CHINA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5316, 10 April 1878, Page 3

CHINA.

MOM COP.RESPONDENT OP THE PRESS Hoi/gkong, February 22. The Chinese New Year passed off with the usual accompaniment of crackers ad libitum. A great number of the European residents went for three days’ picknicking. Business on the coast is generally very quiet. Freights are still low, and many vessels have been in port some four months awaiting a charter. The French barque Fanny, Captain DeGouyon, 310 tons, is chartered for £7OO in full for Melbourne and Sydney. The sentence passed on the engineers of the Yesso is considered a light one, namely, the chief engineer to four months imprisonment, and third engineer to three months, without hard labor. The sad catastrophe of itself, without any punishment, it is hoped will serve as a caution to ships’ engineers engaged in the passenger trade. Js> On January 6 a fire broke out in Tientsin among the mat sheds in one of the relief yards, where some 4000 refugees from the famine districts were collected. + This yard was enclosed by a strong fence, and as it was occupied by women and children exclusively, the gates were kept locked, except at certain times, in order that the inmates might be protected from interference. A strong wind prevailed at the time the fire broke out, which spread amongst the inflammable erections with such rapidity that upwards of 1400 were burned to death. Had the gates not been locked most of the inmates of the yard would have escaped, but they were caught like rats in a trap. His Excellency Governor Pope Hennessy published a communication from the Revs. W. Muirhead and B. R. Palmer, of Shanghai, and the Rev. F. Burghignoli, of this place, praying for assistance for the starving people in Shansi, Sheusi, and Henan. The horrors endured by the sufferers in these provinces are depicted as truly appalling, such as children subsisting on the corpses of parents, and parents devouring their offspring. The last stage of misery has been reached by these unfortunates, and all the efforts of the Chinese authorities are powerless to materially alleviate the terrible distress prevailing. Rice is now slightly cheaper, but the present unsettled weather is said to be causing great uneasiness in the minds of the agriculturists, who, however, show no disposition to part with their land at even more than twice its ordinary market value.

A Naval Court of Inquiry was held at Amoy, at the British Consulate, on the 15th January, to investigate the circumstances under which the British barque Novelty, of Sydney (late of the Circular Saw line), and owned by the late firm of Henderson and Macfarlane, of Auckland, was lost near Keelung, Formosa. The finding of the Court was —“ Considering that the master stayed by the ship as long as there was a chance of saving her and her cargo, his certificate is hereby returned to him.” *

The British schooner May, Captain Plumley, left here on the 16th instant for Singapore. The British barques Tokatea, Captain Harrison, and Star of India, Captain G. Holloway, arrived here from Sydney on the 18th and 14th instant respectively. The latter made the passage in 66 days. The British steamer Charlton, Captain has for the present given up tho Cook town trade, and is now running between this port and Haiphong, on the west coast of China, with rice.

i His Excellency the Governor-of Hong■kong.> and .Admiral- Hillyar paid ■ a : visit on the Bth instant to the Tungwah Hospital (Chinese Hospital). The visit was in the nature of a New Year’s call upon the community.’ 'Ji Nowell; M.D,, of--H.M.. despatch boat Vigilant, was" requested tq attend to afford the Chinese an opportunity of presenting him with a testimemal, in.recognß tion of the medical care he bestowed on the sufferers of the Yesso explosion; A guard of honor was drawn up outside of the hospital, composed of the 74th Regiment, and whilst the Governor was there he presented, a handsome silver cup to Surgeon Nowell. . The China Merchants ' Steam Navigation Company have lost two of their , steamers within two months, viz., the Howsung, Captain Lament, which went ashore on Donald Island, near Amoy, and the Kiahg Chang, Captain Friend, on the YangtsO River.,, The Eastern and Australian mail steamer Normanby, Captain Ellis, arrived here this morning from Sydney and Cooktown, after_ a passage of twenty-one days. Besides mails and general cargo, 1 she brought' 102 Chinese passengers from Cooktown. ' She is advertised to leave here for Port Dartwln, Cooktown, and Sydney. 1 ' " ' 1 '