IMPORTANT NEWS FROM AMERICA.

North Otago Times, 22 September 1864, Page 3

IMPORTANT NEWS FROM AMERICA.

NEW YORK, Jiu/r 13. Gold risen to 282. A financial crisis expected. Mr Secretary Chase lias resigned. The Western States express an inteution of seceding from the Union. General Grant, after attacking Lee on the Chickahominy, suddenly joined his fotces with those of Oerie ral Butler, and assaulted Petersbuig City, twenty miles south of .Richmond. After two despeiate attempts in one day, with loss of 8,000 men, Grant was obliged to abandon the position. Severe engagements have taken place in Georgia. The Fedeials, undei General Sheiman, weie defeated with tho loss of 4,500 men. The Confederates, assuming the offensive, invaded Maryland, defeating the Fedeial General Wallace, who nought to withstand their advance. The Federals retreated on Baitimoi'0 in disoidei. An invading foice, estimated at 50,000 men, under General Lee, according to the latest repoits were within four miles of Baltimoie, and fix of Washington. They captured the piiv.ite despatches of Secretary Stauntou, Geneial Giant, and others, cut the telegiaphic wiies connecting Washington with Now Yoik, bioke up ladloads and destioyed biidges to pievont communication with the North The Baltimore banks have removed their valuables on boaid stoamers. The Governor of Pennsylvania \irges people to volunteer, as Government considei the cise uigont. Governor Seymour has called out all the state militia in readiness foi heivice, Those of New Voik, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts showed great indisposition to respond to the call for the defence of Washington The Federal Government havo appealed to the banks for a loan of fifty million dollais for the immediate wants of Govei nnient.

NEW YORK, July 15. The Confederates, after making denionsti iitimib against Foifc Stevens, rethcd on Thins Jay from bofoie Washington, aurl leciossed the Potomac with immense quantities of phimlor. Telogiaphic communication with Washington has been re-established. The invasion is consideied abandoned.

2vEW YOKE, July 16. The Confederates made demonstrations againstGiant's left, with the object of getting in his lear. Geueial Sherman is repotted to havo crossed the Chattahooclue, and anived befoie the defences of Atalanti. Gold, 2D4$. The Northerners no longer feel much 'enthusiam for the war. The war paifcy declaie jmblicly that the South cannot be conqueied. and that the Noifh ought not to stuvo any longoi to accomplish a puipose so fatal to hoi own liberty.

(To the Editor of the Oamartt Tiaies.) Sir, — Ab improvements in, and connexion with, Oamaru aro likely shortly fco be discussed, it may not be inappropriate once more to call attention to the state of the road between hero and Alberton. The Grsfc obstacle which is worthy of attention is the Whare Kauri. The nature of the difficulty is too well-known to need explanation. It is certainly a most troublesome and dangerous ascent, and in many cases, were it not for the courtesy and willingness of the present proprietor of the Accommodation House to assist, accidents of a serious nature might have happened. I have heard several competent persons express their opinion that it might be effectually remedied at a cost of between £250 and £300. The culvert in an embankment made by the Liudis, immediately on the other side of Mr M'Lean's station, has been washed away, making that part of the road quite impassable. Everything has now to be taken hy the old road, across a dangerous ford, which tho embankment was made to avoid. Tho road farther o i — where, at tho best of times, it is narrow enough — is dow rendered dangerous by the fall of stones, &c,

from tho banks. On tho other side of what are known as the " Lindis Downs," uro several awkward little creeks, which, now ilie wool season is drawing near, need immediate attention. Tho whole of those last-named improvements might be made at a comparatively trifling cost — say, tho employment of a few men for two or three months. — Yours, &e., GrEOKGE Sl/MPTER. 2, Thames-street, Oarnaru, September 19, 1864.