year that a slight advance took place. The 1909 export of cinchona bark was larger than during the preceding year, the figures being :

Whilst comparison of the quantities sold in the Amsterdam market

Which must be held accountable for the depressed state of the market during the past year.

The following are the quantities of sulphate of quinine disposed of at auction and by private sales in Batavia during the past three years :

The product of the Bandoeng quinine factory is coming more and more into favour, and now competes with the best European makes. Kapok. Exports were about equal to those of 1907, and quality was generally good and prices well maintained.

Fibres. Several estates have largely increased the area planted with sisal and other fibre plants, but the effect on exports has not yet become noticeable. The exhibition mentioned in last year's report has been postponed until 1911, and will be held at Sourabaya from July 3 to 8 of that year.

Oil seeds are now exported in fair quantities, shipments during the past 12 months being roughly as follows:

Groundnuts ...
Castor seeds...

Kapok seeds...

Tons.

16,000

3,000

12,000

The first two varieties are for the greater part shipped to the Continent of Europe, but Liverpool consumes five-sixths of the kapok seeds exported.

Tin.-Exports were practically the same as in 1908, the figures for the past three years being :

Tapioca.-Exports of roots again show an increase as compared with previous years, whilst that of flour remains nearly stationary. The following are the quantities exported during 1907-09:

Prices of flour have been fairly good, but value of roots has ruled low and quality has been unsatisfactory owing to excessive rains.

Hides and skins.-Trade in these has been very good, prices steadily advancing throughout the year until a high level has been reached. Exports of all descriptions show a considerable increase as compared with 1908.

Rubber. The rubber production of Java is still inconsiderable and will remain so for some years to come. A great deal of clearing and planting of new ground has been done during the past 12 months and the demand for land suitable for rubber cultivation has been very strong. Numerous estates which have not proved successful under coffee have been disposed of and in cases where rubber had been planted for a year or two the prices paid were very high. No figures are so far procurable showing the acreage under rubber in Netherlands India, but an attempt has been made to ascertain the amount of capital sunk in rubber estates in Java, Sumatra and Dutch Borneo at the end of 1909 with the following result :

Tea. The expectation of greatly increased exports during 1909, in view of the increased acreage coming into production, was not realised, owing to unfavourable weather, especially in the earlier months of the year and shipments to all parts only totalled 36,679,000 lbs. against 36,579,536 lbs. in 1908 and 29,286,402 lbs. in 1907. The quality of the product continues on the average to show improvement and Java has now a reputation for offering teas which, almost without exception, show great care in manufacture and for bringing the teas to market in good condition. Java teas also attract the trade on account of their great regularity in quality. The result of the year's working has in general been very satisfactory, as throughout the year there has been a steady demand at good prices for the lower

and medium sorts, of which Java produces large quantities. During the year under review a considerable amount of clearing and planting of land belonging to old estates has been effected and many new companies have been formed in which British capital has been largely invested.

Imports. There are no new developments to report in this branch of trade, which continues along the lines indicated in previous reports. Most importers (particularly of cotton goods) complain of the unprofitable result of the year's working, notwithstanding that there have been no failures of any importance among dealers, with the exception of one Chinese firm in Sourabaya, dealing in provisions, which failed with liabilities amounting to about 560,000 fl. Government statistics for 1909 show a slight falling-off in imports of cotton goods as compared with 1908.

Motor cars.-There is a fair demand for cars of moderate price. Several British makes are well represented in Java and are obtaining a fair share of the business.

Coal. Imports for 1909 show a decrease as compared with the previous year. Official statistics give the imports for the past three years as follows:

Petroleum.-Imports of Sumatra oil during 1909 amounted to 1,530,309 cases of 10 gallons and the production of Java oil during the same period was 2,213,812 eases.

Fertilisers.-The favourite fertiliser is still sulphate of ammonia, of which 44,750 tons were imported in 1909 against 32,800 tons during the previous year. There is also a small import of composite manures, principally from Germany, and of groundnut cakes from Coromandel, but supplies of the last-mentioned have been difficult to procure during the past season and imports have been on a smaller scale than usual.

Mining.—The Redjang Lebong gold mine paid a dividend of 100 per cent. for 1908, but the output during 1909 was smaller than anticipated and the dividend of that year is not expected to exceed 90 per cent. There are now five productive gold mines in Netherlands India, but so far only two have paid dividends.

Public works. Much needed improvements to the harbour at Sourabaya are being carried out. The river is being widened and dredged with a view to relieving the congestion of lighter traffic, and a much larger scheme involving the construction of a harbour with wharves alongside which ocean-going vessels can load and discharge is under consideration and will in due course be reported upon by two experts who have been sent out from the Netherlands for the purpose. Dredging operations on the bar at the western entrance to Sourabaya harbour have resulted in a gain of about 2 feet of water and vessels drawing from 19 to 21 feet can now use this entrance.

Supplies have been voted by the Government for the carrying out of harbour improvements on a large scale at Samarang. The proposed improvements include the lengthening of the breakwaters, the construction of a harbour for lighters and of a subsidiary canal with customs wharves and warehouses for the accommodation of imported goods, leaving the present canal free for outward traffic.

Railways. The State railways are now running a fast limited passenger express between Batavia and Sourabaya, the journey occupying a day and a-half instead of two days as formerly. A beginning has been made with the construction of the TjikampekCheribon line. The line is expected to be open for traffic in three years' time and will greatly facilitate communication between Batavia and Mid Java.

The question of the purchase of the Batavia-Buitenzorg line by the State from its present owners, the Netherlands Indian Railway

Company, is at present being considered by the Netherlands Govern

ment.

Shipping.-Chartered tonnage employed in carrying sugar during 1909 shows a falling-off as compared with the previous year. Figures for the last three years :

The undernoted figures show the flags which have had the principal share of the sugar-carrying trade during these years :

Health. The general health of Java during 1909 left a good deal to be desired. In Sourabaya the native population suffered from an epidemic of fever of a virulent type. In Samarang, with its imperfect water supply, cases of enteric fever were numerous, whilst Batavia and West Java were visited towards the end of the year by a cholera epidemic of considerable severity, which has since spread to the middle and east of the island.

British subjects. The number of British subjects resident in Java at the end of the year was :