HEWS FROM CHINA.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2857, 11 April 1878, Page 3

HEWS FROM CHINA.

Fire at Tion-Tsien—Hoo Persons 'Burned to Death.

Tlw Famine—Children Eating their Parents and Parents their Children. •

[Bt Electbic Telegbaph.]

[FBOM A COBBESPONDENT OF THE PBE6S AGENCY.]

Hongkong, February 22.

The Chinese New Year passed off with the usual accompaniment of crackers ad lib. A great number of European residents went for a three days* picnic. Business on the coast is generally very quiet. Freights ate still very low, and many vessels have been in harbour for some months awaiting charter. The French barque Fanny, Captain De Gougon, 310 tons, is chartered for £700 in full, for Melbourne and Sydney. The sentence passed on the engineers of me Jesso is considered light—one, namely the chief engineer, to four months' imprisonment ; the 3rd engineer, to three months, with hard labour. The sad catastrophe of itself, without any punishment, it is hoped will serve as a caution to shipi' engineers engaged in the passenger trade. On the 6th January a fire broke out in Tien-Tsin, among the mat sheds in one of the relief yards, where some 40C0 refugees from the famine districts were collected. This yard was enclosed by a strong fence, and as it was occupied by women sod 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 14CD persons were burned to death. Had the gales not been locked, most of the inmates of the yard would hare escaped; but they were caught like rats* in a trap. His Excellency Governor Pope Hennesy published a communication from.the Eevs. W. Muirhead and E. R. Palmer, of Shanghai, and the Bey. F. Burghignoti, of this place, praying for assistance for the starving people in Shausi, Shensi, and Honan. The horrors endured by the sufferers in these provinces are depicted as truly appalling. Children are subsisting on the corpses of their parents, and parents are 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 agriculturalists, who, however, shew 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 H enderson and Macffarlane, 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 largo, his certificate is hereby returned to him." The British schooner May, Captain Plumley, left here on the 16th inst. for Singapore. British barques Tokatea, Captain Harrison, and the Star of India, Captain Gv Hollo way, arrived here from Sydney on the 13 th and 14th inst., respectively. The latter made the passage in 66 days. His Excellency the Governor of Hongkong and. Admiral Hiliyar paid a visit on the Bth inst to the Tungawah Hospital (Chinese Hospital). The visit was in the nature of a New* Fear's call upon the community. J. Nowell, M 8,,, of H.M. despatch boat Vigilant, was requested to attend, to afford the Chinese an opportunity of presenting him with a testimonial iv recognition of the medical care he bestowed on the sufferers by the Yesso explosion. The China Merchants' Steam Navigation Company have lost two of their steamers within two months, namely, the Howsunn, Captain Lamont, which went ashore on Donald Island, near Amoy, and the. Xiang Chang, Captain Friend, on Yang-tsze Biverl The Eastern and Australian mail steamer JSTormariby, Captain Ellis, arrived here this morning from Sydney and Cooktown, after a passage of 21 days. Besides a mail and general cargo, she brought 102 Chinese passengers from, Cooktown. She is advertised to leave here for Port Darwin, Cooktown and Sydney.