The South Wales Star

AN IMPORTANT LICENSING I QUESTION. At a meeting of the Standing Joint Committee of the Glamorgan Quarter Sessions on Monday, at which General Lee, Alderman H. P. Charles, Mr, O. H. Jones, Mr. Picton Tnrbervill, and. Mr. J. Blandy Jenkins were present. An important dis- cussion respecting licensing was raised. Alderrnan .J ones. Griffiths. with reference to the return of publicans and beerhouse-keepers re- ported to the superintendents of police for offences under the Licensing Acts and not proceeded against, asked why this was so and the Chairman taking several .cases as selected by members of the committee, supplied the reason why each offender had not been proceeded against. Practically in each case the, superintendent of police in the district concerned had acted on the advice of the magistrates' clerk.

No MORE GRAY HAIR OR BALD HEADS.—See the Peoples Fireside Journal, this week. All news- agents, Id.; post free, 2d., from 593 Newman-street London, W |

UP TO DATE NOTES. BY PETER.] The Local Veto Bill is apparently dead and gone for the present, but I believe that it has only retired from public view for a short time, and that at no distant date the G overnment will See that the people will insist upon having the control of the liquor traffic in their own hands. -0- Those districts which are at present governed by bodies similarly constituted as the Barry and Cadoxton Local Board will rejoice at the action taken by the advanced Radical Party with regard to the Parish Council's Bill. It is apparent to all who follow closely Parliamentary procedure that at present Home Rule blocks the way. The Radical, or Progressive, Party, as they choose to call themselves, are anxious to see the people given the full benefit of the franchise, and the principle of governing themselves,. and so suggest that the j Home Rule Bill shall be disposed of as quickly as possible in order that pressing reforms for England and Wales might be pushed forward. The Parish Councils Bill is the principal measure they desire to see passed, and I think that their choice has been a wise one. Barry and the sur- rounding district will benefit by the passing of such a measure, and I am sure that many electors will welcome the passing of a Bill which will enable them to vote by ballot, and, I hope, con- scientiously. —o— Again the question of the County Magistracy is raised, and in all probability there will soon be a somewhat radical change brought about. In fact it is said that at an early date the announcement of considerable additions to the County Magis- trates may be expected in consequence of the recent resolution of the House of Commons. -o- I find that Captain W. M. Pengelley, hon. secre- tary of the Cardiff and Penarth branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, has just issued a circular giving details of a special committee meeting at which an important and interesting letter from the mayors of Manchester and Salford was read. After careful discussion of the commu- nication, it was resolved that,, with the object of largely extending the usefulness of the institution by inducing the public generally to take a greater interest in it, than is now the case, that gentlemen of position, including the mayor and deputy-mayor of Cardiff, and others comprising the influential members of the boards, etc., relating to the ship- ping trades, be respectfully invited to combine as members of this committee with the object of adopting such steps as may be deemed necessary to augment its funds. A public demonstration in Manchester realised a -sum of 15,500, and no less an amount than £18,000 was raised in Lancashire j and Yorkshire by the same means. The help of aU gentlemen interested is earnestly solicited, first by becoming a member of the committee, and after wards by assisting in organising a demonstration at Cardiff, so that the public may be thoroughly aroused, and that the result may prove as effectual for the benefit of the institution as it has done in the North of England. -0- Speaking of the great Local Veto Demonstration on Saturday last, a London newspaper says :—The temperance people showed on Saturday that they know how to organise and to carry out a vast demonstration. It is easy to find fault with this or that detail of the Local Veto Bill. It is impossible to deny that the drink question is one of the greatest and most pressing questions of the day. Indeed, no rational man can deny that if England, were made a sober country to-morrow a greater and more beneficial change would have been accomplished than if. any other reform were carried. -0- I "Jhe newly-elected Local Board at Porthcawl have apparently very ancient ideas respecting the position which the Press of to-day occupies as a I medium between the ratepayers and their repre- sentatives. If I am to believe what has been pub- lished, the Board have actually decided no't to admit the representatives of the Press to their meetings. I thought Porthcawl was a progressive district, but the authorities have shown that they are far behind the times. What are they afraid of that they should hold their meetings inside closed doors ? I hope 'the ratepayers will strongly protest against anything of the sort, a'nd plainly tell those who are elected to transact public business that they desire to know what takes place. -0- I find that the question of providing better telegraphic communication with South Wales has been raised again with determination in the House of Commons. The matter arose out of a question asked as to what progress had been made under the Telegraph Act, 1892, in the acquisition of the trunk lines of telephones from the companies in the construction of additional lines, and in the determination of the exchanges. It was stated I that considerable progress had been made, and the transfer of the trunk lines from the companies to the Post Office will not long be delayed. Progress has been made with the construction of main lines from London to South Wales.

POLICE AND-THE MAGIS- TRATES. A the meeting of the Standing Joint Committee of the Glamorgan Quarter Sessions, Mr. David Davies moved :— That any member of the Joint Committee may visit any police-station within the jurisdiction of the Committee. of the Committee. The Chairman ruled the resolution out of order J that Mr. Davies was led to make the Committee I decide that such visitation was legal. It wasn't competent for the committee to do so. No magistrate even had a right to visit stations in that way. They could only act as a Joint Com- mittee, but as private individuals they had no right to do anything. Alderman Griffiths asked whether superinten- dents of police had the power to refuse admission to members of the committee. The Chairman replied that if superintendents in their discretion did so, they would in all proba- bility be backed up by the committee. Mr. David Davies pointed out that the basis of of his resolution was the non-observance of the Sunday-closing Act in the Rhondda, but the Chair- man repeated that they had no power to pass such a resolution. It was resolved that no appointment to the rank i of inspector of police, beyond the present number should be made without the consent of the com- mittee, and that all the police, as far as practicable, be instructed in ambulance work.

BARRY DOCK LIBERAL WORKING MEN'Sl CLUB AND INSTITUTE, | PRESENTATION TO A BARRY TIME-KEEPER. I On Saturday evening, at the Barry Dock Liberal Working Men's Club and Institute,-a numerous gathering of members and friends met together for j the purpose of presenting Mr. W. Price, time- keeper in the employ of Mr. J. Jackson, contractor at the deep water lock works at Barzy Dock, with a purse of gold, on the of his leaving Barry to assume an appointment at the Merthyr Barry to assume an appointment at the Merthyr Water Works Reservoir. The Chairman, having explained the objects for I which the gathering- had assembled, bore testimony to the many social qualities of Mr. Price, whom he had known for many years. ,Mr. Price, in acknowledgement of the presenta- tion, said he was thankful to them all for their great kindness towards him. He had spent a very happy time at Barry Dock, and should always re- call those time with great pleasure, especially that evening. Songs were sung by a number ot gentlemen, including Mr. W. H. Best, Mr. Ashton. Mr. R. Williams, Mr. Sharpies, &c. Mr. Francis, of Oban- street, Cadoxton, kindly accompanied the songs, and a most enjoyable evening was spent, and good wishes were expressed for Mr. Price's future success.

[ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ] TOUT ATKINS; AT HOME AND ABROAD. A Glimpse at His Private life. BY "SERGEANT CROWSFOOT." IX. .FOOD FOR THE MIND. I might also mention, that the mind of the soldier is not forgotten in the efforts to improve his physique. Every regiment possesses a capital lending- library, a good reading-room, and a billiard-room. &c. Towards the former Tommy is required to contribute but a nominal fee of about 4d. monthly (even this some grumble at), whilst his game of billiards (100 up) "would cost him not more than 3d. In consequence of the facility afforded him in this latter.respect, a large number of ex- cellent players may be found among soldiers. The reading-room is nearly always well-filled, as the average soldier considers himself a politician. He is generally an out and out Tory. OUTDOOR EXERCISE. But to return to outdoor exercises. Athletic sports are frequent in a good regiment, whilst horse-racing, or a Gymkhana." is got up at least twice a j year. These latter are always character- ised by the extreme novelty of the races engaged in—such as riding to a certain point, dismount, eat a .large bun, and drink a cup of tea, mount and ride back again. This is only one of many ideas. Every variety of sport is indulged in at these gatherings. One of the most curious items I ever saw on a programme was at one of the Military Tournaments. It is called a "menagerie race," and which I venture to state is almost unique in the L I annals of sport. Strings are attached to the legs of hens, geese, dogs, rabbits, cats, squirrels, &c., and the owner of each novel steed runs behind, holding the siring and endeavoring to urge the little thing forward. The dog, you would think -would require no urging, yet such is not the case. He slinks behind with his tail between his legs frightened by the noise. This race is eagerly looked forward to, and causes hugh merriment, as the little creatures sometimes make an awful noise and go in every direction except the right one. One year the fortunate owner of a little guinea pig walked off with the first prize, which, strange to say. was a guinea, and he was called Piggy by the men '71 7 for a long time after. Men, and'especially soldiers, are nothing but big children after all. In two or three places where I have been stationed AQUATIC SPORTS have been arranged. Although the general public partake of all these enjoy- ments (as there is no entrance fee charged) the work of getting them up seemed to me to be left entirely in the hands of the officers, no outsider think- ing it worth while to offer assistance. The money spent in prizes, &c., is pro- cured by subscriptions. MAD FBEAKS. I will now proceed to treat of some of the mad freaks, which I have known soldiers to indulge in. The average soldier is particularly fond of making bets and laying wagers, and I recollect when my regiment was proceeding through the streets of Manchester one day, on a route march, a man in the band, who played the trombone (and conse- quently occupied the front rank) actually knocked a gentleman's hat off, by raising his instrument and pushing the end out, for the sake of winning an absurd bet that he had made. The unsuspecting civilian was walking on the edge of the pavement keeping step with the soldiers, when the wilful player of the trombone, who was on the outside edge, KNOCKED HIS SILK HAT OFF, doing considerable damage to that necessary, though scarcely ornamental, article of attire. The bandsman Avon his bet, but it cost liimdiis liberty for a week. But of all the mad-freaks that ever I beheld in all my life, perhaps the one I am going to relate is the maddest. My company, 140 strong, was stationed on Ross Island, one of the group of Andamans, a convict settlement, contain- ing some lf>,000 or 20,000 convicts. It is situated about 800 miles from Madras. The island on which our barracks was built only about three-quarters of a mile long, and a quarter of a mile broad. and its direction lies from north to south. (All these details are necessary, as the reader will afterwards perceive). On the eastern side of the island, no matter how calm it may be, the sea always breaks on the shore with a loud noise, wearing away the rocks, and gradually forming caves, into which the incoming tide Tushes with a roar on account of the heavy ground-swell, whereas the western side (off which coast lie the other islands, forming a kind of harbour, out of which it is rather difficult for sailing vessels to get without a tug), presented a sloping sandy beach, and a calm sea. On the day in question the sea was very angry," indeed, but this trifling circumstance did not prevent two soldiers, who were drinking in the canteen, from making a bet that they would swim around the island, the one starting on the eastern side, and the other on the western. Need- less to say they were both drunk. No sooner was the bet made than one of the men, immediately ran down to the rocks, against which the waves were lashing themselves in fury, and stripping off, plunged boldly in, and swam straight out to sea. This was necessary as the ] tide was coming in, and if he had been ( washed back on the rocks again he would 1 have been seriously injured, if not Jailed. He was followed down to the 1 9 shore by a group of men, who vainly endeavoured to dissuade him from the attempt. It was now that the excite- ment commenced, THE SEA ABOUNDED WITH SHARKS, and we expected every minute to hear the man's death-scream. But no, he battled manfully with the waves, still keeping straight out, now rising high with the crest of a wave, and now disappearing in the trough of the sea. Frequently he would throw up his arms and beat the sea with his legs, so as to make it appear that a shark had attacked him. This trick always produced a groan from the anxious watchers, and a feeling of sick- ness stole over me. But his black head could still be seen, becoming smaller and smaller. By this time the whole popu- lation of the island was in a state of the wildest excitement. Soldiers, civilians, and natives ran hither and thither, and on all sides could be heard the cry, There's a man in the sea There's a man in the sea The chief commis- sioner of the island, from his house on the highest point, waiclied the scene, alternately condemning the man for his mad act and praising his prowess as a swimmer, almost in the same breath. Confound the fellow,"he stormed," how dare he risk his life like that; I'll have him imprisoned. He'll be drowned for a certainty, or else be eaten by sharks. I'll have him tried by court martial. But, by Jove he's a splendid swimmer he's a brave swimmer. But the man must be mad look at him Good Heavens There.s some pluck in that man. He's A TRUE BRITISH SOLDIER. With a regiment of men like that I'd face the devil." And so the old V.C. Colonel raved on, and ordered his boats out. But D- was still triumphantly riding the waves, and had long since turned and was following .the coast, line, making for the southern point. But the fun was only half over. A boat's crew of soldiers, another of native police, and that of the chief commissioner's beautiful six-oared boat, having raced to the sandy beach, all launched their boats about the same time, and then ensued a race, vvlÜch would put our University Boat races to the blush. rrhe" man in the sea was almost forgotten in the new excitement caused by the impromptu boat race. The crews, encouraged by the cheers of their partisans (a crowd of whom ran along the shore) pulled lustily at their oars, and great excitement prevailed. Our boat was the first to round the southern point of the island, however, where they came in sight of the swimmer. He stoutly njused to get into the boat when ordered to do so by the corporal in the boat, although he had been in the sea three-quarters of an hour. He was, however, made to get in. He did not appear very exhausted but he was perfectly sober. It then transpired that the man with whom he had made the bet never started to swim' around the island, nor did he intend to. I have every reason to believe that if D-- had not been made a prisoner on his landing that he would have made it rather warm for the, other man. A FEW WORDS RESPECTING SHARKS. It was on this island, only the preced- ing Christmas to the time of the event just narrated, that a soldier, when in liquor, undertook to swim around a distant buoy and back to the island. He, however, was attacked by a shark, and lost a leg, from which cause he died the following day. To guard against the possibility of being attacked by sharks the soldiers, when parading for" bathing parade" every Tuesday and Saturday, after having undressed, used to wait for the bugle to sound "The Advance," and then all rush in the sea together in a line, splashing the water and making as much noise as possible. In these parts I have seen a shark, or karrab mutchee," as the natives used to call him, meaning, literally, bad fish," heave out of the water not ten yards from the' boat I was in. They have frequently been shot by the soldiers. Once, when out in a boat, which had been freshly painted, I remem- ber a shark followed us for miles. We could see him very distinctly in the clear water.

OUTING- OF THE DINAS POWIS FIRE BRIGADE. The first annual outing of the members of the Dinas Powia Fire Brigade took place on Tuesday, ,4- the 6th inst., the place selected -being the Cwm- bran Gardens, Newport, the expenses of the trip being- defrayed by the honorary captain of the brigade, General Lee. The start was made about eight a.m., in breaks,, from the Police-station. Those present were :—Mr. William Rees, lieu- tenant Mr. Mockford, quartermaster: Police- constable Herbert Evans, instructor: Mr. John Edwards, sergeant: Mr. T. John, acting-sergeant: and Messrs. W. Evans, J. Mason. J. Edwards, J. I Collins. T. Collins. Augustus Williams, J. Rees, W. Howelis. and T. Hussey. After A MOST ENJOYABLE DRIVE the Cwmbran Gardens were reached, and a sumptuous meal partaken of at dinner time at the Gardens' Hotel. At the conclusion of the meal Police-constable Herbert Evans took the chair. The usual loyal toasts having been given, the toast of The Hon. Captain, General Lee," was given in an eulogistic manner by Lieutenant W. Rees. The Brigade Instructor (Police-constable H. Evans) responded on behalf of the hon. captain. and in the course of a very happy speech, remarked that nothing gave him more pleasure than the honour of responding to the toast on behalf of their captain. None of the members had come in contact- ;with the General than he had, in con- nection with the brigade, and he must say that at all times he was ready to promote the interests of the brigade, not only financially but by valuable and practical advice—(applause)—and whenever it became a necessity for him on behalf of the brigade to go to the General, he had always done them any service that he could do. (Applause.) Mr. Mockford, quarter-master, responded to the toast of the ladies and gentlemen who had kindly subscribed to the funds of the brigade, and Sergeant John Edwards impressed upon each member of the biigade the necessity of attending regularly the practices. Some of the greatest' men of the land thought it not beneath them to become members of such useful and noble institutions as the Fire Brigade. The remainder of the toast list having been gone through, the party spent a most enjoyable after- [loon visiting the many spots of interest in the listrict, arriving home when the shades of the light had overshadowed the earth with its iarkened light. Before separating three hearty vere given for the worthy captain for his iberality.

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