... BURSTING OF A CANAL. I L. ana N.W. Railway Damaged. I This morning the bran ah of the Birmingham canal, near Dudleyport Station, on the London and North-Wostern Railway burst its banlt. The water efscaped with a great rush and swept away a portion of the main line. The Irish mttil was delayed more than an hoar. The canals sire emptied for a considerable distance, and the damage doue is ...

... THREE RUSSIAN CENTENARIANS I Instances of amazing longevity are by no means uncommon in Russia, but the case of the brothers Kovalenko in certainly very remarkable even for that country. The three brothers have lived in the same place all their lives, and are still strong and healthy. The eldest, Michael, is of tho aama age as was Mones at his passing, and of him, as of that old-world worthy, ...

... ELEMENTARY EDUCATION AT USKSIDE The Newport School Board prosecuted 15 parents at Newport Town Hall io-dav for irregn lar attendance of their children at school. Th » board appear to be resolved, the discussion at the Connty Council meeting on Tuesday notwith- standing, to raisa Uskride out of the low posi- tion educationally as compared with 55 other towns, and to get in some of the fifth who ...

... AFTER THE WAKE. A Loquacious Defendant at Abe'dare. At tho Aberdare Police Court on Tuesday (before Messrs D. E. Williams, D. P. Davies, G. George, and Dr. D. Davies) Charlotte Holmes was summoned for being drink and disorderly in the Masons' Arms, Hih-strcet. Immediately the charge was read defendant said Gentlemen, I remember nothing of it. No doubt it is true. I am the mother of 15 children ...

... A MISSING GIRL. Mysterious Disappearance at New Tredegar. Elizabeth Lewis (15), daughter of William Lewis, Morgan-street, New Tredegar, has dis- appeared mysteriously. Last Sunday afternoon she returned home from Sunday school, laid prize book which she had received on the table, and went out, saying she would be back to tae in about tive minutes. She has never since been seen or heard of. No ...

... Broken Legs. Charles Hooper (20* was committed for trial at Clerkenwel) to-day charged with attempted bur. glary in July last. It was stated that the accused in an endeavour to escape jumped from a height of 50 feet and broke both legs The accused, who was carried into court from the Hospital, said it was his first offence, and he was sorry for what he had done. ...

... Onr readers will regret to learn that the many-chaired bard, Ceulanydd, of Maesteg, died early on Monday morning at his residence, Bryn Awen, after a long illnoss. He leaves a widow and nine children, with whom much sympathy is felt. The Rev. J. Ceulanydd Williams was a native of Cardiganshire, which has produced more par- sons, preachers, and bards than any other county in Wales. He was born ...

... I'm a Bit of a Commercial Traveller Myself. Sir Henry Ir/ing yesterday opened the bazaar which is being held at Birmingham in aid of the Commercial Travellers' Benevolent Institution. Having apologised for the absence of Miss Ellen Terry, Sir Henry said I have always under- atood that it needs no common courage and self- devotion to enter a bazaar, where the ordinary principles of exchange ...

... SOUTH WALES COAL TRADE. Colliery Enginemen's Demands. Conference at Cardiff. To-da.y representatives of the South Wules and Monmouthshire Coalowners' Association met in conference, at Cardiff, the representatives of the Engmemen, Stokers', and Outside Fitters' Association to consider the demands made by those classes of workmen in collieries in the Mon- mouthshire, Merthyr, and Dowlais ...

... CARDIFF RATES. General District Rate Reduced. 2d in the S, Knocked Off. At a meeting of the Genera) rurp05tJ» mittee of the Cardiff Corporation, held t is morning, the Mayor (Alderman Sir T. Morel, c Kt.) presiding, Councillor Brain brought up t e estimates for the general district rate for t e half-year ending March, 1900. The amount re- quired was £ 71,408 15s 2d, and a general district rate ...

... FOR UNO LAND, S.W., ANJ.1 f)U1'H WALKS. Issued at 3 o'clock Jagfc night. # South-westerly to north-westerly winds, light; changeable some showers; thunder locally. Geueral.- The weather seems likely to remain in a very unsettled state, with thunder in many parts of England. ...

... APPOINTMENT OF ASSISTANT TOWN-CLERK. Yesterday, the ordinary monthly meeting of the Bootle Town Council was held at the Town Hall, Bootle, when the Mayor (Mr. W. B. Brewster) presided. As Chairnan of the Finance Cenmittee, Aid- erman Thomas moved the following recommen- dation, That Mr. B. M. Roberts, solicitor, Bootle, be appointed assistant in the Town- clerk's department, at a commencing ...