Evening Express

Bill Banter's Budget I Swansea December 14, 1896. William Baxter, Esquire,— T'm commissioned to wire I Thai; your slander has not as yet rairtd ov 'ire; We'll play you a match j (We thi'lk it's a.'catch) And consign your insults to the fire. You doubtless have heard of the little brown flee [ Who lived on the lion luxuriowly, j Ftaing not his terrible claws and teeth, Because contempt he was safe beneath. Leonine talons may tear wild bulls, Otr even Policemen; but fear dulls, Dear Banter, thy foolish wit. If bombast you think gets goals and tries; Charity, and not your challenge, you bet, Win drag us to Cardiff to hear your cries. WE are the Lion, YOU he fleoa- No doubt the rest of 1110 thing you'll see. j We're a magnanimous lasr.tst; and you want an outing; i Very well! we'll come! you do the shouting Till this day week; and then you'll — The Lion's contempt for a troublesome flea. The sini'le's weak, dear William: a.ye! ;^ye! T know it, dear boy, but 1 wanted to eay The idea which I wish just now to convey 1 Is that if to the Park on that fateful day You'll invite all the Dukes yea keep dcwn your way, And promise flic North, and promise the South, Y Gu'll beard the old Lion; put your head in his mouth; rug at his tail; Make the brute quail— Well! up to that point you'll be jrreat. there's no doubt (You always are big when we're not about); But, Banter, my son, when the game shall be do;te, And we close our jaws, as it were, comes the !n- For us—not for you—the scene will be dread; They'll be busy just then in the realms of the dead. Yours calmly. OLD SPORT. P.S.— Now don't taloi as bounce, what kindly is meant As a warning to you, that you'd better repent Of your flapdoodCe rashness, your foolish intent To tacKie the preeamen, who slightly were bJnt By the Swansea kid-catchers, who luckily sent The baJI o'<?r the bar—(Heaven knows how it went 1) And if. on reflection, you wish to withdraw From the fa.te vrhich awaits all who cheek Abertaw; Quick, wire an apology—if not, then by thunder We'll come! and your mother won't know her own son there The above shriek I reproduce above—it is a death gurgle, as near 3B words and metre > JB convey suoh a sound—[ find addressed to me this morning. Not a* secretary of the Cardiff Press Scorchers Football Club, mind you, but to myself personally. I need hardly say that as as a 1a<l; piece of personal intimidation the oiuy effect it has is to haise the Banter indignation to boiling point. I a.m playing forward on Monday with the raw-'uns. I need way no more in answer. Let us hie to topics which concern us more th,1U the la,mentable fate about to befall the enemy. We had the opportunity yesterday of in- specting the muster at the first real business meeting of the Cardiff County Council. It gave us a telescopic view into the future of the young Progressive Party. It will be noticed that the meeting, was marked by a tendency to move forward, in pleasant contrast to the crab-race we ha.ve been expected to enthuce over for some months past. W hat has led to thia new vein of blue progrensividm'! Not any great re-oon- struction of the council as a whole. Parties remain the same. If we look caiefuliy we see the motive power lies in the increased activity of che ytung Tory Party, who are bent this year on gewing such an example that, with the generally augmented energv in the various wards, we shall actually begin to re-construct the corporation next November and brighten business up to an extent hitherto undreamt. Although they are as yet in a minority, no single movement of the council is without its active Tories, workiug in the very front. The committees' have the apparent promise of a new life. There has been no time yet to do a great deal, but what this month's committee have begun to accomplish, is encouraging. The Town-hall sites committee has given Harpur a report to work on—but there is this difference between the report impending and the trail of old reports our borough engineer, like an official comet, leaves behind wherever he goes. If Harpur's new job doesn't bring the sites committee anywhere near some tangible ex- pression of thought or decision, nothing ever will. The weiring of the Taff has come a little closer to completion than ever it has before. As a matter of course, it found a job for my engineering friend, but; like the sites com- mittee, the employment it provided him smacks of something more encouragingly definite. He is boring naw for dear life in the Taff bed, and, with the progressive aid of Lewis Morgan and his workers, may boro an opening into the new committee for the insertion of a fenllible scheme greased with :t little ordinary horse-sense. The borough boundaries crowd have not, as fat' as I remember, given Harpur a report to make out yet. But that omission is not due to any laxity csi their part; on the contrary, it is a sign that they far:) working with some vigour themselves. They have tha.t conference to work up yet, as a beginning. They have approached so near it that they got a few district men who carefully claimed themselves to be "unofficial" to talk it over. The district councils fight so shy of anything approaching reasoning on a matter of this sort, that the conference is no easy thing to cultivate. The joint Parliamentary and tramways oom- mittes, by the way, knocked a nail into the coffin of the opposition to the borough exten- sion so far as Penarth is concerned. They did not carry their point—and it is perhaps just aa well they did not for a time—but the effect of their recommended refusal to let their por- tion of Pouarth-road to an electric syndicate was to force home to Penarthians another of the advantages they lose by being outside the borough. Why should Penarth people as a whole enjoy the privilege of Cardiff rate-paid education, of Cardiff Free Library, and other good things of Cardiff whilst they live outside and contribute nothing to the rates. Nearly everything they use is Cardiff, and now they would like an electric tramway to steal the good things easier. I hear the argument (it was used in a some- what similar connection during the tram- ways debate at the council) that Cardiff men, paying rate* for offices in Cardiff, Live at Penarth. No argument at all. Let Penarth be- come a part of Cardiff, and let t'hose who make their money in Cardiff spend it fairly in the town by adding their house-rates to the general revenue. A paltry office is a compromise, neither one thing nor the other.. I couldn't quite gra-p what my honest pal Alderman Carey was driving at on a couple of occasions yesterday-and if I can't grasp it I will swear no other of his electorate can. Why did ,he join Alderman Rees (of whom we expect nothing better) against t'he tightening of the corporation hold upon contractors in the matter of workmen's wages? And why (this is a 'minor matter), did he so far forget the self- respect of corporation officials a3 to attempt to deprive them of an alternative pair of human trousers ? It was not ro very long ago that the uniforms committee received their report from Harpur upon the need of trousers in the health department. They adjourned on that (I am speaking now not from recollection, but from probabilities) to get a report from Harpur upon the degree of upholstering required by each officer. The engineer reported that two pairg per man were necessary (one pair for each leg-) Harpur's reason was obvious to ons who has ever kr.ovui what it IS to own OP.9 solitary pair of trousers in this world will ever cvre for a similar experience ;:gaiti. The disadvantage of only ,19 pair to a nuisance inspector k accen- tuated. As a householder I should never fetl safe in the present uncertain state of the drain? unless I l-ræw th/3 T1ui>-ance inspector WI16 imme- diately available on being sent for. It is efteai a. relief to see him exercise Ms olfactories, even if he does nothing else. But could ve, as householders, root at ease iu the in«eeuritv engendered by the knowledge that the inspector may be in bed for a week w'hilst his dressmaker is putting a new skylight into .his only trousers?, This evidently had not occurred to Carey, T>ut it must have shuck him when he saw hi? motion to reduce the trouser-rations from two pairs to one defeated by a large majority. The other vote of Alderman Carey's was of a still more inexplicable lature. Jenkius and Alderman David Jones had a breeze over the Trades Union question (tJiey always do}, but, in the end Alderman Jones was on the right side, and Alderman Carey, of ell moa, the lone partner of the champion kicker, OIl the wrong. By the way, if it can be arranged, it would be pleasant to see Councillor Jenkins and Alderman David Jones settle their little tangles once for all. One of the Swansea Press for- Wltrd. in next Monday's football massacre would gladly save his life by letting the Radical leader or the alderman tv-lee ï-â" pit.ee. Fw a suitable bribe we might let the other in on our side, and let them fight it out in fair field, as we are going to do. This is a friendly suggestion. The follow- ing passage is enough to show how thoroughly the municipal warriors possessed the true foot- ball spirit: — Alderman D. Jones (to Jenkins): I am not j afraid of you or anybody else. Councillor Jenkins (to David Jones): I am not afraid of you, and r-ever will be. Etcetera, ad infinitum. Let us play! The best stand taken by the Conservative party in the oouncil has been in favour of Trades' Unionism. The whole progressive party went with Councillors John Jenkins and Crossman yesterday again, in tbe motion to tie Corporation contractors definitely to Trades' Union wages. It was a splendid move, taken not a moment too soon, for in more than one direction I can, and will, mention the old clause has been evaded, and been in grea.t danger of beooming entirely inoperative. I have en eagle eye upon the blokes and their employers whom Councillor Croesman described very pithily as "a colony of cheap labour in Cardiff." There are interesting revelations to oome, and let us hope the colony on these will emigrate again. WHERE TO GET YOUR SEASON'S CARDS. If Christinas cards you want, dear frien4. A way this merrv time to send. Advice please take, attend my tale— And patrfoniee the "'Western Mail." Aft their great Cardiff store you'll find Cards suited to each purse and mind: There's nothing clumsy, old, or stale Amongst the treasures of the "Mail." There's cards for young and cards for old, The half was surely never told Of all the pretty things on sale Behind the counters of the "Mail." Just take a stroll and take a peep— Some dainty cards you'll sure to keep: To suit yourself you oannot fail Amongst the myriads of the "Mail." Go elsewhere, friend, if you would wail; Go elsewhere if you'd be decoyed, Go elsewhere friend, if you would wail; But if you've wisdom, try the "Mail" And once you've come you'll bring your fr'ends, You'll call 'em from the country's ends, And hail 'em with P, lusty hail To patronise the "Western Mail"! IDRIS.

The Philippines. SPREAD OF THE INSURREC- TION. A General Massacre.—Scores of Corpses in the Street.Prisoners Captured and Shot. The Central News Agency, telegraphing from Madrid on Tuesday, says :—Additional advices to the "Imparoial" frnrn Manila by telegraph from Singapore give a. gloomy view of the situation in the Philippines. The rebel- lion is spreading, and the efforts of the Spai'sh! troops, which are spread over so great a. dis- trict, have had very little result. Many of the Spanish, morevover, do not regard with any favour the shipment of insurgents who have been taken prisoners to the neighbouring islands, since they carry with them the germs of sedition. This 'b:1S already been the case in Parague and Jolo. and it is feared it will alsohap]>en in the Carolines and the Ma-rinnnes Islands- The correspondent admits that a general massacre lias taken place in the town of Cavite, the sole place in the whole pro- vinco of that name now held by the Spanish. He declares that 150 prisoners revolted, killed some half a dozen soldiers, and then, seizing t" feir arms, tried to raise the native inhabitants against the Spanish garrison, with the object of letting in the insurgents, who now occupy the suburbs of the town. They failed, and were shct down in the streets, and at night a general massacre took place, scores of corpses being picked up and many prisoners captured arid -hot the next morning. A small band of insurgents still watch the outskirts of Manila and nro on all scouting parties.

THE GALE. 7— LOSS OF CABDIFF-I.ADEN SHIP. A Lloyd's Vigo telegram states that the Norwegian barque Emilie, from Cardiff for Brazil with coal, is reported totally lost, both the ship and cargo, off this coast. All r>,board were saved and landed at Marin.

THE PRIZE RING. BTTBGE AND COIDSrCIiLY MATCHED. The two leading pugilists, Dick Burge, of Englana, and Eddie Connolly, America, met on Monday in London for the conclusion of a ma.tch. Each man had a strong rollowing, and, after considerable discussion, articles were signed for a match at lOst. 4Ib., at tha Olympic Club, Birmingham, for a purse of £ 1,000 given by the management. The encounter will take place on January 23.

A COJVSTABLE'S^SlGASIY. At the Old Ba.iley Join- Cooper, 29, a. con- stable in the Metropolitan Police Foive, who at the last sessions pleaded guilty to bigamy, was brought up for sentence. The prisoner rua-rried his cousin, whom he had induced to visit him at Chatham, where he was stationed. Prisoner, who left her on the wedding-day, had never given her anything towards her support. She returned to uomestio service, but about two years ago he again invited her to London and he then tcld her he was a married man, and that their murriaga Was illegal, and that she free. She returned, and, believing the prisoner's statement, l ad married again. Almost immediately the prisoner went through the coremony of marriage with Sallie Lefeare. There wa.s Fome evidence to ehow that the con- tir ued to livo with the prisoner after hearing cf the former marriage, but recently they had a quarrel, when he offered her a half-crown, telling her to go home with her child to her friends as she was not his wife. She went to the police-station, and later the prisoner gave himself up at Lambeth.—The Recorder thought the prisoner committed the bigamy to save the woman he rn:lr1'ied from shame, and, having regard to his excellent character, he bound him over in his cwn recognisance"; of £ 10 to come up for sentence if cabled upyii^ SWANSEA HARBOUR TRUST) The monthly meeting of the Swansea Harbour Trust was held at the Guiid-ha,ll_ on Monday, Sir John Jones Jenkins presiding.—Mr. A. Mason, in moving the adoption of the finance committee's report, said the imports of vhe month showed a satisfactory increase, viz., T8"7 per cent., chiefly in copper ore and grain, whilst the exports showed a decrease of 8 psr cent., I viz., coal, coke, and patent fuel. The month's accounts showed a profit of £ 448, as against Qn. of JEiS only in the corresponding month.The Chairman stated that, the chamber of commerce now having been satisfied on the question of floating the river, the improvements M the North Dock would be at once proceeded with. —The report of the executive enm- mittee recommended the erection of a new timber-stage at t'he tidal basin of the Prince of Wales Dook and a transit shed for the Victoria Wh&rf. The Chair- man said that Mr. Law, the harbour superin- tendent, had got together »">me information showing that the general shrinkage in the. iffiipments of tin-plates to^tite Si'&teji( bud 6ce i over 48 per cent. For the past eieveu months alone Swansea had lost 67 Per '"eni vet the increase to other parts had been no lose than 95'6 per cent., in spite of which, of course, Swansea. wa3 still 500 tons to the bad. The outlook, nevertheless, was far more encouraging than some five or six months fgo, for they now hoped to re imburse themselves at tome future time for the loss on United Htaiea shipments. |—The report was adocted. «

The Great Press Battle HEAR THE LAMBS BLEAT. Swansea Still Defiant Before the Great Awakening. 15 This is how the poet of the "Cambria Daily LEfíàer" rewards the secretary of the Cardiff Press Football Club for his humiuie endeavours to convey the Cardiff challenge in a manner calculated to cause the enemy the leas, bodily harm. Look at the Swansea poet's ridiculous name! Can a man with such a name play foot- ball? "Byron-Austin-Bloggs," forsooth! He I will be "Byron lost in togs" BILL BANTER'S BIGGEST BLUFF, JiiA: Banter, of the "Budget," By ninety gods he swore That the great town of Cardiff Should suffer wrong no more. With all his oa.ths he swore it, And named a trvcting day; Then bide his messengers ride forth, East, and West, and South, and North, To summon his array. East, a.nd West, and South, and North, The messengers ride fait. And at the "Mail" and "Daily News" Is heard tJhe trumpet's blast. Shame on the false Cardiffiau Who lingers on the way, While Banter, full of ardour, Is panting for the fray. There joined him good "Old Stager, And likewise "Welsh Athlete," Th'333 wew two well-known warriors, They'd yarda instead uf feet. And other Cardiff scribblers The ".umber swelled to ten— Said Banter, with a leery wink, "Wa ll beorow five good men." Then did brave William Banter- Like saintly knight of old, Unto his ragged army, His little plan unfold. He sa/ki, "To me it seemeobh That Swansea's right ahead, Their chaps are bright and gainey, While ours are nearly dead. They've taken unto football, And play the Rugger game. They're strong and sound and rugged, While we are halt and maim." "But. still, we must do something. So our public does not curse When they find that mucky Cardiff's Not hub of Universe You see, we've preached so loudly Thait good old facred flam, Till ev'ry true Carditfia.n"s A kind of great I AM." Of course, we know it's nonsense, And thr.it Swansea's mile" ahead, That they are sound and healthy, While we lie sack in bed. Bllt what we know iog no matter Our honour is at stake, So 'gainst their scribes at football, Cardiff the field must take. We W0n't battle 'cause we're eager For kicks and blows and cuffs, But because the gen'ral public Is finding we eve duffs. SD huckle on your armour, You blind old cripples lame, And by Heav'n if we cain't lick 'em, W'3'11 ehtat them of the game." So spake the fine old cynic, When he addressed his flock, But n>>ne wished to be invested With the Order of the Knock. But they had bluffed up Cardiff With mar,y a stout lie, So with greatest reluctance Said they'd agree to try. (Bill Banter, after a. great deal of preliminary coaching, and t'he use of much embrocation, getteth his army ready to take the field, a.nd due challenge is sent to Swansea, where the Warriors meet in Council, and discuss the Car- diff check. A big subject.) At last, up spake "The Bounder"— Man of capacious belt— 'Forward' and myself will play em, If you'll throw in the Kelt.' We three will make the journey, And hold their horde at bay, You'll find we're sure to lick them, The beggars cannot play." "They're nought but brag and bluster, Just merest empty sound: If the '.Kelt' but tumbles on them, He'll smash them, I'll be hound. will do ow scoring, While I will keep our goal, And just we three unaided Will terrify ench soul: So that even harrdy Banter- Whsn all his men have fled- Will turn and hie him homeward, To hide 'his diminished head." (The Warriors decide that there is no need at all to send a full team to meet the Braggarts, and agree that :t shall be left 10 the three fighters named to battle for truth against false- hood, and the three knights fare forth and give battle to the enemy on the plains of Cardiff-) And now the sweet first tootle Is blown by referee, Cardiff at cnce stampeded— A sitrht for godu to EOO. Alone stood brave Bill Banter— But constant still in mind- He saw ten thousand foes in front, And not a pal behind: — Round turned 'he as not deigning His craven crew to seek, But his eye flashed fierce with passion, While livid gorew hie cheek; Just then the "Kelt" came rushing With ball beneath his arm- Bill Banter shrieked in anguish, And fled in dire alarm. Never, I ween, did runner In iuch an evil case Struggle through such a roaring mob At such a camel pace. For none could stop Bill Banter, Neither men, boys, nor gals; — He ran till he reach a pub Where he would find his pals. Over pots of cold fourp'ny, They cheered that Banter run; And long before the morning Believed that they 'had won. They stuck it in their papers— Plain for all folk to see— Their doughty deeds on the field, And Cardiff's victory. And when the nights are weary, Should they want a little fun, They hie them to a hostel To discus3 Bill Banter's run. And. like all things at Cardiff. It grows in being told, For they're such bad observers They don't know brass from gold. BYRON-AUSTIN-BLOGGS.

A YEAR'S CATCH OF SEALS. There is a shortage of 15,000 in the season's catch of seals by the Canadian sealing fleet, as compared with the take of 1895. The official returns of the cargoes secured by the British Columbia vessels during 1896 show the catch to have been 55,678 skins, as against 70,739 taken last year. The principal shortage was in the Behfring Sea catch, which totalled but 25,701 skins, as compared wit'h 35,918 in the season of 1895, a decrease of over 10,000. The catch on the British Columbia and Japan coasts was about the eame ae last year, while the number secured off the Russian islands was 5,000 skins below the catch of last season in those waters.

HOME RULE AND THE RADICALS. Mr. John Dillon, addressing a. > meeting of Irishmen in Glasgow on Monday night, said that when Lord Rosebery took office after Mr. Gladstone, and was asked for a declaration of his principles, his lordship solemnly declared that his succession of Mr. Gladstone was a change of men and not of policy. Whether that promise had been absolutely kept he would not discuss, but he said that unless the Liberal party maintained strictly and honourably the policy of Mr. Gladstone both as regards the action and extent, of Home Rule and the position of Home Rule, then they could not count upon the Irish alliance. If the Liberal party should think the timfl had Mme to put Home Rule aside, then they must cease to J count upon the Irish alliance, and must Phlft for themselves. The Irish would then sup- I' port any party that put Home Rule in their programme.

>••> U: At Greenwich on Monday Dr. Arthur Greatorex Smith, of South Kensington, was agfcin charged with unlawfully using an instru- ment upon Constance Fletcher.—The Treasury Prosecutor s«d that up to the present there had been no confirmation of the theory as to the article found in the garden. and his worship might take it that in all probability the fact would not be established.—The prisoner was further remanded with bail at 24$W, and sureties of JB1,000 each.

Santa I Claus" I • ONLY A WEEK FOR PREPARA- j TION. I A week to-morrow the loug-looked-for treat will take place, and our readers can scarcely realise the e^ger interest with which hundreds, —aye, HlOusands-of the little lads and lasses of our big seaport, are looking forward to it.To these poor little mites, the mention of "Santa Ciaiie" is as Paradise was to the Peri—a thing possibly 11 ? be attained, a dream of supernal joy and nal" piness. Verily, to be kicked and cuffed and sworn at throughout the year is an exc-ciient preparation for a Christmas treat and whets the appetite as nothing else can. J f we had not too much respect for our readers wo should lie in- dined to remark—try it for yourselves. You'll find it an unfailing recipe. There is not a ;iiiigle jaded appetite, or blase (accented "e," please Mr. Lint-man} individual amongst j all "Santa C'iaus's" 2,000 guests! Well, now the treat is almost upon us, "Santa Claus" would urge all ( who have not, yet helped to do so at once. There remains much to be done, and there is a whole universe of organisation in which "Santa Claut and her more immediate heJpers are engaged. To each and all we womd say: "Work, work, work, for the 22nd is ooming!" Tickets to View the Treat. Friends who have helped "Santa Claus" in j I any way this ye.T may obtain tickets for view- ing tihe treat from the balcony of the Park-hall —either by applying personally at the counter of our offices or by sending a stamped addressed I envelope to "Santa Claus," Western Mail, Car- diff. Help by Mr. John Studt, A. kindly and welcome offer is to hand from Mr. John Studt, who has removed his round- abouts and other amusement to a site on the West Canal Wharf, and has promised to give the proceeds of two days to the "Santa Claus" fund. The days in question are Wednesday and Thursday this week (De- cember 16 and 17). In order that Mr. Studt's I kind intentions may be fully understood and appreciated, ws may state that he has placed the galloping horses and gondolas unreservedly in our hands for the two days mentioned, and the money-taker# and cashier* are in no way connec- ted with Mr. Studt. It may be added that the ground and roundabout* which may be ap- proached from the Canal Wharf, and from the Penarth-road, near the railway arch, are bril- liantly illuminated by the electrio light. A Present of Boots. Messrs. Stead and Simpson, 119. St. MaTY- street, hus kindly forwarded 50 pairs of boots. If You Cannot Fill a Bag, Subscribe. In some households difficulty is experienced in finding suitable articles to put in the "Santa Claus" bags. These friends may find a way out of the dilemma by forwarding a donation to our officers. Promises of Fruit, Food, etc. ] Mr. Press, 166, Cowbridge-road, apples and evergreens. Mr. Pleydell, 18, Splott-road, jcwt. of cake, Mr. Jenkins, 74, W oodvills-road, supply of pork pillS. Mrs. Godifres, 8, Edwards-torrace, lewt. cf cake and sweets. Mr. Ward, 16, Bridge-street, 100 polonies, Mr. Phillips, 156, Cowbridge-road, six dozen pork pies. Mr. Grainger, Wood-street, 50 polonies. Mr. Ratten, 5, Bute-street, 200 polonies. Mr. E. Sirrell, 114, Castle-road, buns. Messrs. Rees and Co., The Haye.i, lewt. of apples. Mr. J. Morris, New-street, one box of oranges. Mr. E. Reed, Hope-street, one box of oranges. Mewrs. Morgan and Bieraiann, Hope-etreot, one box of oranges or apjfies. I Mr. II. Hunt, wholesale confectioner, 1, Nswpoit-road, 100 buns. Messrs. A. J. Dix and Co., bakers' oven builders. 130, Mackintosh-place, lewt. of I Weleh Genoa cake. Mestrs. David Jones and Co., supply of cake. Messrs. Cude and Co., 201bs. of cake. Messrs. Sitranaghan and Stephens, three cases of apples. Mr. Phelps, St. Mary-street, apples end oranges. Mr. Baragwanabh, supply of apples. Mr. Batten, Albany-road, 200 polonies. Messrs. Hollyman Bros., Castle-road, 100 mince pies. Mr. Pyle, Tudor-road, supply of cake. Messrs. Wood and Son, Castle-road, 2001bs. of cake. Messrs. Davies and Son, Wood-street, 10 gal- lons of milk. Messrs. Phillipa and Co., 74, Queen-street, 501h.. of tea. "Friend," from Lower Grange, 100 Scotch muffins. Mrs. Todd, 117, Clifton-street, pork pies. Mr. Sin-ell, 8, Hohr.esdale-streei, Giangetowu, supply of bun". Mri Thorn, 54, Richards-terrace, six gal- lons of milk- Mrs. Witohell, 136, Clifton-street, piece of corned bacf. Mr. Peddingham, Clifton-street, supply of oranges and apples. Messrs. Lipton, St. Mary-street, pork pies. Mr. Naish. Castle-road. 200 bags of sweet*. Mr. G. Hillier, Cowbridge-ioad, lix doz«n pork pies. Mr. W. G. Stacey, American Mrrket, 96, Cowbridge-road. paroel of tea. Mr. Franks, Riverside, Cardiff, lewt. sweets and 1,000 2oz. bags of sweets. Mr. R. England, West Bute Dock, box of orarge or apply*. Mr. Monkley. Bute-street, oranges or apple*. Mr. Guy, Salisbury-road, six dozen polonies, Mr. Doddington, Pontcanna-street, 12 loaves of bread. Mr. Jelf, Hope-street, apples. Mr. Tyler, sugar. Violet. Joey, and Arthur Morris, three dozen loaves of bread. Further Promises of Food. Mr. Morgan, King's-road, sugar. Mr. AHc;ood, Ryder-street, sugar. Mr. Bishop, Edwards-terrace, cake. Mr. Stephens, Queen-street, cake. Latest Bags Received. 377, Cowbridge-road. Mrs. Hannan, Roath. Mrs. James A. M'Connochie, 12, Victo-m- road, Kensington. Mrs. Mosebhi, 88, Partridge-road. "Kitty Kenway," 20, Miskin-sireet. No address. No address. "M. W. G. 206, Newport-road. 49, Crwvs-road. 157, Newport-road, No address. "A Friend." Mrs. Nixon, 9. Loudoun-sqnare. Mrs. Bishop, 15, Clifton-street. No address. No address. Mrs. Tregethern Short, 7, Wordsworth- avenue. Mrs. Thomas, 53, Wellfield-road. No address. Bags Received Since Last Report. Mre. Fooey, 138, Glenroy-street. No address. No address. 1 r No address. "Well-wishers, dive-road. Penarth. No address. No address. No address. Mrs. Harford, 5, York-street, Canton. A Visitor." List of Subscriptions. The following is a statement of money to hand from the kind friend* and helpers whose names are subjoined, and whom "Santa Claus' takes the opportunity of heartily thanking for their valued and timely aid: — £ II. d. Directors Park Hall. Limited 10 9 0 The Marquess of Bute 10 0 0 Mre. Mackintosh of Mackistosh 5 5 0 Lord Windsor 5 5 0 The Proprietors of the "Evening Express.. 5 5 0 Mr. A. D. Dawnay 5 5 0 Mr. P. W Carey 3 3 0 Lord Tredegar 5 0 0 "Svmpathv" J Mr J Gaakel1 i:sh»n) 3 3 0 Cklonel J. K' Brecon 3 6 0 Mr. E. W. M. Corbet k 2 2 0 Mr Charlel Raddiffe 2 2 0 MeMis- Frank C. and Sidney E. Smart 2 2 0 A Friend 2 0 Pupile of Purcell House School 1 14 6 D. Robert* and Sons, Caledouian-chanibers 1 11 6 Mr. R. Forre't. J.P I 1 D, Robert* and Sons, Caledouian-chanibers 1 11 6 Mr. R. Forre't. J.P I 1 e Mr Kvan Radcliffe 1 1 0 Mr. Oisv/ald Stoll 1 1 0 I Mr .lames Price, Royal Tudor Hotel 110 The Empire Company (Limited) 1 1 0 Mr. Clarence Sonne* 1 1 0 Mr. and Mr*. C. J. Jackson 1 1 0 Mr. Morgan Morgan — 1 1 0 Mr Judah, Roval Hotel 1 1 P Mr Wearer 1 1 0 Mr. C. II. Down* 1 1 0 Mr Sydney F. Bowling 1 1 < MeORrn. J. P Jontt. Richards, and Budgen 110 "'Mrs Amis" 110 Mr. Waiter Sentt 1 1 0 W, Llcyd. The Hayes 1 1 0 Atlas Furnishing Co. 1 1 0 Mrs Clara Novello Davie* 1 1 0 Mr. H. Ccuiins. Western Mail-chainlier« 11.) Dr. Nicholson. St Andrew'i Vi;;ar»ge 110 Mr. J. E Gunn 1 1 0 G. F. Hill and Son 1 1 9 Mr- and Mr*. A Stevens 1 1 0 Messrs. Stone Bros — 1 1 0 Mr. Rickards, The Priory, Usk 1 1 0 Mr. S. A. Brain 1 1 0 I MtMrs. J. G. Prcjer and Sons. 110 Seaor Aveudaov 1 1 0 Mr. Ebenezer Bearan 119 Mr. Ivor Vachell, Cardiff 1 & 0 Mrs. 38. Fletcher 1 1 9 Mr. Lewellen Wood 1 1 0 Mr. Thcmtic Morel 1 1 9 Mr. T. H. Stephens 1 1 0 Mr. Thcmtic Morel 1 1 9 Mr. T. H. Stephens 1 1 0 J.ady Lewie, The Mariy — 110 Mr Alex. Thackcray 1 1 ø Mrs. Kemeys-Tynte — 1 1 8 Yr. G. A. Carr, Grimsby 1 1 0 Mr. R. P. Ciiilf-Y 1 110 Mr. Jnnie* A. Ware 1 1 0 Mr. R. Moxey 1 1 0 M'r«?ra. G Insols and Co. 110 Mr. T Andrews 1 1 0 Mr J I'yke Thempsori 1 1 t Mr. W. Scott, Hazelvrood. Cathedrai-rsad 1 1 J Mr. C. Telford Evans — 1 1 0 Lady Morgan Morgan 1 1 I Air." G. Beynon Harris 1 1 0 Mr J. Allen 110' Mr. J. H. Hallett 110 Mr. Campbell Cory 1 1 J Mr. K j Lvdon „ 110 Mr. J). A ThomM.M.P. 110 Mr. J. H. Jonas 110 Mrs Bowden (Gieat Western Hotel) 110 Mrs. Mary Davies 1 0 0 Mr. E. W. ShacVell 1 0 0 Mr Lle<vellyn Williams, F.S.A., M.E., 4c., Mr Lle<vellyn Williams, F.S.A., M.E., ke., Cself&rdie 1 0 0 Mr. O. H Jenes, Fonmon Castle. 10 0 Mrs. Bush 1 0 3 S'r W. T. Lewir i o 0 S'r W. T. Lewir 1 o 0 Mrs. Constance Cory 1 0 0 Major Wyndham-Quip 1 6 9 Cardiff and Diitrict Waiters' and Chefs' Association 0 14 0 Mrs. Lloyd Harris Q IQ 7 Mr. H. ,T. Yeilaoott 9 10 6 Messrs. Duck and Sob 0 10 6 Blaiberg's Arcacse 0 10 6 Mr Gerhold 8 10 b Mr. Phil Phillin. (Toothache Cure) #10 6 Dr. De Vere Hunt #18 6 T>r. Corripan — 0 10 6 Mr. Ksmp _„ 0 10 6 Mr Tudor Tharnley — 9 10 6 The Office Poet tie t Mis. Grafter 10 6 Mr F. Joergens k 18 6 Major Thornier fl 10 6 Mrs. Willie DaVie* 0 IS 6 Jewish Sympathiser 8 16 6 Mr Jmriec M'lir 0 10 S Mr W. H. Alien 310 fc Mr. T. M Hey weed C 30 e Very Iler A. Van den Heuvel 0 10 6 Mr. Charles F. Hotrard 9]0 Ii Mr. Gfor-fe Thomas 0 r, (, CMonet Guthrie 0 10 6 Mi'. Sydney F. Walker 0 ]Q » Royal Hotel Colfee Room Waiters 0 10 6 Mix H. T Bo.T q 10 6 Mr W. Hiijrh Evar.s, .Edward-terrace 0 10 6 Messrs. Adsim and Co 0 10 6 Mr. David Morgan 0" 9 10 6 Mr F. C. Shackell 0 10 6 ROil. Anthony Howells 10 6 Mr. David Lewis, solicitor, Charles-street 0 10 6 Mrs. F. E. Wliits, Cowbridge-road 0 l* 8 Yill. Aroy Morgan G 10 0 Mr. S..11. Bsi/helor 0 10 0 Mr. Fr\\l DunKiey 0 10 0 Captain Chit-ham 0 10 n Mi J S. Stanfiekl 0 10 0 Sir Edward Kill 0 10 e Canon C. ,T. Thompson g ig n Mr. W. Etana g -,o Mrs. Seward 0 10 0 Mrs. T Windsor Jacobs C j0 0 Rev. W. H Biady #10 0 Miss Edwards (Oonserv*tire C!!ub) 0 7 6 Ivor, Oiseif, Hilda, Dora, and Gipsv Roberts, Llan'shen Fa oh q 5 q 'A Friend" q 5 Q MISS Gladys Go'.dsmid g f, g CouBoillor F. J. Besvan n s » W J. Weddeh 0 3 0 Mn. Oeorge Fadfield g 5 q "Well-wisher." Bcmvilstone o '5 o Peu-rtli Friend" 050 K". -4. K-.H- Wyalop 'i. 0 5 0 A Friend 050 UA Frond" 0 5 0 Mr. Scrivener ftsn Mr. F. G R. Cook i" 0 5 0 JJPV F. YTord.'wnHli Q 5 g Mi'. W. Touuj^. Abersvan g 5 « Mr. L. Lieweiivn o « MrS ,r. M. s." « 5 ° Mr. Ben. Winfield, Cardiff Steam Laundry Cempar.y » 5 0 Mr K—'l 0 5 0 Foi- Santa Claus q 5 q Miss A. Daries n c. 0 Mr. R Dram', FL.R 050 p L. w. »i.i b 0 5 n Mr W. S. Croumtn 0 3 6 '•Di'-irns and Thackei'ay" fj 2 £ "Odlwr Bvchan" r o t "6, Gold-street" 111. 0 2 6 A Kn*nd e ? "G\ M Can Ion j- t. h ".r.ir. o A Charming Letter. "Santa Claus is delighted with the followiaa pretty letter to hand, and thanks the little senders very much: — "The Lawn, Llanishen Fach, Glam., December 8, 1896. Dear Miss Carr,—We have made three mufflers for 'Santa. Claus,' and we hope they will h-elp to keep three little children warm. We would send you mere, but we are not very big yet, and they take ue such a long time to make. Next year we hope to send you much miore, »\ e also send you 6s. for the children's treai, and hope they will have a very good time. "Your little friends. "IVOR, CTSS.TE, HILDA. DORA. a«d GTPSY ROBERTS." Special Prizes to Collectors. FIRST PRIZE-A COSTUME, value 28 8s., presented hy MADAME MART AGE, the well-known modiste, 33, Castls Arcade, Cardiff, at whose establishment the dress is on view. SECOND PRIZE -A DIAMOND BRACK, LET. valup P,4 4-.?., offered by BLAT- BLI-.C S ARCADE and to be viewed in -he vi:«tibule of the Western Mail Building*. THIRD PRIZE—A CINDERELLA PATENT GJLD BANGLE, value :50" pressnted bv BLATBERG'S ARCADE. FOURTH PRIZE—A CINDERELT, A HOT r BANGLE, value 20s.. presented by BLATBERG'S ARCADE. FIFTH PRTZE — AN ORNAMENTAL TABLE TTMEPTECE. valus £ 1 Is., pre- sented by PERKINS BROTHERS & CO. St. Mary-sireet. SIXTH PRIZE—The Queen's Edition of "BEAUTIFUL BRITAIN." value El loi.. presented by the "EVENING EXPRESS." EXTRA FIRST PRIZE-ORA YO' POP TRAIT of the winner (framed), valuo £ 5 5s.. presented by Mr. J. BEXSON DAVIES, of the London Crayon Forfait Company, Queen-street, Cardiff. EXTRA PRIZE.—FRAMED POW' AIT of the second prize winner, value 1,"2, pre- sented by Mr. EDWARD SMITH, Eleatrio Light Studio, 4, High-stree*, Cardiff. EXTRA PRIZE.-LADY'S HAT, value 15s.. presented by Mrs. BASSETT, Castile Arcade, Cardiff. Applications for Collectian-boxes should be made at once to "SANTA CLAUS," "Wer tern Mail." Cardiff. T ckets for the Park. hall. Ladies and gentlemen anxious to view our "Santa Claus" treat from the balcony of the Park-hall are desired to apply for ticket at the "Western Mail" advertisement department, St. Mary-street, a few days before the affair comes off. To the Charitable. Ladies desirous of contributing cast-off cloth- ing to our fund are invited to send a postcard addressed "Santa Claus" Depot, Tudor-road, whai a bag will be at once forwarded to their address. Valuable Painting for a Shilling. Last year "Santa Claus" had the pleasure of receiving from Mr. Sydney M. Broad, the weil- known artist, an exquisite woodland study, beautifully framed, entitled "In the Woods near Tintern." The prospect of securing this picture for one shilling only attracted a large number of competitors. This year again, Mr. Broad has with the greatest kindness painted and re- sented for disposal an equally charming picture -:t wild moorland scene near Llandovery, with the Van Mountains in the distance—which we are certain will delight everybody who sees it. The picture will be displayed in the vestibule of the "Western Mail," and will be disposed of in the same way as its predecessor, for the benefit of "Santa Claus" tickets, Is. each. "Santa Claus" is very grateful to Mr. Broad for his charming and timely erift, and hones all her friends and the public will endea- vour to see the picture for themselves. Tickets for this work of art, in handsomo frame, may be obtained at these offices.

RUSSIAN STUDENTS IN REYOLT. REPEAL OF THE TOLSTOI STATUTE DEMANDED. A Reuter's telegram from St. Petersburg on Sunday says: —The police of Moscow have K-eizod a number of letters and other papers of a. political character belonging to situdents of the university there. As a result about 40 arrests have bet-n made. A Router's telegram from Cologne on Mon- day savs:—The follow ing telegram from St. Petersburg of to-day's dale is published by the "K0e.lni.sch9 Zeitung" •—"The- excitement pu'OTtg the Moscow students has infected those cf St. Petersburg. They held a meeting ytti- terday to consider how they should best for- ward a. petition to the Czar praying his Majesty not to «llow- any punishment io be inflicted on their Mo-scow comrade?. The proceedings at the meeting were very heated, mainly owinsr t'i the interposition of the rector, who reminded the young men that they were engaged in an unauthorised project. The rector took dowi- the name, of sonm of the most unruly of the young men. and this exasperated the students to the utmost. The curator, who presented himself, also met with a very turbulent recep- ticn. He asked the meeting generally what they wanted, and the ai swer was the complete immunity of the Mo,scow students from punish- ment, the repeal of the degrading Tolstoi Statute, and the revival of the University Statute of 1803. It is currently reported that ths rector, who is unpopular, and the curator were assaulted by the students, but this the tatter deny. Telegrams from Kieff state that student disturbancea ha.vo also occurred there. ?-

.Tames Sharp ley, pork butcher, was fined £ 5 and costs at Maccleafteld on Mondav for using threatening language towards David Walmisley, factory inspector. Defendant lifted a knife, and assumed a threatening atti- tude.

Trades Union Wages DISCUSSED AT THE CARDIFF CORPORATION MEETING) A SHARP PASSAGE BETWEEN ALDERMAN j'ONES AND MR, J. JENKINS. At Monday's meeting of the Cardiff County Council Mr. John Jenkins brought forward a resolution amending the existing clause regarding rates of wages a.nd hours of labour in connection with work to be do,e for the corporation by contractors. The present clause id understood not to be sufficiently explicit—it refers to "such wages as are mutually agreed upon between employer and employed '—and Mr.Oenkiue moved its rescind- ment and the adoption in lieu thereof of th' following: —"That the rate of wages to b., paid and the hours of labour, as well as the rules imposed upon the artificers, workmen, and officers who shall be engaged or em- ployed in carrying out this contract, shall be such as are recognised by the respective Trades Unions and the employers in the town and district where such contract is to be executed." Mr. Jenkins assured the council that in moving this resolution he brought it forward in the interests of no particular party, but for the good of the people generally. (Hear, hear.) Mr. CroiSoinan, in seconding the motion, said it was not intended to take advantage of any employer. Quite a colony of cheap labour had, however, made its appearance in Cardiff. One firm which !H1<l recently opened in the town had twelve pairs of trousers made for 10s. Alderman Rees was satisfied with the old •arrangement, which he believed to be per- fectly fair. He would never recognise any body outside the council. They must main- tain their dignity they would sacrifice their seif-respect if they became a football for out- side bodies He objected to being transformed into an automaton, of wax or wood, to be pulled by the string by any extraneous organisation. If they were pre- pared to submit, he could not help it. Dr. Buist (supported the resolution. Both sides, he pointed cut, were represented in tha resolution. Alderman David Jones accused Mr. John Jenkius of discourtesy In not including in his motion tiio resolution which he proposed to rescind. He (the speaker) objected to the council being dictated to by Trades Unions or by emolovers, but he was prepared to recognise the w(.ges which were agreed upon by both sides as being fair. Mr. Jenkins sab there and snoke about sweating as if no one sympathised with the men who were sub- jected to that system but himself. He (Alder- man Jones) sympathised with them. Alder- man Jones, who spoke with a great deal of warmth, was proceeding with his remarks on this point, when Mr. Jenkins said: I did not refer to sweating, so that your remarks are super- fluous and unkind and uncalled for. Alderman Jones I am not afraid of you or anybody else. Mr. Jenkins: I am not afraid of you, and never will be. Alderman Jones: I don't want you to be. Mr. Jenkins: I say I never used the words. Alderman Jones: If you fancy you can come here with noisy declamation you are mistaken. Mr. Jenkins: I have not said anything about sweating, and I will not allow Alder- man Jones to say so. Alderman J ones: You are continually talk- ill go about- it. Mr. Jenkins: I say I have not used it now. Alderman Jones: Not this time; but vou are always talking about it. I won't have you dictate to the council. Mr. Jenkins: And I will not have you dictate to me. ? The Mayor then interceded, and Alderman Jones concluded by saying he had no objec- tion to the resolution. The Town-clerk read a letter from Messrs. Jotham and Sons, in which they stated that the prices submitted by the local branch of the Tailors' Society were .so excessive t11at they could not be a party to burden the rate- payers with such an additional charge for police clothing as would result from the exorbitant demands made upon them by the society. The ressolution passed by the uniforms committee to confine the contracts to Cardiff had been the means of making the tailors think they could charge what they thought proper. Messrs. Jotharn and Sons intended that the work should be done at Cardiff during the quiet months, but they could not pay wages .so much out of propor- tion to those paid in other town* Mr. Veall supported the resolution, which waa eventually carried, the members then present voting as follows — For: —The Mayor. Alderman David Jones, and Messrs. J. Jenkins, James Mnnn, R. Hughes. Morgan Morgan, W. S. Grossman, A. Good. C. A. ,T. Ward, Geo. David. W. H. Allen. F. J. Veall. S. Robinson, J. H. Hallett, and Dr. Buist—15. Against: —Aldermen P. W. Carey and T. Rees—2. -?-

DEATH OF THE MAN KAST. SCENE AT THE CORONER'S INQUEST. The inquest on Frederick Kast, one of the defendants in the Scott-Russell libel case, who died on Friday last, was held on Monday at Holloway Gaol, Mr-. S. F. Langham, city coroner, conducted the inquiry. Mr. Arthur Newton represented Cockerton and Aylott and Kast's relatives; Mr. George Wallis ap- peared for Lady Scott, and Mr. A. P. Doulton for Earl Russell.—-The Coroner said he could only hoar Mr. Newton, representing Kast'e relatives. Other solicitors bad no locus standi. Cockerton and Aylott visited the gaol, and were allowed to remain in the waiting-room while the inquest proceeded.— The jury, having viewed the body, expressed a desire to visit the infirmary, and were per- mitted to do sc.—On their return, William Scott, chief warder of Newgate, having stated that Kast had made no com- plaint, Phyllis Vincent, of Hackney, said she had known deceased from the 12th of J anuary last. She visited him every day while he was a-t Hollow ay. She never heard him make any complaint as to his treatment at the gaol. He said he was well treated and well looked after. He only said he feared he caught cold ait the Old Bailey. The Coroner: Is there anything else you wish to say? Witness: Only that he told me he was speaking the truth in the case. Mr. Doulton: In the interests of justice, no statement of that kind should be allowed. Mr. Newton: What she says is that every- thing he said in the case waa true. (To witness): Did you attend on that occasion, when he said that, with your mother ? Witness: Yes. Mr. Newten: Did your mother hear whati deceased said also ? Witness: Yes. Mr. Doulton: May I address you again, sir ? Mr. Newtoh: No you have no locus standi, Mr. Doulton. The Coroner said a question might be put through him. Mr. Newton (excitedly): Are you afraid of the truth coming out? Mr. Doulton: No, I am not. Mr. Newton: It looks like it. Mr. Doulton: I wish, in the interests of justice, that these questions Mr. Newton is putting should not be allowed. They have nothing to do with this man's death, and are only put to prejudice the case of my client. Mr. Newton informed the coroner that Miss Vincent had been engaged to deceased. Kaøt's mother was too ill to attend. Two warders having given evidence aa to Kast's illness and death. DrW Scott said when Kast was admitted tc the iftfirmary he was suffering from inflamma- tion of the lungs. Everything was done that was possible. The cause of death was acute inflammation of the lungs. The jury returned a verdict of "Death from natural causes," and recommended the autho- rities to make the infirmary for remanded prisoners a little more cheerful, and, if pos. sible, that noisy and refractory patients should be kept apart from others.

At the Old Bailey on Monday, on the appli- cation of the Crown, the trial of Chas. Hamlyn, <ilias Henry Miller, charged with obtaining • money by alleged false pretences in connection with a- missing word competition, was adjourned I until next session*