Gun layers' badges have been gain_-d by the following members of the Lv_teJton Naval Artillery—Leading Gunner Kaowles Gunn-rs E. Beaumont. A. Day. Loader Afeyrick, McMinn, Rodgers, and Thie]-' man. Sixty-nine members have received badges for passing in gunnery. After the parade oi the" Waimakariri Monnted Rifles on Tuesday night, the ladies of the district invited the ntembers to a supper in the West Melton schoolroom and to a dance which followed. The Amuri Mounted Rifles have obtained the -.ervices of Sergeant-Major Evans, from Auckland, who i. to take charge of all drills for six months.
CABLE NEWS.
THE CRISIS IN CHINA.
THE PERIL OF THE LEGATIONS.
AN APPEAL FOR RELIEF

THE ADVANCE ON PEKIN

FIGHTINO AT PM-TSANG.
HEAVY CASUALTIES AMONG THE

ALLIES.
CHINESE ATROOITTES,

WOMEN AND CHILDREN BEHEADED

„_ (MISSIONARY BAYONETED.
STRENGTH OF GERMAN AND

FRENCH FORCES.
United Press Association— By Elsotrio TelegTaph—Copyright. (Received August Bth, 8.55 a.m.) HONG KONG, August 7. Advices from Shanghai indicate that Hsu-ching-chung and Yoon, members of the Tsung-Li-Yamen, were not beheaded, but cut in half, the severest punishment of the Manchu code. A missionary named Thompson was bayoneted at Chou-chon-fou in the Che-kiaug province, and four children w-ere beheaded in the streets. (Received August Bth, 10 p.m.) HONG KONG, August 7. Four women, as well as four children, were beheaded in the streets when the mis sionary, Mr Thompson, was bayoneted at Chu-ehon-fu.
SHENG SEEKS BRITISH PROTECTION.
Sheng, the Director of Telegraphs, fear ing decapitation, applied to the British for protection, and was offered refuge on a war sliip* ,

SIX THOUSAND REFUGEES.
Six thousand refugees from Chartsin, Man churia, and elsewhere east of the Chinese railway, have reached Khabarovsk, in East ern Siberia.
FOREIGN TROOPS IN CHINA.
