THE ENGLISH MAIL.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 354, 27 February 1871, Page 2

THE ENGLISH MAIL.

+ ARRIVAL OP VIA TAXTKANGA AND THE THAME?. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.! —* t [GKEVILLE a TELEGKAAI COMPANY, UEUTER's AGENTS.] THE WAE. THE BOMBARDMENT OF PARIS STILL GOING ON. VIGOROUS SORTIES FROM PARIS —NO IDEA OF CAPITULATION". SORTIE FROM FORT VALERIAN. ON THE 14th JANUAKY TROCHU ISSUED A PROCLAMATION STATING THAT PARIS WOULD NEVE R CAPITULATE. MORE TOWNS BURNT BY THE PiiUSSIANS. THE FRENCH PEASANTRY REPORTED STARVING. SIX ENGLISH VES3KLS PLUNDERED AND SCUTTLED BY THE PRUSSIANS. PROPOSED SCHEME FOR FORTIFYING LONDON. FIGHT NEAR AMIENS. RESIGNATION OF MR. CHILDERS SIR WM. DENISON X.C.8., DEAD. SERIOUS RAILWAY ACCIDENT. MAJOR HAMLEY DEPUTY-COMP-TROLLER OF DUBLIN. DON CARLOS ISSUES A PROTEST TO THE SPANISH PEOPLE. Hokitika, February 23. The s.s. Rangitoto arrived in the roadstead at 7.30 a.m., and she brings the Suez mail. 70 tons of cargo and 20 passengers for Hokitika and Groymouth. By Pigeon express.—The branch mail steamer <Rangatira, with the English mail, was sighted off Glenelg on the lGth, at twenty minutes past six, and the news was telegraphed from Adelaide in the course of the evening. — The Geelong steamer with the Melbourno mails arrived in Hobson's Bay on the 17th. London, December 30.—The French army commanded by Faidherbe was attacked on the 23rd of December by General ManteufTell to the north-east of Amiens. Both sides claim the victory, night putting an end to the struggle. The trial of the directors of the Monarch Marine Insurance Company has terminated in a verdict of not guilty. It is stated that the Queen intends to open the Parliament in person. The Fenian convicts have been released conditionally upon leaving the kingdom. The foundation stone of a new general post-office has been laid by the Hon. M. Aystown. A scheme for the fortification of London is said to be under consideration. Lord Lawrence has been elected Pre" sident of the London School Board. A serious railway accident occurred on the 6th December, between Sunderland and Newcastle, in which Fred. Young, the actor, was killed. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Brisbane made a speech at the meeting held at St. James' Hall on the 9th December, expressive of his sympathy with the Pope. The postal rates of letters between England and Australia is reduced to 9d. per half ounce.

J. O. Hamley, from New Zealand, has been appointed Deputy-Comptroller of Dublin. General Robert C. Schenck has accepted the post of American Minister to London. A new Cabinet has been formed in Gi'eece. King Amodeus has embarked for Spain. A protest has been issued by Don Carlos addressed to the Spanish people. At the half-yearly meeting of the London Chartered Bank of Australia, held on December 9, a dividend of 4 per cent, for the half-year was declared. On the 30th Dec. the Prussians seized six English vessels at Duclar-on-the-Sea, which they scuttled and sank to impede the navigation. The Prussians fired upon the crews and robbed the vessels, because they had landed coals without Prussian permit. It was stated that they were taken in ballast. H. M. s. ' Psyche,'which was sent out to watch the solar eclipse, struck on a sunken rock near Catania, and was lost, but the crew were all saved. The French camp of Bondy has been broken up, and the batteries there silenced. It is stated that the capture of Avron has caused great discouragement in Paris. It is also reported that the sufferings of the population in Paris are excessive, but before the bombardment of the forts little damage has been done which cannot easily be repaired. The official journals of Paris declared that the Government reject all idea of capitulation. The bombardment of the whole of the Paris forts continues lively on all sides. Forts Noisy, Nogent, Vanvres, Issy, Mont Rouge and Ivry are silenced. Paris was on fire in several places on the night of the 10th, and very severe weather has set in for the last week. All the ponds in the parks in the neighbourhood of London are frozen over. A serious accident occurred in which a son of Mr. Walton, of the Times newspaper was drowned. It is reported that 10,000 incendiary shells were fired into the city on the 15th. It is stated that a protestation, signed by all the members of the Government, was issued against the bombardment without notice to allow the women and children to leave the city. On the 18fch December a deputation from the Reichratz presented an address to King William, offering him the Imperial crown of Germany. The King replied that it was only obedience to the unanimous wish of the German nation, through its representatives that he could recognise his call, -which he regarded as dictated by Providence. On the 4th January, the Germans officially announced that tho country people around Orleans and Artcnaise were staiwing, and were being fed by the German Coramissariet. On the 20th, an attempt was made to assasinate General Prim at Madrid, while proceeding in a carriage from the Cortes. The Minister of War was also in the carriage which was fired into. The Marshall and Adjutant were both wounded, but not dangerously. General Prim was wounded by eight bullets in the shoulder, and a finger of his right hand has been amputated. Befort is being vigorously besieged by the German army. The defenders are acting on the defensive till the end of the siege of Paris. Gambetta left Bordeaux for General Chancy's head-quarters at Vendome. The towns of Behrogine and Bochaue were burned on the 8 th. Recroy capitulated. The Germans captured 70 guns and 300 prisoners. General Ferbeveherdes claims a victory at Bechannie, though the Germans assert that they prevented his attack on Paris. The German batteries have reached the bridge of St. Michael across the Seine. The French have another additional battery on the south side of Paris. The Germans attacked Bichon in great force on the 22nd, but the French maintained their position. The German batteries have been brought within 300 yards of Paris. The King of Prussia has accepted the Imperial Crown by proclamation. A great sortie took place on the 20th, from the forts of Mont Valerian. It was repulsed.

The bombardment continues with good results. Lavalle and Tours have been occupied by the German forces. LoDgi has been burnt. The German army occupied Beamont, Allencon, and Bole. London, 23rd January. — General Bourbaki's army are in full retreat, being victoriously pursued by General Werder's Army of the North. They were beaten before Quentin, after several hours fighting. 4000 prisoners and 20 cannon were captured. The Hon. Mr. Childers has resigned his position of First Lord of the Admiralty in consequence of ill health. General Sir William Denison, X.C.8., late Governor of New South Wales, is dead. The Germans reported that General Werder repulsed every attack made hj Bourbaki on the Ist along the whole line. The battle lasted 9 hours. General Faidherbe has occupied A Ibort, and is now advancing from the south. Vigorous sorties were made on the 12th twards Bourbes, Donchery, Meudon, and Clamart. They were everywhere repulsed. News by balloon post states that the bombardment was very violent. 2,000 shells fell in Paris on the night of the 10th, reaching the Pantheon, the Gourbone, and St. Sepulchre's ; also several private houses. The conduct of the population is admirable, and they are more than ever determined not to surrender. The barracks at Mont Eoguee and Vaures, it is said, are burning, and shells have fallen in the garden of the Luxembourg. The siege of Alangres has been raised. General Bourbaki and Garibaldi are marching on Nancy and Belfort. General Bourbaki's headquarters are at Dijon. The Germans announce that General Werder has stormed and taken Vadliers with. 600 prisoners. The French attempted to retake, but were repulsed. They, however, claim tne victory. General Manteuffel has been appointed to the army againts Bourbaki. Garibaldi has surrendered with 3000 prisoners. The French report the complete repulse of the Germans on the 30th, and the capture of their position before Vendome. The German accounts of the same affair state that the French attack was repulsed. The German evacuated Bondy on the 31st, after a short engagement with the Franc-tireurs, and they are falling back on Gien. The King of Prussia made a speech thanking the army for their exertions. He said their task was not finished, they must complete the fight to bring about a permanent and honorable peace. On the 14th General Troehu issued a proclamation declaring that Paris will never capitulate. A French redoubt at Clamart has been occupied by the Prussians, and their guns mounted. Their fire has been turned against Paris. A conspiracy has been discovered between the French prisoners detained at Mayence, Coblontz, and Cologne, 50,000 in number, their object being to fight their way back to France. The scheme, however, was frustrated on the 30th Dec. Mcssieres has capitulated. The Germans captured in this place large stores of provisions, 116 guns, and 2,000 prisoners. Severe fighting occurred between Erras and Bcchaune on the 2nd and 3rd Jan. The French claim a complete victory. The Saxons have occupied Mont Avron, capturing great quantities of artillery and ammunition, and two 24-pounders. Vitry has been destroyed. The Germans have evacuated Dijon. The French state that General Ray has captured the Prussian position on the height of Labonalle.