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"DEAR" SWANSEA. ! :
"DEAR" SWANSEA. WHY WE PAY WRE. RESULTS OF EXHAUS- TIVE INQUIRY. A Chance for Gower. A gentleman who recently left Swan- sea after aame years' resiatmoe, said, III his opinion, Swiarusea was a most expen- sive town to live in; takuiig all thui £ s into account, the most expensive he had avelr known." —("Daily Post" editorial extract, December 31, 1913). There a-re no two opinions as to Swansea being a much dearer town to live in fchsun the average, and the question naturally arises why First and ficremost, it is generally conceded that owing to the number of Jioosas beinj far short of the demand, rents far ectceed tiioce of the aiverage town. And it is in this regard <hat the most serious etra.in is made upon the housewife's purse. Not is this altogether Swansea's fault or lack of building enterprise, for the town proper consists of bu.t a narrow atrip of sea.- txoard surrounded by hills, a<nd industrial enterprise end progress has made large de- mands upon the development of the limited land available. With industrial activity in its many fav-et forms, the configOTataan of the borough which renders traiinway traffic anything- but simple, and the great need far '■workers' houses in the few available sites ready and near of azoess, the high ra/tes for labour pertaining in all branches, all contri- bute to add to the weekly l'tmts directly or indirectly. In few, if any, towns are rents so high as at Swansea; they run on an average anything from 5s. to lOs. a week zoom than in most other places. In a Lon- don subutb where a prominent Bwaonsea provision store manager lived for years he paid JB38 a year for house rent; to-day he would have to pay in Swansea £ 45. At Grimsby, a man now engaged at Swansea paid 8o. 6d. a week clear to-da v he is pay- ing here 16s., though his Swansea house con- tains a bath which the other did not. At (Wolverhampton a sax-roomed HOUSE AVERAGES FROM 5s. TO 7s. a week; at Swansea the figure is between 10s. 6d. and 13& at Birmingham the dif- ference is between 3s. and 5s. a week in the ■Midland city's favour, end other large cities and towns show a more or less similar dif- ference. Rates aire very little appreciably higher at Svarusa, thanks to the Municipal Reformers, and yet there is this difference. The reason in a nutshell. as indicated above, is the comparatively little land avai la.b Ie, "the groat and ever-growing demand, thainks to Swansea's prosperity, and the lack of a Suitable type of lower middle class house, whiÍoh necessitates a man living in 9 rooms when he would be content with four or five, provided they were built larger. A singu- lar drawback in Swansea hrruøes of this class, generally speaking, is that they have more rooms than is necessa-ry for the aver- age family, and the rooms are too small. This, compiled with the Jack of number, has led to evolution of the two and three-fsmily house. hlaits of different tylx, WlciUld, in the writer's opinion, have gone far in solv- ing the f Swq.r.«ea I A,4ri-- altv. A SOVEREIGN COMPARED. One of the best tests to judge a town's cost of living and to institute comparisons ir a broad sense is to see how far a sovereigns will go in providing the necessaries of life. Eliminating house rent, the writer took from personal instances a rough calculation as to a sovereign's purchasing worth, and the re- sult was as follows:- Swansea store purchases (food). £1 London 18/6 Grimsby 18/- Woiverhampton 17/6 Birmingham 18/- in London had is d, chtape-r than at Swansea; sugarkd. lb. cheaper, and best pickles ld. cheaper. But, according to a well-known Swansea authority who has been in the trade all his life, bacon, butter, and eheese are cheaper in Swansea than in 'Lon- don. One Swansea grocer turns over tons of butter a month at .1d. Ib. gross profit, rely- ing presumably upon that sale to effect- others and so secure his profit. It used to be an axiom sell sugar at a loss and get it back on tea, but then the big storehouses of Maypole, Home and Colonial, and Lipton's 8toepped in—disastrously to the old-fashioned grccer. Trade methods change under vary- ing conditions, and the custom now generally is to average the profits all round. « But this is peering more into the grocer's private trade than is the in tan t ion of the present article. Swansea, the writer was told, is discerning, and while, for instance, common cuts of bacon can be got for 6td. a.nd even less, the best prices reach Is. Id. and Is. 2d., and they cannot be got cheaper anywhere. Take cheese at 7d; where oan i this be beaten? And butter is much the same here as any othr large town. But WHY SHOULD PICKLES be more. Experts are non-plu--sed. ON prices are much the same at Swansea as else- where proprietary brands carry their own prices everywhere. But, says the grocer, it is not in groceries proper tt.at the difference of puchasing power arises, it is in cloth- ing. The clothier sayz it is not in his busi- ness, which is being cut to the finest point, but the provision stores that charge more. And the greengrocer—whom both had for- gotten for the moment-indicts the two! TEE FISH BUSINESS. I Fish at Swansea." according to the gen. tleman quoted at the head of this article, is exquisite the best I have been able to obtain in any part of ths world." But it is a. fact it is dearer in some respects than, for instance, in the Midlands, but no dearer than at Cardiff, Grimsby (excepting where fishermen make individual oatchee and hawk their barows round), or Bristol. Why dearer than the Midlands? (1) Beoauss generally commoner grades are sold in the Birmingha.m and Midland mark et* to the masses; and (2) the big commission business conducted at Milford, Grimsby and London ensures a ready market at more centrany and easily reached distributing centres. Big catches arrive at ports which admit of no delay in sales; Birmingham and London are favourite dumping grounds and the fish is sold for what it will fetch under the ham- mer. Prices all depend upon the supplies. Soles to-day may be la. 4d., and to-morrow 2e. a few days ago plaice was 4s. a. stone; on Wednesday it was from 6a. to 7s. Take Wednesday's prices; soles were sold in Grimsby Is. 8d. wholesale; Swansea's price was lB. lOd. Turbot 8It Grimsby wae Is. 4d. and at Swansea, la. lOd. fSwaiwea merchants paying carriage). At Yarmouth fish is no cheaper than Swansea, except in the herring season, when that el" of fish is much cheaper. Whiting on Wednesday was 4d. wholesale at the big fish centres; this is the average selling price at Swansea. Fish is good at Swansea chiefly by reason of the fact that ONLY THE BEST IS SOLD HERE I- the greater part arrives in trawlers at swan- sea port and only the best is sent from Mil- ford and Grimaby. At many other places where fish may be cheaper it is neither, as a rule, so fresh nor so good in ouality. An Actress's Purch I Fruit and vegetables, as a matter of com- mon knowledge, are much cheaper in the Midlands and many other plaoes, for the eimple reason Swansea does not grow either to any extent, and Gower supplies are limited while the price is maintained. One might say with truth that vegetables aver- age 25 per cent. cheaper in many parts of the Midlands, fruit being also cheaper there. It will be interesting though to give details of actual purchases made by one of the lead- ing actreSses in "The Quaker Girl" at Swansea within the past week or two. Turkey in Swansea was Is. 4d., while in Lon- don it was Is. 2d., and the cheapest Is.; beef (best), Is. 2d., same as London; Glas- gow, Is. 4d.; Hull, lOd.; butter, about the same in all towns almonds and crystallised cherries, 4d. a quarter in London. 5d. in Swansea; lettuce, a good sized one oan be got in London for Id., and this is the rule in other places at Swansea one gets a tiny one for Id. head of celery, -d. in London, 2d. fn Swansea; potatoes, 91bs. for 6d. in Lon- don, Swansea 7!bs. for fd., and indifferent at tbat; tinned fruits the same in every r town; chickens, 5s 6d in Swansea, compared I with 3s. in London and 2s. 6d. to 3s. in country towns. In this lady's opinion the cheapest towns to live in are Middlesboro', Hull, Derby, Wolverhampton, and the most expensive Glasgow. Tomatoes, she told the writer, were from 4d. to 8d. a lb. in Lon- don, while in Swanseo., she paid 6d. apples (russet) are 4d. in London and the pro- vinces generally. but in Swansea- they are 6d. And yet, though foodstuffs are often dearer in Swansea, and house rents much above the average, it is strange that one can get I Theatrical lodgings here cheaper tnan m Birmingham, Two bedrooms and a sitting-room in the Midland city average 25s. at Swansea the same accommodation averages 16s. to 18s. The reason for this undoubtedly is that Birmingham is a No. 1 tour, and bigger prices can be charged; Swansea is rapidly becoming a No. 1 theatri- cal town. Fruit, Vegetables and Meat. I Is the beef at Swansea inferior? Those in the trade say not, but the thrifty house- wife who wants the best at lOd. would say it is. The truth is Swansea has the best beef for which the best price has to be paid. Here, agarn, Swansea is a a disadvantage as regards its supplies for there is no near English rearing district and the rail freights prove a factor. Best Welsh mutton is super- ior to any other iind prices at Swansea are not higher than anywhere else. In the for- eign meat the following railway freights are informing From Liverpool to Swansea—48s. 9d. ton. From Southampton to Swansea^—50s. 6d. ton. From London to Swansea—50s. 3d. ton. From A von mouth to Swansea—26s. 3d. ton. From Cardiff to Swansea—4d. ton. ml i i new are one ton lots; larger quantities I are cheaper, of course, pro rata. Naturally these changes affect the price compared with I plaoes where the charge is only a few shil- lings. In the case of fruit and vegetables I Swansea again has no near cultivating I ground handy, and whereas the London mar- _I hot receives supplies largely from the home counties, Swansea, far instance, receives its potato supply from Ireland and Saxony, while the vegetables come from all quarters. Are the vegetables inferior? Again yes and no. No, if one pays the beet price, but for the average price of many other towns the corresponding articles at Swansea are in- ferior. RaiH freights prove an important factor and the average retailer wants a little more than Midland towns where rents are not so high. A retail greengrocer charges on an average 30 per cent. on the wholesale price; he can't charge more on account of competition, and if he charged much less his creditors might become anxious. A few quotations from, last week's "Fruit, Flower and Vegetable Traders' Journal are inter- esting :—Baldwin apple&Teeds, 25s. to 28s. per barrel; Plymouth, 23s. to a),g. Swansea, 25s. to 30s. Dublin, 28s. to 328. Oranges (420's)—Edinburgh, lis. to 12s.; Swansea, 12s. 6d. Leeds, lls. to 1Gb. Glasgow. 10s. 6d. to 12s. A Chance for Cower. It is generally admitted that with greater cultivation of farmers' produce near at hand Swansea would be able to sell better articles at perhaps cheaper rate?. Gower supplies but very little of what Swansea consumes, and as a big store manager told the writer, When a Gower man does come to us he can only give us half a ton of potatoes, and what on earth is the use of that when we have to import thousands of tons in the course of a year." Eggs and poultry again there are infinite fields for development. This g?ne genUeman told me he would not think twice of taking 100,000 or 200,000 fresh eggs at Id. a piece all the year round. Whv, he asked, does not Gower prodnoe thean ? The higher prices charged at Swan- sea for certain thingi-wal is shillings a ton dearer than in the Midlands, and cloth- ing, too, is a little dea-ret-seern to be due to (1) Swansea not being a good distribut- ing centre and having to rely largely upon supplies from a distance (2) the high ren. which affect the prices of everything, more or lees; and (3) the absence of local whole- I sale garden centres; and (4) the railway } freights on foodstrffs.
I," ALMOST." o
I ALMOST." o PRISONER'S DARING ATTEMPT. "ALL BUT" ESCAPES AT CHELMSFORD. The "Essex County Chronicle" reports1 a daring and nearly successful attempt to escape irom Chelmsford Prison on Friday. At ten minutes before noon a well-dressed man presented himself at the gates, stating that he wished to leave (having finished his work of repairing the organ). He was fully attired as a civilian, with a bowler hat, stick, overcoat, and gold watch and chain. He said he was Mr. Griffin. Warder Gilderoy, in charge of the gate, asked him to wait while he looked in the book. The warder failed to find any re- cord of "Mr. Griffin's" entrance to the prison, and although it happened that the organ was actually under repair, he was not satisfied, and telephoned across to the offices to ask if Mr. Griffin had been admitted that morning. MR. GRIFFIN RECOGNISED. I Other officers came, and Mr. Griffin was instantly recognised by a warder as one of the prisoners. It appfars that at about ten o'clock the prisoner was one of a party of forty going through walking exercise, and the supposition is that he escaped from the line unobserved. He had but a short dash to make to get behind the buttress of an anp-exe, where he would be out of sight. Passing quickly through the kitchen garden, be entered the old female block, now used by probation warders. At this time the rooms would be empty, the officers being on duty. The man evidently went upstairs, and picked out the best suit of private clothes he could find. Having divested himself of his arrow- marked khaki prison garments, which he left upon the floor, he donned the borrowed civilian attire, and waited in hiding until a favourable opportunity presented itself to make his way downstairs to the gate, with the result already described.
WELL DESERVED.I
WELL DESERVED. I Promotions at the Swansea Gas Works. It is interesting to note that, following on the recent retirement of the engineer, mam- ager, and secretary, and the new appoint- ment filled by Mr. Reginald G. CHarry, Mr. Fred Andrews, outdoor superintendent, has been promoted to the additional responsibil- ity of assistant manager, and that the ac- countant, Mr. Edwin Oxenham, has also been appointed to the position of assistant secretary. Both gentlemen have had a long period of honourable service in the oompany, and their appointment will meet with consider- able satisfaction to all those with whom they are in contaot.
IWHILST SKIPPING.
WHILST SKIPPING. Little Gendros Girl's Inj uries. The little girl, Nellie Williams, who was knocked down by a passing motor-car at Gendros on Friday, was, it appears, step- ping on the roadway when a private motor- car and a motor-van, loaded with groceries, v-ere passing at this point. The motor-car driver is not to be blamed, as he was on the proper side, and in his praiseworthy efforts to prevent the accident actually broke off the upper part of a water stand-pipe fixed at the side oi the road. The victim is progressing as wall as can be expected, under the cam of Dr. Peter MOo Ritchie.
£ 49,QQQ TABERNACLE.
£ 49,QQQ TABER- NACLE J'UBILEE AT MORRIS- TON. FORTY YEARS' DEBT WIPED OUT. The Famous Morriston Landmark. I The opening meeting w&s held at he I Tabernacle Chapel, Morriston, on Thursday ) even.ing in connection with the Tabernacle jubilee, a jubilee unique in the annals of Welsh Congregationalism. The celebration is held to celebrate the removing of a debt with which the chapel has been burdened for over forty years. The history of the Tabernacle Chapel makes interesting reading, for it was here, during the years 1860-1865, that the Rev. Herber Evana preached, succeeding the Rev. Thomas Jones, the famous poet preacher and father of Sir D. Brynmor Jones, K.C., M.P. That was some time prior to the erection of the present magnificent edifice, when the churoh worshipped at Lib-anus. It was then felt that the accommodation at Lib-anus was too small and inconvenient on account of the increase of its members and hearers. In the year 1869 the Rev. W. Emlyn Jones ac- cepted the call to Tabernacle and he has la- boured indefatigably in Morriston ever since. Before his advent there had been manifested I on several occasions a desire for the ereo- tion of a new ohapel, but it was due to the untiring effortg, iAe unfailing determination I and whole-hearted enthusiasm of the Rev. W. Emlvn Jones that the hopes of years were realised. I Beginniig of a Nobis Structure. I In December of 1870 the foundation stone of the present edifice was laid by Nli- Hughes, of Ynystawe (now Lady Williams, London). The architect was the late Mr. John Humphreys, of Morriston, and the whole of the work was carried out under the supervision of Mr. Daniel Edwards, J.P., and the architect. The chapel was opened in December, 1872, and has 1,800 sittings. The building was done at a cost of £ 13,500, which, with incidental expenses, eventually amounted to 216.000, altho-uali at firs*- -1 baH I been decided to exnend a sum of between £ 7,000 and £ 8,000. During succeeding years the neoessity^aroee for the erection of three branch schoolrooms, and these, to- gether with the manse (built in 1899), added £ 3.000 to te debt. It is estimated that, including current expenses, renovations, etc., the sum paid during the last 4- years exceeds the enormous total of £ ^0.000. I Rev. Emlyn Jones' Deareat Wish. I A few months ago the Rev. W. Emlyn Jones announced that in March, 1915. ha would complete his fiftieth year in the min- istry and would then retire, but before doing so his one hope was that the debt of £ 2,200, then existing on the churdb, would be re- moved. A few Sundays later the rev. gen- tleman gave to the large congregation a I pleasant surprise when he announced that 1,s. Joseph Davies, widow of the late Mr. Joseph Davies, J.P., GlvncoHen, and I inother of the Hisrh Sheriff designate, had [ Sent him a cheque of £ 1,000. I towards the Special Effort Fund, in memory of her late husband. Spurred on by this I munifieient donation tw congregation had, by Sunday last, subscribed a further sum of £ 1,600, mak' •<» a total of L2,600, or £400 I in excess of tht rsount aimed at. I I I Big Tea-party in vestry. I On Thursday afternoon a "free tea." was ( s,Provided at the vestry, when upwards of 1,200, representing members of the chapel, I together with the children attending the I Tabernacle, Graig, Pentrepoeth and Ynys- forgan Sunday Schools sat at the tables. The I catering, which gave entire satisfaction, was carried out by Mr. E O. Lewis, grocer. Jubilee Meeting. I In the evening a ]nbUee meeting (oon- ducted in Welsh) wa.s held. The ILg,?loom?, Emlyn Jones presided, and was supported by the Rev. D. Salmon (Horeb), Rev. M. G. Dawkins (Carmel), Rev. D. Picton Evans, M.A. (Philadelphia1, Rev. D. James (Seion), Rev. Fred Morgan (Soar), Rev. D. -E. Thomas (Bethania). Mr. Oakley Walters, J.P., Rev. J. H. Parry (Llansamlet), Rtv. S. Williams (Siloh Landore). Rev. D. Furof Walters (Swansea). Rev. Ben Davies (Plas- marl), Mr. Wm. Williams (Wern), and Mr. Ken Rees (King's Cross, London). The Chairman said that in March 'last he gave them to understand that in March, 11915, he would resign after completing 48 1 years as pastor at T?berna.da and ? years in the ministry. Before he did so, h.?Illl.VV, h e chapel he hoped the existing debt on the chapel would be wiped off, and was gratified to find that his appeal had met with smch a response that not on was that accomplished but that they had a. He al- luded to the handsome donation of £ 1,0C0 received from Mrs. J. Davies and to the ex- cellent manner in which the whole of the congregavtion had responded to the appeal. He little thonght when he made that ap- peal that the debt would be wiped off during his term of office, but the fact that they had dor-a so gave them an opportunity of assisting other kindred associations. Rev. D. Picton Evans congratulated the members of the church in poss-sing one of the finest buildings in the Principality, and was deliehtd to find that they had suc- ceeded in clearing the debt prior to the re- signation of their pastor, who had laboured among them for such a iong period. Rev. J. H. Parry, LIP."amlet, said the Rev. W. Emlyn Jones had given the greater and best portion of his life to the church of Tabernacle; a liffe which be believed might have been more profitable to the country generally had he devoted less attention to the church. He considered the members should be proud of the building, which was built on freehold property, and he estimated the whole property -of the chapel at, the pre- sent time to be Worth at least £40,000. I Now that they had succeeded m wiping off all debt he appealed to the younger mem- bers to push forward. They now pesessed an excellent, opportunity, and refer; g to the need of an institute he thought they had a, fine piece of land adjoining the chapel and this could well be utilised for that pur- pose. Speeches were also delivered by all the above-mentioned. Mr. Oakely Walters, J.P., referred to the late Mr. John Humphreys, the architect; Mr. Daniel Edwards, the builder, who was present that evening; and the late Mr. Hughes, Ynvstawe, all of whom had been 1i ,M closely associated with the chapel,
I"MAN NAMED JONES" I I I
I "MAN NAMED JONES" I I I KNOCKS DOWN I PEER'S SON. AMAZING SCENE IN IRISH MANSION. The story of a fracas on Christmas Day in a mansion at Ardfinman, Co. Tipperary, was told at the local Petty Sessions. William Jones, a servant in the Hon. Mrs. Massy's employment, was charged with men- ously assaulting Robert McLachlan, Mrs. Massy s steward and general manager. Mrs. Massy, her husband, the Hon. Hugh Massy, and their eldest daughter were in court. On Christmas morning, according to Mrs. Massy'e statement, Jones was under the in- fluence of drink and was about to take cut a horse and oar to go to Cahir for whisky. When she heard about it she sent down or- ders that the yard gate was to be locked- Jones then tried to break the lock with a ztone, but did not succeed. After some time Jones came into the house and rushed upstairs in a towering passion to Mrs. Glassy's room, but found the door locked against him. He tried to force his way in, but Mrs. M-assv held the fort successfully against the onslaught. At this point Mr. Massy came upon the scene, rushing to the rescue of his wife and the defence of the beeieged room. The struggle was a brief one, Jones knocking down Mr. Massy twice. Robert McLachlan and Mr. Hamon Maasy with the awistance of Mr. Hugh Massy managed to get Jonee down the stairs' Jones, however, managed to get back to the landing three or four times, but WAe on each occaaion pulled down the stairs by MT. i Hamon Maasy. It wae at thi.9 stage, when the uproar was at its height, that a work- man named John Cahill rushed up and I joined with Mr. Maasy in pulling Jones ) down from the landing. Eventually the Ardfinrian police were sent for and took Jones into custody. Jones made a long statement to the Court denying that he assaulted Mr. Massy or McLachlan, and asserting that, on the con- trary, it was Mr. Massy and McLachlan who assaulted him. Being unable to produce bail, he was re- manded to Water-ford Gaol. The Hon. Hngh Massy is the eldest son and heir of Lord M^jsey. an Irish representa- tive peer. Born in 1864, he married in 1886 I Ellen Ida Constance, daughter of the late Mr. Charles W. Wi.
-  I ACTOR S BROKEN LEG.I
I ACTOR S BROKEN LEG. I SESSIONS SEQUEL TO SWANSEA I FRACAS. SENTENCE OF NINE MONTHS! PASSED. At the 8wwmea Borough Sessions on Fri- daY-before Mr. L?wel.y? Wiih&ma. K.C., M.P., BWorder-DELvid Thomas slowman ■ ch&rged wn.b doing ?rievoue b,-d?l? WM charged wiuh doing erievous bcdUy' narin w> vv alter Powell, an ae^r, Companhy e nann U> alter l'owel an actQr, who be- 1--g.d to the Sunshine ?iri" tha.t recently v?ited Swansea, when he piayed under the rt-ags name of Wm. Hard- ing. Prosecutor, under circumstances that were gone into only a c-c Liple ot days ago1 at the Police Court, had one of his legs broken in a scuMe with the prisoner, who now pleaded not guilty. j £ r Mar lay Sam- son appeared for the proeeoution. Powell was brought into Court on a stretcher, and luOKed ill, though 1:1e gave his evidence clearly. .Evidence was given by Messrs. Richard Jone" and Harry Wglbrs. amongst others. P.C. Johns said the prisoner said: rigat. 1 am sorry I did not give him Dr. Moore (Swansea Hospital) said the' prosecutor had a compound fractured ioig, probably caused by a j.:ick irom a. i/oot. vv lLiitws thought the bones would but ii they t.Qe pauent wouid lose his leg aito^eiher. Cross examined; Falling would not pro- duoe tiie injury. By tne Keoorder: Assuming there were no further complications, it would take six weeks for prosecutor to regain the use of his limb. David Thomas, Westbury-street, Swan. sea, a traveller, said he was with a friend named Crosbie. The latter left the shop first, when prosecutor caught hold of Crosbie's hand and Pulled him towards him. Crosbie asked what was the" matter and they started wresting. Then they (prosecutor and Crosbie) oommenced to fight, and prosecutor was knocked down by Crosbie and he did not get up again until the ambulanca came. His friend com- menced to go away, but prisoner said, "Don't go away, George, and leave the man on the floor like that." Crosbie said he was not going to stop to get pinched. Prisoner denied kicking the prosecutor. Cross-examined Prisoner travelled at pleasure fairs. Prisoner did not deny the charge as he did not want to give his friend away. Crosbie came down to see him two months ago half drunk in goal. Mr. Samson: D:d you ask him to give evidence on your behalf? Prisoner: No. I dId not think his evidence any good. Mr. Samson: Perhaps you are right. (Laughter.) The Recorder elicited that Crosbie, ac- cording to prisoner, asked him not to say anything -against him, and the Recorder asked why he had not told that to the ma- gistrates. There was no answer except that having been in gaol ten weeks prisoner thought it was time to say what happened. Prisoner was found guilty. Supt. Roberts said the prisoner wae of very violent habits and temperament. He was married, with one child. The Recorder described the assault as wanton and unprovoked, and said the case was the worst he had heard, and he was de- termined to put dowm such crimes of vio- lence. 1. i Sentence of nine montw. hard labour was paaaed.
I SIGNALMAN BLAMED. i - i
SIGNALMAN BLAMED. REPORT ON WATERLOO STATION COLLISION. The Board of Trade on Friday issued Major Pringle's report. on the collision i which occurred at Waterloo Junction Sta- tion, on the South-Eastern and Chatham Railway, on October 26th, when three pas. eengers were killed and two seriously in- jured, whilst eighteen others complained of minor injuries and the effects of shock. Major PriRgle, in his conclusion, says it was hardily imaginable that the collision could have occurred in clear weather. He attaches no responsibility to the driver and fireman of the train which ran into the sta- tionary train, .but says he CANNOT ACCEPT THE KX. I LAN A JI UxV of Signalman Moore, of the Waterloo Junc- tion box as sufficient to relieve him of re- sponsibility for the hasty and incautious use of his releasing kev.
" PERNICIOUS INFLUENCE."
PERNICIOUS INFLU- ENCE." C.T.F.'S PRESIDENT AND PICTURE HALLS. In the opening address of the annual con- ference of the Catholic Teachers' Federation at Leeds the president (Mr. J. D. Dono- van, London) complained that the pursuit of pleasures seemed to be the aim of an ever- increasing numbt-v. ( The country swept by musical ec- centricities and terpsichorean orgies. Chapels and Churches were emptying while the picture theatres, with their perniciolus influence, were packed. The Church of Eng- laud was riven; Nonconformity was mixed with politics, but the Catielic Church re- IUii.ued. undisturbed fey internal
I "FOR A FUNERAL" t ———-———
I "FOR A FUNERAL" t ——— ——— ALLEGED SWANSEA FALSE PRETENCE. TALE OF A SEALSKIN COAT. I SENTENCE SUSPENDED PENDING APPEAL. At the Swansea Quarter Sessions cm Sat- urday, before the Recorder (Mr. U?w. Wil- liams, K.C., M.P.) Thomeus Jones Wilks (47), described as an electrical engineer, pleaded not guilty to a charge of unlawfully and knowingly by oer- tain false pretences obtaining from Hilda Hertz a coney aeail coait of the value of dB6 16s. 6d., the pnqperty of Sihirley Evans Las- sa-m, with intent to defraud, on 26th of I November, 1913. Mr. Marlay Samson prosecuted, and MJr. Bowen Davies defended. Mr. Samson, iin opening, descanted the caee as "a deEbenately pdanned fraud," and "one of those cunning dodges wtherlelby tradesmen were liable to be deceived." Hilda. Hertz, an assistant with Shirley Evans Lassam, Oxford-street, Swansea, stated that on November 26, at 9 a.m., the defendant came into the shop and approach- ed the manager. After speaking to the latter he asked witness lor a coney seal coat, size 41. After being shown several he se- lected one costing J66 16s. 6d., and he asked her to make out the bill. While she was about to make it oat he said, "Never mind the bill; you shall have cash on delivery." He told her it was wanted urgently for a funeral that day, and showed her a bill-head bearing the following: "T. Jones Wilks, wholesale and retail merchant, 65, Tymawr- street." She subsequently sent the messen- ger boy with two coats and a reoeipt to that address. She sent the lY\a,tA un ON THE STRENGTH OF WHAT WAS ,'n, SAID 1 -11 i on wie Diii-nead. It conveyed to her mind that he was a good standing business man. If he had not produced Chat bill-head she would not have sent the coats. The boy subsequently returned with one ooat but no money. Witness wae cross-examined with a view of eliciting that she parted with the coat on the statement that the money would be paid "on delivery" and not because of the alltged false pretence that Wilks was "a wholesale amd retail merchant." Witness would not admit it. Mr. kamson: Wilks was not there when the goods were delivered. Francis Crosby, the manager of the shop m question, said that when he subsequently saw Wilks prisoner said, "1 am not guing to run away," and offered to give him a letter to his bankers. •kir. Bowetii Davies: Is it your custom when you have debtors to put them into the hands of t.he police? W itneas W e have no debtors. li-ie ERRAND BOY S AAMISSION. Harry Lssennigh, the errand-boy, de- posed to delivering the ooat to "a big woman''—(laughter)—at Iymawr-street. Mr. Samson (referring to the fact taat he had left the ftoafc without getting the money) Is this the only occasion that any- body has got the better of you? Witness: Yes. (Laughter.) Miss Smolden, another- assistant, said that when she saw Wilks he &Md he had been away to the funeral at Port Talbot. Detective Eynon proved service of the summons when Wilks t;aid that he told the girl (Miss Hertz) that he was out of cash and that he would pay about the middle of i January. John Woozley, rate collector, produced the rate-book showing that- 65, Tyma-wr-street j was rated to Margaret E. Bath, the occu- pier. In answer to the Recorder witness said that no wearing apparel of any sort. was fold on the premises, which were used as a small genera l business. P.S. Richard Evans said that to his know- ledge Wilks had never carried on the busi- ness of "a wholesale and retail merchant." At this stage Mr. Bowen Davies objected to the calling of fresh evidence, but he was over-ruled. ANOTHER FUNERAL STORY. Louis Levy, clothier, 26, Castle-street, spoke to Wilks coming to his shop last summer and in a hustling way asked for some shirts. Hurry up, my lads," he said I have to go to a funeral. This is my address (handing the billhead) and you see who I am." Wilks also produced a cheque and said the money would be there as soon as the gicods were delivered. Half-a-dozen shirts were sent. The Recorder: Have you ever had the money? Witnees: No, nor the gooda back. Ernest Lee, errand-boy, spoke to the same transaction. This was the case for the prosecution. ) WILKS' DEALINGS. j For the defence, Mrs. Bath was called and she said that she carried on a fried fish busi- '1eS6, whilst Wilks, who lodged with her, carried on a general grocery trade. by Mr. Samson she said &he was Wilks' niece—his father and her father b-aing brothers. Counsel pursued the point and elicited that her father's name was Davies and not! Wilks, but she "always went like ttiat." (Lafughter.) Mr. Bowen Davies interposed that Mrs- Bath was really Wilks' first cousin. I Witness eaid the coat was bought for her and she gave Mr. Wrilks three guineas to pay far one she had seen. George Harris, commission agent, Port, Talbot, spoke to doing business with Wilks. By the Recorder: H. dealt in anything but did not describe himself as a whole- &ale and retail merchant." This was all the p.vid?nce. Mr. Bowetn Davies submitted points of law to the effect that the falsity had not been proved. In summing up the Recorder commented on the fact that Wilks hiniself had not gone into the box, in which case he might have produced books and even customers to show that he was "a wholesale and retail mer- chant." Did he, then, produce the bill- head with that description designedly and. falsely to defraud t prosecutor? After a short retirement the jury found the prisoner guilty. A previous conviction for stealing in 1907 was proved. said that he had known prisoner for many years. He was formerly a licensed victualler, doing a respectable trade. He was also an electrician at the Moria. Works. He wa.s separated from his wife, aaid that seemed to have been the commencement of his downfall. He had; committed transactions with several other tradesmen like the present one. In. passing sentence Recorder said he quite agreed with the verdict. Supt. Roberts who never pressed a charge against anyone had said that there were other com- plaints of a similar fraud, and but for the fact of the previous conviction far stealing and the systematic mlld adorpted he would have dealt with prisoner much more 1eni- erutdy. The sentence was four months' im- priaonaneiit. c. Mr. Bowen Darvies asked that prTsoiner be let out on bail pending the decision of the Court of Appeal. The Recorder said he always understood th?t the semtence must begin at cmoe. Mr. Bowen Davies replied that it waa to begin alter the d<'<MMn o'f the Oo?rt of Orfcrinal Appeal.  The point w- amwd, amd the Recorder said he WM quite willing, upon the author- ities c'Dmmum-ti? to him a« he understood w'M tth? practice, to oerufy that there w&)?e pointa <? law fh?.t might be properly Btt'guied by the Court of Appeal. He would be pleaded to expedite nt to thiait extent. Mir. Samson's view was that there could be no abirction providing there was a very sub- stantial bail. RELEASE PROVIDED HEAVY BAIL I FOUND. The Recorder said he would grant the pri- aomer's release on bail on omditaon that he j found a surety in £ 50 that wo?d be b the I satisfaction of Supit. Roberts. I Wilka: I will guarantee to find that.
I "WHITE HÓPE." I
I "WHITE HÓPE." I BANDSMAN BLAKE. I FINE VICTORY OVER DIAIE KID. In a 20-round contest in London on Thursday evening the undefeated middle- weight, Bandsman Blake, gained a highly creditable victory on points over Dixie hid. Tremendous interest was aroused by the contest, and the huge crowd witnc-ssed a thoroughly interesting struggle. Bla-ke had got an advantage pnysicaliy, being much taller than his coloured opponent, who was probably giving away fully a stone in weight. tor ten rounds neither man landed a really heavy blow, but after that Blake punished his opponent on the face very severely, and it is doubtful if Dixie Kid has ever before been hit so hard and often. He was under some handicap to begin with, his I LEFT EYE BEING SWOLLEN througn a blow he sustained while training, but Blake did not land very often there, most of his blows reaching the face and nose. There was a good deal of clinching throughout the contest and in this Blake came off best, for Dixie Kid did not relish the half-arm punches he received on the j body. Severad times in the course of the fight Dixie Kid tried to land a swing, but apart from one to the face he did not succeed. VICTORY DESERVED. I I Blake -thoroughly deserved his victory, l for, if somewhat crude in certain phases of his boxing, he showed himself to be quick in his leads and also sound in his defence. As everyone knows, Dixie Kid has always proved one of the hardest men to land upon, but Blake succeeded in getting through a splendid guard, and scoring the points in practically every round he gained a thoroughly well-deserved success. His extra weight stood him in good stead. ) During the last eight rounds Dixie Kid was rather weak on his lags, and did a lot of holdine. BASHAM BEATS BAPOUD ON POINTS. I At the Liverpool Stadium yesterday, Private Basham, Newport, met Badond, Switzerland, in a return match. The Fusil er had previously won. The distance was now increased from 15 rounds to 20. Basham was leading in the eighth round, but was down in the ninth- The Fusilier got home terrific upper cuts. Badoud made great efforts for a knock-out, but he failed in his efforts. Each in turn was dangerous, and Basham, boxing brilliantly, maintained his lead. A dour struggle for supremacy ensued during the closing rounds, and after one of the finest contests ever seen in I Liverpool Basham was declared winner on points. I. DIXIE KID AND HIS I OPPONENT. I The best man won and I lost, and that's all thore is to it. t,e is a real good feilov, and I wish him all the lUCk in the worid." I This was the frank and sincere opinion of the Dixie Kid, give-i to "The Daily Minor," after his great tight with Bandsman Blake, and his defeat alter a splendid struggle of twenty rounds, in which all the finer and most scientific points of boxing were shown. The Dixie Kid's opinion is a tribute to Bandsman Blake's cleverness, and to the man himself. It was a clean ar.d cle-, er fight, and good fco see. The Bandsman has now made good," and there is all tne world before fliin. It is a very bright new year indeed for him. The Dixie Kid had a lot more to say, too, about Bandsman Blake. It is all the more valuable and interesting, for the Kid is one of the cleverest boxers the world ha. ever sn. He is like a magic box ot tricks in the ring, a will-o' -the-wisp shadow to hit, a.nd he is a supreme master of rmgcrait. let. he freely acknowledges chat he met his superior. j | j When "The Daily Mirror" saw the Dixie Kid yesterday it was painfully easy to see i that he had oeen in a fight. His left eye | was/in very parlous condition, it was all cut and putted up; and he looked rather as thougli he had been in an encounter with a, bear oat. But his famous grin had returned to him. j "UP TO MY TRICK." I I oee nere, he said. The Bandsman beat me fairly and squarely. He is a iuie young fellow, with the most remarkable judgment. I can say that, sincerely, and I take oh my hat to him. I should ay he is about the cleverest man I have met for about ten years. He certainly is the strong- est. He is very strong, and I couldn't move him an inch. He was like a rock. He is very tricky and clever, too, and I was sur- prised to hnd how quickly he was up to one of my favourite tricks. "It is one which hardly ever fails. I feint, and, at the sani6 time, jump like light- ning to one side, and then swing for a knock- out. It Is over in a fraction of time, and the sudden jump usually puts a man off and leaves fum momentarily expos-ed for a big blow. "But when I did this last night Blake jumped with me, and nullified my effort. "Will he beat Carpentier? That is a difficult question for me to answer. Franidy, I think that I should stand a better chance of beating the French boy. Our styles are better suited. I knocked out Car- pentier About two years ago, and I am sure I can do it again. "But I can that Blake would give Car- pentier about all that he wanted. "I like Blake. He is a good fellow. I want him to get on, and I should like to give him one piece of advice. He waaits to develop a punch." Art. this point the Dixie Kid turned to Mr. Dan Sullivan, Blake's manager, a»nd, wip- ing his damaged eye, .^id "Make him w-ork at a punchin g-ball, make hi in work hard; it will work marvels for hilln. A punch is all he wants, and a punohmg-ball ,till make a remarkable difference in a few weeks. Blaike is one of the coming men; you oan say tha.t all right." Bandsman Blake himself is not at all a fected by his notable victory. He is a man of few words, a.nd scarcely even: talks. I t'li, lit 1' could win and I won," he said simply. I do know, though, that I have leaaiit -an awful lot in this fight with Dixie Kid. He is a marvel in his way, and it has done me a tremendous lot of spod. I hiatve never met a cleverer man, and I do not expect to meet another like him for some time. The Dixie Kid's ol ever ness has opened u-o a whole lot of mew possibilities to tne." Dan Sullivan, Blake' s manager, gave The Daily Miipror" some interring par- tiuulars of the Bandsman. "Blake is a peculiar man in some ways," he said. "His first thought in life is for his mother and sister. He thinks of them before all else. He might have stopped in London for a few hours, just to have a look round, but he is off right a. way now, back to Yarmouth to see them. The three are inseparable. Blake is the easiest mn to train that ever happened. He is a tiger for work, and box- ing is bot.h his hoWtn and his work: He has never smoked or drunk anything stronger than water in his life, and he is always fit. The rlevfr side of boxing came to him naturally. Dick Burge, one Off the great boxers of all time, was most enthusiastic ever Blake on Friday. "I'd hack him any day to beat Carwntier," he said wsurmly to "The Daily Mirror." He is a stiron-ger man than Carpentier, and just as clever. He beat the Dixie Kid for cleverness all the way, and I know some. thing about the Kid. (To emphasise his sincerity, Burgle turned to a well-known music-hall manager, and then and there backed Blake against Carpentier.) Blake is a most peculiar man to watch," he continued. "He is a bit of a mystery man in has way, and he certainly has a style all his own. I cannot compare hiT. I with any of t<he famous fighter a I have m*i. I can see a great future for him. "I am going toO try mv hRrd.t to get a match fixed up for him with Bom-hardier Wells. We shall give vVells no peace. I am oSaring a PAOO purse, with ?100 j & aide. It is time enoc?i to talk &bout Car- I pentier afterwards."
I- THE SILENT MAN.
I THE SILENT MAN. I WORKHOUSE PUZZLE I PROBLEM FOR SWANSEA GUARDIANS. i i The Swansea Workhouse has an inmatt who is sorely perplexing the powers that be. He was admitted some two months ago, and during that period he has not uttered ft single word! The workhouse officials have been unable to obtain the slightest clue to his identity, a.nd at their meeting on Thurs- day the Guardians gave instructions to have his photograph taken and reproduced in thfl press. With a view to ascertaining whether it was a case of sheer obstinacy, loss of mem- ory, or affliction, and also to assist the au- thorities in finding his relatives, a "Daily Post" reporter and photographer visited "No. 15" on Friday morning. Mr. T. Mot- gan, the master, informed our represent&- tive that the silent one was ill when Le was admitted and was for some time in the in- ifrmary. THE SILENT MAN. All suspicion that the man was deliber- ately concealing his identity was banished from the pressman's mind when this stranga inmato was introduced. He has an intelli- gent face, and appeared to be about 40 years of age. When the master and the attendarib spoke to him he gave one the irepression that he was hard of hearing, and they had to raise their voices and speak into hi: ear. "What is your name ?" asked the master. The MAN UNDER STOOD THE QUFSTION, but gave a negative shake of his head. How old are you" "Where do you hv??" "Have you anybody who knows YOB m Swansea?" and "Hiive yon ever had YOur Swa-asca*tni -e yo-u ever had youf photograph tak?n before ?" were quesÙol1S -hich a11 produced the same r?spo??. and ore was pulled as to whether the man had lost his memory and gift of speech, or was unwilling to give any clue as to who ha was. He faced the camera willingly enough, nnd posed quite frankly whilst our pho- tographer snapped him, and ha certainly lit -,d,erstood what wa-s said to him, because "Then Mr. Morgan asked him wh-iiher he would like a few copies of his-photograph he f'miled u:1d gn "f" an affirmative pod.. The attendant described him as being well be- haved and d dean and tidy h?bits?, ?nd hi. haved -tn< i t-, f cle-,in a. d tidy his appearance confirmed this. I DO YOU KNOW HIM? Ferhaps some of our readers may know him. It they do they should communicate with the Guardians. "SILENT MAN" IDENTIFIED. '1'1' ffi' 1 d This official communication wa^ receive d by us on Saturday, and on making t art he* enquiries one of our representatives was in- formed that the man has been identified at William Wofn, who has been working as a platelayer on the railway near Gwaun-cae- gurwen. His identity was established by. a fellow-workman, who. seeing the phi)to- graph in Friday's Post," on Saturday morning visited the Workhouse and recug- i  urning vi. nised the inmate. who smiled when he saw his friend. The Guard ians are now com- municating with the friends of the ma.n, Alio, however, stiil remains mute. Atr. Morgan, the Master, told our repre- sentative that the poor fellow had by some means lost his power of speech and his memory. i
LORD ALFRED DOUGLAS; J
LORD ALFRED DOUGLAS; J ALLEGED THREATS BY  SCULPTOR. J i Mr. Jacob Epstein, the sculptor, who gava au address in the Adelphi, Stra.nd, was sum- moned at Marlbcrough-street for having, at the Cafe Royal, Regent-street, used certain threats to Lord Alfred Douglas, of Church" row, Hampstead, whereby he apprehended that he went in danger of hie life or of rat ceiving bodily harm." Mr. Thesiger, who appeared for Lord Al- fred Douglas, said the defendant was a well- known sculptor, and had executed a monu. j ment to Oscar Wilde in Paris. ) Lord Alfred Douglas knew nothing of MI\ Epstein until he received a letter from him at the Cafe Royal on December 9. Tha threats complained of were contained in that letter. It would not be necessary. to reed the whole of it, but he would quote the two '0'" lowing passages — I If you attack my monument to 0. W, in any way derogatory to me in Engl&nt1 I shall have you in the courts. Should you disregard this warning I shall spoil the remains of your beauty double quick. Counsel added that Lord Alfred Douglaa waa writing a book entitled, I "OSCAR WILDE AND MYSELF," I and he was anxious to obtain a photograph [ of the monument for his book. His lord, i ship was quite at a loss to account for the I defendant's conduct. Mr. Mead We need not go into all that. (To the defendant): Are you willing to be bound over? Defendant: What is that? After the magistrate explained the defend.. ant said, I will be satisfied with that." Mr. Mead (to Lord Alfred Douglas): YOU will be satisfied if he is bound over? Lord Alfred Douglas Yes there need be no troubt about costs. I Mr. Mead bound the defendant over in the sum of £ 100 to keep the peace for six monthe, and the question of aosw wao jj waived.
SWANSEA SHIP SALE AND PUB?…
SWANSEA SHIP SALE AND PUB? i aHAE. The steel screw trawler Amelia, owned by Mr. W. L. Spence (Mr. C. Heron), Swan- sea., lias been sold to the Grimsby and North Sea Steam. Trawling Co., Ltd., Grimsby, and re-named Delfinus. The twin screw steamer Fire Fly, owned by Mr. ¡ J. Jackson, Brixham, has been gold to Jj Swansea owners for about R850. She was built at Glasgow in 1871, and carries 200 [ tons D. W. OIl 10ft.