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

John Foster, referring to a couple whom he had known, said that "Their courtship was car- ried on in poetry. Alas! many a enamoured pair have courted in poetry, and after marriage lived in prose." As Colton says, "Marriage is a feast where the grace is sometimes better than dinner." "I wonder what makes my eyes so weak," said an uItrRadical to Mr. Disraeli. "Why, they are in a weak place" I said the latter.

I FISCAL POLICY. I I CO-OPERATORS CONFER. I A conference of co-operators and trade unionists, held on Saturday at Newcastle-on- Tyne, under the auspices of the Cobden Club, passed resolutions affirming belief in the ad- vantages of free trade, and urging all working- men and women to support the campaign against the attempt to subvert it. DID MR. RHODES INSPIRE MR. CHAMBERLAIN? Some light is thrown on the possible source of Mr. Chamberlain's reciprocal relations idea by the publication in the Times of letters from the Colossus of South Africa to Sir John Macdonald, the then Premier of Canada, and Sir Harry Parkes, Premier of New South Wales. The letters are forwarded by Dr. Jameson, who, in a covering letter, says: "The preferential tariff, embodied in the Customs Convention, having been passed in both Houses of Legislature in this Colony, the enclosed letters, written by Mr. Rhodes more than 12 years ago, may prove of interest to your readers, more particularly in view of the attention which is now being devoted in England to proposals similar to those put forward at that time by Mr. Rhodes. The letters, copies of which I enclose, are in Mr. Rhodes's own handwriting, and were found amongst his papers after his death, and are evidently copies of communications sent by him shortly after he became Prime Minister, for the first time, to the Premiers of the Dominion of Canada and of New South Wales." In the letter to Sir John Macdonald, dated May 8, 1891, Mr. Rhodes says Dear Sir,—I wished to write and congratulate you on winning the elections in Canada. I read your manifesto and I could understand the issue. If I might express a wish it would be that we could meet before our stern fate claims us. I might write pages, but I feel I know you and your politics as if we had been friends for years. The whole thing lies in the question, Can we invent some tie with our mother country that will prevent separation ? It must be a practical one, for future generations will not be born in England. The curse is that English politicians cannot see the future. They think they will always be the manufacturing mart of the world, but do not understand what protec- tion coupled with reciprocal relations means. I have taken the liberty of writing to you, and if you honour me with an answer I will write again." The letter to Sir Henry Parkes also bears date May, 1891, and in it the writer says "Dear Sir,—You will excuse the liberty I take in writing to you, but I wish to congratulate you on your success in the initial stages of federating Australia. I must say I do not like the title of "Commonwealth of Australia"; it indicates a desire for separation, and I would have liked to see you keep the appeal in law to the Privy Council with the condition that at least one Australian judge should be a member of the Privy Council. I recognise that in the future, if we remain a part of the British Empire, which is my present hope, we must receive special consideration from the Mother Country. I do not know whether you have considered the question of preferential consideration as to our products, but I believe if we were united in our views we would obtain such a consideration.— Yours, "C.J.RHODES. Sir Harry Parkes, Prime Minister, New South Wales, Australia. P.S.-I will explain my reason for writing. I am Prime Minister here. I' think if you would change the name to the Dominion of Australia, out of regard to the English people, you would enormously strengthen our demands for prefe- rential consideration as to our products."

A jiew Boarcl School at Halifax, in Battinson- road, has just been completed at a cost, including the site and furnishing, of £ 29,500. The build- ing comprises a mixed department and an infants' department, and provides accommodation for 1,000 children. The heating and ventilation are on the Plenum system. Associated with the school are a cooking kitchen, manual instruction room, and a swimming bath 41ft. bv 21ft

n I AmiIlk BORWICK8 The Beat vi BAKINC lill POWDER  N   S B f  he ffPOWDER ,World. N .-u..IWU

I TOWN TOPICS. í (From Our London Cori-espondent.) [ The publication of the Report of the Royal Commission on the war, and the evidence given before that body, has furnished a wealth of interesting material for the student of history and the practical politicians who desire a thorough reform of our military system. Report and evidence together represent four closely- printed Blue-books with an aggregate of some two thousand pages and, as the -1 Times" confessed, newspapers can only extract a few of the nuggets from such a rich mine of informa- tion. The Press has undoubtedly dealt generously with the matter, but even then it nas been impossible to do adequate justice to such an important mass of oral testimony, official minutes,, statistical tables, and the like, together with the Commissioners' own observations, which go to make up the set. The reading of Blue-books is not usually considered a fascinating occupation; and the general public regards them as "heavy," which may be one of the reasons for the extraordinary custom of selling them by weight. Yet oftentimes they are more than important—they are really interesting; and in the case of the four just published such a description is abundantly justified. Points which have long been a mystery to the public, or, at best, only partly explained, are now cleared up; and though there is likely to be a rekindling of controversies which had almost died away, it is better to have them settled once and for all in the light of the whole information procurable. Those who regard the Thames as one of the natural playgrounds of the people, and as a source of health and recreation to the rational section of the community, will be delighted to notice the recent endeavours of the Conser- vancy Board to put down abuses and preserve the amenities of the upper reaches of the river. Within the last two or three weeks several cases have occurred at the Riparian Police- courts, in which the Conservators have secured the punishment of persons whose inconsider- ateness, and in some cases objectionable, rowdyism tend to spoil the reasonable pleasure that all users of the stream are entitled to derive. The public rights and interests in the Thames Valhy are watched over by an organisa- tion known as the Thames Preservation League, which works in conjunction with various angling and open space societies, but which as yet has made no great headway in the matter of public subscriptions, without which any movement of the kind is necessarily confined to very modest limits. There is, undoubtedly, room for a very powerful and flourishing association such as the League aims at becoming; while the legal guardianship and control of the upper Thames, now entrusted to the Conservancy, might also be considerably improved. Reformers have been urgirg for some time past that a special Board of Conservators should be constituted for that portion of the river above the capital, and it was at one time hoped that some tangible re- form might be effected by the Port of London Bill. The Board of Trade, however, has not seen its way to meet this view, and though the measure will come up again next year, there will be little chance of altering it in the desired direction. The Trades Union Congress-the annual Par- liament of organised labour—which opens in Leicester next Monday, will be the thirty-sixth of the series, the first assemblage of the kind having taken place in Manchester in 1868. How the Congress has grown in the interval may be judged from the fact that whereas only thirty- four delegates then attended, representing one hundred and eighteen thousand three hun- dred and sixty-seven workpeople, the number of delegates at last year's gathering in London was four hundred and eighty-five, representing one hundred and ninety-eight trade societies with fourteen hundred thousand members. The latter figure is the second highest recorded in the history of the Congress. The agenda for the forthcoming meeting is sure to lead to some interesting discussions, the most im- portant of which, from the Labour point of view, will undoubtedly be that relating to the legal status of Trades Unions. Pending that debate, all the prominent Trade Union leaders have declined the invitation to give evidence before the recently-appointed Royal Commis- sion to inquire into the matter of trade dis- putes. Another "burning" question is likely to arise over the constitution for the Labour Representation Committee, as an effort will be made by certain societies to disqualify the Independent Labour Party, the Fabians, and the Social Democrats, who are at present on the Committee. The suggested changes in our fiscal policy will also be discussed. The much-vexed question as to the right of the public to have free and uninterrupted accfcss to that silent monument of a past age, Stonehenge, seems certain now to find its way into the Law Courts, for over E1600 has already been promised to the Guarantee Fund being raised by the Commons and Footpaths Preser- vation Society in order to enable it to test the legal question involved. The owner of Stone- hellge is Sir Edmund Antrobus, who, alarmed at the collapse of one of the great stones some two or three years ago, undertook certain ID easures for securing the safety of the others, and, ai; the same time, set up a barbed-wire fence and t'arnstile, and imposed a charge of one shilling rr head for admission to the remains. This, is admitted by the opponents of the land- owner, was, doubtless, prompted by a genuine desire for the better preservation of Stone- henge, the revenue derived being devoted to paying a caretaker and conducting investiga- tions touching the monument; but however praiseworthy his motive, the Commons Society and kindred bodies, as custodians of the inte- rests and rights of the public, felt it necessary to challenge Sir Edmund's assertion of his claim to exclude the nation from Stonehenge. Whether the access previously enjayed was a matter of right which cannot be obstructed, or was by favour of the owner, is the point that must now be determined by the Courts of Law. The announcement that Sir Edmund Antrobus is prepared to dispose of Stonehenge and eight acres of land to the Wilt- shire County Council for a sum of fifty thou- sand pounds will not be allowed to affect the action of the Commons Society, the offer having only been made public after the society initiated its Guarantee Fund, and the amount mentioned being so large that there is believed to be little, if any, chance of the County Council or the Government acquiring the property. The popular fallacy that any wound to the he&. t inevitably causes death has just been disproved by the case of a Londoner named Long, who was stabbed through the heart in Spitalfields neatY three months ago, and who, thanks to a wonderfully daring and skilful operation at the London Hospital, is now apparently as well as ever, and has been able to give evidence against the man who inflicted the injury. When admitted to the hospital Long had already lost a considerable amount of blood, but fortunately some had congealed over the wound and thus closed it. The surgeon in charge promptly decided that the only wav to save the man's life was to reach the very centre of the injury a course necessarily attended with much risk and difficulty owing to the dee pl.v-e-.n bedded position which the hftaVt occupies in the body. By enlarging the wound in the chest, and temporarily displacing the breast cartilage, ribs, and lungs, the doctor was able to expose the heart, which, on being slightly raised, revealed the clot covering the puncture. The congealed blood was washed ?jn<^ then with catgut, and afterwards with silk, the small wound was sewn up, an almost immediate improvement in the pulse testifying to the success of the hazardous operation. The period of recovery was natu- rally somewhat protracted, but the man is now walking about again restored to his usual health. Once more the time has come round to lay aside the cricket bat in order that football may reign supreme during the next eight months. But what a libel on the British climate-bad as it sometimes is-to allot two-thirds of the whole year to the winter game! The South has scored the triumph in cricket this year, Middle- sex heading the championship competition, and Sussex being well-up; though the decline of Surrey, which has been so noticeable a feature of the last four summers, is the great blot on the Southern escutcheon. The once-famed cricketing shire has suffered more defeats than any other county; and the prospect for the future holds out no hope of any amendment. After wearing the laurels for three years, Yorkshire now falls to third place. It is deserving of notice that Surrey was the only one to arrange out and home matches with all the other fourteen counties in the competition, Yorkshire and Lancashire coming next with twenty six matches apiece while the Middlesex programme com- prised only eighteen games. The fortunes of the English eleven in Australia will be closely followed during the next few months, and Mr. Warner's combination, if not absolutely repre- sentative, may be trusted to maintain the credit of the old country. Partisans of foot- ball in the South are hoping that the result of the cricket season will prove an augury in the case of their favourite game. The development of Association football in the south and west is more marked than ever, and the prospects of a good season appear highly favourable. R. I

NEWS NOTES. I The War Inquiry Commission has reported, and the evidence taken is collated and pub- lished. It can scarcely yield any satisfaction to the patriot, disclosing as it does an immen- sity of ineptitude and bungling on the part of and as between the War Office authorities and those in charge of the execution of their behests at the beginning of and for a consider- able portion of the duration of the South African campaign. Want of harmony and dis- regard of representations resulted in disaster, and the wonder is that there was not an even greater wastage of life and wealth than actu- ally occurred. Something drastic should un- doubtedly be done in the way of intelligently reorganising military control, that is clear, for the position is a humiliating one. We cannot bring back our gallant dead, or recover the treasure squandered through incompetence; but we can obviate the recurrence of a state of things that cannot be too strongly con- demned by the severest critic at home or abroad. Lord Salisbury has been interred with im- pressive simplicity in the private grave-ground of his ancestral home at Hatfield, amid the reverent regrets of all who have had active or passive part in the public life of the Empire during the half-century last past. There was an absence of sepulchral pomp, but the noble statesman was mourned with that "sure and certain hope of a glorious resurrection" which falls as a consoling benediction over the end of the earth life of the good. A poet whose initials betray his identity had some apt elegiac lines in more than one leading London news- paper on the day of the lamented marquis's burial. "A. A." wrote of Monday's Hatfield solemnity: Both the lordly and the great Here may learn how Virtue far Outsoars din and dust of State, And what tinsel Honours are. Acclamations have their day; Quiet Fame is fame for aye." It may be noted that what took place when the last Russo-Turkish war broke out is being repeated now that the conflict has begun in Macedonia. The Bulgarians are not the only allies of the Macedonian insurgents, for it is now stated that many Roumanians are fighting shoulder to shoulder with the Bulgarians, and that several bands are commanded by Rou- manian officers. Turkey discovered in the former troubles that the Roumanians were splendid soldiers. The active sympathy of King Charles's officers and soldiers is a very im- portant new element in the complication which is now past all remedy,. Macedonia will soon have all Bulgaria and all Roumania, all Servia, and all Montenegro behind her back to help against the Turk. Until the "Sublime Porte" has been quite ousted, many think, there will be no abiding peace in the Near East. Ought not the Great Powers to step in and settle the matter once for all? Sir Charles Hotham, as Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth, on Monday hoisted the flag of an admiral ef the fleet on board Nelson's famous Victory. There are ample precedents for the hoisting of the Jack, which is the flag of an Admiral of the Fleet, at the mainmast- head of a warship, but no officer had before won the honour of flying the most distinguished flag of the Service on the Victory. Even Nelson did not attain that honour. William IV., as Duke of Clarence, flew the flag in token of his full-pay naval rank, and King Edward, when he is at sea, also flies the flag; but it is fully thirty years since an officer who has worked his way through all the ranks from cadet to Admiral of the Fleet has attained this rare distinction. Sir George B. Elliot reached the highest rank in the naval service while he was Commander-in-Chief at Devonport, and for two days he kept his flag flying at the main of his flagship, but no other admiral has since that day been promoted to the position of Admiral of the Fleet while still in active em- ployment. Sir C. F. Hotham enjoyed the high distinction for one day only, for on Tuesday Admiral Sir John Fisher, on taking over the Portsmouth command, hoisted his flag en the Victory. During his one year of rule the Vic- tory will cease to be flagship, and Sir John Fisher close the line of brilliant admirals who have hoisted their flags on the ship which is inseparably associated with the name of Nelson, for in a few months the Hercules will be the flagship at Portsmouth, and the Victory will become a floating Nelson museum. 0- A very practical object lesson on our trade is provided by the international food exhibi- tion now open at the Crystal Palace. There are 393 exhibits, only thirty-nine of which re- present British firms. Even in this lot some of the firms exhibit foreign goods. Among Colonial exhibits, the Government of Cape Colony display specimens of all that the Colony produces, and Victoria shows a general array of Victorian products. Business enterprise characterises the foreign sections. Austria- Hungary stands first with 125 exhibits, and Germany specialises on .sausages and beer. Italy sends table wines and cheeses. Away from far West Siberia the Kourgan Farmers' Association send specimens of their butter manufacture, which they maintain will keep for months without deteriorating. Switzer- land enters the exhibition with a bold bid in the form of a new champagne. The show demonstrates one thing very fully, and that is that the foreigner is "all alive" at points in which the Britisher is displaying pitiable in- activity.

The new lock at Teddmgion, the largest on the Thames, will be completed by the end of the year.

THE BALKAN RISING. I do. TWO HUNDRED BULGARIANS SLAIN. I Prince Ferdinaud has returned to Sofia. The tension in Bulgaria has become so great that it JS daily more difficult to prevent bands from cross- ing the frontier into Macedonia. A mass meeting was held in Belgrade on Sun- day in favour of the Macedonians. The revolt meantime is extending to the dis- tricts of Seres, Strumnitza, and Raslog, and the whole northern frontier of Macedonia will soon be ablaze. The Bulgarians are concentrating troops to oppose any invasion by Albanians. Two hundred Bulgarians are reported to have been killed in the recapture of Neveska. As in the case of Krushevo, the Comitajis appear to have left the place, and the killed are doubtless the inhabitants of the village. ATTEMPT TO BLOW UP THE ORIENT J EXPRESS. The east-bound Orient express passed through Sofia on Saturday morning without a single pas- senger for Turkey. An unsuccessful attempt has been made to blow up the west-bound Orient express between Usun-Keupri and Tcherkesskeui. The engine was derailed, but no other damage was done. Usun-Keupri is the next station south -?f Kuleli-Burgas, where the "Convention" train was blown up the other day, and Tcherkesskeui is one or two stations further on towards Con- stantinople. ILL-FED TURKISH TROOPS. Although Turkey has 196,000 troops in Mace- donia and 50,000 on the borders, reserves are still being called out. He adds that food for these is very scarce, and most of them are not paid. As late as Friday all the members of the insurgent bands in the districts of Melnik, Djumala, Razlog, Petritch, and Denurhisser signed an oath to die for liberty. Two hundred well-armed volunteers, among whom were four officers have left Belgrade for Macedonia. A manifesto signed by Hn. Brailsford, 11, Bruns- wick-square; Noel Buxton, 2, Prince's-gate; W. Cecil Harris, Campden House Court, Gloucester-walk, W. John Macdonald, 19, Bou- verie-street, and H. R. Meyer, Clophill Rectory, Ampthill, surveying the present position and suggesting remedies, has been forwarded to the secretary of the Balkan Committee. GENERAL INSURRECTION. A general insurrection in Northern Macedonia has been proclaimed. The Turks have plun- dered and burned two villages to the South of Resen. From Salonika it is reported that the Bulgarians, whilst retreating Northwards from Klissura and Nevaska, were surrounded and at- tacked and lost heavily.

Young Man: "I assure you, sir, I look for- ward longingly to the union with your daugh- ter." Girl's Father: "Ah, well, that's a candid confession, anyhow. She'll certainly bring you there if she's half as extravagant as I've allowed her to be." A Bale editor has been shot by a young Russian who forced his way into the office and demanded money. It was said that the editor had refused the Russian's MSS. At Westerland-on-Sylt, on the German coast of the North Sea, mixed bathing is allowed, and a pair of lovers became engaged while actually in the water. Kansas River, U.S.A., has risen eight feet within twenty-four hours owing to rains, and it is said more rain is falling in the upper parts of the river. After 270 years a monument has been erected at Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, to th » memory of a I lady who founded a charity for the poor of the parish in 1631. 'I. Forest fires have been numerous in the Yukon district, owing to the dryness of the season. In 1861 there were in London 37,000 tailors, in 1871 38,000, in 1881 40,300, in 1891 52,300, and in 1901 80,074. These figures are from the "Tailors' Handbook." The above astonishing increase is undoubtedly due to the large influx of aliens of all nationalities in recent years.

— 3 I Lassitude. 1 I Exhaustion. I B When you are Tired-out, 8 g feel Weak and Weary, Sleep i B does not refresh you and your S H Appetite is poor, I ,v r 9 Pv% I Guy's Tonic I I will revive your Strength, 1 I induce natural Sleep, improve i g Appetite, and restore Nerve B I Power. It strengthens the B I entire System, removing the 8 B causes of Headache, Indiges- 9 I tion, and Debility. Its Re- 1 i storative effect is not equalled I I by any other Tonic. 8 I Guy's Tonic is a British Preparation M fij of purely Vegetable origin. It is employed £ j M with excellent results inllospital practice, || II and is widely recommended by Medical H H Men. A six-ounce Bottle of Guy's Tonic, 9 U price i3%d., is on sale at Chemists and M BL Stores Everywhere. 3 PEN1 A Elastic Rubber Heels. Don't Slip andiDoWt Splash. The only heels giving crace, durability, comfort. itfSSSl Many shops will offer clumsy imitations ffiSJIWis] v&B*? ^9 cf yielding them larger profits. Insist upon rfPTe 1 the best. See the word PENNA on iii1ffWBWMlrljlll each heel. Ladies', 9di; Men's, 1/3 oer pair.—Write for pamphlet and particulars Note the 1 from HOWISON & CO.,4.Snow Hill. ATTACHMENT. T London, E.C. Income Tax Repayment Agency, 45, Cliffe Street, Keighley, Yorks. Conducted by a retired Income Tax Official 'df 25 years' experience /o Agency undertakes all kind of Income Tax Claims,and adviies on all matters relating: to Income Tax,

LEGACIES FOR SEA CAPTAINS. Mr. Richard Crawley, a well-known Southamp- ton gentleman, who died recently, left a somewhat remarkable will. It was his practice during the later years of his life to spend a great deal of his time on board the Isle of Wight Company's plea- sure steamers, and in consideration of the cour- tesy extended to him from time to. time he has left all the captains he was personally acquainted with, a dozen or so in number, one hundred pounds each. In addition he has bequeathed a thousand pounds to the Royal South Hants and Southampton Hospital, and smaller sums to other local charities.

LAPSED MEMORIES. Many remarkable instances of loss of per- sonal identity, says the "British Medical Jour- nal," are well authenticated above and beyond ordinary occurrences of epileptic persons who after an attack have moved from place to place, often over considerable distances, without being in any real sense conscious. Among such are instances of prolonged lapse of memory which cannot with certainty be connected casually with a post-epileptic state. A case was recorded by Charcot of a man who had repeated losses of consciousness not definitely epileptic, and during a period of two years had several wandering attacks lasting several hours. At the end of that time he had one which lasted eight days. On a particular day he was busy with his ordinary employment in Paris; on the evening of that day he lost consciousness, at any rate of his ordinary personality; eight days later he suddenly "woke up" in a strange town which proved to be Brest. He had no knowledge of what had passed in the intervals, he was in a well-kept general con- dition, and he had spent £ 8 of his employer's money. Two months later, in a town 300 miles away, a man known as Brown, who six weeks before had opened a small stationery shop, suddenly "woke up" and asked where he was. His name, he said, was Bourne, and not Brown; he knew nothing of shopkeeping; he could remember nothing of his actions since he had entered a tramcar, as it seemed to him, on the previous day. During the six weeks nothing had occurred to associate him with his previous life or to indicate that he was not in a normal mental state. After three years he was placed in the hyp- notic state, when he immediately answered to the name of Brown, and said that he had heard of Bourne, but did not know that he had ever met the man. He also failed to recognise his wife. On being questioned he explained how he had passed the unaccounted-for fortnight; one afternoon he had been in Boston a night was spent in New York, and ten days had been passed in Philadelphia, at first in an hotel, but mostly in a boarding-house. At this place, after the interval of years, he was quite clearly remembered as a quiet man, not at all eccentric. The only confusion of the two existences was that once during his shop- keeping life he gave an address at a religious meeting in which he, as Brown, referred to an incident that had occurred in his life as Bourne.

1'1 July, the Newchwang Railway earned Y.6,uiju, while the mortgage interest alone amounted to P,11,000, apart from working expenses. It is said the Chinese wish to sell it. There are two popular delusions about fish-- one that they cannot live out of water, and the other that they can live in any pure water, the food supply taking care of itself. As a matter of fact there are fish in Africa which, having to exist in absolutely dry rivers for a portion of the year, have developed lungs. A meteor, almost equalling the effulgence of Jupiter, was seen, according to the "Yorkshire Post," from Kirkslall at a very early hour on Saturday. The body not only nearly rivalled the great planet in brilliance, but was of a similar colour, the comparison being the more readily made owing to the fact that Jupiter was then shining brightly near the meridian. In the public square of Nassau, the capital of the Bahama Islands, there is only one tree, but that tree literally fills the square and spreads its shade over all the public buildings in the neighbourhood, for, it is the largest tree in the world at its base, although it is hardly taller than a three-storey house. It is usually known as a ceiba or a silk-cotton tree, but the people of the Low Islands of the West Indies call. it the hurricane tree. Even the oldest negro in the island cannot remember when it was a bit smaller than it is at present.

THE GREAT YACHT RACE. I i CONTEST STOPPED BY STORM. I No race was sailed for the America Cup on August 29. The sea and wind were so high that Sir. Thomas Lipton and Mr. Iselin decided it would be foolhardy to send the boats out, so a postponement was agreed to. This is the first time in the history of the America Cup that a race had to be postponed on account of a gale. Several offers have been made to Sir Thomas Lipton for the purchase of the Shamrocks I. and IT., but it is impossible to obtain details. It is understood, however, that a sale will in all pro- bability be arranged. Sir Thomas Lipton is to be presented with a gift from the American nation as an appreciation of his sportsmanship. A com- mittee consisting of representative citizens has been appointed to secure public subscriptions, j and the amount received will probably be ex- pended in the purchase of a magnificent set of table silver ware for the yacht Erin. It is estimated that since 1885, the New York Yacht Club has spent zC426,000 in building eight C, r Cup defenders, most of which has fallen on Mr. Iselin. Sir Thomas Lipton is believed to have spent almost this amount .during his triple hunt after the Cup. PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS. i The following are the results of the previous efforts of Sir Thomas Lipton to capture the CI,IID 1899: Shamrock I. v. Columbia:- Oct. 3.—Time limit expired. „ 5.—Time limit expired. „ 7.-Time limit expired. „ 9.—No start. Fog and calm. „ 12.-No. start. Heavy weather. 13.—No start. Heavy weather. „ 14.—No start. Heavy weather. 16.—Columbia won by lOmin. 8seu. „ 17.-Columbia won. Shamrock dis- abled. „ 19.-Time limit expired. 20.—Columbia won by 6min. 34sec, 1901: Shamrock II. v. Columbia:- Sept. 26.-Time limit expired. 28.-Columbia won by 1 min. 20sec. Oct. 1.—Time limit expired. 3.—Columbia won by 3min. 35sec. „ 4.-Columbia won on time allowance. 1903: Shamrock III. v. Reliance. Aug. 20.-Time limit expired. „ 22.—Reliance won by 7 min. 2sec. 25.-Reliance won by Imin. 19sec. „ 27.-Time limit expired. YACHTS AGAIN FAIL TO FINISH IN TIME. The fifth trial for the America Cup was made on Monday, and resulted in a fiasco owing to failing wind. Early in the morning the wind was blowing at fully twenty knots an hour, and the sky was overcast with a rough sea. By nine o'clock the wind had fallen, and at ten o'clock the yachts got under way for the lightship. At eleven o'clock the wind,1 blowing E.N.E., had settled down to a fairly steady gait of between ten and twelve knots. The start was made to a point four miles south-west of Sandy Hook lightship, about the same distance of Navesink Highlands, and the course was signalled as a beat of fifteen miles to windward with a run home. As the rival cutters dashed about before the start under plain sail, with small club top- sails, water broke repeatedly over their decks, and drenched all the lower portions of the sails. Both yachts got off together, Barr capturing the windward position. The official time made the start llhrs. 45mins. 26secs. for both boats. The boats pushed along on parallel lines for nearlv fifteen minutes, and then went about to- gether on the starboard tack. Reliance now being in quieter water began to take the lead. Two tugs followed in the wakes of Shamrock and Reliance respectively, in order to render assist- ance if required, as there was danger of acci- dents owing to the heavy sea. At 12.10 Reliance came about on the port tack, and was seen to be ahead. From this point Shamrock never caught up, and the race was a procession to the mark-boat, which was rounded by Reliance at three o'clock and Shamrock nineteen minutes later. At 4.24 Reliance was six miles from lome and footing slowly, the wind having dropped to five knots. Shamrock at this time was about two miles behind. For another three-quarters of an hour the procession continued, Shamrock managing to pick up a little in the light breeze, but at 5.15 the signal "No race" was hoisted on the committee-boat, with the Yankee less than a quarter of a mile from the winning line, with Shamrock rather more than that distance in the rear. I STOPPED FOR WIND. There was no attempt made on Tuesday to race for the America Cup, as there was not sufficient wind when the time came for starting.

I THE MISSING LADY DOCTOR. The police on Saturday paid a visit to a place in the country in the course of following up a clue from Clapham, where an ironmonger said a lady resembling Miss Hickman, and wearing gold-rimmed spectacles, purchased a spirit-stove and a kettle on the Wednesday after the lady doctor's disappearance from him. The shopman stated that she spoke about the maternity hospital near by, at which Miss Hickman had once resided, and her appearance suggested to him that she had been out all night, and was in a dazed condition. From East Finchley it was reported on Satur- day that Miss Hickman had been seen in the neighbourhood. On the evening of Monday week a gentleman noticed a tall young lady standing at the junction of Durham-road and Fortis-green- road. Afterwards, on reading the description of Miss Hickman and' being shown her portrait, he came to the conclusion that the young lady he had seen was the missing doctor. This state- ment has also been investigated, but up to the present is unsupported.

I FATAL FIGHT BETWEEN CONVICTS. At Borstal convict prison on Saturday afternoon Mr. R. J. M. Stedman held an inquest upon the body of William Pennington, alias Tom Kendal, a convict undergoing a term of three years' penal servitude, who died after a fight with a fellow- convict named William Pickett on the preceding Thursday morning. The evidence showed that the two convicts formed part of a gang of 26 who were working at Fort Borstal. They were in charge of Warder King. Pennington challenged Pickett and squared up at him. A fight ensued, during which Pickett rushed at Pennington, who fell to the ground, and was conveyed to hospital on a stretcher. It was a fair fight, though Pennington was the bigger and heavier ilan. The warder could not leave his post to part the men. Medical evidence was given to the effect that the deceased had a weak heart, and death was due to heart failure, brought aboutpro- b:1bly by excessive excitement and exertion. The jury returned a verdict of "Death from natural causes," and exonerated Pickett from all blame.

Tha First Lord of the Treasury has approved the appointment of Mr. P. Hanson as a Com- missioner of Public Works in Ireland, and to fill the vacancy which will result from the retire- ment of Mr. R. O'Shaughnessy, C.B., on October 31 next. A despatch from Ohio states that the Demo- cratic Convention there has reaffirmed its devo- tion to the principles of the last national plat- form, and has condemned the fostering of trusts by tariffs and other legalised privileges granted to trade combinations. Mrs. Jennie Page, of San Leandro, in the United States, has applied for a divorce on the grounds that her husband refuses to take a bath more than once a year. The wife of an Indiana farmer is seeking a divorce from her husband because he insists on always sleeping with his boots on. The crew of the yacht Red Dragon were cruis- ing off the New Jersey coast last week when they captured a strange fish, which was floating ap- parently asleep on the top of the water. It was 12ft. long, had ears 2ft. in length, and resembled in shape an elephant. The crew named it the olephaut flab."

I BIG LONDON DOCK FIRE. A fire broke out shortly before nine o'clock on Tuesday night in two large corrugated iron build- ings situated in the Limehouse Basin of the West India Docks in East London. The buildings which each covered an area of 40ft. by 280ft. were only erected about two years ago, and were stored with mahogany and other valuable wood. The confiagration soon assumed immense proportions and firemen, with engines and floats, arrived from all parts of London. It was early seen that there was no chance of saving the buildings themselves, which soon collapsed, nothing remain- ing but immense piles of burning wood, which cast a lurid glare over the whole of the Dock dis- trict and drew the inhabitants out in their thou- sands. The firemen were handicapped by their inability to get near to the seat of the fire, the flames extending even to barges and a large mud- iiredger. So overpowering was the heat that a telegraph pole about 150 yards away from the fire was burnt. Many cranes also fell into the water. Owing to the great crowds of people, it was found necessary to close the West India Dock Railway Station for some time. The out- break engaged the attention of no fewer than 150 firemen with 30 engines. Captain Hamilton, the new London Fire Brigade Chief, personally directed their operations. It is reported that the damage done will amount to between 9100,000 and a quarter of a million sterling.

I GOOD FOR HARVESTERS. Farmers and labourers have had unusually heavy work this year in consequence of con- tinuous rains which have beaten down the crops and compelled them to cut by hand. This, in the damp weather, is a sore trial to workers always liable to rheumatism, which disables so many. "I despaired of ever getting anything to do me good," said one of them. "The pain was in my hip and nothing would shift it. It racked me day and night, and I had no desire for my meals. I saw in a newspaper a report about Dr. Williams' pink pills for pale people. I sent for a box, and after a few doses he pain began to grow less and to shift about from place to place. My appetite came back, and I was able to sleep well. The rheumatic ppins grew less and less, and at last left me aHogether." Asked if he was sure that it was the pills that cured him, the speaker, Mr. Jarvis, of Morley-street, St. Botolph, Wymond- ham, replied without hesitation, "There is no doubt. Nothing else that I took did me any good. I reckon they are wonderful." Field workers please note.

I DR. KRAUSE LIBERATED. Dr. Krause, who was formerly Public Prose- cutor in the Transvaal under the old regime, was on Saturday morning liberated from Pen- tonville Prison. He had served a. year and eight months of the sentence of two years passed upon hiri on January 18, 1902, for having writ- ten letters endeavouring to incite CorreMus Brocksand to attempt the murder of Mr. J. D. Forster, a British subject at Johannesburg. Dr. Krause had been in the infirmary during the greater part of his imprisonment. A large num- ber of his friends met outside the building, but the doctor left in a two-horse brougham, in which were his sister, Mrs. Dixon, the wife of Dr. Dixon, of Johannesburg. It is stated to be the doctor's intention to refrain in future from active politics. He desires to return to South Africa to resume his practice as an advocate, and he does not expect that any great obstacle will be placed in his way by the Government. In the event of his not being al- lowed to return he will devote himself to travel and study. There is stated to be a possibility of his writing the record of his prison experi- ences.

I EDUCATION PROBLEMS. I LORD LONDONDERRY DEFENDS THE NEW ACT I I AND ITS PRINCIPLES. Speaking on Saturday at Shildon, near Dar- lington, the Marquis of Londonderry said those who contributed to voluntary schools after 1870 in almost all large towns also contributed to the expense of building and maintaining secular and religious teaching in the Board schools. In the result of competition between volun- tary and Board schools that followed the burden of the voluntary schools was very seriously in- creased. The supporters of Board schools, whose requirements were fully met by the sys- tem, were under no reciprocal obligation to contribute to the cost of secular education in voluntary schools. So he maintained that to place on the rates the burden of part of the cost of secular education in voluntary schools was a tardy recognition of what had been done for education in the past, and was absolutely necessary owing to the extra burden which had been placed on voluntary schools to save them .rom extinction. What their Nonconformist friends should recognise was that the voluntary schools were by no means free from pecuniary obligations at the present, time. He believed that there was a determination amongst the people that there should be religious instruction in the schools. The Act which had been recently passed would, to his mind, improve generally the whole sys- tem of education by putting it on one sound and firm basis.

I POLICEMAN'S NECK BROKEN. j Jiariy on bunday morning Police-constable George Edwin Wilee was the victim of what is alleged to have been four play. Deceased was called soon after midnight to a house in Castle- street, where a quarrel was in progress between Robert Humphries, a merchant seaman, and his wife. Humphries had, it appears, knocked the woman down, and she ran into the passage shouting "Murder." Wilce seems to have paci- fied the couple, and induced them to return to their apartments upstairs. There, however, the quarrel was renewed, and the officer, standing in the doorway downstairs, shouted out to them to be quiet. Humphries thereupon, it is stated, left his room, came down, seized Wilce by the throat, and dragged him inside the door, which he closed. Sounds of a struggle were then heard in the passage, followed by a fall and a cry for help.. Before the neighbours could reach the place, however, the door was again opened, and Wilce, staggering out, fell uncon- scious into the arms of a man who was passing. Police-constable Ryan arrived almost imme- diately afterwards. Deceased was then breath- ing, and a medical man was promptly fetched, but on arrival he pronounced life extinct. The oody was removed to the mortuary, and Humphries was afterwards arrested. It is be- lieved that death was caused by deceased's neck being broken. Wilee had been in the force nineteen years, and leaves a widow and two young children.