The Corean Government has just paid the first, instalment of the indemnity for claims advanced by Japanese merchants in consequence of the suspension of the grain export. The amount paid is yen 60,000. This payment sets at rest the misgivings as to the Hermit Kingdom's ability or intention to stand to its engagement.—The Yokohama Specie Bank, which now talks of establishing a branch at Hongkong, by way of following up the success it is said to have achieved at Shanghai, pays a dividend for the past half-year atthe rate of 14 per cent, per annum, according to a vernacular journal.—News reached this to-day, vid Osaka, of a fatal explosion in the Yubari coal' mine in Hokkaido, Nineteen men were killed outright. The cause of the disaster is believed to be due to an explosion of gas.—An exceptionally heavy. thunderstorm ed over Kobe on the forenoon of the st inst. The lightning was fearfully vivid. Two houses were struck and three persons were so badly injured that they to be removed to hospital. Two have since been discharged convalescent, and the third is expected to recover shortly.
hear this evening that a little boy—son of one of the foreign residents—was also struck. Happily prompt assistance was at hand and after some half-hour's close care he was placed out of danger. It is very rare that anything of this kind happens so near home.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.