520
NIIGATA-HAKODATE.
The town, which is one of the cleanest and best laid-out in Japan, has been materially improved within the last few years by the widening of the canals and streets, the latter of which are now lighted with petroleum obtained in the district. New Law Courts, Post-office, and Schools have been built, and the town is connected by telegraph with Tokio and other cities of the Empire. A Government Hospital, attended by a Europeau doctor, and a large English school under English and American masters, have been established here. A steam rice mill has been started and some fresh industries have been commenced. Niigata is still famed for the number and beauty of its women. The town covers an area of rather more than one square mile, and contains 9,816 houses. The population of the town is 38,465. The number of foreign residents in 1878 was 16, but they have since decreased to about 10.
The value of the exports for 1878 was $524,167, compared with $24,000 in 1877. No returns are given for 1879, 1880, 1881, 1882, and 1883 in the Consular reports. There were no imports in foreign bottoms. As stated above, the whole of the trade is carried on in native craft.
DIRECTORY.
ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSION.
Abbé L. Droüart de Lezey, mission. &post, Abbé Justin Balette, mission, apost.
AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN MISSION Kanazawa.
Rev. T. C. and Mrs. Winn
Rev. J. B. and Mrs. Porter
AMERICAN BOARD MISSION.
Ber. R. H. Davis Rev. O H. Gulick
Boremus Scudder, M.D. Miss Kate S. Scudder Miss J. A. Gulick
Miss P. D. Porter
Mias M. K. Hesser
Koch & Co., H., merchants
HAKODATE.
This, the most northerly of the treaty ports of Japan, is situated in the south of Yeaso on the Straits of Tsugar, which divide that island from Hondo. The port lies in latitude 41 deg. 47 min. 8 sec. N., and longitude 140 deg. 45 min. 34 sec. E., and the harbour is nearly land-locked. The surrounding country is hilly, volcanic, and striking, but the town itself formerly possessed few attractions, and consisted mainly of one long street of single-storied houses, the distinguishing feature of which was the roof, made of thin wood shingle kept on by quantities of flat stones. The greater part of the town was destroyed by a terrible fire in December, 1879. That disaster was, however, productive of great improvements, leading to the substitution of tiled for wooden rools, and to the adoption of substantial walls of brick, stone, or other fire-proof materials in the buildings, while the streets have all been widened. The foreign concession has never been built upon, the few foreign residents in the port having taken up their quarters in Japanese buildings. A row of fine temples, with loty picturesque roo 3, occupying higher ground than the rest of the town, are the most conspicuous buildings. The climate of Hakodate is healthy and bracing. The hottest month is August, but the thermometer then rarely rises above 90 degrees Fahr.; in the winter it sometimes sinks to 18 degrees. The mean temperature throughout the year is about 48 degrees.