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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 281, 29 November 1870, Page 2

The wool sales opened yesterday with a large attendance of home buyers. The Continent was poorly represented. A fair competition took place, aud last closing rates were realised. Fine wools are lower. The copper trade is depressed Australian £70. Tallow, 41s. to 435, Tlie steamer Cambria was wrecked on the Irish Coast, and only oue passenger saved. The Mail via Sau Francisco was delivered on the 2oth. Tho Brindisi route is substituted for tbe Marseilles route inwards and outwards this month; thc postage for letters is 13d. pet haif ounce, newspapers 6d. The Oriental Bank has declared a dividend of 12 per cent, Colonial securities firm. Victoria 111 to 112; Sydney 103. Consols 92£. [The above was published as an Extra last night. For the items which follow, we are indebted to our morning contemporaries.] Everywhere the Prussians are making firm their footing in. France, where they intend wintering, aud the German Parliament was to be convoked to vote I supplies. I Orleans was stormed, and after nine hours' fighting, the French were driven across the Loire. Half-a-million francs were levied on Orleans. A circular from the French Government at Tours, states that Bismarck wishes to reduce France to a second-rate Power, and he is reported to insist on tbe following conditions : — " That France shall pay to Prussia an indemuity for the expenses of the war of £80.000,000 sterling ; that Alsace and Lorraine shall be neutral with plebiscite in ten years ; and that the signature be made in Paris." The rejectiou of these conditions is reported. London, October 27. The Prussians prognosticate terrible consequences by famine ia Paris, while the French say they are provisioned for six months. Several sorties were repulsed, the Prussians maintaining the defensive until the bombardment commences. Earthworks are being thrown up, and the investing army is being reinforced, and everything is completed to ensure success. The French shelled and destroyed the Palace of St. Cloud. London, November 1. At noon to-day the big guns opeud fire. The Parisians continue au unavailing resistance, vainly expecting deliverance from without, and unconsious of the reverses met with outside. Io every other place provisions are becoming scarce ; an unsuccessful sortie was made from Mont Valerian. The Parisians themselves expect Paris will be able to hold out long. Germany held a grand religious ceremony prior to the bombardment commencing. The Prussians are extending themselves in Normandy and Southern France. , Fighting is proceeding at Ehernon, Rambouillet, and Toury, with varying success. The Prussians burned the village of Ablis for treachery. Iu the north-west the Prussians are advancing. They captured Amiens, and intended to take Rouen, so as to be able to draw supplies from tbe coast.

Soissons capitulated on 15th of October, after four days' obstinate defence. Four thousand prisoners and 132 guns were taken by the Prussians. Montdidier was captured on the 18th of October, and contributions of fifty thousand francs were imposed upon the inhabitants. Chateauduu, Chartres, and. St. Quentin were taken on the 2 let October, and two millions of francs were levied on these towns. Latterly the Prussians in th6 North were concentrating on Laon. Iu the South, they had advanced on Bourges. The Baden troups routed the Franc Tireurs in the Vosges, taking 60 officers, and 660 men. Thionville is being vigorously beseiged. Lille is preparing for its defence. The seige of Verdun commenced on the 15th of October, and on the 26th the commandant declared he would fight to the last. Mez teres was to be bombarded. Bitsche was invested by 50,000 Germans.