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

THE BISHOP OF HEREFORD ON GAMBLING. The Bishop of Hereford presided at a largely attended anti-gambling meeting held in the Drill- hall, Derby, on Tuesday night. It was convened by a combined committee of representatives of the Established Church, the Free Church Coun- cil, and the Young Men's Christian Association. The Bishop referred to the report of the House of Lords' Committee on Gambling, and quoted the paragraph conveying the committee's opinion that the gambling evil was on the increase. He attributed this largely to the growth of city life, and he sometimes thought that circumstances under which so many thousands lived were hav- ing a bad effect on our national character. People in densely populated localities wanted excite- ment, but another factor in our life which had, perhaps, more to do with it than anything else was the influence of the daily newspapers, which fed the appetite for betting. They intended to bring in a Bill in next Session of Parliament which would contain a few modest recommenda- tions. He feared public opinion was not ripe enough to suppress the publication of starting price odds in newspapers, but it was ripe enough for suppressing tipsters' advertisements and similar temptations. It was also proposed to make the punishment of street betting men more severe. It was first necessary to raise the level of public opinion and open people's eyes to the dangers which attended the great evil. A re- solution was adopted on the motion of the Bishop Suffragan of Derby deploring the gambling mania and approving the means proposed to combat it.

BOER GENERALS AT THE COLONIAL OFFICE. General Botha and General Delarey, accom- panied by Mr. Van Velden, who acted as interpreter, went to the Colonial Office on Tues- day, and had an interview with Mr. Chamber- lain. They drove in cabs to Downing-street at noon, and remained till ten minutes past 2. The interview was strictly private. The subject dis- cussed was the condition of the Boers, and the steps which were to be taken for its amelioration. No details are at present forthcoming as to the j e^act nature of the conference. >

The Alton Urban District Council planted the irrigation area attached to their sewage works with cabbages, and at a recent meeting it was stated that these were now ready for sale. A member suggested that they were good enough to eat, and the surveyor was instructed to obtain prices from likely buyers. The cabbage money i will go in relief of rates.

I PROCEEDINGS IN I PARLIAMENT. SIR GEORGE KEKEWICH'S RETIREMENT. In satisfaction of an inquiry by Mr. Dalziel, the Prime Minister, in the House of Commons on the 10th inst., stated the exact circumstances under which Sir G. Kekewich is retiring from the Board of Education. The present Permanent Secretary, he said, would reach the age limit in April next, and as an entirely new system of administration was then to be commenced, it was not deemed desirable to make a special extension of his term of office. This, added Mr. Balfour, cast no reflec- tion on an able public servant, who would retire on the maximum pension after a long and distin- guished career. I THE INDIAN BUDGET. Lord George Hamilton made his annual Indian Budget statement. The surplus for the last 12 months, he said, had reached the dimensions of E4,900,000, and for the current financial period a favourable balance of more than 91,700,000 was anticipated. After many heavy disbursements to meet famine and distress, and submitting to a cur- tailment of revenue, they had realised during the past three years surpluses amounting to £ 8,300,000. The Government had decided on purchasing all but one of the State guaranteed railways, and the cost, which would be between eighty and a hundred millions sterling, would be paid by terminable annuities. His lordship touched upon all the more important Indian topics, includ- ing Lord Kitchener s appointment and the Delhi Durbar. I RICHMOND PARK. Several interesting answers were elicited in the House of Commons, on the 11th inst. Mr. A. Fellowes informed Sir G. Parker that the Ranger of Richmond Park would favourably consider applications by Volunteers for leave to hold manoeuvres in the demesne, provided that Several interesting answers were elicited in the House of Commons, on the 11th inst. Mr. A. Fellowes informed Sir G. Parker that the Ranger of Richmond Park would favourably consider applications by Volunteers for leave to hold manoeuvres in the demesne, provided that the proposed evolutions were not likely to cause undue inconvenience to the public. I MEDITERRANEAN SQUADRON. I Lord Charles Beresford was enlightened by Mr. Arnold-Foster as to the changes and addi- tions to the Mediterranean Squauron since June, 1901. The same Minister told Mr. Lambert that the route of the Good Hope had been arranged in accordance with the wishes of the Colonial Secretary. UGANDA. I Viscount Cranbourne, replying to Mr. T. Bayley, said that the statutory provision for the Uganda Railway had been exhausted, and he proposed to introduce a Bill to furnish further funds for the financing of the line. LONDON TRAFFIC. i, Responding to an appeal by Mr. Bryoe, the Prime Minister indicated that he was in favour of a Royal Commission to consider the whole question of the traffic of London. His inability to decide then and there upon the appointment of such a board of inquiry was due only to the fear lest it should be the means of retarding the execution of much-needed schemes. TUNBRIDGE WELLS TELEPHONES. I yuestioned as to an agreement for the transfer I of the telephone system of Tunbridge Wells to the National Company, said to have been entered into by the clerk of that town without the con- sent of the council or ratepayers, the Post- master-General said he could make no statement until he had received an application from the local authority. Mr. Lough, who had put the inquiry, wished to move the adjournment of the House, apropos of the reported transaction, but the Speaker ruled that the matter was not one of urgent public importance. CLOSURE BY COMPARTMENTS. I Having secured an all-night sitting by a majority of 176 in a House of 360, Mr. Balfour proceeded to move his resolution for applying "closure by compartments" to the discussion on the Education Bill. He expressed great regret at having to adopt this measure, which was to him "a most unpleasant necessity," and complimented the Opposition on the tone and temper thev had up to that time exhibited in the debates. When the Prime Minister sat down Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman rose to move his amendment, to the effect that the House 'declined to entertain a proposal to restrict debate," etc. Mr. Chaplin, who followed, said he could not support the Government in this matter. Major Rasch thought more time was needed for the discussion of the financial provisions. Mr. Chamberlain spoke during the evening sitting. The amendment was defeated by 284 to 152 votes.

THE REVENUE. I The receipts on account of Revenue from April 1, 1902, when there was a balance of 98,566,947 to November, 8, 1902, were £ 76,368,595, against £ 69,174,656 in the corresponding period of the preceding financial year, which began with a balance of £ 5,596,918. The net expenditure was £ 120,304,967, against 9120,939,364 to the same date in the previous year. The Treasury balances on November 8, 1902, amounted to i 3,954.903, and at the same date in 1901 to £ 7,025,602.

FRANCE AND SIAM. I A Yellow-book was, on Tuesday night, published in Paris, containing the Despatches which have passed during the last few years between the French and Siamese Governments. The negotia- tions relating to matters in dispute reached a climax in January last, when, acting upon in- structions from M. Deleassd, the French Minister at Bangkok declared that France would consider it an unfriendly act if Siam afforded facilities for the introduction into the Mekong Valley of enterprises of public utility which might constitute means of influence. The negotiations were then taken up in Paris, and re- sulted in the Convention signed last month. In a subsequent despatch, M. Delcass6 expounded the French view of the Convention, one of the chief objects of which, he said, was to prepare a vast field of expansion for French industries.

SAD DEATH OF A BARONET. I By what is apparently an unfortunate railway accident, a gallant soldier, Sir Jame3 Gordon Graham-Montgomery, fourth baronet, of stan- hope, Peebles, has hst his life, an event which puts several distinguished families into mourn- ing, and causes deep regret among a large circle of military and social friends. He succeeded his father-who was once a notable member of the House of Commons, and a warm friend of Lord Beaconsfield as well as of the great Lord Derby —only last year, and had previously served in the Coldstream Guards, from whom he retired with the rank of lieut.-colonel in 1894. While with that regiment he was through the Egyptian War of 1882, and took part in the battle of Tel- el-Kebir, for which he wore the medal with clasp and the Khedive's bronze star. Sir James was travelling from Edinburgh to London, and while the train was passing Seaton, in Rutland- shire, at a very early hour on Saturday morning, it is surmised that he awoke from sleep, opened by mistake the door of the compartment in which he was alone, and fell out of the train while it was going at full speed. At all events, he was found in the morning on the permanent- way before life was quite extinct, but he died ere effective medical assistance could be obtained, and the remains were conveyed to Seaton, where an inquiry will be held. The lamented officer was in his fifty-first year, and was highly esteemed by all the tenantry on the family estates, which cover nearly 22,000 acres, in Peebleshire and Kinross, and, according to the New Domesday Book, have a rent-roll of 910,000 per annum. He never married, and the baronetcy now goes to his brother, Mr. Basil Graham- Montgomery, formerly a lieutenant in the 60th Rifles, who married in 1880 a daughter of the late Sir Thomas Moncrieffe. One of her sisters was the late Duchess of Atholl, another is Georgiana Countess of Dudley, and a third is Lady Muir- Mackenzie; while two of the sisters of the baronet who has come to a regretted and untimely end are the Duchess of Buckingham and Chandos (wife of Earl Egerton of Tatton) and Countess Temple, widow of the fourth Earl Temple who died last March.

DEATH OF THE TURKISH AMBASSADOR. We regret to announce the death of the Turkish Ambassador, Costaki Anthopoulo Pasha, which occurred somewhat suddenly at his home in Kalki, one of the Princes Islands, in the Sea of Marmora. His Excellency attended the Coronation at West- minster Abbey in August, and on the 27th of that month left London on his annual leave of absence. The greater part of the time he spent with his family at his private residence, and he had arranged to return to Constantinople on Thursday last, to take his corvgi prior to the resumption of his official duties. But mean- time he had contracted a cold accompanied by bronchitis. Double pneumonia supervened, and he died on Monday night. Costaki Pasha's parents were Greeks, and, therefore, like his two pre- decessors in office, he was a Christian. Born at Constantinople in 1832, he received a legal train- ing, and was in 1870 admitted an advocate of the Turkish bar. The Supreme Court, at the same time, made him Attorney-General and Professor of Penal Law. Ten years later, when he had ex- hibited great forensic ability, he was appointed Public Prosecutor, and in 1888 became the third Governor of Crete, it being considered that the selection of a Christian would in all probability have a pacific effect upon the Cretan mind at a time of civil conflict. Unfortunately, his well- intentioned efforts met with little support at head- quarters, and before the close of the year he was succeeded by Chakir Pasha. When the death of Rustem Pasha occurred, in January, 1896, Costaki Pasha was selected as Ambassador at the Court of St. James, and in diplomatic circles he was exceed- ingly popular. The Sultan had a high apprecia- tion of his services, which in 1899 were rewarded by the Insignia and Star of the Osmanieh and Medjidie in brilliants.

COWEN v. LABOUCHERE. JURORS WITHDRAWN. When the hearing of the libel action of "Cowen v. Labouchere" was, on Tuesday, resumed, in the King's Bench Division, the foreman of the jury alleged that on Monday he saw one of the jurors shake hands with the plaintiff's brother, and re- mark, You have done pretty well this morning." The juror denied the allegation, and said it must be a mistake. Mr. Louis Cowen also said the fore- man was mistaken; but he replied that he was afraid he was not. Eventually it was agreed that both the foreman and the juror referred to should leave the box, and the trial proceeded before the remaining ten gentlemen.

THE LUOK OF SADLER'S WELLS- The most historic of London playhouses, Sadler's Wells Theatre, has been reopened as a music-hall by Mr. F. Macnaughten. It was not the first time that a variety entertain- ment had been given at the Wells," for there were startling turns at the old theatre last century. Edmund Kean, Phelps, and Grimaldi, the most famous of clowns, are three names bound up with thp past fortunes of the theatre. In the brightly redecorated building a high-class enter- tainment is being given before crowded houses, and it looks as if the luck of Sadler's Wells has turned at last. Two performances are given nightly, and the prices are as popular as any Islingtonian could wish for. A complete system of electric lighting has now for the first time been installed by Messrs. Vaughan and Brown, of Hatton-garden, who have also specially designed and manufactured the electric light fittings to suit the interior decorations of the grand saloon and auditorium. On the stage we find float, battens, proscenium lights, hanging-lengths, ground-rows, and stage arcs, all to the latest London County Council requirements, the system being controlled from a handsome white marble switchboard, con- veniently placed on the prompt side. The various circuits on this switchboard are particularly well arranged, enabling the attendant to carry out the most delicate scenic effects with the greatest ease and rapidity. This firm has also installed the fire appliances, hydrants, and fireproof curtain. For the furnishing, tableau curtains, Beatings and draperies, Lazarus and Son, of Clerkenwell, are responsible. j

KING OF COCOS ISLAND. r NO EDUCATION WORRIES. I Mr. George Clanies-Ross, the virtual king of Cocos-Keeling Islands, has no opinion of educa- tion. Mr. L. H. Clayton, who recently visited this isolated portion of the British Empire, in a report to the Colonial Office, states that Mr. Ross looks tvith a somewhat unfavourable eye upon education for his dependents, and he thinks that the effect produced is far from good. As I pointed out to him," this official adds, even if he is right in that opinion he has no cause for anxiety, as the large majority of the inhabitants appear to share his views." This must simplify life. Here, at any rate, there is no education question. The islands are still happy and contented, though they suffered severely from a cyclone in March, when the natives ran to lagoons and stood up to their necks in water, as the only place of safety. Existence at Cocos islands is otherwise uneventful, but they now have a doctor, who is a great acquisition, for hitherto cases of illness have been diagnosed and treated by telegraph from Perth (Western Australia). The next great event will be the establish- ment of a Lloyd's signal station. Meantime Mr. Charles Ross and his family have left the islands, and the members of the Ross family now resident are Mr. and Mrs. George Clunies-Ross, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Clunies-Ross, Mr. Sidney Clunies- Ross, Mr. W: Clunies-Ross, and Mr. and Mrs. Edmond C .-Ross.

WELSH COLLIERY ACCIDENT. IMPRISONED IN A CAGE. I Considerable excitement has been occasioned at Treharris, Glamorganshire, by an extraordinary accident which occurred in the Ocean Colliery Company's south pit. Two cages-one of which was ascending with 32 workmen, while the other was going down empty-became jammed 250 yards from the surface on Tuesday. Hun- dreds of employde who yet remained in the workings were brought out safely through another pit, and in about three hours time a rescue party, who were lowered down the shaft, succeeded in reaching the unfortunate colliers suspended in the cage. The first batch of six were brought up at about 20 minutes past eight, having been imprisoned since five o'eVodRv They were, much dazed, but revived und'er the rqstorlitiv64 administered by the doctors in fftten- dfitpde. Another message despatched at elW^n o^iock'on Tuesday night stated that 26 of the 32 occupants of the cage had been rescued, and four dead bodies had been brought up. The acci- dent is attributed to the bursting of a pipe, which it is supposed released a column of water that fell on the cages. John Targett. one of the survivors, stated that the first he knew of the mishap was a report of bursting water. A pipe had broken, and the top of the decker cage was knocked in. There were four men lying dead on the floor of the compartment in which he was confined. One man was under his feet, and he did his best to keep him warm until he breathed his last. The pit is 780 yards deep.

--=--====- n.ouses are fetching extravagantly high renJ in Pretoria. One with four rooms readily lets at LI,2 to 115 a month, while for a six or eight- roomed house 225 a month is asked and received. Wilfred Grannum, of Bridgetown, British Guiana, was hit on the forehead with a stone and killed. While sleeping in a lodging-house, Charles Brown, a boy of eighteen, was over- heard confessing that he had thrown the missile, ile was arrested. Sir Frederick Parkins, J.P., died at his resid- ence at Southampton on Saturday, in his sixty- seventh year. Sir Frederick, it may be men- tioned, provided cigars for the crew of H.M S. Terrible on the occasion of their visit to London to view the royal procession. Alderman Gilbert Finch, the new Mayor of Tunbridge Wells, was at seven years of age a ploughboy, and at sixteen became a gafdener's assistant. Many years ago he commenced bu&i- aess in Tunbridge Wells. He owes his success, -he says, principa.lly to temperance.

I NEW YORK POISON CASE. I MOLINSUX ACQUITTED. Roland B. Molineux on Tuesday afternoon was acquitted in New York of the charge of murder- ing Mrs. Katherine J. Adams, for which, two years and nine months ago, he was sentenced to death. This reversal of the former verdict was not unexpected, but the culmination of the trial was dramatic in the extreme. When the jury filed in and the foreman pro- nounced the words "Not guilty" the men in court threw their hats in the air and cheered wildly. The prisoner himself was, perhaps, the coolest person in the room. His father, General Molineux, who has been the object of general sympathy throughout the proceedings, was al- most overcome with joy. The Assistant District Attorney, Mr. Osborne, finished his summing-up for the prosecution a few minutes after midday, having spoken alto- gether for four hours. Last night his efforts were directed to a defence of Harry Cornish, whom counsel for Molineux, Mr. Black, had charged with being the murderer. Mr. Black's action in denouncing as the real criminal the man who had been, as it were, the head and front of the prosecution, and without whom the prosecution would have found it impossible to assign any motive for Molineux's commission of the murder, was one of the most remarkable moves ever witnessed in a court of justice. The effect it was calculated to have upon the jury was evidenced by the fact that Mr. Osborne con- sidered it accessary to devote the major portion of his speech to a rebuttal of Mr. Black's charges against Cornish. For two hours and a half of the four hours during which Mr. Osborne spoke it was Cornish he was defending, and not Molineux he was arraigning. Most of Mr. Osborne's time on the closing day of the trial was taken up with the effort to con- vince the jury that no one but Molineux could have committed the crime. All the circum- stantial evidence he claimed pointed to Molineux as a guilty man. His arraignment of Molineux was not as strong as was expected in fact, it was rather mild, and the only really sensational remark he made was at the conclusion, when, appealing to the jury to convict the prisoner, he said that if he did not do his duty as he should his conscience would cry out through life, "Coward! coward coward Mr. Justice Lambert delivered a very lucid and impartial charge to the jury. One of the vital features, he said, was the addressing of the poison package. The prosecution claimed that it was in the handwriting of Molineux. Prac- tically equally reliable witnesses had sworn on either side. The burden of decision devolved upon the jury, but unless it had been made clear to them that Molineux did write the address, he could not be convicted. That was the central point to consider. Referring to Molineux's quarrel with Cornish, Mr. Justice Lambert said: "You can readily imagine that any person would feel cause for anger, but this is all the motive the prosecution has to show, and if it is not adequate, there should be no conviction." Molineux's first trial occupied fifty-five court days, and was estimated to have cost $175,000. After the Court of Appeal ordered a new trial, in October, 1901, General Molineux, father of the prisoner, engaged three of the most noted coun- sel in New York to assist Messrs. Barlow and Weeks, who had charge of his son's interests on the first trial. The second trial began on October 15.

CURRENT SPORT. ) The First Division of the Association Football League competition on Saturday produced the following results:—West Bromwich Albion v. Notts Forest.—The Albion maintained their re- cent excellent form at West Bromwich, and fained a victory by two goals to none. Until alf-time the Forest held their own, but subse- quently they were hard pressed. From a penalty kick Kifford opened the scoring, and Dorset shot a second goal late in the game. Derby County v. Wolverhampton Wanderers.— At Derby the home team played good football, and won well by three goals to one. The victory was the more praiseworthy as Beats scored the only goal of the first half for the Wanderers. Ends having been changed, Derby County showed splendid combination, and gradually wore down their opponents. Richards equalised and Bloomer and Leckie also beat Baddeley, who kept goal finely. Sheffield Wednesday v. Bury.—The result of a hard game at Sheffield was a win for.the home team by two goals to none. Wilson scored with a good shot in the first half and Chapman in- creased their lead. Bury made great efforts to- ward the end, but could not overcome a most stubborn defence. Notts County v. Aston Villa.—An exciting match was witnessed at Nottingham. The County showed to great advantage at starting, and Green shot a goal, but Garraity equalised, only for Green to again give Notts the lead before change of ends. Afterwards the Villa set a fast pace, but try as they would they could not score, and Notts County won by two to one. Middlesbrough v. Sheffield United.—The United went to Middlesbrough and beat the home side by two goals to none. They were much in- debted to Foulke, who saved many shots after Priest had opened the scoring. In the second half Middlesbrough had rather bad luck, and Wilkinson made the visitors' victory certain by shooting a second goal. Newcastle United v. Liverpool.—There was a very keen struggle at Newcastle. A shot by Ray- bould gave the visitors the first goal, but Roberts made the score level, and so it remained until well towards the close, when, the United having failed after many attacks, Goddard obtained the deciding point for Liverpool. Stoke v. Sunderland.—The home team had considerably the better of the game at Stoke, but had to be content with a draw. They attacked frequently, Doig saving many shots, and it was not until after half-time that Baddeley beat him. After being kept on the defensive almost through- out, Sunderland forced matters, and Hogg shot an equalising goal, the final score being one all. Blackburn Rovers v. Everton.—The Rovers gained a creditable victory at Blackburn by three goals to two. Brearley scored first for Everton, and Bell again gave them the lead after M'Clure had equalised. In the second half the Rovers had most of the play. Dewhurst put them on terms, and Whittaker obtained the winning goal for them. Grimsby Town v. Bolton Wanderers.—The Wanderers were rather fortunate to escape defeat at Grimsby. Fletcher shot a goal for the home team in the first half, and th was all the scor- ing until a few minutes fro time, when Stoke equalised and the match was drawn-one goal all. In the Second Division of the League Woolwich Arsenal beat Blackpool at Plumstead by two goals to one on Saturday, their second consecutive vic- tory at home, which gives them a record very little inferior to that of the two leading clubs. Manchester City beat Burton United at Man- chester by two goals to none, and are at the head of the division. Small Heath beat Glossop at Small Heath by three goals to one. Leicester Fosse and Bristol City drew at Leicester-two goals all. Manchester United beat Lincoln City at Lin- coln by three goals to one, a splendid and quite unexpected victory. Chesterfield beat Burslem Port Vale at Chester- field by three goals to none. Burnley beat Gainsborough Trinity at Burnley by three goals to two. S Preston North End beat Barnsley at Preston by three goals to none. Doncaster Rovers beat Stockport County by two goals to none at Doncaster. Saturday's Southern League results: -Reading beat Wellingborough at Wellingborough by two goals to one, a result that strengthens Reading's position at the head of the League. Bristol Rovers beat Luton by four goals to one at Luton. Southampton beat Queen's Park Rangers by two goals to none at Southampton. Kettering beat Northampton by two goals to one at Northampton. Watford beat Swindon at Watford by five goals to three. Millwall beat West Ham United at West Ham by three goals to none. I New Brompton beat Brentford at Brentford by two goals to one. A great crowd of 15,000 people assembled at. Tottenham, despite the showery weather, on Saturdav, to see the Western League tussle be- tween Portsmouth and Tottenham, and a most exciting game was seen. Neither side could score and the result was a draw. In the Scottish League, Glasgow Rangers beat Partick Thistle, 4 to 2; DuAdee beat Celtic, 1 to nil; Greenock Morton beat Port Glasgow, 4 to 3; Hibernians beat Queen's Park, 3 to 1; St. Mirren beat Heart of Midlothian, 3 to 1; Kil- marnock and Third Lanark drew, two all. The Old Carthusians were not well represented in the London Charity Cup Semi-Final with Clapton, the holders, who won by two goals to one. After an even first half the Casuals had matters much their own way at Upton, in the match against Westminsters, and they won well by seven goals to three. Upton Park beat Ilford Alliance in the second round of the London Cup by four goals to two. In the third round Clapton Orient beat West Norwood, three to two; Dulwich Hamlet beat Olympian, four to two; Woodford beat Bowes Park, four to two Alleyn beat Richmond Town, six to none; and West Hampstead beat Wands- worth, two to none. In the Surrey Charity Cup Clapham Rovers beat Reigate Priory, three to one Woking beat Guildford, three to two; Weybridge beat East Sheen, four to one. In the outstanding ties in the second round Chesham Generals beat Burnham, nine to two Lowestoft beat Norwich City, four to two; Aylesbury beat Wallingford, four to two; Maidenhead Norfolkians beat Wycombe Wan- derers, two to nil; Horsham and Tunbridge Wells drew, one goal all. Civil Service beat Crouch End Vampires at Crouch End by two goals to one in the Middle- sex Charity Cup. Shepherd's Bush beat London Caledonians at Shepherd's Bush by five goals to one. Ilford beat Old Malvernians, six to nil, at Ilford. Ipswich Town beat Guy's Hospital by four to one. Oxford City beat Ealing by two to one. Three games in the Rugby County Champion- ship Competition were decided on Saturday, and ended in accordance with general expectation. At Falmouth the Cornish fifteen, as last year, gave Somerset a hard game. The week previous Cornwall had drawn with Gloucestershire, but they could not quite repeat that form against Somerset. Shortly before half time Sturt crossed the Cornwall line and Gamlin placed a goal. The Cornishmen were dangerous more than once, but they could not carry their attack to a successful issue. Somerset thus gained a victory by the narrow margin of a goal to nothing Cheshire and Cumberland, the two weakest counties in the Northern Division, met at Birken- head-park, and after a moderate game the Cheshire fifteen won by two goals to nothing. The match was originally fixed to be played in Cumberland, but for some reason that is not forthcoming the venue was changed to the Cheshire ground. Both counties are out of the running. At Harrogate the chances of Northum- berland, who had previously beaten Cheshire handsomely, were practically settled. On a wet ground the Yorkshiremen proved themselves considerably superior to their visitors, winning by two goals and two tries to nothing. This result suggests that Durham, who just beat York- shire on the previous Saturday, will once more be at the head of the Northern Division. The Gloucester Rugby fifteen, who were beaten at Blackheath last month, appeared at Richmond and again suffered defeat. Heavy rain in the morning had left the ground very soft, but an interesting exposition of the game was witnessed. The Gloucester men handicapped themselves by several infringements of the laws, particularly with respect to off-side and picking the ball out of the scrummage. Richmond were the smarter side, and in the first half Pavitt and R. Hancock gained tries ior them. After changing ends Romans, the Gloucester full-back, placed a fine goal from a try by Smith, but Hancock scored again for Richmond, who won by three tries to a goal. The Blackheath fifteen journeyed to Northampton and defeated the home club by a goal and a try to nothing. Northampton, how- ever, were unfortunate in having two men injured in the second half. Hill and Hobbs scored for the Kent team, and Rogers placed the goal. Playing at home, the Oxford Rugger team accomplished a capital performance, beating Bristol, one of the strong West Country clubs, by two goals to one goal. The week previous the Dark Blues lost to the Merchant Taylors, so that they would appear to have improved. A combination from the Metropolitan hospitals journeyed to Cambridge, and made a draw of one try each with the University. Horsley, the Cam- bridge full-back, played a good game, but as a team the Cantabs were disappointing. Aberavon beat the London Welsh, who had a weak side, by four tries to one try. The Har- lequins defeated the Marlborough Nomads by three goals and two tries to two tries. The R.I.E.C. team beat Kensington by three goals and two tries to a dropped goal. Rosslyn Park beat London Irish by two goals and three tries to two tries. London Scottish beat the Old Leysians by four goals and four tries to none. St. Thomas's Hospital beat Bedford by two goals to a try. Leicester beat Moseley by one goal and four tries to one dropped and two tries. Devon- port Albion beat Cardiff by two goals and a'try to two tries. Swansea beat Newport by two goals to none. Llanelly beat Neath by a penalty goal to none. The first of the series of inter-club matches on the university Hare and Hounds programme took place at Cambridge on Saturday. The opponents of the 'varsity were the Ranelagh Harriers, and what is known as the Gog-Magog Course was utilised. H. W. Gregson, the secre- tary of the Cambridge U.A.C., made his first appearance for the season across country, and, running splendidly, finished first, between 300 and 400 yards ahead of his nearest opponent—T, Cooper, of Ranelagh. The visitors were beaten very easily, for their second man to finish was no nearer than ninth, the Cambridge runners thus securing seven out of the first eight places. Though relying chiefly on their second eleven players, Tottenham Hotspur beat Cambridge at Tottenham on Monday by two goals to one. The game was well contested and even, Harris open- ing the scoring for the University and Barlow equalising, while after change of ends Houston C, shot a goal which gave the Hotspur the victory. There were 3000 spectators. Burslem Port Vale beat Stockport County in a Second Division League match at Burslem by three goals to one. Millwall beat Queen's Park Rangers in a Western League match at Millwall on Monday by four goals to none. Everton and Manchester City played another drawn game in the second round of the Lancashire Cup, each scoring twice, at Everton on Monday. Woolwich Arsenal beat Brentford in the London League at Plumstead by three goals to none.

THE DEATH OF A BARMAID, I Dr. Waldo, the City of London. and Southwafic Coroner, on Tuesday, at Bermondsey, resumed the inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of a barmaid, named Maud Eliza Marsh, who is alleged to have died from the effects of poison administered to her by George Chapman, a Southwark publican, now in custody. The evidence of the father and mother of the de- ceased was taken. They stated that their daugh- ter represented that she had been married to Chapman, which, however, they subsequently found out was not the case. When they learned of the deceased's illness they brought a local doctor from Croydon to see her, and he told them she had been poisoned. The inquest was ad- journed for a week.

LONDON'S LORD MAYOR'S DAY. THE SHOW. The Lord Mayor of London's Show took place on Monday. The pageant was one of unusual elaboration and spectacular effect, and, the weather conditions being favourable, attracted large crowds of spectators. The procession, which started from the Guildhall about 11 a.m., pursued a long route through a large part of the City, returned through St. Paul's-church-yard and Ludgate-hill, and passed along Fleet-street to the Law Courts, where the Lord Mayor was presented in accustomed form by the Recorder to the Lord Chief Justice, who welcomed him in a speech in which he re- ferred to the rebuilding of the Central Criminal Court, the movement for improving the Port of London, and the education question. The Lord Mayor was sworn by the King's Remembrancer, and the ceremony closed with his lordship's invita- tion to the judges to attend the Guildhall banquet. The procession was then re-formed and returned to the Guildhall via the Strand, Northumberland- avenue, the Victoria Embankment, and Queen Victoria-street. THE GUILDHALL BANQUET. The Lord Mayor of London's banquet took place on Monday night at the Guildhall, and was at- tended by a large and distinguish company of guests, including several members of the Ministry. The toast of The Imperial Forces was acknow- ledged by Mr. Arn Vl-Forster, Financial Secre- tary to the Admiral and Colonel Sir E. Ward, Permanent Under- ^cretary for War. Respond- ing to the toi.L His Majesty's Ministers," proposed hy the Lord Mayor, Mr. BaJ^jur referred to the King's illness, the Coronation, and the re-establishment of peace as the most important events of the past 12 months. After some allusions to the prolonged Parliamentary controversy over the Education Bill, the Prime Minister said the recent war had shown that the British people were ready and anxious to make any necessary sacrifice on behalf of their country, and that the colonies were not mere sleeping partners in the Imperial firm, and were not prepared merely to share the profits without running any risks. As to whether the war was to be followed by an equally successful peace, he was hopeful, but not too sanguine. The task of rebuilding the industrial and social organisa- tion of the new colonies was a very great one, but he believed it to be in process of successful accomplishm ent. Of all the happy intuitions which had made Mr. Chamberlain's administra- tion of the Colonial Office by far the most splendid in British history, he was not sure that any had been happier than the policy of his going out in person to South Africa and judging on the spot of the many problems which there presented themselves. While he thought the time was not ripe for attempting any constitu- tional union with our colonies, we might, perhaps, hope for some closer fiscal union, and, at any rate, we might carry to greater perfection that personal intercourse which had borne such admirable fruit in the recent past, and which, he was convinced, in the precedent which the Colonial Secretary was about to set, would bear even greater fruit in the not distant future. If he was sanguine about colonial affairs, he did not wish to speak less hopefully about our foreign relations. Mr. Balfour proceeded to deprecate what he termed the wild and fantastic inventions of which, in certain quarters, the visit of the German Emperor had been made the text. He congratulated Lord Lansdowne on the conclusion of the commercial treaty with China and on the Japanese Alliance. The maintenance of inter- national peace was the greatest interest of all the Powers, and the object on which he believed they were all firmly resolved. He did not think the statesmanship of the world would be found un- equal to that great task. Other toasts followed.

KAISER'S GIFT TO THE ROYALS. ) It is understood that the German Emperor has presented a cheque for £ 500 for the benefit of the married men of the 1st Royal Dragoons and their families. The Kaiser contributed a like amount on the departure of the men for the front three years ago. The last gift is the sequel to the mess on Saturday.

A STOCKBROKER MURDERED. ) A tragedy surrounded by singular circumstances occurred in the City of London on Monday after- noon, during the busiest hours of the day, just outside the Lombard-street Post-office, A young lady who is a frequent caller at the post-office went to the counter and sent an express message to a gentleman at the Stock Exchange. After a short interval the person to whom it was addressed called there and saw her. The pair engaged in conversation for some little time within the post-office, and gradually their tone rose until it seemed they were in altercation. After a few minutes they went into the street together, the young lady apparently in a very angry frame of mind. Suddenly, as they were descending the steps leading from the post-office into the street, the girl drew a knife, which she had carried con- cealed in her muff, and struck her companion with considerable force on the left side of the head. As he fell to the ground, bleeding and unconscious, his assailant is said to have made several other attempts to stab him. A telegraph boy who witnessed the occurrence immediately called for help, and the bystanders rushing up the woman was secured and handed over to the police, while the wounded man was taken on a police ambu- lance to St. Bartholomew's Hospital. He was bleeding profusely, and by the time the hospital was reached life was extinct. His assailant had meanwhile been taken to Cloak-lane Police-station. It appears that the dead man's name is Arthur Reginald Baker, and his age about 38. He was formerly a member of the Stock Exchange, and had recently been acting as either a stockbroker or a broker's chief clerk. He occupied apartments at a house in Duke-street, Great Portland-street, W. It has been ascertained that he was stabbed in three places. One wound is on the left side of the head, just above the temple, the second at the back of the left shoulder, and the third on the left side of the chest, but clear of the heart. The girl has for some time been in the habit of calling at the Lom- bard-street Post-office, and sending express mes- sages across to the Stock Exchange. She invari- ably awaited Mr. Baker's arrival at the post-office. Papers have been found at the house in Duke- street which show that the pair had been close associates.

PARCELS POST TO AMERICA. I Mr. Austen Chamberlain, in a written reply to Sir Seymour King, says I am not aware that the express companies in the United States have de- clined to facilitate the arrangements made with the American Express Company fcr the exchange of parcels with the United States, nor have I any reason to suppose that the company will be unable to carry out the obligations into which it has entered. I do not know whether any of these obligations will involve the company in loss; but I'g they will entail none on the British Post Office. .The senders of paicels which are to be delivered free in the United States sign an undertaking which makes them legally responsible for the Customs charges. It is this legal responsibility which pro- tects the Post Office in this case, as in others of the same kind. Proper facilities have been secured for the transit of British postal parcels through the United States Customs.

BURKING STARVATION. I in a Russian report relating to the govern- ment of Pskov, it is stated that in those dis- tricts suffering from a lack of crops, which has become almost chronic, a curious device is adopted by the peasants. "Health" states that a family, whose grain cannot last through the winter, plunge themselves into the lejka, which means lying down upon the flat stove for several months in obscurity and silence, and consuming just as much black bread dipped in water as will sustain life. Up to the present time it has been generally unknown that this hibernation was not a temporary or accidental affair, but a regular system elaborated by a series of generations of peasants, who are accustomed to consider the half- ration as the rule, a sufficiency as an unattainable ideal, and hunger as an inconvenience to which he Clan" adapt" himself by the winter's sleep.

WAR EMPLOYMENT BUREAU. HELP FOR RESERVISTS. Mr. Brodrick and Lord Roberts jointly address the following letter to the Press "The nation is now face to face with the serious problem of providing employment for the men who, in response to their country's call,joined the forces in the field, and have now returned home to find their old situations filled, and to meet with great difficulties in the way of procur- ing a livelihood. "As the matter is one of increasing urgency, we feel the Press will not refuse us space to make this simple appeal. In the first place we would -.&J.J--pl"D"" 1n h. -h. needs of the Reservists when engaging fresh hands. In the second place we would ask all buyers of clothing, such as boards of guardians, charitable institutions, hospitals, schools, and private persons interested in charity, to place their contracts, as far as convenient, with the War Employment Bureau. "This organisation, established at the com- mencement of the war, by the liberality of the late Mr. Lawson Johnston, has, during the last three years, without any appeal to the public, provided a large amount of needlework for soldiers' wives, and has substantially helped to maintain their homes during the absence of the bread-winner. The association has, however, depended to a very considerable extent upon the Royal Army Clothing Department for supplies of needlework, and as these are now rapidly falling off, fresh sources of supply are most earnestly desired. "It is feared that time must elapse before the need ceases to exist. Not only are there many, widows of the war dependent on the War- Employment Bureau, but large numbers of wives have sick and wounded husbands to nurse, and are more in need of work than ever before. "In addition to maintaining the work for the women, the War Employment Bureau now pro- poses to organise machine work for suitable men (i.e., men who, through illness or wounds, are incapable at present of undertaking heavier. work), on the introduction of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Help Society. "It is therefore of paramount importance that further contracts should be obtained for the bureau, and it is for this reason that we hope those able to issue orders for large quantities of plain needlework will not fail to correspond with the honorary secretaries of the War Employment Bureau, 42, Shoe-lane, E.C., before placing their contracts elsewhere."

WRECK OF A LINER. SURVIVORS LANDED. Lloyd's agents at Wellington, New Zealand, telegraphed at 9.50 a.m. on Tuesday (Nov. 11) as follows:—"Elingamite wrecked and totally lost, ship and cargo, at Three Kings. Some of the passengers and crew saved; remainder, it is feared, are lost. The survivors include thirty- seven passengers and fifteen of the crew." Reuter's correspondent at Wellington says that the Huddart Parker liner Elingamite, from Sydney for Auckland, had 110 passengers on board. The wreck occurred on Sunday morning. Twenty-seven passengers and fifteen of the crew have been landed at Hohoura. Six boats and two rafts left the shin. One boat capsized, but it occupants were picked up by another. The rafts and four of the boats are still missing, and steamers have been sent out to search for them. One man of the crew is known to have been drowned.

A murderer named Williams escaped from the warders who were leading him to the scaffold at Haversack, New Jersey. Armed with, a piece of lead piping, he resisted all efforts at recapture until a fire-hose was turned on. Then, scream- ing and struggling, he was bound and carried to the scaffold. While preparations for his execu- tion were being made he poured curses and vituperation upon his captors. The average annual cost of a private of the Cavalry of the Line is £58 16s. 9d.. Infantry of the Line, £52 6s. 4d. Imperial Yeomanry, 419 13s. 6d; Militia (Infantry), £ 18 12s. and Volunteers, £ 6. After April 1, 1904, when the increased pay takes effect, the cost of infantry F*vall7 respectively vill be £ 59 Ps Id. and £ 65 16s. 6d. In spite of icy east winds the Russian Princess Obolensky plunges every morning into the tea at Zoppot, near Danzig- The Princess tended German soldiers at Saarbrucken, in the Fr.vauo- German war of 1S70, and had an Order bestowed upon her by Emperor William I. The death is announced at Stockton-on Teee, at the age of ninety-five, of a Mrs. Fen-vick, who was the daughter of Captain Jackson, Lord Nel- son's captain of the foretop at the battle of t'e Nile. She was present when George Stepheasr-a turned the first sod of the first railway m the world-the old Stockton and OarKnertw