Weekly Mail

W ORKMEN'S NOTES. f- FEATURES OF THE PARIS ¡ CONGRESS. BY MR. WILLIAM BRACE, M.P. I LVice-Preeident of the South Wales Miners' Federation.] The miners have just terminated their nineteenth annual International Con- gress, very many of which it has been my privilege to attend. Delegates who now attend these gatherings for the first time were prone to complain at the time taken up in doing the business, but had they been present at the beginning of the movement they would be able to appreciate what an enormous advance has been made. In the earlier con- gresses delegates from the different nationalities had not learned to trust each other, and the atmosphere in which the business had to be done was one of suspicion instead of mutual confidence. That, happily, has all changed, and, other than the ordinary delay which must ensue when each speech has to undergo at least two translations, the work of congress goes along as smoothly as if the delegates were members of one nationality and one society. This was, perhaps, the chief thing that impressed me on the first day. Out of compliment to Britain, the originator, and most powerful section of the movement, the president of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain is the chairman of the International Executive Committee and presiding officer on the first day, regard- less as to what country congress may be holding its session in. The president upon the second day is a gentleman from the country in which the congress meets. Three Leaders. People who do not know Mr. Enoch Edwards, M.P., the Miners' Federation president, and his capacity will have no idea what an exceedingly able man he is. In handling delicate and difficult questions or in guiding an argumenta- tive and troublesome conference I know no one, either inside or outside the labpur movement, to equal him to-day. His opening speech was everything it should be and nothing it should not be, and as a result kindly, friendly—I would even say affectionate—feelings between the representatives of the different nationalities prevailed, and business Went through swimmingly. A less pro- minent, but no less capable, personality is Mr. Thomas Ashton, the international general secretary. He is quiet, retiring, but very determined. He does very I little talking, but I notice he invariably gets his own way, and this I would say because his way is generally the right one. What he does not know about congress or conference work is not, I imagine, worth knowing. He is the oldest official in both the National and International Miners' Federations. He was elected general secretary to the Miners' Federation of Great Britain whe.n it was formed at Newport in 1889, and has been re-elected unanimously ever since. As a Trades Union official he has a unique record an-d a unique position. Without gift of speech, he has held one of the highest offices Labour has to offer without contest and with unanimous consent by reason of his I' outstanding administrative qualifica- tions. What the miners of the world owe to Mr. Ashton would I be an impossible calculation. I could not forgive myself if I omitted, when dealing with this phase of the movement, to name my old friend and colleague Mabon, one of the most popular personalities in all miners' gatherings. He has a special position of his own, which no one eke will be able to fill. Ho is the international singer. The delegates would not go home happy if Mabon did not sing "Men of Harlecth," and. I am certain Mabon himself would consider the movement had deteriorated in taste if he were not asked to sing. "Harlech" is a tune that seems to appeal to every ipan, regardless of nationality; at least, every- one joins m the chorus, and it will sur- prise no one to be told that at one international gathering the police came upon the scene—I think it was at .Vienna—to learn what all the singing meant; in fact, they thought Mabon was the leader of a revolution, and he could not be allowed to proceed before an explanation was given. The idea of Mabon being taken as a revolutionary always tickles my fancy. I was proud of him on Thursday last. I thought his singing of "Harlech" at the banquet a I really wonderful achievement for a man eixty-six years of age. His voice was splendid, and one could see he was fully enjoying himself. May the long be spared to sweeten the labour movement with his personality and his singing. United Forces. The Paris Congress will stand out as marking a new epoch in Continental Trades Unionism. Last year it would have been out of the question to have attempted to have carried the following standing order, which at this congress wns unanimously adopted: — The congress recognises for each country only one representation. Where there exists in a country several independent miners' organisations, these organisations must previously come to an agreement as to a joint delegation to the congress. That separate delegations be excluded from taking part in the congress. 'France and Germany have closed up their ranks. In France all the sections have united into one national organisa- tion, and the banquet given on the Thursday night to which we were invited. was to celebrate this unison of the miners' forces. But, personally, I saw something more in this banquet, for to me it was a demonstration as to the improved position, financially and numerically, of the French miners' Unions. Upon a previous occasion we were invited to spend an evening with our French colleagues, but the hospi- tality they were able to offer was of the most meagre description; in short, we had to provide for ourselves, because the French miners' Unions had no money and but few members. Little is it for wonder that the French speakers emphasised this change, and when they said that it was the example set them by the British miners' Unions, who had taught them through the International Federation how to organise, our mem- bers at home will, I am sure, join me in declaring that if the annual inter- national gatherings had secured nothing more than this it is time and money well spent. Germany has federated all sections with the exception of the Jf Christian miners' Union, and they, although present at Salzburg last year, stayed away this year because of the proposed new standing order. For Germany to have federated as she has is no small task. We have nothing like it in this country, happily. Were there coalfields in Ireland we might have been faced with a similar problem. The reason why the Polish miners' Unions have hitherto declined to federate with the German miners' Union was because the Poles held they oould not unite with those who had declined to recognise their claim to national justice. But these difficulties in organisation pale into insignificance as compared with what the Austrians have to face. The Austrian miners are divided into six distinct nationalities, with six different languages. (When one is brought face to face with — I obstacles to union such as are cited here one cannot refrain from an expression of thankfulness that Britain is so free and that to get every man in union ¡ from the North of Scotland to the West °V, a{e'\ 18 Gild's play as compared with what our Continental colleagues have to face in their work of organisa-

"BLACKER THAN EVER." t NON-UNIONISTS DAILY IN- CREASING. The monthly meeting of the Rhondda w°" trict of Miners -waa held at th« Washington Hotel, Porth, on Monday, Mr. J Jones (Ynysfeio) presiding. A telegram J Jones (Ynysfeio) presiding. A telegram was received from Mabon explaining inability to attend. It was resolved to make a gran't of £117 tram the Laboul Representation Fund 1 towards the defrayment of the election expeneee of the unsuccessful candidates m i recent elections for seats on the Rhondda and Mountain Ash Urban Councils, it being intimated that £2{) would be handed over jn the ordinary course in respect of each of the successful candidates. The non-Unionist question was then dis- cussed at length, and a vigorous campaign was adumbrated with the view of endeavour- ing to eliminate the nun-Unionist eleanent from the collieries. Mr. D. Watts Morgan stated that a large number of lodges were making applications for permission to tender notices to termi- nate contracts as a protest against the employment- of non-Unionists lieiS^ m*>rt«d that at the various col- ST;e ,r*b«r <>f non-Unionists was grauiy on the increase, it being stated that n«w >1WOe r alone there wen, and ltP £ r|PTd8 °f 550 »>n-Uniol>isto. and at the Glamorgan Collieries, Llwyny- Th« number was stated to be over 700. present state of affairs in this rosneot IX "WoSrtoLi'SS? incr^iitVSie.,nulubcr of non-Unioniste was situation :t was urged that the tSSSTJ* 801116 the Had thlt .™ 8TOUf- that 11 was imperative resorWiT drastic measures should be resorted to without delay. granti^ Jfw Permission had been resr«t wil FerndaJe to tender notices, and hL!! ♦ *xpres £ ed th*t so far action had witWh n.at tiLa,t colliery in accordance witn the permission granted. \r^iymg \° lhe legates, Messrs. D. "Watte Morsan and Tom Evans held that "show n^L Sbirld °ondu<5ted prior to giving ^solved that Ferndale be f »?€TTnissian to tender notices an July smt f ^at.1the following be given permis- sion to tender notices in rotation, in the order given— Uwynypia,, Pcnrhiwoeiber, Merthyr -Trehavod), Lady Lewis (Ynyshir) National (Wabtstown), and Eastern Colliery (Ton Pentre). Discmøsi.on took place in reference to a proposed annraal demonstration, and it waa 1x»U bewTi IvJS on July 20. taS<T'r<ta'nS.,<' 10 invite, m the first place, Mr Winnt/vn IOhnrobill, M.P., Mr. William Jones, M.P., an4 Mr. A. Henderson, M.P. (chairman of the ^bonr party) in Edition to the local members of Parlisment-Mabon, Mr. W. Brace, and Sir Alfred Thomas. Mr. D. Watts Morgan reported that nego- for the "element of the Fll V«1 w°r £ e 116 W bouse °°al seam in the where, he stated, rapid develop- ments were oow being made. There were now three pits being sunk. I It was resolved to recommend the lodges to I' render assistance to the men out on strike at ^antmdyn and Gorflwjn Collieries, in the Aberdare district. reoe*pts *or amoanted to £ 1,446

EAST GLAMORGAN MINERS SMALL WAGES AT LLA NBRAJD A OH COLLIERIES. The monthly meeting of the East Glamor- gan miners was held at the Clive HoteL Caer- philly, on Monday, Mr. D. W. Thomas, Aber- tridwr, presiding. The Agent (Mr H. Jenkins) in his monthly report stated that several grievances existed tfte Llanbradach Collieries respecting the small wages being earned by a number of the workmen in certain districts of the Four- foot Seam The ooal waa of exceptional thick- whieh rendered it dangerous to work, workmen were also deprived of any dead work. Unless some satisfactory arrange- ment was effected in the near future he wat 1 theSe workmen should be work. In the Nine-foot beam the bottom bed of ooal was in a number of places seriously interfering with the earn- ing capacity of the workmen. Proposals had win wto the management, but so far had been refused. The only course that he could see was to instruct the particular workmen to oease work. The men at the Windsor Colliery, Aber Valley, had tendered notices on the 1st inst respecting the question of workmen's house coal. He was, however, hopeful of a settle- ment being effected. The Senghenydd Colliery workmen had The Senghenydd Colliery workmen had ceased work at the end of last month aa a protest against the employment of non- U nion ists. Roughly speaking, about 300 had paid up their arrears, and also Paid their entrance fees. He and a deputation of the workmen had waited upon the management, informing them that the workmen were pre.pared to resume work last week. but the management had refused to allow the men to resume work before Mon- day. It was decided that the East Glamorgan miners annual demonstration be held at Barry on the 4th of July next. ^The monthly contributions, amounted to EALLING INTO LINE. At the No. 2 Rhondda District of Miners' imeeting at Pontypridd on Monday, Mr. J. R Morgan presiding, it was reported that the notices tendered at Pentre and Ynyeybwl collieries as a protest against non-Unionists being employed had been withdrawn, all tha men having fallen, into line. A sum of £ 10 waa voted to the Aberdare District of Miners, where a number of workmen are, on strike on the question of sub-contracting The total day's receipts were £421. RHYMNEY VALLEY MINERS. At the monthly meeting of the Rhymney Valley District of Miners a good deal of time was spent in discussing the non- Unionist position, and it was decided to hold mass meetings, and to receive the decision ae to whether a strike shall take place or not at a special meeting.

EIFFEL TOWER LEMONADE. This article is undoubtedly the most delicious, cool, refreshing drink obtainable, so healthful, so convenient, so cheap—per bottle.

ARMYSURGEONSCAREEB > A LLANDILO BENEFACTOR HONOURED. Oarregcennen House, near Llandilo. was tiie scene of an interesting function on Saturday night, when Brigade surgeon- colonel Edward Hopkins, the distinguished owner of this charmingly situated mansion, was presented with a life-size oil-painting of himself and other handsome testimonials by the inhabitants of the district, in recogni- tion of the valuable medical services which he has so readily and gratuitously rendered for a great number of years." The magnifi- cent paimting, which meas-ures Sft. by 6ft.. shows the surgeon wearing his old A.M.D. uniform and six campaign medals, and is the work of a clever young artist at Llandilo, :lamed Carrey Morris, who is a pupil of the renowned painter Stanley Forbes. Since his retirement from the Army, close upon a quart or of a century ago, "the doctor," as he is better known to the natives, has in a true Christian spirit gen-erously placed his eminont services at the dispcsal of the sick-poor in the district, extending even so far as the Swansea and Aimnian Valleys. Mr. Jothn Jones (Parkowen) said the doctor had been the means of bringing happiness into the homes of many familes at Cwmamman, Brynarnman, Ammanford, PenygToes, Llandebie, Llandilo, and Gwyn.fe, and seeing that no payment was ever demanded, the inhabitants had considered it time that they should express their grati- tude for the eminent services in some tangible form. Mr. John Morris (Llandyfan), as chairman of the presentation committee, also spoke eulogistic.ally of the doctor, both as a neighbour and physician. Mr. W. Davies (Garreghvyd) and Mr. David Griffiths (Penwaun) then formally handed over the oil-painting to the colonel, who gratefully acknowledged the gift, which, he said, was the morc valued because it had been done by a local artist. In wishing the young artist (Mr. ){arris) a successful career, he said that there ought to be a supplementary art gallery in London, where clever young artists could have an oppor- tunity of exhibiting their excellent paintings. (Applause.) he had found the Welsh people to be excellent patients, although, perhaps. they did not g'C't weil ;èt OTIJ'. (/aU¡;llter.) Mr. G. Griffiths MaesfFynon) subsequently presented Dr. Hopkins with a beautiful tea and coffee service and salver, dinner gong, and case of silver iish knives on behalf of the subscribers, and said that if they gave him £ 1,000 he did not think they would be paying him enough for all he had done in w BRIGADE-SURGEON LIEUT.-COL. E. HOPKINS. the neighbourhood as a physician during the last twenty years or so. (Applause.) SOME THRILLING INCIDENTS. Dr. Hopkins retired from the Army in 1885 with the rank of brigade-surgeon. Among the decorations he holds are those of the Indian Mutiny, TJmbeylah Pass, Afghan (two periods), with bar for relief of Kandahar and star for Lord Roberts's famous march, the Nile Expedition, 1884-5, and the Khedive star. Born at Llwynyryn, in the parish of Llanigadock, in 1836, Surgoon lieut/ernan t- oolonel Hopkins, after being educated at Carmarthen and other grammar schools, studied for the profession he subsequently adopted at Middlesex Hospital, London, where he took out his licentiates, and imme- diately he Qualified as a doctor he joined the Army Medical Department. This was in 1358, and t-- the Mutiny was then at its height, he was ordered to India, and arrived just too late to take pa.rt in the fall: of Deltu. His baptism under fire was a most fchriHrng ea^erianoe, ae the following- naorrativte shows. Smrprnsed early one morning by the enemy Surgeon Hopkins mounted a chargor, which ran away with him. and before be knew where he was he found himself in t.he midst of the eDoÐmy fighting single-handed, and at the oannon's mouth. Such dust, Dr. Hopkins says, he never saw in his life, and it was fortunate for him that Colonel Strange'» column had charged the gims and come to hils assistance, otherwise he would probably have been killed. This celebrated charge is often spoken of in Artillery messes all over the globe, but few people know that a Car- marthenshire man played such an important part in that victory. Volunteering for the Umbeylah Pass Campaign in 1363, Surgeon Hopkins'r services were accepted, and he was repeatedly mentioned in dispatches for gal- lantry. Jn tMs campaign he served with the 71st Highland Light Infantry, and on one occasion was forty hours without food. He wa.e always a most daring ad-venturer, amd the men in his regiment—Jocks" they are oalied rn Highland regents—wore con- stantly warning him to keep wnxlctr cover and so indefa,titrable a worker was he that officers uf?ed to seize him by the coliar to prevent him going to eTposed places to attend to the wounded. Among the officers he attended in the latter campaign was a eon of the then Bishop of Lkmdaff Dr. Olivant, who belongs to Cooke's Eifles. Dr. Hopkins also served in both periods of the e Afghanistan War of 1878-80. and was con- sidered the best walker in both. The men one morning about one o'clock distinguished the doctor's shadow a s,liort distance off, a^(j were overheard by him paying, Our doctor always walks." This put new energy into him, and he developed wieh walking pro- pensities that he became a veritable Yeoumans of the Army. On the celebrated march from Kabul toO Kandahar the doctor was frequently owrta&en by Lord Robepts arsd Sir George Pretyman on tibeir chargers. They always greeted him with a gracicxaa smile and the salutation, "Shank's mare!" On one occasion during the Afghan War Snr- geOID. Hopkins worked 27 successive houts without food attending to the wounded, amd waa so completely dene up that he himself had to be lifted on to a stretcher. It is some- what remarkable that during the whole of his experience in the Army the doctor was never wounded. At Kandahar, however, he had a narrow esoaipe, two abelis, which, for- tunately did not burst, falling within three yairda of him.

THE LONDON NATIONAL EISTEDDFOD. A meeting of the executive committee of the London National Eisteddfod was held on Monday evening, Mr. Vincent Evans presid- ing. It was decided that the English adjudicators in the. musical competitions should be Sir Oba-rles Villiers Stanford a.nd Dr. M'Naught. Other adjudicators selected were:—Poetry, Professor J. Morris Jones and the Rev. J. J. Williams (of Pentre), with Dyred as umpire; free metres, the Kev. Ben. Davies and the Rev. Silyn Roberts, with Dyfed as umpire; draana, Blfln; imaginary conversations, the Rev. W. Lewis Jones; principal essay, Professor Edwards (Aberystwyth) and Profeasotr Lloyds (Bangor); history of Myddle- ton faanily, Mr. L. J. Kobecrts and the Rev. T. Sfeanklajid; manners and morale of the Mabinogion," Professor Powell (Cardiff). The meeting decided to form. an eisteddfod oborr, to be conducted by Mir. Mifsnliim Motrgan, but one condition of membership was that no memibea- should take .part in either of the Lchoral oonajpetitioBB at the eisteddfod.

WALES TREATED IN A LIBERAL SPIRIT. Mr. J. J. Jackson, hi a statement to a "Weekly Mail" represonitat i< said hie con- sidered the new regulations v satis- factory. They entirely fulfirled the Pledges which were made by Mr. M Kenna, the late President off the Board of Education, to the deputation from Wed&h education authorities. Wales was now ooing treated m a very liberal spirit, and in one respect the Govern- ment had been more tiian the depu- tation were led to expect, "hey were told by Mr. M'Kenna, yon ?<n have the English grants if you hke, but you must take as well the English regu- lations." This the deput-ation interpreted to mean that they must accept the Englian regulations complete, and Put themselves in compliance at once. However, the new regu- lations indicated that where it was difficult for Welsh secondary schools to come into Immediate compliance that difficulty would be taken into consideration bv the Board of Education, and such schools would be allowed until 1909 before strict ooroplianoe would be enforced. In some cases it was suggested an amended scheme would be necessary, and, presumably, with those the board would ba prepared to view favourably an application trom a local authority. The board adopted the same attitude with regard to the stipulation that a proper pro- portion of free places in each school should be reserved for pupils from PubIlc elementary schools. This proportion in English schools was ordinarily 25 per cent. of the total num. ber of pupils admitted during the previous year. but the board were prepared to reduoo the percentage on sufficient grounds being shown. This same regulation would now apply to Wales. and the latter part of it, he thought, would be applicable to Cardiff. In the intermediate school3 thev had an arrangement by which, speaking from memory, there were scholarships for 12 per cent. of the pupils. Some of these received entirely free tuition, and otners were admitted at half fees. If they had to bring this Dumber up to the proportion of 25 per cent. it would mean an additional expense of £200 or rather more per annum, although, of course, the increase of grant must be considered as against this. However, he hoped the Board of Education would consider the suggestion reasonable that in Cardiff adequate provi- sion for pupils from the elementary schools was already made by the scholarships offered in the two municipal secondary schools. Another point worth noting was that in the Welsh regulations of last year strict ] conditions were made as to the time to be devoted to particular subjects. These were now removed, and the arrangement of the time-table was left to the discretion of the governing body, subject to the supervision of the board. The removal of this restric- tion would be a great advantage to the schools, and by the intermediate teachers its existence wae regarded as one of the main reasons for objection to last year's Welsh regulations

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MERTHYR TOWN-CLERK'S SALARY. APPLICATION TO COUNCIL FOR FIXED AMOUNT. Tb? monthly meeting' of the Merthyr Council was held on Monday ev«L mg, the mayor (Mr. D. W. Jonee) presiding. Relative to a paragrapn in the report of the general purposes committee that the town-clerk had submitted to them a state- ment of his salary and emoluments for the past two years, and that they had deferred the consideration of the matter so that copies of the statement might be circulated amongst the members, Mr. Sydney Simons desired that it should be made perfectly clear that the town-clerk had not applied for any increase of salary, but that he had simply asked that his Ealary should be fixed. The Mayor concurred. When Merthyr became a municipal borough, in 1905. he said, the town-clerk did make application for an increase owing to the extra duties placed upon him, but they decided to defer the question antil they saw how matters pro- gressed. Since then the town-clerk had asked &e-"eral times that the salary should be fixed on--e for all.

THE NEW SCALE OF GRANTS TO BE PAID. A Red Book was issued by the Welsh Department of the Board of Education on Saturday giving the regulations which are to be in force in the secondary schools oi Wales and Monmouthshire from August 1, 1908. The prefatory memorandum to the regulations stated that with the additional funds now at the disposal of the board they are able for the school year 1908-9 to pay grants to secondary schools in Wales and Monmouthshire on the same scale as in England. The new regulations for Wales have been framed so as to produce the same financial result as tlwse issued for England, and it is anticipated that in future years the variation between the Welsh and English regulations will be restricted to such slight differences as may be necessary to meet the special educational requirements of Wales. The three chief features of the new regula- tions are (1) increased grants; (2) the exten- sion of the period during which grante may be paid on account of pupils; and (3) the altered conditions under which grants will be payable. It is prescribed that (1) aJl sohools in respest of government, teaching etaff, and religious instruction shall be free from denominational restrictions; (2) that the schools slraJl be under local popular control; and (3) that a proportion of free places in them shall be reserved for pupils from. public elementary sahools. No change in the constitution or conduct of most of the schools under the 'Welsh Intermediate Eduoation Act will be neces- sary, but in the case of a few the new conditions will involve an amendment of the instrument of government. In such cases, however, the board will be prepared to pay grants for the year 1908-9, provided all pos- sible steps for amendment have been taken, although the necessary procedure may not have been completed within a Yfar. This may particularly apply to arrangemeute for the oiJsenance of Ruk 3, i.e., for the free entry of elementary pupils. The additional funds at the disposal of the board enable them to rescind tho rule limit- ing the payment of grants to a four years' coarse, and tho regulations make provision for a uniform grant on all pupils between twelve and eighteen ye;irs of age, as weli as a smaller grant for pupils between ten and twelve years oi age. The require- ment that a pupil must have attende 1 throughout the school year in order to earn grant is removed. The number of pupils eligible for grant will now be taken early in each term, and grant will be paid on one- third of the sum of these numbers. The beard desire to impress strongly on school authorities that ClC increased grants now offered to secondary schools ar<? intended not to give relief to local rates, but to increase the efficiency of the schools. Welsh is given same place in the curriculum as was accorded to the language in the regulations of 19ù7.. and the board are glad to note that this important subject is gradually attaining its proper place in the curricula of the &«hools. A regulation is inserted whereby a new or newly-organised school, which has heen unable to start working at the commenee- ment of the school year, may, if opened 111 January instead of September, earn two- thirds of the full grant for a shortened year. In regard to the payment of grants the regulations provide as follows: — In the case of secondary schools placed on the grant list and complying with these regulations, grants will be payable on account of pupils receiving instructiow in accordance with an aPMoved curriculum as follows:- (a) A grant of £2 on account of each pupil who was over ten, but not over twelve, years of a?e at the beginning of the school year, and who had been for at least two years uncler instruction in a public elementary school immediately before entering 'J10 s&condary school. Pupils transferred fro™, ? school in which I they were eligible ior this grant will con- tinue to be eligible for It m the school to which they are transferred. (b) A grant of account of each pupil who was but not over eighteen, years of age at the beginning of the school year. For the purpose of estimating each of the above grants the number of registered pupils fulfilling the oondltlons named on October 1, February 1, and June 1 in each school year will be taken, and one-third of the sum of th*^ numbers will be the ninmiber on which I.g payable. In the case of the shortened school year provided for by Article f, ,/lumber on which grant is payable one-third of the sum of the number on February 1 and June 1. Any pupils who are reported by the inspector as unfit t{) attend the classes in which they are '"beirt#" taught, or as habitually irregular i'11 attendance (except from certified illness or risk of infection), may be disqualified for g<ra:nt. The regulation in regard to scholarships for elementary pupate is 35 f WB: — In all fee-charging schools a proportion of free placets miuet be openeaah year to pupils entering from puo-11^ elementary schools under the oonditjoolItS laid down in the aprpetndix to these reg^ations. This proportion will ordinarily per cent, of the total number of pupil3 admitted to the school during the previous y,ea,r, but may be reduced or varied by the board on sufficient grounds in the case of aJiy Par- ticular gchool or any pa.rti-culaT year.

.=- MERTHYR ROBBERY CHARGE ALLEGED VIOLENCE TO A WOMAN. John Christopher and John- Daniel Tre- harne, lads, were charged at Mertbyr on Tuesday with robbery with violence from the person of Louisa George. It was alleged that on Wiit-Monday after- noon Treharne knocked the woman down in Oailal-eqnare, Merthyr, a«nd then took off her boots and pulled down her stockings, from one of which he took the sum of 2s. 6d. He afterwards, it was alleged- took from her breast a purse containing 14s. 6d., and jumped on her, causing such- injuries that efce had to be removed to the workhouse infirmary. Christopher was aaJLd to have taken no actual part in the robbery. but was alleged to have been a<yw^.»ry to it by passively standing hy. Both prisoners were ooamnltted for trios «b ibe nezt aatdaee.

MINOR MATTERS. > POLICE-COURT AND OTHER PICKINGS. SUNDAY DRINKING AT TENBY. John Clements, a soldier, was fined 12s. 6d. at Tenby on Monday for being at the Hilton Hotel. Tenby, on Sunday, June 7, without having "travelled" the requisite distance. MISADVEiNTURE AT PLAY. A mdsadven/ture occurred on Monday to a .Newport third standard schoolboy, named Lancelot Snowden. Whilst out at play in the yard of Stow Hill Schools he had the ) thick part of one of his hands cnt right through with a small knife. A GIRL'S OFFENCE AT CARDIFF. At Cardiff on Saturday (before Messrs. F. J. Beavan and J. H. Hallett) Matilda, Stubbs, 22, was fined £10 and costs, or two months, for keeping a disorderly house on Canal- parade. Evidence of the offence alieged was given by Polioe-conBtables Watkins and Evans. SWANSEA CHAPEL OFFERED FOR- SALE. The Castle-street Congregational Obapel, Swansea, was on Tuesday offered by auction by Mr. W. J. Rees. for Messrs. James and James, the congregation having removed to the Countess of Huntingdon's Chapel in St. Helen'e-road. The property wa-s withdrawn at £4,000. SHORT CUT TO WORK. Twenty defendants were summoned at Ystradon Monday for trespassing on the Taff Vale Railway at Tynewydd, Treherbert. Mr. Cyril Brown (Messrs. Ingledew and Sons) prosecuted on behalf of the company. It was another rose of a short cut to work. Fines varying from 5s. to 20s. were inflicted. CLERGYMAN AND MONEY-LENDER. The Rev. F. H. Lovibond, rector of How Caple, near Ross, was sued at Ross County- court on Saturday on a judgment summons by Mr. Woolf Jackson, a money-lender of Manchester.—His Honour made a new order of 5s. per month, but allowed no fees. ALDERMAN BEAR AND THE DONKEY. To four young men who were found in a fight in Shaftesbury-street on Whit-Monday, after hiring in the Winning Horse Alderman Bear at New-port on Monday said, "Instead of going to the 'Winning Horse' next time, go to the losing donkey,' or stop out of all of thorn." DRUNKENNESS NO EXCUSE. John Pullen, 6, Hill-road, Pontlottyn, was charged at Merthyr on Tuesday with stealing a watch and chain, value £4 193., the property of James Wakeham. The prisoner pleaded guilty, saying tha.t he ■was drun.k at the time and did not know what he wa-s about. He was sent to gaol for fourteen days. THEFT OF SEAMAN'S BAG AT SWANSEA. John Sullivan, a fireman, was charged at Swansea on Tuesday with stealing a sea- man's bag of clothes, value £2, from the steamship Thirlmere, the property of E. Lincoln.—The prisoner was found taking the bag of a brother fireman ashore by the mate, with whom he had a scuffle.—1The defendant was sentenced to a month. EXCITING FIRE ALARM. A fire alarm caused much excitement at Briton Ferry on Sunday evening. The out- break occurred at the Baglan Bay Tin- works, and the shrieking of the siren and fire alarm, combined with a lurid glare which suggested a serious conflagration, very soon attracted a large crowd. The bright flare had its origin in the ignition of the oil in one of the tinning-pots, but the outbreak was quelled without the assistance of the brigade, who had attended. A STOLEN TEA SET. Margaret Morrisey, a well-dressed married woman, of Olydaeh Vale, was charged at Ystrad on Monday with stealing a tea set of 40 pieces, a meat dish, and a fruit and flower stand, valued a.t £2 the property of a local tradesman. The prisoner admitted the offences, and expressed her regret. On the husband undertaking- to hold himself responsible for his wife's good behaviour, she was bound over to come up for judgment in twelve months. DEFRAUDING THE RAILWAY COMPANY. William James, John Hellier, and Isaac Spriggs, all of Swansea, were charged at Aberavon on Monday with travelling on the Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway without j a ticket. The defendants on the 25th ult. arrived at Swansea, and tendered between them 2s. 9d., stating that they had got in j at Aberavon, whereas they boarded the train at Blaen Rhondda. James and %priggs were fined 20e. and costs, and Hellier, who did not appear, was fined 25s. and costs. GAMTNO AT PONTYPOOL FETE. Tbopjas Young and Andrew Bridges, labourers, of Pontypool, -were summoned at Pontypool on Saturday for gaming with coins at the Pontypool fete on Whit-Monday Polioe-oonstable Tripp said tha.t he saw defendant manipulating some dice a* tvhe back of a tcni, and inciting a crowd of young boys to gamble. He wa.tohed the proceedings for some time, and saw that the defendants' chances of winning were five to one. Defendants pleaded guilty, and were fined 20s. each. "THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN" Thomas Durbin surrendeml to his bail at Barry Police-court on Monday charged with breaking and entering a carpenter's shop, the property of the Barry Railway Company at Barry, and stealing five chisels P o 1 ice-sergoan t Taye aad Thomas Sayce repeated their evidence; and Wilfred Laylan shipwright, identified the ohiseis produced' The Bench considered the circumstances suspicious, but not strong enough to convict Defendant: Thank you, gentlemen; good morning. CARDIFF MEN'S THEFT. Gharlas Ash, 26, Leokwith-piace; Albert, Carver, 150, Woodville-road; William Pearce, 12, Brook-street; a.nd David Shanley, 19. Orchard-pLace, all of Cardiff, were charged at Aberavon on Monday with stealing a quantity of wire, the property of Messrs. J. B. Saunders and Co., Cardiff, from the South Wales Mineral Railway line at Toniioawr between the 1st and 4th inst. Carver was fined £2, Ash £1, and Pearce and Shanley were bound over under the First Offenders Aot. NEGLECTED OPPORTUNITY. John Bansey and his wife, Mary Bansey, of Greenfields, Taibach, appeared on remand at Aberavon on Monday charged with neffleot- ing their ohildren. Inspector Best, Port Talbot, said that for some time after the adjournment the condi- tions greatly improved, but recently the neglect continued. He had visited the house five times, and on Friday last found the children dirty and verminous and the rooms a,nd bed filthy. The Bench sentenced the wife to three months' imprisonment. DOWLAIS MEN'S FAMILIES. A batch of Dowlais men were brought before the Merthyr magistrates on Tuesday charged by Mr. Llewellyn Richards, warrant officer to the guardians, with neglect of maintenance, and they were each committed to prison for a month. Timothy Donovan owed JB11 2s. for the maintenance of has four children, Daniel Morgan £11 for the mainten- ance of his wife and three chakkren., William Sailleasey .£28 16e. for the marntemanice cf his three children, and David Howelle £5 6a for the maintenance of his wife and two children. WILLING TO "SWING FOR HIM." Catherine Lynch, aged 28, was charged at Swansea Police-court on Tuesday with steal- ing 7s. 6d, from the pea-son of David Jones at Mansel George's Steps. The prosecutor, a Ma.e..cJIteg collier, got into the ooanpanoy of defendant and two other women on Monday, and rtbe result was that he lost his money. The prisoner, who had been convicted 41 times previously, denied the offence, and said, I don't go with a dirty little scamp like that." When sentenced to two months, she said, I'll swing for him when I come out." MOTHER SENT TO PRISON. Mr. W. Spickett (Messrs. Spickett and Sons, Pomtypridd) prosecuted David and Elizabeth Davies at Yetrad on Monday, on behalf oi the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, for neglecting two of their children, one being a girl twelve years of age. Inspector John Thomas said he paid several visits to the house of the accused at Treherbert. The children slept on a mat- tress which was in a dirty state. The female prisoner was sent to gaol for a montih without hard labour, and the father was discharged. WHY THE SUMMONS WAS WITHDRAWN. The adjourned summons by Louisa Haven against George Williams, of Bath, to show cause, Ac., was down for hearing before the Newport justices on Monday, but when the case was called the complainant came for- ward and said she wished to withdraw the oase as they had, einioe the adjournment been married. Alderman Bear, the chairman, said he was very glad to know the complainant had been able to persuade the defendant to that way of thinking, and the magistrates had much pleasure in allowing the summons to be withdrawn. A POINT OF COMPENSATION. The claim for compensation made by Thomas amd Sarah Bowen, Biurry port against Elliott's Metal Company was aigain mentioned before Judge Bishop at Llan- elly Ooumty-ooort on Monday. Mr. Bowen Davies (insta-noted by Messrs Edwardg asd Co., Swansea) appeared for the respondents, aaid said that his application at the last court was t,hat a sum of £16 15a. id should be deducted from the award of £100. Notwithstanding the statement made by his honour, the money had not been refunded CboimwrmoatAons had passed between M r: Bdwaaade and M-r. Howell (the latter represent- ing the apfpLksamts), and Mr. Howedl informed Mr. -Varagtaan Bdiwowte tiuut if the deduction. [ of aanosmt vwae made am areeaticm [ of tbtiø aanosmt vwae made am areeaticm

SENGHENYDD STRIKE ENDED. WORK RESUMED BY THE MEN ON SUNDAY. The Sengihenydd strike ended on Sunday bythe night men resuming work. At the „ which decided upon the resumption wf9 a distinct desire on the part of many of the men to prolong the °wing to the minors' agent (Mr Hubert Jenkine) not being rooognis^ n bytfie management, but the desire was over. DELEGATES' MEETINGS AT SWAN- SEA. A monthly meeting of the Western District Miners delegates was held at the Cafe Monaco, Swansea, on Saturday, but had to be adjourned for a week owing to the abeetnee of officials, Ac., M, an International Confer etnee in France. A meeting of the Anthracite Miners' Dis- trict ivae also held at Swansea on Saturday Mr. W. E. Jon-ee presiding, when about forty delegates, representing 10,000 men, were present. The bdsdness dealt with various disputes in the district.

would at once be put in for tihe full amount. The money had been paid in full in conse- quence of this threat. His Honour refused the application. CHESTER CUP DAY OFFENCE. John Meredith, 33. Crumlin, described as a bookmaker, was charged at Tredegar on Monday with frequenting the streets at Elliotejtown and Cwmsyfioj on the 15th of May for the purposes of bookmaking and betting. Mr. H. S. Lyne, Newport, prosecuted, and Mr. L. H. Hornby, Newport, defended. Podioe-oonsstable Wilkes stated that on the morning of May 13, Chester Cup day, he saw defendant on the Bedwellty-road, Cwmsyfiog, speaking to Joseph Coles, of Brithdir. Slips paissed between them, and Meredith entered something in a book. Police-sergeant Humphreys stated that when he arrested prisoner he had in his possession 55 slips, two betting books, three betting accounts, and JE17 19s. 6d. in money. The Bench imposed a fine of L5 and five guineas costs. WENT TO MAESTEG INSTEAD OF AMERICA. Margaret Ann Thomas, 8, Low-row, Owm- avon. summoned her husband, Thomas Thomas, at Aberavon on Monday for main- tenance. Mr. Lewis M. Thomas, who appeared for the complainant, -said defendant left his wifg four years ago, and had only sent her 28, since. He had written that he was going to America, but America turned out in tfcis instance to be Maesteg. From information given, complainant wp..t. to Maesteg. and there found defendant living with another woman. Defendant said, "I have made the broth, and I am going to drink it." Those facts were borne out by complai- nant. The Bench made an order of 10s. per week against defendant. MOTHER IN BED DRUNK. Emily Fowler, wife of Henry Fowler, 5, Station-terrace, Pon.trliydyfen, near Port Talbot, was charged at Aberavon on Monday with neglecting her child. Mr. E. F. Evans prosecuted on behalf of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Inspector Best, Port Talbot, said the hus- band was a good man, and gave his wife £ 2 a week. Defendant neglected her child in consequence of the drinking habit. On May 5 he (witness) found her in bed drunk, and her baby, as black as coal from neglect, in charge of a neighbour. Defendant wrus sent to gaol for six months for neglecting her child, one month for being drunk, and fined 10s. and costs, or ten days, for using bad language, the sentences to run concurrently. PRUDENCE RECOMMENDED FOR MOTORIST. Rowland Sully, Penarth-road, Cardiff, was summoned at I/landaff on Monday with negli- gently driving a motor-car. Police-constable Cole said that on the 27th of last month he saw the defendant driving a motor-car at the rate of about twenty miles an hour. He passed the Caerau cross reads without giving any signal of hie approach. There were several cyclists about I at the time. Mr. Phoenix (Messrs. Cousins, Botsford, and Phoenix), who appeared for the defendant, said he was instructed that the speed at which the defendant was driving was not moire than ten miles an hour. He dad not tihink it necessaa-y to blow the horn when passing by cross roads, but at Culverhouse Cross he sounded it. Colonel Woods stated that the Bench could not find that the defendant was guilty of reckless driving, but it would have been prudent if he had blown the horn when passing cross roads, whatever speed he was driving. The case was dismissed. WHEN EXCHANGE IS ROBBERY. Herbert Oox and George Davies, two tramp- ing labourers, were charged at Newport on Tuesday with stealing a. coat and pockcft-book at Redwick on Monday, valued at 6s., the pcroperty of William WaJters. Prosecutor I said he left his coat on a fence near his cottage while he went to do some work, and when he rertiUrnoo the coat was missing and I another one put in its place. He overtook the men on the road, amd found Cox wearing the coat. Oox said he took the coat, think- mg it did not belong to anyone, because it was better than the one he was wetbrlny, ajwl I put his own ion Its place. Both prisoners were found guilty, and fined 40s. each, or one month.