ARRIVAL OF THE RANGITOTO.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2503, 23 February 1871, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF THE RANGITOTO.

AT HOKITIKA WITH THE SUEZ MAIL. A portion of the following was published by us as an “ Extra,” to-day ; Hokitika, February' 23. The s.s. Enigitoto arrived in the roadstead at 7.30 a.m. She brings the Suez English Mail 70 tons of cargo, and 20 passengers, for Hokitika and Greyroquth. BY BIG EON EXPRESS, Tl]e branch mail steamer liaugatira, with the English mail, was sighted off Glenelg on the Kith, at twenty minutes past six, and the pews was telegraphed from Adelaide xq the course of the evening. The steamer Geelong, with the Melbourne mails, arrived in Hobson ! s Bay on the 17th inst.

London, December 3CL The French army, commanded by Paidherb’, was attacked on the 2f|rd of' Deaenjber by General Mantenffell to the north-east of Amiens. Both sides claim the victory, niidit putting an end to the battle.

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 Parliament in person. The Fenian convicts have been released conditionally upon leaving the kingdom. The foundation stone of a new general post-ofiice has been laid by the Hon. Mr Ayrtoun. A scheme for the fortification of Loudon is said to he under consideration. Lord Lawrence has been elected President of the London School Board,

A serious railway accdcnt occurred on the 6th December between Sunderland and Newcastle, in which Fred. Younge,ltbe actor, was killed.

The Roman Catholic Bishop of Brisbane a speech at the meeting held at St. ’ James' Hall on the 9th December expressive 1 "of his sympathy with the Pope. The postil rate of letters between England Australia is reduced to 9d per half ounce. , tl, 0. FTamley, from New Zealand, has been appointed Deputy Controller for Dublin. General Robert C. Sohenck has accepted the post of American Minister to Loudon. A new Cabinet lias been formed in Greece. King Amadeus lias einba-ked for Spain. A protest has been issued by Don Carlos, addressed to the Spanish people. At the half-yearly meeting of the London Chartered Bunk of Australia held ou Dec. 9tb, a dividend of 4 per cent, for the halfyear was declared. On the 20th Dec. tho Prussians seized six English vessels at Duclar ou the Seine, which they scuttled and sunk 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 they were taking in ballast. Her Majesty’s ship 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 Boudy has beep broken up, and the batteries thqv silepceej. It is stated that the capture Avron has caused great discouragement in Paris. It is also reported that the sufferings of the population in Par s a e excessive; but beyond the bombardment of the forts, little damage has been done which cannot easily be repaired. The official journals of Baris declare that the Government rejects all idea of capitulation. The bombardment of the whole of the Paris forts continues lively on all sides. Forts Noissy, Nugent, Vanvres, Issy, Montrouge, and Ivry are silenced. Paris was on fire in several places on the night of the lOth. Very severe weather has set in for the last week, and all the ponds in the parks in the neighborhood of London are frozen over. A serious accident occurred, in which a soil of Mr Waltt r of the Times was drowned. It is reported that ten thousand incendiary shells were fired into Paris on the 15th. It is seated that a protestation signed by <jJl j;he

members of the Government, was issued against the bombardment without notice to allow the women and children to leave the Ci Qn the 18th of December a deputation from the lleichstadt, presented an address to King William, offering him the Imperial Crown of Germany. The King replied that it was only in obedience to the unanimous wish of the German nation through its representatives that he could recognise this call, Which he regarded as dictated by Providence. . n On the 4th J>. unary the Germans officially announced that the country people around Orleans and Artenaise were starving ana Were bein" fed by the German commissariat. On the'2oth an attempt was made to assassinate General Prim at Madrid while proceeding in a carriage from the Cortes. Hie Minister of War was also in the carriage which was tired into. The Marshal and Adjutant were both wounded, not dangeiouely. General Prim was wounded by eight bullets in the shoulder, a linger of his left hand has been amputated. Belfort is being vigorously besieged by the German array. The defenders are acting on the defensive till the end of the siege of

Gambetta left Bordeaux for General Chanuzy’s head-quarters at Vendome. The towns of Bebrcgine and Bechanne were burnt on the Bth. Kccroy capitulated, the Germans capturing 80 guns and 300 prisoners. General Faidherhe claims a victory at Bechanne, though the Germans assert that they prevented his advance on Paris. The German batteries have reached the bridge of St. Michael acioss the Seine, and the French have unmasked additional batteries on the south side of Paris. The Germans attacked Dijon in great force on the 22nd, but the French maintained their position. The German batteries have been brought within 300 yards of the forts Tim King of Prussia has accepted the Imperial Crown by proclamation. A great sortie took place on from the fortress of Mont Valerieu; it was repulsed. The bombardment continues with good remits. La Valle and Tours have been occupied by the German forces. Longwy has been burnt. The German army occupies Beaumont, Alencon, and Dole. Loudon, Jan. 23. General Bourbahi's army is in full retreat, being victoriously pursued by Gen. Wevder s army of the North. They were beaten be-, fore Quentin after several ho.nrs’ fighting. 40,000 prisoners and 20 cannon were captUThe Hon. Mr Childers has resigned his Sir William Denison, K.C.8,, late Govern'r of New South Wales, is dead. The Germans reported that General Were der repulsed every attack made by Bourbaki on the lat along the whple line. The battle lasted nine hours. General Faidherbe has occupied Albert, ami is now advancing from the south. Vigorous sqrties were made on the 12th towards Bp,urges, Douchory, mendpq, «ud Cigmart. They wore everywhere repulsed, .... News by balloon dates the 10th. I t states that the bombardment was very violent. Two thousand shells fell iu Ihuis ou the night of the 10th, reaching the Pantheon, the Sore, bonne, and St Sulpliee, and several private houses. . . ~ The conduct of the population is admirable, aid they are declared to be more than cycy determined not to surrender,/ ' The barrack si it Mont Kouge and Van vros, it la said, are burning, and that shells have fallen in the garden of the Luxembourg. The siege of Lorgeau has been raised. Generals Bourbaki and Garibaldi are marching on Nancy and I’e’fort. General Bourbaki’s head quarters arc at Dijon. The Germans announce that General Welder has stormed, and taken Villiers with 600 prisoners. The French attempted to retake it, hut were repulse I. They, however, claim the victory, . General Mauteufell has been appointed to comman 1 the aimy against B< mbaki. Garibaldi has surrendered with 3000 prisoners. , m . On the 14th General Trocbu issued a proclamati n declaring that Paris will never capitulate. ’ The French report the complete repulse of the Get mans oujSffc 30th, and the cipturc of their position before Vendome. The German adfeuit of the same affair states that the French* attack was repulsed. The Germans evacuated lionuey on 31st, after a sharp engagement with the Francs Piieius, and they are falling b.ick on Oipp. The King of Pips ia made a speech thankin" the arm v for their exertions. He said thvir task was not finished ; they must complete the fight to bring about a permanent ami honorable pence. A Frimch redoubt at Glamavt lias been o • cupied by ibe Prussians, .and the guns mounted there turned against Paris. A conspircov has been discovered between the French prisoners detained at Mayence, CoUcntz, and 'Cologne, 50,000 in number, their object being to fight their way back to Francs. The scheme, however, was fm;trafed. , ~ .. On the 30th of December Mvzzters capitulated, The Germans captured in this place large stores of provisions, 116 guns, and2Qoo Severe fighting occurred between Erras and Eecbauuy on the 2nd and 3rd of January. The French claim a complete Thc J Saxons have occupied Mont Avron, capturing great quantities of artillery and ammunition and two 24 pounders. Vitry has been destroyed, T he Germans have evacuated Dijon. The French state that General Boy has captured the Prussian position pu the height of LabouaPc,