BY THE ENGLISH MAIL

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1367, 19 February 1912, Page 6

BY THE ENGLISH MAIL

LONDON SUMMARY,

BRITISH TRADE IN 1911: A RECORD,

British trade last year, according to the Board ot Trade figures, was a record. 1 lie following js the summary:— Total trade, 1911 jE1,257„"i62 4.14 Increase over 1010 •>;, lsn'jfll Exports British, 1011 fni "s•"> 460 Increase over inin il KlffiSS T » » 1.909 76,102' m Imports, 1011 850,55!),17S Increase over 1010 2 ,'lfl'' l.il .. 1909 !i5,554"218 II should be remembered (hat trade would have bcjii better hut. for the labour unrest of the summer, and, further, that 1011 had two working days fewer than 1910. The return shows a decrease in value of .raw imports of <£1;1,«12,WW. But this docs not represent an equivalent decrease in quantities. For instance, in ton, Britain imported OOO.OflOcwt. of rubber, an increase of DO.OOOewt., but it was worth only .£18,3.12,Cf10, . nearly •£8,000,000 less than a year ago. There was also an increase of 20 million gallons of oil imported, but the value was onlv about the same as in 1010. Raw cotton was so much cheaper that 2,300,000 centals more in imports represented actually a less value than in 1010. . Similarly a'decrease in the value of grain and Hour imported represents an increase in quantity. On tho other hand, the increase iu tho value of sugar and coffee is much' greater than that in quantity, owing to the growing dearness of these and other articles of food. For the increase of 19} millions iu the value of our manufactured exports, the cotton trade was mainly responsible. Here the increase of .£14,000,000 iu value is accompanied by a general increase iu quantities. It may, therefore, be argued that the year was one of even better trade- so far as employment was concerned than the money values represent.

SHORT CUT TO THE ANTIPODES. By the opening of the Panama Canal in June, 1013, thousands of miles will be saved to shipping (says the "Standard of Empire"). Tho following figures show how great will be the saving effected:— Present distance in Miles sea miles, saved. England to New Zealand 12,725 -1,600 England to Australia 9,30" 800Montroal to Sydney 33,090 2,738 The saving in the voyage between NewYork- and Shanghai will bo 1400 miles, and between New York and Australia and Now Zealand 2300 miles. The probable change in navigation routes Will create equally great changes in tho distribution of.the coal trade, for which English firms are already making preparation. It is stated that English firms aire making arrangements to open coaling stations at Nukualofa, the capital of the Friendly Islands, and on l'ircairn Island.

MILLIONS FOR DOCK EXTENSIONS.

The first part of the London Port Authority's scheme of dock extension and improvement will probably bo commenced in the spring, and if the whole of the chief engineer's proposals are carried out in tho future, they will involve an ultimate expenditure of fourteen and a half millions, and the employment of several thousand meriv The first part of tho work to bo undertaken is the construction of a new dock to the south of the Royal Albert Docks. Tho draft scheme has been approved by the Authority, and plans are being finally completed prior to tenders being invited for the work. The provisional cost of the scheme is placed at nearly X' 2,500,000, and the work will necessarily occupy some years. Tho length of tho dock will bo 4600 ft., so that there will bo a quay length of 9200 ft.

RAILWAY RECORDS. Despite last year's labour unrest in the railway world, which culminated in the general strike of last August, the returns for 1911 show increases in traffic and receipts which break all previous records. The actual figures for the year, with tho increases are as follow:— ~., Increase. Miles open 21,517 101 Coaching (44 lines) .£52,365,000 .£1,023,000 Goods (37 lines).... .£G1,115,000 ,£1,430,000 lotal (52 lines) ... .£115,611,000 ,£2,391,000 Although the Coronation time receipts proved rather disappointing, tho railways benefited largely from the great influx of visitors. .It is impossible to say to what extent tho strike affected railway earnings during the last six months of 1911, but it is estimated that traffic to the value of ,£500,000 was lost by the labour troubles.

MURDER OF A MISSIONARY. ' Further details regarding the tragic death of the Rev. A. J. Douglas, an English missionary, on Lake Ny'asa, go to show that Taveira, a Portuguese official in charge of Kango, had detained ono of the mission boats. Tho Bishop of Nyasaland, accompanied by the Rev. A. G. Glossop, visited Kobwe, to remonstrate on tho subject, and finally snececded in getting tho lioat released. It was decided that the whole party, accompanied by Taveira, should go to Mtengula to lay the matter before the chief Portuguese'' official in the district. In consequence of a difference of opinion as to whether he should be allowed to como on board armed or bring armed companions, Taveira, however, .left the mission ship and returned to' the shore. Mr. Douglas was walking.down to the landing-stage quietly, when suddenly Taveira turned on him and shot him dead.

MUSIC-HALL SKETCHES. TJie sketch war between tho managers of theatres and music-halls has at last comoto an end. The Lord Chamberlain has announced that from January 12 he will issue licenses for the performance of stage plays to managers of music-halls. In the case of houses thus holding the double licenses, the Lord Chamberlain is prepared to waivo'his regulation prohibiting smoking upon the manager giving him a written undertaking that the pro" gramme of each performance will consist of not less than six items. The managers of thee.tres now licensed by the Lord Chamberlain for the performance of stage plays will, should they so wish, be placed in a position similar to that of tho music-hall managers holding the double license. A few days before this new and unexpected • development fines amounting to ,£l5O were inflicted upon tho Palace Theatre of Varieties for the presentation of a sketch "A Man in tho Case."

HUGE TRAFFIC COMBINE. The developments which are taking place in connection with London's traffic facilities bid fair completely to revolutionise travelling iu the .Metropolis within the next few years. Everything points to a gigantic combination catering for the millions of short-journey passengers. Already arrangements are in progress by which a union will be realised between the following means of transit:—The District Ksiilwny. the Great Northern, Piccadilly, and Brompfon Tube, the Bakerloo, the Hampste.'id Tube,, the General Omnibus Company, and the London United Electric. Tramways. The combines will represent a capital of over -f.32,000.000. To all intents and purposes the wholo undertaking will be worked as though it were one complete system. Through tickets will bo issued which will frank passengers on rail, tube, omnibus, ,«r tram-car, whichever may be necessary for them to continue their journey.

MORE WEST-END THEATRES. The number of theatre? in the metro[jolis is to be augmented this summyi- by several newcomers. Designs are being prepared by a. well-known architect for tluve new houses, nil of which will be erected in the very heart of theatreland, two of them within a stone's east of Piccadilly Circus, and the third on the corner site where Dear Street debouches upon Charing Cross Koad. This latter house is being built for .Mr. Oscar Allelic, and will be of moderate size. It is probable that Mr. Asche and Miss ISrayUm will open the houso with a revival of "Kismet," when they return from their- Australian tour. Mr. 11. 11. Irving, too. is having a new theatre—making the fourth—built tn his order, and .though the plans are not very far advanced, it is understood that this house also will l.i- in th-a neighbourhood of ' Leicester Satiate.