The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-07 00:00:00

Naval and Military

Capt. W. R. Mends, R.N., C. 8., Director of
Transports; Mr. E. J. Reed, Chief Constructor of
the Navy ; and Mr. James Luke, Surveyor and In-

spector of Contract Work, are at present engaged
upon an official visit to the several steam transports
now completing in-the private building yards of the
contractors for the Indian troop service. During the

past week the Jumna was inspected at Jarrow, the
Malabar at Glasgow, and the Euphrates at Birken-

head. This week the three officials named will con-

elude their present round of duty with an inspection
of the Serapis and the Crocodile on the Thlhmes.
According to present arrangements the Jumna will
be sent to Devonport to be docked and coated with
preservative and anti-fouling paints, and afterwards
put through her measured mile trials outside the
breakwater of Plymouth Sound. The Euphrates,
Serapis, and Crocodile will proceed to Portsmouth
to undergo similar preparation and trials previous
to being commissioned for active service.
The _Hector, 20, armoured iron frigate, 4,089 tons,
800-horse power, Capt. W. G. Luard, is ordered
into Portsmouth harbour from Spithead, to dis-
mantle and pay out of commission, on the 19th inst.
The Minotaur, 26, armoured iron frigate, 6,621
tons, 1,350-horse power, Capt. James G. Goode-
nough, is being hurried forward at Portsmouthdock-
yard for commission as the flagship of the Channel
squadron of 1867, as rapidly as possible. It will,
however, be nearly, if not quite, another month yet
before the ship can be reported ready for commis-
sion, notwithstanding the energetic superintendence
of Captain Goodenough. At present there are not
a sufficient number of seamen available at Ports-
mouth to form her crew. _ _ .

The Rodney, 78, screw steamship, 2,777 tons,
500 horse power, Captain A. C. F. lieneage, left
Sheerness harbour yesterday morning for a trial of
her engines, boilers, and machinery. She was under
steam some five or six hours, and on her return an-
chored at the Little Nore, where she will remain
till she receives her final orders for sea. The crew
have now permanently taken up their quarters on
board, but the vessel is still short of her proper
complement by nearly 100 bands—the required
number being about 800 officers and men. After
leaving Sheerness she will stay a short time at
Portsmouth, and there, it is anticipated, the proper
number will be made up. The trial yesterday was
made under the supervision of Capt. the Hon. A.
A. Cochrane, C. 8., captain of the Steam Reserve,
Mr. W. W. Williamson, chief inspector of ma-
chinery afloat, being also present.
The Ordnance Select Committee resumed the
trial of Major Palliser's 9-inch gun on Monday, at
the proof-butt, Woolwich. Thecharges were slightly
increased—namely, from 431 b. to 451 b. of powder.
The shot were flattened cylinders, with gun-metal
studs, and weighed 2501 b. each. Fifty rounds were
fired, with complete success. The usual impression,
taken in gutta percha, of the bore and rifling showed
that the gun had not sustained the slightest injury
from these enormous charges. The firing, which on
such occasions—viz., on testing the extreme endu-
rance, is carried out in the bomb-proof cells, was
witnessed by a number of persons interested in gun-
nery. The trial was brought to a close on Tuesday,
when 38 rounds were further fired with charges con-
sisting of 451 b. of gunpowder and 2501 b. shot. The
gun has withstood the required test without mani-
festing the slightest symptoms of weakness. At the
conclusion of the trial it. was stated that if in time
the gun would be sent for exhibition to Paris. :The
wrought iron, or minor, portion of the gun was ma-
nufactured under the' direction of Mr. Geo. Reudel,
and the cast-iron-casing was run over it under the
superintendence of Captain Noble (late Royal
Artillery), both belongings _.-to—.the firm of
Sir W. Armstrong and Co. The success-
ful issue of the experiment is in a great
measure due, it is acknowledged, to the cordial
asssi,tance afforded by the firm to Major Palliser.
Some Of those who were present on Twsday stated
that they distinctly heard therfdilioit'OteaCh shot in
ITyde-park on Monday, while the wind was easterly,
and were able to count the rounds even at that dis-
tance. . .

Vice-Admiral Boutakow, of the Rukaian Imperial