Welsh Newspapers
Search 15 million Welsh newspaper articles
17 articles on this Page
*■"»<, J.. • 1 11,1 ■—. rrr—'…
*■"»<, J.. 11,1 ■—. rrr—' PROCEEDINGS IN FARLIAMEM1^ TUE EMPLOYERS' LIABILITY BILL: J In the HOUSE OF LORDS, on Jan. 29, there was a fairly large attendance of Peers to consider the Commons' reasons for disagreeing with their lord- ships' amendments to the Employers' Liability Bill/ upwards of 150 being present. The Earl of Morley occupied the woolsack in the continued absence of the Lord Chancellor, and the Earls of Kimberley and Rbsebery were again amongst the absentees. On the order for the consideration of the Commons4 reasons, the Marquis of Ripon, at the suggestion of the Duke of Devonshire, briefly stated the-Views of the Government. Neither of the further, amendments of which the Earl of Dudley and the Earl of Cainperdown had given notice seemed to the Government ta be of a character to remove their objections to the alterations which had been made in the bill. He therefore mov.ed that their lordships should not insist upon the Earl of Dudley's amend- ment permitting contracting out of the Act when the employer contributed an adequate, proportion to a mutual insurance fund for the purpose of providing compensation for the workmen. The Marquis of Salisbury commented upon the fact that the Government had not advanced any reason in support of the attitude which they took up. The Opposition were the advocates of the freer dom of individuals and freedom of contract, and they would steadily and firmly resist measures, which would condemn workmen to litigation instead of to agree- ment, which would diminish their resources, and which would create permanent causes of difference and quarrel between employers and employed. The silmee-of the Government showed that thev were not acting on their own instincts, and that they were the victims of a dire necessity and the slaves M a cruel •organisation. Lord Stanmore and Lord Farrer having also opposed the motion, the Marquis of Ripon reiterated the opinion of the Government that the bill would not have the effect of destroying the existing mutual insurance funds, and cited the recent speech of Mr. Laing, the chairman of the London, Brighton, and South. Coast Railway Company in support of that contention. The workmen who 'supported the llarl of Dudley's amendment did so only because they feared that if the bill passed as proposed by the Government it would destroy these funds whilst, on the other hand, the vast majority of workmen throughout the country were warmly in favour of prohibiting contracting out altogether. On a division, the motion not to insist upon the amendment was negatived by 125 against 22. The Earl of Camperdown then moved a series of amendments to the Earl of Dudley's contracting-out amendment. The first, which empowered any workman to release himself from the agreement upon which the insurance fund was based by giving due notice, was agreed to. The second, fixing the minimum compensation in case of death at the amount of two years', wages, gave rise to some dis- cussion, in the course of which the Marquis of Ripon expressed the indifference of the Govern'- inent to these amendment^, and the Duke of Devon- shire complained (^f the refusal of Ministers to render the JIouseany assistance whatever in its endeavours to meet the objections whicH: habeen urged;bt the Home Secretary in the House of Commons. Even*- tuaJTy' the amendment was -withdrawn, but a further amendment was adopted fixing the amount of the employers' contribution to the mutual insurance fund at not less than one-third, instead of one- fourth,. as required in the original amendment. The sub-section with reference to the certification of the fund by an actuary approved by the Board of Trade was struck out, and a hew proviso, moved by the Earl of Dudley, inserted, under which, in case the, insurance fund was insufficient to provide the agreed compensation, and the employer was unwilling to make up the deficiency, the agreement would be considered void, and the workman be entitled to the same remedy which he would have had if he had not entered into it. A proviso, moved by the Earl of Cam- perdown, that entering into such an agreement should not be made a condition of engagement, and a proviso, moved by the Earl of Dudley, that the Board of Trade should not certify in any case where the ordinary course of the business or employment was such that by reason of frequent changes of workmen it was not possible to ascertain the free opinion of the Workmen employed, were also adopted, the latter being extended, at the instance of Lord Monk Bretton, to cases in which only a small number of workmen were employed, who, by reason of their limited number, might easily be coerced. The Earl of Dudley then moved that their lord- ships do insist upon their original amendment as amended. If the reason given by the Commons for disagreeing with the amendment was the true reason, there ought to be no difficulty in coming to a speedy settlement of the question, inasmuch as the amend- ments now made obviated the danger of the arrange- ments not adequately providing for the protection and compensation of the workmen, which was the ground assigned by the Commons for not agreeing to the amendment. Lord Stalbridge observed that Mr. Laing's speech, which had bCl;n, referred to, did not, represent the views of his co-directors of the London and Brighton Railway, who were unanimously against him. The Marquis of Ripon said it would be the duty of the Government to consider the amendments which had been made but in his judgment they did not afford any satisfactory solution of the question. The motion having been agreed to, the amendment of Viscount Cross relating to notice being given in the case of seamen intending to claim compensation, with which the Commons had disagreed, was con- sidered. The Marquis of Ripon moved that their lordships should not insist upon the amendment, and Viscount Cross, in view of the reception of the amendment in the other House, reluctantly assented to the motion, which was agreed to.
ILLNESS OF THE CZAR.
ILLNESS OF THE CZAR. The St. Petersburg Official Journal published on Jan. 29 a bulletin stating that the Czar was suffering from a severe attack of influenza, complicated by bronchitis and inflammation at the base of the right lung temperature, 102'3 deg. Fahrenheit. A later bulletin stated that there is a slight general improvement, and the temperature has fallen to 100-7 deg. Fahrenheit. The Czar has been ailing for some time. On Thurs- day of last week1, being oppressed with the fever accompanying influenza, %e left his bed and sat for -several hours in a chair it is supposed that he then caught the chill which has resulted in the present 'pneumonia. Professor Zacharm was-summoned from Moscow on Jan. 27, and he signed the bulletins. Up to Jan. 29 the symptoms had indicated no special gravity, and there was every reason to hope that the magnificent constitution of the. Imperial patient would triumph Over the diseáse., J:
BURGLARY AT AN EMBASSY.
BURGLARY AT AN EMBASSY. A daring burglary was committed on the night of Jan. 28 the United States Embassy in Rome. The robbers, having effected an entrance into the library, broke open the spofe, which, however, contained no money or valuables. The miscreants, evidently dis- appointed by not finding what they sought, then pro- ceeded to wreck the furniture and burn all the papers they could lay their hands upon. On the office being entered in the morning it was found to be strewn with the debris of broken chairs and the charred remains of documents': the robbers had also smashed a ,i u y ^hington and destroyed several valuable books. At the same time, however, it was noticed that some valuable paintings and several pieces of costly furniture were unharmed. A rich collection of ancient coins had also not been tampered with, but the destruction of the archives is complete and irreparable. It is, therefore, surmised that the real object of the burgers WM n ppbbery, but the destruction of certain papers.
.PUBLIC MEN ON PUBLIC MATTERS.
PUBLIC MEN ON PUBLIC MATTERS. MB. CHAMBERLAIN ON COMMERCE. Mr. Chamberlain was present on January 27 at the annual dinner of the Birmingham jewellers and silversmiths, and. in proposing the toast, of The City and Trade of Birmingham," said the history of Birmingham trade, like that of the town itself, was one of steady and continuous progress, while its most characteristic feature was the extra- ordinary variety of its industries. He believed that the general commercial depression which was now prevalent would only be temporary. It was due to the foolish tariff policy of some foreign countries and to the universal unrest and disquiet created by the existence of those vast armies which confronted one another on the Continent. All that could be done by the Government of this country was to lose no opportunity of finding new markets and developing old ones, and to maintain our naval supremacy and our control of the great ocean highways. MR. WY.O'BRIBN AND TUB EVICTED TENANTS. Mr. W. O'Brien, M.P., addressed a meeting at Bandon on January 28 in aid of the fund for the support of the evicted tenants, and said the pledges of the Government on behalf of these persons were perfectly distinct and unequivocal, and would have to be fulfilled as quickly and as loyally as honest men could fulfil them. The Irish party had satisfied themselves that up to the present time the Government had ne- glected no opportunity of settling the ques- tion, and if the Government did their part, and if the House of Lords acted as in 1880 and plunged the country into another year of disturbance and strife, upon their heads be the consequences. Mr. O'Brien proceeded to contend that in regard, to Home Rule the Government had honestly redeemed its pledges, and defended its policy in pushing forward measures of English reform after the House of Lords had rejected the Home Rule Bill. AN EXPERT ON THE NAVY. Responding to the toast of The Army, Navy, and Reserve Forces," at the annual dinner of the Junior Engineering Society in London on Jan 27, Mr. W. H. White, Director of Naval Construction, said that of the 70 ships authorised by the Naval Defence Act five years ago, 6l would be completed and ready for service by the end of March next, and the remaining nine, which were only small vessels,, would be very far advanced. LORD ROBERTS AND THE VOLUNTEERS. Lord Roberts on January 27 visited Barry Dock, and was entertained to luncheon by the directors. In the evening his-lordship was the guest at Cardiff of the Colonel-Commandant, Sir Edward Hill, K.C.B., M.P., and the oflicers of the Glamorgan Volunteer Artillery. Replying to the toast of his health, Lord Roberts said it was always gratifying to him to be with volunteers, and to know the enthusiasm which induced them to endeavour to qualify themselves to take their part in the defence of the Kingdom. He thought to the officers of the regular army the existence, of. upwards of 200,000 effective volunteers was a fact of great con- sequence, and it also relieved the country of a great burden which, were it not for the volunteers, would be thrown upon it by the necessary inprease of the regular army. It spoke well for the patriotism of the people that in a great commercial centre like Cardiff so many gave up their time to qualify as efficient volunteers, and he hoped that not only would the force increase but that the gentlemen in the neighbourhood would do all in their power to support it. TUB rARNELLITES AND THE GOVERNMENT. A representative of the Press Association had an interview with Mr. John Redmond, M.P., leader of the Parnellite Party in the House of Commons, after the hon. member's return on January 27 from visit- ing the convict John Daly at Portland Prison. "What are the intentions of yourself and your colleagues with regard to the next session ?" We mean to move two amendments on the address in reply to the Queen's speech. One of these will be on the subject of amnesty and the other will propose to censure the Irish administration." On what grounds ? On the ground of the De Freyne evictions, where tenants' houses were burned down under the protec- tion of the police, and also on account of jury packing." What will be your attitude towards legislation ?" We expect the Government to introduce an Evicted Tenants Bill as the first business of the session, and that it will be pushed through without interruption. This could be done in a short time with the aid of the closure if necessary. It would never do to hang such a measure up until a late period of the session, as it is urgent. We intend to urge that the Registration Bill should next'be pressed forward, and that a general election should take place as soon as that measure comes into effect. Its opera- tion might be hastened by means of a special pro- vision to bring it into effect in August or September, instead of waiting until the following January. We cannot contemplate an indefinite prolongation of next session, as that would be throwing back Home Rule. SIR J. WHITEHEAD ON RAILWAY RATES. Sir James Whitehcild, M.P., speaking at a mayoral banquet at Leicester on Jan. 29, referred to the attitude of railway companies on the question of rail- way rates. He remarked that there was something in the air in the nature of a compromise bet ween the representatives of the trading community and the railway directors. He was not at liberty to mention the details, but he felt confident that before many weeks had passed a modus viveiidi would be estab- lished which, while doing no injustice to the railway companies, would be quite satisfactory to the traders. MR. CHAMBERLAIN AT STOURBRIDGE. Mr. Chamberlain addressed a Unionist meeting at I Stourbridge on January 29. He contended that during the past session the House of Commons had sat longer than it Jiad ever done for more than two centuries, that the powers of the majority had been more tyrannically used than ever before, and yet that no House of Commons had ever accomplished less. The cause of this failure was not obstruction; the last Conservative Government had had to encounter far more persistent obstruction, and yet had passed many valuable measures. The explanation was the want of good faith which had been displayed by the Government. They won the last general election on false pretences, making large promises of British legislation, and then putting everything aside for a scheme of Home Rule, of which the electors were kept in ignorance. The Government dare not now appeal to the country, and were trying the manoeuvre of raising an agitation against the House of Lords; but so far there had been no response, because the people knew that the House of Lords were correctly interpreting the feel- ing of the vast majority of the British electorate. The legislative proposals of the Government on British questions were really devised to pick a quarrel with the House of Lords, but he did not believe that when another election came this policy would be found to have succeeded. MR. JOHN BURNS ON THE BIGHT HOURS DAY. Mr. John Burns, M.P., spoke at a mass meeting of Government employes held at Woolwich on Jan. 29 to thank the Government for instituting the eight hours day in the Arsena1. He hoped that the ex- ample set by the Government would be followed by all the large firms of the country. MR. CHAPLIN ON AGRICULTURE. At the annual meeting of the Lincolnshire Chamber of Agriculture, held at Sleaford, Mr. Chaplin, M.P., presided. Discussions took place on the Parish Councils Bill and the Royal Commis- sion on Agricultural Depression. At, the annual dinner of the Chamber, which followed the meeting, Mr. Chaplin was the principal speaker. Referring to the subject of agricultural de- pression, he said the continuous fall of pricey was the insuperable difficulty. He did not believe m protection as a remedy, seeing that pro- tectionist countries were suffering equally with our- selves. Tbe real cause he believed to be a monetary one-,he appreciation of gold-and the only remedy was biiiietniiiam 'the prospects of which had greatly improved of late in consequence of the dilemma into which the Government had got in connection with Indian finance.
THE MONSON MODELS.
THE MONSON MODELS. In the Court of Appeal, on January 29, Lord Halsbury delivered judgment, in which the other learned judges concurred, in the cases brought by Mr. Monson against Madame Tussaud (Limited) and Mr. Louis Tussaud. The Court reversed the deci- sion of the Divisional Court, and dissolved the inter- locutory injunction granted by that Court restraining the defendants from exhibiting the waxen effigies of Mr. Monson at their respective exhibitions.
THE MATABELE WAR.
THE MATABELE WAR. HOW MAJOR WILSON WAS LOST. Captain Griffiths gives the following detailed de- scription (says a Cape Town despatch) of Major Forbes's famous march, which he accompanied throughout On the 14th of November Major Forbes, Major Wilson, and Commandant Raaf left Buluwayo with 300 men and two Maxims, only 50 rounds per man in their belts and 50 rounds in their bandoliers, six days' provisions, and no ambulance. They were in pursuit of the King, who waa reported to be atlnyati. Missing him there, they followed his track up to the Bubi River, a distance of 40 miles. Then the party returned to Inyati,and thence proceeded to Shiloh, where they were reinforced with men, waggons, and provisions. From that point they went in a north- westerly direction till they struck the Shangani River, following the King's waggon spoor all the way. Forbes then sent the majority of his men and waggons back, continuing in pursuit with only 140 men and two guns. Within a mile and a half of the rl^er they captured a herd boy, who stated that Lobengula was on the river. This proved untrue. At dusk on December 3 Major Wilson" left" with 12 men to trace the spoor onwards, Major Forbes meanwhile camping. At midnight Wilson sent back, say- ing he had found the King's waggon, and asking the column to move on. Twenty-two men went to join him, but Forbes did not move. Early the next morn- ing Major Forbes's party heard heavy firing in the direction taken by Wilson, and moved out to support him. A mile off they were attacked by 1500 natives, and got four men wounded and 12 horses killed. They were forced to return, but remained as near as possible, hoping that some of Wilson's men would turn up. Five days afterwards, while still retiring, Forbes's inen got into a nasty place amongst, granite kopjes, covered with dense bush, with a deep aluit along the bottom. Here at midday they were again attacked whilst they were off-saddled, being taken completely by surprise by 500 men, who got close up, assegaing many horses. Sergeant Gibson was shot through the head. The Englishmen continued their retreat, making for the drift on the River Shangani, where the road from Inyati to Salis- bury crosses. The natives followed them up, harassing the flanks and rear. Half way back native scouts were sent out to see where the reinforcements were, but none were found. A relief column, with Rhodes and Jameson, bringing provisions, was met 18 miles from Inyati, and all then returned to Bulu- wayo without any tidings of poor Wilson's party." MB. RIIODES'S SPEECH. The full text of the important speech delivered by Mr. Cecil Rhodes on the development of South Africa, at the banquet given him by citizens of Cape Town on his return from Matabeleland, has now reached this country. It contains an interesting account of a discussion Mr. Rhodes once had with Sir Hercules Robinson on his policy of extension in South Africa, and a vigorous defence of his action and of the conduct of the war against the strictures of Mr. Labouchere and the Aborigines Protection Society.
DEATH FROM CAT BITE.
DEATH FROM CAT BITE. The Coroner for Central London and Middlesex held on January 27 an inquest on the body of Albert Paul Koenig, aged 33 years. Louisa Koenig, the widow, deposed that the deceased on the 19th of December told her that a strange cat which he stroked had bitten his left thumb and scratched his hand. The wounds healed up in a few days. On Thursday, January 18, the deceased complained of severe paips., in his side and back, and died on the following Wednesday. Dr. S. H. Craig stated that he was called to see the deceased, who showed decided symptoms of hydrophobia. Death was due to ex- haustion from hydrophobia following the bite of a cat. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.
! THE MILITARY RIOT AT CHATHAM.
THE MILITARY RIOT AT CHATHAM. The court-martial upon the military rioters ter- minated at Chatham on January 27. Sapper Lear- mouth was charged with assisting to rescue a prisoner. The defence was an alibi, in support of which several witnesses were called. Eventually the Court decided that the picket might possibly have been mistaken in the man, and found the prisoner not guilty. The sentences were promulgated as follows Sapper Edge- combe, nine months' imprisonment; Sapper Mun- ford, seven months' both for assaulting picket and assisting to rescue a prisoner; Sapper Law, one month's imprisonment. for. breaking away from the military escort.
n,,;I-SAD SHIPPING DISASTER.
n, I- SAD SHIPPING DISASTER. A barque called the Port Yarrock, with copper ore from California, arrived off the coast of Ireland a few days since, and took shelter in Brandon Bay. On Jan. 28, in a violent gale, she dragged her anchors and struck upon a sandbank, where the sea made a clean sweep over her. f The captain and crew of 24 hands took refuge in the rigging, which was yy^shed away, and every man was drowned. ,u
[No title]
ALWAYS man needs woman for his friend. He needs her clearer vision, her snbtle insight, her softer thought, her winged soul, her pure and tender heart. Always woman needs man to be her friend. She needs the vigour of his purpose, the ardour of his will, his calmer judgment, his braver force of action, his reverence and his devotion.-Mar& Clemmer.
THE PRINCESS OF WALES.
THE PRINCESS OF WALES. The Observer says: We are glad to be able to state that the Princess of Wales has now completely recovered from a severe attack of influenza, and that her Royal Highness proposes to take her usual part in the engagements of the London season. The dis- quieting reports which have been published in various papers respecting the Princess's health and her Royal Highness's intention to withdraw from society are totally devoid of foundation, and have been the cause of pain and inconvenience to those most concerned.
CONFERENCE OF CONSERVATIVE…
CONFERENCE OF CONSERVATIVE PEERS. A meeting of peers was held at Lord Salisbury's house in London on Jan. 26 to consider the course'to be adopted with respect to the Employers' Liabilitv and Parish Councils Bills. About *100 pe ers at- tended. Lord Salisbury held that in regard to the Employers' Liability Bill theirlordsbips should adhere inprinciple to Lord Dudley's amendment in reference to the question of contracting out, though some modification in wording might be desirable. As to the Parish Councils Bill, Lord Salisbury advocated the amendment, but not the elimination, of the Poor Law clauses, amendment of the clause dealing with the compulsory taking of land, and consideration of the question of the compound householder. A dis- cussion followed, during which Lord Salisbury's suggestions were generally approved.
EPITOME OF NEWS.
EPITOME OF NEWS. THE post of librarian to the Foreign Office, which will be vacated next month by Sir Edward Herslett, will be filled by the appointment of Mr. A. H. OakeB, the present assistant librarian, to the senior position. A CURIOUS interest attaches to the will of Lady Gertrude Stock, of St. Joseph's Convent, Hanwell. Lady Gertrude, who was a sister of the present Mar- quis of Queensberry, shared to a certain extent the eccentricity of her family, but had for many years lived a devoted and unselfish life. In 1882 she rather startled her friends by announcing her deter- mination to marry a Chelsea baker by the name of Mr. Stock. This she did, and so became Lady Ger- trude Stock. Her modest fortune has been left to her husband, who is at present in South Africa. TxiB Maharajah of Puttiala, who is about to visit this country for a sojourn of eight months, will bring with him his. wife "Florence, known as the Queen of Puttiala, who is an English, or rather Irish lady, and sister of Mr. Charles Bryan, a gentleman well known in Indian racing circles as "Mr. Doris." Our visitor, who is in his twenty-second year, rules over a State comprising 5419 square miles, with a population of about 1,467,433. He maintains a military foree of 4147 infantry, 2423 cavalry, and 109 guns, and is entitled to a solute of 17 guns. EITUER Mr. Gosphep v very fortunate in hiwivato secretaries, or those gentlemen are very fortuna him. Of the three men who successively served him in that capacity during his tenure of office as Chan- cellor of the Exchequer, the first, Mr. Milner, is now chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue (salary £ 2000); the second, Mr. Dawkins, is manager of the Peruvian Corporation at Lima (salary £ 2000 to £ 3QP0) and the third, Mr. H. Babington Smith, has ¡"just been appointed private secretary to the Viceroy of India (salary £ 1600, taking into account the de- preciation of the rupee). As the ages of the three men are respectively 39, 34, and 30, none of them can complain of lack of advancement. THH mother of Sir Egbert Sebright—the young baronet who has wooed and won Lord Wimborne's daughter—was at one period of her life one of the brightest figures as she was one of the wittiest women in London society. But a sad tragedy darkened her life, and the bright and brilliant woman became little more than a recluse. She and' her friend, Miss Letitia Probyn, were bathing at Ilendaye. Without a moment's warning, Lady Sebright saw her friend carried out to sea on the crest of a big wave. She fainted, and was herself with difficulty rescued from death Lady Sebright at once disappeared from that social firmament in which she had shone with such brilliancy, and the whole of her after life has been affected by that terrible incident. AN interesting incident anent the home life of the popular Foreign Secretary at Mentmore has just come to light. It is related that Lord Rosebery when passing the churchyard gate met a little child carrying a basket of flowers, which she was going to place on the grave of her sister. His lordship made a sympa- thetic remark, whereupon he and the demure village maiden went hand-in-hand to the grave, on which the fresh flowers were deposited. Lord Rosebery then asked the child, Do you think your mother would like a stone to mark your sister's grave?" The grateful look which appeared on the child's face was all the answer required, and before a day had elapsed the child's parents were invited by hlsMord- ship to choose an inscription, and in a very shtfrt time a stone was erected at the head of the little mound. CANON FARRAR says that the present statistics show that the number of births in the richest districts of Kensington, London, are 20 per 1000 every year, while the number of births in the poorest districts of Fulham are 48 per 1000. THE number of religious sects entered by the Registrar-General at Somerset House in 1873 as having places of worship in England was 125. In 20 vears they have more than doubled, the number last year being 270. THE "Gospel" push-cart is coming into use in Australia. It is 8ft. long, 4ft. wide, and 6ft. high with the canvastop down, and 8ft. high with it up. It is carpeted, has an organ, chairs, and, one side being let downy a platform is made for the speaker and the singers. It is a little portable chapel, lighted by electricity, and moved about by three men or one horse. The small wheels behind act as a sort of rudder, by which it can be turned around the shwpest corner in the narrowest alley. It TUJillatest plan for dealing with habitual drunkards has come from the Mayor of Hanley. His Worship had before him a poor creature who had been^fined for drunkenness 58 times, and whose weakne cost the borough C". He told her he would be no party to imposing on the ratepayers further charges on ner account, and advised her to "get out" as quickly as she could. Then he hinted to the police officers that the next time they saw her in a state of inebriation they should, instead of locking her up, dip her in the cut." Truly a wise mayor, and one acquainted with the sobering effects of a cold bath. THE Duke of Devonshire's smoking-room at Chats- worth is lined with valuable oak carvings, mostly Italian—the fruits of many a Continental pilgrimage but Grinling Gibbons' masterpieces are to be found in the State apartments. MR. RICHARD LE GALLIENNE, whose "Religion of a Literary Man everybody has been discussing, began life in an accountant's office in Liverpool. But he soon found that he was better at letters than at figures. He is only 28, is married, and lives in an old house at Brentford. SIR HERBERT MAXWELL, who is well-known both as an author and a Parliamentarian, seldom speaks in the House of Commons. But as a whip lie is most indefatigable, and to habitues of St. Stephen's it is a wonder how he is able to find time to. contribute to the magazines and to write books, Sir Herbert's in- dustry is undoubted, I I AIR. W. S. GILBERT has no ear for music, and cannot tell the difference between harmony and dis- cord, yet he likes it, and hits an ear for rhythm. Says he: The slightest error in time, which would probably escape a musician, would jar most gratingly on my ear. Mv fondness for music chiefly lies in hearing pieces which are connected in my mind with associations. I would rather hear an unknown soprano singing a song I knew than Patti singing one I did not know." MRS. FENWICK MILLER, although as a rule she enjoys good general health, finds it impossible to keep well in London during the winter. Last winter she lived at Brighton, and for this cold' season Mrs. Miller has taken a house at Reigate. Miss OLIVE SCIIREINER is a pleasant, bright-faced I little lady, who likes to dress in bright colours, She was only 17 years of age when she wrote her cele- brated novel The Story of an African Farm." When in London, Miss Schreiner lives in one of those tiny flats specially given over to those of the fair sex who wish to live alone. She does her writing whenever the fancy seizes her, and has no really regular hours for work. MR. JAMES JPAYN in his "Note book" alludes with righteous indignation to an incident which recently occurred near Falmouth, Two lads fell through the ice one Sunday, where the water was deep and the ice rotten. They were rescued by the courage and conduct of a clergyman, who thrice risked his life in the attempt, and himself fell in. On reaching the shore he was saluted by the snuffling reproof from a parishioner,' Six days shalt thou labour, Mr. Blank. The only parallel to this," continues Mr. Payn, is found in the conduct of the American young lady who, being rowed by her lover on a lake, and coming on a drowning man, insisted on being set on shore (from motives of delicacy) previous to any attempt to save him." VENTNOR will in April attempt- to justify the right of The Riviera of England" to its title, for carnival is to be held on the Continental model. On the first day a procession of boats, illumination of the town, a golf tournament, and a grand ball form part of the programme, and on the next day there will be a battle of flowers" carried out as" nearly as possible in the style of that at Nice. The arrangements are in the hands of Colonel Goodchild, who is chairman of the committee, Sir Richard Webster, Mr. Burnaby, Mr. Olive, and others and with favourable weather the carnival should be a success. This is the first time, we believe, that such an attempt has been made in England. TIIB Bishops of Manchester, Durham, and South- well have b«en delegated by their colleagues of the English Church to select a successor to the late Bishop Parry, of Perth, in Western Australia. The Australians might have had a prelate appointed from amidst their own clergy, but they preferred to get one from the old country. They believe that he would possess more authority among the people than a native clergyman, and tne probabilities also would be in favour of the stranger possessing a private inoome. CANON ROWSSLL, whose death is announced, was incumbent of St. Peter's, StepBey1,'50 years'ago. In; 1860 he becatri6 rector of St. Margaret, Lofhburv, and in 1872 he migrated westward and became vicar of St. Stephen's, Westbourne-park. On being ap- pointed to a canonry of Westminster he resigned his living 10 years ago. Canon Rowsell became a chaplain to the Queen in 1857, and Deputy Clerk of the Closet in 1879. THERE is a good story current about a learned judge who is famous for his pointed sarcasm especially on his own profession. Finding himself belated on the way to the Strand the other morning he called a cab and bade the driver make for the Royal Courts of Justice quickly. "Where are they? said the man. "Do you mean to say," said the judge, "vou don't know where the Law Courts are? In the Strand, of course." Oh, that's quite another matter," was the reply; "you said the Courts of Justice!" "Well," said his lordship, grimly, "perhaps we do dispense more of the one than of the other there." The cab- man's point is clear, but what could thlrned gentleman have meant ? IT is annqujiced in the Newcastle Journal as a spinal item of news on trustworthy authorih-" that the trustees of the late Lord Crewe have sold to Lord Armstrong, subject to the approval of the Charity Commissioners, the Castle of lJamborough. together with some adjacent lands and houses. The castle, which is five miles from Belford, stands upon an almost perpendicular rock, looking over the sei- formerly a fortress of might, now a house of chnritv. The massive keep yet stands, and the vovager fol- lowing the course of the Abbess of St. Hilda, may yet see "King Ida's castle, huge and square, From its tall roc-k. look grimly down, And on the swelling ocean frown." Since 1720 it has been used for Bishop Crewe's Charity, and it has been kept in good repair, much of the old ruin being restored and converted to charitable uses. One part is used for educating boys on the Madras system and in another 20 poor girls are fed, clothed, and educated. The castle is also used for signalling purposes. To sailors on that jterilous coast Bamborough Castle is what the Convent ot St. Bernard is to the traveller on the Alps. THE Oxford University Dramatic Societv, which has had the credit of turning out several clever young actors, such as Mr. F. R. Benson and Mr. Arthur Bourchier. has decided to follow last year's Two Gentlemen of Verona" by "The Tempest." and rehearsals are now in progress, as the production is fixed for the 31st inst. The Rector of Exeter, as usual, supplies the music, and Mr. Mackinnon, late of the Haymarket, will be stage manager. A special feature will be the Miranda of a new-comer, Miss Una Cockerell, from. whom great things are expected. She is a native of Bedford-park, and has shown dramatic promise in a couple of productions of the Amateur Dramatic Club. THE Commissioners of Sewers have in the past 42 years expended a sum of E4,251,423, in improvements in the City of London. BY a majority of 797 the ratepayers of Bangor have asked the town council to apply for a loan of £ 25,000 for the erection of a pier and thepurchaseof a ferry rights across the Menai Straits. WESTMINSTER HALL is now open to the public on Saturdays throughout the year between the hours of ten and four. Arrangements liave also been made by which, during the Session, persons who have formerly been members of Parliament will be admitted to the hall at any time when the doors are open. THERE is no better test of the national prosperity than the dividends of our great railway companies. It appears that not only the Watkin group, but even the Brighton Railway has been heavily hit by the coa1 strike, added to the general depression of trade. The first-class traffic to Brighton Ims declined 10 per cent. in the last year, and the second-class 14 per cent., while the third-class has slightly in- creased in number and slightly diminished in receipts. Of the decrease of £ 81,615, the chairman, Mr. S. Laing, ascribes £ 32,000 to the coal strike, Y.15,000 to the Worthing epidemic, and £ 34,000 to the increased expenditure in wages, necessitated by the-interference of Parliament with the hours of their •mployes. TIIF. Queen's approaching visit to Florence jaus already drawn a large number of her wealthy siib- jects there, and, according to the local papers, the hotels of the fair city are crowded with English visitors. The Florentine comic papers have already commenced to caricature the Britisher abroad, but there is nothing very original in their ideas, the pictures being simply reproductions of the old Con- tinental idea of the Englishman with red whiskers and protruding teeth. Miss MAROCKRITB THOROLD-who is to be one of the debutantes of next season-is an enthusiastic hunts- woman. She inherits her love of the field from that gallant sportsman Captain Cecil Thorold, who was formerly in the 1st Life Guards. The young lady rides with the Belvoir, and has many a time led the hunt in daring runs. Her favourite hunter used to be a dark brown cob, whom she had dubbed "Tommy," and who was singularly fond of his dainty rider. Miss Thorold can show her friends more than one brush- presented to her by an enthusiastic hunt inappreciation of her prowess. Two of Miss Thorold's closest friends also hunt with the Belvoir. They are those charming girls the Misses Lucy and Gertrude Heatjhcote. Their father, the Rev. Thomas Heathcote—who, by the way, partly owned the Durdans at Epsom—be- longed to the old-fashioned order of clerics whose spirits never danced so brightly as after a fine run. The young ladies, who were both born at Lenton, in Lincolnshire, often hunted with their father, who was very proud of their firm seat, their cool nerve, and excellent judgment. Miss Lucy has an inventive genius. She has devised a safety habit, and, what is more, wears it. Her sister—who, we should not forget to mention, rode her horse Janette for nine seasons without a fall-is a really graceful artist. Naturally, the horse is her favourite art-subje^K^ THE Marquis of Exeter who, like the Marqu VF Salisbury, is a descendant of William Cecil, Queen Elizabeth's Secretary of State, has one of the finest residences in this country—to wit Burghley House, near Stamford. In one room is the marquis's state bed, presumably the bed that Elizabeth used to sleep in during her visits to her Minister. It is 6ft. high and must require some climbing to get into. The canopy is 18ft. high. The cost was £3000, PORTRAIT painting in England received JTE first strong impulse from Henry VIII., who inVi^d Holbein and Titian to England. THE Adjutant-General has ordered that the utmost care is to be exhibited in enlisting recruits for the militia. The men selected are to have a permanent residence in the county in which they are enlisted, the object of this being to prevent the enlistment of men of the tramp class. BETWEEN England and America there act itirflv existed 200 years ago what now is little more than the dream of the postal reformer—an ocean penny postage. Such is the fact. In 1698 it was the custom of the masters of ships bound for America to hang up bags in coffee-houses, and anv letters that might be dropped into these bags thev carried over, and were glad to do so, for a penny or twopence a letter, accord- ing as it was a single or double one. THE latest statistics prove that more than two- thirds of the grown male population of the globe use tobacco in some one of the many forms in which it is taken. THE English professional classes are the tallest of adult males, attaining the average height of 5ft. 9 £ in. Taken right through, the Englishmen and Americans are approximately of the same height. Most Euro- pean nations average, for the adult male, 5ft. 6in. but the Austrians, Spaniards, and Portuguese just fall short of this standard. TEXAS is a big and still a roomy State. Of its nearly 250^ counties, 26 have fewer than 100 in- habitants, 37 others have fewer than 1000, and onlv 81 have over 10,000. The number having as few as 5000 is large, and having as many as 20,000 is ex- tremely small. 0 LORD SALISBURY has subscribed £100 to the special organising fund of the National Agricul- tural Union. A LONDON CITY MAGNATE, who daily drives to his place of business, says a contemporary, has a phono- graph in his carriage, into which he pours messages, short letters, instructions, and other matters of im- portance. When he alights the machine is handed to the head clerk, who takes his instructions from it. THE pineapple has no seed, but is propagated from slips or suckers. Several slips spring from the base of each perfected fruit, while the suckers shoot from the bottom of the plant. Each plant produces a single fruit and then dies, but- its suckers become bearing plants a year later, while its slips, if thrust into the ground, will yield fruit in eighteen months. About 10,000 slips may be planted to the acre, and of these two-thirds will bear fruit. Thus the yield of pineapples is about 7000 to the acre. A FACT that sheds an instructive light on the state of society in Russia is mentioned bv Mr. (4eargf Kennan, the Siberian traveller. We have it on ijjs authority that among the political exiles in Siberia, who had taken the most active part in revolutionary projects in Russia during the last 15 years are a large number of women whose general powers of endurance and inflexibility of purpose were utterly unsuspected- many of them delicate girls of from 18 to 25, who would be taken for pupil teachers or Sunday-scheol teachers. WK learn from the Siam that M. Pilinski de Belty, French Consul at Batavia, is expected to arrive shortly to act as Consul-General. He was formerly at Rangoon, and is reputed to be a very pleasant, quiet man, to be fond of Rangoon, and to be so partial to the English that he is even having his only son (a boy of nine) taught English in Batavia. He is, therefore, not at all the sort of man to fan existing animosities. THE plausible beggar would soon find his trade un- remunerative if everyone was as prompt and dis- criminating in his action as Mr. Wilson Llovd, M.P. That gentleman was in Wednesbury the other day when he was stopped by a man who solicited a sub- scription in aid of a tramway servant who, he said, had met with an accident. Mr. Lloyd kept the man in conversation until a tramcar came up, and put the story to proof by asking the conductor. Finding it untrue, he gave the delinquent into custody, and gave evidence against him at the police-court, with the result that a sentence of six weeks' imprisonment was imposed. THERE are members of the House of Commons (avers the Sun) who believe that all the light and gaiety of London die out when they and their fellow- legislators betake themselves away from Westminster. It is a mistake, as any visitor to the west-end during the past few days could see for himself. Piccadilly and its environs were, while the sun shoce, as animated as if the height of the fashionable season, had been reached. Rotten Row sometimes presented quite a crowded appearance, and the park itself was full of life and colour. The bright sunshine tempted many out of doors who, under other circumstances, would have the world believe thev were basking in the Riviera. There are some foolish folks in London who actually shut themselves tip when Parliament rises and spend the winter almost in a state of suspended animation. During the season they waste money like water in order to "keep in" with those to whom waste of money is the business of life. Then the winter comes, and with it debt and poverty. After a few months of pinching in absolute seclusion, those poor creatures are in a position to come forth again and take their accustomed places in the giddy throng of fashion. Truly the world of Society is singular in its ways. How can sane people punish themselves so ? ACCORDING to the Million the biggest boy on earth- is Master Cecil George Graham, of Weymouth. He is only 16 years of age. and yet he is 5ft. lliin. in height, and weighs no less than 2531b. He measures 47in. round the chest, 46in. round the waist, and 18.yin. round the calf. IT is strange to read. after the association of the name with foreign diplomacy for a generation, that Earl Granville is gazettedas an attache in her Mai estv's Diplomatic Service. The young earl, who is in his 22nd year, has, for the time being, been appointed to the Eastern Department of the Foreign Office. IT is impossible, until the relevant fact s are accu- rately known, to understand the legal aspect of the extradition of Jabez Balfour. If a regular treaty: has been concluded with the Argentine Republic, there may or may not be an article having retrospective effect. Thus it appears from Sir Edward Clarke's work on Extridition that the treaty with Spain in 1878 only applied to offences committed before it was signed this is also true of the treaty with Uruguay in 1884. On the other hand, nothing is said on the sub- ject in that with Sweden and Norway in 1873; while in that with Switzerland in 1880 it is expressly stipulated that "the present treaty shall apply to crimes and offences committed prior to the signature of the treaty." It is, of course, possible that a special agreement hasbeenmade with the Republic for the sur- renderof the fugitive. Such bargains are not unknown. It is said the Spanish authorities always give up military deserters from Gibraltar for a consideration, though a runaway soldier is not scheduled in any extradition treaty. SPEAKING at a meeting of the Westminster Philan- thropic Society recently the Hon. W. F. D. Smith, M.P., gave a curious inst-ance of the ethics of mendi- city in the shape of an application made to him by a gentleman who admitted that he had El(k) a year. but added that if Mr. Smith would give him some further assistance he would make a very excellent member of Parliament. It is a curious commentarv upon the crusade in favour of paid members to find a man "writing begging letters with a view to raisin^ an income sufficient to support a Parliamentary posi- tion. THERE are about 150,000 Jews in England. TRAVELLERS can now reach Palestine from London in eight days. MR. SUPERINTENDENT CARTER, of the Brighton Constabulary, has been appointed chief constable of that borough, in the place of Mr. James Terry, who has resigned. THE St. George, the last of the nine first-class pro- tected cruisers laid down under the Naval Defence Act, made a satisfactory eight-hour official trial of her machinery with natural draught at Portsmouth on Thursday. She is of 7700 tons displacement, and differs from the majority of her class in being sheathed with wood and copper. Bo WOOD. Lord Lansdowne's fine place in Wiltshire, which has been shut up and unoccupied for many a year, is being put in order in anticipation of his return. The estate is a large one, and has been the favourite one among the family possessions, since it was purchased by the second Earl of Shelburne, who was created by the younger Pitt first, Marquis of Landsdowne. The family estates amount altogether to nearly 140,000 acres, of which 80,000 are scattered about Kenmare and Kerry. These latter provide the second title of the family, that of Earl of Kerry, which descends from the original Irish Fitzmaurices, who were the ancestors of the house. It was a lucky marriage with the daughter of Sir William Petty which transformed them from unrelenting foes of England into English nobles. Lord Lansdowne will one day inherit more land, for his mother, the Dowager Marchioness, who is Baroness Nairne in her own right, possesses nearly 10,000 acres in Perth and much land in Kinross. Bowood at one time formed part of the Royal Forest of Pewsham. which ad- joined that of Chippenham. The house was origi- nally built by Sir Orlando Bridgrnan, but it owes its present magnificence entirely to the third Marquis of Lansdowne. SIR GEORGE WILLIAM ELLIOTT shrinks from attempting what his father did in the way of carrying on at once the business of wire rope manufacturer, colliery owner, baronet, and member of Parliament Sir George the second perhaps understands that the Richmond Division of North Riding, which he represents, will not be content with the very occasional attendances to Parliamentary duty to which his father had accustomed the electors of Monmouthshire. He has strong political sympathies, and feels that he cannot do justice to his constituency with so many other irons in the fire, so he very properly gives the Richmond electors notice to find another candidate. Sir George is, of course, enormously wealthy, although there is a belief that when his father's will comes to be proved it, will be found that some of his more recent speculations did not add materially to his capital. A SHOPLIFTER, recently convicted, carried a bogus baby with her during her predatory excursions. The infant had a wax face and a hollow leather body. It was the thief's custom to dexterously transfer pur- loined articles, such as gloves, laces, &c., to the spacious baby, which usually gained much in weight during these little excursions. WHEN Dr. Thomas Spencer Barnes died, nearly seven years ago, he left a collection of essays which will be published directly, with a preface from the pen of Professor Lewis Campbell. The book will be entitled Shakespeare Studies and Other Essays." Dr. Bavnes was for seven years assistant editor of the Daily yews, and resigned that appointment in 1864, when he obtained the post of Professor of Logic, Rhetoric and Metaphysics in the University of St. Andrews, which he held until his death. He edited nearly the whole of the last, or ninth, edition of Encyclopaedia Britannica." LITTLE more than half a day's journey from Toulouse, in the Valley of Ribas, 'and on the Col de Tosa. dwell the remnants of a race, now rapidly disappearing, averaging a little more than one yard in height, copper-coloured, woolly-haired, and with broad, flat noses. They are not intelligent, and make themselves understood with difficulty, but they are active, and are chiefly employed as shep- herds. They are known as enanos" in the Pyrenees.
THE INDIAN VICEROYALTY.
THE INDIAN VICEROYALTY. At Calcutta, on January 27, Lord Elgin formally assumed the Viceregal office, and Lord Lansdowne, accompanied bf Lady Lansdowne, embarked for Eng- land. His departure was attended by demonstrations which attested his personal popularity. Some of the Calcutta journals warmly eulogise Lord Lansdowne's services, while others criticise his administration in an unfavourable sense but there is a general agree- ment in admiration of his private character and the excellence of his intentions..
" A THEATRE DESTROYED BY FIRE.
A THEATRE DESTROYED BY FIRE. A fire broke out at six o'clock on the morning of January 27 at the Theatre Royal-and Opera House, Rochdale. The flames burned fiercely for an hour, when the building was entirely destroyed. The damage is covered by insurance. The theatre was built in 1867, and was the property of Mr. F. W. Purcell, who also owns theatres at Bury and Derby. On Friday night Mr. Frank Harvey's "Ring of Iron company was playing at the theatre.
ISCENE IN THE FRENCH CHAMBER
SCENE IN THE FRENCH CHAMBER In the French Chamber, on January 27, M. Clovis Hugues brought forward an interpellation condemn- ing the blows dealt at individual liberty and the illegal prosecution of the syndical organisations and the Socialist idea in the recent measures adopted by the Government against the Anarchists. In a speech of great length he examined and severely con- demned the proceedings of the authorities. M. Raynal, Minister of the Interior, replied, and in the, course of the subsequent debate, while M. Chaudey, a member of the Left, was referring to the outrages perpetrated during the Commune, M. Thivrier, a Socialist Deputy, who always wears a labourer's blue blouse in the Chamber cried out Vive la Commune! The President called on him to withdraw the words, and, on his refusal, put the motion for his censure and tempo- rary exclusion from the Chamber, which was carried by a very large majority. When ordered to with- draw, M. Thivrier refused to do so, and the sitting had to be suspended while he was removed by foree. On the resumption of proceedings, M. Hugues's pro- posal was rejected by 414 votes to 67, ana an order of the day, accepted by the Government, was carried by 382 to 58.
[No title]
A BOY who was kept after school for bad ortho- graphy excused himself to his parents by saying that h. was spell-bound.