Hon. L. O. Taillon, premier of Quebec, necessitated a reconstruction of the Quebec provincial cabinet. This was promptly effected under Hon. E. J. Flynn as premier and minister of public works.

A most appalling disaster occurred at Victoria, B. C., on the afternoon of May 26. Through the giving way of a defective span in the Government-street bridge, known as the Point Ellice bridge, over the Victoria Arm, a crowded street car was hurled into the water about 100 feet below. The car was filled with passengers on their way to attend a military parade in connection with the queen's birthday celebrations. About 200 persons were carried down with the span, of whom over sixty were drowned. It is stated that on several occasions the bridge had been condemned as unsafe: it was originally built for wagon traffic, and not intended for railroad use.

The public works' scandal of 1891, connected with the construction of the Baie des Chaleurs railway, was recalled on April 8, when M. Ernest Pacaud was condemned by the court at Quebec to refund to the government, with interest and costs, the sum of $100,000 which was paid to him by C. N. Armstrong, one of the contractors (Vol. 1. p. 552).

Owing to the exceptionally heavy snow-fall of last winter, the coming on, in the early part of April of a sudden spell of very warm weather, caused disastrous floods which destroyed much property and impeded traffic in various parts of the province of Quebec. The St. Lawrence, St. Francis, Nicolet, Yamaska, and Richelieu rivers overflowed their banks in many places. Richmond, Sherbrooke, Three Rivers, Sorel, Longueuil, Longue Pointe, etc., were all inundated, in some places to the depth of five feet. Many railway and other bridges were carried away, houses demolished, and cattle drowned. Railway communication was cut off in certain sections.

The benchers of the Law Society of Ontario, June 6, rejected, by a vote of 9 to 6, the application of Miss C. B. Martin of Toronto to be admitted to the bar. She had complied with all the requirements of examination at the Law School.

Professor Goldwin Smith declined to accept from the University of Toronto the degree of LL. D., which had been proffered him. Numerous protests had been sent to the university senate against the conferring of the degree, on the ground of Professor Smith's political views. That a representative Canadian university should honor one

Vol. 6.-27.

whose advocacy of commercial union (with possible ultimate political union) with the United States seemed to savor of disloyalty to British connection, was, in the eyes of some ultra-conservatives, only to condone his offense. Hence the protests, notwithstanding Professor Smith's acknowledged eminent fitness to receive the highest rewards of scholarly attainment. He declined because any good that might come from his acceptance seemed likely to be more than counterbalanced by the political ill-feeling aroused.

Contracts were awarded in May for the construction of a Royal College for Women in Montreal, Que., at a cost of $2,000,000—the gift of Sir Donald A. Smith.

Several serious fires occurred during the quarter. The large flour and oatmeal mills of Meldrum & McAllister in Peterboro, Ont., said to be the second largest in Canada -were burned May 14. loss $160,000; insurance about $65,000.-A large portion of the town of Deseronto, Ont., was destroyed by fire, May 25. The greatest individual loss-about $250,000, fairly covered by insurance-was inflicted on the Rathbun Milling Company.-The large McKendry departmental store in Toronto, Ont., was burned, June 8. The stock, valued at about $165,000, was insured for about $135,000. An insurance of $30,000 covered the full probable loss on the building.

NEWFOUNDLAND.

The legislature was opened June 11.

In the speech from the throne, the governor, Sir H. H. Murray, said that retrenchment had been strictly carried out, the credit of the colony had been restored, interest had been paid, and there was a surplus. Seventy miles of railway had been built last year, and the line would be completed this year. The revenue for the year was $1,500,000, and the expenditure $1,300,000. The free list in the tariff would be increased; and grants would be made for roads, education, and public improvements.

MEXICO.

At the end of June the republic had passed one stage in the formalities attending a presidential election. On Sunday, the 28th-Sunday being the customary day for holding electoral contests in Mexico-the people throughout the twenty-seven states and territories of the republic chose the "electors" whose duty it is formally to elect a chief executive. The country is divided into districts with a population of 40,000 each; and in each district eighty

electors are chosen. While these men are nominally free to vote for whom they like, the result of the polling on June 28 was generally regarded as assuring the re-election of President Diaz for a fifth term.

THE WEST INDIES.

Hayti. Particulars regarding the death of President Hyppolite (p. 172) were received in April. He was stricken with heart failure early on the morning of March 24 while riding on horseback from Portau-Prince toward Jacmel, to put down a disturbance at the latter place. A reign of terror had been kept up for two weeks in Jacmel by "General" Jeannis, who had seized the arsenal and ammunition.

A considerable number of Haytian refugees living in exile at Kingston, Jamaica, have availed themselves of the decree of amnesty with

CENTRAL AMERICA.

During the first week in May the civil war in Nicaragua (p. 173) ended in the unqualified triumph of the government forces under President Zelaya. The month of April witnessed a series of victories for Zelaya's troops-at La Ceiba Mocha, near Nagarote; at Las Limas; and at Santamita, near Momotombo. On April 18 the rebel stronghold at Tablon was captured. By the end of the month the insurgent headquarters at La Paz had been occupied; and Leon was the only rebel stronghold of importance remaining. The capture of Felix Quinonez, a lawyer of Leon,

who had endeavored to enlist the support of Guatemala for the insurgent cause, was a serious blow to the rebels. Having failed in his mission to Guatemala, he had sailed for Costa Rica on a similar errand, but was arrested when his ship touched at the Nicaraguan port of San Juan del Sur, May 1. His capture was quickly followed by the surrender of the rebels, who, however, before evacuating Leon, destroyed many public buildings and a great deal of private property.

An important incident was the landing, on May 2, of American and British marines, who together occupied Corinto; dispersed riotous mobs of disbanded insurgents, and protected the property of foreigners in the customs house and railroad station until May 4, when the goods were handed over to the Nicaraguan authorities.

The congress of Salvador, early in May, approved the treaty of Amapala concluded last year, providing for a confederation of Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua, under the name of "The Greater Republic of Central America" (Vol. 5, p. 676).

SOUTH AMERICAN REPUBLICS.

Argentina. The Argentine Republic has been rapidly becoming a larger factor in its commercial relations with the rest of the world. A steadily growing acreage devoted to wheat has enabled the farmers to export so considerable a crop to Great Britain that they are recognized as the chief rivals of American, Australian, and Russian wheat producers. In cattle, too, and sheep, and butter, Argentina is far in advance of most countries of the world. This growing wealth gives to this republic an importance and a promise of stability which its sister states seem unable to attain or to maintain. President Uriburu, in his speech before the chamber of deputies, at the beginning of May, stated that exports during the past year showed an increase over imports of $24,000,000 in gold.

As to the boundary dispute between Argentina and Chile, the president declared himself to be in favor of arbitration as the best means of settlement. His sincerity in this statement was proved by his affixing his signature to the protocol issued by the Chilean government formulating the terms of the boundary dispute. There was much adverse criticism of this act in military circles; but that the sentiment in the two countries is in favor of such methods of settling international questions, is beyond doubt.

Great efforts have recently been made to consolidate

the interests among rival bondholders who share the public debt. These efforts have resulted in benefitting all concerned.

Brazil.-About the 1st of June it was reported that Portugal had offered her services to Brazil and England as mediator in the Trinidad affair (p. 113).

The supreme court of Brazil has decided that the amnesty law passed last year for the benefit of persons engaged in the rebellion in Rio Grande do Sul (Vol. 5, p. 678), is illegal, in so far as it relates to the exclusion of certain officers of the army and navy.

In Brazilian commercial circles the proposition to establish a reciprocity treaty between Brazil and Argentina was not considered to promise sufficiently large returns to make it desirable. There is, however, a strong sentiment in favor of establishing reciprocal trade relations with the United States.

Chile. Reference has already been made, under "Argentina," to the prospective amicable settlement of the boundary dispute between the Argentine Republic and Chile,

Early in May the terms of a treaty of amity between Chile and Bolivia were published.

It provides that Chile shall continue in perpetual possession of the territories actually in her possession as provided by the armistice of 1884. Chile pays the balance due on the Bolivian loan of 1867, and the principal of certain railroad bonds. It is also provided that future questions arising between the two countries shall be referred to arbitration.

In his message to congress on June 1, President Montt made some statements of wide interest.

He said that he was still unable to settle the question of dominion over the provinces of Tacna and Arica, over which Chile and Peru were disputing. The cause of public instruction was being rapidly advanced, and there were now more than 2,000 public schools in operation. The conversion of the currency from a paper to a gold basis had caused temporary inconvenience; but it was an assured fact, and soon its good effects would be observable.

The presidential election in Chile occurred in the latter part of June. There were many factions supporting different nominees; and much bitterness arising from factional disputes. Señor Errazuriz, the candidate of the coalition or liberal-conservative party, was elected. The election was conducted in an orderly manner, and the result was decisive.

There is every reason to hope well for the future of Chile. Her recent treaty with Bolivia, eliminating war as