Since the date of our last Report the Native New Year holidays intervened and suspended trade entirely for a week. The annual settlement of accounts appears to have been satisfactorily arranged in most all branches of business, the only one that suffered at all heavily being Sill. Tea dodwell, and also Banking, while the Piece goods dealers r to divide about a million and a half of taels, though Perhaps not very evenly. Stl, considering the very exceptionally tying times they went through during the last thirteen moons it Tnatter for congratulation that the result was so good, and will enable the trade to be carried on, even during the depressing period at present ahead of it, with more confidence and hopefulness than would otherwise have been the case. The apprehensiveness that not unnaturally existed concerning the future course of trade on account of the political situation has been somewhat allayed by the initial successes of the JAPANESE fleet, whereby interport trade will be less liable to interruption, and bat for the unfortunate presence in Port of an isolated RUSSIAN ghost intercourse with JAPAN by the steamers of that country could be resumed. The River trade is quite unimpeded, and although the insurance Companies are charging as much as two per coat for War risk on goods in Chinese steamers and a half per cent on ENGLISH steamers for the NORTHERN PoRTs it seems to be quite unnecessary.
"Who market nominally opened on the 22nd inst. with a few of the usual complimentary purchases, but buyers abear to have found some Aiffculty in finding Importers with available cargo who were willing to sell. However, some 1,500 packages have been booked, chiefly medium makes of Grey and White Shirtings of all weights. Buyers then stopped to see what the results of the Auctions would be, and, considering Exchange, was fully 5% lower when the last Yves Foxe sale took place, the prices realised this morning were distinctly satisfactory, although it must not be overlooked that the quantity was considerably reduced.
The financial position, not only here but all over CHINA, promises to be the great drawback to trade again this year. The Native Banks have been unusually late in starting business. although nominally opened, and the distribution of credits to their constituents is greatly restricted. They have fonnd it very difficult to get in outstanding accounts and, itis said, are short fully ten lacs that should have come down from NEWCHWANG before settling day, but unfortunately the outbreak of hostilities caused such a serious drop in Exchange there it was impossible to remit. 'TIENTSIN is not yet out of the wood, and in spite of her seemingly growing prosperity is just as devoid of money and credit as ever, many of the old accounts carried over from 1902 being still owing to the Banks here. It is to be anticipated in consequence that business with that market will continue to be a hand to mouth one, only such goods being sent up as are required for immediate consumption and for which cash can be paid. The prospects for trade with the YANGrsz& Ports are Very good indeed, but for the lack of Snancial taites. Shippers are ready and anxious yo send goods Corea, but there are no means of doing so at present. No doubt that will be managed when the JAPANESE steamers resume their run The river Petito is reported open unusually early and already steamers have been despatched from here. but taking only about 5,000 bales of Yarn and Piece goods, of which the former comprise the bulk. The Tugs and lighters were to have been undocked yesterday, and the steamers are expected to get up to the Bund this spring tide. Moderate supplies have already been going up via CittNa-WaN-TA0, under present circumstances. After dropping to 6.944. for M1p AseRican Cotton has since recovered to 7.400. Eorencas has remained The Maxcuusren market is firm at the slight reduction which has taken place there, but no orders are going through from this about steady at ofod. The Export for this month promises to be fairly large again, it amounting to 15.000,000 yards for the two weeks ending the 19th inst.
The British Board of Trade figures of the Export for the year 1903 of Cotton Goods to Hoxcxoxe and Cutxa as compared with the previous year show the following results.
Grey Cottons "decreased in quantity 24% and in value 16} Bleached Cottons 264) Printed Cottons... " 25% Dyed Cotte " " (yn Total of above "decreased 4, TZ oe"
Cotton Yarn... " " 7h " ow 104, The discrepancy in the percentage between the quantity and value of Yarns is significant, and plainly shows either that able to command relatively much higher prices than the Weavers.
Manufacturers mae have been supplied with raw Cotton for weaving purposes ae morlerate rates or Spinners of Export Yarn were will have to eke out what there is here already, for a fair quantity of the goods ordered in the late Autumn were resold in New York, and There is very litle reliable news ofthe New Yors market, engutis for quotations only evoking quite impossible prices, The wade nce the 19th October the shipments to Cu1Na have only been 8,353 packages, a portion of which arrived before the close of last year.
"The market for INDIAN Yarns has been active at an advance, a fair quantity of No. 10s. being taken for TiExTsIN and Crt&F0o and the balance for the River Ports. Local spinnings are neglected.
Staristics—On iv page we give a comparative Statement of the deliveries to the Yangtse Ports for the Zlast nine years, Hanxow was the only one to show any material progress, the increase in Cotton Yarns and Dyed Cottons being very noticeable, while all Piece Goods.—So many of the Import houses eonliue themselves now to a purely indent business that current transactions in spot other goods were fairly well up to the average. cargo ave greatly restricted, In ALxcitusreR makes a total of 1,500 packages about covers the sales from first hands, the bulk of which comprises Medium 8.4-lb Shirtii 5 The sales in these that have reached us are:—Alue Crab ¥2.60, Blue Flower Pot and Red Church #285, Blue Joss 2.99, Green Dragon and 5 Men $2! Punch %3.00, Blue Dragon and 7 Child $3,024, and Painted 3. Gong "£3.20. Some of the 10-Ibs. were John Bull '¥3.55 and Fisherman'€3.60, and in 12-Ibs. 36-inch John Bull DDD £4.65 and Soldier 'AAA ¥4.70. Auction prices were from one to three per cent lowe!
In White Shirtings sales amount to ubout 300 cases from st 4k and for early arrival, but we have been unable to glean any particulars, we understand, however, Blore than' one to two per cent at Auctioi. Other business in Grey goods has been almost entirely reselling amongst the Natives, of new chops comprise the bulk of the transactions. These on the average did not decline Which we hear Pepperell Drils have changed hands at 4.70, and Pelzer a, Gijon CCC aul Laray A Aotenicas SHEETINGS at 13.95, Cotton Yarn.—Ispiax—A good demand was met with for these Spinnings almost before the regular holidays were over, buyers Blacks gold ierogularly at Auction as usual, pryes ranging from a mace anda half advance to three mings and a hall deal 00 and 408 fespeotively. In Faxov Goons we are informed 90 cases 34 Ibs. Turkey Reds have been sold on private terms. Fast
Saag very anxious to fill rheic orders. These were chidly for No. 10s. fee che Northern markets and River, all the others Doing forthe latter markets. No. Ws. and No. 12s. show an advance of a tael and No. 20s, a tael and a half, No. 16s. being steady at previous prices, the sales amounting to 8.413 bales as follows.
No. 6s. 50 bales;~-Kohinoor Mill Kohinoor" $69.00.
873.00, Soonderdas (Mule) ¥73.50, Jafferalli (Ring) Ei4 074.5%, Gold Mohur ¥14.50/75.00, Hope Mill €75.50/70.00, Sun Mill is. 3,808 bales;—Aindostan (New Chop) and Madkomjee Dharams 211.75, Hongkong Mill $12.75, Alliance (Two Peacock, Ltd. '€75.00/76.50, Presidency 76.00/76.50, A. lo-India (Mule), Bombay Cotton Mill (Jewantas) Mule and Globe Mill (Cat and Butterfly) HIT OE, Imperial Mill and Jubilee (Mule) £16-50]7.30, Sorab Mill ¥77.25/17.80, Tea Carrier $77,50, Empress Mil '£77.50/78.00, Indo-China (Ring) (B78.00/78.25, Tricumdass (Mule)-278 50, Pabaney (Ring) ¥77.25{79.00, Textile Mill B78.75/79.50, Svadeshi Mill (Ring) Kose %8.00/81.00 and Kokinoor Mill Kohinoor" $80.00/81.50.
Wo. 19s 1,130 bales;—Jame Manufacturing Ca., 275.50, Gold Mohur $16.00, Good Luck 877.75. Hope Mill and Standard Mith 1570.00; Lubhmidass Khinjee %18.75)79.15, Damoder Lubhmidass and. Indo-China' (Mule) $80.00/80.50, Jamshed (Mule) Compass 988)).00/81.25, Pabaney (Mule) #81. /$2.00 and David Mill $32.00 No. 16s. 2,110 bales;—-Britannia (Ring) #82.50/83.50, As jo-India (Afule) and Imperial Mill B83.50, Tea Carrier '$83.75/84.00, Britannia (Mile) B34.00, Bombay Cotton Mill (Jewandas) Mule %84.75, E. D. Sassoon Alexandra Pagoda $86.00, Western India (Pony Carriage) 86.2, E. D. Sassoon Shepherd $90 00, E. D. Sassoon Ancestral Worship and E. D: Sassoon Drum and Belt £92.00.
Lukhmidass $88.25, Goolambaba $88.50, Empress Mill and Lukhmidass Khimjee €88.75, China Mill ¥87.50/89.00, Queen Mill (Lion No. 20s. 1,230 bales;—Afoon Mill 87.75, Alliance (Two Peacock), Crown and Saraswati (Gold Grape) £88.00, Damoder and Ball) 89.00, Jubilee (Ring) "E88, 50/8075, Textile Hitt $90.00, Currimbhoy (Bfule) 289.15/91.00, Rigon (Ring) 291.00 and Alliance Ring (Chicken and Deer) $92.50, The s.s. Ballarat. brought to this market 4.355 bales.
Jaeauese-—Prices are down a further half a tael, at which about 1,000 bales have changed hands—No. 16s. #85.50/88.50 and No. 20s. $91.50/95.50.
Tocar—There have been no sales by the Mills and resales of bundies are tael lower for the best spinnings, namely No. 12s, '$81.00/84.00, No. 14s. 2#83.00/85.50 and No. 16s. 85.00/87 00.
Cortox—A few small-purchases have been made at.,¥21.60 for: Shanghai Ordinary and $23.00 for Best Stewm Machine Ginnea, "Merchants are paying the farmers about $21.00 for Shanghai Ordinary and $10]104 for Seed.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.