The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 6

THE MANCHESTER GUARDIAN, MONDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1896. 6 THE UNITED STATES ARMY AND NAVY, FATAL FIGHT IX A WOHKH THE RAILWAY SERVANTS' AGITATION. REPLIES OF RAILWAY COMPANIES. The men employed in the goods department of the North-Eastern Railway Company at Newcastle, Gateshead, and Snnderland held a meeting last night at Newcastle, and received the reply of the officials to their demands. Tho Company declined to allow tho shorter honrs and general advance of wages asked for, but offered some minor concessions.

The meeting considered tho reply unsatisfactory, and a further meeting will be held to consider the situation. At a mass meeting last night in Glasgow of the North British Railway servants a letter was read from the general manager stating that the directors were unable to grant the demand of tho engine drivers and stokers A GREAT ANGLO-INDIAN. Tho late Mr. Brian Houghton Hodgson, though but littlo known in his own country during the latter half of his long life, save to scholars and students of tho East, was nevertheless one of tho most remarkablo of tho many remarkable men whom tho Indian Civil Service has trained. Ho was hi his ninety-fifth year when ho died in JKM, and Sir William, Hunter observes that if ho had died seventy years earlier he would havo boon mourned as the "most brilliant young scholar whom the Indian Civil Service has produced had he died in middle life he would have been remembered as tho masterly diplomatist who held Xcpnul and tho warlike Himalayan races quiet durir.r- the disasters of tho first Afghan war; had ho died at throo-scoro, he would have been remembered as the Englishman who munificently enriched the museums of Kurope with his collections, enlarged the boundaries of more than one and opened a new field of original research.

Hodgson came of an ancient and long-lived Cheshire familv. Ho entered Haileybury in 1816, went out to Calcutta in 1818, and soon found that the climate of tho Indian plains was deadly for him. Accordingly his wholo official Jjfo was passed amongst tho Himalayas, and practically in ono post, that of Representative of the Indian Government at the capital of tho ruler of Nepaul. He first spent a short time in Kumaon, which in 1815 had been conquered by the Marquis of Hastings from tho Ghoorkas. In 1S20 he was transferred to Nepau, as assistant to the Resident, at a time when the Nepaulese, and especially tho ruling caste of Ghoorkas, had sullenly acquiesced in their defeat.

Hodgson made one more attempt to live in Calcutta and continue his promising career in the ordinary official channel, but ho was forced to return to Nepaul and mako up his mind that there his official future lav. A pent-up valley in the Himalayas, says his sympathetic biographer, which he could traverse in a forenoon, and be-vond which no European might penotrate, was henceforth to be his world, and how he used -his isolation, as an official and as a student, is the storv of his life. The taJo of the plots around the" ltajnli, tho assassinations and bloodshed amongst rivals for power for nearly thirty years, until Juni; Bahadur became chief Minister and adopted a policy of frank friendliness to the dominant power in India, is much too complicated to bo told hero. Hodgson steered his way through tho intrigues by which he was surrounded with extraordinary coolness and adroitness, and more than once prevented tho warlike and impetuous Ghoorkas from committing acts which must have precipitated war. His character and personal ascendancy alone saved India from a war with Xepaul during tho disasters oF the first Afghan and it is to him that wo owe the piilicv of giving the Ghoorkas an outlet for their martial ardour in tho Indian army, where 1 liev are amongst tho bravest, and most loyal of tlio'tniops of tho Queen.

In 1843 he resigned his appointment in consequenco of ill-treatmentfrom 1 ho impetuous and wrong-headed Lord Jylen-horoiK'h, and although the latter was recalled almost -immcdiatelv after, and the Chairman of the Court of Directors at the India House exclaimed that they would carry Hodgson back on their he preferred to remain in private life to complete the studies which ho had prosecuted during his long residence in Ncpaiil. Soou iifter his return homo he began to weary to take up his studies again on the spot, and as it was thought undesirable that ho should return as a private individual to Xepaul, ho took tip ii.s residence in the Himalayas at Darjeclmg, where he lived tho life of a recluso from 1845 to IFSy. In' the chapter on Hodgson as a scholar Sir William Hunter says that ho was the largest and most munificent collector of manuscripts, texts, and vernacular tracts that ever went to India. Ho hail a passion for collecting, and hen ho had studied theso materials ho handed iliem over in trust for the public to the British the Instituto of France, and many learned bodies in the United Kingdom, in India, and nn the Continent. Burnouf, one of the "reatcst.

of French Orientalists, said that Hodg-hou collected a larger body of original documents on Buddhism than had up to that time ever been gathered together, either in Asia or in Europe, and Burnouf had not examined a sixth part of Hodgson's collections. Ho also styles Hodgson the" founder uf the true study of Buddhism on the basis of tho texts and original remains," and Sir William Hunter quotes with approval an observation mado at the time of Iris death, that the world owes to him the materials for a knowledge of the great proselytising faith which was tho one civilising influence" in Central Asia, viz. what is Northern Buddhism, to distinguish it from llio Pali, or Southern, school. In addition Hodgson studied the hill races of tho Himalayas and the zoology and botany of Xepaul. Tho lists at 1 ho end of tho book of his collections and writings show their amazing extent, and scholars of ali nations arc as to their value.

After 1S53 Hodgson settled down quietly, in Gloucestershire until his death. In spite of the effacing influences of lime and of a bureaucratic cireor," savs Sir William Hunter, Hodgson retained tho" love of liberty and the respect for the liberties of others. with a belief in their capacitv for exercising those liberties which ho had derived at from the lectures nf Jlalthus. Though "living in a circle of Tory country gentlemen, lie did not fear, at the age of 8li. to applaud the Home liulo policy of Gladstone, and whenever the hitter's name was mentioned at his table, though often the only Liberal there, he would lilt his glass with a courteous smile to his opponents around' him, and say in a gentle voice.

"Here's to Gladstone! God bless him; the greatest statesman of the day." Lift Itrian llmqhtm Ilodqion, Jiritifh litsidtnt at tlie "mrt'of Iftpaul. Sir William Wilson Hunter, K.C.H.l. London John Murray. 8vo, pp. 330.

Us. FOR, lilllTISH TRADE IN MEXICO. Mr Carden, Uritish Consul in Mexico, in a recent on the trade, of that Republic, lays thai, there are inar.v branches of the import trade in which Great Britain has .1 much smaller share than might be expected, having regard to her importance as a manufacturing -uuntrv. He attributes -this to the absence of Rriiish mcrc.miilc establishments in Mexico, and thus British loads ar wholly dependent for their sale on foreign, meslly French German, firms. It may.

bo reniem-'m red" that Lord Cromer attributes the unsatisfactory (i-ogress of British trade with Egypt to a similar iibsenco oi British merchants in that country. Mr. Cardcn observes that if imports wero a fixed and unvarying quantity might matter little through whoso hands they reached the consumer, but the trade of Mexico is no longer iu tho primitive stage in which the consumer is satisfied with Anything put before him local manufacturers are supplanting foreign goods iu many important- departments, lliei margin of profit is less than it used to be, competi-I ion i keener every- day, and countries desiring to retain their Klioro in the trade of Mexico must, study the changed renditions, arid anticipate tho new wants. "This cannot, 1h; euVrtivcly done through the medium of foreign merchants, -who, though they may bo ready enough buyfor their own account, or sell on commission, such goods as are well known in the country, and are asked for by their customers, aro by no means so anxious to go to the trouble of creating new openings for Uritish products, often in opposition to their own national in-tercMs. Tho only means of inducing peoplo to buy an article tlicy do not know is to bring it before their notice in the most prominent way possible, and this can only bo done through establishments which, if not exclusively retail, combine' a retail with a wholesale business.

During iho past ten vears Mr. Carden has called attention to Ibis matter, and two prominent Jintish mMutacturing firms have opened agencies for wIaK mrcaii, ana mo import of tins 1,1 1'oae'ucnco increased from 65,000 lo r1.00 a year The trade Mexico is increasing; in 183' the imports amounted to a little over six millions sterling, and ln 1335 to li miaioSi of whh.h chiej news were machinery, iron and steel, piece goods, aonliciis. liquors, ranw Tli (,.,.,.... IMIUi III cnici ciporis att. tho precious metals, are coffee, copper, hve stock hides, lead, dvo woods, tobaec, vanilla The coffee industry has of late assumed proportions, and thu nTO- plantations all over will soon lie brarnig.

and win incroaso its impor The. Indus try various fibres and in tobacco is in a pr taV1'8 inter-State duties trade to stimulate production and The Fke-vch Artilkky. The Berlin correspondent of tho "Standard" saTS th0 opinion that tho Figaro's recent statement about the intention of the French Government to introduce a new field'gun was a more Wlon d'essai, such as has repeatedly been sent up before, is fining more and more ground: but it has, doubtless, induced the German authorities to watch the French military doings with keener vigilance than ever The rearming of the German Field Artillery will be simultaneous with of the French not a dav earlier. Tho statements that have hitherto appeard regarding the construction of the now German held un ar false- DISASTERS IX MONTSERRAT. HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE BY FLOODS AND SHIPWRECK.

A correspondent writes to tho Standard Up to last month Montserrat has been able to boast of immunity from those awful visitations which periodi cally fall to the lot of most islands in the tropics hurricanes, earthquakes, and epidemics of yellow fever ana small-pox. Situated as it is to the leeward of tho circle of islands forming what is called the Leeward Group, the hurricanes which at times devastated tho neighbouring islands had spent their force before reach, ing Montserrat But, at last. Montserrat has been doomed to suffer a calamity unprecedented in tho annals of the colony. Whatever prosperity remained after an unequal struggle, gallantly maintained, against sugar bounties and the low. market prices of her other staple products has been almost destroyed by a disas trous flood which occurred on tho night of the 28th-Z9th November.

To understand the naturo of the disaster, it must bo explained that Montserrat is divided in two north and south by a road of about eight miles in length, running from windward to leeward. The southern portion is subdivided into windward and leeward by a lofty range of hills, -which form a watershed. On the south-west of the island lies Plymouth, the chief town, on the south side of which lies a ghaut, i.e. the local name for mountain torrents or torrent bed, crossed by a small stone bridge, broad enough to allow carriages to pass over. The portion of the town near this bridge was known as Cherry Village.

Towering precipitously abovo the town to the east is St. George's Hill, formerly strongly fortified for the protection of the island, which is about 900 feet in height. Between the town and this hill are several sugar estates, and. under tho north-east side, part of the lime cultivation of the Montserrat Company. It was the southern end cf the island which sustained the greatest damage in the flood.

During the whole week previous to the eventful Saturday tho weather had been stornvy and unsettled, strong winds prevailing and heavy rains falling throughout the Leeward and Windward Islands. The barometer fluctuated considerably, rising and falling rapidly at short intervals. At one time it lei) as much as three-tenths within two hours. On Saturday evening nothing out of the common occurred until'ncarly midnight, when it commenced to rain heavily, causing tho ghauts to become raging torrents, ever increasing in volume. Looking at the island from the sea it is evident that a huge raincloud or waterspout must have concentrated and burst on the south-west side of St.

George's Hill, and, continuing its course with hurricane strength over the southern range of bills, poured down destruction both on the leeward and windward sides of the water-parting. The town ghaut soot, swept over the bridge and carried away all the houses lying in close proximity to its banks. Jn the intense darkness the poor people inside were unable to seo what was best to bo done, and wero simply carried out to sea. During the night it was impossible to learn what was really happening, but at dawn it was found that about 50 jiersons wero drowned. Cherry Yillago is a mere wreck, and many who were fortunate enough to escape are homeless and destitute.

The destruction to property and growing crops is immense. What tho rainlail in that night was will never he accurately ascertained. On one estate 2115 inches wero measured in 21 hours, but on each of the three occasions when the fall was measured, tho rain-gauge was found to be running over. To account for the destruction on the north-west side of at. George's Hill it would have been necessary to measure the fall by feet or yards.

On this side of the hill, which rises abruptly, there is no slope on which the water could accumulate or concentrate in such volume as to form the mountain torrent which passed through tbo liinelields, carrying down huge trees and immense boulders, some of the latter weighing hundredweights and even tons, as if tbev were matchwood or marbles. As may be imagined, the roads are cut to pieces in many places ami are impassable. Only one bridge remain's. Near to the town one road is divided by a gaping fissure of 50ft. deep, which was probably caused by the earthquakes which occurred at frequent intervals "during tho rainstorm and lent additional horror to the calamity.

While this terrible destruction was occurring, another equally tragic event was happening on tho north-eastern end of tbo island. The ship Giecian, of London, 1,272 tons burden, Captain Haigh, ran ashore shortly after midnight iu a small rocky bay called Macgregor's Ghaut, and of tbo thirty persons on board only one escaped. The survivor, Tom Keogh, the third mate, related in his evidence at the Coroner's inquest that the Grecian was bound from Trinidad to London, via Guadaloupe, with a cargo of pitch, rice, and cocoanuts. Tbo last land sighted was Antigua, on Friday evening the 27th November, when the captain tacked south iu the direction of Guadaloupe. The whole of Saturday the 28th November was overcast and stormy, and no land could be seen.

At four o'clock in the afternoon the wind increased into a gale, and sail was taken in. When off Guadaloupe the captain again tacked, and in putting about a boat was swept off by tho heavy seas. Towards midnight Mr. Keogh, who was on watch, saw a heavy squall to leeward, which cleared off quickly, and ho then went below. Soon afterwards, however, he hurried on deck, on hearing shouts of 'Land On reaching the deck no laud was visible, owing to the dense darkness of tho night.

Tho captain ordered the foresail to be set, but before that order could bo carried out the ship struck broadside on, the niizen-topmast being carried the shock. Seeing that tbo ship wa.s doomed. Captain Haigh ordered all hands on the poop, and told them to take to tbo rigging. At this moment a tremendous sea broke oitii llio vessel, bringing down an after davit on Mr. Ktogh's arm, which waa released tbo next instant bv the return lurch.

This temporary imprisonment by tho davit, although seriouslv iiiiurinir his arm. was un doubtedly tho means of saving Mr. Keogb's life, for, on looking up, he found everyone else had been swept away. Seizing a piece of wreckage, he made bis way through the waves to the rocky beach, where be remained until dawn broke. Having climbed the precipitous cliff which surrounds the spot where he landed, he walked through the bush for some miles, when bo was found by a labourer and led to the nearest village.

Up to the present seventeen bodies have been recovered, but owing to their having been so tcrribly dashed about on the rocks it lias been only nossitilu to recognise two the engineer and a young" sailor. Any spot more difficult to escape from in caso of shipwreck would lie hard to imagine. Owing to tho dangerous and rock-bound nat.ure'of this part of tho coast, it has received the name of Hell's Tho seven rockets sunt up from the ill-fated vessel as soon as she struck were, of course, not seen or beard, the nearest habitation being several miles awav. Mr. Keogh suffered shipwreck once before some years ago off St.

Lucia, when be was one of Hie few survivors from a large coolie vessel which ran ashore at the north end that island. Thus, in the space of a few hours. Montserrat was the scene of two terrible disasters, involving the loss of eighty lives. no ill VJ IwHHfi. bill' County Police Court on Saturday, before Mr.

Ci.nltl, nn.l T. Tf George-street, LTrmstou, and John Grcar, 10, of iS, George-si roet, Unnston. were charged wii.li breaking and entering the dwelling-houso 91, Railway Road. Urmston, on the 23rd and stealing the propertv of Miss ivoiuinjj iu uiij iiouse. tin the date mentioned the occupants of the house went out Urlnt, mt.

x.ifi.ty,. uiii.i.Lv:it:u. auo money was taken from a draw in ono of tho bedrooms The boys wero seen near the house tho same dav, and at night tho prisoner. Grear gave his mother Ifls fi.l trliixl, 1,1. ioi.1 l.

1....1 1 ,,0 nou JUUlItl. UilCC Constable Clarke mado inquiries and ascertained that tuning jiii'A uuiigub pair 01 noots. xue olhcer also found Collingo iu possession of a new football, which the boy said ho had bought. IJoth boys admitted haviii" taken the money, Grcar rcrriving 14s. After Iioariii" tbu evideneo the bench bound boys to bo of good behaviour for six months.

Tub Russian Flax Crop i.v 189G. Detailed iu tciiii Jaipur uiau last year s. Jn the Mocheucz region the increase generally ranges from 5 to 10 per cent, but in exceptional cases rises to 55 to 50 per cent. This is remarkable, because the 1895 crop of Mocbencz was in its turn 20 to 50 per cent bigger than that of 1891. In the Slanez district the i.irked.

hut thi vinld ninrc ornn lief t-on. i i 1 iuiuu H''ttiitv ui uiu iiore IS better than last year, mid tho 3ieid of fibre larger. Tu uiskii, j.uLju proportion is classed as liiph as crown-Fpike while last jear most of it was only "crown." In Slanez a dnfininnm-nf npnn Ilnv r.liiu.'o cm nli mi-rinlc coll iKi-im i uuuc Liitj iibiuii parity I the same is the case with "super-extra" flax, which is i.iii.uiniiiLiiO in MltlCIl IHO ClJlOl Kussian flax mills are situated have very little sninnint Jill- In fKr. 1 Ii.il ouj-nui positively scarce. Exported flax was this vear misjudeed at first lprMLU50 ih liEirl hon In InA 1 i luimim "uiy prepared, nut later exports have become fully appreciated, the onlv f.Hllf; fniinrl hnintrn rnrfi In r7rvnni-P i to tho dry growing season.

THE Poor of Vtewi Pnvrn? Christmas-eve. The "Daily News" correspondent writing on Friday night, said: A private society in "Vienna years ago founded an asylum for the roofless but its means aro limited, and only 300 men and 200 women can be given shelter for the night. Yesterdav on Christnmc.nvn t-hn tin' irlmn inuviuuh years visitors numbered less than during all the winter, the Wlfl WniTlfl Tint- lia rnf.n-nrl l- l- i i wotu, aw ino uw ponce naa 10 AiciuuiJii uiu mini wiui wince nairanu pale sallow boys were in the crowd. The women's department huoiiui, wunuL-u, uul among Liio poor women who had to be refused, and against whom the doors had to be shut, were quite twenty mothers of families. One uimurcii.

nnai can tney have done all that long Christmas night in slush and pouring rain, with starving children clinging to their TIie inst'tut'on for giving one thousand school children, whose parents aro not at home at noon or have nothing to give their children, a hot dish or peas or. lentils, rice or cabbage, and a loaf of bread during the winter months, cannot raise enough fund3 to increase the number of their hungry little guests. Out of school children that visit the Vienna schools 4,000 are so poorly clad that thev cannot give proper attention to the teaching. Only "1,000 can be given a free dinner, and this is done alternately by the school mistresses and school masters, who, before distribntin tho tickets placed at their disposition by the Societv1 stu ch case in detail. THE "WRECK OP THE TAIF AXD LOSS OF SEVENTEEN LIVES.

BEPOHT OF THE COUKT OF INQUIRY. The report of tho Court or Inquiry, held at Colombo on October 30 and November 3 last, on the foundering at sea of the steamship Taif, of Colombo, which took place on September 24, has been issued by the Board of Trade. Mr. V. Sandeman, tho assessor, who, with District Judge D.

F. Browne, held the inquiry, reports: I am of opinion that; the capsizing of the steamship Taif was caused primarily by the vessel being overladen at the time she left Port St Louis. This, combined with several unfortunate coincidences all tending in the same direction, eventually caused tho vessel to capsize and founder. These may be summed up as follow. Tho vessel was loaded with a full cargo of sugar in bags.

Shortly after commencing loading the vessel took a list to port, from which, she never recovered. Her holds were filled full up, and then still more hags wore stowed on deck, in the naloon and state-rooms, to counteract the list, but without effect, although tending to make the vessel crank. It was then found that iho vessel was too deep, and the after ballast tank was pumped out to obviate this danger, but still moro tending to increase her list and topheaviness. The steamer then proceeded to 6ea, and afterwards tho tank was again filled to reduce the list, but increasing the danger of being overladen. Shortly after leaving port the vessel also encountered more or wind and sea on the starboard side.

Then fore and aft sail W03 set, all this tending to increase tho list and cause the cargo to sttlo more and more to the lee side, tho vibration and tho rolling of the vessel adding still more to this settlement. eventually, mo list tiecoming serious, tne captain unfortunately ordered the aft ballast tank to bo pumped out. This I consider was a fatal mistake, and nrobablv was tho final cause of the disaster, as from tho position of the strum of the suction-pipe amidships it would be impossible to pump the water from the lee side of tho jl am ot opinion that the captain was not justilied in taking his vessel to sea in her overladen condition, and that having done so he should, taking all tilings into consideration, have endeavoured to case the vessel by throwing cargo overboard or attempted to return to port before it was too late to do so. The vessel appears to have been well found in life-saving apparatus and boats, and everything was done that was possible to prevent loss of lifo at the time of tho disaster. The .17 persons who lost their lives wero probably sucked down by tho vessel when she foundered.

No blamo can bo attached to the captain, officers, or engineers in this respect." FIELD-DAY AT WINDSOR. An instructive lesson in the art of war was given on Saturday to the members of tho Metropolitan Volunteer Sergeants' Tactical Association in Windsor Great Park by Major the Hon. A. 15. Ifenniker (Coldstream Guards), D.A.A.G.

for Instruction, Home District, Lord Slethuen, the general commanding tho Homo District, Lieutenant Sutton (Coldstream Guards), and many volunteer officers following tho operations with much interest. The work ter.k the form of outpost duty, tho general and special idei supposing the men at Windsor to be a Drigado of four battalions with artillery and other details forming tho advance guard of an army corps marching through Uxbridgo and Slough tn Windsor to protcot it against an enemy whose advance, guard has reached liagsliot. The only instructions given wero as to the direction of the intended line of outposts, which were to extend a distance of nearly three miles, from Tower on tho right to Gate on the left, and as to the relative positions of tho battalions in the line. All elso was left the intelligence and the judgment of tha sergeants, whs had to find their way independently to their allotted regions in the scheme, and to have completed their chain of posts as early as possiblo after 1 p.m. Before two o'clock Major Ifenniker, tho instructor, and also Lord Mcthiion and the other officers, commenced a round of visits to tho positions.

The instructions had been followed with so much intelligence that every group was found where it should have been, and each section had established proper communications with its neigh-lxiurs right and left. For a few isolated groups of men extended over a long stretch of countrv this was a real test ot" intelligence, and the distinguished officers present were greatly pleased. Major Ifenniker at the close of the operations made some observations upon tho work done. He had purposely spread tho groups over a long front in order to illustrate the necessity when a small force was called upon to occupy an extended position of seizing the salient points of the position only and defending them without giving too much attention" to minor detail's. He indicated somo nf these salient points.

On the right of the line was an elevated point, to defend which stronglv was an imperative necessity. In another portion of the sito of operations ho pointed out gullv which required to bo carefully observed, ami thrnnirh wliii.li hn liiul him. self led his guardsmen and surprised a not too watchful enemy by plumping down into their midst beforo being observed. Major Henniker highly praised the intelligence shown all round in taking up tho positions, and he was particularly laudatory in liis criticism of tho Volunteer 3Iedic.il Staff men for tho way in which thev had selected sites for dressing stations "and a field hospital. He commended tho Engineer Company on their selection of a sito for hastv rlnrl nn l-n1u ledge displayed by them in putting into a state of defence a neighbouring churclrand mansion.

The whole of the operations bad been carefully carried out, and showed a great ucai intelligence on the part of all concerned. Eighteen or twenty of the London battalions were represented, the 1st Surrey Rifles. Victoria and St. George's, 1'addinjrton Kifles, London Kiflo Dricadn. ami Medical Staff Corps all having sent strong contingents.

I-NTEitGLACUL Max. Tho "Standard" Berlin correspondent writes: In the interglacial slate-coal at Wotzikou (Canton Zurich) charred pointed pieces of wood have been found which were originally looked upon as being the work of man's bands, and, consequently, as furnishing evidence of ihe presonco of man during tho interglacial period. Numerous doubts havo been ex pressed as to an artificial pointing, yet llio explanations put forward as to its origin that it was tho work of beavers, or tho effect of moving water were not conclusive. Professor Karl Scliroctcr has once more made a careful investigation in Zurich of the wholo matter, and has published tho results of his labours in the journal of the Zurich Natural History Society. Tho microscope bad already shown that tho wood of these staves is from the fir.

Professor Schroder now demonstrates, on the basis of the anatomical conditions and growth formations of coniferous branches, that the Vetzikon staves are nothing but portions of branches loosened from the trunk by weather and tho influences of time. Tho pointing corresponds with the gradual decrease in the thickness or the branch from the point whero it loaves tho tree; the covering or hark on tho thicker end consists of remains of the parent trunk, and the traiif-versu lines correspond with the annual rings on the parent tree. Similar t'orinatioiis are produced today through decomposition by weather and other natural influences. This, therefore, renders futile the discovery of traces of an intergliicial man, and we must once moro place the first of the countrv after the glacier pcrio'd. A Youso Iloc.SEj-.nEAKr.it.

Tho boy named Heasman, eleven years of age, who was committed for trial by the Worthing magistrates on Wednesday, together with a companion named Howard, for pilln-'iii" a fruiterer's shop in South-street, was before the magis" trates again on Saturday on another charge of housebreaking. Hi' was only admitted to bail on Wednesdiiv evening, and in less than 24 hours he was brought back to the police-station on the present charge. About two o'clock on Thursday afternoon a lady named Goldsmith, living in Warwick Koiul. alleges that she saw the boy forcing bis way through the larder window in a house in York Jtoad occupied by Mrs. Paton.

The boy witlutrew from the window with a perl ion of a cake, which be handed to a companion named aged twelve vears. who was standing near the back gate. Heasman paid another visit to the larder, returning this timo with a bottle of pickles, but further operations were checked by Mrs. Goldsmith, the boys being detained and handed over lo the police. They were both remanded in custody.

Dkatiis Bl-kns at Ueywood. Tlio Hey-wood police on Saturday received two reports of the death of children owing to Hums. On Thursday a child named Annie Heaton. three years old, daughter of James Heaton, of 28, Heady Hill, Ueywood, was pl.iving about iu the house. Her mother had removed the lirfejrons from before the tire, and hile she was in she beard a scream, and on going upstairs found that the girl had got her clothing on fire.

Tlio flames were quickly put out, but from the shock and the injuries death ensued at seven o'clock on Saturday morning. In the second case the girl was Elizabeth Ami Ilolden, six years old. On Wednesday sbo and two brothers one ten years and the other two years old-were left in tho house while tlio mother was at work, and the girl's clothing got on fire. Her elder brother tried to extinguish the Hames, and a neighbour was called in, but sbo was badly burned about the bands and face, and death took place on Saturday. M.

on England's Isolation. M. Clomouceau writes on the subject of European equilibrium iu an article which, on account of its length, appears in two instalments in the Paris "Justice." His view is (says tbo "Daily News" correspondent) that politics, and pre-eminently in international politics, all mistakes bring on retribution. It may bo deferred, but come it must in time. Tlio present painful position of Europe may bo traced to initial mistakes of statesmen of tho past generation Bismarck, for instance.

Con-sequonces must follow, and Germany and other nations aro carried on to a fate they are unable, unless bv an almost hopeless redrrss of the mistakes, to avoid. Franco has forgotten nothing of 1871, and stilt dreams of recovering her lost provinces. Russia, having apparently dismissed home politics from her mind, is carrying out her long-standing policy in Asia and watcliin" oil tho Bosphorns and tho Persian Gulf the pretensions of rival nations over regions she has always longed for. With Franco an agreement is not impossible. With England it is moro difficult.

M. Clemenceau sums up tho position of England in Europe as follows: "The idea of British diplomacy is to keep out of conflicts and draw benefit from the battles of others, as Lord Beacons-field did in tho case of Cyprus but tlus game has been found out, nnd it would bo madness to tliink: it will ever succeed. England holds Egypt in defiance of her promises. Docs she find any compensation for her straightened relations with Prance and Russia? England's relations with Germany are by no means cordial She protects Italy. But what can Italy do for England? England has no allies and no frionds on the Continent.

If she joins the Triplice she gives up Europe to a German Napoleon. If she goes over to Franco and Russia, she will have to prepare for some slight sacrifice of pride. But a Power like England who can only exercise influence on tho sea, cannot afford to incur the ill-will of everybody." THE SHIP CANAL. VESSELS IN MANCHESTER DOCKS. Espeland, barque Blcncowe Spes, barque Success, barque Mignonette Agnes Glover, schooner Cranio, barque Lynrowan Chatfields Ibiss Wagrien Rasni Biela Maskelyno Trieste Pontoon Jetty Dry Dock Traff ord Wharf No.

1 Dock South No. 3 Dock East No. 4 Dock South No. 5 Pier No. 6 Dock South No.

6 Dock South No. 7 Dock South No. 7 Dock North No. 8 Dock South No. 8 Dock South No.

8 Dock North No, 8 Dock North ARRIVALS. New York to Bridgewnter to M'chcster. Charles town to Manchester Tvnemouth to Jiuncorn Oharlestown to Manchester Alexandria to Manchester. Dublin to Partington Glasgow to Manchester. SAILINGS.

Manchester lo Glasgow Partington to Partington to Bclfost Kuncorn to Glasgow Manchester to London Manchester to Bristol Manchester to Manchester to GlaJgow Manchester to Paris Manchester to Antwerp Eifla a Itnmerliuc schooner Kromo barque Karl Afulgrave Ararat barque Tudor Prince Amethyat ft Princess Grampus Priscilla schooner Volants a Cornelian Marie Fleurie a Ferric Egret a Clan Itanald St. Dennis Indian Prince a General Bath brick Itesin Pipe clay Itesin General Light General General Coal Coat Purple ore General General General Light General Light MANCHESTER SHIPPING MOVEMENTS. Nasmyth a arrived at New York to load for Manchester December 21. Dominic a arrived at New York to load for Manchester December 21. Thomaa Waymah a arrived at New Orleans to load for Manchester Decemcer 22.

Zanzibar from Galveston for Manchester, left Norfolk December 1SL The ss St. Mawe's Castle, of Manchester, omnia! No. 92.233, Captain Martin, which sailed from Liverpool in ballast on March 14 and from Capetown on July 11 lor Perth, W.A has been posted at Lloyds as missing. THE CANAL. AND THE COTTON' TRADE NEW DEVELOPMENTS.

Tho Lamport and Holt liner Biela entered tho Sliip Canal on Saturday from New York with a full gonoral cargo, including 823 bales of cotton. A new development of the raw cotton trade via tlio Ship Canal, which will bring increased traffic to the cross-channel steamers, ia the importation of American cotton to Manchester by way of Dublin and Belfast. Wo understand that tho steamers of tho Head line are now booking cargo from the Gulf ports to Manchester at through rates of freight. The steamers discharge at Dublin and Belfast, and tranship the Manchester consignments to tho steamers running regularly to this port from Ireland. Tho first shipment by this route, amounting to 700 bales from New Orelans, arrived at the Manchester Docks from Dublin a fow days ago, and several thousand bales have, we hoar, been already fixed to follow.

The receipts of cotton at tho Manchester Docks from September 1 to date amount to 116,052 bales, of which 77.504 were from the United States and 38,548 from Alexandria. The Euclid is duo from New York on Wednesday with 1,300 bales, the Zanzibar from Galveston on Thursday with 4,670 bales, and tho Salisbury from Alexandria on Thursday with 4,822 bales. Should theso steamers arrive punctually the total importation of cotton to the Manchester Docks during 189G will exceed 270,000 hales an enormous increase as compared with last year's figures. Several largo cargoes of cotton are duo in tho canal early in the now year. Tho Daniel, from New Orleans, is expected on the 4th January with 5,352 bales, the Joseph John, from Galveston, with 3,860 hales on the 5lh, and the Casos, from Charleston, S.C., on the 7th.

The Casos is the first steamer of the new Johnston line service between Cilarleston and the Ship Canal. She sailed on the 21st and brings about 5,000 bales of cotton, in addition to other cargo. The Angcrton, with 7,000 bales, from Alexandria, the Dominic, from New York, the Turkiston, from Galveston, and the Laurelwood, from Charleston, are also on passage or just about to sail for Manchester. Tho first steamer of the new direct lino to Manchester from Newport News nnd Norfolk, Virginia, will be tho Indralema, a largo vessel of 2,020 tons net register, sailing in a few davs. It is understood that other steamers will follow "at regular intervals, booking cargo for Manchester at Liverpool rates of freight.

The tampon; ana iioit liners biriits, Cuvier, nnd Handel are fixed to sail for "Manchester from New- York within the next few weeks, the Rockeliffc anil iluntcline trom hi tile. St. Fi ans from Brnnsw ek. Laurel Branch, Th.nas Wayman, Salopia, Lucina, and Valleda from New Orelar.sJ Vala, Lcny, Claudcbove, Honiton, and Maritime from Galveston. Tim oilt Prince, Swedish Prince, Royal Prince, and Syrian Prince are fixed from Egypt.

TIMBER AND PUlP IMPORTS. The following vessels have discharged timhor. wnml pulp, tic, in the Ship Canal since our last report: Courier (s). 4.392 bales of wood nuln. from Sams- burg; Fulmar (s), 170 bundles of hoops, from Antwerp; Stormani (s), 685 bales and 400 bundles of wood pulp boards, and 264- bundles of willows, from Hamburg; Febmarn (s), 625 bundles of willows, from Hamburg; Spes (barque), 480 tons of logwood-, from Yucatan; Riga (s), 960 bales of wood pulp boards, 73,057 pieces of birch slaves, and 26,619 pieces of flooring and match boards, from HeJsingfors, 2.899 bundles of kindling wood and 15.120 broom handles from Geflo standards of deals, boards, and battens, from Sunds-wall; Nordstrand (barque), 23,795 pieces of deals and battens, 21,133 pieces of boards, 4.156 pieces of scantlings, 2,750 pieces of deal ends, and 54 pieces of hardwood, from Pugwash.

N.S.: Hagni (s), 38,989 pieces of pit props (discharged at Runcorn), from Gothenburg; and Unllns hi inn wi i.uiii jhuiriei uiAiii ami and the Odin which sailed from Gnlh on the 19lh. Other Baltic fixtures include the steamers Margaretha. Gard. Cato. Cairo.

Trieste Kt.irliol,. Jolantha, ami Viking. The new steamer Jacob Bright) of Mavn-hestor, a vessel of over 4,000 tons cargo capacity. ueu imm mo uuii oi aiexico 10 this pott with timber, loading early next year. Tlir.

NF.W YfMlK nnn il. Bmla. unw- it, rnr.nl.f... x- ituiu iyrh, in cludes 8.445 steel billets, 3,700 coils of wire, 820 bundles ot straw hoards. B23 bales of cotton, 500 tierces of lard, 25C barrels of glucose, and other merchandise.

ihe s.camcr W. D. Cruddas, of Manchester, 1,660 tons Liverpool irom Norfolk, will, i 1.,., mtuming auout bales steel, and 1,000 pails of lard. The D. Cruddas is owned by Messrs.

Fisher. Ren-wick, and and was tho first ocean-going steamer registered in the port of Manchester. Althou-h built mr limn n. voflt I rrr. nnA i -Uu ajwuMuy auapieu tor the Manchester tragic, she has not yet leon up the Ship Ejirlv on Snfcnrdnv mo uiunu jihj at a houso in.

Coburg-stroofc, CIcrkemvell, London, llV VOlir.II tlirPA tvrcnnt: til .1 nl. jicu. J.110 out break occurred in a back room on th fimh floor, it is supposed bv tho accidental overturning of 1 luiin Tim flfs i -m- 'vut; wu ouiunioneu, out oeiore the flames were frnt mifW S.irali .11 i burnt on the body aud arms, and was conveyed to St Bartholomews Hospital. Frederick Faulkner ned 35 and Mary A Faulkner, aged 30. were burnt about tho hands.

Charge ArtAivRT Rmir -r. i. TitEASuiiim. At Shofheld on baturday JJarry West Coward, who haB for a considerable period bcvti treasurer of thfl St. t.

1 c. ivrtuu ruuerai society, was brought up in custody charged with embezzliii" 424, the monevs of the Soeiafcv. TJm ctafmnanf cutinjj solicitor was that Coward in his capacitv as treasurer received mnnnws fmm ii r-. -J wit, auicutiv iinu OLI1LT and from members of tho Society, most of whom wero workim? men. Vrnm i.

.1 1 the officials and committee a bank-book which showed that he paid all tho moneys he received into tho bank. A week affi onn nr tven nf fr.n caucu at the bank, none, of them suspecting that anything was wrong. On inquiring about the balance in favour of mm uitii, it was considerably less than they had anticipated, ana it was i.11 mc uautt-uuuu which tno accused had shown to tho officials was a bogus one. A warrant ureasurer ana an investigation made of tho books, which revealed defoU cations amniint.inr trt -PAPd. finri i .1 'j mub muro iiau been loig and systematic embezzlement.

Coward surrendered himsftlf in Hir lJllilw uu v-iiribLmaa-aay, ana when charged said there were othera in it beside him- rwn niuauucu III tUalUUV. Strange Death il distrief. nniin Kr nnMn wwv- wiuuti naa uuiu an inquest in rrestwich concerning tho death under strange circumstances of Edith Jane Birch. rlnjiftiiAr nf Mr Tn). -n: 1.

stroet. Irlams-o-th -Heights, who was found drowned in the river Irwell at Agecroft Bridge, near Prestwich, It xfr wnen uio inquest mat Birch, who was a kitohenmaid at Woodhill, Prestwich. had been f-nm 1 her sleep, and to prevent any unfortunate occurrence uu louroueu. wuen at service in Swinura she found 1ioif.Bir a 1 to be in tho grounds of the house, having during he? sleep got up, dressed herself, and gone out hv the back door. On Tuesday evening last she went to bed as usual after having addressed a number of Christmas cards to her relations anrt ftnnAc 1 1 wuua jjor leuow-servant awoke tho morning she found the kitchenmaid missing.

On Droceedinr to the, .1 i ouo a. uiicu uucervea mat 1 uuiio 01 uie worK waicn Birch ought to hve done -was performed. J. Barlow, a carter stated that at 9 30 a.m. on Wednesday morning he found a woman a hat, cloak, and capo on the bank of i it i uuuge, oun unaing no owner -----ijuiitu sHiuon ai itainsougn, and Pohoo Constable 1 Watkins found the body below the 1 -T roserroir.

xno 00 ay was wav uiuia xJircn, wno waa stated to be a quiet girl. The jury were of opinion that tho girl had walked along tho odgo of the rivtr whilst 4 ian i ume wtm no airect evidence to show how SU9 came by her death an open verdict was returned. BABE COPY OF A HENRY VIII. PBOCLAMA-TION. The "Chronicle" says: That nierry monarch Henry whose well-distended belt is familiar to us from Holbein's portraits, haa not been usually regarded as a prop of asceticism in.

his day. Yet some Buch credit should justly attach to him; to judge from a document which a generous donor has recently presented to the British Museum, whero it is now on view in the case devoted to "Recent Acquisitions of the Printed Books Department," in the King's Library. This is a proclamation printed by Pynson, the royal printer, having as its title, Provision mado by the Kings Highnes and his Counsayll for putting a parte the excessyve fare and reducyngo tho same to such moderation as folowyngly ensueth. Th' obserraunce whereof to begyn the last daye of May the 19 yore of the raygne of Kynge our Souveraygno lordo Henry VIII." The first provision seems especially designed for ono proud prelate at Henry's Court. A Cardynall may havo nyne dysshes at his own messe at one mealo besydes potages to be served in courses at his pleasure." Next in luxury oome "an Archebysshoppe and a Duko" with eight dishes, tho harmless necessary pottages being thrown in as before then Marquises, Earls, and Bishops, with seven then all lordos tftmnorall tmdnr the deorea of an Erie, Ahbottes beyngo lordes of tho rarlyament, Mayres of tho Cytio of London for the tymo beynge, and Knyghtes ot tno uartcr, with six dishes.

Legal aignnanes ijuto less sumptuously. Item Juges, the Chief Baron of the Exchequer, the Kynges Counsayll, tho Sheryffes of the savdo Cvtie for the tvrne, bevnec. and all other both spiritual! and temporall that may dispnnde in landcs or feos to the ycrely value of 200, may have dishes," with potages," bien entendu. The remainder of tho lieges havo dishes in decreasing number allotted to them as their income or property decreases. Provision is mado that no artful cook shall assist his master to drivo a coach and horses through tho proclamation.

"Item li metes or one irynae do uyversiy aressea, or ujww of dyverse kyndes be served iu a disshe, every of them shall stando for one disshe after tho rate above sayd." Nor shall a luxurious diner attempt to multiply the items in a single dish. Item crane, swane, bustarde, peycoko, and all other fowlea of lyke gretnes, but vi in a disshe." Similarly, partriche, plovers, and wod-cook, but vi in a dissho for a Cardynall only (happy Wolseyl) "and iiii in a disshe for all other lordes. Item quayles, dottrelles, snypes but viii in a disshe. Item fesairndes, guiles but ii in a disshe: Item larkes but xii in a disshe." It is graciously stated that any person is at liberty to dine dciow ins uegree, though not above it. At tne any of maryago of any personc, ho or she may havo iii disshes moro at a mealo than is above lymyted after tho rate." The guests apparently were not thought to need moro bodily comfort than usual.

The only persons granted unlimited license aro tnoso wno aro entertaining ambassadors "and noble men of out-wardo partes," and Knights of tho Garter, who may indulge to any extent on St. George's Day, if they are so minded. Anyone asking his social superiors- to dinner is free to give them what is their lawful due, but ho himself must bo contontod with his poor three or four courses, as his caso may be In gourmands houses, and places whero thoy eat overmuch, hero follows the comnunation Fynally it is dctBrmyned that if any person or persons shall otherwyso ordre thcmself than is conteyncd in the foro sayde rato and provysion, And so folowynge thoyr scnsunll appetite shall violate the same, ho or thej- so doyngo shall not oonly bo reputed and taken as a man of evyll ordre contemptuously disobeyinge tho direction of the Kynges highnes ami ins uounsayii, But, also to he sent lor to he corrected a.nd punyshed at the Kynges pleasure, to tho examplo ot other that shall enterprcsse any such lolyous and sensual i appetites licrcattcr. God save tho ivynge. METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORIES ON BEN NEVIS AND SIOTJNT WELLINGTON, The "Times" Edinburgh correspondent writes: Mr.

Clement Wragge, who organised the Meteorological Observatory on Ben Nevis some years ago, and who is now the Government Meteorologist of Queensland, has lately been in England, partly order to render his quin quennial report to the homo authorities, and partly to attend the recent Meteorological Congress at Paris. During his stay in this country Mr. Wraggo has been endeavouring to push forward a project which he regards as the complement of his Ben Nevis work namely, tho establishment of corresponding stations in tho southern hemisphere. Meteorology is mainly a comparative scienco. Its most useful results are obtained by comparison of barometrical, thermometrical, and other readings obtained at different stations, and especially at neigh bouring stations at different levels.

Thus, at Ben Nevis there is not only tho famous observatory on the Jop of the mountain tho highest point in the British Isles but there is also a station at tho base of the mountain, almost on sea level Y. en in tho early days of the dry- stouo hut on thcfatimmit Mr. Wragge caused simultaneous readings to be recorded there and at his house hi Fort William, on tbu shore of Loch Liunhe, Valuablo as were tho readings taken at tho high-level station, tho comparison of those with contemporaneous readings taken at the low-level station raised a new set of prob lems which led to still more important results. Mr. Wragge present aim lo obtain tho establish ment of similar twin-stations at outstanding points in the southern hemisphere, partly with tho view of com paring tho high-level with tho low-level results at theso points, and further with tho view of comoariinr theso results with those obtained at corresponding latitudes iu the northern hemispuere.

There lias been for some years a. luuiuuruiuiuai sLauuu on Wellington, near Hobart, in Tasmania, which Mr. Wr.igg.: organised, and which lias yielded very important rcMiiis Now Mount Wellington is the lien Nevis of the Antipodes, and though its latitude is some degrees lower than that of its northern prototype, its elevation is within 250ft. of being the same. 'Tho two peaks aro sufficiently near in respect both of latitude and of elevation to make a companion of their records valuable ana.

instructive. The permanent establishment of twin-stations on Mount Wellington, which would be a counterpart of the twin-stations, high and low, on Ben Nevis, is obviously a matter of peat importance to mcteorologii-al science. That is Mr. Wragge's firet aim but his ambition takes a wider scope. He wishes to have high-level stations established at several points in the Australian Alps, such as Mount Cork He urges, further, the extension of the Queensland service which is at present the most efficient in Australia, embracing, as it does, besides stations on the mainland, other stations on Jxird Howe Island, Norfolk Island, and Aneiteum to other islands in the Soulli Pacific, with the view of connecting the Australasian stations with those of South America.

Mr. Wragge's schemo has received very influential support during his visit to the mother countrv. Lord Kelvin has expressed special approval of tho proposal for tho establishment of n. permanent meteorological station on the summit of Mount Wellington, Tasmania Dr. John Murray, of the Challenger, has expressed a similar opinion.

Dr. Buchan, the head of the Meteorological Department Scotland, is even mor emphatic After referring to tho great value of the twin system on Ben Nevis, both for scientific and for practical purposes ho says, "Nothing would delight me moro than to see established similar groups, each consisting of a high and a low level station, Australasia and similar parts of the southern And ho adds" I am of oninion that by such groups of double stations, in connection uicicuiuiujiiau uiKiim.vii.ion in tne same regions some of the more important problems in metcoroloirv could be dealt with such as the problem of tho well-known permanently low barometrical depression of tho great Southern Ocean, and the remarkable types of storms that characterise the weather immediately south of that ocean." Tn the face of these weighty expressions of scientific opinion, it will be strange indeed if Australia, Tasmania IMfw iln nf uur. wragge's most reasonable suggestions. It will be a good thhV and an honourable thing, for the colonies to co-operate with the mother country in scientific effort for their common benefit. The proposal of tho Now South Wales Government to hold an international exhibition in 1899 has not been received with much enthusiasm in tho colony, and in certain sections of the community the idea is strongly condemned.

The opposition arises (says the Morning Post from tho belief that the undertaking will createa boom, which would bo followed by a corresponding depression, and that the resources and staple products of Australia are so well known that an increase of the 18 nprobablo as an after-effect of the exhibition. Another reason very stronglv dwelt is that the introduction of English andVeT goods might lead to severe competition, and consequent reduction in values of local warehouse stocks. Objection is also taken to U.e outlay of 500,000 at the present tuno upon such a project. Behring's Antitoxin Results. The Berlin correspondent of the Standard" writes: Dr.

Cunohas related tho experiences of the offecUs of Behring's antitoxin in Dr. Christ's Hospital for Children in Frankfort-on-thc-Main. Four hundred and eighty-three diphtheria cases wero treated with antitoxin. Two hundred and twenty-eight of these wero severe, a hundred and twelve of moderate severity, and eighty-nine slight. Thero were fifty-one deaths that is, 10.5 per cent, we deduct tho patients who were dying when brought to tho hospital and those who died of other diseases after being cured of diphtheria, the number of deaths was only thirty-four that is, 7.03 per cent.

Thu significance of these tatistics can be appreciated only by comparing the two years during which these cases occurred with the preceding years. In 1889 tho death percentage was 39., in 1890 36, in 1891 32.6, in 1892 33.8, in 1893 8 in 189 (before September 30) 36 4. When antitoxin was used all local treatment was refrained from, the doctors being convinced that the regenerativo processes of the mucous membrane of the pharynx are only retarded and the pain felt in twallowing increased thereby. In seventy-six cases weakness of the heart waa observed The fact that this symptom was somewhat more fre- niionf tlifln lmfnrA ia rtf. tniTnrlcirm il UvUW Biup.gujg, iur jusb uie cnuaren who now suffer from weakness of the heart died most n.ilitanln 1, vnn- 1 ouuuoiijj icgaiua COUipiICaLKin, SUCH OS nephritis and paralysis, tho experience was not unfavourable, and no bad effects wero observed after the injections.

In eight cases an abscess formed at tho placo where tho injection was made, owing, probably, to the children tearing off tho plaster, which causes itching. -The report of the Secretary of tho United States navy gives many particulars of tho shipbuilding work in hand nnd of the general progress of the new fleet. Since March 4, 1893, Congress has authorised tho building of 28 vessels five battleships, six gunboats, sixteen tor pedo-boats, and cno submarine boat, displacing together 63,866 tons Five of the torpedo-boats wore to be completed in Iho prosent year, and tho remaining eleven aro to be ready in 1897. In all they will displace 2,098 tons, and four of them will be provided with two torpedo tubes each, tho others having three. The submarine boat will also be completed in 1897, as well as tho six 12-knot gunboats of 1,000 tons, each carrying six 4in.

quick-firers. Tho five battleships Kcarsarge, Kentucky, Illinois, Ala bama, and Wisconsin aro to be ready in 1899. In reviewing the progress mado during his term office, Secretary Herbert remarks that the result is creditable, that the obligations of the United States in the Western Hemisphere cannot be met without naval strength, that, if the mercantile marine increases, the present naval strength will be inadequate, arid that a strong navy will make for peaco and give weight abroad and security at home. His department has made during the year a close study of tho defensive conditions of tho Lrult ot and insists upon the necessity oi United States battleships being ablo to enter the harbours, which would be inaccessible to foreign deep-draught battleships. Ho discountenances tho plan of cutting or deepening channels through bars at the entrance of har bours, and agrees with tho War College, which recom mends an extreme deep-load draught for ships, with maximum coal supply on board, of 23ft.

This conclu sion results from long deliberation on tbo part of com potent othcers. Mr. Herbert therefore recommends Con grcss to authorise next session the construction of three light-draunht baltleshins. together with 12 tornedo-boaUi Tho total estimates for current expenses in 1603 are 519,857,153. For the increase of the navy the estimate is that for 1897 was 59,638,383, while the ap propriation is Speaking in high terms of tho discipline, clBcicnev, and work of the Naval Acn demy, Secretary Herbert recommends that the ago limit no reduced.

Tho annual report of Mr. Lamont, Secretary of War, has ust been issued at Washington. It shows that tho united States armv consists of 25,426 officers and men, or 28 below the legal maximum. This maximum, it may be said, was fixed in 1870, when the population of the union was about 2.000.000 less than it is now; and General Miles, tho present Commander-in-Chief, re commends that ono soldier should be added to the army ior every added to tho population. The war IJe partinent spent in tho year 1895-6 nearly 10,400,000, but even this loft 400.000 to he returned to the Treasury Tho Secretary dwells on tbo splendid progress which is being made towards the early completion of the coast defences, comprising 100 batteries in over 20 harbours, and points out that this will necessitate an incrcaso in the artillery branch of the army.

lly tho end of the current fiscal year, next June, thero will be in position iu iiign-poncr hreechloauing guns and So nreccluoadinj mortars of modern design, and by the end of the follow ing year the numbers will bo 128 and 153 respectivelj-Since tho coast-defence programme was adopted in 1531 about 5,290,000 has boon spent in this way. Xearlv all the new guns will he mounted on a recently invented disappearing carriage. Tho Secretary states that 200,000 has now been spent in acquiring the hattlefields of Chickamauga and Gettysburg and laying them out as national parks, the land secured amounting lo 3,874 and oo acres respectively. The battlefields of Slnloh and -intietam have cost 20,000. SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE (Lloyd'a Telegram.) Baltimore (by cable) Montana, from London, arrived.

Com bay (by LUexraph). Tokio. fromUiUUtabrougli arrived. jHisLun, AinirHuay. vieioriftn, mr Liverpool, sauert.

Boston, Fridny. Scandinavian, from Clyde, arrival. Capetown, IVcdrieiday. Uuuottar Castle, for Kngland sailed. ijarLmouin, b.ituruay.

Johannesburg, for Cape ports, Jlomr. SaMirdny. Manila, Yokohama for Loudon, passed. Duuften, itunl.iv. Gaekwar, from Calcutta, arrived.

Dunkirk (by telvgrapli). Campana, from Montevideo, arrived. Fernando Noron-hs, Sundiy. Gulf of Suez, Callao for Liver-pooi. passed.

uiurniiar. bnruraay. Uumomst, Calcutta for London, and Glcnshiel, from Marseilles, passed. Ormuz, Sydney for London, UravRPond, Saturday. Aran i la, from Yokohama, and Arcadia, from Sydnry, pussed.

Caledonia left for Bombay. Greenock. Friday. l'omcrnuian. for Xt-w Yorii- Guayaquil, Tuuisday.

Gulf of Trinidad sailed, homeward DOlIMtl. Havre. Uour0n. from New York, arrived. Hour Kong (by telegraph).

Sydney, from and Chim- Wo. frmi thn Oli-rlf. mriiW lloiiK Koiif. Wednesday. Empress of Japan, for Vancouver, sailed.

La Palmaj, Thursday. Arundel Castle, for Capetown, sailed. Las I'almas, Friday. Gulf of Tapua, Guavaquil for Liverpool, sailed. Liverpool.

Friday. Explorer, from Galveston, arrived to-day. Worsley Hall, for A'ew Orleans, sailed ytfj-tcrday. Liahon, Saturday. Mail steamer from the Azores arrived last evening.

Madras (by telegraph). Simla, from London, arrived. Malta, Saturday. Oanfa. Yokolmma for Liverpool, passed.

Bengal. Loudon fur Calcutta, arrived. Moville. Sunday. umidiaii, from Jfalifjix.

arrived. Natal, Thursday. Methvni Cattle arrived at midnight, from i London and Citne poris. lJunvegau Castle arrived to-iay from London ami Cape ports i New Orleans (by Vesta, from Liverpool, arrived. New York, Friday.

Sartnatian, from London, arrived. New York. Saturday. York, from Southampton. arrived.

New York, Sunday" La Uretague arrived. Old Head of Kinsale. Saturday. Uovic. New York for Liverpool, and Cainbroninu, Boston for Liverpool, passed.

Old Head of Kin sale, Sunday. Armenian, Liverpool for Bos-ton, passed. i'erim, Friday. Lancashire, from. Hangoon, called.

Armenia, Bombay lor London, passed. Fiyrnouth, Saturday. Norliam Castle, from the Cape, arrived and proceeded for London. Plymouth, Sunday. Maori, from London, lcfii.yesterday for New Zealand.

Oruba. from Loudon. lft for Svdney. Port Said, Saturday. Canton, London ror Yokohama: Clan Buchanan, Clyde for Calcutta; aud Manora.

London for Cd-cutti, arrived. Sitgres. Saturday. Chusan, Calcutta for London, passed yesterday. Southampton.

Saturday. Oldenburg. Sydncv for Bremnn, arrived and Killed I.iit night. Nile, for Brazils, ill.d this morning. Guelph It for the Cape.

St. Louis icir- tor Neji-York. fi o.n Cipeuiwu, arrive. I. Ila warden Caslic left fortheCape.

Abb's Head, Saturday. Gackrvar, Calcutta for Dundee, passed. Suez, Friday. Cuico. London for Sydney, sailed.

Suez, Saturday. City of Bombay, Calcutta for London, arrived. Suez. Sunday. Clan Buchanan, Clyde for Calcutta, and City of Bombay, Calcutta for London, left.

Halifax, X.S., Snturttay. The Donitnton line steamer Scotsman nt 9 rum. The s.ini! steamer Vanemiver sailed for J.ivnrt royal mail company's Xew York, tjaiimlay. Tim Cuniird royal mail steamer Ktruria left at. twelve noon to-day, with 41 snliion and 29 second eauin.

besides steerage passengef. 560 sacks of mails, and 8247.000 in specie. The same eomriany's roval mail steamer Caiuiiauia arrivt-it at tiaml- Hook lightsldp 1 7 a.m. trvclas-. a i.assairc of 5 davs.

21 hours, and IU minutes. Her dsil rum wire t5. 453. 600. 451, 505, 4S5, and 264.

riuuilay. The Cuuard royal iiiall stcamir Aurini i stiico for Vorkat9a.ru. to-day. with a good list oT piteugers and the mails; the latter were 27 minutes late in arnv log. LIVERPOOL SlUPPIXa.

Arxir.J. West Indian 2few Orleans Fivonius Sir il. Lawrence Coquiinho Itawlrv rforfolk, Vn. llrecUfield Teneriffe St.Vineeiit.s Feniunibueo Mitrv W.itkinson Terncuzeii Ararat Wilmington Annie Barcelona Amat Demerara Xorlheru Pohona Apalaehieola Hed Koso (tug) Flushing Lancastrian Hoston -lonn Arlamaou a Varua Hermauos Griuidc Hiielva Galvcstnn Dunkirk Valencia Lnirimas lienholm Ktolfa l'edro Teresa The! is Newhailes Uhent Artriana titathatos a Ibrall l'everii liovie ilrimswick a Jfew York Maninhum Sail ad. Salonta Galveston As-oceta Itntferdam Westmoreland Hamburg Tarifa a Smvrna Sagamore Uoston Itosarian Ilucnos Avres Shieldnike Ghent Gulf of Florida Galveston Volta Africa Armenian llnsioii Aurania a New York Tudor Prince Manchester A Lloyd's telegram from Freilcrikstad states that tho steamer L'lf, from Lcndon, has been totally lost outside Stromstad.

The Autumn Aut Exhibition. Dnrintr tho past week 875 persons havo visited tho Autumn Art Exhibition by individual payments, and 5G2 representation of season ticket. Iu tho same per.od there have been 3,952 free admissions to tho permanent collection of pictures, bringing up the total sine tho re opening ot the galleries to The exhibition closes on Saturday next. Edward Smith, brushmaker, of Kno'wsley Court, Charter-street, was remanded at the City Police Court oh Saturday on the charge of doing grievous bodily harm to his wife. Police Constable Barnes said it wis alleged that tho prisoner kicked his wife so badly as to necessitate her detention at the Infirmary as an in-patient.

He added that it would be a considerable time beforo tho woman would be able to give evidence. Singular Coxduct at Preston. At Preston Police Court on Saturday John Uallagher, of Itucking-ham-street. was brought up "Sn a chargo of unlawfully wounding James licaitie. Tho allegation of the injured man is tha'; Ir.y waiting, knife in hand, in Buckingham-street for the first passcr-by, vowing that ho would hill the first who.

came. It'was the prosecutor's misfortune to be thefirst, and prisoner commenced operations by stabbing him on the check with a clasp knife. Police Constable Cocking stated that lie apprehended Gallagher, unc! on charging him with unlawful wounding hp said. Is it as bad as that? What do you think they will do with me?" Tho prisoner was remanded. Street Noises.

Portsmouth is the latest of tho big towns to object to tho intolerable nuisance of noisy streets, and at a Council meeting last week it was proposed that a committee should prepare by-laws rotating to disorderly conduct and the sale of goods bv outcry in the streets, with a view to dealing with such offences in what was termed a "strictly legal and operative" manner. Thia was not thought by some members to go far enough, and an amendment to include "all noises" was agreed to. Sir John Baker, M.P., especially asked that "screaming, howling, and noises called Binginir bo included. Portsmouth is a meat sufferer faom "noises called singing," especially on Sundays, and no ono will be likely to disagree witii Sir John Baker in his opinion that he knows no greater desecration of the Sabbath. Another indication of the way the wind is blowing occurred at Eastbourne on Mond.13', when an Italian was fined or seven days' imprisonment, on tho complaint of a unvmo rcsiaenc Lancet," Court Danford Thomaa held an Iambonrnr.

apptl 62 t.Im 1 1 have died from the effects of iniuriA in the workhouso with another inma'p t'Si case the Coroner said that it was a i.nJ'10 Jii April, 1S34, a light was sEt.n-iv.l in tlio workhouse between -4- woman named Frances Charm 'r. lr a kick in Ihe spine, anil in cnr.s1ucnfE,T! to bed. She never cot up ai- and she gradually got weaker aiiil weaker, nn.r.. uicu on jucstiav last. J-ranci tho timo at tho roli tn tiT -a timo to timo to await develonmciis ti, now the woman had died, he was CT--' tho magistrate would lake, the placo so lonR previous, TluT thnk tl i eraser that tho mairistr3.tr.

.0 iln i. Emily Dickens, of Darlmoirih i.ai'f,' that tho deceased wag lar mo-he- tho fiRht lakins place and saw hwnioth. Her mother said she had hecn ,1 complained of jrreat pain, and s.vV'- named Chapp had knocked her dawn Dr. AValter M'lnloe Dimhip. medW t-ot tho liihrmarx-, stated that the dewP'-' tho workhouse four and a half v-vir perfect health then, with (he excniinn Vir' ilui-ss ncara that on woman Chapp knocked tho drceasM her by tho hair round the room.

On iiess loiuid she had fracture 01 tho lwiie. and also a swelling in the. hack F.1' -'i-she hovered between life and dcai'i paralysis set in of the Iimli ny until lier death. Witness had Mnee mortem examination, and found 1 hat 1 exhaustion from par.ilvsis. foilowin" thigh, caused by violence.

Viinc i' Chapp had been three tims heov tnr. last time hcinr; AujnBt 21, liDl. when ly 3lr. Jloraci: Smith to eoiim up f- upon. Witness had ronsulied llii-V.

uc who 101.1 him it Wl.i,i v. folal atMinst of tho inquest mule known Tfie has my inquiry to do wiih it Witness -'k e.x.iCl, as tms is certainly a aisst nU -ness I am sure of what I Coron, think no chargo would laud if lapse of 0. I was under cruss-cxaminaiion at, llio know (hat I could swear i. duo to the injury, because of the tiin TlVf Are tho workhouse -Coroner advised the jun- to return a ance with ihe medical evidence, which "was A Coioner tho full i ras-, and rctJd KO into if thrr u'jr-' PCTROIjEUM IN R0.U3I.ANH. NEGLECTED INDUSTRY.

Jfr. Rcnnett, wiio is acting ss British Dur- at Galatz, has prepared a report on i dustry in that country, where, he. play an important part in ft: turn cen.tner ment. Petroleum exi-ls in in l' 7.nne stretching from Tiirn-S'everi- -frontier, along the foot of the 1 Uukovip.a and Galicia. It is found Or this region, hut especially in the Olt liuzeu, an Taalan Vallevs-.

It jV he. found in the whole of the plaint dawn lucre are about 50 borings ami 800 wells the ilVC districts ahfiVo.rnr-nli,i...l- shallow, and the oiitnut in 1654-S raieho.1 Although pctioltum has been worked in ll.1urr.1r 1 years, the industry is evidently in its infirm 1 greater part of U13 land is owned hv tho Ms large holders, who lesidu in tho town; ami vest money in indiisitial enterprises; grain Ir. -pnlised the energy and capita! of the iho forests and mineral wealth of the lectcd. Thus it was not until 1S35 ihat a -was Kissed, and up to that date the ov.ne::.,r, the sui-mch never been inere a body 01" native mining engineers. Abe.

1 of the crude oil is taken from tin. while the remainder comes from Iho working nicrous small proprietors, who have not necessary for proper development of the ilep mi chief aim is to supply the linumanian market. ailOUt 15 Tier CClit of the nrndnet. rns.f Mr. Bennett describes the present system cf my.

petroleum in Roumania as defective from cverr well-sinking, bonn" wnrkinc. and all inferior. "On the ono hand, crude oi! 15 found right and left in enormous unaiuitir- other hand, primitive methods of initiative, of capital, and of specialists. he of the natives, entnlnrn in prnduetion far smaller than ft cnnM ml the protits out all nronortion to wjx. be." IJut the agricultural crisis of the ifit Men has at last directed the attention of Roum2r.hv.5w";.:.

mineral wealth. The light of working pst.rolwm be r-equired hy foreigners, and lluugarian, 4 Freneli syiiflieates, a1; well as the American -i Company, have either obtained or are neot concessions. The opening of the bridire arroslh D.i Tehernavoda. tlu- nrniecf for deonenini: at Cor.stan-.a. and the improvement? to he Iron Gates aro all in favour of the deveiV rn'r he petroleum deposits nf Roumania hy easier to the 111 tr.e( 111 the adjacent pendiccs to ipport give extracts from the aming law relatm" to tr petroleum, an oflicial leport to the Mm Ar on existing wells, and other informnuon of -rJ' character.

Industrial Dkpctes -T: "Times" Vienna correspondent' rils: Th? mission rpjoiuted about three years ago, il'irinj Congress of Austrian industrial eorponitioii. issued an interesting report relative to the -branches of ir.diiitry which it reptesents and 1 -velopment of the labour movement from J.ir,--o.; 1831-. to October 31, 159S. According to this rvpn. efforts of the commission were almost to the settlement of disputes arising in conscrtiss the wages of labour.

Tho rules drawn up Congress for the purpose of regulating 3:1 cotts wero frequently broken within the pcrio-i and strikes were often begun without organisation or financial means lo ensere sults. Indeed, the report says that i- in future for strikes only to be entere.1 mature dolibcraiinn and with 1 -J been the case hitherto. The majority of th' relative to the rate of wages have lien cr' -The cominission consequently announees its recommending the introduction of more fur the regulation of strikes at the nel first ten months of tlie current year lj place, in which about ti2.100 male lian-l 7,000 female hands look part. At present the of tho Austrian CorpDraiion 93,000, as compared with 89,000 at iho year. On Saturday the colliers rmplnjctl nridgewater Trustees' Moslcy Common Walkden.

received 7s. each as a bonus cut of th? weigh nnd Trades Fund. Close upon 1.003 pa 1" emploved. Several thousand pounds hare sl distribuled at other collieries in the Walkd-n aor'- A Disaeleo Brio. Consideraiile caused at Scarborough on Saturday aftenscan.

w-: a large disabled brig was sighted. The tug Aleuta' slcained out to the disabled vessel, which was -saur-just before the Robin Hood's Pay lifeboat arrived cr-. scene, the boat having followed the drifting tn; miles. The brig, which proved to be the r'y Whitby, was towed into Scarborough. The 1 feboat crew are highly commended.

11 tlie Factories Bill before the New Souti ai--Parliament a clause has been inserted to eirejhe JP" power to keep their shops open late on faturcay er ing, and also to work on Sunday if Jewish workpeople. This clause has -ays; -'K ing Post aroused a storm of opposition on saacajru grounds. Girsizi-c or A Boat Two Mes bodies of John Pepperhill, le.idin; seainan. David Thompson, ablo seaman, of the torpedo Sunfish, were found in Uevonport Harhoar on sa.i." afternoon. The ir.cn 011 Friday night gunner of their vessel ashore, and should nave r--r.

immediately, but did not do so. It i Pf0-. they landed' at Devonport and returned te "relate at The boat apiarcntly capsize- ana. -found 110't far from where the bodies were mssvew. Aemv Kifle Association- Pkk Lbi- prize list of the Army Rifle Association 1" issued- following is the Older of merit, in the prinop petitions Queen's Cup, or Cavalry U) in score 721 (the cup and 10 t2) 5th Lancets, tar-(3) 7h Oragoon Chiards, 6S1 (5).

Queen and lufantrv: (1) 1st Battalion Oord'n r-j-, landers. 748 (the "cup and 50) 2i 1st BattaluB Warwick Regiment. 712 (25); (3) Koyal Aldershot, 741 (20) (4) Koyal Engineers, Oas 7JS (10); (5) 2nd Battalion Essex Kegimsnt. (5); (6) 1st Battalion Liverpool (5); (7) 2nd Battalion Somersetshire I511- -fantrv, 7H0 (S). Duke of Connauglifs Lu? 2nd Battalion Connaught Rangers, 205 (ths ap 25) (2) 14th Hussars, 201 (15) (5) 1st Ka- Gloucestershire Regiment, 200 (10) (4) 2nd Royal Sussex Regiment, 200 (10).

The YoiinptjJjj Cup is won bv the 4th Battalion the Rifle a score of 677. In the intcr-squadtSm teaa (home) the shield is won bv the Dragoon Guards with 444 points, and theshieM inter-squadron team match (abroad) by the A y. 2nd Dragoon Guards with 466 MrJ, company volleys match (home) the shield is Wjlg the company 2nd Battalion Northampton with 146 points. Tho company 1st Battaiica Lancashire Regiment win the inter-companr match (abroad) with 15 points. A sum of t- elusive of 61 for the Army "60" Meeting) awarded in prizes this year, as against 42- and 351 in 1894.

no siatuiory cnargo eouhl mad- a-ii-. year and a day had elapsed from Iho Coroner: That is nowoiise: died alter two years. Tin- 1 ins of a charze beine- inn.le 1- for a 10-hour day, but they would grant an 8-honr shift, without intervals for meals, to shunters at six of the busiest stations; wages 21s. weekly for the first year, with an advance yearly until a. maximum of 30s.

was reached. The meeting resolved to thank the directors for their concession, but affirmed their demand fcr ten hours for servants in the running departments. PRINCE AND PRINCESS CHARLES OF DENMARK. (bet-tee's teleoham.) Copenhagen, Scj-day. Frince and Trincess Charles were entertained at a banquet to-day.

Altogether sixty covers were laid The table was prettily decorated with green foliage and with flowers ot the Danish national colours, red and white. The Princes3 Charles, who wore a white dress trimmed with largo red roses, was led to her place by King Christian, while Prince Charles, who tat next her, accompanied the Queen. In the course of tho banquet the King addressed the guests as follows To-dav is the first time that tho newly married couple. Prince and Princess Charles, have met a large Danish company. They are deeply touched at the splendid reception accorded them on their arrival, and my old grandfather's heart is also deeply moved at the love shown them.

1 hope that, as my dear daughter Alexandra lias won all British hearts, so my grand-daughter may win the hearts of the whole Danish nation, and I hope that she and her husband may con. tinue in their present happiness to the end of their lives." His Majesty concluded with the word3 "Long live tho newly married couple," which were received with hearty hurrahs, repeated nine times. A CHINESE EXECUTION; Lai Mil was recently executed at Kowloon, in China, in accordance with weird and ancient customs, which tor centuries liavo been followed in the caso of murderers. Tho mandarin of tho province had nut a detective after him. Lai Mit killed the detective, cut off liis head, and dragged it by he queue to the door oi tho mandarin An hour afterwards hu was arrested and condomned to death.

A missionary, who was in Kowloon at tho time, describes tho incidents of the execution. Tho condemned man's punishment, ho says, with all its barbaric repulsivcness, was made as conspicuously plume as possime, as an example to evildoers. nag; huge yellow triangular slips of bunting, emblazoned with fierce dragons, wero set flying from tho battlements of tho fort on the point that guards the little bay on the shores of which tho town is situated. Three antiquated war junks lying near the pier were covered witii flags, and thousands of Chinese gathered on tho beach. Early in the afternoon a war junk was sighted heading for tho bay, eloso around the point, bringing tho murderer his doom.

A. salute was lircd trom the fort as it approached, and that was a signal for tho final arrangements and for the local oQicials to prepare to receive tho court dignitaries ot tho province, who accompanied the condemned man on tho junk. Thrco guns wero nred as tho salute, and it was replica to tiy three from tho obsolete battery of the junk. Then tho junks anchored near the pier opened fire. First one would let off three guns, and it would lo replied to by three trom tho approaching junk and three more from the fort.

Three times those salutes wero given and answered, and while the cannon wero booming out the death-kncll of the murderer scores of men in the boats at tho fort and on the shore rent the air with a discordant clanging of gongs and cymbals. 5eforc tho salutes had. ceased the junk bearing tho prisoner had reached the pier. A boom, was rigged from ono of the junk's masts, and from it tacklo was lowered into the vessel's hold. A dozen sailors wero soon hauling on a rope, and up through the hatch came a hugo wooden cage, iu which the murderer crouched, scowling and muttering imprecations on his guards.

It was swung out over tho pier, and lowered in tho midst of a guard of native soldiers. A dozen coolies picked up tho cage and started down tlio pier with it, followed by a procession of tho court dignitaries. Tho people crowded about the cage laughing and chattering at the prisoner. Close behind the cage was tho executioner a tall, muscular Chinese, carrying a long, keen-edged sword, and glaring fiercely at his victim. Whilo the procession was moving along tho pier another company of soldiers cleared a space on the beacii closo to the water's edge, and a table and a chair were set in the centre of it.

The chajr was for the mandarin who had been outraged by the head of his detective being thrown at his door by the man who was the central figure of the day's proceedings. The cage was set down in front of tho mandarin's table, and the condemned mau was roughly pulled from it and forcol on his haunches. Ono of the" court officials received a long yellow strip of paper, on which were some Chinese characters. He held it up before him with his arms outstretched, and turned round so that all within iho circlo could gaze on tho paper. Then he fastened it to the end of a bamboo polo and walked to the prisoner.

Tho other end of the polo was thrust down his back, leaving the yellow streamer, like a flag, flying over his bead. That signified that ho had been officially condemned to death, and that his life was given as a forfeit for trenclit'ry his ruler by slaying one of his servants. It also authorised tho executioner to carry out tho death penalty. The executioner then proceeded with his duties. The prisoner was ordered lo get down on liis knees.

His hands were shackled behind his back with old rusty irons. His qucno was wound around his head, and tho collar of his jacket was loosened and pulled down, baring his neck to the shoulders. The executioner then drew his sword from its sheath and set the prisoner in position, signifying to him to point his head forward, stretching his neck ns much as possible, and emphasising his instructions by kicking tho kneeling man in the side. The bamboo polo on which was tho yellow paper streamer was pulled away. The executioner stepped back, grasping the handle of his sword with hofb hands, and, swinging it in a wide circle about his head, brought it down on the murderer's neck, just as the victim was uttering a curse at the delay.

One stroke severed tho head from tho body, it rolled down along the sands towards tho water." Tho soldiers grouped about the execution grounds immediately on tho fall of the sword fired a volley. 'Hit! executioner picked up tho bead and placed it at tho top of the lifeless trunk, and then cut the strings that secured tho shackle.s around tho arms and legs. Bo then drew the keen blade of his sword between tho thumb and finger of his left band to wipe off tho blood, and, sheathing the weapon, followed the mandarin and liis retinue back aboard tho junk and sailed away. Tho head of the dead murderer was afterwards hung up in tho cage, through the bars of which its eyes had looked only a few hours before as it was being carried through tho crowd along the pier. Tho cage with its gruesome ornament was placed near the gate of ono of tho temples of the city, where all could see it and take warning of tho fato of tho rebel and murderer.

Tho body was left to fester on tbo beach until a wave carried it away. At Pentre, Rhondda Valley, yesterday, a tiro occurred, which destroyed in three hours four large shops, and caused damage estimated at 15,000. No lives wero lost, but buildings which were three storeys high wero completely gutted, and a portion of Bailey's Hotel was destroyed. A boy named lce3, lo years old, was drowned in tho River Ely on Christmas-day. He.

drove from the house of his employer at Dinas, near Cardiff, in the morning to fetch milk from a neighbouring farm. He failed to return, and the horse and trap wero found in the River Ely, which was much swollen by recent rams. The body has not been recovered. Lord Charles Beresford. who was mado a captain in the Royal Navy in 1882, after the bombardment of Alexandria, during which engagement lie commanded Her Majesty's ship Condor, will attain flag rank next year.

Lord Charles will bo one of tbo youngest rear admirals of recent years. Heatu of a MiDMEirAxr Trainer. Mr. Harrv Hall, tho well-known trainer, died on Sunday morning at his residence, Spigot Lodge, Middlcham. Mr.

Hall, who had attained the ago of 87. was taken ill a few days ago, but was well enough on Saturday morning to give instructors reirding the daily work of tho horses in his stables and to arrange about Bella's journey lo Manchester for the forthcoming meeting. As the day drew on. however, a change for the worse was noticed. Mr.

Hall was a trainer of the old school, the horses in liis charge running principally at North-country meetings, and ho was an adept in tho art of placing moderate animals so that ilicy could win races. Amongst the more important winners of the many that passed through his hands can bo mentioned Mr. T. Holmes's Harriet Laws, who secured the Northumberland Plate in 1875; her son Lawriiinster. successful in the same vcni-.

years later; also Mother Shiptou, winner of the Great Ebor Handicap in 1879; Xury, which ran second to Grey Leg three years ago, in the Citv and Suburban, but failed afterwards to do anything "of and Tcrtius, sire of that impostor Quartus. k'erl-aps tli biggest coup of Harry Hall's career waa landed with Golden Drop in tile Manchester November Handicap of 1893, tho horso starting at the long od-'s of 40 to 1 and winning in a sea of mud. In the past racing Sfasou t.o stable sent out some useful winners, iuclurbi.g old Dare Devil, who took that favourite rare with trainer, the Northumberland Plate, and Pallanza, who won the Spring Handicap at Carlisle, and later in the year carried off the Cumberland Plate. The last vinner he ever trained tho voar-old Cotterdab victor in Thiisk Vutu. Hsndicap la: October..