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

CURRENT SPORT. The weather was still unwilling, up to last week- end, to let the batting season of 1902 proper com- mence. At Leyton, on Saturday, rain fell so heavily and the ground and the light were so bad, that only a little over forty minutes' cricket was possible in the game between Warwickshire and Essex, and the game was abandoned as a draw. Owing to heavy rain no play was possible in the Worcestershire game with Hampshire at Wor- cester. The Middlesex and Notts match at Lord's was abandoned as a draw owing to rain, no play having taken place since the first day, a similar result being brought about in the match between Lancashire and the Australians at Old Trafford. Sussex had all the best of the draw with Leicester, for when stumps were drawn they required only 90 runs to win, and had not started their second innings. Although rain caused frequent interruptions at Cambridge, there was plenty of play in the match between the University and Surrey. The Light Blues, after increasing their Thursday's score to 293 for seven wickets, declared, and then Messrs. Wilson and Dowson, bowing with such suc- cess on the wet wicket, got rid of the Metropolitans for 92. Following on, Surrey scored 27 without loss before stumps and the match were drawn. Rain caused the Yorkshire and Derbyshire match at Chesterfield to be aban- doned as an abortive draw-though it is conceiv- able that had not Lord Hawke had sportsmanly consideration for Storer's benefit fund, he might on Friday night have finished off with another win in the County Championship for Yorkshire. Only a few minutes' play took place in the match between Oxford University and Kent, at Oxford on Satur- day, a thunderstorm putting a stop to the pro- ceedings after Oxford had increased their score from 56 to 78 for two wickets. The tale of draws grows amazingly long. Surely the sun will shine soon, and "King Willow" come into his own again. J. Austin Miller, one of the latest London Athletic Club recruits, who gave much promise when at Chigwell Grammar School, won the 100yds. handicap at the Metropolitan Fire Brigade sports on Saturday. G. W. Smith, the New Zea- land champion, l'an in the same event. H. T. Taylor won the mile handicap from the 127yds. mark in the fast time of 4min. 17 4-5sec. At the Printing and Allied Trades' sports at the Palace A. S. Ingram secured the half-mile open cycle handicap, as well as tho balf-mile scratch race for the Corporation Cup. The cup now becomes his own property, as he had won it twice previously. J. Binks, by winning the Farquhar Cup for the third time, makes that trophy his own. Rarely has fashionable London experienced such a disappointing season as this has been so far, and ladies have a legitimate grievance. Time after time brilliant social functions have had to be hidden beneath dull and sombre waterproofs. This was again the case on Saturday, for jnst as visitors were wending their way in large numbers to Barn Elms to witness the polo and ladies'sports, a heavy thunderstorm raged and put an end to all chance of polo taking place. The weather cleared for a time, however, and enabled the committee to get through a most interesting programme of ladies' events. In the five events there was a spirited competition, a-nd in nearly every instance there was very little to choose. Mrs. Webley proved most successful, as two firsts and a like number of seconds were secured by her. She was second to Mrs. Herbert Stroyan in the bending race on polo ponies, the distance being 200yds. between staves, and also second to Mrs. Glover in the pig-sticking event, which created great amusement. In the sortija, the popular Spanish game of rings and streamers, Miss K. Young proved an adept, and, securing the most streamers in the shortest time, took first prize, Mrs. Glover being a good second. In the race, lady on pony v. man on foot," over a dis- tance of 500 yards, Mrs. Webley finished first, and Mrs. Herbert Stroyan second, while the rescue race, in which each lady had to ride one pony and lead another to the lake, punt across, and bring back her companion, also ended in a win for Mrs. Webley, with Miss G. Young second. At the con- clusion of the sports the Right Hon. Lord Arthur Hill, who, with Captain Viscount Brackley, officiated as judge, presented the prizes to the fair winners. The annual Summer races at Cambridge con- cluded on Saturday. Third Trinity easily finished head of the river. First Trinity allowed Trinity Hall to reclaim their bump Jesus defeated Lady Margaret; King's caught Pembroke, and Selwyn accounted for Peterhouse. Cambridge University won their annual match with the Otter Swimming Club on Saturday, win- sing the 50yds., 100yds., and quarter-mile races. In the polo match the Londoners won by 1 goal to 0. At Oxford the Dark Blues won their water polo match with the United Hospitals by 3 goals to 1. The officials of the Houses of Parliament en- gaged in a golf match on the links of the Hanger Hill Club, Ealing, on Saturday. The Lords won by 23 holes-viz., 34 to 11. The best match of the day was between Mr. Albert Gray (Lords) and Mr. C. W. Campion (Commons), the former winning by one hole. Those two doughty golfers James Braid and Harry Vardon met on the links of the Rodway Hill Club, Bristol, on Saturday. Braid won by five up and four to play. It has been decided at a meeting at Rome of the International Cyclists' Union that the matches for the world's championship should be held in 1903 at Copenhagen, and in 1904 at Chicago, at the Olympic fetes. Thanks to a magnificent innings of 151 not out by Abel, Surrey kept Sussex in the field nearly all day at Kennington Oval on Monday, and put together 263. The visitors made a poor start, as at the drawing of stumps two good wickets-Vine and Killick-were out for 42. Leicester gave a consistent if slow batting display at the Crystal Palace on Monday, and off the London County bowlers scored 254 for the loss of eight wickets, Knight being top scorer with 70. The cricket scarcely rose on Monday above mediocrity at Lord's, where Notts were entertained by the M.C.C. and Ground, save for a good innings of 100 by Ire- monger for the visitors. The premier club were but weakly represented, and were all out for 63. To this Notts replied with 207 for seven wickets, so they on Tuesday morning were 144 runs on, with three wickets in hand. 0 The attendance was poor, and the weather cold and dull. The Australians, although at a disadvantage in having four of their team on the sick list, had by far the best of the first day's play with Cambridge University, as, after dismiss- ing their opponents ,.for 108, they scored 87 for the loss of only one wicket. Trumper performed well both with ball and bat. There was a good deal of progress made with the game at Birmingham on Monday. Derbyshire batted first on a slow wicket, and scored 122. To this Warwickshire replied with 192 for three wickets. So they were on Tuesday morning 70 runs on, with the use of seven wickets left them. At Gloucester, the home county had the better of matters against Somerset on Monday, scoring 186 against 116 for eight wickets. Except that Wratlial scored 78, and Braund took six wickets -Rvt ?iayA? Poking in outstanding features. At Xorks.5lire had Middlesex for opponents, visitors batting first, they were all 1 KO f nr +vi ?r „ *n reply to this Yorkshire scored J?S8,0t sil finished ;,p the fsl a sss $ £ ««5r«» being shared by J. R. Mason and Blythe. Ths Australian cricketers beat Cambridn University on Tuesday with remarkable ease, the margin in their favour being an innings and 183 runs. Victor Trumper again gave evi- dence of his remarkable form with a score of 128, while A. J. Hopkins bowled in sensational fashion and took seven wickets for 10 runs, including the "hat trick." The Cantabs only aggregated 46 in their second innings. Notts gained an easy victory over M.C.C. and Ground at Lord's by an innings and 43 runs. Warwickshire had all the better of their match with Derbyshire at Birmingham, and at the close of the second day's play only required 12 runs to win with nine wickets in hand. Yorkshire continued their victorious career, and routed Middlesex at Bradford by an innings and 22 runs, Haigh and Rhodes bowling irresistibly. The feature of the cricket at the Crystal Palace on Tuesday was a splendid innings of 132 by W. L. Murdoch for London County, who, by scoring 327, exceeded the Leicester total by 47 runs. The visitors before nightfall lost a wicket in the second innings for 13 runs. The feature of an interesting day's cricket on Tuesday at Kennington Oval was a magnificent and timely innings of 135 by K. S. Ranjitsinhji, who very materially helped Sussex in their first innings with Surrey. Though five wickets fell for 70, the famous Indian cricketer showed a grand defence, and, in his best style, completely mastered the bowling. At the close of the second day's play Surrey, in their second innings, had lost four wickets, and were only 40 runs to the good. At Worcester, the home county fared badly at the hands of Kent, and required on Wednesday 221 runs to save defeat, with six wickets in hand. Blythe and Mason bowled finely for the visitors. Gloucestershire left off in a far better position than their visiting neighbours Somerset, on Tues- day, for the Cider men wanted 127 to win with Silly three wickets standing.

PROCEEDINGS I I IN PARLIAMENT. I THE BRITISH MUSEUM. Viscount Peel moved on the 9th inst. in the House of Lords the second reading of the British Museum Bill, which provides for the removal, as his lordship explained, of the enormous piles of provincial newspapers and other printed matter at present kept in the British Museum. These would be placed in buildings to be erected on a site of between four and five acres at Hendon. Captain Wells had been consulted, and every pre- caution would be taken against fire. London papers would still be filed at the Museum. Per- sons desirous of consulting papers kept in the new premises could do so in the old buildings after giving some hours' notice. I LOAN BILL. J I The Loan Bill was read a third time, and passed. [ IRISH LAND.—PENSIONS TO SOLDIERS' WIDOWS AND CHILDREN. In the House of Commons Mr. Wyndham, answering Mr. Delany, indicated that there was no prospect of the Irish Land Bill passing this session unless it could be treated as a non-con- tentious measure, and sent to a Grand Com- mittee. Lord Stanley informed Mr. Channing that pensions had been granted to 2863 widows and 4184 children of soldiers who had lost their lives in the war. Mr. Chamberlain told Mr. Mac- Neill that he understood the Constitution of Cape Colony could not be suspended without an Act of the Imperial Parliament. I THE CORN-TAX. I During the discussion of the Budget in Com- mittee an important statement was elicited from Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, who declared and re- iterated again and again that the corn-tax was a revenue measure pure and simple with no ulterior motives underlying it. "I know," said the Chancellor of the Exchequer, that some persons have suggested that we should impose duties as against foreign nations, in order to give an advan- tage to our Colonies. That is not the policy of his Majesty's Government. It is our policy, while ad- hering to our own principles, to do what we can to make trade between ourselves and our Colonies freer, in order, as we believe, to promote the best relations within the Empire." I CORRUPT TRADING. I Appealed to by Earl Grey in the Upper Chamber of the Legislature on the 10th inst. to do some- thing to combat the system of bribes and secret commissions in trading, the Lord Chancellor said he proposed to re-introduce the Prevention of Corruption Bill, though, looking to what was going on in the other House, he could not with confidence say that it would become law this session. RESERVISTS.—ZOLLVEREIN AND FREE I TRADE. Answering a question in the Commons, Lord Stanley stated that reservists at home would be demobilised after June 30. Upon the House going into Committee on the Finance Bill, Sir H. Campbell- Bannerman was the first speaker. Referring to the Zollverein proposal, he said they ought to proceed with the greatest caution before they took the first step in an unknown territory. Sir William Harcourt glorified Free Trade, and was afterwards effectually subjected by Lord Hugh Cecil to the process of Hansardisa- tion." Mr. A. Chamberlain delivered a speech with forcible points. Sir Michael Hicks-Beach replied on the debate, and, after the application of the closure, Clause 1 was carried by a majority of 8b, the ficures being For, 279; against, 193.

LIEUTENANT BAUDIE'S DEATH. I The body of Lieutenant Baudie, the young t officer who on Monday made an ascent with a balloon belonging to the Naval Aerostatic Park, at Lagoubran, near Toulon, was on Tuesday morning picked up at sea by one of the French Government ships which had been sent out to search for it. The death of this officer, who leaves a young wife only 22 years of age, has caused a profound impression in Naval circles at Toulon. Lieu- tenant Baudie was engaged in making experi- ments, demonstrating how a balloon, when attached to an ironclad and connected with it by a telephone, could be of use in sighting an enemy and giving information concerning the course it was following. He was also responsible for the discovery that a submarine boat, though submerged a consider- able depth, could be perceived beneath the waters from the car of a balloon. The ascent which the officer made on Monday was not for- tunate from the start. The wind was apparently blowing shorewards, and when the airship was released it first struck a shed and then upset a telegraph pole. Suddenly, however, as the aero- stadt ascended, it was caught be an opposite aerial currentj and commenced to proceed seawards. The torpedo-boats which had been deputed to f ol- low it had not time to get up a full pressure of steam, and the balloon was lost sight of. What followed is told by the keepers of the Bre- gancon Semaphore Station. They saw the balloon come over the headland, and drift over the Hyeres Road. Lieutenant Baudie could be seen manoeuvring his guide-rope, whilst the car of the balloon was striking the waves, bounding along with a series of violent shocks. Thinking that the torpedo boats would not reach him in ti ne, the officer is believed to have resolved to try and swim to the shore, which is described as being half a kilometer distant from him. In any case, he jumped from the car, and commenced to swim, but the effort was too much for him, and he sank before help could reach him. His body was discovered on Tuesday morning in about 20ft. of water, about 150ft. from the shore.

At all dinner-parties given, by the Prince and Princess of Wales the menu is invariably couched in the French language, no matter what the nationality of their Royal Highnesses' guests may be. But with the King no hard-and-fast rule obtains with regard to the language employed for the menu cards; and these, decorated with views of Buckingham Palace, are printed in colours. Electric cannon are announced from time to time, but still appear quite impracticable. In the case of the latest invention in this line, that of Prof. Birkeland, of Norway, a model has been constructed that can propel a lib. projectile with great force, the gun appearing to be a mere cast-iron tube wrapped with copper wire, and probably operating on the solenoid principle, but in applying this principle to cannon capable of projecting a 2-ton shot to a distance of several [ miles many difficulties arise.

AFTER TI-IE WAR. PROGRESS OF SURRENDER. MUTUAL GOOD FEELING. KING'S MESSAGE TO THE BURGHERS. The following telegrams from Lord Kitchener have been received at the War Office: PRETORIA, Saturday, 3.40 a.m. "Yesterday progress continued in entirely satisfactory manner. At Middelburg, Transvaal, 440 burghers laid down their arms, handing in one pom-pom com- plete with ammunition. Hiding places of one Howitzer and one Maxim hace also been indicated. At Standerton 289 burghers laid down their arms, and in the Cape Colony 255, of whom 219 were rebels. These came in at Cradock, and many more are expected to-day. All in Cape Colony have expressed themselves rejoiced at news of peace." Sunday, 6 a.m. Disarmament proceeding satisfactorily. Good spirit displayed everywhere.. Yesterday 1986 rifles were handed in, making total of 4342 rifles up to date." THE NEW SONS OF THE EMPIRE. Telegrams from South Africa show that the incorporation of the burghers into the Empire is being accomplished with best feeling on both sides. A Pretoria correspondent says I was in con- versation with a number of Boers who have been fighting throughout the campaign, and I was sur- prised at the number of inquiries which they made regarding the extent, wealth, and power of the Empire. They were very anxious to ascertain whether the French Canadians lived under any disability. Altogether, the signs are most hopeful. We are receiving into the Empire an addition which, as far as one can see at present, intends becoming as loyal a section as any." The surrender at Standerton was supervised by General Louis Botha, and, was conducted in per- feet order and with military precision. In a short speech General Hamilton testified to the admira- tion felt by the whole British nation for the grand struggle made by the Boers, and expressed the hope that the burghers would become loyal sub- jects of the King. At Vredefort Road, General Christian De Wet went out early in the morning to meet Van Niekerk's and Vander Merwe's commandos at the farm of Bloethof, 11 miles west of Vrede- fort Road. At noon a message arrived that the burghers were ready. General Elliott, who had arrived with his staff in No. 4 armoured train from Kroonstad, then rode out and met the burghers on the veldt. The General expressed his admiration for the Boers' pluck and endurance. The burghers lustily cheered the General. They stated that they had expected that we should come with 15,000 armed troops to receive tht) surrender, and that they were sur- prised to see General Elliott come attended only by his personal staff. After the laying down of arms was completed General Elliott addressed the burghers, stating that our only wish was to see everyone get back to his farm as soon as possible. The King had telegraphed from England, expressing his satisfaction at the termination of hostilities, and eulogising the Boers as well as the British forces. His Majesty hoped that the burghers would soon be on their farms, and would enjoy pros- perity and happiness in the future. The burghers thereupon gave three hearty cheers for the King. Field Cornet Raath thanked General i Elliott for the King's message, and said all burghers intended to be just as faithful to the new as to the late Government. The General re- plied that if the burghers did this the King would be very pleased. After receiving their passes, the burghers galloped off to the Concentration Camp to see their families, all apparently in good spirits. Mr. Schalk Burger lunched with the Governor of Natal on Friday of last week, and visited the Concentration Camp. In an address of over an hour's duration he explained the present situation to the persons in the camp. He asked them to make the best of the situation, and to forget and forgive the past. He pointed out the uselessness and hopelessness of continuing the struggle. He urged them to accept and act in accordance with the terms of surrender, saying that now he had signed them he did not intend to draw back. He wished to work for the good of South Africa. MANY RIFLES GIVEN UP. I Lord Kitchener telegraphs from Pretoria that on Sunday and Saturday afternoon 2500 rifles were surrendered. Of these 448 were handed over by Cape rebels, and the remainder principally by De Wet's men. Hearty cheers for the King were given. A telegram from Bloemfontein says that when the Boer leaders came into the town the other day they refused to shake hands with many of those who had pre- viously surrendered to the British. Thanksgiving Services for the close of the War were held at Kroonstad, and most other places in South Africa, on Sunday, and Monday was observed as a public holiday in Capetown and at Durban. At the latter place the keynote of the addresses was that of hope for the harmony and union of races under the British Flag. SEVEN THOUSAND SURRENDERS. A message from Pretoria states that the sur- renders of Boers continue throughout the different districts, the total up to Monday morn- ing being seven thousand. MR. KRUGER'S ATTITUDE. Mr. Kruger's order to strike the colours of the former Boer Republics before his house (says a Brussels correspondent) is generally considered to be a tacit recognition of the Pretoria Treaty, and the first step towards accepting the new state of affairs in South Africa. The Dutch Premier, Dr. Kuyper, insists (says, a corre- spondent of the "Standard") upon the ex- President following the example of the other Boer leaders, and swearing the oath of allegiance, like Mr. Steyn and Generals Botha and De Wet. It is not impossible that Mr. Kruger will finish by yielding to Dr. Kuyper's advice. TRANSVAAL MINES. NEW TAX TO BE LEVIED. A proclamation was issued in Pretoria on Monday repealing the measure passed by the late Transvaal Volksraad which imposed a tax of 5 per cent. on the net profits of mines, and in place thereof imposing a tax of 10 per cent. on the net produce obtained from the working of claims, mynpachts, and other gold-bearing grounds in this colony. Such net produce is to be taken as the value of the gold produced after deduction of the cost of production andi of the sums allowed for exhaustion of capital, as provided in the pro- clamation. In the House of Commons on Tuesday Mr. Black asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he anticipated any recovery for the Imperial Exchequer from the Transvaal gold mines during the current financial year. +T, TT Hicks-Beach f I have already informed the House that it is our intention, after the ter- mination of hostilities, to earmark certain sources of avenue in the Transvaal and to apply them from time to time to the service of some portion of the loans raised for the war. No time will be lost in making arrangements for this pur- pose, but whether any sum will be available from this sourse during the present financial year I cannot at present say. It depends largely on the rapidity with which the main industries of the country, and the revenue, recover from the effects of the war.

THE ETON MEMORIAL. At a meeting of Old Etonians, held on Tuesday at the London Mansion House, under the presi- dency of the Lord Mayor, and addressed by Lord Rosebery, Bishop Welldon, Mr. A. Lyttelton, M.P., Mr. Brodrick, Lord Roberts, Lord Cadogan, Mr. Ian Malcolm, M.P., Dr- Warre, Lord Morley, Lord Wenlock, Lord Jersey, and others, it was re- solved to perpetuate the memory of those Etonians who have taken part in the war in South Africa by a record of names in the college chapel, a com- memorative monument, and the erection of a library and hall.

1 SPECIAL GRATUITY FOR THE TROOPS IN SOUTH AFRICA. An Army Order issued on Monday states that I warrant officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the Regular Army (including enlisted Volunteers) and embodied Militia who have served in the South African command during the present war for more than 18 months will be granted a special gratuity at certain specified rates for additional service rendered after December 31, 1901. The gratuity will not be paid to soldiers who draw pay at rates not specified in the pay warrant.

PUBLIC MEN ON PUBLIC I MATTERS. MR: MORLEY IN EDINBURGH. Mr. Morley, on Saturday, addressing a large meeting of Liberals at Edinburgh, repudiated the charge of disloyalty to their country on the part of some Liberals. Whatever their opinions as to the origin of the War, they welcomed Peace, and observed that the terms of settle- ment contained as near as could be principles which Liberals had advocated for the last few months, and perhaps longer. Unless the terms were carried out promptly and effectively, there would be the same mess as was produced owing to the delay m 1880. The Liberal Party would have a great and powerful share in filling in the skeleton provisions of the agreement for Peace. Circumstances now compelled Liberal Unity, and he was completely satisfied with the leader- ship of Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman and Lord Spencer. If a new Liberal Government were formed, the Irish Question would at once have to be considered. A good programme was afforded the Liberal Party by the Government policy of re-action, as evidenced by the Educa- tion Bill and Corn Tax. MR. GERALD BALFOUR AT GRAYS. Mr. Gerald Balfour, President of the Board of Trade, on Saturday attended the annual inspection of the boys on the training ship Exmouth, at Grays, and in a speech he delivered at the luncheon which followed, spoke in terms of praise of the transport services rendered by the mercantile marine during the War. In the course of nearly three years not a single life had been lost by accident or shipwreck in the transport of our troops—a record' of which the mercantile marine might well be proud. THE EARL OF ROSEBERY AND MR BALFOUR. A correspondence has passed between Lord Rosebery and Mr. Balfour with reference to the lafter's statement in a recent speech that the ex-Premier had advised at Chesterfield that "we should grant, as a preliminary to the cessation of hostilities, a great measure of amnesty to the rebels in our own Colonies." Lord Rosebery cannot believe that I ever uttered words so alien to all my opinions on this subject." Mr. Balfour replies by quoting a long passage from page 15 of the authorised version of the Chesterfield speech, which in his opinion justifies his statement. Lord Rosebery does not admit the justification, and concludes the friendly controversy in these words: I well know from personal expe- rience the tricks that memory plays with one in speaking. Only the other day I misquoted or misapplied some words of Lord Salisbury's about resolute government." He adds: "I should not have troubled you about your statement had it not been for the singular emphasis which you gave to it." LIBERALS AND THE EDUCATION BILL. Lord Rosebery presided on Tuesday evening at a meeting held in the Queen's Hall in London under the auspices of the London Progressive Education Council, to protest against the Educa- tion Bill. Letters from Sir H. Campbell-Banner- man and Mr. Bryce, M.P., condemnatory of the bill, were read. Lord Rosebery said the bill laid down for all time a cast-iron system of denomina- tional management and of close corporations in the direction of popular education which, if it prevailed, would put an end for ever to the dearest hopes of the Nonconformists and also of the advocates of efficient education. The religious difficulty was practically ignored in the bill, and an enormous financial burden would be handed over to be spent or directed by a govern- ing body in which the proportion of popular re- presentation would be insignificant. At a time when the nations were striving against each other for commercial existencethe Government came forward with a measure which would do more to stunt the educational development of the country than almost any other conceivable proposal. A resolution condemnatory of the bill was moved by Mr. Lyulph Stanley, seconded by Dr. Guinness Rogers, and supported by Mr. Asquith, who cha- racterised the bill as the deliberate throwing away of a priceless opportunity. The resolution was unanimously carried. LORD ROBERTS AND THE RESERVISTS. Lord Roberts, on Tuesday speaking at the annual meeting of the National Association for the Employment of Reserve Soldiers, held at the Royal United Service Institution, Whitehall, heartily commended the Society to the considera- tion of all interested in their country. Mr. Brod- rick, who spoke at the same meeting, said employers of Reservists might now feel more assured. We had survived the period of tension, and nothing appeared in any part of the world to disturb the prospects of Peace.

I THE KING'S DINNER TO THE POOR. I The numerical distribution of dinners among the 29 districts into which the metropolis has been di- vided by the organising committee of London mayors and others has now been definitely ar- ranged. The numbers range from 40,000 in Islington and 30,000 in Camberwell to 4000 in Stoke Newington and 1000 in the City of London.

I SPECIAL SERVICE VOLUNTEERS. I I A NEW REGULATION. I Regulations setting out the conditions of ser- vice in the Special Service Section of the Volun- teer Force established by the Volunteer Act of 1902 have been published in Army Orders. The conditions required from Volunteers in this sec- tion are as follows: (a) They will engage to serve in case of emer- gency when called upon to do so by the Secretary of State for a period not exceeding one month in the fortress, defences, or coast district specified in their agreement; even though no order calling out the Volunteer Force for actual military ser- vice is in force at the time. (b) They will retain the rank which they held in the Volunteer Force. (c) They will be medically examined before joining the Special Service Section by the medieal officer of their corps, and will not be accepted unless they are certified as fit for the duties they will have to perform. They will be afterwards medically examined at least every third year. (d) They may at any time terminate their agree- ment by giving their commanding officer three calendar months' notice in writing; providing that, if before such notice has expired, they are called out for special service, they will be required to complete their period of special service as defined in (a). (e) They may at any time be discharged from the Special Service Section, and will, thereupon revert to the ordinary conditions of enrolment in the Volunteer Force. (f) Officers and Volunteers belonging to the Special Service Section will wear a distinguishing I badge. An annual grant of SiOs. (of which 10s. may be paid to the Volunteer) will be drawn by a corps for each of its members serving in the Special Service Section who is returned as efficient for the current year, in addition to any ordi- nary grant to which it is entitled for such members, and members will, if called out and employed under their agreement for special ser- vice in case of emergency, receive a gratuity of £5 as soon as possible after reporting themselves for duty. When on special service they will receive the pay and allowances of the corresponding rank of the Regular Army of the arm of the Service to which they belong, including, in the case of non-commissioned officers and men, messing and separation allowance. In the event of being killed, wounded, or disabled while on special ser- vice, they will be entitled to pension for themselves or their families, under the same conditions as if serving under an order calling out the volunteer force. Enrolments are to be carried out by officers commanding units.

KITCHENER'S RISE AND REWARD General Viscount Kitchener is now fifty-two years of age. He went through the Royal Mili- tary Academy, Woolwich, and entered the Royal > Engineers as a lieutenant in 1871. Since then he has advanced in the service by the following steps: — Captain ••• ••• 1883 Major 1884 Lieutenant-Coleael 1885 Colonel 1888 Major-General 1896 Lieutenant-General 1900 On taking over the command of the forces in South Africa in December, 1900, he was given the local rank of general. Now, however, that he becomes a gen-eral on the establishment he jumps over the heads of no fewer than sixteen lieutenant-generals, and comes next in order of seniority to General E. L. R. Rose. The pay to which Lord Kitchener as lieutenant- general would be entitled in times of peace is £ 5 8s. a day; but that which he will now ob- tain as full general is £8 a day, or nearly £ 3,000 a year. In South Africa, while in command of the forces, he received the salary of a comman- der-in-chief in the field. In past wars the following have been among the rewards of commanders Duke of Marlborough, for clearing Flanders in 1702, E5,000 a year. After the victory at Blen- heim, the estate at Woodstock. Lord Rodney, defeated the French fleet in the West Indies, 1782; £ 2,000 a year in perpetuity. Lord Nelson, after Trafalgar, 1805; C5,000 in perpetuity. Duke of Wellington, after Peninsular War, 1814, £ 400,000. After Waterloo, 1815, £ 263,000 for the purchase of Strathfieldsaye. Lord Napier of Magdala, after Abyssinian War, 1868; £ 2,000 a year for two lives. Lord Wolseley, Ashanti War, 1874; £ 25,000. Egyptian Expedition, 1882; £ 20,000. Lord Roberts, South African War, 1901; £ 100,000. Lord Kitchener, Expedition to Khartoum, 1898, £ 30,000. South African War, 1902, £ 50,000. General Buller has practically got nothing but the thanks of Lord Roberts on his leaving South Africa.

A BATTLE OF DHOWS. ARAB GUNRUNNERS CAPTURED BY BLUEJACKETS. Wholesale gunrunning having for a long time been carried on along the British Somali coast for the benefit of the Mad Mullah, who is well supplied with the necessaries of war, the British warships on that station are closely kept on the look-out, being aided therein to a certain extent by the Italian authorities. The task is very difficult, and the results are only moderate. A small success is however to be recorded. Part of the crew of H.Af.s. Perseus were patrolling the Somali coast in a dhow when they encountered another dhow with a crew of four. Chase was given aud the veaael was overhauled and challenged. The only reply was rifle ire. The bluejackets accordingly turned a quick- firer on the boat, and, after killing one man and wounding another, captured the vessel and its contents. These were found to be fifty rifles, a quantity of ammunition, together with fifty casks of salt- petre. The dhow did not contain any slaves. It is supposed that the cargo came either from Jibutil or Muscat. The Perseus arrived at Aden on the evening of June 3, towing the captured dhow. 1:

QUEEN'S TEA TO SERVANTS. TEN THOUSAND CORONATION GUESTS. The Bishop of London, speaking on Tuesday at the dedication of the new hospital ship Queen Alexandra to the work of the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen, said that he was able to announce publicly for the first time- because the fact had not been previously stated- that her Majesty, anxious that no class of people should be forgotten on the occasion of the Coro- nation, had just commissioned him to give medals and a tea to 10,000 maids of all work in London, in celebration of the event. It has been decided that the arrangements for the treat shall be worked by the three benevolent organisations which at present do so much for the servant-girl class. They are the Metropolitan Association for Befriending Servant Girls, the Girls' Friendly Society, and the Society for Aiding Friendless Girls. These organisations will take the matter in hand, with the assistance of the Bishop and Mr. James Knowles, of the "Nineteenth Century." No fresh organisation for carrying out the scheme will be brought into existence. A careful selection is to be made of the most deserving girls, and this will present very slight difficulty, as already the associations are in touch with this class of girl. There are at present several centres where the girls are occasionally entertained by these organisations, and a convenient number will be apportioned to each to be present at the Queen's tea." The servants gathered together will be of all denomina- tions. Indeed, it is strictly enjoined that nothing shall be done which will give a suggestion that any particular creed is favoured. The date of the entertainment has been fixed for a day early in July.

THE NAVAL REVIEW. Further orders were issued on Tuesday by Admiral Sir C. F. Hotham in reference to the Naval Review. Until the London, battleship, hoists the Commander-in-Chief's flag at Spit- head the Majestic, battleship, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral A. K. Wilson, V.C., C.B., will be senior officer's ship. Captains are not to call on the Commander-in-Chief nor the senior officer unless they need to see them. Levies are dispensed with. All serious accidents are to be reported to both the Com- mander-in-Chief and the senior officer. Through- out the Fleet June 26 is to be a make and mend clothes day. No defect lists are to be sent in by the ships between June 26 and July 3, except for work absolutely necessary to ensure sea- going efficiency. Friends of officers will be allowed on board warships on the review day in the following proportions Battleships, 80; first-class cruisers, 60; second- class cruisers, 40; third-class cruisers, 30; gun- vessels and gunboats, 20. No visitors will be allowed in the torpedo craft. Special pass arrange- ments have been adopted to prevent unauthorised persons from gaining admission to the ships. The first ships to leave the line will be the Benbow and Collingwood, which will sail on the morning fol- lowing the review to convey Royal Naval Reserve 9 men to Scotland and Ireland.

The United States House of Representatives have passed the anti-Anarchist Bill by 175 votes to 38. Miss Annie Wilson, known to the musical and theatre-going public as Miss Nanette, has suo- cumbed in the Middlesex Hospital to cancer.

HOME HINTS. MUSHBOOM Soup.-Let me first of all saythal this soup can only be made from the fresh mush- rooms-the bottled or preserved are of no use for the; purpose. To make it is no trouble at all: the only difficulty lies in the price of the mushrooms —an important item sometimes. Cut lflb. of mushrooms into square shaped pieces, put them into a saucepan with a pint of good stock, and boil for a few minutes or until tender. Add a sea- soning of salt and pepper, pour in a pint of milk, stir in a piece of butter the size of a walnut, thicken with arrowroot, and serve as hot as pos- sible. TURNIP Soup.-Ingredients: One dozen tur- nips, two ounces of dripping, one ounce of castor sugar, two quarts of white stock, one eill of milk, one ounce of butter, a little grated nutmeg. Peel and slice a dozen large turnips; put them in a stewpan with the dripping and castor sugar. Cook slowly, taking care that the vegetable does not brown. Then add the stock and simmer gently for nearly an hour; strain off the soup, and pass the vegetables through a sieve. Boil up the stock, skim well, add the mashed turnips, milk, butter, and nutmeg. Boil up, and serve with fried bread. HORSERADISH SAUCE is always in demand for roast beef or fillet, and as it takes some time to prepare I find the following recipe very useful Whenever I need horseradish for sauce I take aa equal quantity of this and of whipped or thick cream, beaten together just before serving. Scrape the horseradish and then chop it very finely. To each cupful thus carefully prepared, add two tea- spoonfuls of dry mustard, a like quantity of castor sugar, half the quantity of salt, and cover all with best cold vinegar, which has previously been boiled with spices and strained. Set all together in a glass jar, cover closely, and store in a cool place. SURPRISE STEAK is a popular dish in my house- hold, prepared as follows After removing the beards from nine or ten oysters, poach them for a minute or two in a little stock, being careful not to let it boil. Take rather a thick fillet steak and make a deep cut in it transversely, as if you were going to split the steak in half. In this opening place the oysters, with a good seasoning of chopped parsley, pepper, salt, &c., and a tablespoonful of breadcrumbs. Close up the opening with one or two wooden skewers; grill the steak at once over a clear fire, and serve with horseradish sauce and boiled vegetables. BOILED SHOULDER OF MUTTON WITH OYSTERS. —Ingredients Shoulder of mutton, one teaspoon- ful of pepper, one blade of mace pounded, one dozen and a half of oysters, one onion, six pepper- corns, one pint of gravy, a small piece of butter, one teaspoonful of flour. Hang the mutton until it is tender, and salt it: for two days; turn it and sprinkle it with pepper and mace. Lay some of the oysters over the inside of the joint, roll it up tightly, and tie it strongly together, then put in a stewpan with enough water to cover it, put on the lid of the pan, and fasten firmly. Stew the remain- ing oysters in the gravy, which must be thickened with a little flour and butter. When the meat it cooked, remove the tape and pour the gravy over it. Serve very hot. Evening News." ALL embroideries, and coloured garments also should be ironed on the wrong side whenever practicable. How TO STIFFEN FELT HATS.—Place a damp cloth OD. the brim then pass a het iron over this until dry. This will render the felt quite firm. To PREVENT RuST.-To prevent articles o iron or steel from rusting, immerse or wash them.* for a few moments, with a solution of carbonate* of potash or soda. WHEN making starch for collars, &c., add a little milk. It will be found that they will have a splendid gloss on them when ironed, and also I the iron will move much smoother. I To WHITEN THE KEYS OF THE PIANO.-Firot carefully wipe the keys with a soft, damp cloth wrung out in hot water. Then moisten some whiting with a little lemon-juice, and apply this to the white keys only. It will remove all manner of stains, but it must be used very carefully, or it will injure the instrument. For the second time wring out a cloth in hot water, wipe over the keys, and polish with a soft duster. If you have it, there is nothing so nice as a piece of old silk. To WASH WHITE CHINA SILK.-Either frocks or blouses can be made equal to new by this treat- ment. Make a strong lather of white soap and warm water. Rub the articles in this, and in « second lather if very dirty but do not rub soap oa the silk. Then rinse well in plenty of cold water, to which has been added one teaspoonful of paraffin to the gallon of water. Wring in tb4 hands, then roll in a sheet, pass through wringer, and iron after it has stood about twe hours. BADLY FITTINGDOORS.-When doors do notclc J snugly, but leave cracks through which draughts enter, the simplest remedy is this: Place a strip of putty all along the jambs, cover the edge of tfce door with chalk, and shut it. The putty will then fill all spaces which would remain open and be pressed out where it is not needed, while the orceai is easily removed w th a knife. The chalk rubbed on the edges prevents adhesion, and the putty is left in place, where it soon dries and leaves a per- fectly fitting jamb. BOOTS AND ILL-SHAPED FEET.—A boot atig thority declares that a woman with big, shapelellr f can only afford to wear a laced boot, and neve a low shoe of any kind. Button-boots are not to be recommended, a pretty foot suffering consider- ably in these. No matter how firm the bottoms, they "give" to the motions of the fee*, and, if worn regularly, entirely ruin a pretty ankle. Lacoi boots, on the other hand, tend greatly towards the correction of any faults a foot may possess. Button boots encourage the spreading-out and unnatural development of a good-shaped foot, and are the cause of many a weak ankle. j To cleanse white goatskin rugs, if not very m tl soiled, wet a soft cloth with naphtha, and rub th. hair vigorously, doing a small portion at a time. then hang the rug on a clothes-line in the open so that the smell may disappear. Do this work bj daylight, and have no fire in the room while using the naphtha. If the rug is very dirty, and it is absolutely necessary to wash the rug, choose a cool, windy day. Put about half a pint of household ammonia into a tub containing four gallons of water; put in the rug. and let it remain in for half, an hour shake well in the water; rinse in clean lukewarm water, and hang out in the air in a shady place. When dry, the rug will seem very stiff, but can be softened by hand-rubbing and combing wit4 the fingers.—" Evening News." ] | LEMON CANDY.—Take three pounds of preserv- ing sugar, set it over a slow fire with a half-pint ot water, and let it boil about thirty minutes; thea dissolve one teaspoonful of gum and add it, with a teaspoonful of vinegar, to the sugar. Boil all to- gether till it is brittle, remove from the fire, and flavour to taste with lemon-juice or essence of lemon. Rub the hands with butter, and pull the mixture till it is nearly white, then stretch it into a long stick and twist it.—" London Journal." To Keep the Hair in Good Condition.—Take half an ounce of camphor (finely powdered), moisten with two tablespoonfuls of gin. Put this into a pint bottle and fill with water. Apoly with a sponge to the roots of the hair twice evt'ry weftc. Brush the hair at least once daily, using a bruei with rather soft long bristles. The above wifl promote the growth of the hair, besides keeping it clean, soft, and glossy. Baby's First Teeth.—The first teeth, though very frail, and destined for a temporary service, may b« preserved until they are displaced by the second teeth, by having the decayed points cleansed and filled properly. Of the necessity of preservation of the first teeth there ca.n be no doubt. The com- fort of the child in after life, and the good appeaf- ance of the face, alike demand that these teeth b* preserved until they are pushed out by the second teeth.