SPECIAL TELEGRAM.

Southland Times, Issue 1335, 15 November 1870, Page 3

SPECIAL TELEGRAM.

Nelson, Nov. 13. -The. San Francisco mail arrived at Auckland on the 12 th, and reached here at 5 .o'clock this evening. The dates are to the 12th October. The French were defeated in a battle at.Artenay. %_ portion of the army of the Loire waa also defeated. There have been barbarous retaliations on both sides. ' The French guerillas harrass the move ments of the Prussians. Garibaldi commands the French volunteers. England still remains neutral, but an alleged breach of the neutrality laws is likely to cause serious complications. New Zealand wool is quoted at from 6d to Is 9d ; flax, £12 to £31. The North Pacific Transportation Company have amalgamated with Webb, and now propose to run steamers through to New Zealand. Important proposals have been received by the General Q-overnment this mail. The time between San Francisco to New York has been reduced by 2£ days. There is no prospect of peace in Europe, but no danger of further European entanglements. The Prussians would be prepared to open fire on Paris from different points on the Wth. Sorties from the city greatly harrassed the Prussians. They rely on carrying the heights of Sceaux, 5500 paces from the city. The National Guard defeated the Prussians in an engagement 40 miles from Paris, driving them back. The French were defeated near Mezy with frightful loss. On the 4th, in a battle near the Chateau Galliande, the Germans retreated abandoning Pitheries, and being driven from Thionville. On the 7th they abandoned several French towns, including Soissons and Bitche. Metz is still besieged. On the 6th, Bazaine made a desperate attempt to cut bis way out, when there was frightful loss on both sides. It was rumored on the departure of the mail that Metz had surrendered, but the report was not believed. The Prussians were victorious in a battle at Stenary, but were defeated at St. Quentin. The French were defeated at Paufield. ' Gambetta, the Minister of War, made his escape from Paris in a balloon. The garrison of Paris comprises 400,000 National Guards, 100,000 Mobilles, and 60,000 .Regulars. The^russians were confident of being in Paris within a week of the commencement of the bombardment. The Duke of Nassau has been killed. Prince Frederick Charles is dangerously ill with fever. General Von Moltke is dead. It is believed Napoleon and Bazaine are endeavoring to negotiate a peace on terms involving the restoration of the dynasty.

Prince Napoleon is actively intriguing in London with the same object. The Prussian Ministry charges England with supplying the French army with materials of war. Count Barnstoff s\ya 150,093 stand of arms had been sent from England in one week. Prussia addressed a final note of remonstrance on the 4th, to which no answer had been returned. It is understood that a secret alliance exists between Austria and Prussia. The Spanish Cortes have asked England and Russia to mediate, but they refused. The Romans hare voted the unity o^ Italy. .The Groverninent pensions the Pope. The mail steamer was detained two hours for the following telegramß, wired by Greville :— The Parisians are steadfast and orderly, without anxiety with regard to food, and j claim to be fully prepared for an assault. A telegram from Orleans says: — "A that the shells fall in the outskirts." Severe fighting has been renewed at SI. . Quentin. | Advices from Metz state that the Prus- \ sians burned twenty villages, and execu- j ted 150 peasants who had been carrying ~i on an illicit warfare. The soldiers were said to be greatly dissatisfied with their situation, and counselled a surrender. j The Times says that Bismarck's policy is to render France powerless for offence or defence hereafter. | Garibaldi i 3 seriously ill, and unable to take the field. On the 7th a battle took place between Fort Valerian and St. -Cloud, when the French made a terrible sortie in strong force, compelling the Prussians to retreat on Versailles, and to entirely surrender the position from" which they would be enabled to shell the western part of the city. Oct. 12, 6 p.m. Metz has surrendered, with all the garrison. ___ _____^__ —