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

PAYMENT OF FEES. TO-DAY tho Mertliyv School Board will have another opportunity of reconsidering its resolu- tion about the payment of fees to Denomina- tional Schools. It must determine to-day whether it means to keep the parish in a state of agitation by imposing an obnoxious rate, or to consult the wishes of the great majority by refusing to adopt so impolitic and, in the end, so ruinous a course. The Board has already been driven from one position to another. It lirst insisted on imposing the rate because the majority were supposed to favour it, but when the majority showed that they were sternly opposed to it, new arguments were invented. AV e do not believe we have got to the bottom of thi:, agitation yet. Rumour says that the Dowlais Schools stand in the way, and though we are unwilling to think that Mr. CLARK would allow these schools to thwart the wishes of the parishioners, we do not wonder that the public, unable to find any adequate apology for the illiberal policy adopted by tho Chairman of the School Board, bear in mind that a rate which will benefit Catholics and Churchmen may also be freely given to the schools at Dowlais. The Act indeed will insist that if indigent parents are to choose their schools in Merthyr at the expense of the rate- payers, indigent parents at Dowlais must have the same choice, and at the expense of the parish too. By way of contrast to this abuse of public money, we shall be glad if Mr. GnEEx, of Troedyrhiw, and the two priests who are on the Board, will be as generous in refusing the rates for their schools, as tho Rector of Merthyr is in refusing them for his. Our readers may remember that at a public meeting held in the Temperance Hall, on the evening of the loth of March, 1871, the Rector said that as far as tho St. David's Schools are con- cerned, the managers Won't touch a penny of the rates of this parish they won't put their hands into the pockcts of any ratepayer, and they are ùeterDJinetl to carry out the schools as they have done hitherto by their own voluntary contributions from Church people only, and the children's pence, and Government grant. That will save the parish a matter of at least £1:W, 01 perhaps jE200 a year. I think that is some- thing, considering we are so heavily rated. So that iustead of putting our hands into your pockets we shall save your pockets to the extent of £200 a year." As this was a solemn pledge given to the rate- payers by the Rector, while appealing to them to favour his own candidature, he will, of course, stand to it. We are not, however, so sanguine about the others, but we would warn the Board that the course on which they are bent is one of a most extravagant description. If they pay the rates for children now being educated by means of the voluntary contribu- tions of Churchmen and Catholics, it is clear that they will be compelling the parish to give relief, not to indigent parents, but to those who have hitherto been subscribing towards denominational projects. «>■ FIREBRANDS DISMAYED. THE Thanksgiving Services intended to be held in St. David's Church last Sunday was, we suppose, postponed. At least, the sermon was not de- livered, but either because tho RECTOR had carried away the wrong manuscript with him. or because he could not find the right one, or because there was none to find, he discoursed to his pcoplo on Mr. OUGER and republicanism. His sermon appears, not under the title of a "Thanksgiviug Sermon," but under that of a "Lesson to Fire- brands." The text was, with .great propriety, selected from Psalm cxviii., 18, 19, the words being, The Lord hath chastened me sore but He hath not given me over unto death open to me the gates of righteousness I will go in to them, and I will praise the Lord." We thought, on reading tho text, that it was intended to express the gratitude of His Royal Highness for his recent recovery, but a very few words served to undeceive us. It is true that some allusion was made at the starting, for decency's sake, .to the excitement caused by the illness of the Prince of Wales. We are told that the Crimean war, the Indian mutiny, the American war, and the Franco-German war did not create any sensation like this. Then the preacher runs with his hearers to the Post-office, and shows them the anxious crowds struggling to get a glimpse of the telegrams An impertinent and disloyal correspondent, whose cynical effusion we refuse to publish, reminds us that there was a thousand times more excitement in Rome when Nero died, but the stupid creature forgets that there were no telegrams then, so that his assertion is to no purpose. Another correspondent of a somewhat bellicose turn protests that if our Government had only taken the trouble to stick up telegrams at the Post-office immediately after the battles of Courcelles, Vionville, and Gravelotte, or the smash-up at Sedan, business would have been completely knocked on the head by the eager crowds. We refuse, however, to credit such spiteful assertions. The authors of them must be Firebrands or Fenians, not loyal subjects for whatever the recent excitement may have been, every patriotic Welshman will insist on saying that, since the delngs, nothing has ever created so general a panic. But the text had no allusion, if we are iiot mistaken, to the Princo of Wales, but to certain ''wicked men" whoso drift was to wash out and swallow up the constitution of this great nation." How they were to perform this two-fold operation the preacher nowhere deigns to tell us. That they might have washed out the constitution, or have swallowed up the constitution, we may. out of respect to the RECTOR, admit, but rnow they were first to wash it out, and then to swallow it up, we are puzzled to know—unless they were to do it "abstractedly." For syppose they had succeeded in washing it out. That would have been operation No. 1. What, then, would they have swallowed ? This is what pijzjsles us but, then, it must be remembered that they were wicked men, and possibly wicked men—who generally get the credit of knowing a thing or two —may know how to swallow up a constitution after they have washed it out. This must be a very dmerent operation from washing down one's dinner after swallowing it, but for the life of us we cannot explain it we must leave it to the commentators. The washing out was to bo done by these wicked men by means of a revolutionary wave" which, in the subiime language of the IALOTOR, has dashed against a bulwark, and J been shivered into" spray, and froth, and filthy scum." Aha, Aha, the State-preacher unwittingly lets the cat out of the bag • What was this bulwark I It was the previous Tuesday's Thanksgiving so that after all, the thanksgiving was no expression of a nation's gratitude, but a political dodge to crush Republicanism. That was all—the RECTOR him- self being witness. We are told, iporeover, that on the grand occasion in question the old love which every human being within the realm has for his great mother broke out." This great mother utterly confounds us. Who is she ? We are ashamed to have a mother, and yet not know her, for however wise the man must be who ^nows fyia own father, it is positively humiliating not to know one's mother. Who, then, is the great mother of every human being within tho realm for whom our love broke out ? This also we transfer to the commentators. Heturning to the wicked men who first wash things out and then swallow them, we find them elsewhere in the dis- course classically described as "noisy vermin." j It was these noisy vermin, it will bo remembered, who manufactured the wave, the revolutionary billow, which was afterwards shivered into scum. This must bo a new wave theory of which scientific men have not yet given us any account, That waves, especially revolutionary billows, are ever produced by vermin is almost incredible. Surely the RECTOR meant to say blisters, not waves, but we will not stay to discuss a purely scientific dogma. We must inform our readers that the creatures euphoniously termed "noisy vermin" are the Messrs. Ooo&u and PODGER, DILKE and W HILKE. This is verv funny. isn't it ? It is so i like the Apostle Paul that we once of turning up CRTTDEN'S Concordance for the refer- ence, and would have done so, had not the ghost of CHRISTMAS EVANS scared us away. ODGER and DILKE we all know, but PODGER and WHILKE may not be so well known to all. Well, to elevate our readers to all the sublime heights of the dis- course, we may inform them that Podge means a puddle, so, of course, Podger must be a "puddler." A sly hit, every one will see, at those "noisy vermin," the podgers. Whilke or Whelk is a sort ef trumpet-shell, and therefore naturally noisy, and, says the biographer, he is also an unclean descendant of the great mother." This is all we can say about him. Mr. ODGER is, we understand, a most respectable man, and SIR CHARLES DILKE is a talented, baronet for whom none but men of common sense are likely to have much reverence. To have them described by the RECTOR of Merthyras "noisy vermin" is only to be reminded that tho paid agents of the Established Church have generally set their faces against every true friend of the people, and met the facts and arguments of these public benefactors with hard and, as some will think, disgusting epithets. This reminds us, by the way, that the Rector's discourse is addressed to working men. The working men of St. David's Church must be a rare tribe. Where are they ? Who are they ? Are they children of the great mother ? Or does the RECTOR describe his ex-High-Constables, solicitors, and shop-keepers as working men ? Probably he does, for he says, ice have to work hard for our living." Of course, the hard work is as applicable to the ex-High-Constables as to the RECTOR himself, for everyone knows that, though Mr. GRIFFITH is a very active, industrious man, he has not to work hard for his living. It is one of the happy features of the State Church that an incumbent is sure of his living whether he works for it or not. W Q know that the RECTOR has worked very hard and it is fortunate for him that, having worked hard, he has so brilliant a prospect before him. He tells us that the "highest rank in this nation is open to every child. Bravo ? The « highest rank," remember. Is not that what the Republicans are fighting for, and yet the RECTOR of Merthyr tells them that they may have it now. In opening up this pros- pect the RECTOR gives vent to the astounding remark — a remark sufficiently astonishing to make an oyster gape spontaneously—that "the steps from one school to another—from a lower to a higher—are so easily graduated and attainable that a clever boy cannot fail to reach them. What would you have more ?" "Nothing at all, your reverence but where can we have this ? Not in Merthyr certainly, nor anywhere in England or Wales so, pray, don't gull us work- ing men. Have not some of us who began life a little higher than the status of a working man been striving hard to rise, and yet Canterbury and York are still far ahead of us, and even the new diocese of Pontstickill, which we once modestly hinted at, shows no signs of springing from the great mother." Perhaps we need add no more. The RECTOR tells us in his sermon that he is a pachydermatous being, an announcement which must be consoling to the parish. "God has given me such a thick skin," he exclaims. And what follows? Therefore," he adds, "I say it once for all, I do believe in the interposition of Divine Providence." A good argument, no doubt, on behalf of a Providence but we should have thought a thick skin interposition enough. The rhinoceros has also a thick skin, and so has the hippopotamus, and we know what good uses skins are mndo to serve. When the RE<TOR is done with his (May the day be far distant !), it may become tho bulwark of Protestantism, and the barrier against which the revolutionary wave of podgerism will be broken.

DEATHS. March 2nd, at Nantyglo, after a long and painful illness, borne with patience and resignation, Mr Wm. Phillips, contractor, aged 72. His remains were intorred at Blaina churchyard on Wednesday, the Rev David Miles, Llanelly, Daniel Jenkins, Bahell, and A. Davies, Rhymney, officia- ting. He was a kind and affectionate husband and father, and a Rood neighbour and true Christian. On the 2nd inst., at Greenwich, Mrs Eliza Lawrance. aged 62, mother of Edward Lawranee, Esq Courtland Terrace, Merthyr.

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE. Mr R. Fathergill, M P., and Co!. Roden, M.P., were among the guests invited to meet H. R. H. the Duke of Edinburgh at Lord Granville's dinner party, on Tuesday night. THE TEN PER CENT ADVANCE.—Messrs Davies and Williams, of Penydarren, and of the College Iron Works, Llandaff, have conceded to their workmen ten per ccnt advance upon their present rate of wages, which will b" paid them on the 16th instant. YAYNOR SCHOOL BOARD.—At the meeting of this Board on Monday, Mrs Crawshay presided. The business was of a formal nature altogether. The accounts were passed, and several bills ordered to be paid, and a letter was read from the Education Department sanctioning the bye-laws. YNYSOWEN, NEAR TROEDYRHIW.—Messrs Nixon, Taylor and Cory, the well-known colliery proprietors, recently entertained at supper the sinkers and other workmen in their employ at the Merthyr Vale New Winning. Mr Henry Roberts, of the Windsor Hotel, catered for the oc- casion in excellent style. After supper the usual toasts were proposed and duly observed, after which Mr Charles Gray, who presided, briefly congratulated the men on the success they had attained in getting through the rock. The evening was passed in the most harmonious manner, and will long be remembered by those present as one of the pleasant events of their lives. THE DIVISION ON THE EDUCATION ACT.—Amongst those who voted in favour ot Mr Dixon's resolution in the House of Commons, on Tuesday night, for the amendment of the Education Act, were L L. Dillwyn, E. J. Sartoris, R. Fothergill, E. M. Richards, Sir J. Stepney, Colonel Stuart, and H. H. Vivian. Mr Henry Richard acted as one of the tellers. Amongst those who voted with the majority and against the resolution, were H. A. Bruce, G. Holford, T. Meyrick, C. Q. Morgan, Major Morgan, J. H. Scourfield, and Lord Henry Somerset. THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FUTURE.—A public meeting in support of republican principles is announced to take place this evening (Friday) at the Temperance Hall. Whatever opinions we may hold as to the respective advantages of the two forms of government—monarchical or republican—there certainly can be no harm in having the subject discussed. We hope the hall wjll be 1¥ell fined this evening, and that all who attend will give a patieat hearing. We are sure that no personal abuse of royalty will be indulged in, and therefore there is no reason why a peaceable meeting, and an intelligent treatment of the question, may not be anticipated. FIRE.—About half-past three o'clock on Monday morning the residence of Captain Smyth, of Narbeth, (father of Mr Smyth, Ghemist, Merthyr), was discove.red. to be on fire. The alarm was first, given by a servant girl living next door. Mr Smyth, Chemist. Narbeth, (the captain's son), with his invaluable little engine, was soon on the spot, but owing to the large quantity of smoke it was found impossible to get in at the front door. An entrance was made through the next door passage to the back. when it was found that a little back parlour was in a hlnze. A pane of glass was quickly broken, and the engine was made to play through the window. After considerable difficulty and hard work, the ftre was got under, but not before the room and its contents were completely destroyed. It is impossible to say how it originated, as Captain Smyth and his family are at present staying at Merthyr, and no one slept on the premises. Although there was a tire kept in the kitchen, there was no fire in this particular room. It will be remembered by our readers that Captain Smyth, who is an octogenarian, was few weeks ago the victim of a seriqvis cab accident near the Market Square^ which nearly deprived him of life. This calamity again is singularly unfortunate, coming so quickly or the personal injury, :n ) we are sure the occurrence will cause very deep regret aiiinii; .1' i- f,: n '•! THE NINE HOURS MOVEMENT.— IT W1" BE remembered that a. shoff tfnie since the masters connected with the building trades in this town held a meeting at tho Owain Glyndwr, whore they conceded the nine hours per day to the men in their employ. On Monday evening a public meeting was convened at the Eagle Inn, High-street, and numerously attended by carpenters, masons, painters, plas- terers, and plumbers, when the following resolution was unanimously carried :—" That we protect against the arrangements made by you for the working of the nine poprs syatpm, viz., from seven o'clock till tiveon Monday, seven to six op tho fovjr following days, and seyen to tour on Saturday; and further, we dp s(?e w'hat benefit you may derive from our working the above-named hours, whereas, if we cpmmence at six o'clock, and leave at five o'ejock, the first rive days, and from SIX to one o'clock on Saturdays, it would be giving u«_oiany advantages which we cannot obtain otherwise for instance, we may be sent two or three miles from home to work, as is often the case we leave at six o'clock by the time we arrive at home, and have our meals and clean ourselves, it is nearly bed-time; so we have a very poor chance of improving ourselves, or of obtaining any recreation whatever. And as to the hour from six to seven in the morning, it Is of no benefit to us, and we can't see what advantages you will obtain by it." A copy of this resolution will be submitted to the masters for consideration at their next meeting. DUNVILLB & C* Belfaafc, are the largest hoera fold whisky in the world. Their Old Irish Whisky ia recom mended by the medical profession in preference t( French brandy. Supplied in casks and cases for home use or ex- portation. Quotations on application to MESSRS. DUN- YJLLE k Co.,J[msH ROYAL DISNLLB*^ BELFAST. 471

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. ABBMSSBB SO '1.Z BBITO*. The Editor is not responsible fortheopinions of his Correspondent THE ASSESSMENT OF THE PARISH. Sir,—Wjll you allow me to make a few observations on the assessment of property in the parish ? A proposal has been made to add 15 per eent. to the rateable value of cottage property, and cottage owners are ibout holding an indignation meeting, not only against the j I injustice of the proposal, but the mode by which it was attempted to carry it into effect. The proposal of the overseers to add 15 per cent. to the present assessment of cottage property, without increasing any other kind of property, is manifestly unjust, but there is urgent need of the re-adjustment or equalization of the assessment, not only of cottage property, but of other house property also, for the inequalities of the present. valuation are palpable and disgraceful. The present assessment seems to have been arrived at by a kind of haphazard, for there ir. no rule, principle, e>r basis of valuation, that is applicable to it. Differences of 50 and even 100 per cent. exist in the rateable value of certain properties. There are houses rated at less than half their rental, whilst others are forced up considerably above their value. Two houses may be pointed out in High-street, one, assessed at £HO the other at £73, where the premises valued at £7;) are worth two of those assessed at .€90 And tho two houses adjoin, and the same business is carried on in them. What is required is an equalization of the assessment. Ratepayers are too fond of complaining and finding fault with men in office. One might suppose when listening to such persons that they are the victims of some despotic system, against which they have no remedy. There is no greater mistake. The persons who manage the assessment of property and levy and collect the rates, are chosen annually by the ratepayers themselves—the very men who crumble ? I would therefore suggest to the cottage owners and others who complain of injustice in their assessments, that the remedy is in their own hinds, and that they can appoint as Overseers and Guardians whomsoever they please. Men who stop at home and mind their business" have no right to find fault with those who make sacrifices of time and money to serve the puhlic.- Yours truly, March 4th, 1872. DAVID EVANS. THE NINE HOURS' MOVEMENT. Sm, Not expecting to add much to the forcible letter of Mr Lumley's in last week's issue, but strongly desiring to give this nail another How. and in the hope that some- how or other it may be driven home, I venture to trespass upon your space. The enemy whom Mr Lumley is fighting is a very olll one, as old as the hills between which he writes it is inertia, and surely there is no greater obstacle to progress in any direction than that of mere inertia. The resistance is passive, but it is intensely provoking. People will not move on until the course of events, which is but the sequence of law, fairly kicks them then, smarting under the blow. they begin to slir themselves. Only think, for instance, after the researches of science, and the teaching of common, experience, that we should be comparatively ilJdiffcreRt to those gross offences against sanitary lnw that abound ou all hands among the poor that inhabit our hill sides, as well as in the castles of the rich. Probably now that a prinrc has narrowly escaped the full wages of those sins, something more may be done, although it is sad testimony to our Christianity that the decimation of the poor by these offences should move us less than this solitary case which the pomp and circumstance of Royalty has fixed upon the public mind. So, I fear, that until we suffer not a little from our vant of technical knowledge, and our lack of art training, by a stroke of international business, which will take the brisk demand from our shares, we shall go on in the old un- intelligent jog-trot way. In these days of free international c9mlIllmication, with a daily increasing art-discrimination, and scientific knowledge among the consumers of our pro- duce, that law, which surely brings the best as well as the least expensive work into the most active demand, must, sooner or later, operate against us, unless we prove our- selves equal to our continental rivals. For energy or work- Ing power we are unequalled. We only want to train our national taste, and apply the known results of science in the exercise of our energies, and we may defy the world. The nine-hours' movement clearly will either put us at a disadvantage, or the contrary, just as we may as a nation choose to use or abuse the leisure hours thus given to us. It will of necessity raise the price of labour, and that will be a disadvantage in our international competition, but if these hours of leisure are appliQd in such a way as to in- crease the actnal value of our produce then we shall be the gainers. Let those among us who have great influence over the hearts and understandings of our fellows manfully exercise their influence in favour of Technical and Art Instruction. Surely the industrial life of a community is worth saving, at any price of personal effort. We therefore appeal to the highest and most powerful motives for support in these matters, and we hope that on all hands an honest effort will be made to rouse the people out of the sleep of in- difference, and to compel them to "move on." Yours, &c.,—A BRITON.

MERTHYR BOARD OF GUARDIANS. The weekly meeting of this Board was held on Saturday, Mr G. T. Clark in the chair. The minutes of the last meeting were read and con- firmed. The report of the master was read, from which it appeared that there were 287 in the house, as compared with :)]8 in the corresponding week of last year. MISCELLANEOUS. A communication was read from the Local Government Board approving of the erection of a lodge at the infirmary. Another document was read remitting certain sums dis- allowed some time since by the auditor. Mr D. Griffiths, accountant, of 52, Pembroke-street, Aberdare, was approved of as Mr Scale's deputy in the office of registrar of that parish. The report of the vaccination inspector (Mr Bevan) was read, from which it appeared that there had been 97 fresh cases of small-pox in Merthyr and Dowho's during the past week. The report from a similar functionary at Aberdare gave 32 during the same period. The deaths in the first instance from the disease during that period were 16, and in the latter 5. It also transpired that there were five cases at Gllygaer. MR. GOULD AND THE BALLOT. Mr W. Gould, Rccording to notice of motion, moved "That this Board do petition Parliament to extend the provisions of the Ballot Bill to the election of guardians." The speaker pointed to the propriety of their being under the same system in Merthyr with respect to the mode of conducting elections as in the case of municipal towns, in- cluded in the Bill now before Parliament. He pointed to the cost of conducting recent elections, and queried whether the improved system, if adopted, would be more expensive. He would not allude to his ballot-box, nor did he wish any- one else to, but wished it to stand upon its own merits. The matter should be taken fully into consideration when they considered the difficulty they were placed in with respect to a clear system under which illiterate men could respect to a clear system under which illiterate men could record their votes He hoped they would be successful in getting these local boards included in the coming measure, since the same money would come out of the pockets of the ratepayers for a more satisfactory system. The Chairman Of course you suggest provision in the Bill to meet all cases similar to ours. You don't confine yourself to Mertbyr. Mr Gould That's just what I mean. Let its adoption be universal. Mr Thomas Williams seconded the motion, adding that, of course, the terms of the petition now proposed would be confined to Boards of Guardians, leaving other boards to take action for themselves. 0 Mr James Lewis, in pointing to Mr Gould's reference as to the expenditure, was anxious to know whether the pro- posed system v^ould lessen the expenditure of money. He could testify to one system (the School Board election) which was much more costly than the old system. Know- ing Mr Gould's tendency at all times for economy, he would ask him whether he had considered that, and could satisfy the Board upon this point before they sanctioned any peti- tion, for he was opposed to petitioning in favour of any Bill for the conducting of elections whioh would incur greater expenditure. The Clerk pointed to the adoption of the ward system, under whioh the elections for Boards of Health and Guar- dians were conducted. Frequently there was no contest in one or more wards, and so proportionately there was a less expenditure. In the case of the School Board the whole parish was polled. The Chairman took it that there were two questions im- plied one was as to whether it was desirable that elections of Boards of Guardians should be conducted by means of the Ballot; and the other was as to the manner in which that would affect the public expenditure. It appeared the Bill before the House already pronosed to include munici- pal elections in its provisions, and there was no kind of reason why it should not include other elections-Local Boards, as also Boards of Guardians. But the present was scarcely the time or place to go into the question as to whether municipal bodies were rightly or wrongly included in the Ballot Bill, but they could assume that if such a provision were good for municipal bodies. It would be equally good for quast-municipal bodies, such as the Board of Guardians. So far he agreed with the petition. With respect to the question of expenditure, it was an important one, and he doubted whether they were in a position to re- commend Parliament any particular course, it would be better to content themselves with asking Parliament to include Boards of Guarding under municipal provisions, and leave the question of expenditure to be settled subse- quently. It was an important question, in which the whole of England was concerned, and the question must come before the House very soon, in which case there would have to be some consolidation in those provisions with regard to elections which had been so much opposed. Nothing could be worse than the provisions with respect to the School Board elections. It was eiearlv an oversight; but some provision ought to have been made. so that the next highest on the poll cmld have taken his seat in e;i;.e of the death or resignation of an elected member. (Hear, hear.) He thought, however, they hardly knew enough of the matter to recommend any specific course, and baft better confine themselves to simply asking to he included ia the municipal provisions. Mr Gould replied to Mr Lewis, remarking that he could not afford definite information upon the question of expen. diture, but, in the event of the measure being passed, of which there could be no doubt, then the question of expen- diture would be settled afterwards. The resolution was submitted, and carried unanimously. THE LATE INQUIRY. The Chairman said the ney.t resolution before ihe Board was the consideration of the report of the committee ap- pointed to inquire into the matter of the doctor and the nurse, and as the report upon the matter had been read at the last meeting, and subsequently, as he was informed, published in the newspapers, perhaps they would take it as read. It was hero agreed to hear the chairman of the committee, who had just arrived from the police court. Mr J. C. Fowler said that, after turning the matter over in his mind and reflecting on the nature of the. report, which the Rector. Mr James Lewis, and himself thought it their duty to draw up and present, he did not come to any posi- tive conclusion as to recommending any specific course to the Board. His own notion was to call the doctor and nurse before the Hoard, and ask the f'h;1irman to bu good enough to give effect to the last clause of the report, recom- mending the doctor to treat the nurse with all diu1 con- sideration, and with:1i1 much consideration as it seems he showed to the sisters and to caution the nurse; that it was her duty to treat the doctor with tlw respect, due to a Rupe- rior officer to restrain her temper for the future. They could give time to see whether in future there wa^ a pro- bability of their working togother ¡:;atisfactori1y. That appeared tp him the mogt reasonable course to pursue under the circumstances. If, on the other hand, the doctor felt eo much aggrieved by the statement in the report that some charges were made by the nurse which the committee be- lieved to be not consistent with facts proved in evidence— if he should say he could not continue In charge of the in- firmary with t<, person who had done that, then it would be, IlO doubt, absolutely neccasary to cowidcr whether the nurse should continue. He was. however, under the im- pression that the doctor would not urge this, and that he would endeavour to work with her again. AV8nue V Ilia. jaiKflUUIiUli. The Chairman confessed his own personal feelings from reading the report led him in a different direction. He was glad to take the recommendation of the committee. The chairman of that committee was accustomed to decide judicially, and to give due weight to evidence—(hear, hear) -and the exceedingly mild course just recommended might be adopted with safety. He doubted, though, whether the doctor and the nurse would go on well together, however carefully they might be admonished. He thought his friend (Mr FowLr) had put it man exceedingly mild form; the nurse having brought charges against the doctor not borne out by facts, and which could be stigmatised as false charges, for that was the plain English of it, he did not think they would pull well together by being admonished. He had not heard the evidence, but simply the report, and he did not think anyone who had not sat on the committee, and not heard the evidence, would place his private opinion against that of the chairman of the com- mittee. The Rector of Merthyr here interposed, remarking that, as a member of thecommittee in question, he knew not before the private opinion of the chairman (BIr Fowler), nor had he seen him on the matter and would, therefore, not com- mit himself to anything Mr Fowler had said. The Chairman I never said you did. The Rector had not at all improperly guarded the Board against being mis- led by anythrng- he (the speaker) might have unintentionally said. Generally speaking, they took the chairman of the committee as the mouthpiece of the committee. The report in question was signed by him "for" the committee, aud so far be took it as proceeding from the committee. Of course, he did not take the speech of the chairman as the speech of the committee. But he took the report as proceeding from the committee, and the speech of the chairman as pro- ceeding from himself (Mr Fowler), who was very much in the habit of deciding judicially upon cases before him, and to whose opinion they all attach much weight. (Hear, hear.) To what he had just said he did not commit the Board any more than another chairman had committed the committee. The subject was open for discussion, and he hoped some members would express themselves upon it. Mr Fowler: What I said was on the spur of the moment without having any communication with Mr Lewis or the Rector. The Rector explained that he confined himself simply to the speech of the chairman of the committee, and wished it he understood that he would not lend himself to what Mr Fowler had said. Mr James Lewis endorsed all that had fallen from Mr Fowler, and agreed with the kind and lenient way in which he had proposed that the matter should be treated. He suggested a definition of the doctor's and nurse's duties. After some discussion the following resolution Was moved by Mr Fowler, and seconded by Mr James Lewis—"That the doctor and nurse be called in and addressed by the chairman with reference to the report." Mrs Watkinson, the head nurse, was here called in, and addressed by the Chairman on the subject of the report, and it was evident, from one or two attempts on the part of Mrs Watkinson to interrupt the chairman in the course of his address, that she was inclined to differ with some of the facts founded on evidence. Dr Gabe was subsequently introduced to the Board, and it need hardly be stated that, considering the charges brought against him, unfounded by evidence, he was by no means the recipient of unpleasant comments. 1 The Chairman referred to the testimony of the late effT' cient nurse (Sister of Mercy) as to Dr Gabe's kindness to the poor, and said And I am sure every member of the Board was glad to learn .she spoke in such high terms of yoar kindness to the people. Moreover, evidence from so highly respectable a quarter appeared to them of a nature they could rely upon with certainty, as strong evidence indeed—evidence which any man may be proud, because there are no people better qualified to judge of a doctor than nurses of the sort of acquirements these Sisters of Mercy possess..After expressing the great unpleasantness which matters of this kind caused the Board, the chairman hoped they would not again be troubled with a similar matter. This was all the business of public importance. _uu MERTHYR BOARD OF HEALTH. The usual meeting ef this Board was held on Wednesday, Mr W. Jones, chairman, presiding. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. ANOTHER LOAN OF £20.000. The representative of the United Kingdom Provident Office, London, attended the Board to witness the execution of the mortgage deed for the loan of £20,000 on sewage irrigation account, which had been paid into Barnett's Bank, London, to the credit of the Board. VENTILATION OF COTTAGES. With reference to the ventilation of houses, Mr Harris aud the Chairman expressed opinions to the effect that in cases where cottage owners were unable to effect the through ventilation of their property, from want of funds, the Board would do the work, and recover from them in the same way as they recovered the expenses of private improve- ment. SURVEYOR'S REPORT. The following report from the Surveyor was read :— To the Merthyr Tydfil Local Board of Health. "Gentlemen,—I beg to report that in the course of the month of February, Messrs Jones and Jepson constructed, under their contracts for sewage works, 449 yards of brick, iron, timber, and stoneware sewers and drains, and other works in connection! therewith, together of the value of £?2i-¡ 12s lid, and that the sum of £:m:3 Is 8d is now due to them on account thereof, as shown by the accompanying statement, and as duly certified. The total value of the works executed by Messrs Jones and Jepson under their contract to the 29th February, 1872, is £ 4,503 7s 8d. I beg to rccommend that Messrs Jones and Jepson be employed to drain and fence that part of Graig Evan Leyshon Common, which lies to the north and east of Navigation House, and to lay the necessary iron pipes for a supply of water to Navigation House, and the adjacent houses, at the prices on which their present contract is founded, so far as such prices will apply to the work to be done. and for the remainder of the work, which will be in- considerable, at prices to be agreed upon. I beg to report that there is now at your Irrigation Farm a crop of six acres of Italian rye-grass ready fsr cutting. I would recommend that the public be informed of this by hand bills, announcing the price. I beg to recommend that a stall be taken in the Merthyr Market-house for the disposal by wholesale and retail of vegetables from the farm. I beg to submit for your consideration, a schedule of Duties of your Inspectors,' and if approved, would recommend that it be printed. "I beg to suggest the appointment of a committee to consider the applications to be received by the 16th instaut for the office of inspector at Dowlais. I beg to report that I have received the following building plans and notices to which I see no objection, viz.: -1, From Matthew Davies, builder, Dowlais, of a house at Cap Harris for John Edwards, Cwmcarney.—2, From William Thomas, builder, Dowlais, of two houses on the mountain, at Cwm-Pen Coedoae, near the big incline, above Mountain Hare, for William Jones, Penydarran.—I am, gentlemen, your obedient servant, SAMUEL HARPUR, SURVEYOR. "Merthyr Tydfil, 6th March, 1872." ORDERS. The sum of JE293 Is 8d was ordered to be paid to Messrs Jones and Jepson, on aocount of their contract in the ex. tension of the sewerage works. The Board also agreed that their contractors should fence in the northern and eastern sides of Craig-Evan-Leyshon Common, and lay a line of water-pipes for the supply of Navigation House upon the rates suggested in the sur- veyor's report. THE SALE OF RYE-GRASS AND VEGETABLES. The sale of rye-grass was ordered to be announced, with the price of delivery in various parts of the district. With respect to the sale of vegetables, it was agreed that stalls should be taken in the Merthyr and Dowlais market houses for their sale. wholesale and retail. The other recommendations in the report, with respect to the duties of Inspectors, the consideration of the applica- tions for the appointment at Dowlais, and the passing of the building plans, were all sanctioned by the Board.. THE MEDICAL OFFICER'S REPORT. The following report from the Medical Officer of Health, referring to the year ending Dec. 31,1871, and the fortnight ending March 5, 1872, were read :— Report for the Quarter ended 31st December, 1871, and the year ended same date. The Chairman and Members of the Local Board of Health. "Merthyr Tydfil, 1 March, 1872. Gentlemen,—The births registered in the last quarter of the year 1871, were 510, and the deaths 332. Taking the population in the middle of the quarter at 52,110, the births would be equal to an annual rate of 39, and the deaths to a rate 25 one-third per 1< 00. This death-rate is less by 2 two-thirds than the average (27.9) of the 50 large town districts in England, among which Merthyr is classed. During the year 1871, 2143 children were born; assuming the numbers of the people to have been on the 1st of July 52,000, the birth-rate on the year would be 41 one-fifth per 1000. The rate of births for all England was 35 thus the rate was higher by 6 one-fifth per 1000 in Merthyr. The total registered mortality in the year was 1258 of these, sixteen persons were parishioners of other parts of the union, leaving 1242 as the number of deaths of persons domiciled in Merthyr. The average per 1000 would be nearly 24 the mean rate of deaths during the previous years was 24 £ while the average of the chief towns in England, in 1871, was 25. The mortality was therefore less than our former rate, and less than the rate which prevailed in the large town districts. The average age at death was 25^ years.—-Yours obediently, T. J. DYKE, "Medical Officer of Health." The Chairman and Members of the Local Board of Health. "Merthyr, 5 March, 1872. Gentlemen,—During the fortnight ended 2nd March, 80 new cases of small-pox were reported to me from Dow- lais and Penydarren and 87 from Merthyr, Tydfil's VV ell, George Town, Plymouth, and Troedyrhiw. In all lib. These added to the 260 previously noticed, give a total or One person out of every 115 of the population has been During the period above named, the deaths have been 13, the previously recorded mortality was 43, the total of deaths is 56. aoo Of the whole number attacked, oil! nad been vacci- nated, and two had had small-pox of these 324, thirteen died. 112 had not been vaccinated, ot these forty-three The new admissions to the Merthyr Hospital have been 15, those before admitted 45, in all 0U. ;j have died, 40 have been curcd, and I;) remain. No addition has been made to the number, 17, received at the Dowlais Hospital. Of these 8 have died, 6 have been cured, and three, who are convalescent, remain. "There is accommodation in the Dowlais Hospital for 16 males, and 12 female patients in the Merthyr Hospital and the four cottages, from 26 to 3q sick may be received. II Yours obediently DYKE, Medical Officer of Health." Several of the members spoke in terms of the highest commendation of those reports, as indicating the careful- ness and painstaking character of Mr Dyke, especially in the valuable analyses of the detailed reports which are presented to him from time to time by the various medical gentlemen of the parish, and of JVIr Howells, the Health Inspector. Various measures of a remedial nature suggested by Mr Dyke, were ordered to be taken to repress disease as much as possible, and every facility was ordered to be given to pooi*people in liuie-washing their houses.

THE CLERK'S BILL AGAINST THE BOARD. The Clerk presented his bill of charges aga'nst the Board for various matters of legal business done for the Board be- tween August, 1869, and August, 1371. Tile following is a synopsis of the interesting document The Merthyr Tydfil Local Board of Health, in account with Thomas Williams, 20th October, 1869, to 31st August, 1871 | _L_J Dr. EXPENDITURE. £ s. d. Parliamentary Bill 876 4 9 Attorney General v. Board 60414 6 Borrowing and No. 4 Local Supplemental Act 100 10 4 Brecon and Merthyr Railway Act 55 11 0 Town Hall Purchase 42 8 6 Sundries 39 1 6 Division of District into Wards 22 15 6 Police and County Court. 8 0 2 Re Lewis Settlement. 15 6 0 District Rate Sureties. 16 10 0 Re Dixon 1 10 10 Exclusion from Rating 1 8 4 Craig Evan Leyshon Common matter (esti- mated) 160 0 0 JE1944 11 5 Cr. RECEIPTS. f a. d. 8th August, 1870, by Cash on Account. 250 0 0 8th Dec. „ 500 0 0 By Non-charge Re Craig Evan Leyshon Com- mon matter 160 0 0 Balance due. 1034 11 2 JE1944 11 5 AGENT'S CHABGES. Dr. EXPENDITURE. jE S. d. Agent's Charge Re Brecon & Merthyr Railway Act 48 12 1 Balance due to Bew & Co. Attorney General v. Merthyr Board from Sept., 1870, to April, 1871 210 8 7 Do. April, 1871, to August, 1871. 18 3 2 Local Government Supplemental Act, 1871, No. 4 919 6 JE287 3 4 Cr. RECEIPTS. JE a. d. January, 1871, by Sale of evidence Re Local Government Supplemental Act, 1870, No. 2 29 2 8 Balance due. 258 0 8 JE287 3 4 After the reading of the above synopsis the members of

the Board seemed to experience a considerable deficiency of breathing power, but after a few minutes' rest, and some suggestive mutual staring, it was proposed and carried that the bill be referred to a special committee of the whole Board. VISIT OF THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY TO CARDIFF. The Board resolved to forward an invitation to the Royal Agricultural Society during its visit to Cardiff this year to inspect the sewage farm at Troedyrhiw, This concluded the business, and the Board adjourned. 0 MERTHYR POLICE COURT. SATU RDAY. --(Before J. C. Fowler, Elq.) i NARROW ESCAPE. — John Thomas was charged by Inspector Mends, on behalf of the G. W. Railway Com- pany, with an infringement of the 7th bye-law of the Company.—Richard Griffiths, ticket-collector at the Mer- thyr station, stated that defendant had come to the station to see some of his friends off by one ef the trains, and after the train had moved off, prisoner rode on the step of the carriage, with his arm inside the catriage door. In getting off he fell between the train wheels and the side of the platform, and it was a most singular circumstance that he was not killed, or seriously injured. He, however, escaped any injury whatever.-Defendant stated that he was net on the carriage step at all, but that be fell whilst running with the train.-Inspector Mends said that he would not press for a penalty in this case, and that the summons was only obtained in the interest of, and as a caution to, the public. -rMr Fowler observed that he scarcely need say anything to caution defendant not to do so dangerous an act again, as he was quite sure that the danger he had escaped would for ever prevent him from repeating the act. He hoped the publicity given to this case would also prevent others from running such risk.—Acquitted. MORE SINNED AGAINST THAN SINNING.—Mrs M'lntosh, a respectable looking woman, wife of one of the porters of the Great Western Railway at Merthyr, was charged by Inspector Mends with having ridden from Merthyr to Abernant with a fraudulent ticket.—The defendant (for whom Mr Simons appeared) was late coming to the station, and ran round by the goods department, just coming to the platform in time before the train started; The ticket office was closed, but a man in one of the carriages called out to her to come in, that he had a spare ticket he would sell her. When she got into the carriage he gave her the half of a second-class return ticket from Abernant to Merthyr, and she gave him 6d for it. She took no notice of the ticket, but at Abernant the ticket-collector observed that it was a wrong ticket, issued at a previous date. She then gave the account of how she had had it, but at this time the train was gone, and the man who had committed the fraud upon her has not since been found.—Mr Mends. said that from the information he had obtained he believed that the circumstances as given were correct.—Mr Fowler said that in that case the defendant had committed no intentional fraud upon the company, though she had acted unwisely in buying a ticket from a stranger in that way. She would be acquitted, and he hoped if she saw the man again she would immediately give him in custody, so as to obtain his name and address, in order that he might be prosecuted. It was evident, Mr Fowler observed, that Mrs M'lntosh had been more "sinned against than sinning."—Mrs M'lntosh said she would not fail to do as requested, and at the suggestion of her solicitor she paid 3s 6d the cost of the summons, and then left the Court. ÐRUNK AND RIOTOUS.—Richard Jones was charged with being drunk in Dynevor-street, and fined 5s and costs.- P.C^.171 gave the necessary evidence. MONDAY. POOR RATE DEFAULTER.—In the case of William Monroe summoned last week for 15s amount of poor-ratt, Mr Plews who appeared to-day for him resolutely contended that as the assessment was made upon the two houses, one of which conferred no beneficial interest to defendant, he was not liable for the amount due upon it, although they were both included in the same assessment. -After considerable time had been occupied in the discussion of this matter Mr W. J. Jones, assistant-overseer, consented to accept 6s instead of the 15s demanded, as a compromise of the matter. Mr Plews agreed to this, and the costs being remitted, there was an end of the case. A PUBLICAN AT FAULT.—John Parry, landlord of the Anchor Inn, High-street, had been summoned for keeping his house open on Sunday morning at illegal hours, and supplying beer.—The evidence in this case was given in our last, and was adjourned till to-day in order that defendant might produce a witness. He now said that he had no wit- ness to call, nor any defence to make, excepting that he was not aware that any beer bad been drawn.-He was fined 40s and costs, and this being his second offence, he was warned to be more careful in future. UNLAWFUL PAWNING.—Helen Neagle was charged with illegally pawning a trowsers and waistcoat the property of her daughter-in-law Honora Neagle. The complainant said she lodged with her mother-in-law, and that her husband had recently died. The clothes were in the drawer and pawned without her knowledge or consent by defendant.—The de- fendant said that the clothes belonged to her, but com- plainant showed a bill for them which she had paid to Mr John Ross.-Adjourned for a week, in order that defendant might redeem them and return them to complainant, and if not done so she would have to go to prison, as it was clear they belonged to the widow. ASSAULT.—A man named William Ireland had been sum. moned by Ellen Bowen for an assault, but as he did not appear the case was adjourned to Wednesday, when he was again absent, and a warrant was issued for his apprehen- sion. ROBBERY BY A SERVANT GIRL.-Catherine Edwards was charged with stealing a quantity of child's clothing, value 14s, the property of David Thomas, fitter at Cyfarthfa,- Mrs Thomas said that the clothes produced were her pro- perty and belonged to her little ehild now deceased. She missed them on the 6th February, having placed them away about a. fortnight previously.—Edward Rowlands, assistant to Mr Davies, pawnbroker, Georgetown, said that prisoner brought the things to his master's shop, and pawned them in the name of Ann Price, and he afterwards gave them to P.C. Coles.-That officer stated that he appre- hended prisoner at 15, Castle Square, early that morning, and asked the landlady if Catherine Edwards lodged there, she replied that there was no one there of that name, and he then passed her and went up-stairs, and found prisoner concealed in a corner of the room. In reply to the charge prisoner said, I did pawn the things and gave the money to Mrs Thomas."—Mrs Thomas denied this statement, and added that she was not accustomed to have anything to do with pawnshops.—There was a previous conviction, and prisoner was committed for trial at the assizes. STEALING WEARING APPAREL.—A strong and rough- looking Irishman named William Sweeney was charged with stealing a jacket and vest, and 2s 4d in money from John Starr, haulier, Merthyr, at whose house he lodged, and from which he left on the 15th January last. He was arrested at Aberdare on another charge, and when brought to Merthyr he was charged with this offence, which he ad- mitted, and said he left them at Rhymney at a house where he lodged. He appears to be a thorough thief, and there are several charges against him. He was remanded for a week, and was exceedingly impudent in his manner towards the Bench. He stated that he wanted to be sent to Ireland, upon which it was remarked that he could well be spared from this country, but that it was very likely he would have to remain here for some time. WEDNESDAY. A RIOTOUS COUPLE.—Griffith Jones and Elizabeth Jones, man and wife,who said they came from Aberdare, and were married about eight months, were charged with being drunk a^ghtmg, at Y nysgau, on Tuesday night. Police-con- stable Coles (42) found the woman bleeding from a blow in the face. They were both taken into custody. Griffith was fined 10s, and costs, and his wife 2s. 6d. and costs. Allowed till Monday to pay. SOLICITING ALMS.—Michael Maddon was charged with begging alms in Bridge-street, on the 5th inst. P.C. Coles stated that, from what he heard from Mr Roach, draper, he followed prisoner to Bridge-street, where he entered a public house, and was heard by the officer to ask for a "copper" for a night's lodging. An assistant to Mr Roach stated that when prisoner was refused alms he made use of foul language. Sent to prison for a month.

ABERDARE INTELLIGENCE. SHOCKING INCREASE OF DRUNKENNESS.—At the police- court on Tuesday (before Messrs J. C. Fowler and D. E. Williams), no less than 20 porsons were brought up for drunkenness, and were mulcted in the usual penalty. PERMITTING DRUNKENNESS.—Catherine Watkins was summoned for permitting drunkenness in the Ivy Bush, Cwmaman. P.C. Whitney proved the offence. Mr Phillips defended. Two convictions were previously recorded against defendant, who was now fined C3 and costs.-The Bench intimated that the license of this house would not be re- newed either in favour of defendant or anybody else, and it would be a caution to house-owners to keep none but res. pectable tenants. ALLEGED ASSAULT.—John Pearce summoned Jenkin Evans for assaulting him. The alleged assault took plaew underground. The complainant was seen by defendant, a Ereman, carrying two bmps contrary to rules. He was called upon, but would not answer, and Mr Linton [who defended) contended that no undue violence had been used, and the assault was brought on by himself,—• Dismissed,