The Aberystwith Observer

THE ALL-NIGHT SITTINGS IN THE COMMONS. We extract the following from the Lancet: Surely the sort of life lived by members of the House of pommons just now is tear, not wear. The worry of it all is bad enough, but the wretched squandering of energy in all-night sittings, which has come to be the rule rather than the exception of late, is little, if at all, short of Fuicidal. Unless there be an entire change of tactics shortly, there will be a hideous roll fcf mental and physical wrecks to chronicle. The "tear" is already telling very seriously on many valuable lives, and before long the mischief in pro- gress will make itself manifest. We think it no way beyond our province, as an organ of the profession Whose business it is to advise the public on matters of health, to warn those whom it may urgently concern that there is a real and instant peril that, unless Something be speedily done to spare Ministers and tnembers of the House of Commons the fearful and prolonged strain to which they are now, and have been for some time past, subjected, there will be a catastrophe which men of all parties and ways of thinking and acting in politics cannot fail to regret.

— ■ A MAN wedded to his own ideas is a pretty difficult Chap to divorce.

THE IRISH QUESTION. MR. GLADSTONE AND THE COERCION BILL Hawarden was crowded with visitors on Tuesday, seven or eight thoo,.nd »tna.™ b»™g travelled thither from various centres in Cheshire, Staffordshire, Yorkshire, and Lancashire. At the request of the officers of the Crewe Division Liberal Association, Mr. Gladstone in the afternoon made hiS aDDearance on tho terrace m front of Hawarden Castle A resolution in the names of the Liberals of Conoleton, Macclesfield, and Crewe, denouncing the Crimes Bill as cruel, tvrannical, and needless, and am>roval of the principles of his Home Rule Bill was agreed to. Mr. Gladstone, who was received with cheering on advancing to the front of the terrace, 'aid • Ladies and gentlemen,—1 thank you for' y™*r resolution. It u in conform,K- S') J present disastrous polio; of coercion towards Ire a a r^rrsfc^' tended, '« England or in s.c0 aeajnst crime, but which really legislates agaS measures similar to those that are legally adopted by trades unions m England (near, hear}—that bill which legislates against combination and not against crime, or rather which legislates against combinations while professing to legislate against crime-(hear, hear)-that bill is in itself a crime. (Loud cheers.)

LORD SPENCER AT RUGBY. Lord Spencer addressed a Liberal meeting at Rugby on Wednesday night. He said there was not one of the Liberal leaders who wished to prolong unnecessarily the discussion of the Crimes Bill, but as the clauses were exceedingly complicated it was absolutely essential for them to introduce amend- ments so that they might check some of the objections which the Opposition felt to the measure. He did not like the Plan of Campaign, and said that the way to meet it was to provide some remedy against evic- tions for the ncn-payment of rents which were oppres- sive and unjust.

MR. STANHOPE AT HORNCASTLE. Mr. E. Stanhope, speaking at Horncastle on Wed- nesday night, said this was the time for taking stock, and the result of the session so far was nothing. They were executing the initiatory exercise of balancing steps without gaining ground- Notwithstanding the closure, they still had barefaced obstruction, enforced by language which would disgrace a taproom. The leaders of the Gladstonian party could not escape the responsibility for this state of things. The rising tide of public opinion would, he believed, sweep away those now pursuing such objectionable courses and restore to Parliament the liberty of action of which it had been deprived.

JUBILEE GIFTS FOR THE QUEEN. "Atlas," in the World, hears that upwards of £ 4000 have been subscribed by the past and present members of the household for a Jubilee present to the Queen. The subscriptions ranged from two guineas to 1'25, and the affair was under th3 super- intendence of the great officers of the present and late Governments. A splendid silver centrepiece, beautifully and artistically decorated, has been manu- factured by Messrs. Elkington, and it will be pre- sented to her Majesty at Buckingham Palace during the jubilee week. The ceremony of presentation is to be attended by the Duchesses of Buccleuch, Bed- ford, and Roxburghe; the Dukes of Portland and Westminster, and Lords Sydney, Kenmare, Lathom, and Mount-Edgcumbe. The women of Worcester- shire have resolved to present four splendid vases of Worcester porcelain to the Queen as a Jubilee gift. The vases which have been selected are most beautifully decorated after Indian designs. The Queen has fixed Wednesday, June 23, for the cere- mony of presentation, which is to take place at Buckingham Palace. A portion of the Worcester- shire Jubilee fund is to be expended on a statue of her Majesty, which is to be placed in front of the Shire Hall at Worcester."

THE TZAR AND HIS COSSACKS. The recent brilliant reception of the Russian Emperor, on his way to South Russia, by the Cossack tribes through whose districts he travelled, gives additional interest to the following extract from a recently published work on Russia, quoted by the Jiussische Enndschau: The Cossack is accustomed from the earliest days of his childhood to a zealous fulfilment of military duties, the authorities being obliged to keep up and practise the old Cossack war play9, such as riding, swimming, shooting, running, fighting, &c. On holidays every hetman and his officials are obliged to gather the young Cossacks and the boys together in a certain place, and to accustom them to these games instead of other plays. As soon as the boys grow up they are entered into the Stanitza-book" as future Cossack?, although they need not serve till they are 17 years old, when their duty begins at the station. Every boy, of whatever rank his parents may be, has to discharge these duties. When the youths are 19 years old they become Cossacks, and their oath of allegiance is taken. During the twentieth year they prepare for military service, and the year after they enter into the full ser- vice. The sons of nobles sometimes enter a regiment or official post as simple Cossacks at the age of 15 but this is only done in exceptional cases. By this system the State has an army which would in many respects not be replaced by regular regiments, and and which is maintained, not by the State, but by the Cossacks themselves. If Cossacks enter actual service in war time their regiments are far more rapidly formed than those of the regular army. After the order has come for the formation of a certain number of regiments to do duty outside the Cossack district at a place mentioned in the ordor, a number of officers and a general assemble to see that every regiment arrives. A commander is then given to each regiment, who has been chosen by lot in the presence of the hetman and other authorities. The Cossack army is divided into regiments of 100 men, each with one officer at the head. Every regiment is provided with a regimental flag, account books, and sufficient money to last to the frontier of the Don district. Three days only are required for the formation and complete equipment of a regiment.

COCK-PIGHTING REVIVED. Summonses have been issued against a dozen persons, chiefly farmers' sons and farm servants, in the neighbourhood of Penton, in the northernmost portion of the county of Cumberland, for engaging in cock-fighting. A successful raid was made by the police a few days ago on the gang as they were en- gaged in the sport. It appears that Sergeant Smith, Longtown, obtained information that cock-fighting was to be engaged in at Penton Wood, and taking two constables with him proceeded to the wood. Soon afterwards about a score of men and boys arrived near the officers' hiding- ulace with several gamecocks, and commenced battling at once. From their ambush the police could see everything, and succeeded in writing down the names of nearly all those who were present. When the first two mains had been fought the officers came from their hiding-place. As soon as the presence of the police was observed, the crowd bolted in all directions, leaving behind them coats, plaids, hats, walking sticks, and bags, all of which were secured, as well as several sets of spurs, two spring-balance scales, and all the requisites for cock-fighting. live live birds were left on the ground, which the police took possession of, as well as one dead bird.

CONVERTS TO MORMONISM. Three hundred Norwegian emigrants have just passed through Tennessee for Salt Lake City, whither they go to join the Mormon colonies in the West. They are the most respectable emigrants that have arrived for some time. The party was composed of men, women, and children, and they all seemed intel- ligent, were well dressed, and possessed money. They are accompanied by several Mormon elders who have been in Norway on a proselytising tour. Many of them, however, do not seem to understand the poly- gamous nature of the Mormon faith, and several of the women, when told they were liable to become wives of men already wedded to other women, opened their eyes and renounced nil intention of ever sub- mitting to such a proceeding.

An eruption of Mount Etna is repotted from Catania, i Sicily.

RADICAL UNION CONFERENCE. LETTER FROM LORD HARTINGTON. At Birmingham, at the Conference of the National Radical Union, on Wednesday, Mr. Chamberlain read a long letter from Lord Hartington, in which his lordship said that language was sometimes used which seemed to indicate on the part of the majority of the Liberal party a willingness to accept modifica- tions in the measures of the late Government which would remove the objections raised by Mr. Chamber- lain and others; but Lord Hartington was not aware that any practical suggestions in this direction had emanated from them, and, so far as they were con- cerned, the defeated plan was alone before the country. It seemed at present that their only object was to retain, at any cost, the support of the IrL-h Parliamentary p irty, and that their policy was to follow unreservedly the leadership, and adopt some of the Parliamentary methods, of cheir new allies. MR. CHAMBERLAIN. Mr. Chamberlain then opened the Conference with a speech, in which he said if anyone took the trouble to analyse the recent speeches of Mr. Gladstone or his principal supporters, and deducted everything in the nature of personal criticism, and everything irre- levant to the main issue, he would find nothing re- maining except vague and rhetorical assertion of principles which nobody would find it worth while to dispute. Hitherto the Radical Unionists had been afraid to take a forward step lest it should injure the chances of reconciliation. But this could not indefinitively continue so. It was time to take a new departure. Having expressed regret that Sir George Trevelyan should doff his armour in the hottest of the battle, he said it was .1 of no use Sir George Trevelyan or the Liberal Unionists making believe in reconciliation, when their opponents gave them not the slightest practical proof of it. Mr. Glad store's reticence was significant. His lieutenants had been more frank, and showed they preferred the alliance of the Parnellites to reconcilia- tion with their old friends. They slammed the door in the faces of all who were not prepared for abject < surrender. The cleavage of the Liberal party was becoming irretrievable. In 1885 their opponents were Liberals; in 1886 they became Gladstonians, accepting as inspired revelation the new gospel of disruption; and in 1887 they were Parnellites,adopting the policy of the Irish leaders, their methods of conducting political con- troversy, their maimers in language and action. Liberal Unionists must see if it were possible, in the w.eck of the Liberal Party, to form some new combi- nation, no less anxious for progressive reforms than the great Liberals of the past, and no less determined to resist anarchy, to maintain the integrity of the Kingdom, and the supremacy of Parliament. They might be taunted with the alliance with the Tories. At least their allies would be English gentlemen, and not the subsidised agents of a foreign conspiracy. Old party names had lost meaning. Others might have to be found better to represent the facts of the situation. Mr. Jesso Colling, M.P., moved a resolution pro. testing against Home Rule proposals, and expressing the willingness of the Conference to assent to the n largest possible extension of reform in regard to local government for Ireland, subject to stipulations for preserving the supremacy of the Imperial Parlia- ment and the protection of the Protestant minority in Ireland. Admiral Maxse seconded the resolution, which was carried. A further resolution was carried in favour of extending the organisation of the Unionist Party so as to secure at the next election the return of Radical Unionists. LETTER FROM MR. BRIGHT. A meeting in continuation of the Conference of the Radical Union was held on Wednesday night in the Birmingham Town Hall. Mr. J. Chamberlain, M.P., presided, and was supported on the platform by moat of the members of Parliament who attended the Conference in the afternoon. The hall was crowded. A letter was read from Mr. John Bright apologising for non-atteudance, wishing the cause the success which it merited, and stating that he had come to the conclusion that it was prospering. The -friends of disunion, he stated, became more angry, and the language in regard to the Unionists who differed from them more severe and bitter. This was some proof that they felt that their restoration to office and to power was becoming less probable and possible. (Hear, hear). So long as they adhered to the policy which was so signally defeated at the last election it was impossible to believe that the constituencies could see with sympathy and ap- proval the conduct of the Opposition, which was led by the dual partnership of Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Parnell. (Hisses.) Within the last two years, and, indeed, the year, they had seen three Administrations outvoted and destroyed in the House of Commons. Mr. Gladstone was defeated on his Irish Government Bill. He appealed to the masses, and the result was fatal to his bills and to his Government. If the eighty-six disloyal Irishmen had been absent, the majority returned was two to one against him, and admitting eighty-six members there was a majority of more than one hundred against him. To the great majority given on a special question of his own raising, it might have been expected that an experienced statesman would have yielded, but instead of that, he (Mr. Gladstone) abused the majority, and said unpleasant things of the members who had deserted him, and, having turned his own coat so sud- denly-(cheers)-he had no patience with Liberals of even longer standing than himself who refused to turn their coats at his bidding. (Hear, hear.) This partnership had led to such a humiliation of the Liberal party as history had not exhibited before. Just as the Nonconformists and their ministers who supported Lord Palmerston's Government when it plunged into war in 1854 regretted their conduct, so now the Nonconformists and their ministers who supported Mr. Gladstone might have a future of equal shame and regret. (Hear, hear.) After referring to the visit of Mr. O'Brien to Canada, and to the language used by the organ of the Parnellite allies of Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Bright said that it was to men who used such language that surrender was to be made. (Cries of Never.) It was to the body of 86 Irish members, of whom it was said that at least 40 of them sat in Parliament by right of dollars con- tributed in America—(cheers)—by the avowed enemies of England, and of the Queen's right to govern, that a great English Liberal party was called upon to abandon'its past policy and to prostrate itself before an odious, illegal and immoral conspiracy, and to that con- spiracy, made a Parliament, they were to transfer the government of 2,000,000 of loyal Irish people. This they were advised to do by a statesman who had been 10 years the chief adviser of the Crown. There were men in the House of Commons following Mr. Glad- stone and his Irish colleagues who did it with a feel- ing not far removed from loathing. How long they would continue to do so the progress of the session would show. Those who remained true to the prin- ciples and policy of Liberalism-(cheers)-must weep over the temporary ruin of the party, but they might console themselves with the knowledge that they stood before the country guiltless of mischief and without shame. (Cheers.) Mr. Chamberlain devcted his remarks to the ob- struction which the Government had met with in the House of Commons. He said the excuses which the Liberal leaders had made for it would not hold water and he pointed to the evil influence it would have in the future, whenever the Conservatives might be in opposition. He believed that the only effectual remedy would be found in the pressure which might be brought to bear by public opinion and by public indignation against the offenders. Sir Henry James, Sir Julian Goldsmid, and other Radical Unionists spoke in favour of a resolution of similar import to that passed in the afternoon meet- ing.

A NEW CHAPEL AT BALMORAL. The new private chapel which the Queen has caused to be built at Balmoral during the last six months is now completed, and in future the Presby- terian service will be conducted in it, during the stay of the Court at the Castle, at noon un Sundays, ex- cept when her Majesty attends the parish church of Crathie. The chapel is not large, being about the same size as the new one at Osborne, and it is entered from the long corridor of the Castle. The building stands in a sort of corner, and is not a prominent object from the grounds, nor does it present any striking architectural feature. The interior, how- ever, is very handsome, and the windows are to be filled with stained glass. There will be only a few pews at the back, and the rest of the floor will be filled with chairs for the worshippers, the same as in the enclosures in front of the gallery in Crathie Church. It is a common practice in Scotch county churches to set apart such spaces for the chairs of the leading heritor of the parish. A small organ is to be placed in the chapel.—World, is to be placed in the chapel.—World,

IOn Tuesday the Belgian Chamber commenced a debate on the Extraordinary Military Credits BilL debate OJ). tbe Extraordinary Military OredÏ1is Bill.

EARTHQUAKE SHOCKS IN MEXICO. A despatch from Mexico announces that heavy shocks of earthquake were felt throughout the valley at about three o'clock on Monday morning. The earth tremor wa* of a violent kind, and had a lifting motion, lasting five seconds. This was followed by a low roar and a strong vibration of the earth from east to west, lasting 39 seconds. The houses rocked, and thousands of people left their bed?. A short time afterwards there was another shock, accom- panied by the same effects in the suburban towns as in Mexico. „ „ The seismological instruments at the School ot Mines were affected to an extent, proving the shocks to have been of a severe character. Later telegrams from Mexico state that shocks of earthquake have been general in the States of Hidalgo, Mexico, Orelios, Puebla, Talascala, Yera Cruz, and Oajaca. The force of the earthquake caused bells to ring and walls to crack. One of the aqueducts bring- ing water into the city of Mexico was damaged and the water supply has consequently diminished.

THE FORTIFICATION OF HERAT. ST. PETERSBURG, May 31. A telegram received at St. Petersburg from Merv states that according to advices which have reached that place from Herat the Gailzais had an engage- ment on the 16th May with 1000 of the Arreer's regular troops, in which the latter were severely defeated, with the loss of five guns and their entire baggage train. It is stated that Daharneil, the Ameer's commander, was taken prisoner and be- headed by the Ghilzais. Great excitement prevails among the inhabitants of the province of Herat and the adjoining districts, who are stated to be ready to ioin the Ghilzai rising. ST. PETERSBURG, May 31 (Evening). A later telegram from Merv states that advices from Herat confirm the news that the latter place has been strongly fortified by English engineers, who have strengthened the walls and trenches. Special redoubts'are also being constructed which will offer resistance to artillery and rifle fire. It is added that, in order to prevent differences arising owing to the great antagonism displayed by the Afghans towards the English engineers, tbe Ameer has appointed one military and one civil official to afford protection to the men employed on the works. The object in view is to fortify Herat so strongly that, with a garrison of 10 000 men, the place will be able to stand a siege of from sixty to ninety days. The military force in Herat itself, as well as in the surrrounding districts, will be concentrated in such a manner as to permit of speedy mobilisation.

WOMEN AT THE IRISH UNIVERSITY. The fifth report of the Royal University of Ireland was issued on Tuesday. It appears that the total number of persons who presented themselves at various academical examinations of the University during the year 1886 was 2933, being an increase of 43 on the year 1885. Former reports (says Lord Etnly, the Vice-Chancellor) have referred specially to the distinctions which the women students of the Uni- versity have achieved for themselves. I am glad to be able again to speak on this subject with un- diminished satisfaction. In the year 1884, nine of the women students were admitted to the degree of bachelor of arts, five of them with honours. In 1885 nine women were again admitted to the degree, four obtaining honours. Last year again the degree was conferred on nine women, four of them taking honours. Last year also one lady was admitted to the degree of Master of Arts in the Department of the Mental and Moral Sciences and Political Economy. At the B.A. Degree Examination last year, Miss Mary Story obtained the first place in the First Class Honours in Modern Literature, and won a First Claps Exhibition. At the Matriculation Exami- nation held last year, 78 women presented themselves, being an increase of 10 on the numbers of 1885; 71 Passed, 27 with honours.

THE TITHE TROUBLES IN WALES. A force of 250 police was drafted into the Meifod Waller, Montgomeryshire, the other day, to protect the representatives of Christ Church, Oxford, in selling the stock of several farmers which had been seized for unpaid tithe. The farmers have asked for an abatement of 10 per cent., which the College authorities have refused. The matter was Fettled at one farm; but at the next the crowd resisted the advance of the Dolice, and to avoid a serious riot the police were withdrawn and sent back to Welshpool. The auctioneer was caught, and his coat having been turned inside out, he was marched in that style through the streets of Corwen, and made to sign a declaration that he would never return there as an auctioneer.

A PROPOSED JUBILEE AMNESTY. Mr. Howard Vincent, M.P., has given notice to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if, in the celebration of the Queen's Jubilee," Her Majesty's Government will consider the precedent established by George III., in 1809, and advise the Sovereign to be gra- ciously pleased to grant a free pardon to all deserters from the army and navy who rejoin within three months, or whose discharge is purchased within that period, and to remit the punishments of soldiers and sailors confined for disciplinary offences. And if the Crown will be advised, as then, in some measure to extend its clemency to persona undergoing imprison- ment on the 31st of May for small debts due to the Crown, for contempt of court, and also for first offences other than serious crimes excepted from the return ordered to be prepared of first offenders in prison that day."

EPITOME OF NEWS" BRITISH AND FOREIGN. The Prince and Princess of Wales and their three daughters, with a large and distinguished party, visited the Horse Show at the Agricultural Hall, Islington, on Tuesday. Intelligence has reached Bombay to the effect that the rebels in the Candahar district, upon seeing the approach of reinforcements despatched thither by the Ameer, at once submitted. A new enterprise has been started at Holyhead. Steamers from Jersey are to come there to discharge new potatoes and garden produce, which will be immediately distributed by the London and North- Western Railway Company all over England and Ire- land. A line of steamers has also commenced running between Penzai)ce and Holyhead, opening up water communication with the South of England. Both Jersey and Penzance steamers will convey passengers at moderate fares. An inquest was held at Leeds, on Wednesday after- noon, upon the body of Thomas Harding, aged 27, a fish hawker, who was found dead at the Horticultural Gardens on Monday night. The deceased was one of several men who had been employed to fill a balloon which had been announced to ascend. The pipe con- veying the gas became choked, and Harding was sub- equently found dead near to it. The jury found that she deceased was accidentally suffocated by an escape tf gas. Edward Fotdred, aged 50, was on Wednesday, at the By the County Bench, brought up on a warrant charged with embezzling a large sum of money belonging to his employers, Messrs. Mackeson, of Hythe. In February, 13t6, the prisoner decamped to America, being a defaulter to upwards of £100. He was an agent for the firm at Ashford. A few days ago he returned to England, and was arrested at Folkestone. One case having been proved, the Bench sentenced him to three months' hard labour. An inquest was held at Sheffield on Wednesday on the body of a young lady named Margaret Tozer, daughter of a former Mayor and master cutler, who, whilst afflicted with religious mania, had committed suicide by drinking a quantity of sulphuric acid. On Sunday morning she crept into a bedroom where the poison was kept, and drank a considerable quantity, expiring from its effects on Tuesday morning. A ver- dict of Temporary Insanity was returned. Mr. Holt, proprietor of the Bark-street Flax Mills, Bolton, was watching a grinding stone in motion at his mill, on Wednesday morning, when his clothing was caught by the strap, and he was repeatedly whirled round the shaft. His right leg was torn off and his body much mangled, death ensuing in 20 minutes. Several women who were in the shed at the time fainted, and for a few moments there was an inde- scribable scene of confusion. Mr. H. S. Northcote, M.P., and Mr. J. M. Maclean, M.P., were present on Wednesday at the opening of a Constitutional Club at Redruth, and after an address from Mr. Maclean, a vote of confidence in the Govern- ment was passed, a separate Parliament in Dublin being condemned. Mr. Northcote stated that the educational work accomplished by the Conservatives at Exeter had converted a Radical majority into a decided minority. On Tuesday evening a grand banquet was held in honour of the Queen's Jubilee at the Hotel Central in Brussels, Lord Vivian, the British Envoy, presiding. The proceedings were signalised by much patriotic fervour. A Berlin correspondent reports that the German Crown Prince is making satisfactory progress towards recovery. An earthquake shock was felt on Tuesday afternoon at Jamestown, Xew York State. It is understood at Bombay that the British Govern- ment will not, under any circumstances which it can foresee, join Russia in order to settle affairs in Afghanistan by mutual agreement. Mr. Bright delivered the opening address at a Sunday School conference at Rochdale on Wednesday, and dwelt on the great material progress which has been made in this country during the reign of her Majesty. Sailing on Wednesday in the opening match of the Royal Thames Yacht Club, from the Lower Hope round the Mouse and back-a distance of 50 miles-the Thistle came in first, being 23 minates ahead of the Irex. The Genesta was third. Princess Christian opened a fancy bazaar at Totten- ham on Wednesday, in aid of the fund for building a new church at West-green, On Monday evening Mr. O'Brien was entertained at a banquet in Boston, at which 250 guests were present. A fire broke out in the New Burg Theatre at Vienna on Monday evening, but was speedily suppressed with- out any great damage having been done. Five men appeared before tLe Hampstead magis- trates on Tuesday, and, being convicted of various acts of violence and disorderly conduct on Hampstead Heath on Bank Holiday, were fined in sums ranging from 10s. to 406. A telegram was received at Warwick on Tuesday morning commuting to penal servitude for life the death sentences passed upon Henry Cowley, surgeon's assistant, and Henrietta Powell, midwife, at the last Warwick Assizes. Prisoners were convicted of causing the death of a young woman at Birmingham by per- forming an unlawful operation. The jury strongly recommended them to mercy. Two men, named Moss and Eagle, have been arrested by the Leicestershire police, and lodged in gaol for 14 days, for refusing to have their children vaccinated. The pclice visited their homes, and although they had goods for distraint, the police declined to seize the furniture. They visited Eagle's house at 130 in the morning, took him out of bed, and marched him cff to gaol two miles distant. A Penrith newsraper on Tuesday morning published an extraordinary report from a correspondent at Matter- dale, near that town. It is stated that a party of men, described as Moonlighters, went to the house of a man named Joseph Robinson, and by setting fire to some combustibles, tried to suffocate the inmates, who succeeded, however, in extinguishing the fire. The Moonlighters next broke the window with stones, battered the door, and made off. At a largely attended meeting of the West Lanca- shire Coal Association held on Wednesday at the North-Western Hotel, Liverpool, Mr. Alfred Hewlett in the chair, it was resolved that a reduction in the wages of colliers was absolutely necessary; and a com- mittee of the masters was appointed to meet the repre- sentatives of the men and arrange the matter with them. As Lieutenant Tucker, son of Colonel Tucker, was riding a spirited horse down to St. Mary-street, Cardiff, on Wednesday evening, the animal bolted and fell near to the Bute monument, throwing his rider heavily on to the ground. Lieutenant Tucker sus- tained severe injuries to his head, and was removed to the infirmary in a critical state. A public meeting of the hop growers of Hereford- shire and Worcestershire was held at Hereford on Wednesday to consider the question of the hop industry. Mr. Rankin, M.P., presided. Mr. Hall (Hereford) proposed That this meeting is of opinion that an import duty of 23s. per cwt. upon foreign hops and a tax of El per acre upon hop laud would be a fair and just method for meeting the depression now exist- ing in the hop industry." Mr. Partridge moved a direct negative, and Mr. Bodenham an amendment to exclude the words, "a tax of ki per acre," &c., but the original motion was adopted by a large majority, and Mr. Rankin was asked to bring the subject before the Agricultural Committee of the House of Commons. As a labourer named William Coles, of Welling- borough, was attempting to place a chain round the neck of a bull, the animal turned upon him, and, goring him in the chest, broke two of his ribs, from which injuries the unfortunate man died shortly after- wards. It appears deceased was not the regular attendant of the beast, which was not rung in the nose. At the inquest on Tuesday morning the jury expressed the opinion that this ought to be done. ) The body of a labourer, named John Djarden, was on Tuesday found terribly mutilated on the Midland 1 Railway at Kilnhurst Station, near Sheffield. One leg had been completely severed from the body, and was picked up in a cuttiog half a mile away. The man is supposed to have been run over by a passing goods train during the night. On Monday the annual London cart-horse parade, open to all drivers of cart-horses within seven miles of Charing Cross, was held in Battersea Park, whence, after the judging, the 300 horses competing were marched over Chelsea Bridge, some taking the route past the Houses of Parliament to the Thames Embank- ment, and others going to Olympia, where diplomas and prizes were distributed by the Lady Burdett- Coutts. Edith Hall, a girl in domestic service, was tried at the Central Criminal Court on Monday, charged with having set fire to a dwelling-house at Shepherd's-bush belonging to Mr. George Perkins. It was stated that the accused was subject to hysterical fits. The jury returned a verdict of Not guilty." The Midland Counties Cyclist Meeting was held at Leamington on Monday. Some 250 bicyclists and tricyclists, representing the principal cyclist clubs in the kingdom, attended and rode in procession to the Jepheon Gardens, Leamington, where they were enter- tained to luncheon. A silver bugle, presented to the club most numerously represented at the gather- ing, was won by Leicester, which sent seventeen riders. Mr. Fell proposed Success to the Mid- land Meet," which was heartily honoured, and Mr. Illingworth, M.P., Bradford, responded for the visiting clubs. Colonel G. T. L. Carwithen has been selected for the command of the King's Own Scottish Borderers, shortly falling vacant. The Canadian Senate has unanimously passed a resolution, that it is the duty of the Government of Canada to see that in any arrangement for the admis- sion of United States fishermen to the territorial waters of Canada, which may be entered into between the Governments of Great Britain and the United States, special provision shall be made that the fishermen of the latter country, when within the waters of Canada, shall be subject to the laws and regulations by which Canadian fishermen for the time being are governed. Her Majesty visited Braemar on Monday evening, in splendid weather, posting along the South Deeside- road to the village, which was reached shortly after six o'clock. In the Royal carriage, which was an open one drawn by four greys, with mounted postilions, and pre- ceded by an outrider, were, besides the Queen, Princess Henry of Battenberg and a Lady in Waiting. After driving through the village along the Castleton-road, the journey was extended a short way on to the Kairn- well Hill line, and thence home by the Queen's Drive, nndor the Lion's Face, opposite Ivercauld House. A match for the sculling championship of America was on Monday decided on Lake Calumet, Illinois, in which Gaudaur defeated Hanlan by four lengths Colonel W. Budten, R. A., has been appointed Com- mandant of the. Hill Depots at Dalhousie. One of the Duke of Sutherland's crofters appeared on Tuesday before the sheriff at Dornoch, on a charge of having deforced an officer while serving writs, pro- hibiting crofters from carrying away peat from an island belonging to his Grace. The man having pleaded guilty to the assault, the duke addressed the sheriff on his behalf, and craved a lenient sentence, believing that the accused had been forced to commit the offence by those who pretended to be the crofters' friends, but who were in reality their enemies. The sheriff said that he would give effect to his Grace's appeal, and the crofter was sentenced to 15 days' imprisonment, without the option of a fine. According to the substituted notice in Tuesday night's "Gazette," the Queen, on leaving Buckingham Palace for Westminster Abbey on Jubilee Thanksgiving Day, will go by way of Constitucfion-hill, Piccadilly, Regent-street Waterloo-place, Pall-mall East, Cock. spur-street, Northumberlandr avenue, the Embankment, and Bridge-street. After the service her Majesty will return by Parliament-street and Whitehall. M. Rouvier on Tuesday explained the policy and intentions of the new French Ministry to the Chamber, and moved the order of the day, which was voted by a large majority. General Boulanger has left Paris. Anthrax has broken out upon the farm of Mr. Storey, at Be^kermont, near Egremont, Cumberland. The animal attacked was a one year old heifer, and it had been in contact with other animals. It died in five hours after the symptoms had been first noticed. Mr. Soulsby, the veterinary inspector for the district, made a post-mortem examination, and certified the disease to be anthrax. The facts were immediately telegraphed to the Privy Council, and the precautions prescribed in the order issued a short time ago were taken. At Wednesbury, on Tuesday, an old man named William Gorton, was committed for trial on several charges of obtainiug money by false pretences. The prisoner has undergone three terms of penal servitude for fraud, and for 40 years has necessitated the close attention of the police. Since his release from prison he has represented to several tradesmen that he was engaged by a large firm. He gave extensive orders, and succeeded in duping tradesmen of various sums of money. The 1886 accounts of the Egyptian Government were finally settled on Monday between the Caisse of the Public Debt and the Government. Intelligence has been received at Bombay to the effect that the Ameer's troops defeated the Ghilzais on the 20th lilt- at Ghuzni, both sides sustaining heavy loss. The Jaowri-Hazaras have submitted to the Ameer. On Tuesday a statue erected to the memory of Joseph Haydn was unveiled at Vienna, in the presence of the Austrian Emperor and Crown Prince. In Celebration of the Queen's Jubilee a grand national demonstration of volunteer tire brigades was held at Oxford on Monday, when firemen were present from all parts of the country. Prince and Princess Christian were among the visitors A message of loyal greeting was telegraphed to the Queen, and a gracious reply from her Majesty was afterwards read to the assembly by the Ma> or. Mr. G. J. Holyoake presided over the nineteenth annual congress of co-operative societies, which was held at Carlisle on Monday, and delivered the inaugural address, in which he sketched the progress of the movement in this country. Deputations were after- wards received from the trades-unionists, and papers were read on co-operation in agriculture. The 1st Middlesex Engineers had a field-day at Claremont on Monday, the operation being witnessed by the Duchess of Albany. The zlst Middlesex Rifles marched to Harrow, where they went through a Beriss of evolutions Colon.; 0. B. Brackenbury, R.A., has been selected to succeed Colonel Markhim as Director of Artillery StudieR at Woolwich. The Hon. George Wyndham has been invited by the Conservatives of Battersea to btand as their candidate at the next general election against Mr. O. V. Morgan, the sitting member, and has consented to do so. It is proposed to erect a monument at Bradford to the late Mr. W. E. Forster, which will also serve as a memento of the Jubilee. The proposal is receiving support from all parties in the borough. A blind man named Fy field, 68 years of age, was convicted at the Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, London, on Monday, of the manslaughter of his wife. They went home drunk one night, and in the morning she was found dead on the floor of the bedroom, with injuries vhich the medical men said could not have been occasioned by a fall. He was sentenced to 18 months' hard labour. Orders are at once to be issued to commanding officers of volunteer corps forbidding the testing in any form whatever of the bayonets and sword-bayonets now in possession of the force, which, it is stated, will be exchanged as soon as sufficient bayonets for the purpose have been released from the regular forces. An alarming accident occurred on Saturday evening on the newly-constructed line of the Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway at Kilwinning. The traffic is being conducted on a single line. A train conveying 200 workmen from Barrmill to Kilwinning, ran into a ballast train coming in the opposite direction. A large number of the men, seeing the danger, leaped from the train, and 15 of them were badly injured. The tender and several of the waggons were completely wrecked. The injured men were removed to Glasgow Infirmary. An Odessa correspondent writes: I learn from a member of the Imperial Caucasian Agricultural Society that the experiments in cotton culture in three different districts of the Caucasus have thus far given promise of success. American, Egyptian, and home-grown plants appear to be alike favoured by the soil and climate. The society has recently despatched two of its most expert members to the United States, where they will scientifically study the American systems of cotton culture. A company is being floated which will establish the first extensive plantations in the neighbourhocd of Erivan. There is here the promise of a new Russian industry of no little imDortance. In accordance with the bequest of a testator named Pitt, 60 loaves were distributed on Whit Sunday morn- ing to poor persons in the schools of St. Botolph, Bishopsgate-churchyard. The bequest dates back at least 200 years, and before the North London Railway Station in Bioad-stieet was built the loaves were given away in the garden of Mr. ElviD, surgeon, which occupied the site of a graveyard originally belonging to Bethlem Hospital. That hospital was established, but for a different purpose, many centuries ago, and Henry VIII., at the dissolution of the monasteries, gave it to the City of London, when it was converted into a hospital for lunatics, and it was removed to St. George's fields, Southwark, early in the present century. A monster demonstration in honour of the French Communists who fell in the Semaine Sanglante of May, 1871, was held on Sunday by the Socialist work- men known as 11 Possibilists" at the cemetery of Pere Lachaise. The red flag was unfurled, and several very incendiary speeches were delivered. One of the party, Citizen Brousse, after declaring that the bourgeois Republic was on its last legs, added that he knew for a fact that it intended to place itself under "a sword called General Boulanger." But he swore that, when- ever this plan was carried out, the Socialist workmen would fly into the streets, and, contesting the ground inch by inch, save the true Republic. The additional impost to be levied on imported coal threatens, an Odessa correspondent says, absolutely to destroy the trade in British coal in South Russia. Hawarden was in an unusually crowded state on Whit-Monday, The charming weather, and the im- proved means of access to the village, added to the fact that Mr. Gladstone was known to be at home, no doubt accounted for the large influx of visitors. Mr. Gladstone, looking exceedingly well, was seen only twice during the day, but was cordiaily cheered on both occasions. Mrs. Gladstone conducted a sale of work on the Rectory grounds in the afternoon in aid of the Sunday Schools. Mr. Gladstone's excellent physical condition may be judged from the fact that he has recommenced tree-chopping. Having felled a large decaying tree in the grounds of Hawarden Rec- tory, there was a continuous scramble among the ex™ cursionists to secure chips as mementoes of their visit. A strange revelation was made at an inquest at Chester on Monday, before Mr. John Tatlock, coroner. About the 16th of January, a widow lady, named Emma Jones, was thought to have disappeared from her home in Talbot-street, Chester. No public inquiries were set on foot, as she had before disappeared, but had even- tually reappeared. In regard to the last disappearance four months passed away, and although the door was found locked BO one attempted to obtain admission. On Whit Monday morning, however, Taomas Henshaw, railway manager, the lady's son, with the assistance of a carpenter, broke into the house, and there in bed lay his mother dead, her body being covered with the clothes. Her body was greatly decomposed, and it was clear that she had been lj ing there since the middle of January. Medical evidence was called to prove that there were no marks of violence upon the body, and the jury found a verdict of Found dead." The execution of Walter Wood, for the murder of his wife, Emma Wood, at Bury, on Feb. 17, took place within the precincts of Strangeways Gaol on Monday. The condemned man, having passed a fairly good night, rose at six o'clock in the morning and drank a cup of tea, refusing to take anything to eat. A few minutes before eight the executioner, Berry, was introduced into the cell, and pinioned Wood in the usual way. The procession to the scaffold consisted of the Under Sheriff, the Governor of the gaol, the chaplain, and two warders. The condemned man walked firmly. He repeated the responses in a very fervent voice. His last audible words were, Christ have mercy on my soul." Berry provided the long drop, and death was instantaneous. An inquest was subsequently held on the body, and the customary formal verdict returned. Her Majesty's second State Ball will take place at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday, July 6, and the second State Concert on Friday, July 15. A bill is about to be introduced in the Legislative Council of India to remove all doubts as to the legality of the rules issued by several of the canton- ment and municipal authorities prohibiting the killing of game at certain seasons. The Government will have power to extend the measure to such localities as it may choose. Theusuil Whit Monday procession of Sunday school s cholars connected with the Church of England took place at Manchester. The weather, though cold, was fortunately fine, and the procession was witnessed by a large crowd of persons. Each school was accom- panied by the clergy of the parish and church officers, and immense numbers of flags and banners were carried. It is estimated that nearly 20,000 scholars took part in the procession. The death took place, at Banchory, Aberdeenshire, on Sunday, of Major-General A. H. Lindsay, C.B., who bad arrived at his residence, Riverstone House, from London on Tuesday He served through the Indian Mutiny with Sir Colin Campbell, and was present at the seige of Delhi, where he was twice wounded, and at the capture of Lucknow. In the Afghan War of 1880 General Lindsay commanded the Royal Artillery in the Koorum Valley, being present at the capture of Peiwr. Deceased had the Indian Mutiny medal, with two clasps, and the Afghan medal. The Earl of Fife and Mr. Finlay, Q.O., M.P., were the guests of the Aberdeen Liberal Unionists at a dinner held in Aberdeen on Tuesday afternoon. Replying for The House of Lords," Lord Fife said that with regard to the question of the day, he could answer for their lordships that if they were ever called upon to give an opinion, they would give one of no uncertain sound, and would act with unfaltering courage. The Unionist cause was a cause of consistency and political morality it was one in which was involved not only the existence of the British Empire, but our very existence as a nation. Mr. Finlay, responding for The House of Commons," said that the struggle between the Unionists and Separatists had now passed into a struggle between order and anarchy. He thought the time had come for the House of Commons to insist that business should be done.