•
June 7, 1909.]
THE FORMOSAN ABORIGINES.
A Taipeh telegram to the Asahi says:--A wild tribe of aborigines at Charogis, Taito district, who recently murdered a police officer. has been pressed by the authorities, and some of its members have offered to surrender, while others have fled deeper into the wilds. They seem to have been cut off from their food supply. The Japanese force is making preparations to send the subdued aborigines to lure the tribe out and to seize them in a body.
OPENING OF THE SHANGHAI-
HANGCHOW RAILWAY.
The section of the Shanghai-Hangchow Ningpo Railway which the Kiangsu Railway Company had undertaken to construct, having been practically completed, the opening cere- monies took place at the end of last month. Starting from the Shanghai station, a special train consisting of ten carriages conveyed the guests over the line, their arrival at the various stations being marked by the firing of crackers and other expressions of celebration. At Sun- kiang, the main station of the line, one of the students of the Normal School read a speech of welcome in English which was to the following effect:-If there was one railway in China which could rightly and indisputably be claimed as China's own, it was the Kiangsu Railway. No foreign loans had been necessary for its inception, no foreign engineers were employed in its con- struction and there were no foreign directors to conduct its affairs. The line had been built by Chinese entirely. Not only was that cause for congratulation, but it was also a significant indication of the growth of national feeling among the Chinese. On behalf of the whole of the prefectural schools of Sungkiang and the members of the faculty belonging thereto, the speaker extended a hearty welcome to the railway company in appreciation of its valuable service in bringing about the completion of the line. Afterwards the pupils, who were of all ages, sang the Chinese National Anthem, clapped hands and saluted in foreigu style.
A dinner followed, at which complimentary speeches were delivered
THE HANKOW TEA MARKET.
The following is taken from the N.C. Daily
News:
Since the opening of the market on the 11th instant a fair inquiry has existed, but Imsiness cannot be said to be general, as so large a percentage of it is, for the time being, in the hands of two or three important Russian buyers. Attention has been almost entirely directed to teas from the Keemen and Oanfa districts which afford good quality at comparatively reasonable prices. There is no stock whatever of these descriptions for no sooner are samples put upon the market than they are at once snapped up, and little will come to him who waits. Excellent value has been obtained in the former of these teas at Tls. 50 and
|
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
it would be unwise to add to those stocks until it is definitely known whether the tax is "to be, or not to be.
Transactions comprise:
Keemuns at Tls. 40 and 62 per picul.
(extra choice) Tls, 68 up. Kiukiang Packs at Tls. 20 and 25 Tongsans Yanglowtungs Onnfas
19
18
21
"I
11
量多
21
•
20 24 26 36
**
་་
ac-
As regards quality the Keemuns and Oanfas are, perhaps, slightly better in cup and infusion than last year, though not quite Ro attractive in leaf, which is counted for by the dry, hot weather imme. dietely antecedent to the picking. But after all, though one may be taken in by, one does is on the leaf appearances do not count for not drink "appearances; "and once the water much.
Tea-men admit to making profits of ten per cent on both these descriptions, but when it at by the native after the inclusion of every is remembered that this result is only arrived conceivable and inconceivable charge on first first, it is not hard to understand that there is a substantial reality in native profits quite foreign to foreign calculations. Throughout the length and breadth of Anhui and Hunan and judging from the past and "olo these satisfactory results are already known, custom teamen will make more tea this year than otherwise had been the case.-H. T. W.
to
SPURIOUS SOAP IN JAPAN.
A correspondent writes
the Japan Chronicle: drug store for a cake of imported soap: it cost 'Needing some soap I sent to a Japanese fifteen sen, and is declared to be an imported article. Being a curiosity in its way, bearing British, German, French and Japanese names, Undoubtedly it is a spurious article which I beg to submit the article to your notice. would deceive no foreigner of any nationality. But it is different with the Japanese who buy imported cake of soap far superior to native this soap in the belief that they have a genuine
surprised when I pointed out to her that the manufacture. For example, my servant was
article was, probably, a fraud; she had been buying this Paris' soap for some time. says she likes the smell of it! Permitted no longer to imitate foreign trade marks, certain soap makers are not at a loss to invent firms that have no existence!
Our contemporary adds:The specimen sent is certainly of an international character. On the коар itself is stamped the words: Fragrant Soap Offenbach a. M."; an the inner cover Sumiyoshi Registered Trade Mark. This Soap Toilet Manufactured by T. Millmann & Company."; and on the outer cover, "Savon Bellarosa. Préparé pour T. Millman. Paris." As our correspondent says, it is not foreigners who are deceived by these things but the Japanese.
us
+
SHANGHAI TRADE.
She
Messrs. Ilbert and Co.'s latest Market Reporti says: With the exception that clearances from stock are still being maintained at a very fair in regard to the market. Szechwan buyers are rate for the time of year, there is little to report the best supporters, other dependencies all being very quiet.
has been the increase in consumption of yarn as An interesting feature of this year's business compared with the past few years, the figures being as follows:-
485
are said to be excellent, and tea above the average, so that it would appear the near future may be productive of something at least more solid than hope of better times from which the import trade has had for so long a period to derive what sustenance it might.
Messrs. Noel, Murray and Co.'s report on the Shanghai Piece Goods Trade says:
The market remains in the same quiet state, almost bordering on stagnation, while every one is wondering how, under these circumstances, certain goods come to be re-exported week after week to the extent they do. The Auctions only account for a fractional part of the quantity, so as the majority of Importers disclaim making fresh sales, it can only be assumed that old ments to a fair extent. stocks are being drawn upon to supply require- It is true that goods sold to arrive are meeting with prompt clear- ances so soon as they are discharged from the steamer, but with many items deliveries exceed- American goods until quite recently fresh the imports. The same could have been said of
arrivals have exceeded the off take. This is destined to be the case with Manchester goods from now on. Stocks are accumulating, and the hopes that were entertained at the begin- ning of the year of a big reduction on the 30th June will not now be fulfilled. So far the principal items are as follows:
Description.
+1
Grey Shirtings ... T.-Clothes 32 in. White English Drills American English Jeans Engl. Sheetings. American
Am.
**
1
Printed Cotton Turkey Reds Velvets &c. Muslins
Deliveries.
to date
Average off. -
take first half
year of last
4 years.
pca. 1,581,000
2,474,000
"
1,069,000 303,000
1,509, 00 428,000
#
41,000
60,000
14
160,000
534,000
193,000
192,00)
34,000 93,000
116,000 161,000
582,000 1,687,000
284,000
476,000
139,000
298,000
22,000
27,000
19
101,000
195, 00
842,000
1,056,000
pols.
421,000
516,000
Jap. Local
11
128,000
175,000
131,000
93,000
11
Dyed Cottons Cot. Yarn-Ind.
lo. do. It must be remembered that the Customs figures for the re-exports are fully two weeks behind haud, so there is a good seven weeks more to complete the half year.
According to native advices there is a little more inquiry from our chief dependencies, but so far it has not made itself manifest, except in a rather better turnover from second hands.
The complaint is general of an insufficient rain- fall which as yet has not caused any harm, the consequences if it holds off much longer how- ever, will be serious.
An enquiry from Newchwang has been met with some fairly cheap re-sales of American goods, but the total quantity of both Drills and Sheetings does not amount to a thousand bales. In other goods fresh sales consist of retail quant- ities of miscellaneous descriptions, showing a small but genuine consumptive demand. So far the enquiry has not troubled Importers much, they thinking that the demand may become more pronounced after the fifth of the fifth moon, which falls on the 22nd proximo. 80 much, however, depends on the financial situa- tion of the country. At present it remains in a hopeless muddle and nothing seems to be done to elucidate the terribly complicated mess into which it has been allowed to drift. Suggestions Yarn Deliveries up to 20th May.
and warnings given to the Government are Indian. Japanese. Local. Total.
apparently completely ignored, and all the evils Piculs, Piculs, Piculs. Piculs. to be expected from the indiscriminate issue of 316,463 106,275 31,603 454,341 a debased coinage supplemented by the circula- 369,979 109,958 30,420 510,357
tion of unsecured paper money, are starting the 312,013 118.635 132.736 563,383 trade to the face. This is the chief stumbling 396,997 123,391 123.532 643,920
block one sees ahead, and, as it must be apparent No doubt an important factor in the expansion to every one, is there any wonder that there is of this trade has been that the staple food of the
no confidence, but only anxiety as to the future ? country, namely rice, had ruled cheap during recent months, and also the development of ex- ports of other produce has put money into the country. Naturally the yarn trade is the first to feel an improvement in the country's purchas- ing power, the effect following later throughout other classes of goods. The silk crop prospects'
52 per picul, roughly 18. 2d. per lb., (Tls. 5 cheaper than last year) and in the latter up to Tls. 36 per picul. Although several musters of Ningchows have been shown there is a reluctance to start an opening price, while the Oopacks are looked upon askance.
Shuntams and other low grade Oonahms are in evidence, but fail to elicit any offers of a nature acceptable to would-be sellers. As these and similar teas are not worth more than 4d to 44d. per lb. in London, or 9 to 10 cents in New York, and as the various Russian centres of distribution are said to be very heavily stocked, | Year, it would not seem reasonable to pay more than their equivalents in Hankow, suy Tls. 10 and TIs. 12 per picul. There are also very heavy 1907 stocks in America. President Taft has recently 1908 stated that the Tariff bill to be placed in his 1909 hands by June 2 is "One worthy of signature." If it should provide for the imposition of a tax on tea of 8 or 10 cents per lb. it will certainly be considered worthy of signature by the holders of the abnormal excess of 6,000,000 lb. of Congou shipped to that country from China last year. If tea is to remain upon the "free list" they and all who have speculated will have cause to charge their opinion. Anyhow
1906
United states so much trouble in the early days The Filipino leader Aguinaldo, who gave the of the American occupation of the Philippines, has been induced to pay his first official visit to the Acting Governor at, Baguio, the health resort of the islands,
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