The Merthyr Telegraph and General Advertiser for the Iron Districts of South Wales

THE MERTHYR TYDFIL BURIAL BOARD. ■\TOTICE ia HEREBY GIVE N, that the Board J3I are willing to receive TEND EBS for the GRASS now growing at the Cemetery. When made, the Hay must be removed from the Cemetery. No prass will be allowed to be ci\t in the plantation. Tenders must be delivered to me on or before the FOURTH day of JULy next. Further particulars may be ofct; Ained at my Office. By Order of the Board. W. ROBYNSON SMITH, Clerk Victoria Street, Merthyr Tyiilll. 3178

THE BELL-HANGING BUSINESS. JOSEPH SCULLY, BELL-HANGER, No. 18, Wellington-street, near the Market House, Merthyr Tydtil, RESPECTFULLY announces 15hat he has commenced the above Business on hi a own account, and trusts to secure a share of the public p8 ttronage. From his long experience in the business, having for the last five years been engaged under the late Mr CHRISTOPHER CUMMINS, he is enabled with confidence 10 undertake all orders, with the certainty of giving sati sfaction, and at the most moderate charges.-Estimates riven when re- quired. 3176 THE BELL HANGING TRADE. MRS. CUMMIN GS, Widow of the late CHRISTOPHER CUMMIN, S, Bell Hanger, c (established in Merthyr for the last 37 years) re- spectfully announces that she has engaged an Efficient Workman, named JOHN DAVJES, 'Rho will undertake for her the execution of all orders, P o::d as he is a man of thorough experience, Mrs. C. C. can confidently ensure for her patrons satisfaction. No. 11, Broad-street, Merthyr fydlil, June 16th, 1S70. 3193 FREDERICK LEGG & CO'sT INDIA-RUBBER WAREHOUSE, 2, PEARSON-PLACFJ, DOCKS, CARDIFF, CONTAINS a well-seated Stock of Vulcanized c India-Rubber of every description. Sheet Rubber and Washers, for flange joints of Steam and Water Pipes. ^Qt and Land Engines: f" »«• vSSSSfSSS £ .k" vSSSSfSSS £ .k" fflXS2ft Chemie,I«,4c. W'tas Machinery. SES Air and Water Beds, Pillow8, and CMhi«n« Fishing Boots, Stockings, and TroS And every article usually manufactured in India-Rubber for Domestic, Surgical, Sporting, Nautical, M^haniod Mining, and Agricultural Purposes "ecnanicai, Price Lists on perfopal application,or by post. 3116 GLAMORGAN RIFLE^OLUnteeRST" Orders for the Week Ending Saturday, July 2nd. TUODAY—Company Drill, 8.30 pjn., Drill Hall. WEDNESDAY—A General Meeting will be held at the Drill Hall, at 8.30 p.m., to consider the question of providing a Band. THURSDAY—Class Firing for No. 3 Section at the Shoot- ing Ground, at 4.30 p.m. FRIDAY,—Recruit drill 8.30 p.m., Drill Hall. SATURDAY—Class Firing, for No. 3 Section at Shooting Ground, at 6.36 p. m. OMCERS FOR THE WEEK iXtnt. James, Sergt. Evans, Corporal Thomas. 3054

THE NEW POSTAL REFORMS. IT ia fitting that a country like the United Kingdom, which took the lead in developing a cheap postal system, and whose postal regula- tions have been a model for every civilized country to imitate, should not fall behind any State in the postal facilities it offers to the people. Yet we have undoubtedly been distanced by our pupils, and various Continental countries, as well as the United States of America, have advanced beyond us in the facilities provided not only for the transmission of letters, but of newspapers, books, and parcels. For years we have held fast to the penny as a ne plus ultra of cheapness, while other countries have introduced postage rates of half, a fourth, or a fifth of that sum. It is true that in some cases where very low rates were introduced, the receipts of the post-office did not cover its expenses, as in the United States and elsewhere while we had always prided ourselves in making our post-office a financial success, as well as a great public convenience. But there was no need for it to be a source of revenue and when not only penny but halfpenny newspapers of a reputable character had been produced, it became an anomaly that a tax of 100 to 200 per cent. on the cost of an article should be charged for conveying it, perhaps a few miles, to a purchaser. Why should we be reducing taxes on all other comforts as well as necessaries of the people, and charge an unecessarily high rate for newspapers, which virtually amount to a tax ? At a time when the telegraphs of the United Kingdom were coming under Government manage- ment, and a moderately low and uniform tariff was being adopted, it was natural to suppose that the Post-office authorities would not be impervious to demands for reform and reduction in other directions. But officialism is conservative by nature, and slow to move while the great atten- tion necessary in re-organizing the telegraphic service of the country offered a plausible excuse for not undertaking other changes at present. If the matter had been left to officialism, with an ordinary Postmaster-General in office, and with an ordinary state of the finances, we should doubtless have to wait a year or two longer for the changes we desired. But the Marquis of Hartington is not a mere ornamental Postmaster- General, with no original idea on postal matters. He appears, rather, to be ambitious of signalizing his tenure of office by following in the steps of Rowland Hill, who, having himself been a reformer in the face of great prejudices, would probably have beeu the last man to assert that the penny was the ultima Thule of postage reduction. At all events, reason has prevailed, and, besides a moderately cheap system of tele- graphy, we are to have reforms in other depart- ments of our system of intercommunication. The halfpenny stamps for newspapers, which will be issued in September, will be an immense public benefit, the effects of which will be undoubtedly much greater than most people now trouble themselves to imagine. The effect on the circula- tion of cheap newspapers will be as important as in relation to public convenience. There is only one point in the new arrangement to which we take exception we cannot see the necessity for putting a large, dear newspaper, weighing six ounces on the same footing as a small, cheap newspaper and we think the adhesion of the Times to the proposed reform was dearly purchased by the extraordinary concession which its friends in high places obtained specially on its behalf. It is not, however, that we begrudge the leading journal the new facility it has acquired for pro- vincial circulation but we fear that the great discrepancy between the newspaper postal rate of a halfpenny for six ounces, and the book rate of a halfpenny for two ounces, will be productive of much misunderstanding, confusion, jealousy, and indignant complaint. The fairer course would have been—a course that we doubt not will be ultimately adopted—to place all printed matter, whether in the form of books or newspapers, in the same category, and to carry all such matter at the uniform rate of a halfpenny for six ounces. One other objection to the new rate for news- papers, that people would send them by post merely to convey short private messages, has been met by the introduction of the card post, by which messages will be transmitted through the post for a halfpenny. What a person would write on or enclose in a newspaper liable to be opened at the Post Office, he will not mind putting on the back of a card which he can legitimately and without risk send through the Post Office for a halfpenny. The saving in time and labour will be as great under the new system as the saving of expense—nay, it will be much greater absolutely and relatively and now that no excuse will remain for not answering a simple question or communication from a correspondent, without the trouble and formality of writing a "note," we may expect to see the services of the Post Office so largely called into requisition that there will be little fear of any serious loss accruing to the revenue. In fact, from both the halfpenny news- paper and book rate, and from the new card post, we must expect a satisfactory and profitable result to the finances of the department.

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE. THE EDUCATION BILL.—Mr Fothergill M.P., haa recently presented a number of petitions from this district against the Government amendments, and amongst them were those from Zion, High-street, and Ebenezer congregations, Merthyr Tydfil. MAGISTERIAL APPOINTMENT.—"We are informed that John Balguy, Esq., who acted for Mr Fowler in 1868 as deputy stipendiary magistrate, has just been appointed stipendiary magistrate for the Staffordshire Potteries. TYDVIL SCHOOL, MERTHYR,—We understand that Mr Daniel Jones, a pupil of the above school, has just gained admission into college after a competitive examination in mathematics, Latin, Greek, &c., and that seven of the pupils present or past have lately gained Government cer- tificates, one, (Mr J. Forrester), in the first class in science (mathematics), which cannot fail to confer considerable distinction on the recipients, and may in future prove of great benefit to them. This we believe ia the first instance of Government certificates being gained in this locality, and we congratulate Mr Williams and his pupils on their success. AN HONOUR BESTOWED UPON A MERTHYR GENTLEMAN. —On Friday (to-day) the Livery will be called upon to elect two fit and proper persons as Sheriffs of London and Middlesex for the ensuing year. If—" there is great virtue in an if"—but if Mr. Buxton's Bill should pass, it will, of course, put a full stop to the exercise of this privilege by the Livery; but" sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." Mr Aid. Owden, of Bishopsgate Ward, is the only alderman who has not filled the office of Sheriff; he his willing to serve. Mr. Robert Jones (formerly of Merthyr) who is backed by a very large and influential committee of Liverymen, has issued his address and as no opposition is talked of, these two gentlemen will doubtless walk over" the course. ST. DAVID'S NIGHT SCHOOL.—On Thursday week last the lads belonging to the sbove school were kindly treated by Mr A. J. Goodwin to a bountiful supply of good tea and cake, which was supplied in the schools after the ath- letic sports, which Mr Goodwin had got up in the cricket field for their amusement. The different contests in foot. racing, jumping, &c., were entered into with much spirit by the lads, each trial affording considerable pleasure to themselves and to the numerous spectators. Mr Finch, together with his clever daughter, and wonderful perform- iag horse, were present, and the afternoon and evening were spent in great delight, all present apparently feeling grate- ful to Mr Goodwin for the kind treat he had supplied them with. Before the pupils separated three hearty cheers were given to Mrs. Goodwin for her generosity in giving £8 in the form of rewards to the most attentive pupils. NARROW ESCAPE.—The danger of playing with fire-arms was most strikingly exemplified in this town on Wednes- day afternoon last. It appears that Master Thomas Thomas, son of Mr Thomas Thomas, butcher, High-street, indulged in a little sparrow shooting at the back ef the Crown Inn, where his father's slaughter-bouse is situated, on the pre. vious day with a rine (Master Thomas being a member of the Royal Twelfth). On the following day (Wednesday) he took up the rifle again whilst in the Crown Inn Yard. and with the object it is said of cleaning the nipple, and after putting a copper cap on, he playfully pointed it at a couple of railway men who were also in the yard the men immediately told him to take it away, which he did, and then pointed it at Mr Davies the landlord, who was just about entering the cellar, and hearing someone bawling out he turned his fMe towards the top of the yard, and where Thomas was standing with the rifle still pointed at him and before he could say anything the trigger had been pulled and the contents of the rifle, which was loaded with a charge of powder and small shots discharged. Mr Davies was injured rather seriously, seventeen shots entering his face, bead, and arm. E. Davies, Esq., surgeon, was imme- diately called in. and extracted the shots, so that Mr Davies will no doubt soon recover. Of course the circum- stance arose from pure accident and thoughtlessness, but it will serve we bope as a lesson that fire-arms should- be teiopwx} is this manner. THE Council of the Royal Institution of South Wales. at Swansea, have unanimously elected J, C. Fowler, Esq the president for the ensuing year. He will deliver the opening address on the first meeting of the session. THE RUMOURED REVERSION OF THE MARQUIS OF BOTE. —The very weak denial in the Times by Monseigneur Capel of pur statement with regard to the Marquis of Bute does not in the least alter our correspondent's view. His information was doubted before, and proved accurate, and he is convinced that the same will be the case again. H e is very much strengthened in his belief by the delay in the anticipated denial, and by the attempt to shirk the maiu issue by references to matters utterly unimportant, if not irrelevant—We are glad to hear that Mr J. T. Walford, M.A., one of the Fellows and Tutors of Eton, who left the Church of England for that of Rome some years ago, has returned to communion with the former. Mr Walford is a brother of the Rev. Edward Walford, and was very popular at Eton.—John Bull.

MR. FOTHERGILL IN PARLIAMENT. On Friday last, during the usual sitting in the House of Commons, and the important proceedings attending the voting of supplies in connection with the Civil Service, our worthy member, R. Fothergill, Esq., addressed the House on several occasions, exhibiting in each instance that prac- tical knowledge of men and things which has contributed so much to his elevation to the distinguished position he now occupies as a manufacturer, and a man of business. We are sure his observations, especially those having reference to the commercial progress of this district, will be read with much interest, and we therefore give as full an outline as we have been able to obtain of the addresses re- ferred to. On the question of MINES INSPECTION, Mr Fothergill said: Although this is not the occasion on which I should like to explain mYRvlf on the subject of the Inspection of Mines, I cannot allow the opportunity to pass without, in the first place, urging upon my right hon. friend, the Home Secretary, to delay the vote for the payment of Goal Mine Inspectors until the Bill for the Regulation of Mines is brought on, when the whole ques- tion can be more fully discussed; and. secondly, to remark that the present arrangements for the inspection of toal mines are highly unsatisfactory and wrong in principle that they do not answer the purpose for which they were intended, and that the increase talked of in the number of gentlemen inspectors would be worse than useless, for the simple reason that, without throwing any blame upon them, they cannot in tfie nature of things perform the duty to which the public believe they are competent, namely, that of securing the lives of the working colliers. I have watched the practical working of the existing system of inspection of mines, and my opinion is that it is wrong in principle, for the object aimed at is not obtained the gentleman inspector arrives perpetually at the scene of an accidert after the mischief is done and the consequent loss of life incurred and, what I desire to impress on the com- mittee is that either we should abandon the principle of inspection altogether, or make it effective; but I will not on the present occasion anticipate the explanation of my views, which I shall hope to urge in detail when the Mines' Bill is brought before us nevertheless, I reiterate my ob- jection to the appointment of additional gentlemen inspec- tors. for I assure my right hon. friend, whose views are so well known in his own district to be intended for the benefit of the working colliers, that the existing inspection is not effecting the objects he desires, and that in my humble judgment, no advantage has followed, nor has a single life been saved, by the costly system in operation. I hope, therefore, he will consent to postpone the vote for the payment oflthe inspectors of coal mines. (Cheers ) THE TRADE OF THE COUNTRT. Further on in the evening, with reference to the motion of Mr. McCullagh Torrens on this subject, Mr. Fothergill observed that he thought, as the facts so ably and so eloquently put before the House by the right honourable gentleman, the President of the Poor Law Board, upon the general improvement of the trade of the country, had been disputed, it was his duty to speak as to the state of things in the great centre of the iron in. dustry in South Wales, representing, as he bad the honour to do. the borough of Mrthyr-Tydfil, which had been specially mentioned by the right hon. gentleman, and it was with great pleasure that he was able to corroborate his statement on the improvement which had commenced there. The iron trade, long languishing, had decidedly improved, and with it there had sprung up an increased employment of, and demand for, labour. Good workmen were in request generally, and he might add that a large ironworks in the very centre of Merthyr, belonging to his partner and himself, which had been unused for years, only awaited an adequate supply of workmen to be lighted up and put into active operation again. (Cheers.) That long desired improvement had enabled the large employers, with real pleasure to themselves, to give a considerable advance of wages to their work-people—(cheers) whose earnings thereby so much increased that, among others, his (the speaker's) firm was paying thirty or forty thousand pounds more in wages this year than last. (Cheers.) It was trulv a happy cnanee for the better, and it gave him much pleasure to state that there was every appearance of the improvement remaining, so that he trusted that they might dismiss from their minds the gloomy picture drawn by the hon. member for Finsbury. Before sitting down he would tender his best thanks to the right hon. gentleman for his masterly and eloquent answer to the unwarrantable and mischievous representations which had been addressed to them that evening at so much length. (Cheers.) THE QUEEN'S MESSENGERS. Speaking on the vote of jE18,000 for Queen's Messengers, the Hon. Member made the following facetious remarks :— Before passing the large estimate of JEIS.000 for messengers, I would observe that besides the question of needless journeys which have been ably commented upon by the hon. members near me, the scale of payment to the persons employed appears to me larger than the service performed justifies. The hon. gentleman, the member for Chatham, has explained that each of the fifteen messengers received in salary and otherwise, from seven to eight hundred pounds a year, or a total charge of upwaids of eleven thousand pounds upon the taxpayers of the country. Now, I am at a loss to understand why so costly a class of messengers should be employed. I have met tltem U6. :e Continent, and, finer gentlemen are not to be found they are also, I dare say, all a rule, charming companions, and that my own experience has been excep- tional especially in the instance which occurs to me, where, in a voyage of some little duration, a Queen's mes- senger was moved to acquaint all his fellow-passengers within hearing with his numerous and successful sporting expeditions, performed usually in the society of royalty; for emperors and princes were household words in his mouth, and he seemed to rarely pull a trigger in company inferior to a duke. Prostrated as I own to having been on the deck of that odious vessel, it is not improbable that my thoughts may have taken a jaundiced tint, and that the loud-toned, ceaseless, narrative of this terrific swell might on another occasion have seemed both interesting and improving hut, as it was, the irnprcssiou left on my mind remains, that a gentleman so devoted to sport, evidently the main object of his life so fitted to adorn and enliven the royal battues which he described and so ready to wipe the eye of a dull arch-duke, was out of his place as a simple messenger, and a dear bargain to his employers. (Cheers and laughter.) No doubt a consider- able reduction of expense has been effected, but more may be done in the same direction and, while thanking the hon. gentleman for the valuable economical movement already put in force, I strongly urge upon him and the oommittee that a much cheaper and equally effective class of men might be employed as messengers. (Hear, hear.) MB. HENRY RICHARD'S SPEECH ON NATIONAL EDUCATION. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—MONDAY, June 2. THE ELEMENTARY EDUCATION BILL. On the order of the day for going into Committee on this Bill, Mr H. Richard moved the following amendment: — That the grants to existing denominational schools should not be increased, and that in any national system of elementary education the attendance should be everywhere compulsory, and the religious instruction should be supplied by voluntary efforts, and not out of public funds." The hon. member, who was received with cheers, said that it was with extreme diffidence that he rose, in deference to the wishes of others, to perform that task. It was no pleasure to him to appear to lead an opposition to so iro. Birtant a measure as that -which was then before the ouse — a measure which he had endeavoured to consider the more dispassionately, because it was proposed by a Government in which he had hitherto placed almost un- limited confidence. He was one of those who doubted the wisdom of attempting to pass a measure of national educa- tion in that session. The country was discussing the question with great animation and earnestness, and, as it appeared to him, with great moderation and temper, and he thought it would have been better to permit that dis- cussion to go on, at least for a year, until public opinion, which was itself in a somewhat crude and unformed state, had subsided into something like clearness and consistency but since the Vice-President of the Council thought it his duty to deal with the subject at once, there was, he believed, a disposition on all hands to consider most calmly and candidly any propsals he might be disposed to make. He believed there was scarcely any person in that House whom the Nonconformists of this country were more disposed to trust than the right hon. gentleman. (Hear, hear.) The question was surrounded with manifold and formidable difficulties, and his right hon. friend was entitled to a liberal and generous construction of his motives. The Nonconformists had had no desire to reject the Bill, but 011 the contrary some of them at least were prepared to make concessions which had appeared to him to verge on incon- sistency with their own professed principles—(cheers)—but there were certain portions of the Bill which they felt it to be impossible for them to accept, and which had been reo jected with an almost absolute unanimity by all bodies af Nonconformists in this country. (Hear, bear.) They were, however, most anxious that something might be done to enable them to give the Government measure substantial support; and therefore it was with intense anxiety that they waited on the Prime Minister on Thursday last, hoping that the Government would make such modifica- tions as would obviate the necessity of their opposing the Bill any longer. He was obliged, however, to say that after listening to that statement he for one was wholly disappointed. (Hear, hear.) The new scheme of the Government, instead of removing objections, had added others, which were in some respects still more formidable. (Hear, hear.) Under the Bill as it originally stood there was at least a possibility of its being so amended that the existing denominational schools might, without receiving any violence or injustice, become absorbed in or incor- porated with a real system of national education. But the present scheme might be described as a measure for making the education of the people of England universally and for ever denominational. (Hear, hear.) He was not going to indulge in any disparaging observations respecting de- nominational schools, which had rendered such valuable service to the country in times past; and he entirely re- pudiated and repelled as ungenerous and ungrateful the imputations which had been made by some enthusiasts to the effect that the religious differences of the different de- nominations in this country had stood in the way of the education of the people. (Hear, hear.) Religious bodies had been actively at work covering the face of the country with schools, and no feeling of sectarian narrowness should prevent bin from acknowledging that the clergy of the Church of England were entitled to an honourable pre. eminence in that matter. (Cheers.) Still, it appeared to him that denominational schools ought to be voluntary schools, and that if there was to be a national system of education it was undesirable that it should be denomina- tional. If the scheme of the Government were carried out they must in all fairness and justice not only continue the grants already made, but make grants to every denomina- tion that might think fit to claim them. (Hear, hear.) And what would the scheme be th *n ? It might be described in the words of Mr Cobden, uttered 20 years ago in Man- chester in reference to another proposal, as a scheme by which everybody wauld be called upon to pay for the re- ligious teaching of everybody else. (Hear, hear.) As a Nonconformist he had an insurmountable objection on principle to such a scheme as that. One of the most funda- mental principles of the Nonconformists was that it was not right to take money received from the general taxation of the country, and apply it to purposes of religious in- struction or worship. (Hear, hear.) That principle lay at the foundation of all religous liberty, for if they claimed the right to compel one man to pay for the support of another man's religion, and to enforce that, as they must do, by penalties of law, they passed, at once into the region of religious persecution. (Hear, hear.) The first reference in support of his view which he would make was to the opinion expressed by the President of the Board cf Trade, whose absence on that as on many other occasions during the present session they had had to deplore. (Hear, hear.) Speaking in that House in 1847 on an education debate, on the minutes of Council introduced by Lord Russell's Government, and in reply to a speech of Lord Macaulay, who had characterised the expressed opinions of the Nonconformists as "the clamour out of doors," the right hon. gentleman said the Nonconformists objected to the principle by which the Government seized publicfundsinordertogive salaries to theteachersof all sects, oronesectofreligipn. forhethoughttheoneplan wasasunjust as the other. Either the Nonconformists, he added, held that opinion or they were great imposters. The other opinion to which he would refer was expressed in a lecture delivered in London by the hon. member for Leeds in 1847. Speaking of the sanction and authority which vested the support of religion on voluntary liberality, the hon. gen- tleman said, ''We must extend that principle to religious education, for if we once receive public money for religious instruction in our schools, we should very soon receive it for religious instruction in our chapels. On that point there can be no dispute, except with men whose ideas are exceedingly confused." (" Hear, hear," and a laugh.) He (Mr Richard) had an insurmountable objection to the principle which underlay the present scheme of the Govern- ment it was, in fact, a principle of concurrent endow- ment. (Hear, hear.) Of course the Church of England would have the lion's share. The proposed system would place many districts wholly under the influence of the Church. And at what time was that proposed ? At a time when a large, increasing, and powerful section of the clergy of the Church were openly teaching doctrines the distinction between which and the doctrines of the Church of Rome was growing smaller by degrees and beautifully less. (Hear, hear.) He had some aquaintance with the literature of that class of persons, and he found them teaching the doctrines of the Sacrifice of the Mass, auricular confession, the adoration of the Virgin, the invocation of saints, prayers for the dead'; and, of course, that Dissenters were schismatics and heretics; that dissenting clergymen were only laymen, and that the Sacraments administered by Dissenters were blasphemous fables and dangerous deceits. He was not going to say one word disrespectful of those views but this he would say, that there was a large body of persons in this country who held those views in utter abhorrence, and they thought it a hard thing that they should be called upon to give 50 per cent. to the support of schools in which such doctrines were to be taught. (Hear, hear.) The right hon. gentleman at the head of the Government said on Friday last that he was prepared to adopt the amendment of the right hon. memberforSouth Hampshire, to the effect that in schools hereafter established by local rates no catechism or religious formulary which was distinctive of any particular denomination should be taught. He ventured to sav that that would be no security against the schools becoming purely sectarian. (Hear, hear.) Could any one imagine that a zealous sectarian, whether a Dissenter or a Churchman, would be deterred by such a regulation from teaching anything or everything that he might consider special to his own denomination? (Hear, hear.) There was no provision against the teaching of distinctive doctrines, provided they were not taught in the shape of a catechism or formulary. They might he taught in any way the majority of the local boards would order, and any ism," from Puseyism to Positivism, might be so taught. (Hear, hear.) If the matter was to be left to the schoolmaster, he quite agreed with the right hon. member for Buckinghamshire that they were about to create a new sacerdotal class, into whose hands they were going to entrust a power which would influence the mind of the country for all time to ceme. (Hear, hear.) If, on the other hand, the local boards were to control the teaching, then they introduced into it an element of religious discord and animosity. (Hear, hear.) What was the way out of the difficulty ? He agreed with the Prime Minister that a solution of the difficulty was not to be found in the proposal of the hon. and learned member for Oxford (Mr V. Harcourt), namely, that the religious teaching should be of an unsectarian and undenomina- tional character. These terms were far too vague. Those who advocated this plan had been misled by the partial experiments that had been made upon a limited area and under circumstances entirely different from those under which the experiment must b« made when they had to work a system of rate-supported and compulsory education, (Hear, hear.) A few members of the Church and of the Nonconforming bodies might find no difficulty in getting some common ground on which they could agree as to the religious doctrines that were to be taught in the schools. But they must consider the large number of members of the Church and the million or more of Dissenters to whom the observation would not apply— and also take into account the Jews and unbelievers, because it was proposed to take the money of all to pay for the support of these schools. If they were to eliminate what was objectionable to all these sects and persons, what religion would they have left? (Cheers.) Who was to decide between them? The Prime Minister informed a deputation that waited on him not long since that they could not make the schoolmaster the ultimate judge of what he was to teach and that if the appeal was to bo to the local board, it would be but the harbinger of a general warfare. (Hear, hear.) Some one suggested a reference to the Privy Council. In his (Mr Richard's) opinion it was impossible that the Privy Council could adjudicate upon every case that might arise in 50,000 or 60,000 schools all over the country. The only way in which the Government for the time being, represented by the Committee of Council on Education, could deal with the matter would be by preparing some general instructions as to what they considered to be sectarian or unsectarian religious teaching. And imagine any Government under- taking to discharge such a duty. (A laugh ) For his part he had the greatest confidence in the almost unbounded in- ttllectual resources of the Prime Minister; his theological and ecclesiastical knowledge was, no doubt, very large bis ingenuity and constructive faculty they had bad ample op- portunities of admiring during that and the last sessions of Parliament; but he should despair of even the right hon. gentleman succeeding in constructing a code of eclectic reli- gion, including everything that was acceptable and ex. cluding everything that was unacceptable to every one. (Hear, bear, and laughter.) In this state of things he pro- posed the amendment of which he had given notice, namely, that in any national system of elementary education the religious instruction should be supplied by voluntary effort, and not out of the public funds. (Hear. hear.) He was happy to have received important and candid admissions in its favour. The right hon. gentleman acknowledged it was the only logical position they could take in order to escape from the objections raised by the Nonconformists; and he added that he had no horror of that logical result, because he did not think that by itself it implied the slightest disrespect to religous teaching, or any wish to prevent or obstruct such teaching. (Hear, hear.) For himself, he could say be agreed with hon. gentlemen on both sides of the House that religion was beyond all comparison the most important element in the education of the youth of the country. (Hear. hear.) He could not, however, sympathise in the slightest degree with those whe decried as worthless or dangerous any kind of education that was not religi"us. He was certain they were not enlightened friends of religion who endeavoured to brand as profane or godless every kind of knowledge but that which had some kind of theological tint about it. (Cheers.) How could anything be godless that introduced us into more per- fect acquaintance with the works and ways of the Supreme Creator? (Hear, hear.) He could claim in support of this view the recent able report of the Bishop of Manchester to the Committee of Council on the subject of the Ameri- can system of education. In fact, the question was not whether religious education was to be given, but how and by whom it was to be given. (Hear, hear.) He wanted not only religious education to be given, but distinctive and positive religious teaching, for he had no faith in a neutral, colourless, and bloodless kind of religious teach- ing out of which everything that was special and dis- tinctive had been eliminated. But who was to give it ? (Hear, hear.) The Ptate could not, for doing so formed no pait of its functions. What was the State? So far as our country was concerned, they might almost say of the House, L'Etat, e'est moi!" That House had the most important place in the country, but how was it com- Eosed? They had only to look at its constitution to ecome convinced that it was not a body which could undertake to direct the religious teaching of the country. It was composed of members of the Church of England of every possible shide of opinion, from the followers of Dr. Pusey to those of Dr. Colenso; of Roman Catholics, Pres- byterians, Independents, Baptists. Wesleyans, Calvinistic Methodists, Plymouth Brethren, Unitarians, Jews, and for aught he knew, "Turks, Infidels, and Heretics" (Hear, hear, and laughter) How then could they, constitute as they were, undertake to providea system of religious instruc- tion for the people? He proposed that the State should give what it could give, namely, a literary and scientific education, and leave to the Churches and the re- ligious denominations to supplement that education by teaching religion. (Hear, hear) He might be asked had they any security that a religious education would be given in that case. He thought he could promise that there would be at least as good an education given then as at present. The fact was that the religious education now given in the day schools was little better than a sham. (Hear, hear.) He need not go further in proof of that statement than the annual reports of the inspectors of the Committee of Education of the Privy CounciL Almost all these reports showed that the religious education given was cold and uninviting, and that where the clergyman took no part at all it was superficial in the extreme. (Hear, hear ) There were 50,000 clergymen in England, and 35,000 Sunday school teachers, who were of no use unless they taught religion. If their function was to be given over to the schoolmaster, why not give the latter a portion of the religious endowments ? They (the schoolmasters) were to teach the children religion, of all others the most important branch of religious teaching. Dr. Hook, speak. ing of State education, said that the repugnance enter. tained against it by religious men, both Churchmen and Dissenters, arose from the suspicion that State education really meant a sectarian religious education, and that an evasion was intended; but the situation would be entirely changed if the State honestly undertook to give only a literary and scientific education. The late Mr Cobden had said that in joining tile secular party, it was not from his love of an education from which religion was separated that he did so, but because he had found insuperable difficulties, in consequence of the discordancy of religious opinion in this country, in the way of any other but secular education. (Hear, hear.) Two countries had tried, one religious, the other secular education. In Prussia the teaching was dogmatically religious, and what was the result? That the Prussians were the most irreligious people in Europe. (Expressions of dissent) When in Berlin last October, he found that 18 per cent. of all the burials there took place without any ceremonial whatever. On the other hand, the United States had secular educa. tion, and the people were the most religious in the world. Here was proof that secular education had not made a nation of infidels. He (Mr Richard) had no fear of any other raeult in bis own country. He commended this pro- poafl to State. Let the givt, "M the 8$»t» could only give. literary and scientific education, and leave religious teaching to home influences and to the religious bodies of the country. Let them "give unto Cassar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things which are God's." (Cheers.) MERTHYR BOARD OF GUARDIANS. The usual weekly meeting was held on Saturday, when there were present:-Messrs. G. T. Clark (Chairman), R. H. Rhys, W. L. Daniel, T. Williams, J. W. James, L. Rhys, J. Mathews, D. Watkins, W. Gould, J. Williams. H. Jenkins, W. Simons, H Kirkhouse, Rees Lewis, W. Harris, A. J. Morris, and J. Rees. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. ABLE-BODIED PAUPERS. The Chairman observed that he did not think it was proper that they should discuss the matter of the prohibi- tory order referred to last week when the Inspector was present. It was however a most important subject, and he should therefore like to have the opinion of the members upon it. Mr Rhys was in favour of the order, and always under- stood that they were subjected to it. Mr James again objected to it; for he thought that it would be much better to leave the relief of such cases to the Board than to give the power to the Poor Law Board in London, to whom they would, if the order was accepted, have to apply for their consent to relieve. Mr Rhys interrupted, and asked Mr James if he intended making a motion on the question. Mr James thought he ought to be allowed to speak without any interruption from Mr Rhys, who had himself spoken without moving any rtsutution. When he (Mr James) rose he did not intend to propose any resolution, but now he would do so, and he therefore proposed that it is not expedient to put in force the prohibitory order at this Union." Mr Gould seconded the motion, for he was of opinion that there was sufficient talent on the Board to deal with such cases when they arose. Mr Rhys said he should move that it was expedient to put in force the prohibitory order." He did so for the reason that they had hitherto always acted up to it, and in fact they were all under the impression that they could not relieve able-bodied paupers out-door. If the Inspector had not attended last week they would still remain in happy ignorance of the fact that they had the power to relieve such cases. He thought that as the question had now been raised, the best course to pursue would be to adopt the pro- hibitory order, for he maintained it was their duty to dis- courage the practice of relieving able-bodied men—a discouragement they had always hitherto practised. Mr W. Simons, though agreeing that the prohibitory order should be put in force throughout the country, was not in favour of Mr Rhys's amendment, and therefore would vote against it. He thought that the question was of such import- ance that it should not be left to public bodies to say whether they adopted the order or not; but he was in favour of the Legislature laying down one inflexible rule for the whole country. It was the practise in agricultural districts fit* the employers to subsidise the wages of their labourets by giving them parish relief, instead of paying them their just wages and he thought therefore that the Legislature ought to interfere. He was in favour of allowing the evil to in- crease in magnitude until the Government saw it, and they would then put a stop to it. Though he entirely supported what Mr Rhys had said he thought the way he had sug- gested was the speediest method of putting an effectual end to the evil. Mr Daniel seconded the amendment. Though not in favour of centralizing power, he did not think they had anything to complain of in the Poor Law Board. They were told last week by the Inspector that as far as this district was concerned there was not the slightest necessity for putting the order in force; but what the Poor Law Board wanted was for them to support it, so as to strengthen their hands in other parts of the country where such an order was greatly needed. He thought it was their duty to support the Poor Law Board in putting a stop to the practices resorted to in the agricultural districts by the employers, who were also Guardians, of subsidising the wages of their labourers by giving them relief. For this reason he should support the amendment. The Chairman said that on the whole he would rather not vote on this question, but they would naturally say it was his duty to do so and he agreed that it was. He did not like to be neutral on such a matter, and should theie- fore vote in favour of the amendment. They were suffering greatly from a class of young men from thirty to thirty-five, who when they were in health did not make the slightest provision for their future maintenance, so that whenever they had the slightest accident that incapacitated them from following their occupations they came to the Board for assistance. They had hitherto treated such with strict- ness he might say harshly, if the word could be used in an inoffensive way. Such cases had of late increased fearfully, and if they adopted the prohibitory order as was proposed, it would put an end to a large number of cases. This was his reason for supporting Mr Rhys's amendment. Mr T. Williams said that supposing a man broke his arm or otherwise injured himself at one of the works were they if they adopted the prohibitory order, disqualified from giving such a person relief. The Chairman replied in the negative. Mr Rhys also said that they would then have power to relieve such a person, though he would be obliged to come into the house. Mr Simons said that the prohibitory order only applied to able-bodied men, and in such a case as Mr Williams had instanced the person could not be said to be able-bodied. The Clerk said that at present they could not relieve an able-bodied person outside, excepting by giving him work to do, and supplying him with food, &c. The only differ- ence, if they had adopted the prohibitory order, would be that in the latter case they would have to obtain the per- mission of the Poor Law Board to relieve the able-bodied paupers. The Board then divided, when there were for the motion Messrs. J. W. James, W. Gould, W. Simons, and Rees Lewis, total, 4 for the amendment. Messrs. the Chairman, R. H. Rhys, W. L. Daniel, T. Williams, J. Williams, D. Watkins, H. Jenkins, William Harris, Leyson Rhys, J. Mathews, T. Jenkins, and H. Kirkhouse—total, 12; majority, 8. The Chairman declared the amendment carried. THE NEW HOSPITAL FOR ABEROARE. The Chairman remarked that it would be remembered that some time since a committee had been appointed to enquire into the Hospital accommodation of the Union, as well as to report upon the best site for the proposed Hos- pital at Aberdare. They had presented their report, which was as follows :— rp „ Board-room, WorkhouRe, June 18, 1870. Wp th J ns ?5 thetMerthyr Tjdfil Union. i tr c°rnTmUe,e- beg leave to repert as follows viz.. On the 15thi of January last it was moved at your board that it was expedient that either the present infirmary be enlarged by an additional fever ward being attached to it, or that a separate building be erected in aR close proximity to it as possible, for the reception of patients suffering from contagious diseases. To this an amendment was moved and carried that increased hospital accommodation was required, and that a hospital be built at Aberdare to accommodate at least 40 patients. It was afterwards resolved without division to appoint a committee to report upon a site for the proposed hospital at Aberdare, and the class of hospital to be erected, and that the committee be further instructed to take into consideration the general hospital accommodation of the Onion. We have held several meetings at Merthyr and Aberdare. We have consulted Mr Peter Price, an able architect and builder, at Cardiff, and he has prepared a set of plans for a new hospital at Aberdare, which we consider well adapted to meet the requirements. We estimate the cost at a sum not exceeding jE3,500 without the land. We have found what we consider a very good site close to Mill-street, where an acre of the allotment of the Cemmon can be had in a healthy and convenient spot, and of easy access. This allotment belongs to the Clive estate. We have seen Mr Thompson, the agent, who says there will be no difficulty in our having the land. He has not yet given his terms, but we expect them daily, and we have no fear bat they will be such as you can expect. With regard to the general hospital accommodation of the Union, our present infirmary is certainly too small for the whole of the Union, and even when relieved of the patients from the Aberdare district, we think it will be soon necessary to make some addition to the workhouse infirmary. But we think it desirable to wait the result of the construction of the hospital at Aberdare before incurring further expense, so that you may first see how far. that will relieve the Merthyr infirmary. The Aberdare district lying the other sidtf of the Aberdare hill, which is about 650 feet high, and containing a population, including Aberdare, Rhigos, and a part of Pendervn of about 40,000 persons, is. we conceive, now fairly entitled to have a hospital for its own sick poor. At present there being no public hospital at Aberdare of any kind, great difficulty has often been found in getting lodgings of any kind for a pauper afflicted by accident or contagious disease. The bulk of Aberdare town pnrHoffi SvVe? JS trom the Present infirmary by any available £ \und many Parts of the district are some miles °J i. e reasons we respectfully submit that there is ample ground for erecting a hospital at Aberdare, and recommend that you at once apply to the Poor-Law Board for the necessary consent, and take the needful steps in the matter.—We remain, gentlemen, your most obedient servants, r> TT r»T_ • RB*S H. RHYS, chairman. Mr K. H. Rhys, as chairman of the committee, had much pleasure in moving the adoption of the report. The com- mittee had taken very great pains in the matter, and he thought they had hitherto been very successful. They had. by the consent of the Board, employed an experienced architect to prepare the plans, &c., of the proposed New Hospital for Aberdare, nnd that gentleman was Mr Price, of Cardiff. The committee thought that before he should commence drawing the working plans he should see Mr Savage, the chief architect of the Poor Law Board, so as to know what kind of building that gentleman would approve of. Mr Price went specially to London and had a confer- ence with that gentleman, the result of which was that he had prepared the plans which were before them on tho table. The amount the committee specified the building should cost was not to exceed £3.500, and they were cer- tain that it would be considerably less than that sum. It had been first of all agreed that the building should contain from 43 to 45 patients, but from the present plans of the building there would be sufficient room for 51 patients The additional expense to provide for the latter number was so very small that he was in favour of their providing for that number. The architect had also told tliem that shou d they wish at any time to enlarge the building they could do so at very little expense. He then moved that Pto tt P Pteid< anDd that the Clerk be ordered to write to the Poor Law Board for their consent to the erection of the Hospital referred to. Mr TaurireCOnde<* ^Ption of the report. am.8' one of the committee, said that he could fkpaw Without stating one or two objec- tions that he had raised at one of their meetings, though not the last one, for on that day he was not able to attend. Theile objections were that the ground selected was too near the cemetery, and the other that there was a drain running alongside where they proposed to build the hospital, and wntch drain was from the cemetery. He admitted that it was their intention to cover this drain, but that could not be done without going to some expense, and even then it was questionable whether the remedy would be effectual. Mr R. H. Rhys admitted that there was a drain there, though he contended that it did not drain any of the ground that was at present used for burial purposes. It was proposed to cover it over and carry it some way down the street, and it would then not be the slightest nuisance to any one. They might have the opinion of a medical gentleman upon the site if it were thought necessary. Mr T. Williams was almost certain that the contents of several graves were drained into the drain in question. Mr Simons thought the committee could have found several better sifcs than the one proposed. The sight of a cemetery was anything but pleasant to a patient, and he thought that instead of restoring the patients to health the present site would be found calculated to retard it. Patients in a hospital ought to have good air and pleasant associations, but he did not think the contemplated site, with its offensive drain, and the frequent passing of a funeral, was likely to produce either. Mr R. H. Rhys remarked that they could not see funerals passing. Mr Simons observed that if they did not see funerals they could bear the tolling of the bell, &c. He was cer- tainly opposed to the present site, and as there were several others, both in the town as well as out, which were free from the objections referred to lie thought the committee should chpote one, and he therefore moved that that part of the report referring to the site be omitted. Mr H. Kirkhouse seconded the proposition, wfaiob was HrwdtowNumoaalpv 1 Mr Rhys proposed, and Mr D. Watkins seconded, that Mr Simons be added to the committee. —Agreed to. THE DIVISION OF THE PARISH INTO WARDS. Mr Simons remarked that the committee appointed to report upon the above subject had met, and had nearly completed their work. A member of the committee, who was also a member of the Local Board of Health had pro- mised to bring the subject before the last named Board, but as he forgot to do so he would now suggest that the Clerk of this Board write to the other Board, so as to get the approval of the plan they had decided upon adopting. Agreed to. MASTER'S REPORT. The ordinary weekly report of the master was read, and from which it appeared that there had been 20 admitted, 0 born, 21 discharged, and 2 died during the week remain- ing in the house, 320, being a decrease of 3 upon the cor- responding week of the previous year. In the infirmary there were 25 men, 18 women, 8 children total, 51. This concluded the public business, and the Board then proceeded with the relief lists. MERTHYR POLICE COURT. SATURDAY.—(Before H. C. Greenwood, and E. J. Davies, Esquires.) ASSAULT UPON A WIFE.—David Lloyd was summoned for assaulting his wife, Margaret Lloyd.—Mr Plews ap- peared for the defendant. —The complainant stated that as she was going up Penydarren a few days ago the defendant came to her, and struck and kicked her several times. without the slightest provocation.—A little girl named Eliza Humphries stated that she was with the prosecutrix at the time, and saw the defendant strike and kick her as had been described —The complainant's aunt was also called and stated that she saw Lloyd strike his wife.—The mother of the prosecutrix deposed that when her daughter came home that night she complained of having been beaten, and on the following morning she examined her, and found a mark on her side there was one also on her chest and on her face.—Mr. Plews called James Evans, who swore that he-walked with the defendant all the way up the Penydarren-road, when the assault complained of was said to have taken place, but he did not see defendant strike or kick his wife once only did he raise up his bauds to ward off her blows when they were by the Three Bells, at Penydarren, they stood on the road quarrelling for some time, and he stood and looked at them but he did not see her struck at all: she then left them and went up a lane, leading to Mount Pleasant-street; he and the defendant went up the road, and when they were by a butcher's shop, a few yards from the tramroad, they again met the pro- secutrix, being this time accompanied by about twenty to thirty women directly prosecutrix saw defendant she ran on and commenced to pitch into him," and he seeing the other women also going to assist her ran into the butcher's shnp, shutting the door aftfr him he was quite sure that the prosecutrix was not struck by the defendant.—John Price also saw the fracas near the butcher's shop, and was certain that the defendant did not strike complainant, but vice versa. — Mr Plews then addressed the Bench on behalf of the prisoner, contending that there had not been the slightest evidence given that his client had committed the assault complained of.—The Bench, however, said they thought the charge had been made out, and the defendant would be fined 20s. and casts. FORGERY.—Two men named Patrick Ryan and John McCarthy were brought up charged with forging the name of Edward Cowley upon a note for 2s —A lad named John Edwards, an assistant to Mr J. Watkins, grocer. High- street, Dowlais, said that the ticket (produced) was brought to his master's shop on Wednesday last by the prisoner McCarthy; he gave him 2 oz. of tobacco, value 7d one pound of cheese. 8Jd one pound of susar, 4Ad and 2 oz. of tea, 4d making a total of 2s. the amount stated on the ticket; after supplying the goods he put the ticket on the Ble they were in the habit of supplying goods on the pro- duction of tickets from Cowley; he had received several tickets before in the same handwriting as the one in ques- tion there was no one with the prisoner when he presented the ticket; he (witness) afterwards gave the ticket unto P.S. Davies, and the one (produced) is the same.—Mr Ed- ward Cowley said he was a contractor on railways, and usually employed several men he could not write, and he therefore had not siened the ticket in question nor bad he given the prisoner Ryan authority to do so the prisoner Ryan had worked with him from the 6th to the 10th in- stant, and had written by his authority all the tickets that were required on the latter date be was discharged the other prisoner (McCarthy) he knew nothing whatever of. — Ann Cowley, wife of prosecutor, was called and stated that she never gave the prisoner Ryan authority to write the ticket in question.—P.S. Davies said he received the ticket (produced) on the 15th instant, from Mr Watkins. grocer, in the presence of last witness, and afterwards arrested prisoner Ryan, and brought him to the station, where he charged him with having forged a note for 2s he then said that he did not write it; during the same day he also ap- prehended the other prisoner, whom ho charged with uttering a note for 2s in the shop of Mr Watkins, grocer, High-street, knowing the same to be forged he replied that he only took it into the shop for the other prisoner, and they then sold it for some beer to Cash man, the landlord of the Belle Vue Inn, Dowlais. Both prisoners were drunk when arrested, so that they were charged again when they got sober; the prisoner Ryan then said, I did write the note to have some beer, but I thought to make it all right with Harry" meaning the prosecutor. The prisoner McCarthy said that he did not know the note had been forged or he would not have gone and cashed it. Ryan pleaded guilty and wished to be tried there; be said he gave the ticket to McCarthy who did not know that it had been forged.—The Bench committed both prisoners to take their trial at the next assizes. MONDAY.—(Before J. C. Fowler, Esq.) A RUFFIAN.—A son of Erin named Edward Power was brought up charged with being drunk and riotous at Gwaelodygarth, on the 18th instant. —The Rev J. Griffith said that a little after seven o'clock on Saturday night last he was in his house when he heard a great row outside in the lane being a usual thing he did not go out at once, but as it kept on and increased he went out after about ten minutes, and found the prisoner very drunk and most abusive to all who were with him, wanting to fight all pre- sent; the noise he made was most alarming, and after a few minutes he took off his coat, waistcoat, &c., and in a state of almost nudity, wanted to fight with one of the men who were endeavocring to take him home; he refused to listen to anyone, but continued in his endeavour to strike or kick bis friends, and once he rose a stone to strike them. and which he threw at one of the men but missed, and very nearly struck him. He had by this time sent a lad on horseback for a police officer, who shortly after- wards arrived. He thought it was very hard, that the pri- soner and men of his class should go up to such places to disturb the people who were enjoying a quiet walk every Sunday the noise up there, and up the Goitre way, was disgraceful, as it was now a general habit with the in- habitants of Ponstorebouse, who after settling in some public-house to fight would come up there to have it out, because there would be no police to disturb them only yesterday there had been another fight. These were the only places where the townspeople could go for a walk, and therefore that was a reason that such disgrace- ful sights should be put a stop to.—P.C. Coles said that on being called to Gwaelodygarth Lane he went there and found the prisoner lying down nearly naked bo was very drunk, and be took him into custody.—The prisoner had nothing to say in defence. Mr Fowler said that the case was a very bad one, and he did not see any reason for abating the fine from the full amount he had power to in- nict; he would, therefore, be fined 40s. and costs, or one month's imprisonment.— It appeared that the defendant was one of the persons who had been afflicted with fever and had cost the parish a sum of about £8 or £10. —Mr. Fowler remarked that his disgraceful conduct was a very poor return for the money that had been spent upon him in his illness. PROSECUTIONS UNDER THE WORKSHOPS' ACT-—Messrs. Phillips and Evans, drapers, High-streft, were summoned at the instance of the Board of Health for an infringement of the Workshops' Regulation Act, by allowing certain young ladies to work after eight o'clock on the 25th of April.—Mr Ollard (from the office of Mr. T. Williams) appeared on behalf of the Board of Health, and Mr Howell* (from the office of Messrs C. H. and F. James) appeared for the defendants.—Mr Ollard said he had been informed that the defendants admitted the offence, so that there was no need for calling evidence to substantiate the case. The Board did not wish to press for a high penalty, but merely wanted the Bench to impose such a fine as would prove a preventative against their again infringing the Act.—Mr. Howells said that his clients admitted the charge, though he wished to state to the Bench that defendants were, on the night that the offence complained of took place, under very great pressure to complete an order, which if it had not been done would have resulted in a great loss to them- selves, as well as prove a great annoyance to their customers. He also wished to point out to the Bench that the terms of the Act were not very distinct, and therefore the Act itself was liable to be misunderstood. In fact the Clerk to the Board of Health (Mr. T. Wslliams) had for some time put the same construction on it as his clients had done and he contended that if a lawyer had done so it was not to be wondered at that persons not versed in law had done the same thing. He then handed the Act in for his worship to read, after which he remarked that he only stated these facts to mitigate the fine.—Mr. D. Phillips, one of the de- fendants, said that on the night in question he had an otder for some mourning, which was bound to be completed that night, and this was his sole reason for keeping the young persons at work contrary to the Act.—Mr Fowler said that no excuses were available, for he knew perfectly well that he ought not to allow the young persons to work after eight.—Mr. Dyke observed that the Act stated that they could not woik any young persons after two o'clock on Saturday, unless by the permission of the Secretary of State, which permission the defendants had obtaineed, sub- stituting the Thursday half-holiday for that of Saturday. He might also observe that the defendants were very careful in appearing to comply with the requisitions of the Act, and it was with a goed deal of watching that they were found out.—Mr. Fowler remarked that as the case was not pressed by the Local Board he should not inflict the full penalty, but would follow the course he usually adopted in excise cases, viz., to inflict a quarter of the full penalty.—Defendants were therefore fined 15s. and costs. —Mr. Morgan Samuel, draper, High-street, was also summoned for working certain young ladies after hours, and in contravention of the Workshops Regulation Act, on the 23rd of April.—Mr. Ollard again appeared to prosecute. —Mr. Samuel contended that as he only employed five young persons, and that as the articles he manufactured were to be sold by retail, he was exempt.—A discussion, arose as to whether the execution of an order could be called selling goods by retail.—Mr Samuel maintained that aR the goods were sold over the counter they were sold by retail —Mr. Dyke stated that on the above date be visited the defendant's workshop, and found two yetmg ladies named Jane Ress and Mary Ann Thomas, at work in the room where they were usually employed; it was tea minutes after nine, and he should not have kept them there later than nine.—Mr. Fowler said that he would consider the objection raised by Mr. Samuel and give his decision on W eduesday. On the day stated his Worship observed that, after careful perusal of the Act, he put the same con- struction on it as Mr Samuel had. He did not know why the 1 gI»8^ « had omitted to include manufacturers employing less than five young persons, but such was apparently the fact, and therefore he had to deal with it accordingly; be tnen reviewed the evidence at some length, after which he dismissed the case. THE BOARD OF HEALTH AND THE PRIVATE IMPBOVB- -IENTS.—Mr William Llewelyn, Dowlais, was summoned for his apportionment of the private improvements executed by the Local Board of Health, at Ivor-street, Dowlais.— Mr Ollard appeared for the Board.—Mr Simons said he was instructed to defend, and he applied for an adjournment of the case, as the defendant had not received the summons. He applied that it should be adjouraed for a fortnight, for the defendant was from home, and he was informed that by that day he would have returned. Mr Ollard opposed the adjournment, for he contended that as the learned gentleman (Mr Simons) was present on behalf of the defendant, he thought that «w euffioient tJnAri of JtoStewtW < fo.o- .I