Barry Herald

WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA. FIRING ON THE WHITE FLAG. A CONVOY LOST. "TGHTING ON THE ORANGE RIVER.— BRITISH OFFICERS KILLED AND WOUNDED. BOMBARDMENT OF KIMBERLEY. ATTACK ON MAFEKING REPULSED: 50 BOERS KILLED. THE BOER PRISONERS.—ARRIVAL OF TRANSPORTS. THE QUEEN AND THE GUARDS. BOER TREACHERY. The following telegram from the General Officer Commanding in South Africa was received at the Waff Office on Friday of last week: CAPE TOWN, November 9, 9.õ3p.m. I have received by pigeon to-day from White, Ladysmith, the following message Bombardment at long range by heavy guns continues daily. A few casualties occurring, but no serious harm being done. The Boers have sent in to-day a number of refugees from the Transvaal under a flag of truce. A flag of truce from Ladysmith met them outside the pickets. When the parties separated the Boer guns fired on it before it reached our pickets. Major Gale, R.E.. was wounded to-day while sending a message. Our intrenchments are daily growing stronger. The supply of provisions is ample. A MISTAKE. The following statement has been issued by the War Office: A report having appeared in the South African papers that our artillery has fired on the Geneva Hag, Sir R. Buller telegraphs the following account of the incident given to the Diggers' Newx by the Rev. J. N. Martens, Dutch clergyman present with the Boers Directly afterwards the first cannon shot was fired. The English thought our men were at the railway station, and fired there. They were not, but one of the shots went through the ambulance. As soon as they found their mistake they ceased firing. The ambulance, according to usage, should have been three miles from the field of battle, so that the ambulance cannot claim the English broke the usages of civilised warfare, but I do not think Eng- lish would have fired on them had they known. It was unintentional." LOSS OF A CONVOY. The following telegram was received on Friday afternoon of last week at the War Office from the General Officer Commanding in South Africa CAPE TOWN, 12.40 p.m. By message dated Buluwayo, November 3. On November 2 a small convoy and escort under Spreck- ley, of Plumer's (force), attacked by Boers. Six men missing and loss uf convoy. SKIRMISH NEAR BELMONT. The General Officer Commanding in South Africa has sent the following telegrams to the War Office CAPE Tow, November 10, 10.20 p.m. Reconnoitring force from Orange River had skir- mish with the enemy to-day about four miles to the east of Belmont. CASUALTIES. Killed.—Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel C. E. Keith Falconer, Northumberland Fusiliers. Wounded.—Lieutenant C. C. Wood, North Lanca- shire Regiment (shot wound head and chest. J dangerous); Lieutenant F. Bevan, Northumberland Fusiliers (gunshot left thigh, not dangerous); Lieu- tenant H. C. Hall, Northumberland Fusiliers (gun- shot. wound back, not dangerous); 5377, Private Beaton, North Lancashire Regiment (gunshot wound righr, leg, slight); 5153, Private A. Thomson, North Lancashire Regiment (gunshot loin, slight). NOVEMBER 11, 4.45 P.M. With reference to my telegram of November 10, Colonel Gough. with two squadrons 9th Lancers, a battery of Field Artillery, and one and a-half com- panies of Mounted Infantry, found about 700 of the enemy and one gun in position about nine miles to the west of Belmont. He engaged the enemy with his artillery and sent the Mounted Infantry to turn the enemy's left flank and to dis- cover his laager. The losses reported by me yesterday occurred during this operation. Colonel Gocgh engaged the enemy for about three hours and then returned to his camp without being molested. I regret to inform yon that the death of Lieutenant Wood is Hist reported-. The following version of the skirmish has been received at the War Office from the General Com- manding the Lines of Communication, Cape Colony: CAPE Tow*, November 12, 12.15 p.m. Colonel Gough, Grange River, reports reconnais- sance 15 miles to a point nine miles west of Bel- mont on November 10. Officers' patrol first came on Boer position, a great semi-circular ridge standing out into the plateau. They endeavoured to make Boers develop their strength by demon- 8trating with two squadrons 9th Lancers and Field Battery on left wing; one-and-a-half com- panies of mounted infantry on right. They kept artillery on middle of plateau out of infantry fire. The enemy commenced by firing at cavalry from a gun to the north end as the cavalry in open order made a circle around theni, when the hills seemed full of sharpshooters. The mounted infantry endeavoured to outflank enemy's left fiank and to see laager. They came under heavy unexpected fire from few skirmishers. Killed. Captain and Brevet Lieut.-Colonel Keith Falconer. 1st Northumberland Fusiliers, and lieutenant Wood, 1st Battalion Loyal North Lanca- shire. Wounded.—Lieutenants Hall and Bevan, 1st Northumberland Fusiliers; 5153 Private Arthur Thompson 5377 Private James Beaton, 1st Battalion Loyal North Lancashire. Our guns fired several apparently effective shots, to which the enemy's guns did not respond. Having withdrawn wounded, the enemy did not fire on the ambulance. Gough withdrew his force after a demonstration lasting three hours and returned to camp same after- Boon near Orange River. Guns and some few horses brought in by rail. The wounded were sent to Orange River by rail immediately after action. The enemy's strength appeared considerable, and was apparently 700, with one gun, under David Libe and P. Vandermerwe. BOMBARDMENT OF KlMBERLEY. The War Office has received the following telegram from the General Officer Commanding the Lines of Communication in Cape Colony: CAPB November 11, 10.40 p.m. Kekewich reports enemy very active 4th Novem- ber principally with object of driving off cattle. Free Staters retired rapidly before Turner with- out firing. At 12.30 p.m. Transvaalers advanced on Kenilworth. Major Peakman with squadron of Kimberley Light Horse in hiding in bush gave enemy warm reception. Boers retired firing. Turner reinforced Peakman, and at 12.40 p.m. enemy opened fire with one piece of artillery at nearly 4000 yards range. Two guns Diamond Fields Artillery were then sent in support of Turner, but enemy's guns bad ceased firing after fifth round. Consequently our Sns did not come into action. Enemy's artillery fire 1 no damage shooting bad. Our casualties in Kenilworth engagement: Major Our casualties in Kenilworth engagement: Major Ayliff, Cape Police, wounded in neck, expected to fecover. Later in day our pickets say Boers carried off six dead from one spot; probably killed by our Maxim. Enemy's total loss probably heavy; cannot 7*, estimate. About 5.30 p.m. Turner again in contact with new •aemy on Schmestdraft road. From conning-tower ferge number of enemy could be seen about two Biiiee to the north of Kimberley Reservoir, and Others held walled enclosure on their own right Bank. Turner opened with Maxim and two guns Diamond Fields Artillery sent in support. Turner Same into action at 5.45 p.m.; continued firing SOtil dusk. Our further casualties here—Private Labbe, Cape Police, shot through head; died on arrival at hos- pital Sergeant W atermayer, Kimberley Division Cape Police, wounded doing well. Unable to state enemy's losses jet; they must liave suffered severely judging from precipitate ntreat. "th At 6.10 p.m. enemy opened firs witn one piece of Artillery from Kampersdam on Otto s Kopje; latter held by Cape Police; enemy inflicted no Th^f'ollowing telegrams from the General Officer Commanding in South Africa have been received at the War Office: CAPII Tows, Nov. 10,10.20 p-i*. Following message from Kekewich, Kimberley, Hov. 6: Wounded progress satisfactorily. Two unarmed natives shot by Boers at Alex- andersfontein. Conservancy post to the south of Kimberley Wtservoirs missiMg since 4th, supposed captured by Boen. wne, of fBeaconsfield, having ridden beyond Wrriors yesterday, is missing, supposed captured. QI1 otherwise unchanged. ? N0VEMBER 11, 10.50 a.m. ) Kekewich reports on 8th Bombardment of 7th did no damage. No casual- ties. KISIBEKLBY. November 4, via IIopetown, Noveu.ber 8.—At eight o ciock this morning the Boers appeared near Carter's Farm in some force, and our men opened fire upon them with a Maxim. The Boers replied with rifles. By some mistake our leading files, instead of advancing over the ridge, went down into the valley and were exposed to a hot tire. Labbe, of the Cape Police, was killed, and Watermeyer, a cousin of Judge Watermeyer, of Bulawayo, was severely wounded in the lung Our men then retired on the reservoir, where they were joined by two guns of the Diamond Fields Artillery, which shelled the enemy, with what result could not be ascertained. Meanwhile some Boera who had occupied Kam- persdam opened fire with one gun on Otto's Kopje, but they failed to get the range and no damage was done. It is kcown for certain that six Boers were killed in the first engagement. The enemy were all round Kimberley in great force, but they seemed chiefly bent on lifting cattle and harassing our men. At half-past ten o'clock, however, alarm signals were given and the enemy were observed in greater numbers than before and closer in. Their outposts fired on a patrol under Major Peakman, who engaged the enemy, firing, however, at long range only. Major Ayliff, of the Cape Police, was hit in the fleshy part of the neck. The enemy lifted 30 cattle which they found to the north-east of the Sanatorium, and subsequently fired eight shells in the neighbourhood of Felsmead's Farm at Kenilworth, doing, however, no damage. A detachment of the Diamond Fields Artillery was ordered out, but, before it left, the enemy was seen to be retreating. Later in the day the Boers fired on the convicts who were working at the Sanatorium, and drove off a large number of cattle and donkeys. They still seem to be mainly intent on cattle lifting, and as they are well mounted and are enabled by the dips in the veldt to appear and disappear with marvellous rapidity, they have great facilities for successfully raiding. The demonstrations which the enemy have made to the south-west of the town was merely a feint to cover a movement which was unsuccessfully attempted on Kenilworuh in search of cattle. The shooting of the Boers with their field guns is bad. 1;ight shells were discharged, but aU fell short. BARKLY WEST, November 6. A despatch just received from Kimberleyannounces that Commandant Cronje has sent a message to Colonel Kekewich calling upon him to surrender before six a.m. to-day, otherwise the town would be shelled. The women and children are remaining on Colonel Kekewich's responsibility. The Boers sur- round Kimberley in great force, and have heavy artillery. ATTACK ON MAFEKING. CAPE TOWN, November 8, 6 p.m. News has just come through from Mafeking that the Boers have been repulsed in a general attack on that place with a loss of 50 killed. Only trilling loss was sustained by the defenders. The General Officer Commanding the lines of communication in Cape Colony telegraphs that he has received the following telegram dated Oetober 25 from Colonel Baden Powell Mafeking all well. After two day's shelling and heavy bombardment to-day enemy made a general attack on three sides, which was repulsed by our Maxim fire. Enemy now drawing off our casualties slight. Llewellyn with several armoured trains drove off enemy at Crocodile Pools, killing eight. Pluuier reported to have had successful engagement near Tuii October 26. Enemy renewed attack to-day with ammunition (?) much damaged I by rain, and have drawn off without pressing attack. Hellawell wires vic1. Kuruman, date October I "2ï; Mafeking safe. Enemy have 94-pounder; doing little damage with it. Report just received that on October 26 Boer commando was at Phokwani moving south. Natives overheard intention (of making) same march Free State side of frontier to intercept reinforcement from Orange River Bridge for north. Judge Long sending full particulars con- cerning colonists injured in our skirmishes direct to Law Department. THE BOER PRISONERS. The Natal Government has received letters from Colonel Schiel and from Mr. De Wit Hamer expressing on behalf of the Hollander prisoners their gratitude for the kind and humane treatment they are receiving. Colonel Schiel says that not the slightest difference is made between those of them who are wounded and the British wounded. Mr. De Wit Hamer adds an expression of their apprecia- tion of the civility and humanity of the British authorities at Ladysmith and Pietermaritzburg. TRANSPORTS ARRIVING. The transports Yorkshire. Aurania, Lismore Castle, and Gascon have arrived at Cape Town with over 3600 troops. The Yorkshire, Lismore Castle, and Gascon have been sent on to Durban, where the Roslin Castle arrived on Sunday. IHE QUEEN AND THE GUARDS. The Queen, who arrived at Windsor Castle from Balmoral on Saturday morning, a few hours later inspected, at the Spital Barracks, Windsor, the com- posite regiment of Household Cavalry which has been formed from the 1st and 2nd Life Guards and the Royal Horse Guards Blue for service in South Africa. After the inspection the officers of the regiment were presented to her Majesty, who, addressing the commanding officer, Colonel Neeld, on behalf of the regiment; said I have asked you, who have always served near me, to come here that I may take leave of you before you start on your long voyage to a distant part of my Empire, ia whose defence your comrades are now so nobly fighting. I know that you will always do your duty to your Sovereign and country wherever that duty may lead you, and I pray God to protect you and I bring you back safely home." Colonel Neeld replied that the regiment thanked her Majesty for her gracious words, and he assured her on their behalf that they would do their duty. The ceremony closed with enthusiastic cheers for the Queen from the troops. DEPARTURE OF MR. TREVES. The departure from Waterloo for Southampton of Mr. F. Treves, of the London Hospital Medical School, who is going out to South Africa as con- sulting surgeon to the troops, was made the occasion on Saturday morning of an enthusiastic demonstra- tion by the students of the school. MORE TROOPS START. The Union liners Scot and Greek sailed on Satur- day from Southampton for the Cape, the former conveying the 1st Battalion Suffolk Regiment (32 officers, one warrant officer, and 1086 rank and file), and the latter the 1st Battalion Essex Regiment (30 officers, one warrant officer, and 1084 rank and file). BOERS BUYING TOBACCO FOR BRITISH WOUNDED. The Natal Witness publishes a statement by a gentleman who has been assisting the British ambu- lance detachment at Ladysmith. He was one of the j first to visit Nicholson's Nek after fhe engagement of the 30th ult., and was enabled to count the British < killed and wounded. Altogether, he says, 25 men were killed and 70 wounded. With the exception of two subalterns all the wounded were privates. The British prisoners had already been removed under guard ef a considerable number of armed burghers, Our wounded in the enemy's hands are considerately treated by them, the Boers insisting on paying for the men's tobacco. The Boers admitted having lost three men killed at Nicholson's Nek, but there was reason to believe that their losses were a good deal heavier. OUR LOSSES IN RECENT MAFEKING ENGAGEMENTS. The following telegram was received on Monday at the War Office from the General Officer Com- manding in South Africa: CAPE TOWN, November 12, 8.45 p.m.—Following message received fiom Nicholson, Buluwayo, November 5: t October 25.—Following message received from I Colonel Baden-Powell, Mafeking, October 25 All well here. Enemy still shelling us. We made a successful night attack on his advanced trenches last night, getting in with the bayonet. Our loss six Protectorate Regiment killed, nine wounded, includ- ing Captain C. Fitzclarence, 3rd Royal Fusiliers, slightly, Lieutenant Swindon. Killed.-4323, Corporal Burt. 17th Lancers 442, Trumpeter Josiah Loundy; 443, Charles Mayfield Middlebritch; 171. Thomas Fraser; 222, Alexander Hy. Turner; 202, Robert Byvis Macdonald. Enemy's loss unknown, but considerable. Enemy have now vacated Signal Hill, and laagered two miles north- east of town. and two miles south-east. October 30. Cape Town, November 12, 10.10 p.m. —Following report also received from Colonel Baden-Powell. Mafeking, October 13: All well here. Enemy apparently shv at attacking. Now closing to invest us. They are to-day destroying railway I two miles north, with dynamite. Shelling continued, doing very little harm. No. 6 Trooper Thomas George Kelly, C Squadron, Protectorate Regiment, died of wounds received action October 26 October 31. Mafeking, October 31.- Enemy attempted assault to-day on Cannon Kopje and south-east corner of town. Attacked most gallantly, I notwithstanding hot shell fire by British South Africa Police under Walford. Enemv lost heavily. Our casualties Five killed [it will be noticed that six names are given], five wounded. Killed.—Captain Hon. Douglas Henry Marsham, 4tb Bedfordshire Regiment; Captain Charles Alex- ander Pechell, 3rd King's Royal Rifle Corps No. 2391 Troop-sergeant-major William H. Conniham No. 2066 Trooper Arthur John Martyn No. 2517 Trooper Frank St. Clair Traill Burroughes; No. 1169 Troop-sergeant-major Hugh Byron. Wounded.—Sergeant E. D. Butter, Corporal M. J. Cook, Corpoial F. C. Newton, Trooper C. M. Nickolas, Trooper F. R. Loyd, all of British South Africa Police. FRENCH STEAMER OVERHAULED. An incident of considerable [importance reported an Monday was the stopping of a French vessel bound to Lorenzo Marques, by the British (cruiser Magi- cienne. It was necessary to fire a blank shot before the French ship hove to; her papers were the. examined, and she was allowed to proceed. LADYSMITH IN SMOKE. A special correspondent attached to Reuter's Agency, telegraphing from Estcourt, under date November 9, says: I rode several miles to north of Estcourt to-day to watch Ladysmith bombardment. From hills surrounding town constant puffs of smoke from Boer gtins were plainly discernible, indi- cating a. steady fire. On railway aide of Bulwana Mountain, to south of Ladysmith, Long Tom was posted, and I could easily watch its fire. The interval between its shots varied from six to eight minutes. A short distance from "Long Tom another big gun was directing a heavy fire on Ladysmith, and tiny puffs of smoke which I could see on distant hills indicated that Boers were not less active on opposite side of town. In vicinity of Ladysmith itself nothing but huge clouds of smoke were visible. WOUNDED AT LADYSMITH. A telegram from the Governor of Natal to the Colonial Office says Lieutenant Lethbridge, Rifle Brigade, dangerously wounded. November 7, Ladysmith. Lieutenant Nisbet, Gloucestershire Regiment, wounded. Pri- soners in Pretoria reported by refugee to be doing well." BULLER'S GRAND ARMY. By the addition of the fifth division of troops just ordered to be mobilised for South Africa, the regular forces for service under Sir Redvers Buller number 11 regiments of cavalry, four horse batteries, 24 field batteries, one mountain battery (not reckoning the battery captured), one field troop, one pontoon troop, one telegraph division, one field park, two balloon sections, 11 field, fortress, and railway companies of jngineers, and 60 battalions of infantry. PROGRESS OF THE WOUNDED. J The following telegram from the General Officer commanding the line of communications in the Cape was posted at the War Office on Monday night: CAPETOWN, November 13 (3.15 p.m.).—Following wounded officers transferred to hospital at Wynberg: Field Artillery: Lieutenants Perrian and Tandy. 4th Hussars Captain Barnes. 2nd Argyll and Sutherland: Lieutenant Gil- latt. 2nd Gordons: Captains Buchan and Lieu- tenant Findlay. 1st Manchester: Captains Paton, Newbigijin, and Melville. 1st Devonshire Lieu- tenant rPiylev. 1st Royal Irish Fusiliers Captains Rice and Stayner (? 1st Gloucesters). 1st Gloucester: Captains Willcock and Fyfe. Imperial Light Horse Captain Forbes. No bad cases all doing well; and all sick and wounded at Wynberg doing well except 13,203 Driver Skelton, Army Service Corps, dangerously ill; 3873 Private Burke, 1st Manchester, wound in chest, dangerous 4458 Corporal Fletcher, 1st Leicester, died of heart disease. NARROW ESCAPE OF GENERAL FRENCH. Mr. E. P. Mathers, proprietor of South Africa, cables to his journal from Durban that the train conveying General French from Ladysmith was fired on. and a shell passed through the next com part- men1' to that in which the General was seated, but, fortunately, did no damage. NICHOLSON'S NEK. STORY OF AN EYE-WITNESS. Father L. Mathews, chaplain of the ROJal Irish Fusiliers, who was captured at Nicholson's Nek on October 31. has given to the Times correspondent at Lorenzo Marques the following account of the dis- aster. We were sent out to occupy the position with the object of preventing the two Boer forces from joining. We started at 8.30 on Sunday night, marched 10 miles, and got to the hill at one a.m. The first mishap was that the mountain battery stampeded and scattered the whole lot of mules. We formed up again and gained the top of the hill. The guns were gone, but not all the ammu- nition. I do not kllow what stampeded the mules. They knocked me down. It was pitch dark. We had one hour's sleep. Firing began just after daylight. It was slack for some time, but the Boers crept round. Then the firing became furious. Our men made a breastwork of stones. After twelve o'clock there was a general cry of Cease fire in that direction. Our fellows would not stop firing. Major Adye came up and confirmed the order to cease fire. Then the bugle sounded the cease fire. In our sangar there was a rumour that the white flag was raised by a young officer who thought his batch of 10 men were the sole sur- vivors. We were 900 alive, having started perhaps 10(;0. I think that many of the battery men escaped. Our men and officers were furious at sur- rendering. The Boers did not seem to be in great numbers on the spot, but I heard that the main body had galloped off. The men had to give up their arms. The officers were sent to Commandant Steenekamp. The officers then ordered the men to fall in. The officers were taken away from the men and sent to General Joubert. On the same day the officers went in nuile wagons and slept at some store en route, and next day took the train at Waschbank for Pretoria. The officers are very well treated, and so, I have heard, arc the men. There has been no un- pleasantness in Pretoria. The officers are in the Model School, and are allowed to walk as they please in the grounds. I think that the surrender was a great blunder, and WitS caused by a misunderstand- ing. Major Adye was much put out. The white flag was not hoisted by the Irish Fusiliers."

TRAGEDY IN WEST AFRICA. BRITISH TRADER AND FIVE MEN KILLED BY NATIVES. The Dahomey, which has arrived at Liverpool from West Africa with mails and passengers, reports the murder at Lahore, in the French Ivory Coast, of Mr. Thompson, the agent of the Bristol firm trading there, and five of his men. Mr. Thompson, in his trading vessel, went via the Lagoon to Terselli, a trad- ing centre. He was accompanied by six natives in the boat, which contained a fairamollntofgoods. At Terselli the natives of the place attacked the trading party. Mr. Thompson was first shot in the leg, and thus dis- abled, and the natives then cut off his head. Five out of his six companions were killed, and the sixth reached Lahore, giving information of the massacre. The French authorities at once sent for troops. The Dahomey left Lahore on October 15, and on the previous day 100 Senegalese troops were landed. They at once proceeded up country to punish the murderers. Terselli is four days' march from the coast. It was said that the object of the attack was loot; as all of the goods as well as the boat were plundered by the natives.

CURRENT SPORT. The Association football eleven got together by the English League for the match at Bolton, seemed likely to bo too strong for the Irish League's repre- sentatives, and so it proved, the Irishmen being beaten by 3—1. after a plucky fight, in which, however, they showed to advantage. Judging from re- ports from Ireland, and from what was seen in this Inter-League match, it is tolerably clear that there is in thislieaeon a further improvement in the style of Irish play—a fact to be noted in view of the Inter. national matches to be played in the Spring. In the League Championship on Saturday the First Division results were: Aston Villa drew with Wolverhampton Wanderers (no score), at Birming- ham Sheffield United drew with Burnley (no score), at Sheffield Newcastle United drew with Liverpool (one all), at Newcastle; Notts Forest beat Notts County (2—1), at Nottingham West Bromwich Albion beat Everton (3—1), at Everton Sunderland beat Blackburn Rovers (2—1), at Blackburn Derby County beat Stoke (2—0), at Derby; Bury beat Glossop (2-1), at Bury; and Manchester City beat Preston (3—1), at Manchester. Results in the Second Division of the League and in the Southern League were much in accordance with expectations. Sheffield Wednesday's fdefeat of Woolwich Arsenal (2—1) dropped the latter to twelfth place in the Second League, in which Shef- field and Leicester Fosse are still unbeaten. Burslem and Grimsby are gradually rising, and it is not im- probable that Leicester, Bolton Wanderers, and Small Heath will have to reckon seriously with them before the season is over. The Blackheath Rugby fifteen effected a genuine surprise at the Rectory Field on Saturday in beating Oxford University by a goal and three tries to nothing. So far as it had been possible to judge, the chances appeared to be slightly in favour of the Dark Blues. In their opening match of the season they had run the London Scottish to a try, wherfeas on the previous Saturday Blackheath had been well beaten by the Scotchmen. The luck was, perhaps, with Blackheath. They had the advantage, by no means an inconsiderable one, of playing with half a gale behind them in the first half, and they brought off most of their chances* Still, there could be no doubt as to the genuineness of their victory. It was gained by superior scrum- maging powers and more accurate combination among the backs. The Oxford forwards, who struck one as being lighter than usual, accomplished some capital work in the open, Swanston and Chadwick being particularly prominent, but they were some- what overpowered in the scrummage. The chief weakness of the side, however, was behind the scrummage. Owing Crabbie being injured and Thomas unable to play, Champain, who is one of the regular halves, had to go on the right wing of the three-quarter line, and the change doubtless affected the combination. Still, the Oxford attack generally broke down at centre three-quarter. Strand-Jones showed fair ability, but Luce, who only just missed his Blue last season, was frequently at fault. The Oxonians may be capable of better things than they displayed on Saturday, but at present they do not appear to possess much chance against Cambridge, whose forwards are stated u, be even better than those of last winter. If such is the case the outlook for Oxford is anything but rosy. Unwin, the Blackheath half, gave a really great dis- play on Saturday, and was largely instrumental in the scoring of two of the tries. If he maintains hit form he cannot well be left out of the South fifteen. The Edinburgh Wanderers had to make several changes in their team as advertised to meet Rich- mond at the Rugby game, and they had the worst of a game played in a high wind and a pitiless drenching rain. The Richmond fifteen may now have taken a turn for the better, and after their recent disaster everyone would be glad to see them show up a little. London Irish did well to run Rosslyn Park to a point- less draw, but the weather levelled science and strength. The London Scots were not very merciful with the Old Leysinns, and piled on 26 points to nil, whilst Lennox and Kensington, who are both below par this year, succumbed to Old Merchant Taylors and Coopers Hill, in each case by two seores to none. Park House and Streatham, and Sutton and Old Blues drew their matches, but Civil Service scored their seventh consecutive win, and Croydon had the better of a high-scoring tfame against the Woolwich Cadets. The pretensions of Newport to the leadership of Welsh football were the subject of so much criticism that it. was unlucky that they could not take tbeirfull side to Swansea. As a result, the all-white brigade ran up 21 points to six, and for the time, at any rate, claim supremacy. Cardiff visited Gloucester, and in very bad weather were successful by no more than a goal to nil, from which it seems that the best English and Welsh club teams are more evenly matched than usual this year. Albion won with ease against their local rivals of the Engineering College, but Leicester had little or nothing the better of their game with Keighley, and won only by goal kicking. The county matches were remarkable for the very easy victory of Yorkshire over Northumberland. The latter led at half-time by a couple of tries to nil, but the visitors at Newcastle in the second half won all the way, and will be hard to reckon with in the latter stages of the Championship. Cumberland beat Cheshire by a place-kick and Cornwall again played a strong game against Somerset, to be beaten in the end by a try, but neither of the winners in these last two games have any hope of the Championship. Cross-country foot-racers were very busy on Saturday. Fields were large, and interesting results were seen. The South London Harriers managed, by a single point, to beat the Hare and Hounds of Oxford University, over the seven miles course at Shotover. They also supplied, in C. E. Haydon, the first man home. He beat R. P. Marshall (Keble) by 60 yards, in 47min. 2sec. Scores: S.L.H., 27 points; Oxford (who were minus the services of several pro- mising freshers), 28. The Thames Hare and Hounds held a race for the short distance (4f miles) challenge cup, and H. G. Lloyd, the holder, won by 15yds. from I. B. Sharpe, in 29min.3sec. A mile and three-quarters new members race was won by the Old Rugby schoolboy runner, A. L. Buer. The Thames Valley Harriers had 23 competitors in their five miles invi- tation handicap at Twickenham. G. Starck, Herne- hill Harriers, lmin. 50sec. start, was the winner, in 30min. 33sec. F. J. Steadman, junior ex-champion, finished ninth from scratch. The Polytechnic Harriers brought off a three miles handicap at Wembley. H. H. Cooke, Qlin. 20sec. start, won in a field of 35. Time, 21min. 34sec. The Queen's Park Harriers had 42 starters in their three miles open handipap at Kensal-rise. The scratch man, J. Pratt, of the Highgate Harriers, could finish no nearer than 26th. Still, his 16min. 8sec. was the fastest time. F. Shelley, of the promoting club, with 2!min. start, won first prize. The Ashton Athletic Ground on Saturday was the scene of a four miles race on level terms between Len Hurst, of Edmonton, and Michael O'Neil, of Adare, Ireland (the Irish champion) for JE60 a side. The weather in the morning was wet and boisterous, and in the afternoon it blew a hurricane. The track was heavy and prevented anything like fast time being accomplished. There was a moderate attendance, and O'Neil started favourite at six to four on. The Irish champion led for the first two mile*, when Hurst went to the front. A quarter of a mile from home the Irishman again showed the way, until the last quarter of a mile, when Hurst rushed to the front. From this point an exciting race was witnessed, the men passing and repassing each other until within 80 yards from home, when O'Neil wore his man down, and won by 60 yards, Hurst easing up into a walk. Time, 26win. 45 4-5sec. Mr. Oliver C. Iselin, the principal owner of the yacht Columbia, the latest American Cup winner, announces that the yacht will start in March for Southampton. Columbia will be entered for the Clyde, Bangor, Dublin, and Cork Regattas. The final of the Oxford University Coxswainless Fours rowing competition, at Oxford, on Saturday, produced a disappointing race. The contestants were Corpus and Magdalen. The latter held the second station, and began to gain from the start. Corpus ran into the bank before reaching the gut, and Magdalen passed them, whilst along the green bank Corpus again fouled the bank. Magdalen took matters very easily after this, and eventually won by 100 yards.

THB Rev. E.R. Bernard, whose appointment tothe omce of honorary chaplain to the Queen is announced, has been a residentiary canon of Salisbury since 1889, and has for the last five years filled the post of Chan- cellor of Sarum Cathedral. Canon Bernard, who has been Select Preacher at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, is a son of Canon T. D. Bernard, who, curiously enough, is canon residen- tiary and also Chancellor of Wells Cathedral. JOHN A. Oun, the famous Scottish Rugby forward of some years ago, is one of the wounded in the Transvaal, and all who remember him will hope for his speedy recovery. There is no such consolation with regard to L. B. Bradley, whom all Edinburgh men remember, and who was well kaown to Surrey Rugby players and spectators. a throughly good three-quarter. In a more fatal field he has done his iuty, and fought not without glory.

FUTURE OF THE TRANSVAAL. IMPORTANT STATEMENT BY SIR M. BICRS-BEACH. Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, in a speech at Bristol 08 Monday night, said we had now every right to be sanguine as to the result, but we must not shut our eyes to this fact, that we had to deal with a brave and well-armed foe, and that there might be reverses still in store for us. But the country would face all these things with calmness. It would face them with the determina- tion to carry this thing through," whatever might be the cost to us. And why ? Because they knew that it meant the maintenance or loss of the Empire. Did they think that this was a war waged to put an end to the liberties of a small self-governing com- munity on the other side of the globe, and to govern St from Downing-street for the benefit of a few capitalists and speculators in London ? No they knew very well what it meant to the Empire. They saw in that the germ of a movement which, directed by wise counsel, should lead to real union of Empire, a union that would give cohesion and strength ia amy conflict in which we might be engaged with Powers in the world. What of the future of South Africa? He did not want to boast M one putting off his armour, but this he would say. People talked foolishly of racial animosity being caused in South Africa. Unhappily it existed already, and it was due to the contempt of the Boer for the Englishman. When the war was over, he hoped far that would be substituted mutual respect, and that that mutual respect would be the basis of friendship. There was no natural animosity between the Dutch and the English. There was some natural animos- ity between the English and the French, but what had we seen in Canada? We had seen the French Prime Minister of Canada coming forward with loyal and cordial words to say Godspeed to the contingent of his country going to aid the soldiers of the Queen. That was due to the fact that long ago Britain had established equal rights between the two races- in Canada, that, whether French or English, they were citizens of a great dominion, that they had free and complete self-government under the admitted supre- macy of the British Empire. Let us look to future South Africa in that spirit. He did not say the circumstances were identical; he did not say that precisely the same policy, so success- ful in Canada, could be pursued in South Africa. There were material difficulties; there were some things that must be carefully guarded. By this wai conventions had' been dbstroyed. We must guard against a recurrence of the war. Ample security must be taken that such a terrible evil should; never occur again. We must establish a pure and honest government on the basisf equal rights for men of all bloods: we must establish jestice, and establish these things with something better and more enduring than the paper safeguards which had proved so illusionary in the past, but subject to this should give whatever self-government might be possible. Then we might look forward to South Africa awakening to a new birth, standing like a glorious star rivalling Canada and Australia in the great con- stellation which formed the union of the British Empire.

FATAL FIRE AT KINGSLAND. DEATH OF FIVE CHILDREN. A fire which broke out at four o'clock on Monday afternoon on the top floor of the Willow Tree beer- house, Ball's Pond-road, resulted in three children being burnt to death and two suffocated. The house is- occupied by Samuel Joseph Griffin, who took pos- session about six weeks ago. He then found the four small rooms on the top floor let to two families. One tenant was Alfred Frazer, a conductor on one of the Stamford-hill omnibuses, who had a wife and four children. The other tenant was Frederick Highfield, who is out of employment, his wife, and two chil- dren. The Frazers occupied a front and a back room adjoining the staircase. Between these two rooms is a narrow, dark passage, which leads to two other rooms on the other side of the house. The Highfield family lived in these latter rooms, and it was no doubt on account of their peculiar situation that the children of this family lost their lives. The fire seems to have originated about four o'clock in the front room occupied by the Frazera. At that time the parents were all absent. Mrs. Frazer had gone out to buy some tea, and she- had left in the front room three children—Edward, aged four years and a half; Ethel, aged one year and 10 months; and a male child, aged four weeks. In the bedroom on Highfield's s-ide of the house was Florence Highfield. aged two- years and live months; and Ernest, aged one year and four months. Mrs. Frazer had with her a. little boy of three. She was returning from her errand, when she issuing from the window of the room in which she had left the rest of her family. The woman rushed up stairs with her little- boy in her arms and reached the top landing, but could not enter the room, as she was driven back by lira and smoke. Her screams had attracted attention, and Mr. Charles Webber, a harness-maker, of Kingsland- green. proceeded up the stairs. The woman was then .half exhausted, and so was the child she car- ried. Mr. Webber seized the child and handed him down to people who had followed him up., and then he assisted Mrs. Frazer down the stairs. Mr. Webber made another attempt to reach the room in which the children were, but was driven back by heat and smoke. Just as he reached the landing the door of the room fell in, displaying a mass of flame. Meanwhile Sub Divisional Inspector Flanagan, of Dalston, with Sergeant Courtier, 64 J, had organised an attempt to rescue the children from the windows. With the aid of ladders they reached some leads com- municating with the back windows on the top floor, but the smoke was so dense that it was impossible for any- one tj enter. The police officers made a further attempt to ascend the staircase, but in this they were also unsuccessful. By this time, however, Engineer Frankham, in charge of the Kingsland Fire Station, had arrived with a manual engine, and an escape waa also upon the scene. Hearing that there were chil- dren in the rooms, Mr. Frankham and his mei* made a determined effort to effect a rescue. Agoodsupply of water was obtainable, and a well-directed branch soon arrpsted the flames, which were bursting through the front room window, but dense volumes of smoke still issued forth. Directly the flames had subsided the engineer himself mounted the escape and disappeared at one of the windows. He, however, quickly returned blackened and blinded by the smoke. The fire was not out, and when he had stepped inside the window the floor had given way under him, and he had had to beat a hasty retreat. Another hose was by this time run np the staircase, and the fire was finally extin- guished. Then the firemen entered and found the charred remains of the three little children. The door at the end of the passage was then opened, and the two children of the Highfield family were found dead. One was lying on the floor and the other—the infant-was on the bed. The fire had not penetrated to this room, but the dense smoke had suffocated them. The origin of the fire is unknown. When Mrs. Frazer left the room there was a fire in the grate, and it is supposed that the children must have played with the fire. ■ i

NEW LORD JUSTICE-GENERAL. Mr. J. B. Balfour, Q.C., has been appointed Lord Justice-General and Lord President of the Court of Session, in the room of the Right Hon. J. P. B. Robertson, who has succeeded the late Lord Watson as a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary. Mr. Balfour's appointment creates a vacancy in the Parliamentary representation of Clackmannan and Kinross.

LORD ROSEBERY IN SHOREDITCH. Lord Rosebery on Monday visited Shoreditch for the purpose of opening the new model artisans' dwellings erected by the local vestry, and delivered an address, in the course of which he said that one of the most important works that any local body could undertake was the housing of the, working classes. Even where they did so much as they had done at Shoreditch there was and always would be one great flaw-that the inhabi- tants of the new buildings were not, and could not be, the people whom they had displaced. What was to be done with that residuum which was thus dispossessed? The question was one that would have to be faced, for as other vestries emulated Shoreditch, they would have, indeed, an improved workmen's city growing up in the heart of London; but they would merely have pushed backward a residuum of misery and crime which, in the long run, they would have to deal with. After pointing out some of the difficul- ties which had to be faced by local authorities anxious to do their duty in dealing with insanitary property—notably that of ascertaining the real ownership of such property—Lord Rosebery sug- gested, as one possible remedy, thegnotJDg of powers to such bodies for the acquisition of land outside London for the erection of dwellings which might be occupied by artisans, with easy access to London by workmen's trains. He concluded by in- sisting on the importance of the election of pure re- presentatives to the vestries. J

ONLY one passenger is killed in 6,947,131 railway journeys, and only one in 568,402 is so much as injured, a new Board of Trade Blue Book tells UI. During 1898 only 25palsengerewere killed in acci- dents to trains, but 128 were killed on the railway owing to other accidents. Passengers to the number of 1238 were injared^nsifor evary one of.ihese 10 railway employes, 12,979 in all, were alao injured. Deaths of employes numbered 542.

ASCENT OF MOUNT KENIA. A representative of Reuter's Agency has had an interview with Mr. H. J. Mackind^r on his return from East Africa. in the course of which the explorer gavfj ome paricnlars of the successful.ascent of Mount Xenia. Of the first pari, of his journey Mr. Mackinder saiid: From Monibassa along the whole route of the rail- way there were dreadful scenes, caused by the famine, especially in the Wakamba country. Living skeletons collected round the various stations begging for a morsel of food to keep them alive. Th" woods neasr Nairobi station were full of dead bodies-. Leaving the Uganda line at rail-hend, they struck north across the Athi plains, and entered a cultivated belt, where they met with a considerable amount of hostility from the treacherous Wakikuyu people, who shoot poisoned arrows. They next got into Meranga, a magnificent country to the south- west of Kama, every yard of which was under culti- vation. After leaving Meramba, the expedition entered a great forest belt. The chief Wanganibe harries this country and ambushed and killed two-of the porters. After traversing his country they entered a foodless district on the western foot of Kenia, reaching the base of the mountain at the beginning of September. Kenia (said Mr. Mackinder), is a huge dome fully 30 miles across. Rising from the summit of this dome is a great pyramid of rock with two smaller peaks at the top—one 40ft. or 50ft. higher than the other. Round the base of this pyramid, glaciers reflect the rays of the tropical sun, and from there radiate a number of valleys. On all s-ides except the north I the mountain is surrounded with a- belt of forest. From our base, which was-at the-west side and at the foot of the forest, we had to cut a path through the forest for a distance of 3000ft. up. the mountain slope. Between the forest and the glaciers we were surprised to find signs of inhabitants— elephant hunters-who were even more timid and mysterious than the natives of Meranga. As-high as 11,000ft. we found traces of elephant. It was only at the third attempt that we succeeded in reaching tho summit, and this took 34 hours, starting from our 13,000ft. camp. During the first attempt darkness overtook us while-we were 00 the arete, and we were unable to go either up or down, and we had to remain on a narrow ledge of rock- We roped ourselves-to the rocks behind, and for 12 hours slapped and rubbed our limbs- to prevent them fuom getting frozen. After remaining on the summit, which was over 17.000ft., the party returned to the 13,000ft. camp, where they had a day's-rest. Mr. MackindtJr- and two guides then started off to go right round the mountain, and during this trip slept at night in the open. He afterwards returned to Navaisha, across the Aberdare range, and so to the coast. Mr. Mackinder spoke in the highest terms o? the assistance he received from each of the white mem- bers of his party, and hoped that no account would be published which did not associate with his name that of his chief colleague Mr. C. B. Hausberg,

BJORNSON AND HIS STATUE: A patron of letters-and a great admirer of Bjoern- stjorne Bjornson, caused a statue of the Norwegian author to be erected in front of the National Theatre at Christiania. But it is said that Bjornson no sooner saw the monument, which wa& supposed to represent his features, than he turned red in the face, as though what he saw was a libel on his person. The story goes that he requested the patron of letters to withdraw the statue, but he received the reply that this could not be done, for tho reason that the monu- ment now belonged to the State.

NO MATCH FOR "SANDY." The story published in the Dairy Mail the other day of the simple-minded Boer and his scales reminds a. correspondent of an anecdote which a well-known member of the theatrical profession related one even- ing at a smoking concert. A Boer came from his farm into a town to sell his wool. He had to deal with a 'cute Scotchman, who did all the arithmetic, and sent the Boer away appa- rently satisfied with the deal. But in the evening the farmer rode back and complained to the Scotch- man that he had been underpaid for the wool. Why, all that was settled this- morning," said Sandy. Yah, I know dat," said the Dutchman, but when I leave you, I shtop at an inn to have some Schnapps. There I see a ready-reckoner. I look at it and find we reckoned the account wrong, and I not get all my money." "Why," exclaimed the resourceful- Scotchman, that was last year's ready reckoner." Ob, mine goodness said the Boer. "I never thought of that. You right after all.* And he went away quite satisfied.

ABOUT A TELEGRAM. A German paper tells the following story of a young Englishman's. plight at Biebriech-on-the- Rhine. He was employed at a factory in the town and desired to dispatch a telegram to his parents, ) asking them to send him more funds. Not knowing the town, and being ignorant also of the language of Schiller, the young Englishman walked through street after street until he came to the office of the Biebricher Tagespost, which he took for a post-office. He submitted his telegram to a clerk, paid for its dispatch, and the next day it figured in the column of announcements on the fourth page. Our German contemporary adds that the parents of the young Englishman have not yet replied.

HOW TO WRITE TO "TOMMY." The Postmaster-General announces that an Army Post-office has been established to perform all duties connected with the receipt and despatch of mails to the front. Communications should be addressed as follows Name, Regiment or Battery, Staff Appointment or Department, South Africa. No post town should be named in the address. Letters may be sent at the rate of Id. per oz.; news- papers, id. for 2oz.; and parcels, 9d. per Ib, up to 111b.

MONEY VALUE OF GOOD ROADS. There is a special section, devoted to Road Inquiry," connected with the United States Depart- ment of Agriculture, and this office has just sent out a report in which it is estimated that no less than £120,000,000 might be saved annually by the con- struction of good roads over the entire country. This estimate is based on the total amount: of grain produced in the United States; while the amount consumed on the farms was considered to be off-set by the large amount of other articles hauled on the public roads. By reducing all this grain to tons, and using the results of a special inquiry as to the coat of hauling one ton as a basis, it was found that the total cost of haulage amounted to £189,300,000. The inquiries made specially for the report show that with good roads, two-thirds of this enormous sums might be saved each year. It is also pointed out that this estimate tallies very closely with one made some years ago, but on different lines of inquiry, by the Farmers' National Congress. --A

CREMATION IN JAPAN. A Japanese medical paper says that cremation was introduced into Japan in the reign of the Emperor Ito. In 1871 special crematoria were built, and there are now seven of them at Tokio, each with 22 furnaces. The proportion of crema- tions to burials exceeds that in any Euro- pean city, and is increasing annually. Thus, of 34,000 persons who died at Tokio in 1897, 15,000, or 40 per cent., were cremated, the proportion in 1894 being 37 per cent., while in 1898 it is estimated to have reached 43 per cent. The method is the same for all, but the charges vary according to the amount of personal superinten- dence, the first-class having two attendants, the second one for each cremation, while, in the third- class, one attendant has charge of several furnaces I at the same time. The duration of the process is from throe to five hours.

VISITOR (at lunatic asylum): Why, the last time I was here you said that fellow was harmless." Keeper: So he was, sir; but since then he com- menced gittin' worse, an' one day he claimed to have discovered a new joke, so we saw tberewunG hopes for him, took the necessary precautions,"

EPITOME OF NEWS. THE tour of the Chinese Minister through Indus!riitl centres of the United Kingdom will last about three months. THE Rev. Edward R. Bernard, Canon Resident arv and Chancellor of Salisbury Cathedral, has been appointed one of the Queen'» honorary chaplains. A PARIS evening paperannunces that Menelik hns decided to go to St. Petersburg in May and will visit the P&ris Exhibition before leaving Europe. THB Bishop of Brisbane (Dr. Thornhill Webber) has arrived in London overland from Marseilles, having voyaged from Australia per R.M.S. Orizaba, DETAILS of Captivin George Silver's death have now reached the widow, Mrs. Silver (Miss Gertrude Kingston). He died quite unexpectedly on September 28, at Chinde, £ *Wt Afriea, from the effects of malaria and dysenteryr THE annual sale of the Queen's Christmas stock has-been fixed to take place-on December 6, at the Prince Consort's Flemish farmv Windsor. MR. A. R, DEAN has refused tbe invitation of the Liberals of Aston Manor (Birmingham) t contest the constituency at the General Electi on The Hornsey District Council have decided to pre- sent to the Technical Instruction- Committee of the Middlesex County Council a freehold site for the erection of the polytechnic institution. REMARKABLY successful triala of the submarine boat Holland have been made- in New York Harbour. The little vessel ran a mile in nine minutes on an even keel submerged to a depth of 10 feet. TIIB plague &f ilocuøts is unabatad in Argentina, myriads of these insects depositing their eggs in the wheat centres aisd affording plenty of work for the Locust Commission in endeavouring to suppress- them. A TELEGKAM from Bombay states that 25 Europeans, including one lady, have received com- memoration medals from ths Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal in recognition of their efforts at rescue work amongst the victims of the Darjeeling dis- aster. DrJImm the quarter of a century's existence of the crematorium at Woking 1391 bodies have been cremated, the numbers having gradually grown from three the first year to 240 last year. Tllmn: are in circulation in China at the present time coins bearing the names of Emperors who lived 2000 years ago.. SATURDAY has always been observed as Sunday in Raratonga, in the South Pacific, owing to the mis- taken reckoning made by the early missionaries. The- island Legislature has just passed a Bill rectifying the matter. IN time of war France can put 370 out of every 1000 of her population intheiield; Germany 510, and Russia 210. THERE are in this {country about 150 packs of fox- hounds, and about 15,000 horses are kept specially for fox-hunting. THE Czar of Russia probably, owns a greater quantity of china than any other person in the world. He has- the china belonging to all the Russian rulers as-far- back as Catherine the Great. It is stored in an immense closet in the Winter Palace at St. Petersburg. THE average duration of marriages inEnglandi 28 years in France and Germany, 26; Norway, 21; Russia, 30. THE first motor 'bus has made its appearance in London. It has seats for 26 passengers—12 within and 14 outside. The journey is between Ken- nington and Victoria. BY the year 1900 Japan will have to-pay a year as interest on its National Debt. THE private chapel at Windsor Castle, and St. Ger.rge's Hall, which adjoins the chapel have just been lighted by electricity. There will be some court functions in St. George's Hall during the visit of the- Em peror William. including a state banquet and a concert. ORDERS have been issued-for all themodorn cruisers in reserve at the dockyards to be got ready for sea. So imperative are the instructions that work has- already commenced at several of the naval establish- ments for the immediate carrying out of the order. LIEUTENANT-COLONEL A. C. FOLEY, R.E., who haa, been appointed to the command of the Engineers of tho third division for service-in South Aifrioa, has. already been throughttwo campaigns. During the Afghan War of;jl878-80 he took part in the advance to. Khelat-i-Ghilzai and was present at the occupation of Kandahar: During the operations near Suakin, at the close of 1888, ha was present in the engage- ment at Gemaizah. and his conduct was mentioned in despatches. The Colonel joined the army in 1872. MAJOIt H. R. EKLHAM, of the 1st Highland Light Infantry, who hat. been promoted to. the rank of Lieutenant-Colonelm the place of Colonel Reid, re- tired, recently proceeded in command of the battalion. to South Africa.. The Major, who joined the Army in 1873, is exceedingly popular with th9 regiment. He served with the 2nd Battalion in the Egyptian War of 1882 and war thus preesnt at Tel-el-Kebir. MAJOR ILT. FLEMING, of the 3rd Battalion Lan- cashire Fusiliers, succeeds Major H. M. Grenfell as Assistant Military Secretary to Sir F. Grenfell, Governor of Malta* The Major has given less than 20 years to the army. He received his company 10 years ago, and his majority came to. him, ia 1898. is very popular with his brother officers.. SIR E. ANTROBUS, who is spoken of as likely to receive the command of the Grenadier Guards and the Regimental District, has already commanded &. battalion. Sir Edmund joined the service in 1869, and he received b present rank of colonel in 1888,. being placed on half-pay nine years later. He went through the Soudan campain of 1885. Sir Edmund will be recalled as the owner of Anaesbury Abbey and, therefore, of Sbonehenge. IT is reported from New Brunswick that the Hon. Henry Emmerson, Premier of the province, will shortly retire, and that he will be succeeded by Dr. Pugsley. Mr. Emmerson has been at the head of affairs forsome time, and has always been a hard- working Minister. He holds the Public Works portfolio. FROM Madrid is announced the death of Ned jib Bey, the Turkish Minister at the Court of Sp8¡. He was in his 70th.year, Mid as a soldier took parti i the campaigns of Herzegovina and Servia, held the governorship of Crete, and was attached to the suite of the Empress Eugenie at the opening of the Sues Oanal, and to that of the Emperor of Austria on his tour in Palestine. THE new church of St. John the Evangelist, Hind- ley Green, near Wigan, erected àt a cost of £4700, consists of an arcaded nave, 54ft. long by 23ft. 6in. wide, with lift. 6in. aisles; chancel, 31ft. 6in. by 20ft. wide, with chapel, choir and clergy vestry, and large and lofty organ space. The floors are of wood- block paving throughout, and the seating provides accommodation for between 450 and 500 persons. PRINCESS WALDEMAR of Denmark, who on her re- turn from her brother's wedding stayed a few days with the Due and Duchesse de Chartres, her parents, has returned to Copenhagen. THE Earl and Countess of Stratbmore are about to leave Glamie Castle, Forfarshire, for Bordighera, where, as usual, they will spend the winter. THE completion of Christ Church, Stoke-next- Guildford, has just been accomplished by the erec- tion of the tower. The building was originally started about the year 1867, and has been added to from time to time till it is now complete. The tower, which is in the Early English style, and is built of Bargate stone with Bath stone facings, is from the designs of Mr. J. Lake, of Guildford. THB boom in bricks is now practically over. About 18 months ago the demand for bricks of all kinds and for all purposes was excessive, and prices accordingly went up. Millions were used in the con- struction of the Great Central line and also in the widening of the South-Western Railway track, and it was predicted that for another y or so the high prices far {bricks would keep up. The Kent and Essex Brickmasters' Association, however, have already reduced their prices by 4s. per thousand, so that stocks, which for a very loag time have been 40s. and upwards, are now 36s., and probably will very soon be much lower. COLONBII G. J. H. EVATT, M.D., who is to be promoted to the vacancy occasioned by the retire- ment of Surgeon-General W. Nash, entered the army in 1865, and attained his present rank three years and a half ago. He served in the Perak, Afghan, Soudan, and Zhob Valley campaigns, and was for some years on the staff of the Army Medical Depart- ment. Colonel-Evatt, who has lately been serving at Hong Kong, has been selected to succeed Surgeon- General W. D. W ilson as P.M.O. of the Western District. THB Tapestry Rooms at Windsor Castle are being prepared by the Lord Chamberlain's officials for the occupation of the Emperor Wiliiam during his ap- proaching visit to the Queen. This suite, which is in the private portion of the castle, opens from the grand corridor, and is near the Queen's own apart- ments. The sitting-room has a fine view of the East Terrace and the Home-park, while the bedroom looks out on the Long Walk. The Empress Frederick has several times occupied the Tapestry Rooms, and at one period they were always used by the Duke and Duchess of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (then of Edin- burgh). The sitting-room is decorated with tapestry. and the other rooms of the suite are hung with family portraits, including the Empe* William I., Frederick, and Francis Joseph th Emperor when a boy; Prince and Princess "Iharlep of Prussia, the Grand Duchess 1 ir her children, the King and Que. and Queen Caroline, wife of Ge picture hung.at Clareraont until removed to Windsor,

V31 m:sr LI.-AN-'MW has left Buckhurst Park, Sun. I ninhill, where he has been spending the autumn, and he will take up his residence shortly at Wnverley Abbey, near Farnhaiu, which be has rented for a ycar. LORD LONSDALE has now informed the Westmor- land, and Cumberland leomariry Cavalry that their services will be required at Lowther Castle from November 27 to December 2, for escort and patrol duty upon the occasion of the visit of the German Emperor. A, NEW lunatic asylum at Aberdeen is to be erected without delay, a site of 1500 acres having been pur- chased at a cost of about £34,000. AN extremely tough timber known as ironbark, grown in New South Wales, has a tensile resistance of 17,900lb. per square inch, which is much higher than that of oak or teak. It has been estimated that in New South Wales alone there are 16,870,000 acres of this wood belonging to the Crown. THE new municipal lodging house at Southampton is a,spacious building occupying a conspicuous posi- tion in St. Michael's-square. The building, which provides accommodation for 186 single working-men, consists of four storeys, with an imposing frontage ef 6Mt., built in three pavilions with a space of 30ft. between each. and includes recreation-room, dining- room, public kitchen, baths, lavatories, laundry, box- room, and work-room. The work was carried out by Mr. Dyer at a cost of £10,798.. GLASS diminishes light by interception in propor- tions that vary according to the quality of the glass. Thus British polished plate, tin. thick intercepts 13 per cent. of the light; rough cast plate, 30 per cent.; rough rolled, four plates to an inch, 53 per cent.; sheet glass, 32oz., 22 per cent. FOOTBALL will not be played on the Essex County Cricket Grounds at Leyton this year, as it is intended to give the ground a rest, and get it into proper order. There were such a number of complaints during the summer about bad wickets, that the course adopted was considered imperative. THE Empress Frederick of, Germany possesses a curious little tea-service. The tray is made of an old Persian halfpenny. The teapot was once a German 1 farthing, and all the tiny cups are made from coins of different German Principalities.