The Cambria Daily Leader

T L L -*))-—— <Tt! The "Cambria Daily Leader gives later dvm tfcan any paper published in this dis- trict. '1-

PARLIAMENT RE-OPENED. A BRILLIANT SPECTACLE THE KING'S SPEECH To-day the King went to Westminster w open the seventh session of hie Majesty's second Parliament, and was accompanied by the Queen. The Speech from the Throne was approved and signed at a Privy Council held on Tr"d^ at Buckingham Palace. On account of the war. the customary State procession was in some respects modified. In place of the gilded State coach usually seen on these occasions, their Majesties made the journey to ana from "Westminster in a semi-State postil- lion landau, drawn by six bay horses. The military display was of a more im- posing nature than is customary, as their Majesties were attended by a mounted Im- perial ewcort, as well as that provided by the Royal Horse Guards. This was fur- nished by representatives of the Indian Army and the Overseas Dominions, and Was composed of 4 Indian Army (British) officers. 16 Indian Army (native) officem, 16 Canadian officers. 16 Australian officers. 16 New Zealand officers. 16 South African officers. 4Newfoundlend officers. 4British West Indies officers. I The Mounted Imperial Escort was drawn up outside the Forecourt, Bucking- ham. Palace, on either side of the main entrance gate at 11.25. As the procession moved off the representatives of the In- dian Army and the Canadian and Austra- lian Forces preceded the travelling escort, ander the command of Major L. E. Barry, let Life Guards, and following their Majesties' carriage came the representa- tive of the New Zealand, South African, Newfoundland, and West Indies Forces, under the comand of Major E. W. Clowes. The line of route from Buckingham Palace to Westminster was kept by mem- bore of the Special Constabulary, under the command of Co. Sir Edward Ward. Guards of honour were mounted at the Palace and at the Victoria Tower of the House ef Lords. EN ROUTE. Despite the intensely ookl weather. people began to assemble quite early to view the Royal procession, especially ia the Mall and at Whitehall. As the procession passed into the Mall the crowd cheered with gerat heartiness, an4 there was much waving of handker- chiefs. The Queft repeatedly bowed in acxzioip- Hd gnioiit, while the King saluted. I The departure of the King and Queen from. Buckingham Palace for We-stminster was witnessed by a large crowd of specta- tors, who cheered repeatedly ae their Majesties" carriage emerged from the courtyard, just before 11.40. WELCOME TO CO-LONIALS. In the Royal Gallery of the House of Lords, the Marquis of Lincolnshire, the Lord Great Chamberlain, addressed the wounded Colonial soldiers and nurses, say- ing -11 I have been commanded by his Majesty to wish all of you a speedy re- covery and a safe return to those glorious countries that you love so well." THE KING'S SPEECH. The following is the text of the King's spomh:- My Lords and Gentlemen,- For the third time in succession I sum- mon you to your deliberations in the J midst of war. Certain overtures, of which you are aware, have been made by the enemy with a view to the opening of peace negotia- tions. Their tenour, however, indicated no possible basis for peace. My people throughout the Empire, and my faithful and heroic Allies, remain steadfastly and unanimously resolved to secure the just demands for reparation and restitution in respect of the past, and the guarantees for the future, which we regard as essen- tial to the progress of civilisation. In response to an invitation from the President of the United States of America we have outlined, so far as can be done at present, the general objects necessarily implied by these aims. The threats of further outrages upon public law and the common rights of humanity will but serve to steel our determination. During the winter months my Navy has maintained unchallenged its ceaseless w-atch on the seas, and has enforced with rigour the blockade of the enemy. My Armies have conducted successful operations, not only in Europe, but in Egypt, Mesopotamia, and East Airica, and they are fully prepared to renew the great struggle, in close and cordial oc-operation with my Allies on every field. I trust that their united efforts will carry the successes already won to a victorious conclusion. I have invited representatives of my Dominions and of my Indian Empire, which have borne so glorious a share in the struggle, to confer with my Ministers on important questions of common in- terest relating to the war. The step 80 taken will, I trust, conduce to the estab- lishment of closer relations between all parts of my Empire GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE Of COMMONS,— You will be asked to make the necessary provision for the effective prosecution oi the war. MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN, The Accomplishment of the task to which I have set my hand will entil ua 6parung demands on the energies and re- sources of all my subjects. I am assured however that my people will respond to every call necessary for the success of our cause with the same indomitable ardour and devotion that have filled me with pride and gratitude since the war began. I therefore confidentially commend to your patriotism the measures which will be laid before you, and I pray that Almighty God may give His blessing to your counsels. IN THE COMMONS. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Wednesday. The competition among members to secure particular seats for the opening day of a new session showed a considerable falling off this morning as compared with former times, and thie was probably due iCintiaued in Nes £ Column)^ J

"GERMANY IS HUNCRY" .——— ———. THE VOSWARTS TELLS AMERICA WHOLE TRUTH Of mum J EXCUSE FOR THE KW POLICY THE HAGUE, Tuesday. Germany cannot give in. Germany is hungry. If America were as hungry as we are she would understand why we act as we do." This is the gist of the leading article in this morning's Vorwarts" commenting on President Wilson's speech. The Socialist journal, 'hioh since the begin- ning of the war has openly defended all the German horrors, not excepting tiie Belgian, Serbian, and Ar- menian cruelties, naturally defends the submarine infamy with the same ,10- qteiice, but, wiule the Pan-German news- papers believe in Tirpitz's gospel because i a destruction is beautiful/' the H Vor- warts J, excuses destruction because it is needed by a starving Germany. This is the first time a German newspaper has been permitted to admit that GeTmany's larder is so tragically empty. The fact thaI- the censors allowed the article to pass shows that Berlin does not hope to fool neutrals or Allies with the ridiculous story that food is abundant in Germany. The Vorwarts writes as follows:— Mr. Wilson does not understand us because he does not know what it is to live ii icy, muddy trenches, because he knows that if he wants to buy cheese, bread, moot. eggs, or milk he only needs to go to the next shop to buy it. We Germans loan do that so longeT beoause England does not allow us. As we must eat to live, we must do anything to achieve that object. Wilson seems to us in the position of a rich landowner, who has no right to give his opinion about the case of a hungry poor d-evil who gets into trouble with the police for trying to secure food. He needs to live." BERLIN NEARLY FOODLESS. I Rome, Tuesday.-Diplomatie informa- tion depicts the economic situation in Ger- ra&ny as developing with great rapidity. Berlin is almost without food., The com- mandants in various garrisons are asking I for reinforcements for their garrisons, as they are unable any longer to guarantee order in any of the big towns.

SWANSEA'S CLEAN SHEET. 1 There were no cases down for hearing at the Swansea Borough Police Court on Wednesday.

MRS. WHEELDON'S SON. The Southampbon police have received information to the effect that William [ Marshall Wheeldcn, tho Derby school teacher and brother-in-law of Alfred Mason, one of the accused tn the oon- spdraey cose, who was arrested last week a. Southampton as a military absentee, and handed over to the authorities, has e&- caped from custody. He had been removed to Salisbury, where he eluded the vigilance of his guards, and is still at large.

TALES FOR BLIND SOLDIERS. The blind men of St. Dunstan's, having adventured all for their country, listen to nothing more eagerly than stories of other people's daring. But the difficulty is to bring the pictures of great doing m far lands to the shuttor«# minds. Miss G. E* Mitton, traveller and novelist, has hit on the happy expedient of re-telling one of her own adventure stories to the sightless soldiers. Told in Ia. manDer which made of it a species of ?mentat cinematograph, her novel of Bur- mese adventure, In the Grip of the Wild Wa," enthralled a soldier audience on Tuesday. It was infinitely pathetic to watch the circle of faces, lit up by absorb- ing interest in adventure told at eeoond hand, which might at one time have been the secret ambition of any man present.

I GERMANS STILL MASSING. Rotterdam, Tuesday .-rhe concentra- tion of German troops <?n the eastern frontier of Holland, the beginning of which a sh6rt time ago attracted much attention in the Entente Press, and have awakened anxiety here, continue. Last ?wec-k also very considerable reinforce- ments arrived in Belgium, concentrating principally at Liege and Namur. Squad- rons of cavalry have also been seen near the Belgian-Dutch frontier, whilst there is great military activity behind the Ger- man lines in West Flanders. The Nieuwe Rotter damsche Courant reports with reference to the strengthen- ing of the German military forces near I Holland's eastern frontier, that according to recent travellers from Cleevo and Kranenburg t here are many thousands of I German soldiers in the frontier places. Many of tho frontier inhabitants have lately packed their most precious posses- sions in order to be able to leave at the first alarm.

1 BOMBS ON BRUCrrooii a I MANY TORPEDO GRAFT STRUCK I BRILLIANT BRITISH RAID. I I Admiralty, Tuesday.—An attack on Bruges Harbour was carried out by Naval aeroplanes on the 2nd instant. Many heavy bombs were dropped on torpedo craft in the harbour, and build- ings in the docks were set on fire. The pilots experienced considerable difficulty owing to the intense cold. Another successful bomb raid was car- ried out on the following night, and bombs were ? .?rve? to f?l Ion the docks and 1: ¡j) line5 All pilots and machines returned safely. [Bruges has been a seaport only since 1907, when the great canal from Zoo- brugge, seven miles away, was completed. The new harbour works and the deep water wharfage, giving accommodation for vessels of large tonnage, make the port an ideal lurking spot for Germany's lighter sea forces. Air raids on Bruges have frequently been reported unofficially. This is the first official announcement of such raids.] < —

200 WOMEN KILLED. I Explosion in German I Dynamite Works. Amsterdam, Tuesday (received Wednes- day).I" -Nouvellc,,q," of Maastricht, states that an explosion took place at 10.30 a.m. on January 27th at the Nobel dynamite factory at Schlebsch Mannfort. The factory was destroyed and 200 bodies, mostly those of women, were recovered the following day from the ruins. The same newspaper also reports that an explosion occurred on Februry 2nd on the Aix La Chapelle-Louvain Railway, between Ton- gres and Glons, in which one person was killed, 25 injured, among Belgians on the "e.Preas Association.

LLANELLY J.P.'s WILL. I Estate of Ex-High Sheriff of Carmarthenshire. 1 Mr. Joseph Williams, J.P., of Caeglas, Llanelly, Carmarthen, timber merchant, a member of the firm of Williams and Davies, Llanelly, ex-High Sheriff of the County of Carmarthen, who died on No- vember 2nd last, aged 71 years, left estate of the gross value of £ 53,255, of whicli < £ 52,810 is net personalty. Probate of his will has been granted to his sons, Dr. Samuel Williams, of Ca-e- glas, and David Williams, of Brigydon, Old-road, Llanelly, timber merchant, and Joeeph Paecoe Williams, of Clyde Bouse, Colshitl-terrace, Uanelly. engineer. The testator left < £ 2,000 4 per cent. B stock of the Alexandra, Newport and South Wales Docks, £ 7,600 Consolidated stock of the Great Western Railway, £7,600 North- Eastern Railway Consolidated stock, 4M .£10 shares in the London and Provincial Bank, and 200 5 per cent. Swansea BBC, Rhondd,a Bay Railway Co. shares in trust for his three daughters, Elizabelh Wil- liams, Annie John, and Mary Hannah Lewis, in equal shares, and the residue of his estate to his sons, David, Ivor, and Joseph Pascoe Williams in equal shares.

J STAGE STARS FILMED. I I Mr. Bernard ,haw has been filmed in an introductory scene of a picture play, in which most of the leaders of the stage, including Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson, Sir George Alexander, Miss Irene Van- brugh, Miss Gladys Cooper. Mr. Gerald du Maurier, Mr. Dion Boucicault, end I .MT. H. B. Irving, are appearing. I

I øUE TO DEGENERATION. I Mr. L. M. Thomas held an inquest at Neath on Tuesday morning concerning the death of Mrs. Sophia Charlacombe, aged 61. of Alfred-street, Neath. The husband, Mr. Isaac Charlacombe, said his wife complained of pains, and half-an- hour later, expired. Dr. Llew. Lewis attributed death to muscular degeneration of the heart, and a verdict was returned accordingly. I

I MILFORD'S V.C. J I Private H. W. Lewis, the Milford Haven V.C., was felicitatu-d at Cardiff on Tues- day, after being decorated by the King at Buckingham Palace. He wa-s greeted at tha station by a reception committee, who accompanied him to the Grand Hotel. Here Mr. W. B. Francis, who presided over the gathering, warmly welcomed the hero, and mentioned the fact that the wounded man whom Private Lewis rescued was a Cardiff officer. The young V.C, who was repeatedly cheered, made a fitting iKksowiodgmoH of his reception.

'FOR GOD'S SAKE' I MESSAGE FROM NEW YORK TO ZIMMERMAN (Admiralty, per Wireless Press.) The following is now-a transmitted from abroad to wireless stations in Germany:— FlIOOn New York to Dr. Zimmerman, Foreign Office, Berlin' For God's sake rescind submarine order. State your terms inatead.Iovds P. Loehner."

GERMAN ATTACKS. I Again Repelled by the French. TO-DAY'S hlU -'OH OFFICIAL. I In Lorraine, after a lively bombard- ment in the region of Ember- Menil V ehey, the Germans at- tacked yesterday, at the elose of I the day, a salient in our line near Ember-lVIenil-Ve^ey. Counter- attacks immediately followed, and the enemy were driven from an adya-nced element, where he had obtained a footing. Our line is is integrally restored. We took some prisoners. In Parroy Forest, to the south of Gramercy and in the Donever sector as well as on the right bank of the Meugfe, we made m I the course of the night several surprise attacks which enabled us to capture some prisoners. In Upper Alsace an attempt by the enemy in the region of Seppo was stopped dead by our fire. J Aviation.—During daytktye yes 1 terday three enemy machines were brought down by our pilots. Some German aeroplanes yesterday towards 11 p.m., I threw several bombs on Dunkirk, causing neither injury to the person nor I any damage to property.

PIRATES At WORK. I I Another Lang Liit of U-Boat ¡' Victims. Lloyd's Agseoncy report that the British steamer ÅJJul is probably sunk. Twelve survivors are on board a sailing vessel. The steamer Saxon Briton, of Grange- mouth, has been sunk by a submarine. The captain and 14 men are landed; two of the crew were killed. [The Saxon Briton was a steel screw steamer of a gross tonnage of 1,337. She was owned by the Kersy, Steanvjup Co., her port of registry being Grange- mouth.] the am ack Euonymous has been punk. The British steamer ?artonfcis has been sunk; two of the crexi lost, the rest saved. ¡ The steam trawler Eesolate has been sunk by submarine; the irew of nine I bave been landed. The barques Lorton and CaHouas were sunk on the afternoon of February 4th. Part of the crew were landed on the morning of the 5th by a Spanish steamer, jj The remainder have also been landed. The British steamer Vestra, and the fishing steamer Adelaide have bean sunk. The steamer Crown Point is reported sunk. Madrid.. T-utsday.-A submarine stopped and sank by means of bombs the Peruvian ship'Lorton. The crew has been landed. Lloyd's Agency reports that the smack Euonymus has been sunk. j The British steam tracer Primrose (031 tons net) has been sunk. The crew were saved. The British steamer Veltri and the fish- ing steamer Adelaode have been sunk. The steamer Crown Point (3,301 tons net) has been reported sunk. [An earlier list of victims will be found id the U-boat campaign news on Page 5.1 MORE SHIPS DISABLED. Lloyd's Honolulu message, dated Mon- j day, says thut nine German vessels at Honolulu had their boilers ruined by fire. and the engines disabled. The officere and crews were a and the vessels are now under guatd. According to the latest information re- ceived at Lloyd's, the following German I vessels are at HonoluluGouverneur, .Taeschkn, Hermes, the sailing vessel Hol- satia, Locksum, Loooginoon, Pommern, Prinz Waldemar, Setas, and Staatssefcre- tar Kraetke.

PARCELS TO THE FRONT. Some misapprehension has arisen in the public mind in regard to the dispatch of 1 parcels to soldiers at the front, as the: result of a paragraph appearing on January 20 to the effect that for a week from that date 00 parcels could be sent via the Forwarding Officer at Southamp-1 ton. That embargo is now removed, but in any case the Post Office route is always open, and goods may be sent with cer- tainty of delivery by that means.

SOLDIERS ENTERTAINED. I Rhyddings Park Hall was crowded on Tuesday evening when about 140 soldiers attended the weekly concert, which was | followed by a supper. Miss To ?wic- opened the programme, and her fine soprano voice was heard to great advan- tage i nthe song Calling Me Home to You." The next item was a song by Master Willie Curran, who delighted tho men with the well-knokn song Till the Boye come home." Miss E. Morgan then > gave a recitation which was well received. The following item wfts a song by 1\1rs. Dan Lewis, who charmed the soldiers with her rendering of Friend of Mine." Mr. A. W. Jones acted as chairman, and Miss Gladys Davies and Mrs. Luther Davies proved efficient accompanists. During supper a vote of thanks was ac- corded to the artistes who contributed to the concert programme* aiao to Dr. and Mrs. Collins Lewis, wao very kindly pro- I vided the supper for the men, and to the ladies who prepared the good things pro- vided. Dr. Collins Lewis, in responding, said that he and his wife were very pleased to see the ball full, and were de- lighted to help on the good work. It im intended to carry on these weekly concerts and suppers as long as funds permit. A concert and supper is being arranged for next Tuesday and the hall is open every week evening for the use of his Majesty's jfOTOMk. j

ITHE POISON PLOT, JUDGE'S INSTRUCTIONS TO CRAND JURY I JURY RETURN- A TRUE BILL I DERBY, Wednesday. I Mr. Justice Row latt opened the Assizes for the hearing of Crown cases at Derby to-day. Since the magisterial proceedings oa Tuesday, the names of the four persons charged with conspiracy to murder had been inserted in the calendar. The indictment was: That they, at the Borough of Derby, between the 26th De- i cember, 116, and the 2'Jth January, 1917, conspired to murder the Right Hon. David Lioyd George, the Right. Hon. Arthur Henderson and others, and did solieit Herbert John Walsh Booth to murder the aforesaid persons. The accused were described as follows:- Alice Wheeldon, married, 51, no occupa- tion. Harriet Ann Wheeldon, 27, teacher. Winnie Mason, 23, teacher, superior edu- cation; and Alfred George Maeon, 24, chemist, superior education. CHARGE TO GRAND JURY. Mr. Justice Rowlatt, in charging the Grand Jury, said the heavy case on the calendar was that of alleged conspiracy Although it was a case of the greatest possible importance, it was not a case of difficulty, either in law or in faet. The offence was that of plotting together of confederacy in the minds of the accused for the purpose alleged. Of course, the offence might be evidenced by proof oi actual communications between the parties. It might also bo evidenced by the acts of the partkd! In this instance there were both classes of evidence. The Grand Jury must bear in mind that when they had once got evidence of a con- spiracy of a common purpose, the acts of cne of the parties in furtherance of a common purpose became evidence against all the parties. lie thought he might per- haps help the Grand Jury upon the evi- dence. It would be aftectation to assume that they did not know something of it already. There were four persons charged, the mother, Mrs. Wheeldon, and two of her daughters, Harriet (or Hetty) living at heme, and Winnie living at Southampton, the wife of the fourth prisoner, Mason. The old woman kept a eecond-hand clothes shop in Derby. Of the two younger I women, Hettie was described as a school- mistress, and Mrs. Mason was so described, j although he dId not know whether she had given up teaching on her marriage. One cannot help pausing," continued his Lord- ship, to express wonder that women j such as these areevealed to be by their correspondence, whether or not S-Jiis .eas«k b3 ultimately made out, should be in a potion to teach the young. Alfred Grge Mason was a qualified chemist. His certificate is amongst the papers, and I he was good enough to act as a lecturer  ,i? chemistry at the Hartley Universityj! College, Southampton." THE MATERIAL FACTS. I The evidence was extremely voluminous; the exhibits were very bulky, and the wit- nesses were numerous. A great deal of th," evidence was in a sense formal, that was t(> gay, it went to proving the delivery of letters and parcels in transit. That part of the case the grand jury eouid fake lightly. The kernel of the case really con- sisted in about three facts. When rhe grand jury had these letters before them they would see that there was axcorres- pondenoe going on, in which each of the four prisoners was engaged, revealing a common purpose, and an intention to take at any rate certain measures. It would be found they were using a code in their correspondence. The second fact was that poison was ob- tained in Southampton, apparently from ?he laboratory at the college. Mason made no secret of it. There were entries in his notebook, and there was an accurate des- cription of its effects He explained those effects to his pupils, and was seen to take some of the poison away in a phial. It was sent to Derby to the care of a neigh- bour of Mrs. Wheeldon, the sender giving directions for use and explaining its deadly nature. It was fetched from the .neighbour by Hetty and given to her I mother. THE CLINCHING FACTOR. I The poison was given by the old woman to a man. who was in fact a detective agent of the Government, but who she believed was to be an executive agent to her. According to the evidence and the instructions which the detective agent ap- peared to accept, the poison was to be used against the Primo Minister and one of his colleagues. If that was 00, it clinched the matter. There were four samples of poison in a parcel sent from Southampton and given to the Govern- ment agent. Two were preparations of strychnine, and two were the American Indians' poison known as curare. Most of them had read about it when they were boys. It would kill in a few seconds. That," proceeded his lordship, is the case. It is a most serious thing to conspire at any time. It is a most serious thing to conspire to murder a Minister of the Crown for a supposed object, It ili at any time a most sinister thing, but at the present moment to conspire to murder the First Minister of the Crown and one of hiB, associates seems to pass beyond the limits of all description which I can apply. It becomes a felon blow attempted 1 against fche safety of our country." When the Grand Jury saw the evidence, and observed the nature of the writing in the correspondence, the levity, the vio- t Ience, and the obecenity of it in places, they might be tempted perhaps for a moment to think that it was all froth and foolishness on the part of misguided and ilight-hearted people. On second thoughts the Grand Jury would not take that view. \1 Things like this should not be breathed, because they never could foresee what action might result from conspiracies ot this kind. He did not think anybody would enter- tain the view that this matter should be I treated with contempt. I The Grand Jury were then dismissed to their duties. The Grand Jury returned a true biH |j I against the four prisoners.

I BARMAIDS BARRED. Glasgow licensing authority has refused to allow barmaids to serve in public- bouses as substitutes for men during the 1 war.

iTO-BAY8 WAR RESUME Leader Office, 4.50 p.m. Count Reventlow's view is that the seizure of German vesseJs by the United States at this moment is a hostile action, and is justified by no legnl reason. It is stated that Mr. Gerard will not leave Germany before Sunday. The loes of a large number of ships is reported to-day, and there has also been loss of life. Neutrals have replied tc the German U-boat Note and to President Wilson's requeet for joint action. There is no fresh news from America, but there are indications that preparations are being made to cope with any emergency. A British Admiralty report savs that Naval aeroplanes carried out a brilliant raid upon Bruges Harbour on the 2nd inst. Germany is hungry! The "Vorwarts" tells America this, and says that if Americana were as hungry as the Ger- mans they would underst nd why they acted in the way they did. The British have taken 1,000 yards of trench in the neighbourhood of Grand- j court.

TO-DAY'S NEWS IN BRIEF I Four youths have escaped from the Horstal Institution, Rochester. A father and son who died on the same day were buried together at Acton. A soldier who had been tv. ice wounded t was fined at Exeter for theft at his billet. £1,000 each to her maid and coachman was bequeathed by the late Countes-s of Roden. An ex-schoolmaster, who had won the D.C.M., was charged at Southampton I with begging. I Lord Crewe ha.s been appointed a mem- be*- of the Scientific and Industrial Re- search Committee. Summonses against a Liverpool cinema licensee for exhibiting indecent film- were on Tuesday dismissed. Newcastle licensing justices have been informed of a grave increase ex drinking among women in the district. Sir Albert Stanley, President of the Board of Trade, i" confined to his house with a slight attack of influenza. To each of 350 wounded soldiers in TViUesden Green hospitals, local trades- men have presented a safety razor. The L.C.C. is bringing b-^ore the Board of Trade the hardships of workmen in cer- tain districts due to increased railway fares. Seven acres of land and a cottage at Gedney, Lincoh'?hire, bought a few years ¡ ag> for JJ400, kave just been sold for < £ 1,000. t a- for X400, Btirdlnf ffi#a^3ian Pre- mier, is appointing a Parliamentary Com- mittee to consider the question of the care f returned soldiers. Cotton workers at Manchester have agreed to their rules being relaxed to en- able youths and girls to work in carri- rooms during war time. City Corporation reports that £ 263,00*1 wiil La required for next half year for the consolidated rate account, an ijicroat-v of a halfpenny in the pound. ( Lieut.-Colonel Harold E. Brassey, Royal t Horse Guards, well-known ixi the hunting field, who was hilled in Praiife. left ¡ estate of the gross value of over tN, ovo Pig's are exceedingly .scarce and dear in I the Midlands, and at Birmingham market on Tuesday porkers and bacon pigs J e- ..net: i 22s. per score highest price I' ever reached. A. fine of £10\). or three mon chr' priaoament, ."i;)0-?d at We.-lminsiei 011 Tuesday on Alfred Mortimer, hai* dresser, of York-street. W'"rt-'Mnst'cr, for selling intoxicating to tidi_er?- without a licence. j Pleading guilty to stealing two taxi- cabs, one of which was taken from outside Scotland Yard, and taxi magnetos, Wil- liam B. Leeks, a motor driver, was at the London Sessions on Tuesday given IS months' imprisonment. Tinfoil fastened with a piece of wire was found on the scales at the shop in High-street, Poplar, of Thcs. C. Cannon, I baker, who was fined X'!5 at Tower Tlnm- lets, on Tuesday, the manageress of the shop being ordered to pay Æ. An Accrington telegram state that Mr. Philip Snowd8n, M.P., wiU speak in sup,¡ port of Mr. Arthur Taylor (Socialist and peace candidRtc) in the Rossenda'"e Divi- sion on Friday. Mr. Ramsay Macdonald, M.P.. has also been sent for. A large num- ber of speakers have arrived to support Sir Henry the candidate.

JOHN BULL'S BUSINESS. I The imports for January amounted to ^890,565,311, against < £ 74,935,741 in the cor- responding month last month, an increase of < £ 15,629,570. Exports were ^46,860.512, against £ 36,757,167, an increase of <=810,103,375.

EXCESS PROFITS TAX. Excess profits tax, estimated by the Chancellor to bring in E86,000,000 in the financial year which ends on April 1 next, has already yielded 2107,067,000. and it is probable that by the close of the year tho total will exceed the estimate by £ 50,000,000.

I LOCAL TRADERS OVERDUE. Lloyd's report that the four following vessels are considered very much overdue: The schooner Baltic, of Dublin, which is reported to have sailed from Cashed, co. Gaiway, for Bowling. Clyde, last Novem- ber The Bayreaulx, of London, reported to have sailed from Cardiff for Montreal last October. rIhe brigantine Broclclf,bv, of Faver- sham, reported to have sailed from Swan- sea for Guernsey last November. And the three-masted schooner Colum- bia, reported to have sailed from Oporto for Laguna, Mexico, last August, j

I FELL FROM THE TRAIN. I On awakening from sleep in a L.B. and S.C. railway train, a Flying Corps sub- altern named Gillespie found the carriage door open and his five-year-old son rniss- ing. The boy was found dead on the line near Honor Oak Park Station, S.E., and at the inquest on Tuesday a verdict of accidental death was returned.

GLAMORGAN MAGISTRACY. I The committee to advise the Lord Lieut- enant of Glamorganshire as to the selec- tion of magistrates recently appointed I Lord Pontypridd, the Right Ron. Wm. Abraham (Mbon). M.P.. the Right Hon. Wm. Brace, M.P., and Mr. Godfrey Clark, M.A. J.P., to see the Lord Chancellor a? to the selection of magistrates for th?  country. To-day members of the deputa- tion saw Lord Findlay. It is understood I that the creation of a new batch of J.P.s for the county was discussed.

I IN THE GAZETTE." Tueooay's H London Gazette contains the following:- I Cadet Cliff G. Jones to be 2nd Lieut. (Jan. 25th), Monmouthshire Territorials." Cadet Jones is the son of Mr. J. Jones, of lorwerth-street, Manselton, and prior to joining the Forces was employed at Messrs. J. S. Brown, Swansea. On the outbreak of war he poined the R.A.M.C., and saw service in Gallipoli, where he was wounded, being invalided home. While in Gallipoli he was mentioned in dispatches by Sir 1. Hamilton. -<

FATAL TRAM COLLISION. A collision between two tramcars in a heavy fog which prevailed at Dudley on Wednesday morning resulted in the deatl, of John Morgan, aged 53, one of the drivers. and severe injuries to the other, One car was full of workpeople, but apar from a severe shaking they escaped injury.

I Mint SHIPS SUNK. t Lloyd's Agrney report* that the eras Euonymotre has been sunk. The Brit: stoam trawler Primrose (S3 tons net) 1 been sunk. The crtcw were saved. 1 British steamer Vestra and the Sshi steamer Adelaode have besn sunk. 1 steamer Crown Point (3,301 tone net) I I also been reported Mnk- CONSPt RACY CASE. The trial has been adjourned until i next Derby TMs is in « formity with lnal procure, bv; > undrestod that between enow ftr ci i next Assizes aplication will be rcsde London for the transference of the a to the Old Baitey .—Exchange. < i 1 l ,1 V- 1 3 i i j lill

iú. a large measure to the severe fog-laden frost which held London in its icy grip. Mr. Theodore Taylor, who crossed to the members, entrance at 7.25, was actually the first legislator to arrive, and he was followed, ten minutes later, by Sir Kin- lock Cook. Shortly afterwards they were joined by Sir Stephen Collins, Sir Norval Helme, Sir Godfrey Baring, Col. Burn, and Mr. Trevelyan, and at 8 o'clock, when the doors were opened. Mr. Shirley Benn and Mr Cowan entered with them. Other arrivals up to 9 o'clock were Mr. George Fober, Mr. Malladi&u, Mr. Cathcart Weson, Col. Peel and Sir Charles Henry. Members continued to straggle in at intervals, and by 11.15 about 60 seats had been ticketed. SEARCHING THE VAULTS. I I During the morning tne customary, search, of the vaults and passages beneath the two Houses of Parliament was made bv a party ot Yeomen of the Guard, police and other officials, but no lurking suspee-ts were discovered, and they were able to report that all was well. The Speaker took the chair at noon, when among those on the crowded Treasury Bench were the Prime Minister, Mr. BonM Law, Mr. Hodge and Mr. I'ling worth. Mr George Lambert and Mr. Walter Boa were the only occupants of the Front Opposition Bench. About!)() I other members weN present. In re?,p..?. to a summons from the Black Rod, mem- bers trooped out to the House of Lords, and on their return the sitting stood auto- matically adjourned until 4 o'clock, As the members cajn? back Mr. Lloyd (George was seen gaily chatting with Mr. Asquith, WU had appajnant!? )omed t?at ? M?-?