The Sun.
London, England, 1866-04-12 00:00:00

FROM " THE OWL."

We believe we are correct in stating that the
lion. John H. T. Manners-Sutton, at present
Governor of Trinidad, has been offered the vacancy
caused by the recall of Sir Charles Darling from,
Victoria.

A Government messenger has been despatched, to
order Mr. Rawson W. Rawson, at present Go-
vernor of the Bahama Islands, to assume the admi-
nistration of the government of Jamaica, on the
return of Sir Henry Storks to Europe.
Unlike Mr. Gladstone's usual habit, there will be
no surprises in this year's budget, but, like his
former efforts, it will contain several small but pro.
gressive changes, sweeping away certain minor wan.
toms duties. As is already known, the timber
duties will be dealt with as well as the duty on
wine in bottles ; but, in addition, the anomalous
taxation on locomotion by railway and hackney
coaches respectively will be brought to a uniform
level. The income tax will, for this year, be eon,
tinued at its present amount.
The following gentlemen have been appointed
to form the Commission on the Consolidation of
Public Offices, to which we referred in our first
number for this season :—Mr. Goschen, M.P., Mr.
Cowper, M.P., Mr. Childers, M.P., Sir J. F.
Burgoyne, G. C. 8., Sir Charles Trevelyan, K.C.8.,
Mr. Stephenson (chairman of the Inland Revenue
Board), and Captain A. Clarke, R.E.
Various incorrect statements having appeared in
the papers, we may state that another attempt will
be made on Monday to launch the Northumberland.
Beyond applying four additional camels at her stern,
and an increase of the hydraulic power at the bow,
no change in the means for getting off are proposed,
the high tide being mainly depended upon to float
her. We understand that the company are sanguine
as to the success of their arrangements ; but the
best authorities are inclined to think that they will
yet have to do what ought to have been done after
the first failure, that is, to relay the launching ways
at the usual inclination.

The report of the committee on the meteorolo-
gical department of the Board of Trade, which will
tpchteerr
norcepnuutb.s icifsuhled;
prove
aituno
dbt
el ehwarntoenowgfs
shortly be made public, states that the daily fore-
castswneairtnhienorgsf cow2rresae
aat
shpereersgst a
roar
ndr
se).
the force, and 62 per cent. as regards the direction
of the wind. The committee recommend that the
system of telegraphing the actual state of the
weather at different points, and also the system of
storm warnings, should be continued, with certain
specified extensions and improvements ; that the
meteorological department should be strengthened
and developed to an extent which will increase its
annual cost from £5,460 to £10,450, and that the
daily forecasts should be abandoned altogether.
The cost of the Nottingham election petition is at
the rate of about £3OO a day, or £l. a minute.

Ironmasters' Quarterly Meeting.

WOLVERHAMPTON, Wednesday Evening.

The meetings of the ircnmasters of this district'
for the current quarter commenced here this after-
noon. The attendance was unusually small, but
there was a total absence of any disposition to do
business. Everything was reserved for the meeting
at Birmingham on Thursday, and the tendency has
been so strong in that direction of late years that
the holding an assembly in this town has become
aanformal l
ea
yff air,h av
have
nndowt h
be e
emeetingsall
a gt
vSetno uurp.
alb
rmi clogset
so far as the ironmasters are concerned.

It was generally admitted to-day that the trade is
dull ; for a mouth or more there has not been the
least animation. The second-class firms are scantily
supplied with orders, some of them not having suffi-
cient to keep their works in full operation. The
consequence is that they are very eager to obtain
contracts, and unless there is a spirit at the meeting
at Birmingham the turn of the market will in all
probability be in favour of the buyer. The demand
on the part of the export houses is moderate,munt of
as to America; to that quarter a
checked by the
the home trade has been considerably business is being done. The dembani
e
Ybeen supplying
cattle plague ; the farmers
consequence is that the
fdalornaaccount of
themselves as usual ;
iron in general use have
for the class of finished
and at present there is not
very much falien
brands
same may be said with re-
improvement in that respect.
of manufactured iron •
orders ordinarily recisehivetdhdethrough the retail dealers
much prospect of any
bran prices
are tolerably firm•
best make of pigs in this
re-
gard to the quarter and in
North Staffordshire.
The general trade in this district is remarkably
For the best
healthy ; in the most important branches they are
forking full time.

It appears from the advices just received from
Melbourne, dated
was held of 6th February last, that a meeting
the Bank of Victoria, and that the
balance-sheet
•
t
presented showed an available balance
of profi
amounting to £48,639 15s. 2d. which was
apportioned as follows : —To dividend at 12 per
cent. per annum, £31,250 ; to reduction of bank
account, £5,000 ; leaving £12,389 15s. 2d. to be
carried forward.
The Earl of Derby went out for the first time
since his severe attack of gout yesterday. The Countess of
Derby is much better, but is still unable to leave the
house.
DEATH OF A CENTENARLAN.--Jane Gatherer, a
well-known residenter in Dufftown, died there on
Sunday last at the advanced age of 102. Jane for many
years went her regular rounds every morning with the
bread-basket, supplying her various customers with hot
rolls for breakfast, and the saying was proverbial that Jana
wore well. In fact, for 30 or 40 years no visible chang
was to be observed ; but nature at last gave way, and
for the last year or two she has boon bedridden, but wel
cared for by an attentive and affectionate daughter. T here
' are still several old cronies surviving in the district, but
none so full of years as was Jane.— 13an9'shire Journal.