Flintshire Observer Mining Journal and General Advertiser for the Counties of Flint Denbigh

i o 0" E j? Tir*sP°nsib 1 e for a statement which 11111 v ;c „;t^. T^oner tremble who admires and respec s ■ t 3-aras us that unless we are watchful ««|™B Waterloo-bridge will be de- stroyed, and replaced by some hideous parochial structure, designed by an engineer Rnd ,nade broad enough to carry the J new street from Holborn to the Strand, which has been talked about for at least 30 years. The finest*Doric bridge in the world-the admiration of Canova, and the only struc- ture spanning the Thames from source to finish That is an ornament to the river, may, or may not be threatened, but nothing is sacred to a County Coun- ) cillor. <; I THE number of passengers carried on the Liverpool | Overhead Electric Railway during the past half-year was 3,460,060. The works in connection with the øoutnetn extension are making good progress, and it is hoped that thB, additional line will be open for traffic in the autumn. invented a new life- floating °DS'st8 °f a- large cork ring, capable of which «^frsons' provided with a kind of feature, liov 8 a. 8uPport to the feet. Its principal r.ffht and a si2r,' 18 that it is fitted with an electric llg supply of provisions.

THE Government of Honduras has sent 2000 troops to assist Nicaragua in crushing the revolt in the north-west department. THE German Emperor has arranged his programme of the year. It does not; include a visit to Cowes.

NAVAL AND MILITARY NOTES. Sir James Fergrjsson presided over a wel-attended meet ng of members of Parliament connected with tke Naval and Military Services, which was held the other evening in one of the Committee-rooms at the House of Commons. In view of the near approach of the Army Estimates, a determination was ex- pressed to make urgent representations on the subject of the continued deficiency in the Field Artillery and the extreme diversity in the calibre of the various kinds of ordnance of which upwards of 20 patterns are stated to be in use. Sir B. Edwards intends to call attention to the unsatis- factory state of the ordnance factories. Colonel MeCalmont proposes to call attention to the necessity of bringing the supply of horses for the cavalry up to war strength, and Colonel Brookfield will seek an opportunity of calling attention to the increasing drain upon State funds for the Volunteers, as the popularity of that force, coupled with what the hon. member regards as its deficiency in discipline, serves, in his opinion, as a somewhat dangerous cloak to conceal the necessity for univenalmililary service. Mr. Goschen'sNaval Estimates, although adversely criticised in some quarters, seem to have satisfied the country generally, the addition to our naval strength being regarded by all right-thinking people as fairly adequate. The only weak point which has been much commented on (and hereon Air. William Allan spoke strongly in the Commons) is the dis- crepancy between the number of men to be raised, and the number of new ships to be put in com- mission. Five thousand sailors to man 18 addi- tional ships of war, to say nothing of a fleet of torpedo destroyers, does seem a very disproportionate allowance; indeed, it is stated by competent experts that at least 12,000 men would be required to make up the full complement for the bOW vessels. After the statements coming from Lord Wolseley that he regarded the navy as being by far the more important of the two Services, and that a large addition was absolutely necessary in view of political contingencies, Mr. Gosclien's proposals must seem even moderate. Lord Wolseley's speech here referred to was practically a criticism of the lecture delivered by Captain Walter H. James, R.E., the well- known army tutor, at the United Service Institution in London when the Commander-in-Chief occupied the chair. Captain James advocated the addition to the military forces of two more army corps, with an equivalent equipment of artillery. His opinion on this subject should carry some weight, as he has been •elected to edit The Wolseley Series of transla- tions of foreign military works. The first volume of this series, which will appear shortly, will be Letters on Strategy," by the late Prince Kraft-Hohenlohe- Mgelfingen, with a preface by Lord Wolseley. The next two volumes to be issued will be "With the Royal Headquarters in 1873—71," by General Verdy du Vernois, and Napoleon as a Strategist," by Count Yorck von Wartemberg. The series will be published by Kegan, Paul, Trench and Co. Captain James's lecture at the Royal United Service Institution the other day on the "Necessity for an Army as well as a Navy," was (the Pall Mall Gazette says) interesting. Both the lecture and the discussion which followed it were purely academic in tone but we all know that our navy should be stronger than any two fleets which might be combined against us. but hitherto no military expert has given us any guide as to the strength, relatively to foreign armies, to which our army should be raised in order to fulfil its functions. No one can seriously contend that we should aim at possessing land forces able to meet on equal terms the large armies of the Continent, but we do not think it would be too much to expect (continues the Pall Mall) that we should so organise our military strength as to be al,le, if occasion should arise, to send two complete army corps to any selected spot., with a view to co-operate with an allied Con- tinental army. If we were able to do this, and, more- over, were prepared to do this, alliance with us would go a long way towards turning the scale in a European war, and our friendship would be all the more valued by the other Great Powers. Our command of the sea would enable tie to land any- where we chose, which would greatly increase the value of our assistance. Lord Wolsoley has just issued the following notice to the army In view of the facilities now afforded by the Post Office Savings Bank it has been decided to discontinue the present organisation of the mili- tary savings banks. All non-commissioned officers and men who have accounts in the military savings banks on March 31, 1896, will be permitted to con- tinue to use them during their period of service. Non- commissioned officers and men who are in the army on March 31, 1896, will be permitted to open accounts in the military savings banks under the present regulations at any date up to and including March 31, 1897. Men who enlist subsequently to March 31, 1896, will not be allowed to use the mili- tary savings banks. Special arrangements will be made for investing in the Post Office Savings Bank the savings of such of these men ar may be serving abroad."

A LADY FREEMASON. The Hon. Elizabeth St. Leger was the only female ever initiated into the ancient mystery of Free- masonry. How she obtained this honour is told in Household Words. Lord Doneraile, Miss St. Leger's father, a very zealous Mason, held a warrant, and occasionally opened lodge at Doneraile House, his sons and intimate ffriends assisting, and it is said that never were the Masonic duties more rigidly performed than by them. Previous to the initiation of a gentleman to the first steps of Masonry, Miss St. Leger, who was a young girl, happened to be in an apartment adjoin- ing the room generally used as a lodge-room. This room at the time was undergoing some alterations among other things, the wall was considerably re- duced in one part. The young lady heard the voices of the Freemasons, and prompted by the curiosity natural to all to see this mystery, so long and so secretly locked up from public view, she had the courage to pick a brick from the wall with her scissors, and witnessed the ceremony through the two first steps. Curiosity satisfied, fear at once took possession of her mind. There was no mode of escape except through the very room where the concluding part of the second step was still being solemnised, and that being at the far end, and the room a very large one, she had resolution sufficient to attempt her escape that way; and with light but trembling step glided along unobserved, laid her hand on the handle of the door, and, gently opening it, before her stood, to her dismay, a grim and surly Tyler with his long sword unsheathed. A shriek that pierced through the apartment alarmed the members of the lodge" who, all rushing to the door, and finding that Miss St. Leger had been in the room during the ceremony, in the first paroxysm of their rage, her death was re- solved on, but from the moving supplication of her younger brother, her life was saved, on con- dition of her going through the whole of the solemn ceremony she had unlawfully witnessed. This she consented to, and they conducted the beautiful and terrified young lady through those trials which we sometimes more than enough for masculine reso- lution, little thinking they were taking into the bosom af their craft a member who would afterwards re- flect a lustre on the annals of Masonry. The lady was cousin to General Anthony St. Legor, Governor of St. Lucia, who instituted the interesting race and the Doncaster 8t,. Leger Stakes. Miss St. Leger married Richard Ald- worth, Esq., of Newmarket. Whenever a benefit was given at the theatres in Dublin or Cork for the Masonic Female Orphan Asylum, she walked at the head of the Freemasons with her apron and other insignia of Freemasonry, and sat in the front row of the stage box. The house was always crowded on those occasions. Her portrait is in the lodge-room of almost every lodge in Ireland.

TIIE Geological Society did itself honour at its annual meeting by conferring the Wollaston medal upon Prof. Edward Suess, the foremost Austrian geologist of our time. It is an interesting fact that the medallist is of cockney birth, although he returned to the land of his father in his early boyhood, and received his education there. Somewhat in the manner of our own Huxley, he interested himself in the modern movement on behalf of popular education, and his pamphlets and address on the subject have produced a marked effect upon the Austro-Hungarian policy. Forty years ago he became Professor of Geology in the University of Vienna, and has written monographs on subjects so diverse as the future of gold and the soil of Vienna, the origin of the Alps and the shape of the earth. As member of the Austrian Parliament for Vienna he made himself a force within the Liberal party, and it was largely due to his exertions that the course of the Danube was freed from the impediments to navigation which, in f imitation of another notorious conservancy, had been I permitted to exist.

RABIES AND MUZZLES. The dog-muzzling order has been in force in London now for over a fortnight, and during that time 17 cases of rabies have been reported—nine in the first week of the muzzling order and eight in the second. These figures exceed the totals for any other fortnight of the present year. In one week in January eight outbreaks of rabies were indeed reported, but with that exception the -highest weekly number till the muzzling order came into force was five. Questions have been asked in Parliament and elsewhere as to why a muzzling order is not enforced throughout the country. The truth is that rabies have lately been most prevalent in the metropolitan counties, and that in other counties cases have been very intermittent. In the nine weeks of the year now expired 133 cases of rabies have been reported in England, and of these 42 have been in London, 20 in Middlesex, and 28 in Surrey. This gives a total of 90 for the three counties alone, or slightly more than two-thirds of the whole number of cases reported. In the fortnight which ended on Saturday last not a single case was officially reported in Middlesex. As already stated, the number in London during the same period was 17, and it may be added that in Surrey the total for the fortnight was seven. Until rabies show a more marked decline in London and Surrey, as well as in Middlesex, the muzzling order may possibly not be withdrawn. As to other counties, during the nine weeks of the year there have been five cases of rabies in Kent, four each in Hertford, Sussex, and Lancaster, three each in the counties of Oxford, Stafford, and Suffolk, two each in the counties of Essex, Warwick, Notts, and Hereford, and cue each in Durham, Yorks, Cum- berland, Worcester, Northampton, Bucks, Berks, Devon, and Dorset. In some groups of counties such as Gloucester, Wilts, and Somerset, there has been no case this year, and if the three counties of Dorset, Devon and Cornwall be added, there have been only two cases in nine weeks throughout these six con- tiguous counties. Over 6500 dogs had been admitted to the Home for Lost and Stray Dogs, Battersea, as the result of the new muzzling order of the London County Council. Of this number—unprecedented in the history of the institution during so short a period -4000 had been destroyed by means of the lethal chamber. The largest number captured in one day was 800, which exceeds by upwards of 300 the most that have ever been seized in the streets of London in one day. Of the 6500 dogs received only 350 had been re-claimed.

ILLITERATE VOTERS. A Parliamentary return has just been issued giving the number of persons who voted as illiterates in the gen"ral election cf 1895. In the counties of England and Wales the number of illiterate voters was 17,365, the total votes pol'ed being 1,521,453; and in the boroughs the illiterates were 11,156, the votes polied being 1,669,373, making totals for England and Wales of 28,521 illiterates and 3,190,826 votes. In Scot- land there were 4062 illiterates, the votes being 447,591; and in Ireland the figures stood at 40,357 and 220,506. The grand total for the United King- dom shows that there were 72,940 illiterates in the recording of 3,858,923 votes.

GRETNA GREEN MARRIAGES. The Windsor Magazine contains an interesting article on the History and Romance of Gretna Green Marriages," in which it is stated that the selection of the unpretentious village of Gretna or Graitney, as that haven for baste-to-ibe-wedding' couples from the South is called, was probably due to the fact that it was the first place across the Scottish border, on the highway, where not only rest and re- freshments could be obtained, but where and chiefly-the guarantee (such as it was) was as- sured that on a certain simple form or cere- mony having been gone through any fugitive couple could, by the payment of a fee, be made man and wife. So far as can be known with any cer- tainty it was some time between 1747 and 1750 that the Dumfriesshire village of Graitney was discovered t« be a really serviceable point or stage in the pro- gress of the journey northward into Scottish terri- tory of those who hurried from the South with all possible speed to obtain the matrimonial license. Before that time runaway marriages of foreigners 11 (as all but natives of Scotland were termed), con- summated on Scottish soil, were of frequent occur- rence. But why should the fugitives fly farther than was really necessary, since here at Gretna their business could be jusi as well and legally accomplished as at Perth or Inverness, or even at John o' Groats ? There is at least always one wise man in every village, no matter how sequestered it is from the rest of the world. Even Gretna Green, outlandish as it was 150 vears a,,o, had its philosopher, though the philosopher which Joseph Paisley pos- sessed was unquestionably of a slee and worldly kind. Observing so much matrimonial traffic rush past his own door, Paisley bethought him that the tide of business might be stayed and the fortunes of the place—his own fortune being therein included— mended not a little. And so it came about that Paisley took upon himself the function and authority of the high prieat of Hymen for such belated individuals who, but for his kindly intercession, might have gone further inland than Gretna Green, unpicturesque place as it waa, and fared worse. As the first man, therefore, who founded the Gretna Green matri- monial agencv Joseph Paisley has become a historical character—of a sort. According to all accounts he was a very eccentric individual, with but few of thase moral attributes usually associated with the priest- hood, though he was, it is said, possessed of some of their contrary vices, if hard swearing and deep drinking may be so considered."

THE PROPOSED CYCLE TAX. In consequence of the agitation for the taxation and registration of cycles, the Cyclists Tourisg Club, an organisation representing about 20,000 cyclists of both sexes, has addressed a communication on the subject to all the County Councils and the Urban District Councils throughout the kingdom, setting forth reasons, from the point of view of the cyclist, why such proposed tax or registration should not become law. It is urged that it would be a tax upon locomotion and upon healthy physical de- velopment, that it would be a tax upon a flourish- ing industry, employing many thousands of men and women, that it would be prohibitive, and that after all it would be unremunerative. The hope is expressed that every member of a County Council or of a District Council not already committed to the principle of taxing cycles will vote against any motion brought forward to attain that end, on the ground that so long as no vehicle or animal is taxed "for the use of the highways," a tax upon cycles, the proceeds of which would be devoted to the mainten- ince of roads, or to the reduction of rates in rural districts, would be both illogical and unjust, and it is urged that it would bear heavily upon one of the few industries in which England still retains her pre-eminence," and be restrictive of a healthful exer- cise.

WILLS AND BEQUESTS. The will of the late Sir Julian Goldsmid, Bait.,h;M teen proved by Mr. Frederic David Mocatta, Sir Charles James Jessel, Bart., Dr. Sidney lhilip Phillips, and Mr. Richard Lake Harrison, to each of whom the testator bequeaths the sum of E500 for the executorship. The will contains the following charit- able legacies, viz.: To University College Hospital, £ 2000; to the Royal Free Hospital, £ 2000; to the Jews' Hospital, Lower Norwood, P-1000; to the Jews' Free School, ;EIOOO; to the Jews' Infant Schools, P-2000 to the Jewish Board of Guardians, £ 2000; to the West London Synagogue of British Jews, £ 1000; to the Metropolitan Free Hospital, £ 1000; to the Brompton Consumption Hospital, £500; to the Tunbridge Wells Infirmary, £ 500; to the Sussex County Hospital, £500. The testator bequeaths £100 to each of his five sisters and his brother-in-law Mr. Edward Pbillipson, and the following further legacies: To each of his four unmarried daughters F-25,000, and £500 to each of the following, his cousin Mrs Alfred Goldsmid, his cousin Mrs. Horatio Lucas Miss Alice Phillips, Lieutenant Colonel Albert Goldsmid; and to Mr. George Graham, his steward at Somerhill, £ 500 to his second secretary, Mr. John Hunt, £.500, and to his secretary, Mr. William Hutchence, £ 2000. Legacies of 4:5 foi each year of service are given to the testator's head gardener, farm bailiff, head gamekeeper, and domestic and stable servants. The will contains bequests of annuities of E150 to Mr. Elias Mocatta, of £60 tc Mrs. Lipscombe, the widow of testator's late bailiff, of £ 100 to his cousin Mr. Sydney Goldsmid, and 01 £100 to Madlle. Paolina del Bianco, his daughters governess. All the legacies and annuities are given duty free. The residue of the testator's real and per- sonal estate is given to his trustees upon trust foi Isale, the proceeds to be held upon trust for the tes- tator's daughters in equal shares. The share of each daughter is settled upon her for life, with power of appointment among her childten. The net va'ue of the estate, upon which duty has been paid at the rate of eight per cent., amounts to il,093,493 11s. 6d. The will, dated January 25, 1896, of the late Lord Leighton of Stretton, in the county of Salop, and of 2, IIolland-park-Mad, Kensington, who died on the 25th of January, was proved on the 2nd inst. by Alexandra Orr, widow, and Augusta Newnberg Matthews, widow, the sisters, the value of the estate being sworn at £ 50,451, The testator devises end bequeaths his property of every description unto bis two a inters, who are his executrixes, in equal sharei absolutely. The personal estate of Mr. Alexander Macmillan, of 21, Portland-place, and of Bedford-street, Covent- garden, formerly of Aldersgate-street and of Trinity- street, Cambridge, publisher, who died on January 2 £ last, aged 77 years, has been valued at £ 179,011. Mr. Macmillan's will bears date July 1, 1889, and there are several codicils. The executors are the testator's widow, Mrs. Jeanne Barbe Emma Macmillan, hie son, Mr. George Augustin Macmillan, of 19, Earl's- terrace, publisher, and Mr. John Hopgood, of 17, Whitehall-place, solicitor, to the last-named of whom the testator bequeaths 4:150; to his godson, Daniel Dementi Macmillan, F-500; to his daughter, Mary Macmillan, £ 2000; to his son, John Victor Macmillan, jElUOO to his gardener and his coachman, £50 each to a manservant and to his bailiff, £ 25 each to Mary Ann Coxall a life annuity of £25, and to each other servant £2 for each year's service. The testator bequeathed to Mrs. Macmillan ;EIOOO, such furniture and household effects, horses and carriages, and pictures, books, and works of art as she should choose to the value of £2000; to bis son Malcolm Kingsley Macmillan such pictures, books, and works of art as he should choose to the value of £500, and to his son George Augustin, and his daughters, Margaret Ann Dyer and Olive Maclehose, such pictures, books, and works of art as each should choose to the value of £ 200. Mrs. Macmillan is to have the use and enjoyment of the Chase, Bramshot, and an annuity of £ 1500 during her widowhood, and a legacy of k2000 in the event of her marrying again. By his will Mr. Mac- millan bequeathed E20,000 upon trusts for his son, Malcolm Kingsley Macmillan, but by a codicil made in 1889 he stated that his son bad not been heard of for some time, and it was not known whether he was dead or alive, and that unless evidence of his being alive should be forthcoming before January 1, 1892, it was to be assumed for the pur- pose of the will that he had died in his father's lifetime, but the testator expressed the wish (not to be taken as a legal obligation) that if his son should afterwards be found to be living the executon should make arrangement that he should have such share of his father s estate as was provided for him by the will. Mr. Macmillan bequeathed one of his shares in the partnership business in Bedford-street and to the proportionate share of his ordinary capita! to his son George Augustin, and the remainder of hit shares (excepting 3-20ths of which he had no powe. to dispose) he bequeathed with the proportionate share of his ordinary capital upon the trusts declared concerning his residuary estate. By the codicil made on January 9 last Mr. Macmillan stated that the Bedford-street partnership would expire on June 30 next, and that arrangements were being made for transferring the London busi- ness and the business in the United States to Joint stock Companies, and he therefore bequeathed to his son George Augustin l-12th of such shares as might belong to him in the Bedford-street Company with the option of taking at par any or all of the remaining shares belonging to the testator in the Bedford-street Company or the Company formed to take over the business in the United States. The executors have liberty to extend the time for paying out any sums due to the testator by his firm over six years, and to concur in carrying on the business. Mr. Macmillan left his residuary estate in trust in equal shares for his daughters Margaret Anne Dyer, Olive I Maclehose, and Mary Macmillan, and his sons George Augustin and John Victor Macmillan. He devised his freehold house in Trinity-street, Cam- bridge, subject to the mortgage thereon, to his nephew Robert Bowes. The will (dated August 9, 1895) of Mrs. Wil- helmina Georgina Stuart Auldjo, of 1, Rutland-gate, Hyde-park, and Neuchatel, Torquay, in the County of Devon, who died on January 17, was proved on February 29 by Edward J. Stannard, one of the executors, the value of the personal estate amounting to E51,612 17s. 7d. The testatrix bequeaths to Mrs. Wilhelm bchultze, £6000; Mrs. Fullerton, £ 200; Emily Schultze, £ 100; Alfred Schultze, £ 3000; Lilline Schultze, £ 3000, Miss Isabella Auldjo, £ 300; Florence Auldjo, £ 150; Miss M. A. S. Godfrey, £ 300; Francis M. Schultze, £ 2000; Mrs. Emila Schultze, £ 3000 Miss A. S. Bloomberg, £ 200 Miss M. A. Bloomberg, E200 -1 S. Bloomberg, £ 200; Marie N. Meadows, £ 50; £100 to each of the following institutions The Dogs' Home, Battersea; Royal Hospital for Incurables, Putney; National Home for Boys, Walstop House, Kennington, Surrey and the Charity Organisation Society, and legacies to servants and executor. The residue of her real and personal estate she leaves, upon trust, to pay the income to Mrs. Beatrice Schultze for life, and on her death as she may appoint to her children, and in default of appointment equally between them. The will, dated July 8, 1895, of the Right Rev. Chauncey Maples, Bishop of Likoma, in Central Africa, who died at Lake Nyassa on September 2, 1895, has been proved by his brother, Mr. William Maples, of 6, Frederick's-place, solicitor, and Mr. Robert Rogers Nelson, of 9, Park-square West. The will begins: In humble but firm trust in God's mercy, in full faith in the branch of the Church of Christ in which I serve as bishop, I commend my soul to God." The testator bequeathed to his father the Greek testament given to him on his ordination to the Diaconate, and there are numerous specific bequests to friends connected with the Central African Mission and others. He bequeathed his books which are at the stations of the Universities African Missions at r Nawasea, Newala, and Likoma to the libraries of those stations, and he bequeathed his 3! per cent. India Stock to the treasurers of the Universities Mission for the use of the diocese of Likoma, but with the wish that it should be. applied in founding and main- tain^ new Mission stations in Yaoland. The bishop left the residue of his property to his sister Ellen. His personal estate has been valued at £ 1487 10s. 2d.

COLONEL W. EVERETT, C.M.G., who has just been appointed one of the British Commissioners for the demarcation of French and English spheres of action j to the west of the Niger, in succession to Sir Augustus Hemming, is Assistant Adjutant-General of the Intelligence Branch of the War Office. In 1864 be joined the 23rd Regiment of Foot, and in 1870 became Instructor of Military Drawing at Woolwich. He was employed on the Turkish Boundary Commission in 1879, and in the same year became British Vice-Consul at Erzeroum. In 1882 he was transferred to Kurdistan as Consul; in 18S8 | he was appointed a Professor at the Staff College, j and since then he has acted as a geographical expert on many occasions,

MARKET NEWS. ^aRK-LA.\K.—Business has bejn very quiet, and the teadency has been rather weak. The sales of home grown wheat in the leading markets of England and Wales during the 27 weeks of the season have been 892,326qr., against l,300,370qr. last season, at an average of 25a Id against 19a 8d per qr.; barley, 3,140,926qr., against 2,923,618qr., the average being 24s against 22s 5d per qr.; and oats, 479,0S3qr., against b98,582qr., at an average of 13s lOd against 14s Id per qr. English wheat moved off slowly, and was drooping in value. Foreign wheat was inactive, and 6d lower. The flour market was dull, at a decline of 6d. Barley moved off quietly, and was about the same in price. Oats were steady, and Russian qualities occasionally made 3d per qr. advance. Maize was dull, and drooping in value. Beans and peas were quiet on former terms. METROPOLITAN CATTLE.—Fat bulls and rough cattle were uusaleable. Shed cows met with more attention, but were no higher in value. The best Scots made 4s 4d to 4s 6d; Norfolks, 4s to 4s 4d shorthorns, 3s 10d to 4s; Irish, 3s lOd and fat cows, 38 6d to 3s 8d per lb. There was an in- creased supply of lambs in the market, but the show of sheep was rather less. Lambs met with more attention, and were firmer in value. Some very choice 5-stone fat Down lambs made 7s 6d, and a few exceptional cases 7s lOd; but a large number were disposed of at 7s per 81b. Prime small wether sheep were in demand, and were firm in value, but heavy breeds sold slowly. The best 7! to 8-stone Downs made 5s 8d 10-stone, 5s 4d; 10-stone half- breds, 5s 2d to 5s 4d; 12-stone Lincolns, 4s lOd; and 10-stone Down ewes, 4s 2d to 4s 6d per 81b. Calves were nominal. Pigs were very slow, top price being 3s 4d to 3s 6d per 81b. English milch cows E14 to £22 per head. Quotations as follows: Coarse and inferior beasts, 2s 4d to 3s second quality ditto, 38 to 3s lOd; prime large oxen, 4s to 4s 2d ditto Scots, &c., 4s 4d to 4s 6d; coarse and inferior sheep, 3s 4d to 4s 4d second quality ditto, 4s 8d to 5s 2d; prime coarse woolled ditto, 58 4d to 5s6d prime Southdown ditto 5s 6d to os 8d; large coarse calves, 3s 2d to 4s 2d; prime small ditto, 5s to 6s; large hogs, 2s to 2s 6d; and neat small porkers, 3s to 3s 6d per 81b to sink the offal. METROPOLITAN MEAT.—The supply was too large for the demand and the trade was very bad. The weather being mild and unfavourable prices were lower, and the trade finished with a tendency to lower rates, a considerable quantity of all descriptions bemg left unsold. Scotch beef exceptionally realised 3s 8d, and Scotch short sides 4s. Prices Inferior beef, Is 8d to 2s 4d; middling ditto, 2s 8d te 3s Od; prime ditto, 3e Od to 3s 6d Scotch ditto, 3s 4d to 3s 6d; Scotch short sides ditto, 3s 8d to 3s lOd; American, Liverpool-killed, 2s lid to 3s Od; ditto killed hind-quarters, 3s Od to 3s 2d; ditto, ditto, fore-quarters, Is lOd to 2s Od; English veal, 3s 4d to 5s 4d; Dutch ditto, 2s Sd to 5s Od; inferior mutton, 2s Od to 2s 8d; middling ditto, 3s Od to 3s 8d; prime ditto, 3e lOd to 4s 2d; Scotch ditto, 4s Od to 4s 4d; New Zealand ditto, 2s 4d to 2s 8d; American ditto, 3s Od to 3s 4d English lamb, 5s 8d to 6s 4d New Zealand ditto, 3s 8d to 4s Od; large pork, 2s 8d to 3s Od; small ditto, 3s to 3s 4d; and Dutch ditto, 2s 8d to 3s per 81b. by the carcase. GAME AND POULTRY.—Large Guinea fowls, 3s 4d to 3s 8d small Italian ditto, 2s 6d to woodcocks, 2s 9d to 3s 3d; cock capercailzie, 2s 6d to 3s hen ditto, 2s to 2s 4d prairie grouse. Is 6d to Is lOd hazel hens, 9d to Is; Aylesbury ducklings, 5s to 5s 6d; spring chickens, 2s 6d to 2s 8d; fat quails, Is 8d to Is lOd; large hares, 3s 6d to 3s 9d: blue ditto, Is lOd to 2s 4d; white Russian ditto. Is 4d to Is 9d; large tame rabbits, Is 3d to Is 8d; wild ditto, 9d to Is; large fowls, 2s Od to 3a; small ditto, Is 9d to Is 10d and foreign ditto, Is 4d to Is Gd each. BILLINGSGATE FISH.—Short supply good demand. Prices: Wholesale Salmon, Is 4d to la 6d; salmon trout, Is 8d; soles, Is 8d to 2s; slips, Is 8d red mullets, Is to 2s per lb.; turbot, 14s to 168;. brill, 9s to 10s 6d plaice, 4s 6d to 5s 6d halibut, So lemon soles, 6s to 7s per stone mackerel, 10s per score cod, 12s to 15s; gurnet, 10s whitings, 6s to 7s; fresh herrings, 7s smelts, Is per box fresh haddocks, 12* to 15s per trunk; ditto, 25s per turn live eels, 20s dead eels, 14a per draft conger eels, 40s; coslfish, 12s per barrel; lobsters, 20s to 40s per score crabs, 15s per hamper; oysters, 4s to 15s per 100; shrimps, 129 to 14s winkles, 8s to 9s per bushel; bloaters, 2s to 3s; kippers, 3s per box; dried haddocks, 3s 6d to 78 per dozen. Retail: Salmon, ls9d to 2s 3d; salmon trout, 2s; red mullets, Is 3d to 2s 6d; soles, 2s to 2s 6d; slips, 2s; lemon soles, 8d; turbot, Is 2d to 11 6d; brill, Is; halibut, lOd to Is plaice, 5d cod, 4d to 8d John Dorys, 6d to 8d fresh haddocks, 4d; gurnet, 4d to 6d coalfish, 4d live eels, Is 2d; dead eels,9d to lOd conger eel, 4d per lbi mackerel, 8d whitings, 4d to 6d; lobsters, Is to S. 6d; crabs, 8d to 3s dried haddocks, 4d to 9d each. COVENT GARDEN FRUIT AND VsowrAzLu.-Good supplies, with a moderate demand. Greenstuffs: English onionB, 5s to 5s 6d per cwt.; rhubarb 11 to Is 6d per dozen bundles; horseradish, 7s to 10s pet dozen Brussels sprouts, 2s to 5s per bushel; turnips, 2s to 2s 6d; carrots, Is 9d to 2s 3d per dozen bunches endive, Is 2d to Is 4d; artichokes, Is 6d to 2s per dozen potatoes, 35s to 90s per ton. Fruit: English grapes, Is 6d to 3s; English tomatoes, 4d to 6d per lb English apple.4s to 5s 6d per bushel. WHITECIIAPEL HAY AND STRAW.—Superior picked hay, 84s to 87s; good hay, 75s to 77s; inferior, 60s to 65s best clover, 84s to 88s useful, 80s to 82s; inferior, 60s to 70s; straws, 80s to 40a. ENGLISH WOOL.-The English wool market it firmer, and a better disposition to purchase has been manifested. Shortwools have been more inquired for, whilst the favourite descriptions are firmer ir price. The sales of Colonial wools have again com- menced, and shown better spirit and improved prices for many sorts. This has consequently favourably affected home growths and encouraged the entire trade. Prices which a fortnight ago would have been accepted by holders are to day declined, whilst buyers are more disposed to meet sellers. Spinners are very busy and ask higher prices, all which their customers are more disposed to yield, as it is impossible, at present prices of the raw material, to take contracts at late rates. Trade all round is more cheerful, and wears an improved appearance, and, as demand gives signs of increase, there is good reason to hope that it may continue. Downs, 9id to 10id Kents, 10d to lŒd; half-breds, lOd. 9 BOROUGH AND SriTALriELDS POTATO.—There was a fairly good supply of potatoes on sale. The trade was dull, at the annexed prices Magnum benums, 36s to 45s; Hebrons, 60s to 80s; main crops, 50s to 80s Blacklands, 30s to 40s per ton. SEED TU.DM.-Prices generally show no important variation, but remain at the low level characteristic of this remarkable season. Sanfoin, Timothy, and Lucerne realise former terms. Spring and winter tares meet a brisk sale. The new Wisconsin green boiling peas move off freely at last week's attractively cheap rates. Mustard unchanged. Birdseeds neg- lected. ° CAMBRIDGE CATTLE.—Very few store beasts were on offer, trade ruling slow. A fair supply of fat beasts, prices remaining unchanged. A good number of fat sheep to hand, the demand being about the same as last week. A slow trade for store sheep, of which only a few lots were shown. Fat pigs not so good as last week. A somewhat better trade for store pigs. A slow trade all round for hay, straw, and roots. Beef, 6s 3d to 7s 6d; mutton, 4s 4d to 58 6d; pork, is to 5s. CORK BUTTER.—Ordinary: Seconds, 96s; thirds, 92s; fourths. 72s. Mild-cured firkins: Fine, 90s per cwt. GRIMSBT FISH.-Moderate supply, large demand. Brill, Is to la 2d per lb. cod, live, 2s 6d to 7s 6d; dead.2s to 6s each; pickled, 34s to barrel; salt, 14s per barrel; codlings, 16sito iys per box hali- but, live, 6s 6d to 7s 6d; dead, os to 7s per stone; haddocks, 66s to 80s per kit; round, 20s to 28s per box live, 20s to 24s per score finnan, 4s 9d per stone; hake, 3s to 6s each ling, live, 3s to s; dead to 5s each; lobsters, Is 6d to Is 9d per lb.; A, oysters, Ss 9d to 4s 6d; Dutch, 8s to lis Fmrlich 7s 6d; Heligoland, 6s 6d per 100; plaice'53 fQ X per stone soles, Is lOd to 2s per lb.; lemon 8s 6d to 10s per stone; salmon and grilse, Is 7d to Is rJt lb.; skate live, 3s to 6s; dead, 2s to 5s eaS turbots. Is 2d to Is 4rd per lb.; whelks, 3a 6d i wash ice, Is 6d per cwt. 1

PARISH COUNCILS. RULES FOR ELECTIONS OF PARISH COUNCILLORS. [As beingof interest and practical value.-it this junc- ture, the following extracts from the provisions of the Ballot Act of 1872, "as adapted and altered in their application to the election of Parish Coll rcil lors," as given, verbatim et literatim, from the oflicial docu- merit.] 15. At every polling place the returning officer shall, subject, to the provisions of the Palish Counr cillors Election Order, 1896, provide a sufficient num- ber of polling stations for the accommodation of the electors entitled to vote at such, polling place, and shall distribute the polling stations amcngst those electors in such manner as he thinks most con- venient. 17. A separate room or separate booth may con- tain a separate polling station, or several polling stations may be constructed in the same room or booth. 18. No person shall be admitted to vote at any polling station except the one allotted to him. 20. The returning officer shall provide each polling station with materials for voters. to mark the ballot papers, with instruments for stamping thereon the official mark, and with copies of the register of voters or such part thereof as contains the names of the voters allotted to vote at such station. He shall keep the official mark secret. 21. The presiding officer appointed to preside at each station shall keep order at his station, shall regulate the number of electors to be admitted at a time, and shall exclude all other persons except the clerks, the agents of the candidates, and the con- stables on duty. 22. Every ballot paper sbail contain a list of the candidates, described as in their respective nomina- tion papers, and arranged alphabetically in the order of their surnames, and (if there are two or more candidates with the same surname) of their other names: it shall be in the form set forth in the Second Schedule to this Act or as near thereto as circum- stances admit, and shall be capable of being folded up. 23. Every ballot box shall be so constructed that the ballot papers can be introduced therein, but cannot be withdrawn therefrom, without the box being unlocked. The presiding officer at any polling station, just before the commencement of the poll, shall show the ballot box empty to such persons, if any, as may be present in such station, so that they may see that it is empty, and shall then lock it up and place his seal upon it in such manner as to pre- vent its being opened without breaking such seal, and shall place it in his view for the receipt of ballot papers, and keep it so locked and sealed. 24. Immediately before a ballot paper is delivered to an elector, it shall be marked on both sides with the official mark, either stamped or perforated, and the number, name, and description cf the elector as stated in the copy of the register shall be called out, and the number of such elector, together with the distinguishing mark, if any, of the part of the register in which the number occurs, shall, as required by Section 2 of this Act, as adapted, be marked on the counterfoil, and a mark shall be placed in the register against the number of the elector, to denote that he has received a ballot paper, but without showing the particular ballot paper which he has received. 25. The elector, on receiving the ballot paper, shall forthwith proceed into one of the compartments in the polling station, and there mark his paper, and fold it up so as to conceal his vote, and shall then put his ballot paper, so folded up, into the ballot box he shall vote without undue delay, and shall quit the polling station as soon as he has put his ballot paper into the ballot box. 26. The presiding officer, on the application of any voter who is incapacitated by blindness or other physical cause from voting in manner prescribed by this Act, or (if the poll be taken on Saturday) of any voter who declares that he is of th* Jewish persua- sion, and objects on religious groanda to vote in manner prescribed by this Act, or of any voter who makes such a declaration as hereinafter mentioned that he is unable to read, shall, in the presence of the agents of the candidates cause the vote of such voter to be marked on a ballot paper in a manner directed by such voter, and the ballot paper to be placed in the ballot box, and the name and number on the register of voters of every voter whose vote is marked in pursuance of this rule, and the reason why it is so marked shall be entered on a list, in this Act called the list of voters marked by the presiding officer." The said declaiation, in this Act referred to as the declaration of inability to read," shall be made by the voter at the time of polling, before the pre- siding officer, who shall attest it in the form herein- after mentioned, and no fee, stamp, or other payment shall be charged in respect of such declaration, and the said declaration shall be given to the presiding officer at the time of voting. 27. If a person, representing himself to be a parti- cular elector named on the register, applies for a ballot paper after another person has voted as such elector, the applicant shall, upon duly answering the questions permitted by the Parish Councillors Elec- tion Order, 1896, to be asked of voters at the time of polling, and upon taking an oath in the form hereinafter set out, which the presiding officer shall administer, be entitled to mark a ballot paper in the same manner as any other voter, but the ballot paper (in this Act called a tendered ballot paper) shall be of a colour differing from the other ballot papers, hnd, instead of being put into the ballot box, shall be given to the presiding officer and endorsed by him with the name of the voter and his number in the register of voters, and set aside in a separate packet, and shall not be counted by the returning officer. And the name of the votet and his number on the register shall be entered on a list, in this Act called the tendered votes list. The oath shall be administered in the following form You do swear that you are the same person whose name appears as A. B. on the Register of Parochial Electors for this Parish [or Ward], and that you have not already voted at the present election for this Parish [add, in case of an election for a Ward, in this or any other Ward]. So help you God." Provided that any person entitled t.Q affirm in lieu of taking an oath may affirm in the following form I, A. B., do solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I am the same person whose name appears as A. B. on the register of Paro- chial Electors for this Parish [or Ward], and that I have not already voted at the present election for this Parish [add, in case of an election for a Ward, in this or any other Ward]." 28. A voter who has inadvertently dealt with his ballot paper in such manner that it canntt bo con- veniently used as a ballot paper may, on delivering to the presiding officer the ballot paper so inad- vertently dealt with, and proving the fact of the inadvertence to the satisfaction of the presiding officer, obtain another ballot paper in the place of the ballot paper so delivered up (in this Act called a spoilt ballbt paper), and the spoilt ballot paper shall be immediately cancelled. 29. The presiding officer of each station, as soon as practicable after the close of the poll, shall make up into separate packets sealed with his seal- (1.) Each ballot box in use at his station, unopened but with the key attached and (2.) The unused and spoilt ballot papers, placed togetner; and L t f (3.) The tendered ballot papers; and (4.) The marked copies of the register of parochial electors, aod the counterfoils of the ballot papers; and (5 ) The tendered votes list, and the list of votes marked by the presiding officer, and a state- ment of the number of the voters whose votes are so marked by the presiding offioer under the heads physical incapacity," Jews," and » unable to read," and the declarations of in- ability to read; „ and shall deliver such packets to the returning officer, or deputy returning officer, by whom the votes are o be counted, unless he is himself such officer. 30. The packets shall be accompanied by a state- ment made by such presiding ofScer, showing the number of ballot papers entrusted to him, and accounting for them under the heads :¡f h Hot papers in the ballot box, unused, spoilt, and te; da ed ballot papers, which statement is in this Act referred to as the ballot paper account.

DOUGLAS JKIUIOLD once said to a very thin man. Sir, you are like a pin, but without the head or the point." A POVERTY-STRICKEN Irishman, being aroused by his wife one night with the cry that there was a robber in the house, calmly answered: "Hush! don't let us disturb him; let him ransack the house, and if he find" anything of value we'll then get-up and take it away from him." WilL" the Queen visited Dundee in 1843, the town council provided a piece of red cloth for her Majesty to walk upon when passing from the steamer to the Royal carriage. At a subsequent meeting a discussion arose as to what should be done with the cloth, when a learned councillor proposed to preserve it as a memento nori of the Royal visit." WILLIB," said a doting parent at the breakfast table to an abridged edition of himself, who had just entered the grammar class at the high school, Willie, my dear, will you pass the butter?" "Thertainly, this: I liketh no parth anything. Butter ith a common thubthantive neuter gender, agreeth with hot rolth, and ith governed by hogthlard understood." THE Earl of Dandonald, who commands the 2nd Life Guards, is the head of one of the o!dest families in the United Kingdom. He is the twelflh earl, and at one time his family owned vast estates in Scotland indeed, there were several Earls of Dundonald who could travel from Gree-ioek to Glasgow without ever leaving their own land, The present earl is noted for his perfect nifinn. rs and refined tastes. He has seen a good deal of stirring service in his time, and was within a few yards of Colonel Burnaby when that gallant soldier speared at Abu Klea by one of"tlie Malidi's soldiers. He saw the deed done, and to this day cannot recall it without. emotion, t

A LAUT recently purchased in Paris a charming ii, P°°dle from a dog dealer cn the Clumps Eh sees, the delicacy of its feet fascinating ir s fair owner. All went well until the lady reached her rooms --nd the little dear was Jet loose, HIM: to Ii the consternation ol" all the toy poodle ran up the "it-t,a-ns at an alarming rate. 00 being recaptured .t was found to be a fair-sized rat neatly cioihed in n sabv Dood.ls'e ekin —an old dodge revived.