The Evening Star FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 1873.

Evening Star, Issue 3141, 14 March 1873, Page 2

The Evening Star FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 1873.

Through the kindness of a friend, wc have received a copy of the Japan Gazette Mail Summary, which contains very curious and interesting matter, throwing some light on the great social changes going on in Japan. All our readers know that commercial intercourse between Great .Britain and Japan, has had only a fitful existence of barely twenty years ; that the institutions of that singular country, with its forty millions of inhabitants, maintained it in isolation from the rest of the world, even more complete than that of China. Since 1855, the year of the first modern treaty of commerce between Great Britain and Japan, there have been several interruptions to their amicable relations. The nobles, slow to appreciate the value of foreign intercourse, opposed it, and up to 18G5 more than one naval expedition, in which Russia, France, and the United States took part, taught the Japanese that with Europeans, treaties were not looked upon as mere playthings, to be kept or broken as suited the humor of the moment, but obligations to be observed. For many generations, the only European factory or trading establishment was one founded by the Dutch on the island of Desima. This was planked round to prevent the possibility of communication with the town of Nagasaki; and had only two gates ; one opening towards the town, and the other towards the port. The other foreign trade wasconfined to the Chinese. The change that free intercourse with other countries has wrought is marvellous. Tlie Dutch hero, as in other places, grasped at monopoly and over-reached themselves. They have thrown away the advantage ground they possessed, and their place has been taken by other nations, more liberal in their ideas of extending trade. The Anglo-Saxon race, as usual, takes the lead, and where seven years ago, they had only a precarious footing, so numerous aa-e they, that the Japan Gazette Shipping and Market Exports Summary is published in the English language twice a month. The o O O B 111 number before us contains remarkable evidence of the growing estimate of the value of European modes of thought, industrial appliances, and learning. The way in which reforms are set about there, however, differs very materially from our contentious style. No public meetings are called to discuss a question : an edict in the true Oriental style is issued, and the people must obey:; but their obedience must lead in the end to results very like our own ways of dealing with public matters. Absolutism Las ordained that which, some generations hence, must prove its own death-blow. The paper before us is dated December 23rd, 1872; and referring to the previous number of December 7th, announces that since that date, numerous startling changes had been proclaimed by Government edict. The first of these, although convenient to Europeans and Americans, may be considered scientific. It is decreed that henceforth the Japanese chronology shall be harmonized with the foreign system, and that the first day of January last was to be the first day of the first month of the 2,533 rd year from the accession of the first Mikado (Emperor). Every seventh, instead of every fifth day, is to he kept a holiday. Other holidays are prescribed : and to assimilate the reckoning of time to the new system, the day is divided, as with us, into twenty-four hours, instead of twelve periods of two hours each, as was the ancient custom. The 25th December, Christmas Day, is to be held sacred to tire memory of Zinmu Tenno, the first Emperor of Japan. The remaining alterations are more of a domestic character, although all bear strong evidence of the influence that European habits is producing upon the Japanese, beginning

with tho nobility, the ample robes in which they used to be enfolded on state occasions, are to be dispensed with ; and Japanese officials of rank are required to wear a European official costume, and to attend weekly leveesJield by the Mikado, on and after New Year’s day last. The monarch evidently intends cultivating publicity more than the mystery of secresy ; and receives guests at dinner, on alternate days. These entertainments are served up and dressed in foreign style ; and politics, as subjects for conversation, arc forbidden.

Having thus dealt with ceremonial Court observances, a measure is to be adopted that must cause a much more sweeping change in the home life of the country. In Japan, as in all other heathen lands, women have been degraded, and made the playthings or slaves instead of the companions of men. In Japan a very lax system of family union prevailed, which the Ga~rtte describes as a “ free and easy style of coupling and separation, analagous in all respects to what Free Lovers fain would introduce into America.” Henceforth the marriage contract is to be binding ; divorce is abolished, and it is said the institutions of the Empire are to be so far relaxed, that Japanese women will be allowed,legally, to marry foreigners. The change that the responsibility of having a wife and family to support will bo great, and will of itself ultimately tend to foster industrious habits; but the Government is not content to let them "row out of institutions. A direct onslaught is made upon laziness, by an edict intended to take away the means of indulging in it. We Europeans only half understand the art of lounging. With us loafing is no luxury, for a man soon tires of lying on uncomfortable sofas, with rolling pillows, and would be ashamed to be known to retire to bed to while his day away. The Japanese understand the matter better: they covered their floors with thick soft mats, on which they could lie down for a roll, and on them they used to sleep. Poor indolent sufferers! by decree their mats are to be taken away from them, lest they should sleep at mid-day or on wet days. Then their outward adornments are to be conformed to European style. If the men will not voluntarily dispense with their “ top-knots,” the police are to cut them off. hn passant we wish the police were commissioned to burn or otherwise destroy those unsightly bundles that distort the beautiful hair of our own counti ywomen; especially as they are henceforth to be models for the Japanese. The women of Japan are in future to arrange their own hair after the European style ; and to do it themselves, for female hairdressers are not henceforth to be allowed them. The reason alleged is, that the majority of women, not attending to their own hair, go with it half their time in a slovenly condition. Of course these sweeping changes meet with resistance.

By way of consolation for the loss of their cherished queues, the men are told they can devote a portion of the saved time ami barber fees to improve their education. The barbers naturally object, and waited in a large body on the Governor of Nagasaki, with the same result as bcfel the pcrrnquiers whose petition to Geo. 111. drew forth a burlesque address from the artificial limb makers, praying His Majesty to wear a wooden leg for the encouragement of trade.

Other changes are talked about, perhaps less difficult to carry out, but more questionable as to their character, such as the regulation of the rate of wages : but the excuse is that every man, Japanese or foreigner, may know what he ought to pay, and thus an end be put to extortion. The spread of European systems throughout the Empire, must ultimately assimilate the civilisation of Japan with them. Japanese newspapers are “ springing up all over the country railroads are in progress; a loan is projected of .£20,000,000 ; Banks are in course of formation, and even rinderpest has found a footing. The electric telegraph has been introduced, a Club is talked about, orders of dignity as rewards of merit are adopted, and a Parliament established : and all this within seven years.

Wc understand that his Wordiip the Mayor and Mr C. S. Reeves intend offering themselves as candidates for the seat in the Provincial Council, vacant through the resignation of Mr E. B. Cargill.

The bazaar in Port Chalmers was crowded last night, and the goods sold at the various stalls amounted to over 30/. Should the weather keep fine, a much larger amount may be expected to be taken to-night. Last evenin'! some excellent music was rendered by Mr Bott on the harmonium.

Some misconception having arisen respecting the sale of land yesterday to Mr Edmund Smith, for L 520, we may state th;it it was sold to him as agent for the First Church, in fulfilment of an engagement entered into eight or nine years ago with bjie trustees, by which they relinquished the water frontage subsequently extended by reclamation, on condition of receiving that particular section. The sale was duly advertised in the Provincial Ga::cif,e, from the 12th February to the corresponding date inward?, both inclusive.

A meeting of -the Board of Health took place to-day. Present—His Honor the Superintendent, Dr Macgregor, Messrs M'Dermid, Hill, Turnbull, and Bastings. Reports were read from Dr Bakewell, surgeon to the Charlotte Glacis lone, resident with the patients now remaining on the Quarantine Island, and Mr Wm. Thomson, Health Officer, It was resolved that 26 convalescent patients, as recommended by Bakewell, be released, and that the remaining five be sent to the Dunedin Hospital provided the Provincial Surgeon approves. It will be remembered that shortly after the arrival of the Charlotte Gladstone, Dr. Bakewell, her surgeon, forwarded to the Colonial Government a lengthy report, complaining of the low phys : cjuo, and the absence of proper medical inspection before shipment, of the immigrants sent out by that vessel. The Government has appointed a commission consisting of Mr C. C. Bowen, R.M., Christchurch, and Mr J. P, Maitland, R.M., Tokomairiro, to enquire into, and report upon Dr Bakewell’s complaints. The commission has been sitting at the Custom House during the last two days, but its proceedings are private.

During his visit to Hokitika, Bishop Moran was presented with an address by the local Hibernian Society, in replying to which he said that he willingly acceded to the request for his patronage, and he would be very glad to see that all in the community who could join it did so. It was not every society of wbioh he could pay the same,

There were societies and societies. Some were banned by the Church, and others were blessed. The Hibernian Society was one of the latter. There was no sei recy in it, and the Church abhorred secrecy. Wherever i here was secrecy there was always suspicion, men who meant what was right had nothing to fear from an open clisclosure of their proceedings, but where those proceedings were kept secret there were just grounds to suspect that they were evil. When, therefore, a society, such as the one whose address he held in his hand, came before him, he felt great pleasure in becoming its patron, and he hoped it would receive the general support of the community, so far as circumstances permitted.

At Wednesday’s meeting of the City Council, three tenders, the lowest being L 340, were opened for the construction of the Rattray street sewer. Councillor Barnes expressed himself strongly against the Council undertaking the work as proposed, when, by accepting the Government’s offer—that the Council should contribute Lsoo—a permanent improvement would be obtained, as the Government intimated their intention to carry the sewer to the end of the Rattray street wharf, where it would always be washed by the sea, and not exposed to public view as at present. Several Councillors expressed themselves in favor of of accepting the Government’s offer; and ultimately the matter was referred to the Works Committee. In the meantime the temporary trench—the opening of which was rendered neecssary by the Daily Times Company stopping up the sewer —had been damaged by the late rain, and to-day the City Surveyor, at a special meeting of the Council, pointed out the pressing necessity for a temporary woollen box-drain being constructed and placed along the line of the present trench, to extend from Bond street eastwards as far as Crawford street, there to connect with the existing brick sewers. The Council decided to call for tenders.

We would call the attention of those interested to the sale of the privileges connected with the forthcoming race meeting, by Wright, Stephen.son, and Co.

We have to call the attention of our readers to the Harbour Company’s adververtisement, in our third page, announcing the sailing of the Samson, for Oamaru, &c., on Tuesday, and the Maori, for Lyttelton, <kc., the same day.