Evening Express

lt]IS JIOXJIO{TTH BOnOrGJls. klt. E. M. UNDERDOWN, Q..C., AT NEWPORT. An enthusiastic meeting of (Conservative elec- j •ors was held at the Board Schools, Barnard- own, Newport, on Friday evening. and was ldrlrtised by Mr. E. M. Underdowii, Q.C., the ^or servative candidate for the Monmouth 'troughs. There y as a very large audience, uij osed i-hietK of working itieii, and when IIr Cnderdo,vn entered the room, accompanied Colonel C. T. Wallis, Mr. W. Clifford t'hiJJip, Mr. T. Ivewsick, and others, he was ^■orded a flattering ovation.—Mr. W. C. hillips presided, and, in opening the proceed- lIg". said they were proud to have Mr. Under- lr-wn as their candidate, and they would be Prouder still when he beca:ne their member. 'Applause.) Mr. Cnderdown, having extended a cordial Welcome t.) a few Liberals who were present, referred to the state of trade in the country, 'here had been a protracted frost, but the diffi- culties of trade, finance, and commerce had held b:l¿ country in their grip for more than three Yfar". Fa!-hpitfro!nhimt<)<f)yth:i.tEnf."ht.n() "u; losing her position, but he would be a bold frian who would say that she was not in great -anger of doing so. (Applause.) And the Question required the (!T.IY!t consideration. Re would not deal with the causes of the de- Piession, but he thought the Government should ^pk out some means by which they should be hrot-eoted against the foreigner when he im- properly and unjustly deprived them of the fruits of their labour. He advised those present not to use foreign articles unless they were aWifr,tely obliged to, and proceeded to ,tv that en tlte present Government was not sufficiently ^trrng. not sufficiently experienced, and not rOinposed of the proper persona to direct the ^'■l trv's affair* through these troubled time, 'Applnr.se.) It was .necessary. in order to ^•aintain peace and commerce, to have a deter- mined front position, and proper management of their foreign affairs. The speaker f>xpress**rl hnr."p]f in n clear and trenchant ma.nner upon the disestablishment of the Welsh Church, and then referral to the question of taxation. No Nation, lie «aid. was good which attacked ra.pital or t}¡p nfvtmiulatiou of property in a Person's hands, but they were entitled to se" that the contributions of every man in the rountrv were properly regulated. He Ih:1+ there wa« no real contest between bho11r and capital, for neither one could live without tll" other. (Applause.) I pon the proportion of Colonel Wallis, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Air. Under- nowii.

son AT, AND PEKSOXiL INTERESTING PARS. ABOUT IN- TERESTING PEOPLE. The Earl of Dunraven is letter. Acoorduig to r«n American <(wnteni;oorarv, the clergyman with the strangest nntme on '"ecofd is a min:ster of the Prwb^-teri-i 11 fChurch, in the State of New York, named tllP ~R.pv. Eucre Paradise. A lady masseur h:I," written to the secretary of the Speaker of the TToose of Commons sup- (Jeetiug that, in addition to the batlw which have recently been erected, "massage, being a great recuperative agent to the nervous ystom after a great mental strain following a long debate," should be added. Tlie Queen, who is expected at N'«• Oil the istil of March, will (a Paris correspondent Kays) drive to the hotel at Oimiez by the Avenue de la Gare. Boulevarrl Duboufhage. ^id Boulevard dt": Cimiez. Tlie nutthoritim have hinsl at Villa. d'Auvart, ivav the con- ""11'. lodfr:ng for 25 sohlier- and a lieutenant, ^vho will remain at Cimiez during the Queen's ^Tr. "\V. S Caine. M.P., etlls an amusing fjory. r, hon. nwnilwr follows the pirin- ^1pl(«s tn.id down by T)r..Taegier, and believes lJl the trnspel of wool. During one contest 11(J W: informed that his canvassers were tiii-alile to cumnce a certain rough working TV1*1- Mr. Caine asked theni to tr>* and get ^,r"i to one of the meeting*. He wa« given a rear the platform, aiul parly in his AT,- Cnine olnerved Ill{> Was making r'r>ns:r!<i ,t. impression upon the recaloitrant }ot<r. i^nu'luded thtf the must !•»> foillow- th" right lino of argument. But he soon oisrvn-^rpd tht it. was not elonuenoe that was ^j'^finng this elector round, for. in a loud i:.spcr, which was heard all around him. i'nan said to his neighbour. "T shall vote K 07 fchat fellow, he doesn't wear oufFs."

Llantwit Riot Cases THE II EAR IX G AT THE POLICE-COURT. Three Men Sent to Prison and a Magistrate Appeals for Adjournment. At Llantrisant Police-court on Friday the ("vses against the Llantwit strikers for alleged assault and intimidation were heard, the magis- trates on the bench being the Stipendiary, Mr. E. John, Mr. P. Dunn, and Mr. E. H. Davie". Mr. J. E. Spickett appea.re<l for the prosecution, Mr. James Phillips defended some of the men. and Mr. G. Maelor Evans (instructed by Mr. Ben Da,vies, agent of the Miners' Federation) defended others The court was crowded, and great interest was taken in the proceeding's. AN APPEAL FOR ADJOURNMENT. In the tirst ca.se Mr. Maelor Evans applied for an adjournment, a.s he had only been instructed that morning, and would have to leave home early. The Stipendiary said the court had met for business, and he thought, they should go on with some evidence, at any i-ate. Mr. Blandy Jenkins, J.P., who sat with the magistrates on the. bench, here rose, and, speak- ing to the court, said he waoil the county councillor for that. district, and he heard there was a good deal of feeling in this matter. He was not going to take pan in adjudicating upon these cases, and would. therefore, now 'take the oppor- tunity of suggesting that it would be very ad- visable if an adjournment of these cases were to take place, and then it was to be hoped a better sentiment would prevail, and lie hoped the men would see that it was for their benefit that. while the cases stood adjourned there should be no further row. He did not think it would be a good thing to take evidence, except sufficient for an adjournment, and he appealed to the stipendiary to take that course. Mr. Spickett remarked that he was instructed that when a similar suggestion was made and carried out, and the men actually agreed to arbitration, they afterwards game out and re- fused the arbitration The Stipendiary said 1¡r. Philhp-, s client had elected to be tried by jury, and he thought they should take depositions, and then. after a re- mand, if terms could be arranged, of course the prosecution could be dropped. if both sides had applied for an adjournment the court would have consented. CHARGES OF INTIMIDATION. Evidence was then called. Thomas Jenkins, haulier, Llantwit Vardre. was summoned for intimidation on Sunday week at the Ystradbarwig Colliery. Mr. James Phillips defended.—James Williams, engine- man, said he heard a noise on the road-liooting and shouting. He went to the pit top and saw Thomas Jenkins, who said they all ought to lie shot. There were only three men 011 the work —John Davies, George Page, and himself. He told Jenkins he ought to go away.—No further evidence being adduced, this case was dismissed. A further charge against Jenkins for inti- midating George Page. boilerman, was also dismissed for want. of evidence.Mr. Phillips asked for costs, but they were refused. The charge against William Thomas for in- timidation was al.-o dismissed, the only witne.-s for the prosecution, Edwin Bowen, Bryn Cot-I tage, Dyhewid. Llantwit. declaring that no threats were used and ht:, was not frightened. A charge of as-saulr against the saULe defen- dant was then proceeded with. the allegation being th:!t he pushed the prosecutor when le was standing to speak, but this case was also dismissed. ASSAULT ON THE POLICE. Samuel Williams and William Rees were then "harmed with assaulting Police-constable David Davies. Mr. Maelor Evans defended. Prosecutor said that on Wednesday he heard a great noise proceeding from the Ystradbarwig Colliery. Witness and another constable went through a field. and to the colliery incline. He saw William Rees, Hichard Harry (who was not charged), and Mr. Taylor. Mr. Taylor complained of heiug- assaulted by Rees. His hand was bleeding, and he said he had lieen struck on the head by Rees. The colliers were coming up from the Ystradbarwig Colliery. They were 30 or 40 yards nearer the colliery. Witness and Police-constable Milton Davies saw a gang of men with sticks and stones in their hands coming down the incline to meet them, so they (the con- stables) escorted the colliers towards the station. Samuel Williams, who had a stick in hiti hand, was one of the foremost, and in the row that ensued he "aw Samuel Williams take hold of one man by the throat and heard him say, "I will give you coming down here to work. You had better get back." Witness warned him not to get into trouble. William. who was the worse for drink, said lie was a better man than witness, and pushed the witness away across the rails. Near the railway station witness caught hold of Williams bv the arm and said. "Come on this way, Sam." He refused, and struck witness. Police-constable Milton Davies assisted, and then William Ree-s came forward and struck him- Alfred Jones came on and struck Police-constable Milton Davies. Others assaulted witness afterwards, and he had a warm five minutes, but he could only identify those two. IT p saw Williams stride sewrsl cf the colliers on the way to the station, and w.i.s pursuing the colliers going to the train. Witness had to draw his staff there and use it.—Williams: ] should think you ".lirl. although T -ro-ed the railway at your request quietly. Cross-exaniineH by Mr. Maelor Evan- "Alien attacked there were :1. dozen at him, and lie had come from the battle without a sear upon him. He staffed the men when they ru-hed at him. They were being nearly over- powered. In re-exainination. witness said the police and the workmen were severely assaulted, and lie diil nothing except advise the people to he quiet. Blood was flowing freely at the time. I. Police-constable Milton Da vie; a constable stationed at Llantw;t-\ardre, oor-olx>rated the pvidence of the previous witness, but added that Alfred Jones jumped upon his (witness's) had". str1101, ";111 in tTie face, and tried to trip him. Henry Nicholis, l aii-MHer, the next witness, said some of the crowd he saw were stripped to the waist and in fighting attitude. Cross-examined: He denied that Mr. Taylor tirst attacked the men. or that the police drew their staves before being assaulted. Robert Gregory, collier, of Trallwn. Ponty- pridd, stated that he and others were subjected to very rough treatment, even his boy. aged seventeen, being brutaliy struck on the face. The police endeavoured to persuade the men to desist-. Witness was struck by Alfred Jones. Tn his opinion, the police did not use their stave-s a minute too soon, as they were about to he over ixiwered. Charles Cousins, -^ho --as next called, corro- borated. and added that he was himself struck over the eye. by a man named W. Taylor. Before deciding th-i« case- the charge against Alfred Jones of assaulting Poliae-constable ATilton Davies wan taken. The constable described the assault, which hid been referred to in his previous evidence, and said others had struck him from behind "like madmen." Therf were eight or nine men :«ttacking him and the other constable, so they had to draw their truncheons. Cross-examined by Air. Evans; They were overpowered to a certain extent before they drew their staves. Mr. Maelor Evans then addressed the court. and called Oliver JenK;US, ° young maTi, who said he was standing in Thomas Lewis's field close to the incline, and saw these men on the level crossing. Mr. Taylors men came up the incline, but van Iwck when they saw the other men. Air. Taylor took hold of William Rees Dy the back of the neck and then the police came up. Cross-examined He went into the field bemuse he heard the row. David Griffiths, builder. Llantwit Yardre. sa-id he was standing :!t the door of his house with a friend, and in consequence of what that frend mid, he went towards the station. On th" platform he saw Williams quietly walk- across the line after the policemen. Then ihe policeman put. his hand on Williams, and there was a. bit of a scuffle. Somebody tried to free Wilbam-s. Sto-ief were titrown. and the police struck out indiscriminately. A'fred Jones was struck down insensible. Then, after oeRling with others, the policeman went back and struck the insensible man six or seven times on the head. (Hisses.) Cross-examined by Mr. Spickett: He. had 110 animosity towanls Messrs. Taylor and Evans. the proprietors of the r-nlliery. on account of a.n action they had had between them. The Stipendiary: Is there any evidence that there is only one mark on Jones's head, because if it is so thi* man ought to be com- mitted for perjury. Mr. Spick"tt I say there is only one mark. Mr. 1Iae-1or Evans: I hear the doctor said yest(Tday that his head was in a fearful state Police-constable Dasid Davies. re-called, said he examined Joncs'.s head at the Pontypridd Police-station, and found only one scar at the back of his head. The prisoner .Tfmp. (showing his bare arm) And two or three on my arms, besides- bumps. The Rev. J. Jenkins, vicar of Llaaitwit- Vardre, said he knew the three defendants, and they were, generally speaking, quiet fellows. m far as he knew. THE DECISION. The Stipendiary said these ca^as had nothing to do with intimidation. It might be that Mr. Taylor and his party wore mure 01' less ref<pon. sible for this riot. The police interfered on the side of order, and neither side had any right to hustle or knock them about. Two of the defendants attacked one policeman and another attacked the other, and there was a combined attack upon the police, in which they were obliged to draw their staves and protect their lives. Williams would, therefore, lie .sent to prison for a month's hard labour, and the other two to three weeks'. The remaining anti- niidation eases would be adjourned for a fort- night. -Air. Spickett opposed bail. as the workmen would not go down next day if these men were at large. The Stipendiary: If there i" any attack upon the police you must apply further, and we will issue warrants for the apprehension of the men. Mr. Blandy Jenkins 1 don't think there is much tu fear. I hope >ou will admit them to substantial bail. The Stipendiary We will take bail iu sums of £10 each. "r two sureties of £5 each. Great excitement- prevailed outside the court after the adjournment.

YESTE it DAY'S PARLIAMEST. PROCEEDINGS IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS. HOUSE OF LORDS.—FRIDAY. The Lord Chancellor took his seat on the Woolsack at a quarter past four o'clock. GOVERNMENT AND THE UNEMPLOYED. The Marquess of SALISBUR Y presented a petition from the Corporation of West Ham representing that the duty of finding employ- ment for the unemployed was one which should be undertaken by the State, and that the time had arrived for Parliament to deal effectually with the matter. The House adjourned at half-past four o'clock •

HOUSE OF COM MONS.-FRID.H. The Speaker took the chair at three o'clock. LONDON WATER BILLS. Considerable, time was occupied with the discussion of the Lambeth Water Bill, which was ultimately read a second time, a6 was also the Southwark and Vauxhall Water (Transfer) Bill. A QUESTION OF ORDER. MR. CHAMBERLAIN'S ABSTEN- TION. THE VOTE ON THE "INDIAN DUTIES." Mr. BRUNNER (L., Northwich) then rose to a point of order. Ho f;:a,id I de8ire to know, Mr. Speaker, whether the Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain voted in last night's division on the motion of Sir Henry James, the member for Bury, as to the cotton duties \\1,( ther Mr. Chamberlain desirtXl to pass out of the door facing the chair after the outer door was locked, and whether IJle Serjeant-at-Arms refused to allow him to do bo? (Ministerial cheers.) I am informed, sir, that Mr. Cham- berlain was in his place when the question was put. and, if I am right in the statements sug- gested in this question, it only remains for mo to a^k whether, under the circumstances, the right hon. gentleman ought not to have re- corded his vote. (Clieirs and ironical counter cheers and laughter.) Mr. DIAMOND ( N., Monaghan) a.sked if the Speaker was aware that several Irish Nationalist members were uuliued and -sus- pended en February 3, 1881, because, liaving heard the question .put, they refused to vote. (Laughter.) 1t was desirable to have the ruling of the Chair, so that members might know whether, although they might not openly refuse to vote, they might yet escape by a. subterfuge by playing a game of hide-and-seek with die officials of the House. (Loud laughter.) Mr. CHAMBERLAIN Perhaps I may be allowed to say 1 did not hear the question put. I was not in the House. The SPEAKER, who was still suffering from the effects of a cold, and whose voice was at timf-S almost inaudible in the Pi ess Gallery, said it was too late to bring the conduct of the right hon. gentle- man before the House that day. The question should have been brought to his notice immediately after the division on Thursday. (Hear, hear.) Therefore, the matter on which his opinioll was asked had not arisen in leference to the question raised by the hon. member (Air. Diamond), He wae sorry that the hon. member had referred to a matter so painful as that was. He was not the Speaker of the House at the time, but he remembered very well the circum- stances. The Irish members then present were asked to leave the House, in order to go into the lobby to vote. They declined to lo so, and the Speaker of that day, declaring tliat that had occurred before-, ruled—lie hardly liked to use th0 expression now-that there was au apiJearance 01{ coi 11umaciousness in their C'Onduct, aml that, therefore, they were tr:1-I18gres"illg the rules of the House. Tliat was an entirely different matter, MMt he did not think it bad any Per- tinence or analogy to the matter before tfce House. (Opposition cheers.) Mr. BRUNNER, amid some interruption, quoted a long extract from Sir Erskine Alay's book haarinK ott the subject, and submitted that, as Mr. Cilamberlain did not retire to any of the rooms outside the House before the ques- tion was put, lw was bound to vote. The SPEAKER Wtih reference to the right hon. gentleman, the question does not arise. I cannot go into the conduct of the right hon. gentleman yesterday. (Cheers.) The general rule has been that all members who are within the folding doors and have heard the question put either the first or second time a.re bound to go into the lobby and vote. Members could not always hror the question put., hecause of the size of the House and the imperfect means of hearing. But though, as a general rule, it might be Rtated that members who did hear the question put, or were within the folding doors, ought to go into the lobby to vote, they need not go into the lobby and vote. (Laughter.) The hon. member (Mr. Brunner) has alluded to the rooms behind this chair. Sir Henry Drummond Wolff, when a member of this House, on one occasion called the attention of the Speaker to the fact that several members of the Treasury Beuch had deliberately left their seats on a division being called and went into a room behind the chair after the lobby doors had been closed by the Serjeant-at-Arms, and did not appear in either of the lobbies. The result of that appeal was that the Speaker said they Here entitled to withdraw, and that he did not ;now that it was absolutely imperative that they should vote. (Cheers and laughter.) Mr. BRUNNER: I desiie, sir, to be known as a member of the House who will always pay respect to yct), and, therefore. I wish to add that it was impossible for me until the division list came into my hands this morning to know the right hon. gentleman had not votod. The incident then closed. OIL FUEL IN THE NAVY. Mr. ROBERTSON (Lord of the Admiralty), in answer to Mr. Gibson Bowles (C.. King's Lynn), said information had been received at the Admiralty as to the use of oil fuel in foreign navies. The substitution of oil fuel for coal would not in the opinion of the advisers of the Admiralty, treble, or even double, the fuel enduraj.ee. of a vessel. The last experi- inents in relation to this subject were made in 1889. It- was not at present proposed to carry out any further experiments of a similar kind. The present opinion of the Admiralty v -.w that coal was to be preferied to oil fuel on her Majesty's ships. COLONIAL QUESTIONS. Questions were put to the Government relat- ing to the ixisition of affairs in the basin of the Upper Nile. Mr. M'LAREN (L., Crewe) rose to call attention to the desirability of extending the Parliamentary franchise to women, and to move that no person should be disqualified from exercising the Parliamentary franchise on the ground of sex. The SPEAKER said there were two Bill", on the paper, one in the name of the right hon. gentleman the member for the Forest of Dean, and the other in the name of the hon. mem- ber for Rotherhithe, on the question of the en- franchisement of women. Under these cir- cun'svances it would be transgressing the rules if the hon member were to anticipate the dis- cussions on these measures. (Henr. hear.) VOLUNTARY SCHOOLS. Mr. HARRY FOSTER (1. Lowestoft) was moving a resolution in reference to volun- tary schools, when attention w:ts called to the fact that there were not 40 members present, and as, when the Speaker proceeded to count, only fourteen were found to be in attendance, The House adjourned at five minutes past eight o'clock.

FATALITY AT GOWERTON. On Friday evening a terrible accident occurred at Waunarlwydd juxta. Swansea. Amelia, Letitia Williams, the three-year-old daughter of William Williams, a collier, living at Lamb and Flag-ti rrl1"c, was run over by a cart, the property of Mr. Fred Bradford, wine and spirit merchant, Swansea, which was being driven along the roa,Jway by R boy, accompanied by two men. The unfortunate little girl was picked up and conveyed to her parents' resi- dence, and Dr. Davies, Gowerton, summoned. On arrival he declared life extinct, and stated that death was almost instantaneous.

The Welsh Coal Trade POSITION OF THE SLIDIXG- SCALE. Allegations by Mr. David Morgan-- The Secretary Produces Facts in Contradiction. 'BY OUR MINING CORRESPONDENT. 1 '1 he long-delayed negotiations for in attempt to revise the sliding-scale are at last fairly on foot. and we may expect some busi- ness to he transacted to-day. but the situa- tion has not yet become sufficiently 0ritical to arouse full interest in the proceedings. It is strange that these periodieal revisions of the scale never take place except under the shadow of a crisis," and yet, fortunately. the crisis never comes. There can be no ques- tion that when the notices to terminate the existing scale were given gloomy forebodings were indulged in. and the strike of the hauliers was frequently cited as an indication of the manner in which the dissatisfaction of the men with their wages would find vent. Indeed, "'total abolition of the scale"' was very often heard of as a rallying cry. But as time wore on.. the desire for another attempt at a revi- sion became more genera], and the fact that the hauliers themselves, through their agent (Mr. Morgan Thomas. of Rocking-tone fame). now put forth a claim for representation on the sliding-scale committee is suggestive of an opportunity to improve rather than abolish the scale it-self. Still, it must not be sup- posed that any kind of patehing-up will do. The low wages and widespread distress of these days may make men more silent, but it will only make the men's representatives more firlll in their demand for an adjustment of the wa.ge regulator, and, notwithstanding the little friction caused by the taunts of Mr. n. Morgan, the conciliatory spirit which, on tin- whole, prevailed at Thursday's meeting, shows that both sides are beginning to ''mean busi- ness. The points raised are not new, and form three of the noted "four points" about which so much was said and written in connection with previous revisions. The attempt to obtain a voice in regulating the selling price of coal is now. it seems, not put forward. The claim for 10 per cent, in the Is. instead of the present 8i is one that always cuts both ways. On a falling market 84 per cent, is better for the men, and it is fortunate for them that, with the recent reduc- tions, they have only come down at the rate of 8J, and not 10. Coal cannot, however, fall very much helow its present price, and the chances are that there may be an upward ten- dency in the near future. If. therefore, the workmen ean secure 10 per cent. on a rising market it will be a valuable concession. There can be no doubt the scale of 1890 was a good one from the workmen's point of view, and that was the one terminated by the employers. It is but natural that the men should look back with longing eyes at that scale. As to the Illillimum wage, the demand i. to revert to a condition of things that existed under the tirst scale ever framed in South WaJes. and it raises the cry so loudly voiced by the Federation of Great Britain concerning the fixing of a "living- vvaue." Whether the point will be c-onceded at all, or whether the employers will respond by asking for the fixing of a maximum wage as well, is as yet difficult to gauge. Then, with regard to the appointment of an umpire to step ill mId settle questions when the two sedions of the sliding-scale committee fail to agree, there ha.ve been previous attempts to bring about such an appointment, but the employers have always refused their assent. The appointment is one which would have far-reach- ing effects, for it is not merely when the sliding- scale committee is dealing with general ques- tions affecting the whole of the coal trade that the services of the umpire would be requisi- tioned, but on sectional disputes at collievies. In any event, it is to be hoped that these and the minor questions raised will be discussed on both sides with the full consciousness of the resjKinsibility which would rest upon the shoulders of those who may by indiscretion or pervM-fity bring about utter stagnation of a trade already in a wretched state. THE SLIDING-SCALE COMMITTEE. Mr. David Morgan, miners' agent, Aberdare, recently sent to the press a letter in which he made the following statements anent the coal trade:—"1 have said lately that the Sliding vale Committee is made to be a committee of one man, and I justify myself from the fact- that we (the mutinous side) have called upon the employers time after time during t-he last twelve months to meet us to nego- tiate upon the proposed amendments in tlic sliding-scale, but. they have made all sorts of excuses, and the most of them that Sir Williajn was not present, and at last Sir William runs off to Palestine. I ask the public if I was not justified in making the charge against them, that they were making that committee a committed of .6:1 when they would not negotiate without this one man. But Mr. James Lewis will have it that they understood each other. Well, if so, it is worse still, for what cau I see in such under- standing and tactics? I me in them the keep- ing in hand of the ropes of the proposed negotiations until they put on every nerve to produce stean, coa-l during the last year, which increased the experts at Cardiff to the -fcune oi 14 per oent., and at last filled the main coal stations of the world at Gibraltar, Malta, St. Helena, Aden, Singapore. Hong Kong, Port Said, &c. and now they can afford to keep the collieries idle for a time to leave the im- pression on the miners and the public that there is an extreme depression in this country and abroad when in reality there is Hot." Mr. Daiziel, the secretary to the Monmouth-, shire and South Wales Coal Owners' Associa- tion, on Friday forwarded us the following letter, in which he refutes Mr. Morgan's state- ments — Sir,—Inasmuch as it is possible that some of the miners connected with the working of the Sliding-scale Agreement may lie misled by the v ild statements set forth by Mr, David Mor- gan, miners' agent, Al>erdare, and published recently in the local newspapers, I am in- structed hv the Monmuatlusliiiv, and South Wales Coalowners' Association to :.sk you to be good enough to allow me to inform the miner" through the medium of your valuable paper: (1) Thai it is utterly untrue that t! (vndi-ig stations mentioned by Mr. Morga.:i have been filled as stated in his letter, dated from AhHdare 011 the 16th inst., the fad beiig that the princijial coaling stations received less eoal from South Wales la'5t year than in pre- vious years. (2) That 1he employers have 110 control whatever over the coaling-stations, 'n the owners of which they simply sell cussl in response to orders received the same way is from other customers. If Mr. Morgan wished to acquaint himself with the actual facts relat- ing to the supply of steam coal to the various cdaling stations he would haye ¡lIO difficulty in ascertaining that the competition for :110h supply has never been ";0 severe ao during the last six months, and the result has been in numerous instances that Welsh coal has been supplanted to a very large extent by foreign coal and other coals pur- chased at lower prices than Cardiff coal. With respect, to Mr. Morgan's statement that. trade in this country and abroad is not extremely de- pressed, It is hardly nece-ssary to contradict it, as it is, unfortunately, too well known to all engaged in trade, and may be ascertained by anyone who chooses to acquaint himself with the subject. In conclusion. I may add that the exertions of the South Wales Coal Owners Association complained of by Mr. Morgan to produce steam coal during the last year had the effect of keeping Monmouthshire and South Wales colliers more rogjlarly at work than the colliers in other districts in the United King- dom, and that ought to be a matter of congratu- lation to the employed as well as the employers, instead of the subject of censure, as Mr. Morgan is pleased to make it., with the view oi creating dissen«ion between the employers Mid the worl men at a time when it is of the utmost im- portance that the best feeling should exist. WORKMEN'S MEETING AT CARDIFF. A meeting of the workmen's side of the Sliding- scale Joint Committee was held at tho. Engineers' Insti- tute on Friday morning, Mr. David Morgan l piesiding. The meeting, which was o'lvac- was called for the purpose of discussing the various subjects, which will be considered at tho adjourned meeting of both sides at. Cardiff to-day (Saturday).

SLIDING-SCALE CONFE- RENCE AT CARDIFF. MR. D. MORGAN'S ALLEGATIONS OF UNNECESSARY DELAY. TO THE EDITOR OF THE" WESTERN MAIL." SIR,—Commenting upon the official report of a joint meeting of the sliding-scale committee contained in your issue to-day, you make the following statement — The last sentence in the official report ill certainly the most satisfactory. As long as both employers and employed can meet together and argne in a friendly spirit the questions in dispute there is a probability of an amicable settlcmellt heing arrived at but that spirit is not promoted by any 011e of the parties rusli- intr int-o print awl making rash charges, such as those which are credited to Mr. D. Morgan. In Il. letter to It contemporary Mr. Morgan stated that the sliding. scale cOUlmittee was a committee of 011e mall, amI accused Sir William Thomas Lewis of filling the main coal stations in order to keep the collieries idle for u. time, to leave the Impression on the miners allf] the public that there is extreme depression in this country, when in reality tllere is not." He also accused the employers' side with the delay in regard to the nL-go. tiations, and taunted Sir William Thomas Lewis with going 011 to Palestine when he should he meeting the workmen's reiireseutatives. This, practically, means tliat a 1usy IlIan like Sir William, who probably has a" many tons of care and responsibility on his shoulùers a¡,; Mr. Morgan has ounces, cannot take a three weeks' holiday without consulting thc Abei- (bre miners' ageut. OIl Thursday Mr. Morgan faced Sir William as vice-chairman of the conference, and not a word was said by him or anyone else in refe- rence to the unnecessary delay which Mr. Morgan alleges." We wish to state that it is contrary to the fact that nothing was said with regard to the delay in the negotiations, as Mv. Morgan, from the vice-chair, more than once emphatIcally pro- tested against such delay. And. further, in justice to Mr. Morgan, it should be said that, lioin the workmen's pcint, hc conducted nege- tiations in a masterly manner.—We are, Ac., T. D. ISAAC, P. GEORGE, DD. BETNON, J. MORGAN. THOS. KICHAEDS, J- EDWARDS, ALFRED ONIONS, T. E. THOMAS. THOS. DAVIES, LEWIS MILES. Seoretary. Cardiff, Feb. 22. MEETING OF THE MINERS' FEDE- RATION. POSITION OF THE EIGHT HOURS BILL. A meeting of the executive of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain was held on Eri- day at the Westminster Palace Hotel, London. Mr. l'ickard, M.P., presided. Matters in connection with the recent colliery disasters in Somersetshire and South Staffordshire came up for consideration, and a deputation was appointed to attend the inquest to be opened shortly 011 the Scmerset victims. A report was presented upon the Staffordshire accident, and its consideration was deferred. The posi- tion and prospects of the Miners' Eight Hours Mill next- engaged attention, and it was decided to seek an interview with the Leader of the House of Commons before arriving at any resolution with regard to this measure. The committee also decided to invite sugges- tions of topics for discussion at the Miners' International Congress to be held in Paris at- Whitsuntide.

THE DISTR ESSED POOU. WC1UK OF RELIEF IN CABDIFF AND SOUTH WALES. There sire still plenty of funds being contri- buted to the organised committee*; and others who have charged themselves with administer- ing relief to the suffering poor in Cardiff and South Wales, and plenty of wholesome food lias been timeously given away. CARDIFF. CENTRAL WARD ( OMMITTEE. The Central Ward relief committee- met at the Town-hall. Cardiff, on Friday, untier the presidency of the Rev. Canon Thompson. D.D. It was reported that £55 had been received from the mayor's fund, all of which had been distributed. The fundi- at the command of the committee were exhausted, anu more money and coal were urgently required. It was decided to open a wood-chopping yard, in order to give some men employment. The I'ark and Cat-hays milk Yendort. and a few friends have contributed £16 6s. 3d. towards relieving the distress, while the Mavor (Alder- man P. W. Carey) has received B12 15s. from the Cardiff Pilots' Association. and the same fund has been augmented by £46; from Mr. Squires, butcher, Moy-road. Cardiff, ))W. ]\ir McKenzie, head-constable. The Park Ward Committee, who have gren away 80 gallons of soup and between 250 loaves daily, intimate that they intend discontinuing the relief after to day (Saturday). The Blucerts are a family of hairdressers in Cardiff, and on Thursday father and son shaved 367 of the unemployed free of charge, and Mrs. mucert shaved IÜl additional 176. The members and friends at the West-grove Unitarian Church have been assisting the dis- tressed by providing free teas for poor children. On Friday evening 120 children enjoyed a good meal. Each child had a good tea, and took home enough for another meal, and food was distributed to some 30 or 40 others. The funds were provided by the members of the congrega- tion. A soup kitchen which has done much good in Cardiff is the one opened by Mr. W. Griffith at 6. Patrick-street. Soup has been distributed on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays to about 250 people each day, besides what was given away in jugs. &c. The wants of the distressed in the K-oath district have been attended to by vlessrs. T. Kinman and Rees, of Castle-road, and tin Thursday 300 people were supplied with soup and bread. This was the second dis. tribution of the kind. DISTRESS IN THE COUNTRY. NEWPORT. Ihe relief fund opened by the Mayor of New- port ha-s now reached a total of nearly JB500. ABERDARE. Mr. David Willianis. the high-constable, and a. representative committee pit daily to receive applications for assistance, and relief in kind is distributed to all of the deserving poor. The soup kitchen at the Constitutional hall is thronged daily, about 700 people being regularly supplied with soup and bread, apart from the large quantity carried awav. In order to aug- ment the funds. Mr. Join) Radohne. of the Royal Italian Opera, Covent Garden, will ou Monday next give a lecture on the flute, with musical illustrations, fit. tiie Constitutional-hall..Mr. Herbert C. Lewis, the Unionist candidate for the Merthyr Boroughs, is announced to pre- side. TREDKGAR RELIEF FUND. GENEROUS SUBSCRIPTIONS FROM LORD TREDEGAR. A large and representative committee, with the Rev. T. Theophilus, vicar, as chairman, has been formed at Tredegar for the purpose of relieving the distress which lias arisen in the district. Members of an executive committee meet at the Mission-room. Bridi»e-street for the purpose of giving out bread and other ntwssities to the numerous applicants who come Ix'forr them. Breakfasts are also to be provided for the children. Lord Tredegar, with characteristic generosity, sent a few days ago a cheque for £5 to the workmen's insti- tute towards the fund. Hi.s lordship has generously supplemented the above subscrip- tion by sending to the vicar a l'heque for £20 towards relieving tlios.i in need of help. There has been a prompt and sjiontaneous expres- sion of sympathy on the part of the tradesmen and others m the town towards the relief fund. Messrs. T. Jenkins and Miles act as secre- taries,^ and Mr..T. S. Thomas, London and Provincial Rank, hc treasurer. INCREASING WANT AT SWANSEA. The destitution at Swansea is reported to be increasing daily, and is by no means caused so much by the frost as by the depression of trade. Out of the 8,000 men Gut of employment only about 1.000 are stopped by the frost. Unfor- tunately. the funds are by 110 means sufficient to cope with the distress. One fund has been closed up some time ago, whilst the mayor s fund has already been all spent. The outlook :11 Swansea is, in fact. most serious, and further steps of' a more thorough character" ill have to be taken at once. His Honour Judge Williams has intimated to the registrar of the Swansea County-court that on account of the prevailing distress he intends to adjourn all judgment summonses returnable at the next court until March. It will, therefore, be unnecessary for parties to attend the court on Tuesday next. ABEKAVON. The distress is very acule at Aberavon. many hundreds of men being out of employment in consequence of the stoppage of the Mansel Tin- works, and at the soup kitchen, which has been established over a fortnight, nearly 1.000 a day are the recipients of soup and bread. Messrs. Vivian and Sons and Mr. E. Hall Hedley have each sent twenty tons of coal to be distributed amongst the poor. PORTH AND CYMMER. Mrs. M. John. Cymmer Post-office, has col- lected enough money to provide 200 persons with soup, bread, and meat to-day (Saturday) a.t twelve o'clock at the Richards' Arms, Tre- banock, Cymmer. Tea and sugar and six joints of meat will be Rent to the deserving poor at their homes. PONTYPRIDD. During the thirteen days the Conservative Club soup kitchen has been opened over 90 gallons of soup has been dispensed daily, 87 families beiner supplied each day, besides 200 children and workmen out 0f employment. Six hundredweight of carrots and turnips have been used, 72 loaves (daily), and 8001b. of meat, as well as thirteen sacks of potatoes. On Thurs- day, by the kindness of Mr. and Mrs. Phillips, of the Colliers' Arms Hotel, a splendid roast jfc^.ef dinner was given.-in addition to soup, to over 120 workmen. On Friday 400 children were given tea.

Our Paris Letter. Soiled Family Linen." The wash-tub is kept pretty well filled just, now with the soiled tainiiy linen of France. While the ringing stage has been reached in tiie case of the Reynal railway conventions of 1883. scouring day has at last commenced for the press blackmailers. Six appear in the dock—ail are punpets save two Dreyfus of the "Nation, anj Canivet. of the "Paris." For the absence of Portalis. of the "Nineteenth Century, a tear of regret may be shed—that he ha.s escaped the police. Should he continue to do so, say for seven years, he may count upon the exercise of that new form of ga. ,i delivery—nit amnesty, for eternal political punishment in France does not last longer. Portallis was a. swell press blackmailer: he had his minnows to prepare the way for his operations. and when the psychological moment arrived to harpoon the cash-box of a financial establishment, the upright director of a gambling club. devoted to science, literature. amT art—of the black sort—lie invariably won. illustrating the headline morality u. our copybooks. "A man's manners often makes his fortune." All the accused raked in vast sums of money, but what they did with it remains a mystery, since they did not lodge it in the savings' bank nor invest it in real estate. Dreyfus. Dreyfus was a professor of mathematics if he did not square the circle, he did a cercle. As private secretary to President Grevy's son-in-law, M. Wilson, lie soon learned that the greatest study of mankind is man. He rose to be a town councillor of Paris, and, later, one of its Deputies during nearly eight 'years. t'p to the moment of his arrest he was making money by his paper. He had only t.o say to a feilow citizen. "Your money or your—reputation, and the filthy lucre was handed to him. Canivet, too. com- menced life by teaching the young idea how to shoot, as he tried his "prentice hand tutoring the sons of Marshal Mac-Mahon. Then he strayed into newspaperdom. and in its Bohemian bve-wavs made a bosom friend of M. de Lune.ssan, ex-Governor-General of Indo-China. and whose fall he brought about, in consequence of an intercepted cheque for 5,000f. from the Tonkin Secret Service Fund, to stimulate his liosaiiiieing M. de Lunt.ssan and confounding the politic? of the Governor s colleagues who opposed his plans. Canivet not only extorted hard money from a weak-knee'd club director, but converted his newspaper into a "limited" company. Following the indictment, tho books were not kept- according to the com- mercial code: he had the weakness to put the receipts into his pocket, forget to credit the company with them, so that on the 31st of December last he was indebted to the society 183,0G0f. Yet he started the paper without a sou, and never offered a policy of insurance or a new house to an accidentally- killed cisual purchaser. The Extreme Cold. It is the cold that reallv occupies attention: it affects all classes. It is not quite certain if the microbes enjoy a temperature of seven- teen degrees below zero C.. and if thev are responsible for the extensive, and varied classes of sickness that reign. The poor suffer, but. relatively speaking, do lot much dit-Ilenee whv they are always with tis. The mortality is highest among the well-tr-do strata of society, and too much coddling on'v lays constitutions open to new attacks of old diseases or the contraction of fresh on's. The plan of packing the unhoused in heated sheds is a merciful barrier against the merci- less weather. Then the free soups ire good, and the old crusts substantial. All kinds of cast-off clothing are the mode rejected sum- mer suits become serviceable when covertd with a piece of old sacking or a few swathes of tarpaulin. Cattle rugs and rick sheeting make splendid Lapland overalls. \nd tiie wearers are so content, as they heat and rub their hand* before the brasseros that radiate heat like a smelting furnace. Sonne go. • 1 souls have proposed that amateurs might. ,ii these shelteries, organise a few hours of in- strumental music. A few lively .,lgs would help to set the blood circulating in demi- congealed veins. In one instance, a two- horse power steam organ lias been loancl. where the inmates mjoy by rotation the turning of the big handles. Music ék: a source of heat is a rational measure for the frozen. It failed in the case of Baron Munchausen but he blew his trumpet and watered his steed in the open air with as monolith a result as the transformation of Lot's wife. Corned Mud Cough. It is to be hoped that in the municipaiis:i- tion of eitv measures the institution of super- seding scavengers by salt to remove snow will ha,ve no imitators of Paris. If the town councillor could be singled out who enforced that novelty he would risk to be prematurely eft ma t" d. The salt converts the :.now and refuse into a black-draught mixture that covers the streets with a shallow lake of mud. suggesting amphibious characteristics to citizens. Then the mud is machined to the kennels, where it remains a fixture, for salt preserves. But the artificial lowering of the temperature bv the union of the K)!t and snow nroduees a strange stratum of moist air that creeps into the throat, producing "frog," which is verv disagreeable. It besrets a curious kind "f cough, a sea-serpent linking of lady- like hems ending with an octave liaw. I: is attended with cold feet that almost noting will warm for more than a few minutes, no matter how lontr toes may he toasted. There is no fever. Weak tea, but very hot, is a palliative. Parisians call the new inalady "corned mud cough." It is as annoying as hay catarrh. But each season has its sorrows. France and the Nile. How long will it ta.ke the French to reacJi through their new protectorate, the Belgian Congo, the head waters of the Nile, and from thenw have a river flotilla working down to the Cataracts? Clearly that naval pressure from the Soudan is the only way left to force the British to namc evacuation of Egypt dav. and so allow the Arabi Pashas to have once more a free hand. It is on the Soudan that- interest continues to concentrate. Madagascar. At a meeting presided over by M. Myre de Yilfr" M. Gautier. who has just returned from an official mission to Madagascar, has explained the linguistic and religious situation of the big island. The Queen and her Prime Minister are Protestants, which is next to a crime in the eyes of that Republiacn champion of liberty. M. de Mahy. Their majesties, says M. Gautier, have suppressed idolatry, but leave their sub- jects free to select what form of Christianity they please—hence, good missionary ground. There are four normal schools in Madagascar that have trained 8,000 schoolmasters, and the latter instruct 100,000 Malagasys. The Ilovas. the cream of the natives, cultivate rice, and have learnt a few European industries, as tinsmiths, and weavers of silk and cotton. They take to European customs and costumes with the ea..e and rapidity of Japanese. There are fix print- in ir o ffices in the island that turn out religious and educational books: there are four news- papers. some reviews, and all illustrated journal. Of the 8,000 national teachers only 700 have been taught by the French missionaries, whose schools are attended by 17.000 out of the total school population of 100.000. M. Gautier is of opinion that- all this will be changed if the French act with energy and ability, a.nd thus turn the work effected by the English and Americans for the benefit of French interests. The recognition of the French protectorate by England is depen- dent on the non-interference with English treaty rights. M. Gautier omitted that. Divorce on the Increase. The Government is miner alarmed nt the augmentation of divorces. By the returns—the lateet—for 1891, the number of applications was 7.745. Of these 5,7E2 were granted, and the two-thirds of the dissolved unions had families. The iudges have been urged to be more severe in the amplication of the relief law. It should be Iwnie in mind that 011 the first symptoms of a family break up the parents and relatives Oil both sides endeavour to plaster dissensions. If tlif effort fails, application is made to the tribunal. The judtje virtually hears the caM privately listens to the relatives next ha" a oattrnal chat alone with husband and wife, and essays a reconciliation then he brings the spouses ton-ether. If all these efforts fail, the application for the divorce comes formally before the court, and. if no collusion be pei- eeptible. nothing remains but to break tk, chain. One moralist asserts that the stream of divorce and the separation of the children from their natural g-uardi:\118 must tnd in the destruction of matrimony. Interesting Statistics. The judicial statistics for the ypar 1891 al-o rtv al a curious fact. Th^ seizure of property for debts of 500f. and under entails legal expense* amounting to lll-Af. per lOOf. of debt, and which the creditor has to make good the differt-nre.. That exorbitant i-,uio of costs has diminished 11 per cent, within twenty years. Perhaps by the arrival of the millennium i: will hi. vc reached a conscionable level.

JAEMEB'S FEAT. v_ A farmer, named Mulholland. on Friday safely orossed Lough Neagli from Glenroy to Ram's Island. three milee distance, with Clydesdale horse and sleigh. A similar feat has not been accomplished since 1814.

To-day's Racing i IOKDEE or RUNXINC.—Astley Hurdle 1.50; Marfleet Steeplechase, 2.0; Burtou ronstaMe Hurdle, 2.30 Preston Steeplechase, 3.0 Burst wick Maiden Hurdle, 3.30 and Halsham Steeplechase, 3.50. EXTRJES. Burton Constable Hurdle Race.—Cliater, 6yrs' 12st 71b; Golden Oriole, 6yrs, 12st Belied Ea rl, 5yrs, list 51b; Clotaire, 4yrs, list 41b; Rumpus, 5yrs lOst 111b and 1'urseliolder, 5yrs, lOst 111b. Preston Sel ingr .Steeplechase.—Greengtisre, asred, 128t 71b; Nifrlitinger, aged. 12st 21b; Miss Fiestoii, 5yrs, 1bt 51b Goldeu Gate, aged, list 51b; and Wild Huntsman, aged, list 41b. AUJUVALS. Chatei. Clotaire Whitewynd, Angelica. Dendos- Ctlpe, NmseifciS, Durkwins. St. Helen. Lady Bride, Keniprus, Jeunnie, Complines, Sillybody, l,ittle Florence, Tennis Top, Greengage, Golden Gate, Belted Earl, Cunning Boy, lolantbe, Wild Huntsman, Mi-ss Preston, Golden Oriole, Rumpus, and Purseholder. Expected.—Dunraveu and Pursemaker.

YESTERDAY S LONDON BETTING. LINCOLNSHIRE HANDICAP (Run Tuesday, March 26. The Straight Mile.) 14 to 1 a;st Lottie's Dude. 3yrs, 6st 101b, t 14 to 1 — Amaudier. asred. 8st 31b, t 22 to 1 — Suncbc Panza, 4yrs, 6st 131b, ti o LIVERPOOL GRA.NL) NATIONAL. (Run Friday, March 29. Grand NationaJ Course, about four miles and 856 yards.) 5 to 1 a.st Cloister, aged, 13st 31b, t 33 to 1 — Grttie Olway. aged. lOst 31b, t 33 to 1 Cianriearde, 6yrs, lOst 31b, t 50 to 1 — Covertside, aged, 9st 71b, t

WOLVERHAMPTON MEETING. Although there was a det-ieive thaw at Wolverhamp- ton 011 Thursday, -the frost continues so severe each night that the bone has no chance to get out the groi nd. t :lIder these rircumstance.s, -racii ig ai i)unsla!l Park is alinoct iiujHissible on .Monday. Tiie executive will mtei tl1. stewards on the course this (Saturday) !lIornin; and, with th.ir r-oiu-ent. \)1 I".sjIune the tirst day's racing till .Monday week, and abandon the ftcoiid day.

OFFICIAL SCRATCHINGS. The "Sportsman" is officially informed by Hears Weatherby of the -following Mcratchings:- Wolverhampton Huidle Race—Rockfield (and Pro- hatwIler.. Tantivy Steeplechase. Gat wick—Solferino. All engagements—lxi om.

THE WATERLOO CUP. The committee me' on Friday .morning at the Adelphi Hotel. Liverpool, and, as the ground is still vnfit for coursing, it was -at- once decided to postpone the meeting till March 6 and following days.

SPOKTIXG SNIPS. INTERESTING PARAGRAPHS OF MEN AND HORSES. Ives, the -.veil known billiard player, i- lying seriously ill at Desmoines, lc-\v:u He ing from :ui nbscess 111 th? nose, and it is feaied tlmt blood poisoning will ensue. All his matches with Sshaefer have been cancelled. .1. Fagan. the well-known jockey, will offi- ciate as starter a* Huli thi, afternoon, in the unavoidable absencee of Mr. Williamson, the usual starter. Tiainers have not. been -low to take advan- tage of tiie thaw. and the monotony of straw bed exercise was oil Friday varied by a good amount of trotting 011 the roads. Mr. J. Gomerson the secretary of the Hviil Meeting, was seized with a fit during Friday morning, but recovered sufficiently to attend to his duties in the afternoon. Amongst- the passengers m a railway rem-I partment of a train running- between Glasgow and Greenock was /says a. local correspondent of "Sporting Sketches") a lady with a little girl, and a voting sportsmanlike chap, who appear*d to be in the land of dnams. The belr had repeatedly told the little yirl to keep nwav from the window, till, her patience being exhausted, she caught hold of the child, who at once ex- claimed, "Lottie's dood—Lot-tie'.? dood "Yes by gad shouted the dreamer. "Lottie's Dude —that's iust the tip I want IIMMIIIIII || ———,

{Bottles yii +/-> u/6k /») "iFfniurric] ,.Z|^5F^0TJBAA CLUB1 EujMAt $ONS & Co. S'.uql. W E.C.L.UD —— WATEKLOO CUP, LINCOLN HANDICAP, LIYLli- POOL NATIONAL, DERBY, &c. Mr. ALFRED CKOOK, OSTENDK. Alfred Crouk will forward, fiee. ou receipt of tddreM, "CROOK'S PRICE RECORD," Containing Entries and Latest Market Movement* on above. Letters posted by the Night Mail arrive in Ostende the following day, and answered by re- turn of post. Letter* must be prepaid. Address —ALFRED CROOK, Oai-eude. Postage, 2 id. Accounts settled at Tatters-ill's, of which Mr. CrosL is (lnp of the oldest members,. eJí/95 :=-

OTHER WORLDS THAN OURS. REV. A. J. JENKINS ADDRESSES CARDIFF ASTRONOMERS. The monthly meeting of the Astronomical Society IN-a,, held on Friday evening at the University College, Cardiff (by kind permis- sion), when the president (Tvlr. Arthur Mee. F.li-.A.S.) occupied the cliair. Twenty-three candidates were elected members of the society, bringing up tlie tobl membership to over 100. Several additions to the library 111 course of formation were announced, including a set of Mr..1. Ellaid Gore's astronomical works. The secretary (Mr. N. Lottey) was empowered to purchase a lantern, so tlmt future meetings of the societ-v will have the great advantage that accrue* from illustration by means of slides. The Rev. Arthur J. Jenkins (Newport) read an interesting and suggestive paper on (Mier Worlds than Ours." which gave rise to discussion, in which the bulk of those jireseot took part, the general feeling being that a strong case had been made out for the existence of sentient, beings on the surface of the orbs of space.—A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr. Jenkins, who. in reply, said lie had the pleasure of being the bearer of a kindly message to the society from Sir R. S. Ball. who lectured at Newport 011 Thursday night. Dr. Ball ex- pressed great interest in the new society, wished it all succeiss, and intimated a, desire to see its publications. — It was announood that at the next meeting Mr. G. Parry Jenkins, F.R. VS. (Llangefni), will read a pajier on "'llie New Astronomy. profusely illustrated with lantern slides.

A SCIENTIFIC FEAT. HOW MR-. COOPER CHADWICK WROTE HIS BOOK. To the Editor of the "Evening Express." Sir.—In a recent issue you refer to a -scientific feat- which has been .perforemd in the case of a Mr. Cxoper Chad wick, who lost- loth his hands by a gun accident, and allude to the artificial members he lla.< been provided with by a maker in London. -One of the statements made is that by means of one of these instru- ments he wrote the MS. of his ItJOk, "Three Years with Lobunguhi." Will yon kindly allow me. ?s a. friend of Mr. Cooper Chadwick. to ;eorrect this, as the MS. was written even under '.v- ivse conditions, viz., by means of an ordinaty pen tied to the stump of hi sarin. I should like -this version published, ts in the prefaoe to his Itook, lie refers to the manner in which it was written, and those who 9ta,e read the work might. 011 perusing your article, be under the impression that he had not ad- hered strictly to the truth. As a matter of fact, the MS. wa-s written some months (pre- vious to the instruments referre dto being supplied. I could wish thatpny friend was as independent as your article would make him out to Ire. and. I shoul idadd, for the informs tion of those who hav e lost either one or both hands (and 1 ¡IUL\(' neo-eived several lett->jr-»- ask- ing advice on the subject), that in practice the appliances have not been found of much 'UH' to him-in facts ajore of the instruments, ex- cept the knife, fork. fud spoon, are ever u*ed. —I am, &c J. E. LAWLER. 36. Lime-street. Fenchurch-street. E.C., Eek 22.

po T. A I B ER G'S CADE J E WELLERY DEPARTMENT- will shortly be transferred to BUTE STREET ENTRANCE. MRJ31 Ulaiberi: => -Art-ado.—Forfeited Six Knives, os. maker. Heywood. Sheffield. e4037 Jilaiberg's Arcade.—Forfeited: Feather Bed, Bol- ster. and llVo *Pillowa, Yts. 6d.; floalS new linen tick, leistered. Ac. e4037 lilfibertf's Arcade —Forfeited: Ladies' Long Gold Cham. 30s. e4037 Blaiberg'e Arcade.—Forfeited 19s. W(-dding -Ring, 22c.t 3W«'t. gold earrhiL-s included. (>4037 Blaibe-rg's Ana dp. s. 6d. 5s. M. bs. bd. 5s. 5d. 5s. 6d. 6d. '—U -al Gold Wedding Kin- Government stamped, wide. Are. e4037

To-day's Football S"\Y A:K8EA v. NEWPORT. I INSPECTION OF THE GROUND. Mr. Bert Gould, of Newport, visited Swansea Ion Friday, aud in company with Mr. Bryant, the secretary of the Swansea Club. inspectoo the St. Helen's ground. He found it fit for play. although, a5 he stated, the Newport ground Ís as hard as a brick. Th2 match will, there fore, certainly come ott to-day. Unfortunately, Gordon, the Swansea right wing three-quarter, hab joined Blaekmore on the sick list, and it is expected that Coke. "ho has not played since October last, will take hi" place. TO-DA Y'S MATCHES The following is a list of football fixtures arranged fer to-day (Saturday), but it i8 likely tha many will have to be abandoned in consequence of the recent fro.;t LOCAL MATCHES. Sw;-isea—Swansea v Newport. v M 11 nston. Pt,mutil-P¡>narth v Bristol. Abt'I1iy,l1-ht'l'dvon v Neath. } ORK8HllŒ (A>MP £ liriON. Wukefield-Trj¡¡jt\" v H: t-ley—llatley v Pewshury. Hull—Huli v Huddl'l'f'l1t-ld: Halifax-Halifax v U-<-ds. Maimingliain—Maimingham v Bradford. LANCASHIRE COMPETITION. Warrington—Waninston v -St. Helens, brougliton—Rangers v Tyidesley. OTHER MATCHES. Birkenhead—Wanderers v He< kmondwike. Liverpool—Liverpool v )tanehe,;ter. Leigh—Leigb Oklh2m. Liverpool—Old Boys v Runcorn.. Manchester—Haulers v Sale. New Brig!Jtün-Ne, Brighton v Birkenhead Park. Swinton-Swinton v Salford. W lg-an—Wigan *v Jtoclidale Humets B urton-BurtoIl.(,n,Tre-nt v Leicester. H.ichmonn-Uld Merchant Taylors v St. Thomas's Hospital. Oxford—University v Coventry. Bladrhealh-tlla(;khea.th v E.eil"mgton. Hic-hmonct-RirhnHilld v R.I.E.C. Stamford 1-ridire—London Scottish v Old Leysi&njs. Sandhurst—R.M.C. v Croydon. (JUb'wick--Harleql1ins ;v -Marlborough Nomads. Edinburgh—Wandeiers v. Watsonians. Olou.:t'8ter-Ük)u('esH'r v 01n Edwanlians. ASSOCIATION MATCHES. LE YGCE—DIVISION I. Hurnley—Burnley v A8lou Yilla. Wolverhampton- -Wolverhampton Wandererc Y. Blackburn Kovtrs. E"elt-oll-Eyerton v Pretlton North Enù. N;Jttin¡!1tam-}\iott. Forest v Rtüke. Sunderland- -Sunderland v. Sheffield United. Small Heatli—Small Heath v West Bromwich Albion.

BBADFOKD Y. CARDIFF. Information was received by the Cardiff .Foot- ball Club officials C'n Friday -afternoon frolll the secretary of tile Bradford Club that the Park-avenue ground was in a lit condition fur this matdl, to be played on Monday next. Tile Carrlitt players, there- foie. will Jean- bv tile 12.33 ;P.1l1. Great Western Hailway train tn-day ^Saturday) for BraJkr,1. Unfor- tunately. however, the Ce.rdif1iano will -be unable to place their ln-t 'team in the field on account of four vi I.heir .he.;t players beint; laid up Witil the in- fluenza, -Normaim Big-S and T. W. Pearson (t.hree. quarters), and Gua L-ivis and Frank Mills (forwards) t>eiii £ ? -the invalids. Their placet will he tilled up 0)' 1. j. Thomas (Cambridge University), and Gwynn Nicholis (three-quarters), and W. Wynde and W. Duvies (forward? 1. Particular .mention 8hould he made of the fad that tlie three-quarter line will he composed of men who liave .alwaY6 played in the centre, and it does scent really surprising that tile club cannot- tilld two wine- three-quarters to till the vacancies instead of calling UpOlJ centre players. The following will he the amended .team 1<. represent the blue awl black:—Back. Alun Morgan: three- quarter backs, T. J. Thomas. E. G. Nicholis 1 wings), J. Conway Røe" &nd J. ElllOtl (cent res). ùalf,j¡¡¡,ck,¡, n. B. S.veet-Escutt alid Seiwyn -Bigfrs; forwards, W. Wynde, W. Davies, S. Oravos. W. J. Elsey. W. Davies (Barry). E. Emery, G. Abbott, and W. Phillips. Referee. Mr. G. W. Hunter, Lancashire County. SWANSEA V. NEWPORT. Swansea: Baek, Bancroft three-quarter backs. C. Coke, C'hq:idden, Ciocker. ann Messer: half, backs, W. Crocker and J. Prescott forwards, A. M. Jenkin (captain). W. Jackson. K Burrows, Sam Rice, Smith. Boh Tlt{,ma¡;. R. o Hiha.m. anti Williams. Newport Back, T. England three-quarter (jacks, A. J. Gould. A. W. Boucher, W. G. James, arid A. N. Other; half-backs, F. C Parfitt and M. Haunan: forwards. T. C. (;rnha!1J..J. Hannan. W. H. Watts, 11. Packer. T- Pook, W. Groves, 1'. Newcouibe, and W. Parsons. LI ANEI.LY Y. MORRISTON. J.J?uelly: Bae-k, Morgan Williams; three-quarici ba:ks. Evan Lloyd. Clitl Bowen, W. Davies. and O. Badgtr: lialf-backs. Ben Davie" and Dai Moigan forw3rds, Ben Jame". J. Evans, J. Lewis. J. Jones, 1. DJxie8. fl. flHllla. W. J. Thoonas. and W. Morris. Morris-ton: Back, Saunders; three-quarter bucks. Hirrv Jlees. Tom Davies, D. Arnold, and J. Hili half-hacks. Grey a-nd Thomas; forwards, TOill Deacon, Tom Roberts. n. Fishpr. W, H. Llewelyn, W- Davies, i". M. Davies, D. Maiuwaring, and C. A. Harding. Kef ice. W. H. Gwynn Mt):"ELFT V. CAIWIFF. Mr. ChaiVK Arthur 1t-t'eiH.(l óI wire C'1l Friday .a.t- noc-n stating that the Moseley ground at the RRà- dings -was unfit for pllOy. Therefore, till" match must be abandoned. CARDIFF RESERVES T. i&OSELE\ SECONDS. The 011 d;tf Reserves v. M' ,¡<plev Seconds .match, "hirll should have hef'1l played at Cardiff to-day (Saturday), ha.8 been ahan<ioued. PENARTH V. BRISTOL. The match between Peuanh and .Bnstolltt Pellartb to-day has beell postponed, the ground being uun t l'j play OB LLANDAFF Y. CHrMJJIN. To he piayed at ;Crumlin. JJlandan wd, be re- presented as follows:—Back, T. Work: three-quarter backs, A. E. Ayre, W. Davies, U. J. Brown. and Daw -half-backs. T. Coilis and F. Collis forwards, H. M. Perry (captain). J. \au¡;han. R C. Wallaœ, E. W. Williams, W. Rowlands, W. |Bickford. «1. o Griffiths, and L. Herbert MORRISTON Y. LLANELLY. To I". played at Jiorriston. -Morriston team — Back. T Saunders three-quarter hacks. Harr-y Bee*. J. Hill, Sam Davies. and D. Arnold half-backs, -Ross Thomas and Ivor Gray: forwards, Tom Deacon. 11. Mainwarinfi. Tom Roberts. D. ,}"i",her. W. Davies, r. M. })a\Ïe¡;. Harding', and H. Llewellyn. CANTON Y. CARDIFF NORTHERN. These ttam" meet at the Sophia Garden8 -for the first time this se&eon in the local League competition, ann. as neither ;fceam has met "it h a reverse In these c{.mllt't.it.j()n8, this match will go a lonp way towards ùecidiI1¥ tile championsliip, preat in. interest is centred in the result. The following arc the tea.m,: -Canton: Back. J. Sullivan; three- quarter hack*. T. A. Jones, F. Fox, J M'Cart-hy, and J. Williams half-backi. ;A. Seaborne R. Miomas forwards, C. Bardtni (captain). F. Thomas, 1". L"r-a"n, V. Rees, W. Jenkins. D. C. Evans, .D. EYam. and J. R Bart-lett. Northern: Back, C. Williams three-quarter backs. E. -J. J. Spilla.ne. R. Foster. J. Driscoll. and 11. Rieketts; hakf-baeks, S. Davies and T Savage: forwards, F. ;1'. WilliaIll8 (captain), M. Carthy, M. Leary, V. H. GOIN;, E. L. C. Jones, ;T. M'Carthy. 1. Owen, D. Oweu, and J. R. Clilds. MOUNTAIN ASH V. -CARDIFF HORNETS. Tv he piayed at Mountain Ash. Hornets meet at the Rhymney Station at two p.m. tram -leaves at 2.10. Home's te:-1I1 .-Back, J. E. Jones; three-quarter backs, A. Ui..ha.1I8, 1'. Gosling, '1'. Elliot, and .F. Giihcs: half-ltl" Its. S. Pleece Rnd D. 1). Bowen; forwards. A Owen (captain). I>. Adam'. -T. Eddins. H. Eddins, F doddle, R. Marks, W. Goulstone. and A- J. Wrig.1tt. PONTYPRIDD V. -PENYGRA1G. This League match will hé pla,\ ed at PenysrraiS: kick-off at four o'elopk sharp. The l'ollowins ;Will reproent. the home team: -Back, Tom Jones: three- quarter ba.ks. O. Mills. M. J. Domoll Thoma*. and W. Elias: half (-,rk. T. Granviile 8nd A r'oo.!n:-an. fun a nIp. Evan Jojie*. J. :1'. Davies. J. Evans. Hili Thomas, E. Morris, S. Moyle, J. lthapps, i-nd C. -Edit-. ABEL AVON Y. XEATH. Weatb'-c permitting, tine »iatch w¡}1 hø played at -Altravon. Neath k;¡.¡n :-}-Iaek. Joe Davies; three-quarter hacks. C. 8te- J. Williams, W. Jones, and Hew. Morris half-onei.- Wat Th- -mas and Aiec CTI^KS forwards, A. Hutchinson. J. R> "olds. M. Heynofri<i. ->nff. Lewis, Howel Jones, J. TilOD1!1.8, and J. Edwards. Weste-n Mail .1 n;j,or.: v Moors United—This mstch will oe played on the Mora? Ri"k."tf at 3.30 st r ip. Tin will be as follows-:—Back, H. Walteis wiree-qiiarter W. Crafter, M. Hen- iieas>y, J. Connell, and J. Jones half.hac ks, J. Wiilake Hnc\ n. Fitzgerald; forwards. J. Gorman (caption), J. B. Ooughlin. n. Grady, J. Anstey. J. Sheen, A Andrew*, and J. Barrett. The Juniors will be lit the "Wef\tem Mail." Tudor-road, at 2.30 sharp. .\llt'rama:1 Married v. Sillg]e.-To be -played at Abereman. Mhiried team: Back, J. Strong: three- quarter har-k" J) Hughes, W. Gordon. George l avi^s, and E. Owen; taLf-backs, W. Allen and A Hodges; forwards. S. Stephens. F. Morgan. M,1:¡.:aIJ. :(j. White. 1. J. Bowen, J. Hees. G. l'homa..<i. aud F. (Jay. Singie: Back. J. Sa^e; three-quarter backs, Seymour, ;E. Jones, W. Leyshon. and H. Lewis; lialf-hutkfl, T. n. Edwards and T. H Hicks: ff>!wLrr!s, J. Meredith, W. Lawrence, li. AViliiatns. D. Thomas, W. Warlow. J. Jones, J. Harrier, and F. Min-bin. Merth:r Vale v. Cilfynvdd.—To he piayed at MartJhyr Vale. Merthvr Vale team — Back, D. Davies: three quarter backs, C. Davies, Morgan. L. Lewis, ami D. Jones half-backs. G. Edwards -and W. Jones: forwards, C. Warren. B. Davies, A. Piggott. B Herbert, D. Gibbon. J. Herbert, S. Griffiths, awl h Herliert. ASSOCIATION. CARDIFF RESERVES V. ST. MAI;GAEET\S. 1'0 .be played on tpp ground nf the latter. Kick- off at 3.15: change at the Claude Hotel. C'ardifi tea:lI -G loa!. ,1;n, Toff: backs. Besant and Jones; lialf-hacks. Burgess. Metcalf, -and Bayliss forwards. Spll1¥fon, 1/eah.v, Williams, 'Hul1tÆ'r (captain), and nale.

A former teacher of the presPllt Czarina says (accordinjf to '.l'a8"wll's Saturday Journal") that she Vas hroullht up almost entirely as an Entrlish girl, despite her German birth. The family spoke English exc1usi, d. their plays were English, and the governess of the Princess was English. Her German is consequently spoken with a fOrplg11 accent. P-hp has little interest ill polities, and was 110t educated to take any part iu such matters. She was brought up. in faM., ai: a daughter of a family of the middle classes. Until she was sixteen she devoted much time to tennis, croquet, riding. I 10wine, aaid skat-mo.

FOR FOOTBALLERS The Weekly Paragraph I Competition. The paragraph ;;(-1)t. in this week in connec- tion with our prize competition sre not of very I high uder- I have awarded the ha If-g- ne a to the sender of the paragaraph given below Mr. WILLIAM LLOYD, 21. Snieatoii-Jtreet. Canton. Cardiff. A few vears ago. after the, Ireland v. ales interna-turna match, -which was played at Lla- nellv. a member of the Irish team was strolling aloutr one of the streets, when he came to all ¡. establishment with a large card 111 the window marked thus — LAVATORIES. ¡ HOT OK COLD. "Here." said the football-player, to himself. "i-. the place, for nw." Pushing the door open, he walked ill. and was met by vhe attendant. "Wlmt can I do for you. sir?" said he.. "Oi want ja hot lavathery as quick as possible." 'Yes, sir. Wil you be kind enough to step this way?'" The footballer followed the at- tendant' who led him into a splendid lava.t<«y fit tod with hot and cold water' aud then left liim. After remaining there about half an iiour. the footballer called out 011 the top of his voice. "Yer shpaJpeen How much longer are ye going to be after kapini m:1 watin for me hot lavathery? "My gooc man. said the attendant, "this is the lavatory Here is liot water and hero is cold. Jri« looked at the attendant and then at the water and picking up his stick and bac, he exclaimed, as he made for the door: "0< h. begorra! Be the Howly Moses if Oi didn't tlunk lavatheiies wi", 8ü:lJeÙÜn¡; to eat Foot!all in I.Innelly has now become possible again, the ground liaving œpn partially released from the frosty grip of the clerk of the weather, There is still, however, a lot of "bone" in the h-rf. which a liberal sprinkling of gajid and salt has not succeeded in entirely removing. It is practically certain, though, that the Morris ton lnKtch will be played. One is curious to know how tha players will acquit themselves after their month of inaction. PHhap" they have al- most forgotten how to play The Llanelly team will be the best available one. which is saying a lot. All the old favour- ites will be back again, and Evan Lloyd will be seen at Stradey for the first time, with all the blushing honour of his international cap. Bad- ger. too. will be similarly decorated. Jt was at one time feared that Ben Davies would not be "Pen ill the jersey again. He lias, however, been prevailed upon to withdraw his. resigns tion of the captaincy. This is better for all concerned, and Ben's dec-isiùl1 has væn hea-i tily commended. There is a possibility that Dai' Morgan will lie unable to turn out owing to a twisted knee, which he sustained in the Swansea, makh a few weeks since. It is known that the injured limb has been giving him a, lot of trouble, and it is not the most ulllihly thing in the world that Ben Thomas will be called upon to take Mor- gan's place. It is fortunate for Llanelly that I they possess so good a substitute. On Friday Mr. Walter R-ees. treasurer, and Mr. Charles Steer, captain, of the Xea-th Club, inspected the Aberavon ground, and found it playable. So Neath and Aberavon meet to-day. The Neatli team 1ms been idle for fcur weeks. It cannot lie expected that either Neath or Aberavon will be in good form to-day. Yet satisfaction has been expressed at Neath be- onuse the encounter will prove capital training for nest Saturday's big tight agaiiH*t Llanelly. The Aberavon club club are so pleased with the reoent courteous aotion of the Neath Club, that the latter will be entertained right royally at the Walnut Tree inn a.t the conclusion of the match. Tite referee 111 to-day'- Noat'1 \ber&v.-y, match is Air. D. H. Bowen, Ll.1elq: three- quarter. 1 he Welsh Rugby Union r^| hnve their hands full on Saturday evening 11*34, for, in addition to the selection of the team to meet Ireland, the Cardiff-Lia-iielly dispute will be considered. I regret to announce that Mr. D. J. IVice. the secretary of the Neath Club, is indisposed. Hii duties have lie en readily discharged by Mr Walter Rees during his absence. The Melytt Rovers and Skewen meet to-dav at Neath ill the first rouud of the local chal- lenge cup competition. Meiyu Rovers should vin. A meeting of the Glamorgan (Vwnafcy liall Club is to be held at the Royal Swansea, this/evening. Business:—L&noaeh ire match; confirm fixture, and select team. On Friday evening the Cardiff Association Team, together with a few friends, were enter- tained to a splendid dinner, given by Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Becker. This lady is a most ardeait ixlmirer of tie Association game, and she js so proud of the progress made. by the team of late, that it gave her very great pleasure in recognising the players' efforts in such an ajipi- pria-te way. This is not the first- time MN. Becker has helped to put interest into Associa- tion football, for only the other day she pre- stailed the players of the South against the WELSH ATHLETE.

WELSH CHORAL FESTIAL. PBEFAIlIlfG FOR THE ANNUAL GATHERING IN LONDON. 1 he Welsh Choral Festival will again be he](T"this year at St. Paul's Cathedral. OIl the eve of St. David s Day. February 28, when the sermon will be preached by the Rev. David Richards, M.A., Vivar of Blaenau Festiniog. The choir, which numbers about 300 voic»s, is ".rider the '■onductorship of Mr. Edward Owen, R.A.M., ((org-a.ni..t and cliOirm;¡8t-er of St. Benet's Welsh Churcii, Loukm. Mr. D. J. Thomas fovganist and choirmaster of Hanover Chnrch and oi the Welsh services. All Saints, Margaret-street. London) will preside, for thy fori th time at the orga.11. Thei-closwillbe seng by Messrs. Emlyn Jones, R.A.M and F.mlyai Davies, R.C.M. Tickets for seats under the dome may be hod from the hon. see., the Rev. Morris Robert. 31, Balfour-road, London, N, and not from tin Cathedral authorities.

HELP THE LITTLE ONES. MR. PERCY THOMAS APPEALS TO YOU ON THEIR BEHALF. Sir.—Let nobody suppose that, because the frost has partially gone, and a thaw lias 'Æ't m. that destitution amongst little* children i" any less. Thl- thaw bae brought with i' a raw oolJ- ii»». which is the producetive of much sickness ajid that oliielfly among adults. Consequently, the little ones should be just now the objects of our deepest s\mpahty and commiseration. I am feeding as ,naJJ. of them this week as I did la"t weed and the week lief ire. but money is rot ooming in half so well. I should be bitterly disappointed if I have to confess mv in«bi'ity to meet all the demands n ade "1)( n me. for J know they are i-eal and pitbble. Will j our readers come to my ••id? I am a '.usv man. and can only address them in this way. I am. kc., PERCY THOMAS.

SWANSEA JTORPOIUTIOy. COST OF THE NEW RESEVOIP. LITIGATION. The bill uf costs incurred 1rr the Rw:i.nsea Corporation ill connection with the litigation extending ver a period of three \ears, with reference vo a ne*" resevoir at the Cray Water- works. amounts in. all to £7.345 8s. Of this nm, £4.¿ó7 4-s. 2d. was spent in the law sun,. Paldry v. the Corporation, while tiie othbr two matters dealt with absorbed the remainder. Mr. M Turk'a arbitration alone, cost £1.117 6s. 2d and the legal and travelling exnense- Parliamentary expenses, aud counsels' fees; in I th* Cray Waterworks to £1.499 17s. 9. The expenses of deputations to Londou totalled up at the respectab1* figure of £1,527 10s. ICd. v