ARRIVAL OF THE ENGLISH MAIL VIA SAN FRANCISCO.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 111, 21 April 1871, Page 3

ARRIVAL OF THE ENGLISH MAIL VIA SAN FRANCISCO.

PEACE PROCLAIMED. Nelson, April 17. The City of Melbourne arrived at three o'clock p.m. to-day. She left Honolulu on the 28th ultimoj bringing twelve passengers for Auckland, eleven" for Sydney, and also a large general cario for both ports. The latest dates were London, March 19 ; San Francisco, March LB. The East Lothian had left Near Tork for Auckland, with a cargo of kerosene Ac. February 24. A crowded meeting was held in London, last evening, in, favor of the dises-

tablishment of the Church of England. In the House of Commons, Mr. Disraeli made a most powerful speech in relation to the Russian question. _ Mr. Gladstone replied, denouncing his interference, and assured the House that the Conference would t,-eat Russia's case in all fairness. General Duff kid before the House the Budget for India, which is a highly favorable statement as regards the finances of the country. Washington, Feb. 27. The Joint High Commissioners on the Canadian Fishery and Alabama Questions met to-day, at the State Department, for the first time. From Versailles, King William has j telegraphed to the Queen " With deeply moved heart, and with great gratitude to God ] inform you the preliminaries of peace have been signed. The Bordeaux, Assembly must yet ratify." At Berlin there is great excitement. Paris, Feb. 27. Sunday being the anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic in 1848, the Reds held a noisy demonstration. A police agent who attempted to interfere for the preservation of peace was seized by the crowd, tied to a pole, and thrown into the Seine, where he was drowned. On the 28th, the Bordeaux Assembly ratified the conditions of peace, and voted a denunciation of Napoleon and the Empire. The German troops were to enter Paris on the Ist of March. Exciting crowds had gathered at Montmartre and Belle Ville on the night of Feb. 20, to listen to incendiary speeches and shouting defiance to enemies and authorities. It has been deemed safer to throw up barricades at cross streets on the line of march. At an early hour in the morning preparations were complete. The streets were nearly deserted, and occupied by strong bodies of French troops to keep order. At the appointed hour the first representatives of the army entered within the encimte under the eyes of his Imperial Majesty. The French troops vacated the streets as the Germans approached. The 11th corps advanced in columns, one by Porte de Neuilly, the other by Porte de Jour. As the troops paraded along the line the artillery took position from Porte de Neuilly and from Porte de Jour to the Place de la Concorde. The German hussars galloped down every avenue leading to Champs Elysees to search shreets branching therefrom. The staff rode down the Champs Elysees to the house of Queen Christina, where their head quarters were established. Behind the staff came a detachment of the 88th Regiment, the Blue Dragoons, and detachments of Bavarians, and a corps of Artillery. There were no disturbances, and the people behaved admirably. London, March 1. There was much agitation in several quarters of Paris the previous nightKing William refuses to enter Paris. March 2. A ' New York Herald' despatch says that some of the troops entering Paris were mobbed, and there were cries of " wait till we enter Berlin." The war instalments are to be paid in three instalments, the first (one milliard francs), in 1871; and the same in 1873. The preliminaries of peace provided that the evacuation should take place on the ratification of the treaty by the Assembly, that the Germans make no more requisitions, and that prisoners are to be liberated immediately upon ratification of the treaty. The Germans will hold th°, departments of Marne, Ardennes, Meuse, and Belfort, until the payment of two milliards. Berlin, Marcli 3. The Emperor, in a despatch to the Empress, announced that peace bad been finally arranged. Berlin is mad with excitement. Paris is completely evacuated to-day. In the House of Commons, Mr. Gladstone was ill, and retired early. Mr. Dilke gave notice of motion regarding the Government assent to the conference on the conditions dictated by GortschakofF. Sir Robert Peel stigmatised Lord Lyon's conduct in deserting the British population as cowardly, and extolled the courageous behaviour of Washburn, the American Minister. The ' Times,' referring to Mr. Cbilders, says it will bo impossible for him

to resume his seat at the Admiralty Board within twelve months. The University boat race comes off on the Ist of April. Washington correspondents aver thut counter clamis by Great Britain, for damages done to property of Englishmen during the war of rebellion and to citizens of the Dominion of Canada during Fenian raids, will probably be insisted on being presented by the British Minister of the High Commission on the Alabama Bill. In the Assembly at Bordeaux, Favre proposed an abrogation of all laws restricting the right of the people to hold meetings and form associations. March 4. The German forces have received orders to retire behind the line of the Seine. Paris has resumed its ordinary appearance. The barricades have been removed, and the boulevards are filled with promenaders. A restaurant on the Champs Elysees has been gutted by the people, for receiving and entertaining Prussians. March 5. All the members of the Joint High Commission dined together at the residence of the British Ambassador, on the evening of the 4th inst.

la the House of Lords, the Marquis of Salisbury attacked the foreign policy of the Government, showing that foreign powers were all contemptuous in their manner towards England. Prussia had declined England's aid in the re-establishment of peace with France, and Russia had repudiated her obligations solemnly agreed to at the end of the Crimean war. He urged an early re-organisation of the army. Lord Granville protested against the attack, and the discussion ended by the adoption of an order for reprinting. In the French Assembly, Louis Blanc, Victor Hugo, and Quiret(?) demanded that the members of the Provisional Government should return and account foi their acts up till the capitulation of Paris. Relescuse demanded their arrest on a charge of high treason. New York, March 7. A contract has ]ust been signed by Vogel, W. H. Webb, and Ben Holladay for the establishment of a fourweekly mail linebetween San Francisco, New Zealand, and Australia. The pioneer boat will leave San Francisco on April Bth. Speed is to be such that the mail is to be delivered in London from Sydney, and vice versa, in fortyeight days. London, March 7. The 'Times' announces thatGoschen will succeed Chiiders as first Lord of the Admiralty. Stanfield succeeds Gosehen as President of the Poor Law Board. Baxter succeeds Stansfield as one of the Secretaries of the Treasury, and Tiptreas Secretary of the Admiralty. March 9. Napoleon addressed a communication to the President of the French Assembly, protesting against the vote by which that body declared his dynasty had forfeited the throne.

March 13. In the House of Lords, Granville announced that the Conference on the Eastern question had closed, and that the treaty had been signed at the Foreign Office abrogating restrictions on the admission of foreign war vessels into the Dardanelles. March 15. The Assembly has granted Thiers 3,000,000 francs for the immediate expenses of the Government. The Czar sent a deputation of distinguished army officers to salute the Emperor of Germany on his way to Berlin. The removal of Sumner from the Committee of Foreign Relations is the topic of the hour. It is rumored that the Princess Beatrice will marry the Marquis of Ely. Violent storms prevailed throughout England occasioning many shipwrecks. The French press is very bitter and insulting to England. March 17. The session of the Joint High Commission on the Alabama claims is to be held daily. Nothing but rumors as to results. In a discussion on the Army Bill, in the House of Commons, there was a vigorous onslaught on the purchase system.

The Empress and the Prince Imperial are at Dover, awaiting the arrival of the Emperor A reported Spanish proposition to

sell Cuba and Porto Kieo i;o the United States has been confirmed. The Montmartre insurgents remain in possession of a number of Government cannon. The Emperor William arrived at Berlin amidst rcjoicingH. Mr. Robert Chambers,the Edinburgh publisher, is dead. In tho House of Commons Mr. Disraeli violently opposed, and Mr. Gladstone defended, the abolition of the purchi.se system. The Bill was read a second time. In the House of Lords Lord Carnarvon related that out of 300,01)0 barrels of powder in the Government arsenals, all but 8000 had been proved worthless pebble powder. March 7. The steam ship Nevada is announced to leave San Francisco on the 8-fcli April for Honolulu, Auckland, Wellington r Lyttelton, and Port Chalmers, in connection with a steamer for Sydney and Melbourne. The vessel following—the Nebraska —will proceed to Svdney direct, via Auckland.

Lates Commercial.—Flax very firm. Wool in good demand throughout. Nelson, April 17. The third contract made by Vc* -1 on the 7th March with Webb and Holiiday differs from Stewart's chiefly that it extends over a shorter period, and the boats will not go to Sydney, if they have to run down the New Zealand • •-oast for the same subsidy. The Nevada will leave the Bth April, and will coast to Dunedin. The other vessels will do the same if practicable. The American Congress refused a subsidy. The Caledonian Company have, lodged for the fortnight 13,665 ozs., independent of specimens now in the bank containing 500 ozs. A dividend of £ll per share was declared. _ Messrs. Harris and Bird, the champion pedestrians, were passengers in the Phoebe for Canterbury, where they will perform. Hewitt will follow by the Taranaki, and the trio will perform in Dunedin.