THE HAWKE'S BAY HERALD. Napier, October 22, 1859. ARRIVAL OF THE ENGLISH MAIL. News to the 18th August.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 3, Issue 109, 22 October 1859, Page 2

THE HAWKE'S BAY HERALD. Napier, October 22, 1859. ARRIVAL OF THE ENGLISH MAIL. News to the 18th August.

The steamship "White Swan" anchored in the Roadstead yesterday evening, after a rapid passage from Wellington, via Castle Point. The August mails arrived in Wellington per "Lord Worsley" on the morning of Tuesday last. The Hawke's Bay mails are intended, for the future, to be forwarded via .Wellington, but in this instance it happens, unfortunately, to have been sent to Auckland, whence we may, with good luck, get it in course of another fortnight. We have to acknowledge the courtesy of the purser of the 'White Swan,' in furnishing us with the latest Wellington papers, from which we take the following abstract of news : — The English Parliament was prorogued on the 14th of August. The peace still continues. The political reorganisation of Italy, the return of 80,000 French troops, the celebration of the Napoleonic fetes, and the announcement of an extensive disarmament in the French army and navy, are the leading features in the Continental history of the world. Towards the close of the month the relations of England and France assumed a very threatening aspect. The official journals evinced a disposition to foster a quarrel on us in respect to our national defences, which were represented as an affront to our allies. Public inquietude was allayed by the resolution of the Emperor Napoleon to reduce his enormous forces to a Peace footing. The Army of Italy, headed by the Emperor Napoleon, made a grand entry into Paris on the 14th of August amidst fetes and rejoicings. The Emperor of the French has left 50,000 soldiers in Italy. Representatives of Austria, France, and Sardinia have met at Zurich, to draw up a Treaty of Peace, on the basis of the preliminaries agreed to at Villafranca. A Congress of European Powers is proposed'to settle the affairs of Italy. Great discontent at the terms of the peace continues to be manifest in most parts &f Italy. The Great Eastern was ready for sea, said to be bound to Calcutta, expected to make the voyage in 33 days-, and to carry 9000 to 10,000 persons. A satisfactory trial trip, with from 300 to 400 persons jjja board, had been made on the Bth of August. The • Kinnaird,' Wellington to London, put into Bahia leaky, on or before the 13 th of July. In England, 50 sail of the line will soon be afloat. It was determined to establish a reserve of naval volunteers, &0,000 in number, to be enrolled for 5> years. A sum of £5000 had been voted to W. H. Barber whose sentence of transportation had been remitted. Government have postponed for a time the consideration of the question of postal communication via Panama. The King of Prussia was dying of congestion of the brain. As deeply interesting to the Hawke's Bay settlers, we are glad to chronicle the fact that the second series of wool sales ended satisfactorily. The following is the report: — . The healthy state of the woollen trade da-

ring and after the close of the May sales ■with the comparative low prices led to an enormous consumption of the raw. material, so much so- that both dealers and manufacturers were bare of stock. A combination of favourable circumstances, both political and otherwise (and not now needing repetition,) imparted much confidence to holders, who expected, and the trade were willing to give, an advance of Id. to l|d. on most descriptions. These views were more than confirmed by the result of the opening sale the attendance of buyers, both home and foreign, being very large, and competition brisk at an average advance of l|d. to 2d., the latter being easily obtained on middle Port Phillip, which sold cheaply last sales. The first five nights witnessed a hardening market, and wool was with difficulty purchased at a shade above 2d. to 3d. advance, being readily paid on fair to useful Port Phillip, at prices ranging from Is. B|d. to Is. lid. ; the same remark may safely be applied to descriptions, although the former excited the most lively competition. An advance so great with a rising market, and nearly 100,000 bales for sale, caused buyers to pause, and immediate requirements having been satisfied, many went home, preferring to watch the course of the market and to note the buying powers of the French and foreign competitors, the former of whom had bought very freely for the first few nights. The room gradually thinned, and late purchases being found dear on reaching home (orders were received from the North by a few of the leading buyers not to operate at the then quotations,) led to great caution, and prices became weaker to the extent of about Id. to l|d., middle and faulty parcels from all ports — Sydney particularly-being mnch depressed. As is usual on the announcement of a slight decline, many returned from the North, and some large and important buyers felt more confidence at the firmness of importers, who announced, through their brokers, that at present rates many would feel disposed to hold, and thus relieve the market, if any tendency to a decline of any extent became apparent, so that after 40000 bales passed the hammer, prices gradually hardened, until they may be quoted about |d. to Id. below the opening rates, buyers generally bidding with more spirit.