Our Weekly Budget

( No . 2 ) Bill , was afterwards discussed . At the evening sitting , the River Shannon Navigation Act -was brought up by The O'Conor Don , after which Dr . Lush moved a resolution as to the status of medical officers in the army . The House was counted out at a quarter past twelve . On

Monday , the State of Business led to a long discussion , the Premier being " chaffy , " but hardly in his happiest vein . The Agricultural Holdings Bill occupied the greater part of the evening , Mr . J . W . Barclay ' s motion being under discussion , and , in the end , defeated by an overwhelming

majority . Ultimately the House went into Committee on the Bill . At the morning sitting on Tuesday , Mr . Cross ' s Labour Bills came again under notice , and the Government carried their points by very narrow majorities . Afterwards the House passed to the Agricultural Holdings Bill ,

and sundry clauses passed through Committee . A count out again occurred in the evening . On Wednesday , the second reading of the Poor Removal Bill , moved by Mr . Downing , was rejected by 2 S 1 to 65 . On Thursday , the House afforded a most unusual scene of excitement .

Mr . Disraeli having , in response to Mr . Charley , announced that it was the intention of the Government to withdraw , for this Session , the Merchant Shipping Bill , Mr . Plimsoll used most unheard of Parliamentary language , the result being that he was ordered to withdraw , and Mr . Disraeli

moved that the Speaker do reprimand the Member for Derby . At the instance of sundry , however , the debate was adjourned for a week , it being stated that Mr . Plimsoll was ill from excitement . The House then went into Committee on the Agricultural Holdings Bill , which Mr .

Disraeli announced would be carried through its remaining stages . The greater part of the evening was thus occupied , several amendments being suggested , and one or two divisions occurring favourable to the government . On the

House resuming , a personal explanation by Mr . E . Bates , the member for Plymouth , was offered in relation to certain statements earlier in the evening by Mr . Plimsoll , and then the order for the Discharge of the Shipping Bill was agreed to .

In spite of the unseasonableness of the weather , the worthy townsfolk of Margate turned out in full force on Monday last , on the occasion of the visit of their Royal Highnesses , the Prince and Princess of Wales , to open the Seaside Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb . Among those

present were Prince Waklemar of Denmark , a brother of the Princess , the Archbishop of Canterbury , who offered up an appropriate prayer , invoking the Divine blessing on so admirable an institution , and a grand array of municipal authorities , including of course the Mayor and the

Recorder . After the ceremonial , a dejeuner was served , at which in responding to the health of the Princess and himself , the Prince expressed the great pleasure it afforded them to be present on the occasion , especially as his family hadbeenalways so closely connected with the institution , and

hadalwaystaken , ashehopedthey stillwould continueto take , the liveliest interest in its welfare . Of course , the town was en fete , every kind of decoration was to be seen along the line of march—some two miles— and fireworks and a general illumination brought a day , admirable in all respects save that of the weather , to a brilliant close . With a view to

meeting any accidents by fire that might occur , town councillor Bro . H . Davis sent his fire engine to parade the town during the evening , and the day following Bro .

Merryweather , of Bow Street , showed the people its capabilities . The banquet , we may add , was sumptuously provided by Mrs . Rope , while the Avines were supplied by Bro . Crawford .

Ihe news from various parts of the country as to the effects of the recent continuous and heavy rains is very serious . In the Fen country and iu Oxfordshire , in the Valley of the Thames , of the None , of the Trent , in Leicester , Monmouthshire , and elsewhere , a considerable

amount of damage has been done to property , while , happil y in a few instances only , the lives of sundry persons have been sacrificed , in the effort to assist others or to save property . But the worst yet remains to be told . The loss to tho crops will be very considerable ; the hay which

was l ying m the fields has been washed away in tons , the Avheat is laid in many places , barley has suffered , and so , too , have oats . In some parts , as in Sussex for example , no amount of fine hot weather will make good the damage that has been done . In some parts , as in Bedfordshire , it is supposed tho heaviest part of the floods has yet to come . But what of Wimbledon , iu the midst of all this water ?

Our Weekly Budget

Camping out in bright summer weather , within easy reach of the Metropolis , and leading as happy a life as the Pope is supposed to do , is extremely jolly , no doubt , under ordinary circumstances . Even a twinge or two of rheumatism may be endured in the search after the Common pleasures

of the season . But the past fortnight has been very destructive , we imagine , of camp comforts to the between 2 , 000 and 3 , 000 volunteers and others , who seem to think a certain amount of soldiering every year does them good . But , wet or fine , the business part of the programme had

to be got through , whatever might become of the pleasure . All day long , accordingly , there was firing at the butts , and some marvellous scoring was the result . Again and again was the highest possible score achieved , while the aggregate at different ranges was mostly respectable , and tho

average throughout tho meeting we should think must have been almost higher than in any previous year . It were impossible , of course , to notice all , or even a tenth of those who distinguished themselves . Let it suffice that the Queen ' s prize was won by a Devonian ,

Captain G . Pearse , who scored , at 800 yards 30 points , at 900 28 points , and at 1 , 000 15 points , giving a total of 73 out of a possible 105 . Private L . Chalmers , 5 th Forfarshire , and Private P . Smellie , Edinburg Rifle Brigade , tieing for second place with 64 points .

Of the other competitions we may mention that the Lords were greatly beaten by the Commons ) Cambridge defeated Oxford for the Chancellor ' s Challenge Plate , Ireland for a second time carried off the Elcho Challenge Shield , with an aggregate score of 1 , 506 ( 15 shots at 800 , 900 , and 1 , 000

each , any rifle ) , Scotland being second with 1 , 503 , and England last with 1 , 502 . Harrow tied with Derby for the Ashburton Challenge Shield , with 543 , but Philpot , Captain of the Marlborough team , took the Spencer Cup for the best score at the 500 yards with 30 points .

The Americans were also present , while the Canadians beat the Mother Country for the Kolapore Challenge Cup . While the Volunteers have been pounding away at the Wimbledon bntts , the Regulars have been engaged in their Autumn Manoeuvres , and , from all accounts , there seems to

have been some very good work , plenty of marching and counter-marching , plenty of gunpowder expended , while the general idea for each of the various struggles appears carried out with more than the usual skill by the rival commanders , Sir Henry de Bathe and Sir John Douglas .

There appears , too , to be a general belief that the soldiers , though not so heavily laden as they would be in real warfare , have shown themselves superior in physique to the general belief regarding them . Of course it is matter for

satisfaction when we find that any portion of our small army represents something like a fair quid pro quo , considering the amount expended on it . There has been no little excitement in banking circles at the news that the London and Westminster have burnli

their fingers over discounting bills , and that the loss the Company has sustained cannot be set clown at less than from £ 200 , 000 to £ 300 , 000 . The persons inculpated are the Messrs . Collie , of London and Manchester , whose failure occurred no long time since . The Alderman , Sir Thomas

White , was prepared to release the accused on heavy bail , but as this was not forthcoming at the outset , they wero removed in the ordinary prison van to Newgate . This is

not the only case which is likely to become public , another charge affecting the fair fame of one who , if not still , was till quite recently , a Member of Parliament , being shortly abont to be heard .

The Scottish fete at the Alexandra Palace , last Saturday , was less of a failure , in respect of the weather , than tho Hound Show . There were several close competitions in reel and Strathspey dancing , in pibroch playing , in playing marches , and in dancing reels ; while , later in the afternoon ,

when the rain condescended to hold up , the outdoor sports took place , Donald Dinnie carrying all before him in the various feats of strength , such as tossing the caber , putting the stone , throwing the hammer , and also in a 500 yards hurdle race ; but in

pole-leaping he only secured second place . Monday was the day set apart for the Odd Fellows' fete , and , all things considered , there was a fair attendance , over 12 , 000 of these eccentric beings finding their way into the building

and continuing to amuse themselves passably well . On Wednesday , the first summer evening promenade concert came off , and , musically , must be looked upon as a success . The second of the series will be held this afternoon , and let us hope tho clerk of the weather will soon take pity ou ua