In accordance with a resolution passed at the last Annual Meeting, Taels of the Chamber's Funds were paid into the Oriental Bank to the credit of Baron Richthofen, in aid the expenses of the Geological Survey of the country, which had been undertaken by that gentleman. The total sum subscribed for this purpose, including the Chamber's contribution, was Taels5,290. The Hongkong Chamber was invited to join in the subscription, but a separate commercial expedition, under its auspices, being organized, the merchants in the Colony did not take part in the scientific survey. Baron Richthofen commenced his labours on the Ist of January of this year, travelling from Canton through the provinces' of Hunan, Huyh, Honan, and Shansi, and thence to eking, where his expedition was interrupted in consequence of the disturbed state of public feeling with regard to foreigners, which would render further investigations in the interior difficult and dangerous. Baron Richthofen's reports upon the provinces through have been printed, and placed in the hands of members of the Chamber and subscribers to the fund, and include many interesting commercial particulars connected with the districts visited, in addition to the Geological Notes. The observations of Baron Richthofen, in some instances, correct the imperfect informa: tion previously in possession of the Chamber, while they furnish a mass of new dola of the condition and cts of the interior provinces of China. Phe high commercial importance of the great mart of Siangtan, the centre of commerce in Hunan, and one of the chief trading towns in China, has been amply confirmed by the Baron, and he explains very fully the circumstances which have given it its position. The population of Siangtan estimates at 1,000,000. From the minute accounts given of the rivers of Hunan, there seems no room to hope that the emporia of that province can, for practical purposes, be approached by steamers nearer than the lower entrance of the Tung-ting Lake; while the difficulty in the way of connecting the province by rail from Canton is too great to be thought for the present. Withinthe province of Hunan itself, however, the Baron 1s of opinion that 'a net-work of railways might be constructed, which would tend greatly to develope the wealth of the inhabitants. 'The coal-fields, and, vith the introduction of elibetoirrd especially of Anthracite, are of great extent, provements, are destined to play an important art in the' future commerce of that region. The river Han has likewise been well described by Baron Richthofen, and he concludes that it also is not navigable for any great distance by foreign steamers, excepting during the summer months. He is, however, of opinion that railways would not be very difficult of construction in the province of Hupeh. Baron Richthofen's third report on Honan and Shansi is the most important of the three, and conveys amass of very carefully collected information. The enormous extent of unemployed mineral wealth in the shape of coal and iron, and the distressed condition of the population are remarkable features in the mountainous parts of the northern provinces, the absence Of any convenient means of rendering the produce of one district unavailable, except in its immediate vicinity. Railways again suggest themselves as the only means of improving this state of things, and in this connection the remarks of Baron Richthofen, under the head of "The Gate of Central Asia," have no doubt been attentively perused. The members of the Chamber cannot but feel a deep interest many question which affects the well-being of the population, on whose prosperity the foreign trade of China depends for its maintenance and increase. It was the intention of Baron Richthofen to extend his explorations to northern Shansi, Shensi, Szechuen, Kweichow, and Yunnan, returning through Kwangsi to Canton; and full preparations had been made for this journey, which was expected to occupy about' eight months, hen the conspirsey aguinst foreigners, culminating in the massacre at Tientsin, prevented further progress. In the meantime Baron Richthofen is visiting Japan, and expresses his readiness to continue the proposed examination of China so soon as this may be done with advantage, An amount of Tls. 2,561.80 still remains to the credit of the survey fund for future use. The Committee have conveyed to Baron Richthofen the thanks of the Chamber for the very valuable and interesting reports in which the results of the journey already taken have been recorded.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.