South Wales Daily News

NEWPORT BUILDING DISPUTE. TO THE EDITOR. glr,-The twaddle one has to read on this dispute is sickening. I have carefully read Mr Jones's effusions, but there is no breath of argu- ment to be found, no attempt to let the public know why he and others will not go to work, why the society fauds are bled and drawn upon and weakened as they are. Funis are not accumulated to be drawn upon as they now ars here to flght a myth. Now, Mr Cha-des Jones, in speaking of Rule 13, siiyei that if a mail did uot suit an em- ployer he (the man) received two hoars' notice," And asks Why should not the men be allowed the same freedom ?" How absurd to rafe like this when he knows that a man can give aud does give two hours' notice if he is not satisfied with his employer; according to his code of working rules. What the mastsrs mean, and is clear to any unprejudiced mind which cares to study the rule. is this, Tha-b the Trades Unionists shall not as a body give two hours' notice because a non- society man is working for an employer." Mr Jones knows well thtot if a man elects to give two hours' notice he can d:) so. The men, too. know this. The fact is it pays some people to turn and twist a rule, to unduly emphasise words and 1( phrases, place a wrong construction on terms that the true intent and meaning are lost; the I rea-son is plain. My advice to my fellow working man is return to work. Rule 13 is framed for your own as well as the employers' protection against disputes, strikes, and other curses which are in Newport and other towns, alas! too readily fostered, and which ruin enterprise and cause want and unneceasry suffering upon innocent men, women, and children. Your correspondent Freedom is not a coward because he chooses a nom de plume. He has stated plain home truths and facts, whiih to Mr Charles Jones and others are not palatable. Your correspondent Free- dom is not a coward, as designated by Mr Charles Jones. He has put unpalatable truths before him, and he cannot refute them by argu- ment. He would prefer, together with his clique, to harass and annoy your correspondent privately and socially, rather than answer argaments or move a genuine peg forward to heal a, rapture of the men's own creation. If the public knew Mr Jones as I do they would understand why I, a working man, preferred to write, as Freedom has, under a nom de plume.—I am, ifcc A PLASTERER WHO HAS STUCK TO HIS TRADE. Caerleon-road, Newport, Mon., Sept. 23, 1899.

SHOP ASSISTANTS' UNION. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Now that the difScaities have died out in respect to the recent threatened eruption in con- nection with the National Union of Shop Assis- tants and Workmen I wish to point oat to the public that it is not early closing we are fighting for so much as better conditions of living. Yon may not know that it is almost impossible to get a situation unless you live in. and in living in you are herded in many cases like cattle. We are somrtimes bound to sleep with the most undesirable com- panions, and in one case at present in Cardiff there are eight men sleeping in a room with only one window. The doctor consulted ia a case of illness directed that they should tbiow the win- dow right open. Of course in that case the young men sleeping next the window must necessarily be in a draught, a great deal worse than sleeping outside. We also want to have reasonable time for meals, and to assert our right to marry and have homes of our own. This we cai only get by combination; and our Union is helpang us in that direction. Let it be impressed upon all assistants that there is uo shame in being recognised as a working man.—I am, &rc., WUMIN.

THE TRANSVAAL CRISIS. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—In closing his letter on the above subject which appears in your issue of to-day (Satorfl&y), my friend Mr Rowlands, of Waunarlwyd. makes the following state- ment As to the suzerainty, it is not wise on Mr Kruger's part to dispute it — the suzerainty of the nobieet power on earth." At the present fic-ote stage of the controverey, we have hardly the leisure to indrjge in a discussion as to the wisdom or unwisdom of the stand I Mr Kruger makes against British suzerainty. lly the exigencies of tÙ3 moment we are imperatively called upon to confine ourselves strictiy to the I question of the justice or injustice of that stand for it is upon that consideration only the issues of war or no war should depend. Unless the alleged British claim to suzerainty over the Transvaal is grounded upon justice ss well &a wisdom I ca.nnot believe that Mr Row- lands, or any otbsr professed Christian, would consent to its enforcement by the arbitrament of war. The question which every Britisher should ask hiaiself is By what are our relations to the Transvaal Government defined ? And the only possible answer to that question is By the Con- vention of 1S84, deliberately entered into and solemnly ratified by both Governments. Frolit the very moment of the ratification of that Con; vention we pledged ourselves, ia all questions which should subsequently arise between ourselves and the Government of the Transvaal, to be sruided and limited strictly bv its provisions. Anv attempt to settle. aiiy question upon any other f basis inconsistent with these provisions must be described as perfidious and unjust. It would be so described if the contract stood between individuals, the action niuqt be described in exactly the same terms when the contract stands between corporate bodies for eorporate bodies are nothing but individuals acting in a corporate capacity .and they are as iuliy amenable to the principle of justice when acting in that capsicity as when they act singly. No amount of shuffling can relieve us from tbe obligation of acting strictly within those limitations. Now wilat are the conditions which we imposed upon ourselves by the Lon- don Convention of 1884 ? While reserving the right of a final supervision over the treaty relations of the Transvaal with foreign Govern- ments, the British acquiesced in the recognition of the right of the Transvaal Republic to an abso- lute autonomy relating to its internal affairs. Consequently we have no right of forcible inter- ierence in the domesuc affaIrs of the Boers. 1 nee the term" forcible interference" advisedly, for it must be readily admitted that our Gornment did not abandon the right of friendly interference when the interests of its subjects required it. Plainly then, we cannot justly go to war with the Boers upon any of the issues hitherto raised in this dispute. We cannot with justice go to war for the enforcement of the so-called suzer- ainty, for in ratifying the Convention of 1884 we expressly disclaimed our further right to it. We cannot with ju&tice go to war for the en- forcement of any franchise reforms, ior by that We cannot with illitice go to war for the en- forcement of any franchise reforms, ior by that disclaimer we dispossessed ourselves of the right of enforcing them. I Now my object in penning this letter is to endeavour to bring h?me to my fellow-Christias our solemn duty in this matter. If this war goes on it wili be an unrighteous war, and those urging it on or merely consenting to it tacitly will be responsible for its dire conseqnesces. The guilt of the blood shed will be upon us unless we do all I we can to prevent it. I Let every follower of Christ fully bear in miud thatithe Government acts m bis uame, and that unleee he repudiates their action in the matter- he must share its responsibility. It is the dutv of the Christian Church to rise in its-might and I oppose this war. It lies within its puweJ" to prevent it. Unless we use that power God will demand tbe blood shod at our hands. The general apitby of the church so far is painlul and wtoutzdiag. Unlem we at once rouse ourselves to sOmmAiva aciioa ttte chance for it will be irre- irieunJbly aoue, and we shall find ourselves involved in gailt and SQame and uretieauable iuramy. In ooaolasion, allow me, Mr Editor, to thank you most cordially for your consistent and enthusiastic advocacy of the cause of pe-acit and justice in your illuminating, forcible, and con- vincing editorials, especially those of the j ,> è three days, Trusting yon will with your conrtesy find space for this eommunicaijou.-) am, &c., T. POWELL. lilautrisauf. Se-o:t. 23rd, 1899. TO THE EDfTOR Sir,-Your correspondent. Plaat Deutseh," r- hir, special pleading for the Boerw: asserts that t history of the Boers from the Grea.t Trek is c Jong record of British oppression and meddle- someness. Doubtless that is the view whic Boers take, but, like most Boer contentious, it should not be taken as incontrovertible truth. The Great Trek came as the result of British emancipation of the Hottentots, who had long groanad under Boer tyranny and cruelty. lit vreatment of natives has been the cause of frt- quent trouble between the Boers and the abori- gines. Our own intervention on behalf of tiie letter, however meddlesome from the Boer stand- point, is probably regarded in a different light by J the natives themselves and all freedom-loving people. It is an unfort-anate fact that your true Boer-the gypsy of South Afriea-himself pos- i. sessing an intense love of unrestricted freedom, cares little or nothing for tbe freedom oi others. Hence the present trouble.—I am. <fec., A BRITISHER.

BAKliY LICENSING SESSION AND THE | DISTRICT COUNCIL. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,-l am compelled to take this earliest opportunity to correct a statement made vester- day by our clerk and reported in your to-day s issue of the proceedings of the Court. Mr Arthur Hughes. I am sure, would not deliberately mislead the Court, much less make a statement which is not consonant with the fact. Yet, on ( taxing his memory, be must admit that in effect I; this is exactly what was doue on Friday. Il Mr Hughes stated that he knew nothing of the strong feeling which exists, neither was he awar= of any desire or arrangement for a public meeting to give expression to that feeling and desire—it F not indeed to express indigoation—at she manner 1? in which the Council has treated the public and the best public interests of the town all along, in (1) allowing a private speculator to appropriate lani which they required for the Gladstone-road, 1 and which is still essential for the proper develop- ment of the district and (2; by signing an obnoxious and mischievous agreement to diag into j) court a public body representing men of al' if classes and opinion in support of a licensed Lousi> on this particular spot. On the 24th ult., the day of Brewster Sessions, the clerk of the Council had placed in his hands a requisition duly of Brewster Sessions, the clerk of the Council had placed in his hands a requisition duly signed and served on the chairman, and asking him in his official capacity to call a public meet- ing for Wednesday, the 13th of this month, for the purpose of discussing the matter of grave and urgent importance to the public of Barry. How this request has been ignored, and this desire throttled, as far as some of the ofiicials of the District Council are concerned, the following correspondence between the Chairman and myself shall prove Septemoer 9th, 1899. Dear Mr Jose,—I called at your place yester- day in order to ascertain whether you pur- pose, acceding to the requisition, to call the public meeting on the 13th inst. As I have seen nothing in the way of public notice I naturally infer that you either wish to delay the said meeting or possibly to ignore altogether the request of ratepayers. Before however taking other steps, whi«h I am asked to do, I shall be greatly obliged if you can let me know this evening whether you will call the meeting or not. I hope as a labour representative you will not refuse an oppor- tunity for th" expression of public opinion. If so it will necessitate our taking action to secure this expression outside and inde- pendent of the Chairman of the Council which we are not wishful to do. The same evening Mr Jose replied :— I am surprised at the contents of yonr letter after the conversation with yourself and others on the evening of the 25th ult when I understood that probably it would be wiser for a deputation to wait on the Council prior to calling a ratepayers' meeting. The deputation referred to was suggested by the Chairman himself, when I Iplied that the regular way to proceed was to have the public meeting first ai.d appoint delegates, as otherwise „ a number of persons, so-called deputation could jj only definitely speak for themselves. Not being 1 representative of any public body—with the ? understanding that a ratepayers' mesting would 1 be held in any cA,e-a number of persons in the above capacity arranged to meet the Council or Public Works Committee, as we were anxious to proceed regularly and amicably iu the matter if possible. After this and the same day the ij| Chairman of the Council wrote :— ;;i September 12th; 1899. I have eeen Mr Smith Jones, chairman of the Public Works Committee, as promised, and he agrees to call a special meeting of the Pablic Works Committee for Tuesday, 19th inst.. at 8.30 p.m., to receive the deputation. No sooner than a number of gentlemen hsd arranged to meet the Public Works Com- mittee on this night another letter was written by Mr Jose, as foil ows September 15th, 1899. I called at the District Council Offices this evening and found Mr Smith Jones there endeavouring to arrange for a Public Works Committee for Tuesday next, but we have two meetings for that date, consequently it is impossible for the Public Works Committee to receive the deputation. The clerk (Mr Arthur Hughes) will notify you when the meeting is arranged and where, when I trust it will be convenient for your deputation to attend. On the night of the 19th iWlt., however, I again jl called on the Chairman,and stated that inasmuch as we were thus disappointed we demanded ol him to call a ratepayers' meeting at once. He stated that the next Public Works Committee, would not be beld until Tuesday evening, Oct. 3rd, as several of them were going away from home. Mr Jose. the chairman, therefore, fixed on Monday evening, Oct. 2nd. i.e., the evening Jj previous to their Public Works Committee. 3: Again, and to my surprise, the following com- munication wds received the next day September 20tu, 1899. Upon further consideration it appears to me to be unduly rushing matters to call a, ratepayers' meeting to consider the approach < to Gladstone-road. Of course, I cannot say > what is in the minds of your friends who are pressing for this meeting, but surely nothing j is to be lost by the deputation that has been I appointed waiting upon the Public Works t Committee on October 3rd. j On receipt of this letter the ratepayers seeing 15 the persistent efforts to stultify their action I resolved themselves to call the said public meet- ing on the same evening, at the same place, and the same hour arranged for by the Chairman,who 1 afterwards refused. Had the learned counsel t for the application of the licence on this spot j known the party really responsible for fixing this meeting on Monday, October 2nd, he would not have made so much capital out of it at the time, and possibly reserved seme of his remarks for another occasion. It is not for me to suggest that influence has been brought to bear on the Chairman of the Council and the Chairman of tho Pablic;Works,both of whom appeared to me to be very favourably disposed to accede to the reason- able request of the ratepayers, but afterwards were parties to put this off, It is inconceivable that the clerk, Mr Hughes, who had been inter. | viewed, according to letters quoted by the Chair- ican of the Council and the Chairman of th< Pablio Works Committee, was ignorant of tht feeling which existed and unaware of the desire for a public meeting. The Chairman's eitarge of "rushing" the matter is nufoanded, and cannot be seriously meant, knowing m he does that the reoaisiiioc- was served on him as fat back as August 24tb, i and that since an effort was made to suit his convenience. Should there be any semblance oi truth in this, which there is not, it certainly ill becomes the Council to find fault after the. andue, unprecedented, if not indecent, haste made by it to pass through incomplete plans of this PiU-ticnlat public-house in time for the Brewster SesionB-a rush I venture to say unworthy of a public body and incompatible with the impor- tance of public business and the true interests of -1 the district at large. No doubt the Council is in a j quagmire, and think the best policy now until » the licence has been secured is to prevent any public meeting to discuss the Question of acquir- ing tbe plot until is too late to do so, which, little thanks to the Council, is not yet the case. It is sad to see how a public body, or at least the majority, as in this case, uses its position and in- fluence against the public which sleeted it, and ir favour of a, public-house which diverts tbe course fij of an otherwise excellent -oad.-I am. &c., L. TON EVANS. 1 Barry, September 23rd: 1899. j

ANNE HATHA WAY'S .if COTTAGE. 8 DEATH OF THE CUSTODIAN. A Stratford oa-Avon correspondent tele- graphs -Mrs Baker, custodian of A ttne Hatha- < way's cottage, died early on Monday as the re- sulft of an accideut sustained about a waek&gu" _/j when she slipped and broke one of her legs. Mri Baker was a lineal descendant of a neice of A one Hathaway, Shakespeare's wife. Deceased N-,Its 81 years of age, and with the exception of two or <, three years always lived at the cottage, which fot upwarda of 70 years she had shown to thousands « of visitors from ail parts of the world.

A PAUPER'S LEGACY AND BOAST. — i The Holbeaeb (Lii;coln shire' Board of Guar- dians have just received an intimation that a < deceased pauper named William Smith irentitled to a legacy amounting to 1100. under the will oi a London sentlsman named Tinsley. The guar- t» dians having a claim of over;250 for the maiuten- • i ance of Smith, have instructed their relieving officer to takd the necessary proceedings for the administration of the estate, with av ev, to getting possession of one half of the leg»e< P&aper Smith's boast when alive was that •• be never J had worked, and never would." A

AMERICAN SOCIETY WEDDING. 'L i New York. Monday.-The select Foar Hnndred of New York society and the Charges d'Affaires of the British and Russian Embassies will stwn(I the wedding of Mias Grant and Princo Cantacnzene at Newport to-da.Y.-Central News.

| LACKAWANNA STOCK. Now ToTk-, Mond&BaUish P-rt icies tb;s mom ing aeolsre ti*»t (tore will speedily he a rise in .it'.ckawann* SWM& en Jfc? txt-mnt improvement n tns iBdwitrial »tcw*Reu !1IÐd -,n tbe better of the line by the TacderbiJtp. — -m II

A Nasty Smells J Indicate j 4 Danger. 4 I DISINFECT 1 I WITH f CONDY'S™ FLUID. j NO SMELL LEFT! NOT POISON i j £ Refuse Substitutes. Buy CONDY'S FLL'ID." I I A O f ail Chemists and Stores. 1 per bottU. J A Of all Chemists and SIMes. 1 per bottU. J IV i

FARM AND FIELD. NARCISSI IN POTS. Narcissi are nowadays more popular, perhaps, than any of the spring flowering bulbs not, how- ever, as pot-plants, but grown in the open border. Out of a large number of the so-called distinct narcissi that were tried-it would be scarcely pos- sible to try all-the sorts named below were found to be excellent for pot culture. By adopting this system we may not only obtain nice subjects in themselves for greenhouse decoration, but by the aid of glass we are enabled to anticipate the out. door ones, and thereby prolong the season of flowering. Narcissi are perfectly hardy, and generally will not stand a forcing heat. They should be grown in a mixture of pure loam and grit,and the bulbs should be potted firmly. They are better if not plunged in the dark, but may be stood under any kind of shelter to ward off ex- cessive rain. An excellent position for narcissi during winter is on a shelf near the glass of a greenhouse where frost is just kept out, and here they may be allowed to remain until the blooms are well advanced. A frame in the open border ia an equally good place for their gradual growth, if well protected in some weather, and the need- ful supply of soft water must not be neglected. They must not be allowed to remain in a close atmosphere whenever the weather is favourable to the glass being open. A very pretty sort for pots is bulbocodium (hoop petticoat); it requires to be planted thickly-tho,t is, six or seven bulbs in a six-inch pot. Golden spur, about four bulbs in a pot similar in size, will make a first-rate specimen. This will force well. Emperor, large yellow trumpet; Empress, yellow and white Sir Watkin, yellow; Horsfield, yellow and white —these are some of the best of daffodils and will do well in pots. Grandee, biaolor, and Princept, yellow, are similar to the above-named and are cheaper. Barri conspicuous is a most rich coloured variety. All the above, except the last, .have a six-inch pot for three bulbs. Orange Yellow and Sulphur Phoenix ar6 grand doubles five bulbs in a Dot will be a good number for these. Van Sion is an excellent double sort. Then there are the Polyanthus Narcissi which bear bunches of small sweetly-scented blossoms; they are particularly suitable for pot culture or for growing in water like hyacinths. Grand Monarque, white, citron cup, though somewhat late, is extra good Gloriosa, orange and white, Newton, yellow Jaune Supreme, fine yellow, deep orange cup Queen of the Netherlands, pure white, very large Her Majesty, white, yellow cup, very large Mont Cenis, large, white, yellow cup, very free-flowering, and White Per- fection, pure white, large truss of bloom, are all capital sorts. Most of them have large bulbs, therefore, three in a pot will be sufficient; they produce several spikes each and are very showy. There is this to be said about narcissi: When once a stock has been purchased they may be readily increased by planting them in the open border. EASILY GROWN WINDOW PLANTS: JXIAS. These Cape bulbs are very easily grown, and, I although they have been grown in our gardens for some considerable 'ime, are at, the present time but very Irittle known to window gardeners. All who see there in bloom for the first time are both surprised and delighted at the uncommon and varied tins and the curious colour combina- tions that are to be found among them. They are cheap, and those who are in search of something out of the common way should invest in a dozen or two of good bulbs, in mixed colours, and put them-10 or 12 together-in a five-inch pot. They bloom in April and May, and, when their variously-tinted petals are fully opened, one could almost imagine them to be some gaudy- coloured exotic insects basking in the sunshine. Owing to their dwarf habit they are well fitted for window cultivation and to see them at their best they should be grown some dozen bulbs to- gether in each pot, for they are neither coarse- growing nor coarse-rooted things, and therefore may be grown somewhat thickly. The right time for potting them is in autumn, for it should be understood that they naturally start into growth in October, continuing to grow slowly throughout the winter when sheltered, so that if the potting is postponed until spring they are unable of course to bloom so strongly as when they are planted in autumn. In their native haunts ir.ias grow on elevated plains where they get a large amount of fresh, pure air, consequently I they are sure to suffer considerably if kept for any time in a warm, confined atmosphere. The proper place for them during the winter is in a room where a fire is only made now and again. and where they got an abundance of air on mild days. They require no care to keen them from frost, as in the southern counties of England they seldom suffer any damage even when grown in the open air, so that all that is ne-.essary in Older to see them in perfection is to protect them from those rapid, severe climatic changes which injure the constitution of so many things not easily injured by cold alone After they have finished blooming, do not neglect to water them when dry. and until the foliage dies off, then lay finished blooming, do not neglect to water them when dry, and until the foliage dies off, then lay the pot3 down on their sides until the time for re-potting conies round again. They will do best in a soil which contains a large proportion of sand. Babianas and sparaxis are closely allied to ixias, and require the same treatment, and as none of them possess that tenderness of constitu- tion which renders the preservation of so many favourite window plants a matter of some difficulty they ought to find a considerable amount of favour with all who desire to see their windows filled with some bind of floral life. BEES PREPARING FOR WINTER. All stocks should be well provisioned for the winter by the end of September, or the latest by the early part of October. To the bee-keeper a bright warm Septeber is of great value, as it enables gentle stimulative feeding to be carried on to encourage increase in the hive and ensure a. large number of young bees to go through the winter, and be iu readiness for hard work on the return of spring. The chief things to be kept in miod in^preparjng colonies for winter are abun- dance of sealed stores, a large number of younsr bees, a prolific queen, and a dry, warm hive. Two or three thicknesses of sacking, with a piece of thick cirpet or felt over, will do well to cover framos for winter. A sheet of brown paper will add great ly to the wai-znth if placed on top of the quilts. W hen arranging the coverings of frames, care must be taken that there is no draught through the hive. Instead of cutting winter pas- sages in the combs, a much better plan is to have a passage over the top of the combs by placing a stick under the quilts. Before winter coverings are put on, all propolis should be carefully scraped from top-bars. Double-walled hives may have the spaces filled with cork-dust or chaff to prevent heat escaping, and to assist in main- caining an even temperature within the hive. A bottomless box, the size of the top of the hive, four inches deep, having a piece of calico tacked on to the bottom, and filled with cork-dust, makes a good winter cover for frames. Now is a, capital time to introduce young fertile queens to hives to replace aged or worn out ones, and also to coloaies that have be.come queenleas. In this operation a queen cage is used, in which the queen is confined when fftst placed in the hive, or the bees would be likely to destroy her. If she is coutinrd to the cage and placed for a time upon one of the combs, aud then set at liberty, she is usually well received. Press the cage containing the queen into a comb as for as the base of the I celis—if wbat is termed a pipe-covered cage be used—great care being taken not to injure ¡ the queen in any way. Select a, comb coiitainiug honey, that she may be supplied with food, sprinkle the bees with syrup, and dose the hive until tile next day, when it may be opened, the bees again sprinkled with syrup, and the queen released from the cage aud watched to see that the inmates take to her kindly. Should they not do so return her again to the cage, and try the experiment agaiu the next day. To exchange an old queen for a young one, search for the old queen by removing the combs one by one when found place her in a cage, and introduce to the hive between two of the combs, and left for six or eight hours, then removed, and the young queeu placed in a cage and released in two days, when she is, as a rule, favourably received by the inmates. Perhaps the best kind of queen I cage is that made of wire net with a flange on I the top to prevent its entering the hive too far, and an entrance in which to insert the queen on pressing a wire a door is opened at the bottom, which allows the queen to make her way into the I hive. DIARY OF GARDER WORK, Week ending September 30til.-Flower Garden There are plenty of weedy lawns about; the dry weather has weakened the grass, and the weeds have twken advantage of it. However, now that the rain bas softened the ground, the weeds may be easily taken out, and if a rich top dressing is applied the grass wili quickly fill up if not too much worn. A good thing to improve and thicken the turf is a dressing of bone meal at the rate of 51bs. per square rod. Charred garden refuse—sifted to free it from stone", etc., or wood ashhs will improve worn lawns. Worms t Me not always an evil oa a lawn the top dress- ing they apply is beneficia, of course it appears untidy, but should they do too much of it, an application of lime water or a dressing of lime will get rid of theiu. This is a good time to by down turf and trouspILt-ut evergreens. Cut- tings of evergreens will root now, planted firmly in a cold frame in light sandy soil. Young shoois may also be layered and peaged down ficinly. Cuttings of pausies will root quickly now, and will make capital plants for going out next March. Carnation cuttings, if well rooted, may be planted out in the beds any time now, the sooner the better. Where the fibrous-rooted begonias ha.ve been bedded out. if the plants are potted up befors the frost injures them, they will contiuue flowering in a wttrm houae all through the winter. Fruit Garden.—In gathering apples and yearp, lift up each fruit; if the part readily from the stalk they are ripe enough to gather. In smell gardens, where only a, few trees citn be grown, prolong the season by picking at different times, allowing a few days interval between. The fruits fit to gather firat will usually be those on the south side of the trees; later on the fruit on the north side; may be gathered. Dessert pea);" axe ver.v nice stewed, in fact, better than, the ordinary stewing kinds, such as U red ale St. Germains'and Catillas, U- arie Louise is one of the best October pears, and by netting the trees to keeep off the birds the season may be greatly prolonged by gathering a few at a time. There are far too many autumn pears and too few of the later varieties that will, keep after the New Year. One of the best Christ- mas pears is Glou Morceau, aad it keeps well, This requires a warm soil. A very good Decem- ber pear is Doyenne du Courice it succeeds well as a pyramid or espalier, No one can make a mistake in plaating this variety. Louise Bonne of Jersey and Madame Treqve are good autumn pears. Vegetable Garden.—Tomatoes will require watering now. There may not be any frost to injure them yet, but directly the fruits begin to colour take them off and place somewhere under glass. All surplus growth should be. removed to let in the sunshine it will be much the best to allow the frait to ripen on the plants »H far as possible. Under glass this has been an excellent season for tomatoes, and the crop grown against south walls has also been good but trained to stakes in the open, way from walls and fences, the crop is not so good the largest fruits have a. tendency to crack, and such fruits are not of much use as they decay almost before they become ripe. In trenching up ground for vege- tablss where the land will not be cropped until spring, a dressing of gas hme will prove very useful in freeing the lanr1 from wireworms. etc. From lib to lilb per square yard will not harm anything planted in spring. Greenhouse.—Continue disbudding chrysanthe- mums. Buds of the Japanese varieties will be swelling now, but the end of the month will be time enough for some of the quick developing incurvers Late sorts must be giown if bloomsare required at Christmas or later, and it will be best to keep them outdoors as long as it is safe to do so, and afterwards in a cool house with just sufficient heat to keep out frost until tbe buds begin to colour. Tender plants in the borders that are to be saved should be lifted before the frost comes this is especially necessary if they are to pass the winter in a cool house. Plants potted up late, with their leaves perhaps touched with frost, will need a little fire heat to give them a start. Early cycla-mens and primulas are now showing bloom, and ought to be placed on shelves near the glass in the greenhouse Hard-wooded plants outdoors now will get too much water; and if the soil is sound the plants quickly show its effect, and sickly camellias, azaleas, and other hard-wooded plants are difficult to recover. Cucumbers in frames will be pretty well ex- hausted now. With healthy plants a lining of warm manure around the bed will keep them going for a while longer, but as a general rule it will pay better to clear them out early in October, and fill the frames with let tuces or violets for winter flowering. Window Garden. When moving plants to winter quarters some—myrtles, for instance— will do with les3 light than others. Always give the flowering plants a light position at this season. Single hyacinths aSre best for glassea, and they should be placed in a cool, dark place for a time while making roots.

HEIRESSES GOING CHEAP, i MATRIMONIAL AGENT IN TROUBLE. AMUSING EVIDENCE. A moving story was told to Mr Plowden at Marylebone on Saturdpy by a disappointed swaia who had failed in his ardent efforts to secure matrimonial felicity in other than the ordinary channels of wooing. The prisoner, originally known as F. G. Hodges, but whose real name appears to be Arthur Slavin Jones, is a man of some 32 or 33 years, stands considerably over six feet in height, has broad shoulders, and is well proportioned. He is dark complexioned with dark hair, and a long well-trimmed mous- tache. He is well set up, and stood straight as a Jance in the dock, with his hands behind him. He described himself as of Talbot-road, Ken- sington. The charge against him is that he, in August last, obtained £ 1 BY FALSE PRETENCES from Geo. William Clarke, with intent to cheat and defraud. In opening the case, Mr Sims said it was only proposed to go into five or six of the many cases against accused. Prisoner's modus operandi was first to arrange with newsagents to receive letters for him,and then to cause adver- tisements to be inserted in a weekly newspaper in most alluring terms. Persons answering the advertisements duly received type-written letters I from the World's Matrimonial Agency, the object of which was to bring about an introduction to a lady or gentleman, as the case might be, upon the sum of 41 being paid down, and another £1 if the business was completed. People, believ- ing this to be genuine, paid the money, and subsequently received from the pri- soner some excuse or other—i.e., the guar- dian of the lady was opposed to the marriage, and had expressed the strongest objection, a.nd under these circumstances the marriage could not take place,but he would try to arrange a aiar- riage with someone else. The majority of the victims of course had not courage enough to come forward. A clerk in a newspaper office proved that the I prisoner called at the office and paid 83 for the insertion of the following advertisement, giving the name of Dawson :— A young lady, aged 24, tall and alight figure, good-looking, and with a private income of iC456 per annum, being an orphan, wishes to meet a gentleman of good sterling qualities of heart and mind, with a view to matrimony,who would make a good husband." (Laughter.) Mr Plowden: Is this a comic paper ? (Laughter.) Mr Sims It is taken very seriously by some persons. A BEARDLESS YOUNG MAN, giving the name of Smith.living at West Tiverley, near Salisbury, and describing himself as an ap- I prentice, said that on March 5th he saw the fol- lowing advertisement in a newspaper Lady, 23, medium height and colour, grace- ful figure, considered to be good-looking, in re- ceipt of jM75 per annum, is most desirous of meet- ing with a suitable gentleman with a, view to matri- mony. Advertiser has urgent and efficient family reasons for desiring au e*rlv marriage." Mr Plowden You were attracted by that ad- vertisement ?-Witness I answered it to see if I should get a replv. Mr Plowden What did you understand by a woman of medium colour ?" (Laughter,) Did that excite your curiosity ? Witness I took all the advertisement together. Continuing, he said that in reply to his letter he received a type-written letter SIGNED W. T. STEAD" --a name which he at once connected with the editor of the Review of Reviews. (Laughter.) Witness sent il, and in reply received the follow- ing Dear Sir,-I am in receipt of your postal order for iPI. and sent Miss Bowden your name and address, asking her for a final arrangement for an interview, but by the last post I have (I am sorry to say on your behaif) received a letter from an old dient with a cheque for 4-5 for an introduc- tion, and as business is business, I must of course accept his offer, unless you, as the first in the field, should care to allow me to make final arrangements, which I shall do at once on receipt of C4, or will refund you your it at once if de- sired." Mr Plowden That must have been a dread- ful blow. (Laughter) Witness said he wrot3 asking for the return of his money, and although he wrote agilin and called he was unable to get it. He parted with the money believing the statements in thepaper.' Cross-examined by Mr Freke Palmer He was articled to a land agent, and was not in receipt of a salary. (Laughter). He did not choose this advertisement from the others in the paper be- cause it promised the largest income, out rather because he thought the age would suit, he being 23. (More laughter.)—Mr Freke Palmer Now, was not the X-475 iccome a reason ?-Witnes.-s Very likely. At this point the prisoner was remanded, and I u', an application for bail was refused oa tbe ground that prisoner escaped from the police station when ho was charged, and was only caught because he im-oceutlv ran down a, turning which turned out to be a cul-de-sac.

REAL TRAGEDY ON THE STAGE. Chattanooga, Saturday.-Deta.ih concerning the killing of Frr,.nt Leiden, the leading Kctor in the Plaster of ijomedy Company, shows that middia of Jibe second act,when Leiden was saving his lines, Julia Morrison, the lead- ing lady, who was also on the stage, stepped I beside Leiden, and pointing a revolver at his heart fired with disastrous effect. As the actor fell Julio. fired again into the body right in fron' of an aiinost panic-stricken audience. As Leiden I was lying prostrate upon the stage Julia again placed the muzzle of the weapon against his ¡' cheek and fired a third shot. She then stepped back from the stage, and another actor advanced to the footlights and asked if a surgeon was present among the audience. A. man in the front row asked Is that an accident ?" to which the actor replied IS0, it is murder." A panic followed, in which Jalia Morrison alone remained unmoved. The actress's husband, who is also a member of the company, stood itl the wings awaiting the outcome of the deed of Jiis wife. The police arrested Mrs Morrison, the com- pany at tbe moment demanding the arrest of the husband, charging him at the same time with having instigated his wife to the committal d the act. The crowd threatened to lynch both parties, and a large force of police was required to restrain them from committing any violent action. At the Coroner's inquest a verdict of" Wilful urjer" was retarnsd against Julia Morrieon. who in defence declared that Leiden had perse- cuted and insulted her.- Dalziel.

BOIL YOUR MILK. The Hackney Vestry, having had 100 samples of the milk sold in their district exarnined by ar. 1 experienced bacteriologist, have ascertained that 22 per cent. of the samples so examined were infected with tubercle bacilli—the active. cause of consumption. The Vestry have every reason to believe that these samples are fairly repre- sentative of the whole ol the cows' milk sold to the public in Hackney. Under these circum- stances they point out the risks the public run in using raw milk, and warn them that tnilk in- fected with tubercle baciili is capable of causing consumption in those who use it without pre- viously sterilizing, »nd so strongly advise the pub- lic to boil or otherwise sterilise all milk before use.

PAST EVENTS IN OUR ISLAND I RECALLED. I SEPTEMBER 26t.b. ls,il-Richaxd Colley, Marqais of Wellesley, statesma.n, died, aged 8" Was appointed Governor-General of lndia. 1797 resigned 1805 Ambassador to Spain 1808 Secre- tary for Foreign Affairs 1809-12; Lord Lieutenant of Ireland 1821-28. 1843-The Lord Mayor entertained General Espariero t the Mansion House. I 1850-The first column of the great exhibition building was set up in Hyde Park. 1879—The Bacchante, with Princes Albert. Victor, aud George on board, sailed for I Majorca.

THE FIFTY POUNDS NATIONAL KISXBDDPO* j PIUZE STORY," A Maid of MOlla," which is a 1 romance of Welsh life in the Twelfth Century, i-3 now published in the "CEgdiff Times and So-h Wales Weekly News." Other serials, (joropie. stories, and magazine features, in addition to t.ie news of the week, illustrated. Tiie best pe*»y I weekly published. )

Vote by Foreigner (Elector).—The Naturalisation Act, 1870, provides that an alien who has resided in the United Kingdom for a period of not less than five years may obtain a ceri,ificate of naturalisa- tion from one of her Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, and thereby acquire political and other rights. It generally takes from six to seven years for an alien to acquire the right to vote at a Parlia- mentary election. Division of Property (W. B. J.).—It will be necessary for you to have a deed of partition prepared by a solicitor, and signed by the two brothers agreeing to the division. Marriageable Age (M. P. J.).-Before you can marry under the age of 21 you must get your father's con- sent. For making a false declaration as to your age or as to your father's consent you arc liable to be sent to prison, but the marriage if solemnised can- not be dissolved for either of the reasons mentioned. Payment of Rates (Ignorant.)-You cannot be fined for non-payment within the period you mention, but the justices may issue a warrant of distress, and on there being no sufficient distress may even commit yon to gaol for three months unless the rates an,i costs be sooner paid. Swearing (Decency).-The penalty for profanely cursing or swearing is one shilling for a day- labourer. soldier, or seaman two shillings for any other person under the degree of a gentleman and five shillings for every person of or above the degree of a gentleman. Vaccination (Pater).-If the child is not vaccinated within four months after its birth the public vac- cinatior must, after giving 24 hours' notice, visit the home and offer to vaccinate the child. Hired Furniture (Widow.)—It is probable that the terms of the agreement authorise the seizure of the gccds on failure to pay the instalments. You should attempt to borrow the small amount necessary to complete the purchase, otherwise you will lose the whole. Guarantee (A. B. C.).—A promise to answer for another's debt is not binding unless in writing. You are liable, however, if you made yourself primarily liable by having the goods booked to your nceonnt. Water (Thirsty Cattle).—We are doubtful whether you have a right to the water unless such right has been enjoyed by you and your predecessor for at f least 19 years uninterruptedly. It is a rule of law, however. that if A lets property surrounded by his own laud to B, the latter is entitled to a right of way to it through A's land, if such way be abso- lutely necessary to the enjoyment of what A granted. You should have given us fuller par- ticulars.