The Sun.
London, England, 1855-05-04 00:00:00

THE TRANSPORT SERVICE,

---
tsAmdamniiraals:tiyilianggentrta,nwsapaortto,weedapitn.taCropworte,amLioeuutth.
B. yesterday morning to prepare for the reception of
harbouitiii3i's
day
for the Crimea. Sho is of 2,163 tons, has
iittrTiroeWlelf:CdrlitetrdakteeeTk: s, and this is her first service, having been
Ginotev:rndeidnetontrtamndbeeth:eretenrescitziaanseda-iglooliinieg.
efin"mtp-elelatseslyf°fio.
J. Baines and Co., of
thia:i,k,s.epLiitiploollp.si.hbilys)iitohieSahe is owned by Mesrs.
r4Odeas:ran-.
oi inn ienrordrayt iwo na
yo of theo;t
com-
fortable accommodation of about 500 sick. She is American
line of packets. Her troops or invalids
built, and was intended to be ,me of the Liverpool and Aus-
constructed that they carry
aibsifinttace(el
yecks dear to the upper deck,
twraililiben (beßl:•ttchkedßaolni) the lower and middle decks, which are
gSlica,liaalsuci
'vit.:'utoliatiitt'eeadlelloo)ylw'fisingTh'eatfiaitsailysroeoatfidcatmlinpehs°.at:dlthe decks through which they
F
Resides this, the decks are ventilated through the
sides by ports and scuppers, making the atmosphere between
decks very cool and salutary. She has provisions on board
for four months for 1,200 troops ; also provisions for the
' same time for 500 invalids (to return with), the greater por-
tion of which is preserved frish meat. The ship was visited
ycst rday by numbers of naval and military officers, all of
whom (especially the dockyard officials) pronounced her the
best fitted ship for the war transport service yet. seen at
gs
Portsmouth. Her state cabin fittin
rival oriental magnifi-
cence in some of their details, and the height between docks
all below is nearly 8 feet.
The Lancashire Witch sailing transport was towed into
Portsmouth harbour yesterday morning to prepare for the
reception of remounts of cavalry horses for the Crimea. The
Panama sailing transport left Portsmouth yesterday for the
Crimea, with about -O0 tons of victualling supplies from the
Royal Clarence yard, Gosport. The Royal Clarence yard
is in full work, and every officer and man doing his best to
meet the demands upon it.

ALARM OF FIRE ON BOARD THE DAUNTLESS.
At 11.30 p.m., on the 20th ult., all hands were turned
up on board the Dauntless (ofi' Sebastopol), for the purpose
of tai.ing their turn at firing on the batteries. The steam
was up, and she got under way, and gradually advanced
in along the shore till within 700 yards, her guns being
loaded with shell. She fired a broadside. Tho Russians in
reply let fly al) mt IUO shells, which burst around the fillip,
one shell passing through the forestays. Another broadside
was immediately fired from the steamer, when an explosion
took place. The cry of " fire !" was raised, and. she. re,....
steamed out as quickly as possible. Tho fire was iitinguiiii.:, !
in five minutes, and as soon as the smoke permitted it
n:.
discovered that the gun in the captain's cabin lv.,:iii
_l2, and
wounding four men and a boy, blowing away thiool-x-, _
.Tl,7_ _,,„
' part of the upper and main decks. The tausl
it:rbt:igi,
was blown out of the port ; the rest
.flew. around
it
Tito ter,
pieces, smashing the cabin and everything is it. the bridge en
dirk, and signal midshipman were thrown u '

Infantry regiments of the line on home service, and regi-
ments of militia serving in the colonies are to be supplied
with 12 Minie rifles per company, and militia regiments doing
duty within the United Kingdom four per company, for the
purpose of instructing the men in the use of that weapon.
The Saldauha troop-ship was towed out of Queenstown har-
bour on Wednesday. She takes detachments of the follow-
ing regiments, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel
Alexander :—the 19th, 14th, and 89th—in all about 750,
bound for the Crimea. They were in excellent health and
spirits. There was great cheering from the ships in the har-
bour and from the people on shore as they passed along.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

GREAT WESTERN.

The adjourned special meeting of this company was
held yesterday at the Paddington station, to consider
some railway bills now before Parliament, promoted by
other companies ; Mr. C. Russell in the chair.
Mr. STEVENSON read the notice convening the meet-
ing', and the short titles of six bills submitted in com-
pliance with the standing orders of the House of Lords.
The CHAIRMAN explained that two out of the six
bills were approved at the last meeting, and he was pre-
pared on the present occasion to submit only two more
—the Cornwall and South Wales Bill. The bill relating
to the Plymouth Great Western Docks contained no
clauses in reference to the Great Western Railway Com-
pany, and they would therefore withdraw it. The bill
for the extension to Brantford was not sufficiently ad-
vanced in Parliament to submit it to the koprietors, acid
they would therefore have to adjourn the ineetiog to
consider it on another clay. He concluded by moving a
formal resolution approving a hill for extending the
time for the completion of the Cornwall Railway and
works, and for making further provisions as to its share
capitol, and for leasing the line to the Great Western,
Bristo'awl Exeter, and South Devon Railwaycompanies.
Lord BARRINGTON seconded the motion, and it. was
carlied unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed a formal resolution, ap-
proving " a bill to consolidate and amend the acts re-
lating to the South Wales Railway Company, and to
authorise the construction of new works and alterations
of existing works anti for other purposes."
Lord BARRINGTON seconded the motion, which, after
some explanation, was earrigd unanimously.
The Plymouth Great Western Docks Bill was with-
drawn, and the meeting was adjourned to the 17th of
111;iy for the purpose of considering the last bill on the
list, for making a railway from Southal to Brantford, and
docks at the latter place.
The meeting then separated.