Page 1 Advertisements Column 5

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 199, 12 July 1860, Page 1

On Sale, 30 000 SHINGLES> ( goocl ' * ' ’ BjSAVEN & VfQm Feb. 10, 1860. Notice* JpOISON is laid for DOGS on my ground!. THOS. HIGGIEWanganuij. May 24, I 860; WEEKLY COMMUNICATION WITH WELLINGTON.: The fast-sailing Schooners Sea Gull' and I Tyne' WILL be laid on i as- Regular Traders be tween Wanganui and Wellington* Good accommodation for Passengers. For Freight or Passage apply to TAYLOR, WATT, & CoDecember 15, 1859. James Broughton, LAND AND COMMISSION' AGENT' Estates Superinte>‘ded. Taupo Quay, Wanganui.

The Population of China. —The last* census of China gave 414,686,994. In 1757 the census gave only 190,348,328; in 1780 - it gave 277,548,431; in 1812 there were--361,693,179; and iii 1851, the second last census accessible, 413,457,311. It is not easy to reconcile these facts with the opinion < so often, expressed that China is in a state of'' decadence, and requires to have its life renewed by an infusion of foreign elements. If such be the case—if it should turn out that: there has been a large decrease of the population during the last seventeen years, when; foreign elements have been so largely affecting; it, it may be concluded that these which are' to restore China to health and vigour, 1 have been in the first instance the cause of its illness and decay. ; It dqes not follow that when a country’s population increases, its prosperity increases also,-, any more than a.sheep improves & when it changes from one animal into a ■ thousand maggots. The quality of the population is of course also to be taken into account;; and a country like England is in a more prosperous condition, which has only a few millions . of able and. well principled men, than one like - India, which has its less powerful myriads. But with the increase of population in China * duringlhe last century, there has not been, so . far as-indications exist, any corresponding deterioration of the individual.' Hence it seems - that up to 1842, and for at least a century before, China was in a flourishing and prc--gressive state.

A New Road to China. —ln the city article of the Times, March 9th, we find the following“ A new opening to China; which might, it is alleged, be effected at small expense and with little difficulty/and which,., while it would save about 1500 miles in distance, would bring us into communication with certain rich provinces of that empire containing 80,000,000, is being actively urged on the consideration of the Government. Among our Indian possessions none have made more rapid strides than the province of Pegu ; and its chief port, Rangoon, promises to constitute, at ! some future day an. emporium.in, the far east*. | of those possessions that will rival the pros- | perity anticipated for Kurrachee in the west.. | The distance from Rangoon to the southwestern provinces of China is only 500 miles,. and the plan is to make a road of that length.. Two hundred and fifty miles of it w.ould be through our own territory, to the Burmese frontier, and the remaining 250 would be across Burmah to the Chinese, city of Esmok. It could be either a bullock-road, a tram-road,. or a rail-road, as economy or expediency might in the first instance dictate. According to the views of the Rangoon merchants, and other persons of experience with whom the scheme has originated, the entire work would be'simple. _ The Burmese Government are friendly,, and it is alleged that the special authorities of the district through which the road would, pass are cordially desirous of promoting not. only a transit commerce with China, but also a direct increase of intercourse with our people. The country also is affirmed to be free from, difficulties, to be highly favourable to health, and to possess abundant resources. ..Assuming-, these statements to be. correct, it would seem, marvellous if we were to delay acting upon them,, and, even if it should prove that objections and obstacles have been overlooked; it is scarcely probable that they can be insurmountable. A great point in connexion withdhe matter r is, that the portion of China which would be placed in connexion with us is one . which, although reputed to be extraordinarily, rich, and to be carrying on by ;roads, rivers,; and canals, a most active inlaud trade; is at [present shut out from all exterior commerce * and destined to remain in that condition unless the proposed work be executed, or the French, succeed in effecting a transit to it through'. Cochin China.'’