The Sun.
London, England, 1862-02-20 00:00:00

MAYNOOTII.

Mr. WHALLEY asked for a return of the number of
persons who had completed their education at the Royal
College of Maynooth (Ireland) from the year 1845 to the
year 1861 inclusive ; specifying their names, and, so far as
was known to the authorities of the college, their destine-

Lion on leaving the college, the position they now
occupied by them, in the Roman Catholic Church,
and the place of their ministry ; also stating
whether any, and, if any, which of the three
Roman Catholic archbishops and the 24 bishops whose,
I names have appeared in the newspapers attached to
a pastoral letter, dated Dublin, Feast of St. Mark, 1861,
annexing to their signatures certain territorial titles, wen
educated at Maynouth College, or are now officially con-
nected therewith as visitors, trustees, or otherwise.—The
return was ordered.
THE REVISED CODE.

Mr. WALPOLE gave notice that he would bring for-
ward the subjeet of the appropriation of the money granted
by the house for educational purposes, and move certainre-
solutions in reference thereto.
BRIIISII COLUMBIA.

Mr. CAIRD asked the Under Secretary of State for the
Colonies, whether he could confirm the reports which had
recently appeared regarding gold discoveries in British Co-
lumbia, and if he would lay upon the table any information
regarding that colony and its gold fields : Whether it was
the intention of Government to establish a regular postal
communication with British Columbia : And that any re-
cent information regarding the Australian gold fields be
laid upon the table.
Mr. C. FORTESCUE said that his right hon. friend
the Chancellor of the Exchequer would answer the second
question. With regard to the first question, very interest-
ing communications which had been received the
e
Government, would be laid on the table. The Governo
of British Columbia had reported most favourablyea
as to the gold-fields in that colony, but the
great
difficulty to bo contended with wee the want of communi-
cation with the gold fields. However the governor was
re
ob-
applying all the money he could spa towards that
•
ject. With respect to Australia the official reports re-
ceived, which would be laid on the tabh.3, represented that
the yield of gold would in all probability not
.only be as
prolific but as permanent a
ofthat EXCHEQUER other mineral.
The CHANCELLOR the
.. said, as
ground
nnFd rhanad-
regarded postal communication with British. Columbia, he
to a communicat.ion 'with
supposed it referred
else°. Ire did not think that any satisfactory
been made out for calling on the
people of this country to
pay for such a communication, but ho was glad to learn
that a firm in the colony had adopted means for establish-
ing suck communication.
SALARIES, PENSIONS, Ecc.
Mr. WHITE asked the Secretary to the Treasury, when
the return relating to salartes, pensions &c.
agreed to by
the house on the Ist of March last, would be laid upon the
table.
Mr. F. PEEL said there had been some unavoidable
delay in procuring all the returns, he hoped they would
be ready by the middle of next butmonth.
THAMES EMBANKMENT COMMISSION.

Mr. KINNAIRD asked the First Commissioner of
Works if he would lay upon the table of the house a copy of
an correspondence between the Treasury, the Office of

THE NAVY.

In order to provide increased facilities at Chatham
Dockyard for constructing the iron and iron-plated
vessels now building, as well as those intended to
be built, at that naval establishment, the Lords of
the Admiralty have decided on expending a consi-
derable sum during the present year in the im-
provement and enlargement of the dockyard, in
addition to the large sum voted last year for the
formation of new docks and basins, and the erec-
tion of an additional factory and other buildings.
The principal works in connection with the en-
largement of the dockyard will be executed by
convicts. The second dock, in which the iron
steamer Achilles, 50, is under construction, will be
improved at a cost of about £3,500, which sum will
be expended in the construction of a new caisson at
the entrance, £l,OOO having already been voted for
this purpose. It is also intended to enlarge the
workships used by the mechanics and artisans em-
ployed on the Achilles, at an estimated cost of about
£l,OOO. Their lordships have also given directions
for the enlargement of the millwrights' yard and
premises so as to admit of a greater number of
hands being employed in connection with that de-
partment, should their services be suddenly re-
quired. The erection of a large workshop on the
space adjoining the slip on which the Royal Oak is
building, the works connected with which have
already been commenced by Messrs. Foord and
Sons, the contractors, will involve an outlay of up-
wards of £3,000, including the machinery required
in armour-plating the wooden ships. Directions
have also been given for erecting additional quar-
ters for the metropolitan force employed in the dock-
yard, at an estimated cost of £3,000. The total sum
which it is intended to expend during the present
year in the improvement of Chatham Dockyard,
exclusive of the large amount voted for that pur-
pose, is nearly £50,000. A considerable addi-
tion is to be made to the number of
mechanics employed on the Acbilles, provision
having been made for employing 1,051 hands
on that vessel during the present year, in
order that she may be completed in the
shortest possible time. The sum taken in the esti-
mates for wages for the hired workmen engaged on
the iron ships this year is £74,310. Provision has
also been made for the entry of hired artificers and
labourers at Chatham and the other dockyards for a
period of four months, to be employed exclusively
on the repair of ships, the sum required for this
purpose being £30,000. In addition to the present
dock accommodation it is intended to construct five
new docks at Chatham, three of which will be of
500 ft in length, and two of 400 ft, and each capable
of receiving the largest vessels in the service. Three
large basins, communicating with each other, are
also intended to be formed at the eastern end of the
existing yard, the largest of which will have an
area
with a length of 2,000 ft and width
of 0
remaining basins covering 22 acres
70 of f t 30
the acres, rt e
two
0
and 7 acres respectively. The depth of water in
each basin will be 30ft at neap tides. By far the
most important part of the intended improvements,
however, will be the embankment of the river to
prevent the filling up of the existing channel way.
This will be accomplished by convict labour, the
estimated cost of the work already contemplated
being £85,000, which includes the cost of the coffer-
dams for executing the work within free from water.
The river from the locks at the entrance to the
basins, towards Sheerness, will be deepened to form
a channel 800 ft wide and 27ft deep at half-tides,
which will give 31ft at neaps and 35ft at spring
tides. The sum to be expended in deepening the
river, according to the plan already decided upon, is
£45,000. As soon as the whole of the alterations
beennow in
carried progress,nto well as those
effect, ect, Chatham
decandided
p upon
mheanytes
dockyard will be the most commodious of our naval
establishments, while its protection from hostile
attacks will be amply secured by the powerful bat-
teries and fortifications now being erected in its
vicinity.

The Royal Alfred, under course of conversion
from a laid-down 90 gun ship, to a 50 gun iron-
plated frigate at Portsmouth, on Tuesday had her
outer sternpost placed in position. A large num-
ber of hands are employed upon this ship, and her
stern frame is being completed, now that the
authorities have decided upon the form of screw
well with which to fit the ship.
The following appointments were made yesterday
at the Admiralty :—Lieut. F. S. Clayton to the
Esp Dir ; Peter Butler, promoted to engineer super-
numerary in the Cumberland ; and W. W. Webber,
confirmed as Ist class assist.-engineer in the Shannon.

MELANCHOLY FATE OF " STEEPLE JAcii7."--
A daring Sheffield man, who from his feats in affixing
lightning conductors to high steeples, and in reiairing
factory chimneys, had earned for himself the title of
" Steeple Jack," met with a shocking death yesterday
morning. His real name is Charles Faulkner
. Mr.
Hair sworth, ironfounder, is the contractor for ironhwork for a large cotton factory in course of erection, for
Mr. Edwin Learoyd, at Manchester, and the deceased was
employed at the place. About eight o'clock h e was engaged
on the third story of the ani.lnished building, and
while
walking on a narrow plank, his foot slipped, and he fell a
distance of about 40 feet. His head came in contact with
one of the iron beams of
.the basement story, which drove
in the skull, and caused immediate death.