CHINA. [From the Australian.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume I, Issue 29, 26 April 1845, Page 4

CHINA. [From the Australian.]

We have received files of China papers, by .the Spy and Challenger, to the 14th January, complete, wbich through some unaccountable delay in our post office, did not come to hand till Tuesday morning. We observe that an Ordinance had been published at Hong Kong, granting power to the Governor, with the advice of the Executive, to declare that martial law shall prevail in any district of the Island, or in any public or military station, " when, and so often as the case may seem to him and them to require such procedure," this power was deemed essential to afford her Majesty's sub* jects protection from armed and predatory parties landing in numbers on the Island. In order to meet the civil expenses of the colony, an Ordinance had been enacted, declaring that " No person shall act as a weigher or broker of salt, or shall retail Opium Bhaang Ganja Paun Betel or Betel leaf in the Island or its dependencies or waters, in less quantities than one chest, without a license for that purpose. The Governor in Council may grant the exclusive

right and privilege for those purposes to one or more persons. Such license is to be granted to the highest bidder, and a penalty will be inflicted upon unlicensed persons retailing these articles. It is farther enacted that no person shall act as pawnbroker and auctioneer, or shall keep a public billiard table, without having obtained a license. The Governor is empowered, if he shall see fit, to levy an auction duty of 2^ per cent, on all sales by auction within the colony." Much has been done by the Government in the way of improvement, by means of drains, in the Township of Victoria, Hong Kong, to prevent a recurrence of that dire mortality, which has heretofore prevailed during the hot season, but much remains to be done, ere Hong Kong can be reckoned a desirable residence for Europeans. Among the articles of import, which might be either furnished by this colony, or a substitute provided, we notice the following :—: — Bees' wax, quoted at 36 to 50 dollars per pecul ; coals, 8 dollars per ton ; Bicho de Mar, black, 40 dollars per pecul : ditto, white, 20 to ,25 dollars ; sea horse teeth, 30 to 40 dollars per !pecul ; fish maws, 42 to 65 dollars per pecul; horns (buffalo), 25 dollars per pecul ; salt provisions (Hamburgh) 18 to 20 dollars per barrel of 2001b5. ; ditto, (American), 10 to 12 dollars; sharks' fins, 48 to 50 dollars per pecul, first quality ; 1 1 to 20 dollars, second quality ; soap, Bto 10 cents per lb. ; woollens are in little request among the Chinese, who prefer cotton clothing. These quotations are the sale prices, after the foreign merchant has paid the import duties and other expenses. By the Heroine from Singapore the 15th November, we have received Chinese intelligence up to that date, the most important item of which is below, from the Singapore Free Press of November the 7th :—: — The numerous arrivals from China, during the week, have brought accounts of the serious illness of the Emperor of China, and by one of the latest arrivals we have received, mentioning that a report had reached Canton of his death, was generally believed. The Emperor, we believe, was between 60 and 70 years of age, and had reigned 24 years, having ascended the throne in the- year 1820. Should the report of the Emperor's decease turn out to be true, we may look to see great changes in China ere long. H. M. S. Vestal has gone to Whampoa, to receive another instalment from the Chinese, and the Proserpine is lying in front of the Consulate at Canton, as a guard ship, protecting the embarcations of the Sycee. The sum of two and a half millions of dollars is now to be received, after which Koolungsoo will be delivered up interms of the treaty. The next installment will amount to one million and a half, leaving two millions for the last, when Chusan also will be evacuated, unless other terms are agreed on. Meantime, it is reported a proposal has been made that Chusan should be declared a free port, open to all nations, in place of Ningpo and Fuchowfoo, which would be abandoned as unfavourable for trade.