The Middlesex Courier from London, Greater London, England • Page 6

6 THE MIDDLESEX COURIEE. August 27, 1897. own lengbh. They are entirely of Britlth manufacture, although the patent of French They are also constructed to carrj-one ami a load of small parcels, those shown, however, being designed to cany two one seated behind the other. The Anglo-French Motor Company, of liirmingliam, show a handsome range of vehicles ail propelled by jjetroleuni niotoi's.

Ill fi.irm and design they are unsurpassed by fvny shown in the hall, and in these carriages, one is immediately struck by the ease of their manipulation and tlie instantaneous control of their movements exercised by the driver. This firm also show inotur delireiy aus which are remarkable for carrying heavy loads considerable speeds. Cither vehicles are exhiliited by the Hon. C. S.

Rolls and other firms, and the collection is well worth a visit by aU who take-any interest in the advance of meclianicaUy propelled vehicles for Common roads. THE POLUUTION OF THE BRENT. THE anxiety of the residents in Hauwell as to the state of the river Brent has been further increased by a local case of typhoid fever, which has been pronounced by the medical gentlemen in attendance to be directly due to the effluvia rising from the river. Although a number of men are employed in the deodorising work, it is claimed at Hauwell that the frequent use of chloride of lime is not an unmixed That ir has the temporary effect of cleansing the surface water is admitted, but it is the opinion of experts who have been caUed in that the chemicals cause the to settle in the bed of the river, and by that means to increase rather than diminish the risks of zymotic disease. The appearance of typhoid at Hanwell is causing con-siderable alarm in the adjacent town of Ealing, and the anxiety is increased by the fact that nearly aU the district councils have risen for tlieir summer vacation, so that no effective measures can be taken for more than a month.

Mr. Bailey Denton, commissioned by the Sritish Medical Journal, has made a report, which IS published in the current issue of that journal, on the condition of the river. He made a thorough examination of the river on four of the hottest days of the present month. At the Brentford Lock there was nothing un- Bightly in the appearance of the river, and it in no way differs from any ordinaiy canal: neither was there any smell. This condition of thuigs prevailed up to King's Lock, where there i.s a backwater; here the first was noticeable, and the water was discoloured.

On the left bank at this point situated the Southall-Norwood Sewage but Mr. Bailey Denton. does not consider the public have cause of complaint on this account. On the other side of the river are situated the Hauwell Sewage Farm and Disposal Works, where a very different state of thmgs prevailed. The effluent which discharges into the backwater did not differ from town sewage previous to any treatment what-' ever and the was in consequence nothing more or, less than a cesspool giving off a disgusting smell.

Above the bridge by Perivale Church the stench was awfiU, and men under the orders of the Ealing tTrban District Council were at work adding lime to the water. Above Willesden the river presented a much improved appearance, for water lilies and green vegetation abound, with no black deposit in its bed, and without any smell, thns clearly proving no recent contamination of any importance. Mr. Bailey Denton suggests that, when the Comity Council are satisfied that the effluents from aU the sewage works along the raUey conform to the requisite standard of purity, the river bed should be cleaned out from Hanwell to the Welsh Harp Reservoir, not omitting aU the small. tributaries and backwatere fi'om Brentford upwards, wliUe above the reservoirs the north-eastern feeder to above the Hend.on and the northern feeder to above Schweppe's manufactoiy should be treated in a similar manner.

As the course of the Brent is very tortuous, it might lie advisable to straighten it in certain places, so as to secure a more rapid flow. AN ESSEX CANAAN. Jewish Sxodns from the East End. A exodus of the Jews is taking jilace from the East End to Essex. The Promised Land, which while it may not be flowing with mdk and honey is at least a great improvement on Whitchapel, is situate at Benfleet, close to Southend-on-Sea.

The whole circumstances of this exodus are very remarkable. Some time ago Mr. Robert Varty, of 00, LeadenhaU Street, purchased some estates of about 1,200 acres, immediately contiguou-s to his residence at Jarvis HaU, Rayleigh, E.ssex. These estates lie in the three parishes of South Benfleet, Thundersley, and part of Korth Benfleet. Mr.

Varty was able to pur- clia.se this land at a price which enables liim to sell cheaper than the original holders obtained it. The reason, of course, was the downward tendency in prices and the increasing difficulties of the farmers to pay the tithe and other charges upon the land. Mr. Varty (who has his own remedy for agi-iciiltural depression) has cut up the estates into small ill its. He has already sold about 800 acres.

the sales were first held a few Jews were present, but it was on Wednesday in last week that two or three hundred Israelites attended the auction, and this number included several rabbis and prominent members of the London Synagogue. As the result of the day's about 300 lots were sold, the total price realised being £3,386. There was no mistaking the nationality of the purdiasers, the auctioneer's lists including such names as Gijldstein and Moses and other typical cognomens. AU these men paid the deposit at once even handed over the purchase-money. According to Mr.

Varty, these new Essex settlers are men in a small way in tife East End. Some are tailors and shoemakers, others make small articles for the coster and; the huckster, or they peddle themselves. The plots of ground are 20ft. broad and some IGOft. or 170ft.

in depth, sufficient to erect; a hoiise and leave space for a garden. These Jew are of Polish or Russian extraction, amV by chnt of years of industry in England have, acquired the wherewithal to purchase, in some -ises, several plots of ground. A glance at. the lists that in one case £232 had. been paid by a Jew, but this was probably in: the nature of a speculation.

The plot.s, how-; ever, unless they were in some specially good; position, fetched between £4 and £5, the only; other expense that "the purchaser was put to was (id. for a Government stamp to affix to the deed of conveyance. It is evidently the intention of the to establisl! a regular colony here. Plans are being got out for houses; one or two small factories are to be built, whilst an enterprising East End fish merchant ii going, it is said, to build a refreshment house. Some 400 are still to be disposed of, judging by the way that Moses and his compatriots are crowding into Mr.

office duriii.g these days, asking particulars and filling up it seems likely that this further estate will be completely occupied by Jews. The poorer Jews, hitherto, have hardly been suspected of rural tendencies; some of us have even come to believe their natur.al atmosphere was in the reeking slums. But Mr. Varty has lieeu making inquiries and he finds that nuany of the Jews who are migrating to the countrj', entirely of their own accord and without any extraneous a.ssistance—this indeed is the remarkable feature of originally brought up on the land, have retained in all these year.s of chaffering the real heart of a peasant. One idea these people hiive is to build houses in which they may let lodgings for their brethren in the summer.

Othei-s will adopt small culture and go in for flowers, fruit, vegetables, for which they expect a good sale in Southend. The estate is served by two railway and there is the river besides. There was an amusing feature of this un- usuiil land sale. The auctioneer had some inkling of a Jewish invasion, and he cast abolit him for some food to the visitors at the luncheon. Knowing the religious scruples of the Jews, compromised matters by buying up all the available eggs butter from farmers, and he also obtained beer and lemonade.

Many of the of Israel had, a precaution, provided them.selves with food prepared after their own way, l)ut they partook of the Gentile without compunction. The pleasant characteristic of this present movement amongst the London Jews is that it comes from within instead of from without. It seems to be entirely spontaneous. The people are paying their way with money which for long years perhaps has never seeu the light, for the poorer Jews are not fond of the banks, they are proud to do it. It is that Sir S.amuel Montagu is much interested in tlie Essex Coloft)'.

THE COLONIAL OFFICE CONFERENCES. air. Chamberlain's Suggestions. THE of the conference between the Secretary of State for the Colonies and the Premiers of the self-governing colonies at the Colonial Office during June and July are published a Parliamentaiy paper on Wednesday. Mr.

Cliambeikain's speech is given fully. It deals with the political relation between the self-governing colonies the mother countrj-. He says there is a real necessity for some better machinery of consult.ation between the self- governing colonies and the mother country, and it might be feasible to create a great council of the empire, to which the colonies would send representative not mere would give effective and valuable advice on all subjects before them on the matter of defence. Mr. Chamberlain points out that it would be suicidal for any of the great groups of colonies to separate themselves in the present stage from the protecting forces of the mother countrj'.

He could not say from the information at his disposal that with aU the magnificent resources of the colonies their organisation was at present satisfactory. The intercluange of militarj' forces with the colonies is next dealt with; and the Secretary of State for the Colonies points out that he sees no reason why colonial troops should not from time to time fight side by aide with their British colleagues. Under the heading of commer'c ial relations, Mr. Chamberlain with the treaties with Germany and Belgium. Other subjects of a less important nature are dealt with, the resolutions passed by the Premiers were in favour of the denunciation of the treaties as hampering commercial relations with the colonie.s.

The Government have alreadj- given effect to this. On the subject of political relations it T.ras agreed that the connections between the mother country the colonies were generally satufactoiy, and resolutions in favour of the federal union of colonies geographicaUj- united when and where practicable, and also in favour of periodical conferences of representatives of the colonies and Great Britain were passed. POLAR BALLOONS. Another Daring Scheme. PRESEyxLV the air about the North Pole will be so thick with balloons that explorers will be bumping each other out of position, and the terrified Polar bear will be choked to death by gas, and traffic inspectors wUl have to be ajipointed to keep order in the congested air.

Mr. Edgar E. Wilson, of Cumberland Street, Pimlico, is confident that he has thought out something that will make the Pole as easy to reach as Leicester Square. My theoiy," said Mr. WEsoii, is based upon the admission of experienced aeronauts that a revolution in b.illooning might be brought about providing that the temperature of the could be controlled.

Now, I believe that I have figured out apparatus that wiU regulate the temperature of the gas, and so cause the ascent or descent of the balloon as desired. I propose to have fixed inside the balloon a fine steel globular reservoir, from which two pipes will the car. Immediatelj- under funnel-shaped bottom of the larger pipe of the two will be a tank, containing thirty, gallons of oil, composed of three parts of colza, one part of paraffin, and a particle of camphor to keep it from smoking. If it smokes it is no good. This oU will feed a lamp, which, of course, will be regidated in the orduiaiy wiiy; so tliat when the aeronaut wants to ascend he will just have to turn up his wick, and the warm air rising into the reservoir above, will exp.and the g.as so, of course, give increased buoyancy to the baUoon.

A smaller pipe will act as a discharge for the he.ated air after it has done its business inside. Now, I reckon that thirty gallons of oil will last 1,800 hours, or seventy-five days, and that by coating with caoutchouc a balloon holdmg 45,000 cubic feet of hydrogen the ch.ances of failure would be very slight. I may add that I have consulted Mr. Spencer, the aeronaut, he has expressed the opinion that my Echeine is feasible and certainly worth a Until the value of it has been estimated by competent authorities I do not ask for funds to me to fui-nish a practical demonstration. I am confident that it is possible to control the temperature of the gas, without undue WASTE IN WORKHOUSES.

The Position of the Guardians. THi waste if food in our workhouses is the subject of comment in the current of the Sntish 3fedical Journal as Public attention be directed to the matter, which is caused bj' the slavish obedience demanded by the Local Government Board to its dietary tables. At Hampstead one of the guardians reported to his board that he had been in the dining room jast as the women were leaving the tables, that he liad counted at least twenty-nine plates either half or three-quarters fuU of of beautiful meat (pork) untouched. He characterised it as a waste," opinion in which we concur. At the Brentwood schools, during one of the visits of the inquirj- committee, two members saw Urge pieces of meat not only left on the plates, but thrown on the floor, besides which whole platefuls of gofid food were left almo.st untouched.

At Spalding meat freshly cut from the joint, and not even touched by the inmates, was taken from the tables to the tub. The Hartlepool and Newc.a.stle boards are wishful for mere power to v.ary the rules with regard to diet, and Hexham, Louth, Gains- liorough, Huddersfield. Bolton, Boston, and manj- other unions have the matter under discussion. It must not Ije forgotten that those poor who ultimately liave to the shelter of the "house" have not as a ride been alile to obtain meat as a dailj' article of diet, and th.at to many, habit having become second nature, meat is dist.asteful. But the difficulties we referred to in our note on wasted bread equallj- apply to w.asted meat that these are not easily disposed of will be readily understood by those who know that among the qualities of the poor is infinite patience a "dumbness which oft arms their cause." VOLUNTEER INTELLIGENCE.

5th (West) BZiddlesez Bifte Volnn- teers. orders, commencing Sunday, August 29th Officers for dutj- for the week, Captain Smith and Lieut. Coles. Comijanj- for duty, Conipanj-. Company drill the Schijol on Tuesday at 8 p.m.

Recruits' drill on Wednesday at 8 p.m. Bugle practice 9 p.m. Coiiip.anj- drill at the School on Thursdaj- 8 p.m. Recruits' driU on Friday at 3 p. ni.

Band practice at 9 p.m. 3rd Class firing at Wormwood on Thursday, and Saturday all day. Private J. Woolfe D. Companj- is promoted Coi in the SignaUiers, dated 17th August, 1897.

By Order (Signed), W. J. JARRATT, M.ajor and Acting Adjutant. disease have remained almost constantly below the average, diarrhosa contributing in the seven weeks of this quarter nearly 2,700 deaths out of the 3,600 from all zymotic ailments. But although, as the Registrar-General has pointed out, the attack has been the worst known in the metropolis since 1876, Londoners have still fared much better than many of the provincial towns, for the diarrhosa rate of 7'3 reached in the week before la.st compares verj- favourably with the numerous very high country rates to which reference has been made.

Nevertheless, the figures prove that in the bringing up of children there is a terrible amount of ignorance mismanagement dis- plaj-ed. Trapdoor Spiders at Hampstead The Rev. TTheodore Wood, F.E.S., writmg in the Duily 3Sail, says It will probably be news to many that trap-door spiders are to be found in Great Britain still more so that a flourishing colony of these curious creatures exists within the bomidaries of the metropolis itself. Yet such is the Ciise, for H.amp.ste.ad Heath with Woking and Southampton the honour of affording a home to these most interesting members of the spider race. These spiders, however, do not make trap-doors.

Either thej- are not yet civilised up to the requisite pitch, or else thej' are fuUy convinced th.at their own w.ay is the iis a matter of fact, it is. But they have to be called trapdoor spidei-s because one does not know what else to call them. They are, at any rate, true members of the trap-door making group. And, although the actual trap-dooi-s are wanting, their subterranean homes are every whit as remarkiilile 'its those which are con.structed in the more orthodox manner. Briefly described, these homes consist of burrows in the ground, which generally run almost horizontally for a short distance into a bank, then slope down- w.ards.

In length thej' vaiy from four or five inches to nearly a foot. These burrows are Imed with sUk, which fulfils the double purjiose of protecting their inmates from contact with the cold soil, and preventing the sides from falling in. At the surface, where the trap-door is usually placed, the lining is carried outside for nearly a couple of inches, in the form of a tube, which is either f.astened to a convenient stone or the stem of some neighbouring or else is allowed to lie more or less flat upon the ground. The end of this tulie is closed. Take a stocking, sew up the mouth, buiy it in a hole sliaped like the human leg, so that the A Bad Health Throughout last year and during the first half of the present one the health of the thirty-three great towns of England and Wales, as disclosed in the returns of mortality published by the Registrar-General, was exceedingly good.

Indeed, it was exceptionally good, for the death-rate per 1,000 in a huge population of eleven millions to decline until for tlie first quarter of this year it was down to nearly 19, followed by a further drop to 17 for the second quarter; so that for the six months there was the unprecedentedly low rate of 13 per 1,000, practically all the towns having shared the benefits of good health. But it was hardly to be expected that this remarkable decline would continue a check was bound to come sooner or later. But although it is well known to those who study the problems of health that increase in mortality is a practical certainty about Julj- and August, it mast be confessed that no one had looked forward to our taking such a violent plunge in the direction of very bad health the countiy has actually taken in the past few weeks. Until the middle of July the general death- rate had remained low, the first week being 15-1, the next 16'6, but with the temperature getting into the eighties the figures went up with a bound to 19-3, and the last week of the month was 22-9, with Liverpool, Preston, and Sheffield up to about 32. The first week of August witnessed a further rise to 26'9, with as many as ten towns showing rates above 30, Preston having gone up to 46 '2.

For the following week the average had mounted to 29 "5, with fourteen towns 30, Birmingham highest with 43. The report for last week, published on Wednesday shows that while the woiBt is past, the general rate having sunk to 28-7, no less than thirteen towns were again above 30, with HuU up to 45-2, Preston to 45-3, and Wolverhampton to the epidemic height of 52'6. What these figures mean is, that whereas the total number of deaths from all cau.ses in the first fortnight of July was under 6,700, of which only 400 were attributed to diarrhoea, the aggregate for the past fortnight was nearly 12,300, of which considerably over 4,000 were diarrhoea cases. That children have been the principal sufferers is evident from the fact that in the la.st two weeks nearly 6,400 infants under a year old succumbed, or more half the total from all causes and at all ages. What, a preponderating influence diarrhoea has had in swelling these figures to such extent is gathered from the enoi-mous rise in the, death-rate from this ailment, which in a few weeks had increased ten to twentj'-fold, Hull actually returning a rhoea rate of nearly 25 for last week.

Dealing with the London returns a general similarity is found between them and those for the entire group of towns. The mortality had reached its lowest point in the last week of June, when the rate w.as 13 deaths from diarrhoea were beginning to exhibit a slight increase. Three weeks after the deaths from all causes liad, for the first time this j-ear, passed above the average, and during the next four weeks down to last Saturdaj', the loss of life showed an excess of nearly 2,000, while the deaths from diarrhoea alone numbered 2,200, against an average for the same weeks of 1,000. Within the four weeks more than 4,000 infants in their first year died, the cause of death in half the cases being diarrhoea. Fortunately other classes of zymotic lower part fits clo.selj' to the walls, while the knee projects lies for a few inches upon the gi'ound, and j-ou have a veiy fair imitation of the home of this singular spider.

And the reason why there is no indeed, entrance of kind at after all, a verj- sunple one. When once they have spun themselves into their sflken dwellings, these spiders never w.ant to go out at any rate, the ladies do not, although the gentlemen do gad to some little extent. The visiting is done by the gentlemen, who are rather gay young sparks, and evidently enjoy the excitement of a call upon a lady. Yet the adventure is not without its for if the fair inamorata should Jiappen to take offence at her admirer's advances, the cliances are that will catch and eat him. As was said of another spider, equally savage and cannibalistic, she displaj-s a good deal of discrimination in her choice of a nice j'oung But their wedded bliss is usually of short duration.

Scarcely is the honeymoon over, before a quan-el takes place. And as the ladj- is bj- far the bigger and the stronger of the two, invariably gets the best of the battle, and feasts upon the bodj' of her slaughtered by way of celebrating her victorj'. But the tale of savagery does not end even here. So destitute of natural affection is this Iilood- thirsty creature that the children often share the lot of their unfortunate parent. For a time thej' live with their happy, united little family of about 150.

She feeds them, and tends them, and cares for them generaUj-, and no doubt thej' rejmy her for her motherly solicitude by many little signs of affection. But the time comes when she deems them qualified to cater for themselves, and gives them a gentle hint to that effect bj- cutting a big slit in the upper part of her tube, and holding it open in order that they may escape into the outer world. If thej- take advantage of the opportunitj-, well and good but if thej- are loth to leave the home of their youth, or if the weather outside is cold and' cheerless, so that as soon as they poke their heads outside they incontinently dr.aw them back theii- umiatui'al mother simplj- devours the lot, one after kind of feminine Saturn. Such diet as this, however, is exceptional; and ordinary meals are obtained by grabbing at the insects which crawl over the aerial part of the tube. No sooner does a small beetle, or a woodlouse, or a caterpillar come into contact with its silken walls than the spider strikes through the meshes.

Oddly enough, it turns over on its back, likft a shark, in order to do so. Then, holding its victim securely with one fang, it cuts a slit with the other, and drags it into its dwelling, afterwards stitching up the rent. So that the aerial portion of the tube is in reality a snai-e. Hardly a day passes that some unwary insect does not walk it, and it is slit and repaired uutn next to nothing of the original fabric is left thing of shreds and patches." Even on Hampstead Heath these spiders exceedingly local. Their original discoverer made, I think, no less than twenty-seven special expeditions to the spot before he succeeded in finding them.

But here and there they are faurly plentiful, at the roots of furze and broom bushes growing on sandy banks and their odd little silken nests can be found examined by any one who has the patience to look for them, the good fortune to escape the Argus-eyes of the County Council's officials. 'Wednesday's Thunderstorm. The thunderstorm which broke over the western suburbs of London about mid-day on Wednesday was one of the heaviest this year. The storm lasted for over an hour, and the thunder and lightning were terrific, whilst hailstones fell large as hazel nuts. Hammersmith Broadw.ay Station was completely flooded, and it was not until late in the afternoon that the metals were wholly clear of the Chiswick the main sewer became choked shortly after the commencement of the downpour, with the result that along the High Road the cellars in over fifty shops were flooded to the depth of from three to five feet, and members of the Fire Brigade had to be called into requsition to pump the water out.

The Duke's Avenue, leading to the Duke of Devonshire's estate, Chiswick House, was converted into a complete lake, for about 300 yards, and pedestrian traffic was rendered impossible for a long time. The police-station at Chiswick was flooded in the which is used as tlie me.ss room for the unm.arried coastables, during the dinner hour all the men off duty were engaged in bailing out the Ealing aU the shops in the High Street were flooded, and it was not until a late hour that the premises were rendered free of water, the fire engine having to be used for the purpose. Osterlej- Park one of the fine old elms was struck by lightning and completely splintereil, and at Brentford the whole of the front of the Brentfoi-d Gas Company's premises was under water for Richmond the downpour did considerable damage in the underground cellars, and scores of panes of ghiss were smashed with the hailstones. The damage sustained bj- the nuarket gardeners throughout the whole of Middlesex is also considerable, and the low-lymg lands in the Thames VsUej' -ere temporarilj- flooded. Acton the storm lasted twenty minutes.

Much damage was done to windows, greenhouses, and gai-dens. No Store Pauper The Local Government Board liave deemed it desirable to issue an order prescribing further regulations in the in of nursing the sick poor in workhouses. They say that the office of nurse is one of very serious responsibilitj- ami labour, requires to be filled by a person of experience in the care of the sick, the Board are aware that the employment of pauper nurses in w-orkhouses has generally been discontinued but' this is not sti in all cases. They have therefore thought it right proper to.provide by Article 1. of the new (Jrder that no pauper inmate of a workhouse sliall be employed to perfonn the duties of a nurse in the sick or lying-in wards, or otherwise emploj-ed in nursing any pauper in the workhouse.

The new regulations will come into force on September 29th. Uusic and Dancing The meeting of the Licensing Committee of the Middlesex County Council is fixed for Thursday, November 18th. Notice of intention to apply for new licences must, however, lie handed in by September 14th, and for renewals by October 14th. All buildings used for the public perfonnance of music (concerts) or dancing, or stage plaj-s, must be licensed. Full particulars will found in our advertisement columns.

Crystal Palace Friendly Societies' Pete. the biggest amusement gramme arranged for a Saturday Fete for m.any years past is that for Saturday, the 4th of September, the day fixed for the last of the Diamond Jubilee Fe tes the Crj-stal Palace, the proceeds of which w-iU be devoted the Convalescent Homes of the Friendlj- Societies of the United Kingdom, of w-hich there are over four millions of members. The most briUlant Fireworks are usuaDy to be seen on Thursdays, but on this occasion Messrs. C. T.

Brock and Co. liave been commissioned (i give one of their veiy finest dsiplaj-s on Saturday. Another prominent feature will be the Cycle Races on the Ne-vs- Cement Track, which hiis proved itself to be the fastest yet constructed. One hundred pounds will be given in prizes for the Cycling and Athletic Sports, no first jirfze being of less value than seven guineas. Immediately the out dour Sports there will be, in the Grand Central Transept of the Palace, a novel excitement in witnessing the conclusion of the match between the rival teams of the new Bicj'cle-Polo game, who will on that daj- bring to a conclusion their seven days' tournament, the winning team being presented with a Silver Cup.

This game, which can be seen nowhere else, has caught on ivith the British public, and will probably become veiy popular in this country. The programme further includes an ever popular item in the Great Balloon by Mr. Spencer. There will be exhibition of Dahlias by the National Dahlia Society, Grand Militarj- Concerts bj- the Scots Guards and other celebrated bands, and d.ancing on the lawns, the gardens being brilliantly illuminated in the evening. In addition to this special programme of amusements, there wUl be the Imperial Victorian Exliibition with its machinery in motion and working exhibits; and also a Friendlj- Societies' Exhibition, besides all the permanent attractions of the Crystal Palace, the Park and gardens of which are now in full summer beauty.

Dr. Clifford in Australia. Dr. Clifford," says the Melhournc fipectaior, "had a fine reception in Victoria, not only from his own church, but from the other Free Churches also, and he well deserved it. He came to us with a great reputation, and his sermons, lectures, and aU his public utter.ances well sastained it.

But he was even as a heathen man and publican' to the Baptists of They give him a cold The Southern JBajitist saj-s. As a matter of fact, thej' gave him no reception at aU they wotdd not recognise hk presence in their They turned their backs upon the man who has taken a foremost position in England in the cause of religious libertj' and national And why Because his theologj- is too liberal for them. He preaches a full and free to all mankind, and insists upon the practical application of Christian doctrine to all social questions. That is the head and front of his and there is none other. The n.arrow bigotrj- of his co-religionists in Hobiirt will not hurt stands far above their praise or blame as to whether it wiU hurt themselves, that is another question." Sir Bobert Giffen Sir Robert Giffen, K.C.B., Controller-General of the Commercial, Labour, and Statistical Department of the Board of Trade, having reached the age at which he is at liberty to retire from the Civil Service, has decided, saj's the Times to do so, the retirement taking effect from October Ist.

It is hoped that with leisure Sir Robert's health, which h.as been indifferent of late, wiU improve sufficiently to allow him to complete and publish writings on which he has been for some time engaged. The Queen's Her Majesty the Queen recently forwarded to Mr. Peter W. Green, the veteran headman or chief of the lonely island of Tristan d'Acunha, in the South Atlantic, a signed and framed portrait of herself, in- recognition of his self-denjring efforts in saving life from shipwreck during the last sixty aged recipient of Her Majesty's gift wrote to his friend, Mr. G.

Newman, of 47, Finsbury Road, Wood Green, Middlesex (whose relative he saved from drowning years ago), informing him of the gift, and adding I remember H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh well. "VNTien he came to Tristan in H.M.S. Galatea I had the honour of carrying him from his boat to the sand beach. I hope he is an admiral now.

Our settlement has been called Edinburgh since that time. I should not like try to back the diike ashore now. He Was as much as I could cany thirty years ago. On boarding the ffalatca afterwards I was carrying a large bundle, and His Royal Highness to the officer who was with him, What is Mr. Green going to do with that bundle I want to find a I replied, to take chaiire of it, and deliver it at Government House, Capetown, where I have two daughters in the service i the Governor, Sir George The Duke kiudlj'said at once, 'I will Iji -rht- I afterwards received a lette" from my daughters thanking iiie for the present a double present, fur His Highne.ss left some money fur the Government Carisbrooke As a memuiial of the late Governor of the Isle of Priuco Heiirj' of Batteuberg, the historic ciistlc Carisbrooke has undergone partial resturatim: from a fund raised by public subsoriptiui).

At present the Deputy-Governor of the island. Mr. Harbottle Estcourt. is in residence at the castle, but most of the building is stiU a block of roofless ruins. The gate house has iiuw been roofed in and all the rooms of portion of the castle iiewlj--fl(jured.

These the guard room, the poi-tcuUi; chamber witli the room above, three rooms in the nth-west tun-et, and the staircase in the southwest turret. No alterations have been externally to the building, and the ui-iginal gates, litiilt in 1553, subsisting. It proposed to utilise the rooms newlj- rotifed ami renovated fur the purpose of storing ancient manuscripts antiquities connected with thw castle and the Isle of Wight. The rooms will be opened in the course of a few days, admission will be tree fur one hour daily, a smaU charge to cover expenses being made at any other time. Excavations have recently been made at the top of the ancient keep, and hammer heads and pike heads, with remnants of domestic utensils, have been found in tin- ruins at that altitude, showing that in furiuev years the keep itself was used as a dwelling- house.

Foresters at Wembley Park. event, which Iiad been looked forward to bv the Foresters for some time past, took place on Saturday last, and, fortunately for aU concerned, it turned out a beautifully fine afternoon. A large number of people put in au appeartmce, many decked out in the ancient forester's garb of the time of Robin Hooii. The programme liad been arranged to suit all tastes, and comprised clown cricketer.s, military b.ands, variety entertainments, etc. In the athletic contests the prizes were handsome and costlj', jjarticularlj- so with regard to the massive silver cup, valued at £15, given by the Metropolitan Railway Company.

In th3 bicycle races, the times for the various events were not records, us the men had to pedal against a verj- strong head wind for part of the and many did not finish. The grand stand was well filled. The races were no sooner over than the whole crowd flocked ti see Professor Fleet's balloon ascent and parachute de.scent. The wind interfered coii- siderablj- witli the filling of the baHuun, and fiftj- or sixty volunteers a.ssisted in holding it ill position while the heat from the wood furnace belo-w caused it steadily to till. As the wind blew directly towards the Harp reservoir, Profe.ssor Fleet took'the precaution to carry with hiin a life buoy.

When the order was given to let go, a cinematograph operator took a lirge number of photographs the Ijalloon ascended. Doubtless this will be a feature of the London music halls during the coming winter, and many willjbe able tu see Professor Fleet's ascent and descent summer and winter alike. The Variety HaU was weU fiUed during the evening bj' a thoroughlj- appreciative audience, the Reed troupe of p.antomimists being particularly weU received. The size of the haU, however, renders anything approaching dialogue difficult of success, luid many clever hits and smart repartee were lost. Miss Bessie Reed is a favourite dancer.

The sketch entitled A in a Fix" was also a capital success. Altogether the foUowers of bold Robin Hood wiU remember their day at Park with considerable pleasure for some time to come. The firework display at the close shoidd also be mentioned, also the breezy attractions of the Great Tower. Hand Bags at Hew Gardens. validity of the rule at Kew Gardens, whereby bags and p.arce]s have had to be surrendered at the gates, was rudelj- upset at Richmond Police Court on Monday.

The rule has occasioned a great deal of heart-burning, both because it prevented refreshments from being taken into the gardens, and because when a parcel was left it was neccessary to return for it to the same George G. G. Wright, surveyor, of 3, Great Winchester Street, visited Kew Gardens with two ladies and a little girl. Stevens, a gate-keeper, stopped him carrying in hidy's small hand-bag. He per sisted, siiying it contained medical neces.saries for his wife, was forcibly ejected, and bruised ill tlie process.

At Richmond Police Court, on Mondaj-, he w-fis summoned for contravening regulations by carrying in the bag, and for assaulting Bowen Rowlands, for defendant, contended that the prescribed maximum of 4in. by 5in. by 7in. for bags carried into the gardens was not authorised by the wording of the Act of Parliament, which says that "no large bags shall be earned in. Bench pointed out that the directions for the management of the gardens expressly laid down that new by-laws must have tlie sanction of Mr.

Nicholson, the curator of the gardens, did not attempt to prove that this iiad been obtained for the precise size, saying that it had been enforced by personal direction of Mr. Thiselton-Dyer. M.agis- trates dismissed both cases. Church Bow, The National Trust Association for the Preservation of Pkces of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty is taking steps to save Church Row, from demolition in order to make way for iieH- blocks of flats which it is proposed to erect. Ai'present Church Row is considered the most perfect example of the architecture of the hist centurj- in London.

Mr. Norman Shaw, R.A., other artists are actively engaged in the movement for saving the historic spot. Bpps's Cocoaine. Cocoa-Nib Extract. choicest roasted nibs (broken beans) of the natural Cocoa, on being suli- jected to powerful hydraulic pressure, give forth their excess of oil, leaving for use a finely flavoured powder "Cocoaine," a product which, w-hen prepared with lioihng water, lathe consistence of tea, of it is now beneficially taking the place with manv.

Its principle being a gentle nerve stimulaut, siip- plies the needed energy without unduly excitin.i;' the system. Sold only in tins, by Grocer-s labelled "James Epps and Honia-y- pathic Chemists,.