The Sun.
London, England, 1866-11-16 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelli,;ence.

In 'consequence of the accumulation of war mate-
rials at present stored in readiness for shipment in
Woolwich Arsenal, additional transports have been
chartered to clear away the superabundance. The
Ocean Lady and the Leonard Hollis yesterday com-
menced shipping heavy guns, shot, and shell for
Portsmouth and Devonport,in eluding 99 600 pounder
shells for experimental practice in the gunnery ship
Excellent, and Whitworth shot, for the same pur-
pose ; also a large number of heavy guns of various
calibres, for the Royal Albert and other ships in
commission and about to be commissioned. The
War Department steam vessel Lord Panmure, Mr.
Spriddle commander, yesterday completed shipping
a cargo of stores for Devonport, under orders to
sail this morning, consisting of eight 6-ton guns,
Bin. calibre, 100 small arms chests, eight wrought-
iron gun carriages and slides, shot, and shell, &c.,
together with 1,200 barrels of powder from Purfleet.
Her Majesty's four gun, iron and wood double
screw gun boat (armour-plated) Vixen, Commander
Spencer P. Brett, commissioned Oct. 1, yesterday
went down to the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich, and
shipped her powder, consisting of 70 cases, contain-
ing 11 cwt. each. The ship and screw will undergo
a final inspection this morning by Commodore Ed-
monstone, C. 8., A.D.C. to the Queen, and Super-
intendent of Woolwich Dockard, accompanied by
Mr. Lory, secretary. After the inspection the
Vixen will be despatched to Greenhithe to arrange
the deviation of her compasses, and will afterwards
proceed to Devonport for coast duties. The old
harbour service vessel Sindbid, for many years em-
ployed between Woolwich and other dockyards, is
ordered to be broken up, and will be replaced
by a new vessel of larger dimensions and tonnage
similar to the Falmouth. Her keel was laid down
a few days ago at Deptford.
Her Majesty's screw corvette Charybdis, 17 guns,
1,506 tons, 400-horse power, fitting for the first
division of the Steam Reserve in the Medway, in
readiness for Commission, having undergone a
thorough refit and had her hull and machinery re-
paired, is ordered to be taken to the measured mile,
Maplin Sands, weather permitting, in order to make
her official trial of speed, the trial made a few days
ago having proved unsatisfactory in consequence of
some defects in the machinery.
The screw gunboat Sepoy, 2, 60-horse power,
tender to the Dauntless, 31, 580-horse power, hav-
ing completed her repairs and refit at Chatham dock_
yard, is ordered to be taken for her official trial at
the measured mile this morning, under the super-
vision of the officials connected with the steam reserve.
The line-of-battle screw steamer Rodney, 78,
2,770 tons, 500-horse power, for many years attached
to the Medway steam reserve, having undergone
some heavy repairs in dock, has been removed into
the steam basin, where she is being brought forward
for commission, her repairs and refit involving an
estimated outlay of £20,000. She is intended to
relieve the Princess Royal, 73,400-horse power, as
flagship in China, and she is now being fitted with.
the necessary cabins and offices for a flag officer's
retinue. She has received her lower masts, and
yesterday the dockyard riggers commenced setting
up her standing wire rigging. There is still a great
deal to be completed, inboard and aloft, before she
will be ready for being commissioned.
The Golden Fleece, twin-screw transport, arrived
at Spithead yesterday from Gravesend, and went into
Portsmouth to embark the following troops for con-
veyance to China and Japan :--For Hongkong-14
men Royal Artillery, and one sergeant A.H.C. For
Japan—Capt. Gipps, Lieut. Buchanan, 49 men, 9
women, and 15 children, 2d battalion 9th Regiment
of Infantry. The Golden Fleece will sail from Ports-

mouth to-day,and call in at Queenstown to embark
the 73d Regiment for Hongkong.
The Helicon, paddle, despatch vessel, Commander
E. Field, arrived at Spithead yesterday from her
Channel squadron cruise. She is ordered to make
good defects and complete again for sea by the 28th
inst.

The Hector, screw, iron frigate, Capt. Luard, was
expected to arrive at Spithead last evening from the
Channel, after her cruise with the squadron. She is
ordered to make good defects and make ready for
sea by the 28th inst.
The Minotaur, ironclad frigate, is ordered for
commission at Portsmouth in Maynext, report says.
The Lord Clyde, ironclad frigate, 24, Capt. R.
Dew, C. 8., flagship of Rear-Admiral F. Warden,
C. 8., second in command of the Channel Squadron,
is ordered to proceed to Spitbead from Devonport
after receiving a new Griffiths screw, for trial over
the measured mile in Stokes' Bay, in order that the
performance of her engines may be carefully tested
and compared with those of the Bellerophon, under
similar conditions. Both are alike in their principle
and nominal power.
Yesterday the Admiralty lighters from Chatham
dockyard were towed up the harbour to near the
Sun-pier, for the purpose of assisting in lifting and
floating the iron schooner Admiral Codrington, which
accidentally sunk while being towed up the river on
Sunday morning, in consequence of grounding on one
of the Government moorings near the dockyard, by
which some of her keel plates were torn away. Iu
the course of the day chains were passed under the
vessel's bottom, and late in the afternoon the lighters
had succeeded in raising her, when she was towed up
the harbour out of the track of vessels.

Yesterday the whole of the depots, comprising
the 2d battalion of Infantry, at Chatham, left that
garrison,preceded by the drum and fife band of the
battalion, and proceeded on a march into the country
in the direction of Maidstone, returning to their
qua.rters in the afternoon. On this occasion the
troops were halted at a suitable spot, and some
manoeuvres suitable to the nature of the ground were
gone through. On the days the troops are not ex-
ercised in route marching they are instructed in
running drill.
The paymaster's Greenwich Hospital pension of
£5O a year, vacant by the death of Mr. Joseph Edye
on the 12th inst., has been awarded to -Mr. Robert
M. Read, retired paymaster.
The following appointments were made on Wed-
nesday at the Admiralty :—Lieut. Atwell T. M.
Lane to the Black Prince; Lieut. Samuel L. Osborne
to the Satellite ; Lieut. Hunter Kent to the St. Vin-
cent; Sub-Lieut. Hamilton T. Smith to the Belle-
rophon ; Charles B. Neate, Charles J. Norcock, and
Francis H.Logari, midshipmen, to the Bellerophon ;
Reginald G. Fulford and William H. Callwell, naval
cadets, to the Bellerophon ; Robert R. Warren,
nominated a naval cadet; Edward Cocks, assist.-
pay master, additional, to the Queen ; William H.
Potley, master's assistant, to the Fisgard, as super-
numerary ; and Reginald 0. Bray, clerk, to the.
Royal Adelaide, as supernumerary.

The entry of naval cadets of the second class
which has been suspended will be resumed immedi-
ately and application should be made in the usual
manner. The examination will take place in
January.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE•

NORTH BRITISH.

At the meeting held on Wednesday of the new board of
directors, Mr-. John Beaumont, Huddersfield, was elected
chairman. Mr. Beaumont has been a director for many
years, and is one of the largest shareholders. The vice-
chairman is not yet elected.