The Colonies and India from London, Greater London, England • Page 11

APRIL 23,1898 THE COLONIES AND INDIA 9 OBITUARY. Mr. J. Abbott, at Brockville aged 83. Mr.

J. H. Green, a well-known resident of Quebec. Mr. J.

M. Dunbar at Cawnpore, India, on March 10. Mr. Benjamin Springer, at Vancouver (B.C), aged 56. Mr.

John D. Gilmour, of Quebec, died in Florida on April 7, aged 47. Mr. Hugh Rose, of Edinburgh, at Ahmedabad on March 10, aged 54. Rev.

William Thomis, at Ballarat (Vic.) on February 13, aged 58. Mr. Edward Le Mesurier Sewell, at Quebec on March 30, aged 51. Mr. James Crotty, of Melbourne, died in London on April 1G, aged 62.

Lieutenant F. G. Jones (Derbyshire Regiment) at Nowshera on March 10. Dr. B.

W. B. Dixie died at Spiingfield-on-the-Credit March 27, aged 79. Mr. Louis Kribbs, a well-known newspaper man in Toronto, died there on March 24.

Mr. George A. Harris, vice-president of the Ottawa Forwarding Company, died at Ottawa, aged 47. Mr. Francis Biyley, late Agent P.

anl O. S. N. died in London on April 17, aged G9. The Chief of the Indian Reserve at Hungry Hall, Rainy River, Manitoba, was killed by another Indian the other day.

Mr. B. Richards, an old Colonist, at Richmond (N.S.W.), aged 81. He was prominently connected with the meat industry in the Colony. The Graphic of April 23 has a portrait of Mr.

J. L. K. Van Dort, the well-known Ceylon artist, who died at Bambala- pitiya the other day. Mr.

Van Dort contributed largely to the Graphic and Daily Graphic and had for many years been in the Surveyor-General's Department in Ceylon. He was years of age. Captain Peter C. E. MacDonald, adjutant of the 1st Battalion of the West India Regiment, who is reported to have of his wounds received in the recent West African fighting, was in his thirty-fifth year.

He joined the regiment in 1889, and became captain last October, having been previously appointed adjutant in 1895. In 1892 he served on the Gambia, at the capture of Toniataba; and in 1893 in the operations against the Sofas, and in the expedition against Fodey Silah. Philip D. Lorimer, the well-known Australian bush poet, the other day. He was a literary sundowner, and a familiar figure on the back-tracks in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria.

He had done some exploring in his day, and was a member of the Mclntyre expedition that went in search of Leichhardt's remains, and became leader when Mclntyre and Slowman died in the bush. He was an intimate friend of Kendall and Gordon, ijorimer and Kendall slept out in the Dandenong Cemetery the night that Gordon shot himself on the Brighton beach. Crown Agents and the House of on April 21, Sir C. Dilke (Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean) asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether "the Agents for the Colonies acted not only for Colonies but also for Protectorates under the Foreign Office, such as the Niger Coast Protectorate, British Central Africa, British East Africa, and Uganda, many of which received annual grants of money from Parliament; whether they were supplying the rails for the Uganda Railway, now in course of construction, out of a Parliamentary grant; whether their office was receiving a percentage on the public money thus expended on the Uganda Railway; and whether he would again consider the expediency of presenting an annual report from the Crown Agents to Parliament. Mr.

Chamberlain: The answer to the first question is, Yes, at the request of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. With regard to the second question, as indicated in the Memorandum presented to Parliament in April, 1896 and in the report laid in July, 1897 (c. they are employed as agents to purchase all stores required for the Uganda Railway, which is being constructed out of funds raised under the authority of the Act 59 and 60 Vic, cap. 38. as Secretary of State for the Colonies, approved their transacting this business for their usual commission of 1 per cent, on their shipments, which, as in the case of all similar commissions on stores purchased for Colonial Governments, accrues to their office funds.

I do not see the necessity for such a report, which would 1 add greatly to the labours of an already heavily worked department. LITERATURE. A Captive Princess. By MARY B. GILLESPIE.

(Glasgow David Bryce Son.) THTS little volume contains much must deeply interest all who love North Britain. The tradition of Holyrood and Linlithgow Palace versified by Miss Gillespie is full of dramatic life and fire, and numerous other poems on a great variety of subjects show that the writer possesses much fancy, great taste, invention, and a decided metrical faculty. Some of the poems are very affecting, and marked by not a few tender and sympathetic touches, while others are in a lighter vein. The volume on the whole reflects great credit on the writer, soma of whose poems have had the honour of being included in a new Scottish anthology of Stirlingshire poetry. LITERARY GOSSIP.

The April Badminton is of more than ordinary interest. Among its Colonial features are chapters on Bermuda Dingey Racing," by Charles E. Eld red, and English Cricket on Australian Grounds," by W. J. Ford.

There is also a very readable article on gun sport in New South Wales, from the pen of Mr. William Redmond, M.P., who knows his Australia very well, and is a good sportsman to boot. Mr. Percy Thornton, the popular representative of Clapham in the Houso of Commons, is referred t) a good deal in a very entertaining paper by Mr. Horace Hutchinson on Harrow Cricket," Mr.

Thornton having given the writer permission to make full use of his famous work, "Harrow School and its Surroundings." Sir Courtenay llbert, K.C.S.I., Assistant Parliamentary Counsel to the Treasury, has prepared a digest of the statute law relating to the Government of India, with historical introduction and illustrative documents bringing up to date the consolidating draft of 1873. This important work will bo published I at the Clarendon Pres3. MUSIC ANDTHE DRAMA. The Savage Club Matinee in aid of the Prince of Wales' Hospital Fund promises to be a renarkable success. Mr.

Beerbohm Tree has, with characteristic generosity, lent Her I Majesty's Theatre for the occasion, and, among the Savages who have promised to appear are Sir Henry Irving, Mr. Charles Wyndham and Mr. Beerbohm Tree. The Savages are evidently- determined to make the entertainment one of the most successful the Club ha3 ever given, particularly as the Prince of Wales is himself a Savage." Those who wish to secure seats should book early. Tickets can ba had, at ordinary theatre prices, at the box office of Her Majesty's Theatre the usual agents from Mr.

William Nicholl (Chairman of the Entertainment Committee of the Savage Club) and Mr. W. H. Denny, Hon. Secretary of the Club, Adelphi Terrace, London, W.C.

The Conquerors at the St. James's The extraordinary fits of virtuous indignation into which the dramatic critics of some of our contemporaries have succeeded in lashing themselves over Mr. George Alexander's new venture at the St. James's Theatre is not the least remarkable thing in connection with the play, which has been dubbed dull, stupid, dreary, and obscene. In fact, a veritable avalanche of more or less denunciatory adjectives has been launched at it, and the Licenser of Plays has been called upon by a newspaper to iesign because he permitted its production.

Who said Mrs. Grundy was dead, or even moribund, was certainly somewhat premature. At any rate, she has reasserted her sway now with emphasis. Bub it is doubtful whether her outcries will do the play much harm. The public, who, after all, in the main, generally form correct conclusions in such matters, will probably argue that a dramatic production which could raise such a rumpus can hardly be the feeble, puerile piece of work it has been called.

And on going to the St. James's they will find their surmises correct. Far from being dull and dreary, "The Conquerors has abundant life and vivacity, and the scenes of festivity, dancing, and singing are cleverly arranged and pleasing to any artistic eye. Mr. Alexander's scene in the cabaret with Miss Julia Neilson, which has been so hardly dealt with, is one of much force and power, and the situation is- treated with so much skill and address that only a most prurient mind could discover anything objectionable about it.

A notable performance is that of Mr. H. B. Irving as the keeper of the cabaret. It is one of the best bits of work this promising young actor has done at the St.

James'. In this part he reminds us more than ever of his gifted father. The play is beautifully mounted, and every thing about it is characterised by that conscientiousness and artistic taste which stamp all Mr. Alexander's productions..