ARRIVAL OF THE ENGLISH MAIL VIA SAN FRANCISCO.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 803, 18 April 1871, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF THE ENGLISH MAIL VIA SAN FRANCISCO.

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) (per greville's telegram company, reuter's agents.) Nelson, April 17. The steamer City of Melbourne arrived at three p.m., to-day. She left Honolulu on the 28th of Mar«h. Passengers to Auckland, twelve ; to Sydney, eleven ; Kaye, as mail agent. She brings a large cargo for Auckland and Sydney. Latest dates are London, March 17 ; San Francisco, March 18. Sailed—New York, for Auckland, with a large cargo of kerosine, &c. London, February 24. A crowded meeting was held in London last evening, which expressed itsalf in favor of the disestablishment of the Church of England. In the House of Commons Disraeli made a powerful speech against the policy of the Government in relation to the Russian question. Gladstone replied, denouncing his interference and assuring the House that the conference would hear Russia's case in all fairness. General Duff laid bofore the House the budget for India, with a very favourable statomeut of the finances of the country. Washington, February 27. The Joint High Commission on the Canadian Fishery and the Alabama question met to-day, at the State Department, for the first time. King "William has telegraphed from Versailles to the Queen, as follows : " With deeply-moved heart and with gratitude to God, I inform you that the preliminaries of peace have been signed. The Bordeaux Assembly must now ratify." There was great excitement in Berlin.

Paris, Feb. 27. Sunday being the anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic in 1848, the Beds held noisy demonstrations. A police agent who attempted to interfere was seized by the crowd, tied to a plank, and thrown into the Seine, where he was drowned. Bordeaux, Feb. 28. The Assembly ratified the conditions of peace, and voted a denunciation of Napoleon and the Empire. Paris, March 1. The G-erman troops entered Paris to-day, at ten, a.m. Excited crowds having gathered at Montmartre and Belville last night, listening to incendiary speeches, and shouting defiance to the enemy, the authorities deemed it safer to throw up barricades at the cross streets on the line of march. At an early hour in the morning, preparations were completed. The streets were nearly deserted, being occupied only by strong bodies of French troops to preserve the peace. At tho appointed hour the first representatives of the G-erman Army entered within the enceinte under the eyes of the Emperor of G-ermany. The French troops vacated the streets as the Germans approached. The 11th corps advanced in two columus, one by Porte de Neuilly aud the other by Pont de Joiar. As the troops proceeded a long line of artillery took up position from Porte de Neuilly and from Pont de Jour to the Place do la Concorde. Germau Hussars galloped down every avenue leading to the Champs Elysees to search the streets branching therefrom. The staff rode down the Champs Elysees to the house of Queen Christina, where their headquarters were established. Behind the staff, came a battalion of the 88th, the Blue Dragoons, detachments of Bavarians, and a corps of artillery. There were no disturbances and tho people behaved admirably. Lo> - i>otf, March 1. There was much agitation in several quarters of Paris last night. The Emperor William refuses to enter Paris. Paris, March 2. Ihe "New York Herald" despatch

says that some of the troop 3 entering Paris were mobbed. There were cries of " "Wait till we enter Berlin." The war indemnity is made payable in instalments—One milliard (one thousand millions) iu 1871; double that amount in 1872 ; and the same in 1873. The preliminaries of peace provided that the above payments should be made ; that the evacuation should commence on the ratification of the treaty by the Assembly; that the Germans make no requisitions ; that the prisoners be immediately liberated on the ratification of the treaty. The Germans will hold the departments of Marne, Ardenne, Meuse, and Belfort until after the payment of two milliards. Berlin, March 3. The Emperor, in a despatch to tho Empress, announces that peace is definitely arranged. Berlin is mad with excitement. Paris is completely evacuated to. day. London, March 3. In the House of Commons, Glad- i stone was taken ill, and retired early. Dilke gave notice of motion regarding the Government's assent to a Conference on the conditions dictated by Gortschakoff. Sir B. Peel stigmatized Lord Lyons's course in deserting the British population as cowardly, and extolled the courageous behaviour of Washburne, the American Minister. The "Times," referring to Childers's health, says it will be impossible for him to resume his seat at the Admiralty Board within twelve months. The University Boat Race comes off on April 1. Washington correspondents aver that counter claims of Great Britain for damages to the property of Englishmen in America during the war of rebellion, and to Canada for injuries received by citizens of the Dominion during the Fenian raids, will probably be insisted upon and pressed by British members of the High Commission on the Alabama bill. Bordeaux, March 3. In the Assembly, Pavre proposed the abrogation of all laws restricting the right of the people to hold meetings and to form associations. The German forces have received orders to retire behind the line of the Seiue. March 4. Paris has resumed its orderly appearance ; the barricades have been removed, and the Boulevards are filled with promenaders. A restaurant on the Champs Elysees, has been gutted by the people for receiving and entertaining Prussians. Washington, March 6. All the members of the Joint High Commission dined together at the residence of the British Commissioners, on the evening of the 4th hist. In the House of Lords, this evening the Marquis of Salisbury attacked the foreign policy of the Government, showing that foreign powers were all contemptuous in their manner to England. Prussia had declined England's aid in the re-establishment of peace with France, and Russia had repudiated her obligations, solemnly agreed to at the end of the Crimean war. He urged tho re-organisation of the army. . Earl Granville protested against the attack, and the discussion ended by the adoption of an order for reprinting the text of the guarantees given by England in Continental matters. Gladstone communicated to the. House the unsettled condition of County West Meatb, Ireland.

Bordeaux, March 6. In the Assembly Louis Blanc, Victor Hugo, and Quinet demanded that the Provisional Government should return an account of their acts up to the capitulation of Paris. Deliseuse demanded their arrest on a charge of high treason. New York, March 7. A contract has just been signed by Julius Vogel, W. H. Webb, and Ben. Holladay for the establishment of a four weekly mail service between San Francisco, New Zealand, and Australia. The pioneer vessel to leave San Francisco on April 8 ; speed to be such that the mails shall be delivered in London from Sydney, and vice versa, in 48 days.

London, March 7. The "Times" announces that G-oschen succeeds Childers as the First Lord of the Admiralty. Stansfield succeeds G-oschen as President of the Poor Law Board ; Baxter succeeds Stansfield as one of the Secretaries of the Treasury ; and Lefevre succeeds Baxter as Secretary of the Admiralty. March 7. Napoleon has addressed a communication to the President of the French Assembly, protesting against the vote by which that body declared that his dynasty had forfeited the throne. Paris, March 14. "Versailles has been evacuated by tbe Germans. London, March 13. In the House of Lords Granville announced that the conference on the Eastern question had closed and that a treaty had been signed at the Foreign Office abrogating the resolution as to the admission of foreign men of war into the Dardanelles and Bosphorus. Pahts, March 15. Tho assembly has granted Thiers 3,000,000 francos for tho immediate expenses of tho Government. # The Czar sent a deputation of distinguished Russian military officer's to salute the Emperor ol Germany on his way to Berlin.

London, March 15. It is rumoured that the Princess Beatrice will marry the Marquis of Ely. A violent storm prevails throughout Great Britain, causing wrecks. The French Press is very bitter and insulting to England. Washington, March 16. The sessions of the Joint High Commission on the Alabama question, &c, ai'e held daily. There are only rumours as to the results. London, March 17. In discussing the Army Bill, last night, there vas a vigorous onslaught by members oi Commons on the purchase system. The Empress and Prince Imperial are at Dover, awaiting the arrival of the Emperor. The reported Spanish proposal to sell Cuba and Porto Rico to the United States is confirmed. The Montmartre insurgents remain in possession of a number of the Government cannon. The Emperor William arrived at Berlin amid great rejoicing Robert Chambers, the Edinburgh publisher, died to-day. In the House of Commons Disraeli violently opposed and Gladstone defended the abolition (if the purchase system in the army. The bill was read a second time. In the House of Lords, the Eail of Carnarvon related that of 300,000 barrels of powder in the Government arsenals all but 800 had been found to be worthless pebble powder. San Francisco, March 18. The s.s. Nevada is announced to leave this for on April Bth for Honolulu, Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, Port Chalmers, connecting with steamers for Sydney and Melbourne. The Nebraska, which follows, will proceed to Sydney direct, via Auckland. ENGLISH SHIPPING. Arrived: Excelsior, Argyleshire, Mary Shepherd, Auckland. Sailed: Rolsyn Castle, Otago ; Bethshan, Nelson ; Norma, Canterbury; Alexandria, Auckland. Loading Excelsior, Auckland; Coronella, Canterbury; Carrick Castle, WildJDeer, Port Chalmers. LATEST COMMERCIAL. Flax is very firm. Wool is in good demand throughout the Continent. In colonial securities—New Zealand, March 6 and September, have advanced one per cent. Neilson has gone to England to lecture upon the new steam service. Nelson, April 17. The third contract made by Vogel, on March 7, is reported to differ from Stewart's, being for a shorter period, and the boats are not to go to Sydney, if the same subsidy is offered to run down the New Zealaud coast. Other vessels will follow in the route of the Nevada, if practicable. The subsidy a waa refused by Congress. The Caledonia Company have lodged 13,6650z for the fortnight, independent of specimens now in the bank, containing 500oz. A dividend of £l2 per share was declared to-day. Harris and Bird, the champion pedestrians, are passengers by the Phoebe. for Canterburv.

Hewitt will follow by the Taranaki, and the trio will perform in DunediD, on the Queen's birthday. They met with great success in Auckland.