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THE MILLS OF THE GODS.
THE MILLS OF THE GODS. There's a pre verb as clear and true as the SUrI, No matter thvough life where we go, The truth is madel manifest to every one That the mills of the gods grind slow. A man may prove false to his honour and tiust, And think t'nLt the world does not know, But finds, when he's flying through hot country dust, i That the mill- of the gods grind slow. You may bribe and corrupt public men if inclined; Thac "ome have their price, we all know; In the end the immutable truth you will find That the mills of the godi grind slow. There are men who for gain our statutes defy, And of hLi e. pillered wealth make a show But they find when immured in prison to die, That the mills of the gods grind slow.
[No title]
lFlWM "LE FOLLET."] At last the weather bids fair to afford some opportunity to show the charming spring toilettes that have been long prepared for fine days, but would have looked very out of place during the cold and dreariness of the last few weeks. The colours are charming and in immense variety- many old friends having returned to favour, as well as a great number of new ones, or modern variations of such, having been introduced. The combination of materials is still in the ascendant, and some of the most fashionable are the greatest contrast-lace and velvet, semi-transparent materials with velvet or velveteen, for instance. The spring materials are very varied-the woollens very tine in texture and light in wear; those partly open work resembling lace or fine canvass, and others of rather open ground with groups of stripes in raised threads of various colours, being the favourites. All these are made up with silk or velveteen it is a good plan to have both, as they make a decided change in the dress, and may also accompany others. It is too early for washing materials to be much worn, but many are being made, and those we have already described will be found to be the leading styles. Foulards of all kinds, plain, crois6 twilled, striped, broche, and printed, will be much worn lace, ribbons, fancy galons, velvet ribbon, and bands of piece velvet, all being used for their adornment. Shot satin merveilleux will be ex- cessively fashionable, and are among the most attractive novelties of the season silver-grey and red, myrtle-green and red, sapphire blue and orange, blue and green (" drake's neck,") stone and green, are the leading shots at present. Some are trimmed with thread or cotton tulle th", colour of the dress, the amply draped upper skirt opening between the breadths over plisses of doubled tulle, a draperie of the same tulle on the bodice. The greatest variety reigns among bodices, both as to shape and ornament; they are often trimmed differently on the two sides—buttons on one side, a revers or a galon on the other they fasten on the cross, buttoning only below the bust, or are cut Nvith- a jacket buttoning on to a waistcoat; or, on the contrary, the waistcoat is replaced by a plastron buttoned outside the bodice then, again, others are made open over a plastron which has a seam down the centre, and no visible means of fastening; or corselets, with or without bracelets, are worn over these five cordelieres across the chest, rising to the shoulder, aul, suspending from thence, a. macaron of fine passementerie, with handsome tassels or elegant aiguilettes, are much liked for tight-fitting bodices." Fur thin figures the "corsage a la Vierye is much liked, it is gathered on the shoulder and at the waist—sometimes one front is crossed over the other this bodice is always com- pleted by a waistband, a sash, or a corselet. Another very becoming style for thin women is a draperv of some beaded tissue if the dress be of silk or "broche, of silk if the dress material be wool; the scarf begins at the left shoulder and crosses to iLe light hip, where it is drawn together under an agrafe of passementerie or a velvet bow; an extra width is joined to the scarf under this, and th pleats, widening with this addition, continue to the edge of the skirt, forming a quille. Of coarse, the quille belongs to the skirt, and the drapery to the bodice; but the perfect execution of this garniture demands that the two pieces are joined together, exactly under the ornament which fastens it on the hip. This drapery is very elegant m lace or gauze for ball dresses, and may be arranged also with a lace scarf; it is only suit- able to bodices with pointed waists or waistbands. Corselets will be very fashionably worn, and are epecially well suited to toilettes of unsubstantial material, which are apt to wear out or wrinkle at the seams round the waist. Velvet, velveteen, satin, silk, and such materials are used for corseletts; some of the newest are made like low bodices going over the shoulders, and open in point at the back and front. Dinner and other evening dresses are becoming more and more brilliant, and the added trains are generally worn by married ladies of all ages for any occasions at all ceremonies. Of these trains there are many varieties—enough to please all tastes; some are narrow, others very wide, round, or square, oval or in a shawl point; some lately made have been scalloped at the edge. One recently worn had three shawl points-the centre one much longer than the others; this was novel, but not much admired. A bride's train, a few days ago, received universal approbation; it was of cream velvet, cut in three scallops of moderate depth; between these a large fan of creme lace, a spray of flowers being placed on the point of each fan; the iace fans were, of course, arranged on the lining of the train, and the whole effect was novel and elegant. For shsrt skirts the informal mountings are much in favour some of the leading modistes, possessed of great taste and originality of idea, send out dozens of these, without any two being exactly alike. The foundation so universally adopted, instead of lining a dress, as was the ancient custom, lends itself very readily to these croUiiisv's uf pleats, as a few hidden stitches serve to draw the lower parts of the pleats in quite it directions from those taken by their mountings at the waist. As to colours, the faded or efface tints are quite fashionable, but more decided colours are appear- ing, and in consequence toilettes gain in-brilliancy. The blending of two shades of the same scale of colour in different materials-is very effective for instance, old rose with red brown or greant, and turquoise blue with blue de FranceThe note eleqanU for evening dresses is heliotrope, the real colour of the flower blended with pale pmk or will be very fashionably worn for evening and dav dresses in silken or thin materials. T Nntles of the season are very elegant;- thev mostly have short, close-fitting backhand Inner <7opts square, rounded, pointed, or drawn tnaSther" to form a tassel, ending m a fringe, full frill o' e or handsome glands of passementerie the s'-vves' are dolman or visite shape, or a wide -inn" on the arm like a pelennfe, and made Ju i„ v -hp np\v piece passementerie. Many are ^ro"bi^k &lyf lined with lace and the ore i test uoveltv in their trimming is the wooden Fet iai^-h •" this material is manufactured into £ orn'« :iuin?. shells, fancy seeds fringes of bwK ali" varieties of trimming", either by itself or as ornaments to galons. +1,^ „ The bonnets of the day are charming, they are sma i, v/iu! high fronts and open backs; the difference from those of the preceding months is in materials and trimmings. The Srna^.W; are put on a stand upright -at present -or^'st principally of feathers, head orna- a„ch as birds, wings, butterflies holding bnnr-1 of bows of ribbon, generally velvet with on? V- and lined with satin. En attendant, the spring3flowers, gold, and steel are much used in A ornaments. Bonnet strings are a matter oi' taste and age when worn, the ends are quite shnrt, *nd many young women leave them So-i?1 o^theS1most elegant Paris bonnets for full s^vear consist of a trellis work crown and brim of beads these may be trimmed with either velvet ribbons feathers, or flowers, and are made in several colours if to as the trimmings may be llldefimtely. altered to suit the toilette.
[No title]
The sto'y of mankind in all ages is told in this little aphorism, attributed to a Georgia darkey- 'A man that can make a libin' playin' the fiddle ain't ap' to pester de hoe handle." Ah, Dudley, I understand you are to be con- gratulated.' Is the fair one pretty?" "No, can't say she is." "Good figure?" "Yes, 'bout a million." Then you don't believe that love is blind V "No, I don't." "How does that come?" "Well, sir, I never knew a young woman to fall in love with a man who dyed his whiskers." Reciprocity is all very well in its way, but when it comes to your wife wanting you to reciprocate a pair of fifty cent braces with a fifty dollar ring, you've got to brace up and figure out just where the reciprocity hits you on a sore spot. When Sydney Smith was informed that his daughter's marriage was announced in the London papers under the heading of "Fashionable Intelli- gence," he exclaimed, with a merry twinkle in his eye, How absurd Why, we pay our bills V. An obedient footman tripped on the top stair and shot the contents of the tea-tray down to the ground floor. "Now then, John!" shouted the master, have you smashed up the whole lot ?" Not quite, sir, but I will in a moment!" If you want to please a man just slap him on the back after he has delivered himself of some com- mon-place observation and say, What a cynic you are Unless he is very much unlike the rest of mankind, you can borrow £ o from him right off with impunity. Ob, mamma, you'd be surprised to know how stupid Bessie Barton is She took me in to what she said was the apiary. What do you think I saw there?" "I don't know, dear." "Why nothing but a lot of beehives. There were no apes there not even a monkey." Thomas, the new footman, upset a splendid porcelain figure. At the noise his mistress came running into the room, and exclaimed, when she saw the broken bits on the floor—"Dear me my old Sevres statuette Thomas gave a sigh of re- lief, adding What a fright I had, I thought it was a new one A FIVE-LEGGED HoRSE.-OsearWilley,of Daven- port. Iowa, is the.possessor of a horse of excellent build and good gait, with five legs, and every time it is shod five boots are required. The horse is six years old,and was raised on a farm near Moine, Illinois. It runs as well as a four-legged animal, and to all appearances finds no inconvenience in using the fifth member.-Omaha Bee. Two poor students eke out a scanty subsistence by giving private lessons. The first of the month is already past, which gives rise to the following conversation-" Have you been paid by your pupil ?" "Not yet, I am sorry to say. But what's to be done ? I cannot very well dun his father." Ah but you should do as I do. When the first of the month arrives, and my pupil apparently forgotten to bring the fee for the French lessons I am giving him, I simply get him to translate the following sentences as practice—'The month is past, I have no money. Have you any money ? I want some. Why have you not brought the money? Has your father not given you the money ? The teacher asked me if I had brought the money,' &e. The pupil never fails to produce the fee at the next lesson." A friend was dining with Dickens and Forster once, and after dinner acceded to a request of the novelist, who became, as was not unusual with him, very restless to stroll out and see a little life. Dickens took his companions into all sorts of strange places and queer haunts peopled by the originals of those many quaint minor characters who appear as supers in his works. Every one seemed to recognize in Dickens a kindred soul, and was ready to pass the time of day or ex- change some characteristic remark with him. The repetition of these calls had a naturally enlivening effect on the callers. Finally it became time t8 go home. Before doing so, how- ever, Dickens suggested oysters and stout. The suggestion was cordially received, and the trio adjourned to an oyster shop. Dickens paid for his dissipation with a sovereign, but took up, in- stead of the change, a pat of fresh butter and slipped it quite contentedly into his trousers pocket. Not until they were seated in the drawing-room with the ladies did the dark grey line running down one leg of his light continu- ations like a regimental stripe betray the secret deposit. The yielding butter had melted at the touch of one of the warmest and most generous of men. An incident worthy of being noticed, but not of so serious a nature as many others which have resulted from the same cause, took place in a parish in Peeblesshire, within the last few years. The schoolmaster, an ancient votary of Bacchus, was observed one day, after holding jubilee .on what he termed the great and glorious reduction of duty upon whiskey," to approach a farmhouse, as he plodded his weary way homeward. The good people, who had seen him come in sight, thought the time long before he passed the door, and at last they went out for the purpose of ascertaining what had become of him. The first object that presented itself was the person of the identical instructor of youth lying prostrate under an ever-running spout that supplied the family with water while a duck, scared thence by his fall, was squalling. "Quack! quack I" most obstreperously upon the top of an adjoining dung- hill. The clamour of the duck and the gushing of the little cataract were, it would appear,'mis- taken by the hapless pedagogue-the one for the voice of a companion urging him to longer draughts, and the other for the actual outpouring of the liquor offered, for he held on remonstrat- ing, "No more, I thank you, sir," with the utmost eagerness, till relieved by the bystanders from his ludicrous situation. A traveller stopping over night with a Texan A traveller stopping over night with a Texan farmer whose estate was miles and miles in extent, said to him, You must have begun life very early to accumulate such an estate as this." Yes," replied the farmer, "I began life when I was a mere baby." When Sir Robert Walpole offered the Lord Chancellorship to Lord Chief Justice Hardwicke, that prudent lawyer declined to accept an office wht>se tenure was so precarious. "Well, my Lord," said Walpole, "if you persist in refusing the Great Seal, I have resolved on offering it to Mr Fazakerly. Fazakerly !•" exclaimed Lord Hardwicke, his jealousy alarmed. Fazakerly I Are you aware, Sir Robert, that he is an avowed Tory, and for ought [ know a confirmed Jacobite ?" Likely enough," replied Walpole, coolly, laying his watch on the table; "but if by one o'clock you have -not accepted my offer, by two Faza- kerly shall be Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, and one of the staunchest Whigs in England This at once decided the matter, and the minister gained his point. Walpole knew his man, and played his cards accordingly. So did a certain physician when that staunch Tory, Bishop Phil- potts, of Exeter, was under his treatment. He recommended his patient to take brandy in small quantities, at regular intervals, But I don't like brandy," said the bishop. True, my Lord," replied the doctor. I daresay your lordship has -dI disliked many of the mediciries I have prescribed, but I hope you have taken them ?" I have taken your medicines, but I will not take your brandy," responded the obdurate patient. Per- sistent, though polite, the physician declared it was his professional duty to urge him to follow his instructions but all the ans wer he got was I tell you I won't take your brandy But, my Lord, remember your duty to your diocese, your wife, your family," urged the doctor. "I tell you I won't touch your brandy," firmly replied the bishop". Then, my Lord," was the reply, I have only to ask whether your lordship has made arrangements for departure from this world, for I am convinced that without you take brandy, your lordship must die." I am prepared to die, but I won't touch your brandy," was the obdurate reply. The physician walked gently to the head of the bed, and whispered in the bishop's ear,— Need I remind your lordship that Earl Bussell i is in office ?" The bishop sprang.up with a gentle II twinkle in his eyes, and exclaimed—" So he is Doctor, fetch the brandy; I'll drink a quart if I necessary!" And the See of Exeter was saved ¡ from being at the Whig Minister's disposal I
THE IRISH LAND BILL.
THE IRISH LAND BILL. We have received a copy of the Sale and Pur- chase of Land (Ireland) Bill, which was issued on Thursday. It is backed by Mr Gladstone, Mr Secretary Childers, Mr John Morley, and the Attorney-General. The bill is a lengthy one, con- sisting of 26 pages, and it consists of fifty-three clauses. The following is the text of its most im- portant clauses. The first clause defines this Act as The Land (Ireland) Act, 1886." Clause 2 is as follows :-On and after the appointed and within the time limited by this Act, the immediate landlord of any tenanted estate in Ireland to which this Act applies may apply to .the State authority to buy such tenanted estate at the statutory price, and the State authority shall cause his application to be registered, and the applica- tions so made shall be dealt with according to priority of time. In the event of the purchase of the estate from the landlord being completed, the tenants of the several holdings of which such estate consists shall, except as in this Act men- tioned, become, as soon as may be in manner in this Act mentioned, the owners in fee simple of their holdings for such consideration as is in this Act mentioned, and where the tenants do not be- come the owners of their holdings under this Act, the State authority shall become the owner thereof, and dispose of the same in such manner as the State authority may think fit. Clause 3.—The statutory price of an estate shall be measured by the amount of the net rent of the estate. The net rent of an estate equals thb gross rent of the estate after deducting fro'm that rent the tithe rent charge, if any, payable to the Land Commission, and the average percentage for ex- penses in respect of bad debts, rates, or cess allowed or paid by the landlord, management, repairs, and other like outgoings, if any. Tithe rent charge shall be ascertained by the books of the Land Commission, and the average percentage for such expenses as aforesaid shall be ascertained, in the case of each estate, by taking the average percentage on the rent for the time being of such estate to which such expenses have amounted, during each of the ten years immediately preced- ing the last gale day in the year 1885, as ascer- tained by inspection of the rent rolls and books of the estate, and by other evidence if neccessary. Clause 4.—The amount of the statutory price of an estate shall, except as in this Act mentioned, be equal to twenty times the rent roll of the estate ascertained as aforesaid, and such price shall, sub- ject to such option on the part of the person en- titled to receive the same of taking other an- nuities or debentures as is in this Act mentioned, be paid by Three per Cent. Perpetual Annuities, issued under this Act at par. There shall be added to the statutory price of an estate a sum equal to the amount of any such arrears of rent coming due after the last gale day, in the year 1885, and before the date of purchase, as the Land Commission may certify that the landlord has duly endeavoured, but has been unable to collect, and such sum shall, subject to the said option, be paid in permanent annuities to the person entitled to such arrears of rent. Clause 5.—The consideration payable by a tenant for his acquisition of the fee simple of his holding shall be the payment to the State autho- rity of a capital sum equal to twenty times the amount of the gross rent of the holding, and such sum may either be paid down in whole or in part, or may be paid by an annuity during a period of forty-nine years, equal to four per cent. per annum on such capital sum, or so much thereof as is not so paid down, but such annuity may be at any time redeemed as in this Act men- tioned. Provided that where the landlord is legally liable to pay for any repairs, or pays any county cess, or the whole of the poor rate in res- pect of a holding, the average annual amount of such poor rate during the ten years next pre- ceding the last gale day in the year 1885 shall be deducted from the gross rent of the holding in calculating the consideration payable by a tenant in pursuance of this section. PROCEDURE ON SALE OF ESTATE. Clause 6.-The application by an immediate landlord desirous of selling his estate to the State authority shall be made in the prescribed manner to that authority, who shall forthwith refer the application to the Land Commission. The Land Commission, on the applicant giving the prescribed security for costs, shall satisfy themselves as to his being autliorised to make such application ac- cording to this Act. The Land Commission, if satisfied that the applicant is authorised to make the application, shall fix the price of the estate. Where the landlord and State authority have agreed on the price the Land Com- mission shall fix that price as the price of the estate, if satisfied that it does not exceed tie statutory price. In the absence of such agree- ment, the Land Commission shall ascertain the statutory price, and notify the same to the land- lord and the State authority. If the landlord on receiving such notification does not accept the price, he may within the prescribed time withdraw his application on payment of such sum for costs as the Land Commission may order but other- wise the Land Commission shall fix the price so notified as the price of the estate. As soon as the price is fixed the Land Commission shall in the prescribed manner cause to be carried to the account of the estate the amount of such price, after deducting 1 per cent of such price for the costs of purchase and distribution,and the amount so carried to the account of the estate is hereafter referred as to the purchase money. Clause 7 says:—The distribution of the purchase money shall be effected by the transfer or appro- priation, in the prescribed manner, to or in trust for the person entitled to the same or any part thereof, of a sum of three per cent perpetual annu- ities, at par, equal to the amount to which such person is entitled, subject to the option in this act mentioned of taking other perpetual annuities, or debentures, or cash, and such distribution shall be made without cost to the persons so entitled, and a reasonable sum for costs may be allowed by the Land Commission to such persons for proving their title upon such distribution, and may De paid as part of the costs of the Land Commission. Clause 12 enacts that where the tenants of any estate proposed for sale under this act have been accustomed, whether of right or as incident to their tenancies, or by permission, to exercise or enjoy any right or privilege of turbary, common pasturage, taking seaweed, or other right or pri- vilege, the State authority may refuse to purchase that estate, unless such arrangements are made as satisfy the Land Commission that the tenants will enjoy the same right or privilege. Where the landlord of any -tenanted estate proposed to be sold under this act possesses any bog in the neigh- bourhood of such estate, the landlord may, and if the State authority so require, also sell such bog to the State authority, and this act shall apply to such bog as if it were part of the tenanted estate Clause 15 says Where it appears to the Land Commission that by reason of the character or im- poverished condition of any estate, or the tenants thereof, the statutory price as ascertained under this Act is higher than the market value of the estate, where for any other reason it appears to the Land Commission that it is inequitable that the State authority should be required to buy I an eatate at the prices ascertained under this Act, the Land Commission may make a declaration to that effect, and thereupon the State authority shall not be required to purchase the same unless the land- lord accept any lower price which the Lan £ CornC mission declare to be equitable. Clause 16 enacts whereas in exceptional cases it may be just that the statutory price paid for an estate should be more than twenty times the net rent of the estate as ascertained in manner pro- vided by this Act, be it enacted that where it appears to the Land Commission that from the exceptionally good condition of an estate, or from the exceptional prosperity of the tenants, or from any other exceptional circumstance, the statutory price of twenty times the net rent would be an insufficient price, the Land Commission may award as the statutory price of such an estate a sum not exceeding twenty-two times the net rent of the estate, as ascertained in manner provided by this Act. Clause 18 says :-A tenant of a holding valued under the Acts relating to the valuation of rate- J able property in Ireland at an annual value not exceeding S4 a year may, on application to the Land Commission, express his dissent from such holding vesting in him in manner provided by this Act, and thereupon no such vesting shall take place, and the State authorities shall become the owners of such holding, and the provisions of this Act respecting the vesting of holdings in the State authority shall apply. Clause 19 enacts that the Land Commission, for the purposes of this Act, shall consist of the fol- lowing persons that is to say, if any vacancy takes place in the office of any such Commissioner her Majesty may, by warrant under her Royal Sign Manuel, appoint a fit person to fill the vacancy. The Commissioners, for the purpose of this Act, shall continue in office during the pleasure of her Majesty, and shall each be paid, out of the moneys carried to the Customs and Excise account under the Irish Government Act, 1886, such salaries as may be determined by the Treasury. Subject to any rules that may be made iu pur- suance of this Act any matter authorised to be done by this Act may be done by any one or two Commissioners but if any landlord, incumbrancer or other person; or the State authority, feels aggrieved by the decision of such Commissioner or Commissioners, such landlord, incumbrancer, person, or authority may have his case reheard before a Court consisting of not less than three Commissioners. Clause 20.-The Land Commission shall have such officers for the purpose of this Act, and with such salaries as the Treasury may assign. Such officers may be appointed and removed in such manner as may be provided by the regulations of the Treasury. The salaries of such officer and the expenses of the office of the Land Commission shall, so far as they are not otherwise provided for by the law, be paid out of moneys carried to the Customs and Exise account, under the Irish Government Act, 1886. Any officer attached to the Land Judges' branch of the Chancery Division of the High Court of Justice, or to the Court of either of the said judges, may with his consent be transferred to the office of the Land Commission, or discharge such duties under this Act as the Land Commission may assign to him, and in either case may be awarded such remuneration for his services as the Treasury may'determine. Clause 21.—The Land Commission shall be a Superior Court of Record, and shall for the pur- pose of this Act have, in addition to the powers already possessed by them, all powers vested in or exerciseable by the Land Judges, and may exercise such powers in relation to any person or matter within their jurisdiction. PART III.—FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS. Clause 25.-The Treasury shall from- time to time appoint a Receiver General of the public revenues of Ireland (in this Act referred to as the Irish Receiver-General), and such deputies or deputy to act under him in any part of Ireland as to the Treasury seem necessary for the execution of this Act. Such Receiver-General and deputies shall hold office as persons serving in an establish- ed capacity in the permanent civil service of the State, and shall be subject generally to the direc- tions of the Treasury, and shall be paid out of money provided by the Imperial Parliament such salaries as the Treasury from time to time assign. Clause 27 enacts there shall be paid to the Irish Receiver-General all sums collected by a col- lector in respect of any tax, duty, or impost im- posed or levied by or under the direction of the Irish Legislature for the public service in Ireland. Every action or legal proceeding by or against the Irish Receiver-General, or any of his deputies or deputy, shall, if either of the parties thereto so desire, be heard and determined by the Exchequer Division, or one of the judgesihereof. Clause 28 says:—The Irish Receiver-General shall apply all sums received by him-first, in paying all sums payable out of the moneys carried under the Irish Government Act, 1886, to the account therein called the Customs and Excise account: and secondly, in paying all sums directed by this Act to be paid out of the land revenues or out of moneys coming to the hands of such Receiver-General. The Receiver-General shall pay all sums which are not, or in his opinion are not likely to be required for making the above mentioned payments to the Irish Consolidated Fund. Clause 29.—There shall be issued 'and placed pt the disposal of the Land Commission for the pur- poses of this Act, in such manner and under such regulations as the Treasury from time to time make, such sums of permanent annuities as are from time to time required for the said purposes. [Then follows the issue of stock for fifty millions by M, Gladstone.] Clause 31 says :-for the purpose of this Act- I the Treasury may create 3 per cent. per annum permanent annuities and 2f per cent. per annum permanent annuities, and such annuities and all interest from time to time due thereon shall be charged on and be payable out of the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom, or out of the grow- ing produce thereof, at such times in each year as may be fixed by the Treasury. The said annuities shall be created by warrant from the Treasury to the Governor and Company of the Bank of England, directing them to inscribe in their books the amount of such annuities in the names directed by the warrant. The said annuities shall in man- ner directed by the warrant be consolidated with annuities at the same rate of interest, and pay- able at the same date, and shall be transferable in the said books in like manner as the annuities with which they are consolidated, and shall be subject to the enactments relating to those annui- ties, so far as consistent with the tenor of those enactments. Clause 32.-For the purpose of paying the in-. terest and sinking fund on the permanent annui- ties issued under this Act, which are in this Act referred to as the Land Purchase Debt, the Irish Receiver-General shall, out of moneys coming to his hands, pay to her Majesty's Paymaster General an annual sum of 4 percent, on the nominal capital amount of the Land Purchase Debt. Part V. contains the following provisions as to Estate 44.—For the purposes of this Act, "an estate" means any land which the Land Commission may by order declare to constitute an estate within the meaning of this Act. "Tenanted estate" means any estate in the occupation of tenants, including any part of such estate which, though temporarily unlet, is ordinarily let to tenants, including also any part of an estate let for the purposes of agist- ment or temporary depasturage. Town parks, houses in villages, and other houses which are held as part of or as incidental to any estate in the course of sale under this Act may be treated for the purposes of this Act as part of such estate. 45.—This Act shall not apply to -(I) any estate which is not in the main agricultural or pastoral in its character, or partly agrifu turd and partly pastoral; nor to (2) any estate which is within the limits of a town nor to (3) any estate or part of an estate which is demesne land, or is or forms part of a home farm, or is ordinarily occupied by a landlord nevertheless, such estate or part may on the request of the landlord be purchased by the State authority, if such authority think fit, at a price not exceeding the agricultural value thereof, and shall be vested in the State authority as owner thereof, and the proceedings of this Art with respect to the vesting of estates in the State authority shall apply accordingly. Where any holding let to be used wholly or mainly for the purposes of pasture, and valued under the Acts relating to the valuation of rateable property i n Ireland at an annual value of not less than fifty pounds, forms part of any estate proposed to be sold by the landlord, the landlord may, if he thinks fit, exclude such holding from the sale, and nevertheless require the State authority to purchase the remainder of hie estate. On th other hand,, if the landlord wishes to include any such holding in the sale of his estate, the State authority may, if they think it expedient to do so. refuse to purchase such holding. 46.—"The immediate landlord of a tenanted estate" means the person whatever his interest may be in the estate, who at the introduction of this Act into Parliament, that is to say, on the seventeenth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-six, was the immediate land- lord or person entitled as landlord, and not as agent or receiver, to receive the rents or take possession of the holdings on such estate, and that notwithstanding that a receiver has been appointed by a court, or a mortgagee, or otherwise. 47.-The option of sale conferred on the imme- diate landlord by this Act may be transferred by the immediate landlord to any other person by deed (ii- will, or, if not bequeathed, may pass by devolution on death, but, save as aforesaid, shall not bl transferred to any person by law or other- wise, without the voluntary act of the immediate landlo/d. Any person entitled to exercise an option derived from an immediate landlord in pursuance of this Act shall be deemed, for' the purpose of this Act, to be the immediate landlord. Suuject to rules under this Act, where the imme- diate landlord as defined by this Act of any estate himself pays rent in respect of such estate to a superior landlord, he shall, at the prescribed time, give notice to such superior landlord of bis inten- tion to exercise the optioi4 of sale, and if such superior landlord objects to the exercise thereof by the inferior landlord, the superior and inferior landlords may agree as to the terms on which they or one of them may exercise such option, or in the event of the disagreement the superior landlord may apply to the Land Commission to substitute him for the inferior landlord, and the Land Com- mission may substitute the superior landlord for the inferior landlord on the superior landlord purchasing the estate of the inferior landlord at such price as the Land Commission may think just and so if there are more superior landlords than one, each superior landlord may by agree- ment lie substituted for the next inferior landlord, or may purchase his interest in manner hereinbe- fore mentioned at a price to be determined by the Land Commission. Where there is a succession 01 landlords deriving title from one another, the earlier in such succession is deemed to be the su- perior of the next below in succession, and the next below in succession to be the inferior land- lord to the landlord next above. Subject to rules under tins Act, where the immediate landlord, on being applied to by a superior landlord to exer- cise the option of sale, refuses to do so, the land- lord aggrieved by such refusal may apply to the Land Commission, and if it appears to such Com- mission that by reason of the smaJlness of the interest possessed by the immediate landlord, orfor any just cause, it is inequitable that the immediate landlord should refuse to exer- cise his option, the Land Commission may substitute the landlord so applying for the immediate landlord, on his paying, or undertaking to pay, out of the purchase money, to the immediate landlord, such sum, if any, as to the Land Commission may seem just. Where in the case of an estate sold under this act the gross rent received by a superior landlord from any inferior landlord under a lease granted to such inferior landlord is or will when appor- tioned be less than one fifth part of the gross rent of the estate sold under this Act, and the interest of such inferior landlord in the estate is equal to or more than one hundred years in duration at the time of the sale, such rent shall be deemed to be a chief rent, and such superior landlord shall be dealt with as a person entitled to a chief rent, and not as a landlord. Subject to the prescribed regulations, where there is a tenanted estate the ultimate reversion of which belongs to one owner, but parcels of which are divided amongst divers immediate landlords, the State authority may, on the application of the several landlords entitled to exercise a landlord's option, purchase the whole of such estate, and the sale shall b conducted by such persons as the immediate landlords may agree upon, or may in the event of dispute be determined by the Land Committee. Any question which may arise as to whether a person is a landlord or immediate landlord within the meaning of this Act, or with respect to the land- lord entitled to exercise the option of sale under this Act, shall be determined by the Land Com- mission. 48.-A landlord shall not be entitled to make an application for the sale of his estate under this Act after the thirty-first day of March, One rrhousand Eight Hundred and Ninety, and any such application if made shall not be entertained by the State authority. The priority of applications made to the State authority on the same day shall be determined by lot in the prescribed manner. The remainder of the Bill deals with definitions.
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THE COMMISSION ON THE DEPRESSION OF TRADE.—The Royal Commission on the Depres- sion of Trade and Industry has issued a second report, from which we take the followingSir James Caird, senior Land Commissioner for England, gave evidence as to the result of his in- quiries into the loss sustained in recent years by landowners and farmers. As compared with ten years ago, he said the figures showed on an aver- age that the landlords had lost 30 per cent., the tenants 60 per cent., and the labourers 10 per cent., and putting that into figures it brought out that on £ 65,000,000 of rental for the United Kingdom the landlords' loss of 30 per cent. would be equal co about £ i0,000,000 and the tenants 60 per cent., inasmuch as their income might be taken at half the rental would bejust the same, that was to say 60 per cent on half the rental was also £ 29,000,000. With regard to the labourers there was a difficulty in estimating the amount of re- duction but, taking the broad view of it, it could not be regarded as accurate, he thought it ap- proximated to it-he estimated the labour expen- diture at £ 28,000,000, and 10 per cent. reduction upon that would be £ 2,800,000. The total loss to the landed interest in spendable inoome for last year came out in that way to £ 42,800,000. Lord Iddesleigh asked if witness supposed that the depression in agriculture had been greater in degree than that of other British interests of great magnitude. Sir J. Caird replied 1 am speaking before gentlemen who are very much better informed upon that question than I am, and I can only venture to offer a calculation which has been made by a gentleman who placed it before me, and which shows that whilst the fall of price in all. kinds of food up to 1885, was 25 per cent., the fall in iron, copper, tin, lead, and coals was 35 per cent.; in textiles, cotton, flax, hemp, wool, and silk, 32 per cent.; in sundry materials, hides, leather, indigo, and other things, 26 per cent.; and therefore it could appear that many of those great British interests are suffering from the fall of price quite as much as the agricultural inte- rests." Replying to further questions Sir J. Caird said:—" I think the best wheat lands in the country, if the rent was re-arranged could grow wheat with a profit even at.36s a quarter. With regard to the other kinds of corn, barley, and oats, the fall has been comparatively very little as compared with the fall in the price of wheat and accordingly, if you look at the average of the corn crops of this country, you will find that the fall in acreage has been, in wheat from 4,000,000 to 2,500,000 acres, whilst the fall in barley and in oats is very little indeed-not worth speaking of so little that you may say it is practically the same, especially in the case of oats oats have not fallen in price at all, and barley has fallen a little. That is quite in accordance with the fall in the price of the three different kinds of corn. Wheat has fallen in fifty years 34 per cent.; barley has fallen from 12 to 13 per cent.; and oats 9 per cent. I am speaking of that from an average of the preceding fifty years. I have taken the tithe prices, which go b&ck fifty years, looking back for that long period and taking the average prices which have been in existence for that time. Therefore it seems to me that the probability is that we may have a continued fall in the acreage of wheat down to something like 2,000,000 acres. But we shall have no fall worth speaking of in barley and oats and, I for my own part, I think it will be better for everybody that that should be the case, and that we should not then find it suddenly necessary to turn all our lands to grass because for some time there has been a series of heavy losses. A mixed husbandry, with a certain reduced proportion of wheat, and maintaining the old acreages of barley, oats, and green crops, will more equably employ the pesple, and, I think, will be found upon the whole remunerative." Mr Aird asked witness if he thought anything could be done in the present depressed state of the agricultural interest by the State in the shape of making advances or enabling advances to be made to the landlords and the tenants, so as to avoid throwing upon them the necessity, at such a time as this, of borrowing at very large rates of interest. Sir J. Caird said he had no doubt it would be beneficial to the land- lords. THE SOCIETIES AND AGRICULTURAL EXPERI- MENTS.—At Norwich, last week, an important paper on this subject was read by Mr Cooke before the County Chamber of Agriculture. And we have to announce an important pamphlet on the same subject by Sir T. D. Acland, Bart., M.P. To both of them we hope to refer at length next week. THE INDIAN WHEAT CROP.-SinCO the publica- tion of the first memorandum, prospects in the Punjaub have decidedly improved. The area of the sowings is now estimated at 6,700,000 acres. In the North-Western provinces and Oudh the December and January rains were beneficial to the wheat crop; the subsequent period has been favourable. Taking 100 to denote a full average crop, the condition of the wheat in the united provinces varies from 92 to 105. In the Central Provinces prospects have detoriated. In the Bombay Presidency the crop promises to be a full average one. In Central India and Bajputana the wheat crop continues to promise well. RENT REDUCTION.—At the half-yearly audit of the tenants on Lord Eldon's estate at Swanage, it was announced that, his lordship would make a reduction of 15 per cent. on the rents, owing to the continued depression in agricultural. Great activity is just now being displayed on the allot- ments recently made by his lordship. AGRICULTURAL DEPRESSION.—The Prussian Government has just determined to institute an official inquiry into the alleged grievances of the agricultural and landed interest, in order more especially to ascertain what foundation there may be for the complaint that the land is unduly burdened with taxation. If the result of the investigation should be to show that the complaints are well founded, and that the landed interest is really over-taxed, the Government will proceed to redress the grievance by reducing the burdens im- posed on land, and making up for any loss thus arising to the revenue by levying additional duties on commodities. RABIES IN SHEEP.—About a score of sheep have recently been bitten by. a mad dog at Litton, in Derbyshire, and several of the animals have died, showing unmistakeable evidences of being affected by hydrophobia. Some which were badly worried have recovered, and a representative of the Buxton Chronicle has written to M. Pasteur to know if the flesh of such sheep when killed and used as human food would convey rabies to persons partaking of it. M. Pasteur replied that it would be prudent to slaughter immediately all animals bitten by another rabid animal. The cooked flesh, however, of the rabid animals could not be dangerous. A CATALOGUE in Spanish has been issued of the implements to be^exhibited at the Buenos Ayres Agricultural Exhibition, by Messrs R. A. Lister and Co., Dursley. It contains a description of the various articles and testimonials in their favour from eminent authorities. There are also illustra- tions of some of Messrs Lister's well-kown mills, such as the Beaufort Hunt, the. Farmers' Stone Mill, chaff-cutters, oilcake breakers, dressing machines, &c. The catalogue is handsomely got up, and affords another indication of the enterprise of this firm.
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IF your Father is beginning to complain of the effects of Old Age, in impaired Digestion and weakened bodily powers, recommend him to try GWILYM EVANS' QUININE BITTERS. It has a wonderj ful effect. IF your Mother is not as strong as she used to be and complains of weakness and lassitude, and does not enjoy her meals, persuade her to try GWIL YM EVANS'S QUININE BITTERS. It will do her a. world of good IF your Husband has been worried or overworked, and has in consequence become ill, or cross, or rritable, get him to take a course of GWILYM EVAN QUININE BITTERS. It will pay you and ten times over, in additional Health, Comfort, and Wealth, Prices Bottles, 2s 9d, 4s 6d; cases of three large bottles, 12s 6d. Of all Chemists everywhere, or carriage paid at above prices, by parcels post, secure from observation, from the proprietor, Mr GWlLYM ETANS, F.C.&, Uanelly, South Wales.
THE HOME RlTLE BILL.
THE HOME RlTLE BILL. At a meeting at Merthyr Tydvil, last week, under the presidency of Mr Thomas Williams, J.P., of the Merthyr Liberal Association, Mr C. H. James, M.P., delivert-a a long address on the Irish proposals of Mr Gladstone. Believing that Mr Gladstone will be able to deal with the question in a way that no other man in or out of England can do, he had come to the determination to ao all he could to further the measures pro- posed (applause).—On the proposition of Mr Rhys Davies, seconded by Mr Dakin, resolutions expressing approval of Mr Gladstone's Irish measure was passed by a large majority, only two voting for an amendment. Mr A. J. Williams, M.P., wrote expressing his sympathy with the meeting, as one who will on behalf of Wales desire for the Irish the measure of justice which has too long been denied to them, and which will lift them from the condition of a servient race into the position of a self-governing people (cheers). The Hon. George Kenyon, M.P., addressing a large Primrose league picnic at Ruabon yesterday, said that at the present time, when a great Minister, whose vast ability everyone admired, but whose wisdom and discretion most pe-ple at this moment gravely doubted, was making a strong effort to dismember that empire which had taken many centuries of much ability and bloodshed to build up, they should all sink party feeling and meet on a common platform to oppose all who endeavoured to defraud them of their great heritage. By one united effort the suicidal scheme of the present Prime Minhter would soon be wrecked. MR CHAMBERLAIN'S ATTITUDE.—Mr Chamber- lain has addressed the following letter to the Rev J. V. Morgan, vicar of Uanryd yn, Monmouth, in acknowledgement of a letter expressing a hope that the right hon. gentleman wou'd not consent to join a coalition Governrn(-,iit: "Higbbury, Moor-Green, Birmingham, April 2wi ii. Dear Sir,- Mr Chamberlain desires me to hank you for your letter of the 16th inst. He cordially appreciates the spirit in which you have wriuen. You may rest assured that he will not take p*i t in any Tory coalition against Mr Gladst- vit will content himself with making clear his own position. Mr Chamberlain sincerely hopes thrit some com- promise may be arrived at, and tbv the Govern- ment will be willing to make modifications in their bill which will enable hirr: give it his support.—I am, yours truly, W. WOODINGS." HOME-RULB FOR SCOTLAND A X'D WALES A meeting of the Scottish Land Heform Alliance, lately the 1 armer s Alhanee, was held in Aber- deen on Saturday, at whici; \f: J^selmont M p delivered a speech dealing with the prospects'of land legislation. The chairm'in i' the alii anno declared that a Scottish Parimuienf. was the only medium through which Sc,t„na would get hZ legislative requirements attended to. He Iccord- lngly moved as a resolution, th d with a view of tue improbability of satisfactory *eucoh legislation b-mg done m the Imperial Parliament the alliance was ot opinion ths/scotch legislation shouldbl conducted in a house rf purely Scotch renrpspnt- atives, or m some such form as th =t. Considerable discussion followed, in the cr vi whict Mr f,vonr^fe^Uu,V-d U1- petition in iavour or the principle of Homo-t u!, Th« mntmn however in this form he nitir»>n>iv withdrew The president agreed to alter hi,, morion so as to in- clude the points of that of Mr M'Combip Tho motion was then put in the following Srms Ihat before proper measures -an be passed in settlement of the land question, this com- mittee is of opinion that Engkmi, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, while ret^uiog their share in the administration ul Imperial matters, should each have a miti- naJ !Vj iiament for administering its own h,ca] affairs." The pro- posal was carried. A aeputation was appointe" to wait on the Scottish S^reca.' v in Edinburgh fsr the purpose of urging that the Crofter's bill should be extended so as to apply to leaseholders and cottagers and to extend its provision over the whole of Scotland.