An esteemed correspondent who has recently been travelling in Western Shantung tells us that the Government has put a very heavy tax on the opium growing this year, and a tax moreover, which is to be annually collected for five years, whether the victim continues to grow the poppy or not. This may be a mere fiscal severity or a deterrent inspired by moral considerations, but we should think in either case it would tend to repress the expansion of opium farming.
'The survey of the Bar at Iku by H. 8. Rambler is proceeding oxpeditiousl; We had the leasure this week of soving' the results of th up to date, as Nothing new expected "as been discovered, Ths bar is unbroken and is not ced by a channel bu this w: s known before There is as yet nu evidence of the rr-ditional Ge." weter approach to the North po t from the Nezth E st, but the ~hiv's investigations have not yet extended in hat direction It was understood that applic tions for a survey were mide to other Admirals, but nothing his been dono by them. We think we are right in asserting that the British Admiralty alone keeps properly appointed and well found survey. tug vessels in the China Seas, "though excellent work can of course be done by surveying officers on board of ordinary vessels.
'Tue volume of Japan's foreign trade for the Ast half of the, present year, saya the "Japan Mail," was 241} million yen against 245 millions' in 1901; imports exceeded exports by 214 millions against. 15} millions in 1901; and excess of specie imports was. 64 millions against an excess of exports amounting to 7 millions last year. As to the excess of imports (general) over ex] it is to be observed that the reas or trade for the first half of the year usually exhibit that feature, and that a measure of redress is effected during the second half. I¢ is noticeable, with regard to exports, that an increase of 5{ million yen has taken place in the export of manufactured goods; and with re-of 14) rullions in materials, a decrease of to imports, while there was an increase
12 millions took place in articles of luxury.
Taoven Arima has been a favourite [pes of retreat for foreigners in Kobe luring the last thirty years, says the "Kobe Chronicle," no foreign hotel has yet been established there. A number of hotels in semi-foreign style have served the purpose hitherto, and if the accommodation was not exactly first-class, it was good enough fox a short sojourn, and the charges were low. A hotel on foreign lines, however, is now being built in what is perhaps the most attractive art of Arima, and will be opened next sunday, the 20th inst. The hotel, which is under the management of a Japanese company, stands in its own grounds, in which are tennis courts, a bowling green and croquet lawn, with other amusements, while a series of natural mineral baths have been fitted up that will do away with the necessity of going outside the hotel to take the baths for which Arima is famous.
Tae Sanitary Board of Hongkong has ordered that a medical inspection shall take place of all passengers arriving in the Colony from the China coast and neigh-Vourhood, a precaution that was instituted on the recommendation of Professor Simpson.
A reritios asking H.E. Sir W. J. Gas-coigue, Officer Admiuistering the Government, to inaugurate the King's Park at Kowloon, by turning the first sod has, snys the " China Mail," been prepared, and already a large number of signatures have been appended to it. As the Coronation is likely to take place during the ensuing three or four weeks, it is very' appropriate that this part of the ori programme should be carried out by His Excellency.
Tur '*China Mail" regrets to learn that: Mr. Justice Leach became so ill at Penang about the 6th inst. that he has been orderes to go to Europe.
serious fire occurred in Chatham Dockyard on June 9th. Orig i roof of the mould loft, the conflagration soon enveloped the whole building and, in spite of the exertions of bluejackets and the dockyard fire brigade, burned for three hows, The whole of the drawings and
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.