NEWS AND NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume LV, Issue 101, 30 April 1898, Page 2 (Supplement)

NEWS AND NOTES.

Lady Stella and Lad)' Dorothea Hope, Lord rTopatoun's sisters, havo just tukeu a small farm near Edenbridge, in Kent, and are starting in the business, with which they have long beon familiar, on their owu account. Their especial line is ponies. They ationd all tho local markets and bring back their purchases themselves. Both young ladios are capital whips, and drive a delightful miniature team of four Shetland ponies. They are also capital ' vets,' and when any of their stock are ill they uurse and doctor them, generally with good results. Although devoted to this sort of somewhat masculine life they are both very charming and attractive in themselves, and are 4 u ty ' dragoned ' by an old governess. Messrs. Jay's, Limited, of Regent-street, London, were fined £32 and £4 Gs costs for employing 16 young women after 4 o'clock on Saturday, 12th February. The defence was that certain dresses were urgently needed for ladies taking part in ' The Dovecote,' at the Duke of York's Theatre. A recent Montreal advice says: — Th e trouble between the Canadian Pacific and the Grand Trunk Railway is getting worse. The latter issued a tariff to-day meeting all the cut rates in Ontario and Quebec, and the Canadian Pacific followed by making additional reductions. Trips can now be made at ridiculously low prices. The Russian Government has sanctioned the establishment of an Abyssinian Commercial Agency at Odessa, and has also intimated its willingness to consent to the creation of Abyssinian agencies at St. Petersburg, Moscow, Kiefl, and Lodz At the same time Russian agencies will be established at the principal places in Abyssinia. A historically - interesting memorial, dedicated to the memory of the patriot John Hampden, who was slain on Chalgrove Field in 1643, has just been unveiled in the parish church of Great Hampden, Bucks, where his body is buried. It consists of a beautiful stained-glass window, descriptive of the Crucifixion, erected over the altar. The French Court of Appeal quashed a verdictof three months' imprisonment passed upon a doctor named Laporte for alleged negligence and brutality at an accouchement. Dr. Laporte admitted using a number of instruments of an unusual character in the case, such as a cold chisel, found in the house, but pleaded that he had no proper appliances, having been compelled by want of food to Bell those ho formerly possessed. The intelligence system in India is probably as complete as any in existence. There is scarcely a square mile of territory in India and the dominions surrounding it which have not been more or less mapped and repoited upon both from a strategical and political point of view. At an inquest concerning the death of James Seamore Harvey, a bricklayer, of Walthamstow, who was an inmate of Essex Lunatic Asylum, it was shown that while confined iv a padded room he plucked out both his eyes and tore away his lower lip. Mr. Charles Williams, the distinguished war correspondent, who is rejoining the North African expedition and proceeding with it to the intended goal — Khartoum — is fully confident that the goal will be reached by next Christmas, and that in the place where Gordon perished he will be able to enjoy his Christmas dinner. -King's College will shortly lose one of its most distinguished figures. This is Dr. W. S. Playfair, who fills the chair of Obstetric Medicine and the Disease of Children at the college. It was iv 18G2 that the doctor first associated himself with the institution, and his connection is now to be brought to a close by reason of the fact that he has reached the age limit. The Rev. Thomas Moore, pastor of the church at Harper, Kansas, fell dead from an apopletic stroke' in the midst of his sermon. He was one of the five young men who originated the Salvation Array movement in London, and was one of the first to start the same movement in America. For many years he was closely associated with General William Booth. Princess Clementina, of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, mother of Prince Feidinaud of Bulgaria, is in her 8 1st year. One of the many diplomatic missions that has filled the latter part of her life has been trying to reconcile the Emperor of Austria and Prince Ferdiuand of Bulgaria, who desires, it is said, to appear among the other Sovereigns of Europe at the Austrian Jubilee. Colonel Spreckley, whoee gallant defence of Bulu way o is a part'of the stirring history of Rhodesia, in having his bravery commemorated iv silver. A solid silver centrepiece for fruit or flowers is being prepared. Upon one side is a panel, containing, in finely executed relief work, a faithful representation of the Buluwayo laager. On the reverse side are trophies of Matabele arms, shields, &o. President M'Kinley is about to achieve undying fame as the only wan who has ever been hououved by a life-size statue of solid gold. The sculptor of the proposed statue is Mr. F. D. Higby, whose statue of Miss Ada Rehan in solid silver was exhibited at the Chicago Exhibition. While Mies Rohan's silver counterpart, however, cost; £13,000 only, the President's statue will cost at least £200,000, and contains more than a ton of gold. A Plymouth correspondent learns that orders have been issued by the Admiralty for the immediate entry of 210 naval engine room artificers and 1700 stokers. These men will be equally distributed among the dockyards at Portsmouth, Devonport, and Chatham. Should this effort be successful, this branch of the navy will have been strengthened duriug the current financial year by 430 engine-room artificers and 3300 stokers. A military correspondent writes to a Home paper: — The most absurd instance of enforcing the letter of a regulation must surely he the case of Colour-Sergeant Walker, of the Royal Scots Fusiliers, who was taken prisoner by the Afridis. After being in their hands for six weeks, Sergeant Walker was released, and on returning to his regiment was promptly tried by District Court-martial for being 'absent without leave.' Of course he was acquitted, but, grotesque as it may sound, was sentenced to lose his pay during the time he was away. This, it may bo added, was quite in accordance with Article 954 of tho Royal Warrant, which, however, also provides that the whole or any portion of the arrears of pay may be restored by the Secretary of State after due enquiry into the circumstances of tho soldier's capture. Most peoplo will conclude that, instead of this pantomimic circumlocution, the matter could much better be settled by tho General on the spot, who naturally would know most about it, and to whom it must, in any case, be referred. > The Frenoh Chamber of Deputies has adopted an amendment providing that the tax on cycles shall be six francs (ss) on each machine, 11' francs (9s 2d) for each two-seated machine, and 18 francs (lfis) for those with three or more seats. Previously the tax was 10 francs (8s 4d) on each machine. The Cologne Gazette, while regarding recent events in the Transvaal as a victory of President Kruger over English influence, expresses apprehension that German industrial interests have not beou advantaged thereby. It says it is to be deplored that the Germans iv the Transvaal are reaping iugratitude for thoir continuous loyalty to the Trausvaal Government. Mr. Balfour has announced to tho House of Commons that the Committee on Old Age Pensions was considering its report, and hoped to have it ready this month (April). Lord William Nevill is said to be suffering from ' a derangement of the internal organs.' The ' invalid ' station for convicts is at Parkhurst Prison, and this will probably be, should his health not improve, his ultimate destination.