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

REVIEW OF THE YEAS. dt NOTABLE EVENTS IN 1806. The year 1908 will be memorable at home from the political point of view for the re- markable wave of liberalism, which swept through the land, and after being in Opposi- tion for eleven years, a Liberal Government was returned to power by a tremendous majority. Abroad the year has been rernark- -able for the large number of catastrophies •of appalling magnitude which have visited various parts of the world, among these be- ing the terrible mining disaster in France, :the eruption of Vesuvius, and the destruc- tion wrought by earthquake in both North and South America. In the social world the most important •event was the marriage of iiirg Aifonso and Princess Ena of Battenberg, while our own King and Queen were as busy among the people as ever, His Majesty performing many 1 1. ug ipublic functions, though Queen Alexandra ,siiffe,-ed a sad loss in the death of her father, SKing Christian of Denmark. Happily the Tear has passed without war between any of ih-3 great Powers, but Russia, has suffered Linuclf from political dissensions, while in South Africa there was a good deal of fight- ing owing to trouble with a hiatal chief, sBambaata. PARLIAMENTARY AND POLITICAL. The General Election, which occurred eaily in January, resulted in the return cf 430 "[Liberal and Labour candidates and 83 ^Nationalists, a total of 513, against 157 ^Unionists. This gave the Ministerial party ia majority of 356, which is the largest since the passing of the Kefarm Bill in 1832, when •the Li berals were returned with a total of *370 above their opponents. One of the most (remarkable features of the election wfis the rsuccesa of the Labour Party, no fewer than 52 being elected out of 90 who went to the tpoll. Altogether the Liberal and Labour parties gained 223 seats, while the Unionists succeeded in -winning 16, of which eight had been captured from them at contests since the general election of 1800. The only "member of the Government to be defeated jwas Captain Freeman Thomas, who had been lappointed a Junior Lord of the Treasury, and !-who was beaten at Hastings by 413 votes. Several vacancies have been caused by deaths and resignations, but the only seat icaptured by the Conservatives was Coc-ker- :mouth, where Sir J. S. Randies regained the seat which Sir Wilfrid Lawson had won at the General Election. Mr. Balfour, who was 'defeated at Manchester, found a seat in the City of London (where the Hon. A. Gibbs re- tired), and beat Mr. Gibson Bowles, who lost is seat at King's Lynn and stood for the City as a Free Trader, by 11,340 votes. Later, on Sir Edward Clarke resigning his seat Rowing to difference of opinion with his con- stituents on the question of Tariff Reform), Sir Frederick Banbury was returned unop- pofed, while at the same time the Hon. Alfred Lvttelton,, who was beaten at Leam- ington and Warwick, took his seat for. St. ^George's, Hanover-square, vacated by Col. íthe' Hon H. Legge. The principal measures ^brought forward by the Government in the House of Commons were the Workmen's Com- pensation Bill, the Trade Disputes Bill, and it-lie Education Bill, a tremendous conflict raging throughout the country over the latter. Amendments by the House of Lord4 were refused by the Commons, and on tlio Bill being returned to the Upper House it was rejected by a majority of 80. Other Government measures were the Merchant Shipping Bill, the Plural Voting Bill, the Land Tenure Bill, and the Town Tenants (Ireland) Bill. A number of ladies connected with the Women's Suffrage" movement obtained ad- mission "to ■ the Ladies Gallery of the House, •ar><l" created a scene, shouting and waving a fag with the inscription, "Votes for Women.0 They were removed and for- bidden to enter the gallery again. On the opening of tho Autumn Session a demonstra- tion was made on the part of the Women Sui'ragists in the Outer Lobby of the House, and several arrests were made. The next day ten ladies were charged with creating a disturbance, and refusing to find sureties for theiTl good behaviour they were sent to prison for two months. Two of them were soon re- leased on the grounds of ill-health, but the others retrained in gaol until liberated by order of the Home Secretary, they having been there for a month. Later in the session other disturbances occurred, and as a result sixteen more ladies were committed to prison. A number of petitions against the return of members arose out of the General Election. That against Mr. Fell at Yar- mouth was dismissed, a similar fate befell the one at Maidstone against the return of Vis- count Castlereagh, at Worcester Mr. Wil- liamson, the Unionist member, was unseated, and at Bodmin the Hon. T. C. Ag2, Robartes, who won the seat for the Liberals, was also unseated, while at Attereliffe the judges decided that the Unionist candidate had failed to substantiate his petition. Some of the more important events in the political world have been the following: JAKUARY.—1. Aliens' Act came into force. -8. The King dissolved Parliament. 13. Mr. Balfour beaten at Manchester. 17. Unionists all returned at Birmingham. 25. Mr. Balfour agcepts seat in the City. 27. Prime Minister (Commanded to Windsor. FEBRUARY.-—7. The King receives Mr. JGlm Burns. 12. Mr. Keir Hardie chosen to lead Labour Party. 13. Parliament opened. Mr. Lowther elected Speaker. 19. The King opened Parliament. 24. His Majesty enter- tained the Cabinet to dinner. 27. Mr. Bal- four elected for the City. MARCH.—7. Commons in favour of pay- ment of members. 14. Commons debate on Chinese Slavery. 20. Merchant Shipping Bill (introduced. 28. Workmen's Compensation Bill introduced. 28. Trade Disputes Bill in- troduced. I APRIL.—9. Mr. Birrell introduced the Edu- cation Bill. 10. Primate's letter of criticism. ilL^jpommons adjourned for Easter. Bishops iagree to oppose Education Bill. 24. House tof Commons re-assembled: 26. Roman Catholic Bishops against the Education Bill. 1, O. Mr. Asquith's Budget statement. MAY.—2-. Plural Voting Bill introduced. 10. Education Bill: Second reading carried !by 206. 11. Albert Hall demonstration against the Bill. 30. House adjourned until June 7. JUNE.—7. Sir Edward Clarke resigns. 13. Premier unveils the Harcourt statue. 23. Manchester Liberals' celebration. JULY.—7. Mr. Chamberlain's 70th birth- Slay celebrated. 12. Mr. Haldane's Army proposals. 19. Grant of £ 200,000 announced tor unemployed. 30. Motion to reject Edu- cation Bill defeated by 132: bill read a third ,.time. AUGUST.—1. Education Bill reaches the [Lords. 3. Trade Disputes Bill; Government majority down to 5. 4. Parliament adjourned tror Recess. SEPTEMBER.—14. Mr. Haldane on Army teforaa scheme. 19. Earl Carrington ex- ^pl^ined Land Tenure Bill. 25. Mr. Cham- berlain declines autumn engagements. OCTOBER.—18. Lord Tweedmouth makes statement on Navy. 22. Mr. Balfour denies c ."I)evol,iti )a" letters. 23. Parliament re- assembled. NOVEMBER.—2. Mr. Asquith's statement on '{Education Bill. 7. Mr. Keir Hardie's Votes ffor Women Bill. 9. Trade Disputes Bill; itlxird reading., Mr. Haldane and Lord Ripon fat the Guildhall. 15. Debates on vice in Chinese Compounds. 20. Old Age Pensions- (iputaton to Premier. 22. Merchant Ship- pnig Bill; third reading. 23. Land Tenure tBill; third reading. 27. Education Bill: Premier denounces Lords. 28. Mr. Balfour's challenge to Premier. 30. Town Tenants, ^Ireland) Bill; third reading. DECEMBER. 6. Education Bill, as amended, passed the House of Lords by a majority of 77. 10. Plural Voting Bill re- jected by the Lords. 12. Commons disagreed I with the Lords amendments to the B duca- tion Bill. Transvaal Constitution published. 17. Mr. J. E. Ellis resigned the Under Secre- I taryship for India. 19. Lords rejected the Education Bill by 80 votes. Workmen's Com- pensation Bill "and Trade Disputes Bill passed. SOCIAL AND PERSONAL. The early days of the year found our King ) busy with the political changes—the death of her father called Queen Alexandra from the country—but early in March his Majesty left London for Biarritz, on the way visiting the new French President, M. Fallieres, at the Elysee. His Majesty also entertained the President to dinner pt the Embassy, and gave a private luncheon, at which ex-Presi- dent Loubet and M. Delcasse were present. Arrived at Biarritz, his Majesty had inter- views with King Alfonso and the Princesses of Battenberg, and the official announcement of the betrothal of King Alfonso and Prin- cess Ena 7vras made. His Majesty, at the beginning of April, left Biarritz for Mar- seilles, where he was joined by Queen Alex- andra, and their Majesties proceeded on the Royal yacht to Corfu, where they met the Prince and Princess of Wales on their way home, after the conclusion of their tour in India. After paying a visit to Athens, where tneir Majesties were present at -the Olympic games, the King and Queen proceeded to Naples, and driving to Mount Vesuvius in- spected the seen 2 of the damage caused by the recent eruption. His Majesty then re- turned to London after a nine weeks' ab- sence, while the Queen went for a trip in the Mediterranean. Meanwhile the Prince and Princess of Wales proceeded home and arrived in London early in May, receiving a hearty welcome on their return, and ¡ on the following Sunday a thanksgiving service was held at Westminster Abbey, while later their Royal Highnesses re- ceived an address of welcome from the City Corporation at the Guildhall. Queen Alex- andra returned later in the month, and a farewell dinner party was given in honour of Princess Ena by their Majesties, who bade her Royal Highness farewell at Victoria the following morning. The Prince and Princess of Wales left later for the wedding of King Alfonso and Princess Ena, which was solemnised with great pomp and ceremony at the church of San. Geronimo, in Madrid, on May 31. As the procession was returning from the church, a bomb, concealed in a bouquet of flowers, was thrown at the Royal carriage from a balcony, and though the King and Queen escaped by what seemed a miracle, many persons were killed and in- jured. Two days after, the perpetrator of the outrage was arrested, but he afterwards shot his captor, and then committed suicide. The Prince and Princess returned from Madrid, to leave shortly after for the coronation of King Haakon and Queen Maud of Norway, which took place with all due ceremony in the cathedral at Trondhjem. The King and Queen performed a number of functions in the country, until his Majesty departed for Marienbad, meet- ing the Kaiser at Cronberg. Meanwhile I King Alfonso and Queen ictoria Eugenia paid a private visit to England, and Queen Alexandra, with Princess Victoria, went to I visit the King and Queen of Norway, subse- quently proceeding to Denmark. His Majesty on returning paid visits in the country, and was then joined at Balmoral by the Queen, subsequently returning to London. His Majesty celebrated his 65th birthday at Sand- ringham, and then went to Windsor to meet the King and Queen of Norway Prince Olaf, who as such paid their first visit to this country. King Haakon was invested with the Garter, a Chapter of the Order being held for the first time for fifty years, and there were State banquets at the Castle, the King and Queen also receiving an official welcome from the Lord Mayor and Corpora- tion of London at the Guildhall. After a short stay at Buckingham Palace, the King and Queen and King Haakon and Queen Maud proceeded to their homes in Norfolk, where Queen Maud's birthday and also the 62nd anniversary of Queen Alexandra were kept. Important events which have happened in tho social world -are:- JANUARY.—9. Duke and Duchess of Con- naught reached Cape Town. 11. Prince Arthur left London for Japan. 23. Princess Alexander of Teck gave birth to a daugh- ter. 27. Princess Ena's first visit to Spain.. FEBRUARY.—1. Serious carriage accident to Lady Grey. 2. Queen Alexandra left for Denmark. 3. Lady Strathcona gives 10,000 guineas to the Queen's Fund. 7. Members of L.C.C. received by President Loubet. 10. Launch of the Dreadnought by the King. 14. Sir F. C. Burnand retired from "Puiieli." 16. Lord de Clifford marries Miss Eva Car- rington, a "Gibson Girl." 17. Miss Alice Roosevelt marries Mr. N. Longworth. 18. Funeral of King Christian. 20. Prince Arthur invested the Mikado with the Garter. 27. The Queen returned to London. MARCH.—7. Princess Ena joins the Roman Catholic Church. 16. Prince Arthur left Yokohama for Canada. 19. Prince and. Princess of Wales left India. APRIL.—16. Duke and Duchess of Con- naught returned. 17. King of Spain's visit to Princess Ena. 22. Princess Gustavus Adolphus gave birth to a son. 28. Celebra- tion of Miss Ellen Terry's jubilee. MAY.-—8. Prince and Princess of Wales reached London. 20. Prince Arthur of Con- naught's return. 24. Princess Ena left Lon- don for Spain. Banquet to Lord Milner. 26. King and Queen opened new Hearts of Oak offices. 31. Marriage of King Alfonso and Princess Ena. JUNE.—12. The King and Prince of Wales at the dedication of the St. Michael and St. George Chapel in St. Paul's. 13. Their Majesties opened Midhurst Sanatorium. 14. The King at the wedding of Lady Mary Hamilton and the Marquis of Graham. 22. Coronation of King Haakon and Queen Maud. 26. His Majesty presented new col- ours to the 3rd Grenadier Guards. 28. The King visited the Royal Agricultural Show at Derby, and unveiled memorial of the Queen. 29. The King's birthday celebrations. JULY.—4.. Crown Princess of Germany gave birth to a son. 10. The King opened new bridge over the Tyne. 11. Their Majes- ties opened Armstrong College and new infir- mary at Newcastle. 18. The King expressed his .regret that he was unable to visit Canada. 21. Mr. A. Chamberlain married to Miss Dundas. Captain Davies won the King's Prize at Bisley. 23. Prince of Wales opened new Christ's Hospital Girls' School a6 Hertford. 24. The King, Queen, and Prince and Princess at marriage of Lady Mary Acheson and Hon. Robert Ward. 26. His Majesty received members of the Inter- Parliamentary Conference.28. The King bade farewell to 3rd Scots Guards. Glad- stone memorial unveiled at Hawarden. AUP-LIST. 1. King and Queen of Spain reached Cowes. 4. King and Queen attended Cowes Regatta. 7. Duke of Connaught in a motor collision, 13. Red Indian chiefs re- ceived by the King and Queen. 21. King and Queen of Spain left England. SEPTEMBER.—17. Marriage of Lord Gerard and Miss Gosselin. 20. Golden wedding of the Grand Duke and Duchess of Baden. 27. The King and Queen opened the Marischal College new buildings at Aberdeen. 29. Lady Derby thrown from her motor. Sir William Treloar elected Lord Mayor. OCTOBER.—9. The King received new Am- bassadors. 13. Lord Mayor and Sheriffs in Paris. 18. '"Resignation of Lord Justice Romer. 20. Salisbury statue unveiled at Hat- field. 31. The King accepts colours of 3rd Scots Guards. NovEivfEER.—5. New Grammar School at Lynn opened by the King; the Queen un- veiled a statue of his Majesty. 6. Duke of Connaught opened new University College Hospital. 8. Sir M. Durand's retirement announced. 9. King Edward's 65th birth- day. 21. Mr. BaXonr made a. freeman of the City. 26. Duke of Fife presented Duff House to Banff and Macduff. 30. Prince of Wales opened new Cotton Exchange at Livernonl. DECEMBER.—X. Qneea Alexandra's birth- day. Mdme. Patti's, farewell coacert at the Albert Hall. 8. Illness of the Princess Royal announced. 14. King and Queen of Norway left England. OBITUARY. The list of the distinguished dead for this year is not a very large one, but it is notable for the number of millionaires who have passed away, and also for the fact that seve- ral members of the Government have been bereaved of their helpmeets, while the House of Lords and the House of Commons have both lost members. Below is a list of the most noteworthy deaths JANUARY.—3. Mr. Vyell E. Walker, who left £1,598,177. 9. Lord Ritchie of Dun- dee, just raised to the peerage. 12. Sir Mountstuart E. Grant-Duff. 22. Mr. George J. Holyoake, founder of Secularism. 26. Mr. Stanley Spencer, the aeronaut. 27. Kins' Christian, of Denmark. 30. Lord Newlands first Baron, left £ 1,504,278. FEBRUARY.—2. Lord Masham, first Baron, aged 91. 4. Lady Grey, wife of Sir Edward Grey. 5. Dr. E. H. Perowne, of Corpus Col- lege, Cambridge. 9. Mr. J. Annand, M.P. Countess Howe. 14. Right Hon. A. F. Jef- freys, M.P. 24. Rev. the Earl of Bessboroucdi, aged 85. MARCH.—14. Lady Sandhurst, wife of Lord Sandhurst. 17. Johann Most, the famous Anarchist.. APRIL.—4. Lord Alwyne Compton, late Bishop of Ely. 6. Sir Wyke Bayliss, Presi- dent of the R.S.B.A. 13. Dr. Richard Gar- nett, C.B., of the British Museum. 19. Pro- fessor Curie, the discoverer of radium. 28. Earl of Mansfield, who left £ 1,021,520. MAY.—20. Sir J. Vaughan, late magistrate at Bow-street. 23. Dr. Henrik Ibsen, famous Norwegian dramatist. 31. Mr. Michael Davitt, celebrated Irish ex-M.P. JUNE.—6. Sir Frederick Peel, son of Sir Robert Peel, aged 83. 8. Sir H. Macartney, late of the Chinese Legation. 10. Mr. Richard Seddon, Premier of New Zealand. JULY.—1. Sir Wilfrid Lawson, M.P., aged 77. 2. Professor Manuel Garcia, aged 101. 4. Viscountess Althorp, wife of the Lord Chamberlain. le). Mr. A. Beit, who left over £ 2,000,000 in bequests. 18. Lady Curzon, wife of the late Viceroy of India. 21. Dr. Gott, Bishop of Truro for 15 years. 22. Mr. Russell Sage, American multi millionaire. 30. Mr. John L. Toole, the celebrated actor. AUGUST.—3. Sir Sydney Waterlow, ex- Lord Mayor and M.P. 4. The Duke of Rut- land, aged 87. 14. Mrs. Craigie, "John Oliver Hobbes," the novelist. 21. Earl of Leven and Melville, left £1,300,013. 28. Earl of Lovelace, grandson of the poet Byron. 30. Lady Campbell-Bannerman, wife of the Pre- mier. SEPTEMBER.—17. Rear-Admiral Sir Ed- ward Chichester. 19. Dowager Marchioness of Londonderry. OCTOBER.—9. Mdme. Ristori, famous Italian actress. 13. Mrs. Lewis-Hill, who left £1,151,073. 21. Colonel Saunderson, the famous Orange M.P. 30. Earl of Cranbrook, cl old Tory statesman, aged 92. NOVEMBER.—2. Mr. George Herring, philanthropist, left £ 1,370,000. 15. Viscoun- tess Selby, wife of the former Speaker. 30. Sir Edward Reed, naval architect and ex- M.P. DECEMBER.—5. Rev. A. Nicholls, husband of Charlotte Bronte, aged 90. 16. Mr. T. D. Bolton, M.P. CALAMITIES. Unfortunately, 1906 has been remarkabls for the large number of disasters which have occurred in various parts of the world, the list including volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, fires, tornadoes, gales and floods, colliery ex- plosions, wrecks at sea, train disasters, with numerous minor casualties. Early in Janu- ary there were earthquakes in Nicaragua and Hungary, followed by a volcanic eruption in Samoa. In February an earthquake and tidal wave visited Colombia, while a tornado swept the Society Islands. March brought news of the terrible mining disaster in the Courrieres Colliery, at Jjens, in France, by which over twelve hundred lives were lost, and soon after there was an earthquake in Formosa, some 1,200 persons being killed and 2,0O0 injured. A mining disaster in Virginia caused the loss of 100 lives, and a similar disaster in Japan resulted in 250 being killed. April was the black month of the year, for it was then that the news arrived of the erup- tion of Vesuvius, by which many villages were destroyed, the total number of fatali- ties being unknown, while the ashes caused the collapse of the roof of Naples maiket, a number of persons being killed and injured. i Another earthquake in Formosa killed hun- dreds, and soon after occurred the destruc- tion of San Francisco by earthquake and fire, with an enormous loss of life, 25 square miles being devastated and 300,000 people rendered homeless. May saw the wreck of H.M. S. Mon- tagu on Lundy Island, and over 100 spec- tators killed or injured in the attempt on King Alfonso and his bride; while during .Tune two persons were killed and many in- jured in a tramcar accident at Swindon, a similar mishap at Highgate causing the deaths of three people and injury to nineteen. In July the American line express, on the South-Western Railway, was wrecked at Salisbury with the loss of 28 lives, twelve persons being injured, while in the wreck of a motor-'bus on Handcross Hill, nine people were killed and 27 injured. Fire in August at the Milan Exhibition caused damage esti- mated at £ 150,000, and 350 lives were lost in the wreck of the Italian emigrant ship Sirio off the coast of Spain. Then came the earth- quake in Chili and Argentina, in which, fortunately, the loss of life was not so heavy as at first reported, though great damage was done to property in some eighteen towns. Fifty passengers were injured in a railway collision near Glasgow, and in September twelve were killed and sixteen injured by the wreck of the Scotch express at Grantham, while two mishaps in America were respon- sible for much loss of life. A typhoon in Hong Kong, in which many persons were drowned and heavy damage done to shipping, was followed by a similar disaster in the Philippines, severe storms shortly after in many parts of the world doing millions of pounds worth of damage, and causing the deaths of many per- sons. By the colliery explosion at Wingate, in October. 25 men were killed and 2;)1) en- tombed, and the sinking of the Russian steamer Variag by a torpedo resulted in 200 passengers being lost. Over 800 men of a Japanese fishing fleet were drowned in a storm, and an electric train going through a bridge on the Pennsylvania Railroad was responsible for the deaths of a great number of people. A tremendous storm which swept the Riviera in November did a great amount of damage, and gales and floods were re- ported from various parts of the country. Forty lives were lost by a collision of steamers off the Pacific coast of America, and the colliding of the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse and the Orinoco at Cherbourg caused seven deaths, while several persons were in- jured. In Germany a roburite factory was blown up by explosion, with the result that many persons were killed and injured, and enormous damage done to the surrounding property. Other calamities of the year have been:- JANUARY.—6. Heavy gale caused several deaths. Q. Landslide in America, 16 persons killed. 19. Mine explosion in Virginia, 18 killed. 20. Mersey tugboat disaster, eight men drowned. 22. Brazilian battleship sunk, 212 lives lost. Liverpool tram overturned, 30 injured. 24. American steamer wrecked, 140 drowned. MARCH.—3. Mississippi tornado, 200 lives lost. 14. Steamer British King lost with 28 lives. 16. Collision in Colorado, 40 killed. 27. Cyclone in New South Wale". APRIL.-5. Black Forest hotel colla,pse, 49 killed. 14. Explosion on U.S. ship Kearsage, eight killed. 17. Explosion on H.M.S. Prince of Wales, three deaths. 19. Belgian training ship lost with 30 lives. 28. Dowlais [ colliery tram disaster, five killed. 30. Courier sunk off Sark, 10 lives INst. MAY.-I. Steamer sunk off Beachy Head, five drowned. 18. Torpedo boat 56 sunk off Port Said with seven men. Six people killed in fire at Stratford. I JUNE.—14. Explosion 011 the Haverford at Liverpool; 8 killed 40 injured. 17. Japanese transport sunk, 50 lives lost. 20. Disastrous J fire in South London. JULY.—8. Rockslide in Piedmont, 16 per- sons killed. 27. British schooner sunk by lightning, 16 drowned. n 0 AUGUST.—2. Severe ,thunderstorms all over the country. 14. Caledonian Railway mis- hap, 11 persons injured. SEPTEMBER.—3. Explosion on Russian cruiser Rurik, at Barrow, four killed, eight injured. 16. Besancon powder magazine blown up, through lightning, six killed, six injured. 21. Dynamite explosion in Ten- nessee, 59 killed. 30. Chinese emigrant ship foundered, Captain Clifton and 60 passen- gers lost. OCTOBER.—5. Philadelphia "Underground" explosion, 8 killed, 20 injured. 16. French submarine Lutin lost, crew drowned. 19. Cy- clone in Havana, 100 persons perished. 20. Selby Abbey destroyed by fire. 25. Twenty persons killed and many injured by fire at Kansas City. 30. German steamer sunk near the Goodwins, 23 drowned. NOVEMBER.—9. Gales and floods in the country. 12. Immigrant tra>u wrecked in Indiana, many killed and injured. 21. Man killed and several injured at a Glasgow dis- tillery. 29. Railway president and three others killed in accident in Virginia. DECEMBER.—3. Earthquake in the West Indies. 17. Naval cutter capsized at Ports- mouth; six men missing. Collision in tho Channel, 12 men drowned. CRIMES AND CI TIL CASES. During this year there has been no civil case which could be described as a cause celebre in the Law Courts, though a tre- mendous amount of interest was taken in the inquiry into the mental condition of the Mar- quis Townshend, when some remarkable evi- dence was given as to marriage brokerage. The inquiry resulted in the jury finding that Lord Townshend was not able to manage his affairs, but was capable of taking care of himself, and subsequently General Sir Red- vers Buller, who is an uncle by marriage of the Marquis, was appointed to manage the estate. In connection with the arrest of a Madame d'Angely in the West-end, a Royal Commission was appointed to inquire into the duties of the Metropolitan Police, and a large number of people have given evidence. Numerous witnesses were examined by the Commission which sat to consider the War Stores scaadal, and as a result of tne find- ing of the Commission drastic punishment was awarded to officers and non-commis- sioned officers found guilty. Early in the year a case of "ragging" occurred among some officers in the Scots Guards, and seve- ral of them received punishment. A court martial for the loss of the Montagu found Capt. Adair and Navigat- ing Lieut. Dathan guilty, and they were severely reprimanded and dismissed the ship. A serious riot occurred among the stokers at Portsmouth, and the ringleaders were comrt- martialied, sentences of from five years to forty-two days being passed, while Lierit. Collard, whose order it was alleeed caused the trouble, was subsequently tried and re- primanded. Commodore Stopford was after- wards relieved of his appointment at the Bar- racks, Commander Drury Lowe was super- seded, and Commander Mitchell also re- lieved." A decision by the Court of Appeal that the West Riding of- Yorkshire County Council were justified in deducting a sum from the salaries of teachers in non-provided schools for giving relig-ious education, caused a sensation in the educational world, and the case was taken by the Government to the House of Lords. Their lordships allowed the appeal and reversed the judgment of the 1 9 court below. No crime has stood out above the ordinary level, but much sensation was caused by Mr. Harry Thaw, brother of the Countess of Yarmouth, shooting Mr. Stan- ford White, a well-known architect, in New York Some other interesting cases have been the following. JANUARY.—6. Vitriol outrage at Charing- cross. 10. Unemployed sent to s-aol for par- ading the-streets. 12. Miss Isabel Jay, the actress, obtained a divorce, 19. Music a, pirates sentenced at the Old Bailey. MARCH.-19. Furniture hire case Misses Jewell compensated by Messrs. Oetzmann. 23. Court of Appeal allowed the appeal of Lord Justice Moulton's stepdaughters. Case subsequently settled. APRIL.—5. Gunner confessed to the mur- der of Miss Camp in 1897, but it was found to be bogus. 14. Jabez Spencer Balfour re- leased from Parkhurst Prison. MAY.—24. Mr. Archibald Wakley, a young ■vrtist, found murdered in his studio at Bays- <vater. 26. For conspiring to forge and titter cheques Captain Fane and P. M. Peach sentenced each to seven years. utter cheques Captain Fane and P. M. Peach sentenced each to seven years. JUNE.—20. A "medium" named Craddock fined in connection with spiritualistic seances. 21. Miss Karri Thomas, a Gibson Girl, awarded damages for alleged wrong- ful dismissal. 26. Messrs. Kynoch given £ 225 damages against Mr. G. H. Faber, M.P., for slander. JULY.—3. Court of Appeal upheld the order that Lady Violet Watt should pay £ 2,000 damages to Mrs. Julia Watt. 10. At the inquest on Miss Hogg-, murdered at Cam- berlev, a verdict of wilful murder against someone unknown was returned. 17. S.-E. Railway Company paid Mr. Cyril Maude = £ 20,000 compensation for damage to Avenue Theatre. AUGUST.—11. Mrs. Devonshire shot her daughter and killed herself at Charing^ross. 13. Walter Bayliss, at South Shields, killed his sister-in-law and her two children, then committing suicide. 14. Great jewel robbery at Earl's Court Exhibition. SEPTEMBER.—7. A man at Kensal-rise mur- dered his two daughters, attacked his wife, baby, and brother, and attempted suicide. 13. Madame Humbert and her husband re- leased from prison in France. 18. Mrs. M. L. Stanley sent to prison for six months for libelling Lady Gwendolen Cecil. OCTOBER.—3. Miss Lake, an English lady, murdered in Germany. 12. Mutiny of con- victs in Maidstone Prison. 25. Frederick Reynolds.sentenced to death for the murder of his sweetheart at Bermondsey. 26. Con- victs escape from Gloucester Prison. NOVEMBER.—6. Miss Jeanne A. Hanson awarded 1,500 for breach of promise. 12. In an action for breach brought by Miss Draughn, an actress, against a German mil- lionaire's son, the jury disagreed. 14. Mr. Guy de Maupas awarded X10,000 damages in the Divorce Court. Charged with. the mur- der of Mr, and Mrs. Watson, at Basildon, Robert Buckham, a youth, was acquitted, and his brother sentenced to death. 17. Two children murdered at Wood green. 28. Frederick H. Woolfries sentenced at Liver- pool to eight months for libelling Mr. Sey- mour Hicks. December.—1. William Voigt, the bogus i; captain of Koepenick" sentenced in Berlin to four years' imprisonment. 8. Remarkable divorce case; decree nisi granted to Mr. W. R Helmore. 11. Mrs. Wagstaffe, a lady of independent means, who confessed to bigamy, committed for trial. FOREIGN AND COLONIAL. I Although there was no outbreak of hostili- ties between any Powers, home affairs caused much bloodshed in Russia, conflicts took place between people and Cossacks, cases of revolt occurred in the Army, while mutiny arose in the Navy. Riots occurred in; St. I 11 I"t" I eter irg, ou"ij £ ,>. » were committed by. re- volutionists, and bonlb-throing was in- dulged ir, on several occasions, the most seri- ous being that at the residence of M. Stoly- pin, whenabollt30 people were killed and 50 injured, including the Premier's two child- ren. M. Stolypin was uhhurt, but the assas- sins were killed. In April the elections for the Duma commenced, and in May the first session of the Parliament was opened by the Czar, but His Majesty dissolved the Duma in July by Imperial ukase. Several plots against the Czar were reported, but none of them was carried. out. In France M. Fallieres succeeded AT. Loubet, as President of the Republic, and the'Dreyfus case was re- vived, the result being that the con- viction of the Captain was quashed, and he was decorated with the Legion of Honour. In Egypt trouble was caused by the Sul- tan placing his troops in Egyptian Territory and refusing to withdraw them, but after re- ceiving a ten days' warning the demands con- tained in the ultimatum were complied with. British officers were attacked by natives, and Captain Bull killed, for which four Egyp- tians were sentenced to death and 16 to im- prisonment. Trouble arose in South Africa with a Natal chief, Bambaata, and a tribe under Siganandi revolted. British forces consequently moved out against them, and y later severe fighting occurred, a large num- ber of the rebels being killed, until news was received of the death of Bambaata, while a heavy surrender of rebels followed the death of Siganandi. The Natal Government early in the year resigned owing to the Colonial Office postponing the execution of twelve natives, but the sentence was carried out a few days later. In November came news that a Boer named Ferreira, had headed a raid into the Orange River Colony, but a few days afterwards he and his followers were captured by the Cape Mounted Rifles. Sensation was caused in America by Presi- dent Roosevelt drawing attention to the revolt- ing conditions which existed in the Chicago packing houses, and much amusement arose through the President sanctioning a new way of spelling. Trouble arose in Cuba, and so serious did the outlook become that the United States intervened and American sailors were landed, while Mr. xTaft, the United States Secretary for War, left Wash- ington in the interests of peace. Hostilities were suspended, and America presented an ultimatum that unless peace were secured there would be a military occupation. Ulti- mately Mr. Taft proclaimed himself Gover- nor, and established a provisional govern- meiit. Late in the year in France trouble arose, owing to the Separation Law coming into effect, between the Government and the Vati- can. Mgr. Montagnini, the representative of the Vatican in Paris, was expelled from the country, the Archbishop of Paris was com- pelled to quit his palace, the clergy are to be deprived of their stipends, C and the Government will sequestrate all church pro- perty. A crisis was brought about- in Ger- many when the supplementary credit for South-West Africa, which had been rejected by the Budget Committee, was submitted and rejected by 178 to 168 votes. Prince Bulow thereupon read a message from the Kaiser dissolving, the Reichstag.