The Press. THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 1871.

Press, Volume XVIII, Issue 2534, 15 June 1871, Page 2

The Press. THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 1871.

Fhequekt postal communication and the extension of the electric telegraph are undoubtedly excellent things in their way. Commercially, no one could dream of disputing their vast, importance; nor are their political advantages, if less obvious, less undeniable. As we know in New Zealand, they enable the Government to be administered in distant parts of the country with a promptness and economy unknown before, and, by facilitating intercourse between adjoining countries, they assist the development of common interests which can hardly fail to operate as means of promoting amity and union. Besides, the bei f brought into familiar contact with t> a .' t fellows puts fresh life into a pc a ?*

enlarges. the bound of their sympathies und experience, inspires new ideas of progress, and Kelps to clear away that parochial-mindednesis which continued isolation and exclusive contemplation of their own-affairs is apt to engender. But from one point cf "view, your frequent postal services and } r our telegraphs, especially submarine, are vanity and "vexation of spirit. To a genuine lover of news—not for commercial reasons", nor for any sort of consideration of profit and Joss—but of news for its own sake, simply qua news—they are an unmitigated nuisance. Take the English mail for instance. The old monthly institution suited such a one to a nicety; Twelve times a year, at regular intervals, he received a well-filled budget, with ample time to discuss it thoroughly, bit by bit, and, Becure. against interruption for another month, to pore over tbe details of the past and speculate upon the future. But now, what with two services, and " latest telegrams " overlapping tbe space between, we are kept in a continual bustle. The mails tread on each others heels. One has scarcely time to arrive before another is due. Instead of having a full meal, with leisure for digestion and renewed appetite, we are fed with a perpetual succession of scraps. And what is worst, even of thene serappite of news, the fresh ness is so taken off by the latest telegrams that, when we get them, they are scarcely worth having. It is all very proper, of course. We live at the end of the 19th century, and must behave accordingly. Wβ are bound to go ahead, and to keep up with the spirit of the age. But let us confess that, in this particular instance, our privileges as niueteenth-century men, honorable as they are, have their inconvenience, and that there was something enjoyable in the jog-trot humdrum ways of our primitive ancestors, of ten years ago. The mail just arrived brings telegraphic news to May 15. ni'ae days later than that received by the last mail vid San Francisco. Of news however, strictly speaking, that is, of fresh intelligence, there is scarcely any. The French are still celebrating the conclusion of peace with a desperate internecine war — like Irishman, " fightin' like divils for conciliation." It is a misfortune for France that a little of this superfluous valour was not employed a few weeks previously against the enemy. At present the Versailles Governmeut seems to be getting the best of it, and—the insurgents being unsupported by the country districts and, as yet, by the other large townswill probably succeed, unless some fatal mischance occurs, in quelling the insurrection. Meanwhile the Prussians are loth to slacken their grip ou France. Prince Bismarck has officially stated in the German Parliament that the forta around Paris will not be surrendered until peace i» finally established, even if the firsfe rhefralmeuts of the indemnity are paid. We fancy he would willingly give up a good many of his two hundred millions, if he could thereby ensure a stable Government which could life relied On to:pay.the remainder. It.has been the weakness of his situation that, since the downfall of Napoleon„ there haa existed in France no real Government—no body of men possessed of authority entitling to speak in the name of the country, and of power guaranteeing the acceptance by their fellow countrymen of any terms they might make. The Prussians kave been much "blamed for not offering peace after Sedan. But with whom were they to negotiate ? Not with the Empress-Regent, who was flying for her lift*/ from Paris; nor with a self-appointed Provisional Government, which be overturned, at any monvent by the same following which bad raised it to power. So Thiers'. Ministry." com-, prisea some of the best known and ablest public men in the country • but wkafc certainty is there that it will last for six months ? What certainty is there that the Red Republicans will not get the upper hand ; and, if they did, what chance, would there be of the war indemnity being paid? It is a horrible mess; but so long as this state of things endures, Germany cannot absolutely reckon upon a cessation of hostilities, and, for the protection of ber own interests, is compelled to reremain prepared for armed interference. From America we hear that the Conference has succeeded in arranging the disputed questions about the Ala" bama and the Newfoundland fisheries. A report to that effect was received by tbe last; mail, and we are glad to frad it confirmed. As the American Commissioners were during the whole sitting of the Conference in daily. comt?iunication with their Government, we presume that this arrangement will be more fortunate than the Clarendori-Johnson treaty in being ratified Congress. The removal of these chxon'ic sources of misunderstanding between Great Britain and America must be extremely satisfactory to the Australian colonies. A war between t'ae two countries would put an enr\ to tbe mercantile relations they h a ve be>mn to establish with Ameri ,> Q to "eav nothing of the manner ir , yvbich their commerce would be harr 4gsed by privateers, or the danger tin- jf would be in of regularly c-rganiP J attack _ Ifc appears that the J' labama claiinß are to be submitted ' c 0 a court of arbi . tration; bufe ti» c tele g ra m does not mentwa the r . laimß of Canada foP damages su# , red from the Feniail inroads, wh; eh we understood were cusa to b- d cone i dere d by the ConT e&, ngle real item of news in the j teiegra- n - 8> f ortuna tdy, highly grati-! lying. Wool haa risen froaa a penny a . ..enriy-hairpehny per pound, aud f? .ate advices report that in the case New Zealand the advance has T eaehed twopence. This timely rise in the value of our staple commodity , will considerably improve the value of r pastoral property in the province, and I tend tor increased confidence in com,,|mercial circles. . -- -