efficient aeroplanes for fighting purposes was realised in Japan during the Chino- time and it
at this was Japan that Major General Furukawa entrusted Mr. Yamada with part of the work in connection with the building of airships for the peculiar use of the Japanese army. Mr. Yamada steadily and diligently fought his way in discharging the important commission entrusted to him. His long and painstaking endeavours were finally crowned with victory which was, as the world knows, amply turned to account in the late Manchurian campaign. Particularly in the battles of Port Arthur Mr. Yamada's aeroplane rendered invaluable services in reconnoitring work, but he was by no means satisfied with the result won, neither is his airship such as might be called perfect. He doubled his energy and faithfully kept on working at the airship, till at length he has succeeded in innovating a type of aeroplane which may, without flattery, be well termed as the nearest approach to perfec- tion. The "safe and free airship" is the name by which his latest production has been patented. Though the particulars of the new vessel have not as yet been published its most prominent features are said to be remarkable 'freedom and safety with which it can manœuvre in the air. Along with this splendid invention Mr. Yamada has turned out what he calls an airship destroyer, which though comparatively small in size is so swift in motion that it serves in the air a duty similar to that of the torpedo boat on the sep.
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