EASTERN NEWS BY THE TORRES STRAITS MAIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5494, 26 June 1879, Page 5

EASTERN NEWS BY THE TORRES STRAITS MAIL.

Hongkong, May 13. A piratical attack has been made on the village of Mongkow, opposite to Hongkong, and about five milee distant.' The head-man of the village was wounded severely, and the houses were ransacked. The robbers numbered 18. An extraordinary phenomenon was witnessed on April 26, in the shape of a eliower of fine red dust, which suddenly fell on the deck of the steamer Ohurd, when she was about 250 miles off the Japanese coast. The prospects of the new tea crop in the Wonehow district appear to be good. It is expected to rival the Fooehow crop, Three of the mutineers of the Kate Waters have been tried, and sentenced to death. Twelve steamers will load tea at Hankow immediately. The fastest, the Glencoe, is expected to reach London in 3G days. Six will load at Foochow, and three at Yokohama. A Chinese junk was seized for smuggling, and the crew re-took the vessel and murdered the officer in charge and five sailors. The tragedy occurred near Hongkong. Great festivities took place at Hongkong on the occasion of General Grant's visit, both officially and privately. A great lawsuit is attracting public attention in Shanghai, between the Rev. John Wolfe, representing the Episcopalian Church Missionary Society, and the trustees of the Buddhists' Temple, at Foochow. The dispute is about the ownership of the ground on which the English Mission premises are built. A quantity of cargo, which was at Hongkong awaiting shipment to Australia by the JNormauby, wae shut out. Robberies and murdere are extraordinarily plentiful at Hongkong, Canton, and Shanghai. Seven pirates have been captured at Canton, and sentenced to death. The American Mission-house at Shen Kok, near Canton, has been attacked by a mob, and totally destroyed. Other mission premises in the same district have also been destroyed. The missionaries escaped. The steamer Killarney, Captain O'Neill, run dovrn a Chinese junk off Hongkong. Four persons were drowned. An official inquiry exonerated the officers of the Killarney.