The South Wales Daily Post

DISCOVERY OF THE NORTH POLE. RETURN OF DR NANSEN. A Reuter's message from St. Pete^burg, dated I Th'jToday, ?ays :—An Irkutsk telsgTam states i thai a. Siberian trader, Kouchnareif, ",hr. has acted as agent lor Dr. Nm-ei. in Siberia, iwormed the Prefect of Kolynwk., ix> M^ixhem Siberia., ibrl he has reeeivtil intelii- 'if gence that Dr. Nansen har. reached the North Pole, that ha fousad lsad in ,M1 region, and tb,-vt he is on his way back. THE ACCURAC Y OF THE RETORT. To a press repreeentsttve who culled on nim ?t tfte Pxjyai Geogr»ph:<»l Offi:cee, Mr. Scot! Ke.ivi° tre ajocredited London agent of Dr. Nangen, obeervp-1 that ihe only reason for doubtfng tiie sKwuraoy of thr report was the means by which it had rwiahed St. Peter^bfcrg. PROBABILITIES OF ITS BEING TRUE. Router's A. dlCY is informed that the tele- gram from Irkutsk announcing Dr. Nanuen's triscovery of the Nortli Pole has caused aiort interw* than turpriae in Aw/io circles. It is pointed out that if the aeport of M. Kouch- naieff pi-o,Te« to he true, it would indicate iv the Pole acid found land, had returned to rhe N-w Sib-aiian J l-.r-.is io«tc-nu >1 drifting in the ice, as he thf►tight pofwib^a. across to Fpr, or Orw-jnL?r\d. With regard to the Siberian trader who brought tfie news, it is possible teat he is the parson with whom Dr. Nangen ni»H? oar^ngenftnts for a supply of to be left for the explorer at the moutn cf the Lena hiver (Xl 1hü outward journey. Dr, Nar>?eu, h'^vfrver, did not oa-1! for tb.'Sto owiag to the fact that, the water heir? pan. the "X'.edi^on i w^nt ci"-3 aorth. Tntre is no doubt, hew- ever, iivu 3. c&refui L^.k-out has been k-ipfc for any r.ew« of the Fram, aid in October last a Renter's tekgrfwn fr«>m Sartdefiord, Norway, anncyrtced thai in July, 1835 "-be P-riuimanx ha.d <<oen a believed to be the I'ram Miibftidnd in ic-3. She was then thought to b^ on the return |oum?y, av d it wag believed tb.a" newi wculd be receiv«d t-wi-,r this year. With regard to the route by which the last newit ha-i come, so j'5 pcsvlblo that people j of Kclyni, which is s'lti-ated near the north <na,it of SI'werH and on tLT River Koiym;k. hare crossed over the ice to New Siberia Island, a Sre •nenfc occurrence, wid thor? leprct of the suonees of the ezp«dii-ioo. Talt'- g into aocovai the distances tra-rer^ed and pre- nimin? the new?; to bav» wni- in the way sugyested, -t wotdd mea<n that Dr. Nr<»en rea<»hed the New Siberian Island* probably seu i ffi, bn^k 918 la,Qt. autumn, and was wainp" for favourable ice conditions to continue his home- ward Jburney. In th's ease rhiir" j. no reason why further u-wa A the ewolorer should not be received a.t a vt :• earlv da^>. 1 A Beater's Christiania tejegr»ia on Thir^i-ay { *?' •'—The relatives of Dr. Trilhiop Nanaen have requested the Norwegian New? Agency to state tiiat they attaoh no credence to the Irkutsk t( vram ann^vneieg Dr Nansen's dis- j r-,f.)TP-Y of l,-e North Poie.

J. T N' C-- MEETING OF THE WELSH; UNIONIST MEMBERS. OPPTIS'TION TO THE YTELSH RADICAL AKE2VDMI:NT. At a meeting of the Wtlsh Unionist embers of Parliament on Thursday in the House Sir J, T. D. Llewelyn wa^ unanimously anooii ted chauman for the enauiog aewioc, a ad Mr. Tudor Howell «eeret»r> The mem- bers agreed not to form tnemeclves into a parry so-oall^ci, but to meet froti time to time ar.d d seusi? any questions relating to Wale« wbicli co—9 before the House It wad also deeided to oppose Sir George Osborae Morgau'd amend- ment to the Addreee, and to take up a very deoided stacd agaixwt any attempt to separate Wales from Eugland any queatior. e-Jucati'.m. Mr. J. M. Maclean and all the other u.embers of the party present, with the exception of Ge'ieral Laurie and Colonel the Hon. F. C. Morgan.

THE TRANSVAAL. t KHUGElfS REPLY. RESENTS THE PUBLICATION OF THE DISPATCH, DECLARES IT WILL CAUSE COM- PLJLCATIOXA A Renter's telegram from Pretoria on Feb- ruary 12 savs :—The following is the transla- tion of a dispatch published in an extraordinary edition of the official Staats Courant" this c,, afternoon :— "Prebria. February 12,Honour:Lble Sir,— I am instructed to acknowledge receipt of your letter da-ted the 8th in-t., enclosing a copy of a telegram received by you from the Hifh Commissioner, containing a ccpy of a telearam to his Excellency from the Secretarv at State. The telegram eoiitains an abridged summary of a di-patoh from the Secretary of State to his Exc-Hency bearing on the occur- rences which have recently taken place in the Sowh African Republic. Iu the abov^mentioi ed telegiam the Score- Vary of State expresses the bope that, although the dispatch has been In the London Gazette' the Sta»e President- will bear the subject in mind till tha subject shall be placed in his hand- However glad the State Presi- dent might be tc accede to the request, it has been by anticipation made impoftfible to lum b" the publication of the above-icanuoued dispatch ir> London. "The Government, though awaiting the arrival of the dispatch of htr Ma iesty's Govern- ment, feeli ixself at this moment in dutv bound to observe that it considers it undesirable and unwise to give publicity beforehand to tihe position which the Br;tioh Cabinet presumes to :ah up in the way which b;s now already taken place. The position of affairs has. in tha opimcsn of th? Government, been hereby embar- rassed, and the Government is compl ied, not or. iy To remark tlmt it caai suffer no interference or meddling. however well intentioned, in regard to internal ¡>,nairs, cf which mention ? mene*in the aforementioned telegram dispatch of the Secretary of St te, but is further, forced to make public this letter through the rcedium of the Staats Courant.' "The efforts thus far employed by the Government to oHtain the final regulation of a gcod .mdeirstafiding between the Republic and England in a n»oderate and peaceful manner will, according to its opinion, be greatly aggra- vated, to th: great drnger of peaoc ;¡nri order, not only of he Republic, but of th" whole of Soui.h ASriefl., by a«a5n exciting and disturbing thr- minds of the inhabitants. "I have the honour to be, your Honour's obedient servard. (Signed) "C. TA>7BOFSCHOTEN', "Acting State Se retprv. "To the Honourable Sir Jacobus De Wet. Biitish Agent, Pretoria MESSAGE FROM JOHANNESBURG. The Press Association says ;—The following es.b" -grain has beets reoeivvl at the Lor don obice of the "Johannesburg Standard and Diggers' dated Johannesburg. Wednes- day.—"The Transvaal Government, in answer to Air. Chamberlain's dispatch, complains of its eri-fly preheat.ion m London." It objects to th«, veiled; attempt a» an interference ai ihe i internal aifairs of the Republican State, w.d their Government, while awaiting iw arrival and oootiri'iiQ? agTec dny to ocn-'ider it, opines :h-at the aaid dispatch has already complicated the siiuatrion and made the peaceable settlement fut wh:"h the Transvaal strove Lti E more cLifi- cult, beside? once mc-re endangeruig the peace of Sonet Africa, at large. • A mechanic has offered. Mr. Baynes, eoitor of the "ifonannes- burg Standard and Digger?" News." a. copy of the missing proojamation by tiie Reform Com- nmtee, which 1311 the pocnt of being pub- lished when Jam wn was defeated. The man values it at £ '00. 0,rmg to developments, hm arrest aa^ oeen efTected. and ha :s w n custody. 1;'0 now states that he liaa de- stroyed the "c. cuent, but this is not believed. President KruRer' reply to Mr Chamberlain ii considered d gnified. determined, and justi- fied by cirojmstances. Mr. Chambwrlsin has made a mistake in regard ng the Sou»b African Repriblic ae a quesi-Crown Colony There is immense surprise expreesed ,t Cecil Rhodes'3 speedv return to Africa, espeoiiaily after the call had beer, made upon him to come to Ting- land and make a full statement. It is feared be may effect a meeting with Jan»<.sOi> between Suez and Naples. The renewed puffing of Charteriand :s laughed at here, ae the country c considered hopelew? and trolikely to become a rival to the Rand, to which travellers to nhe north quickly return. The !a«t three troopers, Drey-Ir. Brirrowes, and Hayes, paaeed throtiyh en route for Durban to-day. PRESIDENT KRUGER NOT COMING. A Dalziel's telegram from Johannesburg says: —President Kr'jger, it is reported, hae replied to Mr. Cl;ajnberlain!s dispatch inviting h • 31 ti; visit England. The Pr-:ji 'en.t of the Republic declines the invitation, and adds chat, while prepared to 0b4e-r-4L- the terms ot the Coiivention of 1334, h» queetiona the right of Ejiglana or any other Power to advise in tha irtenw.l afftirs of the Transvaal Mr. Rruger W believed to have declined the visit to Eng- land becaa* the advice tendered by Mr. Chamberlain with respeot to retonris in the Rand is not looked upon with a friendly eye at Pretoria. The return of Mr. Cecil Rhodes to south Africa is also believed to havt in- flutrced tfie President's coming to this dtce- sio;i. A Reuterg telegram from Paris sa.ys —Ac- cording to a. telegram from Pretori?, roce ved here, tae question oC President Kruger' visit to England will for-m the subject 0: further 1 pourparlers with the Br ti^i Government, and w>il have *■ their object the c.rawing up of a programme of negotiations to be entered llitO. The" result of these pourpa-ers will be s-a-b- mitted 'o the Voiksraad. whi^h will decide whether the proposed visit is necessary.

MJR. CHAMBERLAIN SPEAKS In the House of Commons on Thursday, Mr. LABOUCHERE (R, N 'taampton) -<a.id that he roee to move a a. amendment witlJ. rtvpeet to the atfaxts of the Transvaal, but he d;d not intend to press it to a. division. He only moved it in order to give an opporfcu-n-ty for discission. He admired the ooune taken by the Col' tiial Secretary, who seemed to have acted in this matter with great decision In the interest of the country. Wh: te the right hon. gentleman had promieed1 to do what he could tG obtain redress for the grievance,- of the U'itlanders. that had not prevented him f-om i frankly expressing his opiidon of the conduct of Dr, Jameson, who had probably been the instrument of oth«rts. As the front-cr of t.he Tranavaal was passed by a force of tue Char- tiered Company, there was at least a. presump- i tion that Mr. Rhodes, who was the managing director of the company, was responsible for what had taken place. He saw that M-. Rhodee badcotie back t-oafri-a v.i'hcut making that repudiation of the action of Dr. Jameson whioh th! Colonial Secretary said he ought to make. Aid he must gay he thought that, pend- ing the inquiry into the subject which they were told wa/ to take place Mr. R-hodes ought to have suspended by the directors of the Chartered Con.-pt.-ny, and ought not to be allowed to act as its jnanaging director in Africa. His (Mr. Labmcbere's) main object was to demand that there should be a full invssti- gation. not only with regard to Dr. Ja.mw'"• 3 raid- but with regard to all the circcmstances which had occurred in respect to ta-, Company since the grant of its charter. He expreeaed an opinion that th^re wver was a mora di-sorraoeful episooe in the -tviatorv cS England than the war against the Matabeles, and all t proceedings w^re of a stoeK-j 3ebbixtg bhare—.er, being to raise the value • of the sh-anee of the com.p»tn} on the market, and this was done so U ;ccess.fuily that, while the shar.ee of the Company stood at 12s. before the Matabelo War, they were quickly raised t-o £ 9. The House of CommoiiB coula not ignore these proceedings because they were' those of a r-omp;uiy incorporated v.ndsr a Royal Charter, aiul he thought traits the proper tribunal to conduct the investigation for which he asked was a- Committee of that House. He knew the company war, a very powerful bod}', but he trust-ad that the Colonial Secretary ww.Id ) not allow himself to be deterred fiom a com- plete and searching investigation of its con- duct. He concluded by moving an amend mint, declaring that no investigation into the affairs of South Africa would be complete m les* it extended to the financial and political action o* the South Africa Company. Mr. ARNOLD FORSTER iU., Belfast, W.), in seconding the amendment, said that he not only desired to brine the Chartered Company to judgment, but. to prevent such powers as that company possessed front again being conferred upon any similar body. No monry-making company ought to be entmsted with power? of government Sir H. FARQUHAR (TT., Marylebone, W.) defended tiio Chartered Company, which, lie declared, was never in a sounder condition than at prc-s«r>t. Mr. STANHOPE JR.- Btur.ky) regretted that the las.t. speaker had soughn to draw the I House of Commons from us solemn duty in this matter by throwing ridicule upon the mover of the amendment. The main object of the Chartered Company was not to extend the Empire, but to put- money into the pockets of those connected with the company. Mr. SYDNEY BUXTON (R., Tower Ham- lew, Pqplaj), wiaa glad to think that no party question was involved in this matter. The public would not be satisfied unless there was such an inves- tigation as that asked foe by the amendment, which could not take place in c-onnecticn with the trial of Dr. JameSOD. He rordiaily assented to the opinion of the member for Northampton that the inquiry should be made by a Committee of that House, and. as such an inquiry must take some time, he wished to what vmF +0 be done in the meantime to prevent a iepstit.or; of the occurrences of last January. The Chartered Company should at least be deprived of the control over the police or any armed force. {Hear, hear ) T!en he wanted to know -hat was to be the future position of the Sotth Africau Republic, both with regard to it." foreign relations ana its internal admink^tion. He was glad to know that the Government had firmly laid it down that the foreign reltt'ons of the South Afriran Republic were to bo controlled by England, Which had also, he thought, a moral right to interfere on behalf of the Uitlanders with a r'er t-o a redress of the-'r grievance. Mr COURTNEY (U. Cornwall. Beamin) did not say that there was no Protmd for in. quiring into the affairs of the Chartered Com- rjany, but to say that the investigation should be proceeded with now and by a Seicct Com- 1 mittee was unjustifiable. It cor Id not take place span from the inquiry regarding Dr. Jameson, and that was about to iorm the sub- ject of judicial proceed; rigs. MR. CHAMBERLAIN'S REPLY. j Mr. CHAMBERLAIN, who on rising was locdly cheered, said, aftor some introductory observations, that he desired to acknowledge the general spirit with which the debate had been fv-ndccted. He agreed, indeed, with Lord Rceebeiy that he him-elf had been praised beyond his merit. At the same time, he did net rvgi this—(laughter)-either on personal or on public grounds, for it was only one other evidence tbar, whanever a Minister was called upon to represent his country at a. time of crvs'i, hp might rest assured of the support ot all parties and classes. (Cheers.) Some re- marks had hx-.sn mads as to the su.p?»osed ignorance of tho Colonial Offioo and ilizh Com- tnissioiiPT as to the events preceding the recent occurrence. Well, it was always easy to be wise after the evp'ifc. Let them reoolieo; 1]¡a¡t circun^tanc(5S which at one raoment appeared to b"o of 110 importance assumed tremendous importanoe wlien it was Been that they formed part of a large series of events. They moat distinguish between two bhing-o-the agitation at Johannesburg and tbe raid of Dr. Jameson. While everyone knew that there was a great probability of agitation at Johannesburg no one, he believed, knew anvt.a:r<g of the projected raid of Dr, Jam, mm. As to the position, ot affairs at Johannes- buig, that was ao open secret. It WM known long before h3 came ifnto office that dM- turbances were likely to arise if the claims of the Uitianders v.ere disregarded, and last De- cerober, by rumour, the date of the outbreak wae fixed. So open, i:_deed, was the talk about it that the Agent-General of the Trans- vaal warned his Government to be upon their guar But there wee absolutely no ground at the tune for any intervention on cu- part, we having explicitly repudiated any right of interference in the iriteraal affairs of the T.-ana- vaai, amd there was no proof that any xepre- f»enWtion. on our parr woiti i have heen of any advantage or would have been favourably re- I oeived by either party. We were not oaiied ùpou by either party to interfere, and it would have been rather presi'mpta-cu; on our part to off' intervention. fRear, hear.) There were waminsrs as definite and pr ecise in 139-1- as the Government had in December, 1E95. Sir Jacobus do Wet had kept the Government in- formed of the state oi affairs at Johannesburg, but those who had condu-^ted the ?g.ts.t.on had cried "WoM" so often that whcn tha "wolf" wag at the dr-cr it a. matter of grave d-crfbt whetiier anytLie g serious was about to ow ur If he were a^kod whether other poeple were ignorant of the projected mv&zvm his reply would be th?t to the best of his belief Mr- Rhodes, the Chartered Company, the Reforin Committee of .Tohanneeburg. and the High CommWioner were all eoually i-n of the intended scion of Dr- Jameson. (Htsa-r, hear.) The leaders of the Opposition said on a pre- vir<us evening that no ignorant war thti High Oommiimoner in South Africa of wha* was poing on that he was actually infomed by the Colonial Office of Dr. A raid That was not the fact. What occurred was this. When the proceedings at Johannes- burg- came to an end. ao far at, the danger of a ri^volutionary rising was concerned, end tile crisis teemed to have parsed. Mr. Fairfield, of the Colonial Office, knowing the combustible elements that J there were in South Afriov suggest-d to him that it was possible that such an event as Dr. Tttmoson's raid might oorur His reply wa ? j that this was incredible, but be suggested that, r as a matter of precaution, a telegram should b,, sEm tn Sir Hercules Robinson to warn him, .¡¡,ç to suggest that hf; should make confi- dential inquiries of Rhodes. Bui at thal timP the Colonial Office had no knowledge of what mid actually occurred. Then it was taid that uhe Colonial Office should have been aware of the pi-s-parations that ware being xovide fc the invBJrion of the Transvaal, But on that spe.nt* sdso. there was a misarrprc- Leii.ioti. It wa*5 gairl tilal 200 mou crossed the border under Jameson, but he believed the actual rvuamber that crossed the border was under 500, and their concentration on the border wa*; acoounted fcr by the plausible pretext that it was -n-eoe"sary to protect the railway in course erf const ruction, and also in order to carry out the arrangements for the transfer of the Beciui- anaiand to the Chartered Company. It was said that Preeident Kruger kne r all cbcxit the matter beforehand, but there wa? no reason to d-rabt the tru-h of his statement that he was eiitireiy unaware that any invasion was in- tended or probable ri?-cg was pending, and he wished to prcoest against any prejudgment on one side or the other. (Cheers.) The Ger- man Government proposed, with or witnout the consent of Portugal, to land troops at Dei ago a Bay. and send them up to the Trans- vaal. He was not complaining- of that, but i" it was legitimate for them to provide a^a-m-t mischa-ef ;t was legitimate for others to the san,c. 'Hear, hear.) Therefore they should be prepared to reserve their final judgment till thev 'had all the facts before tnam. <Cheers.) While he was the first to realise the magnani- mity .yf President Kruger, he claimed that-the President was only following the exampie net for him bv the British Government in the vst-.sl. The Government had promised that the inquiry in this cn,se should be full and search- ing. There were three matters as to which more information was wanted—the first as to the circumstances attending Dr. Jameson's in- vasion, the second 3<1 to the complicity of rhe leaders at Johannesburg, to id the third tho responsibility of the Chartered Company. A, to the firs-t/ that would be fuliy inva-tig ited in the legal proceedings against 1. Ja.mewn. Sir WILLIAM lL.\RCOC K. \ViU the right hen. gentleman tell us how the criminal inquiry into Dr. Jameson's conduct will admit of a legal investigation as to how fa.r the Char- tered Company had to do with it Mr. CHAMBERLAIN said he had divided tho inquiry into throe heads. The inquiry as to the criminality of Dr. Jameson and hi- friends would be disposed of at Vhe trial. Then CMT-.e the -.i' lg.-Ik"l complic.iy of the leaders of the agita- tion at .Johannesburg, and that was b?ing ,n. (ptired into in the proceedinars at Pietona.. As to the complicity of the Chartered Company, the inqu vv was Act to be conducted with a vindictive motive, but its obic-t would L, to see wheth-.r or not they were fit to continue to be entrusted with the administration of that territory, and, therefore, lie thought the in- quiry mu?t include the subjects referred to by the mover of the amendment He did not think it was fair to ask the Government t-o (pledge themselves as to the nature of the L quiry which might take place after the trials st Pretoria. and the trial or Dr. Jameson in London. When these tr a'is were over the Government would consider ] whether any further information was neoes- e.hry, a,nd if it was thought desirable the Government would readily assent to it. It had been suggested that any inquiry which might take pla-' e should be either by a. Com- mi t toe of the House cr by a Joint Committeevr.f both Houses, and, no doubt, thae would be the proper course if it was desired to have a seneral inquiry into the policy of Chartered Companies, but if it wag intended to inquire into particular aocu??.tions>. then, perhapw. a judicial commission might be prefer- a.ble. Those, however, were questions en which the Government at present- desired to retain an open mind. !He?r, hear.) Then th? I:te Under-SecrEt-ary fcr the Colonies had osked j the Government what stepw they proposed to take to prevent the possibility of future raids like that of Dr. Jameson. Ho bad been asked to revoke the charter of the Chartered Company, but that could only be done after full inquiry, nor did he thirl: vhat it was de.sirab!'p that the icneral administration or these new territories should be transferred to the Colonial OfHce. which could not do the work nocessarv to tlx?ir speedy development But, while the Chartered Company would be allowed to continue its useful tverk in deve- loping the country, the military and polios force would be taken frcm their cioritro,. end would be placed under ofgec-rs apoointed t-v th^ Crown, who would take thei- orders either from the Hig-h Comnv'es/inner or li-tr Marty's Government, while they would be paid by the oompa-ny. Moreover, no magistrate would in fiKtjr^ be allowed to be aopiointed unless he had legal or Colonial experience officer;: in the police force would also be authorised to communicate directly v. ih her Mai'c-stv' Government or the High Uonrms- riorer. He '.hought he might eay with corfi- denro that th' would p'aoe it beyond the power of the Chartered Company either to sat-ction or allow any further raids. (Hear, hear.) The dispatch he had published was not a consequence of his interview v. i*b Mr. Rl.-ode3. but was oorcivleted cn-d pig-ned before lie saw him, and no charge waa made in it in consequence of that misrvicw. Neither had he anything to do with Mr. Rhodee's decision t-o leave for South Africa- He -dT^red uo a'l- vice and no opinion nr.on his acnou. Mr Rb'.dafl told him. ana he had no reason t,{) doubt it, that he intended to go back to Afrya. witr the sole object of developing the material rteouroee of the ccrantry which hore his <i,Mn< It should be remembered that ?!r. Rhodes went i back in a different position from that wnieh k, at one time occupied. A few w?eks ago Mr. Rhodes was the motrt powerful man. in South Africa, ber-auie he was the Premier cf ,tbó:: Cape Colony, and he alone had euocoeded i-n bringing together the Dutch and tho English. Mr. Rhodes went? back almost as a private m- dividufij, not having the control 01 a single policeman, and having seen his work of civi- lisation jeopardised, if not destroyed. There- fore, his return to South Africa oucmt not to be a cause o' alarm anvoni, and no on could denv that he migh. a factor for good there. (Heir, hear ) It w £ :dd be ingratitude, wh-n suspicion hung over 1tim,t,ç forget, tho grua-t services he had rendered. (Loud cheers.) '11th Government n«d takein prvCiiArtions winch they thought suScient to prevent a. recurrence of the troubles that had taken place. But though wa could deal with disturbances from outside, it was not in their power to protect the Trans- vaal from internal weakness, and thPT" would be internal weakness so 1-tig as discontent re- mained. There was. no doubt-, grievances under which the majority of the population of the Republic laboiired, and this Government were etitled to give the President friendly counsel, and would c-ontinua to do J'O. He W011ld remind the hon. sentlemac oppc^iiie that the Home Rule tie had suggested for the Uitla-ndere was gac and water Hoc-f Rtue. (Ijatiifhter ar.1d "Hea-r, heer.' ) B'rt President Kruger would be perfectly justified in rejecting it if he con- sidered rhat it would erdan^fer the security^ of the Transvaal Government. Tlie invitation to presideci Kruger to visit this country was not given without dne consideration, nor uiith be bad had a private intimation that it would be gladly r&-sived and accepted. If the Presi- de vt accepted that invitation, he was sure he would be re ceived oot only by the Gfovercment, but by the pecne'e of this country, with all the respect due LJ position and his chancter-I (cheers)—and he believed that personal nego- tiation would dear away a great deal of mis- understandms-and pave the way to a. settlement of marsv difficult questions whkh etCl remained open. A fcer explaining the tarcumstances under which he had publivhexl his dis- T>atoh, the right lion, gentleman said that h«.« had Ti-ceivtd a. communication from President Kruger complaining of Hte TJublicaiion. and oaying that the Government of the South Afri- can Pepubile would not tolerate any interference in its internal affairs. He regretted this com- munication, because it was due to a. lmeappr*- -ca 'or At. all events h« had ii,ppro' hed Mr Kruger a-s a. friend, both to him and the South African Republic. He believed no friend of that Republic would say it was not desirable to redress the grievances of which the majority r-f the population complained. But. however j that might be, the Government would continue to use its influence to secure for of iiiC Transvaal that justice which had hitherto been denied them, and in this he believed they would be supported, not only by the people of this courier* but by the British in South Afr-ca, and he did not. to say that sooner or later justice v/ould be done. (Loud cheer?.; On the morion of Mr. J. ELLTS (R., Notts, Rtjishcliffe). the debate was adjourned, and the Pur, afterwards adjourned at five minutes to twelve o'clock. I

ENGLAND AND EGYPT. THE RUM0UI~0F EA3LT EVACUATION. A Dilziei's itkgram from Paris says — V Cairo telegram published heio confirms the news recently received in London ieg:rdmg j thfl feeling in Egvpt co' eming ti." British occupation. The dispatch states that there has been disquiet, almost amounting I to panic in certain circi-es in cor^equence of the rumour of early evacuation. Lord Cromer states post-iveiy, iiowever, that no alteration will -take place in the present situation. WithI certain exceptions, e II nationalities desire the retention of the Br'tish troop».

[ENGLAND AND THE T'n STATES. PUBLICATION OF OFFICIAL DISPATCHES. I -IT XIXE YEARS OF THE VENEZUELAN j qulshon". I AMICABLE ATTITUDE OF AMERICA. The correspondence between Great and the Uuited States in reference to the Venaz-uelan boundary dispute was ivstied on Thursday night as a Parliamentary paper. The dispatches cover the period up to trie present time from February 8, 1887. when Mr. Phelps, then American Minister ui Lon- don, wrote Lord Salisbury, offering the good offices of the United States in the promotion of an amicable settlement of the questions at is-ie and expressing the great- desire of his Government t-o avoid embarrassing the interests of Great Britain in any quarter. In this commim ation Mr. Pheips quot-s from his official instructions that trie attitude of the United States, "of friendly neutrality and entire impartiality touching the merits of the controvert, is entirely consistent and compatible with the s-ruse of respons' Mlitv that rests upon the I nited States in relation to the South American Republics." Lord Salts- bur", in his reply, dut-ed Februaty 22. stated .u that her Majesty's Government fully appre- ciated the friendly feelings prompting the American Government to offer their media- tions. but the attitude taken up at- that time by Venezuela precluded the submission of tha questions at 1 .istie to any third Power, all hope, moreover, of a direct- settlement not having been yet abandoned. Three years later —on May 5. 15Q0—Mr. Lincoln. Mr. Phelps's successor at the United States Lega- tion, writes to Lord Salisbury offering the earnest good offices of the United States Government with a view to biBgmg about a. i resumption of the interrupted diplomatic reLi. tions between Great Britain and Venezuela. and suggesting the holding of an informal conference of representatives of Great Britain and the United State*, "-the attitude of the United States therein being solely one of impartial tiiendshtp towards both parties to the dispute." In his reply on May 26 Lord Salisbury says her Majesty's Government would wish to have the opportunity ot ox- amining the reply of Venezuela before eon- sidering the expediency of having recourse to the good offices of a. third party. Reference to a further endeavour on the p3rt of Mr. Lincoln to have tue dispute referred to settle- ment- is icade in a dispatch from Lord Salts- bury to S*r Julian Paun-.nfote, British re- present-ative at Washington, under date NoverrJwir 11, 1891, in whi&h his lordship again n"Zs forth his wiH'tigne-ss to submit to I arbitration ail the ouestions which seemed iaiiiy capable of being t-reaied as questions of tontrovers- A (#1211.iiac attitude is adopted by Lord Kimberiey, writing froai the Fj.-ejgn Office on Peia-uary 23, last year, to Sir o mi an Pawncetote AU zegard to a. conversation whi-ih he had. ndod vU the Vtmezueian qu^istioii witn Mr. Bayard, tile present United States A.ID L:.ci;gaQOr. Among the other Gispatclbe? in- ciudeo m the published joiueapondenc-j are the coiamunications from >ix. Oiney in .J u.v last, j dealing with the Monroe doctrine ^nd its app.icaliility to the Venezaelaa dispute, and those of Lord Salisbury in reply, ail of Vvhich were published iecently. The oo1 respocdence ir w published inciudes, fir>?.!iy, the letters whieh^have passed between .Mr. Bayard and Lor.i Salisbury in regard to the documents in P\"isirm of the Britisn Government which reiate to the ooundary que&c-ioiu Mr. Bayard. writing to the Marquess of Salisbury from the United btafces Embassy in London, au February 3, 1696, said — "My Lord, I have the L. aoof to inform you j that I am instructed by the Secretary of State States to make known to vour Jcroship that a^Oonnnissior to investigate an-d report npon tae true divisional lice between thd RapabUe of Venezuela and British Guiana oas, under the a-uthority of Congi-ess, K-en appointed by the Pres/dent of the United States, which Commission is now in session j ai> Washington, and has etioseu Mr. ust-ice Brewer, of the Supreme ou. of the L DItel Stages, as its president. Ihroagh its president, this Commission has suggested t-c the Secretary of State tliat, oejng distinct-]v aind in no view an arbitral triounal, but having its duty iiniffctd to a dihgent and careful ascertainment of the facta touching the territory referred to and in diapmte for the information of the Presi- facta touching the territory referred to and in diapmte for the information of the Presi- dent, it would be grateful for such assistance to that end as could be obtained by the friendly co-operation and ai-J of she Govern- ments of Grest Britain «nd Venezuela. Wherefore I beg leave to m«j-ke application to your lordship that, if entirely consistent with your -sense of international proprietv, the Comnmssion m-iy be furnished with suoh the Comnmssion m-iy be furnished with suoh documentary proof, jiigtorical narrative. 1111-, Eublished archives, or other evidence as may e within the powor of her iM.ostv'^ Govera- ment, as well as fo: any f&cilitties wheh m&v be conveniently extended to assort 1*0 Com- mission in the purpL-ses of its in3t.it/ution. In comimuTiicating these wishes of the Com- I mission to tiit Secretary of State, its pres- dent states that it is scarcely necesaart' to say that if either Gre-at Britain o~ Venezuela I shouid deem it proper to desigmwie an a-'ent or attorney, whose duty ic would be to see that no sue a proofs were omitted or over- looked, the Commission would be grateful for sucu. evidence of good win. and for the v-aiv- able results which would be likely to foliow frherefrom. Either pa.rty rna-king' a favourable re^i-onse to the wish so expressed by the president of the > oimiiission. would, of oor.rse, be considered only m.S amicus curia;, and to throw light upon difficult- -ind compiox ques- tions of fact. Tlie purposes of the invest-i- giot-ion proposed by the Commission are cer- tainly hostile to none, nor can it be of advantage to any that the effort to procure the desired information should fa P. uf its purpose, the soie concern of the United States be-in g tne peoceful solution of a controversy between two friendly Power- The Marquess of Salisbury, replying to Mr. Bayard from the Foreign Office on October 7, said: — Y"oar Excellency. —I have the honour to acknowledge your Excallewv's letter of the I Ard inst. Any information which is at the cerojtiat-1 of I, Majesty's Governmert upon

M. JACOBS & GO'S, FURNITURE. 1^0 BETT.EE VALTTE IN THE TEADE. INSPEOTION INVI TED. PORTLAND BUILDINGS, 1, 2, 3 & 4, PORTLAND-STREET. SWANSIOu

ENGLAND AND FRANCE AND SI AM. A SECRET ANGLO-FRENCH AGREEMENT. The London correspondent of the "Man- chester Gua-rddan" en Wednesday writes: — A very important piece of in format-ion cornea to me to-day. which alters g.reatly the com- plexion of the r'6(,,)f:t convention with France, and explain* the modified satisfaction with which the Siamese now view that engagement. r ivarn that tllt., cunveifirion as published in London said furls does not contain the whole of the, arrangement between this country and Fra-iioe tn regard to Siam, and that "here is a seorefc addition of Very great importanca whicii takes the form of what is known in di1.1(JlIJ{>.cy as a "])<:>00 v.erbale," or eort of memorandum of teams agreed upon, but not inclruied in the formal mstrcme-nt. la the present case tlos "note verbals" records an arrangement or understanding between and Great Britain that neith er dimii occupy or invade the portions of Siem outside &e guaran- teed area of the Meinaan Valley, so tfca,t Great Bii-tain cannot extend her territory itt the Ma'lajr Pe^icinsula nor Franee in that lying between the Meitmni aad the ileikong. Thus the whole of Si-m Is, in fact, protected—the Meinam Valley by the public convention, the rerasinder by the "note verbalp." There ia, however, thip drawbatat, tfcat Prance maintainfl the right tmdw tJiO convention of enforcing the rmanco ot her treaty of peace wiVh Sam. She a-ieo maintains the 25 kilometre zone on the Siamese side of the- Meikong, within which Siam is not to interfere, «lt-howrh Fiance can' n>a..n-fcain c:om.merci £ il agent; there who have no trade to look after. Nor does the "note verba^e" refer in any way to the continued ccoupa'-i-oii of Chx-r.ta-bo-Ti. and to -this piiterit, of c.)arse, tho note s-t-ultifies itself. But, with these dedu^ ions, vh-e integrity or the whole of Siest see;.is to be in a way gwran-t-sed. Tliis beinF 00. i- \11 asked why this was not stated cle.rly in the convention. I am irrformed that the real reasoa was the drepd ot the Frencli Government of an outcry by the extreme Colonial party in Farw. From inquiries which I have made as to the of-xrt of the arrange- n>en% in this new form on the .Sl-wnese. I learn tli°.t both France and Great IV.taia win pro- bably have need of aj3 theu- good f:'6'.1-9{, and confidence in each, ether's loyalty to (% agree- ment to avoid causes of quarrel. The Siamese h4", been par^otvla-ly skilful of late in plaving one Power off nar.dnafc the other, in ccmplain- insr to Fra-nce of the R-7 of England and to Ênglood of those of France, and Tn securing ooaioessionf from one by threats ,.f a protectorate over ^iara by the <>tber. The Sisme^e now feel more secure than they have ever done before, for they have a. light to in- voke British diplomatic a»netance ajraiost French aggressiou and Frrnoh assistance agabisf British aggression—aggression for this purpose meaning what the Siamese choose to represent as such. However this may be. it is clear aft* the "note verbale" that Lord Salisbury's bar- gairn writh the French is very much lew thoroughgoing than it wai believed to be. QUESTION BY MR. M'KENNA, M P. Mr. T-I'K^nna, M.P.. pea notice <m Wed- nesday to ask the Under Secretary of State ior Foreign Affair* -m Monday whether hm atte-n- tiou has been eaijxlto the oonoludiap- words in the eemmunk ation of M. Berthelot to M. Guieysse-, contained in the recently issued French Yellow Book relating to the affairs of Siam and the Upper Mekong, in which he alludes to th-- execution of the Treaty of October 3, 1893. as remaining incomplete, and whether lie ha"t any information iw to tho par- ticularsi in respect of whioh. the -,i*'d Tretk,ty is ai-kged to !>-» ttill incomplete.

WELSH COAL TRADE. THE PLYMOUTH STRIKE. A mass meeting of the unemployed workmen of the Plymouth Collieries was held on Thurs- day fore-noon a t the Theatrw Royal, Merthyr, l the use of v/hioh bad very* kindly been granted gratis by Mr. Will Smithson. dbe leasee.—Mi-. A. Robbins was in tha chair and Mr. David Mkwgan (miners' agent) was present. Roese- ( hitions were passed e^qpressing indignation at I the prop«ja-l of the Coalowners Afsoc-iation in regard to discharge notes, and calling upon the T2prcwntatiyes of the men on the joint slidinic-sr-aie committee to !T f.t as soon as pos- sible to endeavour to put a s op to the unfair ) practice thus involved; thanking the members of the urban district- council tor the manner in which they received the deputation, and for the prompt- action ♦aker, bv them to flllrl ploymeint for n" many as possible and pieiring the meeting to do all in its power to snuport the agent iI, firrthe-canre of the Eictht Hours Wmdin r Bill.—A cordial vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Smith-on for his ijndness. AN APPEAL. The workmen's committee have issued an a.ppoa.l to the c-olliery wcrkir.eri of Jkmih Wales Rod Monmoirti.jli.ire and to the gii ieial public for fonds to enafcla tMn: to carry the struggle to a successful end.

-GREAT WESTERN R.AILWA Y A AD SOUTH WALES. INCREASED ACCOMMODArnON AND FACILITIES. The one httBdred and iwr;.ty-first half- yeai ,y geneta» meeting- of the proprietors of the Great Western Railway Company was lieid at the bead offices. Padaingtou Station. 011 Thursday aiteruoon, under the presidency cf Viscount £ in!yn. chan-niau of ciia ooiiipanv. The ChairriiiUi, in moving the first resolu- tion, which was that the report of the direc- tors be received and adopted, said that they hoped that tlie figures and tLe lesuits of the working of the haix-vear would prove, on the whole, satisfactory to the shareholders. He added that thosu results were due to the excel- lent management of their general manager. The directors had that day appointed as assis- tant general manager their goods manager, [Mr. >Vilkinson, and in order to fill up the place of the latter Mr. Wilkinson, of Bristol, had been appointed chief goods manager, hi t. in order to prevent any conipiication of names, the new chief goods manager hod adopted the name of Maiden. Dealing with the accounts in detail, the chairman said that the revenue account- showed a. decrease of 20,886 in the number of lust-chss passengers. but under that item there w'w; an Increase of 1,635 in mon2Y, which, his lordship sup- posed, proved that the first-class passengers had travelled longer distances, but 'he con- l&ssed tha.t he vas net. surprised to see the dropping off in numc-ers. Setoiid-ciass passengers showed a decrease in numbers of 125,392 and decrease in receipts of i;2,781. Third-ciass passengers, on the other hand, showed an incn;&se, both in numbers and in money, the increase in the foiTner item be:„g ,872.235 and iu the latter £ 57,166. The tefcai revenue receipts for the hait'-year amounted to £ 4,910.088. Their total revenue expenditure a-ruount-ed to £2,63;;2%, the balance of revenue account l«ejn^ £ 2,276.792, to whi-*h ntiist !>e added the balance from the la«t account, -imount'.ng to £ 25,691, the aggregate j being JS2,318,722, out of wiiicij there wiis a balance, after p^iynient of debenture interest. I &«.j of £ -843,4?7available for dividend, admit- I ting of the payment of a dividend on t'he crdi- nary stock at the rate of 7 per cent., carrying forward a balance of £ 42,459 to the next t account, as compared with a dividend at thø. rate of 6 per cent, per annum at the cor- ■ responding period last year, when a balance of £ 42.157 waa carried forward. With regard to the work taat had been done and was in course of being carried out. considerable pro- gress was being made at Cardiff, where the pressure of traffic had been very great, and the directors would be very gl.9-d when thev could j get the station there into good w irk-ng order. Bi South Wales the traffic had (.e- veloped very largely of late years, and it ha-d been pressed upon the board that if they were really to hold that traffic in that district and deai with it in a satisfactory manr.nr they would have to spend consider- able sums of money on improveit>e«5*B. aÐd it was proposed to ask for powers to do so in the co*irse of the current half-year. It was j first of ail proposed to develop the line befcwean Newport and Card iff el ready in pro- | gress, and so fitr e.s tfiat work had Seen carried out it had afforded enormous relief to the local traffic. No one could travel on that line in &(i tii.G'ficial capacity without seeing how greatly it w-as blocked and how urgently relief was required. Arrangements were also being made for widening the Western Valleys Section of the Monmouthshire Railways, between Newport and Rise a and between L anhilleth and Aberbeeg, and a contract had bum let for doubling oort'on? of the Ely Valley line. to facili- tate tile conduct of tie iitav v mineral goods traffic, and they had also under contemplation to ada.pt that line for the pur- poses of passenger traffic in the not far future. There were also various other matters m contemplation, incl-udmg the ex- tension or the accommodation ait the com- pany's dock at LJaneilv, for which plans had been approved. With reganl to the orice /^sx.-d £ -1.00,000—for the lea/se of the refresh- ment-rooms and hotel at Swindon Station, he thought that rnonev was well spent, pnd that they had not made a verv bad ba-ivrain, as by the t^nsxition the directors had b.»en enabled to make im-D-ovements in the train service which ootlId not otherwise have been effected. It wae proposed in the next session to seek powers to anvs-lg-amate no less than eight companies and. to absorb them in fche Great, Western system, and this arrangerrwvt woufd certainly be to the advantage of the shareholders and the ccmpanv srenerallv. Those propo^ds included the construction of a. new line from the companv's South Wales Railway to the existins' Ro«t-h Dook at Cardiff and the new dock authorised to be constructed by the Bute Dock* Company. Povers were al^o sought for the fXin-stmction of a new railway. a.bout 31 miles in lenrth. from the mnin fee of the coanpanv'? rwilwav 8.t Woott-on Basse tt to the Bristol and South Wales on Ran way. near Patch- way. as the directors for some time ]>?oSt had recognised the enormous importance cf the Met that, if tSiev were to retain their hold upon South Wales they must p-ive that d'strict the best M-vice posstWe. This cew line would edible them t-o do 8'0, and by it they would avoid no less than three he"vy iTadieri-ts. as it would pro- vide them with a practioallv level lurmlng line, and would shorten the distance between South Wales and London by sornethinz like ten railed. nd t'!•"•■>• would a'^o shorten the route into Bristol by a route thev were nro- route int-o Bristol by a route thev were nro- po^bc to make bv two or thre;- miles. With reference to a BiB which had been deposited in the present session of Parliament for the construction of a new lina of railway the construction of a new lina of railway firnr! South Wales to London, in direct com- petition with this company's route, the direr- tors. he wars happy to say, had been able to peroxide t'ne promoters of that measure to withdraw it, er.d thi had accordingly been done. (Hear, hearj He thonght that it was now recognised that tlie Great Western could serve the district eSRcient-y. and that thev were most anxious to to do all that they could to meet the public in the mitt?;- of rates. ;1t, Alexander ffubbani seconded the resp- hit; on. Mr. F. Stroud congratulated the share- holders on the satisfactory nature of the report, and *u,gcpe-sted the desirability of de ,*e- loping the rofcouroes of Milford Hav«& aa a port of call for American iteamers. -h Mr. Phillips urged t-iie nece-ss'.tv of pr0' ceeding with dhe extension of the Wefitert Va!!v"-i Section, t^nd of converting the froui Llanhilletii. which wa<? now "a mineral iine, into a passenger line. He also pressed upon the directors the importance of proving the station accs 1 nunodation st Ponty* pool. The Ciiairuvon, in reply, sa d that he could not say anything definite to them on the sub- iert of developing Milford, arrl he admitted that Pontypool was net quite a perfect station, but steps would be Ween to feaiedf its defects. The report was then adopted, and a- divi- dend at tlie rate of 7 per cent for the haa- vea-r declared, after which the retiring tors were re-elected. A special meeting was subset)uentiy at which the shareholders gave their at>pro^» to the various Bills referred to by the chair- man a-s to be proceeded with in Parliament. A vote of thinks to the clbairtmja munated the nrojeeciing's

SHIPPING NEWS. SIGNALLED OFF THE LIZARD. Feb. J3.—Pas» ii West Ore of Hctdd**» Bros.' steamers, of London .Wind. E.. lighi; weather, ciense fog a'1 day bar., 30*32, steady* SIGNALLED OFF THE MUMBLES HEAD. Feb. 13.—Wind, S.W., light; weather very hazy sea, smooth—-Passed St-eamtf* Vigilant, of Liverpool Welsh Prince, of Bridg- wntor Gleudale, of Sunderland Llandaff Cltý, of Bristol Harlow, of London City cf York, of Newport; Hermann,- of Bremen schoonet Agrieú1a, of FL1t:F"I3Y- SWANSEA.—A. RRIVA LS. KOK-TTT IX) CK. Fell. 12.—E>c.trk;, Sl. Padat'iw. uil. Hary Jsmee. 144, r 'nx.mcf- tin tlag. Chepica, 1.0K6. 2U<Cfchi»«W> t wljtat. fiive lie Gior, s, 641, P,,rcty-? ¡¡jj r Feb. 13.—J»:ve, 31, llfrao-cmbe. ». JC. liverpool, general. Aiptia, a, 56, HishoriCge* cil. Auri44 211,, han&in, via Cardiff, ^ead-mi- SOUTH DOCK. Feb. 12 —A.ra Fo.-ce, s, 96, Watarford, nii. LJotJJS <t A«pran>. nt, #. £ 71. E«!faet. n'?. Ztiiwl Bcrrfejwjx, pitwood. Cre»di-a. s, Limsrlek. -12-—Bf>cr, g, 362, Briaioi, efe iefal. N'oiTni, g' n73. (iranviile, nil. yai <ie Tdiv-is, Man* | tester. (feiM-al. Jf-oijiJatre, 99, Frtiuir^ron, nh R PKI.VCK or WATKS IK'CK Ff h. 12-iobe. B, 289, Ecrdeuux, via (,;arM.oÐ, srejiiiial. SAILINGS. ^NRRRII DOCK. Fffi. :en, s (il'Kiu'ey), Feb. 13.—H<-(.mds (Maxrcw), Gnemeey. Sea.cb Li; tug cfjn.kSrvea. Le.-ioi-a CCbicheMer;, staple. Cumbria (Cfciohestcr). B&msteple. Srvrab Arm (Tucker). Barnstaple. Augu«iane (FaAa), Irtjroy* SOCTIf DOCK. Feb. 12,-Collie¿-, » (WftUuliis), Bristol. « (MorrisoR), Lordoodetiy. » (Pvea). Koaet- Mrdway, a (Wbyte), GUMg<iw. Chrysolite {J«rae»)> Feb. )3,-Fa.thtul (HBgtoes), Che.-Dourg. Priruee* of YHote (Hughes) (Jtaiboutg- Mmj- "Jfii'er (Wll* lianib-, St. Valery. '111. Fe.ree, s ;0wens,. r>undaa. Alioo De^aux, r (Lefevre). Uuiwi. PKLSTOE OF WALES WCX. F<t). 33—Ms-bet. » fFaulbeitk), Caoi. K.N IE IIP D 01. iWAP-DS.—Febrnafy 15. l<a Roeheiie. Rive de Gier, ». F, Duntorrte. b'-1 CVuie^Ie Sn. :»»ir«i. RoseRa, n, I>on-wd. 864, T. P. Ri.-lmd^ ^'ar.<s and Bcrclea-Tx. Kiobe, B, Masson, 289. BUJ" 5r Co. Brejiseii, Creart.-w, B, Far res I, 293, Wa H.-iweii Tieport. Val de Tmverd, B, Grant, 255. John Harrs400 TrouviWe. iI. B, Hiotm-s. 378. Harries Bn,06. Rio de Janen, Cypher, B, CSark?, 398 C'iJiAKED.—February 13. Pic de Janeiro. Cyr'r»*r, B, 750 cost! Mortafirne, Juliea Marie. F. 160 fv-ei lift ItocW^ Itlve de Oier, F. WJ fueJ. 120 coal Venire Ophelia, ?, Pen, 1^530 fuel C'u- n, M..v.<. R. Nwy, 930 coal Trf-HTiile, Norma, s. B. 500 ciwa? Tieport, Val do Tin vers, s, B, 410 coal I.isbon, IVmiro. s. B, 200 jjeneral La BoobeJte. Xaame Acvie. F. 275 eoal ASifiere, W. Harseos. s, B. T..2T) fuel Sk Xarvire, Rosetla, s, Ii. 1.750 coal Bremen, Ci-e.-fk-n, s, B, 480 too1 New Yerk, Jlanisou, 13, B. 300 general I -WO! tTS.-F' nr-ian- U. Ta'almafljo, Chepica, 31,366 cwis, wheat, WeAwr 41 00. (TJmitedi Bayonne, Zotrfijil, s, 750 Icatls pit-ood, W. Darief IMPORTS COASTWISE.—February 13. lojidoD, via Cardiff, Aune, s, jr»opral. Tucker Si Co. Mi. r.t-hesVr, *ia Bristol. Bear, s, geaeral, J. & Un: r.'eoii liftc-corobe, Jane, 2 tons potatoes, J. fiowden, NetMk Ftifvence, Mary jMttt-e. 221 tons t..n slag, .7 StPphefl* EXPORTS CXJAST^'ISE.—Fdn-uary 13. Manchfster, Hear, a. general..T. i C. Harriaoa LeiKlo. Ottawa. 230 ooai, C. E. & H. M. reel Plymouth, Peter arxi .kb.1. 115 eulm, Evans & Bert** Dublin, Empress, 140 eoa', Griffith & Pcliard Brid5r*.v»te«. Malfilatre, 3fc0 coal. t:s. It Bcvan Hisrhbridjre, Alpha, f.. 110 (,ctl, R. Hodgens PGI. Gavciii, Teieij-i apii, 60 6uperpbcepfaate, Tivfc* and Sons PORT TALBOT.ARRIV ALS. Feb. 11—H. F. Boit. 62, B^div'orc, bailaet. Feb. 12—Sneyd, s, 112, Fntimcutli, bei'aet. S. 658, Hoelva, copper ore. 3 \ILVUi. Feb. 10.—Pride- of Wftias fBoonett), JEUakL IMPORT —February 12. HudVlt, Benratno. s, 1,.120 tOUli oepper ore. Rio TSmW Company (I<-tnite<5) NEATH AND BRITON TERRY. ARRIVALS. FeK 12.—CbrisMna. 44,. Bristol, ballast. nenty, Fi?her, a, 256, jr*wca«tle. ballast. Coai*toa Fell. s. 1!0. "orbrvKfh, bai'ast. Krin»«s. g, 124, Dnblin» bat's nl. F-:b. 13.—C"i;floa Grov; s, 09, Bristol, bewlast. SAILING? Fel. 12.-(:.t\" of York, a (Bakpr), Bristol. Cotnazoo Fell, oil (tirenfe-n, Portivath. Erlmus. a Otiwe), loo*- LlaivlatT, a Edwards), Fecamp. Fdj. 13,-T.s,lr')\F!¡¡, (Hurvev), Fsnzaace. Ilia- Sftn^tt (CSortisl, MaJpa?. Se»-s?3 Be'le (nr?a?-y« CalEtook. R. W. T. (Peaberth), Truro. Henry fifhcfi a (Neiscn), Beylp, CJ E?-?ED.—Fetiuary 12. Fscsmp. L'rdatr, s, <N>,U

caww^—; 'jju 'riimwa—t— I ROYAL COMMISSION ON AGRICULTURE. I A meeting of the lioyal Committee 011 I A sriicu It ura WtM h. rl am W eetm imt^r. Mr. Sbew-Lefevra presi.iUr.g. It d unde.c-o that the. Committee ftaiH,ner considered i-epcrt dealing wth the rating of agricultural land, but as to *he main report clrafT'l/I "°y the chairman it is held that no wa* mat; it not now iserioi-y cout" —,e. th** mat; it 1' not now iserioi-y cout" th** a serioj: cdl'erenc9 or op!m-cn his arise51 among the Cota-m-'ssion,$ni that a majority. Jr'* c-iuctiiig Ltoev.-il' in politics, r.v-rd t-he ca' so UMatijfiaotory tha.t ther declino to aocp* it, Con«.iiorins the «poro7ed report referred to-, tl-i? probably cn j reseotpd the Kou?a ihortiy, and mi«.y t>? expected tc ir>.br»ce a iecoin'mwde-tion that agricul'cril la.i-l F-ho< Id be relieved of tkree-fuui:hs of the ei" ii»ting taflcatiori. Printed and PufMighed fcT the Proprietors by DAVID DA VIES, at the Oicow of the "South Wales Daily FOt!t, 211, Kigh sareeii SwMista. ♦

ADVANCE !N FLOUR MARKET. ."3f/It' We have secured our Customers against any Advance in Retail Prices for some months to come and will not raise present Prices until our Stocks are cleared. Yours faithfully, OXFORD STREET. SWANSEA. Go, Ltd.^

any sub ject of inquiry taat is occupying the attention of the Government of tlie United Siii-us will be readily placed at the disposal ox tl:6 l'resident. Her Ma jesty's Government is at present collecting the documents which refer to the bound&ry questions that have for sjme yeai-s been discussed between Great Britain and Venezuela, in order that thev may be presented to Parliament. As soon as the collection is complete and ready for the press. her Majesty's Government, will have great pleasure in forwarding advance copies to your Exœilency." The corresjKmdence conchides with the following letter from Mr. Bay aid to the Marquess of Salisbury, dated from the United States Embassy Oil February 10: — "My Lord.—I have the honour to acknorr- ledge your lordship's note, dated the 7th inst.. and to tha,nk you for the prompt and courteous response to the desire expressed by me under instructions and on behalf of mv Government to receive documentary and other historical information in relation to the boundary questions so Jong under discussion between Great Britain and Venezuela. I shall await with great inter<-»t the promised trans- mission of advance -.p.es of the completed, collection of documents relating to the subject referred to, and with assurance of the appre- ciatici of my Government of the courtesy thus bestowed.—I have, kc. "(Signed) T. F. BAYARD