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

THE CUP OF SORROW. An ordinary humane man (says the Echo) would have thought that Mdme. von Schrader's cup of sorrow was filled to overflowing by the brutal death of her husband in the duel at Potsdam. Not so the German Emperor. The widow first intended to hold i mourning service in the Friedenskirche, where the Emperor Frederick is buried, but, by order of I be Kaiser, permission was refused. She then chose the garrison church of Potsdam, and in published notices of the death this church was men- tioned. A telegram from the Imperial Military Cabinet, then at Venice, has, however, instructed the Governor of Potsdam to prohibit the service being held in this church, so that it will take place in the cemetery chapel, whence the body will be conveyed to the family mausoleum at Ratzeburgh. The Empress Frederick, in sending a message of condolence to Mdme. von Schrader, has expressed her deep indigna- Lion at the cause of his death.

THE PUBLIC EXECUTIONER'S ASSISTANT. A Departmental Committee appointed by the Home Secretary to inquire into the carrying out of capital sentences has recommended "that it is im- portant and desirable that the public executioner fhould have an assistant, who might gradually acquire experience, might arsist where several criminals are simultaneously executed, or might re- place the executioner when he is ill or his presence ia required in different places at the same time." The Treasury has sanctioned the employment of such assistants at the public expense and fixed their pay at £ 2 2s. for each attendance, with reasonable travelling expenses, and with lodging and maintenance while in the prison. A record is to be kept of their conduct nnd efliciency, and a list of qualified assistants will be finnifhed to the various High Sheriffs who are re- sponsible for the carrying out of the death sentence.

HEAVEN ON EARTH. Here, when a keen wind blows and we are havinB a sccond touch of winter, it is pleasant to think of oihpr lands more favourably situated. The Rev. Dr. Edward Everett Hale, who is at present in Santa liarbara, California, thus describes the place in a letter to a friend: "This place is the kingdom of heaven on earth. The south wind is off the ocean. The north winds are screened from you by a ridge of mountains some 5000ft. high, In the valley between 10,000 people live in a simple way, and all dear Nature smiles to make them happy. Lazy is no name for our lives. It seems as if we had nothing to do but to read God's handwriting, to thank Him for His mercies freah every morning, and simply to live in the open air.' You know that is the beginning of all my gospels-or the end of them." Oh, to be there!

THEIBDUCATION BILL. Mr. Macnamara, president of the National Union of Teachers, addressing a meeting at West Bromwich on Saturday, said the financial features of the bill were, in some respects, preposterous in most respects disquieting. He regretted the introduction of Clause 27, attempting to deal with the so-called religious difficulty, and hoped the Govern- ment would take the earliest opportunity of announcing their intention to drop it. At a meeting of the Metropolitan Board Teachers' Association held on Saturday in London, Mr. T. Gautrey, general secretary of the association and a member of the London School Board, moved a resolution condem- natory of the bill as facilitating the extinction of Board schools and the Board school system, and because its effect will be to degrade the standard of elementary education in the country. The resolution was carried, together with several others, criticising various details of the measure. At a special meeeing of the Birming- ham School Board on Saturday, a resolution entering an emphatic protest against those provisions of the bill which, in its opinion, would seriously affect and cripple the administration of public elementary education by the local authorities created by the Act of 1870, was carried, after some discussion, by 10 votes to three. Other resolutions were subsequently agreed to pointing out provisions of the bill which were alleged to be opposed to the principles of justico.

THE TRANSVAAL. rosi' enfe Kruger, in a recent interview with Mr. Barnato, acknowledged the existence of grievances on the part of the Uitlander population of the Hand, and said his greatest difficulty was to convince the burghers that the majority of the new-comers did not want to upset the Boer Government. After the interview Mr. Barnato expressed the conviction that President Kruger was determined to promote peace and the friendly relations of the country with outside Powers. A German steamer which arrived at Delngoa Bay on the 14th inst. car- ried a large party whose luggnge included uniforms and other military trappings. A German officer produced passports, and the party proceeded to Pretoria.

A TOAST given a few years ago or the shoe and leather manufacturers May they have all the women in the country to shoe, and the men to I)OOt." I DON'T mean to reflect on you," said a wit to a man whom he had insulted. 11 No," was the reply, you are not polished enough to reflect on anybody. My dear doctor," said a lady, I suffer a great deal with niy eyes." "Be patient, madam," he re- plied "you would probably suffer a great deal more without them." A MARRIED lady complained that her husband had ill-used her. Her father, hearing it, boxed her ears. Tell him," said the father, that. if he beats my daughter, I will beat his wife."

WILLS AND BEQUESTS. The will (dated Jan. 15, 1895) of Mr. John Lysaght, of Hengtave Hall, Suffolk', and Springfort, Stoke Bishop, Gloucester, who died on Oct. 1, was proved on March 23 at the Bristol District Registry by Frederick Percy Lysaght and Gerald Steuart Lysaght, the sons, Alfred George de Lisle Bush, Dennis Fortescne Boles, and Sidney Royse Lysaght, the executors, the value of the personal estate amounting to £ 424,123. The testator gives 350 ordinary shares of £50 each of John Lysaght and Co., upon trust, for his son Arthur Iloyse Lysaght, and his grandson John Lisle Lysaght; 50 of such shares each to his nephews Sidney Iloyse Lysaght and William Royse Lysaght; all his interest and shares in the firlll of Lysaght Brothers and Co., of Australia, to his said son Aithur; annuities of F-200 to Mrs. Emily Sophia Lysaght, and £50 to his niece Frances; K250 each to the Bristol Hospital, the Uristol Iuliriuury, and the Bristol Dispensary £ 100 each to the Asylum for the Blind (Bristol), and the Bristol District Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, end legacies to servants and people in his employ. lIe settles Hengrave Hall and "250 of the aLove- inentioned shares upon his son Frederick Percy Lysaght. The residue of his real and personal estate he leaves, upon trust, for all h s children (except his sons Frederick Percy and Arthur Iloyse) in equal shares, but any sums of money or shares advanced to them in testator's lifetime are to be brought into hotchpot. The will (dated Aug. 6, 1805) of Mr. Joseph Brierley, J.P., of Castleton, Rochdale, who died on Feb. 22, was proved on April 2 bv Charles Edward Brierley, Walter Brierley, and Alfred Brierley, the sons and executors, the value of the personal estate amounting to £ 92,124. The testator gives JMOOO each, upon trust, for his daughters, Mrs. Lucy Rich- niond, Mrs. Agnes Flowers, and Mrs. Edith Mary Lancashire. The residue of his real and personal estate he leaves as to one- fiflh each to his sons, Charles Edward Brierley, Walter Brierley, Alfred Brierley, and Frederick Joseph Brierley, and the remaining one-lifth to the children of his deceased son, Philip Btierley. The will (dated April 1, 1895), with a codicil (dated March 4, 1896), of Dame Emily Sarah Amelia Lycett, of 7, Cambridge-gate, itege ii t,'s- park, widow, who died on March 10, was proved on March 25 by John Brouncker Ingle and Francis Ensor, the executors, the value of the personal estate amount- ing to £ 63,126. The testatrix bequeaths E,3000 to the British and Foreign Bible Society; £ 1000 each to the London City Mission, the Disabled Fund of the said Mission, and the Home for Little Boys at Horton Kirby, Farningham 4:500 to the Religious Tract Society; £2000, and numerous specific articles of jewellery, &c., to her nephew, Francis John Van de Pant; £500 each to Florence Van de Pant, Constance Van de Pant, and Antoinette Van do Pant; £1000 to Ada Leete E5W to Major David Lewis; E3500, upon trust, for Caroline Slier- lock Y.1000 to John Brouncker Ingle; an annuity of £ 250 to Sophia Nash Nash £ 10,000 to William John Figgis, and legacies to friends and servants. The residue of her real and personal estate she leaves between Francis John Van de Pant, F. H. Van de Pant, Horace Van de Pant, and William John Figgis. The will (dated April 14, 1803) of Mr. Benjamin Scott, of 202, Regent-street, and Daleham House, Daleham-gardens, Hampstead, who died on Feb. 28, was proved on March 27 by Samuel Moses and Henry Farbstein, the executors, the value of the personal estate amounting to £ 40,522. The testator gives Y-5000, upon trust, for his father, Saul Scott £ 10(J each to the children of his brothers, Adolphus and Albert Henry and £ 100, upon trust, for the Hull Hebrew Board of Guardians, The residue of his real and personal estate he leaves, upon trust, for his two sisters, Gertrude and Beatrice, in equal shares. The will (dated Nov. 23, 1875), with two codicils (dated Aug. 6, i684, and June 22, 1894), of Mrs. Elizabeth Mary Hitchcock, of 22, Norfolk-crescent, Hyde-park, widow, who died on March 5, was proved on March 31 by Frank George Armstrong Hitchcock, the son, and Howard Williams, the value of the personal estate amounting to £ 33,865. The testatrix gives £ 14,000 to her son, Frank George Armstrong Hitchcock, and a few other bequests. She appoints under the power given to her by the will of her late husband, George Hitchcock, a moiety of a sum of 115,000 among all his children. All her real and the residue of her personal estate she leaves between all her children living at her death,in equal shares, the share of her daughter Gertrude Armstrong Hitchcock to be held upon trust for her benefit for life, and then for the persons who would have become entitled thereto if her said daughter had died in her (testatrix's) lifetime and unmarried. The will (dated April 2G. 1881), with four codicils (dated Sept. 29, 1891 Nov. 11, 1891 and Jan. 18, and April 13, 1892), of Sir George Eliott Meyrick TappsGervis Meyrick, of Hinton AdmVal, Southamp- ton, and Bodorgan, Anglesey, Bart. who died on March 7, was proved on March 31 by Sir George Augustus Eliott Tapps Gervis Meyrick, the son and executor, the value of the personal estate being £ 19,755. The testator appoints an expec- tant sum of £ 27,009 as to one moiety thereof to his said son, and the other moiety between his daughters Emma and Clara. He gives his house in Clifford-street and certain furniture to his wife, Lady Meyrick, E2000 to Miss Childeroy Compton a few small legacies to relatives, and devises Cedar Villa to his daughter Fanny. The residue of his real estate is to follow the trust of the settlement of the Hinton Admiral estates, and the residue of his personal property he leaves to his said son. The will of Mrs. Alary Schuster, of Cannixaro House, Wimbledon, Ditton, Torquay, and 3, Marl- borough-gate, who died on Feb. 12, was proved on March 25 by Leo Francis Howard Schuster, the son and sole executor, the value of the personal estate amounting to F-9147. The will of Dame Maria Louisa Hume] Turton, of 28, Colville-road, Bayswater, widow, the relict, of William Gunton, who died on Jan. 21, was proved on March 27 by Miss Clara Jane Florence Smith, the niece, and Hamilton Pym Smith, the nephew, tho executors, the value of the, personal estate being The will of Mr. John Broomhall, J.P., of 14, St. James's-road, Surbiton, who died on Feb. 20, was proved on March 31 by Edward Barron Broomhall, the son, and Edgar Atbeling Ilall, the executors, the value of the personal estate being £ 671S.—Illustrated London News.

IW—W—W—» OPERATIONS AGAINST SLAVE RAIDERS. Sir H. n. Johnston, reporting to Lord Salisbury on recent operations against slave raiders, sava ''I have the pleasure now to inform your lordship that, as far as I am aware, there does not. exist n single independent avowedly slave-trading chief within the British Central Africa Protectorate, nor anyone who is known to be inimical to British rule." The follow- ing letter appears in the Parliamentary paper: Foreign Office to Commissioner Sir 11. Johnston, Foreign Office, March 2G, 1896.—Sir,—I am directed by the Marquis of Salisbury to acknowledge the receipt of 3our despatch of January 24, giving a full account of the operations conducted by Mr. Swann and Lieutenant Alston against the Chief Mwasi Kazungu. On receipt of your telegrapH? summary of these proceedings a telegram was sent to you by direction of the Queen, conveying to you, to Lieutenant Alston, and to the officers and soldiers of the Protectorate engiged in the recent operations her Majesty's congratulations on the success of your efforts. I am now to express to you the satisfaction of her Majesty's Government at the result, of ihe series of operations against the slave raiders in the lake districts, which have reflected much credit, on yourself, and on all the officers employed in them; and I am to state that the services of the military Dftieers and Sikhs will be brought to the special attention of the Secretary of State for War, and of ihe Secretary of State for India.

THERE'S only one girl in this world for me," Is the song he was oft heard to holler And, come to find out,, the one he adored Was the girl on the almighty dollar. • FaTettIC On the road): W'V don't you go u-" t 1 •>•• £ «? r'Sht. Don't you see him waggin' his tail? Wayworn Watson (at the gate): Ye?, an he a Rrowlin at the same time. I dost know which end to believe." "HE stood at the top of the steps," she said, in telling about it afterwards, "and I mustered'up enough courage to say You know, this is leap vear ? Yes. What then ?" "Then he leaped, and I haven't seen him since." I TIIB old family cat awoke from a nap before the fire and stretched himself in the manner common to cats. Margie looked at him with distended eyes. My doodness!" she exclaimed I dess ze tat'a doin' t.' boil over."

GREATER BRITAIN. COAl. production in British dependencies is not yet very extensive. According to recently published official figures, which refer to 1894, Canada heads the list of colonies with an output of between 3,000,000 and 4,000,000 tons; then follow New South Wales with 3,500,000, New Zealand with 500,000, and Natal with 141,000 tons. British India produced 2,821,000 tone. Placed by the side of the 188,000,000 tons of the United Kingdom, the quantities appear insigniricant. LoRD SANDIIURST, Governor of Bombay, has been illumining in the dirtiest part of the native town, and has proved himself a haffable nobleman." Thus, in one wretched house, inhabited by some 50 GoaneEe cooks and servants, his Excellency remarked that the rooms, though large, were ill-ventilated and had low ceilings. Finally his Excellency and party pene- trated "to a room whe»e a cow was kept, and bore the ignominy of being butted and kicked by the beast, which manifestly did not share tho reverence which the journalists of Bombay feel for a Governor. But Lord Sandhurst seems to be really worthy of the poetical eulogy which the children of St. Joseph's Convent Schools heaped upon him the other day, in lines commencing thus Come, let us our juvenile voices raise To greet in chorus and with highest praise His Excellency, our Governor kind, Graced with rare virtues and a noble mind. AT the last meeting of the Royal Colonial Institute, held in London, under the presidency of Lord Loch, Mr. L. B. Clarence, formerly a judge of the Ceylon Supreme Court, read a paper on One Hundred Years of British Rule in Ceylon." After describing the early history of the country. Mr. Clarence I said that after the suppression of the revolt of the Kandyans in 1817 a signal chance was wrought in the opening up of the country by roads and bridges. So vigorously was this work pushed on that within a year from its commencement a cart-road was engineered right up to Kandy, and in a few years more a net-work of good roads overspread the island in all directions. This excellent work was gratefully accepted by the natives. Since then the work of road-making has been steadily extended, until at this day upwards of 3700 miles of excellent metalled roads reticulate the country. But side by side with the opening up of the country, three vices were developed with unhappiest results to the native inhabitants—viz., drink, gambling, and an inordinate propensity for litigation. The first especially had spread disastrously in the Kandyan country, where before our coming it was unknown. Major Skinner, the veteran road-maker of Ceylon, whose long acquaintance with the people enabled him to speak with authority, has described the efforts used by the arrack-renters, to whom the liquor traffic was farmed out, to create a taste for spirits among the native villagers. There are strong objections to farming out taxation of any kind, and particularly in the case of such a commodity as drink. It is said that an attempt is to be made to induce the Government to appoint a Commission on this subject; and to urge that the arrack monopoly should be regulated, not so much with a view to secure revenue, as with a serious consideration of its effects on the people. Under our rule a great trade had been developed. Ceylon imports from the United Kingdom about LI,500,000 worth of our goods, and sends us in re- turns E2,750,000 of her own produce—tea, coffee, cacao, cocanut oil and fibre, cinnamon, plumbago, and other products. The total trade is about 19,000,000, and the trade is rapidly on the increase. The tea export for 1894 was more than 84,500,0001bs, and last )ear's probably reaches 95,000,0001bs. Sjp JOlIN SCIIULTZ was one of the earliest and most powerful advocates of the federation of British North America, and he thus became the special bete noir of the re'^el half-breeds who, under the leader- ship of Louis Riel, made an armed resistance to the incorporation of Manitoba in the Dominion of Canada. They captured Fort Garry in 1869, and Sir John Schultz had to stand a siege in his own house, which he defended with a little English gar- son of 39, until he was starved into submission. Im- prisoned in the fort by Riel, he succeeded in effect- ing his escape. Riel offered a large reward for his capture, dead or alive, and ordered all the avenues of exit from the province to be strictly guarded. After a most perilous journey around the heads of Lake Winnipeg and Superior, Sir John succeeded in reach- ing Ottawa in safety. After Riel's rebellion had been suppressed by Lord Wolseley, Sir John returned to Winnipeg and became a member of the Dominion flouse of Commons. He was raised to the Senate i. 1882, and was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba on July 1, 1888. He was an enthusiastic botanist and a member of various scientific societies. Trill first party for the season in connection with the Self-Help Emigration Society has sailed for Canada by the Dominion Line steamer Vancouver. The party^consisted of 67 men, including 19 from the London Congregational Union's shelter at Med- land Hall, Stepney, and five boys from the Farning- ham Homes. The greater number will settle in the Montreal district, and the rest will go to Kingston, Toronto, and London, Ontario. The Vancouver also carries a party of 20 sent by the East-end Emigra- tion Society, and about the same number (of young women) under the care of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. It may be mentioned that in the case of the Self-Help Society about 75 per cent, of the cost of passage is paid by the emigrants and their friends. CANADA grows an abundance of choice fruits, but, failing means to conserve the harvest, when gathered, till the market is more favourable, they do not yield so profitable a return as some such means would render possible. The Dominion Government have been inquiring into the best way of keeping apples, pears, grapes, and stone fruit without deterioration from the usual loss of freshness that follows the ordinary methods. According to a preliminary report' just presented, it is found that cold storage in a chamber kept at 34deg. F. gives eminently satis- factory results. The crop is gathered when grown to its full size, but before it has attained complete ripeness. Each fruit, where possible, is wrapped in tissue paper, and packed with others in light boxes or baskets. After nearly three months, the freshness of all specimens dealt with was found quite unim- pared when so treated. NINETKEK thousand bushels of Canadian wheat were recently sent to Australia, owing to the scarcity Df the cereal in that colony. The shipment was so allecessful that it is being followed by another 20,000 bushels. THE New Zealand Alps are now beginning to attract considerable attention from Alpine climbers, and at the present moment there are several parties in the Colony making for the high peaks, especially n the Mount Cook direction. The latest exploiter of the snow regions in the Britain of the South is the well-known climber, Signor Gniseppe Yeglio-Borsalino, who, accom- panied by the famous Swiss guide, Zurbriggen, passed through Dttnedin the other day on his way to Wakatiptr, where he proposed organising a for- midable expedition for a couple of months tour in high altitudes. Zurbriggen has already done some 11 work in the Mount Cook country. It will be remem- bered that the Rev. Mr. Spotswood Green, who was the first to accomplish the ascent of Mount Cook some 10 years ago, and who is an old Alpinist-, declared that the sight from the top of that great southern mountain was the finest that he had ever beheld. How to get rid of rabbits has been an important question in Australia for several years. Millions of dollars have been spent to get rid of the long-eared and short-tailed peats, but it has been impossible even to lessen their number. Now it is proposed that they shall be made to yield a revenue. In one year the Government of New South j Wales paid for 27,000,000 rabbit skins, but there were more rabbits skipping about at the end of the year than there were at the beginning. Since 1883 one colony haa spent more than 5,000,000dol. in a veritable war against the pest, and has constructed 15,000 miles of barbed wire fencing, one fence alone running 407 miles and another 306 miles. The Government of New South Wales has upon its hands 7,000,000 acres of land abandoned because of the rabbits, but they seemed to thrive and grow fat upon barren land, while other stock, even goats, would die of starvation. But now a company has been formed which is to build a refrigerating factory in one of the agricultural dis- tricts near Melbourne and to freeze and ship rabbits to the English market. If this scheme is successful, as it promises to be, then rabbits will not only become a common article of food, but perhaps a source of profit to Australia.

NOBODY ever lost anything by love," said a sage- lookihg person. That is not true," said a young lady who beard the remark, for I once lost three Bights' sleep."

MARKET NEWS. j MARK-LANE.—Business has been quiet in tone, but with steadiness, and prices have been well main- tained. The sales of home-grown wheat in the lead- ing markets of England and Wales during the first 38 weeks of the season -were ],075,:Wqr., against l,534,854qr. last season, at an average of 25s against 19s 9d per qr.; barley, 3,312,481qr., against 3,077,493qr., the average being 23s Cd, against 22s 3d per qr.; and oats, SofiHGCqr., against 488,24oqr., the average being 13s 9d, against Its per qr. English wheat was a steady, firlll market at full prices, Foreign wheat was well held, with a fair demand Flour was firm at previous currencies. Barley was dealt in to a fair extent at full quotations. Oats were firm, and 3d dearer. Maize was disposed of at quite late rates. Beans and peas changed hands on former terms. METROPOLITAN CATTLE.—The supply of beasts was above the average and included a larger proportion of choice qualities. The trade throughout was dull for both prime and secondary sorts, and prices had a tendency in favour of buyers. Fat shed cows and fat bulls were, however, rather more saleable. The best Scots made 4s 2d to 4s 4d, Norfolks 4s to 4s 2d, shorthorns 3s lOd to 4s, Irish 3s lOd to 4s, and fat cows 3s 4d to 3s 6d per 81b. The supply of sheep and lambs was less th n usual. For sheep there was a fairly steady trade, but at 2d per 81b less money. The best 7 tog-stone Downs made 5s; 10-stone,4s8d; 10-stonehalf- breds, 4s 6d 12-stone Lineolns, 4s 4d; 10-stone Down ewes, 4s to 4s 4d per SIb. For lambs the market was duil, particularly for middling qualities, which de- clined 4d per 81b. The best 5-stone fat Downs were 7s 2d to 7s 4d per 81b. Calves were a nominal market. Pigs were dull and unaltered. English milch cows, E14 to £21 10s per head. Quotations: Coarse and inferior beasts, 2s 4d to 3s second quality ditto, 3s to 3s 8d; prime large oxen, 4s to 4s 2d ditto Scots, &c., 4s 2d to 4s 4d; coarse and inferior sheep, 3s 2d to 4s; second quality ditto, 4s to 4s 6d; prime coarse-woolled ditto, 4s 8d to 4s lOd prime Southdown ditto, 4s lOd to 5s; lambs, 5s 8d to 7s 4d; large coarse calves, 3s 4d to 4s 4d prime small ditto, 5s to 5s 8d 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 large, and the trade very bad all round. For top quality quota- tions were realised, but the general tendency was to lower rates. A considerable quantity of middling and inferior quality was left unsold. The quo- tations were as follows: Inferior beef, Is 8d to 2s 4d; middling ditto, 2s 4d to 3s Od; prime ditto, 3s Od to 3s 6d; Scotch ditto, 3s 4d to 3s 8d; Scotch short sides ditto, 3s 8d to 4s Od American, Liverpool killed, 3s 2d to 3s 3d ditto killed hind-quarters, 3s 8d to 3s lOd ditto killed fore-quarters, 2s Od to 2s 2d; English veal, 2s 8d to 4s 4d; Dutch ditto, 2s Od to 4s Od; inferior mutton, Is 8d to 2s 4d; middling ditto, 2s 4d to 3s 4d; prime ditto, 3s 6d to 4s 2d; Scotch ditto, 4s 2d to 4s 6d; New Zealand ditto, 2s 2d to 2s 4d; American ditto, 2s 8d to 3s Od; English lamb, 5s 4d to 6s Od New Zealand ditto, 3s Od to 3s 4d; large pork, 2s 4d to 2s Sd; small ditto, 3s Od to 3s 4d; Dutch ditto, 2s 4d to 2s 8d per 81b. by the carcase. GAm: AND POULTRY.—Live quails, 6s to 7s 6d pigeons, 6s to Ss; fresh Bordeaux ditto. 12s to 14s 6d; ptarmigans, 10s to 13s hazel hens, 5s 6d to 6s 6d; and plovers' eggs, 3s to 4s 6d per dozen Russian partridges, 2s to 2s 6d; and ditto black game, 2s 6d to 3s 6d per brace leverets, 3s 6d to 4s fat ortolans, 2s to 2s 6d wild rabbits, 10s to lis cock capercailzie, 3s to 3s 3d; hen ditto, Is 9d to 2s 4d; large guinea fowls, 2s 9d to 3s; ditto larded, 3s 6d to 4s fat capons, 58 6d to 6s; spring chickens, 2s 9d to 3s; Aylesbury ducklings, 58 to 6s; and Surrey pullets, 2s 9d to 3s 3d each. X>ILLINGSGATE -visii.rair suppiy; siow aemana. Prices: Wholesale Salmon, Is 4d to Is 7d salmon trout., Is 4d to Is 6d; soles, Is 2d to Is 6d; slips, Is 4d red mullets, Is 6d to 2s; John Dorys, 6d per lb.; turbot, 10s to 12s; brill, 7s to 8s halibut, 6s; lemon soles, 5s to 6s plaice, 5s to 5s 6d per stone mackerel, 14s per pad; cod, 10s to 12s hake, 12s to 14s gurnet, 8s to 10s; whitings, 6s; smelts, Is per box fresh herrings, 10s to 12s per case; fresh had- docks, 10s to 12s per trunk; ditto, 25s per turn; whitebait, Is per quart live eels, 20s dead eels, 148 per draft crabs, 16s per hamper; lobsters, 18s to 40s per score oysters, 4s to 10s; natives, 15s per 100; winkles, 8s to 9s; whelks, 5s; shrimps, 8s to 118 per bushel; bloaters, 2s 6d to 3s; kippers, 2s per box dried haddocks, 4s to 10s per dozen. Retail: Salmon, Is 6d to 2s 2d; salmon trout, Is 6d to Is 8d soles, Is 4d to Is 9d slips, Is 6d; red mullets, Is 6d to 2s 6d; John Dorys, 8d turbot, Is to Is 2d brill, lOd to Is; halibut, 9d; lemon soles, 6d to 8d plaice, 5d to 6d cod, 4d to 6d; hake, 4d gurnet, 5d; whitings, 4d fresh haddocks, 4d per lb. SEED TR.Ar)u.-An active sowing demand. Values generally exhibit considerable strength, caused by speculative Durchases for holding over. Red clover- seed is 2s. higher; white and trefoil tend upwards. Rye grasses continue very cheap. Sainfein is exceed- ingly scarce. Tares steady. Mustard and rapeseed unchanged. Birdseeds sell slowly. Haricots more favoured. Wisconsin green boiling peas firm at late advance. ENGLISH WOOL.-Very little change has taken place in the tone of the English wool market during the past week, and prices are much about the same. The same strained relations between buyers and sellers continue, and both hold firmly to their own particular view, with the result that business is con- sequently restricted. Whilst sellers see no reason to meet buyers, the latter, on the other hand, certainly haveno reason to pay more, as they find their custo- mers very disinclined to yield any advance, and, in fact, frequently refuse orders unless at lower rates. In self-defence, spinners are bound to ask full prices; these, however, obstruct business, but, being generally full of orders, little elTect is felt in consequence. Colonial wools sell freely, and have a fair consump- tive demand. Downs, gd to lOÃd; Kents, lUd to lOd; half-breds, lOd. LONDON FIZZ71T AND YEGETABl,ES. Quotatjons Cabbages, 4s to 6s per tally greens, Is to Is 6d per bag do.. Is to Is 6d per dozen cauliflowers, Is to Is 6d per dozen do., 4s to 7s per tally sprouting broccoli, 9d to Is per bag beetroot, 4d to Gd per dozen horseradish, l's Id to Is 2d per bundle; parsley, Is to Is 3d per dozen bundles; rhubarb, forced, lOd to Is do.; do., lield, Is 6d to 2s do.; white turnips, Is 6d to 2s per bag leeks, Is to Is Gd per dozen bundles; spring onions Is to Is 6d do. salad, Is 6d to 2s per dozen punnets; frame cucum- bers, 2s to 3s 6d per dozen carrots, household. 24s to 28s per ton do., cattle-feeding, 14s to 20s do.; parsnips, 3d to 6d per score mangels, 14s to 188 per ton; swedes, 12a to 16s do.; onions, English, 80s to 100s do. do., Dutch, 3s to 3s 6d per bag; do., Egyptian, 5s to U8 do. apples, English cookers, 5s Gd to 7s per bushel; do., Nova Scotia, 18s to 22- per barrel. CAMBRIDGE CATTLE.—The few lots of store cattle to hand were not all cleared. Fat beasts were a good show, and trade was quite up to Inst week. Fat sheep rather better business. Of lambs there was a large show, and prices were not so good. The few lots of stores realised lower prices. Not so many fat pigs shown, and prices a little lower stores not quite so good trade. Hay, straw, and roots a fair trade all round. Price per stone Beef, 6s 3d to 7s 3d; mutton, 49 4d to 5s 4d; lamb, 9d to lOd per lb.; pork, 4s 3d to 5s 3d. BEADING CATTLE.—The beef trade was not so good as last week. Prime animals realised 4s 2d to 4s Gd, and coarser sorts 3s 6d to 4s per stone. The sheep pens were well filled, and sales proceeded at the fol- lowing prices: Prime small animals, as 4d to as 8d and heavier sheep, 4s 8d to 5s per stone. The busi- ness was quieter in lambs, the quotations varying from 6s 6d to 7s Sd per stone. Calves changed hands at 4s 6d to 6s per stone. CORK BUTTER.-Ordi nary: Firsts, 92s seconds, 77s thirds, 65s; primest salt, 95s. Mild cured firkins: Superfine, 100s per cwt.; fine, 82s; mild. 69s; choicest mild cured, 100s. GRIMSBY FISH. Good supply and demand. Brills, 9d to lOd per lb. cod, live, 2s 6d to 5s dead, Is Od to 4s Od each: salt, 13s per cwt codlings, 10s to 13s per box; halibut, live, 5s od to 6s (;d dead, 3s 9d to 4s Gd each; haddocks, 40s to 48s per kit; round, 10s to 16s per box, live, 10s to 12s per soore; finnon, 4s to 4s 6d per stone; live ling, 2s to 4s dend, s o s1 lobsters, Is 6d to 1B 9d per lb. rner 4s 6d Dutch, 8.; English, 7- 6d Heligoland, 6s 6d per 100; plaice, 3s 3d to 4s 9d per stone soles, Is 2d to Is 6d per lb.; lemon, 6s to 7s per stone; salmon and grilse, Is Od to Is 9d perib sturgeon, 7s to P-s per stone skate, live, 38 to os od dead, 2s to 4s each turbots, lOd to Is per lb.: whitehes, live, (ø 6d per score; dead, 3s to 4s per stone whelks. S. 6d per wash: ice. Is 6d Der cwt.

EPITOME OF NEWS. IT is difficult to ascertain what is happening in Thibet, but from rumours which reach India it would .ippear that the infatuated Llamas are bent upon tanking some demonstration against Nepaul. Parties of armed men are said to be on the move towards the Neptmlese frontier, LL:3 HOLINESS PorE LEO XIII. in his youth was a great walker, and during the 30 rears that he waa llishop of Perugia he continued the habit of his early din s, but since his election Leo XIII. has not crossed the threshold of the Vatican. As would be expected, considering the locality, timber enters largely into the construction of the buildings now in course of erection at Stockholm for the proposed exhibition of next year. The large hall boasts the distinction of being the loftiest wood- hui: structure in the world. It will have a dome 30!)ft. high. THE idea of a ship canal between the Bristol and English Channels have been revived with a good deal of energy. The proposed canal would run from Bridgewater Bay to Seaton, on the South Devon coat-t, and would pass Taunton, Ilnnnster, C hanj, Axiiiinster, and Colyton. The canal would be about 43 miles in length. RUSSIAN women have become important in the medical world. There are 700 women practising medicine in the empire, besides a large number of others who occupy medical positions in hospitals and institutions, factories, and Government establish- ment. Their earnings are from £ 140 to a year. a few of the most celebrated deriving an income of E700 from their profession. Six baby carringes at one fell swoop have been ordered of a London firm for the Court of Morocco. They have silver-plated wheels and red morocco upholstery, and are painted in the most gorgeous style. The sa;ne firm supplied an Indian prince with a perambulator fitted with a musical box which plays patriotic airs—British, not Indian-when the car- riage moves. Ay expert mechanic in one of the great English needle factories, in a recent test of skill, performed one of the most delicate feats imaginable. He took a common sewing needle of medium size, length one and five-eighth inches, and drilled a hole through its entire length from eye to point, the opening being just large enough to permit the passage of a very fine hair. IN Paris the thousands of sardine and other tin boxes that are thrown away every month form the basis of an industry which has reached vast propor- tions. These refuse cans are stamped by machinery into tin soldiers, and sold so cheaply that the poorest children can possess them; yet the manufacturer makes a fair profit, which he could not do if he used new material. IT is said that yellow fever is being successfully treated at Brazil by a refrigerating process. The patient is placed in a box for three days, the tempera- ture of which is only one or two degrees above the freezing-point, the theory being that the bacilli of the disease cannot reproduce themselves except at a high temperature. QCEEN TAITOU of Abyssinia is a handsome woman, the expression of whose eyes is benevolent or fiendish, as the mood moves her. Even King Menelek himself is afraid of her. She knows all the King's secrets, and is inclined to domineer in State affairs. She is fond of European liquors, especially of champagne. THE young Crown Prince of Siam is a boy who will probably make his mark later on. In addition to divers Asiatic tongues, he is already a master of three European languages; he writes English fluently, and has contributed a short story to a magazine. He is in Siam well known also as a promising young author. THE City of London Court a few days ago had before it on one day no fewer than 249 ordinary sum- monses, 50 default summonses, 53 judgment sum- monses, 8 adjournments, and 4 adjourned judgment summonses, making a total of 367 cases-a record for a County Court. The returns just issued show that whereas the amount sued for in the first quarter of 1895 was £ 56,841, the corresponding figures for the current year are £ 60,565. DESPITE the smallness of pay, the working day iii Holland is not short. In the majority of cases, foe men employed on Government contracts, it is between 11 and 12 hours. In only a few cases does it sink to eight hours or less. On dredging work 14 hours is very commonly the working day, although in some cases the 11-hour to 12-hour limit is adhered to. AN interesting statement is published by the Timet with regard to the objection raised by the Porte to the Nile Expedition. The Khedive's Government was reminded that as it involved conflict between Mus- sulmans and Mussulmans, the sanction of the Sultanas Caliph ought to have been obtained. The reply was that the dervishes are heretics, since they are light- ing for a false prophet, and that therefore the sanc- tion was not no?-.■??.iry. The Forte appears to have accepted the e:.Sanation as suiTl^icii'; aiid 1:. further objection has been J. The irst nuie was, it ig alleged, dispatched under pressure from the French and Russian Embassies. Whether the pressure was withdrawn, or the Sultan resolved to disregard it, does not appear. THE news that the crooked spire of Chesterfield threatens to collapse will excite interest far outside the boundaries of the Derbyshire town. To Chester- field it would be a distinct loss from the sight-seeing and tourist-attracting point of view, and travellers would miss a curiosity that never fails to excite at- tention. Therefore, though it will take £ 15,000 to put the church into repair, and to save the spire; there can be little doubt that it will be forthcoming. Topers, too, may be expect to contribute, in order to continue the time-worn excuse, originated by a well-known North country editor, that if a man was 4tiztified in getting drunk anywhere it was at Chesterfield, for even the church spire there was screwed." SOKE interesting statistics on the result of the quinquennial valuation of London, which has just come into effect, are given in this week s London. It nppearu that the rateable value of the Metropolis has increased during the five years by over two and three-quarter millions. The effect of this is to enable the rating authorities to draw more from the rate- payers without seeming to do go. The County Council rate will produce £IUU,I)OO more. It will also r-jean an additional £ 80,000 a year to the School Board, kC)0,000 to the police, and £ 50,000 added to the revenue of the water companies. But it does not mean any decrease in the rates. A CURIOUS list of the callings followed by the in- spectors of meat in London previous to their ap- pointment, is given by the 1 cicrinary Record. It includes cheesemongers, clerks, butchers, architects, policemen, soldiers, stationinasters, florists, publicans, road-foremen, compositors, gasfitters, chemists, stone- masons, plasterers, and one ticket inspector. There is also one medical man, but no veterinary surgeon. One would hardly suppose from this that they were particularly well qualified to detect disease in meat, but perhaps the authorities are of opinion that any- body can do that. If so, we regret to be unable to agree with them. IT has been reserved for a Dutchman to carry the penny-in-the-slot machine to its extreme limits." He has iafented an automatic physician. In appearance the machine is a dignified metal man, the front of whose waistcoat is pierced with a number of openings, over etch of which is inscribed the name of one of the commoner ailments to which humanity is subject. You put a penny in the slot set apart for your par- ticular illness, and out pops a small packet of medicine. This automatic doctor may be consulted by the sound as well as by the sick, for one of the shots delivers a refresher and tonic" distilled from wholesome herbs. This idea is certainly ingenious. HERl: is a glimpse of Lord Cromer our Ambassador at Cairo, as seen by Mr. Conan Doyle, who is at pre- sent in Egvpt: A strong, florid face, with a close- cropped, soldierly, grey moustache the expression, good humoured but inscrutable. This 18 Lord Cromer, whom Egypt has changed from a major of gunners to a peer of the realm; while he in turn has changed it from a province 01 the E"-Ist to one of the West. One has but to look at him to read the secret of his success as a diplomatist. Hie clear head his brave heart, his physical health, and his nerves of iron are all impressed upon you even in that momentary glance at his carriage. AN example of how machine supplant men in the performance of routine labour comes from America. An electric lighting company had a circuit of 600 arc lamps spaced 4Uft. apart. To switch the current on and off these 60 men were at one time employed, whose services, computed at 4dol. apiece weekly, ran into 12,4SOdol. a year. Six hundred clocks, costing 5?,dol. each or 3300du1. altogether, now do the same work. The movements can all be kept wound easily by one man, whose visits for winding can be spread over a whole week instead of having to be commenced and finished within 15 minutes, as was necessary before, when liehtine un or turnine off bv hand. j