Extraordinary State of Affairs in Oporto.

Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 75, 29 March 1889, Page 4

Extraordinary State of Affairs in Oporto.

? Tho Standnrd'a City Article of the 30th January aays:— An extraordinary Btate of affairs baa come to exist in Oporto. The Portuguese Government haa, it seems, rnadf; a provinional contract with eight private persona, under which they have power to form a company to work the port wine trade as a monopoly. All the wine it to bo exported by the new company wndcr a special mark, and to enanro auccesa to tho contractors a aubsidy of J83400 per annum is to be guaranteed for five years, together with G per cent, interest for 30 years on a capital of In order the better to push tho trade, diplomatic agents and Consnla are to be asked to lnnd their osaißtance to the company. Oporto ia in * state of rebellion. Tho wine trade in the city, seeinsr ita liberty threatened by a monopoly, has protested vigorously. All the wine stores in the city have been closed Bince the 21st mat., and other buaineaaea have followed suit, until only tho Larbers are left at work. By tbo latest atlvicca even the lightermen have jfone on strike, stopping the whole shipping buainosa of the place. 'J he Government officials havo jjoue ao far aa to atop the tranamiaaion of private telegrama. Riots may break out at any moment. The Times' City Article says:— We are informed that the port wine shippers having ntocka in Oporto have addreased a joint letter to Lord Saliabury aa Foreign Secretary, praying him to take such stepa as he may deem boat for tho protection of British intereata thoro. This action baa been taken in conaequenco of the whole of the commercial and working claaaea in that town having completely ceased business for tbe present, aa their method of protest against the extraordinary measures resorted to by the Portugneee Government. It is to be assumed that theso moasures must be oppressive indeed, or all classes wonld not resort to such a costly mode of resistance aa this. The working population being thua unomployed, there ia reason to fear conflicta with the authorities.