The Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian Glamorgan Monmouth and Brecon Gazette

YALE OF NEATH SHAREHOLDERS. The annexed letter, from the pen of Mr. F. S. Head, appears in a London contemporary: Mr. Gilbertson, the late deputy-chiRrtnan of the Vale of Neath board, who has been for some time past privately Neath board, who has been for some time past privately advising the acceptance of the Great Western offer, wrote to me some days ago, asking me to detail to him my reasons for thinking we ou^ht to decline it. I gave him my reasons at length, and invited him and the coromiitee appointed to wind up the Vale of Neath accounts to summon a meeting of the proprietary to discuss the Great Western proposal fullv, fairly, and publicly, if they still favoured its acceptance. I have this morning received a short intimation that the com- mittee, having read and considered the matter, intend to issue a circular to the Vale of Neath shareholders, recommending them to accept a 5 per cent. rentcharge at par. They do not seem to think it necessary either to cat).a public meeting, or to favour me with any reply to my views of our position, or to give any reasons for their own conclusion. I expect a formal application will be made next week by the Great Western board to each Vale of Neath shareholder, for assent to the proposbd exchange of stock for rentcharge at par, and I can therefore no longer delay to make public my view of our whole case, for such consideration as my fellow-shareholders may thi ik it worth before deciding, each for himself, to decline or accept the present offer. I rather believe my interest in the matter as a holder of ordinary Vale Neath stock to the amount of nearh' £ 12,000 is double or treble that of all the committee put together, and that I have gone into the question quite as carefully as they have. First, as to the comparative security of the stock we hold, and the proposed rentcharge. There is no doubt, as the chairman admitted in his speech on Thursday, that we are now the first charge an the net profits of the company. The jaint rentcharge would be the last against the gross earnings (except joint preference stocks), before the balance showing those net profits is struck. But if we are not bought there would probably be no such rentcharge; so that relatively to the spcmities now above and below us there would be little difference. But there is power in the Act to create any amount of additional stock pari passu with the rentcharge issued to us. The argument of a cash dividend as against a paper one is obviously at an end. Now, as to the prospective < amount of our dividend, I will take the present receipts of the Great Western system at £4,000,000 a year, and working expenses at 60 per cent. Assume our proportion to be 5 per cent. of net profits, leaving out the additional decimal to which we are entitled, it will be found that 8 per cent. increase on the present gross take will cover the existing deficiency between our per-centage share and the minimum guarantee of £85,000 a year; while 15! per cent. increase on present gross receipts of the Great Western Company will afford a 6 per cent. dividend upon our present ordinary Vale of Neath Stock. Considering the notorious want of, say systematic, management of the Great Western concern up to a late period, and the difficulties they have had to encounter up to the present day, I should not be surprised to see its receipts rise 20 per cent. in the course of two or three years, but an increase of 12 or 15 per cent. I think it reasonable to expect to see. Under these circumstances to accept a 5 per cent. permanent dividend in a stock standing very little above our own in point of precedence, would in my opinion be a sacrifice without justification or fair equivalent. But all this assumes that the Great Western have no special obligation or necessity to buy us, if it be possible for them to do so. The 6 per cent. stock, on which we have lately received our dividends, of which between sixteen and seventeen hundred thonsand is afloat, was originally intended to be a post preference stock, an,1 there is a clause in the Act creating it having existing rights and priorities. The Great Western authorities have hitherto said that they believed it would only get interest after the sectional preference had been paid—and the public have shared this idea. But they have overlooked the Vale of Neath Act of 1866, which was passed subsequent to the Act for the creation of the stock in question. The Vale of Neath requires and enjoins certain deductions from the gross receipts of the company before the balance to ascertain the net profits shall be struck. Oat of this balance the dividends on all the pre- ference, as well as ordinary stocks of the various sections have to be paid in their several priorities. But among the prior deductions are (par. 6, sec, 45) the interest on all moneys which are carried to the debit ot joint capital account. Under this head stands the 6 per cent. stock the interest upon it has therefore to be provided, as is shown iu the present ac- counts of the company, before one shilling can be appropriated to the net profits, out of which the preference dividends re- ferred to have to get their money. This point was admitted and argued at some length by Messrs. Singleton and Tatter- shall iu t!¡eir letter to the RailrvallTimelJ of March the 14th, but they did not seem to see that this priority of the 6 per cent. joint preference stock depends upon the maintenance of the form of accounts prescribed and enjoined by the Vale of Neath Act We cannot get rid of the necessity of maintaining the sectional accounts until we have purchased the Vale of Neath," said the chairman to the meeting last week. Nor, I add, can they avoid the liability 1 have pointed out till they are relieved of that necessity. Bay as up now at a fair and liberal price, and this liability will be quashed. The 6 per cent. stock will stand as it did before the Vale of Neath Act was passed, But if before such purchase a judicial decision should be given establishing the right of this stock to receive its dividends from the first joint receipts of the concern, before a shilling is allotted to any of the sec- tions, it appears to me very doubtful if a subsequent purchase of the Vale of Neath would wipe out the priority once so recognised, and there would then be a consequent necessity for the perpetual maintenance of those sectional accounts which the chairman is so wisely desirous to abolish. In such a case, I need hardly say that the present sectional preference holders will be sore at their supercession, and the board might be blamed for having issued a stock under a wrong denomination -say sovereigns for Napoleons. Now, looking to these diffi- culties if we are not bought, to the fair prospects of a 6 per cent. dividend and perhaps a higher one, to which I have shown that the Vale of Neath stock is at the present moment entitled to look; 1 think we should be most unwise to accept the present offer of the Great Western, and that if we decline it they will be unwise if they do not add 20 per cent to it, rather than leave us standing, as we are at present, a sp)ke in the centre of their machine.

MR. AND MRS. DISRAELI.-The Prime Minister and Mrs. Disraeli will arrive in London this day (Saturday), from Hughenden Manor, Bucks. SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL.,— From the last annual report it appears that the society now supports, wholly or in part, 483 ordained mis- sionaries, in 4u dioceses. They are thus distributed 248 in America and the West Indies, 73 in Africa, 107 in Asia, 54 in Australia and the Pacific, one in Europe. Thirty of these are native clergymen in India, there are also 650 cathechists and lay teachers, mostly natives, in heathen countries, and about 106 students in seven colleges abroad.

SOUTH WALES INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERS. A general meeting of the members of this Institute was held at the Town-hall, Cardiff, on Wednesday last. Alexander Bassett, Esq., C.E., in the absence of the President, R. Bedlington, Esq., presided. There were also present Messrs. D. Thomas, Cwmavon, andL. Brough, Her Majesty's Inspectors of Mines for Mon- mouthshire W. Adams, C.E., Cardiff; G. D. Steele, Newport; T. Wood, Mainly; John Cox, Caerleon; E. Brigdon, Dowlais; J. Forster Brown, Llantris- sant; G. Martin, Dowlais, C.E. The Chairman,' in opening the proceedings of the meeting, said he was sure they would all sympathise with him at the cause which had prevented their worthy President from being among them that day. Having suffered very recently a severe domestic afflic- tion, it was of course quite impossible that he should be present at this meeting, and they had to express their regret at the loss which had prevented his oc- cupying his position as President of the Institute. At the Council meeting held previous to the general meeting he (Mr. Bassett)had been asked to preside, and under the circumstances he had acquiesced in the re- quest. At the Council meeting another question was dis- cussed, and that was, that the list of members issued by them at their last meeting contained several inaccu- racies and it was suggested that these names should be revised and circulated among the members as soon as the list was carefully made out, and those members who bound their reports would perhaps refrain from doing so until they had received the corrected list from the secretary, -which would be issued as soon as possible. He had also to state that Mr. Moxham and Mr. James, the two members who had examined the voting papers, had reported that the following gentlemen had been unanimously elected: Messrs. Geo. Elliot, colliery proprietor, Houghton Hall, Durham; Evan Lewis, colliery proprietor, Tydraw, Aberdare; B. P. Bidder, mining engineer, Aberdare Fred. Wilmer, mining engineer, Aberdare Fred. Chas. Winby, engineer, Cardiff j David Morgan, mineral agent, Mountain Ash Tho.«. D. Jones, mining engineer, Uantrissaut; Charles L. Hunter, mechanical engineer, Tredegar Iron Works and Benjo. S. Fisher, locomotive superintendent, Sirhowy Railway. He had also to mention that the Council had decided that for the future the papers would be read first, and the discus- sion upon papers taken afterwards. Many gentlemen had provided papers, which from the length of the dis- cussions were, from the shortness of time, unable to be read, and therefore they had taken the trouble to at- tend, and perhaps put up drawings and diagrams, ex- plaining their papers to no purpose, and by the pro- posed plans he thought this would be avoided. MECHANICAL VENTILATION. The Chairman said the first business to occupy the meeting was the discussion of Mr. G. Cope Pearce's paper on ^Mechanical Ventilation. He regretted that Mr. Cope Pearce was unable to attend in consequence of the rejoicings which were being held at Cyfarthfa, owing to its being the birthday of the eldest son of Mr. Crawshay, and he should suggest that the discussion should be opened but adjourned to the next meeting, when very probably Mr. Cope Pearce would be present. Mr. Bedlington, the President, in a letter to him, had also expressed a wish to make some ob- servations upon the plan proposed by Mr. Pearce. Mr. Brough was however present, and would make some' remarks upon the paper which was read at the last meeting. Mr. Brough said that the subject of the ventilation of mines had occupied the attention of engineers for many years, and many calculations had been arrived at as to the best means to be employed to effect that object. One especial means had been adopted, and that was the furnace ventilation. No ventilation came so sweet and was in some respects so handy as that obtained by means of furnaces, but it was al- ways with a very great expense to the colliery pro- prietor, and it was a serious matter to request the colliery proprietor to sink a shaft solely for the ven- tilation of the pit at the cost probably of .£20,000, and in some cases of their deep pits the cost had been .£60,000. This was a large capital to lay aside for this purpose, and it had therefore occurred to engineers that ventilation could be obtained by means of machinery, and without the necessity of sinking a hot pit. Various plans had been adopted, and it had been found that a great saving of capital could be effected by the adoption of machinery for the purposes of ventilation. Mr. Brough then de- scribed the advantages attending Struve's ventila- tion by means of fans, a system which worked with great correctness and swiftness, and appeared to him the simplest in action, there being nothing to restrict the motive power. No tight pistons or cylinders which required increased power to move them, or loose cylinders and pistons which admitted of much leakage and of course great loss. There was no system so simple and so effective as the fan, and the cost of construction was considerably less than in all other systems. Mechanical ventilation had been brought into use very considerably within the last six or seven years, and it appeared to have been attended with very remarkable results, and the time would come when there would be a great increase in the mechanical appliances for the ventilation of mines. One point had hitherto been considered as a good test of the effectiveness of the system of venti- lation, and that was the depth of the water gauge, but he had seen a system in operation invented by a gentleman then present in which the water gauge was only one and a half inches deep. Mr.Wilkinson mentioned that he had been fitting up some of Struve's ventilators, and though they were not all completed, as far as they had gone with them the fans had worked most successfully. The further discussion of the paper was then ad- journed for the next meeting. PATENT FUEL. At the last meeting a paper was read by Mr. Alex- ander Bassett, of Cardiff, on the Manufacture of Patent Fuel, and was referred to the present meet- ing for discussion. Mr. Bassett opened the discus- sion by observing that it was somewhat extraordinary that they could not manufacture patent fuel as pro- fitably as the Belgians. He did not know what were the profits of many speculations that had been lately established in this line, but at any rate the manufac- ture of patent fuel was a very important question for their consideration. He then explained the pro- cess of manufacture of several blocks which were exhibited, and which were manufactured from differ- ent species of coal, and said he was glad to see some gentlemen present from the Forest of Dean, where they had begun to manufacture this article, and where, as far as he had seen, the machinery worked exceedingly well. Since he had written his paper he had had opportunities of going more minutely into the subject, and of making some calculation of the cost of making this fuel. If machinery were put up capable of making ten tons per hour, or one hun- dred tons a day, the total cost of labour of this would be £5 9s. 3d., or equal to Is. Id. per ton. Then if they took into account the wear and tear of the machinery required for this manufacture, ten per cent. of wear, tear, bad debts, rent, taxes, &c., it would cost 9d. per ton additional. The cost of muoi- lage, if obtained from potatoes, and potatoes were best, would be another Is. 3d., making a total of 3s. Id. per ton. In addition to this there would be 6d. per ton royalty, making the entire cost 3s. 7d. per ton in addition to the cost of coal, which varied somewhat considerably according to the locality, but which here might be put down at from 4s. to 5s. per ton and this was the total cost at which fuel could be manufactured and placed in the yard for hauling away. If the machinery erected was only capable of making 50 tons per day, then the cost of labour, &c., would be rather more. The cost of labour would be equal to Is. 4Jd. per ton The depreciation of ma- chinery, rates, taxes, &c., Is. per ton, mucilage, Is. 3d. per ton, which made the total cost, exclusive of roy- alty, 3s. 7id. per ton, the royalty making it 4s. ljd. The cost of the engine house, boiler, stove, and other matters, £886, the machinery JE830 this sum would vary according to the particular machinery employed; 100 iron wagons, £700, making a total of j63276. Mr. Cox said that Mr. Bassett had not included in his calculations the cost of washing the coal. He presumed that Mr. Bassett did not conclude that the fuel could be made from coal unwashed. Mr Bassett replied that there were some kinds of coal which were very dirty, and the fuel could not be made from it without its being washed. There were, however, other kinds of coal quite clean. Such coal as they obtained from the coal-tips at the Docks did not require washing; but Mr. Cox's remark was a very im- portant one, and had he written a paper on the cost he should certainly have considered the cost of waahin but he simply referred to the manufacture of patent fuel. At the next meeting this question could pos- sibly be answered satisfactorily, as Mr. Martin was engaged in fitting up a coal-washing apparatus at. Dowlais, where the process would be carried on very extensively. Mr. Cox said, including the waste of coal, which was equal to 15 per cent, the cost of washing coal was equal to Is. per ton. The cost of labour alone was 4d. per ton. Mr. W. Adams alluded to some experiments that had come under his own observation, by which the labour cost 3d. per ton. Mr. Bassett said no doubt the question of utilizing the small coal was a very important one. In London the cost of coal was 10s. per ton, besides the cost of wear and tear, &c., and the bricks of coal so made sold for domestic purposes at the rate of 28s. or 30s. per ton. Mr. Luckes, from the Forest of Dean Works, men- tioned some experiments they had tried in the manu- facture of this fuel, and one was the dipping of the block of fuel into petroleum, by which a large quantity of petroleum was absorbed. The block was then made waterproof, and a lighted candle passed over it without igniting. The block when broken burned with great brilliancy. He thought this would form a most important addition to the fuel employed for marine engines, provided means could be adopted for shipping it in safety. Mr. Adams promised by the next meeting to produce some statistics respecting the cost of the manufacture of the fuel, and also the additional cost of washing the coal. Mr. Martin also said that he should be prepared with some statistics from the Dowlais Works on the '1 .J: same subject, and the discussiop was consequently postponed. NEW PAPERS. After an adjournment of a quarter of an hour apaper was read by Mr. D. Da vies on the Self-acting Steam. striker," and also another paper by Mr. W. Fairley, on Overwindingi and how to prevent it." Both papers were full of technicalities, intelligible only to those in- timately connected with Mining operations. A third paper was Also read, on the "Assurance of the Lives of Miners and Colliers," by Mr. C. James. The writer of this paper entered into some interesting details, showing the inefficiency of the present system of relief, which depended solely on the spasmodic efforts put forth on the occasion of great calamities, as the disasters at Hartly and Ferndale, but the widow of the man who was killed in a pit by a fall of coal, or by some other aceident, involving only the loss of a few lives, was left entirely unprovided for. He then en. tered into some particulars as to the basis on which assuranoe associations for the colliers should be founded. He did not think the old associations would be viewed with favour by this class, who would not like to see their money sent to a head office at some distance, and the management to reside there. He also noticed the advantages of forming local associations, in which one class of miners could be associated together, as thefirry mines of the Rhondda Valley ought not to be classed with the comparatively safe ones of Mon- mouthshire, orifso, the colliers of the latter mines should be admitted at a lower rate, as the liability to accidents was less. He suggested the propriety of an Act of Parliament to enable the proprietor to deduct a certain sum from the wages of the colliers for this purpose. The owners of the pit and the workers of it were each also to contribute their share. He calculated that a rate of 2d in the pound would enable the survivors of those who were killed by mine accidents to receive .£100. Mr. James expressed a hope that at the next meeting the subject would be thoroughly ventilated. Mr. W. Jones, engineer, East Bute Dock, exhibited a very elegant model of a screw steam-ship; also two new steam boilers for deep and shallow vessels, a new kind of keel f6r iron vessels, and a paddle- wheel with stationary floats to avoid lifting back water. Mr. D. Davies exhibited a pretty model of a self-acting steam.striker, and some other models and diagrams were placed round the room. THE DINNER. At four o'clock the members and friends of the Institute dined together at the Assembly Rooms of the Royal Hotel. The chair was occupied by the chairman of the meeting, A. Bassett, Esq. The Mayor of Cardiff was unable through ill-health to attend, but the Corporation of Cardiff was repre- sented by Aldermen Alexander and Watkins, and the Town Clerk, G. Salmon, Esq. About 60 mem- bers sat down to an exoellent repast. On the removal of the cloth the usual loyal and patriotic toasts were given by the Chairman, and duly acknowledged. The toast of the Array, Navy, and Volunteers was responded to by Lieut. Evans. The "Coal and Iron Trade" was given by the Chairman, coupled wi £ h the name of Mr. James. Mn James responded, and alluded at some length to the fluctatiohs which had characterised both the coal and iron trade for some time. As for steam coal he thought Cardiff was assured of success in this particular trade, as they must have steam coal, and they could only obtain this in South Wales. He then alluded to the exports of iron .from Great Britain, and mentioned that the exports of iron from this country to France was far greater than the exports of iron to England from France and Belgium, and it had been remarked that though a certain quality of iron was sent out largely from the North of England, people must come to South Wales for the finished article, and also though for the last few years they had had a sharp competition with Bel- gium, the superiority of South Wales manufacture would eventually supersede others. He looked upon the future with a very cheerful face. Mr. Trotter, of the Forest of Dean, proposed pros- perity to the town and trade of Cardiff. Alderman Watkins responded on behalf of the Cor. poration, and after thanking the Institute for the honour of inviting him to partake of their hospitality, he alluded to the honour the town received when a body of scientific gentlemen like those which composed the South Wales Institute of Engineers held one of their meetings in it. He attributed to them a great deal of the wealth and prosperity of the district. Na- ture had given them stores of mineral, but it was the skill and science of those gentlemen that enabled them to turn those mineral resources into capital, and it was by their advice that large amounts were laid out, giving employment to the labouring classes and increasing in return the wealth of the neighbourhood. He was glad to find that the opinion of the South Wales En. gineers was that the coal resources would not be, as some -had anticipated, exhausted in a hundred years, but export as much as they would the coal deposits would last them for another tUouaaud years. He hoped they would repeat their visits to the town, and to induce them to do so they would widen their streets, put up additional lamps, or even endea- vour to supply them with pure water. He was glad to see that some of the South Wales engineers held a very high position, and that Lord Tredegar and Lord Bute did not go out of the district to find men to direct and advise them on some of their gigantic schemes for the increase of the prosperity of the district. He concluded by proposing the health of the President. The Chairman briefly acknowledged the toast, which was drnnk with acclamation, and regretted that the President, Mr. Bedlington, was not present at the meeting, but expressed a hope that he would be present at the next. The health of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Mines was also given, and responded to by Mr. Brough. Other toasts were also drunk, and the members separated, many of them having to leave by an early train..

BATHING AT PENARTH. TO THE EDITOR OF THE "GUARDIAN." SIR,—Some time in the autumn of last year the use of the bathing machines on Penarth beach was suddenly put a stop to, and it was reported that Mr. Bernard had given orders that they were not to be used again in consequence of some incivility on the part of the man and woman who kept them. Not hearing of any steps being taken in the matter to the end that they may be put on again, the machines having been a great boon to Penarth and its visitors, we feel sure that the Baroness Windsor would not have ordered them to be discontinued, and Mr. Bernard is a gentleman of too good sense to let the incivility of one person be the cause of very considerable loss to the inhabitants of Penarth, and a great inconvenience to those visitors who come here during the summer months almost entirely for the sake of the bathing.—I am, Sir, yours obediently, Penarth, April 8,1868. PROBONOPUBLICO.

NEW PIERS.—The elevations to the peerage recom- mended by Lord Derby prior to his retirement from office have been officially announced. Sir Brook Bridges, M.P. for East Kent, becomes Baron Fitzwalter Sir John Walsh, M.P. for Radnorshire, is transformed into Baron Ornathwaite; and Sir John Trollope, M.P. for South Lincolnshire, into Baron Kesteven. The same Gaaette also announces the elevation of the Rev. Wm. O'Neill to the peerage as Baron O'Neil. DUEL BETWEEN BABONS.—-A Paris paper says The resignation of Baron de Budberg, the Russian Am- bassador to the Court of the Tuileries, has been accepted. Yesterday a duel took place, with pistols, at Munich, between Baron Budberg and Baron Mayendorff. Baron Budberg was slightly wounded, and returns to Paris to-day." MR. SPEKE.—It is reported that the Rev. Mr. Speke has quite recovered from the unhealthy tone of mind with which he was recently afflicted, and to have had the permission of his medical advisers to resume the duties of his living at Dowlish Wake, near Ilminster. THE IRISH CHURCH.—A gentleman writing from the North of Ireland to a friend in London, says While fighting the battle of the Protestants in London you may wish to know something of the feelings of the Protestants in Ulster. They are full of indignation at Mr. Glad- stone's resolutions. We find it difficult to restrain them. The Presbyterians unite with the Churchmen in resisting. They say that more than once they preserved the connec- tion of Ireland with England, and that with the dises- tablishment of the Church in Ireland the union with England ceases. The Romish members are not blamed, but the.perfidy of England will never be forgotten." NOBLE DEEDS.—The Rev. William Jones, rector of Llancuddwyn, Carnarvonshire, reports as follows a dis- tressing shipwreck and the noble rescue of two persons. He says "A lamentable wreck occurred opposite my rectory some weeks since of the barque Wapella, from New Orleans. Eleven of the crew were lost, including Captain Orr; four were saved. Two able seamen clung in the best manner they could to one of the boats, which was upset the instant they entered it. Two others, a youth of 16 years of age, and a young woman, who was a passenger, were saved with difficulty, and entirely by the exertions of men on the shore. 1 wish particularly to call the attention of the National Lifeboat Institution to the rescue of the boy. A man in this parish went into the water up to his neck to meet him, and just grasped him before he finally sank. He carried him home on his shoulders, a distance of about a mile and a half, and so administered to his wants as to effect his complete re- storation. The boy, who is a native of New Orleans, is so attached to him, that he won't leave his house, de- claring that he has been as a father to him. He is afraid of crossing a river, and declares that he never will go to sea again. We have here close to us St. Patrick's Cause- way, and I understand that the Wapella had struck upon that dangerous reef before she came on shore. There were several people engaged in doing some service, be- sides the man of whom I write. The young woman would have been taken out to sea by the recession of a mighty wave had not a person who was in the sea snatched her, in an insensible state, and brought her on shore." The collector of customs adds that John Jones and Robert James acted a very prominent part in saving the girl passenger, as when brought ashore she was auite lifeless, and was considered so for a long while, but through great attention and perseverance, especially on the part of John Jones, she was ultimately restored, and in about two hours was in a fit state to be removed in a car to a public-house about two miles off, being one of the nearest houses to the place. The National Lifeboat Institution has granted a liberal reward to the three brave men for their highly meritorious services in saving the lad and the poor woman from death.

CARDIFF BOARD OF GUARDIANS. The weekly meeting of this Board was held on Satur- day E. W. David, Esq., in the chair. There were also present Drs. Paine and Taylor Alderman Pride, the Revs. T.H.Jones, W. Evans, V. Saulez, and H. J. Thomas Messrs. J. Bird, P. Bird, R. Cory. J. Evaus, E. Davies, T. Goddard, C. French, W. Ainsley, T. Williams, Eli Evans, S. Marks, &c. THE WORKHOUSE AND SCHOOLS. The Master of the Workhouse reported that during the week 38 paupers had been admitted and 58 dis- charged, leaving 346 in the house, being an increase of 9 on the corresponding week of last year. The Master of the Industrial Schools reported the number of chil- dren at that institution to be 345, being an increase of 37 on the corresponding week of last year. Mr. Graves, the Poor Law Inspector, had visited the Schools during the week, and had also on Sunday at- tended divine service at Llandaff Cathedral. He called the attention of the Guardians to the conduct of the boys from the Industrial School on Sunday, who at- tended divine service at the Cathedral. Some of them had not apparently been taught when to kneel and when to stand during the service and the school- master being in front, the children were not as orderly as might be desired. The Master of the Industrial School said that one half of the boys at the school, when attending service on Sundays at the Cathedral, had nothing to kneel upon, except the flags which formed the floor of the nave. The Master of the schools also stated that he sat in the midst of the children, and not in the front, as stated by Mr. Graves. Mr. Bird Was it from Mr. Graves's own observation that he made this report ? The Chairman No, some person directed his atten- tion to the conduct of the children. I think we should make some communication to the Dean, to get some boards put down for them to kneel upon. The Master One half of the seats are loose chairs and the least movement of the children causes a noise to be made by them. The subject then dropped. THE BIRTH IN THE STREET. (.' [ The Clerk mentioned that Mr. Graves came to his office during the week, and stated that the Poor Law Board were deliberating what steps they should take with regard to the case of Ann Arnott. He asked of him (the clerk) some further questions, and also re- quired that the statement made by the woman before the Board, the names of the witnesses to be examined, and a plan of the streets through which she had passed from the police station to the street where the confinement took place, should be provided. If the matter was to become a Poor Law Board inquiry, he (the Clerk) thought it was very desirable that the Guardians should furnish the list of persons to be examined as witnesses. The Chairman Mr. Wride has some communication to make on this matter. Mr. Wride said that he was very sorry at what had occurred in reference to this case, and he would pro- mise the Board that it should not occur again. The Chairman You mean that you are sorry that you did not give more attention to the case, and you promise that that will not occur again ?—Mr. Wride Yes, sir Dr. Paine said he was aware that there were often cases of imposition, and that circumstance to some ex- tent hardened the relieving officer, but there were cir- cumstances in this case that would have indicated to him what state the woman was in. He (Dr. Paine) hoped for the future that some discretion would be exercised, and was satisfied with the explanation and the promise that Mr. Wride had given. The Chairman: The great fault of Mr. Wride was that he did not make proper inquiries of her to ascer- tain the state she was in. Such questions as were necessary were not asked. Mr. P. Bird considered if Mr. Wride had done that after her first application to him he would have done all that was necessary, and the case would not have occurred. He judged from the application of the in- spector for the plan of the streets, and the list of witnesses, that the Poor Law Board did not intend to go into the matter, and he was very glad that Dr. Paine had done what he had, and showed that he in- tended to let the matter drop, and he hoped that Mr. Wride would be much more careful for the future. Mr. E. Evans complained of the construction of the relieving office. The officer was so boxed off that he could hardly see the applicants. The Rev. W. Evans asked what reference the present discussion had to the proceedings before the Poo Law Board. The Chairman The desire of the Guardians will be communicated to the Poor Law Board, and my impres- sion is that they will not consider it necessary to pro- ceed any further in the matter. Dr. Paine considered it better to adopt a resolution, That the apology and the promise made by Mr. Wride satisfied the Board, and that they were not desirous that the matter should proceed any further" (hear, hear). Mr. E. Evans As a member of the Committee I beg to second the proposition. Mr. Cory hoped that this would be a lesson to Mr. Wride to be lenient in his ways, and to recollect when a. criminal was tried by a. jury they always gave him the benefit of a doubt. He then alluded to a case that had come under his notice that week, where a girl had been seduced out of the House by another girl who had come to visit her, and she had after- wards applied to Mr. Wride for an order for admis- sion into the House, but he had refused to hear her statement, and shut the door in her face. Mr. Wride: She was an able-bodied woman, and quite capable of getting her own living. The Chairman: I think he was wrong in not hear- ing her statement. Mr. Cory: She said he slammed the door in her face. Mr. Wride said it was false, and that he had given her some food, and produced his relief-book showing that he had done so, and that he had also made some inquiries into her case. He asked what he was to do, as on the following day Mr. Cory sent him a note requesting him to give the young woman an order for admission into the House. He did so on receipt of this note, but he did not on the first application, as she was a single woman and quite able to maintain herself. Mr. J. Bird: You exercised a very proper discretion. The Chairman: If he had done what the girl said he did he would have been to blame. Mr. Wride: The same girl has left the house this morning. If she comes to me to-night for another order for admission, what am I to do ?—Mr. J. Bird: Give her into custody. Mr. Wride: What for P—As a rogue and vagabond. The Chairman: She has been an inmate of this House before, and I have the surgeon's certificate stating that she was discharged cured of a certain disease only a short time ago. Dr. Paine considered there was no way of relieving the officer from the due discharge of his duties) and felt that they might almost be disposed to blame the Board in this matter for having issued an. order almost prohibiting him from giving an order for admission into the House. He apprehended that the instructions of the Poor La. Board were, that the mere fact of applying for relief was to be regarded as an ipso facto sign of destitution, and that the relieving officer should give an order for admission into the Hoose. If these were not the instructions to the relieving officers, the Guardians were quite right in not giving these orders, bot at all events he was of opinion that some little hesitation should be exercised before issuing these orders to their relieving: officers. The Rev. T. H. Jones The Workhouse is- regarded as the test of destitution. Mr. J. Bird said they must carry out the lMv, but he- thought it was never intended that persons might come in and go out of the Workhouse day after- day, week after week, and month after month. The Chairman •- The boose was never intended fÐr able-bodied men and women, and I do not think she was one that required to be sent here. Dr. Paine There is the labour test, which can be ap- plied in the House by the Master, and that is the test of destitution, as each can be required to do a certain amount of work. This was the proof which the Poor Law Board instructed to be exercisedt as the test of destitution, amd you cannot refuse an oader for admis- sion into the House when persons are destitute. The Chairman: Not so; the relieving officer must exercise his discretion, and this is constantly done. The subject then dropped. A PAUPER'S COMPLAINT. Dr. Taylor called the attention of the Board to a re- port of a case in THE CARDIFF AND MERTHYB GUARDIAN of that morning. The case was that of a statement of a woman named Sarah Waddleton, of Treforest, and reflected on the conduct of tbe officers of the House. Perhaps he said as they were present they could give some explanation of it. The Rev. H. J. Thomas said that case was fully in- vestigated in the next room, and the matron was called in, and also the porter and afterwards the Master. It was quite true that the woman made a very loud com- plaint against the officers. One of her complaints was that she was not allowed to clothe her infant with her own flannel, or some calico which she seemed very anxious to wrap her child in. Mr. Saulez was present when the woman made tfle charge, and so was Mr. Jones. She came down to Pentyrch on Mon- day last, and asked him (Mr. Thomas) if he was present when she was sent out of the Board-room. He had told her that he was not aware that she had been sent out, but she said she was, and that she intended to put a paragraph in the paper. That was the history of this case. The Chairman: Have you read the paragraph 1 The Rev. T. H. Jones The case was disposed of in the other room. The Clerk: My attention was drawn to the para- graph by Mr. Graves, and I should recommend that the paragraph be read, as some further inquiries may be made. < Mr. J. Bird It is anonymous, it is not signed, and it is no complaint to us. The Clerk It will give Mr. John the opportunity of replying to it. Mrs. Leyshon was called into the room, and the paragraph read by the Clerk as it appeared in our district news under the head of Pontypridd," from our own correspondent. The Rev. T. H. Jones The only complaint that was then brought, was that she was not allowed to use her own flannel. The Rev. H. J. Thomas: There was an additional complaint, and that was that she had been ill-treated by one of the officers, whether male or female I cannot say. Mr. P. Bird How did the paragraph appear in the paper ? Mr. J. Bird Never mind that, it is for us to deter. mine what steps we are to take in the matter. The Rev. W. Evans How long was it after she ap. peared before the Board before she left the house ? The Rev. T. H. Jones Three weeks. Mr. Thos. Williams No, five or six weeks. Dr. Taylor She left the house on the 16th of March according to Mr. J ohn's discharge book. The Rev. W. Evans: The child died on the 1st of March. The Chairman There does not appear to be any charge made by her against the officers from the time she appeared before the Board till the time she left the House. The Rev. H J. Thomas We investigated the case for an hour, and I can only say that she appeared to us by her manner more like a maniac. The Rev. T. H. Jones She made her statement in a very incoherent manner. The Rev. V. Saulez observed that the Guardians considered her statement in all particulars very unsatisfactory. Mr. Eli Evans said there were one or two circum- stances that looked somewhat dark and one or two features in the case that told in her favour. She said she had some flannel of her own which she wished to use, but which was refused by Mrs. Leyshon as they were short of flannel in the House, and she did not under- stand that the woman had flannel of her own; and the next circumstance was that though an inhabitant of the neighbourhood she was sent to the Refuge. It was also elicited from her that she was a woman of a violent temper, and she had at the time a severe black eye. The Chairman: Did you think thas the charges brought by her were founded on fact ?—Mr. French: Mrs. Leyshon denied them. The Rev. V. Saulez: She said nothing about her child or the want of medicine. Dr. Taylor: In the medical officer's book there are no entries of the sickness of the child or its death. Mr. E. Evans said she had made no formal com- plaint to the Board. If she had any complaint to make, let her come before the Board and make it. It was useless to come to any decision upon a paragraph that appeared in a paper. The Rev. T. H. Jones Having gone so far in the case, let us hear what Mr. John and Mrs. Leyshon have to say. The Chairman: I should like to ask Mr. John and Mrs. Leyshon if they were ever insolent to the woman ? The Master: I never spoke half a dozen words to the woman while she was in the House. The Chairman: Well, they might have been what she refers to. Did you, Mrs. Leyshon ?—Mrs. Leyshon: No, sir. The Master: I never heard of this complaint before. The Rev. H. J. Thomas: Yes, you did. The Chairman: He means respecting the child and the medicine. The Master I have heard the matron complain of her treatment to her own child. The Matron said she had frequently complained tOo the woman of her neglect of her child. A boil was forming in the back of the child's neck which required fomenting, and this she frequently neglected and she treated the child in such a manner that she (the matron) had often directed some of the other women in the house to take charge of it, as she did not consider the mother was a proper person to take charge of the child. She did not appear to be of sound mind. She ran away two or three times to Liaoilterae. The Chairman Did you ever threaten to beat the woman ?—The Matron No, sir, certainly not. Mr. E. Evans I have just asked the porter, and he says the woman could have beaten four or five officers. She was a regular pugilist. The Master explained the reason of her leaving the Hojjse was in consequence of her having received a let. ter from a relative. The Chairman did not think there was- any occasion to pursue the matter any further, and the subject then dropped. THE COOK OF THE WORKHOUSE. There were five applicant* for the office of cook, and the Clerk was requested to write to them and request their attendance at the Board on the following Satur- day. The question of accepting the tenders for the enlarge. meut of the Workhouse was- also adjourned till the following Tuesday. This terminated the public business.

ADJOURNED MEETING. An adjourned meeting was held at the Town-hall, on Tuesday, E. W. David, Esq., in the chair. There were also present Dr. Taylor, the Rev. V. Sanies Alderman Pride, Messrs. J. Bird, P. Bird, and Eli Evans. The meeting was held for the purpose of accepting the sureties of Mr. Jeffries as one of the builders who had tendered for the erection of the new wing and the proposed enlargement of the Workhouse. Mr. Jeffries, however, sent a note stating his inability to complete the necessary arrangements, and withdrew his tender. The Rev. V. Saulez suggested that the question should be postponed until after the assembling of the new Board, as he understood that a gentleman- practically acquainted with such matters had been returned as a member, and if his opinion was obtained it might be found that the work could be done undec the sum already sent in by the contractors. The Chairman said the only object in the delay would be to allow the gentleman to go through the plans and specifications, with a view to lessen the cost of the work. Mr. J. Bird thought there-might be something as re- garded quantities. The Chairman suggested that the plans- should be given to Mr. D. Jones and, in company with Mr. Bernard,, he should get out: the quantities- and report to the Board for what sum the work could be done. Dr. Taylor approved of the suggestion. Mr. Jones was a thoroughly practical man, and at the same time one on whom they could rely with confidence. He would! tell them honestly the actual cost of the work and by so doing he believed a considerable saving would be effected. M'1!; E. Evans: I think so* The Chairman: We shall then see our way clear, and we shall not have any after questions.. The suggestion was adopted unanimously. A discussion on an order made by the Board that the medical officer of the Workhouse should write his prescriptions on the card over patients as well as the date of his visits. To this Mr. Edwards,, the Clerk said, objected. The Rev. V. Saulez: It is done at the Infirmary. Dr. Taylor: Each medieal officer has a book con- taining them, and I think Mr. Edwards might be re- quested to keep something similar. The Chairman: Probably he would not object to entering them in a book, but he might not like to hang the- prescriptions up in the ward. Mr. Pnide considered that if they had not confidence in their medical officer they had better request him to resign. The Chairman approved of Dr. Taylor's suggestion, that a book should be kept, as it would be the duty of medical gentlemen who were Guardians to point out to the Board any glaring cases of impropriety, and this would enable them to do so. I No order was madey the question was adjourned, and the meeting separated.

THE IRISH CHURCBL TO THE EDEBOR OF THE &UARDIAN." SUB,—Clergymen and others desirous of having lectures or handbills, &c., or willing to give lectures defensive of the rightful claims of the Irish branch of the Reformed Church, should apply at once to W- Holgate, Esq., Church Institution, 25, Parlia- ment-street, London.—I am, Sir, yours, &c., J. RICHARDSON. Bromley, Kent, April 13th, 1888.

THE ROYAL VISIT TO WALKS.—The visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales to one of the principal towns of North Wales shall take place on the return of their royal highnesses from Ireland,-en route for London. It is the desire of the High Sheriff of Carnarvonshire, and those acting in concert with him, that the demon- stration on the occasion of the royal visit shall be a national one, and with this object a committee has been formed comprising the lords lieutenants, the high sheriffs, and the magistrates of the counties, and the mayors and corporations of the towns of North Wales. This committee has met at Rhyl to. arrange the details of the reception, and to draw up an address which will be presented to the Prince of Wales in the name of the Welsh nation.. All the towns and com- munities being included in this address, the trouble of receiving and replying to a series of corporate addresses will be spared to their royal highnesses. Bangor was the town first named as the place of reception, but the peculiar claim of Carnarvon, as being the birthplace of the first Prince of Wales, has been recognised, and subject to the approval of the Prince, the address of the Welsh people will be presented to him in Carnarvon Castle. THE LORD CHANCELLOR.—Lord Cairns held his first reception on Wednesday. Her Majesty's judges proceeded from Westminster to his lordship's residence in procession, and there was a large attendance of Queen's Counsel and other members of the bar. CURB OP SPITTING OB BLOOD AND COXSCMPTIVB Couan BY DR. LOCOCK'S PULMONIC WAFKBS.— Mr Napier, Chemist, South-street, Exeter, writes, Nov. 18, 1867. Elizabeth Linford, a^e 48, 14, Paragon-place, Exeter, has been for a long time afflicted with disease of the lungs. She has been under three doctors, who declared her incurable. She had a continual distressing cough, with spitting of blood. She has taken only three boxes of Wafers, and her spitting of blood has quite ceased, and the cough is so decidedly better that she is very seldom disturbed at night." Dr. Locook's Wafers give instant relief to asthma, consumption, coughs, colds, and all disorders of the breath and lungs. To Singers and Public Speakers they are invaluable for clearing and strengthening the voice, and have a pleasant taste. Pric* b. Hd., and 2s. 9d. per box. Sold by all Druggists. ("2044