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

A FRENCH PATRIOT. I A Paris correspondent writes: There has just died at Ueberoch, near Wissembourg, at the age of 72, the Abbe Greyenbiihl, :who, on the evening of the famous battle of Wcerth, walked through the valley with the residents of the village in order to succour the French soldiers who were wounded and dying. The cannons had not ceased to boom when the Abb6 ventured into the valley, where 38,000 French soldiers had valiantly fought against 90,000 Prussians who were provided with superior artillery. For 20 consecutive hours the Abbe dis- pensed medical help to the wounded and adminis- tered to the dying the last rites of the Church. Thanks to his efforts a large number of French sol- diers were snatched from death, and several Generals still in active service owe their lives to him. An ardent patriot was the Abb6 Greyenbiihl, and his dearest wish was that he might not be taken away until his dear Alsace became again French soil. r

I BISLEY MEETING. GOOD SHOOTING FOB THE EVELYN WOOD PRIZE. The fortieth meeting of the National Rifle Asso- ciation was formally opened on Monday at Bisley, when the only competition was one restricted to teams representing battalions of the Regular army for the Evelyn Wood prize. The Challenge Cup was won by the E Company 2nd Northamptonshire Regiment with the record score of 1771 points. The G, B, and H companies 2 of the same regiment occupied the next positions in order of merit. I DEFECTIVE AMMUNITION, The Humphry competition was won on Tuesday by the Oxford team, which beat Cambridge by 75E points to 716; the Waldegrave by Major the Hon, T. F. Fremantle; and that between teams of volun- teer and regular officers by the regulars. The ammu- nition supplied to those engaged in other than match- rifle competitions has proved very defective, and has had to be withdrawn.

PROPOSED WESLEYAN COLLKGE AT OXFORD. An important proposal has been put for vara within the Wesleyan Methodist Church for the establishment at Oxford of a new Theological College for the training of the Methodist ministry. Af present the Wesleyans have four ministerial co'V-gea in different parts of the country. This is sa-,A to be needlessly costly, and to stand in t,i.k waJ of that specialisation in teaching which is 8Q imperatively necessary at the present day. At Cambridge Methodism is worthily represented bj the Leys School. In the event of the project meeting with approval, the sale, or otherwise disposal, of two of the existing colleges is suggested, and the erection at Oxford of a new Theological College on a broad and generous scale, equipped with the ablest pro- fessors, and with all modern facilities for study. It is proposed that this new college shall not be re- stricted to Wesleyan students, but open to ministerial students belonging to all branches of the great Methodist family at home and abroad.

I A POPULAR RABBI. The sudden death of M. Isaac Weill, Chief Rabbi of Strassburg, at the age of 58, is a severe blow tq the Jews in Alsace, says the Jewish Chroniclei Educated at the Jewish Seminary in Paris, M. Weill was successively Rabbi at Phalsburg, Chief Rabbi at Metz, and Chief Rabbi at Strassburg. He was dis- tinguished by his great tact, amiability, and orva torical powers. The funeral was attended by nume- rous public functionaries, including the Minister of Public Worship, representing Prince Hohenlohej Governor of Alsace-Lorraine, the Prefect of Policaj and the Deputy-Mayor of Strassburg. An almosfi interminable concourse of citizens of all religiouf denominations followed the remains to the cemetery.1 In the procession were the Chief Rabbis of Colmal and Metz, and 30 Rabbis of congregations in Alsace- Lorraine.

PANIC IN A ZOO. A serious panic occurred on Sunday at the Chicago Zoo, by which several persons were injured, owing to a boy throwing a lighted cigarette into the lion's cage. The lion's mane burst into flame and the animal became crazed with terror. The people stampeded and fought madly to get away from the building, with the result that 20 were knocked down and trampled upon. The fire in the lion's mane was extinguished by means of the fire hose.

PIER CHARGES. The Queen of the River S.S. Company brought an action before Mr. Justice Phillimore, in the Queen's Bench Division, on Monday, against the Conser- vators of the river Thames to test the legality of cer- tain charges made by them for the use of the Old Swan Pier at London-bridge. Under their private Act, the Conservators have the right to charge sixpence per call to steamers which embark or disembark passengers or goods at the pier. In 1898 they raised the charge in respect of the Queen Elizabeth, which runs to Hampton-court, to 10s. a day, and this had been paid in the belief that the defendants were within their legal rights. Plaintiffs now sought to recover the sums they had paid in this way, on the ground that they were overcharged. The defence was that the toll of 6d. was merely for a passing call, and not for the case of a steamer lying alongside the pier for a period longer than was necessary for that purpose. Mr. Justice Phillimore gave judgment for the plain- tiffs for over £50.

THE PLAGUE IN EGYPT. A despatch from Alexandria says: "Three cases of plague were reported on Sunday. On Monday two deaths occurred outside the hospital. The populace is discontented at the sanitary measures which have been taken, and a doctor and an agent have been roughly handled. The caees of plague are distributed as follows: Total, 67; deaths, 26; cures, 26."

APPEAL CASE. In the Court of Appeal on Monday, the defendant in the action of Watson v. Smith applied for judg- ment or a new trial. Appellant was a passenger by an omnibus of which the plaintiff in the action wat conductor. She had left a bag on the tailboard, and while he was away getting his tickets checked it was stolen. She gave him into custody. After- wards, a lad was convicted of the theft, and sent to prison. The conductor brought an action for damages, and the jury, while holding that the ap- Eellant had a bona fide belief in his guilt, awarded im £ 28, and judgment was entered for him for that amount. The ground of appeal was that the ques- tion of whether there was reasonable and probable cause to negative malice was a question for the judge, and this had been improperly left by him to the jury. The Lords Justices allowed the appeal, and entered judgment for the appellant.

THE Earl and Countess of Derby will give a large garden party at Knowsley on August 3. MR. A. J. BALFOUB has promised to be present at the autumn meeting of the Royal and Ancient Golf CJlIb at St. Andrews. Tn:r. Queen has, at Windsor Castle,the mostcostJj dinner-service in the world. It is of solid gold, end is valued at £ 600,000.

x/OCTOR: Troubled with insomnia, eh? Eat something before going to bed." Husband: "Why, doctor, you once told her never to cat anything before going to bed." Doctor (with dignity): That, my dear sir, was in 1895. Science has made great strides since then." WHEN the dentists of thi» country can discover a way to pull teeth without making a man wish he had been born a hen, life will have twice as much brightness. AMY (reading): He gave her a jewelled v-i-n-a-i- g-r-e-tt-e—how do you pronounce that, Uncle Isaac ? Uncle Isaac (grufflv): "I Dronounce it downright foolishness."

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. l HOUSE OF LORDS.—JULY 10. BILLS FORWARDED. The Commons and Open Spaces Bill passed through Committee with some amendments; the Marriages Validity (No. 2) Bill was read a second Lime; and the report of amendments to the Youthful Offenders Bill was considered and agreed to. CONVOCATION. Lord Kinnaird asked her Majesty's Govern- ment whether a joint assembly of members of the two Convocations was not in fact a meeting of the Convocations, and therefore illegal without a License from the Crown. The noble lord said he understood that those who summoned the special meeting anticipated that there would be some difficulty because the Press bad referred to the assembly as an irregular proceeding. They thought, however, that by meeting, not as Convocation, but as individuals they could evade the custom or the law by which it was necessary to obtain a license from the Crown before they meet. The Lord Chancellor replied that in the circumstances he could only say, on behalf of Tier Majesty's Government, that the facts adduced by the noble lord were insufficient to enable them to form a judgment on the subject. Lord Kimberley remarked thatafter theregularmeetingof Convocation there was a meeting of the two Convocations together. It was alleged that this was only a meeting of the members of the two Convocations. To the ordinary mind, however, the proceeding looked uncommonly like an attempt to evade the law, and to pass by the prerogative of the Crown. Lord Salisburysconfessed ae was unfamiliar with all that-had occurred in con- nection with this matter. He doubted whether it would be illegal for the Convocations to meet if the members came across each other in a room, but if they met for the purpose of exercising any of the powers belonging to Convocation he supposed they would be assuming powers which they did not possess, and would be acting, if not illegally, yet in a highly unconstitutional manner. HOUSE OF COMMONS. IRISH CONGESTED DISTRICTS. Mr. Gerald Balfour introduced a bill to make further provision for the expenses of the Irish Con- gested Districts Board, and after a few observations by Mr. Davitt, who approved the Board's policy of purchasing estates in the West of Ireland, the bill was read a first time. TITH6 RENT-CHARGE BILL. The House then entered upon the consideration of the Tithe Rent-charge (Rates) Bill in Committee, the preliminary instructions which stood upon the paper in the names of Mr. Evans, Mr. D. A. Thomas, and Mr. Lambert having been ruled out of order by the Speaker. The amendments of which notice had been given occupied 11 pages of the agenda paper, while the bill itself consists of only four clauses, including the clause providing a short title for the measure. At the outset of the proceedings the Chairman ruled out of order or otherwise disposed of a whole page of amendments, the first which he permitted to be discussed being a proposal to limit the relief granted under the bill to owners of com- muted tithe rent-charge below the value of £ 200 a year. This amendment was moved by Mr. Lloyd- George, who argued that relief ought only to be given to clergymen who were suffering from real and acute distress. Mr. Long resisted the amendment, which was, he said, opposed to the principle of the measure, the Object of which was, not to relieve distress, but to do justice to a class who were rated in an exceptional manner—namely, upon their incomes. Sir W. Harcourt, who described the bill as a measure for robbing the general public in the in- terests of one particular class, said that after it had become law tne two richest men in every rural parish—namely, the squire and the parson-would be the only people who would be relieved from the payment of a moiety of the rates. He protested against the doctrine that the tithe was to be re- garded as the income of the clergy, for there had always been a first charge upon it for the relief of the poor. The bill as it stood would relieve the wealthier clergy, which was quite unnecessary. For that proposal there was no justification, while something might be said for giving relief to the poorer clergy. After speeches by Mr. D. A. Thomas, Mr. Lam- bert, Mr. Brynmor Jones, Mp^ Perks, and Mr. Warner, Sir H. Fowler, in supporting the amend- ment, ridiculed the contention that the bill could be based on any comprehensive principle of justice, and insisted that its operation ought certainly to be confined to the cases of clergymen who suffered real hardship. Mr. Long repeated that the measure was based on the principle of justice to the clergy as a class, and observed that in the case of the majority of rate- payers the rates they paid amounted to 1 or 2 per cent. of their incomes, while the tithe rent-charge owner paid at the rate of 20 per cent. of his income. I Mr. Asquith at once pointed out that this argument would justify the Government in relieving the lay impropriator of tithe, but that they did not propose to do so. Mr. G. Whiteley remarked that if the measure was a measure of justice to the clergy it was pro tanto a measure of injustice to the local authorities who would have to find the money to make good the deficiency that would be created in the rates. He supported the amendment. Mr. Logan, Mr. Carvell Williams, Mr. Labouchere, and Mr. Evans continued the discussion on the opposition side of the House, and Mr. Cripps reminded the Committee that the Royal Commissioners agreed that tithe rent- charge was unjustly rated. The only other speakers on the Ministerial benches were Colonel Williams and Mr. Gibson Bowles, and, after Mr. Haldane, Mr. Oldroyd, and Mr. Moulton had addressed the Com- mittee. The amendment was negatived by 251 votes against 155. Mr. Nussey moved an amendment excluding from the benefits of the measure the owners of tithe rent- charge derived from urban land. The amendment was opposed by Mr. Long on the ground that there was no justification for distinguishing between the owners of agricultural tithe and the owners of other kinds of tithe, and after considerable discussion the amendment was negatived by 181 votes against 98. Mr. Lambert proposed to restrict the operation of the bill to tithe rent-charge to which no addition was made at the time of commutation as an equiva- lent of rates and taxes. Mr. Long argued in oppo- sition to this proposal that it would be very unjust to make the distinction which the amendment would set up, and in support of this view he recalled to the recollection of the Committee the circumstances in which the Tithe Commutation Act was passed in 1836 and the objects of that legislation. Sir W. Harcourt urged that in considering this amend- ment they ought to bear in mind the fall in rates since 1836. This circumstance the clergy and their friends were anxious to disregard, but it was a very material matter, for the deductions from the tithe were less now than at the time of com- mutation. Mr. Balfour, stating afresh the position of the clergy, said that they possessed for services rendered a rateable property, and they desired that that property should be rated on equitable terms, holding at present it was not so rated. He explained that after the commutation the clergy became entitled to the whole of the tithe rent-charge, subject to such rates as might properly be paid. It was preposterous to contend that the terms of the arrangement of 1836 excluded the reform of an injustice. The amend- ment could not be entertained because it sought to draw a distinction, for which there was no logical or valid ground, between two kinds of clerical tithe- owners. Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman, remarking that the clergy received in 1836 only the residue of the tithe after the payment of the rates and that they still received that residue, although the rates had fallen, declined to admit the existence of a grievance. Mr. Moulton, as an opponent of the measure, re- ferred to Mr. Balfour's speech as one that contained some very valuable admissions, which he specified, and after observations on the same side by Mr. Lloyd- George, Mr. McKenna, Mr. Evans, and others, the amendment was negatived by 264 votes against 151. Mr. D. A. Thomas having moved to substitute the words rent-charge not severed from a benefice" for the words rent-charge attached to a benefice in the first clause, the Solicitor-General, in answer so a question, stated that tithe rent-charge at present in the hands of a lay impropriator would be exempted from half the rates after the passing of the bill if it should become attached to a benefice. 3ir W. Harcourt expressed great surprise it this declaration, which meant, he said, that the taxpayers might be called upon at any moment :o pay more under the bill than the estimated sum of £ 87,000 which the Committee had hitherto thought would be the limit of the burden put upon the com- nunity. Mr. Long confirmed the statement of the Solicitor-General as to the intentions of the Govern- nent; but observed that as the estimate which had 3een made as to the sum that would be required Nas fairly liberal it might not become necessary to provide a larger amount. Mr, Atherley-Jones ;ommented in severe terms on this extension of the scope of. the bill, and Mr. Warner, who spoke amid continued interruption and laughter and whose speech the chairman described as more appropriate ;o the hustings than to the Houpe of Commons, uccupied the few moments that remained before midnight, when Mr. Long moved the closure. This was carried by 249 votes against 135, and then the amendment was negatived by 243 votes against 134. The debate then stood adjourned, the first line of the first clause not having been disposed of. HOUSE OF LORDS.—JULY 11. SEATS FOR SHOP ASSISTANTS. The Duke of Westminster moved the second read- ing of the seats for Shop Assistants (England and Ireland) Bill, which has already passed the Commons, and which enacts that employers shall provide seats for the use of shop assistants. The noble duke stated that this was a measure which had been promoted by the Early Closing Associa- tion, and was identical with the bill brought in for Scotland in the early part of the session. That bill had received very short shrift at the hands of two formidable ad- versaries-the Prime Minister and Lord Shand -who characterised the measure as trivial and unworthy of their lordships' consideration. The bill he now asked the House to read a second time had passed the Commons with practical unanimity, and he ventured to assert that the question which it dealt with could not in any way be called trivial. Lord Shand, in moving the rejection of the bill, said the measure was word for word the same as that which their lordships rejected a few weeks ago, and the same objections that applied to the principle of that bill applied to the present one. The matter was one which, in hi3 opinion, could be adequately dealt with by voluntary effort, for could anyone suppose that the moment a man became a warehouseman or draper, he lost all sense of human sympathy? The Bishop of Winchester supported the bill. Lord Salisbury said that when the Scotch Bill was before the House he pointed out that one of the main objections to it was that without any inquiry it pro- rosed novel legislation, and dealt with matters with respect to which they had no knowledge. His lord- ship proceeded to quote the views of various persons which were adverse to the bill. He suggested that the bill should be withdrawn, and that the Duke of Westminster should be content with the promise of the Government that a searching inquiry should be held next session. Lord Carrington and the Earl of Portsmouth sup- ported the bill. Lord Kelvin opposed the bill which Lord Hard- wicke supported. Their lordships divided: For the second reading, 73; against, 28; majority for, 45. The figures were received with loud cheers. OTHER BUSINESS. The Marriages Validity (No. 2) Bill passed through The Marriages Validity (No. 2) Bill passed through Committee, and the Youthful Offenders Bill was read a third time and passed. HOUSE OF COMMONS. DEATHS FROM CANCER. Sir C. Cameron asked whether the attention of the Local Government Board had been called to the fact that the number of deaths registered as from cancer per million of the population of the United Kingdom had within the past 30 years more than doubled. And whether, in view of this increase, the expediency of appointing a Commission would be considered to inquire into the subject for the pur- pose, if possible, of devising means whereby the fre- quency of the disease might be diminished. Mr. T. W. Russell said the attention of the Local Government Board had been called to the large in- crease in the number of deaths from cancer, and they had, as opportunities had arisen, caused scientific re- searches to be made into the natural history and causes of cancer; but he was advised that in the present state of knowledge on the subject, no useful purpose was likely to be served by the appointment of a Royal Commission. THIN TITHR DILL. The House went into Committee on the Tithe Rent- Charge (Rates) Bill, and after the Chairman had ruled the first seven amendments on the notice paper out of order, Mr. S. Evans moved that the bill should only apply to a benefice to which the owner might be presented ifter it was passed. Mr. W. Long thought the amendment the most re- markable yet moved. Hitherto the Conservative party only had advocated the reform of local taxation in the case of the clergy, but in the last few months the Opposition had declared that the injustice to the clergy was intolerable and ought to be removed. The amendment would be an effective bar to all reform of that kind. The reform must apply to those presented before the passing of the Act as well as those pre- sented after. No justification had been given for the amendment proposed, and he hoped the Com- mittee would reject it as one that would inflict injus- tice and do injury to the measures before the House. Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman ross and ex- claimed this was the way to get on with the bill in Committee—a nice beginning to a quiet evening in discussing the intricate details of this short bill. The speech of Mr. Long was more suitable for the hustings than appropriate to the amendment. Sir W. Harcourt thought that if there was anything in public opinion at this time it was an interest in the principle upon which the future rating and taxation should be conducted. There was a strong cpinion in the country that a great many people were too lightly-rated, and the arguments heard from the Treasury Bench that night were important in that respect. This was an extra- ordinary proceeding, of which no explanation had yet been given The Chairman (interrupting) said the right hon. gentleman was anticipating an amendment lower down in the notice paper that would raise the ques- tion he was now discussing. Sir W. Harcourt observed that members never knew what amendment lower down would be put- The Chairman: If it is in order it will certainly be allowed to be put. Sir W. Harcourt: I have not said anything that is intended to be disrespectful to your ruling. I am glad that an amendment to that effect will be in order. The right hon. gentleman went on to state that he desired to have explained exactly the prin- ciple upon which the payment of rates was to be founded. The Chairman explained that the whole of this discussion was really not relevant. The amendment was that the bill should only apply in the future. Therefore, the argument of the right hon. gentlema* was beside the mark. Sir W. Harcourt thought the Chairman's ruling was dependent upon a subsequent amendment. How- ever, he was afraid he could not continue with ad vantage the discussion. CLOSURE aCDES. Mr. D. Thomas moved to omit from the amend- ment the word after and insert the word before." Mr. A. Balfour moved to put all the words down to the word only." The Chairman said the amendment before the Committee must be disposed of befpre any motions for the closure of particular words could be put. Mr. A. Balfour: Then I move that the question be now put. Upon this the Committee divided. For the closure, 258; against, 150. The Committee next divided on the amendment. For, 165; divided, 262. Mr. A. Balfour rose, amid loud cheers, and moved that the words in the bill down to only be now put. The Chairman said he thought the amendment in the name of the member for North-west Durham was one that the House should have an opportunity of discussing. Mr. Dalziel and Mr. Labouchere raised points of order amid Opposition cheers. Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman said the House was at a loss to understand what the proceeding was. By what process should an amendment he selected and saved from the wreck ? Sir William Harcourt, amid loud cheers, reminded the chairman that he had previously stated that every amendment in order would be put. The Chairman said he had followed the precedent set by Mr. Courtney a good many years ago in endeavouring to protect the rights of the majority. Mr. Courtney explained the grounds of his action on the occasion referred to. A good deal of discussion followed on the point of order, in which Mr. Dillon, Mr. Ellis Griffith, Mr. Gibson Bowles and others took part. In the end Mr. Atherlev Jones moved his amendment, which proposed to limit the application of lue bill to the owner ef a benefice who had incurred in expense in paying a curate or expenses about repairing the church. A long discussion followed. Mr. A. Balfour moved that the question be now put, and upon this the Committee divided. For the closure, 268; against, 121. The Committee next divided on the amendment: For, 98; against, 218. Mr. A. Balfour moved that the words—" shall be liable to pay only "—stand part of the clause. I The Chairman put the closure, and the Committee 1 divided on it: For the closure, 222; against, 135. The Committee next divided on the motion, which was carried by 234 against 145. Mr. D. Thomas moved an amendment that the rate should be paid according to a graduated schedule which gave the largest relief to the poorest clergy. Mr. W. Long said it was impossible to accept the amendment in the form proposed or in any other form. The Committee divided. For the amendment, 125; against, 228. Mr. A. Balfour moved to put the words of the clause to-" and "-in line 8-and the Chairman put this motion. The Committee divided on it. For the closure, 224; against, 104. The Committee next divided on the motion. For, 225; against, 100. Progress was then reported, and the House ad- journed at 12.35 a.m.

MYSTERIOUS VILLAGE TRAGEDY. A young woman named Dixon left her home at Wortham, Suffolk, on Saturday night, about ten o'clock, to fetch the sapper beer. To reach the public- house she had merely to cross the village green. She did not return, and when search was made about two o'clock in the morning her dead body was found in a watercourse on the green. Her throat was cut, and there were severe wounds about the head. A young man has been taken into custody on suspicion of being connected with the death, and another arrest is talked of. The dead woman, who is the wife of a pork butcher, leaves six small children.

THE TRANSVAAL. THE FRANCHISE PROPOSA. LB. The Transvaal Diplomatic Agency at Brussels has issued a statement, telegraphed from Pretoria, em- bodying the franchise proposals contained in a decree of the Executive Council as submitted to the First Volksraad. The redistribution scheme, though approved by the Raad, has been shelved by the Transvaal Government; but it is expected that four seats in each House will be given to Witwatersrand, and possibly one each to Pretoria and Zoutpansberg. At Johannesburg much disappointment is expressed at the proposals, which are regarded as wholly insuf- ficient, and anxiety is manifested as to the next step that will be taken by the Imperial Government. Mr. Fischer, before leaving Pretoria on his return to the Orange Free State, said he approved the proposals, but thought the nine years' retrospective action would be reduced by the Volksraad. Sir Gordon Sprigg has stated that he considers the scheme totally inadequate to meet the just claims of the Uitlanders, being much less than Sir A. Milner's proposals, but Mr. Schreiner has declared that the Cape Govern- ment regards them as adequate and such as should secure a peaceful settlement. MR. SCHREINER'S ACTION.—MILITARY ACTIVITY. I The latest franchise scheme of the Transvaal Executive has been pronounced by the Uitlanders Council as totally inadequate. From the Cape we learn that Mr. Schreiner and Mr. Hofmeyr have had interviews with Sir Alfred Milner to urge the acceptance of the proposals. In unofficial circles at the Cape it is held to be impossible for the Imperial Government to approve the scheme. Mr. Schreiner's action is condemned by all the newspapers published in Capetown, Johannesburg, Durban, and Pieter- maritzburg which support the Imperialist policy. The Queensland Government has offered to send a body of mounted troops to the Transvaal in the event of war, and the South Wales Lancers at Aldershot are said to have volunteered for active service. Two British war vessels have arrived in Delagoa Bay. Another battery of field artillery has been selected for service in South Africa, making the fifth battery under orders for the Cape.

BOATING ACCIDENT. A boating disaster occurred on Tuesday night at Westport, on the west coast of Kintyre, Argyll- shire, whereby five lives were lost. A party con- sisting qf Matthew Gillies, a farmer of Drymalea his son Archibald, aged 12; John Mitchell, 56, gamekeeper at Tangy Hugh McCallum, 25, of Witchburn Donald McCallum, 22, of Cambeltown; and James Armour, 15, of Cambel- town, went out fishing in a small four-oared boat, and on returning shortly after 10 o'clock they found that a heavy swell had risen, making it dangerous for them to land below Drumlea. Pro- ceeding a little southward, they attempted to enter a small creek near Westport when a heavy sea struck the boat and swamped her. All the occupants were thrown into the water, and five of them, being unable to swim, perished. The boy Armour was alone saved. He succeeded in swimming to the shore, a distance of about 50 yards.

CANTERBURY DIOCESAN CONFERENCE. The Archbishop of Canterbury, presiding at his Diocesan Conference on Tuesday, gave details of the Scheme by which it was proposed to create a Diocese for Southwark out of portions of the Dioceses of Rochester and Canterbury. Referring to the crisis in the Church, he said he thought the line the Archbishops had taken would greatly diminish the excitement. The Low Church Party seemed to want the High Church Party to cease to exist, but he did not agree with that. He asked the High Church party to help him to make peace, and to keep the Church of Eng- land as comprehensive as it had been for so many generations. What he feared more than Disestab- lishment and Disendowment was disruption in the Church, which would be a great disaster, and those who brought it about would be guilty of the greatest sin.

THE King of Greece receives the smallest income of any European Sovereign, his salary only amount- ing to £ 40,000. THE toll on an ordinary ship passing through the Suez Canal averages about R,8W. The distance is 92 miles. IN the United Kingdom there are 2,000,000 females in excess of males, and 2,000,000 more males than females in the Colonies. IT is estimated that at the present rate of growth London, which now has a population of 5,657,000, will, in 1941, have over 13,000,000. THE semi-official AUgemeine Lentung gives currency to the report that Count Mouravieff will not hold the office of Russian Foreign Minister much longer. A COTTON manufacturing limited company near Great Harwood has recently declared a dividend nearly equivalent to the rate of 70 per cent. per annum. THE Novoe Vremya commenting :upon Great Britain's progress in Western Asia, recommends the establishment of a Russian official agent at Cabul. MR. CLARENCE MACKAY has taken Brodrick Castle, Isle of Arran, for the autumn. Mr. Mackay is one of the most wealthy Americans. His sister is married to Prince Coloosa, the head of a treat Roman family.

I FRANCE AND ENGLAND. In the year 1801 Great Britain was a long waf behind France, who then had nearly twice out population but, in the present year, 1899, we have succeeded in getting an appreciable lead over P- to the extent of about two millions of populaiion In 1801 France's population was over 27 millions. ri 1801 our population was under 16 millions. In 185] France's population was under 36 millions. It 1851 our population was over 27 millions. In 1891 France's population is 38 millions. In 1899 out population is 40 millions. Thus, in 1801 we xert (nearly) 12 millions fewer than the French; in 1851 we had reduced the French lead to under nine mil* lions, and, in the present year, we lead France, OB the score of population, by almost exactly two mil lions of persons. We outran France in population; for the first time in the history of the world, in 1892 or 1894.

I RAVAGES OF RABBITS. At Lewes Assizes on Monday, before Mr. Justice Mathew and a special jury, the case of De MuriettW and another v. Denny" was heard. The plainti who were the executors of the late owner of Wad- hurst-park estate, claimed damages against thdj defendant (who had been their tenant) for having failed to keep down the rabbits, and there b* occasioned considerable mischief to crops and treen Mr. Dickens, Q.C., and Mr. T. Mathew were for thai plaintiffs Mr. Grantham for the defendant. It peared that Mr. Denny took possession in March) 1896. At that time there was a fair stock of rabbi The- bailiff recommended that more rabbits should then be killed, but the defendant gave directions thafii none should be killed, as he wished for a good stoefci of rabbits and partridges. In February, 1897,afte8 the snow had cleared away it was found that the rabbits had eaten away the shrubs and seriousl* barked a number of trees. The contiguous crops ofi oats, grass, and clover had also been almost entire^jj destroyed. There were as many as 300 to 400 rabbite in one field, and on the estate the number wail not far short of 10,000. The result was that the teighbouring farmers complained. One farmer hadl been obliged to buy 700 yards of wire netting to protect his crops. The damage caused by rabbits to grass and corn was estimated at E172 5s., and to the shrubs at E215 15s. For the defence evidence was called to show that the damage was infinitesimal, as the grass land was barren, and the damage to timber was of old standing. The number of rabbits left was not bxcessive. The jury found for the plaintiff, and assessed the damages at E.W. Judgment accordingly, with costs.

MURDER AT WIGAN. A shocking murder was committed at Wigan Monday, the victim being a married woman named; Tighe. The discovery was made by Mrs. Tighe's daughter, who about seven o'clock found her mother, dead in the kitchen. The body lay in a great pool1 of blood, and on the table close by were two blood- stained carving knives. Subsequently the husband of the murdered woman, Martin Tighe, a labourer, was arrested on suspicion of being the murderer. The couple had frequently quarrelled, Tighe accusing his wife of intemperance.