At an ently hour on the morning of the 4th inst. a tire was discovered on bourd the Kiangtung, while moved at Ichang. The flames were, however soon put out by the bvat's crew. The cause of the fire is attributed to a passenger knocking the ashes from his water-pipe into " basket contain ing some inflammable cargo.
OPIUM AND PIECE GOODS, Owing to the river having frozen rather earlier than in former years, the supply of opium and foreign piece-goods was found to be insu'ticient t satisfy the demands of the northerners. Those who indulge in opium had consequently to have recourse to the native grown drug. The short supply foreign piece-gonds was felt more acutely by the people, who could not so easily remedy the evil by the substitution of another article, as the home-spun cloth had been almost run out of the market. But those who had stocks of the native goods realised large profits.
OFFICIAL MOVEMENTS, The Admiral of the Yangtze is to start out on his tour of inspection on Friday, He will review the forces. at Kwachou.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.