The Express.
London, England, 1868-01-23 00:00:00

STORMY VOLUNTEER MEETING IN

XSNNINOTON.

A public meeting was held last evening at the
Horns Tavern, Kennington, "for the purpose of organising
a second artillery corps for the county of Surrey. The
chair was taken by Colonel MILLER, M.P. It was nv
',lathed at the commencement that the movement was not
set on foot in a spirit of hostility to any existing corps, and
that whilst Surrey had a population of 840,000, it had only
25 rifle corps and one artillery corps ; whereas Kent, withl
a population of 733,000, had 45 ride and 14 artillery corps.'
There were several reasons mentioned why • second corps
should be established, and stress was laid upon the fact
that the county commons offered peculiar advantages for
artillery practice, and that in these days it was most
desirable to strengthen tho artillery branch of the service.
The first resolution recognised the deficiency of the
county in artillery volunteers.
Two or three speakers who ventured to ask questions
and to question the propriety of the meeting, were sum-
marily cried down. One of these gentlemen thought this
second corps was proposed because there were some officers
who could not, as things at present stood, "play first
fiddle, and who would not play second ; " and another in-
quired whether the Ist Surrey had its full complement of
men. After • moment's interruption, Captain Inglebach,
of the 2nd Middlesex, considering that it was against the
interests of the service to create new corps before the old
ones were better consolidated, protested against the reso-
lution, and desired to know the names of the gentlemen at
the bottom of the movement. He moved an amendment
to the effect that the county of Surrey was already suffi-
ciently represented in the artillery branch of the service to
enable allpereons who desired to join it. These remarks were
violently opposed, as were those of Lieutenant Rae, of the
10th Surrey, who seconded the amendment, and in whose
behalf the chairman bad to ask far fair play. Mr. Rae
pointed to the small attendance as a proof that • second
corps was not required in that particular portion of the
county. When the amendment was put (amidst great
uproar) the chairman declared it to be lost, but the numbers
appeared to be so nearly equal that • division was taken.
The amendment was eventually rejected by • small majo-
rity, and the original resolution was passed.
Mr. 'Hamilton Hume, who rose to move the
second resolution, commenced by sharply describing
the opposition offered to the former motion Sas
a species of volunteer rattening. This raised • general
outcry, and ultimately Mr. Hume had to withdraw his
words. He then went on, amidst much interruption, to
comment upoa the previous portion of the proosedings.
Ho acknowledged that be was a stranger, but had come to
the meeting because he wanted to join a corps • and in I
reply to a question, " Why don't you join the Ist Surrey,
then ?" he said, whatever Le might have thought before,
he had seen enough during the meeting to prevent him
joining that corps. He concluded by proposing • com-
mittee, with Colonel Melien as chairman, to organise •
second corps. This motion was seconded, and Captain
Inglebach repeated a question he had several times asked
before as to where the headquarters of the projected corps
would be. Intense uproar followed, and the chairman
declined to answer the queotion as irrelevant.
The resolution was carried by a majority.
Another boisterous interlude was caused by Lieutenant
Minister asking whether the volunteers who had been
turned away from the Ist Surrey had anything to do with
the meeting.
The CHAIRMAN said be had heard of rumours of war in
the lot Surrey, but bad not identified himself with them.
The introduction of this topic seemed to rouse the
bathe element in the meeting to an almost uncontrollable
pitch, and personalities and various amusing recriminations
were bandied about for • eossiderable time.
After one or two other speeches, received with opposition
if against, and with cheers if for the new scheme, the
meeting closed with • vote of thanks to the chairman, who
bad preserved the utmost good humour throughout, and
who begged the gentlemen composing the meeting to
dismiss all acrimonious feelings from their minds.

ALARMING FIRE AT THE ROYAL MILITARY COL-
LIOZ, SANDEURNE—The inhabitanta of the neighbour.
hood, for leveret miles surrounding Sandhurst, were
alarmed yesterday morning by the report that a fire was
raging at the Royal Military College, and various start-
ling rumours were afloat, one of which was that the col-
lege had been burnt to the ground. At a quarter.paat one
o'clock iu the morning a fire was discovered in one of the
rooms of the premises occupied by Mr. Davies, quarter-
master, which is the centre of the left wing of the ofecors'
quarters. The alarm bell was at once rung and the assem-
bly sounded, and every one of the staff iumediatelyturned
out to ascertain the cause of the disturbance. In come-
quence of the extra precautions that have been recently
taken it was believed by many that an attack by Fenian,
was meditated, and the excitement became universal. On
the real state of affairs being learnt, the whole of those
employed in the college proceeded to render every
assoknoe in extinguishing the flames. The two
*axiom belonging to the college were brought into
requisition, but they were found to be of very
little service, and a messenger was despatched to Alder-
shot camp for engines and troops. Two engines and the
fire-brigade, under the direction of Mr. Douglas, at ones
started for Sandhurst, where they arrived within one
boar of the first alarm being given. They were quickly
followed by a detachment of the 68th Light Infantry.
During this time General Sir George Augustus WetherelllGlL, 0.0.8., Governor of the College, Major Fanner,
Major Rower, Major Jowly, Rev. B. J. Rogers, and other
officers arrived at the some of the fire, and did all they
possibly could in trying to keep the flame* confined to
the centre building. On the arrival of the Aldershot firs-
brigade the flames wepri:eze.realinidly, extending en
the right and left to by Captain
paymaster, and Major Bowll;y7iThas then disooverod
that there was only salleiset mew to keep ono 'swim
gaiss, bet tie tre-bripds 'eat lass* to work, sad seise-
whoa someled the peessersel the buses, whilst Mr. Thesslas
sad sehesedemoted their attmetime to the swiss el progartr•
Yoe oltbe valsoldes were eat of the emend resew, in-
eludingsamilimel papers to the ponmentee
qviatasesatat, belt Uis a bad fer 5,0081.
is Weis. Abseil 4 Aloe the rests began to fall In
and the lame home kith afresh, bat by tie abewessit
efforts el ties blimp& eh** was got ender miler* bike
8 ease*, sithmegh it wee mot *aline/he& wail mesa el
yesterday, haw* bees busies 11 been. Ne estimate
ase les teemed ol the maromet et dames, bet it is isimeisee
the while left wing being 'stink/ destmeyed. Oreateeer
&lab weds so to theprobweisitemiaimmelreietheaollse.
times bine only two sidieshismed tta,
miessoad ieedditiesteehistiereimas el I
leis everted thee this will load to ae
this eureka, ler bailie net been for the free
Aideedroe the Muss meld aid have hems lei weds& Tbre
auk til la teaseatm the wheal) el the siebk bee Sir
Wieborell sad time other dime ressaiesdi et their=
seen the Amass wetesserly sebbeed.