Birmingham Gazette from Birmingham, West Midlands, England • 5

I I I a FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 16 1898- THE BIRMINGHAM DAILY GAZETTE UNIVERSAL PEACE THE MURDERED EMPRESS DEATH-DEALING STORM THIS TELEGRA3IS years again and again claimed for her foreign policy disinterested motives and we as a nation living in a gla-ss house ought to he the last to throw stones The audience accepted the rebuke with a very sincere Hear and a hearty round of applause The man who judged another continued Mr Wiseman judge-d himself and he hoped they would not oven damn the proposal with faint praise Men of all shades of opinion were agreed that tlie proposal was on amiable and magnificent one In his opinion it was meant seriously They must therefore take it seriously and lie fully believed that tliat meeting intended to urge the Government also to take it seriously (loud applause) Ho believed further that Europe for financial reasons would be glad to 1 in uni on with the proposals but if not they a- Englishmen knew if they were made to take the other side this country was at any rate its well prepared as anyone else (hear hear) Consequently they had the satisfaction of knowing that at this tune at any rate Great Britain had what the coachman would call a lit-tlo bit of he whip hand He was convinced however that peaoe would ultimately oomc and they hailed this proposition of the Czar an a good loiig rtup in the right direction AYhat he asked should bo the history of the present to he lianded down to those who might after? Should it not be that the present generation had sunk creed aud political partisanship to give to Europe peace tho greatest boon that had ever befallen our work! (applause) Mr AV Davis was to be the next speaker but he telegraphixl tliat ho was prevented attending the meeting by friction at Doncaster Hu wired that the voice of labour was for universal peace which by diminishing the deadly weapons of wurfare would fill die world with gladness stud increased pros perity The message waa a revelation to the civilised world aud formed in his own words a happy presago for the century about to ith real pleasure '-anon Hanlon said he asai-ciated himself wdtii that meeting He could say little on the subject tliat had not been expressed by the previous speakers who he thought would feel with him that they had never spoken from a more sacred pulpit (hear boar) The result of that mooting tie hoped would be to encourage ami it needs bo persuade the rulers of thru country for he thought that tho matter under discussion might prove to De a turning point in the history His fervent and earnest hope was the tiar proposal should not lx? met with anything approaching a spirit of distrust and iu this respect he deplored THE INTERNATIONAL DI8TRU8T which had so long existed This done away with would remove the only pretext for -the armed state of Europe at the present time (hoar hear) If the nations of Europe knew each other bettor-they would trust each other more and would then came to find tliat the standing armies were not only unneoaaary but in fact were a standing menace to tho preservation of peace (applause) The Rev Jowett oott supported the resolution and (jointed out that the object of the meeting was not to form a scheme but to foster a sentiment and to create an atanoaphore in which statesmen might meet- iu mutual and fruitful conference In that historic hall tho birthplace of so many weighty issues surely they need not die-parage their purpose but rather rejoice in the belief that they were sharing in the early stages of a movement which would assuredly grow to a glorious issue (applause) Wa-r Mr Jowett earnestly observed and the pursuit of war violated and outraged the highest moral sentiments it subordinated nd eclipsed the milder virtues The courage devoid A virtue aud which might be simply the product of strength was certainly a valour not to be extolled T'he war spirit belonged to tho regime of tho jiaat (hear hear) Turning to recent events in tho Soudan ho asked was anyone prepared to seriously maintain that the uppermost sentiment in the minds of the army was desire to rid the Soudan of dark nos and tyranny or was it not rather the lustful gratification of a sleeping revenge? This ho contended was proved by tho dominating note of tho Press That a great injury had been more greatly avenged was tho spirit that tlie war fever created tlie spirit of war was nothing more nor loss than revenge (hear hoar) and' it was against thatapirit that they in that meeting protested (applause) After describing in vivid eloquence the horrors of tho battle field the speaker concluded by earnestly supporting the resolution on moral and religious grounds on the ground of humanity and on tlie grounds of economy Tho resolution was then put and carried without a dissentient and with a most enthusiastic cheer The proceedings closed with thanks on the proposition of Councillor Marti nouu and Mr AV Shorthoueo to the Iord Mayor for railing the meeting and to Alderman Cook for prodding THE COAL TRADE CONFERENCE The joint conference of the ooalownerB and representatives in the English and Welsh federated distriots will be hold at the AVest-minster Palace Hotel London to-day to further consider the wage question The result of the joint meeting is awaited with more than usual interest from tho fact that the miners repudiated the provisional agreement come to in July by their executive committee for tho regulation of the wage question until the year 1901 Tlie basis of that agreement was for an advance of 2 per cent in wages from October 1 until the end of the y-ar and tho appointment of a Conciliation Board for two yoaj-s from January 1 next The secretary of the Federation (Mr Ashton) lias already reported the rejection by the men of the provisional agreement and conference will consequently reopen tlie wage question The impression prevails iu usually well-informed ouarters that the coaiowners will bo prepared to concede a higher advance in wages from October 1 if an agreement can bo made for regulating wages for a definite period by a Conciliation Board The probable immediate advance which is spoken of is 5 per cent with a similar agreement for a period of two years to that provisionally accepted by the representatives in July At same time the fact cannot le overlooked that there is a section of the miners who are opposed to accepting any smaller advance than one of 10 per cent and who are also opposed to the formation of a Conciliation Board and a wage agreement for any fixed period This hostile section consists largely of the Lancashire and Yorkshire miners The voting strength of these counties gives them a preponderating influence in the council of the Federation and constitutes the most serious factor in tho situation Any which may be arrived at by conference that is presupposing would have to be ratified by the men and there is admitted to lie tho danger tliat it may rejected if providing for less than a 10 per cent advance BALLOONING EXTRAORDINARY AN ALTITUDE OF 27500 FEET Air Percival Spencer Mr Stanley Spencer and Dr Berson ascended yesterday from the Cry rial Palace in a balloon inflated with pure hydrogen gas and attained the remarkable altitude of 27500ft Numerous scientific instruments including a self-recording Aneroid barometer were carried and compressed oxygen gas for inhaling at the greatest height The descent vvts near Romford It is expected that this will entirely cl ipse the results of simultaneous ascents at St Petersburg Moscow and Berlin being only 1500ft less than Cox-well and GlaigherV highest iu 1S62 THE ORPHANAGE WOLVERHAMPTON A HEAVY FINANCIAL LOSS The monthly meeting of the Board of Managers of this institution took place on Tuesday afternoon when the member- pr re Mr AY Arm Lees (in the chair) Hcn -v rYg rderhiU Lamb Laurence AV aud Loftu- More ton Apologies for absence wvr c- iv i from -rs 0 Smith aid AS Thomas It a mouncc-d during he meeting that in consequence of lb death of Mr Coghill who had been a staunch supporter of the Orphanage for many years his subscription maintaining no less than 11 children the cost per head las year being about £29 and th decease of many other liberal supporters cf the institution the 1898 subscription list alone commenced with a lose of something like 400 guineas and "unless new' and increased help is forthcoming during the year to meet thb heavy loss it will be necessary to reduce tiie numbei of children and thus curtail the usefulness of the charity which is now doing a record work there being at tho present time some 300 boys and girls receiving succour within its walls The Secretary reporter! that nine of the governors and subscribers: to the charity laid promised to cither double or increase their annual contribution towards meeting the heavy loss sus iain-'-d and tin? Board hop- tliat their nobie example ill bo followed by others in order that -tho beneficent work of the institution may be increased rather than decreased Sir Salteii Pvne Returns to Caiill Sir Salter tie- Agent to the Ameer of Afghanistan left London on Wednesday on hie way back to Cabul He lias been in England since April and has made arrangements for considerably extending the ordnance and munition factory Sir Salter anticipates no difficulty in traversing the Khyber Pa the t' ibcs being in a more fettle slate than they were wnen he came through in the spring He now holds the unique position for a European of having resided ai Cabul for nearly 15 years during tlie whole of which period he has been on terms of cordial friendship with Abdur Rahman Mishaps on tab Another serious railway aocidmt the third within a week happened at Crewe early yesterday morning A goods train from Widrxis was passing the North Junction when a light engine ran into it derailing the engine and a number of trucks scattering tiieir contents over the lines which were hlocked for six hours The Royal train conveying the Prince of Wales to Scotland passed the same spot 10 minutes before the A luggage van attached to the midnight express lea tug St Pancras was found on fire at Bedford yesterday morning The coach was removed severely damaged The accident ia aitnbuted to a leakage of gas THE CRETIN PROBLEM TURKEY IN A TIGHT CORNER CANDIAQUIETER THROUGH AGENCY Constantinople Thursday The has not communicated copies of its circulars to the Embassies of the four Powers whose troops are in Crete and has only given the Dragomen a brief verbal summary of its contents In of the circulars the Porte after discussing the situation in Crete reverts to its demand for the appointment of an Ottoman subject as Governor and offers to send Ottoman troops to restore order in that island Admiral ultimatum made a great sensation here It demanded (1) The surrender of the ringleaders in the recent rising (2) The demolition of a number of houses which commanded the position occupied by the British troops and from which the Mussulman mob fired on the British force and (3) The occupation by British troops of a portion of the town ramparts now hold by Turkish troops The British Admiral added that if these demands were not complied with vigorous measures would be taken On receiving thia communication Edhem Pasha- went aboard the Cain-perdown and conferred with Admiral Noel who then raised tlie question of the disarmament of the Mussulman inhabitants Edhem Pasha appeared to see no insurmountable difficulty in the way of this disarmament but the effect produ--ed in Constantinople was very great At two this morning Tewfik Pasha Minister for Foreign Affairs by order of the iUiltan called at the four Embassies The French Italian and Russian Ambassadors and Mr de Bunsen British Charge were roused from their beds and infoimed that the Sultan having heard of the proposed disarmament was exceedingly disturbed Tewfik Pasba afterwards said that disarmament would be a very good measure provided it were general and was applied to Mussulmans and Christians alike As regarded the ringleaders in the Candia rising Tewfik Pasha proposed the appointment of a mixed commission to make investigations as to the guilty parties Eventually however Tewfik Pasha had to return to Yildfr without having met with any success and with tlie advice to the Porte that peremptory orders should be sent to Edhem Pasha to comply with the British demands The absence in tlie British ultimatum of any demaud for the withdrawal of tho Ottoman troops has caused some surprise here in European circles Candia Thursday The aide-de-camp of Djevad Pasha intimated yesterday evening that he had an important communication to make to Admiral Noel He subsequently went on board tlie British flagship and informed the Admiral that tlie 39 houses from which the British camp was fired upon had been demolished that 43 ringleaders in tlie disturbances had been arrested and that at the request of the Sultan to which the Embassies in Constantinople had agreed they would be tried by an International Commission This decision of the Embassies which is not in accordance with the peremptory demands of Admiral Noel will it is feared render the task of disarming the Mussulmans difficult since the inhabitants being thus made aware that the Porte can still exercise influence will not be very prompt to submit to the demands imposed upon them It remains to be seen if the British Government will consent to include the incident of the outrage to the British flag in the question of pillage incendiarism and massacre of Christians which is of an international character Candia later Forty-three ringleaders arrested by the Turkish authorities were handed over to Admiral Noel to-day In view of the idea entertained in some quarters that the successful interposition of the Sultan might- militate against compliance with Admiral NoeEs ultimatum Reuters correspondent- went ashore this afternoon and interviewed a number of the most influential and best-informed persons in Candia acquiring the conviction that the terms of tlie British demand would be complied with and carried out without opposition Canea Thursday The departure of Mussulman and Christian families continues One of Lambros steamers is already crowded with refugees SPEECH BY THE KAISER THROUGH AGENCY Prenxiau Thursday The Emperor William arrived here this morning for the manoeuvres of the Second Army Corps Replying to an address read by the Burgomaster his Majesty said they lived in serious times Revolutionary' designs must be forcibly combated the necessity of this being shown by the accursed act of a few days ago Every citizen should support the Emperor and his Government THE PHILIPPINES tihiocgh agency Washington Thursday General Otis has telegraphed to-day stating that the position of affairs in the Philippines is now much more satisfactory His demand for the withdrawal of the insurgents has been complied with and to-day all the insurgents have quitted or are in the act of quitting their positions with the exception of small parties in the outlying district who refused to obey Aguirialdo the insurgent leader has requested to be allowed a few days in which to withdraw them by detachments and punish their co mmanding officers LOST COLONIES THROUGH AGENCY Madrid Thursday The officers of the Chamber yesterday presented to the Queen Regent for her signature the bill empowering the Government to surrender the West Indian possessions of Spain It Is reported that three Deputies have left- for the French frontier A telegram from the Visayas announces that the Spanish squadron has sunk an insurgent steamer off Bolaoan Many of the crew were drowned Tho Queen Regent visits daily in the most unostentatious manner the soldiers and marinas who have been brought home sick or wounded from Cuba Her Majesty has placed tlie Royal carriages and dairies at tho disposal of the convalescents while she is also paying from her privy purse for pure food for them Officers and men extol the kindness of the American troops After the capitulation of Santiago there was not noticeable the slightest animosity against the Americans But all denounce the Cuban insurgents as traitors cowards and criminals Bawmne Thursday The following intelligence has been received here from Madrid dated the 13th irist The secret sitting held by the Chamber was an exceedingly stormy one A Cuban Deputy having severely criticised the Spanish army in Cuba Senor Lara artillery officer shouted out to him You are a The two deputies then rushed at each other and struck each other with their sticks Senor Lara has sent the other deputy a challenge AND CHINA FLOATED through agency Perim Thursday It is reported that the stranded and steamer China floated this evening Attempts will be made to move her to-morrow Lead Poisoning Cases in August According to the Labour Gazette just issued by the Board of Trade the total number of cases of lead poisoning reported last month was 114 (93 males aud 21 females) compared with 76 (45 males and 31 females) in August last year Brewery Amalgamation in Birmingham We understand that Messrs Alfred Homer Limited-of the Vulcan Brewery Aston havo acquired the brewery hitherto carried on by Mr Henry Charles While in Mott Street Birmingham The purchase includes a considerable number of freehold and leasehold houses and an important private trade While has joined tee Board of Directors of Alfred Homer Limited FRANCE AND FASHODA WAS THE SOUTHERN SOUDAN ABANDONED? THROUGH AGENCTl Paris Thursday The publishes a letter dated Cairo May 27 1885 purporting to have been writ-ten to Emin Pasha by Nubar Pasha the then Egyptian Premier in this letter which is communicated to the by Dohrrain Nubar Pasha writes The rising in the Soudan compels the Government of his Highness to abandon those regions Consequently we can send you no assistance and as we are unaware of the circumstances under which you and your men are placed we cannot recommend any course of action to you The object if this letter which wiill reach you tlnough Sir John Kirk British Consul-General at Zanzibar is to leave you entire liberty of action If you decide to leave Gondokoro the only way open to you is via Zanzibar As soon os you btxve decided what to do let mo Dehrmin adds received no supplies of any kind from Egypt during the period of five year's 1884 to 1888 In the few letters which he contrived to send to Europe during that- time he complained bitterly of the indifference of t-he Khedivial Government or in other words the British advisers THE TRIAL OF DREYFUS THROUGH AGENCY Paris Thursday The Matin states that at Cabinet Council General Zurlinden will lay before his colleagues the documents which led to conviction Some members of the Cabinet share the opinion regarding the authenticity of the documents in question while others differ from him All however admit that- none of the papers were shown to counsel Revision of the trial the adds would therefore raise the question of General Murder's responsibility and to this consideration the hesitation of the Cabinet is due The do says it has trustworthy information that Zola who is now in Switzerland will return t-o Paris at- the beginning of October Hi' is engaged in finishing a new circular warmly advocating the claims of concord order and patriotism which will be posted up in the principal towns of France The Temps publishes the following informal tion regarding the events leading to the withdrawal of Colonel du Paty de name from the active list: At tho time of the Commission of inquiry into the Esterhazy affair Colonel Du Paty do Clam explained that he had furnished Major Es-terhazy with information -which enabled him to meet his accusers He added that- he had acted without reference to his chiefs that perhaps his conduct was reprehensible but that he believed he was obeying the promptings of conscience Cavaignac then Minister of War caused an inquiry to be opened General Roisdcffre was the first witness examined in this inquiry and General Itenouard t-he last The conclusions were submitted to General Zurlinden who decided that reprehensible acts from the militaiy point of view had been committed by Colonel Du Pntv de Clam and that they called for severe disciplinary measures General Zurlinden acquainted the Cabinet- Council with his opinion and the Council in its turn presented to Fame for signature the decree placing Colonel Du Paty de Clam on the retired list CHILI AND ARGENTINA THROUGH AGENCY Paris Thursday The Minister of the Argentine Republic has communicated the following letter have just received from my Government a telegram in which it informs me that in consequeneo of the divergence of views between the technical delegates a direct arrangement of the boundary question between the Argentine Republic and Chili has become difficult and that no other solution remains but to submit- the question to the arbitration of her Britannic Majesty under the conditions provided for by the treaties the provisions of which have been observed by the Argentine CAPE ELECTIONS FINISHED PROGRESSIVE WINS THROUGH AGENCY Cape Town Thursday All election returns have now been received the last to come to hand being the result at Vryburg where the two Progressive candidates have been elected by a majority of 129 votes Mr Rose Innes tiddressing a meeting yesterday evening declared his intention of supporting Sir Gordon Sprigg on condition the Premier continues to pursue a thoroughly Progressive policy THE SOUDAN CAMPAIGN THROUGH AGENCY Suakin Thursday The Kan ala garrison with the Camel Carps is now marching on the Dervish position at Gedaref with Colonel Parsons in command Cairo Thursday The second half of the Warwickshire Regiment arrived at Alexandria yesterday The first half of the Lincolns to-day reached Abbasiyeh where tie second half is expected to-morrow together with a detachment of the 21st Lancers BEFORETTHE BATTLE Mr Frederic Vilfiers our special correspondent whose letter bias been delayed in transmission writing from Wad Hamed thus describes tho state of affairs before the battle of Onidurman The final rwiew of the grand army of the Nile by the Sirdar took place on the desert about a mile -inland and no finer sight do I remember seeing since the declaration of peace by the Grand Duke Nicholas during the Riusso-Turkish War at St Stefano Thirty thousand men the survival of the fittest under General tobfeff paraded within sight of Constantinople Yesterday we lacked one English regiment- of infantry and one of cavalry also a few Egyptian battalions to make up the full number of t-he army but some 18-000 fighting men with full hospital equipment- and baggage animals stretching over nearly two males of ground faced this remarkable man who is about to lead them to victory at the gate of Khartoum There was a supreme smile of satisfaction on the face of Sir Herbert Kitchener as he rode with his staff down the formidable array of warriors white Hack and yellow the whole medley standing eager and anxious for his final word o-f command Forward! The Commander-in-Chief must have felt fully satisfied with the sight for there was hardly a pin to choose between the varied nationalities in smartness of equipment or t-he wav in which they performed the simple man tenures of t-his full-dress rehearsal of the great drama the curtain of which will be finally raised and lowered at Omdurman MR APPRECIATION Mr Balfour acknowledging a resolution from the Manchester Consorvati --e Association expressing appreciation of the brilliant victory in the 8oudau and recording thanks to Lord Salisbury for his persistence in a policy which had produced such glorious results writes North Berwick September 32 Dear Mr Dixon I am greatly obliged to ou for your letter 6th and the resolution passed by the Council the Manchester Conservative Association which is enclosed The language in which the resolution ia couched gives expression to what is 1 bekeve the sentiment among all classes in tftjs country The victory at Omdurman reflects theiighest credit on those who organised the recent expedition aud those who took part in it but it does than this It supplies a glorious conclusion to fC very dark page of Anglo-Egyptian history and it gives assurance for a new era of prosperity and good government to the long-oppressed populations of the Soudan Yours very truly tSianedl Arthur James of the Windward Islands and Sir Hay is Governor of Barbadoes WHAT A HURRICANE MEANS IN THE WEST INDIES DAILY GAZETTE SPECIAL The curse of the sugar bounties has given way to the curse of that greater evil of the West Indies the hurricane The sugar bounties cause starvation but hurricanes level all buildings and habitations and utterly destroy all crops and carry death and universal destruction in their wake I think writes a journalist who is intimately acquainted with tho West Indies from all accounts that the fearful storm which swept over the West Indies on Sunday was one of the most destructive in the history of the islands for no place seems to have escaped its terrible ravages The greatest less of life occurred at Kingstown St Vincent This Is one of the Windward Islands and belongs to England it is roughly speaking about 100 miles west of Barbadoes and is perhaps about 30 miles from St Lucia The island is well cultivated and the climate one of the healthiest to be found in the Antilles A chain of extinct volcanic mountains crosses tho island which is about twice the size of Guernsey from north to south The storm would naturally be very felt at Kingstown as the capital has an open roadstead and all tho houses of the richer or white races are built in tlie usual West Indian style that is to say they are for the most part of wood and raised on piles of wood or stone and surrounded by verandahs of lattice-work The houses which are built so lightly to counteract the heat are powerless against these fearful storms On the other hand it may be urged that the people cannot build with stone Well this may be true of many of the islands where morasses are numerous but it Is not the case in St Vincent where the greatest damage has occurred The fact that Government House has not been injured supports this statement It is true however that the houses as built are better able to withstand the earthquakes which are an everyday experience It is needless to say that in every severe storm all houses are laid flat They arc shanties with mud walls and thatched roofs A BLACK RIOT The pity of it is that known and feared as are these storms there are no means of avoiding or lessening their power of destruction The storm seems to have passed from Argyll to Kingstown and there is not a single works or estate house standing From Buccamont to Kingstown on the leeward side iB a similar state of affairs The capital itself suffered severely and most of the houses are in ruins These storms spring up very suddenly and drop as suddenly ami usually last for over half a day and are acoompanied by tremendous rain tidal waves thunder and incessant lightning that literally runs along the ground Tliey give short shrift to vessels in harbour as the terrific waves tear them from their anchorage and cast them bodily ashore Many thousands of destitute inhabitants are flocking to Kingstown for shelter and food Now when the blacks come in from the district and find that their massas have no food to give them there will be rioting and a black riot is a fearful thing Mr Thompson the administrator will no doubt make every effort to relieve the distress but it stands to reason that it cannot be coped with immediately The black man however when his belly is empty becomes an unreasoning brute and a black brute when he riots uses cutlasses and glass bottles on ail indiscriminately The blacks outnumber the whites in nearly all the islands by two or three to one so the state of things can be imagined Reports from the Windward show that everything is a wreck and that the damage is not less than in the South Barronallie and Chatoaubellair have suffered severely The damage at St Lucia which possesses some very extensive cocoa estates was not of less extent The landslips which are always caused by the heavy rains are responsible for numerous deaths at Soufriere Choi-seul and other places The planters will be ruined as the cocoa estates have suffered immense damage and many are quite destroyed Curiously enough Grenada which was almost in the direct route of tlie hurricane escaped almost without any damage I may say that the canals and waterways on many of the sugar estates in the islands get Hooded make tho roads impassable and help to swell tlie death-roll as many in their endeavours to escape tho violence of the storm fall into these swollen dams and are drowned Hundreds of deaths are already reported and there arc likely to be more It is stated thait warning of the hurricane came from New York but too late as the cable was interrupted This is an absurd statement Every West Indian knows when a hurricane is coming the dry deathly stillness of the atmosphere that precedes the storm a stillness almost to be felt warns him but what of it? What protection or remedy is there None NEGRO AS A LABOURER Barbadoes suffered severely being most easterly of the West India Islands a little over twenty miles long and about fifteen broad The island i-s perhaps the best cultivated as British Guiana is tho worst of any of tho British West Indian Colonies There are upwards of 180000 inhabitants most- of whom are negroes Now the negro in Barbadoes where laud is scarce and tlie soil barren has to cultivate his plot carefully if he would earn his broad whereas in Guiana where the land is rich in alluvial deposit he sits at ease in his hut and lets his cassava his yams breadfruit corn plantain sweet potatoes and fruit grow when and how they wilL As a consequence the negro of British Guiana works only when the fit is on him while his brother if I may use the term for the negro instead of the of Barbadoes works because he must Tho island of Barbadoes is composed of stratified rocks on whica rest calcareous and silicious deposits and a crust of coral limestone The island as seen first by a European is most uninteresting and seems but a barren mound It is only on a nearer approach that the splendid cultivation and beautiful tropical vege tation is noted Tlie sea at Barbadoes is splendid for bathing for the water is extraordinarily clear and the shells at the bottom of the ocean can be J-een at a depth of twenty fathoms There is drawback and that is that the coast and especially the harbour teem with sharks but as they can lie seen a long way off no one takes any notice of them It is nothing for boys of ten or twelve years to swim a mile or two out to sea to meet the mail steamers and earn the coins the passengers throw them to dive for A visitor to the island will be struck by the numerous impudent white or creole lieggars a cringing animal never to met with in any other part of America Barbadoes was at one time a perfect hot-bed of immorality and at present the state of things is very bad among the blacks This however is not to be wondered at when the huts the blacks live in are considered As a rule the hut is about 24-ft by 12ft divided into two divisions by a partition that does not reach halfway up to the roof In one the family eat and drink in the other all sleep And when I say all I should mention that the family consists of the negro his wife 10 or more little blackamoors and often the grandparents on both rides for the negro is a long liver The climate is very healthy and is not- trying to a European as the temperature is kept down by a constant northeast trade wind and averages 80 to 81 degrees Then too as the atmosphere is dry 3-nd not damp as in England the heat is not felt the same Barbadoes is tee headquarters of her forces in the West India command and the see of a bishop The English were not the only sufferers by the storm A PROSPEROUS FRENCH COLONY Guataloupe which is one of the principal French Colonies in the Atlantic suffered equally for numerous landslides occurred bridges and houses were destroyed cocoa and coffee estates devastated and the loss of life even greater in proportion Guadalcup'' is really divided into two islands by the Riviere Salee It is situated north of Dominica and south-east- of Montserrat The islands were discovered by Columbus in 1493 wore colonised by the French in 1635 afterwards by the English and finuliv delivered to the French in 1800 The soil is rich and tho island well cultivated and the island I believe was before tlie storm tlie most prosperous of all tee French colonies The people are very polite rj hospitable The scenery in Gua-toloupe is very beautiful The condition of the colonists of tlie West Indies before the hurricane was pitiable now it is heartrending Thousands of people are being fed at the public expense but more are starving tho dead axe being buried in trenches and tlie property destroyed cannot even be estimated! Can a greater misery be imagined? I t-hiuk not The members of the British Association visited Stroud yesterday at the cordial invitation the Stroud Incorporated Chamber of Commerce and were entertained to luncheon Sir William Marling preaided over a distinguished company BIRMINGHAM THE CZAR PROPOSALS Birmingham through a public meeting held last night at the Town Hall has given its voice fur universal peace The gathering was a unique one in its way Men and women of all shades of political and religious thought met on common ground without injury to their amour and the unusual spectacle was witnessed of the secretaries of the various political Messrs Barton1 A Vince and together with Mr James Rutherford acting in unison for the promotion I of the same object The meeting was called by Alder- man Johnson ax-ting on behalf of the Lord Mayor as the result of a requisition and as showing the repie- tentative character of the requisition it may be stated that the following gentlemen either signed it or were present at tlie meeting at which it was promoted Sir Henry AViggin Aldermen Baker Edwards Hart I White Bowkett and Pollack Councillors Bishop I Barber Bisseker Godlee Holloway Jephoott Lloyd Smith Wilson Baker Lancaster I Fletcher Hennessy Hunt Lloyd Price Poller Thomas Haines and Randall Messrs Barnsley Bunco Leech Man ton Brame Cadbury Goodman Dr Malins arris Dr Warden Dr Harvey Txngye Wright Impey Timmins Frank Parkes Dr Griffiths Howard Smith and Cartland 22 members of the Board Guardians the Revs MaoOarthy fiuhuo A Sharp and Joseph Wood Messrs Joseph Sturge and Peutland (members of the School Board) the Very Rev Canon O' Hanlon (Vicar-General) the Rev Emanuel BA t-he Revs Dr Gardiner A Sowtor AM Burbidge Hunt Bren AV Smith Price AVebster A Sturdee Sharp Tilley 1 AY Filleul 84 Nonconformist ministers amongst whom were the Revs Thomas Allen (Wesleyan College) Jenkyn Brown Wiseman Jowett Dr Davison AV Ewing Dr Carter Rodgers Enoch Salt Houghton Odell Nioivolas Knight arid Spencer 19 secretaries of Labour Unions and 80 officv-rs of tlie various political parties and oilier leading citizens It fell to Aider-man Cook (who wore the Lord ohaiu) to take the ohair Being a meeting he was accompanied by the Town Clerk (Mr Smith) and among otliera on tlie platform were Aldermen White Baker Hart and Barratt Councillors Mar tineau Lloyd Lloyd Jones Bowator Hunt Bishop Fletcher and Barrow the Revs A Sowler Jowett Wiseman Canon JT Butlin A Seys Howell Sueaxh Salt and Type Dr Langford Messrs A Osier Marris Cadbury Manton Brame AV Silk Frank Wright A Southall Page AAr Walthall Joel Cadbury Joseph Sturge Peyton Short house Hotchkiss A Oudworth A Caulkin Basnett Short Allen Edwards A Keegan The audience must have numbered little short of The Town Clerk having read the notice convening the meeting Mr Rutherford announced apologias for alisenco from the Revs A Vardy MacCarthy Jenkyn Brown James Collett Hulme AV Honghton Mr AArilliam Barton and Birmingham Wesleyan ministers in meeting assembled Alderman Cook did not occupy much time He at the outset that he had boon specially commissioned by tho Lord Mayor to express his regret that ho was not able to bo present Coming to the subject of tho mooting' he observed that ho was not anxious to raise tlie question of tho good faith of tho Ozar in issuing his manifesto his desire was that a supremo effort should lx made to put it into practice if possible and that influence on itu liohalf should bo put forth with no uncertain sound It was a grand thing that- a reigning Sovereign should have made the proposals at all Lately NATIONS HAD RUN MAD on the question of increasing armaments but he felt sure judging by the unanimity with which the Czar's proposals liad been received that tho country was desirous that her Ministers should discuss them in a very serious light (applause) One other remark tho alderman made was that tho subjixt they were considering that night was worthy to rank with any of tho great social and political movements which had been advocated in that hall (applause) Tho Rev A Sowter rector of St moved the resolution which became the finding of the mooting It read This inerting of the citizens of Birmingham hails with deep thankfulness tho invitation which his Majesty tlie Ozar of Russia has given to all the powers represented at his Court to a eonferonoe for tiie discussion of plans for an international truce in armaments This meeting expresses the earnest hopi that the British Government will not only heartily accept this invitation but- that it will with a single mind exert itself to the utmost to secure tnc sueo-ss of deliberations which are fraught with the welfare and happiness of mankind That the Deputy-Lord Mayor be requested to sign and forward a copy of the foregoing to his Majesty the Czar and to the Marquess of Salisbury her Foreign For some years past said Mr Sowter tin-course of an earnest address the political sky had been heavy with clouds of war charged almost fo the bursting poird and men had been asking how much longer would elapse before these clouds would break and the deluge would fall But now in an unexpected manner and from an unexpected quarter a rift had appeared in the clouds a rift thank God full of sunsliine full of hope He contrasted the present gathering with the last meeting held to discuss the Armor ian atroeitio and argued that they would have little difficulty in reconciling xhc vote they would give that night with that given on the -previous occasion Setting himself to discuss some of the objections which had been advanced against the manifesto he mentioned first that it had been described as Utopian but he affirmed there never was a movement set on foot for the good of mankind which was not Utopian at first The freedom of British slaves was at one time Utopian was it Utopian now even steam navigation on the North Atlantic was called Utopian and oik member of Parliament in a radi moment said that if ever a vessel crossed the North Atlantic by steam he would eat the boat a promise Mr Sowter naively added which he did not think had been fulfilled Then they were told that the disarmament of Europe was impracticable but he reminded his auditors that the Czar did not propose to disarm Europe he only asked for a conference and it was surely for that conference to say whether the thing was practicable He pointed to the enormous increases made to the armies of tho world during the last 30 years and the astounding additions caused thereby to the national debt of the respective nations England alone among tlie nations of Europe during that period being aid to reduce her national debt Between 1868 and 1896 thp debt of Germany had grown from nothing to 100 millions sterling: of Italy from 220 millions to 450 millions of Austria from 250 millions to 500 millions of Russia from 300 millions to 800 millions and of France from 500 millions to 1200 millions In the face of these figures it was utterly impossible for nations to continue piling up their armaments and heaping up their debts in this reckless spendthrift and most improvident manner The last objection he discussed was that the Czar was insincere That his object was less Europes: pea-ce than Muscovite advantage and that lion! wanted twenty year-- of trace to consolidate the resources of his country Personally Mr Sowter expressed his dislike to this poisoning of the wells of argument and to the imputation of motives but he asked amid sympathetic cheera was Russia the only country that would benefit by 20 years of truoe admitting for the sake of argument that this charge of insincerity was justified Our own nation and every nation in Europe would benefit and if sue) a conference was held it would be the happy auguvv for the century which was about to dawn (applause) Alderman White seconding the resr-lmb fo--to believe that the proposals of pence w- imnrae ticable for he remembered a member of the of Lords many years ago saying he did not believe anyone in England would ever trust their in a railway train going at a paoe of 15 miles an hour (laughter) Then again it took 150 year for thr pronouncement of the evils of negro slavery lx fore the Act was finally passed for its abolition Tht-doubt as to steam railway- had long since been answered and they all knew how greatly the United States had gained in prosperity since that act of justice was done to millions of negro slaws on the other side of the Atlantic (applause) He failed to see the impracticability of men ami women obeyin the Divine command or that there should be any wonder considering the AWFUL WASTE OF WAR that even Emperors and Kings should long for some change that ould make Europe a uni teal states and that each nation should feel how much they had in common with each other (applause) Arbitration instead of war had in the past proved practicable (hear hear) In 80 years arbitration had Ixion resorted to in Europe and tHe United States no fewer tlian 140 times and in a dozen raid more instances had averted war between Great Britain and the United States (applause) Again the advantage of arbitration over war was seen in the frightful rebellion in Ireland a hundred years ago when the Society of Friends although expos to the horror-: i and perils of war neither sought protection nor attempted to defend themselves anil yet persi-ied in attending their religious gatherings without one ios- ing his or her life (applause) AYhat he thought that i meeting desired was that the manifesto should bo used rightly and made as far as possible a means of uniting the nations of the -tehee re) W'hat was war? That question he thought might be i best answered in the words of John Bright who said I l)elieve that half the people who talk about i war have not the slightest idea what it is In a short sentence it may be gummed up as a concentra- tion of all the horrors atrocities and crimes of which human nature on this globe is (Loud 1 applause) The Rev AVleman then amid i cordial cheers supported the resolution The manifesto had come he jocularly observed like a bolt from the blue and many people had begun to say his but calmer reflection showed that it was a little unworthy on their part as Englishmen to suspect sinister motives (cheers) England had during the last 100 ARRIVAL OF THE BODY AT VIENNA tTHRCUGH AGENCY) Vienna Thursday 10 50 pm The special train conveying the remains of the Empress Eliza bet-h arrived here at 10 pm The station was draped in black and ou the platform were assembled the Chief Court Marshal tlie officers of the general and the members of the clergy a military guard of honour being also in attendance After blessing the remains the funeral process Von started for tlie Hofburg Tlie whole route was lined with troops behind whom stood immense crowds who witnessed the passing of the cortege bare headed and in silence The decoration of the streets was most imposing When the Hofburg was reached the coffin followed by the Chief Court- Marslaal and members of tho late was carried into the Hofburg Chapel where rafter the remains had again been blessed the key of the coffin was consigned to the keeping of" the Chief Court Marshal The church was then closed The Emperor together with the principal mourners drove from Schorabrunn to the Hofburg in order to attend the blessing of the corpse in the chapel FURTHER ARRESTS through re agency Lausanne Thursday Tlie police have made two arrests here which are believed to be of censiderable importance in connection with the assassination of the Empress of Austria The fiirt of these that of a man named Guaiduppi vras made as long ago as Friday last the clay before the murder Guakluppi was then arrested simply as a vagabond and it was not until afterwards that he was recognised as a dangerous Anarchist It is now believed that it was he who made the rough wooden handle fitted to triangular file Tho papors found upon him when arrested did not belong to him The second man is another Anarchist named Barbat-teand Lucchiani is believed to have stayed with him for several i days immediately before leaving here to commit his foul crime Both have been taken to Geneva as suspected accomplices in the death THE ATTEMPT ON THE LIFE OF EMPEROR thrciugh agency Yokohama Thursday The Emperoi of Corea is recovering but the Crown Prince is still ill One of the ladies of the household is also sick It is behoved that the poison was given by another lady but there are doubts whether the attempted crime was due to jealousy or to political motives THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT AND THE FRENCH ARMY Duke of Connaught was again present at the French manoeuvres yesterday Both the President and the Du to inspected the preparation of the soup which they tasted and pronounced to be good Later the Biuke tad ted the other rations saying laughingly as he did so must be sparing for I am taking His Royal Highness also again -displayed much interest in the knnp sacks He got one of the soldiers to empty his examined t'he contents in detail with tlie closest atten tion afterwards declaring that ue knapsack was a model ol lightness At the close of this inspection the Pres ident and the Duke of Connaught i their horses and as they rode through the place on their way back the band of the 29th Infanty Regiment which had been hastily drawn up in the village square played the and save the GLADSTONE NATIONAL MEMORIAL £13000 SUBSCRIBED Since the last meeting of the committee on the 21sk of July the following additions havo been made amongst others to the General Committee of the National Memorial to Mr Gladstone: Mr Henry A Blyth Rear-Admiral the Hon Thomas Brand tl io Hon A Brand Sir Fowell Buxton Earl of Chesterfield the Rev Dr Clifford Mr Crray the Earl of Elgin Viscount Hampden Sir '(Valter PhiUimore Lord Rendlesham Lord 'Sandhurst the Earl of Stair Lord Wandsworth Mr George Watts RA Mr Samuel Whitbread the Lord Mayor of ork the Mayors of Evesham and West Bromwich and the Chairmen of Montgomeryshire and Warwickshire County Councils The following additions have been made to the Executive Committee Sir Edward Pojcnter PRA Sir William Richmond RA Mr Gray and Mr Woods MP etepg are being taken to collect subscriptions in most -cases under the auspices of the County Councils or City or Borough Councils in Cheshire Huntingdonshire and Lancashire and Midlothian and in Batley Bristol Ca-mpbell-ton Coventry Daventry Eastbourne Edinburgh Glasgow Halifax Haslingden Huddersfield Inverness Kilmarnock Lancaster Leeds Lewes Lost-withiel Lowestoft Margate Mansfield Nairn Newark Newcastle Perth Portsmouth Siilisbury South Molton Thomaby Tunbridge Wells Walsall est Bromwich and many other places With the object of Simulating public interest in the memorial it is probable that meetings will shortly be held in some of the larger towns that is Edinburgh Glasgow Liverpool and Dundee during the lailter half of October when the holiday season will have come to an end Up to the end of August the amount of subscriptions was £13633 Subscriptions sent to the honorary secretary 84 Mount Street London or to the Western Branch of the Bank of England will be duly acknowledged By the courtesy of many of the banks of the United Kingdom subscription sheets havo been plaoid not only in their head offices but in all their branches in every part of the country for the convenience of intending subscribers THE DIGNITY OF A PRESIDENT 'Hie Paris correspondent of the Morning Post reports that a curious story concerning Presklent Faure-is now being told in the French capital A well-known personage it is stated who had frequently invited the President to shooting parties witile he was still plain Faure was astounded receretly to receive a card on which was written the simple words le President de la Republiqrue will shoot at on After the first surprise was over the proprietor of the estate made all preparations to receive the gracious President who had deigned to announce his coming inter alia cancelling a shooting party which lie had arranged When after a capital sport the august self-invited guest returned to the country house the son of the hoet a nice lad of 16 who was standing on the steps bowed respectfully and asked with juvenile grace if le Preiiuent had had good spurt A severe glance goes the story was shot at him through an eye-glass A paternal yet disdainful hand touched him lightly on the shoulder said a reproving voice should know that one does not address the President of tlie Republic without Precisely on tlie same day by a singular coincidence the German Emperor was it appears reluming in a carriage to the Ohateau d'Urville from the Manoeuvres at Metz and a peasant tried to hand him a petition The Emperor was talking and the horses were going fast so that he did not observe the paper fall to the ground A cyclist however noticed the look of on the face picked up the petition and pocLdlvd after the victoria He soon overlook it and said wall you allow me to this petition which a peasant let Certainly my was the reply And thus it i goes the story that Emperors sometimes forget the Protocol but Presidents never A Liner The White Star liner Teutonic which left Queenstown yesterday for New-York returned to Browhead yesterday afternoon and signalled that the Cunard liner A urania was proceeding to Queenstown disabled and in tow The Aurania would probably reach Queenstown about midnight Don't wait until you are ill before trying CJarteFe Little Lter Pills bnt get a phial at one You trike them without benefit Is J-Jd Hut be sure thy arc Bt -ib Depot 46 Hoiborn Viaduct Ait 4417 WEST INDIES SWEPT BY A HURRICANE HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE THOUSANDS HOMELESS THROUGH AGENCY 1 St Thomas Thursday A fearful hurricane has swept over the AV est Indies bringing death and ruin All accounts agree that it is of the most destructive storms in the history of the islands No place has escaped The greatest loss of life lias occurred at Kingstown St Vincent where it- is reported that 300 persons have perished The town has been totally destroyed and 20000 inhabitants are homeless Thousands of people are being fed at the public expense but many are starving The dead are being buried in trenches The first news received from St Lucia describes the storm as having been of almost unprecedented violence It was accompanied by a tidal wave and tremendous rainfall There were several landslides Many houses and bridges wens destroyed and the cocoa estates were devastated Twelve persons are known to have perished but the loss of life is probably much greater Guadaloupe suffered equally Numerous destructive landslides occurred and 19 persons were killed A boat from St- Vincent which has arrived at Grenada brings an account of the havoc wrought in that island The cyclone was the most terrible ever known there and the value of the property destroyed cannot even be estimated Every small Itouse has been laid in ruins and many of the larger houses as well as churches and stores brave also been blown down The majority of tho estate buildings have been swept away Three large ships are ashore on the Windward coast and many small ones Communication with Barbadoes is cut off New ark Thursday A steamer which has arrived at Trinidad from Barbadoes reports that fearful iiavoc was wrought in that island on Saturday night by the hurricane The destruction of property was enormous and it is believed that over 150 persons have been killed in the island while numbers are homeless and destitute Shipping has suffered severely The Lounda and Grace Lynwood and a number of local craft were wrecked or biown out to sea Bridget-own the capital of Barbadoes Is a scene of desolation Wrecked houses are to be seen on every hand and hardly a tree has been left standing Particulars from the country districts of the island cannot yet be obtained owing to the interruption of roads and telegraphs A telegram from Kingstown Jamaica says the Governor of St Vincent has telegraphed to the Governor of Jamaica imploring prompt assistance Official reports reduce the death roll at St Vincent but nevertheless great havoc has been wrought The storm is said to be passing northwards over St Kitts now EXTENT OF THE DISASTER OFFICIAL DESPATCHES Although it is impossible yet to ascertain the extent of the damage caused by the terrible torm in the West- Indies the Colonial Office has received the following telegrams which graphically indicate how terrible must have been the ravages of the hurricane Governor Sir A Moloney to the Secre-tary of State for the Colonies Received at the Colonial Office 8 am yesterday received from Admiitrsrtrator at St Vincents by sloop a letter advising previous despatch of cablegram (not yet arrived as telegraphic commu mention Is interrupted) in the following terms: Very heavy hurricane on Sunday Immense damage to property and considerable loss of life in Kingstown and neigh bouring districts Full report from out district? not yet received Several thousands must be destitute of the necessities of life and shelter Making the best possible arrangements but heavy expenditure and financial aid will be required Government House The letter states: From Argyll to Kingstown on the windward side there is not- a single works or estate house standing From Bucoamont to Kingstown on me leeward side everything is destroyed Kingstown has hardly a house uninjured and most of them are in ruins Three vessels are ashore Two have sunk and the fate of others are unknown It is unnecessary after this to say that almost all the houses are lying flat There are at least 50 deaths that are known and people are flocking into Kingstown from all the country round for shelter mid food which I am endeavouring to supply for the moment until the weather clears and we can take the damage in detail So far I have no news from iiie country beyond Argyle to the windward or beyond Buccamont to the leeward but I fear tha-r- the disaster there canuot have been less than in the southern part of the Island Repoits from tho windward report that everything as far as Grand Table is a wreck that there are two largo ships and one small one ashore on the windward coast and the manager of Sans Soucl Mr Hillocks and others killed From he leeward everything is a wreck with much loss of life In Barronallic everything is levelled to the ground except three Chateaubelair is reported not to have suffered so heavily but no reliable information vet Tho letter ends: am borrowing the necessary funds to provide A second telegram from the Governor received at the Colonial Office at 8 am yesterday says On September 12 a hurricane swept over St Lucia Telegraph news of 13th Is as follows: Tremendous rain with thunder and incessant lightning all Sunday night The following information received to-diiy from the coast-: landslips at Soufriere five deaths and 10 houses and two bridges washed away A tidal wave diu much damage At ChoLseul seven deaths occurred from landslips Cocoa estates have suffered immense damage and many are quite ruined No news from westward Roads impassable All telephone lines down Steamer Deramore returned to port last evening with three men rescued off this Island from a- waterlogged schooner Ocean King of St Vincent Administrator King-Harman telegraphs to-day news telegram is substantially correct Soufriere appears to have suffered most but details are still wanting as the telephone system is disorganised and the extent oi damage is not yet ascertained Have authorised provision for immediate relief and shelter of those who may be in absolute want Governor Sir John Hay to Secretary of State for the Colonies received at the Coloaikl Office 10 pm Wednesday Telegraph line interrupted Trying via Trinidad Strong hurricane September 10 lasting 10 hours Colony sustained serious damage Slxty-one deaths 31 wounded already reported Reports from country districts incomplete Great distress Estimated 2000 huts destroyed Fifteen hundred homeless sheltering in churches and Government institutions Heavy loss of Government- and private property Assistance urgently required Telegram from Sir Hay to Secretary of State for the Colonies dated Tuesday received Colonial Office 10 pm Wednesday: Latest accounts report far greater devastation of houses and consequent homelessness Will forward special report as soon as possible Telegram from Sir Hay to Secretary of State for the Colonies dated Tuesday afternoon received Colonial Office 11 pm Wednesday Strong hurricane last night lasting 10 hours There is reason to fear that the Colony sustained serious damage Twenty-seven deaths already reported Country districts not yet reported Fear considerable loss of life In connection with the above telegrams it may be mentioned that Sir A Moloney is Governor BY PRIVATE WIRE EXTRACTS FROM LONDON PAPERS (FLEET STREET 6 AM) THE SITUATION AT CANDIA TlitlS TELEGRAM Off Candia Thursday The Sultan demands that the culprits shall be jtried by an International Commission but it is Regrettable that the matter should be considered international Reparation should be full and complete and exclusively to the outraged Power whose representative was murdered and whose troops were attacked Pillage and massacre may be considered international but not an insult to the flag In this way British prestige suffers Although trouble was apprehended the ringleaders have been embarked without opposition in the transport Augustine under a strong guard The town is quiet The Mohammedans witnessed the embarkation passively and not tire slightest incident occurred This shows that the authorities can act when they wish FRENCH FLAG FLYING AT FASHODA THE WHITE FORGE REPORTED TO BE ABYSSES IAN DAILY TELEGRAPH TELEGRAM Assouan Thursday I interviewed the Captain of the steamer Tew-fikieh on that vessels arrival from Fashoda On getting beyond the fire zone at Fashoda he landed and spoke to the natives who told hum that eight Europeans and 100 Senegal eso soldiers assisted by blacks (Skillooks) attacked the Dervish garrison A battle took place in tire open and resulted in the death of about 100 Dervishes and the flight of the rest numbering 150 The Tewfikieh hurried down with the news far the Khalifa leaving the other Dervish feteamer Safi a waiting half-way up the river He expects to hoist the British and Egyptian hags in the course of this week at Fashoda under all circumstances It is officially intimated that the Klialifa is now surrounded and must be taken alive or dead within the next few days Concerning the fate of Osman Digna the 'authorities are not so sure although most of his Harlendowa tribesmen have been captured DAILY TELEGRAM Constantinople Thursday News Ilos just reached here pointing to the fact that the occupation of Fashoda has been accomplished by Major March an ds expedition assisted by a corps of 10000 Abvssimans The Porte stops all telegrams on the subject and prohibits all mention of the occupation of Fashoda POSITION IN CHINA TIMES TELEGRAM Pekin Wednesday The Tsung4i-Yainen has formally agreed to Concede to a British syndicate the right to construct a railway from British Kau-Lung to Canton This partly balances the valuable concession given to France of the railway from Pakhoi to Nan-Ning-Fu which however France appeal's to have no intention of building The Tsung-li-Yamen lias also formally admitted the light of the the Pekin Syndicate to extend its proposed mining railway beyond the border of Ho-Nan province to Sipg-Yang P) on the Han River where the water is navigable Thursday Despite Lord declaration tliat England would tolerate no interference by any other Power in the mutter of this signed British contract for the Niu-Chwang Railway extension loan England has given way and has agreed to all the conditions imposed by Russia England has thus admitted the Russian right of intervention The withdrawal is inexplicable Yesterday as the result Hu Yu Fen Director of Railways formally broke off the negotiations with the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank and res mod relations with the Russo-Chinese Bank The Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank despite the reduced security has fulfilled the conditions of the preliminary agreement The Government is now bound to interpose to prevent China from evading the terms of the signed contract but even if the loan be concluded the British withdrawal before Russian opposition is bound to be misinterpreted ENGLAND GERMANY AND DELAGOA BAY TIMES TELEGRAM Berlin Thursday The Hanover Courier publishes an account flf negotiations between the German and British Governments with regard to Delagoa Bay according to which Great Britain a proposal which enabled Germany not only to promote her interests in South Africa but furnished with the only possible opportunity of exercising her influence in another These considerations dictated German policy and the agreement with Great Britain was entered into In the Blsmarckiarn Neueste the English -we are further told have come to the concdufciion that Germany is a factor which must be reckoned with in Africa and like practical people they have- decided that it Is best to go hand in hand with Germany which of all nations stand nearest to them in tenacious strength and endurance as well as in the vigorous development of its This language is unusually complimentary and friendly on the part of the Berlin Bismarckian organ But it would be well to await events It is not even known whether the agreement regarding Delagoa Bay has yet been concluded or in any case whether it was concluded at the time when the rumours of it wre so skilfully launched in the press It is reported that Count Hatz-felut visit to Berlin is a sure sign that the bargain has been actually struck but this is mere conjecture DRASTIC REFORMS IN CHINA SPECIAL SERVJCEl Pekin Wednesday The Marquess Ito the Japanese Envoy arrived here to-day and was received at the railway station by several notabilities who were specially ordered on this duty by the Emperor An Imperial edict has been published extending the operations of the Post Office throughout the Empire and replacing the existing cumbrous system of Government- couriers The frequent edicts appearing at the present time decreeing reform- and tutting down of expenditure prove that the Emperor his advisors are bent on a policy of complete change but in the opinion of most of the leading Chinese and old European residents the changes are too sweeping and tend to excite irritation in the official classes It is evident that the Emperor has decided on abolishing many abuses and his efforts are welcomed by all enlightened Chinese who however counsel moderation CURIOUS LIGHTING DIFFICULTY AT NEWNHAJM' The Urban District Council at their meeting on Wednesday (Mr Kerr presiding) had before them the case of Mr Howe of the Academy Station Road who last November on discovering that his establishment was outside the lighting area not only refused to pay any more lighting rates but demanded the repayment of £5 19s 8d tho amount paid by him during his residence at that address reply was that the rating accounts for the past 10 years were closed audited and )assed and that the Local Government Board could lot give them power to sanction such repayment dr Howe then appealed to the Local Government kxvrd whose reply is to the effect that it would be Lontrary to their practice to give any sanction in the latter except upon the application of the local kthority If tho local authority were to apply for Board's sanction to the repayment of the amount far as such repayment would not be illegal the would receive tlie attention The declined to take any action.