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

THE SOUTH WALES CHOIRS AND THE MUSICAL COMPETITION AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE. MEETING AT ABERDARE. There is a movement on foot in South Wales at the pre- sent moment which cannot fail to attract very much atten- tion throughout the kingdom. We have heard of interna- tional boat-races, and the celebrated "All England Eleven cricketers went to the antipodes to compete with rivals in that part of the globe; but we never heard of a body of Welshmen leaving their mountain homes to compete with any class in any part of the world. The Welsh are eminent for their competition at eisteddfodau. Indeed, this com- petitive spirit is so general throughout the Principality that it is rather remarkable that the Welsh have confined its operations to Wales. But most of our English friends will cry "All hail!' when we say that the Welsh are about crossing the border into England. The timid need not be alarmed the wild mountaineers are not about to descend into "the Marshes of Wales with the sword and the fire- brand, as so many of their heroic fathers did when struggling for the independence of "Gwlad-y-Cenyn." NO! the sword wielded by Welshmen against Englishmen is buried in the grave of the old Britons, and to-day they are rivals only in the arts of peace, whose victories are not less renowned than war." Welshmen in our day say to England, Where thou diest will I die they are wedded for evermore. At one period in the history of Britain its being composed of distinct nationalities was a source of weakness to it, but we are living in an epoch when this peculiarity is a source of positive strength, for it is the cause of a healthy spirit of competition. It is well known, the Crystal Palace Company have offered a prize of £1,000 for the best choir singing, to be competed for on the 29th, 30th, and 31st July next, each choir to be composed of 500 singers. The leading singers of South Wales have resolved to organise a great choir of the picked talent of South Wales to enter the list, not for a crown of flowers, but for what Welsh men and women love dearly, namely, "arian." The movement is causing much interest throughout the country. The choirs of the Bethels, Nebos, Tabernacles, Hermons, &c., in the hills and in the valleys of South Wales talk of nothing else. Regularly appointed examiners have been from chapel to chapel to pick and choose. At Ebbw Vale the foliowing have been found competent to join the great choir Sopranos, 28 altos, 1G tenors, 31. At Merthyr and Dowlais:—Tenors, 28 bass, 20; trebles, 18 altos, 15. At Swansea :-Sopranos, 13 altos, 9 tenors, 12 bass, 12. At Llanelly :—Sopranos, 12; altos, 9; tenors, 12 bass, 12. Pontypridd and Districts :-Sopranos, 12 altoa, 7 v tenors, 11; bass, 12. At Aberdare 93 singers have been selected. ¥he general committeo met on Monday afternoon at the Temperance Hall, Aberdare. The examiners were also there, but, of course, in a separate room. The number of candidates for examination was overwhelming. The com- ruittee-room was sufficiently close to enable the members to hear the roar of the crowd filling the passages, and the piping of the candidates under examination. The choirs of the following places were represented :— Merthyr, Mr Rosser Beynon and. Mr Davies Aberdare, Mr Richard Jones, Mr Rees Evans, and Mr Hywel Cynon; Swansea, Mr Silas Evans Llandwr, Mr Rees Jones Llanelly, Mr Hughes and Mr Gwilym o'r Dyffryn Rhondda Valley, Mr Richard Evans, Trehafod Ponty- pridd, Mr Dewi Alaw and Mr Thomas Williams. Secre- tary, Mr Brythonfryn Griffiths, Aberdare. Mr Dewi Alaw expressed his great pleasure at seeing their old friend, Mr Rosser Beynon, present. He would designate him the father in music. (Hear, hear.) He was of opinion that there was some difficulty ahead with regard to electing local sub-conductors. At Pontypridd they had got over that difficulty by electing Mr Richard Evans, Trehafod. Mr Rosser Beynon expressed himself in favour of each locality electing its own sub-conductor, but, of course, to be subject to instructions communicated to him by the conductor-in-chief, for it was of paramount importance to obey him implicitly. Mr Jenkin David, Aberdare, didn't quite agree with leaving the selection of a conductor to each locality, for each had its own two or three musical conductors, and there would be a difficulty in selecting to the satisfaction of all. But if the selections were made by the head committee, it would be received as coming from the chief authority. Mr Hywel Cynon said be agreed with the last speaker. Mr Davies, Merthyr, said if they could not select their sub-conductors without troubling the chief committee it did not reflect any credit upon them. Mr Dewi Alaw believed that other localities could act as Pontypridd had done. It was then proposed by Mr Davies (Merthyr), That each locality be left to appoint its own sub-conductor." The motion was seconded by Mr Rees Evans (Aberdare), and carried unanimously. I Dewi Alaw suggested that when the great choir meets, each section should be tested separately, for he believed it would be easier in that way to detect any defect than when the united choir was tested. The Rev Canon Jenkins was of opinion that that would have a tendency to create a feeling of rivalry. (Hear, hear.) They should aim at a united South Wales. (Hear, hear.) It wag argued that when testing the great choir the chief conductor snould be at liberty to weed it should be find that incompetent vocalists had been inadvertently admitted. It Was suggested that another examination should be made, for that many meritorious singers had been omitted. It was stated that in some localities good singers had held back, because they would not submit to the appointed ex- aminers. It was finally agreed to give those who had held back another choice; but to be tested by the examiners already in office. (Cheers.) Dewi Alaw proposed that, in addition to the sub-choirs already elected, one should be elected from between Ystrad and Treberbert. Mr Brythonfryn Griffiths said he fully concurred that it was necessary to extend the selection, for they had not a single individual from that musical valley, Maesteg, nor from Cwinafoc, at both of which places were some excellent vocalists. He knew of some young ladies at those places who had remarkably good voices. Dewi Alaw's proposition was then put to the meeting and carried unanimously. Mr Thomas Williams and Mr Richard Evans were ap- pointed the examiners. f It was also agreed to invite the choirs of Maesteg, Cwm- afon, Aberafon, and Taibach to make their selection, and to appoint their own examiners, but not to elect more than 60 between them, Ystrad to select 20. Every candidate, when admitted, to pay Is. entrance fee, and Is. per month afterwards towards the fund to defray the expenses of going to London, the district treasurers to send the money to the secretary-in-chief (Rev Dr Price, Aberdare.) A cordial vote of thanks was accorded the Rev Canon Jenkins for presiding, and the meeting came to a close. £ — DOWLAIS. TRANSFER OF LICENSE. The certificate of the Cross Keys Inn, Chapel-street, was on Monday transferred from Wm. Jones to David Powell, RATE DEFAULTERS.—Evan Jones, building contractor, rant, was summoned to the Merthyr police-court, on Mon- day for district rate and water rent amounting in the aggregate to £ 2 6s 8d. Ordered to pay, together with 9s 3d P?st8-John Price, Dowlais, was also summoned for sr 1d, the amount for water rent and district rate. Autre was some difticulty'in proving this case, owing to one of the items being apparently omitted in the ledger. Mr *j«odfellow, the collector, sent for Mr Havard, the book- gentleman having explained to the Bench ,thia cuuse of I .4wprder was made for payment, to. w¡tb 'f"" Mr Edward Thomas, of Colly Farm, was charged at the Merthvr Police Court, on Saturday, on the information of P.C. Williams with obstructing the highway. The officer stated that defendant had drawn up his horse and cllrt opposite a shop in Cae Harris, and it remained there fit- fully half-an-hour whilst the defendant aR in a pubic- hom e. -For the defence a lad named John Jones. a groct r's assistant, said that he was ordere 1 by his empolyer. Mr Rowland ltees. to keep his eye upon the horse from behind the counter.- Fined Is., and 9s. 9d. co-its. MISCELLANEOUS OFFENCES.—Margaret Hamilton and Hannah Clifford (sisters), were charged with beincr drunk and riotous at 12 o'elok on Saturday niphfc. P.C. Williams proved the offences, and they were fined 2s 6cl each and costs.—Daniel Sullivan was charged with fiijhtinfr in Union street, Dowlais, on Sunday morning at 2 o'clock. Defendant had quarrelled with his lodger, so that -he policeman had to go into the house to separate them. The defendant was very drunk, and some time afterwards he came out of the house and challenged the lodger to come out and fight. Once outside the house indulging his propensities he soon found himself inside again—not, however, in his own house but the police station, and he failed to get from these quarters until he paid 10s and 7s 3d costs.—John Smith, a vagrant, was charged with sleeping in a coke-oven in the Dowlais Works. The P.C. said that h« suspected prisoner had an eye on the workmen's food-cans. Prisoner however denied this, and gave reference to where he worked last, upon which he was remanded until Wednesday, when he was discharged with a caution. MALICIOUS WOUNDING. —James Donovan was charged with maliciously wounding a fellow lodger named William Yardley at Dowlais on Saturday night last.—The following evidence was takenWilliam Yardley said: [ am a labourer at Dowlais, in lodgings at 10 o'clock on Saturday night I was in the house, and had some words with prisoner, who also lodges in the same house, about the work, and he struck me while sitting in the chair he struck me a second time, and we then had a tussle both of us fell, I under- neath some one took him off, and 1 then sat down in about half a minute he came towards me with something bright in his hand, and he struck me I lifted my hand, and the blow came upon my arm, and I again fell. As I was rising from the ground I received two blows on my head with the poker (produced). The mark on prisoner's face was received when we were on the ground together.- Mrs Lloyd, wife of Thomas Lloyd, sinker, said 3he saw the two men in their lodgings prisoner had hold of complain- ant by the throat, with a poker in the other hand she did not see him use the poker the complainant was bleeding. The landlady dreve her out.-Dr Cresswell said he saw complainant on Sunday morning he had a scalp wound on the vertex of the head, and another on the right side of the head, exposing the bone in both wounds he had another bruise of a longitudinal form on the arm all these injuries may have been inflicted by a poker or some other blunt instrument.—Inspector Thomas said he arrested prisoner in his lodgings shortly after the row. He was far gone in drink. He charged him with unlawfully wounding with a poker "William Yardley. He replied, He struck first. I had no poker. We were both on the ground." He (the inspector) found the poker by the fire. It was wet. as though recently washed, and the floor was also washed.- For the defence Mrs Samuel, the landlady, was called, and said that complainant came into the house about 10 o'clock quite drunk, and attacked prisoner about the work pri- soner was also partly drunk. Complainant said that he was a better man than prisoner in everything-, and struck him twice before prisoner did anything. Prisoner then rose and struck complainant, and both fell on the iroh fender by the fire, prisoner being uppermost. She drew prisoner off complainant, and as she was rising him complainant lifted his foot and kicked prisoner on the eye. After they had been separated they sat down peaceably, and she thought all was over, but they quarrelled again, and again scuffled, and this time fell against the table, knocking it down and the candle and candte stick which was upon it. The room was then dark, and whilst she was lighting the candle the Inspector came in.-By complainant: She never saw any- thing in prisoner's hand, nor had she waghed the poker, but she had washed the floor, as there was a lot of blood upon it. She was quite sober.—The complainant here said that his landlady was perfectly drunk, having been drinking all the evening with prisoner, and that he (complainant) was quite sober.—Inspector Thomas re-called said that the land- lady was perfectly drunk, and staggering, and there was a quart of beer in the room when he went there.—This was all the evidence, and prisoner was committed for trial to the assizes. H I B W A I N. INDECENT ASSAULT IN A RAILWAY TRAIN.—At the Merthyr Police Court on Saturday last, Waiter Jones, of the Farmers' Arms, Hirwain (an elderly man) was charged by the Great Western Railway Company with an infringe- ment of one of the bye-laws of the company.- It appears that defendant was in a third-class carriage about a fort- night ago, going from Merthyr to Hirwain, and in the department were several females, among them a Mrs Hinkin, a green-grocer, at Aberdare. Defendant was under the influence of drink, and whilst in the tunnel he most indecently assaulted Mrs Hinkin. When the train had emerged from the tunnel she gave him a sharp slap in the face, and at Abernant station she gave information to the Station-master ag to the indecent assault committed by the defendant. She soon afterwards took a summons out against the defendant, and he then called upon her and gave her a sovereign to compromise the matter, and she did not appear against him. Inspector Mends, however, on behalf of the Company, would not allow the matter to drop, but as a warning to blackguards generally took out a summons against Jones for an infringment of one of the bye-laws, and also a summons against Mrs Hinkin to give evidence against him. Mrs Hinkin deposed to the assault committed, and Mr Mends submitted a copy of the bye- laws, after which defendant, having been severely censured by Mr Fowler, was fined 30s and costs, total S3 2s Id.—Mr Fowler drew the attention of Inspector Mends to the desirability of having lights in the carriages, as a protection to the public in going through the long tunnel—especially against the wicked acts of drunken men, who ought never to be allowed to enter a railway carriage. Mr Mends said that the Company's servants had strict orders not to permit drunken men to enter the carriages, but sometimes they got in'inadvertently. TROEDYRHIW. A VISIT TO THE SEWAGE FARM.—An important deputa- tion of members of the lloclidale Board of Health paid an official visit of inspection on Friday last to our Sewage Irrigation Works near Trocdyrhiw. The party (about half a dozen in number), were conducted over the works by Mr Bailey Denton, who explained the various details of the scheme of downward filtration, and the advantages which the scheme at Troedyrhiw possesses over other schemes for the disposal of town sewage. The deputation seemed highly pleased with what they saw. — «♦ — MOUNTAIN ASH. THE TWO AND A HALF PER CENT.—The men were paid 21 per cent on Saturday in the majority of the collieries sur- rounding Mountain Ash, the other collieries having pre- viously handed over to the men their share. General satisfaction is being expressed at the manner in which the masters have fulfilled their promise. ASTRANGE COINCIDENCE.—On Saturday evening a strange coincidence happened in the town, by which a mother and son met under very peculiar circumstances. An old woman from the country bad come up to Mountain Ash, with the last Great Western train, to see her son, who has for some time been staying at Mountain Ash. After leaving the railway station, the old woman made inquiries about the street where she had heard her son lived. The street was pointed out to her, but the night being dark, and not know- ing that the canal intervened between the station and the street, she, instead of going along the road, went into the canal. Her screams soon called together people to rescue her, and the first person who dragged her from the water was the identical son whom she had come to see. DELEGATES' MEETING AT ABERAMAN.—A meeting of delegates, representing all the steam coal collieries in the Aberdare Valley, has been held at the Lamb and Flag Inn, Aberaman, at which the following resolutions were agreed to :-lst. "That when boys engaged with colliers are wanted by the 'gaffers,' for the purpose of 'dooring,' they should be paid at the same rate as that paid by the colliers and that no trams henceforth be allowed to be given to the colliers in consideration of the boys' services." 2nd. "That when colliers are requested to do hauliers' work, they also should be remunerated according to work done by a collier, and that trains given to be filled to their partners for them be considered from this time out illegal." 3rd. That there will be a meeting held on the 6th inst., at the Lamb and Flag Inn, Aberaman, to further consider the matter." On Friday night a meeting of colliers was convened at the Allen's Arms to discuss the above resolutions, the adoption of which had been left optional to the men. After much discussion the consideration of the matter was postponed till Wednesday. ASSAULTING THE POLICE.—At the Aberdare police-court on Tuesday David Morgan and Samuel Evans were charged with assaulting P.C. Castle, at Mountain Ash. Mr F. James appeared for Morgan, and Mr William Simons for Evans.-Complainant stated that on Sunday night he was on duty in Jeffries street, and heard three persons swearing and making a disturbance. He ordered them off, but they would not go. He took Evans into custody, and all three sprang at him and began striking him. He was compelled to use his staff.-Sergeant Thorney was called for the pro. secution.-A woman, who witnessed the scuffle on the ground, was called for the defence. She stated that she saw Castle strike a blow with his staff. This was denied by Castle, who said the striking was all over long before she came out of her house. She further stated that she saw him put his staff in his coat pocket. This was denied by Castle, as he had no staff pocket:in his coat. She also stated that the assault took place in Seymour-street, but the officer and Sergt. Thorney said it happened in Jeffries-street there being blood on the pavement in the latter street. The case was ultimately adjourned for the appearance of a medical gentleman. FOOLHARDY CONDUCT.—Thomas Rees, a man having tho appearance of a collier, was charged, before the Merthvr Police Court, on Saturday, by Inspector Mends, of the Great Western Railway, with having ridden on the buffers of a carriage and thus endangering his life.T oseph Gre- gory, railway guard, said that on the 18th February, the five o'clock passenger train from Monmouth stopped at Quaker's Yard to take up passengers. After the train had moved off, there being a sharp gradient to the tunnel he observed the defendant jump on to a carriage step, and then crawl to the end, and swing his leg over the buffer. This was the last carriage (the van) of the train. In this position he rode through the tunnel. When the train had got the other side he made a danger signal to the driver and stopped the train. The defendant then got off the buffer, upon which he seemed comfortably astride, and asked the guard why he stopped the tram. The guard told him that it was because he was on the buffer, and he then coolly replied, "You have done your duty. He then came into the guard's van, and when asked why he rode on the buffer he said he was rather late at Quaker's Yard to get into the train, and wanted to go to Mountain Ash. He immediately gave his name and address, and was very civil. The defendant had taken a ticket for Mountain Ash, and might have gone into the carriage if he had chosen, but he seemed to have preferred riding on the buffer. He was a little under the influence of drink, but not drunk.-His Worship asked him why he didn't go into the carriage, but the defendant said he could give no reason, excepting that he did it for a lark; His Worship observed that it was a very foolish lark, for he was greatly endangering his own life. He could not account for an act of such wanton folly, as it was clear that he was not moved to do it by fraud, for he had purchased a ticket and was entitled to go by the train.—Inspector Mends said he could explain the matter. Persons were very foolishly making bets in public houses that they would ride by the train in this dangerous manner, and one or two cases of the kind had already been before the Bench at Aberdare. He supposed the defendant had made a similar bet.—Mr Fowler asked him if he would pay the costs, which defendant agreed to, and tbepeiipon the case was dismissed, and defendant was told not to be, so foolish agajn.

PONTYPRIDD INTELLIGENCE. EXAMINATION.—The quarterly examination of pupil teachers and candidates in the Rhondda district, was held at the British School here on Saturday last. REGISTRAR OF MARRIAGES.- We understand that the Rev J. Kufus Williams, B.tptist minister, has been ap- pointed the registrar of marriages in place of Mr Richard Thomas. EDUCATION LEAGUE.—A petition, with nearly 300 signa- tures. in favour of Mr Dixon's motion, was forwarded from the Treherbert branch to Mr Vivian, and prestnted to Parliament. THE NINE HOURS MOVEMENT.—The final meeting of the trades of Pontypridd was held at the Union Bride, Trallwn, on Friday evening, when the different delegates appointed at the last meeting to wait upon the employers presented their reports, which were to the effect that the different firms in the tovn were in favour of conceding the movement from the 1st of April next. This was accepted by the work- men present. A resolution was agreed to, that the nine hours of labour should be from six to five, and on Saturdays six to one, it being the object of the movement to secure to the classes affected an additional hour's recreation of an evening. A vote of thanks to the employers for their con- cession to the movement; and also a vote of thanks to the chairman and secretary brought the proceedings to a close. SAD CASE OF DROWSING.—A young girl was drowned on Tuesday last under the following circumstances. She was sent to the tips of the Treforest Tin-plate Works by her mother to gather some cinders and bits of coal, and while on the side of the tip which slopes down to the Taff she missed her footing, slipped into the river and was washed down by the rapid current. Her body has not been recovt *ed. She was the daughter of Hichard Harris, working in the tin works, and residing in Rhydfalen, near to the scene of the accident. A SAD FALL.—William Keating Fowler, a dissipated looking young man, who is the son of a respectable person, formerly a colliery proprietor near Pontypridd, was charged at the Merthyr Police Court, on AVedncsday, with leaving his wife chargeable to the Merthyr Union. It appears that some time ago, prisoner assaulted his wife, and was sum- moned, but he did not appear, and absconded to America. He was convicted in his absence and sentenced to pay a fine of 40s, or one month's imprisonment. The wife then became chargeable to the Merthyr Union, and there was now due £ 316s for her maintenance. A letter was handed to the Bench in which it was stated that his friends would pay all demand, and that it was intended to send defendant to the Cape of Good Hope, as he had returned twice from America.—He was now remanded for a week, in order, that the fine and Union claim, and also costs, might be paid. ANOTHER LARGE MEETING OF TAFF VALE SERVANTS.— Another important meeting of the men employed by the Taff Vale Railway Company was held on Sunday at the Half Moon Inn, near the station. The long room was well filled by a respectably-dressed body of men, who conducted their deliberations with business-like tact and intelligence. The tone of the meeting, however, was such as to impress one with the idea that, along the line." a chronic state of disaffection exists, which the authorities would do well to remove as quickly as possible. A chairman was elected, who opened the proceedings with a few remarks. He stated that the business t>f the meeting was to take into considera- tion what had already been done, and to decide upon their future course of action. (Cheers.) Lie then invited the men present to express their opinions. One man said he felt glad to see that after their first meeting the London press bad noticed it. 'J he Sunday Times, in commenting upon their appeal, complimented them upon the moderate character of their demand. (Hear, hear.) It was moderate, but their honourable Board had thought it otherwise, and bad granted but half of what the London press had deemed moderate." (Cheers.) II, re an employe got up and de- livered a speech, which had evidently been carefully pre- pared. It was "flowery" and practical. It dwelt upon the duties of man as a reasonable being, and encouraged the Taff Vale men to respect themselves. (Hear, hear.) This man appeared to be a Welshman, for to explain some of his rhetorical figures be would occasionally interpolate a Welsh word. Another man said he believed the Is already granted them had done more harm than good, for people appeared to expect them to pay more money for various articles. A friend of his. a platelayer, went to buy a shovel the other day. He was asked more for it than he had ever paid bQ- fore. He demurred to paying it. "Why,"said the shopkeeper, "you have had five per cent advance and ought to pay more." (Laughter.) He went away and left the shovel with the shopkeeper but after calling at other establishments, he found an advance at the other shops therefore he re- turned to the gentleman who first congratulated him upon the five per cent advance. (More laughter.) With refer- ence to some remarks made at the last meeting of the Board, the Directors had said that the traffic had recovered itself in a remarkable manner after the late strike, sustain- ing the usual dividend also, that an advance to the men had been "resisted so long as it was prudent to do so." (Hear, hear.) But nothing had been said of the men who, during the strike, had been on half pay. (Cheo-s.) Another said it was a shame that the men who worked on Sundays were not paid for it. The drivers and stokers were paid, but the other; were not. letter days, he said, are dawning upon the working man. These meetings arc blows upon tyranny people who live in luxury and revel in wealth, which they have accumulated by oppression, will soon find out that it will not be tolerated much longer, for the work- ing man is not now the ignorant slave he used to be- (cheers)-but he would be found to be a man who will de- mand the rights of man. (Cheers.) Another stated that the company had distributed among them lately a, very grand pocket-book," in which it is stated that they are requested to relieve each other. But the question in reply to that was will the company pay for the overtime? It may be said by the company that the advance had not been granted by some other great railways. But the truth was that the Taff Vale Company had not paid wages equal to-the majority of great railway companies therefore the advance solicited would only place them on an exquality with other lines, even before they get any advance. (Hear, hear.) The Taff Vale Company ought to pay more than any other, for they could do it, and it was only justice it should be done. (Loud cheers.) Another man said it had puzzled him for years why they should be required to work seven days and only be paid for six. (Hear, hear.) Here a long discussion took place with regard to the shortening of the hours of labour. Some anpeared to fear that there was no chance of getting that granted them at present. One man said that Mr Fisher had refused to submit that to the Board of Directors. Another got up and said he should be sorry to do Mr Fisher an injustice he merely stated that he could not hold out any hope to them that it would be granted, but he had presented the memorial as delivered to him. (Cheers.) What appeared to be the unanimous wish of the meeting was to confinp. the time to GO hours per week. Here another got up, and said he wished to say a word with reference to Mr Fisher. He had been told, and that on good authority, that their memorial was not seen by the Board of Directors at all, and what had been granted had been given by "them two." ("Hear, hear." and laughter.) Who was the Board of Directors but Mr Fisher ? Whatever he said was law. Another said Mr Fisher had been for years putting the screw upon them, and he had many "screw-drivers about him They should approach him in the future without so much humility but like men, respectfully asking for what was justly due to them! (Cheers.) Another speaker said he did not care much if he had to leave the line, but still he didn't want to go but if sent away he could earn his bread and cheese elsewhere. He would never ask to go back if discharged, and if they asked him to come back it would not be the first time they had done so. (Loud laughter.) What the men wanted was a proper wage and proper hours, then they would do their duty without a shade of discontent. (Cheers.) Another said it was his opinion they over-shot the mark. They had admitted that the advance throughout the district was 121 per cent, but they in reality asked 50 per cent when they demanded the shortening of the hours as well as the 2s advance. (Disapprobation.) One man urged unity. As an illustration of the bad effects of the want of it, he stated when the platelayers received an advance, one man—a regular "shake-tail"—(cheers)—wrote to Mr Fisher, thank- ing him for the advance. While Mr Fisher was reading this precious epistle, six delegate platelayers called to see him with the resolution of the meeting, to the effect that they were not satisfied. Mr Fisher thereupon asked, and very naturally too, how are you to be pleased ? here is a letter from a platelayer thanking me for the advance The boots were again complained of, one man saying that his last pair were already dissolving partnership." Loud laughter.) Another said in the pair he had there was much room to let." (More laughter.) A discussion subsequently took place as to the number of delegates to be sent to Mr Fisher and Mr Page from this meeting. One man urged that as they had to meet only two men two delegates would do. (Laughter.) One delegate said it would be against their interest to send him, for that "he was too well known." (Loud laughter.) The meeting took the Lint, and appointed another. It was unanimously agreed to urge the demand embodied in the original memorial, soliciting the 2s per week advance, and the reduction of the hours to 60 hours per week, with payment for all extra time. With reference to the demand for the gradual advance," it was agreed to accept the offer of Messrs Fisher and Page, to advance whom they thought merited it. The men expressed themselves of opinion that Mr Fisher's promising to do so was a sufficient guarantee that it would be done. It was resolved that the delegates are to wait upon Messrs Fisher and Page on Tues- day next, the final reply to the men to be delivered on the 15th March, when the delegates would again go to Cardiff to receive it. At the close of the meeting a speaker called their attention to the Amalgamated Society of Rail way men. He lucidly explained its rules, and was listened to with attention. It appears to be a new society, and among its patrons are the names of Mr Montague Chambers, Q.C., MP., Mr Samuel Morley, M P., Mr T. Bass, M.P., and several others well-known. But some of those present ap- peared to be reluctant to adept it without knowing more about it. After the usual votes, the meeting, which lasted three hours, came to a close. RHYMNEY INTELLIGENCE. CRANOGWEN."—On Monday evening last Miss Rees (Cranogwen) delivered her celebrated lecture on the subject "Beyond the llocky Mountains," at the Independent Chapel, Vochriw. The Rev Mr Griffiths, the minister of the chapel, occupied the chair. The proceeds of the lecture will go towards liquidating the debt on the Calvinistic Methodist Chapel, V ochriw. GELLIGAER.—PLOUGHING MATCH.—The second annual ploughing match took place on Friday, in two'fields on Berthlvvyd and Maesmavan farms. The first prize was awarded to Mr William Miles, Llancaiach Isha, for the best team of horses competing in either of the classes in the two fields. The second prize was awarded to Mr John Edwards, Gelliargwellt Isha. Iii till' First Class-Swiiig Ploughs—1st prize, £ 2, awarded to Mr John Williams, son of Mr Thomas Williams, Tophill; 2nd prize, £ 1, awarded to Mr James Hanley, servant to Mr Edward Thomas, Llechwen. — Second Claw— Swing Plouglis-lst prize, £2, awarded to Mr Edward Rees, servant of Mr Thomas Williams, Tophill 2nd prize, £ 1, awarded to Mr Thomas Pritchard, son of Mr David Pritchard, Cefn-y-Forest; 3rd prize, 10s, awarded to Mr David Jones, servant to Mr Wm. Thomas, White Hall; highly commended, Mr David Protheroe, servant of Mr David Pritchard, Cefn-y- Forest, so the committee awarded him 10s.—Third Class- Swing Ploughs.—(Under twenty years).—1st prize, jBl 10s, awarded to Mr William Jenkins, son of Mr Jenkin Jenkins, Heolddu Isha; 2nd prize, XI, awarded to Mr Samuel Evans, son of Mrs Evans, Llancaiach-fawr; 3rd prize, 10, awarded to Mr Richard Pearce, servant of Mr Win. Miles, Berthlwyd. CHARGE OF KEEPING A CWRW BACH.—At the Merthyr police-court on Saturday, the Bench gave its decision in the cme of Ellen Price, who resides near the Rhymney Ina, and who was charged on the previous week with keeping a cwrw bach. His Worship said that there were three ob- jections taken by Mr Simons to the charge being sustained. 1 he first was, that the husband ought to have been sum- moned and not the wife. His opinion was that she was rightly summoned, as ihe acted independent of him, he be. ing away from home working, and not returning until the end of the week. The second objection was, that there was no evidence to show a direct sale. Upon this point his Worship's opinion was, that it were better, if practicable, to prove by eye-witnesses a direct sale, but in the absence of such evidence then such a set of circumstances must be proved as would shut out from reasonable supposition any conclusion but that a sale was taking place. Applying this conclusion to the case before the court, then the third ques- tion to consider was, whether the circumstances warranted a reasonable belief that a sale was going on in the house of defendant. He must state that the evidence made him suspicious that a sale was going on contrary to law, and if the evidence proved that the four men in the house had been strangers, or persons not domiciled in the house, he would have decided to convict. As however, there was an absence of proof that they were strangers he must take it that they were at home—inmates of the dwelling-house—and assuming this fact, the circumstantial evidence did not absolutely shut out the possibility of their partaking their own beer in a perfectly legitimate manner. He must repeat that the evidence did not quite shut out that possibility, thougL the case was extremely suspicious. The defendant must be discharged, but he must add that the illegal sale of liquers was extremely injurious to the public morals, and also very unfair to the publicans who have to pay heavy licenses, and therefore it was a special and important duty on the part of the police to use every exertion to bring offenders before the court, in order that the evil may be suppressed.—Mr Simons w.s glad his worship had given his decision after so careful a consideration of the objections raised, for it would be a precedent in future cases. He would add, that if the legis- lation of teetotallers were adopted the country would be swarmed with cwrw bachs, which would prove a curse to the whole community—compared with which the present sy,stem—unsatisfactory as it is in many of its aspects—is a blessing. TREDEGAR INTELLIGENCE. NATIONAL EDUCATION.—NEW TREDEGAR.—On Wednes- day week a public meeting was held in the Baptist, Chapel, New Tredegar, R. Lonie, Esq., in the chair.—The Rev Mr Powell, minister of the chapel, made very appropriate in- troductory remarks, after which the Rev Moses Wright, Rhymney, made very strong remarks, criticising those who had misled the people to believe that there was anything favourable to Dissent in the act of Mr Forster. -The Rev J. Jones (Mathetes), at some length argued against com- pulsory religious education. He showed that the secular system was the only one consistent with Nonconformist principles.—The Rev E. Davies showed the injustice of the act of Mr Forster in demanding that the immenJO property of Dissenters in British Schools should be handed over for nothing to School Boards composed of Churchmen, to pro- mote education in thorn according to Church of England principles.—After a vote of thanks had been passed to Mr Wright, Mr Jones, and Mr Davies for attending, and to Mr Lonie for occupying the chair, the meeting terminated.

TREDEGAR POLICE COURT. TUESDAY.—(Before Mr Darby and Dr Coates.) AVOIDING A DISTRESS FOR RENT.—John Nicholds Crumlin, wa3 charged by Charles Ricketts, in whosw house defendant lived as a tenant for some months at Crumlin, with avoiding a distress warrant. Ricketts put in a dis- tress, as the rent was falling in arrears, and the bailiff levied, but allowed the cargo to slip, so that the fraudulent removal could not be sustained. The Bench dismissed the summons, and told Ricketts he could follow the goods. NEGLECTING WORK —A warrant was issued against Michael Murphy, who did not answer to his name when called forward in a charge of the above kind preferred by the Tredegar Company. WAC.ES. -MILLS v. DENMAN.-The complainant worked as a railmau at Nantyglo, and sought to recover X2 14s balance of wages from defendant, who was a contractor in the same works. Mr C. R. Harris was for the defendant. After hearing evidence the Bench dismissed the case, as it was shown Mills absented himself from his work and left without giving proper notice. ALLEGED HIGHWAY ROBBERY.—Joseph Denman (not the defendant in the foregoing case), and Philip Jones were so charged by George Robbins, painter, Abertillery. Mr Beddoe, from the office Messrs Simons and Plews, con- ducted the defence. The evidence of stealing an umbrella, purse, &c., fell through, and the defendants were fined 40s and costs each for violently assaulting Robbins and Sarah Patfield, a widow, affianced to Robbins. BLAINA. POPULAR ENTERTAINMENTS.—The fifth of a series of popular entertainments in connection with the Blaina Reading Institute took place on Friday evening at the British School-room, Mr N. N. Merriman presiding. The programme, which was rather a short one, was very creditably gone through. The weather being rather unfa- vourable, there was not such a large attendance as on former occasions but a most pleasant evening was spent. FUTURE PROSPECTS.—Since the ad vent of the new com- pany, material changes have taken place at Blaina and Nantyglo. The re-opening of Blaina Works infused new life into the almost deserted village, and bit by bit the work of extension has been going on, and, as a matter of course, a number of artizans have returned to their old home, and fresh hands are arriving daily. The void houses numbered ninety-three some time ago, and now there is a difficulty in finding dwellings for the people, so rapid has been the raise in the census. One or two rows of houses, long since vacated, are being-put in thorough repair at Nantyglo for new comers. "Peggy Adams's" Pit, near Garntach, has commenced sending forth coal once more and a part of the Nantyglo forge, which has been unused for some years, is being put in order for the making of iron. Such are a few of the signs of the improved times in the Vale of Coalbrook. The managers and agents take an interest in the general welfare of the people, and patronise entertainments of various kinds, and, by their frequent presence among the inhabitants, show that they have a delight in seeing all around them happy. The tradesmen are thus inspired with confidence; the flow of coin* and the closing of the "shop y cwmpni," give a fair chance to everyone and it may now be said that "the good old days of fifty years ago" have once more returned to Blaina and district. SHOCKING AND FATAL ACCIDENT.—A most shocking catastrophe occurred here on Monday evening. The loco- motive engine plying between the iron works and the Henwain pit, while returning unloaded from the pit, and being driven at a furious speed, jerked off the rails, and after running for several yards by the side of the rails, cut up about three feet into the bank, from where it tumbled completely over and fell on its side across the railroad. As is generally the case with the morning and evening journey several persons returning ^ron\^0^' °hiefly young women, had crowded on the tender and buffers of the engine which rendered escape much more hazardous. Two of these, mother and daughter, named Ann and Elizabeth Barclay, aged respectively about 35 and 13, unfortunately fell victims in this distressing case. Several others, as- well the engineer and latchman, received severe cuts and bruises about the head and face by effecting their escape, but, with the exception of the above two persons, luckily all escaped with their lives. The mother being frightfully scalded, expired in a very few minutes after the occurrence, but the daughter was instantaneously killed. Some time elapsed before the corpse could be taken from under the engine, the services of another engine being necessary (as part of the body was found to be fast under the sand box), for the purpose of lifting the fallen one, so that the body could be released. The head was totally smashed and completely severed from the body. The bodies were conveyed home to the Club-row on separate boards. Ann Barclay leaves an aged mother and one daughter. The engine is in a very dilapidated state, the tank, stack, and boiler, and other things being broken. It was brought to the road in a few hours, but not without the assistance of many men and three locomotive engines. — ♦ ■ BRYNMAWR. A YOUNG HAND AT PLEDGING.—At the police-court, on Monday (before Messrs Sharpeand W. E. Jayne), Mary Davies, pawnbroker, Brynmawr, was charged with infring- ing her licence by receiving goods in pledge from a child aged seven. Defendant pleaded guilty, and hoped the Bench would be lenient, as it was her first offence, and she had kept the business thirty-five years.—Mr Sharpe said he would take that into consideration, and would order her to pay the mitigated penalty of 40s and costs. A Noisy "GOD."—Samuel Lewis, one of the "gods" at the Alexander Theatre, was charged with assaulting Mr Jennings, the proprietor. Defendant was very noisy, and it was decided to eject him, so that others might enjoy the act going forward. Lewis did not believe in the outside business, and neither Jennings nor officer Davies could get him out, as there was a gang of forty mixed up in the turmoil.—The officer, in answer to the Bench, said he did not consider himself authorised to turn a man out.-Mr Sharpe said it was otherwise; the police had a perfect right to eject a riotous character from any house when requested to do so. The conduct of Lewis was very bad, and by way of deterring others from disturbing people in such a manner he would be fined 10s and expenses. ASSAULT.—Bridget Davies, for assaulting Elizabeth Jones at Blaencwm Well, was fined 10s and expenses. PERMITTING DRUNKENNESS. — John Dowden, Eagle beerhouse, Brynmawr, was fined 20s and expenses for per- mitting drunkenness in his house on the 28th ult. ILLEGAL HOURS.—William Bowen, Globe Inn, Bryn- mawr, was charged with having his house open at 4.25 p.m. on Sunday, 25th ult. A man named Williams lodged at the house of defendant, and the beer was drawn by Williams, for a man who had come to bring the news of a son being laid up in the small-pox. The Bench said it was a wrong thing for anyone to go from a house in which small-pox prevailed to other houses that was a direct means of spreading the disease. Defendant would be fined 5s and expenses. PROTECTION .ORDER.—Mrs Elizabeth Williams, wife of David Williams, applied through Mr Brown, solicitor, for an order to protect her goods and earnings from her husband, who deserted her in 1867. She had since carried on a boot and shoe business at Brynmawr, and supported two children. All the requirements of the Act had been complied with, and the Bench granted the applicant's request.

VALUABLE DISCOVERY FOR THE HAIR !!—A very nicely perfumed hair dressing called The Mexican Hair Renewer," now being sold by most Chemists and Per- fumers at 3s 6d per bottle, is fast superseding all Hair Restorers "-for it will positively restore in every case Grey or White hair to its original colour, by a few applications, without dyeing it, or leaving the disagreeable smell of most Restorers." It makes the hair charmingly beauti- ful, as well as promoting the growth on bald spots, where the hair glands are not decayed. Certificate from Dr. Yers- mann on every bottle, with fu" ^particulars. Ask for "THE MEXICAN HAIR RENEWER, prepared by H. C. GALLUP, 493 Oxford Street, London. 4831 MRS WINSLOW'S SOOTHING SYRUP FOR CHILDREN should always be used when Children are cutting teeth it relieves the little sufferers at once, it produces natural quiet sleep by relieving the child from paIll, and the little cherub awakes as bright as a button." It is perfectly harmless, and very pleasant to taste. It soothes the child, it softens the gums, allays all pain, relieves wind, regulates the bowels, and is the best known remedy for dysentery and diarrhoea, whether arising from teething or other causes. Mrs Winslow's Soothing Syrup is sold by thousands of Medicine dealers in all parts of the world at Is qd per bottle, and Millions ef Mothers can testify to its virtue.- Manufactory, 493 Oxford Street, London. 4831 THOSE LADIES who have not yet used the GLENFIELD STARCH, are respectfully solicited to give it a trial, and care, fully follow out the directions printed on every package, and if this is done, they will say, like the Queen's Laun. dress, that it is the finest Starch they ever used. Whea you ask for Glenfield Starch, see that you get it, as inferia kinds are often substituted for the sake of extra profits.

PROVINCIAL INSURANCE COMPANY, The nineteenth annual meeting of the shareholders of this company was held at the Wynnstay Arms Hotel, Wrexham, at noon on Monday last. Mr Thomas Barnes, Chairman of the Board of -Directors, presiaed. Mr Robert Williams (the secretary), having read the notice convening the meeting, the report and the accounts, which had been circulated among the shareholders, were taken as read. From the report it appeared that in the Fire Departmeut the gross Premium Income was £64,667 15t 8d, eut of which the sum of £ 7,5?3 9* 5d was paid for Re-Insurances; and the Losses were £ 39,98114s 9d; and in the Life Department the premiums on new business were S3 353 15s lid, while the entire income of the depart- ment, after deducting re-assurances, was £41.5."2 9, lid. The sum of f11,970 12s 9d was added tot he Life Assurance Fund, which now amounts to £ 165,52S 7s 2d. Tne assurances in force at the 31st December, 1870, amounted to 4,544 in number, assuring, with previous bonus additions, the sttm of £ 1,092,801. The present value of the Company's Liabilities under Life Policies and Annuities on the 31st December last, was £157,223 1211 4d, and the total nccumu- tions from premiums and interest after payment of all claims and expenses, and making provision for outstanding claims were £161,677 183 2d. The difference, £ 4,454 5s lOd, is the amount of profit realised during the past five years. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, said he thought that the remarks he made in dointr so ou?ht to be of a congratulatory character, because the real position of the company had decidedly improved. r pan the face of the accounts it might be supposed that the comphnyhad not made progress and did not stand in any better position than last year, but such a deduction would be incorrect. Though the amount of income was somewhat less than it was last year, it was, as regarded good business, decidedly better. By closing the business they were doing in Scot- land they had sacrificed an income of from £ 4.0 Oto £5,000 a year, but they bad nearly made it up with business that was likely to prove much more profitable. The Scotch business was a business which the late secretary desired most earnestly to commence, believing it would add to the prosperity of the company but. after a fair trial, the directors found it to be unprofitable, and they had. there- fore, come to the conclusion to close it. In some other de- partments, also, they had cut roff business which, while it had contributed to swell the income. was not so profitable as they could wish. They had. in fact, been more select in the class of business they had done, and, the income being now from business of a better class, he thought he might say that the company was in a much better position, and had made real progress. The claims, as compared with last year, showed a decrease of something like £2,000. Last year he called the attention of the shareholders to the heavy losses which had been incurred on cotton mills, and but for which the accounts would have presented a very different aspect. Those losses were to the present day un- accountable to him. as a cotton spinner. They began in the latter end of 1870, and continued for two or three months in 1871 to such an extent as in the history of the cotton trade was never known before. But, though there had been heavy lotses arising from this exceptional source, the claims for the past year, as compared with the previous year, showed a decrease of something like £ 2,000. The position of the company with respect to losses reported in the current year was exceedingly promising, the amount being something like £ 10,000 less than in the corresponding period of last year. The first two months of last year, no doubt, were exceptionally heavy, and the first two months of this year had been exceptionally light, and, although it would not be safe to anticipate a long period of exceptional light losses, yet, considering that for several years in suc- cession they had had bad years, he thought that according to the law of averages, they might fairly look forward to some years of losses considerably below the average, in which case the accounts of the company would present at the end ef next year a very much more favourable aspect than they did now. They had begun the year well, and they could only hope that they would go on to the end. The losses last year were very much of the same character as in the previous year, except as regarded cotton mills. There was nothing very striking about them. He was glad to say that the expenses were less than they had been, and would be still further reduced, as there were some items in the statement before them which would not recur, and the directors thought they saw their way to a saving during the current year in the expenses of the Fire Department of about f 1,000, which would go far towards the payment of a fair dividend. In the Life Department, the business of the year had been rather less than in the previous year. The falling off had been chiefly in one district, which had been greatly affected by the collapse of the Albert and European Companies. The life business, as would be observed from the report of the actuary, was in a very sound condition. There had been a slight increase in the claims, but they were not beyond what might reasonably be expected from calculations based upon the tables. The company generally, as far as the directors could see, was going on in a favourable way. They had had to fight under adverse circumstances. The public knew that they had had losses in years past, and he trusted the public would very soon know that they were rapidly making them up. As to the result of the actuary's valua- tion of the Life Business, it would be observed from the report that there was a surplus of £ 4,454 5s 10il. Of this, the report stated, about jEt50 was at the disposal of the shareholders. It had been a question with the directors what they should recommend to the shareholders to do with it; they had not a very strong feeling on the subject, but thought that, under the circumstances, it would be the wisest and best plan to declare a dividend of 21 per cent. The money was in hand, and it belonged to the share- holders. It was not quite 21 per cent.; but looking at the small amount required to make it up, and considering the position in which the company was now placed, the directors thought that a dividend of 2.1 per cent. might fairly and legitimately be declared if it was the wish of the shareholders to do so. It arose entirely from the Life business. The chairman concluded by moving That the report and statement of accounts be adopted." Mr T. T. Griffith said, nobody could have listened to the chairman's exact and clear account without being in possession of all that he could wish to know as to the real state of the company. The chairman had given them facts, and they might draw the conclusion that those facts fairly offered to them. He rejoiced exceedingly that a small dividend was offered to the shareholders. (Applause.) There were now, he thought, bright prospects for the Pro- vincial Company. He had watched the progress of the in- stitution for nineteen years, and here he saw it standing on firm ground. He had, therefore, great pleasure in seconding the motion for the adoption of the report. The report was then unanimously adopted. Mr A. Wilson Edwards stated that be had attended se- veral meetings of the directors, and from the way in which the business of the company was conducted he could assure the shareholders that the directors deserved success. He had been a shareholder for nearly twenty years, and although he held 300 shares he had never sold or offered to sell one, because be had believed that the company would be a great success and he believed so still. Mr T. Bury complimented the directors on the way in which they discharged their duties. There could be no doubt that a body of abler men and men of more tried ex- perience it would be difficult to put in their place and, presided over by such a chairman, and assisted by a secre- tary so valuable as Mr Williams, their success he believed was certain. (Applause.) Mr Bury and Mr Jones (accountants) addressed the meeting. The latter gentleman stated that he audited the accounts of many public eonipanies, and better kept ac- counts, and a better class of investments, he had never met with. Mr Baugh had great pleasure in proposing a vote of thanks to the secretary and officers of the company generally. Mr E. Powell seconded the motion, which was unani- mously adopted. Mr Williams, the secretary, said he was much obliged to the shareholders for their cordial recognition of any services he had rendered to the company. It had been his fortune to serve the company now for something more than IS years, and all he could say was that during those years he had done the best he could. The services he had renderetl might not have been very valuable, but they had been faithful. (Applause.) With regard to the last three years, they had been services rendered under no ordinary diffi- culties—dimculties caused not only by the losses they had sustained, but also by an opposition, not of the most scrupulous character. However, they l»ad got so far on in the battle, and had not been greatly worsted on the con- trary, as far as prospects were concerned, they were better than they had been for the last eight years. (Applause.) He begged to add his testimony to the deservedness of the vote as regarded the officers of the company. He could state positively that the staff were as good as any staff that could be selected; and with regard to one of them, Mr Francis, he ought to say that he had been to him a most faithfal coadjutor, and had assisted him in every possible way, at every possible sacrifice of time, comfort, and personal convenience, Mr Snape proposed and Dr Griffith seconded a vote of thanks to the chairman, which was carried with acclama- tion. The Chairman, in reply, said he had the greatest possible confidence in his co-directors and in the company. In the history of nearly all great insurance companies there had been ebbs and flows, and the Provincial had only ex. perienced what others had experienced. He felt sure they would all yet see it a strong and flourishing company. They had not forgotten what they had passed through. Like sailors who had been in a storm but were now in calm waters, they were perfectly aware that a storm might arise again, but he thought that if a storm should arise it would find them with their rigging all trimmed and firm, and a good man at the wheel able to steer them right through and bring them safe into harbour. (Applause.) The proceedings then terminated.

EPPS'S CHOCOLATE.—La Situation, in an article entitled France at Angleterre," says Nous n'vons en France qu'une seule usine oh la preparation dd Cacao emploie un materiel et un personnel aussi considerables que ceux que nous avons vus dans l'usine de Messieurs Epps. C'est une veritable curiositfe dans son genre que cette immenso fabriqne." The wrapper of each cake of Chocolate pre- pared by this firm is labelled "JAMES Epps & Co., Homoe- opathic Chemists, London." Also, makers of Epps's Milky Chocolate (Chocolate and Condensed Milk). 4715 NEW METAL POCKET VESTA Box WITH PATENT SPRING COVEB.—Bryant and May have recently intro duced a very useful little Pecket Vesta Box with a most ingenious and simple spring cover it is a novelty in every way, and will soon come into very general use-being of metal instead of card, and retailed, filled with vestas, at one penn Any Tobacconist, Grocer, Chemist, or Chandler will supply it. 4818 FLORILINK !-For the TEETH and BREATH.—A few drops of the Fragrant Floriline on a wet tooth brush produces a delightful foam, which cleanses the Teeth from all impu- rities, strengthens and hardens the gums, prevents tartar, arrests the progress of decay. It gives to the Teeth a peculiar and beautiful whiteness, and imparts a delightful fragrance to the breath. It removes all unpleasant odour arising from decayed teeth, a disordered stomach, or tobacco smoke. The Fragrant Floriline is purely vegetable, and equally adapted to old and young. It is the greatest Toilet discovery of the age. Sold at 2s 6d by all Chemists and Perfumers. Prepared only by H. C. GALLUP, 493 Oxford Street, London. The word "iioriline" is a "Trade Mark." 4831 BROWN'S BRONCHIAL TROCHES, for the cure of Coughs, Colds, Hoarseness, Bronchitis, Asthma, Catarrh, or any irritation er soreness of the throat, are now imported and sold is this country at Is lid per box, put up in the form of a lozenge." It is the most convenient, pleasant, safe and sure remedy for clearing and strengthening the voice in the world. The Rev. Henry Ward Beecher says "I have often recommended them to friends who were public speakers, and in many cases they have proved extremely serviceable." The genuine have the words Brown's Bronchial Troches on the Government Stamp around each box. Sold by all medicine vendors.-London Depot 493 Oxford Street. 4831

THEMORDAUNT ;CASE. In the Court "of Divorce Tuesday,' Lord Penzance con rented to hear an :application to rescind the order madt some time since to stay proceedings during Lady j\Iordaunt'j insanity. Mr. Serjeant Ballantine appeared for the petitioner, Sii Charles Mordaunt, and Mr. Inderwick and Mr. Searle fo: the respondent and co-respondent. Mr. Serjeant Ballantine said he had to ask the assistance of his lordship in respect to a suggestion he wished to make as to the course to be taken* by Sir Charles Mor- daunt, in order to obtain another decision. With regard to the decision the court formerly aurived at, the fact of permanent insanity formed no part of the petition as he understood. Supposing, then, that there was a decisior founded on proof of permanent insanity, that decision would be subject to revision. Lord x Penzance: You mean if the court had been satisfied of the permanent insanity, the petition would have been dismissed. Mr. Serjeant Ballantine said he did. He thought they had now arrived at a stage at which permanqht insanity might be assumed, and Sir Charles Mordaunt v. ishod to be put in a position to go te the House of Lords. Dr. Tuke had made a very strong affi- davit, stating that although there waa a bare possibility oi Lady Mordaunt's restoration, it was very remote, and thert was at present no symptom of suclí restoration. In reply to Lord Penzance, -= v ,-v Mr. Inderwick said the former order was on hearing con- sent for-Sir Thomas Moncrieff, the guardian ad litem. No further proceedings were/to be taken in the suit until Lady Mordaunt had recovered. Lord Penzance: That order you have got. Mr. Searle: We want to ask your Lordship to rescind it. Lord Penzance: On what ground? You do not shew that Lady Mordaunt has recovered on the contrary, the more you inquire the more you shew she has not recovered. Mr. Serjeant Ballantine presumed there'must be sorin means of enabling lli8 client to get 110 the House of Lorda. After some further discussion his lordship suggested that it would be better to apply to have the original ordei extended, so as to make it dismiss the petition, Mr. Serjeant Ballantine Perhaps that will be the best course. Mr. Searle having objected to any order except in the terms of the summons then before his lordship, The case was then adjourned to next week for'furthei application upon affidavits (to be drawn up) as tpLftdy Mordaunt's condition..

CENTRAL CHAMBER OF AGRICULTURE. A meeting of the council of the Central Chamber of Agriculture was held on Tuesday, at the Salisbury Hotel, Fleet-street, under the presidency of Mr. Heneage, amongst the members present being—Sir M. E. H. Beach, Bart., M.P., Sir M. Lopes. Bart., M.P., Sir G. Jenkinson, Bart., M.P., Mr. A. Pell, M.P., Mr. Corrance, M.P., Mr. C. 8. Reid, M.P., Mr. N. Grenville, M.P. On the motion of Mr. G. F. Munts (War- wickshire), it was resolved, after a discussion in which Mr. D. Long (Gloucester), Mr. J. Turner, (Peterborough), Mr. Trass (Hampshire), and Sir M. Beach took part, that a general meeting of the members of the Central Chamber be convened for Tuesday^ May 2nd, at which members of Associated Chambers should be invited to attend, the subjects of consideration to be Local Taxa- tion, Sanitary Reform, and the Financial Propositions of the Government as affecting Agricultural Interests. Sir M. Lopes, M.P., presented the report of the Local Taxation Committee, and moved its adoption. In the report the committee regretted that the Government were not pre- pared to deal with rating reform or to redeem their pledges as to early legislation. It was. however, a source of grati- fication that the chafes for Militia had at length been accepted by the Government as imperial and not local obligations. While they were glad to be able to congratulate ratepayers on their relief from one at least of their national burdens, they desired to acknowledge the complete and satisfactory way in which the Government had dealt with this especial grievance in effecting the transfer. They would point, however, to the fact that but for the remon- strances which the committee had repeatedly urged, there was every reason to believe that a large proportion of the £3,500,000 now mentioned as required by Mr. Card- well would, according to the Government Bill of last session, have been saddled on the rates. The chairman (Sir Massey Lopes) intended to renew his motion on local taxation in Parliament and to move a resolution on the disallowances by the Treasury of the costs of Criminal prosecutions. Very important legislation was likely to occupy a large share of the atten- tion of Parliament. The Committee regretted that a reform of local taxation should not have preceded the introduction of a Health Bill, which, if passed, must of necessity aggravate the injustice already complained of. The opposition which they now felt bound to offer to these contemplated measures was thus forced upon them by the persistent refusal of Government to redress the grievances under which ratepayers laboured. Three sanitary measures had been introduced into Parliament. One of these, brought forward by Sir H.S. Ibbetson, referred to rural districts onlv. One was introduced by the Go- vernment, and the remaining bill was the consolidating statute proposed last session by Sir C. Adderley. The Government measure differed materially from Sir C. Adderley's in attempting no consolidation of the existing laws, and it appeared to the committee that should their strong preliminary objection to all such legislation in the present state of local finance be f overcome, the consolidating measure of Sir C. Adderley should be preferred to that of the Government, their reasons for this preference being that in the former the whole of the dutie8. and powers of local authorities, and the limits of the control of the central authority, were dis- tinctly specified ard readily ascertainable, whereas in the Government measure no idea could be formed of the position and responsibilities of the local and central administrations without a perplexing search over large portion of the statute book. The oommittee observed that the Government had re- frained from inserting in their Parliamentary and Municipal Elections Bill the proposal of last year to throw the ex- penses of elections on the rates. It would be the duty of the committeo to renew their successful resistance of last year to th(Amotion of Mr. Fawcett to supply the omissiom of the Government, as they would to every other proposal which entailed new charges on the rates until a complete revision of their incidence had taken place. Mr. Corrance, M.P., in seconding the adoption of the report, expressed his conviction that the Government had no intention to meet the views of the agriculturists on the question of local taxation, but rather contemplated tp pre- clude the remedies which had been suggested. Mr. Andrews (Somersets had observed a reprehensible coolness to the question of local taxation on the Con- < servative benches, and said the ratepayers had it in their power to remedy that evil by refusing at the next general election to lJupport any candidate who did not pledge him. self to.-ftdvocate in Parliament a revision in'the incidence of looej taxation. (Hear.) Mr. Duckham (Hereford) deprecated the making the Question of Local Taxation a politico-party question. (Hear.) Major Paget believed that if the Chamber inscribed on its flag a Away with Local Self-Government," the support of cities and boroughs would be lost. Mr. Hodsell (West Kent) really thought the Govern- ment would initiate legislation on local business *if they saw their way to a reasonable solution of the intricate sub- ject. The fact that they had relieved the ratepayers of ft burden of three and a half millkms'sterlifig was an earnest of what they were desirous of doing. Mr. Pell, M.P., said that what the Government had done they had been forced into. (Hear, and laughter.) -v. Mr. Barden (Worcester), eulogised the principle CQunciated by Sir Robert Peel, that profits and not means should be taxed. After some remarks by Mr. Nield (ManchesterX Mr. Whittaker (Worcester), Mr. C. S. Read, 1)1.P.« and Mr. Biddle (Suffolk), Sir M. Lopes oondemned the action of the Government in refusing to appoint a Royal Commission to investigate the incidence of local taxation, and said he believed that if the ratepayers of boroughs were not blinded by the compo- sition of their rates, the only effect of which was to throw an increased rental upOn them, they would co-operate with agriculturists in bringing about an equitable solution of the Question. The report was adopted. On the motion of Mr. Starter (Warwickseconded by Mr. Turner (Peterborough), it was resolved-" That in con- sequence of the Government Public Health Bill not having been printed and circulated,* the Council regret that they cannot discuss Such an important measure ,on its merits, but they protest against jiny legislation on this or any other subject which would impose addit tional public burdens upon one description of property only." -> Mr. G. Whittaker (Worcester), then introduced the sub- ject of Turnpike Trusts and Highways, and moved "That at it appears that the Government' do not intend to intro- duce any road bill this session, and consequently that the eoet of repairing turnpike roads on which the Trusts are already, or will be, discontinued, must fall upon local rates, the Council are of opinion that the attention of Parliament should be immediately called to the injustice of any further discontinuance of Trusts until an equitable means of maintaining the roads has been provided.r. '1# Mr. Yalland (West Gloucester), secondecLfhe motion. Sir G. Jenkinson, M.P., opposed the resolution, because it was a retrograde proposal,' and if the Chamber wished to have any weight in the country they must be consistent. He moved as an amendment That in ffrdei to remove the hardship now' falling.. ;<pn rate- payers by turnpike trusts expiring in C~ ptlrthd ánd piecemeal manner, the Legislature ought fo provide for the total and simultaneous abolition of aU ré- fnaining turnpike trusts, and for the classification'-of roads according to their traffic; and that the maintenance o^ al] main arterial roads should be under county management, and supplemented by a grant from imperial resources," (Hear.) Mr. Hawley (Warwick and Mr. Dvott (Stafford) fcgrSftd with the principle of thp resolution, and Mr. Andrews sup- ported ,the amendment. A', Mr. ç:, S. Read. M.P., said they .were all agreed 1\5;, fo the principle' upon which future legislation should be based, and; suggested the sinking of minor differences, which only involved questions of detail. (-Hear.) "r feif M. Beaèh, M.P., could not support either the resolu- tion or the amendment.. IIn his opinion, turnpike trusts should be all abolished but if they were, the main- tenjince of roads should not become on that account a burden to one description of property only. (H«ai.) Ht suggested that the words from turnpikp trusts" should beomittecl from the amendment, and the following substi- tuted i Provided that in effecting such resolution the future maintenance of roads is not left as ft burden to only one description of property." Jfttiihately the*'original resolution was negatived/and Sir Cx. JenkinsonVdmendmpiit, as altered by Sir 1\1. Beach. wnÆfc:1rned without a division. ■; After the trMisactionof some formal business, the pro- brought to a termination.

f* Health Bill was issued some clays since,— £ j>jj

THE QUEEN AND THE CORPORATION. At a meeting of the London Corporation on Fridayf^he letter in which honours were offered on behalf of -the Queen to Mr. Sills Gibbons, the Lord Mayor, and to Sheriff s Bennett and Tmseott, was read. It was as follows:- 10. Downin^street, Feb. 29. My dear Lord Mayor,—I have great pleasure in acquainting you that I have received her Majesty's permis- sion to tender to you the honour of a baronetcy, in connec- tion with the recent celebration of Tuesday, than which the City of London hf&, perhaps, never witnessed one more sblemn or more satisfactory.—Believe me always, faithfully yours, W. E. Gladstone, The Right Hon. the Lord.Mayor." In accepting the honour the Lord Mayor of London said he should ever cherish with thankfulness the remembrance of the auspicious occasion which caused her Majesty to bestow her Royal favour upon him. It may be noticed that the same honours were conferred in recent years upon the Lord Mayors and Sheriffs when her Majesty visited the Citv to open the Royal Exchange and to inaugurate the completion of Blackfiiars Bridge and the Holbom Viaduct; when the Sultan and other Royal personages attended a grand entertainment in Guildhall; and when the visit of the Emperor a.nd Empress of the French took place. Sir Sills Gibbons is a Conservative in

LITERATURE, SCIENCE, AND THE STAGE. In 1596 the Dutch explorers inNovaZcmbla constructed a small wooden hut. Captain Carslen, in a fishing expedi- tion* betweeti the 9th of September and the 4th of Novem- her last, made the tour of Nova Zembla, during which ha discovered this house fallen to ruins and completely covered with ice. In it he found 150 objects of interest: amongst other things, books which, after nearly 300 years, are in a good state of preservation. The col- lection is to be placed in the museum of Amsterdam.— It is reported that a picture by Titian, styled La Vierge au Voile,'has been discovered is an old house at Turin, where 'it is said to have been removed soon after the taking of Reme by the Constable- de Bourbon, since which event it has been lost sight of.—Mr. Street has just started for Geaoa, to look at a church recently built after hiifjdesigns in the Superb City. Oddly enough, the same architect hue occasion to extend his journey in this direction so far a¡; "to Rome, where he has to examine Bites for fttv churches which are to be built in the Italian capital after his (S&signs, for American and English Episcopalians respectively.—In.the new edition of his "Principles of Geology," Sir Charles Lyell has reconsidered the whole question of the relative importance ClJf astronomical causes and changes in the distribution of l'êå and land in producing difference of dimate end. after weighing a vast amount of new evidence, considers his former decision that, although secular astronomical conditions must to a certain extent influence the temperature of the earth, still the real cause to which we must refer all the more marked effects is the geographical arrangement of land and water. Per- haps the most important point. and that whieh will be referred to willi the greatest interest, is the discussion of the question of ocean currents, which has lately been brought very prominently forward by Dr. Carpenter. Sir Charles shews that the theory which refers oceanic circula- tion to difference of specific prp.vitv is "founded upon erroneous observation and incorrect application of the fa £ te observed. He proves, by reference to the observations of our naval officers, that the currents of th<vStraits of Gibraltar, for instance, which have been so often appealed to. are due chiefly to tidal action.—Steps are about to "be taken to erect a memorial to the lamented Dean Milman. in St. Paul's Cathedral.—Mr. Evelyn Jerrold and M. Camilla Barrere are going, with the express permission ef M. Victor Hugo, to translate into English verse his new poem, "L'Annee Terrible."—Dr. Morris, the Reman Catholic Bishop of Troy, who died a few days ago, at the age of ?8„has left in MS. r collection of Annals of the Roman Catholic Church in England during his younger days. They will be edited and published by one of the Benedictine Fathers.—" The Life of Charles Dickens.' by Mr. Forster; '•Poor Miss Finch," by Mr. Wilkie Collins and 3?he Poetical Works of Mr. R.obert Brewning," are th« oew^volumes in the Tauchnitz Series published at Leipzig. —A new drama, by Dr. Westland Marston and Mr. W. G. ills, entitled Broken Spells." has been accepted at the Court Theatre, and will be produced at Easter. Mr. Her- man Yezin (specially engaged^ and Miss Litton will ap- pear in it, and Mr. Walter H. Fisher, a jrunc premier, will make his debvt in it in London.—Mr. Fechter appeared on Saturday night at the Adelphi in "Ruy Bias.V-Mis? Glyn win appear next month at Booth's Theatre, New York, aø Constance, in Shakspere's "King John."

NAYAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE. The Army tmd Xaiy GazHte says:—Lieutenant-General G. Hnyshe, C.B., Bengal Infantry, becomes a General; Major-General W. C. Macleod. Madras Infantry, a Lient.- Gcneral; and Colonel E. P. Lynch; Bombay Infantry, n Major General, consequent -upon the death of Lieutenant-Gencral C. R. W. Lane, C.B.. Indian Army. —An examination of candidates for entrance to%the medical service took place at the London University, Buf- Iington-strect, on the 12th ult. The number of gentlemen presenting themselves as competitors was eighty-four, viz., for the Army Medical Department, nineteen; for the Indian Medical Service, fifty-five; and for the Naval Medical Department, ten.—The' sum ef £1,200 only has been taken this yaar as A salary for a Chief Constructor of the Navy, who Is yet to be found. In the meantime, the office to which bit will be attached is stated- to be "under revision," which, in other words, means that the "Fools' Paradise" wBB be for the future not quite such an easy plaoe M it has been hitherto.—Some disappointment woeU seem to have been evefituated in consequeD08 of the non-appearance of a Bath Gautu to mark the occasion of the country's thub- giving for the recovery of the Prinee of Wales from his recent alarming illness. So few vacancies have occurred since the issue of the last Gazette that it wm thought scarcely expedient perhaps to effect any extension of the existing lists, seeing that a more unlimited bestowal would detract from the value of the reward; but still cannot suppress the notion that one or two creation* aD4 promotions might have been judiciously effected. The United Service Gazette says :—The appointment ef Military Secretary to Lord Northbrook. Vicerov of Inditt, which was offered to and declined bv Colonel Arthur ElliI, Equerry V" the Prince of Wales, will, it is stated, be filled by Lieutenant-Colonel N. Sturt. Grenadier Guards.—It la not the intention of the authorities that the one of the twin battalions associated with 11 special district on home service should of Mcossity be quartered in that district. Battalions will be moved from camp to station, and vice rersA ag at. present.—There have been symptoms that some of the npwiy linked battalions are not altogether pleased with their new yoke-tcllowa. H the grumblers will, however, give a careful perusal to the report of the reorganisation committer, they will see thmt it ha* been necessary to consult other principles than that of mere couxitv designation, and it is possible they may then copie to the conclusion that the coupling has been made with great judgment and conside- ration.—New regulations for the discipline and "pay- ment of the Army Reserve have been issued.—Captain his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, HS., K.G., will be entertained at dinner by íhe officers of the Royal Naval College at Portsmoutlf, on Thursday next. The Brrxid J rrmp, alluding to the behaviour of lite Marines an the Day of Thanksgiving, says:—A body of seamen, hy the way, from Chatham. Plymouth, and Ports- mouth. occupied Waterloo Place under the copimand fii Captain Boys, of the Excellent, who was mounted on hptwe- back fof the occasion, and thus realised, for once the existence -of such an arm as the Horse Marine." The same paper adds :—It has been at length decided to separate the mounted dismounted branches of the Army Service Oorpø ijfo distinct commands.—We understand that in consequent of a communication which has been received from tbf Lords Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury, statttt duty will not be required on the commissions of lieutenants of those cornets andl ensigns who were |A- pointed to the armj» in October last, and who were eotr* verted into sub-lieutenants on the 1st November, 187L

It appears from advices just received from America that a new company (the Randal Steamer Com- pany) has just been formed in New York, with a capital of 12,000,000 dollars, to build six steamei-s on a large scale, to run between Liverpool and New York in a much shorter time thsm is at present occupied by the steamships of the Inman and Cunard c -ie*, and it is stated that the new line will have a mail s. ,¡.. from the United States Government. The tonnage W* each vessel wil be 8,000 tons. The Sale of Liqjiors on Sunday (Ireland) Bill has been printed. It bears on its back the r-ames of Sir Dominic Corrigan. Mr. Pim. Viscount Orichton, Mr. M'Clure, Mr. William Johnston, Lord Claud Hamilton, and Mr. Dease. By its provisions no liquor is to be old in Ireland on Sunday except to travellers or lodgers. The Evidence Law Amendment Bill has also been issued, en- dorsed by Mr. Heron and Mr. Pim. By it witnesses are not excused from answering questions upon the ground that their answers will criminate themselves. Third party statements may also be taken as evidence, if relevant to the matter at issue. It is understood that the new Bishop of Oubel will be elected during the first week- in April: that the four ancient dioceses which compose the see will continue to be united; that the Dean of Cashel (Dr. Macltonnell) is the"most probable successor to the post; and that Clonmel will be the place of meeting for the Synod, as being more central than aterford. The Jh/hln; Jfail states that by the will of the late Bishop the Church Education Society will obtain £500; the Irish Societr£500; and the Cashel Diocesan Sustentation Fund, in addition fo £ 5,000 given before, will have whatever the advowspn ef Clonmel, bought, produces—probably about £ 4,000, THE Kooka IyrsruREcrio??'.—Mr. W. Fortrth, the brother of M). Douglas Forsyth, the Commissioner of Lmballa. writes to the Times in reference to a letter received from his brother, dated Umballft, January 26, 1812, written before he knew of the English criticisms on the suppression of the Kooka insurrection. Mr. Douglaq Forsyth says that unquestionably the prompt measures taken by Mr. Cowan, the Deputy Commissioner, in repress- ing the outbreak, saved the province from a serious rising." An extract from the letter shews the nature and extent of the plot which was defeated. I went to Delhi to see the Camp of Exercise and sham figlife, sad had Suddenly to leave to help to quell a very serious outbreak in my division. The Kooka or reformed Sikh sect, which numbers between 15,000 and 20.000 men. has beer giving great trouble lately, and last week at a conference held at a Tillage where the Guree Ram Singh lives, it WP8 decided that a body of 100 men, desperadoes, should suddenly seize the town of Mullan Notela. where arms would be found, and be distributed to the rest who were to flock to the place." Another writer speaks of the affair as a regular deep plot,, which, if time had been lost, might have been Q. terrible outbreak." There has been a great abuse lately of the various Exchange and Suhscriptioir Rooms in the City, During the last few days several people who had been in the habit of using the Lombard Exchange Rooms in Lombard-street were summarily ejected. The police had to be called in to one gentlpmaji, and several other gentlemen who had come to wwntfrom various parts 6f the kingdom have sought refuge at'the Lombard, only t^ bttre their brilliant careers

Fumoug DRIVING.—Thos. Pr6sser, a grocer's assistant, w.\s fined 203 and costs, for furious driving in Commercial- street. FPANOTHE ALLEGSO ASSAULT.—Laban Maizey summorel Mr John Davis, postmaster of Cwmbach, for assaulting him. Evidence having b3en given for the complainant, Mr Davis proceeded to cross-examine.—Mr Davis Did you not come to me and say you were sorry for what had occurred, you truly repented, and that everyone was liable to err while under the influence of drink ?—Complainant: No; I am not an orator. I could not make such a speech. (Loud aughter.)-Adjourned for a witness. RAILWAY STATION FOR TRECYNON.— The residonts of this hamlet are about renewing the attempt to obtain greater railway facilities. The Great Western Railway runs in close proximity to Trecynon this being the case, the in- habitants feel themselves aggrieved in having to walk a long way to the station. In previous attempts they have failed, but in a renewed one they hope to succeed. THE REV DR PRICE'S LECTURE.-The Rev Dr Price de- livered a highly interesting lecture in Welsh at the Calvnria Chapel, on Saturday evening, upon the late thanksgiving commemoration in London, in which he was a participator. He lucidly pourtrayed the gathering together inside the great St. Paul's, his discourse being occasionally inter- spersed by highly amusing incidents, which appear to have escaped the attention of many London correspondents. It was evident that the doctor's perceptive powers were heavily taxed on the occasion, and the Welsh-speaking population who were unable to appreciate the accounts given in the morning papers of this interesting event are indebted to our esteemed townsman for the treat afforded them on Satur- day evening. His tone throughout was full of that tho- roughly loyal feeling for which the doctor is reputed, and it will doubtless prove a bitter disappointment to those vul- garly disloyal individuals who have busily circulated spuri- ous handbills of late, to learn that the lecture was warmly received. We hear that the doctor will be solicited to do- liver it elsewhere. DARING ROBBERY OF LIQUOR.—At the Mcrthyr police- court on Wednesday, John Jones and Benjamin Williams were charged with stealing three pints of whiskey and a bottle of brandy, value 8s. 6d., the property of Mr .John Price, landlord of the White Lion, Mill-street, Aberdare. Mr Simons defended. Prosecutor said I am landlord of the White Lion. Prisoners came to my house on Tuesday, about half-past four, and called for beer. I went down to the cellar to bring up some whiskey, leaving the barmaid in charge. About five o'clock I went to tea, leaving prisoners in the bar. After finishing tea I went to the bar, and saw Williams drunk, standing up. Jones was by him, but was not so drunk as Williams. A bottle of brandy was missed, and two cigars, one of which was afterwards found. They had been drinking some liquor, and I found a tumbler containing half a pint of whiskey in the fireplace. The glasses on the counter smelt of liquor. Upon examination I found that three pints of whiskey had been drawn out of the glass cask just tilled. Jones admitted the theft, and he drew the bottle of brandy (produced) from under his coat. Asked them about the whiskey. -By Mr Simons: They were sober when they came In. The barmaid was about ten minutes to tea. I swear Jones drew the bottle from under his coat. Wil- liams had a cigar. Will swear that the cask was filled. It holds thrae gallons. One of the glasses was in Jones's hands.—Jane Davies, the barmaid, was next called, and said: Remember the prisoners coming in on Tuesday afternoon. I filled the jar with whiskey brought up by last witness. It was quite full. Jones said, It wouldn't be much for you to give us a glass of whiskey." I said "It is not mine to give." I left them drinking to- gether, and went to tea. Soon after returned to the bar. Noticed that the whiskey had been spilt on the iecess and counter, and asked them what they were drinking. They said, "Beer." I said, "No; it is whiskey." Missed some whiskey out of the jar. They were not drunk when they came in first.—By Mr Simons I was out of the bar about half an hour altogether. They had two glasses each. The tap in the cask does not leak.- A witness was called for the defence to prove the men were drunk, and were pre- viously refused beer at the Wayne's Arms.—His Worship said they had committed a very impudent act, and they would be sent to prison for six weeks with hardlabour.