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

THE COLLAPSE OF DUMBELI/S I BANE. CONVICTION OF DIRECTORS AND AUDITORS. I The trial of the five officials of the Dumbell's Bank, accused of issuing faltto balance-sheets, has been concluded at Douglas, before a Court of General Gaol Delivery. Lord Henniker presided, and the other judges were Mr. H. G. Shee, Q.C (sworn in as First Deemster for the purposes of the trial), and Deemster Moore. The defendants were Charles Banks Nelson, John Shimmon, Joseph Drake Rogers, William Aldred, ,and Harold Vincent Aldred. The jury in the first trial, which ended last week, returned a verdict of guilty against all the defendants recommending to mercy Mr. Harold Aldred. Sen- tence was deferred pending the second charge against Nelson and Shimmon of misappropriation of the bank's money. The trial was resumed at Douglas on Saturday of Charles Banks Nelson and John Shimmon, late director and manager of Dumbell's Bank on the second indictment charging them with misappropri- ating the money of the Bank. Mr. Creer, for Nelson, contended that there was no element of fraud in the transactions. Nelson believed himself able to repay the advances, and the statement of his affairs which he had produced justified that belief. Nelson could have gone to another bank and obtained similar advances on depositing the securities of which he was possessed. Mr. Coole followed on behalf of Shimmon. He pleaded that Shimmon was not connected as prin- cipal in any of the matters charged. The Attorney- General, in reply, pointed out that some element of fraud was necessary. Nelson's connection with the transactions was not now practically denied, and Sbimmon was connected, more or less directly, with seme of them. Deemster Shee, having summed up, the jury retired at seven minutes to five to consider their verdict, and, shortly before eight, their being no sign of their returning, the judges went to dine, and the Court adjourned. At 20 minutes to eleven all five prisoners were placed in the dock, and the judges and jury filed into Court. The foreman informed the Deemster that the jury were unable to agrae, as some members had doubts as to what constituted fraud, and thought defendants were solvent. Deemster Shee asked the jury to consided the whole circumstances, and observed that to say defendants could not be guilty of fraud because they were solvent would not be right. The jury again retired, and at a quarter to twelve they said they were about agreeing. Shortly afterwards, however, the court adjourned until Mon- day. A vast crowd remained outside the court- house all night, and the police had great difficulty in keeping order. Several times they charged the crowd. The people grew threatening anti hooted the constables, who finally drew their truncheons and made somewhat free use of them. One man had his arm broken, and others had lesser injuries. Several women were knocked down and trampled upon. THE SENTENCES. I At Douglas on Monday the jury, who on Satur- day had been unable to agree to a. verdict in the cases of Charles Nelson, late director, and John Shimmon, late manager of Dumbell's Bank, charged with fraudulently converting the money of the bank to their own use, found the prisoners guilty of mis- appropriating the money of the bank in respect of the Nelson trust accounts, but recommended them to mercy. On the first conviction, for issuing false balance-sheets, Nelson and Shimmon were each sentenced to thrtie years' penal servitude; Rogers, auditor, to 18 months'; William Aldred, auditor, to 12 months'; and Harold Aldred, auditor, to six months' hard labour. On the second conviction Nelson and Shimmon were each sentenced to five years' penal servitude, with which their other sen- tence will run concurrently. The jury's recommen- dations to mercy were, it was stated, taken into aocount by the Court. The scene in Court when sentence was being passed was impressively quiet, and, before retiring, Deemster Shee remarked approvingly on the good order which had been maintained throughout. The news of the sentence was speedily conveyed to the crowd in wait- ing outside the Court, who thereupon raised a cheer which was plainly heard within the building. The prisoners seemed astounded at the severity of their punishment. Nelson and Shimmon will be sent to England to serve out their sentence, but Rogers and Aldreds will undergo their imprisonment with hard labour in the Common Manx Gaol.

ST. HUGH OF LINCOLN. I St. Hugh of Avalon, the famous Bishop of Lincoln, died 700 years ago, and on Saturday and Sunday the anniversary of his death was fittingly commemo- rated at Lincoln. On Saturday morning there was a choral celebration, the Bishop of Lincoln (Dr. King) being the celebrant. At the eleven o'clock service there was a very iarge congregation. Before the service the Cathedral organist, Dr. J. G. Bennett, played the Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin and Elgar's Imperial" March. The procession formed in the west end of the nave, proceeding, to the strains of Archbishop Benson's processional hymn, Blessed City, heavenly Salem," in the following order: The Bishop of the Diocese, the Dean and Chapter, the Prebendaries, the Mayor and Corporations of the City of Lincoln, the City Magistrates, the parochial clergy, the students of the Scholse Chancellarii, and the choir. The choir was augmented by members of the Lincoln Musical Society and by members of the Diocesan Training College. Rev. Precentor Bramley and the Very Rev. the Dean read the lessons, the Te Deum and Benedictus being Stanford in B flat. The Bishop of Bristol was the preacher. Bach's Anthem, Blessing, glory, and wisdom and thanks," was sung during the service. The Dean and Chapter after- wards entertained the Mayor and Corporation and a number of distinguished guests at luncheon in the County Assembly Rooms, while in the afternoon Dr. Bennett gave an organ recital. The commemora- tion services were continued on Sunday. A shortened evensong service was held in the nave in the after- noon, the Sub-Dean (Rev. E. T. Leeke) being the preacher. In the evening the Bishop of Lincoln was the preacher.

M. PICHOS, says the Paris correspondent of the Daily News, is'to be given the charming postjof French Resident in Tunis as soon as the pending Chinese negotiations are closed. He has so come out of his terrible situation at Pekin that all parties now respect him. M. Pichon saw clearly in what direc- tion things were drifting in China when most of his colleagues lived in a fool's paradise. BEWARE of the bogey of respectability," says Gold and Notes. Let the bank clerks slide from the lap of gentility and stand on their feet. The clerical portion of their work is not difficult; it is an age of innovations-to cut down expenses is the order of the day-and before another ten years are over our heads it will be the rule, and not the exception, to see lady ledger keepers behind English bank counters.

EXPRESS DISASTER. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE WORLDS FASTEST TRAIN. The terrible accident to the Sud Express (says the Toulouse correspondent of the Daily Mail) does not appear less dreadful in view of the facts which have now been ascertained. It was exactly a quarter to twelve, noon, on the 15th inst., when nearing Dax, that the train, going at o,reat speed, came to grief. The restaurant-car was thrown across the rails and smashed up between the engine and the other cars ot the train. At this moment 28 persons were at table. Thirteen were killed outright, eight grievously injured, while the rest escaped unhurt. The spectacle of the line strewn with the remains of the cars, which leaped one on the other, was awful. It is suggested that there was a subsidence of the soil beneath the rails. The Flying Southern Express has (says a Paris correspondent) paid a terrible price for its reputation as the fastest train in the world, and if the story of the driver is to be accepted the fearful accident of the 15th inst. is due to the frantic pace at which it was travelling. He says that two days ago he told the company of the danger they incurred in running the train at 70 miles an hour, especially on a line that was none too solid. But his warning was unheeded. In fact the driver's figures were considerably under the highest speed attained on some sections of the road, for at certain flat stretches in the district where the acci- dent occurred the train had sometimes been travel- ling at the rate of 75 miles an hour. At the time of the accident the express was round- ing a curve and going downhill, and Viscount d'Irneste, one of the passengers, declares that the catastrophe is attributable to the defective condition of the line. So far as the list of victims has been made out, 14 killed have been accounted for and double that number have been injured but these figures cannot be taken as final. Among the killed is an English- man named Albert Standye, representative of the Thomson Company, and the injured included two Englishwomen, Mrs. and Miss Kent, of London. Another English passenger in the train was Mr. John MacEwan Ames, who was able to continue his journey to Paris. The accident was a curious affair. The engine once left the rails, but succeeded in righting itself again only for a moment, however, for immediately afterwards it was jolted off the track a second time and thrown down the embankment, dragging the tender after it. In the restaurant twenty-four persons were seated at the able, and a moment later, of what had been a merry tuncheon party, fourteen were dead and two seriously linjured. The restaurant suffered so terribly from the fact that it did not follow the tender over the embank- ment, but was thrown across the rails and sustained the frightful shock of the succeeding carriages. Most of the injured bear terrible bruises, and the Duchess of Canevaro, whose husband, the Peruvian Minister and Plenipotentiary at Paris, and brother of Admiral Canevaro, was killed, had both her arms badly crushed. One of the kitchen staff escaped with slight injury, but the accident bereft him of reason, and while the wounded were being attended to he walked about singing and raving mad. A touching scene was witnessed at the Gare d'Austerlidzt when the train arrived bringing the survivors of the accident. Mme. Dembrowski was among the killed, and her husband, who was slightly injured, accompanied her body to Paris. Whenlthe stricken husband, haggard and pale, descended from the train, he was so unnerved that he-could no longer conceal his emotion, and at the sight of his dead wife his grief:overpowered him, and he broke down, sob- bing convulsively. Mme. Dembrowski was aged thirty-four, and the mother of three children, who were awaiting her return to Kieff. The distinguished foreigner killed was Mr. Canevaro, Duke of Soagli, near Genoa, Peruvian Minister to England, France, and Italy. He was about seventy years of age. Mr. Canevaro was special Peruvian Envoy to Eng- land at the Diamond Jubilee. He was Peruvian born, but of Italian family. He inherited a great fortune from his father, who emigrated to Peru, and bought the Soagli title many years ago. His brothers were born in Italy, and one of them is Admiral Canevaro, the Italian Minister. Mr. Canevaro had been to Spain to see the Queen Regent concerning the arbitration between Peru and Chili on the frontier difficulty. His wife, who is so seriously injured, is a Peruvian lady.

ANOTHER FIERCE GALE, INCIDENTS IN THE CHANNEL. A fierce north-easterly gale prevailed in the English Channel from Saturday night, and continued with unabated severity up to a late hour on Sunday night, accompanied by quite a deluge of rain. The effect of the gale had been most severe between Margate and Deal, where huge seas have swept the coast. On Sunday morning considerable excitement was caused at Dover on the arrival of the mail boat La Flandre from Ostend. The captain reported having encountered terrific seas in crossing, and when approaching the East Goodwins they sighted a very large screw steamer, of apparently about 2000 tons, driving helplessly. They got as near as possible to this vessel, but found she was derelict. As the mail boat could render no assistance, and as there was another steamer apparently in attend- ance, they proceeded on their voyage. Later in the day, the Hubert arrived off Dover, having succeeded in towing the derelict close in shore between Shake- speare Cliff and the Admiralty Pier, where the sea bottom is flat, and which would be an easy position to tow her off if the vessel sank, as appears probable from her condition. The derelict proved to be the Sardonyx, of London, which had been ashore on the Kentish Knock. She was bound to Hull with a cargo of grain when she stranded. The steamer Hubert refused to take the assistance of any of the tugs in the saving operations. Amongst vessels which sought shelter from the gale at Dover was a Russian four-funnelled torpedo- destroyer, which had a very rough experience, her hull at times quite disappearing from view. The iron screw steamer Sir Robert Peel, from Dunkirk to London, with general cargo, had her shaft broken in the tempestuous seas on Saturday night. She narrowly escaped colliding in her dis- abled condition with the North Goodwin Lightship. The Broadstairs lifeboat, Francis Forbes Barton, put off to her assistance, and succeeded in conveying a hawser from the disabled ship to a tug, but was considerably damaged in so doing. The Sir Robert Peel, with her crew of eleven hands and two French passengers, were brought into Ramsgate in safety. The Frenchmen speak in the highest terms of the bravery and skill of the lifeboat men. On Sunday the Norwegian ship Flink put into Newhaven through stress of weather, having on board the crew of four men of the ketch General Stewart, bound from Rochester to Jersey, which foundered on Thursday off Dungeness in the gale. The men were rescued from an open boat. A violent gale has been raging at Yarmouth, shutting up the herring fleets in the harbour. A number of vessels arriving from sea report serious losses of nets, and the Scottish fishing boat, Star, lost a hand named Alexander Coull, aged 34, a buckie fisherman who was washed overboard. »

THB remarkable migration of middle class Loddoners westward, which set in on the opening of the Central London Electric Railway, not only still continues, but is likely to be stimulated by the open- ing of the electric tramway service between Hammer- smith and Kew, which will also have communication with Shepherd's Bush approaches. The demand for houses in the locality greatly increases. IN the show-cases devoted to exhibits of early printing from Japan and China the British Museum authorities have just placed an interesting addition —a Chinese bank-note issued during the reign of the Emperor Hung-wu, A.D. 1368-1399. This is the earliest specimen of a bank-note known to exist in any country, and is three hundred years earlier than the establishment at Stockholm of the first Euro- pean bank which issued notes. About 18in. in length and half that in width, it is a curious-looking document. SCOTLAND has lost its leading pillar of the veteri- nary profession by the death of Principal Williams. He was known throughout the country, and his two great works, Veterinary Medicine and Veteri- nary Surgery," are used as text-books in America, as well as Great Britain. His kindly and genial manner made him many friends, but he suffered through the determined stand be took up from time to time against the government veterinary author- ities.

THE QUEEN AND SIR REDVERS BULLER. Sir Redvers and Lady Audrey Buller arrived at Windsor on Saturday afternoon on a visit to the Queen. The corporation banner was displayed upon the Guildhall, the municipal buildings, and many houses in the town were decked with flags in honour of the gallant General, and thousands of spectators assembled in the streets despite the rain and dreary weather. The train conveying Sir Redvers and Lady Audrey Buller arrived at the London and South-Western Station about 20 minutes past four, and as they alighted they were loudly cheered hy the passengers and others on the platform. Sir Arthur Bigge, the Queen's private secretary, who was accompanied by Miss Bigge, met them at the entrance to the Royal waiting-room, where the Mayor, the ex- Mayor, Sir Joseph Devereux, Sir J. Soundy, and various members of the corporation had assembled. The Rev. J. R. J. Ellison, vicar of Windsor, was also present. The Mayer, who wore his official gold badge and chain, in welcoming Sir Redvers Buller, said: Personally as Mayor and representing the Cor- poration and residents of Windsor we give you a most hearty welcome. We congratulate you and your brave men upon the splendid work done in South Africa for our Queen and Empire. The pioneer work was done in a determined manner. You laughed at impossibilities. You said, It shall be done,' and it was done. We are pleased to see you so well and trust you, Sir Redvers, and Lady Audrey Buller may have continued health." After being introduced to the ex-Mayor and Sir Joseph Devereux, General Buller said Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen,—I am very much obliged to you for the kind reception you have given to me. The more so as I confess it is entirely un- expected. I am afraid that we are not the con- jurers you imputed us to be. What we had to do was certainly a very difficult job. It was done with considerable difficulty, but the men were determined to do it. That, I think, is the real secret of getting over most difficulties, and in these days we have to fight to get over some." Sir Redvers and Lady Audrey Buller then entered one of the Queen's carriages which was standing opposite the doorway of the Royal rooms and in this they drove from the terminus with Sir Arthur and Miss Bigge. The route from the Queen's private station along the Datchet- road, Thames-street, and past the White Hart Hotel in High-street to her Majesty's statue on the Castle- hill was crowded with eager sightseers, while others filled the balconies and windows. General Buller met throughout with a most stirring welcome, cheer after cheer greeting him as the carriage passed through the crowd, which occasionally blocked the roadway. Sir Redvers is an old Etonian and many students of the college where he was educated mingled with the throng and added their cheers to Lhose of the people. The Royal carriage subse- quently proceeded "up the hill to the Castle. Sir Redvers and Lady Audrey Buller dined with the Queen, and remained at the Castle for the night, apartments having been prepared for them in the Lancaster Tower, on the south side of the castle, overlooking the Long Walk. They left the Lancaster Tower shortly before half-past eight o'clock on Sunday morning and walked to St. George's Chapel, where they attended the early service, at which Canon Dalton officiated. They afterwards returned to the castle, and later in the morning Sir Redvers Buller took a walk through Windsor. Sir Redvers and Lady Buller left the castle after luncheon on Sunday and drove in one of the Queen's carriages to the Great Western station, where by order of Mr. Hart, Divisional Superintendent of the London District, a special train had been prepared for their conveyance to Hungerford. Most of the flags displayed on Saturday still decked the Guildhall and houses in its vicinity, a.nd the weather being fine, although cold, crowds of spectators gathered in the streets and inside the station to see the departure. The Mayor ind other members of the Windsor Corpora- tion assembled near the Royal rooms. As Sir Redvers and Lady Audrey Buller entered the station yard amid the cheers of the spectators many rushed after the carriage, and in a few seconds the platform was thronged. Sir Redvers and Lady Audrey Buller walked immediately through the Queen's waiting-room to the saloon, in which they remained standing and bowing their acknowledg- ments for several minutes. The cheering was con- tinuous until the train left at five minutes to three. At Hungerford Station a great number of the townspeople had assembled, and they cheered jnthusiastically as Sir Redvers and Lady Audrey Buller alighted. It had been arranged to give a public reception to General Buller and his wife, who are the guests of Mr. and Lady Margaret Watney at Littlecote Hall, but as their arrival took place on Sunday the pro- posal was abandoned. Flags were hoisted, however, in the streets, and the High Constable, Mr. George Platt, with Mrs. Platt, accompanied by some of the leading inhabitants, were in attendance. The High Don stable, having been introduced, congratulated the General on his safe return from the war, gave aim a hearty welcome to that part of Berkshire, and thanked him for all he had done for his country and the Empire. Sir Redvers Buller having returned ihanks. he and Lady Audrey Buller took their seats in Mr. Watney's carriage, and, amid the cheers of she crowd, drove off to Littlecote Hall. There was an amusing incident at Staines-junction an Saturday vhile General and Lady Audrey Buller were waiting th-re for the down train to take them co Windsor. It was not generally known that they were coming from Aldershot, and consequently there were very few persons at the junction when the Saturday only" train by which they travelled from Ascot ran in. On alighting, they walked up he platform to the bookstall almost unrecognised, but their presence, some twenty minutes earlier tha^n they had been expected, so soon beoame known that there was presently a crowd of considerable siz«. The station-master offered the privacy of his office, and this was accepted till the down train was sig- nalled from Ashford. There was no very marked demonstration till General and Lady Audrey Buller had crossed from the up to the down platform, but then hearty cheers were raised. A party of navvies from the Staines reservoir works sang For he's a jolly good fellow," persisting in it with much spirit, greatly to the General's amusement. Cheers were again raised as the Windsor train steamed out of the station. THE GENERAL AT HIS DEVON HOME. Sir Redvers Buller on Tuesday travelled, on the Great Western Railway, from Hungerford to Salis- bury, where he was met by the Mayor and Corpora- tion of the city, and congratulated on his return, The General then proceeded by the London and South-Western line to Crediton, where he received an enthusiastic welcome from a vast concourse oi people. An address was read by Sir John Shelley, and acknowledged by Sir Redvers Buller, who wa., afterwards escorted to his home at Downes.

WHAT THE SEALS ARE LIKE. The seals of office, which half a dozen of our rulers recently surrendered to, or received from, the Queen, are small metal stamps in velvet cases. They are mere emblems, never used unless the handing of them by the Queen to new Ministers, and the return of them to her Majesty at the end of office, may be called used. It is said that frequently Ministers do not see their seals from the day of receiving to the time of relinquishing them.

"THE ANGEL GABRIEL." While the late General Palmer was Military Governor of Kentucky, a disturbance occurred in a small town in the interior, and it was necessary for him to go there at once. There was no train, no carriage, no buggy to be got; the only vehicle avail- able was a big, gilded circus chariot left by some stranded show company. In this carriage the General cut a great dash as he drove through a small town. In the plantations an old white-haired preacher, on seeing General Palmer in his magni- ficent chariot, raised his eyes and his arms on high and cried, Bress de Lord, de day of judgment am eome, an dis gemman am de Angel Gabriel hisself."

THOMAS WILSON, of Washington, was once arguing a case of some importance in the United States Supreme Court, and was dwelling upon propositions that were known to and accepted by every law student in the country, when he was interrupted by the late Justice Miller saying, Cannot the counsel safely assume that this court understands the rudiments of law ?" I made that mistake in the lower court," retorted Mr. Wilson, or this case would not have been here on aoDeal."

I THE CZAR'S ILLNESS. The following bulletin concerning the Czar's con- dition was published on the afternoon of Saturday: LIVADIA, Nov. 17, 11 a.m. The Emperor passed a good day yesterday and slept for about an hour. His Majesty's temperature during the day was 100'5 and pulse 72. Last night the Emperor slept sufficiently well, his temperature being 100'5 and pulse 70. His Majesty's general condition is good and the illness is taking a regular course." LIVADIA, Nov. 18, 11 a.m. The Czar passed a favourable day yesterday and slept a little. His general condition was satisfac- tory, and he felt at ease. At nine in the evening his Majesty's temperature was 101'6 and his pulse 64. The illustrious patient slept very well during the bight and this morning felt well. His head was quite clear, and at nine this morning the temperature tvas 99 6 and pulse 68. All the churches throughout South Russia are holding services for the restoration of the Czar's health. The churches are crowded. The accounts from Livadia are followed in Vienna with great interest, and there is general satisfaction P,t, the favourable course which the Czar's malady is apparently taking. I hear (says the Times Vienna correspondent) that the season at Livadia, where, as a rule, there is a plentiful supply of water, has been exceptionally dry and that the quantity has been reduced by the drought to one-tenth of the average. The consequence is that the number of cases of typhoid fever has been much larger than usual. I have also heard that the Czar was fond of taking long walks and sometimes went on foot to visit his sister, the Grand Duchess Xenia, which would require about two hours. It is not impossible that during one of these long pedestrian excursions the Czar drank impure water and thus contracted his present illness. The Russian Emperor's avoidance of all ostenta- tion in politics has made people almost forget that he is to a great extent the arbiter of peace in Europe. They have, however, been forcibly reminded of it by his present illness, even though it has, happily, so far been unattended with any serious cause for anxiety. I A FAVOURABLE REPORT. Monday's bulletin, issued from Livadia, said: "The Emperor passed a good day yesterday. At nine in the evening his Majesty's temperature was 101'3 and the pulse 72. The Czar had a very good night, and this morning his Majesty's condition is excellent, the strength being well maintained. At nine o'clock this morning the temperature was 100*8 cud the pulse 68L" I RUSSIAN MINISTERS TO CONDUCT AFFAIRS. The Russian Ministers have been entrusted with the conduct of current affairs during the present phase of the Czar's illness, each one carrying on the business of his own department under his own per- sonal responsibility. Decisions on important matters will be postponed for the time being. The Czarewitch, accompanied by Colonel Dasch- fcoff, arrived at Gatohina from Denmark at eight o'clock on Tuesday morning. Tuesday's bulletin concerning the Czar's condition said The Emperor passed a satisfactory day yester- day. At nine o'clock in the evening the patient's temperature was 102*2 and the pulse 80. His Majesty slept tranquilly until three o'clock this morning. Subsequently his rest became broken and perspiration appeared. This morning the Emperor's condition is fairly satisfactory, the temperature being 100'4 and the pulse 70."

LORD SALISBURY AND THE OFFICE OF LORD PRIVY SEAL. The Press Association states that the salary of R2000 a year formerly attaching to the office of Lord Privy Seal and abolished in 1884 is to be revived. As is well known, the position of Prime Minister carries with it no salary, and it seems to have been considered an undesirable precedent that any member of the Cabinet should receive no emolument I it all.

RONTGEN RAYS CASE AT HASTINGS. The Hastings coroner has concluded his inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of Catherine Fanny Wilson, widow. Evidence was given to the effect that the deceased woman fractured her thigh when bicycle riding. On one occasion the Rontgen rays were applied to the thigh for two hours to locate the fracture, and on the second occa- tion for two hours and 20 minutes. The woman wrote, a month before she died, a letter in which Bhe alleged that her blood rested upon the two men —the medical man and photographer-who were the cause of all her suffering. Dr. Roberts said he con- sidered the wound attributable to the Rontgen rays. In his opinion the cause of death was exhaustion from the effects of a shock caused by the fracture of the thigh and the Rontgen rays. Dr. Harry Mansell, who ordered the application of the rays, denied the allegation as to the time occupied. The jury ulti- mately found a verdict of Death from shock and exhaustion," and stated that no blame was attached so the doctor or photographer.

I FATAL COLLIERY EXPLOSION. An explosion occurred shortly before midday on Friday of last week at Preston colliery, two miles west of North Shields, as a result of which four men are known to have lost their lives, while a consider- able number more have been injured. During the past year a new shaft has been in course of construction, the work being done by men in the employment of Mr. William Alder, of Whitley. The shaft was nearing completion, and on the day named a number of men were working in it at a depth of about 33 fathoms from the surface, walling up a place where the shaft intersects some old work- ings. Just before noon an explosion of gas occurred in the shaft, blowing to pieces the platform upon which the men were working. Three of the men fell into the deep sump at the bottom of the shaft and several others were injured and caught in the debris which encumbered the shaft. The report of the explosion was heard for a considerable distance and was carried even to Chirton, where most of the workmen reside and where it created at once a scene of great excitement. Several medical gentlemen were soon upon the scene, and valuable assistance was rendered by Dr. Frazer, of North Shields, and his assistant, Mr. George Hair, and by Mr. Reeves, timekeeper of the colliery, who did everything in their power to alleviate the sufferings of the injured men. The body of Frank Martin, who lodged at Front-street, Preston, and who, it is understood, belonged to London, was in the shaft and was recovered without much difficulty. His skull was fractured. Two others are known to have been killed these being James Cole, of the Deans, South Shields, and Frank Dunn, master sinker, of Trevor- terrace, North Shields. Their bodies fell into the water at the foot of the shaft, where it was 11 fathoms deep and continued to rise. The following were injured and were taken to Tynemouth Infirmary: Samuel Mordue (24), 76, Robertson-street, South Shields, bricklayer; John Gallagher (25), 16, Back Commercial-road, South Shields; William Killen (49), 2, North-terace, Pres- ton, sinker; Robert Dainbridge (15), 17, Mill-street, Chirton and Thomas Everitt (17), 9, Bulman's-main, Preston. Thomas Tenant was removed to his home, 13, Front-street, Preston, and James Boss was also taken to his home. The bodies of two of the victims of the explosion were recovered on Sunday morning. They were the bodies of Frank Dunn, master sinker, of North Shields, and James Cole, a sinker, of South Shields. The body of Dunn was in a terrible condition, the flesh being shockingly burnt. Samuel Mordue, of South Shields, who was removed to the infirmary after the accident, succumbed to his injuries on Sun- day morning. Mordue, who was employed as a bricklayer in connection with the sinking of the new Bhaft, held the Royal Humane Society s medal for saving life. Mr. Alder, the contractor for the con- struction of the new shaft, and Gallagher, another of the injured, were Sftth reported on Sunday night to be in a very serious condition.

CHURCHMEN will, says a London correspondent, observe with satisfaction that the Education Depart- ment has little fault to find with Church Schools on the score of their premises. The quarterly return shows that 10 schools have been warned for unsatis- factory premises. Only three of these are National Society schools. The other seven include three British schools, one Roman Catholic school one Wesleyan school, one Moravian school, and' one chool conducted on undenominational lines. 1A

—- ■ 7 I LORD ROSEBERY'S RECTORIAL ADDRESS. Lord Rosebery was, on the 16th inst., at 8t.. Andrew's-hall, Glasgow, installed as Lord Rector of the University, and delivered his inaugural address, taking for his subject Questions of Empire." The topic was, he said, in the strict sense a political sub- ject, but it was outside party politics, and could and should be treated without affecting the most sensitive apprehension. We had received from our forefathers this great appanage; no one outside of an asylum wished to be rid of it. The question, then, at this time was simply how to do the best with it. And the Empire never needed loyal service so much as now. We had to make sure of our equipment. He maintained that there was much to overhaul, to examine, and to reconsider; that what would have kept the Empire together in the days when we had an unenvied monopoly of colonies, and when armaments were both less vast and less menacing, would not suffice now; and that there was a disposition to challenge both our naval and commercial position which required our utmost vigilance. The latest calculation put the area of the Empire at between 11 and 12 million square miles, and its population and its subjects, in round figures, at about 400 millions. Are we adequate to so vast, so splendid, so pregnant a responsibility? The off-hand answer was ready that we are adequate; that we are a conquering and Imperial race, who have displayed our mettle all over the world. This was in a measure true. When, indeed, he remembered some episodes during the past twelvemonth, he felt that it was hardly possible to exaggerate the oourage and character of the nation. But we could not lie basking in our history, our glory, and our past. Fifty years ago we had to face a world that was comparatively inert. The Franco-German war had Bince converted all the nations of Europe into passive armies. Then, the world looked lazily on while we discovered, developed, and annexed its waste or savage territories. All that was now changed, France, Germany, Russia, Italy had all been infected by the desire for expansion, and the United States found itself sitting like a startled hen on a brood of un- numbered islands in the Philippine group. All this was well enough, but it had changed our relation to the world. Then there was the question of trade. Foreign countries used to sneer at trade, and we were described as a nation of shopkeepers. Now, every nation wished to be a nation of shopkeepers. We once had a sort of monopoly we now had to fight for exist- ence. Had our State machinery and methods been examined and remodelled in view of those great changes ? If not, no time should be lost. An Em- pire, like a business, if neglected might become obso- lete. Are we going the right way about our work, and are our methods abreast of the time ? He did not profess to ask those questions now, still less to answer them; but he suggested that his hearers should ask them of themselves, for they concerned them all. We were about to enter on the 20th century. What would be its distinctive note ? Of one thing only we could be certain-that it would be a period of keen, intelligent, almost fierce international competition, more probably in the arts of peace even than in the arts of war. How should we prepare for such a conflict? The first need of eur country was a want of men; as the Empire had increased, so had the demand for first-rate, men; but the supply had remained, at best, stationary. He believed that the men were amongst us; the difficulty was to find them, and he doubted the efficiency of our present methods of doing so. After entering a protest against our educational bondage in the Universities and elsewhere to-the dead languages, Lord Rosebery went on to point out the importance of good sanitation for the rearing of an Imperial race, hinted at the prevalence of an in- sidious and excessive luxury amongst us, and urged the necessity of thoroughness in military administra- tion, in statesmanship, in commerce and commercial training. He warned his hearers against the dangers of heedless self-confidence of strength, and closed by eloquently insisting on the need for sacrifice and endeavour on the part of all for the preservation of eur glorious heritage.

DEATH OF A CENTENARIAN. Mr. Richard Beck has died at his residence, Crane-street, Chester, at the age of 100 years. He was a native of Sandbach, Cheshire, and prior to settling down in Chester as a wine and spirit merchant was in the service of the East India Com" panv. Latterly deceased was partially blind and deaf, but he retained a wonderfully clear memory.

MR. HORACE PLUNEJSTT'B POSITION. Mr. Horace Plunkett, Vice-President of the De- partment of Agriculture and Technical Instruction in Ireland, was on Tuesday night entertained at a banquet in the Rotunda, Dublin. Lord Dufferin presided, and there were nearly 300 gentlemen present. The chairman in proposing the health of Mr. Plunkett said he was a man who had postponed his private interests to the interests of his party, and the supposed interests of his party to what he believed to be the interests of his country. Mr. Plunkett possessed qualities that rarely existed in combination the genius to invent and create, and the skill and energy to adapt and execute. Lord Dufferin concluded by presenting Mr. Plunkett with a memorial, signed by about 20,000 persons representing all classes in Ireland, which declared that his withdrawal from the Agricultural and Technical Instruction Depart- ment would be a national loss. Mr. Plunkett, in the course of his reply, said that on a review of the whole case he did not feel that he would be justified in holding his position for any prolonged period after the assembling of Parliament, but in view of such an expression of opinion as was embodied in the memorial he had no doubt the diffi- culty would be overcome.

QUEEN THANKS COLONIALS. RECEPTION OF INVALIDS AT WINDSOR CASTLE. It gives me great pleasure to see you all here, and I thank you for your loyal services to the Em- pire in South Africa. I wish you God-speed and a safe return." These were the words the Queen graciously addressed to the hundred invalided colonial soldiers whom she received at Windsor Castle on the 16th inst. The colonials will never forget their reception by the Queen and by the townspeople of Windsor. At the station they were publicly welcomed by the mayor, and when they marched to the Castle crowds of people lined the streets and cheered them again and again. After visiting the state apartments at the Castle the Colonials assembled in Waterloo Chamber, where they awaited the arrival of the Queen at St. George's Hall. Shortly after 12.15 the Indian attendants wheeled her Majesty into the magnificent banqueting hall, and the troops were marched in, headed by Major Synge. Accompanying her Majesty were Princess Henry of Battenburg and children, the ladies-in-waiting, and the gentlemen of the House- hold. Then each detachment representing one of the Queen's colonies marched to within speaking distance of her Majesty, who spoke a few kind words to all the men. The Australians approached first, and then followed the men from Canada, Natal, Cape Colony, Ceylon, India, and New Zealand. Two men-Sergeant Legge, of Australia, and Ser- geant Macdonald, a Scotch Australian—were specially presented to the Queen. Her Majesty was told that Legge was one of six brothers who had served at the front, while Macdonald was badly wounded in action. To each man the Queen addressed a few sympathetic words. Major Synge and the Rev. J. T. Evans, colonial chaplain, who has lost a leg, were also presented. Then her Majesty addressed the whole of the troops in the terms quoted, and three ringing cheers for the Queen ended a most picturesque and historio ceremony. The men were afterwards entertained to luncheon by the mayor, and later they returned to London.

THE Hon. George Foster, who is to succeed Sir Charles Tupper as leader of the Conservatives in Canada is a striking esample of the results of energy and industry. As a mall boy he was employed ia a country store, but fifteen years later he was Pro- fessor OT mimics and^ History in New Brunswick University. This he abandoned for a lecturing tout en temperance and prohibition, and his popularity became so great that in three years he had entered rarliaiaent, and was one of the leaders of the Opposi--