PIRACY IN CHINA.

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 214, 17 June 1848, Page 2

PIRACY IN CHINA.

We perceive by a China Mad received on Saturday, that a Court of Admiralty was held at Hongkong in January lasr t composed (under a local ordinance we piehume) of the Chief Justice, the Calonial Secretary, Captain M'Quhae (us senior naval officer on the su~ turn j, and the Police Magistrate. A. number ot Chinese were tried for piracy. In Ihe first case thirty men were tried, who was acquitted for want of proof of identity. Two men were next tried for separate arts of piracy, and found guilty, and then thirteen were tned for robbing a Chinese fast boat of opium, valued at 30,000 dollars, the pioperty of Mrssrs. Jarcline and Co. The boat was on. her passage from Hongkong to Canton when she was huddcaly attacked by a vessel with a large number of men, who overpowered them after a scuffle, in which several were killed, }.nd took away the opium. Twelve of ths prisonurs were sworn to, and being found guilty sentence of death wab passed upon them. Four of them were hanged at the usual place, in piesence of n large number ot Chinese. The others had their sentence commuted to transportation for life. Of the four men hanged, one was a Compradore in Canton three years ago, since then he had kept a shop i oar the bazaar ; another had fur years been a licensed pilot in Hongkoiig. It is not the mere dregs of soci ety who commit these outrages ; but men who kept an appearance of leopectdbili'y.— Sydney Herald, May 22.