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

ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. "JIB BIRMINGHAM SHOW. After making a deviation on the occasion of their visit to Manchester in 1897, the Royal Agricultural Society this year returned to their custom of opening the Implement Department of their great country 'meeting on a Saturday, and the entire exhibition on the Monday following. The locality of the latest meeting has been Four Oaks-park, Sutton, Cold- field, near Birmingham. It will be remem- bered that had the ordinary course of events not been disturbed by the lamentable epidemic of typhoid at Maidstone the society would have held this year's show in that town instead of in the Birmingham district. The memorable visitation with which the Kentish town was afflicted, however, rendered an alteration of plans desirable, if not absolutely essential, and promptly on the society making it known that they had decided to, postpone their visit to the hop county till 1899 an invitation was forthcoming from the Mayor and Cor- poration of the great Midland City. The timely in- vitation was favourably received and readily accepted by the Society's Council, and, matters being expe- ditiously adjusted, a spacious and suitable site was secured in the well-known Four Oaks-park. Saturday is invariably a quiet day even in the Implement Section, to which alone the public are admitted. In no sense of the word is it a pleasure day, and as far as sightseers are concerned the gates might as well be left unopened until the Monday. But if it can be said that the presence of live stock is essential to the success and attracting powers of the show it may with great truth be affirmed that any substantial measure of success, financial or other- wise, would be unattainable without the Implement Department. The exhibition of implements and machinery and farm and estate requisites of all kinds proved to be one of the largest and most representa- tive ever seen in this country. At the Jubilee meet- ing at Windsor in 1889 a larger area was occupied for the display of exhibits of this class, but. ,apart from that memorable event, there probably never was a show to surpass that at Four Oaks-park. It was about equal in dimensions to the great display in Old Trafford-park last year, and of course it ex- celled that exhibition in the sense that we have now on view the improvements and inventions which another year has witnessed, in addition to all that was seen on that occasion, The visitor as he entered the showyard had his eye arrested by row on row of machinery and implements of all sorts immediately in front of him, but if he looked either to his right or his left he was attracted by the handsome stands of our leading seedsmen. Passing on to the stands where the heavier classes of euubits were displayed, at rest and in motion, one was confronted with the impossible task of mentioning half those deserving of a word of praise, for a careful inspection of the stands and a systematic examination of the catalogue showed that every prominent firm was represented. From all parts of the Kingdom engineers and manufacturers congregated to place their best products before the visitors to the snow. At this season of the year agricultural visitors are most interested in the displays of haymaking and harvesting machinery. Of this description of exhibits there are magnificent displays, while all other kinds of farm machinery were also fully repre- sented. The awards in the competitions self-moving vehi- cles were posted on Saturday, the triaIk having taken place in the locality of the show earlier in last week. In the first case prizes of £100 and EM were offered for "self-moving vehicles for light loads, but the first prize only was awarded, the success- ful exhibit being that of the Daimler Motor Com- pany (Limited), an attractive vehicle priced at £ 350. The competition for vehicles for heavy loads, with similar prizes, brought out five entries, as compared with four in the other class. Both premiums were located in this case, the respective winning exhibits being those shown by the Lanca- shire Steam Motor Company, Leyland, and the Steam Carriage and Waggon Company, Chiswick, the prices being £ 375 and E650. The vehicle which received the first prize is a most capacious and serviceable-looking invention. There was very keen competition for the £ 10 prize offered for the "best method of safeguarding chaff-cutters, to comply with the Chaff-cutting Machines (Accidents) Act, 1897," and which comes into force on the 1st of August next. Sixteen machines competed, and after a searching test the premium was awarde4 to the contrivance devised and patented by Messrsi Richmond and Chandler, Manchester. The sucr cessful device is well adapted to meet the conditions of the Act, while it in no way interferes with the working capacity and freedom of the machine. On Sunday the usual service was conducted in the large marquee in the showyard, when there was a large attendance of herdsmen, in addition to the Council and officials of the society. THE LIVE STOCK. There were fewer entries of live stock than is usually the case. The chief drop occurs in horses, which have fallen from 981 to 709, but the cattle figures this year are only 792, as against the 821 received 12 months ago. Pigs, on the other hand, 3how an advance of 13, as they total 198, whilst poultry are very much better, having gone up to 964, which represents an increase of 97. As is invariably the case, the Royal show has been favoured by the support of the most illustrious exhibitors in the land, the Queen being represented by eight entries, which between them secured two first prizes, one third, "nd two highly commended cards. The Prince of Wales had 14 entries, but his Royal High- ness's star was not in the ascendant, as he only won a single third, two reserves, and as many commendations, whilst the Duke of YorK, with two entries in red polls, received no notice from the judges. Amongst other distinguished exhibitors wera the Earl of Bradford, the Duke of Buccleuch, Earl Cadogan, the Countess of Carlisle, Lords A. and L. Cecil, the Earl of, Clonmel, the Earl of Coventry, the Cbuntess of Craven, the Earl of Derby, Earl Eger- ton of Tatton, the Earl of Ellesmere, the Marquis of Exeter, the Earl of Feversham, Sir W. Gilbey, Sir G. Greenall, Lord Harlech, Lord Hastings, Lord Llangattock, the Marquis of Londonderry, the Duchess of Newcastle, the Duke of Northumberland, Lord Pbltimore, the Earl of Rosebery, the Right Hon. A. J. Balfour, Lord Rothschild, the Duchess of Wellington, and Lord Windsor. Hunters were very good classes, Sir Gilbert Green- all securing premier honours in mares with Scarlet for the third year in succession whilst in the weight carriers, the Islington and Richmond winner, Mr. T. D. John's Pope, went down before Mr. C. M. Prior's Coollattin, which was first at Portsmouth. Mr. Johns had his revenge in the next class, in which he won with the superb Gendarme,. Mr. John Lett winning in tlie four-year-olds with the handsome brown Welcome, and also in the two-year old Cleveland bay stallions with Lucky Depjper. Sir Walter Gilbey had a great day in the hackney stallion classes, as he won first with Gay Danegelt and Gay Connaught, and a second with Danish Duke. Mr. Walter Waterhouse was first in the brood mares with Bury Daisy, which is too light in bone. By far the best mover in the class was Mr. James W. Temple's Lady Dereham, which has won first prize upon three previous occasions. The best of the two-year-old hackney fillies was Mr. Buttle's shapely Grand Mistress, which won at Islington. Sir Gilbert Greenall scored easily in pony mares with Georgina V., and also m the colts or fillies with Merry Star, whilst the championship for Shires fell to Mr. Alexander Henderson, M.P for the incomparable Buscott Harold, which secured a similar triumph at the Agricultural Hall in March last in this class. The Prince of Wales was ronresented by the typical Ethelwulff, which was awarded a commendation. Sir Walter Gilbey took two firsts in Shire mares by the help of Talent and a handsome unnamed daughter of Marmion. Sir Blundell Maple, Lord Wantage, and Lord Llangat- tock were also successful exhibitors in this section of the show. Lords A. and L. Cecil and Sir John Gil- mour competed successfully in Clydesdales, and Mr. A. J. Smith won in Suffolks, which were the last classes in the horse department. Shorthorns were strongly represented, but some dissatisfaction was expressed at some of the awards. Mr. P. L. Mills secured the championshft) of the bulls with the roan Marengo, and Mr. C. W. Brierley achieved a very popular success when he carried off the championship for COWB with the red and white, Jewel II., the reserve falling to Mr. Barnes's Daisy IV. The ueen was A-very | successful exhibitor of Herefords,A8 she won in bulls with Robin and in cows with TruthfuL Mr. Alfred Skinner was well to the fore in Devons, whilst the Earl of Derby captured two second prizes in the Sussex sections. Mr John Cunningham had matters pretty much his own way in Galloways. As •is usually the case, the Jersey classes were extremely strong ones, and Lord Rothschild's herd was pon- spicuous *n nrize list, whilst the Hon. Mrs lUiil e ilamUton waa very successful in the Guernsey cl.-isscs. The dainty little Kerries and Dwtters were very attractive features of the cattle classes, the D .chess of Newcastle taking a first in the former department, whilst the championship of the Dexters fe'l to Mr. E. T. Woodiwis's black Simple Simon.

PARLIAMENTARY VISIT TO PORTSMOUTH. The Parliamentary visit to the naval dockyards and war vessels at Portsmouth on Monday was enjoyable, interesting, and instructive. It was initio ated and carried out by the patriotism an3 generosity of Admiral Lord Charles Beresford, M.P., to whom all the guests were profuse in their acknowledgments for the favourable opportunity he had afforded them of making themselves bettes acquainted with the paraphernalia and equipment of our first line of national defence. Nearly 300 members of the House of Commons, as well as several peers, attended, and it was noteworthy that they were by no means confined to one party, but fairly represented every section of the House. Not was the list of guests confined only to legislators and naval men. The military service was also repre- sented by several distinguished officers, including General Sir William Lockhart, who successfully led the recent advance on the Indian frontier, ana gallant general was accompanied by Sir William Nicholson, who was chief of his staff. The company left London at eight o'clock in the morning by special train, and after a two hours' run arrived at Portsmouth Dockyard. There, by per- mission of the Commander-in-Chief, naval officers were in attendance to act as guides, philosophers; and friends of the party. The first business of the day was a visit to those fine old two-decker frigates, the Vernon and Ariadne, which, perma- manently moored and coupled t«gether by a gang- way, are now jointly utilised as the chief torpedo school for the navy. Moving forward along the main deck of the Ariadne, the visitors saw seamen being instructed in telegraphy, after which, crossing the bridge to the lower deck of the Vernon, they entered the electric light shop, where armourers were under instruction in repairing dynamos and electric light fittings. In other rooms blackboard lectures were in progress to classes of young officers and seamen, who sat at their desks and made notes of points mentioned by their teachers. In their pro- gress through the vessel the company had the construction of the latest types of torpedoes ex- plained to them, together with the new gyroscope apparatus, which prevents deflection, and tends to make the torpedo run more straight when in the water. It was stated that each torpedo costs about £ 500. In one of the rooms men were seen taking torpedoes to pieces or putting together disjointed pieces of these mutilated terrors of the deep. In another room was what resembled an aquarium tank, in which the place of fish was taken by small models of submarine mines, electric, observational, and mechanical, which are used for the protec- tion of harbours and kindred purposes. The visitors were next shown outside in open water the mode of launching torpedoes, blowing up submarine mines, and laying lines of counter mines. An observation mine containing 1001b. of gunpowder was first fired, after which an electric contact mine was fired by a boat bumping a detached circuit closer. An outrigger torpedo was next exploded from a steam pinnance, and then a Whitehead torpedo was discharged close to the stem of the Vernon at a target up the creek. Its rapid course for about 800 yards under the surface of the water, propelled by compressed air, could be clearly traced by all observers. As the company had started early and breakfasted still earlier, they were now ready to do full justice to the bountiful luncheon which the hospitality of Lord Charles Beresford had provided in one of the large drafting rooms. Among those present were the Naval Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Sir Michael Culme Seymour, and Rear-Admiral Rice, the naval superintendent of the dockyard. After luncheon Lord Charles announced that there would be only one toast, viz., that of The Health of Her Majesty the Queen, which was of course loyally pledged. This done the company found a volunteer spokesman in Sir John R. Mowbray, the Father of the House of Commons, who cordially ex- pressed, amid applause, their indebtedness to their gallant hOst, whose return to Parliament had been generally welcomed. Lord Charles Beresford, in re- sponse, said his object in asking them to come to Portsmouth upon this occasion was to bring the great governing power of the nation into closer touch with the service to which he himself had the honour to belong. He added that many of the members present had never visited a warship or examined a big gun; indeed, it was even possible that some of them might not know the difference between the bow and stern of a vessel, or from which end a gun was fired off. The very existence of our great Empire depended upon the efficiency of the fleet, and it was, therefore, most important that the members of the House of Commons should be thus enabled to see for them- selves how the public money which they voted was spent. He desired to express his own obligations to the Naval Commander-in-Chief, the naval superin- tendent of the dockyard, and the other officers, for their kind co-operation in receiving so many guests and so clearly giving all the information they desIred. After luncheon two torpedo-boat destroyers were in readiness to take a limited number of members upon what proved to them a novel and somewhat exciting trip to the Needles and back. They travelled at a great pace, said to be over 30 miles an hour, and had full opportunity of observing the skill with which these rapid craft are navigated. Severtil carrier pigeons were taken on board, and one of these was, after a while, despatched to the dockyard with the following jocular message from a well-known member of Parliament: "A rough sea, and no drink on board." The guests, about 60 in number, who took advantage of this cruise in the torpedo boat destroyers, had perforce to miss those portions of the programme which entertained the remainder of the guests during what was left of the afternoon. At one o'clock tugs and steam launches conveyed the larger number of the guests over to the Gunnery School at Whale Island, where they had an opportunity of seeing the latest guns and projectiles. Statistical particulars were furnished as to weight, cost, velocity, and other details. After they had witnessed some firing from quick-firing guns at the rate of about five shots per minute, they ascended to the top of a bank and saw on the drill-ground at a lower level an effective parade of various types of field and maqhine guns, as well as some blank firing. Visits were next paid to the machine-gun and heavy-gun batteries. The guns were manned and worked with exceeding alertness, and gave the spectators a very good idea of what would be expected of the gunners in actual warfare. Many of the same men, with many comrades, had pre- viously shown their practised skill in rifle, cutlass, and sword bayonet exercises. Another attractive feature wis the physical drill of the boys of her Majesty's ship Vincent, which was admirably done, and was in the case of some very effective move^ ments accompanied by themselves vocally in tuneful snatches of familiar song or chorus. At half-past two o'clock the company had to return to the depot ard ?°Srd: ere there was a special parade of about 1000 stokers and 700 marines, the former grouped m detachments according to their respec- tive period of service. In the graving docks the visitors saw two magnificent modern cruisers, the Mars and the Terrible, both being overhauled, and each of which with armament is said to have cost i the country at least a million sterling. The weather, although not bright, was fortunately fair and favourable, despite the warning of an unpropi- tious forecast. The visitors therefore were able to move about with comfort, and at every hand they found excellent arrangements made for their con- venience. Tea was provided for them at the south railway jetty, whence the special train started soon after four o'clock upon the return journey to Londor.

THE COPYRIGHT QUESTION. Before the House of Lords Select Committee which is considering the two bills dealing with copy- right, Mr. Moberly Bell, of the Ti)res, was examined on Monday, and gave evidence in support of the proposal to give copyright to such news in a newspaper as has been specially and independently obtained. He advocated giving as in Australia, a certain number of hours' copyright in news, and maintained that this would ultimately be to the public advantage, because it would compel newspapers which at present appropriated the Times special telegram-, to make provision themselves for obtaining news independently. Evidence was also given by Mr. H. R. Clayton, of the firm of Novello and Co., music publishers.

CURRENT SPORT. All cricketers who delight in watching a daihing batsman whpse methods are. always sound-in fact, all lovers of cricket of any kind-have heard with deep regret of the death o^-€fa«r»ge Blyett,;fche great batsman and bowler of the Yorkshire team from five to 25 years ago. There were few more'popular and few more able all round cricketers than the genial George, whose robust appearance and happy temperament seemed to promise long life- <After he dropped out of the Yorkshire tetfm, however, he fell away a great deal in physique, and latterly had looked much more than his 47 years. He contracted a cold while Watching the Yorkshire and Kent match at Sheffield in the early pa# vf last week, acute pneumonia set in, and he died on Saturday night. Ulyett first played for Yorkshire in 1873 against Sussex, and he continued to be one of the most regular members of the team down to 1894. He had several times played for England against Australia in this country, and had visited Australia, America, and the Cape with representative English teams. His beneit in 1887 realised £lOO(); In his prime he was a brilliant hitter, dangerous on any wicket, and a really good fast bowler, particularly destructive on a crumbling pitch, and a splendid field. After the form 'they had shown in successive matches against Surrey, Hampshire, and Kent, a great deal was expected of the Yorkshire eleven at Lord's, and it may be said at once that they did not in any way disappoint the crowds that gathered to see them play. Whatever may be in store for them during, the remainder of the season, they are at pre- sent a splendid side-equally strong at every-point of the game. There is not a man in the team who cannot rizo, occasions get his 30 or40runs—even pavid Hunter, the last on the list, made 47 against Kent at Bramall-lane—there is-am abundance of well-varied bowling, and the fielding in its combination of quick- ness and accuracy is simply delightful to watch. Hunter at the wicket has never been in better form, and it would be difficult in any other county eleven to approach either Tunniclifie at slip or Denton in the out-field. Of course, the season is as ry £ t quite young, -and the men have been fort unate in having had to play, on slow grounds, matches that did not expose them to any great fatigue. Whether on hard wickets the players will be able to maintain their freshness and energy is a question for the future to decide, but for the moment everything promises well. It is the 'combination of talent rather than individual play that makes the side so formidable. ("1" In batting, bowling; and fielding alike the display given against Middlesex reached a very high ^tandard indeed. Mr. Jackson's innings of 133 was one of the most brilliant he has ever played, Haigh's bowling-admitting that some of the Middlesex batsmen shaped badly-^sras in advance of anything that had- been expected of him on jvhard wicket, and the fielding all round was so fine that the two blunders obmmitJ:ed attracted 'undue attention from the fact that they contrasted so strongly with the general excellence of the work. There is nothing ,mpre .attractive' t. in cricket thajn brilliant fielding, and its effect in keeping dorjrn heavy scores is almost»incalcuIable. The Hon. R., H. Lyttelion nce, commitd himself to the opinion that a side, itfrat held all ftie catches would seldom have a score of 300 hit against them,,and no doubt he was tolerably correct in his reckoning. A striking-casein point was the Lancashire and Surrey match at Manchester, which owing, to rain had to be left drawn on Saturday. Lancashire scored 354 and Surrey 369 for eight wickets, but if only a reasonable proportion of the chances offered had been accepted, these big totals might have been reduced by about half. There was on both sides a perfect epidemic of -dropped catches; and against the blunders of the fieldsmen the. bowlers contended in vain. In this matter, of. fielding Yorkshire just now benefit enormously by having so many voung men in thek tejun. Lord ,Hwke an$l David Hunter are the onrp pfiyerlywhd are within meagurable distance of necoVning "Veterans. Mr. Jackson, Bjro^n, TunniciiJEe^-Dehfon, ^Hirst, ^nd -Ha%h are m jhe very pijimeiftf ^bejxo^ricket, >and. evto Wainwright, despite his 10 years' service for the county, is inly a little over 33. This element of youth in an 11 means Everything when a hard day's fielding has to be got through., • Rain stopped play in the match between Warwick- thire and Derbyshire- 'at' Birmingham;- The home team, after .carrying their score to 485 for eight wickets, which gave them a lead of 219, declared the innings closed, and Derbyshire had obtained 161 for three wickets in their- second attempt when the stumps -had to be drawn.. -Another draw^took- plage., a £ i Nottingham _• in theC match between Notts aiad' Sussex. The visitors con- cluded- their first innings for 313, 0r 84 trp the bad. >clff attain- tfleie-seoond infiings( triade 141 ifor ^ee wickets v^ry rapidly^ aiyj th#i dosed tfkeir innings; )>ut Sussex vfpre easily #bl§ to ftyert defeat, "ihA at 'tnc'clSse nafl-lost half-tlwir wTckefs foij ^36. At Southampton, Harm^'shir^' flef&Lted Leicestershire, who were set the task of getting 38& to win, and scald only make 240, so that Hampshire wer6 vic- torious with 145 runs to spare. In the 19 years that have passed since its institution the Scottish Athletic Gathering in London has done opuqh tc, justify its existence, which is primarily for the s.id'of the Scottish Corporation and Caledonian Asylum. But these charities will benefit leorth-an usual by Saturday's gate at Stamford-brfdge numbering 4000 .^ergonsi .only, The pipers^ both amateur and, pro- fessional, began w^rk as. early. as. o clock, and these with the diancers, monopolised the programme Jittil' welf on in the afternoon, when the more English paatimeaof foot-racing and jumping made t greater appeal to 'the crowd. The band and pipers of the (92nd) Gordon Highlanders and she boy pipers of the Caledonian Asylum supplied :.he musicalJ progtarddter of the long day's sports, which came to an end-with-thfr presentation of prizes by the Duchess of Buccleuch,. wnope hushand ip the president of the gathering, the vice-presidents include ibg the Duke of Atholl, the Duke of Sutherland, the Marquis of Lome, the Mar qui a of Lothian, the Earl of JEtosebery, the Earl of Wemyss, the Earl of Ancaster,V iscount Dalrymple, Lord Saltpun, and the -Mackintosh of Mackintosh.' TheJ sport generally, jMrhaps, Was not sol good aít- at some .previous meet- ings, if the .performances in the weight-putting and hammer-throwing are excepted. Both these events were won by Dr. W. J. M. Barry, of the L.A.C., who put the shot 40ft. 8in., and threw the hammer 126ft. awtl Neither the high nor the long jump, ^on,by ,B..Jl. Hunt. lAA.0., and A. J.McHntchon, L.HJLC., was worthy of special mention;: but there was plenty of enthusiasm in the tossing of the- caber. > After running unplaced in the final heat aof-the sprint, which fell to-A. J. Arnold, five yards1, L, A- Sersteyens, of Brussels University, carried off the^800 yards handicap, spurting very pluckily in theladt 20 yards. H. H. Lidyara, 80 yards, secured the-mile 'handicap, and J. M. Muers, 40 yards, was successful in the half-mile. Tbefive miles bicyole n&,ip., was..won, by Ct. J. balder,, and. in addi- tion lie -finished first in .the two miles handicap, atarting !fóm scratch. The 1.lmt man, W. "Bkker, L.A.C ITS yards, easily accounted far the one mile steeplechase handiflap, jinnping>-the obstacles well, and in-* this, event the back-marker?. ^e»iheaten a long A cofwpleof polo matches were played^Wf tSaturday at Hurlingham. In the first the 13th Hassars-were beaten by"the Hurlingham Club by six goals to one, and in the second the Royal Horse Guards beat another Hurlingham team by five goals to one. At the Ranelagh .Club, Barn Elms, the 12th Lancers beat Incogniti by nine goals to four, and Ranelagh. beat the Quidnuncs by five to-two. 7 17 The "annual bidycle race for the Carwardine Cup tdoS'place 'on Saturday at the Crystal falace track, the Stance of the contest being 100 miles. There ivere 14 competitors, including A. Et. Harris, of the ?olytech'nic C.C. (the holder), and F. jt). iypsjt, of th^ 'Batli Road Club, who Won in 1896. After going 'flie miles Harris led Frost by a marine's Wth, C. CrOwley, Silverdale C.C., and €r. T. Taylor, of the Sorndey'Ramblers, being ne%close up. In, the.l5th mile Taylor was] leadine, and on covering 26 miles :S4Q yards in an hour he vap five yards ahead of flrost,. Harria was leading at 30 miles, and at 50 milps in in ah hour 14-5 e le jfypat by three yards, but Frost took up the running soon Afterwards, apd after the men had been on the track ior1 ')1ó he led with 75 miles 1190. yards, Harris being seebnd more hehi1>*» ^roiri this rf6jBl the issue wa§ never in aoupt, ami Frost finally* Von by two' laps in 4hr. Imin. 12 2-osec. Harris heinar second. G. B. Gladding, Anerley A.C., third, and Taylor fourth. Mr. Pembroke Coleman, N.C.U., took the times. In the final round of the Gentlemen's Singles in the Northern Lawn Tennis Tournament at Liverpool on Saturday, H. L. Doherty had no difficulty in dispos- ing of C. Hobart, the latter showing disappointing form. In the Ladies' Singles Miss Martin regained the championship taken from her at Manchester last year by Miss Cooper. Details: Ladies' Singles, Northern Championship: Miss Martin (Dublin) beat Miss Cooper, 10.8, 6.4. Gentlemen's Singles, Northern Championship, final: H. L. Doherty (All England) beat C. Hobart (New York), 6.1, 6.1, 8.6. Wilfred Baddeley did not defend hie title, and Doherty thus secures the champion- ship and with it the Oldfield Challege Cup. Liverpool and District Championship: E. Carey beat A. Macfie 3.6, 10.8, 9.7. Ladies' Doubles, final Miss Cooper and Miss Dyas beat Miss Martin and Mrs. Kirby, 6.3, 6.4. Gentlemen'* Doubles Championship: R. F. and H. L. Dohertj beat G. W. Hillyard and S. H. Smith 6.2, 4.6, 6.1, 6.1. The Brothers Baddeley did not defend the title, and the Brothers Doherty art therefore champions: Mixed Doubles Challenge Round: H. S. Mahoney and Miss Cooper beat H. S Smith and Miss Steedman, 6.3, 6.4. Gentle- men's Singles, Northern Championship, final: H. II. Doherty (Cambridge University), t C Hobart (America), 6.1, 6.1, 8.6. Ladies' Singles. Northern Championship Challenge Round: Miss Martin (Dublin) beat Miss Cooper (Chiswick-park) (holder), 10.8, 6.4. All England Mixed Doubles Championship, finals. S. H. Smith (Stroud) and Miss Steedman (All England) beat G. W. HiUyard (All England) and Miss Dyas (Dublin") 6.3, 2.6, ,9.7. At Kennington Oval on Monday, Surrey opened a match with Oxford University, and put together the big total of 424, which included 119 by Brockwell and 103 by Lockwood. The University at the close of the first day's play had lost two wickets for only six runs. At Ley ton, Essex met Derbyshire and batted first, making 191. The visitors replied with 128 for nine wickets down. Lancashire visited Taunton to play Somerset, and after a bad start succeeded in scoring 216. Somerset were less successful with the bat, and were all disposed of for 135. The first match between Yorkshire and Notts began at Sheffield on Monday. Notts went first to the wickets, but were not very success- ful, and were all out for 215, of which Attewell con- tributed 80. At the close Yorkshire had made 57 at the expense of two wickets. Kent and Warwickshire met at Tonbridge on Monday. The home team won the toss, and batting first on a capital pitch kept their opponents in the field all day and scored 401 for the loss of six wickets. At Brighton, Cambridge University batted first on Monday against Sussex, and ran up a total of 313i while their opponents at the close of play had obtained 45 at the cost of foul wickets.. v ¡

NAVAL MANOEUVRES ABANDONED. THE CAUSES EXPLAINED. An Admiralty Order was promulgated at all the javal stations on Saturday to the effect that the aaval manoeuvres arranged for this year would not :ake place. This determination of the board1 is mainly due to the Welsh coal strike. Until Friday of last week it was hoped that an early settlement of the dispute would remove the necessity for any prudential measures. This hope can no longer be entertained, and the Admiralty have accordingly been compelled to change thbir plans. The suddenness of this resolve has naturally given rise- to rumours and suspicions, but it J is accounted, for solely by the prospect of at prolonged struggle between the colliers and tnair employers. The progress of the strike has been carefully watched by the officials at Whitehall, who believed that' a settlement could not be long delayed. The store of reserve coal is sufficient to meet all require- ments, and though the extra cost to the Admiralty in consequence of the dispute has been enormous, they have not been influenced by economic so much as by prudential considerations. Seeing that the strike is likely to continue for an indefinite time, it has been deemed wisest to avoid any unnecessary expenditure of coal. No difficulty has "been experienced, or is anticipated, in "meeting the requirements of the navy, even should extra- ordinary demands be made upon our ships of war. At the same time, it is not considered advisable to draw more than is needed for ordinary use from the reserve store. Alarmist views have in no way influenced this decision. Nothing has happened within the: past week to warrant such a supposition. Annual naval manoeuvres are quite a recent institution, and a few ;rears ago their Suspension would have provoked ittle comment. The reserve squadron—that is, the coastguard ships and the port guard Ships—will go to sea as usual. The other vessels which were preparing for the manoeuvres will remain at home, where, even if there had been any prospect of trouble abroad, they would Jje within easier reach of the Admiralty, and would hot be returning td port with exhausted coal bunkers. It is also pointed out that the number of ships in commission is already unusually large. The fleet in the China seas is unprecedentemy great, while the Mediterranean and the Channel gquadrohs are fiurneroulf énougb to engage in Sepa- rate manoeuvres. There are also 18 torpedo-boat destroyers at sea, so that the opportunities for testing the naval capacity of the fleet are by no means limited.

THE ADVANCE ON KHARTOUM. It is proposed that a considerable number, if not all, of the army medical officers selected for service in the intended advance on Khartoum shall go out from home about the 1st of July, so as to arrive in Egypt before the battalions to be sent there from Gibraltar and Malta. Some of the doctors art in- tended for service with the Egyptian troops, with whom the number of British medical officers is not large, a recent return showing only 10 of these, against a total of about 140 British oombatant officers who are doing duty with the Khedive's troops.

RISING IN NYASSALAND. According,to advices just received from Nyassa- land, another serious rising of Angonis has taken place, and a British force of 100 regular troops, under Lieut. Brogden, and a column of 100 Sikhs, under Captain Pearce, have been despatched against the rebels. Lieut. Brogden's force en- countered an Angoni Impi, and in the fighting which' took place the natives suffered considerable loss, the British loss being insignificant. It is estimated that the rebels number several thousand. They are armed with guns.

= IT is said that the woman inventor who devised the: fireproof helmet now worn by firemen in the United States is urging the Government to put the soldiers into aluminium armour. The weight is inconsider- able, and the metal will turn a rifle bullet except at a very short distance. Aluminium is cheap, and an entire equipment would weigh but five pounds. THERE is a charming account in the Zoologist oi the occurrence in some abundance of the Melodious Willow Warbler on the south-east coast of Devon- shire. The writer, the Rev. Murray A. Mathew, has no doubt that this hitherto very rare British bird has now come to settle with us in Devonshire, and to breed there—good news for bird lovers. VERY charming, says a gossip, is the personality of lama, the Japanese wife of Sir Edwin Arnold, retite, piquante, with a dash of the East lingering in 9rown eyes, the air of the Parisienne mingles with the charm peculiar to the land of flowers and gentle womanhood. Lady Arnold speaks her hus- band s tongue with fluency, if with accent, and her English letters bear witness to her wonderful power of adapting herself to English thought and ex- pression. CANON VALPY has undertaken the work of the whole of the central part of the altar-screen of Win- chester Cathedral, in memory of his wife, lately deceased. The value of the gift is estimated at about £1800, and the work will be finished in the course of the autumn. THE King of Denmark has postponed his depar- ture for Wiesbaden until the end of the month, in order to be present at a grand military banquet, for which much preparation lias been made. The fes- tival will be in commemoration of the gallant resist- ance of the Danes against the Germans during the campaign, 1848-50. TIl8 Duchess of Sutherland and the Duchess of Portland have promised to perform the opwing cere- monies in connection with a volunteer bazaar to be held at Dornoch, Sutherlandshire, on two days in the last week of August.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. :i HOUSE OF LORDS—Jura 20. Ikord Iraliburton, introduced by Lord MonksweU and Lord Harris, took the oath and subscribed the roll on his elevation to the peerage. The Lord Chancellor read to their lordships a letter from the Prime Minister intimating that he had received through the Portuguese Minister to thii country a message to the effect that the Portuguese Chamber of Peers had unanimously. passed a vote expressing its profound regret at the death of Mr. Gladstone,and had immediatelyafterwards adjourned aa a tribute to his memory. Lord Heneage, in moving the second reading of the Sea Fisheries. Bill, the object of which, he ex- plained, was to prohibit the sale of immature flat fish, surged the pressing necessity for early legislation on that subject in the interest both of the fishing industry and of the public at large. Lord Londonderry cordially supported the measure, and Lord Dudley, on behalf of the Govern- ment, also expressed his hearty sympathy with its principle; while Lord Tweedmouth thought ite provisions would not be really effective. The bill was then read a second time. The Floods Prevention Bill passed through Com- mittee. THE ALIENS BILL. The Aliens Bill was next considered in Com- mittee, and Clauses 1 and 2 were agreed to without discussion. On Clause 3, giving power to inspectors appointed by the Board of Trade to prohibit the landing from passenger vessels of any alien who in their opinion is either an idiot, insane, a pauper, a person likely to become a pnblic charge, or a person suffering from any dangerous or infectious disease, the words and medical officers were inserted after inspectors," on the motion of Lord Hardwicke. Lord Grey then moved to amend the clause by striking out the words a pauper, a person likely to become a public charge." He was willing to exclude idiots, lunatics, and persons suffering from dangerous diseases, but he could not agree to give power to any inspector appointed by the Board of Trade to pro- hibit the landing of any alien who in his opinion was a pauper or a person likely to become a public charge, because he held that no case had been made out for so grave a departure from the traditional practice of this country as was involved in that proposal. Lord Ribblesdale supported the amendment, which was, on the other hand, opposed by Lord Hardwicke, Lord Dunraven, and Lord Dudley as being incompa- tible with the principle and entirely fatal to the object of the bill.. After some further discussion, Lord Grey's amend- ment was rejected on a division by 79 votes to 32, and Clause 3 and the remaining clauses of the bill were then agreed to. x The Metropolis Management Acts Amendment (Bye-laws) Bill was read a second time, after a short conversation, and the. Reserve Forces Bill was read a third time. HOUSE "OY CCfMMONS. f THE NATAL MANCEUVRES. Sir E. Gourley inquired whether the rumour was correct thatcthe customary annual naval manoeuvres were this ymr- to-be dispensed with. Mr. Goschen thought the best answer he could give was to read the instructions which were sent out to the ports, viz.—" In view of the continued serious character of the strike among the South Wales collieries, it has been decided that it would not be expedient to trench upon the reserve of coal by the naval manoeuvres, and the customary partial IilObilisàiion will not take place. The Channel Squadron and the Coast Guard Squadron will cruise asusual." The Channel Squadron consisted of eight battleships and six cruisers and the Reserve Squadron oonsisfced of six battleships and three cruisers. In order to avoid any exaggerated idea with reference to -our coal stock he might add that we had never been in possession of a larger amount of coal actually in our hands than at the pre- sent moment; and that this measure was taken as a matter of prudence. Mr. E. Robertson desired to know what difference the, naval manoeuvres would make in the consumption of coal. Mr. Goschen said the statement he saw was that, including the fillinc up of the bunkers, it would be 50,000 tons. FACTORIES AND WORKSHOPS. Sir M. W. Ridley asked for leave to introduce a bill to amencT the Factory and Workshops Acts, 1878 to 1895, as to the time of employment of women and young persons in processes necessary for the preser- vation of perishable materials. The right hon. gentleman explained that in the main the bill pro- vided exemptions ft'om the Factory Acts for the fish- curing trade in Scotland and creameries in Ireland, both of which industries were liable to suffer at certain seasons if work in connection with them were prohibited. The bill repealed all existing exed, e$»b^ed vSeci^tajy of State to grant by order exemptions which wei$. ^trictly defitied. *> Sir C. Dilke thought that on the motion for the "Jecond reading unanswerable reasons why the fmeasure should not be proceeded with would be laid beforeme House. Leave having been given, the bill was brought in and read a first time. BENEFICES BILL. m The consideration of the Benefices JBill.as amended Dy the Standing Cpmmittee, was Mr. Bryn Roberts moved a new clause providing that, when a bishop proposed to collate clergyman to a benefice in a Welsh-speaking parish ^successful objection could be taken to the appoint pn the ground that the nominee had not a familiar know- ledge of the Welsh language. Mr. Grant Lawson and Mr. Humphreys-Owen having opposed and sup- ported the clause respectively, Mr. Balfour said that ne considered there was no abuse in Wales^calling .{or the proposed remedy. Sir W. Harcourt, holding that a clergyman ought always to speak the language iof his parishioners^ said that he should ™te for the clause. After a few words from Mr. Griffith Bof- cawen and Mr. Tudor Howell, 10_ The clause was negatived, on a division, by lo5 £ p 99_. Mr, gp proposed a clause empowering parishioners to apply to the Co^rt to restrain a Bishop from collating a clWgymah Oh any of the same grounds as those upon.- which the Bishop would bimself be entitled by this measure to, refuse to institute. < Mr. Balfour 'pointed out that the. position of Bishops differed from that of other patrons, inas- much as they were; specially selected to perform ecclesiastical dut&j £ Hd* ai<^i6t believe in the likelihood of scandalous appoiht^nts by.jnembers of die episcopal bench. The new clause did not con- form with the policy of the bill, and he hoped it would not command substantial support. After further discussion, the clause was negatived by 204 to 117." An amendment supported oy Mr. Carvell Williams and Mr. Lewis, and proposing to abolish the sale of. advowsons a| distinguished from next^ presentations, was resisted- Tby the Solicitor-General on the ground that it was impracticable, and was negatived by 182 to 74. Another amendment, moved from the same quarter of the Houee, for the purpose of taking from the bishops the discretionary power which the bill gave them to enlarge the tfttie fof the Registration of transfers of patronage right. was rejected by 163 to 52. d Mr. Lewis thought that if the sale of advowsons were wrong it ought to be prohibited altogether, and therefore he moved the otaisfeibn of the subsection which provided that it should not be lawful to offer for gille by public auction any-righit of patronage, save in the case of an advowson to he sold in con- junction with any manor or hereditament. After sönre discussion the amendment was negatived by 192 to 69. d t t. Mr. Lloyd-George moved an amendment invali- dating, on the transfer of a right of patronage, any agreement for the resignation of a benefice in favour of anv Derson. The Solicitor-General said that, as the Government recognised that the present law with reeard to resignation bonds was unsatisfactory, they would accept the proposal of the hon. member. The amendment was accordingly agreed to. An amendment requiring that before a clergyman made the declaration prescribed in the schedule to the bill with reference to his presentation to a living certain sections of the Clergy Resignation Bonds Act and certain clauses of the present bill should be read over to him was opposed by the Government as un- necessary, and rejected on a division by 202 to 82. Mr. Lloyd-George moved to omit the proviso sanctioning the reservation of a right of re- demption in a mortgage of an advowson. He con- tended that the most objectionable form of traffic in livings was the use of them for borrowing ptir- poses. The Attorney-General oDOosed the amend- ment, arguing that it would not prevent mortgagee and so would not effect what the hon. member wished and also that mortgages of advowsons were often entered into for very proper and useful pur- poses. Mr. Brynmor Jones could "e no reason why advowsons should not be capable of being mortgaged as well as sold. Mr. Robson disputed the Attorney- General's contention that the proposal before the House would not prevent these mortgages, and, after further debate, The amendment was rejected by J09 to 83. A motion by Mr. Brynmor Jones for the omis- sion of the second clause of the bill, which names the grounds upon which a bishop may refuse to insti- tute a clergyman, was under consideration at twelve o'clock, when The debate stood adjourned. I .I rm#NCZ BILL. On the order for the third reading of the Finance Sir C Dilke Expressed his disapproval of the con- duct of the Government, who were poshing this measure through before the .House had been put in fSl possession of the intentions of Ministers with re- spect to the naval and military expenditure for the -year. Mr. W. Allen asked how the money for the coming supplementary naval estimate was to be pro- vided, and several members took exception to the Budget proposals affecting the land tax and the tobacco duty. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, who replied in a few word*, said that when the First Lord of the Admiralty told him what the supplementary, pro- gramme was to be it would become his duty to con- sider how it could be provided for, but at present he did not anticipate that any increase of taxation would be rendered necessary. A division was challenged, and the motion for the third reading was carried by 159 to 39. RfMM'iOthet; bills liaving been advanced a stage, the BQlHe adjourned.

LORD CHARLES BERESFORD ON NAVAL DEFENCE. Speaking at a Unionist demonstration held on Saturday afternoon in the grounds of Level's Hall, Milnthorp, the county seat of Captain Bagot, the member for South Westmoreland, Lord Charles Beresford referred to the question of naval defence gilkd said if this country had to go on as as Empire we must see that our defence was adequate to our requirements. This year's naval defence budget. of, E25,000,000 was larger than it had ever been, hut if the nation looked at the expenditure as a national insurance, it was not too much for the extension and defence of the Empire. This. year's budget of E2,5,000,000 re- ptesented B3 6s. 5d. for every gloo of the United Kingdom's .commerce, but if they included the, com- merce of the Empire it only represented £1 5s. per Elo(). France paid RA per, £ 100 as insurauce for her naval defence. Russia paid 45 12s. lOd. Re. ferring to his. scheme1 of the supplementary fund for naval defence purposes, Lord Charles, said the sug- gestion involved nothing but what had been done before. It was only asking the Government to adopt a settled and definite programme for five years, instead of making a yearly estimate which was a patchwork system. The present Government paid no more for naval defence than any previous Govern- ment, and the present First Lora. of the1 Admiralty had done marvellously well, because he was a man who had shown that he had a definite plan of cam- paign. Referring to the question of alliance, Lord Charles asked whether the people of this country were prepared to pay for a triple fleet and a ten times bigger army^or to form alliances with other countries. He believed that Germany would, be a natural aflifthefe with England. "An alliance with' Japan would do England a vast amount of good in the Far Fast, and he hoped an alliance with America would come to the front, because it would be a natural alliance in the direction of peace.

THE PRINCE OF WALES At WELLINGTON COLLEGE. Saturday being the 83rd anniversary of the battle «f Waterloo, the occasion was observed as Speech- day at Wellington College,, and the Prince of Wales honoured the school with his presence. His Royal Highness left London by special train at noon, and prc, eeded to Bracknell, whence, accompanied by the Duke of Qonnaught, Prince Christian, the Duke of Cambridge, and other distinguished visitors, he drove over to the college and lunched with the master (the Rev. B. Pollock) and the governor. A very large over to the college and lunched with the master (the Rev. B. Pollock) and the governor. A very large company assembled to hear the speeches. The Prince of Wales subsequently distributed the prizes, and after stating that it gave him great pleasure to be present, congratulated the masters om the admirable way in which the plays had been acted by the boys, in English, French, and Geraaan. The college was now in a prosperous conditiovand it had increased by a hundred more boys in the past four years. It was gratifying to learn that last Christmas six boys passed into Woolwich and five into Sandhurst. It was more satisfactory to the master and the masters under him and the bdye them- selves that the pupils should go direct into the great military colleges without having recourse to the "crammer." Of course, though military education was of great importance, a classical education was one that must not be overlooked. Though in these day, when education was brought to such a high pitch, no doubt foreign languages, art, and music should be learnt and cultivated, for they could not but be of use to those who went into the great professions., He wished to say to those boys who would enter the noble profession of the army to remember that this great school was founded as a monument of Eng- land's greatest commander, and that they could not do better than walk in the footsteps of Arthur, the first Duke of Wellington. Cheers were then called for the Prince of Wales and also for the Governors, and Lord Rosebery returned thanks on behalf of him- self and his fellow governors for their hearty recep- tion. The Prince afterwards planted an oak tree in com- ruemoration of his visit, ,and returned to London viA Bracknell.