BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2551, 21 April 1871, Page 2

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

(FROM GREVILLE’s TELEGRAM COMPANY, REUTER’S AGENTS.) LATEST AUSTRALIAN NEWS, Hokitika, April 20. The s.s. Rangitoto, Capt. Mackie, arrived here at 9 p.m. to-day. She left Melbourne on the evening of the 15th. Passenger List.— For Christchurch : Messrs C. G. Hawdon and L. Acland. For Wellington : Capt. Edwin; and 30 in the steerage for all ports. She brings late telegrams from London to the 21st March. Melrourne, April 15. The Cerberus arrived in the Bay on Sunday afternoon, and was immediately rushed by visitors. Lieutenant Panter lias sent in his report, and has received the warm thanks of the Government for his pluck and skill His appointment as captain of the Cerberus, and l oad naval officer of the Colonial defences, will shortly issue. The Cerberus has been already taken alongside the Williamstown breakwater, with a view to dismantling her.

Tin Easter Holidays lasted till Tuesday, and weie well observed.

The ship Bengal has arrived, with 461 passengers; all well. The K.M.H. Avoca arrived in the Bay on Tuesday evening. The Puas an corvette Haydamack sailed on Wednesday morning ; it is said for New Zealand.

Lieut. -Colonel Sankey. who arrived by the mail from India, has been appointed bead of the Victorian Water Supply department, and at once commenced duty.

The investigation into the loss of the steamer Barwon has been commenced, but is adjourned until Monday next. The police have se : zed a quantity of spirits, supposed to be adulterated, at Williams'own.

Mr Charles Bigg has poisoned himself. Arrived.—Southern Cross, from Lyttelton ; Margaret, from Dunedin. Commercial.—Breadstuff's remain very dull of sale. Flair is quoted at Ll4 15s to Lls. Wheat is lower ; sales of Adelaide have been eflVctcd at 6s Od, and Port M‘Donnell at Gs 31. Oats arc more freely offered at 3s 41 to 3s Bd. Maize has declined to 3s 10. Pl to 3s lid. Sugars arc lower all round. 3600 bags ox Thomas Brown, and 400!) bags cx various ships, as well ns 4000 mats Java sugars, have been sold at different times, all subject to this reduction. The Corinne, from Mauritius, arrived yesterday. Speculation is again going on in kero*cne. 11,000 cases on the spot and to arrive changed hands since the mail arrived at a price withheld. Candles are in better enquiry ; sales were being effected up to The news by the mail is considered satisfactory. The total decease of shipments to the Colonies is L 388.000, including a decrease of shipments to New Zealand of L 125,000. Nothing is doing in brandies, but prices are firm. The European Mail says the Annie, from New York, has 14,000 cases kerosene for Dunedin. This is a mistake: she brings only 4000 cases for Dunedin, and 2000 for Adelaide.

Sydney. The Me.it Preserving Company are progressing favorably with their works. The ilarbottle, from Ho Ho, brings 18,000 packages sugars. Spy won the Homcbush Cup, two miles in 3min. 35secs.. being the shortest time in which the distance has been done in the colonics.

Four arrivals on Wednesdy brought 1,03 d tons sugars. The market is quiet, and prices are reduced ' 1 per ton, all round. The Blanche proceeds on a cruise to the South Seas immediately. At a meeting at Greville’s rooms, resolutions were passed in favor of urging on the Imperial Government the desirability cf annexing Fiji. Wool is firm, and sales are brisk. Sales of Adelaide wheat have taken place at Os to Os 3d. The Customs Bill has finally passed the Assembly. The Naval and Military Defences Bill has passed the second reading. The returns of last quarter’s revenue show an increase of LIB,OOO, Brisbane. Parliament opened on Thursday. The Vice-Regal speech promised Insolvency, Electoral Representation, and other Bills. Adelaide. L 30,000 worth of South Australian bonds have been sold at a premium of 10 per cent, since the departure of the mail. The corn market is quiet at ds 7d to 5s Bd.

ARRIVAL OF THE RANGITOTO AT HOKITIKA WITH THE SUEZ MAIL.

Tiio preliminaries of peace were signed on the 25th February. The conditions are that France cedes Alsace and Metz, but Belfort is to be restored. A war ind- mnity of five milliards of francs is to be paid in three instalments. Part of the French fortresses and the whole of Champagne remain in the possession of the Germans till the conditions of peace arc fulfilled, On the 28th, the National Assembly ratified the treaty of peace by 5 to 1.

The Germans entered Paris on the morning of the 2nd, 30,000 strong, occupying the Champs Elysdcs from the An; do I’Etoile to the Place dc la Concorde. The population were calm and quiet. The Bourse and the theatres were closed, and the aspect of the city was mournful. The journals also suspended operations. The Germans evacuated Paris on tho iporniqg of the 4th. It is stated that the complete occupation of Paris was prevented hy tho intervention of England. The German head-quarters, with the Emperor William, Counts Bismarck and Moltke, was removed from Versailles on the 7th, when the second German Army received orders to march. Tho forts on the left bank of the Seine were surrendered by the Germans on the Bth, and Count Bismmarck then returned to Berlin, whither the Emperor had preceded him. BIOTS IV PAULS.

Agitation prevailed in Paris for several days. Insurgents established a regular encampment, with artillery, small arms, and outposts, with abundance of ammunition. Forty thousand of the Army of the Loire have since entered Paris, forming a new

garrison. A mutiny by a battalion of Mobiles was quelled. The National Guards have delivered up their amis. The Official Journal declares that the Government undertakes to constitute France into a republic, and appeals to the people to maintain order and obey the laws. The deputies of Par s exhort the population to quietness and obedience to the laws. It is believed that the authorities will take vigorous measures against the insurgents. General Farau, with 300 men, are blockaded on the heights of Montmatre. The Government have mentioned tile issue of a 5 per cent, loan ; and have decided to issue a loan of milliards of 2 per cent, rentes. March 21, Evening. Great agitation prevails in Paris. Montmartre, Belleville, and the Faubourg St. Antoine, have been barricaded. Throe generals have been shot by the insurgents. The troops captured forty cannon, of which five were retaken by the insurgents The Government have issued a proclamation, calling on the National Guards to save Paris from pillage, declaring ihat otherwise France will be ruined. The National Guards are now the only armed f irees in Paris. The barricading continues. General (Jhanzy has been arrested, but was shortly afterwards released. He was greatly ill-treated, and has gone into hospital. The Paris journals write strongly against the assasination of Generals Le Comte a d Thomas, and recognise the National Assembly as the only authority. If the insurrection continues, the Prussians will re-occupy their former positions in Paris. Barricading continues everywhere. The National Guards occupy the forts. MISCELLANEOUS. The marriage of the Marquis of Lome to the Princess Louisa took place on March 21. M. Eouher has been arrested at Boulogne, The German Parliament meets on March 2L The foreign Ministers were to return to Paris on the 11th.

Henri Rochefort is dead, and General Trochu is reported to be insane. Tlie J lorn'.n;/ Post publishes a secret treaty between Russia and Prussia, concluded at the commencement of the war, to the elTcct that if the successes of France threatened Poland, Russia would interfere, and that if Austria made an armed demonstration against Prussia Russia would m ke a similar demonstration on the Austrian frontier. Also, that if the other European powers assist France, Rn-sia will assist Prussia In the House of Commons, on the 7th, Mr Gladstone said that he was ignorant of the existence of any treaty between Russia and Prussia when be instructed Mr Odo Russell, last year, to consult with Count Bismarck. Prince Charles, of Roumauia has resolved to abdicate. The ex-Queen of Spain has recovered. A committee of enquiry into the st- te of Cmmty West Meath has been appointed. Baron Rothschild has issued a Prussian loan of twelve millions. Mr Cardwell’s Army Re-organisation Bill has been read a second time. COMMERCIAL. Consols, 92J. Wool is firm, and in active demand. Copper, 64>j. Tallow dull and heavy. Wheat since the mail left io at Is to 2s dearer. SHIPPING. Arrived. —Lincolnshire, City of Adelaide, Derra, Loch Lcven, Mikado, City of Vienna, Marpesia, Ben Nevis, La Hogue, Martha Birnie, Juliet, Glon Osmond ; Great Britain, on March 20, sixty-eight da3’s out. SPECIAL FOR NEW ZEALAND. February 24th. Efforts are being made to obtain a quantity of rooks for *New Nealand. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency has drc'arcd a dividend of ten per cent.

New Zealand Wheat is quoted at Rotterdam at 45s to 56s ; barley at 25s to 33s ; and oats at lis to 225. I’rescrvc 1 meat is more in demand.

The New Zealand flax market is quiet, but a fair trade has been done during the month, at a shade lower rates. It is stated that the flax is not thoroughly prepared. 2(500 bales •\ycre offered, and 1200 'sold at a decline of L2 per ton of an average. New Zealand Sixes are unchanged, but Fives are 4 per cent, lower.