The Cardiff Times

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I WORKMEN'S TOPICS. MR. CHURCHILL'S SCHEME. German Experience. By MABON, M.P. In answer to the objections sometimes raised to that part of the scheme on which the Board Trade, and in fact the Government itself, 80 much value, viz., Labour Exchanges," ^ould like to be allowed to quote an array fa--cts and figures I have just received from ne of the German Mining representatives, who thoroughly acquainted with the subject tere, b In answer to the questions, Have the La- "oup Exchanges been of service to the out-of- ork German workmen ? and do employers them: do Trade Unions prevent their efficiently used 1" the answer, generally 'Peaking is, that if you will know what rela- On the Labour Exchanges bear to un- employment in Germany let me say that some £ •000 jobs are found every week for men and omen out of work, through the agency of ese registrars. .There are in all about seven hundred of these rfpitutions throughout the various German DMvf3' out of which more than one half are rii Labour Exchanges, supported by muni- Qpalities. Among the others, some are run by ."Arches, Guilds, Trade Unions anrl Em- bers' Associations. Thus one finds that the Dnk*ones ari'' those that are worked under t>M- C con-troi. Furthermore, it is most extra- b^ '^ai'y that the sectional exchanges w orked .Trade Unions, and even Employers' As- Rations are allowed to be ahsorbed by the Ser institutions connected with the Muni- Palities. This fact proves that the distrust th the commencement of their existence • 5'employers and workers were afraid of is ^tdisaopearing. At. first the employers feared tin* the Labour Echanges would give the Trade tWj118 c°ntrol of the labour market: and the Unions asked their members not to use Labour Exchanges lest they would give the Ployers the opportunity of black-listing ^kttien active in social reform. One is glad that the fears of both sides have faded «?re the light of practical experience. In this is one of the significant facts that <jjT0unt for the success of German industrial being so amicably arranged latterly thence between employers having in- and the fears from the want of conn- having decreased. They have learnt the th011 largely from the honourable conduct J* found each other capable of, resulting w?1 their use of the Public Labour Exchanges, ^*ch are now popular with employers and J^ktnen. uDerience has proved that the best of these j £ changes, and the ingest, are managed by J;^r<is, on which the Municipalities allow As- ons of Employers and Workmen to elect fT^qvial number of representatives. This ar- gjT^-ment does not prevent the non-associated •ha f°yer and the non-union worker from w^ing with the organised employers and work- in the benefits of the Exchange. Even a strike takes place the Public Labour w»change is to take no side. Should the firm b ected send round for men, the officials of j*^hange must publicly announce before the ^ttibled workmen in the waiting-rooms that men then wanted are to replace others on fri\'ke, anci very rarely happens that anyone JrJUnteers under the circumstances, with the j^llt that employers realise that Labour Ex- t^lges are not the place3 to turn to for £ L°rkers when they are having disputes with c'i? own workpeople. Diversity of Administration. There is, I am informed, a considerable dif- rence in the administrative arrangements at Riv86 Exchanges- The bulk of them Coif ^eir benefits free, and whatever their it is borne by the Municipality, 6* t! Some voluntary aid. Some of the larger k r^8S' suc^1 36 Berlin for example, where ^"1ilding8 pay a rent of over £ 1,000 a year, Wo ~ave about sixty officials of all kinds em- Per? charge a registration fee of 2id to each k>D re?'stering. This enables the applicants Ojve the use of the Exchange for three f0p?ths. He hag then the free use of the com- bes* Waiting rooms, where oftentimes he ^orv w^h old friends and former fellow- af6 nie.n* Library, reading, and writing-rooms g0 ^t his service, and for a penny he can get food, as they have it in the refreshment ^*11, and for another half-penny he gets the Jha° a s^L0Wer hath. Moreover, for a uniform e of lid he can have his boots cleaned clothes mended on the premises. A Consideration for Women. all the Exchanges provide a depart- twi for women and girls, where under the of a Lady Superintendent many of the w?en folk while waiting there are provided ceiv aew*11g and knitting, for which they re- small remuneration. Every class of to ^en that are wage earners, from factories ctj aoiHestic servants, find' the Labour Ex- ej^^jSe very helpful, and in order to save un- Wl 0yed women in the German capital from and wearying walks, there are women's t^p^hes of the Exchanges in various parts of city. p Centralisation of Work. in j?rhaps the most remarkable feature of all *le German Exchanges in recent years is the ty they have centralised the work thete. In States of Wurtemburg, Baden and Mi ,ar^a» and in fact throughout the provinces of Prussia, a very de- ioh k movemerit in favour of co-ordina- cL>s been going on for some time. es are formed with which al! the local thai.0}11 Exchanges are in communication so needs either of employers or of work- ther. cannot be met in their own town or city y are at once put in touch with the larger 3H0^ct covered by the central Exchange. Sa °Ver' Bavaria, which has some sixty-five labour exchanges united to eight ^Ht S' has found it necessary to link up the tw1"es again by means of labour associations. 5^ centres act as clearing houses, while the W Nations arrange for the distribution of th> Ur 111 large and small quantities practically J^J^ughout the whole area of the State. The cha 0v}r Bureaux throughout Wurtemburg are ^ging their vacancy lists two or three times pjj rX Week, besides beingi in constant tele- communication with each other and a seilt from one town to another to seek ^.P'Oyment. is allowed to travel on the State /l^ay at half-fare. that in the matter of Labour Exchanges a gj, Pery evident that we in this country have eat deal to learn from our friends the Ger- and if the Labour Exchanges at home will th6^ all Mr Churchill's hopes with regard ■ We may be certain that if anywhere b]e;j 18 work to be had, the willing ana capa- W^orker will be able to find it without suf- cie^ °r delay. But if the work is not suffi- ttjp, to meet the immediate demands of a dis- the worker will then be able to claim a Vrr^^t's pay. The scheme as laid down is a c<)we and comprehensive one, and so far as the COh-^t^nt, healthy, and the willing wprker is (Ir^Qed it presents in principle no serious ks. He will always prefer woi'k and (foint to idleness and unemployment. The t° him will be two-fold. He will be saved ttl, arinessand humiliation of tramping the to look for work, chasing false rumour, bp^ering advertisements already filled up, the surly porter, and in some cases the unsympathetic employer, and wasting treagth and courage in endless pedestrian t • Performed too often on empty stomachs, to something personally of what it means aTIip a long journey, on one occasion an empty stomach, not to seek for Si^jty, but like a good many more in the early <lite es' to seek for work. Really, it would be ^Mjw-t indeed to come across a more worthy, and moving object than a workman willing to work, seeking for work, and to find it; simply asking for the pri- Woi>k that he may with the pay re- fv buy the necessaries of life for himself it, jh°?e depedent upon him, but cannot find <par hereafter a visit to the exchange will ^hat v m a" this, for there he will soon learn 13 Projects are there. He will be di- b^. where ni^ labour, or the kind of labour li). suited to him, is in demand, if such de- exists, and help him if needs be to I 0t{? to some other town, or maybe some the a district. If however, in consequence of Of -l^culative overproduction of the captains kets?Ustry, who have mismanage^ the mar- t^Me accumulating stocks, there is in his work for h\m to do, his insurance ? Will keep him alive and fit for work comes, without feeling that he is charity. He will have paid his own th0 a* a thrifty provision. The plan P^^till incomplete, is, however, workable

the the ambulance competition at Cwmparc prize was divided between the Dare )m an<^ Blaengarw (County Shield

To Meet at Cowes. I CZAR AND KING EDWARD. Paris Saturday.-At to-day's Cabinet Coun- cil at the Elvsee M. Fallieres, the President, in- formed the Ministers that the Czar in returning the visit paid him by the President last year at Reval would arrive at Cherbourg on July 31 and make a stay of two days. The Czar would leave Cherbourg on August 2 for Cowes, where he would meet King Edwa,rd.- Reuter. This will be the first visit paid by theCzarto Great Britain since the accession of King Fdward who visited his Imperial Majesty at Reval la^t summer. In 1896, shortly after the coronation festivities at Moscow, the Czar and Czarina made a tour of foreign European Courts visiting Queen Victoria at Balmoral. On September 22 their Majesties landed at t „;fy. where they were received by the rancc of Wales, now King Edward. After, the visit to Balmoral the Czar and his Consort journeyed bv waT of Portsmouth to France, where the Franco-Russian alliance was celebrated^ with tumultuous rejoicings. In 1901 a second visit was paid to France by the Czar. Since then, although heads of States have visited his M iiesty.he has not left Russia except for a craife or two in Finnish waters. It is impro- bable that the Czar will come to London on this occasion. An'Extended Tour. St. Petersburg, Sunday.-It is understood that neither the German Empress nor the Dowager Czarina will be present afr the meet- fn<r between the Czar and the German Empei or. The Czarina and the Imperial children, h w- ever, will be on the Standart, After the meeting the Czar and the Czarina will proceed to Stockholm, returning home thence to attend the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the battle of Poltava. their On th< way to France and England their Imperial Majesties will visit Copenhagen- I is stated that the Italian visit doned and that after his visit to Cow es the Gz iTb'i™orW?n B°to U here week.—Reuter. Alexander III. Monument. St Petersburg, Saturday.—The formal in- augurationof thl'monum, n, to Oar Al™« a, III., at the Nevsky Prospect, opposite Nicolai Railway Station, took place this afternoon in the prelenee of the Empemr and Empress, Dowager Empress, and other members of the Imperial Family, diplomatic corps. Ministers, representatives of the Council of the Empire an Duma, and a number of high dignitaries. After the memorial had been unveiled, the Emperor and Empress walked round it. The Emperor then placed himself at the head of the troops, whom he led past che monument. A number of deputations next approached and laid wreaths, some of which were silver, at the foot ofthe monument Altogether 500 wreaths were placed in position. The Emperor and Empress returned immediately after the/cere- mony to T-iarskoe Selo.—Reuter.

THE AGA KHAN. The Aga Khan is again paying a visit to London. Persian by descent, Indian by resi- dence. and European, by tastes, the Prince, who is leader of the Ismaili Khojas sect of the Moslems, is a religious and political power whose assistance has often been welcome to Sir Sultan Mohammed Shah. I the Government of India. Political troubles drove the then head of the house from Persia over 70 years ago, and since that time the Aga Khans have vlived in India. The present Prince was nbnoured with Queen Victoria's friendship, and he was decorated for his prac- tical friendliness towards this conntryr

THE FRENCH NAVY. Paris, Monday.—The Temps states that the Supreme Council of the Navy has decided that the number of battleship units forming the fighting line of the French Navy shall be fixed at 45: The effective life of a battleship is to be fixed at 20 years. In consequence, it is pointed out, the existing French battleships which would form part of the fighting line in 1919 would be the six battleships of the Republic type and the six of the Danton type, to which would be added the four armoured cruisers of the Gambeta type, together with the armoured cruisers Edgar Gainet, Holdeck, Roussano, and Ernest Renan. The construction, armament, and equipment of the new battleships that will be required will cost three thousand million francs, to be spread over 10 financial years, but from this amount must be deducted a sum annually voted in the Naval Estimates for new construction (120 million francs) and for equipment.—Renter.

THEFTS FROM WARSHIPS. New York, Tuesday,—A lively sensation has been created by a Yokohama telegram to the Herald stating that wholesale thefts of gun fittings have taken place on the cruiser Denver and the destroyer Chauncey, now at Yoko- hama. Two warrant officers are alleged to be implicated, and several sailors are in irons. The thefts were committed on Temorial Bay, and the fittings are said to have been disposed of through a Japanese dealer.—Central News.

LUNATIC'S SAVINGS. Mr Pritchard, relieving officer of the Cardiff Union, recovered at Llandaff on Monday JE19 168 4td in respect of the maintenance of W. H. Chapman, a patient at the Whitchurch Mental Hospital. It bad transpired that he had a P.O. Savings bank book drawn out at the New- bridge (Newport) Post office, and the sum of jE24 had been deposited there.

ATTEMPTED MATRICIDE. I At Derbyshire Assizes on Tuesday Winifred Kirklees (21), described as a barmaid, was sen- tenced to five years penal servitude for | attempting to murder her mother.

Welsh Monuments. CILGERRAN CASTLE. When a writer takes up the pen to say any- thing about a Welsh castle, he is confronted with the difficulty of the absence of details and historic references. The visitor to the noble ruins of other days is compelled to express regret that so little is known concerning the strongholds which excite so much curiosity and interest. The history of Cilgerran Castle in many points resemble very closely that of Llan- stephan. Cilgerran is situated on the extreme north-western fortress of the Pembrokeshire colony. The north-eastern frontier was pro- tected by Llanstephan. The high road from England to Cardigan was the Teivi and Cil- gerran commanded this The Towey, the water- way of Carmarthen, was protected by Llan- stephan. The two castles are specimens of early fortifications, and both positions were stubbornly contested by the rival races. It is an unusual feature in West Wales that each castle was built on the summit of a hill. The similarity ends here, for Llanstephan passes out ol note with the final subjection of Wales by Edward the First-nothing more is heard of it, whilst. Cilgerran did not complete its part on the stage of Wales's struggles until Cromwell ordered the dismantling of Pem- brokeshire Castle in 1648. The building of Cilgerran Castle is put down to Roger de Belesme, the founder of Montgo- mery, and the date is placed at 1113. It was taken from the English colony in 1164 by the Lord Rhys; and the next year the English and the Flemings made a desperate attempt I to recover the castle, but after a long and terrible struggle they were repulsed with much I slaughter. Maelgwn wrested it from his brother Grufudd in 1199, and William Mareschal, the Earl of Pembroke, took it from Maelgwn in the year 1205 The stronghold saw many struggles and vicissitudes, for in 1215 the garri- son surrendered to Llewelyn ap Iorwerth, who gave it to a second Maelgwn. Again in the fol- lowing year William Mareschal returned from Ireland and retook Cilgerran, which after- wards remained Safely in English hands. It was held by the Crown in the reign of Henry VII., Rhys Vaughan being high consta- ble. During the Civil War.which was waged be- tween Charles and his Parliament, Cilgerran played no part, or only a slight one, if indeed it appeared at all, which is a curious circum- stance considering that the town of Cardigan was the scene of many bloody contests. But Cilgerran was in existence, for the train bands marched from the stronghold to Haverfordwest Lo give Lord Carbery a sort of triumph When he had reduced Ten by in 1643. From this time Cilgerran disappears from history's page, and the quarrying of the rock on which it stands has marred much of the beauty of the fortress, which, no doubt, in itself formed a quarry for the vandal. How- ever, its picturesque situation could not be destroyed, for according to one writer, the traveller may seek the world through and he will not find ruins more happily combined with rocks, woods and water, a more pleasing com- sition, or a more captivating landscape," than are to be seen at this spot. According to the Welsh Brut, this was the stronghold of Geraint who could; however, scarcely have been the knight who Crowned a happy life with a fair death, and fell Against the heather of the Northern Sea In battle fighting for the blameless King." t Photo by Valentine.

DEATH OF THE INJURED MAI Alleged Assault on the Beach William John Thomas (28). barman, died a the Swansea Hospital on Wednesday fron double pneumonia. It will be remembere that the deceased made allegation that while he was at Porthcawl las Whit Monday he was thrown ove- the Quay wall' and otherwise assaulted. H was taken from Porthcawl to theswanse, Hospital. Last Friday attempts were made to take his depositions, but his condition o: mind made this impossible. Deceased was a barman and pianist, and his home was at the Hafod, Swansea. Previously to going to Porthcawl he had been employed at an inn at Maesteg. After the alleged assault his mother went to Porthcawl to see him in lesponse to a telegraphic intimation she re- ceived of his illness from the Ship and Castle Hotel, Porthcawl. where he had recently been employed. She says her son told her that he had left the Maesteg situation, where he had been barman and pianist. On the Saturda before Whit Monday, when in the street he was accosted by a person and a scuffle occurred during which he fell over the sea wall. The assault was repeated on the beach, where two men subsequently found him and conveyed him to the Ship and Castle. Her son was badly bruised about the body. On the arrival of the patient at the Swansea Hospital the county police were communicated with. and his story was forwarded to them. The result was that last Friday a magistrate with the justices plerk attended at the hospital to take his depositions, but as he was delirious this was found impossible. He continued to lose ground and died as stated,. without the depositions being taken. (

WATER COMPANY SUED. The Pontypridd Water Works Co. were defendants in an action brought at the Ponty- pridd County Couit on Wednesday by Catherine Nethway, Treforest, for ill 4s 6d damages for alleged negligence of defendants or their ser- vants. Mr Spickernell (Messrs Spickett and Sors) appeared for plaintiff, and Mr D. Rees (Messrs W. R. Davies and Co.) defended. It transpired that plaintiffs servant, while driving a horse through the main street at Porth, was thrown from the trap through the horse's foot becoming, it was alleged, fastened in a valve of the water main, which was stated to be im- properly covered. Judgment was given for L3 3s and costs.

TUMBLE COLLIERY ACCIDENT. Statement by Management. The management of the Great Mountain Col- liery wish it to be known in reference to the reported fall of roof that there was not a single timber broken, and that the four nnjen alleged to have been entombed could have walked out before the debris entirely obstructed their pass- age. The flow of fine material from the upper side of the road was gradual, and had been going on all day, and for this reason the man- agement contradict the men's statement that they were in danger of their lives. There was, they say, no crush and no accumulation of gas.

DIED WHILE TALLYING. The Cardiff Coroner (Mr W. L. Yorath) held an inquest on Tuesday on the body of John Rowlands (72), of Sandon-place, Cardiff, who died suddenly at his work on Monday at the West Dock. Rowlands was engaged as tally- man by Mr Richard England, potato mer- chant, and Mr Blake, a fellow-worker, said he saw him collapse near some trucks and die. The medical evidence showed that death was due to diseased heart, and a verdict accord- ingly was returned.

PENARTH STATION PESTS. At Penarth on Wednesday three lads named Ball (16), Mauder (14), and Joseph Williams (12) were charged with touting on the premises of T.V.R. at Penarth Station. The solicitor for the company said this practice was a source of nuisance and annoyance to passengers. One of the defendants was seen to take a lady's dress bag from her and make her let him carry it. The Bench discharged Williams because of his age, but fined Ball and Mauder 28 6d and 5s 6d respectively.

SORRY FOR HIS FOLLY. I am sorry for making such a fool of my- self,said Timothy Towhey(22) when charged at Cardiff, on Tuesday,with attempting to commit suicide. It was stated that last Saturday de- fendant took up a knife and tried to cut his throat. It took three men to hold him down and even then he succeeded in inflicting a superficial woufad. Superintendent Bingham said he knew some- one who would look after the man, who was accordingly discharged with a caution.

OLD-TIME CORPUS CHRISTI. In mediaeval times, the official announce- ment of the Corpus Christi celebrations in this country was made in these terms We com- mand that no man go armed in the city with swords nor with carlill-axes in disturbance of the King's peace and the play, or hindering of the procession of Corpus Christi, and they leave their harness in their inns, saving knights and squires of worship that ought to have swords bome fter them."

TIDAL WAVE. 3ver 200 People Killed. IIOLENT EARTHQUAKE SHOCK. Hague, Wednesday, —An official despatch nnounces that on the night of June 3rd hree strong shocks of earthquake were felt at vorinchi, Upper Padang, Sumatra. The shocks were acc'wmntfnied by a tidal c Nave. Two hundred and thirty people were kijled, nany injured, and much damage was done.- Reuter. Shocks in Santiago. Santiago de Chile, Tuesday.—The province of Atacarna has been shaken by an earthquake. Though of long duration, it did little damage, only a few old houses collapsing.—Reuter. Santiago de Chile, Wednesday.—Nobody was killed in the earthquake in the province of Atacama, but a number of injuries are re- ported. The disturbance was of a violent character and continued for some time. Several houses were wrecked. Detailed news is delayed owing to the damaged cables.-Reuter

ANOTHER OPERA STAR. Londoners are well supplied with opera just now. There is the grand season at Co vent Garden, where amateurs listen to the world's best singers in attractive works, and there is the popular season at Drury Lane, where musicians have an opportunity of hearing non- copyright compositions performed under excel- lent conditions by a company directed by Cav. Francesco Castellano, a wealthy Neapolitan, who makes a feature of providing good en- semble representations without relying on the services of star vocalists. This enthusiastic impresario has now presented to the public a young Spanish prima dorina, Senora Maria Gaivany,who paid a short visit to this country in February, during which she enjoyed the Miss Maria Galvany. I honour of being commanded to Buckingham Palace to sing to the Queen. This lady made her public debut in Bellini's hackneyed opera, La Somnambula," and as the sleep-walking bride, she displayed a voice of remarkable range and excellent quality. At times, it sounded as if a piccolo were being played, so sharp, so precise, were the notes she produced but this effect was, of course, quite suitable for her rendering of some of the brilliant passages which Bellini supplied for the exhibition of the powers of extraordinarily gifted sopranos. As an actress Senora Galvany also excelled, for throughout she showed herself in sympathy with the role of the unfortunate Amina.

ALLEGED ATTEMPTED FRAUD. At Merthyr on Tuesday Morgan P. Davies, a foreman, John McKay, labourer, Merthyr Corporation workmen, and John Ferguson, clerk in the borough controller's department, and Txiomas Edwards, a collier,were remanded on bail till Friday, on a charge of attempting to obtain a Sum of iCi 4s 9d from the Corpora- tion by false pretences. It is alleged that the defendants attempted to draw wages purport- ing to be due to a mythical workman at the Merthyr Vale schools.

THREATENED SUICIDE. The Mumbles police are engaged in making inquiries into a mysterious affair. It appears that they have been asked to institute in- quiries owing to two letters sent by a Pontar- dulais tinworker to his landlord and his sweet- heart. They are dated Sunday, and state that the writer was going to drown himself at Lang- land Bay. The man has been absent from his lodgings since 10 o'clock on Sunday night.

POCKET-PICKING CHARGE. Alfred Atkins, a Liverpudlian, was remanded for a week at Ystrad on Monday on a charge of attempting to pick the pocket of Sydney Wil- mot, at the Treorky Fair on Saturday night. The latter said he held Atkins' hand as he was putting it into his pocket, and detained him until the arrival of a policeman. Upon being charged with the offence prisoner replied, I would never dream of robbing a working man. I am innocent."

FREYSTROP CHILD'S PERIL. Sister's Heroism. A remarkable case of a child having been bitten by an adder, and an elder sister's pre- sence of mind and heroism in sucking out the poison, is reported from Freystrop, near Haver- fordwest. It appears that the other day the two-year-old daughter of Mr John Hier, Windy Hill, Freystrop, was playing a few yards from the doorstep when she picked up an adder, and evidently p/ut it to her mouth, for the adder bit her in three or four places inside the lower lip. An elder sister, about 12 years of age, shortly afterwards came upon the scene, and, seeing the adder in the baby's hand, realised what had happened. She destroyed the adder, and then sucked out a portion of the poison from her little sister's lip. There is no doubt that a great deal of the poison was in this way ex- tracted. but she probably did not notice that the lip was bitten on the right side as well, for while the left side of the face did not seem to have been affected the right side was soon swollen to a fearful size. Dr. Wilson, of Haverfordwest, was sum- moned, and the case was regarded as serious. Fortunately, the amount of poison left in the body was not sufficient to bring about fatal results, and the little girl has now practically recovered. The elder sister is deserving of every praise for her heroism and presence of mind.

LOOKED MORE SUBSTANTIAL. At Newport Bankruptcy Court on Tuesday, before Mr Registrar Hornby, John William Crondace. trading as Crondace ahd Son, Redbrook-road, Monmouth, decorator and plasterer, came up for examination, with liabilities E141 16s, deficiency E118 16s. Debtor attributed his failure to losses sustained through a contract for the conversion of a shop at Monmouth. He said he had been in Monmouth for 50 years, and started business on his own account about six years ago. Two years later he adopted the trading style of Crohdace and Son," because he thought it looked more substantial. The examination was adjourned for an amended cash account. No Preference Intended. At the same court the adjourned examina- tion of A. M. Gwilliam, formerly carrying on business as a soft furnisher at High-street, Newport, was taken. Debtor admitted tbat he had given goods to a Mr Davies, and had no explanation to offer. The Registrar: You wanted to see him put right, anyhow ?—I suppose it was. Debtor also admitted that he paid a traveller E20 and gave him L35 worth of goods back because he thought he was over-stocked. The Official Receiver: That almost put him right, and I suggest you preferred these people without considering your other creditors 1—I had no intention of doing so. The examination was adjourned for further inquiries.

FIRE AT THE WARREN MILL The dwelling-house attached to Warren Mill, which is situate alongside the roadway between Bonvilstone and Pendoylan, in the Vale of Glamorgan, was completely destroyed by fire on Tuesday afternoon. It is presumed that the outbreak was caused by a spark from a. wood fire in a small baking oven. It was dis- covered by Mrs Hawkins, the wife of the miller. The flames spread so rapidly that although assistance quickly arrived from neigh- bouring farms there was no hope of saving the building. Some of the furniture was, however, removed to the mill, where the family of Mr Hawkins were safely housed for the night. Mr Hawkins himself was away from home at the time.

"GRAND OLD MAN OF SALOP." Amid great enthusiasm, Mr John Randall, of Madeley, artist, archaeologist, geologist, jour- nalist, and author, who is within 12 months of a hundred years of age, was last night made the first freeman of the ancient borough of Wenlock, Salop. Mr Randall. up to the age of 70, was a china painter at the famous Coalport works. In 1867 he was sent by the Society of Arts to the Paris Exhibition, where he re- ported both on pottery and iron manufacture. Some years later he was offered, but refused, a post at South Kensington Museum. He is known as the grand old man of Salop," and is still consulted on archaeological and geological matters.

NEWPORT VETERAN. The death is announced of Mr Patrick Keefe, New-street, Newport, who formerly be- longed to the 103rd Royal Dublin Fusiliers. He joined in 1855 and served 21 years, 11 of which were spent in India, where the regiment landed in 1857,hut he was not early enough to take part in the suppression of the Indian Mutiny. He was in receipt of a pension of Is a day, and in January last was granted an old age pension. He was 75 years of age.

PONTYPOOL LAW CASE. The matter of Evans v. Blythway, a Ponty- pool dispute which was argued at length on Friday. May 21st, on a motion in regard to the estate of one Eyans, a deceased Pontypool builder, was mentioned on Tuesday in Chancery before Justice Eve, when it was arranged between counsel that the whole matter should be taken on Tuesday, June 29th, when all parties will attend for cross-examination on between counsel that the whole matter should be taken on Tuesday, June 29th, when all parties will attend for cross-examination on affidavits. J

Oscar Slater's Reprieve. OFFICIAL RETICENCE. In the House of Commons on Tuesday, Sir H. Dalziel (C.) asked the Lord Advo- cate whether he would state the grounds on which he advised that the extreme penalty of the law should not be carried out in the case of Oscar Slater, convicted of murder, and now detained iQ Glasgow Prison, and would he state on what grounds the prisoner was now de- tained in custody ? The Lord Advocate: The Lord Advocate does not advise the Crown in regard to the exercise of the prerogative of mercy, and it would be contrary to practice to state the grounds on which the prerogative of mercy is exercised in any particular case. Oscar Slater is detained in custody on the ground that he has been convicted of the crime of murder. Sir H. Dalziel: May I ask whether the Secretary for Scotland was in possession of the hon. gentleman's views before any decision was taken with regard to this murder; and, further, if Oscar Slater is detained in custody for the crime of murder, why was he not called upon to suffer the extreme penalty for this brutal crime ? The Lord Advocate: The Secretary for Scotland was in possession of my views before the decision was taken, but I think the House would agree that it would be contrary to public policy to state the grounds on which the Secretary for Scotland exercised the pre- rogative of mercy. Sir H. Dalziel Are we to understand that the view of the Government is that Oscar Slater was guilty of this brutal crime ? The Lord Advoeate: I am afraid that is only asking the same question in another form which I have already declined to answer.

Merthyr Hooliganism. CYFARTHFA PARK SCENES. The Cyfarthfa Park', Merthyr, which was for- mally opened to the public on Saturday, was the scene of much rowdyism on Sunday, and at a meeting of the General Purposes Com- mittee on Tuesday it was resolved to take proceedings against a large number of youths and young men for doing damage to the pro- perty of the Corporation. The Mayor 'Aldermah Wilscn) said that when the park was opened on Saturday the crowd was fairly orderly, but on Sunday the place was invaded by large crowds. The small number of police who were on duty were unable to control them, and by night the force of policemen had to be increased to 20. In spite of all of this, however, considerable damage was done in the park. Flowers and shrubs were damaged, branches of a large tree which had taken years to grow were broken by youths swinging on them, and the sluices of the large pond were interfered with and a portion of the machinery thrown into the water. Rather than allow people to go to the park to do damage it would be closed. The Surveyor also said that damage had been done to the roof of the castle. Councillor Isaac Edwards How did they get into the building on Sunday ? Councillor Simons: They broke in. A letter was read from Messrs Crawshay Bros. calling attention to the reckless interference with the sluices of the pond and the displace- ment of the water gates, and submitting a bill for damage done.

COMBE MARTIN FATALITY. At the inquest at Combemartin on Tuesday on the body of the lady found beneath the cliffs Mr Henry Geo. Palliser, of 162, Clapham- road, London, late of the Bombav Public Works Department, said the deceased was his daughter, and was aged 23. She left home for Portishead, and thence proceeded with two lady friends to Combemartin. She was of cheerful disposition, and he knew of nothing to induce her to commit suicide. Coastguard Singleton said life was extinct when he found the body on Sandy Bay beach. Appearances showed she had fallen from the top of the cliff to an overhanging crag, and thence to the bottom, a distance of 80 feet, pitching on her head. Dr. Turman said the skull was much battered and the brains dashed out. Deceased was of a particularly cheerful disposition, and fond of climbing cliffs. Several jurymen said deceased was very venturesome, and on one occasion was observed climbing the cliffs on all fours. A verdict of" Death through falling over cliffs was returned.

MYSTERIOUS EXPLOSIVE. An extraordinary affair occurred in the Falls- road district of Belfast on Tuesday. Constable Burke, noticing a small box on a window-sill of a public-house, proceeded to examine it, when the box exploded, inflicting rather severe bums on his face and hands. One of his eyes was also injured, and he had to be taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital. The affair has created considerable excitement. It appears from further inquiries that'the bomb consisted of a stone jar filled with gun- powder, to which a fuse six inches in length was attached. The fuse was burning, and just as the constable lifted the jar a terrible explo- sion occurred. Fragments of earthenware were scattered in all directions, and in addition to the constable being injured a window in the police barracks on the other side of the street was broken by the flying fragments. No reason Is assigned for the outrage.

TASMANIA'S NEW GOVERNOR. Major-General Harry Barron, who is to succeed Sir Gerald Strickland as Governor of the State of Tasmania, was born in 1847. From the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, he joined the Army in 1867. He reached the rank Major-General H. Barron. I of Major-General in 1904. From 1897 to 1900 he was chief instructor of the School of Gunnerv at Shoeburyness, and later com- manded the Royal Artillery at Malta.

OLD BRIGAND'S MURDERS. Rome, Tuesday.-An atrocious series of mur- ders has been committed by Guiseppe Lom- bardo, an ex-brigand, aged 72, who had re- cently been released from prison, where he had spent thirty years. The ex-bifigand wished to marry a young girl of Comiso, near Palermo, and presented himself as a suitor. On receiv- ing a refusal from the parents of the girl, Lom- bardo threatened them with his knife. Rela- tives intervened, and a struggle took place, in which the ex-brigand killed the girl s father and mother, two other relatives, and a child. He escaped, but subsequently committed suicide.—Central News.

60 HOURS IN THE AIR. New York, Tuesday.—The balloon Indiana, which is competing in the endurance balloon race, has now been up for 60 hours and still re- mains in the air. This is a record for the United States. During the competition two of the con- testants were fired upon by some men armed with rifles, but fortunately were not hurt. The identity of the miscreants remains a mystery. —Reuter.

WRECKED ON HARBOUR BAR. There reached Plymouth on Tuesday night Mr John Cook, the first mate, and seven of the crew of the British barque W. W. McLauchlan, which was on a voyage from New York to Forcados, West Africa, when through the parting of a towrope she was wrecked on the harbour bar at Forcados.

STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. A woman charged at the Merthyr Police Court on Tuesday with being drunk and dis- orderly replied that she had been struck down by lightning. A police constable said he found her lying on the ground. A fine of 10s and costs was imposed.

WELSH GLEANINGS. News and Views in Lighter Vein. The original name of Nelson (near Treharris, Glam.) was Ffos yr Helyg. The bards will be in clover during the Eisteddfod week, for arrangements have been made whereby they will be all made honorary members of the London Welsh Club. Jtrs Herbert Lewis, wife of Mr Herbert Lewis, M.P., who is a Celt of Manx extraction, has acquired a knowledge of the Welsh lan- guage. To hear her pronounce the Ch and the Ll" in Welsh place names does a Cymro's heart good. The Pontypool Urban Council has decided not to be represented in the Association of Welsh District Councils. The Eisteddfodic spirit, however, still lives and thrives in the and the committee of the Easter Eistedd- fodnave decided to augment the competitors by the addition of a band contest and a chief choral next year. The Rev. Miall Edwards, the new professor at Brecon Memorial College, was when a lad a member of a literary and debating temperance society of which the late Tom Ellis, the Welsh Whip, was also a member. Indeed, both of them won their spurs in public speaking in that modest society on the banks of Llyn Tegid. Now-a-davs, when we hear so much of air- ships and Dreadnoughts, it is notsurprising to hear that a clergyman said he could sleep well o' nights," were it not for airships and the Carnarvon Dreadnought." The latter, of course, is the Rev. Evan Jones, the president of the National Free Church Council and the great fighter for Disestablishment. The children of the Llandefai School enjoy the privilege of taking organised walks through the grounds of Penrhyn Castle, where they have exceptional opportunities of developing their knowledge of nature at first sight. The majority of the olderchiklrenare able to recog- nise at sight and to give the names and short descriptions of all plants and flowers in the neighbourhood. How Llanelly and Carmarthen love one another. This is how a Llanelly newspaper comments upon the holding of the Assizes in the county town. It was a disgrace to the whole of Carmarthenshire that the business of this Court should have been transacted in such a dirty, shabby, barn-like place when oar own Town Hall was available. It might be good enough for tha. third-rate theatrical companies that now and again visit the sleepy, decaying, old townlet, but it certainly took away all the dignity supposed to surround anAssize-Comt." Replying to a Church critic on the Disestab- lishment question, Canon W. Lewis, Pentre, referred with pride to the fact that many of the churches in the Rhondda were built upon freehold land, whereas the Nonconformist churches were not. These are probably the only free holdings in the valleys, although the Rhondda. District Council offices are held under the term of 999 years upon the under- standing that they are not to be used for any other purpose. There are a few instances of leases granted to Glorans (the oldest inhabit* ants of the Rhondda) which specify that they are to last as long as the Rhondda river runs. In the Traethodydd for this quarter there is a very interesting article on Dickens and Daniel Owen," from the pen of Mr J. Meirion Roberts. Treforest. Mr Roberts is a well-known eisteddfodwr, musician, and essayist. At Pontypridd last National Eistedd- fod he took the first prize on the essay The Union Between England and Wales." Again, at the National Eisteddfod of Festiniog he won on the essay The Influence of English on the Welsh. In the following National Eisteddfod he took the first, prize on the essay The Welsh Laws," Sir Marchant Williams adjudicating. He works at the Great Western Colliery, and is very popular with his fellow- workmen. There are many places in South Wales to which tradition points as hiding places of Owen Glyndwr. One of these is the Dinas Rock, in the Vale of Neath and near Criekhowell, in Breconshire, there is a very large cave, called Eglwys Fine. This cave was also the shel- tering place of the Lollards, who, under Sir John O Ideas tie. used to meet there. One of the legends told of this cave is that there is a subterranean passage from there to the Mynydd Maen, near Newport; and that a far- mer's dog which went into the cave was found next day in the streets of Newport looking very tired and huiigry. A very interesting list is given in this month's Cymru of the nicknames given to the inhabitants of certain districts in Wales. Several of these have already been published in this column, to which may be added The Birds of Glamorgan," The Bloodhounds of Gwent," Gwyr y Cawl Erfin" (Carmar- thenshire folk), Moch y Senni," also referring to Glamorganshire, LJygod Llangadog." The English brood in Wales at one time went under the name of Cywion Alis," or Plant Alis y Biswail." The Congregationalists of the city, with Mr3 J. C. Marychurch as president and Miss Janet Price as chairman of committee have already made a good start, and encouraging reporte have been received concerning the progress made by other denominations. Mr Higman, the general secretary of the Y.M.C.A., is doing excellent work in connection with the venture, and at the meetings already held has briefly outlined the work of the Junior Department of the Y.M.C.A., and shown how its growth has rendered the new buildings absolutely neces- sary. The Cardiff Young Men's Christian Associa- tion have entered with great zest and vigour into the task of raising £2,000 by next October for the purpose of erecting new buildings for the use of junior members, and with that -object in view they publish a magazine, en- titled The Bugle," which is devoted entirely to the Palestine Exhibition and Bazaar to be held in the Park Hall towards the end of Octo- ber. In order to secure goods for the bazaar the committee decided to appeal to the churches, and stalls were allotted to the various denominations. They got into to d with various ladies connected withchthe churches, and brought them together to meet- ings where the scheme has been fully ex- plained. The ladies in their turn have res- ponded well, and in most cases formed work- ng parties for the making of goods for their stalls. Thus the work of preparation for the bazaar proceeds. Mr William Edwards, late headmaster of the Gowerton County School, and now head- master of the Middlesbrough High School, has brought out in two volumes a series of notes on British history, the first covering tha ground from prehistoric times to Richard ILL, and the second bringing the student up to 1660. These notes must prove very service- able for use in schools. All superfluous matter is left out, facts being given in a form which in extremely handy and easy of reference. A. new and exceedingly useful feature is the list of references at the end of each chapter, these in- cluding not only historical works properly so- called, but novels and other works in the vari- ous branches of literature having historical bearing. The historical novels of Scott and the allusions in which the poems of Milton and Dryden are so rich must be enhanced in value by a book of this sort, which enables one at a glance to see where references to any particular epoch are to be found. Messrs Rrvingtons, King-street, Covent-garden, arc the pub- lishers. Many notes have recently been written on Bedwellty, but not one of your correspon- dents have touched on the most interesting spot in old Bedwellty (writes Mr J. Kyrle Fletcher). On the hillside there is an old farm- house, now called, I think. Plas Bedwellty, though its old name was Rhos Newydd. This. was the home of one of the younger sons of the Morgans, of Machen and Tredegar. The builder of the house was Edmund Morgan, who died in 1590. He had a numerous family. His eldest son lived at another old mansion close by, called Penllwyn Sarph. Henry Morgan, of Penllwyn also had a town house in the city of Llandaff. The last of the Morgans, of Penllwyn, was Florence, who married John Jones, of Llanarth, and the old place still belongs to their descen- dant, Major-General Sir Ifor Herbert, of Llanarth. Talking over this subject of knock out sales," with a well-known collector in South Wales, a correspondent gleaned a few notes on how such rings have been formed at auctions in South Wales. On one occasion, some years ago at a sale near Chepstow, at which a number of dealers attended, but they had evidently formed a ring, for their bids were simply ridiculous, yet several valuable articles had fallen to them, when suddenly the auctioneer announced that after selling the next lot the sale would be adjourned till that day week. Of course the dealers protested, but the auctioneer, a well-known man in South Wales, refused to listen to them, but blandly remarked that he meant to smash the ring. Of course his action was talked about, which advertised the sale, so that when at the end of the week, the sale was continued the prices broke all records for the district. The writer remembers another case in Glamorganshire where the ring was fofroed at a library sale and bundles of books were knocked down for one and two shillings, which were re-sold at a knock-out sale that night, at a neighbouring hotel, and some of the self same lots then changed hrmdt at JE20 and £30 each.