The Sun.
London, England, 1857-11-23 00:00:00

~d~ _ S

[PRIoIi 40. STAMPED 5D.]

security of gas rates. The resolutions of this meet-
ing were not a subject for a committee ; they could
be dealt with by that board. It was perfectly chi-
merical to suppose that they could establish gas
works for one parish, and the vestry had no legal
power to assess the ratepayers for any such pur-
pose. No ono would ever make him (Mr. M'Evily)
believe that these gas companies would be mad
enough to raise the price of gas ; that act in itself
would be suicidal, for it would arouse the whole
metropolis.
Dr. BACHHOFFNER said he for one was perfectly
satisfied with the present price of gas at 4s. 6d., but
he wanted some guarantee that it would not soon
be 6s. per thousand feet.
Mr. FREETR believed that if the gas companies
were at once to raise the price of gas it would not only
be suicidal, but an act of downright felo de se.
(Roars of laughter, and cries of " What's the differ-
ence ?") Those who were fel de se were proposed
to be people in their sound senses. (Hear, hear.)
He urged that appeals should be made to the S. cre-
tary of State or Parliament, if they could not get
proper control over gas comp mules. They had over-
come the gigantic monopoly of the water companies,
and was it to be said they were to allow the ga-,
companies to do as they liked. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. VESEY thought the vestry would run into
immense difficulties if they erected their own gas
works in reference to site.
Mr. MARKS said the proper parties to get up a
gas company were the consumers themselves. Th •
coming there under a belief that the vestry could
aid them was a delusion.
Mr. BELTON contended if the vestry had not the
Power to erect gas works, they could soon go to
Parliament and obtain it.
Mr. BRIDGMAN had put his hand into his pocket
formerly to establish a_gas company, and. lost his
I money, but he would never du so again. Nor would
he put his hand into the rate-payers' pockets, to
run the risk with their money which he would not
do with his own.
Mr. SODEN, Mr. COLE, and other gentlemen sup-
ported the reference of the resolutions to the gas
committee, and the motion was carried by a large
majority.
The vestry then separated.

NATAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE,

On Saturday orders were issued from the War-
office directing the commandant of the depot bat-
talions at Chatham and Colchester to hold in readi-
ness detachments of the underineutioned corps, th,
whole of whom are to embark at Gravesend on D. c.
the 4th for India, for the purpose of reinforcing
the British regiments serving in the Bengal, Boer
lety, anti Madras presidencies—viz. :—n4 eon-
commissioned officers and men selected from the
Bth (the King's), 10th, 19th, 20til, 23d (Royal
Welsh Fusiliers), 24th, 29th, 32d, 35th, 37th, 75th,
821, 84th, and 90th (Light Infantry) Regimens,
together with 6 officers, the whole of whew will
embark for Calcutta ; 164 non-commissioned officers
and met), and 5 officers from the 18th (Royal Irish)
51st (Light Infantry), 64th, 83d, and 86th (Royal
County Down) Regiments, to join tie head-quar-
ters of their respective regiments serving in the
Bombay Presidency ; 181 non-commissioned offi-
cers and privates of the 7th (Royal Fusiliers), 27th
(Enniskillen), 52d. (Light Infantry), 53d, 61et,
70th, 87th (Royal Irish Fusiliers), 94th, and 98ta
Regiments, to embark for Kurrachee, together
with reinforcements for the 43d Licht Infantry,
who are under orders to proceed to Madras. Teo
total number of reinforcements ordered to leave
Chatham garrison for India is 556 men of all ranks,
together with 20 officers.
Major-General Slade has succeeded Major-Gene-
ral Lawrence in the command of the Colchester
camp, the latter officer having been appointed to a
command in the South-Eastern District. A further
draught of men is expected t.) leave the camp
shortly for service in India.
Some troops are about to be stationed at Harwich.
Recruiting is proceeding favourably in the eastern
counties.
The whole of the troops belonging to the Ist and
2d depot battalions at Chatham garrison, to the
number of about 3,000 men of all ranks, assembled
on the general parade glound at Chatham Barracies
on Saturday afternoon for the purpose of being ia-
spested by Colonel H. Jervis and Colonel R. N.
Piellips, in command of the respective battalions.
The troops belonging to the respective depots hav-
ing been funnel in review order were inspected by
the commanding officers, after which they broke
into companies and defied past in slow and quick
time. The appearance of the troops and the execu-
den of the various manoeuvres gave much satisfac-
tion to the inspecting field officers.
A very handsome silver teapet, bearing a suitable
inscription, was on Thursday evening last presented
by the non-commissioned officers of the depot bat-
talions at Chatham garrison to Sergeant-Major
Alexander Reid, who has for upwards of 20 years
filled the situation of chief clerk in the provisional
battalion officers at Chatham, and who is now about
retiring from the service. The testimonial was pre-
sented to Sergeant-Major Reid by a deputation of
upwards of 70 non-commissioned officers belonging
to the garrison as a mark of the high respect and
esteem in which he has been held during his long
connection with the provisional battalion.
Recruiting is going on actively at Derby. The
sth Dragoon Guards, 37th Fuot, 63d Foot, Grena-
dier Guards, Royal Marines, and the Rifle Brigade
have each received additions, about 200 men having
been lately enlisted in those regiments.
At Lincoln also recruiting is going on with spirit
for the Royal Artillery, 81st Foot, &c.
A detachment of 8 non-commissioned officers and
96 privates of the 4th Battalion Roya Marines
were on Saturday paraded by Col. Brown, Com-
mandant of that Garrison at Woolwich, and were
ordered to be held in readiness for service on board
her Majesty's screw steam-ship Renown, 94 guns,
to join the Channel squadron now about to be
organized.
A portion of the 3d company Bth Battalion Royal
Artillery, from the Cape of Good Hope, have joined
Capt. Maude's company serving with General Have-
lock; and detachments of No. 4 companies of the
sth and Bth Battalions Royal Artillery, having
been ordered from the Cape, have also joined to fill
up vacancies recently created in these battalions
now serving in India. The 2d Battalion of her
Majesty's 2d Regiment (the Buffs) arrived at Can-
terbury on Saturday from Limerick, and took up
the quarters vacated that morning by the depots of
the 6th, 33d, 45th, 50th, and 52d Regiments of the
line. The battalion, commanded by Lieutenaut-
Colonel Maude, C. 8., consists of 650 young re-
cruits recently raised in Ireland.
The court-martial held on board her Majesty's
ship St. Vincent, on Friday, on Mr. Drew, late
acting-master of her Majesty's ship Juno, after being
9 months under arrest, terminated on that even-
ing. The charges were, "For that he did, on
board the said ship, on or about the 10th of July,
1857, negligently perform his duty and forsake his
station ;" and " that he did, on or about the 10th
of Feb., 1857, conduct himself with disrespect to
wards Capt. Stephen Greville Fremantle, his com-
manding officer, by justifying his neglect of duty
and refusing to receive a reprimand from his said
commanding officer, which he had justly incurred."
The prisoner was assisted by Messrs. Jas. and E.
Hoskins, solicitors, of Gosport. After a protracted
inquiry the Court, having heard the evidence in sup-
port of the charges,and what the prisoner had to offer
in defence, was of opinion "that the charges had not
been proven, and that the Court acquit the said
Richard Caswell Drew of the charges brought
against him, and he is hereby acquitted accord-
ingly." Another court-martial—making the third
on the Juno's officers at the instance of her cap-
tain—will commence this morning on boar Fire t
St. Vincent, to try Lieut. Hugo B. Burnaby,
Lieutenant of the Juno, who has been under arrest
(and for some time under bayonet sentinel surveil-
lance) a year and a-half.
The death of Vice-Admiral Son
William Fitz-
william Owen placed a pension on
_thirestoserrdveodf
Half-Pay List at the disposal of the F
the Admiralty ; two naval aide-de-ciahmpshroipmsottoiotli:es
Queen also revert to his gift by
caused by the late death vacancioefs on he pr
flee list.
Deptford Dock-
Dr. Robertson, staff-surgeon
ill-heal,h to retir ,
yard, having been S
compe
has been succeeded by Staff Surgeon Frederick Le
Grand, late Medical Storekeeper at the Royal
Naval Hospital at Haslar, and Staff-Surgeon John
Andrews, of Lisbon Naval Hospital, has been ap•
pointed to Haslar, vice Le Grand.
It has been already stated that it is in contem-
plation to commission a Channel squadron, either
before or in the spring, about the end of the finan-
cial year, and the Renovre, 91, just commissin attel
at Chatham is doubtless intended as a member.
The Algiers, 31, sister ship, is being expedited for
the pendant at Portsmouth as much as possible ;
there will be no difficulty in manning a fleet if com-
missioned, the guardships being full of continuous
and general service men, to the extent at Ports-
mouth alone of about 2,000 (collectively), above
their own complements, and more are being.added
daily by the ships paying off.
The Jason screw steamship arrived at Cowes yes-