The American mail of January th arrived on the 16th. inst.
The French mail of January 3rd arrived yesterday.
A homeward mail leaves to-morrow by the M. M. str, Meikong.
Telegraphic communication with Hongkong is still broken, but by steamer from thence and by wire vid Nagasaki, we have the following news.
"Phe Journal de St. Petersburg says that the Persian Question is unconnected with present negotiations at Berlin. The Post says that the assurances of Count Schouvaloff at London are unendorsed in the diplomatic circles of St. Petersburg. The national Zeitung of Berlin advocates Russian. annexation in Central Asian countries.
A despatch of Gortschakoff of 31st January states that the divergencies of the two Governments relate to Badakshaw Wakram, which Russia regarded as enjoying certain independence; that there is no wish to give the question exaggerated importance, and that Russia is prepared to accept the boundary line proposed by Earl Granville, relying Upon England to induce Shore Ah to maintain a peaceful attitude, and to relinquish ive measures.
Mr. Eastwick will call attention on the 25th to Asian affairs. British exports for January were £20,250,000. The Edinburgh express train has collided with another nine killed. Largo withdrawals of Gold from the Bank, partly for Japan, Sir A. Cockburn has declined a Peerage, but has accepted the Grand Cross of the Bath.
Parliament has reopened. The Message expresses satisfaction at the existing friendly relations with other Powers, refers to the Zanzibar Mission and alludes to the San Juan Award, regarding which it states it was considered that the immediate evacuation of the Island wus compatible with the dignity of the nation the Emperor of Germany for the Arbitration of the San Juan and Alabama cases, regarding which it hopes shortly to ahnounco final results. A Commercial Treaty with France has been concluded on an equal basis. Correspondence has passed between England and Russia, relating to the frontier of Afghanistan, which will be conducive to the tranquility of Central Asia, if both Governments arrive at an identity of views, The condition of the country generally is satisfactory. Several important ameasures are promised during the Session.
Messrs. Disraeli and Horsman attacked the Government on the Alabama Question. Mr. Gladstone defended it and Earl Gran-present nego Arrangements pending when Earl Clarendon was (Foreign) Minister.
The Address was agreed to.
Amadeus definitely abdicated the throne of Spain. The Chambers constituted into Sovereign Cortes, accepted the abdication, and proclaimed a Republic by 256 votes to Mr. Wingfield will call attention to the Chinese Coolie Trade on the 7th March. A project to connect Hongkong with Manila by a telegraph cable, is maturing, The Committee of thirty have rejected the (French) Government proposal respecting the Second Chamber, and the continuance of the Executive in power during an interval of dissolution. The resolution is causing uneasiness in Paris.
Spain tranquil. Republic recognised everywhere, The Queen of Spain has been delivered of a Prince.
A meeting of Shareholders in the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank was held on the 13th instant. It will be seen that the net profits for that period, inclnding $122,825 brought forward from the previous account, and after deducting remuneration to Directors &c., amount to $319,227. A dividend on the capital stock at the rate of 6 per cent for the half year will absorb §300,000, leaving 19,227 to be carried forward.
From the report of the Hongkong Fire Insurance Company for the year ended 31st December 1872, we learn that the net profits for the year amount to $169,520, which according to the Articles of Association, have to be divided as follows-$50,856 to Reserve, $33,904 return to Contributing Shareholders, and $84,760 as dividend to Shareholders. The results of the year's working show an increase of $16,000 on premia collected. The Company have $1,000,000 of their funds invested and bearing interest.
Wo are glad to welcome the re-appearance of Minutes of Municipal Council meetings. There is, naturally, not very much news in those we publish to-day, stretching over six months of time all the main incidents having leaked out, somohow or other, in the interval, But it is satisfactory to have an official record, even of proceedings of which we more or less cognisant; and especially satisfactory to welcome the return to an old practice that had most unaccountably dropped. We are glad to learn from the present minutes that powers have been at length received from the absent Bridge Shareholders, and that nothing therefore now remains but to complete the technicalities of legal transfer, After some interruption to the regularity of its weekly meetings in the Shantung Road, the Shanghai Marine Temperance Society resumed the holding of these on Saturday. The programme was made up of the usual components of addresses, readings, and songs.
'A disastrous fire broke outatthe Kiangnan Arsenal, shortly after midnight on Tuesday, by which a large building on the northern side of the yard was completely destroyed, and three English employes lost their lives. It is surmised that the fire was caused by a stove pipe igniting the wood-work of a partition, and that the unfortunate men were asphyxiated in their beds before the flames broke out. When\the fire was perceived, it' was impossible to cheek it, the building and its contents being of a highly inflammable nature. A full account of the circumstances, and a report of the inquest will be found in another page.
An alarm of fire was also given Tuesday night, on the French Settlement, between half past sand 9 p.m, The Brigade turned out with their usual promptitude, but the fire was trifling and was extinguished before they could rench it, The Engineer-in-chief to the Customs has prepared and placed at our disposal a tide table for the last six months of 1872, showing all the day and night tides—i.e. those from dawn to dusk, and those from dusk to dawn, Having so recently published all these tides, we now only give the following summary Swamary ofthe Day and Night Tides from Yet July to Deep 187:
No. of Xo. of bay, Nyt "ceDaraides of Night Tiden So.of Acoragodepth Average depth an [Bon 2 isa Ie will be observed that, while the night tides in July and in the three following months average considerably higher than the day ones, the reverse occurs in the months of November and December.
News has been received of the wreck of the British barque Sivm, late Maria Therese, on her way from Hakodadi to Shanghai-with Seaweed &e. She went ashore on the Nippon side of the Tsugar Straits, at the entrance of Awamori Bay, and is believed
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.