CHINA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XIII, Issue 752, 21 January 1860, Page 3

CHINA.

There is no news from China later than that already received. The 67th regiment was on its way from India, and it was expected that large reinforcements would speedily follow to take part in returning the compliment due for the Peiho, successes. The 'North China Herald,' of the 24th of Sept., contained the following account of an outrage on a foreigner in one of the new ports of Japan:— On the evening of the 25th of August, a savagemurder was committed in the street of Yokiama, a village lately erected by the Japanese at a short distance from Kanagawa. The victims were three Russians belonging to the fleet under Commodore Popoff, then lying in the bay of Yeddo. The party consisted of an officer, asailor carrying a box containing some dollars and some itzeboes, and the Commodore's steward. They had been engaged in purchasing provisions for their ship, and were returning to their boat about half-past eight in the evening, when they were attacked from behind. The sailor was cut'down and killed on the spot; the officer was frightfully gashed and mutilated, and died from his wounds after lingering some two or three hours. The steward, who was a little in advance of his companions, was also attacked, and wounded in the arm, but was rescued by some Japanese shopkeepers who concealed him in their ■house from the murderers, who even cut at the Russians thrice as they were being carried into the house. The steward states that there were some eight persons engaged in the murder.

General Mouravieff, on hearing of it sent a corvette to Yokia to inquire into the matter; and had demanded the dismissal of th| Governor, who' was strongly suspected of knowing: more than he would acknowledge of the affair; also, that two at least of the murderers when captured should be delivered to the Russians. ■

No reason had been assigned for the commission of the murder up to the 3rd of September, nor had a trace of the guilty been discovered. The box which had been stolen from the sailor was found on the road to Kanagawa; the Japanese money having been taken from it, but the dollars left. The Russian frigate Askold was to go to Yokiama to enforce a rigid investigation into the matter. The 'Overland Friend of China' has ceased to exist. In the last number, dated September 28, we find the following :—

; It was stated in the last summary that the editor qf flu's'paper was under prosecution for a libel on the late Acting Governor Came. The trial came off on the 17th and 20th instant, in what manner will be gleaned from the affidavit at foot. Suffice it to say, that the editor's abandonment of his defence did not result as he expected, and he is now undergoing an imprisonment in the common gaol for a term of one year, and is to be further imprisoned till payment of a fine of £50.

The Acting Chief Justice, who h,as only just arjived,.cottld- have had no conception of our gaol system, or he would have passed xjp. suph sentence. My. Tarraqtis. lbpkedupm'a cell with;felons of

tho very worst grade—men under punishment for murder, piracy, robbery, &c, ,of necessity being his companions, in addition-to. thin; ho i^refusod permission to correct proofs of anything tlint may appear iii his jmpor, or hold communication with friends outside oxuoptiitg in the presence.of tlui gaoler. So rust rioted, tiio' papur must Htop from this day—arrangements for tho mile of tho paper, when tho action commenced, having1 entirely fallen through. A more severe punishment for libel was never indicted, and it cannot be ratified by tho Home Government. Nincty-niuo men out of a hundred would succumb to it. Thanks," however, to a strong constitution, an indomitable-spirit, and tho .self-sustaining feeling of being a martyr in the cause of truth and justico to the Chinese, Mr. Turrunt expresses himself to the frauds who; are admitted to see him as fully equal to tho emergency. — Ooerland'Friend of China, Sept. 28.