The record-union., 1897-12-05
Japan viii Put the New Tariff Into
Operation Next July.
VIII Increase the Customs Revenues About
Eight Million Dollars.
Memorial Presented to the
Chinese Throne, Which It's AS
serted Has the Sanction of the
Emperor, for the Establishment
of Gold Coinage in China.

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 4--The
steamer City of PeSing. which arrived
to-day from Yokohama and Hongkong
direct, brought the following Oriental
advices:
1t is rumored that Viscount Aoki,
japanese Minister to Germany, will be
relieved of his post in the near future,
and that Mr. Tsudzuki, ex-Vice Min
lister of Education. will succeed him.
Mr.. Funakoshi has been appointed
Third Secretary of the Japanese lega-
tion in Washington.
A serious riot occurred at Yokohama
on the night of November 14th, be-
tween about fifty inmates of the sea-
mems boarding house and a number of
workmen from the Yokohama dock
yards Sticks, stones, clubs and swords
We're freely used, and many of the
participants were injured more or less
seriously before the police We're able
to quell the disturbance.
Fire broke out at Higashi Hama Cho,
on the night of November 18th, and
about seventy houses We're destroyed
before the blaze was under control.
AT the request of the Imperial Uni
versity, the japanese Foreign Office has
instructed Minister Kato in London to
engage a professor on the science of
shipbuilding in England.
Fire destroyed over 800 dwellings at
Omachi, Awomori, on the afternoon of
November 18th.
i On November 10Th an attempt was
made to blow up the railway station
at Ryugashfn1a, on the Hakuyetsu line,
with dynamite The station buildings,
iron bridge and other property We're
completely wrecked, and a locomotive
was blown into three parts. Fortunate
ly, no one was injured. Ten arrests
have been made upon suspicion.
The japanese Government has decid
ed to put the new tariff into operation
from July 1, 1898, as treaty revisions
have been accomplished, with the ex-
ception of Austro- Hungary, which is
expected to be completed in the near
future. BY the operation of the tariff.
the increase of the customs revenues is
estimated at about $S000,000.
The recent Ministerial crisis in japan
resulted in Count Okuma being re-
lieved of his post of Minister for For
eign Affairs, and the appointment of
Baron Nishi Tokujiro, a member of the
Privy Council, and formerly Minister to
Russia Marquis Hachisual, Minister
Of Education, was appointed a member
of the Privy Council, and Hamao Ara
ia, President of the Imperial Universi-
ty, received the portfolio of the De-
partment of Education, while Baron
Yamada Nobumichi, Governor of Kyo-
to, was appointed Minister Of the Ag-
ricultural and Commercial Depart
ment. rendered vacant by the resigna-
ton of Count Okurna.
The Japanese Government has de-
cFded to construct forts on Hakodate-
Yamma. very important strategic po-
sition guarding the Straits of Tsuga
ru. and on area of land has been al
lotted for that purpose Work will be
commenced in the spring.
1t is reported in the Chinese native
press that Yang, Secretary of the Sung
Ii Yamen, has presented striking me-
mortal TO the throne in connection with
the advisability of establishing a gold
coinage in China. The memorial has
been submitted to the Yamen for exam
ination, and passed in turn to the Board
of Revenue, who laid it before the
throne It is asserted in all seriousness
that the Emperor has given his sane
ton to the proposition, but the "China
Gazette" commenting upon the sub
iect says that seeing how little gold
there is in China, the prospects of it's
being carried out are very slight.