advances had been made in the lighting and We noticed some time ago that. greater surveying operations on the China Coast than had been hitherto supposed. The expenditure of the Tonnage Dues must have been going on steadily if slowly, and now the Engineering and Lighting Departments (under Mr. Heuderson's management) have something "tangible to show in retwfn for money spent and work done. Mr. Hart's recent tour southward doubtless led to many suggested improvements, and though time or dioptries may not bring these to light for years to com still a movement is certainly discernible amongst the dry bones of official inaction, and we feel thankful for it. Probably we fail sometimes to credit the Customs authorities with a sufficient sum of endeavours in well-doing and when the extent of the seaboard of China is considered, with the time necessary for surveys and thoroughly. satisfactory' practical results, there is something tobe said on behalf of the foreign Vizier of the Chinese Empire. Still, the aggravated and aggravating condition of the Woosung Bar, has long been a bar both to legitimate foreign' trade and to honest Iaudations of the Customs authorities—the annoying shifts to which shipowners are reduced are really becoming serious—and we can fairly fill up the gap of time likely to elapse till the grievance be remedied, by judiciously stimulating growls. Time and tide wait for no man but the Woosung Bar appears to be waiting just a little too long for the Marine Department. We were some time since Ied to understand that the dredging-machines had been sent for many months ago; but the steamers ground even more regularly now than before, and cargo-boats are in daily or hourly requisition, while the Shanghai journals continue to find reasonable ground for complaints that sound " monotanous" on the ear, unaccompanied as they are by any explanatory utterances from the Tnspector-General of Customs and Collector-in-Chief of the aforesaid dues.
As we have said, the prospect is favourable enough, were the accomplishment of promises made somewhat less tardy, or even the symptoms of action and life a little more apparent, It has been remarked that the present year has been unusually fruitful in marine disasters; and itis generally admitted that, however much blame may be attached to ship-masters, there is ample room for aids to navigation in the shape of beacons and other landmarks. We, therefore, hail with satisfaction any proposed advance in this direction; and, if our information be correct, we may congratulate the foreign communities upon another sign of life. Turnabout Island, it is said, is about to be honoured with a lighthouse; and the gunboat Ling-feng will probably be stationed there for the next si mouths while the work is being carried on. Readers who are not nautically inch take note that Turnabout Island, or Goo-san, lies E.S.E. about 4' miles from Hae-head (Haitan Island). "It is in lat. 25°26 N., long. 119°5S' 42" E.; there are two small islets off it; while a sunken rock, on which the sea breaks occasion i cables to the northward of the reputation of this portion of the Coast is deservedly bad, as it is probably the most dangerous of all the obstacles to navigation on the entire route to Shanghai and the Northern ports. Competent judges say that they are not alvaro of any part of the Coast where a light would be more useful—nuless, perhaps, Breaker Point; which observation we. cot mend, in passing, to the attention of those concerned. 'This opinion as to the character of the danger in. question will be confirmed by recalling to mind the fate of the steamers Lauriston fweveral years' since) and. Chutiang (quite recently), as well as the wreck of fine clipper-ship Young Lochinvar; all of which vessels were lost on the islands immediately inside Turnabout. The Chukiang and the clipper were both wrecked during the day, in a fog; and it is to be hoped that the Marine Engineer will bear this fact in mind' whit constructing the new lighthouse spoken of. It may be presumed with some degree of certainty that we have seen the last of the typhoon season for this year, but we would here express a hope that before the next stormy Potiod comes round, this additional safeguard Mi be in fall working Gedes. hat it will inst destruction of and loss of life prove a welcome guide to the numerous shipmasters trading on the Coast there can be shadow of a-doubt. Another light-house is also whispered about to be. placed on Shantang Promontory—on the extreme north of side of Chefoo. But itis a8 yet, ave believe, Shantung province, some seventy miles this
uncertain on which spots the Marine Department will next alight. The. ball, however, has commenced to-roll, and. we trust it will roll on quicker and quicker until the China Coast is the best surveyed and most clearly marked on the face of the earth. There is no reason that it should not be 0, and we believe that it will be so before many years have passed.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.