CHINA.

Wellington Independent, Volume I, Issue 29, 26 November 1845, Page 3

CHINA.

The Singapore papers contain extracts fro-n Hongkong papers to the end of June. The trade of Hongkong is decreasing, it being positive y asteittd that there is less traae than tatre wa- in 1843. The reason of this, is ttie arbitrary conduct of the government, or rather of the Governor, and the vex*tious regulations ot the native traders, who new shun tae port. The Peninsular and Oriental Meara Navigation Company had established an Agent at Hongkong, who had given notice thtt from the first September, a steamer would be dispatched every month to meet the overland moil. Toe Emperor of China, had assented to tbe erection of churches at ths five ports; bat had issued a very peremptory decree agtinst attempts to travri into tb,3 interior for the purpose of converting ik: Chinese.

One of the most dreadful accidents that ever occurred, took place in Canton caily in June. A theatre, in which there was a crowded audience, was reported to be on fire, when the people naturally made a rush to gst out; lhs theatre was situated at the bottom ot a small yard, to which the only access was by a narrow lane, they we're met by persons from the town endeivouring to get into the yard see the fire ; the passage by got jnmmed up, and tho-e who were in th-? yard could no: getout, and thetheatreand adjjining millings were burnt round them ; and the eom-etjuence was that twelve hundred and fifty.seven persons were kiikd,ami two thousand one hundred wounded.