Owen Sound.

/(From an occasional correspondent.)/ Weather very hot. Business very brisk just now. The excursion from Mt. Forest was a failure, and through some mismanagement there was no boat to take them for a ride on the bay as advertised. "Harry came hatless." We were visited by two fires this week: one was an ice house--not very good fuel for flames--but the building around it was completely destroyed. On Sunday afternoon the stables belonging to Campbell's sash and door factory was almost destroyed. Nothing remains only a few beams. Loss about $300. The ladies are very busy making preparations for the volunteers. We had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Dundas, of Markdale, in town on Saturday, on a trip up the lakes. On Sunday morning about 5 o'clock when the sun was passing through a few black clouds that hung in the eastern sky, the people commenced to gather around to witness a sight that never before afforded them, and on this occasion, which was fully prepared, for the arch that was once draped with mourning for the late Col. Williams, was fixed over fresh, and much to the credit of the citizens of Owen Sound, which was no doubt the finest ever erected north of Toronto. No pains was spared to have this arch, as well as the station, handsomely dressed which was admired by volunteers on their arrival. All the public buildings as well as all the boats in the harbor, had their flags flying which added much to the appearance of everything. About 8 o'clock the steamer /Alberta,/ with the troops, was seen over the horizon, and crowds flocked around the docks. The Citizens Band was in attendance, and as the boat got nearer, the larger the crowd got, which numbered about 3,000. When the steamer came in full view with flags flying and deck crowded with red coats, and when she pulled up to the dock, three cheers rang from the throats of thousands. The troops were got off and put in marching order on the platform, and after a short performance of drill they were marched to the immigrant sheds, where they were waited on by the ladies of Owen Sound. Each was served with coffee, cake, lemonade and cigars. The volunteers exhibited a sample of their "Hard tack" which they exchanged with the ladies for boquets; "the ladies got quite mashed on this" and each got one to write his name on the hard tack, which will be kept in remembrance of the prairie taned boys. After all had done justice to the lunch they were marched back to the platform and gave three cheers for the ladies of Owen Sound who had prepared for them such a refreshing lunch. The first train left at 12 o'clock, but through some accident to the engine of the second special, did not leave until four p.m. The Salvation Army was in attendance and played the volunteers a welcome home.