The Cardiff Times

S ^MBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL. 4. ^L^^terly meeting of this Council was held k^(54vA°iMperance Hal], Haverfordwest, on pj the chairman (Mr G. P. Brewor, Nar- 2' i^^ ^'dinsr. The Finance Committee recom- ih a ra,fcfl 'D t^ie or^ered to j May, and that salaries, pensions, and j Jw5ents, amounting to £8,833 6s lOd, be *•>« December there was £ 7,870 9s 8d tji ,^67^^the exchequer contribution account, lid in the constabulary account, the £8.OôO Is 5d. after deducting £48313, (1 'he ii'l\ treasurer on the general county k#* e*U, committee had decided not to pay f ''c of ^ent in lien of extra charge for main- ^tients at Carmarthen Asylum to 31st it being stated by Mr Roch that 'I k "y rt la not questioned at all.that tho V'^reh ^°ailci] is not U»blo tor the amount." if <^C]) WIIM na»(ilija on the proposition of Mr Seconded by Mr Lemnel Jones, Lilan- S&a b. auother member stating that the annual < had been wrongly paid for years.— kSiv°Ullcil passed a vote of condolence with the f £ 0 if8 °f the late Mr Kich. Thomas, Treboren, t a.c1 been an alderman of Pembrokeshire t i. bè formation of the Council.—March 14th S i 2|Coo f0T the parish meetings, April 6th for 3 ij? Council elections, and March 15th for IvW ^tory meeting.—The question of the f :^til k :Narberth wa.s laid before the County t the Narberth District Council. The Agriculture has made certain 0 t \fcfet >, ,an^ threatened to prohibit the ( eR«, ss conditions are complied with. s k Lewis James, Narbeth, proposed that Aen.ts ^rom Narbeth be sent to the f t»t\»0 ^Sriculture, with a request that that point out how the l-equireraents were t —;Mr Ward, Sodstone, seconded, and Sw11* *Sa|Was carr^e^*—^r- Griffith, Milford 5 ,St on the desirability of passing a 6 tr'ct'n8 the traffic of traction engines, v 1 CAs t0 st^d that they be prohibited from going J I between sunset and midnight.—The to press the Local Government « Ce more to sanction their bye- Siv same time pointing out tt°1^nce of the question at issne, k so many of their highways were as 'S?' o?S binary English lanes. On the\ the Public Works Committee the t I ft°*dered extensive repairs to Panty- i^Se- The Main Koads Committer 1 °^ed the Coancil to pay £ 1,687 for ( e^l"rs •" no opposition to the between Clarbeston-road and 8^5' object to the crossings of main roads Ot 0i Proved by the Board of Trade, and to a '^e Tenby Highway District for the main roads for the current year, tj. Was adopted. Mr Lewis James pre- t e t'eport of the County Governing Body, V^JT J at the various schools under their SV,Ws "^fe was a total attendance of 536 I Hp1,8 ^wnst 521 last year. There was a I ^J^nmodation for 760. The armorial i <|2CL, ) f Wales question was referred to the 1 v sSCc^' Swete's motion that the Council Technical Instruction Committee the Fishguard Cookery y»>fli- -'835 was referred back to the Technical I i Committee, and another motion by S&itt tu 'n titnre all jurymen and coroner's | !|v% A ^t county shall be paid Is each, instead Present—was referred to the Finance Mr Griffiths, St. David's, proposed, Milford, seconded, and it was agreed jv^'u polling booth for the parish of St. I Sw D»v'd'a for the Parliamentary elec- f i some of the electors had to I to poll. The arran^ggnent will I into operation at the ing Par- 4 5jfy An^-lection. The appointraenf- sn\iembers !« 'J^lcnltural Committee of th^C/hiversity j a^cs- Aberystwyth, was left to the new

i ^R BuRIAL FEE8AT NEATH Board of Guardians met on I Mr Hopkin Jones (chairman) pre- I claim was received from the Rev. — S j Ctiw* of Bethel Chtpel. Vale of Neath, for Performing the burial service over 3i>l) in November last.—Mr John Jones r»?^Jlloved that the claim be paid.—Tho I))oved that the claim be pa.id.-Tho I afraid some ulterior object was to « that the claim had been so long t "te 'Tonn Jones said the Vicar of Aber- 0M? b»48 Pai^ fee* for similar offices and all served alike.—It was stated that 35s S?vLc)» the case of interment at Ac ^*l, whilst the vicar was paid only l^^rvil^rk said the vicar was possessed of X • whilst the ground of the Chapel was vested in trustees.—The Rev. /j j *nd the Rev. J. Poulkes deprocated i I made, and said that some of them paupers living thought that some i f ke willing to render the last office | the motion of the Rev. J. I Ms resolved not to paT the claim.

SK 'NDUSTRY^AT KIDWELLY. '¡'e it needed anywhere in South f ancient Kidwelly, where many a 'l ?°a broken np through depression in I ,'nduHtry. Judging from reports to 18 a prospect of the speody opening 'n connection with Messrs Company's famous silicia brick > S SJ V5^* w°rks. The brickworks which Messrs B» discontinued some years purchased by Messrs Stephens ant' to be adapted to the pur- 0D the production of Stephen's G&K KJuliant Knife Powder." Experiments 4 Alfred Stephens has made, after V.'v' scientific courses of study at Owens V^V1 waQc^e,,ter, and Cardiff University k^Hiouesaltcd *n the registration of this i 'according to Mr Analyst Granville WFQ.B. (formerly Principal at the j eSa ef Chemistry), "is a particu- Sffai ljXJlat polishing powder, imparting a V Wc to surfaces, and possessing great Sk?iJ sL, Jt' gui<*ly polishes everything k ~J- Aij eager demand is made for it i w,ti; i18:5- It ia described as a perfect I Ho neighbourhood of Kidwelly I Cheered by its succes*.

Rheumatism, Sciatica, Consumption, Paralysis, Locomotor Ataxy, Bronchitis, Asthma, Rickets, St. Vitus' Dance, Debility, Indigestion, Anaemia (Bloodlessness), &c. These and other diseases have been cured, as is shown by published and certified evidence, by Dr. Williams' Pink Pills for Pale People. No other Remedy ever discovered has effected so. many Wonderful Cures. Read the cures in vour own neighbourhood. A BRIDGEND GIRL SNATCHED FROM AN EARLY DEATH. A reprssentative of the Bridgend Chronicle was asked to interview a young lady living in Meadow-street about whom many reports were current respecting her miraculous escape from death. He writes :—I knocked at the door of 4, Meadow-stre»t, and Mrs Powsll, the young lady s mother, bade me enter. Mrs Powell stated the following facts :— My daughter is the fourth child of a family of 16. and up to the age of 14 Jennie was a fine rosy- checked bonny lass, and never knew what a day'* illness was. In April, 1892, she began to lose her colour and complained of pains in her stomach. Her appttite failed her, and a bad cough supervened, and the girl gradually grew low-spirited. A doctor examined her, and said that she was in a decline, that her blood was poor, &c. He attended her for twelve months, but Jennie gradually grew worse. I then sent her to the Porthcawl Rest." but the matron became alarmed with her illness, and sent her home in a conveyance. I thought she could not last much longer. Shecomplained ofpains in her head, and everything she took was brought up. In fact, she was perfectly helpless, and bad to be fed and washed like a baby. Another doctor stated that with a little excitement Jennie might drop down dead at any time. About this time I read an account in a newspaper of a marvellous cure by a, wonderful medicine called Dr. Williams Pink Pills for Pale People. I mentioned it to my husband, and on his advice I procured a box from a chemist's inthe town. My daughter had only taken three doses when we began to see a change in her. Her eyes looked brighter, and her appetite returned, and before the first box was finished you would not have taken her to be the same girl." Miss Jennie Powell then came tripping in and

in cheerful and bright manner said she never felt better in her life. Ere I had taken three boxes of Dr. Williams- Pink Pills," she exclaimed, I was able to go about my work witn comfort. I could eat and sleep well, and my spirits re- turned. It is ju3t on two years, .3a,<* e' since I first tried them, and since then 1 have not had a day's illness-in fact I feel altogether a. different person. I would not like to be without these pills, though for the last month I have not needed to touch them." Miss Jennie Powell is at present in Servtca in the town, where she has to work hard, but at the same time enjoys perfect health, and is alto- gether a happy and changed person, ana sne at- tributes the change wholly and solely due to Dr. Williams' Pink Pills. Miss Powell also stated that her acquaintances since her recovery often tell her that she is no longer a" living skeleton," and express great astonishment at the pleasing alteration in her health. PARALYSIS—LOCOMOTOR ATAXY. PARALYSIS IN ITS MOST HOPELESS FORM-DOCTORS SAID HE WOULD NEVER WAIJK AGAIN! DEFINITELY CURED BY DR. WILLIAMS'PINK PILLS. Locomotor ataxy is regarded by the medical profession as the most severe and the most hope- less form of paralysis, more especially when it develops slowly from an injury to the brain or spinal column, as in the case of Mr George Greenwood, which was certainly incurable by ordi- nary medicine. That he was definitely cured by Dr. Williams' Pink Pills is one more evidence of the fact that they are not like ordinary medicine, and that they cure when ordinary medicine fails. Mr Greenwood is a clsrk employed in the offices of the L. and N. W. Railway. He lives ||k 17, Holt's-terracc, Longsight, Manchester, his cure—a case (says the Stockport Adver- tiser ") that would have been beyond belief had it not been for the testimony of unimpeachable witnesses—is impressive and instructive. About eighteen months ago." he said, I sought medical advice. I suffered most excrucia- ting pains which flew about to different parts of the body, sometimes in one part, somctmes in another. I pratically lost the use of my limbs, I

and got so that I could not go out alone. When I walked I staggered from side to side like a drunken man. I dared not come down or go upstairs alone, and when I had put out the gas I would be unable to stand, so powerless was I to control my limbs in the dark. The doctors soon diagnosed my complaint; they told me I was suffering from locomoter ataxy, and they gave me not the faintest hope of recovery. I went to Liverpool to a hospital there, and the doctor told me I must never go outside after dark." And were you working aJI that time ?" asked the reporter. "Oh, no, indeed I could grasp nothing of less dimensions than the handle of a good stout walk- ing stick, and to hold a pen was an impossibility. I was away ten months." And what did you do ?" I heard of Dr. Williams' Pink Pills. and de- termned to try them, which I did with mar- vellous results. The doctor at Liverpool haa told me I should never walk again without a stick." And now ?" "Now I go to work every morning at five o'clock, and have been doing for months—and I never take a stick." And would you describe yourself as cured ?" Yes. I used to be so bad at night that I couldn't lie in bed. Many a tim I have crawled downstairs and lit the fire, preferring to sit here in this chair to enduring the miseries and pain and sleeplessness in bed." WONDERFUL CURE uf NORTH WALES. UNABLE TO WALK FOR SEVEN MONTHS. A representative of the North Wales Obser- ver and Express recently journeyed to the village of Beddgelert, and called on Miss Wil- liams, of Shop Newydd (New Shop). Miss Williams had had a miraculous cure after a painful illness, and she related the following facts Three years ago my knee became ba.d. I tried embrocation, but it gave me no relief. After suffering great pains for two months a very able medical man was summoned, and said that the knee joint was ulcerated, and suggested that it would be better for me to go to a hospital to undergo operation, but I refused. I remained for ten weeks on a sofa, and for seven months I nnable to walk at all. Subsequently I was able to walk with crutches for one year and seven months, but was unable to put any weight on the bad leg, as it gave way under me. Then a friend informed me of Dr. Williams' Pink Pills for Pale People. Previously I had read of

c.r- the marvellous cures effected by the Pills, which naturally interested me, the discoverer of the Pills being a physiciian of Welsh lineage and a name- sake of my own, Dr. Williams. I purchased a box Dr. Williams' Pink Pills and persevered with them, and am now able to walk about with- out the crutches or any kind of support. My appetite is good, and my nerves are as strong as they were before my illness. The neighbours thought that I should always be walking about with the crutches." Mrs Williams corroborated the statement in every detail.

LOOK AT THE NAME ON THE WRAPPER. The only genuine Pills are in a wrapper of Pink paper, printed in red, and bearing the full name, Dr. Williams' Pink Pills for Pale People." Inside the wrapper are Dr. Williams' Directions for use, enclosing the wooden box or tube, which is about two Inches long and a shade larger round than a silver shilling. In this form alone are they genuine. In case of doubt it is better to send direct to the manufacturers, c r enclosing the price, 2s 9d, for one box 13s 9d for six boxes. Address—Dr. Williams' Medicine Company, 46, Holborn-viaduct, London, E.C.

MR PRITCHARD MORGAN, M.P., ON CHINA'S NEEDS. On Tuesday evening Mr W. Pritchard Morgan, M.P., addressed his constituents at Aberdare. There was a, large attendance, and the chair was occupied by County Councillor J. W. Evans. HIS VISIT TO CHINA. Mr W. PBITCHAED MORGAN, M.P., on rising, had an enthusiastic reception. He incidentally mentioned that he bad not been absent from the House unpaired, and that while absent he had been endeavouring to draft a Mining Bill which he hoped would, by the appointment of a Minister for Mines, do some- thing to improve the status of the miners, and obviate strikes and disputes. As to his visit to China, he. pointed out that he had been com- missioncd by the Chinese Government to report on tr»d« resources, and the first thing ho dicl WtLS to put the Chinese Government in direct communication with the ironworks of Cyfarthfn. and Dowlais. (Loud applause.) Having dealt with the preliminary circumstances of the loan negotiations, he said he could assure them that the loan would be carried through, and once it was granted they might be certain that no reasonable demands of the English Government for the opening out of the ports and the interior of China could be refused by the Chinese Government. (Cheers.) BRITAIN'S ATTITUDE TO KUSSIA. There were two possible lines of foreign policy before us-one, regardless of any interest but our own, whether Russia's or any other nation's, to contend for our own rights and get what we conld. The other, while firmly maintaining our just rights and reasonable claims, to endeavour to come to an understanding with foreign Powers competing with us for the development of China. He had no hesitation in advising the latter. (Hear, hear) There was no reason but the old prejudices against Russian aggressiveness, which happily had been rapidly dying out in this country of JatQ years, to prevent the Government from taking advantage of the present situation to endeavour to come to such an understanding with Russia, what would solve the question of the Near East and that of the Far East at the same time. (Cheers.) If a really thorough working under- standing were arrived at with Russia more would have been done for the peace of the world than it was possible for this country to do in any other direction. (Cheers.) The temper of this country was ripe for such an understanding, and it only remained for the Government to avail themselves of the opportunity, and thus open an almost virgin country to the trade and commerce of the world. (Cheers.) a. At the close of the hon. member's address, Mr D. RICHARDS, solicitor, an erstwhile agent to the hon. gentleman, protested that they had heard no politics. A vote of thanks to the hon. member was then I proposed, among some disturbance, by Mr J. GRIFFITHS, park 8chools, and unanimously rrie carried. Mr PIUTCHAltD MORGAN, in reply, said that there was no newspaper published in London or any provincial town, or indeed throughout the civilised world, that did not make the Eastern question the leading question to-day. He had referred to other ques- tions, and had condemned the foreign policy of Government, but this question of the Far East was the great question of the hour, and he was satisfied that once the loan- negotiations were carried through not a hand would be raised against it in the House of Commons, and it would be unanimously carried by the whole country with acclamation. (Cheers.)

DIETING THE DEAR BOY. GaAcim I would like to look at some walking- sticks. BROPUAN Yes, mise. What kind of handle would you like ? GIUCIE Oh, I'm not particular only it must be of a. material that will not make him siok.

GRI FFITHSTOWN SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION. The triennial election of the above board took rlace on Monday last, with the following result:- elected. Mr William Thomas (Congregational). 285 "Air James Brown (Wesleyan) 266 Rev. John Howell Rees (Baptist). 208 "Capt. D. Ellig Willisma (Church) 200 Mr James Williams (Church) 159 The asterisk shows the members of the old board.

At Southampton on Monday a Cor6ner?abury re- turned a verdict of Accidental death in the case of George Dowding (lZ), who was fatally shot on the river Itehon on Sunday. Deceased got into a punt when a loaded gan in the boM went off. the contents atitaifwyjn fte bay's Mek.

DIPHTHERIA AT CARDIFF. Interview with the Medical Officer. From time to time Cardiff, like most other populous places, is seized with something re- sembling a scare as to its sanitary condition and the prevalence of disease in its midst. Now it is an alleged epdiemic of typhoid now a supposed widespread outbreak of scarlet fever. The latest, and perhaps the most frequently recurring scare, has reference to diphtheria and in order to ascertain the real position of affairs in this connection a representative of this journal sought out Dr. Walford, the medical officer of health. At once did the doctor deny that diph- theria is more than normally prevalent in the town, or that this normal rate is higher than in other towns of similar population. It is true he has been obliged to refuse admissions to. the Sanatorium on account of the beds allocated to diphtheria cases being already occupied. The fact is the Sanatorium is too small, and is heing enlarged. Dr. Walford admitted that diphtheria is more prevalent on the western side of the town than on the eastern, but he did not admit that this is due to sanitary conditions preventible by the health authorities. He produced a report of his own of some years ago going fully into the causes, Ac., of diphtheria, ana pointed out that there were then far more cases of this disease in the eastern part of the town, especially in the Park Ward and in Splott, than in Riverside and Canton and the system of sewerage is precisely the same now as at that time. How, then, does he explain the fact that diphtheria is now much more prevalent in Canton and Riverside than in other parts of the town ? Dr. Walford is strongly inclined to attribute it to the CROWDED STATE OF THE BOARD SCHOOLS in that district. These immense aggrega- tions of children are, he thinks, a prolific source of contagion. Why not have a larger number of smaller schooli ? Ah that is a question for the ratepayers. It would mean increased cost, of course. The con- gestion at the Radnor-road and Severn-road schools, however, will be immediately relioied by the opening of the Lansdowne-road School, and matters ought to improve. He is aware of the difficulty of getting nurses in Cardiff for private cases of infection, and this fact probably accounts for the impression that there is an unusual prevalence of disease in the town—that dinease is so rampant that all the nurses are fnlly employed but at any time in Cardiff there is a scarcity of nurses for infectious diseases. The rules of the Jubilee Nurses' Institute preclude their members taking these cases while owing to a comparatively new system at the Infirmary there are fewer ontdoor nurses available at that institution than was the case formerly. Nor is it perhaps desirable that nurses connected with the Infirmary should be engaged with infectious cases. Despite Dr. Walford's well-known optimism there is clearly no reason for alarm in the present state of the public health of Cardiff. For some time the town has occupied a most satisfactory po. Hion in the vital statistics of the country.

CAUGHT BY JUDGE OWEN. His Honour Judge Owen heard an interpleader ease at Monmouth on Tuesday that created a good deal of interest. John E. Morgan, the execu- tion creditor, seized a number of horses, waggons, harness, and other property, under an execution against the defendant, Roderick Morgan, a haulier. Edward Lewis, junior, claimed two of the horses, four waggons, and five sets of harness, alleging that he purchased them for £ 27 before judgment was entered against the defendant. A good deal of discrepancy was apparent as t £ > the purchase payment, and his Honour gave judg- ment for the execution creditor with costs, Edward Lewis, senior, landlord of the Robin Hood Inn,and father of the last claimant,claimed two of the other horses, alleging that they were his propertv, and that he had hired them out to defendant at 10s per week. The defendant Morgan was called, and produced receipts for the hire of the horses of SA and E4 10s respectively, and dated October 25th and December 27th. His Honour, after subjecting the receipts to a careful inspec- tion, turned to the defendant Morgan and said, I am going to ask you an important question, a serious question, to you. Were not these two re- ceipts given to you at the same time, and not on either of the dates they bear ?" The defendant looked confused, hesitated, and then admitted that his Honour's assertion was true. Mr Wood, Hereford, who appeared for the claimant Lewis. at once intimated that he would retire from the case. His Honour, in giving judgment for the execution creditor, characterised the case as a very Dad one, it was simply a fraud and an attempt to defeat the law. Claimants were ordered to pay all costs.

BIGAMY AT PEMBROKE DOCK. A Non-Commissioned Officer's Complaint. At the Pembroke Dock Police Court on Mon- day (before Messrs J. H. Teasdale and Edwin Trayler) Annie Lee, who was brought up in cWtoay, was charged at the instance t k Q *tftff quartermaster • ner- geant A.S.C., with bigamy. Prosecutor, who is now stationed at Pembroke Dock, Baid he married prisoner at the Registry Office, Woolwich, on October 18th, 1881. She then passed as Nan- me ifivans, and said she was a single woman. They afterwards lived together for some years, and six children were born, one of whom had since u j vent,nftl'y, however, he discovered that she had previously married one James Henry Lee, a J then separated from her &ad charged her with bigamy at Woolwich, but the case fell through for lack of evidence. He had since discovered that the first marriage took place in Ireland on April 21st, 1878. The five surviving children were with him and he had always made prisoner-who came to Pembroke Dock from Shrewsbury on Friday last to annoy him-an allowance. The Bench remanded her until Saturday week next. and she was removed n custody.

BLUE CROSS TEAS Their exquisite flavour BLUE Cnoss TEAS and rich aroma BLUE Ckoss TEAS the folk BLUE Cifas TEAS of the tea table. LB&TO CBoaq Taw ia lead VULU-iMjaa: %b

PIECEWORK AT PEMBROKE DOCKYARD. The next development in the piecework agitation at Portsmouth is being looked for- ward to with much interest at Pembroke Dock. On all hands, it is believed, that the charges which have been made, imputing conni- vance at dishonest practices to an important section of dockyard officials, cannot be aJlowed to pass without a thorough investigation into the operation of the several piecework schemes, and the methods pursued by the measuring staff, in recording the work performed by task- workers at the several Government dockyards. Such an inquiry will be welcomed by measurers at Pembroke Dockyard. It will also give satis- faction to not a few drillers and rivetters, who fancy that the public may have been wrongly led' to imagine that the dishonest practice, alleged lo be ganeral at Ports- mouth, are also carried on at Pembroke. As a matter of fact only three cases of supposed fraudulent measurement have come to light during recent years. One occurred on the Andromeda, before her launch in April last, and the man had falsely represented to the measurer that certain work was performed by him, whereas, on subsequent investigation, it was found to have been done at a drilling machine. The man in question was dismissed from the service. In two other cases on another ship drillers had made simi- lar misrepresentations, but the foreman in charge arrived at the conclusion that the men may have unintentionally made a mistake, and he accord- ingly allowed the matter to drop, taking occasion, however, to severely admonish them for their carelesness. Not a single case of wiping out the paint marks, which it is customary for measurers to put on work when account has been taken of it, and giving in that work a second time, has been brought to the notice of officials at Pembroke Dock; and therefore as fraud attempted by such a palpably obvious and shallow method could not possibly escape the attention of any measurer of average intelli- gence, it must be concluded that it has not been attempted to any great extent, if it has ever been attempted at all. As to the question of task work, the inatter has been thoroughly investigated at various times at Pembroke Dockyard in consequence of men not earning at task work the ordinary day's pay. At each investigation the Admiralty officials have gone away with the settled conviction that the several task schemes were being honestly administered in every way, ana that a revision of prices was not necessary. Between the end of 1896 and the present time there have been comparatively few com- plaints from either drillers or rivetters, whose average weekly excesses over day-pay wages during the interval, as shown by a table published in these columns on Friday last, ha3 varied between 17 and 42'3 in the one case and 19 3 and 57-7 per cent. in the other, and the men, whatever may have been their views as to the desirability of discontinuing piecework a year or two age, now favour it more than they do daywork. They, however, still generally agree that the scheme regulating the prices needs revision.

STATIONMASTER KILLED. On Monday night, shortly after 9 o'clock, a shocking fatality occurred to Mr James Bachelor, the stationmaster at Wellington, Salop. He was engaged talking to a signalman on the down rails, when a lightengine running along the samo kpath knocked him down and he was killed in- stantaneously. Batchelor had been station- master at Wellington foe aljput 13 years. He leaves a wife &og fastifr.

CHILDREN'S HOUR, AND ORDER OF THE ROUND TABLE. By LADY GREENSLEEVES. At the Gate of the Year. The boys and girls who got skates for Christmas presents this year must feel that they have been rather hardly treated, for though it is a very un- safe thing to talk about the weather a week in advance it is quite certain that, whatever Feb- ruary and March may bring us, we have had one of the very mildest Januarys tha.t anyone can remember. I can hardly imagine that even old people recollect a January before this one without snow or continued frost. The consequence has been that in the South of England the flowers and birds have got quite confused in their ideas of the season. Nests with eggs in have been seen, though we all know that the birdies ought not to set up housekeeping until St. Valentine's Day flowers that ought to be fast asleep under the mow are blooming P-nd I saw little green leaf-buds on young trees, as well as a thick fringe of yellow catkins on the hazels, a fortnight ago. Violets and lilies of the valley have been on sale at every street corner in London, and the snoworop and crocus found no snow, mantle to check their upward progress. People have written to the papers, too, about the butter- flies they have seen, but these arc not really this season's insects emerging from the chrysalis, but butterflies which have been hybernatiilg for the winter and were roused by the mildness of the air. The birds must feel delighted to have got so easily through the davs when food is generally shortest; and the provident squirrel and other animals, which go into retreat for the winter, cannot have needed half their usual stores of food so far. By- the-bye, did you ever notice that these stores of the hybernating animals consist of the best con- densed foods, as truly prepared to give a large amount of nutriment in a small space as a beef lozenge is ? They never lay by grass, however much they may nibble it fresh, but they always choose nuts and bulbs and grain. And nuts and bulbB and grain are all parts of plants which con- tain specially nutritious food supplies intended for the young plant that was to nave lived on them in its infancy. There are other countries, p however, where frost and snow are more certain and lasting than is the case in England, even in one of our coldest winters, and where the flowers have a harder struggle accordingly. Then the flowers have to be ingenious in order to over- come their difficulties. A Plant that Burns its Leaves. We hear of many strange plants, and of many queer things which plants do, but one of the very strangest is surely the flower which uses itsleaves as warming stoves to melt for it a passage through ice and snow. This flower is called the Alpine Soldanella. It grows up among the Alps, ana is the first to appear when the long winter is over and the sun is beginning to dissolve even the Alpine snows and it manages to make this early appearance, and to charm the first butter- flies of spring by, as I have said, thawing and warming a tunnel through its icy covering. You know that there are numerous plants which, as mentioned in the last paragraph, lay by stores of food, food as necessary to them as hoards of nuts are to the squirrel and dormouse. They store food in their seeds ready for the baby plant to live upon before it is ready to "fend" for itself, and bulbs and corms are also food stores. But the Soldanella pursues another plan. It has large flat leaves, not very unlike a nastur- tium's in form, and by holding these up to the sun and air throughout the summer it secures such a stock of carbon and hydrogen that these leaves become very thick and fleshy. This stock is to be used, it is true, for fuel, not food, but food and fuel are very much the same thing we eat bread to keep us going, ana we feed an engine with coal. In winter the Soldanella's leaves sink down to the ground, and lie snugly under the snow, which does not penetrate their leathery skin. Then when the first breath of spring sends a whisper down to the little hidden Soldanella, and its buds wake up and begin to long to rise out of their dark bed and see the sun, the lesi-Btoves got to work to burn their-fuel and melt the snow, and surround the buds with quits a pleasant green- house atmosphere. A sort of Babble of this warm air encircles ea4 -gpkver rising- with and dissolving an upward path for it, and so they presently reaoch the surface, and dainty little twin-bells of flowers beautify the ice-world. But the leaves have lost all their succulent floshiness and become poor feeble skeletons; they are burnt out." Friend Robin. One of our new members, Thimblemaid Mary Carnley, tells us a tale of a tailess robin and its mate :— There is a little robin in our garden, and it comes to the window-sill every morning to be fed. It flies all over the house without any fear. It has a mate which has got no tail, and it is also very tame. They have been in the garden since July. I suppose it must be mainly because people have for so long regarded the redbreast with kindly feelings, loving his bright eyes and scarlet waistcoat and winter song, that he is so much more ready to be friends with man than any other bird is. Sometimes benefactions of breadcrumbs invite his friendship, but at other times he needs no such invitation, but himself makes the first overtures." Mr Gilbert Coleridge gives a.charming account in the Fortnightly Review of a robin friend of his own. Mr Coleridge was in the habit of sitting to study on a quiet stone seat in his garden, near a copse. For some days he noticed a robin coming closer than usual, and apparently trying to at- tract attention. It wonld perch on a stone on the opposite side of the path and look at him, and then hop about within a few yards of his feet. Evi- dently its inspection was altogether satisfactory, iust as if Mr Robin had discovered that this studious being was (as he is) one of a family distinguished for their humanity and their ardent efforts on behalf of the animal creation. Its next move was to perch within a foot of Mr Coleridge's head, on the rock which served as a back to his seat, and sing a sweet little song addressed to his ear alone. Several times it flew to a bough a yard off, but always came back to the rock. to h, A Curious Customer. I turned my head and smiled," continues Mr Coleridge, wondering whether it would please him, like the child who patted the tortoise, and I began a vile travesty of his song by whistling gently through my teeth. It is a mercy that he did not cut me dead for such a parody but he showed neither rage nor fear. He only sat up Very tall, cocked his head on one side, and stared, in astonishment." And so the friendship began And prosperously it went on. I thought of getting him some crumbs," adds the writer, to induce him to feed out of my hand, but it seemed then to savour of bribery and corruption, and I thought we understood each other sufficiently without such a base medium of exchange. Let me confess, however, that at last the temptation became too great. I did bribe him with crumbs, and he did perch on my hand." One of Robin's characteristics was his tremendous curiosity. If a glove or a handkerchief or book fell on the ground he must hop down and examine and peck it. His friend's homespun suit was a great source of wonder to him, and at first he tugged away at its threads with the insistence of a, terrier but having found out what manner of stuff it was, and satisfied himself that the hairs would not easily come out. Le troubled no more about it. Was it merely curiosity, or did he want to discover whether the cloth hid anything edible or would furnish material for future nest- building ? True to the Colours. An Old Knight adds to our stories of regi- mental horses and dogs. Au Irish farmer once bought a horse which had been a troop horse, and used to send his daughter mounted on it to Dublin with milk. One day she arrived in the city when the soldiers were just turning out to relieve guard at the castle. The horse heard the old familiar trumpet call, grew wildly excited, and out of the girl's control, and the next minute dashed into the castle yard and took its old place in the midst of the other horses and troopers, with the milkmaid, scared and helpless, on its back The other anecdote is more striking still. A dragoon regiment was stationed in a York- shire town, and the horses were turned out to graze in a field. Suddenly a terrible thunder- storm arose, and in the midst of the echoing thun- der peals and the vivid lightning flashes the horses were seen to collect n a body and form themselves in line. with all the pre- cision required of them when the boom of can- non sounded on the battlefield and in this posi- tion they remained unshaken and steady as long as the storm lasted." Prize Competitions. Instead of the Gold Medal, an engraving of which will be given next week, I am showing you f)icturea of the Connemara brooch and scarf-pin from Mr Simpson, Belfast) given in the Puzzle Competition they look still prettier in their reality of silver and green marble, and have pleased the winners so much that we shall have to get some more of a similar sort for future prizes. Esquire Richard Waterhouse says I was very glad indeed to receive the splendid scarf-pin, and I thank you very much indeed for it. I shall be returning to school at Bath to- morrow and there I shall stay for twenty-one weeks rather a long term, ia it not ?" It cer- tainly is a long term of work but there will be a little holiday at Easter, surely ? I hope our Esquire's schoolmates will admire his new pin also. The Ducks and the Cock. This amusing bit of poetry is sent us by one of I our oldest friends, Mrs Westley, Member, who is No. 2 in the Big Book of the Round Table:— I read a little story not so very long ago Of five ducks who were living at a farm They were fed at early morning and when the snn was low. And you'd think they could not come to any harm. Bnt there were hens at that same farm and a nasty-tempered cock, And whenever little Lena brought the corll The cock would peck the ducks and drive them in a flock Till the poor things looked quite hungry and forlorn. Now when this state of things had been going on awhile, And the ducks had doubtless thought it very hard. It was noticed that they waddled off, all in a single file. And consulted in a corner of the yard. Well, I really cannot tell you at that meeting what was said, Or if one duck was voted to the chair," .But they quack-quacked very loudly (this is what I read) And resolved to end the nuisance then and there. So they waddled off quite boldly to the nasty- tempered cock. And before he'd any time to prepare They set their backs towards him-it gave him such a shock, He was caught, like a bird within a snare. Then they pushed all together, they pushed with all their strength- No doubt the cock thought this was very hard, But they quacked and they pushed, till 'tis certain that at length They had hustled him right out of that farm- yard. 1, The ducks are now at peace when they come to get a meal. For that cock never quite forgot his fright; And now you know the story, I think that you will feel That their treatment very surely served him right. The ORDER has now upwards of 26,400 mem- bers. WATCHWORDS Consceintiousness, Kindness, Courtesy. Motto "We must do the thing we ought before the thing we may." VOWS AND PROMISES: Knights and Esquires must pledge themselves to try to be brave, unselfish. true, and honest; courteous and obliging defenders of all weak children and dumb animals and helpers of all those who need to refrain from bad language and to say a few kind words, or to do a kind action every day of their lives. Damsels and Thimblemaids must try to be true, helpful, modest, and gentle to be good and to do good never to listen to a wrong thing or repeat one to be kind to dumb animals, and to say a few kind words, or do IV kind action every day of their lives. The BIG BOOK of the Order is always open for the reception of new members. All readers under twenty are earnestly asked to join. A penny postage stamp should be enclosed in a letter of applcation for transmission of the beautiful blue and gold certificate. If three stamps be enclosed the Song of the Round Table (full music size, with tonic sol-fa in addition to the ordinary notation), will be sent with the cer- tificate. Esquires and Thimblemaids attain the rank of Knights and Damsels by sending in the names and age* of ten new members, who promise to obey tne rules and try to keep the promises. Threepence halfpenny should be sent in stamps for he Ribbon and postage of Certificates. With longer lists a penny stamp should be enclosed "for each additional ten certificates, and three-half- pence for each additional yard and a half of ribbon. OLDER PEOPLE are invited to join as Hon. Members. Rules, etc., free on receipt of ad- dressed halfpenny wrapper. LADY GREENSLEEVES, 44, Hill-road, Wimbledon.

BATH AND WEST SHOW. THE CARDIFF MEETING. There has just been issued the list of prises for live stock, farm produce, &c., to be offered at the Cardiff meeting of the Bath and West and Southern Counties Society on the 25th of May. and four succeeding days The money prizes amount to £3,092 16s, of which the Bath and West Society contribute £ 2,829 5s, the Cardiff Local Committee 4200, and other donors £ 63 lis. In addition there are prizes of medals and plate offered by the Shire Horse, Hunters' Improvement, English Jersey Cattle, and English Guernsey Cattle Societies, as well as by the Duke of Marlborough, Sir James Blyth, Bart.. Sir W. Gilbey, Bart., Mr W. B. Tegetmeier, and the Bath and West Society. The latter offers 52 medals for cider, &c. The money prizes are distributed as follows: -Horsw, £ 780; cattle, Y.1,278 10s; sheep, 4415 pigs, £ 200; cheese, E116 butter and cream, X-59 10s; butter making, £ 40; milking, £ 11 5s horse-shoeing, £ 22; poultry, JE170 11s. In the horse section are classes for shires, other agricul- tural breeds and colliery horses, and for hunters, hackneys, ponies, and harness horses. The I followlag.br"dr, are represented in the caltle classes, viz. r—Devon, shorthorn, Hereford, Siis- I sex, Aberdeen-Angus, black Welsh, Jersey, I Guernsey, Kerry, and Dexter Kerry. There are I also butter-test and milk-test prizes for cows of any breed, and other special prizes for dairy cattle. In the sheep section are classes I for the following breeds, viz.:—Cotswold, Devon long wool, Southdown, Hampshire ¡ down, Shropshire, Osford down, Somerset and Dorset horn, and Welsh mountain. The breeds represented in the pig classes are the Berkshire, large white, middle white, small white, small black, and Tamworth. Entries for stock and produce must reach the secretory, Mr Thos. F. Plowman, 4, Terrace Walk, Bath, on or before April 4th, 1898. The entries for implements, &c., close on March 16th. The arrangements for the holding of the annual show in connection with the Bath and West of England Agricultural Society in the Cathays Park, Cardiff, in May next, are gradually maturing. On Tuesday, in furtherance of the arrangements for the laying out of the ground, Mr Rossiter and Mr Napier, representing the Works Committee of the society, met Mr Corbett and Mr Alexander, members of the local committee, on the spot, and conferred as to a number of practical details but it is, of course, as yet too early for anything like a completion of the arrangements. Cathays Park will prove an ideal site in every way for the holding of the show after the bare patches—temporary memorials of Cardiff's Industrial Exhihition-are once more brought into harmony with the surrounding greensward; and the society's officials are sanguine, granted favourable weather, that the selection of Cardiff as the locale of the exhibition will give the society a needed financial lift. It has been decided that the entrance shall be from Park-place.

LLOYDS BANK, LIMITED. A 20 per Cent Dividend. The fortieth annual report of Lloyds Bank, Limited, siates that the available profit, including the amount brought forward from the previous I year, is £ 464,361. An interim dividend at the rate of 15 per cent. was declared, and the directors now recommend a dividend of 16a per share, being at the rate of 20 per cent, per annum for the half-year, and £ 50,000 be added to the reserve fond, JB25,000 written off bank premisee, and E32,686 carried forward. The business of the County of Gloucester Bank had been secured, and had proved an important acquisition. The bank had also acquired the business of Messrs Williams and Co., of Chester and North Wales. These amalgamations had raised the subscribed capital to S,12,750,000, and the paid-up capital to id,040,000, with a reserve fund of £ 1,200,000. The balance-sheet shows liabilities -S,40,760,000, and the assets include a,621,000, cash in hand with the Bank of England and at tlhort notice bills £ 4,095,000; Consols and other investments, £ 7,959.000.

LUCKY DOG. PitoycgsoB oy NATOTUL HISTORY (pointing tbrough window to dog basking in the College grounds): What do you think of that animal ? BORJrn STUDENT (unhesitatingly) I think he's jolly lucky to be outside.

THREATENED BY AN ACTOR. Miss Florence St. John in Fear. At West London Police Court on Tuesday Francis Carrofl (23), described as an actor, was charged on remand with sending threatening letters to his father. Mr Gill, who attended to prosecute, intimated that he intended to prefer further charges against the prisoner for annoying Miss Florence St. John, the well- known actress. It was alleged that Carroll had sent Miss St. John a number of letters of a disgraceful and infamous character. On one postcard was written, "You see I am right (13 letters). Richaxd Prince, murderer of W. Terris, the number traitors and suicides. Francis Curroil." Miss St. John called, Mid in consequence of the receipt of letters she went in, few. The prisoner was remanded.

B ETTER THAN THE I JJEST c OCOAS. In Dr. Tibbies' Vi-Cocoa (which is the best of cocoas, and much more) you have a distinct and pleasant flavour, quite now, and decidedly refreshing and agreeable, whilst wholly free from the objection of being either sickly or insipid. People who have tried it teli us so. As a natural consequence thou- sands of people who could not take cocos. before can now take Dr. Tibbies' Vi-Cocoa with enjoyment and positive benefit. And as the knowledge of its merits are more generally known, Dr. Tibbies' Vi-Cocoa must necessariiy become a national beverage, to the certain advancement of British health and vigour. And all will agree that this is a consumption devoutly to be desired. The tannic acid and other deleterious acids to be found in tea are altogether absent in Dr. Tibbies' Vi-Cocoa. It does not drag you down and injure your health. No! It builds you up and cheers your spirits. It tends to make you heartier and stronger, fitting you for greater endurance and more sustained exertion. PUBLIC NOTICE. Owing to the kindly recommendations of South Wales people who have used Dr. Tibbies' Vi-Cocoa, it can now be obtained from all respectable Grocers, Chemists, and Stores in South Wales. and the follow- ing have given permission for the insertion of their names and addresses as Local Agents. The list will be added to from time to time, as occasion demands, for the information of those who write asking for the name of the nearest Agent. LOCAL AGENTS. ABERAMAN. Thomas Ma.ddy. ABERAVON, PORT TALBOT. T. Jenkins, 40, Water-street. T. Llewellyn, 4, Station-street, Port Talbot. T. Nicholas, Water-street, Sandfields. John M. Smith. The Star Supply Stores, 19, High-street. J. Waite, South Wales Stores. ABERAVON and TAIBACH. G. D. Lovelock, Chemist. ABERBEEG. William Thomas. ABERCAEN (MON.). Howe and Co., Market-square. S. Pullin. ABERCYNON, R.S.O. W. Fenwick, Junction Stores. J. E, Johns, Park-place. ABE RGV/YNFI. John Cattell, American Stores. John Edmunds. Lewis Price, National Stores D. Richards, Albion House. J. Thomas.^ ABERYSCHAN (MON.). S. Parry, High-street. ABERTILLERY (MON.). W Adams, Somerset House. J. Griffiths, Ghurch-street. S. N. Jones, The Arcade. Mrs C. Lewis, Castle-street. Morgan Bros.. Carmarthen Stores. T. H. Prichard, Medical Hall. Rogers and Co., Rogers'-buildings. James Stephens, Broad-street. Edgar Williams, Globe Tea Warehouse. BARRY (GLAM.) Barry and District Co-operative and Industrial Society, 74, High-street. Hughes and Macey, Glamorgan-street. D. J. Jones, The Emporium, High-street. Jones Bros., Cash Supply Stores, 236, Holton- road, Barry Dock. E. Jones, The Central Stores, Holton-road. P. Lennox, 219, Holton-road. T. G. Tibbetts, Ceylon House. A. Young, High-street. BEDWAS. G. G. Lewis. BLACKWOOD (MON.). J. V. Lewis, J. JSumption, The Medical Hall Central- buildings. BLAENAVON. Co-operative Society, Ivor-street. Deacon and Co., Drug Stores. Lewis, King-street.. Wm. Thornton, 61, Broad-street. H. Williams, 56, Broad-street. BLAENGARW. T. Davies and Co., American Stores. W. R. Jenkins and Co., Alpha House. Ebenezer Thomas, Carmarthen Stores. BLAINA. A. M. James, American Market. B. A. James, Branches, Railway-terrace and Abertillery-road. Thomas Jones, Liverpool Stores. BRITON FERRY. Mrs A.. Davies, 103, Neeth-road. W. T. Deane, Chemist. Jenkin Hill, Liverpool House, Villiers-street. J. Hills and Co., viiliers-street. Mrs A. Hutchins, Ritson-street. Jones and Co., Royal Stores, 19, Villiers-st. Thomas Thomas, 147, Neath-road. T. C. Young, 59 and 61, Neath-road. BRYNMAWR. H. Connop & Son, Penwain House. Gwynne & Co., Glamorgan-street. William Roberts, Provision Merchant. CARDIFF. F. J. Aliwood, Talbot-street. Anthony and Co., Royal Pharmacy Stores, and Bullock and Jones, Stuart Hall, The Hayes. Buchanan and Co., 3, High-street. John Burnell, Severn-road, Canton. City Supply Stores, 160, Castle-road. H. Collins, 130 and 131, Clifton-street. Continental Caks Factory, 128, Paget-road. Cooper and Williams, Hayes Buildings, The Hayes 20, Carlisle-street, East Moors and 41, Bridge-street. Grate's Stores, 43, Clifton-street. L. C. Cowley, 117, Caatle-road, Roath. Culley's University Stores. 108, Queen-street. E. Davies, 22, Clifton-street, Roath. T. Brace Davies, 140, Woodville-road. T. and W. Davies, 142, Pcnarth-road. Wm. Davies, 52, Treh&rris-street, Roath. E. Dovey, Wharton-aticet. Downman Bros., 98. Castle-road. Duck and Son's Drug Stores, St. John"s-squcre. M. Duggan, 39. Walker-road. Evans and Co., 6, The Hayes, Home Stores, 131, Carlisle-street, and 76, Railway-street. G. Evans, 24, James-street, Bute Docks. S. Fletcher & Co., Borough and County Supply. Glamorgan Co-operative Society, Limited, 117, Woodville-road, Cathays. Glamorgan Co-op. Socy., Ld., 156, Castle-road, and 7. Wellington-street. W. Greenman, 21. Wood-street. John. Greaves, 157, Cowbridge-road. GrifSn and Co., Park Stores, Albany-road. Griffith, Son, and Co., Royal Stores, in The Hayes. Richard Griffiths, Central Stores, Mackintosh-pl. J. Griffiths, 60 and 61, Topaz-street, 30, Con- J. E. Griffiths, 70, Calwin-street, Cathays. stellation-street, and 59, Broadway. J. Hall, 74, Neville-street. G. Harding, 16, Splott-road, Splotlonds. J. W. Heal, Salisbury-road. Hicks and Co.. Ltd., Par 'iae-plaoe, Queen-st., 38, Duke-street, and 12.6, Oowbridge-road. Howell, Phillips, and Co., 253, Bute-street. F. Humphrey and Son, 38, Raberabou-street, East Moors. David Joneft and Co., Limited; Westminster Stores. Wharton-street. T. J. Jones, 40, Portmanmoor-road. Harold Leigh and Co., 11, Bridge-street. Joseph Leo, Albany-road. J. M. Lewis, 16, Castle-road. Gilbert Lewis, Atlas-road, Canton. J. R. Lewis, The Cash Stores, Broadway. R. Lock, Broadway. W. Lock, Paradise-street. M. Luke, 55. Penypeel-road, Canton. S. J. Lucas, 168, Castle-road, Roath. C. Marshall, London House, Holmsdale-street, Grangetown. The Metropolitan Stores, 80, Pembroke-road. E. Molyneux, Cathedral Stores, Cathedral-road. Henry Morgan, 94, Clifton-street. W. Morgan, 60, Bridge-street. Henry Pearson, 192, Cowbridge-road. Phillips and Co., 74, Queen-street. Pbillips and Co., Tudor-road. C. Poole, 80, Pembroke-road, Canton. E. Pring, Crwys-road, Cathays. Price and Co., 16 and 18, Mackintosh-place, and Red HouBe, 86, Adam-street. John Pugh. 5, Meteor-street, Splotlands, and 144, Castle-road, Roath. D. Rees and Company, The Hayes Market. Branches: South Wales Provision Stores, Canton, and Holton-road, Barry Dock. D. Rees, 38, Carlisle-street. Reese and Gwillim, Mountstuart Stores, 14, James-street, and "The Home Stores," 18, James-street. A. E Richardson. Carlisle-street. W. J. Sanders, Chemist, 47, Queen-street, and* 60. Tudor-roaid. E. Singer and Co.. Queen-street. J. Silvester, 74. Walker-road, East Moqrs. E. Snook and Sons, 126, Castle-road, Somerset House, and Albany-road. William Geo. Sfcacey, American Market,Canton. Mrs Talbot, 42, Court-road. Mrs Thomas, 7. Maria-street. Windsor Thomas, Cothays Supply Stores, Woodville-road. J. H. Todd, 115, Pearl-street. W. W. Tarver, 130, Cowbridge-road. Verney's Stores, 72, Salisbury-road. Jesse Williams and Co., Chemists, Park Hall- buildings. John Williams, 64, Castle-road, Roath. Wm. Williams, 87. Portmanmoor-road. H. Williams, 171, Pearl-street, Roath. CARDIGAN Snow, Bowden, and Co., Priory-street. Bowen Bros. CADOXTON. J. Cotter, 44, Vere-streat. H. J. Owen. Vera-street. J. Thomas, Golden Key. J. Williams, Cash Stores, High-street. CAERPHILLY (GLAM.). W. D. Richards, Provision Merehaot R. Williams. CLYNDERWEN. David Davies, Maengwyn, COWBRIDGE (GLAM.). T. J. Parsons. J. Pickard, East Village. CRUMLIN. William Larkin, Supply StacM. W. Waters, Crumlin Shop. CWMAVON. Jones and Company. Royaf^Stores, The Waim. 'I W. Richards, Hong Kong, High-street. O. Reea. Jason Richards, Grocer, London-row. I CWMBRAN (MON.). M. Bond, Llantarnans-road. H. and J. Cocker, Free Trade Hall. CWM CLYDACH. Samuel Davies. F. Robins. D. Thomas, Hereford Stores. DOWLAIS. N. Davies, Genge-street. T. Evans, Mary Ann-street. D. C. Evans, Central Supply and Town Bakery. W. Harris, 116, High-street It 21, Broad-street. J. H. Jones, Balaclava. D. Jones, Dickinson, &nd Company, Limited. Tom Lewis, Cae Harris. Thomas Morgan. 30, Victoria-street. D. S. Powell, 4, Upper Union-street. Rees Powell. Globe Stores. M. Price, 192, High-street. J. King Price, 192, High-street. W. D. Thomas, The Gwalia, and 2, Penywern. J. Thomas, 44, Victoria-street. P. Thomas, Cae Harris. Gwynfe Williams, Stores, 33, Ehsabeth-street. W. P. Williams, Union-street. EBBW VALE. Davies and Evans, Spenoer-street. John Evans, Rees-street a.nd Market-Street. James Harrison, Camden House. Jones and Rees, Victoria Shop. J. Richards. 54, Victoria-roaa. FERNDALE. H. Ga.briel, 30, Dyffryn-street. G ARN DIFFAITHf Wm. Hy. Banks." R. Herbert. David Lewis. C. Winstone. GLYN-NEATH. J. D. Davies and Sons; and at Neftth Abbey. GORSEINON. D. Jones. R. Williams. GOWERTON. D. G. Hibbert, Americas PrOfisioB Stores. John James, Market-square, StonI. HAVOD. Lewis Bros., Akron Hotise E. M. Price, Trehavod»road. LLANTRISSANT. E. John, Llanharran. E. Lewis a.nd Co., Commercial-street. Morgan Thomas, London House and Glyn terrace Shop, Talbot-road. LOWER LYDBROOK. Co-operative Society. LLANDRINDOD WELLS. W. Thomas, Emporium Warehouse. Branches Dolau, Penybont. LLANSAMLET (GLAMORGAN). L. H. Thomas. E. Bethel Thomas, 2, Neath-road. MAESTEG. J. Brill. Thos. Davies, The American Supply, Cattle street. Geo. Ferrier, 3, Castle-street. Thomas Rees, Gamboyd. S. G. Richard*. J. Richards, (iarnlwyd. J. H. Thomas, Station-street. I. J. Thoma.s, Chemist, 42, Commercial-street. E. Wiiliama, Moesteg House. MAINDEE. Francis E. Farley, Central Supply Stores, Church-road and Chepstow-road. MELINCRYTHAN. H. L. Thomas, The South Gate Stores. MERTHYR VALE. Wm. Hughes, Nixonville. MORRISTON. Mrs J. E. Davies, 138, Woodfield-street. District Supply Company. Dyffryn Supply Association, Ltd. Geo. Evans, victoria Buildings. D. W. Evans, 69, Woodfield-street (The Tea Caddy). Lewis and Sons, Dillwyn House. Thomas Llewelyn, Chemist, 86,Woodfield-street. L. Thomas. MOUNTAIN ASH (GLAM.). Lather Eynon, Mirking Supply Stores. W. L. Herbert, Oxford-street. Miles Morga.n, 35, Commercial-street. D. Smith, 3, Oxford-street, D. Williams, Dispensing Chemist. MUMBLES. R. Skinner, Hall Bank Bakery. NANTYMOEL. W. Pegler and Son, Manchester House. NEATH ABBEY and SKEWEN. Co-operative Society, Limited, Skewen. J. D. Davies and Sons, Glyn Neath and Neath Abbey. NEW TREDEGAR. R. Jeremiah, RoyaJ Stores. M. Morgan, Crown Stores, Elliot's Town. NEWBRIDGE. Price Bros., Beehive Shop. PENCLAWDD (GLAM.). William Rees, Liverpool House. Wr. Thomas and Son, 6, Station-road, Lla.n- morlais. PENCOED. T. Edwards, Gwalia Stores. J. Williams, Mount Shop, Taibach. PENRHIWCEIBER. Davies and Co. Edwards and Co.. Commerce House. Samuel Lewis, London House. PENTRE. W. Hughes. Gelli-road. T. and J. Richards. Shepherd and Co., Wholesale a.nd Retail Grocers, &c.. J. W. Thomas, International Stores. E. P. Williams. J. P. Williams, Welsh Market, TOIL ONTYCYMMER. W. C. Davies, GwaJia House. E. Evans. T. P. Jones, Grocer. W. Pegler and Son, Bristol House. PORTA. T. Davies, Portb a,nd Tonypandy. J. E. Lloyd, Welsh Dairy Company. D. Price, Cross-street. Thomas a.nd Evans, PORTHCAWL. G. Griffiths, The Porthcawl Dra.pery and Pro- vision Supply, John-street. William Jones, Family Chemist. Thomas La.ngdon, Jonn-stteet. PORT TALBOT. Thos. Nichols. Central Supply Stores. W. Richards, Hong Kong, High-st., Cwmavon. PONTYGWAIN (NEWPORT, MON.). Edward Thomas, Grocer, &c., Post Ofii. PONTARLAWL. Gwilym Lewis, Tower House, Herbert-street. PENYDARREN. Abraham, Grocer. W. Harris. 28. High-street. T. Lewis, 290, High-street. PENYGRAIG. John Treharne. The Stores. J. E. Williams, Town Supply Stores. PONTARDULAIS. Rees, Owen, a.nd Co., Swa.nsea.-rd. and Hendy. John Thomas, American Stores. PONTARDAWE. D. Davies, Post Office, Treba.nos. J. Harris, Birmingham House. D. Lewis. Gwilym Lewis, Grocer. PONTLOTTYN, CARDIFF. Isaac Phillips. PONTNEWYDD. E. Berrow. John Evans, Bristol House. W. T. Wall, Excelsior Stores. RAGLAN. R. Williams, New Shop. RESOLVEN. M. Da.vies and Son. W. W. E. Evans. RHONDDA. D. Ashton and Co.. Pontygwtith, Tylorstown. D. H. Davies, Metropolitan Stores, Ystrad Rhondda. Isaac Griffiths, Clydach Valley, Rhondda. James Jones, Ystrad Rhondda.. I. H. Jones, Llwynypia Shop, Rhondda Valley. David Lloyd, Ystrad Rhondda. W. Pegler and Son, Manchester Hotise. W. Thomas, Miskin-road. RHYMNEY (MON). Bochan and Co. BISCA(MON). Pugh Bros.. Cross Keys. E. A. Taylor. SENGHENITH. M. a.nd F. Williams, General Merckui&s. SKETTY, R.S.O. (GLAM.). T. J. Rice, The Sketty Bakery. TAIBACH (GLAM). G. D. Loveluck, Chemist. TONDU. Tondu and Aberkenfig Co-operative Society. TONYPANDY. Kinsey, Shears, and Co., 33, Wera-terrace, Clydach Vale; 138, Courts street, and 15. Dunraven -street. J. Protberoe, 2, Don raven-street. Mr Williams, Wana Houe. TREALAW. J. Norman and Sons. TREDEGAR. A. M. Bennett, Church-strset. J. 1L Davies, Railway Shop. Thomas Evans, Castle-street. D. G. Harris, Market-street. M. H. Hashes, Glyn Shop and Bakery. W. Llewefiin, 3. Morgan-street. John Lloyd. ThoniM Price, The Circle. J. L. C. Roberts, 1 and 2, rt—l. Tredegar Stores, Conunercaal-toad. D. Williams, Bridge-street. TREHARRIS, R.S.O. (GLAM.). D. Davies, Bedlinog Stores, Bedliaeg. D. Prosser, Pan tanas Shop. W. G. Thomas, Household Stores. George Williams, Aberdare Stores. TREHERBERT (GLAM.). Enoch Davies, The Stores, aod John Waters, John Jones, Grocer, BlaenrfcaadAa. Williams Bros., 38. Dunraven-street. TREORKY (GLAM.). J. Gower. Baglaa Hone. D. 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Merit, and merit alone, is what we claim for Or Tibbies' Vi-Cocoa, and we are prepared to send k any reader who names The South Wales Dail) NewF;" (a postcard will do) a dainty sample tta <3 Dr. Tibbies' Vi-Cocoa free and post paid. There a no magic in all this. It is a plain, honest Straight forward offer. It is done to introduce the merits of Vi-Cocoa into every home. Dr. Tibbies Vi-Cocoa ae a concentrated form of nourishment and vitality if invaluable nay, more than this, for to all who wisII to face the strife and battle of life with greater endurance and more sustained exertion it is abso- lutely indispensable. Dr. Tibbies' Vi-Cocoa is made up in 6d packets mat 9d and Is 6d tins. It can be obtained from 8Ii Grocers, Chemists, and Stores, or from Dr. Tibbies Vi-Cocoa, Limited, 60, 61, and 62, Bunhill-row, Loa- don, E.C.

CARDIFF INFIRMARY. MEETING ON THE EXCHANGE. On Tuesday morning, shortly before the commencement of the ordinary business 011 the floor of the Cardiff Exchange, Mr Moxey, whose name has been so prominently semii islmfl with the Cardiff Infirmary during the last few days, a.nd several of his friends and sap- porters of the Cardiff Infirmary made theit appearance in accordance with a circular which had been issued previously. Just on the torn of half-past 11 Mr F. J. Beavan iroved that Mr Moxey take the chair, and the motion was carried by acclamation. Mr MOXEY said at the outset that he was not responsible for the meeting. The idea of holding a meeting on the Exchange originated with the ladies. When it was brought to his knowledge, however, that the matter was hanging between heaven and ea.rth he did what he could to promote the Buooess of the meeting. (Applause.) Having referred to letters of apology for non-attendance from Mr John Gunn, Mr Rees Jones, Mr Bruce Vaaghaa, and others, the Chairman said it might be a great pilgrimage for dome of their friends to come from the town to the Docks (laughter) but he did not think it was a bad thing for the town and the Docks to meet together for a good object. (Hear, hear.) They did not propose to make any collection at that meeting, because the notice had beentoc short perhaps to enable merchants and ship. owner,3 to bring their cheque books with them, but that would come later on. (Applause.) He was glad to notice that at an impromptu meeting on Saturday night the Mayor, with the assssMkneC of Alderman David Jones, one of the most venerated of Cardiff citizens, started the idea of getting 100 gentlemen to subscribe R50 each. Some of those who understood figures would know that this would mean £ 5,000. and they would all acknowledge that that would be an exceedingly handsome contribution. (Hear, hear.) It would be borne in mind that they'had had under consideration the question whether the Infirmary had been managed on economical lines. Well, the question of economy was a relative term. He was quite sure that they would not like to starve or stint patients and so retard their recovery because they had not enough money to buy food. (Hear, hear.) What conceived to be the trnest economy was that they should receive full value for an expenditure of 20fe. (Hear, hear.) He hoped no one would think that they were attempting to injure the Saaaam's Hospital, for there was room enough for the Infirmary, which ministered to the sick in the district, and for a Hospital for the wants of the sick sailors. They had a number of quarries to open up in this direction. There were the great dock and railway and dry dock companies as well as others to he solicited. They did not wa.nt to hold a pistol to the heads of the directors of these concerns, bat to appeal to them fairly, because he might sajr that during his business career he had found that it was possible to catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. (Laughter.) In conolnion, the chairman apologised for the absew* of Mr John Cory, who had always taken each an ia- terest in this and similar matters. Dr. EDWABDS, who met with a cordial recep- tion, said that the affairs of tfte Infirmary had been Bubjected to the most rigid as. a.mina.tion lately, and they were expeotiag the report of the committee shortly. They did not fear the result. In the course of an earnest and able appeal the spomam laid stress upon the fact that the support accorded to the Infirmary was not oommeasaraU with the great progress of Cardiff. Seventeen yeart ago the expenditure amounted to between £ 2,00G and £ 3,000, but now it amounted to between £ 6,000 and £ 7,000. It was a lamentable fact that every week they were turning away between 30 and 40 people. Now, through the intervention of Mr Moxey, they had arranged to open 20 beds. Roundly speaking, this would involve an expen- diture of £ 1,000 per annum, but they ought really to increase the income of the Infirmary oy £ 2JXC per annum. Two years ago he made all appeal on behalf of the building fund, and the ladiet taking the matter up a bazaar was arranged, witfc the result that aC3,500 was cleared. The flentlemec at the Docks contributed largely to this recnk and he now made an appeal to them with renewed confidence. (Applause.) Canon THOMPSON followed with a stirring appeal. He felt that facts made the most eloquent appeal. They had added a new wjIIf to the Infirmary, but the 80 beds in thai wing remained empty for want of fttit. What would they say if they baiU a church or chapel or house and allowed it to remain empty ? They hoped that with the aid of Mr Moxcy and his friends they would wipe away this reproach, for it was a reproach to a towa like Cardiff that a new wing of their noble Infirmary should remain empty. This wtt especially the case when they remembered tbt marvellous energy and enterprise displayed is Cardiff during the last quarter of a century. (Hear, hear.) Father M'COKMACE also addressed the meeting. He said that the first duty of a hospital was tc show hospitality to the sick and the poor. NOT the Infirmary Committee could not show dtIC hospitality, not from want of will. but from waai of funds. He did not think that throughout the length and breadth of the country there was < town in which the hospital cause was so mack neglected as in Cardiff. The CHAIRMAN moved the following resolu tion .—" That this meeting, held on Cardit Exchange at very short notice, resolves to its earnest support to the Infirmary Colzigi; with regard to the opening up of all the waris at the Infirmary, and pledges itself in all posstbk ways to assist the funds of the institution." Mr F. J. BE A YAK seconded. He said thi resolution was terse enough to meet with a fail response. The resolution was thon put and carried aaani mously, and the CnA=xAx, having thankod till members of the Exchange for their kind attBB tion, said that an organised appeal would made to the gentlemen at the Docks, Mrf m hoped that all who were is a position M co» tribute wonld do so. (Applause). NONCONFORMISTS AND THE MANAGEMENT. At a meeting of the local Evangelical Fret Churches Council held at Cardiff on TneeIa: evening, Mr Alfred Thomas, M.P., presiding, the Rev. W. T. Lee moved the adoption of a rewia- tion pledging the council to the furthecaaee ti Mr Ikloxe v's scheme in connection with tht Cardiff Infirmary. The Rev. W. E. WIKKS. in seconding the motion, suggested the desirahiltty CR the working classes, who derived the greatest benefit from the institution, contributing more largely towards its funds. J The Rev. T. W. MKDHURST said at a meetirifc the local Ministerial Union held that day caw question had been raised of the desirability ol e larger representation of Nonconformists upon the Governing Body. Mr 8. COOPER, a member of the Management Committee of the Infirmary, and treasurer It the Free Churchcs Council, said he considered Nonconformists were very fairly represented. By qualifying as subscribers to attend at the annual general meeting they £ ould secure latgM representation and nominate candidates. In the same way the working classos might procure representation on the committee As to Mr Moxey's scheme, he pointed ont that similar appeals to the public haa been frequent!) made bv the Infirmary before, but in vain. Rev. W. E. WINKS believed nine of the 2H members on the Infirmary Committee were Bon* conformists. The resolution was then adopted unanimously

OANADIAN EMIGRANTS. .» TO TSt E»rro». Sm,-My attention has been called to a leMV signed 11 Parker Williams, Pembroke, ffafrtf.' in a reennt issue of your paper. There is no doubt that Caaadiane, as a rate, a.re better off and live more couifoitaWy that their fellow-subjects in the United SfngdoB, taf that the country also provides better opportunities for providing for growing families. The information contained in the Government handbool-a is perfectly reliable. It is muck better, from a Government point of view, that S new arrival should find the country exceed his anticipations than be in any way below them and this is the basis upon which the Government pamphlets are prepared. I -have in my possession the names and addresses of hundreds of farmers in Manitoba and the North-West Territories, many of whom originally came from the United Kingdom. Tkh information can be placed at the disposal of any of your readers. The farmers will be quite pre- pared to give to any persons contemnlatinj| emigration to Canada their version en tbeii experience, and their opinion of the country mi • place for settlement. The same thing may im said of farmers in the other Provinces of the Dominion. All emigrants may not prosper in Canada The majority of them, however, make a comfort able living, and not only like the ccmntry, bai speak well of it. Thorc Are. however, diaaatiafiec people in Canada, as in every other country, ok I suppose your correspondent is one of them- I am, &c STRATHCOXA. Office of the High Commissioner for Caaada 17 Victoria-street; London. S.W., 29th Jan.. 18

CARDIFF EXTENSION SCHEME. On Tuesdav evening, at a meeting of the Penarth Chamber of Trade—the President (Mr Robert Hancock) in the chair—Mr J. M. Jennings explained that a small sub-committee had been appointed to consider the subject of the inclusion of Penarth in the borough of Cardiff, and in reply to a letter which he had been instructed to write, the town clerk of Cardiff replied that he had submitted the Chamber's letter to the Parlia- mentary Committee of the Corporation, and was I instructed to furnish replies, which he trusted would be satisfactory. The replies are sum- marised as follows :— The Corporation are prepared to agree that for 10 years after amalgamation with Cardiff rates of Penarth shall not exceed those of 1897 if other matters are satisfactorily arranged." The Corporation will endeavour to obtain land at once for a cemetery between Grangetown and Penarth. but cannot bind themselves to a date. The toll gate and tolls the Corporation will endeavour to remove. As far as the Free Library Act will allow, that the Free Library rate levied on Penarth shall be vested in a committee of Penarth residents. No opportunity will be lost to provide a public park. It is proposed that Cardiff School Board take over Penarth and Llandough-juxta-Cogan School Boards. The Corporation will take over the County School and provide for its local govern- ment. I Despite the proposed purchase of Cathays Park and erection of public buildings the Cor- poration believe rates will decrease, and point out that electric lighting works pay that I the rate in aid of water works will ceaee in three years, and that tramways are bound to pay. Electric tramways will be extended to Penarth. If Penarth is brought into the borough a new sewer discharging at Snlly will be provided. Penarth wonld nave rights to benefits of Sana- torium and Infectious Hospital, and a new road I would bring Penarth a mile nearer to the former. Other benefits-educational, sanitary, legal. commercial, charitable, <&c.—would be equally t shared, and Penarth would have the same num- I ber of representatives on the Borough Council as she now possessed on governing bodies, viz., three aldermen and nine councillors. Eventually the Chamber of Trade passed a resolution to call a public meeting on Tuesday, deputations from Cardiff Conjoration and School Board to attend. It was also decided that the Chamber hold another meeting on the subject on Friday.