Hongkong, Jan. 13.
The local coastal and river shipping has been almost paralyzed by a strike of Chinese seamen, which commenced this morning, the Seamens' Union demanding an increase of 30 per cent. in the case of members drawing $20 per mensem and 40 per cent. in the case of members whose wages are under It is expected that the number of st: will reach 2,000, many of whom are going to Canton where they will be temporarily lodged in the Union's boarding houses.
Among the companies affected are Messrs. Butterfield & Swire, the) Indo-China Steam Navigation Ca., the Admiral Line, the Pacific Mail, the Robert Dollar, the Douglas Steamship Ca. and the Canton-Macao Steamship Ca.
The Japanese companies and the ships on the Shanghai run, whose etews are natives of Ningpo, are not affected. The men on the big ocean-going vessels are not participating in the strike.—Reuter.
Goversaent Orrers Meptatioy.
Hongkong, Jan. 14.
The Government has offered to arbitrate in the shipowners' and Chinese seamen's dispute on condition that the seamen return to their ships by January 6.
A Portuguese gunboat is carrying the mails between Hongkong and Macao during the seamen's strike.
Jan. 15, The Taiyo Maru and other sailings from Hongkong have been Postponed owing to the seamen's strike. River steamer trafic is! completely at a standstill, The Kowloon-Canton Railway is carrying an abnormally large from Canton.—Reuter. and bringing in fresh proviso
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.