Owe thing that strikes us in looking over the last Customs Gazette, is the remarkable absence of incident at the outports. Each Commissioner's report is divided under ten headings, among which that of "Occurrences" takes the last place. And we find that, in ten out of the fourteen ports, the remark under this head is, Nil. We remember, when the practice of short interval reports was first adopted, and the working of the Returns Office was less perfect than at present, the cuxtailment of the historical sketches sometimes appended to the Reports was suggested, as a means of expediting publication; but we do not believe that even the efforts of the Press exhaust all the news of China, and it is a pity therefore to let' the heading remain altogether blank. We may sey nearly the same of title No. IX—General Remarks"—which is blank in exactly the same number of cases, Undoubtedly, the yearly report is the place for any elaborate review of the trade of a port; but a few com ments, even in a quarterly return, are interesting, and servo to point out at once its leading features. The only exceptional case is, of course, Shanghai, where every incident is made public and discussed by the local Press, as it arises. Newchwang might perhaps be also excused, on the plea that nothing ever docs happen there, worthy of record; but, though the Commissioner can recall no "occurrences," he writes a few "remarks" which exactly illustrate our point. The import of 'T-Cloths was excessively large. The export of beans and beancake was also large; and a demand for bean oil for Japan caused an export of 80,000 peculs to that country within a few weeks. The estimates from the interior are that from six to seven tenths of a "fall" crop have been gathered, both of beans and millet, so that the prospects of trade for the ensuing sca-son are considered on the whole good. This is exactly what is worth while noting down; and we find the remarks of other Commissioners have, generally, much interest. The import of T-Cloths into Tientsin was about 23,000 pieces less than in the corresponding quarter of 1871, the commoner kind of shirtings having taken their place in the market; and of Grey Shirtings accordingly we find that some 57,000 pieces were imported, more than in '71. An increase of 795 peculs in the import of opium is attributed to a falling off in supply of the native drug. The fresh edict which appeared some time ago in the Peking Gazette, " prohibiting the cultivation of the poppy, has to some extent strengthened the market and increased the demand for the foreign article. During the three previous quarters, the sale of Indian Opium was affected by unusually large supplies of the native drag, and, in most cases, prices were in favour of buyers. The consumption of Malwa during the quarter under review has been chiefly in Peking, where it is preferred by the Tartars to other kinds. Shanse is apparently the only consumer of Patna and Benares, and the demand has in consequence been small, These drugs undergo here a preparation, in order to render them saleable in that province."
The Chefoo Commissioner leaves us to our own reflections; and we note that the import of Grey Shirtings was more than double that of the corresponding quarter, and greater than it had been in either of the three previous years. The import of T-Cloths on the con-tray fell off by 45,000 pieces. That of Woollens increased in almost every instance; Lustres, especially, doubling. A remarkable increase is noticeable in the import.of seaweed, and a falling off of about one-fourth in that of sugar. The export of beancake was 215,810 against 96,000 peculs, and that of peas 215,000 against 160,000. No comment is made at Hankow, on an increase in the import of Grey Shirtings from 113,000 to 283,000, of T-Cloths from 73,000 to 174,000, and of Drills from 39,000 to 107,000. Here also, as at the Northern ports, the import of Lustres doubled. Sugar shows a great excess; and the same is the case with most articles of native export. The quantity of manufactures conveyed inland under Transit Pass was very much larger, in almost every case, than in the corresponding quarter. The Commissioner of Kiukiang points out that, though the import of Cotton goods compares favourably with that of the previous year, the market has been dull. The import of Woollens is about equal, but shows a falling off as compared with 1869 and 1870. The table of goods sent inland under Transit Pass shows that the Chinese have largely availed themselves of these as regards manufactures, but confirms the statement we made some weeks ago, that Lead and Tin are debarred from the privilege. Brick tea is becoming a permanent export and seems likely to increase. Chinkeang, again, is left to speak for itself; and we note here, too, an_ increase in the import of Shirtings, and in the quantity sent inlaid under Pass. There is a decrease of 28,000 pieces in the import of T-Cloths, but only of 4,000 pieces in the quantity sent inland. Imstres fell from 8,600 to 6,100; but an increase is shown in "assorted" Woollens, and a trifling increase, also, in the quantity sent inland. The increase in the quantity of native goods brought from the interior under Pass is enormous, for the reasons, no doubt, which have been explained in recent discussions in our columns.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.