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MISCELLANEOUS. -------
MISCELLANEOUS. TWO STRANGE WINDFALLS. The report that the Pope has been left X680,000 by a gentleman who had once been a Jew is not yet confirmed, but if it is so, it is probably the largest windfall that has ever been known. Perhaps the nearest approach to it in England was the legacy bequathed, at the beginning of the century, to Lady Frances Brudenell. The rector of St. Martin's was sent to pray with a dying man, one Mr Wright, living in St. James's Street, Pimlico. A few days afterwards a solicitor called on the rector, and told him the deceased had left him JB1,000, Z2,000 to Mr Abbott (the Speaker of the House of Commons), and all the rest of his property to Lady Frances Brudenell, daughter of the Earl of Aylesbury. What is as curious as the rest of the story, the solicitor then seems to have washed his hands of the matter, and the rector went to her ladyship to tell her of her good fortune. The house steward at Lord Aylesbury's told him that there was no such person as Lady Frances Brudenell, as she had married Sir Henry Willoughby long ago, and of course assumed his name. The lady herself declared that there must be some mistake, as she knew no Mr Wright, nor to her knowledge had she ever seen one. To this the rector rejoined that as the property was worth £ 30.000 a year, she had better go and see now, as his coffin was not yet closed up. She did so, and then instantly recognised him as having been a great annoyance to her in her youth at the opera house, where he had a box next to hers; so importunate had been his looks, indeed (though he had never spoken to her), that her family had to change their box. Under the circumstances, however, she seems to have forgiven him; for she took the money and "put all her household into mourning out of respect." MEASURING CRIMINALS. One of the many innovations introduced by the Paris Secret Police Service is the French system of measuring criminals. M. Bertillon, is the inventor. It is known in France by the somewhat scientific title of Anthropometry. The implements used are two small measures. One is shaped something like the instrument used by a shoemaker in taking the dimensions of the feet of a customer. It is a plain carpenters rule with a sliding scale attached at right angles. This is properly called the sliding compass. The other is a circular arrangement, also with a movable scale. This is the thick compass. As soon as a prisoner is arrested and brought to the station-house he is immediately measured and the figures placed opposite his name, occupation, address, &c., in the blotter. At the same time he is made to open his eyes so that the colour can be taken. His body is examined, and any birth-marks, tattooed emblems or physical deformity carefully noted and jotted down in the book. Should the prisoner resist he is at once clapped into a strait-jacket and his bearings taken, nolens volens. I regard this system," says M. Mace, the chief of detectives, in some instances better than the old style of photography. We avoid contortions, grimaces, &c., which prisoners frequently resort to in order to escape future detection. The record is almost perfect and many criminals have been identified by referring to the pages of this register." The sliding measure is made to take the pro- portions of the body lengthwise while the thick measure is for the head, the face, roundness of arms, legs and trunk. The measurements of height taken by the sliding apparatus give the dimensions of the prisoner in his bare feet. There has been some objections raised to this system on the ground of cruelty. As every person under arrest has to suffer anthropometry, it has been sometimes a source of great annoyance to people who have been acquitted of misdemeanour, to object to their bodily defects being on file. M. Mace consoles these unhappy persons with the cold comfort that they should have avoided in the first instance getting into the hands of the police. HOW TO SMOKE A CIGAR. Few people know how to smoke a cigar to enjoy it," said a cigar dealer recently. Most men, after buying their cigars, stick them between their teeth and gnaw the ends off recklessly, tearing and loosening the wrapper in many instances, light their cigars and puff away as if their very lives depended on finishing them. In many instances the finest cigar will burn irregularly, and smokers lay the blame on the cigar. The cigar may be to blame, but in most instances the fault lies in the way it is handled. After the cigar has been bought, the end should be cut smoothly off by the clipper. The reverse end should be placed in the mouth and the cigar blown through. This removes all the little particles of dust which cannot be avoided in manufacture, and prevents them from being inhaled into the throat, and from producing coughing. "Thecigar should then be lighted, and particular attention should be paid to its being thoroughly ignited all over the surface of the end. Instead of puffing away like a steam engine, three or four puffs every minute make the best way in which to enjoy the smoke. The smoke should be kept in the mouth a short time in order to appreciate the flavour. Then it should be omitted slowly. In case one side of the cigar should burn and leave a ragged edge on the other side, it is not necessary to relight it, as I have seen many people do. A gentle blow through the cigar toward the lighted end will ignite the ragged side, and it will burn regularly. Smoking this way is a pleasure. It frets me to see a man smoking a cigar who does not know how to enjoy it." NOTHING EXTRAORDINARY IN THAT. Some ten or twelve years ago an incident hap- pened at Gibraltar which illustrates the practical views of a certain class of people. A subaltern named O'Donohue was the officer of the guard at the Elphinstone Guard. At this point of the world-known rock, there is a sheer drop of over 1,000 feet. A lieutenant who had taken too much cham- pagne at a mess dinner walked over the rock and undoubtedly was dead before he reached the rocks far below. When the officer of the guard upon being relieved made out his report of his guard, he made no mention of the fact. Indeed, when he came to fill in his report and reached the question, Has anything extraordinary happened while you were officer of the guard ? he wrote in the blank space reserved for the answer, If Nothing." Of course, he was summoned before Lord Napier of Magdala, the Governor of Gibraltar. When he appeared Lord Napier asked You were the officer of the guard at Elphinstone Guard yesterday ? I was, sir." And this is your report ? It is, sir." Lieutenant M-- was killed by walking over the rock ? He was, sir." "You knew that when you made out your report ? "I did, sir." That he was killed Yes, sir." And yet you said in your report that nothing extraordinary had happened on your guard ? 0 I did, sir." "Well, Mr O'Donohue," said Lord Napier, sternly, don't you think it is extraordinary when a lieutenant walks over the rock, falls 1,000 feet, and is killed ? Indeed, sir," was the prompt reply, I should think it was extraordinary if he had fallen that far and not been killed." A YOUNG HEROINE. Last week the Mayor of Portsmouth presented Jeanne Victoire Snook, aged 10 years, with the honorary certificate of the Royal Humane Society for saving her little brother's life in April last. The lad fell from a landing stage into 12 feet of water, and most have perished had not his sister, who was unable to swim, jumped in and managed to keep him afloat until a waterman came and rescued both. The case is said to be without a parallel in the annals of the Royal Humane Society. A party of young men dined sumptuously at a restaurant, and each one insisted on paying the bill. To decide the matter it was proposed to blindfold the waiter, and the first one he caught should pay the bill. He hasn't caught any of them yet. THE TERRIBLE DOMESTIC TRAGEDY IN PARIS. The wholesale suicide which was discovered late on Thursday afternoon is even more terrible than was at first imagined. The family Hayen, living in the Rue d' Avron, and consisting of father, mother, and six children, had long been in great distress. The father, aged forty-two, was a designer, and his wife worked as a charwoman. The two eldest children were girls, aged fifteen and thirteen the four others were boys, whose ages ranged from twelve years to one year. For several weeks, neither father nor mother having any work, the family had been in an almost starving condition. Nothing having been seen of any of the family since last Sunday, their room was ultimately broken open, and a horrible spectacle was witnessed. On a bed in a corner the mother was lying with her baby in her arms. On the floor were the dead bodies of the father and the other five children. While examining the bodies on the floor, the Commissary was astonished at seeing the womau suddenly rising to a sitting position. Staring round in a frightened manner, she said, in a weak voice, "I thought I was dead!" A dostor was sent foi, and, being removed from the pestiferous room, she was soon able to answer the questions of the Police Commissary. She said they were in a starving condition, and that last Sunday her husband proposed that they should all die together. She and all the children agreed to this. The cracks in the doors and windows were then filled up all went to bed, and the children dropped to sleep. At four o'clock in the morning the father, with the consent of his wife, got out of bed and lighted the charcoal stove, which had been prepared overnight. Some time afterwards, the mother heard one of her daughters scream, as if in terrible pain. The mother attempted to rise, but fell back on the bed. From that moment when she was roused, she had been utterly unconscious. The doctors explain her having survived by her having fallen into a cataleptic condition on hearing her daughter scream. The bodies of the father and children were buried, but Mdme. Hayen is likely to recover. In a country newsroom, half a century ago, a notice was stuck up: Gentlemen learning to spell are requested to use yesterday's paper. EGOSTRAORDINARY CASE. A certain gentleman was much puzzled to kn«w why his fowls never laid, and ao he went and purchased in London two dozen eggs, and took them down to his place in the country. At night he slipped half-a-dozen of these eggs into the nests. Well, gardener," he said next morning, none of these fowls laid yet ?" No, sir," said the gardener, shaking his head sadly, they're very slow, sir, to lay at this time of the year." The same thing occurred on the two following nights and mornings. On the fourth morning the gardener appeared with one egg, saying, They'll soon begin to lay now, sir here's one on 'em already. Why, yon scoundrel," said the master, I have myself put four-and-twenty eggs into the nests, and you pretend the fowls have only laid one. You clear out at the end of the month." METROPOLITAN MADNESS. Dr Gamier, a specialist in lunacy, gives some curious information respecting the increase of insanity and its causes in Paris. He siys that the magnetic attraction towards the Great City has been primarily responsible for what he calls, in a general way, metropolitan madness. Everybody wants to live in Paris, and the consequence is that alcoholic stimulants, intellectual overwork, and the struggle for live" drive thousands into the asylum. THE BOW STREET DISTURBANCES. Since the serious disturbances at Bow-street on Monday, the 7th inst., Sir Edward Bradford has been affecting a clearance of the men on the strength of that station. Out of about 120 men who have been permanently stationed on the premises only about a score now remain, and the places of the transferred and discharged officers have not yet, it is understood, been filled. Constables from the C and other divisions are now doing duty on the E Division ground, and it is believed that to avoid a repetition of the outbreaks amongst the police, which in both 1872 and at the beginning of this month originated at Bow-street, reserve men, or, in other words, constables who have sufficient service to deter them from pre- cipitate action or agitation, will be placed there. Some of the constables have been transferred to Uxbridge and other remote suburbs. EXCHANGING WIVES. At Stoke-on-Trent, on Friday, the stipendiary magistrate was occupied with a charge against Martha Goldstraw, married, of assaulting a child named Keeling, and the facts disclosed were of a startling character. It was alleged that last September two colliers, named Goldstraw and Keeling, exchanged wives, and Mrli Goldstraw had since been living under Keeling's protection. whilst Mrs Keeling stayed with Goldstraw. Keeling's five children remained with him for a time, but the four elder ones eventually left, and the present case was brought against Mrs Gold- straw by one of the elder Keelings for giving the youngest, aged 18 months, a black eye. The defendant was sentenced to a month's hard labour, A PLASTER PIG. The citizens of ancient Pompeii knew what was good. They relished roast pig. A family in that aristocratic city, were about to dine on the rich and succulent dish, on the very day that the restless Titan under Mount Vesuvius expectorated from his fiery lungs the shower of red-hot ashes which entombed the Pompeiians in their dwellings. The pig was being cooked, and was probably nearly done at the time, when the volcanic storm burst in and spoiled it. This is not a matter of conjecture, for a mass of indurated lava, and ashes has been found in a stewpan, standing on a cooking-stove, in the kitchen of a disinterred house, and on opening the lump, a perfect mould of a sucking pig was disclosed. A cast was taken from the hollow, and the result was a fac-simile in plaster of the little animal, which had been trussed in scientific style, and is supposed, from the shape of the matrix, to have been just ready for the table. A REMARKABLE FISH. j Africa is the home of many extraordinary animals, but there is no more remarkable creature than the mudfish, which inhabits certain of the rivers of Western Africa, and, as its name implies, it lurks at the muddy bottoms of these rivers. At present, however, it is not necessary to go to Africa to see this fish, as it can be seen by anyone who has the time in the reptile-house at the Zoological Gardens. At first sight there is perhaps nothing especially striking about this animal; it looks very much like an ordinary fish, except for its curious, long blender fins. A visitor who knew nothing creature would probably go away with thptn that ;h that he bad seen nothing out of the ctfi>o<ji-r. When the fishes arrived each one was encased in a ball of dried mud, lined with mucus from its body, and perforated by a small aperture to admit of breathing. This "cocoon," as it is sometimes called, on account of its analogy to the earthen case fabricated by many caterpillars in which to undergo their metamorphoses, on being placed in warmish water was dissolved and the fish liberated. The habit which the mudfish has of making an earthen chamber of the mud at the bottom of the river is a most wonderful provision of nature for the exigencies of the climate. The rivers which the fish inhabits are liable to periodical droughts. When such a drought is imminent the nsh retires to deep water and excavates a pit, in which it lies, covering itself over with a thick layer of mud. It can suffer with impunity the complete drying-up of the river. But the most interesting fact about the creature is that during the time of its voluntary imprisonment it breathes air directly through an aperture left in the cocoon, by means of lungs, just like a land animal. When the returning rains dissolve the mud and liberate the nsh it breathes by means of gills, just like any other fish. PERGOLESI'S DEATH. Pergolesi's I Stabat Mater' has been given in Rome lately. It is for women's voices only, aud has no chorus. It was in 1735 that Pergolesi, then only 25 years of age, was asked to write a Stabat' for two voices and two violins. This was in Naples. Pergolesi was as poor as he was young, and a sum of (j ducats was advanced to him (less than £ 2!), and with this be went to Rome, taking his opert Olympiade with him. This, however, was hissed, while his friend Duni's 'Nero' was a triumph. "One day, when Pergolesi was walking by the side of the Tiber, he beard a fisherman singing an air of Nero.' This was like a knife in his heart to him, and he entered a wayside chapel to pray his grief away. Presently some one tapped him on the shoulder, and said cheerily:- What's the matter, old fellow? You look as dismal as that "Dead Christ" in the Virgin's arms i "Pergolesi looked up. It was his friend and rival, Duni. He gave him his hand without a word. I Courage, old man,' Eaid Duni. 'Can you not bear a failure? Your genius should be above injustice and ignorance "Pergolesi laughed sadly, and repeated, Genius ?' I yes' genius!' said Duni. I Rome. has been unjust to you. It is I who say so. The fools applaud Nero," the worst opera I ever wrote, and 1 am quite ashamed of its success.' "The friends kissed each other, in Italian fashion, and Pergolesi returned to Naples to work at his 'Stabat.' On the journey he caught the Roman fever, and the doctors sent him to Pozzuoli for better air. Every now and then, however, he went to Naples, and to those who met him he would say, I have come to find the Stabat that I owe to the St. Luigi Brotherhood.' One day, on following a crowd, he came to the scaffold, where Stenio, the Calabrese martyr or brigand, as he is alternately called, had just been executed. At the foot of the scaffold crouched a poor woman, writhing and screaming with grief. It was Stenio's wife. When the soldiers tried to take away the corpse, the woman clung to it with all her might, till she fell senseless on the ground. When she recovered she saw Pergolesi lookinc at her pityingly. ° u, Go home,' he said, gently. I will go with you.' He took her hand, and she moved on, like one in a dream. They reached one of the dirtiest and narrowest lanes in Naples, and climbed to the top of one of its filthiest houses. -1 Two children were laying on some straw. Something to eat ?' said the children, as soon as they saw their mother. lo eat?' said the woman, in an nnealthly voice. I have nothiner.' Where's father ? said one of the children. At this the woman gave a fearful cry, and fell senseless again. Pergolesi thought she was dead but in a few moments he heard her sing the Litanies of the Dead. She was mad When Pergolesi returned to Pozzuoli, he had found his Stabat.' He bad finished it in the Spring of 1736. When his friend Feo went to see him he found Pergolesi in high fever. I am so happy, though,' said Pergolesi, I have finished my Stabat." I was afraid I should not be able to finish it. Do you know they paid me beforehand? Gave me 10 ducats for it! It is not worth 10 pence but, such as it is, they shall have it!' He then dragged himself to his harpsichord, and sang:— Stabat Mater dolorosa, Juxta crucem lachrymosa, Dum pendebat filius.' When he had finished, Pergolesi made a sign to his friend not to speak, and fell asleep. He slept till night. He then opened his eyes, and heaved a deep sigh. It was his last! He was dead! AMUSING SAFE STORIES. "There are many amusing incidents connected with our business," said a safe manufacturer one day. "It is to be expected that in the ordinary course of events circumstances will arise when a safe will have to be opened by an expert, and of course safes often contain documents of great and immediate importance. Locks, like any other piece of mechanism, are not infallible. The best of them are liable to fail at times through some slight defect in manufacturing, same as the main- spring of the most valuable watch may give out unexpectedly. Not long ago a firm wanted a man to examine their safe. It was open, but they could not shut the door far enough to throw the bolts. "The man went to the place, and after a brief examination saw a penny resting on one of the bottom flanges. Taking this off, the door shut and locked all right. It is forgotten how much it cost the arm to have the man go to their place and pick up that little coin, but it was enough to prevent its being repeated no doubt. "A similar case happened recently. We were sent for at about the close of business hours to see what was the matter with one of our safes. The bolts would not throw far enough to turn thp. lock. The result was the finding of a cloth button from a lady's dress in the lower bolt hole. This removed, all was right. Once we had a letter asking us to send a work- man at once to open a safe, as there were important documents wanted for immediate use. With his kit of tools, our man took the next train and arrived in the evening. "It proved to be an old-fashioned safe, with a large key lock. I I There,' said the man, 'is the safe. The lock has been working harder and harder for weeks, until now I am locked out. I am in a hurry to have it opened. Never mind the damage, if you will only break into it promptly.' Our expert took the key and tried it, but it refused to work. He then took a small wire and picked out half a thimbleful of dirt and fluff from the key, tried it again, and a better working lock was never seen. I How much is your bill ? As this involved a trip to and from Newcastle, of about 300 miles, and time and expense in pro- portion, he replied X4 10s. Taking a X5 note from his pocket he said That is satisfactory, on conditions. Does any- one in the place know your business here? The reply was No one.' All right, then; go by the next train, and keep quiet for I would gladly pay £ 20 rather than have any of my friends know that I was fool enough to send to London for a man to pick the dirt out of my key.' POISONING BY TINNED FRUIT. Four cases of tin poisoning caused by tinned cherries are reported by Drs. Luff and Metcalfe. It is stated that on Jan 15 a tin of meat and a tin of cherries were opened, and the contents partaken of at the same time by four men, each of whom ate both meat and cherries and drank some of the cherry-juice. One and a half to two hours later they were all attacked with symptoms of irritant poisoning. Three of thecases were admitted into the North-West London Hospital, and were diagnosed as cases of either tin or ptomaine poisoning, and were treated accordingly. The subsequent analyses of the contents of the two tins indicated that the toxic symptoms were due to tin. The meat was found on analysis to be free from tin and from ptomaines. The tin of cherries was about half full of cherries and juice. The juice was strongly acid, and the analysis of it showed that the acidity was due to malic acid with a small quantity of acid tartrate of potash. The juice contained tin in solution, a Quantitative estimation of which showed that- every fluid ounce of the juice contained the equivalent of 1.9 grains of the higher oxide of tin, which would be equal to 3.2 grains of the malate of tin in each fluid ounce of the juice, or to 60.4 grains in a pint of the juice. POTATOES IN EXTRACTING FOREIGN BODIES FROM THE STOMACH. Dr. Salzer has given a report on the removal of foreign bodies from the stomach by the so-called potatoe cure. The method consists in requiring the patient to eat large quantities of potatoes, which have the effect of proportionately dilating which have the effect of proportionately dilating the whole intestinal canal, so that the foreign body is enveloped and cannot cling to any part during its passage. Dr. Salzer showed at the clinic of Professor Billroth, several foreign bodies which, in this way, had been removed—one of these being a weight of 51 drachms, which had been swallowed by a child the second, a set of artificial teeth, upwards to 5 centimetres long, and 3 centimetres broad, and the third was a needle. According to both Professor Billroth and Dr. Salzer, many gastrotomies could be obviated by this method in the case of swallowed foreign bodies.
NOTES FROM CENTRAL CARDIGANSHIRE.
NOTES FROM CENTRAL CARDIGANSHIRE. The Unions of South Wales have been once again passed in review, and Mr Bircham has classed them according to merit. At most of the Boards of Guardians that met last week, the returns were discussed with many good intentions made for the coming year. The TREGARON GUARDIANS Did not, however, deign to take any notice of it. Was it because their Board had to climb down a step in the past year that the returns were sup- pressed at the last meeting ? I am sure I don't know, but I- know that this Board is fast deteriorating in efficiency and earnestness. The last meeting was a muddle, and the Board and committee meetings separated after doing things that ought not to have been done, and omitting things that ought to have been done. If things do not improve here soon, I shall mercilessly dig deeper into the flesh. I have not the least doubt that the ABERAERON GUARDIANS Have the best conducted Board of any in the county, and any one attending a meeting there soon realises the reasons why. The business is well kept in hand by a thoroughly efficient, courteous staff, and to attend the meetings of the Board is an excellent training to a young guardian. I am sorry to find their rate of pauperism to be on the increase. In this respect, it is a race down lull between them and Tregaron, but ten to one on Tregaron in five years, I say. Visiting Tregaron Cemetery when last in town, my bosom full of deeply-treasured memories of two very dear friends was violently disturbed. The late Rev O. Davies and Mr Dewi Williams lie near each other. While sitting down between their graves, I could not help repeating over them, "They were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided." Tregaron was another place, and its institutions were better things when these two ruled supreme in the love and respect of the people. The rest- ing place of their beloved vicar has been duly honoured, and I was informed in town that dear Dewi's grave is soon to have its monument. Let it be worthy of him. Cynghorwr—gwr mawr Tregaron, Swyddog Prif seddau'r holl Union, Car, cu, hael, cywirgalon— Efe'ii wir sy'n fud fan hon Aye, aye, Dewi dear, farewell The New Code, and the Code Bill, have he come law, and will come into operation in the autumn. Certain School Boards, and other managers, are busily engaged in setting their houses in order. Time tables are altered, and new school books are ordered. The TEACHING OF WELSH Bids fair to become a favourite specific subject for the upper standards, and that I believe with great advantage to the schools and benefit to the z, scholars. I should welcome its adoption in good schools as a class subject," and I am glad to find this year a few schools adopting a Welsh edition of Uncle Tom's Cabin as a class book for their upper classes. It is now found out by our teachers that the Welsh language is miserably deficient in suitable books for class reading. Drawing is coming to the fore in many schools, and teachers proficient in the art are putting their hand into it once again. I see that the Ystrad School Board have gone in for FREE BOOKS. In this district children are admitted free to five years of age, at a penny to ten, and no family to pay in any case more than three pence a week, and now it is added that all children shall have the free use of all books, copy-books, and other school requisites. Well done, Ystrad, half-a- dozen scholarships of E4 each tenable at the Aberaeron Intermediate School added to the above will lift you high above all other districts in the county. The Nantcwnlle School Board read the FARMING CLAUSE Of the new Code as a prohibition to managers to pay schoolmasters according to grants and fees received, and have converted their terms into a "fixed salary." I hope their interpretation of the clause is the correct one, as I am convinced that fixed salaries all round would greatly add to the breadth and depth of the education imported. The school managers at TREFILAN Are afraid of another Pharaoh coming to reign. Their "highly efficient" school is going to change master. I am glad to learn that the school as usual "has passed a successful ex- amination," and the outgoing master is strongly recommended to other managers as a very diligent, industrious, and regular tutor. Great interest is centred in the incoming master, who will have to be energetic and assiduous to preserve the laurels won for the school by his predecessors. The school managers at GARTHELY Are in a similar predicament, and I am doubtful whether the managers will outlive another change so soon. I am told that no less than thirteen masters and mistresses have been in charge of this school during the last ten years. It is a school of a large grant-earning power if properly managed. The present managers have been in power more than their allotted term, and I am not sure that their forgetfulness of this fact that keeps them in office over their time. The school could with advantage put on a new set of managers with a new master. I hear very little now-a-days about COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE. Never were parents more neglectful than now, but the prosecuting authorities shrink from their duty. Why slacken their hands ?,J*Notirth;tt the schools are full, or that the compulsory pill has become less efficacious, but because parents have votes in local elections Since contests have be- come the rule, members and would-be-members are chary of treading on people's corns, and School Board meetings are too often improvised into election meetings to catch votes for next contest. School Board areas must be extended, and members elected on qualifications higher than those of present members, or elementary education will go to the dogs. The next meeting of the CARDIGANSHIRE COUNCIL Will be asked to approve and adopt, among other things, the ABERYSTWYTH SCHEME Of keeping the main roads in repair. Three weeks ago the members of the roads committee were similarly entrapped, but at the following council meeting they were liberated. Here they are again in the same meshes 1 They could not withstand the dramatic, table hitting, and verbose advocacy of the pet scheme of a persistent few. What does it mean, if carried out ? It means the committing of the county to an ex- travagant system of bad maintenance, without a hope of getting any equivalent return. It means putting over 200 miles of county roads in the care of one surveyor to supervise and superintend them in addition to his other duties of looking after the main roads and ultra county bridges, and the county buildings. I hope the council will reject the scheme, and adopt a more economical and wieldy system. Let them dis- miss the present ten district surveyors in the county. The compensation would come to very little, and the riddance would be worth it. Let them re-appoint three or four of the best, and put them over the whole of the districts divided into as many county divisions. Contract out to the District Boards the main roads in their respective district, which are to he surveyed by these three or four of the "survivals of the fittest." Let the county surveyor confine him- self to the county bridges and buildings, and to making periodical surveys and inspections of all county roads, with the view of advising the council of the nature and character of the work done or required to be done under the contracts. The advantages would be many and important. The saving in salaries alone would be over C500 a year, and the saving in the zC2,400 a year pro- posed to be paid to day workmen would be immense. The main roads would cost much less per mile, and the district roads would iiooit shew signs of a more enlightened treatment from these superior officers. To ask the surveyor to manage and keep his eye on 60 men scattered all over the county would be worse than asking the Jlew chief-constable to manage his 40 men without superintendents and sergeants. The proposed district surveyors would act as sergeants, and the possible forfeiture of the contract money would always keep them, and the district Boards up to their duties. Moreover, these district surveyors would be fully employed, reasonably paid, and of a class of men that would feel their responsibility, and enter into a friendly competition over their roads. When such a scheme was laid before the council some time ago, I did not understand that any valid objection was raised, except it be, that it did not emanate from Aberystwyth. TRICIIUUG.
CARMARTHEN COUNTY PETTY SESSIONS.
CARMARTHEN COUNTY PETTY SESSIONS. SATURDAY.—Before Messrs Grismond Phillips (in the chair), J. L. Philipps, C. W. Jones, and Rev R. G. Lawrence. The court was crowded. TRESPASSING ON THE RAILWAY. Inspector S. Miles, G.W.R., appeared against Thomas Lewis and John Lewis, Carmarthen, for having trespassed on the company's line, in the parish of Llangunnor, on the 17th of May last.— Defendants pleaded guilty.—The Clerk read tlio Section of the Act relating to trespassing, which showed that trespassers could be fined any sum not exceeding 40s., without any previous warning being given, -Inspector Miles said the G.W.R Company were determined to stop the practice of people walking on the line, as so many persons had been killed, and special orders had been given to all the inspectors to punish any persons caught. He had brought that case on as a warning to others.— Defendants were fined 10s each including costs. SUNDAY EXCURSIONS. William Lewis, and William Charles Le-.vis, Danybank, and George Griffiths, L a ui tiits- street., Carmarthen, were charged by P.C. D. Henshaw with being drunk and disorderly on Sunday, the 13th day of July last, in the parish of Llangunnor.—The constable said that about 9 30 p.m. on the 13th he saw defendants on the road leading from the Junction to Pensarn fighting. He separated them several times, but they per- sisted in fighting. They had been down to Ferry- side and had got drunk. -Defendants were fined 5s each and costs. SCHOOL BOARD PROSECUTION. William Davies, school attendance officer, ap- peared against Richard Evans, Llnusaint, for neglecting to send his two children to school. The eldest child was 12 years of age and only in the 1st standard. Defendant's wife appeared, and was fined 5s including costs. 11 A POLICE SUPERINTENDENT EJECTED BY FORCE. Captain Scott, Superintendent in the Llanelly force, charged Daniel Jones, Cross Hands, collier, with being drunk and disorderly on the 12th of June, and David Hughes an i David Evans, colliers, of the same place, with assaulting him while in the execution of his duty on the same day.-INIr Griffith Jones, barrister-at-law, instructed by Mr J. D. Valentine Jones, solicitor, Swansea, defended.- The latter had obtained a cross-summons against Supt. Scott on the preceding Saturday for assault on Daniel Jones, but it was now withdrawn.—It was agreed to hear the three cases together.— The witnesses, of whom there were about 20, having been ordered out of court, Superinten- dent Scott said that on the 12th of June he was driving from Llandilo with some friends in a phaeton. They stopped on the Six-roads Hill, when the gentlemen got out to walk, the ladies remain- ing inside. After the gentlemen had got down he heard someone say something in a drunken voice behind him lsh, which he did not understand, and on tur^i-.g round S tW Dlniel Jones. He then asked in English for a ride, and on being told that they were full, pointed to the places vacated by the gentlemen, and said he would give fiJ for a, ride. Seeing that the defendant was black (having just come from the colliery) he refused, and asked him to go away, when he began to curse and swear and come towards the carriage using abominable language. He got down and asked defendant his name, but he refused, and attempted to strike him. Witness (who was in plain clothes) then got down. seized defendant by the wrists, and with the view of getting his name, took him to the passage of the Union Tavern Inn, where a struggle took place between them. Defendant fell-possibly he was the cause of his falling-and he fell on him. lIe put a knee on the small of each arm of the defen- dant and held him down, as he WM trying to bit him. Several persons came round, but none would give defendant's name. About six or eight men then got hold of witness and ejected him by force out of the house. He could only swear to two of the men-David Evans and David Hughes. He identified the latter by the prominent mark he had on his nose. Supt. Scott further said he did not know what defence would be set up, and asked for an adjournment in order to subpcona the gentlemen who were with him, and who bad gone back to Kent.—By Mr Griffith Jones: He went back to the inn after being ejected in order to get defendant's name from the landlady, and he was not afraid. Daniel Jones used very bad language to him before he came down from the carriage. He did not remember all be said, nor the exact words used. He did not strike or trip defendant, but carried him towards the inn, and he did not intentionally put the defendant on his back on the ground. He had both knees on the small of his arms, and not on his chest, and his hands holding defendant's wrists. It was not a fact that both his knees were on the defendant's chest. He would not swear that Daniel Jones, while he was on him, did not call on the defendant Hughes to come to his assistance as he was being suffocated. The persons about did not tell him, For goodness sake get up from the man and he will give his name." He did not hear the people telling him not to suffocate him. He kept him down to prevent him striking. The defendant gave his name, but only after much pressure had been brought to bear upon him. It was not a fact that David Hughes came to him and said, "Beg your pardon; let the man get up, you are killing him." He did not understand Welsh very well, but someone asked him in English to let him get up. D. Hughes seized me by the face and trieJ to get him off. He (witness) got off unscathed. —P.C. Saer, Pontyberem, said that on the 13th of May he saw Daniel Jones. On being asked about the struggle with Capt. Scott, he said he did not remember anything that had occurred the pre- vions night, as he was too drunk. His wife had told him that something had happened. He did not complain that he bad been struck down.- Cross-examined Daniel Jones did not say he had been maltreated, and that he was for some time unconscious. He did not ask him that.—Martha Evans, landlady of the Union Tavern, Six-roads, said she remembered the 12th ult. She had been subpoenaed by Capt. Scott, and was also a witness for the other side.—Cross-examined by Mr Griffith Jones: Daniel Jones was not drunk. She could not say whether Supt. Scott threw him down or not. Ho had a hand constantly on his collar, and his left knee on his chest. She could not say where his right knee was as it was the furthest from her. They might have been on the ground for ten minutes or so. After everything was over, Supt. Scott came back to her to the bar and asked for Daniel Jones' name. That was the first time he said he was a superintendent. She remembered Daniel Jones call out, Hughes, get me up, or I am suffocated," and Hughes then took hold of Supt. Scott by the back and chest and tried to pull him off, but he had previously begged his pardon and asked him to let Daniel Jones get up. That was all she saw Hughes do, and nothing roughly was done to Supt. Scott. David Evans Was standing at the threshold of the door. He came in, took hold of the superintendent by the waist, and carried him out to the road No one else put their hands on Stipt. Scott. She did not see lianiel Jones try eitner to KICK or strike Supt. Scott. Daniel Jones had only had two pints of beer, one of which was given him by his wife.— Cross-examined by Supt. Scott: It was after the scuffle she first heard him say that he was a superintendent of police. She could not say whether he had said ao outside or not. She would swear that she did not tell P.C. Saer that Daniel Jones was drunk. She could not have said it, as he was sober. He (Supt. Scott) had a light suit on and a great coat reaching to his feet, but she could see his knee on Jones's chest. She did not hear him say that he held her responsible for allowing drunkenness in the hoiise.-P.C. Bryant, Ammanford, said he saw defendant David Hughes, and had a statement from him. Having been examined by Supt. Scott, Mr Griffith Jones asked him to produce the statement, and he said he had not got it, whereupon the following dialogue took place:—Mr Griffith Jones: Do you mean to say that you were interrogating this man, knowing your superintendent was involved, and that you cannot now say where the statement, that was put in writing, signed by tlii,hes, is ?-- I was getting the information for another constable, and I do not know where it is now. I wish I had them here.—Mr Griffith Jones So do I, sir (laughter). To the Bench: It is exceedingly suspicious that I this man should come here like this, and it is a comment that I am entitled to make.—Cross- examination continued He did not think it neces- sary to bring the statement, but he might titd it if he went to look for it. Hughes told him that Daniel Jones was looking bad, that he was much pressed, that his tongue was out, and that his eyes were swollen.—P.O. W. Poyntz, Llan gonnech, also, after much questioning, e'lrrobuiuted the evidence of P.C. Bryant.—This was the case for the com- plain.itit.T)ie three defendants; Samuel Evans, Llanelly; David Evans, Fernhill; David Williams, Peuygroes; and Morgan Lloyd, Penvgroes, were called for the defence, all of whom contradicted the statement that Daniel Jones was drunk. Each one underwent close cross-examination, during which Mr Griffith Jones said he should like to say something upon the way the constables manu- factured evidence.—The Bench, having heard the evidence so far, said that as it was so conflicting, they did not wish any further witnesses called. They thought that Supt. Scott was quite right in bringing the matter forward, but for the reason stated they would dismiss the three cases, each party to pay their own costs.
THE CENSUS.
THE CENSUS. The Bills for taking the census next ye ir have been published. For the most part the arrange- ments are much the same as they were nine years ago. The census day is fixed for Sunday, the 5th of April. The particulars to be asked for in England and Wales are name, sex, age, profession or occupation, condition as to marriage, relation to head of family, and birthplace of every person who abode in any house on the night of census day, showing also whether any such person was blind or deaf and dumb or an imbecile or lunatic. The only new question to put is one recommended by the census committee —namely, where the occupier is in occupation of less than five rooms, as to the number of rooms occupied by him. One particular that was asked for at the last census and is now omitted, in accord- ance with the committee's recommendation, is the rank of each person. In Scotland the matters to be inquired into are the same as those in England, except that the new one does not relate to the number of rooms occupied, but is whether any person speaks Gaelic only or both Gaelic or English. Neither in England nor in Scotland nor in Wales, it will be observed, is any question to be put as to religion. In Ireland. however, the religious profession of each z_" person is, as before, to be asked for. The other information to be obtained in Ireland includes age, sex, birthplace, and occupation.
LLANELLY.
LLANELLY. RENT DAY.—The Midsummer rents due from the tenants of Sir Arthur Stepney, Bart., M.P., were collected on Thursday and Friday of last week at the School Board Offices, Llanelly. Sir Arthur has probably the largest number of tenants in the county, and a most gratifying feature of the present audit was that the farmers wiped away arrears which had been brought forward for many years past. The rents were received by Mr W. J. Wilson (agent) and Mr. Jeremiah Williams. BOARD OF GUARDIANS.—At last Thursday week's meeting of the board of guardians, Mr Richard Nevill presiding, Mr D. John, Felinfoel Brewery, having referred at some length as to the distinction that should be made by the board in granting out-relief to members and non-members of friendly societies, moved the following resolu- tion "That in granting relief to members of friendly societies the following scale be adopted. viz, :—That when a member is in receipt of fuil or half pay only half of the same be takon into account, but when in receipt of invalid pay they be allowed the full benefit of the same. INTERMEDIATE EDUCATION.— When Sir Arthur Stepney, Bart., and M.P. for the Carmarthen Boroughs, was approached some time ago by the Llanelly School Board Committee with respect to the advisability of securing Llanelly as a centre for one of the Intermediate Colleges to be erected in the county, he promised that, should the School Board require retention of the hieher-grade school for its original purpose, he would come to their aid. At a special meeting of the board, held subsequently to that, the board decided to retain the school for the specific purpose of higher-grade education, the belief being that the needs of the town and district pointed more to the latter than the intermediate education. We now learn that the hon. member has offered one acre of valuable laud to the east of Murray-Street and Stepney- place, supplementing it with a subscription towards the erection of an intermediate college.
LLANEGWAD.
LLANEGWAD. SUICIDE.-Oll Wednesday, the Kith inst, the neighbourhood of Llanegwad was thrown into a state of commotion on the news being spread that Ann Davies, Tyllwyd, had committed suicide by hanging herself. On Thursday, the deputy coroner, Mr R. M. Thomas, Carmarthen, held an inquest at Tyllwyd on the I)ody. Elizabeth Davies, said she was a single woman living at Tyllwyd. The deceased who was 1>8 years of age was her sister. She was a single woman of no occupation, and always used to complain of indigestion. She used to worry a great deal about some money that was coming to her—an annuity left her by her master, and she was afraid she would not get it. She last saw her alive on the evening of the loth inst, when she was going to bed, which was in the kitchen. Some time after live o'clock the next morning she got up and asked witness the time, after which she heard her going out. Witness did not go and look after her as she thought she had gone to fetch the cows, but about <>.30 she went to the cowhouse and saw deceased there with a rope twisted round her neck and tied to a beam. She was knelling down and was quite cold and dead. She went to fetch some neighbours, and they loosened the rope and carried her into the house. She had never tried to destroy herself before. She used to get an annuity from Mr Thomas, Waunllanau, but she had not had the last half yearly payment due in February last. -The jury returned a verdict that deceased had hanged herself whilst in a state of temporary insanity.
LLANGENDEIRNE.
LLANGENDEIRNE. PICNIC.On Tuesday, the 15th inst, the Messrs Davies Brothers, drapers, &e., Cambrian House, Llanelly, and formerly of Llangendeirne, enter- tained their employes numbering about 24, to a picnic on the summit of Llangendeirne Mountain. A commodious break had been hired for the occasion, which proceeded to its destination, via Kidwelly. Oil approaching the village "Unter den Linden," the excursionists sang "Home sweet home" with patriotic fervency" and the delighted villagers were equally enthusiastic in their reception. The weather was exceptionally favourable, and all spent an enjoyable day. The mountain air was so bracing and invigorating that after but a short stay, an insatiable desire for lunch was created. Various games and pastimes were then freely indulged in. It is not generally known what an extensive and picturesque view is obtainable from the top of this height, which is 8.58 feet above the sea-level. The greater parts of Carmarthen and Pembroke- shire, and large portions of Brecknock and Glamorganshire are to be seen. Ocean steamers can be easily recognised going up and down the Bristol Channel, and Lundy, Caldy, as well ItS parts of the Devon and Somersetshire coasts, are distinctly visible, while the whole of Carmarthen Bay and the Cefn Sidan sands appear to be underneath the eye of the observer. With a fairly good glass persons can be seen promenading on the Castle Hill, Tenby. The antiquarian and geologist will alo find interesting spots within easy access. NATIOSAL SCHOOL.—The following is a copy of the report of Her Majesty's Inspector upon this school "The school has decreased in numbers, but its condition is highly satisfactory both as to discipline and efficiency. There was some finger counting in the lower standards, and tite tiftli standard di(I not enter their biils of parcels sums in proper form hut the general quality of the work was such that the highest merit grant can be recommended. Geography and English had been well and very intelligently taught. The needlework was satisfactory. The attainments of the infants were, on the whole, I very fa'r." The grant amounted to nearly 21 shillings per head on the average attendance.
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