NEWS FROM CHINA AND THE EAST.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 365, 4 May 1889, Page 6

NEWS FROM CHI N A AND THE EAST.

A serious disturbance occurred on board the steamer China, bound from Hongkong to Deli. The Chinese and coolie passengers, 272 in number, declined to pass Singapore, alleging that their veal destination was thai port, and the ship was compelled to put back to Singapore. An inquiry into the matter is being held by the authorities. The Nova Scotia barque Transit struck on a sunken reef on the 17th February and capsized, and sank two days afterwards. The Marine Board exonerated the master, finding that the reef was not marked on the chart. The Amy Sherwin Opora Company have been paying in Singapore during the month of March. The prospectus ot the Straits Settlements Financial Agency, Limited, has been issued. The chief agency is to bo at Singapore. The capital to be subscribed is 5,000,000 dollars, one-half to be paid-up. A fire broke out on board the Bi-itish-India s.s. Culna while lying in Singapore Harbour. The fire was extinguished after considerable damage had been done to the cargo. Considerableexcitementprevails in Singapore over a rush to J'ahang, where gold reefs and tin lodes aro being worked. One company is reported to have secured 4,000 square miles of country from the Sultan, who reserves to himself a royalty of 10 per cent, on the gross earnings of the company whether mineral or agricultural, in return for which _ they nre granted unrestricted freedom in the search for mines, to form plantations, and carry on trade.