South Wales Daily News

RIVAL IRISH PARTIES. MR REDMOND PROTESTS. RESCUING MR PARNELL'S MEMORY. At a meetingof the central branch of the National League in Dublin on Tuesday afternoon, Mr Wm, Redmond, M.P., who presided, denied that the Parnellites were in any way delighted at the struggle now being waged between Mr Healy and his colleagues. As Irishmen they were sotry for the way in which the fight was humiliating: their country before the world. Ireland could never trust any of the empty anti-Parnellite leaders, and the only hope for the country was to build up an independent Irish party once more. In con- clusion, he appealed to the country to give the Parnellites a chance ab the next general election. Mr T. Harrington, M.P., said that squabbles among the principal anti-Parnellite members had their origin in the desire for per- sonal supremacy, and not in the desire to main- tain any great principle. During the recent litigation in connection with the Paris funds, be had found entries in the books showing the false. ness of the charge made some years ago in the National Press against Mr Parnell, that he had stolen the £ 10,000 entrusted to him by Mr Cecil Rhodes, These entries had been shown to the -xnti anti-Parnellite leaders, and none of them had had the generosity to come forward and rescue that great man's name from the allegation of dis- honesty. Men of this kind were utterly unfit to guide the country's destinies.

ACTIVITY IN DOWNING- STREET. PREPARING- FOR THE SESSION. The approach of the Parliamentary Session is already being marked by renewed activity in Downing-street. Mr T. Ellis, chief Liberal whip, returned to his office on Tuesday, and was engaged with Mr R. K. Causton, Mr McArthur, and Mr Brand, who assist in the whip depart. ment. With the return of Lord Rosebery and Sir Wm. Harcourt to-day, most of the Cabinet Ministers are in town, and Lord Tweedmouth returns on Thursday. Lord Kimberley came to London on Tuesday from Norfolk. Lord Ripon and Mr Bryoe "transacted business in their respective departments, and Mr Buxton, Under- Secretary for the Colonies. will be back from Norfolk to-day. The statement published on Tuesday morning that the Cabinet would first re-assemble at noon on Saturday was erroneous. The first meeting is fixed for Thursday, as originally announced.

MR AND MRS GLADSTONE. OFF TO CANNES. NOTABLE GATHERING OF WELL WISHERS. Mr and Mrs Gladstone, accompanied by Mr and Mrs Henry Gladstone, Miss Helen Glad- stone, Mr George Russell, M.P., and Mr Edward Hall, drove from Whitehall-place about 9.30 on Tuesday morning to Charing-cross to catch the 10 o'clock train from Folkestone en route to Cannes. On arrival at the station Mrs Gladstone was escorted by Mr Geo. Russell to the saloon in which the party was to travel, and Sir Myles Fenton met the ex-Premier on behalf of the South- Eastern Railway Company. Shortly afterwards Mr Herbert Gladstone arrived with Mr Armit- stead, and among others who came to see the veteran statesman off were Canon Wilberforce, Mr G. Murray (Lord Rosebery's private secre- tary), and Mr Shand, Lord Welby, Sir Algernon West, Sir J. Oarmichael, M.P., and Mr J. C. Robertson. The ex-Premier, who appeared to be in good health and spirits, entered into animated conversation with those present and then took his seat in the saloon. Mrs Shand presented to Mrs Gladstone a splendid bouquet of yellow roses and crimson tulips. A consider- able crowd assembled at the station to witness the departure of the travellers, but were kept back by the barriers erected for the purpose. They made their presence known, however, by cheers for the ex-Premier. As the train left the station the cheers were renewed, and the privileged few who were near the saloon un- covered as they wished the travellers "God speed," Both Mr and Mrs Gladstone acknow- ledged the greetings of the crowd and the good wishes of their friends. Mr and Mrs Hgnry Gladstone and Miss Helen Gladstone accom- panied them to Cannes. Mr and Mrs Gladstone, on reaching Folke- stone, were received with hearty cheers from admirers of the ex-Premier, who, proceeding on board the 12 o'clock steamer, left for the Conti- nent. ARRIVAL AT PARIS. PARIS, Tuesday.—Mr Gifdstone arrived here at 6 o'clock this evening. The right hon. gentle- man, who looked remarkably well, was met at the station by members of the Armenian Colony, who presented him with an address of welcome, M the same time offering a bouquet to Mrs GIP.dstone.-Iteuter.

ILLNESS OF SIR HENRY PONSONBY. A Cowes correspondent learned upon inquiry ab OsborneCottage on Tuesday morning that al though Sir Henry Ponsonby had only had about an hour's sleep during the night, his medical attendants were of opinion that he had made a further slight improvement. Dr. Douglas Powell, who arrived from London on Monday afternoon, having been sent for at the express wish of the Queen, is still at the Cottage, and he and Dr. Reid, from Osborne House, are acting together in the treat- ment of the patient. Sir Henry Ponsonby had not up to the time of his seizure complained of ill-health, but it had been noticed for some days previously that he did not appear as well as usual. During the day Sir Henry Ponsonby showed further marks of improvement and was conscious. He is suffering from an attack of paralysis, which s of a comparatively light character.

TO-DAY'S WEATHER 4.30 A.M. "TO-DAY'S FORECAST I FOR ENGLAND, S.W., AND SOUTh. WALES. South-westerly or southerly ^»inas becoming prevalent grad- ually, with milder weather. atol""RAT- --Probably fog or frost westt>»i'n stations, and south- lone wfn.win.(ls W>'I follow before mild weather.

GENERAL FORECASTS. The fOlloWInf. irecasts werepreparea 1Mb night I GENERAL FORECASTS. at the Me ogIoal oœce DISTRICTS— 0. winds, < » some rain. 1. Scotland, very cold 1. Scotland, very cold 5 Eng. S. (Lan. j sib]y m\]^ev iaterfgy 1X53 and Channel. 6. Scotland, W Same as No. 0. 7. Engl. N. W. South-westerly or southerly «V North Wale. | winds, becoming prevalent 3. Ireland, N. f gradually, with milder 1?. Ireland, S.J weather.

RUPTURE.—J. A. Sherman, Hernia Specialist. If you wish to cured, send for his book, post free 7d.—J. A. Sherman, 19, Mount-street (opposite Central Station). Manchm&er. ^676 7d.—J. A. Sherman, 19, Mount-street (opposite Central I Station). Manchm&er.

THE ARMENIAN ATROCITIES. a TURKISH "JUSTICE" FOR THE UNFORTUNATES. ALLEGED MURDER OF A MUSSULMAN. 24 ARMENIANS SENTENCED TO DEATH. A BISHOP GETS THREE YEARS' IMPRISONMENT. ATTITUDE OF THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT. VIENNA, Tuesday.—Advices from Erzinghian, received here by way of Constantinople, give an accaunt of a trial of Armenians which took place before the Criminal Court at that place, on December 15th. The prisoners were 58 in number. Twenty-four of them were sentenced to death, five to hard labour for life, and the re- mainder to terms varying from three to six years' hard labour. Fifteen were condemned for poli- tical offences. Tito.,e upon whom the death sentence was passed moluded 16 men who were charged with being concerned in the murder of a Mussulman, at an Armenian village in the district of Kemach. Soma of the alleged murderers produced pass- ports proving that they were in Constantinople at the time the Mussulman was. killed, but they were condemned to death nevertheless. The capital sentence was passed among others on a well-known Armenian litterateur, while Bishop Vartam, of Kamach, was sentenced to three years' hard labour. In a further despatch from Constantinople it is stated that the Sultan recently sent officers of high rank to the Governors of the Turkish Asiatic provinces, with special instructions to the Governors to show a more benevolent attitude towards the Armenian population. On Sunday last, while Monsignor Azarian, the Patriarch, was celebrating Christmas mas3 in the Armeno-Catholic Cathedral at Pera, a body of police suddenly appeared at the inner doors. It is not clear for what purpose fhey were sent, but a large number of worshippers, believing that some trouble was impending, hastily left the building and returned to their homes. An Armenian fireman atiaehed to the Yildiz Palace, who lately returned to Constantinople after visit- ing his own home in Bitlis, has been sent to prison for a fortnight for having described the state of affairs in his country to some of his com- patriot- -Reuter. ATTITUDE OF THE TURKISH GOVERN MENT. CONSTANTINOPLE. Tuesday.—In regard to thp question of Armenian reforms, it is pointed out in officialfquarters that theOttoman Government will contmue to adopt such measures as it may deem expedient in the interests of the people without distinction of race or religion. -Reuter.

WINTRY WEATHER. I MORE SEVERE SNOWSTORMS. I SKATING FATALITIES. ArthurjHughes, aged four, of Fenton, Stafford- shire, returning from school on Monday, ventured upon some ice on a pool, and was drowned. I An inquest was held on Tuesday at Garston, near Liverpool, on the body of Mary Shirt, aged 14, who was drowned while sliding on a pond in the I neighbourhood. The pond is ten feet deep, and had only an inch of ice, which broke, the decased, with severa companions, being immersed. A man who was skating went to their assistance and bad \1 a narrow escape of being drowned. Ultimately all were rescued except deceased by men with ropes. Verdict, Accidentally drowned." On Tuesday afternoon a boy named Hunt, 14, was sliding on a pond in a brickyard at Alder- shot when the ice gave way and the boy was drowned. The cold in West Scotland continues to be intense. The district beyond Rannock is de- scribed as a mass of snow. The train service on the Highland Railway system was on Tuesday night in full working order, with the exception of a block on the Caithness line. The weather was clear and frosty. The postal telegraph authori. ties on Tuesday cancelled Monday's notices referring to the North of Scotland, but state that communication with Orkney Islands and Kirk- wall is stIll interrupted. HOUSE WRECKED BY LIGHTNING. A severe snowstorm prevailed in West Durham on Tuesday. The Consett and Darlington branch of the North-Eastern Railway is blocked by drifts on the line. A heavy storm of hail occurred at Seaham Harbour on Tuesday, in the course of which there was a most vivid flash of lightning, accompanied by an unusually loud report of thunder. The lightning wrecked a house and set it on fire, and many people in the town rushed from their bouses in alarm, thinking an earth- quake had occurred. For a time the atmosphere was very dark, but when the storm had passed the weather became bright. There was a heavy fall of snow in Dublin on Tuesday, and the streets in some places were overed to a depth of several inches. Vehicular traffic was impeded, and the storm threatened to continue. MOONLIGHT SKATING AT NEWPORT The meadows at the side of the Monmouthshire Canal, near Newport, which have been flooded to a depth of a few inches, were resorted to on Monday and Tuesday nights by large com- panies of skaters, who kept up the healthy pastime until after midnight, to the light of "Cynthia, goddess chaste and fair," as the poet calls the moon. Should the frost hold there seems every probability that the tenant farmerwho holds these level meadows will, as be did a year or two ago, net a sufficient number of sixpences to pay the rent. GREAT SNOWSTORM IN SPAIN. MADRID, Tuesday.—There has been a heavy and continuous fall of snow throughout Spain during the past two days. A high wind has caused much drifting, and very few of the ex- posed roads are open for traffic. The trains on the railways in the North of Spain are nearly all stopped. -Central Newt. THE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIP. The frost in the Fen district continues, and there was much skating on Tuesday. It is now regarded as certain that the race for the Littleport Cup, value 50 guineas, and money prizes amounting to 25 guineas, will be held on the Littleport Skating Ground on Wednesday. James Smart, Henrick Lindahl, the Norwegian and last year's winner, and Fred Ward were having some good practice on Tuesday on the course, and an exciting race is expected.

EXPLOSION OF DYNAMITE. TELEGRAPH STATION WRECKED. BILBAO, Tuesday Morning.-A terrific explo- sion of dynamite occurred last night at the telegraph station at Sestao, near this city. Tho damage caused was very great, but it is not yet known whether there was any loss of life, all the telegraph wires having been destroyed by the ONPIOSIOD. -Central News.

MURDERS BY AFRICAN NATIVES. PUNITIVE EXPEDITION. I CAPE TOWN, Tuesday.—An Imperial Commis. sion has been appointed to inquire into the recent murders of Englishmen and Germans by the natives of Ngamiland. The Commission, with a small escort, will proceed to the scene of the murders to take evidence. A strenuous effort is to be made to discover the guilty parties. -Central News.

THE AMERICA CUP. LORD DUN RAVEN'S CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. NEw YORK, Tuesday. -Lord Dunraven's chal- lenge for the America Cup has been finally ac. cepted. The following telegram was despatched to-day by Mr Smith, chairman of the cup com- mittee of the New York Yacht Club, to Mr R. Grant, secretary of the Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes" Terms of challenge as modified by your cable of 7th accepted. "-Bcuter.

INDIGKSTION and Dyspepsia frequently assert their maliguant influence upon us the moment the festive season is waning. Sufferers may be instantly festive season is waning. Sufferers may be instantly cured with one box of "Digene" Powders. All Chemists sell ill em, 2s 9d per box. 1109 THic THIRD V OLUHE" is a first-class sensa- I tional story, wholesome, thrilling, and full of move- ment, by Fergus Hume. The opening chapters appeared in the Cardiff Times and South Wellt.. Weekly, New. of Saturday, Janaa.- 5th,

SPEECH BY A JAPANESE MINISTER. COREA'S INDEPENDENCE PROCLAIMED. FIGHTING IN MANCHURIA. A TOWN BURNT DOWN TEN THOUSAND PERSONS HOMELESS. JAPANESE EXCESSES AT PORT ARTHUR. ASTOUNDING ALLEGATIONS. TOKIO, Tuesday Evening.-Ab to-day's sitting of the Lower House of the Japanese Parliament, Count Ito, the Prime Minister, delivered an important speech. He said at the out- set that all matters relating to the prosecution of the war and to the relations between Japan and foreign powers were clearly set forth in the recent Imperial speech from the Throne, and therefore it was unnecessary for him to enter into them. In fact further details could not be communicated to Parliament without injury to the national interests, and therefore they must be withheld. The repeated victories of the Japanese forcesa on land and sea were to be attributed to the devoted loyalty and bravery of the officers and men of the Army and Navy, supported by a unanimous nation as represented in the two Houses of Parliament. For himself he deeply appreciated the honour of being Prime Ministgp of Japan in that important period of &air beloved country's history. He would use his utmost endeavours to dis- charge the duties required of him by the Emperor and by the people of Japan. The advanced state of the country, continued the Premier, required that various measures of reform should be passed but taking into consideration all the circumstances of the situation, it had been decided. subject to the approval of the House, that only the necessary measures for carrying on the war, the ordinary Budget, and a few othpr measures that might fairly be considered urgent would be submitted now. At the conclusion of the war, the Government would submit several um, ful measures to Parliament. In conclusion, th« Prime Minister expressed the hope that the views of the House would coincide with ;those of the Government, and that hon. members would proceed with public business without delay. The House listened to Count Ito's speech with the closest attention and the utmost respect, and at its conclusion immediately adjoumed.-C&Vral News. PROCLAMATION OF COREAN INDE- PENDENCE. SEOUL, Tuesday—Thft independence of Corea was solemnly proclaimed here to-day. In the forenoon the King, at the head of an imposing procession ot civil anO military dignitaries, officers, the Royal Household, and Ministers, proceeded to the sacred temple of his ancestors, and there declared that henceforth Corea would be dependent upon no other country. The ceremony was extremely striking. It was noticed that the Corean soldiers of his Majesty's escort wore uniforms fashioned on the modem Japanese style. The Ministers Boknyeiks and Yokohan were specially guarded by Japanese policemen, but the streets were entirely kept by the men of the newly-formed native Corean police, and they did their work well. On Tuesday a Royal decree was issued appointing Lishunyon, grandson of the famous warrior patriot, Taiwonkun, to be Corean Minister to the Imperial Japanese Court. He will leave for Japan at an early date. Everything is now going on smoothly here, and the Coreans seem quite reconciled to the presence of tbt Japanese and disposed to follow their advice.— Central News.

FIGHTING IN MANCHURIA. A TOWN BURNT DOWN. SHANGHAI, Tuesday. A correspondent at Neuchwang sends some further- and interesting particulars respecting the fighting in Manchuria. During the last three weeks in December the Chinese made repeated and gallant stands against the Japanese invaders, but in each instance they were out-fought and out-generalled. The superiority of the Japanese artillery was in itself sufficient to turn the scales in their favour. The guns wrought havoc in every engagement. The capture of Soumenchano by the Japanese about the 20th ult. was a brilliant affair, and it is said that both sides showed finefighting quali- ties. Before delivering the final assault which put the Chinese to headlong flight, the Japanese Artillery rained shell upon the place, and finally set it on fire. The flames spread with amazing rapidity, and the entire town was soon destroyed. Ten thousand inoffensive persons were thus rendered homelpss, and they have since endured terrible sufferings from lack of food -and the intense cold, which has lately averaged 40 degrees below freezing point. It seems that General Sung has been caught in a trap by the superior strategy of his opponents. He cannot now retreat upon his base at Henchwang, and he cannot hope to break through the cordon formed by the first and second Jap armies, which are now closing in upon him. My correspondent adds that the Taotai of Henchwang is preparing to offer a stout resistance to the Japanese. Re has been informed from Pekin that should he run away from his post he will be degraded and put to death.-Central News. THE TONGHAK REBELS. TOKIO, Tuesday Morning.—A despatch from Frisain states that the inhabitants of Kowyoken, irritated at the disturbances caused by the Tong- hak rebels, recently seized three of the principal leaders of the movement. They were imme. diately executed. The Oorean soldiers enlisted and drilled by the Japanese are steadily pursuing the Tonghaks. The rebels have Become dis- heartened at the deaths of their leaders, and are dispersing in all directions. There is no important news from the front.-Central News. JAPANESE EXCESSES AT PORT ARTHUR. ASTOUNDING ALLEGATIONS. The Times special correspondent at Kobe, writing under date of December 3rd, gives some further thrilling descriptions of the atrooious inhumanities at Port Arthur. Here are some extracts: A troop of Japanese-cavalry, with an officer, was at the head of the oreek, firing down seaward, slaughtering all within range. An old man and two children, of ten or twelve years, had started to wade across the creek; a horseman rode into the water and slashed them a dozen times with his sword. A poor wretch rushed out at the back of a bouse as the invaders entered the front door firing promiscuously. He got into a back lane, and a moment later found himself cornered between two fires. We could hear his cry for quarter as he bowed his head in the dust three times the third time he rose no more, but fell on his side, bent double in the posture of petition for the greatly-vaunted mercy of the Japanese, who stood ten paces off and exultantly emptied their guns into him. More of these piteous deaths we saw, unable to stay the hand of the murderers more and more, far more than one can relate, until, sick and saddened beyond the power of words to tell, we slowly made our way in the gathering gloom down the hill, pickinga path through rifle-pits thick with Chinese cartridge cases, and back to head- quarters. There, at the Chinese General's pavilion, facing the spacious parade ground, Field Marshal Oyama and all his officers assembled, amid the strains of strange music from the military band, now a weird charac. teristio Japanese march, now a lively French waltz, and ending with the impressive national anthem, 'Kaminoga,' and a huge roar from 20,000 throats, 'Banzai Nippon All were overflowing with enthusiastic patriotism and the delight of a day's work done, a splendid triumph after a hard-fought fight none of the Japanese dreamed that their gueats from the West were filled with horror, indigna. tion, and disgust. It was a relief to get away from that flood of fiendish exultation, to escape from the effusive glee of our former friends, who would overwhelm us with their attentions which we loathed like caresses from the ghouls of hell. To have to remain among men who could do what we had seen was little short of torture."

In Florence the Salvation Army has pitched it3 camp in the Palazzo Rmuccini in the Via de Seiragli, once belonging to the Medici. The city authorities encourage its work. The reading of romances is-forbidden by the Koran hence popular tales are never put in writing among Mohammedans, but are passed from one story-teller to another.

SAD END OF A CATHOLIC PRIEST. REMOVED FROM OFFICE FOR INTEMPERANCE. FOUND DEAD IN A CHESTER HOTEL. PAINFUL STORY OF WEAK- NESS. An inquesb was held at Chester on Tuesday on the body of Richard Hefferman, Roman Catholic priest, who was found dead in his bedroom at the Albion Hotel, Chester, on the previous day. George Lewis, billiard-marker, said deceased had been at the hotel about three weeks. One night he assisted deceased to bed intoxicated. Detective Crewe said he was called to the hotel, and found deceased dead in the bedroom. The deceased's head was resting between his two hands on the bed. He had been dead some time. There was blood on an upturned stool, while the bed was saturated with blood. WItness found the following letter upon deceased I St. Peter's, Stalybridge, November 28. My dear brother Hefforman,-I have duly considered your letter, dated Wilmslow, Novem- ber 23rd, and received by me November 24tb, which purports to be an answer to certain charges formally made against you so far back a9 last August. I have carefully weighed the charges and your answer, and I find, from independent testimony from several quarters, that the charges are true, and this especially with re- gard to your taking too much drink, and on this point I have to remind you that you hava broken your promise you made when you were allowed to resume your duty in the diocese. You were then warned that any offenco of that kind would necessitate your leaving the diocese. In August I withdrew your faculties a short time. Yet you tJ&" not profited by that warning, but have on several occasions since then taken too much driuk--)t,o) no later- than November 6th, the conference day. Thern ;n also 'h« scandal of your neglecting to attend a funeral on September 29th. I have mor* than sufficient evidence 011 all these points, and I altogether disbelieve your assertion of complete innocence. There is now no other alternative for you but to leave the diocese. I shall proceed to appoint another priest to the charge of the mission of Wilmslow by Friday, December 7th next.—I am, yours faithfully, JOHN CABROLL, Coadjutor Bishop." Witness also produced deceased's bank-book, showing him to be in possession of over £ 300—Dr. Harrison gave it as his opinion tbf1 death was due to concus-ion of the brain, resulting from a lacerated wounrl -m the back of his head extending to the bone. D'Kjeased also had a black eye, and was much bruised about the body. The wound on the head might have been caused by a fall.—Mr Hayton, manager of the hotel, said he had never seen deceased the worse for drink. He had the black eye a day or so before his death. His wife and some of the waitresses heard a fall about six o'clock on Monday morning.—The jury returned a verdict of Death from concussion of the brain," adding that there was no evidence to ,1> how the injuries was caused.

ALLEGED SCUTTLING OF A BRITISH SHIP. CARDIFF-LADEN WITH PATENT FUEL. A SCANDALOUS STORY. A scandalous story as to the alleged scuttling of the barque Mysterious Star, owned in Belfast and hailing from Liverpool, has appeared in a number of American and Canadian newspapers. Ths- Mysterious Star, bound from Cardiff to South America with a cargo of patent fuel, became leaky in the Atlantic, and was abandoned on the 22nd October last in lat. 17*25 N., long. 26'46 W., Rome 90 miles from Cape de Verde Islands. The American whaler Petrel, Captain Reid, chanced to be in the vicinity, and Captain Reid wrote to his wife giving a version of the matter, which, finding its way into the American Press with added embellish- ments from the pens of American journalists, made an extraordinary assertion. This was that the crew of the Mysterious Star having been seen to leave the ve-sel and pull away in a direction opposite to the Petrel, a boat's crew from the latter vessel was sent: aboard, and "heard the water running into the hold." Upon this the accusation of scuttling was made. The story having made its way to the Board of Trade and also to the underwriters, the matter was fully inquired into at the official investigation as to the loss of the ship, and the court acquitted both master and chief officer of any default. The owner denounces as a downright lie 11 the state- ment of the American captain, quotes the amount expended on the vessel to enable her to pass recent surveys of Lloyd's and the Board of Trade, and pertinently asks why Capt. Reid, if he really suspected scuttling, did not take measures to find the source of the leak and stop it, or at all events endeavour to navigate the abandoned vessel to Cape de Verdee and secure the salvage.

NEW RULES OF THE ROAD AT SEA. STRENUOUS PROTEST. At Liverpool on Tuesday, an important and representative gathering, convened by the Liverpool Mercantile Marine Service Association, of Liverpool shipowner and merchants to protest against the proposed new rules of the road at sea took place. The Lord Mayor presided, and pointed out that the new rules were objected to by the entire voice of their marine service. They held that instead of diminish- ing risk at sea they would inorease it.—Mr Nevill. M.P., moved that, In the opinion of this meeting revised regulations for preventing collisions at sea, as proposed by the Board of Trade, are seriously objectionable, and that the sound signals, particularly those to be used in fog, are so complex as to be confusing, misleading, and unreliable, and such as will, if adopted, imperil life and property at sea." Mr Nevill said he would do everything possible to further the objects of the meeting in Parliament. —In seconding the resolution, Mr Gibson Bowles said the dangers sought to be imposed were so great that they dare not remain silent, as the matter concerned the lives of a quarter of a million of British seamen, besides passengers and property. The only way to get a good rule was to go to sea itself and adopt the practice sailors had to follow, because it was the best practice. Any other rule must lead to mistakes and disaster.—The resolution was carried, as also another urging that the rule as to screening ships' sidelights should be revoked forthwith.—The meeting further protested' against legislation by Orders in Council on these important matters, and decided to bring the whole subject before Parlia- ment.—The Lord Mayor will send the resolutions to the Premier and the President of the Board of Trade.

IMPORTANT POINT OF SHIPPING LAW. CASE AGAINST A LOCAL OWNER. An important shipping case was decided at Exeter County-court on Tuesday. Mr J. Mills, of Milford Haven, owner of the Bertie Mills, was sutd by four of the crew for wages. Owing to a dispute, the captain left these four men behind at Exeter, whereupon they applied to the Admiralty Court and had the vessel arrested at the end of the Exeter Canal. On behalf of the owner, application was made to strike out the summons on the ground that under theMerohant Shipping Act, 1894, which came into operation on the 1st inst., no vessel could be arrested unless the owner or captain was more than 20 miles away.—The Judge upheld this view of the Act, and dismissed the summonses, at the same time expressing his belief that this part of the new Act was likely to inflict great hardship in certain cases.

FOUND WITH THEIR THROATS CUT. A WARWICKSHIRE MYSTERY. A policeman hearing groans in a field at Sparkhill, near Birmingham, went to the spob and found a man and girl with their throats cut. The girl was dead, and the man died shortly after being found. The bodies have been identified as those of Edwin Birch, an ivon-plate worker, of Birmingham, and his step; daughter, Carrie Jones, aged 18. It was known that Birch was extremely fond of the girl, and it is now feared that improper intimaoy existed between them, although no such suspicion was entertained by the man's wife. There were no signs of a struggle on the ground.

An expedition to the South Pole will soon be sent out from Belgium. Muuday's Liver Pills ;act direct, upon tlip Liver they contain no mercury,are suitable for all agei and climates, and without doubt are the best pill for biliousness, liver complaints, and indigestion. Sold in boxes Is, 2s 6d, and 4s 6d, post free, by the proprietor, T Munday, Chemist-. 1. Kish-streefc, Cardiff 1202 l

NATIONAL LIBERAL FEDERATION. LORD ROSEBERY'S FORTHCOMING VISIT. GREAT PREPARATIONS FOR HIS RECEPTION. SUGGESTED PUBLIC HOLIDAY. PROPOSED GREAT TORCHLIGHT PROCESSION. CARDIFF WARD MEETINGS. With regard to the free ticket arrangements for the Cardiff and South Wales district, on the occa- sion of the annual meetings of the National Liberal Federation, we would direct the attention of our readers to the fact that these are entirely in the hands of Mr R, N. Hall, secretary of the Cardiff Liberal Association, and also of the South Wales Liberal Federation. The tickets are being distributed in a most systematic manner ind no favouriteism or preference of selection is being shown. Tickets admitting to the south gallery of the great pavilion on the occasion of the monster meeting will be sent to each member of the Cardiff Liberal Thousand. In the case of some of the wards the tickets will be forwarded direct from the central offices of the Association. 53, Queen-street, and in other cases they will be distributed to the members by the ward secre- taries. But no tickets will be issued to these local secretaries until the morning of Friday in the presnt week. Respecting the area of the ground floor of the pavilion a hundred tickets will be sant from the central offices to each ward secretary in Cardiff for distribution among local Liberals who may not be mewbers of the Liberal Thousand, but who, in the discretion of the ward secretary, should receive this considera- tion. Each member of the Liberal Thousand will receive a ticket for the reception to be given by Mr Robert Bird, J.P., chairman of the Cardiff Liberal Association, and Mr D. A, Thomas, M.P., president of the South Wales Liberal Federation, on Thursday, the 17th inst., in honour of the delegates attending the conference. Each secretary of a constituency association outside the limits of the borough of Cardiff will receive a certain number of tickets for the reception for distribution among the prominent members of the party in his own immediate district, as also a certain number of tickets for the area, or arena, as it is also called. Holders of these tickets will enter the market at Canton by the gates in Market-lane, and will gain admission to the building by the door marked N. The doors wi!l be thft)wn open at 6.15 p.m.. and no admission can be obtained with the free tickets for the area after 6.45 p ir., when the door will be closed. THE DEMAND FOR TICKETS, There is An immense run on the tickets for the various parts of the hall, and those who intend to be present on the occasion of the Prime Minister making the declaration of the official programme for the ensuing Session, should not allow their chances of hearing the speech to depend upon the possibility of their being able t.() secure free tickets. At the rate at which tickets are now being disposed of the whole of the available accommodation will be taken up well before the date fixed for the holding of the meeting. Persons wishing to ob ain tickets must make application, accompanied by cheques or remittances, to Mr F. Barter, 53, Queen-street, Cardiff. CARDIFF WARD MEETINGS. The arrangements for the ward meetings to be held in Cardiff on Wednesday, the 16th inst., have been completed, except in so far as one or two minor details aie concerned. We append the list of places of meeting and the speakers who will attend at each CENTRAL W AItD. Meeting in Gladstone-hall, Working Men's Club, Wyndham-arcade :—Speakers Mr W. Rees Davies. M.P., private secretary to Sir William Harcourt, M.P., and Mr Richard Winfrey, Liberal candidate for the Spalding Division of Lincolnshire. SFLOTT WARD. Meeting in Splott-road Board Schools:— Speakers-Mr D. Brynmor Jones, Q.O., MP., and Mr Beaumont Morice, Liberal candidate for the Wells Divieion of Somerset. PARK WABD. Meeting in the Albany-road Board School:— Speakers—Mr Alpheus Cleophas Morton, MP., and Mr E. R. Spiers, Liboral candidate. BIVEHSIDB AND OANTON WARDS. Meeting in the Severn-road Board School:- Speakers-Mr Egerton Allen, M.P., and Professor Massie, Oxford University. SOUTH WARD. Meeting in South Church-street Board Seliool:- Speakers—Dr. Joseph Ewart, Mayor of Brighton, and Mr J. Forster, Liberal candidate for St. Helen's. CATHAYS WABD. Meeting in the Crwys-road Board School:— Speakers—Mr A. W. Soames, Liberal candidate for Ipswich, And Mr F. G. Barnes, Liberal candidate for Southampton. GBANGRTOWN WARD. A meeting will probably be held in the South Grangetown Board School, when the speakers are expected to be Mr McKenna, Liberal candidate for North Monmouthshire, and Mr Liefchild Jones.! PROCESSION AFTER THE MEETING. As we have already announced, it is intended to hold a monstre procession immediately after the great meeting at the Canton pavilion, and ail Liberals who are present at that gathering are requested to to form themselves in processional order outside the building. From past experi- ences it has been found that a Cardiff gathering knows almost intuitively how to organise itself in marching order. Considering the magnitude of the assemblage expected to be present anything like prolonged or careful marshalling will be out of the question, and therefore the committee rely upon the efforts of the crowd to get themselves into line for the purpose of escorting the Prime Minister from the pavilion to the residence of Mr Robert Bird, J.P., Ellerslie, Newport-road. The arrangements being made by the stewards' com- mittee, of which Mr Councillor James Munn is chairman, while Mr Lloyd Meynck is honorary secretary, are on a most complete and elaborate scale. The two gentlemen named will have the absolute control of the great meeting on the Friday so far as the rega,ating of the public according to their tickets and the general main- tenance of order are concerned. There are to be 266 stewards at the monstre demonstration, besides 16 paid men and about 32 constables, who will be stationed at the various doors. There will be no police in the body of the hall. In compliance with a generally-expressed desire on the part of many people in Cardiff and else- where to be permitted to hear the speeches at the council meetings to be held in the Park-hall on the Thursday and Friday, the committee of the Federation have decided to issue a limited number of spectators' tickets, which will admit to the orchestra of the hall. The ticket may be purchased at the temporary offices of the Federa- tion, 53, Queen-street, Cardiff. The price of the tickets is 2s 6d each, and they are available for the two days' conference. THE PAVILION. All the details in connection with the erection of the pavilion have been very carefully worked out, and with a continuance of the present fine weather the contractors hope to be in a position to hand over the structure to the decorators by Monday next. It is desirable that we should once more impress upon the public the necessity for at once securing their tickets if they intend being present at the meeting of the 18th. Applications for tickets poured in all day on Monday and severely taxed the energies of the local officials. Those wishing to obtain reserved and numbered seats should forward their applications at once. Otherwise they are not unlikely to be dis. appointed. MEETING OF THE STEWARDS' COMMITTEE. A meeting of the stewards' committee was held on Tuesday evening, under the presidency of Mr Councillor Munn. The question of organising & torchlight procession after the great meeting was under discussion, and it was resolved that the Prime Minister be escorted amid a monstre parade to the residence of his host. It was understood that members of the Liberal Thousand would head the procession, and as many torches and coloured lights as possible would be carried en route, It was also reported that coloured fire would be freely displayed from many of the houses of good and earnest Liberals along the line of march. Illuminated vehicles are to figure in the cavalcade. It transpired that the Head Constable, Mr W. Mackenzie, was affording every cifficial facility for the carrying cut of the procession so far as the police depart- ment is concerned, and that he was doing every- thing necessary in the interests of public order. SUGGESTED PUBLIC HOLIDAY. A point to which it is desirable that prominence should be given is the suggestion that Friday, the 18th, should be regarded in Cardiff as a public half-holiday. Several employers of labour have pointed out that a large number of the working men of the district are anxious to witness the entrv cf the Prime Minister into the town, and also to attend the evening meeting. In order to do this it will be necessary for them to leave work at midday, and, even if they are present at the meeting only, they will have I to reach home early iu the afternoon in order to wash and change, have tea, and get to the hall in good time to ensure standing room only there. good time to ensure standing room only there. In any case, the business portion of the day will 1 have to be broken in upon by all classes, and there will be no appreciable loss if a half-holiday is granted. This plan is stronsrly recommended by the executive committee, and it is one that may commend itself to Liberal employers of labour.

THE PROTECTION OF SEAMEN. LICENSED V. UNLICENSED BOARDING-HOUSES. LAXITY OF THE CARDIFF CORPORATION. During the year just closed public attention has often been directed to the efforts put forth by the Cardiff Social Reform Union towards improving the conditions under which sailors live 'at Cordiff Docks, and it may be remembered that in Augast last an influential deputation-representative of the ministers of religion, the Sailors' Rest, and other institutions for the moral improvement of seafarers—joined with the Social Reform Union in an application to the port sanitary committee of the Cardiff Corporation with a view of in- ducing that body to adopt bye-laws for the better governing of the numerous sailors' board- ing-hotises within their jurisdiction. Several objections were raised to what were termed far too stringent regulations, and a num- ber of boarding-masters in the borough opposed the proposal to prohibit holders of public-house licences and outfitters to carry on the business of lodging sailors. Eventually, the committee de- cided to have drafted a code of bye-laws, under which all such houses will have to bo registered and the keepers licensed. From that time to this—four months since— nothing appears to have been done," said Mr Donald Maclean to one of our representatives, who happened to meet him yesterday. Well," replied the reporter, who knew the Docks' solicitor to have taken a prominent part in the movement, what do you propose doing to hurry them up ? You are a lawyer. Is there any- thing that could have hindered the drafting of the laws f' Nothing that I can think of. The model bye-laws now enforced at Barry could have been agreed to en bloc, but for the matter of that those who desire to see an improvement in the morality at the Docks would be pleased if the corporation did what is necessary to carry into effect the bye- laws already drawn up. This question is by no means a new one at Cardiff. In 1891 the corpora- tion decided on a set of bye-laws for the better government of boarding-houses, and they were approved by the Local Government Board, but they have always bt-on inoperative." Why was this ?"—" They were allowed to remain permissive they COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MADE COMPULSORY J without the consent of the Queen in Council. "Is that a costly process, Mr Maclean ?"— No, quite the reverse, it is a simple, in. expensive, and not cumbrous procedure, but any local bye-laws of this kind are absolutely useless, unless such an order is secured. The whole question hinges on section 214 of the Merchant Shipping Act—this is an Act of 748 sections, and, by the way, it is the longest attempt at legislative codification ever carried out in our laws. Well, this section has to do with • the preventing of persons not duly licensed holding themselves out' as keeping, or purport- ing to keep, licensed houses.' The section, you see, applies solely to people holding themselves out as being licensed, and in the whole of Cardiff you will not see a case of a keeper of a boarding- house calling himself, by a sign or in any other way, a licensed boarding-house master. Unless they assert themselves to be licensed, they are free from restrictions. Now, ihc Legislature by way of providing a remedy or allowing a local authority to enforce bye-laws provides in sub- section 5 of section 214, as follows :—' Whenever her Majesty in Council orders that in any district, or any part thereof, none but persons duly licensed in pursuance of bye-laws under this section shall keep seamen's lodging-houses or let lodgings to seamen from the date therein named, the person acting in contravention of that order shall for each offence be liable to", a fine not exceeding It appears only a technical point, but this point; has, so far as I am aware, never been raised at the corporation meetings. It was urged against making these laws com- pulsory that many sea-going officers made it a practice to put up at hotels, and that it was absurd to talk of licensing already licensed houses —I mean houses under police supervision." Yes, that was so. The DEFINITION OF SAILOR WAS ASKED FOR. Here it is in the Aot A seaman includes every person except masters, pilots, and apprentices.' Officers not holding masters' certificates come under the head seaman, but surely there is no difficulty, and there certainly would be no disgrace if hotel-keepers, whether licensed victuallers or not. applied for licenses to board seamen. The licence would cost but a nominal sum, and any objection to it is purely a senti- mental one." Do you believe the making ooinpuisory of the proposed bye-laws would have a beneficial result "no th Qo Q j In, v Yes, and to the community generally. This has already been proved, so I am informed on good authority at Barry. I echo the hope of all engaged in religious work at the Ducks that the corporation will at, once proceed with the matter, and make application for the necessary order of the Queen in Council." It will be seen that Mr Maclean did not touch on the subject of crimping, but this will be dealt with in a subsequent edition in the form of an interview with a gentleman who has an expert knowledge of the subject.

LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL, TEMPORARY IMPROVEMENT MAINTAINED. Doctors Roose and Keitti informed a Press Association reporter on Tuesday that the tempo- rary improvement in Lord Randolph Churchill's condition was maintained. His condition under- went no variation during the day. The patient is still able to sleep well and to take a fair amount of nourishment.

RAILWAY FATALITY NEAR ABERGAVENNY. A dreadful fatality occurred on Mondny even- ing at the level crossing near Penpergwm railway station, near Abergavenny. Mr Geo. Hughes, Penpergwm House, farmer, aged about 68 years, was in the act of crossing the line at that point, when he was knocked down by the express train from Pontypool Road to Hereford, and literally cut to pieces.

SHOCKING RAILWAY ACCIDENT AT PENPEKGWM. A FARMER TERRIBLY MUTILATED. As Mr George Hughes, of Penpergwm Farm, was crossing the line at Penpergwm Station on Monday evening, about half-past five, he waa knocked down by the northern express train and out to pieces. -n

DESTRUCTION OF THE HULL FISHING FLEET. FUND FOR THE RELIEF OF SUFFERERS. On Tuesday a meeting of Hull smackowners and others engaged in the fishing trade was held at Hull, for the purpose of establishing a relief fund for the widows and orphans of fishermen who lost their lives in the late gales. It was said that 105 lives had been lost.

BIRR MILITIA SCANDAL. VERDICT. The civil action brought by Kathleen O'Donovan and Annie Desmond against Lieut. Saunders, in connection with the Birr Militia scandal, wa3 disposed of on Tuesday evening at Nenagh. The case occupied considerable time, and in the result the jury returned a verdict for the defendant.

EVESHAM ELECTION. ISSUE OF THE WRIT. The writ for the election of a member of Parlia- ment for Evesham Division was received on Tues- day, and the nomination is fixed for Saturday next, and the polling for Friday, the 18th inst. The votes will be counted on the 19th.

In 1861 the French Govbrnment ordered several lighthouse.1? to be lighted by electric light. Gas lamp# were introduced in the Paris streets in 1819. Their employment caused no little remark among the country people, who got an idea that there was some magic about the matter. •

NEWS IN BRIEF. There are 13 George-streets and 13 Charies- street in London. The cholera epidemic in Argentina is now declared to be at an end. Snow has fallen heavily over the South of France and the northern provinces of Spain. It has been decided that the International Medical Congress shall meet at Moscow in 1897. The sound of a bell which can be heard 45.200ft. through the water can be heard through the air only 456ft. The sum of 670,000 marks has been raised to- wards the construction of a fixed bri ge across the Rhine at Boun. The Crown Prince of Siam was only 15 years of age. It is feared that the shock of his son's death will seriously affect the King's health. Mr Arnold Morley, the Postmaster-General, has arrived ab Monte Carlo. Mr Henniker Heaton, MP., is staying in the same hotel. The Parliamentary deadlock in Greece con- tinues, the Opposition, by withdrawing from the Chamber, having made it impossible to form a quorum. M. Ernest Carnot, son of the late President, has, says Reuter, been elected Deputy for Beaune, in the Department of Cote d'Or, by 8,896 votes. We are glad to hear that Mr D'Oyly Carte, though as yet unable to leave his room, is making satisfactory progress towards recovery from his recent severe illness. Mr Herbert Gardner, M.P., Minister of Agri- culture, and Lady Winifred Gardner have left for Paris, where they intend staying until the re-assembling of Parliament. It has now been decided that there are to be so performances in the Wagner Theatre at Bayrenth this year. The Nibelungen Ring will, how- ever, probably be given in 1896. Cardinal Vaughan was stated on Sunday to be wholly recovered from the effects of his recent severe bronchial attack. In a day or two the cardinal will leave London for Rome. In Court circles in RIme it is rumoured that the Emperor of Germany will go to Italy during the last portion of the great manoeuvres that are to take place in the vicinity of Rome. Out of 4,000 workers in the sulphur mines in Sicily who were examined for the army not 200 could pass muster. Does not this stamp the occupation as the most unhealthy known ? Mrs Osmer, widow of the paymaster of the Erebus, who died recently at the age of 85, was the last survivor of the women widowed by the loss of Sir John Franklin's Arctic expedition. The only "Ibsen" play which had much success in London, that entitled The Enemy of the People," seems to have "caught on "with equal grip in Paris, where it is drawing good houses to the Nouveau Theatre. A Russian husband and wife have obtained the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the Berne Uni- versity. The examinations took place in two neighbouring rooms, the examining professors going backwards and forwards from one to the others. A notable record of longevity comes from Tramore, near Wa,terford. Among its residents j're Martin Fitzgerald, aged 107 years; Mrs Kennedy, aged 105 James Maher, aged 101; and Joseph Phelan, who had just completed his century. "Five shillings or three days," said the pre- siding genius at a police-court the other day. Considering that it's the holidays, and will be a saving in food and money, I'll take the days, retorted the prisoner. His nationality is said to be uncertain. Memorial services for the late Robert Louis Stevenson, the novelist, have been held in New York, fit the Carnegie HaH, under the auspices of the Uncut Leaves Society. Many authors and other prominent persons were present, and speeches highly eulogising the deceased novelist were delivered. The Japanese Mikado is a man of great personal magnetism. He is in fine physical con- dition, and is naturally extremely vivacious. His eyes are brilliant, his teeth white and regular, and his smile attractive. He has been a great reader, and is especially well informed regarding French literature. There are large numbers of unemployed in Buda-Pesth, who march through the streets in groups. On Saturday they assembled outside the offices of a workmen's paper. About 50 were arrested and heavily fined, and such as could not pay were sent to gaol. The police intend to prevent all street demonstrations. There is a clause in the Local Option Bill now before the New Zealand House of Representa- tives, it is said, providing that everyone con- victed of being an habitual drunkard shall be photographed at his own expense, and every publican in the district in which he lives supplied with a copy. Won't some of the publicans wauk a big album. The enormous size and structure of the native houses is among the recent surprising discoveries of explorers among the villages- inhabited by numerous warlike tribes scattered along the streams of New Guinea. Houses 300 to 400 feet long aid 100 feet high, among the largest in tbe.world, are reported to be not uncommon. Aerated bread or bread raised by using watel chaiged with carbon dioxide instead of by yeast, was devised by a Scotch physician in 1859, and if said to have been popular in England for a scors of years, although attempts to introduce it intc America blve utterly failed. In London alone (says Invention) 83 stores, with over 1,000 opera. tives, supply it. Dr. Bendix has just reported to the Physiological Society some experiments in which a number of children between one and two yeari old were fed with fresh milk and white bread and others with sterilised milk and bread. The nutritious portion seemed to be extracted by tilt digestive organs from the sterilised milk quite at completely as from the unsterilised. An instrument for detecting the presence 01 escaped gas has been placed on the market, ani is chimed to do its work safely and effectively. It contains an air column, the length of which is measured by the amount of air necessary to produce a musical note of standard pitch, and M the length of the column depends upon tht density of the air, the presence of the gas is owu by a difference in the Bound. m The astonishing and inhuman possibility of building up living animals from parts of ewera- animals has been demonstrated by Dr. C. Born, a German physiologist. The experiments wew made with tadpoles and other larval cf amphi- bians. Each of these was cut in two, and different parts were placed together in variout ways, when some of them united, the hinds more readily than the fore parts. Two hinder parts, each with or without heart, united in 2t hours, the monstrosity living and growingfors week or more. Ladies have all admired the Duchess of xork t pretty little curl in the middle of her forehead, and not a few women have imitated the notion, supposing it to be the mode. It is not fashion. however (says a London paper), but necessity which makes Princess May wear ber hair so When a tiny, toddling child of tender yews, shi one day stumbled and fell, and gashed her in a manner whiel), notwithstanding skilfæ surgical treatment, has left a permanent mark. The cunning way in which her hair is dressed hides the scar from the public gaze. Some statistics have been compiled as to tte number of songs produced in France at tilt various cafe concerts. The figures are oertainlj surprising. Thus the favourite Boulangist song, "En Revenant de la Revue," has had an issue of, 300,000 small copies and 500,000 full music-siM copies. Further, the author has sold 60,000 pianoforte solos of tho same, from which he haf made a profit of 30,000f. No less tha. 160,000 copies of Pere la Victoire haw been sold. Many suggestive figures are cited. We read of certain songs having been sold to th« number of 150,000, 140.000, 100.000, 80,000, fom songs 70,000, two 50,000, four 40,000, and so on It is calculated that the first thousand copies sold cover the expend of publishing, and the greatel number of the popular songs, it is asserted, bring a profit of from 6;000fcs. to 7,000fcs. per annum tel the publisher. Londoners have long been familiar witf Viscount Hinton, the piano-organette grinder. Some years ago he used to have a placard in a prominent position on his organ, stating tha« he was the eldest son of E^rl Poulett, but haC: been disinherited, and was forced to make liii living by turning the handle of the aforesaid organette. Even if he were not disinherited, it is questionable whether he would come int4 the family seat, for it is announced that b4 father, Lord Poulett, has decided to sell his seal of Hinton St. George, Crewkerne, SOMerSO16 Lord Poulett has been married three times. His first wife, daughter of Mr Newman, a pilot, of Landport, was the mother of Lord Hinton, whose career has been a varied one. At one tlInc Ke was a clowa at the Surrey Theatre, and in 1869, at the age of 20, he married Miss Ana Sheppey, a ballet dancer, by whom he has issue. All these are interesting facts, but it is a remark- able thing that in the later editions of some peerages they have been entirely omitted, and the names of none of Lord Poulett's childran are given. After the statement of his marriage his biography cartly ends with the words, and baa issue." Romances of the Peerage," to u»e tb» cant phrase, are becoming more than commw even in these democratic days, and the stwy« 1 "be Ponletts is as interesting as anv.