ARRIVAL OF THE ENGLISH MAIL VIA SAN FRANCISCO.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 936, 5 March 1872, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF THE ENGLISH MAIL VIA SAN FRANCISCO.

(per greville's telegram company, eeuter's agents.) The Nebraska arrived in Auckland on March 4, at 4'30 p.m. She left Honolulu on February \7. The Moses Taylor left San Francisco on Feb. 9, butwdught no mail in consequence of the snow blocking the road, which was expected to be cleared in a few days. The Nebraska made the passage from Honolulu in fourteen days eight hours.; Passenger, for Wellington, Mr J. Corcoran. Cargo, for Wellington, one package j for Dunedin, three packages. GENERAL SUMMARY. February 3. The claims of United States laid before the Geneva Arbitration Committee have caused great-excitement throughout Britain. England is charged with a knowledge of the character of the Alabama ; that it would therefore be regarded as a hostile expedition from a British port against the United States ; that Britain did not use due diligence to

prevent her departure from Liverpool, Jamaica, and other English ports; and that the Alabama received special hospitality at the Cape of Good Hope Similar charges are made respecting the Retribution, Georgia, Tallahase, Oluske, Chicancey, and Shenandoah. The United States demand that, in making award, not only the losses of individuals by destruction of their vessels and cargoes by the Florida and its tenders should be considered, but the expenses of the United States in pursuing the vessels should be also taken into account. London", Feb. 3. The " Times " declares that England must give immediate notice to the Geneva Arbitration Committee and to the Government, that if the American demands are as reported, efforts at arbitration may as well cease. The " Daily Telegraph" reports that negotiations had been opened between England and America, and that the British representations were not received in a friendly manner. Other journals criticise the American case with great severity, urging Government to declare its opinion against the demand for indirect damages. Chief Justice Cockburn has officially counselled the Cabinet that England must recede immediately from the Treaty of Washington, leaving America to decide between a new treaty or war. The Cabinet Council are now discussing the terms in which this resolution shall appear in the Queen's speech at the opening of Parliament. The " Advertiser" asserts that Chief Justice Cockburn will withdraw from the arbitration, and that the Government will repudiate the Washington Treaty. " Daily News" says that the position of the Government is backed by the seutiment of the country. The Prince of Wales will embark for a cruise in the Mediterranean during April. Extraordinary storm in the south of England; streams overflowed, and whole villages were deluged. Great damage was done in the valley of tlte Severn. AVindsor suffered severely. The upper portion of London on the Thames was flooded. Mr Otway, M.P. for Chatham, addressed his constituents on political affairs, expressing his opinion that the state of Europe present complications which might lead to wir, and that before the claim of the United States in the Alabama matter could be allowed a war between the two countries became necessary. The African mail steam packet M'Gregor, on her way from the Cape of Good Hope for England was wrecked on the Guinea coast; passengers and crew saved. In the Tiehbournr* case it is said that there are three hundred witnesses for the defence. The-claimant's chances are considered to be weakening. In answer to representations by the Anti-slave Trade Society regarding the non-fulfilment of the "treaty for the suppression of the slave trade, Earl Granville said that undoubtedly Spain had infringed on the treaty, but the matter was too intricate for England to interfere at the present time when Spain had an insurrection on her hands Lady Franklyn offers £2OO for the recovery of the records of the ships Erebus and Terror. Upon the nomination of Nolan, the Home Rule candidate for the House of ' Commons in Galway, Ireland, serious riots ensued; many persons were wounded. Election excitement in Kerry ruus dangerously high. It is reported that Fenians are organising mobs to support Blennerhassett (Home Rule candidate), and that priests are threatened with violence. John Bright has writteu to the three Douoghus denouncing Home Eule. Feb. 5. Tone of the Press on Alabama claims slightly moderated. Looking forward to the Queen's speech to-mor-row tor positive announcement of stand taken by Government with regard to the American claims.

The " Times " of Saturday has the following language :—" We repudiate the construction which has been put upon the Treaty of Washington in the American ease, and must withdraw from arbitration if this construction is insisted upon. But this point beina rectified we are ready to stand loyallv by the treaty." J The "Times " to-day fears that the attempt to solve the Alabama difficulty may prove abortive, but hopes that failure will not excite bitter feeling in America. The " Saturday Review " thinks that the United States prefer to have no settlement, but wish to hold the Alabama claims as a perpetual menace for political purposes. The " Pall Mall Gazette " claims to have seen an early copy of the Queen's speech to be delivered at the openino of Parliament to-morrow, and give's the following abstract:—" The Queen congratulates -the Parliament on the state of the country, delations with all the nations of Europe are of the most friendly character." Considera ble space is devoted to the subject ol the Alabama claims, on which thf Queen says :—" To uphold the exteii of my international obligations, I hav f concluded a treaty with the Unite; States for the settlement of ques tions discussed for several yean it having become obvious that ttl rumors of war are avoidable by peace! ful arbitration, instead of arbitrarneJ by the sword. I have given conseij to refer the Alabama claims (:auseg by a pardonable oversight on our part™ an International tribunal—the highel authority to which a decision coufd I intrusted. The negotiator's olaimswaß notexpressly limited todirectlosses; ail therefore the President of the Unit] States preferred considerable indiij claims, to many of which my GoverS ment has demurred. I hope tfl amount to be ultimately defrayed ml! not exceed the French payment* Germany." The Queen deplores tH troubles in India ; congratulates Pal liament upon the condition of tm finances of the country and collect* of unprecedented revenues ; refersH the peaceable state of Ireland; pfl mises to introduce biils in relational voting by ballot, for the regulatiouH modes of acquisition of railways fl the State, and for the regulation I licenses for the sale of liquors. f Sir Charles Dilke organised a lafl meeting in Trafalgar square to-nigß fully 10,000 persons were present. If Prince ol Waies attended churclß Sandringham yesterday. | The "Times" complains that gp American case has been translaß into continental languages, and siH tererl broadcast over Europe. IfM tended to make retraction impossß no method could be more effectiveß Continental Bonapartist agents fl actively distributing pamphlets, B ing the restoration of the Empire. I The proposition to confiscate B Napoleon family property was receß with shouts of derision by the B sembly. I The French Government entertß the idea of ceding the monopoly ohfl sale of tobacco to .Rothschild and IS and other bankers for thirty yeS on condition that they furnish fufl immediately to pay the German B indemnity. | The Emperor of Germany I knighted and conferred the Ordeß Merit on Sir Edwin Landseer. i Eadical party in Madrid denouß the outrages perpetrated by B Spanish authorities in Cuba. j The French Assembly by cfl whelming majority has authorisedß Government to terminate the CB mercial treaties with England S Belguim. The Spanish gunboats captumß English schooner for landing confl band of war in Cuba. Strong religious excitement H Europe between Old and -B Catholics. The movement spreading in B many under the leadership of Dt B Plan for a Republican revolufeß uprising organised over the gB south of France. j The Pope granted an audiewß the Grand Duke Michael, brotberß

e the Czar of Kussia, which is indicae tive of reconciliation. it An investigation shows that the dise turbances at Barcelona, Spain, were ,y fomented by the International Society, ij many members of which organisation o are now under arrest. y The Captain-general of Cuba sends a reassuring despatch to Government 0 that he has just made a journey y through the districts, and decides, j't from personal observations, that he is D certain that the insurrection will be ended by March or April. He makes requisition for 2000 fresh troops from Spain, with which he purposes to bring the war to a conclusion. Calcutta, Feb. 5. Deputy - Commissioner Cowan ordered fifty Kooka mutineers to be blown from the mouths of cannon. Congress proposes to increase the mail subsidy to Japan to 1,000,000 dollars, double the present amount; service to be fortnightly instead o monthly. Seven millions four hundred thousand pounds weight of tea were imported by that route during the past year. The grand jury at New York found 1 indictments against the Tammany I King. Mayor Hall is reported among I the indicted. Smallpox is raging at New York ' and Philadelphia. The cashier of the Rhode Island National Bank is under arrest for embezzling 200,000 dollars. The winter has been unusually severe throughout the Northern and Western States. A series of heavy snow storms on the plains between Salt Lake and the Missouri River, which completely blocked up trans-continental railway tracks. No mails have been exchanged between East and West for several weeks, trains being snowed in at various points. On the route passengers are reported as suffering greatly from want of provisions and intense cold. Great efforts are being made to clear the road. This blockade has given a new impetus to another and more southern road across the continent. The Grand Duke Alexis continues his tour through the States, receiving public entertainments from city to city, in company with army officials.' He had a grand buffalo hunt on the plains. Great excitement prevails amongst the Washington officials. There have been constant conferences between the representatives of the English and American Governments. The English legation represents the situation as of the gravest character. President Grant is firm that the case as presented by the United States should not be amended or withdrawn, regarding the Geneva Commission as a Court, and leaves the question to its decision. Despatches from the American Minister are to the effect that the excitement in London is intense, but no recommendations are made; Euglish Ministers argues that the General Commission should be treated as an amicable conference. The " New York Herald " says that the British representative at "Washington being instructed to make proposals for accommodation and for compromise ot Alabama claims is an insult to the United States. If Britain is liable for loss of our commerce, and prolongation of the civil war, the damages awarded must be paid peaceably or be collected at the point of the bayonet. The " Times" says that the action of the British Government will be matter of surprise to the Americans. The " Tribune" says that if popular clamor in England should compel withdrawal from the Treaty of Washington, it is not the United States that will be the heaviest losers. The " Herald " says that it looks as if the administration had overstepped Us work in trying to make capital out of the controversy, and if its work is repudiated, the public vrdict will be that the President and his advisers have made a bungle instead of a settlement.

Strong efforts are being used to make San Francisco a free port.

Heavy rains last month overflooded the rivers, doiDg much damage to property. Prospects good for a bountiful harvest this year. In the Legislature the question of the repeal of the fence law has been debated. The Japanese Embassy to the Treaty Powers, consisting of five of the principal ministers of the empire, accompained by sixty secretaries, interpreters, and servants, arrived in San Francisco. They made a close examination of the various branches of the government and manufactories, and were entertained at a great banquet. They have left for Washington, on their way for Europe. COMMERCIAL. London, Jan. 20. Strong inquiry made for wool; prices very firm, with upward tendency. Tallow active. Speculative demand for Australian mutton closed at 495, being an advance of Id per lb. - New flax in good demand ; further rise of 80s per ton. Hides active. Sales of Australian full at previous rates. Leather very active. All descriptions of Australian advanced. At Boston 52,000 lbs of New Zealand wool fetched a first-rate price, 55c to 56c. SHIPPING. The barque Lancelot sailed with 4050 cases kerosene. The William arrived from Dunedin, and is loading for Kelson.