ARRIVAL OF THE ENGLISH MAIL (VIA SAN FRANCISCO) AT AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 55, 10 February 1872, Page 9

ARRIVAL OF THE ENGLISH MAIL (VIA SAN FRANCISCO) AT AUCKLAND.

Auckland (via Katikati), Wednesday, 3 p.m. The Nevada arrived on February 7tb. She. encountered boisterous weather both ways. Was detained five days at Honolulu, waiting the arrival of the branch steamer. Passengers. For Auckland Mr Seed, Mrs Havell, L. Haselmeyer, Messrs Bacon, G\ Cook, Bonar, .3eistardt, J. Holdricht, 11. Rule. For Lyttelton—W. Howell ; and twenty for Australia. Freight.—Eleven packages for Southern ports, and 934 packages for Australia. Telegraphic news to January Oth. The East Lothian is loading for Auckland. Kerosene, 31 cents. Wool active. The stock of New Zealand on hand'is forty thousand pounds, at 58 cents and 59 cents. New Zealand flax quiet. Sold at 10 cents. The stock is 3650 bales. London, December 21. The produce .market is less active, and prices are irregular. Wool quiet, but very firm, Tallow quiet; 50s for sheep, 46s 3d for beef. San Francisco, January 6. The last steamer brought 64,0001bs of wool, of which 61,0001bs went on to Boston. It is supposed that Australian wool will not suit this market unless the duty be removed. Some hope is entertained that this will be done this session of Congress. Orders sent to Australia for tallow have been countermanded in consequence of the duty. Flour, local brands, superfine, 5 dols 75 cents to 6 dols ; extra, 7 dols, in sacks of 1761b5. Wheat, 2 dols 10 cents to '2 dols 30 cents per lOOlbs. Barley, 1 dol 70 cents to 1 dol 85 cents per 10010. Oats, no sales, nominal rates : 1 dol 75 cents to 1 dol 90 cents per lOOlbs. Liverpool, January 6. Wheat, 12s lid. Flax—Devitt and Hett, December 24, quote sales per England, from Wellington, Stuart, W. A., £22 to £22 ss; H. & Co. A, £2O 10s; H. & Co, B, £26. Per Crusader, from Lyttelton, SHT, £3ss 5s and £33 ; ABC, £32 ; 1 x WB x K, £32; FM, Grist Mills, £3O 15s; KH, £3O ; W. & Co, £29 15s; JA and EHB, £29 ; SHS, £27 15s ; J & JTW. £25 5s to £25 10s; W. & Co, £25 ; MAMH, £22 10s. Per Wild Deer, from Dunedin, BL, £32 ss; S, £3l; SH, £29 15s. Wool Hemulth Schwartz reports that the series of sales opened with an average rise of one penny per pound on closing rates of preceeding sales, and very slight fluctuations. It is expected that the advance will be fully maintained throughout. New Zealand Securities—New Zealand, 1891, 5 per cent, closing prices 110 to 112 ; ditto, 102 to 103 ; ditto Consolidated, 102 to 103 ; 0 per cent, 1891, 111, to 113 ; do 1891, 111 to 114. New Zealand Loan-and Mercantile Agency, five-eighths to seven-eighths per cent. New Zealand Trust Loan, If to If. Otago and Southland Investment, oneeighths to three-eighths per ceut. SHIPPING. Sailed—Crusader, for Canterbury. Entered —For Otago . Sir William Wallace. For Port Chalmers: Wild Deer. ENGLISH SUMMARY. The Prince of Wales is convalescent. His recovery was retarded by a painful affection in the hip. The Archbishop of Canterbury ordered the discontinuance of special prayers for his recovery on the 28th of December. The papers published a letter from her Majesty the Queen, in which it says she desires to express her deep sense of the touching sympathy exhibited to her family by the whole of the nation and for her dear son. " The feeling," says the Queen, " shown by her people during the painful and

terrible days of the Prince's illuess ; their sympathy with herself and her beloved daughter, the Princess of Wales, and the joy manifested at the improved health of the Prince had made a deep and ineffaceable impression upon her heart. These manifestations by the people were nothing new to her. She had met with the same sympathy ten! years ago when a similar illness to that under which her son was suffering removed from life the best, wisest, and kindest husband that ever lived." A letter published by a writer in- j formed on authority, and well posted regarding the secret societies of Europe, says the Prince was not suffering from typhoid fever, but from attempted poisoning by a secret agent of the International Society. That organization is said to have resolved upon the death of the Prince, and the public assertions of some of the members are urged as corroboration. The •' Herald," editorially, declines to endorse the story. The mail steamer from the Cape brings intelligence that the treaty for the annexation of the African diamond country to the British has been finally concluded. It produced much excitement in the territory. Brand, the President of the free State, issued a formal protest against the transfer to Great Britain. A discovery of gold in considerable quantities has been made in the Transvaal Republic. The reports attracted many adventurers. The diamond seekers are abandoning the diamond districts for the newly discovered gold country. Alarm is felt at Gladstone's Republican tendencies. The Conservative Section, led by the Duke of Somerset and Viscount Halifax, are seeking to form a coalition with the Tories for the purpose of electing Bouverie as Speaker of the House of Commons instead of Brand, in order to compel the retirement of Gladstone. A letter from Cairo says that a report is current that Sir Samuel Baker, and men exploring Central Africa, at the head waters of the Nile, had died of starvation. One report is that the men mutinied and shot Baker ; another states that only Baker and his wife are left of the expedition. At the installation of the Conservative Mayor of Limerick a tumultuous mob alternately hissed at the mention of the Prince of Wales, and cheered for " Wales," and cheered " Home Rule." The ship Edward foundered off Falmouth, and all hands were lost. St. Glasgow, a large road waggon propelled by steam, carrying heavy boilers, was passing through the streets, surrounded and followed by a throng of children, when the boiler exploded, ttnd five children were killed and seven seriously injured, whose recovery is very doubtful. A grand demonstration has taken place in honor of Sir Chas. Dilke. A floor in a crowded court room at Kitty Claghan, Leitrim, Ireland, gave way while a trial was in progress, precipitating 300 people a distance of forty feet; the number killed is unknown, but thirty were badly injured ; most of them fatally. The Government having refused to help the Royal Geographical Society to orgauise an expedition in search of Dr Livingstone, the Society appeals to the people for assistance, and great efforts are being made to start an expedition this month. Ex-emperor Napoleon, on New Year's Day, is reported to have said, " I will give Thiers six months Presidency of the Republic, and by that time Gambetta will be in his place, and the change will be favorable to the Imperial cause." FRANCE. The income tax has been rejected by the Assembly. Thiers spoke strongly against it. The circulation of the Bank of France is increased by the Assembly to four hundred million francs. An attempt was made at the town- of Charleville to assassinate a corporal and a trumpeter of a Bavarian regiment quartered in that place. The German military authorities commenced a searching investigation into the affair. Reported outrages upon troops in occupation of the Departments caused the issuance of orders providing for severe punishment of all persons guilty

of offences. One hundred are in custody of the Germans, taken as hostages for outrages. Summary proceedings will be taken in cases of murder. Unless the actual offenders are surrendered before the 27th, hostages will be courtmartial led. Bismarck declares that unless these horrible outrages cease the army of occupation will occupy such provinces, and expect burden of its support paid by France to be doubled. Algiers despatches report successes over the rebels. Two chiefs and 150 horses were killed. The Germans are making a census of private fortunes of the wealthier citizens of the invaded departments. Negotiations are on foot for the creation of a Banque des Communes, with a colossal capital. One firm has already subscribed forty million francs. The object of the institution is to realise the credit of the Communes for municipal purposes. There was an uproarious sceno in the Assembly, the occasion being the reading of a large number of petitions praying for the restoration of an anarchy. Some petitions wanted the Count de Chamboid, and others Count de Paris for King. The presentation of the rival claims excited the partisans of both Princes to frequent demonstration, while the Republican Radicals made a noisy opposition throughout the reading. The election of Victor Hugo to a seat in the Assembly is considered almost certain. A Select Committee of the Assembly appointed to consider the method of fjrming a new constitution, has made a report which rejects the plebiscitum. GENERAL FOREIGN NEWS. A German expedition to Venezuela has been commissioned to enforce the national claims against the Government of the South American Republic. The Ladies ofStrassburg have organised a committee to receive subscriptions towards the payment of the French indemnity. Fiske's regiment of Chasseurs has sailed. Half-past six o'clock—Colonel Blake said something in a broken tone, immediately after which he closed his eyes. The change in his face had become more apparent, the pallor more death-like, and moisture appeared on his forehead. His despatch to Constantinople announces that four Greek brigs have been wrecked in the Black Sea, and all hands perished. ROME. The army budget passed. The Minister of War declared there was no reason to begin aggression on the part of France. A number of Italian Archbishops and Bishops waited on the King at Christmas, and presented the congratulations of the season. The King has received the Minister, the members of Parliament, and the chief officials of the Government. Mazzini is seriously ill. A special ambassador was sent by the King to tender his congratulations to the Pope, who was unable to receive visits. The Ambassador was received by Cardinal Antonelli. Cyrus Field gave a banquet to the Telegraph Conference at Rome Twentyone countries, speaking twenty-six languages, were represented. AMERICAN NEWS. Fisk, jun., the great railroad speculator, was shot dead by Edward Stokes in the vestibule of the Great Central Hotel, New York. Three shots were fired, and Fisk expired next morning. Stokes has been arrested. The grand jury have found an indictment against Stokes and a Miss Manfield for attempts to blackmail Fisk. The funeral procession was more than a mile long. The revolution in Mexico continues. A despatch from Mier states that Trevino will move ©n Lenares with 1000 men to attack Matamaras. Henegosa with GOO men will co-operate. Queoraga retired from Mier, and Cortina is going to occupy that place. There has been a great snow storm on the Central Pacific railroad. The passengets turned out of the carriages, and shovelled snow for three days. 28 locomotives were smashed in ploughing through snow drifts. There was not a single snow plough on the Union Pacific

line. One gentleman had nothing to eat for several days' and became sick. A charge of half a dollar was made for a cup of coffee, and the same for a loaf of bread. Some of the passengers were 14 days on the train. A INew York despatch from London says the total number of deaths from small-pox in London, during the last year, was 8000. The average of the ninety-one years preceding was six hundred. The Medical Journal calls attention to the alarming increase of the disease, warns the public to adopt all precautions, appeals to the Government to interpose rigid sanitary regulations, advocates the establishment of special hospitals, and to carefully quarantine infected districts.