South Wales Daily News

WALES IN LOiNDON. [BY OUR LONDON WELSH CORRESPONDENT, j LONDON, Tuesday Night. The action of the Welsh members who forced on the all-night sitting on the Agricultural Rating Bill is bearing good fruit. A most cordial welcome was extended to Mr Lloyd George and Mr Herbert Lewis when they rose last night to inter- pose in the discussion of the Light Itailways Bill, and it is within my own knowledge that many of the Front Opposition Bench, men whose officialism compelled them to abstain from voting against their suspension, have since then extended to the Welsh members their congratulations on the stand they made, and on its effect both in the House and in the constituencies. I learn on the best authority that the mandate of the Welsh constituencies with regard to the revolutionary clauses of the Education Bill will be carried out to the furthest degree. Two or three Welsh members voted this afternoon for the adjournment of the House over the Derby, not from any love of the historic race or of horse racing, but as a protest against the general policy that now guides Government business, and particularly with regard to the Benefices Bill. Mr Herbert Roberts, for instance, explains that his vote in favour of the adjournment was intended as a protest against the action of the Government in exempting one day from Government business, with the deliberate object of enabling the Church party to pass the Benefices Bill. Mr Roberts had secured practically the first place on Wednesday for the Welsh Sunday Closing Bill and he strongly objected to such manipulation of Government time. Last night a meeting of the London Cardiganshire Welshmen was held in the Safe Deposit Rooms at Chancery-lane for the purpose of considering means for assist- ing the expenses of the College and town of Aberystwyth in connection with the approaching installation of the Prince of Wales as Chancellor of the Welsh Univer- sity. The chair was occupied by Mr Griffith Joney < (of the South Wales Circuit), rnd between 30 and 40 Cardiganshire men were present. The arrangements for the coming event were discussed at great length, and a London Welsh fund in aid was started, to which several substantial contributions were made by persons in the room. With the view of getting further assistance, and also of giving a start to a long talked-of movement, it was decided to have a Cardiganshire county dinner in London. This will be held on the 22nd instant at the Holborn Town Hall, when opportunity will be given for theextension of the subscription list in aid of the Aberystwyth fund. Mr Cpdwaladr Davies, one of the Stand- ing Counsel of the University of Wales, has been appointed Assistant Charity Comrnis- missioner to inquire into the charities of the county of Flint.

LOCAL LAW CASE. MORDKY. CARNEY, & Co., LIMITED V. OWNERS OF THE MARIA.—Yesterday (Tuesday) in the Admiralty Division of the High Court. Mr Justice Barnes, sitting with Trinity Master?, had before bim this claim of the plaintiffs, who are shipbuilders and repairers, carrying on a branch business at the Windsor Slipways and Engineering Works, Cardiff, for remuneration for salvage services rendered to the Datoh steamship Maria, her oargro, and freight on the 19bh of September last, and afterwards in the Bristol Channel. The case had not concluded wheu the'.Court rose.

GENERAL FORECASTS. The following forecasts wereprepared i«st nipht ai; the Meteorological Office at eight o'clock "Pit HTTixnTH— nHI.'1'RTn'l'l't- a a j w 1 Easterly breezes, veering to ?• w'"4 south -easterly cloudy I. Scotland, rain ab time8> y South-eamberly and southerly winds changeable some rain probably thunder in places. South westerly to south- I easterly breezes, light; 3. England,E. V very changeable; some I rain occasionally; probably J thunder. 4. Mid. Counties. -Same as No. 2. 7' sooth-eaeterty .fSSthwij I™ light N°-5- 10. Ireland, ABERYSTWYTH, Tuesday Evening. Baro- meter, 29 730, steady thermometer, 68'4 in shade; wind, S.S.VV. amount of sunshine registered by Jordan's recorder for the 24 hours preceding 9.0 8 hours 10 minnteB. Overcast and warm showery midday rainfall, 0 03 inch afternoon brighter sea. calm.

TURKEY AND ITS CHRISTIAN SUBJECTS. IDLE PROMISES OF REFORM. STURDY MACEDONIAN MANIFESTO. SOFIA, Tuesday. — The Macedonia Central Committee has just issued a strongly-worded manifesto to all the Macedonian societies. At the head of the Central Committee is; the well- known General of the Reserve Nikolajew, an upright resolute man, who is believed to be thoroughly in earnest. The following para- graphs of the manifesto are worthy of note: — The Sultan's reform irade has been published and every man can con- vince himself of the futility of reforms therein promised apart from the universal conviction that even these threadbare reforms will never be carried out, or eventually at best only after many years. We must note that since the Shatti Sharif of 1839, amoog the numerous firmans and irades full of promises, not one of them has contained less than what is now offered by the Sultan. This fact iill sufficient to prove that the whole comedy of reform is a barbarous mockery of the afflictions of the Christian population of Turkey, and of their defenoeless- ness so far as the law is concerned." • In conclusion the general declaration is made in the name of the committee that the attain- ment of reforms by peaceful means is no longer to be reckoned upon, and that the committee will concentrate all their energies to obtain for the inhabitants of Macedonia and of the Vilayet of Adrianople a real political autonomy on the basis of the reform scheme elaborated by the committee.—Renter.

The Press Association understands that a deputation consisting of friends of peace con- nected with various religious and social organisations will wait on Mr Pulitzer, editor of the New York World, on Friday next for the purpose of thanking him for the noble manner in which his newspaper upheld the cause of peace and friendly relationship with Great Britain during the reoent crisis on the Venezuelan affairs between the United States and this country. Mr Pulitzer is staying in Londoaior » short holiday L

THE NILE EXPEDITION. lit PLAN OF CAMPAIGN. AN ADVANCE CONTEM- PLATED. A STARTLING REPORT. 8,000 BRITISH TROOPS TO BE ENGAGED. The Press Association is enabled to state that when the Egyptian force is mobilised at Akasheb the Dervishes at Mograkeh and Suba will be attacked, in order that the railway extension to Feikeh may be effected. A few native boats will, if at all possible, be placed on the reach from Mograkeh to Abu Fatmeh. When the Nile rises at the end of July, a number of stern-wheel armed steamers will be taken over the cataracts to Hannek, to be used in the reach from thence to Barkal-240 milesof open water. The final advance up the river will be continued beyond the latter point to Abu Hamed, from which as a base an advance will be made on Berber in concert with that of the column of British and Indian troops from Suakim. It M, however, expected the latter movement will not be carried out until late in August or early in September. According to information received the impression prevails at the headquarters in London thst owing to want of provisions and ammunition the Dervishes will offer but a. feeble opposition to the expedition, especially as regards Dongola. A STARTLING REPORT. The London correspondent of the Leeds Mercury says:—I learned last night on good authority that intimation has been received at Aldershot that 5,400 men will be required for service in Egypt in September. This is the manner of the order at present, but I understand that it is probable that these men will be oalled upon chiefly to relieve the garrisons at Malta, Gibraltar, &c., troops being drawn from these places for actual service in the Soudan. I am further informed that about 8,000 British troops will be employed in the campaign in the autumn.

THE VENEZUELAN DISPUTE. AMERICAN COMMISSION'S WORK DELAYED. WASHINGTON, Tuesday. --Judge Brewer, of the Supreme Court, president of the Venezuelan Commission, said this morning :—The Commission has been delayed in its work by the failure of the Venezuelan Government to present their case. We have been waiting for information that Venezuela bad promised to supply. We have also been expecting a second edition of the Blue Book issued on the subject by the British Government. Pending the arrival of the Vene- zuelan case we are unable to do anything. The Venezuelan Minister has promised us that a portion of the Venezuelan document will arrive here this week, and that by next week the complete case will be in our hands. Until these documents arrive we cannot tell whether the Commission will continue to hold its meetings here or whether it may be possible to transfer them to a cooler place. It 1 impossible to -iav when our decision will be rendered.—Daiziel.

MUSWELL HILL TRAGEDY. APPLICATION FOR THE LANTERN. At Bow-street on Tuesday Mrs Miller, of 41, Cirencester street, Harrow road, summoned the Commissioner of Police to deliver up to her a small lantern. Detective Sergeant Stockby produced the lantern which formed a most important clue in the detection of Fowler and Millsom. It was stated that the artiole was the property of the applicant's son, and that the applicant hoped to dispose of it. Mr Vaughan declined to make any order for its delivery.

ELECTION INTELLIGENCE. POLLING AT FROME. Polling to fill the vacancy in the Frome Divi- sion, canned by the acoesnion of Lord Weymouth to the Peerage, took place on Tuesday, the 1 candidates being Lord Alexander Thynne, Unionist, brother of the ex-member, and Mr J. Emmott Barlow, Liberal, who represented the constituency in the last Parliament. The division is a scattered one, with 11,633 electors, of whom some 2,000 are out-voters. The voting proceeded briskly throughout the morniug, and the poll, which is expected to prove a heavy one, will be declared to-day (Wednesday). Both sides were well provided with vehicles, the Unionists having the larger supply. Mr Barlow has reoeived the mining vote in the colliery districts, of which Radstook is the centre. while the Unionists obtained the support of the Bath freeholders and the out voters. THE CONTEST AT WICK. Polling at Wick opened on Tuesday morning in pleasant weather, and proceeded quietly and with an absence of excitement. Both candidates (Mr Smith, the Liberal Unionist, and Mr Hfdderwick, Liberal) were in the town, and were busily engaged with their respective committees. There was a greater display of colours than at any previous contest, and canvassers worked hard to bring up voters. Each side expresses confidence as to the result.

POLITICAL ITEMS. Lord Salisbury, who went to Hatfield on Mon- day evening, returned to town about noon on Tuesday, and was engaged for some time in con- ference at 10, Downing-street with some of his Cabinet colleagues. Lord George Hamilton and Mr Balfour were present, In the division on Tuesday evening upon Mr Muntz's motion for the adjournment of the House of Commons over Derby Day, which was rejected by 199 to 58, the voting was of a decidedly mixed character, and not at all upon party lines. The minority, on whose behalf Mr Muntz and Major Rasch acted as tellers, included Mr Akers- Douglas, Mr Chapiin, Mr Curzon, Mr Collings, and several other members of the Government, Lord Arthur Hill, Lord Stanley, Mr Anstruther, Sir George Russell, Mr J. W. Maclure, Messrs W. W. Beach, Cohen, Disraeli, Husband, Mi Id may, Staveley Hill, Gibson Bowles, and other Unionists, several Radioal members, including Mr Labouchere and Mr Pickard, also a number of the Nationalist members, including Mr Michael Davitt, Mr T. Curran, Mr Kilbride, and Mr Michael Austin. The majority included Mr Chamberlain, Sir Richard Webster, and several other members of the Government, a large number of Unionists. 1 ■» ■ n! TT 3 "tT.J.. O. including oir auwaiu ▼ uwom,, oir x tiomas Lea Sir G. Baden-Powell, Mr Coghill, Sir wl Houldsworth, Sir James Fergusson, Col. Brookfield, Lord Warkworth, Sir John Mowbray, Sir C. Gull, Mr Loder, Mr Trittou, Sir J. Colomb, also a number of Liberal members including Mr John Morley, Sir Henry Fowler] Sir Wilfrid Lawson, Mr Channing, Mr Luttrell. Sir C. Dilke, Mr Lloyd George, Mr Herbert Roberts, Mr Lough, Mr Oldroyd, Mr Yoxall, Ac, The London Standard (Tory) eays ;_An im. pression exists in some quarters of the House that if the Government find it impracticable to carry the Education Bill in its present form within a reasonable period, they will hold over the provisions constituting the new Edu- cation Authority until another Session. This would greatly simplify the passing of the Bill, while it would not affect the more immediate object of the measure, which is to give financial assistance to the Voluntary schools. It is certain, however, that no decision of the sort has yet been taken, aud no official coaotenance is given to the rnmour.

THE MOSCOW TRAGEDY a TERRIBLE SCENES. FURTHER PATHETIC INCIDENTS. The special correspondent of the Daily Telegraph contributes the following graphic narrative of scenes be witnessed on Monday The curtain has fallen upon the tetrible tragedy of the Khodynski Plain. It was a weird drama. comprising so many terrible scenes that, looking back upon it in all its sweeping, sudden awful- ness, it rises before the mind asa horrible dream —a nightmare of blood and blackened corpses, and the harrowing wail of the bereaved peasants. To-day 1.352 corpses have been laid at rest in the graves and deep trenches at the far end of the Wagaukovsky Burial Ground. Before going there I had passed over the entire scene where the catastrophe took place. Even now there remain around those booths, which the working men are fast removing in preparation for the coming review, gloomy traces of THE AWFUL DEATH STatlCMJLE. On the sides of the booths winch contained" tbe food and drink that were to have been given to the people are visible marks of the hands of victims trymg to save themselves, and in some cases of feet which, vainly or not, sought to scale the structure. Much of the ground is blood. stained, and there are other even more terrible evidences of that fearful battle for life. Most impressive of all perhaps are great holes in the field, where numbers of people were sleeping when the crowd rushed upon them. Near these also were two wells that had been protected with only rotten boards, and about these I found groups of people all talking at once. It seems that 70 victims fell into one of these wells. Further on I met A GIANT OF A MOUJIK, who recounted to me how by his vast strength he forced himself free after having been knocked down and he showed me how horribly the dying bit him in the struggle. In the churchyard all had changed from yesterday. The sight to-day was most re- markable. An unprepared visitor might have imagined that, some extensive railway cutting was being actively pushed forward. There must have been a thousand men at work. They bad out ten huge drenches, in each of which over a hundred coffins were laid side by side. These trenches were 9ft. deep, and some had already been filled with those frail shell coverings, in which even nails were not used, for they were fastened together with slight wooden pegs, and the moujiks were busy throwing the sand upon them, now and again trampling it down with their feet. While I stayed by another trench A PATHETIC INCIDENT OCCURRED. The white coffins stood out in line touching one another the SpacA was nearly full—with room perhaps for two or three bodies more-before the common grave was closed up. All of a sudden a respectably. ctad woman, her eyes wild with excitement, and followed by all eager crowd, rushed to the inspector, near to whom I was standing, "ad caching hold of him by the arm, screampd. DOn't lec them bury him there let me take him home My husband my husband In truth she had arrived only ju,3b in time to save him from being interred in the great trench of the unrecognised. The poor woman had travelled from her village and pleaded that she might take the corpse home. In the end the body was bronght back, and to her intense relief she was provided with a tar-smearnd box in which to enclose the deal coffin, and given free conveyance to her rural home. In the upper part of the field and at the extreme lower end were large numbers of MOUNDS OF NEWLY-TURNED SAND, most of them marked with wooden erodes yet unpainted, and with the names of those who lay beneath roughly scrawled in lead pencil. Those were the graves of those who had friends in a position to be able to buy them the meagre plot beneath which they lay. On some were strange jars, pieces of wood of queer shapes, placed there as the emblems of certain mystic religious race- tributes to the dead, for it must be remembered that people of aiauy strange sects fell in that great crowd. On various graves were plates with simple peasant food, and on nearly all the freshly- plucked branches of the weeping willow. There were fewer scenes of great grief than on Sunday, but more than enough. A young girl was to be seen hysterically lamenting that she had LOST ALL HER RELATIVES, and would not be comforted; and a mother, a widow, wept for a son and two daughters who lay in three deal coffins at her feet. But the worst is known. The catastrophe was terrible, and the authorities have meb the strain of transporting and burying numbers of people in a manner above all praise. But while this is so the police are being blamed on every hand. These poor people have between their tears, whilst watching over their dead, asked me, in their simple way, to tell the world that their relatives would have been saved bad the police been there, and a sergeant of police whom I questioned had the courage to say that the police wero at fault, and that be is ASHAMED OF HIS UNIFORM. But fitting punishment will be meted out. The kind-hearted Tsar, who but so few daya ago entered into a compact with God to devote his life to protect and to love his people, and to be a father to them-for such is the real meaning of the coronation solemnity—has insisted that every detail of the disaster shall be told him. He notes every additional death. I may mention that there are 250 sorely wounded people in the hospitals. Yesterday his Imperial Majesty, in the old Catherine and other hospitals, spoke to each one of the sick—an act which has made a grateful impression upon the people. Between 3 and 4 o'clock this afternoon the Tsar and Tsaretsa visited the Marie Hospital, in which 69 of those injured in the disaster last Saturday have been received. Their Majesties were conducted over the building by the Governor-General, the Grand Duke Sergius, and the Grand Duchess, and the hospital offioials. They visited all the wards where the injured were lying, and spoke kindly words of -consolation to each of the sufferers. PARISIAN SYMPATHY. PARIS. Tuesday.-A,, the next meeting of the Paris Municipal Council a proposal will be submitted to subscribe j3200 on behalf of the City of Paris towards the relief of the families of the victims of the disaster at Moscow.—Daleiel. QUEEN VICTORIA'S SYMPATHY. Moscow, Tuesday.—Sir Nicholas O'Conor to-day received a telegram from Queen Victoria requesting his Excellency to convey to the Czar officially expression of her deep sympathy and concern on account of the awful disaster at Moscow, and to state that her Majesty feels for the suffering and wouiaded.-ReuW.

THE TRUNK TRAGEDY. A MATTER FOR INQUIRY. PARIS, Tuesday.—There is reason to believe that Aubert, the man now in prison on a charge I of murdering young Delahave, whose body was found m a trunk near Cherbourg, is the person who attempted to murder a banker named Hanicotte at Mons, ,in Belgium some time ago. A Paris detective baa left for Mons to make inquiries. -Dazliel..

ALLEGED FRAUD AND ESPIONAGE. CHARGE AGAINST A WELL-KNOWN PARISIAN, PARIS, Tuesday.—M. Bril, a prominent leader among the students of the Latin Quarter, has just been arrested on charges of fraud and espionage. M. Bril was president of the Com- mittee of students which organised the Mid-Lent Carnival procession, and he was decorated by the Minister of Public Instruction for servioea ren- dered in this capacity. He was also editor of the students' paper, Quartier Latin. Theoharge of fraud is based on an assertion that he increased theamount of the bill of the firm who printed the pages and put the difference in his own pocket. With regard to the charge of espionage M. Bril, who is of German parentage, has been denounced guilty of keeping up treasonable correspondence with his compatriots, -Dajzie&

THE BEHRING SEA CLAIMS. N." YORK, Tuesday.-The New York Sun publishes a despatch from Washington Mating that the claims relating to damages for the seizure of Canadian sealers in the Behring Sea will undoubtedly be settled. The Sun says the pro- posal of the Behring Sea Convention will be signed on Wednesday. -(fetalal News,

A Renter's telegram says:—Torrential rains are reported in the North of Sardinia. At Sissari a house coUapsed owing to the foundations being undermined by water. Three persons were killed. Professor Sheldon. the well-known agricultural authority, was thrown from a dogcart, whilst driving on his farm at Sheen, near Leek Staff, on Monday. Besides the severe shook, be had three ribs broken, but it is understood that be ia mak- ogiavoarable progress,

BRYNMAWR EISTEDD- FOD. SECOND DAY. COLONEL WOOD ON MANLY RECREATIONS. IMPORTANT CHORAL AND BAND COMPETITIONS. (BY MAELGWTN.) The great Eisteddfod at Brynmawr was continued on Tuesday under somewhat mixed conditions. Rain fell slightly during the morning, but about 11 o'clock the weather was as beauti- fully fine as on the previous day. Notwith- standing the cheerless outlook in the morning, the interest in the proceedings of the Eisteddfod seemed to be much greater than on Monday. The streets were literally packed, and it was only with difficulty that one could move about. From the first there was a fairly good assembly in [ the Eisteddfod field, and the audienoe, it must be said, was much more enthusiastic than on the previous day. The prospects of a splendid struggle between some of the finest bands in Wales and of another big contest between the male voice choirs had drawn together crowds of people from all parts of Glamorganshire and Monmouthshire. Mrs Miles-Beynon, Mertbyr, opened the proceedings with an artistic interpretation of "Clychau Aberdyfi," as the Eisteddfod song, after which Gumos introduced to the audience Colonel Thomas Wood (the Conservative candi- date for Breconstiire at the General Election), the Hon. Mrs Wood, and Mr U. Venables Liewelyn, sou of Sir John T. D. Llewelyn, Penllergaer, and all were well received. Gurnos paid a high tribute to the sterling worth of Sir John, and his remarks were endorsed by the audience. In taking the presidential chair, Colonel Wood expressed the pleasure it gave him to be present there that day. His experience had been that th-3 town of Brynmawr never did things by halves. While other nations bad their recreations, no other country in the world had had a national institution of so refining a nature as the Eistedd. fod, (Applause.) He had travelled over at least one half the globe, and he had witnessed the recreations in which the peoples of various countries indulged. Some of these recrea- tions were ecjoyabie enough, but others certainly were not so. In these islands, where there were people of various temperaments, they had various kinds of recreation, and some of their friends across the border were on the morrow going to bold one of their great saturnahas-he meant on Epsom Downs-and while he was in no sense narrow-minded, yet he did not envy the people who went in for that kind of amusement. All the same, he would regret to see the day when the manly sports which were characteristic of the English nation should be discarded. (Applause.) Manly games, like foot. ball and cricket, should be encouraged in every way. because it was the encouragement of amusements like these that had made the English nation the ruling force in the world's destiny. He did not think that they who had come to Brynmawr would envy their friends who patronised the fete on Epsom Downs, because those who attended the. Eisteddfod would have one great advantage over them-the morrow would not bring with it the retribution of aching heads and empty pockets. (Applause and laughter.) As a Brecon- shire man, he was proud of the enterprise shown by Brynmawr, the town which, if it could not be called the capital of the bills, was certainly the capital of the manufacturing pm tion of Brecon- shire. The gallant Colonel concluded by saying that it gave him great pleasure to assist in such a magnificent gathering as that ot the Brynmawr Eisteddfod. (Hear, hear.) The COMPETITIONS were taken up with commendable promptitude, and were disposed of in the following order :— Baritone on-A very tine song, called Where'er thou art," was the subject of this competition, the prize of two guineas being given by Messrs Robert Cocks and Company, London. There were just 30 competitors, but only two of them survived the preliminary contest. The struggle between them was a splendid one, and each was loudly applauded. The winner was Mr Tom Hughes, Blaina, a young man who promises to rapidly take the position formerly occupied by Mr Ivor Foster on the Eisteddfodic platform. Senior Violin Competition.—Probably the most injudicious selection of a test piece ever made by an Eisteddfod committee was that of Naohez's fourth Gipsy Dance for violinists. Such a piece is infinitely too difficult for an amateur performer. The prize of a handsome violin of the value of £ 11 could not tempt more than five competitors. Two of them played before the audience in the marquee. Mr J. T. Rees, in giving his adjudication, said that the test piece bad been most difficult to perform. He would venture to say that the man who gave that prize knew little about the ability of amateur players. The playing that day had not been worthy of an 911 prize, and the prize must in consequence be withheld. Drum and Fife Band Competition.-Shortly before noon the drum and fife band competition was taken on the platform, and although the entry was not a large one an extraordinary amount of interest was centred in the oontost, each band being very strongly supported. The test piece was Henry Round's arranged selection of English melodies. The bands competed in the following order, viz., Glancanaid, near Merthyr Birchgrove, near Llansamlet, conducted by Mr D. H. Lewis and Cwiripark, Rhondda Valley, conducted by Mr S. Davies. A very lengthy adjudication was read by Mr J. Ord Hume, Sunderland. The first prize was awarded to the Birohgrove baud, and the second to Cwmpark. Mezzo-Soprano Solo.—Messrs Robert Cocks and Co., London, Rave the prize of tw ) guineas that was offered for the best performance of Godfrey's Answering Angels." The adjudication was made in favour of Miss Annie Jones, Garnfach. Senior English Recitation.—Mr George R. Sims's famous recitation, The Lifeboat," was the test piece for senior elocutionists, who numbered nearly 30. The preliminary adjudicator was the R-v. J. Gimblett, Baptist minister, Brynmawr, upon whom devolved the very heavy duty of reducing the number to two. A lady and gentleman recited before the audience where Gurnos was the adjudicator, and both were splendidly received. The winner was Miss Einilie Annie Burley, the young lady from Liverpool who last week won two elocutionary prizes at the Porth Eisteddfod. The Hon. Mrs Wood highly complimented Miss Burley on her success. Bass Solo.—Mr W. ff. Tude's vigorous, but somewhat erratic, song, A Hundred Fathoms Deep," was the test piece in the last of three competitions for bass singers, and the prize of two guineas was competed for by 32 aspirants for fame. The prize was awarded to Mr Isaac Dougbton, the well-known basso from Ebbw Vale. Soprano Solo.-En-iiiio Pizzi's song, A Realm of Roses," was the test piece for high sopranos, and the prize of j62 2s was given by Messrs Robert Cocks and Co., London, W. There were 16 entries. The best was Miss Lizzie Thomas. Maes teg. Tenor and Bass Duet.—Mr William Davies, vigorous Bydd bur 'r Gymru fid" was the test piece in the male voice duet competition, and the the prize was £3. Only two couples survived the preliminary competition, although the entries numbered 10. The winning couple were Mr William Rees. Kenfig Hill, near Bridgend, and Mr G. T. Llewelyn, Aberavon. Tenor Song.-A pretty love song, entitled, Until we Met," and written in the modern Italian style, was the test piece in the second tenor solo competition, The prize was two guineas and the number of competitors was over 20, but for some reason or another only eight of them came forward. Mr J. T. Rees said that the competition had been a somewhat common- place affair, and awarded the prize to Mr David James, Beaufort. Contralto Song.—A Sootoh song oalled Dun- can," written on the well-known lines of Angus Mscdonald, was the subject of the second con. tralto competition. There were 19 candidates. The winner was Miss Rachel Ann Thomas, Cwm- pennar, near Mountain Ash, who also won the contralto solo prize on the previous day. BRASS BAND COMPETITION. The spacious marquee rapidly filled up when, about three o'clock, the Abertillery Temperance Band ascended the platform to commence the Band ascended the platform to commence the brass band competition. They were conducted by Mr Edward Sutton. The test piece was Henry Round's Gems of Scotia," a selection which assuredly is being played too often just now. There were four prizes, of the respective values of jC20, B12, £6. and £ 4. Altogether 15 bands bad entered, but doubtless on account of the competition taking place so soon after the Whitsun holidays only four bands came forward. Abortillerywas succeeded by the following bands in the order named, viz. :—Fern- dale Prize Band (conducted by Mr J. Bailey), Blaina Lancaster Band (conducted by Mr Alex- ander Owen, Stskleybridge, the well-known con- ductor of the Bessie 0' the Barn and other famous bands), and the Tillery Collieries Band (conducted by Mr J. Griffiths. Mr J. Ord Hume in giving the award, said the test piece bad been too easy. They should have selected something a little man difficult. The detailed adjudication showed that the fight between Abertillery and Blaina had been very close. However, there was a difference, and the first prize was awarded to Abertillery, the second to Blaina, the third to Ferndale, aod the fourth to the Tillery Collieries Band. The conductors were invested by Miss Emilie Burley, but Mr Griffith did not ascend the platform to receive the prize awarded to his band. Senior Pianoforte SoIo.-Four candidates played on the platform. The prize was awarded to Miss Harriet Guppy, Tredegar. Baritone solo-yet another drawing room ballad, called False or True," was the subject of the last male voice solo ocntest of tbe day. There were two dozen entries, but only two successfully passed the ordeal of the preliminary test. Mr George Oakey. in giving the award, said tbat the competition had been a remarkably close one. The first possessed a very {food voice and had given a very fair rendering. He was not sure that the second competitor had quite so good a voice but he bad a much better conception of the sonir. He gave a muoli better rendering of the test piece and was well worthy of the prize. A very high tribute of praise was paid to Mt James Powell, the energetic secretary of the Eisteddfod. Mrs Miles Beynon sang Myfi Sy'n Magu'r Baban," and then the platform was oleared for the last item on the programme, viz., the KALE VOlOR OIIOUL OOMPETITIOW. Owing to the mi«c*rriaga of one of our news parcels, the report of this in teres ting event if hcM-overwttal oocBactiosoa,

NONCONFORMISTS ARM FOR THE FIGHT. CONFERENCE OF FREE CHURCHES IN LONDON I STRONG AND EMPHATIC PROTEST. UNITED OPPOSITION TO CLERICALISM. PROTESTANTISM IN DANGER. "REACTIONARY AND REVO- LUTIONARY MEASURE." "A SHAM, A DELUSION, AND A SNARE," MR BOMPAS, Q.C., MOVES AN AMENDMENT. REPLY OF TH REV. GUINNESS ROGERS. STIRHING SPEECHES BY I "WELSH MEMBERS. LONDON, Tuesday. A national Nonconformist conference on the Education Bill was held this afternoon at the Memorial Hall, Farringdon-street, London. According to the terms of the official circular, the demonstration was to give effect to the opposition of the members of the Free Churches to a Parliamentary Bill, which is a most reaction- ary and revolutionary measure, sima to degrade and destroy School Boards, and at the same time further endows Denominational schools with public money." Appended to the circular were the following names :—J. G. Rogers and J. H. Hollowell (National Education League), H. Price Hughes and T. Law (National Free Church Council), N. W. Woodall and A. J. Stephens (Dissenting deputies), A. Jeffrey (the three ¡ denominations), J. Matthews (London Noncon- formist Council), J. Carvell Williams and S. Robjohns (Liberation Society), and A. J. Viner (secretary of Conference Committee). The gathering was representative of the various organised bodies of Nonconformists throughout the country, viz., county unions, district meet- ings, and Free Church Councils, the Library being crowded. Mr Albert Spicer, M.P., took the chair, supported by Mr Crompton Rickett, M.P., Mr Woodall, M.P., Sir W. H. Wills, M.P., Mr J. Carvell Williams, M.P., Mr Herbert Lewis, M.P., Mr Evan Spioer, Mr B. S Olding, Rev. Dr. Mouroe Gibson, Rev. Hugh Price Hughes, Rev. J. Hirst Hollowell, Rev. J. C. Carlisle, Mr Halley Stuart, Mr Percy Bunting, Dr. Gninness Rogers, Dr. Clifford, Mr Robjohns, Rev. J. '%I:, tthcws, and others. Mr Viner, after prayer had been offered, read the circular calling the meeting. Hundreds of replies bad been received from Nonconformist churches and centres, representatives of which were present. The Secretary also announced a letter from Rev. Dr. Fairbairn, of Mansfield College, Oxford, regretting his inability to attend through indisposition. SPEECH BY MR ALBERT SPICKR, M.P. The CHAIRMAN, who was cordially received, recalled the fact that in 1870 he acted as a delegate of the Congregational Union of England and Wales at the conference which assembled at Manchester to voice the opin ioni; of Free Churchmen upon the Education Bill of that year. Now, after six and twenty years, they felt constrained to utter their protest against the principle-a of the new Education Bill so far as it related to elementary education. The Act of 1870 was a great measure, but it was not a complete measure, it was supplemental and while it conferred immense advantages in providing the opportunity of establishing Sohool Boards, it left Free Church- men in the rural districts in many respects in a very unfair position. Their protest against the present measure was based on the fact that while the Bill perpetuated and emphasised some of the injustices under which Free Churchmen had suffered for the past six and twenty years, and at ¡ the same time REVOLUTIONISED THE SCHOOL BOARD SYSTEM, I which had been such an educational boon to the people of our great towns and cities—(cheers)— though many of them to-day thought that Jthe logical syscem was to keep the secular distinct from the religious, they must recognise that the country had shown its approval of the policy adopted by the first-elected London School Board. (" No.") If the twenty-seventh clause of the present Bill should be passed, Nonconformists must not leave their children unprotected. Though they should not want to do it, they might fiud it their duty to raise a national fund, with the object of putting a tesoher in every school where there were a Mifiicieut number of Nonconformist children. Mifiicieut number of Nonconformist children. (Cheers.) The Bill as a whole would prove detrimental to the interests of education, especially having regard to the industrial competition in which we were engaged. The present was not a time when Great Britain could afford to take a backward step in educational matters. (Cheers.) ATTITUDE OF THE WESLEYAN METHODISTS. The Rev. HUGH PRICE HUGHES n oved— This conference of representatives of the various Free Churches strongly condemns the 77th clause of the Government Education Bill, inasmuch aa it would most injuriously affect education, make a national system impossible, introduce sectarian differences and animosities into public schools, perpetuate and increase for teachers the hateful ana unjust system of tests, and in general prove harmful to religion alike in the school, in the home, and in the State. He deprecated a secular policy, which, whatever its abstract merits, would, it insisted on, drive Wesleyan Methodists pinto the opposite camp. He took the earliest opportunity in saying that Wesleyans were as vehemently opposed to-day to a system of purely secular education as they were in 1870. But since that time there has been give and take. They had as a whole abandoned a denominational attitude, and by immense majonties were in favour of A NATIONAL UNSECTARIAN SYSTEM. For the first time in the modern history of England all the great Nonconformist churches were standing shoulder to shoulder in their com- mon opposition to clericalism. DISTINCTIVE POSITION OF WALES. Mr HEEBKBT LEWIS, M.P., in seoondmg the resolution. said that Wales occupied in this question a special and distinctive position. The Bill consisted of a series of highly contentious proposals, and it was hoped many of its compart- ments would go, including the 27th clause, which was a sham, a delusion, and a snare. He bad been in tbe Frome Division, where more interest was taken in the clause than in any other part of the measure. Mr W. WOODALL, M.P., in supporting the resolution, thought there was some reason to hope that the 27th clause would be dropped in Com- mittee stage of the Bill, while they were all agreed that the lessons of the Bible should be inculcated. He was afraid that religious instruction stood in the way of a national system. He adduced the result of his own observations in Belgium and Franoe as to the percentages of children attending the commercial, as distinct from the Roman Catholic, schools. He did not know any spot in the world where a Bill so retrograde and TRAITOROUS TO THE INTERESTS OF THE COUNTRY would have been submitted to the Legislative Assembly. He associated himself with the chairman in his arguments as to the extreme commercial importance of the question. The resolution was then adopted. CONSTITUTION OF THE EDUCATION AUTHORITIES. The Rev. J. HIBST HOLLOWELL moved the second resolution as follows This conference Is of opinion that the Education Bill, if passed in its present form, will degrade and ulti. mately destroy the School Board system, and it there- fore demands that the proposed Education Authority be directly elected ad hoc, and that it be required to appoint representatives on the managing bodies of all schools to which it makes grants, and to distribute the speciaJ mii grant to Board as well as Denominational schools. The conference iurtber protests against the proposal to reooenise the associated managers of denominational schools as calculated to waste public money and lower the efficiency of education and ;dso declares that the provision which aims to limit the cost per child of education is both unwise and unconstitu- tional. He denounced the Bill as one undoing the work of 25 years. Nonconformists declared that where public money went to a school fiublic ocntrol should follow it. (A voice And Jhnrchmeu say the same, sir.") Irish members had been criticised for voting for the second reading. That was nothing to be surprised at. He meant the criticism was not. (Laughter.) The act of the Irish members did not alter his opinion with regard to Home Rate-It did not change the principle bat it changed tbe feeling. (Hear, hear.) And the man was a simpleton who in politics disregarded sentiment. (Hear, hear.) The votes of the Liberal Unionists were, how. ever, more justly exposed to criticism than the votes of tbe Irish. He was convinoed we were face to face with A DELIBERATE ATTEMPT TO STAMP OUT PROTESTANTISM in this ooantry. (Loud oheenng, and a Voio% Gladstone leads the attempt.") This Bill of the Government was introduced to please men who treated the Bible in the aohools as if it were the negation of God. Mr COMPTON RiCKRT, M.P., seoonded the ¡ resolution, believing the Bill to be an undisguised attempt at A CLERICAL CAPTURE of tbfredwfciw-oi.jttM fottfh of, obe oatioat MR BOMPAS. Q.C., MOVES AN AMENDMENT. Mr H. M. BOMPAS, Q.G., obtained leave to submit the following amendment! That this conference is of opinion that the voluntary principle in schools, no less than in churches, is alone consistent with religious freedom and equality, and deserving of the support of the Nonconformists that the State is entitled to test and to pay for secular education, but not to interfere with the conduct of schools in which religious teaching is given, whether by popular representation or otherwise that the Government Bill, inasmuch as it will st engthen Voluntary schools without giving the State any additional right to interfere—(cries of Oh, oh ")—in their management. is worthy of support, but the contribution clauses should be rejecte-i, anct the right to have more than one school, if desired bv the parents, in any parish or place should be expressly recognised. (Laughter, and shouts of No, no ") The learned gentleman assured the meeting that he moved the amendment under a sense of responsibility, and many might say he was there because of his political opinions—(laughter and hear, hear)—but he was advocating tbe very principle for which he contended 30 years ago. Mr Balfour, who was a Presbyterian—(" Ko ")—who, at any rate, was in his own home a Presbytt-riau-(" No ")—Mr Chamberlain, who, at any rate, was not a Churchman—(laughter)—and Sir J. Gorst. who had been trained at Toynbee Hal!, ought not to be threatened by their fellow Christians as if they were untrue to all that they said. (More laughter.) The few remaining observations of Mr Bompas, in urging his amendment, were greeted with inter- ruption and shouts ot Nonsense The CHAIRMAN called for a seconder, but there was no response. DR. GUINNESS ROGERS REPLIES. The Rev. Dr. GUINNESS ROGERS replied to Mr Bompas, ;uid alluding to a reference made by that gentleman to tbe late Si.- Edward Baines, be reminded the meeting that Sir Edward had been one of the strongest supporters of the compromise to which Mr Bompas was opposed. (Cheers.) Mr Balfour might or might not be a Presby- terian. but what had Nonconformists to do with the religious opinion of eminent men ? (Cheers.) If Protestants did not bestir themselves in the presence of this attack now made upon the principles of the Reformation, they would find themselves iu the position of Nero, who fiddled while Rome was burning. (Cheers.) The criginal resolution was carried. Dr. MONRO GIBSON described the movers in the present agitation as an anti-Reformation, and therefore AN ANTI-ENGLISH PARTY. The injustice done under this Bill would be great. The clericals did not desire to give the children the sincere milk of the Word, but some higbly- ooncentrated Liebig's extract. (Laughter.) He moved- This conference, taking into consideration the great injustice which the Nonconformists suffer in the 8,100 parishes in which there is only a denominational school, can Rccepo no proposal as a settlement of the education question which does not provide for the establishment of a national system of unsectarian schools under efficient local public control. This was seconded by Mr CABVELL WILLIAMS, M.P.. and was, on the suggestion of the Rev. J. SMITH (missionary secretary), adopted, with the addition c,f the following: word" And which doeii not open the Training Colleges supported by grants of public monay to all who desire to enter the teaching profession,irrespective f creed or church." A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded tbe proceedings.

NONCONFORMISTS AND MR GLADSTONE. REMARKABLE PROTESTS AT THE CITY TEMPLE. A public demonstration on Nonconformists on tbe Educatiou Bill was held on Tuesday night at the City Temple, London. Among the speakers were Dr. Parker, Dr. Ciifford, Dr. Guinness Rogers and the Rev. Hugh Price Hughes. Dr. Rogers alluded to the recent letter of Mr Gladstone's, and the ex-Premier's name was hissed. Dr. Rogers said the letter expressed an honest man's honeet opinion. Mr Gladstone said the Church of England had advanced in a wonderful degree. Well, if that advance had been on the side of God and liberty he would have said Thank God but it had been the advance of a party whose bans was held by the priests. That was what they had to deal with, and it was no use plaistering up wounds that would not be healed. Dr. Clifford also referred to the letter. He said it was in many respects a most painful exhibition, and yet for anyone who had an eye tor the future the oonclusion was inevitable. Those who knew the principles which underlay the Puseyite movement of 1845 would understand that Mr Gladstone's letter was but the full flower of the seeds of that time. A resolution condemning the Education Bill was passed.

PROTEST AT PONTYPOOL. ADDRESS BY MR REGINALD McKENNA, M P. Under the auspices of the North Monmouth' shire Liberal Association, a series of meetings to protest against the provisions of the education measure now before Parliament are being held this week in the constituency, tlih inaugural meeting, under the presidency of Mr B. N cholaa, Rockfield House, Pontypool, being held in the Hanbury Assembly-room, Poutypool, on Monday evening, and attracting a large and enthusiastic audience. Mr D. A. Thomas, senior M P. for the Merthyr Boroughs, had been announced to be present and speak, but waa unfortunately, prevented through indisposition from putting in an appearance. The chairman was supported by Mr Regina d McK^nna, M.P. for North Monmouth the Revs. J. Williams and J. Harding, Pontypool J, Rees and B. Davies, Griffithstown Mr and Mrs W. L. Pratt, Pont. newyuydd Mrs J. Wiliiams, Pontypool Miss Noel, Cardiff Mr W. Sandbrook, J.P., and the Misses Sandbrook, The Green way, Pontypool J Councillor E. B. Fold, J.P., Pontypool Coun- cillor W. B. Witchell, Brjnderwen, Abersychan } Councillor P. E;kers!ey, Pontypool Mr W. J. Davis, Pontypool Councillor E. Fowler, J.P., Pontypool Alderman H. Parfitt, J.P., Ashlej House, Pontnewydd C-jIone! J. Jacob, J.P., Gorse Honse, Upper Cwmbran Mr W. a Hughes Mr Evans, Pontypool, &c. The CHAIUMAN having introduced the proceed- ings in an appropr.atclv-worded speech, The Rev. J. REES, Gnffithstown, proposed tJbe following resolution, which was seconded by the Rev. J. WILLIAMS, Pontypool:- That in the opinion of this meeting of represents tive ratepayers of Pontypool, Griffith ;town, <Lull Pont newynydd, the Government Education Bill alins a deadly blow at the School Board system, will check the prog-ess of primary educatiou, and seriously affect the commercial interests of the nation in itg competition with better educated countries It will hamper the School Boards in milking them subject tc non-representative bodies, contrary to the principles of local self-government. It destroys that system of unsectarian education which has worked so well for & quarter of a ceutury, and will instead urn the schoolt into arenas of theological strife and discord. It alsc provides out of the public funds alf-a-millioo oi money annually, practically the whole of which goes to the Voluntary schools without any measure of direct popular control, and without a guarantee tnat iL will be expended in promoting effic ency or raising the standard of education. ibis meeting pledges itself to do all In its pow. r to legally rwsist the Bill, and strongly urges Mr McKenna as ita representative to do everything possible to prevent it becoming law. (Applause.) Mr MCKENNA, who was received with loud applause, said that if ho was unab'e to do sueh justice to that great subject as they bad a right to expect of him, be hoped they would under- stand that it was because of a reason entirely out of his control. He had, unfortunately, been suffering from an affection of one of his eyes, and had not been able to read or write for some timt past. Only yesterday be had undergone an operation but, in spite of bis doctor's orders, on no aooount oould he i or ego the pleasure of ooming down and meeting them at that large and enthusiastic meeting. Just one more personal matter, and then he would not talk about himself any more. He wanted to say one word with reference to what had been called the now Radioal Committee, of which he had become a member. (Applause.) There had been a certain amount of misapprehension with regard to it, not, he was thankful to say, among the Liberal Press, but amongst the Tory Press, that the Radical Committee was the nucleus of a new party hostile to the Liberal party. He thought they knew be would not be a member of any such committee. Tbe purpose of the Radical Committee was something altogether different, It was proposed to focus and to centralise Radical opinion all over the country. There in Norbh Monmouthshire they might readily think that there was no need for any advanced party to be formed, for there they had a good Strang Liberal majority. Their opinion was active and enthusiastic, and if all the country were in the same position there would be no suggestion of forming an active little committee which would undertake to spread the Liberal propaganda through the country but they had to recognise that all over the country they bad to deal with an overwhelming Tory majority. They had an immense work to do. They had to exercise every power they could to stir up enthusiasm in every way. Amongst those efforts there were none more advantageous, as had been proved, as thE formation of an advanced body, which would be a sort of courier and the meaus of stirring up enthusiasm all over the country. (Applause.) The resolution oonfined itself sfcrictiy to the Education Bill, but he hoped the chairman would not rule hur. out of order if he followed thE precedent set by Mr Rees in his Vr-ry able speech, and incidentally referred to matters outside the Education Bill. Let him Bay one or two things upon THE BATING BILl., He (the speaker) was told in th* eon rue ol discussion on it, by the Minister of Agriculture, that when he had to meet the farynei- who voted for him at the last election he would have to account to them for his action in voting against the Bill. Well, he would be perfectly willing to do so, and justify every step he had taken with regard to that Bill. He would tell them that he voted against it because he believed that it would not in the long run be any good to the farmers, bat would only prove a Landlords' Relief Bill. He could assure them that if he thought the measure would be of substantial benefit to the agricultural interest, and that it would restore their pros- perity, he wonld be its warmest friend and most anxious to vote for it. His political belief was tbat if Government could assift the CUMWHWI* if

TO-DAY'S WEATHEK, 4.30 A.M. TO-D FORECAST.. FOR tiNQLANO, S.W., AND SOUTH W ALMS. South-westerly to south-easterly breezes. light; very changeable some rain occasionally probably thunder. GENFRAL-The general condi- tion is unsettled, thundery, and showerlike in the south, and in fact changeable generally.

WEATHER ON THE CONTINENT.— DAILY REPORT. Dalziel's Agency reports as follows as to the weather at the more important Continental resorts vesterdav :— CALAid.-Fine some clouds light wind; smooth sea thermometer, 63. PARIS,-Wann sunshine thermometer, 70. MARSEILLES.—Lovely morning; thermometer, 72. CANNES.—Blue sky thermometer. 70. NICE.-Clea.r sky thermometer, 73. MONTX CARLO.—warm sunshine thermometer, 70. BADKN BADKN.—Lovely morning thermometer, 64. INTERLAKEN. -Blue sky thermometer, 57. QUEENBOROUQH.—Lovely morning light wind smooth sea; thermometer, 89. DovicjL-Wind. N.E., light; sea good; French mail, victoria; midday, Empress; English maS, Dover.

DON** lunch or dine without asking for the new French Bread. Delicious eating and easily digested. Send postcard for van to call to T. Stevens, FrenA °o fectioner, 122, Queen-street. J337—506e-

MATABELE WAR. THE SITUATION AT BULU- WAYO. RECEPTION OF MR RHODES, THE NEED OF RAILWAY ACCOMMODATION. BULCWATO, Monday.—Colonel Napier's column, which was sent from here to meet Mr Cecil Rhodes and the Salisbury column, returned here and is now laagering in the neighbourhood of Government House, where Mr Rhodes will shortly take up his residence. Immediately after the column's arrival fires indicating the presence of the Matabele were seen near Thabas Induna. These fires were not visible when the column passed Thabas Induna the previous day. The Sanitary Board will present an address to Mr Rhodes to-morrow morning, and afterwards sports will be held in honour of bis arrival. Mr Rhodes has accepted an invitation from the Reception Committee to a dinner on Thursday. An a meeting of the Joint Executive Committee of the Chamber of Mines and Commerce to-day it was decided to approach Mr Rhodes and ask him to receive a deputation from the two Chambers on the subject of a speedy extension of the railway to Buluwayo, the Chambers being of opinion that the progress of the country is impossible unless a railway is constructed imme- diately.—Renter. WITH COLONEL NAPIER'S COLUMN. (FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] VIA BCLUWAYO, Monday.—-The Bulnwayo and Salisbury column, under Colonel Napier and Lieutenant Beale, reached the Belingwe road on the morDing of May 26th. They were immediately afterwards joined by the flying column under Colonel Spreekley, which had scoured the eastern side of the Thaba Induna Mountains, burning many kraals and killing a few Kaffirs. A thousand head of cattle and 23 donkeys were also captured. As the column was crossing from Gracey's Farm, Mr Gracey's remains were discovered and buried. The same day a native who was captured said that previous to Col. Napier's arrival at Tekwe, on the way to the Shangani, the Matabele impi had been on the flank of the column intent on attacking it, but that finding it so strong the enemy had hurried on to intercept Mr Rhodes with the Salisbury column. In this, however, they failed, reaching Shangi too late, the Salis- bury men having already gone out of kopjes and the bush into a place of safety. Colonel Spreekley's flying column on May 27 reached Pixon's farm, where they found Mrs Langford's body. On the same day, at Macken- zie's farm, they found the bodies of Mr Langford and Mr Lemon. Mr Mackenzie himself was among those killed with Gifford's patrol atSbiloh. Two gold rings were found on Mrs Langford's fingers, the inside of one being engraved with the words, "Sunny Curls, Mizpab." Two old- fashioned rings set with stones, and with the gold worn very thin, were also found at a Matabele kraal. These are believed to have belonged to old Mrs Cummings. PUBLIC REJOICINGS AT BULUWAYO. ANOTHER EXPEDITION IMPENDING. BOLUWATO, Tuesday, Noon.—A public holiday has been proclaimed to-day in honour of Mr Rhodes, who arrived on Saturday. In spite of possible danger from the rebels, who are still in the vicinity of the town, there were athletic sports of all kinds and general rejoicings. When Mr Rhodes arrived on the sports' ground he was pre- sented with an address from the municipality couched in warmly eulogistic and hopeful terms. Three columns will probably leave in two days' time for the north-east and north-west, as it has been resolved to strike another vigorous blow. It is reported from Fig Tree Station below here that an imip of 2,000 strong is only 15 miles off that place, in the Natokko Hills. They are starving, and must fight for food, so there is likely to be a serious engagement. Col. Plumer i& now reconnoitring and making preparations at Fott Hope Fountain. Mr Rhodes will be entertained on Thursday to a banqnet.—Central News.

THE CRETAN DIFFICULTY. PEOPLE QUIETING DOWN. VICTIMS OF THE RIOTING. ROME, Tuesday.—Acoording to advices from Crete received here to-day, the situation at Canea is gradually improving, although there is still much exoitemenb in the country districts. In the recent rioting at Canea 23 Christians and six Mussulmans were killed, and nine Christians and seven Mussulmans injured. The number of shops pillaged during the disturbance was 18 in the surrounding country, 17 Christians, and Mussulmans were killed. Near Retimo some acts of pillage were committed by Mussulmans and nine Christians were killed in the town itself. The authorities are making arrangements for reinforcing all the garrisons.—Beutsr. STUBBORN FIGHTING AT VAMOS. ATHENS, Tuesday.—Acoording to advice* received here, the raising of the siege of Vairos was not effected without serious loss of life. The Turks are reported to have lost 75 men and the Christians 40. At Canea a house was set on fire by Mussulmans.—Beuter. ATHENS, Tuesday Evening.—According to authentic intelligence received here seven houses have been burned in the neighbourhood of Corea, and murders and conflagrations are reported from Retimo. It is announced that Great Britain will send two additional warships to Cretan waters, one of which will be stationed at Retimo,— Beuter,

ITALY AND ABYSSINIA. POPE'S MESSAGE TO MENELIK. ROME, Tuesday.—The Mission whioh the Pope sent to the Negus Menelik asking him to release his prisoners came up to-day in the Chamber on a question by Signor Prinetti, who wished to aeoertain what was the attitude of the Government in respeot to it. The Premier replied: I believe the Pope acts in obedience to a lofty Christian øeniment-a sentiment of humanity and the love he feels for Italy. If this is really the sentiment actuating bis Holiness tba Govena. ment is crrateful to him.—Central Newt.

THE FENIAN RUMOURS. A CONTRADICTION. The Press Association learns upon aothority that the Government and polioe authorities have no reason to believe that there is any foundation for the recent reports as to apprehended outrages by Fenians, and it is not a fact that any mem- ber of the Government are being speoially pro- tected by detectives.

REFORM LEADERS. TO BE RELEASED SHORTLY. Reuter's Agency has received from Mr J. B. Robinson communication of the following tele- gram from Pretoria :—" Leaders will be released in a few days' time."

Sir Walter Gilbey, president of the Royal Agricultural Society, has offered to provide funds to establish, at Cambridge University, a lectureship in history and economics of agricul- ture, and the Council of the Senate on Tuesday recommended the acceptance of this offer. At the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masous on Tuesday night the Prince of Wales was reinstated Grand Master, the Earl of Euston Pro. Grand Master, and Viscount Dungarvan Deputy* Grand Master. MOTHERS, DO YOU REALISE how your little ones suffer when their tender skins are literally on hre with itching and burning ecaemas and other itching, scaly, and blotohy skin and scalp dioeow" ? To know that a warm bath with ConormA SOAr and a single application of COTICUBA (ointment), the great skin cure, will, in the great majority of oases, afford instant relief, permanent rest and sleep, and point to a perma- nent and economical (because so speedy) cure, and not tO U" them, without a moment's delay, is to fait in your duty. No greater legacy can be bestowed upon a child than a skin without blemish and a body nourished with porg blg" ""J "1: