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liminary stage of career of men giving up all and risking their lives to save their country.

"What I want to know is, What has been done in particular cases such as this that must have come under notice of War Office? Have the contractors got clear away without punishment, or have they been made to disgorge? Financial Secretary to War Office stated in course of debate that average cost of these encampments amounted to £13 per man. In cases where huts are condemned, is the sorely-burdened but cheerfully-suffering taxpayer finding the money all over again, or is the peccant contractor made to stump up?"

Business done.—Still harping on Army Estimates.

House of Lords, Thursday.—Death of Lord Londonderry, buried to-day near his English home, Wynyard Park, universally regretted. A strong Party man, he had no personal enemies in the Opposition ranks, whether in Lords or Commons. Unlike some distinguished Peers, notably Lord Roseberry, he enjoyed advantage, inestimable in public life, of serving an apprenticeship in the House of Commons, where he sat six years for the Irish constituency which his famous forebear represented in the Irish Parliament. He was born into politics. His earliest conviction, thorough as were all he entertained, was one of distrust for Don José, who at the time when he sat in the House of Commons was carrying through the country the fiery cross of The Unauthorised Programme.

This feeling later replaced by dislike of Gladstone, who in the year after Lord Castlereagh, at the age of thirty-two, succeeded to the Marquisate, brought in his Home Rule Bill.

That was the turning point in Londonderry's public life. Hitherto he had toyed with politics as part of the recreation of a wealthy aristocrat. Thenceforward he devoted himself heart and soul to withstanding the advance of Home Rule, which he lived long enough to see enacted, Death sparing him the pang of living under its administration.

In his devotion to the fighting line rallied against Home Rule he was encouraged and sustained by a power behind the domestic throne perhaps, as has happened in historical cases, more dominant than its occupant. Cherchez la femme. Londonderry House became the spring and centre of an influence that had considerable effect upon political events during more than a quarter of a century.

Londonderry's cheery presence will be missed in the Lords. His memory will be cherished as that of one who fought stoutly for causes sacred to a large majority of his peers.

Business done.—Premier made promised statement on subject of food prices. Debate following was adjourned.

1. "Ach! Himmel!—a shell!"

2. !!!

3. "Great Kruppe!—what is it?"

"Mr. Asquith stated in the House of Commons this afternoon that the Government were considering taking more stringent measures against German trade as a consequence of the latter's fragrant breach of the rules of war."—Star.

Fragrant is the parliamentary way of putting it.

"German Togoland, whose aspirations towards nationality have been again aroused by the recent promises of the Czar, is destined to be for us part of a new European state under the protection of Russia."

Leader (B. E. Africa).

The fate of German Pololand in Africa will be decided in our next.

"Mr. Murphy asked what would be the cost of doing these works.

Surveyor—I cannot say vbgkqis shr me."

Wicklow Newsletter.

Neither can we, but we should never have thought of mentioning it to Mr. Murphy at this juncture.