A vote for L37,000 to extend the British Consulate buildings at Cairo united both sides of the House in criticism. Mr. ASHLEY thought what was good enough for Lord CROMER should be good enough for his successor. Mr. HOGGE, by a somewhat obscure process of reasoning, now understood why the Germans were so anxious to get to Egypt. In vain Mr. LEWIS HARCOURT, usually so persuasive, explained that they were now buying for L3 10s. a metre land for which the owner wanted L12 a metre not long ago. Sir F. BANBURY, shaking his _pince-nez_ at the Treasury Bench, retorted that he might ask L5 for this pair of glasses, for which he had paid half-a-crown (more war economy), but he would not expect to get it. A vote for L50,000, to complete the purchase of the estate of Colonel HALL-WALKER, who has presented his racing stud to the Government, evoked some opposition and much facetiousness. Mr. ACLAND, who proposed it, did not help his case by remarking that personally he regarded racing as a low form of sport. The fact that some of the horses have been leased by the War Department to Lord LONSDALE for racing purposes "on sharing terms" caused Mr. MCNEILL to inquire whether Mr. TENNANT would act as the Ministerial tipster; and Mr. HOGGE, who displayed a knowledge of racing which will, I fear, shock the unco' guid of East Edinburgh, thought it ridiculous that Ministers should preach economy in the City and start a racing stud at Westminster. * * * * * [Illustration: IN HAPPY DAYS TO COME. _The Coalition Owners (Mr. ASQUITH and Mr. BONAR LAW _) LEADING IN A WINNER.] * * * * * _Thursday, March 2nd.--Ariel_, Earl of DERBY, has not entirely left the Earth for the Air. His head, at any rate, is not in the clouds, for his speech on the working of his own scheme was full of practical wisdom. He was not afraid of the exemptions that the tribunals might give if left to themselves, but he was a little concerned about SIMON and his scratch crew of pro-shirkers who seemed to be doing their little best to prevent the country from getting men. * * * * * THE ELUSIVE ONES. A large number of claims for exemption from military service were made before the Bouverie Street Tribunal at its sittings last week. Ike Feldmann (23) asked for exemption on the ground that he was an agriculturalist and therefore excused under the Act. Questioned further, he stated that at the present time he was employed in making artificial onions for a firm of Bond Street milliners, but his uncle, who was wealthy, had promised to buy him a farm as soon as the weather got warmer. His application was rejected.