CHINA AND JAPAN.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1546, 1 February 1879, Page 3

CHINA AND JAPAN.

[Special Wire.] [OWN COEBESPONDBNT TO PBBSS AGENCY] Hong Kong, December 7. No change is noticeable in the freight market from the dull state which has been ruling so long ; in fact, considering that the number of disengaged vessels (seventy-one) in port is unusually large, while the demand for tonnage appears to have subsided altogether for a time, prospects for sailing ships are even worse than before. The British barque Hotspur, Captain Shaw, has been chartered to load for Sydney, for which she receives £7OO in full. There is every prospect of a heavy sugar crop in South Formosa. A sugar refinery has been started at Whaka, Japan, by a company with a capital of £30,000. The Japanese authorities are about to establish a porcelain factory in the prison of Hiogo Ken, as an experiment, in order to try and make convict labor remunerative. The Chinese Government ordered Eussian subjects to leave Kashgar. The ex-Ameer of Kashgaria joined the Enssian army The 74th Highlanders are ordered from Hong Kong to Singapore, and the 27th Eegiment is ordered to relieve the 28th now at - ingapore, which will probably come on to Hong Kong. The following private ttlegram from Few York has been received here: —The green consumption is 10,000 OOOlbs. In view of the large surplus this year, timely warning may prevent a repetition of the serious losses of the past and present seasons. We understand (says the “ Daily Press”) an ordinance will shortly be sent from home for adoption by the Legislative Council, providing that European prisoners sentenced to penal servitude may be sent home to undergo their sentences in one of penal estabhshments in England Dartmoor would probably be the gaol chosen. An Act of Parliament is being prepared to enable Crown colonies to adopt this course of dealing with their European criminals. The results of boring operations near Titutau are reported to be very satisfactory. A depth of 216 feet has been reached, and three seams of coal struck, one, two, and four feet thick. It is stated that the Japanese Government replied to the representations of the Chinese Minister at Tokio relative to the right of sovereignty exercised by Japan over the Lolo Choi Islands by a decided repulse of his proposals. Shansi appears to be in trouble. Tsing Kwokayna, Governor of the province and uncle to Marquis Tsing, writes to Tao Paoyn, the Shanghai agent for the Shansi famine fund, stating that there had been incessant rain for several weeks at Juugyang, accompanied by a f ill of snow, heavier then any for many years past. The crops were all destroyed and the people reduced to the same state of misery th y were in last year, which they have to face with constitutions weakened by previous sufferings. Projected improvements in Formosa are at complete standstill. The Woosung railway plant continues to rust. Sickness has prostrated the miners at Keolung, and the petroleum borings are suspended, owing to the boring rod having 3' appod low down. Most members of the exploring parties are laid up with fever. The despatch of General Lo Yunchoi to the Tartar General of Kwangtung, in which he claims to be hereditary ruler of Annan, has been translated. It is reported that the rebel leader has withdrawn his forces from the frontier of Tonquin for fear of becoming involved with the French. Frederick Huffam, late Deputy registrar of the. Supreme Court, has been convicted of converting to his own use £46,841), received by him as official assignee in bankrugtey of the estate of Lyall, Still and Co.,[and thirty other bankrupt’s

estates. He was sentenced to seven years penal servitude.

A frightful disaster occurred in Japanese waters on IBth nit. The Japanese steamer i okushunamiam left Osaka for Aw i, with about 80 passengers, and when off Tsuda an ex plosion took place, by which the vessel was instantly destroyed and all the paseengers and crew but about three were lost.