The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-30 00:00:00

Majority for Mr. Somes

TEE GUANO TRADE.—Advices received in the
City on Saturday, from Ichahoe, state that previous to the
23d of October, several vessels unable to procure cargoes
had left for India. Ships were paying 11. a• ton for
guano, taking their turn with the other vessels in load-
ing, and their own crews employed in shipping it.
Arrivals still continued. The following is a list of some
of them which arrived iprevious to the 18th of October:
he Tom Cringle, of London ; Fifteen, barque Hope,
and schooner Hope, of Liverpool ; Hampton, of Wick-
low; Millman, of Belfast; Ferris, Butterford; Claremont,
Tremayne, and Fanny, —.
FIRE AT BRAINTREE,—The inhabitante of Brain-
tree and Bocking were greatly alarmed on Tuesday
night, about nine o'clock; by the cry of " Fire," it being
discovered that a thatched barn, situate in Panfield-lane,
in the parish of Bocking, and very near to the back
premises of Mr. Smee, coach-builder, and the Horse and
Groom public-house, was in flames. The engines were
promptly conveyed to the spot, and with a good
supply of water from a pond near, and pumps on the
neighbouring premises, they were most efficiently
worked, but by eleven o'clock the barn and its con-
tents—a quantity of straw—were reduced to ashes,
and all apprehension of an extension of the damage
ceased. At one time fears were entertained that the
flames would communicate with Mr. Smee's premises,
but most providentially the wind lay in a direction to
carry them from that quarter, and no other buildings
were near enough to be in any danger. A small wheat
stack, only a few yards from the barn, was preserved
by a plentiful discharge of water from the engine and
the indefatigable exertions of those present. The building
destroyed was the property of the late Mr. English's
trustees, and is insured in the Sun. office ; it was in the
occupation of Mr. Durrant, of the White Hart Inn, who
is insured in the Essex Equitable. There is every reason
to believe that the fire was occasioned by an incendiary.
—Chelmsford Chronicle.

GREAT STEEPLE-CHASE FOR ONE HUNDRED
POUNDS.—On Thursday a very large concourse of per-
sons assembled at the race-ground of the Rosemary
Branch, Peckam, to witness the race between the two
celebrated steeplechase horses, Moonraker and Robin
Hood, the former belonging to Mr. Griffin, and the
latter to Mr. Ball. Large sums of money were specu-
lated on the race. The distance to be ran over was one
mile, and to clear five gates, four feet high. At the start
Robin Hood took the lead, and cleared the first gate in
an admirable manner, closely followed by his opponent.
They ran nearly together ;ill nearing the third gate,
when they increased the speed, and Robin Hood, in
taking a flying leap at this gate, fell with great violence.
The jockey of Moonraker availed himself of this advan-
tage, went ahead, and rode in the winner in a canter.
The backers of Robin Hood appeared much disappointed
at such an unsatisfactory termination of the race.
A SCIENTIFIC BIRD.—It is a remarkable fact that
the tolegalla (an Australian bird, somewhat resembling
our domestic fowl) does not hatch its eggs by incuba-
tion. In order to effect this object it assimilates in
some degree to the practice of the ostrich, yet upon a
totally different principle. The tolegalla collects toge-
ther an immense quantity of decaying vegetable matter
as a depository for the eggs, and then trusts to the heat
engendered by the process of decomposition for the
hatching them. The heap employed for this purpose is
collected by the birds during several weeks previously
to the period of laying ; it varies in size from two to
four cart loads, and is of a perfectly pyramidal form.
The construction of the mound is not the work of one
pair of birds, but is effected by the united labours of
several ; the same site appears, from the great size and
the entire decomposition of the lower part, to be reslrted
to for several years in succession, the birds adding a fresh
supply of materials on each occasion previously to laying
their eggs.