JAPAN.

Southland Times, Issue 1187, 24 December 1869, Page 2

JAPAN.

"We take the following items from the Japan Gazette of the 29th September : — A telegraph is about to be established between Yokohama and Tedo. The apparatus has all arrived ; and, we believe, the gentleman to superintend its working. A code has been invented for sending messages in Japanese as "well as in English, and it ia so simplified that with a little application, Japanese will easily understand the signals and be able to use them for native messages. We recently saw allusion made by Prince Kung — addressing himself to literati of his native land — to the advisability of their taking a lesson from Japan in the adoption of foreign scientific inventions, and he might well do so, for certainly the Chinese are very slow in such matters as compared with the Japanese. The " City of Yedo," the largest vessel yefc built in Yokohama, was safely hauled out of the Creek this afternoon into deep water. We have already alluded to her on more than one occasion. Built by Messrs. Wilkie & Laufenberg under the superintendence of Capt. Robertson, for Messrs. Hoyt, it is the intention torun her daily between Yedo and Yokohama. She has first to be coppered and finished ; and for that purpose was towed by the P. M. S. Co's Steam tug to Yokoska directly she came out of the Creek. As all that she requires to have done to her could have been done by certainly one firm in Yokohama, if not by more, we do not like to see private enterprise supplanted by a government factory. In a few days we expect to see the " City of Yedo " return under steam, and we wish her and her spirited owners, a long and profitable career. A year ago we told how Australia had been " opened up " by the enterprize of American coach proprietors, among whom the name of the Messrs Hoyt was conspicuous. Japan is likely to benefit similarly, as these gentlemen are organising both laad and sea carriage, and all our prognostications for the success of such enterprize is already, in less than twelve months, proved to be more than verified. By the Daily Advertiser of the 24th, we learn " that Sir H irry Parkea had a narrow escape from an assassin on the night of Wednesday, the 22nd inst." Our contemporary hears the news of Sir Harry's escape " with great concern " — we can only say that we rejoice to find that His Excellency escaped unharmed. It seems to have been the old story repeated. Some drunken yakunins were on the street aa Sir Harry approached, and one of them shewed the "spirit that was in him " by drawing his sword, and making a sweep with it. Sir Harry only avoided being cut, by leaning far over on the other side of his horse, and applying the spur. One of the Legation guard chased the man, who immediately bolted into a house on the way side, but the fellow escaped, only leaving his scabbard, which fell into the hands of his pursuer. He was ultimately captured. The yakunins whn were in his company seem not to have been involved at all, as it was but an impulsive action, which had not been in any way preconceived. It show*, however, that the spirit of the Japanese is not perfectly right towards foreigner?, not withstanding all that the panegyris s of the government and its supporters assert ; but we must Bay it vould have given us greut concern to have heard that Sir Harry Parkes had been injured. In the Japanese gaol (Tobe) near Yokohama, a vast number of executions of Japanese culprits have lately taken place. Most of them have been decapitations, but four or five have been crucifixions. The latter punishment awaits murderers of father, mother, husband, or wife. So it would appear that these crimes have been frequent of late. There is talk of several men being about to expiate the crime of arson by being burnt alive. Among the criminals alluded to above, the majority, for what reason we know not, are said to have been sent down from Yedo. The reception of H. R Highness, by the Mikado, was everything that was agreeable, and worthy of the advanced notions now prevailing in Japan. After His Imperial Majesty had received H.R.H. — which he did standing, and on terms of perfect equality as representing the Queen — and when the presentations by H.E. the British Minister were at an end, the Mikado, H.R.H., accompanied by H.E. Sir Harry Parkea, X.C.8., and Admiral Sir Henry Keppel, X.C.8., adjourned to the ground outside the palace, where they sat and conversed for some time. One of the questions commonly put by Japanese in Yedo to foreigners was, " How is this ? you told us that in Europe Princes mixed with the people, except when in state — you none of you see the Prince who is now at Hama Goten .' How is this ? Probably if the questioners had seen H.B.H. in Yokohama instead of Yedo, they would not have asked the question. We were amused yesterday at seeing the Prince riding on a pony with a bare-legged betto running by his side, and on his dismounting from the saddle at the Admiral's door, up jumped the betto, and rode the pouy across the South Camp to his stable. Ye immortals ! Well may ye frown on the barbarians by whom such desecration is permitted.

A son of Neptune was going the pace od a bay horae, and distancing everything in Bourke-street, Melbourne, when, the course being obstructed by an omnibus, the old salt, not being able to avoid the obstruction, went clean into it, to the horror of the ladies and inmates. The shock sent in the side of the 'bus, and tbe sailor was knocked off the saddle and remained on the road insensible, but was revived by Dr L. L. Smith, and walked off by a policeman to Swanston-street lock-up, whilst the horse was taken (bleeding profusely from a cut which slit up both nostrils) to Mr Miscambles', the veterinary surgeon.