The Western Mail

ACCRINGTON ELECTION. THE RESULT. SIGNIFICANT DECLINE IN GLAD. STONIAN MAJORITY. P?bng took place at AccMB?tcn on Thursday 4 mi th.?ey in that ponBJStitL rrency created by the u??pta. ce of the R:rrpcf"nher ch:al: Jtet:ï member. Mr. J. F. Lee?e. There were b.t two candidates for the vacancy, the Labour party withdnwn their p,.I,. ?.1 to ?ont..t the Mr. Leese sought re-election and waa opposed by Mr. R. Heimon Hodge, Conservative and foimer representative of the constituency, who \\ia, defeated at tho last election by 547 votes. Unfavourable weather prevailed, snow JfM "i. h?,,ig f,,Ii?n all night, and owing to *ma and the number of removals th, oU was ;:t" ::e:d nb¡' ¿ í:IÙ nsnJ. ? raeolt ?, fiec?red ?t MIowe  e (j 5,822 d:(¿) := Gladstonian majority 258 PKEVIOUS ELECTIONS. x T IT i88 ?' 1892. ?  ? ?'' 4>971 Mr, LoeM ?.?;(Q) 6 019 "r. Leese.. (G) 4.751 Mr. H?xc .(C) 6?2 'no Cou. majority 220 I Glad. majority". 547 I li?? rei!ult was 'ted with the greatest int?. r"J? t M tT the House of Commons and the vMiona P*?t:c? c!aba in Loudon. Considering the sascn the an unusually large number of MtmbtM h?d assembled at the clubs, ?nd waited patiently until p?t cleven o'clock to ieant tho ?e?. Fue tesnh w.t? announced at the Housj rn: iU)e;iN"c°:t:e shortly cleven o'clock, ?ud tho reduced Liberal m f caNSfd coMtder&bie juhilation among the Con?rv?tivea and Unionists, as owing to the controversy on Mr. HemQia H?dge's attitiide the contr?ting out clause of the ?7?' ?'?'ty Bill it WM sencr?Uy ex- S?? that '"?°" would ?? ?diminution. the *°bby of tho "°"? it was freely M?rted t"?at t. tho ?"Wt would have .,? important b-?i,?g npon the action of the House of Lords in tho nutter of the contracMng-ont clause. It was the •lection had been fought more pon that q.eti.. th?D up.y other .ubjcct ?before ^e electors, u??d that theinewsed ?ocscrf?t?e poll and tho reduced Liberal poll ere tan amount to an endorsement of the action OI the PQr.. THE NORTH DERRY VACANCY. Ue Pre?s A850iation !enrna that Mr John I AtttMon Q.C., Unionist eandid1\W ft NiJo. h- I D,, will be opposed by a Gidtoi-, pro- 1-?ll 1. the pcraon of an mBaetititt loc?t mtn.

I PAKLIAMENTARY SCENES AND INCIDENTS. I [VROM OUR LONDON C'OUBISPONDENT.) LONDON, THURSDAY. The Lords held a brief sitting to hear the no-al "hsent to about half a dozen Bills, lilt, mo^t important of which were the Ten Millions Bill anti the Shop Hour, Bill. The Lords Oominissiomrx .were the Lord I'h.m- eeltor, Lord Kensington, and Lord Carring- ton. Thee thre" peers aloue cOIl.ititute,1 the House. J heir lordships adjourned till January 12. They tnke it throe weeks' holi- day, whil" the tyrannical Commons are cut otf with three days' rest. In the Commons Ministerialists outdid themselves. They asked 46 questions out 01 56. It was like that terrible duv of the last Parliament wheu the Unionist Ministers had 10 struggle against obstmclion which Wa constant and consistent. Ir. CUllV. oeaie took up 49 lines of broad-leaved print \l11h two qne410us a lxmt. It grievance of some persons who had been in trouble with th" polioe. The Premier's reply to oue«- tions by Mr. n. T. Reid and Mr. Clmnuing. who suggested, the one covertly and the other (lIrecUv, that the gag should be ,?)pli?d In tlie Local Government Bill, ,,It of eloquence and elllptm"s. n told nothing txeept that the Guvummviit would keep an lye on tlio civcuinsiunoo^, and that they t'iok note of Mr. Fowler's opinion that tlie latter ckus&s of the Bill would be found to be nou-cnntroversial. Dr. Maugivgor then made sport for the Opposition Philistines uy Ius emphatic declaration that members oÎ. his side were eager for tiki cloaure. The Premier's statement that the Duke of Saxe- CV burg, anticipating the wish of Parlia- ment. would voluntarily surrender P,15,000 of his annuity, and luuf asked the Queen to take his name off tlie list of the Privy Council, did not give unmitigated satisfac- tion. There were loud murmurs of "All, all," from tl", Irish nwmours when it was stated that the Duke was only giving up part. The amount of annuity lie retains is 210,000 a year, anù this is for the purpose ot keeping up Clarence House, which the Duke proposes to return as his residenee for a part of the year. The Premier's manner in making this announcement was courtly and precise, albeit lie talked round the sub- ject, as is his wont when he has an impor- tant topic on the table. But when Mr. Labouehere demanded an opportunity of dis- easing the matter and voting on it Mr. Gladstone became almost passionate. With lofty indignation, he flatly refused to grant any such opportunity, declaring that it would be a tacit invitation to tho Hous,) to withdraw the £10,000 a year whidt the Duke retains to spend England. Mr. Labouchere asked leave to move the adjourn- ment of the House. OIl the count of the Deputy-Speaker only 38 members stood up in their places to support him. Kvidently this was a surprise. Visibly perturbed, Mr. Labouehere claimed aTitis gave him 59 supporters against 177. This curious result might be satisfying to the pride of the member for Northampton iv it leader of Radicals, but it has barred him from auy opportunity of again attempting to raise the subject on a motion for adjournment. Alarums and excursions continued far ink. the sitting. No soomr was the Royal grant question settled than" new and more exciting subject was tH bled. All the evening it kd been patent that h. Bartley had ,somethin" in hand. When he eutNed the House he walked straight into the Irish camp and made a communication to Mr. Vesey Knox. Mr. Knox nodded and snig"e>red, "ud Mr. Sexton behind d without uoddinf" Ir. Bartley marched into his own place wearing" look of iron determination. He had a newspaper in his hand, to which he occasionally re- ferred. From tills I gathered that breach of privilege was in the air. Sir Ellis Ashmead- Bartlett and Lord George Hamilton having left the Front Opposition Bench to consult with the hon. member, it wag thought that something arising out of the lllwal debate was to come up. When, after several fahe starts, Mr. Bartley at length obtained a hearing it was seen that his'subject was not the Navy, but a speech of Mr, Knox's, reflect- ing (Ill certain members of the House, who were alleged to have had shares in the South Africa Company allotted, for which they paid 3s. OIl allotment, but which they could go down into the City and sell for a share. Mr. Bartley, in the usual form, moved that this was a gross libel and a breach of privilege. Once, twice, and thrice he was interrupted on points of order, raise 1 by ingenious Mr. Hexton ,nd astute Mr, Storey, who werø evidently not anxious to have the subject thraheti out. But Mr. Bartley stuck to his guns, and would not even retire when Mr. Knox had apologised. At first sight it was not altogether a satu- fying apology. There was :1 partial giving away of the "Daily Chronicle," who,e report of the speech was rdied on bv Mr. Bartley. There was u ??ffort to minimi3e what he said as referring only to what had been done in regard to all persons who had shares allotted them. But there was also a full, ample, and humble withdrawal and apology for anything which the hon. member might have said that might have been improper. After Mr. Gladstone had vehemently resented the pro- posal to go be/ond the offender's apology, and after Mr. Knox had twice b;:en oruered to withdraw and had been twice re-called, it was discovered, through the intervention of Mr. Balfour, that he was willing to make his apology unequivocal. Thereupon Mr. Courtney, in his most udmired character of the kindly pacificator and the preserver of precedent, suggested the previous question, which method was adopted, to the satisfac- tion of both sides. In one of the intervah of these exciting interludes Sir William Harcourfc ha^ con- trived to impart to the House a correction of his spooch Oil the naval debate. He wished the world to know that his remark that the naval advisers of the Government are 'R£isfied with the position of this country applies oniv f to the preiept. Sir Michael :a ft; te; sifich:rî mission, but, of course, he could not extort from Sir William a confession that the naval advisers are not satisfied with the future. Mr. I.loyd-Goorge. Major Jones. Mr. Frank Edwards, "Maboll," and Mr W. Williams supported Mr. Labouchere's motion this afternoon to adjoura the House in order to discuss the Duke of Saxe-Coburg's pen- sion. Mr. Arthur Williams and Mr. Abel Thomas abstained from voting, whilst Mr, Rees Davies, Mr. Ratlibone, and Mr. Kger- ton Allen voted with the Government. Mr. Lloyd-George considered the statement of the Prime Minister the most ludicrous ever made by a sensible tnan in the House. To give the Duke of Kdinburgh the opportunity of demonstrating his affeotion for his mother, the British taxpayer should pay £ 10.000 a year? "Why its absurd," he emphatically added. Major Jones was more lie observed, "A Prince of our Royal House becomes practically a king of his own coun- try. and ceases to be a citizen of this, and yet W6 are asked to give him £10,000 a year It is entirely out of 4 drawing,' and I cannot stanrl such an attempt!" Mr. Frank Edwards expressed similar views to Mr. Lloyd-George. The two Labour leaders were content to register their votes without comment. Mr. Arthur Williams informed me that he ahstainerl from voting. He thought there were matters of greater urrrency to be considered. He was, however, strongly opposed to the continuance of the payment, of the £10.000,

I HOUSE OF LORDS.—THURSDAY, The House met at three o'clock. Tho Royal Assent was given by commission to It. number of Act, The House adjoutned at 3.20 nntil the 12th of January.

I HOUSE OF COMMONS.—TIIUUSDAY. The Speaker took the chair at three o'cloek. LOCAL PETITIONS. Mr. C. F. EGERTON ALLEN (G., Pebr,,ke) presented a petition from the committee of the Tenby Women's Liberal Association in favour of repealing tho Contagious Diseases (East India) Act. Mr. D. A. THOMAS (0., Merthyr) preaented a petition from Mertbyr Tydfil Board of Gnar- dians in fvvour of giving boards of guardians direct control over their officera without the intervention of the Loo*l Government Board. THE ijOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL. Mr. R. T. REID aeked the Premier what sV ps the Gorermnect v*re prepared to take to expe. dite the progr-si of the Local Government Bill, in order to allow sufficient time for the promised legislation of net year. Mr. GLADSTONE said he was not prepared at present to mako any announcement on the Dart of too Government, beyond that they I would carefully watch the course of the debate. I ROYAL ASSENT. TheDKPUTT-BPEAKER, with all due formality, obeyed the summons of the Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod to attend the Upper House, in order to hear the Royal Assent given to certain Acts. I MATABELELAND. Mr. LABOUCHERK (G., Northampton) asked tho Under-Secretary for the Colonies whether his attention had beon called to II. speech made on Tuesday by Sir Horace Fitrqubar, a director of the South African Chartered Company, wlwn presiding over a meeting of the Exploration Company, in which, speaking of the properties apparently held by the latter company in Mas. honaland, he said that tlwro was oyer hopo that Lobcngula would be taken or killed. He in quired if the Government proposed to take any steps to prevent the killing of that monarch. Mr. BUXTON (Under-Secretary for the Colonies): Her Majesty's Government are in no way responsible for anything1 Sir H. Farquhar may say, but as he has addressed.. letter to me on the subject of tho question I will read it to tho House I notico Mr. Labouehere has a question in the House to-day referring to my speech at the Exploration Cumpany's meeting. This company has interests in Mashonalaml, and in dealing with these I alluded to the mili- tary operations in Matabclelaud. I stated that the war was practically over and that I hoped the next news would be that Lobengula had been taken prisoner or killed in the war. My remark rcf.:rrot1 to the resisuuwo to Captain Wilson, of which there has been cable news. From this it seemed apparent that Lobengula, much to my regret,did not intend to surrender." I am quite confident as regards the last question, that it is the anxious desire of tho commanders of buth the Rechuanaland police amI of tho ChurtHred Company's forces that Lobengula should not bo killed or injured, and I rejieat that the Government, so far as lies in their power, intend that Lobengula, if captured, shall be treated with every consÍllemtion.a consideration which he fully deserves by his conduct to the whites during the war." In reply te further questions, Mr. BUXTON said :—" W 0 Imvo received the following1 further telegram from Sir H. Loch, in regard to the subject of the alleged coufiseation of Matabele cattle I have been in communication with the British South Africa Company respecting cattle, and they assure me that in evory case where natives gave in their submission they are allowed suflioient cattle to take back with tbcm to their kraals for domestic requirements. I am making ovory effort to secure a peaoeful speedy settlement of tho country, and I am receiving every support from the British South Afrioa Company to attain this result.' Mr. LABOUCHEKE Who are the judges of ¡ what are sufficient cattle ? Mr. BUXTON: The judges are persons on tho spot, ono of wholll is Colonel Goold-Adams representing the Government. CONSIDERATION OF THE STATE ALLOWANCE. DUKE OF EDINBURGH. THE ADJOURNMENT MOVED. I Nr. GLADSTONE: I take the opportunity of fulfilling all engagement whieh I entered into some weeks ago, when a question was put to me with rcspect to the altered position of tho Duke of Edinburgh, now the Duke of Saxe-Coburg. The whole matter has been carefully considered by the Government, and the arrangements have reached such a state of maturity that I may now offer a short explanation. The House is aware that the position of the Duke of Edin- burgh is fixed by two Acts of I'ctrliament. One that of 1866, conferred on him, for his own per! sonal mc, an annuity of £15,000 a year and tho other, that of 1873, in view of his then approaching marriage, conferred upon him a further annuity of £10,000.- (" Oh ")— in order to provide for the establishment of his Royal Highness and of her Imperial Highness, who was to become the Duchess of Edinburgh. Both of these Acts contained a provision having reference to the contingency of the foreign acces¡¡ion, and it was to the effect that it should be lawful for her Majesty the Queen, with the consent of Parliament, to re- voke or to reduce the annuity granted by the Act. Parliament was thus left to take what course it might think proper in the matter. I may here say that when the Act of 1873 was passed, a motion was made that, in lieu of that 1'osor'l'O(l power to deal with the annuities iu the event of the arrival of a certain contingency, a motion was made in tha House to provide for their absolute revocation. It was my duty to speak on that motion, and what I said was to the effect that the Duke's marriage should not necessarily have the consequence of removing him from the character of a British Prince or from all British obligations, and, therefore, it was right that tho liberty of Parliament should in this way be reserved to consider the case according to the circumstances when they arose. I gave it as the opinion f the Government that tto annuity might be reduced but not revoked. Parliament, of course, was not committed to that declara- tion. (" Hear, hear," from the Radical benches.) But, at the "amc time, it was a declaration which was roceived with satisfaction by tlie House, who thought it not unreasonable that our discretion should be reserved, and should not be foreclosed by an absolute declaration pro. yiding for the revocation of the annuities. That is the situation, and uow I have to inform the Hou8e d the way in which the situation has been .fi?e,t.d in manner which will, I am ?ui-el give :tiitt] tthiI:uoty wlâeI tie rhi= Royal Highness himself, who has signified to us, in the lirst place, that he is desirous—he uses that expression, a very gracious expressi. on- not simply to comply with, but to anticipate the wishes of Parliament, by himself proposing to surrender a portion of these annuities. (Murmurs on the Radical and the Nationalist ¡,cnches.) Well, he says a portion of these annuities-and lie gives the reason why, as he thinks that is a proper courso--(oh !)—he states in a manner which appears to us perfectly ex- plicit that he purposes habitually to reside a portion of the year in England. (Derisive Radical laughter and Opposition cheers). For that purpose he intends to retain Clarenoe House and the establishment which may be necessary for its maintenance. In this manner the Duke of Edinburgh, now Duke of Saxe-Coburg, has manifestly shown, in the first place, that lie regards it as his duty to maintlloin in full his domestic relations in England with the illustrious family of the Queen, and in the next place, tbat he contem- platss an annual expenditure in England, whioh will be a strictly British expenditure. Under the circumstances, the Government felt that an arrangement for the surrender, or. rather, the renunciation of the Act of 1866, which con- fers all ity f ;615,000 a year, would be just and equitable, but that his Royal Highncss should continue to draw during his life the annnity of £10,000 a year granted by the Act of 1873. (Renewed Radical murmurs.) Wrhat remains is the question of the mode of pro- ceeding. I have pointed out to the House that the duke is anxious to anticipate the desires of Parliament and the country. The question, then, was as to the mode of proceeding. The mode adopted- Oh !")- has been this, to mark this as a voluntary act on the part of his Royal Highness. There has been drawn a deed of renunciation, which deed disolves and cancels altogether the annuity of £ 15,000 a year. This def)f bas been executed by the duke. (Ironical Radical laugbter.) It has been executed by the dukE, and will be kept by the Government as a public document. On the strength of that deed any issue of the money will be prevented. The machinery provided by the Aot need not be put in motion. It was machinery intended for the purpose of enabling coercion, extinction of the annuity in certain events, and the case bad been anticipated by a voluntary act. I have no doubt that the House will approve of the arrangement. The expense of the residence of his Royal Highness i in this coullh-y should not be thrown on the people of Saxe-Coburg. (Hear, hear.) It would, therefore, be ungracious not to endorse this arrangement. (Dissent from the Radical benches.) Well, there are two other questions raised by the aceession of the Duke of Edin- burgh. One is a question with which we in this House have nothing to do. The duke is a peer of the United Kingdom, and has sat, and, I have no doubt, voted, in the House of Lords. The question whether he retains the capacity to vote in the House of Lords is a question which, obviously, it is for the House of Lords exclu- sively to decide. The House of Lords properly d.Ii? 'd to recognise any title to interfere in any other question, and, tberefore, we leave the 1.??.tion subject to the prov i sion which the It¡t i:eo;h(reaW;i\ ifls arises—which I do not -ticipate. Th. other question is with respeet to tho Privy Connoil. The Government are desirous to leavo the matter to be a subj t f communication betweeu h't.td:; d h::t;mnThtat: tion has taken place in the form of a request from the duko to the Qu. that hi. name ma y be '¡tdkef:hthUiib tft p\të:uniíror (Hear, hear.) This, whether McesSary or not, i* just and judicious and disposes of the matter in a way which, on the whole, is most proper. ( H ear, hear. ) This is all I wish to ay, the House Yiil, I am sure, be gratified with the course which has been taken. (Cries of No," on the Radical benches and Opposition cheers.) Mr. LAUOUOHERE (received with Radical cheers) The statement of the right hon, gentloman that he holds that it is the province of the House of Lords to deoide whether that House should-(Cries of order)- The DEPUTY-SPEAKER: There is no question before the House. (Opposition cheers and laughter.) Ilir. LABOUCHERE I was going to ask a q&estion sir. What I said was preamble. (Laughter.) hrish to ask whether, ijb view of 1 GAME OF SHUTTLECOCK. the fact that certainly all in this House do not concur with the opinion that the Duke of .Edinburgh should continue to recoivo this £ 10.000 a year, opportunity will be given fo members of this House to express their V,, W. and register their votes against it ? Mr. GLADSTONE I should have no objec- tion to auy arrangement which might be proper under the civoumstancos, and undoubtedly it is n the discretion of the House to express itS opinion. But I must again express my strong view, and I do not suppose the House them- selves would differ from me, that the duke should not be expected to drop his connection with this country, and sever the relations of a life time, which he has passed here. I conceive that if these are not to be dropped, and are to be maintained by a periodical residence here, it will not be the view of the House of Comnions that the expenditure for that purpose should be paid for by the Duke of Saxe-Coburg. (Radical dissent.) Mr. LABOUCHERE: My view is not in accord with that of the right hon, gentleman. (Radical cheers.) Is he not prepared to afford this House an opportunity to express its views and to register those views? (Renewed cheers.) Mr. GLADSTONE: Having regard to the fact that we have concluded this matter, it would be absolutely in contradiction to our views that we should ourselves be the proposers of arrangements for hon. members to express themselves in opposition to what has been done. (Hear. hear.) Mr. DALZIEL (G., Kirkcaldy): Will the right hon. gentleman answer a question of mine which he did not answer the other day? Will ho say whether or not the Duke of Edinburgh remains a British subject? (Radical cheers.) Mr. GLADSTONE No, sir. I am not pre- pared to give an opinion on that subject. Still, I would not have it thought that in anything I have said I have implied that he is not a British subject. The question is one that should be considered by tho legal advisors of the Crown. I may add that it is not absolutely involved in the practical arrangements which have been concluded. (Hear, hear.) Mr. DALZIEL: I beg to give notice that I shall to-morrow put a question on this subject to the Attorney-General. (Radical cheers.) THE ADJOURNMENT MOVED. Mr. LABOUCHERE: I beg to move the adjournment of the House to call attention, as a matter of definite and urgent public impor- tance, to the position of his Royal Highness the Duke of Saxe-Coburg in regard to pensions be has received, and is now receiving, from the Government. Mr. MELLOR: Will the hen. member bring up his question ? Mr. LABOUCHERE went up to the table, and I hold a prolonged eonfereuce with the Clerks, apparently desiring their assistance in preparing his question in a watertight form, which would not permit of it being ruled out of order. In the meanwhile there was considerable excitement in all parts of the House, and eager speculation as to whether the hon. member would secure the support of the requisite 40. When the question was put from tho chair it was in the simple fortu that the hon. member desired to move the ad- journment of the House to call attention to the purpose of the Government to continue the pay- ment of £10,000 a year to the Duke of Saxe- Coborg. The DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Is the lion. mem- ber supported P A number of members on the Radical benches below the gangway, two or three Liberals sit- ting above the gangway, and some labour repre- sentatives sitting below the gangway on the Opposition side, at once rose. Several Conser- vative members exclaimed derisively, You have not get it; you have not got it." The ° DEPUTY-SPEAKER: ° There are 38. (Lend OppobHioH cheers.) Mr. Ij?Su?HER?  called for a division. The Hon,?e divided, when there voted- For the motion to adjourn 59 Agai.st 177 Majority against 118 The announcement of tho figures was re. I coivcd with Opposition cbeel's nd laughter. QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE. CHARGES AGAINST HONORABLE MEMBERS. AN EXCITING DISCUSSION. Mr. BARTLEY (0., Islington) t I have to draw attention to a report in the Daily Chronicle of the 15th of this month, and I have to ask the Nationalist member for East Cavan (Mr. Vesey Knox) whether that report, which is a report of one of his speeches, is accurate. The speech was made at a meeting held at the Memorial, hall. If he used the words attributed to him, I shall movo that the speech is a gross libel on members of this House and a gross breach of privilege. If he denies using these words, I must raise the question as against the Daily Chronicle. After a brief conversation, in which Mr. SEXTON (N., Kerry, N.) asked the rulingof the Deputy-Speaker as to whether Mr. Bartley was in order, and in whioh the ruling was against him, Mr. BARTLEY said: I believe that my next duty is to ask that this report may be read at the table. The report was then read by the Clerk, and was to the following effect He was not surprised tkat there had not been more protest" against the war in the House of Com- mons. One reason he would five was that the Ch.?t.r.d Company hd placed k?ir shares .?.6 judiciously. Sh-. which -.Id U i. the Oity at an enhanced price Id b- given to members of the House 01 Commons, In the case of this company, the register of shareholders was not obtain- able, but he knew that several members had been allotted b.r. p. Ibl? 3. tm:t,nWIti:i.Iyd corÍ1 n?.? dy for4 be fore any wttlene-t ?? arrived at. The regider of shareholders should be shown to the British public, so that they would ..e at once where they stood, He ??ul(i not speak for the British people, but he believed that the whole of the Irish people would endorse the protest he was making." Mr. BARTLEY: These words hav-ing been read, little remains but for me to draw atten- tion to the extreme gravity of this statement. Mr. SEXTON (interrupting): My hon. friend is entitled, before the House is asked to pro. ceed, to have the opportunity to say whether he admits the accuraoy of the report. (Ministerial cheers. ) Mr. KNOX The report which has been read is a very short summary of a speech ?f some little length, but I am not prepared to say that ¡tfeetifel;' i::ot vr: is es:b:: reporting to which I should like at once to call attention. I did not say that shares had been given to members of the House of Commons. I made no imputation of anything except an ordinary commercial transaction. I said the shares were applied for and allotted, and the same sum wan paid when they were allotted to members as in the case of other persons. That is the most special inaccuracy, whioh I wish at once to correct but I feel that I ought to go further. I spoke of the allotment of shares to several niembere-of course, a small minority of the HOqee, If I stated that this was a reason why the House did not take move I-iled action ?OQ-BtIT, I ought not t;nh:'e '11: ibt(;trf-b I entirely withdraw it, and hnmMy upotofriM. /Hear, hear.) I ou?ht not to have mud it. gn t i rru en.) I do not know whether I said it or not—(a I b)-but if I said it I now entirely withdraw. So far as the Ch?ftered Company is concerned, if there is anything to complain of, the venue is elsewhere. I under- stand that the latter part of my remarks, about the list of shareholders, will soon be out of date, inasmuch as the register of shares will soon be made known to the publio. Mr. BARTLEY I fully accept the apology so far as it goes, but I think we must aU see that it should go further. (Hear, hear.) The hon. member has not withdrawn his etatomeBt, that he knows for a fact that several members wero given sharc;(cries of Yes, he has U)- were allotted shares at a certain price, which shares they could sell next day for a much higher price. The whole idea and pnrport of the hon. member's remarks was that this was done for a false or corrupt purpose in order to indnoo them in this House to act differently from what they might otherwise do. I oannot conceive anything more detrimental to our honour ??l dignity. (Cheers.) Mr. STORY?G., I ask whether this matter should bo pm'sued after my hon. friend, the member for East Cavan, has absolutely withdrawn—(cries of No, no ")- has apologised for the statement that members bad s h ares give. to the.. Mr. KNOX, I am sure I did not say that. Mr. HARTLEY Do you withdraw every- thin ? Mr. STOREY: He is sure he did not say that. Is the hon. member, then, in order in pursuing this matter ? The DEPUTY-SPEAKER, I cannot say the hon. member is out of order. He is about to bring- something to the notice of the House. (Cheers.) Mr. BARTLEY, There are two interjections put into the report by the reporters. One is tthamo," and the other Namo." This clearly shows what was the feeling of the meet. ing. Tliero were nine members of Parliament present. When we look across the watyr and see the scandals that occurred in France in con- nection with the Panama Canal and other things, it does seem to me that this House should take some notice of these gross charges. If such charges are allowed to be riatle with impunity the stability and usefulness of this House will be undermined. If the hon. member will with- draw absolutely I shall make a difference in my notice. But, inasmuch as he has not with- drawn the graveness of the charge which is that there was corrupt inducement to members of this House, I venture to move that the speech is a gross libel on the members of the House and a gross breach ofits privileges. Mr. KNOX: I don't know 1 have anything further to add. (Loud ories of Name," cheers and counter cheers.) The DEPUTY-SPEAKER: If the hon. gentleman wishes to say anything, now is his timc. (Hear, hear,) Mr. KNOX I might say, sir, that I Imve no wish to let my statement remain equivocal or indefinite. I absolutely did not say that shares were given to members of this House, but as to the other passage, if I did use the expression, I apologise for saying anything which casts any imputation on members. The DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Will the right hon. gentleman now please withdraw? Mr. KNOX then left the Chamber. Mr. GLADSTONE (who was received with cheers): I will ask the indulgence of the House to say a few words. I confess that I do not think the hon. member opposite (Mr. Bartley) was in error in bringing this matter before our attention. But, sir, we have before us a passage read from a report in a newspaper. W. have beforo us the fact that the passage does not even purport to be verbatim. As it 13 only in the naturo of a summary, it is extrn¡ely difficult i to deal with. (Hear, hear.) The hon. member for East Cavan has made a disLillc explanation, and he says that certain passages which he specified were inaccurate. Now, the hon. mem- ber inculpated has an indictment brought against him upon a matter which is not true, and wo are called upon to pronounco on that indictment, as a whole, on what is true and untrue, taken together, and declare that to be a ffross breach of the privileges of the House. (Cheers.) That appoars to me to be an un- paralleled proceeding—(loud Ministerial cheers)- of a most unfortunato character, and a proceed- ing most mischievous if drawn into a precedent. (Renewed cheers.) That, in my opinion, is a sufficient and commanding reason why we should decline, in a matter which is extremely embarrasing, and one of great nicety, to say that an hon. member's behaviour is a breach of privilege. Are we to condemn It entlenl1Ul on an indictment jumbled together, the true with the false? (Cheers.) There was, undoubtedly, in the statement, as we firt heard it, matter for the most serious reprehension. What I under- stand to be the pith of the charge which was ascribed to the hon. member for East Cavan, and which has now been withdrawn and made thc snbject of an explicit and very b.ur.ble and proper apology, waa the state- euge the Ihåete:r?í; a ai:: 1a: fluencinjf the conduct of this House, exceptional proccodings between the company and certain members of the House. (Hear. hear.) I do not see how the conduct of the Chartered Company is at all impugned. (Hear, hear.) Whether it is wise for members to enter into such schemes is a matter 011 which I express no opinion. To say that members of Parliament have entered into a financial speculation like the rest of the public is a matter with which we have nothing to do, and which does not con- stitute a breach of the privileges of this House. Whatever Vie do, for heaven's sake, let us pro. oced in a proper manner. Don't let us mix up a report partly true and partly false, not taking the trouble of disentangling the true for the false, and make the paragraph of a speech the subject of a vote of censure on one of our own members. (Loud Ministerial oheers.) I cannot describe what I think of the injustice and the prospective danger of such a course. (Hear, L.t¥tug¡: ;ttCviÏí be eventually cleared up, and I entreat tha House not to accept a paragraph like this as the ground for making an indictment on one of its own mem- hers. (Loud cheers.) Mr. BALFOUR (C., Manchester, E.), roceivcd with Opposition cheers, said: Like the right hon. gentleman who has just sat down, of course, I have not had any time in which to con- sider the facts to-night before \18, but I must confess that the conclusion I have been able to arrive at during the few minutes allowed me, has not been absolutely identical with that which commended itself to the right hon. ti He has treated this question throughout as though it were p. 2uity and in its essence an accusation brought by one mem- ber against another member. He boa appe" to the House to take no course by which any in. justice may be done to the inerlminated or accused member. Let us, in heaven's name, bo ewetul that if blame is to be laid it should .t bo placed upon wrong shoulders, and no injustice one to hon. m = ei:s. But there is a question of even greater magnitude raised by Mr. Bart- ley, and that is whether the report be right or wrong At ibis point Mr. Knox again en te red the H:setStho::y of Mr. Tair ] rie: n:: senior Liberal Whip. The DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Order, order." According to rule the hon. member withdraws until the House signifies it's pleasure he should enter again. en.amFOUR: If my speeoh interrupts any explanation of the hon. member I will gladly give way. rlširi.L1AM HA1WOURT, Is it not desir- able that the hon. member sheuld know what he had to answer if he withdraws ? Mr. GLADSTONE I am partly responsible in this matter, because I said the hon. member was understood to have charged the House at large with having the course of its proceedings affeoted by these pecuniary transactions, and then I eait if such a charge was made it had been explicitly apologised for. As there seems to be a difference of opinion, I thought the hon, member sbouw know wht the charge was. Mr. SEXTON If the Leader of the Op tiorf(lli :h;ía to emPt f,is.d what has occurred in his absence, ani to ask him whether ho iinequivo?lly ?ith4r*w. any imputation on any member of the Hove, (C h se? ) Mr. VNOX: I only ,? ?h to sy- Mr. BALFOITK Tt may be for the con- venience of the Hoi" iiu 1 in order that the bon. gentleman migii". !M pat to the trouble of ,,k,n t*uv I v.-wVn to put a question wit regar j to 1 ?lki d ue; In th 6 now1 er t::e re;:too\i¡"lloI'B: ;:w'?:t that several members had been allotted shares payable 3s. on allotment, which they conid sell the next day in tho City at 24." 1 should Hke to ask whether Ho saad H, and whother, if he laid 11, he ib,&ew it. ?Ch..) Mr. KNOX: I did ny it, and I dfd not with. draw it. I benne, indeed, I know it to be a fact-(how he.6r?-=d I cannot honourably withdra. that BtaeDt. What I did withdraw was any infeftnw that the pubE0 eonduot of members in this House had been influenced b5 %at they received at th meeting. The word buftery was shouted, and 1 8D Wd, "I l,potw* BWM no acou"A j n  r said it was an ordinary commercial transaction. I used those particular words at the time. I said that the money paid on allotment was the paid by ..yen. e l ae. From that tte. :t iScirhàl, bt'fø; ie;eÏ a.polodse. (Hear, h..?-.) The b.n. member then left the House aWIin. Mr. BALFOUR When I was very preperly interrupted in the middle of my observation. to the House, I was venturing to lay before them the view that thero was a much more important question which we had to decide than the exact statements in this speech. The right hon. gentleman has told us we ought net to adept a paragraph wholesale which was avowedly a summary, and, like most summaries, must be an imperfect representation f the speech. Wh b i:.iff:h:tJcl:ho;ldeb' th" House could never ma ke a complaint against any speech not l;i?tcd oef: .rH hear.) What 1 by before the Houaa is this, that not necessarily by the member for East Cavan, but by the Daily Chrorticle) there has been one of the most serious accusations, I will go the length of saying, the most serious accusation which in the whole of my Parliamentary recollection has ever come under my notice. The newspaper i. reoponsiblo for words, the words have been published and circulated, ancl until to-day they have never been contradicted. They have been circulated as, nominally, tho opinions of the hon. member for East Cavan. I don't desire, and I don't think the House dcsire8 to visit any pains or penalties 011 the hon. gentleman, but ncverthe- less we must r"or(i our view that this state- .???t published by the newspaper is gross br"eh of the privileges of the House. (Cheers). W..1, rcady to accept a full and frank 'p" f- ry emi)er of this House w h o may have V, b.try()d, as wo may .11 be, i.. -h moment, to use expreeions which in a calmer moment wo think it proper to withdraw. (Hear, hear). I only regret that tho lion, member did not take an earlier opportunity of saying ho did not intend to make an imputa- tion. As regards the eXI>lanatian, though I don't blame him, I think it rather unfortunate be thinks it necessary to maintain a statement that members had been given sharcs-(cries of No! no! ")-wèll, that members bad been n.11otto,1 shares, which they sold at a profit of £3 17s. It is absolutely inevitable every man who heard him in the audience, every man who read the statement, would draw the conclusion that members of this Houso had been induced by pecuniary considerations to give a vote which, hout t, pecuniary considerations, they would not have given. (Cheers.) I don't desire, and I don't think any member desires, that thij House should censure a gentleman who has shown every de.vo to withdraw a statement made. (Hear, hear.) The At.1temcnt has been in circulation three or four day3, and never con- tradicted. When I consider how absolutely vital and important it is to our credit that no stain of pecuniary gaiu, and no suspicion of the possibility of out, being animated by pecuniary motives, should rest upon us, then, I say, we should not be well advised if we content ourselves with the withdrawal of the hen. gentleman. (Hear, hear.) I would recommend the House to accept the full and frank apology of the hon. gentleman, that it should pronounce no censure on him. but SBY that the words in the newspaper are a gross breachof the privileges of this House. (Cheers) The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the only question that the House of Com- mons had to consider was what was sufficient and what was the 1,est method of obtaining it, and he asked whether they gained anything by carrying such a motion which had been made, and whether, having received an apology and disavowal from the hon. member, they had accomplished their object. Mr. LEONARD COURTNEY (U., Bodmin) said, if necessary, iu order to dispose of the matter, he would move the previous question. Mr. SEXTON expressed is approval. Mr. DALZIEL said the Daily Chronicle in its report used the word" give" instead of allotted," and ho wished to point out that the editor, in the first leading article, the morning after the speech wa, delIVered disclaimed all responsibility for tho remarks of Mr. Knox, and said tht be accepted no i-,?pon.ibility t all. Mr. JOHN BURNS (L., Battereea) Arising out of this, I wiah to put very plainly, but very definitely, the following question, that is — Whothor, considering themistrust and de:ra- dation of the representative character of atli Honses of Parliament that is daily growing hom members of both Honseo identifying them- selves with company promoting, the G.?.t will take early ?iter?? to make it a condition of a :d l\ehi:íZt:¡,n:te í';ci:ltih: taking cf directorship or other office shall vacate the seat of thc peer or commoner who takes such office ? (Laughter and some cheers.) Mr. BALFOUR: After the speech of my hon. friend the member for Kirkcaldy assuring ns that the editor of the Chronicle disclaimed all responsibility for the statement of the member for East Cavan, who has denied the accuracy of one portion of the ?e.?t n,.i p.l.gi,.d for the j other portion (?,oinp f'aiiied of, I would suggest that tLe Hoiue adopt thc suggestion of the hon. member for Bodmin (Mr. Courtney) and agree to the previous question. to l:e¡viHdueibers: Withdraw the motion. Mr. BALFOUR No, we cannot withdraw the motion. The previous question was then put and agreed to without dissent, and the incident termi- nated. TO-DAY'S SITTING. The motion that the House meet at two o'clock was then agreed to without a division. EMPLOYERS' LIABILITY BILL. THE LORDS' AMENDMENTS. The House resumed the consideration of the Lords' amendments to tho Employers' Liability Bill. The motion that the House should disagree with the amendment inserted, providing that notice be given by seamen, was agreed to without a division. A committee was next appointed to draw up reasons for disagreeing with the Lords, PARISH COUNCILS BILL. On the resumed consideration of this measure, Sir Julian Goidsmid prosidin^ over the Com- mittee, discussion was continued upon Mr. Rathbone's (0.. Carnarvon) amendment to Clause 19 providing that the Local Government Board should appoint to be members of each board of guardians a number of persons not exceeding one for every five elected guardians, and not exceeding three on any one board. Mr. RATHBONE said he wished now to withdraw his amendment, because it had been pointed out by practical authorities on both sides of the House that some such safeguard as he proposed must be admitted into the Bill. Mr. S. LEIGHTON (C., Shropshire) hoped the amendment would not be withdrawn, be- cause he was prepared to vote for it. The amendment was then by leave with. drawn. Some headway was made with the Bill, and at midnight progress was reported. Tho House rose at 12.2. STRENGTH OF THE NAVY. I The members for Wales and Monmouthshire I were represented as follows m the division for Lord George Hamilton's motion in favour of an immeJiato addition being made to the strength of the Navy:— For (204). Against (240). Absent. C., Sir P. Pryce- -1 Burnie, R. D. 1 C., Sir P. Pryce" n., Abra.ham, W. 1\0., Burnie, B. D. 1 Jones 1 a:: ;l,v: jIg:: :¿n,8. '1'. 1 G., Edwarda.F. 1 Hon. G 1 G., Et? T'. E: iIGLW., J.H.' G.f Jones, Major 1G., Lewi?, T. P." 1" G., Lloyd-George G., Xaitiaod, D, I W. F. 1 G., Morgan, Sir G., Morpan, J.L. 1 6'0.bg.,?. Co G.,Rathbone, W. 1 o? F 1 9:; ntber?. G.. S?r?n'.W'.P G.O.l"d.' G., Price, T. P. 1 G W. B 1.11 1. 1 G. Roberts,J H. 1 G.s':it¡;Š 3:: :tÎit.'If: I ?sSM? A  B: !).t?ci'e)),'n. 1 G:: TV. I G., R..d?l, S. 1 G,, Thomas, tr 1 G.,Thomaa,D.A. 1 Wsgn C,M.1 G., Williama, 1 ♦ — G. Williama, W. 1 1 14 19* "Teller.

I THE WAR IN MASHONA- I LAND. I TIDINGS EAGERLY AWAITED. I A Dalziel's telegram from Cape Town on Friday saysAdrioea from Fort Salisbury state that Mr. Stanford, mining prospector, has been hot at Lomagondis, in Mashonaland. His injuries are severe. Up to 2.50 p.m. no intelli- gence has been received from the front with regard to Major Forbes or Captain Wilson.

GOVERNMENT SHIP ASHORE. I Lloyd's agents at Malta, telegraphing at one .l:eedy\:tathieft:nw::u:X there that the British Government storeship Humber is ashore in the Greek Archipelago for safety, after having collidedwith a ship, name unknown, and sinking her. A Renter's telegram from Malta says:—A collision baa occurred between her Majesty's storeship H?ber and an Italian brigantine off Cape Maloa at the extreme south of Morea Peninsula. The brigantine foundered, but ad her crew were save d The Humbar will prooeed to the Pnæuø after effecting slight repairs in the upper works.

I WIFE MURDER AT I BIRMINGHAM. I A woman named Bose, who was taken to the General Hospital, Birmingham, on Saturday night suffering from terrible injuries inflicted by bar husband with a heavy jug, died at that institution on Thursday night. Hor husband waa serested shortiy after the brutal assault was esramittei. and wad now be charged with the "murderof sis wife.

HATRED OF FOREIGNERS. I ANTI-EUROPEAN DISTURBANCES I IN JAPAN. A Central News telegram from Vancouver on Thursday says :-The mail steamer Empress of India, arriving here on Tuesday night, brings news of inoreased antipathy in Japan to Europeans. The attaches of the British and German Legations have been insulted in the streets of Tokio, and many other Europeans also complain of being- unwarrantably interfered with and threatened in the streets by tho mob. The Consuls have united in making a formal protest to the Japanese Government, with the result that the members of the police forco who witnessed these insults without taking any measures to protect the Europeans and punish the rioters have been dismissed from the force.

MRS. MAYBRICK. SENSATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS. I PROBABLE RE-OPENING OF THE CASE. The Press Assooiation is informed that Baroness Von Roques, mother of Mrs. Maybrick has retained the services of Mr. Jonathan E. Harris, solicitor, Leadenhall-street, London, to re-open this case. Mr. Harris is already in communication with the Homo Office, and it is alleged that some new evidence of a sensational character, and in favour of Mrs. Maybrick'. plea of not guilty, h.. b??. bti..d. n

THE FRENCH BOMB OUTRAGE. COUNSEL WILL URGE THAT WRITERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CRIME. A Dalziel's telegram from Paris on Thursday says :-The Petit Republiqne publishes an interview with Maitro 1II arie Deshayes Saint Merry, tho counsel chargeù with the defence of Auguste Vaillant. M. Saint Merry is convinced that tlie Anarchist is perfectly responsible for his action. H. W? not pt the pl?. f insanity, but proposes to quote largely from con- temporary journalism and literature to show how the seeds of Socialism and Anarchy have been sown, and with a view to explaining Vailiant's crime he will argue that the prisoner was only putting into practice the theories laid down by m.d, ibi.k?-l'. (?ial reference will be de°be t:'h: of Victor H.nc;tMi Merry savs it is his intention to put the blame upon the right shoulders and not upoi: those who simply follow the road indicated by approved writers and thinkers.

GREAT FIRE AT SHEFFIELD. The Press Association Sheffield correspondent telegraphs :-A fir" broke out just before four on Thursday on trie premises of Messrs. Hovey and Sons, drapers, and the stock being exceedingly inflammable-the flames spread with alarming rapidity, so that about 60 assistants were rescued with the greatest difficulty, fire escapee having to be brought into requisition. The fire also ignited five large busincss estab. lishmcnts adjoining and on the opposite sido of the street, and all were soon completely gutted. Later details from our Sheffield correspondent show that the damage done by the devastating fire which raged throughout the early hours of Thursday morning will amount to nearly half a million of money. Messrs. G. H. llovcy and Sons alone have lost nearly £200,000. Their employes, who slept on the premises, are all accounted for except one male assistant, who cannot be found, and it is feared he perished in the flames. The fire has now been practically subdued, but a huge gable which stands in the centre of the fire remains unsupported, and threatens danger to the surrounding buildings. One or two of tho firemen have sustained injuiies, and tho streets are impassable with the debris. A further telegram says :-There is now no doubt that Victor Parsons, aged 18, one of Messrs. H.vy'. -.i.tnt., perished in the great fire that occurred on Thuradm y morning at Sh.fli?ld. He was 1.?t see. in th? companv f :}ou: Ii¡ee:c \;im:nlor; their way up the staircase with the object of rescuing the lady assistants. Progress ?.? im- possible owing to the smoke and fire, and it is feared he went forward and was suffocated. No trace of him has been found, and it is unsafe to search for liis body at present owing to the danger of falling walk A NEWPORT MAN'S AnRO" ESCAPE FRO-NY DEATII. A At-wport mall wa.; the central figure in a thrilling scene which occurred during the great lire at Messrs. Iiovey's drapeay establish- ment at Sheffield 011 Thursday. A young IHU nafned Ralph Cole, whoše home is at Newport, has been an assistant for 80me time at Messrs. Hovey. Wheii the alarm of fue was tii'eit given, about four o'clock on Thurs- day InOl'Hil1g-, 70Ullh Cole was asleep ill a room alon" on the third try, Immediately the dn'adeù word "Fir." ,s bard there was ??eene of indescribable -fusion and t?mr. The inmates ?,r. almost paralysed by fl'iht, whi!o many of the Young I.di. were hysterical. The i bought that the flames were in the basement awl tile." .ill the top of the building was one tInt would have apl>all"d n:ast people. There wa. nCl a moment in which to dress. Clothes were seized in bundles. Jackets and cloaks WHe put on irrespective of fit or appearance. Tho one desire waa to seize something to shield them from the inclemency of the morning and to make good their escape from the burning building. The whole party ran downstairs, and managed to make their way to a firoproof staircase, at the back of the building. The females were allowed to go first. Iu a wrl short time they had all made an exit through a door leading into the passage, which opened out into Angel-street. On arriving safely there ic was discovered that Ralph Cole was miing. Instantly again all was oonfusiol1, the thought of their own safety being swallowed up in apprehension of the possible fearful fate of a coll¡>ague, The polioe wero informed of tho matter, and the greatest excitement pre- vailed. The fire escape was brought round to the front of the building, and reared against the side to the floor just vacated by the main body of employes. Great WR3 the sensation of relief experienced by all-police. assistants, anil public-when the figure of Cole appeared at ono of the windows, clambered through, and slid down the fire eæ".]1", amid the rousing cheers of the crowd. The whole party were then taken across to the police-station, where they were made as comfortable as cir- cumstances would permit. Not a single one of them took away anything of value. Their first tllOUght w;v» for self-preservation—how to leave the buildiw¡-aml WhPtl that wa acconi- plished the lire had milde such headway that it w»*< hopeless to think of anything being saved fronl th" top story. Late on Thursday afternoon our Sheffield representative succeeded, after considerable diffi- culty, in obtaining an interview with Cole, who gave the following aocount of his narrow escape:—"Between four o'cloek and a quarter past," he said, "I was awoke by shrill shrieks and shouts, and when alarmed by the I o p ene d .?y 1).d- window. I saw the light ra::r J=ævinf'oul':e,s:, that Wi I did not know how far anything was wrong, and I went down to the dining-room. There the place was in flames, and I tried to get out. I threw up the window, and saw the firemen in the street below, but they could not take me through, and ordered me to return upstairs. It was a terrible business to gel back, all I had to rush through the flames, smoke, and gas. Two bedrooms I went into, but oould not got out from either of the win- dows. Then I went into a third, against the window of which the fire escaj>e was run up, and I got into it and slid down to the -tl-t, beina the last person to leave the burning building. I lost all my things in the fire, but am thankful to have saved myself." Cole, like Ins t'ûlleague6, had had to scramble into a heterogeneous assortment of clothes, and appeared considerably shaken as the result of his rough eXI>eriellí

CRIME IN FRANCE. FOUR MURDERERS SENTENCED TO DEATH. A Dalziel's tategnun from Paxis gays :—Sen-: tenoe of death was passed on Wednesday upon four murderers in different parts of Franoe. The crimes in each case were of a particularly brutal character. In one cane the victim was a deaf and dumb cripple, 83 years old, and her assailant, after rendering her nnco".d\lq. assaulted her and the. heat her to death, finally making off with ten francs he found in her clothing. In another oaee the criininal assaulted and murdered his own sister. The third com- mitted a double murder, jealousy being the cause, a dotnestio servant and her lover being the viotims. Their brains were beaten out with a spade by the discarded sweetheart. The fourth man killed bis wife and daughter on the pnViic- road, as weU a* a Woor-by who attempted to rescue them from him. There u* no Jos tb" eight persons actually awaiting execution in Franco.

I ILLNUBS OF MR, J. B. GUNN. 'ar We regret to learn that Mr. J. E. Qtmu, the well-kDown auctioneer of Cardiff, is rather seriously ill with mfluenaa. Mr. Gunn has been oODüned to his house since WednouUy moming, .ndoathqra& tbo?eas no improvement in bf: condition. ia*r:o.J.ï::qiH 6anm w.. to bMe takes pVt, at the Royal Roul en Thursday, had to be jostpmod in cense OMnc? ef 9tMTHcett.

WALES DAY BY DAY. The Dean or Bangor is suffering from is, flueuza, in an acute form. Serious complications are expected at Barry, Both the secretaries of the Conservative &Del Libtral Associations are Husselia. Chapels and oharities have benefited iIa tb& extent of £500 or £600 by Dr. Gomer Lewis'* lecture on his doinw< at Chi. 1'i'iiioijMiI Owen mid the Vicar of Dolyddeleit h:w" important articles ill the January number of the" Crtminen." They write on tilt' Wel^hi Chm-oh. Ka, pa," aj-ked a Cardiff boy yeoJk>nlay. what." tho difference lx-twetn influenza and a oohl' "Only the doctor's fee, my eon,* wan the reply. 11 this ;t record? Mr. W. Thomas, The Hayes, Sully, ha* won about tiftv money pri- and two silnr cui>s for suoceesful exliibitg 01 fat stock this year. The Karl and Countess of Powis have left l'owis Castle, Montgomeryshire, oil a visit to die Marques* and Aiarc.hione^s of lamdcderry, at Wvn.varci Park, County Durham. Sunday trading is to lie put down witli the Strous fidt of the law in Barry. The lorat p01ioo have heell instructed by the "lIief-(OI" ",blhle to take legal proceedings against all offenders. Burglary is not Sunday trading. Capta;n fViJtirh Davies, who lias recently ,b, transferred fioni the let. Shropshire ad; Staffordshire Artillery Volunteers to the Kasfc Kent Corp", was one of the Volunteers what wtnt out from this country to help Garibaldi. Many new things in the way of Chriatma* ""rd.; aro devised every year. One of the quaintest we have seen is a piece of thick brown ])aiK-r carelessly torn off anyhow and with tho name and sentiments of the owner printed alld gilded, but the capital letters and the small ones are mixed up in a manner suggesting d. t. I. "Good gracious, Mr. Jones! What are yon clonic there?" asked an astonished Ca.rdiffi8l{ nliei; he come upon a respected Xooooofor. mist doubled up under a water top and thej water running all over him. Can't (J()oQ(). oonie h-home just yet," he aid; "&001l't heu th' man at this telephone! And, putting his ear back at the tap, he mildly aeked, Alk you there" Morien" is always more or lees happy but to-day his happiness will know no bounds, He i. distributing the money sent to tha Western Mail" for the widows of the mea* killed at the Great Western Colliery disaster. The Archdruid called yestenday to say that, if we int.dt:(lnotieillg the matter at all, to raind' not to put in such headings as Morieo' Among- the Widows," "ud so on. The Sauta Claus" festival brought out) several examples of affectionate solicitude for! the absent on the part of little urohiiu. ij met one little fellow peing home, wri a -1 gentleman. The canvas bag waa unopened., One arm supported a package of oake, an appler and orange. 'For whom is the oakef I asked. Oh, for mother,' was the jubilant reply. Ajid the orange and apple r' They're for my little brother, was the rejoinder. It made me think, S&nta. Claus' reached much further than thfr Park-hall. A curate down the line, hearing of the ill- ness of an old incumbent in the neighbourhood nud failing to obtain satisfactory information from the outside public, went to the medient, attendant to know the state of affairs. The doctor was a bit of a wag, and told him gravely: that the poor fellow was dead. The curate beamed with joy, and said, "Here. off; I am going to jump into his boots." When ha had put all his plans in motion he heard, toi his great surprise, that the old rector was; wearing his own boots and in a fair way toj oonvalesowice. The ourate collapsed with u loud bang. Peoplo have more than one reran for re* joicing in the success of Miss Mary Thomas, who has just won the Westmoreland Scholar-i ship at the Royal Academy of Music. She is; the daughter of one of the uobl!4 oollier-heroeei of Wales—Mr. Gwilym Thomas, Ynyshir whose deeds of valour and unexampled earlu-; ranee at the Tynewydd disaster made thai civilised world creepy with amatsement and, admiration. Mr. Thomas is still a workingl collier, and, alone and unaided, he haa maiiA tained his clever daughter at tlie Royal Academy. His reward comes in her suooese.j Only a short while ago Miss Thomas woo at gold medal at the sallle institution. Like his daughter, Mr. Gwilym Thomas ij himself a singer of reputation, and is in gtmt demand at concerts. A few years ago he waa announced to sing at the Crystal Palace, and many looked forward for the appearanoe of die splendid hero of Tynewydd. Witeii be, appeared on the platform as a sprum-lwking, gentleman, with an amplitude of glossy linen ant' white gloves, an aged, weather-beaten naval officer of the old kind turned round to Mr. Crooke, the London agent of the Glamor- gan Coal Company, and a-jked, in blank Mnue- ment, Is this a Welsh wilier?" "Yes," sait' Mr. Crooke; "that i. Gwilym Thomas. "Good God" cried the old admiral, breaking into tears; "I haven't seen anything of thej world if this is a Welsh collier." Cardiff's school board is a, moody kind (44. liody, but it occasionally melts into a laugh. Dr. Horder wanted to know why the board have not enforced the clauses of the Cardiff Local Aet of 1884, relating to the employment of children, and the clerk liac promptly replied that the reason is that the local Act in ques- tion has been superseded by the Protection at Children Act, 1889, whieh is not only mono stringent in its provisions, but enables tilt pohoe (a much more competent body for sucl purposes than the attendance officers of < sihool hoard) to cuforee their provisions. An4 when th" memhers of the board heard thd reply they laughed a ten horse-jiower laugh that shook the time-ball off its pg. A writer in "Cymro" states that when If great preacher visits Anglesey the other deno-i minations close their ohapels and go to hmJ him. Onee upon a time the late Dr, Th Rees, of Swansea, preachtd in the island, 81111, the Methodists went in a body to hear him^ anè his sermon was much appreciated. Jf fortnight afterwards the Rev. John Phillips^ of Bangor, preaolied in the Methodist Chapol.1 and the Independents went in a body to ha0i him. Another grand sermon, but, oafacta I ■lately, it was so like that of Dr. Rees thatS the Independents hinted that Mr. Phillips ha& stolen it W the do(tr, whilst the Methodista h,?ld ?4 ?qu.1 ig-- that Dr. Raw m pnrkined it from Mr. Phillips. 80 strone, waf the feeling,' says our Welsh contemporary, "that it was feared that civil war would brealc out and the military be sent for." The Loudon "Daily News" stands can rented. A correspondent points out that dW statement as to Mr. Alex. Peckover, of Sibald's Holme, Wigbeach, who has been appointed Lord-Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, being tlie first Ncnocnformiet lord-lieutenani ever annointed, is inaccurate. Mir. Gladstone made a similar appointment seme years agot when Mr. Richard Davies, of Trehorth, Aam M.P. for Angleeea, was made lord-lieutenant of that oounty. Mr. Peokovsr, who is F4 member of the SDooiety of Friends, is aNd to* be a lineal desoendant of the Quaker trooper who fought under Oliver Cromwell. Mr. Davies, who is a member of the Welsh eel. vinistio MetJ",<fu;t. is the son-in-law of the late Rev- Henry Rees, one of the oelebratedf preachers of that oommunion. Some few months ago a group of TtlijuiiiwyJ Valleyites journeyed to London by a dayW excursion train. On arrival they wandereA alxiut for a few hours, until their atemadw commenced to cry, Cupboard." They searttaC and soon found a restaurant. Inside it waa tilted i "V elaborately, uid, with open-mouthe# astonishment, they gated at the numerous minora and silver-mounted fittings, but just they were proceeding to retrace their steps a waiter aooeeted and led them to a tabla. Ift menu oard wpB shown around, but, aa it Waa Freooh, one of their Biuaber lia|ifcsiiiHj pointed out hot was wanted. After waiting '*m' t- nú-- a 4ish pbod up= tha toge, the ?wa?eip being hidden by a With f-iig. of -,guine I am of I the .bar plrtily raimd the 14 but pre* ciuitately dr-ep i .d, 1 unutterably disappointed, audibly wtuspaced, "Oi, ShodL '8pä8II oootk.,ao £ an diawi" SøWMa Rtan& for -bw6=m