CHINA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 365, 8 February 1879, Page 22

CHINA.

(OWN CORRESPONDENT OP THE PRE3S AGENCT.)

Canton, November 30.

Robberies continue to be prevalent. On the night of the 21st a moneychanger's shop in Western Suburb was broken into, and about 600 dollars carried offNo resistance was made by the terrified inmates, and the burglars got clear off. Pirates on the river flourish as much as burglars on land. On the night of the 29th ult. a passenger boat on its way from Cheung-chow to Canton was boarded by pirates, who took everything of value, including even the clothes of the passengers. The matter ha 3 been reported to the authorities, and there no doubt will end. Some notorious robbers and kidnappers have been lately captured by the soldiers, who seem, for some reason or other more energetically on the alert than is their wont. A thief was the other day caught on board one of the steamers in the act of stealing luggage belonging to one of the passengers, ancf received lynching on the spot, being most unmercifully pounded by a number of men before he was released.

A great disturbance took place in a mat theatre in Western Suburb a few days back. A theatrical performance, held to celebrate the birthday of a certain deity, came to what the spectators considered a premature conclusion, and as expressive of their opinion, on the subject they threw stones on to the stage. The actors became incensed, aud recriminations, then blows, followed. One of the spectators received a bad wound, and the row only ended on the mediation of a committee, by whose aid the dispute was settled, the actors agreeing to repeat the performance the following morning. . 4. notice has been issued for the information of the public, stating that two or three score of. boys and girls have been recovered from a. notorious kidnapper, who had stolen and taken them to his house. The man was arrested a few days ago, and the present notice calls upon persons who have lost children to go and see i£ they can recognise them among those recovered. A petition has been presented to the Lieut. - Governor, praying him to have more relief granaries established as a precaution againßt future distress from scarcity. The petition has been complied with. On the night of the 24th instant a band of about thirty robbers attacked a clothing shop at Honau. On the alarmbeing given the neighbors turned out to the assistance of the shop people, and the robbers were beaten off, but not before they had killed two of the neighbors. Disturbances have broken out in Hainan: between the Hakkas and the Mandarins. The dispute is supposed to have arisen about some land which the Hakkas require in consequence of the increase of their numbers. As their claims have been refused, they have risen in the western part of the island, and have committed y it is said, dreadful atrocities on men, women, and children. Their numbers are said to amount to several thousands, and Chinese

rumor has it that they are marching steadily eastward, and intend to attack Kinug-Chow, the chief city of the island, distant only a fewmiles from Hoihow.

The Hakkas in Hainan came from some port of Kirangtung some twelve years ago in consequence of constant feuds between them and the natives. They either migrated of their own accord or were offered land in the island by the mandarins. They have now increased to such an extent that the land allotted to them has become insufficient for their maintenance, and they require more. Hence the rising. It appears that Li-Young-Choi was lately Acting Brigadier-General in Sin-chow-fa, the capital of Kwang-si, a large and populous city, and he was an expectant Major-General. On the expiration, a short time back, of his term of office as Acting Brigadier-General, Li-Young-Choi vacated the post, and at the same time applied for further official employment, expecting no doubt to be made Major-General. His application for some reason or other seems not to have been entertained, and exasperated at what he considered a slight, he has turned rebel. Possessed of a very large property, he lost little time in realising its value in money in order to carry out his schemes. Last month, under the pretence that he had received instructions to collect soldiers and take the offensive against Annam, he succeeded in raising several thousand troops, which force increased daily. A number of robbers joined, and these unruly followers have plundered several towns they have passed. This element of his army is likely to prove his weak point ultimately, as their depreciations will set all those possessed of property against him; meanwhile the insurgents are spreading consternation throughout Kwang-si. Li is now reported by the Cantonese to be at the head of about 100,000 men. He is at present on the frontiers of Tonquin, where it is expected he will be reinforced by the border outlaws, who number several thousands and are daring desperadoes, whose trade is rapine and pillage. He has his family with him.

A Chinese merchant in this port received a letter from a representative of his firm in Tonquin desiring him to cease sending goods thither, as General Li-Young-Choi and his troops are on the frontier, and it is reported that he intends to proceed to the capital. At present no stranger is allowed to enter Tonquin for fear of spies being admitted. The latest reports are that the rebel general has taken five important towns in Yunan; the names of the places have nottranspired. The Viceroy of Canton has been applied to for troops, but before complying with the request his Excellency it appears has despatched an envoy to report upon the necessity of such assistance, a course indicative of his Excellency's scepticism or catition. In the meantime, however, and pending the result of mission of inquiry, the gunboats Anlam, Capt. Godsil, and Ching Po, Capt. De Longueville, are held in readiness to proceed on the shortest notice. His Excellency Governor Hennessy has on the representations of the Viceroy of the Two Kwang, issued a proclamation prohibiting the export from, Hongkong of arms or ammunition for the period of six months. Hongkong, December 7.

Wo change is noticeable in the freight market from the dull state which has been ruling so long. In fact, considering that the number of disengaged vessels (71) in port is unusually large, while the demand for tonnage appears to have subsided altogether for a time, the prospects for sailing ships are even worse than before. The British barque Hotspur, Captain Shaw, has been chartered to load for Sydney, for which she receives £7OO in full.— There is every prospect of a heavy sugar crop in South Formosa. A sugar refinery is about to be started at Osaka, Japan, by a company, •with a capital of 300,000d01s. —The Japanese authorities are about to establish a porcelain manufactory in the prison of Hiogo Ken, as an experiment, in order to try and make convict labor remunerative. —The Chinese Government have ordered all Russian subjects to leave Kashgar. The Ex-Ameer of Kashgaria has joined the Russian army.—The 74th Highlanders are ordered from Hongkong to Singapore. The 27th Regiment is ordered to relieve the 28th, now at Singapore, and will probably come on to Hongkong. —Further subscriptions have been received for the China Famine Relief Fund, including 311,562 taels from Melbourne, with some smaller sums, bringing the total amount to 19,100,547 taels, of which a balance of 396,023 taels remains in the hands of the treasurer. The following private telegram from New York has been received here:—"Green tea consumption is failing off ; our annual consumption is 10,000,000 lbs. In view of the large surplus this year timely warning may prevent a repetition of the. serious losses of the past and present seasons."—We understand (says the Daily Press) an ordinance will shortly be sent out from Home for adoption by the Legislative Council, providing that European prisoners sentenced to penal servitude may be sent Home to undergo their.sentences in one of the penal establishments iri England, Dartmoor would probably be the gaol chosen. An Act of Parliament # is being prepared to enable Crown colonists to adopt this course of dealing with their European criminals.—The results of boring operations near Tientsin are reported to be very satisfactory; a depth of 216 feet having been reached, and three seams of coal struck—one, two, and four feet thick. The coal is said to be equal to Welsh.—lt is stated that the Japanese Government replied to the representations of the Chinese minister at Tokio, relative to the ri»ht of sovereignty exercised by Japan over Loochoo Islands, by a decided repulse of the proposals.—Shansi appears to be in trouble; Tseng Kivok-ch'Uan, Goverßor of the province, and uncle to Marquis Tseng, writes to YadPaoyu, Shanghai agent for Shansi famine fund, stating that there has been an incessant rain for several weeks at Chung-Yang, accompanied by a fall of snow heavier than any for many years past. The crops have all been destroyed, and the people reduced to the same state Of misery they

were in last year, which they have to face weighted with the burden of constitutions weakened by previons suffering. The projected inprovements in Formosa are at a complete standstill. —The Woosung railway plant continues to generate rust. Sickness has prostrated the miners at Keelung, and the petroleum borings are suspended owing to the boring rod having snapped low down, and most of the members the exploring parties being laid up with fever. The despatch of General Le Yung-Choi to the Tartar General of Kwang-Tung, in which he claims to be hereditary ruler of Annam, has been translated. It is reported the rebel leader has withdrawn his forces from the frontiers of Tonguin for fear of becoming involved with the French.—Fredk. Huffam, late Deputy-Registrar of the Supreme Court, has been convicted of converting to his own use 46,849 dollars received by him as official assignee in the bankrupt estate of Lyall, Still, and Co., and thirty other bankrupt estates. He was sentenced to seven years penal servitude.—A frightful steamship disaster _ occurred in Japanese waters on the 28th ultimo. The Japanese steamer Tokushimamax-u left Osaka for Awa with about eighty passengers, and when off Tsuda an explosion took place, by which the vessel was instantly destroyed, and all the passengers and crew but about three were lost. It is believed that the bursting of the boiler was the cause of the calamity.— The prevalence of dysentery, and the resulting mortality as well, among the Chinese at Tientsin is something dreadful. There has been a change for the better in the weather during the last few days, which I trust may soon show its beneficial eflects on the eeneral health of the place. It has been really the most trying season, summer and fall, so far, that I have ever known, i.e., in fifteen and a half years' residence here. From Shantung border, a part of the famine field where relief was given last winter, I have letters saying that the mortality is quite as great as during the worst times last spring.— Typhus has been doing a sad work of desolation, and now, with the change of the season, dysentery is much to be feared. To add to the misery of many of the poor the canal has burst its banks, and a large tract of country is inundated. This seems to have been the effect of a ' very sudden rise of some 15 feet in its waters. lam happy to be able to say that the water is now falling, and it is to be hoped that the breach in the bank may soon be stopped. Canton, November 19.

At about three this morning a fire broke out in Wing Yneng-street, at the rear of Messrs. Russell and Co.'s compound. The conflagration quickly spread to the neighboring streets, and was not extinguished till 11.30 a.m., but broke out again in the evening, and lasted till midnight. Over 300 houses and shops were destroyed. ______„_.