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

THE Sultan of Turkey does not like the dark, and every night, not only his apartments in the palace, but the surrounding gardens as well, are flooded with light. He is generally read to sleep by his brother or a favourite servant, his favourite books being sensational novels. If he dreams an interpreter is summoned directly the Sultan wakes, and the meaning of the dream is explained to him. A CURIOUS defence of the much-abused tall hat is made by a correspondent of the Morning Post. On one occasion he was talking to the builder of a house in course of erection in the City, when a shower of brick fell, one of which struck the builder's top hot with great violence, but was by the hat prevented from fracturing his skull. On another occasion the correspondent himself was passing with his wife by a railway receiving house, when a case was toppled on to them, and the hat acting as a buffer, saved them both from injury. On yet another accasion he was shot violently out of a cab, and the hat broke his fall, and prevented a serious accident. From which it would appear that the tall hat has its uses. THE 30-ton armature, which lay in the Sheffield Canal for so long a time, and was ultimately taken to its destination at the Kelham Island Electric Power Station, is now being rebuilt and re-insu- lated. This has been rendered necessary by its long immersion in the water.

PUBLIC MEN ON PUBLIC MATTERS. MR. CHAMBERLAIN DEFENDS THE GOVERNMENT. Mr. Chamberlain addressed a great Unionist meeting in the Waverley Market, Edinburgh, on October 25. Alluding to recent attacks on the Government, he advised the critics to cease their wholesale revilings, and to consider what wa.s the cause of their own failure to influence the country. He commented on the relations between the Liberal Opposition and the Irish Nationalist party as dangerous to the Empire and paralysing to themselves. He did not expect any assistance from the opposition in dealing with Irish rowdyism and obstruction; but the Government proposed to alter the arrangements of the House of Commons so as to enable its business to be done better and to have a greater control over the men who tried to degrade it. Mr. Chamber- lain proceeded to contend that the war in South Africa; had been forced on this country by the action of the Boers; that it was just and necessary, and could not have been avoided; that the terms offered to the Boers were more liberal than had ever before been tendered to a beaten foe, and that, as they had been refused, the struggle must be carried on to the end and a settle- ment attained which would render impossible a recurrence of the danger from which we had escaped. The Government, he admitted, were mis- taken about the duration of the war, but so was everybody else. The Government had given our commanders everything they asked for in the way of troops, supplies, and reinforcements. He thought the time was coming when measures of greater severity might be adopted, but the Govern- ment would rather be blamed for being too slow than too fast in that respect. The present outlook was favourable, and in the military situation there was no cause for anxiety. Responding to a vote of thanks, Mr. Chamberlain expressed the hope that when the war was over the Government would be able to take up pressing social questions. SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN AT STIRLING. Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman, speaking at Stir- ling on October 25, asserted the right of freedom of thought and action for all sections of the Liberal party. In reference to the war, tho, man- agement of it by the present Government had never been equalled "Outside the region of opera, bouffc. The war was brought about by the bully- ing and hectoring spirit of the British despatches, which inspired suspicion in the minds of the Boers, and its continuance was weakening and prejudic- ing our interests in every part of the world. lie was still in favour of Home Rule, as it was the only way to get rid of the grievances of Ireland. He deplored the recent utterances of Irish mem- bers, but they were the outcome of the condition of affairs in that country. MR. WALTER LONG ON BULLER. Mr. Walter Long, President of the Local Government Board, speaking on October 25 at the Liverpool Conservative Club, said, in reference to the dismissal of Sir R. Buller from the Aldershot command, that there was no foundation for the statement that the Government seized on Sir It Buller's speech as an excuse to get out of a wrong appointment. They were prepared to defend General Buller's appointment on the grounds of policy and justice. His dismissal was solely because his recent speech was sub- versive of military discipline. Earnest, and even agonised, consideration had been ex- tended to the case, and the Cabinet unanimously supported the Commander-in-Chief in the matter. The Commander-in-Chief had given most careful examination to the circumstances, and every opportunity was afforded to make explanations. A man possessing traditional British qualities in a greater degree than General Buller probably never wore the King's uniform, but a greater mis- take than his no soldier could have made. The Secretaiy for War tok the only course possible in tthe circumstances, and it was unfair and un- English to make the charges that had been made against Mr. Brodrick in this matter. THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE AT LIVERPOOL. j The Duke of Devonshire, acknowledging at Liverpool, on October 26, an address from the local Liberal Unionist Association, challenged Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman's allegation that the country generally was ignorant that the terms offered to the Boers would place them ultimately, and as soon as possible, in the position of self- governing colonies. The duke urged the necessity of maintaining the Liberal Unionist organisation, which existed to uphold certain definite principles. The idea of the Liberal Imperialists that there could be organisation of the Liberal party on the basis of toleration in regard to Imperial issues in consideration of a supposed agreement on domestic questions was, he held, impossible of realisation. In the afternoon the duke opened a new Central Technical School, and delivered an address, in which he dwelt on the great difficulties surround- ing the problem of the organisation of education, and said that the only means by which those diffi- culties could be surmounted was the development of a strong public conviction of the importance of education itself-a conviction of which at present he was unable to discover the existence. MR. CHAMBERLAIN IN MIDLOTHIAN. Mr. Chamberlain was on October 26 presented at Newhailes, Mid Lothian, with an address from a local Miners' Unionist Association. In respond- ing, he referred to the Workmen's Compensation Act, and to the responsibilities which rest on the working-class electorate. He observed that in his speech at Stirling on the previous evening Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman had said he was blushing for the nation. He had no objection to Sir Henry's blushing on his own account, but entirely denied that he had any right to speak for the nation, which could speak for itself, and when it did so would not speak as a pro-Boer or a Little Englander. SIR E. GREY AND LORD NEWTON ON BULLER. Sir E. Grey, M.P., speaking on October 26, at Glanton, Northumberland, said it was very strange that Sir Redvers Buller should have been relieved of the command that was given him so recently. He must have been considered competent at first, otherwise he would not have received the com- mand. Lord Newton, speaking at a Conservative meeting, at Newton, said he had no doubt the Secretary for War had acted with perfect pro- priety in General Buller's case. What surprised him was not that General Buller should have been deprived of his command for the speech he had delivered, but that he should ever have been given the command of the First Army Corps at all. A TOO CRITICAL PEOPLE. The Duke of Cambridge opened on October 26 a new drill hall at Hendon, and in presenting medals to a number of Volunteers returned from South Africa congratulated them on the loyalty of their sentiments to their King, Queen, and country. After having declared the hall open, his Royal Highness said the country had behaved nobly throughout the war, and had loyally answered the calls which had been necessary. People had been led by the war to take a lively interest in military arrangements, and a military spirit had been aroused. They had been told once or twice that the war had come to an end he wished to goodness it had, but he wished, too, that people would not say the war was finished when it was not finished. The sooner the fighting was endod the better, but they must, nevertheless, recognise that it produced a feeling in the nation which lie hoped would last for years and years to eome. The gallantry of the English soldiers Was as great as ever, and though there had been reverses, he hoped they would not be too severely criticised by those who sat comfortably at home. They as a people were too critical, and they were not always satisfied with finding fault in the right place. He only wished he had been young enough himself to have gone out to the front, but those good davs for him ware gone. THE CHURCH AND CORPORATE LIFE. Mr. Asquith, speaking on October 29 at a thanksgiving service at Lyndhurst-road Congre- gational Church, Hampstead, said he did not wish to see the Church descend into the political arena, but he did wish to see the Church, in all its branches, taking e more sympathetic part in the municipal side of our corporate life. They wanted to bring the municipalities, the churches, and the various philanthropic agencies of each locality into co-operation one with another. A HUMANE WAR. Mr. Chamberlain, speaking on October 29 at Cupar Railway Station in acknowledgment of an address, said that no war in the history of the world had ever been conducted with greater humanity than that now being waged in South Africa. He believed it would have been over long before now but for the action of misguided persons in this country who led the Boers to believe that Great Britain would grow tired of the struggle. The nation and the Government, however, would not abate a jot of their resolution, and would not lay down their arms till there was no doubt of the future of South Africa under the British flag. Speaking later the same day at a meeting held in Edinburgh to inaugurate the Scottish branch of the Colonial Nursing Associa- tion, Mr. Chamberlain said there was one sense in which they were all Imperialists. There was no one who was not proud of what their countrymen had done in carrying civilization, order, justice, and religion to the distant corners of the earth.

LORD ROBERTS AT DOVER. I Lord Roberts inspected the new forts and arma- ments at Dover on the morning of October 28, and afterwards proceeded to Shorncliffe, where he opened the Eddie Wood Memorial Institute. In a brief address, the Commander-in-Chief said that since he first saw the advantage of Soldiers' Insti- tutes in India, he had done all he could to encourage their formation in the different military centres, and those who knew soldiers best knew how thoroughly they appreciated what was in this respect done for them. After inspecting the camp, Lord Roberts returned to London.

CABINET COUNCIL. I A Cabinet Council was held on October 28 at the Foreign Office, in London. The Ministers present were the Marquis of Salisbury, the Mar- quis of Lansdowne, the Right Hon. A. Akers- Douglas, Lord Balfour of Burleigh, the Right Hon. A. Balfour, the Right Hon. G. Balfour, the Right Hon. St. John Brodrick, Earl Cadogan, the Right Hon. J. Chamberlain, the Lord Chan- cellor, the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, the Chan- cellor of the Exchequer, the Duke of Devonshire, Lord George Hamilton, the Right Hon. R. W. Hanbury, Lord James of Hereford, the Marquis of Londonderry, the Right Hon. W. H. Long, the Right Hon. C. T. Ritchie, and the Earl of Sel- borne. The sitting of the Cabinetlasted for about two and a half hours.

EPITOME OF HEWS. AT Venice, when anyone dies, it is the custom to fix a placard before the dead person's house, at well as in adjacent streets, as a sort of public notice, stating his name, age, place of birtii. and the illness from which he died; affirming also that he received the holy sacraments, died a good Christian, and requesting the prayers of the faith- ful. ON appeal for revision the Westmoreland Court of Quarter Sessions has reduced the assessment of the tythe-payers of Kendal from £ 2156. at which it was fixed by the scheme of 1841, to £ 1387. This is a significant lesson to many Londoners, who are paving exorbitant tithes to absentee City rectors under archaic schemes which urgently call for similar revision in view of the depreciated corn average. THE Postmaster-General has remitted to the honorary secretaries of tho Prince of Wales's Hospital Fund for London, at the Bank of Eng- land, the sum of F.178 7s. 7d., being the amount collected at the General Post Office during the present year on behalf of the fund. This sum represents annual subscriptions £ 15210s. 10d., and donations E25 16s. 9d. MR. CARNEGIE has given £ 37,000 for library purposes at Dundee. The letter from Mr. Carnegie, read at a special meeting of the Dundee Town Council recently stated that the money was for the establishment of branch libraries in the city, and that the gift was conditional upon the Corporation applying under the Free Libraries Act for power ',0 raise the library rate from Id. to 2d. in the pound. IN a tiny island called Minikoi, off the southern toast of India, a most peculiar state of society exists, for the woman is lord of all she surveys. The wife is the recognised head of the house. She owns it and everything in it, while anything that her husband, who works very hard, can earn goes to increase her wealth. Her husband belongs to her, too, and when she marries him she gives him her name instead of taking his. THE Duke of York has been going over the museum of a little country town. When about to leave he asked the curator if there was anything more to be seen. Yes, your Royal Highness," was the reply; there remains a little box." No doubt used as a deposit for something very pre- cious ?'' said the Duke. No; your Royal High- ness it is where I put the tips given to me by visitors to the museum." A STATISTICIAN has made a study of the records of shoplifting in this country. Women of the middle and upper classes are. he states, the chief offenders, although it is difficult to credit such a statement. Kleptomania is not always the reason for these thefts, because the shoplifters often hunt in couples, one engaging the attention of the atten- dant while the other does the thieving. For every man caught at the work there are 300 women. A VERY curious custom in Seoul, Corea. is the law which makes it obligal ry for every man to retire to his home when the huge bronze bell of the city has proclaimed it to be the hour of sunset and the time for closing the gates. No man is allowed in the streets after that hour under pain of flogging, but the women are allowed to go about and visit their friends. A NEW church at Crookesmoor. now being built, will be in the Late English Gothic style, with flamboyant traceried windows. The nave will be 100ft. long, 30ft. wide, and 40ft. high, with side aisles, giving altogether accommodation for about SOO. A chancel and transept giving further accommodation for about 120, with organ chamber and vestries, is to be added. The church will be heated on the low-pressure system by neeans of small-bore pipes and radiators. The materials used in the building are Dunford-bridge stone for facings. Grenoside stone for outer dressings, and Monks-park Bathstone for inside work, such as the nave, arcade, font, pulpit, &c., and the roofs will be covered with green Westmoreland slates. SOME idea of Earl Cadogan's wealth may be gathered from the fact that some 13 or 14 years ago he expended a quarter of a million on the pur- chase of the Culford estate, in Suffolk, and there- building of the house. Shortly after this he pre- sented an extensive site in Chelsea, known as Blocklands, to the Guinness Trust, for the erection of workmen's dwellings. It is probable that during the next few years his wealth will be doubled. A CURIOUS discovery has just been made by some workmen engaged upon excavation on the Marquis of Zetland's Orkney estate. It consists of a subterranean house, some 36ft. long, the roof- ing being supported by four big pillars, each formed of a water-worn stone placed on end. The house contained a quantity of charcoal, stone trestles, pottery, and bone implements, while among other signs of habitation were bones of sheep, oxen, boars, fish, and whales, together with deer horns. AN ancient chapel connected with Bunyan, in King's-court, Great Suffolk-street, Southwark. has been condemned as unsafe, and is doomed to demolition. Tradition has it that while the author of The Pilgrim's Progress was conducting reli- gious services in a shed in Zoar-street, he was frequently invited to occupy the pulpit of the chapel. On one occasion, when preaching there, his home truths so infuriated the people that he had to take refuge in a garret behind the chapel. THE Turkish Order of the Osmanlieh, given for services rendered to the wounded in the Crimean War, and presented by the late Miss Christian Rossetti to Christ Church, Woburn-square, has disappeared. The star, which was richly deco- rated with brilliants, has been placed in the centre of the altar cross used in the church, and it is surmised that some thief had become aware of the value of the cross and has removed it. THE German Emperor has conferred upon Cap- tain Arthur H. O. Lloyd, of Shrewsbury, late of the Grenadier Guards, and now commanding the Shrewsbury Squadron, Shropshire Imperial Yeo- manry, the Order of the Royal Crown of the Third Class. Captain Lloyd was in command of the Queen's Company, Grenadier Guards, at Osborne, during the time her late Majesty lay in State there, and subsequently the Company escorted the Royal remains from St. George's Chapel to their last resting place at Frogmore. SIXTY degrees below zero is the frightfully cold atmosphere in which Alaskan gold-hunters must often work. They make fireplaces of snow in that desolate region. The snow is pressed into blocks like bricks, and a fireplace 2ft. or 3ft. square is built with them. When the fire is lighted the snow, of course, melts on the surface; but when the fire is out this freezes so hard that the next fire causes it to become only damp. A snow fire- place used only for cooking purposes will last for an entire winter. SOME years since, in connection with the con- version of the three per cent. Government stock, a curious and interesting account of the operations was published by Mr. Hamilton, of the National Debt Office. One difficulty encountered was in the identification of stockholders, owing to the numbers of them who bore the same name. There were 5429 Smiths, 2478 Browns, and 2190 Joneses, including in the army of Smiths 519 William Smiths and 524 John Smiths. THE Admiralty states that there is no truth in a report that documents have been discovered at the Admiralty concerning a Seymour Fund for the dis- tribution of loot captured "by the naval and marine forces in China m 1858-60. "No such funds exist at the Admiralty. IT is stated that every year England loses a tract of land the size of Gibraltar, and that on the east coast alone the annual loss equals in territory the Island of Heligoland. In the last hundred years an edge of England equal in area to the County of London has been submerged. ViB have an Act of Parliament by which every man or youth between the ages of 18 and 30 can be forced to join the Militia. It is known as the Ballot Act of 1860, and although it has been sus- pended year after year by the Army Act, it can at ¡ any time be put in force by the authorities. I BANK-NOTES for about a farthing each circulate freely in Paraguay. It takes two notes to get one's boots blacked and eight to pay the postage of I a letter to England. Yet one of them will buy in the season 15 oranges, three bananas, or a water- melon. IN Paris, to assist first aid are being erected in the principal streets Phares de Secours. these I being large lampposts provided with a box contain- ing a stretcher, dressings for wounds, and a tele- phone connected with the nearest telephone stsion. On the outside is a barometer and a post- bor_

CURRENT SPORT. Alfred E. Tysoe, one of the most famous ama- teur athletes of recent years, a prominent member of the Salford Harriers, died early on Saturday morning from an affection of the lungs after a lingering illness. Just before the gravest symp- toms manifested themselves a movement for raising funds to send him to a more suitable climate, in the hope of effecting a permanent cure, had been set on foot. Tysoe had, however, undergone a change for the worse, and he could not be moved without grave danger. Although only 27 years of age, Tysoe held a remark- able record. He was about 18 when he took to athletics, and since then until a little less than a year ago he had distinguished him- self on almost innumerable occasions. Twenty- two national and district championships, some across country and some on the flat, and at distances varying from 880 yards to ten miles, haa. been held by him. They in- cluded the NortLern Counties and National Cross- Country Championships, the Half-Mile, One Mile, and Ten Miles Flat Championships, and the 800 Metres World's Championship the last-named event on October 21, last year, in the Olympic Games in Paris. One of Tysoe's most sensational victories was in July of that year, when he beat J. F. Cregan, of New York, for the Half-Mile Cham- pionship of the Amateur Athletic Association, which aroused great enthusiasm by reason of its being one of the few successes scored by English- men in the year of the great American invasion. Tysoe's racing weight was just under list., and he stood about 5ft. 9in. high. He had a fine, long, raking and telling stride, and a splendid turn of speed at the finish of all distances. Saturday's football results in the Association League Championship were chiefly noticeable for the defeats sustained by the leading clubs. Sunder- land, who, however, are still at the top of the League, Everton, and Derby County, all of whom were playing away from home, were beaten, while Wolverhampton Wanderers, on their own ground, were only able to make a draw against Manchester City, the club with the worst record of any. The most surprising result, however, was the decisive victory of Newcastle United over Notts County, for a win of eight goals to none is a very rare feat in this class of football. Newcastle United have chiefly been noted for their good defence, and by their victory they scored as many goals as they had previously got in their eight other matches. Small Heath, by drawing with Notts Forest at Nottingham, confirmed the good. opinion formed of them. The following were the results Bury beat Sunderland at Bury by a goal to none; Notts Foiest drew with Small Heath at Nottingham, one goal all; Aston Villa beat Shef- field Wednesday at Birmingham by four goals to one Sheffield United beat Derby County at Shef- field by three goals to none; Wolverhampton Wanderers drew with Manchester City at Wolver- hampton, one goal all; Blackburn Rovers beat j Everton at Blackburn by three goals to one New- castle United beat Notts County at Newcastle by eight goals to none Liverpool drew with Bolton Wanderers at Liverpool, one goal all; and Stoke beat Grimsby Town at Grimsby by two goals to one. With the one exception of West Ham United, who received their first defeat in the Southern League, being beaten by Millwall by two goals to none, all the leading clubs proved successful. Southampton, however, playing at home, and again having the assistance of C. B. Fry and G. P. Wilson, were only able to beat Brentford by a goal to none. Tottenham Hotspur by their vic- tory of eight goals to one over Watford have now scored more goals than any other club in this competition. Northampton failed to sustain the form they showed against Tottenham Hotspur last week and were beaten by Welling- borough by a goal to none. Other results of interest were the victories of Portsmouth and Reading over New Brompton and Kettering by three goals to none and two goals to one respec- e tively. Reading's win over Kettering was pro- bably the best result in the League, as they were claying away from home. Both the University elevens were in London. Cambridge won their match with the Old West- minsters by six goals to one at Upton, and Oxford drew with the Casuals at Tufnell-park, there being no score. Neither game produced very good foot- ball. The Old Etonians beat Westminster School by eight goals to none, and the Old Carthusians beat the R.M.A. at Woolwich by four goals to two. The Oxford University Rugby fifteen had a verj hard match at Richmond Old Deer-park on Satur- day. They came near to being beaten; but, in the last quarter of an hour, the game was saved. and the end was a tie at one try all. The Old Merchant Taylors have been a good side for several seasons, particularly as scrummagers, and it was in this manner that on Saturday they opposed Oxford so effectually. It was a forwards' game from first to last. Good honest scrummaging and tackling left little play for the backs. Each side in turn had their spells of forcing; but it was a finely-balanced match. The Merchant Taylors Old Boys may be said to share with Richmond the honour of being the best side in London this year, and thus Oxford in these early days of term did not do badly to play a drawn game. It was a bad day for sport of any kind in the Thames Valley. Fog and heavy ground pre- vented the best elements of Rugby football from being developed. There was no scoring in the first half the Merchant Taylors scored in the first minutes of the second half; and near the finish the Oxford fifteen saved the game, and only a bad place-kick by Strand Jones deprived them of vic- tory. After their indifferent form against the Harle- quins a week ago Cambridge University appeared to have small chance of success against Richmond on the Athletic ground, but they showed great im- provement and were only beaten by a goal to nothing after a good game. It is difficult to judge a side on the first few matches of the season, but on Saturday's play they promise to have a splendid pack of forwards. Behind the scrummage it is more difficult to express an opinion, for the game was essentiallJ a forward one. H. Lee, at back, both kicked and stopped the rushes of the Richmond forwards with great judgment; but it still remains to be seen whether his tackling is equally sure. He certainly did everything that was required of him, but his tackling was not put to a severe test. The three-quarters had scarcely any opportunities to combine, but it is in this line and at half-back that Cambridge will have most diffi- culty in adequately filling these responsibile posi- tions, especially at half-back. On the day's foot- ball Richmond were the better team, but the differ- ence in the score about represented the play. The Cambridge forwards at the present time could have had no severer test than against Richmond in the London district, and the way in which they held the powerful back opposed to them augurs well for their future excellence. They had a splendid nucleus in four blues, among whom D. R. Bedell Sivright and J. R. C. Greenless are Scottish internationals, but the new men gave them excellent support. It was a splendid forward game, in which were many well-contested scrummages interspersed with good kicking by both backs, while the open play was fast and inte- resting. Both packs broke up smartly and were good in their foot-work. Behind Richmond were the better, and some good passing among their three-quarters led up to the only try of the match. L. F. Hanbury made a good opening for R. N. Hancock, who gained a try, and Reynolds kicked a goal. This was just before the interval. Sub- sequently the play went on very much as in the first half. In the last 10 minutes Richmond had the better of the football, but the fog had increased to such an extent that at times the players could not be seen. The annual visit of the Newport fifteen to the Rectory Field, Blackheath, proved, as usual, a decided attraction, probably close upon 10,000 spectators being present. As could only be eik pected on the season's form, the Newport men had no great difficulty in winning by a handsome margin. As a matter of fact they won by four goals (one dropped) and a try to a dropped goal. It was a curious match. Quite early Blaek- hoatli lost Tarbutt, one of their forwards, but that incident had little influence on the game. Blackheath always held their own forward, and their backs tackled admirably. In defence Black- heath was excellent, but they did not display any ability as an attacking force. Their halves were painfully weak, and, as a consequence, a very fair three-quarter line had no chance. On the other hand, the Newport backs showed great resource and combination. Llewellyn Lloyd, the international, was in great form at half- back, and he not only had a hand in every try, but dropped a neat goal. Time after time he opened the game for his three-quarters, and though some of the Newport passing was wild, much was excel- lent. The game generally went in the direction of the right. wing, and E. Morgan, well looked after by his centre, C. E. Lewis, had no difficulty in scoring three tries. C. Pritchard, the left centre, gained the other try, so that all the scoring for Newport was accomplished by the back divi- sion. To the captain, R. T. Skrimshire, fell the distinction of dropping the goal for Blackheath and a beautiful effort it was. London Soottish beat the Harlequins at Wands- -,orth-common by two goals to nil. Croydon drew with Kensington at Croydon, one try all. Rosslyn Park drew with Lennox at Stamford- bridge, a penalty goal to a try. London Irish beat Old Leysians at Eltham by a try to nil. Marl- borough Nomads v. St. Bartholomew's Hospital. Owing to fog no play was possible at Surbiton. Edinburgh University beat the Academicals at Edinburgh, by two goals and a try to nil. Glou- cester beat Pontypridd at Gloucester by three goals and two tries to a goal and a try. North- ampton beat Bedford at Northampton by six goals and two tries to nil. Leicester drew with Plymouth at Leicester, one try all. Cardiff drew with Swansea at Cardiff, no score. Devonport Albion beat Exeter at Devonport by two goals and two tries to a try. Bath beat Penarth at Bath by a goal and three tries to a goal. Watsonians beatjWest of Scotland at Glasgow by four tries to a goal. In a match for the county championship at Birkenhead Cheshire beat Northumberland by four goals and a try to a goal and a try. Saturday's hockey was greatly interfered with by the weather, and those players who would not give up their afternoon's sport, enjoyed, or endured it. in an atmosphere which rendered play very dangerous. Enfield and Tulse Hill's second team, for instance, met in a dense fog. A notable fea- ture of the day's play was the third successive de- feat of Bromley. This time, their conquerors were Hampstead, who scored four goals to nil. Staines, who appear to have settled down, did well to beat Blackheath. East Sheen, maintaining their excel, lent form, conquered Southgate, while Tulse Hill piled up six to nil against Upminster. The Essex lacrosse team, which defeated Micl dlesex on Saturday, was considerably weakened by the absence of Munday and Ramsey, whe have been prime movers in the forcing game from defence developed by Woodford, and con- sequently by Essex. In spite of the necessary alterations, the Essex team was a match for Middlesex, but only this time by eight goals to six, and they will have to be stronger to beat Cheshire next Saturday, or, indeed, Kent, a few weeks later. Kent on Saturday had a very easy win over Surrey, who became quite demoralised in the latter part of the second half, losing finally by 12 to one. In the early stages the game looked like being very even, the Surrey defences doing well against a strong attack, but the team did not possess a centre player, and the defence man who took the part could not force the game with A. J. Dodd, the International, opposed to him. Kent have a distinctly smart team this year, and show more combination than is usual in one drawn from more tinn a single club. At Cambridge on October 28 the University beat Suffolk by four goals to one. Booker, the centre x or ward, was in great form for Cambridge. Mill- won a match against Swindon on Tuesday by three goals to one, in the Western League West Li omwich Albion beat Small Heath by one goal to ml; the Wolverhampton Wanderers beat Oxford University by four goals to three, at Wolver- hampton; and Everton scored two goals to one against Barrow, in a Lancashire cup tie.

BLOODSHED IN ARMENIA. TWENTY-SIX CHRISTIANS KILLED IN ONE WEEK. The latest news from Armenia is still redolent of massacre and outrage. In a single week, from August 14 to 21, no less than 26 Armenians—men, women, and children—were murdered in villages in the district of Mush, says Reuter's Constanti- nople correspondent. Notwithstanding the nume- rous crimes, not a single Turk or Kurd has been ar- rested, and the authori ties never pay the least heed to the complaints or denunciations of Christians against Moslems. On the other hand, because Armenians were believed to be guilty of the murder of a Kurd, over 50 were imprisoned. The case in question is extremely interesting, and is worth narrating in detail. The Kurd who was done away with, Slierif Agha, belonged to a powerful family, the Kotchanly. He was a notorious character, and numerous crimes had been laid to his charge. He disappeared early in the spring, and some weeks later his body was found in a field near the village of Moghunk. The vicinity of the village was held to be sufficient reason for accusing the inhabi- tants of having murdered the deceased, and sub- sequently 50 of the leading Armenians were arrested and imprisoned at Moush. Not satisfied with this the family of Sherif Agha determined upon private and summary vengeance, and accordingly attacked Moghunk about three months back, pillaging all the houses and destroying the church and many of the houses 11 9 by fire. The inhabitants, of whom three or four were killed during the assault, were dispersed, and are now wandering about the country reduced to a state of utter destitution. .&.Ifif

MILITARY TRACTORS. WAR OFFICE OFFERS PRIZES. The Secretary of War announces that Y,1000 will be given for the first prize, P-750 for the second, and P-500 for the third; in a competition of tractors for military purposes. The official notification lays it down that it is essential that tractors for mili- tary purposes should be capable of a much greater radius of action, without replenishment of fuel or water, than is at present attained by any such engines constructed for either military or commer- cial purposes." To each prize will be added a bonus of P-10 for every complete mile beyond the mini- mum of 40 that a tractor can travel under the Conditions laid down; only, the total amount of the bonus must not exceed the value of the prize. The trials will be conducted by the War Office Com- mittee on Mechanical Transport, and will com- mence in the spring of 1503. Forms of entry will be supplied on application to the Secretary, Mechanical Transport Committee, War Office, Horse Guards, Whitehall. Apparently there is no limitation as to the nationality of competitors.

CZOLGOSZ ELECTROCUTED. There is a very general feeling of relief over the fact that the electrocution of Czolgosz, the assas- sin of President McKinlev, lias been accomplished without accident or scandal. The death warrant was formally read to the murderer at half-past five o'clock on the morning of October 29 in the State Gaol at Auburn. Shortly after seven a squad of prison guards escorted the convict to the death chair. He was nervous, and walked with difficulty, frequently stum- bling. Twenty-three witnesses, inclusive of prison officials and newspaper representatives, were gathered in the death chamber. Czolgosz gazed upon them in a dazed sort of way, and then made a short incoherent speech, of which the only words that reached the spectators intelligibly were some to the effect that he was not sorry that lie had shot the President, that he believed his deed would result in benefit to the working class, and that he only regretted that he could not see his father at the last moment. He was still ap- parently rambling on when the Chief Warder gave the signal for the electric current to be turned on. Three shocks were administered, each of 1700 volts. At a quarter-past seven the physicians in attendance formally certified that the murderer was dead. Subsequently the custom- ary autopsy was carried out. The surgeons stated that the brain and other organs of the deceased were quite healthy. In the afternoon the body was buried in quicklime within the prison pre- cincts.

LIBEL SUIT THAT FAILED. Mr. Justice Ridley and a special jury, on October 29, in the King's Bench Division, tried an action for libel, brought by Mr. Benjamin Charles Pole, an inventor, against the proprietors of the Elec- trical Review. The plaintiff complained of an article which appeared in the newspaper with re- gard to an engine which he had invented and was exhibiting. The defendants pleaded that the words complained of were not defamatory, and were in the nature of fair comment, and the jury found a verdict in their favour.

THE LAST NEW JUDGE. The King has been pleased to approve of the appointment of A. R. Jelf, Esq., K.C., as a Judge of the High Court of Justice in the place of A-, C. Justice Day, resigned. Mr. Arthur Richard JeIf, K.C., of the Oxford Circuit, who has been appointed a Judge of the King's Bench Division, in succession to Mr. Justice Day, is the second son of the late Rev. Richard Jelf, Canon of Christ Church, Oxford, and Principal of King's College, London, was born on September 10, 1837, and was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford. He was called to the Bar at the Inner Temple in 1863, was created a Queen's Counsel in 1880, and elected a Bencher of his Inn in 1884 and he has held the Recorder of Shrewsbury since 1879. The learned gentleman has had a large prac- tice at the Bar both on circuit and in London, and is well known as a sound a painstaking lawyer.

A CHANNEL COLLISION. I In the Admiralty Division of the High Court before Sir F. Jeune and Trinity Masters, an action was tried on October 29 in which the Waterford Steamship Company, the owners of the steamship Kincora, brought an action against the owners of the Atlantic liner Oceanic to recover damages sus- tained through a collision which occurred between the Oceanic and the Kincora on August 8 in St. George's Channel, whereby the Kincora was sunk and seven of her crew were drowned. The defen- dants contended that the collision was owing to the fault of the Kincora, and counterclaimed for damage done to the Oceanic. His lordship held that both vessels were to blame. The defendants gave notice of appeal. ===================

CRUISER'S BOAT RUN DOWN. Soon after the return of the Devonport in- structional flotilla destroyers from their cruise on the morning of October 29 the Thorn, in proceed- ing to her moorings in the upper part of the harbour, ran into a liberty boat belonging to the cruiser Forth. The boat contained about 25 naval men who were returning to their ships, and was smashed, the whole of the occupants being thrown into the water. Other liberty boats pro- ceeding to their respective vessels were quickly at the scene of the accident, and succeeded in picking up the majority of the men, and all but two are accounted for. The names of those miss- ing are: Leading Seaman P. D. Spear, and Private A. Robinson, Royal Marines. Three of the men picked up were in such an ex- hausted condition that they were taken to the Royal Naval Barracks and placed in the sick bay Their names are Thomas Wise, engine-room arti- ficer, Hugh Carthy, leading stoker, and Harrj Beresford, naval painter. Wise has sustained injuries to his back and ribs. The accident is thought to have been due to the presence of severn; liberty boats in a crowded space, all of which could not be cleared. The circumstances formed the subject of a court of inquiry on board the crmsei Cleopatra, under the presidency of Captain A. C. Tate, of the cruiser Pactolus.

WOMEN WORKERS' UNION. Mrs. Arthur Lyttelton presided at the annna: meeting af the Women Workers' Union on October 29, and explained its organisation and work, point. ing out the methods by which they might be im- proved. Resolutions were passed in regard to the representation of,women on public "bodies and other matters. Upon a resolution in favour of extend in j. the Inebriate Act so as to provide for the deten- tion and control of habitual drunkards, with a view to their entire care, Lady Battersea drew atten- tion especially to the case of criminal female inebriates, remarking that the Committee manag- ing inebriate retreats ought to be empowered to decide how long an inmate should be detained.

WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY. A RECORD MESSAGE. A message to a Philadelphia firm was trans- mitted by wireless telegraphy for a distance of 170 miles from the Campania to the Lueania on the high seas on Tuesday of last week. The Lucania forwarded the message to Philadelphia, via Ire- land, on the following Friday morning, and it z, reached its destination a day before the Campania arrived. This is claimed to be a record for distance.

MR. EDMUND NFRL, C.I.E., Sc',Cl'et,Lr.V in the Public Works Department,at the India Office, ha.s retired.. GERMANY'S first newspaper appeared in 1615. Antwerp published a paper a year later. THE German Emperor has taken into his service all the servants who were in the employ of the late Empress Frederick. THE London Mansion House Fund for the National Memorial to the Queen now amounts to £ 15G.,800-

[ EXPLORER RETURNS. I PROFESSOR MURRAY'S ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION. I The members of the Royal Geographical Society expected the arrival of Professor George Murray last Saturday, and Sir Clements Markham, the president, told a representative of the Press that he believed the professor had already arrived, though he had not yet seen him. Upon further inquiry at the Natural History Museum it was found that the pro- fessor had postponed his departure from Cape Town. He was to have sailed on the Dunottar Castle, which arrived last Saturday, but changed his plans, and will arrive at Southampton this week-end on the ss. Briton. Professor Murray, who sailed on the Discovery as director of the scientifo work of the National Antarctic ex- pedition, left the steamer at Cape Town. The tieman who has been acting as his deputy t the Natural History Museum stated that the professor had made some valuable dis- coveries in the examination of the minute organisms on the surface of the ocean during the voyage to Cape Town. The Discovery will not be heard of again until Lyttelton, New Zealand, is reached. Although stores have been sent to Mel- bourne, the vessel will not touch there, but will go to the '• frozen south "direct from New Zealand.

DEATH OF A FAMOUS DIVINE. I A famous divine passed away at Windsor on the morning of Oct. 28 in the person of the Rev. Canon Thomas Thelluson Carter, who died at his residence, Clewer House of Mercy, at the ad- vanced age of 93. The end came suddenly. The rev. gentleman was only confined to his bed on Sunday, and was out walking on Satur- day. Born in Eton, he was the eldest son of the late Dr. Carter, Vice Provost of Eton Col- lege. At Eton deceased had as jeoritemporai-ics Gladstone, Cardinal Newman, and Dr. Pusey. After leaving Oxford he was ordained deacon at Sarum, and in the following year a priest at Lin- coln. Subsequently be held curacies at St. Mary's, Reading, and Barnham, and from 1837 to 1844 was rector of St. Ann's, Clewer. In 1880 he resigned in consequence of proceedings brought against him of ritualistic practices. Deceased then confined his energies to the position of warden of Clewer House of Mercy and Sisterhood, which office he held until his death.

LORD ALYERSTONE AND MEDICAL STUDENTS. The Lord Chief Justice on October 28 visited St. George's Hospital in London and distributed the prizes gained by the successful students of the Medical School connected with the Institution. Lord Alverstone, in the course of a brief address, alluded to the great advance which had been made in the medical profession during the century which had just closed, and rejoiced to think that the time had long gone by when the medical student was supposed to be some wild young fellow who did not care much what he did or what mischief he led his companions into.

ARTILLERY HARDSHIPS. Besides details of time-expired men, the trans- I port Antillian, which arrived at Southampton from the Cape on October 28, disembarked five officers and 135 men of the M" Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, under the command of Major Armitage. The battery was one of the first to be sent out, and has a fine record. At Fourteen Streams the battery was for a time split up, one-half with two guns going to Christiania, the other, with four guns, taking part in the relief of Mafeking. On the way to Mafeking they experienced terrible hardships, and were on half rations all the time. During the march on the beleaguered town they covered 277 miles in 12 days, and fought two engagements. The battery rejoined at Pretoria, and under General French took part in the march on Barberton. The country was the most difficult they had to go through, and one can judge of the mountainous passes which they encountered when it is stated that they took two days and one night going up one hill. Six teams of horses were found necessary to drag one carriage up the hill and 70 mules to draw one ammunition waggon.

AUSTRIAN EMPEROR HOPEFUL. The Speech from the Throne to the new Hun- garian Diet was, on October 28, read by the Emperor-King. A long legislative programme was promised, and a lasting settlement of the relations with Austria was urged as most important. The preparation of International Commercial Treaties was announced, and also a new general tariff of such a nature as to equally and harmoniously pro- tect agricultural and industrial interests alike. The Emperor added that the cordial understanding which existed between him and his Allies, and the continued genuinely friendly relations with all Powers, allowed him to Shope that Providence would not deprive them of the blessings of peace.