LATEST NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1003, 18 February 1871, Page 14

LATEST NEWS.

January 13 th.

Bourba v i passed (?) on Tuesday night, driving the enemy from Viilerexel and Lille.- •

The army of the north has advanced beyond Boileux. The bombardment of Paris is heavy.

The peace negotiations pending at Versailles are to be discontinued.

The preliminaries of peace to be laid before the London Conference are — France to surrender 20 ships of war and a strip of territory four miles broad on the left bank of the Rhine ; to pay one thousand million thalers, and destroy all forts within 20 miles of the frontier. The Prussians are to guarantee two millions X>f Tations daily to Paris. It is doubtful, however, it the London Conference will meet. Prussia, it is reported, iB likely to object to the French representatives ; and charge the Freach Government with commissioning officers who have broken their parole. Prussia also formally notifies that the Black Sea clause of the Paris Treaty having been already abrogated by the act of the Emperor^ the Congress cannot have power te alter the decision.

England continues arming. The Minister of War, in a speech at Oxford, said the Government was determined to uphold the honour -of England. At a great meeting held in London on the 9th, dis'urbance and some fighting occurred, and Mr Gladstone's resignation was demanded.

The Germans sunk some English colliers at Rouen. Count Bismarck apologised immediately, and offered an indemnity, pleading military necessity as an excuse for what had been done-

Changes have taken place in the Cabinet. -*Mr Shaw Lefevre has been appointed Home Secretary ; Mr Fortescue, President of the Board of Trade ; theMarquis ,of Huntingdon, Secretary for Ireland ; Lord Napier of Magdala, Com-, mander- in-Chief. „. DrLijringßton is safe at Mozambique, on hisjwa^Home. . . , An explosion -occurred ' at Eeinsh'aw's colliery, near Sheffield. 21 were* killed,' and 9 wounded. Another took place the

same day at Newcastle, and 20 persons were MUed and wounded.

The Dean of Canterbnry haa died suddenly. The navigation of the Thames iB obstructed by ice. General Schewcb. (?) has been appointed V rite A States Minister to England.

Victor Emmanuel has entered Borne.

General Prim was shot in hi» carriage while leaving the Cortea at niaht, and died the next morning. The* assassins escaped. The murder ia reported to be >art of a Republican conspiracy

p prince Araadeus made a triumphant entry into Madrid and took the oaths aa King.