South Wales Daily News

THE FAR EAST. 1- AFFAIRS IN COREA. JAPAN AND RUSSIA ARMING. Paris Tuesday.—The Politique Colonaih- states that Russia and Japan are arming in view of possible conflict in Corem.-Reater. i ITALY'S NAVAL DEMONSTRATION." Rome, Monday.—A letter from Shanghai to the Tribune says the Italian men-of-war continue their tranquil promenade from port to port as if they were a flotilla of pleasure yachts. The cor- respondent urges strongly that the squadron should be withdrawn altogether or should take j some decisive action, as the present state of things is most prejudicial to Italian prestige, one Chinese paper going so far as to say the fleet has been captured by the Viceroy of Nanking and is not allowed to leave the coast. The letter con- cludes by stating that the Italian officers who have visited San Mun are by no means delighted with the place either as a port or as a commer- cial base. On the other hand there is, on the Sikiang, another magnificent bay, upon which the Italians should concentrate their attention.— Renter.

CHINESE PIRATES. BRITISH BOAT LOOTED. SALUTARY PUNISHMENT. Paris, Monday Night.—The Tonkin papers which arrived this morning at Marseilles state that a British cargo boat on the Canton River was boarded by pirates, who carried away the cargo, worth 7,000dols. The commander of the Sandpiper, an Admiralty launch, built last year at Hong Kong for the protection of trade on the river, steamed after the pirates, who succeeded, however, in landing their goods near a village called Kainchut. The commander of the Sand- piper asked that the pirates should be delivered up to him and the goods restoretMailing which he would fire on the village. As satisfaction was not given to him, he shelled the place, which was entirely destroyed.

THE ALASKAN BOUNDARY. AMERICA AND ARBITRATION. Washington, Tuesday.—Opinion in Govern- ment circles as to arbitration on the Alaskan boundary question is that the United States will not consent to arbitrate unless the limits of the territory which the arbitrators are to consider ttre-'exactl-v delined, Officials are disposed to laugh at the statements which have bean made to the effect that America is afraid to arbitrate, but they maintain that unless the scops of the arbi- tration is carefully defined the right of Alaska will be endangered. Another consideration is the probability of the arbitrators being unable to come to a definite decision, in which case the umpire, as the history of arbitration has shown, would very likely settle the dispute by a simple compromise dividing disputed territory between the two States. This affords strong ground for objection to arbitration on the question.—Central News.

ALLEGED BONAPARTIST PLOT. Paris, Tuesday.—The Siecle to-day announces on what it declares to be reliable authority the existence of a great Bonapartist conspiracy, in which M. Deroulede, Prince Nev, the Due d'Elchingen, the Comte d' Aule-n. a deputy, and others are involved. The Sieele also states that the Empress Eugenie has given the plot moral and pecuniary support.—Central News,

EXECUTION AT LINCOLN. WIFE POISONER HANGED. Edward Bell, the Spalding murderer, was exe- cuted at Lincoln on Tuesday morning. In the words of the Judge, in passing sen- tence of death, the crime of which Edward Bell was proved guilty was one of the most cruel, deliberate, and cold-blooded ever perpetrated. Bell was a farm hand near Spald iug, living in a cottage with his wife and two children. Bell had formed a liasion with a yOtrag woman at Gedney, and corresponded with her. In April his wife became ill a few days after the prisoner had purchased some perchloride of mercury at Spalding. The doctor prescribed for gastric irritation, and it was proved that Bell bought some more mercury and added it to the medicine. Mrs Bell became dangerously ill and her mother was summoned. Bell after- wards bought some strychnine and gave it to his wife,sibying the doctor had given it him to "rest" his] wife. He gave it to her, and remarked to his motifer-in-law as they sat down to dinner, She has taken it capitally." Screams were soon afterwards beard, and they went upstairs to find the woman in agony. There Bell calmly watched his wife until she died about 20 minutes afterwards. He told the doctor his wife passed peacefully away and got a certificate. The woman was buried, but the body was afterward exhnmed. After his conviction his impending Joom seemed to have no effect on Bell, who, to use the words of one of the attendants,was happy and contented in prison. His appetite had not been interfered with, nor his rest disturbed. His only regret appeared to be the disgrace reflected upon his family. YOUNG BILLINGTON OFFICIATES. The convict, who never alluded to his crime, slept well and ate a good breakfast. When the sheriff's officer entered the cell he was engaged in prayer with tho chaplain. He calmly submitted to the pinioning and walked firmly to the scaffold. William Billington, son of the hangman, was the executioner.and allowed a drop of 6 feet 6 inches. Death was instantaneous. There was not a quiver of the body.

TO-DAY'SWEATHER4.30A.M TO-DAS'S FORECAST VOR MNGLAXD. S.W., ANi.) iOUTB WALES. Issued at 8 o'clock last night. Westerly winds, moderate or fresh cJomly local showers. GeaerfbL-Showcry weather seems likely to extend over considerable portions of United Kingdotii Warnings.-Tbe south cone is up in 0, 6, and parts of 1 and 9,

GENERAL FORECASTS. The following forecasts were prepared last night at the Meteorological Office at eight o'clock BISTBICTS— I Westerly winds, strong; 0. Scotland, N..« perhaps a gale; squally; some rain. some ra111. 1 B We8te?J7 win<3sr freshening 2. England! N.E.[ rain 71 cloudy ^ome 3. England, E. South-westerly to westerly 3. England, E. •• South-westerly to westerly 4. Mid. Counties.. winds, moderate or fresh 5. Eng. S. (Loa- fair at first, some showers aacl Obaanel) •-) later, possibly thunder. 6. Scotland, W Same as 0. *Same 1 and 2. 8. Eagla*d> S.W., j Westerly winds, moderate, or <fc South Wales f fresh;cloudy; local showers. 9. Ireland, N Same as"0. }W3 £ £ *-■"

ENGLAND'S GLORY .MATCHES.—Save one dozen Wrappers and send for particulars Prizes to 8. J., Moreland and Sons, England's Glory Match W'ork8„ Gloucester. The above brand'of match9a-«re-rnade entirely by British Labour. 1212

HOUSE OF LORDS TUESDAY. The Lord Chancellor took his seat on the Woolsack shortly after 4 o'clock. SIRDAR TAKES HIS SEAT. Lord Kitchener and Viscount Cromer were introduced with all the time-honoured ceremonies, and took tho oath and subscribed the roll. There was an unusual attendance of Peers. The Marquis of Headfort took the oath and subscribed the role on his succession to the title. LOCAL BILLS. The Port Talbot Railway and Docks Bill was read a third time. The measure has now passed both Houses. AFFAIRS IN THE TRANSVAAL. The EarJ of CAMPERDOWN I beg to give notice that I shall on Friday call attention to the affairs of the Transvaal. SMALL HOUSES PURCHASE BILL. The House then went into Committee on the Small Houses (Acquisition of Ownership) Bill. The Earl of SELBORNE proposed to leave out clause 8 for the purpose of inserting new clauses imposing upon local authorities the obligation of keeping registers of advances. The clause was struck out and two new clauses substituted. On clause 9, which defined local authorities under the Act, The Marquis of RIPON proposed to omit the limit of 7,000 which under the clause was neces- sary to enable the Counccil of any urban district not being a county borough or of any rural dis- trict to act as the local authority under the Bill, and to enable any urban or rural council so to act provided they obtained the consent of the Council of the county or county borough. The Earl of SELBORNE said that if the limit of ,10,000 population would be acceptable to the whole House the Government would be wil- ling to agree to that alteration, provided that in the case of an adverse decision there should be an appeal from the County Council to the Local Government Board. Tho amendment was withdrawn and the alteration suggested by Lord Selborne was made in the clause. The remaining clauses and the schedules were agreed to, and the Bill was ordered to be reported with amendments. LONDON UNIVERSITY BILL. The University of London Act (1898) Amend- ment Bill was read a third time and passed. Their Lordships rose at a quarter-past 6 o'clock.

HOUSE- OF COMMONS.—TUBSBAY. The Speaker took the chair at 3 o'clock. FOOD AND DRUGS BILL. The adjourned debate on the second read- ing of the Sale of Food and Drugs Bill was resumed by Sr Charles Cameron, who submitted that the Bill in its present shape did not satisfy any section of the House, and the only class of the Queen's subjects who would receive any benefit from it would be the lawyers, because the measure would render worse con- founded the confusion which already existed with respect to our adulteration. Sir W. FOSTER directed attention to some of the benefits which would accrue from the passing of this measure, and maintained that it must inevitably bring about a lessening of the adultery of food. of food. Mr BRYNMOR JONES said that the cause.of the retail dealer had suffered by the amendments made in Grand Committee and in that House to the Food and Drugs Act, and by the introduction of the word invoice." He confessed that he did not know exactly what an invoice meant. There might be an invoice which in effect meant a warranty, and there might be an invoice which did not mean a warranty Even at the eleventh hour he would appeal to the right hon. gentleman whether, after the word warranty, some such words as these might not be accepted. or any document describing the nature, substance, and quality of the article in question in such terms as were within the meaning of tha Sale of Food and Dru<?3 Act, 1893." If these words were added tho position of the retail dealer would be precisely the same in a. civil as in a criminal court. Mr BRYCE, although entertaining some ob, jection to points of detail, considered that the measure contained some clauses of much practi- cal value. Mr LONG replied to some of the criticisms passed on the Bill, and remarked that upon the whole there seemed to be the general opinion that the Bill was a good one, and would effect a very desirable change in stopping fraud in regard to the adulteration of food stuffs. With regard to the sentence of imprisonment which might be inflicted for a third offence, he denied that the large and the small dealers were not exactly on the same footing, but intimated that when the Bill was before the House of Lords he would get inserted an amendment putting upon a retail dealer when accused the onus of proving that the wholesale dealer was responsible for the adulteration. (Hear, hear.) The Bill was then read ? third time amid cheers. N^yAL W0RKS BILL' Mr AUSTEN CHA.MBERLAIN, in moving the second reading of the Naval Works Bill, explained that the measure was necessary to provide for the continuation of works sanctioned ty previous Acts, and to aathoWsu the com- mencement of some hew works. The total cost of the works included in the Bill was k23,600,000, but on the present occasion the House was asked to sanction an expenditure of £ 3,100,000 in addition to the sum already provided for, and also to give the Admiralty borrowing powers to the extent of £ 3,161,000. The Bill raised no new principle nor no new large question of policy. By far the most important section of the new expenditure was the proposal to construct five new docks. (Hear, hear.) Unless men-of-war could be frequently docked they lost a material amount of their speed capacity, and {therefore the Hoase would not be surprised to hear that the great expansion of the fleet needed anexpansion of dock accommodation. One of the new docks would be built at Chatham. Two docks would be constructed at Malta, one being a double one. A first-class dock would also b 3 built at Bermuda. The most important proposal he had to make, however, waa the pro- posed dockyard extension at the Cape. The harbour at Cape Town was always very crowded in time of peace, and it would be more crowded in time of war. The Admiralty therefore thought it important to have a dockyard of their own at Simon's Bay, and they would con- struct a dock 750 feet long. Breakwaters would have to be constructed to protect ships entering the dock in bad weather, and the Government also intended to construct wharfage here for the storing of coal. (Cheers.) The Cape Government had passed two Acts and rendered the Imperial Government great assistance in this matter. The last of the five new docks the Admiralty proposed to construct at Hong Kong, which was now a very important station. (Hear, hear.) Sir U. RAY SHUTTLE WORTH suggested that it would be better if the Admiralty would ascertain if in soma of these cases they could not make use of docks in private hands, and get the prior right to use them. Admiral FIELD gave a cordial support to this nlodest measure. Sir J. COLOMB was of opinion that there never had been submitted to tha House a Bill so clearly stamped with forethought, careful calcula- tion, and adaptation to a settled policy, Lord C. BEKESFORD concurred. Mr E. ROBERTSON hoped to receive an assurance that there was something approaching to finality in these proposals. Mr H. LEWIS protested against the enormous expenditure on the Navy and on naval works., Mr Wylie and Mr Lloyd George having added some observations, the Bill was read a second time. THE TELEPHONE BILL. The Telegraphs (Telephonic Communication) Bill as amended by the Standing Committee was then further considered, Mr BUCHANAN proposed to insert a provh- sion that the licences granted to the National Telephone Company should under no circum- stances be extended beyond 1911. After much discussion, the House divided, and the amendment was rejected by 146 votes to 62. Mr HANBURY moved to insert the following new sub-section Where an existing company is at the passing of this Act under a licence from the Postmaster-General supplying public tele- phonic communication in any exchange area, a licence to provide a system of public telephonic communication Within the same area shall not be granted to any person other than the Council of a borough or urban district unless it isshown that the application for the licence is approved by the Council of each borough or urban district within the area specified in the application." The new section was carried by 138 to 27. Several unimportant amendments having been disposed of, Mr T. P. O'CONNOR rose at half-past one, and moved the adjournment of the debate. Sir JAMES JOICEY seconded the appeal. Mr BALFOUR said that he must resist the motion. The House divided, and there voted :—For the adjournment, 27; against, 108; Government majority, 81. At 20 past 2 the Telephone Bill passed its report stage, and the third reading was put down for to-day, noon. The Gordon Memorial College at Khartoum Bill passed through I Committee and was read a third time. The House rose at 2.30.

OLD AGE PENSIONS. The Select Committee of the House of Com- mons upon Better Provision for the Aged and Deserving Poor met again on Tuesday and further discussed the chairman's draft report, which will be further considered at another meet- ing to-day (Wednesday). It is hoped that then the work of the committee may be practically completed, as it is understood that almost all controverted points of the proposed scheme have now been settled,

ASK for 'Red Steak" Brand of Salmon. It's the best. At all Direct Trading Co.'s Branches. WANTED, A WIFE.—A farmer in Manitoba recently wrote to England asking for a wife to be sent out to him. We believa-he meant wall, and we hope he met with success .but good wives are not usually to be obtained in this way. In such a matter a man cannot safely trust to the judgment of another, but must use his own. In choosing a wife every man's judgment varies. In other things it is not so. For instance, the judgment of every sensible man is in favour of Holloway's Pills and Ointment for the core of liver complaints, disordered stomach, shattered nerves, rheumatism, gout, lumbego,scalds, burns, and all skin disease*.

A MURDER CASE." PRINCE OF WALES CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY. At Bow-street on Thursday an elderly man named William Hind, whose application caused much amusement, applied for a process against the Prince of Wales, the Attorney-General, the Post- master-General, and the Duke of Devonshire fo alleged conspiracy, fraud, bribery, and other offences. I am prepared," said the applicant, to argue that they have done my family out of eight million pounds." The statement was received with laughter,whereupon Hind exclaimed, It's a murder case." Applicant, who left a pile of documents, was instructed to call next w«ek. =-

THE ANSELL EXECUTION. A FULL CONFESSION. In reference to statements which have appeared to the effect that Mary Ann Ansell, who was executed last week, was only 18 years of age, we are officialy informed that she stated in evidence at the trial that she was 22, and that subse- quently, on inquiry at Somerset House, it was ascertained that she was born in November, 1877, and was consequently in her 22nd year when the crime was committed. We are also informed that before the execution she made a full confession of the crime, and of the motive which prompted it.

SOUDAN CAMPAIGN. COMMONS' THANKS ACKNOW. LEDGED. In the House of Commons on Tuesday the Speaker announced that he had received letters from Lord Kitchener of Khartoum and Sir Francis Gremell thanking the House for their vote of confidence. Lord Kitchener's letter was as fol]3ws Lord Kitchener presents his compliments to the Right Hon. the Speaker, and begs to acknow- ledge the receipt of the vote of thanks passed by the House of Commons on behalf of the troops engaged in the recent campaign. He desires to express their grateful thanks for the high honour thus conferred upon them. Lord Kitchener begs to assure the Speaker that he will not fail to communicate the vote of thanks to those men- thus conferred upon them. Lord Kitchener begs to assure the Speaker that he will not fail to communicate the vote of thanks to those men- tioned." Sir Francis Grenfell wrote as follows from Malta ;—" I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter conveying to me the resolu- tion of the House of Commons thanking me for assistance given during the Soudan expedition. I am deeply grateful to the House of Commons for this high honour and to you, sir, for commu- nicating it to me." (Hear, hear.)

RANJFS CLAIM TO A KINGDOM. STATEMENT IN THE COMMONS. In the House of Coaamcfus on Tuesday Lord George Hamiltii, in reply to Sir Seymour'King, said he was not aware of any formal or legal settlement under which Kumar Ranjitsinhji had any claim to the State of Nowauagar. The late Jam was permitted by the Government of India to disinherit his son by a Mahomedan lady, who was the natural heir. Having thus no natural heir he selected Kumar Ranjitsinhji a.s his eon by adoption and as his eventual successor on the express understanding that if any of the Ranis should give birth to a son the said Ranji should have no claim to succeed. In August, 1882, one of the recognised vvives of thelpm; a qahomedau lady, gave birth to a son, Kumar Jaiwantsingh, and the Jam applied to the Government of India to recognise him as'hisnatural heir and successor. The Government of India, after full considera- tion and inquiry, did so, the Secretary of State confirming their decision. On the death of the late Jam Kumar Jaswarts Singh, it was true that he (Lord George) had received through the Government of India a memorial from Kumar Ranjitsinhji setting forth his claim, and asking for an inquiry, and on March IStb he addressed the Government of India declining to reopen the decision passed by his predecessor, and request- ing them to inform Kumar Ranjinsingbji.

A NEW BATTLESHIP LAUNCHED. The first-class battleship Vengeance was launched on Tuesday at Barrow from the yard of Messrs Vickers Sons and Maxim, in the presence of 20,000 spectators. The vessel was designed by Sir William White, Chief Controller of the Navy. She is 396 feet long, 74 feet beam, and 13,500 horse-power, with a speed of eighteen and a quarter knots per hour. She is a beautiful model, and her armament will be of a most formidable character, the whole of it being provided by her builders for the first time in the history of the Navy. At the public luncheon which followed the launch it was stated that Mr Maxim had jnst completed a very important invention for quick- firing guns,

LOCAL LAW CASE. Heaven v. the Penrbin and Woodfield Collieries Company, Limited. This was a debenture holder's action, and upon the applica- tion of the plaintiff Mr Justice North in the Chancery Division on Tuesday appointed Mr Parker, of Bristol, to be receivef and manager of the defendant company. Mr Joseph appeared in support of the application, and Mr Harrison, for the company, consented to the appointment. v' DelaSota v. Sturton S.S. Go., Ltd.—In the Queen's Bench Division Tuesday the hearing was continued of the defence in the action brought on behalf of a Spanish firm at Bilbao by M. Ramon de la Sota against the Stnrton S.S. Company, Ld., and the York Union Banking ComDauy, Ld., to recover £2,675 deposited in respect of the purchase of the s.s. Sturton. Having heard counsel on either side, the learned Judge said he would reserve his judgment.

WESLEYAN CONFERENCE. TWENTIETH CENTURY FUND. DEPUTATION FROM FREE CHURCHES. The representative session of the Wesleyan Conference was resumed in the Wesley Chapel, London, on Tuesday, the Rev. F. W. Macdonald in the chair. Dr. Stephenson gave notice that when the Rev. T. Champness brought up his pro- posal against church office being held by anyone connected with the liquor trade he should move that while gratified at the increase of temperance feeling, the conference declined to pronounce an abstract and indiscriminate opinion on the action of individual Christians. The cordial reception of the notice presaged a warm debate. The Rev. Albert Clayton reported that on June 24th, when the connexional year closed, the promises for the 20th Century Fund bad reached £ 662,633, while up to the meeting of conference the amount actually received was £ 86,572. Birmingham district beaded the list with 50,000 guineas, and the next in order were Liverpool, Bolton, Manchester, Leeds, Third London, Halifax and Bradford, Second London, First London, and Nottingham and Derby.—Mr Perks, M.P., in moving the adoption of the report, had no doubt the scheme would be com- pleted within the 18 months left of the century. They must adhere to their rule one guinea, one name," and devote the larger gifts from rich people to meet the £ 300.000 wanted for chapel building He had just received from the late Prime Minister (Lord Bosebery) an unsolicited donation of £ 100, with the intimation that he would seek out 99 Methodist children around his country seat so that their names might be associated with his own in the gift.—The Rev. H. P. Hughes seconded the motion, which was supported by Sir George Smith, Truro, and carried.— The Rev. R. W. Allen reported that there were 24,853 declared Weleyins in the Army and Navy, and 1,601 church members. There were 193 ministers engaged iu the work, and they had 29 soldiers' homes which had cost £ 39,633, and had an annual income of £ 19,000. In the after- noon a large deputation presented an address from the Metropolitan Federation of Free Churches. Dr. McE'wan, president of the Federation, and Dr. Clifford, for the Baptist Union of England and Ireland, having spoken. Dr. Parker was heartily welcomed, After referring to the previous addresses, he spoke of his own recent sorrow, and said there were passages in the Gospel which could only be road and spoken by those who had nO hope but in Heaven. The President and tha Rev W. L. Watltinson replied, the latter, on the subject of sacerdotalism, observing that the apathy of the bishops was appalling. Th3 word with which they tried to conjure was "comprehension," but what the people cared for was Protestantism. r

[COPPER'VORKERS' STRIKE AT LLANELLY. Another strike has taken place at the Llanelly Copper Works (Messrs Nevill, Druce, and Co.). Close upon a hundred men are affected. A short time ago a portion of the works was closed for repairs, and a week ago all the rollermen, with the exception of George Williams, started again. Mr Hugh Nevill refused to allow Williams to re- sume employment. No reason was vouchsadedfor the stand taken, and Mr W V. Morgan, district secretary of the Gasworkers' and General Labourers' Union, was communicated with. He on Tuesday had an interview with Mr Nevill, but no settlement being arrived at the men came out.

NEWPORT AID FOR DR. BARNARDO'S HOMES. The annual street collections in aid of Dr. Barnardo's homes for waifs and orphan children which took place at Newport on Saturday and Sunday realised 494 93 3d, as compared with 167 39 6!d, the result of last year's street collec- tion.

DEATH OF A VETERAN SOLDIER. General Sir Arthur Thomas Cotton, E.C.S.I. died at Woodcott, Dorking, on Monday night in his 97th year. He served in India and in the Bunnah expeditiou, and led storming parties I against; seven differentiorts and stockades. He largely interested himself in irrigation and cotton 1 growing in India. I

I INSPECTOR MILLS STABBED I, EXCITING STRUGGLE IN A TRAIN. i An extraordinary stabbing affray occurred on I Tuesday afternoon in a Great Western Bailway train betweetf Ely and Cardiff. The victim oi the attack is Inspector Mills, who is well known on the Great Western Railway line, having jurisdiction ranging from Pyle i in the west to Newnham in Gloucestershire. The inspector seems to have had a life and deat.h struggle in a third class compartment on the train due at Cardiff at 3.45 in the afternoon. So seriously was he knocked about and cut on the face and hands that immediately the train pulled up at Cardiff he was conveyed to ths I Infirmary, where he now lies. The chief wound is one on the back of the head behind the ear. We are glad to hear, however, that it is not deep, and not likely to lead to complications. As the result of the struggle the inspector ie very prostrate, and suffering seriously from shock. His assailant was a man who gives his name as Reuben Mursall, who held a third class ticket available between Bridgend and Cardiff. Nothing is known of him by the local police, but Mursall (who is in custody) c-ayi3 he j is 18 years of age, and a native of Leicester. Prisoner is a big, lusty man, and looks over 20. The circumstances of the attack appear to be as follows -As our readers know, passengers travelling to Cardiff from the west have to give up tickets at Ely Station. Prisoner, together with the other passengers, was asked for his ticket before the train steamed oat, but the ticket collector was unable to induce him to hand it over. Af) there was no time to spare, Inspector Mills ordered that the train should move on, and undertook to travel in the compartment to Cardiff and reason with Mursall on the way. The inspector's persuasive powers had not long been employed ere prisoner became very violent. Mursall said he would not give up his ticket, and rising from his seat he struck the inspector a violent blow in the face. He followed this up by taking bold of Mr Mi'ls by tne throat, and hitting him against the bulkhead of the carriage. The inspector closed with his desperate assailant as soon as possible, and endeavoured to pinion his arms. Thursall resisted the design and threw the inspector off. He then drew a pocket-knife from a pocket in his trousers, opened the blade before tha inspector had recovered himself, and then tried to stab him three or four times in the stomach. Mr Mills succeeded in warding off the blows, but sustained several sharp cuts on the hands. Prisoner then made a lunge at the inspector's head, and suc- ceeded in driving the blade into the flesh behind the left ear. By this time the train had palled np at Cardiff Station. Assistance was immediately enlisted, prisoner was handcuffed and taken to the police station, and Inspector Mills conveyed to the Infir- station, and Inspector Mills conveyed to the Infir- mary, where be now liaa, sick and prostrate, as the result of the battering he sustained against the carriage bulkhead. COWARDICE OF SPECTATORS. One of the worst features of the affray is the extraordinary fear and the callousness exhibited by four other occupants of the compartment who witnessed the greater part of the attack. The four were men, and three of them, seeing how I serious the affray was, opened the carriage door and got out on to the footboard and found accom- modation in another compirtment. The fourth man—so Inspector Mills alleges—although appealed to for help, refused to render any aid, and travelled beyond Cardiff unidentified.

FURTHER PARTICULARS. STATEMENT BY THE ELY TICKET. COLLECTOR. Ticket-Inspector Hewitt, of Ely, says:-Upon the arrival of the train at Ely I found a passenger in a third class compartment apparently asleep. I woke him and asked him for his ticket. He at once tried to strike me. I asked a second time, and again he attempted to strike me, and made as if he would follow me out on to the platform. Inspector Mills then came up and said he would travel with the passenger to Cardiff. VERSION BY INSPECTOR MILLS. Inspector Mills says :—Upon the arrival of the 3.40 train at Ely I saw a commotion in front of the train. I went forward and found that prisoner was refusing to give up his ticket. I tried to persuade him to do so, but failed, and rather I than detain the train I got into the compartment with him. Ho said h would not give up the ticket and struck me in the face. I was then sitting alongside of him. He got up and struck me again. I then closed with him and tried to pinion his arms. But he drew a knife, opened it, and said, I will have you this way," ana tried three or four times to stab me in the stomach. I warded off his blows and sustained slight cuts on each hand. He then tried to stab me on the head and succeeded in cutting me in the neck. We fought on the floor for the possession of the knife, and I secured it just as the train ran into Cardiff. STATEMENTS OF SPECTATORS. Evelyn Thomas, 52, High-street, Clydach Vale, saysI entered the compartment that was occupied by prisoner and three others at St. Fagan's. At Ely the inspector came in, and prisoner, asked for his ticket, took out bis watch and said, Here it is," He then replaced it in his pocket ar;d st-tuck the in>pect», who th'-rczpon held him round the waist and tried to keep him on his seat. My companion, Elias Thomas, tried to assist the inspector, but prisoner threw him off and kicked him. My companion and I then got out on to the footboard and entered the next com- partment. I did not see anything of the stabbing affray. Elias Thomas, 23. Clydach-road, Clydach Vale, corroborates the previous statement. POLICE PROCEEDINGS. Prisonerwill be brought before the Cardiff magistrates to-day. Detective Matthews, of the I Great Western Railway Company, who has charge of the case, hopes that Inspector Mills will be in a position to appear and give evidence.

THE RESCUE OF A SWANSEA CREW. RECOGNITION OF GALLANTRY I AT SEA: I On Monday at the Council House the Lord Mayor of Bristol presented Thomas Daniel, master of the s.s. Tregurno, of St. Ive's, with a piece of plate; Joseph B. Stadden, the mate, with a binocular glass and medal; and Benjamin Sisley, the boatswain, with a medal and two guineas, in acknowledgment of their humanity and kindness to the shipwrecked crew of the William Connal on February 14th. The William Connal, a small Glasgow steamship, left Swansea on the 10th of February for Bordeaux, but when she reached Land's End the wind increased to a gale, and when off Ushant a hurricane was blow- ing, and she sprang a leak. It was decided to run for Falmouth, but the weather afterwards became worse, and she would have foundered with all hands if not rescued by the Tregurno. la banding to the captain the piece of plate the Lord Mayor said that from the voluminous official statement he had received from the Board of Trade he had learnt the whole thing told of un- usual gallantry. After smashing her lifeboat, a second attempt to rescue the crew was made, this time successfully. It was a brave deed, and was done in a most perilous sea. The recipients acknowledged the gifts in a suitable manner, and Mr Mark Wbitwell thanked the Lord Mayor for making the presentations. Hia Lordship, in reply, said as Englishmen they were proud of their seamen. He bad crossed the Atlantic eight times, aud knew the danger of launching a bojtt in a heavy sea.

FURIOUS FIGHT AT CARMARTHEN. PUGILIST BREAKS HIS LEG. Mill-street and Shaw's-lane contain the lowest courts and alleys of Carmarthen, and here dis- orderly scenes are frequent and furious. 011 Monday night was enacted in the latter place one of those sceiies to which the police are reluctant, if hot timorous, witnesses, some of the characters being defiantly pugilistic in their 1 opposition to law and order. It was at ths close of the day's excavations in the borough streets, where new mains are being expeditiously laid by a great number of big burly fellows, that a muscular navvy got to close quarters with George Ray, whose acquaintance with the magistrates is I of an unenviable nature. A fast-gatheriag crowd pressed eagerly forward for much expected fun," but one of the combatants had fared so badiy that he wailed loudly for quarter, his right leg in falling being broken in two places, and the other leg considerably bruised. To the hospital poor George was conveyed on a stretcher, handcuffed and bound amidst a good deal of consternation. The tale of the somewhat tragic occurrence will be told in the Police Court when Ray is able to be removed.

POTATO CARGO SEIZED AT CARDIFF At the Cardiff Health Committee meeting on Tuesday Port Sanitary Officer D. Jenkins re- ported that on the 17th inst. he seized a cargo of about 46 tons of Jersey potatoes on board a ship lying in the West Dock. These potatoes were f certified by the Medical Officer of Health as unfit for human food, and a magistrates' order was obtained for their confiscation. The potatoes were disposed of by Inspector Vaughan, who had them buried on the ballast ground in the East Moors.

NEWPORT BABY'S FATAL FALL. The nine months old child of Mr Hubert Per- r kins, of 51, Cupel-crescent. Newport, was put to bed on Saturday night by its mother. Some time afterwards the child was found on the floor, hav- ing fallen from the bed. The infant appeared to be injured and medical assistance was called, but the child died on Sunday from the effeetr, of the shock.

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AT EIGHTY. At Dover on Monday an inmate of the Work- house named John Thomas, nearly 80 years of age, was charged with attempting to commit suicide. He was discovered in a meadow adjoin- ing the Infirmary trying to cut his throat with a, clasp knife. The old man said he was in great pain, and under treatment for chronic bronchitis. The magistrates ordered him to be sent back to the Union, Thonaas^romising not4o eegwt the act.

SHUNTING ACCIDENT AT SWANSEA. TRUCKS SMASHED AND CARRIAGES DAMAGED. NARROW ESCAPES FROM INJURY. Shortly after 5 o-clock on Tuesday afternoon an extraordinary shunting accident occurred at the Victoria Station of the London and North- Western Railway. This station is the terminus rit Swansea, and at the hour named it was neces- sary to make up one of the trains for the North. In doing this shunting operations were neeessaiy. A long train of carriages was being shunted in the direction of the cattle lairs, which are situated a the bottom o(an incline, when the engine-driver found the brake would not act, owing apparently to some slight defect, for had there been a- total fracture of the brake it would have acted auto- matically- The driver at once reversed the engine, but by that time it was too late to stop the train, and it dashed into three open trucks which were at the end of the siding. On one of these trucks were sitting some cattle drovers, and it is quite a miracle ail were not killed. They were quite unconscious of their danger till some men working on the Great Western Railway above them on the high level, seeing that an accident was inevitable, shouted to them, and they were able to get out of danger, though one got a severe knock through not getting fa.r enough off before the collision occurred. The result of the crash was the piling up of the three trucks, two of which were completely wrecked. The bulk of the passenger carriages were not much injured, but a iew had their buffer castings broken, and possibly other damage which requires cl-jse examination to discover. About half a dozen carriages have been reserved for inspection. It is fortunate no one was hurt. The engine was in the charge of a driver of 21 years' service, and one whose reputation for care- fulness is such that he has not one flaw on his long record.

PENRIEYBER NAVIGATION COLLIERY COMPANY, LIMITED. TO THE EDITOR. Sir.-We generally give credit to our workmen and their genial secretary as endeavouring to deal in an equitable manner with all questions apper- taining to the colliery, but we regret that they have failed to do so in the letter which appears in to-day's issue of the South Wales Daily News. The subject of coal hewing, etc., is one that has been submitted to the joint committee of the association for settlement under a mutual arrange- ment. Then with regard to cottage rents. During the past seven or eight years some hundreds of new houses, containing of an average five rooms, have been erected at Tyntetown and Ynysboeth, both of which places are within an easy distance of the colliery, the outside limit not exceeding one mile. These cottages cost from X135 to E150 each, and many of them are built upon ground extending 100 feet from curb stone to boundary wall, and rentals run from 12s to 14s per lunar month, including water. Any person will at once see that such cottages are not renttJd-as Mr Giles says-up to the very highest mark." House coal, too, is cheap, only 5s lOd per ton delivered to all men employed underground. The company axe prepared to give regular employment to a large number of good, steady colliers and underground workmen.-I am, &c. (For the Penrikyber Navigation Colliery Com- pany, Limited), July 25tb, 1899. THOS. JONES, Secretary.

CARDIFF CHORAL SOCIETY. CELEBRATION OF THE EISTEDDFOD VICTORY. I On Tuesday, at the Town Hall, Cardiff, his Worship the Mayor gave a reception to the members of the Cardiff Choral Society in celebration of theii recent victory in the Eistedd- fod chief choral competition. The Mayor was supported by the ex-Mayor (Alderman Ramsdaln), the town clerk (Mr J. L. Whea.tley), Alderman David Jones, Mr E. W. M. Corbett, Conrcillor E. Thomas, Councillor Gerhold, a.nd Mr W. Harris, American Vice-Consul. In the course of an address of welcome, the Mayor said that happily those individuals who could not appreciate music were rare. He had himself greatly enjoyed the singing to which he had listened at the recent Cardiff Eisteddfod— (cheers)—and especially the performance of the choirs in the chief choral competition. (Cheers.) The success of the Cardiff Choral Soeietv in that competition was a matter for keen and warm congi-atulation. That success could but have been the result of zealous assiduity, csrefai attention, and hearty co-operation. He believed the honour of bringing together the choir was due to his bardic colleague, Councillor E.Thomas, who was one of those thorough Welshmen who was ungrudgingly devoting much time to those matters which were ever dear to all'true-hearted Celts. Councillor Thomas had done good work for his fellow-townsmen, and certainly deserved well of Wales as well as of the town of which they all felt proud. To the conductor, Mr D. C. Davies. a great deal must be due, for to guide a big choir was a task which required great ability, patience, courtesy, tact, and goodwill. The many necessary services rendered by the other officials must also be warmly recognised, and the efforts and ability shown by each member of the choir deserved unstinted praise, for by winning the competition the Qajrdiff Choral Society not only held the premier position in the Principality, but the honour of being the first society from Cardiff to receive the chief choral prize at the National E I-taddfocl. (Loud cheers.) He hoped that the victory would stimulate the members of the society to continued exertion, not merely to obtain further victories, bat for individual good. He had a great admira- tion for and belief in the power of song its eloquence and attraction improved the understanding and soothed the mind, and be would advise all who had the slightest musical taste to develop and strengthen it, for it would tend to make life all the happier and brighter. (Cheers.) Subsequently brief addresses were delivered by Mr E. W. M. Corbett and Councillor Edward Thomas, and songs and glees, together with the test piece at the Eisteddfod, were sung during the evening by the choir. Refreshments were pro- vided by the kindness of the Mayor.

LAST NIGHT'S GAZETTE." PARTNERSHIP DISSOLVED. Walter Cook and Harry Cook, trading as W. Cook and Son, at Fitzroy-street, Catbays, Cardiff, stone merchants. Waiter Cook retires. RECEIVING ORDERS. Wm. Pritchard, of Yr Efail, Pentre. blacksmith. Joseph M. Davies, Hoi ton-road, Barry Dock, grocer. Leonard E. Ireins and Thomas Anderson, latelv trading together at Portmanmoor-road, Cardiff, builders. Joseph M. Davies, Holton-road, Barry, grocer. Walter Heath, Coronation-road, Bedminster, Bristol, contractor.

GOING TO JERUSALEM.—Travelling h&a.,&mved at a high pitch of perfection in the German Emperor's vi8it to the Holy Land! But still then will be a lot of walking to do, and corns are no respecter of persons. An absolute necessity in these travailing days, in order to ensure oomfortfor the feet, is Mandate Viriduw," the xnarveDoos. coco-care. Yoashould never travel without it, In b<*Hea, ls.postfree,J, Monday, Chemist, High-street, CartMf 1079

COURT CIRCULAR. OSBORNE, Tuesday. Her RoyaJ Highness Princess Christian o! Schleswig-Holstein and her Highness Princes, Victoria arrived at Osborne yesterday afternoon croseing from Portsmouth on board H.M. yacht Alberta, Vice-Admiral Sir John Fullerton A.D.C. Lieut,-Col. the Hon. H. C. Legge (Equerry-in- Waiting to the Queen) was in attendance on board the Royal yacht. The Queen drove out, accompanied by their Royal Highnesses Princess Christian ol Schleswig-Holstein and Princess Henry of Battenberg, and her Majesty went out this mor ing accompanied by the Princesses. Lady Layard (Lord Wimborne's sistet), who had been staying for a few days at Dowiais House, returned to London on Tuesday morning. Lord and Lady Wimborne leave to-day (Wednes- day) for London via Cardiff We understand that the wedding of Mr Herbert Lewis, son of Sir William Lswis, with Miss Couchman, daughter of Major-General Couchman, will take place early in October, but that the pre- cise date has not yet been fixed.

CARDIFF AND THE ROYAL SHOW. LETTER FROM THE TOWN CLERK, The following letter wa.s on Tuesday forwarded by the town clerk of Cardiff to the secretary of the Royal Agricultural Society :— 25th July, 1899. Dear Sir Ernest,- Country Meeting, 1901. In accordance with the promise contained in my letter of the 17th inst., I have to write you as to the result of the public meeting of the in- habitants held last ev-juing. The following pro- position was made by the Mayor That this meeting has heard with delight that the Koyal Agricultural Society is prepared to hold its meet- ing in Cardiff in the year 19C1, and hereby endorses the action of the Corporation in offering to the society the use of a part of the Llandaff Fields for the purpose of the show, believing that the visit of such a great and important society to Cardiff will be of immense benefit to the town and district." This motion was heartily supported by mem- bers of the Corporation and other gentlemen, but after some discussion the following amend- ment was proposed and recorded That this meeting, while desiring that the Royal Agricul- tural Society's show should be held in Cardiff in the year 1901, disapproves of the Llandaff Fields, or any part of thsm, being used for the purpose of that or any other show." The amendment, I am extremely sorry to say, was carried by a large majority of about two to one. It is now my duty to place this matter be- fore the next meeting of my committee, after which no doubt a further communication will be sent you.—Yours faithfully, J. L. WHEATLEY, Town Clerk. Sir Ernest Clarke, 13, Hanover-square, London.

HIGHLANDERS AT THE EISTEDDFOD. AN EXPLANATION FROM THEIR LEADER. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Will you kindly grant me a little of your valuable space to make an explanation regarding the unpleasant incident at the Eisteddfod on Thursday last ? On behalf of the Scottish deputation I have to express our regret that any act of ours should have given offence to the feelings, or even the prejudices, of Welshmen at their great national gathering. Our intention was far from that. Jjet me explain our position. Some little time ago I received a letter asking me if I could come to the Eisteddfod at Cardiff and bring with me a band of pipers. To this I replied that to take pipers to such a distance as to Cardiff and back would be expensive but if it would be a pleasure to our Welsh friends, I would see what I could do. Two or three friends joined with me, and we brought the pipers down. Thinking that an exhibition of our Highland dancing—which we consider an art and which w cultivate as such—would be something new and entertaining to the vast audience at the Eistedd* fod, I offered to gpt the pipers to give a few steps. To this offer, I must confess, some of our Welah friends did not give a prompt response, although ,others said it would be a great treat to tha people. But the hesitation of some I thought arose trona want of time to cope with the vast pro- gramme they had before thsna. Had I been frankly told that a number of good friends would not like such an exhibition there would hafe been no exhibition there of Highland dancioig, and the moment we became aware of the real state of matters we withdrew immediately. This is the eimple explanation of the presence of the pipers at the Eisteddfod, and I feel sure, when it becomes known, it will be generally acknowledged that they did not deserve to have showered on them any harsh, insulting, or un- gentlemanly terms for doing what, in the inno- cence of their hearts, they thought would pieaM the people to whom they claim a Celtic kinship. —I am, &c., GILLEBHRQ> £ L Glasgow, 22nd July, 1899.

HOWELL'S SCHOOL. SCHOLARSHIPS AWARD. A meeting of the governors of Howell's Glamor- gan County School for Girls was held at the schoolhouse, Llai-idaff, on Tuesday afternoon Lord Trodegar presiding. The report of the examiner appointad to conduct the recent exa- mina.tion for six Howell's scholarships wsa received, and the following children WeiG electedThe Misses D. E. Edwards (Gaezo, philly), M. O. Williams (Talgarth), at present a boarder in the school; M. Shaw (Mountain Ash), M. C. Williams (the Rectory, Dowlais), Mabel Walton (Trullcng, near Brecon), and L. J. Abbott (Bridgend). Thirty-eight candiut", presented themselves for examination, and IS reahed a cledita.ble standard of proficiency. Ths scholarships entitle to free board, lodging, aott washing, wi th tuition, for the term of one year, renewable from year to year for five, or in (Excep- tional cases six years. The governors have discre- tionary power to make a grant for clothing in addition. The prizes will be awarded at 2.50 oft Saturday afternoon next. There are vacancies fat boarders in the school, who can secure all the advantages of the school as regards tuition and board for the sum of 920 per annum and tuition fee. Girls leaving the school will be entitled tc compete for valuable exhibitions tenable at places of higher education. Further particulars may be obtained from the clerk, Mr C. R. Waldrolk solicitor, 96, St. Mary-street, Cardiff.

MANNESMANN TUBE WORKS. Much satisfaction was felt throughout Landora at the announcement made in the South Wales Daily 2itews that the British Weldless Tabe Oom- paay, Limited, has been registered to purchase the Mannesmann Tube Works, Landore. Out of SOO.man formerly employed at these works only about 200 are employed now the others having been idle for very many months, with the result that considerable distress exists at Landore. The registration of the new company is looked upon as a proof that the time is not far distant whed the whole-corleern will be set going on more.

QUEEN'S PRIZE WINNER. A WELCOME H03IE. Private Priaulx, the Queen's Prizeman, arrived at Guernsey on Tuesday evening, aud was accorded a most enthusiastic public ovation. He was chaired and carried to an open carriage drawn by four horses and proceeded m state through the principal streets, which were gaiiy decorated, to the Royal Court, where he was pre- sented to the Lieutenant-Governor, the Bailiff, and other dignitaries. About 200 men of ldf., regiment acted as a guard of bonour, and thsf band preceded the carriage. —

LONDON LETTER. LONDON, Tuesday Night. INITIATING NEW PEERS. I There is something characteristically British I in the ceremony with which a. new Peer takes hia I seat in the Honse of Lords. One can see from its remnants that at one time it must have been a function of great dignity, full of colocr as a spec- tacle, and of significance in its incidental de- tails. Some of the colour remains, bnt the details I a.re no longer emphasised. The audible sigh of relief with which the Lord Chancellor threw his three-cornered hit down on the Woolsack at the close of to-day's ceremony was typical of the general feeling of the House. Some centuries ago, before the Norman strain had become hopelessly and prosaically Anglicised, the Peers may have token a solemn pleasure in their rites of initiation. Nowadays they regard the performance as a necessary evil so tedious that it is only to be tolerated as a kind of curtain-raiser. Thus, when a new Peer takes his seat. he is expected to come own early and get through with the affair in time to enable their Lordships to take up business- at the usual hour. AN UNUSUALLY LARGE ATTENDANCE- As a rule the astonished novice is welcomed by 91 beggarly array of empty benches. Out of com- pliment to the hero of Omdurman, a number of Peers were actually in their places this evening to witness the introduction of Lord Kitchener. Lord James and Lord Lansdowne represented the Government, and behind them sat half a dozen others. The empty acreage of the Oppo- sition benches was relieved by the solitary figure of the Earl of Cork. A few Peeresses witnessed the scene from the side Galleries, and on one of I the Woolsacks facing the Lord Chancellor sat Baron Brampton, still pointed out to strangers by the more familiar style of Sir Henry Hawkins. Suddenly a blaze of colour lit up the Chamber. Advancing from the Bar in single file came five figures arrayed in robes and uniforms of resplendent hue; the quietest of the group was Black Rod, the most magnificent his companion,Garter-King-at-Arms, whose gorgeous toad entitled him to the description of a living picture of heraldry. Those two led the way, and were followed in the order named by Lord Roberts, Lord Kitchener, and Lord Cromer. The Peers were in their flowing crimson robes, and as they advanced to Woolsack they made obeisance to the Lord Chancellor, who solemnly raised his little three-cornered hat, and looked a.s if he would like to shake hands and say, How d'ye do ?" THE CLOSE OF THE CEREMONY. As a matetr of fact, there was some shaking of Stands, after which the procession withdrew to the table, and remained standing there while the Clerk read the new Peers' patent, recited the gammons, and finally administered his oath, all with the speed and dexterity of a verbal acrobat, The ceremony, however, was not yet complete. Folding their robes around them the three Peers marched solemnly back to the Bar, turned to the left, re-entered the House, ?.nd took seats 1In the fifth or back bench below the open Gang- way. Hire they put their cocked hats on, for the purpose apparently of taking them off again. This action they repeated twice, and at each salutation the Lord Chancellor raised his three- cornered hat a.ud gave it a little flourish, comically suggestive of the valedictory hat- waving at a railway station. Once more the Peers rose to their feet, again they. made a stately progress up the floor of the House, for the twentieth time they bowed to the Lord Chan- cellor and then at last they vanished, to reappear I a few minutes later in rational costume. la Lord Cromer's case, however, the metamorphosis was not immediate. Having as a Baron introduced Lord Kitchener, ho had now himself to be introduced as a Viscount. His sponsors were Viscount Cross and Viscount Peel, and the ceremonial which had been observed in the initiation of Lord Kitchener was again followed, A DEVIATION. There was one singular deviation from custom. Visitors to the House of Lords may have observed that the benches on each side are arranged in five tiers. On initiation Peers are expected to take their seats on the particular bench corre3poudin?; with their rank. Thus a Duke aits on the Front Bench, a Marquis on the second, an Earl on the third, a Viscount on the fourth, and a Baron on the fifth. Following the rule, Lord Kitchener 803 a Baron had taken the fifth tier, Lord Cromer, instead of unounting to the fourth or Viscounts' bench, sat'down in the front row. Perhaps it as from fatigue, or perhaps it was simply anticipating his dukedom. In any case, the incident passed without comment. When Lord Cromer reappeared it was to take a. place by the side of Lord Kitchener in the neutral terri- tory of the Cross Benches, sacred to Royal princes, great soldiers, and the Earl of Wemyss. THE NAVAL WORKS BILL. Most of the money to be expended under the Naval Works Bill will go in the construction of new docks at Chatham, Malta, Bermuda. Cape Town, and Hong Kong. The cost of the new works, a.s Mr Austen Chamberlain admitted in I his speech to-night, is unusually large, amounting to no less a sum than £5,000,000, in addition to what has already been provided. Mr A. Chamber- I lain claimed that the Bill raised no new question I of principle and no large question of policy, and on the whole the Opposition, while raising a lament over the continued growth of military and naval expenditure, were inclined to accept the view. Perhaps the most outspoken criticism came from the Welsh members, among whom Mr Herbert Lewis and Mr Uoyd George were especially emphatic in their protests. A practical suggestion by Sir U. Kay Shuttleworth to the effect that the Government might profitably give greater snooaragement to private enterprise in dockyard construction was favour- ably received. But in those matters the House of Commons, although it grumbles a great deal and makes a pretence of considering various ways aut of the difficulty, always concludes by ordering the taxpayer to pay the bill. f KRUGER'S REPORTED RESIGNATION. President Kruger's reported resignation formed I the subject of a question by Mr Gibson Bowles to-day, bnt in the absence of Mr Chamberlain, who was pleading the cause of the Colonial Nurs- ing Association at Stafford House, the lion, mem- ber was unable to'obtain any definite information. Singularly enough, the report has nowhere caused greater consternation than in quarters which have been most bitterly antagonistic to Oom Paul. He is now spoken ci as a restraining influence, and fears ace expresssd lest his rivals, some of whom are inexperienced and hotheaded may eventually contrive to supersede the shrewd old President. Meanwhile, however, the general opinion appears to be that the resignation, if it has really been tendered, will not be allowed to take effect. Bismarck used to get his own way by resorting to precisely the same device. OLD AGE PENSIONS. I understand that the members of the Old Age Pensions Committee have now virtually con- cluded their consideration of Mr Chaplin's draft report. There was a further meeting of the Committee to day, at which a number of amendment-, were submitted with the object of widening the scope of the chairman's recommendations. I believe these were adopted in every case, although in some instances not without a division. It may, however, be regarded as a hopeful sign that none of the divisions were of a party character. On the whole, indeed, the Com- mittee are understood to be unitedly in favour of a. strong and comprehensive scheme. lhoiz report will be presented in the course of a few days, and during the recess we shall doubtless hear a. good deal of it as a oasis for future legis- lation. Whether it will figure in the next Queen's Speech is a question which time will decide. I BRITISH MUSEUM ACQUISITIONS. One of the most interesting chapters in the I annual report of the British Museum, issued to- day, id that relating to the department of printed ¡ books. This contribution i3 from the pen of Dr. Garnett, whose closing year of office appears to ¡ ha.ve been memorable in more ways than-one. Dr. Garnett himself describes as the most remark- able incident in a. year of important acquisitions the purchase of three Caxtons—a circumstance probably unprecedented. With the Doctrinal I of Sapience," bought at the first Asbburnham sale in 18the library has obtained within the last two years as many Caxtons as had been acquired from 1851 to 1896. As to two of those precious I volumes it is said that apart from those now in the Museum only two other copies are known to exist. Among the curiosities of the new collec- tion are Harris's Life of Cromwell, published in 1772, with manuscript notes by W. Squiie, the fabricator of the forged documents relating to Cromwell which imposed upon CarlyJe, testi- monials given to Robert Louis Stevenson on his candidature for the professorship of modern history in the University of Edinburgh, and the l&te General Gordon's memorandum on the treaties of Berlin and San Stefano, privately printed in 1880. A letter from Prince Bismarck o Lord Ro3ebery, written on April 5th, 1893, is 3no of thenew treasures of the manuscript-room, )

AMICABLE RELATIONS. RESTORED. THE BLOEMFONTEIN CONGRESS. SIR A. MILKER'S VERSION. IMPORTANT BLUE BOOK. Pretoria, Tuesday, 4.30 p.m.—Amicable relations between President Kruger and the Volksraad have now been restored. Cape Town, Tuesday (later),—It is now under- stood that President Ernger has now definitely abandoned his idea of resigning.—Renter. THE DISTURBING INFLUENCE, (Press Association Special Telegram.) Cape Town, Tuesday. —Telegrams direct from Pretoria in reference to the reported resignation of President Kruger were apparently censorised. It appears that the absence of the President from the morning sitting of the Executive gave Tise to persistent rumours of Mr Kruger's resignation. Mr R-Ðitz and Mr Smuts entered the room and held a whispered conversation with the chairman, and Mr Shalk Burger afterwards came in and showed the chairman £ i foolscap document, the contents of which are unknown. President Kruger arrived at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, when the secret session was in progress. All the members of the Executive were present, and the debate lasted three hours. It is understood that President Kruger stated that he felt that the Raad had no confidence in him, and that he therefore had better resign. The difference of opinion, it is said, turned chiefly upon the dynamite question, General Jou- bert and the majority ol the Volksraad desiring to cancel the concession, while the President and the minority were in favour of buying the com- pany out. Although telegrams received here on the subject from Pretoria and Johannesburg are believed to be correct, it is not considered likely that Mr Krager's resignation will be persisted in, and father developments are awaited with eager interest. The Cape Afrikanders are generally of opinion that the cancellation of the dynamite concession is absolutely necessary. AN EARLIER TELEGRAM. Cape Town, Tuesday, 12.25 p.m.—The resigna- tion tendered by President Kruger is not regarded here as definitive, particularly in view of the assurance given by the Volksraad that it still had the utmost confidence in the President.—Reuter. QUESTION IN PARLIAMENT. In the House of Commons on, Tuesday Mr Brodrick, replying to a question, said he could not give any information on tne subject of the rumoured retirement of President Kruger. MR SCHREINER'S MESSAGE. EXONERATED BY SIR A. MILNER. [Press Association Special Telegram.] Cape Town, Tuesday.—Telegrams from London state that the Press still casts doubts upon Mr Schreiner's denial in rega.rd to bis telegram to President Kruger, I had an interview on the subject with Sir Alfred Milner to-day, and his Excellency, in reply to my questions, said, The rumour which got about is unjust to h Schreiner. I authorise YOLl to say that I know the circum- stances under which a telegram was sent which has, doubtless, given rise to the rumour. I have since seen the telegram itself, and can state positively that it did not advise the Government cf the Republic not to make any further con- cessions. Its purport simply was to recommend delay in passing through the final sfcage3 of the Franchise Bill." THE KRUGER-MILNER CONFERENCE IMPORTANT BLUE BOOK. A Blue Book containing correspondence relat- ing to the Bloemfontein Conference between Sir Alfred Milner and President Kruer was issued from the Foreign Office on Tuesday afternoon. A verbatim report of the proceedings of the confer enoe was published in the Johannesburg organ of the Boer Government on June 24th and repro- duced in the London newspapers on the 18th mst. The only novelty in the Blue Book there- fore is the High Commssioner's own comments upon and summary of the conference proceedings. At the outset of the conference (says Sir Alfred Milner) President Kruger indicated a strong dislike io any franchise proposal. At the second meeting the President began by referring to reports which had reached him as to the strength- ening of the garrison at the Cape. Sir Alfred Milner retorted by observing that England was continually receiving reports of Transvaal War- like preparations, and he added that the large increase in the military forces and equipment of the Republic in recent years had produced a bad impression. The President repeatedly contended that the High Commis- sioner's franchise proposals would do away with the independence of the Republic, and added that the interests of the Uitlanders were suffi- ciently looked after by the second Volksraad. That point, however, Sir Alfred remarked, "is absolutely hollow. The first Volksraad is supreme. It takes all the most important matters affecting the foreign population into its own hands, and it almost invariably deals with them in a sense opposed to the wishes and interests of that population.' After showing reluctance to discuss the franchise question, President Kruger ultimately asked Sir Alfred Milner to make a proposal, which ho at. once did on the lines of his well-known despatches on the subject. t! "At the morning meeting on June 3rd,' President Kruger says, Sir Alfred suddenly sprung upon me a complete reform bill worked out in clauses and sub-clauses which I cannot but think he must have had in his pocket all the time, and which had but a very faint resemblance to anything I had proposed. The Bill, as I saw at a glance, was full of restrictions of the most elaborate kind, and though in some respects an improvement on the existing law was not oscu- lated to lead to any enfranchisement of the Uit- landers." At the resumption of the conference on June 3rJ the President sprang a new surprise upon the High Commissioner by bating that he would ptw a proposal for creating new electoral (lIstClcta be. fore the Raad as soon as he returned. He had said nothing about this on the previous day. On the last day of the conference President Krnger remarked that he was not prepared to give up his land and government to strangers, and that he understood fsom the High Commissioner's argu- ments that if he was not willing to do that there was nothing to be done. I protested," says Sir Alfred Milner, against this repeated asser- tion, and said when the notes of our interviews were before the world I would leave impartial judges to decide whether it could be truly said that I had ever proposed anything of the kind." The Blue Book shows that President Kruger repeatedly endeavogred to make the grant- ng of the franchise to the Uit- ianders the basis of a bargain with the Imperial Government respecting the incorpora- tion of Swaziland with the Republic, arbitration, and other matters. It also shows that the Presi- dent refused, with emphasis, to give the Uillander3 any power of self-government, and tha.t he invariably evaded going ic^to the question of dynamite monopoly. "I might," says Sir Alfred, have stayed at Bloemfontein fourteen days or longer discussing dynamite, the Edgar case, &c., but I preferred to seek, in a spirit of broad compromise, to obtain for the Uitlanders such a, position as would enable them gradually to remedy their principal grievances tV«omselves." Sir Alfred Miluer finally declares I con- fined myself entirely to he attitude of friendly suggestion, and avoided as far as possible all appearance of desire ou the part of her Majesty's Government to interfere in the President's internal affairs, and used all my influence to induce him to agree to a compromise which would render such interference unnecessary." THE RAND PLOTTERS "RELEASED. Pretoria, Tuesday.—The charges against the Johannesburg conspirators have been withdrawn, and the thru- remaining prisoners were released this afternoon. The whole case is therefore now dropped.—Reuter. THE NEW FRANCHISE LAW. (Press Association Special Telegram.) Pretoria, Tuesday.—The Volksraad to-day con- sidersd the amended Grondwet; in which provi- sion will.be made for the election of the President and the Commanndant-General. The redistribu- tion scheme has not yet been completed. Tne proposal gives four new seats in the First Ra.ad and four in the Second to Johannesburg imme- diately and when the new voters' lists are made out, and as soon as the numbers warract it, one member each to Klerksdorp, Boksburg, Krugers- dorf, and Heidelberg, the figures applying to both the First and Second Raads- The new franchIse- law will be promulgated to-morrow-.

THE STATES AND JAMAICA. New York, Tuesday.—Under the treaty with Jamaica, concluded yesterday, the United States makes cfeitain concessions in ita treatment of Jaraaca sugar and admits coffee duty free for uve years.—Central News.

TRIAL OF DREYFUS. SCOPE OF THE COURT MARTIAL. Paris, Tuesday.—M. Mazeau, in an interview published by the Echo de Paris, states that the Kennes Court Martial has the right to try Drey- fus on all points, to hear all the witnesses, and to throw complete light on the case. I According to the Petit Bleu, Madame Henri, widow of Colonel Henri, will be cited as a witness at the approaching trial. The Revisionist papers continue to protest against what they describe as the great imprud- ence of Major Marchand in granting interviews to persons ,like M. Thiebaud, who are trying to find in the Army men capable of plotting against the Republic.-I-).eu Let,. A GENERAL OFFICER TO BE PUNISHED. Paris, Tuesday Afternoon.—It is positively asserted that a well-known general of division deeply concerned in the prosecution of Dreyfus is about to be severely punished for entertaining proposals contrary to disci- pline." General de 'Pellieux has been appointed commander of the 44th Brigade at Quirnper, in Brittany, General Dalstein replacing I him in his present command in the Paris district. Captain Guyot. of Villeneuve, has been punished with 16 days' close arrest for his recent indiscretions in connection with the Dreyfus case. All these steps taken or to be taken indicate that General Gallifet, Minister of War wishes it to be understood in the Army "that he will stand no nonsense." It is announced that ex-Major Esterhazy will be given a safe conduct should he decide to go to Rennes and give evidence before the Dreyfus Court Martial.—Central News.

DOCK STRIKE AT ALMERIA. FIREARMS UTILISED. Almeria, Monday.—A number of dock labourers here who are out on strike owing to a wages dis- pute, to-day came into collision with a force of police and fired upon them. The police fired back and succeeded in restoring order.-Reuter.

SOUTH WALES COAL TRADE. MINERS' MEETING AT PONTYPRIDD. Mr R. Edwards presided at the monthly meet- ing of the No. 1 District of Miners held at the Park Hotel, Pontypridd, on Monday. He was supported by ItTabon M.P. and Mr D. Morgan (agent). It was resolved that the mee-tings be henceforth held at Porth, as being more central for the majority of the delegates. Mabon, Messrs D. Morgan (agent), and T. James, Clydach Vale, were elected to xepresent the district at the Federation meetings at Plymouth in September. The Agent reported that the membership had greitlv increased sine's the recent miners' demonstrations. The Executive Council were instructed to consider the advisability of in- creasing the entrance fee from 5s to 10s. They were also asked to consider the miners' holiday question on August 7th, as well as a complaint that a local colliery manager had refused to accept a checkweigher as one of a deputation from the men. After a very satisfactory report on the working of the Compensation Act, the lodges were, on the advice of Mabon, instructed to advance small sums to men who suffered any delay ia claims being paid through medical men failing to agree as to when they should resume working. The Executive Council were askedito immediately consider the question of the stokers' dispute at Llwynypia. Considerable discussion took pWce on the proposal to erect a house for the sub-agent and suitable meeting-rooms for the men. The Executive Committee were in- structed to prepare P. scheme on the subject, and to subsequently refer it to the lodges. The propossal to give assistance to workmen outside the district was referred back to the lodges, and the suggestion to amalgamate the various sick funds indefinitely adjouvned. PONTYPRIDD AND RHONDDA DISTRICT. At the monthly meeting of the Pontypridd and Rhondda district of miners, at the Green Meadow Hotel, Pontypridd: Mr Alfred Biboy presiding, references we::e made to needed improvements in the Compensation Act, and to the necessity of an Old Age Pensions Act. The Agent (Ur Ben Davies) reported that a marked increase of members had taken place at the Pentre, Aber- cynon, and Lady Wmdsor (Ynysybwl) lodges. The hauliers notices which were tendered at the Abercynon Colliery had been withdrawn pend- ing a final settlement of the dispute, and the meeting expressed regret that the stokers' claims for a readjustment of payment for 'boiler flue cleaning at Llwynypia had not yet been settled. Progress was reported with reference to the dis- pute at Penrhiw Colliery, the arbitrators appointed by the Sliding Scale Committee having taken evidence from the deputation representing the workmen. It was explained that the dispute at Meiros Colliery, Lianharran, where the work- men are under notice, had not been settled. The report of the auditors (Messrs Noah Thomas and David Davies) showed a steady increase of membership during the past six months, during which period the district had contributed £8UZ 8s to the central fund, a balance of L477 10s lOd being left in the district fund. The meeting passed a resolution expressing satis- faction at the position of the district fund. Messrs Matthew Weeks, James Rees, Joseph Howe, and Joseph Thomas were elected to act upon the j District Executive Council.

TENBY GENTLEMAN DROWNED. MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR. On' Monday Mr Harrison, of Tenby, a well known sporting gentleman, rode over to Stack* Eole Court, the residence of Lord Cawdor. Hi? orse was afterwards discovered without the rider, and a search being instituted the body of Mil Harrison was found in the fish pond in a standing position. How he got there is at presort • mystery.

RESCUE OF A NEWPORT TRADER- A Cork correspondent sends us particulars of & remarkable penormauca at sea by the schooner Dart, of Yoogbal whilst on tha way from Cs.raiiL The master, Captain McCarthy, noticed a vessel flying a flag of distress, and cn bearing dowa found she was the schooner Margaret Elizabeth, of Whitehaven, bour»d with coal from Newport to Ballmacurra, Cori; Harbour. She had lost her mainmast, and WM cuite helpless. Notwithstanding the heavy set. end the stig north-easter a hawser was passed, p- x. I bv dex- terous manoeuvring the Margaret Eazab^b wae towed safely to Youghal. The incident reflect* the greatest credit on Captain McCarthy and the crew of the Dart.

CANADIAN MAILS FROM BRISTOL. The arrangement which Mesore Kidcr, Demp- ster, and Co. have made with the Gansdiisi Government for the carrying oi tfce by ih« regularly run boUrota Montreal came fottt on Monday. The letters paseiiM; MffOOgl ?n8to1 o £ &ce up to an aarfy hoor Monday morning were despatched by 6be WS train to Avonmouth, and were transferred tc ths Monterey by tender, the steamer havjuv tJw dock a abort time previously. TmXrr csnawsi* cations were forwarded on Monday ewcing to ^ueenstown,at which port the vessel ma^a rspeeaJ on Tuesday. The new arrangereci-f pre- vraee for a weekly mail between Avouiucuit asd Montreal leaving the former on Mondays a:;1! tT.e Canadian port on Thupadajyu