The Sun.
London, England, 1850-10-08 00:00:00

A KANGAROO HUNT IN WEST SURREY.

Extraordinary as it may appear, there has in reality
been a kangaroo hunt in the neighbourhood of Dorking.
One of these animals, about four months, ago, escaped
from a pen in which it had been confined a Watton, the
seat of W. J. Evelyn, M.P., and has been running wild
in the neighbouring woods ever since, bidding defiance
to several attempts to effect its capture. On Monday
last, however, by Mr. Evelyn's directions, a icgular hunt
was organized. The clever pack of beagles kept at
Watton House, with huntsman, whipper-in, and a train
of followers, started at noon for Abinger-common,
where the kangaroo had been seen the previous day. As
he was not " at home," the party proceeded to beat the
Duke of Norfolk's copses, which are in the immediate
neighbourhood.' The beast broke cover almost imme-
diately; the beagles were soon on the scent, and off they
went in a circle to Mr. Evelyn's wood, and then returning
to the copses. Abinger Rectory was the next point, and
there there was a check for a few minutes, and then off
they went again, the kangaroo trying the Duke's copses
once more. The chase now got warm; dogs and men
were in close pursuit; they reached the bottom of the
well-known Leith-hill; and here its peculiar mode of
progression was exhibitel by the animal in perfection,
much to the astonishment of the field, who witnessed its
singular succession of leaps with astonishment. All were
soon left at a respectful distance save the riders, and
they having reached the summit of the hill, followed the
extraordinary animal along the road for about a mile
and a half. At last, hard pressed, it took refuge in a
pond on High Ash Farm, Abinger, where, after a fierce
resistance, it was recaptured by a groom, and conveyed
back to Watton.

MUNICIPAL ELEcToRs.—By a return to an address
of the House of Commons, dated-the 15th of July last, it
appears that the total number of municipal electors in Eng-
land is 206,474 ; and in Wales, 7,178. Leeds stands
highest on the list, having on the burgess-roll 13,486 elec-
tors ; Manchester next, with 11,123; and Liverpool third,
with 10,584. London is not comprised in the return.
GUANO SuPERSEDED.— The St. Vincent Royal
Gazette mentions that a gentleman of that island has sent to
England a quantity of pozzolona, to have it tested as a ce-
ment, and that he was agreeably surprised to learn that
the chemist who tested it had declared it to be the best
manure that had yet been discovered, and that it was far
preferable to guano. The gentleman in question was com-
plimented on having a mine of wealth superior to gold.
W hen it is considered (says the Gazette) that the island
abounds in this valuable substance—the best cement, and, as
it now appears, the best manure that is known—we cannot
refrain from offering our public congratulations on the re-
cent discovery, which must ere long bring great wealth
into the islands, by supplying them with an article which
must be much needed by the sugar-growers. Pozzolona
from St. Vincent could of course be supplied here much
cheaper than guano, and might, in consequence of its cheap-
ness, be extensively used.
VAGARIES OF AN ELEPHANT.--Abollt a fortnight
ago the captain of the good -ship Anne and Mary, which ar-
rived in this port from Calcutta, brought with him as pas-
senger a fine elephant, about three years old. The Anne
and Mary was placed in the Albert Dock, and nothing of
consequence happened till Sunday last. In the Albert Dock
there is no tide watch kept: on board ship, consequently on
Saturday evening all hands lett the ship, including the ele-
phant keeper, who, in his hurry to attend to his own wants,
forgot those of his charge. On Sunday, excited by hunger,
the elephant first smashed everything within his reach on
deck, and then, by some unaccountable means, managed to
get on the quay, where be roared about in a great rage,
tossing over piles of merchamdise, trucks, buckets, &c., as
easily as it they were cricket balls. The captain in the
course of the afternoon happened to visit the deck with a
few friends, and to his astonishment discovered his
quondam passenger in the state above described. Assistance
was in time procured, and with considerable difficulty, not
unattended with danger, the huge and powerful animal was
at last safely fastened to one of the iron posts. Fearing that
some accident might happen, the elephant was on the fol-
lowing day dispatched to London, where he will finally re-
side in the gardens of the Zoological Society. A short time
after the arrival of the ship in the dock one of the officials
connected with it sent over a messenger to the Custom-
house with the astounding information that the landing
waiter had omitted examining the trunk of one of the pas-
sengers. A landing surveyor was immediately sent over to
the dock to' discharge the necessary duty, who,. on arriving
at his destination, asked to see the passengers' trunk, upon
which he was gravely referred to the " elephant." The sur-
veyor good humouredly laughed at the joke, and ac-
knowledged himself fairly taken in.—Liverpool Times.
It is a curious fact that -the members of the wine
and spirit trade's have found a very sensible difference in the
consumption Of wines and spirits since the excursion trips
have become so numerous. They say that much of the
money usually vent in these conatiodioes goes in excursion
, Tthis is more especially, telt in. London and other large
• towns, particularly the matinfaCtUring.--GlonceStei Journal.

1850.

THE ARCTIC EXPEDITIONS.

The foll Owing report on the piece of rope brought
home by Captain Forsyth has been received at the
Admiralty :

" Chatham-yard, Oct. 4.
" Sir,—ln obedience to their Lordships' directions,
signified in your letter of yesterday's date, I have the
honour to enclose, for their Lordships' information,
the report of the officers on the piece of rope sent me
for examination, and have to observe in addition
thereto, that the master rope-maker states it to be a
piece of common rope, and nut whale line; and further,
it appears by the books of the yard that the yellow
worsted mark, the distinguishing, mark of Chatham-
yard, fixes the date of manufacture subsequent to
1824, as the order assigning different colourtd
worsteds to each. yard bears date April 28, 1824,
previous to which white worsted was in use at
Chatham, and most probably throughout the service,
having been introduced in July, 1814, as a substitute
for the rogues'•yarn.
" Supplies of rope of many sizes, including 12 coils
of li-inch common rope, were sent to Woolwich in
NOvtinber, 1844; and 41 coils of the same descrip-
tion between January and April, 1845. DUribg the
latter period a supply of Arctic stores was sent from
Chatham to Woolwich expressly for the Erebus and
Terror. 1.•

" I return enclosed the report of the Woolwich
officers, as well as the specimen of rope,
" And I have, &c.,
" PETER RICHARDS, Captain Superintendent.
" Captain Hamilton, &c."

" Chatham-yard, Oct. 4.
Sir,—ln obedience to the directions of the Cap-
tain-Superintendent, of this Morning's date, I beg to
state it to be my opinion that the piece of r ope sent
was manufactured from Hungarian hemp, and tarred
with Mr. Bayley's compound tar, and find that Hun-
garian hemp was received here in 1841, and that it
was manufactured from September, 1841, to October,
1849, when the last was made, and therefore cannot
passibly ascertain correctly the date of the manu-
facture of the piece of rope sent, the tally being taken
off when taken out of store.
" I am, &c.,

" J. BURTON, Master Ropemaker."
" I concur in opinion with the Master Ropemaker.
" Taos. LARK, Master Attendant.
" The Captain-Superintendent."