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

I THE LABOUR MARKET. I WORSE THAN A YEAR AGO. I The memorandum of the Board of Trade on the fttate of the labour market during the month of October says that apart from seasonable changes, employment on the whole was much the same in October as in September. The metal, shipbuild- ing, and engineering trades all showed some decline. On the other hand there was a marked improve- ment in the preparing and spinning departments in cotton mills, owing to the partial resumption of full time towards the close of the month. As compared with a year ago, employment generally is worse, and the percentage of unem- ployed members of trade unions continues to be higher than the mean percentage for the corre- sponding month in the past 10 years. < I TRADE DISPUTES. The total number of workpeople involved in disputes which began or were in progress during October was 10,747, compared with 11,577 in September, 1903, and 24.151 in October, 1902. The aggregate duration of all the disputes of the month, new and old, amounted to 113,000 working days, compared with 120;000 in the previous month, and 257,000 in the corresponding month of last year. Definite results were reported during the month in the case of 21 disputes, new and old, affecting 5,068 workpeople. Of these disputes six, involving 2966 persons, were decided in favour of the workpeople; 12, involving 1908 persons, in favour of the employers; and three, involving 194 persons, were compro- mised. In the case of three other disputes, terminating during the month, and involving 1875 persons, certain points are still under consideration. I CHANGES IN WAGES. I The changes in rates of wages reported during I October affected about 12,000 workpeople, of whom about 900 received advances, and 11,100 sustained decreases. The net effect of all the changes was a decrease of about C200 per week. The changes of the previous month affected 23,000 workpeople, the net result being a decrease of £ 400 weekly. During October, 1902, the number affected was 48,000, and the net result was a decrease of £ 1200 weekly. The only changes of importance were decreases affecting 6800 ironstone miners in Cleveland, and 1500 limestone quarrymen in Wearsdale. Ten changes, affecting about 3300 workpeople took effect under sliding scales, and the remainder affecting 8700 were arranged directly between employers and workpeople or their representatives without stoppage of work.

CURRENT SPORT. ASSOCIATION FOOTBAJUL LEAGUE. Division I.—Newcastle United v. Middles- brough At Newcastle, Newcastle won on Satur- day by two goals to one.—Aston Villa v. Wolver- hampton Wanderers: At Aston, Aston won by two goals to none.—Stoke v. Sheffield Wednes- day At Stoke, Stoke won by three goals to one. —Derby County v. Notts Forest: At Derby, Notts Forest won by six goals to two.—Sheffield United v. Liverpool: At Sheffield, Sheffield United won by two goals to one.—Everton v. Sunderland At Goodison Park, Liverpool, Sun- derland won by one goal to none. Barrie, of Sunderland, was ordered off the field for kicking McDermott.—Manchester City v. Blackburn Rovers: At Manchester, Manchester won by one goal to none.—Small Heath v. West Bromwich Albion At the Small Heath ground, West Brom- wich won by one goal to none.—Notts County v. Bury: At Nottingham, the match was drawn, neither side scoring. Division II.—Preston North End v. Bristol City: At Preston, the North End team defeated Bristol City by three goals to none.—Bolton Wanderers v. Glossop: On their own ground, Bolton Wanderers were beaten by one goal to none. SOUTHERN LEAGUE. Queen Park Rangers v. Northampton: Although they lost their goalkeeper soon after the start, Queen's Park Rangers won at Kensal Rise. by four goals to one.—Reading v. Millwall: At Reading, these teams played a draw of one goal each.—Bristol Rovers v. Southampton A draw of one goal each was the result of this match at Bristol.—Portsmouth v. New Bromp- ton By two goals to none Portsmouth won this match on their own ground.—Brighton and Hove Albion v. Kettering: Playing at home, Brighton won by three goals to one. MIDLAND LEAGUI; Newark, four; Chesterfield Reserves, none.— Lincoln City Reserves, four; Gresley Rovers, three.-Sheffield Wednesday Reserves, nine; Denaby United, none.—*Grimsby Town Re- serves, two; Barnsley Reserves, one, at Barnsley. —*Barnsley, three; Grimsby Town, none, at Grimsby. By an arrangement between the clubs, they each placed two teams in the field, and played the out and home matches in the Midland League at the same time. SCOTTISH LEAGUE. Celtic, six Kilmarnock, one.—Dundee, four; Airdrieonians, three.—Heart of Midlothian, two Port Glasgow Athletic, none.—Motherwell, one St. Mirren, none.—-Glasgow Rangers, one Hibernians, one.—Greenock Morton, two; Queen's Park, one.—Third Lanark, one Par- tick Thistle, none. LONDON LEAGUE.—PREMIER DIVISION. Woolwich Arsenal v. Tottenham Hotspur At Plnmstead, this match ended in a draw of one goal each. ASSOCIATION CUP. Qualifying Competition.—Fourth Round.— Fulham v. West Norwood At Fulham, the home side won a good game by four goals to none.- Clapton v. West Ham United Playing at home, Clapton were defeated by three goals to none. Other matches decided on Saturday were Leicester Fosse, two; Wellingborough, one.- Nantwich, two; Stalybridge Rovers, one.- Burton United, five; Whitwick White Cross, two.—Luton, four Watford, one.—Chatham, two Ashford, none.—Plymouth Argyle, five; Freemantle, one.—Sunderland Royal Rovers, none; Stockton, none.—Darwen, three; Burn- ley, none.—Stockport County, none Burslem Port Vale, none.-Walsall, two Stafford Ban- gers, one.-Chesterfield, two Bradford City, one.—Southport Central, three; Blackpool, none.—Shrewsbury Town, one Oswestry United, none.—Gainsborough Trinity, one; Doncaster Rovers, none.—Brentford, three Oxford City, one.-Swindon, five Staple Hill, none.—South Bank, two; Wallsend Park Villa, two.—Wy- combe Wanderers, five; Slough, two. ARTHUR DUNN CHALLENGE CUP. Old Salopians v. Old Westminsters: Played at Tufnell Park, and won by the Old Salopians by four goals to none. CLUB "SOCCER." Casuals v. Cambridge University: At Queen's Club, Cambridge gained a victory by seven goals to one. RUGBY COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP. Cheshire v. Cumberland: At Birkenhead, Cheshire won by 24 points to 3.-Devonshire v. Cornwall: At Devonport, the home county won by 20 points to 3.—Northumberland v. York- shire: At Newcastle-on-Tyne, Northumberland won by four tries (12 points) to a penalty goal and two tries (9 points). NORTHERN UNION. County Match.—Yorkshire v. Lancashire At Leeds, Lancashire won by 8 points to nil. League.—Division I.-Hull Kingston Rovers, 13; Keighley, 3.-Huddersfield, 25; Leeds, 2.— Batley, nil; Oldham, nil.—Hunslet, 9; Widnes, 5.—Wigan, 5; Runcorn, 2. Division II.—Brighouse Rangers, 6; Rochdale ■Hornets, 3.-Wakefield Trinity, 24; Bramley, nil.—St. Helens, 17; Millom, 4.—Castleford, 3; South Shields, nil.—Holbeck, 5; Pontefract, nil.—York, 15; Dewsbury, 5.-Barrow, 26; Normanton, nil.—Lancaster, 8; Morecombe, nil. JRUGBY CLUB GAMES. Blackheath v. Cambridge University: At Blackheath, Cambridge University beat the home side by two goals and five tries to a goal. -London Scottish v. Richmond: This game ended at Richmond in a draw, each side scoring one try.—St. Thomas's Hospital v. Rosslyn Park At Chiswick, Rosslyn Park won by a goal ^and a try to nil.—Catford Bridge v. Kensing- ton On their own ground, Catford Bridge won by a goal and five tries to nil.—Lennox v. St. Bartholomew's Hospital: At Stamford Bridge, Lennox won by two goals and four tries to a try. -Marlborough Nomads v. Old Leysians: The Old Leysians won at Surbiton by a dropped goal and three tries (13 points) to a goal and a ,try (8 points).—Old Merchant Taylors v. R.I.E.C. On the Old Deer Park at Richmond, the Taylors defeated the Cooper's Hill team by a goal and a try to nil.—London Welsh v. Lon- don Irish: at Hendon, the Welshmen won by four tries to none.—Oxford University v. Harle- quins The University beat the Harlequins at Oxford by 33 points to nil.—Llanelly v. Lam- peter At Llanelly, Lampeter were defeated by a goal and four tries to nil.—Gloucester v. Cardiff: Cardiff beat the home side at Glouces- ter by 18 points to nil. Bridgend v. Aberavon Aberavon were beaten at Bridgend by a goal to nil.—Barnstaple v. Exeter: These clubs con- tested a drawn match at Barnstaple, neither side scoring.—Nuneaton v. Burton-on-Trent: Played at Nuneaton, where the local club beat Burton by three goals and four tries to love.— Manchester v. Liverpool: At Manchester, Liver- pool won by a placed goal to nothing.—New Brighton v. Birkenhead Park: At New Brighton, Birkenhead Park were defeated by 9 points to 6.-Cheltenham v. Coventry: Coventry ;were unable to score against their opponents, ;who won at Cheltenham by two goals to nil.— Glasgow University v. Kelvinside Academicals: Played at Gilmore Hill. The University beat the Academicals by a goal and a try to a try.- Moseley v. Old Edwardians: At King's Heath, Moseley won by a goal and a try to nil.—Bath v. Bridgwater Albion: The Albion won at Bath by two tries to none.—Treherbert v. Ponty- pridd at Treherbert, the home side won by a goal from a mark and a try to a try.—Leicester v. Northampton: Northampton were defeated at Leicester by 14 points to 3. There were 8,000 spectators present.—Newport v. Bristol: Played at Newport, where the Welsh team won by two goals and three tries to nothing.—Neath v. Swansea: Playing at home, Neath were mas- tered by Swansea, who scored two goals (one dropped) and four. tries to love.—Glasgow Academicals v. Clydesdale: At Glasgow, the Academicals won by 33 points to nothing.— Edinburgh University v. Watsonions The Uni- versity, at Edinburgh, won by a narrow margin of 8 points to 7.-West Hartlepool v. Hartlepool Old Boys Played at West Hartlepool, where the Old Boys were beaten by 47 points to 3. M.C.C. BEAT VICTORIA EASILY. On Friday, Mr. Warner's M.C.C. cricket team commenced a match at Melbourne against an eleven representing Victoria, under the cap- taincy of F. Laver, and including "Harry" Trott (whom George Giffen has said was the best all-round player Australia ever sent to England), Saunders, Armstrong, and W. Bruce. Laver won the toss, and Victoria, taking first innings, were all disposed of for 162, Rhodes capturing five wickets for 26 runs. On England going to the wicket, Hayward was soon caught by Armstrong off the bowling of Saunders for 6, and Mr. Warner fell in the same way for 22. Tyldesley, however, and R. E. Foster put a different complexion on matters, the former making 90 and the latter 71. Knight sub- scribed 47, Hirst 92, and Bosanquet 79, and when on Monday afternoon the score had reached 443 for eight, Mr. Warner declared the English innings closed. In the second hands Victoria could only score 210, Rhodes again bowling with great effect, and the visitors won by an innings and 71 runs. Braund, Arnold, and Lilley did not play for the M.C.C. aide. TALL SCORING. Bromsgrove School defeated Bath College in s Rugby football match on Tuesday by the phenomenal score of 82 points to nil. ATHLETICS AT CAMBRIDGE. At St. Catharine's College sports on Tuesday the chief event was the Mile Strangers' Handicap, for which nine competitors turned out, with A. S. D. Smith, of Jesus College, at scratch. He was running second when the last lap was entered upon, but could not catch J. F. Spink, of St. John's, who, with 80 yards start, won by 30 yards, in 4min. 34 4-5sec., with H. F. Coggin, Trinity, 30 yards start, third.

11 PENRHYN STRIKE ENDED. I The Penrhyn quarrymen at home and away decided on Saturday night to discontinue the struggle, whiich has lasted about three years. During the past fortnight ninety-six men have been taken on at the quarry, where nearly the full complement is now employed. Few labour dis- putes have waged for so long a period or with such bitterness as that which, under the announcement from Bangor, now comes formally to an end. Virtually the struggle was over some time ago, for most of the places of the recal- citrant quarrymen—about 2,000 in number—had long since been filled up. The present conflict began in 1900, but ever since the year 1886, when the present Lord Penrhyn succeeded to his father's title and estates, the relations between him and his employees have been unsatisfactory, culminating more than once, as in 1896, in an open rupture. Shorn of all by-issues, and especially of the political considerations which the Welsh Radical and Labour party imported into it, the question was a simple one enough. From first to last Lord Penrhyn, though per- fectly willing to treat with his men as regards their grievances, flatly and firmly refused to recognise or to have any dealings with their, trades union as such. He repudiated all attempts to interfere with his right to manage the quarries as he thought best, and, the quarrymen being equally obdurate, a conflict of the most serious character broke out in 1900. It was conducted with the utmost, obstinacy on both sides, but, for the most part, without resort to disorder. The case came before Parliament last session, and also figured before the law courts, Lord Penrhyn obtaining £ 500 damages against Mr. W. J. Parry, chairman of the Bethesda. Relief Committee, for libel.

I HEALTHY BRITAIN. I from returns published by the Registrar- General, it appears that the deaths last qua.rter in twenty-two Colonial and foreign cities, with an aggregate population estimated at t'ly 20,000,000, corresponded to an annual rate of 19.2 per 1,000 persons living, against a rate of 15.1 in seventy-six great English towns. In Paris the rate was 15.5, in Vienna 16.3, and in New York 17.6, against 14.1 in London. Among the other cities the death-rate ranged from 12.6 in Amsterdam and in Christiania, to 20.0 in Munich, 23.8 in St. Petersburg, 24.6 in Trieste, and 31.3 in Moscow. Among the Indian cities the rate rose to 35.6 in Madras, and 36.3 in Bom- bay.

Sixty-six lives were saved by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution's boats during October. Since January no fewer than 619 rewards have' been given for life-saving—the largest number in a similar period for eleven years. The greatest banquet in history took place on Aug. 18, 1889, when the 40,000 Mayors of France sat at a. table, in the Palais de l'Industrie, at Paris. There were three relays of about 13,000 guests each. To prepare the feast required 75 chief cooks and an army of 13,000 waiters and scullions, etc. The King has been pleased to approve the appointment cf Mr. Gabriel Stokes, C.S.I., to be a member of the Council of the Governor of Madras in the place of Sir Henry Martin Winter- botham, K.C.S.I., retired. The youngest conductor of an orchestra in the world is little George Howard Meredith, of New York, who is only five years old, and but 3ft. high. He has been astonishing New Yorkers by the ability he has shown in conducting the large orchestra at the Casino Theatre. It is stated that a Yorkshire bookmaker received one day this week a cheque for over R80 from a successful client, who wrote that he had seen the error of his ways, and could not con- scientiously retain money which he was now convinced he had obtained by an immoral method. Old family solicitors have had good reason to employ the auction-room spy—generally a retired detective or solicitor's clerk-who is for the most part supplied with most accurate descriptions. and often photographs of heirlooms and pic- tures, the possession of which is only enjoyed by tenants for life. Not only in auction-rooms, but in the shops of picture dealers and the sellers of curios, the spy keeps a vigilant look-out, and he prevents many an old mansion from being denuded.

OUR FISCAL POLICY. THE PREMIER AT BRISTOL. The Right Hon. A. J. Balfour, speaking ai the Dolphin (Conservative) Colston banquet at Bristol, in response to the toast of "His Majesty's Ministers," said that when he entered public life fiscal questions were open questions in the Conservative and Unionist party. The doctrine of freedom of negotiation, and of the right, in certain eases, to threaten retaliation, and, if need were, to resort to it, was not a new one; it had often been preached before, but now, for the first time, it fell on ears at- tuned to hear it. He should have been glad if the old position could have been maintained under which the fiscal question was regarded as an open one but that was no longer pos- sible, because the country would not have it, the House of Commons would not have it, and the Cabinet itself would not have it. The opinion was now held that a certain change was needed in our fiscal system in order to enable us to deal with a situation which was not in existence when the present system was framed, and of which, indeed, the framers never dreamt. He felt surprise that his opponents fought shy of the scheme which he had ven- tured to present to the country, and i>reierred instead to abuse Mr. Chamberlain, to whom they attributed sinister motives and unavowed ambitions, failing to see that that statesman, who filled so large a space in the eyes rf his countrymen, had given up all for what he be- lieved to be the good of Great Britain and the Empire. The only remedy proposed by the Opposition and education, and he would be the last to underrate its value. Then it was said we should offend other Powers if we adopted any change; but did the nation exist on the sufferance of other States? The same argu- ment had been used about the increase of the Navy. He admitted that tariffs, like the Navy, might be misused, or used provocatively; but, because of that possibility, were we to be de- barred from trying to use them wisely? He took exception to another of their opponents' maxims, that the only person to be thought of was the consumer. We had to deal, not merely with the existing state of things, but with the way in which they were tending, and it seemed to him little short of national lunacy if we did not prepare for dangers that were distinctly fore- shadowed. SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH'S POSITION. Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, speaking at the Conservative Colston Banquet at Bristol, said that Free Trader though he was, and always had been, he was prepared to support the policy which the Prime Minister laid down at Sheffield and in his speech that night. The Government proposed that they should negotiate with foreign countries in order to reduce pro- tectionist tariffs that worked harm, and to say that unless British goods were treated with more fairness foreign goods would be penalised. That was a policy for which he himself was responsible in the Sugar Convention Act. If the choice were, as he thought it was, between standing still and a genuine change in the fiscal policy, he preferred the latter. He agreed ab- solutely with what the Prime Minister had said with regard to the most-favoured nation clause. He had been told that, as holding a freer position than Mr. Balfour, he might ex- plain in what direction the policy of bargaining or retaliation might be applied. He would not be so imprudent as to advise the Prime Minis- ter on the details of a policy that was essentially the Prime Minister's own. The Prime Minister new that if he wanted his (the speaker's) opinion at any moment he might have it. There were divisions, he might say, almost within the limits of the Cabinet. Let them waive, not principles, but predilections in the cause of unity. He had been told that he ought to go over to the other side. He looked upon the political situation as a whole, and did not be- lieve that the destinies of the country would be safe in Radical hands. He bad confidence in his leader, and cordially concurred in the mes- sage of sympathy Bristol had sent to him that night. SIR HENRY FOWLER ON THE SITUATION. Sir Henry Fowler was the orator of the even- ing at the Liberal demonstration in connection with the Colston celebration at Bristol. Sir Henry said the present was a singular Govern- ment in very singular and unprecedented circum- stances. We had really-a new Prime Minister. Many Ministers had left office, and we had sud- denly sprung upon the country a new issue affect- ing all our interests, as we were told the very life of our trade, the very existence of our Empire, the country had been plunged into the gravest political and commercial controversy of which this generation or the last generation 'had witnessed, and on all this controversy his Majesty's Government had no settled convic- tions. They were not prepared to give any light or any leading either to their followers or to the country at large. Touching on the retalia- tion question, Sir Henry said, whatever might be said, they came back to the central principle that if retaliation was to be of the slightest value it must be a tax upon food and raw material. It was an illusory, futile, an impracticable idea that there could be any other sort of retaliation except that. If we wanted to have our open markets, and, above all, if we wanted to provide our people with the food which was essential to a country like this, and the raw material, which was equally essential to our great manufacturing interests, we must let that food and raw materials in at the lowest possible rate. Mr. Balfour and his col- leagues were in an atmosphere of doubt. Mr. Chamberlain knew his mind. His plan was a real plan, wlich meant something, and he had not intended to hide it. Mr. Chamberlain's plan was a step towards the re-enactment of the Corn Laws. Suppose they raised the duty upon foreign corn, it had been shown to a demonstration that the difference between what they might call the imported price and the duty had always to be paid by the consumer, and paid in respect of the home production as well as of the foreign im- ports. This was a policy which would make the poor poorer, with the uncertain chance of making a section of the rich population a little richer. Mr. Chamberlain had been sin- gularlv silent about India. The trade of India last year was 173 millions sterling, and it was enough to say that that was not a trade to be tampered with or to try experiments upon. India to them was a part of Great Britain, a part of the Empire, and, through good report and evil report, we had maintained to the people of India thaA Free Trade was the right policy for them. There were two policies supposed to be before the country, and the trade of the country was to be hung up until it suited the party now in power to have a general election. There was really but one policy, and now purged and' puri- fied as the Cabinet was there was no difference of opinion. It was Protectionist up to the hilt all round. A vote for Mr. Balfour was a vote for Mr. Chamberlain. To trifle with this great issue as had been done was not worthy of an English Cabinet. SIR EDWARD CLARKE. After living for nearly four years in political retirement, Sir Edward Clarke addressed, on the 13th inst., a large gathering of Brighton Unionists, who have adopted him as their can- didate at the next election. He said:—There was a great difference between putting a tax on manufactured articles and on food. A tax on food would fall lightly on the well-to-do classes, but would be a heavy burden on the poor. He could not accept the proposal to put a tax on food. MR. R. W. PERKS. At a Liberal meeting at Alford, Lincoln- shire, Mr. R. W. Perks said: Mr. Chamberlain's attempt to revive protection, and the attack upon religious liberty, furnished the Liberal Party with a splendid field for united action. The present was not a time to disband any of their organisations. It was rather a period in which institutions like the Liberal League, the Reform Union, etc., should work in alliance. LORD PERCY AT OXFORD. Lord Percy, M.P., Under Foreign Secretary, speaking at a Conservative dinner at Oxford on I Saturday night, after alluding to the Arbitra- tion Treaty with France and the Macedonian question, dealt with the subject of fiscal policy, advocating a decided reform in our present system. The vast majority of the Unionist party had assented to the policy of the Govern- ment in regard to retaliation and bargaining. The idea of preference, though not a part of the Government policy, was a question upon which they would all have soon to make up their minds. If we wanted to keep our Empire in- tact, he did not believe that we could isolate ou fiscal policy any more than we could isolate our naval or military policy. Why might not a closer fiscal union prove a first step to a closer political federation of the Empire? WHAT LABOUR LEADERS SAY. Mr. Chamberlain has pleaded with Trade Unionists for support for his policy of Protec- tion. Here (says the "Daily News") is their response as contained in a manifesto issued by the Parliamentary Committee of the Trade Union Congress To the Trade Unionists and the Adult Workers of the United Kingdom. The CURSE of Protection, led by Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, to blight the happiness of hearth and home, MUST be resisted as you would a malignant disease. Our fathers and mothers were almost STARVED when all they wanted to sustain life was TAXED. The taxes were used to pay for the WARS and to PENSION the WEALTHY, and this out of the life blood of the people. The Trade Congress CONDEMNED Mr. Chamberlain's proposals to tax food or to starve the workers. The Miners and the Co-operators, representing two millions of workers, are equally emphatic against a hateful tax. Mr. Chamberlain has the proud position of being supported by the organised BLACKLEGS of the country: men who, when you resist a reduction in wages, are PAID by the worst of employers to "blackleg" the shop. Thank God that Englishmen who toil have a VOTE, without which NO capitalist can enter the House of Commons to commit the sin of INCREASING the cost of living. Don't give them the power to take the Bread out of your Mouths. Signed by the Committee- R. Bell, M.P. (Chairman), Amalgamated So- ciety of Railway Servants. W. B. Hornidge (Vice-Chairman), Boot and Shoe Operatives. W. C. Steadman, L.C.C. (Treasurer), Barge Builders. W. J. Davis, National Brassworkers. E. Cowey, Miners' Federation. C. W. Bowerman, L.C.C., London Society of Compositors. W. Thorne, Gasworkers and General La- bourers. A. H. Gill, J.P., Amalgamated Cotton Spin- ners. D. C. Cummings, Boilermakers and Iron Shipbuilders. F. Chandler, J.P., Amalgamated Carpenters and Joiners. D. Holmes, J.P., Northern Counties Weavers. J. Sexton, National Dock Labourers. S, Woods (Secretary), Miners' Federation. I MR. SEDDON'S MOVE. Mr. Seddon, the Premier of New Zealand, on Monday introduced in Parliament his proposals for preferential trade with Great Britain. These provide for the imposition after March next of a surcharge on existing duties of 20 to 50 per cent. on specified articles when not of British manu- facture. It is also proposed to abolish the duty on tea, grown in British dominions and to impose one of 20 per cent. on foreign teas. The Bill further contains provisions for concluding re- ciprocal trade agreements with foreign countries. MR. CHAPLIN AT SLEAFORD. Mr. Chamberlain's scheme, said the Eight Hon. H. Chaplin, speaking at Sleaford on Mon- day, includes retaliation, but it goes further, and proposes to impose taxes upon certain kinds of agricultural produce imported into this country. The Government at present says "No" to this policy. I observe, however, that their objection to it is not on the merits or the principle of the proposal, but is based upon the ground that the country at present is not ripe for such a deci- sion. The country appears, however, to be ripening very rapidly in favour of Mr. Chamber- lain's views. The agriculturists are willing to help the industrial and manufacturing classes pro- vided that they are not themselves forgotten or ignored. Support the man who is already recog- nised as the greatest of all Colonial Secretaries, and who in future years will be known as one of the greatest statesmen our country has ever pro- duced. I SIR JOHN COCKBURN'S VIEW. The former Premier of South Australia, speak- on Monday at South Norwood, said that Austra- lian experience has over and over again proved that an import duty does not necessarily fall on the consumer. The shilling registration duty on corn made no difference to the consumer, nor did the largely increased French duty on meat in 1892. I LORD HUGH CECIL AT OXFORD. No one can deny that if it is possible to obtain by the threat or the temporary imposition of re- taliatory duties a greater freedom of international trade, this would be a result which all free- traders would welcome. Reciprocity is an abso- lutely different thing. It is an absolutely dif. ferent policy from that which I have called re- taliation. If Mr. Balfour's policy is as I have described it, I am a supporter of the theory. If the time ever comes when the official leaders of the party decide against protection and in favour of Free Trade, they will find that Mr. Chamber- lain has secured a large part of the organisation of the fighting forces of the party. 11 SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN AT FROME. A Liberal mass meeting at Frome on Tuesday night was addressed by Sir Henry Campbell-Ban- nerman. The Earl of Cork and Orrery presided. Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman said Liberals had been overborne, but never overawed. How did this omnipotent Government stand in the face of the country and in the estimation of a large number of their own supporters? He re- minded them of the doleful account which had been given of our Imperial and industrial posi- tion. It was urgent for some purpose to kindle this fire of alarm, but apparently there was no urgency in applying the extinguisher they had de- termined upon. There was but one purpose for the future as to which the Government had given an explicit irrevocable pledge, which they must redeem before going to the country. That pledge was to break down the discretion of the magis- trates in regard to the renewal of public-house licenses. That was the purpose for which the Government had been patched up and kept in power. The threat that the Empire would suffer dissolution if a preferential policy were not adopted was a profligate statement. No one had a right to use the fate of the Empire as a pawn in his game, or wantonly to gamble with the loyalty of the Colonies. Sir Henry next referred pointedly to a statement in Mr. Balfour's Bristol speech respecting an incident in the House of I Commons in reference to the question of Colonial assent to the new policy. This statement was, he said, a deliberate misrepresentation of fact by the Prime Minister. Having given his own ver- sion of the incident, which related to the cadging about for approval of that policy, Sir Henry said his action on the occasion referred to had at least had the good effect of scotching the practice of manufacturing Colonial asse-nt so as to commit both mother country and the Colonies to a policy which the Prime Minister himself had not the manliness to avow. The description given at Bristol of the accident was a pure invention of Mr. Balfour's own disordered imagination. The country would not allow its trade to be conducted by orders in council at the discretion of a Minis- try composed of good apprentices, each one of whom appeared to be a sort of Prime Minister to himself. The Yankees said, "You cannot stop halfway down a waterfall." Sir Michael Hicks Beach thought he could, but he (Sir Henry) hoped that Sir Michael would yet think better of it and go back to the fireside of the Free Food League. Liberal Free Traders wanted his help, and they promised to forget all about the Sugar Convention. He was speaking for the vast ma- jority of Liberals when he said thev desired to join with all who were willing to aid in combating the delusions of Protection and stopping the movement which had been so wantonly started. He trusted there would be much co-operation among all earnest Free Traders, to whatever party they belonged. As to the Liberal party itself, it had given cordial satisfaction to every man among them to hear from Lord Rosebery that he was ready to share the labour and respon- sibility of public life in active co-operation with a united Liberal party. This was indeed good news to them all. All true Liberals would wel- come Lord Rosebery's appeal for unity, especially at a time when the permanent importance, wis- dom, and vitality of the principles of Liberalism were being proved by events. What Liberals had to do was to maintain unimpaired their fundamental principles, without which the Liberal party ought not to exist, and they re- joiced to have again Lord Rosebery's powerful influence—alert, active, combative, hopeful. I MR. PRETYMAN AT CLAYDON. Addressing a meeting of his constituents at Claydon on Tuesday night, Mr. Pretyman, M.P., Secretary to the Admiralty, said he had entirely made up his mind that it was necessary for this country to adopt measures to protect our traders against the unfair competition to which they were subjected under the present Free Trade system. This country, he maintained, was in danger of becoming the playground of the rich and wealthy, who acquired their wealth by the investment of their capital in foreign enterprises and from the labour of foreigners, to the detriment of our own position as a great industrial centre.

King Edward's Hospital Fund has just received the sum of £4,637 13s. lid., a quarter's dividend from the securities given to the fund in equal amounts by Lord Mount-Stephen and Lord Strathcona. One of the most durable woods is sycamore. A statue made from it, now in the museum of Gizeh, at Cairo, is known to be nearly 6,000 years old. Notwithstanding this great age, it is asserted that the wood itself is entirely sound and natllralln appearance. A unique walking match has taken place in Cardiff. The competitors were a professional pedestrian and a sweep. The latter, in con- sideration of ten minutes' start in ten miles, undertook to push a truck laden with a sack of soot and his brushes. He won by sixty yards. It is rumoured that the identifying number plates whch the Local Government Board 110- poses to adopt for motor cars under the new Act which comes into force on January 1st will certainly be easily seen. They are said to be half as large again as the number plates used on cabs in London, and will have to be illuminated at aight.

I ARCHBISHOP AS BELLRINGER. I On Saturday the Archbishop of Canterbury dedicated the new tower, clock, and bells of Beckenham Parish Church, in the presence of a large assemblage, which included the members of the District Council. At three o'clock, the new clock, which was presented by Mr. C. E. Atkinson, of Beckenham, was set in motion by the donor's daughter. The dedication service followed, at the conclusion of which the Archbishop rang one of the bells thrice. Subsequently his Grace proceeded to the west porch and unveiled two windows, one of which was erected as a memorial to Beckenham men who lost their lives in the South African war. The tower cost over £ 5000, but six of the bells had been recast, and two were the gift of Mr. Atkinson in memory of the late Mr. Cecil Rhodes.

I PROTECTING CHILD WORKERS. From the Home Office has been issued a memo- randum addressed to county councils calling at- tention to the provisions of the Employment of Children Act and the important powers it confers upon county councils, as distinct from the work of the Government, inspectors under the Factory and Mines Acts. It will be remembered that the Act, with a view to safeguard the health and morals of children doing a properly regulated amount of work under healthy conditions, and to prevent their employment seriously inter- fering with their education, lays down certain general restrictions applicable to all employments of children, and confers on local authorities wide powers of imposing the bye-laws (which must be advertised before confirmation by the Home Secre- tary), additional restrictions either generally or for particular occupations. Attention is also directed to the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Children Act which bear on the safeguarding of their employment at places of public entertain- ment. &0.

r FORTY YEARS ON THE THRONE. Copenhagen was gaily decorated with flags on Sunday on the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of the accession of King Christian. The King and the entire Royal family attended Divine service in the chapel of Fredensborg Castle I on Sunday morning. At eleven o'clock Dr. Deuntzer, the Premier, accompanied by the other Ministers, arrived at the castle. They were received by the King. Afterwards His Majesty received Mr. Reginald Lister, British Charge d'Affaires, and Count Gleichen, who handed to the King his commission as a general in the British Army. Subsequently his Majesty received Lieutenant-General von Moltke, who presented an autograph letter of congratulation from the German Emperor. Many other tokens were re- ceived.

BIG LONDON JEWEL ROBBERY. FOUR MEN ARRESTED. Four arrests were made on Sunday in con- nection with the robbery of between £10,000 Four arrests were made on Sunday in con- nection with the robbery of between £ 10,000 and £ 20,000 worth of jewels from the premises of Messrs. Knight, Frank, and Rutley, aue- tioneers, Conduit-street, London. The robbery, it will be recalled, was a par- ticularly daring one, and was committed during the night of October 15. The thieves got on the roof of an adjoining house, crawled along to a skylight, and by means of a long thin rope lowered themselves into Messrs. Knight's pre- mises. Then they made their way to the manager's room, where, with a duplicate key, they opened the safe containing the jewels, which were to be sold bv auction on October 16. They packed all the valuable jewellery into a portmanteau, left the key in the safe, and the rope trailing from the skylight, walked to the entiance door in Maddox-street, pulled back the bolts, stepped unconcernedly into the street, hailed a cab, and drove away. A cleverly planned robbery had been cleverly and quietly executed; but the thieves left be- hind two very important clues. One was the impression of finger-marks on the skylight and the other the impression of a hand on a dusty counter. Since the discovery of the theft the police, under Detective-Inspectors Drew and Kyd, have been keeping a continuous day-and-night obser- vation on suspected houses with the object- always a difficult one in this class of crime- of recovering the stolen jewels and arresting the thieves. In one neighbourhood furnished rooms were engaged, and from these detectives kept an uninterrupted view of a well-known receiver's premises; but, as far as is known at present, their untiring efforts went un- rewarded. Detectives, disguised as labourers, sailors, carpenters, and" out-of-works," wandered about various other quarters in an apparently aimless manner, watching the movements of convicted thieves and burglars and keeping fixed eyes on their haunts. In one instance a detective suffered his ears to be boxed by a vigilant con- stably who caught him lounging on a door- step. One of the districts watched was Pentonville, and it was in this neighbourhood that the four arrests were effected during Sunday morning. Nearly forty detectives were engaged in watch- ing various houses simultaneously, and at seven o'clock Detective-Inspector Drew decided to enter a house in Cynthia-street, where they arrested a man who was in bed. He dressed and was then put into a cab, and taken to King's Cross Police Station. The three other arrests were made in houses in White Lion-street, Penton-place, and Gos- well-road, and all the accused were conveyed in cabs to King's Cross station, and afterwards to Vine-street, where they were charged on sus- picion with being concerned in the robbery from Messrs. Knight, Frank, and Rutley's pre- mises. In one or two of the houses the police found some jewellery, but this was not identified as having ever formed a part of the stolen pro- perty. DETECTIVE'S STORY Or THE FOUR ARRESTS. The four men so skilfully tracked and cap- tured by Chief Inspector Drew for alleged com- plicity in the great robbery of jewellery in London a month ago were on Monday brought up and charged before Mr. Denman at Marl- fccrongh-street. Their names and occupations were given as follows :— Henry Elliot, carman, 250, Goswell-road, St. Luke's. John Skeggs, no occupation, Cynthia-street, Clerkenwell. Robert Gray, cellarman, 24, White Lion- street, Clerkenwell. Alfred Smith, jeweller, 32, Penton-place, Clerkenwell. Elliot is a short man. He wore a shabby dark flannel suit, his keen eyes looking out from beneath a forehead fringed with lank black' hair. Smith is a thin little man, with a long, tawny moustache, and he has the ap- pearance of a well-to-do mechanic. Gray and Skeggs are tall, clean-shaven, and good-looking. They were smartly dressed, and both seemed boyishly cheerful. The only witness was Detective-Inspector Drew, whose feat in tracing and capturing the suspects will be remembered as one of the most remarkable achievements in the history of Scotland Yard. A tall, handsome man, well- groomed, with immaculate silk hat and kid gloves, he looked more like a West-End club man than the detective who is perhaps more feared by London thieves than any living man. His quiet, genial manner gives no hint of his keenness of perception or his lightning-like re- source. He told in a plain, undramatic manner the story of the arrests and what led up to them. THE FINGER-PRINT CLUE. After the burglary on October 16 the detective took from the auction rooms in Conduit-street a broken sheet of glass bearing the imprint of fingers, and conveyed it to Scotland Yard, where it was placed under the care of Chief- Inspector Leach, of the finger-impression de- partment. Comparison with records shewed that the impressions on the glass were identical with those of Elliot. As the ultimate result of tkis Elliot and the other men were watched, and on Sunday morning were arrested. At about seven o'clock on that morning In- spector Drew, with other officers, went to 250, Goswell-road. They gained admittance, and, passing up to the second floor, knocked at the door of the front room. Elliot got out of bed and opened the door. Mr. Drew immediately placed him under arrest, telling him the charge. Elliot replied, "It's all right." Elliot (from the dock) It's a lie. The detective went on to relate that while Elliot was dressing he said that the witness had made a mistake, Subsequently, pointing to a door, he declared that "some of his pals" had broken into his house recently while he and his wife were at the theatre. "They thought I had some stuff here or some money," he added. "That's what your pals do for you. There may be honour in some professions, but not in ours." The magistrate asked if there were any signs of force having been used. ) "Oh, yes," said the detective calmly, "but as a matter of fact I had known of that at- tempt long before." ENTRIES IN A NOTE-BOOK. Elliot's rooms were searched and certain small articles of jewellery were found. A note- book was discovered containing among other entries the following: £2.00," £ 60," £ 58," £ 50," "Skeggs, £ 50," £ 50," £ 15," £ 14 10. "Total, P,79 10s. received. C220 10s. to come." The prisoners Skeggs and Gray were brought to the police-station by other officers. Detec- tive Drew went to 32, Penton-place, Clerken- well, where he arrested Smith as he was leaving his bed. Smith said, "I know about the thing; I had seen it in the newspapers. I never had any of the stuff." He explained that he was a working jeweller. Certain articles of jewellery were found and were taken possession of by the police. In the basement of the house the witness found a workshop with blow-pipe and crucibles. Smith said that he melted gold in the crucibles. He added, "I melt up sovereigns. I work it up sometimes sometimes I sell it." I asked him to whom he sold it," said the detective, and he replied, That's my business. As Smith was leaving he whispered some- thing to his wife, and directly he was gone the wife took a paper from a drawer and, in spite of the witness's attempt to prevent her, suc- ceeded in tearing it in pieces. The paper when pieced together was found to have reference either to the purchase or to the sale of some gold. The magistrate remanded the prisoners for eight days, refusing applications for bail.

Over £ 92 was cleared during the summer season by the engagements of the band attached to the Poplar Workhouse training schools at Forest Gate. This sum has been paid to the. Children's Entertainment Fund.