ARRIVAL OF THE ENGLISH MAIL VIA SUEZ.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 781, 25 February 1871, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF THE ENGLISH MAIL VIA SUEZ.

LATEST DATES TO JANY. 20. BOURBAKI IN THE EAST. BO MBA ROME XT OF PARIS INEFFECTIVE. THE THREE FRENCH ARMIES REPULSED BUT PREPARING TO CONTINUE THE OFFENSiVE. PROTESTS AGAINST INCENDIARY SHELLS USED IN BOMBARDMENT. GERMANS REFUSE ARMISTICE TO BURY DEAD. NO NOTICE OE INTENDED BOMBARDMENT. WOMEN AND CHILDREN EXPOSED TO THE FULL HORRORS OF THE SIEGE. GERMANS REPULSED AT DIJON. PROBABLE SETTLEMENT OF THE EASTERN QUESTION. JULES EAVRE TO REPRESENT FRANCE AT CONFERENCE. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) (from our own correspondent.) Hokitika, Thursday, 2.40 p.m. The s.s. Ruugitoto, with the European Mail, arrived at Hokitika this morning, at eight o'clock, having leit Melbourne on the 17th instant. She experienced moderate weather throughout the passage.

Passengers : For Wellington—Mr Daly, Messrs Robertson, 11. Reid, T. B. Cash. For Lyttelton—Messrs G. A. Macquarie, M'Douald. For Dunedin —Mr James Smith, Mr and Mrs Robert Harper; besides 40 steerage passengers for all the ports.

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS London/, January 20. Reeroy lias capitulated,the Germans taking 3000 prisoners. The Germans have invested Mezieres and Peronue. The Army of the Loire, under Chancey, after five days' fighting, were totally defeated by the Duke of Mecklenburg and Prince Frederick Charles. Twenty thousand prisoners and a large quantity of stores were captured. All hope of relieving Paris is over. General Bourbaki, after three days' fighting, failed to relieve Belfort, which is invested by Werder. Longwy is besieged. Paris has be.en bombarded on tb e south .and east sides for ton days. The German fire increases in severity and range. Public buikliugs have been damaged, but the loss of life is small. Several desperate hut unsuccessful sorties have been made. St. Quentin was taken on January 22nd. Lavallc and Tours are occupied by the Germans. The town of Longwy has boen burnt. The Germans attacked Dijon on Jany 21st, in great force. The French maintained their position. Bismarck has revoked the order to abstain from capturing French merchantmen, London, Jan. 23 The three armies intended to relievo Paris are thoroughly beaten. General Chancey is retreating. The army of the North, under General Faidherbes was totally defeated. Ten thousand prisoners and 29 guns were taken at St. Quentin. A great sortie from Mont Valerien, on January 19th, was repulsed. The French are reported to be suffering severely in Paris, and General Trochu is seated to be wounded. A proposal for an armistice, in order to bury the dead, has been refused.

The Parisians are much cast down. Gambetta advocates a continued resistance, predicting an ultimate change in the fortune of war. The Queen opens Parliament on the Oth of February,