The Express.
London, England, 1866-03-01 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, MARCH 1, 1866.

ilabta m itiilitttrp.

ADIMALTY, FEB. 28. —A PPOINTIMIII. —Lieu-
tenant R. F. Britten, to the Favourite.
Sub-Lieutenant F. H. Higgarth, to the Favourite.
Psysasster Price, to the Dee (secretary to Vieeetal.
what Sir T. Pesky al Portsmouth).
Master J. E. Ogborn, to the Icarus.
OMB Surgeon PR F.. Hastings, to the Castor.
Engineer A. Mason, to the Icarus.
First Class Assistant Engineers A. Kennedy, sad &
Corbel Leigh, to the Icarus ; W. S. Thompson, to the
Irresistible.

PORTSMOUTH, Fin. 28.
The Simoom, iron screw troop-ship, Captain
Lothbride, has embarked to-day the 92nd Regiment
(Gordon Highlanders) for conveyance to Dublin..

4-The Racoon, 22, Screw coriette, Captain the Conet
Gleiohen, is filling op with coal, and is under order, to pro-
ceed to Cork,

NATIONAL BIPLZ ASSOCIATION.
..__._

The general meeting of the members cf this asso-
cation took place yesterday, at WiLis's Rooms, King street,
SL James's ; the Duke 40A1C8.111DC!I fa the chair.

His Roeki, misses, in °poising the woosedinge. observed
that as the object of this meeting was not to enable gentle-
men to make long speeches, but to discuss questions of
practical utility, and to make such arrangements for the
next gathering on the field as might seem desirable, he
would not detain them by any lengthy remarks. He must,
however, briefly explain to them that, taking all things
into consideration, the condition and prospects of the asso-
ciation had not deteriorated since their last meeting. At
the same time, it was but right that he should state freshly
that the last Wimbledon meeting, though suaceathul, was
not so propitious in a pecuniary point of view as in the pre-
ceding year. But there were two good reasons for this state of
things. In the year 1864 the weather was everything that
could be wished ;in the year 1855 it was not so. The
seeoed reason was that in the latter year a general election
was proceeding at the seine time es the meeting at Wimble-
don, and the consequence was that many persons were taken
away from the field who felt an interest in the subject, but
who had more important matters to attend to than la com-
petition in rifle shooting. It would therefore be seen that
there were good grounds for saying that the comparative
pecuniary failure of the meeting M 1865 was not because
the interest in the art of rifle-shooting had depressed, but
because there were opposing circumstances which naturally
produced • less satisfactory result. But still the result
was decidedly satisfactory. As regarded their finances
he was happy to say that their funded property
amounted to 7,6621., and there was every pros-
pact that the association would continue to flourish
as it was flourishing at the present moment. He wee
glad to find that it was intended to adopt a prize open to
all Gemara, but more especially to membersof the Belgian
Rifle Aso:dation, because many of our countrymen were
very warmly received in Belgium last year, and it would
show a want of good feeling co their pad if they did not
do what they could to reciprocate that welcome. This
allusion to the Belgian association reminded him that it
had been thought that foreign rifle societies should be com-
pared with the English society. Now it should be borne
is mind that the foreign escalations bad not only the
moral support of the State, as our own doubtless m-
e= but also the pecuniary dipped, which the
association had not. He thought it was de-
sirable that in our country such • society should
be self-supporting, and he did not think it neces-
sary that they should receive from government more
than the moral support at present accorded to them.
He was happy to see that they fhad received another
donation from Sir William Martin, who had already
mesa nearly 4001. to the association; and it was intended
that • " Martin Prize " should be shot for at the next
meeting by the marksmen of the United Kingdom. As
regarded the place of meeting this year, be might announce
that it would be the same locality as was chosen last year ;
and he might take this opportunity of observing that if
there were corps who would wish the day of inspection to
be combined with the review day, every facility would be
afforded them for that purpose ; bat he did hope that the
various corps would arrive on the field in good time, as it
was most essential that their meeting • should be useful to
the volunteers, ea well as attractive to the public.
It was impossible that such • result as was de-
sirable should accrue from the mooting if the
corps did not appear in good time ; for it would
be recollected that on the last occasion the marching wt
did not take place until it was nearly dark, a fact which
was, of course, disadvantageous to the association. Hs was
sorry to learn that they were to lass the services of Cap-
tain Page as the general manager at Wimbledon, but it was
satisfactory to know that he was to be succeeded by Cap-
tain Cretin, Adjutant of the Liverpool Rifle Brigade. He
bad been given to understand that there was an intention
to move an amendment to some of the names to be pro-
posed as members of the council. If such should be the
case he trusted that any question that might arias would be
discussed fairly and dispeasioeately, and to the general
advantage of the saeociation as anything that might tend
to lessen the harmony which had always existed amongst
them would be greatly detrimental to their interests. It was
most desirable that they should keep up that good feeling
which bad happily prevailed in their association from the
period of its formation, and which had always distinguished
the proceedings at these animal meetings. (Hear, hear.)
The adoption of the repent of the council having been
I formally moved and seceded.
A long dissuades took place, in the course of which
much time was occupied with the expression of various
opinions upon points of technical detail. Amongst other
things brought forward wu an objection raised by Mr. bier-
deer, that the expenses were too large in proportion to the
receipts. Out of 15,0001, received last year they had
spent 8,0001., and he thought that in future
the sepses°s of the Wimbledon meeting ought to be cur-
tailed. The noblemen and gentlemen who addressed the
meeting included Mr. Templer, Colonel Hattori, Lord
Cowper, Captain M'Gregor, Lord Bury, lee., the last-
meationed member of the association drawing attention to
a statement which ared in the report of the council
regarding a correspondence between them and the Birming-
ham Small Arms Company. This year, in giving the cus-
tomary notice to gunmakers, • reprint from • cancelled
copy of last year's rules was accidentally issued. In this
reprint the oondidon was unintentionally omitted that of
the 60 rifles required to be furnished by the successful
competitor, 30 only would be purchased. The omission was
not discovered until the return of the conditions by the
then intending competitors, with an intimation of their ais•
cepteas of them. The condition referred to had always
been in force from the first institution of the annual
rifle trial in 1860, and the secretary immediately
wrote to the throe competitors who had entered,
via, Mr. Rigby, Mr. Henry, and the Birming-
ham Small Arms Company,
pointing out the mistake,
enclosing • correct copy of the rale, issued last year, and
as this year intended to be boned: as
and requesting them to
signify their acquiescence in it. Mr. Rigby and Mr. Henry
did this without a moment's hesitation. The Birmingham
Small Arms Company declined to do so, and held the council
to the copy of the rules which had been accidentally sent
them. The possible loss to the association and to the
prize list from this transaction may amount to no less • sum
than 6001., and the council expressed their regret that an
oversight in the office should have placed the association in
this position. This revelation respecting the conduct of the
Small Arms Company Lord Bury characterised ea exhibiting
a mode of proceeding which deserved the reprehension of
those who considered the volunteer movement from a pa-
triotic point of view.
Ultimately the report was adopted, and afterwards, on
the motion of Lord la.asovica, the vice-presidents were re-
elected, with thanks.
Other routine business, including the re-election of mem-
bers of council, was successively gone through, and the
meeting separated with • cordial vote of thanks to the
chairman.

&mu Allow° Colones Mrithots.—At the East
Caradon and Marks Valley Nines, on Monday, three
pitches at each mine were ref used by the men, and Cherie"
offered not being increased, the whole of the men at both
mines turned out on strike and have not resumed work.
At Drake Walla Mine, on Saturday, work having been re-
fused to men connected with the newly formed society,
the men in a body refused to work, and having
caught one of their number who bad expressed his willing-
ness to go below, rode him on a rail through Gunnislake.
For this legal proceedings will be taken. The managers
of the whole of the mines in the Taviateck district and
some in the Liskeard district have signed a resolution,
not to employ men belonging to the society. The move-
ment on either side is becoming a very important and
formidable one ; but we defer further statements and coin.
meats until we have had opportunities of ascertaining to
which side, if not to both, justice belengs— Western
Meriting News.
THE Frssimr Movithrserr.—The Irish papers con-
tinue to report arrests throughout the country of persona
oc suspicion of being concerned in the Fenian movement.
Toesday's Dublin Gristle offers 100/. reward for such
information as will lead to the arrest of Geary, who fired on
the head-000etable in Newcastle. The Gazette also contain
proolamatione calling in ems and ammunition in the places
proclaimed on the 23rd. These Mande Belfast and Galway
and the citinties Westmeath, Down, Longford, and King's
and Queen's Counties. A soldier of the 21th, who deserted
with severs! rounds of ammunition from his poet, on guard
at the Royal barracks a month mince, was arrested on Tues-
day. Mr. Justine Fitzgerald, in charging the grand jury at the
opening of the Letitia assizes on Tuesday, congratulated
them on the satisfactory state of the county, and expressed
his pleasure at the readiness with which the gentlemen on
the grand jury and on the loag panel came forward to per-
form their publics duty on the present occasion, observing
that it was a wholesome sign, for, although the county was
to • large extent free from Fenianiam, yet we lived in a
time when it was incumbent on country gentlemen to show
a determination sot akin to perform their duties, but to
lend their aid to the executive in arresting the program of
disorder. At the Fermanagh anion on Tuesday, a men
named William Blake was convicted of ribboniam, and sen-
tenced to five years' peas! servitude.
PASANT Owrica SOUTH Kaingieroir.
—Number of visitors for the week ending Feb. 24, 2,0154 ;
total somber rises thegalag of the museum free daily
(121 k Mtiolagh 1600 es