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

BEE v. BIRD. A prosperous bee-owner in Westphalia recently arranged a very, unusual flying match with a neigh- bonr who kept pigeons. The question was Did the "bpes on a point of speed, outdo the birds? It was put to the proof, the distance determined upon being three miles from hives and pigeon- hoivTe* Twelve bees and twelve pigeons were selected to cover this course in con.pet.tion. It was the prevalent opinion that the birds would win easily they bad size in their favour and might be supposed to hold a truer line towards home. he faith cf the bee-fanner, however, was justified by hi5 pets. The "first bee distanced the earliest pigeon by a-minute, three.other bees followed to the hives, then the second pigeon to the columbary, and the rest arrived practically together.

CATALEPSY OR DEATI-I I A sensational story comes fl-ri, Vieniii, nnd lias reference to the ^supposed. death, some days ago, of the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of the Island of Mitvlenc, Mons.gnor N.kifor Gljkoss. The bishop, the news of whose death caused general grief, was placed on a throne in the cathedral in a sitting pos- ture. His successor was already named when, after 48 hours, the dead bishop gave signs of returning life. Soon afterwards he sank into sleep again, and the cataleptic condition continues, it being doubtful whether the bishop is dead or alive. In the mean- time the nomination of the new bishop was can- celled.

= IT is Reported tliat candidates for the "Extra First" marine engineer's certificate granted by the Board of Trade will shortly be allowed to use the data contained vin t> Mbleswotth's Pocket Book" during their examination, copies being provided for the pur- pose in the examination -room. i ani0u.s Tort,worth Court chestnut is the tr^ft -'n ;f'no'and, its g/rth being 52ft. Tho \r'Si h '■ j.. cotland for many years was tho ,Uir!i"chestnut in Forfarshire Its girth was 42ft. fcim.. but it was cut down about 25 years ago.

PARISH COUNCILS. A Parish Council that has Never Met.—When the Local Government Act, 1804, came, into opera- tion, the electors of Coneysthorpe —one of the vil- lages on Lord Carlisle's estate—with a population of lws than 200 made a unanimous application to the North Hiding County Council for the establishment cf a Parish Council. The requett Was granted, and about 6,2 months ago a Parish meeting was (-on- vened for electing five representatives. The election was completed by iiliow of hands, and five working men were declared elected, no poll being demanded. Concurrently, however, with the issue of the notices convening the Parish Meeting a new elect ion order was issued by the Local Government Board for parishes with less than 300 inhabitants, and as i' was considered t he proceedings were thereby rendered invalid, the Parish Council has not yet been called together. Allotments.—Several Parish Councils have peti- tioned the Carmarthen County Council to issue orders for the compulsory hiring of land for the purposes of allotments. The Council have decided to hold inquiries with a view to obtain full informa- tion. Compensation to Ofricers Act., (Appendix, C 81).— (1) How long after "appointed day" named, or 1, 1895, does C 81 remain (asks an Erban Dit riet. Councillor in th. Councils' Ga.cttc) in force ? (2) This Council continued the officers of the late Local Board for nine months, then gave six months' notice, terminating March 25, amalgamating and re- arranging the offices; they did not offer the new oifices to same officials, leaving it for them to apply if they liked. Two out of the three did apply; one was accepted, and the other rejected. A third d'd not apply. The point is, can the one rejected and the one who did not apply get compensation ? Some of our Councillors thin'k that by continuing us for over 12 months—really nine months, end six months' "notice, or 15 months—they have prevented us getting the compensation named in the Act. Tho Lincoln Act cases named in Glen, 4th edition, page 800, givo three years as a limit. This 1604 Act gives no limit. It seems to me if this (our Council idea) is lawful compensa- tion is a farce, as it would in nine cases out of ten be cheaper to keep oflicials in a year or so, paying salary for doing nothing, and then getting rid of'them without compensation, which can hardly bo what the Act intends. Shortly, the second query is—csn we, the one unsuccessful bz- who applied, and the one who did not apply, get com- pensation? .Answ t (1) Tfiere is no precise time •limit, but if the existing omcer loses his office in con- sequence of the change created directly by the Local Government Act, 1894, we think he is entitled to compensation. (2) Wo have great doubt whether the officer who did not apply for reappointment is en- titled to compensation in any case. As far as we can see from the facts stated, the District Council have imade the change for convenience of administration, and not because of any alteration of areas, etc., by the Act of 181)4; if so, the officers cannot cbilll compen- sation. Appointment of Charity Triistee.-Ctir Parish Council (says a correspondent) have been in corres- pondence with the Charity Commissioners for nearly 12 months respecting the trusteeship of one o.f our charities. We nre now no nearer a settlement, than when we started. If the Parish Council passed n resolution deputing two of their number to wait upon the Commissioners, in order to thoroughly explain their views of the case, do yon think the auditor would allow reasonable travelling .expenses? We are 150 miles from London. Answer: In our opinion (replies the Councils Gazette) the t ravelling expenses would not be allowed. Salary of Assistant-Overseer.—We have in our parish (remarks an enquirer) both an nssistant- pverseer and rate collector. The salary of the latter has been fixed each half-year at a Vestry Meeting, and latterly at a Parish-Meeting, since the Lot-iti Government Act, 181)4, came into operation—so much for collecting each separate rate. Is it necessary for the Parish Meeting to be called to adopt the rates fixcd by the overseers, and to fix the salary of the collector, or is it left to the overseers or Parish Council to determine this question ? Answer The Parish 1\leding have nothing to do with the rate. H you are referring to the remuneration for collecting a separate sanitary rato, payable under S. 230 of the Public Health Act, 1870, then the amount of that remuneration will now be fixed by the Parish Council. Old Allotments.—In this parish are some old allotments, established under the Poor Law Relief Act, 1819. The rents have hitherto been col- lected by the OTerseers, and the surplus rents epplied in reduction of the Poor-rate. It is assumed that the management of these allotments, including the collec- tion of rents, is now vested in the Parish Council, and I shall be obliged if you will say whether any surplus should be paid over to the overseers in rp- duction of the Poor rate, or whether it can be car- ried to the Parish Council Allotments account, and IjIsed to make up any deficiency there imay be on allotments provided by the Parish Council ? Answer In our opinion (answers the Councils' Gazette) the safest course is to assume that the surplus must go in aid of the Poor rate. The management of the allotments i, however, clearly vested in the Parish Council. J Employment of Parish Councillor. Reptir of Footpath.—(1) Can a Parish Councillor be legally employed, and paid for any work which he has done for the Council, or superintend work on the behalf of the Council, and receive remuneration for so doing? (2) A footpath extends across a field leading towards the Church, and also is a short cut from one road to another. Can the Parish Council repair the same with- out the consent of the owner or occupier ? The path in question has not,, been ploughed up by the occu- pier, nor repaired previously at the expense of the public, but has been, sometime .sinca, repaired by the owner at. his own private expense. Answer: (1) .4- person employed by the Parish Council is disqualified for sitting on the Council, and if he acts as a Councillor when disqualified, he becomes liable to a penalty. (2) On the facts stated, we (Cmnu-Us Gazette) think that the Parish Council may repair the path without the consent of the owner or occu- pier.

TITLED ACTORS. Lord RosslyD, Lord Kilmorey, and various ladies and gentlemen who have earned a certain fame as amateurs by their performances during the past winter, will visit Worcester at Rafter and will give performances of ''Diplomacy and "School." The proceeds of the performances will be litinded,over to Lady Dudley's scheme for providing prisoners dis- charged from her Majesty's prisons with means ofi starting afresh in life. This is a most excellent charity, and requires the most careful administration. The performance will ho under tiie patronage of Lord and Lady Dudley, Lord and Lady Coventry, Lord and Lady Cobham, Mr. Somors and Lady KatherineSomerset, and oilier county dignitaries ;and as the houses round will be filled for the Easter holidays, it is expected that the pieces will draw heavily. Lord Roaslyn, who takes the part of Julian' Leauclcnc in "Diplomacy," is the same young peer who delivered such an excellent maiden speech whE-n recently seconding the Address in the House of' Lords. He is the brother of the Duchess of Suther- land, and Lady Warwick.

AN officer and a lawyer talking of a disastrous battle, the former was lamenting the number of brave soldiers who fell on. the occasion, when tbd, observed that those who lived by the sword must expect to die by the sword. "By a similar rule," answered the oScer," those who live by the law must exr.c-t to'tlie "hv the law." ;• M'ARTIIA, my dear, said a loving husband to n. spouse, who was several years his ? f*° you say to-moving to the Far West ? Oh, 1 am delighted with the idea! You recollect when iAl r. Morgan moved out there, he was as poor as we are, and in three years life died, leaving his widow "worth a hundred thbusadd dollars." Noj long Ago a gentleman had occasion to remove his littte-Bf«, •ag^ four and one-half vPnrs, fof an offence, -oti, other' Vip'ftisions called forth, Tlie parent "closed with Xow, W i.lie, i "opt want loisneak,to.y6u again about this," which was P'om^-ly and very decidedly responded to as foltows 4 Wcllrpa-, I doesn't,want ton-to." •• GO'XK counting—The'kwyers-.1 Visonar* fruiWi'he apple;of therev* i-t.u A SOi.THBR 'f! Tin: artist's adieu to his uicture—You be hanged.

I; 1. { ALAS, POOR JUNG! TilE LAST nouus OF JCMBO'S, SUCCBSSOR. 'I have come," said a representative of the Doily Graphic to Mr. Bartlett, the superintendent of the gardens of the Zoological Societ y of London I have come to see the dead elephant." "To see the dead elephant!" said Mr. Bartlett, "why lie's cu t up and taken away. You caut see; him." The colossal b«ast (only an inch or so shorter than the lamented Jumbo) which we saw so recently turn- ing up his trunk ar.d exhib ting a cavernous "mouth for the reception of the casual biscuit, or amiably- swaying the tip of his proboscis from right to left as he marched along tho paths ladezi clii,dreti poor" Jung- Perchad "-is now dead, alas! and his skin and his skeleton are in process of preparation for exhibition at the Natural History Museum, South Kensington. Yes," continued Mr. Barlleit, ho has been taken away piecemeal, and a horrible job. it. was cutting him n]), I've skinned some four or five elephants before hi u. It is absolutely necessary, of course, to dispose or them at once after death; an elephant is a big animal, and takes some cutting up, you know. I haven't felt well since." In reply to further questions, Mr. Partlett, kindly consented to give some particulars of the last days of Jung Perchad. Here they are, in his own words Jiing Perchad, as he was called, the male Indian elephant, was presented to the society by the Prince of Wales in 187G; so you see we had hud him in the gardens for 20 years. Wo noticed from the condi- tion of his den that he had been restless during the night, and had been rolling about. I came to the conclusion, after an examination of his symptoms, that, as be was evidently in great pain and very restless, it was colic or gripes from which he was suffering. Yon can't, adtiiin,Ier physic to such an animal, and cannot control him when he is in that condition. But I mixed up some hot bran and 2lb. of grated ginger, thinking that might give him some relirf. Ile tasted it, and then threw it awa.v—wouldn't, touch it. So then we cot him outside in the gardens to see what that would do. He seemed glad to get out, and walked a1.oul very quickly, but was: quite docile and quiet. lie was exercised thus and was quieter, but still had griping pains and ate very litt'e. I gave him a pail of chilled water which he took, but the second pail lie threw over himself, which was a bad sign. And so lie continued for two days. I passed through, the elephant house the second afternoon, and saw that the keepers were watching him. He was lasting his head on the top bar of the grating. I went on to see to the new gorilla, nnd as I came baek one of the keepers ran out cf the honse and paid that the elephant was dead. It seems that,, without a moan or a cry, he suddenly fell down, stone' dead. His fall shook the entire house from end to end, and we found that the shock had broken tho pelvis and one rib. The ennse of death was found to be acute peritonitis. It is a great loss to us." Passing through the elephant house on our way back we passed the den"—if so roomy and lofty an enclosure can be so called, but that is the technical word for it at the Zoo".—where 1ereliad had passed 20 winters. The front of it \vn= dr.: ped by a great grey curtain, which antirelv concealed the interior. Behind that veil for three days Mr. Part let,t and his assistants have been busy scientifically hewing the colossal beast into, portable pieces.

DAMPING A ATA.NL'S VANITY. Mind-reading has become a popular social diver- sion, especially for house parties and like gatherings. It is managed in this wise. One of the party goes out of the room while the rest form a circle and decide upon some object upon which they all shall concentrate their minds. The absentee then returns blindfolded, and, joining the circle, tries to guess what all the others are thinking about. Sometimes he succeeds, sometimes he doesn't, but it's all very wonderful and quite exciting. In a certain country house not long since, however, the subject" showed a really remarkable facility for mind-reading. He was a young fellow, not any too blind to his own good qualities with respect to anything but such suscep- tibility and power for impression as he displayed in this mind-reading business were enoii-li to turn any- body's head. No matter how abstruse or apparently unguessable the "object" might be, from tho fourth nail to the right in Mahomet's coffin lid to the big sleeves of a certain young woman present, this young man never failed to spring upon it at once. Evening after evening was spent in the sport, only to add a fresh leaf to tho "subject's" laurels. The house party finally broke iiji. Some days larer one 3f its members met the subject." "Here," said the latter. Do you know I'm seriously thinking of giving up all other occupations and turning my entire ittention to mind-reading. I've spoken to several persons interested in such tilings, and they all tell me that mine is one of the most extraordinary cases on record. To think that I should never make a single miss for evening after evening and upon trial after irial. Such susceptibility of mind shouldn't, be lost to the world at large, and I'm therefore seriously chinking, as I say, of giving up everything else ;hat I may devote my whole time to its develop- ment." The other member of the house porty listened to this aghast. It is, indeed, a wonderful. 3ase of mind-susceptibility," he said at last. "Hut not exactly in the way that you mean." And he proceeded to divulge the reason for this special subject's unprecedented success. Every time that be had gone out of the room, the rest of the circle- had not seiected any "object" as he had supposed but had agreed to say that whatever he happened to, guers AS the object was, indeed, that article. w.

COURT MUSIC. Queen Marguerite of Italy is of all the 'Ror,-il nn(I Imperial ladies of Europe said to be the one who is the most enthusiastic disciple of Wagner, and is never* so happy as when at her piano. Indeed, music it is averred, is the surest way to her goodwill, and that, is why several of the great Powers of Europe make a point of choosing for their ambassadors at Romef diplomats who are more conspicuous for their musical tendency than for their statecraft. Thus the former German Ambassador, Baron von Kendell, used to spend the greater part of his days in playing duets with her Majesty, and his successor is that Baron von Bulow who i; knoivii throughout Germany as one of the cleverest of amateur performers en the piano. Queen Marguerite's devotion to Wagnerian music which is at tributable to the fact that she received her education in Germany, is a source of sorrow to her husband, who, like King Leopold of Belgium, simply abominates music, for which he has no ear whatso- ever, and which has the effect of Iiis teeth on edge. As he is extremely fond of his wife, lie submits to the infliction as long as he can. But when the strain beco.nes too great to bear, ho threatens t.he' Queen to sing, 'and even goes so far na to chant a few bars in an excruciatingly Hat and rasping voire. That' always" has the dEsired effect and causes her Majesty's 'piano to close with a bang.

OLD MANCHESTER MERCHANTS. A recently-issued work on "Mercantile Man- chester" states that in the 18th century opulent merchants frequented an evening club, at which "the expenses of each person were fixed at 4d" viz., 4d. for ale and -ild. for tobacco." Later a sixpenny worth of punch and a pipe or two wero esteemed fully Bufficient for the evening's tavern amusement of the principal inhabitants." The worthy host invariably turned out his guests punctually at eight o'clock, loujetimes with the assistance of a whip, for which he frequently received the thanks of the ladies of. Manchester.

IF all the world's a stage, and men and women merely players, where are the audience and orchestra to come from ? Tryi,, latest advices from Nyassaland state that, Sir I n'i °i ,StT?8 heahh is now satisfactorily re- Eii^land probab1^ short^ ^ave for IN American has invented a clock to serve as a Mint to late visitors. After it bits Sfruck ten, out pops from the top a little sign bearing the words Tiii,,o to go home." AI.UMIHIUM coffins, costing from £ 1-^0 to- £ 200, are now in great demand in the United States, They have, sinong other things, this advantage, that they are light to carry. Tin- wants of the average smoker of average means in this country are now supplied for the most part by the Continent of Europe, which sends over some- I thing like 80,000,000 cigars every year. 1 ■TWHNTV millions of meteors are said to fad upon the earth everyday, their aggi egatc amounting to several tons.

QUEEN LILIUOKALANI. In connection with the news that a British war-- ship has been sent to Honolulu, it may be noted that 'i ex-Qi.et-n LiHuokalani of Hawaii, President Cleve-I latiu's "great and good friend," has joined the Euro- t peiin colony of monarchs in exile. She owns a villa- in Northern Italy, and a selilosr, tlnd a considerable! landed estate in the Austrian province of Istria. The: Qiieeri and her daughter will arrive at Castello Wlli, the Italian villa, towards the end of the pre- sent month. Oil Easter .Monday the marriage will be celebrated tllrre of Princess Kaeluaolani, of Kaila,1 and Don Tommaso de San Felice, an Italian noble- man. There will then be a great gathering of South Sea Island courtiers and others. Her Majesty will proceed to her Istrian seat in summer.

IT MR A KHAN IN BOMBA 7. Umr.t Khan, the late Chief of Jandol, who caused so much trouble and expense to the Government of India last year by his intrigues in Chitral, is now in Bombay. The late Chief is accompanied by about 40 followers. The Times of In din gives tilt following account of his arrival: As the steamer anchored in the stream at some distance from the Custom Builder, Lanra Khan was found saying his prayers on deck surrounded by a number of his followers. A white linen cloth was spread out on the hatchway, upon which Uinra Khan was standing with his bare feet, and, as is the custom among Mahomedans, he kept on standing and kneeling alternately, mumbling some words in whispers, and while lie was thus engaged for about 15 minutes in his evening devotions, he seemed utterly oblivious of the presence of outsiders. Ho continued to say his prayers with his eyes half closed, some two or three of his men also following his example. Umra it-lfgln, as he stands, is fully 6ft. or more in height, and has a very prepossessing appearance, wearing a small moustache and beard, and was clad like nn ordinary Afghan. He wore a white shirt and trousers and a bodice of bine satin, his hend being covered with a "pugree"of fine white cloth, He is a rather thin man, but. stalwart withal, and looks every inch a soldier. As long as he was engaged in his prayers, his men f.ook great care that, he was not disturbed, but when he had finished and was about to return to his sent, close to the ladder leading to tho second-class saloon, some of his followers rather rudely and unceremoniously pushed aside the 'bystanders whom curiosity had brought, to the pLce. Umra Khan barefooted, stepped down the covered hatchway, and walked through the line of men, who had gathered together in large numbers, and occupied his seat on the bench over which was spread out his thin bedding. Theiv is only one man in the company who slwnb Hindustani, but he does not appear to be well verse:i iu the language. They all, including rmra. Khan speak rushtu,the man, who is slightly acquainted with Hindustani, acting as an interpreter between tho party and the ship s officers. Most of the followu j are strong, sturdy, stalwart, men, three or fuur them even over-topping the tall Ulu, but iliost f,f them are ferocious looking and easily excihÁVe fellows. The man who speaks Hindustani could not even give an idea of the time the party left Cabal. All he could say was that they left Cabul several d;s ago, halting on their way at Chaman nnd Quetta, and travelling thence by rail to Kurrachee, where, they took the steamer. He could not exactly say, but he thought that tht chief was about 40 years o f;i i,, d that nothing of any particular interest took place during their long journey.

THE ENGLISH TONGUE. The Boers have their own ideas :E to the origin of the English language. They say that wheH Dame Nature was employed in giving tongues to tho various nations she stood at a large table on which by a piece of meat. She had a knife in her hand, and a pair ,of scissors lay on the table. With the one she cut the tongue out of the meat, and with the scissors she g'lve to each tongue its peculiarities. To her came fill the nations. I)c r- ranstiian," deD-iitcher, and even "do Boesman" were provided for, but d-j Engelsman" was not there. lie had turned into a catifcen on the roadside, it seems, and when he arrived th? meat was done. "Never mind," said Dame Nature, there are plenty of snips on the floor -tll ke half-a-dozen of these, join them together, and make a tongue for yourself."

-gas MILITARY MATTERS. The annual report of the Inspector General of Re- cruit ing affords (says a correspondent of the GUx) ample food for reflection. The number of recruits who joined during the year 1895 was 29,583, which was over 4000 less than in the previous year, and over 12,000 less than in 1892. ltlt as the strength of the army was maintained, thei-fi xould seem to be little ground for complaint. The Inspector-General cf Recruiting says that there has been no difficulty in obtaining the full number uf recruits required, and in maintaining the army at the establish- ment authorised by Parliament." But he does not say that there has been the very greatest, difficulty in obtaining men of the required age and physique. The standard for the infantry is very low indeed, but it was impossible to obtain a snfIlciencyof even that deteriorated material. Five thousand seven hundred and eighty men were en- listed for the army, under tho standard, in 1895, or 19 per cent. of the total nrii-iber obtained. Add to this the number of men discharged as invalids within the first and second years of their service, and we get some idea of the inferior material of which the army is composed. There are s.)me satisfactory features about the report. The percentage of men taken under standard is lower than it lias been since 1891. The number of educated men is on the increase. The total number of desertions is fewer by 1503 than it was in 1892 the net. loss from this cause was 1797 in 18D5, compared with 3018 in 1892. The decrease in the numbers struck off the Army Reserve as absentees, which was observable in WaI, sl ill continues. The con- duct of the British soldier contiiicl; to improve. This is clearly shown by the fact that, notwithstanding the additional poweru granted to commanding officers, the "number of minor punishments inflicted during 1894 was less by over 44,000 than the number inflicted in 1875, although the present strength of the army is 37,000 more than it was then As one of the most important factors in the present recruiting systetn is the question of civil employ- ment on discharge from the a. my, it is inte- resting to watch the efforts made by the Govern- ment in this direction. There is an increase in the average number on the official registers for employ- ment, but a marked falling-cff in the numbers offered employment by Government departments. Whereas there were 1230 appointments given to old soldiers and Reserve men in 1892 in the Post Office alone, the number fjiven in 1895 amounted to 589. In other Government departments employment was found for 111 men in 1893, and for only C6 in 1S95. It cannot bo tco stroDgly impressed upon the authorities that if the army is to be made attractive to rfift of sound age, physique, and respectability, some better prospect of civil employment on discharge from the service must be held out. The authorities are alive to the fact, and, as a matter of fact, the re- commendations of the House of Commons Committee is under their consideration.

SHOT FIRING IN MINES. Reports to the Home Secretary on the circum- stances attending an explosion which occurred in the Blackwell "A" Winning Colliery, near Alfreton, Derbyshire, on November 1], 181)5, by Mr. Chester Jones, barrister-at-Iaw, and Mr. Arthur H. Stokes, her Majesty's inspector of mines, have been issued as a Parliamentary paper. Seven persons lost their lives owing to the explosion. Mr. Chester Jones states that the conclusion he drew from the whole of the evidence adduced at the inquest was that the ex- plosion was due in some measure to the management failing to recognise the dangerous character of tlt,) main haulage road in the event of a shot being fired on it. The opinion seemed to have prevailed that, the road in question was not dry and dusty to an 1 extent to necessitate the watering and other precau- tions-enjoined by General Rule 12; and that these precautions were necessary was proved by the event. He thinks, however, there is considerable excuse for the view taten by the management, and cannot advise that a prosecution could he instituted with irealonable-cumce of success. Mr. Stokes comes to the conclnsicn that the primary cause of the 810n,vas the firing of a shot on the dry and dusty party of a main haulage road of the mine, and hoi strongly advises managers to restrict the use of ex- plosives as far .as possible in all mines, and to dis- pense with,the use of gunpowder in all dry and dustv, parts of a mine, even though such mine be worked with naked lights.

GREATER BRITAIN. THE young Maharajah of Rewah was married the other week to the eldest daughter of the late Maharajah of Rutlam, Sir Ranjit Singhji Sahib Bahadur. Both bride and bridegroom belonged to the most ancient Rajput families in Central India. The Maharajah, who has only recently been installed with full powers on the yniisnad, is descended from Biag Deo, who left the Deccan in the sixth century, and trekked" northwestwards where he founded a kingdom, which his his sen afterwards enlarged and called Baghelkund. The Hultam family is the most important in Western Malwa, and is an offshoot from the ruling house of Jodhpore. After the princes of Jodhpore had sub- mitted to the Moghul Emperor, Ratan Singh, one of the members of their family, distinguished himself by capturing a mad elephant in the streets of Delhi, and for his bravery was rewarded by the Emperor with a fief in Malwa, which he named after himself Rutlam. ONE of the most dangerous and troublesome rivers known to navigation is the Hooghly, through whose devious and shifting channels Calcutta is reached. The services of Mr. Leveson Vernon Harcourt, C.E., have been secured by the Bengal Government to investigate and report upon the silting up of the river. The Government have advanced £ 1500 to cover the fees and expenses of Mr. Vernon Harcourt, who is assisted in his task by Mr. A. J. Hughes, engineer to the Calcutta Corporation. COL. EVERETT, who has been appointed to succeed Sir Augustus Hemming on the Anglo-French Niger Commission, has two things to commend him for the position. In the first place he is a most excellent linguist, and in the next place he his had a good deal of experience of boundary commissions. For instance, < in 1870 he was employed on the Turkish Boundary Commission in connection with the definition of the boundaries of Bulgaria, and later on he was appointed to the Demarcation Commission to define the Turko-Persian frontier. The colonel is cosmopolitan in his sympathies, lie knows Erzeroum where he was Vice-Consul-as well as most tra- vellers he is an authority on Kurdistan, and he has a great knowledge of European Turkey. His military experience has included service at head- quarters, where he is at present located, and where he holds the position of Assistant-Adjutant-General of the Intelligence Department. He is in favour with his chiefs. THE chief locust officer at Durban states that 100 tens of locusts eggs have been bought by the Natal Government at 6d. per pound, and that 200,000,000 • of locusts have thus been destroyed. About fiftv officers are engaged in the collection of the eggs, and work in harmony with Pondoland and Basntoland. The cost of locust work up to date is £ 7000. The Natal Government has issued a notice to traders re- quiring them to state what steps had been taken to I provide maize and rice to meet the needs of the colony in view of the threatened scarcity of produce I through a failure of the crops from the locust plague. CKICKETEKS will be interested to hear what so high an authority as Sir Timothy O'Brien thinks of South African cricket. In a word, Sir Timothy think it pretty good." It must have greatly improved, he says, since the South African team visited England in 1894, and when he played against them in two or I three matches. The batting, be adds, is better than the bowling. The best cricket he had seen played in South Africa was in Johannesburg, the next best in Durban. Sinclair was the best all-round player, and next to him Halliwall. In conclusion, Sir Timothy expressed himself as anything but pleased with the success of the tour so far as it had gone. Said he "They are playing English professionals here. I think we ought to have played more native talent." THE original annexation by the Barracouta of the islet of Trinidad, which we are now disputing over with Brazil, was rather a curious ceremony. It. was found impossible to land a boat, so the whole party swam to shore, carrying on their heads the Union Jack, flagstaff, sardine-tins for papers, kodak, and the other usual appurtenances of people about to take formal possession of new land. Naturally, the utmost amount of uniform by anybody upon this interesting occasion was a pair of bathing drawers, and it is believed that never before was the formal ceremony of annexation performed by a party so lightly and airily accoutred. WE are having a terrible winter here, perfect Arctic weather, worse than has been known for the past 40 years," says a missionary correspondent at St. John's, Newfoundland. "Snow lies on the I ground from 10ft. to 15ft. deep, country roads com- pletely blocked, communication with the outposts almost entirely suspended, owing to ice blockade. The suffering among the poorer classes is very great." A GREAT-GRANDSON of Kruger, together with several Boers, are acting in the Melbourne tram service as conductors. IT has just been discovered that a direct I descendant, on the maternal side, of Dr. Johnson I recently took, at the age of 21, his degree at Sydney University. A METEOR which fell in Australia recently had a large mass of pure copper embedded in one side. TilE longest telegraph line in the world above ground and without a break has just been completed in Australia. The line runs from Rockhampton, in Queensland, to Broome, in Western Australia, and crosses about two-thirds of the entire continent. The total length is something over 6000 miles. I THE young Earl of Yarmouth has purchased an estate at Mackay, in Queensland, where ho has gone in for poultry-farming and the cultivation of the I Indian mango. It is now understood that he has decided to settle permanently in Queensland, and it is probable that he will make an effort at an early date to secure a seat in the Legislative Assembly at Brisbane, where he would, no doubt, make his mark, as he is a man of sound ability, and is already rery popular in the colony. THE Premier of Tasmania has taken up with both handa a matter which might have been well looked into years ago, namely the wholesale and ruthless slaughter in all Eeasons of female seals in Bass Straits. The seals are, of course, found mostly on the Tasmanian side of the Straits, the heavy traffic and other causes being against their remaining about the Victorian coast. The seals are killed on the islands in the Straits in a most reckless way, and in the case of the killing of the females a double mis- chief is done, as the young seals are left to starve when the cows are killed. Dn. MAX OUNEFALSCN-RICNTEN, who, a few days ago, began at the Imperial Institute a lecture-course upon "My Twelve Years' Stay in Cyprus," went out to that island as a German newspaper correspondent 17 years ago, when its government was taken over by Great Britain. One day—having little to criticise in our administration—he happened to be strolling about Larnaca, and hit upon the ancient castle and harbour of the Chittim, mentioned in the Bible. He at once deter- mined to make himself an authority on the antiquities of Cyprus, and he was employed not only by the late Sir Charles Newton, for the British Museum, but also by the local Government and by Germany. During his last excavations he was accompanied by his wife, an intrepid lady, who took a large number of photographs, and whose scientific services were recognised by the Government. With her aid he is now scouring the English museums for materal towards an immense bcok upon this interesting island upon which he has already written at some length learnedly.

CURIOUS SURGICAL OPERATION. Mr. G. J. Harvey, veterinary surgeon, of Darlington, has just performed an operation which is probably unique in the annals of his profession in the north. Recently, Mr. James Morrison, the curator of the Public Park," noticed that one of the swans under his care was evidently suffering from acute pain, and on f examining the bird discovered that the principal Cone in the right wing was fractured in sereral places. He at once took the bird to Mr. Harvey, who declared that in his opinion the cause of the fracture was a brutal blow with a stick bv some ruffian' who bad taken advantage of the absence of witnesses to wantonly maltreat the bird. The fracture was so severe that Mr. Harvey found that aav attempt to set the wing would only result in faihire, an ie accordingly amputated it, and with such success that | the bird is now well on the way to recovery.

i A GOOD parody was that involved in the story of a voungEnglish nobleman with a large number of title? land a very small amount of brains—Lord This. Vis- I count that" and so on ad infinitum. "My fair friends," said the witty N., one of the titles vo:V appear to have forgotten," '■ Oh," was the universal exclamation, "what is that?'' "lie is' barren cf intellect I" was the rejoinder.

MARKET NEWS. MARK-LAKE.—The grain trade was quiet in toco, and the tendency rather weak. The sales cf home-grown wheat in the leading markets of England and Wales during the 28 weeks of the season have teen 928,330qr., against l,349,114qr. last season, at .n average of 25s Id against Ins 8d per qr. barley, 3,185,5Slqr., against 2;970,(#8qr., the average being 24s, against 22s 5d per qr.; and oats, 497,C07qr., against 421,211qr., at an average of 13s 10d against 14s Id per qr. English wheat moved off slowlv, and has declined (id per qr. Foreign wheat was Cd easier with a limited demand. The Hour market was in- active and weak, with prices favouring buyers.. Barley changed hands quietly at late rates. Oats were about the same, the demand being limited. Maize though quiet was firm, and 3d more money was occasionally paid for American. Beans and peas sold at late rates. METROPOLITAN CATTLE.—About an average number of beasts was on offer, but the demand was the slackest experienced for many weeks past, and quota- tions for both choice and second qualities were quite 2d per 81b. lower. Fat bulls and rough cattle were unsaleable. The best Scots made 4s 4d Norfolk?, 4s to 4s 2d; Lincolns, 3s lOd to 4s; Irish, 3s 8d to 38 lOd; and fat cows, 3s Gd to 3s 8d per 81b. There was a fair average supply of sheep in the pens, and a large proportion of lambs. For the latter the demand was restricted at 2d per 81b. decline; the best 5-stone Downs selling at 7s 4d to 7s 8d per 81b. The best wether sheep sold slowly, but were steady in value, whilst heavy breeds were easier. Young ewes scarce and rather dearer. The best 7ft to 8-stone Downs reached 5s 8d; 10-stone, 5s 4d; 10-stone half-breds, 5s 2d to 5s Id; 12-stone Lincolns, 4s 8d to 4s lOd and 10-stone Down ewes, 4s 4d to 4s 6d per 81b. Calves were a nominal market. I'igs sold very slowly, but were steady in value, tbe top price being 3s Gd per Sib. English milch cows, F.16 to £:22 10s per head. The following were the prices current Coarse and inferior beasts, 2s 4d to 3s second quality ditto, 3s to 3s Sd; prime large oxen, 4s to 4s 2d ditto Scots, &c., 4s 2d to 4s 4d; coarse and inferior sheep. 3s 4d to 4s 4d second quality ditto, 4s Gd to 5s 2d; prime coarse-woolled ditto, 5s 4d to 5s fid prime Southdown ditto, 5s 6d to 5s 8d; lambs, 5s 8d to 7s 8d large coarse calves, 3s 2d to 4s 2d; prime small ditto, 5s 6d to 6s; large hogs, 2s to 2s Gd; and neat small porkers, 3s to 3s 6d per 81b to sink the offal. MKTKCPOIITAS MEAT. — The large supply pre- vented any improvement in prices generally, although prime beef, mutton, nnd lamb of light weight were more readily disposed of at top quotations. For other qualities the trade was bad, there being very little demand, and prices were irregular, excep- tionally low rates having to be accepted in many instances to effect a clearance. Scotch beef excep- tionally realised 3s lOd Scotch short sides, 4s 2d; and American Liverpool-killed, 3s Id. The fol- lowing are the quotations Inferior beef, Is sa to 2s 4d; middling ditto, 2s 4d to 2s 8d; prime ditto, 3s C-d to 3s 4d; Scotch ditto, 3s 4d to 3s 8d Scotch short sides ditto, 3s 8d to 4s Od American, Liverpool killed, 2s lid to 3s Od ditto killed hind-quarters, 2s lOd to 3s 2d ditto, ditto, fore-quarters, Is lOd to 2s Od; English veal, 3s 4d to 5s 4d; Dutch ditto, 3s Od to5s Od; inferior mutton, 2s Od to 2s 8d middling ditto, 3s Od to 3s 8d; prime ditto, 4s Od to 4s 4d; Scotch ditto, 4s 2d to 4s td; New Zealand ditto, 2s Od to 2s 8d; American ditto, 3s 2d to 3s Cd English lamb, 6s Od to 7s Od New Zealand ditto, 3s fd to 4s Od, large pork, 2s 4d to 2s 8d small ditto, 3s Oll to 3s 4d; and Dutch ditto, 2s 10d to :35 Od per 81b. by the carcase. GAMT: ANP POVLTRY.—Prairie grouse, 2s 2d to 2s 6d; cock capercailzie, 2s 6d to 3s hen ditto, Is 9d to 2s 4d; woodcocks, "s to 3s 6d; wild ducks, 2s 6d to 3s 4d fat teals, Is 6d to Is 9d; large hares, 3s to 3s 6d foreign ditto, Is 9d to 2s 3d Aylesbury ducks, 4s Gd to 5s spring chickens. 2s Vd to 3s; large Surrey pullets, 3s to 3s 4d: wild rabbits, Is to Is 2d large tame ditto. Is 6d to Is 1 Od black cocks, 2s to 2s 2d large fowls, 2s Cd to 3s: and small ditto, Is 6d to Is lOd each. Bji.i.TNGSGATE Ilisii.-Fair supply and demand. Prices: Wholesale: Turbot, 14s: brill, 10s 6d; halibut. 7s lemon soles, 6s Od plaice. 4s 6d to 59 per stone salmon, Is 6d; salmon trout., Is 6d to Is 8d soles, Is Gd to Is 10d slips, Is 8d red mullets, Is to 2s per lb.; mackerel, 8s per score cod, 12s; gurnet, 10s; whitings, 5s: skate, 10s; melts, Is per box fresh haddocks, 10s per trunk; ditto, 20s per turn live eels, 21s dead eels, 16s per draft fresh herrings, IGs coalfish, 12s per barrel whitebait-, Is per quart; lobsters, Is to 2s each crabs, ]Gs per hamper; oysters, 4sto 16s per 100; escallops, 9d per dozen; shrimps, 10s per bushel; bloatere, 2a 6d kippers, 2s per box: dried haddocks, 3s to ü" per dozen. Retail: Salmon. Is 9cl to 2s 4d salmon trout, Is £ )d to 2s: Eoles, Is Cdto2s3d; slips, Is lOd to 2n red mullets, Is Cd to 2s 6d: turbot, Is 2d to Is Cd: brill, Is halibut, lOd lemon soles. 8d; plaice, 5d cod, 4d to Sd gurnet. 5d to 6d skate, 4d to Gd fresh haddocks, 4d; John Dorys, 8d live eels, Is 2d dead eels, lOd to Is per lb mackerel, 6d to 7d: whitings, 3d to 4d lobsters, Is to 3s 6d; crabs, GJ to 3s; dried haddocks, 4d to 9d each; escallop.?, Is oysters, Cd to 3s Gd per dozen. W IHTECIJAIT.L HAY AND or picked hay, 84s to 87s good hav. 75s to 77s inferior, 50a to 65s best clover, 84s to toE". good clover, 80s to 82s; inferior. 60s to 70s straw, 30s to 40s. ENGLISH WOOL.—The English wool market is very firm, though the business passing is not over-large. Holders, in view of the reduced stocks and the con- tinned consumption going on, are extremely firm in the prices they nsl;, and generally decline business unless something like their prices are yielded. On the other hand, buyers, though willing to give late rates, are not at all disposed to yield the prices asked by sellers hence business is necessarily restricted. Good wools, both of long and short qualities, are most in request, hogg wool still having the prefer- ence. Spinners keep very busy on old contracts, the higher rates asked for new business being a great check on fresh transactions. Colonial wools sell well at the sales in London, prices still tending upward. Trade all round keeps good, with a favourable ap- pearance for the future. Downs, Hd to lOJd Rents, 2 10d to half-breds, lOd. COYEST GARDEN FIIVIT AND VEGETABLES.—Fair supplies, with a moderate trade. Greenstuffs: Valencia onions, 4s to 5s per case English onions, j 5s to 5s 6d per cwt.; artichokes, Is 6d to 2s; horseradish, 7s to 10s per dozen bundles; Brussels sprouts, 2s to 3s per bushel; carrots, 2s to 2s 6d turnips. Is lid to 2s per dozen bunches potatoes, 30s to 90s per ton. Grapes, Is 6d to 3s; Lnglish tomatoes, 4d to Gd per lb. I Dunonu AND SPITALFIELDS POTATO.—There was a moderate supply of potatoes on sale. The demand was slow, at the ancexcd prices Magnum bonums, 30s to 45s; Hebrons, tOs to 80s; main crops, 40s to 70s Blacklands, 30s to 40s per ton. SEED Tiuiir,.—Grass and clover seeds are nn- changed. The remarkably low level of value pre- vailing all round, combined with the unusual excel- j lence. abundance, and surprising cheapness of the samples ottering, prove this season very accep'able to buyers. Tares are steady. Sainfoin scarce and dearer. Canaryseed flat. Rapeseed is higher. Mus- tard neglected. CAMBRIDGE CATTLE.—A fair supply of fat beasts, but very little alteration in the trade. There were several buyers of store beasts, but only a few were on offer. A good show of fat sheep, prices unchanged. A few lots of store sheep were shown, and all sold. A large number of fat pigs to hand, priccs being about the same. Not quite so good a trade for store pigs. Fair trade for straw, but bad trade for hay. Beef, Gs Gd to 7s 6d mutton, 4s 4d to 5s Gd; pork, 4s to tIs. READING CATTLE.—The beef on offer was of fairly good quality. Trade ruled dull, and sales were effected at. 4s to 4s 4d per stone for best, and 3s to 3s Sd per stone for secondary and inferior descrip- tions. Mutton found purchasers at 5s 2d to 5s 6d per stone for prime qualities, and 4s 8d to 5s for lecser qualities. Other descriptions changed hands ^t late rates. C> GijM&jiii Moderate supply, good demand. Bn Is, Is 2d to Is 4d per l. cod, live, 2s Gd to os Gd dead, 2s to 4s 6d each; pickled, 34s to 36s per barrel; salt, 14s per cwt; codlings, lOsto 14s per box halibut, live. 8s to 9s per stone; haddocks, 54s to GOs per kit; round, 15s to 21s per box; live, K.'3 to 18s per score; finnan, 4s to-Is 3d per stone; hake, 3s to 7s each ling, live, os to 6s; dead, 2s to 4s each; lobsters, Is Gd to is IOd per lb.; American oysters. 3s 9d to 4s Gd: Dutch. Ss to lis; English, 7» (>J Heligoland, Gs Gd per 100: plaice, 3s 6a.to 4s 9d per sti>Ee soles, Is lid to 2s Per 8s to 9s per stone; salmon and grilse, Is Gd o Is bd per U> skate, live. 3s to /s; dead, 2-> to iV eaob „ turbot?. Is Gd to Is 8d per lb.; wheiks, 3s Cd per w[.s! ice. Is ôd Der cwt.