South Wales Daily News

THE FRENCH SENATE. AMNESTY BILL ADOPTED. Paris, Wednesday.—In the French Senate to- day, after a noisy debate, characterised by several hours' obstruction by the Right and Nationalists, the Amnesty Bill was passed at SL15 by 156 votas to two.—Exchange.

AN INFURIATED OX. EXCITING EXPERIENCES AT CWMAVON. A young police officer, named Daries, showed conspicuous bravery on Wednesday morning at Owmavon. A prize ox, belonging to Mr R Davies, butcher, wbi!e being taken to the slaughterhouse, turned upon the men in charge, sending them helter-skelter in all directions. The infuriated animal tossed several children; and was tearing down a thoroughfare, when P.O. Davies succeeded in twisting a rope round its legs and horns, thus bringing it to a sudden hal. The ox was afterwards safely conveyed to the slaughter- house.

A notice was fixed up the other day by a head master ta the effect that there would be an extra half-holiday next week. It would be taken on the Tuesday, or, if wet, on the Monday. A sporting papar; in commenting on the rather weak defence of a certain football team, calls I them invertebrate." The word is more suitable than it may seem at nrat sight. An invertebrate team is a tltm without backs.

TINPLATE TRADE. A QUESTION OF QUALITY. A trade oorraspondenb wriLe^. :—11 Observer in the South Watus Dnily News has raised a most important: question when he asks who is right with regard to th" quality of American tmplate bars and tinpbüéfi-tue Wehh steel woikers, who assert that Welsh tiupiube makers arelitceJy to lose their markets as a reauit of nsing American tinplate bars or tho British Consul au Chicago, who reports to the Board of Trade that American tinp'ates are superior to Wnlsh owing to the steel being of hotter quality and the plates being more uniformly coated. As to the quality of American steel enough of it has beau worked at Welsh tmplate works to enable a fair estimate being formed of its quality. Some of it is excellent, some very bad, and much very indifferent. Ib is most unreliable. This being so, Welsh plates made from American steel mu-a of necessity for certain purposes be ako unreliable. What Welsh maker is there, other condition)) being who would work this steel in preference the reliable Welsh steel ? Not one. American steel used in Wales being unreliable, it is fair to infer that similar steel and tiaplates made therefrom possess the same characteristics 10 the United States. As a natural consequence therefore" American tinplate cannot be superior to Welsh owing to the steel being of better quality." As to the second assertion of the British Consul, that American plates are more uniformly coated than the Welsh, the information obtained by Welsh tinplate makers and others with regard to tho manner in which tinhouse work is carried on in the States goes to show that the Consul has been faIrly" bluffed." In American works quality is sacrificed to quantity.

IMPORTATION OF AMERICAN BARS. MR JOHN HODGE ON THE SITUATION. Writing In bis effijial monthly report to the members of the Steel Smelters' Union with refer- ence to the importation of American tinplate bars, Mr John Hodge, the secretary, characbises as n;yt.hicil the Hi.atement which appeared in the So i' h Wales Daily Nfwa" to the efiecb that 120,000 tons of American bars were to be imported iuto this country by the end of next spring. In view of the fact, however, that close upon 60 000 tons of steel bars have already been landed at. Swansea and Newport, it may be taken as proved that there is nothing mythical in the statement. In the same report Mr Hodge says:- Periodically this American competition troubles us. Exactly three years ago it was with us, and it becomes a question as to whether some- thing must not be done to prevent it. The other day oue of the largest makers said, If it wa. an honest, legitimate competition, I would not grumble.' Another sald, 1 We ca.a,prcduoe pig iron as cheap as the American", and steel as cheap, and have not as much freight as they have, but by their syndicates they keep up the home price and thu C'in afford to dump dowa their overplus here.' What should be done under circumstance* such as these ? Americans so tax us with their tariffs that we have no chance of honest competi- tion with them, and in return meet us with unfair competition here. Where lies the remedy ? Self- preservation is the first law < f nature, and it would pay us, employers and employed, to send out a couple of experts to America to ascertain the true facts as to this American competition, and if they found the surmises as to its causes to bo such as bera stated, the remedy wohld admit of no two opinions, Before seeking for reciprocity or a tariff of AmerlCun steel, it ilS an absolute necessity to have an unassailable position by posi- tive knowledge." GERMAN TINPLATE BARS. The Welsh steel bar maker is apparently face to face with other than American competition. German tinplate bars are now offered at 18 6d c.i.f. Swansea. Manufacturers have been pi eased to accept samples,

SEVERN AND CANAL WATER WAYS. REPORT TO CARDIFF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. At the monthly meeting of the Cardiff Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday Sir Thomas Morel presiding, Mr J. M. Jennings reported that Sir John Gunn and himself joined the deputation to the Cieneral Purposes Committee of the Birming- ham Corporation on Monday on the question of improving the Severn and Canal water way to the Midlands. Cardiff and Newport were pretty well agreed as to what should be done, but the tOWalB in the Midlands were hardly at one. The Wol. verhampton authorities were desirous that aU the Bristol Channel porta and some of tho Midland towns should agree to levy a rate of 2d in the £ to provide funds for carrying oct a scheme that would enable largo oeean-going steamers to go right up to Birmingham. This would mean £8.000 per annum for Cardiff, JE600 for Penartb, and £1,000 for Barry. There was a lot of talk, too, about the value of the Manchester Ship Canal. However, no tangible scheme was put forth. The Cardiff and Newport delegates were unanimous that the Wolverhampton scheme was not feasable or desirable in tbe interests of the Channel ports. Their idea was that the Worcester a.nd Birmingham Canal should be deepened and widened HO that vessels drawing 10 feet might go up and down, that the We-tgate Bridge at Gloucester should be slightly raised, and that one of the locks higher up should be altered. The expense of carrying out this work would not be great, and he ven- tured to say that rates on the carriage of goods would be reduced to three-fourths. The dues on one vessel of 300 tons going op and down daily would be aufficient totm at interest on the charges involved. A scheme on these liaea would be submitted to the B'rminRham authorities in due course. On the motion of Mr H. Wood Davey, seconded by Mr J. B. Ferrier, a vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Jennings for bis report and to the other members of the deputation. At a meeting of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday the proposed improved waterway between Birmingham and the Bristol Channel wa" discussed, and regret expre-sed that the Chamber was not represented at tbe recent conference. Several members urged that an adequate waterway between the Midlands and the aea was of vital importance to Birmingham and the Black Country. The matter really lay between the railway companies and the canals. The influence of the former was "uch that the united force of tbe Chambers of Commerce was but a feature ia tbe scale. They might, however, move through the local members of Parliament. The present state of things was perfectly moDstrous. ENGLAND BACKWARD IN CANAL CONSTRUCTION. The suggestion of a canal bringing Birming- ham into communication with the Bristol Channel is a scheme (says the "Western Morning News ") which would long ago have been carried out in Germany under similar oiroumstances. This country is extremely backward in canal con- struction. Engineers will havo to discuss the best route to be followed by Buoh a catting, bat no doubt tbo Severn could be used for a considerable distance, a.nd the canal would be a comparatively light undertaking. Yet its effect upon the Mid- lands, and also upon Bristol, would he very great. Some of the trade would be diverted from Liver- pool, and the Midland towns might be expected to take fall advantage of the proposed waterway. Birmingham has a keen eye for business, and it will be surprising if the present suggestion is I "owed to drop.

KEHNICK'S VEGF.TABUS PILLS are free from mercury. They ourify the blood, cleanse the stomach, and strengthen the nerves. Try a box. Sold by all Chemists at 7Jd. 13M and 2a 9d each. 1277 803e THE NEW DOROTH?,—Christmas Presents.— Plum Puddings, Mince Pies. Fine Confections of the highest order only.—Stevens, Confectioner, Limited.

I WELSH GOSSIP. Apropos of the bardic controversy now raging attention is called to the fact that Dvfed is now Bardd yr Orsedd," the oifica filled by Hwfa Mon before the death of Clwydfaidd, and that if the precedent then established be followed Dyfed wiD succeed Hwfs. Mon ill the Archdruidship. Sir Edward Russell contributed to tbe Liver. pool Daily Post a few days ago an admirably- written sketch of Vice-Principal Edwin Williams, of Trevecca, whom he heard preaching in one of the Liverpool churches. Sir Edward places the vice-principal in the first rank of modern thinkers and pulpiteers. With the New Year a new Congregational magazine will make its appearance. It will be entitled" Y Cyf irwyddwr Anibynnol,' and will be edited by the Rev. R. Peris WillUms, of Wrexham. It is to be brought out from the offices of Messrs Hughes and Son, of the Princi- pality Press, Wrexham. Mr D. Pfrangcon Davies, the eminent Welsh vocalist, who is now on a tmr in Switzerland, the other day visited the residence of Frau Cosim& Wagner at Beyreuth, and sang before her some of Wagner's music. He is probably the first Eng- lish, and is certainly tbe first Welsh, baritone who has been paid this compliment. Welsh Baptists talk of forming an historical society, the object of which will bs to collect materials for an exact and authoritative history of the denomination. Mr Spinther James eomplains that in the past the Baptists of Wales have suffered no little injustice at the hands of eminent men of other denominations. Bak has not Mr Spinther James, in his recently published tory,' given us the other side ? The oldest Calvinistic Methodist minister in the Principality—the Rev, Edward Williams, of Cynyd. Corwen—has just attained bill 90th birth- day. He was ordained to the ministry in the year 1846. Owing to the feeble state of his health he has not for some time past been able to falfil his preaching engagements. It may not be generally known that Mr Williams is a relative of the late Rev. Dr. Edward Williams, of Rotber. ham, the eminent divine and great scholar. The Welsh Wesleyan Methodist Centenary Fund, which is reckoned as the contribution from Wales towards the Million Guineas Fnnd, now amounts to £10,020 8s 6d. Of this sum Ð,388 11a Id has been contributed by the circuits of the North Wales Welsh District, and £1,631 7s 5d by the much fewer churches of the South Wales Welsh District. The promises of the churches of the North Wales District amount to £15,198, it ia proposed to raise in that district 20,000 guineas. Mr O. M. Edwards, M.A., in Una mouth's Cymru," protests against the proposal to utilise the money collected for the Llewelyn Memorial to establish a lectureship in connection with the Welsh University. I believe," he writes, M this would be useless. Let as have something to call attention to the spot where Llewelyn fell, even if it were only a heap of rough stones. That was the object of the movement, and it was towards this object that the contributions were subscribed. Let every contributor send his protest to the president of the movement. Lord Knyon, or to the secretary, the Rev. J. Gwynoro Davies, of Barmouth." In tbe current number of the" Cymru Mr Owen M Edwards, M.A., institutes some striking contrasts between the morn and the eve of this closing century in Wales. At its morn Griffith Jones, of Llanddowror, yearned to ground th. children in the language of Wales -at its era the authorities of tbe University of Wales sought to exclude the history and literature of their country from the schemes of study. At its morn Lewis Morris saw the country's awakening from its long literary torpor, he saw the Press beginning its work—at its close tbe fracas of the bxrdt after the Eisteddfod iss the scorn of all who waste time to listen to them. At its morn many gladly welcomed the dawning of the Revival—at its close Welsh literature has been besmirobed by an unworthy and unprofitable controversy which shows that it is Sectarianism and not religion that appeals to many in Wales." The History of the Church of the Cymty," by the Vicar of Llanuwchllyo, published a few weeks ago, has been very favourably received, and, strange to say, the only discordant note in the chorus of praiae 18 that sounded by the Uan," the Welsh Church organ. The first part," it writes," appeared in 1894, so that the author has taken six years at least to prepare and perfect the vJlumè. It is a work that has involved much laboar, though it shows but little origin ality. The author has gathered bis materials mainly from well-known printed works, and there are but few indications that he has gone to tbe original sources to make independent research. We do not propose to review the work. It is disSgared bore and there by defects, antf some of them betray great carelessness." Verily as the Goleuad observes, had a Nonconfor* mist critic written in this strain, 110 would ban been aocased of prejudice." The present attempt to rain. Prince Llywslyi. Memorial Fund is not the first futile effort madi to perpetoate the memory of Ein Llyw Olaf." In September, 1856, at a committee of Welshmen held in Manchester it was resolved, That the brave and illustrious deeds of Llywelyn in de- fence of the Principality of Wales, and the heroia manner in which he sacrificed bis life upon the altsr of patriotism, entitles him to the respect and gratitude of all who love Cymro, Cymru, and Cymraeg, and that astrenaous effort be made to raise a fand by means of voluntary contribu- tions among the natives and friends of Wales, for the purpose of erecting over his grave, or on some other spot eminently associated with his name, a monument worthy of his great renown, and of his country's regard and veneration." Among the members of that committee were tbe Rev. John Williams, M.A. (Ab Ithel), Owen Jones, F.8.A. (Mendwy Mon), Mr W. Williams (Creuddynfab), Mr R. J. Derfel (Manchester), Mr John Franeit (Town Hall,"Manchester), Mr Thomas Jones, B.A. (Cheotham Library), MrJ. Ceiriog Hughes, Mr W. Francis, a.nd Mr J. Joseph, F.S.A., baukerf Brecon. The Right Rev. Dr. Francis Mostyn, cf Wraa ham, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Menevit and the Vicar Apostolio of Wales, who intends starting next week on a pilgrimage to Rome, wilf, appear before the Pope wearing a mitre remt.rk.. able for its magnificence and exquisite workman* ship. The material is embroidered silk, richly ornamented with gold, and studded with 500 pre- cioas stones. It is Gothic in its design, bears on its front a dove, symbolic of the Boly Spirit, ia gold repousse work, encircled by garnets, and ft heart formed of a single carbuncle of a large size, nith jewelled rays. The whole is surmounted by a cross, composed of 33 gems. On the back aM figures of the Welsh patron saints—St. David and, St. Winifred—beautifully wrought in the Welsh colours, and surDlonnted by rubies, emeralds, and pearls. At the apex appears the national emblem, an exact copy of the silver harp of thf Caerwys National Eisteddfod, which hiK remained in the possession cf the Mostyn family, of Whici the bishop is a member, for over throe oentnries.

PAYING PATIENTS AT THE CARDIFF INFIRMARY. At Wedneslay's special meeting of the Execs tive Committee of the Cardiff Infirmary Mr IsaM Samuel gave notice of motion that "PayiUfí patients be received in the Cardiff Infirmary, anc that the present unused wards be utilised for tbaf, class of patients, that a sub-committee b« formed to go into details and report to the Man- agement Committee at an early date what sach patients shall be charged weekly, such weeklf charge to include food, attendance, and nursing but not medical fees."

CARDIFF MURDER CASE. MRS WEBB'S CONDITION. We believe that strict attention is being paidtf Mrs Webb, who is charged with tbewilfal murder of her infant child, whilst she in prison, wltb. view of ascertaining her ment.il condition, but ad far, we ondeistand, no trace ot insanity has beeS discovered.

THE MILD SEASON. Apropos of an item in oar columns 011 Taesdaj tbat wild flowers were blooming in Lincolnshire a correspondent states that on Saturday last < basket of ripe garden strawberries were gathered at Rotten Pill Farm, Ferrysidf.

BARGOED NEW PITS. Owing to a great inrush of water st the Nortt- Pit sinking operations bave been suspended frft about two months. A large number of men tvt thrown out of employment.

MONEY RETTJENSD.—Sufferers can have money returned if not satisfied with Holdroy^f Gravel Pills. Guaranteed a positive euro for Grave* Jjumbago, Pains in the Back, Dropsy, Wind. Wate, Complaints, Diseases of the Kidneys, Bladder Urinary Organs, Stone. Gout, Sciatica. and Itlieuma tism. Is ljd, all Chemists. Post free 12 stamps — Heldroyd'a Medical Hall, Cleckheaton, Yorks. 1

Jnlilic Coittpanwa, &r. I The SUBSCRIPTION fJIST wili OPEN on WEDNES- DAY, December 19th. and CCJOSE on or before SATURDAY. JUecember 22nd, for Town, and MONDAY, December 24th, for Country. The present issue is for Working Capital only, the §urchase con9iderati n being satisfied wholly by hares. The "Vendor Syndicate also, without further consideration, guarantees a subscription of £50,000 Working Capital of the present issue. The vast property to be acquired is traversed for a length of about three and a half miles by a continua- ) tion of the famous gold leads of the Madame Berry Series, which have produced over five millions Series, which have produced over five millions sterling, forming, in combination with the Clunes and Ascot leads, one great trunk lead, which, after passing through the whole of thi-< Company's pro- perty, continues through those of the Victorian Gold Estates and the Loddon Valley Goldfields. The gold- nroducing character of this Company's property has been proved by a series of Government drills placed at intervals acrjss a width of 2,000 feet, of gold- bearing wash, varying from 2 feet to 7 feet in thick- ness.—Vide Keports of Mr lieginald A. F. Murray, F.G.S.. London, the late Government Geologist to the Colony of Victoria, and others. BERKY-GLENGOWEK GOLDFIELDS JL) (LIMITED'. (Inc rporated under the Companies Acts, 1862 to 1898.1 Capital, £ 350,000, in 350,000 Shares of JE1 each. of which 250,000 will be allotted as payment in full f. r the property. ISSUE of the remaining 100,000 SHARES, to pro- vide working clJoDitll,1. Payable, 2s 6d on npplication, 2s 6d on allotment, and the balance as and when re- quired, in calls not exceeding 2s 6d per Share, at intervals of not less than two months between the date of payment of each call. DIRECTORS. HENRY WEIID-BLUNDEIIL (Chairman), Chairman of Cornbrook Brewery Companv (Limited). UTHUR C. BICKNELL, Esq.. M.I.M.E., Director of Victorian Gold Estates (Limited), and late Manager of the bandycroft Foundry Company (Limited). R. STAFFORD CHARLES, Esq., "Broomfield," Stan more, Middlesex. LEONARD FAWELL, Esq., Director of Victorian Gold Estates (Limited). D. WADDELL. Esq. (Messrs John Waddell and Sons). ADVISORY BOARD IN VICTORIA. W. M. ACHESON, Esq. JOSEPH ENGLISH, Esq. R. S. WHITING, Esq. GEOLOGIST. — REGINALD A. F. MURRAY. F.G.S. (formerly Government Geologist for Victoria), Melbourne. CONSULTING ENGINEERS. THOS. and WM. MORGANS. London. 4y. GORE. Esq., C.E., M.E. (formerly President of Mine Owners' Association of Victoria, Chairman of Ballarat Prospecting Board, and late Member of Legislative Council for Wellington Province. Ballarat), Melbourne. JANKERS.—LONDON, CITY, and MIDLAND BANK (Limited), Threadneedle-street, London, and Branches. 5BOKBB8.—W. H. HART and CO.. 26, Old Broad- street, London, E.C. SOLICITORS. for the Company— WILLIAMS and NEVILLE, s Winchester House, Old Broad- street, London, E.C. MALLKSON, ENGLAND, and STEWART, 46, Queen Victoria- street. Melbourne. Victoria tile Vendors—ST. BARBE SLADEN & WING, 1, Delahav-street Westminster. Arorroas.—LESCHER STEPHENS and CO" Char- tered Accountants, 6. 7, and 8, Clement's-lane, Lombard-street, E.C. "SECRETARY AND OFFICES (PRO TEM.)—E. G. MASSON, Throgmorton House, CopUiall-avenue, B.C. PROSPECTUS. This Company has been formed to acquire and ievelop an extensive Deep Lead Gold Mining Pro- perty, comprising some 5,576 acres, held under Lease STo 2,936. dated May 19th, 1896, for 15 years (renew- able), granted by the Victorian Government, under "Jie Mines Act, 1890. and the regulations thereunder, tt a yearly rent of JS139 88 4d, and the low rosalty of iper cent, which in other cases has ranged from 2, )8r cent. to 10 per cent. The property is 30 direct continuation û: the famous cads of the Madame Berry Series, which have pro- faced gold yalued Itt more than five milli, ,ns sterling, md forms by junction witb the Clunes and Ascot Cieads at its boundary the great trunk lead of the Callaroop or Deep Creek section of the Loddon /alley system of I Jeep Leads, wbich traverses the property for about three and a-half miles. The trunk lead throughout this Company's pro- perty and its gold-bearing character have been con- ::1usiYely oroved by a series of diamond drill nores, made under Government supervision across a width of about 2,000ft. of gold-bearing wash at intervals varying from 300 to 723ft. between each bore. The lollowing are pxtracts from the Heports on borimt:- No. 1 Bore. bottomed at 400ft.—At 387ft., 3ft. of wash was obtained, containing colours of goJd. J fl No. 2 Bore. bottomed at :.7Lft. Sin.—' And bedrock was afterwards penetrated for a depth of 5ft. 3in. t The wash showed a thickness oi 3ft. 6in.. and colours Ot gold were obtained in the concentrates.' M No. 3 Bore, bottomed at 438ft, Gin., on green slate reef bedrock The alluvia! wash (of about 7ft, Si thickness), on being wasl1d off, proved the exist- mce of gold, as several good izwd specks were won. lDotber very highly satisfactory result bRS been proved by tbe drill goin through a quartz leader Gin. /hick, about 18ft. immediately below the alluvial Shanne). The existence of these leaders is looked Upon with great favour by all!1Vial No. 4 Bore. bottomed at 425ik, on green slate •reef No. 5 Bore, bottomed at obtained jplendid sample alluvial gold. Most encouraging. f found strong boulder wah blocking the way, jhowing very clearly that a bed of firm wash had been met. Then, to further confirm the presence d wBsh. the best sample of gold yet met with bere hat) been obtained. One of the oolours must be called a speck, for it is by far the be^t sample seen bere. On this bore it is most gratifying to learn thnt the drill has proved on the western slope of the lead a heavy wash from the core, of which a pros- pect of gold of appreciable size has been obtained. æhis, with the r'esuJt.s of the previous bores inrlieaes surely that the position of the main trunk lead hasi been located, aind te (is to enhance the already } promising character of the undertaking.' No. 6 Bore, bottomed at 352ft., in 2ft. of gravel wash. No. 7 Bore, bottomed on 2ft. of wash, and the sediment contained several fine 8peck of gold.' No. 8 Bore, bottomed ou soft slate reef at .6in. No. 9 Bore, bottomed on soft slate reef at 400ft. I (Mr Murray) received the sample of core forwarded and washed the same, obtaining four plainly visible ipecks and several finer particles of gold. Under the conditions, and from so small a sample, I con- lider the prospect a most enconivging one.' •* No. 10 Bore, bottomed at 305ft—' Thus showing at we are at last etting iuto shallower ground It will be seen that these bores passed through fold wash varying from 2ft. to 7ft. in thickness, and as the deepest chlLnnel has been ai4cert:JolIled to be near the centre of the property it is considered that the existence of the gold lead has beeu snfficiently proved throughout its whole length, thus confirming the views of Mr Reginald A. F. Murray, F.G.S., Lon- don, the late Government Geologist and "Consulting Geologist to thi» Companv, expressed prior to the commencpment of tbe boiinc op-rations, th"t the property was so situated and nf such an extent that It conld not fail to be traversed by the trunk lead for its whole length. This theory has alQo been conclusively demnn- strated by Government and private bores upon the adjoining properties, and notably by the extensive developments upon the Victorian Gold Estates. In the course of boring one of the drills passed through a quartz leader 6in. in thickness about. 18ft. Immediately beneath the alluvial channel, thus iu- dicating the existence of gold reefs, one of which tdescribed as a fine gold-bearing quartz reef) has already been discovered on the boundary of this Company's property, and will, it is thought, be found to traverse it. Mr Murray, in referring to this reef. remarks Auriferous quartz bas beeH proved to exist in marke's property, adjacent to yours, sa tbat the pre- tence of auriferous matrices in the bed rock is with- oat auestion." Speaking of the existence and volume of quartz lodes, which he states undoubtedly traverse the rnnk lead system, he remarks :— Judging by the results of the Band and Albion Companv, Star of the East, Prince of Wales, and Bonshaw, Last Chance, Llanbries, and other com- panies at Ballarat, all of which are now working the quartz lodes (after the leads which proved highly payable had been exhausted) with very satisfactory results in fact, the gold won hids fair to eclipse the alluvial returns. These mines are still producing gold, and will probably continue to do so for many years to come. These claims are on the same zone of country, and the conditions Mr Henry Gore, a mining engineer, who has been closely connected with the Ballarat and Creswick districts for upwards of 40 years in various official and other capacities, was a prospector of one of the heads of the Berry Group upon which gold was first dis- covered, was formerly president of Mine Owners' Association of Victoria and Chairman of Ballarat Prospecting oard. and late M.L.C. for Wellington Province, Ballarat, in his Report upon the Com- pany's property remarks :— The deep lead which udoubtedly traverses your lease from Bouth to north, a distance of 3 miles in a st aight line, is a continuation of the Madame Berry and Australasian channels, which have been joined on their course northward by the Dowling Forest and Midas main lead and the tributaries from Daylesford, Coronelia., Clunes, and Mt, Glas- gow. There is no probability of their tf>kinc any other course than that indicated as the diamond drill bores to the southward, and on yonr lease have proved the position of the deep "round and the Silnrian rocks outcropping at several points en route define the banks of the old river channels." In addition to Messrs Murray and Gore the pro- perty has also been very iavourably reported upon by the late Mr C. W. Langtree (formerly Secretary for Mines and Water Suoply, Chief Mining Surveyor. and Chfef Inspector of Mines for the Colony of Victoria), Captain John Duur-tan. M.E. (at present in charge as manager of the Associated Gold Mines of West Australia in the absence of Mr Hewitson in England), and Mr Robert Allan (Undergrond Mining Surveyor of Ballarat), who claim to have known this Cnmpanv's prope' ty for many ye rs, and to have made for the Mines Department the survey and levels of every mine in he di trict. Copies of all the before-mentioned Reports accom- pany the Prospectus. The several Reports conclude as follows :— Mr Murray states I can without the slightest hesitation recommend the property as one affording a most sound and legi- timate mining investment that will yield rich returns for many years." Mr Langtree states :— The ascertained richness of these Mines (speak- tltll of the Berry Group, and incidentally of the Vic- I torian Gold Estates) is M .-uflicient guarantee of the I soundness of thi- investment. It will be safe to say a&1i never hall a mining enterprise been placed on the market with a more assured prospect of eventual tnccesx." Captain Dunstan says :— I know of no mining ventnre more legitimate and promising, and I am confident that with fair manage- ment it cannot be other than successful." Mr Gore says :— I look upon the Droperty under review as being one of the best that has come under my notice, and feel confident that, if thoroughly exploited and de- veloped, it will prove a highly remunerative invest- ment." SHAFTS AND COST OF WORKING-Mr Gore states the boriugs having proved the deepest channel of the lead to be about 400ft., the sinking should not exceed 460ft., and that, owing to the ex- tensive pumping now proceeding at the Spring Hill and Central Mines (of the Berry Group) un the one side, and to the provision made by the Victorian Gold Estates on the other (the latter s pumping machinery being duplicated and sufficient to raise ten million gallons per day), no great quantity of water is likely to be encountered. BBTIMATED PROFITS.—It is, of course, tmpoa- sible to bas"any actual figures upon results obtained by boring operations, but having regard to the highly satisfactory tests which have been made of thiaCom- pany's property and after consideration of the sub- Met in connection with results obtained from neigh- bouring properties on the same lead, the following may, it is thought, be regarded as a fair approximate estimate of tbe profits which should be realised, taking the cost at lldwt. per fathom (although 9dwt. should, it Is considered, be ample), and without taking into consideration the value of quartz reefs. The returns f-om the Berry leads have been of over 5os. per fathom, and the Trunk deep lead has been valued by the Victorian Gold Instates at 2ow. It is considered that 133 cubic fathoms of could be raised and treated per gay, which, even of a value of loz. or £4 48 per fathom, would for 300 working days produce, say £167,580 Deduct lldwt. per fathom for working ex- penses, aay.» 92,200 WouM leave an arnual net nroflt of £75,3::0 A rtrtnrn of 2oz. per fathom would, npou the same basis, give an annual net profit of DEVELOPMENT.—The value of this Company's vsewtiy bSfiDS been determined by the results fPnblxr dompanus, &c. I obtained from the bores, it is now proposed to pursue a system ot active development, and in view of its great extent to form subsidiary Companies to carry on the work as opportunities may occur. Two porti ns of the property possessed by the Vic- torian Gold Estates (Limited), upon the same trunk lead, and close to this Company's property (see Map), have been recently sold for cash and fully-paid Shares aggregating to PURCHASE CONSIDERATION.—The purchase price has been fixed by the Vendors at £25 ',000. to be satisfied wholly in fully-paid Shares. The Vendor Syndicate also guarantees without further considera- tion a subscription of working capital of the present issue. The Contract of Sale provides that the Company shall reimburse the Vendors their past outlay in maintaining and proving it. WORKING CAPITAL.—The present issue is made solely to provide working capital. LOCAL MANAGEMENT.—With the view to com- petent and reliable supervision, the Director have, in addition to an experienced local Board, secured the valuable services of Mr Heginald Murray as Con- sulting Geologist and Mr Henry Gore as Consulting Engineer. REPORTS.—The statements in this Prospectus are based upon the Reports of Messrs Murray, Gore, Langtree, Dunstan, and Allan, details of the Dia- mond Drill bores, and Government records. The originals or copies of these Reports, with plans, may be seen at the office of the Company, and further reports and information as to the deep leads of Vic- toria may also be scen and obtained at the office of the Agent-General for Victoria, 15, Victoria-street, Westminster. PLAN.—Accompanying the Prospectus will be found 110 plan of this Company's property, in conjunc- tion with the Madame Berry and other sozroonding mines now working on these leads. CONTRACTS.—The following are the only Con- tracts that have been entered into :— Dated 21st October. i897, between the Honourable William Irving Winter Irving and George Neville as Trustee. Dated 19th November. 1897, between the said Wil- liam Irving Winter Irving. the said George Neville, and the Loddon Valley Pioneer Syndicate (Limited). Dated 10th December, 1900, between the said Wil- liam Irving Winter Irving and the last-named Syndi- cate, and (being the Contract of Sale) dated 12th De- cember. 1900, between the said William Irving Winter Irving and the last-named Syndicate (as Vendors) and Elliot George Masson as Trustee for this Com- pany. Two of the Directors, viz., Messrs R. S. Charles and L. Fawell, are also Directors of the Vendor Company. The above-specified Contracts, Government and other Reports and plan with prints of the Memoian- dl1m and Articles of Association, can be seen at the offices of the Solicitors. Messrs Williams and Neville, Winchester House, Old Broad-street, London. Application for Shares should be made upon the Form enclosed with the Prospectus, accompanied by a deposit of 2s 6d per Share. If no allotment is made the deposit will be retnrned in full, and if the number of Shares allotted be less than that applied for the surplus paid on application will be appropriated to- wards the amount due on allotment. Copies of the Prospectus can be obtained at tbe offices of the Company or from the Bankers, Solici- tors, or Brokers. 18th December, 1900. 1650 AS GOLD IS TO COPPER, OB AS A SOVEREIGN IS TO A PENNY, SO IS rxss QUALITY OF THE D.T. CO.'S PROVISIONS I WHEN COMPARED WITH THAT OP THE OKDINARS CHiOOBM. CARDIFF ADDRESSES— THE DIRECT TRADING CO., LTD., 286, BUTE-STREET, TOWN; 138, COWBRIDGE-ROAD, CANTON; 9A, CARLISLE STREET, MOORS; 240, CASTLE-ROAD, ROATH; 99, WOODVILLE ROAD. CATHAYS; ALSO AT 212; HIGH-STREET, SWANSEA. ^605-3168 DALE, JjlORTY k PIANOS & ORGANS. SOLE AGENTS TOK TBT: CE^HBRATBD LIPP JpiANOS, The highest development of tone beauty." All Information on Application to DALE, JjlORTY k CO" HIGH-STREET, CARDIFF. Also at Cheltenham, Birmingham, c. National Telephone, 1103. 1294 90Je J. M A RSlf & CO., K6NERAL CARRIAGE MASTERS \ND FURNISHING UNDERTAKERS, M, ST. MARY-STREKT, CARDIFF. 16177 Wf f, \n or- 'VppliCfttfOtt. 1151-14. | -0_ ,1' NORFOLK SQUARE K "JJOTEL, PADDINOTON STATION, Opposite Arrival Platform. FORTY BEDROOMS. LUXURIOUSLY FURNISHED. SPLENDID DINING, DRAWING, AND BILLIARD BOOMS. PRIVATE SITTING-ROOMS. ELECTRIC LIGHT THROUGHOUT. MODERATE TARIFF, NIGHT PORTER. Telephone No. 255, Paddlngton. 1298 BAKER & CO., PSFLPFTTBTQTT*. RF LHE DE REES BILL POSTING AND J ADVERTISING COMPANY, LIMITED. PROPRIETORS of 150 of the LARGEST STATIONS NEWPORT PONTYPOOL, RISCA, EASTERN and WESTERN VALLEYS. TERMS ON APPLIACTION. BRIDGE STREET. NEWPORT. J0M NEWPORT PONTYPOOL, RISCA, EASTERN and WESTERN VALLEYS. TERMS ON APPLIACTION. i BRIDGE STREET. NEWPORT. JOCq EBusiness Addresses. GOODS FOR HABITABLE PURPOSES, B EN EVANS AND COMPANY Are now offering for Sale AT VERY SPECIAL PRICES An Immense Stock of jgLANKETS, JjlLANNELS, s HEETS, QUILTS, s ERGES, T WEEDS, SHAWLS, WRAPS, JJOSIERY, &c., (fee. Ben Evans and Company respectfully invite buyers to WRITE FOB SAMPLES AND PATTEBNS for companion (which will be Bent Carriage Paid) before placing their orders. JgEN EVANS AND CO.'S CHRISTMAS JgAZAAR AND JjlANCY JpiAIR Is Now 0PENt THOUSANDS OF USEFUL AND ORNAMENTAL ARTICLES, Inclading TOYS. DOLLS, GAMES, &c. SUITABLE FOR PRESENTS. IMPORTANT I PLEASE ADDRESS ALL LAMAS IN Ptn.L- BEN JgVANS AND £ JO., LTD., SWANSEA, 1046 SPECTATJ SHOW. ALL NEW SEASON GOODS. JpALMS AND jp LOWERS (REAL PRESERVED!. JOINING ROOM F URNITURE, GRAND STOCK WALNUT. OAK, and MAHOGANY. B E ')ROOM F URNITIURE. MAGNIFICENT COLLECTION. CHIPPENDALE. SHERATON, WALNUT, and OAK DRAWING. ROOM F URNITURE. BEAUTIFUL ASSORTMENT. UP-TO PATE IN STYLE AND FINISH. OUR A MBIDEXTER SETTEE. NOTHING TO EQUAL IT FOR COMFORT. QFFICE piURNITURE OUR ROLL TOP DESK, SOLID OAK, £ 6 15s. CHAIRS IN EVERY STYLE AND FINISH. 4-FOLD DRAUGHT SCREENS, ALL NEW AND AT OLD PitlCES, From 11S 9° each. JJEAL jQOWN QUILTS. UNEQUALLED FOR WARMTH, from 10s 9d, FULL SIZE. Sole Agents for THE NAUTILUS GRATE. Sole Agents for TURNER'S BALLROOM POLISH, 1 S 10D Tin Post Free. p. E GANE (LATE TRAPNELL & GANE). 38 AND 41, QUEEN-STREET, CARDIFF. Catalogues Free. Carriage Paid. 1301 G. STONE & CO. J J NDERTAKERS> OJCr. 11 WORTUNG-STREE R, ADDBUSa: I CARD IFF. 1205 Telegraphic Address: Stone, II, Working-street 5e Cardiff. "National Telephone, No. 839.

NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS. Contributions sent to the South weaes DaUy News shonld be plainly written in ink, and invariably on one side of the paper. We desire to urge upon onr numerous correspondents the value of conciseness and the desirability of curtailing the length of their communications. It cannot be too clearly under- stood that brief and pointed letters receive the first attention. All communications intended for inser- tion must be authenticated by the name and address of the writer, not necessarily for publica- tion, bnt as a guarantee of good faith. No notice will be taken or anonymous letters. Rejected com- munications will not be returned.

Igtrtfrs, ARarriagts, auii Diatfys, Notices of DWtA., Mai-napes, and Deaths. U taeh, if not exceeding 10 words, and 8d for each extra 10 wnrrft DEATHS. BURRIAL-on the 16th inst., at Hawthorne Villa, Aberdare, Edward Burkle, aged 65. Requiem Mass at Catholic Church, Monk-street, &t 11 a.m., and funeral (gentlemen only) to leave church at 12 noon on Thursday, December 20th. ROWLANDS.—On the 17th inst., at 12, Esplanade. Porthcawl. Sephorah, the wife of M. R. Rowlands, age 55 years. Funeral private. 577

The LONDON OFJMCEb of the O'ltl IvWev j, News are at 46, Fleet-street (opposite Fetter-Jane' where advertisements are received up to 4.45 p.m for insertion in the following day's issne. The Sattth Wales Daily News, may be obtained hnmedi ately after the arrival of the 10.15train at the Offices 46, Kleet-street; at Messrs W. H. Smith and Sons Bookstall, Paddington Station; at Meesrti Willing and Co., Ltd., 17, Royal Exchange; and ab Messrs Everett and Son's, Salisbury-square, Fie",t-t,reljt.

THURSDAY. DECEMBER 20, 1900. AN UNSATISFACTORY OUTLOOK. THE variation ot the Bank rate to-day is being anticipated with nausually deep interest, not alone by the dealers in money and by the speculators whose operations compel recourse to money-dealers, but also by students of politics who accustom themselves to watch particularly the move- ments of the financial barometer. Mr A. J. Wilson,prince of pessimists, yet the most honest and able of ifnancial writers, has been prophesying sad things, and, unfortunately, the money market has accentuated his prophecies its nervous nature combining with singular restriction of business to produce a fairly widespread fear that something serious is imminent. What precise form the evil may take is scarcely hinted at; but the indefinite—which is really the inaennable only adds the terrors of the unknown. Partly, of course, the prevailing uneasiness is due to the financial condition of Berlin partly, also, to the fact that the approach of the holidays increased the idleness which has affected the Stock Exchange in some important departments for months past largely, no d6ubt, the disquiet may be traced to the continuing outlay upon the war and to a fuller realisation of the domestic difficulties this entails in Great Britain. Other causes contribute, Yet the chief influence is, unquestionably, the utter absence of any prospect of improve- ment. Our industrial position, challenged at once by America and Germany, is not being reinforced by wise statesmanship; but, on the contrary, national wealth is squandered—at a rate which the succes. sive Parliamentary votes only approxi- mately indicate-upon a conflict which might (and ought to) have been averted. Just when we need the cheapest of raw material and the most favourable condi- tions of manufacture and transport to enable us to compete with an ever- intensifying competition, there has come an all-round increase in the cost of produc- tion.. Those sources of industrial enter. prise—the accumulations and reinvest. ments of the capital-owning classes—are in large measure blocked through the depreciation in market value of the greater part of public securities and this brings us within sight of a serious limitation in the opportunities for remunerative employ. ment of wage earners. The financial crisis in Berlin cannot fail to aSect the London money market, and dearer money will still further restrict legitimate industrial enter- prise, as distinct from mere Stock Exchange operations and with such restriction at a time of general advance in the price of necessaries the condition of the masses of the people must be adversely affected.

HAMPERING INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE. IT is at this time of the year that the question crops up. in commercial and indus- trial circles—Why should promoters and opponents of private Bills in Parliament be obliged to expend such enormous sums ? Why should private enterprise be ham- pered and its prospects permanently injured by reason of some out-of-date antipathy to what is styled the decentra- lisation of the work of the country ? In this part of South Wale* all remember the great Barry fights of the later eighties, and recall the estimates made by fairly qualified outsiders of the tremendous fees paid to eminent counsel, the heavy costs of expert witnesses—and there were shoals of these expensive gentlemen !—the por- tentously high sums paid to Parliamentary agents, London agents, and the like. By estimates we mean to convey that it is impossible for anybody not well in the secrets of the promoters and opponents of private Bill legislation to do anything beyond estimating the cost of these company-fights in London but by experi- ence it is possible to get at a reasonably approximate idea of the expense to which the other side was put in such and such a Session. The very useful return moved for by Mr D. A. Thomas, M.P., also adds to the sources of informa- tion, and, in these ways, the public have been placed in possession of informa- tion with regard to the impost put on commercial enterprise by our Parliamen- tary system which has frequently amazed them. The cost to the TafE Vale Railway Company of its thrice-made effort to get the Windsor Dock scheme through, and also the cost, on account of other enter- prises, to the Cardiff Railway Company, the Rhymney Railway Company, and the Barry Railway Company, must have amounted to a truly enormous figure, in the aggregate. The opponents of the Windsor Dock were perfectly within their rights in staving off fresh local competi- tion, and thereby conserving the interests of their own shareholders but there are few persons in Cardiff who will deny that the Windsor Dock would have been, and would be, in the interests of the trade Or Cardiff itself. Yet the immense expendi- ture thrust upon the promoters was mainly incurred in proving what to the man in the street was obvious. True, with decentralised bodies in existence to deal with these applications to Parliament, the same ground would probably have to be gone over; yet at what a saving To prove, or disprove, public interest "— popularly believed to be the main factor in deciding the fate of these private Bills— is principally done by a cloud of witnesses, all of whom have to be trained up to London, in first class carriages, housed in first clas3 hotels, and generally done well to while they are in the Metropolis. It is a common experience for these skilled witnesses to be up for a full week at a stretch before being called. If applications for private Parliamentary Bills were heard in the provinces, within convenient distance of the town from which the main body of witnesses, solici. tors, and clients hails, it is clear that much of the very serious cost now entailed might be saved. Then, as to the retention and employment of eminent members of the Parliamentary Bar, the sitting of peripa- tetic Commissions in various parts of the country, during the whole or at least part of the year, would rpduce the pressure not infrequently experienced by counsel whose services are in demand, and who, because of this pressure, occasioned by crowding an inordinate quantity of private Bill busv ness into a short Session, and the holding of simultaneous sittings of different Com- mittees, cannot possibly do that full justice to their clients' interests which they them- selves would be the first to desire to do. Nobody, not even a distinguished and clever member of the Parliamentary Bar, can be in two places at once and under the present system, in order to get through the work in the time at disposal, different Committees, dealing with totally differing matters, are obliged to sit simultaneously in different parts of the Palace of West minster. This is not as it should be, in view of the magnitude of the questious at stake. A reform of the system would present no insurmountable obstacles. The suggestion, which we believe was broadly embodied in a private member's Bill, some years ago, that Local Commissions, consist- ing of men of experience- in both Houses, should be appointed to hold inquiries in the country after a higher tribunal has pronounced favourably upon the prima facie merits of the scheme, should not present an elemental feature of danger to the Constitution, and it certainly seems to point a practical way out of the difficulty. Once the decision of the country Commis- sion was reported to Parliament, it is highly unlikely that any attempt would be made to re-open the facts, although, per- haps, it would be desirable to have such a safeguarding provision in existence for exceptional cases, wherein allegations were persisted in of improper acceptance or rejection of material evidence. This, how- ever, is an aspect ot the privileges of Par- liament which is well assured of careful scrutiny on all hands.

SWANSEA GENERAL HOSPITAL. ANONYMOUS GIFT OF JE500. At the ominary meeting of C nitn^tfee of Management on Wednesday. Colonel Morgan Dresiding, the question of electrically lighting the institution was discussed, and an understanding come to that the Coiporation bght would be installed. It was reported that Dr. Hathaway, the medical officer, had left for S->ut.h Africa, on appointment as surgeon to H.M. Field Forces. The anonymous gift of JE500 was reported, and it was said the conditions attached to the gift were that it was to be plaeed in trust in the hands of the trustees of the Hospifcal, to be invested by them, the interest to be banded to the Ladies' Samaritan Committee for the benefit of convales- cents leaving the Hospital, and the principal to remain untouched until snoh a time as it is decided to apply it towards the erection of a con- valescent home or such other permanent accom- modation as may be deemed desirable for the aforesaid convalescents. A vote of thanks was passed to the anonymous donor and to Miss Dili- wyn for the interest she bad shown in the matter. .:{;

Tfie enstom of using photographs for Christ- ttiRb cxrda is becoming more and more popular.

STUDYYOUB OWN CONVENIENCE in the nnrseiy and sick-room by using that food which is most easily prepared at any hour of the day or night, and i9, at the same time, the best in the world for infants, chil- dren, and invalids. The name of this food i8 HOBLICK'S MALTED MILX. It has the largest sale in the world among prepared foods, and is endorsed by the medical profession and Press, by nnrses, mothers, the clergy, and used by public institutions. It may be given from the moment of birth, is always liked, always digested easily, and has proved a source of life and health to thousands. Of all Chemists, price Is 6d, 2s 6d, and Us.—Send for free sample and full descriptive pamphlet to Horlick and Co., 34, Far. ing- don-road, London, B.C.

¡ LONDON LETTER. LONDON, Wednesday Night. MINISTERS AT LOGGERHEADS. An optimistic speech from Mr Chamberlain is now required to restore tbe balance of tone in the Cabinet. The lugubrious deliverances of Mr Brodrick and the Prime Minister have given rise to » suspicion that members of the Government are at loggerheads over the South African diffi- culty. Sir Alfred Milner is credited with being cause of dissension. He distrusts the pre- cipitancy of Mr Chamberlain's schemes of settlement, and, as I have already stated, has given expression to his doubts in a communication to Downing-street. Lord Salisbury is perhaps the more ready to tako a gloomy view of the situation because of bis consciousness that at an earlier stage of the campaign he was too willing to believe that everything was going on prosperously. It is obvious enough now, at all events, that the Premier is no longer looking at tbe war throagh Olr Chamberlain's eyeglass. Had he shown as much independence three months ago there would probably havo been no dissolution. A POLITICAL HAMLET. Various interpretations of the Cecilian oracles are forthcoming. One commentator dismisses the obscurer passages of Lord Salisbury's speech as so many veiled commonplaces. Another hints that so much depression could only have been canstfi by a course of plain speaking as to the realities of the situation from Lord Kitchener. All agree that the spirit in which the Prime Minister confronts tba difficulties of his task is unsatisfactory, not to say pusillanimous. But after all it is hard to say what was really passing in Lord Salisbury's mind. He thinks aloud, bat the articulation is often elliptical. Fragments of the thought are expressed in soliloquy, leaving ga.ps which the imagination vaiuly strives to sapply. Thw is a dangeous practice in a statesman, and, as Lord Salisbury must have been made to realise to-day, is apt to produce a fruitful crop of rumours and misunderstandings. STALENESS" I THE ARMY. Although Lord Kitchener is in constant com- munication with the War Office, the Bupply of news to the public from tha.t source is ex- tremely meagre. It is known, howevnr, that the Commander-in-Chief has greatly disturbed the equanimity of Pall Mall by the extent of his demand for rein- forcements of man and horses. The Queen's appeal, too, to the Volunteer troops at the front to prolong their service in the field serves to emphasise the urgency of thu situation. Moat of the men have no choice but to stay. Tbe officers, on the other hand, are less restricted, and it is a significant fact that the resignations of no fewer than 14 commissions in the Imperial Yeomanry are gazetted to-day, and that having voluntarily foifeited their commissions and their claim to all medals and distinctions those wearied officers are now coming home. The strain on all concerned in the campaign must be getting t rribly severe. Military men speak of the staleness of the troopa as inevitable, and urge that if only as a means of freshening the army up the infusion of a considerable body of new blood is of the first importance. LONDON'S DISAPPOINTMENT. Business men in London are perhaps not altogether diapleaaed by the change in the ar- rangements for Lord Roberts's reception. Christ- mas in itself is a tryingseason for busy people, but Christmas with a supplement of Mafeking Ditys was a prospect which few were able to face with •qaanimity. At the sama time deep and wide- spread disappointment will be caused if Lord Roberts is compelled to restrict bis drive on arriving in London to the short route between Victoria Station and Buckingham Palace. The streets in that district are narrow and irregular, and unless the utmost secrecy is observed as to the time of Lord Roberts's arrival we shall probably find some hundreds of thousands of people struggling for a footing in an area not capable of accommodating a tenth of thsii number. II BOBS AND THE C1TX. One way of modifying the difficulty would be to announce the date of the veteran Field Marshal's promised Visit to the Guildhall to receive the new honours which await him at the hands of the Uity. I understand that this will be done, and that I hOQJlh there will be no State procession Lord Roberts will still make something like a triumphal progress from west to east. The original intention was that he ehonld tys received by the Lord Mayor immediately after the service in St. Paul's, bat that arrangement having fallen through the Commander-in-Chief will now be asked to fix a date for his visit early in the New Year. The City Fathers meet to-morrow to consider the subject. IN HONOUR OF IRELAND. London had its first glimpse to-day of the new Irish Gnards, the additional regiment of the Household Brigade which, as will bo remembered, was formed by the Qaeen in honour of the dis- tinguished bravery shown by ber Irish troops in South Africa. A detachment of the regiment rrived thig morning to up garrison duty in London. The men were marched to Chelsea Barracks, their novel uniforms attracting much attention by the way, and probably a good deal of professional comment, at; the end of the journey. Perhaps, however, the most striking feature of the dress is one which WRS not worn to-day—tbe ordinary service cap with its smart ornamentation of shamrock green and general rosemblance to the Jap usually worn by firemen. Up to the present, it is stated, only about three hundred men have joined the regiment, of whom two hundred are now stationed at Chelsea. MRBRYN ROBERTS'S MISTAKE. Among r11 the censures that are at present being heaped on the bed of Mr Bryn Roberta not the least indignant is that of the journal whose sensational story the member for Carnar- vonshire repeated in the HOllse of Commons. The original charge was one of mutiny against: General Brabant's troops, whereas Mr Bryn Roberts spoke of the soldiers implicated as Aus- tralians. Accordingly, the denial by Lord Kit, chener of Mr Bryn Roberts's statement is not in form a denial of the original accusation. As the Authors of the latter continue to assert its authen- ticity Mr Brodrick should agaiu communicate with Lcrd Kit-benar, and got the matter cleared up once and for all. The Australians, at all events, are now free from the blomisb of even an unsupported imputation.

HAY-PAUNOEFOTE TREATY. Washington, Wednesday.—Tbe Senate in the Executive Session yesterday ratified the agree- ment supplementary to the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty extending the time in which the Treaty may be ratified to March 4th, whan the Treaty will be called UD. The Berate also considered a resolution which Senator Tillman, Democrat, offered in open Session, c/illing for correspondence between the United Stst-es and the Colombian Governments relative to the right of the United States to construct » canal in Columbian territory. The resolution was agreed to with an amend- ment proposed bv Senator Morgan calling also for the correspondence with the Panama Canal Company. Senator Bard offered the following amendment ns a substitute for article thrre was struck out by tbe comm ttee :—" Nothing contained iu this Treaty shall be construed to operate against the right of the United Stnt-8 to establish dis- criminating tolls in favour of American ships carrying American goods and engaged in coast- wise trade." Senator Morgan submitted to tbe Senate a sup- pi-mental report on the Nicaragua BIn from the Inter-Oceanic Canals Committee, reviewing rela- tions of the United States with the three nations iotere-ted in view of the recently negotiated protocols with Nicaragua and Costa Rica, to- gether with the effect of tho proposed changes in the Hay- Paoncefote Treaty.—Central News.