Evening Express

TERRIBLE HURRICANE. GREAT LOSS OF LIFE AND DES- TRUCTION OF PROPERTY. The Exchange Telegraph Company states that a frijfhtfnl hnrricane has devastated Fiji. The wind, which came from the direction of Samoa, blew with appalling violence at Levnka and Rewa. All the houses were wrecked, and every old building was levelled to the ground Twenty cutters, 30 lighters, and two barques were wrecked, and considerable loss of life was occasioned on sea and land. At Suva the river r rose 15ft., and the Presbyterian, Wesleyan, and native and Polynesian churches were blown down. The Custom House was wrecked, and every garden ruined.

JEcOO DAMAGES AWARDED. A LEDBURY BREACH OF PROMISE CASE. At Herefordshire Assizes on Tuesday Miss Ellen Tilley, (laughter of the editor and pro- prietor of the Ledbury "Free Press," sued Mr. Frederick Rayner, of the Bell Hotel, Derby, for breach of promise of Marriage. The defen- dant was formerly at the Feathers Ho' >1. Led- bury, which he took when the plaintiff was six years eld. He sold the hwtel in 1884, and bought the Bell for £ 10,000. He was married, but his wife died in 1891. The following year defendant proposed to the plaintiff, and in September, 1893, was accepted. He was now 46 years old, whilst plaintiff was 24. The defence was that the parties were to be engaged for twelve months, during which time either could break off the engagement. It was terminated within that time, defendant writing to say they were not suited for one another. The jury awarded plaintiff £ 500 damages.

INFLUENZA SUFFERERS. LORD fROSEBERY STILL WANTS SLEEP. Sir William Bwadbent issued the following bulletin at 9.4'j on Wednesday morning re- garding the condition of Lord Rosebery • — "The sleej'iessnesj still continues, but bis lord- ship is Ibetter in other respects." Sir William informed a representative of the Press Associa- kiuii tliat, although his patient TO ciertamly WMKT. W w&- still quit", unfit to have any- thing to do with the transaction of business.

THE TIN-PLATE TRADE. AFFAIRS AT THE GWENDRAETH WORKS. Our report of the result of the men waiting upon the directors is, it seems, not quite correct. Mr. David Evans did not himself ask for the concessions, but the matter was placed before the men in the light that the order offered could not be accepted unless the 12J per cent. and the fourteen sheets were given. The seconder of the proposal to work at these rates was a doubler and not a rollerman. FEELING ON SWANSEA EXCHANGE. The feeling amongst tin-plate merchants on 'Change at Swansea on Tuesday showed no signs of improvement. The supposed financial state ef some of the makers was again cautiously referred to, whilst Sir John Jones Jenkins's pro- posals to reduce the output by a third appeared to receive but off-handed support.

MARKING HIS WEDDING. DOCKS TORIES MAKE A PRESEN- TATION TO THEIR SOLICITOR. Mr. A. M. Ingledew, who is honorary solicitor to The Docks Conservative Club, wan recently prefer,ted by the members of that institution I' with a magnificent pair of bronzes. Some 1 weeks asro Mr. ingledew entered the matri- monial state, and the members of the club f; took advantage of the opportunity to show their eetewn and regard for their legal adviser. The presentation took place at the recipient s Drivato residence, tho chuirnuwi of ttMi olub IMr. Isaac Daniel) being the oihef spokesman- Mr. Roberts {vioe-oliairntait)» Mr. Guy (com- mitteeman), and Mr. W. R. Hedley were also present, and offered a. few words of oongratu- fct lation.—Mr. Ingledew having suitably re- ?; sponded. the deputation retired.

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL INTERESTING PARS. ABOUT IN- TERESTING PEOPLE. -Aim. Aequith has recovered from the shook saused by her reoent carriage accident. Mr. Gilbert. Parker, the well-known novelist, iS. according to a statement to which the "Bri- tish Weekly" gives currency, engaged to be t married to Miss Vantine, an American. The German Emperor has a magnifioent wine oellar. containing brands from all parts of the, globe. Each brand has its separate enclosure Thut in by iron railings, with a tablet affixed fiving name, We. price, and number of bottles. Mr. Asquith's speech on moving for leave to bring in the Welsh Church Disestablishment Bill lasted a little over twenty minutes. There is no example in recent history for a, measure of such importance being explained in a speeoh of No much brevity. Mr. vSelov*. accompanied by Mrs. Selous, will "4I,il for South Africa. in the Norham Castle on the 23rd nro and will probably be absent three yew re, Mr. Selous having undertaken the joint management, wi'th Captain Ileany, of a RhodtcLan property for th n>t period. The Prince of Wales will, it is said, make Baron Hirsch's i-esidence. the Villa Floieiuina, at Cannes, his headquartere during his st-y 011 the Riviera, though he will occasionally sleep OIl lywd t.14ól Britannia. and ]ray one or two visits to Sir Frederic Johnstone at Monte Carlo. To-dav is Miflot Ellen Terry's birthday. The distinguished aotrees was bom alt. Coventry, where her father was Oil tour at the tliftotre there, and in the narrow Market-street of the oit.y two riml tradesmen claim to occupy the i»rau«e of her birth. A brass plate on one side tf the road reads:—"The hirthplacp of Miss Ellen Terry"; and that over the way is marked. "Thif, is the original birthplace of Miss Ellen Terry."

The body of a woman named Ellen West, the wife of an insurance agent, was found at an early hour on Tuesday morning floating in the canal at Pontywain. On Tuesday afternoon a fire occurred in a room occupied by the De Rees Billposting Com- pany at the "Star of Gwent" offices. Commer- cial-street, Newport, but was extinguished before much damage was done. A report quickly spread in the town that the newspaper office vva.s in flames, and large crowds of people hurried to the spot. William and Hannah Evans, two paupers from Swansea Workhouee. were senWioed to !!even days' hard labour at Swansea Polioe-court Monday for Bteading two aprons from the 'house."

The Loss of the Elbe. CORONER RESUMES HIS IN- QUIRY. Public Crowd into Court to Get a Glimpse at Miss Boeker and Pilot Greenham. The Suffolk county coroner \Mr. C. Ni. Chasion) opened the adjourned inquest at Lowestoft Town-hall on Tuesday morning on the te.u bodies landed at Lowestoft, and which had been identified at the previous inquiries as those of passengers or seamen on board the ill-fated North German Lloyd liner Elbe, which sank within twenty minutes after colliding with the steamer Crathie on the morning of the 30th of January, about 45 miles south-east of Lowestoft. Much interest was manifested in the proceedings owing to the fact that Miss Boecker, the only lady passenger fued, and Gieenham, the English pilot, another of the survivors, were in attendance to give evidence, as were members of the crew of the Crathie. Captain Donner represented the German Government. Captain Gordon, of the Crathie, was represented by Mr. A. E. Nelson (in- structed by Messrs. Low less and Co.). Mr. Butler Asxni-all attended on behalf of the Board of Trade. Mr. llohnan represented the owners of the Crathie; and Mr. H. Aspinall represented the North German Lloyd, owners of the Elbe, and the German (Government, The Coroner was assisted by Captain W'lsan, of the Board of Trade, who attended to explain any nautical points that might arise dining tlu inquiry. Mr. H. S. Brabeer, German vice- cci'sul, was present, as was Mr. F. Spashett, agent for the North German Lloyd, and Lloyd's agent. In opening the inquiry, the Coroner said his attention had been drawn to articles and letters in .newspapers imputing blame in eon. rcction with the calamity. Bearing m mind that this and the other official inquiry war- pending, he deplored such stattments. Mr. Holman submitted that, seeing proceed- ings were pending at Rotterdam and also by tlu Board of Trade, the circumstances subse- quent to the collision should be fully inquired I MISS ANNA BOECKER. into, but that the cause of the actual collision thcvld not form the subject ri inquiry. Mr. Nelson, Oil behalf of Captain Gordon, courttd the fullest inquiry. Mr. Butler Aspinall and Mr. H. Aspinall also urged that > he court should not inquire into the cause of the collision. The Coroner agreed with the views expressed. and said ho should take the evidence of the cap- tain and engi-i-er of the Crathie, of :Mi"" Boec- ker, rnd of the pilot Greenham, and theIl ad- journ the inquiry till after the Rotterdam pro- ceedings. Miss Annn Boecker. the only lady survivor, was then called. She is a very pleasant iooking girl of about 21, with light hair and blue eyes, and a, typical German fact* She related how she left Bremen on the afternoon of the 29th, and retired to her cabin at night. She was awakened by a crash at about 5.30. People were rushing about on deck, and the water was coming into her cabin. She made her way on deck, and went to the port side. The sea. was then vory rough, and it was dark, but star- light. There was no fog and no confusion on lxyard. She saw the crew making efforts to launch the boats, but the ropes were frozen, and had to be cut with axe-. She got into a lxiat that was lowered, but it was either capsized or sank, aud she was thrown into the water. She clutched hold of the boat, and, being able to swim, kept herself afloat. She afterwards ,:i%v the other lifeboat, and shouted for hdp. The boa.t came close, an oar was held out, and she was drawn into the hoat. She lay partlv in water till nearly twt ve noon, when the Wild- Flower came in si-glit, took them aboard, and landed them at Lowestoft at about five o'clock. Soveral of the occupants of the boat got on the smack before she did.—In answer to questions she said she did not know whether the engines of the Elbe had stopped when she went on deck. Robert William Greenham, living at the Islt, of Wight, who had been a pilot for the North German Lloyds about seven years, gave a clear statement as to wliat took place after the collision. 11 o was on the bridge with the captain till twelve o'clock on the night of the 29th of January, and then turned in. It was dark, but clear, with a cloudy sky. He awoke ahom live, and half-an-hour after he heard the crash. He looked out. of the door of his cabin and saw a colliMon had taken place, and tha.t the ship had been struck about lifty feet abaft where he had been sleeping. He saw attempts nude to close the watertight doors. When he got on deck he saw the ship had a. list to port Rockets and blue lights were burned, and the syren kept going. Captain Von Goessel, who kept on the bridge till the last, and went down with the ship, gave. orders to take the boats out, but the ropes were hard frozen, and had to be chopped. The orders given by the captain w-are obeyed, aiud there was no confusion amongst the crew. He eventually got into No. 3 1xmt., and when there he saw a green light and a wlute stern light, which he be- lieved belonged to the colliding steamer. This went away to the south and disappeared. He also told how he got aboard the Wild Flower and landed at Lowestoft. In cross-examination, witness said the speed of the Elbe would be about six- teen miles an hour. He could not say how the Elbe was headed before she sank. In his opinion the steamer seen had stopped from the time of the collision till she steamed away after daybreak. The lifeboat would drift from her. and it would he impos- sible for those on the steamer to see the boat without light. He made no complaint against the Crathie, if it were the Crathie, for not seeing the boat before she went on her course, but if there had been a good look-out he thought it would have seen the latter. Captain Alexander Gordon, of the Crathie, said his vessel left Rotterdam for Aberdeen on January 29. He went off duty at four o'clock on the morning of the 30th, but he went on deck twice before he finally went to sleep, and even.thing was all right. He was awakened by shouting, and ran up the stairs, but he was knocked down by a shook. When he got on deck he saw the ship's bows broken, and, believing she was sinking, lie took com- mand of the ship, and ordered the boats to be cleared. On looking around he could not see the ship with which he collided, as it was too far away, a.nd kept on steaming. His ship was at a standstill, and when he had his wreckage cut away the Crathie was turneJ round to go after steamer. He thought this was about three-quarters of an hour after being struck. He saw her three lights, but on going on to the bridge he missed her star- board light. Then he lost sight of her port t,_ and masthead lights. He looked through his glasses, but could see nothing cliftiiictly The inquest was adjourned.

LOCAL COMMISSIONS. The "London Gazette" on Tuesday contains the following: — War vmce, 26th February. LINF. BATTALIONS. Welsh Regimeni. —Quartermaster a.nd Hono- ra.ry Lieutenant John Rorke is plaoed on retired pay; dated 27th inst. MILITIA INFANTRT. 4th Battalion South Wales Borderers. — Lee-h- mere Howell Tudor, gentleman, to be second lieutenant; dated 27th iust. 3rd Battalion Welsh Regiment.—Retond- lieutenant Lethbridgv rc-i^ns his commission; dated 27th inst. VOLUNTEER ARTILLKRT. Severn Division.—Arthur Owen Evans, gentleman, to be second-lieutenant; dated 27th inst. VOLUNTEER SUBMARINE MINERS, ROYAL ENGINEERS. Roval Engineers (Severn Division).—Arthur Owen Evans, gentleman, to be second lieu- tenant dated 27 th inst. VOLUNTEER RIFLES. 3rd Volunteer Battalion Welsh Regiment.- Lieutenant Meredith resigns his commission: dated 27th inst. n_

TRANSVAAL AND SWAZILAND. A Reuter's telegram from Cape Town on Tuesday says :-A telegram received here from Pretoria states that the King of Swaziland is fortifying the caves in the country and pur- chasing guns and ammunition. The natives, according to the telegram, declare tha.t they mean to fight rathe than submit to the Trans- vaal. On the other hand, Mr. Krogh, the Trans- vaal Administra.tor of Swaziland, reports that everything is quiet.

Yesterday's Parliament. TUESDAYS Ph OCEEDINGS-IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS. The Ixird Chancellor took his seat on the woolsack at quarter past four o'clock. Lord TWEEDMOUTH moved an Address to the Crown praying that the reference to the Duncan Bur- saries in the University of St. Andrews might be omitted from the schedule to the regulations as to bursaries, scholar- ships, and fellowships made by the Scottish University Commissioners on the 30th of July, alld now before Parliament. The motion was agreed to, and Their lordships rose at twenty-live minutes to five o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—TUESDAY. Ihe Speaker took the chair in the House of COllmons at three o'clock. Half an hour was occupied with the second reading of a llumber of private Bills, one of them, the Liverpool New Cattle Market and Railways Bill, having given rise to some discussion. NOTICES OF MOTION. The following notices were all given for this day four weeks — Sir A. ROùit (C.. Islington, S.) to draw attentiou to the subject of Parliamentary proce- dure, and move a resolution. Mr. Benn (L., Tower llamlets) to draw atten- tiOI, to the admil1ist-ration of the funds of the city companies of London, and move a resolu- tion Major Rajsch (C., Essex, S.E.) to draw atten- tion to recruiting a.nd the employment of dis- eln! goo and reserve soldiers. Mr. Gibson Bowles (C., Lynn Regis) to move a resolution for an inquiry into the subject of the screening of ships sidelights, &c. Mr. Wallace (L., Edinburgh, E.) to move that, in the opinion of this House, this House ought to exercise a direct and controlling power ;n tlae appointment a.nd dismissal of salaried Mm sters ot the Crown. CABLE BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND SOUTH AFRICA. Sir GEORGE BADEN POWELL (C., Liverpool, Kirkdale) a^ked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any steps had been taken towards the rough survey of a route for a submarine cable to connect Austra- lia with South Africa. Mr. SYDNEY BUXTON (Under Foreign Secretary) said the matter was still under con- sideration, and it would be inexpedient to make any statement at present. LIFE SAVING AT SEA. Sir JOHN LENG (L., Dundee) asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that ocean-going steamers now frequently carry upwards of 1,000 souls on board as passengers, orew, and attendants, he would consider tho propriety of the Board obtaining statutory powers to require com- pldanc.e with the recommendations of the Bulkheads Committee, 1891, in the building of all such vessels in 'the United Kingdom, so as to make them practically unsinkable. Mr. BRYC^. (Prudent of the Board of Trade) said the Committee on Life- saving Appliances recommended that a reduc- tion of such appliances be allowed in respect of vessels provided with sufficient water-tight compartments. Neither tha.t Committee nor the Bulkhead Committee recommended that the provision of such bulkheads should be made compulsory. Sir JOHN LENG further a-sked vhether the Board of Trade would .include line-throwing guns amongst the life-saving appli- ances vessels aTP eXlwcted to carry. Mr. BRYCE said the Board of Trade had no power to do this. Two rockets lashed togeiher Wmlld effect the purpose. MARKYJNG SOLDIERS. Mr. C A M PBELL-BANN ERM AN (Secre- tar for War), replying to Mr. Ha.nbury <C., Preston), said that soldiers marrying withou; leave did not obtain the same advantages aB those that married with leave, but no question would arise as to the validity of the marriage, unr -would HIP refll.;3.t úf leave justify any clergy- man or registrar refusing to perform the cere- many. YOUNG ENGLISH WOMEN ABROAD. Mr. MACDONA (C., Southwark) had two long questions on the paper in reference to a recently reported case of young Endis-h women engaged in London to sing at musio-halis in Hol- land finrling on arrival at Amsterdam that the place where they were expected to exercise their talents was a house of ill-fame. Mr. ASQUITH (Home Secretary) said he wa-J in communication with the polioa, and waa making furtllH inquiry into thi8 case. VOLUNTARY SCHOOLS. Mr. HARRY FOSTER (C., Suffolk, Lowes- toft) asked the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education whether it was the oafie that, ac cording to the ruling of the Education De- partment, a religious Iwciv could not obtain State a.id for a new school in a school board district without having first obtained the sanc- tion of the board for the opening of such school; and, if "0, whethpr hp wa-s prepared to consider the matter with a view to the removing of a condition of things which was regardeel as a grievance by the supporters of denominational 8chook Mr. ACLAND (Vice-President, of the Council) said the Government were not prepared to introduce legislation altering the Education Act ill this re¡<ped. THE INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC. Mr. AIRD (C., Paddington, N.) asked the President of the Local Government Board if the Government were taking a^iy steps to inves- tigate the cause of. and also to fcuggewt remedies for eleaJing with. the epidemic df influenza. Mr. SHAW-LlvJ-1, •. RE (President of the Local Government Board) said the board saw no reaeon to vary the recommendations made on the lawk occasion of an epidemic of this kind. Mr. AIRD asked whether those recommenda- tions might not be re-issued. Mr. SHAW-LEFEVRE replied that he would see whether this could be done. Mr. W. JOHNSTON (C., Belfast) asked whet.hea- steps would be taken to disinfect the House of Commons. (Laughter and "Hear, hear.") No answer was returned, though the cry of "Hear, hear," was kept up expectantly for some time. HATLESS AND CHILLED MEMBERS. Mr. CREMER (L.. ShoFeditch) a.sked the Speaker if his attention had been called to the large number of members who were suffering from severe colds and influenza, and if he could enable members to secure their plaofts in the House without leaving their hate upon the sesits—("Hear, hear," and so avoid subjecting themselves in a hatless condition to the draughts and chills of the lobbies a.nd corridors. (More cheering.) The SPEAKER said Wiat by the Standing Orders no member could affix his name to a seat before prayers, but if he did secure it at prayer- time he retained it for the whole sitting. He saw no objection to a. member leaving a parti- cular kind of card, not on the back of the seat, but on the seat itself, and so getting a sort of initiatory right to the seat in question. (Chews.) ASH WEDNESDAY. Sir W. HARCOURT (Chancellor of the Ex- chequer) moved that the House should not meet until two o'clexsk to-morrow, instead of at noon, as is usual on Wednesday. The motion W!t8 opposed, but. on a divi- sion it was carried by 160 to 96. MOKE TIME FOR THE GOVERNMENT. Sir WILLIAM HARCOURT gave notice that on Thursday he should submit a resolu- tion for giving to the Government further time for their business. (Loud Opposition ones of "Oh," and Ministerial cheers.) BIMETALLISM, THE PROPOSED INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE. Mr. EVERETT (L., Suffolk) then moved:- "That this House regards with increasing apprehension the constant fluctuations and the growing divergence in the relative value of gold and silver, and heartily concurs i» the recent expression of opinion on tne part of the Government of France and the Govern- ment of Germany as to the serious evils resulting therefrom; it, tlierefore, urges upon lwr Majesty's Government the. desirability of C'o- operating with other Powers in an international conference for the purpocte of considering what measures can be taken to remove or mitigate these evils." He said the world had never before been con- fronted with so great an economic question ae tliat now arising f"om the depreciation of silver. That question lay at the root of the extraordinary fall in all prices which had inflicted so much suffering and entailed so much evil upon the world. It had led to the finan- cial embarrassments in India and the finan- cial crisis in Australia. It was gradually disestab- lishing <h& Church of England, had 1"1 to a great fall in the vaJue of land, and had caused the greatest depression in the agricultural inte- rest, while it was at the root of the extraordinary accumulation of unemployed capital at the Bank of England. These consequences had, in the opinion of the bi-metallists, arisen from the divorce of the two money metals and the demo- netisation of silver. This had led to a great diminution in the volume of currency, and, through this, to she fall of priejd of produce to which he had preferred. Mr. CHAPLIN (C., Sleaford), in seconding the motion, said the propositions which it laiel down had recently been assented to by the Governments of both France Mid Germany. The financial embarrassments in India were entirely diu> to the depreciation in the value of the rupee, which had had to be recouped by the imposition of additional taxation. It had moreover, led to the re-imposition of the import duties on cotton good*, and had inflicted the nio-t serious injury upon English agricul- turalists by enabling the Indian producer to com- pete with tlnmi on advantageous terms.. But what cared the Chancellor of the Exchequer for a fall in prices which had led to the pre- sent severe depression in both agriculture and traue. According to the right, hon. gen- tleman, the lower prices fell the better. (Hear, hear.) He rejoiced, however, to think that his opinions were not shared by nuuiy meinDers on his own side of the House. it was the duty of the Government to join other nations in considering whether it wan not possible to adopB some measures to mitigate the evils which had arisen from the elemonitisa- tiou of silver. Sir W. HARCOURT (Chancellor of the Exchequer) did not deny that the elive-rgence in the relative values of gold and siiver and the consequent fluctuations in the rate of exchange had produced considerable evils, nor had he ever denied that we ought to be willing to enter into a. discussion of the matter with other countries. After an exhaustive survey of the international aspect of the question, and what was done at the last cemference. and also dealing with the question in itts rela'ttion to England, and quoting speeches of Mr. W. H. Smith and Mr. Goschen opposing the bi-motallic (lIT, the right lion, gentleman saiel the resolution under discussion stated two propositions from which he was not prepired to dissent. If it included any oommittal of tliLs county to the bi-metallic system, he should resist it to the utmost- of his power. (Cheers.) But it commended itself equally to the monometallifi't and the bi-metaillist. He hoped that nothing he had said would lead any country to think that, any change in the basis of the currency of this country was pro- bable. He wa.s convinced that no responsible statesman would vrC)po.<e to thar ba-sis of currency under which, ever since 1816, this country had reached a ixwnt of commercial and financial prosperity which no othtr nation in the world had ever attained. (Cheers.) It was of the greatest moment that at this junc- ture, the a'ttitu ie and convictions of the Govern- ment of this country should be known to the House of Commons and to the world. [t sluvuld I*' know whether they did or did not mean to stand by that basis of currency which, in his opinion, was one of the greatest securities of the Empirt. (Cheers.) The meniljer for Mid- lothian in 1893 dealt with the whole ejuestion in a mi.nner which, in his opinion, finally disposed of rt. He hoped that it would not oe dealt''with as a party question. He had endeavoured to eX- press the deep convictions he had upon the subjects, anel as the motion nad beewi proposeet in terms in whk-.li he thought they coul-1 tind common ground. as it did not commit the House to agreement with "the bi-metallic system, and as it only invited the Government of this country to e< >mmunieat" with other countries i" reference to evils the existence of which they did not deny, he should not on the part of 'the Government oppose it. (Cheers.) Mr. Wilson Lloyd (0.. Wednesbury), Sir J. Leng (L., Dundee), Mr. Whittaker (L., York, N.W.), and Sir H. M. Thompson (U., Stafford- shire) continued the discussion. After further debate the motion was agreed to without a division. The House rose at 12.5.

PONTYPRIDD EXHIBITION. AN INTERESTING COLLECTION ARTS AND INDUSTRY. On Tuesday afternoon an art and industrial exhibition was formally opened by Mr. L. Gordon Lenox, J.P., at the new Town-liall, Poutypridd. The exhibition is being held in aid of the new English Wesleyan Chapel to be built in Gelliwa.stad-road, the old one having reeently been sold to tIlt, Taff Vale Railway Company for £3,000, and a site near the exist- ing oha.pe1. The new one is esstimatexl to cost about £6,000. Preparations on an extensive scale had been made for the exhibition, which is of a high class and most interesting nature. The scene presented to the visitor upon enter- ing the large hall is a most charming and pic- turesque one, a.nd in this respect, at all events, the labours of the promoters have been crowned with success. The walls of the platform are oooupied by works of well-known painters, and all the pictures, work" of art, and curios which meet the eye in every part of the hall have been lent by local ladies and gentlemen. The view from the platform iy a very aetmotive one, almost the first thing that meets the eye being a huge bear, lent by Mr. Lenox, on a table laden with curios in the body of the hall. Amongst the most interesting e-urio< to lie noticed is the staff of the chief-constable of the ancient borough of Llantrisant. and the new and old se-tls of the same borough, several oatses of butterflies lent by Mr. James Speckett. a couple of albums containing specimens of ferns alld grasses collected in New Zealand, lent by Mr. Z. A. Cooke, Llantrisant: fossils lent by Mr. Harpur and Mr. J. Croe-kett, and a licence taken by Nonconformist ministers in 1779. Amongst the side exhibits is tlie stall of Messrs. Walker anel Co., electrical engineers, Cardiff; glass blowing by Mr. C. Harrison. Londe>n Mr. Bubb's electric light implements, model drawing and bed room sots, sent by Metssrs. Williams and Co., High-street, Cardiff; musical instruments by Messrs. Thompson and Shackell anel M. Horslield, and Messrs. Taylor and Co.'s photographic stall. A hig-h tea wa." held at lialf-past five in the Leeser Town-hall, the ladies presiding l>eing Mrs. Basset, Miss Bassett, Mrs. Bubb, Mrs. Coeimbes. Mrs. E. T. Cocmbes, Mrs. A. II. Coombes. Mrs. Owen Evans, Mrs John Evans, Mrs. Horton, Mrs. Hill, Mrs. Julian. Mrs. Marohant, Mrs. W. Merchant. Mrs. Porcher, Mrs. Ralls, Miss Rees, Mrs. Somers. Mrs. Sbipton, Mrs. W. Thomas, and Mrs. D. Williams. A concert wa, held m th8 evenirc thooe taking part heing" Madame Williams-Penn, Miss Lily David, Mr. J. G. Jones, Mr. T. Harpur, and the Pontypridd String Quartette Party. A game of chess, with living characters, w;vs also jnven by Mr. Howells and Mr. Heitzman, during which selec- tions of music were given oil a. hundred guinea musical cabinet lent by Miss Dorothy Merchant, Plas y dderwen. The exhibition will be continued each ùay until Frielay, and on Thursday, which will be the popular day, Roval lunchinello perfor- mances will be given by Professor Smith, London. The president or the ewmmittee is thø Rey. 1'. Horton, superintendent; sident, Mr. W. Merchant. J.P. financial secretary. Mr. H. Porcher, magistrates' clerk hon. secretary, Mr. R P. Ralls. Among those who lent pictures, works of art, and curios a.re: Mr. Solomon Andrews, Cardiff; Mrs. Bassett, Bryn Ffvnon; Airs. Beach, Ponty- pridd Mr. A. Stanley Cohb. London and Pro- vincial Bank; Mr. Z. A. ( ooke, Llantrissant; Mr. Jolm Crockett. iontypridd; Mr. P. J. Dunn, J.P., Crofta; Dr. Howard Davies, The Ash frrove; Dr. Alfred Evans, Pontypridei; Mr. A. O. Eyans, Epworth Home; Mr. John Evans, Pen-y-bryn: Colonel Grover, Clydach Court; Mr. S. Harpur, Ceredwen-t-erraoe; the Rev. T. Horton, Gel li wastad -road Mr. Evan John. J.P., Llantrissant; Mr. W. H. Kev, Myrtle Villa; Mr. L. G. Lc-nox. J.P., Ynys- yngharael; Dr. Leokie, Underwood Houhe Mr. R. A. Lewis, Llovels Bank; "1h-. W. Mer- chant, J.P., Plaft-v-dderwen: Mrs. Mathew Wayne Morgan, Maesycoed; Mr. Taiiesin Morgan, Llantrisant; Mr. W. H. j. I organ. Forest House: Mr. —. Peatie, Berw-road Air. H. Porohe-r, Ely House; Mr. Oliver A. Roberts, Midland Bank; Mr. E. Colnett Sjieckett, Fron; Mr. James Speckett, Pontv- pridd; Mr. W. Speckett. Tonita House: Air. R. T. Richards. Tre-fen-eist Mr. William Thomas, Brvn-onen Mrs. Daniel Williams, Glas Fryn: Mr. Watkin Williams. Pontypridd, and many others.

NEW CLUB FOR PERNDALE. The lwi.ndsome premises recently taken over by tlie Conservative paity in Ferndale have Ijeen rene>\ ate^l and altered, and are* to be opened as a Conservative Club to-day (Wedties day). The new olub comprises a. reading-room anel library, billiard-room, room for chess, elraughts, and cards, bar, and bath-room. A prettily laid-out grewi at the back of tlie hoiwe completes what has been el escribed a/s the best resort for working men in the Rliondeia Valleys. Amongst thejse who have forwareleel cheques to Mr. Little- johns to carry ou the work are the Marquess of Bute, Leunk Tredegar and Windsor, Mr. G. Godfrey Clark, J.P., Air. roh.ibald Hood. J.P., Dr. Parry, J.P., Dr. Hamilton. M.B., and Air. R. Thompson, FemdaJe. The formal opening- is to take place1 as soon as the party managers can oblige the local committee with a distin- guished M.P.

AFFAIRS OF A SWANSEA CHAPEI. At Swansea County-court on Tuesday the financial troubles of St. James's Chapel, .lames- street, Swansea, were again gone into. The Swansea Finance Company claimed from the Rev B. C. Evans. late pastor of the chapel, but noW of Neyland, and from Air. W. J. Mathia*, mort- gagee of the chapel, as third party, £27 Is. 6d. on a promissory note. The Rev. Mr. Evans claimed that he was indemnified from all oheims in üonllection with the chapel hy au agreement with the mortgagee (the third party). A counter- claim was set up by Mr. Afatthias a.g-ain8t. Mr. Evans for balance of jC201 due after realisation of mortgage.—His Honour, after hearing further evidence, gave judgment against the third party, with CO!itt" on the ohim, holding that the agree- j ment of indemnification, held good,

LOCAL ,¡rEDDIXG. BOLST—COLLINGWOOD. On Tuesday, at Augustine's Church, l'tmarth. 0. the Rev. \Y. Sweet-Fscott, the weddillg of Miss Georgiua Glady" Collingwooel t-o Mr. Alfred E. (_\ Holst, of London, \\a<, celebrated. The churcli was rilled wIth friend- alld spectators. 51r. J. Deacon presided at the or¡:an. The bride1, who was leJ to the altar by her brother, Mr. Alfred Colliiigwoexl, town-clerk of Carlisle, wore a vny well-made dre.s of blue doth of a jieculiarly pretty and new shade, between what is kuowlJ ¡¡." "gen- darme" and cornflower blue. The bodice was made with the yoke and tile full upper sleeves of white beiigaline* silk, folded eMillar, and trimmed with a pretty crochet passementerie. The "kirt was ejuite plain and nry well cut. The hat was of tlie toque shape, with hitrh bows of white "ilk and blue forget-me-nots. Sht) carried a lowly bouquet of white exoticc, rose-s, lilies, and fems, and Icwked remarkably well. The brideniaids were the three Misses Col- Iingwood, sisters of the bride. They wore very c!u"1uinl{ oostumee of s;rey crepou and civ am silk, trimlI100 with silver cord and ere-am chiffon, 8 ,u;] 1 fasteneel 011 the side with a paste buekl<e, alld bronze shoes. They wore cream faney straw hah, trimnwd with butterfly bows of lace and tufk; of violets, and carried fan- shaped bouquets of pillk roses, violet wnilax, and pilik ribbons. The- bridegTOOm presented a gold b"n1.lI/e set with jewels to the bride- maid; After the ceremony the wedding puests returneel to the resiaejiev of )11'. Collins- wood. ill where an elegant dejeuner was served. Later ill the aftemexni the hride and bridegroom left for London. elJ route for l'aris and the South of Fran<-f. Among the many beautiful weddinp pre>ent«- W(:tl"8 :1 gold watch and dlaill and beautiful ùia- mond ring- (the gift of the bridegroom), a IN) a silver tea andcúffee servK-e. verv chaste in elesign; a" set- of "ilver spoons, aild many otlwr and valuable gifts. Among the guests invited were :-)Ir. H. M. Kelly and Miss Robinson, Addle^tone, Suri>-v the Hon. c. de Ooureey, West Dulwich: Mr and Mrs. G. M. HilI, Warwick-mad, Maida Hill. Lon- don; Colonel Robertson, Ostend Mr. and Mrs. Rlack. Lonelon Mrs. and Miss Harvey, Rom- Iorrl: Mr. and Mrs. Gar, Romford Mr.ànd Mrs. flalHll1olld. Romford: Surgeon lieutenant- colonel Str<i}¡an. Aberdeen Mr. Clifford Bolst. Londou Mr. and Mrs. c. A. Kelly, London Mr. Evans. London: Colonel Milne, London (who acted as best man) the Rev. T. Rees. St. Mellon's: the Rev. W. and Mrs. Sweet- Escott, Penarth Mr.. Mrs., and tlu. Misses Herbert. Pemtypool: Mr.. Mrs., and Miss London Miss Oxbury. York: Miss May alters, Penarth; Miss Isaaohie. Stroud; Mite Brown, Alverstoke Miss Jes;;op. Glou- cester: Mr. and )Jr:J. E. Deacon, Cardiff: Mr. F. C. Llnyd. Penarth; Vr. and Miss Mason. Pontypool Dr. and Mrs. Aitken. Penarth: Mr. and Mrs. Angle. Cardiff: Mr. P. Ar g-h> Cardiff Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Jack- SOn. Cardiff: Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Colling- wtiod, Carlisle* Mr. A. E. Collingwooel, Mr. W. G. ('ol1i!!g'woo¡l Mrs. ('room. Pont> pool Miss Harvey. Cardiff: Miss A. Morgan. Car- (liff: Miss Stock dale. Plymouth; Mrs. Austiu Cardiff; and Mr. 3nd Mrs. Fox, Pontypool.

AFFAIRS IN CHITRAIi. A Reuter's telegram from Calcutta 011 TuesdaJ says :-Ti¡e Amir-ul-Mulk, with Mr. R-obert80n, British Commissioner, is now at Cbitral Fort. Umra. KUg", though not advancing, is fortifying Darosh Fort, and re-buildinp the bridge acrose the river which the Chitrals had destroyed. -1.

The Cardiff Workhouse Visiting Committee have offered Miss Lane, the present <ieputy- superiutendent nurse, the vacant post ot head nurse at thc infirmary, at a salary of £ 40 per annum, rising hy yearly increments of £ 2 to a maximum of £ 50. David Davies, a Llandyssdl nuvn, was charged a,t, Swansea on Tueselay with travelling 011 the Gre-at Western Railway without payment of fare, and John Jones, from tiie same plaee. was charged with aiding and a betti1\g- him in the fraud. The Htijxnidiary fined Davies 10s. and costs ( £ 1 16s.), but thought Jones was not incul- pated. We invite attention to t-he last annual report of the Pearl Life Assurance Company, wllieh is to 00 found in another column. The mHlW- rous policy-holders will lie g-lad to learn that, notwithstanding the depressed state of trade, the Pearl found 1894 tQ be the record year, having saved over £ 80,000 in twelve months, alld HO increased the reserve fund to nearh- haIf- a-million of money. Not. onh- in the indus- trial branch, but also in the evrdinary braneb the company made great etridee. (

Shipping Disasters. Judgment was given on Saturday in the Boa.rd of Trade inquiry at Liverpool into the abandon- ment of the barque Crusader in the Bay of Biscay, on January 16. whilst on a voyage from Cardiff to Santos with a. cargo of coal and iron. All ha.nds were saved, but a charge is pending at Liverpool against one of the crew- namely, the carpenter—of murdering an able seaman, the prisoner being under remand. Mr. Stewart (stipendiary magistrate), in giving judgment, Raid the severe weather which the ship encountered caused all the damage, and the vessel was not prematurely abandoned. The master was not in default. DAMAGED VESSELS AT CARDIFF. The steamer Whitehall arrived at Cardiff by Monday's tide from 1 lavr-\ The captain reported that the steamer had strande-el off Galveston. She remained iu the same posi- non for 24 hours, after which she was able to proved to Cardiff. The Darent. belonging to Messrs. Tumbull Bros., of Cardiff and Whitby, on arriving ill Cardiff on Tuesday morning, reported having collided with the se-hooner Morning Star near the Scarweat-lier Light on the 25th mst. The Dareiit received no damage, anel offered to help the schooner, but the captain refused. EXPLOSION ON A BARQUE. COOK BLOWN TO PIECES. InfnrnlatlO11 reached Liverpool ou Tueselay of a terribh explosion which took plaee on the barque Cockermouth, while hound from Fieet- v, I KXI for Sydney. In the fore )ileal. were a number of barrels of spirit paint. and these bc-came unshipped and leaky. When the oook entered the place with a naked light for the purixise of fetching coals, the spirit exploded with great force, blowing tlie poor fellow to piecee. The barque was considerably damaged.

THE WAR IN THE FAR EAST THE GRAND COUNCIL, MEETS AT PEKIN. A Central News telegram from Pekin on Tuesday says:—The Grand Council of the Em- pire met on Sunday, and deliberated upon the ejuestion, "Shall the war with Japan be pro- longed, or shall we trejat for peaceIt was resolved, before taking a final decision, that the same question should be put to all the provin- cial authorities from the first to the third rank inclusive. Their opinion was urgently de- manded hy telegraph, and the replies already received are unanimously to the effect that. although the war war: unjustly provoktxl by Jajian, it is very desirable to conclude peace. Some, however, qualify their replies. ANXIETY AMONG FOREIGNERS. A Central Ntws telegram from Shanghai on Tuesday says:—All dispatches reaching here from Pekin. Tientsin, and Neue-hwang state that the foreign residents are in a state of great anxiety owing to the uncertainty which prevails aa to the course of e.ventt5 during the next few weeks.

CARDIFF'S BLACK LIST. MORE FINES FOR SHEBEENING AND FREQUENTING. At Cardiff Police-court on Tueseiay nioining Ann Jones was brought, up (before the St.jje'ii- diary) charged with selling beer without a licence at 25. Stanley-street, on the 17th last.— Police-oonstable Wheeler said he watched the house, and saw seven men and three women enter, and hve men and three women leave. On entering the houct with Police-cons table Dredge, witness founel six men and three women seattd in tlie back room with defenelant, who, when cliarged, admitted selling the beer.—De- fendant was tiiiexl j610 and costs, or in doiauit, one month's inipriseniiiicnt with hard labour. Police-constable Davies thou proceeded to prove a similar charge against Catherine Collins for an offence at 24. Stanley-street. —-Defen- dant appeared with two fearfully black eyes.— After the constable had said that he had seen several men and women visiting the house on the evening of the 17th mst., defendant wati asked if she wished to esill any witnesses on her own behalf.—She called a man named Fitz- gerald, whom she had subpoenaed, and who, on appearing in the witeess-box at one-e beg-an to complain to the stipendiary of his being brought there, ae he had intended PllilljC frcui Cardiff that morning.—The Stipendia*y ordered him to be sworn, and then, turning to defen diint, aoked her what questions she wanted to put to her witness.—Collins asked 1" it^j^rald whether lie had seen her selling beer, to which question witneM. to the extreme disgust of de- fendant, answered with a simple aiilrmltive.— Catherine, probably to have her revenge on the too candid Fitzgerald, charged him with t-.los- ing the black eyes, but In*i*>ctor Diir.-toii !-1\j.¡ she had been before the court on foriy previous occasions for various OHYIM*—Defendant was lined JB20 and costs, or in default, three liio-itas' imprisonment. Maud Donovan, of 18, Nelson-street, was ohargeei with a similar offence at that place on the 17th inst.—Polioe-constable Wlieelvr stateei that lie saw eight, men and eight women enter and ten men and ten women leave. The oocu- pier of the house was "doing time" for a simila.r offence.—Defendant called a witness. who stated tliat the bee-r was being sold by a Welsh- man. and that the woman had nothing to etc with it.—Defendant was fined JB10 and costs, ot one month.—On going below defendant struck at Police-constable Alderman, who was in the dock. :md then had to lw taken down by three constables. As she was disappearing she called oift, "I ajii going for nothing. 1 won't go for nothing when I oome out. Eight persons wete fined for frequenting the houses —Mary Batley, h. and costs. 7s. 6eL, paid: James Tracey. 2s. 6d. and e-osts 7s. 6d.. not paid, defendant will go to gaol: Michael Murphy paid h. a.nd tosto 7s 6d. Annie Car- nev. 2>. 6d and eosts. did not pay Catherine Barry. 2s 6d. and eo-ts 7s. 6<1.. elid not pay. and Mary AIm Donovan, h. and e-osts 7s. 6d., did not pay. With the exception of Murphy all the defen- dants were of the lower class. None of the fines for selling beer were paid, and defen- dants went to gaol. Two cases for frequenting against John and Ellw Rowe. were withdrawn, defendants being in penal servitude, a.nd two cases were withdm-wii in which the defen- dants, seamen, were at sea.

FOOTBALL. MR WILKINS TO REFEREE IN THE ENGLAND-SCOTLAND GAMTE. Mr. W. Wilkins, bon. treasurer of the Welsh Football Union and chairman of the committee of the Llanelly Club, received a letter on Mon- dav evening inviting him to act as referee at Richmond on Saturday of next week in the match between England and Scotland. We -understand that Mr. Wilkins has accepted the invitation. This is the third consecutive year for Mr. Wilkins to be asked to referee in the contests between tke Rose and the Thistle. It is an open secret that during his stay in town Mr. Wilkins will endeavour to arrange a London tour for the Llanelly team for next season. It is hoped that matches will be arranged with Blackheath, Richmond, London Scottish, and one or both of the universities. LLANELLY CARDIFF DISPUTE. A meeting of the committee of the Llanelly Football Club was held on Monday night, when a further letter from the Careiiff Club relative to the dispute was read. In this letter the state- ment that there was ill-feeling between the two clubs was repeated. A long discussion followed the reading of the letter, and it was ultimately decided to bring the matter before the com- mittee of the Welsh Football Union. It has been stated that the matter of the dispute will come up at the meeting of the match committee on Saturday. This is inaccurate. The matter has been referred to the committee, and not the match committee. LANCASHIRE V. GLAMORGANSHIRE. The venue selected for 'lie Lancashire match hael to all appearances, given some d;^sa:is:ae- iton to the Northerners, who wished to adhere to the originally fixed ground at Cardiff. On Monday Mr. A J. Davits informs u-r-. the wires welle busy all day, and late on Monday night it wan definitely settled to play the game on the Harlequins' ground on Monday next, Mabon's Day. The match will take place at 3.30, :i ei cheap trains will lie run from the districts.

An inquest was held on Tnesdtty afternoon on the body of John Williams, a Merthyr engine driver, who was killed on the Mumbles Railway near the Cricket Field on Saturday night. The nephew of the deceased said that he was with deceased an bour before the accident, and he was quite sober. He believed that he must have fallen on the rails and been stunned. The driver ef the train testified to the occurrence. and said a careful look-out was kept. A verdict of il Accidental death was returned, no blame being attached to the servants of the company A meeting of the allotments committee of the Barry Urban District Council was held on Tuesday evening at Cadoxton, Dr. P. J. O'Donnell presiding. The committee decided to appoint a sub-committee to see certain land- owners with a view of arranging for the taking ovwt Of ami table land for public allotments. l

To-Day s Share Market CONSOLS opn 12.0 1 10 CJos A Cls 'ioseneu's 2jue Mi-y IC"3 iV: Do. no. Acoinni.104% Do. do. 2ip c do. 'i02v Loc»i Stock 108 Bonk or Kiiehiii'i Stook.|j31 inaift 5» p.-r ceat ;U5 Do. 3 per cent '!04 Met. C-oiu -it per cent.. 120 Do. no. 5 p c 1U_ Iiidimi Kui>ee P-'per 3JIM; Z&s IusCuiidiiiu 4 i> c..).an,Jly 113 Ins.C.Good Hop«,4 j, c. '83 1 iS Ins. KewZeitiajiri Consoii J K 9 IRS. NetvS. VTnles4 per e.' 110 Ins. Victoria <t jir. C,'82-3-<l 104 I'IP. Sotitli A ustraiittu .JC8 us. Queenaitrnd 4rei Cl«.'l<7 us. Queenaitrnd 4rei rlll!l1.jo: 1{A II; W> Y■> eirlgi.non Kti11w:iy e>r<l 71 j !'o. Deferred '-54^8 'If'Ô'),U311 Consfiliiiated. 129. Do. Preferred Con. Ord. "Ufa Do. Deferred do -2 haUmiii and Dover Ord. 18 £ j Do. Pretei eu«e 119TJ,| lilastfow iuxi South West. Ill | j Great IOasiem Ordiuary 76^1 it.N'f liii.Frefd.Gon. Ord. 113 fj Do. do. DeM. do. 47 .]. Do. tio. A'n jreat Western lt2 j Htiii :niri liariisley 5 Ijaiicasiiire mul Vorkstiire '.14 tionaon nud NorMi-Weetn !80^ London and Sou th-Went n 197 Do. do. Deferred 08 Man, Sbef.and I.inc.Ord 52 1Jo. Preferred 76 Do. Deferred 27'fa Metropolitan Con 91 Do. Land Stock 82 ■ Do. District Ordinary I i Do. Preferred 97 I | Midland Ordinary '56<«. North British Ord. Pref. Do. Ordinary 37^ JTortli Eastern Ordinary ,'64 North Staffordshire J28 South Eastern Ordinary '33 Do. Deferred 81% East London 7 Taff Vale Act. 1889 B0 Do. Deferred | East London 7 Taff Vale Act. 1889 B0 Furness 66^i AMERICAN RAILWAYS. Central Pacific Chicago, Milwaukee Denver Ordinary 11% Do. Preferred "5-^ Erie Shares S%\ Do.Preference 17 Do. Second Mortgage Illinois Central 83^1 Lake Shore. Louis and Nashville j Missouri. Kansas & Texas- j New York Central 00 New York Ontario 16^1 Norfolk Preference ll^j North Pacific Preference! 15% Pennsylvania Ordinary 51 Philadelphia k Reading. 5 Do. First Income Bonds! 31-V •• Union Pacific 954, Wabash Preference '3fa Do. Geueral Mortgage.. Atlantic G.W. 1st Mort. \3%i Atchison *<* Do. 2nd Mort. Class A. 18^ Canadian Pacific Grand Trunk Ordinay j Do. Guaranteed Do. First Preference .) 31 I Do. Second Preference; 20^, Do. Third Preference.j II Mexican Ord inary !7 Do. First Preference 69 Do. Second Preference; 36 FOREIGN LouibtrdB Ordinary 9^ Mcxicati Cen. 4 p.c. B ii. S 57^' Do. do. FirBt luooiue. i2 Baeuc s Ayres Gt. S'tlieru|!06 Buenob Ayres and Konariol 66 j Central Argentine 73 r.hiban 1R8" °6 Do. 189: 102 B'ifinos > res 1882 1883 (WJ Bulgarian 6 per cent, 1888 97 Argsnriue 11:180 D<~> Vuudiag 73 Do. j'.c. Sterling -13 Do. 1 reagury 43'| Argentine Cedillas A 29(jl Do. Cednias B -6 HueuosAvrus Cedutas I.. 6 Do. J. 5% 'Brazilian 1889 76-^ G^yi<tian Unified *'J4 Do. Gov. Pref., New iv £ Do. State Domain I UD. Daira, New 04 Preneli 3 per Cent. Rentes Do. 3i per Ceut. 1107 German 3 per cent 1891-2-3 17 J j \ta.ilIl.1 5 l'er Ctul Mexican 0 per Cent, 77.i, Peruvi»nCor(>orat'i. Ord. 2b 'euce Do. Preference Portagnese per Gent. 1869 Greeks 1881s 32 Do. 188* s 32 Russia 4 p.c. Conversions Spanish 4 per Ceota Turkixfa 1894 99% Do. OttoiLan Defence.04 j Do. First Group 65 Do.Secoud Group '444' Do.Third Group 294 Do. Fourth Group 26$. Ottoman B!UI\ Share" ¡¡ 1 JUISCJfLl,A NKOL'S Uruguay per Cent ■ .1 HOlldura.8. 5"1f Paraguay 1 14 Transvaal Loan 5 per Cent London S. Katherine's Dk "4 East A Wrst India Docks 17 Do. Deferred 1^5 Cunard Steamship £ 2C pd i05> Oen. Steam Nav., £ 15 pd' ^ia Do. 5 per Cent. Pref j 5 Do. 5 per Cent. 1887 1 421, Anglo-American Tel. Pref 16 Do. do Ordinary. 40% Direct United St's Cables^ 6-?< EBsterii ditto Eastern Ez'enaion !k Brazilian Submarine J National Telephone Arthur Gainers Allsopp's Ordinary Bryant <k May Ordinary- Consett Iron *2, Ehbw Yale St. A Iron Co.! Hudson's Bay Siares. 14 1 | Deccan Land • Hotchkiss Suez Canals ipratt's Patent Hammouds t/f Eastmans 1/ister and Co 5 Salt Union Ordinary fe ElnioreCe>pper Depositing! Nitrate Railway Primitive Nitrate San .lorpe Nitrate ?%' San Pablo Nitrate Dublin Distillers It BelPs Asbestos Oceana Land 2^; Cliartered Africa 42,3 Bechuauaiand Land 3 New Exploration (Ros,). ^P* Cape Copper Mines Bio Tineas 12% Mason ana Barrj 1% Thnrsis Copper 4^ Mysore Gola 2 Mysore Gold Fields 17^0 | | Oorepum Ordiuary i ii Mou tanas 12 ■>> De Beers Diamond 20^ South African Exploratn.i New Jagerstontein 19^ Con Gold Fields S. Africa' 4 Salisbury Gold, New 3^ City and Suburban 18 Jumpers 5% Ferreiras 16 Con Gold Fields S. Africa' 4 Salisbury Gold, New 3^ City and Suburban 18 Jumpers 5% Ferreiras 16 Jubilee 9^ [. Simmer and Jack "[ VTenimers 8^8 Crown Reef 10 Langlaagtes Lungla>Lgtes Block B 16 Shel* 28' Nigel 5% Primrose 5% Modderfontein, New .( Pioneer ¡.3i Australian Broken Hill lib Wentworth Priority 15,3 larapaca Water 114i Do. Bank 2% North's Nav Collieries ..I 2%\ Coats 34^1 Pear's Soap Ordinary 5 Bartholma.v Brewery Ord 8%! Do Preference I2'i' St Louis Brewery, Ord 21., Do Pref. lJ* Londonderry Gold Apr

THE CONGO FREE STATE. A Reute*rV telegram fiuiu nirussels on Tues- day says.—-l lie* Belgian Ciovernment lias iiddre.sseel to the CliAintwr of Represriiuitives :1 jiifineirasiduiii explanatory of its motives in demanding the ratification of the treaty for the cession of the CViinfo Free State to Belgium. The elocument, which is officially published this inorniii^. -obtains 212 pajres. ooinprising a number of c iple>ma*ic- and eoinniercial doeu- ments and givinz partie-ulars of the Congo State. It also enters into Franee's riplit of pre-envjiti'iii upon the territories, ajid deals witii the question of neutrality, economic reg-ime. finane-ial e«i»agei:ients, reso^ireies, and other matters affe-rtin^ the Congo. The treaty re- lating to the oe'ssion con-i>ts of fotir articles, by the fir,-t of which the Seivereig-n King of the Congo oil the one part declare*- that lie (led. to Belgium the sovereii^ntv of the territories romposing the Independent Congo State, with all rights and obligations :it>|»ertaining thereto, aiid the Belgian State, 011 the other hand, de- clares it accepts the territory.

Newport's Ixirough coroner on Tuesday after- noon in(]Uirv-<i into 'the sudden death., of the following e-hilelren :—Ada Day, aged three day-, of 13, Canal-parade; Annie Louisa Kane, two months old, of 2. Jeddo-strpet: and George Isaacs, five months old. 16 Jeddo-sireet. In each case a verdict of "Death from ooiivulsioiis" was returned. At Cardiff Police-court on Tuesday morning Louis Fucito. 34, Bute-street, a hairdresser, was summoned for allowing a lad to work in his employ more than 74 hourn per week, in c-ontrave-iition of the Shop Hours Act.—Itis)>»-c-- tor Vaughan said the lad had worked 78 hours, and defendant admitted this, but said the lad worked of his own free will.—Defendant was fiued 5s. anel oast*, or sevea day..

I Racing Intelligence, YESTERDAY'S LONDON BETTING. LINCOLNSHIRE HANDICAP (RuB Tuesday, March 26. The Straight Mile.) 16 to 1 agst Acrobat, 6yrs, 7st 121b, t 20 to I — Missal, 4yrs. 6st 131b, o LIVERPOOL GBAND NATIONAL. (Kun Friday, March 29. Graua National Coarse* about four miles and 356 yards.) 5 to 1 aest Cloister, ag-ed, list 31b, t 20 to 1 — Eedhill. usred. lOst 71b, t 20 to I — 6vrs. 10st Illb. t 25 to 1 — Badminton, aged. lOst 31b, t 25 to 1 — Prince A Inert, ag-ed, lOst 121b, t 33 to 1 — The Midshipmite, aged, list 91b, t 33 to 1 — 1'hilactery, aged, 9si 121b, t 33 to I — Lady Pat, aged, lOst 131b, t A o THE DLRBT. Bun Wednesday, May 29. About 1 mile 4 furlonps.) 9 to 2 agst Raconteur, t

OFFICIAL SCRA TCHIXGS. Hie "Sportsman" is officially informed by Mewn. Weatherby ot the .following scratching*: — Liverpool Grand National—Black Duck. February Handicap Hurdle, Leicester—Lady Campbell. Aissele Hurdle, Sandowu Park-Loyalty and Lady Campbell, All engagements—Kilmona, by KUwiu-hn—Bomne Moor (2yrsj.

LEICESTER MEETING ABANDONED. An official iuspection of the course was made on. Tuesday morning, and, though there was a nice thaw with some rain early in the week, there has been some- sharp frosts siuce, with the result that the bone it s: iU ir. the ground, and racing to-day (Wednesday) and to-morrow (Thursday) being quiteout of the question, the meeting will be abandoned in the proper course under the direction of the stewards. A later telegram states that, with the permission of the Stewards, the meeting has been abandoned.

NEWJiABKET TRAINING NOTES. NEWMARKET, Tuesday. On tlie Race Side. Ashby's Bella Agnes colt, blood. thirsty, and Carlton Grange CLaloner'* Angus StAiii. leL ly.¡..tes. and Ruv-eiirori: Camion's Verdant Green, Luehcote, Zoe Mou, Gnatbrain, Stanton Hill, and Exodus Campbell's Stoeiewell. Banquet, and Mon- tauk: Eno.-li's Father Gilbert. Malbrouk, Lentinck, and Full Bloiwi; Golding'h Bach. Barbary, Pet of the Fancy. Acrobat. Coelus. Pomade Diruip. High and Low John o' Sealiam. Bi-ooklyn..lav Gc-uld. Royal Favour, Delva, Hsu-liure, Breniie, Newsmonger, False Face, and Oima.ra HaphoeV Amandier, Medi- cis. Serapis, Bedl. lTtica, Harfleur. Mountain Chief, Grig. Quill, and Rodomont-: .Sadler 's Petrovitchi, Pico- tee, and Tit ho rias: and Mumford's Monkey. Boat and Exciseman trotted. On the Bury Side, Gurry's Lcrd George, Millennium, Champ d'Or. Paris Blue. Call Boy. Cowley. Father Reprobate. Orphan A<rnes colt. Chrv-Btoleum. and Tlaakston and Slierwuod's Nort.lushampton, Toreador, Ssncbo Panza. Ra,t>icaio. Minting Kiaiz. Telesinus, S) Icndour. Cold Steet. Fi: -k Oak. QuickH Wise, -,klwnlee!i, Ventilator. Bramlier. Stock Boy. Tokio, Ha. Ha., and Swe^t Duchess cantered six furlongs. IF- ■ ■" Ji

JlLLIMAW'5 ^^5^-VrEMBROCATION. -111.1,. "1 lhu,v • fop S^2L_ ItSPKMN^RHElJMATlSM.dlT^.BKUI^ES WATERLOO CUP, LINCOLN HAVUICAP, LIVER- POOL NATIONAL. DERBY. ire. Mr. ALFRED OROOK, nsTKNDK. Alfred Crook will forward, free. on receipt of ttddrett, "CROOK'S PRICE RECORD," Containing Entries and Latest Market Movement* on at-ove. Letters poated by the Night Mail arrive in Oste-nde the following day. and answered by. re- turn i pest Ijetter* must be prepaid. Address:—ALFRED CRuOK Oetende. Poata^e, 2id. Account* settled at Tattersall'a. of which Mr. Gra«k u -tee of the oldest members. e3995

CHALLENGE TO O'BRIEN BY COLOURED MIDDLE-WEIGHT CHAMPION OF AMERICA. The "Sporting Life" says:—Mike Haley reo quests us to state. tiaX be will matcii Joe Butier (eha.ni pi or txiioured nud die-weight of America) to box John O'Brien, a.* catch-weight, for any reanottable purse. Contest to come off in eight weeks from signing artides. Haley will meet 0 Bnen or his backer at any time by appoint- ment to make a match. If O'Brien dot- not aooept this challenge, it is open to any mid<U*>- weight in Eiigland.

LOCAL LAW CASB. COLLISION IN THE MERSEY. The Owners of the J. C. Swmdlehurst v. the Owners of the Sixona.—Ou TlKaiday, ia the Admiralty Division of the High Court. Londou, Mr. Justioe Bruce, sitting with Trinity Masters, trave juckrment in this aotaoa to reoover the value of a schooner, the J. C. Swiudlehurst. of Preston, which had been sunk as the result of a collision between her and the steamship Sirona, of London, which took place in Crosby's Channel of the River Mersev ou the 20th of January last, whilst the latter vessel was on a voyage to Cardiff. —Defendants pleaded non-iiability. on the gmund that their vessel was under compul- sory pilotace.—The Court held that there was sufficient time after the report of the lights e>f tlie schooner to have prevented a collision the wrong manoeuvre was performed by order of the pile>t, and, the blow being a six or seven point blow, showed tliat if the ship had not starboarded the collision would have been. avoieied. The defendants had established their point that their (servants on board the Siroriia were no* guilty of any negligence, and tlie pilot must, therefore, be pronounced alone to blame for the collision.—Sir W. Philli- more-, Q.C., asked for the cost* of the ib."ue of non-liability sustained by the defendants, and his Lordship said he was entitled to them. —Judgment, ae-cordingly. Lloyd Brothers v Milw.vd.—On Tuesday. in the Court uf Appeal, consisting of the Master of the Rolls and Lords Justices Lopes and Rigby. the arguments in this apjieal of the defenelant from a judgment of Mr. Justice Lawranoe a* trial without a jury at Swansea were concluded. It will be remembered that the action was brought by tlte plaintiffs, who are builders and coutractenrs, to recover the sum of £ 281 6s. lld.. being, as alleged, the balanoe due to them by the defendant, tor whom they had built three houses, one of which is the Hotel Wyndham. in College-street. Swansea.. The total amount of tlw contract, with extras, was £ 4.SOU. but the extras brought that sum up to £ 4.775 3s. The defendant's ease was tha* there was no baiaue* due to the plaiatiffs. lieejatisc the architect had not given his Í1:;al certificate- The learned judge. however, at the trial, found for the sum claimed.—After hearing the arguments on Tuesday, she Court reserved .judgment

BRITISH EAST AFRICA COMPANY. A settlement with The British East Africa Company is said by a "Scotsman'' correspon- dent. who has intimate relations with the directo- rate. to await only the sanction of the share- holders. The negotiations, it may be remem- bered. seemed likely to break down because the Government proposed that Zanzibar, in taking, over the company's "public assets" at a valua- tiOll. should be entitled to say which assets were public and which were not. That pro- posal was deemed indefinite and not very prac- tical. It is now said to have been withdrawn in favour of an offer of £ 50.000 down. The total of compensation for disturbance is thus raised to £ 250.000. of which Zanzibar will pay £ 200.000. and Parliament will be asked to vote £50.000 in oon"ir1bra,iiOll of tiie cancelling- of the charter. The dim-tors are at length able to recommend the acceptance of an offer which satisfies their sense'of what it due to the com- pany.

The body of) the late Mr. John Arnold, J.P., of Neath, will be interred at Llantwit on Thurs- day afternoon. The choirs of Neath will unite and walk at the head of the funeral procession. At the meeting of the Maesteg District Council. Mr. Barrow. C.C., presiding, it was reported that most of the landlords had replied favourably as to land allotments. A rate of 2s in the £ was made. The body of the late Mrs. Tices Goring Thomas was brought down to Llanellv from London on Sunday night, the interment taking place at Llanon Parish Church on Mondav. The vicar. the Rev. Evan Thomas, officiated, and there was a large assemblage of the villagers, with whom the deceased lady was very popular. Appeals from thp Cwmfelin Tin-plate and the Clyta Vale Company to the Swansea. Union Assessment Committee to reduce their rating- have again been adjourned for further considera- tion,

Blftilvrg'p Ar:*>1<\—Rea! Wckh Drawers. 18. l^i. maile to order.—Support lopa1 work-people. e4C#6 lUaiberg's Arcade.— Forfeited. Large Nun!beir~of Kwi-er». 2s. 9d. to 5s. bd. (Gold). p4046 lUwiberg's Arcade.—Jevi-llery Departaient Wltl be Trccsferred '.l1hlns.lar next to Bute-st/cet En .ranep. e4046 HU-'lierg's Ar/nle. -Forfeited £ 10 Pledge. Ku<vc*, maker. Haywood. Sheffield 6 table. 36. 6d. e4046 liluU.erg's \rcade. lied-hand Shirt, 2s. 6d. Hair way Overroats, 5s. 100: save many a cold. e4046 BIB'berg's Arcade.—Forfeited Feather Beet. liolbter, 2 Pillow*, 601h.. otis. 6<1. e4v)1fj Bla'bcrg's Areai^. -Musical Box, 36 Airs; the latest out; interchangeable barrels £ 5 5s. e4046 Blaiberg's Arcade. Eight-day Kitt.lien Clock, ibeT; twelve months' free tepair. e4')46 HTaiherg'fc Arcade.— Angina Alarm Cio^k.7 4& twelve free repair; warranft-el true to -t :tt«. e4T46 Blaiberp'* Arc.4tl«-. 19s. Wedding, 22ctu, 3i<lwt.; gold CJ l'ilJt."i included. e4D1a