The North Wales Times

Cijavbctiing. ">j"7' [If any reader who is in difficulty with reference to his garden, will write direct to the ad- dress given beneath^ his queries will be an- swered, free of charge, and by return of post —EDITOR]. Some correspondents omit to add their names, or merely end with initials. In these cases it is obviously impossible to reply.—E.K.T. GENERAL FLOWER CULTURES. HARDY ANNUALS. Well drained, light and moderately rich soils from which atones and hard clods have been re- moved, are desirable but the surface should not be so fine as to become pasty after rain. Autumn sowings must be made in rather poor ground, as succulent growth would be liable to injury from winter frosts. Sow thinly broad- cast, or, better stili, in drills from March to June, preferably from the middle of March to middle of April for summer and autumn flowering, and during the end of July, in August and September to blossom the following spring. Cover the seeds lightly with soil, from I to i-inch being ample for medium sized varieties, while minute seeds should be sown on the surftce, and lightly ranked in. Thin oat early, since nothing weakens plants more than having to contend with others for food and air and transplant as necessary into deep- ly dug and well manured land. In sheltered gardens with dry soils, autumn-sown clumps may be transferred to the flower border during October, but in exposed positions. on heavy soils they should not be moved till March. Keep free from weeds, and remove the seed vessels before they mature, to lengthen the flowering season. HALF-HARDY ANNUALS. Any moderately fine, rich potting soil may be used for half-hardy annuals. Sow in pans in gentle heat. during February, March, and April, in pans in cold frames facing the south during early April, or even directly on a rich and friable border quite at the end of April or in early May. Cover the pans with panes of glass until germination is effected, to prevent excessive evaporation. If watering should be- come necessary, stand the pots or pans in a shallow vessel of water for an hour or so. Re- move the sheets of glass directly the seedlings appear, and stand the pots or pans in the full light, where air can be freely admitted to them, during mild weather. Prick out the seedlings early into other pots or pans, and plant them out at the end of May or beginning of Jane when the weather is settled and favourable. TENDER ANNUALS. A light, rich soil, freely admixed with sharp silver sand, is essential for successful culture. Sow during February or March exactly as advised for half-hardy annuals, saving that greater heat is required. Shift the seedlings singly into small pots as soon as possible, and move them on until flowering pots are reached. Weak liquid manures may be given when the pots are full of roots, but such applications must be discontinued as the plants come into flower Allow plenty of sunshine and air. Tender annuals flower moat satisfactorily in the greenhouse or window. HARDY BIENNIALS. Hardy biennials are sown in spring and sum- mer, until August. Treat as recommended tor hardy perennials. HARDY PERENNIALS. Any moderately rich, medium soil will do for sowings of hardy perennials but a good strong loam, at least a foot deep, is required for the plants. Borders intended for hardy perennials should be thoroughly drained to a depth of 3 feet. Sow from March to August, preferably in pans or boxes in a close frame, with or without bottom heat, or in pans or a good seed; bed on the open border. Cover the seeds lightly, and protect; them from enemies of various kinds. When sown early in frames, and planted out during May, many perennial flowers may be induced to blossom the first season. It must not be forgotten that the seeds of some species, such asCyciamens, Fraxinellas Peonies, etc', sometimes remain dormant in the soil for months. Prick out the young seed- lings from pots and pans into other pots and pans before moving them to the open border, and thin out and transplant those from out- door sowings directly they are large enough to handle. They should generally be transplan- ted once before being placed in their final positions. HALF-HARDY PERENNIALS. Treat as advised for half-hardy annuals, saving that half-hardy perennials require pro- tection from frost during the winter. SOME TOWN FLOWERS. ANTIRRHINUM (SNAPDRAGON). Fine border perennials, thriving in almost all situations, and blossoming the same year if sown early in spring. The varieties are divided into three sections, call, medium, and dwarf or Tom Thumb. Snapdragons are often to be found growing on ruined walls and in similar situations; but they flourish to perfection in a dry, rich soil, in a sunny, somewhat exposed situation. Sow in heat during January and February to flower the same year, and in drills in the open ground during summer to blossom the year following. Pot the seedlings from sowings made in heat singly and harden them (iff gradually for planting out in May. Trans- plant directly from open-air seed-beds to flowering positions during cloudy weather. AQUILEGIA, Charming and most elegant hardy perennials, beautiful alike in habit and the colour and form of the flowers. Many varietes blossom the same year if sown early in March. The more robust varieties flourish in any ordinary garden soils; but the less hardy kinds do best in good, friable, sandy loam, preferably in- corporated with leaf-mould. Sow early in spring in pots or pans in a close, cold frame, in a shady place, or on the open border during June or Jnly. Some plants may be shifted on into 6-inch pots, which must be moved into cold frames or houses at the approach of winter. Prick out the seedlings, and transplant in course to flowering quarters. ASTER. Asters are, perhaps the gayest, most diverse and best of half-hardy annuals, when they are properly grown in masses. A deep, rich loam in a sheltered position is to be preferred, and the most suitable preparation consists in re- moving the top spit, and thoroughly and deep- ly breaking up the soil beneath it, at the same time working in plenty of short, decomposed «manure. The top spit may then be replaced. Light soils are benefited by the addition of powdered. or chopped clay. The object of preparation is to enable the roots to pene- trate deeply into a cool, rich bed. Sow thinly in a cold frame or greenhouse during March -and April in Beed-pans or pots, or in a bed in rows 6in. apart and cover the seeds very thin- ly with fine soil. Place panes of glass over the pots or pans to check evaporation until ger- Iminatioia be accomplished. Excellent asters may be obtained from thin sowings made in drills from 12 to 15 inches apart in rich soil in the open air during April and May. Admit air freely, and if the soil become dry, stand the pots or pans for an hour or so in shallow ves. sels of water. frick off the seedlings round the edges of small pots as they become large enough to handle, and transfer them in course to other pots or directly to their flowering positions, being careful not to break the fibrous roots. Give plenty of air, and harden off the plants perfectly before putting them out from 9 to 12 inches apart each way. Thin out open ,air sowings until the plants stand from 9 to 12 inches asunder in the lines, keep the beds free from weeds, and mulch with an inch or two of rotten dung from an old hot bed during the first week of August. Sapply soft water in plenty, and every few days a dressing of weak water. #For pot culture, raise the plants from the border with good balls of earth, when the buds have partially expanded, and )ot them, 3 to an 8-inch pot. before standing ihem in a cool greenhouse to flower until late n autumn. The side shoots of plants that are *rown for exhibition should be pinched ott to jentralise their energy into about 5 fine blos- joms and some kind of shade must be pro vided during stormy weather. Leaf-rust is irQublesome in some gardens. The fungus :auses orange coloured postules on the under- mrfaces, and eventually the death of the leaves. Spraying fortnightly early in the season with my clear fungicide is a good preventative if ihe under-surfaces of the foliage be reached TUBEROUS-ROOTED BEGONIAS. The large, symmetrical flowers and highly liversiiied colours of .tuberous-rooted bsgonias constitute them perhaps the most valuable of naif-hardy perennials for pots and for bedding aut. As bedding plants, they produce grand affects in large masses, and are not injured by stormy weather. Any medium soil that has been very liberally enriched with thoroughly decomposed dung, suits begonias well. A mix- ture of leaf mould and loam, with a little sand and rotten cow manure, is suitable for pot plants. Well vdfhr the soil before sowing, and scatter the seeds thinly during February or March and again in July or August in a uni form temperature of 65 degrees in perfectly drained pots of good, light soil, surfaced vith fine sandy loam. Do not cover the seeds, b' t press them into the surface, and lay sheets of glass over the pots until germination, which is si JW and irregular, is completed. Prick ofl the seedlings as they become big enough to handle, into pots or pans in an even temperature. Move the young p!ants on to larger pots as may be necessary and as early in June as they be come strong enough, they may be bedded out, to remain until the middle of October, when they must be potted and brought indoors. If some plants are raised and potted in Septem ber, they will continue to flower for a long time under glass. Gradually decrease the water supply as the herbaceous stems decay; and finally store the tubers, still in their pots, in a dry, warm cellar or shed, or, when shaken out of their pots, in cocoa-nut fibre or dry sand in some position whence frost and damp can be completely excluded. Re-pot the tubers shallowly in sn all pots when they commence to grow naturally in February and shift on to larger pots in course. E. KEMP TOOGOOD, F.R.H.S., pro Toogood and Sons, The Royal Seed Establishment, Southampton.

LLANDUDNO. \> PUBLIC NEWS ROOM AND LIBRARY. THE MUSEUM QUESTION. DR. LAWSON TAIT'S OFFER. The annual meeting was held on Satur- day, Mr. W. Bevan (chairman) presiding over a good attendance. Mr. H. Bellis (hon. secretary) submitted the annual report, which set forth that a sum of R200 has, during the past two years, been expended in enlarging and, improving the recreation room, but it is found that as it is enlarged, the demand increases so rapidly that during the present winter months, between the hours of seven and ten p.m., it is frequently mucn overcrowded; unfortunately, it cannot be further enlarged on the'ground floor, and your committee fael that the only way of fully meeting this demand for indoor re-creation.free from dan- gerous influences, during the long winter evenings, is to add another storey to the present building. The consideration of this matter brings to the front another subject of the utmost importance to that section of our community which recognises the value of intellectual pursuits, namely, the provision of a museum. With, this object in view, your committee has recently purchased, for the sum of £ 120, the whole of the coins, fossils, curioes, &c.f belonging to the late Mr. Thomas Kendrick, of this town. At the present time there is no available space in the existing building for that purpose; but if another floor were added, ample provision would be made for a museum and other conveniences. A surn of about Xi,ooo is required to carry out the the suggested additions to the buildings.' The Chairman moved the adoption of the report, and was pleased to say that, so far as the receipts were concerned, the in- stitution had done better than ever (hear, hear). The recreation room showed an in- crease of £90. The magazine society was the least encouraging, there being a de- crease of S5 16s. The question of continu- ing this department would have to be seriously considered. The Rev. D. Davies seconded the adop- tion of the report. Councillor R. Roberts would like to see the institution more useful from an educa- tional standpoint. The Education Depart- meat now enabled committees similar to the committee of that institution, to take in hand the establishment of continuation classes, and Llandudno was not in the race at present with neighbouring towns in edu- cational matters. Dr Lawson Tait hoped the magazine so ciety would not collapse, as that was one of the chief reasons why he bad joined the institution. But his main object in speak ing was to support the museum question. He considered that an exceedingly wise suggestion. Not that he wanted to see them having a county museum in which to shoot rubbish that could not be disposed of in any other .way—(laughter).—bjit, with their sur roundings in the immediate neighbourhood, they had abundant opportunity of forming a museum that would be really educational. The Great Orme alone was a vast museum but everybody could not go botanising and geologising on the old headland. It was, however, a fact thatcomprensive samples could be found which would constitute a museum in themselves (applause). He pro- posed to offer them a contribution of £10 ,O. to wards the object in question; but he proposed to do something better than that. He would give another £ 10 10s. in prizes to young men who would procure good products and relics to the museum, things representative of local history, past and present (applause). He further sug- gested that the committee should secure the late Mr. Kendrick's geological cave on the Orme, a spot known to thousands of visi- tors, and which abounded in priceless trea- sures, if only properly investigated. Mr. Bellis moved that a committee be ap. pointed to see Lord Mostyn with the object of securing the cave at a nominal rental to prevent its falling into the hands of a private individual. Urgent steps should be taken, as he believed the land surrounding the cave would soon be'disposed of. Dr. Tait seconded, and it was unani- mously carried. The deputation will consist of the chair- man, Messrs Elias Jones, J.P., R. Bellis, R. Roberts, and Dr. Tait. The report was then adopted, the chair- man remarking that be had not lost sight of Councillor R. Roberts' remarks. If the building was enlarged, there would be room not only for a museum,, but for a school of art. On the motion of Mr. Lucking, seconded, by the Rev. R. Peris Williams, the Rev. D. Davies and Mr. J. Winter, were re elected on the committee.

One pound of sheep's wool is capable of pro- ducing one yard of cloth.

SOUTH WALES MINERS. I Ab jsaportant conference of 182 delegates, repre- jKKutir.g 69,883 members of the South Wales Miners' Association, was held at Cardiff on Saturday, at which it was unanimously resolved to seek affiliation with the Miners Federation of Great Britain. This is a noteworthy step, because it marks the cleavage with old traditions resulting from the recent contest with the coalowners. Hitherto the South Wales colliers have been little better than a disorganised mob, and it has been found almost impossible to persuade them to join any kind of organisation which involved direct contribu- tions to lodges or local branches. At the conference the chairman, Mr. W. Abraham. M.P., described the lines upon which they were forming the new organi- sation. The conference unanimously resolved to ask for affiliation and Mr. Abrahams, Mr. W. Bruce, and Mr. John Williams were appointed a deputa- tion to attend the Miners' Federation meeting at Edinburgh.

THE WORK OF THE TEACHER. Tbe Teachers' Guild of Great Britain and Ireland Opened on Monday a congress at the City of London School. Canon Lyttelton, Headmaster of Hailey- bury, presided, and said it was a fact of great significance in the history of English education that for the first time the Government were really proposing to undertake the continuous control of the secondary schools of the country. After explaining the nature of the proposals of the guild in reference to the Secondary Education Bill, Canon Lyttelton moved a resolution that "a central authority should be established, either simultaneously with or prior to local authorities, but local authorities, if not, simultaneously set up, should follow in the immediate future." After considerable discussion the resolution was carried. Resolutions were afterwards carried in favour of secondary education being dealt, with by a separate branch of the Education Department, and. of legislation with regard to the Charity Commission on the lines of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Secondary Education. The winter meeting of teachers was resumed on Monday at the College of Preceptors, when papers were read by Mr. II. J. MacRindev on the teaching of geography, by Professor Lloyd Morgan on the rela- tion of psychology to the work of the teacher, by Mr. F. Andrews on leisure-hour pursuits cf children, and by Mrs. Etnil Behnke on the training of the speaking voice.

THE PHILIPPINES. It is reported from Manila that the situation at Iloilo remains extremely critical. The streets are barricaded, foreigners are seeking refuge en board the British cruiser Bon^venture. and the banks are shipping their treasure in the United States cruiser Newport. President Mclvinley's proclamation is re- ceived with ridicule, and conciliation is declared to j bs impossible. Intense excitement prevails in Manila, -C_7-- 1

LATE MRS. CHARLES MATHEWS. The funeral of Mrs. Charles Mathews took place on Monday. The funeral corf eye started from the residence of Mr. Charles Mathews, son of the deceased, her remains having been brought from Brighton, where she had been living of late, on Sčttnrday. The coffin, of polished pine, was covered with wreaths. The chief mourners were Mr. C. Mathews, Mrs. Mathews, and Mr. Muller and Mr. G. T. Jay, the executors. The funeral service took place at the church of St. Saviour's, Walton-street, Chelsea. Among those who were present, at the church were Sir Squire and Lady Bancroft. Sir John Robinson, Mr. Gsboti J'< bin o Mi W. If. Kendal, Mr. and Mrs. Ckment boots. Mr. Edmund Routledge, Mr. Pei I ( i'li Farquhar. Mr.MoyThomas, Mn V ilboi i 1 Mis EuJTord, Mrs. Avlnier Gi i t j h, • ing. 0- Wreaths and oilier i < i il tokens of affection and esteem were sent by; among others, Sir II. and Lady De Bathe, Sir Edward Lawson, Sir George and Lady Faudel Phillips, Sir Bruce and Lady Seton, Sir Henry Irving, Sir Douglas Straight, Sir Squire and Lady Bancroft, Sir John Robinson, Sir George and Lady Lewis, Admiral and Airs. Inizgcorge, Miss Ellen Terry, Mr. J. L. Toole, Mr. and Mrs. Pinero, Miss Myra Hamilton, Mr. and Mrs. John Ha r.e, Mr. and Mrs. Ken- da',Dr. and Mrs. Xiobson Ivoose, Colonel Baldwin, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Hal. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson Orichett, Mr. and Mrs. Wilhej,m Ganz, Mr. and Mrs. George Grossmith. Mr. Augusta Spalding, Colonel Eaton, and Mrs. M.icku'oith Praed. At the close of the service the remains were taken to Woking for cremat.ion. The ashes were after- wards placed in an ,r •. and in an oak casket, which was depomeo in her husband's grave at Kensa'green on Ti tsdaj.

FOR LIVERPOOL CWSUMPTIYES. Lady Willox, tiie, ■> i • of Sir John Willox, M.P. for the Everton division of Liverpool, and Mr. W. P. Hartley, have each given £ 7500 towards com- pleting a sanatorium for consumptives at West Kirby, Cheshire, in addition to previous subscriptions, on the understanding th i further efforts be made to provide a maintenance fund for the institution, and that the advice of Sir \y lliiain Broadbent and Sir Douglas Gallon be taken on the proposed plans, and in accordance with the principles laid down at the recent meeting under the presidency of the Prince of Wales at Marlborough House. The donors, in their letter announcing the gift, say: "rraking as we do a deep interest in the question of the cure and prevent ion of consumption, we are anxious that the inenstiv.Qs for denim"' with a disease so fat til in Liverpool should he worthy of the city, and up to date with rect rit discoveries and improve- ments. The meeting at Marlborough House has helped the cause greatly, and we are all under an obligation to the Prince of Wales and the leaders of the medical profession for their support. Liverpool should now do its part to apply in practice the principles of the treatment there laid down."

THE SUGAR BOUNTIES. Lord St inmore presided on Monday over a meet- mg of tha Anti-Bounty League,, held in London. Letters sympathising with the general objects of the league were read from Sir H. Norman and Sir T. Sutherland, M.P. The chairman said it was becoming more and more recognised that, they were lighting the battle of free trade, and not, lighting agiinst free Grade. Naturally, they felt disappointed at; the joniplete failure of the Brussels Conference, regard- ing which some big promises had been made, The Giovernuient had taken up a verj half-hearted position in regard to the question. Sir Nevile Lubbock, in moving a resolution recording dis- appointment and regret at the failure of the Brussels Conference, contended that the people of this-country were not gainers, but heavy losers, by the bounty- system. Sir H. Tozer, Agent-General for Queensland, seconded the resolution, which was unanimously carried. Mr. Arthur Eades, secretary of the Bir- mingham Trades Council, moved a resolution de- claring the failure of the Brussels Conference to be due to the attitude of reserve enjoined by the Government on the British delegates, which was inconsistent with the previous declarations of Ministers on the subject. The resolution was seconded by Sir J. Commerell and carried. Sir M. Bhownaggree, M-l., lUored a resolution calling on the Government to enter without further delay into A convention with Germany, Austria, Belgium, and Holland for the abolition of the bounties, with security against State-aided competition in the open markets of the Empire by such bounty-giving countries as may refuse to become parties to the con- vention. General Laurie, M.P., Sir F. Young, and Mr. R. G. Webster, M.P., supported the resolution, which was agreed to.

TENNYSON MEMORIAL The memorial to Lord Tennyson in Haslemere Church is to take the form of :t, window, after a design by the late Sir Edward Burne-Jones (one of the last of a series illustrating the story of the "Holy Grail"), representing the vision which came to Sir Galahad in the little chapel. The window, which it is believed will be one of the most beautiful of the Burne-Johes series, will cost about £ 100.

TIJK Emperor William of Germany has quite re- covered from his recent indisposition. THE steamer Loch Etive arrived at Gibraltar on Monday with four of the crew of the foundered steamer Wooler. It is believed that the remainder of the crew, 20 in number, have been drowned. Tins arbitrator's decision in regard to Mr. Tillett's expulsion from Antwerp is said to be entirely favour- able to Belgium.

ACCIDENT TO A JUDGE. Mr. Justice Bucknill narrowly escaped a serious accident while out hunting with the West Surrey Staghounds on Saturday. When his horse was taking a fence in Barnett Wood-lane, Leatherhead, it stumbled, and Mr. Bucknill was heavily thrown. Happily he sustained nothing more serious than a shaking, but the horse was so badly injured that it had to be killed.

HEROIC RESCUE, gallant rescue of two boys from drowning was effected at Devonport on Saturday by John Reynolds, a waterman. He was passing Moon's Cove when he saw a boy in the water. Divesting himself only of his coat, Reynolds swam to the lad's assistance, and was returning with him, when he saw another lad's arm projecting above some timbers. Handing the boy he had already rescued to some people who had assembled, Reynolds returned for the second boy. In diving under the timbers to reach him Reynold's jersey caught in a nail and kept him down. By a desperate effort he tore his jersey away, and having thus freed himself, without losing his grasp of the lad, he swam ashore the second time. The children were six and three years old respec- tively. But for the services rendered by Reynolds the little fellows would in all probability have lost their lives. As it is they are little the worse for their immersion, although they were much exhausted when they were brought ashore.

NEW ADMIRALS The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have approved of the promotions of the following officers in her Majesty's Fleet: Rear-Admiral Edmund C. Drummond to be Vice-Admiral. Captain Pelham Aldrich to be Rear-Admiral. Captain Swinton C. Holland, A.D.C., to be Rear- Admiral. Consequent on the promotion of Captain Swinton C. Holland to the rank of Rear-Admiral, the follow- ing further promotions have been made from the same date: Captain Charles Johnstone and John C. "Burnell to be Rear-Admirals on the retired list.

A STRANGE SIGHT. Two young women named Duboz and Girard wert to fight a duel with scissors at Nogent-sur-Marne, near Paris, on Saturday, to decide who was to have the undivided affections of a local adonis known as Handsome Polyt," with whom they were both in love. The duel was to have been fought in the pre- sence of Polyt, but when the girls, stripped to the waist, were about to begin, Polyt made some face- tious remarks, which so enraged them that they both rushed at him and stabbed him repeatedly with their scissors. Polyt lustily shouted for help, and the police arriving, the three were removed to the staLi on.

EXECUTION AT KILKENNY. Patrick Holmes, who was sentenced to death after the second trial, the jury having disagreed on the first- occasion at the Winter Assizes at Wat-erf ord, was executed within Kilkenny Gaol on Saturday morning for the murder of Ellen Lawlor, aged 70. The motive for the murder was robbery. The scaffold had been erected specially for the occasion, as half a century had elapsed since the last execution at Kilkenny. Holmes walked firmly to the scaffold, and betrayed no emotion. Death was instantaneous. Holmes, who was a farm labourer, aged 24, left a statement with the governor of the gaol. Scott was the execu- tioner.

lOOLONEL MATHIAS ON THE FIGHT AT DARGAI. As already reported the officers of the 1st Batta- lion Gordon Highlanders, who have lately returned from active service on the Indian frontier, were on Tuesday evening the guests of the Caledonian Club in London. H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, theColonel- in-Chief of the regiment, honoured the club by his presence. The chair was occupied by the Earl of March, who, in proposing the toast of the evening, The Gordon Highlanders," referred to the universal admiration which had been excited by the gallant conduct of the gay Gordons in the recent frontier campaign. The toast was received with the greatest enthusiasm, and Ronald Mackenzie, piper to the Duke of Richmoud, of Gordon, played the Cock o' the North," and the "Haughs of Cromdale." In responding on behalf of his regiment and him- self, Colonel Mathias thanked the company for the cordial manner in which they had received the toast. He remembered shortly after Dargai, some of the English papers recommended him never to make another speech. That seemed to him most excellent advice, but unfortunately he had not been able "to take it." The episode of Dargai caught hold of the imagination of the British public, and remained in its memory, but he could assure them that that rush of four or five minutes into what looked like certain death, was not half so bad as what they went through afterwards. At Dargai they were going straight for the foe in the good old British way; afterwards they seldom. saw many of the enemy, but the enemy always saw them. He did not mind stating that he strongly objected to being shot at from behind, and when bullets dropped in on one casually from the other three sides as well, it was very annoying indeed. He did not think that anyone who marched down the Bara Valley with the 2nd Divi- sion was likely to forget it. It tried all, both British and native, to the utmost. While passing he desired to pay a tribute of praise to the grand native army of Northern India, with which he had been so closely connected for the last six years, and which Lord Roberts, and more recently Sir G. White, did so much to organise and bring to perfection. No words of his could express what he felt about them. No one could realise, except by serving with them in the field, what grand fighters, and what good fellows they were, true to their salt, and loyal till death. The Caledonian Club in honouring them that night not only honoured the Gordon Highlanders, but the whole army, those Soldiers of the Queen of all colours, and of all creeds-through out the empire, who, when- ever there was-any fighting on in any corner of the World, came up smiling to the call of time." The Prince of Wales in rising to propose the health of the chairman, cordially endorsed all that had been said by the gallant colonel, and whilst re- gretting that he had never had the privilege of serving with the Indian troops on active service, he said he had often seen' them in large bodies, and was confi- dent that the Queen had no finer soldiers.

PRINCESS- BEATRICE opened a nurses' institute at Romsey on Wednesday. AN increase in the number of deaths from plague is reported in India; PlUNCE GEORGE OF GREECE- is showing commend- able activity in the Island of Crete. MR. GU) FENWICK met with a nasty- accident while out with the Belvoir hounds on Wednesday. THE appointment of Mr; Choate as lTnred State» Ambassador to England is officially notified. IN some fighting that has taken place in British West Africa our troops have shown their superiority. AT the London Guildhall on Wednesday a man was sentenced to six months hard labour'for sending diseased pork to market. A DISPUTE is in course of progress at Middleton's Wharf, by which 300 men are affected. The ques- tion involved is one of overtime pay. AT South Shields on Wednesday a Spanish sea- man, named Antonio Marin, was sent for trial, charged with murdering a beerhouse-keeper on New Year's Day. AT the Central Criminal Court in London on Wed- nesday a young fellow of 22 was found guilty of next-of-kin frauds, and being recommended to mercy, sentence was postponed. EDWARD MCKINLAY, a slater, who is still at large, is, being actively sought for by the West-Scotland police on the charge of having brutally beaten his wife to death.

Vi < TH hi: STUNS illURDERER KILLED IN BATTLE. ,i on has been received at :e P i 'n Office frotji her Majesty's Commissioner in UgmHh dated Port J iCi December 14, announcing that > i iJ the ringleader of the recent mutiny, and the I d ler of Major Thruston and Mr. Wilson, was kdled in an action on December ü, by a patrol detached by Lieu- t a i t < i unet Cole. The mutineers, broken and disperst;d. were being pursued. i! l Effendi was a captain of No. 9 Company of the bOliiLwese who revolted near the EldoinaRavine, i í tl ^epteinfaor, i897. < the outbreak of the revolt Major Thruston had gune :o Lu bwa's to porsuade the garrison there to remain loyal to the British, and with Mr. N. Wilson, the oÍficer in charge of Lubwa's. he m:¡de preparations to ) the station. On the night of October 16 the ii -on treacherously seized Major Thruston and lU r. Wiison. Mr. Scott, who arrived at Lubwa's the following day in a steam launch, also fell into the hands of the mutineers. On October 19 the mutineers came out into the open. and were repulsed by Major MacDonald, and when Bilal regained the station he brought out the prisoners and told them they were going to be shot. Major Thj-uston replied, If you are going to shoot uie, do so at once; but I warn you that many of my countrymen will come up, and that if you do this thing you will all have reason to regret it." While these words were being uttered Bilal inter- rupted the major by calling out for a rifle, and then with his own hands shot Major Thruston and Mr. Wilson. The former was shot through the head, the latter through the heart. Mr. Scott made an effort to escape and was shot dead through the back of the head by Itehan Effendi. The murder of the prisoners was committed contrary to the advice of the majority of the muti- neers, and was the work of BHal, Mabruk, and Rehan.

SIR JOHN GORST AT BRADFORD. Sir John Gorst, speaking at Bradford on Wednes- day night on the subject of education, said the chaos in education was only an instance of the chaos exist- ing in local government generally. It arose from the incapacity of modern Governments and Parlia- ments to frame satisfactory schemes of domestic administration, and from a rooted distrust of local government which largely obtained among the governing classes. He discussed the effect of the existing system of administration on two classes of children-the derelict million who ought to be in the schools and were not. and the picked children selected for higher education. The pauper and criminal classes were largely recruited from the former, and to deal with it there was needed a strong central department and strong local authori- ties in co-operation. He contended that for the purpose of secondary education town and county councils were more suitable authorities than School Boards, but anticipated that Parliament would pro- bably wait till the local authorities themselves had come to some agreement on that point, and would then give effect to it.

RUSKIN HALL AT OXFORD. The question of the Ruskin Hall came before a large and representative meeting of the Trades Council, at Oxford, on Wednesday evening. Mr Charles Beard, one of the promoters, explained the aims and objects of the proposed hall. He remarked that the course of lectures which were intended foi working men had been definitely arranged. A resolu- tion, heartily approving of the movement and pledg. ing the meeting to do all in its pswer to make tin kt»U a success, was unanimously adopted.

REFUSED A KISS. At H • >1 ( irdav, John William Poole, 23, c i. so lv *as relllanded on 11. charge of i, to n m >• Sarah Tliomasina Edwards, 23, 'i iTvant. whom lie had kept company. .t i .• nis i<,dons and it was alleged, b, g j. « i. iii- i her throat with a clasp kn fe. Lh • abli- to attend the court, her injuries <L-^I i"e.

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THE RITUALIST CONTROVERSY. At a large meeting of Churchmen, held on Wednes- day night under the auspices of the National Pro- testant Church Union at the Church House. West- minister, under the presidency of Lord Midleton, and addressed by Prebendary Webb Peploe, Lord Kinnaird, the Rev. Dr. Moule, Mr. J. W. Mellor, M.P., Sir John Kennawav, and others, resolutions were carried strongly condemning the attempts now being made to bring back into the Church of England doctrines and practices which were deliberately rejected at the Reformation, and recognizing the necessity for legislation to remedy the evils com- plained of should the Bishops prove unable to do so.

GRUESOME DISCOVERY. A woman who went on Wednesday to look over an empty house in one of the poorer districts of Liverpool, near a leading thoroughfare, made a startling discovery. On entering an upper room she was horrified at finding on the lioor the dead body of a worn an quite naked. She called the police and it was seen that the body was that of a handsome woman of about 28 years of age, with fair complexion and abundant black hair, and evi- dently belonging to a good class of society. The body. which was well nourished, bore no traces of violence. It was lying on some rags. In the room was a pair of boots. In an adjoining room were found a woman's green jacket and part of a chemise. In a room below was found a black straw hat- Nothing else was in the house. The body was re- moved to the mortuary. and the police are making inquiries.

THE CONGO REVERSE. The Bleu publishes supplementary details of the reverse suffered at Ivabambare, on the Congo, by the troops of the Congo Free State. If. says that 14 white men, two guns with their ammunition, and a quantity of baggage fell'into the hands of the Batatelas. Kabambare, which is the chief town of the district, was defended by 800 men, who deserted to the enemy. Five white men were killed. A veritable stampede occurred after the defeat, and the wounded were compelled to make long journeys, without proper treatment, owing to the general confusion that prevailed. Tht* Vice-Governor, M. Wangermee, who was at Stanley Falls when the news of the disaster reached him, intended to go up the Congo as far as Nyangwe, with the object of himself taking command of the troops furm •! by She Mwiyema tribe. The Petit Him also mentions that, after the execu- tion in ihe Congo State of the Chief Lutete, on Sep- tember 14, 189-3, his soldiers swJre to avenge him. When they were garrisoned at Lualaburg they re- volted, and are now in the Katanga District, where they are making raids.—llcuter.

CONSERVATIVES AND SOCIAL REFORM. On Saturday evening Mr. H. C. Richards, Q.C., M.P., delivered an address at the Constitutional Club, Torquay, on "The Social Reform of the Con- servative Party claiming that, quite apart from the list of imperial and national successes during the Conservative regime, they were entitled to point to half a century's work of social reforms for the wage- earning class and the gradual extinction of the prin- ciple of commercial selfishness of the Manchester School and the big Middle Class policy to buy in the cheapest and sell in the dearest market.

en KM 1ST BURNED TO DEATH. A fire broke out on Saturday morning on the pre- mit-es of Mr. John Cunliffe, druggist, Burnley, Mrs. CunlitTe and her daughter were rescued by means of ladders, but vli < unliffe, who had evidently endea- to CM | by the back staircase, was burned to death. HIS lemains were charred beyond recogni- tion.

1,1<1 his first levee at Calcutta on ii*. to death at Hoxton on Satur- is reported to be nil! wta' Congress was opened at t. rueit-nt are reported to have i u cops to Siam.