Evening Express

COAX REVOLT. REBELS SUDDENLY INVADE HAVANNAH PROVINCE. A Central Xews telegram from New York says:—The "New York Herald" on Thursday Published a dispatch from Havannah asserting that the rebels, who were supposed to have been driven back to Santa Clara, suddenly in- vaded the province of Havannah on Tuesday. Marshal Martinez Campos, with reinforce- ments, thereupon departed hurriedly for the front. Foreign correspondents were not allowed to telegraph either of these facts from Havannah. A telegram received at Madrid states that the Cuban insurgents have established the centre of their operations at Guanajay, where they are subjecting defenceless peasants to great oppression.

IN MADAGASCAR. FRENCH NOT THE RULERS THERE YET. A DalzielV telegram from Paris pays -The special correspondent of the "Matin" in Mada- gascar writer from Antananarivo on November 11, bitterly complaining of the attitude the French are compelled 'to assume in the Hova capital. "We are far from acting as con- querors here," he says, "and are more in the position odf prisoners. It is the Hova Govern- ment which commands and we who obey. That Qpcnerafi. Duquetsne shouM tolerate such a. state ings would seem to mean that the situation in Anitunaiiarivo is very precarious, and that lie considers- himself souuewluait ait the mercy of the Hovas." -?--

ABYSSIXIAX PRINCES. THE TWO WHO DISAPPEARED FROM SWITZERLAND. A Reuter's 'telegram from Rome says: — The two Abyssinian princes—Gougea Dargine and Kellaon—who disappeared a few days ago from Switzerland, where they were studying, are said to have embarked at Naples for Abyssinia, with Dr. Traversi, the Italian ex- plorer, who is stated to have been entrusted with a special mission by the Italian Govorn- ment. They are accompanied by the Shcan Afwork. with whom they left Switzerland. It is believed to be the intention of the Govern- ment to employ the young Princes in any negotiations which may be opened with Has Makonnen, with whom Dr. Traversi had close relations when he was in Harrar, where he was also acquainted with Rae Dargine, who is the father of Prince Gougea, and who holds 8. command in the Emperor Menelik's army.

CLIMBED THE ROOF. ESCAPE OF A DANGEROUS CRIMI- NAL AT SHEFFIELD. An extraordinary escape from gaol was effected at Sheffield on Wednesday A man, named' Thomas Shannon, well known as a dangerous and expert burglar, was on Christ- mas Day captured a few hours after committing af a>ni]u' houæbreaking in the neighbourhood or Shetneld. He was confined in the police- station, and on Monday was taken from his cell and looked in a corridor near the roof with another prisoner for the purpose of doing some cleaning. During half an hour in which tbey were left Shannon managed to extempo- rise, a picklock, and forced a heavy padlock which fastened a trap door in the ceiling some eight feet high. He got on the shoulders of his fellow prisoner, who had to remain ebhind. Went through the trap door, and by means of a skylight gained the roof. Passing along a narrow ledge, he dropped some distant on to a wall, passed to the roof of a neighbouring "Otel, and climbed down a waterpipe into the Stteet. Shannon has undergone several terms of penal servitude, and, it is thought, will endeavour to make his way ito Manchester, where many of his crimes have been com- mitted

"BILLIE" FOSTER TO PAY TWO POUNDS FOR GIVING A FISTIC DISPLAY. At Cardiff Police-court on Thursday morn- lng the most serious causes to be dealt with by the magistrates (Mr. Robert Bird and Mr. C. "■ Evans) again proved t-o be charges of com- mitting serious a-ssaulta upon members of the borough police force. William Foster, aged 24. familiarly known as "Billie" Foster, a Well-known figure in local pugilistic circles. 'f>au so far forgotten himself while under the r'F.ence of drink in Court-road on the evening f'» -New Year's Day as to give a practical ex- position of the fistic art with Police-constable Ihoirias Warren. The latter seems hardly to have complied with the Marquess of Queens- *rry's or anybody else's rule of the ring, for J'l.rter was soon caught in a tight embrace by police-constable, who did not let go until r'c had got liig charge safely housed at the station.—Foster, from the dock, pleaded the festive season of the year as an excuse for hie drunken condition, and his drunken condition as an excuse for the assault.-—The Bench im- posed a fine of 40s. and costs, or, in default, (me month's imprisonment, with hard labour. AlfreJ Bailey. aged 44, who came into per- sonal conflict with Police-constable Horace t-ee on New Year's Day, wa! let off with a ;»<ie of 2Cs. and costs, or an alternative term M imprisonment of 21 days.

RIVAL TO BERNHARDT. TEEE WHO HAS HIS COFFIN READY. Madame Surah Bernhardt is no longer the only person who pose««>ees in life the coffin destined to be its owner's last resting-place. A certain Northern peer, who, together with his wife, has Ion# been famous for wea-ksdh eoeen* tricity, recently passed through a rather serious lid' illness, and immediately upon his recovery telegraphed to his upholsterers in the nearest r-unty town for a plain, unpolished oak coffin. The telegruni, which wk sigite.l, and gave the exad dimensions of the required rec?ptac!e, ^used some consternation, and the recipient l't>Plied asking for confirmation. A aecond a id .-peremptory message was dispatched. The ^°nla hits now been, prepared and solemnly delivered at the famous cattle of irs ownei. Sundry obituary notices appeared in the local Rhei«, which the peer found it necessary co °°ntradi.ot by an official announcement that he was in excellent health.

3IA.I0R WYNDHAM-QTJIN, M.P. FORTHCOMING ENGAGEMENTS AT BARRY. Major Wyndham-Quin, M.P., paid a visit tv Barry on Wednesday. On the 22nd of Januarv the hoai. and gallant member wiil a-trte-l1!1 a Masonic {fathering at Cndox'-on; on the following dnv he will be cha.inna.n of a dinner to be held at the Barry Dock Conserva- tive Club and Institute, Barry Docks, ind on the evening of the 23rd :nst. Mao or Quin will Preside over the first annual dinner of the members of the Barry District hranoh of the Army and Navy Veterans' Association.

ADOLF BECK. At Westminster Police-court' on Thursday the Norwegian, Adolf Beck, who bus several time.; been remanded olar^cd with stealing VaJuf, hks from. young woman, was again re- lauded for a week, the prosecution intimating that several ww charges would be mde. -0_

The American newspajtrs now object to Tjord Salisbury because of his grammar. "It M*eins to have generally escaped notice." says one of them, "that Lord Sa.lie.bury, in h'is <li«- IXttohes to Sir Julian Pauncafote, uses the ex- pression, -the United States are.' It may be tha-t ihis was a. slip of the pen. without any wilful intent to deny that the United States ill a nation. Some r-r our own public men a.nd. newspapfcr writers are still found occe- £ OT>alIy using t.he archa-ie phiraJ. form. P»-e?i- Cleveland iuoufelf lined it only a few -Months ago in a public document, and was to task far it. For Lord Salisbury's b-t, it may bs noted that the plural idea practecaliy went out of existence in the United wiien the Confederacy fell; that no- Y,doubUi our lwvti onaiitv, and that tJia patriotic as tiho orth in assertmg of grammaj-, what of the hor- Winj^iuV^T "to have generally

INVASION OF THE TRANSVAAL. Jameson's March on Johannesburg. RE-ASSURING NEWS TO-DAY. Said an Amicable Settlement is Probable. JAMESON AT JOHANNESBURG. Latest Dispatches Tell of the Administrator's Arrival, and Report that Friendly Com- munications Have Passed Between Jameson and Kruger. A Dalz-iel's telegram from Berlin saye :—A dispatch from Pretoria has been received here to the following effect: It is rumoured here that Dr. Jameson reached Johannesburg with- out opposition and that so far no disturbances are known to have occurred. It is also stated that eommumoattion has passed between Dr. Jame-pon and President Kruger of a pacific and' friendly character, and that there is every probability of an amicable settlement being arrived at. A Centra3 News telegram says :—At twelve o'clock on Thursday morning it was affirmed on the Stock Exchange that a cablegram had been received from Johannesburg stating that Dr. Jamieson and his force had arrived in that city. All was well. WAITING NEWS. The Press Association says:—Mr. Chamber- lain arrived at the Colonial Office at eleven o'clock, by which time his private secretaries were already busy. Mr. Fairfield, the head of the Cape Department, though engaged up to midnight, was early ait his post on Thurs- day. He informed the Press Assocation repre- sentative that no further communication could be made to the prees at present, and it is, therefore, assumed that no aewte development of the Transvaal crisis has taken place during the past twelve hours. Inquirers at the private secretaries' department were informed that no pressman could be seen until this after- noon at the earliest, but that there was nothing which could be communicated thus far. There is, of course, the possibility that reas- suring dispatches have been received, for the Press Association is able to state thait Mr. Chaii'lberlain's presemt intension is to leave town early this afternoon for Birmingham. CHARTERED COMPANY TO MEET. The Press Association learns that the British South Africa Company had not up to Thursday received any nowsi regarding Dr. Jameson anjd his column, aand ¡¡heÍY' were entirely in the dark as tto what had happe-ned at Johannesburg-. A special meeting of the directors of the Chartered Company is sum- moned to be held at noon for the purpoee of considering the situation caused by the action of 'their administrator. GOVERNMENT MONOPOLISE WIRES. The Press Association representative, who called at the Eastern Telegraph Company's offices this morning, was informed that the chief cause in the delay of ordinary messages from tthe Transvaal is the fact that the Govern- ment had practically a monopoly of the wires. Long messages have to be sent through in GUNS FROM BIRMINGHAM. In support of previous statementF xmeem- ing- extensive importations of arms from Bir- mingham to Africa, the "Birmingham Daily Mail" on Thursday published additional parti- culars, which leave no room for doubt upon the point. One merchant has stated that during the past yeak he luus shipped 7,000 .Martinn and 700 tons of ammunition, and 5,000 Win- chester rifles and 500 tons of ammunition Fur- ther orders have been stopped by cablegram. EMPEROR WILLIAM. A Central News telegram from Amsterdam 'says -'l'h'J object of the departure on Wed- i.tsda-y evening for Berlin of M. Beelaerts Von Blokland, the Minister for the Transvaal at La Haye, was specially to confer with the Emperor William, who is reported to be taking the greatest personal interest in the development of affairs in the Transvaal. AN ORDER FOR FIFE. The "Times of Africa" stated on Thurs- day morning that it had been informed on unquestionable authority that her Majesty the Queen had communicated with the Duke of Fife peremptorily ordering him to resign him position art director of the British South African Company. CHAMBERLAIN TOO HASTY. M»\ H. Rest;, editor of the "African Critic" newspaper, 'n an interview with a press Asso- ciation. feport&e on Thursday, said he regarded the doouirsof issued on Wednesday night by Mr .Oh&mberJain from the Colonial Office un- fajr. The right, hon. gentleman had con- demned Jameson without having heard any explanation ae to drcumefcances which induced him io e:-o>« the froooie.'T. Mr. Chamberlain was noi justified in assuming that the destruc- tion of ielegraphk: communication was the \0'1: ul Jim&JOII himself. There was equal pv^vnd for ajsumLug it had been done by Boers. M". Hew could not believe that .fam,?i¡o,} bad addressed io ihe Commandant o-C Marieo the letter atferbused to hJim, and he t-o the iviatemeut which he made on Wednesday 'to i.l1e Prcsfi Association, that .l>.rr.es»ou is marching on Jo'lianneiburg- simply to undertake police duciw. A CONFERENCE. The Press Association says:—The Colonial Office states thai, according to telegrams re- ceived on Thursday by that department from the High Commisionec ah Cape Town, 1'0 fighting is reported to have taken place be- tween Dr. Jameson's force and the Transvaal burghers. The Colonial Office is still without knowledge of the exact doings and whereabouts of Dr. Jameson's force, ov whether the orders sent by the Government for his immediate wih- drawal have reached him and been acted upon. Mr. Chamberlain has issued an invitation ro I the directors 0; the British South Africa. Com- pany to meet him at half-past two on Thurs- day at the Colonial Office, for the purpose of conferring upon the situation caused by Dr. I Jameson's action. They will accordingly pro- ceed to the Colonial Office, subseqquent to the board meeting which lias been held at the company's offices. DID JAMESON CUT THE WIRES The Central News says tbnt among South African merchants nd brokers on Thursday morning there is a general feeling of dissatis- faction and indignation at Mr. Chamberlain's oendemntion of Dr. Jameson's etions solely upon the reports, which are bound to have emanted from Transvaal sources. Especially is this the l-asc in regard to the Colonial s»eoret»ry's contortion that Dn. J meson cut s»eoret»ry's contortion that Dn. J meson cut the telegraph wires behind' him. A gentleman, well cquainted with every inch of the ground covered by the Trunk lines rurming through Mfeking to the north and t.hc Transval tele- giaph line through Malmare, which is eigteen miles aoross country from Mafeking, said tt was impossible for Dr- Jameson to have cut the Trnavaal lines, and at the same time for his alleged letter 'to have been received by the Governments If the lines are out, that tatter must be a forgery, for it could not, have been sent to Pretoria and put on the wire in the 'timo that i was tdkeai to reach the Government. It is known that the linea to Mafeking *re- in- tact, and it is hardly conceivable thafe Dr. Jameeon would have stopped to indite a letter when he must have beeu perfectly aware that his action alone was sufficient to justify the Boers. JAMESON AS ADMINISTRATOR. The "Pall Mall Gazette^' says:—We learn on Thursday morning from a usually well- informed source, 'that, on receipt of the invita- fiom Johannesburg, Dr. Jameson resigned his appointment as administrator under the Char- tered Company, and that his men similarly threw up their positions under the company. OFFICIAL STATEMENT BY MR. CHAMBERLAIN. The Press Association says: —Warlike alarms from South Africa have unexpectedly displaced from most minds the seasonable greetings more appropriate to New Year's Day. The excite- ment everywhere prevalent this afternoon was, perhaps, all the more intense because it had suddenly arisen. Although there has for some time been reason to believe that trouble was brewing in the Transvaal, few anticipated that it would so quickly reach an aoute stage. This morning's news, however, left no doubt that we had all at once been brought face to face with a crisis of considerable magni- tude, and anxiety remains as to whether the means promptly taken by the British Govern- ment will be in time effectually to prevent an actual conflict. Universal surprise greeted this morning's news that Dr. Jameson, a well- known officer of the British South Africa Company, had marched into the territory of the Transvaal Republic at the head of a con- siderable force, and was on his way to Johannesburg. As soon as this portentous fact became known to the Government Mr. Chamberlain hurriedly returned to the Colonial Office, and lost no time in taking vigorous action, with a view, if possible, to preserve the peace. The right hon. gentleman was again in close attendance at the Colonial Office to- day, and this evening he authorised the Press Association to make public the following state- ment, which may be taken as representing, not only his own views, but also those of his colleagues in the Government:—Mr. Chamber- lain, having learnt on Monday evening that Dr. Jameson, C.B., was rumoured to have entered the territory of the South African Re- public at the head of an armed force, at once proceeded to London, and has been since then continuously eng-aged, in conjunction with Sir Hercules Robinson, in trying to avert the natural oonsequences of this extraordinary action. He is in friendly communication with the President of the South African Republic, and also wiith the Consul-general of that State. Sir Hercules Robinson has, by proclamation, publicly repudiated Dr. Jameson's act, and lie has been further instructed to publish, through the Pretoria and Johannesburg press, an injunc- tion, in her Majesty's name, to all her subjects residing in the South African Re- public not to aid or countenance Dr. Jameson, and to obey the law and the constituted authorities, and to remain quiet. Messengers have been sent after Dr. Jameson, with orders addressed to him a.nd to every officer under him to retire at once. Her Majesty's agent in the South African Republic (Sir J. A. De Wet) is going forward from Johan- nesburg to -meet Dr. Jameson and his force, and I DR. JAMESON. order them, in the Queen's name, to retire forth- with. It is hoped by these meajis to avert a collision, but the difficulties of the situation are greatly aggravated by the fact of Dr. Jameson having cut the telegraph wires as he advanced. Mr. Chamberlain caused a communication, in suitable terms, to be forwarded to the British South Africa Company, calling on them to repudiate Dr. Jameson's proceedings, of which they have informed Mr. Chamberlain that they were entirely ignorant. Mr. Rhodes has stated that Dr. Jameson acted without hia authority, and as soon as he heard on the Sun- day that Dr. Jameson contemplated entering the South African Republio he at once endea- voured to stop him, but found the wires out. It is stated by Sir J. A. De Wet that the majo- rity of the English in the South African Re- public repudiate Dr. Jameson's action. Dr. Jameson is said to have addressed the following let-ter to the commandant of Maarico, who cau- tioned him to retire beyond the border:- "Sir,—I am in receipt of your protest of the above date, and have to inform you that I intend proceeding with my old plans, which have no hostile intentions against the people of the Transvaal, but we are here in reply to an invitation from the principal residents of the Rand to assist them in their demands for justice and the ordinary rights of every citizen of a civilised State." It appears from this letter that Dr. Jameson was not induced to take this extraordinary step of invading a friendly country in time of peace by fear for women and children or of a native rising, but in order to support a political movement, which, according to the account of those who instigated him, was in thf na,ture of a constitutional agitation for the redress of grievances. If the grounds for such fear had existed, his duty would have been to report to the High Commissioner, and leavo the action to be taken to be decided by that officer. PRESIDENT KRUGKH. A corespondent, who had Frequent. iaierrrews with President Kruger, (reneral Joube-t, ",nd General Smit when they formed ub.e coxiven- tion from the Transvaal bo this country after the Boer War, writes —' 'I remember Kruger, fat and slow, with a face the colour of parch- ment, ami :bis h a-ndr and mouth fvifaia^d with tobacco juice. He was seldom without a very strong cigar in -his mouth. H* had! a most un- tidy apjiearance, and thoughi nothing of '.re- strong cigar in his mouth..H<' h&d! a most un- tidy ilinpearanee, and thoughi nothing of 't4'- ceiving visitors in his shirt. s)eevee..Touberi, moei talkative of 'lie two. 3,1 way* wore t-, jovial smile, and cracked jokes, whld" ihe, a6 least, f-njoyed thoroughly. He also was » great smoker, but was always o&reml oJ his personal appearance, and wrp nol so indolent in manner and 1"0 slow in speech sa w»3 Presi- dent Kruger. The man who, above m,3,1, obheic, was oot a stete^mai) wlis Genera1 Sfsit, v, n (i yet he wa.5 the personification of jovi-sl good fellowship. One could never believe i:hj,'J great hulking farmer was -the man who o'j t- lrianaeuvred our forces at Maubs. Hill and1 de- feated the British troops. He hated the worry of the conference, and hia great joy was to get away and see the sights of London. Kruger never went out except when necessary." IN A JOHANNESBURG THEATRE. A R. frier's telegram from\ Johannesburg, dated December 30, and delayed in transmis- sion, sa Public feeling has been greatly stirred by the appearance of a number of Botrs riding about the streets. At the Stan- dard Theatre on Saturday night, during the performance of "Othello" before a crowded house, the orchestra played "The Volksleid," the Transvaal National air. The music wae. however, drowned by a continued torrent of groans, hootings, and hisses. "God Save the Queen" was then given by the orchestra, and the whole house rose and cheered again and again until the last strain of the National Anthem died away. At a mass meeting of Australians held here, the Chairman proposed that mounted and foot companies be raised. At the close of the proceedings those present joined in singing "God Save the Queen" and "Rule Britannia." An exceedingly bitter feel- ing has been created] against some German speculators here for circulating a petition to President Kruger assuring him of their loyal support. Only twenty signatures were obtained to the petition. OPINIONS OF THE ENGLISH PRESS. All the Lo)ndba papers highly commend Mr. Ghamlberlain for the prompt action taken by him in the Transvaal crisis. The "Times," however, says the Boer President will fall into a grievous and, perhaps, a fatal error if he suffers his sober judgment of the situation to be swayed by the language of foreign news- papers unfriendly to Great Britain. We con- template no ohange in the present status of ihe South African Republic, but jt is our duty to warn, all whom it may oonoorn that that status is one of vassal to suzerain, and that no pretensions ignoring 'this fact can be tolerated for a moment. The sooner all pretensions of tlie wort are set aside and forgotten, the better for all parties, and particularly for :the Boers themeelveu. The "Standard" says:—What weems to be fairly certain is that the -entry OIl Dr. Jameson was not the result of a sudden impulse, but had been in some degree concerted with the local leaders Of the Uitlanders. That is a course which the iHJoma Government could not sanction, and wh ch Mr. Chamberlain has only done his manifest duty ia condemn in at once in the plainest po^ibie language. Says the "Daily News" There is one satis- factory element, and one only, in the crisis which has "uocome so suddenly acute and menac- ing in South Africa. It is the conduct of the Secretary of State for the Colonies. Mr. Chamberlain haa acted in a difficult and trying emergency with readiness, determination, and wisdom. | The "Telegraph" remarks that the risk of an armed and bloody conflict is sadly great. Any moment may clear the troubled sky, or plunge us into darker prospects. Mr. Chamberlain (says the "Daily Chronicle") has deserved Well of his country. He has acted, as it seems to us, like a statesman, like a patriot, and like a man of business, in a situa- j tion whioh drered considerable temptation to precisely opposite conduct If 'the Colonial Secretary had obeyed the ill-informed and ill- directed suggestions held out to him by the "Times" and other newspapers, we might by this time have been drawn headlong int" a situation in the last degree perilous to :v £ African dominions, to the British Empire, L to the peace of the world. Happily, Mr. Chamberlaii's good sense has led him to take 1 a course of which the whole body of his coun- i trjn'en, irrespective of party, will approve. c The "Morning Post" remarks that Mr. Chamberlain's statement seems hirdly to take i sufficient account of the circumstances under i which Dr. Jameson crossed the frontier. The publio may rest assured that his 'official cen- ( sure of the British South Africa Company's j Administrator will in no way cause the Colo- ] nial Secretary of State to refrain from doing I ihis utmost to bring President Kruger and the ( Boers to render justice to British subjects in the Transvaal. If a collision takes place and war breaks out, i with all the complications made possible by < German and French susceptibilities, then (says 1 the "Morning Leader") Dr. Jameson will have < incurred a. terrible responsibility indeed, and ] should be made to answer for his deeds. < The "Eveming News" says that Mr. Cham- berlain's apologists have a difficult task before them to-day. Thait he should ignore the suffer- ings, anxieties, and dangers of the English iwe-n, 1 women, and children now in the Transvaal was i criminal. We placed all our hope in hiis Im- < perialism, and we have been miserably dis- ] appoinit^'d. The "Star," commenting on tlhe Transvaal crisis, says:—Dr. Jameson is the rebel and the traitor. Mr. Chamibeplain has done well to order .the marauder home. But there is another withdrawal wthich the Government muet insist upon—(the withdrawal of the Royal Charter granted to the British South Africa Com- pany. They have forfeited it, and they should be called upon to pay the penalty. The "all MiaAl Gazette" of Thursday gayv:— Wlbiile we are olb reaspoen-ib'e for any pj\va>ie revolution, and while we should ourselves he very &IT from condemning it, England c-<-n hardly recognise it. The only hqpe of sucoero for Dr. Jameeon in the ca^e, we consider, would be it(he oreritiion off a. pciivate Republic of Jiobla'P-ineibur^! and nu'huhhs. Whoever con- deiu IVAITIIOU and puni-ihment come upon nT. Jwneso, we look to Mr. CUamberiiaia ki mako efforlta towards the removal oi' t-ho e grievances, and to IoOffd Saliesbuiy to present 8, firm fro pit to the unwarrantable piel^i>i.ons of Germany. The "Globe" says vliaii it seeing quite po&dMd thait Dr. Jameson had! received iniorro.it:on poiinitling to <tihe iikeliihood of a widespread Zulu int-urreobioc. If he t>ad thjfi knowledge uo further just:fiction would be needed for his hurried march to save Johannesburg from th horroKs oif savage warfare. The "Westminister Gaze-lite" of Thursday stayts:—Do not left us forget, as English'critics gouKftinne* tto in discussing Sow-h African questions, that there are such things as* South African opinion and Souith African interesti-, which are not necessarily and under all oircmn- staces Btrnitfoh infbereslte. Mr. Chamibeiiain j*, doubtless, alive to this fae't, aiid to a'U. that it implies, and, if so, then if Dr. Jameson suc- ceeds he personally may sttiil, no doubt, be thrown over, butt his. accomplished facts will have to be faced. The "Sun" says :—The opinion of England, irrespective of parties, io aga.ins-t Dr. Jameson, but it is not too murih to hazard the theory that the raid was not a hastily-planned affanr, but a carelfully considered, stroke in aid- of t-he revolting miaem, and. if this be the ea^e, not even Mr. Chaimlberl-ainurgent command's will prevent blcddshed m the Transvaal. A CAPE COMMENT. The "Cape Times," in an article strongly supporting |ho manifesto issued by the "Transvaal National Union" on the 26th ult., says:—"The advice to fold our ha.nds and go on waiting on good, kind President Kruger, w'ho is yearning to admit the Uitlanders to the frai cbLse if only they willlefrain from demand- ing it, is a joke which the lapse of years has deprived of its flavour. The suggestion that workmen have something to gain so from the ellightened fiscal policy of President Kruger, and the Hollanders some benefit which they imperil by standing firm with their employers on behalf of the common industry., is a sugges- tion which insults the intelligence of the Rand workmen. The demand made," continues the journal, "is right and just, and the danger increases every day, though it continues to be denied. In Cape Colony, and in the Free Stat too, we believe it is reoognised that the sympathies felt in the past for the old burghers wJ.en struggling for enfranchised liberty, must to-day be given to those who make the same struggle for their rights* and must be taken from those who so stubbornly refuse them. The Uitlanders's only danger, and it endangers the cause of peace proportionately ?—for how ca.n they new recede?—is from themselves. For a few German Jews we can make allowance, but that Afrikanders and British Colonists, with their tradhtions of frpedom and cohesion, can betray the reform army by splitting its phalanx, we cannot believe until foroed to do so." The article proceeds to bitterly attack Mr. J. B. Robinson, whose organs at the Rand it declares support President Kruger and his Government. "At the supreme moment, when the last chance hangs in the balance of the Afrikanders and English peacefully obtaining their just righte, wh- n all depends upon show- ing a, united front in a united demand,and when a split between Labour and Capital is the one thing which may enable the President to go on snapping his fingers at their claims in this situation, Mr. J. B. Robinson loyally assists bo foster the split between employers and employed." FRENCH OPINION. The Paris "Gaulois," commenting cm the latest news regarding the situation in the Transvaal says:—Dr. Jameson seems alone to to blame. The British Government cannot do better than to re-call him. There will then be a oolony of industrious miners to deal with., to whom it will be neceesary to grant the con- cessions which they demand. Dr. Jameson"? mistake may have a. happy outcome, but only on the condition that tlie party to blame be punished, and the British Government, since it has had nothing to do wttli the onitraife, disavowe all solidarity with its author, net only in words, but by an act of severity which has been only too well ustifir-d. The "Auto- rite" says it is doubtful whether the British authorites in London or a.t the Ca.pe can stop the progress of events. If General Jcnbert, with his Boers, meets Dr. Jameson's column on Transvaal territory, he will certainly give it battle, and there is every reason to believe, that he will gain one of those victories to which the Boers are accustomed when opposed to the British. Dr. Jameson will not be the only one to suffer a defeat, and, with him, the c-olo- nial policy of Great Britain will suffer » dis- comfiture, the consequence of which will be lasting, and will for a long time paralyse its manoeuvres against the nidependence of the Transvaal. The PwriiK "Figaro" says the action of Dr. Jameson, in invad ng the Transvaal once more, proves that in Colonial affairs the English news-papers might well call the doctor a pirate and fiil-ibustter, but the Government was none the ies's ready to gaither the fruits of hi* piracy and filibustering. For once in a while Europe did not appear intent to let England do ae she liked. A veriita.bte explosion of indignation liiad broken out in Germany, and the year opened with an Anglo-German conflict, which would be very interesting for France to watch.

ftAWCWICHMEK ACCTD POLTCB. A i.oticM has been issued by the Commis- sioner of Police, intimating 4hat for the future "all pictures, placaxdw, aud notices earned in the street for the purpose of advertising, must be written or priten on pasteboard or wood of not more than 32 inches in length, and ?0 inches ir width." I-fe i»further directed that s»li .sandwichmen carrying boards must do so "in the maimer approved by the "Comm s- eioT>er." One of the regulations is that a dis- tance of at least 30 yards shall separate each sandwichman when walking along tho streets.

THE PORT liATJBEATH. The only emolument attaching to t.he office of Poet Laureate, to whioh Mr. Alfred Austin has just been appointed, is an annual honora- rium of JB100. Charles I. made a grant of one ia«roe of Canary Spanish wine to be taken out of the Royal cellar yearly, but on Southey's appointment as Laureate in 1813 this wa>s com- muted for £27.

I.L.P. A meeting of the administrative council of the Independent Labour party was held in I'dinburgh on Thursday to transact routine business and consider the question of contest- ing vacancies at Montrose, Belfast, etc. Mr. Keir Hardie presided, and Mr. Tom Mann was also present.

The French lugger, George et Charles, from Boulogne, arrived at Newport, Mon., after stranding at Breakeea Point. It is extraordinary what some men can ac- complish, in spite of ill-fortune. Verest- chatfin had his right thumb so badly bitten by a leopard1 some years ago that it had to be amputated. On the field of battle the middle finger of his right hand wss made useless by a shot. By a fall on toha Steppes, later, the centre bo-nes of the same hand were scattered. Nevertheless, Verestohagm is one of tlhe fore- most painters in Rnsaia, and makes ag dex- terous Msa of his npht h&-j;d, lamed as it is, as any ouun in Ewoue.

Cardiff School Board A LAST APPEAL TO COXSEK- VATIVES AND CHURCHMEN. An Opportunity Now Afforded for Ending the Reign of Radical Despotism. To the polls! If every loyal Conservative 31KI Churchman in Cardiff obey this instruction to-day, e'er the day is over the reign of Radical despotism at the Cardiff School Board will bo at an end—at least, for three years to ?ome. The polling booths will be open from sight o'clock this morning until eight o'clock in the evening, and we would ask the sup- poiters of the Conservative and Church candi- dates to vote precisely in acc^rdrrce with the instructions given below. The Cardiff School Board consists of lifteen members, and the Secularists are aiming at capturing eight out of the fifteen seats, which will place them in the majority once more. The Conservative and Church candidates are six in number, and they are running apart from the two Roman Catholic candidates, who will, of course, receive the staur.ch support of the Roman Catholic electors of the town, and will thus have their position assured. If the six Corserva/tive and ChLrch candidates and the two Roman Catholic candidates are returned, then the Voluntaryists will have secured the majority at the board, and Radical domination will have become a tiling of the past- The issue is worth fighting for, and, if Coii.ervatives and Churchmen prove as true to the Church and party as they did at the la.st general election, a glc-rious victory will await them. THE POLLING. The polling in connection with the election of fifteen members to the Cardiff School Board commenced at eight o'clock this morn- ing, and the booths will remain open until eight o'clock p.m. Very little excitement was visible during the morning in the vicinity of the polling stations, and there was no indica- tion that the poll during the day would he very heavy. At noon the mayor of Cardiff (Lord Windsor, who was accompanied by Mr. J. L. Wheatley, drove around the polling stations, and his lordship was cordially received. It lias been arranged that the counting of the votes shall commence at nine o'clock on Friday morning, and the result of the poll will be declared probably between six and seven o'clock. In the Town Ward the polling was brisker during the forenoon than in any of the other wards, upwards of 190 voters hav- ing exercised their franchise by 11.30 o'clock. In Canton, up to eleven o'clock, 121 voters had recorded their votes, while at Biver- side about 130 voting papers had been placed in the ballot-box. The lack of interest manifested in the contest in the outlying wards of the town was remarkable. No crowd., or small knots of men gathered together in dis- cussion were observable; tho candidates them- selves did rot put in an appearance at these stations; there were no carriages, no colour j, and the polling was slow. In the Park Ward —one of the largest wards in the town-only 150 votes had been recorded by a quarter to eleven o'clock, while in Sploft three hours' work only resulted in 80 votes. At Grange- town, again, the polling was palpably slow, leg., than 150 voters having exercised the fran. chisa by neon. VOTE BY THE CARD. The method' of voting is a matter so impor- tant that we need no apology for laying special stress upon it. At elections hundreds of good voltes were thrown away owing to a voter plumping for a favourite candidate or dividing his votes between two or three candidates only. This way of doing business would have a suicidal effect upon this occasion. It is not in this contest a question of placing the more prominent of the Conservative and Church candidates in a high position at the poll. What the Voluntaryists are aiming at is to secure the return of all their candidates, and the only way in which this can be done (assuming, of course, that Conservatives and Churchmen go to the polls in sufficient numbers) is by dividing their votes according to the method set forth in the table given below. HOW TO VOTE. The following instructions to Conservative and Church voters have been drawn up after much thought, and we hope they will be rigidly observed on the day of the polling HOW TO VOTE FOR THE CONSERVATIVE AND CHURCH CANDIDATES. ELECTORS IN— "I CENTRAL W AIm I CATHAYS „ DOBBIN j 5 CANTON „ Y *3- HENDERSON 5 RIVERSIDE „ VACHELL [ 5 GRANGE „ ——————— Electors in the above wards do not vote for more than three as above, Vote re in the following wards should votct thus for SOUTH WARD 1 PARK „ I BECK 5 ROATH „ «z- MILNER 5 ADAMSDOWN „ TREHARNE 5 SPLOTT „ ) CONSERVATIVE COMMITTEE ROOMS. In the ma.tter of committee-rooms Conserva- tive a.nd Church candidates are well provided. The following is a list: — South Ward South Church-streer, Park Ward Near the Polling Booth Canton Ward Severn-read Riverside Ward Neville-street Splott Ward Near Polling Booth. Central Ward High-sfcn^t Grange Ward Iron School, Bromsgrove-street Roath Ward Near the Polling Booth, Staoey-road. Cathays Ward St. Martin's Schools, Crwys-road Adamsdown Ward St-. Elvao's Vestry, Adamsdown-square. Conservatives who have removed since the 15th of July last, and who have not received a poll- card, will ploa.se »go and vote from the same hou.se and at the same polling booth as they did at the last municipal election. POLLING STATIONS. The following are the polling stations for the approaching elt cti 'm :—Central Ward, Town-j hall; South Ward, South Church-sireet Board Schools; Cathays ard, Crwys-road Board Schools; Park Ward, Albany-road Board Schools; Adamsdown Ward, Adamsdown Board Schools: Canton Ward, Severn-road Beard Schols; Riverside Ward, Union Work- house Roath Ward, Stacey-road Board Schools Grangetown Ward, Bromsgrove-street Board Schools; and Splott Ward, Splott-road Board Schools. THE COUNTY. The counting of the votes will not take plact) until Friday morning. SPECIAL DIRECTIONS TO VOTERS. Consafrvativo and Church voters are re- quested to closely follow the instructions given below: — 1. Please vote early yourself, and take some neighbour with you. 2- Having voted, kindly look after your friends who have not done so; ask them to vote before going to business. 3. Remember if you do not vote your side will lose not one vote but fifteen. 4. Give five votes to each of the three can- didates, as directed in your poll-card. Conservatives! Do not use a. cross, but put a figure 5 opposite each of the three names in your respective w.irds. Do not vote for more than three. No lagging behind. Vote •early. Loyalty WillS! It would be of great assistance to the workers if the Conservative and Church voters called at their ccxmimiibtee-rooms before voting, and it is advisable in the intereets of the party that voters should go to the poll as early as possible. By doing this they will save the Conservative workers the trouble of looking them up, and will also prevent impersonation, which, by the way, will be specially watched by Conservative officials. The services of those who take an interest in the success of the denominationalist candidates will be warmly welcomed at tne com- mittee-rooms, and those who have carriages would be rendering the party a servi<>e by lenl- ing them for the day, or for a portion of the dav

NEGRO MADE KNIGHT. The list of honours is remarkable for the fact that for the first time a knighthood is given to a. pure-blooded negro. Minor dignities have never been begrudged to men of oolour who have done good work in the colonial service, but a knighthood to a pure black is quite a novelty. Mr. S. Lewis was born in Sierra Leone in 1843. Educated at Wesley College, Sheffield, and University College, London, he was called to the Bar of the Middle Temple in 1871. He lias occupied several public positions in the West African Colonies, and beoaroe Chief Justice of Sierra Leone in 1382. Sillee 1872 he has taken prominent part in all poli- tical, social, educational, and religious move- ments in the oolony. Mr. Lewis married, as hiis second wife, in 1892, the daughter of the Hon. Y/. Grant, formerly a member of the Council of the oolony. Mr. Lewia is au r 40ial member 01 Council.

Glamorganshire Sessions! LAST DAY OF THE SITTINGS AT CARDIFF- The sittings of the Glamorganshire Quarter Sessions were resumed on Thursday morning, M r, O. H. Jones, vice-chairman, presiding. BARRY DOCKS STABBING CASE. Jclin Greeoh, sailor. 26, a Greek, was charged with unlawfully wounding Thomas Edwards, steward, on the 30th of November, on board the steamship Gloucester City, at Barry Docks, Mr. Parsons appeared to prosecute, and Mr. Glascodine defended.—William Robert M'Caskie, ship's cook. said that at about seven o'clock on the date named prisoner came to him and complained that he had not had his tea. An altercation ensued, in the midst of which the steward came up. He joined in the dispute, and shoved prisoner, whereupon Greech took out a knife and stabbed Edwards in the bre&gt. He attempted to stab him a second time, but He attempted to stab him a second time, but the steward had sprung back, and was out of reach, whereupon Greech ran forward, and was subsequently arrested.—Prosecutor confirmed this account of the affair, as far as it concerned himself, and Dr. Bray, who was called, charac- terrised the wound as a dangerous one. When arrested by Police-constable Evans, prisoner complained that he had been shoved about and struck by the cook and steward.—The jury found prisoner guilty, and the Court sentenced him to five calendar months' imprisonment with hard labour. ALLEGED INDECENCY AT TREORKY. George Albert Smith, 22, a baker, living in the house of Mrs. Bowen, who keeps a bakery business ait Treorky, was charged with inde- cently assaulting- a girl of twelve, named Gladys Waite. Mr. J. H. James prosecuted, and Mr. Sankey defended.—Prosecutrix said she was sleeping in a garret bedroom, with an older girl and a little boy, when she was aroused by prisoner's hand upon her body. She slept on the outside of the bed. When she awoke prisoner left the room. The next morn- ing there were words between Mrs. Bowen and prisoner, and eventually witness fetched a policeman. Prisoner slept with an apprentice. named Augustus Lloyd, on the landing outside her bedroom. There were two beds on the landing, which was lighted, like the garret, by a. skylight, and three persons also slept there. — -Augustus Lloyd, a boy of fifteen, said that prisoner was sleeping with him, and just before ten on the night in question Smith left the landing, and. upon returning, informed him that he had done what prosecutrix affirmed.— In defence, (prisoner denied the charge, saying that he only went to shut the door between the 13.\ din^ and bedroom, and when hs was accused (.f the matter by Mrs. Bowen the next morning, suggested himself that the police should be sent for. He had previously had a quarrel with tin bov Lloyd.—Prisoner's counsel charac- terited the charge as an extraordinary and improbable one.—A verdict of not guilty was retuiiifd. and prisoner wa.s accordingly dis- charged. This concluded the business of the sessions.

AN EXPENSIVE FREAK. TO PAY FORTY .SHILLINGS FO(B, RINGING A BELL. Before the Croydon borougih magitsft-ralte^ on WodaieBdlay, Alexander AmidCii, of 35, Lecden- ha^-street, City, was summoned for unlawfully ringing the electric «; oimnunieator Ott a Brighton train without sufficient excu.se. Mr. Ellis pro- secuted on behal'I of the Loiidion, Bright cm, and Souiirh Coast Railway Company.—On tiie night off Novemlber 22 the deifenduml was a second- clasE passenger in the 10.50 mail train from. Brighton to London, and just before the train entereid) Norwood Junction the elecwrio bells in vhe guardis-' vans rang. When tiie train pjii'ied up m the pl-attlforoi a search wac made, aad the bell-pull in the comipartmsn-t, oooupied by the diefendiant was found to be projecting. was anoltiher pa.-wengt"- in the carriage, bufc he wae asleep. Asked w4iy 11e had' rung thie ibelk., the dettendtaii. jsaiid he htad been asleep, and was standing up to "pull biiii-eif together," when hs accidentally touched the knob. As a ma'uter of faci:, exipiained Mt. Ellis, the coanmiunioaiknr oo-uld- not be ses riuging by a mere touch it required a pull. The defen- dhnlt treated the matoe-r als a capital joke, and when requested' to give bis addresb handed the guard a card, bearing the name and address of a Licensed victualler, w.i+.h whom he had apparently been, doing business.—The deiten'Ouiii now repealled tha'1- the affair was ?.n accident, nd argued tlh'ait no one had been in- oonveienoed. al; rihe train was due to stop at. Norwood.—Air. Ellis mentioned tli*M the Board of Tr(atte required a. report of all the-,e ca^es, and wished to know why people were not pro- secuted.—Tlie Mayor inflicted the mitigated penality of 405.. and bs. 6d. coats.—The amount wad paid. -a-

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS AND TEACHING. At the annual general meeting of the Incorporated Society of M'usicians hedd in Edinburgh on Wednesday afternoon, under the chairmanship of Mr. Alberto Randegger, )11'. W. B. Broad moved a resolution that a com- mittee be appointed to consider and adopt the best means of approaching county councils and other bodies on the subject of the teaching of music in their schools. He said that this subject was of the greatest possible momeiu to professional musicians. They all knew what an enormous amount of competition there was in their profession, and what a poor return there was owing to the large yearly addition to thelf aLready crowded ranks of more or less qualified memibens, and now they were threatened with an extension af that system through the State-aided schools in the country. Before 1',he esta;b1:s'hme-nt of these school's the professional music an oouid make a reasonable income, but sinee the opening of local State- supported schools the class of private profes- siolial teachers was practically destroyed, and their place had been taken by a new race gent out by the new Government institutions. Musiic was among the subjects appointed to be taught in the various grades of schools, and in many oases it was taught gratuitously, or at least, .at a merely nominal fee. He sta.'t.ed fhat on application to coumtv councils in Wales they had been told that they had no power to employ their Ifunds t-o subsidiw music, the South Kensington School of Art being limited to drawing. He had written to thirteen English county councils, and he found music very largely subsidised in some of them. Vocal music, pianoforte, organ, harp, harmony and counterpoint were taught in #ome of the schools, He also found that in some of their schools not a single local professional 1ll us-ician was ei:i^ ployed, but 'that the teaohing was in the hands of teachers who had passed some kind of examination. That state of things seriously endangered the very existence of professional musicians, and it would require the earnest attention and consideration of the society to suggest a. remedy to at least check this strong running tide, if it oould not be altogether stopped. He spoke of the number of young ladies who, for the purpose of gaining a liveli- hood, or often merely to keep them in pocket money, pa-ssed an examination and got a oerti- ficate from some body or other, and then secured pupils among their neighbours at fees from 2s. 6d. quarterly upwards. He referred to a report which appeared in the "Western Mail" of a meeting of teachers held in the Uni- versity College of Wales, at which Mr. Robert-s, her Majesty's inspector of schools, spoke of the inadequate teaching of music in elementary and secondary schools, and said the subject was deplorably .neglected in many of the latter Subsequently, a resolution was carried urging the county governing bodies of Wales to make adequate provision for the appointment of external teachers,^ with full in- struction in music. He was pleaeed to get thut, report, and to find that the opinion of one of her Majesty's In-pector of Schools was that the teaching of music in intermediate and secondary schools was nothing like what it ought to be.—Mr. D. Eraser (Edinburgh) said he would second Mr. Broad# resolution, but he would like to add to it. "and to impress on educational corporations, as well as county ocunoils, the importance of securing the ser- vices of professional teachers to impart instruc- tion in the art of music in the schools under their charge."—Mr. Broad s-iid he was quite willing to make Mr. Eraser s addition to his motion.—Mr. Cummings said he knew lh;it the present Government were very much dis- posed to encourage the professional teaching of music in schools.—After some discussion, the resolution, with the ac^'i-lon, was adopted.

NOVEL PATERNITY CASE. A Hampstead girl of eighteen appeared the lccal court to support a summons calling on her lover to show cause why an order should not be made upon him to contribute towards the maintenance of her unborn child. Defen- dant did Hot. appear. The summons had been taken out before the birth of the ohild as it was believed that defendant intended to leave England at once.—The Bench, on referring mere closely to the Act, found that, though a summons ma.y bo is&ued btfoie the birth of a child, it must be made returnable after the child's birth. They, therefore, oanoelled the present summons, a.nd issued another one re- turnable on the 4th of March.

ANCIENT TOBACCO PIPES FOUND. Whilst, the gravel paths WHe being over- turned in a at the rear of a house in Eairmead-road. Upper Hollo way. three ancient tobacco pipes were discovered. The oldest coin- pares in shape with those in the Guild-hall Museum ,dated time of Charles ]., 1625-48. I The other t.wo are similar to those discovered in Tooks-oourt, Ourai tor-street, qow ill the Guild-hall Museum, of late seventeenth or early eighteenth century date. They are not in » particularly good State of preservation.

-?- Double Murdercfe Suicide I' A YOUNG FATHER'S FEAR- j FUL CRIME. Cut the Throat of His Children, Fired Two Bullets at His Wifo, then Turned the Weapon on Himself. The mail received on Wednesday from Mel- bourne, andi dated November 23, give# full particulars of a tragedy which occurred in the building of the Commercial Bank of Australia. Sale. lit appears thait the manager of the branch was Mr. A. M. Short, who lived on the premises with his wife, two children, and two servants. Mr. Short had for gome time been suffering from insomnia, but up to the time of the tragedy appeared to be perfectly eane. On the morning of the 19th. while the two children, whose ages were tWO and three years respectively, were having breakfast, Mr. Short entered the room and told the servant that Mrs. Short was umvelll, at the same time sending the girl for a nurse, who lived a short distance off. When the girl had gone Short took the children, and, laying them on their beds, cut their throats with a razor. The wounds were so deep as to almost sever the heads from the bodies. He then went to hi.. wife's room, Mrs. Short wsu? asleep ait the 'time, and her hus- band fired two shots alt her from a revolver. Both shots struck Mrs. Short in the face, .smashing her ja.w, the bullets afterwards being found embedded) in the pillows. Mr. Short then fired on himself, blowing out his brains, and ending his liife instantly. Mrs. Short was able to get up and raise an alarm, but afterwards became unconscious. Both l\1r. and Mrs. Short were young and well connected. The following document was found by the police in Short's handwriting and addreesed to the police:—"I have killed my noble wife and innocent chil- dren to save the.in from the effects of my ruin. I intended to blow my brains out, but cannot le<ave them alone to face punishmenit for which I am solely liable. God help our unfortunate relatives.—1-(Signed) A. M. Short." He had left money in envelopes to pay the various employe) oi the bank up to date, and an in- vestigation showed all his business matters to be correct and in order. In fact, Mr. Short WM a man of independent means. Mrs. Short was alive when the mail left, and the doctors thougttiit her likely too recover.

On the Stock Exchange LATEST QUOTATIONS FROM LONDON Prices become Steadier on the Receipt of Re-assuring News from the Transvaal. STOCK EXCHANGE, 2 p.m. The Money Market is ery quiet. Call Loans imlendab.c at i per cent. Three months' Bills nominally per cent; Bombay Holiday Cal cutta 111-32. The Stock Markets have become calmer since the opening en the report that Dr. Jameson has sent back his troops, but has gone on himself to see President Kruger. Afri- can iMnes ire accordingly better. Consols arc likewise firmer being only a 1 down for Money and fo rfee Accotrnt, and in Home Rails Doras are down i t'ond other sorts A to j. American. Rails opened firm, but became dull, but Atchison "A," Louisville, New York, Cen- tral, and Milwaukee are f to 1 up on the day. Trunks and Canadian Pacific are dull. Foreign Stocks s>re very quiet, and show few changes. In. African Mines, Chartered, after touching 3k, are now 4 to 4-é. Gold Fields, better prices at present, tending upward-. TO-DAY'S QUOTATIONS 10.45 a.m. The news from the Transvaal was most un- favourably received on the Stock Exchange, and Chartered Shares ha.ve fallen 1 1-16, Con- solidated Goldfields 1J, and East Rand ¡. A message receiv-ed thÎB morning in London from Berlin states that communications of a friendly character passed between President Kruger and Dr. Jameson oiL the latter's arrival at Johan- nesburg. The Press Association states that the serious political outlook ill the Tra.nsva-al has caused the South African issues to be much depressed on the London Stock Exchange to-day. (iiiar- tereds have fallen 1116 to 3i—-2 Consolidated Gold Fields Deferred H to 8^—1; East Rands I to 3|—1; Barnato Bank i to li De Beers lj| to 20g Jat^ersfontein -2 to 7J,—8. Consols have fallen 9-16 to 10515-16—1061-16 Monry and Accountl Other departments are dull, and but little business is doin? at present. Towards r.oon a decidedly better feeling pre- African Mi.iiuer Shares showing with few ex- vailed in the Kaffir Market, resulting in South oeptions, a general rally of i to g on rc-pur- chases >y recent sellers. Consols also rallied i on closing of Bear accounts. First Dispatch, Noon. Consols depressed at 106 Money and Account. Foreign dull: Brazil 1389 s 66. Home Raws lower: Great Easterns 87!, South-Eastern De- ferred 85i. Americans strong Milwaukces '(1, Louisvrfles 46}. Eries 15; Trunks flat, Firsts 293: Mexicans dull; South Africans in senvi- panicky condition on Transvaal news Char- teredo down to 3j, Consolidated Gold l1 ieki3 Deferred to 83 Rand Mines to 181,, East Rands 3i. !» Second Dispatch, 1.30 p.m. Bank rate unaltered. Quiet demand for Money at to i. Consols better. Foreign weak: Portuguese 24i xd Home R-ails rather firmer. Americans weaker since the opening. South African Issues now rather firmer on few re-purohases; Russian 100 xd.. Peru S, Illinois 94, Louisvilh's 45i. Lake 144. Readinga 2 £ Atlantic 2Zi, Eries 15, Milwaukee* 69^ Paeifios 4i. Norfolk Si, Central 99, Trunk 40J,, Ordinary 5, Box 293, Bag 20^, Thirds 102, Candia 51|, Rails 16, Sleepers 65. Bolts 29, Ottoman 101, Chartered 3i, Barnato li, Gold 81, Rand 4 1-16. ?- .?,

A TERRIBLE EPIDEMIC. THIRTY-TWO DEATHS FROM DIP- THERIA IN A FORTNIGHT. Aston is suffering from a epidemio of dip- theria. No less than 32 death have occurred in the pajst- fortnight, an unprecedented num- ber from a population of under a hundred thou- sand. The conditions under which the epi- demic. arose is almost sensational. A board school was built or a. refuse tip, and nearly all the cast's have arisen in this school. One of the victims is a pulpit1 teacher a.t the school. --?- -==:

POOR CHILDREN AT NEWPORT. The seventh annual New Year's treat to poor children at Newport took place on Wednesday, when about 2.000 children were regaled with seasonable fart and provided with presents and entertainments. The labour involved in this work is, oi course, of a most onerous and trying character, but, thanks to the energy of a devoted band of officials and helpers, everything went off in swinging style. At the head of the whole affair, the Rev. Harry Abraham acted again as general hon. secretary, and tin various sectional committees were in charge of the following:—Catering, the Rev. C. Avliffe works, the Rev. G. Hall; amusements, Mr T. Gill Williams. Funds were provided, as before, by appeals to the public, who responded nobly. At one o'clock, about 1,000 poor boys and girls of varying ages sat down to an excellent dinner of roast beef and plum pudding iu the Drill-hall and its r.ide-roonts, the latter being used for relays. The viands were capitally served bv Messrs. Dowdall Bros., who were the caterers in the previous year. There were a dozen carvers and quit* an army of helpers, who made the children as comfortable as could be. In the afternoon there were entertainments at the Drill-hall and the Temperance-hall, the Empire artistes appearing at the former and Punch and Judy at the latter ball. Close upon 2,000 children attended these gatherings, and the committee have to acknowledge their great thanks to the officers of the 2nd Volun- teer Battalion South Wales Borderers and the Temperance Society for the use of two the Temperance Society for the use of two such excellent and commodious halls. Tea was served to an enormous number of children in the halls and at various sehool-room«, and in the evening another entertainment was given, consisting of songs, lantern views, Punch and Judy, exhibition performances bv the gymnastic team. &c. Each child was given a bag- of sweet" and fruit. and special attention waf devoted to the needs of crippled and sick children unable to be present at any of the public festivities. The band of j Caerleon Industrial Schools attended and played selections of music.

A boy, named Archobhld Saunders, aged four, met with a shocking death at Brighton ott Wednesday. He was running from one room to another, when he fell, and a knife he had in his hand a.t the time entered his neok, causing almost instantaneous death.

Around the Rhondda PARS. TO BE READ BY OLD AND YOUNG. The Rhondda has always added its "quota" to tht long list of fatalities on the scroll of time. The old year had barely left us. the joyous pea-is were sending forth their melodious strains to welcome in the youthful 1896. all was peace and happiness, when the news of the death of an old Upjwr Rhonddaitei, Mr. William Jones ("Sa-er"), rapidly spread through the district. He was a typical Rhonddake, having watched the growth of the Valley from its early infancy to the present time. Ho had reached the age of /)3, and was as energetic and enthusiastic over colliiery matters as anyone half his age. He had returned to work one evening after tea.—really for no particular reason beyond a desire to see everything all right with a new engine in course of construction. It was his last journey to the old colliery where he had laboured so long. In an hour after he left his home he was carried back a corpse- Rumour hath it that the crank of the power- ful engine struck him on the head, killing him instantly. He leaves a large and highly-respected family to mourn their loss. One of his sons is a prominent member of the Royal Welsh Choir. We sympathise deeply with the bereaved in. their sad and sudden affliction. From grave to gay under these circumstances would be inhuman. We reserve for to-morrow's issue an account of musical matters in the Rhondda, together with other interesting information. W S. L The Ferndale Mutual Improvement Society is making rapid strides under the presidency of the Rev. Silas Charles, the energetic pas- tor of North-street Chapel. Several interesting debates are on the tapis, and will be forthcoming shortly. The Rhondda Valley will send a good sprink- ling of football supporters to the Rectory Field, Blackheatii, on Saturday. We hear that 300 artificial leeks have been ordered for tae occasion, and the Rhondda men intend planting themselves in a group on the touch-line. The worst of it is that the Rhondda Valley enuxusiaste cannot shout (save the .mark!) But why artificial leeks ? Why not the pure, unadulterated article of Welsh "cawl" associations? Show your colours, boys, and though we feel sorry you caflnot make yourselves heard in a crowd, we hope vou'll do your best to cheer our gallant band on to victory. Do we mean victory? Most certainly, for we have already given our "tip" for Wales. We'll see how far we are wrong. It's all Lombard-street to a china-egg that a good, close game is in store for you. Ye Rhondda Valleyites, you know full well the words of Sir Joseph Barnby at Llanelly apropos of your singing. Let the verdict be somewhat similar at Blackheath, but substantiate the word "cheer- ing" for "singing," and all will be well. How's this for a final? Wales, one goal, one try England, one try. o Bashfulness, where are thy charmst

TO-DAY'S MARKETS CATTLE. London, Thursday.—Damp weather checked business, and there were very few buyers in attendance. Very few beasts were on offer, and prices were nominally unchanged. Sheep were also in small supnlv. and the demand was dull. Prices ruled about the same as on Mon- day to rather under, but practically nominal. There was very little inquiry far calves or pigs. Quotations:—Beasts, 3y 4d to 4s ()d4 sheep, 4s to 5e lOd; calves, 38 8d to 5s. Dublin, Thursday.—On sale: 2,725 beasts and 3.165 sheep. There was a quieter demand for cattle, and the advance of last week was lost. Sheep: There was a smarter business, a.nd all placed. Quotations:—Beef, 40s to 55s per owt. mutton, 5d to 7id per lb. Swine were in larger supply, and a worse demand, at 288 to 358 per cwt. FISH. Grimsby, Thursday.—Twenty steamers and about the same number of smacks arrived with a very fa.ir supply brisk demand. Quotations Soles, is 2d to Is 3d; turbot, lOd to 1, brills. 3d to 9d; lobsters, 2s 3d per lb.; plaice, 3s to 49: lemon soles. 3s 6d to 4£1 6d; wbitches, 3s. to 4s 9d; live halibut, 3s 6d to 5s 3d; dead, 2,s to 3s per stone: live cod, 38 to 5s dead, 2s 6d to 3R 6d each; hake, 90s per score; kit haddock, 6s to 7s 6d per box. BUTTER. Cork, Thursday.—Qrdinary: First, 116s per cwt.; Seconds, 102s; Thirds, 88s; Fourths, 77s. Mild Cured Firkins: Fine, 110s; mild, 8&s. In market: 29 firkins, 1 keg, and 18 mild. SUGAR. Glasgow, Thursday.—Official report idys — Market opened steady; good business doing: prices show 6d to 9d advance since last report of the 24th of December. Private report says —Market firm, and rather dearer; good busi- ness done. POTATOES. London, Thursday.—There were fair sup- pliæ, which met a moderate inquiry. The following are the quotations-:—Hebrons, 60s to 80s; regents, 55s to 75s; kidneys, 50s to 70s puritans, 40s to 60s; magnums, 4Qs to 50s per ton. HAY AND STRAW. Whitechapel, Thursday.—There were fair supplies, which met with a dull demand. The following are the quotations :—Best clover, 80s to 95s; inferior, 50s to 70s; best hav bOs to 90s inferior, 36s to 60s mixture, 70s to 87s 6d; straw, 20s to 42s per load. WOOL. Bradford, Thursday.—The opening market ehowf signs of strength and confidence, and the prioes of wool, so far ae they can be ascer- tained from the small business doing, are steady. Holders are not eager at all, and buyers show more disposition to operate, though somewhat relueWit to do eo. In the export yarn trade a. revival of activity ÍE be- lievro to be earning" Ilnd spinners are firnwr and more confident. The pieoe trade is good.

FATALITY AT LLANBRADACH. JHr. M. Roberts Jones, coroner, held an inquest at the Church House Inn, Bedwas, on Wednesday evening, on the body of Enoch Davies. aged 30, of Graig Villa, employed as rider in the No. 1 Pit of the Llanbrad*cli Steam Coal Cosspany, who was crushed between the tram and the side of the heading while the engine was in motion. After hearing the evidence of Messrs. George Lewis and Ridout. the jury returned a verdict of Accidental death," with the following recommendations :—(1) That no eng ne underground re-start without fresh signals; (2) the knocker to be behind or near the trams in headings (3) more space to be allowed between the sides and the main haul- ing roads of the engine rope workings. Messrs Thomas and Bradford attended on behalf of the company, and Mr. D. Lewis, solicitor, repre- sented the relatives of the deceased. ??-

THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES A Central News telegram from New York says:—Governor Morton on Wednesday night authorised the issuing of a statement announc- ing formally that he is a candidate for the Presidency at the election. Presidency at the election.

The Parisian wits a.re now circulating an old story about the wonderful cure from deaf- ness of a patient, who was recommended to go to hear "Lohengrin," and to sit near the orchestra, by the trombones. The dootor I accompanied his patient, and sat beside him. All of a sudden, wiiile the noise of the instru- ments was at iM loudest, the def man found he oould hear. "Doctor," be almost shieked, "I can hear." The doctor took no notice- "I tell you. doctor," I repeated the man in ecstacy, "you hs*ve saved me. I have recovered my hear- ing." Still the dootor was silent. He had I become deaf himself. I

TO LATE TO CLASSIFY. Clerk Wanted Temporarily.—Address, stating ex- pcrience tad wages required, F 8, Western ■Mail, Cardiff. C49H9

This Day's Racing. ? ? "SPORTSMAN" AND "SPORTING LIFE" AUTHENTIC STARTING PRICES. MAKCHESTEK MEETING*. Winners and Jockeys. Sportsman. Life. PADDOCK HANDICAP (6). Leprechaun (Ca.uavau).. 3 to 1 ag 3 to 1 ag SELLING HANDICAP (10). Barlxitello (Gourley) 10 to 1 ag 10 to 1 ag TliAFFOJU) PARK HANDICAP (6). Lord William (A Nighting'li) 100 to 30 .g 100 to 30 a* HAMILTON PAliK MEETING. Winners and Jockeys. SjwrtsmaiL Life. OPEN HFRDLI!: RACE (9), Baliybur (Mr Ferguson).. 5 to 2 ag 5 to 2 ag NATIONAL HUNT FLAT (5). Delome (Mr Ferguson).. 6 to 4 on 6 to 4 on ARRAM SELLING (9). Term (Mr Ferguson) 4 to 1 ag 4 to 1 ag The above prices are identical with those published in the "lxacing Calendar."

MANCHESTER MEETING. l.O.-The PADDOCK HANDICAP STEEPLECHASE of 100 sovs winners extra. Three miles. Mr H Eseott's Leprechaun, aged, lOst 71b Canavan 1 ■Mr A James s St. Elmo, aged, lOet 61b r, Mr C Beattv 2 Capt Ethelston's Pitch and Toss, a.^ed, lOst elb „ Hassel 3 Mr Creswell'o The Priim.tc, rged, 12st 21b xr Mr Be<vicke 0 Mr Millers Ciui?, aged, 12st 51b Halsev 0 Mr Kogerson's Volcanic, 5vrs, 10st 51b ..H Taylor 0 Winer trained by owner. Betting—3 to 1 agst Leprechaun, 4 to 1 agft The Primate, Pitch and Toss, 5 to 1 each Craig and St. Elmo, and 20 to 1 agst any 'x,t'<.r. Won by a length; a bad third. 1.30.-A SELLING HANDICAP HURDIE RACE of 80 sovs, fo.- four year olds and upwards the wirner to be sold for 50 sovs. Two miies. Mr Dyas's Barba-telio, aged, 12st 71h.. Gourlev 1 Mr M'Auliffe's Crosslegs, 4yrs, list-Mr J Scully 2 Mr Harper's White Heat, 6yre, list 12ib..Owner 3 Mr Antrobus's Plia-itoin Star, 5vre, 12st 71b „ r FB Black 0 Mr Stews.-t's Sirah, 5yrs, 12st- 51b TCapper 0 Lord Slirawesbuiy's Danaing Dervish, 5yrs, 12st 21b CJ Williamson 0 Mr Iluth-f>rd'a Demetrius, 5vrs, 12st .Kirbv 0 Mr Tilibley's Gold iteef, aged, list 121b R Chaloner0 Mr Lapidvs's Pharpar, 4yrs. list. 91b Daniels 0 Mr Whipp's Waterman. Cyrs, list .Mr Harper 0 Winner trained in Ireland. Betting—2 to 1 agst Crossiegis, 6 to 1 each agst Gold Leaf and White Heat, 8 to 1 each agst Phantom Star, Dsmcing Dervish, and Deaietrius, and 10 to 1 agst. any other. WWon by a neck; three lengths between the second and t) ,i rd. 2.0 —The TRAFFORD PARK HANDICAP STEEPLE- CHASE of 150 sovs winners extra. Two miles. Mr Westb) ry's Lord William, 6yrs, list lib A Nightingall 1 Capt Ricardo's Grigou, aged, lOst 111b. Owner 2 Sir S Scott's En.in, aged, list lib Morris 3 Mr J A Miller's Nepeote. 5yrs, list 111b.. Hai.-ey 0 Mr Collier's First Dragoon, aged, list 51b Bainbrick 0 Mr Brown's Belle Winnie, 6yrs, lOst 31b Mr Beatty 0 Winner trained by A NigbtingnJl. Betting—13 to 8 agst Nepeote, 100 to 30 agst Lord William, 4 to 1 a get Emin, 5 to 1 agst First Dragoon, 10 to 1 agst Grigou, and 20 to 1 agst Belle Winnie. A farcical finish, Lord William walking past the post twenty lengths in front of the remainder, who were pulled up at the distance, and the respective riders did their best to avoid being placed.

HAMILTON PARK MEETING. 1.0.—The OPEN HURDLE RACE PLATE of 30 sovs; four year olds lOst 71b, five list, six and aged list 41b winner? extra allowances. Two miles. Mr Erechiu's Baliybur, 5y«s list..Mr J Ferguson 1 Me Salkeld's Menelaue. 6yrs, 12et J Knox 2 Mr Cunningham's Rachel, 4)'r2, lOst ..Stanton 3 Mr Campbell-Gilmour's Lady byrn, lOst 61b Pringle 0 Mr Whitehead's Anneegrove, aged, lOst 111b R Clark 0 Mr G Menzies's Trackless, 4yrs, lOst Mr S Menaes 0 Mr Coate's F-allvnoe, aged, lIst 41b Callander 0 Mr Hume's W»ilhaw, 4yrs, lOst Kennedy 0 Mr Wilson's Orlop, 5yrs, lOst. 71b..J Walsh, jun 0 Betting-2 to 1 agst. Orlop, 5 to 2 agst Baliybur, 5 to 1 Hgst Atenelitus, 6 to lagst- Ballynoe, 7 to 1 agdt Rachel, ad 10 to 1 agst any other. Won by two lengtlis; a length and a half separated the second axd third. l.30.-The MOTHERWELL NATIONAL HINT FLAT RACE of 30 bOvs; five year olds list ]Olb, six and aged 12st lib; winners extra; maiden and other allowances. Two miles, oi the flat. Mr Cunningham's Delorne, 5yre, 12st 310 Mf J }>;rgufion 1 Mr M'Farlane's Romeo, aged, list 101b Mr D F Aikman 2 Mr Stark's Mr M'Gregor, aged, list 101b Mr G Menzies 3 Mr Villier's Noiseless, aged, 12st lib Owner 0 Mr Coats's Glci-iffer, 6vrs. 12st 81b Owner 0 Betting—6 to 4 on Delome, 4 to 1 ag*t Gieniffer, 6 to 1 agst Romeo, and 10 to 1 agst ¡¡,.y other. Won by a i.eck; half a length between the second and third. 2.0.—The AURA If SELLING HURDLE HANDICAP PLATE of 40 sovs, for four year olds and upward*; the winrer to be sold for 00 &jvs. Two unlet*. Mr T Burn's Yarm, aged, list 71b Mr J Ferguson 1 Mr R Stark's Odlaw Cairn, Ayfns, list lib Pervit 2 Mr A Rose's The Admiral, cged, 126t 7ib Mr S J Bell 3 Mr D H Gihb's BJlJ:lY One, 6yrs, 12st 51b G lAw 0 Mr G Menzies's Heath abloom, 4y,-s, list 71b Owner 0 Mr W Brechin's Velvcte* 4yrs, list 71b Mi- D F Aikman Mr W F Lee'c Henrv Irving, 4vre, list VIb Holland 0 Mr J L G Harvev's' Peiak, l-vrs, list 21b J Walsh 0 Mr D Dodd's F.;rtf Water. 4yrs, lCst 91b Symington 0 Winner trained privaiely. Betting—6 to 4 agst CadUw Catrn, 4 io 1 each agst Yorin aiid Velveteen, 5 to 1 agst The Admiral, 8 to 1 agst Henrv Irvine, and 10 to 1 agst any other. 2.30.—The BUCHANAN CASTLE OPEN STEEPLE- CHASE PLATE of 45 sovs; frur year olds lOst olb, five Jifrt 51b, six and aged list 101b; winners extra; maiden allowaioes. Two miles. Mr lrvi-ig's Confedeiute, aged Knox 1 Mr Coats's Dangan, 6yrs R Chaloner 2 Mr Bell's Little Joe, aged Plu lan 3 Mr M'Call's Ball 7n. 5yrs J Walsh, jun 0 Mr Walker's Eric, fyrs, Mr Fergusou 0 Mr Gibb's Irish Light, 6yrs Law 0 Mr M'Farlp.ne's Mary hill, 4yrg ..Reevia 0 'Mr Mounjiey-Heysbam's Knoekbov, 6vrs..Newby 0 Lord Shrewsbury's The Continental, 5vrs, list 91b Morris 1 Mr Kav-Barnes'e Joan of Arc. aged, list 131b 2 Mr Percy's Quack, aged, list 131b H DriscoU 3 Mr M'Auliffe'a Silent Sea, 4yrs, lOst. 51b Mir J Soullj; 0 Winner trained by Gregory. Yesterday's objection to Casing ton was over-iuled.

OFFICIAL SCRATCH I Mi.S. The "Sportsman" has been otiioialiy informed of the following «e<ratchings Peddeck Handicap, Manchester.—Kestrel. All engagements in Mr John Widger's name.—First „ All engagements in Mr Faine s name.—Solaro, Choice, and Radiata.

SPORTING CHAT. PITHY PARS FOR SPORTING READERS. Count Sehomberg is reported to be a very fine jumper. Roquebrune is now all rijrht. again, and she has grown into a rruagnitioent filly. If ail goes well with Sir James Miller's tilly she will pro- bably make her debut as a three-year-old in the One Thousand, and she ;s engaged at JSjieom in both the Derby and the Oaks. Demetrius looked very well in the New Year Handicap, and, though he was about 100 varda behind the others coming into the straight, he was pulling the jockey's arms out almost. He made up a lot of ground, but could finish no nearer than third to Changeling. who it* trained at Hednesford, iu Staff ard*'hine, by Fred Ha&jali, the accomplished jockey. The only objectionable feature of Wednes- day's sport was the last race, in which Car- rington got the best of a bumping finish with Snape by a short head. Saxon Prince fell, and Uncle Tom was beaten off. An objection toi the winner on the dual grounds of bumping and boring remains in abeyance-, the stewards Laving left the course. It is a great pity that Mr. M'Galmont does not keep Isinglass in training for another yea.r, as the horse is thoroughly sound and well. He would certainly win the Aewt Cup again, and it would be refreshing to .sec that race > carried off by a six-year-old of the big-heat class.

Botticn Jars ?S? ??? -????????? ????????? I fteparef tnfyijr | ElJJMWf$0Ng ft Ce~ lx tZ* I .— SMOKE FIRST FAVOUR ITS (Guaranteed Pure Virginia) CIGARETTES. One Penny. Packets of Six. One Penny. Manufacturers!:—George Mason and SOB, Chesterfield. IMPORTANT TO SPORTSMEN. All Sportsmen ace Invited to Cone and I/wk thrci gfc the Larn^st »nd Most Varied Stock of Gum and R'fles n South Wales. Over 100 Gun* U> »elect from. Double-barrelled Breech-loaders fit»i 53. Cartridges -Best Smokele* Cartridges, 3s. 6d. 100. Gartnidges from 6e 100.. Nbte the Adiirew: — SEPTIMUS CHAMBERS, Cunmaker and Athletic Outfitter, 21, CASTLE-STREET. CAROIFT. -?- In Grand Form. Some of the beet things I have ever known for Hurri Park, Manchester, and Wol- verhamiit-on Meotiaigs this week. fail to sand for my brilliant aeleetiOM. My terms—2*. per day, 10s. per week.—AddresB 8. WhitoUoiMC, Kc. 7, Hill'#-terraoc, (JUrdifi.