The Cardiff Times

LETTER FROM THE FATHER OF JAMES HENttY GIBBS. To the Editor of the CARDIFF TIMES. DEAR SIR,—I wish you to know that I contradicted about my expenses being defrayed by the farmers of t. Mellons, but at Monmouthshire the High Sheriff left me lOs, and the people of Monmouth, through the kindness a dear friend, gathered me the sum of il los 8d, ind there w.«s a few shillings more, which I shall ever thank tbetn for. I thought it no more than right to let you Ww of this. There is more falsehoods than truth in the Papers. I am truly sorry to be writing about such things, a« we are very low in spirits.—I remain, yours truly, Richmond, August 24th, 1 74. J. GIBBS.

) STABBING CASE AT ST. MELLONS. At the Newport County Petty-sessions on Saturday-, Wore Messrs. Gratrex, Cartwright, L. A. Fomfray, and T. LL Brewer, Joseph Trott. a youth, was committed for ttial at the next Quarter Sessions, for stabbing Philip Morgan in the thigh with a knife. The prisoner, for r Mr. George Batchelor appeared, was tr^passing in the fields on complainant's father's farm, for the purpose of gathering mushrooms. An altercation ensued, when the eomplainant was stabbed. The wound bled profusely, but was not regarded as serious by Mr. Jackson, assis- tabt Burgeon, at Cardiff, who dressed it. Prisoner was admitted to bail

THE MANSLAUGHTER AT NEWPORT. On Wednesday, before Messrs Gething, Phillips, and Wansbrough, at the Borough Police-court, Thomas Biahop was charged on remand with assaulting and kil- ling James Cairns. Mr Robert Graham, solicitor, ap- Peared tor the prisoner. There was really no defence set Up, an(j Mr Graham deemed it prudent to say nothing. Prisoner was committed for trial at the next Assize-. Bail was accepted for his appearance. Tbe coroner Mr Brewer, was present, and also offered to accept substan- tial baif for the prisoner's appearance at the Assizes.

THE FUNERAL OF THE BARON DE RUTZEN.. t, The mortal remains of the late Baron de Rutzen, for- merly of-Slebech Hall, Pembrokeshire arrived at Haver- fordwest from Dresden by tbe mail tram on Tuesday •lorriinff. From thence they were conveyed to the family *ault in Slebech Church, followed by four sons and one daughter of the deceased. Baron de llutzen had been so Jon? absent on the Continent that he was searcelyknown «ie younger inhabitants of Ha/erfordwest, but to the Middle-aged residents of the town his stately form and dashing equipage are still well remembered.

ISFANTILE WASTING AND DEBILITY OF CHILDKEX *08T STCCESSFULIIY TREATED WITH liR. DB. DE JoNSH S LlOHT S*OWN COD LIVIEE OIL.—Mr. Thomas Hunt, Surgeon to TH. ^eUern Dispensary fo.i Diseases of the Skin, writes: Jto badly Nourished infants, i)r. de Jot.gh'sLigW-Browa Loi Liver Oi lis Valuable. The rapidity with which two or three will fatten a voanff child is astounding. The weight «ain d i» three time, the weight of the Oil swallowed or more as children generally liae the taste ol Dr. de Jongh -> Od 8.Jad when it is given them, often cry for more, It appears a ^°1s?h there was some p-oapeet of deli srance fo1* the 1 J°Uititude of children who figure in t o w.fctvijilU of m irtflKty issued from th office of th < Rtgistrar-General. Dr. D.^ U. crol •^•uthor of "Handbook for the Nursery,' writes Drd* Jongh'g Li ht-Brown Cod Liver Oil is almo-t soeciflc in man> ofth diseases peculiar to i- fancy and liildhoocl, and I have benefit produced by its us9. Patients prefer i, to jhe pails Qj]b. an(j are able to retain it more comfortably. Dr. Jonirh's Light-Brown Cod Liver Oil is gold only in capsuled 1oiper1al half-pints 2s. 6d. pints, 4s. 9d.; quarts, 9s.; with hi3 and signature, and the signature of his sols cor,s;eneesou label under wrapper, by all respectable chemists. Sele »• Xnsir, HaWord aad Co., 77, 8«Mnd, 1W

RAILWAY COMPANY MEETINGS. TAFF VALE. The half-yearly fjeneral meeting of the shareholders of tie above Company was held on Tuesday, at the Hoyal Hotel, College Green. Mr W. D. Bushelt, the deputy- chairman ot the directors, presided. There were alto present, Messrs. 1 £ G. Burroughs, J. Deny, J. lv. Homfray, ii. C. i.*ould, »S. Jonei, J. 0. Riches, A- Warren, 1? Marcam, Mr F. Marwood, secretary, Mr G. Fisher, C E., engineer and general manager, and about 30 of the shAreholdeM. The seal of the Company was hxed to the register of shareholders, and the secretary, Mr Marwood, then read the report, which has already ap- peared. The GHAIBKAN, in moving the adoption of the report and statement of accounts which had just been read, said that it was MM first duty to apo- logise for the absence of the Chairman, Dr. Nicboll Carne. He had just received a telegram from Dr. Carne, saying, I have just arrived at Cardiff, but too unwell to go. I shall be unable to attend the meeting." The consequence was that the duty of presid- ing at the meetiug hast fallen on him, and he had to ap- pear as that gentleman's substitute. He need not tell thenit iat this was a matter ot great anxiety to him m being suddenly and unexpectedly called upon to nil the position, and he trusted that he should receive their favourable consideration in the discharge of a duty which had so suddenly fallen upon him. in moving the adop tion of the report he hoped they would share with him in the satisfaction that tiiey were still able to give the same dividend as before. There had been great, ciuiicultirs to contend with during the past half-year, in the uncertain stale of trade, arising from various causes, the uncertain ■relations between masters and men, causing, a dirni-1 nutiqn in the supply of coal during tue strides not only here, but the import trade has been affected from the same cause in the supply of hematite ore. This matter had engaged the seriou? consideration of the directors how best to meet the difficulty, and it was still, he was happy to say, a source of satisfaction that they had been auie to maiutaiu their dividend, while so many of their neighbours, under simitar circumstances, had had to diminish (hear). The dividend reicained the same, he was happy to say, although they had to pay £3.68d:more than for the corresponding period of last year. They began the half-year with a balance of £1,94;); but they now proposed to reserve as a balance for next half year £5,64\:1, so that he hoped they would have a little ,shot in the locker in the event of bad times coding again (hear, hear). The receipts from the mineral traffic had been con- siderably reduced, being £ 140,u09 for the past half year, as compared witü£150,6;;9at this time last year being practi- cally a decrease of 810,000; but he was bound to say that by far the larger proportion of this was lost last June during thestrikes to whichhehad referred their source of income depended so much on the coal trade. H" was glad to see that he had his friend, Mr J. O. itiches, present, who re- presented one of the most important concerns connected with the coal trade, and he (Mr Riches) would corroborate what he said with reference to the great difficulties that had been experienced in carryiug ou thecual trade, one of the staple industries of the country. It was a source of satisfaction that they had hitherto been ab.'e to carry on so well, and he hoped that they should be able to do so in the future, and a still larger demand would be made up on their resources. His friend, Mr. S. Miles, was open- ing up some new woiks, and he would require the produce to be carried to market. With reference to the debenture stock, the directors had made great efforts to issue btock shares in place of bonds, so1 as to convert the debenture stock into a permanent stock. The aver- age rate of interest paid on the debenture stock and bonds last June was £ 4 Od 5id, as against £4 Is "Jd for June, IS7a. Now with regard to the large works con- structed here, the new basin, promoted and constructed by Lord Bute, was completed and opened for traffic. '1 he Taff Vale Railway Company had access thereto, and it would form a great addition to the accommodation hitherto provided for the development of the mineral trade of the district in the export of coal. In the last report mention was made of the largely increased works in the iihondda Valley. The coal trade had increased rapidly, s6 had the population. To meet these require- ments they had largely increased their rolling stock, and they had also added a number of new railway carriages, and he was happy to say that he believed that they were proceeding in the right direction. In the half-year ending June, 1873, they carried 657,802 passengers'; during the past half-year they had carried 777,373 persons, being .an increase of 119,571, or about one-sixth more, or about 17 per cent. With reference to the C shares, a special meeting would be held as soon as the general meeting was concluded, and if any share- holder sent* in his certificates they would be oonverted into ordinary stock. The great item of deficiency was the Penarth account. There they had had also a great deficiency of export trade, and also of the import trade but this had now gone over, and they hoped to go on more satisfactory in the future. He concluded by ex- pressing his readiness to answer any question a share- holder might desire to put him. Mr. PERKY seconded the adoptioh of the report with great pleasure, and while regretting the absence of Mr Nicholl Carne, the Chairman of the Directors, they were fortunate in having so excellent a .substitute in their resi- dent director, Mr Bushell (hear, hear). The whole of the affairs of the company nad been very plainly stated by their Chairman, and he was quite certain that it was a source of great satisfaction to them that they had been able to retain still their ten per cent. dividend. The pro- perty of the Company was so high that he did not think that it could be equalled by any railway company in tbe three kingdoms. It was true that they had no bonus this time, but they had carried over a very large sum to the reserve fund, and he was quite bure if they had no strikes, arid did a fair trade, they would have a good bonus. Ko one, he was sure, objected to a bonus, but no one would desire to have a bonus if it would in any way the good working of the Company. b Mr. ALGERNON WARREN said he thought every share- holder had been perfectly satisfied with the conduct of the directors during the past year, but he felt bouud some time since to call the attention of the directors to the largely increasing working expenses, and while they were very liberal in their payments to the men for wages, and while atso,there had been a general rise of wages throughout the country, he thought the time had come when they ought to make a stand. The gross receipts were something like .£11,000 less, and the expense of ob- tainiuy that £19,000 more. Mr.ULCHES thought that the 10 per cent, dividend should. under the circumstances, give satisfaction to every share- holder. He believed owing to the uncertain state of trade the Tpff Vale Kailway Company had been placed in ,a difficult position, but he could not see any cause now why the prosperity it had enjoyed should not continue. It had long been considered the most successful Kailway Company, and he believed it would continue to be so. He believed that at the commencement of the present year the traffic on the railway had so increased that the resources of the Company were taxed to the utmost to meet it; but the officials of the Company did everything in their power to meet thb requirements of the merchants and shippers. Had that prosperity continued he believed that their resources would have been inadequate, and at one time there were few large collieries, certainly their own among the others, who had not to wait more or less for rolling stock, ani had not the Powell lJuffryn Steam Coal Company, and Messrs. Mixons, two of their largest colliery proprietors, directed their traffic for some reason to the lihymney Railway, he really believed that they would have broken down under the pressure that would have been put on them. He be- lieved that there was no Kailway Company so well managed as the Taff Vale Railway, and they were very much indebted to the officials for the manner inwhich the traffic had been managed (bear, hear). He referred to the statement of Mr Warren, that the wages paid te the men were high, but considered, considering the class of men, it was surprising to him that tley obtained such a class of men at the rate of wages paid by the Company. He also reminded the Company that there were 46 new collieries being sunk within a short distance from their railway, and these were not small collieries, as were formerly the case, but large ones, involving capital to the extent of hun- dreds of thousands of pounds each. With regard to Penarth, they had expended je820,000 for dock accommodation and railways, but before the dock would be fairly remunerated, it would have to be enlarged. It must be made available for largely-increased accommoda- tion. The CHAIRMAN having replied, the report was then put to the meeting, an I carried unanimously. Messrs. Perry, Homf ray, and Burroughs, the directors, who retired by rotation, were re-elected. A special general meeting was then held, when a reso- lution was passed authorising the directors to convert the #23,270 C JBlO shares into capital stock, and that in future they-rank in all respects as capital of theCom- pany. A vote of the directors for the very able manner in which they had conducted the affairs of the Company during the past half year closed the meeting. LLANTBISANT AND TAFF VALE JUNCTION COMPANY. The half-yearly meeting of shareholders of this Com- pany was then held, under the presidency of Mr W. D. Bushell. Mr Marwood, the secretary, read the follow- ing report, which was formally adopted, and the meeting closed The directors submit the usual statements of account for the half-year to the 30th June last, and the certificates of the engineer and the auditors. The junction with the Ely branch of the Great Western re- ferred to in the Company's Act of 1873 has been com- pleted, and is now ready for the interchange of traffic.— WTII.IAM DONE BUSHELL, Chairman. WILLIAM ^RE VALLEY RAILWAY. The half-yearly meeting of the shareholders of this Company was then held, Mr W. D. Bushell in the chair. The following report was read by Mr Marwood, the Se^Th7di7ectors now submit the usual: statements of account for the half-year to the 30th June last, and the certificates of the engineer and the auditors. IVILLIAM DONE BOSHELL, Chairman." „ The report was adopted, and the meetmg separated. TAFF VALE WAGGON COMPANY. The half-yearly meeting of this Company was also held, Mr Crosby Leonard presiding in the absence of the Chairman. The secretary, Mr D. Roberts, read the following report, The Directors present the usual half-yearly state- ment of accounts made up to 30th June last. A pur- chase of 48 "A" and 4 "B" shares wasmade in Feb- ruary last, amounting to £ 504, as shown by the redemp- tion fund account. The Taff Vale Railway Company now hold on call £ 32,05410s lid at 4 per cent, per annum. The directors remind the proprietors that the shares will be paid off and the Company Wound np on 31st Decem- ber next.—E. J. KUTCHINS, Chairman." Like the preceding meeting, the business was formal, confined simply to the adoption of the reports, and the proceedings only occupied a few minutes. RHlf MNEY. The half yearly meeting of the above company was held on Tuesday at the Cardiff Arms Hotel, Mr John Boyle in ,i„? chair. The minutes of the last meeting having been cl and confirmed, the report of the directors and state- iiuiit ,,1 accounts (already published in the South Wales Daily News) were submitted and taken M read. The CHAIRMAN, in moving thtir adoption, said he felt somewhat embarrassed respecting what he had to say, as the materials^ in his speech such as were generally ex pected from chairmen on such occasions were rather few. One fact to which, however, he wished to draw particular attention to, was that, notwithstanding the acnallness of the dividend 'announced, the traffic for the half-year showed that they had earned upon the whole I of their capital rather more than 'five per cent. £ 4 3s. The question would then arise—how was it that so small a proportion of that amount passed into the hands of the ordinary shareholder ? The answer was one that he had frequently stated before, and he need not again repeat it except for the purpose of explaining it. and it certainly w<is a very tcllmfii fact> viz th&t their stoolc had been raised in a very expensive mann«i—a large portion at six per cent., some at 4J, and some at 5. Of course, with so limited a traffic as theirs, little was left for the shareholders, and a great deal of the money was applied to pay off mortgages on the capital just al- luded to. The day had not yet arrived when the share- holders could enjoy any very large participation in the receipts of the Company. Strange to say about eight weeks before the end of the last year their traffic was so '$0 good that they fully hoped to pay a dividend of three percent., but during the last eight Weeks of the half yeir they melted away, thereby eating up the sum that the directors hoped to place in thenands of tne shareholders as dividend. Something stepped in as before to stop the consummation of the happy result, and the directors once more found it necessary to say that they must cut their coat according to their cloth. He need not say bow powerless they were to prevent it, and that they ceuld not help it. The labour question, which had assumed an aspectkof much importance during the last fix months, was necessarily a matter of much anxiety to the managers of undertakings of this sort; but, on the other hand, the large demands for coal at thej Docks would tell on the whole of the lines connected with them, and they could justly hope therefore that things would assume a brighter aspect by and bye. The reduction in the price of fuel also affected the receipts as usual; and it it continued would have a very favourable bearing on their accounts in the future. Pointing out how some of the items were to be accounted for in the transference of a certain article of merchandise to another class to that in which it for- merly appeared, he proceeded to explain that there was an estimated amount of foreign goods traffic taken credit for in the corresponding half-year which should have been placed previously through preceding half-years, and which, consequently, told in favour of the traffic for the half year spoken to, maJdng the current half-year, to a consider- able extent larger, suffer by comparison. There had fur- ther been a falling off in their foreign goods traffic pas- sing from Penarth Docks, as tke nature of the traffic en- sured their being sent over the Taff and London and North Western Railways; and lastly another item must be remembered in their calculations-the diminu- tion, generally, in the traffic of the kingdom. A subject which he had already touched upon, but which it ap- peared to him it would be useful to recur to when they considered their- affairs, andlooked,at, their -pr«s<|nt and future stat(5,*WaS the amount of working expenses in re- ference to the train mile travelling, When he told tbena that for the last half-year they had been earning only 3s. lfd. for the train mile, and yet their working ex- penses were not higher than the. ngure; placed' against them-no doubt, higher than the last time, but by no • means enormous—-considering the character of the tramc they carried on, the hard way it was earned—when they considered what the Taff Vale Railway was earning upon its train mile, viz., 5s. 2!d:, he clainaed, positively- claimed for them the reputation of being economically managed. He was afraid this was-rather technical, but he- wished to rtpfeat, that remembering how hard their traffic was to earn, the difficulties whieh they had to en- counter to get it, the gradients upon their tine. and other sources which made it difficult to cartfy their traffic, their eiarnings, contrasted with their working expenses, bore very favourable comparison with those of a neighbouring railway* via, thelaff vale— guing no further—which had the reputation, and de. servedly so, of being very well managed. About that time last year he believed they were enabled to announce to the shareholders that they had made a most valuable sale of materials. But at that period they had made no such large sale of old materials, at no ilueh magnificent price, and the cost of the new materials was very severe indeed. This item in particular sheuld be noted, as well as the fact that a much greater amount of road was re- laid during the palilthalf.year than there was in the corre- sponding one which was a reason why the cost of main- tehance had been so largely exceeded in comparison. they would doubtless be curious before he concluded to near what progress was made with the Taff Bargoed Railway. Without exaggeration, he believed hfl would be within bounds jf he said that in the early spring of next year it would probably be completed and opened for traffic. It had been a work of great difficulty, arising from various causes. The works themselves were hard to execute, and the weather in that region was always against the contractor, who had not been able to stand his ground as well as they could desire. They had had patience with him, and he had been enabled to go on thus far without breaking down, ani it was hoped now that things would go on smoothly. One thing only remained for him to advert to — the very serious accident which lately occurred.. Situated at a distance of about 400 miles in the north of Scotland, where he was staying for a few days, he certainly was considerably surprised to hear of an occurrence of such a nature. Under the circumstances the Company could not well afford to meet with such disasters as that. He did not suppose that, with the best opinion possible of himself, he could expect them to believe his presence there at the time would have been of any use. He felt happy to say that his judgment upon that subject had not been belied by the opinions of the Manager and Secretary, who acquitted him of any want of care or desire to help when he arrived there. He merely adverted to this for the pur- pose of vindicating in his own mind and to them the in- tense interest with which he heard of the disaster, as well' as the great anxiety with which he looked forward upon its result. His judgement, he was glad to say, had not been belied in a conversation he had had that morning with Mr Lundie and Mr Sheen. Upon the best calculation that they had been able to make up to that moment they expected that the loss to their Company when all is covered, which of course would take some time (possibly a year), would not be more than ±"3,000. That was an approximate estimate, as closely calculated as was pos- sible. Within a month from that date half the waggons would be replaced to the Dowlais Company, and the Gloucester Waggon Company had, in a very kindly spirit, said that they would not require them to pay more thon the mere cost of the repairs made to the waggons required to be sent to that Company's shop. With regard to the engines, when he said that they ran down upon their wheels after being rec- overed from the abyss into which they were, precipitated they would easily understand the injuries were not so serious as was stated in the newspapers. So far from there being a mass of old iron and brass, they were, with proper vigilance and superin- tendence, able to take them into the shops, and the in- juries were ascertained to be repairable. The speaker concluded by putting to the meetiug the formal proposi- tion. Mr. C. H. JAKES seconded the adoption of the report. For the present their prospects, iu his opinion, were as dark as ever. Their position at present was this: they had been spending largely on lines that were unproduc- tive. Up to the end of the last half year he thought they expended something like £60,000, upon which uiey did not receive one half-penny. There was no traffic in respect of it. The money was gone, they paid. their interest regularly, and all they had to show for it was a track of line upon which an engine had not yet run. But, supposing that this .£60,000 had been fructify- ing themselves in the ordinary course of things, and as would be the case by and bye (laughter), there woùld; have been something to show. A line was m&le; they had earned nothing upon it, and they had paid their, ""way; and timt was, a thing, to be remembered. He would repeat—for it could nolo; be repeated too often—that autil they had a couple more of good collieries on their line they pu^ht not to expect; anything. He had seen no reason to alter this opinion." It was the duty of their Chairman to explain the items that had gone against them; but they must always reckon upon them; they would be as regular as clock- work in their recurrence. That time twelve months the same sort of thing would take place, and until they had the collieries, as he had already stated, they must not ex- pect—must not talk of a dividend. There was £60,000 gone, they were receiving nothing for the money, and a couple of collieries were wanted, which might Come eventually. There certainly was one sinking, which pos- sibly might be at work in five years (laughter)-he did not think earlier. Mr H. Cousins observed that at the last half-yearly meeting a certain learned gentleman designated him as u the perpetual shareholder. "If by that designation he meant the protesting against wasteful expenditure of money and bad management he was that individual. It would have given him much pleasure if he could have congratu- lated his brother shareholders on the report presented. But this unfortunately he could pot do. He then pro- ceeded to pass some severe strictures upon the tabulated statements laid before them, prefacing his remarks by alluding to the dividends paid by other surrounding com- panies in contradistinction to the very low per-centage paid by them. The revenue account showed that there was a comparative half yearly increase in the traffic of over JE2,000, but to earn that sum their expenditure was over £ 2,000 more, and there was a loss on the earnings. The expenses in the locomotive department were excessively heavy, and after quoting elaborate statistics in support of his views, he concluded by reading the annexed para- graph from so great an authority" as Herapath, ex- pressing his thorough acquiescence in it. The progress of the lihymney Railway is most1 ex- traordinary, and deserves special notice. Many years ago this little line was pitted against the prosperous Taff Vale, and people said if it did not quite knock the old line up, it would at. least run away with much of its traffic, and would be alongside the Taff Vale in. pro- sperity. But how stands the case in 1874 ? The Taff Vale is better than ever; while the Rhymney presents its share- holders with only 1 per cent, per annum dividend for the past half-year; yet its traffic has very fairly increased. For the June half of 1863, 11 years ago, it paid per cent, per annum dividend, and had a gross revenue of £ 25,665, with £ 9,124 working ex- pense. For the past June half-year the gross revenue is £ 56,282, the working expense £ 29,675, and the dividend, percent. Such figures are hardly credible. In the period named the gross revenue has more than doubled; it has risen from £25,665 to £56,282, but the working ex- penses haye gone up from £9.124 to i'29,675; the dividend has descended from 2l to a miserable 1 per, cent. We should say that after the line paid. 2k per cent. in the first half of 1863. it yielded, and yielded for years. 3 per cent, dividend, while now, with a much larger gross revenue, it gives but 1 per cent. dividend! Well, is there not a' cause for it? You could not expect coals would go up to the fabulous price they have reached, and such a line as the.Rhymney not be affected thereby. Such may be the language ot the uninformed, la the first place, how is it that the Taff Vale has con- tinued prosperous under similar circumstances ? In the next place, coals iu the past half-year have not gone up in ooit to the Comoany; yet the dividend has sunk, comparing the June half of 1874 with the June half of 1873. Coals in the locomotive department have cest the Company m the past half-year only JB4 532 against JB6,980 in the corresponding June, 1S73, six months yet the total working expenses are !:29,675in the June half of 1874, against .£26,853,.June. 1873, the gross revenue being £ 56,282 against £ o3,943. What on earth can be the reason of ife? accounts do not leave us long in doubt. Nevertheless they excite our wonder. in doubt. Nevertheless they excite our wonder. The maintenance of way charge comes to £6,6i5, against £3,;)15, June, 1873. This large item is nearly I doubled! The wages in the maintenance department com.etoJB2.922, against £ 2,455^—a small increase. It is the item materials' which is the formidable ifigure herein. These materials have cost .£2,693 against! £550 nearly five times the amount! The excess charge for materials in the permanent way account is £ 2,143, while j the whole one per cent dividend absorbs but .£1,380. I Then they have spent double the amount in repairs of roads, &c., namely, J3586 against £254, and repairs of stations, &c, JE444 against .£234, the total for maintenance beiDg, as we have said, J66,645 against .£3,516. And in the locomotive power account, while the wages for repairs are but a trine more, the materials are £ 1,620 against £ 772—again double! Tbe materials for the repair of waggons, J6518 against.£222-fnll double. The traffic expenses only about the same, to wit £5,853 against £ 5,797. The general charge a fraction more, £2,218 agaiaetJ32,0?6. This Company has been always going to do, but never doing, we mean any good for its proprietors. It is a most promising affair. Several shareholders followed, criticising details at some length, the purport of whose remarks were embodied by the Chairman in his subsequent reply. Amongst others, Mr. THOMAS, one of the shareholders who was present, and who was formerly in the service of the Company, asked some questions relative to some alleged adverse statements made by the Chairman respect- ing him at a preceding meeting. Mr. DA TIS, junior, remarked that in common with the other shareholders he felt a good deal discouraged at the position of the Company. At several of their meet- ings the position of the Company had excited a good deal of interest, and was very much debated. At one of their meetings at Bristol Mr. Menelaus came forward, and gave them the very same sort of comfort as that bestowed that day by Mr. James. He told them virtually that there was so much money spent that their paURa was hopeless, and so on. They should not even talk of a dividend, and indeed,if they were to take Mr Menelaus as a true prophet, they would never look for one. They would be going on for the next twenty years, as in the past, and they would be doing work for the public and getting nothing for it. If, however, Mr. Menelaus' statements were true, who had done the mischief ? If the money had I been spent: if, during the last 20 years, the directors had been going on spending hundreds of thousands of pounds, until their capital at that time, he understood, was over a million—then the persons doing the mischief ought to be responsible for it. After 20 years' undisputed manage- ment of the company without any interference in the slightest degree on the part of the shareholders, though it might be painful to them and very disagreeable to the shareholders, the directors must not be surprised if the latter came forward and expressed their anxiety as to the state: of the line, and their desire to see some improve- ment in it. It seemed to hiip that for a line of that distance the expenditure on it was perfectly monstrous. And what for ? Merely, as far as they could judge, for the purpose of throwing money away. A line was made, and then abandoned. And now the directors came to them (the shareholders) with a proposition that they should still confide their interests to their care and after all this money was thrown away, that they should -blindly vote away a lot more money. What he should like to know, before the resolution referring to the rcreation of new shares was passed. He ventured to say iOU the part of the shareholders that they knew nothing of the affairs of the company, and the only shareholder who had ventured to come forward to take an active part -in the matter had had every difficulty set in his way. He :alluded to Mr. Cousens. When he applied for a list of .the shareholders he could not get it. It was now time to speak out as to the way in which the company's affairs were :mana,ged by the directors. At the last meeting a point had been made of the change in the personnel ot the staff, and they were led to look forward to a course of successful management, and that the bad management would be done away with. What did they see ? During the last half-year one of the most serious accidents had happened, and at thq present time there was no explana- Jiation forthcoming of how it happened, although it was of sufficient importance to deprive them during the next couple of halt-years or couple of years of all chance of a dividend. Now, with regard to the general management of the cimpany, he must express much dissatisfaction #ith it. It was looked on as being radically bad, and he had heard maintained over and over again that it would have been far better if, when Mr. Thomas had to leave the service of the company upon so short a notice as that given him, it would have been far better if Mr Lundie had left, and he certainly thought it was hard treatment to discharge Mr Thomas at a moment's notice simply because it was Mr Lundie'e wish. Mr BOYLE, in replying to all queries put and allega- tions made, prefaced his observations by saying that 011 his own part and on behalf of his brother directors he was not disposed to complain in the slightest degree res- pecting what had been said. It was most natural, and indeed mojt desirable, that on an occasion of this sort the fullest discussion should take place and the fullest eluci- dation made of a the affairs of the Cumpany, in which all had in one. sense an equal interest, and it would ill-become the directors, holding the position of managers of that undertaking, to withhold in the smallest degree the smallest amount of information required. He therefore felt no surprise as to the topics discussed, but would humbly and trust- fully venture to submit his explanation. On the main topic which had been adverted to by so many speakers, on that as on many previous occasions (and of which he did not at all complain), respecting the bad management, he wished to ask them why they did not change it entirely ? Why did they not displace from the tieats of the direction the present body of men who were managing their affairs, if they entertained the sincere cenviciiou that they were unable to discharge their duties ? If that conviction was sincere and strong, surely it was their duty as well as their interest to adopt that course. For his part, whatever interest he might feel in the undertaking, which was only second, of course, to that which he felt in Lord Bute's affairs, he would be very glad, indeed, if the shareholders would substitute an entirely new body of directors, in lieu of the present one, because he should be saved a great deal of anxiety, and trouble, and thought, and he did not, doubt his brother direc- tors coincided with what he said. As to the most telling imputation of extravagance in the management made by Mr. Cousens, they had heard that before. He did not complain at re-hearing it, because Mr. Cousens had the earntst conviction that it was the case. But individually he did not see that Mr. Cousens had made out what he asserted. Perhaps it was a want of perspicacity of view on his part, but, nevertheless, he would meet the charge with a direct negation. He denied the fact, and referred in proof to several observations he had made in his address on moving the adoption of the report, where he contrasted the items in their management with those of another company. He ,only hoped that if the new directors were replaced by others they would succeed in making the management more economical. He himself disbelieved in the possibility. Another point made by Mr. Couaen, and which ought to be noticed, was the cost .f the coals used upon their line in respect of the working expenses. When he told them that he had obtained from the manager that day the cost of the coal per train mile on the Taff Vale Railway, he would claim from them a full acquittal on the charge of mismanagement and ex- travagance, When he said what the figures were, and looked at what they had done for their own poor return- such as it was not to poor in view of its being .£4 3s. on the whole of the management—he said that looking upon the amount of the cost of coal per train mile, and contrasting it with the; Taff Vale, he claimed an acquittal, the figures being as 3 against 4 upon 40. xvlr. COUSINS here explained that there was a misap- prehension on the part of Mr. iioyle that he had pro- tested against these items. The CHAIRMAN continued—He did not stop Mr. Cousins reading the article from Herapath. Herapath had al- ways done his best to damage that line. He would not stay to enquire why. But it seemed to him a matter of bad taste and a great pity that the extract should have been read in a public meeting where reporters were present, as it was simpiy damaging .their property. AIr; Davis, sen., in his remarks, looked upon it as a gigantic blot, the creation of a jomt line by Cefn Onn to Car- diff- But in this step he argued at some length they had no option. It was absolutely forced upon them, to save their individuality and existence as-a railway company. Mr Davis was also mistaken in regard to tbe bank from Caerphilly to Walnut Tree Bridge. That they made and still used. Where then was the loss ? No doubt it became a much more expensive one than they first anticipated. But the line was used at that time, and would go on increasing. Briefly commenting on some particulars relevant to the formation of this line, &c, the Chairman passed on to Mr. Thomas's remarks—the gentleinah who had been in the employment of the Com- pany and inasmuch as he should always wish to treat others as he hoped to be treated himself, he could not for a moment refuse to answer the question put to him. The words read were correctly quoted from a speech he had made at a meeting in December, 1873, and had reference to him, and the change which the directors had effected under the advice of the manager in the personnel of the Company's staff; and the directors, he was wishful to say were perfectly readv to stand by the course they had thought fit to take, and which they had no hesitation In stating was a wise arrangement. Mr. THOMAS, on being asked by the Chairman to put to him any question on the matter, declined to avail himself of the courtesy. The CHAIRMAN resumed Mr Charles Thomas had fol- lowed Mr Thomas, and made some pertinent remarks on the subject of the late accident, upon which he abstained at first from making further remarks, for the very simple reason that he thought it most decent not to do so. A <- Om- miasioner (Captain Tyler) was about to be sent down bythe Board of Trade for the purpose of investigating the whore question, and he had deemed it would be a little out of place to call upon the directors at that moment, and on that account, to say what they thought or believed on the subject. But should the shareholders think differently he wou'd willingly bow to their decision (no, no and the matter fell through by consent). As to the character of the de- ceased driver of the unfortunate train, Mr Lundie would give all requisite information. [Mr Lundie here entered minutely into the man's connections, stating that he was efficient, sober-he believed a teetotaller—andthoroughly experienced.] After touching briefly on the Taff and Bargoed contract, he went on to express his opinion that as stated by Mr F.G.Evans, there were prospects for them) in the local import trade, and he had done his best to facilitate it. But he did not think they could look for- ward to a very large dividend from the import trade, but rather from minerals and passengers. They had to look to the necessity some day, not very far distant of making the line double from top to bottom. It was not double, now; 13 miles were still to be made double, so that at the rate of *6,000 a mile the amount of doub- ling the line would be about £ 65,000. This would not be yet, but by and bye. The Chairman next alluded to the increase in the rates of labour on their railway, and after- wards explained that the Caerphilly Branch, on which Mr. DIvis, junr., had founded some observations, might prove of use to them some day, but was forced on them by Lady Windsor. He finally replied to the imputation that obstacles had been thrownin the way of Mr Cousens in the pursuance of his investigation. This remark was hardly fair and hardly generous. Mr COUSINS Well, it is so. The CHAIRMAN Well, he was bound to take it from that gentleman's own mouth as true, but he was not aware of it. » Mr. COUSINS said that he had written to the Board of Directors, and that no reply had evef been vouchsafed to his communication. The CHAIRMAN said that that might be so, but he was personally quite unaware of the fact, and regretted that any shareholder should have been hindered in pursuing his enquiries into the Company's affairs, which he was perfectly entitled to within bounds. (Mr Cousins ex- onerated Mr Shand from all discourtesy. and expressed his high appreciation of that gentleman's invariable kind- ) ness.) After a few further remarks referring mainly to the action taken by the directors in the matter ef Mr Thomas, the Chairman sat down. The report was then adopted, as was also a resolution tor the purpose of authorising the conversion or consoli- dation into capital stocks of so many of the £5 per cent. preferential shares created under the Rhymney Rail- way (Capital and Branch) Act, 1861," and of the "JB10 £5 per cent Preference Shares of 1867," created under the "Rhymney Railway Apt, 1867," as at the date of such meeting shall have been fully paid up, and not already converted into stock, such several capital stocks to be divided amongst the holders of the said several shares, according to their respective interests therein. It was proposed by Mr. THOMAS that the directors should append to their report a statement relating to their attendance, together with an explanation of their absence from the meetings. This was seconded and carried by 10 to 2. Two resolutions were then passed, one for empowering the directors to raise £150,000 on preference shares at 5 per cent. i and another for j350,000 debentures. A considerable diseussion took place as to the advisa- bility of this course, and it was mentioned that a part of the money would be devoted to paying liabilities in con- nection with the North Western Railway Company, which had a power over their follirg stock. Mr. BOYLE said he hoped it would be the last time they would have to face such a poor prospect. A vote of thanks was unanimously accerded to the Chairman, on the proposition of Mr. CHARLES THOMAS, of Bristol, seconded by Mr. FRAJJKLEN EVANS. The meeting then concluded. ,i-

BRECON AND MERTHYR TYDFIL JUNC- TION RAILWAY COMPANY. The following report of the directors will be submitted te the half-yearly meetings of the proprietors, to be held at the City Terminus Hotel, Cannon-street, London, on Monday, the 31st of August:— "The total traffic receipts for the half year ending June 30,1874, are £37,176 7s 6d, against£39,12814s 3d for the half-year ending June 30, 1873. The re- turn per mile per week upon the 67! miles worked was £21 3s 7d, against B22 5s lid for the cor- responding period of last year. The expenditure on revenue account amounted to £30.816 4s 3d, against £27,162 3s 8d in the corresponding period of the previous year. A part only of the charge for the maintenance and renewal of rolling stock and of permanent way has been carried to the revenue account. The expenditure on revenue account is equal to 82'89 per cent of the gross receipts, against 69'41 in the corresponding period of the previous year. This percentage is still very high, in con- sequence of the great cost of coal during the half-year, the average price paid per ton being nearly 20s. A con- tract for twelve months from the 1st July has been made at 108 6d per ton, and a considerable future saving in this respect has, therefore, been secured. The net result of the half-year's working is an available income of £6,360 3s 3d, against jeil.966 10s 7d in the corresponding half of last year. Interest and dividends have been paid for the half-year as follows:—Five per cent on the rent charges and Rumney preference shares; five per cent on A debenture stwk. The surplus remaining, after pay- ment of the interest and dividends above-mentioned, is not sufficient to provide for the payment in cash of interest for the past half-year on any of the B stocks of the company. The company possessing mo further power to issue stock in lieu of the five per cent, properly payable in accord- ance with the. provisions of the scheme of 1872, such interest cannot, as on the last occasion, be provided by that means. In consequence of the insufficiency of re- venue above mentioned, it has been deemed expedient in the interest of the debenture stock holders and to prevent the waste attendant upon litigation, to seek protection from the Court of Chancery. A scheme (to extend over five years) has accordingly been filed. It may shortly be described as providing that the whole of the net revenue of the company, as far as it will go, shall be divided amongst the debenture stock holders in certain proportions and according to their statutory priorities, with a limita- tion that, if the income of the company shall be so secured as to pay the rates which were proposed by the Bill of last year, fhen such rates shall be accepted as a maximum in perpetuity. This limitation has been inserted in the hope that an agreement for the transfer or working of the line may yet be made with some one of the large companies, and for the purpose of enabling this company to take advantage of any such opportunity which may present it- self. Certain debenture stock holders have applied to the Court of Chancery and have procured the appointment of receivers, but their action has been suspended till the sense of the general body of proprietors on the scheme filed by the directors has been obtained. Should the scheme be assented to and confirmed, the functions of the re- ceivers will cease, and the suit be put an end to. The directors regret to state that an accident occurred during the half year on the company's line at Brithdir, by wuich one passenger unfortunately lost his life, and several were injured. All claims in respect of this acci- dent have been arranged and charged to the half-year's account. The uSual provision of JE250 in respect of casualties has not sufficed to meet the demands upon the fund for the half-year, and the reserve fund has-accord- ingly been trenched upon to the extent of £278 Is. An accident of a very serious nature also occurred at the Great Western Railway Company's Merthyr station, by which a passenger travelling by one of this company's trains was killed, and many others were seriously injured; in addition, great damage was done to the compatny's rolling stock. The company are advised that they are ia no way responsible for this accident, and it>is not appre- hended that any loss will be sustained in consequence cf it. The ordinary work of repairs to the locomotive and waggon stock has been vigorously proceeded with, and eleven new waggons have been rebuilt to replace the same number broken up. The permanent way has been well maintained, and 2 miles 59 chains were relaid during the half-year. No expenditure has been charged to the capital works account ia the past half-year. As notified in the last report, the Dowlais Extension Bill of the London and North-Western Railway Company was opposed, the result of the opposition being so far beneficial that the London and Nortn-Western Company were obliged to abandon the greater part of their com- peting line, and in place thereof to become joint owners of the corresponding part of this company's line, paying for the privilege either a fixed sum or a proportionate annual rent, at the option of this company. They will also pay, in addition, one-half the cost of the maintenance of the joint line. The directors have to announce that the Midland Railway Company have obtained Acts by which the Hereford Hay and Brecon and Swansea Vale Railways have become part of their system. Mr Lloyd has vacated the seat of share director, and Mr W. de Winton that of 0" Debenture Stock director. The latter has been, in accordance with the company's Act, nominated by the remaining share directors to fill the seat vacated by Mr Lloyd. It remains for the "C" Debenture Stock holders in general meeting to elect a director in place of Mr de Winton.—(Signed) A. H. PHILLPOTTS, Chairman."

SWANSEA VALE RAILWAY COMPANY. Th^i thirty ninth ordinary half-yearly meeting of this Company was held at the Company's offices, onWednesday, Mr Starling Benson in the chair. There was but a limited attendance, and the proceedings were purely formal. Mr Thomas Morley, secretary of the Company, having read the notice convening the meeting, the half- yearly report, which has already been published, was taken as read. The Chairman liioved that the report of the directors, together with the statement of accounts, be received and adopted. Seconded and carried. It was also agreed that a dividend at the rate of £6, jB5, and jM per cent per annum on the preference shares registered on the 30th of June last be declared, payable on the 10th of September next. The retiring electors, Messrs G. B.' Lloyd, Starling Benson, ahd A. M. S. Haskelyne, were re-elected, as also was Mr George Young as one of the auditors of the Company. The meeting was then ad- journed till Wednesday, the 23th of October.

THE RHYMNEY IRON COMPANY. OnWednesday, the annual general meeting of the share- holders and directors of the above company was held at the London offices, 26, Martin-lane, City. The chair- man of the company, Mr. Thomas C. Smith, presided. There was a rather limited attendance of shareholders The notice convening the meeting having been read by the secretary, the Report of the Directors was submitted to the meeting. The Chairman moved its adoption, and after a brief and desultory discussion, the resolution for its adoption and confirmation having been duly-seconded, was carried unanimously. The chairman, in accordance with the direction of the directors, next moved that a dividend of Bl 10s. on each £50, and 9s. on each j615, should be declared payable on the 12th September,which was put to the meeting and duly carried. The cus- tomary compliment to the Chairman concluded the pro- ceedings.

FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE BRECON AND MERTHYR RAILWAY. On Saturday evening as the passenger train from Brecon to Newport which passes the Pant Station about 6.15 p.m was approaching the latter place, the engine left the rails, dragging one of the carriages with it. The fireman, named John Price, living at Dolphin-street, Newport, either lumped or fell off the engine, the driver cannot say which, and received severe contusion of the thigh and skull, which caused instantaneous death. A woman, named Elizabeth Jeffreys, wife of a puddler at Ebbw Vale, who was a passenger -in the train in the foremost carriage, had her leg broken, but none of the other passengers received any injuries. Mrs. Jeffreys was conveyed to the Bruce Hotel, where she remains attended by Mr. Griffiths, surgeon, Dowlais.

EXTRAORDINARY DROWNING CASE AT COWBRIDGE. On Monday an inquest was held before Mr R. L. Reece, at the Howe MillySt. Hilary, upon the body of Mary Jane Wood, a domestic servant, aged 14 years, in the employ of Mr Henry Braddick. In consequence of the father's insinuation, the Coroner sent expressly for a doctor to view the body, and asceriain whether there were any marks of violence. Mrs. Mary Braddick, wife of the proprietor of the Mill, stated that the deceased had been in her service since the 12th of May. On Friday she saw the deceased between two and three o'clock outside the front door washing the pave- ment. Shortly after she missed the deceased, whom she had not sent anywhere. Twenty-five minutes having elapsed, she began to institute inquiries. Her hutbaad came home, and she told him of the occurrence. She wenr., in company with him and Mary Ann Deere, a dressmaker, in search of the deceased. A pond was visited three times, and at length the body of the unfor- tunate girl was discovered in it. Witness's Lusband had given the decaas-id notice to quit on Saturday, the 15th inst-. Mrs Deere said that Anue, the nurse-rn*id, told her that Jane (the deceased) said, she wou'd not go home alive without someone to carry her. Ann Davies, the nursemaid, corroborated this statement. Mrs Ann Thomas aud Mrs Ann Davies at'euded to the body. They said t'aere were no marks of violence on it. Mr. John Phillips, surgeon, Cowbridge, saw the body on that morning. He was of opinion that the girl diedtrom drowning. There was no evidence to show how the de- ceased got into the pond, and the jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical man's opinion.

IN the year 17( 7. tea was sold at 60s. the pound, a J st: iking contrast witu the present prc S.H9rDUn&n:j l'a ;ket Tea is suon^, Üeliciou" aud truly chea. Listei Local Agents is given in the paper.

THE SOUTH WALES TIN-PLATE TRADE. The foUowmgfrom the Birmingham Post is an extended report of the proceedmge m reference to which we pub- lished a brief telegram onWednesday"A dispute has for some time existed between the employers and the work men in the South Wales Ironworks, and also the Cam- brian Works, where tin and terne and galvanised sheets are produced, belonging to the firm of E. Morewood and Co., as to what rate of wages should be paid by that firm between the 6th June and the 10th August last. Between those dates the men at these extensive works were work- ing under an agreement which ultimately proved to be misunderstood on both sides. After several efforts to compromise the matter, and an abortive attempt to enter into a binding agreement of referenee, it was on the 10th of August resolved to leave it te Mr Rupert Kettle to award the rate of wages between theae two dates, and also to lay down some scheme with the view to settle in future the rate of wages and every question arising between the employers and the work- men. 1 he meeting, under this agreement, was held before the arbitrator yesterday, at the Swan Hotel, Wolverhamp- ton. As there was no basis ef agreement between the parties as to what the rate of wages should be, or as to what the question to be referred to arbitration should be when the men resumed ,work after the lock-out it became necessary that the arbitration should be pro- ceeded with strictly, and a long inquiry involving great intricacies of detail was entered into. After the arbitra- tion sitting had continued for some time, the employers made an offer that, without admitting their liability to pay any increase in the rate of wages paid provisionally between th« two dates, they would present the workmen collectively with a sum of money, for the purpose of in. creasing the funds of, or founding another society, in the nature of a provident or sick society, for the benefit of the workmen employed at either of the above-named works. After full consideration the men accepted this offer, and an agreement founded thereon was concluded. Relative to the future arrangements between the parties, the advice of the arbitrator was, that in the pre- sent transitionary state of trade no permanently satisfac- tory arrangement could be made. He expressed a hope that the turn in the trade which had already taken place would lead to an increased demand for the products of labour, and when that time arrived the men would be in a better condition than they now were to negotiate terms with their employers. He, therefore, advised them to do as much work and get as much money as they could at present prices, and when there was a really substantial and permanent improvement in trade to avail themselves in a reasonable and business-like manner of the advan- tages of their potition. The masters would, when the time arrived, be able to determine what price they could, as men of business, afford to pay; and it would not be te their interests as employers to withhold it, because they would desire to buy as much labour as they could profitably sell the product of. Mr Kettle further said that he believed, from indications which he saw, that the worst of the depression had been passed, and that both employers and workmen might look hopefully to an improvement in the immediate future. If when that time arrived they had any difficulty in adjusting wages prices, or any other terms of their trade bargains, he begged of them not to quarrel. They had already seen the disadvantage of a trial of strength, and he hoped on both sides they would be willing to accept conciliatory negotiation, and if that failed the award of an inde- pendent arbitrator—not himself, for he had enough arbi- tration work—to settle their differences, and frame their future agreements upon a satisfactory basis. "Both masters and men expressed their warm obliga- tions to the arbitrator for the trouble he had taken in the matter, and for the advice he had given, and the arbitra- tion sitting was over. During the proceedings it transpired that the tin- plate masters in different parts of South Wales have been holding meetings with a view to arrange a uniform scale of wages in that trade in the respective localities ef the Southern Principality, that they were employed at this work nearly the whole of Monday, and that particu- lars have been already agreed upon provisionally which will lead to an increase in the remuneration of certain workmen."

TRADE UNIONS, STRIKES, AND LOCK-OUTS. At the Britis Association, on Tuesday, a report pre- pared by Mr. I eoni Levy on the encouraging effects of trades unions, and on the laws of economic science, bear- ing on the principles on which they are founded, was read. A consultative private conference of employers and employed, it was stated, had been held on the 17th May last, when the questions more especially discussed were (1) What determines the minimum rate of wages ? (2) Can that minimum rate be uniform in any trade and can that uniformity be enforced ? (3) Is combination capable of affecting the rate of wages, whether in favour of employers or employed ? (4). Can an artificial restriction of labour or of capital be economically right or beneficial, under any circumstances? For the discussion of these questions, the committee brought together a deputation ° from the National Federation of Associated Employers of of labour and the leaders of the union. The discussion was carried on in the most friendly spirit for several hours, and, in the opinion of the committee, with manifest utility towards the elucidation of the questions at issue. The committee had not been able to exhaust the inquiry nor to enter into any suggestions of a remedial character, but had decided not to make the final report on the present occasion, but to recommend the re-appointment of the committee with instructions to renew the conference already iuaugurated, and to report on the general question. Mr. F. FELLOWS read a paper on the same subject. Strikes and lock-outs he regarded as an evil, and believed that they did exactly the reverse of that which was sup- posed to be the case, and brought about exactly the opposite state of things they were intended to produce. What, he asked, was the case in regard to increased wages? They might do so temporarily, because people must still continue to buy their goods here, but the ultimate effect would inevitably be to drive away the trade from Belfast. The people would not consent to do without linen goods, but they would go for them and open out new markets. If they found they cculd obtain them at a cheaper rate. Belfast would find that she had raised a rival which she could not readily knock down. Strikes might do good, but in a waj which was the reverse of that which was generally supposed. If the result of strikes showed that other places could pro- duce goods cheaper than Belfast, then Belfast itself would suffer, but it wo*ld be better for the world at large.

EXPLOSION OF FIRE-DAMP AT ABERCRAVE. A dreadful explosion occurred at a colliery belonging to Messrs Glassbrook, Thomas, and Sons, on Monday last. A boy working at the colliery met with almost instanta- neous death, while his father and another person were severely injured, but are not beyond hope of recovering.

SWANSEA REGATTA. The regatta was held on Tuesday, and the weather being fine spectators were very numerous. The competitions were extended to first-class yachts over 10 tons, second- class yachts not exceeding 10 tons, pleasure boats, pilot boats, skiffs, and open pleasure boats. A number of rowing matches and sports took place at the Mumbles, to which place excursions were run by rail and steamer. We append the names of the winning boats :— FIRST-CLASS YACHTs-Water Witch (F. C. Vachell), B15 Elizing (F. Strick), £10. Three started; the Stella gave up. SECOND-CLASS,—Ware (G. J. May), £10; Swallow (W. H. Essery), :£5; Thought (W. H. Nicholson), £2; Hippie (A. G. Murford). PILOT BOATS.—Villan, JB25 and flag: Benson, £15 Greenfell, £10; J. W. J., £5; Cameila, JE1 Arrival, Vigilant, Glance, Alarm, and Lizzie, £2 each.

Our Fifeshire correspondent telegraphs a mertirv of the Fife and Clackmannan Coal Masters, held at Dum- fermline, has agreed on a revised code of contract rules which will be adopted at all the collieries in Fife and Clackmannan. Compliance with this code will apart from the question of wagesj form a condition of employ- ment before any of the colliers resume work. At present the bye-laws are different at various work. and previous attempts to assimilate theiiihave always failed. It is not anticipated that the new rules will leacl to any fresh com- plications with miners, their terms being moderate. 1\ 0 MORE PILLS OR ANY oTH R MEDICINE Consumption, and all nervous, billioua, stomach, and liver complaints m every stage are only aggravated and accele- rated by drugs oi every description,' but perfectly curable by UU BARRY s health-restoring REVALKNTA ARABIC A FOOD, as proved by thousaMls of cases which had been considered hostess such as indigestion (dyspepsia), cough, asthma, consumption' habitual constipation, diarrhoea, all gastric derangements: haemorrhoids, hver complaints, flatulency, nervousness bilioui^ ness, evers, sore throats, diptherja, catarrhs, colds, influenza noises m the head and ears, rheumatism, gout., impurities! eruptions hysteria, neuralgia, irritability, sleeplessness, rxiditv! palpitation, heartburn, headache, debility, dropsy, cramps, spastns, nausea, and sickness, even in preguaucy or a.t sea, sir: is- ins? fits, bronchitis, tcrofula, tightness of the chest, pains at the pit 0, the stomach, and between the shoulders, &c. We quote a few out of 75,000 cures Care No. 46.270. Mr James Roberts, of thirty years' diseased lun.=s, spitting of blood liver, iierangf- meno, and partial deafness.—Cure No. 1,771 Lord Stuan tie Defies, L<>rd-L,)euteiunt of Wttterfore). of many years' dyspejSsia. No. 49,832. Kifty years' indeti«ri!>tb!e asrony from dys;.?pbia, nervouncss, asthma, cough, cui'st pation, flatuleacy. s^nsms, sickness, and vomttiutt. — Maria Joly." In Canisters, jib, 2s llo, 3s 2'b. tte 121b, 28s 241b, 60s. A.-so Du HARRY'S RAVALENTA liiscuns, 1 ib, 3s 6d • 68.; 2tth 50s. They ma, be eaten at any time, either dry or staked in chucolate, ooffeu, water, milk, tea, wine, &c The? soothe the most irrit aWo stoinaeh aud nerves, removal nar-.ea. IUKI siekne-rs, even in pregnancy or at sea, heartburn and the feverish or acid bitter taste on waking up, or caused bv onirmT garlic, K..U even the smell left by tobacco or drinking T1 prove the appetite, assist digestion, seeure sound, refrealiWsWn. and are themselves more highly nourishing than Extrsu-t of Meat^ They are invaluable to persons in the office, on the road, rail, or at sea, or to any one who has .not the means Revalenta Food.-Also Du BARRT'S RKVALM?? LATK PewDBR ,8 packvd in tin Canisters For IA CU^IT 24 n'Tt JK.4" oU/w 4h CUtpS at 68 J f°r28S cups at30s fo'r 5 76 cups at 55s. Costing about ore penny per cup. The 28s, 30s, 60s, and 55e tms are seut free of carriaj:e in F..øglan.:i on receipt of Post Office Order. —Du BARRY and Go., 77. Regent-street, Ten- don; als > sold by all respectable Grocers and Chemists. No htense required. Cardiff, l y i £ app and Adams. SlMc

^Hch depressed in spirits, and. when he first observed his Visitor, exhibited many signs of emotion and wept. wnac Passed between Mr Lewis and the unfortunate man «|»iog this interview was principally^ a busiuess matter his relation to the Foresters Society. Oibbe remarked to Mr Lewis that there was some ttOQey belonging to him upstairs in his bedroom, m a Wue collar box, and asked him to see Mills, the coach- lI1an, and ascertain from him illJW much was there, 1.S he not sure himself. Air Lewis, iu reply, said he would see Miles, and make enquiries desired. _The only remark made not having reference te the Society was that of Mr. Lewis, who said,, 1 sorry for your position, Gibbs, to which the latter lnade no verbal response, but buist into tears. Mr Lewis told him to prepare for the worst, ud they Parted after wishing one another good-bye. About a week alter this interview Mr Lewis received following communication :— K LETTER NO. II. „n_. 1 County Gaol, Usk, July 10th, 1874. "Mr Lewis—Dear Sir,—I have been expecting a letter you this last few days, as you promised to let rne *how about what we were talking of when you kindly cl.Qle to aee me, and as I have not heard from you, and I think to-morrow is club night, I hope that you have 8ot what I asked vou to get from Miles to pay J1? club. if not, I can -send you the full amount ?r three clubs if you will kindly let me know. Dear J^» I am truly sorry for ever having to -ask yon or the brethren of the Court, but you all know the position that ■J in, and say parents have got to raise funds for my £ ence and as they are not so well off a3 J. should wish to be, I write to ask if the Court could or would be kind as to assist rue by allowing me a few pounds foi f^y defence. I do not in any way wish for you to give it, J^t whatever you do allow me shall be returned and I thai you all would rather do that-than to pay a full( S^ount other ways. Dear sir, if you will put it before tlu- to-morrow night, and let me know the result, and, *hat amount is allowed, you will greatly oblige yours •filly, BROTHER JAMES H. GIBBS. To Mr John Lewis, Hendre, St Mellons, near Cardiff. „ 'P.S.—iPlease to let me hear as soon as possible, so ^•t 1 may let my parents know the result." TIl& -2ZOOND INTERVIEW.—CONFESSION OF MARRIAGE. Mr Lewis did not write to the accused, but, as hesay^, it a point to visit him, in order to elicit, if Possible, any information bearing upon the crime JJ'Puted to him. He had a second interview with ■ culprit ahout a week after the receipt of the foregoing c°aununication. • Mr Lewis said, Gibbs, you've written me another fitter, and I've e me to see you. I'm sorry to tell;you the rules will not allow the Court to make any ad- VaQce such as that you have requested. What do you ^ean, Gibbs, by this passage in your letter to me, "Than 0 psQr a full amount other way a?" Gibbs paused, but made no reply. 0,Mr Lewis then said, Public opinion is against,you, *bba. Make your peace with your God. I'ui afraid it ^iU.go hard with you." Gibbs cried then, a id Mr Lewis asked him if he was a Juried-man, beii iaduced by the prisoner's downcast demeanour to spt. to him upon that with which his trouble wae more- or less connected. GrlbbsJiaid. answer to the question, Yes, I am." Mr Lewis, Ujjon this coniession, questioned him further, us we reported yesterday. ^Befwe he left Gibbs said that he would write again. then seemed to be suffering much mental depres- sion. LETTBB No. III. A week or ten. days atter this interview had taken Place, Gibbs carried out his expressed intention of a0>ain ^•rifcing to Mr Lewis, who received on the 2i)th of July the third and.la^t letter sent to him by the prisoner. "County Gaol, Usk, July 28th, 1874. Mr Lewis.—Dear Sir,—I write to ask you if you will "< at Monmouth next week if. so I will be obliged if Jou will come and see me before you leave there. If you do not g0 there, and if you can in any way find time to to see me this week, I shall feel greatly obliged you. I know that you are very busy at this time of *he year, and that it puts you to a great expense, but I <1. ttot wish you to be at the luss; but if you cannot come, P»«age to let me know by return of post if possible, and then I will write to you again aDd let you know^what I If you see Blanche (meaning the plotter of Mary Jones), will you be so kind as to ask her if she will be there if so, I shall wish to speak to her; not, I hope her daughter will come and speak to me be- fore she leaves Monmouth, and please to tell them to ask Mr. Elisor, and I think .perhaps he will tell them, how to act to see me With kind regard to yourself, hoping all 14 Well,—i. remain, "Brother JAMEB HENKY GIBES. To-Mr. John Lewis, Hendre, "1St. Mellons, near Cardiff." EHE THTBT1 ANN INTERVIEW.— A VIRTUAL •" XOKFKBSION. Pn the Tuesday pri<Jno~The commencement of the trial at Monmouth, Mr. Lewis again visited the prisoner at Usk .gaoL Un entering he asked Gibbs how he lelt. Gibbs said "JE am .as well as can be expected, Mr. Lewis." Your tiial is drawing close, Gibbs," Mr. Lewis re- *aa)%e<t. Yes," said Gibbs. Will you be at Monmouth.?" I intend going," observed Mr. Lewis. n I shall want to see you and my father after the trial, "aet the response. XlMr. Lewis said Well, you've heard the evidence at Newport. You can form an opinion as to how it will go "ith 10.U. I know your solicitor is doing everything he ean for you. Yeu've admitted to me that you are a ftiarried man, and I asked you the last time (meaning during the previous interview) where your wife was. Tell tne mow. You know that I have visited you now three times at your own request." Gibba then appeared to be very downcast, and at that made no reply. Mr. Lewis, however, pursued his questioning, and said, Tell me, Gibbs, how chd it happen with you ?' Gibbs replied, 1 wrote to her (placing his face near the window through which he spoke to Mr. Lewis) to COIne to 5c. Mellons." A pause here occurred. Mr. Lewissaid, Tell me the truth, Gibb.?." Gibbs then made the following statement to him We went (referring to himself, as Mr. Lewis says, and to ^e woman afterwards found murdered) through the Spper gate, with the intention of going to the cottages, turned back, a quarrel took place, then we struggled. The speaker, overcome with emotion, again made a Phrase. Then endeavouring to suppress his inward feel- ^gs, he said, I left her on the field." Mr. Lewis asked, "How did she come in the ditch? Gibbs placed his head forward to the aperture through -hich he was speaking, nodded his head in a significant lQMlner, made, or rather, attempted to make some ejacu- lation. His lips moved, and a hoarse whisper was heard, but his tongue evidently refused its office. Mr. Lewis, however is confident, from the expression of Gibbs' fea- tures, and the general demeanour, that he meant it to be Understood that he placed her there. He asked Mr. Lewis again if he would be at Mon- mouth, saying that he wuuld want to see him after the trial. Mr. Lewis said if he wanted to see him again he must write to him. The two then parted. I asked Mr. Lewis if he had had any further communi- cation with the culprit, and whether he had seen him .at the trial in Monmouth ? To the former question he re- Plied in the negative. In answer to the latter, he said he {^rtainly had seen him in court, but did not speak to iui. He added conjectures that if he had ^agam visited the man after his condemnation he would in all proba- bility have gathered further particulars.