Evening Express

METEOROLOGICAL NOTES. I [ SOUTH WALES TIDE TABLE. j +J (s 3 « S 2 yj & C, SJ £ fiS p J M < £ 23 c Q CTj *25 S T, RMOMI^ 10 30 T36JL0~30 47 9 46 IT;EVENNG 10 50 9 G5 10 49 10 8 10 9 "(HEIGHT 32 4 29 4 32 :0 5? 0 2i P Wedues ('Jlomi g 11 II 10 1? 11 1' '0 30 10 31 dav Evenng 11 34 10 41 11 35 '0 55 10 51 Mar.'14 CHei-ht .'9 9 27 30 3 50 6 1° 6 Tlmrs- c'Morniita' — 11 il — 11 26 11 26 dav < Evening 12 1 11 51 12 5 -— — Mar. 15 (.Heiprbr. 2b 11 25 1 27 5 28 8 lb 10 f Morning 12 40 — 12 45 12 G 12 0 Friday < Evening 1 28 12 35 1 29 12 5" 12 50 Mar. :6 '^Heialit 25 4 23 9 25 0 21 0 16 0 ;atu_r- i JMorn'ng 2 25 To 2 20 1 47 1 34 dav i E vejiing 3 19 2 lc 3 9 2 48 2 31 Mar. 17 (Height 26 4 24 9 26 10 28 0 16 0 „ (Morni'g 4 11 3 2 3 56 3 26 3 10 ^"U,a,^ Evening 4 52 3 42 4 36 4 2 3 57 Mar. '8^llel £ rlu- 29 27 4 29 8 29 7 17 6 ,r /'Morni'g 5 27 4 17 5 11 4 33 4 vs2 ',0!ulV„h;veni'; 5 57 4 =-8 5 42 5 1 5 7 Mar. W|Heig}lt 32 5 29 10 33 11 31 9 21 0 K<.iM?ti Basin tEast, Dock Sill tAlexaudrM. Dock SDock Sill

B AliO M E TRIO AL INDICATIONS. Appended is a chart of the barometrical readings for the 48 hours ended Mondav midnight, as regis- tered at the Western Mail Office, Cardiff. The instrument is 33ft. above sea level.

WEATHER FORECAST. YWSTJSKDAT'S FOUUCAST. YESTKRDAY'S WKATHKR. Wind backing to south- Westerly & s'th-westerly westerly or southerly winds, strong heavy again, force uncertain at showers. present changeable some rain. The forecast of the waatber tbrougiiont tbeWestof l-ngrhirid slid South Wales forto-dav (Tuesday) is as follows -.—North-westerly winds, stronger; gale in yla-tes squally showery. ■

TEMPERATURE AND RAINFALL. T. MFKRATUBI. HAINFAl-L. UATI;. lyjas. |Min. Mean. Tuesday j 6 59 t 42 50-5 0 62 Wednesday.? 59 37 48'0 oloo Thursday i8 59 38 43'5 0'50 t'i-idav 9 59 § 0 16 iaturd&y 10 ^2 44 5i'o 0 26 Suudav Ill 59 59 1 49'5 0 00 Monday 12 40^ 38 46'5 0T9 The Temperature represents extreme rea.dmers of the thermoinei"er for 24 hours ended 9 a.m., taken in the sbacle at Cwrt-y-Vil, Teuarth. The Rainfall registered at Cwrt-y-Vil, Penarth, for the 24 hoars ended 9 a.m.

HUNTING APPOINTMENTS. FOXHOUNDS. CAitMARTHKNSHiRE.—Tuesday, March 13, Trelech Church Friday, March 16, Pontantwn Bridge—10.30. Weather permitting. GI,AMOR«ANSMIUK.—Wednesday, March 14, Syca- more Tree Friday, Maren 16, Porthkerry Lodge—11. LLANGIBBY.—Friday, March 16, Catsash—10.30. LLANHARAN.—Friday, March 16, Llanharan Village -11. M'OSMOI;THSHIBE.—Thursday, March 15, Three Salmons, Graig—11. 15,Llether—11. MR. SEYMOUXT ALI.KK'S.Tuesday, March 13, Boslieston; Friday, March 16, Llauvalteg Bridge Monday, March 19, Yerbeston Gate Thursday, March 22, f.langolman—12. TtvYSU)E.- Thursda.y, March 15, Cilgerran—10.45. I'STKAU.—1Tuesday, March 13, Bwllfa, Ton—9. -l1it.d. -A. U

LLANDAFF CATHEDRAL SERVICES. Tuesday, March 13.-Brooksbauk in E flat; hymn, 278. Wednesday, March 14.—Cook in G; antbein, Give peace (Callcott). Thursday, March 15.— Ebdon in C hymn, 284. Friday, March 16.-Russell in A; anthem, Bow Thine ear" (Byrde). Saturday, March 17.—Gadsby m t; anthem "Hosanna" (Macfarren). )y

NOTE ,8. By "OBSERVER." CARDIFF, TUESDAY MORNING, 'Twas merry in hall when beards wagged all," sang an old rhymster; but, though there was much wagging of beards and opening and shutting of Natural nut-crackers at the town council yesterday, there was nothing particularly merry about the pro- ceedings, which were procrastinated to a most extraordinary length, to the infinite disgust of the listeners. Many subjects of varied importance were tackled, some shuffled with, others "advanced a stage," and one or two settled. The ques- tion of the salaries of the stipendiary and the magistrates' clerk was dealt with in a liberal spirit, and the public will not expect to hear any more upon the subject for a very long time to come. The Town-hall site question was, of course, nibbled at, the council play- ing battledore and shuttlecock with the committee. Meanwhile the public are naturally wondering how long this kind of thing is likely to continue. It is now 1894. In another six years the century will have flown is the nineteenth century to see a new Town-hall for Cardiff or not P Some councillors did not show to advan- tagc in the squabble over the Royal wed- ding business. Indeed, the whole matter is b about as paltry as it can be, and betrays the mean spirit and narrow-mindedness which animates some of our rulers. In this matter they remind one of nothing so much as the petty spirits who adorn the county councils in some of the rural districts, amd who only sit at all to show their fierce hatred of all recognised law and order and forms of things. The removal of the St. Mary-street cab shelter to Westgate-street will be hailed with general satisfaction. Anything that tends to obstruct the first-mentioned thoroughfare is reprehensible, without con- sidering the appearance of the street at all, and when the latter is considered the case for the shelter becomes more hopeless than before. And whilst the shelter is feeing re- moved, the authorities might very well con- sult the cabmens' wishes as to the direction in which it ought to be fixed, and such other small details. Our friend Jarvey has to use the shelter, and this being the case it is only fair that he should be consulted on the sub- ject. Cardiff is increasing at a great rate. Since the last meeting plans for no less than 170 houses have been submitted, thus breaking the record. Giving five persons to a house, this means an increase of population in a month of 800 or 900 souls, or in a year, say, 10,OOO-no bad rate of progress. Of course, this rapid development gives much room for the jerry-builder, who should be watched more closely than ever. It is very certain that the present occasional prosecutions are by no means in proportion to the offenccs com- mitted by this pest of society. General regret will be felt in and around Swansea at the death of Miss Grenfell. She did noble work in her time, and her memory will long be cherished as a philanthropist and social worker whose devotion burned brightly to the end. Miss Grenfell was a splendid example of what a brave, true- hearted woman can do. There are many iuch at work around us, yet though the larv est is plenteous the labourers ire all toe 'ew. Less talkers and busybodies all are wanted, and more workers of the type of Miss Grenfell. Sir James Stephen will be remembered in Wales for the part he took in connection with several very interesting cases. He vas a square man, if I may use the term— square in body and in head. His massive face told of the great mind and the strong soul within. I was present when he passed the death sentence upon the felon Bees. It was a solemn moment, and it was easy to see that no one felt it more than this stout Englishman, who spoke with an emotion that was vividly genuine. Rees himself was stolid but when the position was explained to him in the vernacular he broke down, and who could blame him ? A brother of Sir James Stephen, but very unlike him in general appearance, is Mr. Leslie Stephen, the eminent literary man who is immortalised as editor of the great "Dictionary of National Biography," which commenced a dozen years ago, is still issuing from the Press. The Welsh biographies in this monumental work are prepared with special care, and I would refer as an instance to that of St. David. The authors of the articles are also given in every instance. Let us hope that amid the broil of dis- establishment and other internal problems neither the new Premier nor the Govern- ment, nor their supporters, will forget for an instant the supremacy of England. I have but little sympathy with tinkering politicians, but I can forgive even a Eadicaj Administration much that it does amiss, if only it keep the Navy strong and maintain the national defences in accordance with the proud traditions of the past. The Queen's Speech assures the country of "full and adequate provision for the defence of the Empire." Let us hope that deeds will follow these words of encouragement and hope. The Rev. Mr. Davie s claims that he has not been quite correctly reported over the Park Hall business. Nevertheless, by his own confession to one of our reporters, he appears to entertain but a hazy impression of Christian duty in general. lie is much annoyed because the Park-hall services have drawn away some of his young people from Sunday-school. If the said young people gave up the Sunday-school without taking on any other religious service he might not unreasonably grumble; but as they had only gone to the Park-hall meetings, which are admittedly good and Christian, his com- plaint sounds very singular, to say the least of it. Possibly the solution of the difficulty points (as a promoter of the Park-hall meet- ings has very sensibly observed) to the need that exists for a revision of Sunday-school methods and practices. Even the Sunday- school, much as it may astonish the Rev. Mr. Davies, is by no means what it ought to be, and I would like to ask, for example, in what proportion of classes the Bible is conscien- tiously studied and athletics discussed. This is no random shot of mine: I know precisely what I am talking about, and could publish names and facts that would some- what astonish the religious public. It would then be seen that to go from the Park-hall meetings to the Sunday-school would be much more nearly a retrograde step. Complaints reach me of the regular irregu- larity of some of the Rhymney trains. Will it be believed that last Saturday evening a train took twenty minutes to travel from Llanishen to Cardiff ? Three miles in twenty minutes! Admirable! Why it almost beats the canal. Now this particular train was ten minutes late reaching Llanishen, and half an hour or thereabouts behind time at Cardiff. Judge of the disgust of the passengers, many of whom had appointments to keep. The cause of the delay was a mineral train on the metals. Any sensible official would have shunted the said train at Llanishen for the passenger train to pass, but that very simple solution does not appear to have occurred to the guileless lihymney officials. St. Mary's Parish Church, Swansea, was lit up by electricity for the first time on Sunday last. There is (says a local paper) something peculiarly instructive about the innovation, and as the large congregations who worshipped there looked at the" new illuminant," and then glanced around at the ancient fabric which had passed through so many generations, they must have perforce reflected for a moment upon the advances made by civilisation, especially in science and wondered however their old ancestors could have managed with the tamper and the candle. There were, in all, five large arc lights and twenty small incandescent lamps, the chancel appropriating one of the former and seven of the latter. The whole interior was most brilliantly illuminated, and the lights on the whole were fairly steady. The installation will remain intact, except that there will be four additional incandescent lamps provided for another two Sundays, when collections on behalf of the building fund of the proposed new church will be ft C3I1 up.

SIX MEN HANGED AT ONCE. Transvaal papers just received report a truly barbaric scene at Pretoria. Six coloured man recently convicted of participation in a murder on Witwatersrand were hanged at Pretoria Gaol in the presence of about 150 persons, besides officials and journalists. The six men were marched to the scaffold together at six o'clock in the morning1, and were pinioned by the hangman three at a tinie. As soon as the death struggles of the first batch had ceased the other three were hanged.

Corn Averages. The following is an official statement showing the quantities sold and the average price of British corn, imperial measure, as received from the inspectors and officers of Excise, con- formably to the Act of the 45th and 46th Vict., cap. 37, in the week ended March 10. 1894 :— Quantities sold. Average price, Qrs. Bus. s. d. Wheat 49,179 1 24 3 Barley 29,21b 3 27 0 Oats 17,032 4 18 4 Comparative statement for the corresponding week in each year :— Wheat. Average. Barley. Average. Oats Av'rge. Qrs. Bus. o. d. Qrs. Bus. s. d Qrs. Bus. s. cl. 1890 .85,710 7 29 It 40,327 1 30 8 1/,67j 7 18 6 1891 66,445 3 33 2 67,147 5 27 9 1.^04 2 18 6 1892: :.b9,700 3 32 11 57,305 3 27 11 is, 0^3 4 20 2 1893 54,055 1 25 0 56,140 2 25 2 16,o37 7 13 1 øP'

SEE 0 em PRESENTATION COUPON ON PAGE 4.

m! Resources of Queensland. This (Tuesday) evenly the Hon. M. Hume Black (special agent to the Queensland Govern- ment) will deliver an address at the x own-hall, Cardiff, on The Besources and Prospects of Queensland, with a View to the Extension of Trade between that Colony and the Mother Country." The mayor (Councillor W. J. Trounce) will preside. The address will be illustrated by limelight views or Colonial life and industries.

The annual meeting in connection with the Bedwas Cricket Club was- held at the White Hart Init an Monday

Notes from London. V ALL THE GOSSIP OF TOWN AND CLUBS. Phe Opening of Pariiamenl- Tom EIH& Feels the Cares of Office— New Bills. v-f As a function, the opening of Parliameft^ was deprived of one of its most important 'j ] and interesting figures. Mr. Speaker was < not there. By the irony of fate he had been 1 laid up with a severe cold on the eve of the session. When Black Rod. advancing with measured tread through the lobby, struck his customary three blows on the closed door of the House and delivered his message to the faithful Commons, he came back with Mr. Meilor, clad in evening dress, instead of Mr. Speaker in the flowing robes of his office. MR. TOM ELLIS FEELS THE CARES OF OFFICE. Members came early and in large numbers. The first arrival was at half-past six in the morning. When the House met at two o'clock there were still a number of seats unoccupied. Incidents were few and un- interesting'. Mr. Alpheus Morton, thought- lessly marching in front of the Mace with his hat on, was promptly called to order. Mr. Tom Ellis, the new Whip, was an object of great concern as he held an animated conference with Mr. Laboucliere, to whom Sir Charles Dilke presently joined himself on the floor of the House. The conference lasted fifteen minutes or thereabouts, with such interruptions as were caused by a constant stream of members coming up to congratulate and shake hands with the new Whip. The congratulations, indeed, must have been a sensible relief to Mr. Ellis. Already the cares of onic-o have set their mark 011 him and already his brow is puckered—a friend of the hon. gentleman assured me that he counted six new lines of care when the House came together for business at four o'clock. RECEPTION OF THE NEW LEADER. A warm cheer was raised for Sir William George Granville Venables Vernon Harcourt as that simple-minded Commoner entered the House and took his seat as leader on the Treasury Bench, but his reception was nothing to the tremendous demonstration that greeted the entry of Mr. Balfour. THE NEW BILLS. The crux of the situation was when Ministers gave their notices of Government Bills. Sir William Harcourt led off with the Reform Bill. Mr. Secretary Asquith came next with Welsh disestablishment. Then viped up Mr. John Morley with his Evicted Tenants Bill. The fourth notice was over- whelmed under a storm of derisive laughter. It was Sir William Harcourt's Local Option Bill. Of other notices the most interest- ing thing to notice was that Mr. Burt is to be the introducer of the New Mines Bill. This quite a new departure, as mines are associated with the Home Office, and Mr. Burt is at the Board of Trade. MB. BALFOUR ON THE "CHANGE OF FIRM." Exquisitely tactful was Mr. Balfour's way of dealing with the mover and seconder of the Address. He gently rallied Mr. Warner on his deviation from accustomed practice, and, with brimming' humour, he pointed out that both speeches might have been more properly delivered on an amendment to the Address than on the Address itself. A sincere and brilliantly simple tribute to Mr. Glad- stone led up to a clever debating speech. It sparkled with smart, phrases, enforcing his belief that the change of Government would cause no change in policy. "The name of the firm is changed, but business is carried on as usual," said Mr. Balfour. His sallies were rapturously cheered. THE NEW LEADER IN TEARS. The funereal whine Sir Wni. Harcourt adopted in speaking of Mr. Gladstone sat ill on him. It gave an impression of insincerity which I am sure was ill deserved. Even Sir William's tears failed to convince the House; he had fallen into a sermonising style which he was unable to shake off. Only towards the end of his speech he dropped into his old colloquial style. This was in appealing for the aid of the House to enable the Government to get business through before the end of the financial year. OFF TO BRIGHTON. Though purely chance work, it is a significant coincidence that Mr. Gladstone should have left London for Brighton this morning simultaneously with the formal taking over of the leadership by Lord Rosebery. Brighton air is Mr. Gladstone's favourite tonic. Nevertheless, I cannot think he has been well advised to seek health at Brighton now. It is a murderous place in spring. The east wind cuts like a knife, and doctors generally warn their patients away from Brighten while it is being ravaged by the desiccating east winds. Some friends of mine who braved the Brighton breezes have just come back to town suffering from severe bronchial colds. They were deeply grateful for the superior climate of London when they got back here. MR. THEOBALD'S DEATH. The terrible death of Mr. Theobald, the member for Romford, has been talked of everywhere with entire sympathy and regret. Mr. Theobald is not the first M.P. who has been killed while attempting to get into a moving train. There was the case of Sir Francis Goldsmidt, uncle of the present Sir Julian Goldsmidt, and for many years mem- ber for Reading. He was crushed between platform and train at Waterloo, and from his injuries he died. Only four years ago Mr. Beckett, the famous Leeds banker and M.P., was knocked over and cut to pieces" while walking on the railway in Dorsetshire. Almost the first railway acci- dent happened to an M.P., and a great statesman as well, to wit, Mr. William Huskisson, President of the Board of Trade and Secretary to the Colonies, who was killed at the opening of the Liverpool and Man- chester Railway, 64 years ago. Mr. Huskis- son's death was the first revelation the public had of the awful possibilities, as well as the splendid potentialities, of railway- locomotion. THE DUTIES OF A WHIP. Reverting to the duties of a Whip and Patronage Secretary, it is an astonishing fact that gentlemen of birth and social position can be found to fill the post. The Junior Whips' duties are not only onerous, but irksome. They sit or stand in the outer lobby of the House from half-past three to half-past twelve at nig'ht, and they ask every member who passes where he is going, whether he is paired, and when he will be back. If he is not paired they have either to find a pair for him or to prevent him from passing out by coaxing or threats, the former for preference. When their party are in these gentlemen have to attend their office from eleven to three. Their hours of duty are, therefore, from eleven a.m. to twelve p.m., or thirteen hours, with intervals for lunch and dinner, and this they do for JS 1,000 a year. When their party are out they do it, minus their office work, for nothing. In addition to keeping an eye on his juniors, the chief Whip, who has £2,000 a year, deals with the members on their more touchy side. It is he who practically distributes ribbons and titles, and sees that cards of invitation are sent to this man and that—that no one is given undue preference: a delicate duty which requires much tact and skill. Mr. Tom Ellis is popular, and that goes a great way he has tact, and that goes farther. At present he lacks experience, but that will come. ELECTRIC CARTS. Electricity has at length made its appear- ance as a running power in our streets. Nothing has come of the electric omnibus, from which so much was hoped. I remeni- ber two years ago the vehicle being brought round to Palace Yard for Par- liamentarians to inspect. Since then I have not seen or heard anything of the electric omnibus. Coming down to the commonplace, however, there is running in our streets an electric parcels van. In appearance it is simply a light parcels van on four wheels. The odd thing is that there are no shafts, as, of course, there are no horses. But the absence of shafts gives it a reckless, swashbuckling, go-as-you-please aspect. There is no fuss or ostentatious display. It runs gently and smoothly, and is apparently under perfect control. It is amusing to see .the interest tha karses take in it. They under perfect control. It is amusing to see the interest the. karses take in it. They ;t 1ave not grasped the meaning of the small iriving-wheel at the side, and as it skims past them they blink at it in undisguised Astonishment that a thing on wheels can run without horses. VALUED AT £ 10,000. I attended to-day the private view of M. Philippoteaux's masterpiece, "Christ enter- ing Jerusalem" at Niagara-hall. The canvas of this great work, which I am told took four years to complete, measures 30ft. by 20ft. it contains over 60 figures, and the value is estimated at £ 10,000. The sub- ject is a familiar one, but, strange to say, it is an incident in the life of Christ which has rarely been portrayed by artists, ancient or modern. Experts regard the work as the finest this famous Frenchman has yet pro- duced. It is certainly a most impressive painting, embodies much thought, and should prove a great source of attraction to Niagara- hall, Westminster. 0

MISS MARY GRENFELL. Death of the Swansea Philanthro- pist. Our Swansea correspondent telegraphs :—It was reported at Swansea on Monday that Miss Mary Grenfell is dead. Amongst those who heard the report the utmost regret and grief was expressed. Miss Grenfell was the leader in nearly all philanthropic movements by the ladies in Swansea for some years past- Miss Grenfell, who was a sister of Mrs. Llewel lyn, of Baglan, was the eldest representative in Swansea of a family which has maintained the highest esteem and respect of the inhahi. tants for years, and which has been con- nected with the great copper industry during' a long period. The male representatives of the family, who hare long since left the family demesne at Maesteg House St. Thomas, are too well known to need more than mention. The names of General Grenfell, late Sirdar of the Egyptian forces, and of Mr. Arthur Grenfell, brothers of the deeased lady, are familiar to all. Miss Grenfell was the daughter of Mr. Pascoe St. Leger Grenfell. one of the copper kings of Swansea. He came to Swansea and took the Middle Bank Copper works when they were at a low ebb, and brought them to a great height of prosperity. It is less than a couple of years ago that they left the hands of the family, after long and important operations in Swansea. Mr. Pascoe Grenfell had several children, who were brought up at Maesteg House, but for sonio years only Miss Mary Grenfell and Miss Kate Grenfell (her cousin) have resided there. The two ladies, especially the deceased, have devoted themselves to philanthropic and religious work. Miss Grenfell devoted great attention to the day schools, established and to a great extent maintained by the family, at St. Thomas, Pentrechwyth. and Kilvey. Another object in which she took very special interest wag the Young Women's Christian Association. She established the Bible Class and Social Club in Grove-place for the use of policemen, railway- men, and postmen. She always attended their meetings, reading- portions of Scripture and addressing the men and very often their wives. She repeatedly entertained the members of the police force at Maesteg House, and once a year a sort of garden parry was g'iven by her to police, railway, and post men. Bnl; these were her apecialities every good object found in her a worthy supporter. She was a staunch Churchwoman and did much to popularise the Church in St. Thomas. The laying of the foundation stone of St. Thomas's Church saw the Grenfell family well represented, the atona being laid by the chief representative of the family. Miss Grenfell's loss will be very keenly felt by the clerarv, and by all who have to carry on philanthropic vork in Swansea.

CARDIFF COUNCILLORS. The Artists Busy at Yesterday's Corpora- tion Meeting. Councillor Lewis thinks it impossible to please everybody. Councillor Brain: --Eve.n the cabmen them- selves t-wear at it. Councillor Goode knows nothing about it.

The Portsea Sensation. The post-mortem shows that the wife of Dr. MaJcolm Stace, who was found dead under mysterious circumstances on Sunday at Portsea., died from natural causes.

Gossip of Old Gwalia. \f A COLUMN OF PARS ON PER- SONS AND PLACES. News Notes of the Principality and Chatty Items of Interest and Instruction. "Poe.tr,v will never die, Mys Mr. Lewia Morris. But poete will, and herein (says 7he "Evening News and l'o"t") lies a deal of con- solation for editors and critics. It is suggested that if the Cardiff Corpora- tiÚll placed wheels under the new cab sheltRr in St: Mary-street some money could be made by letting the thing out for school pio-mcs. Mr. Prank Harries, die editor of the "Fort., nightly Review, is the son of a poor Welsh non-commissioned omcer in charge of a revenue cutter at Tenby. He is rich, and lives in Park- lane. "J am not going to «peak—I will simply say this, was the somewhat paradoxical remark of Councillor Morgan Morgan at yesterday's council meeting at Cardiff, and even Coun- cillur Good smiled. Welsh names are becoming common in lists of Roman Catholics. In this gear's list of baptisms at Cardiff we notice the names of Catherine Evans, Elizabeth Davies, Thomas C. Lewis, Helena Hopkins, Harriet Jenkins, aud Herbert Be<t;v;H1. A strange and sad coincidence has just occurred ill a well-k)1own residential street in Swansea. Two business men, living- next door to each other, were both stricken with fite of 1Jaralysis whilst at hù&iness, aud within a day or two of each other, aud both have sinoe died. Here is something new. The "Tyst" saye Mr. Alfred Davies would be justified in eon. testing Mertliyr in order that one of its mem- bers at least might be a Nonconformist. We understood that Mr. D. A. Thomas was a full-blown Dissenter, but the Tyst" oughi to know. Religion is becoming as expentJive as law. Our Welsh contemporary the" Goleuad states that when the students of Aberystwith College asked an eminent London preacher to favour them with a sermon he replied that he was prepared to comply with their request, but that they must first send him a cheque for £100. Councillor Ramsdale yesterday objected to the formation of a new road" and footpaths committee on the ground that, as the public works committee had devised and were carry- ing out a scheme for the improvement of the streets, the new committee would plume itself ill the feathers of the public works committee. They were talking yesterday about altering the time of the council meetings at Cardiff from eleven o'clock- a.m. to seven o'clock, p.m., when CL)ullcil1or Johnston suggj2,gted that such a change would bring aldermen and councillors out into the town at night, and would be revsponsible for breaking up many happy homes. Lord Swansea's head gardener, Mr. Camp- bell. who made himself a celebrity at many local shows, was entertained by his brother Scotsmen at a dinner at the Bovega, Swansea, on Friday night, on the occasion of his leaving Singleton. He was presented with a beautiful stick. The Campbells are just as much appre- ciated in going as in coming! What was the good of making Monmouth- sliire a Welsh county when the natives won't talk Welsh? The following paragraph appears in the org an of the Calvinistic Methodists for this week :—" From this time forth the service in the Rock Chapel. Blackwood, will be con- ducted in English, and it was resolved on Sun- day night that notices should be sent to the ministers of the proposed change." Sir John Jones Jenkins and Lady Jenkins, and Mrs. D. L. Thomas, of Swansea, are stay- ing at the Manor House Hotel in "the Para- dise of the Midlands, as the Shakspearian watering place has been described. Learning- ton has become a, very fashionable spa town for Ameriean visitors. It will be remembered that it was at this place that the Rev. Dr. Saunders stayed previous to his death at Pen- arth. "There are two councillors who are of opinion said Councillor John Jenkins at yesterday's council meeting, when he was iu- terrupted by Councillor Johnston, who called out "Name. Councillor Jenkins looked indig- nantly at his colleague, and said he failed to see the propriety of Mr. Johnston saying Amen. A roar of laughter followed, and it was only after some trouble that Councillor Jenkins was induced to believe that he had not heard distinctly. A deputation of merchants waited upon Cardiff County Council yesterday with refe- rence to the re-laying of the roadway near Messrs. Cory's offices in Bute-street with wood blocks to deaden the sound, and Mr. Moxey mentioned that Alderman Daniel Lewis could liear testimony to the noise in the street, as one day he came down there on a philanthropies mission, and was promised in his (Mr. Moxey s) room a donation; but as he bad: not called for it, he (Mr. Moxey) presumed he had not heard the promise ruatie there, The character of the debates in the Cardiff Council Chamber is improving. Councillor A ndrews, replying to an interruption of a colleague who dissented from him, delivered himself of the following repartee:—"You may not agree with me—I don't expect you to aigree with lllP, and, what's more, I don't care whether you agree with me or not. Coun- cillor Grossman, on the other hand, talked of educated men "being anchored out m the sea of life, while those who have employment are being sunk below the Pliuisoll line of bh,m1' Alderman Daniel Lewis tells a tale of an e.x-Wesleyan preacher of Haverfordwest who gave up the pulpit for what he considered the more profcteble avocation of atietioneer. One day a man entered his auction-rooms in.l observed. "1 believe you are MI". "I am, sir," said the auctioneer. "And you wer» once a Wesleyatii preacher," continued t-he wag. "1 was, sjr," replied the auctioneer. "Why did you give up preaching, may I in- quire ?" proceeded the wag. "Well, you see, sir," said the auctioneer, with an air of affected innocence, "I found I could make mora repenteres by auctioneering." Our contemporary was cock-a-hoop ovei something yesterday. The Tory prophets, it said, "have at last discovered bhat they prophesied falsely, and are grievously eba. grined and irritated at the utter and ludicrous failure of Ittll their very confident predictions." It isn't very ciear to what this refers, but wa will give another comment which the same paper contained last month. "Last week. said our contemporary, the Pali MaH Gazette tried to swell the boom with an in- wntive story of Mr. Gladstone's immediate resignation, but the tale was too incredibly silly to find credence even in Tory circles where a glimmering of political intelligence remains." Well, there are prophets and prophds Writing of the sensitiveness of th.r- Celt to English opinion, the St. James's Gazette 1 says that there could hardly be a more strik- ing instance than the effect on our Celtic studies of Matthew- Arnold's essay on "Celtic Literature." It was hardly until an English critic of repute spoke a word for Celtic liwra- ture that these fervid Celts took heart of grace to study it for themselves. And Arnold, to do him justice, made no pretence of knowing anything of the subject: of his many touch- and-go utterances this is one of the flims;est.. taken as it was in the main directly from Renan. Arnold's attitude had one very fruit- ful result-the foundation of the Celtic Chai" at Oxford. There, indeed, is the real strength of the Celtic ilenaseence, the immense advance made in recent years in Celtic scholarship." During the recent strike, when coals wer* dear, many a Welsh dame had reason to blestf the culm-pits of Freystrop. near Haverford- west. Few people outside Wales have heard of this fuel, which is so cheap that the winter supply is usually laid in by the wagon-load, at the rate of about 5s. a load. It iss a blao14 powdery substance, looking something liko tine ooa.1dust, which burns with an intense heat and a bluish flame, like coke. It is always moulded-^vith clay into balls before using, antj ball-making ie a regular trade. The ball- maker calls at the cottages when wanted, and heaps the culm in the ball-house into a ring. Then he autoS up pieces of clay, and throws them into the middle, with just enough water to make the whole into a stiff paste when mixed and ready for moulding. If for ordi- nary use, the balls require careful placing .tn. start the fire, but a spadeful banked on top1, will keep it in the whole night, ready for t-b*) JIXIami,.u:l'. auhn uwin«l«kum aiawlw.