HOME NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 508, 15 May 1909, Page 7

HOME NEWS.

INTERESTING ITEMS BY MAIL. London, April 2. After a winter which has seemed unconscionably long, tho first real signs of" spring are indeed welcome. London has looked quito a transfigured place these last few days, thanks to tho bright sunshine and genial warmth that have favoured it. After the long spell of dark days, the lightrcoloured dresses of the ladies in the fashionable quarters of the town are most refreshing to the eye. But it must not be assumed that England is yet entirely released from the grip'of winter.' Influenza is still claiming its toll of victims, and tho dispensation from the Lenten fast which tho Arohbishop of Wostminster has just granted his flock is somo indication, of tho scourge' 6 ravages. "While difficulties are being experienced in some parts of the country in getting recruits to join the Territorial Corps, the county of Warwick is setting a fine example to the laggards. At j>resent the establishment of tho Auxiliary Forces needed for the shir© is up to 95 per cent. Tho War Offico is duly grateful; Inspecting tho new Territorial 'Battery of Royal Horse Artillery at Warwick, Lord Lucas (Under-Secretary of State for War) complimented tho Midland Counties on the good record which they-held.' in tho Territorial Army. The two divisions they had raised were at tho head of the list. And not only were they first as to strength; but tliey hold an equally high place in regard to efficiency.,..

A destructive fire broke out on the premises of .Messrs. G. aiid H. Green, jute and -hemp manufacturers, at Timothy Wharf, Millwall, and continued to burn for some days after. Owing to the_ inflammable nature of the materials stored in the huge warehouse, tho energy of tho fire brigade was taxed to its utmost, between twenty and thirty engines and about 150 men being called out. It- is estimated that some 35,000 bales of jute have been destroyed, the damage being from £30,000 to £100,000. A" youth, who has been arrested on a charge of incendiarism in connection with tho affair, stated that a boy told him not to smoke, and in.order to-frighten him he lit a match and put it against the stuff, not knowing the miiammablo qualities of the jute.

This week is being celebrated, in his native Suffolk, the centenary of Edward Fitzgerald, and the event has stimulated the flow of gossip round the stra-ngo personality of the man. A man of action would soon have tired of his apparently aimless meandering through life,: just as liis wife tired, after two ■ short weoks, of. matrimony, of his' slovenliness and unkempt Bohemianism.: But the world is beginning to realise that in all probability such a life was necessary' to produco the sort of work which he loft behind: He was an-engaging' letter-writer, and'that requires leisure; he also wrote an, immortal poem; and that needed contemplation. Tributes to Fitzgerald's memory have been numerous of late—that 'of ' Mr. J Birrell' being one-of the finest. ....

.One clause, in the .Children Act, which came into force, this week, has been received with a- well-nigh 'unanimous:-chorus 'of- approbation. ' It is. the clause which decrees .that' no ! boy or girl,', apparently; under the ago of sixteen, shall smoke cigarettes, cigars, or pipes, or any other form of tobacco. - The insistence by doctors and others .upon the'evil effects of juvenile smoking thife at last finds expression in legislation. \ Only, two classes of thecommunity have raised any objection to the now ordinance;.; the smaller- fry of tobacconists j who fear the loss. of custom, and' ilio boy smokers themselves, who, after all, can' scarcely be considered as having; a voice in tho matter.. '.- , ; :An' interesting proposal; has been inado oil the subject of horse: supply in time' of war. Speaking at a meeting.of the Liskeard Agricultural Association, Mr. P. Williams, secretary of the Brood - Mare Society, declared that horsei should be ear-marked for national defence. The Government, he. suggested, should approach farmers and other breeders with .tho offer of a grant for eaoh young mare ear-marked. No horses so earmarkedl should bo r permitted to leave the .country. "This' could bo effected by tho • cooperation of 'the Custom fioiise. .By this means,- by tho'spending of, somo twenty thousands year on grants, the majority of breeders would refrainj'from .selling to the - foreigner. To. render; Mr., .'Williams's scheme more effective ;the .'federation of all local horse sliows is. proposed. .. V' . : .■While working in the.Ann Pit, at .'Vpilkw,-. near* Newcastle, J. Thompson, a formed ah act of| heroism .by which tho lives of hundreds of his comrades-were saved. ; A fan of earth caused an explosion in tho'pit, bywhich, ;Thomi)son .was - severely' burned. Noticing a jet;of:burning gas in the room which foreshadowed another fall, Thompson realised the imminent danger - of'his', companions. , Despite his. injury, he climbed the top of the'fall, under tho dangerous piece of rbof, 1 : and succeeded in extinguishing the flame. . Had-the second explosion: occurred, several hundreds of men's lives must have been sacrificed.. The facts connected with thia daring act of heroism* have been forwarded to the Homo Office.

. Six millions—tho estimated value of the Selby; 'estate —are now awaiting -an owner. Considerable excitement exists in various parts of, tho country, arid every family bearing the name'of Lowndes or Selby is engaged at present in searching family Bibles and hunting up birth, marriago, and death certificates, 'in an attempt to : establish aiConnecbion with Hhe' Buckinghamshire families of-Selby and Lowndes.: Tivo brothers named Jackson, of Stockport,- are vigorously pressing their claim, and are said to have in their possession' a .complete copy of the will of Thomas'. James Selby. ' The majority of claimaat's " come from Lancashire, Manchester, Oldham, and 'Reddish each supplying claimants for the estate.

Captain John PritchaTd, of the R.M.S. Mauretania, has' just completed . Lis fifty : years', service .at ' sea, twwity-nine of. which he has served with the Cunard Company. To commemorate the Atlantic and his long sea 6omce, ho was made the guest of honour at the House dinner of the Welsh Glub, London; Speaking of his• career, Mr. Elliß J. Griffiths, M.P., who piosidcd, declared that Captain Pritchard, had performed feats upon the!Maurotania;of which the whole country might well be proud. He broke the rccord going out, and, naturally as a Welshman, he broke the record coming back. In his; reply, Captain Pritohaid said that, the ship _ he. commanded was , a beauty, and he felt it an!honour to command her, although she was.not built-in Wales. . ,

; ; An extraordinary state of affairs has been brought to light by the Vicar of St. James's, Stantonbiiry, Buckinghamshire; 'It would appear that of the thousand or so marriages which liavo. taken pla'co at tho church during the last fifty years every ono was, illegal. Soon;after his induction the vicar, the' Rev. A.' iV. Guost, found sorno flaw in a church document. Ho at onco got into communication, with the-proper authorities, and on- a 'search being made by tho secretary of tho Diocesan Registry at Oxford, , it was discovered that no license'had ever been issued for solemnising marriages at N St. James's CliTirch, ■ Stantonbury. • As a consequenco of 'this a special Act of Parliament will have to be passed legalising all the marriages that have already taken 'place in. . tho \ church. Meanwhile the weddings > arranged to take ■placo at Easter will have to be delayed for a fortnight.

•. Hitherto, tho responsibility of billeting soldiers'when on the march or in tho event of mobilisation has rested with the licensed victualler class. But if a clause in the Army Annual Bill passes into'law. the ordinary citizon will be liable totako troops into his home in cases of emergency. Tho calling into' existence of'tho Territorial Force necessitates this extra accommodation: The services required from the householder will include tho use of lire and utensils to cook tho rations issued by tho quartermaster. Paymont for rendering such services will vary according to ''circumstances. —"Standard of JSmpire." .'