ARRIVAL OF THE ENGLISH MAIL, VIA SAN FRANCISCO, AT AUCKLAND.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 1031, 1 June 1871, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF THE ENGLISH MAIL, VIA SAN FRANCISCO, AT AUCKLAND.

The mail steamer Nebraska arrived at Auckland at 8 o'clock on the morning of the 31st inst., with the European and American mails via California. She left San Francisco on the 6th May, at noon ; and Honolulu on the 14th at 7 a.m She has thus made the passage in 23 days and 19 hours—that being 1 day and 5 hours under contract time. Passengers for Auckland—Messrs. J. Ellis, T, K. Watson, J. J. Duncan, T. Parsons, J. J. Stewart Forbes, A. K. Mason, T. Humphries, Robert Bird, Sophia West, T. C. Cobb, and G-. Morris ; 26 for Sydney and Melbourne, BRIEF SUMMARY. Consols, 931. Colonial securities steady, market buoyant aud prices advancing. The Insurrection in Paris still continues with desperate fighting. The. Prussians have notified that if the Versailles army fail to occupy Paris before May 8, they will re-enter. The insurgents have lost upwards of 2,000 men since May 1. All hopes of peace are abandoned, oaths have been abolished, and flags of truce are not to be recognised. The Women Sufferage Bill is being defended in Parliament. GENERAL SUMMARY. Paris, May 4. The Communists have re-occupied Fort Issy. General Rossel has forbidden all communication with the enemy, and also refuses to recognise flags of truce. The Versailles array is actively investing Fort Issy. Ohisene is to be tried for complicity with the Prussians. Shells from Versailles fell in the Rue Vangicrond, through which several persons were killed in the streets. The Prussians demand the strict adherence to the terms of the capitulation. Heavy fighting occyrml between the Nationals and Communists on May 2. Fort Issy and other posts being alternately captured and recaptured. In the fight at Clamart there was terrible slaughter, three hundred insurgents being bayoneted. The engagement at Neuilly terminated indecisively. The insurgents endeavored to erect a citadal at Pont de Jour, but Fort Valerian shelled the work aud soon demolished it.

The Versailles batteries have shelled Fort Issy. General Inegy is to be court*martialed for abandoning Fort Issy. Torpedoes are placed near the southern forts, and on trying them five houses were blown up. The Versailles troops refuse to give quarter; their anger against the incur* gvnts being very great. Spies report that there are 30,000 Nationals ready to support the Versailles troops whenever they enter Paris. On the 4th May, the Versailles forces carried the insurgents position at Saguet Mill, killing 150 Communists and capturing ten cannon and 300 prisoners. The Versailles forces have since been forced to abandoned the position, through it being exposed to a heavy fire. Fort Issy is now so completely surrounded that the garrison cannot possibly escape. The Castle within Fort Issy has been burnt by shells. The Versailles batteries have shelled Auteriel, doing mnch damage to the railway station, which compelled the inhabitants to flee. Forts Issy and Vanvers fired very slowly through receiving a hail of shells. a The Versailles forces have captured St. Germain and established a baftery of gun-boats. A naval combat is imminent. The Communes occupy the trenches at Villerquy. The Versaillists unmasked a battery at Montrells, from which a continuous resultless bombardment was kept up on Montronges Hautrebroyers. The Versaillists have constructed batteries at Neuilly. Shells from Fort Valerian i<mited Levallois. ° The Prussians allow prisoners to enter Paris. Prince Napoleon has reported in London that the Orleanist Princes were ex-, pelled from Paris by order of Thiers. Thiers refuses to agree to a commercial treaty with Germany. It is rumored that an extensive insurrection has broken out in Algiers. The Versailles forces are marching to attack Fort Issy ; a decisive action is imminent. The Coinmuuists are in want of money. London, May 5. The steamer Queen of the Tuaoies is, reported to be lost. In the House of Lords it was notified that Gladstone opposed the discontinuance of the telegraph postal service on Sundays. The Chancellor of the Exchequer on introducing his budget, said " The resources of the United Kingdom were elastic. The revenue being two and a third millions in excess of the estimates. The expenditure was half a million less than estimated. The cost of the army has been half a million in excess of the estimates, that of the civil service one million less." In the House of Commons Berth wick advocated a withdrawal on the part of England from the Paris treaty of 1858. The Attorney General and Disraeli said the treaty must be respected until it was formally revoked. Gladstone has stated that the abolition of the army purchase was a real target; for the opposition party. A vote of censure on the Naval Ad** ministration owing to the loss of the Captain was defeated. The estimated expenses of the army, including the abolition of the purchase system, is .£16,000,000; the navy, ,£9,750,000 ; the civil service estimates are increased by ,£425,000. It being anticipated that there would be a decrease in the customs revenue, a tax on matches was proposed, but after* wards withdrawn, and an additional two pence per pound income tax proposed. The Budget was opposed, but advices say the Government obtained a majority of 46 in favor of a modification of the Budget. The Enfranchisement of Women Bill was defeated. The Priuce of Wales opened the International Exhibition at Kensington. A proposal to reserve a portion of Ep« piug Forest for public parks has been defeated. Earl Granville announced in the House of Liords the receipt of official despatches confirming the reported safety of JDr. Livingstone at Zauzibar. He had been destitute, but his immediate wants hac( been supplied.

Bothwell won Newmarket race, Stirling second, King of First (?) third. SHIPPING, New York, April 24. Sailed—Game Cock and -Agra for Melbourne and Dunedid. London Arrived —Asterope, from Napier ; and Countess of Kin tore, from Auckland Sailed —Excelsior and Coronilla. Loading—Speedy, for Canterbury Liverpool. Sailed —Otago, for Dunedin. COMMERCIAL. London, April 22. The wool sales were largely attended, and the competition was animated. The prices for Australian are quoted at from to Id higher. Greasy descriptions from most markets have advanced ; 1664 bales of New Zealand were sold. The third series will commence ou June 22. In tallow there is little doing. .£707,000 of the New Zealand Loan has been taken up at and above £96, and £492,000 at and above £9s,—the average being 4>95 17s 6d. Of the New South Wales loan, JE1,630,700 were tendered for—applications, c£9B 10s. Two thirds were received ; above that limit, allotment in full. Quotations. — New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., § —§ premium ; Trust and Loan Co., 1| —If premium ; Otago and Southland Investment, £ discount premium. The money market is easy. Bank of New Zealand, 16| —16|. Closing quotations :—New Zealand sixes, 108| — 109 J ; fives, 97|—98J. Flax —300 bales offered, old parcels of low quality, and low prices were accepted. Holders of good parcels are firm. L and S. parcels realised <£34. Large arrivals by the Countess of Kintore and William Davie are expected to depress prices. San Francisco. Wheat high. No shipments. Local millers for speculation buy at 2| cents to 3 cents for fair samples. Flour, best samples, 8 dob. to 8 dols. 25 cents. The wool market is inflated. VERY LATEST [Received just before the Nebraska left San |Traueisco.] Paris, May 6. The Communes have released the commandant of Viucenne3. Versailles, May 6. Cannonading between Communists and Government troops all night and this morning. The Prussians intercept all prisoners from entering Paris. Frankfort, May 6. Bismarck, Fayre, Quertier, and Herii are here. The former received an ovation. They met in consultation with reference to the affairs of France. New York, May 6. A special Versailles despatch the German authorities have telegraphed that if the Versailles Government do not enter Paris by the Bth inst., the Prussians will make a grand attack on that day aud reenter on the 9th. The chief of the staff of a flotilla has been arrested on a charge of deceiving the Commune authorities with regard to the quality of stores shipped under his charge. Considerable satisfaction is felt in England at the appointment of Dr. Featherston as Agent-General for New Zealand. The Loan and Mercantile Agency Co.'s circular s,ys that Mr Vogel reached England just in the nick of time. Political circumstances conspired to offer him a favorable opportunity, which he aptly geized.