Evening Express

SHIFTING RESPONSIBILITY. I A short discussion at Cardiff School Board yesterday raises an important point. Dr. Horder mooted a proposal that the masters of the schools should be requested to admonish their pupils on the evils of indulgence in cigarettes, and the idea was adopted after something in the nature of a protest from Father Gibbons, vrho thought t' at such admonition was the function of the parents rather than of the teachers. We are not prepared to say that Father Gibbons is entirely correct in his conten- tion, for we believe teachers have a general right to direct their. charges in the right way, even though they may not •llways follow the path themselves. But we hold that there is a great danger these days involved in making the teacher responsible for duties that belong to the parent. This is surely a false principle, as false is it i' ev i ?tl as it is evidently fascinating to some minds. How often we hear, for instance, that poor children should have free meals, and are there not other enthusiast-s who would equally compel society to provide them with shoes and with clothing ? What is all this- but shifting responsibility off the shoulders of the parent? And for the schoolmaster to be expected to under- take the moulding of the child's morals and nauners is, after all, shifting respon- sibility in a precisely similar way. It would not matter so much if parents did their part conscientiously. But how few do ? We fear a very small proportion of the whole; and it is only natural that the shiftless, thriftless, indifferent parent when he sees that the State is prepared to take over the child bodily, mentally, and morally should feel inclined to wash his hands of any responsibility whatever, and betake himself with renewed zeal to the business of swelling our already teem- ing population. Whilst on the subj ect of the school board we cannot help remarking that some members are badly advised in their attitude towards the pupil-teachers' centre. It is surely absurd to suppose that the intermediate sc hools could do the work that the. centre has so success- fully accomplished during the period of its existence. The gentleman in ques- tion would do well to bear in mind a cer- tain famous epitaph which runs somewhat as follows:" I was well. I wanted to be better. I took physic and-died." So far as the pupil-teachers' centre is con- cerned, the hoard and their successions could » ot do better than leave well alone. The vast experience of Mr. Lewis Williams is rn our side in this.

M J81C AS MEDIC NE I [In a musical-box action at Southwark County-court it was stated that tho instru- ment was hind because a doctor had ordered music for a sick child who \N as not expected to live a week. Judge Vrldison Then he was a most extraor- nary doctor.] Judge Addison, your honour, Had you but pansed to think, You surely would have halted Ere you had reached the brink. Has music then no virtue To charm the fevered frame? Has harmony no magic The anguished heart to tame? There is a well-known volume That's very, very old, Wherein a certain story Is well and tersely told About the youthful David, Who brought his harp at call, And played to soothe the an-guish Of eour and surly Saul! And often ein-ce that epoch Has mneic come to cheer And done the thing far better Than many a potion queer. Of course, the point's not legal, And, happily, 'tis so, But, still, this quite familiar truth Judge Addison should know! IDPJS.

"A bad marriage is like an electric a chine—it makes you dance and you m't let go," so said Mr. Charles Davies, airman at the Swansea Salvation Army. r. Davies might have carried his simile irther and pointed out the remedy. Bring two poles together—in other words, i iarmoni.se the contending parties-and the trouble oeases.

The latest horror attaches to an old friend of our convalescent days: — The beef-tea which we all trusted so seems to be a fraud and a scandal. If injected into a frog it v ill cause the reptile's musclee to cease working. 3 says the London correspondent of the Manchester Guardian" in his unholy desire to make our flesh creep. Well, who ever heard of giving beef-tea to frogs ? It seems to us that ordinary mortals can still partake of the old remedy.

The following pathetic epistle appears in yesterday's Times — Sir,—In the case Kerry v. Burr, re- ported in the Times, Thursday, October 29, Mr. T. O. Kerry in hia evidence stated that "M'Govan had sinoe been killed and ea.ten on the New Guinea coast." As this statement has cansed considerable anxiety to my friends in England, I should be much obliged if you will oonftradict the same.- I am, yours truly, E. M'GOWAN. Kerema, via Port Moresby, B.N.G., Jan. 27. We are sure all our readers will rejoice "ith us that Mr. M'Gowan has not been killed and eaten, though very likely from the purely utilitarian standpoint it is a loss to the New Guinea aborigines.

Mainly About People The Grand Duke of iwcklenburg-Schwerin, ie, with the King of Spain, the youngest monarch in the world, having only just com- pleted his 22nd year. He was crowned shortly after King Edward, who, a. few weeks ago, gave his consent to the Grand Duke's mar- riage to the Duke of Cumberland's second daughter. The grand-ducal house of Meck- lenburg is the oldest sovereign house in the Western world, and traces back an unbroken succession of mcmarehs for the last Ave and twenty generations, commencing with Niklot, who died in 1160. Catherine Duchess of Westminster was Miss Catherine Cavendish, sister to Lord Chesham, Lady Cobham, and Lady Leicester, and married the late Duke of Westminster in 1982. The duchess is a pretty and still young- looking woman, with a. fair, fresh face, bright eyes, and nut brown hair-the Scotch word sonsy describes her better than any Anglo- ^xon adjective. Like most of her family ^she prefers country life, is fond of horses, and, aa a girl, rode to hounds with much grace and spirit. She is musical and artistic, sings and painta well, and has much charm of voice and manner. As everyone knows, she was a second wife, and more than thirty years younger than her husband; but she and the late duke lived a life of perfect happiness. She has four children. Mr. W. S. Gilbert was in his early days (says To Day") a clerk in the Education Office, and a colleague, knowing that he had many friends in high theatrical places, approached him one morning with a request for an order for a certain theatre. "Could you write me an order for-?" said the colleague, naming a play then popular. "Certainly I could," replied Gilbert readily. Which would you prefer it for-the stalls or a box?" The colleague, in great joy. immediately declared for a box, and Mr. Gilbert sat down. and wrote out an order as requested. The next day the colleague appeared with an infuriated countenance. "Look here," he eaid, going up to Gilbert, this is a Ifrtle bit too thick. I took my wife and children to the theatre last night, and presented your order, and they simply laughed at me, and told me I had been made a fool of." Gilbert smiled, and held up his hand soothingly. Stop, stop, he said. "You remember you asked me if I could write you an order, and I said I could, and I did. But I never said, you know, that the order I wrote would admit you to the theatre!" There is another story which Mr. Gilbert is fond of telling against himself. While still a tyro at the art of play-writing, he wrote a short play called Dulcamara," which he hoped to be able to sell to Mrs. Kendal's brother, T. W. Robertson. He took the play to Robertson's manager, who cast his eye over it, and expressed himself satisfied. And now," he saiid, how much do you want for it?" "Thirty guineas," replied Gilbert, amazed at his own boldness. Make it pounds, and it's a bargain," said the other; and Gilbert, ready to dance for joy, jumped at the offer. The manager then wrote out a cheque, which he handed .to Gilbert. "Look here," he said, before they separated, I should like to give you a bit of advice. Never sell such, good stuff for thirty pounds again." And," declares Gilbert, as a happy ending to the story, "I never did." Talking of Sir Henry Irving, a certain Joe Robins gave up for the stage a, comfortable gentleman's furnishing business, but (says T. P. in hiB Weekly ") took care to start on his precarious new profession with a sup- ply of his old wares—shirts, underclothing, etc.—to last him for years. Christmas came, said Sir Henry to Percy Fitzgerald, in very bitter weather. Joe had a part in the Christ- mas pantomime. He dressed with other poor actors, and he saw how thinly some of them were clad when they stripped before him to put on their costumes. For one poor fellow in especial his heart ached. In the depth of a very cold winter he was shivering in a-e-ait of very light underclothing. Joe thought the matter over, and determined to give the actors who dressed with him a Christmas dinner. It wu literally a dinner cm uixdwciothiiii, for most of the shirts and drawers which Joe had cherished so long went to the pawn- brokers to provide the money for the meal. Before the dinner, which was served at Joe's lodgings, the host beckoned the friend with the gauze underclothing into a bedroom, and. pointing to a chair, silently withdrew. On the chair hung a snit of underwear which had been Joe's pride. It was of a comfortable scarlet colour, thick, warm, and heavy. The poor actor put it on, and revelled in the luxury of warm garments. Proud, ha-ppy, warm, comfortable, he felt little inclination to eat, and nf "r knew what he had for din- ner that afternoon. He sat quietly thanking Provici-cnce and Joe Robins. I was that poor actùr actor. Lord Herries will find hie great house at Everingham Park rather empty after the departure of his two daughters, the elder of whom, by her marriage to the Duke of Nor- folk, is now premier duchess of England. There are no other children, and the Scottish barony will go to the duchess, while the English title will lapse. Lord Herries is among the most hospitable of men, but he is nowadays careful where unconsidered guests wander. Not long ago an antiquary of exalted lineage got loose at Everingham, and cut from his host's most treasured ancestral relic a large piece of the cloth of a cloak. The damage was irreparable as the vandalism was unpardonable, and others have now to pay the penalty of exclusion from the more private apartments of the famous home. Earl Fitzwilliam. who is blessed with most of the good things of this life, among them bein? broad lands, two fine country seata, a house in Grosvenor-square, an immense- income, youth, hea,th, and-not least-a charming wife a.nd pretty children, has (says M.A.P.") one desire still unfulfilled-namely, to see a i direct heir to his titles and estates. Lady; Fitzwilliam, who, like himself, is of York- shire stock, being the younger of the two daughters of the Marquess of Zetland, has presented him with three little girls, of whom the youngest was born only last week; and the heir-presumptive to the family honours still remains the eldest of his numerous uncles, Mr. William Henry Fitzwilliam, who is now in his 61st year. Immense death duties, as well as the pro- vision made by the late earl for a consider- able family of sons and daughters, occasioned the rumour (which has proved unfounded) that his grandson and successor would be unable to reside at Wentworth Woodhouse, his aplendid seat in the West Riding. With its enormous frontage and interminable series of spacious state-rooms, Wentworth has the name of being the biggest private house in England. But its real interest lies in the fact that the kernel, so to speak, of the present stately mansion—the centre round which it was built-was once the beloved home of the ill-fated Earl of Strafford, from whose grand- son, the last Marquess of Itockingham, it passed to William Earl Fitzwilliam something more than a century ago. The treasure of the Wentworth of to-day is the splendid collection of pictures, which includes the finest Van Dycks in England; but another distinctly in.teresting feature is the vast range of collars, which, with their vaulted roofs, resemble a cathedral crypt, and contain, among other good things, some two hundred c-aeke of beer. Everything about Wentworth is on a ooloesaft scale; and the late earl,, who was said to wear the Order of the Garter on his knee even at breakfast- time, and to permit not even bis children to be seated in his presence, was one of the almost pre-historic school of English peers, to whom all this greatness and grandeur were like the very atmosphere which they breathed. Wentworth was in his time the see. of princely hospitality, of a kind which is not Likely to be seen again in our de- generate days. The "public dinners" there— as they were called in old time&-were an institution probably unique in England.

RAILWAY COLLISION, ONE PASSENGER KILLED AND TEN INJURED. A serious collision, involving the death of one passenger and injuries to ten others, occurred outside the Waterloo Station of the London and South Western Railway on Thurs- day. A passenger train from Reading was entering the station when it was run into by an engine drawing a number of empty milk wagons. The force of the impact was so great as to interlock the engines and tele- scope the foremost compartments. The injured were taken to St. Thomas's Hospital. On arrival there Mr. J. H. Stevens, commercial traveller, of West Brockley, was found et7 it, dead, owing to severe internal injuries.

MILITARY FUNERAL AT PONTY. PRIDD. The remains of Captain William Williams, J.P., Danygraig House, Pontypridd. were interred at Glyntaff Cemetery on Thursday afternoon with military honours. The local Masonic body also took part. The Volunteers formed at the Drill-hall, and there was a good muster. The officers present were: — Major Hill-Male, Captain J. S. Davies (com- manding the detachment). Captain R. A. Lewis, Lieutenant J. Griffith Jones, and Lieu. tenant-surgeon Morgan (Tnysj-bwl). The ohiaf mourners were :-Mr. Ignatius Wil- liaane (stipendiary), Messrs. H. E. Bradley, T. Davies, J. B. Jones, T. W. W. Morgan (Perwart.li). and Montague Grow, the Revs. J. P. Griffitiis (vicar of Pontypridd) and S. Row land-Jones (rector of Glyntaff), Meesrs. T. S. Thomas (London and Provincial Bank), O. Morgan (" Morien "), W. Jones-Powell, the hey. T. Griffiths (Brecon), Mr. Josenh Snrajrue, and Mr. Stephen Blanche (deceased's valet fori m^ny yeans). The Volunteer band played the Dead March" from Saul." The service at the church was conducted by the Rev. S. Rowland-Jones, rector of Glyntaff. After the body was lowered into the grave three volleys were discharged by the firing-party, and the buglers sounded the "Last Post." Mr. John Evans, Pontypridd, carried out the funeral arrangements. The coffin was of polished oak with massive brass mountings.

CHURCH AND STATE IN WALES. Speaking at a Free Church conference at Mo!d. the Rev. F. B. Merer said that it seemed to him that the Established Church, until she was set free—for she waa now manacled and bound—would be unable to help them. It had been said in the House of Commons that, for reasons largely belonging to education, the Church of Enrland was unable to speak as firmly, outspokenly, and definitely aganst the drink interest as otherwise she would do. He. hoped they would live to see the Church, not only in Wales, but throughout the country,, disestablished. (Applause.) A3 Free Churches, they desired her help to fight infidelity and sin.

STREET BETTING AT NEWPORT, I The Newport Watch Committee and General Purposes Committee want to go the full length of arresting persons without warrant who are found betting in the streets. The town-clerk has been instructed to urge this desirability upon the Association of Municipal Corporations, with a view to obtaining the authorisation of the Home Secretary.

NEWPORT BUILDING TRADE. The building trade of Newport appears to be getting a proeperous spurt just now. More plans for new buildings and the carrying out of new streets have been sent to the works committee of the corporation during the past few weeks than at any time in the last two or three years. Plans for about 120 buildings have been sent in.

BLACKWOOD BAPTISTS. The monthly meeting of the Baptist Churches of Abercarn and district was held at Mount Pleasant Chapel, Blackwood. In the afternoon meeting the Rev. D. J. Davies, of Newbridge, introduced a discussion upon The Duty of the Churches in Relation to the Education of the Child." Many ministers and delegates took part in the discussion. The Rev. Charles ReeB delivered a thoughtful sermon in the evening to a large congrega- tion. Tea was provided in the schoolroom.

A MILITIAMAN S STORY. I Louisa Knight was charged at -Swansea on Thursday with keeping a disorderly house at York-e-o *urt. The police gave evidence' as to finding a woman named Price and a man upstairs. Da.vid J. Knight, the husband, appeared in the uniform of a Militiaman, and said they had tried to get rid of Price, but she couldn't find a room. While he was a,way at camp she entered the house and got his wife into this trouble. The came was adjourned for i montb.

DONE TO DEATH 1 WELSH MINISTER MURDERED IN AMERI A. A Welsh minister in America, the Rev. Wil- liam or John Thomas, has been murdered by a, Cuban negro named Lawrence. Mr. Thomas is said to have been a minister in Wales, being connected with the Baptist deno- mination. Subsequently he became pastor of the Welsh Baptist Churches in Minersville and Taylor, Pennsylvania, and it is believed that a brother of his is now a minister in some part of Wales. The murder took place on a Sunday night in the Houston Hall of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and the negro, it is understood, had admitted his guilt. He is in custody. For some years Mr. Thomas adopted the habite to a large extent of a recluse, but spent a good deal of his time among strangers. Latterly he was employed at the University of Pennsylvania. The circumstances under which the murder was committed are not given in the informa- tion which we have so far received.

THE LICENSING BILL, CARDIFF PUBLICANS AND LOCAL BODIES. A meeting was held on Thursday afternoon of the Cardiff and District Licensed Victual- lers' Association, under the presidency of Mr. George Chamberlain, Councillors Robert Hughes, J.P., and John Mander being amongst those present. The following resolution was unanimously passed:- That this association, representing a trade paying a much larger proportion of the rates than any other, begs to respect- fully protest against the notices of motion which have been given to the Cardiff Board of Guardians and Cardiff Corporation with regard to the licensing proposals of the Government. The subject of licensing is a matter outside the province of the authorities named, which are elected to represent all interests equally, and not to assist in harassing any particular section of ratepayers. In the House of Commons on Thursday Mr. Abel Thomas presented petitions against interference with the discretionary powers of licensing justies from the Gobaithfryn Tent and the Bryngcba.ith Tent of the Independent Order of Reohabitee.

OBITUARY. MRS. EVANS, PENCOED. After a brief illness, Mrs. Evans, wife of Mr. William Evans, Court House, Pencoed, the agent of the Llanbaran Estate, passed away peacefully on Thursday. The deceased lady, who was in her fifty-fourth year, was a native of Glyn-Neath, where the interment will take place. Slie was widely est-eemed on account of her uniform geniality and urbanity, and much sympathy is felt by a wide circle of friends with Mr. Evans and the family in their bereavement. At the monthly meeting of the asylum farm com- mittee of the Glamorgan County Council, held at Parcgwyllt on Thursday, a vote of sym- pathy with Mr. Evans and his famiy was proposed by Alderman W. Howell, J.P., of Pencoed, and seconded by the Chairman of the Committee (Councillor Enoch Davies, of Treherbert), and carried in silence. MR. T. JONES. REGISTRAR, BRYNMAWR. Mr. Thomas Jones, who has held the post of registrar of marriages for Brvnmawr for the last 47 years, expired on Thursday, at the age of 71. Ha leaves a wife and grown-up family to mourn their loss.

SOUTH WALES WESLEYAN I SYNOD. The annual Wesleyan Synod of the South Wales District was held at Abercynon, the pastoral session opening under the presidency of the Rev. Rice Owen (Treorky), who was supported by the secretary (the Rev. T. Manuel, Pontypridd) and the Rev. J. Hum- phreys (Aberystwyth).—The schedules showed a net increase of 122 full members and 210 junior members.—Two candidates were recom- mended for ordination at the next assembly, viz., the Rev. J. E. Thomas (Treharris) and the Rev. J. H. Williams (Pontrhydygroes). At the representative session the synod urged on the Churches at Carmarthen and Neath Abbey to make provision for the accommodation of ordained ministers this year.—The Rev. T. J. Pritchard unfolded a scheme for re-organising the Merthyr cause on connexional mission lines, and it was recommended to the consideration of the assembly.—Resolutions were passed condemn- ing the Licensing Bill, the Education Authori- ties (Default) Bill, and the Ordinance for indentured labour- in South Africa. Public meetings have been held, the synod ending with the usual festivities on Thurs day, when a convention (Seiat Fawr) was held at nine a.m.. followed by a sermon by the chairman at ten a.m. The pulpit was furthei occupied by the Revs. T. Rowlands (Peny- graig), T. Jones (Swansea), E. Isaac (Corris), and H. Hughes (Ferndale).

IRON AND STEEL INSTITUTE I At the Iron and Steel Institute at Liverpool on Thursday Mr. Dupre and uaptain Lloyd read a joint paper on explosions produced by ferro silicon, and suggested certain precau- tions. Professor Louis, Newcastle-on-Tyne, gave an account of the manufacture of pig- iron from briquettes in Sweden. He pro- phesied that fuel would be taken to the iron- ore deposits instead of bringing the ore to the coalfields. Mr. Cosmo Johns (Sheffield) gave the results of the treatment of steel in large masses at the Vickers-Maxim Works. It was announced that the Carnegie scholarships of R100 each had been awarded to John Dixon Branton (Musselburgh), Mr. Carpenter (National physical Laboratory), Messrs. Roberts and Wright (conjointly), and Frank Rogers (Cambridge), and Walter Rosenheim (Birmingham). A grant of £50 was made to M. Bondonard (Paris). A special silver medal was given to Percy Longunir (Sheffield).

MR. E. S. WILLARD'S VISIT TO CARDIFF. Mr. E. S. Willard will visit the Theatre Royal, Cardiff, during next week with The Cardinal" and The Professor's Love Story." In The Cardinal Mr. Louis N. Parker has utilised in an exceedingly clever way the old theme of a priest's bounden observance to the secrecy of the confessional, which is thoroughly interesting and absorbing throughout. Mr. Willard brings all his artistic accom. plishments to bear upon the part of the Cardinal." His struggles between duty and fraternal affection are admirably shown. The piece is beautifully staged and dressed, and should prove a dramatic treat to all true lovers of the art. On Monday, iuesday, and Wednesday evenings The Cardinal will be played. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, and at the matinee on Saturday, "The Professor's Love Story will be pre- sented.

BARGOED GROCER'S FAILURE. I A meeting of the creditors of John Evans, grocer, 12, High-street, Bargoed, was held on Thursday at Merthyr. The debtor in his state- ment of affairs put down his liabilities at £1,053 6s. 4d., all the creditors—105 in number —being unsecured. He returned his assets at Z120, made up as follows:—Cash in hand, 15s.; cash deposited for costs of petition, Clo; stock-in-trade, £ 60; five good book debts, £ 14; and 85 doubtful debts amounting to E582 7s. 10d., and 88 bad (iebts amounting to L431 is. 4d., estimated to realise only 135 14s. 5d. Thus there was a deficiency of X932 16e. 4d. The causes to which the debtor attributed his failure were:—The strike of 1898, and stop- pages and strikes in his neighbourhood during the last six years, bad debts, two severe illnesses of his wife, who assisted him in the business, and keen competition. The debtor,, who commenced business about eight years ago. made a deed of assignment for the benefit of creditors in 1900, under which a dividend of 4s. Old. in the £ was paid.

TRADES DISPUTES. I A further meeting of the Trades Disputes Commission was h-eld in London on Thurs- day afternoon, when Mr. Askwith, K.C., con- tinued his statement upon the law relating to trades disputes and conspiracies. The Commia^ion again adjourned. We understand tha.t a meeting will be held next week, at which Air. A. Bsas'.ey will commence his evidence.

STEVENS' BREAD. EATEN REGULARLY, will improve the health and permanently strengthen the constitution. Made with the best wlieaten flour. 012722 ENGLAND'S GLORY BATCHES are made entirely by BRITISH LABOUR. Send for particulars of com- petitions. England's Glory Match Works, Gloucester. ADVICE TO MOTHERS.Are you Broken 1& yocr rest by a sick eiii!d suffering with the paic by cutting teeth? Go a: once to a chemist and get a bottle of Mr». Window's Soothing Sryup. It will relieve tho poor suffi-rer immediately, it is pleasant to taste. It produeu natural, quiet sleep by relieving1 the child from fain, and the littl.. ciierafr aa* bright stl iL button, oi ill ahum mu, U. U4. ew boiU*. 401^

GRUESOME WORK. REMOVAL OF SKELETONS AT NEWPORT. Human Remains a Century Old I to be Reinterred. As reported in the later editions of yester- day's "Evening Express" Some gruesome work is taking place at St. Woolloe Churchyard, Newport. In order to make a detour for the new tramway route on Stow Hill, in avoiding the narrowest and steepest place on the hill, the corporation, under the powers of their local Act, are taking down the houses on one side of Clif- ton-road and cutting into the churchyard (long since closed for burials) on the other. The skeletons of Newportonians of a century, and--in some cases—more ago, are being turned up on the surface again. The ques- tion arose. What is to be done with them? The Town-clerk (Mr. A. A. Newman) reported to the Parliamentary and improvement com- mittee of the corporation that he had re- ceived a letter from the Home Office stating that the remains which are disturbed must be re-interred in eome cemetery or burial ground other than that from which they have been removed, that the proposal to re- inter the remains in the same churchyard is not authorised by the local Act. and that, under these circumstances, the Secretary of State regrets that he would not feel justified in diepensing with the requirement that the remains must be removed to some other burial ground He also reported that he had written to the Bishop of Llandaff asking for his consent tJ re-inter the remains in one grave in St. Woollos Cemetery, and that the bishop had spiled consenting. It was also reported that the cemeteries committee were willing to allot a piece of ground for the re- interment of the remains. The committee deeideu that the remains be removed to the cemetery and there re-interred with all decency.

I CONTROL OF PANAMA CANAL I HANDED OVER TO THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. The Panama Canal property has been formally turned over to the United States on the Isthmus of Panama, and the title now rests absolutely with the United States Government. At the same time orders were given to deposit with Messrs. Morgan and Co. in New York L8,000,000 in payment for the French ownership. The sum of £ 2,000,000 will he paid to Panama this week.

SWANSEA GUARDIANS. GRANTS IN AID OF POOR RELIEF I ASKED FOR. At the meeting of the Swansea Board of Guardians on Thursday Mr. J. F. Collett sub- mitted a resolution, That, in order to more equally distribute the cost of pauper relief throughout the country, this boa.rd is of the opinion that grants in aid should be made from the National Exchequer, as is already done for education and as regards lunatics." He remarked that his proposal aimed at the reduction of local rates. If they could draw from the National Exchequer, the wealthier unions would be made to contribute to the poorer unions. Why, he asked, should people with big incomes derived from sources other than house property and land pay less than those who got incomes from the latter sounces?—The Rev. E. O. Evans seconded, and the resolution was carried unanimously.

BLACK-LISTERS CHARGED. I DRASTIC TREATMENT AT MERTHYR I POLICE-COURT. On Thursday at Merthyr Police-court Elizabeth Jane Ward, a black-lister, was fined 10s, and costs for being drunk and dis- orderly at Pontmorlais, and in default of finding sureties in C50 for her good behaviour for the next six months she was committed to prison for that term. Edmund Lloyd, another blaok-lister, charged with drunkenness in High-street, Merthyr, was dealt with in a precisely similar way, the Stipendiary saying that two men who had already gone surety for him at Abercynon would have their recognisances estreated.

TRAMCAR V. HANSOM, CARDIFF CORPORATION SUED FOR I DAMAGES. Before Judge Owen at Cardiff County-court on Thursday, Edwin HayrnaJi, cab proprietor, Cardiff, claimed from the Cardiff Corporation the sum of £46 for damage done to his hansom. Mr. John Sankey (for the plaintiff) stated that a cabby named Bennett was in charge of a hansom in St. Mary-street when he observed a likely fare on the opposite side of the street. He was leading the horse across the street when a tramcar dashed along and damaged the vehicle. Mr. Cecil Brown, for the corporation, said that Bennett had hold of the horse on the off-side, and took no notice of the car, which could not be pulled up within a yard's length owing to its enormous weight. His Honour gave judgment for the amount claimed, and disallowed the counter claim of £ 2 2s. in respect of the damage alleged to have been caused to the car.

THE FIRE AT NEWPORT WATER. WORKS. With reference to the recent fire at Went- wood, when the house of the manager (Mr. J. Macdonald) was destroyed, with practically :1,11 his furniture, clothing. Ac, the water- works committee of the Newport Corporation has decided to vote Mr. Macdonald for his immediate necessities. and that the question oi the further amount to be contributed by the corporation towards his ioss be deferred .or the present.

CARDIFF RAILWAY. I This Bill, which empowers the Cardiff Rail- way Company to construct new lines and to abandon certain portions of authorised lines, on Thursday passed the House of Lords Com- mittee on Unoppoead Measures, and was rent by Lord Balfour of Burleigh for third read- ing in their lordships' House.

TARIFF REFORM MEETING AT CARDIFF. Under the presidency of the deputy-mayor (Mr. Lewis Morgan) a meeting for the pro- motion of tariff reform was held at the schoolrooms attached to St. Paul's Congre- gational Church, Cowbridge-road, Cardiff. Among those present were:—Dr. A. E. Taylor, Mr. Dixon, Mr. and Mrs. Kidd, Mr. and Mrs. Parton, and Messrs. W. J. Walters, R. O. San. derson, E. Waddington, and K. M'Leod. Mr. S. Longville, of the Cardiff Trades Council, pointed to the absurdity of Trades Unionists attempting to improve their conditions of employment in this country w'hile admitting, freely the importation of th-e products of foreign sweated or "blackleg" labour. Mr. Robert Bridcuft delivered a stirring address. Dr. A. E. Taylor and Mr. Kidd also recorded their convictions that a change in our pre- sent fiscal policy was imperative for the country's future welfare.

NEWPORT ASSESSMENTS. A ourious and interesting point in assess- ments at Newport has been raised. Whilst tho ratepayers' association has bean persistently calling attention to the fact that the corpora- tion, as a large municipal trader, has its tram- way and lighting undertaking assessed at a ridiculously low figure, the assessment of the gas company has been raised, The company has objected to the increase, and will, if necessary, proceed to an appeal. The Great Western Railway Company's assess- ment in the borough has been increased to the extont of over £ 2,000.

CARDIFF TOWN COUNCIL. The agenda for the next council meeting of the Cardiff Corporation contains several notices of motion which are likely to raise discussions of some length. Mr. Crossman will claim that the extension of the tramway line a.long Crw-ys-road shall be paved with wood, and Mr. Good wishes to revoke plenary powers given to the electrical committee to purchase premises for a distributing station a.t the Docks. A motion in reference to the sites of branch libraries at Canton and Cathays will probably be accepted, but at the end of the agenda comes Mr. Morgan Thomas's motion on the Licensing Bill.

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Swansea Hotel Manager I APPLIES FOR A DISCHARGE IN BANKRUPTCY. Before his Honour Judge Owen at Cardiff County-court on Thursday, Albert Frederick Rushe, formerly proprietor of the Cross Keys Hotel, Queen-street, Cardiff, applied for his dis- charge under the Bankruptcy Act. In July, 1896, the applicant filed his petition, showing his liabilities to be E637 14s. 4d., and the assets were estimated at X186 19s. 2d., leaving a deficiency of £ 351 93. 2d. Applicant stated that he was now managing a hotel at Swansea for Messrs. Worthington at a salary of 30s. per week, with commission. His Honour: And I presume you mean to take up another hotel. Have you one in view now? Applicant replied that he had not one in view. His Honour: Oh, yes, yes; but you can start a public-house without a "sign" even. (Laugh- ter.) Your creditors have not been paid any. thing, not even a farthing. Do you make any offer? Mr. G. F. Forsdike 'who appeared for the applicant) stated that the object of the appli- cation was to enable his client to improve his position. If the order were granted his pre- sent employers would be more likely to find him better employment. His Honour: They wixi put him into a tied- house, I presume. (Laughter.) His Honour made an order of discharge, and suspended it for two years.

REDISTRIBUTION OF SEIATS. DEPUTATION OF M.P.'S TO MR. BALFOUR. Mr. Kimber, M.P., on Thursday introduced to Mr, Balfour a deputation of members of Parliament, who urged upon him the impor- tance of removing the electoral anomalJee under which districts with huge populations were grossly under-represented in Parliament, while other districts only sparsely populated were over-represented. Mr, Balfour in his reply scrupulously avoided committing him- self to any definite pledge, but gave a decided impression that he contemplated-introducing a redistribution scheme next year. Colonel Wyndham-Quin, M.P., was a mem- ber of the deputation.

FATHER'S STRANGE CONDUCT CHILD DIES FROM ALCOHOLIC I POISONING. Alcoholic poisoning caused the death of a child of four, named Thomas Reynolds, upon whom an inquest was held at Newtown on Thursday evening. The father, a Radnor- shire farmer, allowed the child to drink out of two glasses of whisky in a public-house on Tuesday morning. The child was seized with convulsions, and was removed to the Mont- gomeryshire Infirmary, but died on Wednes- day evening without re-gaining consciousness. The father admitted that the boy was frequently given beer and spirits at home, as were also his other children, and his conduct was severely commented upon by the jury.

ITALIAN EX-MINISTER TO BE I PROSECUTED. At the re-assembling of the Italian Chamber on Thursday the Minister for Justice asked for authorisation to institute a criminal pro- secution against a member of the House, Signor Nasi, ex-Miui&ter of Public Instruc- tion, for malversation of public funds. After Bome discussion the necessary authorisation was accorded, and a warrant for the arrest of Signor Nasi was forthwith issued. The accused cannot be found, however, and it is understood that he has taken rqfuge abroad. The affair has caneed a painful political scandal, as Signor Nasi had long been one of the leaders of the Liberal party.—Central News.

LICENSING PROSECUTIONS AT USK. I At Usk Petty-sessions on Thursday Arthur Leyshon, landlord of the Nag's Head, Usk, was summoned for permitting drunken- ness on April 15. Mr. B. S. Lyne prosecuted and Mr. A. H. Parnall defended. Matilda Jones was found drunk on the day in ques- tion in the house at eleven a.m. by Police- sergeant Sheddick. The defence waa that earlier in the day she was served with two- pennyworth of gin, but that on a subsequent call she was refused drink, and that reason- able steps were tafcen. to get her to leave. Defendant was fined 4Cs. and costs. Mrs. Elizabeth William;?, landlady of the Hall Inn, Gwehelog, was summoned for per- mitting drunkenness on the 17th of April. Mr. Lyne prosecuted and Mr. Francis Williams, ILL., defended.—Police-constable Hushes said that he found John George obviously drunk on the premises.—The defence was a total denial of the constable's story, and the case was dismissed.

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LANDLADY & CAPTAIN I I PECULIAR CLAIM A r CARDIFF Sequel to an Invalid's Death I As reported in the later editions of yester- day's "Evening Express": — A peculiar case came before his Honour Judge Owen at Cardiff County-court on Thursday, when Mrs. Laura Dobbie, Plasturton-gardens. Cardiff, claimed £ 50 from Christopher Gowan, captain of the steamship Nothermoor. Mr. Joan 6ankey (instructed by Messrs. George David and Evans) appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Lewis Morgan defended. Mr. Sankey, in opening, said the case was au unusual one. On October 29 last rooms were let by the plaintiff to defendant's wife. Mra Gowan arrived two days later, in a great state of weakness, and had to be carried upstairs. Plaintiff soon discovered that she was suffering from consumption; and, in con- sequence, other lodgers left the house. On November 9 the husband arrived, and, on see- ing the condition of his wife, requested Mrs. Dobbie to do all that was necessary to be done for his wife, and he would be responsible for the expenses. Owing to Mrs. Gowan having died from consumption plaintiff had suffered a great loss through not being able to let her rooms. Mr. Sankey, continuing, said that a number of letters had been received from the defendautL one of which was the follow- ing:— Steamship Nothermoor. Naples, December 8. 1903. Dear Mr. Dobbie,-l am very grateful to you and Mrs. Dobbie for your very kind and sympathetic letter; also for all your very great goodness towards my dearly beloved wife. Believe me, I shall be for ever grate- ful. I am most anxious to know my dearest wife's last words. You may be certain I will call on you the first opportunity after arrival home. God grant my dearly beloved wife is in Heaven, and may He bless you all for your goodness. I cannot tell you at present when I am going from here. I will drop you a line another time.—Yours, very sincerely, C. GOWAN. Mr. Sankey: You see, your honour, the gratefulness was not translated into money. klaughter.) His Honour: No, the gratitude came on -black-edged paper. (Renewed laughter.) Mrs. Dobbie gave evidence bearing out counsel's opening statement. About a week before Mrs. Gowan died her bed had to be destroyed, and after her death and on the day of the funeral the rooms occupied by the deceased were like a public road, owing to the large number of visitors to the house. His Honour remarked that the damages claimed were very high. Mr. Lewis Morgan concurred. Mr. Lewis Morgan (to plaintiff): Why do you charge J31 lie. 6d. for the rooms? You only charged Mrs. Gowan one guinea. Are they more valuable now than they were before the death of Mrs. Gowan?—No reply. Yon charge Lil 15s. for the wear and tear of the house. Did you have more than three or four people during the whole time of the funeral?—They were in and out all the time. And they consisted of deceased's brother and sister?—Yes. But they paid for their rooms?—Yes. Is it true that your sister died from con- sumption ?—Yes. And you knew that Mrs. Gowan was con- sumptive when you took her in?-No, I did not. You say you charged extra for extra cook- ing?—Yes. Was not her dinner brought from the Dorothy Cafe?—Yes; but she never ate it. Did this wretched woman get anything from you except wretched beef tea?-Yes; dainties I and little things like that. You charged for everything you supplied? —Yes. And you were paid every week?—Yes. Is it true that you were not often in a flt state to attend to your duties?—No. I was always able to attend to my duties. Is it true that you were repeatedly under the influence of drink?—No. Is it true that on the night Mrs. Gowan died your husband had to hold you up, and that you vomited, into the coal-scuttle?— Mrs. Gowan died with her arms round my neck, and it was enough to make anyone sick. Dr. Marmaduke Pittard said it would be dangerous for any person to live in a house after a fatal Cillie of consumption unless all the walls were re-papered, the carpets raised, and the house thoroughly disinfected through- out. Mrs. Spray, wife of Mr. George Spray, den- tist, Cardiff, spoke to engaging the rooms for the deceased. She informed Mrs. Dobbie that she had failed to get rooms elsewhere, as Mrs. Gowan was suffering from consumption. Mrs. Dobbie expressed her willingness to take Mrs. Gowan. and said that her own sister had died from the same disease. Mrs. Gowan was very ill at the time. but coma walk. In reply to Mr. Morgan, witness stated that on the day of Mrs. Gowan's death plaintiff appeared very excited, but witness could not say that she had had anything to drink. Miss Elias, who acted as companion to the deceased, said that the funeral was attended by only a couple of dozen persons. Dr. Walford, medical officer of Cardiff, said that had the house been disinfected after the removal of the body it would not have been dangerous lor anyone to have lived in the house. His Honour considered that plaintiff was entitled to recover, and allowed L15 for damage to the house and Ylo for general damage.

FINANCES OF NEWPORT. CORPORATION WANT £ 45,250 FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT. With reference to the recent Local Govern- ment inquiry at Newport into an application on the part of the corporation to borrow £ 60,500 for the purpose of electric lighting and power supply, the Local Government Board has replies that the expenditure on the power-station must be regarded as expendi- ture for tramways purposes, that the question of sanctioning a loan for that pur- pose was a matter for the Board of Trade, and that that department would be willing to entertain an application for such loan. The amount on this account is £ 45,250. With respect to the balance the Local Government Board would sanction a loan less the amount of debt outstanding on works which would be superseded. The tramways committee has decided to apply to the Board of Trade for a loan of £ 45,250. BATE OF INTEREST RAISED. I The finance committee of the Newport Cor- poration having received notice of with- drawal of sums on loan to the corporation where the rate of interest is small, has recommended that the rate of interest on corporation loans be increased to 3i per cent.

CARDIFF TRAM EXTENSION. WOOD BLOCK PAVING VERSUS I GRANITE, A meeting of ratepayers of Crwys-road and I others in the Cathays Ward was held in the Crwys-road Board Schools, Car- diff, on Thursday, to protest against the hecommendation of the tramways committee of the Cardiff Corporation that the centre of the track of the proposed exten- sion of the tramways from Crwy&-road terminus to Talygarn-street should be paved with granite setts instead of wood blocks. Mr. A. W. Swash presided, and said they in Cathaye were not getting the same preferen- tial treatment as were residents in other districts of the town. Cathays ought not to be made the dumping-ground for granite setts which the council had on their hands. (Hear, hear.) Councillor W. S. Crossman said he proposed moving at the council meeting on Monday next that the track' be paved with wood blocks, and that application be made for sanction to borrow ZEI,GV, which would be the extent of the additional cost. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Ishmael Harris thought Mr. F. J. Beavan should be a little more consistent in his opposition to their requirements at Cathays. Mr. Beavan w opposing their interests, while he vigorously supported the lading of wood blocks in the Splott Ward. Mr. A. Prosser said that because the council were nearing the bottom of the "jam-pot" Mr. F. J. Beavan was trying to frighten them. In the end a deputation was appointed to wait upon the council to ask that the paving should be done with wood blocks between the tramlines.

COLLAPSE OF A WALL. I TWO MEN BURIED IN THE DEBRIS I AT NEWPORT. On Thursday, whilst a, gang of builders and labourers employed by Messrs. D. W. Richards and Co., contractors, were engaged ill pulling down the shell of the old arcade ruuuing from High-street to Market-street, Newport, one of the walls collapsed suddenly and buried two of the men in the ruins. Henry Savage was terribly cut about the nead, face, and arms, and had to be taken to the hospital. The other man was not seriously hurt.

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STIPENDIARY RATE COST OF HOLDING MERTHYR COURTS The County Council Appeal Allowed I The Merthyr stipendiary rate case was continued in the Conrt of Appeal on Thurs- day (before the Master of the Rolls, with Lords Justices Mathew and Romer). The action is one in which the Glamorgan County- Council appeal from the judgment of the Lord Chief Justice, Mr. Justice Channell, a,nd Mr. Justice Wills with regard to the liability to pay the hire of a police-court for the use of the stipendiary magistrate in the Merthyr Tydfil district. Mr. Danckwertz, K.C., and Mr. Cunning- ham Glen (instructed by Mr. Mansel Frank- len, clerk to the Glamorgan County Council) appeared for the county council; Mr. A. T. Lawrence, K.C., and Mr. W. C. Ryde for the auditor; and Mr. S. T. Evans. K.C., M.P., and Mr. S. G. Lushington (instructed by Messrs. Frank James and Sons, Merthyr) for the Merthyr Board of Guardians. On the one hand, it was contended that the cost of courts, &c., should be borne by the Merthyr stipendiary magisterial district The auditor, however, ruled that the specia, Act did not include provision for the hire of rooms for police courts, and disallowed a total of £ 2,276. The divisional court upheld the auditor, but the Local Government Board had said that the auditor was wrong. The appeal was now made on behalf of the Glamorgan County Council. The argument turned mainly upon the definition of terms in the special Act, par- ticularly as to whether the word "office" should be taken to include a court-room. The Master of the Rolls, in giving judg- ment, said it was found that there were special reasons for applying for and obtain- ing exceptional facilities for the administra- tion of justice in the Merthyr district, and, therefoi e, it was right that the district obtaining the advantage of those facilities should bear the expense. One section of the Act expressly provided for the erection cf a suitable office or offices for the transaction of magisterial business. To say that they should leave out of the interpretation of the Act the chief part of the magisterial business, which was the adjudication in court upon defendants, seemed to him a most extraordinary and far-fetched conten- tion. It was contended that the purpose of the Legislature had been exhausted when one court had been provided, although the magis- trate had been charged with the duty of sitting in more than one place. But he (the Master of the Rolls) thought that the power given with regard to one was extended to the other places. He. therefore, thought that the decision of the court below was wrong. Lords Justices Romer and Mathew con- curred, and the appeal of the Glamorgan County Council was, therefore, allowed. Mr. Glen applied for costs against the board of guardians. The Master of the Rolls said that this would be granted. Mr. Ryde asked the court to rule that the auditor's action in the matter was proper, and that he should be re-imbursed. This also was granted.

TRAMCAR ACCIDENT AT CARDIFF. A little boy named Bertie Cadwell, three years of age. living at 41, Plasnewydd-road, Cardiff, was knocked down by a tramcar on Thursday afternoon about six o'clock, and was conveyed to the infirmary. The lad is suffering from concussion of the brain, but is not in a very serious condition.

WELSH MEDICAL DINNER. The secretaries arranging the London Welsq Medical Dinner have now issued notices which show that there will be a meeting at 6.30 on the 25th inst. for the purpose of dis- cussing the advisability of instituting aa annual reunion of Welsh medical men in Lon. don. The dinner (which takes place at the Prince's Restaurant, Piccadilly) will follow at 7.30. Amongst those expected are Sir John Williams, Bart, (who presides), Sir Isambard Owen, Dr. J. Lynn Thomas, C.B., and Dr. A. Garrod Thomas. The gecretaries are Dr. T. P. Beddoes and Dr. William Lloyd, of 63. Wimpole-street.

TWO MEN BURNED AT EBBW VALE. Two men, named Hurley and Cahill, were severely burned on Thursday at the Bessemer department of the Ebbw Yale Steelworks. The latter was injured so severely that he had to be conveyed to the Ebbw Vale Cottage Hospital.

WOOD PAVING AT NEWPORT. The works committee of the Newport Corpo- ration having advertised for tenders to lay wood-block p-aving in Market-street, received only one tender. It was from the Improved Wood Paving Company (Limited), at Ls54 7s. 9d A short time previously the corporation accepted the offer of Messrs. M'Euen and Co. to lay similar paving in Griflin-street (which is parallel to and a-bout the same size as Market- street); and the works committee now decided not to accept the tender sent in, but to ask Messrs. M'Euen to do the work at the same rate.

CYCLISTS NARROW ESCAPE AT CARDIFF. On Thursday night, about 6.30, a tram acci- dent occurred near the Moira Hotel, Adams- down, Cardiff. Mr. Mark Llewellyn (clerk), aged 23. was riding a bicycle towards hia home at 11, Constellation-street, when he "skidded," and was thrown on to the tramline. A car travelling in the same direction came in contact with the cyclist, and, it is stated, dragged him some distance. The car was brought to a standstill, and had to be lifted up to extricate Llewellyn from the position in which he had got jammed. He was badly bruised about the head, limbs, and hands, and had a most lucky escape. He was taken to the infirmary by his brother, Wil. liam Llewellyn, but was not detained long in the institution, and is now progressing favourably at home.

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