Mixvres of a meeting of Consuls held at the United States Consulate-General, Shanghai, on the 16th October, S71.
Present: Messrs. Mejan, Redding, Schlik, Forbes, Wentzel, Siaghck, Davenport, Emperanza, and Seward.
The first subject considered, was the condition of the inner bar at Woosung.
The Senior Consul placed before the meeting the letters from the Chamber of Commerce already circulated by him for the information of the Consuls, the first dated the 20th of September, the second the 9th of October. (Documents A. and B.) He then stated that he had called upon the Harbour-master, in order to invite him to tend the meeting, and had discussed the subject with that gentleman and with the Commissioner of Customs. They had stated the facts of the case to him, and authorized him to state them to the meeting. Itappears that the water to be found on the bar is now the same as that shown by the Admiralty Charts from the Survey of 1862, and that the greater depth reported in February Jast no longer exists. The shoaling commenced probably in June, and has prosed until the present moment. The harbour-master thinks that the silt may cut away, after the season of high water the Yangise has passed. He is confident that his survey made in February last was correct at the time, and urges that the verification ut it by the Naval Counnitte appointed by the Census and the surveys of Mr, Green, Harbour Engineer, and Captain Vassallo of the Cus. toms steamer Quashing, afford evidence to support his survey. He is led to believe therefore that there may be more water on the bar in the winter season, when the Yangtse is low, than in the summer. The Harbour-master had further stated that great care had been taken to make the signals at the Woosung Station correspond to the actual depth of water, as established by soundings made from day to day.
Comte Mesa called attention to the statement made by the Commander of the Phase, that the buoys had been removed from their first places, and that the signals shown were sonietimes incorrect.
Mr. Foxes said that he had understood last spring that the marks were tobe lighted, and suggested that the Harbour-master's attention should be called to the point.
The Senior Consul had to state further that he had spoken about the bar to the Inspector-General of Customs, and had Deen informed by that gentleman that a dredging machine would be sent for.
Some discussion ensued, and the Senior Consul was requested to call the Harbour-master's attention to the points raised by Messrs, Mojan and Forbes.
The Senior Consul then stated that he had spoken to Mr. Hart and to Mr. Dick about the wreck of the Lismore, and had been informed that it had been found necessary to send for divers and apparatus, as a first step, looking to the removal of the wreck. The orders had gone in August.
A discussion ensued, in which it appeared that doubts had been whether the conservation of the river demanded the outlay necessary to remove the wreck. Messrs. Wentzel, Johnson and Forbes were requested to act as acomcommunication received from the Agent of the mittee to enquire and report upon this Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation point.
Company, drawing the attention of the Cham-'The meeting then proceeded to elect ber to a recent detention of the mail steamer Emeu, as a case in which the want of water Judges for the Court of Consuls, and on the Bar occasioned serious inconvenience. the motion of Comte Mejan, seconded by Since the Chamber addressed the Consuls in Senor Emperanza, Messrs.' Wentzel and November last, a survey of the Channel had Davenport were requested to act in the ven rise to the supposition, that from 22 fo places made vacant by the absence of 38 fect at high water could be counted upon, Messrs. Annecke and Medhurst. but it now a that this survey is incor-The subject of the Transit Dues was rect, and that a vessel drawing only 18 feet then taken up. Comte Mojan placed be-may be unable to pass the Bar at high water. fore the meeting a dispatch which he had he matter is of such vital importance to received from his superior officer at Pethe commercial interests of the port, that the Committee trast you will pardon their again thisras the only response which had. been king, (Document ©.) sd it appeared that pressing the subject upon your attention, and received by any of the members, of the the remedy is so simply and easily availed of, that they venture to express a belief that a meeting from the Capital. renewed application tothe Chinese Authorities, The Senior Consul said that he had supported by the voice of the Consular Body, asked Mr. Hart to state the action which would result in the removal of this source of had been taken at Peking, and had been anxiety. told that the first intimation received at T have the honour to be, Peking that a new interpretation had been Sir, placed upon the Transit Dues stipulations Your most obedient servant, at Shanghai, had come up in the newspapers. Mr. Hart at once brought the sub-Warren Pearsox, ject before the Foreign Office, and asked Secretary. Hint clear instractions should be sent to To the Chairman the He at the same time reminded the Comnittce of Consuls, Shanghai. the Board that- the subject had been discussed in 1868, and the point then decided Enclonure. that passes might be taken out by Chinese Suaxcutar Geserat Ciaamen oF Comaterce, or by foreigners. He understood that the Shanghai, 19th September, 1871. Yamen at once' assented to his statement A, Vicuien, Esq. and recommendation, and had sent orders
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.