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

POPULAR SCIENCE. 1 NEW HORSK SHOE. Owing to the injury done by the nails to the hoOif of a horse, a naiflesB horse-shoe has Cor long been the aim of the inventor. A home. Bttroe carrier fitting the hoof, and to which the shoe proper can be affixed, is one of the latest attempts to solve the problem. It is out out of a single piece of mild sheet steel, J-ineh thick, and then bent into shape. The carrier consists of a toe-piece and two side bands, joined by a bolt in front. At the rear end are i cup-like depressions to receive the heels of the hoof. This keeps the carrier in pltace and obvi- ates the necessity of binding the rear ends to- gether with a cross-bar. The shoe is attached to the carrier by screws or countersunk rivets, and can be easily removed and replaced. India- rubber or leather shoes can also be attached to the carriers if desired. A HOOD FOR FIREMEN. A respiratory apparatus for firemen, invented by Mr. Charles E. Chajpin, a draughtsman who lives in Berkeley, California, consists of a hood lined with oiled eilk to coverthe head, and an air cylinder which is strapped on the back. The cylinder is divided into three chambers, carry- ing enough air under a pressure that can be re- gulated to last an hour. The air is conducted by a ruibber tube to the headpiece, the exhaled air passing out through a valve before the mouth. The fireman can get enough air to fill his lungs comfortably, but cannot expend the supply in a short time, as he might be tempted fco do if he became frightened. The main supply of air comas from the outer cylinders, the middle one being smaller and to be drawn upon only after the two others are exhausted. The ap- paratus can be adjusted on the back in half a minute, and, as it weighs only 231b., it does not impede the fireman in his work. THE HIGHEST BRIDGE. Burma possesses the highest railway bridge in the world. It is known as the Gokteik Via- duct, and is made entirely of steel. Its weight is considerably more than 4,000 tons, and it has a length of 2,260 feet, in spans of from 120 to 40 feet in length. SOUNDS UNDER WATER. The principle of the submarine telephone is the fact that sound vibrations travel at more than four times the rate of speed in the water that they do in the air, or 4,712 feet a second, as compared with 1,100 feet a, second. Every ship's hull becomes a sort of drum, on which the sound waves of the water beat their steady tattoo. Without any apparatus whatever the sailors) working on the floor of a schooner may detect the sound made by the screws of a liner two or three miles away. All that the sub- marine telephone does, therefore, is to collect the sound waves as they strike the ship's hull and then convey them to the officer on the bridge. The electric transmitters which do this are attached to the hull by being placed in a email tank filled with a chemical solution denser CTJNARDER PASSING LIGHTSHIP EQUIPPED WITH SUBMARINE SIGNAL. than water, which is fastened to the ship's inner side. The submarine bell by which the warn- ings are given is sometimes hung in the water from a lightship and operated at will by ma- chinery, or it may be suspended from a buoy and rung automatically or connected by an electric cable to a lighthouse or other station on shore. In sending signals from a ship in motion the bell is on the inside of the hull of the vessel, and is operated either by machinery or by band. A peculiarity of sound vibrations under water is that they will not travel around a corner, but move in straight lines, so the receiver in the pilot house of the steamer through which the sound of the bell comes will indicate- on which side of the vessel is the point of danger. PHOTOGRAPHY IN COLOUR. Pihotogiiaiphy in colour is not altogether new, ibult a new development of it by M. Lippmann, a professor of the Paris Sorbonne, is causing a good deal of interest in Paris. Starting from tthe theory that colours are only different vibra- tions of light, the Professor disposes his sub- jects in such a way as only to reflect vibrations of' a certain order, which are reproduced on a transparent photographic plate, a mercury reflect, to reflect a second time the image on the sensitised plate, being placed at the bottom of -the dark chamber. This Sensitised- plate is grey, and Otherwise colourless, but being set aslant in the reflector, throws on to the screen the colours of nature'. A SELF-ACTING TELEPHONE DIRECTORY. The newest idea for telephone users is based lupon the automatic annunciation- idea. It con- aWa of a circular plate on the desk, which baa upon its outer circumference spaces for from fif- teen to fifty names and telephone numibeirs. To notify the operator to call a desired number it is not necessary to shout the name through the desfc telephone and then wait while the number is loolwdup. The indicator on the dial is moved to the desired number, a bell is rung, and the office central cperaitor finds the name and num- ber indicated upon a duplicate dial. Another and similar device- for keeping telephone number ,where they are handy is intended where but a Single instrument is in use. The transmitter is surrounded by a collar formed of flanges which are lettered alphabetic-ally. On each flange there de room for a dozen names and the numbers aire always handy to the 'phone. Not Less curious iø the method adopted by the Parish Clerks' Company for distributing the toast-wines after dinner. The members and their friends dine in the quaint old hall in Silver-street at one long table, with the Master at one end and the Clerk at the other. Each of these office-bearers has before him a sort of table-waggon—two silver trays- joined and bal- anced on fouir wheels, which are pivoted in such a way as to run like a railway porter's trolley, their movements being controlled by a handle. The accompanying picture of one of them gives A TABLE WAGGON OF THE PARISH CLERKS' COMPANY. a fair idea of both, for they are as like as two peas in a pod. Each waggon carries two de- canters, on,e filled with point, and the other with sherry. When a toast is about to be drunk the Master starts a waggon on a journey down one side of the table and the Clerk puts the other waggon in motion on the opposite side of the taible. By the time all glasses are filled the Mialste-r has got the Cleric's waggon and vice versa, and each waggon in turn performs ail < £ urr>" and a "down" service, as regularly as any train—more regularly, perhaps, than some tralins. For the gift of thase vehicles! of loyalty, patriotism and friendliness the guild iis indeiMed to a famous City toa-St-master, :be latlo Daniel R. Harker, who was Master of the Parish Clerks' Company in 1849, and gave tbsio as a souvenir of his year off office. J

PARIS AND LOVING CUP I When the members of the Paris municipal council heard that the. citizens of Westminster had euibscrilbed to present them with a loving cup they wondered what a loving cup was, for this good British institution is unknown in France. Lord Cheylesmore explained to thean the origin, use, andtraditioiis of the cup ithat is passed round, whhiÐ and the deputation otf (the Westminster Corporation were entertained at lunch at the Hotel de VilIe by tto Paris Council. When the cup had been filled with champagne and passed round the 200 guests fully under- stood its meaning. The ceremony was one of the -meet significant manifestations of the entente oordiale that has yeit taken place. The Hoitel do Villo was magni- ficently decorated. The Westminster councillors drove to the buildiing in their robes of office, accompanied by the city mace-bearers, and were cheered on the way by enthiiusiastic crowds. l,Soldiers, of the municipal guiard lined -tiiet s-tair- B" and M. Brouese, the president, with all the members and officials of the Paris Council, received the, gueslbs. The cup was presented after ja little informal speech. King Edward's health was drunk to tremendous enthusiasm and ithetune,of "God Save the King." Then M. Brouisise s-ummed up the sentiments of the -meeting in the happiest of speeches. "Your presence," he said, tuming to Lord Oh-eyleeimoire, "conjures up for ins the historic1?! riches of one of the greatest .cities that go to make up London. In you, M. le Maine, thigi glorious part has found a fitting representative. As soldier, sportsman, and p-hilamthroipist you unitoiu your person the finest .qualities of the British mind—bcavory, energy, and benevolence." Mr. Granville Smith replied in Frenidh. During the afternoon the Westminster councillors inspected the works of the Metropolitan Railway, and Watched a dis- play of the fire brigade.

MONTE CARLO MOTOR SMASH. A 40-h.p. New Panhard, belonging to Mr. R. W. Hudson, the soap .manufacturer, which was travelling at high speed down the steep incline opposite the entrance of the Casino at Monte Carlo, failted to take thelcorner and crashed into an omnibus containing several passengers from the Hotbed Royal. The hors-es of the omnibus were killed, aaid the miotor-car was hurled against the Casino, railings and eeriously damaged. Mr. Hudson's sons., Who were driving the car, had a miraculous es- cape from death. They were badly bruised, butfc it is. believed aid not sustain any dangerous in. juries.

The Mayor of Yarmouth, in fining, an Italian who assaulted a man by biting him on the leg and arm several times, isfaid that if it occurred again some of his fbeetih would have to be ex- tracted. A resident of Allentown, Pennsylvania has succeeded in training a Cat to rummage the istreot gut-tens in search of lost money and articles1 of value Its total findings for the last three months are worth £27.

SCENE IN A CHUIiCH. ANOTHER « FORT CHABROL." The little commune of Saint Mitre, situated' about 23 miles from Marseilles, has been thrown into a state of great excitement through the acts of a man named Ferrier. During high mass in the church he rushed to the alter, and before the offi- ciating priest could prevent him, tore the missal, broke the vases and candelabra, and destroyed the pictures. While the worshippers rose to leave the church, Ferrier opened the door of the tabernacle, and pushed the priest, who was trying to calm him, away. Sizing a sprinkling brush Ferrier went into tbetriiddlo of the church and besprinkled the worshippers, who began to rush to tht door. Ho then visited the different altars in the ohuroh, breaking everything he could lay his hands on. Some men attempted to seize him, but he drew a revolver, and discharged it thrice without, how- ever, hitting anyone. The shots produced a panic; in the church, which was soon emptied. Ferrier left, and entered his house, which he barricaded.. Before entering on his escapade in the church he had taken care to lay in a store of provisions, in- cluding 8001b. of potatoes, 1201b. of bread, a large quantity of meat, a barrel of wine, petroleum, and 2400 quarts of water. A number of gendarmes arrived and ordered the man to surrender himself. He replied by aiming his revolver in their direc- tion. The Procureur of the Republic at Aix has been informed. The gendarmes have surrounded the house, and are awaiting orders and reinforce. ments.

DEATH OF AN AGED RECTOR. The Very Rev. Henry Carrington, Dean and Rector of Booking, died on Tuesday somewhat suddenly. The dean, who was born in 1814, was the oldest clergyman in Essex. Son of Sir Edmund Codrington Carrington, first Chief Justice of Ceylon, he was educated at Charterhouse School and Caius College, Cambridge, taking his degree in 1838, when he became curate of Hadleigh, Suffolk. In 1845 he was appointed rector of Bocking, a living which confers the honorary title of dean. Up to within the last seven years the dean was able to take the services in his parish church, but latterly he had been very feeble. He married during his curacy days Miss Lyle, daughter of Captain Haseldine Lyle, who survives him. There were three daughters of the marriage, two of whom, Miss Carrington and the Countess Evelyn Martinengo Cesaresco, are living. The dean was an eminent scholar, and the author of several works, including translations of Victor Hugo's poems, Thomas à. Kempis and Baudelaire. He also published an anthology on French poetry. During bis long rectorate at Bocking he did a great deal to restore and beautify the grand old church.

CANADA AND PREFERENTIAL. TRADE. Speaking at a dinner given at the Ottawa Canadian Club on Sunday night, Mr. Alfred Moseley said that in a conversation he had had with Sir Wilfrid Laurier the Premier declared that Canada was not only prepared to continue, but also to increase, the preference granted to goods manu- factured in Great Britain, provided that the arrangement was not a one-sided one, and that in return Great Britain gave Canada preference in agricultural products. The time had come, said Sir Wilfrid, for Great Britain to show her band. My reply," said Mr. Moseley, was that Canada had spoken plainly, but that unfortunately the digni- ilea silence you. have hitherto maintained on the subject is construed in Great Britain as lukewarm- ness, whereas I find that feeling in Canada is really strong in favour of preferential trade." Mr. R. L. Borden, the leader of the Opposition in the Dominion House of Commons, alluding to Lord Rosebery's ascription of his defeat in the elections in Nova Scotia to his advocacy of preferential trade, declared that his defeat had no more to do with his views on that question than Lord Rose- bery's solitary, if not eccentric, ploughing had to do with the grain crops in the North-West. Sir Frederick Borden, the Canadian Minister of Militia, agreed that advocacy of Mr. Chamber- lain's policy had not contributed to his friend's defeat in the elections; but stated that he did not himself consider preferential trade to be within the range of practical politics. He thought the true policy would be to go on developing the colony, and that trade arrangements would work themselves out without bickering and turmoil about tariffs, which would not increase Canadian loyalty.

NEW COPPER VEIN DISCOVERED. -AO"" The new copper vein discovered on the pro- perty of the Anaconda, Mine, i.ear Butte, Mon- tana, is declared to be of enormous value, and! tiie share3 are selling at boom prices. This Mate jnl"mS inspector at Butte, who has ex- amined the new vein, is reported as saying thafe it is the richest find ever made, in Montana. He- certifies that it is .not a new version of an olds discovery. The cross-cut measures nearly fifty feet, and' on an average 15 per cent, copper, some assays .showing nearly 40 "per cent, copper, with twelve ounces of silver, per ton. The, new vein. was reached ten days ago from a, cross-cutting started from the 2,200 feet level. The vein was etruck 1,000 feet south of the shaft. Another cross-cut has now been started at a level of 2,400 feet. Mr. Thomas W. Laweon., who is conducting a campaign against high-priced copper shares, says that Amalgamated ore is being raisedl through the Anaconda, shafts, and suggests that now, as before within his knowledge, the Amal- gamated is selling Anaconda shares at inflated! prices, with the intention of repurchasing on, their collapse °

J For taking a pipe anclatcheG i,.nto, a mine at Hamilton, N.B., a Polish minier, who pleaded ignorance of English regulations, has been fined £ 2 at Glasgow. Two housemartins have been observed thia week at Appledore, Kent, by Mrs. Eva E. Weir, the wife of the aged artist, Mr. Harrison Weir, who expresses the belief that this ia a record, housemartins, as a rule, migrating long before Christma-a-

LITERARY CHAT. I Sir Oliver Lodge is writing an Introductiolt for a small volume on Spiritualism" by Mr. E. T. Bennett, of the Society for Psychical Research, to be issued immediately. The volume, which will contain several illustra- tions, will form one of the scientific series -which Messrs. T. C. and E. C. Jack are issuing. Misa N. Murrell Marrig, whose standard Liie of Mr. Chamberlain" was so much ap- preciated a few years ago, is about to publish tkrough Messrs. George Routledge and Sons (Limited) a popular biography of the author of Tariff Reform, entitled Joseph Chamber- lain Imperialist." The mystery of Fiona Macleod recalls the fact (remarks the Westminster Gazette") that not a few writers have, for varied reasons, sought literary recognition under two or more names. The late Dr. Japp, for instance, had several pseudonyms. Grant Allen had perhaps one of the most curious experiences in this con- nection. He had been writing scientific artiel-ei under his own name—few could make such things so fascinating as he—and also short stories under the nom do plume of J. Arbuth- not Wilson." One day he receivd two Letters, both from James Payn, then editing the "Cornhill," one addrese.ad to him under his own name regretting inability to publish his scientific papers, and the other addressed to him as J. Arbuthnot Wilson, Esq. accepting one of his stories and asking for more! Anthony TroHope, too, sought, but with little success, to test his literary fame by publishing one or two of his novels without his name. Among reasonable works issued from the De La More Press is a Speaking Days Calendar," compiled by Lady Seymour. A wide range of reacfing is exhibited in the selections. The writers are principally English, but include a few foreign and some classical authors.. At the annual dinner of the Edinburgh Sir Walter Scott Club Lord Lytton remarked that what the American Revolution and the French Revolution had accomplished in the region of polities, the romantic writers, of w:m Scott was the most popular, had accomplished in the region of letters. Letts's Clerical Diary" (Cassell) has a "week in an opening and blank leaves for memoranda, and Letts's Daily Health Diary" "is in- teracted," says the Preface, "as a. help to all- round fitness of mind as well as of body, not so much for athletes as for busy men and "women." As far as we have examined it, we have found it judicious. "All About Shipping," a handbook of popular nautical information, n has been newly edited, with additions and corrections to date, by Com- mander R. Dowliing, R.N.R., and issued with illustrations, many of them brilliantly coloured, from the De La. More Press. It is a mine of information. Among the coloured d-esignis are views of a Viking ship of the days of Alfred and a line-of-battle ship of those of Nelson. The cover is striking. Messrs. Dean and Son's series of Toy Books again deserve attention. Bold design and excel- lent colouring are their special features. There is also an up-to-dateness, in engines and motors, which is to be commended. The Post Office London Directory for 1906, though not exactly a literary work in the ordi- nary sense of the phrase, is, nevertheless, the work of literary men. We have just seem, a copy of this excellent production, which no business house can possibly afford to ignore. It is a bulky volume, and must have taxed even the energies of Kelly's in the process of production. The size, however, is one of its chief recom- mendations, because it indicates that nobody is likely to have been left out. The corrections have been brought well up to date, and the amount of care that must have been bestowed upon the compilation of this truly wonderful and fascinating volume is beycnd all praise. The map of London which accompanies the IMreotory is an invaluable adjunct to all busi- ness houses. In no way does this-the 107th annual issue—fall short of its predecessors. Mr. W. K. Dickson, who has been appointed to succeed Mr. J. T. Clark in the office of librarian of the Advocatee Library, Edin- burgh, is himself a member of the Scottish Bar, and has for some years been devoting much of his time to literary work, chiefly in connection with Scottish historical subjects. TIME. I I saw a happy spirit That wandered among flowera:' Her crown was a rainbow, I Her gown was wove of hours. She turned with sudden laughter, I was, but am not now I And as I followed after Time smote me on the brow. —"Academy." FIONA MACLEOD. A political crisis (says the "Academy") ought to send people to Anthony Trollope's political novefe, to refresh their memories of Planty Pall v and the other duke, His Grace of St. Bungay, Mr. Gresham, and Mr. Daubeney, Lord Brock, Lord De Terrier, Mr. Monk, and above all Phineas Finn and his two sworn allies, Madame Max Goesler and Lady Glencora. Trollope himself declared that his politicians were portraits, not of living men, but of living political characters. These types reproduce themselves from generation to generation. Read Phineas Redux," and see if you are not often reminded of Mr. Balfour by the character, the tactics, even the physical description, of Mr. Daubeney. Mr. Monk irresistably suggests Mr. John Morley. A mew book by Jonas Lie, the veteran Nor- wegian author, with the quaint title East of the San, West of the Moon, and Behind the Tower of Babylon," has just been published in Copenhagen. In "Chambers's Journal" for January there will be a, paper by the Duke of Argyll entitled Wild Times in the Highlands," and Mr. Plarr edits a series of "Unpublished Letters toWilIiam Hunter," including characteristic examples from Smollett, written at Nice from Dr. Johnson, Lord Chatham, and Lord Suffolk. In one of his letters Smollett complains of a cursed ulcer in his forearm, "a judgment of God upon me for the ridiculous use I have made w that wretched member, in writing such a heap of absurdities in the course of my authorial probation." Mr. Fisher Unwin has an illustrated volume in preparation on Famous Court Beauties of the Restoration," by Mr. W. R. H. Trowbridge. Mr. Murray has in preparation a new volume by Canon J. J. Scott entitled The Making of if- posPels-" containing » series of lectures which are, to a great extent, an exnansiom of the introduction to his Life of Christ." Mrs. Craigie (John Oliver Hobbes) has re- cently finished a new novel in which a Noncon- fornnst is the hero. The story is by way of being a strong contrast to the character of Robert Orange, her Roman Catholic hero, about- whom there has been so much discussion. Mrs. Craigie is herself a Roman Catholic, but her father, Mr. Joan Morgan Richards, is not only a Protestant cut a Nonconformist, and was a leading nv m1 at the City Temple.

"Bid Maud -a d Clara kiss and make up?" They kissed and spoiled their make-up."

Tragedies and Disasters. A man, apparently of the seafaring clast3, threw himself over a railway bridge on to the Great Western line at Devonport on Monday and killed himself. I The seventh death within the past few weeks from anthrax occurred at Bradford on Monday. During the past year 294 vessels. exceeding 500 tons were totally lost, whila the aggyegate tonnage amounted to 517,689 tons. Robert Watts, of Marshall County, Alabama, will be hanged on February 9. He dug a grave for Ford Winkle, an old Confederate soldier, lay in wait by the side of it, and then shot and buried him. A verdict of Suicide while temporarily in- sane" was returned on Monday at Islington on the death of Lilian Crawford, a domestic ser- vant, who jumped from a window in Gatcombe- road, Hollow ay, after being discharged from her situation. Two deaths under chloroform formed the sub- ject of inquests in the East-end on Saturday. Mr. William H. Hi'll, a leading official of the Belfast Corporation surveyor's department, com- mitted suicide on Shtturday by shooting him- self through the head. He had been twenty- three years in the service of the Corporation. The body of Driver Robert Smith, of the Royal Field Artillery, who was drowned whilst boating in November, was picked up otn Saturday in the sea off No Man's Fort at SpitiwacL Accidents. From .a scaffolding platform 70ft. high, the long a.rm of a ha'ge crane fell to the ground in St. James's-street, W., on Monday, injuring one of the workmen. Richard Davis died on Monday from suffoca- tion by gas fumes in Fulham Gasworks, where he was at work. Getting out of control, a traction engine dashed down 131 steep hill at Torquay on Satur- day, but the driver stuck to his poSIt and finally rain it into a wall, which it demolished The first fatal accident has occurred in con- nection with the erection of the King's sana- torium for c-onsump-tiveis aft Midhurst, which, after two years, is now nearing completion. The victim was a young Horshaim painter named Lusted, who missed his hold on a ladder and fell, breaking his back. A young man named Hardman, of Middleten Junction, employed as a shunter, fell under some moving waggons at Castleton railway siding on Saturday. He received serious injuries, both his hands being cut off. Cases Told in the Courts. For being drunk while driving his cab, Thomas) Hall, a cabdriver, was fined L- I at the North London Police-court on Monday, and his license was cancelled. Mary Wiklman, the wife of a naval stoker, was remanded at Chatham on Monday charged with having attempted suicide with a razor during a drunken frenzy. For maiming a. horse, Harry Labon, a fisher- man, was sentenced to three years' penal servi- tude at Boston (Lincolnshire) on Monday. A dwarf, 36in. high, was summoned in Phila- delphia -for being drunk and disorderly and chal- lenging a man twice his height to a fight in the street. The magistrate sentenced him-to twenty- four hours' imprisonment, adding, "That's quite long enough for a short man like you." "The best punishment for such men the stocks and pillory; and, personally, I am sorry that such a form of punishment is done away with." Thus the Stratford Police-court magis- trate, ir dealing wiith a man alleged to have ob- tained c harity on false pretences. Half a dozen German bamlsmein were- charged at Manchester on Saturday wiith falsely repre- senting that they were giving stroot perfor- mances for the benefit of the unemployed. Un- able to find work in their own country, they came, over to England. They were discharged with a caution. U Several men who appeared at Bow-street on Saturday, charged with being drunk, said they had resolved to turn over a new leaf with the New Y ear and sign the pledge. "You can go," said the magistrate, "and I hope you will keep your good resolutions." Herbert R-Lehton obtained clothee by calling at houses and starting in each case that he wanted them for a man who had fallen into the river. At Liverpool, on Saturday, he was sent to gaol for four months for false pretences. "After all, the defendant was only in pursuit of game," said the magistrate (the Hon. J. die Gray) at the South-Western Count, in impos- ing a nominal fine of half a crÚlwn on a man con- victed of wilfully interfering- with a wild duck at Wandsworth-common. The Bow-street magistrate on Saturday dis- charged the man Thomas Ryan, charged with the manslaughter of an old mian in a lodging house in Great Queen-street. The affair was the outcome of a political argument. Commercial and Industrial. The Bankers' Clearing House returns for the paisit year beat all previous records, the increase over 1904 amounting to nearly £ 1,724,000,000. In a letter to Sir Donald Currie, the secretary of the South African Shipping Freights Con- ference says .the recent negotiations failed be- cause the sfhipownera elhowed no disposition to meet the delegates in a spirit of just compromise. Holyhead is the latest suitor for the works of Messrs. Yarrow, the London shipbuilding firm shortly removing from Poplar on account of the high raites. Further information, compiled by British Consuls in Europe at the request of the late Government, on the subject of the navigable inland water ways in the countries to which they were accredited, was issued) on Sunday night in the form of a commercial report. The minem repreeentati-ves of the Coal Trade Conciliation Board have decided to apply for an advance of 5 per cent. in wages throughout Lancashire, Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and the Midlands. Thousands of women and children, reports the Tariff Commission, have,, in consequence of the diversion of much of her silk industry from Great Britain to the Continent, lost a pleasant and' lucrative employment. Underground telegraphic communication between London and Glasgow is practically complete. The housing of the end of the cable is the only thing to be done. The cost works out at t-1,400 a mile. Five hundred weavers, winders, and other ] operatives, employed at Messrs. Tootal, Broad- hurst, Lee, and Co-s Sunnyside Mills, Bolton, have- struck for higher wages and improved working conditions. The Revenue returns for the first nine months) of the financial year show a, decrease of £ 76,632. There is an increase in postal and, telegraph receipts, but Customs returns haive fallen by £ 1,315,000, owing to the reduction of the tea. duty. National and Political. The United Irish League has issued a manifesto recommending voters to support Liberal and Labour candidates who are sound on the question of Home Rule. The Archbishop of Canterbury has issued a New Year's message to the peopLe, in which he dwells on the sacred trust of electing a new Parliament. Owing to the death of the Mayor, Alderman Robert Nudd, all political activities at Yar- mouth are suspended. Music and Droma. The two first concerts of the year were "The Messiah," at the Albert Hall, and Mr. Wood's orchestral programme at the Queen's Hall. "Captain Drew on Leave" Iha .been trans- f erred from the New Theatre to Wyndh-am's. "Noah's Ark," a Christmias play for children, was produced successfully at the Waldorf I Thealtre. Social. The King of Spain has conferred the Com- im-anderB!la>ip of the Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic upon Mr. William Rome, F.S.A., of Creeksea Place, Essex. Mr. Rome was ohair- man of the of the Exhibition of Spanish' Art at the Guildhall in 1901. The Rev. Dr. Atkinson, the Master of Clare College, Cambridge, who received his appoint- ment in 1856, is shortly celebrating his jubilee of ofåoe. Lord Iveagh has sent a donation of n- 1.0,00 to the Church Army for the helip of the unem- ployed and destitute*. Tthe Ki:ag has sent a donaition of £ 50 from the "State Apartments Fund" to the Windsor In- fant Nursery, otf which her Royal Highness Prin- cess Christian is president, and which is at pra- eent urgently in need of money. Sir H. Meysey-Thompson's intention to take the title of Lord' Knaresborough, on his eleva- tion to the peerage, is resented "by many of the townsmen on the ground that he and his family have no connection with the ancient and royal town. The committee which is being formed to make arrangements for carrying out Lord Rothschild's ofier to remove 200 families from Tottenham to Canada have held its first meeting. A ckestue for E106 8s., and, a testimonial, was on Saturday presented to Mr. Thomas Sims, WHO has just retired after thirty-two years as station-master at Ashtead Surrey. The King has given £400 to the fund for the erection of a new infirmary at Windsor, and £,iOO to the old building. The Pope has conferred1 a knighthood on Mr. J John St. Lawrence, who for many years has been associated with the Marquis of Ripoa in the work of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Mr. St. Lawrence served for over fifty years in the War Office. Military and Naval. It is stated that shells are to be filled by machinery at Woolwich. This is more dangerous than the old method of filMn-g them by hand. February 6-four months after her keel was laid officially-ba-9 been fixed proviisicnally for the launch of H.M.S. Dreadnought, the largest battleship in the world. By the efforts of Lord Kitchener, 'soldiers who have; seen considerable service in India are- to be given special facilities for spending six -months' furlough in Eagland. To obtain better shooting with the 6-poundc-r 1 guns on torpedo-boat destroyers, the Admiralty i have ordered the increase of the practice aJlow- ance of ammunition from forty to eighty rounds a gun. To equip the proposed National Naval Museum a committee recently formed will ask for subscriptions up to £ 100,000. Li euten aat- Genera 1 von Moltke has been ap- pointed chief of the general staff of the German Army. Colour-Serge ant C. R. Barnes, a Crimean veteran, has di-ed at Devizes, Wiltshire. He held the Cross of the French Legion, of Honour, which entitled him to a pension of L- 16 per annum from the Frantfh Government. Owing to the fall of the Napoleonic dynasty, however, he ner received the money. The Admiralty has decided1 to spend £ 1,080,000 on the formation of a harbour and depot for submarines at Portsmouth. A testimonial of £ 230 has been forwarded from Port Elizabeth, South Africa-, to Mrs. Gibble, of Bournemouth, in recognition of the courage of her son, who died from injuries re- ceived in a fight with a horde of Kaffirs. From Other Lands. Mr. Yerked funeral in New York on Monday was kept as private las police protection could make it. While electing aft Vienna on Monday, the Arch- duke Charles, son olthe invalid Arclhduke Otto, slipped on the ice and Ibroke his leg. Sir Hugh Neteon, Lieutenant-Governor of Queensland 19§3, died at Brisbane on Mon- day. He wan created a Privy Councillor in 1897. Many of the, official pawnshops in the large towns of Suiain have been victimised by two w-ell-idneissed men, who pawned valuable old Spanish coime which were found to be counterfeit. Fialling from the gallery of the Alhambra Theatre, Brussels, a spectator crashed down on the and died from his injuries. Owing to an unexplained deficit of Y,400,000 in an Amsterdam bank, two of the directors- have been arrested. At a ibomlb factory in the Bulgarian quarter of Demir Hissar, near iSeros, 350 fitnilshed bombs and 1,200 others in course* of preparation have been seized by 6he Turkish police. It is stated that the greatest difficulty likely to arise at the Morocco Conference is in refer- ence to the policing of the ports and coasts. The German White-book in, answer to France, which is expected to be issued this week, pro- mises to cause something of a diplomatic sensa- tion. The trial of antimilitarists in France resulted in all the accused, except Mile. Numiesla and the Italian Cipriani, being found guilty. Sen- tences of imprisonment ranging from four years to one month were passed. Mr. McCiellan, the new mayor of New York has decided to break with Tammany. Paris Municipal Councillors have presented more than twenty magnificent engravings to the Hugh Myddleton School, Clerkenwell, through which they were shown during their recent visit to London. While Mme. Nordica was singing in "Die Gotterdammerung" at New York on Saturday, one of the chorus dropped a burning torch filled with alcohol, but Mme. Nordica, although her dress was of the flimsiest material, stamped out the flame, continuing to sin?" all the time. A million pounds sterling has been left to the town of Dijon, France, by a. widow named Grainger, who died there recently. Bones of an extinct species of elephant, which must have, stood 16ft. high at the shoulder, have been found in the bed of the G-odavari River, and are now placed in the Indian Museum there. In pursuance of her constant desire to have a coaling station in the Atlantic, Germany, according to an Echo de Paris" telegram from Lisbon, hopes to establish such a depot in the Canaries. Other Interesting Items. Sergeant Robert Daly, who stands- 6ft. 8fin. and is the tallest man in the Royal Irish Con- stabiulary; has retired on a pension. In -the stomach of a blue shark captured off the Firth of Forth recently a boot and stocking were found. Mr. William Moiling, (under whom Mr. Sed. don the, New Zealand Premier, served his ap- prenticeship as an engineer, died at St. Helens, Lanes., on Monday. On- Cferfetams Day Mr. Melling received from Mr. Seddon a prime New Zealand lamb. A man seventy-two years of age, who died sud- denly in Heckingham (Norfolk) Workhouse, was stated during his lifetime to have tramped all over England in search of work, and to have been in almost every work-house in the country. During the year just ended the Notional Life- boat Institution's boats were launched 365 times and saved 539 lives. A member of the Norwich Board of Guardians was summoned for .refusing to pay a portion of the poor rate. He said he refused because the board had improfperly spent money in pro- viding turkeys, fowls, and other luxuries for well-paid officials. He was advised to lay his complaint before the auditor. A labourer (XU a fairm near Tiverton heard a faint whining in a drain, and unearthed a ter- rier in an exhausted condition. The animal ha.d been missing five days, -and it is supposed thai it became wedged in the drain while after a raibbit.

STORMS AND WRECKS. I r CREW'S THRILLING EXPERIENCE. I A thrilling experience befell the crew of the Spanish steamer Pepin, which was wrecked on the Scarweather, near Porthcawl, early on Tuesday morning. When the steamer struck the rocks the captain ordered the lifeboat to be lowered. No sooner did it touch the water than the heavy seas dashed it against the ship's. side, and it was broken to pieces. A second lifeboat was successfully lowered, however, and six mem- bers of the crew safely landed in it. Then the ropes parted, and the boat was washed away from the ship. The six men, seeing that it would be impossible to return to the. side of the ship, made off in the direction of Port Talbot, with the intention of securing assistance. All that was left for those on board was the jolly boat, and for thia there was only one oar. A plank was ripped up from the deok of the steamer, and, with the aid of thie, the ship- wrecked party—ten in all—got away from the steamer. Among them was Mrs. Pascal, a pas- senger to Cardiff, and her baby. The woman had to leave the wreck hatleseand wearing only a blouse and skirt. Several times the boat was nearly swamped, and those aboard experienced a most difficult task in manoeuvring her against the heavy seas. At last they were met by a pilot cutter land rescued, being safely landed at Port Talbot. Mrs. Pascal suffered greatly from the expo- sure, and was in a terribly exhausted condition. Her baby was warm and comfortable, the Spanish sailors having wrapped their coats around it. Later in. the day both were sent on to Cardiff. Meanwhile the six men in the second lifeboat managed to reach Port Talbot, after a terrible struggle with the waves. The schooner Sperenza, of Lennon, was wrecked off Wicklow Head early on Tuesday morning. All the crew were saved except a boy, who was washed overboard and drowned.. The three-masted schooner Annie Park was wrecked at St. Govans. Two of the crew were saved, but four are missing, and are believed to have been drowned. All ocean liners arriving at New York have terrible tales to tell of the fierce storms which have prevailed on the Atlantic during the past week. La Touraine, from Havre, due on Satur- day, arrived on Tuesday over three days late, and presented a rather battered appearance as she made her way up the harbour. Her captain reports that the vessel encoun- tered severe gales almost from the outset of her voyage, and some, days went only half her usual distance. In mid-ocean a wave 8ft. higher thait the main deck came on board and made havoo with stanchions and ventilators, and nearly swept away one of the after-deck houses. Ten: of the passengers were severely hurt, a,nel many others received lesser injuries. It_ was the roughest crossing the vessel ever experienced. t>

l CROSSED IN LOVE. I "For twenty-three years he lived the life of a hermit owing to being crossed in love." This exstraordin-ary statement was made at the inquest at Chatham on Tuesday on the body of Walter Tibball, aged sixty-three yeaiB, whose home was an old hut in a meadow adjoining Rochester foot- ball ground. He was formerly a pork butcher at Cambridge, but when, the course off his love failed to run smoothly be cut himself off from all his friends, finally taking up his residence in dIe hut at Rochester. Here with two carts, two rabibats, a hedge sparrow, and linnets, he lived the life of a recluse, seldom speaking to a human being. On Monday morning a rwomian living near by, alarmed at seeing no smoke rising from the chimney of Tibball's hint, went across, and found the .man crouched in a corner. He was: dying, and (before the- woman- could obtain the services of a doctor he was dead. The hut was in an exceptionally dirty condi- tion, the only furniture being an. old couch. 1,1's ello'thing, TibtoalPs clothing, which included three ishirits, two waistcoats, and two jackets, was tied up with string. lit was, indeed, evident that the man had not undressed himself for years. 'by medieal examination that Tiibiball had suffered from asthma, and the jury a verdict of "Death from natural causes."

SANTA CLAUS TRAGEDY. The Liverpool coroner has investigated one of the most pathetic tragedies- of Christmas that it is possible to imagine. A little six-year-old girl was left in a room with her brothelis, and while her mother went to another .part of; lihe bouse. As soon as her moffiifer's biack was turned' she ran to the fireplace, and called up the chimney, "Father Christmas, bring me a doll: On the instant a flame shot from the- fire, caught the little one's flannelette nighMtresis, and iu a f-ew,m,o,ments she was enveloped in.iiamleis, and burned to death.