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

SUICIDE OF A JUDGE. M. Rempler, a French examining magistrate, who was orginally intrusted with the inquiry into the Panama affair, committed Suicide on Saturday morning by throwing himself out of the window of his office in the Palais de Justice in Paris. Terriblv. injured by the fall, Le was carried immediately to the Hotel Dieu, where he died shortly afterwards. M. Rempler is belioved to have been suffering frora mental derangement.

TIED ON A RAILWAY TRACK. Three highwaymen stopped and robbed a man named John Hinsman, near Carthage, Missouri. They hesitated to actually take his life themselves, but at the same time desired to destroy the evidences of their offence, and so tied him to the rails of the Saint Louis and San Francisco railroad in the hope that he would be killed by the express train due to pass along two hours afterwards. They then fled with their booty. Two pedestrians found Hinsman, and released him, and eight minutes later the train passed.

RBPOBTS have gained considerable currency to the effect that various changes in the constitution of the Cabinet are contemplated, one of which is that Mr. Chamberlain will become Secretary for War. The Press Association learns on the high»3t authority that any report which states or, represents that any change in Mr. Chamberlain's tenure of office as Secre- tary of State for the Colonies has been contemplated by him, or suggested to him, is absolutely without foundation." ANOTHER effort is about to made to place beyond dpubt the fate of the KUsgjcg castaways of the steamship Aden Her Majesty's despatch bout Hornet has been sent to the island of Socotra, where the steamer was wrecked. After again examining the scene of the disaster she will creep along the Arabian coast, touching at various points for inquiry. The cruise will last 20 days. The relatives of the cast- aways are advertising their willingness to pay a ransom in order to facilitate the search. LORD MACNAG'HTES'S arbitration in the affairs of the Portsea Island Building Society, one of the mot disastrous of the failures about the time of the collapse of the Balfour group, has been so successful that the sufferers have received in dividends nine shillings in the pound, the final instalment of which was declared on Saturday.. This result is all the more grfYlDg when it is remembered that at the outset fk 6 Pr°ceedings what property was recovered from litigation^ 866111 to be swallowed up in costly ON Monday the Duke of Rutland entered upon his 80th year, and received many congratulations. As Lord John Manneia he entered Parliament as one of the members for Newark in 1841, having for his colleague Mr. Gladstone, He has held Cabinet i an k in several Conservative Administrations, as Firt't Commissionor of Works, Postmaster-General, and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. The duke succeeded to the title upon the death of his brother in 1888.

t j 11 4. BRITISH FLEET IN CHINESE WATERS. The 'British fleet in Chinese waters has been strengthened by the addition of three, ships, the Edgar, Whiting, and Fame, which left Cejjlon on Monday for Singapore. In connection with the impending departure of Prince Henry for the Far East, Beveral deputations from the university, the c^vlc authorities, and mili- tary cluba of Kiel waited upon his Royal Highness on Saturday last to express to him their good wishes for his voyage. The Rector of the University made a speech, m the course of which he said "In all German lands the feeling prevails that we have reached a decisive turning point in the history of the Empire, as regards its position in the world. It is for the German universities, which are nrirsérielJ not only of the sciences, but also of love of country, to bear witness that wherever the Father- land's honour and greatness are at stake, there also do we stand with all our hearts." The Rector concluded by wishing the Prince a prosperous voyage, complete success, and a happy return. Prince Henry expressed his thanks, and said: "I have enthusiastically undertaken my voyage to I Eastern Asia at the immediate and personal instance of the Emperor, with the consciousness of thereby contributing my share to the ex- pansion of German might and greatness," In further conversation with representatives of the University, the Prince dwelt on the reasons for hoping that a peaceful solution of pending important questions in China, corresponding with the interests of the Empire, would be found. The depu- tation from the City of Kiel expressed the warm sympathies of the burgesses, and the Prince, in his reply, assured them that he took up the task con- fided to him with good courage and trust in God. Thanking the military associations and Schleswig- Holsteiners for their good wishes, his Royal Highness declared that the mission entrusted to him was a national one, and he thanked his Majesty personally from the bottom of his heart that he had paid him the high honour of dialling him the representative of the interests of the Father- land in the Far East. The Emperor leases'fo* Kiê1. where he will dine with Prince Henry, and in com- pany with his Royal Highness inspect the Gefion and Deutschland. His Majesty will accompany the Prince to Rindsburg on board the Deutsch- land.' After quoting the principal passages of an article in the Journal des Hebats, discussing at some length, and from a friendly point of view, German policy in Eastern Asia, the Norddeutsch Allgtmnne. Zeitung remarks that it is glad to see a prominent Parisian journal take up such a calm and practical political standpoint. In the Far East," concludes the semi-official journal, there is room for all the European Powers, who, at no distant future, took forward to representing through their harmonious co-operation in those regions the achievements jof European civilisation."

SUFFERINGS AT SEA. Particulars reached Liverpool on Saturday of the wreck in mid-ocean of the British brigantine Elite, of Goole, and the terrible sufferings of her crew, one of whom succumbed. The survivors were resoned by the Bristol Line Bteamship Exeter City, about 250 miles east of Cape Race, and landed at New York. Theehip4 wrecked men tell a terrible story. The Elite w". bound from Cadiz to St. John's, Newfoundland, ladenj with salt. A gale from the south-west overtook her two weeks out, and the vessel sprang a leak. The men were ordered to the pumps, and worked loni hours. The ship was beaten far from her course. 'Thq water gained, and in two weeks more provisions we so low that short allowance was the order. Therj the captain was hurt, the main gaff fell on his h6ad and forearm, and he went to his bunk disabled! Murphy, the mate, struggled with foul weather and a short crew. The pumptf were going day and night, but the vessel showed less freeboard daily. Food ran lower. A man's portion at length consisted of a mug of peas and a mug of beans. Crumbi of bread were eagerly sought in the galley, ana sour oatmeal, condemned on their eastward voyage! but not thrown overboard, was eaten gtadly. Ths men worked for hours together, standing in col^ salt water knee deep. Their limbs swelled, and theit strength dimiefaed. Their signal of distress wai answered by the British steamer Rossmore, which sent a boatload of provisions. The crew remained on the Elite, as they wished to reach St. John's. An easterly gale increased the trouble, and two days later the Elite seemed likely to founder. The crew of six worked at the pumps, but the water continued to rise. Worn out with fatigue and ex posure several of the men became incapable of further effort, and eventually only the mate and the cook were left to battle with the rising waters. The men had almost abandoned hope when the Exeter City bore dowQ.upon them and effected a rescue. Af ten she had been abandoned the Elite was encoun- I tered by the Holland-America liner Veendam, and was burned as a dangerous derelict.

BRADY DIVORCE. In the Probate, Divorce, and Admiralty Division, before Mr. Justice Barnes and a common jury, the hearing was concluded on Monday of a. suit in-which Dr. James Brady, a medical practitioner of Liver- pool, sought divorce from his wife on the ground of her misconduct with one Johnston, a commission agent, and claimed JEIOOO damages. The refpondent did not deny the misconduct, but made counter- charges of cruelty and misconduct against the peti- tioner. There was no appearance for the co-reepon- dent. The jury found for the petitioner on all issues, and assessed the damages at E1500. As the petitioner had claimed only £1000, judgment for that amount was piven, with costs, against the co-respondent, and a decree nisi was granted.

STARVATION AT KLONDYKE. The Indian mail carrier Auk, "who has arrived it Victoria, British Columbia, from Dyea, brings particulars of the condition of affairs in the Klondyke country. He says that over a 1000 badly-pro- visioned men stampeded from Dawson City at the end of October through fear of famine, and are now forcing their way over the mountains. Twenty- five per cent. of them, in his opinion, will not live to reach Drea; The Territorial Assembly at Regina, the capital of the North-West Territories, is incensed at the-attion of Major Walsh, the Adminis- trator of the Yukon district, in imposing a tax of two dollars a gallon on whisky without consulting the Territorial Government. The Assembly asserts its right of jurisdiction of the Yukon district, and an important Constitutional struggle between the Domi- nion Government and the North-West Territories may arise over Major Walsh's action.

IT is said that cycle-stands, like cab-stands, are to be started in Berlin. It is proposed to put 250 machines on hire in various part4 of the city. The fee for hiring will be one penny for 20 minutes during the day and twice as much at night. A iiini) of slave market is BII-id to exist in mrvny country districts of Finland. Once a year such paupers, lunatics, and aged people of each parish as cannot support themselves are put up at public auction, and "onsigfled to those families or farmers who will board them at the lowest price offered by the parish authorities. SPEAKING at Simon's Town, Cape Colony, on Satur- day, Mr. Rose-Innes adversely criticised the proposal for the contribution by the Colony of an ironclad to the Imperial Navy, and suggested instead the pay- ment. of the interest on a loan guaranteed by the Home Government, Referring to Mr. Rhodes, Mr. Rose-Innes said that that statesman could alone prevent an outburst of racial, feeling and bitterness between Boer and Britisher, and no greater serving could be rendered than by the return of Mr. Rbodis to active politics at the Cape. OVER half a million sterling was voted on Saturday by the Egyptian Caisse de la Dette for works in con- nection with the Nile. Most of the money isk, to be expended on irrigation works. fHB thread-and-needle tree of Mexico is one of the wonders of that country. It is a plant somewhat re- sembling a giant asparagus. It has large Reehfy leaves. Along the edges are set the wonderfil needles. To secure one of these ready for use :t. {« only necessary to push tbe thorn or need.e gently backwards into its fleshy sheath, to loosen it from the tough outside covering, and then pull it from the socket. As 1. it is withdrawn it will be seen to hae 100 fine fibres adhering to it, If the needle is twisted in this process, the fibre an be drawn to an almost lndefini I a length, and the thread that is thus formed will be about three times thestrongth of common thread, though not a bit thicker.

IKDIA'S TROUBLES. THE PLIES AND THE LION. The withdrawal of the Tirab force into the Bara Valley is being satisfactorily accomplished, the vil- lages and towns of the recalcitrant tribes in the lateral valleys being destroyed with small loss to the force. Sir W. Lockhart, before leaving Maidan, tasued a proclamation to the Afridis, stating that he was withdrawing from the highlands because of the approach of winter, but was not vacating the country, in which he should remain till the Government terms were complied with and during the winter he should attack their other settlements. The Afridis, in attacking the English, were like flies attacking a lion, and as an old friend of many of them he ad- vised them to submit. TOWERS DESTROYED. The First Brigade and the divisonal troops have been engaged in administering severe punishment to tbeAka Khels. Traversing a difficult pass into the Waran Valley, the troops destroyed 15 towers, the enemy being taken completely by surprise. The British loss was one sepoy killed and five wounded. It is now estimated that the frontier troubles will cost the Government three and a half crores of rupees to the end of December. OFFICIAL DESPATCH. The following telegram was received on Sunday at the India Office from the Viceroy, dated Simla, December 10, 1897 Tirah. Brigadier-General Symonds reports Hart's brigade and divisional troops crossed difficult pass into aran, skilfully bandied, surprised enemy, destroyed large number of fortified villages Aka Khels, who boldly opposed retirement. Our casualties: Natives killed, one; wounded, two erivates Dorsetshire Regiment natives, three, [ammood moved Barkai to-day; reports improve- ment roads. REARGUARD CUT OFF FROM THE CAMP AT NIGHT. The rearguard of the 3rd Brigade, consisting of part of tbe Gordons, the 2nd Goorkhas, and the 2nd Punjab- Infantry, owing to the labour involved by the transport of the wounded, found them- selves on Sunday night surrounded in a nullah. The epemy were in such numbers, and mea were dropping so fast, that it was impossible for I them to come into camp, and they accordingly rushed a village about two miles from camp, and held it all night. The party, which was about 400 strong, and was commanded by Major Downman, was rein- forced this morning. The Gordons were found to have 14 wounded and four killed. There were about 10 casualties among the Goorkhas and the 2nd Punjab Infantry, including Captain Norie, 2nd Goorkhas, wounded. The casualties of the day were about 35. The Gordons lost five more men at daybreak, the enemv commanding one side of the house, which they held.

THE RAILWAY TROUBLE. The railway servants in Manchester and the district held a demonstration on Sunday. Several thousands of workmen of various trades paraded the streets with baqds of music, and subsequently a mass meeting took place. Mr. Bell, general secretary of the men's society, disclaimed all responsibility for initiating what the Press had described as a Christmas strike. The Press and the Board of Trade had 110 far been on the side of the companies. The real fact was the companies had so delayed consideration of pa 0' their demands that Christmas had come before the men were able to press programmes which were long ago submitted to the companies. The companies had undgubtedly made up their minds not to give way unless they were forced. There was practically a truce at present, in order to give the companies a* opportunity of carrying out what Sir Courtenay Boyle had promised, but this was the last course thfe men could take before adopting some other measures. Lord Emlyn's circular in reference to the wages paid by the Great Western Railway was a mass of mis- representation. ■ ■ I

GERMANY AND CHINA. niFFICCLTIES SAID TO BB SBTTLBD. The difficulty between China and Germany is practically settled. The Germans refuse to discuss ..the.question of the occupation of Kiao Chau. The governor of Shantung has been removed froao office, but is not further disqualified. No monopoly of railways and mines is conceded. to Germany, but caeteris. paribus Germany will receive the preference. The area immediately surrouhding Kiao Chau is set apart exclusively for Germany. China yields on all other points.

A PRETIY WEDDING. Commander Sir Robert Arbuthnot, Bart., R.N., who married to Miss Lina Macleay, daughter of Col. A. C. Macleay, C.B., 3rd Seaforth Highlanders, in St. Peter's, Eaton-square, London, on Saturday afternoon-i The portico and aisle were lined by the two chief petty officers and 30 bluejackets, lately re- turned from the China station, where they all served on board H.M.S. Centurion with the bridegroom. The bride as attended by two pages, Master Guy WiHock and Master Ian Macb^an, in<-Sailor costume, and by six youthful bridesmaids; the- Misses Dorothy ana Beatrice Arbuthnot, Miss Dulcie Plowden, Miss Sybil Hastings, Miss Mary Campbell, and Miss Mawer. The bride wore white satin, the bodice embroidered in pearis and silver, and the skirt trimmed with Brussels lace, caught up with orange blossoms. The long train of moire brocade, suspended from the shoulders, was borneby the p.iges. A coronet of orange blossoms was covered by a tulle veil, and her jewels were a pearl necklace and diamond brooch, given by the bridegioom, and a diamond star. Thebrides-, maids wore pelisses of white Roman satin in the early Victorian style, the fichus lined with turquoise silk and trimmed with beaver. They carried muffs to match, and wore poke bonnets of cream velvet plumed with feathers and slightly trimmed with blue. The bride- groom presented them with gold brooches set with turquoises and peurls, and the bride gave them silver buckles. The, first part of the service was performed at the entrance to the chancel, beneath an arch of tall palms, and groups of white flowers. The Bishop of Stepney, Canon Regd. Tompson, and the Rev. J. Storrs, vicar of the parish, were the officiating clergy. The bridegroom and his best man, Lieut. W. G. Ruck-Keen, R.N., were in naval uni- form, aa were several officers present. Colonel and Mrs. Mac!eay afterwards entertained the bridal, party at their residence in Buckingham Palace- gardens.

OPERATIONS ON THE NILE. The gunboats have pushed a reconnaissance as far as Xletemmeh and Sbendi, capturing six dervish boats and a quantity of grain. At the same time they ascertained that a portion of the Metemmeb garrison had crossed the Nile to Shendi, and that new fortifications bad been erected, from which the Snnboats were fired upon, though no damage was one to them. General Kitchener started up the Nile on Saturday.

THB Duchess of Marlborough knows the name of every servant on the Blenheim estate, and takes a deep interest in the circumstances of her husband's dependants. Many times has she received confidences from those with whom she has been brought in ccn- tact, and has given advice and practical help in nnmerons cases. It is said that she is very popular with thie children of the neighbourhood, who run to her when the walks by the cottages, and are not the least in awe of her. No confirmation has been received of the massacre of a German expedition in the Cameroons hinterland. TnB- illness of Princess Victoria, the daughter of the German Emperor and Empress, is not of a serious nature, and a speedy recovery is expected. Toll whaler Pollux has been purchased for M. Borchgraxink's South Polar Expedition. The ship will be ready to sail from Copenhagen in July next, Her crew will be all Norwegians. A TzRiaieLB tragedy is reported from Saar Union, in Lower Alaace. A woman named Wole, and desti- tute through poverty, threw her three little girls down a well, and then jumped down herself. TUB Assize Court at Bruges on Saturday acquitted Major Vanderauwera, of the Ostend Civic Guard, who, in consequence of anonymous accusations, was brought to trial on the charge of poisoning his wi 'e. Ma. W. H. D. HAGGARD, the British Minister, was on Saturday received by the Venezulean Presi- dent, who expressed satisfaction at the renewal of diplomatic relations between Great Bri'ain and Vene- aueIa.

PATHETIC STORY. A melancholy suicide took place at Mr. Chamber- lain's residence, Highbury, on Monday, the body of a gardener named Edwin Andrews being found hang- ing in a cowshed on the Highbury estate. The case is of pathetic interest. A few days ago deceased left his home, and was found by the side of his mother's grave. He remained there without food for 15 hours. A letter was found among his belongings, statmg that he could not live without his mother. He had been iu Mr, Chamberlain's employ for 14 vears, and was a quiet steady fellow.

GENERAL WEYLER IN MADRID. General Weyler has expressed to interviewers who waited upon him in Madrid the satisfaction with u which he received the popular welcome offered to him on Sunday. He trusted that the Spanish Government would find the means to avenge the in- sults offered to the Commander of the Army in Cuba by the United States Government, and said the Spanish nation would keenly resent the threats of in- tervention in which President M'Kinley had indulged. He would take the initiative in calling upon Senor Sagasta and the Cabinet to give satisfaction to the army and to Spain.

EARL GREY'S ESTATE. In the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court on Monday, before Mr. Justice Grantham and Mr. Justice Channell, arguments were heard on an infor- mation filed by the Attorney-General claiming estate duty in respect of certain property bestowed in 1885 by a deed by the third Earl Grey on the defendant, his nephew, now the fourth Earl Grey. The deed purported to transfer to the defendant the property for which estate duty was now claimed, the third Earl Grey reserving to himself an annual rent- charge of 1:4000. The Crown claimed duty on the principal value of the whole of the property com- prised in the deed,' aS being property passing on the death of the third earl, within Sections 1 and 2 of the Finance Act, 1894. Their lordships gave judg- ment in favour of the Crown.

FATAL FIRE AT SOUTHSEA. A fire occurred at Southsea on Monday evening in which Brigade-Surgeon Lieutenant-Colonel John Wilson lost his life. The deceased resided in the Wrvverley-road, and the outbreak occurred in a smoking-room exclusively occupied by him. It was discovered by a servant, and Mrs. Wilson, finding the top of the house full of smoke, ran lito the street for assistance. The fire brigade was summoned by telephone from the nearest point, and some of the members made their way through the smoke into the room by crawling on the floor, and succeeded in extinguishing the flames. The body of the deceased was found lying on a couch slightly scorched, death being evidently due to suffocation. The fire had originated in some cushions on the lounge chair, and was confined to the room in which it broke out.

AUSTRIAN UNREST. The Austrian Emperor has conferred upon Couut Goluchowski the highest Hungarian Order as a mark of approval of his foreign policy. At Prague troops continue to patrol the streets, and the prisons are full; at Cracow on Sunday a demonstration ended in a charge by dragoons; at Gratz two meetings had to be dissolved, and 68 arrests were made.

MURDERS IN IRELAND. At Ballymena on Monday William and Annie Scullion, and Samuel and Kate McCafferty, were re- manded, charged with being concerned in the murder of Margaret Glasgow, an elderly woman, at Bally- mena on Saturday night last. Rose Glasgow, a little daughter of deceased, stated that the accused, pro- vided with weapons, entered her mother's house, and Mrs. Scullion remarking, I'll be hung for you," knocked her mother down and jumped on ber, being assisted therein by the other defendants. Police-constable Armstrong, who visited the house just before Mrs. Glasgow expired, described the scene, and stated that deceased lay in a pool of blood, and had some frightful wcundB about the head. The coroner's inquiry into the case, held later in the day, resulted in a verdict being returned of death being due to the violence of the accused. Michael Glennon, a small farmer, is reported to have been brutally murdered on Saturday night while returning borne frem a fair at Dunmore, county Gal way. Three men have been arrested on suspicion of being concerned in causing Glennon's death, and they are now in Gal way Gaol. It is j. Stated that GlennOn had a dispute while at the fair.

ACTION AGAINST LORD CHURCHILL. Before Mr. Justice Bigham, without a jury, an action was tried on Monday in which Messrs. Walton and Lee sought to recover from Lord Churchill £ 177710s., as commission on the tale of the Corn- bury estate, in Oxfordshire, to Mr. Harvey Du Cros. In July, 1896, the estate was put up at auction by the plaintiffs, but the reserve price was not reached. It was afterwards sold by private con- tract to Mr. Harvey Du Cros, and the defence substantially was that Mr. Du Cros had bought Cornbury through Mr. Hooley, and that it had not been introduced to Mr. Hooley's notice by the plaintiffs. It was stated in the course of the hearing that the sum actually paid for the estate was £ 150,000, of which £ 115,000 -was paid by Mr. Du Cros and L35,000 by Mr. Hooley. His lordship came to the conclusion that the sale to Mr. Du Cros could not be attributed to any efforts, diroot, or in- direct, of the plaintiffs, and he therefore gave judgment for the defendant, with costs.

THE FATAL BOXING MATCH. An inquest was held on Saturday at the St. Clement Danes Vestry Hall in London on the body of Walter Croot, 23, professional boxer, who died at the National Sporting Club from injuries received in a 20-round glove fight with James Barry, an American boxer. Evidence was given by Isaac Croot, the brother of the deceased, Sir G. Cbetwynd, and others as to the manner in which the 'fight was conducted. A medical witness said there were superficial bruises on the body of the deceased, but no bones were broken. The cause of death was a fracture of the base of the skull, which might have been caused either by a blow he had received on the chin or by his having fallen on the back of his head. The jury found that the deceased died from the effects of a fracture of the skull caused accidentally by a knock-out blow during a boxing contest, and that there was no evidence to show that the accident occurred in an attempt to knock out. The coroner said that amounted to a verdict of accidental death.

Loiu) SALISBURY, as railway chairman, is the sub- ject of an interesting article in the Christmas number of the Railway Magazine. He filled this office for the Great Eastern Railway Company close on 30 years ago. The only official of the company in Lord Salisbury's time who is now in its service is Sir William Birt, now the general manager, and of the old board of directors the only one left is Colonel Makins. It was whIle discharging his duties as chairman that Lord Salisbury succeeded to the family estates and title, bat according to Mr. Scott Damant, the author of the article, the circumstance made no difference in the zeal with which tho Marquis carried out his duties fiiim number of candidates for the Cambridge 9,B Locsl Examinations is -as, great as jBver. For the December examinations, beginning on the 13th, as many as 17,000 candidates are entered. The Higher, Senior, Junior, and Preliminary Examinations will be conducted simultaneously at the numerous local eentrts. The extension movement is being developed. Short pioneer courses have been given at several towns with satisfactory results, and the field of opera- tions is to be enlarged by the establishment of several new centres. SIR ROBERT BALL has an amusing story of < meteorite which fell on an American farm. It was claimed by the ground landlord, because the lease reserved to him all minerals and metals on tbe land- It was also claimed by the tenant on the score that it was not in the ground when the lease was made. The landlord then required it as "flying game." The tenant, however, pleaded that it had neither wings nor feathers, and asserted his right to it as ground game. While the dispute was raging,, the revenue SIR ROBERT BALL has an amusing story of « meteorite which fell on an American farm. It was claimed by the ground landlord, because the lease reserved to him all minerals and metals on tbe land- It was also claimed by tbe tenant on tbe score that it was not in the ground when the lease was made. Tbe landlord then required it as "flying game." The tenant, however, pleaded that it had neither wings nor feathers, and asserted his right to it as ground game. While the dispute waa raging,, tbe revenue officers seized it as an article which had been intro- duced into the countrv without payment of duty*

EPITOME OF NEWS. f.ot;r)ol"s population increases by abjut 70,000 every year. TUJI: railways of the world carry more than 40,000,000 passengers weekly. TnmTY MILLIONS of wooden spoons are manu- factured in Russia every year. THE various countries of the world now use 13.400 different kinds of postage stamps. TilE value of the cattie in Western America is egti- mated at £ 400,000,000, or five times that of all the cattle in Australia. IT is said that more than one-third of the 28,000 applications for English patents this year are for bicJcle improvements. ONE of the highest shot towers in the world is to be found at Villach, in Austria, where there is a fall of 249ft. TUB 'surplus of women in France is leas than a tenth of what it is in Germany, and less than an eighth of the excess in England. TUB Pope's inoome is E480,000 yearly, exclusive of special gifts like those of his jubilee year. Peter's Pence provide two-thirds of the amount. "ARCH RocK," in San Francisco Bay, is to be blown up by explosives, after the manner of Hell Gate, in New York Harbour. The cost of the work is expected to be 100,000dol. AMONG the Princess of W, ales's treasures is a Vautiful pair of opera glasses of platinum, set with rubies, sapphires, and turquoises. It is valued at quite E2000. LARGE numbers of flint-lock guns 6ft. long are made in Birmingham at 6s. each, and many of these weapons find a ready market in Darkest Africa. MR. T. W. RUSSELL, Parliamentary Secretary to the Local Government Board, has appointed Mr. F. J. Willis, of that department, to be his private secretary in place of Mr. A. E. Wood, who has been promoted. LONDON is not only the healthiest capital in the world, but is becoming healthier than the other great towns of England. The death rate is slowly declin- ing, the mortality being below the average for the corresponding period of the last 10 years. HBRR HEINRICII HORSTMAN, the latest cycling globe-trotter, has returned to his home in Germany from a trip round the world. It took him two years to do it, and he used up six machines in the course of the journey. UNDER the new Belgian law, the subjects of those countries who have treaties with Belgium securing to them the treatment of the most favoured nation are in future to be exempt from service in the Civic Guard. TIIE Russian Mediterranean Squadron will shortly have a station at Bizerta, and the commander of the Vesnik, the firstRussian cruiser to go there, has pre- sented the town with a fine picture ol his ship as seen lying in the harbour. THE Queen has issued a warrant, ordering that Deputy Commissaries, Assistant Commissaries, and Deputy Assistant Commissaries of Departments in India shall be granted commissions with honorary rank, the first as captain and the others as tenant. THE Lords of the Admiralty have awarded the Naval Pensions of £65 a year, vacant by the deaths of Captains Stephen F. Douglas and Edwin O. Symons, to Captains William G. Anneslev and Henry K. Leet, R.N. PROFESSOR D'ARCY TnoMrsoN, who represented this country at the recent conference of experts at Wash- ington, in connection with the Behring Sea Seal Fisheries question, has arrivod in London. IT is said that in France there is an international band of bicycle thieves, who have warehouses for the storage and sale of machines in all the large towns of Europe. A bicycle stolen in one country is sent to another, and the police are never able to recover it. TIIB Department of Science and Art has received, through the Foreign Office, a copy of a despatch frtm her Majesty's Ambassador in Paris, relating to an intermediate International Exhibition, to be held at Dijon from the 1st of June to the 31st October, 1898. COUNT PAUL METTERNICH, who WAS many years at the German Embassy in London, as Secretary and Councillor, and who, for the last two years has been German Consul-General at Cairo, Las been appointed Prussian Minister at Hamburg. THE Bishop of Worcester has promoted the Rev. Thurston Rivtngton, vicar of St. Nicholas, Warwick, and Domestic Chaplain to the Earl of Warwick, to the Honorary Canonry in Worcester Cathedral, vacant by the death of the Rev. Canon Lawson. IT has been decided on public grounds to separate the offices of Chief Justice and Consul-General at Shanghai, hitherto held by Sir N. Hannen, who will continue to discharge the duties of Chief Justice only. Mr. G. Jamieson has been appointed her Majesty's Consul-General in that city. THE coronation of Queen Wilhelmina, in the New Church at Amsterdam, is fixed for September 6 of next year. In the same week the young Queen will enter The Hague in a grand procession, in which all the high authorities of the kingdom will take part. THB Croydon Corporation is taking steps to secure the better protection of the inhabitants against fire by connecting the various outlying districts with the central fire stations by alarm-posts, similar to those in use in London. SOME Swiss convicts recently escaped from prison, and an advertisement announcing the fact says that, with the cropped hair, knickerbockers, and striped jackets, the fugitive murderers may easily be mis- taken for American or English tourists excursioning in the Valaisan Alps." MR. MCKINLEV, the President of the United States, is wonderfully regular in his habits. At the White House he is always in bed by midnight and be sleeps until eight ever; morning. He declares that one of the reasons why he can get through an im- mense amount of work in a short time is because he never worries. MA.;OR LUGARD is still busy in London arranging with the Colonial Office officials matters in connection with the extension of police and protective arrange- ments in the Hinterland of British West Africa, and probably will not himself go to West Africa for some little time. A PARSES cricket team is coming to England next summer at the invitation of Lord Harris. Fixtures have been arranged with all the second-clan counties, the M.C.C. and Ground, and the I Zingari. The play of the visitors will be watched with interest, as we believe that not one of the team has had any experience of English cricket. The career of Prince Ranjitsinhji has, no doubt, given a great impetus to the cultivation of cricket among natives of India. MRS. BENNBTT STANFORD, in her recent big game shooting expedition, greatly distinguished herself as an intrepid sportswoman. Her husband had been on similar expeditions before, but this was the first occasion that Mrs. Stanford had visited those African wilds. She is certainly (remarks the St. James's Budget) the first lady who has ever shot in Somali- land, and seeing that her bag included a rhinoceros, several leopards and hartebeests, she holds a record in African sport. She was specially keen on leopards. A RAILWAY from Winnipeg to Hudson Bay is under consideration; and it is also proposed to extend the Quebec and Lake St. John Railway to James Bay, the most southerly part of Hudson Bay. The extension would perhaps serve as a new way to Elondyke, and also open up the fisheries, timber, and minerals of Hudson Bay. From the present terminus at Roberval, on Lake St. John, the line would run 380 miles through wooded hills and plains, which are fit for settlement. Hudson Bay would be reached from Quebec in two days and nights. A CLOCX on exhibition in St. Petersburg has 96 faces, indicating simultaneously the time at 30 dif- ferent spots on the earth's surface, besides the move- ments of the earth and planets. THE soldier's profession is well represented in the Church -of England. Among others the Archbishop of York, the Bishop of St. Helena, and the Bishop Suffragan of Colchester have all, at one time, held commissions in the army. MADAME FAURE, the wife of the French President, is a very popular woman. A portion of each day is given up to charitable purposes, her particular work being the care of poor children. She has established innumerable day nurseries, where the young of work- ing parents are cared for. GOLD in transit across the Atlantic sweats," how- ever tightly it may be packed. It is usually sent in stout kegs, and squeezed in as tightly as possible but there is a regular allowance for loss by rubbing upon the voyage, which in the course of yean amounts to a large sum. Iw some of the mountain paasea in Anstria there are to be found sign-boards bearing an inscription i6 German whioh reads: Return Forbidden." These passes are so narrow and stbep that when once a traveller has started on the upward journey he is forbidden to turn backward for fear of endangering the lives of those behind him.