CHINA.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3442, 6 January 1880, Page 2

CHINA.

Hongkong, November 2. Opening up Another Field for the Heathen Chinee, On the 20th ult. 425 coolie servants were shipped for Honolulu, Hawaii, and a Chinese agent has been sent then to * endeavor to open a trade with the Hawaiian Government. The famine still prevails in Annam, and the poorer people are suffering so severely that they are selling their children whenever they can find purchasers. When they are unable to sell them they in many cases abandon them. Considerable numbers of children have lately been brought to this colony by r vessels from the famine districts. A meeting of native-born British was held to discuss the question of what dis* tinguishing badge should be worn by them. Some proposed that a bangle, with an inscription, should be worn; others, that the buttons oh the dress coat usually worn by Chinese should be of different description to those now in use. But the meeting broke up without coming to any decision. A good deal of excitement has been caused here amongst the natives, through prohibiting the kidnapping, or sale or purchase of children, and declaring that slavery of any kind, in the most explicit terms, is illegal in Hongkong, and mast be put down. • Canton, October 21. v An order has been issued to close all gambling dens of whaterer kind, and any ahops or houses found to be used for gambling are to be confiscated to the Government, The Bight Rev; Bishop Russell died at Ningpo, where he had resided over thirty• three years. > It is reported at Shanghai that the obnoxious opium duties will be abolished. ' and other duties imposed in lieu thereof. A telephone company has been started at Shanghai. It proposes to supply com* munieations with private residences and the principal public offices* News from Pekin states that Tonquin will shortly be annexed by France, and the consequences are considered very momentous to China,