A return Rifle match between six Hioco residents and six from H. M.S. Syleia was shot off on the Ist instant, five shots each at'150, 200, and 300 yards. The resalt was a tie, each side scoring 245. In shooting off st 300 yards, the Sylvia scored 16 against the local team's 6. A handicap was to be shot on the 9th, at the same distances; for which there were thirty entries. Anew iron steamer, the Berlin, has been launched from the Vulcan Iron Works.
She was made in Hamburgh and sent out in pieces. Anew Fire Engine has been received from San Francisco. The last new reform is the prohibition of indiscriminate bathing. The system of a double standard, which Government adopted in introducing its new coinage, is causing inconvenience. The Hiogo News quotes the following instance—' Fora long time the silver one-yen pieces commanded a premium. They have since fallen to a discount; and the Government, in issuing its notification the other day announcing its intention to sell rice at the Open Ports, mentions that it will take gold yen at par, but silver yen only at the current rate of. What does the Government mean by this?' If silver yen should rise toa premium as against gold yen, will it issue further regulations that will be paid only in silver yen, and are weta be liable to this weekly, daily, or even half-a-dozen times day 1"
The Yxpp0 Government has issued a notification to the effect that the rice-held inshore by the Finance Department will be sold to foreigners or natives for export, if there is asurplusin the country. The sales will be by public tender, to be approved by the government, who will give notice of the quantity to' be sold and the time of sale. A first sale of 12,500 piculs took place on the 2nd March, when 10,000 piculs were disposed of at $1.96 and 2,500 at $1.97}. The Government finds some difficulty in settling the claims by foreigners against the Daimios, which in taking over the possessions of these princes it undertook to do; the nature and magnitude of some of the claims and the rate of interest being objected to. The Yedo Hotel has been converted into barracks for Japanese marines, but a new one is to be built on the Foreign Concession.
The return football match, between the Services and the Settlement, was played at Yoxouams on the 20th ultimo, and resulted in favour of the former. A foot-race for a cup value $25 has been won by Mr. Smythe, R. M. The Spring meeting of the Yokohama Race Club takes place on the 8th, 9th, and 10th May. Mr. Rice, U.S. Consul at Hakodate, has resigned, and Mr. R. BL. Hawes has been appointed to the post. The Mail learns that the Barrosa will receive orders to proceed at once to the Fiji and neighbouring islands, in consequence of the murders which have been recently perpetrated there, and to enquire into the "emigration," or slave trade carried on between the islands and Australia.
A Naval Court: held in Honaxona, to: enquire: into the loss of the steamer Chukiang, finds that "during a dense fog thie vessel was kept at full speed, and when unexpected and uncertain laid was seen, soundings were not taken and no effort.was made to find out the true Position." For this absence of precaution, it suspends the master's certificate for six months, and reprimands the mate. A report of the enquiry and the judgment will be found elsewhere. The Advertiser mentions. a report that Mr. Glover is to: be- appointed. Commissioner of Customs at Foochow, and that Mr. Bowra is to be confirmed at Canton. A meeting to discuss means for establishing " Roman Catholic School in the colony was held at St. Saviour's Col-Togo on the Srd. It was resolved to send_ home for qualified'tutors. The Spanish steamer Luzon, after repairing at Singapore, is said to have again put into Le-Duan, and to have been condemned there.
H. M.S. Iron Duke is to go into dock for general repairs, at Aberdeen. Mr. Lowoock of Messrs. Gibb, Livingston & Ca., and Mr. Greig,}the Manager of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, have been appointed members of the Legislative Council. A cricket match Hongkong ©. Club H. 'M.'s Navy has resulted in favour of the former. The crew of the 14-oar barge of the U. 8. 8. Colorado have offered to pull a match for one mile with stour-cared Canton cutter, and competitors have been invited by the Secretary of the Hongkong Rowing Club. Athletic Sports were to come off on the 9th, and a yacht race on the 14th. Mr, Saint has retired from the Editorship of the China Mail, and is succeeded by Mr. Denys. The British schooner' May Queen is reported totally lost on the Brill Rocks, on her way, from Bangkok to Hongkong. The Dutch ne Sperwer, on her' way from Hongkong to Bangkok, struck shoal South of Cape St. James, and was so injured that she sank two days afterwards. The British schooner Louisa has been sold in Hongkong: for $6,075. The barque Glimt has been successfully raised, but there was no steamer in attendance to take charge of her, and after floating four miles, she again sank, No difficulty, however, is expected in re-
The Macao Official Boletim publishes an advertisement under the signature of the Colonial Secretary, inviting all the contributers to the Asylum, as well as all the Emigration Agents to appear before the Governor on the 29th instant. The object of the invitation is not yet made known, but it is presumed that Governor Souza intends to make an appeal in favour of the poor of Macao. The mortality among the latter continues alarmingly largo. Great scarcity of coolies continues to jprevail in the Macao emigration market. In consequence of an active demand on the part of the agents, prices have gone up considerably, last quotations being $88 per head for able-bodied men, and a proportionate reduction for middle aged men. The Portuguese ship Emigrante, with 500 coolies, is the only "departure since the. last fortnight. The French barques Antares and Bengali are loading slowly.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.