The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-16 00:00:00

THE VICTORIA CROSS.

(From the _London Gazette of this Evening,)
WAR OFFICE, Aug. 16,
The Queen has been graciously pleased to signify her
intention to confer the decoration of the Victoria Cross on
the under-mentioned officer, whose claim to the same has
been submitted for her Majesty's approval, for his gallant
conduct in New Zealand, as recorded against his name, viz.
Lieut. Colonel John Carstairs 107th Regiment--
For the valour and presence of mind which he
displayed
in New Zealand, on the 30th March, 1864, which is thus
described by Private Vosper, of the Colonial Defence
Force Private Vosper states that he was sent
on that day with Private Gibson, of the same
Force, as an escort to Major (now Lieutenant
Colonel) M'Neill, Aide-de-Camp to be Lieutenant-Gen.
Sir Duncan Cameron. Lieutenant-Colonel M`Neill was
proceeding to Te Awamutu on duty at the time. On
returning from that place, and about a mile on
this side of Ohanpu, this officer having seen a
body of the enemy in front, sent Private Gibson
back to bring up Infantry from Ohanpu, and ho and
Private Vosper proceeded leisurely to the top of a rise to
watch the enemy. Suddenly they were attacked by about
50 natives, who were concealed in the torn close at hand.
Their only chance of escape was by riding for their
lives, and as they turned to gallop, Private Vesper's
horse fell and threw him. The natives thereupon rushed
forward to seize him, but Lieut.-Col. M'Neill, on perceiving
that Private Vosper was not following him, returned, caught
his horse, and helped him to mount. The natives were
firing sharply at them, and was so near that, according to
Private Nosper's statement, it was only by galloping as
hard as they could that they escaped. He says that be
owes his life entirely to Lieutenant-Colonel M'Neill's
assistance, for he could not have caught his horse alone,
and in a few minutes must have been killed.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE,

RADCLIFFE RACES-MONDAY.

The Phillips Handicap of 5 sous each, 3 ft, with 30 added.

About one mile.
Mr T. Cliff's Wildman, 3 yrs, Bst 41b
Mr J. Osborne's Gaily, 4 yrs, Bst 101 b (Whiteley) 2
Mr Barber's The Cutler, 5 yrs, 7st 101 b
Betting-5 to 4on Gaily, sto 2 each agst the others
Won by half a length; a neck between second and third,
The Bury Plate Handicap, of 40 sous, for all ages ; win-
ners extra. About three-quarters of a mile.
Mr Barber's Cutaway, 3 yrs, Bst 6113 .. (Britton) 1
Mr Haudley's Ossiau, 4 yrs, Bst 81b .... (H Griinshaw) '2
Mr T. Smith's Dermot Asthore, 3 yrs, 75t (Cranshaw) 3
Betting-5 to 4 agst Cutaway, 6to 4 agst Ossian.
Won by a neck ; three lengths between second and third.
Tho Grey de Wilton Cup (Handicap) of 100 sous, added to
a Sweepstakes of 5 soya each, 3 ft ; second to save his
stake ; winners extra. About one mile and a half,

Mr T. Cliff's Wildman, 3 yrs, 6st 21b Kenyon) 1
Mr Barber's Macbeth, 3 yrs, nst 71b (Carroll) 2
Mr Amberry's Nemo, 3 yrs, sst 71b . . (Sherrington) 0
Betting-5 to 2on Wildman, who won by five lengths.
Nemo did not pass the post.

The Selling Handicap of 3 soya each, with 25 :added.
About three-quartets of a mile.

Mr J. Osborne's /golly Gray (h b), 2 yrs, sst Slb
(Carroll) 1
Mr C. Rich's Blondin, 3 yrs, Bst 51b.... (11. Grinashaw) 2
Mr Noble na, Raparation, 2 yrs, 6st 121 b .. (W. Noble) 3
Mr Buckhouse's David, 3 yre, Bst 101 b.... (Williamson) 4
Betting-6 to 4on Nelly Gray, 4to 1 agst Blondin, 6to
1 agst David.
Won by two lengths; a bad third. The winner was not
sold.

The All-aged Handicap Plate of 3 soya each, with 25

added. About one mile.

Mr Handley's Ossian, 4 yrs, Bst 101 b (G. Grimshaw) 1
Mr Beaumant's Vanessa, 3 yrs, 7st 71b (Whiteley) 2
Mr W. Philllips's Master Joe, 3 yrs, ist (Carroll) 3
Mr Backhou,:e's David, 3 yrs, 7st 51b (Elaystead)
Betting-5 to 4on Vanessa, 6to 4 agst Ossian, 10 to 1
agst any other.
Won by a short head ; a bad third.

LATEST BETTING
EI3OR HANDICAP.
100 to 1 agst Hymettus (offered)
CRAVEN HANDICAP.
['error scratched.

The Price of Gold.

I3y acPrices from Hamburg the price of gold is 425 per mark
and the short exchang on London is 13.5 f per £1 sterlin.4.
standard gold at the Ittigllsh Mint price is, therefore, aboat
3-10ths per cent, dearer in London than in Hamburg.
The course of exchange at New York on London and the
premium on gold are quoted with such large differences that
no ca cu a:tens can bo based on them ; but gold continues to
be shipped to England..

ATTACK ON A NEW ZEALAND NEWSPAPER
OFFICE BY THE CREW OF A MAN-OF.WAR.
The following episode of the war in New Zealand is given
by the Melbourne Argus, The " Auckland Neto Zealander
had, in an article published on the Ist of June, referring to
the death of Capt. Hamilton, cf the Esk, stated :-4 It is
feared that this brave officer was cruelly deserted by his
men, who were seized with a panic and fled back to our
position, after being gallantly led as the forlorn hope in
the attack. It is true it was a critical moment, but if the
men had displayed half the courage and daring of their
officers a very different result would have to be chronicled
respecting this unfortunate encounter.' This offended
the seamen of the Esk, who in numbers 60 strong, came
down to the office, and commenced proceedings which por-
tended pulling the building—a wooden one—down. One
of these men cried out, We have the authority of our offi-
cers for what we are doing.' Magistrates interfered to
prevent violence, the police were called, and Commodore Sir
William Wiseman appealed to, but in vain. The police
were unable to cope with the rioters, and the commodore
corroborated the assertion that the officers connived at the
riot by not interfering, Temporising was resorted to ; and,
issue,
retracting the promise that an extraordinary edition should
retracting the previous statement, the seamen retired. The
extraordinary edition came out with a ridiculous denial of
the charge against th 3 Naval Brigade, and attributing the
panic which caused the sudden retreat to a mistake of the
68th Regiment, This, it was also mentioned, Was the
substance of the statement made by the rioting seamen,
and it was signed ' John P. Beckett, Quartermaster.' "
GALLANT CONDUCT OF THE DUKE OF BEDFORD.
—Mr. William Aspinall, of Liverpool, in a letter to a con-
temporary, says :7" I was sitting in St. James's park
yesterday, after dinner, near the ornamental water, when
there was a cry that a child had fallen in. Suffering
myself from chronic rheumatism I was debarred front
rendering assistance. Although there were hundreds of
andapproachto
see
after looking about for a few moments,evidently
if any one was inclined to juwp in, suddenly jumped
in and brought tho boy safely to land, amidst the shouts
and blessings of the multitude."
A VEXATIOUS MISNOMER.—One of what are
termed fire-proof safes has at length been dog out
of the ruins of Colonel I‘l•Murdo's residence, and, upon
being opened, was found not to have secured a single
valuable, either of plate or jewellery. A presentation sword,
from Lord Ellentorough, with a real Damascus blade, was
found melted in two. This sword was made at the time of
the Crusades, and was highly prized by the gallant colonel.
Another sword, presented by General Sir Charles Napier,
has also been found injured in a similar manner, and the
whole of the gold appointments and diamonds have been
lost, Su much value did the gallant colonel attach to the
various presentations that be had holes drilled in the bottom
of the sales, so as to screw them down to the floor, and the
flames entering the apertures destroyed the contents. Had
it not been for the drilling of the safes their contents might
have bean saved.

Pass 1 'iongworth and the " Saturday

Review."

(From the Scotsman.)

An action of damages, concluding for £3,000, has
been raised Esy Miss Longworth against the Satur-
day Berieto a for the article published in it on Satur-
day the 30th of July. The grounds of it can be
learnt fcom the " condescendence," which is as
follows :;--