NEW ZEALANDERS AT THE PHILIPPINES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11113, 14 May 1898, Page 4

NEW ZEALANDERS AT THE PHILIPPINES.

: Wakapoaica, May 13. The Cable Company are advised, for th* information of people in' New Zealand who ■have relatives aad friends at the Philippines, that H.M.S." Linnet has arrived at Hongkong from Manila, and reports that all the British subjects at Manila are safe. The message adds: "Further news may be expected later on." THE TRADE OP THE PHILIPPINES. The following figures show the exports fan* Manila for the year 1892:— Sugar i To Great Britaiu, b0,966 tons dry, 21,473 wet; Continent of Europe, 3032 ; Unit. jrl States and Canada, 90,560; China, &c, 74,956. Coffee : Great Britain, 185 tons ; Continent, 1184; China.. 58. Cigars; Great Britain, 20,746,000; Contfnpi)<, 21,641.000; United States aud Canada, 3PO.000; Australia, .17.499,000; China, &c 71,132,000 ; California, 171,000.' • Indigo : Great Britain, 10£ tons ; Continent, 1-i-; United States and Canada, 24; China, &0., 178 A. The vnlne of the sugar in store at Manila was £549,766 for wet, and £155.336 for dry; the value <f tbe hemp was, £2,152,925; of the coffee, £122,375. Other exports were: Lapao* wood, 1800 tons; buffalo bides and cuttings, 368 tons ; copra, 16,221 tons ; mother-o'-ptiarl shtill, 31$ tone; gum mastic, 313 tons; tobacco leaf, 15,804 ton*. From Otiba the exports were:—Sugar' (dry), 17,489 ton?, value £187.132; su*ar (wet), 90C tone, value £8685; hemp, 9630 tons, Value £241,750. From lloilo : —Sugar (dry),. 150,669 tons, value £1,612,158; sugar (wet), 5150 tons, valne £49,697 ; lapanwoed, 2264 tous. The principal imports consist, of white and colourad cotton goods, marina stores, metaii, flour, bottled beer, coals, petroleum, rice, &o.; and, as the population is ever 6,000,000, the imports are extensive. Although tba Spaniards have possessed these islands considprably over 300 years, the first railwsy (of rather over 100 miles), from Masaila to Dagupau, baa only bseu recently constructed, and it was dorse with Sngliuh capita). The roads throughout the islauds art) simply a disgrace, aud if it were not for the great natural facilities they have of carriage by water all trade wonld be impracticable. Many minerals are to be found in pay« able - quantities- in the - ' but no mine is worked in such a manner as to give it the slightest chance of success. Amongst the minerals are coal an the island of Cabs, and near Sorsogan, on tha isl&ndof Lnzon ; sulphur on the island of Leyte, and at various, other places ; there is gold'iu Luzon, Mindanao, and other islands ;/'copper in the north of Lnzon. Quicksilver is also said to be obtained in Mindanao, and silver and lead on tbe island of Cebu. The country abounds with magnificent forests of excellent timber. The Manila hemp plant, which greatly resembles the bnuaua tree in appearance, is planted in a haphazard manner, and I'ift till four or five years old. Cutting I,heu begins, and thn large plant 3 are continually bein* cut out, while smaller ones grow up and take their places, so that It becomes fin endless crop. Sehor Dolz, professor of law'at the Havantt University, who left with the American Consul, in the course of an interview on his arrival in Amerioa was aiked where the Spaniards expected to get coal He replied: " When they are suited what they expect to do for coal and food when war is declared they flippantly reply: 1 There is plenty in Key West. We will go and take it.' fcio conflUent are they of victory that the planters have had lawyers draw np statemoists of their losses, which they say they will make thn United States pay; ' when the Yankee pigs get all they want; and sue fir mercy.'" Says the San Francisco Bulletin :—" What American.) have especially to avoid is giving cause for European intervention.. That which is now an American question should not be made a European question. We propose to make Spain withdraw from Cuba, not because Spain it a European i&tioa, but, because her government in Cuba has not served the ordinary purposes of govern rnsnt. While an invasion of Spain would come within our right after war is declared, it is not necessary to the complete success of the war. Any policy involWc b - • ' indemnity for the past and security for the future' would bring on complications. We can take Cuba, and when that work is acc6mplisiied we msy consider the war ended.unless Spain ; should keep up a kind of guerilla fight on the tea. In Cuba the United States would be close'.toits base of .supplies, and Spain would ba 3000 milos from hera ;' in Spain the United States would be 3000 miles from its base of supplies, and Spain close to her*. In fighting to free Cuba we k?ep on American coil, but a fight in Spain would take us on foreign soil." • San' Juan, the capital of Porto Rico, whiclfc has been captured by the Americans, is a town ■ . of 24,000 inhabitants. If. is on the north coast J on n small island (Morro), connected with the mainland by bridgss. San Juan was supposed to be a pince of some strength. It contains a Governor's palace. The harbour is one or'the best in thn West Indies.