The Express.
London, England, 1868-07-24 00:00:00

LAW INT}.I.I.I.4ENCE.-(THIN DAY.)

on,
'ItT OF l'itt/BATE AND DIVORCE.
(15•::•..ii• the Judge Ordinary.)
XMOPON ANT XINODON e. ROOll9.
1, COr, Q.C.• Dr. Spinka, Q.C., and Mr. Pritchard
sir •
•
, ri.iintifis; bir 0. HOnyloan, Q.C.. serjea4t
mid Dr. Swain., for the defendant.
chi:, ea.e yesterday, Sir It. Collier expremed
,t••,. te to the court for dispensing with wig.,
.„ • a hope that the bar had seen
•."1 of that -obsolete institution." Itie
•
1,,, I,„At's hope, however, has moved
; for this morning Sir:James
%mated his wish. that as the weather was cooler
`% once more assume the °Imo:loos
; •• and the court is once more hideous with its
• t.. 1-, hair.
.•, i•. the matter of a somewhat notorious
11 • mi -I of England, the Rev. Dr. Hooke,
:it the age of 67. on the 23rd of
I...iiig property amoimting to 16,000(4
' • ••••• (•lt the 20th Of the same month, he
. • .1-t I, numerous nephews and nieces,
the ground of insanity, by the
~).. lIS 1• .1 I..ft only 501. He had mar-
. • • •1.1 1829, and in 1831 one eon
Ns! 41 in 1832. He had never
•; and in 1831 he was separated
1., • i•eii went away and lived on her
,• I•:•+ h. Tho testator made several
•• Ler to renew the cohabita-
„ 55,0 iefu•ed, end ehe even at-
. , „•,. u diver,* a mews et thorn,
• •• • The testator, while thus living
i‘ t, . •••• (laced his maid servant, who
1111:1 na datna,°,es. The Bishop of
, I.lla for immorality and deprived
in a senes of litigations
of los living. in which the qbeetions
,iirv.tiy bore a prominent part.
• . • I.r...ef,htip was that he was "cut"
th, en, told Ming, as was suggested,
t.) publish in the Exeter=
Dal :1,, irtisemente, which he d
"Kingolliinge,"and
•• Charles ILI." He laid claim
v .4 the Hank of England; and used to
emirt and interrupt the business
~.,W.llil he ( !aims. The learned counsel said
tt.it the testator in all this was, as the
Es•t•-r '• more rogue than fool," but
u Its. 1,...ke• really did believe all this non-
, .1, 1111 A to procure the judgment of
st ap. n the ruling in Waring e. Waring
• in, .• . that of mind on any one point
lit t • iuv:.ll,l..te .1 will. 'That theory, he said,
• rqd philo,prhy nor good law; it was el mere
qr.). ,4 *vit. h nittaphy,km, or rather Lord Brougham's
ili• m. ile (Sir R. Collier) should, on the
•-ire. ri.,:th,nd that the existence of a monomania,
was in other respects perfectly shrewd
• . slid net deprive him of his power to make a

NATIONAL RIFLE ARSOCIATION.
(71118 Detr.)

ibis is the last day of the prise meeting of
the National Ride Association for the year, bet the
programme contains some very important ossipstitioim
the ant being the mooed stage for the Duke of
Cambridge's Prin. of 601., restricted to winner of prises
in the On* stage. For this prim there were 20 comps-
titers, embracing some of the beet shots at the meeting.
The Henry Pea Prise, of the value of 621. 10e., given by
Mr. Peek, of Winibtodob House, is amongst the events of
the day.

Another highly interesting competition also commenoed
for the Ladies Prizes, of the total aggregate value of
60!., to be competed for by gentlemen, members of the
association, who hive been nominated by ladies who are
also members of the National Diffst Anoantion. The sum
given is divided into two sections, consisting of fire prizes
of bl., to be shot for at 1;000 limit% with any rile; and a
similar number of prises of W., to be idiot for
with Enfield rifles at• 600 yards--seven aboti
tech at 1.000 yards, • and. • five •at • 600. Another
condition is that the Ladies' Prifss will not be offered for
competition unless at least 26 competitors have entered
at each distance, and no competitor can represent more
than one lady in each competition, but he may be named
17 the some lady for both competitions. The Dudley
Prise, of the value of 601., was begun, restricted to the
winners of " any rifle " prizes during the meeting. Five
rhots each at SOO yards, and seven at 1.000 yards
the prize to be adjudged. according to the aggro-
gate number_ of marks spade at the two die-
lfncom• The second glairs for the Earwig wizen
of the value of 201., presented by the Victoria Riese in
camp, has alto been commenced. Tifere are the Conso-
lation Prizeo, of the aggregate value of 601., restricted to
200 of the volunteers who have not wen a prise during
the meeting. 25/. from the Ladies "vise "Feed, and 251-•
added by the National Rine Association, divided into 30
prizes, iv follows : One of 10/.,•one of 6/., one of 41., one
of V., one of 21., and 25 of IL Five shots at 600 yards.
There are some other minor prizes to Le competed for
daring the day.
The shooting commenced at the usual hour this morn-
ing, the wind being fresh ; but no scores worthy of com-
ment up to the time this report was despatched had been
made.

ALARMING OCCURRENCE AT THE
CHARTERED GAS WORKS.

Last night, at a few iainntes before 12 o'clock,
the greatest alarm was caused at the West-end, and also
in the City, arising from a vast body of flame, which shot
up a considerable distance into the air, and completely
illuminated the metropolis fer several minutes. This
caused a general turn-out of the engines of
the Metropolitan Brigade, the firemen being guided
only by the reflection in the sky. At length some of the
engines reached the scene of danger, which was the
Chartered Gas Works in Wilton-street, Westminster. It
appears that a quantity of gas had escaped from the lute
of one of the large gas-holders. The vapour rolled in
immense volumes into the furnace, and, becoming
ignited, sent forth the flames so high that
they could be seen in all parts of London.
AU hands were immediately summoned, and they did
everything that was possible to back up the lute and
prevent any further escape of gas, but whilst so engaged
the rope-ladder leading from the bottom of the gasometer
to the top caught fire, and was quickly destroyed. By
great perseverance on the part of all present, the further
escape of gas was stopped, and no further loss occurred.
Capt. !thaw describes the damage done as follows :—" Char-
tered Osa Works, Wilton-street Westminster—A quantity
of gas destroyed, rope ladder burned, and gas-holder
damaged by fire. Cause of fire—Gas escaping from the
lute of the gas-holder, and coming in contact with the
furnace fire." There were seven other fires during the
night, but they were of a trifling character.