The Express.
London, England, 1868-05-18 00:00:00

NAVAL AND MILITARY.

PORTSMOUTH, MAY 16.
Yesterday a deputation left here for the
Admiralty, Whitehall, to lay before their lordships the
special grievance of the Portsmouth ropemakers, and also
the hardships arising from the wholesale discharge of
workmen. The deputation was composed of the Mayor
of Portsmouth (Town Councillor Davies), Mr. Alderman
Ford, Mr. Alderman Sheppard, Mr. J. Maker, with Messrs.
Dugan, Smart, and Goodenough, the three latter being
ropemakers of Portsmouth-yard. The deputation was
introduced by Colonel H. H. Fane, Pft.P , end supported
by Mr. Serjear.t Castle., 31. P., Mr. W. IL Stone, M.P.,
and Mr. Wykeham Martin, M.P. The members of the
board present were the Right Hon. H. T. L. Corry,
First Lord; Sir J. Hay, M.P. ; and Lord
H. G. Lennox. M.P., Secretary of the Admiralty.
The Mayor stated the grievance of the ropemakers,
and their claim to additional superannuation, in
consequence of the abolition of their office in
this yard in favour of Plymouth and Chatham, where
moon work was done by female ropemakers. He Liked
their lordships to recommend the Lords of the Treasury to
grant some addition to the bare superannuation to which
these men, apprenticed and employed for years by govern.
ment, were entitled by strict law. The members for
Portsmouth and others urged the board to consider favour.
ably the case of these men, and Mr. Corry promised fair
and impartial consideration. The Mayor of Portsmouth
took occasion to refer to the great discharge of workmen
from Portsmouth yard, and the consequent distress. Mr.
Corry said he sympathised with the men, and trusted they
would find employ in private firma, but the Admiralty,
acting on behalf of the national interest, were forced to
make the reduction. The deputation thanked the board,
and retired.

CHATHAM. MAT 17.

Hie Royal Highness Prince Arthur, attended by
Major H. C. Elpbinstone, C. 8., V.C., Royal Engineers,
sad other members of his suite, arrived at this port yester-
day afternoon, for the purpose of inspecting the dockyard
and military establishments. In the afternoon the Prince
proceeded to Chatham lines to witness the annual match of
cricket between the officers of the Royal Engineers and
those of the three battalion, of garrison infantry, after
which his royal highnera left Chatham, by train, for
London.

The 12th (Captain J. H. Maitland's) company of Royal
Engineers has proceeded from this garrison to IVouldham,
there to be employed in the construction of • new pontoon
hard.

ADMIRALTY, MAY 16. —APPOINTMRN TS.— Lieu-
tenants the Hon. Algernon Littelton and William F. S.
Mann, to the Rapid ; George S. Parker, to the Liffey ;
John W. Jones, to the Prince Consort. Sub-Lieutenant
William Skipwrth to the Rapid ; Navigating Sub-Lieute-
nant Theodore G. Fenney, to the Gnat. Midshipman
George Bethel!, to the Rapid. Engineers Edward Keen
and Daniel Wiahart, to the Gnat ; George Alexander, to
the Indus, for service in the Agincourt ; Henry 1). Gitz-
wood and George O'Brien, to the Rapid. First-class
Assistant-Engineers George IL Weeks, to the Gnat; Henry
W. Fitzger►ld, to the Rapid ; and Naval Cadet nominated,
Charles H. Durrant.