'THE CUSTOMS QUARTERLY RETURNS, Wo have received the statistics of trade of the port of Shanghai, issued by the Customs, for the third quarter of 1874, en ing 80th'September. Th decrease of 20 from the correspond it quarter of 1873, in the number of voss entered, but an excess in tonnage of 9,508, showing that the trade of the port continues to favour large steamers. The import of opium is 6,73 chests, 753 below the corresponding quarter of 1878, but 1,000 chests above either that of 1872 or 1871, Of Grey Shirtings, 300,000 pieces ortud over last year, in other kin excess: of 40,000. 'T-Clot!
increase of about 275,000, but till half a million under what they we: in 1872 and 71. Drills are, on the whol about 97,000 pieces short, 81,000 of which in in the import of Dutch: Sheetings are, roundly, only 11,500 as against 23,500; Chintzen are over two-thirds less—32,500 against 108,597; while other Fancy Cottons remain about the same, excepting Velvets and Vel Woollen goods, chiefly in Lustres, while Long Ells have doubled. The import of iron is 47,261 picula, againat 23,503 in the third quarter of '73, and the amount of lead and steel laid in looks warlike. Four thousand tons more of coal has been brought to the port. The needle trade goes on expanding at a rate which shows that foreign makes of the tiny but useful tool are being more and more appreciated by the Chinese, third quarter of '72 showed a high import, 157,640 mille; but under notice rises to 213,656. Kerosine oil falls off 135,000 gallons, but in still 346,900; and the article of sugar Appears to come more through for channels, 110,000 piculs of all kinds being entered against 60,000; while the latter amount again exceeded each of the two comparative former quarters by 20,000. The same commodity under Native Sundries, however, instead of falling off, rises nearly 40,000 piculs. The Re-exports compare favourably, Shirtings and T-Cloths showing an increase over 1873, which brings them up to the higher figures of 1871 and '72. In Drills Jess has been done, and Sheetings on the whole show no appreciable difference. The same may be said of Fancy Cottons, except Handkerchiefs, which give an increased re-export of 20,700 dozen, while Woollens scarcely come up to the corresponding quarter. Presumably metals and coal must go most largely into local consumption, as their re-export dees not compare with the import. The use of transit passes appears to be steadily on the decline. The export of Silk to foreign countries for the three months was 34,543 bales. There is a falling off of nearly Tis, 1,000 in Tonnage At about 10.55 p.m. on the 2nd instant the steamer Cawdor Castle, arrived the same day from Hiogo, while taking up her erth at the Hongkew Wharf, ran into the French brig St. Francois, of 253 tons, which vessel was being discharged alongside the Wharf, opposite No. 11 godown, One fluke of the steamer's starboard an-char, hanging at the hawse, went through tue brig's port quarter, and the other through her own starboard bow. In a few minutes after the occurrence it was found that the brig's pumps could not keep the water under, and the vessel was hauled to the lower end of the Wharf into shallow water. In twenty minutes she took the ground, and at high tide the water was level with her bulwarks. She only arrived on Thursday, from Freemantle, and had commenced to discharge her cargo of sandalwood on Monday. Every exertion was made to lighten the ship, but such was the extent of the damage she had eustai that the crew were only able, with assistance of coolies from the wharf, to keep her afloat a short time, and hurriedly save a portion of their effects, As soon as the steamer was made fast, it was found that water was coming in rapidly in the fore compartment, and measures were at on taken to confine it to the one compartment, At 7 am. yesterday a steam pump and divers were procured from the Tugboat Ca., and the diver, after several attempts, succeeded in discovering and putting a patch upon the hole, which proved to be 12 inches deep by 18 in width. The hatches were then removed, and steam being supplied from the tugboat Orphan the pump was started, gangs of coolies in the meantime discharging what cargo could be got at. The pump rapidly gained upon the leak, and at 1.30 p.m. reduced the water from 17 feet to about 8 feet in the lower hold. The cargo damaged consists of about forty tons of cigars and Japa for London, and about on hundred and forty tons of seaweed, fi and cassia for Shanghai. At ti the steamer was coming alonj tide was ebbing, and it is supposed that the pilot, asin the case of the Sarpedo, did not allow sufficiently for the force of the current, which catching the bows as the vessel' comes at an angle to it, has a strong tendency to turn her head on instead of broadside to the Wharf. It is feared that the shock has not only done local damage to the priv, but strained severely all through. 'The practice of moving large steamers at night is reprehensiblo; the gain of a few hours' time which it affords, can scarcely counéer-balance the risk of serious Josses both to underwriters and owners, We learn that the Cawdor Castle will be repaired at the Hongkew Wharf, it being found practicable to place a patch securely without the necessity of docking. Messrs. Boyd & Ca. are executing the work. T! brig St. Francois still remains in the sam position; a survey was held upon her yesterday afternoon.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.