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

I NEWS NOTES. I The King's visit to Portugal is regarded by some of the know-everything scribes as being directly connected with the formulation of a more or less imaginary treaty concerning the future ownership of Deiagoa Bay. It may very well be, to be sure, that their Majesties of Great Britain find Portugal will talk of many things in which the welfare of their realms are mutually bound up as they foregather, but the suggestion of portentous diplomacy made re- specting a friendly foregathering between the two august royalties is as gratuitous as it is im- pudent. There is certainly no need for any super-elaborate secrecy concerning the relations of this country and Portugal; and the Foreign Offices in London and Lisbon are quite capable of concluding their affairs of State amicably without the crowned heads of either land bothering about preliminaries. The remains of Sir Hector Macdonald, the brave Highlander General whose brilliant mili- tary career ended in such gloomy sadness, were reverently laid to rest in the outskirts of Edin- burgh on Monday, the request of the family that their privacy on the mournful sepulchral occasion should not be disturbed being properly respected. There is much grief for "Fighting Mac amongst the multitude of his admirers, but the tragic circumstances of his demise dic- tated the decency of a quiet interment, out of the gaze of the demonstrative. It is well, though, that Hector Macdonald should sleep the last long earthly slumber in the land of his fathers, rather than under a foreign tomb. Let the rest be silence. a, The wedding of Lady Sybil Primrose with that smart young officer of the Guards, Mr. Grant, at Epsom, last Saturday was a very pretty and also interesting ceremony, because of the esteem in which the high contracting parties and their connections are everywhere held. Lord Rosebery's elder daughter has won golden opinions from all sorts and conditions of people for her own charming sake, and Lady Sybil will be much missed from The Durdans, Dalmeny, and the rest of the stately homes of her widowed, father, where she has been a bright spirit ever since her mother's lamented death. The bride's presents were im- mensely numerous, tasteful, and costly enough to be quite worth a queen's ransom." Probably no lady of less than royal rank has come off so well" on the auspicious occasion of her nuptials during recent years as Lady Sybil Grant did. The magnificence of the gifts must have been almost overwhelming to the re- cipient, and one fears that many a fair ono envies the bride to-day without in any way wishing her harm. People in high places require in these ticklish times to be particularly careful what they say and whom they speak with. Admiral Dewey, of the United States, had this borne in upon him, not for the first time, last week-end when called upon to interview 'President Roosevelt re- garding the gallant admiral's recently reported remarks as to the American naval manoeuvres, of which he is understood to have said that he did not think they constituted" a reflection upon or affront to Germany." The statements have caused" an unpleasant feeling" in Berlin, but in official circles there it is not believed that diplomatic notice will be taken of them. Per- haps Germany is a bit too thin-skinned and ready to see offence where no offence is in- tended, but the astute statesman keeps his tongue well bridled nowadays. An ingenious Teuton is stated to have in- vented a device for the prevention of railway accidents that may be heard more of, for it is being tried, we are told, in the vicinage of Frank- fort. The arrangement is described as simple. A light third rail is laid midway between the other rails, and is connected by a shoe with an electrical apparatus carried by engines. By this means danger signals can be given by electric bell and red light in the cab of the engine and electrical brakes can be set by the same signal that gives the alarm. The apparatus also keeps the engineer in telephonic communi- cation with stations and with trains ahead of him, and when he is pulled up he can learn what is Lhe matter and what is expected of him. There seems something in the idea.

THE ORIGIN OF THE HOUSEHOLD I CAVALRY. The privileges of the Household Troops, which are now being called into question, date from the establishment of the regiments by Charles II. A fortnight before his coming from Holland he selected 80 cavalier gentlemen, and formed them into a corps of Life Guards, under Lord Gerard. Increased to 600 men, they formed the King's bodyguard, and escorted him into his own again. Parliament disbanded the Ironside army, but an outburst of Fifth Monarchy fanatics in January, 1661, afforded Charles a pretext for maintaining troops for his personal protection.

SHEEP MULTIPLICATION. I Details are published of a remarkable instance of fecundity in a small flock of sheep on a Gloucestershire farm. The flock (according to "Country Life") consisted of only 21 ewes and a ram, 20 of the ewes being Hampshire Downs and the other a Cotswold. This season 16 of the Hampshire Downs had twins, four of them had triplets, and the Cotswold had one lamb that is to say, there are 45 lambs from this little flock of 21 ewes, and the sheep, instead of only number- ing 22, now number 67, for, strange to say, they, at the time of writing, are all alive and doing well. It must be almost a record return. °

LIFE-SAVING BOOMERANG. I Attention is being devoted in America to the boomerang as a means of saving life at sea, says the "Globe." The contrivance is simply a boomerang, to which a swivel is attached to carry the line without twisting. With it a man can instantly throw a strong line 150ft. to 200ft., and, as the boomerang floats, it will sustain the cord on the water, and give a person on the surface a chance to catch it and be drawn to land or sup- ported until a boat arrives. The device requires little skill to throw it accurately.

Al Manack: "The days are pretty short now, aren't they?" Willie Everpeigh "I should say so. Seems as if the ink doesn t have time to get dry on a thirty-day note before it's due." The Earl of Onslow has informed Sir Alfred Jones that the King has been pleased to com- mand that a couple of young bulls from the pedi- gree herd a.t Windsor shall be set aside for pre- sentation to Jamaica for the purpose of improv- ing the breed of cattle in that colony. As cattle tick is rile, in the island the bulls will be shipped in the autumn.

ACCIDENT TO THE GERMAN EMPRESS. The German Empress fell from her horse while riding, on the afternoon of March 27, with the Emperor, and fractured her left arm above the wrist. The imperial pair, accompanied by Prince Adalbert, were taking their usual after- noon ride, and the lovely spring weather tempted them into the heart of the Grunewald, an im- mense park on the western boundary of Berlin, where, until within the last few years, the Kaiser used to shoot deer and wild pigs. Their Majes- ties were enjoying a gallop under the trees when suddenly the Empress's horse stumbled and fell, throwing her Majesty on to her left arm. The Kaiser and one equerry who was in attendance were at her Majesty's side immediately. For- tunately, the accident happened not far from a hunting lodge, and a carriage was quickly on the spot. A telephonic message soon brought the doctors to the lodge, and they at once bandaged the Empress's arm, which was fractured just below the elbow. The Kaiser thereupon re- turned on horseback to the royal palace at Ber- lin, and the Empress was conveyed home in a carriage. Her Majesty's condition is reported to afford every hope that perfect recovery will ensue without complications.

WHAT DID DEWEY SAY? I Admiral Dewey, in some remarks published by a New Jersey paper on Saturday, was reported to have said that the United States Navy was the greatest in the world. He had made a deep study of the German Navy, and believed its efficiency in pos- sible action was greatly over-estimated. Germany could not possibly get over to America a fleet that could fight that of the United States. Sub- sequently, at President Roosevelt's invitation, Admiral Dewey called at the White House, and said the manner in which he had been quoted gave undue prominence to the objectionable features of the interview. If treated in another way, and not made so prominent, his statements concerning Germany and her Navy would not, he believed, have attracted any attention.

AN OLD MIDLAND MAN. I Mr. James Williams, secretary of the Midland .Railway from 1869 to 1899, died on Sunday at his residence, Litchurch, Derby. He was born at Helston (Cornwall) in April, 1830, and commenced his business career with the Bodmin and Wade- bridge Railway. After experience in various parts of the country, he joined the executive staff of the Great Western Company, at Paddington. Mr. Williams was in 1867 selected as one of the mem- bers of the Treasury Commission appointed to inquire into the financial condition of the Irish railway, with a view to their purchase by Govern- ment. On the conclusion of the work of that Commission in 1868, he was chosen from amongst a large number of applicants to succeed the late Mr. George Newton Browne as secretary to the Mid- land Railway. His connection with the latter company synchronised with many notable re- forms.

MOAT FARM MYSTERY. I J'ORGERY CHARGE AGAINST SAMUEL DOUGAL. I At Saffron Walden, on March 27, Samuel Dougal was charged on remand with forging a cheque in the name of Miss Camille Holland. Counsel for the prosecution, in opening the case, said that the prisoner, who was a married man, in 1898 made the acquaintance of Miss Holland, who possessed over P.6,000, and lived with het in various places. Eventually Miss Holland pur chased the Moat Farm, near Saffron Walden, and the two settled there in April, 1899. In a few weeks Miss Holland disappeared, and the prisoner had since continued to live at the farm, and by means of cheques professing to be signed by Miss Holland and other documents had obtained the money belonging to that lady. Evidence in support of the charge was then pre- ferred. EVIDENCB FOR THE PROSECUTION. I Mr. Ernest Legrand Holland, a Civil servant employed at Somerset House, said he was the son of Miss Holland's only brother. Miss Holland formerly lived at Liverpool, but afterwards came to live at Kilburn with her aunt. The last time he saw his aunt was in 1893. He knew nothing whatever of the prisoner or of his aunt's acquaintance with him. She was a good business woman, and "knew how to look after things." The signature to the cheque for £28 was not in his aunt's handwriting, nor was any other part of the cheque. The witness identified the ring (produced) as his aunt's, and said that he had also recognised the piano at the Moat and various articles of furniture of hers. Mrs. Wiskin, Market-road, Saffron Walden, said that the accused and a lady took root's at her house in January, 1899, as Mr. and Mrs. Dougal. He told her to take in letters which came addressed to "Miss C. C. Holland." The lady's linen was so marked. She recognised a photograph of Miss Holland now produced as that of the lady. In reply to Mr. Newton, the witness said that the couple were upon affec- tionate terms. Police-Superintendent Pryke gave evidence corroborating counsel's statements. The accused also made a statement as to his antecedents, remarking, "Before I came here I resided near Sevenoaks, seven or eight years. On Tuesday, the 24th of last month, I visited my sister at Bishops Waltham, Hampshire. I returned home on the following day, where I have been since." In cross-examination by Mr. Newton, who pro- fessionally represented the accused, Superin- tendent Pryke said he never told the prisoner that anything he said might be used against nim. He said to the prisoner, "I want to have a little private chat with you." The object of this was to invite his confidence. The witness wanted to get all the information he could out of the accused without letting him know that it might be used against him. The witness told the accused that the matter was for the chief con- stable. Lucy Pitman, postmistress's assistant at Quendon, stated that letters came addressed to the Moat-house to Miss Camille C. Holland from the beginning of the accused's tenancy up to six month's ago, some of them being sealed letters. Mrs. Morton, wife of the Rev. Samuel Morton, vicar of Clavering, bore out counsol's statement as to her visit to the Moat-house. Kate Cranwell stated that she was on December 9, 1901, engaged as housemaid, a girl named Hannah Cole going away. The witness was there about nine months. There was a trunk there which contained fifteen ladies' dresses, some of them silk, silk shawls, and almost everything a lady would require. Being shown a photograph of Miss Holland, she said she never saw that lady there. Mr. Manby Ashwen, clerk at the Piccadilly branch of the National Provincial Bank, said they had a customer of the name of Camille Cecile Holland. She started her account in May, 1896, in London. Her other addresses were since then Yoxford, Suffolk; Hassocks, Sussex; Market-road, Saffron Walden; and Moat-house, Essex. The witness produced the cheque for.. £ 28. It was presented to the bank for payment out of Miss Holland's account, a.-id paid on September 2, 1902. It was cleared by the Union and Smith's Bank. The account was now in credit to the amount of £ 207 19s. 4d., and the bank had still some securities belonging to Miss Holland. At this stage the prisoner was remanded. The Bench refused to allow bail.

"Remember, witness," sharply exclaimed the counsel for the other side in a civil case," re- member that you are on oath!" "There ain't no danger of my forgetting it," replied the wit- ness, sullenly. "I'm telling the truth for no- thing, when I could have made fifteen shillings for lying for your side of the case—and you know it, too! The witness was not troubled by any more reminders by that lawyer. A Billville bard sings as follows of the uncer tain rewards of literature — Many a man on the road of life Succeeds where another fails,; Johnny is writin' stories, An' Billy is splittin' rails. Johnny is makin' a name an' fame (He says) while the years roll on But Billy is makin' the money, An' Billy's oupportin' John!

I THE 'VARSITY BOAT RACE. I VICTORY OF CAMBRIDGE. Wednesday's contest on the river between the boat rowing crews representing Oxford and Cambridge Universities marks the diamond jubilee of the historic race. This was the sixtieth occasion on which the rival Universities had met to try conclusions at oarsmanship. Of the fifty-nine races previously rowed Oxford have won thirty-three, and Cambridge twenty- live, while one terminated in a tie. The record time (18min. 47sec.) was made in 1893 by Oxford, and was equalled by Cambridge in 1900. Cambridge were expected to repeat their victory of last year, and this they easily did, though Oxford won the toss and chose the Surrey side of the river to race in. At the start, just after half-past three, it was raining heavily, and Cambridge, rowing 38 to the Dark Blues' 36, shot ahead at once, and was leading at Walden's by a length. When Hammersmith Bridge was reached, the Light Blues led by a couple of lengths. At the Lead Mills the Cambridge advantage was well maintained, as also at Chiswick Eyot; while at Thorneycroft's the Cantabs seemed to have fully four lengths the lead. Abreast of the Devonshire Meadows-a point reached by the leading boat at 3.47— Oxford made a futile endeavour to recover themselves but all was plainly lost for the Dark Blues, and Cambridge reached the winning point six lengths in front. The race was decided in wretched weather. Mr. F. I. Pitman, who stroked Cambridge to victory-after being led at Barnes Bridge-in 1886, officiated as umpire from the Consuta. In the evening the crews dined together under the presidency of Sir Albert de Rutzen, himself an old Cambridge Blue, who rowed in 1849.

I RECORD MOUNTAIN CLIMB. THE CHAMPION A LADY. Miss Elizabeth Tait, who holds the Gold Medal of Ben Nevis for a fine performance on that diffi- cult mountain, has attracted wide-spread interest as a climber. Modestly disclaiming exceptional geni us Misa Miss Elizabeth Tait, Lady's Championship — I Gold Ji-edat-of Ben jyevis. Tait said, in account- ing for her feat, '-I was in the pink of condition then. I live at Loch Troig, Corrom, Inverness, N.B. Dr. Williams' pink pills for pale people cured me of a most trying disease of the skin. A mass of red blotches, due to eczema, caused irritation and pain almost unbearable. My brother-in-law, with whom I reside, and who has been greatly benefited by using them, recom- mended me to try the pills named. i was very dubious of any good result, but after about a week I became aware of a decided improvement in my health, and be fore 1 had finished the second box -which was all I took—I was entirely free of the troublesome disease. I am now in excellent health, and it is not unusual for me to walk twelve miles in a day. The pills are not purgative, but, on the contrary, strengthening." Either unhealthy blood or weakness will cause the skin to break out, poison trying to find its way from the system. Purifying and strengthening as they are, Dr. Williams' pink pills for pale people (purchasers should see the full name on the package to avoid imitations and substitutes) have cured many cases of eczema and chronic erysipelas which nothing else would' touch. Ansemia, consumption, kidney disorders, rheu- matism, and the frequent miseries of woman- kind also yield to them. If shopkeepers offer substitutes, Dr. Williams' medicine company. Holborn-viaduct, London, will send post free for two shillings and ninepence. All who suffer from weakness or lack of energy, whether in man or woman, will do well to follow the same lead as the Lady Champion of Ben Nevis. Miss Tait is twenty- eight years of age, and occupies a position under Government. Her fine record on Ben Nevis was accomplished in a fraction under two hours.

IMPORTANT EDUCATIONAL CHANGES. The President of the Board of Education has appointed Mr. H. M. Lindsell, who has for several years been advising counsel and assistant secretary to the Board, to be principal assistant secretary in charge of that branch of the Board which deals with elementary education. The appointment is consequent upon the retirement of Mr. John White, C.B., in April next. The passing of the Education Act, 1902, renders it necessary to make various changes in the organisation of the inspec- torate of the Board. It is intended, so far as circumstances render it possible, to place the inspectors of the Board in such relations with the new authorities as to obviate any unnecessary duplication of inspection, and in particular to place directly at the disposal of the local authorities the reports and suggestions of the Board's inspec- tors as to the working of the schools in their districts. In order to facilitate these arrangements, the inspectors' districts are being rearranged so as to coincide, as far as possible, with the areas of the new local education authorities. A small temporary committee of investigation into the education and training of urban and rural pupil teachers has been appointed. Finally, the estab- lishment by the Education Act, 1902, of local education authorities, responsible at the same time for the efficiency of the teaching staff of the elementary schools, and for making provision for secondary education, will make it possible to look for a considerable improvement in the in- struction and training of pupil teachers and it is hoped, through the appointment of the committee, to bring about, as soon as possible, a juàicioUf dissemination of information as to the best methods in use, and the means by which these can be improved and extended. 11

Hidden batteries of guns are being installed at the Forth Bridge. Motor parcel tricycles are now being used by tho Post Office in London. o General Lyttelton has presented, in Pretoria, the D.S.O. to a number of officers who took part in the war. The King of Spain will preside at the inaugura- tion of the international Congress of Medicine there. Ten homicidal lunatics are at large at Fulton, Montana. One of their number relea.sed the other nine. The "Amur Gazette" complains of the extent of alien immigration into Manchuria to the de- triment of Russians and Russian undertakings. Rates in Poplar, one of the poorest boroughs in London, have now reached 10s. in the pound. A despatch from Monte Cristi states that the revolutionists are in possession of the Indepen- denca and Colon, two of the three warships be- longing to the Government of San Domingo. There has been some agitation TaFeTv in ton- don among Israelites for a Jewish Rowton House, but the "Jewish Chronicle" rather discourages the scheme for providing an exclusively Jewish institution of this character, and points to the fact that not only is Lord Rowton himself willing that Jews should take advantage of the Houses, but also that the chief tailor and bootmaker in the Whitechapel Rowton House are Jews. The youthful Marquis of Bute is the fortunate holder, in addition to his Marquisate, of three titles of earl, three of viscount, and four of baron. He is lord of over 180 square miles of land, much of it rich in minerals, and is a five fold millionaire. The marquis is*a rare combination of bookworm and keen sportsman, and,as becomes ade- seend ant of King Robort the Bruce, dearly loves a kilt and thfi skirl of the bagpipes—an instrument on which he is an expert performer.

I A PRIMROSE WEDDING. I LORD ROSEBERY'S ELDER DAUGHTER MARRIED. The marriage of Lady Sybil Primrose, the elder daughter of the Earl of Rosebery, to Mr. Charles John Cecil Grant (Coldstream Guards), son of Lieutenant-General Sir Robert and Lady Grant, was solemnised at Christ Church, Epsom, on Saturday morning, the Rev. Canon Hunter officiating. Owing to a bereavement in the bridegroom's family, and to the fact that the wedding took place in Lent, the guests were restricted to near relatives and a few intimate friends; but there was a crowded congregation in church, and outside hundreds of people assembled. A large number of those present wore favours in the Rosebery colours. The bridal party arrived by special train from London, the station being decorated for the occasion. Beyond a few palms and lilies at the altar there were no decorations in the church The eight bridesmaids were the Hon. Margarl Wyndham (the bride's cousin), Lady Celia Crewe- Milnes, Lady Alexandra Beauclerk, Lady Edith Villiers, Lady Alexandra Carrington, the Hon. Mary Portman, Miss Muriel White, and Miss Mordaunt. The bride was accompanied by her father, and as the bridal procession passed up the aisle, preceded by the full choir and clergy, the hymn" 0 Love that wilt not let me go" was sung. The bride wore a gown of very fine point d'Angleterre, the gift of her great aunt, Miss Lucy Cohen, arranged over ivory satin; the bodice, with bolero fronts of the lace, opened over a vest of gathered tulle, and in the lace at one side was a cluster of white primroses, from which depended a long trail of flowers reaching to the hem. The high waistbelt was of silver tissue, and the train of silver embroidered tulle over soft ivory satin. She wore a tulle veil over a wreath of white primroses, and carried a bouquet of lilies of the valley. The bridesmaids' costu. res were made in Dresden shepherdess style, Lord Rosebery's racing colours, pink and yellow, being the colours. The skirts were of yellow satin, veiled with deep ecru lace, and the paniers and frilled fichus of pink glace silk, while the stomachers corresponded with the skirts, and the elbow sleeves of pink silk finished with frills of lace over yellow. Their hats were of cream coloured point d'esprit, gathered and ruched, some being trimmed with pink button roses and primroses, and others with pink, green, or yellow ribbon, raised on one side with flowers. The bridegroom presented them with primrose pendants of translucent enamel, the stalk and centre in diamonds, attached to platinum chains, and with baskets of pink roses. The bridegroom was attended by Captain the Hon. George Crichton, Coldstream Guards, as best man. Canon Hunter, vicar of the parish, officiated, and, instead of the usual exhortation, read the 13th chapter of the first book of Corinthians. At the end of the service "O Father, all creating," was sung, and as the procession left the church the anthem "The Lord send thee help from the Sanctuary" (Sullivan) was sung, after which Mendelssohn's Wedding March was played. The church bells rang at intervals all the morning. Those present included the Countess of Crewe, Lady Cynthia Crewe-Milnes, Lady Leconfield, Lord Leconfield, Earl and Countess Stanhope, Earl and Countess Carrington, General Sir Robert and Lady Grant, Sir Charles Grant, Lord Rothschild, Mr. and Mrs. Leopold Rothschild, Sir Henry and Lady Primrose, Colonel Cotes, Mr. and Lady Edith Cotes, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Sassoon, and Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Mordaunt. Luncheon was afterwards served at The Durdans, and a little later Mr. and Lady Sybil Grant, started on their way to Pitchford, Shropshire. BEAUTIFUL PRESENTS. The presents were very beautiful and very numerous. They included a bracelet of diamonds and turquoises from the King and Queen; from the Prince and Princess of Wales, a horse-shoe brooch in diamonds and sapphires; from Princess Victoria, an enamel buckle set with gold and pearls; from the bridegroom to the bride, a gold watch with the initial "S." in diamonds, and a pearl chain; from the bride to the bridegroom, a pearl and diamond pin; from Lord Rosebery, much beautiful jewellery, which included a diamond tiara, a necklace of single diamonds, and a magnificent pearl necklace, a diamond spray, and a diamond pendant. From Lord Dalmeny a diamond and pearl brooch, and from Mr. Neil Primrose an emerald and diamond ring. From the officers of the Coldstreams a silver tea kettle and spirit holder; from General Sir Robert and Lady Grant a brougham, Dresden China figures, a diamond brooch, and several other pieces of jewellery; from the tenant farmers on Lord Rosebery's estates in Scotland a beautiful silver cup on an ebony stand, and from the workpeople and officials a silver ink- stand and silver candlesticks. From Baron and Baroness Alphonse de Rothschild a beautiful diamond tiara; from the Duchess of Sutherland a beautiful necklace of seed pearls, fastened with iiamond clasps from the Prime Minister Brown- ing's "Dramatic Romances and Lyrics"; from the Archbishop of Canterbury, "The Pilgrim's Progress" from Mr. and Mrs. Asquith a china inkstand and from Lord and Lady Farquhar an amethyst and diamond hatpin. These are only a 'ew of the beautiful presents which were showered upon the bride and bridegroom.

DEATH OF BARON WHETTNALL. Baron Edouard Whettnall, Belgian Minister in London, died on Saturday at St. Trond, Bel- gium, in the chateau de Nieuwenhove. Baron Whettnall entered the diplomatic service in 1863, when he was appointed attache to the Bel- gian Legation in London. He was successively Secretary of Legation in Vienna, Lisbon, and Madrid. In 1884 he was appointed Belgian Min- ister in Morocco, and in 1888 was transferred to Rome, whence in 1894, he was appointed to the Court of St. James. The deceased diplomat left his post in London at the end of January, feeling seriously indisposed, and his condition became gradually worse. Baron Whettnall was a Doctor of Laws and of Political and Administrative Sciences, and was a commander of the Order of Leopold. He was sixty-four years of age.

X40,000 FOR THE R.S.P.O.A. By the will of Mr. John Henry Long, of Kentish Town, who died in December last, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will eventually benefit to the extent of £ 40,000. The deceased gentleman left C49,514 in net per- sonalty, the income of which he bequeathed in trust to Mrs. Blanche Holmes, of 50, Newlands-terrace, Queen's-road, Battersea, during her widowhood. On her death or remarriage the estate is to bo transferred to the society in question, and will probably amount, after the payment of death duties, &c., to the sum mentioned. The late Mr. Frederick Boden Benger, of Benger and Co., Limited, manufacturing chemist?, of Manchester, left estate valued at E420,807 gross. He bequeathed E500 each to the R.S.P.C.A. (Manchester branch), the Manchester Hospital for Consumption, the Northern Counties Hospital, and the Pendlebury Children's Hospital.

TRUTH OF MUMBLES DISASTER. The Board of Trde inquiry into the Mumbles lifeboat disaster, when six men were drowned on February 1 last, has been made public. The inspectors find that failure on the part of the lifeboat crew to properly use the drogue, or sea-anchor, was the cause of the casualty. It was shown that the lifeboat, which was self righting, had run for a considerable distance on the crest of the waves, being several times capsized. The force exerted by the drogue, had it been acting, would have been sufficient, in the opinion of the inspectors, to have checked the boat and prevented loss of life. The lifeboat had gone to the assistance of the Stranded steamer Christina, of Waterford. She capsized three times. Six lives were lost, and the boat itself fouled the piles of the old Port Talbot Pier. afterwards drifting on to the beach.

An uniform time, based on the thirtieth meridian, or two hours east of Greenwich, has been adopted by all the South African Governments, with the exception of that of German South-West Africa. On February 28 last, at, 11.30. p.m., the time was advanced to midnight in the Transvaal, and similar steps were taken in the other South African Colonies except Natal, where no change was neces- Bar)".

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I THE CHERTSEY ELECTION. I A MOTOR-CAR CONTEST. The Chertsey Division of Surrey polled on March 26 for the election of a member of Parlia- ment in place of the late Mr. Leigh-Bennett (Con- servative). The day was memorable for the extent to which motor-cars were used in bringing votera to the poll. Never have these played so great a part in an election. They tore through the division, bringing up the electors in large and small batches and carrying the candidates round the polling booths. The result of the election was declared about one o'clock on the day following the poll as follows: I Fyler (C.) 5700 Longman (L.) 4529 Conservative majority. 1171 The figures at previous elections are as follows: 1897. (Bye-election, February.) HT C. Leigh-Bennett (C.) 4845 L. J. Baker (L.) 3977 Conservative majority 868 1900. H. C. Leigh-Bennett (C.) 5367 H. H. Longman (L.) 3080 Conservative majority 2287

In a restaurant the other day a gentleman left his wife for a few moments to chat with an acquaintance at another table, and while he was there his friend persuaded him to partake of some lamb., Under a misapprehension the waiter removed the lamb before he had eaten it, where- upon he exclaimed: "Goodness where is my lamb?" His wife, overhearing the question, answered, in a clear voice "Here I am." Visitor: "Do you like to go to school, little boy?" Boy: "Yes'm. The teacher don't cane us half as much as ma does." Staylate (early in September): "Well, I must be going." Miss Hicks: "Oh, don't be in a hurry. Our lease runs until next May." j

"NO BETTER FOOD." A. Dr. Andrea Wilton, F.R.S.E., At. rV 300 X COLD MEDALS, &c.

I IN THE CLOISTER GARTH. -AI FUNERAL OF DEAN FARRAR AT CANTERBURY. In the grass-clad Cloister Garth of Canterbury Cathedral, close by the grave of the late Arch- bishon Temple, the remains of Dean Farrar were interred in the presence of a. large body of mourners. The service in the cathedral, where a vast congregation attended to pay the last tribute of respect, was fixed for noon, but the choir had in the meantime proceeded to the deanery and escorted the bier through the dark entry to the cathedral's west door, where the band of the Buffs flayed Beethoven's "Funeral March" as the procession passed in. The procession was headed by the students of St. Augustin's College, followed by the clergy of the diocese, several military representatives, the Mayor of Canterbury and members of the corporation, who proceeded to their seats in the presbytery and choir of the cathedral, preceded by the Bedesmen of King's scholars. The choristers were followed by the cathedral clergy, with whom was the Archbishop, attended by his chaplain. Upon the bier lay a magnificent cross of lilies of the valley and other white flowers from "Mother and her Children." The pall-bearers included Mr. Walter Long, President of the Local Government Board; Canon Fleming, Sir Michael Foster, Archdeacon Sinclair, and Viscount Peel. The long line of mourners was headed by the widow, supported by Dr. Farrar and the Rev. Eric Farrar, her two eldest sons, and practically the whole of the children and grandchildren were present, with a number of distinguished persons, who attended as mourners. The service within the choir included Sir Frederick Bridge's setting of the late Poet Laureate's "Crossing the Bar" and Chopin's "Funeral March." At the grave the Primate alone officiated.

A post-mortem examination of the body of George Cooper, who died during the progress of a wrestling bout in New York, snows that death 1 was caused by a collar-stud. The man fell against the ropes and the shank of the stud was driven into the back of his neck, dislocating the ver- tebrae.