"Te is stated that a telegram has been received from Canada by the Central Office of the Japanese Tea Guild, announcing that the proposal to levy a'heavy import duty on Japanese tea has been dropped for the present, This change of plan is atti ed by the Foreign Office in Tokio nese teamen to the Canadia THe Mo: ning Oregonian of the 28th of 'March announces the dew at Portland, m, onthe previous day, of Me, John tz' Munro Fra He appointed student interpreter in 1859, nid rose by id 1866, les 1874. He was a panion and one of the pillars of the A.D.C. After leaving he fived for a number of years in nia, where he published a rolaminous history of Solano County, Cal. Then he moved to Oregon and wrote a large history of Benton and some other Oregon counties, In 1890 he went into business in. New York, bu: retuned to Oregon a year ago tne ill to undertake any work, though he was able to be at church only the day before his death from apoplexy. He has left a widow, but no children. He was aman of great ability and good education, but he unfortunately threw away his chances in China to the great regret of his numerous friends, He was about sixty years old when he died.
We have received the London d: China Express of the 31st of March,—Work is to commence on the Indo-China Railway from Hanoi to Yunnan in June,—Mr. A. A, Petersen, formerly head of the firm of H. A. Petersen & Ca., Amoy, died at Gliicksburg on the 2th' of March, in his Sith year.—The following is said' to be Lord Salishury's New Chinese Policy 1. Reconstruction of the into; of China within narrower limits, Discouragement of all preferences and exclusive privileges to foreign Powers within these li 3. Promotio of British commercial terests by the cultivation of closer relation: with the mercantile community, and by a more vigorous and systematic support of its enterprises and just claims, 4. Encouragement of international cooperation in financing and working concessions.
A friendly understanding with Russia.
Silver was steady at 277'rd.—Tho ton market was active and the future of China tea more promising Messrs. H. E. Moss & Ca, write as follows in their Steamship Circular, Liverpool, the 25th of March:—The prosperity of the Shipping Trade, to which we alluded in our circular in Juno last, continued up to the end of last year, and shipowners have every reason to be satisfied with the results obtained by their steamers in 1898; and although there i just now a set-bick in freights in certain Uirections, the general opinion ly that there will be an improvement in the autumn, if not svaner, and that the present year will on the whole he a profitable one for owners. That this is really the opinion of shipowners is proved by the demand which exists at the present time for the purchase of both new and second-hand boats, many of which are changing hands at very excellent prices. There is alsna bill now under the consid tion of the French legislature for a bounty, though in steamers of not exceeding ten years of age.
"As regards Shipbuildinz, 1893 was a record year, the total output by builders 1 the United Kingdom (exclusive of warships) being 1,367,570 gross tons, exceeding the year 1889 by 158,209 tons. The amount of new tonnage ordered and to be built makes it certain that shipbuilders and engineers will Lo kept fully employed during the present year. Builders" prices have increased about 15 per during the past twelve months, or about 30 per cent from the lowest point, and prices to-day are about the same as they were in 1890.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.