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

PRIMROSE DAY. I Primrose Day has lost little of its popularit ana the wearers of buttonholes made the stree-, of London and other towns bright on Sunday witn the little yellow flowers. Admiring crowds gathered in Parliament-square at Westminstei to view the Beaconsfield statue, which had been decorated by the Primrose League. As usual the primrose was the predominant feature of the ornamentation. The flower had been fashioned into massive pinnacles and graceful festoons, and there were the usual wreaths from the various habitations of the League.

Mistress: "You wish to give notice? Dear, dear! I thought you were perfectly satisfied with the situation." Skivvy: "Yes'm; the situation's all right; it's a good place and good wages; but—er "But what, Jane?" "Well, it's your playin', mum, if you must know. I've got a musical ear myself, and the way you murders classical pieces simply makes me ill- it do, reely." Patient: "I wish to consult you with regard to my utter loss of memory." Doctor: "Ah— yes-why-er-in cases of this class I always require my fee in advance.

I PRETORIA MUTINY. I Leinster Soldiers Sentenced to Death.— Five Men to Die. Five of the men accused of the murder of Private Carey, of the 2nd Leinster Regiment, in connection with the recent military riot, were found guilty at Pretoria on Tuesday by the Supreme Court. The death sentence was passed on all five. The names of the condemned men are Andrew Dunne, James Maher, Edward Roache, Thomas Barrett, and John Roache. The rest of the prisoners were acquitted. Although the riot occurred on March 28, the news was not allowed to leak out until two days later, and then only through a news agency, it arose out of a drunken brawl. A corporal of the regiment having been arrested and taken to the guard-room, an attempt at rescue was made by his comrades. They rushed to the barraek-room, and having obtained rifles took up a position out- side with fixed bayonets. When their arrest was ordered they defended themselves with their rifles, and after their ammunition was exhausted continued the fight hand to hand. It was then found that four men had received bullet wounds, and that 16 others were more or less seriously injured. Private Carey shortly afterwards died.

CURFEW FOR HOOLIGANS. I Sir Robert Anderson read an interesting paper on Hooliganism Its Causes and its Remedies," at the second annual conference of the clergy of crowded London parishes, at Sion College, on Tues- day. One of the chief causes of hooliganism was, he said, the fetish of false liberty. Why should a boy be allowed to live in idleness in the streets, and why should boys be allowed to roam about until midnight and past? In his opinion, any youth who was habitually in the streets without visible means of subsistence, ought to be taken before a magistrate and dealt with, not as a. criminal, but as a waif. He also advocated a modified form of curfew law for youths of a certain age.

MOTHER'S TREBLE CRIME. I At Todmorton on Saturday an inquest was held on the bodies of Ralph Rowland, aged three years, and Charles Rowland, aged three weeks, whose throats were cut by their mother, Minnie Rowland, aged twenty-seven, who afterwards committed suicide by the same means. James Rowland, a labourer, of Rose-street, stated that on returning home from work on Friday evening of last week he found the bodies stretched o:t the bed, with a large carving knife lying near. The children were dead, but his wife lingered a short time. She had been depressed since the birth of her last child, but had never threatened to commVt suicide. A neighbour stated that he woman told her on the day of the crime that she had been ill, and that she had "never felt any- thing like it before." The deceased added that she thought it was rather more than she could bear. The jury found that the children were murdered by their mother, who committed sui- cide while of unsound mind.

LADY RUSSELL'S HUSBAND. Is He a Prince ? At Portsmouth Poliee-couri;, on Monday, William Brown, 29, of no occupation, was charged with making a false entry of marriage at the Portsmouth registry office. Brown, who assumed the title of Prince Athrobald Stuart De Modena, and represented that he was a natural son of the Emperor of Austria, made the acquaintance of Mabel Edith Lady Russell and her mother, Lady Selina Scott, at Henley-on- Thames. Last December these ladies stayed at the Beach Mansions Hotel, Southsea, where they were joined by the prisoner, and a few days later the marriage took place at the registry office, the only persons present at the ceremony being the prisoner, Lady Russell, and her mother. A few days after the marriage the prisoner left, and Lady Russell was unable to find him at his club or at any of his alleged addresses 5 but it subsequently became known that the Public Prosecutor had taken steps to ensure his arrest. The prisoner was taken into custody by the Metropolitan Police, and was removed from Bow-street to Portsmouth on Saturday on the present charge. The certificate of marriage was Eroduced at the Portsmouth Police-court on [onday, and was in the following terms: — "Athrobold Stuart De Modena, aged 31, widower, independent means; address, Wyndieshore, Datchet, Bucks; father's name, Frans Joseph De Modena (deceased), no occupation, independent; to Mabel Edith Russell, formerly Scott (spinster), aged 30, divorced wife of John Francis Stanley Russell; occupation, blank; address, Beach Mansions Hotel, Southsea father's name, Claude Edward Scott (deceased), occupation, independent." Formal evidence having been given, the prisoner was remanded for a week.

I THE VOYAGE OF THE INDUNA. I How to Quell a Mutiny. At Grimsby Police-court, on Monday. Karl Pedersen and Karl Laxman, both Norwegians, and Alexander Aslinger, a Finn, all seamen, with Joseph Walsh, an Australian, and Charles Lewin, an Englishman, firemen, were charged with com- bining to refuse to obey the orders of Captain Carruthers, of the ship Induna, whilst at sea on March 19. The prosecution was instituted by the Shipping Federation, and the five prisoners were defended by Mr. Dix, of Newcastle, instructed by the Sailors' and Firemen's Union. The prosecution alleged that nine men, including the defendants, deserted at Pensacola, but were arrested and subsequently put aboard by the British Consul. It was alleged that the prisoners refused to comply with the repeated requests of the Consul and Captain Carruthers to turn to; and the British Consul therefore ordered his marshal to place them in irons. This was done. defendants offering no resistance. Captain Carruthers said the men's complaints of bad food and insufficient water were unjusti- fiable, their desertion and refusal to work being. he thought, due to their desire to join the American squadron then lying off Pensacola. By the British Consul's instructions four of the men were transferred to another ship, and the present defendants were brought to Grimsby, three being confined in one stateroom and two in another. The Chief Officer said he found the men trying to escape. One threatened witness with a heavy piece of wood and two men approached from behind with a hammer with the idea of scaring the men. Witness fired three shots, one 01 which, however, took effect in a man's legs. Wit- ness had no intention of inflicting bodily injury. but he thought it was essential to quell the out- break. The steward gave evidence that the food was of excellent quality. The solicitor for the defence urged thot owing to inadequate water supply the master had broken his contract with the defendants, who were, there- fore, justified in refusing duty. Even admitting that the men were guilty, the captain's conduct had been arbitrary. He had had them arrested and kept 16 days in Pensacola without trial. That day was their first trial after 16 days in prison at Pensacola, 28 days in irons on board ship, and four days at Grimsby. This treatment, he con- tended, was most preposterous. The defendant Lewin, giving evidence, said the pump was kept locked, and the water in the tank was impure. He complained without effect, and decided to leave the ship. The Bench intimated that they were bound to convict, but would take into consideration the time defendants had already been in prison. Lewin was sentenced to six weeks' hard labour, and the other four defendants to one month each with hard labour.

I RECORD OF SOLDIERS' SERVICES. On Monday, by War Office order, it was announced that the Commander-in-Chief regrets to find, as the result of inquiries, that the regi- mental register of soldiers' services (required by the Master of the Rolls as a permanent record to be kept at the Pubhc Record Office) is in several instances not properly compiled and in others has been allowed to fall into arrears. It is pointed out that the Public Record Office hold that the public have a right to expect that a permanent record shall be kept of a soldier's service in the army and of the biographical details recorded on his military documents, and they do not consider that the changed conditions brought about by short service should defeat this expectation. Officers commanding are directed to adopt such measures as will ensure that the book is kept up to date and is compiled with care and accuracy, and serious notice will be taken of any dereliction of duty in this respect.

I AN AUTHOR'S ESTATE. The estate has been returned of the value of £ 22,157 17s. of Mr. Augustus John Cuthbert Hare, the well-known author of Memorials of a Quiet Life," and many other works of biography and travel, an amateur artist of considerable power, and a persistent traveller who made him- self familiar in almost every town of France and Italy. By his will, which is proved by Mr, Arthur Levcester PeorJiyR, &"f ESsT Stieen. and Mr. Francis Cookson, 8, Amen-court, E.C., Mr. Hare presented to the Hastings Museum the despatch box of Pius IX. and the slippers of that famous Pope. He gave £ 100 each to Conrad Rowe, Avalon Chambers, Augustus Bryan, and Augustus Lovett; E1400 to Mary Leycester Yeatman, and E400 to Francis Cookson. His pro- perty at Holme Hurst, St. Leonards (where testator died suddenly on January 22), he left to Emma Leycester Penrhyn for life, with remainder to the unmarried daughters of Edward Leyeester Penrhyn, and remainder to George Penrhyn and his heirs male. Subject to a great number of specific gifts of works of art of all descriptions, the residue of the estate is left to Emma Leycester Penrhyn. The late Mr. Hare was born in Rome, but was brought up at his father's residence, Hurstmonceux. Sussex.

I LONDON TO BRIGHTON. As a preliminary canter for the London Stock Exchange walk to Brighton on May 1, [the Hon. Alfred Anson, member of the Exchange, started on the stroke of midnight on Suniay night from Westminster Bridge to walk over the course. There was quite a small crowd to see him off. It was stated that wagers had been made that he would not accomplish the feat in 19J hours. A closed carriage containing provisions and the judges accompanied the walker. Mr. Anson reached the Brighton Aquarium at 1.40 on Mon- day afternoon, so that he actually accomplished the feat in 13 hours 40 minutes, which is very good time for the 52 miles for an amateur, as it averages nearly four miles an hour. A Mr. Macbeth, who left London at five o'clock on Monday morning, arrived at the Aquarium at 7.24, thus taking 14 hours 24 minutes. He covered the last 5| miles in an hour, and had a great ovation at the finish.

ARMY AND NAVY SURPLUSES. Copies of Treasury minutes authorising tem- porary application of surpluses on certain Army and Navy votes to defray excesses on other Army and Navy votes were issued on Monday. In regard to the Army votes there was a surplus of 91,994,000, which was applied to meet excesses in eight separate votes. 11,000 went to the War Office vote, it being explained that" the extra ex- penditure resulting from the war was under esti- mated." The Navy votes were more narrowly estimated, the surplus being only E359,000, of which £ 329.000 was devoted to other votes, leaving a net surplus of £ 30,000.

KILLED BY A MOTOR. i A sad fatality is reported from Wantage, the victim being Mr. Christopher Wroughton, son and heir of Mr. Wroughton, of Woolley Park, near Wantage, for many years one of the Par- liamentary representatives 1>f Berkshire. Mr. Christopher Wroughton was riding his motor cycle near the park of Mr. H. de Vitre when the motor car of Mr. E. B. Ormond, of Wantage, ran into it, and Mr. Wroughton was killed. The de- ceased's father, Mr. Philip Wroughton, had only just recovered from a month's illness, and left England a few days since for Italy to join Lord Rosebery's yacht for a cruise in the Mediter- ranean. The untimely death of the promisng and popular young squire has caused a painful sen- sation throughout the district, and deep sympathy is expressed with Mr. and Mrs. Wroughton and their family.

sfllrrrt r 'g petition has been pre- to the Governor of Hong Kong praying If fuDS 1 T of the question of the removal of the proposed new Admiralty dock, which on its preseant site would interfere with the expan- sion of Hoag

PUBLIC MEN ON PUBLIC I MATTERS. I Mr.'Hanbury on Imperialism. Mr. Hanbury, Minister for Agriculture, speaking on Monday evening at a Primrose League meeting at Preston, said that under Lord Beaconsfield and under the present Colonial Secretary we realised the vastness, the height, and depth of our power in the world. With the fresh territories added to the Empire the keynote of our policy in the future must be trade. He hoped that now the policy of expansion had almost come to an end. While we were prepared to hold everything that we had against the whole world we must remember that the time of develop- ment had come. It was no good adding great ter- ritories to the Empire unless we turned them into great markets for trade. The time was coming when it would not do for us to depend either foi our food or our raw material so much on the foreigner as we had done in the past. So wide was our Empire, so enormous the responsibilities thrown on this country, that we could not in the f uture-M perhaps we had done in the past-depend on mere birth or wea'th to govern us. We must have talent whenever we could find it, in whatever class it might be found or in whatever corner of the country. Whatever might be said about the Secretary of State for War, it would always be to his lasting credit that in the army promotion was to go by merit and not by intrigue and outside in- fluence. J The Irish Land Bill. Speaking on Monday night at Chester, Mr. Yerburgh, M.P., announced his intention to vote in favour of the Irish Land Bill. He believed this country in the past had treated Ireland in a way which had placed us enormously in the debt of Ireland. Whenever Ireland showed any sign of progress in a commercial direction the English Parliament had interfered and destroyed that par- ticular industry. We had cut Ireland off from every source of commercial development and driven the people to the land. The present pro- posal was a small return for that enormous debt. I Sir Edgar Vincent at Exeter. Sir Edgar Vincent, M.P., speaking at Exeter on Monday evening, declared that the country's foreign policy had been splendidly managed. We had kept on good terms with all nations. The relations between Washington and London were never more friendly than to-day. In India famine and plague had been fought with success, and the country's finances put on a sounder basis than they ever were. In China we had asserted our rights, and by the alliance with Japan we had shown political insight as to the future. The Japanese were the most intelligent and progressive people in the East. At home we had prospered and progressed, and he did not believe that in any previous period we had made so much progress or done such good work as in the past eight years under a Unionist Government. He commended the Education Act, and said he thought the Irish Land Bill would do great good for the country. I Mr. Lloyd-George, M.P., at Norwich. Mr. Lloyd-George, M.P., addressed a meeting at Norwich on Monday on the Education Bill and the Disestablishment of the Church of England. The chair was occupied by Mr. G. White, M.P. A resolution against the Education Bill and in sup- port of Disestablishment having been moved and seconded, Mr. Lloyd-George supported it, and said he had been told that the Disestablishment movement was just now inopportune, but the magnificent meeting which he was privileged to address was the best answer to such an argument. The Liberal Party was now dissussing Disestablish- ment again, because it had been challenged from outside. Conflict had been precipitated by a reactionary movement within the Church of Eng- land itself. The Reformation was a great step in advance, and any attack on it at the present moment must be regarded as the most reactionary step which could be taken. Men in the Church of England were beginning to ask themselves—"What is to be done? How is this terrible evil to be put down ?" Some replied You must appeal to the bishops." He (Mr. Lloyd-George) had a very high opinion of the bishops. Some of them were able theo- logians, some were great literary men, some could even preach. But they were not great men of action. The other day a deputation of members of the House of Commons waited on the arch- bishop to press Church difficulties on his attention. The archbishop replied that he had been thinking of the same thing himself, and after addressing the deputation for an hour and a half he promised to go home and think the matter over still further. The country must clearly not put its trust in bishops. The danger was that in ritualised parishes and in schools under ritualistic influence the children would grow up Romanists. Hence the great importance of preventing the dissemination of doctrines which did not command the belief of the majority of the nation. The resolution was put and carried. I Mr. Morley at Newcastle. Mr. John Morley was at Newcastle on Satur- day. Speaking in the afternoon to a deputation of Irishmen, he said the Land Bill opened a new chapter in the relations of Great Britain and Ireland. It was an enormous revolution, because its policy was the abolition of land- lordism, and that meant the reconstruction of society in Ireland. It would be madness on the part of the Irish Nationalist representatives, or of the landlords, to wreck the project; but he did not agree that the passing of the Bill meant the settlement of the quite different question of the government of Ireland. He denied that the Liberal party had abandoned Home Rule. Speaking at a public meeting in the evening, Mr. Morley dealt with the questions of the reduc- tion of armaments, the Sugar Convention, and Liberalism and labour, in regard to which he contended that the cause of Liberalism was practically identical with that of labour. He held that Liberalism, in its widest sense, was the key of human progress, and of the strength and greatness of nations. I Earnings of Rural Labourers. l In a paper, entitled Agricultural wages in Eng- land and Wales during the last 50 years Mr. A. Wilson Fox, C.B., has given some interesting in- formation. In England generally the labourers r get few allowances in kind, except potatoes, ground, and beer money. But in the North and West cottages and fuel, even a daily allowance of cider, are sometimes added. The rates for piecework tend upwards, having risen 50 per cent in the last 50 years, though there is little change in the payments in kind. The position of the agri- cultural labourer has greatly improved. Prices of most of the commodities are cheaper, rent has risen but little, education is free, sanitary arrange- ments and cottage accommodation are better, and compensation can be obtained for accidents. Mr. Fox points out that compared with 1851 there is a falling off in the number of agricultural labourers of 40 per cent. A farm labourer earns, even in the low-wage counties, from 14s. to 16s. a week, with Is. 6d. to pay for his cottage.

SMASHING THE KING. A feature of the Glasgow Exhibition of the year before last was the colossal statue of King Edward VII. which stood below the Central Dome. They are still removing the buildings, &c., of the Exhibition, and at the end of last week the statue was "dealt with." The ceremony lacked fastidiousness. A noose was drawn tightly round the neck of the King, half a dozen navvies hitched themselves to the ground end of the rope, an4- the great statue lay in many fragments. The charitable explanation is advanced that this couree was taken to remove any chance of his Majesty, when he goes to Glasgow in May, seeing himself aa so many thousands had been led to imagine him.

Thousands of people in Galashiels flocked to the Buckholm Mill owing to the prolonged blow- ing of the fire alarm Mjtiistle during a snowstorm. It was then found that the alarm had been set going through the weight of snow on the wire connecting the boiler with the whistle.

CURRENT SPORT. (football Cup Final.-Bury's Record Win. In the presence of some 64,000 spectators at the Crystal Palace on Saturday, Bury and Derby County fought out the final tie for the Football Association Cup, and the trophy, won last season by Sheffield United, passed into the possession of Bury, the Lancashire club winning by six £ oals to none. The form the teams had shown In the earlier stages of the competition suggested that the Bury eleven would be successful, they having had the harder task. Further, their men had escaped accidents, while Derby had not been so fortunate, Bloomer being hurt and unable to play, while Fryer, though he turned out, was scarcely fit to keep goal. Though the victory of Bury was generally expected, it was far mora decisive than could have been imagined. It is, indeed, a record win for the final tie, the nearest approach to it being in 1890, when the Blackburn Rovers defeated Sheffield Wednesday by six goals to one. The game was not productive of good football, the play being mainly of an uninteresting descrip- tion. In the first half it was dull and pointless, and the strong lead that Bury quickly established after the interval robbed the concluding stages of all interest. At no point did the Derby men look like winning, their defence being weak, and their forwards never settling down to good work The Bury defence was excellent, and their front rank in the second half showed fair form. As an exposition of Association football, the game wai3 hardly worthy of the teams engaged. The play at the outset was mainly in the Derby half, but the attack was not well conducted, and was not really dangerous. Once Derby got well down, but Warrington was off-side. The game proceeded in a haphazard fashion, neither side showing any real combination. Thanks mainly to the soundness of their backs, Lindsay and McEwen, and the smartness of their halves, Bury always looked the stronger team. At length the attack of Bury became a trifle more precise, and .out of a scrimmage Ross kicked their first goal, the game then having been in progress about twenty minutes. From that point to the interval ,the play did not present any special feature. Once Fryer turned over the bar a long shot by McEwen, and on another occasion Morris saved when the ball had passed through Lindsay's legs ,iand a goal seemed imminent. However, there was no further scoring, and at half-time Bury led by one goal to none. In the second half Bury had matters almost entirely their own way. In less than five minutes they gained their second Zoal, which was kicked by Sagar. Fryer rushed out to stop the shot, and he and Sagar collided heavily. Both men were hurt, but, whereas Sagar was able to resume after a brief interval, Fryer was some time before he could take his place in goal. After a plucky effort to keep on the field, the Derby goalkeeper, who was badly lamed, had to retire for good. The third goal was the outcome of some clever play by Wood, and was shot by Leeming. Two or three minutes later Thorpe sent in a fine shot, which Fryer only partially stopped, and Wood, dashing up, eent the ball through. Ten minutes later Plant, from a pass by Leeming, kicked a splendid goal, and, as the game was now hopelessly lost, Fryer left the field. A little later Leeming, running right down, beat Morris, who had gone in goal, and scored the sixth point. In the last minute Bury nearly added to their score, but the game ,ended :-Bury, six goals; Derby County, none. It should be noted that no goal has been scored against this season's Cup winners throughout the whole course of the competition. The League Championship. The position of the two leading clubs in the league, as regards championship honours, remains practically unaltered by the results of their matches on Saturday. Sheffield iWednesday finished their programme with a fine victory over West Bromwich Albion, while Sun- derland beat Middlesbrough. The former, with 42 points, are still one point ahead; but Sunder- land have another match to play, and, should they be successful, they will win the champion- ship by a clear point. Playing on their own frourfd the Blackburn Rovers beat Newcastle Inited, and they are now safe from relegation to the second division. The Bolton Wanderers, whose improvement came'too late in the season to be of any avail, were defeated by Stoke, and they finish their programme five points behind Grimsby Town, though the latter have still two matches to play. The results were:—Notta Forest beat Liverpool, at Nottingham, by one goal to none; Sheffield Wednesday beat West Bromwich Albion, at Sheffield, by three goals to one; Aston Villa beat Sheffield United, at Birmingham, by four goals to two Everton beat Notts County, at Liverpool, by two goals to none Stoke beat Bolton Wanderers, at Stoke, by two goals to none; Blackburn Rovers beat New, castle United, at Blackburn, by three goals ta one; Sunderland beat Middlesbrough, at New- castle, by two goals to one. The Southern League. Now that Southampton have won the champion- ship of the Southern League, little interest is left in the remaining matches. The results ol the four games on Saturday were: -Portsmouth and Watford, drew at Portsmouth, one goal all; Reading beat Queen's-park RanEV-rs, at Reading, by one goal to none Luton beat West HaiN .United at Luton, by four goals to none; Swin- don Town beat Brentford, at Swindon, by three goals to none. The Scottish Cup. There was a very large attendance to witness the replayed final tie of the Scottish Cup at Glas- gow between the Glasgow Rangers and the Heart of Midlothian. After a fast and exciting game the match was again left drawn, neither side having scored. Other Soccer Games. In the premier division of the London League, Millwall beat Woolwich Arsenal at Plumstead by two goals to none. Both sides were at full strength, and a good match was seen. The home side had quite as much of the game as their oppo- nents, but Sutcliffe was in splendid form in goal, and they were unable to secure a point. Astley and Watkina got the goals for the winners. In the Metropolitan Amateur League, Shep- herd's Bush beat Clapton Orient at Shepherd's Bush by two goals to one, and Leytonstone beat West Hampstead at Leytonstone by three goals to one. Ealing beat Civil Service at Ealing in the re- played semi-final tie of the Middlesex Charity Cup by nine goals to none. Rugby Union Rules. Among Saturday's results were:—Devonport Albion beat Catford Bridge, Newport beat Leices- ter, Llanelly beat Bristol, Exeter beat Ponty- pridd, Barnstaple beat Plymouth, Neath beat Cardiff, Gloucester beat Penarth, Northampton beat Olney. The Mishap to Shamrock III. Shamrock III. had just left Weymouth Harbour on Friday morning of last week, in company with Shamrock I., for a trial spin, when a sudden squall dismasted her. Collier, the steward of /i yQacht' was knocked overboard and drowned, and Sir Thomas Lipton and several of the crew sustained injuries, three of the hands being rather badly hurt. Sir Thomas Lipton has telegraphed to the New York Yacht Club that the damage to Shamrock III. can be made good in three or four weeks, and that there will be no necessity to consider the question of postponing the races for the America Cup. Lacrosse at Lord's. The South and North of England lacrosse match was played at Lord's Cricket Ground in London on Saturday afternoon, in the presence of 1,500 spectators. The North, who were superior in shooting and more effective at passing, won by 11 goals to 5, the half-time score having been 9 to 3. For the winners, G. Leigh (4), L. Johnson (2), H. Hobbins, H. Mason, E. Smalley, and H. Goop (2) scored, those for the South being ob- tained bv E. P. Jones (2), A. W. Lavy, D. Tosetti, and T. S. Ellis. Amateur Golf. The annual open amateur competition pro- moted bv the Hastings and St. Leonards Club for the Town Cup, value 40gs., was held on Satur- day at Hastings. Play was by strokes over one round of the course, and allowances were limited to 10 strokes. The result was a tie for the trophy among three players, viz., Mr. R. H. de Mont- morency (Rye), the old Oxford golfer, whose score was 79, plus 2—81; the Rev. H. C. L. Tindall (Hastings), most famous of Cambridge University quarter-mile runners, who recorded 88, less 7—81; and the Rev. H. Foster Pegg (Hastings), with 89, less 8-81. Athletics. The various athletic clubs in the neighbourhood of Surbiton held their annual athletic meeting on the local cricket ground on Saturday. There were several capital performances, of which by far the best was that of Alfred Shrubb, the long- distance champion of England. He ran through a biggish field from the scratch mark in the Two Miles Invitation Handicap, and won with absurd ease in time that was less than 6sec. outside W. G. George's grass record. Jupp, the London Athletic Club sprinter, won a. popular victory in the 120 Yards Race, and Watson, of the South London Harriers, secured the Quarter-mile from a good class field. Monday's Football. Portsmouth and Millwall met at Canning-town on Monday in the final tie for the Southern Charity Cup. A good game resulted in a win for Portsmouth by two goals to none. At the beginning of the match Millwall attacked, but they failed to get a goal, and afterwards Burnett and Cunliffe scored for their opponents. In the second half-time Millwall lost the services of Astley, but though Portsmouth had the better of the football they failed to score again. In a first division league match, at West Brom- wich, Bury beat West Bromwich Albion by three goals to one. St. Bernard's and Sunderland drew, at Edin- burgh, each side having scored two goals. The Hibernians beat Middlesbrough, at Edin- burgh, by four goals to one. In the premier division of the London League, Queen's Park Rangers beat Brentford, at Kensal Rise, by three goals to none. After a close and exciting match, at Bristol, Bristol City and the Bristol Rovers again played a draw in the replayed final tie for the Gloucester- shire Cup, each side having scored one goal.

I THE BALLYMOE ACCIDENT. The adjourned inquest on Mr. Milling, the Dublin dentist, who was killed in the railway accident which occurred last Saturday week between Ballymoe and Ballintubber, on the Great Western Railway of Ireland, was held at Castlerea, county Roscommon, on Saturday. The Railway Company allege that the accident was caused through an obstruction having been placed on the line, and have served notice on the County authorities of their intention to claim -P £ 1,400 for damage to engine and rolling stock, and have also offered a reward of C250 for such information' as shall lead to the detection and conviction of the parties who placed the bogie wheels on the line. The County authorities have decided to, oppose the claim.

PRINCESS VICTORIA. Princess Victoria landed on Saturday at St. Michael's Mount and made an inspection of the Castle. Her Royal Highness made the trip from the yacht Osborne to the shore in Lord St. Levan's barge, rowed by the bargemen in their picturesque costume. The Osborne left Mounts Bay fo;: Scilly, arriving there in the afternoon.

MEMORIAL AT NEWCASTLE. On Saturday, in St. Nicholas's Cathedral, New- castle-on-Tyne, a window was unveiled to the memory of the men of the Northumberland and Durham Imperial Yeomanry who fell during the war, and in recognition of the services of those who served in the campaign. Of the 2,254 officers and men who joined, 94 lost their lives. The window was unveiled by Sir W. Stephenson, the Lord Mayor, in the absence of Earl Grey, the Lord-Lieutenant.

HUMAN HEADS AS EVIDENCE- Litigation over the estate of the late Mr. Charles Fair, the Californian millionaire, who, with his wife, was killed in an automobile acci- dent in France,last year, is taking extraordinary developments. The executors of Mr. Fair's estate have caused the heads of himself and his wife tc be cut off and used in evidence at the trial. Theii object is to prove that Mrs. Fair died first, in spite of the evidence of French witnesses, who say that she survived her husband half an hour. In the case to which the above telegram refers, the wife's relations, it is explained, seek to prove that she survived her husband, and that therefore the bulk of his estate passed to her when he ex- pired, and passed from her to her relatives on her death. Mr. Fair's relatives contend that his wife died before him, and that therefore his fortune remains in his own family. Neither of them spoke a word after the smash of the car, and there was no will or issue of the marriage.

A PRETTY WEDDING. Mr. Montague A. R. Cholmeley, Grenadier Guards, son of Sir Hugh and Lady Cholmeley, of Eastox, was married to Mabel, eldest daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. Montague Waldo Sibthorp, of Canwick Hall, Lincoln, in All Saints' Church, Canwick, on Saturday afternoon. The Bishop 01 the diocese officiated, assisted by the Rev. H. J. Watney, vicar of the parish; and Captain A. Calvert, 1st Royal Dragoons, supported the bride- groom as best man. In attendance on the bride were Miss, Evelyn Waldo Sibthorp (her sister), the Misses May, Winifred, and Aline Cholmeley (sisters of the bridegroom), the Hon. Hyacinthe Littleton (his cousin), and Miss Thorold. The bridal gown was of ivory-white satin, with a long coat of Brussels lace falling to the hem, over puffings of mousseline de soie, caught with sprays of orange-blossom. A veil of similar lace,, lent by her mother, was worn, with a wreath of bridal flowers. The bridesmaids' white satin dresses were trimmed with ecru applique, end were worn with picturesque fichus and ecru strav hats, adorned with white lilac.

I THE KING'S TOUR. I SANDSTORM AT MALTA. Owing to a sandstorm, which rendered the parade ground practically untenable, the review of the naval forces which King Edward was to have held at Malta on Saturday was abandoned. His Majesty landed in the afternoon and visited the Anglican Collegiate Church of St. Paul, the Garrison Church, and the Artillery and Engineers' Mess, and in the evening dined on the Bulwark as the guest of Sir Compton Domville. On Sunday the Sovereign attended Divine service, and afterwards lan'ded for a drive. A number of honours have been con- ferred in connection with the Royal visit. Review of Eight Thousand Bluejackets. —Stone of the New Breakwater Laid by the King. On Monday morning, the weather being fine, his Majesty held the review which should have taken place on Saturday. Eight thousand blue- jackets and marines were drawn up in the pres- ence of a large concourse of people, and went through their evolutions in a most creditable manner, the sight being a very stirring one. The King expressed his pleasure at the fine appearance of the men, and at their workmanlike performance. His Majesty then lunched on the Victoria and Albert, and at four o'clock laid the stone of the new breakwater on the Ricasoli foreshore. He was received by the Governor, Sir C. Mansfield Clarke, and Admiral Domville, and proceeded to a dais, while a large number of dockyard chil- dren, drawn up in ranks, sang the National Anthem. The stone being declared well and duly laid, Admiral Hammet called for cheers for the King, which were given with the greatest enthusiasm. After a number of presentations were made to the King, the ceremony, which was in every way a brilliant one, concluded, salutes being fired from the fleet. In the palace quadrangle there was presented to the civic band of the "King's Own" a banner, the gift of the British community. A WATER CARNIVAL. A water carnival was held on Monday evening in the Grand Harbour. The main feature of the spectacle was a series of floating models repre- senting the vessels of different periods, from that of Noah to the present day-an excellent idea which was admirably carried out. The models were the work of the officers and men of the various warships, and reflected the greatest credit on the "handyman's" ingenuity and executive resource. They included a Chinese war-junk, a Phoenician galley, a Greek galley, a galley of the time of Julius Csesar, a Roman trireme, a model of Columbus's ship the Pinta, a Maltese galley made in the dockyard, a frigate of the date of 1700, and reproductions of the Russell, Revenge, Victory, nd King Edward VII., the new battleship building at Devonport. These models were converted lighters, barges, and ship's boats, and were therefore navigable. They were brilliantly illuminated, and formed a quaintly picturesque and most interesting pro- cesaion. I KING EDWARD SAILS FOR NAPLES. The people of Valetta assembled in thousands on the bastions on Tuesday morning to witness the Departure of King Edward. It was a quarter past ten when the royal yacht sailed with his Majesty on board. As she left her moorings salutes were fired from the forts, the church bells rang a farewell, and the people gave hearty cheers for his Majesty. A magnificent sight was presented as the nineteen battleships, cruisers, and de- stroyers which accompanied the Victoria and Albert got under way and steamed slowly Out to sea. Though the weather was fine, there were clouds in the sky, and a strong wind was blowing from the south-east. Before his departure his Majesty expressed his great gratification at the manner of his reception and entertainment during his stay invmalta. At the close of Monday night's naval carnival, which was the most brilliant and picturesque ever seen at Valetta, the crews of the Venerable and Repulse mustered on deck, and in the glare of the combined flashlights of the fleet sang the National Anthem. The effect was very impressive. I BAD WEATHER AT SICILY. King Edward arrived at Syracuse at half-past four on Tuesday afternoon. The Royal yacht put into the harbour on account of the wet and dis- agreeabJe weather. At six o'clock the King embarked on a steam launch and made an excur- sion of half an hour's duration round the bay. His Majesty was recognised by a number of the in- habitants, aud was the object of a most hearty demonstration.

Prince Mohammed Ali, brother of the Khedive, has arrived at Marseilles from Alexandria. Sir George Whitehouse, chief ergineer of the Uganda Railway, has left Mombasa for England, having completed lua work in connection with the line.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. I THE RE-ASSEMBLY. On the reassembling of the House of Commons after the Easter recess several Bills embodying railway schemes for the metropolis were with- drawn. The Prime Minister informed Mr. Norman that no development with regard to the Bagdad line had taken place since his previous statement on the subject. Viscount Cranborne, answering Mr. Bowles, said that the terms of reference to The Hague Tribunal in relation to the Venezuelan settlement were still under dis- cussion by the interested Powers. I HOLYROOD DRAINS. There was a lively little debate in committee on the Civil Service Estimates with regard to the determination of Lord Leven and Melville to reside at the station Hotel, Edinburgh, while acting as Lord High Commissioner during the sittings of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. Mr. Fellowes admitted that the drains at Holyrood Palace were not above sus- picion, and that £ 3,500 was to be spent upon them. The Opposition took their stand by the alternative contentions that either the work should have been done earlier or Lord Leven should be compelled to run the risks. After a speech by Mr. Balfour, a reduction, moved by Mr. Dewar, was defeated by a majority of 39 in a House of 161. I VANDALISM AT HAMPTON. Another subject discussed was the recent mutilation of works of art at Hampton Court, and the consequent closing of certain apartments against the public. Mr. Fellowes held out hopes that the number of wardors would shortly be increased, and the rooms in question reopened. Apropos of the vote for the Parliament buildings, which gave rise to complaints of stuffiness, it was announced that the Committee on Ventila- tion would be reappointed. I HOPE FOR THE FARMER. On the estimate for the Board of Agriculture an interesting statement was made by Mr. Hanbury, who said that he should urge the Treasury to put his Department in a position to do more than it was able to do now for the British farmer, who had to compete with foreign and colonial agriculturists who were largely assisted by their Governments. Here the Board of Agriculture was at present in a comparatively starved condition. With reference to the re- moval of the prohibition against the importation of live cattle from Argentina, he said that the Argentine Government had now adopted prac- tically our own regulations in regard to disease, and that he hoped there would be in future a steady trade between the two countries. Dealing with the subject of agricultural education, lie expwssed the opinion that agricultural colleges should be assisted materially out of public funds. Under the Act passed last year elementary education in rural districts, he reminded the Committee, could be adapted "by the county coun- cils to local requirements. With regard to the question of railway rates for agricultural produce, it was his policy to prevent, as far as possible, the exaction of oppressive charges, for he recog- nised fully the great importance of encouraging the home market. After stating, his views as to the exportation of breeding stock from this coun- try to South Africa, he touched upon the ques- tion of afforestation, saying that certain of the recommendations of the committee that had in- quired into the subject would be carried out, and that a portion of the Forest of Dean was to be set apart as an experimental area. The question of afforestation was rapidly becoming one of very serious interest. I THE STATIONERY VOTE. Mr. C. Hay's motion for the reduction of the Stationery vote was negatived on a division by 109 votes against 55. Mr. Whitley commented on the magnitude of the vote, which was still nearly as large as it was when the war was going on. In his opinion great economies might be effected in the expenditure on printing, and he trusted the Secretary to the Treasury would give this subject close attention. Mr. Elliot, in his answer, argued that the growth of the vote in recent years was sufficiently accounted for by the general increase of public business. The quality of the Parliamentary reports in "Hansard" was subjected to some criticism, and eventually a motion for the reduction of the vote was nega- tived by a majority of 112 as against 58, and the vote was passed. The Treasury vote of E92,264 was also agreed to.

FOR PEACE AND GOODWILL. I Great Britain and France. I At a fully attended meeting of the "Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, held on Monday, a resolution was passed approving of the effort being made to bring about a treaty for consolidat- ing and perpetuating peace and amity betwein Great Britain and Prance. Mr. Thomas Barclay, ex-President of the British Chamber of Commerce in Paris, said the first step in the movement was being begun in Scotland, and that meeting was a big step in favour of it. They were asked to adopt as between Britain and France the principle of the two articles of the treaty which was concluded between Great Britain and the United States, which referred all questions of difference to a committee before taking recourse to war. The adoption of such a treaty would mark a new epoch in civilisation. He urged that the American treaty should be taken as a model for negotiation between Britain and France it would strengthen the hands of statesmen and the public need have no fear of the patriotisni of those men who acted on the Committee of Settlement. If such a treaty had existed at the time, the Fashoda incident would not have occurred. The enthusiasm shown over the visit of King Edward to Paris proved that the better feeling between the two countries had made pro- gress to a point on which they oould now negotiate. The movement was not anti-German it had the support of all practical men in both countries.

It is reported from Sofia that the Minister of Agriculture and Colonel Savoff, the newly- appointed Minister of War, have resigned office; but it is officially denied that a Ministerial crisis exists