905.
THE Customs Returns for the third quarter of the year so nearly drawing to close show again an improvement over last year, which was itself a record; and if the Chinese would throw off the jealousy that they have lately developed, the fear that foreigners will secure some of the profits certain accrue from the construction of, improved and extended means of communication, the -pres-nt record revenue would in a very few years be looked upon with a tolerant smile. For, as we have said more than once, x it is not the Customs tariff, or likin, or other squeezes—for the native merchants are quite strong enough hibitive,—that restrict the foreign to prevent their becoming
cost of communication, If the trade of China, so' much a Report of Dues and. Duties, July-September ies Newchwang. 185,158 175,%98 233,666 ate mies It will be soon that che only heads under which less revenue was collected this year were opium duty and opium likin; and it is to be noted that the aum of Tis, 193,149 was derived from native opium last Chinwangtao ientsii 8.
26,853 year, against only Tls, 183,822 this year, The large increase in import daty is satisfactory, and the same may be suid of the fall maintenance '996 Of export-duty. It will be seen thas there was a very marked gain' in transit dues. Expressed in sterling 230,395 ab the current exchange, the gain in 192,963 the total revenue' this year was even larger that it appears in taels, the sterling value of this year's collection 64 81,187,000, a being, £1,286,000, and of last year's gain of something over 18 per cent, At Shanghai, the comparative revenue forthe quarter, arranged in Haikuan fuels under the usual heads, was as under, 1905. 1904.
1903, Peking and provincial Govern- Kumchut ments were enlightened enough to Wuchow re-open good roads throughout the pinnschow pagntyy" 7,800,028 1,460,215 1,178,308 dot; 347,168 empire, the extended commerce that would follow would soon repay their duty...... 122,530 110,181 87,462 Total... 8,649,623 7,989,271 7,5¢5,655 Opiumduty 112,340 110,116. 127,838 own cost, and do much to aid the moees of the future railways. It] Last year we wrote that the col
venteen showed an improvement] year beats last year's record by eight hinese ports," whose return follows, quarter of the year on record, but this seen that of the thirty] lection was the largest for the third this year, and thirteen a decline, these Intter being Chungking, Ichang, per cent, an extremely satisfactory result, The comparative figures are Yochou, Wuhu, Nanking, Chinkiang, in 1902, Tls, 7,725,609; in 1901, Tis. Hungchow, Wenchow, Sautuao, Foo 3,761,594 in 1900, Ts. 5,163,795 chow, Amoy, Swatow, and Pukhoi, in 1899, Tls. 7,626,387; in 1898, 'I'ls, Shanghai continues to increase its 3,091,247; in 1897, Tls. 6,194, revenue, and we understand that the 249 5 al ud in 1896, 'Tls. 6,014,860. total for this year will be a very large one. The following is the usual Turning to the different heads comparative table for three years, inder which the revenue was col-With the new ports soon to be lected,' we get the following com-opened in Manchuria, it will be parative figures, in Haikuan taels:—necessary, if the table is to be still 1905. 1904. 1903, contained on two pages of thei import "Gazette," to increase the size of the duty...3,832,900 2,609,358 2,195,132 latter:-—ixport ce
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.