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WEDKESD A.T.—( Before J. C.…
WEDKESD A.T.—( Before J. C. Fowler, EIq.) SIX OF ONE AND HALF-DOZEN OF THE OTHBB. Mary Mason was summoned by Leah Davies for assault- ing her in Merthyr, on the 16th instant. There were cross summonses, and after hearing the exidence, his Worship inflicted a fine of 2s. on both women. AXOTHER ROBBERY IN CHINA. Richard Teague, John Harry, Martha Parkinson, and Sarah Morgan, were charged with stealing Bl 7s. 4d., from the pers-in of William Thomas, Tafarnaubach. The pro- secutor fell into the company of the female prisoners and accompanied them to China. Then they took him home with them, and, with the aid of the two men, robbed him. Morgan was discharged, and the others committed for trial. A BRUTB. John Clary was charged with wounding Charlotte Clary, his stepmother. The prisoner committed a very brutal assault. He first knocked the poor woman down, then struck her with a chair and flung a drinking glass at her, inflicting a deep wound on the forehead. To wind up, he cleared the chest of drawers and broke all the glass and china in the house. He was committed for trial at the Assiie.
ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.
ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. ADDRESSED TO THE EDITOR. The Editor ii not responsible for the opinions of his Correspondent*. MR. J. WILLIAMS, MILL STREEr, AND THE ABERDARE PUBLIC PARK. SIR,—I have been specially desired to make a few further comments on Mr. J. Williams's (Tomos y Gwas) last letter in the Tyst. J. W. says that I ought to know that some of our present members have been in office since the Board has been constituted. I am well aware of this fact; but the length of time they hare retained their seats is not a sufficient guarantee of their fidelity and efficiency. Ratepayers are not, under all circumstances, in a position to record their rotes as they would wish, and I am fully convinced that, had secret voting been in practice in Aberdare, the gentlemen J. W. refers to would have been as promptly ousted as what he has been. Mr. J. W. is as worthy a man as the parties in question but, neverthe- less, he was unseated at the expiration of his first term. For some weeks past myself and a few others have been scrutinising the voting papers of the last Board election, and we found that scores of parties had voted in favour of candidates towards whom they harbour bitter feelings as public officers. This can easily be accounted for, on the ground that the gentlemen referred to possess immense authority and influence in the parish, that they hold almost every office in the parish, and therefore, rather than sub- ject their positions to be injured, poor people wisely saerifiee their principles, though it is a great pity that such should be the case. Let me assure Mr. J. W. that I am not averse to the park, and do not complain so much of the amount of money spent upon it as I do that the value is not received. I did not attend the parish meeting which J. W. refers to. Had I been present I would have surely voted in favour of accepting 100 acres of land as a free gift. Probably the park will be a great boon to me, R.9 well as a few other?, who live in close proximity to it, and have a little time at their disposal to enjoy it. But I must say I have a great objection to the loose manner in which the public funds have been expended in this undertaking. I contend that one-fourth the amount would have been ample to answer the declining state of Aberdare. The first cost of the park will be but of trifling importance in comparison with the aam it must cost annually—a sum which will not be less than between five and six hundred pounds a year for the ensuing thirty years, the principal part of which will be extracted from the hard earnings of the workman. Mr. J. W. endeavours to impress on the public that the higher portion of the ratepayers will be saddled with it nearly all; but such will not be the case. The inhabitants of this parish are eomposed of working men and tradesmen, and, as a matter of course, the latter must get the taxes which they hand over to the collector frem the former, and the heavier the tradesman is taxed the more he must charge for his goods. The same rule also applies to the employer of labour the heavier he is taxed the less wages he can afford to pay his workmen. If Mr. J. W.'s statements with respect to the park be accepted as facts, not a single error of judgment has been committed but nearly half the members of the Board are at variance with him. They freely admit that the grossest errors have been committee Mr. J. W. entirely contradicts himself by saying that two feet of stones have been laid as first covering on the carriage drives, and on that again three other coverings, which I should imagine cannot be less than another two feet in thickness. This certainly is a great waste of materials. Mr. Williams remarks that he has visited several parks in his time, and that he never saw better roads than these in our park. I beg to tell him that I have been in several of the most popular parks in England, Ireland, and Wales, where, for every carriage that will enter our little park, ten thousand enter the parks alluded to, but I never saw carriage drives with one-fourth the material laid on them as what Mr. Williams tells us that are deposited on the drives in our park. J. W. tells the public that the park is all but completed, and at the same time says that there are eight acres untouched, and that The Board does not know what to do with it. Nonsense the Board knows well what to do with it if it had the means but the fact of the matter is, that the Board does not know where and how to get funds to proceed with it, elsyt would soon form it. Had we a few thousands of pounds in hand the Board have officials and contractors at their disposal who are quite capable to form this piece of land. I believe the whole fifty acres which are within the walls of the park are included on the plan, and according to the first estimate it was all to be completed for five thousand pounds, and it eould and ought to have been doue for that amount. It seems that some practical in- dividual has told Mr. J. W. that the park, after being completed, will be worth more, and can be sold for more, money than what the Board has laid upon it. I do not wish to be serere with J. W., for doubtlessly he possesses many features of character which commend him to the approval of his neighbours but were I to say that with attractive social qualities he had also a large share of in- tellectual greatness, I am quite sure I should be charged with an act of simulation and even attributing to him the possession of a slight share of common sense, I am astonished that he should have mentioned this idea sug- gested to him by his practical" friend. Why, the most superficial person will tell him that fifty acres of land walled in and given free of expense is a gift in itself amounting to some hundreds of pounds. I could write a volume with reference to this park, but the less said about it the better for the credit of our Board anthorities and I assure Mr. J. W. that the less he interests himself between the Board and the ratepayers the better it will be for him. Had he endeavoured to curtail our taxation when a member of the Board, probably he would have been still in office. I am sir, yours, kc., Aberdare, Feb. 23rd, 1869. THOMAS PUGH.
Family Notices
BIRTHS. On the 16th instant, the wife of Mr. J. Fergusson, draper, Thomas-town, Merthyr, of a daughter. On the 19th inst, at Tydfil School, Thomas-town, Merthyr, the wife of Mr. E. Williams, M.A., of a daughter. On the 20th instant, at Springfield, Merthyr Tydfil, the wife of Mr. Charles Wilkins, of a son. On the 20th instant, the wife of the Rev. P. Howell, Ynysgau, Merthyr, of a daughter. On the 21st instant, Mrs. S. Thomas, Bridge-street, Merthyr, of a son. Lately, the wife of Mr. Lewis, commercial traveller, Merthyr, of a daughter. Lately, the wife of Mr. W. J. Gabe, mineral agent, George-town, Merthyr, of a daughter. On the 24th instant, at Abernant House, Aberdare, the wife of Richard Fothergill, Esq., M.P., of a son. MARRIAGES. On the 18th instant, at Cyfarthfa Church, by the Rev. H. Kirkhouse, M.A., Mr. Evan Evans, son Mr. E. Evans, Six Bells Brewery, Penheolgerrig, to Miss Hannah Jones, of the Grawen Arms, Brecon-road, Merthyr. On the 18th instant, at Treforest, Mr. James W. Rees, grocer, Ton-y-pandy, to Miss Jane Evans, third daughter of Mr. Richard Evans, District Surveyor for Vaynor. DEATHS. On Saturday, 6th instant, at Pontypridd, Gwenllian. the beloved wife of Mr. Christopher Jenkins, inspector of works under the Taff Vale Railway Company, aged forty, three years. On the 8th instant, drowned after the collision of the steamship Calcutta, from London, with the barque Emma, from Cardiff, in the English Channel, Mr. Edward Lewis, engineer. He was the second son of the late Mr. Edward Lewis, superannuated Excise Officer, of Pontnewydd, Gellygaer, and nephew to Mr. Thomas Lewis, of Tairlan Farm, in the parish of Merthyr. He was 41 years of age, and has left a widow and a large family. On the 17th instant, Mr. William Lewis, printer, Bryn- mawr, aged 41 years. On the 19th instant, at Easton-place, Llandaff, Mr. Morgan Roberts, late of Treforest, aged 73. On the 19th instant, at Benarth, Anglesea, the Rev. Henry Rees, of Liverpool, aged 72. The deceased gentle- man was probably the greatest pulpit orator of the Prin- cipality, and his death will be universally lamented throughout Wales. On the 20th instant, Mr. David Oliver, Merthyr Tydfil, aged 56, deeply regretted. On the 21st instant, the infant daughter of Mr. Roger Edwards, draper, Merthyr.
[No title]
ELECTION EXPENSES.—A bill to amend the law relating to the expenses of reurning officers at elections, introduced by Messrs. Fawcett, Baincs, and M'Laren, has been printed, and was issued on Tuesday. It proposes that that expenses incurred by returning officers for hustings, &c., shall be de- frayed from country or borough rates, provision being made for cases where the county is divided for parliamentary representation. In Scotland it proposes that similar ex- penses be defrayed out of the assesment for counties or burghs. Candidates who have not polled one-fifth of the electors who voted are to be made liable for their share of the expenses, and in the event of a candidate being nomi- nated without hif consent, his proposer and seconder are to be made so liable. It is also proposed that the Act shall come into operation immediately on its passing. WHAT IS A TRAVELLER?—The "traveller" question cropped up again twice last week in the Court of Common Pleas. The Legislature says that the public-houses shall not be opened on Sundays before certain hours, except to supply refreshments to travellers. What is necessary to constitute a traveller had been very liberally constructed by the courts, till at last, in "Taylor T. Humfries," 34 Law J. Rep. M. C. 1, Chief Justice Erie laid it down that the word ought to include all who fare abroad, either from a desire to enjoy country sights and sounds, or from any other motive of business or pleasure, except the desire for exces- sive drinking.' In the first of the two cases we allude to, U Peplow v. Richardson," the question was whether a col- lier, who had walked two miles and a half from his home to a public-house early on Sunday morning, was a traveller, Andthecourtheldthatas his primary object was to get awalk and drink mineral waters at a spa in the grounds of the hotel (which the magistrates found as a fact that the colliers in the neighbourhood were in the habit of doing), he was a traveller, and as such entitled to be supplied with refresh- ment. In the other case, Davis v. Scrase," which was on a Metropolitan Police Act, in terms almost identical with the general statute on which "Peplow v. Richardson" depended, the question was on whom lay the onus of proof that the person applying for refreshment was a traveller— on the informer or the innkeeper; and the court held that it lay on the informer. Section 14 of the Jervis's Act, 11 and 12 Vic. cap. 43, says that on informations before magis- trates the defendant is to bring himself within an exception, which the prosecution need not negative; but the court held that this provision did not apply to the case before them, inasmuch as the alleged exception with regard to to travellers was a. substantive part of the enactment itself, «—Law Journal. t
ABERDARE INTELLIGENCE.
ABERDARE INTELLIGENCE. VESTRY MMTUf&.—On Thursday week, a. meeting was held in the parish church. Mr. Morgan Williams presided. The business consisted of electing qualified ratepayers to act as members of the Burial Board,in place of the retiring mem- bers. Dr. Price was re-elected. Mr. W. T. Lewis, Mardy, and the Rev. D. M. Jenkins, were elected in place of Mr. Jenkin Griffiths and the late Mr. P. John. Messrs. E. G. Price and T. II. Jones were reappointed auditors of the Burial Board accounts. A PRIZE FIGHT STOPPED.—A pugilistic encounter was arranged to come off last Monday morning somewhere in the neighbourhood of Llwydcoed, between two young tyros in the noble art," named Aaron Hughes and Morgan Davies. The stakes were only B2 but the match excited a large amount of interest. Shortly after midnight a num- ber of the friends of the parties met at a certain house in Llwydcoed, waiting for the time to start for the rendezvous. These persons, all amateur pugilists and lovers of the "science," were discussing the prospects of the combatants, when they were rather surprised and disappointed to see Police-Sergeant Thorney step in amongst them, who having received an intimation of the fight, determined to stop it. He arrested Hughes, who the same morning was taken before the Bench at Merthyr, and bound over to keep the peace. Davies, it was supposed, was informed that the police were on the look out for him, for he kept out of the way, and was not arrested. THE CO-OPERATIVB STORES.— To the Editor of the MERTHYR TELEGRAPH.-SIR,-It is rumoured in the town of Aberdare, that the Co-Operative movement here has come to grief, but I am happy to state that the rumour has not the slightest foundation in fact, for on Monday, the 15th instant, at a meeting of the shareholders, held at the Fothergill's Arms, a gentlemen informed the meeting that a shop, No. 4, Cardiff-road, was on sale. Richard Lewis, Esq., proprietor of the Dare Foundry, and Mr. W. Main- waring, fitter, were appointed to wait on Mr. Evans, watch- maker, who was the owner of the premises, with regard to his terms. The two gentlemen returned to the committee rooms, and put Mr. Evans's terms before the meeting. After a little discussion, the two above-named gentlemen were appointed to make an agreement with Mr. Evans; and on Tuesday last the whole of the premises were sold to the Aberdare Co-Operative Industrial Society for the sum of £350. It was mentioned last night in the committee rooms that the shop will be open in April. I may also state that the promoters of this society are good men and true; faith- ful to the principles of co-operation, and strongly desirous of improving the position of their fellow-workmen for it is only by co-operation and helping one another that we hope to rouse ourselves to a better position, and to give a little more education to our children and not only that, but by its aid we hope to put down county courts to a great extent, and thus reduce considerably the useless expendi. ture of our class.—Yours truly, REES PRICE, fitter. Abernant, February 22, ] 868. ABERDARE LOCAL BOARD OF HEALTH. The usual meeting of the Board was held on Thursday, when there were present: Messrs. R. H. Rhys (chairman), D. Davies, T. Davies, W. T. Lewis, G. Davies, W. Davies, W. Powell, Rev. Dr. Price, and Rev. Morgan Phillips. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. MISCELLANEOUS. The maps belonging to the parish were laid on the table. A letter was received from Mr. Thomas Thomas, Cefnpen- nar Rychdir, calling attention to the bad state of repair in the road near his house. The surveyor was directed to visit the place.—The medical officer sent in a certificate con- demning the cellar underneath the Britannia as unfit for human habitation. Other reports were read referring to other houses which were overcrowded, and in the latter case it was directed that notices should be issued.—The Clerk read a letter from Capt. Sandford, of the Ordnance Survey, enclosing a tracing for the correction of an error in the altitude of a portion of the district, which was ordered to be attended to. THE CWMAMAN ROAD. The Surveyor reported the cost of the proposed diversion of the parish road leading from Aberaman to Fforchaman, by the old mill, Aberaman Works, would be B331 16s. 2d.— A discussion took place respecting the deviation of the road to Cwmaman, and as some doubt existed as to the actual feeling of the people of Cwmaman as to the relative advan- tages of the route under discussion and another route up Regent-street, it was resolved that the present plan should be laid open for public inspection, and the opinion of the residents in Cwmaman be invited on the question. A com- mittee, consisting of Messrs. D. Davies, T. Davies, and Morgan Phillips, were named to see Mr. G. Elliot, M.P., with respect to the change in the roads. The surveyor further reported that nuisances existed in certain houses, and order. were given that notices should be served. THE LATE ELECTION AND THE SCRUTINY. Dr. Price addressed the Board with reference to a state- ment in the TELEGRAPH last week, giving the result of the scrutiny. He said he did not complain of the report, but wished to make an explanation. Mr. Powell acted as re- turning officer last time, the chairman being a candidate. He (Dr. Price) assisted, and they were aided by Mr. Hollier. The examined each voting paper, and 1,549 papers passed through their hands, far too much to be done in future in one day. The chairman (Mr. Powell) rejected 178 of the papers as informal, and the investigating committee said 23 of those were improperly rejected, and ought to have been received. He read to the Board several papers as "specimens of the rejected ones, and contended they were bad on the face of them. Of the votes the committee spoke of as bad, several were undoubtedly good. One of those re- jected was the paper signed by Messrs C. H. & F. James. The statement in the TELEGRAPH said there were 187 bad votes accepted, but it did not say how many papers. He had since gone carefully through the papers, and found that only seven could be called bad rotes, and those had been received in inadvertence. The speaker read a number of papers, pointing out that the conduct of the returning officer had been correct, and that the report of the com- mittee was over stated. A conversation ensued, and the matter dropped. THE GAS COMPANY AND THE BOARD. Mr. Frank James and Mr. Morgan Williams, the solici- tor and one of the directors of the Gas Company, waited upon the Board, and asked them to join with the old com- pany to oppose the incorporation of the new one, stating that no expense would fall upon tha Board. A conversa- tion ensued, in which Mr. R. H. Rhys taok no part, the upshot of which was that Mr. James agreed to sign a bond providing for the due carrying out of the undertaking he had given at a previous meeting respecting the reduction in the price of gas. The Board instructed the clerk to see that the bond was prepared, and the Board agreed to join in opposing the new company in Parliament. RBPORT OF THE PARK COMMITTEB. The following report of the Park committee was read The management of the portion of Hirwaun Common allotted by the Enclosure Commissioners to the parish of Aberdare for the purpose of exercise and recreation, having been vested in the Local Board of Health by an order of the Charity Commissioners dated the 23rd March, 1866, the Board proceeded to obtain the sanction of the Secretary of State for the Home Department to borrow the sum of JE5,000 on mortgage of the General District Rate to be levied over a portion of the district of Aberdare as defined in such order, for the purpose of providing fences, and laying out and planting the ground so allotted, and ulti- mately the Board completed an arrangement with the Atlas Insurance Company to make the required Advance and on the 22nd November, 1866, the sum of £5,000, was placed-by the Company to the credit of the Board with their treasurer, and a mortgage was executed to secure the repayment of the loan with interest by thirty equal annual instalments of £151158. 4d. per annum. Your committee, three of whose members were appointed on the 3rd of Octo- ber, 1866, to carry out the arrangements necessary for laying out the park, together with Messrs. W. T. Lewis and W. Powell, who were subsequently appointed mem- bers of the Committee by the Board, placed themselves in communication with Mr. W, Barron, of Swansea, a land- scape gardener, whom they directed to prepare a landscape plan, showing the mode in which he would advise the com- mittee to lay out the ground allotted for a park and after inspecting such a plan the committee thought it desirable to engage the services of Mr. Barron to superintend the laying out and planting of the ground according to the design approved of by them, and to recommend to the Board that a sum of B150 be paid to him for such services. The Board having advertised in the month of April, 1866, for tenders for the drainage of the ground received ten- ders from several persons, all of which were rejected by the Board as being too high. The committee then decided upon making experimental drains on the ground in order to ascertain the cost, after which they entered into an arrangement with Mr. James Hek, to undertake the drainage at a priee which the committee, from the cost of their experimental drains, thought would be a fair sum to pay for the same. These works, which necessarily extended over a considerable period, are now completed to the satisfaction of the Committee. It was found neces- sary that provision should be made for carrying off the water arising from the drainage of the park, and your committee accordingly directed three brick culverts to be constructed for that purpose, and this work has been sa- tisfactorily performed. Your committee then applied to several nurserymen for the supply of trees and shrubs re- quired for planting, and aftep receiving tenders the Com- mittee accepted that of Mr. Barron, which was the lowest in amount. The whole of the planting has since been completed, and at the present time the trees and shrubs are progressing favourably but your Committee deeming it requisite that the belt of trees adjoining the eastern drive should be permanently protected a fence has been erected by Messrs McGregor along the whole belt, which would otherwise be exposed to the depredations of boys and children. The Committee found the fencing adjoining the Dare and Aman branch of the Great Western Railway was in a dilapidated condition, and perfectly useless as a protection against trespassers, who were continually crossing the grounds, and they accordingly applied to the Great Western Railway Company to join the Board in building a fence wall in lieu of the old wooden fencing. The Company agreed to contribute the sum of J370 towards the cost of erecting the wall, which proposal the Com- mittee accepted; and a substantial fence wall, not less in any place than 7ft. 6in. in height has been erected along the western boundary. The sum of j270 has -like-91 been received, from the Company, and appears in the annexed account. In further carrying out the prepared design, the Committee have had a serpentine carriage drive, made round the edge of the park, together with foot. paths along the ground in various directions, thus affording convenient, access to all parts of the park. The two entrance lodges, which were sanctioned by the Board have been substantially erected and completed to the satisfaction of the committee, and will shortly be fit for occupation. The committee, in laying out the grounds, thought it de. eirable that some ornamental water should be formed in the park, and also that a portion of the ground should be levelled for the purpose of cricket, and by their directions the contractor has made two large ponds, and also levelled a large open space, which can be used as a cricket ground, or for any other sports requiring a level surface. The whole of the Park, with the exception of a piece of rough ground at the south western extremity, has been thoroughly ploughed, and subsequently harrowed, and laid down in seeds to the satisfaction of your committee. The com- mittee have thought it desirable that the clusters of trees and shrubs at various parts of the park should be protected during their growth, and with this object they have, with the approval of the Board, contracted for a number of larch post, and also a supply of wire fencing, which is now being erected around the clumps of trees, and serves for theri temporary protection. Your committee have also con- sidered the expediency of widening and improving the present entrance to the park, with the object of placing an ornamental gate at each entrance; but after inspecting several designs and several estimates for gates, they found that the coat of entrance gates suitable for the purpose would entail a large expenditure; and they therefore desire to ascertain the views of the Board before proceed. ing with the same. The Committee, however, recommend that, as there are not any gates at the North Western end of the Park, such entrances should be proceeded with and completed at once; but that any alteration at the North Eastern entrance might be delayed until the end of the year. Your committee would also suggest that the time is now arrived when it is requisite that some responsible person should be appointed to reside in the lodges, and whose duties will consist in preserving the trees and shrubs, keeping the roads and footpaths in order, and take charge of the park generally, under the supervision and direction of the Board. Your committee are further of opinion that if the Board should adopt the above suggestion, the park would be ready to be opened to the public by the end of the month of May next, by which time the turf will be firmly set, and not liable to injury from the public passing over the same. The Committee offered an account of their re- ceipts and expenditure, and also an estimate of the sums which it is probable will be required to complete the park, and these sums they would suggest should be provided out of the General District Rates from time to time as required. In concluding this report, your committee would congra. tulate the town on the acquisition of a Public Park, which, when completed, will not be surpassed by any in the Prin. cipality, and this advantage which is the more valuable on account of the deficiency in walks and good places of exercise, arising from the peculiar situation of the town of Aberdare, will have been acquired at a comparatively small outlay, when compared with the cost of public parks and recreation grounds in other large towns. Your committee are sincerely happy that the result of their labours will be to afford a permanent place of exercise and recreation avail- able for all classes in the community, and thus supply a want that h'JR for some time been experienced in this densely-populated district; and this advantage is now mote especially needed, as within a short period, the whole of the common will be enclosed and the public excluded therefrom. R. H. RRYS. D. DAVIES. T. DAVIES. W. POWELL. W. T. LEWIS. Dated this 28th day of February, 1869. STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS TO THE 31ST DECEMBER, 1868. Dr. B s. d. Loan from the Atlas Insurance Company 500 I 0 0 Great Western Railway Co., towards fence. 70 0 0 Interest on deposit notes at the bank 100 13 5 Sums charged to General District Rate. 160 0 0 5330 13 5 Cr. Cost of draining 6S36 perch 696 19 2 •"Trenching ground for planting 3431 perch .> 377 8 2 .Leyelling, excavating. &c. 413 17 8 Formation of roads and drives 1106 8 0 Planting and fencing trees and shrubs. 801 16 0 Constructing boundary wall. 420 8 0 sewers 289 5 11 ponds 416^ 3 9 Paid on account of lodges *53 0 0 Salary. Ig" 0 Ploughing and sowing « o Sundry accounts Balance in treasurer's hands ° 4 9 Total. 5330 13 5 ESTIMATE OF THE SUMS REQUIRED FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE ABERDARE PUBLIC PARK :— £ s. d. Balance of contract for the erection of the lodges and extra work in connection with the same.. 282 2 0 Cost of larch posts and wire fencing for protect- ing clusters of trees and shrubs. 314 7 0 Balance of planting account 21 6 6 Cost of North West entrance gates, and im- provements 190 0 0 Alteration of South East entrance 120 0 0 Drainage &c., to lodges. 50 0 0 C977 15 6 A discussion ensued, in which Messrs. W. Davies, and M. Phillips objected to the expenditure on the park account. The debate was warm and lengthy, and ulti- mately the report was adopted. ON- THE FFORCHAMAN COLLIERY EXPLOSION. ADJOURNED INQUEST. The adjourned inquest upon the bodies of the three men who were killed at the explosion in Fforchaman colliery, Cwmaman, on the 9th instant, was held on Wednesday, at the Swan Hotel,^Aberaman, before Geo. Overton, Esquire,' county coroner, and the following jury: Messrs. James Naysmith (foreman), Morgan Lewis, Thomas Howells, Alfred Williams, Robert Bucknell, Isaac Mason, David Evans, William D. Davies, John Williams, John Davies, John Lewis, John Evans, Richard Hughes, Thomas Abra- ham, John Williams, Charles Dando, Evan Owen, John Jones, and Rees Evans. From the evidence adduced at the commencement of the enquiry it will be recollected that the explosion oceurred soon after seven o'clock on the morning of Tuesday, the 9th instant, and was caused by a shot being fired in driving a heading by a man named Lewis Griffiths. The result of the explosion was the death of three men, and the injury of eleven others. The names of the deceased were David Evans, William Williams, and Lewis Griffiths. The Coroner opened the proceedings by stating that he had received a letter from Mr. Wales, who had promised to attend. He had not yet arrived, but no doubt shortly would. He then read over the names of the jury, and all having answered, he proceeded to say, they had met to continue the enquiry commenced on the 10th instant. At the last sitting they took the evidence of David Jones, whom he did not intend to examine at such length, but finding he gave important testimony, and in fact could give a clear account of the whole matter, he drew from him a complete statement of the circumstances. He would call him again and read his evidence over to him, and they would hear again what he had to say. It was his intention to call other evidence, and also the officers of the colliery to depose as to the ventilation of the pit. David Jones was then called in, and the deposition taken of his evidence read. A plan was placed before the coroner by Mr. T. Burns, manager of the colliery, showing the whole of the workings, and this was referred to as the evi- dence was gone into, to elucidate eertain portions describ- ing the position of the stalls, etc. Mr. T. H. Wales entered the room as the witness was under examination, and the evidence was again read. The witness, in reply to Mr. Wales, added I and Grif- fiths went into the heading together on Monday. I did not hear him drill the hole. I believe the hole was drilled on the Saturday. I never heard a hole drilled in that heading or a shot fired there. I have been in the pit twelve months, and in that heading six months. I have fired shots in another part of the workings; that was in going through a fault." By the Coroner I have heard no shots fired in the four feet. We were not allowed to fire, and there was no necessity for it either. I was employed to fire a shot in the colliery some time ago. I was employed to fire at the Middle Duffryn, and have had great experience in firing shets. I saw the hole on Monday. The hole was drilled on Saturday, and done unknowing to the officers of the pit. I have been a fireman many years, but I might have passed some hundreds of times without noticing the hole. A noise is made in drilling a hole; but the next man to Griffiths was seventy yards away. The Coroner thought !t strange that the hole should have been drilled without being noticed by the fireman or overman. Here was an act done against the rules-a flag- rant breach of the rules, in fact-and it comes under the notice of the witness, but he never took any notice of it. Witness: I know what you think of it; you think I ought to have told of it. If I had told the master and turned against the men, I should have had to leave not only Aberdare, but every pit in the oountry. If I had told of it, and the men had betn saved, I should have had to give evidence against them, and I should have been ruined.. The Coroner Then you were afraid to tell of this hole! You were afraid of incurring the displeasure of these men? Witness Yes I was only a collier like the other men. Several others knew of it, but did not telL If I had been a fireman or a wasteman I might have done it, because I should have had a chance to fight my way. I should have been driven from the pit if these men had been sent to prison through me. The Coroner I must tell you candidly that I think you might have prevented the death of these poor fellows by a little caution. You had had more experience, and ought to have known the danger. It is really surprising, and a sad state of things. The witness was then questioned by the coroner and Mr. Wales as to the fall in the heading. He said there was brattice extending to the top of the fall. He saw no gas beyond the brattice. There was not much gas near the fall. The fall occurred about three weeks before the ex- plosion. The end of the brattice was from 12 to 14 yards from the face of the heading. Llewelyn Jenkins was called, and said he could speak nothing but Welsh. In the absence of an interpreter, Mr. Evans, one of the jurymen, translated. The witness said he was a collier working in Fforchaman colliery. On the day of the explosion he was in Thomas Jones's stall who worked in Mainwaring's heading. About seven o'clock he was sitting with David Jones and several others outside that stall. David Jones sent him forward to see if Griffiths and the others were going to fire a shot. He ent to the face of the heading where they were working and hv thl time he got there they had put the powder into the hole Williams and Lewis were the only two present. He asked them if they were going to fire the powder, and Sy said yes. He said nothing else, and went back to the men who were sitting in Thomas Jones's stall. *{. ± the men were preparing to fire a shot *nV? them th^ went away bu? did no! say whyVe^^6' remained there, and in a few minute. place. He did not see any iW but ? "f'T face. Except that, he was not nmch hurt ki walk out. All the others that were with M £ but were able to walk out. HeTadTecov^ some of the others but some were not mft n° Xter the explosion he made the best of his way out ^He had worked in the pit several years, and in the four-feet vein. It was not usual to use powder there, and he had not heard or seen any shooting going on there. He had tried to get permission to shoot, but could not do it. The rules prohibited the use of powder. He said nothing to the men, because he did not like to interfere with them. He could read Welsh, and had read the rules, but had not paid much attention to them. He did not recollect whether there was a rule prohibiting the use of gunpowder. On the day before the explosion he saw David Jones and Lewis Griffiths in the heading. He heard Jones tell Griffiths not to fire the shot, as there was dangor. Griffiths made no answer. He saw the hole. The Coroner As this was contrary to the rules and dangerous, why did you not say something to prevent it ? Witness I did not like to interfere with them. The Coroner Did you think there was danger? Witness No I did not. The Coroner: Did you see the ovennan that day ? Witness No. The Coroner: You had not seen him as you went in ? Witness I do not recollect. The Coroner: Did you see the fireman ? Witness Yes I went to him to lock my lamp. We all use safety lamps, and no naked lights. I saw the fire. man by where the lamps are lit. By the Coroner When I saw Griffiths there was no naked light there nothing but the lamps. I do not know how they were to fire the shot. I do not know whether they had any matches. 1 am sure they had no naked lights. The Coroner: You did not see the fireman lock their lamps ? Witness No I did not. I have no business to look at other people's lamps. The Coroner: When you went to Griffiths' and Williams' heading, did you go through the new heading ? Witness Yes. The Coroner Did you see a door there ? Witness: Yes. The Coroner Where was that ? Witness: By Thomas Thomas's parting. The Coroner: Was that door shut ? Witness It was shut. I am sure of that. The Coroner: Did you see the fireman's mark in Grif- fiths' stall that morning ? Witness: I did not notice it. There was a quantity of chalk on the face; but I do not know whether that was that day, the day before, or the day before that. Mr. Wales: On Monday morning did you sec any danger signal on top of the heading ? Witness No, 1 did not. David Jones, the witness who had been examined, said the signal was there. He had seen it, but this witness had not a. chance to. The danger signal was at the entrance to Lewis Griftiths's stall, between the old Ml new heading. The Coroner Did you see it on either Monday or Tuesday ? # Witness said he did not, as oa each day there were men who went in before him. Thomas Jones, collier, living in Aberaman, said at the time of the explosion he was working in Mainwaring's heading. He had worked in that heading about three weeks, and had worked in another part ef the pit four or five months. He knew the place where Griffiths and Williams were working, but had not been there for a week before the explosion. He knew nothing of the cause of the explosion, but he heard it, and felt its effects. He was burnt in the face and on the hand. He had worked in another heading of the four-feet vein, but had never used powder. John Davies, collier, said he worked in Fforchaman Colliery, and on the day of the explosion he was with David Jones and the rest sitting down. He saw Griffiths and Williams going up to the heading. He called after them, and they made ne answer, but hurried on. David Jones then told him that they were going to fire a shot, and they talked over it for a bit. He did not see David Evans pass, but he must have passed that way. Witness told Jones that he thought the place where they were standing was the safest, and soon after Jones got up and went away, but said nothing. The Coroner Did you think it was dangerous ? Witness No, I did not think it was. The Coroner David Jones did. Witness Yes, and he said they ought not to fire the shot, Examination continued Shortly after the explosion oc. curred, and I was burnt, but able to walk out. I saw the fire, and my lamp was put out. At this stage an adjournment of half-an-hour took place for refreshment. At the resumption of the court at three o'clock, Mr. Thomas Burns was examined. He said he was manager of the Cwmaman, Cwmneol, and Fforchaman Collieries, the property of the Powell Duffryn Steam Coal Company. He produced a plan of the workings of the Fforchaman Colliery, and the rules of the pit. This copy of the rules is not the same as that submitted to the Secre- tary of State, and signed by the Inspector the copy which we have huncr up has some bye-laws attached which have not been signed by the Inspector. The rales forbade the firing of shots without the knowledge and consent of the manager, and he had never heard of one being tired in the pit before this. The custom in the pit was for the men to get their lamps in the lamp room, and they might, if they liked, light in the room before they go, or at the naked light of the hitcher at the bottom of the pit, and some of the colliers were in the habit of taking the lamps to the fireman at his station, who would light and examine them. On the day of the explosion witness was at his own house at ten minutes past seven, when he saw a great many lights at the top of the pit, and he went there immediately. When he got there he met a body of men who had just come up the shaft, and he enquired what was the matter. He was told that an explosion had occurred in Mainwaring's heading, and he went down and into that heading. He met the overman, fireman, and several other?} and they all went together. They all proceeded up the heading and found the body of Williams, who was dead, and a man named Reynolds was lying about two feet beyond him. The latter was insensible, bat not burnt. Near him was a man named Edwards, who was partially insensible, and whom he found in a sitting posture. The body of Lewis Griffiths was found at the entrance of the new heading. He was quite dead. It was reported to witness that David Evans WAS out of the pit, and he and the men went out. Hearing from one of ueceasedt sons that Evans had not come out witness returned again down the pit, and in the stall where the nine men were sitting they found his body Witness supposed that he had gone up the heading beyond this stall, and had returned after the explosion, and the men had gone away, and had then entered the stall. He examined the place where he thought the explosion tnnk nlace and found four of the canvass doors were blown down. He also saw the hole that had been drilled, and also an empty powder jack. Near the top of the heidimr he found a paper bag containing about a pound of powder! They had filled the hole with powder and fired the shot which had expelled the ramming, but had not touched the coal. The deceased men were not burnt much, and he thought they died from after.damp and the powder smeke. The hair on their faces was not burnt, but their hands were. He did not think they died from their burns, but from the after-damp. A Juror suggested that a doctor should be called to give evidence of the cause of death. Witness continued The heading in which the explosion occurred was 5ft. lOin. high, and the top was good. The shot had not affected the top, and there was no cavity there in which gas could lodge. He believed the effect of the shot had been to ignite the gas that had accumulated in the old heading described by David Jones. On the Ind December Mainwaring's heading was discontinued because they thought it was working too near the pit bottom. A fall took place in that heading a day or two after, and they determined, instead of removing the fall, to make a new heading. On the 8th of January another fall took place in the old heading and broke down the canvass brattice about twelve yards beyond the first fall, and a blower made its appearance m the top. The Coroner asked why witness did not have the fall tee moved. Did he think it better to have the gas pent up than have it open 7 ° r The witness said it was better enclosed, and when diluted would do no harm to a man working 17 yards off The Coroner asked whether witness thought the jack had exploded ? Witness One man may have taken lib. of powder in the bag, and the other a pound or two in the keg. The Coroner: Can you say that the explosion arose alone from the gas ? The witness It might have arisen from the flash of the shot into the gas, or from the powder in the keg. The Coroner Was the keg damaged ? Witness said the neck was blown off. In reply to the coroner the witness said that as soon as gas appeared additional brattice was put up, and a danger signal allolput up. The Coroner By one of the rules I see the gas should have been fenced off. He thought there ought to have been a fence round. Witness said the signal was put, up about eight yards beyond the fall. Examination continued Fforchaman pit was 200 yards deep, and was sunk to the four-feet and six-feet veins. There were two shafts, upcast and downcast. The latter was sunk to the six-feet, in which about two hundred men were at work. About one hundred and fifty worked in the four-feet. The quantity of air passing down the shaft was 54,150 feet per minute. Of that 23,842 feet passed into the six-feet to be used there, and 30,308 feet into the four- feet. In reply to the coroner Mr. Burns stated that the over- man reported the state of the workings every morning. The hole which had been drilled was out of sight, and a man would not see it unless his attention was directed to it. Joshua Davies, overman of the pit, corroborated Mr. Burns in some particulars, and added that he had heard or saw nothing of the hole, and that the use of gunpowder was prohibited in the pit. There was a little gas at the fall, and the signal had been there ever since the gas was noticed. John Morris, the fireman, stated that he examined the workings that morning and put a mark upon them. Was sure there there was no gas in Griffiths and Williams's heading. Griffiths asked some days before the explosion to be allowed to tire the shot, and be {cautioned him not to °Mr." Thomas H. Wales, Government Inspector of Mines, said he had examined the colliery since the explosion, and found the quantity of air passing in was about 50,000 feet. The colliery was well worked and ventilated, and he had no doubt that the cause of the explosion was the recklees conduct of the two deceased men who persisted in firing a shot while there was gas within nineteen yards of them. The men who saw the hole, and knew the intention of the deceased, ought to have spoken of the matter to the over- man, and so have prevented the waste of life. The Coroner then summed up at some length, reviewing all the circumstances of the case. and at the close The jury returned the following verdict :—" We are of opinion that the deeeased came to their death from an ex- plosion of fire-damp, caused by a shot fired wilfully and Unlawfully, in defiance of the rules and usages or the colliery, by one of the deceased, Uewu Griffiths or William Williams." —-——.—=——
ABERDARE POLICE COURT.
ABERDARE POLICE COURT. TCESDAT.-(Before J. C. Fowler, and B. ff. BAys, Mtqrs.) A rOBGlTING KAN, Evan Lloyd was charged with assaulting David Walters, who declined to press the charge, but expressed a wish to have the defendant bound °veJ, y Jcecp the peace.—The Bench s*id the complainant might give evidence, and they would decide what the decision snoul<j be.—Complainant said he would rather not give e^dence—The defendant was then charged with assaulting the police.-p.e. Morris said the defendant was fighting, and he went to separate him and his combatant. Defendant then turned round and struck him a. heavy blow in the chest.—Fined 20s. and costs. FIGHTING AT MOUNTAIN Ã8n. William Thomat, Mountain Was charged with being drunk and riotous in Mountain.-AMI on Sunday night. The defendant, whose face bore the nuirkg »f warfare, was fighting with a man named Pntchard, and P. 0. Jenkins intervened. -Fined 10s. and costs, In default 10 days. Robert Williams was summoned for a similar offence.- P.C. Court proved the case, and the defendant vras fined 5s. and coets. Evan Davies, for a similar offence at the same time and place, was fined 2s. 6d. and costs. P.O. Jenkins proved the case. 7EMALS ANTAGONISTS. Catherine Davies was summoned for assaulting Ulwabeth Bryant.-The complainant said she was sweepinf the^how from before her door, when the defendj&jtf," ^he' had previously been on bad terms with her, picked up a handful of the slush and threw it at her, and then followed ap this assault with a blow with her fist, which 4ievi brood. — The daughter of the complainant corroborattrd.-The defendant denied the assault, and said ahe was first assaul- ted by the complainant's son, who was told by his mother to strike her. The complainant was sweeping the filth into the gutter, and she (defendant) remonstrated with her, as it would choke it up. The complainant continued but threw some water on to make it thinner, so as it would run. She again told complainant not to do so, but the latter only made an indecent motion towards her, and told I her son who was close by to throw a stone at her, which he did.—The parties, it appeared, lived at Cwmbach.—Fined 2s. and costs. -Complainant stated that she wished to swear the peace against defendant, and was told she could not do so without a fresh tmmmonof. AFFILIATION. William Jones was summoned for being the father of the illegitimate child of Catherine Morgan. The defendant admitted the paternity. -The complainant, a single woman living in Cwmbach, said the child was eleven weeks old, and the defendant was the father. He had paid her 25s., and she had had no other child.—Order made for 2s. per week, 5s. for midwife, and costs. COAL STEALING AT HIRWAIN. Mary Ann Sweet, aged 12, and Hannah GriJJHhti under 16, were charged with stealing 3 cwt. of coal, the property of Robert Witham, Esq., and others.—P C. Protheroe said on the 11th of February, at seven o'clock in the evening, he was on duty on the Hirwain Coal and Iron Company's railway at Hirwain. He saw one of the prisoners on the top of a truck flinging coal off, and another carrying it away. He asked them what business they had to take the coal away, and they began to put the blame one on the other, each saying the other persuaded her. They had carried the coal some distance away, off the railway, and put it in a heap. The girls lived about 300 yards away. Tho relatives of the girls were very poor. Griffiths was an orphan, but Sweet had a father in work at Hirwain.— Neither of the children understood English, and the evi- dence was translated to them.-Fined 5s. each and costs. His Worship said he was afraid it was the women who hllll control of the girls who were responsible for these thefts, and they ought to prevent them from following such bad habits. If they allowed it to go on, they would find that the girls in time would be brought up again, and then have f to be sent to a reformatory school. The receiver was always worse than the thief, and they must be eareful or else they would be implicated tliemselvies. AVOIDIX# DISTRAINT. James Owynne was summoned by Mr. John Hammet for removing his goods to avoid a distraint for rent due to Messrs. Heath, Evens & Co.-The defendant did not ap- pear, and service of the summons was proved.—Mr. Ham. met said the defendant had been working under Messrs. Heath, Evens & Co. for seme months as a collier, and had occupied No. 7, Glamorgan-street, Aberaman, at a rent of 12s. per month. The defendant left about the 25th of January, and at that time £ 1 18s. was due. He rave no notiee, and left the premises without giving up the key. He left the house open, and a number of children had got in and destroyed the windows. The goods were valued at about 10s.—Ordered to pay 20s., double the value of the goods removed, and costs, in default 14 days with hard labour. DRUNKBXXXSS. Franeit Tresase, a Cornishman, was summoned for being drunk and riotous in Mountain Ash.-P.C. Court proved the case. and the defendant was otdered to pay 2s. M. and costs. His wife appeared and paid the money. THB SLAUGHTER. HOCSB CASB. The ease, which had been adjourned for a fortnight, was again adjourned by eonsent. THL WBDDIITG PARTY AT THB CLARBNCH. This was a case in which Mr. Emery, the landlord of the Clarence, was summoned fer refusing to admit the police, and as the evidence was somewhat contradictory, his W or- ship reserved his decision. To-day he said: After review- ing the evidence at leisure, I have come to the conclusion that the defendant, the landlord of the house—either in a fit ef temper, or by committing a great indiscretion, made up his mind, for some reasen best known to himself, that he would not let the constable into the bar. With regard to the suggestion of the constable that some beer was in the bar, which was afterwards moved, and that such beer would have furnished evidence of a breach of the beerhouse laws, I am not quite sure, nor do I think the witness is quite sure, that such was the case. But I am quite con- vinced that from some motive which worked in the land- lord's mind he determined he would not let the constable go into the locked bar, and I fine him 20s. with the costs. There are other circumstances in the case at a latter period in the day, which are against the defendant; but I will not take any notice of the residue, and decide on the re- fusal in the morning alone. PONTYPRIDD INTELLIGENCE. STBAX COAL IN PONTTPBIDD. —In our last impression we alluded to rumours in circulation respecting the proba- bility of a company being formed to sink for steam coal in Pontypridd. We believe we are justified in saying that the company has really been formed, and the members of it are men of business, active, and of financial resources. This must infuse some vitality in the stagnation which has characterised the local trade for so long a time past. TREFOREST. —Funeral of an Old Inhabitant.— On Wed- nesday last, the remains of the late Mr. Morgan Roberts, of Llandkff, (for many years a respected inhabitant of this place), were interred at the burying place of the family, Bethesda Chapel, Llanmaes. Deceased was for forty-seven years a member of the Calvauistic Methodists, during thirty of which he was leader of the congregation at Trefor- est, and three years at Llandaff. Owing to a general impression that the funeral was to be private the attendance was comparatively small, though a good number of relatives and friends were present. A most impressive sermon was delivered by the Rev. Samuel Price, of Llandaff, pastor of the chapel formerly attended by the deceased gentleman. The funeral arrangements were satisfactorily carried out by Mr. Palmer, undertaker, of Cardiff. Mr. Roberts was the father of Mr. David Roberts, manager of the Taff Vale Iron Works, Treforest. and Mr. James Roberts, Cashier of the Llwydcoed Iron Works, Aberdare. He was a man whose undoubted piety, and rare neighbourly qualities, had won for him the affection and esteem of all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. PONTYPRIDD PETTY SESSIONS. Wednesday, February 24.-(Before W. Jenkins, and W. Prichard, Esqrs.) The attention of the Court was for a long time taken up with a heavy batch of persons rated to the parish in spite of themselves most of them were individuals who could ill afford the expenses of coming down to appear in answer to the summons, and then to be mulcted in costs, which, in many cases amounted to nearly four times the risk. The amounts varied from 2s., 2s. 6d., and upwards, and the costs frequently reached above 9s. The Bench, when the case admitted of it, remitted the amount on payment of the rate. Prosecution under the 'Colliery Act.—David Phillips, a collier, working in the Feradale Colliery, belonging to Messrs. Davis & Bros., was charged with smoking in the workings of the above pit in contravention of a special rule made in that behalf. Defendant did not appear. The offence took place on the 11th instant. The case was con. clusively proved, the Bench considering the immense stake at issue in violating the rule infringed, thought it incum- bent upon them to inflict a heavy punishment. Defendant was, therefore, sent to Cardiff Gaol for three months with hard labour. Arnault.—Mary Morgan, wife of William Morgan, sum. moned Mary Hodge for assaulting her. Mrs. Hodge, who did not appear, was ordered to pay 21, or go to Cardiff for fourteen days. Refusing to Maintain a Father.—Thomas Llewelyn was summoned for refusing to contribute toward the mainten' ance of his father, whereby be became chargeable to the Cardiff Union. Defendant lives at Pentyrch, and is a collier.—Mr. Henry Hopkins, relieving officer, Cardiff, appeared to prosecute.— Defendant said that he only earns 15s. weekly, and had to keep his wife.—The case was ad- journed to allow the defendant to sue his son, who is equally liable with himself to support his granfather. Stealing a DfeM. —Mary Jones, a young girl, who seemed to feel her position very keenly, was charged by Margaret Jones, a widow, living at Dinas, with stealing an English flannel dress, on the 18th instant, value 2s. She had washed it that day, and placed it on the window ledge by the door to dry. She lost it shortly after. Saw prisoner near the premises that day. Prisoner was a servant, and was leaving her place. Saw the dress afterwards when she was in custody.—Sergeant Noot said on Thursday, the 11th instant, he went to the house of John Williams, and asked if his servant was staying there. He said she had gone away, but there was a parcel of clothes which she had left. On searching it he found the dress. He afterwards saw prisoner, and charged her with stealing the dress. She said, I did not steal it; I picked it off the road."—There was' another charge preferred by Mary Thomas, wife of John Thomas, living at Ffrwdamos. Prisoner was charged with stealing a pair of stockings, which were with other things in a basket on a wall at the back of her premises.-— P.S.Noot apprehended prisoner, and conveyed her to the police station. He asked her to take off the stockings she was then wearing. He then charged her with stealing them. She said those were the stockings.—Prisoner, who had nothing to say, was committed for one month for the first offence, and fourteen days for the second, without hard labour. RHYMNEY INTELLIGENCE. LoWIIB BRITISH SCHOOL.—A reading was given in the above schoolroom on Saturday evening last, under the auspices of the Rhymney Cymreigyddion. The entertain. ment was well attended, about 220 being present. The Rev. T. Griffiths (Cunllo) ably presided on the occasion, in the absence of the Rev. W. H. Thomas, Vochriw. The programme was a rather lengthy one and very interesting. The proceedings were opened by a song by Mr. P. Anthony Jenkins, 4 Enyd fechan cyn y frwydr." Miss. S. A. Thomas sung Will nobedy marry me." Following this an amusing selection, entitled How to save the bacon," was read by Mr. R. Thompson. "Pob rhyw Seren" was sung by Mr. T. Howells and party. An interesting reading r'f1*eJrellyn Richards and party, entitled EF Moriah Juvenile Choir followed with a chorus, Olywch, clywch, ar fyr fe dor y wawr," which was sung prettily. "Diwedd Amser" was next recited in an excellent style by Mr. Daniel Lewis. The Ash Grove was sung by Miss Anne Jones. Following this an amusing selection, entitled Eisteddfod ffasiwn newydi," from the Dydd, by the Rev. D. O. Edwards, was read by Daniel Williams. I bawb gwnaeth Duw y ddaear was next given by the Moriah Juvenile Choir. Mr. Robert Thomas next gave a reading. Succeeding this Can gwraig y morwyr" was sung with care by Miss Mary Morris. Mr. Joseph Davies recited accurately "Beth yw eariad Ymgyrch gwyr Harlech was afterwards bar. moniously sung by the Moriah Senior Choir. Mr. R. Dafles followed with a reading, Pawb wrth waith ei hun," which was read well. Myfi sy'n magu'r baban was given by Miss Elizabeth Williams. Mr. James Rees read distinctly and in good spirit Gwnai pob peth a wnei fel Cymro." Mr. John Morgan next gave a song. Ulti. mately Dydd Gwyl Dewi was sung with accurateness by Mr. Benjamin Jones. A vote of thanks to the chairman was proposed by Mr. Thomas Matthews, and seconded by Mr. Richard Davies, which was passed unanimously. The singing of the national anthem terminated the proceedings. These two readings under the auspices of the Cymreig- yddion have been well conducted, and have been met with great success. VOCHRIW.—This place is situated about two miles from Rhymney, and is now increasing in size and population. There are two or three coalpits in the place, one of which is owned by the Dowlais Company. An aecident occurred in this pit (No. 1) on Monday last, the 18th instant, to a man named Ishmael James, of Pontlottyn, who received various injuries on hia head, oocasioned by the falling of a stone. He received no injuries on any other part of his body. We understand that he is now progressing favour- ably. NARARBTH INDBPBNDBNT CHAPHL.—Quarterly services were held on Sunday last at the above chapel, when i m- pressive and eloquent sermons were delivered by the Rev. D. Hughes, B.A., Saron, Tredegar, at half-past ten, two, and six o'clock. The weather being favourable, there were large attendances and good collections were made. This church and congregation have increased very much since the appointment of the Rev. T. Griffiths (Cunllo) as minister. DUNVILLB k Co., BELFABT, are the largest holders fo Whisky in the world. Their Old Irish Whisky is recom- mended by the Medical Profession in preference to French Brandys Quotations on application to Messrs, DCHYii £ B & Co., Belfast..
TREDEGAR UTTELLIGENOE.
TREDEGAR UTTELLIGENOE. XrLLED UNDERGROUND. -A boy named David Davies was killed by a fall in the Mountain Pit on Wednesday morning, the 24th instant. He had just gone down to work when the accident occurrtd, and in a very short time after leaving his father's house at Sirhowy he was carried home a corpse. NEW TEA MART.- Mr. Edward Morgan, builder, has just completed his contract, and the premises lately occu- pied by Mr. Cohen, which were burnt down in August, 1867, are now rebuilt as two commodious shops. Mr. Jonathan Aliles has opened in one in the grocery trade, and invites all who relish good tea to call at the Glasgow t -is and coffee warehouse. THE PRIMITIVE MBTHODISTS.—The annual missionary meeting of the above denomination was held on the 18th Instant. It was presided over by Mr. H. Russell, of Tre- degar, and addresses were delivered by the Revs. E. Powell, C. P. Mager, and the Rev. Joseph Best, of Ponty- pool, as deputation. It was stated that nearly JBIOOO per month was raised by the Primitive Methodists during the last twelve months towards the mission cause after all circuit expelllel bad been defrayed. TIiK COAL TRAD.The colliers complain sadly of the want of work, some only getting in two days a week lately. In the iron department matters are not so bad, there being ome t tlerably lars?e orders in haud. ALEXANDRA THEATRB.—Mrs. Jennings brings a very suoeossful career to a close tais week. On Thursday Messrs. Brough and Beaumont had a joint benefit. The- konse was well filled, and the pieces performed gave the utmost satisfaction. Mr. Jennings may rely on extended patronage when he comes amongst us again. SNOW FLAKBS.—On Tuesday morning a heavy fall of snow took place, clothing nature in her old-fashioned Christmas garb of spotless white. A week or two of this very desirable change would be exceedingly welcome, and would assuredly arrest the progress of the present milady which is carrying people off at the rate of from twelve to I fifteen weekly. J VOCAL CLASS.—We are pleased to learn that some little pastime is about to be provided in the shape of sacred and secular music. That able vocal instructor, Mr. H. J. Groves, of Newport, and Mr. Caird, of Tredegar, have arran^d to work together, and Mr. Spencer, of the Castle Hotel, has kindly placed the Assembly Room at their dis- posal. The meetings will be held once a week, and tickets for the course of ten lessons will shortly be issued. DARK CORNERS.—We have been requested to draw atten- tion to the Sirhowy Railway Bridge, Charles-street, where numerous young ladies have been subjected to various insults from some skulking hound who seems to take up his quarters in the vicinity of the bridge at dusk and waylay the first female who passes that unenlightened corner minus the company of one of the sterner sex. One lamp and a light in it would obviate the nuisance, and while we advise that the Sirhowy bridge be lighted up, we also drop a hint for a similar metamorphosis under the George-town bridge. ENGLISH BAPTIST CHAPBL.-On Sunday last sermons were preached in the above chapel to overwhelming con- gregations, people even standing outside to hear the elo- quence of Master Probert, whose talent has been descanted upon on many occasions. On Monday the youthful ex. pounder of the Bible gave a lecture on Oliver Cromwel and his Times before a large assembly in the same chapel. He handled the subject in a masterly way, and was ac* corded a warm vote of thanks for the treat afforded. INQUEST.—On Friday last Mr. Cox Davies and a jury met at the Rising Sun Inn, Dukes-town, to inquire into the death of Thomas Monkly (41), a collier, who was killed by a fall in the Little Pit on the previous Wednesday after- noon. Mr. Lewis Powell, Duke's agent, was foreman of the jury, and P.C. Morgan was a little at sea on the occa- sion, having jurymen and witnesses intermixed. Mr. Davies told him to remove the witnesses, and to remember in future to keep them separate from the jury until called to give evidence. It appeared Monkley was timbering, when about five hundredweight of top fell on him and caused his death. A verdict of Accidental Death was re- turned. Mr. Cox Davies, with his usual urbanity and con- sideration for the wants of others, handed 53. to the fore- man as a present from him (the coroner) and Mrs. Davies to the widow and four children which deceased left behind him. How THB MONJIT GOBS IN OUR UNIO.NS. -The fo'lowing letter, evidently emanating from the neighbourhood of Tre- degar, appeared last week in Reynolds' a Neycfpaper Sir, —As your worthy and philanthropic newspaper is univer- sally read by the working classes as well as the upper ten," I crave a space for a few remarks relating to a subject which is at present the topic of the day-i.e., the expendi- ture-or, rather, the mismanagement—of the poor rate. Reform is not only wanted in the expenditure of the public money, but also in the expenditure of our local rates. It is evident that there is a gross mismanagement and a profli- gate way of spending the money which is allotted to the poor chiefly by the hard-working man. The conducting of our workhouses, aa it is done at present, is nothing but a farce, the business of which being carried on by those nffi- cials who pocket the greatest share of the money. The following items will show how the poor rate is being spent by those officials who have the conduct of its distribution — According to the abstract and list of paupers of the Bed- wellty Union, in the county of Monmouth, for the half-year ending March 25th, 1868, 388 in-door paupers of the united parishes of Bedwellty and Aberystruth were maintained, in both food and clothing, at the above union, for the period of six months, at the total sum of B786 8s. 9Jd., averaging seventy-seven days, or eleven weeks, for each pauper, at £2 0s. 6id., for that term, or 3s. 8d. per week making the immense sum of 6id. per day for each pauper. Comparing what is received by one of the officers of the Bedwellty parish with the amount received to maintain each pauper, we find that the officer receives (in relief) for one week more than the in-door pauper gets in eleven weeks-viz.7s. per day-£2 2s. 3^d.per week,—or upwards of JE110 per annum What a contrast—the reliever getting more relief than eleven paupers! i Factsi are stubtorn thinsrs.' A 'scribe,' who manages to get all the business of the Tories of the neighbourhood in his clutches, is em- ployed at the above union, and derives relief therefrom to the tune of JB100 per annum. The 'curers of the body' belonging to the same union get relieved in the insignificant sum of JE135 per annum The assumed curer of souls' also obtains relief (as overtime) to the amount of JE30 per annum; while, at the same time, some of our able Non- conformist ministers offered to do those functions gratia. It is an abominable shame that, in a 'free' country like England, the poor and unfortunate inmates of our work- houses and prisons are not allowed to have the Gospel preached to them by ministers of their own belief and per- suasion. It is a priestly intolerance which should not be tolerated and if those Liberal members who have been recently elected by the unanimous voiee of the nation will further submit to such an injustice, sooner the better such so-called Liberals shall be got rid of from St. Stephen's, and other more consistent representatives of the country elected ts sit in our Commons House of Parliament. The following items suffice to show the extravagance of the officers of the above union in incurring expenses :—Share of necessaries for the period of six months amounted to £20 9s. 8d. averaging JE40 19s. 4i. per annum. Rations of officers, £7118d. 3Jd. areragingZ143 68.6;d. Received by the treasurer for keeping the cash, £10; «r JE20 per annum. Adding these items to sums annually received by the officials-namely, Jt350, makes the grand total sum of JS554 15s. lOJd. per annum expended out of the poor-rate. And be it observed, this is only a part of the expenses in- curred, as the lunatic asylum, the Bristol infirmary, vaccci- nation, and other odds and ends, are not included in the above enormous sum. Comparing the above items received by the officials of the union with the amounts which their inferior (!) but hard-working labourers receive, we see the great difference in the salaries of those who are employed to do the real and substantial duties of the workhouse and those officials who literally do almost nothing towards the comforts of the poor. The governor and governess, or managers of the workhouse, receive the sum of .£7Q per annum between them, or .£35 each the mental instructor, JE21 the industrial trainer, B15 6s. 8d. the boots (for hard work,) gets jE12 10s. the nurse, £ 12; and the cook, E8 per annum. From the above statistics we perceive how the money that is due to the pauper is being extravagantly spent by those who have the control of the poor-rates, and are, notwithstanding, in comfortable circumstances. In fact, the poor man is robbed of the necessaries which the country is willing to supply him. It is time that the Poor- law Board should investigate minutely the abstract accounts of the several unionB of the kingdom, in order that our poor should be properly fed and clothed when they become so unfortunate as to be unable to help themselves. We have not to thank the Conservatives for the favour of an insight into the above abstract, but to those few Liberals who manage to get on the board of guardians. The object of these statistics was principally to enlighten those rate' payers who have not been favoured with the abstract account, and especially in order to stimulate our legislators to have a reform in the management of the poor -rate.-A WORKING MAN."
TREDEGAR COUNTY COURT.
TREDEGAR COUNTY COURT. Thursday, February 18th.-(Before His Honour JUDGZ HERBERT.) Jury Case■—Jones v. Watkins.—Plaintiff is a tailor and draper at Brynmawr, and defendant is postmaster and shopkeeper at the same place. The following gentlemen of the jury, viz. David Jones, Timothy Davies, William Phillips, J. Gough, and Daniel Jones, having answered to their names, Mr. Rice Harris for plaintiff, said the action was brought to recover possession of a piece of cloth, valued at j620 14s. Id., and which was illegally detained by defendant.—Moses Jones, plaintiff, sworn, examined by Mr. Harris I am a tailor and draper at Brynmawr, and was formerly a letter carrier in that district. Last April Watkins, the defendant, lent me L10 to buy some goods with, and when he desired a return of the money I was unable to pay him. Asked him to do a bill with me for £20, and he should have his £10. My landlord joined ne in the bill, and I paid Watkins the £10. The bill was renewed on 24th October, and became due 27th January. I paid JE5, and gave a fresh bill for £ 1\ signed by the same parties, for three months. The £ 5 was ny own money. Told Mr. Watkins I could not meet the bill in full, and asked him to renew it. He answered. I must do it." I received a letter on 27th January from a Man. cheater house, which I showed to Mr. Watkins. He said he was very sorry to see them putting on mi so suddenly. I asked him if it would not be best to send some cash on account. He said, Don't be so foolish, they may keep your money, and take proceedings at che same time," After that ne sent for me to come to hii house, and asked me if I had settled what to do. He said the best plan would be to make a bill of sale to somoone I had confidence in. He said it would cost me £2. 10s., and would take some days to prepare. The only thing to do was to move some goods out of the house, as they would be sure to be at me in the morning. Mr. Williams came in at the same time and gave a similar opinion- Williams asked me if I had his name in my book. I said I had, and he said, You better cross it off and give me a receipt, so that I can get some rent." Williams and defendant came again and asked if the receipt was ready. I showed them the debt crossed off in my book. Watkins said, That won't do you must put by cash." He looked at my bock and said I had some good customers, for which he would not mind giving 15s. in the E. One of them asked me when I would begin to move the things. My wife was present, and she began to cry. Williams told her not to be so foolish it was all for our good. I said, Where will you take them Williams said, "You can take them to my house." My wife said she would rather they were taken to her father's. Williams said that might excite suspicion. Watkins said he had been talking to a traveller, who said we might take them where we likad before we were served with the writ. Watkins said I 8)uld send them to his house, being near at hand. and he would keep them in his sitting room, if I was not afraid trust them there. He then left, saying he would go and see that no one was in the house before taking in the goods. Williams carried the cloth, and I took a I-ox of hats and other things. On reaching' the house Mrs. Watkins asked me if I had reckoned the hats. I said No the box is locked. Left it in the kitohen. Don't know where Williams took the fiber p»rc«I. On the Saturday following I wont for one hats, and no objection was made by any one. Mr atkins went upstairs with me. On the 27th I told him 1 v* as allowed time to pay the bill. I drew a fresh bill, which was signed by Williams and defendant. After this Williams said the cloth ought to be measured, and we measured it. They then asked for the key of the box. I went for the key and showed them what I had in the box. oticed Watkins write something on three pieces of paper. Read one, and said I would do no such thing. After a time he said I should not have the goods till the money was paid.—Judge It is marvellous to nie that such a case is allowed to come into this court. I had better not say any- thing—Plaintiff I told him if he kept the goods fcould never pay him. No one said a werd about security. I have the key of the box now.—A consultation here took placo between Mr. Rice Harris and plaintiff, and Mr. Plews and defendant, when the latter agreed to accept a non-suit.—Judge Very well, gentlemen of the jury, you and I are relieved. — Attorney and one witness allowed. TREDEGAR POLICE COURT. hIDAT, February 19,1869.-1Ilagistra.tes; Bev. E. Leigh and Å. Darby, Esq. Infringemntt of the Colliery Act. — Recently a lad was deprived of life through an accident at the pit, and at the inquest it transpired that the rules had been violated, de- ceased being twelve years old on the day he was killed. Lionel Brough. Esq., was communicated with, and proceed- ings were to-day taken before the bench at Tredegar, the death having taken place at Aberbeeg. Messrs. Webb, Spittal, and Co. were the defendants, and Mr. Simons, of Merthyr, appeared for the prosecution, and, in addressing the bench he dwelt with some emphasis on the stringent nature of the rules laid down for the observance of owners of collieries, and showed how often a very trivial circum- stance led to very disastrous results. An ignorant boy might in one moment, and quite thoughtlessly, send hun- dreds of working men inte eternity just one rule disre- garded, and the pit might become a scene of desolation and death. A pit was something like a fortress, the weak points must be safely guarded. What was the use of all the legislation and provision made for the safety of the collier, if the rules ensuring that safety were disregarded t A man to be fit for work underground ought to be so trained as to know what was wrong and what was right. Education was the thing most needed. Let them educate a man or a boy and they could be made to understand the dangers of the pit. In Russia and other places abroad none were employed who had not reached adolescence. The rule here was that a boy must not be under the age of twelve, or, if under that age, a certificate from his school- master was required. In Merthyr and the neighbourhood no boy was taken without a certificate of birth, and when the deplorable events which now and then occurred were taken into consideration, every one must perceive how im- portant it was that the regulations laid down should be trictly enforced.—Mr. Francis Bladon, for the firm, stated that they had been deceived by the father of the boy. They pleaded guilty, but were under the impression that the boy was thirteen, as stated by the father.—Mr. Darby If he had not been killed, very probably his age would net have come out. —Mr. Brough said the certificate proved the boy arrived at the age of twelve on the day of his death.—John Gibbs, father of the deceased, said the boy was in the de. fendant's employ about eight months.—Mr. Simons inti- mated to the bench that the penalty incurred was £10, and the lowest £ 5.—The bench ordered the latter amount to be paid, and allowed the advocate's fee and four witnesses. Removing Goods. -James Drew was charged with this offence.—Mr. Campbell, agent for Mr. T. Jenkins, Llan. foist, said James Drew carried the goods out for Ellen Drew, and brought the key to him (witness) at the office. The goods would be worth about £ 3.—The bench informed defendant he had rendered himself liable for the payment of double the value of the goods removed.—Defendant said he earned 14s. 6d. a week, and had a wife and mother to keep.—The Bench: You must pay JS6, or a distress will be issued against your goods, and if that fails you will be sent to prison for six months.—Later in the day defendant madt in arrangement with Mr. Campbell for monthly payments of rent due, kc. Forsake them not.-The Bedwellty parish officer sum. moned John Thomas on a charge of deserting his two shiidren, whereby they came chargeable to the Union. The prisoner had been non est for the space of two years, and was apprehended at Maesteg by Sergeant Milkins.—Mr. Havard said the expense incurred was B30 odd.—Prisoner being unable to refund that amount was sent for two months' hard labour at Usk. Fenee Breaking —John Jones was charged with doing sixpennyworth of damage to a fence at Abertillery. As breaking a fence is an offence, Jones was ordered to pay damage and costs. Drunkenness.— William Edwards was charged with being drunk and interfering with the stationmaster at Newbridge, on the Western Valley Railway.—Superintendent Hill proved the offence, and Edwards was mulcted in the penalty of 20s. and costs, or a respectable term of imprison- ment in default. Those Naughty Children.—Mr. Finnessy summoned Mrs. Johnson for an assault. Both parties hailed from the Emerald Isle, and in the course of the examination it came out that the little Johnsons had been shotting stones and being reproved by Mrs. Finnessy, the mother, very na- turally too, came to the rescue and gave complainant a friendly persuadei," which constituted the assault com- plained of.—Defendant was fined 2s. 6d.. and costs. Waste not, want not—On this principle Ann Jones picked up a few lumps of coal, but being observed by Constable No. 51, and on being accosted she gave her name as Catherine Edwards.—Defendant said she was so frightened that she hardly knew what she said She expected her con- finement every day.—The bench committed her for seven days.—The police often bring the coal stealers to answer such charges, and, as some extra stimulant, we think the different companies ought to allow the constable the privi- lege of collecting all fallen coal, it would then be known as the Bobby'e perquisite," Cooks have perquisites, so ought policemen for more reasons than one. Father Come Home.—Mary Lewis, Tredegar, summoned David Jones, collier, Cwmaman, as the putative father of her child, born in February last year. Defendant had paid money on account," and bad frequently promised to make Miss Lewis Mrs. Jones.—A witness named Ann Wil- liams said Jones had paid as much as 10s. at a time into her hand for complainant's child.—The bench made the customary allowance of half-a-crown compulsory, and also Ordered Jones to pay costs. Fining an Alderman."—P.C. Goswell preferred a charge of drunken and riotous conduct against Robert Al- derman. —The beneh fined Alderman 2s. 6d. and costs. BEAUFORT. A LECTURE.—On Tuesday evening last, Mr. Ryan, the representative of the "Alliance," visited this place, and delivered a most eloquent address, at the English Baptist Chapel, on the Curse, Cause, and Remedy." Mr. John Price, insurance agent, occupied the chair, and, after a few remarks, introduced the lecture, and a most able address was given. The audience was not very large, but the lec- turer deserved a crowded house, as his remarks were well worthy of the serious consideration of all who wish to see a better and happier day appearing.
[No title]
A TEETOTAL CHANGE.—" F., Sir," said he is a, shaver like me, I've known him for many a year; old acquaintances we've been, and pot companions. He certainly was an awful character, and his wife too I think they were the greatest drunkards I ever knew. Never do I recollect to have gone to his house, without seeing either a bottle of rum or gin on the table. For years and years I knew them, and they went on just the same, beggared and poverty- stricken, not an article scarce in their place for use. At last they got regularly done up. Well, sir, I lost sight of them for some years, but since I had give up my shop (sink- ing his head upon his chest—it was through his habitual drunkenness), and was wandering about starving, trying to find employment, I went into one very handsome hair. dresser's shop over the water, amongst others, to ask if they wanted a man. Well, I was surprised who should, answer me but F. Bless me says 1. Well, sir, we stood looking at one another; and at last said he pointing round, you see me very differently situated to what I was. Well, sir, I humm'd and ha-ah'd, for I didn't know what to say. It was different, indeed, said D., lifting up his hands and eyes impressively it was different. Yes, said F., you see me very different to what I was Well, sir, he asked me into the parlour, nicely furnished, and introduced me to Mrs. F., and she wasn't like the same woman, they seemed quite ?leased to see me, made much of me and, said F., I'm sorry don't want a man, for I manage all my business myself but I'm going to Ramsgate for a week, for the benefit of my health and if it's worth your while to come for a week, D., do. Well, sir, it turned out that somebody had per- suaded him and his wife to turn religious and teetotalers, and they were in a shop and business worth £60 or JE70 to come into. I engaged to take the place for a week, and gladly and before he went, Now D., said he, there are one or two things I have to say, I allow no spirits, or beer, or liquor of any kind, on no account in this place! Very well, said I, there's an end of it. And another thing said he, I do no business on Sunday all shut close. I pay you for a week just the same, but six days is my week's work now Well, sir, they were both members, I found, of and that week I seemed almost in heaven, his wife used to talk so as would do anybody good to hear, no hypocrisy, but so changed, prayers night and morning. Well, sir, when F. came home, of course there was no further occasion for me, but he gave me JE1, besides my board and lodging for the week's work and, said he, D., I do wish I wanted a man for old acquaintance sake, but you see how it is, I don't; bat whenever you are this way, don't fail to look in and do s we do."—" Vanderkistc's Dens of London AULD LANGSYNE DONE UP IN TARTAN. The following jeu d'esprit was written by the minister of a small rural parish near Perth, with reference to the High- land belief in the antiquity of the Gaelic iongue:- "Should Gaelic speech be e'er forgot, An' never brocht to min', For she'll be spoke in Paradise In the days 0' auld langsyne. When Eve all fresh in beauty's charms, First met fond Adam's view, The first words that he'll spoke to her Was Cumer aahum dhu. I And Adam in his garden fair, Whene'er the day did close, r j The dish that he'll to supper teuk, "t Was always Athole brose. r .to f'r 'F When Adam from his leafy bower J Cam' oot at break o' day, •, He'll always for his morning teuk A quaich o' usquebae. F: iT And when wi Eve he'll had a crack, He'll take his sneeshin horn, An' on the tap ye'll weelmioht tMtttrf A pony praw Catrngerum. > ■Nf-ti*; ,1J-- The sneeshin' mull is fine, my frien's, The sneeshin mull is grand We'll teuk't a hearty sneesh, ray frien's, An' pass't frae hand to hand. When man first fand the WMtt o* é\Mft;c, The wind an'cauld to flag, He twisted round about hits waist 1.■ The tartan philabeg. A « An' music first on earth wots hfeard ,11' rr- r+.- In Gaelic accents deep, 9 T1 When Jubal in hie oxter squeezed The blether o' a sheep. The braw bagpipes is grand, MjsfSSBl's, 1 The braw bagpipes is fine; Well teuk't another pibroch yet. For the days o' auld langsyne."