ARRIVAL.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 712, 17 September 1870, Page 2

ARRIVAL.

OF THE. AIREDALE AT NELSON WITH THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL. EUROPEAN NEWS TO AUG. 10. GEEAT BATTLE BETWEEN THE FRENCH AND PRUSSIANS. SUDDEN ADVANCE OF THE PRUSSIANS. THE FRENCH SEVERELY DEFEATED. THE FRENCH LOSS, 30,000 MEN. ANOTHER GREAT BATTLE IMMINENT. PARIS IN TUMULT. OUTCRY AGAINST THE EMPEROR. HIS ANSWER DEATH OR VICTORY. NEW FRENCH MINISTRY FORMED. PARIS DECLARED IN STATE OF SIEGE. EVACUATION OF ROME. NEW TREATY FOR BELGIAN NEUTRALITY DENMARK AND ITALY EXPECTED TO JOIN FRANCE. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGBAPIT.) (prom ottr owh correspondent.) Nelson, Friday. The s.s. Airedale arrived at the wharf at 10.20 p.m. yesterday. The following are the special San Francisco telegrams prepared for the Press Telegraph Association : Auckland, Sept. 13. The s.s. Wouga Wonga has arrived with the mail and the following passengers :

For New Zealand : Rev. Mr and Mrs Neville, Mr aud Mrs Farnell, Messrs G. M. Maclean, Tiune, Buchanan, Billet, Gallagher, Wallis, Mackey, J. L. Chapman, P. Johnson, Mr and Mrs Montoran. In the steerage, 9 adults, and 3 children.

For Sydney and Melbourne : Cabin, 6 ; steerage, 22 adults and 7 children. The news is highly important. On August 4th the Prussians gained a battle, and captured Weissenbourg. On the 5 th they advanced on Haguenau. On the same day, and on the 6th there was a great battle between the two armies, when the French, under Macmahon, were defeated by the Prussians suddenly advancing through the forest, which Macmahon had wished to be burnt, but the precaution was overruled by Napoleon. The French were forced to fall back. Frossard's corps was also defeated and retreated on Metz. On the 10th, at midnight, there was a great battle imminent. Strasbourg was surrounded by 50,000 troops, chiefly South Germans. The Prussians were advancing from Saarlouis and Treves, and were expected to make an immediate attack on the French at Metz. The French losses are estimated at thirty thousand. Napoleon was at Metz and Chalons. Paris was in a state of tumult. The people were calling for arms, and upon the Government to send all soldiers to the front; also for Napoleon to resign the command, and for the Assembly to rule. Napoleon refused, suppressed the Republican journals, dismissed the Ministry, formed one of a reactionary character, aud declared Paris to be in a state of siege. There was an outcry for the Emperor to return to Paris. He replied that he would not return unless dead or victorious. In the Assembly there have been great disorder and scenes of violence.

A Bill for national defence has been adopted, aud the payment of all commercial contracts postponed by decree for one month "to leave all minda free to defend the country." Unless there is a speedy victory to French arms, a revolution's immiiicnt. The Emperor is reported to bo ill, and the Empress and the Prince Imperial are to be sent to a safer refuge. It is stated that the Empress's jewels have arrived at the French Legation in London. (?) The Prussians are said to have 800,000 in the field, and the needle-gun is declared to be superior to the Chassepot.

The French Assembly is displeased with the new Ministry, and proposes to displace it, and form one of their own choice under I)e Frochu.

The British Parliament has been prorogued.

The Queen's Speech at the prorogation refers to a new treaty in which France, Prussia, and all the powers have joined to support the Belgian neutrality The Government, therefore, did not think it necessary to arm the country. The French have evacuated Borne. Napoleon's first despatch to the Empress, dated August 2nd, said " General Frossard, with one division, defeated three divisions of the enemy. Louis (the Prince Imperial) has received his baptism of fire. He was admirably cool, and a little impressed. Louis and I were in front, when the bullets fell about us. Louis keeps as a souvenir a bullet which he picked up on the field. The soldiers were delighted at his tranquillity. We lost one officer and ten men." When news of reverses came, the Ministry suppressed the intelligence. A despatch from the Emperor finally admitted serious defeat, but declared that all was not lost, and called upon France to rise as one man and serve their country. LATEST COMMEBCIAL. Wheat rose in Liverpool to 12s per bushel. Now firm at lis 3d. Markets in California are much disturbed. Wool has au upward tendency, and the advance of oue penny to twopence per lb is maintained. New Zealand flax and kauri gum are firm at last quotations. Good wheat in California is quoted at one dollar sixty cents. _ Hides are firm at previous quotations. Another and special telegram of August 9, received by the San Francisco "Bulletin," quotes consols 91| for money, and 91|- for account. Tallow quiet and steady, at an advance of one shilling, from the probability of Kussia being involved in the war. Fine mutton 40s to 43s 3d. Australian dull and no sales. Wool dull; sales made at fair prices, but nothing practically doing. Hides languid. Flax: Low qualities neglected, fair qualities firm. Sailed: Melila, for Wellington; May Queen, for Orngo, August 5. Shipping trade very dull. AMERICA. The Bill to subsidise Webb's line of steamers has lapsed, but will be among the first business taken up when Congress meets. The Pacific Transportation Company will put on the Moses Taylor, 1534 tons, next month, from San"Francisco to Honolulu. Collie, Stewart, and Co. write to the " News of the World " that their line will be put in immediate operation on the receipt of documents from Australia, showing that the colonies will pay the balance of the subsidy. It is a*ked that the Colonial contribution may be largely aided by subsidies from America and the Pacific Islands, in order that the services may be performed by the largest and fastest steamers.

LATEST TELEGRAMS. Pabts, Aug. 10. The Bourse is firm. The Bank of France has reduced discount to six per cent. Denmark sanctions the use of Elsinore as a base of operation by the French. Denmark, as also Italy, are expected to join Franco. Chenguarricr has ioiucd Naooleon's staff. FURTHER COMMITTAL OF MR HARRIS. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) (frou our own cor respondent.) NeIiSOM", Thursday. Francis Harris was brought up yesterday afternoon on two charges of fabricating false vouchers by altering the dates of duplicate vouchers, and passing thern off.as new receipts for payments. He was committed for trial on both charges. The Crown Prosecutor said that numerous other charges of the same kind could have been laid against the prisoner. Sailed—Phoebo, for the North, at ten last night; Lima, for Wellington, at noon to-day. PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT. "Wellington, Sept. 13. Parliament was prorogued this day at one o'clock. The Governor, in his speech, congratulated the Assembly on the friendly feeling established be-

tweon England and the Colony by the Commissioners, aud upon the establishment of the San Francisco mail service, besides the several measures of commercial importance passed during the session. He referred to the introduction of the Torrens system of land transfer as a great social and eco nomical reform, and to the Ballot Act as a useful measure. With regard to the European war, the speech simply said: —" I am sure you will join with me iu deploring the intelligence just received, of the commencement of a great European war, and in hoping that it will soon be brought to a clo.-e, and that the friendly relations ■of Great Britain with foreign countries may not be imnerilled." As his Excellency finished, the honorable the Speaker of the Legislative Council roso aud said it was his Excellency's will and pleasure that Parliament should stand prorogued till Tuesday, the 11th day of October, and that it stood prorogued accordingly.