The Montgomery County Times and Shropshire and Mid-Wales Advertiser

THE PROPOSED IRISH BALANCE SHEET. Mr. A. B. Forwood, M.P., writes to the Times" to place the Government's Irish financial proposals in the ordinary form of a commercial account as between partners in a business who have agreed to dissolve their co-partnership. Under the arrange- ment that exists to-day, he says the cost to the united Kingdom of charges purely Irish is as follows :— Civil Government charges £ 3,123,000 Constabulary 1,459,000 Loss on Post office account. 52,000 Cost of collection of ren-eiiuo 160,000 Making A total of £ 4 794 QQQ To the credit of Ireland should bo placed'— Receipts from Customs £ 2 402 000 Receipts from Excise 3 058 000 Receipts from Stamps. 707,000 Receipts from Income-tax 552,000 Receipts from Crown Lands 65,000 Miscellaneous receipts. 138,000 Making a total of X6,922,000 i iiiis, arter derraymg all purely Irish clinro-es, the United Kingdom receives a balance of X2,128,000 from Ireland in aid of Imperial expenditure—i. e., Army, Navy, interest on debt and other common sources, which amount in the aggregate to £ 60,000,000. Therefore Ireland contributes to-day 1-28tli of the National charges. Her contribution, if measured by the death duties and the income tax collected in Ireland compared to the total amount collected in the United Kingdom would be 1-22d of the whole, or £ 2,700,000. So that on this basis Ireland is to-day short-charged to the extent of £ 600,000. Under the latest proposals of the Government certain Irish charges are to be paid by the Irish Government, and others by Great Britain Ireland is to receive a portion of the revenue and Great Britain the balance. The Irish charges apportioned for payment by Ireland amount to £ 4.148 000 Thn J revenue allotted to Ireland amounts to £ 4,660 000 so that Ireland receives from us X512,000 more than the amount of the charges from which she relieves Great Britain. The latter is to receive one-third of the revenue Snn2?00, b->Ut fhG has to out of this sum' ±.48/,000 towards the maintenance of the Constabu- lary in Ireland, and £ 160,000 or the whole cost of the collection of revenue in Ireland. Thus the net amount that Great Britain is to receive from Ireland in aid of Imperial charges will be £ 1,615,000. This represents only 1.37th of the .whole, or £1,100,000 less than would be due from her measured by the taxpaying resources of the two countries, and 1R an absolute loss to Great compared with the present -+-

PITH OF PARLIAMENT. In the House of Lords, on Monday, her Maiesty's on the m k,r<lSl'!pS' address of congratulation the1ST T °f P6 D!Uke °f Y°rk WaS 3aid 011 the table. Lord Rosebery, in reply to Lord Lamington, said the Government would lose no opportunity in bringing about a satisfactory solu- tion of the issues between France and Siam. Lord Londonderry called attention to the administration of justice in Ireland, particularly to Mr. Justice Gibson's recent charge at the County Clare Assizes, and said if Alr. Morley continued to insult the Irish udges as he had done he would simply be doim>- m h\» to assist criminals to escape from justice.^ Lord Spencer replied to the charges brought against the Government, and after some further discussion the matter dropped In the Commons on Monday, a message from the Queen was_ read thanking the House for its ex- pression of interest and personal • Jo the6 RddT trh b6e* in re erenee to the Royal wedding. Mr Asmiirl, i,„ nuich'frequentell fimehouse Causeway which was by many persons, including youno- English girls, but the police had no power suppress opium smoking. J Crtfflfi, ?ladSt°ne Was Pointedly asked by Mr Alr. Gladstone was pointedly asked by Mr. Griffith- Boseawen if it was the intention of the Government to drop the 8lJHnpn,yru nll 4' UTL- and bring in one fo -r" J "lJ.. l.Vl. ty čtle8 and bring in one for disestablishment and disendow- session or early next se«? » c <eran auturnn wishes to trifk fVto iv j ? n'. Gladstone for the Home Rule Bill S^ac?icalsout f their votes in return inof i then give them nothing people—he had IVdiffif lf° direCt Vet° our ° difficulty m saying that until for the ,lL S regard to the time required clearW deftTf^r^ Home Rule EiU ^come enter unorf tli the Gove™ment will not bo able to Tho « 6 consideration of other matters." E HarlamTlr"? t0 the Admiralty» replying to Sir ootain the fulT'C erf endeavour would be made to of thp V* + 6SC evicIence m reference to the loss adw/ablf th6 m tWnkIt court-martial gT specific mstl'uction to the martial as to the course tn ho -,i CnrnT the takill» of ^dence. The Hon G theHout nnte!ldC'lt,mOVC the ^m-nment of Siam^but Sir F Pre B?te °f affairs in discuss tL ? 7 aPPeaIed t0 ^e House not to been obtafnerl^T f'Urth°r "'Nation had every hope of th r aSsmTd the H™se there was ful and satS f SpUt° bcm" settled a peace- ment the 7 manner, and upon this state- ment the proposal was relinquished. The report stale of the Home Rule (Payments) the Hon« 6r a s^ort discussion, agreed to, and Mr SPVC 8 resunied committee on the measure. iVIr- Sexton moved an amendment to clause 27 pro- thmV A- and Commissions from exercising IT1' unctions after the Irish Legislature had taken over control of the land question, but after a wfttr r0m Mr- J■ Morl°y the amendment was v, ldia-svn, and the committee proceeded to consider an amendment maintaining clerks of the Crown in their ofheesas heretfore unless removed bvadrb-oa^c ..I. 1 LO Ooth liouses of Parliament. 01 -IùOÇ,o, In the Commons on Tuesday, Mr. Gladstone questioned as to what steps were beino- taken to carry out the resolution of the House with regard to the appointment of county magistrates said it was necessary for the Lord Chancellor to .uVf rl matter with care, and he was desirous to work as fai as possible m concert with, and even tl.™ i u medium of, the Lords Lieutei4nt thou^S ? not the limit of his action. I^adv a v siderable number of magistrates had been appointed in consequence of the movement assnei.,f-,]- .L 1- j. on the Indian £ S £ £ °St £ 1° P"*™ he understood that was not be regulated by the cJnyenience of the Government but by the real demand forSilver for the purposes of circulation. The Hou«. Committee on the Home Rule Bill taiH ■ T ° sideration clause 28 which relates to thft'enurTof office of permanent Civil Servants and the terms of retirement. An amendment, moved by Mr. Balfour, sirvice°- I S+h1°uldbe ^missed from the' service m Ireland until an offer had been made to him of a position of analagous kind in the Civil ?41f ^QQ Vrg °r 8c°tland, was rejected by i °, r-Hayden moved an amendment to mfo!? S t TW !°r Pensions and gratuities 251 to 92 pe Exchequer. It was defeated by In the Commons, on Wednesday, Mr. J. Morlew in committee on the Home Rule Bill, moved the insertion in clause 28 of certain words intended to bring withm the application of the clause the clerical staff of tfce officers of the Royal Irish Con- stabulary, and the amendment was agreed to without a division. Mr. Morley next proposed that whero an officer in the public service of the Crown is dismissed for any other cause than in- capacity or misconduct he may apply to the Ireasury for compensation, and the amendment as accepted. Another amendment by Mr Morlev that the section should apply to petty sessions thnAl U'lS t0 by Mr- Sexton, who moved that there should be no payment of compensation to such clerks out of the Irish Consolidated Fund 1ms proposal, was, however, rejected; but the Government accepted another amendment bv Mr Sexton that the sums paid by way of compensation should be repaid to the Irish Consolidated Fund. Jlr. Phmkc,t then moved to include the secretaries of grand juries in the pension scheme, but this was eventually withdrawn; and an amendment hv Mr Rentoul that local officials paid out of county cess be pensioned out of the county rate was negatived without a dii-isioll. Upon the question being put that clause 28 stand part of the bill, Mr. Goschen CI a'!<] ?aid.tho Irish ™"il servants had not ten fan] dealt with by the Government, and that officials had been excluded who ought to have i-e- ceiyecl consideration. The clause' was, however atcled to^the Bill, and progress was reported. Sir E. Grey intimated that no additional information had been received in regard to Siamese affairs. n fhursclay, the House again went irtto Com- UP tTten1 M6 RuIe Bil1' nn<1 was 0c<™pied up to ten o clock m discussing clause 30, relating to the constabulary. At that hour the Closure was to 289 Tf +i'c.3ausewas added to the bill bv 315 } ^9.* After thle two hours and a half were spent m dividing on succeeding clauses.

+ THE POSITION OF WELSH DISESTABLISHMENT. A COXFESSIOX. w^r' D' A' Tll0mas> contributes to a South W ales paper an article on this subject. The de- niaii(I of the AVebli people, says Mr, Thomas, is that Welsh Disestablishment shall be formally assigned the second place in the Government policy, and in whatever steps the Welsh members may consider it necessary to take to obtain a distinct and definite answer they may rely on the loyal support of the Welsh people, provided those steps show no weakness or hesitancy and are taken in time. At the general election last year every Welsh Liberal candidate, with hardly an exception, made a tspecial feature of the position given to Disestablishment in the Newcastle programme, with the result that the Tories were routed and their representation in the House of Commons well- nigh extinguished. That we were fully justified," says Mr. Thomas, "at the time in the hopes we laised and m the prominence we gave the question is beyond dispute. The upon which the Liberal party appealed to the country, placed Disestablisement second; the Parliamentary leaders, of the party had voted for it in the House of Commons, several of them had publicly admitted its urgency. But how do we stand to-day ? The Liberal Government since its advent to power has never endorsed the order of procedure assigned to measures in the programme IK'Il P]ap°d it m office. This is the point upon which it is time the Welsh electorate were fully informed, and the true significance of which Welsh not^stpd tS TUW n0t fail t0 grasP* Wales o-iven Th cofn.fquently no pledge has been as the best V 1 ^ermnent has been described seen btb most democratic ^is country has in ."re ,i °Ve U ls thoroughly honest and sincere m its desire to promote Radical reforms. It has done something m the direction of Distablishment uy mtroaucmg the Suspensory Bill. The Suspen- sory Bill is, however, a very small enactment. So far it has been merely introduced; the second readmg has not been taken, and had not the Tories adopted the usual course of opposing its introduc- tion, the probabilities are it would not even have been dfecussed this session. It was placed at the tale-end of the Queen's Speech after a dozen'other measures. It is a little use blaming Mr. Gladstone for the position in which we find ourselves. He has not committed himself to the Newcastle programme, and has been careful to avoid entering into any obligations as to when the Welsh question shall be taken. In his speech at Newcastle Mr. Gladstone, referring to Scotch and W«hsh Dis- establishment, said :—" I was oarefnl to avoid all theTwn& L° UL;LOili::Ul:i LUilt Precedence ae be^reen tne two It does not depend upon those especially responsible for the eonf7nnt nf -v 'J.- ..L.8.1Ulč1.1 a rs m Parliament which of those shall take pre- cedence Each of them has bold, resolute and active champions, who will not consent to w'ait— to'lliteV nldwe VePb 7r°ng if the7 did consent until i^ til 6 fUle haS become law> and T V ne'vv order and suggesting of the fessTrtPr°fam,m<ht'ir 'MS come" Icon! but I ;,r P'ecisely what this means, that time to commit to measures in the assigned the precedence given bTSe i n W°f T™ 5 that would denend x-ft i. Liberal Government activity of the re^ecth e T"'1 bo!rlness and measures anrl fbf ti i champions of various ■f lu these champions would be verv wrong if they waited until Home Rule became £ before pressing forward their claims w" I translate the brave words o/the^Son'^eeXl into equally bold action in the House of Comm™* • ve must take a leaf out of the book of the Irish members or we shall find ourselves outpaced in the political race." F eu m

EXECUTION" OF MEUNIER. j SPEECH OX THE SCAFFOLD. Illn On Wednesday morning, at eio-kt interval of three weeks having elapsed since his r™!cd ss-s, AoreP^relte""fe"- executed in Worcester Prison f paction, was Charlotte Pea^ S Loog Rve Lickey^ Fnd^ Bromsgrove, on Januarv 11 TI Y ND' siderable crowd outside the gaol, but no excitement sentence of death had been carried out Four representatives of the press were admitted to tte ou ^C/a' a other witnesses were the Under Sheriff (Mr. W^P. Hughes), Mr. Ashwin a yS if T1Cei' t/C 1; Fafcher and Fat he! Jh Roman Catholic priests, the former of whom spent some time in the cell with the con- demned man. James Bill,"™*™ u tioner. At a quarter to ei|ht the nTuto* beU commenced tolling, and at three minutes to eio-ht the procession entered the room in which the scaffold was. The condemned man wall™ u assistance to thP a™# I i walked without "Sa,TT5ly calm po.i,L"o„ the scatld bnt 2, ? SettSnir n the room °r?0rtfra' Who » P°2'io» "Wai?a ° £ Lqi t °Se t0 the traP* H* said: dressing fh? am n°fc dead yet" Then ad- Sbt S77fhoy hLe" -to i denth' v, g°°dT f°r me to die" 1 am ^ady for • You see I am not crying, because I ™ very happy where I have been. S £ my face if you '• thmk I am crying. Feel my heart if you think mv heart is gcnng more quickly. It is not going more quickly. The prisoner then turned calmly to the executioner, saying Now I am rll betore the trap fell Meunier said, "Kill me the first time I cannot go twice." Billington then pulled Sta'^r fe"'a°d ^ea aPPeared to be At ten o'clock the formal inquest was held and the usua verdict to the effect that sentence of death had been duly executed was returned. The crime tor which Meunier paid the extreme penalty of the law was of a peculiarly cruel and cold-blooded character. The victim was an o woman who with her hushnnri n Lickey End. Meunier hsTlt^J Sh°P ,at bourhood a few days before and n of the murder w D<*oreand again on the dav ol the murder. He entered the shop, and foiled doubtless m an attempt at robbery, I tacked the poor old woman with an o™ • a• J .*u/weu uie terrible thnt I "dieting injuries so she wL found T 7 an hour or two aft«- Lrror Strieker, L x Sh°P fl°°r hv lwr fined to an 1 fU • n W ° the time wa« con" managed to STtoT" ilIne5% Belgium WI P Birmingham and then to Belgiu-, but he was tracked and extradited. The trial before Baron Pollock at Worcester resulted in the passing of the death sentence, and popular imposed seldom had it been more justly rZite or, t effTVVere pufc forth to ^cure a sanity but th gwUn f the Priso,lor's alleged in- the law must laLT. co'Se"7

CRICKET. .NOT!]. — We shall be pleased to insert reports of all cricket matches in the district, and trust that Secretaries of clubs will forward same Tuesday, e REMARKS ON THE GAME. The R. W. Warehouse Secretary Is, as is well known, a man thoroughly "up to date" in every- thing- connected with cricket. To have valuable recruits from time to time to fill up the gaps which necessarily occur in the 1st team, he not only has a second string, but has also arranged a good series of out and home matches for them. With this team he send 3 out one or two old hands to guide and steady the ship. The Welshpool Committee could folluw this ¡\l.a'u with great advantage—only let the matches be played on Thursday afternoons—the general half holiday. The score of the 2nd XI of R. W. Warehouse was givonin this paper last week. but it was received too late for any any remarks to be made on the game, which was an exceedingly pleasant one. Oakhurst pus together 39 runs, A. A. Evans with a well got 15 (not out) being highest scorer. G. W. Davies and A. Jones bowled well for for the visitors (R. W. W.), and quite broke down the defence of theOakhurst men. This good work was backed up by nice smart fielding. R. W. W. got 68, thanks in a very great measure I 71 to the grand hitting of Conehe. This dashing bat laid about him weU, and sent the ball to all parts of the field before being bowled. R. Pn^h played a good steady game for 11, and G. H. Xicholls, who some years ago was a very good and stylish bat, showed that his hand has r.ot lost his cunning, and put together 10 by very attractive cricket. A. A. Evans bowled very well for the losers. The battle Royal in Montgomeryshire however was the one on Saturday last, between R. W. W. and 3Iontgomery, on the V\ arehouse ground. IlBoti-i teams were strong amllletermined. Rees, however, was an absentee from the home team. R. W. W. batted first and made a bad start, as the second ball C. B. Williams sent down bowled the crack bat, E. W. Pryce-Jones off his pad. O. D. S. Taylor joined Cannon and helped to take the score to 14. when Taylor was badly run out just when he seemed like getting set. Wood and Masden fell to good balls of Eaton's, but Charles Davies and Cannon made a most useful stand. Neither player attempted any liberties with the good bowling, but by cool and steady play took a lot of edge off it. Davies was run out for a very useful 20, and Cannon was caught for 19. Cannon, like good port, im- proves with age, and this year plays better than ever, being the most consistent batsman in the team. A. W. Pryce-Jones hit away merrily for 15, and with the dozen extras Montgomery were kind enough to give, the score reached the respectable figure of 78. C. W. Williams bowled better than he has yet done this year, and got 5 wickets for 34. Eaton, 2 for 20. The latter however had cruel luck as Cannon was missed off him before scoring, and if the catch had come off the victory of Mont- gomery would have been as good as assured. C. Davies was also missed off him early in his innings. The Montgomery fielding was not on a par with their bowling. Two brilliant catches were made i* tho slip by Harris and A. Eaton, but several easy catches were dropped, and the fielding generally was not of that smart character which is generally associated with Montgomery. Seventy-eight was a good score, but with A. Eaton in anything like form, this number ought easiiy to have been hit off. Eaton was, for once and away, however, a bit too rash at starting, and was easily caught at cover-point before scoring. Harris followed him quickly, but H. Davies and Griffiths made a steady stand: Stephen put in some good work. and got 21 before Taylor caught him. His innings was a very good and successful one. Tomley hit up 11 in his usual merry mood. This included a grand hit for five. The other Mont- aroery 7,er --hantm nahow at Marston's slows, and were easily* sent about their when the last wicket fell the score was 58. and thus the Royal Welsh Warehouse fully avenged their for- mer defeat. The Raton and Harrow match was not one of the best ever played by these great school elevens, but to the readers of the County it may- be especially interesting, as one of the heroes on the winning side was the son of Colonel Harrison, of Caerhowell. This young gentleman, who bears a rare good old cricket name, at one time during the match 'actually took four wickets without a single run being scored from him, and altogether during the match he took- First innings 6 wickets for 29 Second 3 26 Total 9 for 55 This was splended work, and stamps him as one of the most promising young cricketers of the day. He can bat too, as well as bowl. He stands up well at the wickets, and any ball we]] pitched up or at all loose, is well attended to. He has often played for the Welshpool and Mont- gmncry teams, as he probably will again this season. and his good all round play will be valued. His bowling success in this match reminds one forcibly of that of F. C. Cobden, a Shropshire man. wha won-the 'Varsity match in which lie took pan by doing the bat trick in his last over. The Oswestry Grammar School XI., after their good performance against Welshpool, did wretched- ly against Mr. Whitfield's team. This was practic- ally the Oswestry team and with R. T. Gough and Sabine well on the wickets it is no discredit to the boys to be beaten. For once the grubs of Marriott did not come off, and the other Grammar School bowling is not very killing, but to get rid of their opponents for 77 was not a bad performance. W. H. Ellis 23, F. B. Corfield 17, and G. Whitfield 14, played well for the winners. In justice to the crushing defeat Welshpool experienced at the hands of Llanfyllion it must be said that the victims had only about half a team. The time has gone by when any team will do for Llanfyllin. They are now quite as strong all round as any team in the district and the team to beat them must play up all through the game and in no half-hearted manner. In Captain Bayhurst-France they have a good and punishing bat, a good bowler and smart wicket keeper, and one whose knowledge of the game will pull his side through many difficul- ties. With the solitary exception of good old Tallis, not one of the Welshpool men shewed any batting form and all were out for the paltry score of 33. All these came from the bat as Llanfyllin fielded so smartly as not to allow one extra. Tallis played in hii) own good form and played quite the right game for his 19 not out. D. L. Williams and F. F. Cor- ballis bowled well for Llanfyllin the former got 5 wickets for 16 and the latter 3 far 11. Only one man on the Llanfyllin side got a duck all did something. Capt. Hayhurst France opened the, ball well with a quickly obtained 31 by batting ef a very bright description. A. Evans 18 and Simpson 12 not out, also shewed good form and the total of 105 is about the highest score Llanfyllin have ever got against Welshpool. Welshpool must play up to-day against Newtown, and do all they can to serve them the same as they did the Royal Welsh Warehouse. Abont the best bowling performance in local matches was that of Rodanhurst for Whittington against Chirk, on Saturday. He actually clean bowl'd eight wickets for nine runs and did the hat trick. This performance went a long way towards landing his side winners. Our neighbours from Machynlleth made a gallant fight with Aberystwith, and only succumbed after a hard battle. For the losers, N. Lloyd Jones (17) and M. P. Jones (11) batted pluckily and well, but th > others did little against the grand bowling of T. Morgan and C.S., and were all out for 54. Aberystwith got 62 {and thus won by eight. R. Cosens (26) and C. D. Ross (16), not out, were both batsmen on this side. The great match of this week has of course been tb, International one. On the England side in the 1st innings, the heroes were Shrewsbury 106, and F. S. Jackson 91. There was a brilliant partnership between these two. Shrewsbury finished defence, and Mr. Jack- son's clean and vigorous hitting making a combina- tiox perfectly delightful to the spectators. Flowers, another Nottingham man, added 35 by free play. On the Australian side the batting was very much like that on our side. Gregory 57, and Graham 107 effected a long stand, and put their side in a very creditable position. Both played free and attractive cricket, aad were deservedly applauded on retiring. In the 2nd innings of England, Shrewsbury and Gnnn. the two Notts men, played grandly for 81 and 77 respectively, but the others did very little. Shrewsbury's grand performance in the match of scoring 187 runs dwarfs all others, though his Nottingham brothers well justified their selection. Australia were set 300 to win, but as the wicket commenced to show signs of wear it is more than probable they would have failed. C-irion* Cricket. --In a match between Winton House and Banister Court School 2nd XI on July 14rh, a smart bit of fielding was witnessed. A batsman receiving a full pitch to leg promptly hit it well. Short leg misjudged the Ifill, which struck him on the head and returned to the wicket, a distance of 8 yards or so, and the hatsmaa teas run ort. The County Championship race has undergone another change. Yorkshire bv their victory over Nottingham and by the downfall of Surrey by Somerset again head the list. and as the team will be strengthened for the rest of the season by the addition of Mr. Jackson, who came out so brilliantly this week against the Australians, and Mr. Smith, they might be able to retain their position. Played. Won. Lost. Drawn. Points Yorkshire .10. 7 2 1 5 Middlesex .9 6 3 0 3 Kent 7 3 2 2 1 Surrey .9 5 4 0 1 Lancashire .7 3 5 1 0 X otts .9 3 2 1 Sussex 9 4 2 1 Gloucestershire 8 2 5 1 3 Somersetshire .8 1 6 1 5 BOWLING. Overs. Maidens. Runs. Wickets. Average Richardson 451-2. 11,9 1269 87 14-53 C.W.Wells .373-2. 113 898 61 14*72 Peel .682.2 238 116, 7. 79 14,74 Lockwood 589-1 165 .1553 .102 15'02 Wainwright .671*1. 219 .1590 91 15*27 A. Hearne .445-2. 150 823 52 15.82 Hirst .530- 218 829 57 16'28 J. T. Hearne ..1069.2. 511 .2176 .128 17-00 Humphreys 434-4. 63 .1331 77 17-28 J. Briggs .776- 288 .1441 83 17*36 Mold .824-2. 283 .1818 98 18-55 Tyler .468-3. 160 .1052 52 19*84 Rawlin 639-2. 272 1159 58 19-98 F. S. Jackson.403*2. 152 825 41 20'07 ifee .374*2. 118 964 48 20-08 Murch 433-3. 135 .1028 51 21-15 Attewell .861*2. 347 .1491 70 21*30 Shaeklock 481,5 156 .1264 46 27*47 Averages of first twenty batsmen :— Alost No. of Times in an Average innings, not out. Runs, innings A. E. Stoddart 26 1 1297 195* 51-88 Gunn 30 1 .1353.156 46-65 F. S. Jackson 19 2 737 123 43-35 G. A. Brann 22 4 766.159 42-35 Dr. W. G. Grace 30 4 1101. 128 42-34 Shrewsbury 23 1 865. 164 39-31 W. W. Read 23 2 733 ..147*34*90 Ward (A.) 22 2 685..140* 34-25 C.P.Foley 19 4 489. 69 32-60 A. C. MacLaren 20 0 530. 66 .31*50 H. T. Hewett 20 2 561. 94 .31*16 W. Newham 22 3 572. 60 30-10 J.Douglas 20 2 538.102 29-88 Bean 36 2 .1007.186 29-61 J. J. Ferris 26 2 684.106 28-30 W. L. Murdoch 29 3 731. 96 28-11 Read (M.) 22 2 543. 87 .27-15 A. Hearne 24 4 538.120 .26-90 F. G. J. Ford 30 2 482. 74 26-77 Flowers 32 2 784. 130 26-13 Signifies not out. LLAXFYIXIX v. WELSHPOOL.—These teams met at Bodfach Park, Llanfyllin, on Saturday last for the first encounter this season. The homesters were without the assistance of their captain (Rev. T. Jones) and the promising young colt, A. J. Ryle, 11 y while the visitors were also short of the services of the veteran J. Pugh and H. Lewis. The visitors had the advantage in the" spin of the coin," and sending in R. J. Williams and H. D. Barrett to a perfect wicket, they soon found out that the bowl- ing of D. L. Williams and Corballis was of a rather high order ■ no less than four good wickets fell for three runs. The veteran Tallis enlivened matters for the visitors a little by getting a few risky runs, He managed to keep his end up until the remainder of the team were out, carrying his bat for a most useful 19 out of a total of 33. The bowling of Williams, Corballis and Capt. Hayhurst-France was really good as will be seen by the analysis below and they are to be complimented on their Brand r'c4Ø- i kLil, bilta 1.0<> "= 1A. —~ *-i\ win, the home captain sent in Capt. France and Corballis. The latter was soon caught by G. D. Harrison, and on D. L. Williams joining the captain the runs came on fast and furious and the visitors total was soon topped. The Captain made a capi- tal drive far into an adjoining field; this was ac- knowledged to be the finest drive ever made on the Bodfach ground, and had the distance been meas- ured it would be found to be not far short of 300 yards. Ultimately the innings closed for 105 runs. The fielding of the home team was fairly good on the whole, although one or two errors of judgment were made in the long field. There being no ex- tras speaks well for those behind the wicket. WELSHPOOL. H. D. Barrett, b F. F. Corballis 2 R. J. Williams, b D. L. Williams 0 y J. Hart, b F. F. Corballis 0 C. F. Tallis, not out 19 J. H. Addie, b F. F. Corballis 0 A. H. Jones,runout. 5 G. Fitzhugh, c Corballis, b Williams. 0 Simpson, b D. L. Williams 4 G. D. Harrison, c & b Hayhurst France 3 Morris. b D. L. Williinis 0 Davies, b D. L. Williams 0 Extras. 0 Total. 33 LLAXFYLLIX. Capt. G. H. Hayhurst France, c Fitzhugh b Hart 31 F. F. Corballis, c Harrison, b Hart 3 D. L. Williams, c Morris, b Hart 3 R. Williams, b Tallis 3 P. E. Watkins b Tallis 4 Rev. J. W. Thomas, c Davies, b Hart 4 H. Wheeler, b Tallis 9 A. Evans, b Addie 18 R. J. Simpson, not out .12 G. Roberts, b Addie 2 J. H. Jones, st Borrett, b Hart 0 Extras.15 Total 105 LLAN-FYLLI-N BOWLING ANALYSIS. Overs maidens runs w'kts D. L. Williams 10 4 16 5 F. F. Corballis 7 1 11 3 G. H. Hayhurst France 2 0 6 1 F I X T IU R P, S:- JULY. 22—Oswestry v. Ellesmere College, at Oswestry 25—Oswestry v. Otterspool (Liverpool) at Oswestry 29—Oswestry v. Montgomery, at Oswestry 31-Shropshire v. ShrewsburySchool, at Shrewsbury AUGUST. 5-Shropshire v. Overton, at Shrewsbury 5—Oswestry v. Chester Town, at Oswestry 7—Oswestry v. Walton (Liverpool), Away 7 & 8-Shropshire v. Free Foresters, at Kingsland, [Shrewsbury LLANFYLLIN C.C. FIXTURES. where Date. Opponents. played Sat. July 15—Welshpool Home „ 22-Oswestry High School.Away „ 29-Welshpool Awiy Aug. 5—Montgomery Away Fri. „ 11- Montgomery Home 12-Guilsifeld Home „ 19-R.W.W Away Sep. 2—Mr. J. Marshall Dugdale's Team Llwyn n „ 9-Guilstield Away ROYAL WELSH WAREHOUSE CRICKET CLUB FIXTURES, 1893. July 8-Ailachynlleth, at Newtown „ 15—Montgomery, „ „ „ 22—Machynlleth, at Machynlleth 29-Newtown, at Newtown Aug. 5-Welshpool „ 12—Aberystwith „ 19-Llanfyllin „ „ „ 26—Aberystwith, at Aberystwith GUILSFIELD CRICKET CLUB FIXTURES. July Welshpool, at Welshpool. Aug. 5, Blodwell, at Blodwell. Aug. 12, Llanfyllin, at Llanfyllin, Aug. 19, Blodwell, at Guilsfield. Aug. 26, Newtown, at Newtown. Sep. 2, Newtown, at Guilsfield. Sep. 9, Llanfyllin, at Guilsfield. Sep. 16, Welshpool, at Guilsfield.

FREXCH ATTACK OX SIAM. The French gunboats Inconstant and Comete arrived off the bar in the Menam river on Friday 14th inst Their intentsons were represented by the French Minister as pacific, but after nightfaH they nevertheless forced a passage under a cannonade from the Siamese forts. Three Frenchmen were killed and two wounded on board the gunboats, while 20 Siamese were killed and 12 wounded by the French tire. Later on the French Minister informed the Siamese Government that the action of the French gunboats was the result of a mis- understanding, the commanders of the French vessels having acted contrary to instructions. On Monda y important news was received from Khong district. For some time past the Siamese have been reinforcing the troops which they had massed no both sides of the Mekong river, in order to stop the passage of the French gunboat which is expected shortly from France. The Siamese were especiallv engaged in constructing forts on the left bank of the river, and they showed a disposition to attempt a fresh blockade of the French force on the Island of Khong. With the view of preventing the Idockade of the force under his command Captain Yillcr, on the 4th inst., says the:" Temps," attacked the forts of Don Thane and Taphum, situated on the left bank of the river, and succeeded in carrying them after a severe struggle. A number of Siamese, killed and wounded, were found in the trenches. Thirty- three prisoners were made and fifty rifles and one cannon were captured, while on the French side one Annaniste sharpshooter was killed and five men were wounded. It will be necessary," con- tinuesthe" Temps," "To occupy the town of Khong, the basis of the Siamese operations, if we wish to ass ure a free passage for the French gunboat and free dom of navigation along the river." A despatch from the Governor-General of Indo- China states that on the 15th inst., a Siamese detachment, attacked, at Anake, on the left bank of Mekong River, a reconnoitring force consisting of Annamese militia. The Siamese were driven back with great loss. One of the Annamese was killed. It is added that the people of the Laos district are everywhere siding with the French. According to a Saigon despatch, the Siamese, on arrival of the French merchant steamer Jean Baptiste Say up the river Menam, seized and sank her, ill-treating the crew. The latter were taken prisoners to Bangkok. This outrage has created considerable excitement and indignation at Saigon. The majority of Monday's French journals de- clare France must deal with Siam quickly and energetically, but must not lose her coolness or presence of mind. These organs maintain that it is only by prompt and decisive action that France can impose respect for her rights and obtain repara- tion due to her, and reiterate the argument that the question at issues does not concern Great Britain. The "Soleil" urges that Bangkok must only be bombarded in the last extremity, inasmuch as it contains a peaceful population. A semi-official note published in the afternoon positively contradicts a report that the French Go verment had disavowed the action taken bv Admiral Humann in Siamese waters. The Standard's correspondent on Tuesday says:— According to the French accounts, the quarrel between Siam and France is a counterpart of the old familiar falling out between the wolf and the Iamb. The Siamese wolf attacked the French lamb, represented by a couple of gun boats, bv wantonly firing upon them. The full particulars of this wanton outrage on the gun boats of a Power whose peaceful disposition is notorious, will, I am assured, be fully disclosed in the reulv of t hA Government to the interpellation of M. Delonclo and others in the Chamber of Deputies to-morrow. Meanwhile, the Government have issued a notice to the Press that it is not their intention to disavow Admiral Humann's action. The position taken up by the French Government thus far is that the French gunboats were justified by the Treaty of 1856 m going over the bar into the Menam—that they were fired on without any pretext or pro- vocation, and that they showed great forbearance in merely returning the fire without proceeding to fnrther hostilities. ° In the House of Lords on Monday, the Earl of Rosebery, in reply to Lord Lamington, said—In order to consider justly and dispassionately the present position of affairs between France ami Siam it is necessary to keep distinct several questions which, from the course of events, have become intermingled. But I think it is right to promise that perhaps the main difficuly in forming any con- TlAW?.j!-7t.WJ"" 1;M" oht-;nirv"1" ;1. ment are not prepared to offer any decided opinion as to merits of the various points at issue. There are, first of all, the claitns by the French Govern- ment for compensation for losses suffered by some French merchants and travellers in consequence of the action of Siamese officials. These are not of large amount, but the French Government appears to have laid stress on these being satisfied as a preliminary to negotiations on more important matters, while the Siamese Government have made difficulties and objections which have not yet been withdrawn. There is, secondly, the question of frontier between France and Siam in, or adjacent to the Mekong Valley. This is a question of a com- plicated character, on which Her Majesty's Govern- ment have not sufficient information to pronounce a definite opinion, and in which (provided it be kept within certain limits and does not assume such proportions as to effect the independence and in- tegrity of the Siamese Kingdom) Great Britain is not directly interested. There is, thirdly, the question of the capture of a French officer, Captain Thereuise, and the alleged murder of another with some Annamite soldiers. It is reported in the papers this morning that Captain Thereuise, whose liberation was promised by the Siamese Government some time ago, has now been actually conveyed into French territory and surrendered. In regard to the other incident the facts are contested, and it is not known what the demands of the French Government may be. Fourthly, there is the forcible ascent of the Menam by two French gun vessels against the opposition of the Siamese authorities. In regard to this act we are not at present in possession of all the facts, the information received by Her Majesty's Government being little, if at all more than what has appeared in the public press; but there is reason to believe it was contrary to the directions of the French Government and to the expressed wish of the French representative at Bangkok. It is absolutely necessary to await more detailed information before an opinion can be pro- nounced on the merits of the question. Our last advices from Paris, however, state that the French commanders positively assert that they were sub- jected to an incessant fire in the exercise of their undoubted right to ascend as far as Packnam. Fifthly, there is the motive of the protection of British subjects and property, and those of other European powers at Bangkok. Her Majesty's Government have for some time past been making provision for this, and they are assured by the naval authorities that the arrangements are complete and the force sufficient. Should more ships be required they will be immediately available. Finally, there is the question of the independence and integrity of Siam. Her Majesty's Government are fully sensible that this is a subject of grave importance to the British and more especially to the British Indian Empire, but the French Govern- ment declare themselves to be not less anxious than ourselves to maintain and respect its independence and integrity. Her Majesty's Government are fully alive to their responsibilities in this matter, and they will not lose any opportunity which may present itself of facilitating a satisfactory solution. (Hear, hear.) On Tuesday the French Chamber discussed the I question, and adopted an order of the day expressing confidence that the Government will adopt measures to ensure respect for the rights of France in Indo-China and the fulfilment of the guarantees to which she is entitled." Some of the Paris papers demand that Siam shall make a cession of territory and pay a war indemnity to France. News from Bangkok on Tuesday stated that the Siamese Government admits certain claims made by French subjects, and is willing to deposit a sum covering these claims until the dispute between the two parties is settled by a lawsuit. It is stated that the indemnity claimed by France from Siam amounts to 3,000,000f., but this does not include indemnities to private persons. If these conditions are not accepted France will declare a blockade. In the House of Commons, on Monday, Sir E. Grey, replying to questions, said it was understood n, that an ultimatum had been sent by the French Government to the Government of Siam. The only part of the ultimatum which concerned Her Majesty's Government was that relating to terri- torial arrangements, and they had determined to send Lord Dufferin to Paris to exchange views in an amicable spirit with regard to certain points which seemed to require elucidation. +. CARDINAL VAUGHAN has consented to preach at the dedication of St. Paul's new church, Tyndall Street, Cardiff, which takes place early in August.

THE WES LEY AX METHODISTS. For the first time in the history of Weslevan Methodism the annual conference meets this vear out of England, opening, on Tuesday, at Cardiff. Why the Principality had not been before chosen for the conference it would be difficult to explain, for the Wesleyans there are numerous. Wesley- anism in its inception, progress, and present position illustrates one of the most remarkable religious movements the world has ever witnessed. Of the founder of the body, John IVesley, Macaulay (an historian not imbued with much religious sentimentality) says that his genius for govern- ment was not inferior to that of Richelieu." Other chroniclers of religious movements have as- serted that for discipline, conmlete organisation, the steady and subtle exercise of sacerdotal power— not always made very obvious—that for the appli- cation of these influences Weslevanism is almost as remarkable as the Church of Rome itself. How- ever that may be, the community whose ministers and lav representatives have been in conference at Cardiff, is an example of what may be accomplished by religious zeal and splendid organisation. The movement at the beginning partook more of a sor- rowful separation from the Church of. England than an angry schism. It was marked by none of the passion or personal bitterness that characterised some other religious changes. The Wesleys and the small band of devoted workers who co-operated with them frequently avowed their continued love for the mother Church. At the present day the same feeliii, is entertained and sympathetically expressed by many thousands of their followers, In the United Kingdom laist year there were 7,754 chapels, 2,251 ministers, 16,334 lay preachers, 449,972 members, 28,866 on probation, and 998,327 Sunday scholars. If there were added to this the number of Wesleyajis, under different organizations and names, all over the world, it would be seen in what an extraordinary manner the system founded by John Wesley has extended. The conference opened in the Roath-road Chape], Cardiff. The attendance was large. The chair was taken by the president of last year, the Rev. Dr. Rigg. After the opening devotion, led by the Rev. D. Sanders and Dr. Bowen, the conference roll was called, and it was found that there were several ministers absent on. account of ill-health. The Rev. H. P. Hugbes said 'that the Rev. Mark Guv Pearce was still in a good deal of pain, but hoped in a week to recommence his work. Professor Davison was also among the absentees on account of illness. There were three vacancies in the legal hundred caused by death, and six by superannuation. Cn the nomination of the Irish conference Dr. Nicholas was elected to fill the vacancy caused by the death of the Rev. James Donelly. A large number of ministers were noniinated for the English vacan- cies caused by death, the choice of the conference eventually falling on Rev. P. N. Andrews (chair- man of the Cardiff district) in place of the late Rev. Ed. Russell, and Rev. John Jeffreys, of Graves- end, in place of the late Rev. Robt. Stephenson. The legal conference being constituted, the elec- tion of the president for the coming year immedi- ately followed. The result of the ballot was- Rev. H. J. Pope, 184; Rev. Walford Green, 72; Dr. Waller, 45; Rev. H. P. Hughes, 44; and Dr. Randies, 26. The Rev. H. J. Pope, the newly-elected president, entered the ministry in 1858, and in 1876 was chosen to the secretaryship of the General Chapel Committee. Mr. Pope has not been known much outside Methodism, but has been famed for many years for his very efficient oversight of the chapel building of the Connexion. As practically the head of the committee, he has shewn a mastery of detail, and is generally supposed to know the full history of almost every chapel in Methodism. At the request of the newly-elected president, Dr. Rigg continued to occupy the chair until the public and formal induction later in the day. Dr. Waller was re-elected secretary by a practi- cally unanimous vote. The following ministers were then deelared as no longer members of the Legal Hundred, having been ID supernumeraries two years—Revs. T. IVoolnier, H. W. Jackson, J. M'Kenny, D. Barley, T. T. Dilks, and B. Browne. In place of these the Revs. Hugh Jones, G. G. Findlay, and W. H. Clegg were elected after nomination; anc the Revs. S. Cox, J. Holms, and George Piercy on the ground of seniority. Mr. Jones was elected as a tribute to Welsh ^Methodism; Mr. Findlay in recognition of his work as a biblical exegete; and Mr. Clegg because of services rendered as secretary on three occasions of the Conference Arrangements Comnittee. In the afternooJle was a very full attendance and hostesses for the new president. The President, iu :aking the chair and in response to the welcome of tue ex-president, in the course of an earnest adbess, said that if he had had any strength in the past it was because of their confidence in him. He was a methodist throuo-h and through, and tie past and future belonged to his church. He ertered the ministry 35 years ago in a white lieati of fervour, and he felt the old fire was burning still. No other Church gave such a sphere of usefulnes as that of the Methodist ministry. Were hffommencing his minisfrv aain, notwithstanding a possible postponement of the extension of the inilerancy, he would act as he had done. He could urferstand that some men thought they could do moreii four years, but he could not understand anyonefeying he could do nothing in three. Such a onHvantecl something time could not give him. Yet ot a word would he say against such as left them if the reason that they could not bear the consftt change. Might God speed them in their new fceres. Thev did not wish to retain men whose rt did not remain with them. The President spft, warmly of his memories of circuit life, and no ls warmly of his official life and the work of the coiittees. He had been behind all the scenes, liftll the coverings, and he knew Methodism was soy at heart. There were faults but not hidden wrCs. they did all their penances in public. There "e changes around and within the churches, but ethodism was not declining. Morbid and local v-s might make some here and there gloomy, but :index vjew would dispel this. There were two elts outside who watched them, the one wishing to. their decline, but another class looked upon bl as an important factor in the well-being of peop]e Let them Jook Rt their numbers. leu years they had a net increase of 20,000, t this did not measure their success. They Ylv had to deduct the dead. These were not losl^hey deducted emigrants and people who went tcier lands. Their removals" were not all lossnd even those returned as "ceased to meet -ere not all lost. He had studied the questio more than one place, and he did not think thae in ten was lost to God, though they were tfor the time to the member- ship of MethodisnVhe one thing that gave him concern was a fethat their zeal for foreign missions was not strong as it should be. He hoped there wouldi deeD revival nf lnt""c.ct n their mission work 'u In the evening sin the conference proceeded to the question ojaracter. The resignations were accepted of tfev. J. W. Burn and Dr. Lund. Mr. Burn mtimatciat he wished to escape the changes of the itihey, but would continue in his circuit to the e of the connexional year Subsequently resigns were also accepted of the Rev. M. Munro, a Il'y. James Russell. On Wednesday ling the session was mainly devoted to the recln of notices of motion from districts and from tits. They were sent to the Memorials Command will come up for con- sideration on the Tt of the committee. The memorials were, asill of a very varied character, 1 1,L I rr j to ana connection&l arrange- ments. Pressure ">e brought by some to secure a rule that nunisthall be compelled to avoid political controverbether from pulpit, platform or press. A comCation was read from the Sunday School Liking for the official Con- ference approval the Society for Christian Endeayour, Thqferelice directed that the receipt of the conbation be acknowledged, but considered that ..ganisations were sufficient, The repoit of thej al Co]] authorities on the students in ti, for the mfnistrv was sub- mitted by the taiy The lists of students -were read, and ^thened conversation took place on the susp of three studeilts at Hand worth tor rms-ct. The actk)u of the mittee w as e\ entipproved in reference to twQ third9 y°Ung mU^notlified in the case of the In the afternoCfolIowing ministers receive(f permission to bt Wrnumeraries Benjamin Gregory, D.D., f^y years general editor at tteMethodistK. Samuel Brown, Samuel Atkinson, lLA.8ri Lloyd Davies, Wm Parsonson, Josew William R. C. Cockill, Aaron Edman, Wilkinson, J. Alexander Armstrong J Ba), C. Crawshaw, and Thos. Thomas. The g received permission to become supernuo, for One year ,Revs w Hudson, SamueW Samuel Green, Joseoh Muir, William M g. D. Winter, Georje Patterson, Wilha, John Jones, T. B. Hughes, Tom Ivens, ArtHrjS) John Greenwood, Wm' Foster, J. B. Eveij Griffiths. The following were allowed to r another year :—Revs. F. Truman, W. E. H. H. Richmond, Ralph Calderbank, Thomas Slader, Benjamin Robinson, David W. Hiams, John Bell, and James Whitehead. The following were allowed to remain to full work Revs. "William Talbot, J. Robinson Gregory, J. Gregory Mantler, W. D. Sargent, Anthony Taylor, William J. Chant, Albert Fekiman, James P. Taylor, Henry Pritchard, Charles A. Booth, Thos. Peers, and William T. Jones. ■ The Conference then proceeded to revise the lists of ministers on probation and candidates for ordination. The Rev. C. H. Kelly submitted the report of the Book Committee. Notwithstanding the general depression the sales had been well maintained, and the grants authorised by the last Conference^ have been paid. The grants recom- mended this year are Worn.out Ministers' Fund £ 500, Home Mission Fund £ 500, Preachers' An- -L- r. x-i m h0C1°ty £ 2,000, same m reduction of loan £ 1,000, Ireland £ 300. The recent financial failures in Australia were causing serious delay in some of their colonial payments, and sanction was given on this account for a graduated payment of the grants. It had been agreed to remodel the ticket of mem- bership, and that an effort be made to improve its general appearance. It was said that others beside the bookroom had been printing tickets for mem- oership, and this was strongly deprecated by the Conference as quite contrary to Methodist law. The retirement of Dr. Gregory from the office of editor, and the appointment of the Rev. W. L. ÎVatkinson as his successor, had caused the com- mittee to consider the need of making some changes in the periodical literature of the book- room. It was proposed that the sixpenny magazine should be of the size of the Sunday magazine. The old and familiar steel portrait is to be discontinued on the score of cost; the portrait of the president, however, to be retained. The report also contained a statement that the multiplying of publishing agencies by ministers in various places would much endanger the work of the bookroom.On the pro- posal of the Rev. M. Hartley, a number of ministerial students were transferred, some from the home to the foreign work and from the foreign to the home work respectively.—The South African Conference have nominated the Rev. Moppilus Chubba to be its president. The nomination was approved, and arrangements were made for the p resident's visit to Ireland, and for the official visitation of the Welsh and Isle of Man districts. The Rev. Peter Thompson submitted the report of a committee appointed to examine the candidates for the ministry. Forty-one were recommended by the committee for home work, and twenty-six for missions; forty-four were declined, two had with- drawn, five were recommended for the Welsh work, and there were two special cases for work in the Channel Islands.—The Conference then proceeded -to consider the cases name by name, and in a few instances it was deemed best to overrule the recom- mendations of the committee. No more important business comes before the Conference than the question "Whom do we lecommond to be received as candidates for the ministry ? This year between eighty and ninety men are required to fill vacancies in the college's and for the exigencies of the Connexion, about fifty for home work, and thirty for foreign. Amongst those accepted were Cardiff district G. C. (-.1.1_1 'I. F' ] n.1 -l • J. urubb, riome work A. H. Schmitt- nei, mission work. South Wales District: James Davies, mission work. North Wales District: G. O. Roberts, F. E. Jones, R. J. Williams, Emanuel Roberts and David Roberts, Welsh work. At the afternoon session the Rev. G. W. Oliver brought up the request of the Wuchang District, China, that some modifications be there made in the position of lay agents in relation to the ministry, and the matter was referred to the Foreign Mis- sionary Committee. t '1e Head Master and Chairman of es ey College, Sheffield was presented. The moral and religious tone of the College, it said, had given the greatest satisfaction. A lengthened conversation took place with regard to proposals submitted with regard to the super- vision of -chairmen.—The Rev. J. Hargreaves supported the proposals of the Committee. He uepiLLdieu tne modern and growing ovil of sub- mitting cases affecting chairmen to arbitration.— Dr. Rigg said the existing plan did not work, and expressed himself in favour of the new proposal.— Eventually the following resolution was agreed to:— In case of any complaint arising against the chair- man of a district, in reference either to his personal or his official conduct, the accuser, after duly apprising the chairman of his intention, shall place his complaint in the hands of the President of the Conference for the time being, who shall have authority (if he deem such a course necessary) to summon a meeting, consisting of the President of the Conference (who shall act as convener of the meeting-), and twelve other ministers, to be chosen iT",n" six distri £ i i" j T am°ng the ministers of the which the accused is chairman, each L.y navmg rue ngjit to challenge any or all of the nkeTth f .nommated by the President, and to he t*lfaf;T °n hiS trial bef0re them> when, t the guilt of the accused be proved, the meeting, m conjunction with the President, shall have power suspend him till the ensuing Conference or to depose him from the chair. In case the chairman is deposed the district synod shall elect another chairman in his place." -+-

THE DUKE OF YORK AS A FARMER. It has already been announced that the Duke of York, in the midst of his honeymoon, has taken land adjoining the Sandrmgham estate, and has begun to stock it with animals of the highest breeding The TIMES informs the world that on Friday he was a purchaser of some excellent pigs of the black Berk- shire breed on the dispersion of the herd which has been brought together at no small expense by Sir Humphreys de Trafford. They included Royal win- ners of the descendants of some of the most famous strains of blood of this breed. Two strains of blood are amalgamated in the animals bought last week under the hammer of Mr. Thornton. One, the well- known Swanwick strain, which has added to the prestige of such an institution as the Royal Agri- cultural College at Cirencester, and the other is from the famous herd of Motcombe, in Dorset, from which Mr. N. Benjafield has sent out winners to all parts of the world. The careful selection of such r. 1- f .UI00a as tliese shows conclusively the Duke ot lork, in his farming operations, intends going in or nothing but the best. In entering the ranks of the farmers of the country the Duke of York cannot expect to reap much profit in these times, although everyone would like to see him do so. He will only succeed in doing so when times improve, and when others besides himself find land a profitable in- vestment. But he is setting a very good example, and all will wish him every success as a tenant far- mer.

♦ — THE VICTORIA DISASTER. The Court-martial on Captain Bourke and the other suniyors of the Victoria was opened on board •x • J. e™a> &t Malta on Monday morning, dmiral Sir M Culme Seymour, Commander-in- Chief of the Mediterranean Squadron, presiding. Before witnesses were called a letter was read from Captain Johnstone, of H.M.S. Camperdown, to the senior officer at Malta, in which he described the positions of the ships before the disaster occurred, A"! m i m State l that alth°ugh he was certain Admiral Markham, when a collision appeared to be imminent, gave the order" full speed astern" on the Camperdown, he found much to his astonishment, when he came to the engine-room register that only three-quarters speed astern was recorded The only conclusion he could come to was that the telegraphs were not quite true, and that the orders were consequently mis-read in the engine-room. The most important* witness called was Captain Bourke, who gave evidence in detail as to the manoeuvre which was being carried out when the collision took place, and followed this up with some remarkable statements concerning the orders given on board the Victoria, and a graphic description of the scene when the ship went down. One of the statements, which was given by the witness with great reluctance, had reference to a conversation he had with the Commander-m-Chief (Sir G. Trvon) on he latter ordering the distance between the ships to be six cables after it had been understood that U should be cght cables. Ho A" miral that the Victoria's turning circle was 800 yards, but the reply was that the Pnl„mn= hnlrl remain at six cables. In describing what took place took placo after the collision Captain Bourke said he was convinced that all the men except those en-aged in the engine room were on deck when the ship went down. He attributed the great loss of life to the ship turning over before anybody on board realised that the end was so near. JT On Tuesday Captain Bourke was further examined. He offered additional evidence as to the warnino- he had given to Sir George Tryon whilst the two 0 divisions of the fleet were making the evolution which ended so fatally. In the course of his -ei,idence Captain Bourke explained his not-inter- terence at a critical moment by saying that, like everybody else, he had unbounded confidence in the Admiral, and believed that he was going to do something that would "get them out of it." When he saw that a collision was probable he would have gone astern with both engines had not the Admiral been on the same bridge with him and giving orders. The Captain supplemented his evidence as to what passed between him and the Admiral when they were in the stern walk bv sav- ing that when Sir George's attention was drawn to the contradictory instructions he had given as to the space between the columns, he replied, Leave it at six cables." Lord Gillford, flag lieutenant of the Victoria, confirmed his captain's evidence as to the evolutions ordered bv the Admiral and the fatal mistake as to the order to keep the lines six instead of eight cables apart. The witness added that Sir George Trvon said," just before the ship capsized It was all mv fault." The Admiral was not speaking to his officer but uttering a melancholy admission of his own fatal error. Siaff Commander Smith said he heard the Admiral say: "It is entirely mv doing enth-elv my fault." Cn Wednesday, the principal witness examined was Rear-Admiral Mrrkham, who was questioned at great length by the Court. Ho said when he received Admiral Tryon's signal to turn inwards he remarked that it was an impracticable man- oeuvre; but it afterwards flashed across his mind that there was only one interpretation of the signal, which was that he was to put his helm down and turn sixteen points to starboard, while the Victoria would ease her helm down, and circle round outside his division. He had the utmost confidence in his leader, and could not imagine that ho would risk a collision. After the Victoria and Camperdown had turned^ eight points and were bows on to each other, it was impossible for him to avoid the col- lision in any way, and had he then gone astern with both screws her Majesty's ship Edinburgh would have rammed him. Captain Johnstone was subsequently examined. -——