County Observer and Monmouthshire Central Advertiser Abergavenny and Raglan Herald Usk and Pontypool Messenger and Chepstow Argus

I NEWS NOTE3. THr. ambassadors of American commerce at present visiting Britain including that leviathan of the business world, Mr. J. Pier- pont Morgan-were received very graciously by the King on Saturday at Windsor, his Majesty shaking hands affably with each of the dele- gates and conversing quite freely with them after they had been shown over the castle. King Edward is tireless in his tactfulness, and is making a deep impression everywhere already by the conscientious manner in which he performs all the functions of his exalted position. EARL ROBERTS, it is stated, will in the autumn witness the manoeuvres at Marienbad and Danzig as the German Emperor's guest. Mr. H. O. Arnold-Forster, Secretary of the Admiralty, is visiting Toulon to inspect the dockyard arrangements there by courtesy of the French Government. There is evidence here of a good understanding between our own country and her neighbour nations. THE persistence ef the Boer recalcitrants in their guerilla warfare is sadly exasperating, for nothing but dire evil can come of suah wicked stupidity. One can only explain such hopeless attacks as that of Delarey last week on our force at Vlakfontein, which cost a considerable number of valuable lives, by an assumption of sheer desperation. The burgher resources must be nearly depleted all along the line, but the Boer audacity, apparently, suffers no diminution as to spirit. There are some sensible men among the beaten foe, but the reckless firebrands have hitherto kept the upper hand in the councils of South Africa. We shall be glad indeed when the end of the tre- mendous wastage of the war can be compassed, on the ground of humanity and rationality alike. But the buccaneering guerillas and those who, from a safe distance, wantonly egg them on to mad destruction, pacific development might go on from now forth over all the wide expanse of South Africa under British domina- tion, and the worst machinations of the Boers cannot much longer impede the way. THERE is joy in Italy over the birth of a baby in the Quirinal Palace. The new-comer is of the gentler sex, and can never, uuder the Salic law, wear her father's crown; but King Victor Emmanuel's heart having now been gladdened by having a bright-eyed girl to lighten up anew his happy royal home, the hope is that in the fulness of time his Consort Queen Helena may present her spouse with a son and heir, and so pre- vent the succession to the Italian throne's devolution to the Duke of Aosta. We hear extravagant stories as to the nurse en- trusted with the charge of the Royal baby. She is said to be engaged at a monthly salary of k6, but will receive L400 when the child cuts its first tooth, k400 when it takes its first step alone, and £ 400 when it utters it first word, with a further sum of JE800 when her services are no longer required. Kings and queens can be as human as those in lowlier life over the first rapture of parenthood, evidently. THERE are rumourings of recrudescent anarchy in Madrid, and stories of the dis- covery of a new plot against the lives of the Queen Regent and the new King. Spain is in a sadly unquiet condition, an d no one can tell what a year or two may bring forth in the sunny land. A strong hand and a wise head are urgently needed if the once powerful people of the south are to recover their lost Euro- pean status at all. THERE would appear to be a good prospect for young men not afraid of hard work in Africa, as soon as hotilities are closed. Thus we find the Buluwayo branch of the South Rhodesia Labour Board lamenting loudly that all attempts to obtain labour from native sources have failed, and that the only alterna- tive is to procure it from abroad. For some time the branch has not encouraged the en- gagement of Mashonas, owing to their malin- gering habits, laziness, and incapacity for mine work, and their refusal to work longer than a month at a time. The Matabele is described as a somewhat better worker, who occasionally stays two or three months. In spite of all efforts, the number of natives procured for mine labour has never reached 500 per month during the past ten months, although better food and accommoda- tion than they are accustomed to is provided. The branch considers that labour should be ad- ministered and controlled by the Government of the country, so that deserters from service could be effectually traced and puriisheclj and the necessity to work impressed upon them. Something of this sort may be done after the settlement. SOME interesting statistical tables relating to emigration and immigration from and into the United Kingdom during the past year have been issued as a Parliamentary paper. The proportionate increase among Irish emigrants was not so great as among English and Scottish. The English formed 61 per cent., the Scottish 12 per cent., and the Irish 27 per cent. of the total number of native emigrants,as against 60 per cent., 11 per cent., and 29 per cent. respec- tively in the preceding year. Of British and Irish emigrants 61 per cent. went to the United States, 11 per cent to British North America, nine per cent. to Australia, 12 per cent. to South Africa, and the re- mainder to other countries out of Europe. The total number of British and Irish emigrants was 168,825, as compared with 146,362 in 1899, and 140,644 in 1898. The num- ber of alien immigrants not shown to be pro- ceeding to other countries was 62,505, as com- pared with 50,884 in 1899, and 40,785 in 1898. The increase was chiefly due to the large influx of Jews from Russia, Poland, and Roumania. There was also a large increase in the number of Italian immigrants. Our land has evidently not lost popularity in the eyes of the foreignei. anxious to better himself.

THE Japanese dentists perform all their operations in tooth-drawing with the thumb and forefinger ot one hand. The skill necessary to do this is acquired only after long practice, but when once it is obtained the operator is able to extract half-a-dozen teeth in about 30sec. without once removing his fingers from the patient's mouth. THE King of Sweden and Norway is noted as an admirable linguist. When the Oriental Congress met at Stockholm, some years ago, he addressed the assembled scholars in the languages of the nationali- ties to which they respectively belonged, and spoke with equal fluency in English, German, Italian, Russian, and Spanish. PARIS fire brigades possess three automobiles. EPISCOPAL signatures may sometimes convey a hint as to character. It is therefore being noticed that the new Bishop of London has returned to the simpler form and put aside the Londin which Dr. Temple and Dr. Creigbton used. He is content to.sign him- self as "Â. F. London." Most people seem pleased at what they regard as an indication, though it may be a small one, of common sense and a healthy dis- regard of pretentiousness. There was no ancient and unbroken castom which, indicated the use of "Londin

SOUTH AFRICA. THE ATTACK ON THE CONVOY NEAR VENTERSDORP. The details which have been received of the attack on the convoy at Ventersdorp (says a Klerksdorp correspondent, writing on the 28th ult.) show that the Boers waited till the meeting of the full and empty convoys with their escorts near Witpoortje. When the convoys separated to return home the enemy, who were in ambush, occupied the site of their late camp, thus interposing between the convoys, and poured a heavy fire into the rear of the Ventersdorp convoy. The Potchefstroom escort hearing the sound of firing, returned and found a strong party of the enemy occupying some rough ground and admirably covered. A detachment of the Imperial Light Horse, a company of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, and one of the Welsh Fusiliers deployed, the first two to the left, the latter to the right, and, after skirmishing for two hours, took the position with the bayonet, the Boers fleeing. Later, when near Kaalfontein, the convoy was again attacked, but at long range, and no damage was done. ENVOYS FROM BOTHA. General Tobias Smut and Mr. De Wet, secretary to General Louis Botha, arrived at Standerton on the 1st inst., but nothing has transpired regarding their mission. COLD IN THE ORANGE RIVER COLONY. Twenty prisoners had been brought in during the preceding few days, according to a Bloemfontem correspondent, who wired on the 2nd inst. The weather is bitterly cold. OPERATIONS IN CAPE COLONY. Sentence passed by court-martial was publicly promulgated at Graaf Reinet on the 2nd inst. against an ex-constable convicted of failing to report the presence of the enemy. Several columns are operating in this and the Aberdeen districts, and Graaf Reinet is very strongly garrisoned. Pyper's commando is committing acts of wanton outrage at certain farms in Graaf Reinet district. Thirty-two men of the Wodehouse Yeomany were engaged by 700 Boers near Dordrecht, and lost one killed and five wounded on the 2nd mst. The Yeomanry then surrendered, but were subsequently released. RAIDING IN NATAL. Details which have been received regarding the recent raid made by the Boers on the farm of the Hon. Dirk Cornelis Uys, member of the Natal Legislative Council for Zululand, show that the Boers appeared on a moonlight night while Mrs. Uys and some friends were on the farm, and ordered all the cattle to be handed over to them, but at Mrs. Uys's entreaty they left her three cows. The Boers refused to state to which commando they belonged. Each was armed with a Mauser and a short dagger. The Boers said they took the cattle to avenge themselves on Mr. Uys for crossing the border with Lord Kitchener's proclamation. It is reported that the Boers attacked a pelice convoy on May 29 between Eshowe and Melmoth. The police succeeded in drivi* g the Boers off. THE PEACE MOVEMENT. A well-attended meeting of ex-burghers and British subjects was held at Zeerust on the 28th ult. to protest against the attitude of the leaders of the Bond and of the Dutch Reformed Church towards the peace delegates. A resolution was carried unani- mously expressing great satisfaction at the efforts made by the Peace Committee to secure the pacifi- cation of the country and the end of hostilities. The resolution was worded as follows: Considering the magnitude of the suffering which has already occurred from the war, the fearful loss of life and treasure, the thousands of prisoners in exile in other lands or in bondage in South Africa, and the multitude of refugees, both British and Boer, whose homes have been broken up and who are surely being reduced to penury, and considering further the loss and ruin in ever- increasing measure falling npon the country, this meeting thanks the Peace Committee for their benevolent efforts and trusts that they will endeavour to continue them, expressing at the same time its deep regret and indignation at the attitude of Messrs. Andrew Murray, Theron, Sauer, and Merriman towards the peace envoys and the future of the war. Their conduct must tend power- fully in the direction of further bloodshed and in- creasing misery, and this meeting urges the military necessity of absolutely suppressing all sedition by all the force which martial law affords, and of using the utmost firmness to end this long-protracted war, believing that peace alone can bring true prosperity." LOSSES AT THE FRONT. I Tho casualty list furnished by the War Office on Saturday contains the first instalment of the heavy losses sustained by General Dixon's force near Vlakfontein on Thursday of last week. This shows that in addition to Lieutenant J. P. MacDougall, whese death was reported by Lord Kitchener in his despatch published on Saturday, the 28th Battery Royal Field Artillery have five non-commissioned officers and men killed, and 12 wounded. HOW A SUPPLY TRAIN WAS HELD UP.' I The special correspondent of the Standard at Raapmuiden, writing on the 30th ult., says: The Boers are fieeing in considerable numbers before the ad- vance of General Sir Bindon Blood. It is believed they are seeking a means of escape round the Kaap Hills, and thence across to the North by Hectorspruit. Others are reported to be trekking into Gazaland. Large quantities of crops, grown by the Boers in the low country to the North of this place, are being reaped t UTotails of the recent holding up of a supply train between Alkmaar and Elandsboek have now been received. The dynamited train consisted of two engines and several trucks. A Boer leader, named Hindon, a notorious train-wrecker, stationed himself, with 50 men, close to the line, at a sharp curve on the top of a steep gradient. He himself wore the uniform of a captain in the British army, and the majority of his band were dressed in khaki. As the second engine, which was placed at about the middle of the train, reached the place of obser- vation, Hindon exploded a mine composed of 60 dynamite cartridges. The engine and trucks were thrown over, and the train brought to a standstill. Behind the trucks were a van and carriage con- taining some fever-stricken men of the Welsh Regi- ment and other details, behind that another van, and, lastly, an armoured truck, manned by a lieu- tenant and four men. The Boers, thinking the carriage contained officers, riddled it with bullets, killing two men and wounding another two. The fireman on the first engine jumped off and escaped, but the driver stuck to his post, and was shot dead with his hand on the lever. The stoker of the second engine was wounded in the thigh. The instant the explosion occurred the small escort in the armoured track opened fire. The Boers for the most part kept carefully out of the way of the bullets, and Hindon sent a party of them up the hill to fire down on the truck. The British, however, kept well under the shelter of its sides, and the Boers, seeing that this manoeuvre was a failure, climbed the dismantled trucks, got on top of the van, and attempted to pot their enemy from that position. This attempt was also fruitless, and the Boers, hearing the command given to fix bayonets, fell off the van on both sides, and ran back to cover. As a last resource Hindon sent a Boer, covered by a British prisoner, up the track to demand the sur- render of the escort, whom he threated, otherwise, to dynanr.te. The little band of British, however, stood firm, and Boers, seeing that the case was hopeless, and hearing the approach of an armoured train, decamped. Before they left they robbed every body on board the train and took away with them one wounded man, a civilian passenger, and the driver of the second engine. These, after stripping them, they g,bandoned in the bush on being shelled by the armoured train. They would have undoubtedly looted the whole of the valuable stores and supplies had it not been for the gallant defence offered by the small armed escort. THE ACTION AT VLAKFONTIEN. -1 The following telegram from Lord Kitchener has been received at the War Office: PRETORIA, June 2, 10.30 a.m. "In addition to casualties already reported in General Dixon's engagement on May 29, Lieutenants H. G. Spring and H. A. Campbell were killed and Lieutenant A.. H. V,. Willyaias missing, all of Impe- rial Yeomanry." I WAR OFFICE STATEMENT. I In consequence of numerous inquiries addressed to the War Office, we are requested to state that all the information which has been received from Lord Kitchener respecting the recent engagements in South Africa has been communicated to the public. I JOUBERT'S SON-IN-LAW CAPTURED. Abram Malan, son-in-law of the late General Joubsrt, with a small party of Boers, has been cap- tured near Pretoria by a patrol of the South African Constabulary. Malan, who was an active and pro- gressive politician before the war, has been very Iptive against the British since its outbreak, and has ailed several important positions with the Boer forces, including that of Commandant of Pietersburg till tKo, British occupation. J A BIG BATTLE.—OUR HEAVY LOSSES. I BRITISH GUNS LOST AND RETAKEN. The following telegrams from Lord Kitchener have been received at the War Office: PRETORIA RESIDENCY, June 4, 7.30 a.m. "Dixon's report just received. "On our side 1450 men and seven guns were engaged. Force was returning to camp at Ylakfontein when enemy, under cover of veld fire, rushed rear- guard, consisting of two guns 28th Battery, 230 7th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry, 100 Derbyshire Regi- ment. They temporarily captured two guns. When re- mainder of force came into action enemy were driven ofT and guns recaptured and Boer position occupied. Our casualties.—Six officers and 51 men killed, six officers and 115 men wounded, one officer and seven men missing. Names reported in separate telegram. Surgeon-Captain Francis' Welford, Imperial Yeomanry, and four men since died of wounds. Forty-one Boers killed on ground; further Boer casualties not known. "Reinforcementsare being sent." 12.30 p.m. The enemy attacking Dixon's column numbered 1200, under Kemp." I OFFICIAL LIST OF CASUALTIES. The War Office has issued what is probably tha complete list of casualties sustained by the British forces in the action at Vlakfontein. This, added to the return of losses in the 28th Battery Royal Field Artillery, published previously, shows that the total in killed, wounded, and missing was 12 officers and, 167 non-commissioned officers and men, made up aa follows: Officers. N.C.O.'s&Men K. J W M. K. W. x 28th Batt. R.F.A. 1 — 9 9 27th Co. Imperial Yeom'nry 1 — — — 9 11 48th Co. Imperial Yeoma'nry ? 5 — 7 7 — 69th Co. Imperial Yeom'nry J — — 1 9 18 Scottish Horse. — 1 — 1 2 — 1st Derby Regt. — 4 — 18 59 I Imperial Yeomanry Staff — — — — — i 6 5 1 53 106 ? In the above table the deaths from wounds up tc the 4th inst." are recorded as killed. BOERS CAPTURE JAMESTOWN. The following telegram from Lord Kitchener has been received at the War Office: PRETORIA, June 4, noon. "Jamestown surrendered to Kruitzinger's com- mando on morning of 2nd. After four hours fighting the town guard and local volunteers werE overpowered before our pursuing columns could come up. Casualties: Three killed and two wounded. Boers' loss stated to be greater. Stores looted garrison released. "I have placed General French in charge of operations in Cape Colony." [Jamestown is a small town of some 1500 inhabi- tants on the road from Queenstown to Aliwal North. It is 69 miles from the former place, 36 from the latter, and 25 miles from Dordrecht.] THE SITUATION IN CAPE COLONY. The following (according to a Reuter's message of Tuesdav from Cape Town) was then the official summary of the situation in Cape Colony The enemy has left the positions to the south and south-west of Kenhardt, moving in a northerly direction. The Boers in the midland area under Kruitzinger, Myburgh, Fouche, Lotter, and Van Reenen are kept continually on the move. Kruit- zinger moved to the south-east and thence east, crossing the line at Cypher Gat, where he was joined by Myburgh and Lotter, who, closely pur- sued by Colonel Gorringe, had been driven south-east into the Bamboes Mountains. The united force is estimated at 700. Captain Blandly, with the Molteno local force, came into touch with the enemy and succeeded in driving off a greatly superior force, inflicting a loss of six wounded. We had no casualties. This commando moved on to Jamestown, which it is now attacking. Lategan is still south-west of Venterstad. He has lately been reinforced by 100 men, presumably under Snyman, who passed the Orange River at Bredel Drift and crossed the liae near Achtertang. The enemy are in considerable numbers in the neighbour- hood of Venterstad. On the high veld, which is the scene of the present operations, the weather is bit- terly cold. Another body of Boers, numbering about 150, is in the neighbourhood of Fish River Station. Malan, with 70 men, is still in the Marais- burg district. The number of prisoners, exclusive of those in the Orange Colony and the Transvaal, but including those who have returned to the refugee camps, is 18,648." TROOPS FOR THE CAPE. Brilliant weather favoured the embarkation of two Militia battalions of the 5th Royal Fusiliers and 15th Lancashire Fusiliers from Aldershot on their arrival at Southampton on Tuesday forenoon. The Montrose and Britannic were berthed at the Old Extension and Ocean Quays respectively. The former took on board 26 officers and 597 men, and the Britannic 32 officers and 865 men, including a number of details, and by noon the work of embarkation was practically completed. The vessels sailed in the afternoon for the Cape. The transport Idaho left the Royal Albert Docks on Tuesday afternoon for South Africa with four officers and 108 non-commissioned officers and men of the 10th Hussars. The Idaho also conveys 148 remounts, and calls at Southampton for an addi- tional 600 troops.

CAVALRY OFFICERS FOR THE YEOMANRY. There has for long been a method of retirement from the Line for officers willing to serve for a term of years in the Militia, under which they have re- ceived half pay and latterly retired pay, for which they were not otherwise eligible. Under the old system any line captain accepting a commission in a Militia regiment was allowed to retire from his Line regiment on the understanding that he remained for ten years in the Militia regiment, and for that period ten years in the Militia rel, he received the half pay of a Regular officer, which, however, ceased on the expiration of the ten years. The present arrangement is somewhat similar, but re- tired pay (according to length of service in the Regular Army) is substituted for half pay. Up to the present Cavalry officers have been equally eligible with In- fantry officers for this form of retirement, notwith- standing the fact that there is no mounted arm of the Militia. In future, however, any Cavalry officer wish- ing to retire from the Regular Army in this manner will be required to find a commanding officer of a Yeomanry regiment, willing to give him a commission, and Iba regulations now in force with regard to tho Militia in this matter will ttpply to the Yeomanry so far as Cavalry officers are concerned. It is to be hoped that a large number of Cavalry officers will in the near future avail themselves of this form of re- tirement, as such a stiffening of the Yeomanry officers would have an almost incalculable effect for food oa the recently-rehabilitated force.

THE report of the British Consul it Bilbao con- tains a piece of intelligence which contrasts with the generally downward tendency of Spanish maritime commerce, and is, moreover, specially interesting to those concerned in British shipping. The British los-s in the carrying trade of this port has amounted, it is stated, to 30 per cent. in six years, and this loss is directly due to the vast increase of Spanish-owned vessels and the competition in future threatens to be vet more severe. It appears, however, that it is not yet certain if it wiU continue to pay the Spanish owners to do their own carrying; and the mainte- nance or advance of their: present independent posi- tion naturally depends on this.

ROYAL COLONIAL TOUR. AN INTERESTING FUNCTION. At noon on the 1st inst., on the lawn opposite Government House at Sydney, the Duke of Cornwall presented war medals to the troops who have re* turned from South Africa. The weather was bright and breezy, and the scene was a brilliant one. His Roval Highness, accompanied by Lord Hopetoun, General French and his suite, and the headquarter* staff, first inspected a guard of honour of the Royal Artillery, and then presented the medals to 1000 men and two nursing sisters, Nurses Martin and Wood- ward. The Duke afterwards viewed the sword of honoui which has been subscribed for by the people of Australia to be presented to General Baden-Powell in commemoration of the defence of Mafeking. Tha weapon, which is richly chased, cost £ 400. It is hoped that his Royal Highness will personally present it to General Baden-Powell when he visits South Africa. In the afternoon the Duchess of Corn- wall held a reception, which was attended by numerous members of both Houses of the Legisla- ture. A CHILDREN'S EXHIBITION. ^Monday was observed as a public holiday in Sydney in honour of the Duke of Cornwall's birth- day. The Duke and Duchess paid a isiBit to the Young People's Industrial Exhibition, where their Royal Highnesses met with an enthusiastic recep- tion. Bright sunshine enhanced the effect produced by the groups of children tastefully dressed and numbering in all 30,000. The guard of honour was furnished by the artillery and by cadets, who marched past in review order in admirable style. Their Royal Highnesses viewed the spectacle from a dais surmounted by the British coat of arms, and the inscription Many happy returns of the day." After an ode of welcome had been sung by 5000 children, physical drill and other exercises were performed. The Duke and Duchess on leaving were enthusiastically cheered by the crowds in the grounds and the streets. The Duchess was presented by the ladies of Sydney wilh a gold frame containing an address of welcome, and also with an ostrich feather fan. The city was again illuminated on Monday evening for the last time. In the afternoon the Duke left Sydney on a shooting expedition.

I RIOTING AT SHORNCLIFFE. A Board of Officers drawn from the various corps at Shorncliffe Camp has held a preliminary Court of Inquiry into rioting which took place at the Iiisborougfa Barracks on the camp on Saturday about midnight, and in the course of which some rounds of ball cartridge were fired, the picket being compelled to fix bayonets in their own defence. The evidence of a large number of the mounted infantry of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers and the Royal West Kent Regt. concerned in the affray was taken by the officers. The Risborough Barracks are occupied principally by mounted infantry of various corps, companies of whom are training preparatory to embarkation for South Africa as reinforcements. The remainder of the barracks are used as quarters for dragoons. From the evidence of eye-witnesses of the occurrence it appears that it started with a fight between some mounted infantrymen of the Dublin Fusiliers and the men of the West Kent Regiment, stated to be the result of an old feud between the two corps. The number of men engaged rapidly increased. Assistance was sent for to stop the rioting, and a strong picket of the 4th Royal Fusiliers from the Napier Barracks came for the purpose. When these men arrived on the scene shortly after twelve o'clock the situation appeared to be some- what serious; and, as the men declined to listen te reason, the order was given to fix bayonets. On this being done, some of the rioters got their rifles and, fixing bayonets, also prepared to withstand a charge. About thid time some firing began from the rioters. Blank cartridge was chiefly used, but about five rounds of ball cartridg5 was fired as well. It is possible that the firing of the latter was by one man in whose possession some rounds of ball cartridge were afterwards found. Some of the dragoons were called out to the help of the picket, and with drawn swords they went through the barrack quarters where the rioters were engaged. The disturbance was at an end before one a.m. Whilst it was in progress several men received injuries from one cause or another, and two are being treated at Shorncliffe Hospital. The question as to where the men got the ball cartridge used in the encounter has been much debated, since they are not allowed to have ammunition in their quarters.

I HOME OF REST FOR HORSES. His Grace the Duke of Portland, as president of the Home of Rest for Horses, presided on Monday night at the festival dinner in London of the institu- tion. His Grace, who was accompanied by the Duchess of Portland, said that as a whole the treatment of horses in London had greatly im- proved of late years. Education had had a great deal to do with this, for he believed that few people were brutal enough to be intentionally cruel. That arose from ignorance or want of thought. Sub- scriptions amounting to E1155 were announced. The society wishes to obtain premises of its own, and £ 20,000 is required for the erection of loose boxes and the acquirement of land for grazing purposes.

I WHAT CHARITY COSTS. Mr. Wilson Barrett's charity is to cost him dear. Because he responded to an appeal from an un- known suppliant with a chequb, he became an essential witness to a charge of false pretences. On Monday the case was remanded for a second time, and though the actor-manager protested that further delay would cost him thousands of pounds, since be was due-to sail for Australia on Thursday, the magistrate had to reply, in effect, that not even the falling of the heavens can be allowed to disturb the deliberate pace of justice.

Tiinax is strong opposition on the part of fishing population against the Dutch Government's proposal to redeem the Zuyder Zee. The four and a half million guldan ( £ 375,000) suggested as compensation to the lishing industry is regarded as inadequate. DR. CARL PETERS, the well-known German ex- plorer, has acquired some gold and copper properties in South-East Africa, and a company has been formed to exploit them. Dr. Peters is expected home in July, when he will address the shareholders. AN earthquake wrecked several buildings in the town of Aulton, Mexico, and then passed on to Zopothon, where it sported with the waters of a big, lake. At first the waters seemed in a state of great agitation, and then they subsided and gradually dis- appeared. The earthquake had caused a fissure in the bed of the lake, and through this the lake out of sight. JAPANESE dolls are usully most elaborate and gorgeously attired, for the princely families keep these toys and pass them down to their descendants. The brocaded silks for the doll robes are specially woven in miniature patterns on small looms. The wooden dolls are often beautifully carved and enamelled. Besides the dolls themselves, the Japanese toys include the most wonderful array of dolls' furniture, trinkets, toys, musical instruments, houses, and gardens. THE name and misfortunes of Villebois-Mareuil have been commemorated by a monument erected at Grez-en-Bouere, Mayenne. It is the work of the sculptor Raoul Verlet and the architect Deglane, and consists of a pyramid in red marble surmounted with a bust of the hdros" of Boshof, with two bas- reliefs ornamenting the pedestal, one an episode in the Franco-German War in which the colonel took part, the other representing his death on the veldt. A great fete was held at the inauguration. IF a load of coal is left out of doors, exposed to, the weatlier-say, a month—it loses one-third of its, heating quality. If a ton of coal is placed on the ground and left there, and another ton is placed under a shed, the latter loses about 25 per cent. of its heating power, the former about 47 per cent. Hence it is a great saving of coal to have it in a dry place, covered over, and on all sides. The softer the coal the more heating power it loses, because the volatile and valuable constituents undergo a slow combustion. AN interesting personality in Paris in the Baroness d'Harpent, whose hobby is devotion to homeless animals. The Baroness keeps a small corps oi bicyclists constantly in search of waifs and strays,' and all so found whether cats, dogs, or other animals-are taken to enjoy her hospitality. Even the dead of their kind are not neglected. When hei hired lieutenants see a dead animal by bridge 01 gutter they do not throw it into the Seine or the garbage-barrel, but take it to a quiet cemetery at Neuilly, where it is buried. J. T. TYLDESLEY, who gave such a good account of himself in the recent match between Lancashire and Notts, was born in 187.5. A brilliant, out-field, he often brings off seemingly-impossible catches, also stopping and returning in wonderfully smart fashion. Last year he finished the season with the average of 37'92 for 47 completed innings, nnd at times played in grand style, notably for the Norfh v. South, at Hastings, scoring 121 and 100 not nut,. He achieved a similar feat against Warwick in 1897, the scores being 106 and 1001101. out

I THE LARGEST WINE 'AND SPIRI1 MERCHANTS IN THE WORLD. According to the Court Circular, Messrs. W. and A. Gilbey's names are familiar in our mouths as household words, for seeing that they have over 3000 agents in the United Kingdom, it follows that their commodities must be consumed in hundreds of thou- sands of households." The stcck of their old wines is sa;d to be remarkable, some of the ports going back as far as 1820, and the high class character of the busi- ness is shown by the several Royal appointments. Some of the figures given are interesting from their immensity. At the stores in Camden Town the writer saw 17 huge vats, each containing 10,000 gallons of wine, of which there are no less than 370 different varieties. Twenty enormous bins each contained 24,000 bottles, and so on. The gin distillery produces 3000 gallons per week, and the stock of whisky in bond is estimated at 3,000,000 gallons. Last year the firm's sales of wines and spirits amounted to 15,893,532 bottles, and the Court Circular concludes by saying Imagination fa'Js to picture to what its proportions will have increased in a couple of decades or less."

I LORD INYERCLYDE'S WILL. The will of the late Lord Inverclyde, of Castle Wemyss, was lodged in the Greenock Sheriff Court on Monday. The total value of the estate is £1,038,369, and the duty payable to the Exchequer amounts to £ 78,617. The duty payable on the estate of the late Lady Inverclyde is £2181. The bulk of Lord Inverclyde'B property is left to members of the family. i

A ME RICANS AND THE KING. The King and Queen on Saturday afternoon I received at Windsor Castle the members of the New York Chamber of Commerce who are at present being entertained by the London Chamber of Commerce. The party, who were accompanied by the president, ex-president, and secretary of the London Chamber of Commerce, on arriving at Windsor first visited the Royal Mausoleum ah Frogmore, and after being shown other places of interest in and about the castle were conducted to the Terrace, where the King and Queen received and for some time conversed with them.

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DEATH OF SIR ANDREW FAIRBAIRN. We regret to announce that Sir Andrew Fairbairn died suddenly late on Friday night of last week at his London residence. He had been failing in health for about three months, and with Lady Fair* bairn had been staying at Biarritz since February. They returned to London on Thursday of last week, and on arrival Sir Andrew showed further signs of weakness. An operation was deemed necessary, and this was performed successfully. Sir Andrew, however, became gradually weaker, and passed quietly away. The news of his death caused a painful sensation at Leeds, for with that city and neighbourhood he had been closely identified. He became member of Par- liament for the Eastern Division of the West Riding as a Liberal in 1880, and subsequently represented the Otley Division. When the Home Rule discussion arose, however, he remained an ardent Unionist, and lost his seat at the general election of 1886. Sir Andrew was twice Mayor of Leeds, and had served as High Sheriff of Yorkshire. He took a great part in founding the Yorkshire College, and he was chairman of the first Leeds School Board, Sir Andrew, who was born in 1828, was educated at Glasgow, Geneva, and Cambridge. He was called to the bar at the Inner Temple in 1852 and went the Northern Circuit, but relinquished practice in 1856 to take up commercial pursuits. He was knighted in 1868, on the occasion of the visit of the King to open the Leeds Exhibition of that year. Sir Andrew had served both in the Yeomanry and Volunteers.

THE death of the Rev. B. E. Dwarris, rector of Bvwell, Northumberland, since 1846, recalls (says To-day) an incident mentioned to me in Oxford days by a former pupil of the deceased. His father, Sir Fortunatus, was laying the first stone of some edifice., in his son's parish, and nicely adjusting the mortar, when a horrid voice came from the depths of the crowd, Don't lay it on too thick; you lawyers sometimes do."

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