The Hawke's Bay Times, PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY AND THURSDAY. THURSDAY, 27th SEPTEMBER, 1866. THE EUROPEAN MAIL.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 8, Issue 424, 27 September 1866, Page 2

The Hawke's Bay Times, PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY AND THURSDAY.

THURSDAY, 27th SEPTEMBER, 1866. THE EUROPEAN MAIL.

■ “KULUUS ADDICTUS J DEATHS IN VERSA UAQISTRI.”

Moeb than one item of important intelligence Las come to hand by the present Mail from Europe; bat that which will give the greatest satisfaction is that which declares the cessation, of a continental war and the restoration of peace between the Prussians and the Austrians. Our correspondents letter, which we give below, furnishes an outline of the progress of events np to the time of the departure of the mail, and this is supplemented by the telegrams which brings the news down to the 16th of

August. At the latest dates from the belligerent countries the preliminaries of peace had been ratified and an armistice agreed upon, with the view of its consummation. The effect of this favorable change in the aspect of Continental affairs had already begun to be felt in the money. market, which had become comparatively easy, and confidence was rapidly being restored.

Another important item of news is the saccesful completion of that hitherto baffling but much desired undertaking,—the laying of the Atlantic Telegraph Cable. By means of this line of telegraph we should, had the Panama Mail per Ruahine arrived at Wellington true to its date, have had still later news than that which has come to hand, extending, in fact, to the same date as that she will bring from America. This is a matter of the first importance to the colonies, as there will not only be later news from home, but also two independent channels for its transmission instead of but one, and we shall not be liable to suffer from any accident that might occur to that, or any injuries that might be done to it. The news of the succesful laying of the cable having been transmitted by telegraph, it not being accomplished whsa tho mail via Marseilles left, -we have no details of the operation, nor any information concerning it beyond the fact of its successful opening on the 3rd August and the transmission of congratulatory messages between Her Majesty and the President of the United States.

The latest telegrams are of a rather obscure character, leaving us in doubt as to the purposes of Italy, especially in the occupation of Rovigo aud Viucenza by Cialdini after the formal cession of Yenetia to France. It appears as if this acquisition of territory by the French Enperor, little meets with her approval, nor can we wonder if she regards his movements with suspicion. It is probable that the further details of European news we shall receive via Panama may give us a satisfactory clue to what is at present obscure, or at all events supplementary telegrams to those already received. The following is from our correspondent’s letter — The telegrams following the Juno mail would inform you of tho commencement of hostilities, and how the Prussians had outmanoeuvred and beaten the Austrians. How Saxony, Hanover, Bavaria, and some of the smaller fry have been over run by the Prussians, this mail tviil inform you. Probably the capture of Vienna will supplement the Hat this time. Tho 3rd July saw the fight that decided the question at issue—tho leadership of Germany ; and unless some unexpected change occurs, the passage of tho Danube will be made, perhaps is already made, and then nothing likely to hinder the Prussians occupying Vienna appears on the scene.

At the battle of Sadowa, on the- 3rd July, the Prussians captured 25.000 prisoners, besides billing and wounding some’ 12,000 or 13,000 more. The Kaiser then wrote to Louis Kapoleon, asking bis protection, offering Vonetia as a fee. The ruler of Prance at once set to work, and people were sanguine enough to believe the war at an end; but a victorious army, with such a counsellor as Bismarck at hand, and no apparent obstacle in the road to their enemy’s capital, was not to be so easily stopped; so the Prussians have marched on to within reach of the gaol, negotiating in the meantime. Had the victory been less complete, or tho Prussian army exhausted, the Arbiter’s word might have ended tho strife. Italy made a bold attempt to prove her claim to Yenetia, by entering and assailing tho Austrians, within the compass of the dreaded Quadrilateral. That Italy was worsted is not her fault, although mayhap her misfortune. At the battle of Custozza the Italians probably lost 15,000 men in killed, wounded, and prisoners; but they were doubtless far outnumbered, and were the assailants; tho Austrians having a strongly fortified position, with means of concentration for their forces, and probably, as is suspected, intelligence of the Italian movements sufficient to induce them to concentrate in tho neighborhood of Verona (one of the four points of the Quadrilateral) in which vicinity the encounter took place. At Sadowa one Prussian army bore the brant of tlm day, and the result was doubtful: the other Prussian army came up in the afternoon, and attacked the Austrian flank, and decided tho issue ; the united force probably numbering over 200,000 men, with 240 cannon ; the Austrian and Saxon armieswould probably number 140,000 men, with over 250 cannon. Tho fetors captured an immense quantity of materiel, and (one account states) 160 cannon. Had tho Kaiser consented to cede Yenetia to Italy a few weeks ago, he would have been better able to cops with Prussia, as Italy would have had no cause for joining in the strife ; as it is, in his anxiety to retain it, he has left sufficient force to hold it against Italy; but by so doing lias proved too weak to hold his own territory. Now, Jig is a fugitive, and has appealed to tho Hungarians for help. "What portion of the territory of Austria and her allies Prussia will appropriate is quite uncertain ; but that Yenetia will have to be delivered over to Italy is generally admitted; and if Prussian victories lead to this result, the French Umpire will iiave the less excuse for requiring a rectification of frontiers, a la Nice and Savoy. Garibaldi and Prince Amodens are included in (he wounded.

Turkey apparently reconciled to the change in Eoumatiia. iictter bo than another war in that quarter.

Another military rising in Spain put down in the usual way—a large number of the leaders of the mutiny, non-commissioned officers, &c., being publicly executed. The Fenian leaders are denouncing each other in the most plain terms j yet the hoax appears not played out. Stephans calls Roberts, O'Mahoney, & Co., betrayers, deceivers, robbers, &o.; he adds John Mitchell does not want to be heard of any more; Mitchell replies that he has passed 75,000 dollars to Stephens and his agents since ho cams to Europe, on behalf of the brotherhood ; and adds, he has due and proper receipts for the whole amount, which is a hint that Stephens must explain what has become of the cash.

The 1 Great Eastern ’ has again commenced the cable laying, and if all be well with her, is now half way across the Atlantic. The new Ministry have got fairly installed in office, and expect to remain there until early next year ; how much longer is matter of opinion. Their appointments in Ireland are open to criticism. AMr Napier, quite deaf, although otherwise quite competent, has been placed on the Bench in the place of Judge Blackburn, elevated to the Lord Chancellorship of Ireland. The chief objection to Lord Chancelior’Blackburn is his age. The only English appointment fairly objectionable is the elevation of Sir Fitzroy Kelly to the office of Lord Chief Baron o? the Exchequer,— not so much objectionable of itself as on account of the somewhat indecent haste which has been displayed in inducing the Ex-Chief Baron (Pollock) to retire on a pension to make room for Sir F. Kelly. The journals that follow the advanced or radical lead will doubtless bo somewhat bitter on these appointments, although most of the (so-called) libera] journals were quiet enough when, under Lord Westbury’s rule, officials who had become public defaulters were pensioned off to make way for Bethells and their proteges. The Enfield rifles are to be converted into breachloaders right off band. Genera] Peel (War Minister) states his intention of having 200,000 of them so converted within twelve months. The expense will probably reach £300.000. The 12th July was noted by extraordinary heat. Two deaths are reported in the county of Nottingham on that day from sunstroke, or more properly from over-exertion and extreme heat combined.

Parliament is expected to bo prorogued the first week in August. Mr J. E. Gorst, who occupied the position of British Kesident in the Waikato in 1862, is now ?>I.P. His presence in Parliament does not augur any good to the colony, seeing he has written a work to defame the colonists. The glaring misstatements in his lecture to the Prestonians on his return were a prelude to similar ones in his (so-called) history of the Maori war ; but having held high office iu the colony, he will doubtless speak with authority; and, whether truly or falsely, probably none will be able to gainsay him.