Our Weekly Budget.

81-ton gun . The barge that was to convey it to Shoeburyness was successfully launched early in tho week , and the gun , with its carriage , ammunition , & c , was safely put aboard , and has no doubt been landed all right at its

destination . A long range of 6000 yards having been provided for the trial of heavy ordnance , we shall , of course , know very soon more of the capabilities of this Woolwich monster .

There seems to havo been some big shooting in the International Rifle Match at Philadelphia , to which we alluded last week . As stated then , the American team proved the winners of the Centennial trophy , the Irish being second , tho Scotch third , then the Australians [ the

earlier advices placed these third and tho Scotch next ] , and lastly the Canadians . The firing was at the three ranges of 800 , 900 and 1 , 000 yards , and extended over two days . Both as regards the aggregate and

individual scores the shooting was wonderfully accurate , and appears to havo been superior to that in our annual contests for the Elcho shield at Wimbledon , that being the only match in this country with which the Centennial can be compared .

On Monday morning a fire broke out in Mill-street , Hanover-square , which resulted in the loss of three lives . The premises destroyed were those of an eating-house keeper , who resided , however , with his family at St . John ' s Wood . Four of his servants slept at the house , a lad

¦ —who threw himself from one of the windows , and met with very serious injuries , and a woman and her two daughters , aged respectively fourteen and seven years . When the fire was at length subdued , the bodies of these three were found dreadfully charred and burnt . They

were removed to the parish mortuary to await the usual inquest . A match for the Bicycle Championship was held at the Lillie-bridge Grounds , on Monday . The distance to be covered was fifty miles , the competitors being Keen and

Stanton , the former of whom is the present holder of the title . When twenty-three miles had been accomplished , Stanton ' s bicycle received such damage that he was obliged to dismount . This enabled Keen to obtain a clear

lead of a mile , and all Stanton ' s efforts to lessen this formidable gap proved unavailing . Keen was ordered to discontinue after having gone on for more than thirty miles , the first twenty of which were accomplished in nine seconds under one hour and eleven minutes .

The Foresters have already had one fete day this year at the Alexandra Palace , but a section of the order held a second at the Crystal Palace on Tuesday , the metropolitan portion of this society appearing to divide their allegiance between these two popular resorts . Owing to

this division the attendance was not , numerically speaking , so imposing as in former years , yet over thirty thousand passed the turnstiles . A special programme of entertainments had been provided , and the day passed off most

successfully . The principal object of the fete was the provision of a widow and orphans' fund , and we doubt not , from the accounts we have read , that the meeting was a great success .

On Wednesday , a sham fight came off in the neighbourhood of Portsmouth , all the troops in garrison that could be spared taking part in the operations . H . R . H . the Duke of Cambridge witnessed the proceedings , which , as is the practice now-a-days , were governed by a general idea , the

details being left to the discretion of the opposing Commanders . When the fight was over , the Duke summoned the mounted officers about him , and passed his criticisms on the manner in which the idea had been carried out . Another sham fight has likewise taken place at Aldershott , so that

our army , small as it is in mere numbers , is gradually being initiated into the mysteries of war . Wc trust , however , the day is yet far distant when these minor engagements will have to be exchanged for the sterner realities of the actual battle field .

Ihe autumn fruit and flower show annually held at the Crystal Palace was opened to the public on Thursday , and will close to-day . It will suffice if we say that the general character of the exhibition was eminently satisfactory , some of the specimens being magnificent . The usual afternoon

Concert and a grand display of fireworks will form the other attractions of to-day , and as the sun has kindly condescended to shine very brilliantly during this week , the directors of the Palace will , no doubt , find a goodly attendance of visitors . Messrs . Gatti ' s Promenade Concerts , at Coyent Garden ,

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are still as popular as ever , the audience each evening being both numerous and appreciative . In the theatrical world , the opening of the season is the cause of considerable activity , and among the latest novelties must be mentioned a very praiseworthy revival of Shakspeare ' s play

of King Henry the Fifth , by Mr . Coleman , the enterprising lessee of the Queen ' s , the veteran Phelps appearing in the closing scene of the second Part of Henry TV . which is prefixed by way of prologue . A morning performance will

be given this day , at 2 p . m ., for the benefit of tho Royal General Theatrical Fund . To-night Old Drury opens for the autumnal campaign , with the performance of Shakspeare ' s Richard III ., and Mr . Barry Sullivan in the character of Richard .

The news from the Cape , is to the effect that the Dutch Boers in tho Transvaal District have encountered a very serious defeat at the hands of the Kafirs . A part of

President Burger ' s force appears to have exhibited " the better part of valour " instead of valour itself . It is rumoured that British intervention may be called in to settle the contest .

From the seat of war the latest intelligence is very reassuring . Already a suspension of hostilities has taken place , not only in Servia , but likewise between the Turks and Montenegrins , and Turkey is said to have placed herself unreservedl y in the hands of the six Great Powers ,

to whom is entrusted the drawing up of the terms of peace . According to Lord Beaconsfield ' s statement at Aylesbury , on Wednesday , Lord Derby had succeeded in obtaining the consent of the other powers to certain arrangements for the government of the Christians in Turkey , when

Servia rushed headlong into war . The present armistice —we are quoting still the same authority—is due , primarily , to the exertions of our Foreign Minister , and he ia again hard at work endeavouring to bring about a peaceful solution of the crisis . We trust his Lordship ' s efforts will

prove successful . As to the proclamation by General TchernaiefE of Prince Milan as King of Servia , that will probably havo no effect one way or the other . It is said to have caused no little consternation in political circles at Belgrade , and as' little notice is being taken of it as

possible . The publication of Mr . Baring ' s report fully confirms the fact of the most terrible atrocities having been committed by the Turks in Bulgaria , though some of the sensational accounts which have appeared in some newspapers are shown to have had no foundation whatever .

We trust the subscriptions now being raised in this country will be considerable enough to offer a substantial relief to the unfortunate sufferers . Above all things , however , we trust that no long time will pass ere peace is restored , though to do so will tax the powers of European diplomacy .

The New York Square contains a full and amusing account of the excursion of the R . A . Chapters "Corinthian " and " Americus " to Gregory ' s Point , Conn .

We gather from the same source that the late Speaker of the House of Representatives , the Hon . William A . Kerr , was buried on the 25 th ult . with Masonic honours by the Jefferson Lodge , No . 104 , of New Albany , Indiana .

The Masonic Advocate , Indianapolis , contains in its August issue a history of Rising Sun Lodge No . 6 . At the time when the Grand Lodge was organised , in 1817 , "the Rising Sun " was only " under dispensation , " and , as only chartered Lodges were represented , it took no part in

the work of organisation . In 1818 it applied for and obtained its charter , and continued working uninterruptedly till September 1831 , when , owing to the "Morgan excitement , " its labours were suspended , and it remained in nbeyance for eleven years . In 1835 Grand Lodge resolved

to strike the Lodge from the Roll if it did not , within a year , apply for a dispensation , and commence again in good faith as a new Lodge . On inquiry in 1836 it was found the Master was dead , the Senior Warden absent , and there was no member who could give account of the Lodge effects .

These were entrusted to the care of a Brother Squibbs , but no further action was taken till 1842 , when " the Rising Sun " received permission to resume its labours . Since then the Lodge has gone on prosperously , and now comprises about sixty members . It has been presided over by twenty-nine Masters , and has had the honour of famishing