The Newcastle Weekly Courant from Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England • 2

2 THE imWCAMLE COURAOT, FRIDAY. JUNE 13, 1879. CHIMES AND CASUALTIES. VW- UL DONCOREMSPONDENT. MmmM bMmA OCEAN AND RIVER CANALS.

M. De Lesseps, tbo designer of tho Suez Canal, will shortly go out to America to superintend the construction of the great ship canal across tho Isthmus of Pan-ma; and there are other canals already projected for uniting oeeaus and rivers which are of a stupendous character, far surpassing any canal schemes of ancient and modern times. This revival of a branch of engineering enterprise almost extinguished by the introduction of railways is a remarkable feature of the present age, and it proves that, as a means of extending and improving water communication between seas separated by strips of laud from other seas, large rivers, or hikes, there is yet a wide Sold left for the superior skill and improved appliances of the modern canal engineers. THB OANALS ANCIENT TIMES. As substitutes for rivers, canals are of very ancient date.

In China, the oldest Empire in the world, canals were one of the earliest evidences of civilisation. The "Great Canal" of China is said to have occupied 120 years in its construction, and to have etiven emnlovment to 30,000 men, occupy classes who valued his political rights and electoral privi leges to record his vote, "and the only persons excluded wers those who constituted the most idle, vacillating, and venial portion of the working classes, who declined to put themse'ves to any trouble or inconvenience in order to record tbiir votes. One great objection he entertained to exttnsion of the hours of polling was that it would lead bribfry, treating, and personation. Tho evidence' of tf the Town Clerks before the Seleot Committee in shewed that there was no practical convenience to be. gained 'a comparison with the ends to which he had adverted.

i Sir C. ETLKE supported the bill, contending that there a substantial grievance which ought to be remedied. for the evidence of the Town Clerks, they were habituated to the present system and would by the change put to some extra trouble and inconvenience, and their evidence ought not to be allowed to have any weight in a case as this. There was no portion of the country which this measure was more needed than in Lancashire, he was surprised that a Conservative Lancashire member should come forward to oppose it, as the Conservative members, who constituted the majority of the Select Committee, were quite satisfied of the expediency of extending hours of polling, and supported tho recommendation. PROPOSED CANALS.

As a complement to the Suez Canal and a missing link in the great water-way to India, tho projected Grand Canal du Mioi, in France, is a magnificent scheme. It will enable ships bound for the Mediterranean or the East to save from S00 to 900 miles; it will free the south of France fix mail inundations, and receive about twelve millions of tons of shipping a year, besides enabling the owners to dispose of an average of 21,000,000,000 cubic yards of water a year for irrigation or motive power, and thus give in the Valley of the Garonne alone four times the power required for the cotton mills of the whole world! It is intended to be 00 feet wide at the bottom, 30 feet deep throughout, to flow through Bordeaux, Agen, Toulouse, Carcasonne, Narbonne, and not Oette, but either La Nouvelle or some pert still nearer to Narbonne, which is the shorter course by about forty miles. This scheme, tinder the auspices of the French Chambers of Commerce and the Government is likely to be carried out; and it is estimated tLat six years would be required for itB completion. The Russian Government have now before them the plan of a sea canal direct from Cronstadt to the mouth of the river Neva, so as to enable vessels of heavy draught to discharge their cargoes along the railway quays of the capital. This scheme, however, would transfer the Cronstadt trade to St.

Petersburg, and is vigorously opposed by the Cronstadt merchants, and the directors of the Baltic Railway have proposed an alternative a haven just outside Oranienbaum, so as enable foreign goods to be tiansferred to the Russian, railway svstem without the trouble of taking them along projected sea canal to the wharves of St. Petersburg. TUB ISTEil-OCEASIO CONGRESS AND THB PANAMA SCHEMES. U. vjv cuttimr throueh the Isthmus of Panama, Paul Morphy is again reported to be insane.

The Industrial Eshibition at Borlia is a great We wreck of tho Vanguard is to bo blovn up Atestorm of hail fell at Momnouta on Wednesday. nj a The King of Siam, who ts on his iray to ingian thirty wives. Extensive flooding has occurred tne Sndlana counties of England. Mark Twain, says an Amercan paper, pays -aso. dollars.

Mr HerscheU, Q.C., LI. has been offered and declined a judgeship. Most of the towns of the DaL.es, Oregon, nas destroyed by fire. The Gothard tunnel will probably bo completed, the end of November. The harvest prospects of tho agricultural provinces of Germany are excellent.

The German Government proposes to organise a separate corps of coast artillery. The annual festival of the IS evrsvendors Institution has been held. Alexander Boreland, a lad only 14. years ot age, committed suicide in Dundee. Mr T.

B. Potter, M.P., is preparing for an autumnal tour in the United State. The Rev J. Vv. Nutt, librarian ot the Bacilem Library, is about to resign his office.

The Cashmere famine is taking its course. People M. Jules Simon is expected to be presold at the Cobden Club dinner on Saturday week. The Mexican Congress has decided to increase import, duty on cotton manufactures. The eruption of Mount Etna has almost ceased, tho flow of Lava has completely stopped.

The waters of the Po are subsiding. Great desolation prevails in the surrounding country. The Board of Trade have commenced an inquiry the recent railway accident at Tipton. Professor Seeiey has accepted the presidency c-. Workmen's Social Education League.

The top stone and cross havo been placed on tho cathedral at Edinburgh by the chaplains. Mr Henry Irving has been elected permanent governor of the Shakesperian Memorial Council. Dr Cumming has officially retired from i.e pastorate of the church at Crown Court, Drnry Lane. The Broadway Savings Bank in St. Louis closed, doors on the 24th ultimo, and ii.ade an assignment.

Sixteen hours incessant rain in South Shropshire caused tho rivet Ccrvo Lu1Tqw. Tho British brigantine Blonde, laden with struck on tho bar at Aracaju, and been totally iosi The Hull School Board have resolved to aumit press to all meetings of the committees of the Board. The fete at the Paris Opera on Saturday produced nett profit of 10,000 in aid of the sufferers of Szegedia. The Princess of Wales has graciously given her name as patroness of the Stafford House South African Aid Fund. An equestrian statute of Lord Gougn, recently successfully cast, is to bo erected, near Carlisle Bridge, "bfc'n.

It is stated that the Grand Duchess Mane Baulovna continues to make satisfactory progress towards recovery. The Metropolitan Xtailvray Company contemplato introducing the electric light in their underground railway stations. A new guide to the various collections in tho British Museum will shortly appear, by order of the trustees. On Christmas Day last the amount ot Bans England notes in circulation was just over thirty-th or roe miHions sterling. It is calculated that the reconstruction of the Auteuii race stand, burnt down on Monday, will cost 90,000 francs.

The presentation of new colours to the French army will take place early in September in the neighbourhood of Paris. In the course of excavations for building purpose? Carmelite Lane, Aberdeen, about 200 human skeletons have been dug -up. School savings banks have just been 'introduced in Brazil on the model of those founded by de Malaree, in France, Small libraries of books on administrative subjects, history, and geography are to bo installed at each police station. Last year dead meat of tho value of more than 1,330,000 was imported into tho United Kingdom from the United States. Tho body of James Thorn, miller and farmer, Mill of Muchalls, near Stonehaven, has been found floating in his own rnill-dam.

The foundation stone of the new Eddystone Lighthouse is to be laid on the 21st by the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. It is stated that the Pittsburg ironmasters havo conceded the demands for which the puddlers in their employment struck work. The French Anti-Tobacco Society has petitioned the Chamber to prohibit smoking hi the streets and" by youths under sixteen. A London correspondent says no fewer than 50,000 rifles were recently purchased in this country for shipment to South America. Two men have been suffocated at Nailsea, near Bristol, though descending a well 50 feet deep which hai been closed for some weeks.

In digging a channel in the neighbourhood ol Lake Neuchatel, a lacustrine cano. tt nosrly Edward Edmundson, hie Ro.va! stationed -t liuri. i'; Turiri: Hr.rgi.irv. from ih and cain; i'ffO IliC--' oiii students, Church ceived into the Roman Catholic Church. The certificate of the captain of thestea Whitehaven, which was wrecked in the Bristol has been suspended for six months.

At Carlisle Eichard Waite, letter-carrier, has been sent 14 days to prison for retaining 2d which had been paid him for an unstamped letter. The United States House of Representatives has passed a bill providing for the free importation of cattle from Great Britain for breeding purposes. A statement is current in Berlin to the effect that Queen Victoria will stand sponsor to her first great-gi-ani-child, the little Princess of Saxe-Meiningem In accordance with a recommendation by Sheriff Clark, the Glasgow solicitors are in future to wear gowns and white ties when conducting cases in court. Elizabeth Ann Church and Ellen Harrington are the nurses selected from University Hospital to receive St. Katherine's Order of Merit from the Queen.

The Washington Indian Bureau has received information that 800 of the chief Sitting Bull's followers have crossed the frontier into United States territory. In the course of some excavation works in the neighbourhood of Hanger Hill, Ealing, a mussel bed has been discovered, from one to two inches in thickness. Whilst earth was being excavated at Gloucester Gas Works, it caved in, burying two men, one of whom was killed and the other seriously injured. At Dartford, two lads named Brider and Russell, have been charged with conspiring to set the training ship Arethusa on fire, off Greenhithe, and committed for trial A coroner's jury at Newton-on-Ouse, near York, has returned a verdict of wilful murder against Elizabeth Aj.iuitiuiiu iui ftfuutg ner cnua oy sunocation. bein2r nresent.

A man named 'Anderson has been crushed to death by a huge stone falling on him from a height of SO feet, while he was at work in an Aberdeenshire quarry. A boy named Wrilson, aged 17, has been killed at Messrs Gill's shipyard, Rochester, by falling against of an engine while he was passing through a workshop. Sir WT. Harcourt has made arrangements with R. Cbolmondeley of Condover Hall, Shrewsbury, to "Wide at.that fine old Elizabethan mansion durin" the next two years.

The Lord Mayor has invited the members of te Ccmedie Francaise to a luncheon at the Mansion House during their stay in London, on a day to be hereafter settled. A Berlin papers state that some excitement has a robbery which has taken place at St. Petersburg the house of the German 3IiPt--v AUtictie. The workmen in one of the chief chocolate manufactories in Paris have struck, to the number of 300, and tle'Lme movemfint ete to other hoes tt11 jeSf aSin the Russian painter, has added to the South Kensington Exhibition a number of incidents in the Russo-Turkish War, which are to beon view The Brighton Aquarium Company havin intimated their intention to apply to the magistrate for a dramatic license, the Town Council have resolved to omo-e the application. A project has been started at New York for hold ing in that city a "World Fair," or "international 5W th Mii At a meeting of St.

Ives electors to select a candidate to contest the constituency in the Liberal interest at next election Sir Charles Reed has been adopted by SO vot-s to 17 polled for Lord Ebnngton. There were only eight British and foreign wrecks reported during the past week, making a total of L3 present year, or an increase of 73 as compared with the corresponding period of last year. An open verdict has been returned by a coroner's jury in London as to the death of a male child found Iviu-on the steps of the Duke of York's Column, in St JanW Park, wrapped in a piece of paper mHI As another sign of the general depression existing business, nearly all the reports of the Societies presented at the "May meetings" in London. this vear nounce a state of financial decline had to an- Lord Waveney has intimated to his Suffolk deFion of times: tS rfav- A picture purchased at a high, fienrre at aw iiu mereiore a rr-iuuun, night, a measure Kfflr JoffvrVh O.hior.11 EXPLOSION OF A GUN. On Tuesday evening, during the big gun drill by the 1st Hants Artillery Volunteers, at Hamble, a gun burst, severely injuring two men.

One of them, named Burch, was taken in at Netley Hospital with a broken leg; another had his face Injured. TRIAL OF A SHIPOWNER. The prosecution of Captain James Conlon, under the Mercl ant Shipping Act, for 1 aving know.ugly taken the British steamship, Arbutus, on a voyage from Maryport to Dublin in such an unseaworthy state that the livos of the crew were endangered was concluded on Tuesday at Dublin. The jury found that the ship was unseaworthy, but that the offence was not committed knowingly. The Judge directed a verdict of not guilty.

THE FENIAN OUTRAGE IN MANCHESTER. On Wednesday morning the Manchester Police Court was again crowded, ou the occasion of John Riley being charged with shooting at Frederick Dove with a revolver. The police in the precincts of the court were armed, to prevent any attempt at rescue by Fenian sympathisers. After the prisoner had been placed in the dock, an application was made for a further remand, when evidence will be given to show that the attempted murder arose entirely out of a dispute among the Fenians. SHOCKING ACCIDENT ON THE RAILWAY.

As the 2 '47 London express train passed Laister Dyke to Bowling, near Bradford, on Monday afternoon, two boys named Quail and Beaumont, aged 16 and 14 respectively, knocked down and so severely injured that they both shortly afterwards. fhe boys were playing with a number of others on tho Bowling branch of the Great Northern line. The driver sounded a signal as the train approached but apparently without its being heard. Both were struck on the head and greatly mutilated. MINE ACCIDENT THREE MEN KILLED.

A sad accident occurred at the Park Iron-ore Mines, near Barrow-in-Furness, on Monday night. The night turn off men were at work, when there was in one of the workings sudden fall. An alarm was given, and it was ascertained several miners were working in this part of the pit. work of removing the debris was at once commenced, the dead bodies of three miners were found Matthew Welsh, Askan; a miner named Coole, living at Artecross; another named Hicks, living at Dalton, all of whom married. AGRARLA.N OUTRAGE IN IRELAND.

Another outrage is reported from Ireland. A man named Jnlm fStrt-in. at Kanturk. was livine on bad terms with his family, in consequence of his father having cut him off and given a large farm to his son-in-law, named Sullivan. This Sullivan and his sister-in-law were returning home from the on Monday, when they were fired at from behind a fence, and afterwards attacked with a billhook by John Curtin, who, after leaving them terribly wounded on the road, decamped.

They are now in a precarious state. Curtin has been arrested 14 miles away. THE QUEENSFERRY SCANDAL. An action in the Edinburgh Court of Session -was set down for proof on Tuesday, at the instance of Mrs Why te, wife cf the Rev Mr Whyte of Queensferry, who sought for separation on the ground of her husband's alleged cruelty. The defender denied the allegations of cruelty, and averred that any restraint that was put upon his wife was rendered necessary because of her intemperate habits.

When the case came up, it was intimated that an arrangement had been come to, under which the case had been abandoned, the pursuer at the same time withdrawing her allegations against the defender. THE COLLIERY INUNDATION. On Wednesday, at a meeting of colliery proprietors and ironmasters with the Staffordshire Miners Drainage Commissioners in Wolverhampton, it was officially reported that the water had risen in the week at one pumping twenty-eight feet, and that in six weeks the mischief would irremediable. Six hundred pounds was thereupon subscribed to keep the four pumps going a month, and a committee was appointed to try to raise 40,000 upon the security of the rates, and to co-operate with the Commissioners in averting the threatened calamity. The issue is considered very doubtful.

ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION IN GALWAY. Intelligence has been received of an attempted assassination near the village of Moylough, which occurred on Sunday night at dusk. It appears that a landowner named Peter Bartleman was fired at near his own house, which is situated ou the confines of Moylough, at nine o'clock. Two shots were fired at Mr Bartleman from a revolver, bv a man who was a complete stranger to him. Luckily the shots did not take any bad effect, and Mr Bartleman came off with only a slight wound in the snouiaer.

xne name oi -jix Bartleman's place is Woodbrook, which is in a rather lonely spot. No reason can be assigned for the outrage. After firing the two shots from the revolver, the wpuld-be assassin decamped. ANOTHER LONDON MYSTERY. Early on Sunday morning the dead body of a woman was tound at No.

4, jUttle somerset street, lyianseii street, Aldgate, London. It appears that the landlord of the house, whose name is Beeale, saw the body there some time before, but did not take much notice of it. When he went to the spot it was quite cold, and life was extinct. Dr Drammond of Mansell Street afterwards saw the body, which was removed to the mortuary, and an inquest will take place on Wednesday. It is supposed that the woman is named Fitzgibbon, aged about 50 years.

She was in the habit of visiting a woman at No. 4, Little Somerset Street; but how she came at the foot of the cellar there is nothing to show. The only mark of violence about her is a slight mark on the head. The neighbourhood in which the affair happened is in the rear of the Aldgate Slaughterhouses, and one of the lowest in the East End of London. The case is now in the hands of Detective Osbourne of the City Police, who is making inquiries as to tho habits and associates of tho deceased.

EXTRAORDINARY PROCEEDINGS ON SHIPBOARD. At the Liverpool Police Court on Monday, Peter Matthews, master of the British ship Sea Foam, was charged with shooting a coloured seaman, named Gorrie Bothe, on the high seas, on the 18th April. The vessel was oh a voyage from Rangoon to Rio Janeiro, and, from the evidence of Bothe and others, it appeared that the captain declined to give pome of them food, as they V.i refused to wrV Abom: tvc o'clock in t'in afteinoou cf tho Bothe vimt to a cn-k to get a dri.uk, but lite capiat prc- -VKltftl I-rrlirrfeiirStae'r which Bothe ri.tajii rfiu at vrith of this, who; -c-i; hi rlwUft revnjvor, 1 there th. sticjang out wrion ue out by carpenter vit-h a rjor. ALIO.

Wcv u'it Th, that tiio muvh'ous. and that v- was daa ws committed for uoiie in seli-defence. The prisoner was trial at the Assizes, the magistrates stating their willingness to accept bail in two sureties of 50 each. SHOCKING TRAGEDY AT CHESTER. The Yacht Inn, Watergate Street, Chester, which Deau Swift has immortalised, and which was a famous smuggling house at the time when Chester was a large maritime port, was the scene of a shocking tragedy on Friday night.

The inn has been occupied for about twelve months by Mr and Mrs Miller. Miller had four childrenbyaprevious marriage, and married his present wife about four years since, by whom he has had two children, Alice, aged 2 years and 0 months, and Elizabeth Mary, aged twelve months. For some time past Mrs Miller, who is SO years of age, has been in delicate health, and had recently ruptured a blood vessel, for which she had been attended by Mr Watson, surgeon. She had also been rather despondent of late, and had once been heard to say that she would not be long for this world, but there was nothing to attract the serious attention of her husband. On Friday night, about ten o'clock, she wont to bed with her two children, and shortly afterwards piercing shrieks were heard proceeding from upstairs, and on Mr Miller rushing up he found his two children with their throats cut, and Mrs Miller had also inflicted a deep gash on her own neck.

A large table knife covered with blood lay on the floor of tho bed room. Drs Waters and Harrison were in almost immediate attendance, and staunched the flow of blood and bound up the wounds. Mrs Miller resisted violently, and it was only after a straight waistcoat had been procured from the hospital, and she was secured in it, that proper medical attention could be paid to her. The wounds were discovered to be most serious, the gashes being clean cut, and extending completely across the front of the throat. The youngest child has sustained the severest injuries.

MURDER OF A CHILD AT EXETER. Tho police have arrested Maty Hoskins, the mother of the infant whose mutilated body was three weeks since found in the mill leat, and on Saturday she was brought before the Exeter magistrates. Several false clues were followed up, but it was only a few days since that the first information wa3 received of the circumstances that have led to the arrest of the mother. She is unmarried. She is 25 years of age, and her friends belong to the middle class, and reside at Camborne in Cornwall.

The prisoner came to Exeter at the end of last June, took lodgings there, and stated that she was the wife of an Indian officer. She gave birth to a male child in October, and at the beginning of December, placed it in charge of a widow named Tooke. The preliminary arrangements with the widow were made by the prisoner's brother and sister; aud when they had got rid of the baby the whole party disappeared. On first being seen Tooke wanted to be paid six shillings a week for the child. Next she agreed to take a lump sum of 20, but afterwards she accepted 12.

She says that a further payment was promised her. Tooke, however, did not take the precaution to obtain the name of the mother, nor did she ask for the name of the child. She, however, was in correspondence with a person who first communicated with her on the subject, and as at the beginning of last month she had not received any further advance, she informed her correspondent, unless more money was forthcoming, the child would be put in the workhouse, and the police communicated with. A day or two after this a woman, whom Tooke says she does not know, came and stated that tho mother bad sent for the child, and he was accordingly handed over to her without inquiry. This was on the 12th of Mav.and on the same day this strange woman was seen with another female, said to be the mother, and the child was then alive and well.

On the 18th its body was found in the mill leat. The identity has been clearly established, the woman Tooke positively swearing to the photograph of the mutilated remains. On the police going to Camborne the prisoner left the house at which she had been staying, and "went to a farmhouse three miles distant. As the police entered the front door to arrest her she attempted to escape by the back door. The prisoner admits that the child is hers, but denies that she knows anything of the murder, and before tho magistrates on Saturdav she Questioned Tookn ai -hn she parted with the child.

A remand was applied for, but the prisoner objected to this, saying that she did hot wish to be kept there a week, and she was quite ready to answer any questions. The Bench remanded her until Friday next. Property Auctions. At the TnrVs TToaVi Hotel, Grey Street, on Tuesday afternoon, Mr J. G.

Smith, auctioneer, offered for sale the freehold estate known as "Villa Reale," Jesmond. comprising a mansion, grounds, and a villa in course of construction. The grounds consist of about 17 acres, are laid out, and the timber is well grown. There is a supply of spring water to the' house, from which there is a prospect of Heaton Woods, the Armstrong Park, and neighbourhood. The property was put up in one lot, and set away at but there was no response, and it was withdrawn.

The auctioneer then divided the estate into four lots, offering as the first the mansion of Villa Reale, with about 7a. 0s. 27p of land. This wa3 set away at 5,000, but it had to be withdrawn, no offer being forthcoming. The next lot (a field in grass, lying to tho north of Lot 1, containing about 2a.

3s 24p. adapted for building sites) excited alittle competil tion, but this also had to be withdrawn, after 1,750 had been offered, the reserve price being 3,000. Lots and 3 together drew forth no bid beyond 9,000, the upset price and were withdrawn Lot 3 was a park lying to the south of Lot 1, and containing about 6a. 1b. 35p.

Lot 4, a laree villa in course of construction, started at 1,000, and pro-V reafhea when, there beingPno frtfer reserve price of ffi lnB ocietys Rooms, Royal Arcade, Messrs Anderson, Son, and Murray offered several lote of freehold property for sale. A dwelling house, No. 4. Ridley Street (oft New Bridge Street), Shieldfield, Newcastle co shop an3 house of three rooms and attic in the same street, was bought in at 300, after 240 ntaining'foufrofrf hlr ofered- Two dwelling houses, 2 Ud 4 Union Street, in fiats of throe rooms each, with taileries ana attic, at a total rental of 22, was purchased for 0 A house Cambridge Street met with off has on has been by has the and into the now its has has the a in The London season" is a failure. Individually, magnates of the land may continue to entertain guests in princely style, and enjoy the opera spirits unclouded by financial embarrassment, collectively that portion of human nature, has earned for itself the title of "society," emphatically hard up.

Even -when no virtue is of necessity, and when no rents are remitted struggling tenants, the fight against bad times is difficult one, for after all there is not much difference between making a man a present of money cannot pay and abstaining from dunning him no of good country manifest tunity of is in that unlucky predicament. The pmchrng and scraping among people positions may not be evident to visitors, but they make themselves to those who have an oppor- comparing the things that are with tilings that were. Curtailments in town establishments may be effected without any appreciable chherence out-of-door show. It is when one see3 Mr De Smytb.es' wine has deteriorated in quality, and that Lady Fitz-Tomkins's spring costume and that of the girls" bears a suspicious resemblance to the garments of last year that we can understand how hard the times really are. Another sure and certain sign of the depression is, I am told, the fact that tradesmen cannot afford to give prolonged credit.

These dreadful things, coupled with the really horrible weather which still continues, all tend 'to place the season of 1879 in a very unenviable position indeed. All the ingenuity that astute financier Captain Hawdon Crawley, aided and abetted though he might be by Miss Eecky Sharp, would scarcely have sufficed to carry him safely over the present financial crisis on "nothing a year." Shopkeepers are desperately suspicious and keen-nosed when times are hard. I am not surprised that the Prince and Princess Wales should have declined the invitation to be present at the Australian Exhibition. The Prince has had so much travelling in his time that he can well afford to let the chance of seeing the Britain the South," even under the most favourable cir cumstances, go by! and a trip to the other side of the globe and back again is really more than the Princess, kind and obliging though she is, could bo reasonably expected to undertake. It seems to be settled that if Prince Leopold is well enough, he will be the representative of the Soyal Family on the occasion, but an endeavour ought to be made by those interested in the exhibition to have another string to their bow.

Perhaps the Duke of Argyll, who is just now in the travelling mood, would oblige. He is Lord Lome's father you know, and might be safely charged with the duty of impressing the Antipodeans. One of our most widely travelled M.P.'s, Mr E. J. Eeed, has just returned from Japan.

He is a shrewd, observant man, and had the best authorities to guide his judgment; so a complete record of his observations of that interesting country ought to be of value. Already he has communicated some of his impressions to the Times, and it is satisfac tory to rind, from what he there says, that at present English influence is stronger with the Japanese than either the American or the French. Of course, Mr Reed's visit was of a business character. He went to Japan to talk about ironclads, just as some time ago he travelled to Russia for a similar purpose. He can scarcely be blamed for selling his experience and knowledge of shipbuilding in the best market, seeing that the British Government are not disposed to place the same value upon his -wares as he does.

Eoyal Ascot" did not show to the best advantage this week. Tuesday -was a fine day a glorious summer day, in fact but as to Wednesday ugh! Don't speak of it. I am not a sporting man myself, so I shall say nothing about theracing; but I cannot help remarking that bad times do not seem to interfere in the least with the betting gentry. The bookmakers are as vociferous now a3 when the country was wallowing in wealth, and backers of horses are not wanting. I suppose depression demands a countervailing excitement, and that desperate men hope to do by luck what they cannot do in business namely, make money.

While I am on sporting matters, I ought to mention that in circles which do not, as a rule, take the smallest interest in sculling, the forthcoming match between Elliot and Hainan is causing quite a flutter. People are so much afraid of seeing the Trickett episode repeated that they have, for the moment, plunged wildly into a sport which under ordinary circumstances is regarded by them with the utmost apathy. I am not speaking of the waterside folk at Putney and Hammersmith, who, of course, look forward to all the matches, even between second and third rate men but I refer to general society in London, which, probably, a month ago, knew Elliot's name and nothing more about him. My North-country readers may depend upon it that, so far as London is concerned, no sculling contest of this generation will be awaited with more eagerness than that which is about to be decided on the Tyne. The re-assembling of Parliament for the concluding portion of the Session has excited very little public attention.

It is very generally felt that a stated quantity of work has to be got through, and that nothing in the way of sensation is to be expected. AS that is left to us. in the way of curiosity is devoted to the progress of affairs in Zululand, and this the more for the reason that the duration of the existing Parliament is believed to depend very much upon the course of events there. There was one Parliamentary event of the week, though, that stood out strikingly from a background of dull debate, and that was the return to estmmawr ot the O'Gorman Mahon a fire-eating, robustious Irishman of a byegone generation. But he is tame now, and hair-triggers know him no more.

Even the eccentric dress in which his heart used to rejoice has given place to a staid garb suitable to ar.y respectable gentleman of advanced years. Dramatic critics are grumbling at the hard work which the presence of the members of the Comedie Franchise at the Gaiety entails upon them. They are expected to turn out a column or so of copy" late every night, and under the depressing conviction, too, that very few of the readers of their journals will care to wade through their lucubrations. The fact is that this Comedie Frangaise business has been a little" overdone. The troupe, no doubt, is a strong one, but the London press has for some time been talking as if England had no actors at all: as if, in fact, we were a race of bar barians, and out to go down on our knees and worship the good, kind, condescending French players, who (for a consideration) have braved the dangers of the Channel for the purpose of rescuing us from the slough of ignorance.

Of course, all this is very well in its way. M. Got and his colleagues came over here expecting a welcome, and they received one. They have done their best and have received their meed of praise, and "there's an end on't." Vulgar tourists, on the strength of a personally conducted trip to Paris, have felt in duty bound to act as amateur advertising agents for the Comedie Francaise, but their acquaintances are now pretty well tired of their antics, their enthusiasm, and their indiscriminate soft-sawdering. The English stage is not quite in the outer darkness when it can boast of men and women like Irving, Forrester, Herman Yezin and his wife, Ellen Terry, Madge Robertson, Hare, Marie Wilton, Wyndham, and a host of others I could name.

At length they are removing the last remnant of lempie sar. lne arenway over the soutn pave merit was part and parcel of Child's Bank, and before it could be taken away it was necessary that the bank itself should go. This work is now accomplished, and to-day or to-morrow will see the absolute end of Temple Bar at least, in its position between the Strand and Fleet Street. Whether it is ever destined to rise again, I do not know. The outer stones have been carefully numbered and preserved; but he would be a bold man who would dare to speculate upon the actions of the Corporation of London.

Some weeks ago, a "Society" journal, after the style of Tinth and The 'World, was started in Paris, by some English press-men, under the title of The Boulevard. I leam that it has changed hands, and from this I draw the conclusion that literature of that particular kind can only flourish at its best in our own favoured isl e. The Newcastle Bye-Laws. A meeting of the Bye-laws Committee of the Newcastle Corporation wa3 held on Tuesday, when the Sheriff (Mr J. G.

Youll) was appointed chairman. The Town Clerk reported thai tho bye-laws ro-lating to the tramways had come into operation; and that the bye-laws relating to the general regulations of the borough hadbeen submitted to the Local Government Board, and been returned for further consideration by the Council. The Committee decided that they should be returned to the Local Government Board, with a request that the Board point out their objections to the bye-laws. The bye-laws relating to the Moor were also considered, and it was resolved that they be brought before the Council at the next meeting. Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The inopt.inp- of the Newcastle Branch of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals took place on Wednesday, in the Mayor's Chamber, Guildhall Aid Hodgson, J.P., of Fern Dene, Gateshead, occupying the chair Mr Kichard Welford, Gosforth, the hon. secretary, presented the following report: The committee of the Newcastle Branch of the Society! for the Prevention of Crueltv to Animals herewith present their sixth annual report." The number of cases prosecuted by the society officer during 1S78 was 147, distributed as to horses, 128; cattle, cats, dogs, 2: pigs, -oat, fowl, pigeon, sheep, 1-total 147. bince January, 1873, when the Newcastle Branch commenced operations, the number of namely: 1873, 137; 1874, 112; lS7o, 80; 1S76, 123; 18.7, 105- 1878 147; so that the work done last year excaeds that of any previous year in the society's history Of the cases prosecuted 94 were heard Newcastle, 17 at Gateshead South Shields, 10 at Berwick, 8 at Tynemouth, and 2 at Hexham. The committee regret that owing to want of funds they have been obhged to suspend the issue of humanitySlesson books to K-Ti 0" nuuTsaid he had very much pleasure moving the adoption of the W. Stephen, seconded r.

it; -was reirned uannimouslv, fnd onth? motion' of mTe. Carr-Ellison, seconded ov Mr A. Scott, the officers of the society for the vear were appointed. -Mr W. D.

Stephens movel a wtooftttoUeiPBaowtoiytWelfoiil), and said a ereat deT of the success of the ins itution was in conso-fuence rf the indefatigable attention given to it by was in every sense a most excellent secretary and had done an immense deal of Joan Spencer seconded the motion, and it vra earned by in it the the Hon. the the the en the II ever at the fount of joy Poor mortal stoops to till his cup, S- ill welling reah to his annoy A hitter something bubbles up. one sang sadly Ions azo Sang how the fairest flowers amid. E'en where tho springs of pleasure flow, Surgit aniarfaliquid." And echoing down the vaults of time The warning sounds for mo and you In lAtin verse, in English rhyme: "Twas true of old, to-day 'tis true. Ah, brother: have you not full oft found, even as the Roman did, 'j'l at in life's most delicious draught Surgit aniari aliquid';" You run the race, the battle fight, And, eager, seize at last the prize 'J he nectar in its goblet bright Is yours to drain 'neath beauty's eyes, vet are these honours out of date They would not come when they were bid The longed-for draught is all too late Surgit amari aliquid." Or, haply, in the cruel strife You foully thrust a brother down, Ard with his broken heart, or life, Purchased your bauble of a crown.

Wear it but of remorseful thought In vain you struggle to be rid. l.e triumph is too dearly bought "Surgit amari aliquid." so the cup ia turned to gall The fount polluted at its source and embittered all By dull regret or keen remorse. Well hast thou said, godless sage From thee not all the truth was hid, 1 hough even on thy mighty page Surgit amari aliquid." Varieties. Iii taking leave of company make your best salam to tnem as you go-out, but dun turn the door. A provincial paper apologists thus: Instead of "Mayor N.

was tight last evening beyond a doubt," please read Mayor was right," Sec. The compositor that did the mischief has been, asked to remove himself. An unsuccessful vocalist went to the poorliouse and delighted the inmates with his singing. He said it was a natural tiling for him to do, as he'd been singing to poor houses ever since he began his career. The -weather continues very changeable in Newcastle.

A few days ago a man was sunstruck right at the close of a snowstorm because Ue couldn't gee his ulster off quick enough. A widower had five grown daughters who would not let him take a second wife, lie gave up the wife but bought a savage deg, and now won't allow a man to cross the door-sill. If he can't marry, the girls shan't, he says. Examiner: "And wiio reigned after Saul?" Answer: "David." Examiner: "And who came after David?" Answer: Solomon." Examiner: "'And who came after Sharp little girl: Oh, please sir, the Queen of Sheba!" A good lady who, on the death of her husband, married liis brother, has a portrait of the former hanging in her dining room. Cno day a visitor, remarking on the painting, asked, "Is that a member ef your family?" Oh, that's ray poor brother-in-law," was the ingenious reply.

A wag brought a horse driven by a young man to a stop in the street by the word Whoa," and said to the driver, That's a Sue horso you have there." "Yes," answered the young man, ''but he has one rault; ho was formerly-owned by a butcher, and always stops when he hears a calf bieat." The latest quack medicine in the States publishes a splendid testimonial, as follows: Dear sir Two months ago my wife could scarcely speak; she has taken two bottles of your Life and now she can't speak at all. Please send me two more bottles; I would'ut be without it," A correspondent says a question is being asked, namely, if the gigantic New Zealand bird, the moa, is extinct. He thinks it unlikely, because it would have been necessary for all the birds to have died at once, as while one was alive there would be always moa. We never heard so silly a remark, at least scarcely ever. The conversation at a dinner-table turning upon the zest which a few oysters are supposed to give to the appetite, an Irishman present averred most solemnly that ho totally disagreed with the generally accepted opinion, as only the day before he had commenced dinner with three dozen oysters, and he had certainly not eaten, more in consequence than was his general rule.

A short time ago alittle boy went with his lather to see a colt. He patted the colt's head and made quite a fuss over it, until the stableman told him to be careful that the colt did not turn round and kick him. When young Hopeful went home, his mother asked him what he thought about the colt. "I like him pretty well," was the reply. 'He's very tame in front, but he's awful wild "Poor Herbert! how I wish you did not have to slave so at that liorriole shop from morning till night!" said his wife, as, with a fond caress, she seated herself on her husband's knees and gently stroked the auburn locks from his sloping brow.

And the grave stern man of business understood her at once, and answered, Well, Susie, what is it? a bonnet, or what? Don't be too hard on me, for money-is more scarce than ever." Some ludicrous effects are sometimes produced in singing. One of the choruses of the oratorio "Naaman" is known aa the policeman's chorus, owing to the words "Haste, to Samaria let us go," sound, when sung, very much like Haste, to some area let us go." A Dutchman was once in in a choir which was practising Mendelssohn's Hear my Prayer," and not being able to pronounce English quite correctly, sang instead of Oh for the wings," -'Oh forty winks." The phraseology of gardeners is curious. In a recent pamphlet we are informed that "Mr Disraeli is an elegant grower, and of most excellent habits," "LordElcho" is a "bold fine sort, very suitable for exhibition," whilst the Prince Alfred" is a free sort, and must be well stopped when young. The ladies, too, often suffer from gardeners' nomenclature. One young lady is "inclined to straggle, and must be sharply pinched;" a celebrated actress is libellously spoken of as a blotchy pale-coloured sort," and an eminent duchess, not certainly in her first youth, as "very robust and of great substance." But at leas the line should be drawn at flowers when this license is extended to fruits, we find a celebrated lady (melon described as green flesh tightly laced." A domestic in a respectable family, one morning before breakfast, took the following prescription to a druggist in the neighbourhood: "Please give the bearer a double dose of castor-oil with taste disguised.

Handing it to the assistant she sat down to await the preparation, but was agreeably surprised to be soon asked if she would like a glass of soda. Ha v. ing drank itshe resumedher seat, and waited forabout fifteen minutes. She then ventured to remark that she was "afraid the folks would be wanting their breakfast if she did not ao soon. "Well," said the assistant, "what are you waiting for?" "Why for that prescription," she said.

Why, I gave it to you in that glass of soda-water some time ago." Oh, lor was the reply; "it was not for me; 'twas for a man down at the house." Colonel Gordon, once the commanding officer of the 27th Regiment, was particularly noticeable for decision of character, and for punishing the men who were brought before him. He invariably punished an offender, no matter how long he might have been clear of the defaulter's book, remarking, If you have kept clear so long, you should have continued to do so." He never remitted a sentence, even though the offender proved himself innocent, but gave him credit when punishing him for the next offence, On one occasion a soldier from Dublin, named Larkin, received 14 days' confinement to barracks, with drill, for an offence of which he was afterwards found innocent. Larkin pleaded for a remission of his sentence, but was met with the old. story, Remind me next time, and I will give you credit." Larkin was anxious that the colonel should get out of his debt, and on the day that his sentence expired he absented himself all night from barracks. On being brought beiore the colonel the next morning he said, I beg your pardon, sir, vou owe me 14 days." Oh, yes, I recollect'rephed Colonel Gordon, "You will now have 28 days, and then you will owe me 14." AMERICAN HUMOUR.

Betting os a Sure Thing. A tough-looking citizen walked into one of the justice's court yesterday afternoon very much intoxicated and requested that he be allowed to swear off drinking for a year. His honour obligingly put him through the solemn motions, and the convert, with a confused rumble of well meant but profusely expressed resolutions, stumbled out of the court room. Bet he don't keep it an hour," said one of the grinning lawyers. Bet he sticks to it a week, any how," observed the court with confidence.

"Nonsense!" cried everybody. "WhatH you bet asked the judge. Twenty to ten, exclaimed an eager attorney, producing the money. Done cried his honour, and the takes were turned over to a Chronicle reporter. "Constable," said the court quietly, "go fetch that mar-back." In a few minutes the reformed one was dragged and the judge ascended his dais, rapped for order and looked severe.

"Charged with being drunk," said the court. "What's your plea?" Guess I'm admitted the prisoner, with an idiotic smile. "Ten days the country jail. Constable, dock up your prisoner. Mr Reporter, hand this court that wealth.

Court's adjourned. Boys, let's go and flood our lower levels." Virginia (Ne.) Chronicle. A- Awful Twist. Come in," cried the 'squire, without raising his head from the law literature in front of him. The door opened, and in came- a dapper little man, with just the neatest silk umbrella in his hand, and his face the prey of conflicting emotions, as the story writers put it.

From the first it was plain he was excited, not to say angry. He soon grew mad. He had called for advice; that it was said; in reality, he had taken his own advice before 71. ling, and what he wanted of the 'squire was to be put on right track for carrying it out. His complaint, de-' in a high, excited voice, was that his neighbour, one pVLr broken his fence down, and when remonstrated Sirt a Jded to iniury fcy asking the dapper man -opesedtodoaboutit.

The dapper rfl3n informed ul ho would soon find out, and departed for the 3 "in have the law on him, 'squire," continued T-; "I'm bound to doit. What shall I do the dapper m.s,, he Sti tw down?" "Yes!" "And he asked what ou we going to do about it?" Evan is your neighbour? "Yes!" "Hei3 driving at, voung man? clon see wnat you re 'replied the dapper Waa, much mystified. "However, "-n fi Zla.v" "Mm' bummed the 'squire, thoughtful the dapper man meantime almost beside himself with imratief'ce Well, what do you think of these things, asked eagerly. "I said the sqiure squire. Ryan If siowiy uu, ten-oounder.

the it had teen a cuaige L- -capper -r f- mia the wire protest- inn iii mviiivw uuv- Transcript. wvprtitpnt "You have been play- his sweetest "Mariar, I didn't, blieve you'd done this I cess that seemed to distress him greatly and looked 'he embodiment of reproachful innocence. tated, but His Honour said: "You area nice fellow to call this frolic, you are. Look at that woman eyes, peyre both blackened, and that's an ugly bruise on the side of her head. You are frolicsome with a vengeance when you get agoing Twas on'y sport, jedgo, Philip persisted.

"Wa'n't that all, Mariar, love?" he asked. The woman was silent. "Say yes, you he whispered affectionately. "P'raps he was only said the hesitating creature. His Honour heard it all but he only said: "Youll 10V6 your wife hereafter?" "Dewotedly, 111 dote on 'nr." "Youll not fall to punching and kicking ier, all for fun?" tls her like if she'd melt." "No more abuse or hard words';" "111 be mum as an eister." "Philip Bailey!" "Judge" "You're a consummate hypocrite.

I heard what yon said to your wife just now, and IT see that you don show her your devotion for a month at least." Philip i dropped the mask at once. "Mariar," called out, I powerful gone on you; oh, yes! and I'm dewoted and all that, ole woman; but I'v got a pair of fist and hoops what are tolerable on the kick, and when I eat HI tise 'em ioT ey're wurth." "Will you?" said the justice. "Ill see that they give you a stone cracker and ir.ake you use it for all its worth. Justdouble the timi" JSae York Herald, the their with but which is made to a he wnen signs in the that of of of HOUSE OF COMMONS. Moitd at.

THE PKOVTNCBS OP KUBOP.EAN TtTBKBY. Mr BOUEKE, in reply to Sir Geo. Campbell, said that, answer to the representations of Her Majesty's Government, Sir H. Layard had been informed by the Porte that intended immediately to submit to the Local Commissioners plans for the organisation of those provinces of European Turkey for which separate provision was not made in Treaty of Berlin. The organic statute for the organisation of Eastern EoumeHa was under the consideration of Porte with a view to be applied to these provinces.

THS IU1TJ WAR THE PEACE OVSRTCBES. Sir M. H. BEACH, in reply to Sir Lawson, said members have doubtless seen the telegram supplied to morning papers by the Secretary of State for 'War. That, I believe ia practically correct.

It appears that certain messengers came from Cetewayo to General Crealock expressing his strong desire for peace, but it does not appear that they are authorised by the Great Council or by Eiing to offer any terms of peace, or that they were of rank ordinarily sent for such purposes. I believe that Lord Chelmsford directed General Crealock to tell these messengers to inform Cetewayo that he was ready to receive messengers under a flag of truce at General Wood's camp; but that something more than words was required, alluding, I believo, to the terms dictated to Cetewayo in December last, and anticipating that some reply would be received from Cetewayo to that message. NSW HEMBEItS. The O'Gorman Mahon took Ids seat for the county of Clare, in the room of Sir B. O'Loghlen, whose election has been declared void: and Mr Gabbett for the city of Limerick, in tho room of BIr Isaac Butt, deceased.

STJPPIA" OBSTRUCTION BY THE HOHH BULERS. The House went into Committee of Supply, and proceeded with the consideration of the votes in class 3 of the Civil Service Estimates. On tho first voto proposed namely, 259,351 for re? formatory and industrial schools in Great Britain, Mr BICGAB proposed to reduce the vote by five pounds, with the view of impressing upon the Government the necessity of providing for a greater number of admissions than 75 to the Koman Catholic Reformatory School at Belfast. After some further opposition from some of tho Irish members the vote was agreed to, Cn the vote of 37,125 for Broadwood Asylum, Mr EYLANDS moved that the vote be reduced by 3,000 account of the want of economy in the management of asylum. After some remarks from Mr Hibbert, Sir Y.

Bartelott, and Mr Lloyd the vote was agreed to. The votes of 68,515 for tho Lord-Advocates Department (criminal proceedings) in Scotland, 61,331 for the Scotch Law Courts, and 36,303 for the Register House Department were agreed to after some discussion. On the voto of for Prisons in Scotland, Mr BIGGAE moved to omit the item of 140 for the scripture readers. After numerous explanations from Sir H. S.

Ibbetson, the amendment was ultimately negatived by 134 to 4. On the vote of for law charges and criminal prosecutions in Ireland. Mr PAKNELL complained of the breach of faith on the part of the Government in persisting in bringing on theso votes. Sir H. S.

IBBETSON said that he had only undertaken not to bring on the Scotch universities' vote. He made no promise as to those in class 3. Several votes were then agreed to. On the vote of 439,772 for superannuation and other allowances, Mr "WHIT WELL objected to so important a vote being taken at half-past twelve o'clock, and moved to report progress. On a division the amendment was negatived by 120 to 30.

The House afterwards went into committee on the Cus toms and Inland Revenue Bili. On Clause 15, The ATTORNEY-GENERAL explained the provisions of the clause, contending that farmers who made no profit should obtain release from paying income-tax. Mr FAYTCETT moved to report progress, in order that the Government might consider the whole question. The motion was negatived by 37 to 29. Mr W.

HOLMS moved that the Chairman leave the chair. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL referred to the Acts of 1S51 to show that whilst the farmer's property was fixed at half the rent he could appeal to show that he had made none, and would be exempted. The motion was negatived by 62 to 26. Mr MUNDELLA moved to report progress. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in assenting, said-that Government was perfectly satisfied with the law as it stood.

Progress was reported. TUBSDAY. THE NEW GOVERNOB OF CYPHUS. Colonel STANLEY, in reply to Sir Julian Goldsmid, said it was true that Sir Garnet 'Wolseley before leaving Cyprus resigned bis office as Governor and High Commissioner of that island, and that Colonel Biddulph had been appointed to succeed him. ARMY DISCIPLINE BILL.

Colonel STANLEY, replying to Major O'Beirne, said it was "very much" the intention of Her Majesty's Government to proceed with the Army Discipline Bill. THE WIIJMlBY FORCES IN SOUTH AFRICA. Sir B. PEEL asked whether the right hon. gentleman the Minister for "War could give the House any information as to the number of troops that were employed in South Africa, and were likely to be added to the military services in that quarter.

According to the latest information published in relation to the subject, there was already a force of 20,000 men employed on the frontier of Natal. He wished to ask the right hon. gentleman whether it was intended to Bend out to South Africa any more troops. (Hear, hear.) Colonel STANLEY said all the information he wa3 possessed of up to that moment he sent on Sunday last to all the daily papers, and it was duly published by them yesterday morning. In regard to the question of sending more troops to Africa, he was not aware of the necessity for such a step having arisen.

ARMY ORGANISATION. Mr GOtTBLEY moved the adjournment of the House in order that he might call attention to the defects of the depot centre system, which he alleged had failed to carry out the objects in view at tho time it was founded by Lord Cardwell. Sir H. HAVELOCK, in seconding the motion, regarded with apprehension the proposed appointment two officers connected with the "War Office. Colonel STANLEY said that if the recommendttions of the committee in any way affected the of the existing system, it would, of course, be brought before the consideration of the Kcuse before anything dene.

THE BCSISTI89 OE THE HOGSK. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER pointed out the est ceding inconvenience of tho course now being pursued. He was perfectly aware that it was within the rales of the House for any hon. member might lit any moment move thti adjournment of the House, and that upon such motion he had the right to make what remarks he thought necessary to justify and erplftin the course he proposed to pursue but a distinct abuse of the power of moving the adjournment of the House if the opportunity was to be taken for introducing subjects which had not been put upon the notice paper. He could not object to what was going on, but it was right that the House and others should be made aware that this was not the mode of procedure which was in any degree compatible with the proper conduct of business.

(Cheers.) Mr GOTTBLEY offered to withdraw the motion for the adjournment. Mr PABNELL was about to reply to the observations of the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he was called to order by the Speaker as having already The hon. member then objected to the withdrawal of the motion, but did not persist in a division, and it was negatived. ARMY niSOIPLINB BILL. Hie House then went into committee on the Army Eegulation and Discipline Bill, The consideration of clause 44 was resumed.

Mr PABNELL moved to omit the punishment of flogging. CoL STANLEY objected to the abolition of the punishment in all cases, as it was now restricted to time of active service. The amendment was rejected by 16 to 43. Mr HOPWOOD moved to reduce the number of lashes to six, Col. STANLEY opposed.

The amendment was supported by Mr Bylands, Mr Big-gar, Mr Parnell, Major Nolan, Mr O'Donnell, Mr O'Connor Power, Mr Jacob Bright, and opposed by Sir H. Havelock, and Sir A. Gordon. The discussion was then suspended. Several bills were advanced a stage, and the sitting was suspended at seven o'clock.

EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at five minutes past nine. EXPENDITURE OF THE LONDON SCHOOL BOARD. Mr REGINALD YORKE moved That the rapidly in-creasing expenditure of the London School Board requires the early attention of the Government, with the view of imposing on it some more effectual checks than appear at present to exist." Limiting his argument to the case of the London School Board, he contended that the expenditure of that body was so excessive as to be dangerous to the cause of education, which might be thrown back twenty years by the reaction upon such excess. Sir BALDWIN LEIGHTON seconded the motion.

Mr FOESTEB said no explanation had been given of why the House of Commons was asked to protect the ratepayers from their own representatives, and pointed out that the ratepayers themselves had the best possible check in their own hands, because they had the power of changing their educational parliament every three years. Lord HAMILTON thought the speech of Mr Forster was a perfect justification of the motion of Mr Yorke. He attributed much of the excessive expenditure to the large number and high salaries of the teachers, which had had the effect of raising salaries all over the kmpdom, and placing the School Boards of small towns in a difficulty. Tho Education Department had considered the subject, and looking to the fact that in London and Liverpool alone the cost of elementary education was over two guineas per child per annum they would propose that that Bum should be the limit, and that if any board exceeded it in the future the amount of the excess should be deducted from the Government grant. After tho statement he anticipated that Mr Yorke would not press his motion to a division.

Mr MUNDELLA moved the adjournment of. the debate, and after remarks by Mr Fawcett, Mr PelL and Mr Forster, The CHANCELLOR of the EHCHEQUER said the Government quite admitted the importance of the subject, and would not oppose the adjournment of the debate. The debate was adjourned. Wkdhesday. the weavers' tower.

Mr PERCY WYNDHAM gave notice that on Tuesday, June 17, he would ask the Secretary to the Treasury (Sir H. S. Ibbetson) whether, in the matter of the threatened destruction of the Weavers' Tower at Newcastle, the Lords of the Treasury had stated their opinion that its destruction ought not to take place except upon the decision of a clear majority of the members of the Council; whether he is aware that its destruction has been carried by a majority of one of the whole number of the Council, and whether, under these circumstances, the Lords of the Treasury would not again interfere. EXTENSION OF THE HOURS 03 POLLING. Mr CHAMBERLAIN moved the second reading of the Hours of Polling Extension Bill.

He stated that the House, having already sanctioned a similar measure with respect to the Metropolitan Borongs, it was now asked that the local authorities shotdd bo empowered in the' large Dorougns naving a certain amoun? ot population to so arrange the hours of polling as would best suit the convenience of the electors. The bill itself proposed to extend the hours from four to eight o'clock, as in the Metropolis; but he had no objection to alter it so as to leave the matter in the discretion of the local authorities. At present a reat number of voters were practically disfranchised, especially in the large boroughs, as they could not leave their work to record their votes, and under the ballot there was now little fear of disturbaccea if the poll was prolonged to a late hour in the evening. Mr ASSHETON moved the rejection of tna bill, not because he regarded it as revolutionary or reactionary, but because it involved a return to a state of things which had already been proved to work unsatisfactory. The tendency of modern times had been to shorten, and not to prolong, the hours of polling.

It could not be said that the proposal of Mr Chamberlain was characterised by much dash or spirit, but it was, nevertheless, the thin edge of the wede in the direction of a return to the exploded and anti-qvated svstemof prolonged polling. The existing hw was quite adequate to enable every member, of the wcriing the to most 1877 was As be ouch in and the tions of or the for fair bad it was and of bill of ing the whole of the fourteenth century. It is about 1,000 miies in length; in Bome parts it is carried on an ment twenty feet high, while in others it traverses a cutting feet deep. Small canals of an almost indefinite number exist also in China, besides the number of small streams which the Great Canal is supplied with water. In other parts ot Asia canals have long existed, the Suez Canal itself being only a revival of an ancient artificial water way constructed by slaves, who perished in thousands of disease famine while engaged in the work.

Canals were in general use by the Egyptians, both for commercial purposes for irrigation. THK MODERN" CANAL SYSTEM. In England there are about 2,200 miles of navigable canals, all of which have been constructed since the year 1700. They intersect the country in every direction, especially in and around the manufacturing counties; and, although they have never succeeded to any extent as media travellers, and have been laid aside in many places by railway system, they still form a valuable channel for conveyance of goods. In tho fifty years after their first introductii in England the value of canals increased prodigiously, so that many of them were, before the railway system became developed, worth twenty times their cost price, and a share in one of them was saleable at that proportionate advance.

In the hands of great carrying firms, such as that of Pickford and Company, who had about a hundred canal establishments, the traffic was carried on very much like our modern railway goods traffic. The proprietors were paid by a toll of so much per ton on all goods carried tho canal. The barge belonged to the carrier, and each these vessels was accurately weighted and measured, and entry made of the depth to which it sunk or, rather, of number of dry inches between the water level and a certain mark on the boat, with every quarter of a ton additional weight on it. These particulars, together with the number of tho boat were entered in a book. A rod was used whenever the boat passed a certain station on the canal to ascertain what was the number of dry inches, with the particular cargo she then happen to have, and a charge was made accordingly.

1831, light passenger boats were introduced into England, Scotland, and Ireland, very long and narrow, about seventy-feet long by five and a half broad, carrying from twenty to hundred passengers. The boats were drawn by two horses, which were changed ever four miles, after a run from twenty to twenty-five minutes. In passing each other, the horses of one of the two boats were stopped just before they came, up to the horses of the other, while the latter boat passed over the slackened towline of the former. The beats were roomy, the passengers being able to walk about; and as the charge was only a penny a mile for the best cabin, and three-farthings in the second, the boats were extensively used; and, but for the railway system, would have corns into general favour for the conveyance of passengers. CAHAL LOOKS, TUNNELS, ASD BRIDGES.

The exigencies of a hilly country with great differences of level, rendered the ingenious contrivance of "locks" necessary. In a gradually rising country, to keep the water always level, so as to permit of transit at all times with equal facility in either direction, the canal was divided into dnferent portions or lengths caned pounds, each pound being bounded at the end by two locks, the upper one of which separates it from a pound on a higher level, and the lower one from another pound on a lower level. If the lock is a double one, it consists of two oblong tanks or chambers, both provided at both ends with wooden gates. If the upper gates of both channels are open and the lower ones closed, the water in the chamber is on the same level as in the upper pound if the lower one be open and the upper ones closed, the level of the water is the same as in the lower pound. If one chamber is closed at the upper end and the other at the lower end, the water will stand at different levels in the two chambers.

By sluices or floodgates water is allowed to flow from tho upper pound into the lock, from either chamber of the lock into the other, and from the lock into the lower pound. By working these sluices the level of the water in either chamber can be made equal to that in the upper pound or in the lowerpoundat pleasure, and by these means a barge is floated either upwards or downwards, according to the direction in which it is passing. The "lift" of a lock, or the difference of level between the two pounds" which it separates, varies from one to eighteen feet, but is generally- about six or eight. In some canals not easily supplied with water, side ponds are placed, into which some of the water wasted by the lockage" is made to flow. The canal companies in their Acts generally ootamea power to searcn for and divert to their use all springs of water from one to two thousand yardB on either side of their line; but in some scantily watered districts every precaution was necessary to prevent waste.

Bridges and tunnels were required also to overcome deep valleys or mountains, and in the construction of some of these works, a surprising amount of skill, energy, and perseverance was displayed. In Holland, owing to the flatness of the country, the extensive canal system has few of these expensive ad-junuts; but in no country in the world has canal-travelling been can to such an extent; and although the pace is slow, iu spite of railways the canals are still traversed in sure oer by boats, winter by sleighs. Thu rres Ludwiirs Canal in Germany, which unites the Maine an! the Daniibe, is now becoming a regular route for tourists who wish to go through Europe by water. It was projected by Charles the Great a thousand years before it otit I- of Bavaria, as the visitor is informed by the mscriptiou oh. tue Fenkmal, near A yacht may sail from the Thames to the Mease, Paris, Rotterdam, traverse the Rhino br Dusscl-dorff, Bologna, Bonn, and Coblonz enter the Maine at Frankfort, then go through the CamU and the rivers which it feeds into the Danube above Katisbon, anil finish its journey at Constantinople, in the.

Goldsn Horn! In Enekwi'L, Xirindlty executed some exn-t-onlinary cxmal wwlis. Over the river Irwell at one point the amie- durt passeji, and here may sometimes be seon the curious spectacle of one boat passing over the mast of another. On the Kllesmere and Chester Canal an aqueduct at Pont-y-Cysylte is carried over the river Dee at an elevation of a hundred and twenty -five feet above the bed of the river, the canal course itself being formed at this spot, of a cast iron bridge 1,000 feet long, supported by nineteen pairs of stone piers from the valley below. In Ireland the Lagan Canal connects Belfast with Dublin, and near the Dublin Station of the Dublin and Galway Railway it is carried over a main road by a large aqueduct at a considerable height. Another large canal connects Wexford with Dublin, and in Wales the canal system is on a very extensive scale.

Canal tunnels were formed of great length. In carrying the Regent's Canal from the west side to the east side of Islington, a tunnel was made of three-quarters of a mile in length. At the Harecastle Tunnel on the Trent and Mersey or Grand Trunk Canal, two hours were required to effect a passage of a little more than a mile and a half. Here a file ot boats a mile long might sometimes be seen waiting. This tunnel was begun by Brindley in 1766; it is yards long, 12ft.

wide, and 9ft. high. In some places it was 70 yards beneath the Bnrface. In 1S22 Telford constructed a new tunnel much larger by the side of the old one, with an iron towinsr path for the men and horses suspended over the water. The Worsley Tunnel, made by Brindley for the Duke of Bridgewater, is a series of tunnels extended collectively to a length of several miles.

The Marsden Tunnel, on the Huddersfield Canal. is 5,280 yards long; the Sapperton Tunnel on the Thames and Severn Canal is 4,300 yards long; there are eleven tunnels between 4,000 and 2,000 yards long; and there are several whose lengths are intermediate between mile and 2,000 yards. America has many canals of great magnitude such as that from Lake Erie to New York, which is four hundred miles in length. The most remarkable of American undertakings, however, is the Railway and Canal Line from Philadelphia eastward; it commences by a railway, eighty miles long, from Philadelphia to Cblurabia; then a canal one hundred and seventy miles long; next another railway forty miles long; and, lastly, second canal of a hundred miles the lofty Alleghany mountains being crossed in the route. EXISTING OCEAN OANALS In Scotland the Erth and Clyde, or Caledonian canal, connecting the Firth of Forth with the Frith of Clyde, was opened on July 18, 179L, following closely the opening on May 18, 1790, of a canal by which an arm of ths sea, the Severn, was united to the Thames, another ocean estuary.

In France the fine Languedoc canal, extends one hundred and fifty miles from the Mediterranean to the Bay of Biscay. The Grand Ship Canal of Holland is one of the finest specimens of canal engineering anywhere exhibitad. All ships which had to pass across from the German Ocean to Amsterdam had, before the construction of the canal, to pass into the Zuyder Zee, which is now being drained; but this sea waB so choked' up with sand near the shores that commerce was greatly impeded. For centuries the Zuyder Zee has been leaving its shores, and there are about thirty ruiued cities forsaken by the tide. To give a direct outlet from Amsterdam to the German Ocean a canal was commenced in 1819, and finished in 1825; it is 50 miles long, 124 feet wide at the water's surface, 56 at the bottom, and 20 feet deep.

It receives its supply of water from the sea at high tide; and it is provided with two tide-locks at the extremities, two sluices with flood-gates, and eighteen drawbridges. Its width is so great, that two frigates can pass abreast, yet a few years ago the Ductch constructed an ironclad which could not be got to sea on account of no canal beingable to float it. In Russia, the Baltic is connected with the Caspian Sea by a chain of water communication, formed partly of lakes, partly of rivers, and partly of canals. In Sweden, for nsnturies there was a project for connecting the Baltic and the JNortn tsee by a system oi canal navigation; dui tne cataract at Trolhattan interposed a serious obstacle, which was not removed till the year 1832. An engineer with blocks of granite and huge trees confined the torrent within half it bed for a time, but at last it burst through, and it was resolved to form a new channel, through which, by nine locks, five of which are out through the solid granite to the depth of a hundred feet, the descent of above a hundred and twenty feet was ultimately effected.

The latest triumph of cenal engineering, the Suez Canal, was commenced about 1858, and officially opened in November 17, 1869, although about sixty vessels had already passed through it. The whole course of the canal from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea is 100 miles, about 75 miles of it aotually canal, while for 25 miles it passes through iivter-veninp lakes, the channel through the greater part of which had to be excavated. The width varies from 195 to 325 feet, with a depth of 26 feet. By going through this canal the distance between Liverpool and Sydney, Australia, is reduced from 17,000 to 10,000 miles, and its value as a road to India was recognised by the purchase in 1876 of the Khedive's shares in the oanal by the British Government, a Btep which' secures us from any attempt to stop it by an enemy with designs upon our Indian Empire. In the same year negotiations with the Powers of Europe were opened up by M.

de Lesseps respecting the canal dues. The revenue of the canal had reached more than thirty million "francs a year, and a demand was made that, in accordance with the rule laid down by the International Commissionsrs, the tariff should be lowered. de Lesseps, however, pointed out tliat in that year alone works costing the amount of the revenue would be required, as the entrance at Port Said had to be deepened and. improved, the harbour of Lake Timsah to be enlarged, and the bend in the canal at Ranslej to be removed. Next to the Suez Canal, the largest undertaking of the kind jinauguiated lovo, shortly alter the Suez Canal shares were purchased by the British Government, is the great Maritime Canal, which was cut through the Northern Isthmus of Holland, Before its construction the only way to Amsterdam for vessels of more than five feet draught was the North Holland Canal, connecting that town with the Holder or Nieu Dieppe, It was constructed in the reign of William was 55 miles long, very tortuous and narrew and only available for vessels drawing 16 feet of water.

The new Canal was cat through the sandhills in tho North Sea, and when quite completed will be 23 feet deep 20 yards wide at bottom, and have a varying width of from 70 to 130 yards. Its length is IS miles, and in connection with its construction, a sea dyke has been formed for shutting out the tidal waters of the Zuyder Zee from the Lake situated to the west of Amsterdam, both constructed to intercept the waters and let through the ranft sailing to the shores of the Zuyder Zee and a kc harbour formed at the the canal. as to the and by 54 to a Mr JfctAijBJSi was tavouraoio to ne extension oi me hours of polling, but reserved his opinion as to the condi- and safeguards with which it should be accompanied. MrRATHBONE strongly supported the bill, which was great interest to the sober, industrious working men, who could not now record their votes without losing their time setting the law at defiance. Mr WHEELHOUSE also supported the bill, on the ground that the legislature having granted the franchise to working classes, was bound to arford them every facility exercising it.

These facilities had been granted to the electors of the Metropolitan Boroughs, and it was neither nor just to refuse them to the electors of Leeds and other large towns, Dr CAMERON rejoiced at the reception which the bill met with from the House; for the only speech against was based upon a most erroneous idea of the report of the Committee. It would be very much to be regretted if this made a party question, for he had consulted working men of all shades of opinion, individually and collectively, they strongly complained of the difficulties under which they now laboured in voting. Mr A. GATHORNE-HARDY thought tho House had done enough in the way of experimental legislation, and it would be better to wait for some experience of the Act passed for the Metropolitan Boroughs. In many towns there might re considerable danger from the collection of large bodies of working men at tho polling booths after the hours work, Mr Bibbert and Colonel Beresford supported the bill, as also did Mr H.

Samuelson. Mr Serjeant SPINK said the evidence in favour of the was of the most meagre description, and he protested against the attempt of Mr Chamberlain to fish for votes by promising to cru-ta the dimensions of tho measure in committee. Under all the circumstances, ho should vote against the second reading. Mr FORSTER did not imagine that the Government intended to leave tho question unsettled until after the next general election. In one respect the matter was a small one, but in another it was large and important, seeing that by 'our legislation we havo given a large number of men the right to vote; we expected them to vote, and yet we made it extremely difficult, inconvenient, and costly for them to vote.

He believed there was no force in the objections raised against the bill that an extension of the hours of polling would increase the expense of elections and the danger of disorder and personation. was in favour of a change in the case of large boroughs'; and the question with regard to the small constituencies might safely be left to the Town Councils and the Local Boards. Sir M. W. RIDLEY, who represented the Government on this occasion, said that tne right hon.

gentleman who had just spoken had expressed an expectation that he would give the House some inkling the probable time of the next General Election. He did not, however, see what that had to do with the present bill, and at all events hs was not prepared to throw any light on the subject. The inquiry of the Select Committee last year was an exhaustive one, and was conducted in no party spirit. It was established that a grievance did exist in the case of the large boroughs, and that the extension to have any practical effect must be until eight o'clock. There was not much force in the objection as to the increase of expense; but it must not be forgotten that the last hours of an election were the critical period when bribery and personation were resorted to.

It was suggested that a discretionary power should be left in the hands of the local authorities; but the bill itself went much further, and provided that the hours of poBing in all elections, whether parliamentary, mtrnicipal, or school board, should be extended from eight till eight. He could not support so wide and sweeping a proposal, notwithstanding Mr Chamberlain's promise to amend the measure in committee. He felt bound to oppose the second reading because the bill failed to provide a satisfactory solution of the difficulty. Mr CHAMBERLAIN having replied, Mr GOLDNEY, amid' loud calls for a division, opposed the bill. The House divided with the following result: For the second reading 185 Against 190 Majority against The bill was therefore rejected.

25 DISSOLUTION BUMOURS. In Parliamentary circles the current talk is about the prospect of a dissolution. It ia pretty confidently asserted that if the Zulu war is terminated satisfactorily we may expect a dissolution this autumn. Against this is put the well'known feeling of members in favour of continuing another Session, and this is intensified at present by the tightness of money, which would prevent many of them from appealing to their constituents. Should the result of the appeal to the country be in favour of the Government there is a rumour that it is not unlikely Lord Cairns will Prime Minister, Lord Beaoonsfield retaining a fseat in the Cabinet.

TEE 1JRISE UXIVEnSITY BILL. At a special meeting of tho Dublin Corr.istv.'. convened to consider the O'CoKor Don's University Hill, resolution was- unanimou.Jv ado-tied apatonae of the measure, and declaring thai- ts petition in its favour should be presented by tho Mayor at the Bar of the House, A nutting to oppose tho Irish University Bill was held on Tuesday afternoon, at Whitehall Gardens. Mr Holt, M.P., was in tho ctiiir. supported by Lord Oranmore, Mr Newdegnte, and other raemhers of Parliament, The following resolutions were carried: "That the University Educa-rio" (Ireland) Bill would, in the event of its establish an institution unparalleled in its constitution and most objectionable in character; that it would practically result in the endowment by the State of a Roman Catholic university in Ireland; that the establishment and endowment by the State of a Roman Catholic university would be unjust to existing universities, inimical to sound academic culture, and injurious to civil and religious liberty." The meeting concluded with a unanimous proposal that a eopy of the resolutions so carried should be presanted to the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary, PA ELI A ME NT A ELECTIONS.

KIRKCUDBRIGHT. Captain the Hon. Randolph Stewart, brother to the Earl of Galloway, and Mr Robert Stewart, Glendlaggan, Conservative candidates for Kirkcudbrightshire, have withdrawn in favour of Mr Murray Stewart of Broughton, who was on Monday adopted as the Conservative candidate, RADNORSHIRE. The Hon. Arthur Walsh, M.P., for Radnorshire, has announced that he will not offer himself for re-election.

Mr Baskerville Mynors, of Evancold Court, has been selected as the Conservative candidate, and Sir Richard Green Price, who unsuccessfully contested the constituency at tho last General Election, will stand in the Liberal interest, NORTH-EAST LANCASHIRE. The requisition to Lord Hartington is being pushed forward with the hope of being able to present it to his Lordship next week. It is believed it will contain one-half the list of voters. No date has yet been fixed for the presentation. PUBLIC MEN ON PUBLIC QUESTIONS.

SIR WILFRID LAWSON AT LIVERPOOL, Sir Wilfrid Lawson and Mr A. M. Sullivan were present on Saturday at the inauguration of Washington Hotel, which Councillor McDougall carries on on temperance principles. Sir Wilfrid, in the course of his speech, referred to the presence of the Lord Chancellor, Mr Cross, and Sir H. Selwin-Ibbetson, at the opening of a cocoa tavern the other day, and said those eminent statesmen were there to show their anxiety to wean working men from the public-house, though they were men who, some years ago, sought to prove the Conservative reaction by granting working men additional hours for drinking purposes.

MR GLADSTONE AND ROCHDALE LIBERALS. A thousand burgesses of Rochdale made a pilgrimage to Eawarden Castle on Saturday, under the auspices of the local Liberal Association, in the hope of seein? Mr Gladstone, who was expected to be at home during the Whitsuntide recess. They were, however, disappointed, as the right hon. gentleman, who is on a visit to Lord Stratford de RedciiSe, was unable to spare time previous to his return home in the view of the reassembling of Parliament. Mrs Gladstone arrived at Hawarden on Friday night, and the members of the Orphans Glee Club, who had sojourned from Rochdale with the excursionists, waited upon her at the castle, and sang a number of glees.

The following letter has been received by the secretary: "Dear Sir, In reply to your letter I do not doubt that a day for the visit might he arranged, but I have been obliged altogether to abandon the practice of giving large parties of visitors a personal welcome, as it was found of necessity to involve in an inconvenient way the character of political addresses, Yours faithfully, Gladstone." SIB H. HAVELOCK ON THE ZULU WAR. Th third annual dinner of the Tower Hamlets Liberal Club was held at Crosby Hall, Bishopsgate Street, London, on Wednesday. Mr E. N.

Buxton presided, supported by Sir T. F. Buxton, Sir H. Havelock, Messrs Mundella and Holmes, members of Parliament. Sir Henry Havelock, in responding for the army, expressed a hope for the speedy termination of tho conflict at the Cape.

He believed the darkest page in the history of the war would be that of the Isandula disaster, which, he maintained, had been soleby brought about by aristocratic incapacity. One of the best things done by the Government was the appointment of Sir Garnet Wolseley. MR GLADSTONE ON EDUCATION. Mr Gladstone, speaking at the distribution of prizes at Mill Hill Grammar Sehool, London, on Wednesday, said he understood the school aspired to the distinction of being one of the great proprietary schools of England. If it was not sustained by ancient traditions it was not trammeled by ancient prejudices, and it had not to contend with the dangers arising from an overflow of wealth.

The founders recognised that there was a special want in relation to the Nonconformists of the kingdom. The founders had looked with great circumspection on all existing great systems of education. He had read some numbers of the school periodical, and was able to judge what sort of training the boys were receiving. Dr Weymouth aimed to tain the mmd, which was a very different process from supplying knowledge like a mercantile package. If he might oHer a word of advice it would be in behalf of a branch of education which he did not think had been fairly treated he referred to natural history.

Among other advantages, it helped to educate the senses, and develop all the finer qualities of the mind. He did not understand them to esteem an idle boy because he was idle. A great many people held this idea. Not only was the idle boy -who knew how tc-show off his idleness esteemed, but the idle man was also greatly, esteemed. That -was not so in Mill Hill School.

He urged them, in the Apostle's words, to follow whatsoever things were true, pure, lovely, and of good report. Anything good should be -within their view, and nothing that was not good. Vital Statistics. The Registrar General reports 5,016 births, and 3,335 deaths in 23 large towns of the United Kingdom during the past week. The average rate of mortality in those towns was twenty annually per 1,000.

The rate in London was 19; Portsmouth, 12; Plymouth, 15; Brighton, 16; Hull, Sheffield, Wolverhampton, 17, Sunderland, Salford, 18; Nottingham, Bristol, Norwich, 20; Newcastle, Liverpool, Leeds, Birmingham, 21; Leicester, Hanoi ester, 22; Bradford, Ol iham 28 Editi'jurgb, 18; Glasgow, 21; Dublin, '40. 100 by and and for the the on of an the In a of thus Jcmhg the Atlantic with tho Pacific, which has resulted in a congress at Paris, commenced in 1S75, and was suggestsd by Lieutenant Wyse of the navy. In 1843, it is true, the Isthmus was explored by the French engineer Napoleon Garella, with a view to a canal scheme. Since then two expeditions have been sent out the United States Government one in 1S50, and another in 1851. In 1854, the Isthmus of San Bias, the narrower part of Central America, was -visited under the same auspices, the Traundo Valley in 1858-9.

and the routes lying along the course ot tne raya ana Atratu reiver 18C5. The American Government, not satisfied with the results of these efforts, subsequently organised 3 large and thoroughly equipped expedition, which for three years was engaged in minutely surveying the various lines, offering a possible route for the desired canal. Many schemes hasie been before the congress at Paris, but the plan thought, likely to be adopted was that of Lieutenant Wyse for a level canal without locks or sluices. The breadth of tho proposed canal is about 22 yards at botton, and about yards at the surface, and its cost is variously estimated at from 475 million francs to 650 million francs, the cost of maintenance beina calculated as likely to range from four millions to 15 millions, according the scheme selected. Of these various schemes, that of tho French engineers in 1843 involved a tunnel three miles and a half long, at an elevation of 120 feet.

Commander Selfridge in 1870 surveyed two routes from Caledonia Bay, one terminating on tho other side, Ekt the mouth of the Sabada, and tho other at that of the Lana. but the most feasible line involved a long tunnel through the solid rock, at an elevation that could only bo reached by a series of lockfoc. either side. One de Gorgoza has proposed to do without the tunnel, but only by cutting channel sheer down into the ridge deep enough, to sink the Cathedral of Notre Dame, with another lofty church on its top, standing on its towers, and its spires out of sight; The route from Atrato, in the Columbia State of Cauca, is a little over 32 miles in length, and requires a tunnel 3i meters long, under a ridge rising 778 feet above, and the other near the line of the Panama Railroad, about 42 miles in length, and involving a series of twenty-five locks. At Nicaragua the land expands to a width of about ISO miles, but nearly 60 of it are occupied by a lake, from which a river over a hundred miles long flows down to the Atlantic side.

About 60 miles of the San Juan river, according to the report of Commander Lull, on a survey made in 1873, affords easy navigation, and about 45 miles of its length would have to be traversed by the aid of artificial canals. He proposed four huge dams across the river and canals around the obstructions, with locks of 10ft lift. In the 16 or 17 miles, however, between the and the racinc, the Cordilleras interpose a formidable obstacle, presenting an elevation of 134 feet to be overcome. The Congress had to decide on these schemes, and the chief point being whether the Darien or Nicaraguan route was to be selected. It met at Paris on May 29th, and almost unaziimously adopted the proposal in favour of cutting the canal through the Isthmus of Panama, by the Bay of Limoa to Panama, for which project General Turr is concessional.

The Session of the Congress was then closed. On the previous day the delegates to the Inter-Oceanic Congress gave a dinner at the Continental Hotel to the members of the French Geographi-cal Society. M. Gambetta, who was among the guests, made a speech, in which he described the projected Inter-Oceeanic Canal as a noble and meritorious undertaking in the interest of progress and civilisation. The speaker added that, thanks to the ettorts made oy ai.

ae lesseps, tne congress now sitting under French auspices were composed of distinguished representative men from all parts of the world. TEH AFRICAN DSSEBT SCHEMES. A few years ago a project was formed for running the waters of the NorthAtlantic into the salt and sandy bottom of the El Fuif desert, extending from nearly 27 degrees north latitude to within 100 miles of Timbuctoo, with a breadth of 300 or 400 miles, as a great inland sea, with a connection totheNiger. Ithas onbeen proposed to cut through a narrow belt of land, at a point in the African coast, about 60 miles from the Canaries, between which and England there is a regular steam communication. Sueha project if carried out wouldbring about 2,300 miles of Arican territory, with a population of twenty millions within the reach of European civilisation; and it is doubtful from the accounts given by Dr Livingstone, Stanley, Sir Samuel Baker, and other explorers, whether Africa will ever be effectually opened out by any other means.

Another extraordinary scheme has been for many years in contemplation for cutting through a point of the north-eastern coast of Africa, in the Mediterranean, in order to join the Gulf of Kabes with a chain of lakes establish trade communication with countries hitherto almost excluded from the commercial facilities of modern times. A survey was made this year by French engineers, and a line drawn; but this scheme, like the great Sahara scheme, is probably doomed to wait awhile for its realisation. A third project has been discussed for filling up the desert of Sinai the wilderness of the ohildren of Israel in the Holy Land, but it has never yet assumed the practical shape reached by the Panama scheme, which, it must not be forgotten, however, was once regarded as the wiiiiet ilixani of an enthusiast, and may involve diffi culties perplex -iliu ot M. lifseps and his corps of engineers. DESTRUCTION OF AMERICAN MEAT.

Tveniy-riix a half t-ss of American meat. parr, uf quantity of 80 tons consigned to London from Glasgow, and another quantity of 24 tons, were seized and destroyed on Tuesday under instructions from the Medical Officer of the Commissioners of Health in London. Dr Saunders strongly condemned the practice of the local inspectors in allowing putrid meat to be sent to London when aware of its condition. ACTION FOE DIVORCE AGAINST A WESLEY AN MINISTER. In the Court of Session, Edinburgh, Lord Curriehill has closed the record in an action at the instance of Sarah Leonard Ellia or Millett, against the Rev Samuel Millett, and sent the case to the procedure roll on a question of jurisdiction raised by the defender.

The pursuer, who now resides at Dudly House, Coatbridge, asks to be divorced from the defender, who is a Wesleyau minister, said to be lately residing at Bardney, in Lincolnshire, and now at Bridge of Allan, on the ground of his alleged infidelity with a woman named Elizabeth Ann Pritchard, at the time a domestic servant in his employment, and now residing at 14, Hillsborough Square, Billhead, Glasgow. Besides denying the alleged infidelity, the defender pleads condonation on the part of the pursuer, and further says that he is a domiciled Englishman, and not subject to the jurisdiction of the Scotch courts, but to those of England. TEE weathel: HOUSES STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. A severe thunderstorm broke over Newcastle and neigh-bourhoodon Monday afternoon, between four and five o'clock. Rain fell in torrents, and the lightning, accompanied by lend peals of thunder, was both very frequent and vivid.

When the storm was at its height, a house in Seaham Street was struck by h'ghtning and very much damaged. Fortu-' nately no one was hurt, the occupant of the dwelling, a person named Davison, having left the house only a few-minutes before to seek the company of some neighbours. Fiom the appearance of the house, the lightning appears to have entered by the chimney, and then, after passing through the first floor, to have found an exit at the front door. The chimney was almost entirely demolished, the roof and the pavement immediately in front of the house being'strown with the falling debris. The mantel-shelf on tho second storey was torn down, a quantity of the furniture in tho room was damaged, and not a whole pane of glass was left in the window-frame.

The lightning seems to have pierced the floor and the ceiling between the upper and lower rooms, and then, after tearing down the mantel-shelf here also, and committing further damage, to have broken away into open air. The storm passed over Gateshead about half-past three, and while it lasted was very violent. Amongst the damage that was done was that to a cottage occupied by a woman named Moon, in Saltwell Lane, which was struck by the electric fluid when the storm was at its height. The chimney was demolished, and a number of tiles were displaced. MORPETH AND DISTRICT.

Shortly before noon on Tuesday, a violent storm of thunder and h'ghtning burst over Morpeth and the neighbourhood. It was accompanied and followed by a heavy downpour of rain, which continued for some hours. To the west and north-west of the town the atmospheric disturbance was much greater, as hailstones fell at Mitford so large as to break the glass in the hot-house. At Plgdon the fall of hail was so great as to render the ground quite white. Tho storm was confined to the valley of the Font, which was considerably swollen by tho discharge from the clouds.

The storm extended eastward as far as Ulgham, but did not extend to Widdrington. All the burns in tho district indicated came down in high flood. "DAMAGE TO SCHOOLS AT NORTH SHIELDS. On Tuesday forenoon, a severe thunderstorm, accompanied by vivid hashes ol lightning and heavy showers ot Bin prevailed at North Shields. During the storm, the Roman Catholic Schools in Nelson Street, were struck by hghtning.

The electric fluid struck the roof of the stone porch over the doorway, and sent a number of stones flying in various directions. Fortunately no one was hurt. A beer-house situate in Albion Street, and occupied by Mr George Blen-kinsop, also received damage from the storm. The hghtning struck the chimney and passed down into one of the rooms, where considerable damage was done to various articles in the room. THUNDERSTORM IN SCOTLAND THREE LIVES LOST.

On Monday a thunderstorm burst over the south and eastern districts of Scotland. Rossend Castle, near Burnt Island, was struck by lightning, but the damage was not extensive. A horse was killed at Dumfries. Houses were flocded at Prestonpans. Torrents of rain, with hailstones of unusual size, fell while the storm lasted.

In some places the darkness was intense, and the lightning of an appalling brilliancy. A terrific thunderstorm passed over the north of Scotland on Tuesday night, accompanied by a heavy hail shower. The hailstoneB were as large aa marbles, and at the termination of the shower they lav to an average deoth v. ui occurrea at tne rate of about one every ten seconds. An old man near Dufftown was struck and a house near that village W3S split from roof to floor.

Telegraphic communication was seriously interrupted. Durlm? a thunderstorm a. fiah. ing boat was capsized in crossing Exmouth bar on Wednesday morning, and two men were drowned. A WELSH CHURCH STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

A fearful thunderstorm broke over tho town of Wrexham about half-past three on Sunday afternoon, during which the spire of St. Martin's Church was struck by the lightning. At tho tim9 of the catastrophe Mr Aspinall was conducting a class in a room at the base of the spire. He was knocked down by the lightning, and his trousers split, but luckily escaped without any further injuries. Five of his scholars, however, were burnt; three of them so severely that they were carried to the Infit-mary at once, and one had his leg broken.

There were a number of ladies conducting classes in another part of the church who were fo alarmed that they fled through the rain leaving hats, bonnets, sad umbrellas behind them, were died a that The and and are fair be Wigr.n6oaU;Ti' oJl emP of the priSn for ta committed to deCi the tion on Lord Duffer-. distinc- ine death ia announced ot Mr rr- duties Mgr. Ganel has rxwk abilitv in JX? "epiermg ius us- the Comedie Francaise --jT at tne rterfrn-man, uce a Gfti i-ioman Catho: csmrcn beats being prohibited.