The Cardiff Times

[KKOH OtCR OWN CORRESPONDENTS, RECTER'S &42-ik;f, PR233 ASSOCIATION, AND CENTRAL -iZW&I HUMOURED BRITISH ULTIMATUM TO RUSSIA. [SPECIAL TELEGRAM.] [FROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT.] LONDON, Thursday.—Sir S. Northcote's declaration that Ministers would not suffer a Russian Mission at Cabul lias left the im- pression that something like an ultimatum has gone to St. Petersburg. It is regarded as ominous that again a minister has given an answer literally true, but conveying a false construction. It was stated on Monday that the Russian envoy had left Cabul. So he had, but the Russian Mission is still there. Sir Stafford pleaded ignorance. Somebody is responsible for the misleading statement. —

CONSPIRACY TO DEPOSE THE SULTAN. PARIS, Thursday.— Intelligence received here from Constantinople states that con- aiderable excitement prevails in the Turkish capital, in consequence of the discovery of a conspiracy to depose the Sultan.

Tin: BRITISH Till EMC OF RE- FORM IN TURKEY. CONSTANTINOPLE, Wednesday. Sir Henry Layard has formally contradicted the reports current here that a new Treaty between England and the Porte was being negotiated. His Excellency declared that tLr8 was no question of the definite ces-sion of Cyprus to England, of the occupation of Alexandretta, or of any other territorial arrange- ments, such as had been mentioned in the current rumours, nor had a project, for an extension of England's right of inter- vention in the affairs of Turkey been enter- tained. TLe Ambassador further stated the negociations proceeding between the British Government and the Porto referred only to ;ho mode of applying the English scheme of reforms already adopted by the Ottoman Soverinent. A Central News telegram says :—The reported negotiations between the English uid it a >s! an Governments for the incorpor- ation cf Eastern Roumelia with Bulgaria, and the British Protectorate of Constanti- nople, are unfounded.

OF RUSSIAN1 STUDENTS. „ Sr. Piit'iiRSBURG, Thursday. — Several hundred young men assembled this after- noon in front of the Palace of the Cesare- witch, to present a petition to His Imperial Highness. The crowd attracted the atten- tion of the Prefect, who hastened to the spot, and ascertained that the young men were students, who were anxious to solicit the protection of the Cesarewitch in certain academical matters. His Imperial Highness being at Zarskoe Selo at the time, the Pre- fect received the petition, whereupon the students withdrew.

THE REPUBLICAN AND SOCIA- LIST AGITATION. ROME, Thursday.—The majority which voted against the Government in the Cham- ber of Deputies yesterday, comprised 110 members of the Right, and 40 Independent deputies. The remainder were partisans of Baron Nicotera and Signori Crispi and Depretis. A Cabinet Council was held in the evening to deliberate upon the advis- ability of the Ministry tendering their resignation. The Opinione of Tuesday, savs The vote of the Chamber .yesterday, evi- I dently proves the firm intention of Parlia- ment to uphold order and liberty, and to pppose Republican associations. 4 BERNE, Thursday.—Four Foreign Powers made representations to the Swiss Govern- ment yesterday in reference to the Socialist journal. A emit Gardes, published at Chand ae Funds. The Federal Council, conse- quently, prohibited the transmission of the journal by post, and ordered its printing office to be closed, and seals to be placed on the printing presses. ROME, Thursday.- Tlte Cabinet has ten- dered its resignation, which has been accepted by the King. His Majesty has sitmmoned the Presidents of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. In view of the apparent impossibility of forming a new ministry from the Left which would com- mand a majority in the Chamber, it is probable that there will be a dissolution.and, pending the result of the new elections, a business ministry will hold office.

STORM IN THlFuNITED STATES. INKW YORK, Thursday.—The storm which has been ratring during the last two days has imow subsided. The effects have been especially severe in Nova Scotia and in New England and the Middle States.

MURDER OF AN EX-PRESIDENT OF PERU. LIMA, Thursday (via Lisbon).—Ex-Pre- sideiit Pards was murdered as he was entering the Senate.

SNOVTSTORMT It An unusually heavy fall wf snow occurred in the south of Scotland ou Thursday morning. Tfie trains were greatly impe.fed, aud in Edinburgh the tram cars cease i running. Glasgow was visited by a. dense fog and a severe snow storm.

FAILURE OF A COLONIAL FIRM. • At the London Bankruptcy Court, on Thursday, the failure was announced of W. Glen Walker, of Mansion House Chambers, for £ 445,000. The | debtor was interested in the trade of Melbourne and New South Wales.

LORD SIIAFTESBIJRY OJ DISES- TABLISHMENT. Lord Shaftesbury, in presiding attha Wimborne Branch of the Church Pastoral Aid Society, on Thursday, said he believed neither the present nor any future House of Commons wetild pass a measure to enforce ecclesiastical authority. They night rely upon it there was a great movement in the country even amongst Conservatives, to get rid of the establishment altogether, and allow different parties in the Church to settle their feuds amongst themselves. Though Prokstant in her Prayer-book, the Church was far from Protestant 10 her pulpit teachinsg.

Mr Hughes, member of the City of London f Corporation, who was announced to have been put in opposition to Mr Ayrtou for the representation j *f Northampton has withdrawn his candidature,

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—THURSDAY. The Speaker took the c ;air at 4 o'clock. WOMEN'S PRuTECTI ON Oil DEES. Mr P. TAYLOR gave notice that on Monday he would repeat his question with respect to the decision of the stipendiary magistrate at Man- chester, as to the legal redress of women who had protection orders for their property. THE RUSSIAN MISSION AT CABUL. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in reply to Sir W. Harcourt, said that when he stated the other night that the Russian envoy had left Cabul, he did so on the best information in his possession. Her Majesty's Government had understood from what had passed between Her Majesty's representative and the Russian Govern- ment, that the departure of the envoy was equiva- lent to the recall of tlio mission, but quite recently, in fact since lie made that statement. they had received information Avhich led them to form a contrary opinion. The House, however, might be assured that Her Majesty's Government did not intend to acquiesce in the exercise of Russian influence in Afghanis- tan in this or any other form. (Loud Ministerial cheers.) CONTINUOUS BRAKES. Mr TALB JT, in reply to Mr Baxter, said that all the information widen the Board of Trade pos- [ sessed with respect to the adoption of the con- tinuous brake would be found in papers recently laid on the table. The majority of the railway companies did not appear to be complying with the conditions stated by the Board of Trade to be necessary to the public safety in 1877. and em- bodied in the recent Act of Parliament, and the Board of Trade had no reason to believe that they i were taking any active steps to do It was, i however, only just to say that one company had adopted the continuous brake, and one or two others partiallj. The question was one of serious | importance, and after the recess would be brought under the consideration of Parliament. THE CAPE. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, in reply to Mr Whitwell, said that he had last year in the estimates made some allowance for the military expenditure at the Cape, and the excess on that head would be met by the saving on other votes. With respect to the future, he regretted to say that the recent news from the Cape had been of a disturbing character, and there was reason to fear that a considerable expenditure would be necessary but at present he was not able to say how much it would be, and what provisions would be proposed for it. PAUPER REMOVALS. Mr SCLATER BOOTH, in reply to Mr Downing, said that the resolution of the House with respect to the removal of paupers from one kingdom to another was under the consideration of the Government, and he hoped t) be able to make a proposal in the course of the Session. CYPRUS. Mr BOURKE, in reply to Sir C. Dilke. said it was true that in October last Mr Di Cesnola, an American subject, was tried before the district court of Laraaca, in Cyprus, for excavating ob- jects of antiquarian interest without a firman, and v as sentenced to a fine (which was remitted by Sir G. Woiseley) aid the confiscation of the ob- jects i found. With respect to the question whether Turkish sovereignty still existed in Cyprus, and what power there was to try foreign subjects In disregard of the capitulations," he could only refer the lion, member to the Anglo-Turkish Convention on the subject. With respect to the jurisdiction, arrangements were now in progress, and every precaution would be taken to secure the fairest trial for every person who might be charged with any offence. Sir W.V. HARCOURT asked what negotiations were being carried on, and with whom ? Mr LOURKE did not use the word negotiations, but arrangements. There wouldbe noappeal to Con- stantinople. The only negotiations going on were between Sir G. Wolseley and the Home Govern- ment, and there was no correspondence with any other Government. THE RAILWAY COMMISSIONERS. Mr TALBOT, in reply to Mr Mills, said that a Bill would be brought in this Session to continue the cowers of the Railway Commissioners. LORD LYTTON AND THE AMEER. Mr E. NOEL gave notice that to-morrow he would ask what was the authority of Lord Lytton for stating to the native envoy at Cabul that If the Ameer did not desire to come to any under- standing with England, Russia did, and at the Ameer's expense." RUSSIAN OFFICERS IN PERSIA. Sir J. HAY gave notice of a question with respect to the arrival of Russian officers in Persia, for the purpose of drilling the Persian army. NEW MEMBER. Mr CORTAULD took his seat for Maldon.

THE VOTE OF CENSURE ON THE GOVERNMENT. Mr GRANT DUFF resumed the debate on the amendment on the report of the Address. He argued that the policy of the Government was directed to the annexation of Afghanistan, and added that the policy of the late Government had always been to keep the Russians out of Afghan- istan. He quoted from letters of Lord Mayo, dated^Juue 3, 18t:, in which Lord Mayo stated that tLe only pledges given were that lie would not interfere in his (the Ameer's) anairs, that he would support the Ameer's independence, and that he would not force European officers or residents upon him. In 1875 he had, in ad- dressing his constituents, bla.med Sir Henry Rawlinsoe for publishing a book which was likely to lead to great mischief to the Government he then served, but he now found that Sir Henry Rawlinson was really speaking the secret mind of the Secretary of State, fur the Government were going entirely as he would they should do. The hou. gentleman defended at some length the policy pursued Ly the lace Government in its relations with the Ameer of Afghanistan, What, lie aked, was the object of cur new policy ? Did Her Majesty's Government expect to gain a scientific frontier?" Did they hope to meet the A meer's forces and destroy them, or was I the Prime Minister intending to burst upon the country with a new policy which would include Central Asia and AfghanistanThe idea of a "scientific frontier" was all nonsense, and what we were going to war for was that we might sabre and shoot the subjects of Shere Ali into loving us for all time to come. Who was not a candidate for Bedlam, supposed that Russia intended to advance against India with a well-appointed army. The idea was absurd. The fact was, that the question of the annexation of Afghanistan was one of the matters which all politicians wished to defer, for the meet- ing of the Sepoy and the Cossack on the banks of the Oxiiq as foes, would leave the rest of the world as spectators in silent amazement. With regard to the speech of the Prime Minster in the House of Lords the other night, he admitted that it was possible for a man so situated to say "You must take this answer or none," but the minister did not live who dared to say to the representatives of the people of England, Scotland and Ireland, "If you are not satisfied with this answer, vou shall not have an answer at all." Mr BOURKE denied the charge so frequently made, that the Government had kept back any information that should have been laid before Parliament. He also repudiated the accusation that the war which had been commenced against the Ameer was intended to obtain a scientific frontier. The Government had gone to war to wipe out the insult offered by the Ameer to the honour of this country-an insult which no Ministry could have brooked. He justified the demand for the reception of a British resident, on the ground that it was necessary, after the admission of the Russian Mission that England should have a similar position in Cabul. Iu reply to the charge that the Government had kept back ^information, he stated that of the documents in the Blue Book, which was before the House, 117 pages belonged to the late Ad- ministration. He added that there had been no intention to withhold information, and he re- pndiated with indignation the assertion that Her Majesty's U-overument had gone to war against a weak Power to avoid a conflict with a strong Power. Mr O'SHAUGHNESS Y supported the amend- ment, and declared that if the voice of Ireland could be heard on the question, it would be against the war. Lord W. HAY held that the reason why we were at war with Afghanistan was not because of any particular change of policy, but because Lord I Lytton was sent out with a mission to declare war. The Russian mission was still there, but he believed that if Shere Ali had had a little more time for the consideration of the proposal made by Her Majesty's Government, there would have been no war with Afghanistan. Mr HARDY, in defending the policy of the Government, complained that they had been mis- represented, and that their motives had been mis- construed. Mr FOLJAMB argued that nothing could be diplomatically right that was morally wrong. Be- lieving that the Government were morally wrong, he should vote for the amendment. Mr C. B. DENISON denied that our quarrel lay with Russia, but at the same time he con- tended that we bad reason to insist on the witb- drawal of the Russian Mission to Cabul. Mr RYLANDS contended that the Govern- ment had incurred the present war on insufficient grounds, and that they had thereby brought upon themselves a great responsibility. Whatever the Parliamentary majority might be, he believed that if an appeal were made to the country the policy of the Government would be rejected. Mr GOSCHEN deplored the reception of the Russian mission by the Ameer of Afghanistan, as much as it could be deplored by the other side of the House but at the same time he called at- tention to the remarkable fact that, in 1875, Russia was sounding Great Britain as to why the two should not join together and make the boun- daries continuous, while in the 1876 Lord Lytton suggested that such a plan might be uncertain, but that an iron ring might be drawn round Afghan- istan, which really meant that Afghanistan might vanish. The policy of Russia was to continue its annexations, England annexing in proportion, but what, he asked, was to be the result? Were we to annex Afghanistan ? The fact was that we had bullied at Cabul, but we flinched at St. Petersburg, and he must express nis surprise that General Kauffman should be repudiated as t::e agent of Russia at Cabul, while the important letters between him and the Russian Government were fully recognised. He contended that the whole tendency of the policy of the Government had been to bring the Russians to Cabul. Their action in obtaining possession of Cyprus had led to the retaliation of the Russian mission. He condemned the shabbiness of the policy which proposed to throw the burden of the present war upon India and asked whether, if the Government insisted on the proiwsed "scientific frontier," it was prepared to give up the remainder of Afghanistan ? Al- though he held that the war was an unjust war. he admitted that there was no room in Afghanistan for England and Russia together, and he was quite as anxious as the Government could be that English interest should be supreme in that quarter. Major NOLAN doubted the expediency of forcing on the quarrel with the Ameer at the present moment. Earl PERCY moved the adjournment of the debate, and The House adjourned at I o'&ocko

[THREATENING TO SIIOOT THE QUEER MEASURES FOR THE PROTECTION OF HER MAJESTY. THE ACCUSED BEFORE THE MAGISTRATE. Considerable excitement was caused in London on Thursday by the announcement that a. man was in custody on a charge of threatening the life of the Queen. The statement proved to be too true, but there is this redeeming feature in con- licction with the matter, that per.-ons who are best acquainted with the accused allege that he is of unsound mind, and consider his letters as nothing more than irresponsible threats. The prisoner is named Edward Burn Mad .Ion, aged 56, who gives his address as 19, Duke-street, Aldgate, London. It seems that he is the sou of Irish parents, but that he was bora in France. That the accused was well educated is shown by the fact that he speaks English with.out any broken accent, whilst his knowledge of French aud German is complete. His first advent in London to the knowledge of any one dates from last autumn, and at that time In stayed at the house in Aldgate above men- tioned. It was considered for a long time that he was not responsible for his actions, and at length the relieving officer of the district came to the house and removed him to the infirmary of the workhouse, with a view of his being confined in the workhouse luna- tic ward. This seems to have been done, but after some time the prisoner went to France, and it w::s in that country that he seems to have made u:) his mind to threaten to do an injury to Her Majesty. As his first letter is directed to the British ambassador in Paris, Lord Lyons, and is dated in May last, nothing more seems to have come of this assertion save a communic.ition to the Foreign Office by Lord Lyons, until a few days since, when the prisoner, who had arrived in Eng- land, took upou himself to write to the Hon. A. F. O. Liddell. permanent Under Secretary to the Home Department. In this letter, which- was duly signed by himself, and dated from his lodg- ings in Duke-street, he declared his intention to shoot H'jr Majesty. Mr Liidell exhibited this communication to the Home Secretirvp Mr Cross, and as a result the police at Scotland Yard were communicated with. The case was put into the hands of Chief Superintend- ant Williamson, who at once issued orders for a thorough investigation of the antecedents of Maddon; while precautions were taken, for fear the charge should be more than idle gossip, for protecting the person of Her Majesty by doubling the police force at Windsor Castle. At first the authorities were of opinion that no reliance could be placed upon the statements of Maddon, who, it was discovered, had for the past 20 years been in an unsound state of mind, who had threatened to commit suicide, and who had more than once been placed under restraint; but considerable colour- ing was given to the threats, from the fact that when Her Majesty was passing through an inter- mediate station, on her way from Scotland to Windsor, the report of a pistol was heard. Whether there was any intention at the Royal carriage or not, of course, does not appeal", but the fact of a discharge being heard lends consider- able importance to the charge now laid against the prisoner. Those who have seen the letters —some of which are in French and the others in Eng- lish state that in them there was a direct threat of violence against the person of Her Majesty. The prisoner, when apprehended and charged with the offence, said, in reply to the accusation, that the letter he first wrote on the subject was in the French language, but he would not vouchsafe any further information to the officers. All day on Wednesday, Inspector Butcher and the staff from the Criminal Investi- gation Department were endeavouring to ascer- tain whether the accused had any accomplices. but nothing was elicited criminating other persons. The prisoner was removed during the afternoon to the Clerkenwell House of Deten- tion, and during the period which will elapse prior to his further examination every effort will be made to discover whether he has accomplices, or whether, as those lie was associated with declare, he is of weak intellect, and not responsible for his actions. On Thursday the accused was brought before Sir James Ingham, charged with "feloniously send- a threatening letter to the Honourable A. 1'. O. Liddell, threatening to shoot Her Majesty the Queen." No one appeared to conduct the case for the Treasury, and the prisoner, who has a careworn appearance, and looks quite his age-60 years-was not represented by counsel. The case was conducted by Chief Superintent Williamson, of Scotland Yard, and the proceedings occupied but a few minutes. The first witness called was Mr Gabriel Robinson Moran, superintendent to the registry at the Home Office, who produced two letters which had been received at the Home Office, dated respectively the 26th of May last, and the 10th inst. Both were addressed to the Hon. R. A. Cross. There was also one addressed to the Hon. Adolphus Liddell, dated December 9th. Inspector Butcher deposed that on the evening of the 10th of December he saw the prisoner at 19, Duke-street, Aldgate, and showed him the three letters produced by the last witness. He said it was true that he had written them, and sent them to the gentlemen to whom they were addressed. Witness showed him the copy of a letter which had been sent to Lord Lvons. He said he remembered writing that letter, but- he believed that hewrote it in French. On Wednes- day he received a warrant for the arrest of the prisoner. He read it to the prisoner, desiring him to accompany him to the police-station. He readily consented to do so. So:ue memoranda were found upon the prisoner. The letters were handed up to Sir James. They were written in French, and the prisoner on being asked if he had any questions to put to the witnesses, answered that he had noth- ing whatever to say. Sir James Ingrain said it would be desirable to have the letters read by a professional interpreter, in accordance with the usual practice of the court, and he should remand the prisoner for a week for that purpose. The prisoner was then removed to the cells.

SHOCKING GUN ACCIDENT AT LLANISHEN. A sad gun accident occurred at Cwm Farm, Llanishen, on Thursday, to an old man named S. Llewellyn. A nephew, residing with the old man, in placing a cap upon a gun and presenting it at him, not knowing it was loaded, jocularly asked where he would have it," at the same time pulling the trigger. He was then horrified to see the old man fall dead. An inquest will be held.

SAD DEATH OF A WOMAN AT MERTHYR. Mr Thomas Williams, the deputy-coroner, held au inquest on Thursday, at the Brecon House Inn, on the body of Jane Williams, 40, widow, residing at 12, Brewery-street. Deceased died suddenly in hei house on the evening of the 10th inst. She had been confined, without assistance, and died from the consequences thereof. A ver- dict in accordance with the evidence was re- turned.

DEATH FR011 BURNS AT MERTHYR. On Thursday morning, Sarah Ann, three years old, the child of William Williams, a collier, residing at No. 1, Mount-pleasant, Troedyrhiw, died in consequence of being burnt under the arms and on the body, on the 28th of November last. The mother left the child in the house on that day, and returning in about 10 minutes found the little child all in flames. These were put out, but the little one was badly burnt.

FIRE AT THE RESIDENCE OF LORD WINDSOR. A strong smell of fire at Oakley Park, the resi. dence of Lord Windsor, on Thursday, excited the alarm of his Lordship, who had one of the hearth stoves in a bedroom raised, when the discovery was made that a large beam was on fire under- neath the bedroom. The beam is supposed to have been in a smouldering state for several day?. The fire was soon extinguished, and all made safe. This providential discovery averted what might have been a tearful catastrophe.

THE IFGHSFTMATE. c.; Our London correspondent says :-The Tories profess not to entertain such high hopes of a majority as they did. They have determined to expect :no more than 80—probably to pre- vent disappointment in case of unfulfilled ex- pectations. The Liberal Whips, however, fearing Irish votes and Liberal abstentions, still believe in three figures. Neither Mr Ashbury nor Capt. Price are in town to vote. One Conservative member is in Africa a Liberal member is in Japan. Mr Fawcett's motion will be taken on Monday next. It is expected to occupy only one night. The House w ill adjourn on Tuesday, probably, until the first week in February an earlier meeting will cause dissatisfaction. Mr Fawcett's motion will not be officially supported by the Liberal leaders. The idea of an immedi- ate dissolution is losing ground in the lohby, though still held by eminent personages.

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE. [PRBSS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM,] LONDON, THURSDAY. The hope earnestly expressed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer that the debate in the House of Commons may close to-morrow, and the division may be taken eaWy on Saturday morning, is re- echoed by the whips on both sides but so many members have announced their wish to address the House that it is probable the debate may again be adjourned until Monday night. Many Radicals below the gangway are particularly anxious that an opportunity should be given to Bristol as well as to Maldon to express its opinion of the Government policy before the discussion is brought to a close. Both parties state that they are confident of winning the election on Saturday; but the Liberals appear to be the more confident. [LATER.] The Press Association now learns that it has been definitely arranged by the Liberal and Con- servative whips that the division shall take place to-morrow night. If Sir William Harcourt does not movef the adjournment, he will speak early, and the Marquis of Hartington late to-morrow evening.

THE ROBBERY WITH VIOLENCE AT DUDLEY. Alfred Meredith, who was shot by Enoch Whiston on Friday afternoon, near Dudley, died on Thursday afternoon*

THE GREAT BANK FAILURE, PROBABLE CARRYING ON OF AFFECTED WORKS. PROPOSED RECONSTRUCTION OF THE BANK. THE RAISING OF ADDITIONAL CAPITAL. MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS NEXT WEEK. EXPECTED LITIGATION WITH RESPECT TO SHARES. The position of affairs caused by the suspension of payment of the West of England and South Wales District Bank becemes mo,c hopeful to the public every day. It is more than hinted that the liquidators, who are gentlemen of great commer- cial experience, will, in the interest of the share- holders, continue to assist those undertakings whose securities have been placed in the bank,and which have hitherto been assisted by it during the present ^depressed state of trade, in order that those securities may be realised with advan- tage at a future day as ^oing concerns," ratber than by stopping supplies close the works, and separate from them all trade con- nections, which add so materially to their value. The managers of several branches have, it is said, held this view for some time, and the advances so made have hastened probably the present crisis, but, under the circumstances, it is held by the best informed men that they did what was right. The anxiety that was felt on Wednesday respecting the anticipated stoppages of large works, which would have thrown many hundreds of men out of employment, is subsiding, as hope becomes stronger that these works will, at any rate for a time, be carried on as usual. The value of works connected with mineral operations, or metal man- ufacture, depreciates one-half when those works are closed, and, in the interests of shareholders, it would be better to support these works for the next twelve months or two years than realise their value at the present moment, or stop them and realise them at the first favourable opportunity. An important interview took place on Thursday between the managers of the South Wales branches of the West of England Bank, and the directors and the liquidators at Bristol, and it is reported that the purport of this interview was to ascertain their views on these questions, and to miko such ar- rangements as would enable the liquidators to take that course which would be the best for the interest of the public and the shareholders. The current opinion at the Docks on Thursday seemed to be that the crisis, which on Monday it was feared would cause a stoppage of several works, will pass over without any of those serious results arising frotn it-that were then expected. The current accounts of a large number of firms have been transferred during the week, and these works will be carried on without difficulty, and the con- fidence of the public being restored, trade at the Docks on Thursday was in its normal condition, and the suspension of paymeut by the bank, which on Monday and Tuesday was almost the only subject discussed at the Chamber of Com- merce, and at meeting places of commercial men, was only incidentally alluded to. At the Docks a strong desire was manifested that some means should be taken by which men engaged in com- mercial pursuits should have the same banking facilities afforded,them that have been afforded by the Welsh branches of the West of England Bank. We hear that throughout Bristol a more favour- able opinion is being formed as to the position of the shareholders, and the prospects of the Bank being resuscitated. The proposal which is being discussed by the directors, and which finds most support in commercial circles, is that new shares should be issued to the extent of E500,000, which should have a preferential dividend of 6 per cent before any profits were divided amongst the present share- holders, the new shares to be first offered to the existing shareholders, and afterwards, if necessary, to the public. It is universally felt that so valu- able a connection as that possessed by the bank should be preserved, if possible, while the require- ments of the commercial classes of both the Western district and South Wales render it most desirable that there should be a healthy competi- tion in local banking facilities. NEWPORT. We are informed that the various lodges of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows, Newport dis- trict, were creditors to the bank to the extent of about 23,000. Owing to the foresight of the corresponding secretary, Mr James Davis, tiiq Newport district branch of the Star of Freedom Lodge, took the precaution to appoint, respec- tively, Mr Stephen Vernon and Mr Simpkins, the managers, treasurers of their fmd, as a conse- quence, the full amount of their claims have already been paid. At the monthly meeting of the Newport Har- bour Commisaioners, held on Thursday, the Chairman mentioned that owing to the unfortun- ate failure of the West of England Bank, they had standing to the credit of the harbour commis- sion the sum of; £ l,'Jo9 _0s;2d. This would be locked up for a time, but he did not think they were likely to be inconvenienced to a very large extent. The next thing for the commission to do would be to appoint a treasurer. Mr CARTWRIGHT thought it right to point out to his brother commissioners that they haJ the power to appoint such officer or person as they might think fit as treasurer, who should give the commissioners such security as they may think necessary. He would not expend time in commenting upon the failure of the bank, but would simply say that he considered that the officials of this fcompany in this town were deserving all the sympathy now bestowed upon them. He had a very strong opinion, from information conveyed to him from the head quar- ters of the bankj in Bristol, that no depositor in that bank would lose a simple farthing, and fur- ther, he had also a strong belief that B10 on each share would liquidate all the liabilities of the company. That was his conviction, and he hoped that such an assurance would be accepted for what it was worth. Such was the position of the affairs of the bankilthat it was contemplated to restore it, but upon what principles he could not say. Under the existing circumstances, he begged to propose that the National Provincial Bank become the treasurer of this commission, and that such arrange- ments be made for security as the commissioneis may deem necessary. He could not help blaming the commissioners who first arranged with the West; of England Bank, that they had not obtained the security which the Act of Parliament sai d they ought to take. He desired that they should ob- tain sufficient security. Mr J. GIBBS seconded the proposition. Mr MOSES asked what was the nature of the security the bank could give them. Mr CARTWRIGHT thought they ought to get security to the extent of from 23,000 to 24,000. He pointed out that on the failure of the old Mon- mouthshire and Glamorganshire Bank they had a balance to their credit of 2326 12a 2d, and only obtained about 15s in the £ upon that. Now their balance was about P,2, OCO. It was resolved that the chairman, Mr Hom- fray the vice-chairman, Mr Lyne; and Messrs Cartwright, Gibbs, and Moses, be a committee to arrange to transfer the account and to con- sider what security is required, and also to cive directions to the liquidators of the West of Eng- land Bank to pay over their debentures and other securities to the National Provincial Bank. BRISTOL. The directors of the West of England Bank met in Bristol on Thursday morning, to con- sider a scheme for the reconstruction of the bank. No definite steps, however, will be taken until the liquidators have made their report. The work of the liquidators is going steadily forward, although the work of investigating the affair i3 not yet half completed, and no approxi- mate statement which will be of any value can possibly be made till the middle of next week. All the announcements as to the financial position of the bank that have appeared mnst be considered worthless. By Friday the whole of the managers of the branch banks will have arrived in Bristol to hand in their accounts and books at the head establishment. The liquidators are at work early and late, and all the money which is received by them is at once paid into the Branch of the Bank of England, in Broad-street. An attempt is being made in some quarters to have a third liquidator appointed, though, looking at the high character of the gentlemen already nominated by the Court of Chancery, and the additional expense which must be incurred by such extra professional assistance, the proposition is not likely to find favour with the great body of shareholders. It is more likely to embarrass the proceedings than be of real aid. We are authorised to state that a ) meeting of the shareholders will be held in Bristol about the middle of next week. Of this meeting the shareholders wiii receive due intimation. From the tone apparent in the neighbourhood of Exeter and Plymouth, this gathering will be of a stormy character. Meanwhile active steps are being taken by gentlemen of Bristol interested in the bank to bring forward a project which they believe to be for the interests of the whole concern. The scheme is to be submitted for the approval of the proprietor?, who will be asked whether they desire to have the old company with its numerous branches resuscitated, or a new company formed. It is suggested to call the new company "the West of England Bank," and incorporate it under the Act which shall confer limited liability. A provisional committee is in course of formation, Mr John Dester, manager of the old bank, being named as general manager, and Mr G. J. Picken, the manager. It is proposed for the provisional committee and others to form the first directorate, to have the head office at Bristol, and confine the branches to Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Bath, Bridgwater, Taunton, Exeter, Torquay, Plymouth and Barnstaple. The capital will be 1;1,500,000, in 50,000 shares of 230 each, the first issue of 25,000 shares to be paid up as follows £ 1 per share on application, £4 per share on allotment, R5 per share one month from the date of allotment, and it is intended to give a preference in allotment to the shareholders and customers of the West of England and South Wales District Bank, and to those who become custo- mers to the bank. The auspices under which this scheme is being matured point to a likelihood of its favourable reception. There seems a possi- bility of litigation in respect to some recent sales of shares. Within the last day or two of the West of England Bank stopping, several trans- actions in shares took place, and in one or two in- stances purchasers decline accepting the shares. The register showing the actual shareholders at the time of the stoppage is looked forward tr with much anxiety. PLYMOUTH. A largely attended meeting of shareholders in the West of England Bank was held at Exeter on Thursday. Mr II. Hughes was voted to the chair, and explained the proceedings of a deputa- tion, of which he was a member, which went to Bristol, on Wednesday, to gather information as to the naeUinnandnraanectaof the bank. They were able to gain no definite information, but arranged to go to Bristol again on Monday, when they and other influential shareholders were promised an interview with the whole board of directors. Mr Dameral, another member of the Exeter Committee, who subsequently addressed the meeLing, advised the shareholders to^ssist in reconstructing the bank, as the only real and sub- stantial way in which they could protect their interests. The suggestion which met with most favour was that they should make a new beginning oil the limited liability principle, with the centre at Exeter. The bank could still be called, Mr Dameral said, the West of England Bank. He had not seenasingleunfavonrable report of the management of any Devonshire branch. The meeting was adjourned until Monday. BATH. The local bankers of Hath have freely given assistance to depositors and current account holders in the West of England Bank. Most of the commercial m-dii ascribe the stoppage as being in a irreat part due to the depression of trade in South Wales, and cannot ascribe it solely to the failure of the Aberdare Works. So far as the accounts have been made out at present, it is not thought the deficiency will exceed three hundred thousand pounds. It is understood that the directors on Thursday resolved, subject to the approval of the shareholders, to resuscitate the bank under the title of the "Bristol District Bank Company, Limited." EXETER. On Thursday two meetings were convened in Exeter, in order to take into consideration the state of affairs of the bank. One meeting held in the afternoon was that at which Mr Hughes and a number of the largest shareholders t lok a prom- inent part. It was numerously attended. A committee was engaged to consult with the directors, and they proposed to have their consul- tation on Saturday, previous to be general meet- ing called for next week. The other meeting was more of a volunteer affair, and was summoned by Mr R. T. Head. The attendance was very scanty, and it is said that the only resolution proposed did not find a seconder. It is therefore quite evident that the bulk of the shareholder are quite content to leave their interests in the hands of the larger shareholders, and the creditors appear to be satisfied that they will ultimately receive their claims in full and the interests of creditors and shareholders may be alike safely left in the hands of the liquidators. The circulars calling the general meeting of shareholders will be issued on Saturday.

ASSAULT ON A CHILD AT LLANELLY. John Lewis, Cwmfeliu, Llanelly, was charged on Thursday, with indecently assaulting a child, named Ann Richards, at Cwinfelin, Llanelly, on 3rd December. He was committed for trial.

A HUSBAND'S APPLICATION AT LLANELLY. Mr Snead, solicitor, Llanelly, applied at the Llauelly Petty-sessions, on Thursday, on behalf of David Bowen. a collier, for a summons to set aside a protection order granted to his wife. The order was made a short time ago, when the wife said she did not know her husband's residence. Applicant stated that Elizabeth Bowen, Llwyncelyn, Five Roads, Llauelly, was his wife. They had lived together in 1851, but he left her because she wished him to keep away during the life of a gentleman with whom she was housekeeper at Five Roads. He left and went to Aberdare. His wife often came to see him. He had seen her often from 1861 to 1875, and came to live in the latter year with the hall-keeper, at the house adjoining the Town-hall, Llanelly, the hall-keeper's wife being his sister. The application was granted.

ABERAYON TOWN COUNCIL. I The monthly meeting of this Council was held in the magistrates' room, on Wednesday, Mr T. W. Jenkins, Mayor, presiding. There were also present Aldermen T. D. Daniel, Evan Evans, John David, William Whitelaw; Councillors James Davies, William Gething, Thomas Ace, John Jones, Wm. Evans, T. E. Jones (ex-Mayor), and John Davies. The minutes of the highway committee were read, including the surveyor's report.—Alderman Daniel called attention to a quarry recently opened in Cwmavon-road, the falling of stone from which was not only a nuisance but dangerous to people passing by. assurance was given by the the quarryman and surveyor that the safety of j the public would be looked to. It was proposed by Alderman T. 1). Daniel, and seconded by the Mayor, that every member of the Council should be supplied with a proof copy of the annual accounts before they were'passed by the Council, [and that a sub-com- mittee be appointed to go through all books, vouchers, &c., for the satisfaction of the public. The Ex-Mayor, Air T. E. Jones, strongly opposed the accounts being put in the.hands of the mem- bers of the Council before being passed, remarking that the accounts must be right, and that he was sure they were they could not; be wrong. As they were kept by the town clerk in his usual way, they could not be wrong, and why all this fuss now more than usual ?—Alderman Daniel replied that he could hardly believe his senses. The remarks uttered by the ex-Mayor were enough to make them think that he had gone over to the Church of Rome, because, evidently, he held the doctrine of infallibility. He himself had had a great deal of experience in accounts, but he never met anyone yet so infallible as the ex-Mayor wanted to show the town clerk's accounts to be.

FUNERATWTDISSENTING MINISTER AT_ABERDARE. On Thursdav the remains of the late Rev David Price, Siloa Welsh Congregation, were carried to their last resting-place in the Aberdare cemetery, attended by a concourse of people such asis seldom witnessed in the town. The sad procossion left Dare Villas, where deceased rejided, and proceeded to Siloa Chapel, which was crowded by about a thousand people. The service was solemn and affecting. The funeral address was delivered by the Rev Dr, Rees, of Swansea. About two o'clock the mourners and friends left the chapel and proceeded to the cemetery. It is estimated that nearly two thousand persons were present, including a very large number of Dissenting ministers of all denominations, many having come from long distances to pay the last tribute of respect to a man generally beloved. Deoeased owas 68 years of age, and had been with the Siloa congregation upwards of 30 years. It is about 34 years ago that 14 men came from the Ebenezer con- gregation, Trecynon, and commenced religious service in a back room in High-street. Very soon after the Rev D. Price became their minister, and such has been his wonderful success that until the bad times scattered some of his flock the members of the church at Siloa numbered nearly 700.

THE CAMBRIDGE LOCAL EXAMINATIONS. CARDJFli CENTRE. A committee meeting was held at the Town- hall, Cardiff, on Thursday afternoon. Mr Brog- den took the chair, and there were present Mr Richards, the Rev. W. E. Winks, Dr. Milward, Dr. Vachell, Mr E. Seward (lion. secretary), Miss Tullis, Miss White, Miss Ree3 Jones, Mrs S. W. Kelly, Mrs Richards, and Miss Mary Richards, The minutes were read and approved of. The chief object of the meeting was to make arrange- ments for the coming examinations, and to receive the annual report. That report read as follow:- The examinations for the year 1877 were con- ducted in the Town-hall, by kind permission of the Mayor, Alderman Taylor, in the third week of December. All the candidates entered for ex- amination were present, except one, who had withdrawn. Desks were arranged in the assembly- room for the boys, and tables in the ante-room for the girls the examiner, Mr Webb, was then able to carry on the work with far greater con- venience and efficiency than was possible during the examinations of 1876, when the examiner was compelled to be constantly absent from each ex- amination-room, having to pass to and from the Town-hall to the Bethany Sunday School- room, at which place the girls were ex- amined. The honourable positions obtained by two Cardiff students shows a very satisfactory progress, which, as it is but the second year of the centre's existence, promises well for its future. Mr P. W. Evans, aged 15, son of Mr Evans, of Tynant Radyr. and a pupil of Mr Shewbrooks, stood first in the kingdom in physical geography, for which position the Royal Geographical Society awarded him their silver medal. This, with a similar medal for political geography, is stated to be the highest prize which the University bestows in these examinations. Mr Evans is also bracketted with four senior students who stood twelfth in Latin, and with eight who stood fifth in religious knowledge. In the junior classes, T. Hadley, a pupil of Mr Goward. Green- hill School, Tenby, stood fifth in the king- dom in German, and was bracketted first of seven who stood fifth in French. Having in view the results of the good positions obtained by the students of this centre generally, it was resolved to hold a public distribution of the cer- tificates. This took place, by kind permission of the Mayor, on the evening of July 31st in the Town-hall, when the room was well filled by the friends of candidates and others. At the commencement of the year's work the hon. secre- taries, J. E. and E. J. Brogaen, having resigned the office which they held, the undersigned con- sented to fill their places:-kdwin Seward (hon. sec. for boys), and M. South (hon. sec. for girls). A question arising as to whether this report should be printed or not, it was decided, as the funds in hand were only about sufficient to cover the ex- penses of the approaching examinations, that the printing of the report should be deferred until after the examinations. The committee signed a time-table, by which they undertook to be present as frequently as possible in the examination rooms, to help Mr Moulton, the examiner, during the coming week. The boys' eaamination will be held in the Assembly-rooms, Town-hall, and the girls' in the ante-room.

A LARGE MAKE OF BESSEMER STEEL. We understand that at the Bessemer steel works recently erected by Messrs Tannett, Walker, and Co., of Leeds, for the llhymney Iron Com- pany, Limited, Rhymney, under the superinten- dence of Mr Lay bourne, the company made dur- ing last week (working ordinary shifts) the large quantity of 1,247 tons of steel. The company can make with ease week after week about 1,100 tons with two converters.-Leeds Mercury,

A special general meeting of the Liberal Two Hundred of Southwark was held on Wednesday, the object being the nomination of a Parliamen- tary candidate for the representation of South- wark, in the room of the late Mr T. R. Rabbit. The following names were mentioned:—Mr Ayrton, Mr Passmore Eàwards, Mr Watkin Wil- liams, M.P., Leicester, glass blower; Professor Tlaoroitt lwaera. Rittht Hon. M. Gibson. I

PEISJIISSIVU BILL MEETING AT SWANSEA. On Wednesday night a very large audience assembled at the Music-hall, on the occasion of a Permissive Bill meeting being held, when Mr W. S. Caine, Mr J. 11. Raper, and Mr A. Scholfiold attended as a deputation from the United King- dom Alliance. Mr Thomas Trew presided, and there were also on the platform Messrs W. Harris. W. Rosser, Be vs. G. Cary Bull, D. Phillips, E. J. Wolfe, Canon Richards, T. G. Brown, B. Williams, F. Samuels, J. Spensley, Dr Rees, & The CHAIRMAN in opening the meeting said the object of their meeting was to try to suppress the liquor traffic, and lie took it that there were few present in that ?room who had not directly'or indirectly suffered from the effects of this traffic. On all sides they saw the terrible etiects which this traffic had had upon them as individuals and as a community. There was no buisness in the world that had a tendency so thoroughly to under- mine the strength of their manhood, and to mar the beauty of their womanhood,Cas that traffic. Many efforts had been made to endeavour to avert the evils., of this traffic. The establishment of cocoa and coffee depots was a counteractive movement, and in a fshort time they would have something placed before them to show that they were not going to remain be- hiud iand in Swansea in connection with this matter. (Cheers.) A company had been formed, and the directorate was almost completed, and he hoped those present would come forward to show their appreciation of the efforts made, and to assist in the good work. They were going to commence it as a commercial speculation. They wanted to provide the people with nourishment such as they could take without becoming beasts. (Cheers.) They were there that night to discuss more particularly the measure brought forward by Sir Wilfrid Lawson, a measure which had been very much talked about, He thought it was a very fair and equitable measure but still, if any gentleman could show them a better one they would thro.v that overboard. They wanted an Act passed to give them some power over the drink traffic, the power to say that they would not have this nuisance in their localitv. (Cheers.) The Rev D. PHILLIFB (late of Maesteg) moved a resolution to the effect that this meeting is deeply convinced that the commercial, social, moral, and religious interests of the nation re- quire not only that the prevalent and appalling evil of intemperance should be mitigated by suitable moral and religious appeals, but that at the same time every possible effort should be put forth to suppress the liquor traffic." The Kev U-. CAREY BULL seconded the motion. Mr W. S. CAINE, of Liverpool, in supporting the motion said, after referring to the object the United Kingdom Alliance had in view, that the resolution asked them to support the two aspects of the Temperance Reformation—moral suasion, and legal reforms. He did not think they should relax their efforts to induce people to become sober and abstinent. It was absolutely necessary that these two movements should go hand in hand. It required very little argument to show that the liquor traffic was the cause of intemperance, and the liquor traffic brought liquor into the bands of the people. The Alliance believed they could have public-houses without intoxicaring liquors. The Alliance, whilst not asking people to diminish any,efforts made in otherjdirections to do away with intemperance, did ask them that they should do all in their power to persuade the Legislature to pass such laws as would do away with the evils of intem- peranoe. The speaker then reproduced his argu- ments in reference to the failure of the West of England Bank and the bank in Scotland, and after dilating at length upon total abstinence, he said there was t. no movement that would have brought him from Liverpool to South Wales to take part in four meetings, had he not come there on behalf of the Alliance to place his humble ser- vices at their disposal. It was because he felt that all their efforts in the direction of morality and religion were thwarted and ren- dered nugatory by the liquor traffic, that he put himself in the very front of the movement to endeavour to get rid of the evil he had mentioned. In Liverpool this cocoa- house movement originated—that was,cocoa rooms proper. Now they had 45 or 46 of those places in that town; and at the last meeting of the Licensed Victuallers' Association of Liverpool the secretary urged the publicans of Liverpool to provide cocoa and coffee for their customers, to meet the com- petition from these places. (Cheers and laughter.) Those establishments were paying 10 per cent; and the movement was initiated by persons in the very front of the Alliance and total abstinence move- ment. Dr Cameron's Bill for the establishment of inebriate asylums would have been an Act of Par- liament but for the opposition of the member for Swansea—("shame")—and he understood that since then Mr Dillwyn had given notice of his uncompromising opposition to this Bill in future. He thought it was a sad case that in their intelli- gent town their member was not better educated than to oppose a measure like that. (Laughter and hisses.) They ought not to hiss Mr Diilwyn, but to hiss themselves for not educating him up to that point. Let them take care in future, he or someone else represented them better than he does now. (Cheers.) The money now spent in drink would put eighty millions of money in the hands of the working classes, and nearly as much into the pockets of manufacturers, and had this been the case the banks would not have broken. When they got their home customers to buy their home manufac- tures they would hear no more about depression of trade. Let them give up their drink, and buy the staple manufactures of their own country. If they wanted good society they must have moral and religious society, and he called upon them that niglit to pass that resolution unanimously. He trusted that when they held up their hands in favour of that resolution they would remember that this work was not done by shouting or holding up of hands, or attending meetings, but by influencing their neighbours and their children, and educating the ratepayers of Swansea—that was the way the work was to be done. Let them keep up the movement from day to day, week by week, and from year to year, until the glorious time came when the Legislature of this country, returned by them, would give them-a measure to place in their hands the power to protect themselves from the greatest curse of society. (Loud and prolonged applause.) The motion was carried unanimously. The Rev B. WILLIAMS ";oved the second resolution:—"That this meeting, whilst welcom- ing every earnest proposal and aiding every mea- sure for reducing the evils flowing from the liquor traffic, deem Sir Wilfrid Lawson's Permissive Bill the most just, reasonable, and practicable measure that has been before Parliament, and presents its cordial thanks to the honourable baronet, and to the whole 106 members of the House of Commons who voted or paired iu support of the second reading of the Bill on the 26th June last. The meeting pledges its earnest support to the United Kingdom Alliance in its efforts to secure the legis- lative recognition of the principles embodied in that most excellent measure." The speaker en- forced the resolution in an able speech. The Rev. Canon RICHARDS (R.C.) seconded the motion, observing that if members of Parliament could see the distress and misery resulting from the liquor traffic that the clergy see, they would pass the Permissive Bill next session; and if a Permissive Bill were not speedily enacted, they would have to pass a compulsory one. After referring to the effects of agitation, as exempli- fied in the slave, free trade, and other public questions, the speaker complained of the hardship inflicted by some of the large employers of labour in this locality upon their workmen, by com- pelling them to get their wages at a public-house, instead of at the office. It was an indignity that the workman, after honestly earning Lis wages, should have to go to a public-house to get them, and there to make a deposit for the benefit of the landlord. Mr RAPER, who was received with prolonged cheering, said that, whilst he rejoiced to see attempts made to form coffee taverns as counter- attractions to the public-houses, he desired to see working men with happy homes, and this could not be so long as the present drink taps were scat- tered broadcast over the land with their manifold temptations. It was not in club life that the true strength of the British nation was to be found, but sober, happy homes were the foundations upon which true liberty must rest. The duty to re- move the law-created and law-sanctioned obstacles to prosperity lay in front of the Christian Church. Alluding to the operation of prohibition in Canada, he illustrated the two populous and united provinces of Quebec and Ontario, where the people, by direct vote, put their veto upon the sale of intoxicating drinks, an example afterwards followed by the five other provinces, and now the Permissive Bill was legal over the whole of Upper and Lower Canada. Americans well understood the meaning of veto, and in large districts the prohibition was in force. The speaker referred in most eulogistic terms to Mr Dillwyn's character and position in the House, but deeply regretted his position on the temper- ance question and the Permissive Bill, for the nearer the measure was brought to the people, who knew the injury and mischief arrising from the liquor trsffic, the stronger as the feeling in favour of the Bill. The large number of Welsh members voting for the Bill was satisfactory, and he hoped to see that number increased at the next general election. The Rev S. C. MORGAN, Vicar of Swansea, moved a vote of thanks to the deputation, and said he was glad to show his sympathy with the Alliance, and considered it incumbent upon him, occupying the position he did, to take an active part in the annihilation of that traffic which worked so much evil. Dr RAWLINGS seconded the proposition, and remarked that, as a medical man, he thought he ought to be a staunch supporter of the measure c. which had been advocated to-night, and he believed that the passage of this Bill, or the practice of total abstinence, would cause a large diminution in the death-rate. He thought Dr Morton's statistics, showing an average lengthening of life by one-third through the disuse of alcoholics, to be not at all above the mark, for he found by his own experience that intemperance was the cause of hundreds of deaths that were not attributed to that source in the official returns. His education on the temperance question had been first scientific, the results of observations in his practice, next religious, and now lastly political. This was a local question, and a matter of personal dealing with Mr Dill- wyn, who, he believed, knew nothing practically of the misery resulting from strong drink, and was ignorant of the intense misery it was working in the town. If every elector were to do as he (the speaker) in- tended to do—endeavour to bring facts in con- nection with the drink traffic before Mr Dillwyn. Mr Dillwyn might be induced to give some assistance to the causo they had at heart. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings.

Owing to the continued depression of trade, and the necessity to reduce the cost of production in order to meet the keen competition which they have to encounter, the majority of the engineer- ingjfirms, machinists, and iron founders in the Manchester and Salford district have resolved to give notice of a reduction of wages in all depart- ments to the extent of n per cent. Not less than 10,000 men will be affected by the reduction. It is not yet known whether there will be any opposi- tion*

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS AND EXCLUSIVE SOURCES.] SOUTH WALES COAL AND nON SHIPMENTS. [SPECIAL REPORT BY OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CARDIFF, Thursday Night.—The suspension of the West of England Bank has, of course, been the absorbing topic of conversation at the docks during the week. Most of the ordinary depositors here had timely intimation from one source and another of the critical state of the affairs of the bank, and drew their balances on Saturday. The stoppage of the bank is calculated, however to seriously inconvenience those who had no such warning, and who now find their capital locked up for an indefinite period, and to many concerns in the district to which the financial facilities afforded by the bank were of the highest importance. The trade of this port is likely to feel the effects of this failure for some time to com?, but in the opinion of many people the ultimate effect can- not fail to be beneficial. Colliery enterprise i have been gone into to far too great an extent for some time past, to the serious depreciation of such property. The present trouble will pro- bably withdraw some of the capital so lavishly and unprofitably invested in au over-production of coal, and weed out a few of the concerns which are the least sound, to the general advantage of the rest and all concerned in the trade, down to the collier snderground. The demand for South Wales steam coal con- tinues fairly good, though for France it is just now less brisk than it was recently. The price remains unaltered at 9s for the first sorts, colliery screened, and others in proportion. As is usually the case at this season of the year, the demand for house coal is good, but the excessive out-put pre- vents the realization of remunerative prices. In the freight market comparatively little char- tering has been done during the week, in conse- quence of there being an insufficient supply of sail- ing tonnage, whch is in request at advanced rates in most directions. Freights for the Medi- terranean ports have still risen a little. and are very firn. at the latest quotations. There have been rather more steamers offered in the freight market during the week, but charters have been effected with difficulty, their owners pretensions being higher than the rates charters, generally, are disposed to pay. Black Sea homeward busi- ness continues very dull. The imports of iron ore have been very small during the week, barely amounting to 1,000 tons, owing, probably, to the unfavourable state of the tides at Bilbao. The arrivals of pitwood amount to 2,500 tons. There has not been much fluctuation in the price during the week. The entries outwards of vessels to load in Cardiff during the week comprize 42 steamers, of the estimated burthen of 50,209 tons, and 49 sailing vessels, calculated to carry 22,940 tons, making a total of 73,149 tons, against 106,878 tons of last week. The fresh supply of tonnaee amounts in Swansea for the week to 20,827 tons, and in New- port to 22,523 tons. Cardiff has cleared foreign during the week 44 steamers and 72 sailing vessels, with 73,136 tons of coal, 3,301 tons of patent fuel, and 1,762 tons of iron. Of the iron 1,110 tons went to Bombay, 642 tons to Malta, and 10 tons to Maranham. The coal aud fuel was shipped as follows:—France, 23,473 tons Mediterranean ports, 15,490 tons; Eastern Mediterranean ports, 10,722 tons East Indies, 8,779 tons; Spain, 6,470 tons; South America, 5,210 tons; West Indies, 3,465 tons; Africa, etc., 2,598 tons and Portugal, 230 tons. Swansea has cleared, foreign, during the week 15 steamers and 30 sailing vessels with 14,471 tons of coal and 4,032 tons of patent fuel, as follows France, 12,373 tons Africa, etc., 2,992 tons Spain, 1,355 tons; Eastern Mediterranean ports, 560 tons Wesflndies, 440 tons Portugal, 400 tons; and Mediterranean ports, 383 tons. There has been no iron cleared here during the week. Newport has despatched, foreign, during the same period 9 steamers and 41 sailing vessels with 18,235 tons of coal and 1,157 tons of iron. Of the iron, 1,000 tons went to Porto Torres, 150 tons to Huelva, and 7 tons to Nantes. The coal ship- ments were distributed as follows :-France, 5,260 tons West Indies, 3,921 tons Mediter- ranean ports, 3,524 tons Spain, 2,695 tons; South America, 1,270 tons; Africa, etc., 1,088 tons and Eastern Mediterranean ports, 477 tons.

WEST MIDLANDS IRON, COAL, AND HARDWARE TRADES. [SPECIAL REPORT FROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT. J BIRMINGHAM, Thursday.—On 'Change here to. day a limited trade was done both in iron and irou manufactures. In negotiating business for the new year finished iron manufacturers were incom- moded by the unreasonableness of the men at the meeting of Monday of the wages board, in de- manding the same wages for making the new statutory ton of 2,240 lbs as they have been re- ceiving for making the 2,400 lbs. The demand was regarded as monstrously extravag ant. The suspension of the West of England and South Wales Bank was another leading iLem affecting trade that was discussed. It is often the case that this district would be not inconsiderably influenced by this disaster, since Staffordshire high class smithy bars and good boiler plates are largely bought hence by consumers within the area of the bank's operations. But the indebtedness of that quarter to this district is much less now than for some years past, and no permanent inconvenience is likely to be experienced by Staffordshire firms. The finished-iron transactions to-day were principally in small angles and high class sheets of the thin guages. The demand for first-class bars has slackened, the works being much less employed now than they were a month ago; common bars are selling, but mostly of light sec- tions. Sheets of the qualities most largely used are in only limited sale. Strips which can be easily purchased by small makers were o fie red at prices that indicated the severity of the competi- tion which makers are waging one with the other. RG 10s should be a reasonable figure just now for ship iron, yet it is to be had at £6 5s and a level 26. In truth it is possible to get tube strips at even slightly less. The producers of good hoops were offered; orders at the low figure of 26 10s, delivered in London, but the offers were dec- lined. Stocks of pig iron continue to accumulate, still there has been a time when they were larger; but it was many years ago, at a time when the pro- duction was at least twice as great as it is now. Prospects at be earlier date were better than they are at the present time, for the competition of other districts had not then appeared with such prominence. Prices continue to show case when business is really meant. The quotation of 22 2s 6d for the part-mine pigs of the Spring Vale make is lower than has hitherto prevailed in modern times. At less than that figure they could to-day have been bought, though £ 2 2s 6d continued the open market quotation. Cokes were difficult to sell. The Derbyshire people were firm in their demand of 14s 6d for a serviceable quality. Yorkshire coke was offered at 13s, and South Wales coke was plentiful at 12s 6d in this district. Furnace and forge coal were very difficult of sale. House coal was just the re- verse. The Cannock Chase strike is breaking up.

NORTH OF ENGLAND IRON AND COAL TRADES. [SPECIAL REPORT FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. J MIDDLESBOROUGH, Thursday.—The iron trade has throughout the week been in a quiet state. Less pig metal appears to have been sold, and the prospects of that industry are in a very unsatis- factory and unpromising condition. There are those in the trade who predict that prices will still further recede, and that 34s will be touched for No. 3 during the winter but as the iron can- not possibly be made for that money, that will mean the blowing out of furnaces, or the exhaus- tion of some of those which have hitherto stood the brunt of the battle. There are Jnany who do not, on account of the low state of trade, and more especially the bad prices, regard the position of things in Cleveland, with satisfaction or, in fact, in any other way than distrustfully. The ironmakers in other words cannot afford to lose money. There is not, so far as is known, any cause for immediate fear in regard to the financial condition which rules tho district,but after what has transpired in Glasgow and again with the West of England Bank, there is no knowing what a day may bring forth. So far as can be learnt, this district does not appear to be directly or indirectly affected by the West of England failure. The event, however, is of more than ordinary interest to the iron trade seeing that the disaster received its inception from the failure of one of the leading firms in the South Wales trade. Rather less iron was sent to Wales last month from Cleveland, the total being 3,501 tons. There were also 230 tons of manufac- tured iron, but the returns do not give'any defini- tion of what kind it is. The shipments continue falling off by above 18,000 tons last month of Cleveland pig metal, and there was, altogether, an increase of 15,400 tons, taking the whole district. This is an indication of what may be expected during the winter. The Scotch trade, however, was better last week than it has lately been. The Scotch makers, and those of Cleveland, are now busily engaged at the game of beggar my neighbour." Both are reducing their prices to less than what they can make iron at, and in some cases heavy losses are incurred. As Cleveland, however, reckons it can "beat all creation" in the matter of cheap pig-iron, it is considered here that the Scotch firms will ulti- mately find that they must give way. The steel trade still engages a good deal of at- tention in this district. The great firm of Bolckow, Vaughan, and Co. are making arrangements for foing into this trade on a large scale at Middles- orough, as well as at Easton. At the latter place they turn out 1,700 tons of rails per week. At tho Middlesborough works. where the old manufacturing iron plant has been dismantled, steel castings are being produced. From the low Yatesatwhicb Bolckow, Vaughan, and Vo. have been quoting for steel rails, it is believed that they will be able to obtain work when many of the other concerns in the country fail to do so should there be a scarcity. The late reports from South Wales as to the steel works are less satisfactory, and the same is the case with regard to the Shefflield dis- district. Less satisfactory reports are coming from the Barrow district as to the steel rail trade. In finished iron there is no material change. There appears to be a fair amount of work in plates still in hand, but specifications come in very slowly, and sometimes the mills are delayed in consequence. There is no change worth record- ing in prices. The ordinary figure for ship-plates is J25 17s 6d, but 2s 6d less would be accepted for a good order. Common bars remain at R5 5s, angles at about the same figure, Boiler-plates £ 6 17s 6d, all less 2 £ per cent. OLTlie rates of pig iron vary, but the general makeiB figure is about 36s No. 3, and 35s 6d No. f (0.r°i.e'iiU' merchants are offering iron forward (which they will have to buy to cover later on) at 35s to 35s 6d No. 3, nett. —— The blast furnace men have accepted 5 per cent reduction. At one works it is stated they have accepted 25 per cent rather than that the furnaces should be blown out. Mr Shaw Lefevre has ac- cepted the position of umpire in the wages ques- tion in the finished iron trade. The coal trade is quiet on the whole. On the Tyne and Wear there have been fair deilveries of steam coals but taken altogether, the trade is unsatisfactory, and it is said that coalowners, even with the late reduction in wages, are barely j making their own, and the same may be said with reizard to most of the North of England collieries, except, perhaps, where the best household coal is produced, which makes a good deal more money than other sort of coals. Taken altogether, this class of coal is 25 per cent at least higher than in the old times of 7 or 8 ye:\rs ago.

NEWCASTLE IRONT COAL, AND CHEMICAL TRADES. [SPECIAL REPORT FROM OUt OWN COHRESPONDENT.] N 1-WCAHTLE-ON-TYNE, Tlitirsday.-Tiie trade on Change is remarkably quiet. Fortunately con- tracts are made for long periods, otherwise, if coalowners and shippers generally -had to depend upon the new orders that are coming to hand at present, there would be a perfect stagnation in trade. Much of the business in the way of coal exports has undoubtedly gone to Wales, owing to the lower quotations but the rates of freight. which are much above Tyne freights, ought now to equalise that difference considerably, while the financial collapse at Wales cannot fail to affect the trade there, so that there may be a little hope for a revival of North country trade, although there is not much signs of it at present. In the iron trade, there is an active competition with Scot- land in the North of England to fight against the two districts in which lower rates have prevailed, but in both of which there had been a financial collapse. Trade may therefore now return to its old channel, and a more settled and substantial state of things be created. Chemicals are un- changed, and no change is looked for until after the new year.

CLEVELAND IRON MARKET. MIDDLESBOROUGH, Tuesday.—Business to-day has shown no alteration from last week, and the prices of No 3 pig iron is still 36s lei's one per cent makers, and 35s 6d merchants. Stocks accu- mulate in the hands of producers, as manufac- turers are beginning already to take stock, and suffer so much from lack of specifications that they cannot take deliveries. Forge is 6d less than No 3. Finished iron is in poor demand, and consumers cannot even take what they have or- dered. Mr J. Shaw Lefevre, M.P., has been I chosen umpire in the wages' question in the finished iron trade, but the time for holding the inquiry is not yet fixed. Messrs Bolckow, Vaughan, and Co have commenced to turn out steel castings at Middlesborough. House coal sells more freely, at from 9s upwards, f.o.b. Coke —prices are easier.

THE SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE IRON TRADE. WOLVERIIAMPTON, Wednesday.—The iron mar- ket was easy, Spring Vale part-mine pigs were £ 2 2s 6d, a reduction upon earlier quotations of 2s 6d per ton. Spring Vale all-mine were, how. ever, unchanged at t3 5s. Derbyshire pigs were mostly 47s GJ, long weight delivered, but the Staveley brands couldot be got under 51s 6d. Finished iron is in smaller out-put on the week. Dudley and West Bromwich domestic coals sell for more money in contracts with new customers. Three collieries only are in work upon Cannock Chase. r

CARDIFF. ELY SCHOOLS' CHRISTMAS TRU.-Dr. Sheen acknowledges, with best thanks, the following contributions :—Mr Watson, Llandaff, 5s; Miss Watson, 5s Mr Bircham, 2s 6d per Mrs Harris and Miss Brown, Ely Schools, kl 5s 6d. CARDIFF CHORAL SOCIETY.—This society had arranged to give a concert at Cardiff on the 15th January, but as the Llandaff Madrigal Society has announced that they will give a ladies night in the Town-hall on that evening, the com- mittee of the Cardiff Choral Society have thought it prudent to postpone the performance of St. Cecilias' Day," which they had proposed to give, and substitute the Messiah," which they will give on Easter-Monday. AN adjourned special meeting of the Town Council will be held on Monday, the 18th of December, at 11 o'clock a.m., to consider the special report of the Borough Engineer on the sewers in the central district. BAZAAR.—The sale of useful work at the Roath- road Wesleyan Chapel was continued on Thurs- day afternoon. Over 240 has been realised, and this will go toward the reduction of the debt on the organ.

SWANSEA. GINNETT'S Cmcus.-At this place of entertain- ment a complete change has been made in the programme during the present week, and the per- formances have really been excellent. Mr George Ginnett's great Jockey Act is a marvel of horse- manship, and shows him to be at the head of his profession as an equestrian, whilst the per- formances of the cream-coloured ponies show his remarkable skill in training indeed we have never seen so much equine sagacity displayed as in the wonderful movements of these beautiful animals. Vol. Becque's young pupils Alonzo and Holla, nearly take away one's breath in their extraordinary performances on the trapeze-indeed their movements must be seen to he believed, as they would appear incredible if merely told to the public. On' Wednesday night they had to re-appear five times in response to the deafening plaudits of the spectators. Miss Florence Godfrey continues to astonish the spectators by her marvellous acts of equilation—leaping through hoops, &c., with the greatest facility. MrCostello is a prince of clowns, and keeps his audience in a contiuous roar. But we cannot enter into further details, and we refer to our advertisement columns for forthcoming changes in tile programme. BOROUGH POLICE-COURT. At the borough police-court, on Thursday, John Murphy, of Tontine-street, labourer, was charged with begging in High-street. Police-constable Marels proved the case, and the defendant was sent to prison for 14 days.—William Edmond, New Oxford-street, was charged with being drunk and incapable in Oxford-street. Fined 78 (id, including cnts.- Thomas Coker, grocer, was summoned by Super- intendent Holland for having in his possession unjust scales. Fined 5s and C03ts.—William Morgan, Western-street, for having unjust weights in his possession, was fined 10s and costs.— Stephen-* Stephens, charged with assaulting Mary Smithan, was sent to prison for two months.— Thomas Davies (puddler), John .Stephens, (labourer), Thomas Evans (collier), Thomas Jones (labourer), and Tnonaas Williams (labourer), were severally fined 2s and costs each, for not sending their children to school. THE HOSPITAL, -Appended is an abstract of the resident medical officer's report to the weekly board, from December 5th to December 12th In-door patients —Remained by last report, 41; admitted since, 6-47; discharged—cured and re- lieved, 4; died, 0-4; remaining, 43. Out-door patients.—Remained by last report, 457 admit- ted since, 29-486; discharged-cured and relieved, 35 died, 0—35 remaining, 451. Medical officers for the week.—Physician, Dr. Paddon; sur- geon, Mr J. G. Hall. A. O. H. Phillips, L.R.C.P., &c., Lond., resident medical officer. Committee who attended-Messrs Win. Stone, F. J, C. Scott, Thomas Hall, John Williams. Sunday—Religious services performed by Messrs Parnell, Bass, aud Glover; in the week—Revs. C. C. Bull and E. J. Wolfe. John W. Morris, secretary. Date, December 12th, 1878. N.B.— Presents of books, prints, old linen or calico, and any useful article will be most thankfully re- ceived by the matron. any useful article will be most thankfully re- ceived by the matron.

NEWPORT. HARBOUR COMMISSIONERS.—The monthly meet- ing of this commission was held on Thursday. Present-Mr S. Homfray (in the chair) Mr Thomas Gratrex, Mr Joseph Gibbs (mayor), Mr John Moses (ex-mayor), Mr C. Lyne, Mr W. S. Cartwright, Mr Heury Beynon, with Mr C. B. Fox, clerk. Ihe Chairman read the return of the Harbour dues for the month of November, which amounted to £189 9s 6J as compared with £ 157 3s 2d for the corresponding month of last vear, The gridiron receipts were for the same period le29 9s Dd as against £3U 138 lOd, a de- crease of £10 4s Id on the month of November. The voluntary hospital contributions amounted to R25 as compared with £ 20 for November, 1878. The harbour mister reported that chains had been fixed underneath the Newport Bridge to the piles, as a safeguard against accident. Several trees and other obstructions had been taken out of the river, these having been washed down by the floods. Twenty tons of gunpowder had recently been stopped iu this port. Several of the boys in the course of the channel had shifted from their positions. He had communi- cated this fact to Mr H. Evans, of the Trinity Board, and now learnt that the buoys had been replaced.

ST. NICHOLAS. BUTCHERS who wish to buy good Christmas beef should attend the sale by Messrs Thomas and Alexander, at St. Nicholas fair.

MERTHYR. SKATING.—Mr R. T. Crawshay has generously caused the gates of his park to be thrown open to the public, and the lovers of skating have a rare opportunity of thoroughly enjoying the vigorous exercise on the large lake in the park. Hundreds of persons, including many ladies, availed them- selves of the permission on Thursday, and through- out the afternoon the scene on the pond was a most animated one. The shades of evening made the skaters adjourn their exercise for another day, and they left the park with a sigh that they could not skate a little longer. The electric light is now all that is required. The skaters and the public generally loudly praise Mr Crawshay for his kindness.

ABERDARE. SUDDEN DEATII OK A COLLIJSR.—ABOUT three o'clock on Thursday afternoon, Wrn. irhiliips, a collier, residing at No. 2, Primrose-hill, lieoynon, died very suddenly. Deceased returned from his work at 12 o'clock, complaining of a pain in the chest. Between two and three he Washed himself, and afterwards went to the front door, where lie stood smoking a pipe. Whilst there he was seen to fall backwards. He was picked up immedi- ately, never spoke, but seemed to expire im. mediately.

MOUNTAIN ASH. SUDDEN DEATH OF A WOMAN.—On Wednesday evening Mary Chaney, aged 49, wife of Edward Chaney, a labourer, died suddenly in her house, No. 1, Woociland-roaci. Deceased had been out washing all day, and returned home apparently in her usual health. About nine o'clock she com- plained to her son of being ill, sat down in a chair, and expired within five minutes. An inquest will be held.

EBBW V^LE. DEBATING SOCIETY.—Ou Tuesday evening, at a meeting in the English Presbyterian school-room, it was resolved to establish a Young Man's De- bating and Improvement Society. Mr Edwin Grove presided, and delivered a practical address. There were present tho Rev S. Jenkins, F.G.S., curate; Wm. Jones, Baptist (Nebo); J. Morris, aud J. Evans (Congresationalist); and Messrs Hilton, C.E., H. Jenkins, D. Jones, W. G. Wil- liams, Daniel Jones, Thomas Davies, Thomas Chubb, Thomas Bull, Gntton, Jabez Wall, E. Evans, J. W. Wall, J. G, Jones, D. Davies, Lewis, and others. Mr Edwin Grove waa elected president.

DOWLAIS. ENTERTAINMENT. — Ac the Assembly-rooms, Oddfellows-hall, ou Tue.d^y night, an entertain- ment was given by the Dov.I iis Mutual Improve- ment and Debating Society. Mr Henrv Williams, vice-Dresident. Mesided,

-=4 I THE WEEK'S MARKETS. $ COliN. CARDIFF CORN MARKET, Satnnln.y.-(FroT6 Mr Geo. Coleman junior' Circular,' Llaudad Green.—By 9.30 train to Bristol, Thursdays, viewing samples,^ Newport '!Ud rorLkewett Stations).—Here in the interval since this day se'nnight business has been quiet, and the value of grain has remained stationary. At this day's market I can only report a, moderate consumptive demand in wheat, at unaltered prices. The general apathy of the trade becomes more and more marked, and the weakness of the wheat markets all over the country checks all disposition for speculation. We cannot expect great chaives in values. The money market has given wav ;tlll) naturally our banks are doing a less profkabl» business. For floating cargoes merchants ara under the impression that lower prices are jin. minent, and act with the greatest caution. A New York correspondent informs, wheat doc* not offer in great quantities for ships' require- ments, and the probability of prices here soing below English values seems remote. The sus- tained steadiness which is observable in the trade speaks well for the anticipation of millers. It ar- gues their belief in their ability to maintain pre- sent quotations. For shopkeepers to be be bound to every week is the best and safest trade for the manufacturer and consumer. Present prices of British and foreign grain :— Dantzic white (per 4Dolbs), 4Gs to 48s American, white, 44s to 46s; do. fine red, 42s to 41s; do secondary, 40s; to 42s; French white, 4Jt¡ to 42s i no, red, to 448; Ghirka, Odessa, and Isicopol, 3Us to 40s Saxonca, and Petersburg, 403 to 40s 6d English, old red and white, 42s to 448 do. new do., 42; to 43s. iUu-ley: Fille malting, 44s to 48s; French do, 38s to 42s; Irish do. 36s fo 38s; Odessa grinding, 20s to 21s** American do, 203 to 20s 0.1. Oats: Swedish and Dutch (per 320 lbs), 233 to 2Gs Limerick, white, 20s to 21s; Dublin light, 19s to 20s; Cork, Waterford, aud P.E., 18s to 19s. French small maize, 25s to 26s flat, 213 to 24s Gd barrel flour. 22s to 23s. ISEWI oitr Coax MARKET, Wednesday.—Duhieea chaiacterised tiie Corn Exchange to-day. Scarcely half the stalls were occupied, and the attendance generally was very small, consequently but little business was done, Prices remained without alteration, and ruled as follows Foreign wheat prime (ihirkas, 37s to 44s; red American, 44s to 45s; white, do, 48s 6d to 49s, English wheat- white, 40s to 42s per qr red, 3Ss to 40s. Flour, plain tie, 31s to 32s per sack; leather tie, 33s 6d to 34s 6d. Barley, grinding, 21s malting, 32s to 4Js. American maize, 24s (jJ to 26s 6d Galatz oo ™un<h 25s to 26s 6d. Oats—white, 20s to 23s Gd; Mack, 17s to 18s. Beans-Egyptian, 3/s to 42s per qr.; French, 33s 6d to 36s (id. BRISTOL CORN MARKET, Thursday. — (From Mr Geo. Coleman, Junior's Circular, Llandaff Green).—We have very seasonable winter weather, and farm work is proceeding nicely. On the Exchange to-day attendance is scarcely so good as usual. Demand for wheat is limited, at barely last week's prices. Malting barley sta- tionary; grinding parcels firm. Maize, beans, peas, and oats unchanged. The demand for flout has ruled very quiet during the past week, shop. keepers restricting their sales as much as possible. To effect sales mealmen find it necessary to con. cede some reduction in price. The unsettlell state of the country and the depression of so many industries continue to exert an adverse influence upon the flour trade, the principal topic of our conversation this week being the very much regretted stoppage of the West of England Bank Present prices of British and foreign grain Dantzic white (496 lbs). 46s to 47s; American, white, 45s to 46s; do fine red, 42s to 43s do secondary, 41s to 42s Ghirka, Odessa, and* Nicopol, 39s to 41s; Saxonca and Petersburg, 40a to 42s 6d; English, old red and white, 42s to 44s; do. new do, 41s to 42s. Barley: Fine inalting, 44s to 48s; French do, 36s to 38s; Irish do. 34s to 36s Odessa, grinding, 20a to 21s; American do, 20s 6d to 21s 6d. Oats Swedish and Dutch (per 323 lbs), 25a to 26s; Limerick, white, 19s to 21s; Dublin light, 18s 6d to 19s; Cork, Waterford, and P. E., 18s 6d to 19s. French: small maize, 25s 6d to 26s flat, 24s to 24s 6d: barrel flour, 21s 6d to 21s 9d. niwrv COWBBIDGE CATTLE MARKET, Tuesday. Busi. ness dull. Quotations were as follows :-13esl fat cattle, er lb, 8d; second do, nd: best faf sheep, 9d to lOd; second do, 8Jd; bacon pigs, 93 6d to 10s per score light porkers. Ill per score heavy do, 10s per score; pigs—two months, 14s to 16s three Months, 18s to 24s sia months, 30s to 40s. BRISTOL CATTLE MARKET, Thursday. Our annual Christmas market and sale of fat stock took place to-day. The supply of stock on oifer was about an average, but of animals specially sent tor Christmas consumption the market was greatly below thestandard of the samples shown at previous fat stock sales. For best descrip. tions of beef, from 75s to 76s per cwtwas obtained and for secondary and inferior samples, 70s: Mutton was in short supply and trade rather slow, best wethers realising 9d per IN and ewes and inferior sorts from 8d to 9d per lb. In store cattle there was abous an average supply of Irish importations, and trade dragging. There were some 700 pigs on offer, bacon fetching 9s per score, and porkers from 9s 6d to 10s. DUBLIN CATTLE MARKET, Thursday. Thij being the so-called Christmas 'cro8' channel supply market, in anticipation of good demand for export the supply of stock put forward showed a substan- tial increase on that of last Thursday's. Buyers not very largely represented. The market waa characterised by a dull and dragging tone. Beef, 65s to 67s 6d seconds, 60s mutton,. 7d to 8id veal, 7id to 9d per lb. LONDON CATTLE MARKET, Thursday. Beast; maricct very duli, supplies being in excess of re- quirements. Quotations 2d to 4d per stone lovx er. Coarser breeds of sheep also lower, choice quality unchanged. Beef, 4s 6d to 5s 10 i mutton, 5s to 7s veal, 5s 6d to Gs 4d pork,:3: 8d to 4s 6d. Beasts, 1,440; sheep, 2,770; calves, GO; including foreign beasts, 70: sheep, 700. PRODUCE. LONDON PRODUCE MARKET, Thursday.—Sugar market flat and inanimate, littcle or no business being reported, and prices merely nominal; crys. tallized remains firm. Coffee—very dull, no pub- lic sales held owing to fog. Tea—dull sale ol China owing to foggv weather; good sourid black and red leat Congous at 71d to 7d were below rates which shippers and dealers ara paying privately green teas sold cheaply, very fine choice Moyune being almost given away; Young Hyson realised lid Ping Suey gunpow- der, 10d to Is 3id; Indian met with little com- petition. Dried fruit—currants firm but in moderate demand. Valeucins slightly easier. Rice without improvement. Cotton market very flat and slightly lower. Jute flat. Tallow, new, abont 3iig on the spot. LIVERPOOL PRODTJOE MARKET, Thursday.-Sugar steady. Petroleum continues quiet, at 9gd to Uld per gallon for prime quality. Tallow slow, at 36s to 37s per cwt. for North American. Lard dull, and in buyers' favour. Nitrate of soda, 13s to 13a 6d per cwt. Linseed oil quiet, and rather easier. Other seed oils unaltered. Rosin, 4s 7td to 4s 9d for common. A PROVISIONS. COWBRIDGE PROVISION MARKET, Tuesday. — Best fresh butter, Is 3d to Is 4d per lb; eggs, Is Gd to 2s per dozen fowls, 3s 6d to 4s per couple ducks, 53 to 6s geese, lOd per lb; turkeys, Is 3d per lb. DEAD MEAT. COVVBRTDGE DEAD MEAT MARKET, Tuesday.— Prime beef. lOll; do, other joints, 7d to 9d; mutton, best pieces. lOd; interior ditto, 9d pork, 9d per lb. LONDON DEAD MEAT MARKET, Thursday.— There was a fair quantity of liieat on offer, and tr:de ruled steady, at about previous values. Beef, 3s to 5s prime Scotch do, 5: to 5s 2d; mutton, 3s 4d to 6s; veal. 5s to 5s Gd large pork, 33 4d to 4s; small do, 4s 2d to 43 6a per stone. BUTTER. CARMARTHEN BITTER MARKET, Saturday.— (From J. W. Morgan's Circular.)—A moderate supply oi butter, with a slow demand, conse- quently prices are not so firm. The price quoted for best butters was llkl to 12Jd inferiors were very much neglected. LAMPETER BUTTER MARKET, Friday.—There was a fair supply of butter (casks) in the market to-day, which sold at lOd to lid per lb according to quality. CORK BUTTER MARKET, Thursday.—Ordinary Firsts, 12GB: seconds, 99s thirds, 76s fourths, 65s; fifths, 50s. Mild cured superfine, 152s firsts, 135s seconds, 100s; thirds, 77s. Firkins in market, 848. HAY AND STRAW. COWBRIDGE HAY AND STRAW MARKET, Tuesday. Best hay in rick, 92 10ii to k2 153 iter ton in- ferior do, R2 to E2 103; straw, per load, 21 10a to Cl 1.5s. LONDON HAY AND STRAW MARKET. Thursday., Moderate supplies and trade fairly active, a; the following prices. Prime hay, 75s to 84s; in. ferior do, 40s to 70s prime clovpr 100s tc 110s inferior do, 80s to 90s; straw, 30s to 40s pet load. WOOL. BRADFORD WOOL MARKET, Ihursday.—There IT a very slow inquiry for all descriptions of English wool. Consumer quite refuse to buy in advance of their actual requirements. Staplers withhold their stocks as far as possible, but where they are obliged to realise somewhat lower quotations hav& to be accepteù, There are a few speculative otters for yarn, but prices named are so low that spinners cannot accept them. There is no change in the piece trade. METALS. LONDON METAL MARKET, Thtirstlay.-Cozi)es dull; no business; good ordinary Chili quoted S. Australian quite nominal. Tin—small business, fine foreign, on the spot, £ 60 15s to £132; and forward and arrival £u1 5s to "61 10s; English ingots, £ 60. Spelter, £ 16 10s to £ 15. Sheet zinc sold at auction, £ 20, to £ 23 2s Gu at works. Lead unchanged. Scotch pig iron, 42s 9d to 43s casb. BIRMINGHAM IRON MARKET, Tbtirsday. Consumers were generally indisposed this nite*- r, orward noon to buy. Forward transactions were re- stricted to small job lots to complete work to be finished this year. Strips and angles, with a few square and round bars and some stamping sheets were purchased at prices which were firm only in relation to the thin sheets. Tube strips have been got at £ 6 per ton. Tin plates sold fairly well, at slightly ad value 1 terms. Coko3 were much offered at 12s 6d for Welsh, 13s Yorkshire, and 14s 6d Derbyshire. Domestic coal active and strong.

A sad skating fatality has occurred on Newton Lake, at Newton-le-Willows, near Warrington. Joseph Walker, cashier at Golborne Factory, had been skating with a number of companions, who were going home shortly after nine at night, when from some fatality Walker said lie would have another run down the ice, and putting on hia skates again went in the direction of Bridge. Hi companions heard a crash, and on going neai c, saw he had fallen into the water, and before ao sistauce could be given he was drowned. Ill was the sole support of his widowed mother and his sisters. Piinted and Published by the Proprietory, CAi & fcONS, at their Steam Priuling Works,-75 and 70, St Slary-slrect and \Yc5tgute-3treefc in the tow1 of Ca-nliff. in the £AT l.llt.»u..I.r:n.1),