The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-18 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence.

The following naval officersstudyingat the Royal
Naval College, Portsmouth, were examined at the
quarterly examination held at the college on the
12th, 13th, and 14th inst., and having passed have
received the certificates of qualification as steam
officers of her Majesty's Navy : —Commanders
Philip R. Sharpe, Henry G. Belson, John T.
Swan, Henry L. Perceval, Geo. Parsons, Henry J.
Challis, Edwd. T. Parsons, Claude E. Buckle, and
Lieut. E. D. Law.

A naval court-martial assembled yesterday morn-
ing on board 11.M.5. Victory, in Portsmouth Har-
bour, for the trial of Capt. C. T. L. Usher, Royal
Marine Light Infantry, serving on board ILDI.S.
Lion, Capt. J. H. Hayes, C.B. (Coastguard ship at
Greenock), on a charge of drunkenness on board
.U.M.S. Lion on the 28th Nov. last. The Court
was composed of Capt. the Hon. F. Egerton, C. 8.,
Aide-de-Camp to the Queen, of H.M.S. Victory,
president; Capt. C. Fellowes, Duke of Wellington;
Capt. W. C. Chamberlain, Asia ; Capt. H. Bur-
goyne, V.C., Wivern ; Capt. Goodenough, Mino-
taur ; Capt. M. Dunn, Megrera. Senior Lieut. G.
E. Barnes, H.M.S. Lion, appeared as prosecutor,
and called Lieut. R. Ross, the Rev. Bartholomew
Ring, D.D., and other witnesses, in support of the
charge. In reply on his defence the prisoner read
to the Court a statement, in which he expressed his
pain and regret at finding himself in the humiliat-
ing position. of defending himself against such a
charge after 19 years' service. Repudiating altoge-
ther the charge brought against him, he attributed
the appearances which led to the charge being made
to an overdose of chlorodine and brandy, which he
had taken as a medicine. He further called upon
Capt. Goodenough to testify to his general conduct
while formerly serving under him, and handed in to
the Court a number of written testimonials from
various other officers, all giving favourable evidence
to his character as an officer and a gentleman.
The Court found the charge proved, but, in conse-
quence of the prisoner's long service and the high
testimony given iu his favour, sentenced him only
to be dismissed from H.M.S. Lion and a loss of two
years' seniority as captain in theßoyal Marine Light
Infantry.

Her Majesty's screw troopship Orontes, Capt. H.
W. Hire, arrived at Portsmouth yesterday from Ire-
land. She will be paid out of commission by her
present captain, and afterwards recommissioned by
Capt. H. Phelps. -
Her Majesty's screw troopship Megmra, Capt. M.
Dunn, arrived at Spithead yesterday afternoon from
Malta and Gibraltar, with military and naval in-
valids and passengers. The Megmra sailed from
Gibraltar on the 11th inst., leaving there her Ma-
jesty's screw gunboat Skylark and the steam-tug
Redpole. On the 13th, just after passing Cape St.
Vincent, the Megtera met her Majesty's ironclad
frigate Ocean, under steam and fore and aft sail,
bound for Gibraltar. The weather was fine, and the
Ocean appeared to be making good progress and to
be moving along under ordinary frigate behaviour.
The invalids will be disembarked from the Mega3ra
at Spithead, after which, this morning, she will
proceed round to the Thames to discharge stores,
&c. Previous to leaving Spithead Commander Simp-
son will relieve in the command of the Megmra Capt.
M. Dunn, who has been appointed by the Admiralty
to the command of the new screw troopship Eu-
phrates.

TEE VOLUNTEERS.

Last evening, at 8 o'clock, the members of the 3d
City of London Rifle Volunteers assembled in their
old mustering ground at Guildhall to take part in
the annual ceremony of the distribution of prizes.
Though the display of plate and trinkets which the
regiment has in its power to make on such occasions
may not be of as ample a character as in other and
more opulent corps, it is nevertheless substantial,
and has this distinguished characteristic—that the
rewards and inducements to exertion tendered to
the men are not the fruit of extraneous contribu-
tions, but are confined to dOnations by the officers
of the corps. The regiment on parade enjoys a de-
cided advantage over many Volunteer battalions by
reason of its scarlet uniform, the excellence of its
tailoring and general accoutrements, and not less, it
is just to say, by the admirable bearing and drill of
the men themselves. Although the body enjoys the
distinctive name of the •" Working Men's Corps,"
there are rumours that its prestige attracts to the
ranks a higher class of recruits than the title would
kiCrieUy icuporb .:ea oorinh.„ ;f io iti,r character has a
great deal to do with the facilities awaiting a member
on his entrance. A man who can be trusted to
pay for his uniform eventually has no difficulty in
obtaining this, in the first instance, and, if tem-
porarily out of work, will not be pressed for arrears.
The regiment now musters 1,100 men of all ranks,
of whom 750 are efficients earning the Government
grant. The Lord Mayor last evening, in presence
of the corps, expressed his admiration of the con-
duct of the members—a circumstance which, in the
face of recent controversies,was not without import-
ance or encouragement. lie hoped next year to be
permitted to testify iu a practical manner his sense
of the value of the services of the battalion, at once
to the country, and to the credit of the class from
Which it drew its strength, by a contribution to the
regimental prize list. Col. Richards acknowledged
in suitable terms the kind and complimentary ex-
pressions of the Chief Magistrate, and the services
rendered by the Lady Mayoress in giving, by her
personal co-operation, additional value to the prizes
in the eyes of the recipients. To the music of the ex-
cellent band of the regiment the corps then marched
out of the ball in the direction of head-quarters.

The sixth annual distribution of prizes to the
members of the North Middlesex Rifles, who had
distinguished themselves in the various competitions
during the year, was held last night in St. Pancras
Vestry-ball, which was crowded to its utmost capa-
city by " citizen soldiers" and their friends. Mr.
Thos.Chamberk Q.C., M.P., presided, and was sup-
ported on the platform by Lord Ranelagh, Mr. 11.
Lewis, M.P., Lieut.-Cul. Whitehead, Major and
Adjutant Charter (Qqeen's Westminster), Quarter-
master Greene, and several of the other officers of
the regiment. The men of the corps were drawn up
at both sides of the hall, and the regimental band,
-which was stationed in the gallery, played at fre-
quent intervals during the proceedings, which were
throughout of a very interesting character. Lieut.-
ciol. Whitehead, in opening the meeting, said the
Volunteer movement was no longer an exp riment,
but had now all the attributes of a permanently
established institution. He was glad to be able to
inform those whom he had the honour of address-
ing, and especially the friends of the North Middle-
sex Rifles, that the numerical strength of their re-
giment had been reinforced during the past twelve
months. They had had 67 recruits, as against 53
who bad resigned, leaving a gain to the corps of
14, which was a small addition in itself, but still ,
constituted a proof that its efficiency was not de-
clining.
They could not realise now the rapid in-
creases which were made in the infancy of the mo ve-
ment, when enthusiasm was high, but he was con-
fident that if ever an occasion arose thousands who
how
kept aloof would fly to the ranks of the Volun-
teers to sustain their fellow-citizens in defence of their
country. Since their last meeting a great war bad
been waged between Prussia and Austria, in which
a mighty army had been destroyed, not so much on
account of deficiency in numbers or physical strength
as inferiority in the arms which it had used against
an enemy provided with breech,-loading rifles. Aus-
tria was now raising 1,000
soldiers, all told,
while it was said that France
was endeavouring to
exceed that number by 200,000. Under such a state
of circumstances England should be
prepared
so it was advisable that every branch of the 7 and
army
should be kept in the highest possible position of
efficiency. After an allusion to the recent reception
of the Volunteers in Belgium, and having expressed
a confident hope that the hospitality which had been
extended to themselves in Brussels would be returned
tenfold when the citizen soldiers of Belgium would
pay a visit to England in 1867, the Lieutenant-
Colonel concluded by thanking the men under his
command for their exemplary conduct, not only
during the past year but also duringthe entire period
be had the honour to presideover the interests of the
regiment. The chairman then called on Mr. H. Lewis,

M.P. (who was compelled to leave at an early hour),
to present the battalion challenge cup given by Mr.
P. Graham. Mr. H. Lewis said that he was greatly
pleased at being allowed to take a part in the pro-
ceedings of the evening. He did not agree with
some who said that non-efficients were not worth re-
taining on the roll, for they should remember that
even though not equal to others of their comrades
they still retained some of their military knowledge,
and would be valuable as assistants in time cf emer-
gency. The chairman said that 4,000,000 soldiers—
some said s,ooo,ooo—were now being armed on the
Continent, and England should be watchful when
such an attitude of things was presented throughout
Europe. A universal war was imminent, and we should
use our exertions to promote the efficiency of our vo-
lunteer army. The moral influence of the movement
was considerable, as events in Belgium proved, and
it behoved all good men to assist in its development.
The presentation then took place. The list of prizes
was so lengthy that we can merely specify the prin-
cipal rewards and the names of those to whom they
were severally awarded. No. 7 Company challenge
cup, presented by Lieut. Bebb, to be competed for
once a year and to become the property of any mem-
ber winning it twice—Colour-Sergeant Heathcote ;
first of No. 7 Company's prizes, Private Church ;
No. 1 Company's first prize, Private Thurston ; No.
1 Company's first ladies' prize—Sergeant G. 0.
Wells ; No. 2 Company's first prize—• Corporal
Jackson ; No. 4 Company's first prize—Sergeant
Humphrey ; No. 5 Company's first prize Corporal
Barker; No. 6 Company's first prize—Private Rose;
first of the drill prizes—Corporal Harris ; No. 8
Company's first prize—Private Abbott ; No. 6
Company's first extra prize—Corporal King ; first
of the Non-commissioned Officers' prizes—Corporal
G. Davey ; battalion prize presented by Colonel
Viscount Enfield, M.P.—Private Thurston ; bat-
talion prize presented by Colonel Whitehead ; first
of Major Peter's prize—Private Berry ; Ladies'
prize—Colour-Sergeant Robinson ; the St. Pancras
Board of Works prize—Private Simpson ; first of
Churchwarden's of St. Pancras prizes—Private
Malkin ; Mr. Pole's prize—Sergeant Pickworth ;
Mr. Robertson's prize—Private Macdonald ; sub-
scription prize—Private Church ; Mr. Forbes's prize
—Private Chappell; Mr. Berry's prize—Private
Walls; Mr. Francis's prize—Corporal Wells;
Tradesmen's prize—Private Withers ; first of Con-
solation prizes—Private Bromley ; first of subscrip-
tion prizes—Sergeant Johnson ; first of adjutants'
prizes—Private Malkin (No. 8 Company) ; Staff
prize, presented by Mr. W. Brown—Sergeant-Major
Guerin. The battalion challenge cup, presented by
Mr. Peter Graham, finally competed for by eight
members of the regiment who had won the cup
during the year—Private Thurston (No. 1 Com-
pany), who scored 50 marks. Sergeant Pickworth
(No. 1 Company), who had scored 89 marks, was
declared to be the winner of the battalion medal and
badge. After the prizes had been distributed, Lord
Ranelagh, in reply to a vote of thanks, said that
though the Volunteers were able to perform evolu-
tions in small bodies, they were not yet able to do
so in collected masses. He recommended one uni-
form for all the Volunteers. For this he gave seve-
ral reasons. He concluded by expressing his satis-
faction at being allowed to be present at the meet-
ing of the evening. Votes of thanks were then ac-
corded to the donors of prizes, and to the chairman,
and after three cheers for the Queen had been given,
the meeting terminated with the performance of the
national anthem by the regimental band.

Execution of thA New Zealand ThugF.

(From the Otago Daily Times, Oct. 20.)

In our last summary it was stated that. Bur-
gess, Levy, and Kelly had been tried and found
guilty of the murder of Felix Mathieu, one of four
persons who were murdered by the prisoners, in
company with James Thos. Sullivan. Sullivan was
afterwards tried and convicted .of the murder
of James Battle, an old whaler ; but the sentence of
death passed upon him was commuted to penal ser-
vitude for life, in consideration of his having been
the means of convicting the other three, who were
left for execution.
On Friday, Oct. 6, the sentence was carried into
effect on Burgess, Levy, and Kelly, in the gaol-
yard of Nelson. All the men died protesting the
truth of the statements they had made, and Kelly
and Levy repeatedly declared themselves innocent.
Burgess was the first to speak. He declared that
Sullivan was the murderer of Battle, Mathieu, and
the surveyor Dobson, and that Levy and Kelly were
innocent of all the murders. He acknow-
ledged himself to be morally guilty of Dobson's
murder, because he knew of it both before and after
it was perpetrated; but he asserted that Sullivan was
actually concerned in all the rest. He expressed him-
self happy on a morning so glorious and bright, and
had it not been for the regret he felt at the unme-
rited fate of Levy and Kelly he could die happily.
Kelly read a long statement, of the style and cha-
racter of which the following extracts will give an
idea. It commences :—" A good morning, but an
unpleasant morning to you all gentlemen, country-
men, brothers, and spectators of one of the most
awful, terrible, dreadful, fearful, shameful, pain-
ful, mournful, revengeful, hateful, wrongful, un-
justifiable, ignominious, inglorious deaths and mur-
ders that ever took place in the wide world since the
creation of Adam, and a sad morning to my poor
self ; and may God be merciful to me, a sinner, and
not a murderer !" After referring to the atonement
of Christ, he continued--" Since I have been born
I trust Almighty God has searched and tried me, to
see if there has been such wickedness in me as ever
to
know the certainty of the Maungatapu murders
until Sullivan confessed. May I never be forgiven
my sins upon earth, or after I shuffle off this mortal
coil and appear before Almighty God, if I am not
innocent of killing,
did kill, on the INlatitiogratbapeiun°o"rweilstiel wahneyr
ep, ear snoyno
tt
hh
eart
he world ! If
in
not truth, I hmoyp e
dmyuinagierweodrdmebne
a stshearttiaofnter andl
ascend the fatal and unwelcome scaffold, and the
bolt is drawn that will launch me out of this world,
and that whilst my flail and worthless body of clay
is dangling Li the air, the devil will be watching for
the Moment my soul (lc p arts from this body,t'and
it.may be borne on the wings of the devil to the
bottomless pit of hell at a speed more rapid than
the light of the sun reaches our earth. Yes, at a
speed as quick as that which I believe to be the
fastest thing that travels, for I can think to heaven
in an instant." He next termed Sullivan " The De-
mon of the West Coast and the Maungatapu Moun-
tains Assassin." He prayed fora blessing on the heads
of the people of Nelson for their efforts to discover
the bodies of the murdered men. He praised what
had taken place on the part of the people of the town
named after the gallant hero of the sea and ocean,
and the conqueror of old England's enemies, Nel-
son, the inimitable wonder of sea-fights and war,
and hoped he was happy ; calling upon God to
bless him, for he liked a patriot. He then copied a
hymn referring to the hour of parting with all
earthly things, and concluded his dying speech thus
--"And this hour has been fully before me the great
part of my life ; but never as it should have been,
until after my arrest. But may I find life and
heaven with God ! So farewell to everbody, from
Tommy Noon, called Kelly."
Levy evinced the least emotion. He complained
that the authorities did not allow him money to se-
cure witnesses, that he had been unfairly treated
by the Press, and that had he been tried elsewhere
he would have been acquitted. He appealed to the
editor of the Colonist to give his statement for pub-
licity, and declared by Jehovah (putting on his hat),
and mentioning the place of the murder of the four
men, that he and Kelly had been six hours away
from the society of Burgess and Sullivan. He com-

plained of his treatment in prison, and of favour
having been shown to Sullivan, and concluded by
protesting his innocence. The preparations being
completed, the men ascended the scaffold with their
Burgess
religious advisers, and all knelt down in prayer.
professed penitence, and hope in God,
thanked all the officials for their kindness, and said
he was quite ready to submit to the sentence of the
law. Kelly ejaculated, " Oh, God, I am not ready.
Give me a few more minutes to speak." Levy, who
was still kneeling on the drop, cried out in a loud
and distinct voice, " I am innocent." Kelly, while
kneeling, attempted to rise and address the people

assembled. He called out, " I am not being hanged;
II am being murdered." The drop fell—in a short
time the men were dead. Burgess appeared to die
instantly, without a struggle; Levy suffered two or
three slight convulsions ; Kelly showed signs of life
the longest. While in gaol an imgenious attempt
was made by Levy to convey a note to Burgess, of
which the Colonist gives the following account :
" One of the under-assistants in the gaol had
been attending on Levy at breakfast, and Levy
asked him to take a small fish to Burgess, for his
breakfast. The man was proceeding to do so, when
one of his stopped him, and on opening the
fish found a small billet artfully concealed within.
It was couched partly in slang, but its main pur-
port was to the effect if he and Kelly were to put
their heads together to endeavour to get off Burgess
must bear them out in what they said. The con-
cluding part of the note stated that Levy was puzzled
how to account for the £2O, or the money he had
about him when he was apprehended ; and that if he
could only do that it would be hopeful, or some ex-
pression of a like nature. When Levy learned that
the note had been discovered he became greatly agi-
tated, and implored the officer to return it, saying
that he would not on any account that the Rabbi
should know he had written such a note, as it would
cause the Rabbi to think worse of him. He was
told that the note was already in the hands of the
authorities, and that the Rabbi would certainly
know its contents. Levy on this became as pale as
death, and trembled violently. He was supplied
with restoratives, which he could not properly con-
vey to his lips."