The Sun.
London, England, 1870-01-26 00:00:00

THE STREET TRAMWAYS.

The House of Commons Examiners sat this morn-
ing. The East London Tramways and the Fulham,
Hammersmith, and City Railway Bills have been
withdrawn for the present session. The Standing
Orders will be reported to have been complied
with in the opposed cases of the Leeds Street
Tramways, and the London Street Tramway;
Worcester Railways and Tramways, Leeds Tram-
ways, Great Eastern Railway (Metropolitan Rail-
ways, &c.), and the Pimlico, Peckham, and Green-
wich Street Tramways Bills. The opposed cases
of the Birmingham and Staffordshire Tramways,
Birmingham Tramways, Liverpool Street Tram-
ways, Manchester Street Tramways, and the Bir-
mingham Street Tramways are postponed.

The late Major-Gen. John Studholme Hodgsor,
of her Majesty's Bengal Army, whose death has
recently been announced, was son of Gen. Hodgson,
Colonel of the " King's Own." Regiment, and
grandson of Field Marshal Hodgson, Commander-
in-Chief of the successful expedition against Belle-
isle. He entered the Bengal Army at a very early

age, and in 1845-46 served in the campaign of the
Sutlej. In 1848-49 he served in the campaign of
the Punjab, and at Ferozepoze commanded the
12th Regiment Native Infantry. He was several

times wounded, and received for his services the
rank of lieutenant-colonel, three medals and clasps.
On the breaking out of the lira Sikh war he was at
Simla, on medicAl certificate, in consequence of
dangerous wounds, but he hastened to the head-
quarters of the army, travelling on foot a distance
of 30 miles, and escaping by something like a
miracle from the insurgents. On this occasion he
was instrumental in saving the lives of two British
officers, and, as a reward, was selected by Lord
Ilardinge to raise the first Sikh infantry ever
embodied in the British service, and which he
repeatedly led, under very critical circum-
stances, against their countrymen and co -religionists.
He subsequently commanded an attack upon the
Rajah of the Jusween Dhoon, and took and de-
stroyed the Fort of Ukrot. In 1850, although hold-
ing only the rank of Regimental Captain, he re-
ceived the rank of Brigadier• General, and was
selected by Sir Charles Napier, with the approval
of the Marquis of Dalhousie, to organise the Pun-
jab Irregular Force. He commanded this force,
amounting to 12,000 men of all arms of the service,
for three consecutive years, without a day's absence,
on a hostile and extremely difficult frontier extend-
ing over 400 miles. In 1853 he directed in person
military operations against numerous tribes west of
the Derajat, which resulted in their submission, and
he then proposed a plan of defence for the entire
frontier, which was adopted by Government with
complete success. With the most brilliant prospects
apparently before him, be, however, resigned his
command, from honourable but personal reasons.
He died on the 14th of January, having suffered
for several years from a lingering disease, the result
of his arduous service.

Several of the Martini-Henry rifles were for-
warded some time since to the South-west Military
District, and are now being subjected to a series of
practical teats over the army rifle ranges on Brown-
down, near Gosport. So far, the opinion appears
to be that the new weapon is very superior to the
Snider, but that many of the details connected both
with the weapon itself and its equipments are ope❑
to considerable improvement. The ammunition
pouch, carried in front, is decidedly faulty in its

arrangement.
Capt. and Brevet-Major R. J. Hay and Capt. W.
C. Naugle, on the seconded list, Royal Artillery,
recently appointed Acting Assistant Controllers
are going through a short course of study in the
Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, to become acquainted
with the various descriptions of stores and other
articles in usJ in the service.
The 27th and 30th companies of Royal Engineers
will shortly arrive, it is expected, at the School of
Military Engineering at Chatham from the Medi-
terranean ; they have been relieved by the 20th and
2Gth companies.
The double screw composite gun-vessel Pert, 4,
is ordered into No. 4 dock at Devonport to have
her bottom cleaned and be prepared for commis-
sion. She will have a complement of 75 officers
and men.
Port Admiral Sir Henry J. Codrington, K.C.8.,
has left Plymouth for Liverpool and Bristol to in-
spect the ships of war in those ports.
On and after January, 1870, postage rates on
letters passing between Canada and the United Kingdom
are as follows sent prepaid by the Canada mail packet
via Quebec or Portland, in winter, or Halifax, six cents for
half ounce weight; if prepaid, via New York, eight cents
per half ounce. Letters for the United Kingdom posted
unpaid or prepaid less than the proper sate, will be charged
on delivery with double thew/want of deaoieut poptage.