NEWS FROM JAPAN.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1513, 21 December 1878, Page 3

NEWS FROM JAPAN.

xa,a correspondent o* n the tress AGENCY. J Yokohama, October 2 I.

A good deal of jealousy is boing expressed at the approach of Russia to tho Northern frontier oi Japan, it being considered that, tho exchange of Saghalien for Kurile islands was a mistake on the part of the Japanese Q-overn-ment. Rumours aro freely circulated that an attempt is to bo made to secure the of tho Mikado for political purpose;*. An attempt is being made so s6vm a society with the avowed, object of establishing a representative assembly which shall possess fccruo voice in tho government of the nation. Tho statement that torture was inflicted upon the Tokio mutineers to make them confers is exciting a great deal of unfavourable comment. The statement is made by Native pipers. The returns of the foreign irade of Japan for 1877 show a total decrease of nearly five million dollars. JOhis ia attrihutod more to a fall in yalae than in the quantity exported. The exports in rice, however, show an increase of nearly a million and a half. There is also a decrease in tho number of foreign residents. Floods and landslips, with considerable loss of life and destruction of houses, aro from several provinces, thirty-ft.j bridges being carried a WB y in o\v* flti&htviolent r/.riliuuaKo visited ITakodadi. L uffYiffi paper' says that 297 otter skins 1 jerif; to England by the agricultural department realised .63700.

Secret societies are said to be in formation in order to bring about change of Governmenq. This feeling of dissatisfaction is said to have been greatly strengthened by the Government appointing to high office unpopular persons. An export duty of ton cents per picul is to be put on rice from Ist January next. This is done in consequence of the unfairness of the land tax, owners being compelled to pay according to the extent of their land instead of upon its productive capacity. The result of tho military mutiny at the capital has been that fifty-three private soldiers were executed, and 115 sentenced to ten years, seven to two years, and eighteen to one year's imprisonment. Only three were acquitted. The condomned men were shot to death in batches of fifteen on the morning after the sentence. The executions occupied four hours. The Government paper currency is rapidly declining in value. Asiatic cholera is said to be prevalent in Nagasaki, and has broken out in Yokohama, while diphtheria has broken out in the province of Tse,'and, owing to its appearance, the Mikado, who is making a tour of tho country, has altered his line of route. Salmon have been successfully placed in some of the rivers, and more eggs are wanted. The export of silkworms' eggs is becoming considerable, Continental buyers purchasing largely. The American ship Look-out, 1000 tons, was driven ashore near Katsasima in a typhoon. Three of tho crow were drowned trying to got ashore in a boat. The rest of tho crew were saved by means of a line, which they managed to get ashore, and a boatswain's chair.