ARRIVAL OF THE ENGLISH MAIL AT HOKITIKA.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 277, 20 June 1868, Page 7

ARRIVAL OF THE ENGLISH MAIL AT HOKITIKA.

By the arrival of the s.s John Penn we are placed in possession of English news brought by the Suez Mail. We are indebted for the subjoined to the Grey River Argus and the West Coast Times. [By Electric Telegraph.] (from our own correspondent.) Hokitika, Tuesday, 8 p.m. The s.s. Avoca left Galle at 7 p.m. on the 19th May. Reached King George's Sound on the 3rd instant. The Alexandra arrived off Grlenelg at one p.m. on the 7th instant, after a passage of ninety-six hours from King George's Sound. The Auckland, arrived off Hokitika at 11 a.m. today. GENERAL SUMMARY. London, April 24. i The Queen held a drawing-room at Buckingham Palace on the 30th March. Afterwards visited Lord Derby, and on the 17th April proceeded from Windsor Castle to Osborne. Her Majesty leaves for Balmoral in May. The visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales to Ireland was most successful. They left London on the 14th, and reached Dublin the same evening and were most warmly welcomed. The Princess was presented with the White Dove. The general cry of the populace was, " Come and live with us." Next day they visited Punches town Races, and the Alexandra College: The Prince was invested by the Lord Lieutenant with the order of the Knights of St Patrick with great ceremony. The Prince goes to Belfast in autumn. Mr Peatherstonhaugh, the DeputyLieutenant of the County of Westmeath, has been shot dead near his own house. The debate on Gladstone's resolutions occupied four nights. On two divisions the majorities were respectively 66 and 66 against Government. Forty-eight speakers took part in the debate. Disraeli's friends find it necessary to state that he has been a Christian since childhood. The "Home News" says Disraeli was under the excitement of stimulants when replying to Mr Gladstone. A violent quarrel has taken place between Disraeli and Lord Cranbourne, who has gone to the House of Lords as Marquis of Salisbury in consequence of the death of his father. The Court of Arches decided that Ritualists must not use incense, nor elevate the elements, nor mix wine with water ; but they may have two lighted candles on their altar. Renewed attempts have been made to prosecute Governor Eyre. Negotiations relative to the Alabama claims are proceeding, The Government have introduced a bill to enable the Postmaster-General to acquire and work the electric telegraph lines. The Royal Mail Steam Co. intend from 2nd June to run their Atlantic steamers through from Southampton to Colon, thus avoiding the transhipment of Australian mails and passengers at West Indies. Expected change will shorten time and transit of mails to New Zealand to 48 days, and Sydney 55 days. Mr Whitmore, M.P., has declined the Governorship of Tasmania.

Mr Pope Hennessv is named as the probable G-overnor of South Australia. A large meeting has been held at Manchester in favor of female refuge. Nearly all the speeches were made by ladies. A message sent from Valencia to San Francisco by the cable was replied to in two minutes. The distance is 14,000 miles. The Government are about to call in all Russian guns for melting—their exhibition is considered offensive to Russian visitors. Two men were apprehended near Buckingham Palace in the act of carrying a hamper containing Greek fire, with the supposed intention of setting fire to the Palace. A London policeman has been sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for robbing a clergyman whilo taking him to the hospital. Lieutenant Bullock, R.N., has been killed in a drunken fight in the West End, London. Julia Mathews is playing burlesque with great success in Liverpool. Great Northampton Stakes won by Mariner. Oxford won University boat race. Trial of men charged with Fenian outrage at Clerkenwell proceeding— O'Keefe was discharged on the sth day. Discount is at 2 per cent. —Colonial securities are in fair demand—No decided improvement in trade—but it is hoped prices for wool would be maintained at next sales. OBITUARY. Lord Cardigan, General Simpson, Mr Edward Jesse, Mr Badaeley, Q.C., Hon. G. Knatchbull, Admiral Chads, General Sir L. Wetherall, Countess of Cottenham, Marquis of Salisbury, and Sir W. Alidy. CONTINENTAL NEWS. It is apprehended that difficulties will arise between France and Prussia over Schleswig-Holstein question. Lord Malmsbury states that the'alleged atrocities in Cretewere enormously exaggerated. Insurrection almost over, It is reported that the Emperor Napoleon intends going to Egypt in quest of material for a life of the Czar. A pistol duel has taken place at Munich between Baron Budberg and Baron Meyenoff. Former wounded. The last of the French troops leave Rome shortly. Commercial treaty signed between England and Austria. Similar treaty is being negotiated between America and Prussia. There is a change of Government in Spain. Narvaez is dead. Prince Humbert and Princess Marghereta were married by civil contract on the 22nd. Letters from Paris mention that the young lady who last year received the Monthion prize medal for virtue has been convicted of swindling. The Viceroy of Egypt is dangerously ill. Over a thousand mendicants have been found dead near Mostaganew in Algeria, between January and April. AMERICA. The asassination of D'Arcy M'Gee at Ottawa continues to excite great indignation in Canada. Whelan, an American Fenian, has been apprehended on suspicion. 14,000 dollars offered for the conviction of the assassins. Two others have been arrested on suspicion. A Fenian plot has been discovered in New York to blow up Parliament at Ottawa. The steamer Seagull has been burned on Lake Michigan, and fifty lives were lost. The steamer Magnolia, on Mississippi, has been blown up by an explosion of her boiler; forty persons killed. The evidence is concluded in the case of Johnston's impeachment. INDIA AND EAST. The chief officer and seven seamen of American ship Living Awe, which was burned at sea, have reached Bombay, The Euxine, from Leith to Bombay, was burned off Cochin; crew saved. The [ships' Ethel and Agamemnon came into collision at Hooghley Point. Both sank, with cargoes valued at one hundred thousand pounds. Several lives were lost. A cure for leprosy has been discovered at Bombay by a physician. An accident occurred in Eastern Bengal Railway through the negligence of a pointsman. Twelve natives were killed, and eight injured. ABYSSINIA. Abyssinian letters state that while General Napier was approaching Magdala, Theodorus ravaged the Gallas

country with fire and sword, and killed 300 chiefs with his own hand. Scarcely auy booty was found at Magdala, with the exception of weapons. In the Palace were found pianos, harmoniums, musical boxes, and Brussels carpets. Magdala would be given to the Queen of Gallas or to Wagshum. The battle of Arogee was precipitated by the mistake of Colonel Phayro. Sir Robert Napier sent him forward to see if the pass into the Valley was occupied by sappers. He sent a report that it was although sappers were not near it. A number of teams were then sent on with baggage and ammunition. The Abyssinians in Magdala, seeing valuable teams advancing with scarcely any guard, sallied out in great numbers, nearly capturing teams, &c. Sir Robert Napier rode up at the moment, saw the state of affairs at a glance, ordered up troops, and a battle commenced. The effect of the fire from the Snider rifles was awful. The troops charged with the bayonet, and the enemy fled in all directions. Sir Robert Napier ordered the carnage to be stopped, the valley of Arogee remaining in our hands. Magdala was remarkably strong, but the defence was spiritless. The enemy could not train their cannon, and the fire was harmless. Theodorus could not understand the rockets, which created a superstitious dread, and from that moment all was over. The captives were all found. They had been lodged beside the King's palace. All had good houses, and cellars were stocked with native spirits, and were amply supplied with provisions. "Whe Magdala was entered Theodorus lay dead beside the inner gate. The captives were crowding round the hands and feet of their deliverers, and women were chanting notes of welcome.

LATEST TELEGRAMS. GTalle, May 19. The Prince and Princess of Wales returned to London on the 27th of April, after their visit to Ireland. They visited Carnarvon on the route home. The Abyssinian war is over. A decisive battle was fought during a violent storm of rain, thunder and lightning, at dusk in Arogee Yalley ou Easter Monday. Next day the English troops occuried strong positions before Magdala threatening the town. Theodoras sent Lieutenant Prideaux and his flag with two captives, offering to release all the others at once, if Sir Robert Napier would assist him to consolidate his power. Sir Robert Napier, in reply, demanded the unconditional surrender of all the prisoners, promising, on that condition, protection to Theodorus and his family. Theodoras refused to submit to the force of a nation ruled by a woman. During that night he endeavored to escape with 500 followers to the mountains. However, the agents sent by General Napier had roused the Gallas tribe, who were offered very large rewards for capturing Theodorus, dead or alive. Finding he could not escape, Theodorus returned to Magdala. Next day, half his army, amounting to 5000 men, gave up their arms, and surrendered the strong positions of Gahla, Selassie, and Salamgee. The captives, sixty-one in all, were released. The German missionaries bringing with them their Abyssinian wives and children. At daylight on Good "Friday, fire was opened on Magdala. The town was soon afterwards assaulted by troops, who entered with little difficulty. Upon their entrance Theodorus shot himself through the head. Ilis body was found close by the inner gate. The garrison welcomed the invaders warmly. The army was to commence the return journey immediately. Of the Abyssinians, 5000 were killed and 1000 wounded. Numbers of the chiefs fell, their scarlet robes forming excellent marks for our riflemen. The English had one officer, Captain Roberts, of the 4th Regiment, and seventeen men wounded, not a man killed. Sir Robert Napier has been gazetted to the Order of the Bath. The news of the attack upon Prince Alfred, at Sydney, occasioned great sensation in England and India. The British Parliament adopted addresses to the Queen on the subject. The Government has been defeated on the Irish Church question. The Fenians, Burke and Shaw, were found guilty, and received sentences respectively of fifteen and seven years. The Submarine Cable from Malta to Alexandria is repaired. The capital is subscribed for the new Indo-European Telegraph. The race for the Two Thousand Guineas has been run. Moslem and Formosa ran a dead heat, and the stakes were divided. A protest was entered, and Moslem walked over.