The Sun.
London, England, 1858-10-07 00:00:00

THE NAVY.

The Widgeon steamer having discharged her
naval stores at Chatham dockyard, has returned to
Woolwich.

H.M. gunboat Sandfly, which sailed from Wool-
wich on Monday last, under convoy of the steam
transport Dee, returned to Woolwich yesterday from
Greenhithe, where it was discovered that her rudder
head was sprung, and her reversing lever broken.
Mr. 0. W. Lang, master shipwright at Pem-
broke dockyard, has been appointed master ship-
wright at Chatham, vice Mr. F. I. Laire, retired.

THE ARMY.

Two sergeants and 148 gunners belonging to the
field batteries and other branches of the Royal Ar-
tillery. at Woolwich, under orders to sail for Cal-
cutta in the King Philip, in charge of Lieut. Roberts,
Royal Horse Artillery, were yesterday medically
attested and passed. In pursuance of a new arrange-
ment to provide a suit of light jean clothing in ad-
dition to the ordinary sea kit, an extra stoppage of
9s. per man was notified, according to orders, mak-
ing a total of £2 17s. 6d. per man for his sea kit
alone. The order having been unmistakeably ob-
jected to by the men, who state that the highest
deduction which can be made for that purpose dur-
ing the voyage will still leave them in debt on their
arrival in India, the Deputy-Assistant Quartermas-
ter-General found it expedient to apply to the
Horse Guards to ascertain if the extra kit is in-
tended to be provided by Government, or whether
the additional stoppage must be enforced.
Applications for admission into the Royal Artil-
lery at Woolwich have been more than usually
numerous during the last week, consisting princi-
pally of agricultural labourers. The number re-
ceived during the month of September was 505,
many of whom were strong healthy mechanics.
The battalion ofßoyal Marines at Woolwich were
yesterday put through a course of field-officers' drill
on Woolwich-common by Lieut.-Col Hopkinson.
Yesterday orders were issued for a detachment of
Royal Artillery to leave head-quarters at Woolwich
and embark on board the transport Star of the
East, to fill up the companies now in China.
Yestekday upwards of 320 recruits, enlisted for
service in regiments of the line, cavalry, artillery,
and marines, were forwarded from the head
recruiting-office, Delahay-street, Westminster, to
Chatham and the other military depots. Since the
close of the harvest and the militia training, men
are joining at the rate of 1,500 weekly.
Orders have been received at Chatham for the
following medical officers attached to the staff at
Fort Pitt to be relieved from duty at that establish-
ment for the purpose of embarking for the sta-
tions named—viz., Staff-Assistant-Surgeon J. M.
C. Marshall and Staff-Assistant-Surgeon R. C.
Crean to proceed to the East Indies by the over-
land route ; Staff-Assistant-Surgeon J. Speedy to
embark for Ceylon.
The improved system of ventilating soldiers' bar-
rack-rooms recommended by the Commissioners for
inquiry into barrack and hospital accommodation
in England and Wales, a description of which has
appeared in The Sun, has been applied to the
rooms in the C block of buildings at Chatham Bar-
racks, and the plan has been found to answer very
satisfactorily. Yesterday the workmen commenced
making the necessary alterations for fitting the
apparatus to the remaining blocks of buildings at
that barracks. Should the improved means of ven-
tilating barrack buildings which are now being
tried at Chatham prove generally satisfactory, the
same system will be adopted in the whole of the
barracks in England and Wales. Since the autho-
rities at the War-office have directed a thorough
ventilation of the barrack-rooms at Chatham toge-
ther with lessening the number of persons quartered
in each room, combined with an abundant supply
of water for the use of the troops, the barracks at
Chatham now rank among the healthiest in the
kingdom.
On Monday and Tuesday last the 15th King's
Hussars, stationed at Hounslow, were minutely in-
spected by Major-General Lawrenson, who com-
mands the Cavalry Brigade at Aldershot. OnMon-
day, the Major-General witnessed a field day, and
on Tuesday a foot parade of the rogiment, after
which be expressed himself to Col. Key as being
entirely satisfied with the appearance and efficiency
of the distinguished corps under his command.