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

BIRTH. On the 6th instant, at 2, Crawthorne Villa, Peter- borough, the wife of Mr. D. Coulton, of a daughter.

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE. THE MERTHYR VOLUNTEERS' SOIREE will take place on Thursday evening next, under distinguished patron- age. It is expected to be one of the most pleasing and attractive soirees held this season. Apart from the pleasure which may be gained for so small an outlay, the object ought itself to command a numerous as- sembly. BETHEL CHAPEL. -It has been arranged to hold a series of fortnightly readings at this chapel during the coming winter months, the first of which took place on Monday night, when the drama of "Joseph and his Brethren was very ably performed. Jacob was per- by Mr. James Harris, and the acting of Joseph Jftlr. J. Gwyiher) and Judah (Mr. David James) deserve special notice. The chapel was comfortably piled, and it is to be hoped the promoters will succeed In keeping the future performances up to the standard of that of Monday night. 1\IB. W. F. MAITLAND, M.P., addressed those his constituents of Breconshire residing at ^efncoed, on Tuesday evening, at the Temper- ance Hall, Cefn. The bon. member was received With great enthusiasm by a crowded audience, presided over by A. Sutherland, Esq. After an interesting review of the work of the session, and a justification of his votes, a vote of thanks and confidence in the hon. Member was unanimously adopted. The principal speakers who took part in the meeting were, in addi- tion to the bon. member and the chairman, Mr. H. •{•nomas, Rev. T. Williams, B.A. (High-street, Chapel, Merthyr) "VV. Jones, Esq., and Dr. Hosking. GEORGE DAWSON, ESQ., AT MERTHYR. -It is a singular circumstance that this renowned lecturer-known and honoured throughout the kingdom by all who appreciate intellectual worth—has not visited Merthyr for nearly twenty years, and hence most of our young people have never seen or heard him, though every newspaper reader must be familiar with his name. His popularity is such in the midland countiea, and also in the metropolis, that crowded and enthusiastic audiences always wel- come him. His philosophic lectures, his unostentatious humour, and his unsparing exposure and denunciation of all shams, whether social, political, literary, or reli- gious, have an attraction which for years is not for- gotten. Mr. Dawson is unlike all other public lecturers, He puts forth no artificial elfort to produce sensational effect, yet his quiet Carlylian style of treating his sub- ject, and his easy flow of good Saxon language, have a charm which never fails to captivate the attention of an intelligent audience. In his views of men and manners perhaps few entirely agree with him. Evidently a disciple of Diogenes's old school of philosophy, he regards all men from a peculiar stand-point, and perhaps the brightest phases of our nature are seldom visible to him, yet there is much sterling truth in what he says, which must commend itself to the minds and con- sciences of his hearers. Mr. Dawson is certainly a remarkable man, with intellectual resources so great that for a quarter of a century he has, week after week, addressed the largest, wealthiest, and most intellectual congregation in Birmingham, besides Jo^cupying a most prominent position on all social, political, and educa- tional questions, and contributing frequently to the daily press. Well, this gentleman is to address a Jjiertnyr audience on Monday evening next, and if the temperance Hall will not be crowded on that occasion, it will be a discredit to our fellow-townsmen. THE MALAY PENINSULA.-The Fortnightly Review emarks, that "The Malay Peninsula witnesses the re- ? an °ld story. One reads with pure vexation oi iinghsh redcoats and bluejackets driving Malays up their own rivers, sending rockets whizzing and crashing turough jungle, and bursting in defence and stockade. if this were inevitably, it would be worse than inglorious work. So far from being inevitable it is only flf -r^SU ot action which the best opinion even in ofiicial circles pronounces thoroughly ill-judged. We ffi6! i 6 in afiairs which do not concern us, we send omclals to places where they have no business to be, the People of the country act just as we might have been sure that they would, and then the nation is committed to one more of these futile encounters. The worst of it is, that powerful influences are tending to commit us to a policy in China and elsewhere, that would lead avowedly and unmistakably to an indefinite augmenta- tion of this bad work on a more wholesale scale. And we read with something stronger and more definite than mere vexation, of the firing of an undefended and guiltless village in the same expedition of 4 young civil fm!<^erSv.a^ltraril3r burnit)S down a Chinaman's house, ■* .r. reason than that the Chinaman did not commit suicide by trying to rescue Mr. Birclrfrom certain death (Times, Dec. 18). When performed in iexploits are pronounced as atrocious one would to know why what is called barbarous and rotrih 0 I11 the Straits of Dover becomes righteous retribution in the Straits of Malacca? The mission to V en(l!Ilre into the death of Mr. Margary has tUHinu 8 journey from Hankow, and we may fear No JJrfhWk trouble and injustice is likely to follow. No sensible observer will wish to dwell too heavily on these things The past has left us in a position of tre- muni ties Tt lD-ACf °f these ""civilised com- bv S mm unavoidable that errors should be made ordinates Rn+' wron«s Perpetrated by sub- occasion should be lost to call the attention of the country to the way in which we are going, and to impress on the thought of the country fll W necessity firmly establishing among the olncial classes, at home and in the East, definite prin- ciples of conduct, and shaping those principles on the right basis of justice and common sense-" MERTHYR POLICE COURT. SATURDAY.—(Before A. De Rutzen, Esq.) AS WELL OFF AS WAINWEIGHT.—William Jones, painter, a dissipated looking individual, was summoned tor having used threatening language to Mary Jones, his wife. The parties reside at Gwernllwynfach, Dow- lais, and have been married something like 21 years. According to his wife, defendant was very much addicted to drink, and when his drunken fit was upon him he made use of very strong and strange language towards her and all his family. On the 3rd inst. be cut a. clothes line down for the purpose, seemingly, of hanging him. self, and declared that if he killed the family all round he would be as well off as Wainwright after all. He ap- peared very penitent and frightened to-day. He assured his Worship, with tears in his eyes, and in a maudling tone of voice, that he would never be guilty of like con. duct again. — I.he stipendiary, after saying he had better not, ordered him to enter into his own recognizances in jElO to keep the peace for six months, and also to pay costs. INEBRIATES.—Joseph Brown, an ostler at Dowlais WOrks, was summoned for drunken and riotous behaviour at Garden'-roW, Dowlais, on the 8th inst. It appeared that defendant on the day in question went three hours late to his work, and that in consequence of this fact, together with the one that he was stupid by drink, he was told to leave. This he refused to do, and P.C. Davies's services were called into requisition. After being turned off the premises, defendant very foolishly challenged the officer to fight. It being his first ap- pearance, his Worship let him oft with a fine of 5s. and the costs. Lewis Lewis, a Talgarth drover, was summoned for drunkenness on the same night. This man, it appeared, nad been dragged off an engine track at Dowlais, on tbe previous Wednesday, in order that the locomotive and its train might pass with greater convenience. He was then Put to prop up a wall close by, and in this situa- rVu ,*es fwu°d him< an<i considerately lugged J ? w police-station. He was now fined 5s. and in J,1-8 con,sidered that he had a sum approaching £ 10 in his pocket when takpn nr. rvo^monf pesmond, 14, Thomas Driscoll, 16, vtn, I Frank &pp that the two prisoners last named were Been by P.C. Davies on the top of a truck at The old works throwing down lumps of coal, which rolled over the embankment down to where the female prisoners ;ood. It was then picked up into bags and carried off. Velsb, when arrested, charged Driscoll with having tken her to the place, and Driscoll retorted by saying tat Welsh had induced the buys to mount the truck y promises of some tobacco. It appeared that trucks f coal were very often stripped in this fashion, and it vaa almost impossible to detect the o&enders.—His Vorship, after telling the prisoners that stealing from i loal truck was every bit as bad as going into a shop to steal, sentenced Welsh—whom he considered by far the .vorst of the three—to one month's imprisonment with hard labour, the male prisoners to ten days' each with hard labour, and Mary Driscoll to seven days' imprison- ment, in default of paying 5s. fine. MONDAY.-( Before A. De Rutzen, Esq.) DISORDERLIES.—.Robert Price, collier, summoned a the instance of P.C. Evans for drunken and riotous conduct at Ash-road, Troedyrhiw, on the 9th inst., was fined 10s. and the costs, it being his second appearance. -Edward Crowley, a well-known hobbler, arrested by P.C. Burke in High-street, on the previous Saturday nieht, upon a similar charge, was dismissed with a caution. SOMMONS WITHDRAWN.—John Davies, Evan Evans, and John Lewis Jones, juveniles, were summoned for having wilfully damaged a balling furnace, the property of the Rhymney Iron Co., Limited. Mr. Gwilym James appeared on behalf of the Company in support of the summons, and Mr. Plews defended. The case occupied some length of time in the hearing, but the facts were very simple. The boys had been caught on the 12th inst., in the Bute Mill by a master mason named James Davies, knocking down the bridge on one of the balling furnaces with a couple of iron tools termed respectively a peel" and a rabble." Several bricks were displaced, and it was contended that the Company bad sustained damage to the amount of some- thing like £15s. Before giving judgment in this case, Mr. De Rutzen decided upon hearing another, in which the master mason, James Davies, was summoned for having committed an assault upon the defendant Evan Evans. Mr. Plews prosecuted in this case, but the de- fendant was without professional assistance. It was here sought to be established that Davies had an old grudge against the lad Evans, whom he had accused of thrashing his (defendant's) son. On the 9lh instant it was stated that he caught Evans in the works and beat him about the legs with a hazel stick. His Worship having elicited that for keeping the furnaces in proper order Davies was allowed so much per ton, so that the' damage really had been his. and not the Company's, suggested the withdrawal of the whole of the sum- monses. To this course both sides at once agreed, and both charges were, upon payment of costs, dismissed. WINDOW SMASHING AT DOWLAIs.-Hannah Brown, married, was summoned for having damaged six panes of glass and some show glasses, the property of her mother-in-law, Mary Parry, landlady of the Pelican Inn, Dowlais. Mr. Plews, who defended, took objec- tion to the form of the summons, which laid the pro- perty as Mrs. Parry's, while according to the admission of the latter it belonged in reility to her son. Defen- dant having promised that she would make good the damage, the summons was dismissed. A JUVENILE OFFENDER.—Thomas White, 13, sum- moned at the instance of P.C. Davies, for having stolen 401bs. of coal, the property of the Rhymney Iron Co., Limited, from the Bute-terrace Pit, on the 7th instant, was fined 3s. 6d., including the costs. Two OTHERS. -Margaret Calbert and Mary Reardon, both of Pontlottyn, were summoned for having damaged a water course belonging to the Rhymney Co., on the 12th inst. Defendants, who according to P.S. R utter, had been digging for sand-stones, nearly choked up the water course, were fined 6d. each and the costs. AN IMPUDENT CUSTOMER.—Thomas Butler, of no fixed abode, a labourer, was brought up charged with stealing a cravat, the property of Rees Davies, a collier, residing at Market-street Gully, Dowlais, and also with stealing an umbrella, valued at 3s. 6d., the property of Mr. J. H. Day, hatter, Union-street, Dowlais. In this case the part of a constable was played with conspicuous ability by a gentleman whom members of the force would term a "civilian," the said civilian being Mr. Thos. Lloyd, of the Prince Albert Inn, High-street, Dowlais. It would appear that on the previous Satur- day night the prisoner went cadging to the hostelry just named, and because he did not meet with the encouragement which he thought he deserved, he became impertinent, abusive, and threatening, so much so that the landlord, after showing him the door, shoved him to the other side of it—the outside. Some time afterwards seeing him carrying an umbrella, to which a string was attached, and hearing him pointed out as the man who bad stolen a cravat, Mr. Lloyd, with a shrewd wag of the head, exclaimed Ay, and he has stolen that umbrella too." He therefore collared the fellow and marched him to the lock-up, and subse- quent inquiries proved the accuracy of his (Mr. Lloyd's) surmises, and the exceeding wisdom of the prompt action which he had taken. The police, sus- pecting that a little insight into the antecedents of such a very interesting individual as their prisoner might prove conducive to the general good, a remand for a week was asked for, and at once granted. NOT PARTICULAR ABOUT THE CHANGE. Annie Cook and Ellen Williams, unfortunates, were brought up charged, the former [with stealing £ 1, and the latter with stealing £2 5s.. the moneys of David Mandry, a collier, residing at Rhondda Valley. The case was rendered somewhat interesting on account of the utterly inexplicable conduct of the prosecutor after he hud been fleeced of his money. It appeared that this delightfully fresh individual went to a place where he never was afore," on the previous Saturday night, that is to say the Patriot Inn, at Ynisgau. Cook at once singled him out as a stranger, and confidentially informed him that she could find him respectable lodgings. He accom- panied her to a house at China, where some beer was sent for, he giving the girl a sovereign in payment. There was some talk made about the change, but he does not seem to have bothered himself much about it, and the matter dropped. Feeling sleepy he went up- stairs, and lay upon the bed, where, according to his statement, he was visited by the prisoner Williams, whom he distinctly saw taking away his money, but to 0 whom he never ventured to utter a single word of remonstrance. Cook stayed with him in the room the whole of the night, but upon the subject of the change for his sovereign or the subsequent robbery he remained perfectly mute. At daybreak he came away and had the prisoners arrested by P.C. Parsons. The Stipendiary remanded the case for consideration for a week, the pri- soners being taken away in custody. CHARGE OF DOG STEALING.—John Cahill, Quarry- street, a tinman, and a noted dog fancier, was brought up charged with stealing a fox terrier dog, valued at £5, the property of George Bethell, a mason, residing at Hall-street, Aberdare. It appeared that the dog had been bought by the prosecutor of a man named Hopkins shortly before Christmas last. On the previous Thursday defendant was at Aberdare and succeeded in obtaining the dog from Mrs. Hopkins, who, thinking that her husband had brought the animal back again, believed defendant s story that the dog had been given to him by her husband. Cahill was found with the dog in his possession by P.S. Jennings, who took him into custody. His plea, as far as it could be made out now, was that the dog had been given him in exchange for a bitch. With whom he had made the exchange was not, however, made very clear.-The Stipendiary adjourned the case for further evidence until Tuesday week at Aberdare, accepting defendant's own recognizances in S10 to appear that day. WEDNESDAY.—(Before A. De Rutzen, Esq.) AN IMPERTINENT WOMAN.—Emily Shaw, described on the sheet as a married woman, and who was said to have only recently left Abergavenny Asylum, was brought up charged with drunken and riotous con- duct at Cardiff-road, Aberatnan, on the previous (Tuesday) night. P.S. Cooke proved conduct of a rather aggravated kind against the prisoner, who, in her frenzy, had actually torn all the clothes off her own back. His Worship now endeavoured to elicit from her some particulars As to her antecedents, but these she refused point blank to give, and the few replies she deigned to make were delivered in a very impudent manner. The Stipendiary remanded her in custody until Saturday. ANOTHER DISORDERLY.—John Reynolds, collier, Heolgerrig, was summoned for drunken and riotous conduct at High-street, on the previous Monday night. P.S. Davies gave evidence. Defendant, who called a witness with a view of showing that he (defendant) was omly playful and not "riotous," was fined 5s; and the costs. COAL STEALING AT ABERCANAID. -Thomas. Winter and George Winter, brothers, aged 14 and 12 years re- spectively, were summoned for having stolen 25 lbs of ooal, the property of R. T. Crawshay, Esq., from the Getbin Railway, on the 15th inst. The charge was proved by P.C. Melhuisb. It appeared pretty clear that the boys had been seht out to pick the coal by their aunt, with whom they were staying. His Worship, after stating that had the aunt been'caught receiving the coal, he would have committed her for trial, ordered defendants to pay a tine of 2s. (jd, each. QUARRELSOME NEIGHBOURS.—Thomas Griffiths v. Edward Davies, rougher. Complainant is a mason, re- siding at Horse-street, Dowlais, where defendant also lives. It appeared that at one time they had been on terms of pretty close intimacy, but lately differences had arisen., and defendant, who had caught his opponent at the back of the Rolling Mill Inn, on the 11th inst., threatened to "do for him. in about a minute." Defendant, who contended that it was he who had the most cause to complaia, Griffiths having challenged him to fight and to kick him to pieces, was bound over in the sum of S5 to keep the peace for the next three months. He was also ordered to pay 8s. 9d. costs. MERTHYR BOARD OF HEALTH. The fortnightly meeting of this Board was held on Wednesday last, at the Board-room, High.street. Mr. W. Jones presided, and there were also present Drs. James aud Probert, Messrs. Thos. Williams (Goitre), fr- -^irkhouse, Thos. Davies, W. L. Daniel, T. H, H^good, G. Martin, and J. Place. ^lnu^es °f the previous meeting having been read and passed, the following business was transacted THE BOARD AND ITS CREDITORS. The Clerk read the following replies from the Board's creditors, with regard to the application made for the terms on which the present loans could be redeemed The Atlas Insurance Company, whose loan had 20 ygars to run at Je5 per cent., would settle if a sum tantamount to the interest for that period were handed over. The Ko.ck', ^°yaJ, Exchange, Yorkshire, and Economic, declined to allow a redemption, and the United Kingdom, who had been the last to contract, would be willing upon certain terms. The Chairman said this was a matter of figures, and one which should be referred to a commitee for con- sideration. Mr. Daniel: That is just what I proposed. Dr. James thought it was a matter upon which the book-keeper should be consulted upon. The Chairman said the book-keeper could be present, but the question of considering each loan would have to be gone into. and it would be a long job. He sug- gested that three or four gentlemen be appointed on the committee, and it was agreed that the chairman, Dr. James, Messrs. Hocgood, Daniel, and Harris form the committee. NEW BATE. The estimates for the new rate of If. for three months were put in and approved. ADULTERATED POP. Dr. Dyke, the Medical Otticer of the Board, stated that two bottles of ginger-beer, obtained in Merthyr. had been handed to him one contained a quantity of brandy, and the analysis went to prove that certain de- leterious substances were introduced or generated in the bottles, partly by a chemical action of the internal india-rubber band which served as the cork stopper. He had forwarded similar bottles to Mr. Horsley, the public analyst, and now read his report The Laboratory, Gloucester, January 18th, 1876. Mr. Thomrs Watson, Sanitary Inspector for "Merthyr. SiR,—I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 11th inst., together with a bottle of pop- the latter I have analysed. On opening the bottle there was a strong smell of nitrous acid, which, in my opinicn (if no spirits of sweet nitre had been used, which is sometimes the case), must have been generated in charging the liquid by the use of a rough or impure sulphuric acid, or oil of vitriol, which contained it, be- cause I got all the chemical re-actions of nitrous acid. When first tapped, the liquid was of a dark yellow colour, but on keeping it in a clean bottle for a day it lost its colour, and, notwithstanding the flavour of orange and lemon, I distinctly detected the smell of nitrous acid during the process of evaporation. I believe each bottle to contain about half an ounce of syrup of lemcn and orange dissolved in the water, and charged with carbonic acid gas. I searched diligently for lead, but the only metallic contamination I could find was a small quantity of iron, which, with the sulphur of the elastic band in the neck of the bottle, gave rise to the discoloration spoken of by Dr. Dyke. T have before now heard of similar com- plaints of a black colour being produced when brandy has been mixed with aerated water, stopped in this way, owing to the formation of "sulphurated hydrogen," which is an infallible test of the presence of metals, such as iron, lead, and copper. There is nothing, how- ever, so clean and effectual as corks for bottles charged with aerated waters. I believe I have now exhausted the subject. "Yours truly, "JOHN HORSLEY, F.CS., Analytical Chemist for Merthyr Tydfil, &c." Dr. James asked whether it had not been resolved that the Board should be first consulted before any- thing were sent for analysis. Mr. Daniel said it was only intended that the Medical Officer should consult the Board before pro- ceeding to prosecution. The Clerk referred to the minute on the subject, when it was found that the Medical Officer hhd to bring the matter before the Board in the shape of an analyst's certificate. Dr. Dyke remarked that unless he could act at once, on having such matters brought under his notice, in some instances the articles would go putrid. Dr. James thought the Board should have more to do with such matters than what they would have if the Medical Officer acted on his own responsibility in send- ing goods for analysis, further than that, he sug- gested that Dr. Dyke, or his assistant, might be laid open to suspicion among the tradesmen if the question were left in their hands. Dr. Dyke said such a thing need not be for a moment thought of, for he only knew the samples by numbers. He asked the Board to empower him to issue some small bills from time to time, warning the people about the use of various articles. In sweets, for instance, they were made very nice to look at, but some were injurious. Those which Wire painted yellow were done with chromate of lead, those in blue were fortunately painted by a harmless ultramarine, instead of Prussian blue, which was at one time put on. The red was from an aniline dye, which was not fit to go into any one's stomach. American butter, which was known in Lon- don as Dutch butter, was nearly altogether made up in one or two places. One-third of it was not butter, but he must not tell even the Board the "secrets of the prison house," because some of them were grocers. Mr. Kirkhouse Do they sell it in Merthyr? Dr. Dyke I must not tell you, sir. (A laugh.) Dr. James: Some large houses here sell very little else. The Chairman asked if the componelit parts of the mixture were injurious? Dr. Dyke No; The Chairman then said that the crime would really be the selling as butter a mixture which was not butter. Dr. Dyke said that in the making of this "American butter" the fat of horses and of calves, was carefully stirred with the freshest milk, and thus the butter was manufactured. The doctor received instructions to issue the bills ac- cording to his own suggestion. SURVEYOR'S REPORT. The Clerk read the Surveyor's report, as follows:— To the Merthyr Tydfil Local Board of Health. GENTLEMEN, — I beg to submit an estimate of the in- come and expenditure of your Board on account of water works ar d for general purposes during the months of February and March, 1876. The estimate provides for the amount due to the Board of Guardians for road improvements, and for broken stone purchased from them. but does not include cost of the new pumping engine and boiler ordered to be erected, as these may, at your discretion, be paid for out of borrowed money. I would observe that during the period in question no payment will become due to assurance companies on account of water works, or to your officers for salaries- The estimate shows that the ordinary revenue, together with a one shilling general district rate. will cover the expenditure, and provide a surplus of £1,645 Os. 3d. For the mouth of April the expenditure will be about £2.850. With respect to the letter of Mr. Daniel Williams, asking you to adopt an existing lamp in Pottery- lane, belonging to the proprietors of the Drill Hall, as a public lamp, with the view of preventing nuisances occasioned by persons resorting there for improper purposes, I beg to report that the lighting of. the said lamp would probably answer the desired purpose, but the cost would be equal to the whole amount of general district rates levied upon the cottages in Pottery-row. With respect to the memorial of inhabitants of Union Place, Thomas Town, calling your attention to the state of the road in this place, I beg to report that this street is not a highway repairable out of the public rates. The road should be formed, metalled, channelled, and drained at the expense of the owners of property fronting or abutting upon such street. I beg to report that the Brecon and Merthyr Railway Company have not abated the nuisance of which they have had notice, arising from the drain- age of water from their premises to and upon the surface of the street leading from Victoria-street to Iron-street, Dowlais. I beg to recommend that the latter street be named Station-street, and that the road leading from Penydarran to High-street, Dowlais, be also named. I beg to report that Mr. Rowland Griffiths has placed an obstruction in a watercourse at Aberfan, by which the drainage of your lands at Troedyrhiw and the flow of the effluent sewage are impeded. I beg to report that within the last fortnight it has been necessary to do some repairs to the sewage con- duit between Aberfan and Quaker's Yard. Whilst this was being done the whole of the sewage was used at Troedyrhiw. I beg to report that since your last meeting it has been neceseary to open and cleanse the n?w sewer laid down for the drainage of the Mardy houses, on the Cardiff-road, in Merthyr. I beg to report that in my opinion the front and side walls of the premises known as the Angel Hotel, 4n High-street, Merthyr, are now in a dangerous state. I would recommend that the 75th section of the 10th and 11th Victoria, cap. 34, be put in force at once. I beg to recommend that Mr. W. E. Williams be re- quired to clear Gillar-street of all building material scaffolding, and refuse, and make good thp pavements and roads disturbed by him forthwith. I beg to recommend that the public be again cau tioned by the distribution of hand-bills against deposit- ing ashes in the streets. I beg to report that I have received the following building plans and notices, viz. 1. -From Mr. David Jones, Quaker's Yard, of 29 houses and a shop at Twynygarreg for himself. I see no objection to this plan, provided the streets already sanctioned by you be formed and made before the houses are occupied. 2. From Mr. John Williams, builder. Castle-street, Merthyr, of an hotel at Ynysowen for Mr. Davies' Danyderri; as the site of this building is not shown, I am unable to report upon it. b 3. — From Mr. John Williams, builder, Castle-street Merthyr, of a dwelling-house and shop at Ynvsowen for Mr. W. Williams; the site of this building being undefined, I cannot report upon it. I am, gentlemen, your obedient servant, SAMUEL HARPUR, Surveyor. Merthyr Tydfil, January 19th, 1876. It was ordered that proceedings be instituted against the Brecon and Merthyr Railway Co. The application with regard to the lighting of the lamp near the Drill Hall was refused. THE CONDITION OF THE STREETS. The Surveyor reported that Union-place, from whence a communication had been addressed to the Board com- plaining of the condition of the place, was private pro- perty, and the work ought to be done by the landlords. Dr. James said this Board had been in existence for about thirty years, and there had really been very little done with regard to putting certain streets in order. When he mentioned, however, Thomas-street and John- street, Georgetown, to the surveyor, he was told that he had no time to attend to them yet. Now it struck him as being an unfair thing towards the inhabitants of these streets who had to pay rates towards the repairs and making of other streets, and not to get the same kind of benefit for themselves. It occurred to him that if the surveyor was so much over-burdened with work that he could not attend to these streets, he ought to have some assistance. He reminded them that the money laid out was refunded, and did not come upon the Board, and poncluded by proposing that the surveyor have an assistant for the purpose of helping him to con- struct and repair the streets. This was seconded by Dr. Probert. The Surveyor said the cost of forming the streets at Penydarren was £1,700, and the Board would have to lay out that amount for several months. They could Here a list of the streets was read over, and gave rise to some discussion. Eventually Dr. James declared his willingness, which Dr. Probert agreed to, of allow- ing his motion to stand over for a fortnight. In the meantime a report on the whole matter could be pro- duced by Mr. Harpur. The subject then dropped. THE GAS CONTRACT. The Clerk read the .following letter from the Gas Company:- 8th January, 1876. "To Thomas Williams, Esq., Clerk to the Merthyr "Tydfil Local Board of Health. "DEAR SIR,- Your letter of the 31st ult. was sub mitted to the directors at their meeting held on Wed nesday evening last, and, in reply thereto, I was desired to state that it is not the intention of the Company to make any reduction in the public lights, the rates now charged being strictly in accordance with the provision of the Merthyr Tydfil Gas Act, 1868, viz., viz. 3s. 6d per thousand cubic feet consumed, and with respect to the sum allowed per lamp for lighting, extinguishing cleansing, repairs, annual painting, &c., I am to in- form you that in thQ year just ended such allowance has not re-imbursed the Company the expenses incurred in the performance of those services and I am further to state that the Company would be glad to be relieved fr 'm those duties. In reference to the higher rate of 6d. per thousand cubic feet for gas supplied in the outlying districts o Troedyrhiw and Cefncoedycymmer, the directors are surprised that your Board should deem so trifling a difference unfair, especially when the fact is considered that a very large outlay of capital has been invested in laying main pipes to supply those districts, and which capital, from the incredibly small consumption of gas in those places is as yet wholly unremunerative. I am also instructed to say that the Act of Parliament fully justifies an additional charge being made in the outlying districts, provided that such addition does not exceed the maximum price of 5s. per 1,000 feet. It may be stated that 5s. per 1,000 cubic feet is not an increased charged in the outside places, the price remaining as heretofore, without reduction. In answer to numerous inquiries made, the directors find that it is the rule with all gas companies to have differential rates, a higher price being charged for outlying districts not nearly so remote from the source of supply as Troedyrhiw and Ce'ncoedycymmer. "As regards your assertion as follows :—' jn consider- ing the charge made for public lights in the town dis- trict, you have frequently referred to the additional expense of supplying the outlying districts, and this has formed an element influencing the rate of charge. This being so, you are surely not going to tack upon the outlying districts that which was "considered in dealing with the town district.' The directors fail entirely to see what connection this question has with the supply of gas to the private consumers. If it is meant that the charge for the public lights is higher at Troedyrhiw than at Merthyr they would beg to remind you that such is not the case' the rate for the gas consumed beincr the same as at Merthyr, i.e. 3s. 6d. per 1,000 the difference in charge arising from the additional cost the Company is sub- jected to for lighting, extinguishing, &c., the very few lamps in that locality, and which, as you are aware are placed widely apart. "I am, dear sir, yours obediently, "JOHN L. COCKER." Mr. Williams (Goitre) said there was an extraordinary small quantity of gas used at Troedyrhiw and the laying of the mains down there had proved unfortunate for the Company. The Chairman could not understand how it was that it was always being said that the Gas Company never made anything, while at the same time they paid the maximum dividends of 10 per cent. and 7^ per cent The matters raised were allowed to drop. There was no further public business, and the Board proceeded with committee matters.

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MERTHYR COUNT J" COURT. TUESDAY.—(Before His Honou* J'idge Falconer.) AN OLD RAILWAY CASE. JARMAN v. GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY. This was a case which had been adjourned from time to time from May last. The claim was for £ 16, the value of a box and contents said to be lost between Neath and Merthyr. The case shortly was as follow Plaintiff, Mrs. Jarman, was a passenger from Lampeter to Merthyr, and according to the statement of her attorney, Mr. Plews, she booked to Carmarthen Junction, but labelled her box for Merthyr. She saw the box all right at Neath, and, in fact, sat upon it, but it could not be found when she arrived at her journey's end. For the defendantar; who were represented by Mr Smith (Messrs. Smith, Lewis, and Jones), it was contended that the plaintiff had not booked to Car. marthen Junction but to Carmarthen Town, and that she had therefore sued the wrong Company. This argu- ment was supported by the evidence of several officials from Carmarthen Junction, who proved from their books that no one bad been booked for Merthyr by the train which the plaintiff said she used. His Honour in giving judgment, said he could not get beyond this latter fact; but Mr. Plews, under the new law, would have the chance of a double shot at the railway com- pany. The plaintiff was nonsuited, but no order was made for costs. X LONG PENDING SmT. -JONES V. JONES. This was an inberpleader case against a claim of B4 Os. 6d. for goods supplied. Mr. Lewis (Messrs. Williams and Lewis), appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Plews for the defendant. It appeared that this debt was no less than 24 years old, the goods being supplied in 1842. A judgment was obtained in 1858, sixteen years later, and an execution issued in 1875, or seventeen years later still. The arguments had resolved themselves into a question or ^entity, and Mr Plews stated that the defendant had left the neighbour- hood of Llandyssil—his native place—in which locality the goods had been delivered, when he was seventeen years of age, viz., in 1837, and had never resided there since. The goods were supplied in 1842, and at this time defendant was living at Dowlais or Troedyrhiw, where he had resided ever since he left home. Mr. Lewis put a witness in the box to prove the identity of the defendant, when his Honour raised the question of order with regard to the issuing of a Summons and warrant after so long a period. He said the application could be made to the County Court of Newcastle Emlyn, which issued the summons to raise the question of irregularity in granting a warrant for so old a debt. Mr Plews said he would make the application, accom- panied with the necessary affidavits, and Mr, Lewis observed that the defendant would be prosecuted for perjury. ACTION AGAINST THE RHYMNEY IRON COMPANY. His Honour gave judgment in this case, the particu- lars of which have already been reported. Plaintiff had leave to turn a pony on defendant s property, near to which they owned a coal screen. The pony got into the screen, fell down, and was killed. His Honour argued that the real and final question was whether or not the pony was. lawfully on the land of the Company or was trespassing, and the solution of this depended on the fact as to whether the pony had escaped through any fence which tha Company ?'e^e un r legal obliga- tion to repair. His Honour cited cases, and contended that the Company were not under the obligation to fence the land on which the pony was trespassing, and gave a verdict for the defendants. TAE DOCTOR AND HIS MEDICAL CLUB. DROCKETT v. DAVIES.—Plaintiff is a medical practi- tioner at Merthyr, and the defendant a pig- dealer, of Swansea-road, Merthyr, and the claim was for JE22 14s, for medical attendance. Mr. K. for the plaintiff, and Mr. Gwilym James for the defendant. His Honour read the judgment, which had been left over from last court, when the case was heard. His Honour said On the 15th of February, 1875, a Alrs Williams went to the secretary, and said she wanted a card for the defen- dant's wife. He said he could not give it to her, as her husband was not a Cyfarthfa workman. She then said, I have been to the doctor, and he sent me for a card." He replied, If the doctor sent you, I can give you a card." The plaintiff denies that he authorised the issue of the ticket to Mrs YVillianis. He attended the wife until she died in August, 1875._ l-he extraordinary part of this case was that no inquiry was made respecting the defendant, and that further contributions should have been received. Cyfarthfa men must know who were Cyfarthfa men. Having neglected to inquire into the qualifications of the defendant, the plaintiff now charged a sum of JE22, as though defendant had been an ordi- nary patient. It appeared to him (his Honour) monstrous that a bill of j222 14s should be presented for payment, and the defendant should be called on to pay it, because no pains were taken to verify his title to membership. He had a doubt if any part of the accu. mulated charge stould be paid, and if so what was to be the limit. If misrepresentation caused the accep- tance of the first payment, there was no reason why subsequent payments should have been received. On account of the manner in which the first payment was made, he thought the plaintiff wrs entitled to f4. When registered, the subsequent payments might have been rejected by the plaintiff, and if he had thought fiL he might have discontinued his visits. A PIG DEALER'S CASE. CASEY V. GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.- Plaintiff brought three cases to recover damages from the Com- pany under circumstances already reported, and his Honour now read his judgments. In the first case, of a pig value X3 having got out of a truck near Carmar- then Junction, and having been bruised in the side, being sold for 25s., his Honour thought the damage covered by the risk note. In the second case, £ 29 14s. was claimed for damage done to a truck load of pigs, which were sadly burnt with lime while on their way to Merthyr. The case turned on the proper lime to be used for white washing the trucks on the inside, and in giving a verdict for the plaintiff, complimented the witnesses on the manner in which they had given their evidence. The third case was one of B12 13s. for pigs lost, and a nonsuit was given. A OCRIOUS CLAIM.—JENKINS V. JEXKIXS. I This was a claim of £3 3s. GJ. for a a goid scarf pin, and altering and repairing a gold ring. Mr. Plews, who appeared for the defendant, replied to the case as follows He said this was a mere question of law. It appeared that defendant had married his late wife, who had been previously married, and had a son, Washington Williams. All Mrs. Jenkins's pro- perty was settled on herself at the time of her union with the defendant. In 1873 the son was about 19 years of age, and did not live at home with his mother or step-father, but at Dowlais, in lodgings. It appeared that Mrs. Jenkins sent down to plaintiff's shop for some scarf pins to make a choice from. One of these was selected, and the young man Washington had it. He alto purchased a ring, which did not fit, and it was sent to the plaintiff's to repair, and it was for these two items that the action was brought. The defendant knew nothing of the purchases until very recently, and now his wife was dead. Mrs. Jenkins had left a will bequeathing her property to other persons, who had proved the will and dealt with her estate. The defen- dant, under these circumstances, said in law he was not liab!e, and there was no reason to charge his credit for this youth, who was not living at home and was not his son. The defendant (sworn) said that his step-son had been to America, came back again, and went to live at Dowlais. He had not pa.id anything for the debts of his late wife, or any of her children, and he had never seen the pin referred to at all. The plaintiff said he had sent a bill ior the money to the defendant's house, and fully expected he would by law pay the money. His Honour: The question is, whether the goods were necessities to the wife. Ma. Plews: The scarf pin would not be necessary for her. His Honour (to defendant): Did you ever receive any account during the lifetime of your wife ? Defendant: No. Mr. Plews: Anyone who knew Mrs. Jenkins would know that she was a remarkably clever woman, and would know that she would never think of consulting her husband about a thing of that kind. The plaintiff Do you mean to say I am dishonest ? Mr. Plews: I don't mean to say anything about you. I am speaking of Mrs. Jenkins. His Honour, in giving judgment, said he had fre- quently remarked before, that when any tradesman was about to let any party have goods chargeable t) some- body else, he ought to make the latter aware of it, and obtain his written assent, and then he would be safe. Judgment for the defendant. PAYING FOR HIS BEER. -WILLIAMS V. DAVIES. This was a claim of 19s. 9d., alleged to be due to the plaintiff, as change out of a sovereign. Mr. Beddoe appeared for the defence. Plaintiff is a collier Working at Cwmbach, and living at Dowlais, and defendant is the landlady of the White Lion Inn, Dowlais. On Christmas Eve plaintiff, with a com- panion went to the above inn. The latter paid first for a pint of beer, and then the plaintiff called for a pint, and. according to his own statement, he paid a sovereign for it. He said he gave the money into the landlady's hand, she looked at it, and brought him only 9s. 9d. in change, which he refused. He called his brother-in- law as a witness, and he positively swore that he saw the coin, a sovereign, held between the fingers of plain- tiff as he put it in the landlady's hand, telling her at the same time that it was a sovereign. The defendant having been sworn, distinctly stated that it was only half-a-sovereign she had received, and that plaintiff said nothing when he gave it her. She had only 6s. 6d. in her money till, and sent out a little girl for change. The child brought back two half- crowns, two florins, and a shilling, and she offered plaintiff the foar former coins and ninepeuce, which, however, were refused. After several more witnesses had been called, Mr. Beddoe drew attention to the nature of the evidence adduced, particularly referring to that of a young man who had been in the company, and got up at the time, saying he would speak the truth, it was a half-sovereign. His Honour, in summing up, drew attention to the extraordinary fact that disputes of this kind never occurred in any part of the country with travelling drapers, for they all seemed to avoid the practice of taking up the money given to them, walking off with it, and then having a dispute as to the amount. He then compared the evidence brought before him, and declared in favour of that adduced by the plaintiff, for whom he gave his verdict.

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ABERDARE POLICE COURT. TUESDAY,—(Before R. H. Rhys and D. E. Williams, Esq.) DxUNRARDa.—Mordecai Lawrence, labourer, found by P.S. Cooke lying drunk and incapable at Lewis- street, Aberaman, on the 9th inst., was fined 5s. and the costs.—The following were similarly dealt with: Wm. Jones, collier, found by P.O. Parker in a similar state at Cardiff-street, on the 15th instant; Michael Pearce, labourer, picked up by P.S. Cooke in a similar condition at Cardiff-road, Aberaman, on the 9th inst., and John Moses, collier, summoned by P.C. James for drunken and riotous conduct at Lewis-street, Aber- aman, on the 8th inst. STEALING A WATCH.—Robert Bevan, door boy, aged 17. was brought up charged with stealing a silver watch, and brass case?, valued at £ 2, the property of Frederick Williams, an engine-man employed at the Long Range Level of the Aberdare-Merthyr Steam Coal Colliery, Hirwain, on the 15th inst. It appeared from the evi- dence that the prosecutor lenc his watch to his brother George, who was the night engine-man for that week, and that the latter placed it in the brickwork of his engine-house. Prisoner on the following morning came in the engine-house for the ostensible purpose of taking a nap, but instead of doing so he watched the engine- man going off to sleep, and availed himself of the op- portunity thus afforded to abstract the watch. Infor- mation was given to the police, and the prisoner, who was afterwards arrested by P.C. Poyntz, admitted stealing the watch, and hiding it behind some timber a few yards from the engine-house. The officer accom- panied the young fellow to this place, and after a short search the watch was unearthed from the exact spot indicated. Prisoner, who pleaded guilty to the charge, was sentenced to a month's imprisonment with hard labour at Swansea House of Correction. ESTREATING His RECOGNIZANCES. --Gomer Hughes, a haulier, was called upon in discharge of his bail to answer a charge of drunkenness and rioting at Trap- road, on the previous Saturday night. Defendant did not put in an appearance. His father, who answered for him, stated that the "gaffer" at the colliery had requested defendant to attend work, inasmuch as they were short of hauliers. The Bench thought the mode of entering into sureties was farcical unless they were properly enforced. The recognizances of the prisoner's bail would be estreated at once. Defendant's father, who it turned out was the surety, asked for an adjourn- ment, in order to enable him to produce the young man, but to this the Bench refused their consent, and the money had to be paid over at once. BOARD OF HEALTH PROSECUTIONS. -William Davies, collier, was summoned for having used a slide upon ice in High-street, Aberdare, on the 6th ult. Mr. R. O. Gery, Clerk to the Local Board, prosecuted, and P.C. Parker gave evidence in support of the charge. After pointing out to the defendant the great danger atten- dant upon practices of this sort, their Worships ordered him to pay a fine of 5s. and the costs. Evan Davies, another collier, was summoned for having wilfully damaged the carriage drive at the Aber- dare Public Park, on the 9th inst. Mr. R. O. Gery ap- peared on behalf of the Local Board to prosecute. It would seem from the evidence of a gatekeeper at the park named Hodgson that the defendant and another man had made a slide upon the pathway, and that in order to do this they had to kick out a good many stones, the vacancies left by which were unsightly and caused great inconvenience. The Bench thought that practices of this kind must be stopped. A sum of jE7,000 had been paid from the ratepayers' pockets for the construc- tion of this recreation ground and park, and it was too bad of the defendant to have acted in this way. The Bench would make an example of him. Fined jEl and the costs, or fourteen days, imprisonment with hard labour in default. He preferred paying. ASSAULT AT MOUNTAIN ASH.—Mary Herberts. Thos. George Morgan, oollier. Mr. T. Phillips for the defen- dant. It appeared from the evidence that the com- plainant becoming incensed at something said to her father by the defendant's father on the 8th inst. retorted in a very spicy and not altogether elegant manner with something concerning Long Poll," by whom she was understood to mean defendant's mother. This brought out the defendant, who pinched her (complainant's) arm and gave her a blow on the mouth, for which the Bench, who considered his conduct to be unjustifiable, now imposed upon him a fine of £1 and the costs, cr four- teen davs' imprisonment with hard labour in default. He paid the money. OBSTRUCTING THE HIGHWAY.—John Morgan, con- tractor, Aberaman, was sumiloied for obstructing the highway in Lewis-street, by allowing a quantity of mortar to remain thereon. P.S. Cooke gave evidence, and defendant, in consequence of the somewhat peouliar circumstances cf the case, was fined only Is. and the costs. ENDORSEMENTS.—Mr. John Beddoe applied for an endorsement of the license of the Colliers' Arms Inn, Cwmbach, to John Davies, of the Ship and Castle Inn at that place. Granted.—Mr. Phillips applied for en- dorsements of the licenses of the Prince of Wales beer- house, Dean-street, from Wm. Strickland to David Hughes; Rising Sun. Commercial-place, from John Lewis to James Vilccx, and Lord Napier beerhouse, Seymour-street, from Edwin Gibbon to David Jones, *11 of which were granted.—The Bench also granted an endorsement of the license of the Iron Bridge Inn, Commercial-street, from David Nicholas to Thomas Parry.

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COLLIERS SUMMONED FOR BREACH OF CONTRACT. At the weekly petty sessions held at Treherbert on Monday, before Mr. G. Williams, Stipendiary, John Davies, Thomas Morgan, David Griffiths, Robert Wil- liams, John Bonney, John Evans, and Elias Williams, colliers, were summoned by the Llanwit Red Ash Coal Company, Limited, for absenting themselves from ser- vice from the 1st inst. Mr. Simons appeared to prosecute, and Mr. D. Walter Davies defended. It appears that the men objected to return to work according to the terms agreed upon by the Sliding-scale Committee. All the men had signed a document agree- ing to continue work on and after the 1st January, sub- ject to a month's notice on either side. On the 1st inst. the men, 54 in number, left work, hence the pre- sent summonses. The case against Elias Williams was first proceeded with. Phillip Williams said he had been a clerk in the employ of the Llanwit Coal Company. He witnessed Elias Williams signing the agreement on 7th December. Cross-examined He read the agreement to the men when they signed it. The agreement was put up in Welsh and English at the top of the pit. Another notice was posted up by its side to the effect that all contracts would terminate on the 31st December. He left the employment of the Company on the 31st, having previously given notice of his intention to do so. By the Stipendiary: He heard no one object to the agreement, nor say he did not understand it. This concluded the case for the prosecution against Elias Williams. Mr. Davies, for the defence, submitted that no case had been made out by Mr. Simons against his client. His Worship read the agreement signed by the men, dwelling emphatically on the words showing that a new agreement had been entered into between the parties. Mr. Davies submitted that it was not sufficient to put the new agreement as the basis of the present case the particulars of the previous agreement should be gone into. Mr. Simons The same as if you make a conveyance of a freehold farm; you must put in the Doomsday Book as the foundation of it. Mr. Davies asked his Worship to make a note of his objection, as the case might go further. He was sorry that the suggestion thrown out, when the difficulty first arose, to settle the present case by arbitration, had no been acted upon. There had been a previous disput between the manager and these men in August last. A list of prices and allowances was at that time agreeh upon, and was in force until the present agreement had been signed On the 13th December, however, gecl informed them that he would not abide by the list. He told the men to continue work until the end of the month, and that they could then leave. He contended that when they signed the new agreement they did not know what they were doing. They understood that the previous list was included in this agreement. The old agreement was produced by Mr. Simons, therefore he could not discuss it. In reply to his Worship, he said he understood that the sliding scale of wages would be based on the rate of wages previously paid at the colliery. He would produce evidence to show that on the 13th December the manager refused to abide by the previous scate of allowances paid to the men, and that from then to the end of the month he kept the men in suspense as to the rate of wages according to which they should be paid. He contended that in order to prove the case they must produce evidence of having entered on a complete new contract. His Worship said he understood that the men, by signing, the new agreement, bound themselves to work during the month of January. Mr. Davies contended that the manager refusing to grant the previous allowances, relieved the men from their agreement. His Worship said that whatever difficulty arose, the men were bound to give a month'a notice before leaving work. He had hoped that after expending so much time and trouble over this agreement all difficulties would have been avoided. Two wrongs did not make one right, and if the men thought they had been wronged, the proper course would have been to sue the manager for the money due to them in a court of law. For the defence, Mr. Davies said he wished to call one or two witnesses, and if there were any substantial basis in their evidence for a case, he would ask his Worship to grant one. Phillip Williams was then called, and said the dis- pute between the men and the manager, in December, was not settled on the 1st of January. The manager refused to pay some allowances which had been granted since 1872. Cross-examined: He had been Bpeaking to the manager ibout his account. He had been paid for his work for September, October, and November, and never took out i summons for the amount of allowances which had been discontinued partly in July last. William Nicholas said he spoke to the manager on the 13th December last. They had been given to under- stand that no allowances would be .nadefor puckings md cogs." He told him they could not go on much longer without having an allowance. The manager replied that rather than pay what was paid previously the proprietors would stop the work. There were ten )f them together with him. By the Stipendiary: It was the manager's duty to see that the place was clear to bring out the coal. The manager told them that if they did not wish to continue In working they could leave at the end of the month. Cross-examined The list produced was printed last September, and was an'advance on most allowances pre- viously paid. They insisted that 15 cwt. of coal should be supplied to them for 3s., that coal to be Llanwit coal. They wanted 2s. 91d. for standing cogs on the flat, instead of 2s. 2d. as previously paid. He signed the agreement thinking it was a kind of voting that they (the men) were willing to the Board of Conciliation." Mr. Davies contended that the agreement was drawn up by his friend Mr. Simons, with his usual abstruse- ness, and in a way to mislead working men. His Worship called Mr. Davies's attention to the fact that it had been signed by Messrs. Abraham, Mitchard, Prosser, D. Morgan, and T. Halliday, and been drawn up by Messrs. Simons and Stephens, the latter representing the workmen. He was sorry Mr. Davies aid not see the case in the same light as he did. The men had solemnly signed the new agreement, under which they could not leave work without a month's notice. They were clearly in the wrong. His Worship here called all the men before him, and lucidly explained to them how they had been placed by signing the agreement, and the remedy they had if they thought there was more wages due to them. He then suggested that the solicitors should consult together as to the terms upon which the men could return to work. He would suggest that the Company should not press for damages, but they should act as the employers had done in the Pentre case, which was heard that day week. Mr. Simons mentioned that the amount of loss sustained by the Company was J3280. The Company would have to pay all this money, and "what was sauce for the goose was sauce for the gander." He never in his life desired to press harshly on working men. Mr. Davies: I would remind you of the Coedcae case, some years ago, where you kept a colliery idle for six months. Mr. Simons Your men broke loose from you three times. You settled the case yourself three times, and failed at last. Mr. Simons went on to say that he could promise that the wages of the men in this case would be paid in full, and that the Company would act on his Worship's advice, and would not press for damages. The case then terminated, it being understood that the men would return to work, or be fined £ 10 each and costs. AN EX-BAPTIST PREACHER IN TROU- BLE AT SWANSEA. At the borough police-court on Tuesday (before Messrs, Thomas Phillips, John Oakshot, and Richard Hughes), David Evans (formerly of Merthyr) was charged at the instance of the Swansea Union officials, with neglecting to maintain his wife and family, there- by leaving them chargeable to the Union. Mr. Bevan, the relieving-officer for the Llangyfelach district, gave evidence, from which it appeared that the prisoner, who is between 50 and 60 years old, was by trade a tailor, and that for many years he had performed the functions of preacher in connection with the Baptist denomination at Morriston, near Swansea, at Mynydd- bach-y-glo, at Abei-dare, and other places, where he was well known by the name of "Dai, gwas yr Arglwydd"—which, being interpreted, is "David, the Lord's servant." About six years ago the prisoner dis- appeared from his home at Morriston, and left his wife and five children without means of support where- upon they received assistance from the parish, and efforts were made to trace the run-away "Dai," but all unavailingly. As time went on it chanced that a relative of prisoner's wife bequeathed her the sum of £50. "Dai" got intelligence of the stroke, of good fortune, returned home immediately, got possession of S12 on the pretence that he would buy clothes for the boys, and then decamped, as before, leaving no clue to his whereabouts but it was pretty generally believed that he was cohabiting with a young woman. The discovery of him happened in this wise. Two Morriston men, working at Mold, treated themselves to a holiday' | visit tjo Liverpool, and, Ipce Welshmen, they did not fail to put up while there at the famous lodging house of "CymroGwyllt." One of them, in writing to a friend at Morriston, mentioned the fact that he slept at Cymre Gwyllt's house, and that one of his fellow inmates of the house was none other than the lost Dai gwas yr Arglwydd." The police were communi- cated with, and Inspector Thomas Allison soon brought the run-away to Swansea. The prisoner acknowledged the truth of the allega- tions, and burst into tears on being told that two of his children had died while he was away. The Bench said We consider your case a very bad one indeed. You have neglected your wife and family, and here, in this court, you, for the first time, hear that two of your children are dead—perhaps through your neglect. You will have to go to the house of correction for one month with hard labour, and when you come out you will have to maintain your wife. If you don't do it then, you will be sent down for thre-j months and unless you do your duty you will, probably, spend the remaining portion of your life in prison. Prisoner, who was crying bitterly, was then removed.

THROAT AFFECTIONS AND HoAnsr.N7.s3.—All suf- fering from irritation of the threat and hoarseness will be agreeably surprised at the almost in::no-Jiat« relief afforded by the use of Brovra's Bronchial Troches." These famous lozenges ars new sold by most respectable chemists in this co'irtry at Is Hd per box. People troubled with a hacking cough," a "slight cold," or bronchial a'Tectinns, can- not try them too soon, as similar troubl as, if allowed to progress, result in serious Pulmonary and Asthmatio affections. See that the words" Bronchial Troches" are on the Government SJamp around each box.—Manufactured by JOHN I. Br.o™; SONS, Boston, United States. Depot, 49J Oxford-street, London.

ACROSTIC: IN MEMOKIAM, A ngels beckon'd thee away, L ong before thy prime; F earing that the storms of time, R eaching that fair brow of thine, E nvious streaks of care should twine, D imming Heaven's pure ray. T hou wert the source of fond maternal care H ope rear'd a brilliant edifice in thee 0 ffspring beloved, endow'd with talents rare, M usic's devoted son thou claim'st to be. A ffection—mourning—bows her sacred hend, S ince thou art laid untimely with the dead. C losed was thy bright career, ere manhood's prime H ad woo'd expanding graces forth to shine 1 n riper years—the laurels won in youth. R eap'd in full harvest—would have wreath'J thy brow. M ay never fading flowrets crown it now Admired, esteemed, beloved-by all sincerely wept, The silver chord is loosed but thy golden memory's left Cadences sweet-like thrilling harp-strings—by the night winds swept.

FioniitNn!—Ko« THE TEETH AN;) BUE.VTH.—-A few dr. pa of the liquid" Florjljne" sprinkled on a wet tooth-brush produces a pleasant latner, which ;horoughly cleanses the teeth from all varasues or impurities, hardens the gums, prevents tartar, stops decay, gives to the teeth a peculiar pearly-hitenesF., and a delightful fragrance to the breath. It removes all unpleasant odour arising from decayed teeth or tobacco smoke. The Fragrant Florilino," being composed in part of Honey and sweet, herbs, is deli- cious to the taste, and the greatest toil'it d.i .cr.vpry of the ago. Price 2s 6d, of all Chemists and Perfumers. Prepared by Henry O. GALLUP, 433 Oxford street London.

THE YRAR'S COAL EXPORTS (1S75) FROM SOUTH WALES. The proportion which the exports of coal from South Wales bears to the whole exports of the country, is smaller for the past year than for several preceding years. Hitherto the South Wales ports have exported nearly one-third of the entire exports of J coal from the country, but last year the quantity exported was but little over a fourth. The coal exports from Cardiff are a little below those for 1874, tut greater than preceding years. The coal exports from Swansea for 1871) were less than the coal exports from that port for ISfiG. The highest exports from Swansea were in 1871, when they reached 694,398 tons. The exports from Newport last year were far below those from the same port for 1875. The highest exports from Newport were in 1870, when they reached 385,386 tons. The exports from Llanelly have been falling off since 1867, when the quantity of coal exported from that port reached 1)8,052 tons. This is attributable to higher register tonnage being employed in the coal trade and si. earn or.' which cannot find accommodation at small ports. The exports from Newcastle have increased about one-third within the last ten years. The exports from Cardiff have nearly doubled. The coal exports from Sunderland remain nearly stationary, and from Hartlepool the increase is very small. The export of coke from Cardiff has materially declined. In 1867 over 12,000 were sent to foreign ports, last year 2,800 tons. During last year 6,969 vessels left the Cardiff Docks, and of which 4,485 vessels were engaged in the foreign coal trade, and the latter number 1,418 were steamers. Sixty of these steamers were over 1,000 tons register, and nine over 1,500, In 1874 only 42 steamers over 1,000 tons register entered the docks, and 13 over 1,500 tons register. The register tonnages of all tho steamers engaged in the coal trade from Cardiff in 1874 reached 824,334 tons, and the tonnages of steamers engaged in the same trade in 1875 only reached 784,285 tons. The great coal-carrying trade is done by st< amers, as while their number is less than one-half of the sailing vessels leaving the docks their tonnage register is nearly equal, and the proportion of coal carried by them is larger. LADY MEDICAL STUDENTS. The Board of Managers of the Birmingham Queen's Hospital have decided to admit female medical stu- dents to the clinical lectures, and to enjoy all the privileges of male students. » SPLIT IN THE HOME RULE PARTY. The Northern Whig says It may not be generally known, but we have ii on undoubted authority, that there is a split in the Home Kule c.unp in Belfast on the question of continuing Mr. Butt as leader of the party, a seci in being in favour of the appointment of Mr. Mitchell-Henry, M.P., to that post. A great meeting was lately projected in the Ulster Hall to reply to the statements of the Chief Secretary during his recent visit, and a numerous party were in favour of inviting Mr. Butt as the principal speaker, but the meeting was abandoned in consequence of there not being unanimity on this point."

EXTRAORDINARY ESCAPE OF A LUNATIC. A lunatic, named Samuel Bone, who has for some time been confined in the County Asylum at Hayward'i Heath, succeeded in effecting his escape under very determined circumstances. He succee led in secretin* a towel in his room, which was at the top of the asylum; and at midnight hoisted him- self to the roof, twelve feet from the flooring, and opened the skylight, through which he contrived to get on to the top of the building he then appears to have passed along the roof in a nude state, and slid- ing down a piping, descended to the top of a high wall. He then dropped into a gentleman's garden, and mak- ing his way across a cemetery got out of sight. At daybreak his escape was discovered. He was found in a hovel at Lindfield the same morning, and was handed over to a police-constable. The madman ap- peared to have suffered severely from the cold. He had discovered a sack, and cutting a hole in the bottom- put his head through it, covering himself over from the cold. It was also found that he had torn up some matting and bound it round his legs. Bene has been again safely lodged in the asylum.

ROBBERY FROM THE DUNDEE MUSEUM. At the High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh, Petet, Graham, riveter, Dundee, has been placed at the bar on the charge of breaking into the Museum of the Albert Institute Buildings, Dundee, in November last, and stealing a presentation dessert service of silver, valued at JE600, the property of Provost Robertson, Dundee, and also a large quantity of jewel- lery belonging to Mr. Jason Goodchild, Dundee, and the committee of the Dundee School of Art, amounting to the value of two or three hundred pounds. The prisoner pleaded not guilty. It appeared from the evidence that the stolen property had been found in the old railway tunnel at the Law, near Dundee.—Mr. William Brownlee, formerly a magi- strate in Dundee, admitted he had handed the prisoner jBlOO to give information where the property was con- cealed.—The Solicitor-General said that, after the statement of the witness, he would withdraw the charge against the prisoner.—The Lord Justice ClerK said that to offer a reward for a confession of gnilt wae wholly inconsistent with criminal procedure.—The jury then returned a verdict of not guilty, and the prisoner was discharged.

CONSERVATIVE CENSORS. The Tories are still exercising severe censorship over the stage, greatly to the annoyance of the theatrO owners, who must hold their tongues, lest crying ou* should bring upon them something worse. The Liberal! in their time allowed the utmost freedom in political allusions. The result was that as the popularity' of the Government waned there was hardly a London theatre in which Mr. Gladstone and his colleagues were not burlesqued, misrepresented, and vilified. The Tories are wiser. The theatre on whose stage the present Government might be burlesqued would quickly bear from the Lord Chamberlain. The pantomime* would have been full of the submarine fleets Slave Circulars, and Civil Service appointments; but the awful existence of the present Lord Cham- berlain nipped all such nasty things in the bud.: A play making farce with the sacredness of some of our institutions would have been acted in a West end theatre; but again the existence of hi, lordship was a hopeless obstacle in its way. Thii censorship might be quite proper if it were impartiaL, But impartial it does not seem to be. At any ritt- whether with the leave of the- Government censor or without it, insults to Liberal politicians are offered unchecked in theatres where degrading allusions to the ToriM are not permitted.-Dundee Advertiser, > ..s^gasaeiwiiBwiiiiNii II<

gW- .i.j.j, some instances, such as for wearing apparel, of at least 50 per cent. it then becomes a question whether the interest of our neighbours ought not to occupy a secondary and subordinate position. People are beginning to find out that by dealing at Merthyi they are helping to pay somebody else's debts, and they find it remunerates them handsomely to send up a measurement and bear the expense of the carriage of articles even from the metropolis. The consequence is, that our shopkeepers, notably our drapers and tailors, are gradually losing their best customers—the shrewd cash purchaser sending his orders to distant towns, where he will obtain the full advantage of a competitive cash trade, whilst the credit customers, who sometimes pay, and often forget to pay, remain the zealous supporters of our local credit system. The tradesmen of Merthvr undoubtedly can do their work and supply their goods as cheaply as anybody, but under the credit pract ce they place themselves under a disadvantage, and they cannot expect other people systematically to keep them out of it. This is particularly the case, as before stated, with drapers and tailors, and in the former class we are glad to see that the pro- prietor of one large business is resolved not to do so *ny longer. We refer to Mr. JONES, of the Man- chester House, High-street, whose determination to lell for cash:only, we hope will prove the inaugura- tion of a better state of things for a class which just now is receiving its meed of suffering. In other businesses matters are hardly so bad, and the goods certainly are not so dear in proportion. Grocers compete with each other, and having to a large extent adopted cash terms, can supply us with articles of consumption as cheap, or nearly as cheap, as we could get them in London, Cardiff and "elsewhere and when this condition of things rules in every retail business the better it will be for all concerned -excepting, of course, those persons whose defective memories regarding their debts contribute so largely to their own interest, and so much to the sorrow and anxiety of every credit trader.