IMPERIAL INSTITUTE JOURNAL. 
Vol. VIII. No. 89. 
136 [May, 1902.] 
Branch of the Board of Trade, 50, Parliament-street, S.W., any 
day between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. 
Paraguay.—' Tariff Modifications.— H. M. Consul at 
Asuncion reports that the import duties leviable in Paraguay 
on provisions, wines and spirits, have been increased by 100 per- 
cent. , and that export duties have been increased as follows ; — 
On hides, by 25 cents gold (is. 3d.) each. 
On milled verba mate, by 3 cents gold |ifd.) per 20 lb. 
On unmilled yerba, by 4 cents gold (2.^d.) per 20 lb. 
United States. — Customs Decisions. — The following is 
a list of some Decisions affecting the application of the Customs 
Tariff and Regulations : — 
Garnets cut and polished so as to be in a condition suitable 
for jewellery, are dutiable as “ precious stones advanced in con- 
dition by cutting," under para. 435 of the Tariff, at the rate of 
10 per cent, ad val, 
Tuberine is held to be a description of glue, and not starch, 
and is, therefore, dutiable under para. 23 of the Tariff according 
to value. 
Fish sounds , cleaned and dried are not free of duty under 
para. 496 of the Tariff, but are dutiable under para. 23, according 
to value, even though the manufacturing process may have been 
imperfect and the product of inferior quality. 
Small circular mirrors enclosed in cheap metal coverings, 
including outer cases for closing the same, are dutiable as toys, 
under para. 418 of the Tariff, at the rate of 35 per cent, ad val. 
Similar mirrors set in tin frames, with backs adapted for holding 
an advertisement, are dutiable as mirrors, under para. 112, at 
the rate of 45 per cent, ad val. 
Braids, etc., composed of cotton or other vegetable fibre 
and iffher materials, including such as are known as " Batten- 
berg braids," “crown braids,” “feather-stitch braids,” 
“ feather-edge braids,” “guipure lace braids,” “herringbone 
braids,” “ Honiton braids,” “ linen bobbins,” “ novelty braids,” 
“renaissance braids,” “ rickrack braids,” “ star braids,” “wave 
braids,” etc., are dutiable under para. 339 of the Tariff at the 
rate of 60 per cent, ad val. 
—41 
TRANSPORT AND FREIGHTS. 
The Freight Market.— Outwards the position remains 
practically unchanged, but rates are weak at 3d. to 6d. reduc- 
tion in most directions. Recent fixtures have been on basis of 
5s. gd. Genoa, 6s 6d. Adriatic, 5s. pd. Port Said, 6s. 6d. Las 
Palmas, 9s. 6d, Colombo, irs. 6d. Buenos Ayres, 12s. 6d. Rio. 
American. — The only feature has been a slight demand for 
grain tonnage, but otherwise there is no change in the situa- 
tion. Australian shippers, owing to the sudden rise in the 
local value of wheat, are paying vessels large sums to discharge 
cargo already loaded and cancel their charters. Black Sea 
has been operating at 7s. 6d. Odessa berth. Eastern markets 
have declined, and current quotations are 12s. 6d. Bombay, 
20s. Calcutta, 20s. Rangoon. Java began to operate at 25s., 
but rate has fallen to 22s. 6d. Mediterranean markets con- 
tinue extremely dull. River Plate is still overloaded with 
tonnage, and rate is weak at gs. from Buenos Ayres, or 12s. 
up-river. One or two suitable boats have secured cattle to 
South Africa. — Weddel, Turner & Co., April 25, 1902. 
COLONIES. 
Canadian Northern Railway. — The Canadian Northern 
Railway Charter has passed the Dominion House of Commons. 
By it the Company is authorised to extend its line through the 
North-West Territory to British Columbia, north of the 
Canadian Pacific Railway line, vid Pine River Pass, with 
bonding powers of $25,000 per mile, and also to build eastwards 
to Quebec. 
New Steamship Service to South Africa.— A new 
steamship service is about to be established between Liverpool 
and South African ports. It will be undertaken conjointly by 
two well-known Liverpool shipping companies. Messrs, T. 
and J. Harrison have arranged, in conjunction with Mr. J. R. 
Ellerman, of the Leyland line, to have regular sailings every 
twelve days to the Cape, the starting-point on this side being 
Liverpool, This additional service will not result in the re- 
duction of freights, a friendly arrangement having been come 
to between the promoters of the new venture and the Clan Line, 
who already have regular sailings between Liverpool and South 
and East African ports. The question of the insufficient 
steamship communication between the Mersey and South 
Africa has recently occupied the attention of the Liverpool 
Chamber of Commerce. The Clan Line were approached, 
but they replied that there was already sufficient tonnage on the 
route for the cargo offering. 
West Indies. — Practical Sympathy with Sugar 
Planters. — Messrs. Elder, Dempster, and Co. issued the 
following statement on the and April : — 
“ We are very anxious to show our sympathies with the 
planters of the West Indies and to cultivate trade between 
Kingston and this country. We have, therefore, issued a 
circular to-day saying we are willing to carry sugar until further 
notice free of freight by the Imperial Direct West India Mail 
service from Kingston to Avonmouth.” 
Bristol and Imports from the W est Indies. — The Bris- 
tol City Council have adopted a policy of protection in revising 
the sugar dues, exempting imports from the British West Indies 
from the increases which were resolved upon. They advanced 
the dues on raw sugar from 6d. to is. per ton, and refined sugar 
from is. to is. 6d. The Council agreed with the recommendation 
of the Docks Committee that it was inexpedient at the present 
juncture to alter the charges on sugars from the West Indies, 
seeing that Sir Alfred Jones, of Elder, Dempster and Co., had 
announced that liners are about to carry sugar from Jamaica to 
Bristol freight-free until further notice, in order to give an 
impetus to Jamaican trade. 
FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 
France. — Trade in Eastern Asia. — The French 
Shipping Company, known as the Soci6t£ des Vapeurs de 
Charge is about to change its title to Compagnie Est-Asiatique. 
It has just purchased a Danish steamer of 8,000 tons register 
(the Annum), and is having three more boats built for the 
Chinese and Cochin-China coasting trade. This Company con- 
templates creating a regular steamship service between Copen- 
hagen, Antwerp, Dunkirk, Marseilles, Singapore, Port Arthur, 
and Vladivostock. 
Mexico.— Vera Cruz Harbour.— The new harbour works 
at Vera Cruz were inaugurated with great ceremony on the 6th 
March by the President of the Mexican Republic, the Governors 
of several of the States, and representatives of many foreign 
Powers. Vera Cruz has hitherto suffered from the great draw- 
back of not affording shelter for vessels in the winter season 
against the northerly storms which rage in the Gulf of Mexico, 
and which are familiarly termed “northers." When one of 
these storms arose the only chance of safety for ships in the 
harbour was to instantly seek the open ocean. It may be re- 
membered that during one of these “ northers” in 1851 thirteen 
vessels came to grief in Vera Cruz harbour. At that time, also, 
there were no proper facilities for landing cargo, and goods and 
passengers had to be put on shore by means ot either lighters or 
boats. It was not until 1882 that any serious efforts were made 
to remedy this state of things, but even then the work of im- 
provement only proceeded in a very half-hearted manner, until, 
in 1895, S. Pearson 6k Son, Limited, of London, took up the 
contract for completing the harbour works which had been 
planned, and then the operations commenced in earnest. The 
improvements are now completed at a cost of thirty million 
pesos, and these, it is claimed, have changed Vera Cruz into the 
safest and most commodious harbour in the Gulf of Mexico ; 
offering a secure shelter at all times for vessels of any size, even 
during the prevalence of the dreaded “ northers.” 
The works which have accomplished this welcome change 
consist, in the first place, of two substantial breakwaters, one on 
the north-east side and one on the south-east side of the harbour 
entrance — 1,823 an d 9 T 3 metres in length respectively — leaving 
an opening at the sea ends 260 metres in width. Behind the 
north-east breakwater a dam 50 metres in length is built, reach- 
ing to the Castle of San Juan de Ulua, and two other sheltering 
dams or dykes — 500 and 635 metres in length respectively — 
having a quay-width of 10 metres, have been formed to provide 
an anchorage ground for small craft. The great City Quay is 
nearly two miles long, and stretches from the front of the north- 
east breakwater to the north side of the south sheltering dam. 
The piers for ocean vessels run out at right angles from the City 
Quay, and are numbered from 1 to 12. The Government pier 
is 180 metres long and 22^ metres wide. There is also another 
quay 380 metres in length and 100 in width. Connected with 
this last-mentioned quay are eight railway lines, and here also 
are four warehouses and a number of electric and hydraulic 
cranes. Seven large vessels can lie at tins quay at the same 
time, and take or discharge their cargoes direct from or into the 
railway trucks. The depth of water alongside is 10 metres at 
ebb tide. For the passenger traffic a special station is set apart 
on the City Quay, alongside which steamers can lie, and here is 
also a Custom-house for the examination of passengers' luggage 
and an office for the quarantine officials. Trams run direct 
from this pier into the town and to the railway stations. Al- 
together the new works just completed have made of Vera Cruz 
a safe and commodious harbour, fitted with the most approved 
modern appliances. — Fairplay. 
Russia.— The Russian Government has concluded a con- 
tract with the East Chinese Railway Company for the 
maintenance by this Company, for a period of ten years, of a 
regular steamship service between Vladivostock and the Sea of 
Ochotsk. Four voyages must be effected every year, and the 
first boat must leave Vladivostock after the opening of naviga- 
tion not later than the 23rd May. Several ports have to be 
called at in these voyages. 
— 
OFFICIAL AND COMMERCIAL CONTRACTS. 
UNITED KINGDOM. 
Biggleswade. — T enders are invited until the 30th inst. for 
Constructing a Well. Particulars (£2. 2s.) may be obtained 
from G. F. Deacon, 16, Great George-street, Westminster, or 
from the Clerk to the Water Board, Biggleswade. 
Burton-on-Trent.— T enders are invited by the Corporation 
for reconstructing bridge, Horninglow-road, over Trent and 
Mersey canal: (1) BRICKWORK; (2) Steelwork. “Fair 
wages” clause. Particulars, £1 deposit, from Mr. G. T. Lynam, 
borough engineer, till the 5th inst. 
London. — T enders are invited, until the 13th inst., by the 
West Ham Corporation, for: — Two Steel Chimneys,' four 
Fans and Engines for Induced Draught, all brickwork in 
connection with flues, and economisers (one contract). “Fair 
wages" clause. Particulars (£5 B.E. note deposit) may be ob- 
tained from Mr. J. K. Bock, borough electrical engineer, Abbey 
Mills, West Ham, E. 
Rochester. — T enders are invited by the Corporation, 
until the 15th inst., for the supply of c.i. pipes. Supply of 
2,875 lin - yds. c.i. Socket Pipes, 20 Sluice Valves, and 
15 Hydrants. Forms and specifications maybe obtained from 
Mr. W. Banks, a.m.i.C.e., city surveyor, Guildhall, Rochester. 
Selkirk.— T enders are invited by the Town Council for 
the supply and laying of about 1,900 lin. yds. of 9-in. c.i. 
Mains (Acme i.r. joints), partly under water, with valves, etc. 
Also Intake Works, Howden Haugh (tank and collecting 
gallery). ^ Particulars (£1. is. deposit) may be obtained from 
Mr H. Taylor, A.M.I.C.E., St. Nicholas' chambers, Newcastle- 
on-Tyne ; or Mr. J. Pretty, C.E., burgh surveyor. 
COLONIES. 
Ceylon. — T enders are invited by the Ceylon Government 
until the Tqth July for the following Supplies of Paper : — 
Reams. 
1. Azure Wove Writing Paper — 
Quad Foolscap, 34 in. by 27 in., 55 lb. . . 1,500 
2. Cartridge Paper — 
White, Super Royal, 27k in. by 2oi in., 50 lb. 1 so 
3. White Printings — 
i. Quad Foolscap, 34 in. by 27 in., 40 lb. . 900 
ii. Double Royal, 40 in. by 25 in., 44 lb. . . 800 
iii. Gazette (special size), 35 in. by 25 in., 43 lb. 750 
iv. Quad Crown, 40 in. by 30 in. , 65 lb. . . 400 
v. Double Royal, 40 in. by 25 in., 60 lb. . . 50 
vi. Double Demy, 35 in. by 22J in., 48 lb. . 100 
4. Coloured Printings — - 
Royal, 25 in. by 20 in., 24 lb. (Yellow 50, 
Blue 40, Pink 25, Green 5, Slates). . . 125 
5. Glazed Badami— 
i. Double Royal, 40 in. by 25 in., 32 lb., put 
up folded 1,000 
ii. Quad Foolscap, 34 in. by 27 in., 30 lb., put 
up folded 200 
6. Brown Wrapping Paper — 
Size 29 in. by 22 in., 50 lb., put up folded . 100 
Particulars are published in the Ceylon Government Gazette, 
which may be seen at the Imperial Institute. 
New South Wales,— T enders are invited until the 5 n 
June, for the Supply of xo,ooo feet of Steel Troughing. 
Particulars may be seen at the office of the Commissioner and 
Principal Engineer for Roads and Bridges, Sydney, New South 
Wales. 
South Australia.— Contractors accustomed to the execution 
of large marine works are notified that Tenders wilt be invited 
at an early date for works involved in the Construction of an 
Outer Harbour in Light’s Passage at the entrance to the Port 
Adelaide River. The proposed works will comprise, approxi- 
mately, million cubic yards of dredging in limestone, sand 
and clay, and the construction of 1,500 feet of wharfs and 
stone revetment walls in connection therewith for the berthing 
of steamships in the harbour, also the reclamation of a large 
area of foreshore with the dredged materials. Drawings and 
specifications are in course of preparation, and it is anticipated 
that these will be ready for exhibition to tenderers in Adelaide 
about the middle of April, 1902, and at the office of the South 
Australian Agent-General in London about the middle of May, 
1902. — Tenders are invited until the 20th inst,, for the Supply 
and Delivery of best Iron Crane Chains, viz. :— 5 cwt., 
short link, ^ in. ; 10 cwt,, £ in. ; 10 cwt., g in. ; 15 cwt., J-J in. ; 
10 cwt., g in. ; 10 cwt. , $ in. ; 5 cwt., 1 in. ; 10 cwt., i| in. 
Particulars may be obtained at the Supply and Tender Board 
Office, Adelaide. 
INDIA. 
East Indian Railway. — Tenders are invited, until the 
30th inst., for the Supply and Delivery of (i) Steel Material, 
(2) Wrought-iron Material, (3) Spring Steel and Steel Wire, 
(4) Picks, etc., (5) Canvas, etc., (6) Canvas and Indiarubber 
Hose and Sheeting, (7) Wrought-iron Gas Tubing, (8) Grind- 
stones. Particulars (Nos. 1 107, 21s each ; No. 8, xos. 6d.) may 
be obtained at the Company's offices, Nicholas-lane, E.C. 
State Railways. — The Secretary of Slate for India in 
Council invites Tenders, until the 6th inst., for the Supply of 
Locomotives, 5 ft. 6 ins. gauge. Particulars may be obtained 
from the Director-General of Stores, India Office, Whitehall. 
FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 
Belgium. — Tenders are invited, until the 13th inst. , by 
the National Company of Local Railways, at No. 14, Rue de la 
Science, Brussels, for the construction of the section of the line 
from Itegem to Santhoven, The upset price of the work is 
206,012 francs (,£8,240), and a deposit of 20,000 francs (,£800) is 
required. Particulars (1 franc = iod. )may be seen at the Com- 
pany's office, and at the office of M. de Masy, No. 17, 
Rue Milis, Antwerp. 
Netherlands. — The Government invite TENDERS, until the 
7th inst. , for the supply of the following material : — Contract 
No. 294. — 109 sets of wheels and axles for railway carriages. 
295, 296, 297. — Springs and other appurtenances for railway 
carriages, 298. — 35 frames with 3 axles, Cleminson system, for 
railway carriages. 300. — Various appurtenances for railway 
carriages. 301. — Ironwork for tanks, cranes, etc. lxii. — 
Mild steel. Particulars may be obtained from Mr. Mat. Nyhoff 
at the Hague, on payment of 1 fi. (is. 8d. ) for each of the 
contracts Nos. 294, 295, 296, 297, and lxii. ; 3 fls. (5s.) for 
No. 301 ; 4 fls. (6s. 8d.) for Nos. 298 and 300. 
Norway. — TENDERS are invited, until the 6th inst., for the 
supply of 1,550 metres “ Moquette" stuff for railway carriage 
seat covering, and 1,380 metres curtain woollen stuff, of various 
qualities. Particulars may be obtained at the office of the 
Director, Engineering Department, Christiania. — Tenders are 
invited by the Aalesund Municipality, until the 20th inst., for 
(1) about 16,000 metres 8-in. cast-iron pipes tested to a pressure 
of 520 lb. per square inch, except about 2,000 metres which are 
guaranteed tested to only half that pressure. (2) About 
350 metres g-in. cast-iron pipes, tested to 280 lb. (3) About 
1,800 metres 5-in. cast-iron pipes, of which 800 metres tested 
to 460 lb., and the rest to 280 lb. (4) About 20 8-in. stop 
valves. {5) Three irregular castings, such as basin lids 
(“ kummelaag"), branch boxes, bends, branches, etc. (6) 
About 20,000 kilogs. soft block lead — sample block to be sent. 
Particulars may be obtained from T. S. Solem, town engineer, 
Aalesund, Norway. — Tenders are invited until the 12th inst. 
for the Supply of 6,000 Rifle Stock Pieces of Walnut to 
the Kongsberg Arms Factory. — Tenders are invited until the 
13th inst., for the Supply of 80 Truck Tarpaulins. Par- 
ticulars may be seen at the offices of the Director of the 
Engineering Department of the State Railways in Christiania. 
Portuguese West Africa.— Tenders are invited, until 
the 19th inst., for the Construction of a Metal Pier, to lie 
used as a quay in the harbour of Sao Thome. 
Spain,— Tenders are invited until the 26th inst, for the 
Supply of 108,000 reams of White Paper of the second class, 
known as “ de tina.” Particulars may be seen at the “ Direc- 
cion General del Timbre del Estado,” Madrid. 

COMMERCIAL LAW INTELLIGENCE. 
A Point in Insurance Law.— In the Court of Appeal the 
case of the British Workman's and General Assurance 
Co., Ltd. v. Cunliffe was considered on a special case 
stated by the justices of Leigh, Lancashire, and the question 
was whether the respondent Cunliffe could recover from the 
appellants £$. 16s., premiums which he had paid in respect of 
the life of his brother-in-law. The policy was effected through one 
Bibby, formerly an agent of the appellants. The justices found 
that the life on which the policy had been issued was one in 
which Cunliffe, who was a collier working at Leigh, had no 
insurable interest, but that the company, through Bibby, had 
represented that the policy would be valid and effective in law, 
and that the respondent relied on the representation, and was 
entitled to the return of the premiums. The Divisional Court 
upheld the decision of the justices, and the company appealed 
to this Court. At the conclusion of the arguments, Lord 
Justice Vaughan Williams said he was clearly of opinion that 
the money paid by Cunliffe under the circumstances could not 
be allowed to remain in the appellants’ hands. Bibby had 
represented to Cunliffe that it would be “all right," and that 
representation, though an innocent one, was made by a man 
skilled in insurance matters to a person who was wholly 
ignorant of law, and naturally believed the truth of th • state- 
ment. The appeal therefore failed. Lords Justices Romer and 
Mathew concurred, and the appeal was accordingly dismissed 
with costs. 
Trade Union Law. — Mr. Justice Walton gave judgment 
at the Glamorganshire Assizes at Cardiff in the case of Giblan 
v. The Amalgamated Labourers' Union of Great Britain. 
The plaintiff sued Mr. Williams, general secretary of the union, 
and Mr. Toomey, the district secretary, for damages, in that 
they had “ unlawfully and maliciously conspired and procured 
his employers to break their contracts, and to discharge him 
from their employment, and further that they had induced 
certain workmen to refuse to work with him, and to threaten to 
leave their employment if he continued to do so." The trade 
union, under the Taffi Vale decision in the House of Lords, was 
joined as a defendant. The jury awarded the plaintiff j£ioo 
damages. The point of law reserved was as to whether' the 
acts of Williams anti Toomey rendered the funds of the union 
liable. It may be pointed out that this is the first case in which 
a trade union has been sued in a court of law. Mr. Justice 
Walton, in giving judgment, said a trade union was a collective 
name for a number of persons acting by certain persons in 
concert. It was not a corporation, but a body of individuals 
who had agreed to act in concert for the attainment of specific 
objects, which were defined by its rules. The action by which 
the plaintiff was injured was either that of the union, acting in 
concert through its authorised agent, or the action of Williams 
and Toomey. Assuming that the union was responsible for the 
acts of its co-defendants, the nv niters of the union, acting in 
concert through their agents, prevented plaintiff from obtaining 
employment by refusing to work for employers who employed 
him. Having regard to previous decisions, he did not think 
this would be an actionable wrong if it were done for the 
