The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-08

Akers Douglas Is home secretary because ne was whip; and Lord Halsbury and Lord Ashbourne are lord chancellors be- cause they can not be induced to retire.
 
 The sudden death of Admiral Sir Alex ander Butler is widely regretted, par ucularly In Deyonshire. where he was a great favorite among all classes, and much esteemed for his geniality and ben eVolence Sir Alexander, who belonged to an ancient and well-known Cornish family succeeded his uncle in the own ership of the Earl Hall estate, near Plymton, in 1879, and since his retirement rom the service he has constantly re- sided there. He took a keen interest in all local affairs, and was ever ready to assist in every good object. A heavy debt due to him from the Plympton na- tional school was graciously cancelled. He will be greatly missed in the neigh borhood and particularly by the poor, to whom he was most kind and charitable. Sir Alexander had a distinguished career in the navy which extended over fifty one years. He served in the Black Sea during the Crimean war, and many years afterward he commanded the naval bri- gade during the operations against the Malays in the Straits of Malacca. He was for three years admiral superintend- ent of Malta backyard, and from 1895 until 1899 he was commander-in-chlef of the China station. Sir Alexander. who was a keen sportsman, died of heart fail- ure on Exmoor, while taking part in run with the Devon and Somerset stag hounds He was a grandson of MT. James Butler, who was clerk of the council from 1872 until 1880, and who was described by his colleague, MT. Charles Greville, as "a very honest, obliging and stupid man."
 The recent crash of one old hulk into another old hulk (preseryed as a senti- mental remembrance of Nelson and Ira falgar). the Victory, has awakened public interest in the large assortment of an- tiquated war vessels which are carried on the navy list. Take, for instance, H. M. s. Humber, now engaged in the con- veyance of naval, victualling, and ord nance stores between Hongkong and Wei-hai-wei. This old tub has no guns mounted so that she is useless for fight ing purposes. and at her best with clean bottom and a calm sea, she can just crawl 92 knots an hour. have been furnished with an account of the work she does and the expenditure it in- wolves In 1902 the wages of the ships company and the cost of victualling, coal, oil, and other stores came to a total of $51 ,SSO Eight voyages were made be- tween Wei-hai-wei and Hongkong, and the total quantity of cargo carried was 960 tons. Upon statement of expenses, which excludes docking and general re- pairs, as well as any allowance from de- preciation, the cost of transporting goods by the Humber was, therefore, upwards of G10 per ton. Even this figure will be exceeded for the present year in conse- quence of the coal bill being very much heavier than in 1902. The average rate of freight by merchant steamers from Hongkong to Wei-hai-Wei is from S to $l1 per ton, according to the nature of the goods and, in addition to being vast ly cheaper. this method of transport would be somewhat quicker. Nor is the waste of money or time the only argu- ment against the employment of the Humber as a cargo boat. There is the further fact that the keeping of the ves- sel in commission means that ninety-five officers and men of the royal navy are not available for efficient ships.