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should delegate its powers of revising, abolishing, or enforcing such a provision to a local authority. The Parliament in London cannot make and enforce the law in Ireland Mr. Gladstone pro- poses, therefore, that a Parliament in Dublin should make and enforce the ln,ws. The Central Federation cannot regulate the rate of wages Mabon therefore proposes that each district should be allowed to regulate it as best it may, and according to its own principles by sliding scales, if the district so wishes, or by other means—and then every miner in South Wales would join the Federation. Un.ess the Federa- tion is willing to receive them on these terms, we would certainly advise the miners not to join the Federation and so lose the tried and certain benefits of the Sliding Scale. o The death of Mr. Spurgeon will bring sorrow and gloom into the homes of thousands who have never even seen his sturdy figure or listened to the charm of his homely delivery. Xo one with per- haps the exception of Mr. Gladstone could count on so great a personal following durins- the last twenty or thirty years as Mr. Spurgeon. He was, indeed, a leader in Israel, and his influence in Evangelical circles was well-nigh un- bounded. For the last forty years he has drawn weekly a congregation of something like six thou- sand persons, while his printed sermons and his j other works like "John Ploughman's Talk" have attained to an almost fabulous circulation. By his death, a figure is removed from the religious world, at once towering, unique, picturesque. He was no nineteenth century Christian, full of theological subtleties and desire to harmonise the revealed truths of the Bible with the discoveries of modern scientific re- search. He was cast in a sterner mould, and his uncompromising belief reminded us of other days and other men—of the May Flower and the Pilgrim Fathers, and other stern old Puritans, whose Cal- vinism was hard and immutable, and whose belief was dogmatic, fanatical, and impatient of— or rather, superior to—criticism, but always honest and without hypocrisy. We all remember Mr. Spur'jaon's famous Down Grnde" manifesto. The opinions of his boyhood days were-his opinions up to the last moment of his busy, useful, Christian life. Not only as a great preacher and a writer of virile English will Mr. Spurgeon be remembered, but as a philanthropist, who succeeded in doing by himself—or, as he himself said—by prayer, more for orphans and the destitute than any other living man. We can all echo the praise, while we ignore the sneer, of an eminent man of letters who once remarked, There- is an Essex bumpkin who came up from the country thirty years ago. and by his own unaided energy haFl done more for the civilisation and Christianisation of South London than all the archbishops and bishops of the establishment." England is to-day mourning for the Essex Bumpkin whose sturdy genius, sincerity, strength of chara.cter, and practical philanthropy made him the foremost figure in the English religious world. In the speech which Lord Salisbury delivered at Exeter on Tuesday night there were some ener- getic, and even eloquent, passages, but there was a striking lack of that confidence and enthusiasm which should mark the utterances of a leader of a great party on the eve of a general election. It was expected, too. that the Premier would deal with the future policy of the Government, but this he was careful to avoid doing. There was no newness about any of his declarations. The crushing defeat of Rossendale had evidently cast its gloom over the spirit of the Conservative leader. The only grain of comfort that he gave to his dejected followers was that he did not regard the general election as being a turning point or a final election, but as an early stage in a long and protracted struggle. Lord Salisbury is evidently reckoning on his boasted play of the constitu- tion," which means that a Tory House of Lords will be utilised to crush the measures passed by the representatives of the people. We cannot believe that Lord Salisbury is blind to t the significant declarations of the leaders of the Liberal party with regard to the House of Lords. If the irresponsible second Chamber persists in opposing the people's repre- sentatives. a sharper remedy will be applied to the evil than hitherto. Liberals will no longer be con- • tent with threatening to swamp the Tory lords by a wholesale creation of Liberal peers. The Reform Bill, which has just been introduced by the Belgian Government, indicates in which way public opinion is setting. The Bill provides that the King's power of veto should be limited by the introduction of a referendum on something like the Swiss pattern. And the Tory party may be sure that the Liiberals will no longer be content to be saddled with an irresponsible second chamber, which has the power to over-ride all their decisions, but that, on their triumphant return after the next general election, they will either mend the chamber by the introduction of a referendum, or end it altogether by abolishing a chamber which has always distinguished itself by rejecting every measure which would tend to place greater autho- rity in the people's hands, or to raise the standard of their comfort or status. Attention is being called to the proceedings of the Local Board and the Burial Beard at Ponty- pridd with reference to the extension of the dis- trict of the latter. The Burial Board has resolved to obtain Parliamentary powers for the extension of their district, and are now promoting a Bill for the purpose. The Local Board, however, have sug- gested that they should oppose the Bill. If this is done, the ratepayers may feel satis- fied that one of the Boprds are at fault, and, if they are alive to their interests, will take steps to make their wishes known to the representatives they place on the Local Board at the next election, which is not far distant. It is certainly a most unsatisfactory state of things when one body of representatives of the rate- payers intend spending public monies in promot- ing a. Bill, and another body of representatives intend spending public monies in opposing it. The Burial Board are elected for the purpose of attending to matters relating to burials, and one would certainly think that they are the best judges of what should be done. It certainly is a great hardship that those who live in certain portions of the town which, for Local Board pur- poses, are essentially part of the town, should have to pay their rates with the other inhabitants of Pontypridd, but should be compelled to pay for burial fees one-half as much again as those who live within the Ecclesiastical district of Glyntaff. The Local Board in Pontypridd have always been wanting in ability to look to the future. The drainage scheme, which is now, we hope, approaching completion, might well have been taken up before. The lighting of the town should also, it is thought by many, have been under their control before this. When the question of the incorporation came before them the answer given was that they considered it premature, and before pronouncing upon it would wait until the new portions of their extended district were handed over to them. Now again when tho deputation from the Burial Board waited upon them at their last meeting they return the usual answer by passing a resolution that they consider that the proposal of the Burial Board is premature. The Burial Board are, it is believed, determined to proceed with their Bill, and if the Local Board decide to oppose it 'the waste of money will be great, and the costs incurred by both Boards will no doubt amount to a very substantial proportion more than the sum that would be required to carry out the extension. It is certainly to be hoped that if the Burial proceed the Local Board will not oppose them. The question of the purchase of the Gas Works came before the Board again at their last general meeting, and it was referred to a special meeting. The Gas Company have up to this scored one," as it is too late for the Local Board to obtain a pro- visional order. Even though this is so it is to be hoped that they will not let the matter drop, but will be ready to apply for one in November next. With the fear of the loss of their under- taking over their heads the Gas Company will, perhaps, do something rather than lose a property from which they derive such a handsome return as 32' per cent., and the ratepayers can feel reasonably content, that if they do not become the owners of such a remunerative undertaking thoy will at all events get a more satisfactory supply of light than they have had for a consider- able time.

IN AND AROUND BABltY.

BAMY DISTRICT NEWS

LLANGEINOR SCHOOL BOARD.

LLANHARRAN AND YSTRAD HOUNDS

MEETING OF THE BAltRY SCHOOL…

A BARRY DOCK SOLICITOR HAULED…

A STEAMER WRECKED NEAR BARRY.

ROUND THE TOWN.

!VOLUNTEER INTELLIGENCE.I

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