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

FATAL EXPLOSION" AT A CARTRIDGE FACTORY. A serious explosion took place at about three o'clock on Monday afternoon at the works of Messrs. Eley Brothers (Limited), cartridge manufacturers, Gray'srinn-road, London. Two men were killed out- right and at least three others were injured. For- tunately, Messrs. Eley's premises adjoin the Royal Free Hospital, and thither the injured people were at once taken. The two men killed were Robert Worley, aged 48 years, a foreman, lately residing at 23, Prioto-road, Old Charlton, Woolwich and John Dyke, aged 19 years, a labourer, of 41, Manchester-street, Gray's-inn- road. The right side of Worley's head had been shat tered by the explosion, and ho was quite dead when received at the hospital. The man Dyke Ilad been literally blown to pieces, his head and arms being severed. His body was at once removed to the St. Pancras Mortuary. The three injured men, who are still in the hospital, are Thomas Stokoe, 59, works manager, of 11, Gateley-road, Stockwell, who is suffering from a shattered right leg and injuries to the head Oliver Wade, 54, labourer, of 15, i.berdeen- road, Uppe" Edmonton, who is suffeting from injuries to the head, and who was stated on Mon- day night to be unconscious; and Albert Hicks, 31, labourer, of 24, Bath-street, City-road, who sustained injuries to the Mad, but whose condition was not considered serious. The injured men are still under treatment in the hospital. The firm is very reticent as to the cause of the ex- plosion, but it was elicited at the. Royal Free Hospi- tal last night that the accident took place in a de- partment. in which the contents of old cartridges are destroyed. It appears that the disused cartridges are placed in a chamber to which heat is applied by f means of a furnace, and from this chamber the old cartridge cases are subsequently taken for further use. On Monday this chamber burst and the cartridge cases were sent in all directions, killing Dyke and Worley and injuring the other men. ATHIRDDKATH. A third death has taken place in connection with the explosion at the works of Messrs. Eley Brothers, Limited, Gray's-inn-road, on Monday afternoon. Mr. Thomas Stokoe, 59, of 11, Gateley-road, Stock- well, works manager at Messrs. Eley's, who was admitted to the Royal Free Hospital suffering from a shattered right leg and injuries to the head, under- went a surgical operation :aud the injured leg was amputated, but the unfortunate man died on Monday night. The injured men Wade and Hicks are lying f in the Calthorpe Ward at the hospital, and are going on well.

COST EXTINGUISHES THE GLAMOUR. The most ambitious of all recent mountain railway projects in Switzerland, if we may trust the Schweiger Handels-Zeitung, is now threatened with an utter collapse. The works upon the Jungfraubahn have not progressed a single yard since the winter, and have been at a standstill for some months. The project for the ascent of the Jungfrau by rail, which for a time was so fascinating to Swiss ambition, has lost its glamour since the gigantic extent of the costs became more evident.

IT is persistently rumoured in military circles that Lord Kitchener will have the refusal of the appoint- ment of Permanent Under-Secretary of State for War, in succession to Sir Ralph Knox, who will retire at the close of the present financial year. EAItLY next, year the new King of Italy will very likely visit. London. He is said to be contemplating making a tour of the European Courts in order to become personally acquainted with the reigning sovereigns,

THE CRISIS IN CHINA. I THE ALLIES IN PEKIN. RESTORATION OF ORDER, The Pekin correspondent of the Times, in a message dated August 21, and forwarded via Shanghai by field telegraph, says From a source which before the siege I found trustworthy I learn that the Court fled by the west gate while the Japanese were shelling the east gate on the morning of the 14th, escorted by the soldiers of General ,Tung-fuh-siang. Their departure was hurried because information had reached the Court that the foreign troops would not arrive till the 15th. The intention of the Court is not to proceed to Si-ngan-fu, in Shen-si, but to turn north to Jehol and remain there awaiting events. Then, if the Pekin Palace is destroyed, they mean to create a new capital at Si-ngan-fu. No high officials accompanied the Court except Prince Ching, who is now believed to be hiding in the environs of Pekin. While the Legations were being besieged a memorial reached the Throne from Yu Hsien, Governor of Shan-si, saying that by his orders 51 foreign missionaries within his province had been executed, and claiming a Government reward. My informant, who is a member of the family of a Minister of the Grand Council, says that unless the Forbidden City is entered by foreign troops all China will believe that the spiritual hosts who pro- tect the Throne and the Boxers shielded the palace from desecration. In the apportionment of the city to the different nations to control yesterday, the Americans, in ignorance, permitted a rectification of the French quarter, adjoining the American, which transferred from American to French possession the palace of Prince Li, the richest in Pekin, which is stocked with treasures worth probably millions of dollars. CHINESE STATESMAN EXECUTED. The Times correspondent in Pekin dating his despatch August 21, and forwarding the same via Cbifu, and thence by post to Shanghai: Sir Robert Hart has issued a circular announcing that he has resumed his position as Inspector- General of Customs. He has obtained new offices near the ruins of the old. Besides Hsu Ching-cheng and Yuan-chang three other members of the Tsung-li-Yamen were executed without trial because of their relations with foreigners before the Court fled. Yesterday the representatives of all the Legations affixed seals to their respective papers in the archives of the Tsung-li-Yamen, which are now under Russian guard. The Japanese had previously removed their papers. The ladies are leaving Pekin to-morrow under escort. A proclamation agreed upon by the Ministers and Generals is now being prepared forbidding looting, calling on the Chinese to return to their homes, and undertaking to pay for provisions. The gradual re- storation of order in Pekin is expected. The treasure secured by the Japanese (belonging to the ?) board of revenue probably amounts to more than 2,000,000 taels. The Japanese also have secured sufficient rice and other foodstuffs for one division for one year. It is still undecided when a formal entry shall be made into the Forbidden City, where, it is believed, several millions sterling are deposited. Yesterday the Japanese occupied the Summer Palace without opposition; the 11th Regiment is quartered there. THE ASSASSINATION OF THE GERMAN I MINISTER. Chung Li, Military Commandant of Pekin, who is responsible for the assassination of the German Minister, has (says the Times Pekin correspondent) been arrested and is confined under German jurisdic- tion. In deference to the Russian claim of prior occupa- tion by a small body of Cossacks the- Japanese have withdrawn from the Summer Palace in favour of the Russians. The Japanese and Russians have cleared the Hunting Park of Boxers. A proclamation has been issued and the city is quieter. The destruction of property has been enormous. Miles of houses have been stripped, first by Boxers, then by Chinese soldiers, and then by the soldiers of the relief expedition. LI HUNG CHANG. I The Times Shanghai correspondent says that Li Hung Chang is there awaiting the edict appointing additional negotiators before he leaves for Tien-tsin. Postal and telegraphic arrangements between Tien- tsin and Pekin remain in a state of chaos. The Chinese reform leaders hold that it is necessary for a satis- factory settlement that Great Britain should insist on the return of the Emperor Kwang Hsu to Pekin to control the Government and on the retirement of the Dowager-Empress from public affairs. They also declare that for the suppression of the anti-foreign movement it is essential to refuse to recognise the claims of Prince Tuan's son to the succession to the Throne. NAVAL OFFICERS PROMOTED. Commander R. H. Johnston Stewart, in command of her Majesty's ship Algerine, has been promoted to the rank of captain for services in connection with the capture of the Taku forts and Commander C. G. Cradock, in command of her Majesty's ship Alacrity, has been noted for promotion for the same service on completing the qualifying sea time. Cap- tain L. T. Halliday, Royal Marine Light Infantry, has been promoted to the rank of brevet-major for his service with the Legation guard at Pekin. PRINCE CHING TO PRODUCE THE I EMPEROR. Renter despatches from Pekin of dates from August 21 to August 28 contain various interesting details about the situation there, and the parade of the allied troops through the Forbidden City. The correspondent says it is stated that Prince Ching will return to Pekin under the authority of an Imperial Edict, and that he will produce the Emperor. A deserter from the forces of Prince Tuan reports that the Dowager-Empress and the Emperor have fled through the Ku-pei-kau Pass, and that they are escorted by the troops of Tung-fuh- siang and Prince Tuan. Tung-fuh-siang's soldiers are looting the country, and many of Tuan's troops are deserting. RUSSIA'S ATTITUDE. I The Times Shanghai correspondent states that the Chinese Minister in St. Petersburg has telegraphed to Li Hung Chang that the proposal to evacuate Pekin presupposes that satisfactory assurances be given of the intention of the Court to return to the capital forthwith. In a later message, the Minister urges Li to endeavour to bring the Powers into line regarding the question of evacuation, since if Russia is obliged to reconsider her decision a loss of prestige is inevitable. Li Hung Chang has memorialised the Throne, urging the immediate return of the Court to Pekin. At the same time he points out, in a despatch to the Viceroy of Wu- chang, that the difficulty of advocating this course lies in the evident intention of the foreign Powers, on the Court's return, to seize the persons of the re- actionary leaders. Native officials have received telegraphic information that Prince Ching returned to Pekin on September 6 in obedience to an Imperial Edict. JAPAN'S POSITION. The Times Tokio correspondent says with regard to proposed evacuation of Pekin, Japan has replied that she does not object to withdraw her Minister and to take other steps recommended by the concert of the Powers; and that as her geographical position permits the prompt adoption of the necessary military measures, she is willing to withdraw such portion of her troops as may seem superfluous. The Times correspondent adds that, according to trust- worthy rumour, Russia is arranging to winter 15,000 men in Chil-li. IMPERIAL EDICT. NEGOTIATIONS PENDING. The Chinese Minister at Washington has handed to the Government an edict by the Chinese Emperor giving Li Hung Chang authority to make any terms with the Powers according to his discretion, without referring to the Emperor. General Chaffee, in a despatch to his Government Irom Pekin, of September 4, says it appears to him certain that the Chinese Government will not return there while the foreign army remains, and in his opinion Pekin is to be merely a camp of the foreign army pending a settlement by the Powers at other points. Reports from Paris and Berlin indi- cate a belief there that negotiations with Li Hung Chang and his fellow-commissioners have already been initiated. There are contradictory rumours as to the replies made by the other powers to the Russian proposal. I THE SIEGE OF THE LEGATIONS. I The correspondent of the Times, in a despatch dated the 31st ult., said: Papers received from London show that through- out the siege my despatches, forwarded constantly for large rewards, failed to elude the lines of the Chinese troops, the couriers being killed. It is also apparent that throughout the Chinese Ministers abroad endeavoured to hoodwink the foreign Governments by lying reports that the attacks upon the Legations and the shelling of the compounds, crowded with women and children, were due to lawless rebels, whom the Government was desirous, but powerless, to suppress, whereas the truth is that the attacks upon t;ie Legations were ordered by the Dowager-Empress and organised by Yung Lu, Tung-fuh-siang, and Li Ping Heng, high Government officials who were appointed by Imperial decree to reduce the Legations by fire, sword, or famine. Throughout the siege Krupp guns posted on the Imperial City wall and on the gate on the city wall facing the palace bombarded the Legations. On June 25, by the basest treachery, it was attempted to lull the foreigners into security and then make a sudden, simultaneous attack on the Legations con- trolled from the Imperial Palace. Throughout the siege, lasting two months, no food supplies of any kind were permitted to pass the Chinese cordon, but on July 18 the Chinese Ministers insolently sent some melons, ice, and one sack of flour into the British Legation, where the women and children were gathered, buit treachery was feared and none would eat the flour, being suspicious that it was poisoned. During the final negotiations, when there was nominally an armistice, the Chinese troops were working day and night, and from the pavilion in the Imperial carriage park drove a mine under the British Legation wall and the two-storeyed building occupied by British students. The rescue was pro- vidential. Probably in another day there would have been an explosion bursting a way into the Legation and causing great loss of life. A similar mine made by the Imperial troops ex- ploded in the Pei-tang cathecral and engulfed 200 native Christians. Moreover, during the armistice the Chinese mined the city wall under the American barricade, where rescue again came in the nick of time. Most profound indignation is felt here that the Ministers, Lo Feng Luk and Wu Ting Fang, whose shameless lies and transmission of bogus Imperial edicts delayed the departure of relief till it was nearly too late, are still received with hctiour in London and Washington. Since the arrival of relief nothing has been done that we expected. The Boxer leaders are not sought for or punished, temples which are the known headquarters of Boxers are not destroyed, while the palace, the emblem of Chinese power, is respect' honoured, and left untouched and inviolate. JAPS FOR SHANGHAI.—ALLIED TROOPS LEAVE TAKU. The intention of the Japanese Government to despatch troops to Shanghai is announced. In the meantime, 600 marines are to be forthwith landed from the Japanese warships in the harbour. An expedition of 4000 allied troops left Taku on Satur- day for Pao-ting-fu. THE WITHDRAWAL. A telegram from St. Petersburg says the French Government, has given its adhesion to the Russian declaration in favour of withdrawing from Pekin to Tientsin, and that the United States and Japan will probably pursue the same course.

MR. CHAMBERLAIN'S WARNING. At a meeting of Unionists of the South-East Durham Division, for which the Hon. Fred Lambton is the accepted candidate, the following letter was read from Mr. Chamberlain: Highbury, Moor-green, Birmingham, September 8, 1900. Dear Mr. Backhouse,—I am much obliged for your letter, and have heard with great pleasure that Mr. Fred Lambton is willing again to stand for South-East Durham. I sincerely trust that his energy and patriotism may be rewarded with success on the present occasion, and I shall be glad to see one member of the family, at least, supporting the Imperialist cause in the House of Commons. I am aware, as was to be expected from their past record, that Mr. Lambton's brothers profess Imperialist opinions; but they appear, nevertheless, to be willing to encrust the execution of the policy of which they approve to a party which has Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman, Sir William Harcourt, and Mr. Morley among their leaders, and the majority of which, as at present constituted, are opposed to the war and to a satisfactory settlement. Whatever may be said of the present Government, we are at least entitled to the credit of having seen from the first the importance of the issue raised by President Kruger's action, and of having determined that that issue should be decided by peaceful negotiation, if possible; but if not, by exerting the power of the Empire. Our predecessors allowed the question to drift while they were in office, and since they have been in Opposition many of them have opposed the preparations which were made and the whole policy of the war. I should myself seriously fear that if, by any cause, they were now to return to office, they would be ready to throw away, in connection with the settle- ment, the position which has been so hardly gained by the sacrifices of war. Mr. Fred Lambton's position is not open to any of these criticisms, and is clear and consistent; but I hope that every elector who feels that the arrogant and arbitrary tyranny of the Boer Oligarchy, culmi- nating in the invasion of her Majesty's territories, requires to be dealt with with a strong hand, will support the Unionist candidate at the poll.—Believe me, yours very truly, J. CHAMBERLAIN."

THE KAISER AND THE CZAR. The Odessa correspondent of the Daily News learns from a well-informed and trustworthy source that it is extremely probable that the German Emperor will pay a visit to the Czar during the latter's short sojourn at the Imperial Castle of Spala in Poland, before the Russian Emperor's visit to the south-east of the Crimea in the late autumn. Preparations are already afoot at the villa of Livadia for the reception of the Court. A St. Petersburg firm is installing the electric light along the road from Yalta to Livadia. The Palace at Abbas Tuman in the Caucasus, formerly occupied by the late Caszarevitch, is to be converted into a sanatorium for patients suffering from pulmonary diseases. It is understood that this is being done pursuant to a wish formerly ex- pressed by the young Prince, who spent the last years of his life at Abbas Tuman.

RAILWAY ACCIDENTS IN 1899. The Board of Trade report on accidents on the railways of the United Kingdom in 1899 was issued on Tuesday asia Blue-book.&It statestthat the number of passengers killed in train accidents during the year was 14, against 25 in the preceding year. The total number of passengers killed from causes other than accidents to train was 141, against 128 in 1898, and of passengers injured 1457, against 1238. In all classes of accidents on railways, only one passenger was killed in every 7,139,948, and only one injured in every 514,740. In the course of the year 531 railway servants were killed and 4622 injured, irre- spective of 53 killed and 10,949 injured in accidents in which the movements of trains were not con- cerned.

BRITISH CONSUL ATTACKED BY I KURDS. Details of the recent attack by Kurds on the British Vice-Consul, Major Maunsell, at Van, have now arrived at Constantinople. He was assailed in a rocky defile. His Turkish guides and muleteers fled, but Major Maunsell, with a Lee-Metford car- bine, shot four Kurds before he had to abandon his baggage, owing to his dragoman being wounded.

THE Balalaikistes of Russia now performing at the Paris Exhibition have been sent by the Emperor himself. They have a music all their own and special instruments, the domra and the balalaika resembling mandolines with three strings, the gouslis, an old Slavonic instrument like a harp of 64 strings, the brelka and sverelis pipes, the nacris, a kind of clay pot, and the boubenne, a tambourine.

GREAT GALE IN AMERICA. I A great hurricane has been raging along the coasts of Louisiana and Texas, and for a hundred miles inland damage has been done. The tempest caused very high water at Galveston, and it is reported that all the bridges connecting Galveston with the mainland are gone. The tele- graph and telephone wires from Galveston to Texas Points have been broken, but according to a despatch from Vera Cruz the Mexican Cable Company re- ports that immense damage has been done at Gal- veston. Many lives have been lost, an(rthe gulf front is strewn with wrecks. I The reports received regarding the loss of life at Galveston vary considerably. A despatch from that town of Monday's date estimates the loss of life at between 600 and 1000, and states that the city is almost in ruins and that the wharf frontage has been almost entirely swept away. Every ocean steamer lying alongside the wharves was stranded. Signs of death and destruction were seen on every hand. Other reports from Galveston say that the town was struck by a wave, and that the loss of life amounts to between 2500 and 3000. The water is 15ft. deep over Virginia Point. Many other towns have suffered great damage, and there have been some fatal cases. A message from New Orleans states that cablegrams received there from Vera Cruz give the loss of li!e at Galveston as 2600. Heavy rain accompanied the hurricane. The cotton crop is nearly ruined, as the storm swept the cotton belt of the State. According to the latest estimate the loss of life at Galveston and in the vicinity does not exceed 1500. The damage to property amounts to about 10,000,000 dols. Movements for relief have been started everywhere, including one undertaken by the Government. The War Department has ordered 10,000 tents and 50,000 rations for immediate use. ,HE WRECKED TOWN TO BE ABANDONED. President McKinley has directed the United States War Department to hasten the supply of 50,000 rations and 1000 tents for the use of the sufferers at Galveston. It is stated that it is not likely that the damage done by the storm will be made good, and it is probable that the town will be abandoned. Such a calamity as that which has occurred has always been feared, since the city of Galveston is built only a few feet above sea- level. People are reported to be dying from hunger and thirst. Many of the victims of the disaster will have to be buried without identification. There are 2,000,000dol. in the Texas State Treasury which could be made available for relief purposes. There seems to be no ground for hope that fuller details will show any reduction in the estimated number of victims at Galveston, which is about 1000, and the loss of property is, perhaps, even higher than the figures at first given. The dead at Galveston are being collected as rapidly as possible and taken to sea on barges. This is neces- sary to protect the survivors from pestilence and because the ground is too wet for digging graves. One man says that when he left Galveston men armed with Winchester rifles were standing over the burying squads and compelling them to load the corpses on drays to be hauled on barges.

NAVAL DISCIPLINE. A return of courts-martial and summary punish ments in the British Navy and among the Marines on shore during the year 1899 has been published as a Parliamentary paper. The grand total of sentences passed for offences against superior authority, drunkenness, and desertion was 478, as compared with 416 in the preceding year and 432 in 1897. Of rases in the first-named category there were 252 on shipboard and 96 among the Marines on land.

EXPELLED BOERS AT SOUTHAMPTON. An unusual scene was witnessed at the South- Am pton Docks on Saturday, on the arrival of the Linion Castle Liner Scot, with 40 deported Boei undesirables on board. The notorious "Zarp" Jones who killed Edgar at Johannesburg when the unrest was at its height, was among the number. The autho- rities were represented by Colonel Stacpole, for the War Office; Captain Barnard, for the Admiralty; Inspector Boggelti,* for the Home Office; Chief- Constable Berry, of Southampton, and a strong force of military and police. The deported Boers, with their women and children, were sent up to London in a special, and from Waterloo arrange- mentsfortheirfurthertransittotheir "placeof origin' -chiefly Holland and Belgium. The" Zarp" Jones rr.et the scowls and howls of the crowd at the land- ing-stage with marked composure. Indeed, he appeared to be amused at the situation.

SUICIDE IN PRISON. Late on Saturday night John Crichton, aged 20, s labourer, hanged himself in the Glasgow Centra' Police-office. He had been apprehended for assaulting a policeman and was put into a cell with twc drunken men. Half an hour later a noise was heard coming from the cell, and when the turnkey opened the door he found Crichton hanging from the water- pipe by a muffler, quite dead. The men in the cell were too drunk to interfere.

THE ASHANTI EXPEDITION. A letter from Coomassie states that two rebel chieft surrendered unconditionally on Friday of last. week. Many more chiefs are likely to submit at once, as the j punitive columns are reported to be operating vigo- rously in all the surrounding country. FLIGHT OF NATIVE LEVIES. FATE OF CAPTAIN BENSON. A distressing report of a most unhappy occurrence has reached Coomassie. Captain Benson, who had been for some time raising Akim levies, moved out about August 28 with 3000 of them to attack the enemy near Ojesu. Directly the levies got under fire they turned and fled to Odumasi. Captain Benson, who had only one other white man with him, prefer- ringdeathtocapture by the Ashantis, is said to ha. ve hct himself. A column has moved out due east, under Captain Reeve, to pursue the enemy and proceed to Odumasi. Two important Chiefs, Kweku Mensa, Chief of Antoa, and Kwaku Djamfi, Chief of Coo- massie, have surrendered, and are prisoners at the fort. Coomassie is now in direct telegraphic com- munication with Cape Coast Castle. Much credit is due to the telegraph staff for the great rapidity with which it has carried out, under many difficulties, the work of reconstruction.

A TURKISH LOVE TRAGEDY. From Fontainebleau is reported the tragic suicide of the nephew of the Turkish Ambassador in London. He arrived at the former town on Saturday morning in order, it is said, to induce a lady now staying there to accept his suit, although she had already refused him several times. He had a final interview with her near to the railway station at Fontainebleau. when his offer of marriage was again rejected. Taking out a revolver he pointed it at the lady, but instead of firing at her he suddenly turned the weapon towards himself and put a bullet through his brain. He was conveyed to the hospital, where he expired. The Press Association is enabled, from inquiries made, to furnish the following additional particu- lars: The tragedy, it is stated, is the result of a love affair." Athanese Hadjiyancogion Effendi, as the de- ceased was known, had been in the position of third secretary to the Embassy for about 10 or 12 months, and was extremely popular there. As his name indicates, he was of Greek parentage, but he came to London from Constantinople. He appears to have received about the middle of last week a telegram summoning him to Paris, where there was a lady with whom he was known to have been on very friendly terms. He left on Friday morning last in response to the telegram, and at eleven o'clock on Saturday morning the distressing news reached the Turkish Embassy in Paris that he had fatally shot himself. As far as can be gathered, he had seen his lady friend, and, perturbed by the non-success of his suit, had fired two shots at her from a revolver. Neither of the bullets, fortunately for her, took effect; but the young Effendi immediately turned the weapon upon him- self, firing one shot into his bead. He was removed to the hospital, but on arrival there was found to have expired. The deceased, who was about 22 years of age, but was much older in appearance, had been observed lately to have been in indifferent health and a good deal depressed. The Turkish Ambassador in London was staying at an hotel in Paris when the news of the tragic occurrence was brought to him from the Embassy there, and he at once decided to curtail his holiday and return forthwith to England. His Excellency arrived at the Embassvin London, on Sunday evening, having left the French capital in the early hours of the morning, and is, naturally, greatly shocked by the sudden termination of a promising career. At present the name of the lady is not known at the Embassy in London, nor are any details to hand beyond those above given. It was decided that the body should not be brought to London for interment, but that the funeral should take place in Paris, and the Ambassador left behind him a representative to lee to the arrangements.

THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION. Saturday was, as usual, an off day at the meet- ing of this association at Bradford. The sections of Chemistry, Geography, Economic Science, and Mechanical Science did not sit at all, and in the others only a few papers were read, none of which were of much general interest except Sir W. Preece's account, in the Mathematical and Physical Science Section, of recent experiments in the working of wire- less telephony. This was followed by a discussion. Several excursions, in which large numbers of the members joined, took place in the afternoon. In the evening a lecture to artisans on the industrial applications of electricity was given in St. George'* Hall, by Professor Silvanus Thompson. SECTIONAL WORK. The British Association continued its meeting at Bradford on Monday, when all the sections sat and a large number of papers and reports were sub- mitted. Section A met in two departments in one the subjects treated in the dozen or so of papers read belonged wholly to the region of the higher mathe- matics, while in the Department of Meteorology report* of committees on meteorological observations on Ben Nevis, on seismological observations, on solar radia- tion, and on meteorological photography were pre- sented. In the Chemistry Section the papers pre- sented were purely technical; two or three of them were followed by discussion. In Section C, Geology, most of the time available was devoted to a joint discussion with the Botany Section on the condi- tions which obtained during the growth of the forests of the coal measures. The topics which were most prominent in the proceed ngs of Section D, Zoology, were the respiration of aquatic insects, and a report by Mr. Stanley Gardiner of investigations on the coral reefs of the Indian region. In the Geo- graphy Section, Colonel Sir T. H. Holdich contri- buted a paper on railway connection with India. Mr. C. R. Beazley gave an interesting account of a journey as far as Irkutsk and Lake Baikal by the Siberian Railway, and Mr. Borchgrevink described the experiences and results of the Antarctic expedition of which he had charge in 1899 and the early part of the present year. In Section F, Economic Science, the reading of papers by Mr. A. Priestman on municipal trading and by Mr. Auberon Herbert on municipal buildings for the overcrowded led to an animated discussion on the question of the proper limits of industrial and other undertakings by municipalities. There was considerable interest in the proceedings of the Mechanical Science and Anthropology Sections. In the evening Professor Stroud lectured in St. Georges- hall on Range Finders." INTERESTING PAPERS AND DISCUSSIONS. The British Association continued its meeting at Bradford on Tuesday. In the Mathematical De- partment of Section A there was a discussion on Ions," opened by Professor Fitzgerald; in the Astronomical Department several papers of strictly technical character were read. The Chemical Section also met in two departments. Among the more interesting papers was one by Dr. A. Liebmann on recent development* in the textile industries. The papers pre- sented in the Geology Section were numerous, but none of them were of special importance. Section D, Zoology, was mainly occupied with papers and discussion on the subject of mimicry and protective resemblance in animals and insects. In the Geo- graphy Section Mr. G. G. Chisholm contributed a paper on some of the consequences that may be antici- pated from the development of the resources of China by modern methods; and Mr. E. Heawood dealt with the subject of the commercial resources of tropical Africa. Of the papers read in Section F, Economic Science, the most interesting were Mr. L. L. Price's on Some Economic Consequences of the South African War," and a description by Mr. Reeves, Agent-General for New Zealand, of the money-lend- ing systems of the Australasian colonies. Fairly full programmes of work were got through by the other sections, but a number of papers had to be disposed of on Wednesday, when the meeting concluded.

EXPLOSION ON A WARSHIP. TWO GUNNERS KILLED. A fatal accident occurred on board her Majesty's ship Diadem at Berehaven on Tuesday afternoon. About four o'clock three seamen gunners, named Redgrave, Clayton, and Howe, were engaged in the body-room in testing cartridge primers prior to big gun practice when a cartridge exploded. Redgrave was immediately killed, and Clayton was mortally injured, and died soon afterwards. Howe is seriously hurt. The magazine adjoining the body- room was promptly flooded to prevent the possibility of a more serious disaster. The accident is believed to be due to a too powerful application of the alectrio current with which the primers are tested.

MR. JOHN INGLIS, whose election to the Committee on Water-tube Boilers has completed the personnel of that much-desired body, had the advantage during his University career of being a student under Lord Kelvin and Professor Raneome. Although the youngest man of his year, he carried off all the best prizes. From the University he went direct to the engine shop, and thence to the shipyard, where h1 Boon gave evidence of his originality. He has de> signed and constructed some of the best yachts of his time, XHE anti-British feeling which prevails in Brussels r°lr 7 ^onstrated by an experience which befell a group of Englishmen holiday-making m Belgium. A chorus was 8ung 80 frequently in n t the? ultimately were able to whistle it. They afterwards discovered that the tune was the Boer National Anthem. ALTHOUGH there is little demand for clerks in South 8Cale of Pay for those who are lucky enough to secure employment is'much higher than in England, Typewriting appears to be a rccommenda- tion; for recently the Buluwayo Chamber of Minea Mvertieed a TaCaDcv for a typewriter at a salary of 925 a month.

MYSTERY OF A MISSING SULTAN, The United States War Department has a missing man mystery, with the Sultan of Sulu in the leading role. According to advices just received, the Sultan took his departure some weeks ago, after turning over the affairs of his archipelago to Major Sweet, an American officer, at Jolo. Since then no trace of him has been found. He stated that he was going to Singapore, but some indications have led the American officers tc believe that he may extend his visit as far as Paris He is said to have secured before starting a sum equal to 20,000dol. His departure was followed bj an outbreak between two of his leading chieftains which reached the extent of actual warfare, and was finally put down only after vigorous action by the American forces.

FOR SAFETY ON RAILWAYS. One of the best inventions for preventing accidents an railway lines is the Laffas system. This consists of a block placed between the rails, and operated simultaneously with the semaphore signal in such a manner that when the semaphore is at Danger the block is raised above the level of the rails, and when the semaphore is at "All right" the block is depressed below the rails. A lever depends from a small valve upon the engine, in connection with the continuous brake-pipe, which, by coming in contact with the block, opens the valve, and applies the whole of the brakes on the train.

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL F. I, MAXSE, D.S.O., Cold- stream Guards, now on special service in South Africa, has been selected for second in command of a battalion in his regiment, in place of Major A. C. Surtees, with the 1st Battalion in South Africa, pro- moted. Lieutenant-Colonel Maxae is the son of the late Admiral Maxse, and it will be remembered that. after taking a brilliant part in the defeat of the Khalifa in the Soudan on November 24 last he landed in England on December 18, was married to Lord Leconfield's daughter on the 19ch, and sailed im- mediataly for the war in South Africa, where he has further distinguished himself.