BY THE ENGLISH MAIL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1396, 23 March 1912, Page 9

BY THE ENGLISH MAIL.

LONDON SUMMARY. THE DICKENS CENTENARY. London, February 9. The centenary of Hie birth of Charles JJicl:ens was celebrated on February 7. Although the great writer has been gone to his rot for more than forty years, his influence is as great as ever, as was unmistakably shown by the tributes paid to. his memory by cili;:ens of all nations. In Kochcsler Cathedral a wreath of laurel leaves was pl.ued around the memorial bra--. Jt was w-il by .Mr. and -Mrs. I;. 1.. Latham, the present owners of Cad's llill J'lace, Rochester, where Dickens died in June, 1S7I). A commemorative service in the afternoon was attended by Ihe mayor and corporation, find at night there was a a rent carnival. Many floral tributes were placed on the novelist's grave in Wesimm-!er Abbey, including a wrealh from his only surviving son, Mr. Henry Dickons, and offerings irom many Dickens societies, while special festivities marked the occasion in many places at Home and abroad. WIRELESS CONTROU A a international convention on wireless telegraphy is lo be held in London next June, and every Government in the world will send representatives. Tlio meetings will probably be held in one of the Government otli'ees beginning on .lime 4. The conference will deal with the control of wireless Irom an international standpoint, without regard to the interests of any pnrlieulor system. So many countries now u.-o wireless that practically every one is interested. The conference will probably result in an international regulation which will lay down the future conduct of radio-telegraphy. The London conference will be one of the most representative from an international point of view ever held, and it is expected that over two hundred delegates will attend.

.£7,000,000 TRADE INCREASE. The nionthly Hoard of Trade returns show that the imports during January reached a total value of .£67,002,55!, as compared with .£62,t ! i);i, 121 for the corresponding period of last year, or an increase of .£4,:;U!UGI. The total for J amiit ry, 11)111, was ,t.")5,i!f1i1,().51, or .t11,092,898 le>s than for January, 1912. The exports amounted to ,£-ltl,ll(i,S]2, as coni|iared .-C:i7,i;io,s;tl for January, mil, this showins; an increase of j;a,liSs,!)Sl. The total ior January, 1010, was .634,803,115, or .£s,iil3,US)7 less than last month's total. Amongst the imports, raw cotton showed a, remarkable decrease, linring dropped over J:3,2(HI,(!II0. Meat imports showed a slight decline, but other foodstuffs and drink increased by over three millions. Iron and steel exports increased by over half a million, and coal and oilier fuel exports by nearly .£-100,000. ROUND BRITAIN AERO TOST. In view of the success which attended the aerial post last summer, between Windsor and llendon, a suggestion is now put forward that a much more elaborate scheme should be attempted this year. This is nothing less than an aerial post route round Great Britain, starting lrom London and proceeding by stages up the East Coast lo Aberdeen and Inverness, and returning down tho west coast, taking in Wales and the south, and .--o back to the Metropolis. The plans for this ambitious venture are by no means complete, and many exports doubt, owing to the great diilicul'tios which have, lo be overcome, whether (he enterprise call be put on a practicable-basis.--'J.ho suggestion at present is that, the profits of the undertaking should be divided amongst tho charities of each town visited en route.

DASH INTO BUFFERS. Twenty-eight passengers were injured iu an alarming accident at Fcuchureli Street Station. The 7.21 train from Westcliff, a popular train with business men, which was particularly crowded, on reaching Fenchurch Sti'eet jat 5.53- on Saturday, February 3, did not pull up iu lime, and dashed at cunsidoiablc speed into the stationary buffers. The force of the recoil drove the engine back on tho leading coaches, the impact being so severe that tile carriage buffers were smashed, the woodwork broken, and glass from the windows sent flying in all directions/ The carriages bad a full complement of ami with the collision and recoil the unfortunate peoplo wero pitched about in all directions, those in the coaches behind suffering less iu this respect. The cause of the accident is believed to have been the slippery nature of tho rails due to the frost. AN EXTRAORDINARY STORY. Reporh have been current—according (-> Ihe "Express"—to the elVeet that Mr. Fred. W. Warden, a well-known Belfast theatrical manager, was offered a knighthood if he would allow the use of his theatre for Mr. Churchill's Homo Rule meeting. The "Express" sent 0, to'.oeram i>> ill'. Warden, who was then in Liverpool, asking for confirmation of the statement-. The following is the text of the telegram and Mr. Wanton's reply:-

'Trod "Warden, Shakespeare Theatre, Liverpool.—ls it true you were offered a knighthood and a largo sum of money if von would let. the Belfast Opera House for tho Churchill meeting:-" The reply:— "Liverpool.—To the editor of the 'Express—Quite true—Fred W. Warden." THE OLYMPIC GAMES. According to the latest information, the British Olympic Association will send between 200 and SCO roprosif.itulivos to take part in tho Olympic games at Stockholm from June '£) to -July 22 next. The association vjll spend practically the whole of its funds in connection with the event. "What we want," said tho Pov. ]{. S. do Courcy I.aiTan, the secretary cf the association, in an interview the other (lav. "is a largo number of athletes throughout the kingdom to become annual subscribers, and then we could carry on on cllieiont organisation and accumulate funds for progressive plans. Other nations have a great advantage over Great Britain in this respect." The revival of the Olvmpic games dates from ISBG, when tho meeting was held at Athens. Four yean Intel' if was at Paris; in 100-1 St. lonis was visited, and London's turn Ciimo ill 100 S. No decision has been arrived at with regard to (he 1016 mootin" but Berlin will probably bo selected.

P.OYAL EXILES' MEETING. Tho news has iust leaked out that.one day last, week Horn Manuel, ex-Kins; of Portugal, and Bom Miguel. Pretender to the Throne, met at the Lord Warden Hotel, Dover. Tin's meeting marked the end of a family feud v;hicb has lasted since K-~, and, as a result, Bom Miguel lias 'renounced his claims and has spontaneous!'-- oii'ered to help in every way the restoration of King Manuel. It is further suggested that, in addition lo the reconciliation of the two branches of the house of Hraganzn, the mooting between tho e\--King and the Pretender may lead to a matrimonial alliance between King Manuel and one of Bom Miguel's daughters. Tt is interesting to recall that it wa J from the Lord Warden Hotel that the Duke of Orleans some years ago made ii rather famous proclamation to. the Wench people respecting his claims lo tho throne.

TRAINING ENGLAND'S MOTHERS. The sum of .£IOO,OOO lieeassary for the foundation and equipment of "Queen "Mary's Hostel." in connection with Kind's College for Women. University of London, li's been subscribed privately in less than ci-ht mouths. The purpose of the movement is to foster a sounder knowledge of Inmm science-1 he laws which govern sanitation health, ami household economy Tt is essentially women's work, and it is honed to ensure that in the future every ni'il's education shall include some knowledge of the science which affects her home' problems and some practice of Hip domestic arts. Rv this means it is held that ill" whole standard of home life will be'r"i=«l, and trained experience substi-t-iled for instinct and tradition, which have hitherto been the chief (tindes for niother= The ultimate aim is to prveent (he present waste of infa.'it life and the needless loss due to preventable diseases. —"Standard of Empire."