The North Wales Times

(larktttttg. If any reader who is in difficulty with reference to his garden, will write direct to the ad- dress given bene th, his queries will be an. swered, free of charge, and by return of post. —EDITOKI Some correspondents omit to add their names, or merely end with initials. In these cases it is obviously impossible to reply.—E.K.T. THE VEGETABLE GARDEN IN JANUARY. GENERAL. Wheel out mannre during frost, but keep off the land while it is soft after rain. Push on all preparatory work, such as the trenching of spare plots and making ready of rich beds for peas and beans. It must be home in mind that the rougher land can be thrown up before frost, so much the greater will be its fertility. GLOBE ARTICHOKES. The young leafage should be slightly earthed up. and covered with some dry, light litter, which must be removed in April, when the ring of earth should h3 drawn away, a dossing of rotten manure applied, and the beds forked over without injuring the roots. ASPARAGUS. Beds should be well manured now, but it is better not to fork the manure in. BEANS. Broad beans may be sown towards the end of the month on warm, rich borders in double rows tnree feet asunder, placing the two lines forming each double row nine inches distant from one another, arranging the seeds about seven inches apart for the plants to come alter- nately, and using a quart to 25 feet. Cover with three or four inches of good soil. CABBAGES. Continue planting out whenever weather per- mits. Spare plots are always usefully ern. ployed under crops of cabbages, as these veget- ables are generally acceptable at any season. CAULIFLOWERS. Make a first sowing in boxes on a gentle hot- bed or. under a cool frame in a very warm corner, using an ounce of seed to four square yards in shallow drills 10 inches apart. The produce will be ready for planting out in April. CRESS. Make successional smaH sowings of cress in boxesunder glass, using an ounce of seed to 1 square yards. Cover thinly with fine soil, or else press the seed down firmly, and lay a sheet of glass over each box or pan till germination is accomplished. Cut the produce directly it is fit for use and while each stem is plump, green, and tender. Too thick sowing often re suits in 'damping off' The young seedlings commence to decay near the surface of the soil in rings, and the disease spreads with great rapidity. Admit air freely to the plants; water moderately only. keeping the surface as dry as possible and, above everything, change the soil for each crop. CUCUMBERS. Cucumbers do best in turfy or peat loam, with some admixture of leaf mould. Early crops are, of course, specially valuable. Sow the seeds two inches deep, about a month be- fore the plants are required, in pots or pans of light, rich, turfy loam, on a hot-bed or in a sunny corner of the greenhouse. In the latter case the pobs or pans must be covered with slates until germination is accomplished. For house culture it is customary IjO cover the hot- water pipes with large inverted pans, and these in turnlwith slates and a bed of strawy manure and leaves. Lightly cover the whole with soil, and heap up mounds of turfy loam every five feet along the bed. Raise the heat to about 75 degrees, with a minimum night temperature of 60 degrees; and plant out a strong young cu. cumber, or sow several seeds, in each head. Treat as advised beneath for frame culture, save only that the side shoots and fruiting stems require stopping, while the plants, of course, must be trained up wires or strings at least a foot from the glass. Once a fortnight top-dress the mounds with a layer of warm soil, and keep the walls and passages frequently damped. In frames preserve a day tempera- ture of 80 degrees, and a night heat of 60 de- grees. If a little air can be admitted through the whole day without the temperature falling below that specified, it will be very beneficial. Always keep a can of warmfwater in the corner of the frame, so that it may become of the same temperature as the plants. Syringe both foliage and frame twice or thrice daily, and never permit the roots to become dry under. neath. Give air and water in proportion as the temperature rises and falls, decreasing the supply in cold or bad weather, and increasing it as the heat becomes greater. When the plants have made four leaves, pinch out the tip, and treat the new shoots then produced in a similar manner, when they in turn have each a like number of leaves. After this, nothing ingthe way of stopping or training is necessary beyond the occasional removal of crowded or old shoots and leaves, pegging down unruly vines to cover the bed, and stopping each fruit ing stem at the second leaf beyond the fruit. Hand fertilization is usually essential. As often as the roots show on the surface, give a top dressing of good loam. HORSE RADISH. Roots should be planted early in spring, twelve inches apart, the crowns being just be- neath the surface of the ground. Those with. out crowns must be placed a little more deeply. Thoroughly trenched, rich, and rather moist soils are best. LETTUCE. Make small sowings in pans in a greenhouse or frame to provide plants for putting out during April. Prick out the seedlings as early as possible into frames or boxes of light, rich soil. MUSTARD. Treat white mustard as advised for cress, re- membering that the former arrives at maturity a week before the latter. PEAS. Early outdoor cropB may be sown on a warm, sheltered, sloping, south border, in good soil, but for very early dishes seeds must be sown on turves, turned grass side underneath, in frames, or in pots or long shallow troughs un- der glass. Directly the seedlings are visible dust them over lightly with lime and soot mixed, to protect them from slugs, and thin them out to about two inches apart when they are two or three inches high. Early outdoor sowings must be shielded from keen winds, and it is well to support the plants with brushwood when they are three or four inches high. As the seedling appear under glass, air must be given whenever possible, to promote sturdy growth, and it will, of course, be necessary to water occasionally. POTATOES, Towards the end of January pack a number of sets on end closely, one layer deep, in shallow boxes, which must be placed near the glass in a cool conservatory, or in some other light position, where they will be safe from frost. Select a dry. warm, and good border, and, if it be not sheltered by a wall, line it out into ridges six inches high and about two feet apart. The addition of mellow, thoroughly decayed manure and sand will be beneficial. RADISHES. Most acceptable crops can be obtained in ;-any warm and light position, such as a par- tially spent hot-bed. To ensure a good succes- sion, cover about two feet of half decayed stable manure with four or five inches of soil in a frame, so arranged that the surface of the bed is near the glass, and make thin broadcast sowings every two or three weeks. SEA KALE. Cover the plants with proper pots or with a layer of about a foot in depth of clean leaves, kept in position by planks and a little earth. Plants may be forced where growing by cover- ing the beds and sea kale pots with a good layer of fermenting manure. TOMATOES. Sow in sandy soil in a warm house to provide plants for growing under glass. Maintain a temperature of 60 t ) 65 degrees at night, and 75 degrees by day, and prick out the seedlings singly into small pots directly they have made two leaves, E. KEMP TOOGOOD, F.R.H.S., pro Toogood and Sons, The Royal Seed Establishment, Southampton.

DISPUTE ABOUT A HOLYWELL HOTEL. ACTION AGAINST A CHESTER WINE MERCHANT. On Thursday, at the Chester County Court, before his Honour Judge Sir Horatio Lloyd, a singular case, which had been remitted from the High Court, was heard, in which Mrs. Matilda May Jennings, formerly of the Cross Keys Hotel, Holywell, and of Church Street, Rhyl, sued for damages for illegal distraint from Thomas Montgomery, wine and spirit merchant, formerly of Liverpool, but now re- siding in Chester. i Mr. Jordan, barrister, Manchester, appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. S. Moss, M.P., was for the defendant. Mr. Jordan stated that plaintiff was married to her husband in September, 1885, and there was an ante-nuptial settlement at the time, by which the furniture and effects belonging to Mr. Jennings were conveyed to a trustee upon trust for Mrs. Jennings. Mr. and Mrs. Jen- nings resided together for some little time, but eventually Mrs. Jennings started oa her own account with a boarding-house at Liseard. The husband about thst time went to sea, and was absent for about eighteen months, and after that he went to Birmingham, where he obtained a situation. During that time Mrs. Jennings supported herself and her children by taking in lodgers, and as the furniture she got from her husband became worn out, she purchased fresh furniture-in fact, the husband had nothing whatever to do with the house for a long time. In 1894, defendant had a conversation with Mrs. Jennings in reference to the Cross Keys Hotel, Holywell, which she was desirous her husband should manage for him, and an ar- rangement was arrived at. Defendant was perfectly well aw ire that all the furniture be- longed to Mrs. Jennings. He engaged Mr. Jennings as manager of the hotel, and the ar- rangement come to was that he was to pay 25s. a week as wages, and that he (defendant) was to have all'the profits which arose from the sale of liquors and cigars on the premises, and that Mrs. Jennings was to carry on the restaurant business and receive the profits herself. A conversation took place between Mrs. Jennings and Mr. Montgomery, in which it was explained to the latter that all the furniture was hers, and Mr. Montgomery seemed to have come to the conclusion that this furniture would be ample for furnishing the hotel. Matters did not go on very prosperously at the hotel. Mr. Jen- nings got into airear as regarded what he owed Mr. Montgomery for drink and other things, and finally had to leave the place, Mrs. Jen- nings going with him. The good-will of the hotel was sold, and Mr. Jennings paid part of what he owed to Mr. Montgomery, and gave a promissory note for the balance-965. After that Mrs. Jennings commenced a boarding- house again on her own account at Rhyl, and carried it on without any assistance from her husband, who obtained the position of manager to a Conway hotel. Later on, Mr. Montgomery, having obtaided judgment upon this promissory note, put in an execution into Mrs. Jennings' house at Rhyl. It was well-known in the dis- trict that this was Mrs. Jennings' house, and the Sheriff's officer, knowing the state of affairs, refused at first to go into possession uncil he received explicit instructions. The levy having been carried out, a claim was put in by Mrs. Jennings, and an order was made by which the sheriff was ordered to withdraw on payment of E30 possession money. Mrs. Jennings could not pay the JE30 to get the articles out, and the result was that the sale was proceeded with. The amount realised was £120. though Mrs. Jennings said the furniture was well worth £ 300; and the sale had been a very great loss to her, and in addition to that she had been ab- solutely deprived of her living, for she was un- able to keep the boarding house. The defence set up was that plaintiff had been guilty of what amounted to fraud by mis- representing to Mr. Montgomery that all these things were the goods of her husband, and that on the faith of that the goods were supplied and the promissory note accepted. After evidence, his Honour reserved judg- ment.

The Rule of the Road-A policeman. A Novel Complaint-A weakness for fiction. One person in four in Whitechapel is a Jew or Jewess. Astronomers say that the sun is not so old as the earth. Drowning was once a punishment for crime in Scotland. Seventy pounds' worth of coin is dropped in London daily. Bread baked from wood and bran was eaten in Paris during the siege. The invention of spectacles is commonly credited to Alessandro di Spina, about the year 1285. It is said that stammerers rarely if ever show any impediment of speech when speaking in whispers. With moderate care and good usage a horse's life may be prolonged to twenty hve, thirty. five, or forty years. The railways of England and Scotland derive a larger revenue from their goods than from their passenger traffic. The man who is always trying to create a sensation will very soon get so that he can't create even a disturbance. The most painful climbing on Fortune's lad- der is done by people who have been at the top and are trying to get back there. Scribbler: 'Does your wife] laugh at your jokes in the paper ?' Punster 'Yes, but only on pay-day.' She What seems to be the most popular air at present?' He That in the bicycle tyres, cf course.' Marriage generally takes all the poetry out of a man.' Then marriage is not a failure, after all.' The Father: 5 You ask my consent. What expectations have you?' The Suitor: I expect to get your consent.' The Mexicans eat salt with their oranges, both because they prefer the fruit so seasoned, and because it is considered to be more whole- some with salt. You never hear the bee complain Nor hear it weep or wail; But if it wish, it can unfold A very painful tail. In Brazil it is not customary for servants to reside in their employer's house. They come to work early in the morning and return home in the evening. She loves him so, she loves him so, And yet, there's one important thing That she'd like very much to know- The cost of her engagement ring. He: Well, thank heaven I am not as other men.' She t On the contrary. It is the other men who should be thankful. How many men each day you'll see- Of such there is no dearth— Whose only mission seems to be To take up room on earth. Mrs. Wellment: 'Poor fellow, have you no friends?' Beggar (sobbing): 'No, leddy; I hain't got cuthin' but relatives.

CURRENT POLITICS. IMPORTANT SPEECH BY MR. CIUMBERLAIlf. Mr. Chamberlain, speaking at the Chamber of Commerce dinner at Wolverhampton on Wednesday night, in responding to the toast of Her Majesty's Ministers," said the toast had no political signifi- cance, but he accepted it on the part of the represen- tatives of a great commercial interest in recognition of their duty in support of the Government in upholding British interests and in securing prosperity for British trade. It was upon this trade that our Empire depended for its very existence, and therefore the first duty of the Government was to maintain this mighty trade against foreign competition. All they asked was a fair field and no favour, con- tending that there was a great prospect of increased trade in dealing with countries where a free policy was adopted than with countries under a foreign flag. And they should endeavour to induce other countries to maintain the open door in those foreign lands over \vh:eh they exercised control. We had been on the brink of war with France, from which we were only saved by the firmness of the Govern- ment with the almost unanimous support of the British people. We had earned our right to be let alone and intended to maintain it. Another diffi- culty with France and a source of danger was being averted by an agreement arrived at with respect to our boundaries on the West Coast of Africa. Dealing with the recent French claims in Shang- hai, he said the justice of our opposition was shown by the fact of those claims being resisted by other nations. They were opposed by Ger- many and hy Japan, and strenuouslyres:sted by the United States. That last significant note- worthy fact he hoped would prove historical in helping forward the unity interests of the Anglo-Saxon race. He was pleased to know that several men of influence in France, and some of the more respectable journals, had suggested that the opportunity should be taken to come to an amicable agreement between the two countries on subjects which might cause irritation in the future. That desire, if expressed, would be, he was sure, met halfway by the British Government. Those who endeavoured to bring home to the French people the true mind and wishes of the English nation towards that country did more in the cause of peace than men like Mr. Morley, who represented that England would always give way to pressure, if pressure only continued long enough. Turning to Madagascar, lie expressed a belief that the dispute there would be amicably settled. In explaining the hollowness of French claims in New- foundland, he said it was one of those cases in which all that was required was a large dose of common sense and a small dose of compensation to bring about an amicable settlement. Summing up the work of the Government, he said the independence of Crete was substantially estab- lished, the cruel rule of the Khalifa in Egypt wa» destroyed, and in China we maintained a fair share of the possession in that country, and secured the principle of the open door, and, whilst witnessing without jealousy German expansion, we should will- ingly welcome their co-operation to secure the general adoption of that principle. SIR >1. IJICKS-BEACH ON" HOME AND FOREIGN POLTTICX. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, speaking at Bristol on Wednesday night, said he did not think any country was better served in naval and military services, and it would be his duty to secure that that state of preparedness should continue. He claimed with confidence that the Government stood high in the l'stinmtion of their countrymen. He did not wish to triumph over the position of her Majesty's Opposi- tion, which was composed of a number of chance atoms without a leader and without a policy. It was, he said, impossible to exaggerate the im- portance of the Irish Local Government Bill, and he was sanguine as to its results, and asked them not to be too anxious as to the results of its immediate opera- tion. Continuing, Sir Michael said Lord Eosebery's resignation of the Liberal leadership was due to dif- ferences with his colleagues on foreign questions. Sir William Harcourt and Mr. Morley had also re- nounced the leadership, and the party without leaders and without a policy could not command the confidence of the country. Referring to the foreign policy, he said they must remember other nations' ambitions, and while main- taining our own interests we should be careful not to take upon ourselves greatetburdeni than we could bear. -Jsp,, IMPORTANT LETTER FROM SIS W. IIARCOURT. Thursday's issue of Young Wales, a Welsh monthly, contains a letter from Sir William Har- court on the subject of Welsh Disestablishment. In his communication, addressed to the editor, Sir Wil- liam says My interest in Young Wales was greatly quickened by my visit to Aberystwith in the autumn. I was much delighted by the breezy spirit of energy and youth which welcomed me on that occasion. As age advances men's thoughts turn more and more to I those who are to come after us. As to Welsh Disestablishment, my opinions are sufficiently well known, and I do not think I could add anything to them. I had the honour of coming fresh from Hawarden with the authority of Mr. Gladstone in the first speech I ever made in Wales, in support of the candidature of Mr. Lloyd-George at Car- narvon, to declare for the first time the official adhesion of the Liberal party to the principle that the Church in Wales must cease to exilt as an Establishment.' The late Government, of which I was a member, did their best to redeem that pledge during their brief tenure of office. I note the misgivings and alarm at the turning aside of a section of the party to dance to the strains of Jingoism, and the fear lest the prevalence of this unhappy spirit should again, as it has so often before, obstruct progress and paralyse reform. It gives me. however, lively satisfaction to know that Young Wales is not impregnated and leavened with the mesmeric influences of Jingoism, but stands firm by the creed of the great men of old time and our fathers who begat us.' In that faith, you may be well assured, you will always find my instant sympathy and support." MR. MORLEY AT ARBROATII. Mr. John Morley, M.P., speaking at a meeting held on Wednesday at Arbroath in connection with the proposed national memorial to Mr. Gladstone, said it was surely desirable that they should show, in the face of generations to come and in the face of Europe, that there was a common movement of the national mind for the commemoration of so lofty an.-i elevated a career. Such an occasion as that on which they were met showed that after all, whatever differences might divide us, we were a united nation and it was a good thing for each one of them to know that lie was capable of feeling reverence and admiration, for a high character when such a character presented itself.

THE LATE BROTHER PRINCE. History keeps repeating herself. The theory of Henry James Prince, who claimed to be the incarna- tion of the Holy Ghost, was (says the Church Gazette) but. a re-statement, with up-to-date accompaniments, of alleged mediaeval heresies. In modern times, Ann Lee, a Lancashire blacksmith's wife, who emigrated to America, where she became the head of the Shakers, laid claim to being the Divine word. She died in 1784, but her followers hold that she is still with them in spiritual form, and presides over them, as they sing: I love to dance, and love to sing, And oh! I love my Maker I I love to dance, and love to sing, And love to be a Shaker." Another analogous instance was that of Joanna Southcott, to whom we referred on a former occasion. In her 64tli year it was revealed to her that a son should be born of her. This was to be the Messiah, a second Shiloh, who would restore peace to the world. The pooriwoman was suffering at the time from dropsy, but her believers, thinking that one more un- fulfilled prophecy was of little consequence, Co*- tinued in their unshaken devotion to her.

AT the London Mansion House on Monday the charge against Sir Alfred Kirby and others was further adjourned in consequence of the serious illness of the defendant named. Miss VIOLET LLOYD, who is essaying the leading part in The Greek Slave provincial tour, has been quite "lionised" in Edinburgh and Glasgow. The piece has experienced a phenomenal success in the great towns so far, as in London, and looks like being another "Geisha" in point of popularity. With this the elaborate dresses and accessories may have something to do; but the British play-going public is growing very exigeant, and the lessee of the Gaiety and Daly's Theatres knrtws exactly how to please it. Nothing so costly as he general mise en scene of The Greek Slave has been seen during the present generation.

A FIREMAN BURNED TO DEATH. The British steamer Heathfield, from New York, with wheat, arrived at Queenstown on Tuesday morning, and reported that a serious fire had oc- curred on board. Thirty-six hours after leaving New York a large fire was discovered in the fore- castle. While the fire was raging a fireman, named Henry Murray, was enveloped in the .flames and burned to death. After much difficulty the fire was extinguished. The vessel afterwards suffered con- siderably in the gale.

THE FRENCH AMBASSADOR ON PEACE. M. Cambon, the new French Ambassador, on Tuesday received a deputation from the Peace Asso- ciction, who presented to him an address expressing the hope that his residence in this country might conduce to the maintenance of cordial relations between the two peoples. In reply, his Excellency assured the deputation that neither the French Government nor the individuals who composed that nation desired war. There was no such thing in France as antipathy towards England, and now that the Fashoda incident had passed away, there was no cause for coolness between the two countries.

FEMALE ARTISTS. The Princess Louise on Tuesday distributed prizes to the Royal Female School of Art. Replying to a vote of thanks to her Royal Highness, the Marquis of Lome expressed the great interest which the Queen and the Princess evinced' in the school and its pro* ductions.

BARKING DISASTER. Dr. Ambrose, the coroner for the metropolitan area of South Essex, resumed his inquiry on Tuesday, at the Public Office, Barking, on the bodies of eight victims of the Barking explosion. Their names were George Pratten, Walter Taylor, Alfred Leslie Hume, Archibald Burness, Edward Lloyd, Alfred Grant, William Thomas Marshall, and Henry Page. Mr. Donald Gordon, the manager of the works, was called and repeated the evidence given at the inquest last week at Poplar. The boiler, he said, was removed from a vessel in 1890 to repair it, and to replace it by a larger boiler. At the beginning of 1897 the boiler was repaired and was tested by steam pressure at 901b. per square inch. The boiler must have been above 25 years old. The Coroner: Have you heard of the boiler being. defective anywhere ? Witness: None whatever. The Coroner: Have you any theory to offer of your own about the explosion r- Witness: No, sir. Continuing, witness said the safety valves had not been overhauled since 1897. There was no engineer on the works so far as one was considered an engineer by examination. Witness was under the impression that he was a practical engineer, however. The boiler was a fair steaming one. Henry Holt, of 3, George-street, boiler maker, said he had frequently tested the boiler since it had been on the works in 1892. Mr. Strohmeyer, mechanical engineer and chief inspector of the Manchester Steam Insurance Association, was called by the coroner to give ex- pert evidence. On January 9 he visited the scene of the disaster, and made an examination of the shattered portions of the boiler which had been collected under the orders of the Board of Trade. He found that the boiler was lOft., 6in. in diameter, and three-quarters of an inch thick. Although the welded joints were not so strong as riveted joints the welding in con- nection with this boiler had not given way. The fracture passed through the solid plate, and the ] thickness of the line of the point at the fracture was three-quarters of an inch. The shell plate of the boiler might have burst at a pressure of 5001b. or 5501b. per square inch. The primary fracture did not occur in the furnace or in the combustion chamber. The shell might pro- bably have given way at a pressure of 4001b. at the square inch. There was a remote possibility that the works of the safety valve had become jammed. Had the valves been blowing off before the accident it was more than probable that they must have become inoperative just before the explosion occurred. No fault could be found in the construction of the boiler. His opinion was that the pressure which caused the explosion was probably about 4001b. to the square inch, or it might have been more. How it was possible to accumulate this he was unable to state at the present time. The safety valves had not, been used, from their appearance, since it was last over- hauled. Witness had also examined the damage done by the explosion, and bad gathered that the velocity must have been from 300ft. to 400ft. per second, and the pressure wave must have been 4001b. to 5001b. per square inch. The calcula- tions he had made as to the explosion from the de- struction in the neighbourhood led him to the con- clusion that the pressure at which the boiler had burst was that which he had mentioned. George Pratten said that on the day of the explo- sion the gauge registered 101b. of steam. Frank Ferrier, who assisted the deceased Burness, said that while he screwed down the valve his col- league said lie thought there was something under- neath it, adding that Mr. Gordon had told him that if there was any dirt under the valves they would have had to take the valves out and see to it. The valve was not working freely at that time although there were only 51b. pressure indicated. After further evidence of an unimportant cha- Tacter had been given, the inquiry was arjourned for it fortnight.

SENTENCE ON "HARRY THE VALET." At the County of London Sessions, before Mr. MeConnell, Q.C., Chairman, sitting at Clerkenwell. Villiam Johnson. 46, alias Harry the Valet," the .¡¡.n who pleaded "Guilty" last sessions to an in- hctment, for having in his possession certain stolen from the Dowager Duchess of Sutherland a,t Paris in October last, was brought up on Wednesday for sentence. Mr. R. D. Muir, who appeared for the prosecution on behalf of the Treasury, reminded the Court that sentence had been nostponed in the hope that the prisoner might .;ive some information which would lead to the "peovery of the rest of the stolen property. Only ''4000 or E5000 worth had been found in the pri- soner's possession out of at least £ 25.000 worth stolen altogether, and it could not be discovered what he had done with the rest. He had been seen by detectives since his trial, but he persistently refused I to give any information. Mr. McConnell sentenced the prisoner to seven years' penal servitude. On the application of Mr. Grain, who appeared for the Dowager Duchess of Sutherland, it was ordered that R.320 found upon the prisoner should be given to her.

THE GORDON MEMORIAL COLLEGE. At a meeting of the general council of this college, held on Wednesday at the Bank of England, it was stated that the gross total of the fund at present was Ell 8,119, but there was no intention of closing it, as contributions were still coming in. In the course of the proceedings, Lord Salisbury referred to the splendid munificence displayed by the municipalities of the kingdom towards the enterprise, which he characterised as a great effort to break down the obstacles of race, to establish the bonds of intel- lectual sympathy, and to further the pursuit of human culture.

IN A STORM ON HELVELLYN. An exciting experience has fallen to the lot of Lance-Corporal White and Sapper Taylor, who have been engaged on the ordnance of Cumberland Lake district. Having to verify the plans of the boundary between Cumberland and Westmorland, they ascended Helvellyn from Wythburn, and about midway were caught in a blinding snowstorm. They could not see 10 yards in front, and their difficulties were increased by the slippery condition of the path, which was covered by several inches of frozen snow. The wind threatened to carry them away. They, however, struggled to a height of 2850 feet and completed their work. They were on the mountain for four hours. Through havi ng left their greatcoats behind that they might travel better, they suffered severely from the intense cold. After a descent, even more perilous than the ascent, they reached the Nag's Head much exhausted and thankful that they were alive.

IN the Queen's Bench on Monday Charles Barratt, of the London County Council, obtained E200 damages from the proprietors of the Sun for libel.

AFRICAN FIGHTING, A LIEUTENANT SENT HOME TO DIE. The Liverpool coroner held an inquiry on Wednes- day into the death of Eustace Montague Town end, aged 28, a lieutenant in the troops commissioned by the Royal Niger Company in West Africa. Miss Ada Eustace Townend, of Lorna-road, Hove, Brighton, a sister of deceased, said he went out to Africa in November, 1897. Last month she received a letter from the Niger Company, London, saying that her brother had been injured in an engagement with some natives and was being sent home in the steamship Olinda. This vessel arrived at Liverpool on December 31, and deceased was taken to the Royal Infirmary, where she subsequently saw him. He was, however, too indisposed to give a proper account of his injuries in fact, he was never really conscious, and died last Saturday in her presence. Miss Louisa Annie Sidkey, Hockarden, St. Mary Cray, Kent, a friend of deceased, said that (in November be wrote to tell her that he had been fighting against rebellious natives, but had not been wounded. He also wrote to say that he would be fighting again the next day. About a week before Christmas she received information that he was wounded, and that he was being sent home in the Olinda. Witness came to Liverpool with deceased's sister. John Harry Watson, house surgeon, Roy|§3nfir- marv, said deceased was admitted to the institution on December 31. Dr. Nesbitt, surgeon of the Olinda, accompanied him. Deceased was weak, and two gunshot wounds were discovered in his left side. He was too ill to give any details of his injuries. Dr. Nesbitt said deceased had led a body of troops against a body of natives who were entrenched in a kind of ditch. The nature of that charge compelled the troops to advance upon the enemy in single file; deceased was at the head. When about two yards from the trenches one of the natives shot him in his left side, and he fell immediately. The rebel who had fired the shot was killed by a brother officer, Lieut. Wake. It was seen that deceased's recovery was almost hopeless, though he improved somewhat as the result of operations. A relapse followed, he gradually sank, and died on the day stated. The cause of death was exhaustion, brought about by gun- ahot wounds. The Coroner said it was necessary to hold an inquest to get rid of legal difficulties which might arise. The jury found that deceased had died from ex- haustion, following on gunshot wounds, but how the wounds were caused there was no evidence to show.

MAJOR MACDONALDS REPORT. A Parliamentary Paper relating to recent events in the Uganda Protectorate, and dealing principally with the military operations following the mutiny of Major Macdonald's Soudanese troops was issued on Wednesday. It is a continuation of the paper Africa, No. 10, 189S," and covers the period from May 241. 1898, to November last.. Major Macdonald reports on the military operations in Uganda during 1897-98, and I I gives a list of officers and men whom he specially mentions for the favourable consideration of the Home authorities. Included in this list are some 13 loyal Wagancla chiefs and others. The steadfastness and determination of the Waganda, •ays Major Macdonald, under heavy losses and during a very prolonged campaign, has surprised even their warmest admirers, and he adds his per- sonal testimony as to their excellent work, which, he remarks, is deserving of substantial recognition and of medals. Major Macdonald also pays a tribute to the memory of Mr. G. Pilkington, the Church Missionary Society's missionary, who, while he was in charge of the Uganda working parties, was killed. His death, sltys Major Mac- donald, is a terrible loss to Uganda, where his many admirable qualities had given him all influence with the natives second to that, of no other missionary. According to a tabulated list of the losses sustained during the operations reported on by Major Macdonald. the casualties of the Government, forces amounted to 280 killed and 555 wounded, a total of 835. The enemy, on the other hand, lost 570 killed and 549 wounded, with 181 prisoners, a total of 1300. Of the enemy killed 230 were Soudanese mutineers, and 340 disloyal Waganda and other natives, while of the wounded 235 were Soudanese and 314 Waganda, &c. An analysis of our losses shows that of the killed 31 were regular troops and Europeans. 25 Swahili Rifles. 185 Waganda Irregulars, and 39 Wasoga and others. Of the wounded, 53 were regulars, 71 Swahili Sides, 341 Waganda Irregulars, and 90 Wasoga.

OLD-AGE PENSIONS. MR. LOGAN, M.P., SUGGESTS A SCHEME. Mr. J. W. Logan, M.P., for the Harborough Divi- sion of Leicestershire, speaking at Marked Har- borough on Tuesday night, said the ill-paid workers in particular had believed the platform speeches concerning old-age pensions, and had hoped to witness legislation on the subject which would render them that aid in avoiding the workhouse after a life of toil and privation which they were unable to provide for themselves. They had now to face the position that, as the cry had served its purpose, all sorts of insurmountable obstacles pre- sented themselves. However, the bogies had not decreased the desire, the expectation, nor, he hoped. the determination that a pension scheme should become an accomplished fact. The Chancellor of the Exchequer and Mr. Chamberlain, both of whom advocated old-age pensions in 1895, one of them having a scheme which everybody could under- stand, now saw nothing but of the difficulties, and it therefore became a matter for humbler mortals to deal with. Mr. Chamberlain once said: The .people must find the solution, and for my part I have so much confidence that I believe that what the wise and learned have failed to accom- plish the poor and lowly will achieve for them- selves." It was in accordance with that belief that he (Mr. Logan) had endeavoured to find a method of overcoming the great diffic Lilt y-tliat of ways and means. He was not abandoning the principle that the means should be furnished by the land, for a far-reaching reform of our land system would not only provide the means, but would be the remedy for pauperism. He was, however, temporarily waiving that contention in the interests of the men and women who had reached the age of sixty-five, and those fast approaching that, age, as he recognised that the land question was in its infancy. He knew of no royal road to revenue, and had no plan for obtaining money from any but the usual sotirce-the pockets of the people. To give 5s. per week to each person who had now attained the age of 65 would require X26,000,000 sterling. That was the annual addition to revenue needed. He suggested a tax averaging 4d. per gallon, or one halfpenny per pint, on beer, which would produce nearly £ 21,000,000 sterling 3s. per gallon on spirits, producing over £ 6,000,000 4s. per gallon on wine, producing over E3,600,000- a total exceeding £ 30,000,000. He had taken those articles because they were not in any sense necessaries, but often harmful, and the people who could afford to indulge in them would not be injured by having to pay a little extra. There remained other luxuries of the same class, such as racehorses, hunters, and precious stones, which might be made to contribute. If the people were willing to provide the means in the manner suggested, nobody had the right to object, the details should be easy of arrange- ment, and old-age pensions might be immediately available. His scheme might not be the best, but it was the first to face the one real difficulty.

EXCESSIVE IMPORTS. Sir R. Giffen read a paper on The Excess of Imports" to the members of the Royal Statistical Society on Tuesday night. Having explained the causes of the excess of imports over exports, he pointed out that incessant changes had been going on in the nature of our foreign trade. He said he did believe that there would be a decline in English trade generally, but should it come, it would be through our own fault and supineness, and not from any lack of the conditions and the opportunity to advance. On the motion of Mr. L. Courtney, M.P., who presided, ft Tote of thanks was passed to Sir R. Giffen for his paper.

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