CHINA AND JAPAN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 5268, 7 January 1879, Page 3

CHINA AND JAPAN.

[By Telegraph.]

Wellington, January 6th. The Press Agency correspondent sends the following news:—

Shaughm, November 28fch. The Customs returns for this port for laat quarter compare favourably with the corresponding quarter of 1877, showing a Blight increase in the amount of duty collected. The Marquis Tseng, the newly-appointed Chinese Minister to France and England, left Shanghai for Europe two days ago, taking with him his wife and family. Since his short stay in Shanghai he has made himself very popular, and he seems desirous to cultivate the good , wishes of foreigners. The result of his mission is being looked forward to with much interest, as it is thought the Marquis is just the man to help Ohina in the onward movement believed to be commencing. Great interest is taken by the Chinese in the Afghan affair, and a telegram which reached here yesterday states that Sir Thomas Wade, instead of coming direct to China, will proceed to Lahore to confer with the Viceroy as to the attitude of Russia and Ohina with regard to the possession of Kashgar. This telegram is exciting a lively interest amongst the _ Chinese, and it is believed in very high official circles that an alliance may be come to between China and England to oppose the advance of Eusaia in Central Asia. If Russia should openly support Shere AH, and England be in need of outside help, China might prove no insignificant auxiliary. The British schooner Barbara Taylor, and an Italian vessel, have been lost on the coast of Corea. Ik is believed no lives were lost, and it appears the shipwrecked crew were kindly treated by the natives. The result of the boring operations near Tientsin are very satisfactory. A depth of 216 feet has been-reached, and three seams of coal have been struck—one, two, and four feet thick respectively, and there are indications of a deeper seam. The quality is said to be fully equal to the best Welsh imported. A staff of engineers and miners hag been sent for from Europe and America, and mining operations will be actively prosecuted. The working of these coal mines will have a serious effect on the importation ot foreign coal, besides, probably, leading to the establishment of cotton mills, and similar industries, in China. • Indeed, a large building is now being erected near Shanghai for a cotton mill. Native£rown cotton is of a very superior kind, and i «heap, and it is thought may be worked up into materials suitable for the Chinese, and soldat a lower price than imported goods of a similar class.

A serious affray occurred on board the American ship Goldhunter last week. The police went aboard to arrest some of the crew ; the arrest was resisted, and the captain armed himself and his officers, and attacked the police. A brisk fire on both sides was kept up. The crew were ultimately driven into the forecastle. Owing probably to the darkness of tbe night when the affray took place, do lives were lost, but several were wounded. Next day the U.S. Consul-General sentenced four of the crew to eighteen months' imprisonment, with hard labour.

A prospectus has been issued of a series of Bohool and text books for the Chinese. The scheme is very comprehensive, and will be carried out chiefly by foreign missionaries in China. It has influential support. Very serious floods are reported in the province of Shantung, caused by the Yellow River bursting its banks. Whole villages have been ewept away, and the sufferings of the people nro tearful.

Yokohama, November 11th,

Tha Mikado has just returned from an extended tour throughout the provinces of his Empire. He was detained several times, and compelled to make circuits, in consequence of heavy floods and cholera having broken out on his line of route.

The rumours of imminent political changes, for some time current, are daily becoming more cleat and defined; and in consequence of the widespread insubordination in the regular army, a new Minister of War is to be appointed. Mr Eennie, of the' Shanghai Bar, has accepted the judgeship of the Japan Court. The financial outlook of the Empire is still considered anything but hopeful.

The attention of Government is being devoted to the necessity for adopting precautionary measures against the importation of epidemic disease. A committee of physicians has been appointed to draw up quarantine regulations. The editor of a native paper has been sentenced to one year's imprisonment because he gave publicity to a rumour in the oapital that four of the Ministers had resigned, or were about to do so, though he added that he believed the rumour to be unfounded.

The cholera which prevails at Nagasaki is not of the malignant Asiatic type, and does not cause any serious alarm, bat at other places the cholera appears to be more fatal in character, there being a good many deaths. A Japanese steam vessel, the Tokushima Maru, built to run between Osaka and Aiva, left the former place on the 28th October, and the same day was blown to pieces by an explosion of powder which was on board. Eightythree passengers and the crew of 12 were lost. The explosion occurred off Tsunda, within eight of land. Those who witnessed it say that in a few moments there was no vestige or anything to be seen on the surface of the water. The Japanese Government have just caused a survey of the coast of Corea.

Criminals condemned to imprisonment are not now allowed to read newspapora, though formerly allowed to do so. It has been ascertained that the total number of rebels who joined Sargo's flag last year was 15,885. Of these, 117 were leaders of divisions.

The Japanese Government are taking groat trouble to prevent opium-smoking, the punishment for which, by the code, is now death. The absorbing topio of last week is the depreciation in paper currency, nominal quotation being 13J per cent, discount, and the fluctuation in price of the Mexican dollar, whioh has falltn to 3s 7d, the lowest ever realised.