... NEWS IN BRIEF. The House of Commons re-assembles to-day. The railways of America employ over 2,000,000 men. On an average the letters received by (Emperor of Germany Dumber 600 a day. Oranges are grown in every Continent of the world. Mr Oscar Wilde, who has returned from Paris, is writing a play for Mr John Hare. More mushrooms are raised in the vicinity of Paris than in any other place in ...

... The annual distribution of prizes in conncction with the Usk Grammar School took place off Frida.y afternoon, before a fair number of rela- tives and frisnds of the boys. Mr E. Grovt, (chairman of the Monmouthshire County Council} presided. The head master (Mr J. H. Priestley, B. A.) having read his report aud the report of tlt examiner (Kev. G. H. Wells, M.A., of the Mer. chant Taylors' ...

... SIR.—The approach of the season when Life- boat Saturdays will be held gives a very special interest to the letter of Mr Macara which appeared recently. No doubt it has surprised many people to learn that the movement inau- gurated in Manchester and Salford only two years ago has grown so rapidly that an increase ot about £20,000 in the income of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution has ...

... At the fortnightly meeting of the Llandilo Board of Guardians, held on Saturday, the clerk reported the result of the proceedings against Mrs Jane Lewis, Llansawel, for the maintenance of her husband (as reported in the South Wales Daily News), the Rev. Byron Lewis, an inmate or the workhouse. The clerk now informed the board that the rev. gentleman had left the work- house. One of the members ...

... An accident, which resulted fatally, occurred at the East Bute Dock, Cardiff, on Saturday attei- noon. A coloured man named Laurivico Armele, steward of the ship Knight of the Thistle.was going aboard his vessel from a small boat when he fell into the water. Every effort was made to save him, but without avail, and his dead body was recovered an hour later by means of tbe grappling irons. It ...

... MUSHROOM POISONING AT CARMARTHEN. About three o'clock on Friday morning Mrs Henry James, of the Bunch of Grapes Inn, Car- marthen, was suddenly attacked by an acute spasmodic pain in the stomach. Dr. E. R. Wil- liams, Gellingham House, being sent for, found that she was suffering from blood poisoning, caused by eating mushrooms. Under his treat- ment the patient is on a fair way towards recovery. ...

... SUCCESSFUL WELSH STUDENTS. The competition at the Royal Academy of Music for the John Thomas Welsh Scholarship took place on Thursday. The examiners were Messrs A. C. Mackenzie, E. Sauret, F. Westlake, and J. Thomas (chairman). There were nine candidates, and the scholarship was awarded to Sidney A. Freedman. The examiners highly commended David Richards, Annie W. SamueJ, and Annie Mary Hughes ...

... ITALIAN BANK SCANDALS. ROME, Wednesday.—It is stated that about 12 million lire in Banca Romana notes are un- accounted for. It was believed some error had been committed in the circulation' returns which would account to.' this difference, but a Iresh investigation has set aside any theory of error in the returns. Another rumour says the missing 12 millions have been concealed by some ...

... On Wednesday morning a farm labourer named Reynolds was attacked by a mad bull at Gulde- ford, Kent. H was gored in a terrible manner, and succumbed to his injuries shortly after being rescued from the infuriated animal. ...

... TO THE EDITOR. SIR,—I have often admired the liberality and rationality of the attitude of the South Wales Daily News in controversies on religious ques- tions, but I am very sorry to say I can admire neither its liberality, rationality, nor morality on the Irish question. In this connection your leading article in Monday's issue is very much to the point. The combination and methods by which ...

... DRAGOONS. UNDER ARMS. Our Swansea reporter, wiring lastnight, sivs:, f —fwenty Swansea policemen under the charge of Inspector Keift have arrived at the Tumble Pit, and at the time of wiring tho Inniskillen Dragoons, who for the past fortnight have been located at Swansea, are awaiting orders to pro- ceed, as an attack on the Scotchmen is again expected at five to-morrow morning. It is re- ...

... CAERPHILLY COLLIERS RE-START WORK. The workmen employed at the Rudry Pit and Tynycoedcae LeveLowned by the Rudry Merthyr Colliery Company, recommenced working on Tuesday at the old rate of wages, and have also decided not to take any further action with the Rocking Stone mass meeting. ...