County Observer and Monmouthshire Central Advertiser Abergavenny and Raglan Herald Usk and Pontypool Messenger and Chepstow Argus

A TELEPHONE service in Abyssinia has been,installed by Russian electricians, by order of Menelik, the Emperor. Wires connect the palace at Shoa with the offices of all the heads of departments. A MARRIAGE is arranged between the Hon. Gerald Ward, youngest brother of the Earl of Dudley, and Lady Evelyn Crichton, daughter of the Earl of Erne. PRINCESS LOUISE, Marchioness, of Lorne, will dis- tribute the certificates to the Queen's Jubilee Nursea on Wednesday, July 5, at Keasington Palace. AFTroa the launching of the Russian cruiser Pallas, which is expected to take place at St, Petersburg within a month hent, the construction of another aew ironclad of lS.QCjQ, trvag burden, bg begun-

CURRENT SPORT. I The Australians won their cricket match against Leicestershire at Leicester on Saturday in most s decisive fashion. Having a lead of 99 runs on the first innings, they knocked up 177, including 100 not out by Worrall, in their second venture for the loss of only three wickets, then declared, and dis- missed their opponents for the paltry total of 28. They were thus victorious by 248 runs. At Lord's there was a sensational close to the match between Middlesex and Notts. The first innings of the home team closed for 180, or 35 in advance. Notts, in their second venture, Bcored 154. Middlesex wanted only 120 to win, but their defence broke down completely against the bowling of J. Gunn, who took four good wickets in one over, and they were all out in less than 90 minutes for 67. Notts thus won by 52 runs. Essex were smartly beaten by Derbyshire at Leyton. The visitors scored 211 in their second innings, and Essex, with an adverse balance of 192 to wipe off, made only 94, and were defeated by 98. Yorkshire gained a good victory over Warwickshire at Scarborough. Their second innings was closed for 212, which left the Midlanders with 276 to make for victory, but they obtained only 108, and were beaten by 167. Somerset gained, at Taunton, their first victory of the season, beating Lancashire by ten wickets. The Northerners' second innings closed for 249, and the 83 required to win were made by Somerset without loss. At Kennington Oval the match between Surrey and Cambridge University ended in a draw. The Cantabs' first innings was completed for 269, or 30 in advance. Then Surrey, after getting 181 for five wickets in their second venture, declared, and in the time left for play the University had lost six wickets for 78. Another draw took place at Brighton, between Sussex and Oxford University. The Oxonians ran up their second innings total to 369 for nine wickets, in- cluding 106 by Mr. Knox, and then declared. Sussex at the close had scored 134 with four wickets down. The final tie in the Parliamentary golfing handicap was won at Sandwich on Saturday by Mr. A. J. Bobertson, of the Press Gallery, in which he repre- sents the Times. During last week a polo competition took place at Hurlingham for the Champion Cup. Out of five entries, the final round was left to Rugby and the Students, and a fine game on Saturday afternoon was witnessed by the Duke and Duchess of York and a distinguised compauy. At half-time the score stood "two all, but thence better com- bination and ponies told the inevitable tale, Eugby winning by fire goals to three. Sides: Rugby—Mr. W. Jones, Mr. G. A. Miller, Mr. E. JD, Miller, and Mr. W. J. Drybrough (back); Students—Mr. C. Nickalls, Mr. M. Nickalls, Captain De Lisle, and Mr. P. Nickalls (back). The game. that followed was between Cranley Gardens and the World. In this the latter triumphed by six goals to four. Sides: Cranley Gardens-Mr. F. Hargreaves, Mr. Talbot Rice, Mr. F. M. Freake, and Mr. J. Gouldsmith (back); the World—Mr. G. Heseltine, Mr. F. Belville, Mr. L. McCreery, and Mr. W. Buck- master (back). The meeting of the representatives of Oxford and Cambridge and the pick of the athletes from Yale and Harvard Universities, which will be held in London on July 22, is being looked forward to wit'i considerable interest. Appended is the official lis of English representatives: 100 Yards.—C. R. Thomas, Jesus (Oxford), and A. E. Hind, Trinity Hall (Cambridge). Quarter Mile.—A. M. Hollins, Hertford (Oxford), and C. J. Davison, Sidney (Cambridge). Half Mile.—H. E. Graham, Jesus (Cambridge), and C. F. W. Struben, University (Oxford). Hurdles.—W. G. P. TOmlinson, Trinity Hall (Cambridge), and H. R. Parkes, Christ Church (Oxford). High Jump.—H. S. Adair, Oriel (Oxford), and E. V. J. Brooke, Magdalen (Oxford). Long Jump.—G. C. Vassall, Oriel (Oxford), and L. R. O. Bevan, Trinity Hall (Cambridge). Hammer.—J. D. Greenshields, Oriel (Oxford), and L. T. T. Baines, Trinity Hall (Cambridge). Mile Raoe.-A. Hunter, Trinity (Cambridge), A, L. Danson, Balliol (Oxford), J. M. Fremantle, Hertford (Oxford), and S. P. Cockerell, Trinity (Cambridge). Three Miles.—H. W. Workman, Pembroke (Cam- bridge), A. R. G. Wilberforce, Christchurch (Oxford), and W. Winterbotham, King's (Cam- bridge). Reserve Man.-IB.-R. Arnold, Magdalen (Oxford). The team was selected by Mr. C. N. Jackson treasurer of the O.U.A.C., Mr. Yassall, acting presi- dent of the O.U.A.C., the Rev. J. H. Gray, treasurer of the C.U.A.C., and Mr. A. Hunter, president of the C.U.A.C. The men will go into strict training at once, Tunbridge Wells being the headquarters. The Englishmen will be under the supervision of Mr. C. D. Jackson during their training, and the Yale and Harvard representatives will have the services of a professional trainer. The Prince of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of York will, it is hoped, be present at the contests on July 22. The English Rugby football team on Saturday played an All Australian Fifteen at Sydney. The latter won by 13 points to three. The London Athletic Club held a most successful meeting at Stamford-bridge on Saturday, but the attendance was very small. The feature of the racing was the success of C. Bennett in a Mile and a Halt Race, in which he beat the previous record of Sid Thomas, made in May, 1893. 2 3-5seca. Appended sare results: 880 Yards Challenge Cup Race.— W. E. Lufyens (holder), 1; E. S. Ward, 2; W. W. Marshall, 3, Won 'by 20yd. Time Imin. 57 2-5sec. 100 Yards Challenge Cup Eace.—C. H. Jupp ? (holder), 1; F. L. Stephenson, 2; S. A. Neave, 3. Won easily by 2|yd. Time, lO^sec. 120 Yards Hurdles Challenge Cup.—C. W. Turner, 1; W. M. Fletcher (holder), 2; W. F. Owbley, 3. "Won by a foot, the holder stumblin-g at the ninth hurdle. Time, 16 3-5sec. 100 Yards Open Handicap. Final: F. S. Massey, late Tonbridge School, 3§, 1; C. H. Jupp, L.A.C., scratch, 2; W. Paul Jones, L.A.C., 7|, 3; W. T. J. Hughes, Finchley H., Si, 4. Won by lyd., fthe others finishing in a cluster, and being placed as -written. Time, 10 1-5see. 11 Mile Handicap (record, 6min. 63 3-5sec., by :S. Thomas, May 13, 1893).—C. Bennett. Finchley H., scratch, 1; A. E. Hutchings, Bexhill A.C., (60, 2: A. S. Maples, S.L.H., 75, 3. Seven ran. A fine finish between Bennett and Hutchings ended in favour of the scratch man by 2yds., in the record time of 6min. 51 sec. Throwing the Hammer.—C. L. Graham, L.A.C., 108ft., 1; W. Lawrence, L.A.C., 101ft. 4in., 2. P"ttmg the Weight.—N. S. A. Harrison, L.A.C., •37ft. 9|in., l; A. J. McCutcheon, London Highland -A.C., 35ft. 1 Jin., 2. 6 High Jump.—C. E. H. Leggatt, L.A.C., 5ft. 8in., 1; N. S. A. Harrison, L.A.C., 5ft. 7in 2' R 'Williams, L.A.C., 5ft. 6in., 8. 120 Yards Hurdles Handicap.—Final heat: C. E. JEt. Leggatt, L.A.C., owes 8ya„ 1; W. F. Owslev L.A.C., owes 5, 2 C. W. Turner, L.A.C., ow:s 9, 3! Won by inches only. Time, 18sec. One Mile Handicap.—S. W. F. Dixon, L.A.C., 165,1; E. H. R. Redfearn, Finchley H., 75, 2; L. Indermaur, L.A.C., 80, 3; H. E. Graham, C.U.A.C., 25, 4. Twenty-two ran. Graham led at the third lap, but he was repassed by Dixon and others, and the limit man won by eight yards; ten between second and third. Time, 4min. 26 4-5sec. Quarter-Mile Handicap.—Final: H. R. Baker, L.A.C., 12,1; C. D. Rees, Blackheath H., 13, 2; W. Paul Jones, L.A.C., 8, 3. Six ran. Fine race ended in favour of Baker by a foot; others close up. Time, 52 l-5sec. ani*ual Scottish championship athletic com- petition was held on Saturday last at Hampden-park, wiasgow, before a fair muster of spectators. The 100 yards went to W. E. Callender, of Watson's College, who defeated J. B. Auld, Ayr F. C., by itja. in Usee. Callender also secured the 220 three yards in 24sec. W. H. • University, won the quarter-mile ,n 52isec R. Halkett, Finchley Harriers, finish- es rt w°/ar?8>hind- The half-mile went to a.po[l^ A.C., who defeated W. Fitzherbert, Cambridge University by 10yds. in 2mm. 0 4-5sec., ana the YVutson.an !so finished first in the mile, beating J. C. MacDo; id, Stewart's College, by three yards in 4min. 38 The fovu miles went to J. Paterson, Watson's College, who won by 20 yards from A. R. Gibb, Watson's College, in 21min. 33 2-5sec. H. N. Fletcher, Edinburgh Uni- versity, won the hurdles in 16 4-5sec. J. B. Milne, Dundee Gymnastic A.C., the high jump with 5ft. 9in., H. Barr, Clydesdale Harriers, the broad jump with 22ft. Olin.; W. N. Mclnnes, Edinburgh University, the weight with 40ft. 71-in. and also the hammer with 112ft. 2!in. 2 The Australian cricketers on Monday oegan at Darby a match with Derbyshire, who batted first, but were all disposed of for 123, while the colonists, when time was called after the first day's play, had got 203 with only two wickets down, of which Trumble's share was exactly 100 runs.—At Ken- nington Oval, Surrey on Monday encountered Sussex. The visitors batted first, but the only batsman on the side who met with any success was Ranjitsinhji, and they were all disposed of for 128. Surrey, when play ceased for the day, had scored 188 with four wickets down. Abel completed his 1000 runs for the season, and Richardson bowled in ex- tremely good form.—Lancashire, going in against Yorkshire at Sheffield on Monday made 203, but of these 126 were scored by Mr. MacLaren, the other batsmen only contributing 72 among them. York- shire, in the time left for play on the first day, made 61 runs at the cost of two wickets.—Cambridge Uni- versity took first innings against M.C.C. and Ground at Lord's on Monday, and compiled the excellent total of 390, towards which S. H. Day contributed 138. The Club scored 98 for the loss of two ivickets.-Somerset at Gloucester on Monday ran up a heavy score against Gloucester, at the close of the first day's play having totalled 471 for the loss of nine wickets. Towards this H. T. Stanley hit 127 and Robson 93. Kent gained a slight advantage "on Monday at Trent-bridge over Notts, for they scored 193 and then disposed of six of the home batsmen for 92 runs. Essex took first innings against Hampshire on Monday at Southampton, and scored 271, a level display of batting being given. The home county replied with 28 without losing a wicket before night- fall. At the Crystal Palace the feature of the day's play on Monday was a fine bowling performance by Dr. W. G. Grace, whose eleven are opposing Oxford University. Going on after luncheon, he took five wickets for only 12 runs. The University scored 178 runs, and the scratch team replied with 101 for the loss of fourwickets before the close of the first day's display. There was some heavy scoring at Kern ngton Ovai on Tuesday. Surrey completed their itrst innings against Sussex for 457, which gave them the long lead of 329 runs; but Sussex, in their second venture, had at the close of play on Tuesday night wiped off 233 for the lost of only one wicket, Ranjit- sinhji being hot out 109 and Mr. Brann not out 96. At Lord's, M.C.C. finished their first innings against Cambridge University for 278, or 112 behind. In their second essay the University were dismissed for 206, and the club, when play ceased on the second day had scored 62 without loss. The Yorkshire bat ti ng collapsed against the Lancashire attack at Sheffield, and their first innings closed for only 115. Lanca- shire's second venture was completed for 157, and the Yorkshiremen, with 244 to make to win, had, at the call of time on Tuesday night, lost one wicket for 19 runs. Notts brought up theii first innings total against Kent, at Nottingham, to 115, or 78 behind. Kent, in their second innings, did brilliantly, and their score at the close of Tuesday's play was 411 for only two wickets down, Mr. Mason being not out 181 and A. Hearne not out 162. Somerset raised their total against Gloucestershire, at Gloucester, to 476, and the home team replied with 308, of which Wrathall made 102. Following on, Gloucestershire, in the short time left for play on Tuesday night, obtained 30 with one wicket down. At Southampton, Hampshire made 266, or five behind, in their first innings against Essex and the visitors, at the close of the second day's play, had lost four wickets in their second venture for 92. The Australians, at Derby, punished the Derbyshire bowling very severely, and put together the big score of 533, Trumble, Noble, and Darling all contributing "centuries." Derbyshire, when play ceased on Tues- day night, had lost two wickets in their second venture for 20 runs. The Clifton College lad, A. E. J. Collins, who had, up to Monday compiled the unprecedented score of 598 not out in the House match, Clarke's House v. North Town, resumed his innings at Clifton on Tues- day afternoon, for the fourth day, there being nine wickets down for 804. Collins reached 600 at the first stroke, and was loudly cheered. Giving little heed to the applause, he continued to bat freely, and had made 30 in 25 minutes when Redfern, his partner, was caught at point, and the Clarke's Honse innings closed for 833, Collins carrying out his bat for a total of 628. He was at the wickets in all ten minutes short of seven hours. He only gave four chances, two of which were rather difficult catches. His hits were a 6, three 5's, 30 4's, 34 3's, and 14fi 2's. Derbyshire succumbed easily to the Cornstais attack on Wednesday, the margin of victory to the visitors being an innings and 249 runs. This is the team that beat Essex, and Essex trounced the Australians! The Premier Club tried very hard on Wednesday to stave off defeat by the Light Blues, and ultimately succeeded, winning the match by two wickets. Francis Ford's invaluable contribution of 74 at a critical time for M.C.C., and the 54 subscribed by Pilkington, were worthy of praise under the circum- stances. So as to lose no chances of winning the game with Notts, Mr. Mason on Wednesday declared the Kent innings closed without addition to the overnight score; and the Lacemen began their second heavy task badly, as both A. O. Jones and the elder Gunn were taken off Bradley with the Notts total at three. Afterwards Shrewsbury defended the position with the utmost care, and the Notts score was 44 for three after a period of tedious 'play. On Wednesday Prince Ranjitsinhji increased his score against Surrey to 197, and Brann his to 157 before they were dismissed; and some time after lunch the visitors' second innings total had reached 443 for 6. Mr. Perrin passed his century on Wednesday for Essex against Hants, and went on until his score stood at 168, not out, when the Essex captain de- clared his innings with the total at 305. Hampshire got 32 without loss, when rain intervened. Mr. C. L. Townsend was not disposed of at Gloucester on Wednesday until he had reached a score of 114, and the home team's second innings stood at 298 for nine wickets later on. No start could be made in play at Sheffield on Wednesday until lunch time in the Lancashire v. Yorkshire match, because of heavy rain which came on during the morning. Yorkshire had got to 101 for four by four o'clock. The Dark Blues declared against Dr. Grace's team at the Crystal Palace on Wednesday, when their second innings score had reached 421, and gave the rather scratch team got together by the champion the heavy task of obtaining 402 to win or the alterna- tive of either losing or saving the game. Later, the Palace Eleven's score was 117 for three.

THE new Australian baronet, Uhiet Justice Way. was a lad in North Devon in 1850 when his father, a Bible Christian minister, decided to go out to South Australia. His mother, however, was seriously con- cerned when the rev. gentleman indicated his inten- tion. Her one thought was that in a comparatively unknown colony her two sons might not have such opportunities in life as in the country of their birth. Little did she dream that under the Southern Cross one of her sons would be Chief Justice and the other one of the leading physicians of the colony in which lhpir lot was to be cast. MAJOK-GEN. SIR GEORGE WOLSELV, the brother of the Commander-in-Chief, will shortly receive a step in rank. Sir George, whose service dates back to 1857, fought in the latter part of the Indian Mutiny, and was engaged in all the minor affairs in the Shahabad district. In the Afghan war he acted as Assistant Adjutant General with the Candabat field force in the Egyptian war of 1882 and in the Nile expedition of 1884 he held the post of Assistant Adjutant-General with headquarters; in the Burmese expeditions of 1887 and 1889-91 he had command of a brigade; and during the operations in the Wuntho territory in 1891 he was in command of the troops. Sir George has been several times mentioned in dispatches, and has also received the thanks of the Government of India.

I IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. I HOUSE OF LORDS. June 26. I LONDON GOYERMMEKT,—JFO ALDERWOMEIF. The London Government Bill was considered in committee. Lord Dunraven moved, on Clause 2, an amendment providing that no woman should be eligible for the office of an alderman or a coun- cillor in the new borough councils constituted by the bill. He thought that if the clause as it stood became law the principle which if embodied must eventually and logically be extended to all the municipal councils in the country; and he contended that a subject of such gravity ought to have been submitted to Parliament in the shape of a separate bill or resolution. No doubt a section of the Parish Councils Bill of 1894 made women eligible as members of the London vestries, but the House of Commons when it passed that clause had not the slightest idea as to what its effect would be. Conse- quently there was no sound reason for saying that if his amendment were carried any woman would be prevented from enjoying a right or privilege which Parliament ever intended her to enjoy. Lord Salis- bury pointed out that this clause came up to them with the sanction of the House of Commons, and that it simply gave to women pre- cisely the same access to the new councils which they had at present to the London vestries. The change made by the bill was only a change of area and jurisdiction, and a change of name. Because of the change of name they were now asked to subject women to a Parliamentary con- demnation without any proof being adduced that they bad been unworthy of the trust which was re- posed in them. For so violent a proceeding some cause ought to be shown, and it was not enough to say that a new name had been given to the body to which they belonged. The new councils would have to consider the housing of the working classes, and women were peculiarly fitted to deal with this important question. He was aware that in this matter he was opposed by many of those with whom he generally acted, but for his own part he could not refuse to vote for a clause which would help for- ward in some degree a high and a noble cause which was the cause of right, of justice, and of true philan- thropy. The Lord Chancellor thought the real ques- tion at issue was whether, for all purposes and in respect of all political power, the disqualification of sex was to be abolished. The bill was but a step the direction of conferring the Parliamentary franchise, and to this he was altogether opposed. Therefore he felt constrained to vote against his noble friend, the Prime Minister for the first time since he had had the honour to occupy a seat in that House. Lord Kim- berley considered that it would be contrary to prac- tice and to ordinary justice to take away from women a privilege which they now possessed, as no allega- tion was made that they had abused the trust reposed in them. In his opinion no one who voted in favour of the second clause as it stood would commit him- self in the slightest degree to conferring the Parlia- mentary franchise on women. The Duke of Devonshire held that if the clause was passed it would be made the basis of a demand for the exten- sion of similar privileges to women in all the municipalities in the kingdom. If women were allowed to represent the people in town councils the claim would soon be made that they were equally capable of representing the people in Parliament. So large a question as was involved in the clause ought not to be decided incidentally in a measure of this character but should be brought forward in a separate b?1]. The Archbishop of York and Lord Londonderry spoke in favour of the retention of the clause; and the Duke of Northumberland, in sup- porting the amendment, expressed his opinion that ther other House ought to have another opportunity of considering the question. On a division the amendment was carried by 182 votes against 68— majority of 114. The announcement of the numbers was received with loud cheers. Some amendments of minor importance having been disposed of, Lord Tweedmouth moved an amendment to Clause 6 in order to restrict the powei of the new Councils, in promoting bills in Parlia- ment, to matters affecting their own districts. The Duke of Devonshire was unable to accept the pro- posal. On a division the amendment was negatived by 59 votes against 21. The consideration of the re- maining clauses was adjourned. The Elementary Education (Defective and Epil- eptic Children) Bill passed through Committee. HOUSE OF COMMONS. BOARD OF EDUCATION BILL. Sir J. Gorst moved the second reading of the Board of Education Bill, which had come down from the House of Lords, and enumerated its leading provi- sions, which, he said were familiar to hon. members. The object of the bill was to give statutory sanc- tion to a reconstruction of the Department of State which was chiefly concerned with the I education of the people in England and Wales. Having mentioned the functions which the exist- ing Education Department exercised, he went on to explain that the Committee of Council on Educa- tion had no control over secondary education and that the bill would enable the Government to create a department upon which powers relating to such education might be conferred. To the new Board of Education the powers and functions of the Com- mittee of Council were to be transferred, as also the administrative, as distinguished from the quasi-judicial, functions of the Charity Com- missioners. He next described the nature of the consultative committee which the President of the Board was to be empowered to ap- point. Referring to the proposal that there should be a register of teachers qualified to in- struct in subjects higher than those which were taught in elementary schools, he said that a demand had been made for a teachers' register for Scotland and Ireland, but that this demand could not be con- ceded in connection with this bill. Of course, how- evei, Scotch and Irish teachers could be inscribed on the register for England and Wales. This bill, he said in conclusion, was not a secondary education bill, but a measure which would prepare the way for such a bill. Mr. Channing argued that the bill was defective because it did not provide for the creation of elec- tive or representative local authorities for educa- tional purposes. Mr. Jebb, who approyed heartily of the proposal to create a single central educational authority, re- minded Mr. Channing that it had been made clear in the House of Lords that the creation of local autho- rities to deal with secondary education was to follow the institution of the central authority at no distant date. He referred to the fear entertained in some quarters lest the whole control of secondary education should pass under the bill to educational experts, and advanced reasons for holding that there was no ground for such a supposition. He also insisted on the importance of the bill as affecting the commercial and technical education of the people. Sir W. Anson, in a maiden speech, said he re- garded the bill as an important one, and he hoped it would prove the first step towards a complete har- monising of our system of secondary education. With regard to the co-operation of local authorities he maintained that it was right to defer the settle- ment of that question until the central authority should have been established, and while approving of the contemplated registration of teachers he ex- pressed the opinion that ultimately there must be an examination test. Mr. Bryce complained that the measure was vague, nebulous, and even obscure, and that it was in the nature of a blank cheque which was to be filled up by the Education Department. In one respect, how- ever, he commended the course which the Govern- ment had taken. In framing their measure they had refrained from raising controversial questions, and he trusted that they would discountenance any attempt to introduce into its clauses amendments of an ecclesiastical character, would be certain to arouse opposition. The actual provisions of the measure, which he analysed seriatim,, were, he thought, rather disappointing. Mr. Grant Lawson, one of the Charity Commis- sioners, offered no opposition to the proposed trans- ference of the administrative portion of the Commis- sioners' duties in connection with education; Mr. Birrell agreed with Mr. Bryce that the measure was open to the charge of vagueness, and Lord Cran- borne, while he supported the bill generally, was not satisfied with the provisions affecting the Charity Commissioners, for their effect would be to put the administration of Church of England endowments into the hands of a Minister who might be a par- tisan. The debate was continued by Mr. Stevenson,, Colonel Lockwood, Mr, Hobhouse, Sir A. Rollit, Mr. Cecil, Lord E. Fitzmaurice, and other members, none of whom threatened the bill as a whole with any opposition. Mr. Balfour appealed to the House to UQut to the second reading without further debate, but Sir H. Fowler thought some reply ought to be made by Sir J. Gorst before the motion was agreed to, Sir J. Gorst accordingly answered some of the criticisms to which the oill had been subjected, and the second reading was then agreed to. Sir J. Gorst moved that the bill be referred to the Standing Committee on Law, but Mr. Bryce and other members took exception to this proposal. Mr. Balfour expressed the opinion that unless the bill went to a Grand Committee its chance of passing would be seriously jeopardised. The motion was carried on a division by 182 votes against 90. I TELEPIIONE BILL. On the resumption of the debate on the motion to send the Telephone Bill to the Standing Committee on Trade, Mr. Hanbury described the arrangements which he had made with the National Telephone Company. He stated that he had agreed that their underground wayleaves should be secured to the company, aud as a consideration for this the company would come under control and would be prohibited from giving any preferences whatever. Then, as it was proposed to give to new competing companies and corporations a substantial term of 20 or 25 years, the Telephone Company's licence would be extended for a similar period in places where there was fresh competition. The company would, of course, come under control in this case also, and they would not be able to set up exchanges in any new area. These arrangements 1e thought satisfactory. Mr. Cohen moved that the bill be referred to a Select Committee, and the subject was under consideration till midnight, when the debate stood adiourned I HOUSE OF LORDS.—Jem 27. I LONDON GOVERNMENT BILL. The London Government Bill was again considered in Committee. Lord Monkswell moved to amend lause 8 by inserting a sub-section to the effect that every borough council should appoint a finance com- mittee for regulating and controlling the finance of the council, and that no order for payment of any sum should be made by a borough council except in pursuance of a resolution of the council passed on the recommendation of the finance com- mittee. The Duke of Devonshire resisted the amendment on the ground that it would impose on the new municipal bodies in London a restriction which had not been found necessary in the case of provincial councils. Lord Kimberley, Lord Ripon, Lord Thring, and Lord Spencer spoke in support of the amendment, which was eventually carried, on a division, by 65 votes against 50. Lord Tweedmouth moved, on Clause 14, an amendment providing that the London County Council should be entitled to make representations to the Commissioners and to the Committee of the Privy Council in respect to any of the matters referred to them by this Act, and should be entitled to be heard in support of such re- presentations. Lord James of Hereford, on behalf of the Government, opposed the amendment, which was negatived by 81 to 24. The Duke of Westminster rose to move to amend Clause 17 by inserting a proviso that nothing in this Act should operate to admit of the severance of the hamlet of Knightsbridge, or any pUrt thereof, from the parish of St. Margaret's, or the borough of West- minster. At the request of the Duke of Devonshire the amendment was postponed. Lord Tweed- mouth moved an amendment to Clause 24 empowering the London County Council to divide any borough in London, or any ward, into polling districts for the purposes of county, borough, or other local elections. Lord James of Hereford opposed the amendment, which, after some discussion, was negatived on a division by 31 to 16. The remaining clauses, with some modifi- cations introduced on the motion of the Duke of Devonshire were agreed to, and the consideration of the questions arising on the schedules was post- poned to the report stage at the suggestion of Lord Tweedmouth. HOUSE OF COMMONS. I TITHE RENT CHARGES. I The rejection of the Tithe Rent-charge (Rates) Bill was moved by Mr. Asquith, who contended that the Government had no mandate to appropriate a portion of the general tax revenue of the country for the purpose of reducing the amount of rates payable by the clergy of the Established Church. He asked why this bill had been sprung upon the House in the last days of June, when the end of the session was approaching. The only apparent explanation was that the Royal Compassion on Local Taxation had issued an interim report on the subject of clerical rates, but this document was, in his opinion, one of the most superficial and misleading excursions into the domain of legal history that had ever been published. Having given his reasons for holding this view he asserted that no com- petent student of history and law ever entertained any doubt as to the liability of the clergy to pay rates in respect of the tithes attached to their benefices. Every clergyman in the country had accepted his benefice with a perfect knowledge that his revenue from tithe rent-charge was liable to be diminished either if the rent-charge failed or the rates rose during his incumbency. As a matter of fact, the rates now falling upon the tithe rent charge were considerably lower than they were at the date of the commutation. He recognised and deplored the fact that among the ruling clergy there was much poverty which was, he held, a reproach and a prejudice to the Church of England. What, he asked, would this bill do to mitigate that poverty? Eighty-seven thousand pounds would be distributed among 11,000 clergymen, giving an average of £ 8 per head. But the bulk of the money would go to those who paid most rates and had the largest incomes, and it was idle to pretend that any substantial relief would be given to the needy parsons. The only real grievance of those who paid rates on tithe rent-charge was that other forms of property were under-assessed; but this grievance the bill did nothing to remedy. Dealing with the proposal that provision should be made for the purposes of the bill out of the local taxation accounts, he characterised the arguments of the President of the Board of Agriculture in support of that policy as ingenious sophistries, and said that the Government were depriving local authorities of funds to which they bad a statutory title. Every penny of the 987,000 which the clergy were to have would come out of the pockets of the taxpayers, and would be withdrawn from a fund which ought to go in relief of local taxation. The taxpayer, in other words, paid the dole, and the ratepayer lost it. The bill, stripped of all disguise, was, as the leader of the- Opposition had well said, a measure for the re-en- dowment of the Church of England out of the taxes. Was this policy likely to promote the cause which those who were concerned in defending the principle S* establishment had at heart? He held that it was e duty of the members of the Church, which was the richest religious communion in the world, to relieve the poverty of their own clergy, and that they ought not to insist upon legislation which sought to remedy suffering in an unjust manner. Mr. Long, who said he was disappointed with the brilliant speech of Mr. Asquith, because it contained nothing that was new, referred at the outset of his remarks to the interim report of the Commissioners, and pointed out that the general proposition that tithes were unduly rated and ought to be relieved had been subscribed to by Sir John Hibbert, who not long ago was a member of a Liberal Administration. Dealing with the argu- ment that tithes had always been rated, he contended that it had no force if the incidence of the burden had become unjust, as, he maintained, it had. As to the contention that the tithe-receiving clergy suffered no hardship because the amount of the rates which they had to pay was expressly allowed for when the tithes were commuted, he asserted that it was a fallacy to suppose that in 1836 the owner of tithe rent-cnarge was given a sum in respect of the rates. He denied that the object of the bill was to give charitable relief to the clergy, and, answering the charge of illiberality which had been made against the members of the Church, he cited statistics which showed that large donations were made for ecclesiastical purposes by the laity. He admitted Mr. Asquith's statement as to the fall in the rates 'since 1836, but held that that fact was not a reason for refusing to relieve clerical tithe-owners from an unjust burden. He justified the proposal to provide the necessary money out of the Local Taxa- tion Fund, saying that this would not be the first time that Parliament had made a demand upon it, and that if the money were taken from national sources Scotland and Ireland would be made to contribute towards relief which was to be distributed in England only. No attempt having been made to deny tne existence of this grievance he submitted that Parliament ought not to refuse to remedy it. The bill was not introduced as an aot of charity, but as a measure for the removal of an injustice of long standing. That this relief was not intended as a charitable) dole was Droved by the fact that clergy- men who were well off would benefit 81 well as those who were poor. Mr. Birrell condemned the bill, which he regarded as inopportune, unfair, and partial, and, replying to the argument that clergymen ought to be assisted because they were the only professional men who were rated in respect of their incomes, he ridiculed the notion that clergymen were professional men in the sense in which doctors and lawyers were. Mr. Cripps dwelt on the injustice of the present system of rating the incomes of the clergy, and Mr. S. Evans and Sir F. Milner having spoken against and iri, favour of the bill respectively, Mr. G. Whiteley, whose remarks were frequently cheered by the Opposition, expressed the strongest disapproval of the proposals of the Government, whom be accused of having failed to redeem the pledges made by the Unionist party at the general election. The bill, he be- lieved, would excite religious animosities and jealousies, and it appeared to be based on the principle of the spoils to the victors." The Government were not treating fairly the borough members who supported them, and in consequence it would be difficult for the representatives of boroughs to face their con- stituents. The measure was fraught with injustice, and so strongly did he disapprove of it and of other legislation initiated by the Government that he feared the only course for him to take would be to resign his seat. The debate was continued by Captain Pretyman, Mr. Loyd, Mr. Griffith Boscawen, and Lord E. Manners on the Ministerial side of the House, and on the other side by Mr. Billson, Mr. Stuart, Mr. Alfred Thomas, Lord E. Fitzmaurice, and Mr. Hal- dane, who held that there was no injustice in the system of rating to which the bill related. The debate was adjourned shortly before mid- night on the motion of Mr. Courtney.

I WELSH POETS' SUPREMACY. I A high compliment to the poetical genius of Wale, is paid in the 15th report of the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts—just issued. The com- mission finds that the poems that may claim to rank as literature of a high quality deal, as a rule, either with the human affection or with aspects of nature. In love and death the Welsh poet is often supreme, and his love and observations of nature were as keen in the 14th century as those of Byron, Shelly, and Wordsworth in the 19ih. Nothing could be hand- somer in the way of praise. But the commissioners have a!so found that there is no Welsh drama, and t3,af, the jingling shackles of the Welsh metres hay. hitherto proved inimical to the production of any- thing requiring sustained effort.

I BRITISH WARSHIP ASHORE. I News received at Plymouth on Tuesday night from Sydney states that her Majesty's ship Pylades, which left several weeks ago to relieve the Royalist, on the Australian station, is ashore on the North-West rewf

EAST EDINBURGH ELECTION. The result of the election to nil the vacancy in the Parliamentary representation of East Edinburgh caused by the death of Mr. R. Wallace (L.) was an. nounced soon after eleven o'clock on Friday night of last week. The figures were: Mr. G. M'Crae (L.) 4P91 Mr. H. G. Younger (C.) 2961 Liberal majority 1930 At the last three elections the votes recorded bave been: Liberal. Conservative. Majority. 1886. 3694 2253 L. 1441 1892 3963 2803 L. 1160 1895. 3499 3050 L. 449 Mr. G. M'Crae, the new member for East Edin' burgh, is an enterprising Edinburgh merchant, th« Treasurer was well known by repute to everj elector and personally to a large number of them He is a man of great force of character, a gooc speaker, and, as a municipal financier and reformer he has done good work for the City. He has been ? member of the Town Council for 10 years, and it still on the right side of 40. He came to the front almost at once in the Town Council, and is universall3 recognised as the best Edinburgh treasurer since Duncan McLaren.

AFFAIRS IN FRANCE. I PRESIDENTIAL CIRCULAR. I On Saturday M. Waldeck-Rousseau issued a circular to all the prefects stating that the Ministry had undertaken the task of defending the Republic, and that this would suffice to indicate the line of conduct the prefects must pursue. General de Galliffet also issued a letter to the Military Governors of Paris and Lyons and to all corps commanders, intimating that they were personally responsible to him for all that happened in their respective commands, and adding that he counted on them as they could count on him. General de Galliffet has changed the com- mands of General Hartschmidt, General Roget, Colonel de Saxc6, and Colonel de Coubertin. Accord- ing to a report in the Paris Journal, the Minister of War has declared to an interviewer that he has no intention of disturbing Generals Zurlinden, de Bois- deffre, and de Pellieux, and that his personal senti- ment has not changed since in April he wrote to the Débats advocating a policy of oblivion with regard to the officers implicated in the anti-Drevfus intrigues. VOTES OF CONFIDENCE. I A Ministerial declaration was read on Monday in the Senate by M. Monis and in the Chamber by M. Waldeck-Rousseau. It stated that the mission of the new Cabinet was defined in the resolution of the Chamber of June 12, and was that of defending with energy Republican institutions and ensuring public order. In the Senate a motion virtually of confi- dence in the Government was carried by 157 to 25 votes. In the Chamber there was a very stormy and disorderly debate. The Premier, M. de Lanessan, and General de Galliffet were furiously denounced by Socialist and Bonlangist orators, and M. Waldeck- Rousseau's speech in justification of the formation of the Ministry anq of his selection of his colleagues was incessantly interrupted but, after priority had been refused to several orders of the day which he refused to accept, a motion approving of the Minis- terial declarations was carried by 263 to 237 votes— a majority of 26, which, however, the Times Paris correspondent describes as decisive. The Italian General Giletta di San Giuseppe was tried at Nice on Monday for espionage, found guilty, and sen- tenced to five years' imprisonment and a fine of 50QQt

FOUR THOUSAND POUNDS FOR THE LOSS OF A LEG. In Dublin, on Tuesday, a special jury awarded Mr. Brenheim, wine merchant, carrying on business in London and Bordeaux, £ 4000 damages against the the Dublin Hotel Metropole Company for having by the negligence of their servants sustained injuries which resulted in the loss of a leg. In March -last plaintiff was staying at the Hotel Metropole in Sackville-street, and when about to go to bed a porter of the hotel said he could go to his bedroom by the elevator. The porter opened a door and told plaintiff to step in, but the elevator was not there, and plaintiff fell down the shoot of the cellar. He was severely injured, and amputation of a leg was necessary. The Lord Chief Justice of Ireland said he approved the verdict, although he would have been inclined to give a little more him- self.

THE most costly Parliament of Europe is that of France. The Senate and Chamber of Deputies eat up annually £ 300,000. The same item for the other chief European nations is as follows: Spain, £ 89,200; Italy, £ 86,000; Austria, 952,000 -1 Great, Britain, £ 51,920. THE Savings Bank in Brussels has recently adopted a process of sterilizing all bank-notes which pass through its hands. The money is exposed for several hours to the vapour of formafin. The Bevus- suggests that books lent out, frota public librarian should be similarly treated

I CONGRESS OF WOMEN. As International Congress of Womsm was opened iB the Church-house, Westminster, on Monday. Lady Aberdeen, president of the International Council of Women, was in the chair, and there WIØ a very large attendance of delegates from nearly all the Con- tinental countries, many of the British colonies and possessions, the United States, Persia, the Argen- tine Republic, China, Palestine, and Iceland. The president, in an opening address, explained the organisation and objects of the International Council, and enumerated some of the questions which would be discussed during the congress. The international officers and accredited delegates were then formally presented to the president, and several of them de- livered brief addresses. In the evening the delegates were entertained at a reception at Stafford House, St. James's, by the Duchess of Sutherland.

MR. CHAMBERLAIN ON THE TRANSVAAL. Mr. Chamberlain, speaking on Monday night at the annual meeting of the grand committee of the Birmingham Liberal Unionists' Association, devoted his remarks almost exclusively to the Transvaal difficulty. He traced the history of our relations with the Transvaal for the last 18 years in order to show that this country had again and again dealt with the Republic with magnanimity and forbearance that four times, at least, the aggressions and intrigues of the Boers had brought us to the verge of war with them, and that their persistent refusal of political and civil equality to the Uitlanders was not merely a wrong to them, but a standing menace to the peace of South Africa and to the British position as paramount Power there. It was said that patience and moral pressure might yet bring about a satisfactory settle- ment. He devoutly prayed that they might; but there came a time when patience could scarcely be distinguished from weakness, and moral pressure became a farce which could not be continued without loss of self-respect. He trusted that time would never come in this instance.

EXCITING INCIDENT NEAR ILFRACOMBE. Sixteen young school girls at Lee, whence they had gone from Ilfracombe for a picnic, had a narrow escape from drowning on Monday. The party had been bathing and was cut off by the tide. One of the girls, Miss Alice Maud Chown, aged 16, seeing the danger in which her companions and herself were placed, climbed a steep rock, and three others fol- lowed her, the waves forcing the others back. Miss Chown then happened to see a red garment lying on the beach, and went down for it. Ascending again after much difficulty, she held on to a rock, and waved the garment in order, if possible, to attract attention. One of her companions fainted, and, had not Miss Chown caught her by the waistband, she would have fallen into the sea. In tha meantime the 12 girls on the beach, who were in great danger, knelt down and prayed, and those on the rocks followed their example. Just at this time Martin Albert Hooper, a lad of 14, who was half a mile away, chanced to see Miss Chown's signals of distress and ran to the spot. Seeing the danger in which the girls were placed, he rushed back to Lee, and some boatmen, after the greatest difficulty, succeeded in rescuing all the girls, most of whom were by this time waist-deep in the water. H&d not help come, many of the girls would have been swept out to sea in another ten minutes.

CONGRESS OF WOMEN. The International Congress of Women was con- tinued in London on Tuesday. Three sections, re- spectively devoted to political, legislative and in- dustrial, and professional questions, sat at the Church House, the Westminister Town Hall, and St. Martin's Town Hall, and in each papers on various topics were read and discussed. In the evening a ;n public meeting of the congress was held at the Queen's Hall, when a resolution in favour of inter- national arbitration was unanimously carried.

THE TRANSVAAL. GENERAL JOUBBET'S TRUST. The Transvaal Government emphatically deniet the reports that it is purchasing fresh war material. It is said to have submitted to Sir A. Milner a pro- posal for granting the franchise to Uitlanders after six years' residence, the measure to be retrospective, and the present naturalisation clause to be abolished. General Joubert has denied in an interview that he has ordered Krupp guns and batteries from America. He trusted in God, and not in arms, to make good the cause of the Transvaal and' preserve its independence. Meeting of citizens in support of Sir A. Milner's policy are to be held this week in Cape Town and throughout Cape Colony. The military authorities are taking preliminary steps to ensure a proper supply of horses, should they be required. They are also making inquiries as to coast transport. The Free State Raad has voted about E76,000 for ammunition, artillery, aad other war material.

MEMORIAL TO MR. TOM HUGHES. The Archbishop of Canterbury and Mr, Goschen were present at the Speech Day at Rugby School on Saturday, and the Archbishop afterwards unveiled a statue of the late Tom Hughes, the author-of" Tom Brown's School Days," which has been erected chiefly by the subscriptions of old Rugbeians. The Arch- bishop observed that Hughes was not a man of com- manding ability, or, except in one sense, of genius, but he had drunk in, in a marvellous degree, the spirit which animated his old headmaster, Arnold. After paying a warm tribute to Arnold's great quali- ties and services, he said it was good that the statue of Hughes should stand amongst them to remind the school of that wonderful past when, under Arnold's inspiration, Rugby became a model for the future of English education. After a few words from Lord Cross, who said he had been in the sixth form at Rugby under Dr. Arnold, and had never forgotten the lessons he learned under him, Mr. Goschen said he was glad to assist in unveiling the statue of one who, to his mind, was, in a certain sense, the greatest schoolboy who ever lived. Tom Hughes, more than any other Englishman, was the incarnation of the highest form of the British school- boy. The whole of his life, from his Rugby days to the end, was a fine English life. The Bishop of Hereford and the Dean of Wells also spoke.

RAILWAY ACCIDENTS. During shunting operations on the Great Western Railway at Reading, on Saturday morning, two men named Perry and Whitchelo were killed owing to a collision between the two shunting engines. The driver, William Henry Williams, was terribly injured by being scalded, and he died in the afternoon at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, leaving a wife and five children. A painful coincidence in connection with the accident Kap that all three men who lost their lives on Saturvisj 2a. acted as bearers at the funeral at Reading on F "'day of an engine-driver named Wilkins, who was knocked down and killed on the same company's line on Tuesday of last week. The official report says that the engine used was a short one, and that it was shunting some trucks from the high to the low level, near the goods station. Some other trucks were on the line, and the engine, tender first, ran into them. The bunker was literally smashed in, and. some of the pipes burst. Perry was killed instantaneous IY, being crushed as well as scalded. Thomas Davies, of Salisbury, was killed at War- minster Station early on Saturday morning. He was a guard in charge of an Aberdare coal train which had an engine at the rear as well as in front. On reaching Warminster, Davies alighted from his van as the train was slowing down, but, fell down, and the rear engine passed over him and caused his death.