Tue "Hongkong Daily Press" says The steamship Sado Maru, of the Japan Mail Steamship Company, which arrived at the Royal Albert Docks on the 12th ult., arrived two days ahead of her scheduled time, Her voyage from Marseilles had been watched with some anxiety by the Company in view of the number of Russian war-ships which are known to be in the Mediterranean and in the Straits. A Press representative, in conversation with one of the officers yesterday, ascertained that a declaration of war between Japan and Russia had been expected daily throughout the vessel's voyage, and great was the relief of the crew on arrival at each successive port to ascertain that hostilities had not been commenced. The first occurrence, however, arouse the apprehension of the officers was the presence of a Russian volunteer cruiser, heavily armetl, at Hongkong on the arrival of the Sado Maru there. The Russian ship was still in port when the steamer left Hongkong, but on reaching Singapore there again was the same cruisar riding at anchor, having passed the Sado Maru on the voyage. The Russian vessel followed the Japanese steamer to Colombo, and it was only after leaving that port that the captain got rid of his unwelcome companion. In the Mediterranean the officers kept a sharp look-out, but Marseilles was reached without interference, although several Russian torpedo-boats were sighted in the neighbourhood of Malta. The steamer left the French port for London as the Sado Maru. The same night a remarkable change was effected in her appearance. Her Japanese name was obliterated, the black funnel of the Nippon Yusen Kaisha boats became red, while other altrations were made in the vessel's app ance, and, to complete the change, the vessel was rechristened the Bonin. Then to get quickly out of the Mediterranean, the captain steamed on rapidly. Fortunately for the Sado Maru rough weather was experienced during the latter part of the voyage, and no torpedo-boats could have lived in the heavy seas. Once in the shelter of the English Channel, the Sado Maru was safe from molestation, and steps were then taken to restore the ship to its original appearance.
Tue " Hongkong Telegraph" says It will be remembered that on November Gth the cruiser Amphitrite struck a! coral reef 30 miles off Singapore and had tocome to Hongkong for repairs. We reported the accident at the time, and it will be of interest to learn what some of those aboard have written home about their experience. One of them wrote from Hongkong that the cruiser was going at 13 knots when she "went crash into an unknown and uncharted coral reef, which made this gigantic four-funneller jump into the air and shake and tremble like a terrified dog. Thanks to double bottoms, he survived, however, and ma wae here' are bunlreda of Chinamen to got back in Hongkong. An
knocking the bottom out. It is bent up like a tin can, and will take till about 15th January to put right, so you can guess that we had a decent bump. These coral reefs are generally found by the loss of a ship. Everybody aboard and elsewhere thinks we are extremely lucky to get off soughtly, andso dol. If we had been another 16 yards to starboard we should have struck in three fathoms of water—
18 fect—and we wore drawing 27 fect then there would have been no more Amphitrite and no more of us, as the place is infested with Johnny' Sharks, who find white men more palatable than niggers."
Tue following telegram, dated Chumbi, 25th January, is from the Delhi "Morning Post"
According to bazaar gossip the Tibetans have been reinforced by 905 men, and three cannons, which are described as capable of carrying the distance of a day's march, viz., some eighteen miles. After annihilating the British Mission at Tuna, the Tibetans will take up a position on the hills four miles west of Phari and open a fort. A rumour like the above is reported in Phari fort every evening with pantomimic gestures, which cause great amusement. Tt seems that the lesson given by the British in 1888 is forgotten, and that the Tibetans believe the impossible. The ignorance and credulity of the people make it likely there will before long be some futile outburst of opposition, which will be followed in all probability by precipitate flight. A more credible rumour reports that the rifle taken from Lieutenant Grant at Phari is now with the Tibetans at Khambugong, who expect to do great execution with it, but up to the present they have been unable to take off the bayonet or open it.
Lxp1aN papers from Allahabad, to the 22nd January, and Bombay, to the 23rd January, as well as the Ceylon Observer of 28th January, have come.—The "Pioneer Mail" states that the reported appearance of a large number of armed Tibetans near Colonel Youngifusband's camp was ox-aggerated. So far, Colonel Younghusband had expressed no apprehension of an tack. Negotiations. are going on with Lamas of position and influence. The ple in the neighbourhood of Tuna are frie ily, and furnishing suplpies.—Lord Kitchenor's tour was to take in the Madras Presidency in Febraary.—Tho question of "Industrial Schools," the most modern educational problem, is receiving the attention of the Indian Government. In England, Industrial Schools" understood to be reformatories for erring youth, but here the title indica institutions for technical training. It was discovered that in India, the impression produced by them, either upon industrial development or upon industrial education, had been relatively small. A Committee was appointed to investigate the conditions, and the Report of that Committee had just (15th January) been published. Its central recommendation practically in favour of a total change in the system; that industrial instruction in India should be organised upon the mode of the Casanova boys' artisan school at Naples, which aims at giving training alike mental, moral, and manual, in order to produce good citizens, hone: men, and skilful artisans—The "Bombay Gazette" that exports of Indian cotton to Yunnanfu are falling off because a satisfactory cloth is now being manufactured locally—The same paper reports, on 2ist January, that the Lamas have declared they will' appeal to Russia if the British advance continues, and that fighting is expected—The Bom: bay Chamber of Commerce received a letter from the Decimal Association of London, announcing the probability of a Bill for the adoption of the metric weights and measures being shortly read in the Lords. In the lotter was this significant remark: "The principal point to bear in mind is the fact that the people here are very ready just now to listen favourably to the recommendations of our
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.