EUROPE & AMERICA.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 944, 15 February 1871, Page 2

EUROPE & AMERICA.

Tauranga, Feb. 14, 12 noon. The City of Melbourne, Capt. Grainger, arrived in Auckland from Honolulu, with European mails and passengers, at 1 o'clock this morning, The following is the summary of news as forwarded by special messenger from the Thames'to Tauranga, per overland express. Auckland, Feb. 13. The City of Melbourne arrived in Auckland at 1 a.m. this morning. Her dates are London, January 13; San Francisco loth; Honolulu 27th. Passengers for New Zealand. Saloon — Mr. P. Bell, Messrs. W. James, A. S. Stevenson, Henderson, mail agent. Second Cabin—J. Watkinson, and five in the steerage. BRIEF SUMMARY. The bombardment of Paris progresses. The Germans have captured several forts. Shells have been thrown into the city, and the houses set on fire. General Chausy has been defeated under the walls of Le Mans. Reinforcements have swelled the German army to a million. The Pope has beeu offered a residence in Ireland. The Germans have been repulsed near ,Malmaison. Victories were claimed by both sides. No serious damage was done during the ten days bombardment. The garrison at Paris are clamouring for a decisive attempt. Austria is about to initiate a movement in favour of peace. The Committee of Post Office at Wash-inn-ton have recommended half-a-million of dollars to be granted as a annual subsidy to the New Zealand steam service 5 thirteen trips are to be made in the year. The News of the World say? that the enterprise of New Zealand is much appreciated. America approves the action of Mr. Neilson in concluding the contract. Jan. 14. Flax quiet early in the month; later it met with a good demand at high prices. 2870 bales of New Zealand flax were sold at from £l4 to £36 10s. Kauri gum is quiet. Wool is active. The Agent-General of South Australia has negotiated the sale of the whole amount of the bonds. New Zealand consolidated IOO^. GENERAL SUMMARY. The bombardment of the north-east of Paris is being carried on from newly erected batteries. The Prussians have bombarded the forts of Issy, Vannes, and Montrouge. Entrenchments are being constructed at Villejuif and Ponjour. A Brussels despatch says, that no. serious damage has been done by th,e ten days bombardment. Mont Avron has been captured by the Prussians.

It was afterwards swept by the French fire, and abandoned.

The guns of Fort Clamart reached to the Hotel des Invalides.

Baron vqn Beust's despatch to Bismark says that Austria has received satisfaction in the restoration of the German Empire.

General Prim has been shot at while in his carriage at Madrid: the assassins es* caped; General Prim died on December 31st. The Cortes passed a vote to reject, the Duke of Aosta. It was enthusiastically received at Carthagena. Mr. Chichester Fortescue is to succeed Mr. Bright as President of the Board of Trade. The Eastern conference has been post* poned, awaiting the arrival of Jules Favre. The Prussians have sunk British vessels on the Seine. Bismark apologises, pleading necessity, and is offering an indemnity. The Champ de Mars has been shelled. The shells have fallen into the gardens of the Luxembourg. At Montmartre, the Church of St. Sulpice was burned,' killing a large number of people. January 9. A great fire has been raging in Paris on the north-side of the Seine. Fort d' Issy has been scaled. The casemates of Forts d' Issy and Vannes have been battered. None of the large forts, have been reached. Their capture would involve an open advance on the city. Paris may fall through hunger and weari-* ness, but never through artillery, The Englishmen concerned in the Ma* rathon massacre have been surrendered. The French reserves have joined Chauzy, raising his force to 150,000 men. The Prussians have retired to Yendome, The French have defeated 10,000 Germans at Junieze, and occupied Bourgtheronzedi. There is a delay in the conference on the Eastern Question, owing to the hesitation displayed by France in sending representatives. The Observer says they will meet before the end of January. The released Fenian generals, O'Connell, M'Lure, and Mulloy, have left for New York. Bourbaki is believed to be planning to raise the siege before invading Germany, He marched on Nancy and Belfort. The Prussians have occupied Au^onne. The French have entered Salours. The Germans are withdrawing to the northern departments. The German residents in Marseilles have sent a letter to King William protesting against the barbarous character of the war. General Faid Herbe claims a victory over the Germans. The Reds in Paris are creating disunion, In a battle at Capaume the Germans lost 9,000, the French 4,000. The Prussians were repulsed twice in an attack on Bolbek. Bismark expresses his reluctance to accept Granville's denial of the violation of neutrality. The advanced column of Germans in the Valley of the Loire have reached Nogent and Favigni la Charte. Mr. Monsel, of Limerick, M.P., has offered a residence to the Pope on his estate in Ireland. An immense meeting ajb Greenwich has demanded Earl Granville's resignation. The Germans have occupied Azay and Montoille, and attaked Ville Chunere, Ville Poreher, St. Cyr and Gault, and afterwards forced the French lines backtoNeuilly. The French right assumed the offensive, reoccupied these positions, and entered St. Arnaud.

The Prussians have been repulsed beyond Sainte liomaine. German telegrams report the defeat of the French by Von Weider, and the capture of 200 men and twu eagles at a battle fought at Rougemont. In the Department of Doube, the French claim a victory. The German accounts report the defeat of General Chauzy. The Duke of Mecklenburg reports a, victorious battle at Lourzen la Chappelle, with the capture of 10,000 French. The Berlin correspondent of the Times says that the Prussians have abandoned the idea of a general occupation of France; portions only will be held. The general battle of Le Mans was, fought on the 11th. The Germans attacked the French army of the Loire along the whole line. The French maintained, the position. The Prussian loss was. 18,000. The Germans claim the, capture of 5,000 French. London telegrams say that Chauzy was, completely defeated, Von Werder is foU lowing up his victory.

The surrender of Paris is believed to be certain before the expiration of that periods

The bombardment of the 13 th was very heavy* There were several fires within the jVencH lines. The French are erecting new batteries. A. German telegram reports that the supply of ammunition in Paris is sufficient for eighteen days. General Chauzy had two corps of regulars engaged, and 60,000 reserves. X Vienna despatch of the 12th says that Austria will initiate proposals for peace. The preliminaries to be that France shall surrender and pay one thousand million thalers, strip the country four miles broad from the left bank of the Rhine, and destroy the forts for a distance of twenty miles from the Rhine; Prussia to guarantee two millions of rations for Paris daily. There are mines and countermines at Mont Valerien, in close proximity. A collision is imminent. January 14. Bourbaki has telegraphed that he is drawing the Germans back from Villerevel and Lille. The Army of the North 'u advancing. The news is very contradictory.