The Tuapeka Times.

Taranaki Herald, Volume II, Issue 83, 1 March 1854, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald.

" Open to All— lnfluenced by None." NEW PLYMOUTH, MARCH 1, 1854. By the kindness of D. McLean, Esq., We have been favoured with two Wellington papers — the Spectator of the 15th, and the Independent of the 11th instant. The former paper furnishei very important European news brought from Sydney by the William Alfred. From the extracts given below it will be seen that hostilities had actually commenced between Russia and Turkey, atid that the prestige of a first success was with the Turkish forces. It was however still hoped that the good offices of England and France might prove successful. The occurrences related seem, however, to auger but slight probability of success to further negociation, at least for the presentRussia is too powerful to be affected by slight reverses, and too haughty to treat under discomfiture. It is therefore next to certain the War will continue, and it is difficult to see how in that event, England and France can long remain quiet spectators. The Turkish papers contain a tender for provisioning the French fleet at Trebiaond, Samsoon, or Odessa, the two former are Turkish Ports on the Asiatic side of the Black Sea, but Odessa is a Russian port on the liuropean side, of great strength. In the account given below, it is inferrred that the latter will be presently occupied by the allied fleets, and fit is not likely to be obtained without a struggle. This intelligence came by the overland route, so that the dates from Malta are several days later than those from England. The Duke of Portland (ship) from London via Nelson arrived at Wellington on the ]2th instant, having made an excellent passa»e out, leaving land on the 9th of November. It is stated that the mail is on board the Stately, which sailed for Otago and Wellington ten days before her. Our correspondent states that the prices of Wool at the late wool sales had suffered a serious decline, on the coarser sorts 3d. to 4d. per lb. ; and a considerable portion of the wool at the October sales had been withdrawn for want of purchasers! We copy the following from the Spectator, as taken by our contemporary from the Sydney Morning Herald of the 20th January :—: — COMMENCEMENT OF WAR. The P. and O. Company's large screw steamer Madras, commanded by Captain . Parfitt, formerly of the Shangai, anchored soon after six o'clock yesterday evening, bringing news from England to the Bth of November, and from Malta to the 12th of that month. As usual we omit a large quantity of colonial matter already in type to make room for this important information. A Turkish army of 30,000 men, under Omar Pasha, had successfully crossed the Danube, near Widdin, (lat. 44, long. 23,) and had defeated the Russian army opposed to them. The war has commenced, and the temper and disposition of the hostile powers is such that its termination cannot be looked forward to with reasonable expectation. We first copy the articles from tho sup- ' plement to the Malta Times, of the 12th of November :—: — ' IMPORTANT INTELLIGENCE FROM THE , LEVANT. I Supplement to the Malta. Mail, No. 594. ' Malta, November 12, 1353. ! Letters from Constantinople by the Mentor to the sth, aie in town this morning.

The English and French Fleets are lying off Therapia. The Russian Consuls throughout the dominions of Turkey have, without exception lowered their flags or their armorial bearings and quitted, leaving under the protection of Austria, thpir subjects, native or j protected. I The reporls of the attack on the fortress of llzaotcha, aie confirmed. The action lasted five hours, and the Russians lost their commander, thirty men, and two gun boats. The Turks were driven from their intrenchments, and letired to the heights. This was the result of an accident, the explosion of a powder magazine, by the buistof a shell from the Russian boats ; the town also took fire, and the inhabitants fled in the greatest consternation. This event, however, is trifling compared to those which have succeeded. The action at Batoum, though not generally credited, has also been confirmed ; it seems, however, not to have been more than a skirmish, yet a Russian General and six soldiers have reached Constantinople, as prisoners. Ismail Pasha has crossed tho Danube with an army of 25,000 men. He crossed near Calafat. A shatp conflict ensued ; the Russians were wonted, and fell back on the main hody, having lost six guns, and a great many in killed and wounded. The Pasha is engaged in fortifying, and waits reinforcements to push on. This news has surprised every one, as it was generally thought that Omar Pasha's army would have acted on the defensive, nor have risked the attacking of the enemy in their stronghold. Prayers are ordered to be read in all the Russian churches for the destruction of the infidels, and enjoining all those of the orthodox faith to shed every drop of blood with this object. ! Another engagement has taken place at Batonm, news of which has reached us today. A Turkish regiment of Imperial Guards made the attack on the Russians, and defeated them with greut loss at the point of the bayonet. The Russians left 1000 men on the field of battle, 2000 muskets, and 10 guns, — Among the prisoners is a Russian prince, who has been sent to the capital. i The Turks have also taken a small fort 1 in the neighbourhood. The Constantinople papers contain a tender for provisioning the French fleet atTrebisond, Samsoun, or Odessa ; they thus calculate on the occupation of Odessa by the allied squadrons. It is, of course, needless to observe that the estafette authorising a further suspension of hostilities reached Omar Pasha after their commencettient, and thus rendered obedience to it impossible. i Marlial law had been proclaimed in the Principalities by the General Gortschakoff. . Prince Sterby was preparing to quit. | On Monday, 31st October," H. M. the [ Sultan, accompanied by his secretaries and chamberlains, proceeded to the Porte, where I his ministers, dignitaries, superior officers, civil and military, and Ulema3 were assembled. I A Grand Council was lield, at which II E. Rescind Pasha, Minister of Foreign Affairs read un imperial Hat announcing to the nation that the Sultan, at the beginning I of the spring, would himself be able to take the field, to share the fatigues of his enthusiastic army. It is impossible to express the feeling which the reading of the Hat called forth. The presence of the Suli tan could not restrain his subjects from the wildest manifestations of unlimited joy.

The Wellington Independent of the 1 1th instant states " the first session of the Legislative Council of the Province of Wellington may now, we suppose, be considsred at an end." \ but as yet we have no sum-

niary of the business transacted during the session, and roust wait the arrival of our files for further information.

By the Koli-i-noor, mentioned in our Shipping Intelligence, we have been favored with the Sydney Herald to the 7th ultimoi from which we make some extracts, The Herald of the 7th ultimo says it will be seen that " the anticipations which we hazarded that the Russians would meet the Turks in force before Bucharest appears to be borne out. by the rumours which were current on the 14th of November; that the Ottoman forces had been defeated by Prince Gorstchakoff and General Danncnburg in front of that town, and had been compelled to re-cross the Danube, after great loss. — . If this news be true, the next move in the game will probably be an attack on the Ru.ssian strong-holds in the Black Sea by the allied fleets, the destruction of Sebastapol, and the occupation of Odessn." . The Herald also states n rumoured alliance between the Czar and Dost Mahomed Khan which has been going the round of the European papers, and so far, seems to have received confirmation. We give below the most important and latest news contained in the above paper, — as far as time and space permits — and will give copious extracts in our next. THE EMPEHOK OF RUSSIA'S MANIFESTO. " By the ' Grace flf God, We, Nicholas the Pirn, Emperor and Autocrat of all the Russians, &c, IJy our manifesto of the 14th of June, of the prctent year, wo informed our faithful and well beloved guhjects of the motives which made it incumbent upon us to demand from the Ottoman Horte inviolable guarantees in favor of tho aaorcil rights of the orthodox cliurcb. We tit the same time announced to them that nil our efforts to bring tho Pone, by means of amicable persuasion, to sentiments of equity, and to the faithful observanceof treatief , had remained fruitless, and that consequently, wo deemed it indispensable to order our troops to ndvance into tho principalities of tho Danube But in adopting that measure, we still entertained the hope thuC tho Forte would confess in errors, and would resolve to give satisfaction to our just reclamations. Our expectations have br.cn deceived. It is tain also that the great powers of Europe have endeavoured by their exhortations to shake the blind obstinacy of the Ottoman Government. It is by a duclomtion of war, by a proclamation icplste with fnlae ncruintiona against ltu 6ia that It replied to the pacific efforts of Europe, and to our forlieiirance. Finally, enrolling in tho ranks of its army the revolutionists ot nil countries, tho Porto has commenced hostilities on the Danube, Russia is provoked to the combiit ; no other means lefc than a recourse to arms to compel the Ottoman Government to respect treaties, and to obtain from it the reparation of the offences by which it responded to our most moderate demands, and to own legitimate solicitude for the defence of the orthodox faith in the East, which is also the religion of the Ruisinn people. We arc fairly cominred that our fnillifol subjects will join in the fervent prayers which we »diltesj to the Moit High that His hand may deign to bless our arms in the holy and just cause which lias at all times found orden! defenders in our pious ancestor!. In te Domine spcravc, non confoundar in teternum." DonentTsarkoe-Selo, tho 23th day of October (3rd of November), in the yeai of graco 1853, and the 28th of our reign." (Signed) NICHOLAS." Upon the above document the Patrie makes the following observation : " This manifesto will not deceive anybody. In declaring that the Ottoman Port.: has violated treaties, and that by its offences it has provoked hostilities, it appears to forget that it speaks to the whole world, which knows the facts, and wlr'ch has judged them in the name of justice, law and civilization. We are assured, moreover, that the manifesto is conceived in a (.pirit to prove as exact the intention attributed to Russia to carry on a war of extermination against Turkey." LATEST FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. France, It is mated that the French Government intend to demand what courae the Austrian Government Intend to purtue during the coming struggle, as he will not bo permitted to assume v neuiinluy. Russia and Tuhkry. Tho Journnl <lc St. Petersburg contains an an> nouncement from the Minister of Finance, from which it appears that an embargo will be laid on Turkish vessels in lluasinn harbours on the 22nd November; After that date Turkish merchant vessels will be declared lawful prizes, even tbougo. they may have other tban Turkish property on board. Neutrals will enjoy complete freedom, even after the commencement of hostilities. The Paris journal Patrio lias a Conjisntino-

pic letter of tho 29th, slating that the Turkish fleet Jiad chased some Russian vessels and driven them into Sebjstopol. They were a flotilla of gun boats! It is stated that in tho Caucasus the Russians ■were driven three leagucß from their position, and ihe Turks now occupy the Russian frontier. A letter Irom I'arin stntcs that a report was current in political circles that tho Turku hail he.en compelled to rerross tho Danube with imincniio loss, having been defeated under the walls of Bucharest by Oorlsoliakofr. with whom Dnnnenberg had formed a junction. On enquiring in a quarter generally «oil informed, the writer wna told that a private telegraphic despatch was said to have been received, and Hint no Mich new« had boen reeoived in official quarters. Tne Trench Government received on Friday a telegraphic despatch from its Consul at Bucharest, announcing a serious engagement in the neighbourhood of thir place, in which says tin; despatch, •• the RutiUna attribute to themselves tho vieThoMoniicnr confirms the accounts published of a victory gained by the TnrUs neur O'lenitzoi Tho Turks numbered not more than 9000 m-n. General Uannenberg commnndrd the Kunswns, who sustained a loss nf 121)0 Uilli.d and wounded. Nearly all the Russian officers in command and several colonels were wounded. Prince Gorlscliakofl hud started for OltcmUa. On the 3rd, Prince Gortschakoff rfceived orders to ussumo the offensive, all projects ot comproiiiiic having proved unsuccessful. Prince Gortschiikolr, accompanied by Ins whole 6lalf, advanced towards Ollcmu* on the Bth. The Turks Imvc ►cntcoimulorobli" inrfsneH of troops across to Turtukai. A renewed attack from tho Turks was hourly expecud.

A number' of accidental but disastrous fires have occurred during the past week, occasioning very considerable loa^ to many settlers. The clearing of Messrs. BnoAnmore, LETHBRincin and others on the Car.iunoton road, were on fire and seiiously endangered the houses and stacks in the neighbourhood, the fire travelling from log to log, and from stump to stump, of the old clearings. The exeitions of the neighbourhood happily proved sufficient to stay the mischief in this quarter, after days of labour, and a considerable destruction of fencing. On the Paritutu road, and in the Omata district, the consequences wete still more calamitous. Several houses were entirely destroyed, with the greater part of the properly they contained ; the loss in some instances extending to a large pioportion,and in others to the entire of the properly of the occupiers. Besides these extensive losses a very large amount of fencing and grass have been destroyed. „ ' No blame, as far as we can understand, attaches to any person, and the whole must be looked on as an untoward calamity, in which neither negligence nor want of eneigy can be charged upon the parties where the fires/originated, or on those who suffered subsequently. A stiff south-easter, ■which lasted the greater part of three days set at defiance every effort made to airest the progress of the mischief during its continuance. The question remains how the losses incurred by these calamities are !o be met. The idea of providing for them by private subscription lists, is not, looking at our thinly populated districts, to be thotightof ; and yet it is certain that some provision will be necessary in many cases. If otherwise unobjectionable, the collection of private benevolence, is tardy, and has the evil of throwing on a few individuals tho whole burthen. Any suggestion, however, of a contrivance by the authorities of the Province to meet the difficulty might be impertinent, as it is more than probable tlrat some method by which an amelioration of the situation of the unfortunate parties will bo effected, is already under consideration.