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

BLACKMAILERS' HEAVY DOOM. Andrew Grant, Archibald Edward Thorpe, and Herbert Coulton, who pleaded guilty to black- mailing, were brought up for sentence at the Old Bailey on Monday, as were Arthur Manzal md Paul Ullrich, German waiters, convicted of a 3imilar offence. Grant and Coulton were men of bad reputations, and MY. Justice Hawkins, in sentencing them and Thorpe, said they had been guilty of a most cruel and abominable crime, by which during the last four years they bad extorted £1500 from the wholly innocent proeecutor, an Essex gentleman living near Braintree. It was diffi- cult to imagine greater villainy thnn the prisoners had been guilty of. Grant and Coulton would be sentenced to penal servitude for life, and Thorpe to 15jears. Mr. Justice Hawkins sentenced Mnnzal to 10 years' penal servitude,, and Ullrich to eight years. Manzal fainted as be was leaving the dock, and bad to be carried to the colls.

THE Governors of severnl of the Argentine pro- vinces will shortly come to Buenos Ayres in order to confer with the National Government with a view to obtain a settlement of the debts of their respective provinces on lines similar to the arrangement .I1;st made between the Buenos Ayres and Nationid Governments. TilE Duke of Norfolk having deprecated the pro- posal of the citizens of Sheffield to erect, his statue in commemoration of his services on the occasion of the visit of the Queen, the committee have decided to fix upon some form of commemoration more in conso- nance with his Grace's views. WHAT should operate as a further incitement to English farmers to arrange with the railway com- panies and the Post Office for the conveyance of their produce-a new Anglo-French Parcel Ppst ser- vice--has been organised. This is nor., as might be supposed, a scheme for sending English goods cheaply to France, though it might, doubtless, be turned to such a use. It was first advocated by the Normandy Chamber of Commerce, the French Postmaster took it up, and as a result Normandy farmers are now able to send their produce direct. to nil parts of Great Britain. Similar advantages could no noubt. be ob- tained by .English producers, if they would only com- bine and organise with the method and determination of their French rivals.

OLD WARHIORS FETED. In the grounds of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, 430 old heroes—men who in years past had fought for Queen and country-were on Monday drawn up and inspected by the Prince of Wales in the presence of other members of the Royal Family and a host of fashionable folk. The occasion was a garden fete given in aid of the nurses' homes of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association. The veterans had been brought together from different parts of the country. There were sailors as well as soldiers, and they were, so to speak, the living representa- tives of every battle which has taken place during the Victorian era. With them, too, were the Chelsea pensioners, in their'red coats and quaint hats. The Royal party arrived at about half-past four. The Prince was accompanied bv the Princess, the Duke and Duchess of York, and the Duchess of Teok. Lord Roberts, V.C., was also present. The two prin- cipal events in what was altogether a brilliant gather- ing were the reception of purses by the Princess and the inspection by the Prince. The task undertaken by her Royal Highness was most graciously per- formed. There was a winning smile and a word of thanks for each of the ladies who tendered purses in aid of the funds. Then came the inspection. The old men were drawn up in line, and as the Royal party passed along it was evident that the survey was not to be of a purely formal character. { The Prince had many questions to ask, first of this man whose breast was laden with medals, then of his companion, and so on all along the line. It was a memorable parade-one in which not only the Prince but also the spectators derived the keenest enjoyment, and one, too, that will ever be remembered by the veterans who took part.

SIR JOHN BENNETT DEAD. The news of the death of Sir John Bennett, at St. Leonards, was made known by the announcement of the funeral, which took place on Monday at Mount- field, near Battle. The death of the once famous London watchmaker of Cheapside severs an interesting link with the past. A couple of decades ago few men were better known both in London and the provinces than Sir John Bennett. He was a man who devoted much time to public affairs. He took an active interest in matters pertaining to the welfare of the City. He was a prominent member of the City Council, and in 1871- 72 filled the office of sheriff. It was in this capacity that he was called upon to perform many duties asso- ciated with the Thanksgiving celebration for the restoration to health of the Prince of Wales and in return be received the honour of knighthood. Sir John may be said to have been as ambitious as he was eccentric. He bad a keen desire to become Lord Mayor, but his wishes were never consummated. He was an ardent Radical, and this and other circumstances proved his stumbling block, He was not even permitted to rank as an alderman; but during the many years that he was associated with the City Council always remained a common councillor. In the provinces Sir John Bennett was often to be seen on the public platform as a lecturer. His striking appearance was well-known—the familiar brown velve- teen coat, the bushy head of white hair, and the clean- shaven face. Sir John was not an orator, but he could always command the interest and attention of his audience. On more than one occasion he accepted an invitation to stand as a Radical candi- date for Parliamentary honours, but was never successful in being returned for any constituency. As a Governor of Christ's Hospital he was a great favourite with the boys. He was a frequent partici- pator in the Lenten suppers, and on these occasions he would scramble gold in good large sums among the boys, invariably winding up the fun and frolic with the remark Well, boys, I have only three- pence for my bus, and you must let me keep that." For some years past the deceased had, so to speak, passed out of the public ken, but after his business was turned into a limited company he devoted him- self more closely to his business, and until a few years ago occasionally served in his shop in Cheap- side. His great mechanical clock over his premises has long been the wonder of our country cousins, and in many a Lord Mayor's procession he was a promi- nent figure. It was his habit when taking part on those occasions to throw up his hat to demonstrate generally, with a view to enlisting the sympathy of the crowd in his fight with the City Corporation. Death was due to bronchitis. He had reached the advanced age of 83.

PRESENTS TO THE QUEEN. A very large number of consignments from the colonies, comprising presents and addresses for the Queen in connection with her Diamond Jubilee, have reached the Colonial Office, end have been sent on to her Majesty by Lord Ampthill at the direction of Mr. Chamberlain. Addresses predominate, but some of these are contained in cabinets of rare and costly workmanship, which are in themselves very handsome presents. One such casket is from Ceylon, and is a marvellous piece of work. It is inlaid with ivory in curiously wrought shapes, and has an edging of rubies and pearls. An address from the Parliament of Western Australia is another which is singled out by reason of the splendid cover in which it is contained. The base of the casket is a slab of highly-polished karri, inlaid on its upper face with cherrywood. The attached inscription is in the form of a gold shield, upon which is engraved, From the Parliament of the colony of Western Australia to her Majesty Vic- toria, Queen and Empress, in commemoration of her reign of sixty years, 1897." The supports of the casket are in rough quartz (containing altogether about 40oz. of gold), and upon these are perched four swans of copper and tin alloy, resting among silver rushes. The casket borne by these swars is of rare woods, covered with gold iattice work. The inlays are of pearl shell,worked into devices representing pearl fishing and agricultural industries. The box is made entirely of woods grown in the cololny.

ANOTHER NEW DISEASE. Diseases are numerous enough already, but they are still being added to. The physician who has made the latest discovery in this direction calls it nervous prosperity, and whil6 closely resembling nervous prostration it is superinduced by directly opposite causes. Nervous prostration," he explains, "is usually caused by worry ovet financial matters. The man who is unsuccessful, whose hopes have been blighted, and whose fondest ambitions have been trailed in the dust of defeat, is the man who succumbs to nervous prostration. On the other hand, the sufferer from nervous prosperity is the man whose head has been turned by success, or, in other words, the man who cannot stand prosperity." The disease i, \f should think, never likely to become DODulur. _—————————————

Duchess of Teek, who is a jealous guardian of the health of her daughter, will, notwithstanding the delicate 6tate of her own health, spend the greater put of the summer with her, aud it is likely that she will ngVin take her to the Alps, where t'ho Koyal ladies spent, much time after the birth of Prince Edward of York. ACCOIUMNG to a ladies' paper Prince Edward of York is now a fine little fellow of three years of age. He is as healthy and happy a child as any one could wish, -and, far from being afflicted with shyness, he ha;ls with delight every opportunity of publicly prac- tising his bow, an accomplishment of which he is very proud. A riuvATE telegram from Havana chronicles the xeport that the insurgent leader Maximo Gomez has been wounded. THE Austrian Government has decided to deliver over to the Italian police the Anarchist Nosella, alleged to be an aciiomplice of Acciarito. but who escaped to Austria.

IMPORTANT APPEAL CASE. BBTTIirO ON UCBCOuasu DKCLAREn NOT ILLEGAL. Judgment was delivered on Monday in the Court Of Appeal by their lordships (the Master of the Rolls* and Lords Justices Lindley, Lopes, A. L. Smith, Rigby, and Chitty sitting) in the well-known friendly action brought against the Kempton-park Racecourse Company to test the legality of betting in racecourse inclosures and to have the recent startling decision in the case of Hawke v. Dunn overruled. The case came as an appeal from a pro forma decision of the Lord Chief Justice, who had felt con- strained to follow Mr. Justice Hawkins's judgment in Hawke r. Dunn, and the plaintiff had sought an injunction against the company to prohibit them from continuing knowingly and wilfully to permit betting at Tattersall's inclosure. The court was crowded, and Lady Esher, wife of the Master of the Rolls, occupied a seat on the bench. Each of the six learned judges read his judgment. The general effect of the final judgment, in which five of the judges concurred, was to allow the appeal with costs, to overrule the decision in Hawke ▼. Dunn as having been wrong, and thus to establish that the Statute 16 and 17 Vic., c. 119, known as the Betting House Act, was not intended to declare betting in racecourse inclosures illegal. The Master of the Rolls, in the course of his judg- ment, said that three considerations were raised. First, was such an inclosure as Tattersall's a place that could come within the meaning of the Act? Second, if so, was the inclosure so used by anybody u to bring it, or any part of it, under the definition of a place within the meaning of the statute ? Third, if it was used illegally, was its use knowingly and wilfully permitted by the company ? He thought that Tattersall's inclosure, as described, was in consequence of its structural condition, a defined place, capable of being used by a person desirous of so using it as if it were his house, room, or offioe, used as such for his betting business. Then arose the second question, whether any person did so use the inclosure as to enable the Court to say that he used it as if it ware his house, office, or room, used by him as such for his betting business. The facts seemed to show that, no one of the bookmakers claimed to use, or used, any part of the inclosure as his part of it exclusively as against anyone. To say that he used, or claimed to use, the spot of ground on which he was at the moment standing as his place exclusively as against all the world, as if it were his room or office, was against all reason. So long, therefore, in his opinion, as the inclosure on a racecourse was used only as this inclosure was used it could not be said to be a place used contrary to the prohibition or subject to the penalties imposed by the statute. Lord Justice Lindley: As regarded the case of Hawke v. Dunn," the decision could only be sup- ported by treating the Act as an Act for the sup- pression of betting instead of an Act for the suppres- sion of betting in a particular description of place. Lord Justice Lopes: The Act was not meant to interfere with betting on racecourses, such as had been carried on for many years before the passing of the Act. Lord Justice Chitty: It was clear that the word place had not the general meaning of any or evpry place, but some particular place. The business of a bookmaker was not prohibited by itself it was still lawful. Mr. Justice Smith: The action of the bookmaker was not specially aimed at by the Act. Theirs was a well-known business, but it was not mentioned in the preamble of the Act. These judges all concurred. But Lord Justice Rigby read a long judgment in favour of the conten- tion that the reserved inclosure was a place within the meaning of the Act.

THE "SLEEPY DISEASE," An interesting description of the sleepy disease," peculiar to Africa, is given in the "Journal of an African Cruiser." The persons attacked by this singular malady are those who take little exercise, and live principally on vegetables, particularly cas- sada and rice. Some observers ascribe it to the cassada, which is supposed to be strongly narcotic. Not improbably the climate has a great influence, the disease being most prevalent in low and marshy situations. Irresistible drowsiness continually weighs down the patient, who can be kept awake only for the few moments needful to take a little food. When this lethargy has lasted three or four months, death comes-with a tread that the patient cannot hear — and makes the slumber but a little more sound.

THE TRANSVAAL. It is believed, says the Times Johannesburg corres- pondent, that the persons interested in the dynamite concession have submitted a proposal to the Industrial Commission that the monopoly should be cancelled, but that a heavy protective duty should be imposed on the import of explosives, such duty being graduated so as to enable the existing company to write off within about 10 years the amount spent OD their factories and works. Some intimation of the contents of the report of the commission is expected very shortly. The Second Volksraad has declined to agree to a memorial to construct a new read along the main reef.

EARLY CAVES. An interesting account has been published by Mr. Gerard Krefft, of the Wellington Caves, which are the earliest caves discovered in Australia, and which are remarkable for the large number of fossil remains 01 extinct animals found in them. They were discovered in 1830 by Sir Thomas Mitchell, while engaged in making explorations for a road to open up the country. The valley in which they are situated is bounded on each side by hills of limestone rock, between which are small crevices leading to these caves. The most important is the "Breccia Cave," which is a kind of deep well, approached by a steep and rugged entrance, and consists of a lofty vaulted chamber, ornamented by an immense stalactite.

I RED INDIANS AND POLYGAMY. I A good deal of excitement is being caused among the Cheyenne and Arapahoe Indians in consequence I of the new law which comes into effect next week en the subject of polygamy. The red man is to be brought into line with the white on the subject of wives, and no longer may he indulge his taste for two, three, four, or even five helpmeets. Those members of the tribe who are blessed with more than one wife are to make a selection as to which one they intend to keep, a course which is likely to lend to their having a bad quarter of an hour with the re- jected.

THE CABOTS. It is curious to hear Sebastian Cabot still described in connection with the Bristol celebration as the dis- coverer of North America. The Sebastian theory was exploded years since. Though in Henry VII.'s Letters Patent, Sebastian is mentioned with bis father, John Cabot, it is certain that the son did not accompany him in the first voyage, that in which the Continent was discovered. It is equally certain that he was not a member of the second expedition, from which Cabot never returned. In after years Sebas- tian Cabot was a promoter of American expeditions in which he had no share.

BARONESS HIRSCII has given 2,000,000f. to be in- I vested for the benefit of ladies in reduced Clrcum- TuHnew fortifications which the French are erect- ing at Biierta, Tunis, will soon be completed. THE Queen, so Woman declares, has now become quite reconciled to the idea of women cycling. THE appointment of bis Royal Highness the Dulfo of Connaught to be Colonel-in-Chief of the Gth (Inniskilling) Drapoons, has caused some people to wonder why his Royal Highness was not appointed to the old 27th Inniekillings, now the Royal Innis- killing Fusiliers. Of course the appointment was intended as a compliment to Ireland, and in this sense it is to be commended but it would have been more appreciated in the army had an infantry batta- lion been selected for the honour. Seven cavalry regiments can already boast of colonels-in-chief, but with the exception of the King's Royal Rifles and Rile Brigade, such an appointment is unknown in the infantry. It would have been more appropriate, perhaps, if the Duke of Connaught had been ap- pointed colonel-in-chief of the Connaught Rangers, a fine regiment, and the one connected with his title. THE resignation of Dr. von Boetticher, Imperial German Secretary of State for the Interior- is an- nounced.

THE, CAPTAIN'S SOUL. A shipping paper must, of course, be decorous, s&ys the Syren, but a good story is a good story— whether it be of shoes or ships, or sealing wax, or eabbages, or kings. And bere is one told by Captain John Bain, of Nairn, aforetime one of the nautical assessors of the Board of Trade. It is of a Quebec captain, who, deserted by his crew on the eve of sail- ing, swore in a passion that he would sell lais soul to the Devil if he could only get his ship away, and saffly across to the Clyde. There appeared immediately at bis side a polite gentleman in black, whtl declared his readiness to accept the bargain, and do all the work. The skipper was uneasy as to the consequences, but stuck to his vow. He agreed to give out all the orders for the navigation of the ship, on condition that the stranger should do all the work of the absentee crew. It was a large order, but the gentleman in black worked so marvellously that the voyage was made without accident and without apparent effort. As they neared port, the skipper wondered how he could get rid of hif penalty on the bargain which, by the way, was hardly fair on his part. He -bit on an idea, and ordered the gentleman in black to get the anchor over the bows and grease the rope cable from end to end. This done, he ordered all sail to be set, the helm to be put hard-a-port, and the anchor to be let go. It went like a rocket, and the rope cable like greased lightning. Then he yelled to the gentleman in black to "Hold on The gentleman in black obeyed orders as usual, and-his body went three times round the windlass and then, like a shot, through the hawse-hcle into watt r after the anchor. He was seen no more, but the place where he went down is marked by the Black Buoy of the Tail of the Bank.

IS IT A MYSTERY? A writer in the North American Review, under the heading, "The Death Instinct in Animals," gives a case of what seems to have been transference of thought" between a cow and her calf. He says The farmer who owned them kept the calf in his barn, but drove the cow to a distant pasture every morning with the rest of the herd. She soon became reconciled to the arrangement, and was accustomed to feed qnietly until it was time to return to her calf. One day the farmer killed the calf suddenly and painlessly. There was no outcry; no chance for the cow to see the deed. She was at a dis- tance from the barn, which apparently pre- cluded the possibility of her knowing what had been done. Yet no sooner was the calf dead than she left her grazing with the rest of the herd and came up to the barn, lowing and showing every symptom of uneasiness. There she stayed from noon till milking time, moving about restlessly as she had never done before. There was no communication possible so far as human senses could perceive between mother and offspring; yet there is no doubt that the cow had some dim knowledge, and that she suffered more than than the calf did. Mr. Cummings gives a couple of other instances of what he calls the death instinct in animals, one of which seems to point to transference of thought" between a man and a tortoise-shell cat he was about to kill.

ATLANTIC ADVENTURERS. Little did H«mry May think what a dangerous precedent he was setting when he crossed from the Bermudas to England in the year 1522. He had been sb ipwrecked on one of the largest of those islands, which at that time was quite uninhabited. He evidently had no intention of emulating the deeds of one who subsequently gained world-wide notoriety by remaining on the island a number of years. He therefore collected materials from the wreck of his own ship for building a small boat in which be made the first recorded voyage across the Atlantic. This hazardous feat, says a writer in Chavibers's Journal, was also accomplished by Sir George Somers in 1609, when cast upon the same islands. How many persons have lost their lives since that time in similar enterprises of a far less worthy character will never be known, but it may prove of interest to mention a few voyages which have been undertaken in small vessels across the Atlantic during recent years. In 1876 Alfred Johnson left Gloucester, Mass., in a small open boat, 20ft. in length, and in 57 days reached Liverpool. Early in the following year Captain Thomas Crapo and his wife crossed the Atlantic in the New Bed- ford, named after the, city from which they started. They appear to have been well occupied in looking after their small craft while on their way, and the captain of a steamer which passed them in mid- ocean suggested that the pair should come on board; but the offer was declined. After many thrilling ad- ventures, the New Bedford-another 20ft. boat- arrived safely in Mount's Bav, Cornwall, after a voyage lasting 39 days. an5* Blue, a somewhat larger boat than those already mentioned, successfully crossed from New York to Margate. The crew con- sisted of two men and they were accompanied by a dog, which died soon after reaching land. This boat I was afterwards placed on view at the Crystal Palace. The next in order of date is that of the Nautilus, a marvellous achievement up to this time—1878. She was only 15ft. in length, 6ft. 7in. wide, and 2ft. 3in. deep, and looked a mere toy. Forty-flve days after leaving Boston the Nautilus reached the Lizard, greatly to the joy of the two men on board.

AN ORANG FOR THE ZOO. A very fine male orang (simi satyrus) from Sumatra has just been received on deposit by the Zoological Society, of London, and placed in the anthropoid apes' house. The animal is still in the strong travelling cage in which it was brought to this country and, as it prefers to spend most of its time in repose, its full proportions cannot be seen to advantage. This is probably the largest example of this anthropoid ape which has been exhibited in the society's menagerie. The only other specimen that can be compared with it is the large female which was kept some years ago in what is now the Infect House but in the present example the head is much larger. As one sees the animal dozing in its relatively small cage one wishes that it were possible to keep these apes in this country as they are kspt in some of the Zoological Gardens in India—in large open-air cages, where they could be seen to advantage, and where the opportunities of active exercise would go far to pro- long their life in captivity. This, however, is out of the question, owing to conditions of climate.

FOREIGN NAVIES An ironclad, which will bear the name of the Charles VI., is about to be added to the Austrian Navy; the vessel will be of larger dimensions than those of the other ironclads now comprised in the Austrian Imperial Marine. The Russian cruiser Swetlana, which is now being completed at Havre, is expected to leave that port at the close of the summer for Cherbourg, where she will make her official trials. Captain Voievodsky, of the Russian Service, has just received the Cross of Officer of the Legion of Honour from the French Government. Four cruisers which are now being built in England and the United States for the Japanese Navy are to be completed by the followiug dates: The Shikisima by May 4 1899; the Kasagi by December 31, 1898; the Chitose by December 31, 1898; and the Takasago by the current month. The Shikisima and the Takasago were con- tracted for in England the Kasagi and the Chitose are being built in the United States. The displace- ment of the four cruisers will come out as follows: 15,037 tons; Kasagi, 4784 tons; Chitose, 47bO tons; and Takasago, 4350 tons. The French cruiser Bayard has arrived at Kob6. The French cruiser Laclocheterie has arrived at St. John's, New- foundland. The French cruiser Troude has arrived at Salonica. The French cruiser Duguay-Trouin has arrived at Noumea. The new submarine boat Holland, built at Elizabeth port, New Jersey, is to be sent round to Washington to be inspected by members of Congress, as well as by Naval and other Government officials. Should the boat be deemed a success Congress has provided for the building of three other craft of a similar type. Already a sub- marine boat of the same type is being built at Balti- more, but she is not likely to be ready for her trials until late in the summer. The French cruiser Forbin has arrived at Tripoli.

COLONEL WINGATE, chief of the Intelligence Depart- ment of the Egyptian Army, has under him the most complete system of espionage in the world. But "all is fair in the war," and of course the Khalifa has his spies about Colonel Wingate. All that happens at Khartoum is known to Colonel Wingate two weeks later. He now knows the deliberations held at the JSbalifa's camp in the middle of this month. They are still in pirogresa. All the Bjjjptians are getting | •■eady for their onward more.

jSPITOME OF NEWS. THE bayonet was first made inBayonne, in Franoe; hence its name, and it was first need by tbe French army in 1671. It was successfully employed by thfm during the reign of William III. in an attack on the British 25th Regiment of Foot. It afterwards became generally recognised as an indispensable military weapon, and has been used on both sides in nearly au the great battles of Europe and America in which the British and other troops have been engaged for the last 150 years. Sir MARTIN CONWAY and Mr. E. G. Garwood have left London for Spitzbergen in order to continue the exploration of the interior of the main island begun by them last year. They are to be landed at King's Bay, whence they hope to make sledge expeditions over the northern ice sheet. Afterwards they intend to revisit Horn Sound and complete the scientific exploration of the southern peninsula. THE American President, who receives a salary of £ 10,000 a year, must pay for all the food con- sumed at the White House; and the expenses of getting up an elaborate State dinner are not small. Cigars and wines the President buy", and they must be of the best. He has to maintain his own equipage. The Government, however, allows him a valet, also a clerk, who opens all his letters. All other personal servants must be engaged by the master and mistress of the White House. SEVERAL recent American Presidents' wives-Mn. Grant, Mrs. Hayes, Mrs. Garfield, Mrs. Harrison, %nd Mrs. Cleveland, to wit-were total abstainers during their reign in the White House. Mrs. Garfield, Mrs. Harrison, and Mrs. Cleveland never furnished wine to their guests, except at State dinners, when their husbands wished wines to be served. It is said r that Mrs. Grant was the first woman to move against having wine in the White House. Mrs. McKinley is a total abstainer. THE most expensive mayoralty of the present year, not even that of London excepted, will be the mayoralty of Sheffield, which has already cost the Duke of Norfolk considerably over £ 30,000. The expense connected with the Queen's visit alone cost the duke between £ 20,000 and E25,000. To this must be added the market value of Norfolk Park, which the duke has just made over to the town. Although the members of the Sheffield Corporation are anxious that the duke should remain in office another year, be has definitely decided not to allow himself to be re-elected. MANY diamonds which have been exposed to sun- shine give out light on being placed in a dark room. When placed in a vacuum and exposed to a high- tension current of electricity, diamonds phosphoresce, or shine, with different colours. Most South African diamonds, under these circumstances, exhibit a bluish light, while diamonds from other parts of the world shine with such colours as bright blue, apricot, pale blue, red, yellowish green, orange, and pale green. After reciting the preceding facts, in a recent lecture in London, Professor William Crookes made this interesting statement: One beautiful green diamond in my collection, when the phos- phorescing in a good vacuum, gives almost as much light as a candle; the light is pale green, almost white." TIIEUX is a possibility of Mr. Ben Tillett settling in New Zealand. The various labour bodies in the colony are considering the advisability of guarantee- ing Is. per head per year towards retaining his ser- vices as labour organiser in New Zealand. TUB Earl of Howth, who bad a rather bad fall while riding in Pau lately, has gone to Homburg to make his cure before the place gets crowded after Goodwood. TUB new French cruiser D'Assas has broken down in her preliminary trials owing to defective boilers. She is also discovered to he lacking in stability. THE late Archdeacon Perry is to be succeeded as Rector of Waddington, Lincolnshire, by the Rev. Dr. Stokoe, vicar of St. Michael's, Oxford, who has been presented te this living by the Rector and Fellows of Lincoln College. THE racial feeling in Bohemia is finding expression in a novel manner. The Municipalities of Eger and Tannwald, two places of importance, have passed re- solutions refusing to carry on their public functions after July 15. THERE will shortly be rejoicings at. Taymouth Castle in honour of the silver wedding of the Marquis and Marchioness of Breadalbane, who were married on July 27, 1872. TUB Marquis of Zetland has again rented the cele- brated deer-forest of Glenmore, Inverness-shire, from the Duke of Richmond and Gordon, besides the shootings of Kinrara (about 30,000 acres), near Aviemore. Lord and Lady Zetland will reside at Kinrara House, the beautiful old Speyeide seat of the Dukes of Gordon. MR. J. ALEXANDER STEWART, who has been elected to the Whyte Professorship of Moral Philosophy at Oxford, rendered vacant bj the death last term of Professor Wallace, is a tutor of Christ Church, and has spent his life in the service of his college and the University. He is the author of a commentary on Aristotle's "Ethics," which immediately on its appearance was recognised by competent critics as a work of considerable value. FOUR fresh firms in the London district have con- ceded the eight hours' day to the engineers. The men s officials express themselves confident of success if the matter is fought out, as there seems every likeli- hood of its being. THAT Rabelais was born at Chinon is a well- established fact, but the site of the house in which he SAW the light has hirherto remained uncertain. M. Henri Grimaud, a well-known French antiquary, now discovers from the local archives that the apothecary's shop in which the witty cleric came into existence is now No. 17, Rue de La Lamproie, and on the National Fete day a memorial tablet will be affixed to the building. PRINCE AND PRINCESS FRANCIS JOSEPH OF BAT- TE\T!ERG, who are now in Germany, will errive in England early in August, and they are to be the gueshs of the Queen for several weeks at Osborne and at Balmoral, after which they will proceed to St. Petersburg for the winter. Prince Francis Joseph is the youngest son of the late Prince Alexander 6f Hesse, and the Princess is a daughter of the Prince of Montenegro, and a sister of the Princess of Naples and of tho Grand Duchess Peter Nicolaievitch. Ti.-n King of Siam is proving himself an intelli- gent tourist. In Switzerland, Italy, and Austria- irwng-ary he has won general esteem, and his arrival in this country towards the end of July will evoke considerable interest. The Queen has invited him to stav at Buckingham Palace, and the King has e.ccppted the invitation for a limited period. The Kinsr likes a quiet life best, and his visit at Bucking- ham Palace will not extend over many days. After i-eceiving visits and returning them at Buckingham Palace, he will go to Taplow Court, near Maiden- head. THE Queen has expressed a wish that the King of Siam should pay her a personal visit, and this will tnkp. place at Osborne while the Queen is in residence ia the Isle of Wight, and his Majesty and suite will he conveyed across the Solent in one of the royal Tai-hls, and will be received in state. The Lord Mnvor will also offer him the hospitalities of the city. It is understood that the King desires to make a carefnl study of British life and institutions, in- sluding our education system, our manufactures, and :>nr commercial system. He will pay his promised pifit to the Hague from England. After the con- clusion of the visit to this country be will go to Spam and Portugal and then to Egypt. MR. ANDREW CHARLES HOWARD, C.B., Assistant- Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, who has been made a knight, is a son of the late Mr. • Howard, of Ringmore, Devon. He served during the Indian Mutiny in 1857-58, for which he was thanked by the Bengal Government, and during the Indigo disturbances in Lower Bengal in • Afterwards he was chief of police iu Monghyr and VnX Em £ r daughter of the late Mr. Charles William Montgomery, and was created a C.B. in 1894 THE Mayor of Bolton (Colonel Dobson) presented »even Humane Society's awards for heroism; and conspicuous among the recipients was a child of eicht, named William Scholes. The boy had at creat jeopardy saved a girl older than himself from drowning beneath the ice in the Bolton Canal, at a place where his elder companions dared not venture. rhe little fellow is stated to be the youngest life-saver on the Royal Society's list. THE largest pin factory in the world is that at Bir- mingham, where 37,000,000 pins are manufactured every working day. AU the other pin factories together turn out about 19,000,000 pins every day. Taking tha population of Europe at 250,000,000. every fourth person must lose a pin everv day to use up the production of pins per day.

CURRENT SPORT. Hampshire won their first cricket match this season at Bournemouth on Saturday, defeating the PhiladelphianS by five wickets. Overnight the visitors had scored 92 for five wickets, and the remaining batsmen gave some trouble, especially Bohlem who ran his score from 12 to 50 before being caught. The venture closed for 166, leaving Hampshire 175 to get win.Four wickets were down for 62. Barton jilted a great innings, and at 40 minutes past four 0 clock the professional made the winning stroke. He had a grand receptioa oh returning to the pavilion, and well-deserved it. His 93 not out incited sir 9n1 Save a hard chance 'T I6' at 57'J Clark carue out bwst in th« A^rn wlLID.B' aDd, afc one time he was very rrfeir work intfae field wasn't at all up to the mark. The wm gave great satisfaction, and Bournemouth's first cricket week must be voted a success. Of the three inter-county cricket machos played at the close of last week, only that between Lancashire and Essex was brought to a definite conclusion. The victory of the northern county reduces Essex from the first to the fourth position in the list, but the difference at the close was only 66 runs, and the losers, although they fell short of success, have reason to congratulate themselves upon making an Excellent fight, from home, with such powerful antagonists. Taking into consideration the slow rate of scoring on the first two days at Eastbourne, when only one innings each of Sussex and Middlesex was completed, it was not surprising to find the contest ending in a draw. K. S. Hanjitsinhji gave a grand display, and out of 220 scored for four wickets was responsible for a faulttoes 129 (not out), when the innings was de- clared closed. The Metropolitans easily saved the game, and, at the finish, had only lost three wickets for 122 runs. Robert Henderson's benefit at the Oval proved a most successful one, as during the three days no fewer than 37,452 persons passed the turnstiles, which is irrespective of the three day tickets issued, and members present. Yorkshire and Surrey are old rivals, and the Northerners having already admini- stered defeat once to Surrey this season, the match, apart from the popularity of the binfficiare, created a large amount of interest. When the game was resumed on Saturday, the Northerners were leading by 255 and had three wickets to fall, so that Surrey's position wassomewhat serious. In the re- sult, the home side were put in, to get 322, with four hours and -35 minutes left for play. They made a bad start, and looked like being in for a beating; but, thanks to a fine innings of 103 from Baldwin, and assisted by Brockwell and Jephson, the Metro- politans succeeded in making a fairly even diaw of it, by subscribing 244 for six wickets. When Bald- win left three-quarters of an haur remained for cricket, and there were only four "wlcktts to fall. Probably with inexperienced batsmen against them Yorkshire would in those three- quarters of 'an hour haVe won the -laboo, but Walter Bead [and ]Key gay*a display of passive resistance which in its way was unsurpassable, and the game was soon saved. Up to this closing stage of the match the crowd had shown the utmost dis- crimination, rarely or never applauding at the wrong time, but while Read and Key were in, a knot of people on one side of the ground behaved very badly. Failing, apparently, to appreciate the skill with which the two batsmen were playing for the draw, they interfered with everyone's pleasure by indulging in a series of ironical howls as over after over passed without Surrey's score being increased. Eventually, however, some dim sense of their own foolishness came upon them, and quietness was restored before the game ended. The Prince and Princess of Wales and Princess Victoria, the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the Hereditary Prince Alfred of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Hesse, the Duke ot Cam bridge. the Duke of Cannaught, and a large and distinguished company were present at the polo match at LIurlingham Club on Saturday. The competing teams were the 10th (Prince of Wales's Royal) Hussars and the Inniskilling Dragoons, the latter of whom won the match by four goals to two. The Duke of Cambridge presented the, cup to the winners.. The 50 kilometre cycling race at theVelodrome de la Seine in Paris on Sunday between the two English pro- fessionals, Linton and Stocks, resulted in a victery for Linton, who won by half a lap. The match attracted 20,000 spectators. For the first 10 kilometres both men did their utmost to pass one another, and all French records from one kilometre onwards were beaten. At the 15th kilometre Linton passed his opponent, and kept increasing the distance until he lapped Stocks amid thundering cheers. Towards the end of the 15th kilometre Stocks rushed away, but only reduced Linton's lead by half a lap. Forty-nine kilometres 30 metres were covered in an hour, 50 kilometres in lhr, Imin. 24 4-5sec.. Afterwards an electric triplet established, a record for five miles, covering the distance in 7min. 42 2-5sec. > The thirty-second celebration of, the Amateur Athletic Championship which, since 1880, has been under the auspices of the Amateur Athletic Associa- tion took place on the Manchester Athletic Club Ground at Fallowfield, Manchester, on Saturday, it being the turn of the northern district of the Associa- tion to arrange the venue. As heretofore there were 13 events, and the entries in point of numbers were quite up to the average, but it must be con- fessed that there was a sad falling off in class very few of the holders of the challenge cups putting in an appearance to defend their titles. Indeed, the only men who were successful in 1896 that appeared on Saturday were Denis Horgan, the weight putter; W. Sturgess, the walking champion; C. E. II. L'gga t, the long jumper; and H. Harrison, the f c, Ir-m ler. The first three retainod their honours with ease, but Harrison did not run in anything like his old form, and was absolutely last of four. Two Americans in the persons of Sheldon and Hippie (New York A.C.) competed, the former in the weight- putting and hammer-throwing, and the latter in the half-mile, but without success. It was; a bad day for good performances, being dull. cold, and boisterous, but a'tbough the wind was all against fast times, it was hardly sufficiently strong to account for the poor achievements in the hundred yards, the hurdles, I he quarter-mile, the steeplechase, and the four milt,p. Taken as a whole the sports were certainly below what was expected. Though unpleasantly changeable from the point, of view of the average citizen, the weather has been favourable for golf --well calculated to keep gregne in excellent order for play—and low scoring has been witnessed in consequence. On tbe Troon links, playing against,, so redoubtal-16 an adver- sary as W. Feraie, Mr. C. Dick established^ new record (amateur) for the green. Twice he defeated the professional, completing his rounds in 73 and 74 ,the. amateur record stood previously at 76. The Royal Liverpool Gulf Club, of which Mr. Dick is a member, held a tournament last month in com- memoration of the Longest Reign Mr. H. H. Hilton, the open champion, won tbe final after a very close contest with Mr. H. Ilolden, who received four strokes. Mr. A. J. Allan, the amateur cham- pion, has been winning honours at Edinburgh, where, at the last University meeting for the season, he secured easily the club gold medal and challenge cup. T8^01"' Wimbledon, the open profession i Orjfei.°' 1804 »d 169,5' "Braid, decided a 36 ho l !T"Plm th's Jeai s championsh.p, Club on Saturday J. °yer the 1'"k18 ofuthe Acton <vAr hnt J' Bma was a little the stronger to"er-wThe,>~t- representative was one j £ r The Wimbledon round, and, with one hole to dL h m 6 J" advantage. The excitoment at ho J t 6,tmkr tense. Raid's drive landed hi"Zme7 f T u' right Of the green. Taylor's Braid approached in better style than his opponent. Tavlor putted poorly, and losing the hole,the matchwas halved. Scores: First Round 1 Taylors Out «o o 4 5 4 5 4 4 4—36. Home :43654344 4—37 wJi 73. Braid: Out: b 4 5 5 3 4 4 4 5-39. Home 4 36 4 6 4 3 3 4-37; total 76. Second Round-Taylor. Out: 436734433-37. Home 445544345 -38; total 75. Braid: Out: 4 4 4 6 4 4 4 3 4-37. Ifforne: 4 3 5 4 4 6 3 4 4-37; total 74. Totals fop the two rounds: Tajlor, 148; Braid, 150. (.ta the Giosy Club Ground at Stamford-hill on satiitaay -afte-.inooik the annual England v. Ireland lawn tennis contests were resumed and brought to a conclusion, England, as anticipated, scoring an easy victory for the English team. On the first day the lingles were decided, and Saturday's programme was confined to the doubles, the result being as below W. and H. Baddeley, Q. Greville and H. A. Nisbet, and R. F. and H. L. Doherty represented England, whilst the Irish team were G. C. Ball-Greene and C. H. Martin, H. S. Mahoney and M. F. Goodbody, and. G. F. Martin and R. M. Clifford. In the result England won the contest, the score in their favour being England, 14 matches to 1, 34 seta to 8, 244 trains to 168. Interest, so far as cricket at the beginning ot this week was concerned, chiefly centred in LorcJ a Ground, where the 63rd match between Oxford aid Cambridge was in progress. The attendance on Mon- day was somewhat below the average, but it is esti- malej 16,000 persons were present. The cricket proved disappointing. Batting first, the Cantabs were all out for 156, N. F. Druce's 41 being the principal contribution. Oxford got within 26 of that number for the loss of eight wickets, G. R. Bardswell's 35 heading the list. Both sides lost a wicket in the first over, each had half the wickets down for 75, and completed a century in identically the same time. At Southampton, Hampshire on Monday made a good start against Yorkshire, as, aided by items of 125 by Barton and 63 by Captain Wynyard, they subscribed 251 and got one Yorkshire wicket down for 15. Derbyshire and Notts were on Monday opposed at. Derby, where, unfortunately for Davidson (whose benefit the match it is), much rain fell. Batting first, the home eleven scored 294 for the less of seven batsmen, S. H. Evershed being responsible for 98, and Chatterton for 90. Lancashire went to Birmingham and met Warwickshire on Monday (the proceeds are to benefit Pallett) in boisterous weather. The visitors, for whom Tyldesley compiled 106 and Sugg 51, totalled 292; and Warwickshire replied with 34 for no wicket.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS.-JuLY 5. The grievances of Irish landlords arising out of legislation on the land question were further dis- cussed. The Government, while admitting that the landlords had suffered severely in consequence of this legislation, were afraid it would be impossible to grant them any direct compensation. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Several questions relative to the Jubilee celebra- tion were answered. The great number of functions, including three military displays, renders it im- possible in the view of the Government to arrange for a special volunteer review. The demand for gold and silver Jubilee medals is being dealt with in the first instance, and the issue of bronze is afterwards to commence. Mr. Balfour informed Dr. Farquharson that the committee on the permanent housing of the Wallace bequest had reported, almost unanimously in favour of the purchase of Hertford House, and the retention of the collection there. The operations on the Nile are, it seemed, to be conducted by the Government of Egypt, and there is no intention whatever of supersed- ing Sir H. Kitchener. The House then considered the Workmen's Com- pensation Bill as amended, the features of the pro- ceedings being the opposition from the Conservative benches to the Home Secretary's new clause relative to the recovery of damages for injury caused by some person other than the employer, and the carry- ing of the clause by the large majority of 351 to 43, and the rejection of Mr. Haldane's clause proposing the abolition of the doctrine of common emplov- ment.

INDIAN CAVALRY DECORATED. THE QUHEN AT BEAUMONT COLLEGE. The Queen was again busy on Monday with official functions. Shortly after five o'clock in the afternoon her Majesty drove to the slopes faciBg the east side of Windsor Castle for the purpose of inspecting and decorating between 40 and 56 Indian Cavalry and Imperial Service officers. On arriving on the ground, the Queen was received with a Royal salute, after which her Majesty personally conferred on each officer in turn a Jubilee medal. Subsequently the officers were entertained at the castle, and returned to London by special train at 6.45. The band of the Royal Horse Guards in State uniforms was in attendance. Her Majesty, accompanied by Princess Henry of Battenberg and Princess Henry of Prussia, then pro- ceeded to Beaumont College, the Roman Catholic Eton, about three miles from Windsor, which was reached about balf-past, six. The entrance to the college was decorated with flags, and a triumphal arch was erected. An address was presented from the master and boys and her Majesty iilsc, accepted a lovely bouquet and a copy of the Beaumont Review, which, beauti- fully bound in crimson velvet and gold, contained poetry and essays on the Queen's reign. The father rector was then presented, and the ceremony ended, the Queen departing on her custo- mary drive in Windsor Great-park.

TO HELP THE ESSEX FARMERS. A deputation comprising the members of Parlia- ment for the county r,f Essex—viz., Mr. James Round, the lIoll. Charles H. Strutt, Lieutenant- Colonel Lockwood, Major Rasch, Mr. Thomas Usborne, Mr. Charles Gold, and Mr. Louis Sin- clair, with "hcini were the Mayor of Chelmsford and Sir Simeon Stuart, waited upon the Lord Mayor of London at the Mansion House on Monday to request him to open a relief fund in aid of those who were utltrly ruined by tLe severe hailstorm in the county cf Essex last week. Essex itself, said the deputation, wa* utterly powerless to cope with tile widespread distress, and unless aid from outside came to their assistance the ruin of the Essex farmers would be cowplete and pitiable in the extreme. The Lord Mayor agreed to open a reHef fund, but said the disaster which had befallen Essex had come at a time when the exigencies of a remarkable year and an unprecedented season must mitigate against its being the succcss which usually attended all efforts made from the Mansion House.