BY THE ENGLISH MAIL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1230, 12 September 1911, Page 3

BY THE ENGLISH MAIL.

LONDON SUMMARY. WEATHER RECORDS BEATEN. London, August -1. For 51 years records have boon carefully kept at Ken- of tho sunshino and other weather statistics day by day, and those liavo all been broken by tho month just ended. In London 323 hours of sunshine havo been recorded for the 31 days, the average for July during tho last 30 years being 201 hours. If the sunshine record is broken, so is that fur temperature: Tho mean maximum temperature for the month has been 79deg., irkich is Sdeg. above the average maximum. The highest temperature recorded has been 93de». on the 22nd, and on 17 days the temperature rose above 80 deg. There is some consolation t'or those who think that all the summer weather has been crowded into one month, for the statistics compiled by tho Meteorological Office show that in those years in which July was exceptionally fino the August which followed, with one exception only, was also above tile average in sunshine. One of tho most remarkable features of the month's weather was a tremendous storm, which broke suddenly over London last week-end. It was almost tropical in the suddenness with which it burst, and in its violence. In many places the streets rrere flooded, while windows were smashed by hailstones as big as cherries. ROYALTIES IN AN ACCIDENT. Prince and Trincess Alexander of Teck had a narrow escape from a very nasty accidoal at Windsor Castle the other day. They had just entered a brougham outaido their residence at Henry Ill's Tower when the horse bolted down tho Lower Ward. The coachman stuck to the reins and managed to steer clear of a stationary vehicle, but on approaching Henry VIII Galsway the animal crashed heavily into tke masonry on tho right of the arcliway, snapping the shafts. Tho concussion smaslied the front panel of the brougham, the glass being scattered over the prince and princess. Both the coachman and fottman were thrown off tlio box seat against the wall. The prince and princess escaped with a severe shaking and slight cuts from the splintered glass. Tho footman, too, tseaped almost unhurt, but the coachman, received several injuries about the face. > BRITISH AVIATOR'S DEATH. Tho name of another British aviatnr, Mr. Gerald Napier, has been added to tho already long list of those airmen who havo perished in the battle for the conquest of the air. It appears Mr. Napier was attempting: a volplane at Br'ooklands with a passenger when the machine, caught by a gust of wind, tilted and fell from a height of dOft.- The engine became detached, and struck Mr. Napier, who was also injured.by a skid wire, both his neck and back being broken. His companion, Mr. Edwin Laurie, living at Earl's Court, was thrown clear. He was unconscious, but recovered after a timo and spent the night in the emergency hospital on the ground. He remembers nothing of tho accident. He escaped with bruises and a severe shaking. Though not at all strong, the wind was gusty at tho time of the accident. AUSTRALIAN APPEAL CASE. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council—tho Supreme Tribunal of Empire —havo had under consideration an interesting appeal arising out of an action which has been brought by the Archbishop of Melbourno against Mr. Norton, tke proprietor of "Truth" of .Melbourne, l'sr ailcgel libel. Tho original caso was caused by an article in "Truth" dealing with charges preferred by the Archbishop Against Canon Nash, of Melbourne. The present appeal Ivas from a decision of the High Court of Australia ordering a certain paragraph of Mr. Norton's pleading in tho libel action to bo struck out. The Judicial Committeo has dismissed tho appeal. A BIG SMASH. 'A remarkable street accident has occurred in Bramerton Street, Chelsea. Tho street consists of apparently substantial houses of four stories. Each houso has a pillared porch in the lato Georgian style, and along the roof lino runs a large ornamental coping, which projects for a foot or more over tho front of the houses. A few minutes before seven o'clock at night the entire mass of this coping, weighing scores of tons, fell from nil tho '-louses on one sid6 of tho street, smashing balconies and porticoes to bits. Bramerton Street is a quiet thoroughfare, and fortunately only two people wero passing through it at tho time. These had remarkable escapes from death under the. avalancho of stone, brick, and piaster so suddenly launched on them. Thej woro both hurt, however. The causo of the accident has not yet been explained. IS WHIST-PLATING GAMBLING? Judge Brny has been asked at Bloomsbury. County Court to decide whether wuist-piayiug is gambling. The question aroso ont of an action brought by Mr. A. J. Norton to recover .£lO from tho Ideal Whist Company, of Oxford Street, W., being the first prize won by him at a whist drive. The company claimed that Mr. Norton could only exchango tho coupon for furniture at a certain shop, and Mr. Norton claimed tho right to spend the money at another shop. Mr. H. D. Samuels, counsel for the company, contended that the game of whist was gaming, and tho case must bo dismissed under the Gaming Act. Mr. Marpole, for Mr. Nort 1 °"« replied that whist was a game of skill. Mr.'Samuels pointed out that limericks had been held to .be lotteries. Surely," he added, "if a literary effort, bad as it is, can be held to be a gamble, cards are a lottery." The Judge has reserved his decision. ' JUBILEE OP THE IRONCLAD. Pi fly years ago August 1 Britain's hrst ironclad was put into commission. J. his was the armoured cruiser Warrior which, designed by Mr. Isaac Watts and Mr. Scott Ivussell, was laid down at the Blackwall Yard of the Thames Iron u oiks in 1859, launched in December ISGO, and commissioned by Captnin the Hon. Arthur Cochrane on August 1, 1801 Compared with our latest battleship the Orion, the Warrior cost .£370,000.' a* against -£2,000,000; the horse-power was 5700, compared with 27.000; and her tonnage 9210 as against 22,500; the thickest armour was 4jinwhile tho Orion's is 12in. The force of her heaviest shell would bo about one-thirtieth of tho force of ono of the Orion's. . . (TAXI-CAB PARES. The following are the recommendations tnade in the report of the Departmental Committee on London taxi-cab fares:— No alteration of tariff; extras to belong to drivers; drivers' proportion of takings to bp 20 per cent, for tho first pound sterling, and 23 per cent, above .£1; owners to supply the drivers with petrol at a. fixed price of Bd., independent of market variations within 20 per cent, of present bond price up or down; no limitation of numbers of cabs or drivers licensed; special license for distant suburbs; abolition or reduction of ,£2 2s. motor-car tax: abolition of ono of the two charges of ss. demanded of. drivers for licenses; and standard of qualification for a licenso to be strictly maintained. CAPTAIN COOK'S JOURNAL. Tuc most interesting lot to oversea citir.ens sold at tho recent sale of important manuscripts and books at Sotheby's wat a single leaf of tho lost journal of Captain Cook's first voyage. It is inscribed in the great navigator's own handwriting, and dated May 5 and G, 1770. ■ Tin, entry of May 6 reads: "Tho great number of new plants, etc., our gentleman botanists liavo collected in this place occasioned my giving _ it tho namo of Botanist Bay. ... It is capacious, safe, | and commodious. The entrance is little | more than } milo broad and tho depth of water doth nowhere exceed 7 fathom and tho bottom is everywhere of fine sand. The English Colours were displayed a9hore for several days during our stay in this harbour and I "caused an inscription to bo cut out upon one of tho trees near the watering place setting forth the Ship's name." Tho three known copies of Captain Cook's journal of this voyage nre in the handwriting of an amanuensis, and the drafts from this page show many differences of reading. This treasure fetched .£lsl. Mr, Quaritch gave £103 for two leaves, of Captaia

Cook's log-book—one written by himself and dated November 22 to December 4. 1774, when lie was on his Ifomewanr journev from New Zealand, the other, dated 2G, 1773, was written off the coast of New Zealand. NAVAL HEROISM. The heroism of a British naval commander in saving a merchant ship and her crew even at the risk of his own ship was told when the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, on behalf of tho underwriters and Ito.'.srs. I?. Hughes, Jones, and Co., owners of the Liverpool railing ship Celtic Race, preseuted a handsome silver centrepiece to Commander Hall, of his Majesty's ship Natal. Last February the Celtic liace left Liverpool with a' general cargo of great value for Australia. The vessel immediately ran into tempestuous weather, and was badly knocked about. Sail after sail was carried away by gales and eventually tho ship was tossed almost helplessly oft the coast of Pembrokeshire, and the difficulties of tlie crew were increased by tho death of the master from pneumonia. Distress signals brought out three lifeboats, but heavy seas prevented any one of them from reaching tho vessel. At the critical moment 11.M.5. Natal came on the scone, and, finding it absolutely impossible to get a tow ropo on the ship, Commander Ilall decided to take the one chanco of rescue by attempting, in defiance of Navy regulations, at the risk of his reputation, the perilous task of entering the narrow channel into Jlilford Haven, and so piloting tho ship into safety. His skilful navigation succeeded in accomplishing the feat, and fce ship and crew were saved. LONDON COUNT I' HALL. A vote of .£IOO,OOO for the substructure •f the new Lcadon Countv Hall, which lias just been passed, may be regarded as the first contribution from tho sum of .61,050,000 which tho County Council csti-. :«atcs will bo the ultimate cost of the actual buildin" of the municipal riverside palace. The work is divided among several contractors, and the money found I w required. Apart from the sum just men- 1 tioned, ,£GOO,OOO has been paid for the site 1 on the Surrey side of Westminster Bridge, and i .£48,C00 for the construction of the river wall. This wall, or embankment, is bow finished, and is a handsome addition | to_ the architectural dignity of tho river, j Wide steps at tho side will eventually lead to tho various entrances of tho hall, and' a broad flagged walk edges on the carriage drive. The exact appearance or front elevation of tho new County Hall has not yet been decided upon, but the i'eaeral style of architecture will bo modsrn and similar features to that of the buildings now being constructed in Kingsway. It should be finished by 1916. GROWTH OP EMPIRE DAY. Empire Day was observed this year in thc_ United Kingdom in 12,828 schools, training colleges, a*wl institutions, with nil nverace attondancc of 4,'199,453 scholars, as compared with 10,005 schools, training colleges, and institutions, with an averoge attendance of 4,101,980 scholars, in 1910. These facts are emphasised by the liarl of Meath in a letter to the press. Ho also points out that throughout the Empire the day was kept in 59,601 schools, training colleges, and institutions, with an attendance of 5,499,578 scholars. Allowing for the number of those present at the celebrations that were lipid throughout tho Empire' and of those attending tho Empire Hay services—move than 8000 in number—it may fairly, be assumed that seventeen millions of British subjects came under tho influence of the movement this year. THE ALIENS ACT. A Blue-book on the Aliens Act, 1905, just issued, contains tho fifth annual report of the inspector and a statement by the Home OHico reviewing the working of tho Act in the live years from its inception. In this complaint is made of excessive leniency by tho courts. The Honie Office statement points out that during tho five years tinder notice 1793 expulsion orders havo been iftadc against criminal aliens. Of this total 1270 occurred in tho metropolis. In tho year 1910 there wer,e 414 cases (including 272 from the metropolis). Four nationalities—German, Russian (including Polish), French, and American—accounted for more ' than half the orders. Seventy-five aliens were found in the United Kingdom in contravention of expulsion orders previously made against them, representing 4.18 per cent, of tho total number of criminal aliens expelled sinco the Act first came into operation. Tho proportion of alien prisoners to tho total prison population has never at its highest exceeded 2.1 psr cent., it- is stated. BIG BANKING 'SCHEME. It is officially announced that, in con.M'uenco of tho continued growth of tho I'o'rksbire Penny Bank on tho lines on .siich it was originally started, namely, i company by way of guarantee, the di•ectoTS have been advised considering uie .resent magnitude of the business—that its construction should now bo changed, ■jad that' it should become a company by ,VBT of capital. Through the good service of the Governor of the Bank of England, a croup of bijf banks have agreed to subscribe a sum of J!!,M0,000, in order to form a new company, to be called the Yorkshire Penny Bank'(Limited), having a capital paid up to the extent ot £750 000, a reserve fund of .£750,000, and an uncalled capital of £500,000, which has provisionally agreed t'o take over tho lia■lilities and assets of tho Yorkshire Penny Sank. Further, a sccond group of hi? banks has agreed to give individual guar•mtecs to the new company for a very substantial total to provide for the possible future depreciation of securities beyond an agreed amount. By llieso arrangements tho Yorkshire Penny Bank will bo made ■me of tho strongest institutions in the country. I FIGHTING CANCER. With the opening of t'lio Radium Institute in Riding House Street, Portland Place, on t'lio 14th of this month a new hope of life will bo brought to many sufferers. The radium treatment' of superficial Rancor has hitherto been so costly that nono but tho very rich have been able to take advantage of it. When the institul'o opens its doors, rich and poor aliko will benefit by its work. A few years ago medical research showed that certain forms of cancer could bo alleviated and others could be definitely curcd by tho rays that are continually llung out by radium bromide. Of course, this only happened amongst' tho few wealthy per•»U3 who could afford such treatment. Tho matter was brought to t'lio notice of' King Edward VII, who suggested to certain of his wealthy subjects that a Radium Institute should be formed, where an amplo supply should be kept for tho use of all who needed it. Tho realisation of his desire jvas made possible by the generosity of Sir Ernest Cassel and Lord iTeagh.—"Standard of Empire."