The Sun.
London, England, 1869-05-19 00:00:00

OCTOBER.

Bedford 5, 6 Cheltenham I°. 2€
I
Edinburgh 6, 7, 8 Curragh l9, 2G, it
Leicester 7, 8 I West Drayton .........21, 22
Bromley 7 8 I Hereford 2l, 22
Newmarket 2d 0ct...11, &c. Monmouth 23, 24
Chelmsford l9 20 I Newmark,a, Mon ...25, &c.
Kelso 19 20
__ ___l.--

RITUALISM IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA.—The Sovth
Australian Register of March 30 says that a memorial to
the Lord Bishop of Adelaide, praying him to adopt
stringent measures for the suppression of ritualistic prac-
tices in the English Church in the colony, is being eaten-

lively signed.
NEW BRONZE FIELD GUN FOR INDlA.—Further
trials of the new bronze field gun for India were made on
Monday and on Tuesday at Shoeburyness, with a continua-
tion of very satisfactory results. The light iron carriages
are perfect in their endurance. Case shot was also fired
from the light Abyssinian steel gun at 200 yards, the
effects of the bullets being severe upon the wood targets.

The report is confirmed that the accident to the
mail train from Belfast to Dublin was caused by a stone placed
across the track, which weighed 3 cwt., and had been so laid
with the intention of making sure that the train would leave
the rails. The engine and two waggons remained on the line,
however, and only the end of the train Suffered. There
were eight passengers, nono of whom v ere seriously in-
:tired.

THE DROUGHT IN AUSTRALIA. —The Melbourne
Argus says that reports of the desolation occasioned in the
interior of the colony by the severity of the drought are
continually appearing. The line of road from Wagga
Wagga to Hay is said by a late traveller to be comparable
to nothing but the Valley of the Shadow of Death. It is
literally strewed with the skeletons or the decaying carcases
of wretched animals that have perished from starvation or
thirst. Horses, cattle, and sheep, and even the wild
denizens of the plains—kangaroos, emus, and turkeys—
are lying dead in all directions.
VELOCIPEDES FOR RURAL POSTS.—Huntly, as the
centre of a wide district, has a considerable number of
country post messengers in connection with its office.
Some of them have very long journeys to take ; and the
Forgue runner has taken the initiative in doing the
journey with a velocipede. Last Saturday he began his
journey in the new fashion, and did the distance (nine
miles) in about an hour. It is a double-seated conveyance,
very light, seems easily propelled by two persons (who
sit facing one another), and goes at a rapid rate.—
Scotsman.

HONOUR TO OLD AGE.—The Nord relates that a
fete took place a few days back at Charleroi in honour of
one Catherine Yernaux, who had reached her 100th year,
end had been long known as a schoolmistress. The street
was decked out with flags, and over the door of her resi.
dence was fixed a large placard with the inscription—
" Madame C. Yernaux, 100 years, May 13, 1869. Honour
to old age !" In the course of the day the venerable lady
was taken in an open carriage from her own house to the
parish church, where she was embraced by her relatives
amidst the acclamations of a considerable crowd, and a
service of thanksgiving celebrated. In the evening the
whole quarter was illuminated, and the fete terminated
by a public ball.
"PLAYING MITI! POWDER.--A most remarkable
occurrence has taken place on the premises of Penlyan
Hall, Ruahon. A young man.named Freer, who assisted
Cu.! groom, had occasion to go up into the granary, which
is over the coach-house, to fetch some beans. Whilst
there he foolishly began to nioioe hinisf.ll with a barrel
of basting powder that bad been placed in a wooden box.
and actually threw a lighted match on the top of the
barrel, thinking only to set fire to a small quantity of
powler which lay outside. All the barrel, however,
exp'oded, blowing away the roof and the s7eks of the
room. The groom was cliff p'ng a horse close to the stable-
door ; one of the beams of the roof came through the
window, but Wilcox happily escaped unhurt, and, accom-
rallied by Mr. Scott, the bailiff, went up into the granary,
where theybound Freer lying on the floor. As soon as he
heard them talking he rose, only having been frightened,
and not in the least hurt. Several pieces of the roof lay
near his head, but
_Omae;stry Adveragr,:

l_i__lL -