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

MADRAS.

The traffic receipts on this company's south-west line, 406
miles in length, amounted to £133,091 for the six months
ending the 30th of June last, against £100,738 for the cor-
responding period of 1863, showing an increase of £32,353,
or 32i per cent. over last year. On the North-West line,
41 miles open, the receipts for the six months ending as
above have been £7,230, against £5,629 for the correspond-
ing period of last year, showing an increase of £1,601, or
28i per cent. The aggregate receipts have increased by
£33,954, equal to 314 per cent, while the mileage open of
both lines has remained the same as last year:

CHARING-CROSS HOTEL.
Yesterday the second annual meeting of the proprietors
was held at the terminus of the South-Eastern Railway,
London-bridge—the Hon. J. Byng in the chair. From the
report it appeared that satisfactory progress had been made
in the construction of the hotel, and as there was every rea-
son to anticipate a larger demand for sleeping accommoda-
tion than was at first expected, another of floor o 60 bed-
, rooms had,beenadded to the building as originally designed.
The contract with Messrs Lucas for the construction of the
building amounted to £121,542, from which £lO,OOO, re-
paid by the railway company for their booking-offices at
Charing cross, had to be deducted. Up to 30th June last
£153,565 had been expended upon capital account, and the
directors were now about to exercise the borrowing powers
conferred by the articles of association to the extent of
£50,000, and receive loans of £lOO each in exchange for de-
bentures for three or five year at 4 per cent. per annum.
The Chairinan moved, and Mr Teulon seconded the
adoption of the report, which was carried unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN, in answer to questions, said before the
next meeting the hotel would be opened, and he trusted
would prove remunerative. It would be furnished in the
best, but, at the same time, the most economical manner,
for £20,000, and £50,000 would complete it.
Messrs C. F. Surtees and S. Toulon were re-elected
directors, and Messrs Hughes and Smith auditors.
Thanks were given to the chairman and directors and the
meeting separated.

The Twelfth of August,

YORKSHIRE MOORS.

The 12th opened well on the Glossop subscription moors,
belonging to Lord E. Howard, M.P. •The weather was fine
and warm, causing the birds to lay well. 519 brace fell to
22 guns, giving an average of 23& brace per gun. The fol-
lowing gentlemen had the best bags :—Mr T. H. Sidebot-
tom, 491 brace—Mr J. N. Winterbottom, 381—Mr S.
Wood, 37—Mr E. Sykes, 34—Mr A. Harrison, 331—Mr
A. Moreland, 311—Mr J. Leeming, 26—Mr J. Wood, 25
—Mr J. Marsland, 221—Mr E. Sidebottom, 22—Mr D.
Wood, 22.
A Molten correspondent writes :—"The Yorkshire moors
had a more than usual number of guns on Friday, and long
before daylight the sportsmen were at work. As a rule a
good bag was an exception, two brace or at most three being
looked upon as good, while some bagged not a single bird.
The grouse were remarkably strong and plentiful also, but
wild in the extreme, hence the little sport. The moors
were parched, and all the streams dried up, causing both
sportsmen and their dogs to suffer great fatigue. In some
cases the poor dogs were quite exhausted, and had to be
carried to water."
A Barnsley correspondent says :—" The shooting season
has commenced under the most favourable auspices, and
promises to be the most successful that has occurred for
many years past. The 12th was all that could be desired—
warm, with but little wind—and brought out large numbers
from all parts of the country. The birds in some instances
were a little wild, but on the whole they were large and in
fine condition. and lay well for the gun. Amongst the
principal bags on Friday was the party of Mr Stanhope,
consisting of lour guns, Mho got 83 brace in a short time
on the Dunford Bridge side. On the grounds of Sir
Lionel Pilkington the birds were very numerous. Mr
S. W. Hague killed 44 brace, Mr A. K. Sidebottom, 221;
and Mr A. Atherpe, 19/. On Saturday, on the same
ground, Mr Hague knocked over 141 brace in the two
hours preceding luncheon. Mr Briggs and two guns on
the adjoining ground kale,: 25 brace in a few hours, and on
Saturday 12 brace up to one o'clock. At Midhope Stones
Mr H. Peacock killed 12j brace, and Mr C. Wright 171
brace, On the other moors the sportsmen were equally
lucky, Mr H. Mellor, jun., killing 24 brace; Mr H. Mellor
sen., 19 ; Mr Robert Sorby and Mr J. Garside, 18i each ;
and Mr H. Rollin, 16. Mr J. Chapman was also verysue-
cessful, and with his party made very large bags. On Cad-
man's Moor, Mr S. Jessop knocked over 32 brace. Higher
up, Mr T. Vickers bagged 254 brace ; Mr Walesfall, 251;
and several other gentlemen from 20 to 23 brace.
SCOTLAND.

Galashiols—Splendid weather, with birds in plenty and
strong on the wing, is tho sum of the reports wo hear from
the majority of the shootings in this district, Some of the
grounds have as yet not been shot over, but capital sport
has been had on several moors. On Friday the Yair party
of four guns, comprising Mr Alexander I'ringle, Sir John
Marchbank, Mr Macgill Crichton, and Mr David Pringle,
bagged 25 brace of grouse and 8 hares. Mr Mitchell lanes
of Stow, on his hill farm of Williamhope, brought down 12
brace to his single gun.

Crieff—Tho sport on the various moors tested in this dis-
trict on the 12th was upon the whole the best that has been
enjoyed on the opening day for a number of years. The
young broods of grouse are numerous on all the moors, and
both old and young birds have seldom been seen so early in
the season in such fine condition. The grouse are strong
and wild, and some difficulty was experienced by the mast
expert marksmen in getting within gunshot. Friday was an
excellent day for shooting, and Saturday, though frosty in
the morning, turned out equally good. The abundance of
grouse may be conceited from the fact that after midday on
the 12th Sir Hugh Campbell, Bart., shot to his own gun 63
brace of grouse. Sir Patrick K. Murray, Bart., and another
gentleman, were very successful on the moors of
Ochtertyre, both on the 12th and 13th. The Glenturret
hills have also afforded Mr Draper and party good sport,
and the prospects of sportsmen were never more satisfactory
in that quarter. Several hours before evening on the 12th
his Royal Highness the Maharajah Singh had bagged on
the moors of Loch Kennard Lodge, Grantully, 122 brace
of grouse, besides other game. At Shian, Mr Johnstone
shot 15 brace of grouse and 1 hare. At Lamers Mr James
Dunlop killed 24 brace of grouse and 4 hares, and Master
Dunlop shot 7 brace of grouse on Clathic moors. Mr
Guinnis has had first-class sport on the hill of Fendoch.
In the Killin district all the sportsmen who have been out
have also been very successful in bagging grouse and other
kinds of game. Tho number of boxes and hampers of game
sent from the railway station to the south on Saturday
showed that the slaughter had been very great.
On the Kinloch and Tumoh moors, Messrs Pearson
Knowles and party (four guns) killed 124 brace grouse and
9 hares.

Brechin —The 12th opened very favourably for the sports-
men in the glens here, the weather being fine and the birds
very plentiful, but strong on the wing. On Friday, at
Invermark, Lochlee, five guns, the Earl of Dalhousie had
17 brace grouse—Major Youug, 112 brace grouse, 1 hare,
and 1 plover—Col. R. Ramsay. 5M brace grouse and 1 hare
—Col Dundas, 20 brace grouse and 1 plover—Capt Pearetb,
86i brace grouse and 1 hare—total to the five guns, 592
head.

HARVEST PROSPECTS.

BRISTOL AND NEIGHBOURHOOD.

The wheat crop in the district round Bristol will be a
full average one, both as to quantity and quality, it having
ripened a good colour, and the ears being well filled. In
many parts the crop of red wheat will be equal to last year,
but the white, being more or less blighted, will not be over
an average. There is every prospect of a good crop of bar-
ley, and the quality will be excellent, The crop of oats is
affected by the prevailing drought. The straw in many
places is short, and the yield will be below an average.
There will bo a fair average crop of winter beans, but
spring-sown vary greatly. Many pieces are almost a com-
plete failure from blight, while others are nearly a full
crop. On the whole, taking winter and spring beans to-
gether, it is not expected tho crop will exceed half the usual
average. Peas are the worst crop of the season, more than
half those sown having been cut up for fodder, and the
remainder will yield very badly. Potatoes have stood the
drought better than any of the root crops, and thus far are
free irmn disease,and promise anabundant yield. Mangolds,
turnips, and swedes aro almost everywhere a failure. Hay
is a short crop, but good' in quality, and is realising high
prices. Tho crop of apples is abundant.