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

CURRENT SPORT. I In a golf match for £ 100 on the links of the 'Sunningdale (Berks) Club on Saturday T. Var- -don, of Sandwich, defeated J. White, of Sun- ningdale, after a close game, by 2 up-and 1 to play. J'. Butler, of the Polytechnic, concluded on Saturday a walking race from London to Brighton and back, covering the distance—104J ,piles--in 21h. 36min. 27sec. The long-talked-of match between picked "crews of the American cruisers Chicago and Illinois was rowed in twelve-oared barges on ;Saturday at Villefranche. Over Y.1,200 had been .raised as stakes, and the rivalry among the man was very keen. At half-past two the Illinois sent -off her champion with a round of cheers, and after some delay the Chicago's boat also cleared away, both being taken in tow by steam launches to the start, which was about three miles out to sea. Both were magnificently steered in the Choppy sea, and the rowing was regular, but somewhat short, being over forty to the minute. As calmer water was reached the Chicago's men Gorged gradually ahead, and although the Illinois' ,crew kept doggedly on to the end, they were clearly overmatched. The Chicago's boat passed the winning flag 16sec. before that of the Illinois, amid deafening cheers. The competition for the Association Football First League Championship on Saturday pos- sessed its old nature of inconsistency—that is, speaking generally. There was an upset of that idea about the advantage of playing at home, for Sheffield Wednesday, Everton, and West Bromwich Albion all gained substantial victories on their opponents' grounds, and in two instances there were drawn games. But the feature of Saturday's football was the heavy scoring, that is, heavy for these modern days of superlative defence. Perhaps the most remarkable game was that at Liverpool, in which the home club beat Middlesbrough by no less than five goals to none. Middlesbrough since their admission to First Division honours have done so well and have earned such a good position in the com- .petition that to have five goals scored against them was matter of much surprise. West Bromwich Albion, with their clever win over Aston Villa, strengthened their position at the head of the list. They have shown very good form this season, but few suspected them of this capacity to beat their old rivals, particularly a the game was on the Aston Park ground. The Villa are certainly a disappointing side this year, and the end of two months finds them far removed down the list. The Bolton Wanderers are still waiting for their first victory in the competition, for on Saturday they were beaten for the eighth time this season out of nine matches. Derby County's win over Sunderland was one of the biggest things of the afternoon, and their success was again marked by the wonderful strength of attack, in which Steve Bloomer and Goodall played a very prominent part. Sheffield Wednes- day's win over Notts Forest gave them third place in ihe table of results, for they beat Notts County's position on the goal average. The Blackburn Rovers have still only a solitary win to their account, the Wolverhampton Wanderers -are going strongly, and Notts County are not playing with the consistency which maiked their early play in September, being only able to draw with Grimsby. Woolwich Arsenal beat Manchester City in a very hard game at Plumstead in the Second Jueague by one goal to none, a result that greatly delighted the large crowd. Gooing scored the goal early in the second half. Bristol City and Small Heath played a drawn game at Bristol, each scoring once. These results leave Bristol City at the head of the competition, a point in Iront of both Manchester City and Lincoln City, while a point further behind come Woolwich Arsenal and Small Heath. The results of the most important ties in the third round of the qualifying competition for the Association Cup played oil Saturday, were is follows :—New Brompton beat Clapton at New Brompton by two to hone. Luton beat Queen's Park Rangers at Kensal-rise by three to none. Watford and Fulham drew at Watford, one all. Oxford City and Brentford drew at Oxford, two -all. Swindon beat Yeovil Casuals at Yeovil by -four to none. Ilford beat Hastings and St. Leonards at Ilford by four to none. Chesterfield Beat Newark, six to none. Gainsborough Trinity beat Doncaster Rovers, one to none. Burslem Port Vale beat Stalybridge Rovers, two to one. Glossop beat Crewe Alexandra, three to none. Burton United beat Northampton, two to none. 'Wellingborough beat Whitmore White Cross, three to none. Kettering beat Gresley Rovers, one to none. Leicester Fosse beat Irthling- borough, one to none. Manchester United beat Slccrington Stanley, seven to none, Oswald- twistle Rovers beat Rochdale, two to none. Barnsley beat Belper Town, four to one. Bristol East and Poole drew, one all. Lowestoft Town beat West Croydon, three to one. Luton Amateurs beat West Norwood, five to none. Shepherd's Bush and Maidenhead Norfolkians flrew, two all. Southall beat Aylesbury United, three to two. Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United played a drawn game at Tottenham in the ^Southern League, both sides scoring once. Bris- tol Rovers beat Millwall at Millwall by two goals to none. Reading and Southampton drew their game at Reading-one goal all. In the Scottish League Glasgow Rangers beat "!t'bird Lanark, two to none Celtic beat Kilmar- nock, three to one Heart of Midlothian beat Queen's Park, five to two; Hibernians and Partick Thistle drew, two all; St. Mirren and Crreenock Morton drew, one all; Port Glasgow and Dundee drew, nil. In the second round of the qualifying competi- tlon for the Amateur Cup, the following were the principal results among the Southern Divisions: Upton Park beat Crouch End Vam- Plres' three to two; Civil Service beat Leighton Cee Springs, one to none Eversleigh beat Lee, two to none; Tunbridge Wells and Horsham drew, two all; Shoreham beat Hove, four to three Slough beat Maidenhead, four to none Chelmsford beat Halesworth, six to three Little- hampton beat Eastbourne, one to none; New- haven beat St. Leonards, three to one; Old St. Mark's beat Croydon Wanderers, ten to two; Norsemen beat Luton Clarence, two to one. Though not at full strength, the Corinthians played a good game with Portsmouth, the « °^ +i,ern Lea§ue champions at the Queen's Club, ana the result was a draw—two goals all. B. O. orbett, who all along played capitally at out- «de left, scored the first goal for the amateurs, £ if alu° beat Reilly before half-time. The visitors showed very good com- bination at times, but were met by a very strong defence, in which Mr. Morgan-Owen and O. T. tNorris were prominent. At length, however, Cunliffe scored from a long pass by Smith, and corner resulted in Brown heading a goal that equalised matters. The Corinthians had more the game after this, but Ball, of East Sheen, wi+v. WttS in tlle centre, missed some chances, and wJvT ■ Morgan-Owen also at fault the score "remained level until the end. Pniversity won a curious game at six ffoai?SL/t0m the London Caledonians by tiLs C™J°U £ ^hey began by scoring five Ifellin ]?arn1S;' ^arnfield, Booker, and thpTi onf ,sho> Sims and Drum- after chane<?nf Caledonians, and produSTw „en?s tshoh3 by Ross and Wade «ver, cLSfLf aJSi°F the home team. How- play, and Mellin the subsequent V 7' and Mellm obtained the last goal for them. three^ima? County championship there were ^vislontd^in ? &e nort= 41. +, aa ™e in the south-western. Of these t i _one that aroused most interest was that between Durham and Yorkshire. It wm played at West Hartlepool. Yorkshire turned out a pretty good side, and their defeat by two tries to one goal—a mere margin of one point—points to a steady progress in the Rugby game in York- shire after the defection of the Northern Union Clubs. Durham were very good in the scrum- mage, and their halves just turned the game for the champions. Lancashire went to Birkenhead and beat Cheshire very cleverly by two tries to a goal, while in the south-western group Glouces- tershire and Cornwall drew at one try ea'ch. The match was at Bristol, and was rather disappoint- ing to the home county's friends. It was a good hard match. London Scottish v. Blackheath.-This was a match worthy of the best traditions of the old clubs. Before several thousand people Black- heath won by one try to nothing. The scrum- mages were well fought in the best Rugby style, but the thing that turned the game was the fine work put in for Blackheath at three-quarters by Skrimshire and Forrest. The running, kicking, and passing of both men were wonderful. Skrimshire is by far the best three-quarter tnat we have in London just now, but in playing for Blackheath instead of the London Welsh the Welsh Union ignore his claims to an inter- national cap. Skrimshire is an excellent captain, and commands all that splendid judgment w^^u reminds one of the genius of Arthur Gould. Blackheath had the better of the first half on Saturday, but the Scottish tackling was tremendously good, and there was no scoring before half-time. In the second period things were more even, and the Scotsmen had several shots at goal from free kicks. Eventually Hill got through for Blackheath, who won by this tr" to nothing. Cambridge University v. Old Leysians.—The University beat the Oid Leysians both forward and behind at Cambridge, and won by five goals (two dropped by Sisterton) and one try to three tries. Norman Spicer placed three goals. Oxford University v. Old Merchant Taylors.— The old Merchant Taylors were in great form at Oxford, and won by three goals (two from penalty kicks), and a try to a goal and a try. The scrummage work of the Merchant Taylors turned the game. Richmond beat Guy's Hospital at Richmond Athletic Ground by three goals and three tries to nothing. Harlequins beat London Irish at Stamford- bridge by a goal and a try to one goal. Kensington beat Croydon at Wood-lane by one goal and two tries to one goal. Marlborough Nomads beat St. Bartholomew's Hospital at Winchmore-hill by two goals and four tries to nothing. Lennox beat Rosslyn Park at Richmond by two goals and four tries to nothing. R.M.C., Sandhurst beat Berkshire Wanderers by three goals and three tries to one goal. Cardiff beat Llanelly by two goals to nothing at Cardiff. Newport beat Leicester by two tries to nothing at Leicester. Swansea beat Aberavon by three goals and two tries to one goal at Aberavon. Rugby beat Bedford by two goals and three tries to one try at Rugby. Northampton beat Moseley by two goals and two tries to one try at Moseley. Gloucester beat Stroud by one goal and two tries to nothing at Gloucester. Devonport Albion beat Exeter by one try to nothing at Exeter. Coventry beat Old Edwardians by one try to nothing at Birmingham. Two matches were played in the Wester League Competition on Monday. At Millwall the home team beat Portsmouth after a good game by a goal, scored by Morren, to love. Tottenham Hotspur defeated Queen's Park Rangers at Tottenham by three to none. Barlow scored two of the go tis and J. Jones the third. Aston Villa beat Stoke by five goals to none at Aston-park in the Birmingham Cup. In the Lancashire Cup Preston North End beat Black- pool by five goals to none at Preston. Llanelly beat Leicester at Llanelly under Rugby rules on Monday by two goals and three tries to one try.

BOER WAR DOCTOR DEAD. I Dr. Sii-ni n Senz, a Vienna physician, died the other day of blood-poisoning, the result of an acci- dent in performing an operation. He went to the Transvaal in 1898, and accompanied General De Wet's forces a.s doctor for several months. He was taken prisoner at Paardeberg, but was afterwards released on the intervention of the Austrian Consul. Dr. Senz claimed an indemnity from the British Government of £ 10,000 under the Geneva Convention. The case is still pending.

KISSES FOR PRISONERS. I From the top of Calton Hill a full view of line exercise yard of Edinburgh Prison is obtained. Two men were doing the regulation tramp the other morning, when, looking up, they saw their wives standing on the hill. The women wafted kisses, and shouted encouraging messages to their spouses in gaol, but regulations prevented the return of the salutations. Such wifely devotion is not allowed by the prison rules, so the governor had the two women arrested. Charged with a breach of the peace, they pleaded that they were serenading their husbands, and were let off lightly by the bailie.

THE 1 COLONIAL CONFERENCE. PREMIERS AGREE ON PRE- FERENTIAL TRADE. IMPORTANT REPORT. No more notable document has been published for a long time than the official report on the Conference of Colonial Premiers. The Premiers pledge themselves to preferential trade to the Mother-country and will introduce legislation conferring remarkable boons on British trade. They also make many other remarkable suggestions. Mr. Chamberlain said the Government would favourably consider a proposal for Colonial representation in the Imperial Parliament, and advocated Imperial free trade. Mr. Brodrick made some notable admissions on our methods of military muddling, and Lord Selborne said our policy in war was one of naval "offence," not "defence." British trade is supremely interested in the official report of the recent conference of Colonial Premiers issued as a Blue-book. After recognis- ing that free trade is, in the present circum- stances, impossible, and that preferential trade within the Empire is desirable, Great Britain reciprocating any advances by the Colonies in this direction, the Premiers announce that they are prepared to recommend to their respective Parliaments preferential treatment of British goods on the following lines — Canada.—The existing preference of 33 1-3 per cent., and an additional preference on lists of selected articles (a) by further reducing the duties in favour of the United Kingdom (b) by raising the duties against foreign imports; (c) by imposing duties on certain foreign imports now on the free list. 0 Australia.—Preferential treatment not yet defined as to nature or extent. New Zealand.—A general preference by 10 per cent. all-round reduction of the present duty on British manufactured goods, or an equivalent in respect of lists of selected articles on the lines proposed by Canada-namely: (a) by further reducing the duties in favour of the United Kingdom; (b) by raising the duties against foreign imports (c) by imposing duties on certain foreign imports now on the free list. The Cape and Natal.—A preference of 25 per cent. or its equivalent on dutiable goods other than specially-rated articles to be given by increasing the duties on foreign imports. The great poin" now is whether the respective Parliaments will sanction legislation in the suggested direction, or the resolutions remain a dead letter. The following is a summary of the other resolutions Naval Defence.—New arrangements were made regarding naval defence. Australia will give Y.200,000 a year, instead of as at present P,104,000, towards the cost of the improved Australasian squadron and the estab- lishment of a branch of the Royal Naval Reserve. New Zealand will give £ 40,000 for the same object, instead of £ 20,000. Cape Colony will give C50,000 instead of £ 30,000 towards the general maintenance of the Navy. Natal will contribute £ 35,000 for the same object. Newfoundland will contribute P,3,000 per annum (and a Capital sum of P,1,800 for fitting up and preparing a drill ship) towards the maintenance of a branch of the Royal Naval Reserve of not less than 600 men. The Premiers suggest that greater facilities should be given to enable young Colonists to enter the Navy and Army by allotting cadetships. Miscellaneous.—Conferences to be held every four years as a minimum oftener if necessary. So far as possible the views of the Colonies affected should be previously entertained regard- ing negotiations for treaties with foreign Powers. In all Government contracts, as far as possible, the products of the Empire should be preferred to those of foreign countries, full publicity of the tenders being given. In view of the extension of foreign subsidies to shipping, the position of the mail services between the different parts of the Empire should be reviewed by the respective Governments. Excessive freight charges and any preferential charges in favour of foreigners shall be prevented in future contracts, and suitable vessels shall be held at the service of the Government for cruisers or transports in war-time. The navigation laws and the shipping laws shall be re-examined in the direction of exclud- ing from inter-Imperial coasting trade the ships of those countries confining the corresponding trade to their own subjects. The metric system should be adopted. Mutual protection of patents should be arranged. Government purchase of future cables should be rendered possible. Cheaper postage should be fixed for out-going British newspapers and periodicals. Reciprocity between the Colonies and the Transvaal and Orange River Colony in permis- sion accorded, to professional men to practise. Queen Victoria Memorial.—Contributions to be recommended to their respective Parliaments by the Premiers: JL Canada 30,000 Australia (reply not yet received). New Zealand, not less than 15,000 Cape Colony 20,000 Natal, not exceeding 10,000 Newfoundland 2,000 MR. CHAMBERLAIN'S SCHEME FOR IM- PERIAL FREE TRADE. The report contains Mr. Chamberlain's open- ing speech at the Conference, in which he said: "I may perhaps be a dreamer, or too enthusias- tic, but I do not hesitate to say that in my opinion the political federation of the Empire is within the bounds of possibility." Mr. Chamberlain added that the Government, while they would welcome any approach which might be made to a more definite and closer union, felt that it was not for them to press this upon the Colonies. The demand, if it came and when it came, must come from the Colonies. If it came, it would be enthusiastically received in this country. There is no objection in principle to any proposal that representation should be given to the Colonies in either or in both Houses of Parliament, and if the proposal came, it was one which the Government would certainly feel justified in favourably considering. He had always, however, felt himself that the most practical form in which we could achieve our object would be the establishment or the creation of a Royal Council of the Empire, to which all questions of Imperial interest might be referred. Such a council might, in the first in- stance, merely be an advisory council, and the nearest approach to such a body was to be found in the Conference of Colonial Premiers. Mr. Chamberlain recommended increased Colonial contributions to Imperial defence, and also free trade within the Empire. He said he did not, however, mean by free trade the total abolition of customs duties as between different parts of the Empire, but in his mind whenever customs duties be balanced by excise duties, or whenever they were levied on articles which were not produced at home, the enforcement of such duties was no derogation whatever from the prin- ciple of free trade as he understood it. He was, however, unfortunately aware that up to the pre- sent time no proposal so far-reaching had come from any of the Colonies. YEOMANRY AND COLONIALS UNFIT FOR I SERVICE IN EUROPE. The Secretary for War urged the Colonies to perfect their forces. He said:- # "We should never count-either in respect of policy or as to time-on having an enemy who would enable us to make up during the war the deficiencies which we found at the start. In the Boers we had an armed enemy (not an army) shrewd and brave, and provided with good weapons. They neglected at the beginning of the war obvious opportunities, obvious and many opportunities. I mention that fact for this reason, that we have to consider what will be the effect if we found ourselves pitted against European troops. "I admit to the full that our levies, that is to say the Yeomanry and other hastily levied troops, differed extremely in their composition atJd in their military quality. "They all improved enormously after some months, but no general commanding British troops would have been willing, in the condition in which many of them went out, nor would it have been fair, to pit them against European troops, and the same, in a lesser degree, holds good as regards the Colonial force sent to our support. "Up to now Great Britain has always been the last in the field. We cannot afford to be the last in the field. If we are forced into defensive ac- tion for any of our dependencies we are bound to be able to strike as quickly or quicker than any other Powers. That is the object of the whole of our present organisation at the War Office, which has advanced most rapidly within the last two or three years, and I sincerely trust that the Colonial Governments may see their way to giving us, in this particular form, the sup- port winch they have given us in so unstinted a manner under the circumstances of the late war." NAVAL "DEFENCE" IMPOSSIBLE. Lord belborne, in attending the Conference, and, urging more Colonial assistance to the Navy, said there was no question of naval "defence." Our Navy would in case of ttar at once concen- trate to destroy the enemy's fleet. There could be no local allocation of ships to protect the mouth of the Thames, Liverpool, Sydney, or Halifax, for to make any such attempt would only be courting disaster. The sea was all one, and the British Navy must therefore be all one.

I FATAL ACCIDENT AT FOOTBALL. I An accident to a player occurred in the Rugby County Championship football match between Yorkshire and Cumberland, at Headingley, on Saturday, which has unfortunately terminated fatally. John H. Richardson, of Whitehaven, who was playing at half-back for Yorkshire, in making for the ball collided with one of his own side named Leek. Both were injured, and Richardson, although he returned, had subse- quently to retire, and was taken to the Leeds Infirmary, where it was found he had sustained 1 an internal injury. This necessitated an opera- tion, which was performed on Sunday night. Richardson rapidly became worse, and died on Monday afternoon. The deceased was only j twenty-two years of age. I

FLOATING DOCK ASHORE. I The Durban floating dock, which left the Tyne on September 10, in tow of the Bucknall steamer Baralong, has gone ashore in Mossel Bay, and it is feared that it will be a total loss. When the news reached Port Elizabeth that the towing cable had parted steps were taken to send a salvage steamer with heavy anchors and hawsers, as the Baralong could not get sufficiently near to the coast to -render effective assistance. A representative of Lloyd's also went to the scene of the casualty. This gentleman telegraphed late in the afternoon as follows :—"Dock bound to Durban in tow of Baralong ashore and likely to be total wreck. Fair prospect of salvage machinery, possibly pontoon; no lives lost." The floating dock was towed out by the Baralong because the large Dutch tugs which successfully took out the great Bermuda dock this summer could not return in time for the work. It was felt also that the use of a large steamer, which could carry coal for the whole journey, would remove the risks attendant upon going into ports on the way to coal. The progress of the dock up to the time when she went ashore had been unexpectedly rapid, and the casualty has caused much astonishment and dismay. The loss is the more unfortunate as the dock was badly needed at Durban, the only place in South Africa which has accommodation of the kind which it would have afforded being Cape Town. This is the first serious casualty which has occurred to one of these large floating docks while at sea.

After an interval of several weeks the emigra- tion of Roumanian Jews through Vienna to America has recommenced in strong force. Nine children attending a Wesleyan day kChool fefc Ashly-de-la-Zouch have not been absent once for six years. One of the female patients in the infirmary of the Fylde (Lancashire) guardians weighs 35st. A goat, harness, and chaise have been presented to Yarmouth Workhouse for the infant inmates to take carriage exercise. The War Office is sending out two special offi- cers to India for the purpose of superintending the creation of stud farms. In their spare time, the members of the Frimley Volunteer Fire Brigade have erected a fire sta- tion. Lord Lansdowne will be the principal speaker at the annual dinner of the United Club, which takes place on December 12. A. mutiny requiring the employment of armed force for its suppression recently broke oui ajnong three hundred prisoners in the gaol at Lomzha, in Russian Poland. Thomas Cowley, a septuagenarian, who has been convicted over 150 times, has been sent by the Warwick Bench to an inebriates: home for three years. After helping to fill a grave in a Glasgow ceme- tery a gravedigger named Robert Blain fell for- ward, and died immediately from heart disease. The German Crown Prince will join the cavalry after his studies at Bonn are completed, and is to be made Chief of the Body Squadron of the Gardes du Corps Regiment. An ifingnsn statistician was assea now many words could be written with an English lead pencil, and being determined to answer it he bought a lead pencil and Scott's "Ivanhoe," ard proceeded to copy the latter word by word. He wrote 95,608 words, and then was obliged to stop, for the pencil had become so short that he could not use it. A German statistician who heard of this experiment was dissatisfied with it because all the lead in the pencil was not used on the work, and therefore he bought a pencil and started to copy a long German novel. When the pencil was so short that he could not handle it with his fingers he attached a holder to it, and it is said that he wrote" with this one pencil 400,000 words. Possibly, however, his pencil was longer, or the lead in it was of a more dur- able quality.

PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT. FORMAL BUSINESS IN THE UPPER HOUSE. The Lord Chancellor took his seat on the Wool- sack at a quarter-past four o'clock, this being the first sitting of the House since the re-assembling of Parliament on October 16. Lord Cheylesmore and Lord Braybrooke took the oath and subscribed the roll on succession. On the motion of Viscount Churchill, the Patent Law Amendment Bill and the Agriculture and Technical Instruction (Ireland) (No. 2) Bill were read a first time. The Duke of Devonshire said he understood it was desirable that the House should meet for formal business in connection with provisional order bills that day week, November 10. He under- stood also that the noble lord on the Woolsack proposed that the House should meet for judicial business on Tuesday, November 11. So far as he was aware, no ordinary business would be taken before Monday, November 17. He therefore moved that the House adjourn until next Monday. This was agreed to. QUESTIONS IN THE COMMONS. Viscount Cranborn, i ) the House of Commons, informed Mr. Lami-I that no negotiations had recently been or w- now in progress with a view to securing British management for the harbour of and railway from Delagoa Bay. Mr. Balfour, answering Mr. Bryce, intimated that the Transvaal Vote would be taken on Tuesday evening. The Chancellor of the Exchequer introduced a bill to make provision with respect to the disposition and management of the Osborne estate, the King's inte- rest in which, he was authorised to say, his Majesty placed at the disposal of Parliament. EDUCATION BILL.-CLAUSE 9 ADOPTED. Afterwards the House went into Committee on the Education Bill, and proceeded to the consideration of Clause 9. There was consider- able discussion of an amendment moved by Mr. Trevelyan to the effect that new schools pro- vided under the bill should be built by the local authority out of public funds. It was ultimately defeated by a majority of 114. On the motion of Mr. Balfour the closure was passed, and put an end to further talk on the first section of the clause, which was subsequently voted to stand part of the bill by 222 to 107. At the evening sitting the Government majority was reduced to 17 in a snatch division, in which only 157 members voted. Before the House rose, Clause 9 was added to the bill. EDUCATION BILL.—CLAUSE 10 PASSED. At the afternoon sitting of the Commons on Tuesday the House proceeded with the considera- tion of Clause 10 of the Education Bill, which enacts that the Board of Education shall deter- mine in case of dispute whether a school is necessary or not, and prescribes the considera- tions to which the Board is to have regard in so determining. Mr. M'Kenna moved to omit these considerations, so as to leave the Board quite un- fettered in considering each case. Mr. Balfour objected to the amendment, which was rejected by 203 to 109. After about a page and a half of amendments had been swept away by a closure motion, Mr. Herbert Lewis proposed to substitute for the provision of the clause enacting that "a school actually in existence" shall not be con- sidered unnecessary in which the number of scholars in average attendance is not less than thirty, the phrase "a school existing at the date of the passing of this Act." The point was ulti- mately settled at the instance of Mr. Balfour, by adopting the definition, "a school already recog- nised as a public elementary school." Mr. Bryn- mor Jones next proposed to substitute 100 for thirty as the minimum number of average attendance under the clause. This was objected to by the Government, and defeated by 230 to 124. the clause being afterwards adopted on closure by 250 to 126. THE SOUTH AFRICAN GRANT. At the evening sitting of the Commons on Tuesday, the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. Ritchie), in moving that the House should re- solve itself into a Committee on the proposed Vote of Y.8,000,000 for South Africa, said ex- ceptional circumstances had arisen rendering it necessary to apply for a grant of money con- nected with the terms of surrender arranged with the Boer leaders at the conclusion of the war. Mr. G. Bowles raised Le constitutional point that after Supply was closed it could not pro- perly be reopened, and Sir W. Harcourt con- tended that the Government ought to have known before the Appropriation Act that this ad- ditional money would be required. Eventually the motion was agreed to. EDUCATION BILL.—CLAUSE 11 CARRIED. The consideration of the Education Bill hav- ing been resumed in Committee, Clause 11, which gives power to compel a local education authority to fulfil its duty, was closured and carried by 203 to 87.

THE BOER LEADERS. General De Wet, accompanied by Mr. Wessels, arrived at Southampton from London shortly before 3 o'clock on Saturday afternoon, and immediately proceeded on board the Union- Castle liner Saxon, which was lying at the Ocean Quay. The Boer General passed on board unnoticed, and at once went below to his cabin, where he remained until the vessel cast off. Before that a considerable crowd had collected. Mr. Wessels gave inquirers to understand that General De Wet declined to see any representa- tive of the Press. From the same source, how- ever, it became known that General De Wet had enjoyed his visit to England. He did not know when he should return that would depend upon circumstances. The General declined to say anything on the subject of his Continental visit, and in reply to a question as to whether he would meet Mr. Chamberlain in South Africa, Mr. Wessels said that General De Wet could not say anything about his plans for the future. Mr. Schalk Burger, who was Acting-President in the Transvaal after Mr. Kruger's departure, arrived at Southampton from the Cape on Satur- day in the Union-Castle liner Norman, and pro- ceeded to London. Messrs. Fouche, Joubert, and Kritzinger visited Balmoral on Saturday, and afterwards drove to Braemar.

GREAT BRITAIN AND CHINA. i THE MURDERS IN HU-NAN.—REPARATION I CONCEDED. I Sir Ernest Satow's demand for the punishment of the officials responsible for the murders of the English missionaries, Messrs. Bruce and Lowis, in Hu-nan, has resulted in the issue of an Edict, ordering that the Military official who refused protection to the missionaries shall be beheaded. The "Edict also passes sentence of permanent proscription from holding office on several other officials who are locally prominent, including the Prefect, and orders the banishment of a number of minor officials.

THE CLERGYMAN AND THE STAND. George Martin, described as an unattached clergyman of the Church of England, was on Saturday, at the Southwark Police Court, com- mitted for trial to the Central Criminal Court charged with having in his possession a pound package of gunpowder with intent to commit a felony. The accused had declared his inten- tion of destroying a stand which had been erected at St. George's Church, Borough, in order that spectators might view the procession on the occasion of the King's visit to South London. In a statement to the Magistrate he gave his reasons for objecting to the erection of such structures on consecrated ground.

A black burglar captured at Salisbury, Rho- desia, had in his possession a "primary reader," supplied by the well-meaning people who desire to educate the Kaffir. The Mayor of Toronto has written to the Mayor of Cardiff thanking him and the coal-owners for the quick response of South Wales to Canada's demand for coal. The value of the English estate of Isaac Gordon, the moneylender, has been returned at £ 148,218. There is also an Irish estate, but the assets are only book debts.

I DUEL BETWEEN DEPUTIES. The Marquis de Dion and M. GerauIt-Ricbard, the two deputies who had a dispute in the lobby of the Chamber, fought a duel on Tuesday morning in a horse dealer's garden at Neuilly, just outside Paris. No attempt had been made to keep the matter private, so there was quite a social gather- ing of 50 or 60 privileged people drawn thither by the fencing fame of the two mite deputies. The marquis is a great athlete and of somewhat colossal build. The Socialist Deputy for Paris, on the other hand, is short and stout. The former through the 10 assaults tried to allure his anta- gonist by skilful attack, but every advance was cunningly repulsed. Finally, M. Gerault-Richard was pricked in the sword-arm, and as this placed him in what is called a state of inferiority, the encounter was declared at an end. The marquis then returned to town in his automobile, while the Socialist took a humble tramcar.

OSBORNE ESTATE. TERMS OF THE KING'S GIFT. A bill has been prepared by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and introduced into the House of Commons, making provision for the transfer of the Osborne Estate to the nation in accordance with the King's decision, already announced. The measure recites the fact that the property will become vested in his Majesty in right of the Crown, and will cease to be part of the private estates of the Sovereign. Certain parts of the estate are reserved for the private use of the Royal family, and Barton House and grounds will be used as a residence for such persons as the Commissioners cf Works may determine, with the approval of his Majesty. As to the remainder of the estate it is proposed: As a memorial to her late Majesty, the Commis- sioners of Works— (a) Shall, during his Majesty's pleasure, pre- serve, so far as may be in its present condition, and keep open to the public, in such manner and on such terms as the Commissioners, with the approval of his Majesty, determine, such part of Osborne House as appears to have been in the personal occupation of her late Majesty, and (b) shall devote the rest of Osborne House and the grounds under their management to be used for the benefit of officers of his Majesty's naval and military forces, or their wives, wido ws, or family.

I AN EARLY BRIDE. INCIDENT AT THE MARRIAGE OF LORD ARTHUR CECIL. Although kept unusually quiet, and taking place at such an early hour, the marriage of Lord Arthur Cecil (half-brother of Lord Salisbury) and Baroness Frederica von Klenck on Tuesday at the fashionable London St. Peter's Church (Eaton-square) was an interesting ceremony. Great disappointment was, of course, felt at the unavoidable absence of the ex-Premier and Lady Gwendolen Cecil, but many members of Lord Arthur Cecil's family were present, and one side of Eaton-square was lined with carriages and smart electric broughams. Mr. Charles Stewart, the bride's uncle, at whose house the reception was afterwards held, was standing for a long time in the porch with Baroness Mary von Klenck awaiting the advent of the bride. Some 10 minutes before the appointed hour some surprise and consternation was caused by the unexpected arrival of the bride, who dashed up to the church in a smart carriage and pair. After a short parley, however, she drove off again, reappearing later on at the appointed time. The day was perfect for a wedding, and as she passed up to the church door the rays of the sun sparkled on the diamonds in the lace of her dress and on the stars of brilliants which she wore with a coronet of orange flowers on her beautifully dressed fair hair. Following the foreign fashion, Baroness Frederica wore a very simple dress of white crfepe de chine, with ruchings of white chiffon and touches of delicate old lace while her long train, falling from the waist, was caught in I with a plain white satin belt. Baroness Mary von Klenck was her only follower to the altar, and made a pretty contrast in her dress of bright soft pink silk, with pink roses in her black picture hat which matched her rose bouquet. She also wore some lovely little diamond ornaments in the front of her dress. Baroness von Klenck, the bride's mother, made an imposing figure in her dress of stiff silk brocade, with a grey bonnet glistening with silver sequins. Lady Selborne, daughter of the ex Premier, brought her daughter, Lady Mabel Palmer, who looked pretty all in brown, with a brown toque on her fair, soft hair. Lord Cranbourne was also present, as well as Colonel Sackville West, Mary Lady Galloway, and Lady Margaret Cecil. Lord Arthur Cecil is not so tall as his bride, but is a dark, handsome man, with a square, sturdy figure. After the reception, Lord and Lady Cecil left early to spend the honeymoon at Ardgour House, Argyllshire, lent to them by Mrs. Maclean of Ard- gour.

I SETTLEMENT OF SOUTH AFRICA. GRANT OF £ 8,000,000. An Additional Estimate of the amount required in the year ending March 31 next, as a grant in aid to the Transvaal and the Orange River Colony for expenses consequent upon the termination of the war, was issued on Tuesday, under Class 5, Civil Services. The amount is £ 8,000,000, and is made up as follows: 1. Sum required for free grants to burghers of- the late Republics to assist their restoration to.. their homes and the supply of necessaries for the resumption of their normal occupations as pro- vided in Article 10 of the Terms of Surrender, £ 3,000,000. 2. Sum required for grants to other persons in respect of war losses in the two colonies, £ 2,000,000. [It is proposed by the Government that the provision required for the foregoing grants shall be charged upon the Imperial funds.] 3. Sum required for loans to be advanced by the Colonial Governments to supplement the grants under 1 and 2-such loans to be repayable as pro- vided in the Terms of Surrender, £ 3,000,000. [The loans promised by the Terms of Surrender are to be made by the Colonial Governments oat of their own funds. The present provision is required merely as a temporary advance to enable those Governments to proceed with the loans until such time as the necessary funds can be raised on their own behalf. The amount so advanced will be repaid by the colonies out of the proceeds of the first loan raised by them.]

PARLIAMENT TO PRISON. MR. W. REDMOND, M.P., TAKEN INTO CUSTODY. Mr. William Redmond, M.P., was a passenger on board the mail boat which arrived at Kings- town from Holyhead on Tuesday morning, and directly he set foot on Irish soil he was arrested by Superintendent Lanktree, of the Dublin Police, and conveyed to Kilmainham Gaol. Some weeks ago Mr. Redmond was ordered by Mr. Justice Wright, sitting in the King's Bench, Dublin, as Vacation Judge, to give security to be of good behaviour for two years for a speech delivered by him at a League meeting at Taghman, co. Wexfora, in August last. In default of finding bail Mr. Redmond was sentenced to six months'im- prisonment. Mr. Redmond was given a fortnight in which to find the necessary bail, but he ignored the order of the court in the same way in which he had ignored the court itself. The arrest, how- ever, was still delayed until he returned to Ireland, and did not take place until on Tuesday morning. When the superintendent had secured his prisoner he had him at once driven to the gaol, into which he passed almost unnoticed. In the evening the Lord Mayor of Dublin visited the imprisoned M.P., and arranged with the visiting justices to provide the necessaries for Mr. Redmond's comfort during his period of imprisonment.

The scabbards worn by some Rnawan officers are made of papier-mache. The Emperor of Korea has raised a favourite named Om to the rank of Empress. A

One of the best preventive of phthisis, argued Sir James Sawyer, the celebrated Midland Midland physician, at Birmingham, is physical culture. Nine-tenths of the cases of consump- tion, he said, might be avoided if the persons concerned went in for exercises which developed the chest and breathing powers. A Buffalo policeman, proved to have com- mitted burglary at shops on his beat, has been declared by the Court to be insane, and there- fore not guilty of felonious intent. An attempt is now being made to reinstate him in the police force on the ground that no conviction has been recorded against him. Mr. Robert Gazeby, of Belfast, is the first Irish working man to receive the Commission of the Peace for that country. He is a flax- dresser, well known in Irish trade union circles, and popular with all classes. Mr. Gazeby has been for five years a member of the Belfast City Council, and is now chairman two important committees of that body. Strange to say, blue flowers are never fragrant. A writer in the "Garden" cannot think of any really blue flowers that are so. It"- seems as if Nature had done enough for them in giving them the colour of the sky, and reserves £ er lifts of fragrance for less favoured blossoms. Violets are not blue, though they are caned so. Many purple, violet, or mauve-coloured blossoms, like heliotrope, for instance, are exceedingly fragrant, but we cannot think of one fragrant blue flower." Professor Hilprecht, the head of the Archfeo- logical Department of the University of Penn- sylvania, has announced that the Sultan, in recognition of the services rendered by him to the Imperial Museum at Constantinople, has pre- sented him with the richest collection of Baby- lonian antiquities in the world. Professor Hilprecht has placed it in the University Museum. He considers the collection superior to that in the British Museum. The subscription list towards the presentation to Sir Alfred Thomas, M.P., promoted bv his constituents to celebrate the honour of L.1e knighthood recently conferred upon him, and as an appreciation of his services to Wales generally, has now been closed, and has exceeded the highest expecations. The presentation will be made shortly, and is expected to take the form of an illuminated address and inscribed loving cup. The King of Portugal intends to arrive in England on November 17. His Excellency the Marquis de Soveral, Portuguese Minister in London, will probably go either to Dover or to Calais to meet the King, who will not come to London, but will proceed direct from Dover to Windsor. He will reach Windsor Castle on the afternoon of the 17th, and will remain as the guest of the King and Queen until November 24. On taking his departure the Royal visitor may possibly come to London to make purchases, but if so, he will come to the metropolis strictly incognito. The Danube has 400 tributaries, of which 100 are navigable. Railways use up over two million tons of steel a year, almost half the world's product.