ARRIVAL OF THE PANZA CO.’S S.S. 'RAKAIA' AT WELLINGTON.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 8, Issue 397, 26 July 1866, Page 3

ARRIVAL OF THE PANZA CO.’S S.S. 'RAKAIA' AT WELLINGTON.

AMERICAN NEWS TO 24th JUNE. The screw steamer Rakaia, S. H. Wright, Commander, left Panama on Sunday, 24th June, at 2 p.m., and arrived at Wellington at midnight on the 23rd July. She was the bearer of passengers, cargo, and mails from Panama in connection with the Royal Mq.il Company’s steamers leaving Southampton on the 2nd June. Great enthusiasm was manifested at Panama on the arrival and departure of the Rakaia; and the inauguration of the mail service was looked forward to with interest. Below will be found a few items of news. LATEST AMERICAN. Seward, Stanton, and M'Culloch delivered speeches defending Johnston’s veto policy. Gold, 139|. Cotton, firm; active. Advices from South America report the repulse of the Spanish fleet. An attempt to bombard Callao was made, and the Spaniards, after four hours’ fighting, were beaten off. Two Spanish ironclads were disabled, and Admiral Nunez wounded. THE FENIANS. (Prom the Panama Mercantile Chronicle, June 31.) As before noticed in this correspondenco, the Fenian movement is “a fizzle,” a failure; but they have done something at last, and made war on Great Britain by an INVASION OF CANADA WEST. The “ warlike” General Sweeney, determined upon doing something, gave orders in spite of Stephens's protests and counterorders for an invasion of Canada, and during the night of May 31 crossed the Niagara River, lauded on British soil, and captured* Fort Erie. But the high-sounding name is only a poor miserable village, not a defensive post, and the capture was not worth much, except as a foothold. Flaming despatches were sent abroad, and the New

York Herald came out with a “ big head.” The forces were said to number about fifteen hundred men, and the “ army under General ‘O’Neil was advancing into the interior”— but they didn’t. The United States authorities prevented reinforcements and supplies from reaching the invaders, and on the 2nd of June the Canadian volunteers came upon them at liidgeway, and a battle, or rather goodly-sized skirmish was the result—several being killed and wounded. The Fenians were reported successful, but strange to say the invaders evacuated their captured post, and on the 3rd had taken refuge under the American flag—that is, they (700 men and the gallant Gen. O’Neil) were made prisoners under the guns of the U.S. steamer Michigan ; their companions, either dead or prisoners, left in the hands of the “ hated Saxon.” End of Chapter I. ANOTHEB MOVEMENT—CANADA EAST. General Sweeney, with a number of subordinate Generals, led another wing—the main one—by way of St. Alban’s, Malone, &c., with the intention of invading Canada East; but General Grant, with Generals Meade, Barry, Yodges, &c., started for the scene of action with a large force of regulars. Fenian arms, ammunition, and supplies were seized, while en route , and as soldiers are not of much use without such addenda, the movement was stopped in this direction. “If the Government hadn’t sazed the ar-rms, bad luck to them, it’s the Faynians that would have slaughtered the British Lion.” Oh, that word “if.” Keports were telegraphed that Kingston and Montreal were captured; Fenian bonds were at a premium, and excitement ran high, but the next day dispelled the visions of glory. End of Chapter 11. (From the Panama Star and Herald, of June 21.) New York, June 11. The Fenian excitement has had its nine days run, and has run out. The party that crossed from Buffalo to Fort Erie, advanced a short distance into Canada, and were met by twice their number of Canadian Volunteers : an engagement ensued, when the Canadians were put to rout in less than 20 minutes, and driven pell-mell from the field. The Fenians not having artillery, returned to Fort Erie to await reinforcements; but the United States authorities by that time set on foot their forces, and prevented the further crossing of reinforcements or munitions of war. Finding themselves exposed to capture by the British, who were gathering in large force about them, the Fenians attempted to recross into United States territory, but were all captured by the United States gunboats. Some who could not get across were captured by the British—some shot and others imprisoned. Orders were then issued by the United States authorities to arrest all the leaders wherever found, and the President issued a proclamation denouncing the movement as a breach of our neutrality laws. The leading Generals and the President of the Brotherhood were arrested, but still large numbers of Fenians gathered on the borders at half-dozen different points, determined to fight. A large force gathered at St. Albans, Vermont, and advanced into Canada at that point. Here, too, they had one or two small fights, each time whipping the Canadians. But here, as at Fort Erie, the United States authorities interfered against reinforcements or munitions crossing, and of course the consequence was they were obliged to return. This ended the movement, .and now the Fenians are being sent home. It is said the British pursued the rear guard into our territory, and killed soma of'them there, for which they will be called to account.