NEWS FROM CHINA.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1411, 23 August 1878, Page 3

NEWS FROM CHINA.

[FROM THE PRESS CORRESPONDENT OF THE PRESS AGENCY] Hong Kong, Juno 4.

Business during the past month has been very slack, freights continue low. For Europe there has been fair demand for tonnage both from this port and the Phillippines, but the rates of freight are slow of improvement, and as tonnage is plentiful and inquiry uncertain higher rates can hardly bo expected, especially as steamers are taking unusually low rates, viz., £2 per ton for London. The same demand exists for small vessels for the colonies from Foo Chow Foo, but the freights are low, owing to the dullness of the coasting trade.

A thunderstorm of most unusual violence, accompanied by heavy rain aud wind, raged over the colony on the 22nd of May. The heavy wash of water has worked great havoc along streets and roads. Many sampans were broken from their moorings, capsized, and their crews drowned. Nine and a half inches of rain fell during the storm. The Asiatic Steam Navigation Co.’s Gunnya, when on the passage from here to Australia, grounded on a coral patch at Cayayane’s reef on the 24th of May. After having thrown overboard thirty tons of coal and coarse cargo she floated on the 26;>h, and returned to Manilla for a fresh supply of coal. The steamer was duly coaled, and had steam up ready to start for Cook Town, when a Customs official came on board and asked to inspect the vessel. He was taken round, and came across some thirty cases of opium and some packages of silk, Ac,, all of which he at once seized as not being entered on the Manilla manifests. Great indignation was felt at this action on the part of the Spanish authorities, but they will not give up the confiscated goods, and only permit the steamer to proceed on her voyage on the agent’s giving a bond to pay a fine of 6100dols. His Excellency the Chinese Minister to the United States of Mexico and Peru arrived here on the sth instant with his suite, ten in number, from Shanghai, and exchanged formal visits with the Governor on the 13th inst. Canton, July 12.

A curious personage bus just been brought in here prisoner, together with his wife, mother, servant, and suite, numbering twentyone persons. About two months ago he took it into his head to make a claim for the Imperial throne, and pretended to have tho power of healing the sick. Ho now asserts that ho is the rightful Emperor of China, and has several hundred adherents. The authorities took no notice of the fanatic for some time until his assumption attracted attention, when they had him and his family arrested and brought to Canton. His crime will find no mercy, and in all probability ho will shortly be sentenced to death by “ lingering process,” viz., exposed in tho streets in an iron cage and therein starved to death. A fire broke out the other day in a mat abed theatre, near Canton. The (lames spread

so rapidly that before the audience could escape, forty people were burnt to death, and as many seriously injured. A few days since a number of coolies’ emigration agents wore captured iu the western suburbs, where they had collected over twenty men, destined for foreign parts. In reference to this, the Viceroy has issued a proclamation warning the people not to listen to these agents, who are impostors, and that wherever such unauthorised agents are captured, they shall suffer death. Gambling ‘here is a frightful source of innumerable quarrels, leading frequently to bloodshed. Yesterday one man was stabbed to death, and two more seriously wounded in a broil of this sort.

The people of Canton are in a great state of excitement in consequence of a predicted visitation of cholera next month. On the 28th ult.the image of For Sing Ham, Goddess of Mercy, was paraded through the streets in the hope of thus averting the expected prs’ilenco. Much sickness prevails both amongst Chinese and Europeans hero at present. Amoy, June 6.

The Chinese are much exercised over a prophecy that a pestilence is about to visit the port. The holy Kwan Ti is said to have shown himself and prophesied that on 16th July, between 7 and 9 p.m, the Destroying Angel will come, and again on the 25th to 27th July. Cholera is the pestilence antioipated. Chefoo, May 27.

A large fire hero, occasioned by the explosion of a kerosene lamp, destroyed a store house. Estimated damage 16,000 dollars. The Catholic Bishop Ridell and throe French priests are said to be prisoners in the capital of Corea, and great fears are entertained for their safety. Pekin, May 23.

Rain has at last fallen in the famine districts. People are busy sowing cereals. The EjpSeror has received the nows with the greatest elight. The destitute are still to be supported until harvest is reaped, and grain is supplied for sowing where wanted. Refugees still flock to the capital, and fever has been raging amongst them ; in fact the epidemic extends all over North China, It has also been fatal amongst foreigners j four deaths occurred here, and many more elsewhere.) Foo Chow, May 29. A very handsome and valuable gold watch has been presented Jby the German Government to a young mandarin for his zealous and effectual endeavors to bring the murderers of the master and mate of the barque Anna to justice. Shanghai, Juno 1.

Captain Paul, of the British barque Nardoo, from Sydney, reports having passed within 30ft. of two rocky patches not marked on any chart, private or Admiralty, not more than four to six feet under the surface of the water. The east patch had a ripple on the water edge. Their position may be relied on as follows, the captain thinks :—26'50 north latitude ; 125.20.30 east longitude. At the meeting of the North China branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, Dr. Macgowan laid before the society specimens of an edible cicada grub, which are found in such large quantities at the root of the sugar cane as to be marketable. Dr. Macgowan said they were sweet and toothsome, but that recommendation did not suffice to lead any gentlemen to qualify themselves to report on the subject. Formosa, Taiwau, May 22. A most furious and destructive whirlwind has just passed over the city. It only lasted a minute or two, but the shock was fearful. Roofs fell in, houses not very firm fell in ruins, and the strongest brick houses shook on their foundations like a gigantic pillar. The whirlwind travelled along, carrying with it debris of all sorts. Its breadth was about 200 yards. About twenty lives were lost, and hundreds injured. Roofing tiles went to an enormous premium, and all the life of the city seems concentrated on roofs just now. Yokohama, June 18.

A Japanese journal announces that Christianity is spreading considerably iu various districts. A Japanese couple were lately married according to Christian ritual. The Japanese ironclad Fu So, via Suez Canal, has arrived here. Three ironclads for the Japanese Government, built in England, have now been handed over.

Several important personages, including exgovernors and judges, have recently been arrested, and are now prisoners, for supposed disaffection to the Government, or complicity in the late murder of O’Keefe, the Home Secretary, who was buried with national honors on the 17th May. The mulberry trees suffer much from insect blight this year. The crop of silk is expected to be small in consequence, with high prices. Disastrous tires are reported, 150 houses in one town, 200 in another, with serious loss of life.

The gross imports for the three months ending 31st May, at the port of Yokohama, amount to 7,144,115d01. ; exports, 2,137,652 dols. Business is very quiet in imports.

The tea market is active. Prices continue fairly firm. Some amount of blacks have found buyers at from 26d01. to 35d01.