ARRIVAL OF THE SUEZ MAIL AT HOKITIKA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 237, 7 October 1870, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF THE SUEZ MAIL AT HOKITIKA.

0 As the Tararua missed the tide yesterday morning and could not communicate with the shore, we were unable to receive the telelegraphic news in time for our yesterday's issue, and we are therefore indebted to our morning contemporaries for the following : — London-, August 12. On August 6th, General Von Kaincke attacked the French forces, under General Frossard, in a very strong position on the heights of Spieterm, to the west of Saarbruck. Other Prussian divisions cam j vis and General Von Golen took the command. After a fierce battle the Freuch were defeated and fled, leaving mauy prisoners in the hands of the Prussians. The entire French line then commenced are.ireat from the frontier, followed by the victorious Prussians, who advanced at all points into the country. The Crown Prince's head-quarters were at Say erne, last Monday, and the army of Frederick Charles and Steinmetz was also advancing. The Emperor of the French has resigned the oonitnaud of the army to Marshal Bazaine. The Prussians have formed an unbroken line aci oss the French frontier, while their advanced guard has penetrated for many miles iuto French territory. London, Sept. 2. On the 15th August, the King of Prussia telegraphed that a victorious battle had taken place at Metz. The First Division of the Seventh Army Corps vigorously attacked the French outside of Mfiz, :<r.d after a bloody fight drove them into town. The French loss is estimated ai 4000. The garrison at Strasbourg made a sortie on the 15th August, but were repulsed by the Prussians, aud lost three guns. N.-iiicy was occupied by a detachment ofPru-Bi-i.il Cavalry on the 14th August. Fouit-'i-u hundred German families, expelled fiom Paris, had arrived at Co- ! logne. Tie. King of Prussia has appointed Couits B >i) in, Bismarck, aud Bohlen, Govm ni»!-G< -nerals respectively of Lorraine and Alsace. ' The erman official accounts, dated ■ I7tb August, states that notwithstanding * the -i reat superiority of the enemy, they ! drove the French back into Metz, after hot fighiiui*, which lasted twelve hours. The : loss on both sides was heavy. ( Two Prussiau Generals were killed, jThe Prussians captured 2000 prisoners, two eagles, and seven cannon. •*

The Prussians attacked Phalsbourg on the 18th August, but were repulsed with a lo3S of 1300 men. Phalsbourg still held out on the 29th. The King of Prussia telegraphed on the 19th, stating that the French army had been completely defeated on the 18tl-, near Eesanville, and were driven back. Metz was cut off from communication with Paris. The battle lasted nine hours. The French array occupied a position inimical to the fortress. The Prussians attacked them, and by nightfall had stormed and captured all the heigh q. Four thousand prisoners were taken by the Prussians. It is calculated the French loss was 23,000. The French losses in the battles of the 14th, 16th, and 18th, were about 50,000 killed, wounded, and prisoners. The German losses were 40,000. The Prussians began to bombard Strasbourg on the 19th of August, from the right bank of the Rhine, near Kehl. The bombardment lasted till Tuesday night, the 20th. Much damage was done to Strasbourg. VPhe Prussians succeeded in entrenching themselves within a thousand yards of Strasbourg. They captured the railway station, outside the town, aud resolutely commenced to inarch on Paris a large Prussian force, round by Verdan, Their vanguard is between Chalons and Epernay. The Fourth German Army, under the Crown Prince of Saxony, is being formed . Thionviile is invested. Prince Frederick Charles has been reinforced by two divisions of the landwehr (the Prussian Militia). The Fourth Army, under Cohens, flank the Crown Prince. Three German armies are in reserve, forming the Prussian head-quarters at St. Dazier. The Prussians have arrived before Rheims, and other forces are in the departments of the Aube and Marne. They appear to proceed North, towards Rethel Vousier. The Prussians wiU not continue the march on Paris until after a battle with Macmahon. A French rumor asserts that the King of Prussia had dismissed General Steinmetz Rennals, whose army joins that of the Crown Prince. Vitry (Marine department) has capitulated . The Prussiaus deny that Bazine escaped from Metz, and say he is still there. The Prussians continue their movement towards Rethel and Vousier. They are in great force, and a great battle is imminent. . The following is from French sources: — • General Reboeuf has resigned the Major-Generalship of the army of the Rhine, and Bazaine has been nominated Commander-in-Chief of the Second, Third, and Fourth Corps of the Rhine Army. General Trocha, with the Eighteenth Corps, is at Chalons The newspapers of Rachel and Bern have been suppressed, A French squadron is before Kiel, where important events are expected. They have declared the north-western coast of Germany blockaded. The Corps Legisjatif and Senate voted an increase in the war credit of 10,000 millions of francs (query, 1000 millions) of francs. There is a forced currency of bank notes of 2400 millions. Algeria has been declared in a state of siege. The Cent Gardes (the household troops of the Emperor) have been disbanded. Toul refuses to surrender, and maintains a gallant defence. A fresh army is being prepared, with Bazaine Commander-in-Chief. Bazaine telegraphed on the 17th that he had fought a battle on the 16th, all day with the Prussians, between Rancourt and Thionviile. The enemy was repulsed, and the French passed the night on the position they had gained. The French won a battle near Gravellote. Official details of the battle of the 16th say that the Prussians were repulsed along their whole line. Their loss was considerable! and that of the French serious. A new loan of 750 millions of francs was issued on the 21st, arid was fully covered by subscriptions, which exceed 800 millions. Prince De La Tour Auvergne has notified to the neutral powers that France de-

clines mediation so long as a single position in France is occupied by the enemy. The French energetically protested against the violation of neutrality iv the conveyance of Prussian wounded through Belgium and Luxembourg. One hundred and fifty thousand old soldiers are assembling at Lyons, ar.d 80,000 of a similar class are at Paris.. The Legislatif Council has passed a bill for calling out all soldiers between twenty and thirty-five years of age; officers to be liable until sixty, and generals uutil seventy years old. Measures have been taken for fortifying Paris against siege. Trochu bus ordered the expulsion from Paris of all individuals having no ostensible means of living, and has also ordered the persous belonging to nationalities at war with France, to leave the departments which are in a state of siege. They said it would be better to quit France or live beyond Loire. The committee for defence hero decided to burn the crops and produce of the departments of the Marne and SeiDe on the advance of the Prussians. The French say their loss on the lGih was 15,000 men. The fighting is reported to be going on on the 28th at Stenay, near Belgium. The Belgium troops are uuder orders for the frontier. Statements made by the Times th-it the Empress Eugenic had asked for the mediation of the Queen, have been contradicted. Rumors that the Emperor is meutally ill, are unconfirmed. M. Lesseps has been gazetted Hon. K.G.C.S.I. Italy has called out two more classes for her army, and asked for a credit of 40,000,000, in order to provide for the safety of the kingdom. Mazzini has been arrested at Palermo. President Grant issued a proclamation, enjoining the strictest neutrality on the part of the people of the United States. Frelinghaysen has written declining the British mission. Galle, sth September. The French Emperor surrendered to the King of Prussia, who sent him a prisoner to Wilhelmshoe, near Cassel. Tlie Empress is in Belgium. The Prince Imperial is ill at Namur. ff The Parisians are in a state of great excitement and determined to defend Paris to the very last. A Republic has been proclaimed. Bismarck, accompanied by the Crown Princes of Saxony and Prussia are now marching direct on Paris. Ninety thousand French prisoners have been sent to Germany.

A hostile vote against the French Ministry was adopted by the Senate, ami they then resigned. General Manhauber, better known as Count Palikao, formed a Ministry which consists of Cherreau, Minister of Interior j Magne, Finance ; Clement Dupernois, Minister of Agriculture ; Jerome David, Public Works ; Dauvergne, Foreign Affairs ; Peurof, Minister of Justice. On August 1, there was a debate in the House of Commons on naval and military defences, when Ministers assured the House that everything was in the most satisfactory condition. On August Bth, Mr. Gladstone announced that a special treaty, to continue for one year after cessation of the war, had been sgreed to by England, France, and Russia, to secure the neutrality of Belgium. COMMERCIAL. Discount. s^. Consols, money, 91 to 91£ ; account, 91 1 to 91 g. The next wool sales will commence on 27th October. Arrivals to date, 68,523 bales ; afloat, 35,232 bales ; total quantity for disposal, including wools h^id over, is expected to reach 210,000 bales. 7814 bales were withdrawn. There was a thin attendance. New Zealand flax sales show a decline for common and medium sorts ; good bright parcels fairly supported, £24 10s. to £31 per ton ; common medium, £14 to £20j rough, £10 to £13. Prices obtained for wool average about the same as last sales. Quotations. — Bank of New Zealand, £17 to £19 ; Union Bank of Australia, £38 to £40 ; Bank of Australasia. £50 to £52 ; Bank of New South Wales, £37 to £39 ; New Zealand Sixes, 1891, £105 to £110; fives, £93 to £95; VictoriaD, £108 to £111. For remainder of News see Fourth page.