The South Wales Star

NOTES FROM LONDON The elections ;are now virtually concluded, and the spectacle presented by this country to the intelligent foreigner" is calculated to make the cynic smile and the Christian weep. A few weeks ago a Conservative Ministry went jubilantty to the country for a ratification of its confidence. The virtues of that ministry were extolled and em- blazoned, and no doubt was expressed that a duly grateful country would at once return it to power in increased strength. Members of the Cabinet, even with strange lOtstfulness after singing their own praises, pointed out the dejected rank of the Opposition, on whose faces, they said, defeat was already written. The result has been that whatever may be thought of the comparative size of Mr. Gladstone's majority, the Government has been handsomely beaten. There can be no mistake on that point. About the proportions of the Liberal majority, those who have nothing better to do may amuse themselves, but the complete defeat of the Govern- ment is not open to argument of any kind. Going to the country in a majority of 68, they returned from it in a minority of 42. And so. to the un- sophisticated minds of people who have not been corrupted by the peculiar morals and manners current in official political circles, nothing remains but for a Liberal Government to assume the reins of office, which the retiring Ministry of law and order" will quietly and promptly hand over in obedience to the answer returned by the country to the question they asked it. I Yes, they must be, indeed, very unsophisticated people who imagine that sort of thing, and their knowledge of the Conservative party must be re- markably limited. Instead of acting as English gentlemen, admitting defeat frankly, and patrioti- cally assisting to carry out the mandate of the country, they are exhausting every method which malice could suggest and unscrupulousness carry out, to embarrass Mr. Gladstone and nullify the national vote. But it is all useless. Mr. Gladstone is master of the situation in virtue of vox pojndi—and in exer- cising his power he will be simply executing the people's will—fulfilling the most elementary duties of a Constitutional Minister. To say that this election has been won by an ignorant electorate is merely vulgar tu, q iioqe--Eatans will style, in fact; for the electorate now is the same (more's the pity !) as that which sent the present Government into power. If it was right then, why not now ? Echo answers—Why ? But the humour of the situation lies in the fact that all the expected difficulties have no real exis- tence. Mr. Gladstone will bring the strong hand of his people-given authority into play, and sweep away these cobwebs of party spleen into their native obscurity. One of the most interesting features of the next real session will be Randolph Churchill's attitude. If he doesn't make things lively for the Conserva- tive leaders I am the worst prophet who ever put pen to paper. If I am not mistaken, for instance, he will soon be coquetting with the Irish members. Well, che, sara, sara. Deary me What a fuss they make about Lord Orkney marrying Connie Gilchrist And why shouldn't he ? Connie Gilchrist, they say, is an actress. Well, he is only a lord! Belle Bilton was an actress, too, but she was quite as good as Lord Clancarty. I hope Lord and Lady Orkney will be very happy. Sir Charles Dilke has been returned. It is sug- gested that he is an embarrasment to Mr. Gladstone. It is not so. Sir Charles Dilke will not be a mem- ber of Mr. Gladstone's Ministry. Sir Charles will never occupy any official post under the present political regime. Lord Salisbury's celebrated" black man," Mr. Naoroji, who got in for Central Finsbury, has received some most remarkable tokens of the satisfaction which his election has given his countrymen in India. The Maharajah of Hyderabad has forwarded the sum of ten thousand pounds to be used for'' some permanent memorial" of Mr. Naoroji's election. From other persons twenty thousand has been sent, so that at this moment Mr. Naoroji holds thirty thousand pounds -a sort of Indian thank-offering to the people of Central Finsbury for returning a member for India." The following story is going the rounds :—A lady working for Lord Curzon at the election said to a farm-labourer in her sweetest tone," You will vote for Lord Curzon, will you not ?" Quoth the rustic, "No marm. I wm¿'t. Folks tells me's got a bill in Parlymunt to make every man marry 'es wife's sister, and my wife's sister would make just the worse wife in the village." It is stated that on the imminent retirement of Lord Coleridge from the position of Lord Chief Justice, Sir Charles Russell will be his successor. Most of these appointments are probable in the new Ministry :—Prime Minister, Mr. Gladstone; Chancellor of Exchequer, Sir W. Harcourt Lord High Chancellor, Lord Herschell; Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Lord Aberdeen, with Mr. Morley as Chief Secretary Home Secretary, Mr. H. II. Fowler or Mr. Labouchere Foreign Secretary, Lord Rose- bery; Secretary for War, Mr. Campbell-Banner- man: Attorney-General, Sir Horace Davey; Solicitor- General, Mr. Asquith; President of Council, Lord Spencer; First Lord of the Ad- miralty, Sir George Trevelyan; Postmaster-General, Mr. Shaw-Lefevre. As a specimen of the speed with which the Daily Nines served its enthusiastic street patrons last week, it may be mentioned that the result of the Paisley election was on the illuminated canvass in Fleet-street four minutes after the time the poll was delared at Paisley itself. How frivolous it seems for some journalists to be prating about the probability of Lord Salisbury, owing to his defeat, accepting the strawberry leaves," and becoming a duke. The whole thing seems like some disordered vision, some foul vapour. One would think that the Prime Minister had something better to think of than personal vanity at such a supreme crisis. It is difficult to believe the Marquis has any part or lot in such paltry thoughts. Yet, to suit political exigencies, Mr. Gainsford Bruce is made a judge, and Sir Charles Hall is to take the Holborn seat. Justice must indeed be blind The iniquity of such an arrangement is too obvious to require discussing. And it is only a few days since, out of thirteen new magistrates for Southampton, twelve of them were Tories. I don't think Judge Jeffries would shake hands with our present Lord Chancellor, and I am quite sure that if Sir Charles Hall has any self-respect he will forfeit it by sneaking into Parliament that way. Let him accept his fate. It would be difficult to convey in words any idea of the bitter indignation felt by London working men respecting such conduct as Cunninghame Graham's. There never was an election in England into which these working men so threw their whole heart and sympathy. I speak of the better educated section-but without abating a jot of my advocacy for their less favoured and less educated brethren. They felt that the hour of their emancipation had come—emancipation from a vulgar patronage at election time, and the de- liberate cut and tyranny afterwards. Tired of being used by professional politicians as puppets with which to amuse a gullible public while they played their own game, these men made a noble stand against influences so mean and yet so power- ful as would have disgraced five hundred years ago. In the splendid battle which has been fought for London Home Rule two papers come right to the front-the Star and the Chronicle. Professor Stuart of the first-named paper, and Mr. Fletcher of the second have fought a gallant fight against seemingly overwhelm! g odds, but they have won. When London is as well governed, municipally, as such provincial town as Manchester. Birmingham, &c.. those who benefit by such good Government will owe a debt of gratitude so these gentlemen which they can never over value.

A SAD CASE AT CARDIFF. Two young girls, named Charlotte Emmott and Alice Young, toid a very distressing tale to the Cardiff stipendiary on Tuesday. It appeared from their statements that they were both under sixteen years of aJge, and that on the 13th inst., for some reason, the girls decided to leave home. They did so, went to Penarth, and slept there. On Friday they went on to Cadoxton, without any object, and slept at a private house near the station. The day following they met some men near the station, who took them into Cardiff, and it was from the action of those men that the present proceedings arose. The case was one in which Martha Griffiths, the keeper of the house where these two young girls were taken by the men, was charged with allowing the use of her house for immoral purposes. The defendant was committed to take her trial at the Swansea Assizes.

ROUND THE TOWNS. People will be glad when the proposed cemetery Chapel is erected at Merthyr Dovan. ■■■' At Bridgend Police-court on Saturday a com- plainant was asked, Was defendant sober ? He replied, Yes. He was drunk. The Penarth Police-court on Monday was a very light one, and the magistrates got through the business in less than half an hour. The King of Cardiff," who is in his more prosaic moments the Mayor, visited Cadoxton on Friday. He left his crown at home. '■ that's to come of us ? The anniversary of the opening of Barry Dock was last Monday, and no dinner was held to commemorate it. The next big thing at Barry will be a Liberal (in more than one sense) dinner. It is anticipated that about 300 will partake of it, as the price of tickets is only 2s. Who was the young damsel heard to speak of her sister, and, instead of calling her a blonde, made a mistake, and called her a "blanc mange?" Her ideas evidently want sorting. Mr. F. W. Taylor, the Liberal agent for Cadox- ton-Barry, has collected over 70 new claims for votes of Liberal working men in the district to be entered on the next register. The kerbing of Holton-road is finished and people can now pass 'withoub the aid of umbrellas to protect their eyes from the stone chips flying about. For this favour, much thanks. The Welsh Liberals will not be troubled at any future election by the cry of paid Ulster agitators. They had such a rebuff at this election that the Tory party will not repeat the trick ofi having them again. ♦ The young man Samuel Atwell, who so nobly tried to same a fellow workman's life last week, is about 26 years of age, and a member of Mr. S. y I A. Williams' Bible-class at the Barry Congrega- tional Church. Mr. D. Edwards, of Holton-road, writes to say that it was he who was responsible for the announcement in our contemporary that the Rev. J. W. Matthews would preach last Sunday week at Court-road Chapel. The bobbies of the Barry district complain of the want of something to do, and gloomily mutter that if this state of things go on much longer they will be unequal to the task of resisting successfully a breach of the law. « The luncheon provided for the ministers and delegates at Barry was one of the best ever served in the district. There was just one little fault, however. No allowance was made for those who take something stronger than gingerpop. ♦ We are informed lively revelations may be ex- pected during the hearing of a. county court case which will shortly be heard from Cadoxton. The parties to the case are both well known, and piquant disclosures may be expected. There will be no need for the Barry School Board to rest on their laurels for some time to come, judging from the following specimen sent to a Board schoolmaster this week :—" July 13, 89 —pies to exques my sun thomes, as he as had a cold." Fortunately for himself, Mr. Daniels, who read a paper at Barry on Sunday School work, is not a resi- dent in the Barry district, or he would find himself like Daniel of old in a den of lions. The Roman Catholics of Barry are rather sensitive when their Church is brought under criticism. At the Congregational meeting held at Barry last Wednesday a gentleman stated that the reason the devil had so many followers was because he had good business capacity he kept his house open till 11 p.m. for six days, and closed one, while the chapels opened one and closed six. The mention last week in this column of the absence from the reading room table of the London Daily News resulted in its finding a place once more on Friday and Saturday, but on Monday it was again mm est. Of course the Tory papers were to be found in their proper places. We heard from many polling stations in South Glamorgan when the election was going on that the parsons were imploring the electors to vote for the Knight and keep the Church going. A few voters had the courage to say, Leave politics alone, and minister to the poor and needy instead." At the luncheon of the Barry Congregational Conference on Wednesday flattering compliments were paid to the Rev. J. H. Stowell on the series of papers now running in the SOUTH WALES STAR. which he is writing on a tour in Wales. Another minister said he thought of taking a similar tour. While sight-seeing at Weymouth the other day, Mr. A. J. Williams, M.P., was startled to see the familiar face of a. Star man. The face belonged to Mr. Herbert Morgan, late chief reporter of the South Wales Star, but now of the Weymouth Southern Star. Mr. Williams was promptly inter- viewed. ♦ A certain well-read young gentleman of Histrionic society fame whilst narrating a short ancedote. the other evening to some friends, stated that the man fell a distance of ,303 feet, was dashed to pieces and killed." The; astonishment depicted on the visages of his listeners was a sight for sore eyes." • How was it that in three cases where gentlemen had been appointed to report to the Burial Board meeting on Wednesday on different matters, the clerk should have to inform the Board that the gentlemen mentioned on the agenda had not made reports? It speaks rather bad for the interest taken in public matters by some of the members. # A Gloucestershire paper the other day published a paragraph to the effect that the Rev. H. Graham Payn, of Barry, had died. A number of the rev. gentlemen's friends at Bristol immediately wired to the district which boasts of the largest single dock in the world," and were much relieved to learn that the startling report was untrue. The poet with the long hair up the street sends us an interminable poem, of which this stanza is the last Arthur Williams proved a good M.P., Born and bred in South Glamorgan, No man fought so square as he, And out was kicked poor old Sir Morgan. The police at Barry Dock have, we believe, dis- covered a new means of inflicting punishment on evil-doers. Instead of the birch or three month's hard labour, the ends of justice will be met by one of the police-constables playing an air or two on the cornet which has been heard by persons pass- ing the Holton-road Police-station. Evil-doers beware! We hear a wail from watering places that visitors are coming in very slowly, and that the season will be a short one owing to the elections interfering with the holiday arrangements. Daily visitors are abundant; an unprecedented number are daily going down to Southerndown for an out- ing, despite the deficient accommodation at present existing. A proposition was made by a Trades Council member of the Burial Board at the meeting of the Board on Tuesday evening last. that a special meeting of the Board should be held on Bank Holiday. The reporters were dismayed at the possibilities opening up, and Mr. Hughes earned their eternal gratitude by informing the Board that it was not convenient at all for a meeting to be held on such a day. ♦ Mr. Arthur J. Williams, M.P.. and Mrs. Williams are at present staying at Weymouth, and the hon. member may be daily seen making the most of a well-earned holiday. It was his intention, so he said to a Weymouth reporter a few days ago. to have gone across to the Channel Islands, but Mrs. Williams, it appears, is a bad sailor," so that has been deferred. The visit of Mr. Williams enables the local press to make a few interesting references to the orginator of the National Liberal Club, and the gentleman who recently administered such a. thorough licking to the Tory candidate for South Glamorgan. This is the way the Times explains away the defeat of the Government :—" The moral and intellectual weight of Mr. Gladstone's majority is annulled by the fact that it has been exclusively won in the least advanced districts of the United Kingdom. He has a great preponderance of votes in Wales and in the Highlands of Scotland." No wonder Wales can't take kindly to the party whose chief organ speaks of her as the least advanced district of the United Kingdom." But why should South Monmouth be enlightened, while North Monmouth is among the" least advanced ?" Why should the Denbigh Borough electors, or the elec- tors of Wick, be all that is good and intelligent while their neighbours are still sitting in political darkness. Mr. R W. Perks, who won a. seat for the Liberal party in the Louth Division of Lincolnshire, is well known in this district. He is a partner of Mr. Henry Fowler, the well-known member for Wolver- hampton, and who not improbably will be Home Secretary in the future Liberal Administration. For several years Mr. Perks was one of the direc- tors of the Barry Railway Company, is still largely interested in other undertakings at Barry, and is one of the biggest shareholders in the South Wales Star Company. By religious persuasion he is a Wesleyan, and he is a very energetic member of that denomination. He is married to the daughter of Mr. Mew burn, who is equally well-known as a Wesleyan, and he is thus a brother-in-law of Mr. Ogden, timber merchant, of Cardiff. One of the most notable additions to the new Parliament is the Hon. Edward Blake, of Canada. During the past 15 years Mr. Blake has had an unrivalled reputation as a Parliamentary orator in Canada. One of his own colleagues could be more eloquent at times, but no one in Canada has com- pared with him in parity of reasoning, force of argument, and marvellous grasp of a subject. By sheer force of intellectual ability he has frequently led the whole House of Commons, although his shafts of logic were shot from the Speaker's left. His power of keen analytical criticism would evoke the admiration of any legislative assembly in the world. In sarcasm he could probably give Lord Salisbury some lessons. His English, like his features, is classic, and his mind is stored with the riches of ancient and modern learning. The other week a contemporary had a puff para- graph about its effective advertising facilities. We can outdo that. An advertising firm has written to us begging us to discontinue their advertisement, as since advertising with us their trade has so grown that their premises will not permit of their taking fresh orders. A few days since an excursion trip was advertised in our columns,and when the cap- tiin got to the end of his journey he was astonished to see people from a long distance waiting to make the return trip to Cardiff. His curiosity prompted him to ask how they could possibly have heard of the trip. They answered him that they were sub- scribers to the SOUTH WALES STAR, and had seen it in that morning's edition. That captain now says the SOUTH WALES STAR is the best advertis- ing medium in Wales. # If a young orator wishes to have a lesson in fluency of speech he should attend a meeting of the Barry School Board and hear the excuses of the parents whose children are irregular in their attendance. Now and then they would have ft lesson in tact as well. Here's .the way olit., virtuous woman tried to get round the members. And, sir," she said the teacher beats my boy. and I was told to go and tell Captain D:(.vies, who is one of the head men (Captain Davies bows his head to hide his modest blushes), "and I tell you what, gentlemen, if my boys don't get treated right here, I'll send them to the Catholic School (here it is Dr. O'Donnell's turn to blush, while General Lee sadly murmurs Eve Eve Eve :'). The virtuous matron mistakes his meaning, and, drop- ping a cu^sey, says Good hevening, sir I good hevening to you all!" and off she goes trium- phant, with one babe at her breast and six at her j knee. The story of a promising boy came out at the last meeting of the Barry U. D. School Board. We have all read of the precocious baby of the Bab Ballads, but Mr. Gilbert must have been wrong in saying that he died, like all whom the gods love, in his early youth. This identical boy, at all events, is 10 years old. His mother was asked why she didn't send him to school. Why ?" she exclaimed, 'cos I can't get hold on 'im. He runs away from home, and stays away for weeks, and then I have to fetch him from the Union or from the Police-station. T'other day I had to pay 3s. at the Cardiff Police-station for his keep, but off he went again, and he was then found in an Union." There are great possibilities before this boy. His interesting career shows, according to General Lee, the want of a sectarian school. We should say it shows the want of good home influence, or of an industrial school. There's a lot of cussedness in human nature, which will break out in spite of religious teaching.

MEETING OF THE -I I-) BARRY PUBLIC LIBRARIES COMMITTEE, On Wednesday night a meeting of the Barry Public Libraries Committee was held at the Board- room, Cadoxton, when Mr. David Robert took the chair. There were also present Alderman Meggitt, Drs. O'Donnell and Lloyd Edwards. Mr. J. Lowden, Mr. C. J. Flowers, Mr. Llewellyn Williams (SOUTH WALES STAR), aud Mr. J. II. Hughes (secretary). After the minutes of the last meeting had been read and confirmed, the reports of the three sub- committees for Barry, Barry Dock, and Cadoxton were considered. Complaints were made that certain papers in the Cadoxton Reading Room were abstracted, and notices were ordered to be put up to draw-attention to the legal penalties attached to such offences.-Two bills were passed, one for 19s. for coal, and one from Mr. F. W. Taylor for work done at the Barry Reading Room for £ 1 Is. 7d.—The Library Sub-committee sub- mitted a report showing that they had engaged a room next door to the Holton Reading-room for the purposes of a Public Library; that counters had been ordered, and that shelves would be put up by next Monday. Before proceeding to appoint a librarian, it was mentioned that he would be required to act as secretary of the Public Library Committee and of the Science and Art Classes.-Alderman Meggitt proposed, and Mr. J. Lowdon seconded that the librarian should also be required to exercise a general supervision over the three branch reading rooms.—The proposal was carried. Dr. Lloyd Edwards and Mr. W. Llewellyn Williams dissenting, and on the proposal of Dr. O'Donnell, £5 was added to the Lir)rarian's salary.—Nine applications had been received for the post of librarian, the applicants being Messrs. R. S. McKay, Harry Inch, W. D. Stradling, E. F. Blackmore, S. H. Mountain (Barry), J. D. Davies, A. Westacott (Barry Dock), R. Kirtness, and Mrs. Huntley (Cadoxton).—Mr. E. F. Blackmore was unanimously appointed, to enter upon his duties immediadely. Mr. Milner's tender for the supply of papers for the three reading-rooms was accepted. Some dissatisfaction having been expressed with the list of papers received, a sub-committee, com- posed of Mr. D. Roberts, Dr. Edwards, and Mr. Llewellyn Williams, was appointed to revise the list. It was mentioned that £ 120 had been spent on books, and that there was zC 30 still in hand. The Library Sub-committee were authorised to pur- chase another £ 30 worth of books, so as to release the cheques for the full payment, which are now kept back at the bank. It was decided to wait till the balance-sheet of the Science and Art Committee was ready before deciding how much to vote to the Science and Art Classes.

TIIE NEW MINIS FRY. Everybody is Cabinet-making, but perhaps the most interesting account is to be found in the Daily Chronicle of Thursday. The leader- writer of the Chronicle thinks that all the old gang" — Sir Lyon Playfair, Mr. Os- borne Morgan, Sir O. K. Shuttleworth, and others should make room for better men like Messrs. Arthur Acland, Sydney Buxton, Channing, and S. T. Evans, Lloyd George, and T. E. Ellis who have given a new direction to Parliamentary Radicalism." Mr. John Morley he is uncertain about; Mr. Labouchere would make the best Home Secretary (bar Sir Charles Russell) of the generation. In the writer's opinion there is no earthly reason why Mr. T. P. O'Connor and Mr. Sexton should not be in the Administration.

IF you wish success in life make perseverance your bosom friend, experience your wise councillor, caution your elder brother, and hope your guardian genma.— Addition.

SIR CHARLES DILKE ON PUBLIC AFFAIRS. The views of a clever man on the future are always interesting, and the views of Sir Charles Dilke on the future of Welsh politics are especially interesiing. Sir Charles is known as one of the most clear sighted and far-seeeing men of our time, and his recent election as the representative of the Forest of Dean will give him a power and an influence which no one outside the House of Commons can wield. The following is an account of an interview with a representative of the SOUTH WALES DAILY NEWS :— Whbt do you think, Sir Charles, will be the course of events when Parliament meets ? We may reckon now upon a 40 to 50 majority for Mr. Gladstone, and I dare say you have seen the rumours as to Mr. Gladstone bringing forward a Registration Bill, and, perhaps, a new redistribu- tion scheme before he takes Home Rule, so that if the Lords should reject Home Rule he may go to the country with a better register and a fairer chance than we have had this time. It is said that he will try to bring one man one vote' into operation, and then may have to fight on one vote one value." If he deals with one man one vote he will, no doubt, have to take up redistribution in some form or other." And that will take away representatives from Ireland ?" Yes If you made strictly equal electoral dis- tricts. But that would give rise to a tremendous disturbance. We might, however, go a little further on the lines of 1885. I was not then allowed to go so far as I wished and there is a great deal of disproportion in the value of votes still remaining. By the redistribution of 18S5, we improved matters considerably. The disproportion then was as much as 100 to 1 now it does not ex- ceed 8 to 1. There are boroughs in which a little over 2,000 electors return a. member, while in other boroughs it takes 16,000—such as at Cardiff and Wandsworth." Cardiff has 17,000 That disproportion might be modified and we might reduce it to extreme cases of not more than 3 or 4 to 1 without interfering with the distinction between borough and county," by giving additional representatives to places like Cardiff and Wands- worth, taking members from over-represented small boroughs—taking away the second member from two-membered boroughs by a higher limit than we made before. On these old lines of redis- tribution you can go further than we went then. You can continue the process of 1835. We didn't go then as far as I wished." "What do you say to the argument of the Ministerialists that redistribution ought to be made ? They count very much upon it to re- duce the relative strength of Ireland at West- minster." To go the whole distance, giving equal weight everywhere, means chopping up the country into numerical blocks, extinguishing the distinction between borough and county chopping through all boundaries and that is a thing which I do not think they would like. There would be very great resistance to that scheme. If they want oo reduce the relative strength of Ireland, they can only do so by going in for really equal electoral districts, and this the Tories will never agree to if they can help it. But you can take away th-eo seats in Ireland without interfering with the principle of the 1835 settlement. Two of these would be University seats, and one would be a Tory seat in the North of Ireland but the moment you go beyond that you raise the whole of question of distinction between borough and county in Great Britain. Wales is more over- represented ithan Ireland. You cannot possibly touch Ireland in that way without touching Wales. When the Tories talk about "one vote, one value," and "redistribution," the question should be put to them-" Do you mean it: would you do it ? And then it would be found that they are not willing- to go the whole distance. The fusion of borough and county would te unpopular with both." THE LABOUR PARTY. W hat do yon think of the prospects (,f the Labour party in the new Parliament ? There is general expectation that you will act with them." I am a strong Radical, but not a paity man. I believe in acting together for temporary purposed but not in having a hard and fast party oganisa- tion. You can do more by temporary alliances for specific purposes. You can make greater progress that way. Then, as to what is called the Labour party, you cannot have that until you get payment oi members. There will be no strong Labour party until payment of members has been carried. The representatives of Labour who are now in Parliament are not a united party. True, they are all Labour representatives, but they do not for a party in the ordinary acceptance of the term. They an composed of men of different shades of opinion, some- times of different aims, and. as a rule, they are moderate politicians You cannot call them a distinct party. I do not expect to see their numbers very greatly increased until we have pay- ment of members, because unless the Unions agree to provide their representatives with salaries you cannot have the number very much multiplied. Some of the Labour leaders are very able men, and would undoubtedly do good work in Parlia- ment if we had payment of members. Soiae of the leaders of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain I have a very high opinion of Mr. Cowey, for instance, and others I might name." -1 How far do you favour legislative iaterference with industry ? Take the Eight Hours' Bill for example." Generally speaking, I am in favour of State intervention, and of acting upon it in cases where public opinion points in that direction where there is not much interference involved, and where there is a distinct advantage to be gained. I am in favour of considering each case on its merits as it comes up for discussion. Certainly I am in favour of the Eight Hours' Bill for miners. It is an exceptional industry." Then you would not extend the eight hours' limit to other trades ? Certainly not, unless it were called for. As I said, I am in favour of dealing with each case on its own merits." THE SLIDING SCALE. "You have a high opinion of the Miners' Federa- tion of Great Britain. The leaders of that organisa- tion seem determined to mission South "Wales in their interests; but they are fighting against the principle of the Sliding Scale, which has worked very well with us." I am not against the principle of the Sliding Scale, but the Sliding Scale should have a power- ful Union at its back. You must recognise this— that the Federation has been most ably led. They have been told over and over again by economists, and by all the newspapers of the kingdom that they cannot keep up wages in the face of a falling market; but they have done it." ° "Are you sufficiently acquainted with the condition of employment in South Wales to judge of the effect of the Sliding Scale there ? S" I have inquired into it, but it is very difficult to get an exact apprehension of all local circum- stances. That is one of the difficulties you will always find in industrial questions-to make the men of one district understand the peculiar con- ditions of another. If you notice, there are amend- ments to the Mines Regulation Act constantly being brought forward, or they try to bring them forward; but they cannot agree amongst themselves as to the exact form which these should take. Every man judges from the circumstances of the collieries with which he is best acquainted with and these cir- cumstances do not exist elsewhere. The one thing essential is strong union. A Sliding-scale without strong union is a danger." COMPLETE HOME RULE FOR WALES. You are in favour of Home Rule all round. Sir Charles. Would you give Wales full powers 7" On all Welsh questions I hold very strong views. I shall act completely with the Welsh members and am a Welsh Home Ruler. I go beyond many of your leaders on this question; am more extreme than the extremists. It is a point upon which I have very strong opinions and I am perfectly certain they (the Welsh Home Rulers) are right. I should not be frightened by any extremity of demands. I do not believe in paraphernalia, but as regards powers. I should not be frightened at all. I do not care about Speakers and maces and Ministers, and all that sort of thing. but would give the Welsh representatives very larce powers, unchecked and unhindered." To deal with the land as well Certainly why not ?'' Then you would, at any rate, carry out that clause of the Local Government Act:, which em- powers County Councils to unite for certain pur- poses and also extends its scope so that Wales might have Home Rule? •' I would give the Welsh, through their repre- sentatives, full power to deal with their own local affairs, and that without any limit. I have full trust in the people. The community is always perfectly fair. When it comes to local government, you will find in administration that the extreme men have an extraordinary sense of fairness, even as against their own predispositions. They will not take away the means of livelihood of any man. Therefore, I would have ncrhesitation in giving a Home Rule Authoritj* absolute power over lii? land, or anything else thatis Wqlsh. OLD AGE PENSIONS AND THE 1;X. EMPLOYED. What is your attitude towards the social demands that are being brought up by some of the labour leaders, r.5, icr instance, the provision of work for the unemployed ?" I would only touch that under exceptional cir- cumstances." As to old age pensions ?" I explained my position in regard to that before the Foresters at their annual High Court. What I said there was that I had not seen any scheme which seemed to me to meet the case. The way would be opened for fraud-considerable fraud. As chairman of a Metropolitan Board of Guardians, I have had some experience of the difficulties of identifying persons. We have not in this country any system of personal identification, and it would be very difficult to prevent abuse of any system of old-age pensions unless it were made universal. But then there is the expense of it." Unless the cost is take i from the unearned increment ?" Well, if you are going to deal with the un- earned increment, that is another qus stlon. I was with John Stuart Mill when he advanced the argument of the unearned increment. We held meetings-it was about the year 1870-but it was so novel that, when we came out before the public the land nationalisers came to our meetings and out-voted us."

CADOXTON CHURCH SCHOOL TREAT. The annual treat of the Cadoxton Parish Church Sunday Schools took place on Wednesday last cn Barry Island. Prior to starting all the children met in Iddesleigh-street, Cadoxton, at 12.:>'J, where they were formed into procession in the following order :-A brake, which was kindly placed at the disposal of the Rector by our esteemed townsman, Mr. B. Hoddinnott, Witchill Hotel, con- veying the little ones who were too small to walk then a banner (a magnificent one, got up by the Misses Palmer and Miss Lewis), carried by two stalwart scholars from Idd-jsleigh-street Mission Room School; followed by the Parish Church Sunday School, numbering about (¡,j; the Welsh School, 40 Barry Dock English Church School, 180 and Iddesleigh street, 19.) with the worthy Rector bringing up the rear. Each school marched in class order, the different; teachers looking after their respective classes. Dr. Livingstone also joined the procession. The weather turned out all that could be desired, considering the rain and storm experienced the previous day, and the afternoon was very agree- ably diversified by bathing, rounders, crichet, football, races, and other pleasant and enjoyable games, ending with a tug-of-war. Ladies v. Gentle- men, the former proving victorious. The tea iiiuat ^aiiicu uut kfy following ladies :—Mrs. Palmer, Mrs. Simmonds, Mrs. Collins, Miss Lewis; the Misses Palmer, Miss Jenkins, Miss Morgan, and Miss Phillips, who were greatly assisted at the table by Mrs. De Boer, Mrs. Marsh. Mrs. Llewellyn, Miss Small, Misses Rogers, Miss Parry, Miss Evans, Miss il L Wright, Miss Brooks, Miss Giles, Miss Evans, Miss Dew. Miss Davies, &c. The following gentlemen also rendered valuable help The Rector, Rev. Couch and t sher, the two churchwardens, Mcsrp, Evans, R. T. Holmes, E. Lloyd, J. R. Llewellyn, and J. Felix Williams. The serving of tea com- menced about 4.30, and lasted till 7.30, the very large number of 585 anults and children, having been very satisfactorily attended to. The caterers were Mrs. Simmonds and Mrs. Bur- bidge (Barry-road), and Mr. J. Spickett (Rock House). Mrs. Simmonds, in addition to providing part or the provisions, rendered invaluable assist- ance throughout the afternoon, and the provisions all round gave general satisfaction. Mr. John Jones, Ilolton-road, very kindly sent his waggonette to take the young on3s home in the evening. The start homewards commenced shortly after eight, prior to which each child was given iA 19 bun and a few sweets. A large number of the Cadoxton contingent went home in charge of Messrs. J. F. Williams and Evan Lloyd, assisted by Mrs. Adams, and on their way mat the worthy Rector, whom they cheered till they were hoarse. Several hymns were also sung en route, and the huge company broke up at Cadoxton after singing the National Anthem and further cheering the Hector.

BURNING FATALITY AT BARRY DOCK. HEROIC CONDUCT OF A WORK- MAN. On Friday night a distressing fatality took place at Barry Dock. Oa the night in question it appears that a young' man, named Samuel James, and another young man, named Samuel Attvvell, were engaged in repairing the dredger at Barry Dock. They were standing on a plank under the top of the dredger, where the buckets pass from one side to the other. A large lamp, filled with about half a gallon of inflammable oil, was sus- pended over where the deceased was work- ing. By some means or other the lamp became detached, and fell upon James, and the contents were scattered all over him, and in a moment's space of time the poor fellow was enveloped in a mass of flames. Atwell turned around horror-stricken, and for a moment was bewildered as to what course to pursue. He had no coats or cloths with him to throw over Atwell-they were quite isolated on the planks from any means of assistance. If deceased had fallen off the plank he would inevitably have been dashed to pieces. In less time than it takes to recount he laid down James on the plank, and, at the risk of his own life rolled over him, and tried to ex- tinguished the flames. This was of no avail, how- ever, and help having been by this time procured James was wrapped ill canvass, and taken to the Cardiff Infirmary on Saturday, and he expired on Sunday morning after suffering great agony. The young man, Samuel Atwell, in his gallant efforts to extinguish the flames was burnt very badly about the arms. He is being attended to by Dr. Powell, of Barry, and is doing as well as can be expected. INQUEST. Mr. H. LJ. Grover, Deputy Coroner, held an inquest at the Infirmary, Cardiff, on Tuesday, on the body of Samuel James,a boilermaker's assistant, who died from the effect of barns received at Barry Dock, on the 16th inst.—Samuel Attwell said he was working with the deceased on board the dredger lying in the Barry Dock, on the 15th, About midnight witness heard a cry of I am on fire," and on proceeding to the spot he found de- ceased enveloped in flames, which were eventually extinguished by the aid of some canvas. Witness also received burns about the left arm in trying to rescue James. Witness could not tell how the accident happened, as deceased was employed some distance away from him. James was working with a "duck" lamp, which held about half a gallon of oil,—James Gilbert gave corroborative evidence.—Dr. Moreland, house-surgeon at the Infirmary, stated that deceased died from the effects of severe burns about the body early on Sunday morning, and the jury returned a verdict of Accidental death."

REV. HENRY BABB AT BRIDGEND. There was a large congregation at the Wesleyan Chapel, Bridgend, on Sunday evening, when the special preacher was the Rev. Henry Babb, of Tenby. The text chosen was Luke xix, v. 4, "And he ran before and climbed up into & sycamore tree to see Him for He was to pass that way." The preacher said he believed that Zacchajus represented a very large class of people —viz., a class of people who wanted to see Jesus. The conduct of Zaccha.'us was worthy of imitation. Commenting upon the difficulties which Zacchaeus had overcome to see Jesus he said that Zacchasus was ecclesiastically outlawed, and that was no trifling difficulty for a man to overcome. Again Zacchreus was a publican and a rich man. Whatever difficulties there were in the way of Christ the Lord had provided a means of over- coming them. Some would have to climb the tree like Zacchscus before they saw the Saviour. Was it love of the world which kept them from the Lord? Then they would have to climb the tree of separation from the world—separation from. the majority. Was it covetousness ? If so, they would have to climb the tree of sacrifice. Was the difficulty in their way—that of intemperance ? If so, they would have to climb the tree of temperance and so on with all other difficulties. God had provided something- to set against and to overcome every obstacle iu the way to Him. ■

FAILURE OF A BARRY TRADESMAN. Mr. John David Greig, of High-street, Barry, has been adjudicated bankrupt. Mr. Greig has had a varied career at Barry. He started as school- master, but gave up that nnd became an estate agent and accountant. Finding this unsatisfac- tory, he started as confectioner, opening patisserie shops at Cadoxton and Barry. Last of vll, this failed also, with the result already meaUoBed-

INSPECTION OF THE NEW ABERTHAW RAILWAY AND LIME WORKS. On Wednesday the directors of the new Aber- thaw Railway Company, accompanied by the directors of the Aberthaw Pebble-Lime Company and Mr. A. Beasley (general manager Taff Vale Railway Company), Mr. Brewer (en- gineer to the Taff Vale Railway Com- pany), Mr. 0. H. Jones (Fonmon Castle), Mr. W. H., Mathias (contractor of the railway), Mr. James Hurman, Mr. Walter Scott, solicitor (secretary to the railway company), Mr. Gaskell, and Mr. Kilby (manager of the lime works), in- spected the railway and lime works. They were conveyed from Cowbridge by a special train, Mr. Mathias having supplied the engine and Mr. Beasley the carriage. The party having travelled along the line, they disembarked at Aberthaw and proceeded over the works. Subsequently, several important matters were discussed, and it was decided to construct a jetty across the river with a view of affording holiday seekers easy access to The Leys. It is anticipated that the new railway will be open for passenger traffic within the course of a month or so. This enter- prise must necessarily result in the devolopement of the locality, and give an impetus to the opera- tions of the well-known Pebble-Lime Works.

this would be both to England and to Wales. We merely wish to point out that long as the Welsh national senti- ment is as strong as it is, no party that ignores or reviles it can hope to be popular. Welsh sentiment is perhaps stronger-certainly it is more sensitive—because our great men have tried to suppress it. Tories, of all men, should be the first to recognise the force of national sentiment. It was this that converted the turbulent and disloyal Wales of the Lancastrian and Yorkist period into the peaceful and law-abiding Wales of the TUDORS. It was this again that made the Presbyterians of Scotland fight for the malignant" race of the Stewarts. It is the hope that the Liberal party will satisfy this sentiment that has kept Ireland contented during the last three years. It is equally the hope that the Liberals will satisfy this sentiment that has caused Wales to send to St. Stephens only three Tories. The unpopularity of the Establishment is only one sign of the existence of this national sentiment. Welsh Tories must drop many others of their old traditions before they can hope to be saved from extinction. WHAT IS TO BECOME OF DILKB ? THE next Parliament will be an interesting one in many respects. It will prove what claims the Welsh members have for being con- sidered as a separate party;" it will prove whether Lord RANDOLPH or Mr. BALFOUR is to be the future Tory leader it will show whether the little band of Liberal Unionists is really as formidable as they themselves would wish us to believe it will determine Mr. CHAMBERLAINS future relations with the Liberal party and it will probably determine also who is to lead the Liberals when the Grand Old Man will lead them no more. But perhaps the most curious and interesting, and in many ways not the least important, of the problems that will be solved will be the posi- tion of Sir CHARLES DILKE. We have nothing to do at present with Sir CHARLES' guilt or innocence. The hard solid fact remains that the electors of the Forest of Dean have sent him back to Parliament with an overwhelming majority. Now that he is in Parliament, the real struggle begins. It is, of course, known that Sir CHARLES will never be offered any post in the new ministry, or in any ministry which has Mr. GLADSTONE at its head. But a man of consummate talent, an ex- perienced Parliamentarian, a weighty and con- vincing speaker, and an expert debater must inevitably wield a tremendous influence, both in and out of the House, whether he is regarded with favour by the official chiefs of the party or not. For our own part, we have always held that the best thing possible for Sir CHARLES DILKE, and for the Radical, Nationalist, and Labour members will be his exclusion from office. The curse of the Radical Nationalist, and Labour movements; has been the readiness with which their Parliamentary leaders have been persuaded to accept office under a Liberal ministry. The Irish cause has suffered for generations from the fatal facility with which its leaders have sunk their individuality and their cause for the enjoyment of a lucrative office under the Crown. The Radicals hitherto have been led by Mr. LABOUCHERE, but Mr. LABOUCHERE, it is said, will accept office under Mr. GLADSTONE, and the Cabinet Minister will be a very different person from the irresponsible and uncompromising free lance. Rightly or wrongly the labour party lost confidence in Mr. BROADIIURST once he accepted a post under the last Liberal administration. There is no doubt that a politician loses both freedom and independence, and consequently a great measure of his usefulness to the country, by accepting office, and it is certain that the section on the shoulders of which he has climbed into office lose even more by his desertion. In the new House of Commons there will be three sections of the Liberal party practically without leaders. The Welsh party does not contain a man of sufficient weight, influence, and position to be accepted by all as their leader; the acceptance of office by Mr. LABOUCHERE leaves the Radical party u as sheep without a shepherd and among the represen- tatives of labour there is no one who can claim to be a king among his fellows. Circumstances would seem to point to Sir CHARLES DILKE as the one man who is destined to lead these forces. Everyone who knows DILKE'S Parliamentary history knows his uncompromising Radicalism. He began life as a Republican, and his hatred of privilege and political inequalities has not been mitigated by subsequent events. His intimate knowledge of and sympathy with Welsh national aspirations will be evident from the re- portof an interview which Sir CHARLES had with a representative of the South TVales Daily News, and which is published in another column. Sir CHARLES has been down in Wales a good deal during the last few years he has brought an inquiring and sympathetic mind to bear on Welsh questions and the result has been that he has been struck with the phenomena of Welsh life which daily contact has made familiar to us and has dwarfed the importance in our days, and that he is now more extreme than the extremists" on the question of Welsh Home Rule. In the same interview DILKE gives utterance to his views on the Eight Hours' Bill and other labour questions, which will prove to be quite satis- factory to working men. DILKE has therefore all the qualites necessary in a Radical and Nationalist leader: he has knowledge, he has earnestness and sympathy, he has talents, expe- rience and skill-and he has no4chance of office. WHAT NEXT? Mr. GLADSTONE is in, and he is in with a sub- stantial if not with an overwhelming majority. Sir WILLIAM HAROOURT did well to remind us the ) other day that Lord PALMERSTOWN con- tinued in power for six years with a majority much less than half Mr. GLADSTONE'S. The go-called Unionists, in their anxiety to defeat Home Rule, have once more shown that they, and not the Home Rulers are the Separatists. They say that Mr. GLADSTONE'S majority is not got in Great Britain, and Mr. CHAMBERLAIN has said, with the sneer which has lost him more confidence than even his treachery, that these men," meaning the Irish members, will control the fate of Mr., GLADSTONE'S Govern- ment. The "Unionists" now declare that they will not accept a law which will have been passed by a majority obtained through the help of Ireland. They forget that in drawing a distinction between the representatives of Ireland and those of Great Britain in the Imperial Parliament, they are repeating in a worse and more insidious form the mistake which Mr. GLADSTONE made in 1886, and which made his Home Rule Bill truly a Separatist Bill. In declaring that they will not hold a Home Rule Act, passed by the help of the Irish members against the wishes of the majority of the" British" members, as binding on them, they also forget that several of the most important reforms of the century, notably Catholic Emancipation, Free Trade, and the three Reforms of the Franchise have been obtained in the same way. For about the first time in the history of Parliament the Liberal members for Wales will be able to throw out the Government. Mr. GLADSTONE'S majority is altogether 42 the Welsh Liberal members number 31, or 62 on a division. They can, therefore, turn the balance whichever way they like. What are they going to do ? We would not counsel any extreme measures. It would be absurd of them to hold themselves independent of both parties, and, like the Irish Nationalists, sit on the opposition side of the House] whatever Government is in power. But it would be equally absurd of them not to take advantage of their unusual position. Mr. GLADSTONE has said that he has found out that there is no such thing as grati- tude in politics, aud Welshmen will find that the gratitude of the Liberal party is based more on a lively sense of favours to come" than on remembrance of the loyalty which Wales has shown to the party in the past. The Tories have had everything to gain, and little to lose, by Wales, and they have been careful to conciliate Welsh opinion. The Liberals have felt so sure of Wales that, like the father in the parable, as she is always with them, and has never transgressed their command- ment, they have never gone out of their way to reward her. We think the Welsh members should certainly take advantage of this opportunity to press the claims of Wales to get a definite promise of a satisfactory Disestablish- ment Bill, ari l of a thorough reform of our Land Laws, in a manner less reactionary and more sweeping than that proposed by Mr. T. E. ELLIS in the last session, and a recognition of Welsh Nationality in our administrative, legal, and educational systems. The Welsh members will be lacking in their duty to their constituents if they do not insist on these promises being given. The last election in Wales has been fought on the question of Dis- establishment and the Reform of the Land Laws. It is, of course, true to say that the Welsh people are believers in Irish Home Rule they believe in Irish Home Rule as they believe in Welsh Disestablishment-because the nation whom it most effects is overwhelm- ingly in favour of it. SECTARIAN EDUCATION AT BARRY. FROM a report published in another column, it will be seen that the Barry United District School Board have decided to make up the full complement of their members at a special meeting to be held on August 15th by co- opting two members to fill the vacancies created by the ineligibility of Mr. BLACKMORE and Mr. OLIVER JENKINS to hold office. We have never been believers in the system of election by co-option. However inconvenient and expensive it may- be, election by popular suffrage has always appeared to us to be prefer- able. But we have to deal with facts as they are the law has given every School Board the power to fill up any vacancy by co-option, and the Barry School Board have decided to use their legal right. This has laid us open to a distinct danger, to which we would not, we believe, be subject were the new mem- bers to be popularly elected. The two new members will be able to control the policy of the Board on the question of religious education. It will be remembered that at the last meeting of the Board it was decided that the Education Department be advised that there was no need of a sectarian school, and that the Board had provided sufficient accommodation for the requirements of the district. If, however, two friends of sectarian education are elected by the members, there is a danger, or at all events there is a possibility, that the Board's previous decision will be reversed. Such an action would transgress every principle of representa- tive government. The majority of the members elected directly by the ratepayers have decided against the creation of new and anomalous vested interests in the shape of voluntary schools. It would be unfair and unjust if this decision were reversed by the votes of two members who may not possess the confidence of the ratepayers. The question of sectarian education—the most important and pregnant which the Board has been called upon to con- sider—should be left as it is until another appeal has been made to the ratepayers and if the question must be re-opened, it should only be re-opened after the sense of the electors has been taken on the matter. From an extract from the School Board Chronicle, which we publish in another column, it will be seen that we have been labouring under a misapprehension as to the proviso of the Education Act with regard to what is sufficient accommodation. We were under the impression that if the accommodation pro- vided was in excess of the average attendance, it would be considered sufficient." We now find that this is wrong. The accommodation provided should be "sufficient" for the whole of the children of the district. If, therefore, we are determined to make State-aided sectarian schools impossible, we must be prepared to provide sufficient accommodation for the whole of the children. When the new school build- ings at Barry and Cadoxton are completed— and they will be completed in the course of a few weeks—even this requirement of the Act will be satisfied.