“EXPRESS” TELEGRAMS.

Marlborough Express, Volume V, Issue 261, 19 November 1870, Page 5

“EXPRESS” TELEGRAMS.

(From our own Correspondent.) ARRIVAL OF THE ENGLISH MAILS VIA CALIFORNIA, WITH DATES TO OCTOBER 12. The Wonga Wonga arrived at Auckland 2 p.m. on Friday last. She reached Honolulu on the 23rd October at 2 - 30 p.m. ; she experienced a heavy gale on the 9th October from the N.E., which lasted to the 11th. Left for Auckland on the 25th October, and had fine weather during the passage. On Sunday last she broke a cylinder, or would have been here 26 hours sooner. Passengers for Auckland, from Liverpool—Saloon : Mr and Airs C. Hood, Mr and Mrs W. M. Neilsou, Capt. Gordon, Messrs W. A. Berm, D. Murphy, C. Melbourne, W, Gendenhire, M. A. Stevenson (mail agent), and 12 steerage. For Sydney and Melbourne —Mr and Mrs W. A. Magasty, Mrs L. E. Greeman, Mr and Mrs J. B. Hood, Messrs A. T. Magarey, IL J. Earl, and J. Young; second cabin; Mr R. Powell, and 9 steerage. Cargo—2so kegs sugar, 8 bags of papers for Sydney, 316 barrels salmon, 100 bales pulu, 275 barrels salmon, 20 bags rice, and 40 bags sugar. The steamer Moses Taylor sailed from San Francisco on the 12th October, with 52 passengers and 50 mail bags for New Zealand. The North Pacific Transportation Company has amalgamated with Webbe to run his steamers through, and will get the American subsidy. Important proposals come for the Colonial Government on the matter. The Convention at Chicago took action respecting the Australian through traffic. Reduced rates are adopted. Passengers will be allowed 250 lbs baggage, free; and the journey from New York to San Francisco will be done in five days. The Cunard and Inman Company are to have a boat waiting to take the Transportation Company’s passengers, at low rates. It is to be hoped satisfactory arrangements will be made with Colonial interests; otherwise they will cause connection with the present line at Honolulu. An important postal treaty between America and New Zealand has been ratified. It confers special privileges on New Zealand, and America undertakes not to transmit the correspondence of other Colonies across the continent unless New Zealand consents, and fixes the new postal rate. London, Oct. 12. Commercial. Great consumption of wool is much interfered with by the war. Sydney and Melbourne, 6d to 2s ; Tasmanian, 5d to ls7d; New Zealand, 5d to Is 9d ; South Australian, 4d to Is 3d. Australian cotton BAd to lOd. N.Z Flax : 3400 bales offered, 1100 sold at prices ranging from LI 2 to <£3l ss. Tallow is in good demand. For Australian, new beef, 41s 9d ; sheep, 42s 9d. Copper dull at £7l 10s. Leather quiet. Australian hides, 10|d to lid; skins, 4|d. Kauri gum dull at £26 to £75. Colonial securities quiet but firm : quotations unchanged. Wheat firm, at 1 doller 80 cents per cental. Bank of England discount 24 per cent. There is no prospect of peace ; it is not believed that other powers will be involved, and they are inclined to let Prussia and France fight it out. Preparations are making for the bombardment of Paris on the 16th October. Numerous sorties have injured the Prussians, and harrassed operations. The Germans expect to carry the heights at 4000 paces from the forts. October 1. King William sent to the Queen stating that early this morning the French made u sortie against the sixth Corps, whilst the fifth were attacked by three battalions; also a brigade made a demonstration against the. eleventh Corps. After one hour the French sheltered under the forts;. The Crown Prince commanded. October 2. The National Guard of the army ■of llouen had a brush with the foe- yesterday, about 40 miles fi om Paris, in the forest of llosny. They drove the foe back through. Mantz. A desperate fight took place on the bridge over the Seine. The German troops from Manheim drove the French back with great loss, and the Germans occupy Mantz bridge over the Seine and the fauborg of Sumatz. The seat-of Government is at Ton re.

All the South of France is under arras. Augers similar, and Mantz is crowded with troops drilling. The Rhone towns from Lyons to Avignon are like camps. There is no thought of peace. The Prussians in the rear are before Paris. They are also massing troops all over Franc.-, and to prevent this a battle was fought near Chateau Galliande on the 4th, when the Prussians were forced to retreat. They abandoned Pithiviers precipitately, leaving cattle and forage. The Prussians were also driven from Joinville. Many prisoners were captured, and there is much enthusiasm in that section. Oct. 5, A combat took place between Lasni and Bruyeres, 10,000 Prussians attacking, but the French held the position. The Prussians were repulsed at Gisorz, but they are steadily advancing on Lyons, Soissons. Bitche, and Metz are besieged. Bazaine made a desperate sortie from Metz, but was compelled to fall back. Heavy loss on both sides. There are apparently well-authenticated rumors of the surrender of Metz. The Prussians have won a victory near Strenay against the French corps of the line and mobiles. They fought from 9 a.m. to 4 p.tn., when the French troops broke and fled. Strenay, Nompalaze and Bois de Jumellea were taken with the bayonet The Prussian loss was 20 officers and 410 men ; the French loss was greater, with 600 prisoners, 60 officers, and large booty. Gaubaldi is in France. He went to Tours, and amidst great enthusiasm delivered addresses favorable to the Republic, urging them to drive out invaders. He also addressed the Volunteers, expressing a belief in the speedy reliet from the invaders. He wore the Garibaldi uniform when he addressed the National Guard, and announced that he had been appointed to command the French Volunteers. The Prussians attacked St. Quentin, but were repulsed with severe loss, and retired to Riberaort. Prefect Forgo made a most heroic stand with his National Guards. He was formerly editor of a Paris journal. October 8.

Buddenbrock defeated Dupre with regulars and riflemen. Dupre was wounded, and the army is demoralised. The Prussian 10th and sth Corps and Landwehr divisions were engaged. Van Yoght was commanding. Gambetta escaped from Paris in a balloon. On his arrival at Tours he issued a proclamation calling on France to be united, and to accept the He public; that the autumn rains would force the Prussians to retreat, and they would be decimated by the armed population. It was not possible that the genius of Franco should be clouded for over, or that the nation should be under the domination of 500,000 men. The motto of Paris: Five la Nation, vice la Repubhque indivisible ! calls on France. In Paris 2,000,000 of men forget their differences to withstand the invaders, who expested civil discord. 400,000 National Guards, 100,000 Mobiles, and 60.000 regulars have assembled. The foundries are casting cannon. Every battallion of the Nationals have two mitralleurs, and field pieces, and are preparing for sorties The forts are manned by Marines. The Enciente on the 4th instant had only 500 cannon; now it has 3,000, with 400 rounds each, The Nationals were constantly drilling. Paris was impregnable ; there was no danger of sedition or starvation. On the other hand, the Prussians are confident of taking Paris in a week from the opening of the bombai’dment. Gambetta’s account is confirmed that he has communicated with Tours by balloons. Carrier pigeons are taking back replies. The cannons captured at Strasburg and Toul are planted against Metz. The Prussians have ordered that no more prisoners are to be taken, and the Parisians have issued the same orders. The Duke of Nassau was'killed whilst riding with King William; the carriage was riddled with bullets. The aide cle camp was killed, and another was mortally wounded. Petitions have been sent from Berlin to the King, asking, him not to expose himself : but the King replied that he would share the dangers until peace was obtained. General Bourbakt was allowed to leave Metz on a mission to the Empress in England, and was also allowed to return to Metz, from whence another messenger was allowed to proceed to Napoleon. A belief is entertained that efforts are being made by the Empress and Napoleon to bring about peace and the restore ion of the dynasty. Eugenie writes to Napoleon that she meets with good treatment in England. Wilhelmshoe is a rendezvous for distinguished guests. The Emperor is healthy,

and makes daily excursions accompanied by his staff. .„ Oct. 0. England and Prussia are growing warm on the neutrality question. A strong despatch received at the Foreign office to-day says that Granville has shifted his ground. He first asked for proofs of furnishing arms; and then said the trade was legitimate, and the authorities had no power to prevent it, and imputes to Prussia a desire for benevolent neutrality from England. JBernstoff disclaims any such desire, and says 50,000 stand were exported to France in one week, and Birmingham and London were working night and day for the French Government. “ I possess authorised copies,” says Bernstoff, “of the contracts, and proofs that the export of arms is thoroughly organised in various British ports.” He then quotes Wellington’s letter to Canning in 1825, which says, “ It is England’s usual habit to provide such export, not providing it as a breach of neutrality.” He also quotes the order to the Customs authorities in 1868 to prevent the export of arms to be used against Denmark. After refuting other suggestions of Granville’s, Bernstotf says, “As for the hope expressed by your Excellency, that the German people will in a cooler moment judge less severely the attitude of the British Government, I regret that, after yoiu Excellency’s note of the loth nit., it has been added to our knowledge that our enemy is being daily equipped with British arms. I cannot, therefore, share such hope, and can only trust that the known sympathy of the English people may produce a change for the better.

It was understood that Prussia addressed final remonstrances to England on Oct. 4. The result was not known. Berlin, Oct. 9th. There is great indignation against America for the shipment of arms to France, and explanations demanded. America in consequence prohibits the export of munitions of war to the belligerents and makes provisions for preventing the use of forts by men-of war. Prussia is satisfied. England makes no move. Oct, 7th. It is understood that there were serious complications between Austria and Prussia. Austria says she cannot allow Prussia to be a dominant power in Europe. There are intimate relations between Austria and Russia, and it is rumored that a secret alliance has been formed. Thiers had satisfactory receptions at Vienna. Bismark declares that Dr. Russell’s interview at Sedan, as published in the Times, is pure invention. General Yon Moltke is reported dead. New mitrailleurs have been invented at Lyons to work by steam, still more deadly than ever. Madrid, Oct. 9. Sagosta savs that the Government represented to England that it was willing to facilitate an interview between Bismarck and Favre. Spain applied to Bismarck, who refused. A plebiscite has taken place at Rome, on the question : —“ Is it desirable that Rome should be united to Italy, under the Government of Victor Emanuel and Iris successors.” The result was 50,000 ayes and 65 noes. The proclamation of union was received with enthusiasm. The Pope is allowed a pension by the Government, and has drawn a first instalment. Cardinal Antonelli says that Victor Emanuel will suffer the fate of King Nebuchadnezzar. Archbishop Manning praises the steadfastness of Ireland. The British Cabinet has held a further meeting, and say England cannot interfere. More massacres have occurred in China. - China and Japan, it is rumored, have entered into a treaty to expel all foreigners from their territories. President Grant has pardoned the Fenians. London, Oct. 12. Garibaldi is said to be very ill. He will not be able to lead the troops. The French have reoccupied Villejuif.