South Wales Daily News

BOTHA PRESSED. FIGHTING IN THE PASSES. (Frees Association Special Telegram.) CROCODILE BIVBR VALLEY, Sunday (via. Baodfontein, Monday). Genst&t Bolter irade reconnaissance to-daJ: towards tbe Boer powuon at a point "lap* ore. the moMXam. overlooking LydeDbQr.. It was known that Botha, with two toniand hnrfihers, had ioiQed the forces bo,ding„ P b As sooo as the South African Light Horse and ,h. jtfoautfcd Infantry came within two miles o !he position the enemy opened fire with three T one Toms, one being mounted on either side nam and the third bsing placed on the T The enemy also had a high velocity gun. fortunately occupied a position on the tety unfor ,t wftjj uuftWe fc0 retreat until right, fr°' Boer gun9 fired at the posi- Digbtfall, ana the day> findjng the tion coDtmuai J Conaidering that oar force range accura y- extraordinary that our raiD(t basin it wao casualties weve several remarkable es- Thete were, howevon oapes. .4. „ „nns wert. not brought ioto Mtion. Onr position ammunition. ridge, to- Our infantry adyaoce goers who were ward, the left. *•»> ,4 «rnb. bidden in creeks overg ,j„ tj,e whole day General Bullet remained during u> ClD an advanced ridge in front.

BULLER'S TASK. BOERS COMMAND LYDEN- BURG ROAD. (Central News Telegram.) BADFONTEIN. Monday. The Boer position on lul) Crocodile Hills « tougher nnt to crack than eTen Vao.lkrantz or U £ 'J £ r were sent The, entered. hollow ^re^the barded them nil day. ? movements, to retire until dnrkness covered their movements. Many had very narrow escapes from IIneIls, but til ere were remarkably fewc^udties. wj* :^r.nd.wo ».r roWttTytobnrg. and '»<=* ba™atle»'»° Bona mounted in position. Aneusli I learn that the British canities f { 21st n amber 270, bat it is safe to say that those lioera are many more.

MULES AND 'MUTINY. has been delayed since tbe 1st instant by of English stokers and America i ^he former object to working with Daaog. Forty strikers have been sent to gaol peaffiar a,e action of the British Consul and the oos:.re muleteers lied. flom ufey? before tho

LADYBRAND CUT OFF. HUNTER TO THE RESCUE. (Press Association Special Telegram.) MASERU, Monday. The British force is still holding ant. at Lady- brand, which is surrounded by Boers. The troops, have burned their stores in the market square to prevent them falling into the enemy e hands I should the town become untenable. The Boers are commandeering all the able- bodied men they can find, and threaten to born the dwellings of those who refuse to join them. The Boers state that they have a large force on the Vet River. Hopes are still entertained that the garrison at Ladybrand has not been compelled to surrender, as volley firing has been heard daring the last half hoar. Boer cannon are still silent, probably owing to the shortage of ammunition. General Hunter is hastening to the relief of Ladybrand. The Boer force snrronnding the garrison con- sists of commandoes nnder Fourie, Grobelaar Lemirer, and Haase brock, and also 200 o Tberon's Scouts, composed of men of various nationalities. The latter are much dreaded by farmers and storekeepers, as they loot wherever they go.

BOERS IN FORCE. PRELIMINARY COM- MANDEERING. (Press Association Special Telegram.) MASERU, August 31st. It is reported that a Boer commando has sent scoots to the farm of Mr Newberry, of Prynsberg, and commandeered all bis horses. Several other farmers in the same district have been served in the same way. The resident magistrate from Ladybrand is here. A very large Boer commando is at Llandale (? Allandale), close toKoranaberg. Allandale is on the Vet Kiterl where later reports show that the Boers were present in force.

BEFORE THE SIEGE. BOERS OFFERED PAROLE. (Press Association Special Telegram.) MASERU, September 2nd. The Boer prisoners at Ladybrand have been offered their liberty on parole. Two refused the offer on the Rtound that the fighting Boers would compel them to take up arms ngain. A man named Bowman, who has just arrived from Leeaw River, states that the Boera had appealed close to his store when he fled from it. The Boers have commandeered 8teyn a mills. and are commandeering horses all round.

I THE MINES. SITUATION AT JOHANNES- BURG. (Through Laffan's Agency.) PRETORIA, Monday. The situation at Johannesburg, especially with reference to the mining industry, attracts increasing attention. These mines, which have reached the pro- ducing state, will be able to start crushing an ore that has already been developed as soon as a moderate number of workers come back, as it will be possible effectively to supply the crushing miils without a full complement of men. Development of work on these mines will probably be delayed for some three months later than that, but this will not interfere with running them generally, as mills, mines, and machinery are all in good condition. Pumping is now going on at the mines which have most water in them. and it is thought that all will be emptied in about three months. In one important mine there are 1,300 feet of ,?ater. The lew producing mines will probably have to wait longer than the others before work Is j commenced on them. The labour which might now be employed upon the producing mines is for the time being J diverted from them and used upon the construe- 1 tion ot the new springs. Eleven thousand Kaffirs I ate at the present moment employed on the Rand and Vereeniging Railways and it is thought only fair to give the producing mines the first available supplies of labour. I Colonel Gitonard, director of railways, has suggested that the various mining bodies should combine to spend £500,000 upon rolling stock for the pnrposeof runniug the new railway. The mines, which have adopted this suggestion, intend to place orders at once for 300 tracks and 15 engines, to be delivered by J one, The question of rolling stock would become vital in the event of the enemy destroying the 8,000 trucks and 200 engines which are now massed at Salati, a great part of which belong to the Free State and Colonial Railway. To replace these would take 18 months, and this would mean that half the population would be kept back indefinitely, as it would be impos- sible to work the mines fully without supplies-and coal. Nor could the population be supplied with tu* means of living. The ordinary coal consnmption of the Rand Is 115,000 tons per month. The white population of the Rand at present is estimated at 30,000, two-thirds of whom are foreigners. The native popalation is about the same as in ordinary times—some 120,000. About 90,000 British subjects are away. The Imperial Government is at present pay- ing native workmen at the rate of 30s per month. The mines are paying them the same, as com- pared with 60s per month before the war. It is Ruggeated that the native labour depart. ments should be reconstructed under Govern- ment control, and that shelters should be established and travelling facilities under Government protection offered; in order to induce the East Coast and other natives to return to tbe Rand. The establishment of a new civil government is strongly desired in order that these important problems may be atudied and arrangaments made so that there may be no unnecessary delay to the return of the expelled British subjects, who are now in the coast towns and beginning to suffer from the prolonged absence from their employments. A Revenue Office has been opened at Johannes- burg for the collection of claim and other licences now due. There is a strong feeling that licences protecting non-producing claims should be remitted for the period of the war. Many holders of these are fighting in the ranks of the various Colonial corps. It is also felt that in future prospecting licences ehould bo granted at greatly reduced rates, and the country thus thrown open to the proipecting enterprise of new and old settlements. The revenue, it is argued, should bs obtained from a fair share of tbe results, as is done in other mining centres, and not by preliminary taxation as heretofore.

TRANSVAAL ANNEXATION. (Through Laffan's Agency.) CAPE TOWN, Taeeday.:8.30 p.m. "One Land," in discussing the annexation of the Transvaal, repeats its comments upon the annexation of the Orange Free State, and says The people are annexed, bnt not their hearts. It is not for us to anticipate time, nor prophecy the aims of Providence in Africa. We are satis- fied to work and trust. That the Afrikander party will continue to flourish and grow stronger is a fact which stands as steadfast as It he mountains. The people will respect the annexa- tion only so long as a strong army enforces it."

BOER TREACHERY. (Central News Telegram^ LORENZO MARQUEZ, Tuesday. Information is jast forthcoming of a bad case of Boer treachf-ry. General Botha sent a message to Sir Redvers Buller inviting him to send ambulances to re- move a number of sick British prisonsrs in the Uoer enmp. ljot-r cnmp. Tha ambnl mces were sent on and promptly commandeered by thv to whom the hcrg a were very uawful. The men in charge, numbering 40, were made prisoners, and the doctora were robbed of th. r ^atchos and cash. Over 70 released prisoners have arrived here. The m ■ jority are Colonials and Yeomanry.

HOSPITALS COMMISSION. CAPE TOWN, Tuesday. The general effect of the latest evidence taken hv the Hospitals Commission at Bloemfontem is fhVt^vSSiug pebble was done for the comfor in the No 9 and Industrial School The principal medical officer, Colonel ^hP,„ deS the Semeots of Mr Burdett- roX'regwdJig^ we of *=">mmodauon, of pzeaaure the atationaiy j,«ad evw MlWliWgjW

HUMOURS OF THE WAR. (Central News Telegram.) CAPE TOWN, Aug, 15. Colonel Stowe, the American Consul-General in Sonth Africa, whose train was recently destroyed by a raiding party of Boers in the Free State, has returned from Pretoria none the worse for his exciting experiences. When the attack took place Colonel Stowe had Just fallen aslsep, and was awakened by a volley. Twenty-eight bullets struck his car within a less number of seconds, and as he hastily struggled into his clothes a bullet struck the lamp, and he finished his toilet amid a shower of glass. He hurriedly made his way to the end of the car, where he heard voices Bay, Come out of that, you Rooinek Someone shouted, and the soldiers, who were unarmed and sleeping in the open trucks, were unceremoniously hurled out by the Boers. The commando was chiefly composed of Germans, Italians, and Irish-Americans, who had made their way south from De Wet's column on a looting expedition. Having made his identity known. Commandant Theron was summoned, and was full of apologies for attacking the American Consul. The looting of the train was characterised by many amusing incidents. One package was labelled Care of Mr Kruger." I'll bet that's a fake," said one of the Boers, and the box was quickly opened. It was found to contain only a package of deck quoite, and the man who expected a find was so angry that he carried it 300 yards to where the train was merrily burning and threw it into the flames. I The entire mail, consisting of 15 bags, was destroyed. Most of the commando then moved off, each man taking a bottle of whisky and a bottle of champagne, and as many cigarettes as could be carried. No evidence is forthcoming to show how the liqGor was disposed of, but next day when the commando was attacked hy a patrol from Kroonstad the Boer fire was remarkably erratic- Colonel Stowe bad the wounded treated bv his physician, Dr. Arderne Wilson, bnt the driver of the engine, who was shot in the knee at the commencement of the firing, limped a distance of 500 yards to his disabled engine, saying it was his duty to stay there.

BULLER INDIGNANT. HIS DEFENCE OF THE R.A.M.C. SHAMEFUL ACCUSATION." The following lettter from Sir Redvers Bailor appears in to-day'a Times The Times" of the 5th of July contained a letter from Mr Lees Knowles forwarding extracts from the letter of a correspondent, who is stated to desire his name to be private, but who, so long as he cannot be m-,de responsible, has apparently no objec- tion to his letter being nueci to give pain to others. It is true that about six months ago the mili- tary hospitals at Maritzburg were attacked by a writer in the Times of Natal." It is also true that the author of those letters, having been induced to give particalrxs of his allegations, was confronted before a Court of Inquiry, presided over by Sir William Stokes, with each patient concerned, when every tangible accusation was proved to be groundless. Bnt this is ancient history how can stupid assertions discredited months ago allay the anxiety of some of us who have friends out there ? At the moment when the attention of England is directed to the hospitals at the Cape, Mr Lees Knowles publishes, and endorses as the utter- ance of a person in high position, the following words I am given to understand that the senior officers Royal Army Medical Corps, with few exceptions, are so taken up with their own importance as combatant officers, and their rank its colonels and majors, that they leave much to be desired." Was ever a more shameful accusation mote shamelessly published ? There were then but three coioneis Koyal Army Medical C.)rp;i in Natal, outside Ladysmith. Colonel Galiwey, principal medical officer, has procare-i for the Natal Field Fotcs the most complete hospital sysUiiu ever provided for an army in Lhe field. Ele ip, I believe, the firsb P.M.O. who has ever provided nurses in the hospitils receiving wounded on the battlefield. His organising power and untiring energy, with assistance from home, added 4,700 improvised bads to our hospi- tal accommodation, and provided narsw, doctora, and attendaat\ some of them (let Mr Knowles not?) from Johannesburg. Colonel Clery was in charge of No. 4 General Hospital of 520 beds, which was expanded into Mooi River Hoapital < f 920 beda it was justly referred to by the writer of the articles in the Times of Natal" as a model of what a hospital should be. Colonel Allin was senior medical officer of the Field Army, and superintended the collection and sub- sequent removal of the wounded and sick from the front. I believe tliii duty has been accom- plished by him more rapidly, and with less dis- comfort to the auffeceifc, thau in any previous campaign. I coald say as much for the next senior officers R.A.M.C., bat colonels are mentioned, and I challenge Mr Lues Knowles and his correspon- denb of high position to say which colonels they refer to, and either prove their accusations or withdraw their slander.

WAR FUNDS. MIS KIN AND CAERPHILLY DIVISION. The following additional contributions have been paid into) Joyds Bank, Pontypridd G. W. liailway Staff at Llantrisant, 4th contribution, per Mr Parker aC3 12 1 Mr J. J. VaillanL Pontypridd, 8th contribu- tion 1 0 0 Collection at Navigation Colliery, Mountain Ash, per Major Morgan, July 5th 21 17 0 Do. do. do. July 17th. 20 16 6 Do. do. do. August 1st 22 5 2 Per Mr D. Jones, Aberdare 2 11 11 Per Mr D. James, Aberdare 1 10 0 Messrs Brown, fenox, and Co.'s Employees 9 6 2 CwmamanColliery Workmen, 9th donation 12 13 0 Fifth monthly subscription, Workmen LIanbradach Colliery, per Mr Jenkius 7 10 9 Sixth do. do. do. 7 3 11 Seventh do. do. do. 7 14 8 Eighth do. do. do. 7 10 11 Underground Staff JLilaubradach Colliecy per Mr Rolling (seven fortnightly sub- scriptions) 8 3 6 Employees Cardiff Railway Company, per Mr Holtham (seven weekly subscriptions) 43 6 9 Tret crest Cycling Club Carnival 1 4 6 Plymouth Colliery Workmen,6th donation 20 0 0 New Tredegar Colliery Workmen, 7th do. 29 19 FOR SICK AND WOUNDED OF GLAMORGAN. FORTHCOMING SPORTS IN CARDIFF. A meeting of the committee which has charge of the fports now being promoted by the South Wales and Monmouthshire Tactical Society in aid of the sick and wounded solriiws of Glamorgan, to be held in Cardiff on September 15th, was held at the Angel Hotel, Cardiff, on To-day after- noon. Colonel Qnirk presided, and aiooug those present were Colonel James, Colonel Brace- Vaughau, Surgeon-Captain Taylor, Saigeon- Captain Thompson, Captain Bnjer, and Captain Lindsay. For the cavaity competi- tion it was resolved to accept the services of eight sergeant-majors, who are crack horsemen and pr>ze-winners at the Agricultural Hall tournaments, and to pay their expenses. It was further resolved tel pay half the expenses of eight Yeomen, who also will take part in the lemon cutting, hea.ds and posts over jump, tent- pegging, etc. It waf reotved that a sum not ex- ceeding £40 be spent in p. zas in the various com- petitions. Colonel Bruce-Vaughan stated that he was in communication with the authorities at Newport with a view to getting the mule battery over. It was decided to tiy to arrange for the field artillery at Newport to attend. After some dis- cussion it was resolved that admission to the stands be 3i aud 2s, and that admission to the field be Is. Another meeting of the committee will be held in a few days.

THE SULTAN'S JUBILEE. Constantinople, Toesday.—Vice-Admiral Sir John Fisher yesterday gave a second banquet on board the despatch vessel Surprise. To-day the Minister of Marine gave a luncheon in honour of the British Vice-Admiral. Among those present was the Italian Admiral Aocini. Sir John Fisher left in the coarse of the afternoon for Lemnos to join the Mediterranean Squadron. The transport Tyne hcts aiao left.-Renter. QUEEN VICTORIA'S CORDIAL GREETING. Constantinople, Tuesday.—Very cordial tele- grams have been exchanged between Queen I Victoria and the Sultan on the occasion of the latter's jubilee. Her Majesty has expressed her thinks for the reception accorded to Sir John Fisher.—Renter.

VILLAGE SENSATION IN KENT. A sensation has been caused in the village of Hoo, St. Werburgh, Kent, by the tragic death of Mr Benjamin Baker, proprietor of the local pottery und brickmatring works. He left the village institute about 11 p.m. to walk home,, and half an hour later was found lyiug insensible in the public road with a frsclor-d skull. Tiiere were other marks of violence on the body, bat his money remained uutoncued. Death ensued two honyn afterwards. Tbn 099M 09^

REINFORCEMENTS. The trptibport Manchester Merchant will leave tho Royal Albert Dock to-day with 100 non-com- missioned officers and men of the R.H.A. and 120 men of the Field Artillery, one officer and 100 men of the 2nd Warwick Regiment, and some officers of the 5ili Lancers, Royal Army Medical Corps, remount establishment, besides 370 horses, for South Africa.

PRAISING THE HOSPITALS. (Through Laffan's Agency.) CAPE TOWN, September 4th, At a monthly meeting of the C<pe of Good Hope Society last evening, Sir.f,,hiii Fnrley, chief commissioner of the Red Cross Society, said that he had recently visited the hospitals m Pret-oria, Johannesburg, and other centres, and that he found the arrangements for caring for the sick and wounded must excellent. AH h id abundant supplies. He spoke in glowing terms of the grasid work accomplished by the London Ce>itr»' Com- m;ttee, and hoped tb4 It would become a permanent organisation. The result i f the co- operation of the civil, military, and hospital organisations had been very gratifying. Sir John Farley s,id thwt the str-un now over practi- cally, and he considered that there w \s v., farther need of appealing to the pub' c for subasripiioua, but he admtted that private assistance was necessary and would be welcome.

LORD ROBERTAS RETURN. Affairs in South Africa have now taken so sat'sfactc iy a turn tl-a* every hope is felt that Lord Roberts, wh has so faithfully and success- fully cairi^d through h,s ardncus s at the lI"at of war, will be able to return home before November 1st, on wirch date he will take over from Lord Wn'seSey the post of Commandf r-in- Chit-f of th-' British Army. Th" fact that Lord Roberts will sncee-d Lord Wolsel^y has b"tcn fr< qoently stat d, but the authorities have h thprto not bom a-b-'i to faol that the campaign in South Africa would be brought to an t nd «oon enough for him to take up his new office at. the actual data when Lord WoVflpy"* t'.rm expires. For the i-ame r. a-on no official announcemen- wi!i bn mad" until a "hort th"p b-for • November l-t. and po-sibly not unti Lord Kabpri* arrives in England, Of coursn th^ wholt^ arrangement dep-nd" npon th.- cour-e of events in Africa, bnt now that both the < x-K. pnbdes are formally annexed to the Briti h Crown th-re i. no doubt the authorities regard the end of the war as well in sight. Lord Roberta's home-coming will undoubtedly be the occasion of a grpat national demonstra- tion.—" Morning Leader."

ANNEXATION. FRUITS OF CONQUEST. Lord Robertn's proclamation a;inexirg the Transvaal territory has added 119,139 square miles of land to the Britiah Empire. From an economic point of view the most immediate value of this new territory will be found in the nnri- ferous deposits of the Witwitersrsnd. There are m ny nd diverse prophecies-ts to what South Africa will be in the future, bat most of them run to extremes of optimism or pessimism. We will pla.ce before our readers a few facts, and leave them to draw their own conclusions. First; as regards the Witwatersrand gold. In 1892 Mr Hamilton Smith, a mining expert, repolted to Messrs Rothschild on the probable amount of gold in this district. He estimated that from first to last the Rand would yield gold to the value of at least £ 525.000,000 To give true significance to this tigore, we ma.y state that the total value of the gold got from the whole of the Transvaal bc-tweea the y. ara 1884 and 1898, inclusive, was £ 69,844,643. As the Rand was not the first goldfield iu the Transvaal territory, so It; will not be the Other con- glomerate formations exist in various parts, and then there are th3 qnartz veius,which were busily workad at one :ime, but cotild offer no attractions to rival those of the riches of the most precious piece of wilderness in the world. Nor is gold the only mineral product of the coaltry, diamonds, coal, sdver, lead, and copper all either having been or are being worked. For farming t'ae atietch from the Orange River to the Limpopo affords quite extra- ordinary facilities, there being no domestic animal whiott cannot be reared on some or other portion of this terrain. It is true that only 250,600 acres out of 30,000.000 farmed in the Orange State were used for tillage, and that no more than 50,000 are estimated as having been so utilised in the Transvaal. Still,there can be no doubt whatever that scientific and enetgetio farming will enormoasly increase the productive- ness of the soil, and the extension of railways will make it possible for husbandmen to sscnro suit- able markets for the disposal of their stock and crops. Imports to the TruDsvaa! in 1898, on which duea were charged, were valued at klO,632,393, Machinery heads the list of items, with a value of £ 1,462,323, and then comes live sto:k with £ 1,091,033. The total out- put of gold in 1898 was Y,16,044,135, and small quantities of other minerals, a,id grain, wool, hides, cattle, leathers, and ivory were also sent Out of the country.—" Daily Telegraph."

,r SOLDIERS' ORPHANS. QUEEN'S CONSIDERATION. A report roaches rco to-night (wiitea a London correspondent) that th* Queen is considering a scheme by which she will mak.) h-rtielf personally rtsponsible for the education of a number of chil- dren orphaned during the war in South Africa. The scheme, it is said, has bf>tn dosi^ned by Prin- cess Henry of Batt* nberg, but it owns its incep- tion to the benevolent thought of her Majesty.' At one time the exteoaion of one of th.) existing military orphanages was thought of, but appar. ently this would not have sufficed for the need the Queen specially desired to meet.

BRITISH COMPENSATIONS. Berlin, Tu,,sdiy.-The Norddeutscho AIlge- meine Zeitung publishes the following acconnt of the work done by the Anglo-German CommillSion appointed to settle the question of th., indemnity arising out of the det-aton of th■ • German mail and other stepmers Th British Government having admitted its obligoliot, to pay compensa- tion for the detention of the German vessels, and for damaees caused thereby, a special Commis- sion, composed of British and German members, metiu Loudon to inquire into the matter. The German members to vouch for the claims advo- cated bv the itilores-ed German parties and to substantiate individual claims were H rr Edward Jermann, of the East African Lint-.Und Dr. Alfred Sípveking. lawyer, of Humburg. The English members w..r', Sir Wahor Morton, of I ht> Board of Trud Mr J. G. Smith. registrar of the Admiralty, and Mr Henderson, of Glasgow, chairman of rhe Anchor Line. After a shorij but fcxnausrive inquiry, and after taking expert evidence on the claims, the scale of damages was fixed. These unanimous decisions of the Commis- sion have been accep ed by the British and German Government. The decisions of the Com- mission are as f,,Iiow-(I) As compensation for i be detention of i he imperial mail si earners Burdesr^th and Herzog the German East African Line is to receive an indemnity of JE20,000 together with the sum of L5,000 an compensation for those inter- ested in the lauding of the goods (2N tor stop- ping the German barque Hans Wgner, a total indemnity of Y,4,437 and (3) for the arrest of the German barque Marie an indemnity of £ 126." L BOTHA'S CHARACTERISTICS. I Mr F. Rorapel, the late editor of the Pretoria I "Volksstem,' thus describes Lord Roberts's pre- sent chief opponent in the Transvaal :—Louis Botha belongs to the youngest of the Boer generals. He ia slender and supple, has an energetic face aud a pair of great eyes, a blonde beard and monstache, and a month which rfadily folds into a smile. Lonia Botha it in every respect a gentleman. He knows all forms of European I society, speaks and writes Dutch better than any of the other generals,and evidences on hisfirst appear- ance that he is a man of culture. His buyghers esteem him for his benevolence, his unwearied power for work, and his -reat tactical abilities. Hia word is to them a law. Tbey do for him everything out of Iofo and devotion, and try in everything: to conform to his views. Noticeable is it that, whcio the Boers very speedily and by preference speak ot Oom Paul," Oarr, Chris- tian," or Oom Koos," no single bllrgher ever thinks of calling him "Oom" or Cousin Louis." Yet he is not unpopular among his i el low fighters. On tho contrary he is, with President Kruger, the most influential person in the two Republics. Louis Botha is the man of the grande guerre." No aingle Boer general knows so well how to select his position and make his preparations, and knows so to do at the exact moment. Where Do Wet and Dels.rey find their strength in the guerilla, taere develops Botha his power in the great field fights, where he looks over the whole ground of the fighting as the most capable general. In him Sir Rsdvers Buller has always found his master. And now Lord Roberts has to meet him. If at the close the victory should come to the British-wbich I do not believe-then that will not be because of the less ability of the great opponent of the Eng- lish Field Marshal, but only because of the crush- ing and overwhelming force at the disposal of the British. SOLDIERS' EXTRAS. A Mafeking correspondent gives an illustration of how soldier's pay go In war time, or a, much of it as is left af i er thoie at home are thought of. Here aro the prices usually charged in peace times and tho-ie charged the men of the relief titoru,3 by the local storekeepers JPestce Price, Oba^ed 08% Sardines 14 3d 3s 6d Potted Meas 0, 8d Is Od Boi tJe Whisky 7h 6d 35s Od Jam. 0- 8rl 2 Od Sagar 0s 81 2* Od ('Orrl Flotir 0; 8;1 2s 01 T'nn.yi Baef b 61 3s 6i MR CHAMBERLAIN IN .LONDON. Mr Chamberlain arrived in London from Bir- mingham lateon Moc <a.ynight, and was busily en- gaged sA the Colonial Office. The visit of the right hou. gentleman, which was quite nnexpected and is understood to be in connection with the situation in South Africa, is not likely to be pro- tracted. MEMORI SERVICE AT LAMPETER YELBREY. A memorial service in connection, with the late Farrier Sergeant R. P. Williams, 30ih Company (Pembroke) Imperial Yeomanry, will be held iu Lampetor Veltrey Pariah Chnrch on Saturday afternoon at 3 o'clock.

Sekd it to your friends. The news of the week I two serial stories, short complete tales, and rcanv special articles appear in the Cardiff Times and ] Sooth^^S^WeeklyHew*" j

I l WASHINGTON NEWS. WINTER PROSPECTS FOR THE TROOPS. EMPEROR'S EDICT. LI TO NEGOTIATE. DESTRUCTION OF RAILWAYS MR PRITCHARD MORGAN'S VIEWS. In explanation of the difficulty of com- municating with the Ministers at Peking, Renter's Agency learns that as all tele- grams have to be conveyody courier from Tsi-Nan-Tu to Peking cypher messages are probably stopped by the Chinese, who, doubtless, apprehend that the reports of the Ministers as to the complicity of the Chinese Government in recent events may have the efiect of preventing the evacua- tion of Peking by the allied forces.

EMPEROR'S EDICT. MESSAGE TO LI HUNG CHANG. AUTHORITY TO NEGOTIATE. (" Times" Telegrams, per Press Association.) SHANGHAI, Monday. An adfet in the name of the Emperor to Li Hung Cfcang, dated August 19th (en route to Tai Yaen Fa), explains that although the foreign Powers have given assnrances that tbeir only object in bringing the troops to the capital is the suppression of disorder, and that no harm is intended to the Imperial House, the Emperor has felt it his duty, in view of the dangers appre- bended from an assault on Peking, and the approach of the Allies to the Forbidden City, to comply with the wishes of the Empress and accompany her westwards, after instructing Yung Ln Hstu Tang and Tsnng Chi to remain in the capital and continue to carry on the Govern- ment. Now, feariog-fchat the foreign Powers are in- censed and unwilling to propose a. peaceful settle- ment, the Emperor orders the Viceroy to use every endeavour through the Foreign Offices abroad or the Consulates at Shanghai to open negotiations. He praises Li's faithful services to the dynasty, and assures him. of the gratitudo of the Throne. Li Hung Chang proposes to leave shortly for Tientsin. Meanwhile he awaits a reply from the Emperor to his recent memorial praying him to appoint Prince Ching and the Yangtsze Viceroys to assist him in the negotiations.

AMERICAN DESPATCH. (Beater's Telegram.) WASHINGTON, Tuesday. The following undated despatch from Taka has been given out at the War Department:— To the Adjutant-General, Washington. A written report on the operations up to the relief cf the Legations will be forwarded as soon as possible. The present conditions are that hostilities bave practically ceased, and only occasional shots are fired from cover. A small party is repairirg tbe telegraph line and foraging. An inconsiderable body of Chinese troops and Boxers has been discovered near here or along the line of commnnication (words missing). I hear Li Hung Chang has full power, but he is not here. Will the United States keep the military here until terms of peace have been arranged ? I think China. haa now about 50,000 effective troops (words missing). Think ample force for United States. Unless political reasons not apparent to me demand a large force I shall take 5,000 as the basis for my requirements for supplies. If troops remain they must winter in tents (words missing). No more pack trains are required. Waggon transport is the beat. The water in the river is falling rapidly. We must soon have supplies 40 miles. I am satisfied that the railroad will not be repaired before the river freezes. (Signed) CHAFFEE.

THE REPORTED EDICT. (Router's Telagram.) WASHINGTON, Tuesday. The reported Edict issued by the Chinese Government, appointing Li Hung Chang, Yang Lu. HeD Tung, Prince Chtng commissioners to negotiate for pe \ce, has not yet been communi- cated to the State Department, nor, so far as can be learned, has the Chinese Legation received the Edict. It is, however, probable that some such communication is in the course of transmission with Viceroys of Nanking and Wa Chow, who are favourable to foreigners, in the place of YaDg La and Hila Tung.

AMERICA AND RUSSIA'S PLAN. POWERS RESPOND THIS WEBK. (Central News Telegram.) WASHINGTON, Tuesday. The Cabinet held a conference to-day at which was discussed the message received yesterday evening from Mr Cancer at Peking, and which has not beea published. It is snn.i-officially stated that the State De- partment expects that all the responses of the Powers to the Note of the Russian Government will be received this week.

JAPANS POLICY. Times Telegram, per Press Association.) i TOKIO, Monday. Regardnig the evacuation of Peking, the Japanese Government, resolutely adhering to the policy 01 the Concert, will pursue the course approved by the majority of the Powers. The Japanese Press unanimously considers that Russia's action terminates the Concert, and believes in a Rusao-German secret understanding.

RAILWAY DESTROYED A RECONNAISSANCE (Renter's Telegram. ST. PETERSBURG, Tuesday. The following despatch, dated August 21st, from General Linevitch, has been received by the Headquarters Staff :— According to information received) Boxers a,nd Chinese troops W6Te reported to be in the southern part of the Imperial Park on August 20th. I ordered a reconnaissance there with a detachment of the allied Russian, Japanese, American, and British troops. These troops i reconnoitred tbe entire park for a distance of 181 versts, but found no one. It was rumoured that the Chinese troops and Boxers had fled. The detachment bivouacked for the night in the park, and next day the Cossacks made a second reconnaisanoe to the south of the park, and again found no one. The railway in th9 Peking district is com- pletely destroyed, and all the plant has been burnt. No engines are remain. The station at Moahan has hen occupied by onr troops. The work of repairing the railway is being carried on from both sidis. Navigation 00 the Peiho River is becoming more and more difficult owing to the shallows. The railway from Tientsin to Peking baa been repaired only as fat all Yang Tsun, where a bridge is in course of construction. The permanent way as far as Lofa Station is oom- pletaly destroyed, as are also many bridges. The line from Yang TBun to Peking, a dis- tance of about 100 versts, will have to be com- pletely relaid- All uuceaaary material is being ordered up from Shanghai. Metwurea bays been taken for the recovery of It!

GERMANS IN THE IMPERIAL CITY. (Reuters Telegram.) BERLIN, Tuesday. The Admiral second in command of the German cruiser squadron reports from Taka, under date the 3rd inst., the arrival of the advanced party of the German-Chma expedi- tionary force under Major Folkenhayn. Capt. Pohl tolographed from Peking, under date 25th nit., that he occupied, with a company of troops, Coal Hill, in the Imperial City, on the previous day, and that the troops were to march through the Palace on August 28th. About 2,000 Italian troops bad arrived in Taku roadstead.

MASSACRES. BODIES THROWN TO THE DOGS. (Central News TeJegr iro.) SHANGHAI, Mond"y Afternoon. Telegrams frr.m London announcing the Rus- sian propowl for tbe ev-.icu it>on of Peking Jay the allied froops lias created a sensation here. The propo,,1 is universally condemned as calcu- lated to c-iuse !} very grent loss o prestige to the fowgn Powers and to spread the impr^ion among the natives that) tbe Allies have been de- featpd. The foreign Consuls are at one in being strongiy opposed to the proposal, and merchant* rind bankers hold the same view?. Li Hnng Chang informs M. Bezime, the French Consul-General, that the Imperial Court is now e.abli8hed in the Governor'" Yamen as Tat-Yuan-Fu. M. Bezaure makes the sta'ement that he lia* reliable information to the effect that b twe;n 50 and 60 mi-o-ionariei av" b n massacred in the Yamen by the order of the Governor. The massacre took place at the commencement d the trouble, and the bodies of the slaughtered missionaries were literally threwn to the dogd. He consideis this is an additional reason wny th" Powers should refuse to Peking before negotiations hav- b^n concluded.

CHINESE FICTION. (Press Association Special Telegram.) SHANGHAI, Tuesday. Despatches which have been received here stating that the American Government refuses to withdraw its troops from Peking until satisfac- tion for the ontrages and for tbe losses occasioned to American citizens has been given meet with the approval of the entire foreign colony in Shanghai. Masses of Chinaman even now believe that the Chinese have been victorious, and Chinese papers printed here contain very circumstantial accounts of Chinese victories at Peking, Tientsin, and Tnngchou. Shops in the native quarter display for sale lurid pictures representing the Celestial Army driving the European soldiers into the sea at Takll, and cutting them into pieces at Tientsin. Pictures are also exhibited depicting the foreign admirals under torture in the pre- sence of the Viceroy. Admiral Seymour, with his arms pinioned, is shown kow-towing before the Throne. The people accept Lhese statements, and consider the reports in the local English PresB to be merely foreign liell.

ENEMY REAPPEARING AT PEKING. (Central News Special Correspondent) PEKING, undated (via Shanghai, Mon- day, 7,10 p.w). ThifM thousand of the enemy have reappeared in the Hunting Park at Tungfu, the known as Strang's Diil'ing Grounds. The allied fO'Cfs are reconnoitring the position preparatory to making an attack. Until this Chinese force is absolutely dispersed and completely driven from the precincts of Peking it will bA impossible for any force to proceed farther. The measures of the allied commanders for the administration of tbe city have been formally arranged. The Imperial Palace is now under an efficient guard. An inventory was taken, and the bnild- ing was immediately closed. The contents were found to b i intact. The Boxers appear occa- sionally in various pa. ts of the city. There have been some fatalities.

SEYMOUR'S FORCE. (Renter's Telegram,) PARIS, Tuesday. M. Da Lanessan, Minister of Matine. yester- day received from Captain Marolles, in command of the French war vessel D'Entrecasteaux, his report on the operations of Admiral Seymour's column. The document, which consist 3 of 80 pages, states that tbe column was composed of the following units :—450 Germans. 112 Ameri. cans, 915 British, 25 Ausfcrians, 158 French, 40 Italians, 52 Japanese, and 312 Russians, making a total of 2,064 men.

LIBELLING THE BRITISH FORCE. AN ADMIRALTY CONTRADICTION. The following has been issued from the Admiralty :—"Reference having been made in the English Press to a statement emanating from a foreign source reflecting on the conduct of a portion of the British force which accompanied Admiral Seymour in his attempt to effect the relief of the Legations at Peking, the Vice- Admiral has reported that there is no truth in the statement, and that he had been unable to trace the origin of tbe attack on the men engaged.

MR P. MORGAN'S VIEWS. Oar Aberdare correspondent on Taesday after- noon had an interview with Mr Prit hard Mor gan, M.P., who informed him thtt he had received two cablegrams from Shanghai in which it is stated general oouaternation exists in China amoncrst British subjects at the proposed evacua- tion of Peking and the annexation following such evacuation, which must necessarily take place. One of the cables furtber statucl that tho 0011ge- guence to British trade and commerce will be disastrous for all time. Mr Pritchard Morgan entirely agrees with the views expressed by representatives io that country. The hon. gentleman holds to the opinion that the Empress and J*Jmperor have proved themselves unable ts govern China, and have practically brought their dynasty to a qfoae. A new form of Government by the Viceroys, which was suggested by Mr Pritohard Morgan last week, and which it now transpires ho recom- mended to Lord Salisbury in the early part of last month, is; he holds, the only possible solution.

BRITISH AMERICAN AMENITIES. Bar Harbour, Tuesday.—Her Majesty's cruiser Crescent, flagship of Vice-Admiral Sir Frederick Bedford, with the ciniters Psyche, Tribune, and Indefatigable, and tbe destroyer Quail, to-day arrived nt this port, where the United States North Atlantic Squadron has been for several past. The Crescent ran the Stars and Stripes np to her forepoak, and tired a salute of 21 guns, which was returned by the American cruiser New York, Rear-Admiral Faxqahar's flagship, tovhich was flying the British ensign. Rear Admiral Fnrguhftr and his stuff visited the Crescent, and wer" received on t h" qu;ir„er-dfck by Sir F. Bed- ford, who returned tin1 American admiral's visit. immediately. Later in the day Rear-Admiral Lysnar, on the retired list, heading a committee of oiriz s's, went on board tho flagship of the British squadron to arrange the details for a week's eiUHt-bainmenl' of the British officers and crews. This afternoon the townspeople held a reception iu honour d the officers of the two squadrons. Sir Frederick Bedford, Rear-Admir«l F:trqubar, aud the captains of the American vessels, dined on board the New York in the evening.—Renter.

SERIOUS STRIKE RIOTS. BMunc, Tuesday.—The strike movement hrre is beeomiug more seriona. Yesterday was marked by rather a serious disturbance A number of strikers maltreated some workmen who were engaged in loading drays while protected by gKudarmes. One of the latter was thrown from his horse and seriously hurt. In the tuning a large crowd assembled ronnd the magietr>1S court, and some trailleurs who were summoned to assist the police were received with stones. The soldiers retaliated by charging the crowd, and wounded several persons. The proprietor of the workmen's canteen was stabbed twice and aeriooBly injured.—Renter.

PAPACY IN AMERICA. Rome, Tuesday.—Th<> Pope ims promulgated a Bull appointing Monsignor Keans Archbishop of Dnbuqut?.—Central News.

HIGH PRICE ASKED FOR A RACECOURSE. The Manchester Racecourse Company agreed to sell the course to tha Tr afford Park Estates, Limited, for £280,000 the latter undertaking to provide another coarse for the races and making other conces- sions. As, however, the Canal Company-desired the lanrt for dock extensions they succeeded in establishing their right to compulsorily purchase the lafrft. Against this decision the Racecourse Company havo been granted leave of appeal, aiui they have fixed £1,000,000 as the price they will demand if the salt) to the C«at4 QomtaJi-T iq taagf

ANOTHER CONSPIRACY. I Visnna, Tuesday.—An Anarchists' conspiracy, including in its objects an attempt apon Prince Ferdinand of Brlgaria, has been discovered by the Budapest police. The municipality of Buda- pest some days ago received a letter from Giovinazzo. an Italian town near BaIÍ, stating that the Anarchist Liigi Boscbetti had left Pragnsa for Budapest to take part in an Anarchist conference there. The letter remained at the mnnicipality for some time, and was not considered as being of much importance. Yester- day, however, a translation was handed to the Budapest police. It has now been ascertained that an Anarchist conference was belli at Budapest, at the close of which three separate groups left for Russia, Germany, and Bulgaria. The original letter from Giovinazzo said that an Anarchist party was going to Bulgaria, and intended to make an attempt on Prince Ferdi- nand. The lett-r also said that Boseh- tti him. self would remain in Budapest. The Hungarian police, however, hav" been unable to find any trace of him —Central News.

AMERICAN ANARCHIST ARRESTED. Rome, Tuesday.—An American Anarchist named. John Gniappa has been arrested on the Frcucb frontier by the Italian authorities, who had been apprised of his coming to Europe on a mission to assassinate the Austrian Emperor.— Central News.

UGANDA PROTECTORATE. A TROUBLESOME TRIBE. Renter's Agency is iuformed that the people of the Nandi district of Uganda, against whom Sir H. H. Johnston, the British Commissioner, has despatched troops, have bpn causing trouble for some time. Their country, through which the Uganda Railway passes, 1ÏFS to the east of Lakt- Victoria, and on the Canadian road from Uganda to Mombasa. D-spatches received in London state th:a the Wauaudi have b"'n destroying the telegraph, and that communication with Uganda is at present interrupted. So far back as June last th.. p-,opl had been causing troubi and a party of Europ -ans travelling from Mengo on arriving at Ugowe Bay, the gite for the railway terminus on the sonth-east shore of Lake Vic- toria, were atopp d. The Government official in charge there refas d permission for the party to proceed owing to the dangerous state of the road, and ordered a caravan to go north to Mumias in Kavirondo, from which place they subs qnently proceeded under a strong escort of 150 Sikhs and Uganda with a Maxim towards the coast. Private advices state that it was then intended to despatch one company of Soudanese and two companies of Sikhs, under Lieut. Cooper, to Ugowe Bay, and then through the Nandi country. Whiln on the march through the disturbed dis- trict there were several alarms, and the escort were prepared for attack, but although the Nandi people wer<? seen watching the caravan from the hill4 the party was unmolested, doubtless owing to the strength of the escort. Unconfirmed reports were current that the Wanaudi had attacked other caravaus, and had murdered one European and many of the porters. It was also stated that a caravan of 15 men bad been cut up, :)ut no confirmation of these stories had been received in London. This same tribe attacked a Government mail caravan some time ago. In well-informed circles the movement is regarded as local, and not likely to prove serious. The whereabouts of Sir H. H. Johnston, the Commissioner, are for the moment unknown, but he was lately travelling in Toru, and subaeqcently was stated to be going on an official visit to the Nile districts of the Protec- torate.

BARON SUDELEY'S AFFAIRS At'London Bankruptcy Court on Tuesday the public examination was held of the Right Hon. Baron Sudeley. The debtor succeeded to the title and estates in Gloucestershire and Mont- gomeryshire in 1877. In 1893 he executed a deed of arrangement for the benefit of hia creditors, who received about lOd in the £ on S.460, 000 unsecured debts. Hia Lordship, who had taken over large amounts of liabilities from bis brother, attri- buted his failure to land depression, the Baring crisis, and the Murietta fail are. The trustee then realised all reversionary and other interests to which the debtor was eatitled since 1893. Lord Sudeley, with the object of repaying those who had lost money over his former failure, engaged io company promoting, and joined various syndi- cates for the development of mining properties, and the claims iu this bankruptcy are chiefly in respect of money lent for the above purpose. His failure is also due iu part to losses on the Stock Exchange, 1 ut it is primarily attributed to his having undertaken the promotion of enterprises with borrowed capital. The groaa debts are re- turned at £ 79,000, and the assets at £250.

TO-DAY'S WEATHER 4.30A.M. TO lJAY s i oivttOABT lion KNGLAND, S.W,, A Hi: SOUTH WÁLRS. Issned at 8 o'clock last Might Light variable breenea; flue generally.

GENERAL FORECASTS. Tht fall»wi»g forecasts were isssei l»y tl»* j M»t«»r«l»ffical Q £ tc* at 8 o'clock last nightI < Scfrtlaad, N. Westerly and north-westerly 1. Swtlaad £ wia,ds' )str°°« la P,ttces ) cool; cloudy some rain. ) Westeriy and north-westerly 2. England, N.S.. winds, moderate cloudy; ) locd showers. z « Westerly and north-westerly 5* «*«~* chJi.S":} Sm»« »■5 "O "• 6. Scetlasdl, W. Same as 2. 1 Sam6 HS 3 and 4. £ N*ttk Wales I as 3 and 4. i EajluMd, S.W. t Light variable breezes; fine St SrOttiA Wales..) generally. I 9. Ireland, N. Same as 2. T „ ) Light breezes, chiefly we#t- 18. Irelasa S .j- fair generally. Aberyrtwvth, Tuesday Evening.—KaroMeter, I 30-398, falling: nftximam thermometer ia Bkade, I 61-2. 'Wind, W-N.W. Amount of sunsbinn regis- 61-2. Wind, W.N. W. Amount of sunsbinn regis- tered by Jordan's recorder for the 24 hours preceding &.0 p.m., 10 hours 20 nuactes. Weather I continues bright and fine; cloudless sky bright uninterrupted sunshine lifsht breezes.

LAST NIGHT'S uGAZETTE: ¡ RECEIVING ORDERS. 1 Homy John J.mp., lodging at Crown Hci Treorky, colliery haulier. ¡. Charles Holt, 39, Dean-street, Bangor, formerly licensed victualler, now journeyman baker.

NATAL RAILWAY ASSISTANCE. The Press Association is requested by Sir Walter Peace, Agen-General for Natal, to contradict a telegram emanating from South Africa to the effect that scant railway facilities bad been afforded by for the military autho- rities. Sir Walter has been assured by bis Government that throughout the whole war the military ialhorities hive expressed in terms of the highest praise their appreciation of the nor- 4 vices :lIld assistance rendered bv the N;, t. R I Rail- way, :<nd within the hI.8!; few days L,rd Roberts has thanked the NKioi Government- f r all it has done, and has sta', d he is isat;sfiidthena,aii Railway Depaftmeu Imagine everything in its ll1\'W\'J Q MIri, "i

COURT AND PERSONAL. BALMORAL, Tuesday. The Queen went out yesterday morniflf accompanied by Princess Henry of Battenbetg. a.nd in the afternoon ber Majesty drove out, at. tended by the Dowager Lady Churchill and the Hon. Harriet Phipps, and was joined by Princess Henry of Battenberg, with the Hon. Dorothy Vivian at the Danzig, The Earl of Ros"bery is expected to arrive" Dalmeny to-day for th season. Mr Harry Lewis, of Greenmeadow, has just returned from a holiday in Norway. Lady Manners has been staying at Clovelly Court. North Devon, on a visit to Mr and MM Hamlyn. The Rev. Hugh Price Hughes, ex-president of the Wssleyan Conference, is at present staying at Barry. The funeral of the late Mr Herbert SarIiI took place at Weekley, near Kettering, on Tuesday. Lord Wandsworth ha.s hired the Makerstoun salmon fishings on the Tweed which were let for several years to Lord Wimborne. Tbe death is announced at Southsea of Colonel ¡ George C. Henry, who retired from the Royal { Artillery in 1885, after 39 service. Among the multifarious philanthropic projects in which the Baroness Burdett-Coutts interests herself ia the welfare of the London coster'a donkey. Lord and Lady Wimborne have left Canford Manor for a few weeks, and are staying in North- umberland, at Birdhope Crag, a pretty place near Otterburn. The London Gazette of Tuesday night notifies the appointment of Lord Roberts to be honorary colonel of the Volunteer Battalion Gloucest-r Raiment. The Qusen has conferred the Knight Com- mandersbip of the Royal Victorian Order upon Sir Alexander Condie Stephen, her Majesty's Minister Resident at Dresden and Coburg. The Duke of York, who, with the Dnciieas of York, is on a vj«u to U-o Earl and Countess of Anca^ier, Drummond Castle, Crieff, N.B., was oU'deer-i&lkii)g on Tu^- day, and shoe five stags. The Bishop of Bristol, who had intended to spend this rnonch in Switzerland, has changed his plans, and he is staying at Port Errol, on the Aberdeenshire coast, for the remainder of his holiday. The Lord Mayor of London has in cordial terms accepted the invitation of the President of the Paris Municipal Council to the nunicipal fetes to be held 111 the French capital on the 22nd anft 23rd inst. Sir Francis Evans, M.P., and Lady Evans, the Princess Lowenstein, Baron and Baroness Eckardstein, Lady Maclean, Sir James Thomp- son, the Hon. Eustace Fiennes, a.nd Colonel Blnndell, M.P., are staying at Harrogate. Toe Earl of Northbrook, Sir Edward Grey, Mr Justice Lawrance, and Mr Justice Ken- nedy are among those who have subscribed to the fund for placing a stained glass window in Win- chester Cathedral in memory of Izaak Walton, who there reposes. Lord Salisbury is expected to return to Eng. land about the middle of September. Mean- white the servioe of two messengers per week is continued, nd frequent telegr ims piss between Downing-street ind his Lordship's temporary residence in the Vosges. Prince Henry of Prnssia, before proceeding with Princess Henry to Balmoral on a. visit to the Queen, ha.d a prolonged interview with the Ger- man Ambassador in London on Monday evening, and is understood to c'tve diecussed the Chiness problem in considerable detail with his Excel- lency. Sir Edward Fry opened a new free library, museum, and picture gallery at "Weapon-super- Mara on Monday, und delivered an address on books and reading. A reference library, valued aA £4,000, the gift of Mr F. A. Wood, Chew Magna, near Bristol, will find a permanent home in the new building. Major-General Kaper, who is proceeding to Jamaica to take command of the troops there, has been for fivo years A.Q.M.G. at the War Office. 10 the seventies and early eighties he saw service in the Weet Indies and in Rajputana. Later on, at Bombay, he was military secre- tary to the Commnnder-in-Chief. The Mayor of Carnarvon, at a meeting of the Tewn Council on Tuesday night, accepted on behalf of the town a mayoral cha.ir, thH gift of Sir W. H. Preece, K C.B. In a letter accompanying the gift Sir William explained that he meant) it as a memento of the best of the first freedom the b'-roogh on him as a native of the town. The chair is a piece of eisteddfod furniture, being of carved and won prizes at the Newport aad Pontypridd National Eisteddfodau. The Rev. W. Earle, B.A., curate of St. Clement Dapes, Strand, it is said, is about to apply to the Queen to revive the baronetcy of the Earle family. The revereod ge»itleraau claims to belong to the family of Sir Richard Earle, Bart., ot Stragglethorpe, Lincolnshire, who held that title in the 17th century. Mr Earia's family went over to Ireland between 1642-1646, and bad since that time lived in County Wexford, and claim to have come from the Lincolnshire family, tradition having always connected them. A scheme for establishing the first Jewish hospital in the British Empire has been launched in Manchester, where 25,000 Hebrews live. An unknown thief who fell from some scaffold- ing at the new Camden Theatre, while engaged in stealing some carpenters' tools was fonnd dcI next morning. At the Llandudno Licensing Session, the Gogarth Abbey Hotel, on the West shore, was licensed. This is the first licence granted on tha western beach. William John Clinton (33), whose recovery1 from consumption had been pronounced hope- less, committed suicide on Tuesday at New Brompton, Chatham, with a. revolver. The Great Enstsrn Cromer express wa £ stopped at Brentwood on Tuesday, one of the carriage wheels being found on fire. The car- riage was eventually shunted, and passengers txken on in the other coaches. Circulars have been issued by the Local Government Board calling the attention of the bodies concerned to certain Acts of Parliament passed during the past Session affecting town councils, urban district councils, and boards of guardians. Mr Farndon G. Tack writes from New Barnes, Ely, Camba, under Monday's date, to the Timss," as follows :—" It may interest some of your readers to know that a complete arc of a lunar rainbow was visible from this house at 9.15 p.m. on Sunday night, September 2nd."

ELECTION NEWS. MONTGOMERY BOROUGHS. LIBERALS CHOOSE MR J. A. BRIGHT. The Council of the Montgomery Borough* Liberal Association, at Newtown, on Tuesday, unanimously invited Me J. Albert Bright to con- test the boroughs at the next election. Although he has not formally accepted the invitation, it iff understood that Mr Bright will consent to stand. In the evening a public meeting was held, pre- sided over by Sir James Joicey, Mr Bright attended, and was wtrmly received. He referred to his severance from the Liberal party in 1886. Since then he had found the points of disagree* ment recede and the points of agreement come nearer. He f It it his duty, as one who did not ngret; with the Transvaal War, to deal with the question. n" regarded the Jameson Raid as tha c tuse of the war. Demands were made by the Government which they had no right to make. He hold his father's creed in regard to warf and as John Bright condemned the Crimean Wal. so he condemned this war. As a Qu-.ker he Ibougbt all war was wrong, but when war was unnecessary it was a crime. He was in favour of D'sestablrnhment, land reform, temperance legis- lation, and educational reforms. He urged them to assist in returning to Parliament, from Wales a smnll bind to keep alive the old watchwarc1, Pence, retrenchment, and reform." CHESHIRE—WIRRAL DIVISION. It is reported in Liverpool that Mr W. H. Lever, the well-known soupmaker of Port Sun- light, has consented to become Liberal candidate for tha Wirral Division of Cheshire in opposition to Colonel Cotton Joddrell. Mr Lever has thrice unsuccessfully contested Birkenhead. MR BRYCE AND ABERDEEN. Mr Bryce, writing to the secretary of the deen Liberal Association, says :—" Although, in common with many supporters of the Govern- ment, I doubt whether Lord Salisbury will take the unprecedeoted course of advising her Majesty to dissolve Parliament at such a time M the present, it may be convenient that I shooM inform you that I am prepared again to place my services at the disposal of the electors of tho Southern Division of the citv."

ALLEGED MURDER OF A SWANSEA MAN. Considerable sensation was created at tbi Hafod on Tuesday afternoon in consequenc# o! a report that a inajQ named Emanuel, whos* parents reside at Neath-road, had been murdered in New York. Inquiries elicited the fact thai intelligence had been received of the death of Emanuel, whose body had been found in New York Harbonr under circumstances which poinf strongly to foul play. The American police art inve8tig-atiD the matter, RDd have communicated with the polica at Swansea. The deceased war about 29 years of age, and went to the States ? couple of months ago. He was employed a New York as diver.

PONTYPRIDD SCHOOL BOARD. At Tuesday's meeting of the Pontypridd SebOflfc Board, a scheme was submitted on bohalf of the head teachers with regard to a uniform time table for the schools. The teaching of Welsh it not included. After some discussion the schemt. was referred back for the inclusion of this sub- ject, there being a general feeling that two bonrt per week should be devoted to ita teaching. A lettet was read from the secretary of tbeLadsf Drill Association urging the board to promote the teaching of military drill and exercises to lihlt boys, and explaining that this was included av physical exercise under the new code. No atiol. was taken in the matter, and the Chairman (Mk James Richards) remarked that whilst it mi2b', benefit the lads phvsically he questioned wbeth1 tt WO

HAGUE CONFERENCE. RATIFICATIONS AND REJECTIONS. The Hague, Tuesday.-Acts of ratification of thf thr< < conventions and the three declarations of the Hague Conference have been handed in by Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bslginm, Dt-nmark, Spain; France, Italy, Holland, Persia, Roumania, Russia, Siam, and Bulgaria. Portugal has ratified all the Act-s except the declaration prohibiting the employment of ex- panding bullets. Sweden and Norway ratifies all the conventions and declarations except the convention providing for the adaptation of thn Geneva Convention to naval warfare. The United Stafcee have ratified the conven- tions concerning arbitration and the adaptation of the Geneva Convention to naval warfare, and the declaration prohibiting the throwing of projectiles from balloons. Great Britain handed in certifications of the three conventions. The ratifications of the other signatory Powers have not yet been handed in Article X, of the convention, for the adaptation of the Geneva Convention to naval warfare, has not been ratified by any of the Powers.—Renter.