Flintshire Observer Mining Journal and General Advertiser for the Counties of Flint Denbigh

WITH moderate care and good usage a horse's life may be prolonged to 25, 35, or 40 years. An English gentleman had three horses which died in his possession at the ages of 35, 37, and 39 years respectively. The oldest was in a carriage the very day he died, strong and vigorous, but was carried off by a spasniodic colic, to which he was subject. A horse in use at a riding-school in Woolwich lived to be 40 years old, and a barge horse of the Mersey and Irwell Navigation Company is declared to have been in his 62nd year when he died.

GLOBE TROTTING UP TO DATE. By an extraordinary combination of circumstances it waa possible for one leaving London )n the 12th inst. to get round the world, "weather and other circumstances permitting," in 66 days—or in eight days less time than the present record, which now stands at 74, to the credit of a lady journalist, Miss Nelly Ely, of the New York World. Miss Bly travelled by the Eastern route—that is to -:ty, from New York via Liverpool, London, Calais, Brindisi, and the Suez Canal. She was no sooner on the war- path, however, than the editor of the C»$m-<politan Magazine commissioned another lady jourrwlift, Miss Bisland, who started round the world at only four hours' notice, taking the Western route—New York to San Francisco, Yokohama, and Brindisi, and suc- ceeded in doing the trip in 76 days. At eleven o'clock on the morning of the 12th inst. Mr. George Griffith, who has already been round the world three times, and with whom the writer had a chat a few moments prior to his departure, left Channg-cross for the purpose of reducing the existing record to 613 days. "Do you seriously imagine it possible to circum- vent the globe in 66 days when three years ago it was found impossible to accomplish the task in IeM than 74 days, travelling at the greatest speed?'was the first question put to the enterprising globe-trotter. Most decidedly, provided trains and steamers do their duty according to schedule," replied Mr. Griffith. Schedules allow, as far as steamer are concerned, a slight margin for weather and accident that is to say, somotimes they arrive a little ahead of schedule time. It is to that I am trusting, plus the few hours between the several connections. The combination of connections of which I am availing myself, has only been found after months of examina- tion of time-tables and sailing lists, and it is the only time that will occur in its present series probably for several years to come. The chief reason for this is that the Canadian Pacific steamers and trains are faster and ta"t't'.n better reputation for punctuality than the Occidental and Oriental and the Central Pacific." But why, Mr. Griffith, should this be such an un- usual combination of connections?" "Because it is the only one that gets me to Yoko- hama the day before the departure of the Canadian and Pacific steamer for Vancouver. The steamers only leave fortnightly. Of course, if I miss the "Empress of China," I shall have to cross the Pacific by the Occidental and Oriental line to San Francisco—a shorter route, but a longer passage, and I should certainly fail in my appointed task." You must be cutting it somewhat fine at Yoko- hama and other places, I should say ?" That is so, but for all that my longest wait by schedule time is at Yokohama, where I shall have under 12 hours. In other words, the steamer has, after travelling 9195 miles, to arrive within half a day of its appointed time or my whole object will be frustrated." That being your longest wait, what is your shortest ?" "Ten minutes. This is at Montreal, where the sleeping-car portion of the Inter-Ocean express is timed to get. in at 8.30 a.m. The Delaware and Hudson train leaves for Now York at 8.40. If I suc- ceed in catching this the thing is done if not, I shall have to wait till 6.20 p.m., and then I shall have an exciting time to New York and the berth of the s.s. New York—in fact, a nominal 12 hours' journey will have to be done in 12 hours and a-half, including a cab drive from the New York Central Station down to the quay. Once on the deck of the New York, and, bar accident, the world's record will be lowered to 66 days, and possibly even 65. Altogether, I shall have travelled 21,296 miles, and I estimate that the trip will cost about £ 250. I may tell you that I shall not avail myself of any special means of transit, as my object is to prove that it can be done by using the ordinary means of travel. According to time-tables and schedules, the task is certainly possible, but only by starting to-day."

DISCOVERY OF TREASURE AND ITS SEQUEL. A few weeks ago a peasant living in the neighbour- hood of Saint Brieuc, France, was trimming a hedge in one of his fields when he perceived a piece of cord, one end of which was attached to a bush, while the other disappeared in the ground. He gave a pull, and presently a bag revealed itself, which on exami- nation proved to be crammed with 5fr. pieces. Con- tinuing his work with fresh alacrity, the man speedily came upon another bit of string, and this time the buried bag proved to be full of gold pieces. Soon after a third bag was unearthed under similar circumstanced The peasant took the treasure home, and kept his dis- covery secret; but not long afterwards he invested a goodly sum in the savings bank, and bought himself a suit of clothes,ra hat, and a watch. As the man was known to be in rather straitened circumstances this sudden display of what to a person in his position was comparative wealth excited a great deal of notice, and a day or two ago the riddle was solved. In the village dwelt a worthy dame who had adopted this very primitive method of depositing her available capital. She had buried the bags in the peasant's hedge, and after a visit to some relatives she had re- turned only to find that her treasure had disappeared. Her cries and lamentations attracted attention, and commiseration as well, and the police were soon holding an investigation into the affair. The peasant who had fondly imagined that his fortune a y 11 was made for life has not only been compelled to restore the money, but will probably have to answer for his conduct in a court of justice.

MR. G. A. SALA ON MR. GLADSTONE. Mr. Sala writes in Sala's Journal: I rejoice from the bottom of my heart that Mr. Gladstone has resigned, because, wishing him still some years of happy and dignified repose, I feel confident that he will live odium and detraction down, and that English women of all shades of politics, whom he may, peradventure, honour by shaking hands with them, will not go home and burn their gloves, but will treasure those accessories to the toilette as precious relics. The nation at large will consign to scornful oblivion the screeds of malevolent abuse which are just now being scribbled in the newspapers opposed to his political views. They will dismiss" with contempt the sorry scrawls in which would-be comic artists think that they can make the public chuckle by exaggerating the shirt-collars, the partial baldness and the many wrinkles of a patriarch who should be revered instead of being insulted. They will re- member only with loving pride and appreciation the ripe scholar, the cultured judge and critic of every form of artistic excellence, the impassioned orator, the ready writer, the irreproachable husband and father, and the long-tried servant of the people and finally, if I have coupled the name of Catherine Gladstone with that of her illustrious husband with- out venturing to violate the sanctity of private life by dilating on her abounding domestic virtues, I have done so designedly, because my readers, I feal con- vinced, will perceive that by implication I have wished to show how much the great statesman has owed during his protracted and splendid career to the unflagging love and devotion of his partner in life."

SPORTING PARSONS. A genuine sporting clergyman died at Bath a few days ago. This was the Rev. Edward Davies, who was once curate at Swinbridge to the Rev. Jack Russell, most renowned of hunting parsons, and .110 relieved the monotony of looking after the parishioners' souls by keeping a pack of otter hounds. Jack Russell and his curate were the boldest riders in the parish. Mr. Davies was also a crack shot. which was quite to the taste of the parish. It was Mr. Davies, too, who steered the first Oxford boat against Cambridge on the Thames. In this historic race, which was rowed from Westminster to Putney, Oxford won by 13sec., the time occupied being 30min. 45sec. Of course, this was long before ( the days of sliding seats, or even of outriggers, the former being first used in 1873, and the latter being introduced in 1846. The deceased cox. was 81 at the time of his death, but retained his interest in sports of flood and field until the last. His chief literary works the Life of the Rev. John Russell," and several contributions to the Badminton Librarv. It is only a year or two sinco the Rev. Robert Hurt, the vicar of Carlby in Lincolnshire, finished a somewhat similar career. It has many a time been declared that Vicar Hurt had upon more than one occasion read the funeral service in his pink hunting coat with a surplice on the top of it. Mr. Hurt had, at all events, enough self-control to get through the service to the end on all these occasions, which is more than could be said for one well-known Oxfordshire parson, who, while officiating at a wedding in con- cealed pink coat and top boots, heard the cry of the hounds in the distaace and bolted off unceremoni- ously, telling the speechless couple that he would finish the job next day. It was Mr. Hurt who once read a letter of remon- strance from his bishop at a hunt breakfast, and put it to the squires before him if it was reasonable to expect any man to give up a day's hunting to attend a confirmation service. It seems but yesterday, too, that Vicar Carwardine, of Cavenham, used to drive his huge coach every Wednesday through the streets of Bury St. Edmunds, that the Rer. Dundas Everett kept the Besslesleigh Harriers, and that the Rev. Philip Honeywood's view-halloo sounded above all others in the Essex Hunt.

CAMBRIDGE. st. lbs. A. H. Finch, Third Trinity Third Trinity (bow) 11 01, 2. N. W. Paine, Third Trinity 11 2 3. Sir C. Ross, Third Trinity 11 8 4. H. M. Bland, Third Trinity 11 8-21 I 5. *L.A.E.011ivant, First Trinity .13 7% st. lbs. 6. *0. T. Fogg- Elliot, Trinity Hall.II 7 7. *R. O. Kerrison, Third Trinity 11 13 *T. G. Lewis, Third Trinity (stroke) .11 13 £ F. C. Begg, Trinity Hall (cox.) 8 2 *Old Blues. There were fine oarsmen in either boat, the strokes being particularly good specimens of the aquatic athlete. Mr. C. M. Pitman, the Oxford stroke, comes of a well-known Edinburgh family, and is himself one of several brothers who have already made them- selves famous in the world of athletics. An elder brother-Mr. F. 1. Pitman—was an old Etonian and Third Trinity man, who stroked the Cambridge crew to victory against Oxford in 1884 and 1886, and was in the losing eight in the intermediate year. Mr. C. M. Pitman rowed with great credit to himself and the school in the Eton boat at Henley before going up to New College, Oxford, and there he quickly found distinction in aquatic circles. In 1892 he was selected as stroke in the splendid Dark Blue crew that beat Cambridge that spring. Last season, owing to the difficulty of finding a competent oarsman to occupy No. 7 thwart, he rowed in that position behind another old Etonian in young Pilkington (the present No 2), but when the eight was made up in January Mr. Pitman was placed again stroke for this year's crew. Mr. Trevor G. Lewis, the stroke of the Cambridge eight, is the second son of Sir W. T. Lewis, the manager of Bute Docks, Cardiff, and nephew of Mr. T. W. Lewis, who stroked the Light Blues in the memorable dead heat of 1877. He went to Eton College, where he quickly distinguished him- self as a wet-bob," and rowed in the eight at Henley. On going up to Third Trinity, Cambridge, he was at once given a seat in the Trial Eights. Last year he stroked Cambridge in their plucky fight against Oxford, and later in the season assisted the Leander Club to carry off the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley. He was again placed at the stroke'thwart of the Cambridge boat this year, and has rowed in splendid form. At the actual commencement of the race, which took place at 9.12 a.m., a thick fog had arisen but the water was perfectly smooth. Oxford won the toss, and took the Surrey station. At London Boat- house Oxford led. At Bishop's Creek-Oxford led by quarter length, at the Old Soap Works-Oxford led by half length, at Hammersmith—Oxford led by one length, at Chiswich Eyot-Oxford led by two lengths, at Thorneycrofts-Oxford led by four lengths. Cambridge then put on a spurt, and at Barnes-bridge— Oxford led by two lengths. So the race, gamely contested, went on, until at the finish at Mortlake Oxford won a good and spirited race by between two and three boat lengths. Time, 21niin. 39sec.

WORKING MEN AND LOCAL VETO. In view of the intention of the Government to pro- ceed with the Liquor Traffic (Local Control) Bill, a working man's protest has been drawn up, and sent to all the Cabinet Ministers, and to every member of Parliament. The signatures to the protest number 131, and include amongst them Mr. John Anderson, feneral secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Ingineers (one of the most powerful and numerous trades unions in the United Kingdom); Mr. John Batchelor, general secretary of the Bricklayers' Society; Mr. Kenneth M'Crae, general secretary of the boot and shoe makers Mr. Alderman Taylor, L.C.C., operative bricklayers' delegate to the London Trades Council; Mr. Ben Ellis, general secretary of the brushmakers, and Mr. G. B. Courtenay, chairman of the London Trades Council, and others connected with various trade bodies and friendly societies in London. The principal objections urged against the bill are that it seeks to bring about an un- justifiable invasion of liberty and curtailment of natural right. We all admit," they say, that majorities must rule in their legitimate spheres, where the general interest is directly and intimately involved. But where this interest is only slightly or remotely affected, or not touched at all-as in ques- tions concerning what a man shall eat or drink—con- trol by majority becomes arbitrary and tyrannical. All attempts to impose such a prohibition are subversive of individual liberty. Apart from this fundamental objection, the electorate provided by the bill excludes lodgers and many thousands of other adult males whose comfort and convenience would be placed in jeopardy and it includes women, who do not use public-houses as a rule, and the whole body of teetotalers, who do not use them at all. The bill is directed against the convenience of the poor man only. It leaves untouched the cellar of the rich man and specially provides him with refreshment rooms when he travels by rail and with hotels when he gets to his journey's end; but it allows no accommodation for a working man, who, in a veto district, desires to refresh himself with a simple glass of beer. All experience proves that prohibition of the open sale of intoxicants is invariably followed by the creation of illicit and secret sources of supply. All the improvement which has marked the last quarter of a century has been brought about without any infringement of liberty as is now proposed." The protest goes on to sav that if the principle of veto be established there is no logical reason why it should not be extended to the prohibi- tion of forms of religious faith or political opinion which happen to be unpopular at any moment.

11 HUGE ANONYMOUS GIFTS. Charity shows no diminution in Paris. At a meet- ing of the society called the Hospitalite de Nuit, the other day, Baron de Livois announced that he had received a cheque for £10,000 from an anonymous donor. Another person unknown sent £ 320 M. Charles Meissonier and his sister forwarded £ 1000; and the Press Syndicate handed over to the society a sum of £ 200. M. Thureau-Dangin, the Acade- mician, occupied the chair at the meeting and made an eloquent speech, which caused both tears and money to flow freely. It was proved that the institution gave refuge during the year to 195 sculptors, 115 schoolmasters, 20 architects, and 42 literary men and journalists, not to speak of nume- rous nondescripts cast adrift on the world.

HISTORIC PROPERTIES IN THE MARKET. Among historic properties in the market just now are The Friary, Lichfield, a monastery transformed into a residential mansion in 1545; Balthaycock, Perthshire, the carriage road from which crosses the celebrated ravine known as the Deil's Den by a bridge 90ft. above the stream; Welburn Hall, North York- shire, dating from the time of Elizabeth Silverlands, Surrey, last occupied by the late Mr. F. Hankey, )ro a e' M.P.; Starborougn Castle, another noted property in Surrey; Wick House, Richmond-hill, the home for many years of Sir Joshua Reynolds and The Hook, Northaw, Herts, containing a massrve oak staircase taken from the house of Sir Thomas More.

CLERGYMEN AND KISSING. The clergy of the little town of Eschenbach, in Franconia, liave issued a solemn protest against kiss- ing on the stage as being an immoral practice, which would give a bad example and be regarded by the spectators as sanctioning all manner of disorders." The cause of this fulminating documer.t was the pro- posed performance of a play by Paul Heyse by the Wolfram Society of the town. One of the scenes of the play represents the ceremony of the betrothal of Wolfram, the poet of Parsifal," to the daughter of the burgher of Eschenbach, in whose house the poem was written, and the betrothal, as usual, is sealed with a kiss. This is the scene which has aroused the indig- nation of the Eschenbach clergy.

FOR THE PROTECTION OF BIRDS. According to the Lanterne, as quoted by tho Standard's Paris correspondent, a congress of a novel description is shortly to be held in Paris. All over the Continent it seems that the wholesale destruction of the small insect-eating birds, by nets, traps, andL birds'-nesting, has done great damage to agriculture,' and especially in orchards and vineyards. Therefore the Minister for Foreign Affairs, at the solicitation of leading agriculturists, has entered into negotiations for the meeting of an International Congress to devise measures for the protection of insectivorous birds. Switzerland, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Russia, Roumania, and Greece have expressed their willingness to attend. Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Italy have intimated that they are bound by international treaties for the protection of birds, but that if the new scheme did not materially clash with leir own they would readily accept it.

LORD ROSEBERY AND THE BOOKMAKER. The anecdotard of the World, to use its oww 1 elegant word, prints a Rosebery sporting legend, ft r which Mr. Harry Ulph, a leading bookmaker, is given as the authority. It is related that one day at Newmarket, en route to the course, Lord Rosebery asked Mr. Ulph what price he would lay against a certain horse for one of the big races. The ready bookmaker named the figure, which, as may be con- ceived, was not one above the market odds. Lord Rosebery rode on a few paces, and then, pulling up, said, confidentially, Ulph." Yes, my lord," re- plied the bookmaker, ready for a deal. I ought to tell you that such prices as satisfied Lord Dalineny will not do for Lord Rosebery." Mr. Harry Ulph, who is a Gladstonian of the deepest dye, on one occa- sion, during a general election, left a race meeting that was in progress, in order that he might vote for the Gladstonian candidate in a remote constituency. The journey involved the loss of a day's racing; and, as it happened, business, from the bookmaker's point of view, was particularly good. As it turned out, also, that expedition saved the election, for the Gladstonian won bv. one vote. The circumstance was a good deal talked about, and a favourable opportunity occurring, Lord Rosebery introduced Mr. Harry Ulph to the Grand Old :Man!

FLOGGING THE KAFFIRS. The magistrates of Johannesburg evidently believe in the efficacy of corporal punishment. It setms p that one morning recently in Johannesburg Gaol no fewer than 100 Kaffirs received 10 lashes each for walking on the footpaths and jostling women and children. The native Labour Commissioner in an interview deplored ex- ceedingly the way in which the matter had been dealt with. Even if it were necessary to inflict lashes for the offence of walking on the footpath, he maintained that the natives ought to have been fairly warned of the action about to be taken. He said that the effect upon the labour market would be' most deplorable. Numbers of Kaffirs were leaving, saying, We are being murdered here for walking on pavements, so why should we stay ?

THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE. In a pamphlet just issued on the Department of Scientific and Practical Research of the Imperial In stitute, Sir F. A. Abel states that it has been con. sidered indispensable to enlist the active interest and to secure the advice and co-operation of some eminent men of science who have identified themselves with the work of research in natural products, or in par- ticular branches of applied science bearing upon the varieties of work which it is desired to accomplish. A committee of advice has been appointed, and the members have adopted a scheme of action which ap- pears likely to lead to the achievement of the scientific and practical results arrived at. These results are to make the public acquainted with the resources of various countries, to enable men connected with commerce and industry to compare the products of particular classes furnished by the several countries, and also to direct the attention of those practically interested in them to new or little-known natural products, and to furnish trustworthy information as to their nature, properties, and value. The followingare the members of the committee of advice and the sub- jects with which they will deal: Professor Armstrong, F.R.S., Dr. W. H. Perkin, F.R.S., and Professor Meldola, F.R.S. (dvos, tanning materials, and organic products); Dr. Hugo Mailer, F.R.S. (mineralogy, botany, and fibres); Mr. C. F. Cross (fibres); Professor Dunstan, F.R.S. (pharmaceutical products and drugs); Mr. David Howard (alkaloids and drugs); Professor A. H. Church, F.R.S. (agriculture) Mr. Boverton Redwood (petroleum and oils); Professor Roberts- Austen, F.R.S. (metallurgy, fuel, and ores); Mr. Bennett Brough (metallurgy, mining, and minerals); Professor W. C. Unwin, F.R.S. (structural materials); Professor Hummell (dyes and tans); Professor W. A Tilden (gums and resins); Mr. W. H. Dering (< nils, waxes, and fats); Mr. H. A. Miers (mine- row;,lgy) and Mr. Horace T. Brown, F.R.S. (food grams). Sir F. Abel, F.R.S., is director and Mr. Theodore Cooke, LL.D., is secretary of the com- mittee.

AN officer of tho Indian Staff Corps, in a letter to a service contemporary, says the rupee has now fallen to Is l^d. If, as is expected, its value declines to Is., the incomes of Staff Corps lieutenants and captains, taking infantry as a standard, will be as follows Lieutenant and wing officer up to 11 years' Indian service, E195 per annum captain and wing officer with upwards of 11 and less than 20 years' Indian service, E283 per annum. On these incomes officers have to provide themselves with all the necessaries of their position, including a charger. It would be as well," says the writer of the letter, if young officers thinking of spending their lives in India compared the above salaries and rates of promotion with those obtaining in the Army Service Corps and the Depart- ments of the Home army, whose officers are exempt I from service in India altogether." THE trustees of Lord Crewe's Charity purpose taking steps to obtain the sanction of the High Court to the sale of Bamborough Castle, on the North- umberland Coast, to Lord Armstrong. Bamborough Castle formerly possessed great strength, in many instances becoming the place of refuge for the Kings, earls, and governors of Northumberland in troublous times. To sailors Bamborough Castle is what the Convent of St. Bernard is to the traveller on the Alps. THE Co-operative Village Settlement which was established at Kardella, in Victoria, about six months ago has already made great progress. According to the report of the Committee of Management of the Co-operative Village Settlements Association, 35 acres of land have already been cleared for the township site, on which are now erected 38 slab houses, each within half an acre of land, a general store, a butcher's shop, blacksmith's shop, shoemaker's shop, and tool- house four acres of the site are laid out in a well- stocked garden and orchard, and there are 10 acres of land under cultivation, 15 acres under grass, and 28^ acres on which the timber has been rung and the scrub cut. Three large main tanks have been sunk for water conservation, having a capacity of 20,000 gallons, and each house is provided with one or more under- ground tanks. The live stock on the settlement con- sist of four bullocks, a cow and a calf, 20 pigs, and a quantity of poultry, and the plant of a plough, har- row, and a full supply of spades, pickaxes, forks, rakes, scythes, hoes, axes, and two incubators, &c. The account of receipts and expenditure shows re- ceipts amounting to £ 1153 8s. 8d., of which £ 500 was contributed by the Government Mid 9554 9s. 6d. by the public, and a cash balance of £ 295 8s. 3d. after paying all expenses,

COAL AND PETROLEUM IN ENGLAND. The fact that, this country is not yet "played jut" as a mineral producer is being continually illustrated, the Mining Journal remarks, though too ften tho greater cheapness of working in other countries prevents our resources in this respect from being developed. The unfortunate thing is that legislative interference tends rather to increase than diminish this disastrous discrepancy. Kent has provided the latest sensation of any moment in connection with England's mineral wealth, and the possibilities associated with the new coal field at Dover for a time loomed large in the public mind. If of late we have heard little or nothing about Kentish coal, it must not be assumed that steps are not proceeding for its development. Professor Boyd Dawkins, who speaks with special authority, declares that there can be no doubt of the commercial value of the Dover coal field. If we can accept this conclusion, WtJo may look forward not only to immediate consequences of vast commercial importance from the mining of coal in Kent, but also to the discovery of other coal fields in South and Eastern England. For the assumptions which are held to be justified in the Dover discovery embrace a. much wider ra nge than just that part of Kent. The measures which have been struck are in direct relation with the coal fields of Somerset and South Wales on the west, and of Northern France and Belgium on the east, and it is probable that workable deposits are to be found elsewhere between these points. This view is supported by the recent discovery of coal at another spot in Kent, near Ashford, and by the encouraging results of experimental boring in Suffolk. The geological character of the district, analogous as it is to that of the Pas-de-Calais, supports such a theory, and the presence of the secondary roel. so common a feature of our coal-bearing areas, gives indication of the probable existence of carboniferous strata over a very large portion of South-Eastern England. As to what has actually been done at Dover, Professor Dawkins says simply that the experi- mental stage is over," though we are afraid that this ex- pression of triumph refers rather to the scientific than to the commercial side of the enterprise. However, the present position is that the boring has been carried to 2225ft. below the surface, and that at this point a 4ft. seam of good blazing coal has been struck. Altogether, 12 seams of coal, of varying thickness, have been found, and it now becomes time to develop these, without further speculation for the moment upon the riches which remain concealed in the lower depths. A shaft is being sunk, and when it is completed the first step in the practical working of the South-Eastern coal field will begin. The ex- perience afforded in the coal mines on the opposite side of the Channel proves that coal measures can be successfully worked at the depths, and beyond them, at which they have been found at Dover, while their nearness to London, and to the important seaports along the southern coast, gives them every chance of an advantageous market. Without being too sanguine, it seems that we may now begin to look forward to the growth of a new coal mining industry. If our mineral laws were less exacting than they are, no doubt we should have a wide application of English enterprise to the task of further testmg these resources, instead of confining itself to more or less desperate prospecting abroad. As it is, it seems a pity that ground landlords and capitalists cannot come to some agreement which would not make it seem that the latter's work would be all for the benefit of the former. In most other countries we should have a Government Department to undertake the prelimi- nary geological investigations warranted by .the results and the data already available. It is not only in coal that evidence is forthcoming of the unde- veloped mineral wealth of Great Britain. The dis- covery of an oil well at Shepton Mallett is one of a series of incidents which, if they had occurred abroad, would certainly have produced a considerable inrush of British capital. The presence of petroleum in Somersetshire, of course, does not imply that it can be profitably worked, but then, neither does it any- where else. We believe that the oil deposits referred to will be subjected to exhaustive examination, and that money will be forthcoming for their work- ing if the consequent reports are favourable. It is hopeful for this result, that petroleum has been found, under more or less promising conditions, in Derbyshire, Staffordshire, and Shropshire, as well a3 elsewhere in Somersetshire than the present site, while all the indications point to the deposits now ?ound extending over a wide area. In Scotland, the mineral oil industry, though by no mean munificently favoured by Nature, continues to maintain its sition, and we think it very likely the same thing may be done in England. Labour struggles, absurd legal restrictions, greedy yested interests, and the contempt which arises from familiarity, have con- spired to draw public attention away from our native mineral resources. Let us hope that the success of either or both of the new enterprises we have been dealing with may inaugurate a reform in this respect.

THE robes of the Speaker of the House of Com- mons are identical with the robes of the Master of the -Itolls, a fact that is due to the circumstance that in former times the office of Speaker—notably in the case of Lenthall, the Speaker of the Long Parliament —was frequently held by the Master of the Rolls. Till the Judicature Act, 1873, the Master of the Rolls rms eligible for a seat in the House of Commons, and always appeared in the House of Commons, whether as occupant of the Chair or otherwise, in his official robéø. A XOYBL accident, fraught with a lesson to those who advocate the system in Britain, happened re- cently to the cable tramway in New York. There is a line of these cars running the whole length of roadway, and the other day a section of the cable Want wrong, with the result that the" gripman" failed to get the grip to work, and lost entire control ofihe vehicle, which consequently ran wild, taking with it several more cars which it soon overtook. A panic ensued among the passengers, many of whom .iried to jump off despite the rat* of speed. Eventu- 41v the trouble was overcome by the works being stopped at headquarters, but not before many serious accidents had occurred. Ms. JUSTICE LUMB, of the Jamaica Bench, has arrived in England on short leave of absence, his chief object being to enter an appearance in the case brought against the three Trinidad Judges—of whom he was one—who sent a medical man of Tobago to prison for contempt in Port of Spain some time ago. Of the Judicial Triumvirate in question, one-Sir John Gorrie-is now dead, while another, Mr. Cook, has left the Colonial service, so that Dr. Lumb is left to fight the battle alone against the aggrieved Tobago medico, who claims heavy damages^

THE INTER-VARSITY BOAT-RACE. 1 VICTOBT 07 OXFORD. It was a lovely morning for this year's decision of the time-honoured inter-'Varsity boat-race, although a sharp frost made it cold on the Thames. The umpires launch Hibernia, with the Duke of Connaught on board, left Westminster Pier at eight, u owing to the falling off in the tide the race waa set to start as early as nine. The Oxford, Cambridge, and Press steamboats were well loaded, and the craft on the river was almost as great as usual, though not quite. Mr. Frank Willan acted as umpire, and Mr. Fred Fenner was distance judge. Opinion as to the outcome of the struggle pointed all one way, as everyone was Oxford mad except the young ladies, who believe in light blue, as it suits the complexion you know." Of the make up of the crews it may be of interest to add there were four old Blues rowing in each boat, and that nine of the 16 oarsmen are Etonians, while two rowed in the victorious Eton eight at Henley last July, a crew which was generally considered the beat ever sent up from that famous public school. The crews, at starting, were placed and weighed as follows: OXFORD. at. lbs. *H. B. Cotton, Mag'len (Bow) 9 13,21 2. *M. C. Pilking- ton, Magdalen 12 4 S. W. B. Stewart, Brafenose .13 6 4. *J. A. Morrison, New .12 6 st. lbs* 5. E. G. Tew, Mag- dalen .13 9 6. T.H.E. Stretch, New.12 5 7. W. B. Crum, New 12 1 *C. M. Pitman, New (stroke).12 0 L. Portman, University (cox.) 8 7

!!M XIIE London Scottish volunteers have always been lucky in their commanding officers in their new one that is presently to be they seem luckier than ever. Major Eustace Balfour, who is about to succeed Colonel Nicol, is one of the ablest officers in the auxiliary service. He belongs to the new type, of volunteer officers, of whom unhappily there are too few zealous in regimental duties, and an earnest and practical student of tactics—that weakest point of the force. He is a leading spirit of the Home District Tactical Society, which is the best and foremost in the kingdom and if the London Scottish can be improved he is certainly the man for the business. Major Balfour is a you g r brother of Mr. Arthur Balfour. MORE than one important international gathering will be held in London next year. The Railway Congress meets in the early summer. It numbers among its supporters about 50 governments and about 270 separate railway undertakings, representing more than 120,000 miles of line. It grew out of a meeting of railway men at Brussels invited to celebrate the jubilee of Belgian railways in 1885. Its previous meetings have been in 188*7 at Milan, in 1889 at Paris, and in 1892 in St. Petersburg. The arrangements for the coming meeting are in the hands of the English section of the Permanent International Commission, consisting of a committee composed of 15 directors, one from each of the leading companies, and six general managers. Sir Courtenay Boyle represents the Government on the committee. AN appeal is made by the Vicar and Mayor of Wisbech for subscriptions to provide a memorial to Thomas Clarkson, the Abolutionist, in the form of the rebuilt Wisbech Grammar School, where the reformer was educated, and where his father was for some time master. The old school, which has a most honourable record, is about to be transferred to a site outside the town, presented by the Rev. Dr. Bellamy, of Oxford, and funds are required to effect the erection. It has been thought well to associate the new building with the name of the man whom Wisbech claims as he- .1_-

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BRITISH AMAZONS. Although Behanzin, the great King of Dahomey, has parted company with his feminine Praetorians, that famous organisation seems likely (observes the Graphic) to find imitation in England. Not that the War Secretary and the Commander-in-Chief have yet decided to strengthen the "thin red line" with a contingent of fighting females; that may come in the sweet by-and-bye. At present, the movement" has gone no further than the voluntary enlistment of a number of daunt- less ladies for service in the field as a Medical Staff Corps. But as they are to go through the soldier's regular course of drill, including mus- ketry training, it seems pretty clear that these fair Amazons are prepared to take the fat with the lean that is, to inflict wounds as well as to cure them. Moreover, as they could scarcely go a campaigning in their normal attire—long skirts do not harmonise with bush-marching—they will have to adopt a more or less masculine fashion of raiment. Is that the real attraction ? Perhaps, with scarlet or dark blue cloth and plenty of gold lace, feminine taste could devise a much more lovely uniform than the rational dress" affected by emancipated ladies who cycle. But we confess that the musketry instruction does not please us at all. It must mean the arming of these Amazons with rifles, and it being a tradition among women that all guns are given to going off of their own volition, any troops stationed near the gallant cohort wculd be likely to have a very rough time of it.

THE Princess of Wales has abandoned her projected visit to the King and Queen of the Hellenes at Athena, and her Royal Highness and the Princesses Victoria and Maud have gone to Sandringham for about a month. The Princess of Wales will not accompany the Prince to Coburg next month, but it is possible that her Royal Highness may go to St. Petersburg to attend the wedding of her niece, the Grand Dmchesa Xenie, at which ceremony it is expected that either the Prince of Wales or the Duke of York will be present. The Princess and her daughters will probably return to Marlborough House on April 9 or 10. THE Westminster Vestry have closed their em- ployment registry in Millbank-street, after an ex- perimental year's working, as a failure. Last year 1754 persons applied for employment through the registry, but only 63 obtained work, even of the most temporary character. TUB merchants of Astrachan have petitioned the Russian Government to relax the repressive measures against Jewish traders on the Volga, as the export trade in caviare and fish, which was mostly in the hands of the Jews, has commenced to decline.

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