ARMY AND NAVY.

Otago Witness, Issue 402, 13 August 1859, Page 6

ARMY AND NAVY.

Activity in Woolwich Arsenal — Several transport schooners have shipped 117 heavy siege guns and full cargoes of war stores at Woolwich under orders for Portsmouth. Twenty heavy loads of 8-inch shell and 32-pounder case and grape shot were on the 7th May despatched to the various stations on the coast of Sussex, and the other coast stations have been similarly supplied from the Royal Arsenal. The Mediterranean dependencies have received respectively a large amount of every conceivable kind of war material which it is intended still to increase. Notwithstanding that the establishment of Woolwich is at the present moment over the scale employed at any other period, the urgency of the present demands has necessitated a considerable increase. The Royal carriage, the laboratories, and the military store departments have issued announcements for additional hands to be taken on. The laboratory department has undertaken to turn out the enormous amount of 20,000 68-pounder shot daily, which will likewise be augmented.

Chatham Dockyard. — At no former period has there been more activity in the shipbuilding department at Chatham Dockyard than at present. The artisans are employed extra hours, at increased wages, in order to push forward the fitting of those screw steamers which are to be made ready for sea, and in completing the alterations in sailing vessels in dock to adapt them for screw steamers. Nearly 300 additional artisans and labourers are to be entered, including 100 shipwrights, 50 of whom arrived at the dockyard, on the 10th May, from the shipbuilding yards on the Clyde.

On the 7th May orders were issued by the Admiralty for the James Watt, 9!, screw; Asia, 84, screw ; Exmouth, 90, screw ; Cressy, 80, screw; and the Hero, 91, screw; to sail from Sheerness and Devonport to join the Channel fleet ; and large draughts of men were sent from the different guard-ships, and the Royal Naval Rendezvous, Tower-hill, to bring the crews of each ship up to the required complement. Orders were also issued for the Goliath, 90; Cadmus, 21; Falcon, 17; Imperieuse, 51 ; Melpomene, SO ; Termagant, 25 ; and the Pioneer and Flying Fish, gun-boats, to be brought forward with all expedition to reinforce the fleet in the channel.

Seventy extra shipwrights and forty smiths, caulkers, and labourers are ordered to be entered forthwith at Woolwich dockyard, to complete the whole of the vessels now under repair, &c., for service. The new vessels, the Repulse, 91 guns, and the Wolverine, screw corvette, 21 guns, were commenced during the week.

An Order in Council, of 30th April, directs that two lieutenant-coloneis and 2000 men are to be added to the present strength of the Royal Marines, making the total strength of the corps, including staff, 16,935 officers and men. Free discharges as well as discharges by purchase from the Royal Marines are to be suspended until further orders. The standard for recruits is ordered to be reduced to 5 feet 4 inches for growing lads from 16 to 20 years of age, and 5 feet 4f inches for men from 20 to JO years of age. The present bounty is to be increased £2, making the amount £5, with a free kit.

A large number of young men have joined the Royal Marine corps during the past fortnight.

It is stated, upon good authority, that nearly 10,000 men have been enrolled at the several Government offices in London, Woolwich, Portsmouth, Plymouth, See., ; and such was the number deemed requisite for fully manning our ships, that the enlistment of men will be continued for some months, until the necessary number is obtained by the Admiralty authorities.

Besides the steps now being taken by the Admiralty for the increase of the Royal Navy, the coast-guard and pensioners are called upon to supply a large number of men. The Royal Marines, equally useful for service afloat or on land, are to be augmented from 15,000 to 17,000 men.

Two hundred volunteers offer themselves at Woolwich daily, but there being only two surgeons to examine them, enlistment proceeds very slowly, and the great proportion are ordered to come again. Many arrive from distant places without funds.

Lieutenant-General Sir "William Codrington, X.C.8., left London on the I£th May for Gibraltar, to enter upon his appointment as Governor and Commander-m- Chief of that garrison.

The authorities at the Horse Guards have announced their intention of sending out the wives and children of soldiers serving in India to join their husbands, now that trnnquility has been restored in that country.

It is confidently reported in military circles that Ministers intend calling out the whole of the militia, and adding 50 new battalions to the line.

At Cambridge it has been resolved to establish Rifle Corps, both of the University and town.

Instructions have been sent to Tyftefriouth that the Tyne will be strongly fortified by a heavy battery at that place.

The " Times" Correspondents at the Seat of War. — The London correspondent of the Manchester Guardian states that the Earl of Aberdeen applied the other day by letter to the Emperor of Austria to sanction the presence of the Times' correspondent at the Austrian head-quarters, and that this request has been granted. Mr. Blakesley, the gentleman who assumes this important duty, is an officer of the engineers. It is said that Lord Aberdeen did not scruple to remind his Imperial Majesty that the Austrians had suffered more than they might be willing to confess by their supineness in allowing French pens to monopolise modern military history. Dr. Russell, of the Times, goes to Sardinia to write the history of the war for that paper.

A Royal Windfall. — The Madrid journals of the 26th ult. relate the following circumstance : As the Queen on Good Friday was, according to custom, washing the feet of some poor old women, her Majesty's bracelet fell off, and one of the women picking it up offered it to her Majesty. "My good woman," said the Queen, "since the bracelet has fallen near you, keep it !" Of course the woman was profuse in her expressions of gratitude. The Duchess de Mcedina-Cceli, who was present told the old woman that she would buy the bracelet of her, and a jeweller having estimated it to be worth 17,000 reals (4250f.) the duchess gave that sum.

Two " sunlights," each containing seventyfive burners, have just been placed immediately under the ceiling in the centre of the musichall in the Edinburgh University, the ceiling being forty feet in width and fifty feet from the floor. These burners have been successfully lit by an application of the electric fluid.