CHINESE INTELLIGENCE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5517, 2 December 1878, Page 2

CHINESE INTELLIGENCE.

(own correspondent press agency.) Hongkong, October 7. For some time past crime has been increasing here to an alarming extent ; a state of terrorism exists almost approaching a panic ; burglaries have been of almost nightly occurrence. Within the last fortnight the colony has been thrown into an unprecedented state of excitement by the occurrence of several attacks by armed bands of robbers. The first of them occurred on the night of the 25th ultimo, and is a most mysterious affair. The Praya is a road running along the harbor ; behind the Praya in the Chinese quarter of the town is a lane called Wing Lok-street. A Chinese goldsmith's shop is situated on one side, fronting on to Wing Lok-street, and the other on to the Praya. This shop had received a large quantity of treasure from San Francisco, which, it seems, became known to the thieves, aud shortly after midnight they mustered in numbers estimated from SO to 100, armed with bamboo spears and firearms. They landed in boats, most probably a nest of pirates from the adjacent mainland. Their attack was arranged with consummate skill and care. IS o one saw them land, although policemen. (?) arc stationed all along the Praya at short intervals. The thieves stationed one band to watch the Praya entrance of the house, while another went to Wing Lok-street, and here a few of the men got into the house through a window upstairs, which they reached by means of a bamboo ladder. A coolie whom they disturbed was kept quiet by throats of murder, aud the thieves quietly‘pursued their search of drawers and cupboards until they came to the safe. They were provided with cold chisels, hammers, and torches for heating iron. Their operations caused some noise, and those in the house being aroused, the men outside called to them that it was on fire, and £that they must stop where they were until a ladder arrived, A Chinese watchman now appeared on the scene, and was received with a stab from a spear in the groin. These spears are most formidable weapons, fixed on bamboos 20 feet long. The watchman blew his whistle while lying on the ground, and a few constables from a neighboring station came] up, but as they were armed only with truncheons, and the robbers opening fire upon them, they were compelled to return for their rifles. The thieves received them with their spears and firearms, and six of the constables received serious though happily not fatal injuries. One of the robbers was shot dead by a constable, and it is supposed that several others were wounded or killed, but if so, they were carried off by their companions, who made a clean retreat on the arrival of reinforcements of the police ; most of them it is believed got away by water, though some probably escaped by neighboring lanes. The water party to facilitate their retreat stoic a steam launch, which was not missed until several hours had elapsed. The launch on being chased by the police boat fired on the latter and then escaped. Another attack was made on the residence of the proprietor of the China Mail, the object being robbery. A Sikh constable who prevented them was severely stabbed. The public attribute the existing lawlessness to the mistaken clemency of Governor Hennessy, who has been reprieving murderers, pardoning criminals, and modifying the punishment of flogging, &c. Business is very dull. The American ship Sumatra has been lying in harbor over twelve months, not being able to obtain freight. Several other vessels are in the same position. A treaty has been concluded between the Sultan of Sulu aud the Spanish Government, by which the former surrenders the sovereignty of the islands. A new tax imposed at Ningpo led to a riot. Many lives were lost. The natives of Foochow objected to a new Church of England school, and burned it to the ground. • A difficulty has arisen between Germany and China over the treaty of 1861. The Deputy-Begistrar of Hongkong has absconded to Macao, leaving defalcations to the amount of £46,000. The rice crop in Siam promises well. Another coal mine has been discovered in Japan.s The Canton authorities have farmed out the privileges of preparing aud selling opium for three years at a rental of £140,000 per annum. A hundred and forty thousand persons aro destitute through the overflow of the Yangtsze. The Formosa aborigines aro again becoming hostile, and a general rising is expected. Beutcr’s telegram announces that General Kauffman, Governor-General of Turkistan, not only protested against the return of Kuldja to China, but threatens to resist the occupation of Yarkand by the Chinese. Cholera has visited Shanghai. It is raging in other parts.