JAPAN.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5559, 22 January 1879, Page 2

JAPAN.

(own correspondent to press aobnot.) Yokohama, November 30. The question of an entire change in the present form of government, and in its place the establishment of popular representation, is assuming very great importance, but there is great divergence of opinion as to what should be the nature of the elective qualification. Some of the returned students from America and Europe are in favor of pretty nearly pure manhood suffrage, but the more Conservative Japanese are advocates of a high educational and property test. The proposed reforms do not find favor with the leading members of the Mikado’s Government. Some are in favor of absolute rejection of any scheme of reform. The Mikado has just returned to Tokio, utter a prolonged tour in the provinces, where he was well received, and his Majesty may bo congratulated on the genuine loyalty displayed at his return in safety. It was hoped that on his return many important changes in the personnel of his Ministers would have been made, but as yet there has been no announcement.

The great mass o£ the people in Japan undoubtedly look to Soyeabuma to carry out any great measures of reform, and it is believed that the Mikado himself is desirous to secure the support of a man of ability so popular with the people, but his views on representative government are far too advanced to suit those of the leading members of the Government, who consider any movement in that direction at least premature, if not a political error. The epidemic of cholera which raged in parts of Japan last year has forced upon the Government the necessity of establishing quarantine or some system of preventing the introduction of disease from foreign countries. In the meantime Government have opened an institution near Yokohama, where suspected vessels will be subjected to examination, and if necessary disinfection. A severe shock ;of earthquake occurred on the 22nd instant. It seemed to be a continuous wave travelling E.S.E. to W.N.W. It lasted one minute. The shock was distinctly felt by vessels in harbor.

The Japanese Government have authorised the issue by a Japanese publisher of an edition of the Book of Genesis in Chinese, prepared for the Japanese by the American Bible Society. This is the first authorised portion of the Scriptures published n Japan. At Tokio a new association baa been formed under the patronage of some loading men. It is called the Patriotic Prohibitive Society, and its object is to arrest in this country the consumption of all foreign products, whatever be their quality and however good the market from which they may be procured. All the members have pledged their honor, in solemn manner, not to make use of these productions under any pretext, and to use their utmost influence with the authorities to prevent their introduction into the country. The right of resorting to torture to compel accused persons to confess thoir crimes, or to accelerate the evidence of refractory witnesses, is still recognised by the “ Codes,” and while Government recognise the wisdom of abolishing practices which have failed elsewhere still it seems they are under the impression that the official declaration of such resolve would be inexpedient under the conditions now ruling in Japan. The American ship Coldstream has been very seriously injured by fire while she had over twelve thousand oases of kerosene on board. Owing to prompt assistance afforded by the captains and crews of H.M.S. Juno and H.I.G.M.S. Beipaig the fire was extinguished, but not before one thousand coses of kerosene had been destroyed. Trade is very dull.

The danger of hostilities between Japan and Korea is becoming imminent. In 1876 the two nations concluded a treaty of amity and commerce, and soon after a trading station wasj established at Fusea. Duri.g the latter part of 1877 the Korean authoritm,. evading the stipulations of the treaty of 18)6, levied taxes to the amount of 20 per cent, on goods passing into tho interior from Japanese battlements, and corresponding duty on produce iold to Japanese. The settlers thus finding thfir business interrupted have made and appealed to the Japanese Government for protection, and in consequence the Hiyei Kau, an ironclad corvette, sailed for Korea a few days ago, with the secretary of the Foreign Department. The result of his mission will be watched with much anxiety.