The Herald of Wales and Monmouthshire Recorder. — 1884-02-09 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

OUR OPIUM TRADE WITH CHINA.  A conference has been held in Manchester on the enbject of our opium trade with China. The Bishop of Mantheeter, the Bishop of Salford, Mr. John Slag& M.P., and other gentlemen who represented diverse political and religious views, took pert in the proceedings. The Bishop of Manchester, who presided, said the only question, from • statesman's point of view, was how the Indian Exch tier was to be compensated for the loss of the £7, ii,CO of revenue at present derived from the opium monopoly. It seemed to him, also, that there was a danger of the Chinese people taking the matter into their own Lands, and throwing our opium into the sea as the Massachusetts men did the tea in Boston Harbour a century and • half ago. Mr. Siege, M.P., said there was little doubt that the paseasion of the opium revenue had fostered needless extravagaace on the part of the Indian Government, and that if that revenue were withdrawn we should either have to make up the deficiency by taxation in this country or declare the finances of India bankrupt. He pointed out that the high prices for opium insisted upon by the Indian Government had stimulated the production of the drug in China and in Persia, and i.e had little doubt that we should soon be beaten out of the market. In the meanwhile there was • danger of this country being engaged not only in • war with China, but also with It -ranee in support of the opium traffic. The Bishop of Salford based his arguments upon purely moral grounds. A res-lutioa wee adopted asking the so-operation of Manchester and the surrounding district in the agitation against the trade.  The pipe which the Shah of Persia molars in public, on State occasions, called "II Ra/idin," is entirely encrusted with a " conglomerate" of diamonds, rubies, pearls, and emeralds. Its estrmated vane isover £BO,OOO sterling. The Central News learns that some torpedoes of the best manufacture have been ordered through a Liodon firm for China. Sam of these weapons, but mit of the quality now ordered, have already been shipped. The axle of • coal-wacgon which formed part of a traur on the North British Railway, broke on Saturday at Crartshore, near Croy, and five waggons were overturns'. Both Imea were blocked; but at 11 o'clock traffic was resumed on • single line. igence hasjust rached Constantinople that the French steamer Dona ran down and sank the British Prtiltsier Crescent, of Whitby, between Tenedos and the Dardanelles. Fortunately, the crew of the RC iah vessel had time to effect their escape. 1.1 an address on Saturday, Lord Ernest 11,nilten, Conservative candidate for Paisley, condemns the past policy of the Government. He says 'hat to efface the memory of many blunders the Gov+ potent are about to plunge into • number of great mom ic changer. Be will oppose the reduction of the unless accompanied by redistribution, and Ir opporres extended franchise in Ireland as an act of toad hem. Ile will strenuously oppose the disestablishnun.: movement, and will give dote attention to Dor progress of education, the amelioration of the cii.olition of the poor, and proposals for the improvement arf county government, Mr. C. C. Cotes, M.P., will be the second Liberal muilidate for Wenlock at the next election. Oificial advice. from New Caledonia report that the savages recently made a raid upon the French station at Copruh, and carried off a young_ man, FOll of one of the emp:oy6e at that_place. They murdered and ate their captive. The Governor sent • free against the cannibals, of whom several were brought back as hostages. The man Neagle, who was an important witness in the Phamix Park murder trials, and is employed at thp Lichicore Railway Works, near Dublin, states that his life is made miserable by persecution front sympathisers with the assassins of Lord Frederick Cavendieh and 'Mir. Burke. He has been seriously assaulted and stoned several tames, and prearranged sittadm have been made upon him.