The Sun.
London, England, 1868-04-10 00:00:00

EASTERN ASIA7IC RUSSIA.

The Acting Commissioner of Maritime Customs
at Che-Foo, in his report, which, with those of the
other foreign Commissioners has been laid before
Parliament, mentions the arrival of 27 foreign
vessels in 18G6 from Russian ports south of the
Amoor, and states that the trade seems capable of
development. The cession by China of that part
of Mantchuria, which may be described generally
as extending from the Amoor to the Toumen and
Corea, and from the sea of Japan to the Usuri,
has put Ressia in possession of a long line of Sea
coast, with many excellent harbours. The most
southern of these is Passiett in d'Anville Bay, pos-
sessing a good anchorage, and represented as not
difficult of access. In a bay close to Passiett har-
bour is a Chinese village used as a depot for goods
intended for Hun-Ch'un, on the river Toumen. It
is said that a concession has been made by the
Chinese authorities, at the instance of the Russian
Government, by which foreign merchants at the
Russian ports will be enabled to have agents and
storehouses at Hun-Ch'un. There is a Corean
village, about 20 miles in the interior from Pas-
siett, on Russian territory, inhabited by about 90
families engaged in the cultivation of millet, Indian
corn, and vegetables ; this place has been visited
by foreigners, who describe the inhabitants as very
friendly, and in their habits and appearance much
resembling the Japanese. Coal and gold occur in
the neighbourhood of Passiett, but the working of
the mines is little developed, the coal hitherto
having been used only for the supply of Russian
steamers. About 90 miles to the north-east of
Passiett is Vladivostock or Port May, situate in
Victoria (also called Peter the Great) bay. Much
seaweed is shipped from this post ; and mushrooms,
bicho de mar, and firewood also form articles of
export. Russian merchants from Siberia occasion-
ally come here for the purchase of brick tea, foreign
spirits, and piece goods, making payment generally
in paper money which has to be sent to Europe for
realisation. The soil and climate are favourable for
the cultivation of grain, fruits, and vegetables.
Travelling in winter is performed by sledges drawn
by dogs. Tigers have occasionally visited Port
May in the winter. There is a bi-monthly mail to
Nicolaievsk on the Amoor, and an electric telegraph,
the latter place having been fixed upon for connection
with America by telegraph. There are Russian
garrisons at Passiett and Port May, and, indeed,
at all the ports hitherto visited by foreign trading
vessels. Navodka harbour, also in Victoria Bay,
is about 80 miles from Port May, and easy of
access, with good depth of water. Here is a settle-
ment of Chinese seaweed collectors. The next port
going northwards is said to be the best
on the coast, Olga Bay, known also as Port
Seymour, about 150 miles from Navodka ;
here again are several Chinese collectors of sea-
weed, which they barter for millet, tea, sugar,
Chinese wine, and some piece goods, sent thither
by foreigners settled at Passiett and Port May. At
Castries Bay (where the Russians have a military
depot), some 500 miles to the north of Olga Bay,
vessels are often obliged to lighten cargo in order
to proceed to Nicolaievsk, which is a regular depot
for European goods. In addition to the articles
already mentioned, others have been brought by
foreign vessels from the more southern ports—
ginsong, hemp, buffalo hides, dried shrimps, and
skins; and of the various small consignments of
foreign and Chinese goods sent thither, by way of
experiment, but a small quantity, comparatively,
has been returned as unealeable. The trade way

PRICE.... 4d.
STAMPED sd.

p rove capable of considerable exterision. The tol-
e ;tion of seaweed is carried on by Chinese in boats
made out of the hollowed trunks of trees, each
carrying froni 150 to 250 bundles of about 35 cat-
ties each, and which are easily thrown overboard in
case of bad iveather. The Che-Foo Commissioner
states that seaweed is n -mv largely used as an article
of fool in his part of China.

RUNMASI E RS' QUA R 7 ERLY MEETING.

BinmisGll.a.m, Thurslay Evening.

The second of this Quarter-day's meetings of the
iroumasters of this district was held in the Town-
hall here this afternoon ; the attendance was large,
and there was about the average proportion of
buyers, but from the commencement of business it
was evident that they were determined to be 3au-
cious about entering into engagements, and this
spirit prevailed up to the close. At the Wolver-
hampton meeting little or nothing was done, it
having grown into a custom of late years to leave
things over for Birmingham. As a natural conse-
quence of this arrangement some quantity of iron
was ordered to-day for future delivery, but un-
doubtedly that quantity was moderate, quite below
anything which could give an impulse to the trade,
or raise it, even for a fortnight, from its pre-
sent depressed condition. The works will re-
main in part standing as they have been for
months, and prices will be nearly as wide as
they were prior to the reduction declared at the
preliminary meeting. In part that is, of course, at-
tributable to the absence of any uniformity in the
manufacture, there being first, second, and third
class qualities ; and in part to pecuniary exigencies,
which force some makers to sell on the best terms
they can get. That those have been bad enough
during the last two years has been abundantly
shown by the balance sheets exhibited in connection
with recent failures, the amount sunk in the period
named in the iron trade of South Staffordshire hav-
ing been greater in proportion than has ever before
been known, though unfortunately, in every in-
stance, it has been those who have given credit:who
have suffered. It is to be hoped that the worst of
this is over, but at this moment prospects are not
good, no traces of an early improvement being dis-
cernible, though that has sprung up to a moderate
extent in nearly every other iron-producing district.
file trade in all the other iron-producing localities
was well represented to-day, as were also the ship-
ping houses.
The transactions in pig-iron were on a moderate
scale ; Staffordshire hot blast all mine Was quoted
£3 ss. to £3 10s. per ton ; cinder pigs all prices, so
that it would guide no one to quote them.
It was mentioned at Wolverhampton on -Wednes-
day that the Lilleshall Company had it in contem-
plation to reduce the price of their " pig" ss. per
ton ; that was confirmed to-day, but it is to be
applicable to old customers only. Their forge pig
is now quoted £4 ss. ; foundry pigs, 10s. per
ton ; hot blast Shropshire pig, £3 10s. to £3
12s. 6d.

In reference to the men the prevailing opinion in
the hall to-day was that they will not work next
week, but soon after they will go in ; as, however,
is mentioned above, there is no " uniformity of
manufacture," so there will be no " uniformity of
action" on the part of the masters, though the com-
mon understanding is that members of the associa-
tion shall be bound by the resolve of the majority.
There are various ways of departing from that in-
directly and otherwise, and it is understood that
several of the masters are prepared to act as suits
themselves ; the effect of that will undoubtedly be
to increase the difficulty which at this critical time
has arisen with the men.

.
THE VOLUNTEER 41VIETP-4
„
Colonel Warde, who was entrusted withi• theArrltta
conditions from Major-General Lindsay to be submitted
to the Mayor and Review Committee at Portsmouth,
returned to town at noon yesterday. His report
to the authorities at the War Office is of the
most favourable description—setting forth the cordial
manner in which he was received by the Mayor, and the
ready compliauce with the terms contained in the docu-
ment referred to. The original plan proposed by the
heads of tbo volunteer army is to be adhered to—the
Mayor having undertaken to afford " military occupation "
and to erect a bridge for the sole use of the public during
the day.
Major-General Lindsay, Colonel Warde, Colonel Wright,
Colonel Colville, and other heads of the Volunteer de-
partment met at the War Office yesterday afternoon ;
and among other arrangements it was decided that the
western corps were to alight at Fareham, the south-
eastern corps at Havant or Cosham, and the London corps
at Portsmouth, from whence the latter are to march to
Southsea Common, and finally to the Hilsea lines. It
has also been guaranteed that ample provisions
shall be provided for the volunteer forces ; and there is no
doubt that the sham fight, as originally intended, will
prove as attractive as was anticipated. After the receipt
of Colonel Warde's report a telegram was dispatched to
Portsmouth from tie War Office expressive of General
Lindsay's satisfaction with the arrangements.

REGULATION OF RAILWAYS.

An important meeting has just been held at the London
Tavern for the purpose of considering certain clauses
in the Regulation of Railways Bill, now in committee,
affecting the practice of enclosing small parcels, the
liability of railways and other carriers for packages con-
taining silk goods above £lO in value, and the non-liability
of companies during sea transit.
The meeting was under the auspices of the United
Mercantile Agency Chamber of Commerce, Cheapside,
and the clause in the bill specially complained of was
the ltith, which provided that sinall parcels enclosed
in large packages should be charged for separately, thus
materially increa.sfiig the oust of carriage by railway.
Mr. SAMUEL MORLEY, who occupied the chair,
characterised the proposal of the bill as a most vexatious
interference with the practice of the trade. For years
it bad been the custom of the more considerable houses
to convey in their large packages the smaller parcels of
customers, and the result of the clause in the hi* would be
to give a monopoly of carriage to the railway companies,
It appeared to him that the bill was principally intended
to help those railway companies who were in.
difficulties. He pointed out that the representations
made to the Duke of Richmond had been most favourably
received, and he believed that, if properly pressed, the
matter complained of would be rectified. There were
other clauses in the bill that were objectionable, but it was
thought that it would be better to direct attention first to
the small parcels' clause. Another great objection to the
proposed change would be, that a system of espionage
would have to be established, against which he most
emphatically protested. Hitherto, packages had been
held to be sacred, and this ought to continue. All branches
of trade in the City were at one about the matter, and he
suggested that a memorial should be presented to the
Board of Trade, and a petition to the House of Lords, and
that no cost should be spared to prevent the clause com-
plained of being carried into law.
Mr. ALLCROFT, of the firm of Dent, Alicroft, and Co.,
moved a resolution, declaring that the province of a public
carrier was to convey all such packages, with the usual
special exceptions, as might be entrusted to his care to
their proper destination, at his own risk and responsi-
bility, seeing that he exacted a certain remuneration for
carrying out that contract.

This was seconded by Mr. CHAMBERS, of the large pub.
:ishing firm, and supported by a Mr. HACHETT, who
pointed out how injuriously the clause would tell upon the
newspaper and small book trade.
The resolution was carried unanimously.
Mr. HOWELL, of the firm of Howell, Ellis, and Co., im.
pressed upon the meeting the great importance that was
to be attached to the prompt and exact delivery of small
articles in trade. He moved a resolution condemnatory of
the 15th clause.

This was seconded by Mr. PAPEBILL, and carried, with
one dissentient.

Mr. HUGHES, of the firm of Copestake, Moore, and Co.,
moved a resolution to the effect that a memorial embody-
ing the above resolutions should be presented to the Board
of Trade by a deputation, and that a petition should be
presented to the House of Lords praying to be heard by
counsel against the clause in the bill. The attempt of the
railway companies, he said,was both impudent and useless,
and the question must be fought to the utmost. They
were trying to put down a trade that had been created in
spite of them, and one that had been a great source of
profit to them. Let them obtain their way now, and pre-
sently no parcels would be allowed to be sent without
letters of permit.
Mr. GREATOREX, of the firm of Bradbury and Co., had
reason to believe that Lord Redesdale was unaware of the
great inconvenience the clause would cause to traders till
the matter was specially pointed out to him. His lord-
ship had adjourned the committee till after the Easter
holidays, and the trade must lose no time in making
it clear that they would not allow the clause to pass into
law. He cordially seconded the resolution.
Mr. RIDLEY intimated that it would be impossible for
the railway companies to collect the small parcels with any
degree of efficiency.
The resolution was carried unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN stated, in reply to a gentleman in the
body of the room, 'that there was a petition against the
provisions of the bill generally lying on the table for signa-
ture. Their objection was, however, chiefly against the
carrying clause.

A vote of thanks to the chairman brought the proceed.
ings to a close.

Trade shows little signs of revival. Intelligence from

Wolverhampton concerning the iron trade gives a far from
cheering account. At the quarterly meeting it was stated
that very few masters had orders on hand, and for those
were pretty well supplied with iron. Uncertainty over-
hangs the market as to the course the men might pursue
in respect of a notice for a reduction of wages, which had
been served upon them. This checked transactions in
Dig-iron considerably.
A general lock-out in the cotton trade at Bolton is

Itreatened. A portion of the workmen have already
.3 truck, the remainder continuing to labour to support the
unemployed. As this arrangement is altogether preju-
dicial to the interests of the masters, they have given
notice that unless the men on strike return to work imme-
diately they will lock out those that remain. It may be
mentioned in connection with this subject that the attempt
to introduce the short-time system in the cotton trade in
the Blackburn district has failed, it being found impos-
sible :to obtain unity of action on the part of the mill-
lwners.

Earl Ducie describes in the Times a new and interesting
phase of the co-operative movement. Hitherto the system
has been almost exclusively confined to great towns, where
the facilities of organisation are apparently much greater,
and the risks of failure much less, than in rural districts.
But the establishment of a co-operative store in a country
parish is a further experiment, in which serious obstacles have
to be encountered. The history of what has actually been done
on Lord Ducie's property at Tortworth, in Gloucestershire,
is, however, very encouraging and instructive. The store

there was first established in March 1867, for the sale of
groceries only, by some twenty persons of various grades,
from day labourers upwards, who subscribed about £5O,
elected a committee, and fitted up a rough sale-room.
There is no reduced scale of prices, as in London stores,
nor is there a yearly charge for a customer's ticket,
but the goods are sold at the ordinary shop prices,
and at the end of every quarter a division of profits
is made among the purchasers. Shareholders take
double the profit of non-shareholding customers, and re-
ceive in addition 5 per cent per annum interest
on their paid-up share capital. The sales for the year
have amounted to £1,648, shewing a steady increase for
each quarter, and Lord Ducie gives as specimens the
yearly accounts of three labourers, earning 12s. a week
each, of whom the first, with a paid-up capital of £l, re-
ceived £5 Os. 7d. as dividend on money expended ; the
second, with a paid-up capital of £1 14s. Iod., received a
a dividend of £2 10s. ; and the third, with a paid-up
capital of 19s. M. received a dividend of £3 17s. The
committee has now determined to acid a drapery branch,
and has spent £230 in stocking it. In the meantime, Lord
Ducie testifies emphatically to the moral good which has
been wrought, directly or indirectly, by the store.
EASTER TERM. —On 'Wednesdaynext Easter Term
begins, and the Lord Chancellor will ho his first levee,
and the newly-appointed judgnLord Justice
Page Wood, Lord Justice Selwyn, Vice - Chancellor
Giffard, and Mr. Justice Ilannen.
Sir Charles Fox makes known, in the columns of
the Herald, a new plan for communication between pas-
senger and guard. He enters into details in describing
the machinery, but the simple plan appears to be to con-
nect all the carriages of the train with a whistle on the
engine by means of an electric current. The special
recommendation of the plan is, that the whistle is kept
from screaming by the continuance of the electric current,
and it is by the cessation of action in the battery, and not
as in the plans now used, by setting it in a;tion that
attention is called to the fact that something is wrong.
Thus, if any of the carriages become detached it would
ilumately Ibe known to the driyer.

‘IIIIE SUN" NEWSPAPER.-G. R. GLENIE
delivers the L LTG EDITION at Cbelsen, 7.40; Hilburn,
8; Starch-green, 8; Woolwich, 7.30; Uxbridge, 9.20; Watford,

►THE LATE EDITION of "',HE SUN " at
J. SMITH'S, ID, Bow-street, Covent-garden.

rpm.] LATH: EDITION of "THE SUN" at
lei W. SMITH'S, •` Camden Stores," 78, Park-street, Camden

LONDON, FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 1868.

It is encouraging to look forward to the -visit of
the Prince of WALES to Ireland just now. There
have been so many drawbacks of late to all such
festive affairs on account of the unsatisfactory state
of the health of the Princess that the circumstance
of her being able to join the Prince will of itself
furnish ample theme for rejoicing. That ber Royal
Highness should be sufficiently recovered to visit

the Emerald Isle seems an indication that her pro-
gress has been of late all that can be desired, for
when the Royal visit was first spoken of it was
feared that she would not be equal to the
fatigues of the journey. It has long been sur-
mised that Ireland would be more contented
if these Royal visits were more frequent;
and no
doubt such is true so far, for the proof of confi-
dence thus afforded would have gone for a long
way towards propitiating treason and quelling dis-
content. Unfortunately, from some circumstance
or other, these much-looked-for visits were not paid
for years, and at last it was advisable or expedient
for them to take place, in consequence of the unsa-
tisfactory state of things. The Prince of WALES
appears to have bridged over this difficulty, as he
has done some others, and contrived to impart a
cheering feeling to what has been too often
made a drawback. Those, who rightly ap- ,
preciate the intention, and can fully compre-
hend the meaning of affairs, will recognise
in this approaching visit to Ireland of their Royal
Highnesses far more than the empty ceremonial,
the pomp of circumstance, or the glittering show.
They will see, and believe, that it shows the reliance
the Prince and Princess place in the loyalty and
goodwill of the majority of the people, uninfluenced
by the indications of sinister feeling that may be
observed in some quarters of the land. The various
ceremonies that are to take place have, therefore,
more meaning than may appear at first sight, and
illuminations, installations, and reviews, as they
each in their turn will impart life and brilliancy
to the scene, will be indicative of the dawn of a
better day, and an illustration of confidence and
esteem not to be lightly regarded or easily for-
gotten. No time or trouble has been spared to
give full effect to this undertaking, and on many
accounts it seems to promise that it will go all as
well as any one could hope or desire.
If the programme that has appeared of the pro-
ceedings is carried out at all in conformity with the
present details the affair cannot fail to go off suc-
cessfully in the fullest acceptation of the term.
We could almost fancy that the most enthusiastic
devotee of the days of old could be consoled for the
moment by the sight of the gorgeous scene and
glittering ceremonial with a belief that his dreams
were realised, and that he was transported back to
the good old times.—

" Ere the Emerald gem of the western world
Was set in the crown of a stranger."

Let us hope that this visit of the Prince and Prin-
cess may be productive of the happiest results, and
that some time hence, when the more exciting
events of the mouent are forgotten, its good effects
may be yet apparent and still linger in the minds
of those present. We feel sure that this is the wish
of the Royal visitors, and will animate their inten-

tions during the period of their stay. It is an
old saying, that the hour before dawn is always
the darkest, and it may prove true in the present
instance. Once let a turn for the better take
place, and who can say to what great results it may
not lead, and of the many encouraging prospects it
may not but be the forerunner. In paying this
visit to Ireland at this time the Prince and Princess
are looking beyond and above all secondary causes
and transitory disturbances to the right feeling and
true sentiment of the nation they visit, and we feel
assured that no teaching is necessary to impress