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

ALL QUIET IN AFGHANISTAN. I Monday was observed throughout India as a day of mourning for the late Ameer Abdurrahman. The Times Simla correspondent says that the daily reports now reaching Peshawar are to the effect that all continues quiet in Afghanistan. Pre- cautions have been taken by both the Indian and Afghan Governments to prevent undesirable refu- gees crossing from India into Afghanistan. Habi- bullah's accession seems to be popular in Cabul, and on the day of his father's funeral the crowds who assembled in the city universally acclaimed the new ruler. He is already showing himself alive to his responsibilities, having taken measures to repress any disorders among the Shinwaris, the kafirs, and other restless tribes.

FREE LABOUR. The National Free Labour Association opened their annual congress on Monday at the Memorial Hall, in London. Mr. J. Chandler, the president, occupied the chair, and after the adoption of thct report—which stated that the association had now 300.000 members-delivered his address. Resolu- tions expressing satisfaction with the decision 01 the House of Lords in the Taff Vale case and opposing the nationalisation of land, minerals, and railways were afterwards carried.

[ GALLANTRY REWARDED. I The Royal Humane Society has commenced its investigation of nearly 200 cases of gallantry sent in for recognition during the past month. Colonel Horace Montagu, treasurer, presided, other mem- bers present being Admiral Sir W. Graham, Admiral Morant, Captain Young, Colonel P. W. Bannerman, Mr. C. M. Cowie, and Dr. Silvester. The principal awards made were a silver medal to Miss Ida E. Heath and a bronze medal to hei father, Thomas Heath, contractor, London, for their gallant rescue of three ladies who were being swept out by a strong seaward current while bathing in Bigbury Bay, Devon, on August 6. A silver medal was also awarded to Sergeant J. T. Maynard, Royal Marine Artillery, for his gallant rescue of a native from the Bahr-el-Seraf, a branch of the White Nile. Sergeant Maynard jumped overboard from the steamer EllIafir and swam nearly 700 yards in a five-knot current, the place being full of crocodiles, and having to be hauled back by ropes floated down to him. A medal was awarded to Alfred Welding, plumber; Morecambe, for swimming out 60 yards in a rough sea there on July 20 and bringing in a girl who fell from the breakwater and was quickly swept away. The same recognition was given to E. C. Trevaskis, Hayle, Cornwall, for his plucky attempt to rescue a lad who fell into the harbour there on August 16. Trevaskis repeatedly dived in 12ft. of filthy water, but could not find the boy. He nearly lost his own life by striking his head on a stone at the bottom.

SIR F. W. F. WALKER PROMOTED. I Lieutenant-General Sir F. W. E. F. Forestier- Walker, K.C.B., G.C.M.G., has been selected for early promotion to full general's rank. Sir F. W. Forestier-Walker will be remembered as the general who took over the command of the troops in South Africa from Sir W. Butler just before the war. Since the beginning of the wer the general has been doing splendid work on the lines of com- munication, and his great administrative abilities have marked him for a staff position of importance when the Army Corps staffs are selected.

ENGLAND'S BESETTING SIN. I LORD ROSEBERY ON THE "FATAL GIFT OF COMPLACENCY." Speaking as President of the Birmingham and Midland Institute, Lord Rosebery, on the 15th inst., expressed the opinion that there were few needs of the nation more clamant than the need for independent thought, though it might be that under an appearance of calm and apathy men were thinking out the problems that beset us. He hoped that that was so, for we needed much thought, political, commercial, and military, if we were to maintain our national power, and national power in these days was synonymous with national safety. In days to come, if they had not come, empires would be formidable not so much from the immen- sity of their area as from the numbers of their trained, intelligent, and educated population. Political and commercial education were all very well, but neither would avail without the spirit to take advantage of it. The nation which was not progressive was retrograding. "Rest and be thankful" was a motto which spelt decay. His lordship spoke of the restless enterprise of the kmerieans, remarking that in the New World the disdain of finality, the anxiety for improving the best, seemed almost a disease but in Great Britain they could afford to catch the complaint, at any rate in a mitigated form, and give in ex- change some of our own self-complacency, for complacency was a fatal gift. In these days we needed to be inoculated with some of the nervous energy of the Americans. We looked back with satisfaction upon our his- tory, and said in proverbial fashion that there was a Providence watching over us. Did not the people see that it was from themselves, from their pas- sionate determination, if they would, that the sus- taining and driving impulse must come if energy were to result. Nothing else would be of avail, for even if some great orator should awake the echoes for a moment they soon died away. Leaders were all very well. They were desir- able, they were necessary, they were sometimes admirable, but they were not everything. They were inadequate to grapple with national tasks unless they had a national force behind them. What he would ask the people was, when they wanted a thing to want it with all their might, that they should exert their irresistible will power, and insist that what they wanted should be done.

THE GRIMSBY DISPUTE. The following notice appeared in the Labour Gazette of the 16th inst. It having been agreed by the parties to the dis- pute in the fishing trade at Grimsby, which com- menced on July 1, that the vessels should proceed to sea upon the owners' terms as to wages, and that the Board of Trade should be asked to appoint an arbitrator to decide all questions in dispute between the parties concerned, the arbitrator's decision to be retrospective from the date of the vessels going to sea, the vessels commenced going to sea on October 7. An application has now been received by the Board of Trade from the parties to the dispute through the Earl of Yarborough, to appoint an arbitrator under the Conciliation Act, 1896, and the Board of Trade have appointed the Right Hon. Sir Edward Fry to act in that capacity.

COLLISION OFF DOVER. STEAMER SUNK. Early on Sunday morning a disastrous collision occurred off the Pier Works Lightship, stationed in Dover Bay, between the steamer Alonso, 1288 tons, of Hull, and the steamer Refulgent, 991 tons, of Sunderland. The last-named vessel foundered within a few minutes of being struck, and some of the men who were in the stokehold or in bed at the time had narrow escapes. The Alonso sustained such serious damage that it was necessary to ground her off the sea-front at Dover, while temporary repairs were carried out. Captain Boughton and the 16 hands of the Refulgent were landed at Dover from a tug and taken to the National Sailors' Home. The rescued men stated that the Refulgent left Shields on Friday afternoon of last week with coal for Plymouth. The collision occurred between one and two o'clock, when the captain and mate of the Refulgent were on deck. Although it was dark, the sky was clear, there being no trace of fog. What appears to have happened is that the steamers, which were proceeding in different direc- tions, kept on their ways, believing that there was sufficient sea-room, until, when it was realised that such was not the case, it was too late to avoid a collision. The bow of the Alonso crashed into the engine-room of the Refulgent on the port side, making a huge breach, through which the sea poured in. The "engineer on duty and a fireman had a marvellous escape. Men were shaken from their bunks by the force "of the collision, and came rushing on deck in night attire to find the ship rapidly sinking. There was just time for the crew to clamber over the bows of the Alonso, which was embedded in their own ship, and for the Alonso to go astern and clear, when the Refulgent foundered, her boiler blowing up as the sea closed over her. The Alonso's bow was very seriously damaged below the water-line. l

ON the day of the Empress Frederick's funeral' a London morning paper published some verses written by her Majesty in 1856, when Princess Royal. They were penned on Christmas Eve, and were an invocation to the New Year. Her Majesty Queen Victoria was so pleased with them that an illuminated copy was framed and sent to the Empress Eugenie, but the original remained in England. It will be put up for auction at Stevens's well-known London auction rooms in Covent- garden in a day or two. Another item in the catalogue will be a page of sketches by the late Empress, executed when she was a girl of 12. This includes a profile drawing of her Royal brother, his present Majesty, then between 10 and 11 years of age. There is likely to be a smart competition for these touchiug relics of the late Queen's eldest daughter. THE committee of the Royal Marine Memorial Fund has commissioned Mr. Adrian Jones, the well-known sculptor, to execute a monument to the memory of the men who died heroically in China and in South Africa. The Memorial will consist of two soldiers of the Royal Marines, one wounded lying on the ground, the other standing erect and defiant with bayonet fixed. There will be bas-re- liefs on either side of the pedestal showing the regimental badge and motto; on the front and back will be the names of the fallen heroes while at each corner a dolphin will be placed. The figures will be eight feet high, and it is hoped that a suit- able site will b& found near to the Admiralty. MR. LAIRD CLOWES'S sketch of Theodore Roosevelt in the Nineteenth Century is about as warm a eulogy as could have been penned. It is interesting to know that Mr. Roosevelt from his boyhood was dotermined that one day he would be President of the United States, and there is indeed little doubt that Czolgosz's foul deed only hastened the inevitable. The curious thing is as Sir. Clowes points out, that owing to the attempt of I the party managers to shelve Mr. Roosevelt by making him Vice-President, he takes the Presi- dential chair quite unfettered by any pledges to the wire-pullers whom he so hearfcly despise e.

I THE ROYAL TOUR. I VISIT TO NIAGARA FALLS. The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall left Toronto at nine o'clock on Saturday morning for Niagara, Z, which was reached the same evening. The recep- tion on the previous night in Parliament Buildings was the largest and most brilliant held during the latter portion of the Royal tour. Their Royal Highnesses, who remained standing on the dais for two hours and 10 minutes, shook hands with 2200 of the guests, and did not leave the reception- room until after midnight. Until a late hour the streets were impassable, being thronged with enthusiastic crowds viewing the illumina- tions. The chief feature of these were nine great searchlights, which were lent by an American firm as an expression of American gratitude for the sympathy shown by Canada on the occasion of President McKinley's tragic death. The search- lights, which were mounted on the tower of the City Hall, signalled throughout the evening, God Save the King," and other patriotic sentiments. The inhabitants of Toronto are intensely gratified at the success of the celebrations, which they justly regard as a fitting climax to the Royal tour in Canada. The journey of the Duke and Duchess to Niagara was marked at every stopping-place by a continu- ance of the now familiar demonstrations. Crowds came from the outlying districts to view the Royal train, and thousands of children with Union Jacks and maple twigs in their hands gathered at the points where the train stopped, singing the National Anthem and filling the Royal saloon with their floral tributes. The weather was dull and threatening, but the ardour of the loyal Canadians was in no wise damped. Passing through Berlin, St. Petersburg, and Hamburg, the Royal train at 1.15 reached Lon- don. This is a thriving, well-laid-out city, with 60,000 inhabitants, 'remarkable for the faithful- ness with which it has followed the nomenclature of the English metropolis. It is situated on the River Thames, in the county of Middlesex, and has its St. Paul's Cathedral, its Westminster and Bbcldriars Bridges, and its Victoria Park. At the last-mentioned pleasaunce a most picturesque and interesting ceremony had been arranged. The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and their suite, who were welcomed at the station by a huge crowd, drove through the leading streets to the centre of Victoria-park, where, on a dais decorated in red, white, and blue, the Duke received at the hands of the mayor an address from the munici- pality. Immediately afterwards his Royal High- ness presented colours to the 7th Fusiliers, one of the foot regiments which took part in Friday's re- view at Toronto, the colours being the gift of the ladies of London. Indians, members of whose community have been incorporated as the 26th Middlesex Battalion, furnished a guard of honour at the station, and also presented an address. The Duke, in reply to the two addresses, said that the kind words of greeting they contained were a gratifying addition to the tribute of welcome extended to themselves since their first arrival in Canada. After referring to the visit of the King to this city many years ago, his Royal Highness added: I deeply regret that it has been impossible for us to avail ourselves so fully as we should have wished of those generous invitations which have been put before us from this and other cities of Canada. We especially regret that it was impos- sible to become personally acquainted with the agricultural and other associated industries for which this district is so well known. We have, however, seen enough to carry away with us la.st- ing impressions of the vast resources of the Dominion which are still awaiting that develop- ment which can only be attained by the enterprise and perseverance of its inhabitants, and which will ever call for the steady reinforcement of suitable emigrants from the motherland. The subsequent run through the district, one of the richest agriculturally in the world, afforded ample illustration of the point made by his Royal Highness as to the scope in these fertile lands for settlers of the right sort. This, all agree, is the great desideratum. The afternoon was showery, yet everywhere the loyal demonstrations continued, people lining the embankments and clustering on roofs, at windows, and on the tops of railway carriages and trucks. The Royal train arrived at Niagara Falls at five o'clock in the evening. The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall passed the night at the Royal Hotel. On Sunday they pro- ceeded by boat and electric car to the Falls, which they viewed without leaving the car. Their Royal Highnesses afterwards visited Loretto Convent. t THROUGH SINGING CHILDREN. I The Governor-General's train left beautiful Niagara-on-the-Lake, the original capital of Upper Canada, at nine o'clock in the morning of the 14th inst., the Royal train following half-an-hour later. The country traversed was the great fruit-growing district of Canada, and there was abundant evi- dence all the way that the industry is carefully conducted. Proof was also given of the successful results of cold storage by the production of excel- lent apples which had been stored last year. At noon the Royal train reached the thriving iu- dustrial city of Hamilton, where, especially during the presentation of addresses at the city hall, the scene was distinctly pleasing. First came the voices of innumerable children singing the National Anthem and The Maple Leaf," followed by a new patriotic song with abundant melody, entitled Prince George." Then by the side of the entrance was seen the lofty dais which had been prepared, an ample open space being wisely roped off in front, so that the greatest possible number had a full view. The children were allowed all the front ylaces, the women coming next, and the men behind. Above the dais an electric light legend-" Advance Commerce, Labour, Industry"—showed yellow in the day- light. At length the Duke appeared in his fusilier uniform, with the Duchess in black. Their Royal Highnesses were greeted with really tremendous cheers from the huge assemblage, constituting a welcome equal to any they have yet received and drowning the voices of those presenting the addresses, a fact which mattered little in view of the popular welcome. Next came a triumphal procession through the streets, followed by a luncheon at the Mayor's residence. Afterwards there was a presentation of South African medals and colours to the 30th Battalion, and then, late in the afternoon, the train sped off on its journey. the Royal party intending to spend a few minutes en route at various important cities. IN PRAISE OF PATRIOTISM. I The Duke of Cornwall, replying to the address presented to him at Hamilton, said that it was a pleasure to him to revisit the city on this occasion accompanied by the Duchess. The Duke congratulated his hearers on the gallant services rendered by young men of the city and its neighbourhood in the defence of the Empire in South Africa, and said they had shown that they were imbued with the spirit of brotherhood v5hielt made them responsive to the thrill which had flashed through the Empire from end to end at the first note of challenge. Some," said his Royal Highness, have given their lives and some have sacrificed health or limbs, and the Duchess and I sympathise most heartily with those who have lost their dear ones or who have thus suffered in defence of the old flag. We pray that those who are yet fighting may return safely to their homes to receive the enthusiastic and well-earned welcome which awaits them. In bidding you farewell we wish that every prosperity may attend the people of your city and the district." AMONG THE THOUSAND ISLES. The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York arrived at Kingston (Ontario) on the morning of the loth inst., where they had an enthusiastic re- ception. After laying the foundation-stone of a new Arts building, the Duke reviewed the cadets at the Royal Military College, and, with the Duchess, went in a steamer to visit the Lake of the Thousand Islands. —

DR. N ANSEN has a liking for bright colours. That is why his ship, the Fram, was painted green, grey, scarlet, and white, picked out with gold. The* explorer is a clever artist and a lover of music—of his wife's singing especially-but he does not care for so-called artistic furniture. The table at which he does all bis work when at home at his place at Lysakcr.six miles from Chris- tiana, is merely a huge kitchen table.

SIR ROBERT GEORGE RAPER'S WILL. I HONOURABLE PROVISIONS. The will bears date April 12, 1899, of Sir Robert George Raper, of The Hermitage, North Munaham, Sussex, J.P., and of the firm of Raper, Freeland, and Tyacke, of West-street, Chichester, solicitor, and notary, Registrar for the Diocese of Chichester. Secretary to the Bishop, Chapter Clerk, District Registrar of the Probate Court, Registrar of the County Court, and 10 times Mayor of Chichester, who died on the 12th July last, aged 74 years, and whose estate has been valued at £ 10,428 18s. lOd. He bequeathed to his honoured master," the Earl of March, two pictures of the Spey, and to the Duke of Richmond and Gordon for the library at Goodwood, Dallamy's "Western Sussex." to the Bishop of Chichester his manuscript books of pre- cedents, notes, and cases, and to the Prebendal School at Chichester, at which he was educated, the books and bookcases in his library. He be- queathed also £ 50 in trust to found a prize in history in the Prebendal School. There are other specific and pecuniary legacies. Sir Robert, con- sidering that in the conduct of business as a trustee or a solicitor it might have been his misfortune to engage in some transaction, either as a partner in his firm, or individually, by which some person or persons might have suffered loss, desired that the executors of his will would carefully consider any case in which it might appear that lie or his estate should morally or honourably bear respon- sibility, and in any such case, after taking the opinion of Mr. I. R. Vaizey as counsel, in aid of, but not in substitution for," their own judgment, should make good to such extent as they may deem right any loss which might have occurred. He authorised them also for this purpose to retain the balance of his residuary estate in hand for such time as they may deem necessary.

I BREACH OF PROMISE ACTION. I In the Court of Session, Edinburgh, on Mon- day, the re-trial was concluded of an action in which Mrs. Catherine Brodie, artist, Glasgow, sued David McGregor, of Glasgow, for IC30,000 damages for breach of promise of marriage. At a previous trial, the jury had awarded the pursuer £5000, but on appeal a new trial was granted unless the parties could come to terms. The jury now round for the pursuer with £ 500 damages—the defender having previously offered her E1500 and expenses.

I MILITARY IMPOSTOR'S CAREER. I Henry George Bunce, 26, pleaded guilty at Hert- ford Quarter Sessions on Monday, to thnee indict- ments for obtaining food, corn, hay, &c., at Hert- ford, Welwyn, and Digswell; also to stealing a horse and waggonnette, value £30. .,g Prisoner was attired in khaki, had a corporal's stripes, and wore the South African ribbon, but lie had not been to the war, and is not even a soldier. His career as recounted in court was a remarkable one. He had deserted from the Fusiliers and the East Surrey Regiment, aud received sentences for obtaining food, lodging, &c., by falsely represent ing himself to be a recruiting officer in various parts of the metropolis. The army would not take him back. On July 5, he went to a livery stable at South Hackney, and hired a horse and waggonette, stating that he had just returned from South Africa, anc wished to take his wife and children for a drive Later he arrived at Hertford, put up the waggon- nette, and rode on the horse to a hotel. Here lit represented himself to be the servant of the Colonel of the East Surrey Regiment sent in advance to make arrangements for encampment, the regiment having just returned from the Cape. He informed a constable that six police officers would be required for the camp, and the custodian of law and order helped him to un- harness the horse. At Welwyn the next day, and afterwards at Digswell, he posed as the servant of Colonel Jenks, Royal Artillery. At the last- named place he took a fancy to a dog which he said was the colonel's, but Mr. Alfred Reynolds, J.P., saw it, and identified it as his. Then the police were put on his track. Mrs. Bunce pleaded hard for her boy, who was really only 19, and said he had been in a lunatic asylum. Viscount Cranborne, M.P. (the chairman), said he would take into consideration that prisoner had been in gaol since July 18. It was one of the greatest scandals of the English law that anyone could be in prison awaiting trial for such a period. The sentence was one of 12 months, but the three months he had been awaiting trial would be de- ducted.

FATAL OBEDIENCE. Strict adherence to military requirements and fear of personal neglect of duty has resulted in the death of a driver in the Army Service Corps at Dover. From evidence submitted at the inquest at Dover Castle on Monday, it transpired that a driver, named Harwood, seeing a comrade thrown between two furious horses, failed to attempt to rescue him when the animals bolted. On oath Harwood admitted that had he been allowed to leave the heads of his own animals he could have stopped those of his comrade Fraughton. Com- ment of the jury proved useless, as an order to the above effect is issued to each qualified driver

A ROYAL BETROTHAL. The official announcement that the Archduchess Elizabeth Marie, the only child of the late Crown Prince Rudolf, would be betrothed to Prince Otto von Windisch-Graetz, took Vienna, and, indeed, all Austria, completely by surprise. Frequent reports have been spread of the intended marriage of the young Archduchess, to whom the Emperor is fondly attached, and various names of archdukes and princes of reigning Catholic houses have been mentioned in this connection. The young Princess has, however, followed the inclinations of her heart in making choice of a husband. Last winter, when a Prince of the Wurtemburg house desired her hand, Archduchess Elizabeth declared that she would marry the man of her choice or remain single. As the Emperor has allowed Archduke Franz Ferdinand and Crown Princess Stephanie to wed out of their rank he could scarcely veto his granddaughter's choice, especially as the Windisch-Graetz family belongs to the Standesherren," or mediatised princely tamilies, who are equal in rank to the German reigning houses. The Archduchess will, there- fore, retain her precedence at the Viennese Court. Legendary accounts of the engagement of the young couple fill the newspapers, but the facts are as follows: Two winters ago, at her first Court ball at the Hofburg, the Archduchess made the acquaintance of Prince Otto, who is a first lieu- tenant of Lancers. She afterwards danced fre- quently with him at other balls. The inclinations of the Archduchess were well known at Court, and last year she confided her wish to the Emperor. The time, however, was not very opportune for a wedding, so the young Princess was sent on a long yachting excursion on the Dalmatian coast. During the long separation her feelings underwent no change, and some weeks ago she wrote formally, asking the Emperor's permission for her marriage. The Emperor summoned his granddaughter to Vienna, heard her request, and finally gave his sanction.

THE Japanese smoke in a very peculiar manner. The pipes have very small metal bowls, with bamboo stems and metal mouthpieces, and only hold enough tobacco for three or four whiffs. Thev use a tobacco which is cut extremely fine, and looks more like a light blonde hair than any- I thing else. It is of a very good quality, however. The Japs take a whiff of smoke and inhale it, let- ting it pass out through the nostrils. They rarely smoke more than one pipeful at a time-

OUR GERMAN ADMIRAL. I The London Gazette contains the announce- ment that his Royal Highness Prince Albert William of Prussia, K.G., G.C.B., having been pro- moted to the rank of admiral in the Imperial German Navy on September 13, 1901, has been advanced to the rank of honorary admiral in his Majesty's Fleet from that date. A Berlin telegram points out that the promotion applies to Prince Henry of Prussia, who is the only Prussian Prince I holding rank in the British Fleet. The Prince's names are Albert William Henry.

THE POLICY OF PLODDING. I AIR. HANBURY'S DEFENCE OF THE GOVERNMENT. I Mr. Hanbury took occasion, in responding to the toast of His Majesty's Ministers at a banquet to the Fruiterers' Company and the General Pur- poses Committee at the London Mansion House, on the 15th inst., to reply to the critics of the Government. With regard to information, he ven- tured to say that up to a certain stage there had never been a war during which the country had been so fully supplied with information. He had often read despatches at a Cabinet meeting which had appeared in the newspapers 12 hours before. No doubt recently it had not been possible to give the same amount of information, now that they had 69 mobile columns acting against the enemy at one time in different places and out of touch with the Commander-in-Chief, as if they were engaged on a war carried on in regular manner. It was not possible to give the same amount of information when guerilla warfare was being carried on. As to the matter of more Cabinet Councils being held, his Majesty's Ministers were in constant communica- tion, but these councils could not direct the opera- tions of war. The Cabinet laid do general principles and gave a General full powers, told him the lines upon which he was to proceed and then trusted him thoroughly, as they did Lord Kitchener. Mr. Hanbury was not at all sure that a false impression would not be created in the minds of the Boers if they were to hold Ministerial coun- cils at a period of the year when such were quite unusual, namely, during the months of August, September, and October. The only way to bring the war to an end was to go] on plodding steadily, beating the Boer and convincing him that they in- tended to be masters. He trusted also that the recently issued proclamation regarding martial law would materially contribute towards that end.

THE CHINESE TARIFF. I Sir A. Bateman, of the Board of Trade, and Mr. E. Alford, late chairman of the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce, have for seme time been engaged, with the co-operation of members of leading firms in the China trade, in revising the specific duties of the Chinese tariff so as to make them equiva- lent to a 5 per cent. ad valorem duty for the pur- pose of the forthcoming negotiations with the Chinese Government under the Protocol.

THE Earl Marshal, for the purposes of the Coronation, has appointed Mr. Hobart, C.B., as Secretary to the Earl Marshal's office, Norfolk House, St. James's-square; and he has also ap- pointed Mr. Leonard C. Lindsay, F.S.A., as his orivate secretary. MR. JOHN O'DOIVNELL, M.P., on Monday even- ing, attempted to address his constituents in Ilmaine, county Mayo, the scene of some recent evictions. A force of 150 police were present, and prevented the holding of the meeting. Five times Mr. O'Donnell attempted to speak, and each time was pulled off the platform. He was seized by some ten policemen, after a severe struggle, and was taken to the police barracks under arrest. A sergeant of police received a very severe scalp wound, inflicted by a stone, while assisting at the arrest.

THE CAPTURED MISSIONARY. LETTER FROM MISS STONE. The text of a letter written by Miss Stone to Mr. W. W. Pet, treasurer of the Turkish Missions at Constantinople, has been telegraphed by the New York Journal's correspondent at Sofia. In this letter, which was despatched from Mace- donia., but is undated, Miss Stone states that she was captured with about 12 teachers, students, and others by 40 armed men. The brigands took with them as Miss Stone's companion a Mrs. Tsilka. Miss Stone says The men who captured us at first showed courtesy and consideration towards us. but now, since the Turkish troops and Bashi-Bazouks have begun to pursue us and the ransom is delayed, our condition is altogether changed. I therefore beg you to hasten in sending the ransom demanded, and as energetically as possible. You will represent to the Turkish Government that it shall stop the pursuit of us by the soldiers and Bashi-Bazouks, otherwise we shall be killed by the people in whose hands we are." The brigands released all their captives except Miss Stone and Mrs. Tsilka. The condition of Mrs. Tsilka," continues Miss Stone, "decided the limit of 18 days for the ransom fixed by the brigands, as she is expected to give birth to a child in three months." The Journal's correspondent adds that Mrs. Tsilka was prematurely delivered of a child in a brigand's hut. Although the time fixed by the brigands for the payment of the ransom for Miss Stone expired on October 8, no one has come to Samakoff to claim the money, or to announce the fate of the ladv missionary.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND TAXA- TION. The annual report of the Local Government Board for the year 1900-1, which contains over 1000 pages, was issued on Saturday. During the year 1901 the local taxation licences yielded £ 3,515,736, the Estate Duty Grant £ 2.076.744, and the Local Taxation, Customs, and Excise Duties £ 1.268.718, The produce of the Local Taxation licences has increased year by year since 1889-80, and in 1900-1 exceeded the previous year's amount by £ 521,317. Under the Tithe Rent Charge (Kates) Act of 1899 the sum of E105,687 was appropriated during 1900-1, and under the Agricultural Rates Act, 1896, P-1,332,091 was paid. The total relief to rates under the above headings by payments out of the local taxation account during the year was £ 6,861,248. Under the poor rate the grand total of paupers in receipt of relief on January 1, 1901, was 801,347, being an aggregate decrease on the previous year of 6124. or 0-8 per cent. The number of children boarded out was 7547 against 7358 on January 1, 1900. The gross cost of the relief of the poor in England and Wales during the year ended Lady Day, 1900, was £ 11,567.649, which is greater than that recorded in any previous year. This represented an average charge of 7s. 3d. per head on the estimated population, 2 being lid. per head more than in the previous 4 year. Of this the sum which fell upon rates and grants was E10,889,157, representing a total; of 6s. IOid. per head. The rate per head of the. esti- mated population of the cost of relief of the poor during the year was 15s. 9fd. in the metropolis 4 and 5s. lûid. in the rest of the country. The cost 4 per pauper of the total expenditure on relief was £ 14 10s. 4fd., and of this £5 6s. lOd. was the cost 4 per pauper of the total expenditure in out relief. Taking in the cost of administration the average cost per head of indoor paupers was £27 12s. OJd. The total receipts under all heads in respect of Poor Law administration was £ 26,308,069, and the expenditure £ 26,309,787. A summary is given of the total receipts and expenditure of all the local spending authorities in the country. From this we learn the actual cost of local government in "FWHiifl and Wales during the year. There was raised from public rates £ 38.602.673, granted from Imperial sources in aid of local taxation EII,790,958 and the total receipts of local authorities from all sources (excluding loans) were £ 72,178,419. Receipts on account of loans amounted to £ 19.698.918. showing grand total of receipts of £ 91,877,337. The ex- penditure of local authorities during the year, in- cluding E21,504,728 defrayed out of loans, was £ 92,696,586. Of the above amount P.8,244,961 was spent on education, and £ 6,162,579 on parks, libraries, baths, hospitals, markets, cemeteries, registration of voters, and various other public works and purposes." The total indebtedness of local authorities (ortstanding loans) at the end of the year amounted to £ 276,229,048. The out- standing loans of local authorities had increased by E183,408,948, or 197-6 per cent. in 1898-99 as compared with 1874-75. The loans raised during the 25 years amounted to £ 296,545,827. The fol- lowing table is instructive: Loans of local Percentage authorities proportion Year. National (England of Local to Debt. and Wales). N'tionalDebt. 1874-75 £ 768.945,757. £ 92,820,100 12-7 1898-99 627,562,585. 276,229,048 44-02 The outstanding loans of metropolitan local authorities increased between 1874-75 and 1898-99 from £ 21,007,199 to £ 50,952,570. The gross esti- mated rental of property assessed to local rates in England and Wales is £ 216,640,573, and the rateable value 2180,406,420, showing an increase of 2 7 on the previous year. The following are a few miscellaneous items taken from the reports on administration of various Acts. Under the Public Health Acts there are 1635 medical officers and 1595 inspectors of nuisances in England and Wales, and 29 medical officers and 227 inspectors in the metropolis. Two new municipalities were created during the year—Pudsey and Swindon. The total length of main roads in adminis- trative counties of England and Wales (inclu- sive of London) is 26,598 miles. Two orders for the compulsory purchase of land by parish councils were granted during the year, and one for the compulsory hiring of land for allot- ments. 6887 out of 7292 parish councils existing in March, 1900, had expended money during the year, and 435 parish meetings for parishes not having councils. During the year eight applica- tions were dealt with by the Local Government Board for approval of schemes for providing new labourers' dwellings for labourers dis- possessed by the acquisition of their dwell- ings, under powers conferred by local Acts and provisional orders. The number of local authori- ties who had adopted Part III. of the Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890, previous to March 31, 1900, was 94, including the London County Council, 46 town councils, 41 other urban district, and six rural district councils. Of these 30 had carried out or were carrying out schemes. They provided for the housing of 17,486 people. Under the Food and Drugs Act, 1899, 62,858 samples of food were examined by the public analysts, 5503 were reported against, and proceedings instituted in respect of 3321 penalties being imposed in 2673 cases.

A QUEBEC paper states that Ajnerica spends att least e3,000,000 sterling a year on golf. In round numbers there are 1000 listed clubs in the United States, but there may be 200 more. Considering that it is not at all extraordinary to find golf clubs with over 500 members each, it is not unreasonable to allow an average membership of 100 to the 1200 clubs, or a total listed membership of 120,000. In New York City there are 2000 players who are not members of any club.