Evening Express

!TjRXft:RAIURE EAtNFALL DATE. i Max. Min Mean. 9 a.m. 9 p.m. Total -¡_I_ Sunday 14j 45 30 37'5 "00 *07 *07 Monday i!5j 43 39 41*0 *00 -001 '00 Tuesday 16' 40 31 35*5 "00 '001 "00 V'edneiWay 17! 44 30 37*0 -00 -00 *00 T\iur3day.l8j 48 34 41*0 -00 -04 '04 Friday 119! 47 35 41D *27 *10 *37 Saturday .I20i '65 i I

I ESTABLISHED 1850. I ( BEVAN AND CO I (LIMITED), REGISTERED AS THE CARDIFF FUILNLSHERS Are without doubt far and an/ THE T ARGEST, BEST AND ^JHEAPEST FURNISHEHS IN THE PRINCIPALITY. SAVE TWENTY-FIVE PER CENI. BY DEALING WITH THIS WELL- KNOWN IIRM. DELIVERY FREE. CATALOGUES GRATIS. EBANCHES:— 21, DUKE STREE1 97, ST. MARY STREET CARDIFF. 169, COMMERCIAL-STREET, NEWPORT. 7, WIND-STREET, SWANSEA. HANBURY-ROAD, PONTYPOOL. CLARENCE-STREET, PONTYPOOL. el876 pHILHARMONIC RESTAURANT, ST. MARY-STREET, CARDIFF, WILL START ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1897, TABLE D'HOTE LUNCHEON IN LADIES' AND GENTLEMEN'S COFFEE-ROOM UPSTAIRS, From 12 30 to 2.30. Soup, Fish, Joints, Vegetables, Swoets, Cheese.. 2 *3 Fish, Joint, Vegetables, and Cheese 1 6 Soup, Do. Do. 1 3 Joints, Sweets, and Cheese 1 3 WINE and REFRESHMENT BUFFET DOWNSTAIRS. e6019 Telephone, National, 502; Post-office, 35. Telegrams. "Express," Cardiff. —-

Bill Banter's Budget The temple of King Solomon Upon Mount Zion grandly showed But there's a temple that can give It points— tie in Cathednal-irud. Th< olden building was the talk Of Palestine across the main; But Cardiff's stones were neatly laid By AdltT, Windsor, and Maclean. The ancient temple 3S it stood Most surely was a noble sight; But ours is miles abend onco more, Far it can boast olectrio light! I think I've proved that though the fane Of go;xl King Hal most grandly showed, Our synagogue will give it points, You'll find it in Cathedral-road OLD SOL. The mornmg postman, with a meditative gait and a hairpin hanging to the button of his coat, was evidently unable t;o determine the nature of the Banter correspondence to-day. Ah, little ho thought the letter that puzzled him so was the wort of a descendant of King Solomon's g)ng. And yet, somehow, the missive had a prosperous appearance which would have told any reasoning man it came from no Gentile poet. The envelope bulged signi- ficantly towards the centre; the point of a thumib and forefinger adorned the corner; the back had evidently been used for stray financial memoranda. The lines given above were care- fully wrapped in cotton wool, and the letter was marked in the top left hand corner, With care—this side up." I am pleased to welcome the touching com- parison of the New Cardiff Synagogue with the ancient edifice of which we have read such en- thusiastic reports. Talk of the modern press- man and his descriptive power?—no modern eulogrv has ever come up to the mammoth puff the ancient chronicleis have given (heir builcVs, from the time of the Tower of Babel dow.n. "Old Sol" is evidently inspired by a view of the completed synagogue in Cathedral-road. And eo are many others. The building is a unique addition to the architecture of Cardiff; i: is frr and away the unest Jewish Synagogue in Wales, and there are very few in England which can fqual it. The Hebrew commuiiity of Cardiff are to be congratulated. By the way, does not this Oriental style of architecture, with its effective grouping and its domes tha,b relieve the eve of the mono- tonous angularity characterising English archi- tecture, recommend itseli to Cardiff buildeuu -?- Will a maa arLse sufficiently original and bold in ideas to give in the choice of a private house o: two built on the Oriental plan, as far as the outi-idc appe-aranoc goes? The everlasting gables which mark our streets at present: the fronts so heavy that many eeem about to topple ouiwards, the never diverging plans of squares and corners and angles need some relief. And the happy effect of the relief which the Jewish Synagogue affords the wearied eye can now be experienced in Cathedral-road. May we see many imitators. Happy thought: Cannot the members of the Jewish community sot about it and build themselves l>ouses of a distinctive pattern, after the style of their temple? It may be graceful on my part to apologise for introducing a, dog story so soon after the Sabbath. But it is none of my own making. It wag made by a worshipper at St. John's Church yesterday during service, and may, therefore, come with a. recommendation which dog yarns do not usually possess:-—"Dear Mr. Banter, writes this intellectual benefactor, "some few years ago ''Spinnaker Boom" and myself related our different experiences of the conduct of a. dog that was imprisoned in th? Cardiff Market one Sunday. "Spinnaker" devoted the whole of his space in the "Express" to the dog-storv. I my.-elf was in church at the time. and the conduct of that dog on that Sunday evening Off v ears ago dis- turbed my peace cf mind quite as much as the behaviour of a dog in St. Johns Church did 011 the evening of the last Sunday that ever was. The Psalms for the day wer bemg Ming when—whether from approval or condemnation of the singing, or from whatever cause I cannot t-ay—the yelping of this porticubr dog commenced. Then we heard a contest—dog v. choir. First it stemed us though the dog would win, so persistent was its howl. Of course, it beat the congregation hollow in no time. but Mr. Cole. the organist. evidently thought that no living dog should do him. his organ, or his choir down. and, thanks to the organist's vigorous application of the organ, he bravely succeeded in helping the choir to hold out until the dog was captured and finally removed. How the dog got into the church I cannot tell, but it. is to be hoped that in future, for the sake of the peace of mind of the worshippers at St. John's, dogs will be rigidly excluded from the service.—Yours trulv, C.E." I knew a dog.but there: One at a time I have reason to bewail the day, though, when an old friend left a lecture on theosophy (under the auspices of the Cardiff Theosophical Society) to me t a ma>:i with a dog-storv. The combined effect of these two appeals upon his credulity proved too much for him, and he has gone to join the Maliatmas. The man who will go calmly forth to meet a man with a dog- story ii an infinitely more morally reckless being than the unfortunate fellow who wanders off to meet the man with a dog. Talking of dog-stories. I am reminded that the sub-committee of the international boa.rd has set about the compilation of a story of a similar species. The yarn by which they hope to bolster up their ntad policy is an a ravated form of dog-story—with an added element of intellectual rabies. But if the Welsh Union does its duty to-night the sub-committee can save itself some trouble and the football world an infliction. The sub-committee need hunt ix) no new imposture they need not further damn themselves by committing it. to ineffaceable print; sportsmen throughout the country are sufficiently aware of the board's folly alreadv. The board, however, seen determined fo make the manument of their foolishness a lasting one. The time has come when the Welsh Union should demand an unconditional with- drawal of the obnoxious resolutions; or a for- mal repudiation of them by the sister unions, and should plainly draft this demand in the form of an ultimatum:—A complete withdrawal and repudiation or the severance of the Wefch Lnion. This, or something near it. will, in all probability be done to-night, and every sports- man in the four counties will uphold the Welsh- men. An old friend sends a few pathetic lines upon the interesting domestic insurrection chroncilcd last week through the medium of the Cardiff Police-court. Ala8, this is the season for marital troubles; they increase as the summer draws anigh. Let the poet po: — They're only flying words," she said, And words wil never hurt," While round her pranced her furious lord In a fragmentary i-hirt. And down upon the road they rolled, Bedaubed with mud and dirt, And spoiled the pristine whiteness cf That remnalitA a. shire. Words, merely idle, flying words— Now grave, now strong, now pert W hile o'er the fight there waved that flag That once had been a shirt. The scone was strewn with coke end! glass, So the police assert, And yet the dauntle^ man fought on 'Neath less than half a shirt. Both heads were cnt, perchance were cracked; The blood o'er each did spurt; He boldly faced the music in A fraction of a shirt. With flying words the air was thick, Sad words they each did blurt, The lady and the gentleman Who wore but half a shirt. The constable at length appeared With manne rstern and curt, And ended the heriocs of The demi-eemi-shirt. ?-?--

STRANGE STORY FROM VIENNA. PULLING DOWN A MANSION IN SEARCH OF MYSTERIOUS DOCUMENTS. A correspondent writes to the "Daily Graphic'' —The town of Baden, near Vienna, and the Neustadt of the Austrian capital, have been excited by an extraordinary charge of !ese majeste, the proofs being said to be hidden in some portion of the walls of a hand- some building. Some weeks ago the Vienna police received an anonymous communication which stated that a well-known building con- tractor and councillor had hidden in the wall of a mansion which he had built for a wealthy gentleman at Baden documents containing terrible threats against the Emperor Francis Joseph. A search was instituted by the Court officials, hut without result, as the place where the incriminating documents were concealed could not be discovered. The officials, although the names of those who had signed the mysterious documents had been furnished, couid, of course, do nothing further without! some proof. Some days ago, however, the police received a. second ccmmunication, and another search was made, also without result. As all efforts to find the hiding-place were futile, the criminal authorities ordered the mansion to be demolished. Its occupants were accordingly bidden to quit immediately, and labourers were at once set to work to pull down the. fine building, under the superinten- dence of the Court officials. Up to the pre- sent nothing has been found. The cost of the proceedings has been so far supported by the State Treasury, and what with damages to the tenants who were summarily turned out, and the sum paid to the owner of the mansion, this has been no small matter. It is said that the information was laid by a candidate for a seat in the Reichsrath, to revenge himself on his successful rival. -?-

A TOWNSHIP DESTOYE1). Mail advices .iust to hand show that the town of Port Darwin, in Australia, was almost destroyed by a hurricane on January 7. After a heavy storm of rain the barometer fell ro 28'7in., and a. whirlwind broke over the town. Almost every building was vm-ckcd, and nearly all tho boats in the harbour were sunk. Ten denths occurred ashore, and many people are missing; the telegraph lines were all broken, and the telegraph offices unroofed. After the hurricane had passed away it was -oen that tho towi'ship was practically dcstrovf?d, all the buildings being either heaps of ruins or very badly damaged. The wet season having set in. great efforts were made to repoir houses and prevent further losses by rain, and so great was the demand fo- carpenters that they were able to demand and get £5' an hour for their work. ?_??_

At a meeting of Statfordsirre and Worcmiershire chainmakers at Cradley Heath on Saturday it was announced that the whole of tho employers, excepting two, had eonceùed the 5s. Hst of pricps. equivalent to. an advance of 10 per cent. It 'iI'1U decided to eugport the few meu now on strike.

Notes of the Week [BY "WESTMINSTER."] LONDON, SATURDAY. The concert of Europe has made what appears to bs its last effort in landing troops to occupy the chief seaports of Crete. Any further unanimous action on its part seems in the highest degree impossible. Lord Salisbury, whose sagacity is never at fault, has checked the exuberant zeal of the German Emperor by refusing to- consent to the pro- posal for the blockade of the Pincus, and by declining to take any hostile action against Greece until the Powers have decided what II form the administration of the Island of Crete is in future to take. He himself favours com- plete autonomy for the island, and this is equivalent to ultimate union with the (ir^k kingdom. In taking this course the Govern- ment is in hearty accord with public opinion in England, which would not tolerate the handing hack of Crete to the misrule of Turkish officials. A similar feeling prevails in France and Italy, the Italians in parti- cular showing the utmost sympathy with the Christians in Crete, not meielv because they are struggling for independence, but also, no doubt, because Crete was held by the Vene- tians for five hundred years. It is not always remembered that Crete was the last important Christian island in the Mediterranean which the Turks, after a most obstinate struggle, ootained possession of. that they have only held it for two hundred years, and that prac- tically during the whole of that period it has been in a state of insurrection. The Turkish claim is, therefore, of the weakest, and it is obvious that the Powers after once allowing the Greek troops to land and occupy the interior of the island, cannot possibly restore the status quo. I will go further, and say that I cannot conceive the occurrence of circumstances which would justifv the British Government in giving orders to its soldiers or ships of war to tire upon the Greek flag. To the King of Greece, in fact, belongs the credit of having cut the Gordian knot, and settled one part at least of the Eastern Question. W hile the Ambassadors of the Powers were still continuing their tedious and, apparently, endless deliberations at Constantinople he tried the old and simple txpedient of using force, and so gained his end before anybody could interfere ? with him. Of course, he has incurred the reproaches of diplomatists, and has exposed himself to severe lectures on his highly irregular proceedings, but in their secret hearts the statesmen of all Europe must rejoice that at last they have been relieved from a. situation of interminable perplexity. The consequences of the action of Greece must be wide-spreading. Already we see a new grouping of the Powers, which reminds one of the alliances that preceded and lasted through the Crimean War. England, Franco, and Italy are of the same way of thinking; Germany separates herself from Western Europe; Austria, as usual, is hesitating; and Russia seems to be considering what profit she can make for herself out of the transaction before determining what course to take. It is difficult to believe that King George can o have acted without having received private assurances of support from 1:,< sister, the Empress Dowager of Russia, whose influence is understood to be all powerful with the Czar, but Russia does nothing for nothing, and she is evidently preparing to seize some other portion of Turkish territory as com- pensation for the relinquishment of Crete to the Greeks. 1 his is the real peril which thieatens the peace of Europe. France, how- ever, seems to be unwilling to play any longer the not very becoming part of catspaw tor Russia, and French policy in the East is slowly adjusting itself to that of England. With regard to Crete, the three Western Powers may go forward fearlessly, for they are thoroughly disinterested in the matter. This is the consideration which weighs with me. I fully share the sentiment that Greece ought to be a strong and united nation, but I sup- port the annexation of Crete to the dominions of King George not from any philanthropic motive, but because no English interest is endangered through the severance of this island from the Turkish Empire. With the examination of Mr. Rhodes bv Sir William Harcourt the political interest of the inquiry before the South African Com- mittee reaily draws to an end. The Leader cf the Opposition has covered the whole ground by putting every question which could possibly attach to Mr. Rhodes' complicity in Jameson's raid, and I understand that other Radical members of the Committee do not intend to prolong the investigation by repeat- ing these questions over and over again. Even Mr. Labouchere, it is said, intends to reserve himself for Mr. heir, though I doubt if he will be able to refrain altogether from trying the event of a personal encounter with the man whom he has so persistently vilified. He will be obliged, however, to restrict his examina- tion to Mr. Rhodes' financial transactions, which nobody cares very much about. The net result of Sir William Harcourt's persever- ing efforts to throw further light on the sub- ject has been to leave matters just where they were. The Cape Blue Book showed that, while Jameson alone was responsible for the actual raid, Mr. Rhode.s massed the invading force at Mafeking, to be ready to march to the aid of an insurrection which he had helped to orga- nise at Johannesburg. Nothing further than this will be known, or can be known, for an impartial study of the telegrams shows that a J the parties concerned in the impending revolu- tion, whether at the Cape or at Johannesburg, made most pressing appear to Jameson to hold his hand. Mr. Rhodes' last message to him was, "All will be right if you will only wait. Sir William Harcourt made the point that Jameson telegraphed the day before the laid, saying if nobody else would move he must go in alone, but Mr. Rhodes replied that he only received this message after the wires had been cut. Mr. Rhodes' commanding air and striking figure would attract attention in any assembly. In liis features and the shape and carriage of his head he is, as an Irish member remarked to me, very like Mr. John Redmond, but he is a man of much largei build. He has an eager, resolute, rather hard, look, and his character came out to the best advantage whenever, driven for a moment into a corner he threv- his head up. squared his shoulders, and flung out, with clear, strong voice, a defiant reply- His proud retort when Sir William Harcourt asked him in what capacity he had placed troops on the frontier of the Transvaal, 'In the capacity of myself, thinking I was doing the best in the interest of South Africa- might be placed alongside the famous boast ot Conolanus, "Alone I did it. From the pomtof view of strict international law his conduct was inde- fensible. but much may be forgiven to a man who has always had at heart the welfare and greatness of the Empire. lubkc curiosity was on tiptoe yesterday to ascertain if the retiring High Commissioner at the Cape could be implicated in the international offence, but it appears that Sir Hercules Robinson merely knew there was likelv to be a disturbance at Johannesburg, and promised to go up there when the insurrection broke out and arrange terms of settlement with the Loers. Lord Loch, the previous High Commissioner, had gone further than this, as he had determined, if order was disturbed, himself to march troops into the Transvaal for the protection of the lives and property of British subjects. Everyone now admits that this washing of dirty linen in Westminster Hall can do no possible good. The South African Committee can serve only one purpose: it may help to provide President Kruger with materials for justifying the little bill he has just preserted to the British Government. Mr. Chamber- lain whom natural antagonism to Sir illiam Harcourt is converting into a warm defender of Mr. Rhodes, provoked much laughter in the House of Commons on Thursday by the scornful way in which he read out the par- ticulars of this Bill. But M". Kruger is an awkward man to jest with. He nas an un- pleasant way of tumin? the 1'Uigh against ^eople who try to make him look ridictnoiis. limy information is correct—and it comes from a very good source—he has not put forward his bill without "meaning mischief or without having the mean« at hand for settling the account. The English Government, it is assumed, will neither pay the money itself nor cause the chartered company or Mr. Rhodes to pay it. But there is oae thing we must not lose sight of, that Mr. Knoaes and his friends have very large interests at stake in the goldiields at Johannesburg, and that their property lies at the mercy of the Transvaal Government, who might seize it in satisfaction of claims based upon an insurrec- tion in which it is now proclaimed to the world that Mr. Rhodes was an accomplice, and, probably, the leading spirit. No doubt 11 p the confiscation of this property would be a very high-handed act, but President Kruger is understood by those who know him best to have some such scheme in his head, and how is lie to be prevented from carrying it out unless England goes to war with the Trans- vaal, winch she would not do 011 such a pre- text? Words, as Mr. Chamberlain has found out, have no effect whatever in turning Mr. Kruger from his purpose. It may be said that the Boers have already exacted heavy ransom from the Reform leaders. But these sums were levied on individuals who took part in the insurrection. Mr. Kruger never agreed to forego his claim against the men who organised the whole affair. Mr. Rhodes is the vne man he hates and fears, and whom he will stick at notliing to bring to ruin. Preposterous, therefore, as the President's bill may seem, it cannot be lightly dismissed. Mr. Gham>berlain is fond of infusing new blood into the diplomatic service of the Colonies, and his bold stroke in picking out a perfectly new man to till the great and difficult position of High Commissioner at the Cape^ is applauded by tho press with a unanimity that is perfectly marvellous. The choice of Sir Alfred Milner to succeed Lord Rosmead is, however, quite unexceptionable. Sir Alfred has had a. singularly fortunate and brilliant career. Coming to London with a great university reputation, he quickly won distinction as a journalist, and then had the advantage of a thorough financial training as private secretary to Mr. Goschen. who placed great confidence in him, and to whom he owed his rapid advancement,—first, to high office in Egypt. where lie studied Imperial statecraft under Lord Cromer, and then to the lucrative post of Chairman of the Inland Revenue Com- missioners. Sir Alfred has turned his oppor- tunities to the best account, as readers of his book on Egypt know. He is not only prudent in counsel, but has a pleasant manner, which has gained him hosts of friends, and, in spite of his remarkable success, he appears so far to have made no enemies. It is said that he has not yet been placed in a position of inde- pendence to test his strength of character, but he has done so well in subordinate offices that no one will grudge him the opportunity which is now placed within his reach. Mr. Brodrick's reply to Major Wyndham- Quin's remarks on tiie unprotected state of the ports in the Bristol Channel is not very re- assuring. The Under Secretary for War says that the matter has not been lost sight of, and that a comprehensive scheme of defence is now under consideration; but the only money set apart in the Estimates for your benefit is the sum of JB 1,500. to be spent on a battery at Barry. If war should break out this year, there is nothing to prevent an enemy's cruisers which have evaded the vigilance of "the British fleet from slipping up the Bristol Channel and burning all the supplies of coal for the Navy stored at the various ports from Swansea to Newport. Is it not an absurdity that we should spend millions of money in fortifying our coaling stations abroad, and leave our principal coaling-stations at home quite un- protected ? The debate on the second reading of the Education Bill died of inanition. Nothing more wearisome could be imagined than the perfunctory speeches delivered from the Front Opposition Bench. Now that the Committee stage its in sight we are once more threatened with a repetition by the Welsh Radicals of their teasing tactics of last session. They have all vied with one another in the display of the ingenuity with which they can weave together countless amendments intended to obstruct the progress of the Bill. This kind of opposition succeeded last year because the Ministerialists themselves were divided in opinion as to the merits cf Sir John Gorst's Bill, but it will meet a different fate this year. The Welsh Radicals always remind me of the Liliputians. who industriously wove 1 network of ropes over and around Gulliver's sleeping form to tie him down to the earth, but as soon as he arose and shook himself the whole gossamer fabric fell to pieces. The Government is doing very well with its ad- ministrative business and with the chief legis- lative measure of the session. Its defeat on Wednesday, when some fifty Unionises voted for the Boilers Bill, was due to the mismanage- ment of Mr. Jesse Collings, who had not rightly understood his instructions, and who ought to have let the Bill pass its second read- ing with a view to amending it in Committee. Conservatives are sick of having their names held up to public odium by representatives of the working classes for opposing one year some petty measure or another which the next year, after the mischief has been done, their Government accepts RS natural and reasonable. Legislation of the Boilers Bill type always seems to me to belong to the region of the infinitely little, and to be not worth quarrelling about among sensible people who are alive to the vast importance of questions of foreign and Colonial policy.

CONSERVATIVE MEETING AT SWANSEA. I SPEECH BY SIR JOHN LLEWKLYN. A meeting under the auspices of the Swau- sea Town Conservative Association was held at the Albert-hall, Swansea, on Saturday even- ing. for the purpose of hearing a political speech from Sir J. T. D. Llewelyn, M.P. for the division. Mr. Roger Beck, president of tlis association, took the chair, and there were on the platform Lady Llewelyn, Miss Dillwyn, Messrs. C. L. Bath, Joseph Hall, A. Mason, Miss Mason, &c. The President, in a brief address, intro- duced Sir John, who said he had intended con- fining his remarks to the education question, but first he would refer to one or two other political questions. The foreign relations of our country were in a very anxious condition -perhaps there never had been a more anxious time than during the past twelve months. He believed Great Britain at the present moment was in a better position to keep the peace of the world than ever before. There was now civil war in Crete, and they knew not what a day might bring forth. The in- tention of tli/e Government, as clearly ex- pressed in the House of Commons, was to maintain the ascendancy of the united Powers of Europe. They trusted there would be a permanent peaceful settlement of this grave danger. It was not for him to prophecy events, but they would agree with him that the Powers would be able to settle matters in a better way than to let Turkey and (Greece fight the matter out between them. Another matter cn which the Government had fulfilled its pledges was in regard to South Africa. With, regard to the proposed arbitration treaty with, the United States, Sir John expressed his confidence that the proposed treaty had a greater force behind it than any Government, namely, the approval of the whole civilised nations, and he felt sure that the enlightened American nation would in the long run see that the treaty was not rejected. With regard to the strength of the Navy, he considered the grants m the light of protecting the mercantile marine and their coaling stations, and as a sort of national insurance. Sir John proceeded to treat of the Education Bill, which had been carried by a. majority larger than could have been got if the question had been a purely party one. He believed they must have State aid as distinguished from rate aid. He objected to take money from the rates, because it must lead to handing over th) manage'nent to the ratepayers, and they objected to teachers being foisted upon thein w ho would be inimical to their religious teach- ing. The second Bill, to aid necessitous board schools likewise, was pigeon-holed, and would certainly follow this Bill. They were net creating injustice in this matter, but only try- ing to remedy inequalities. On the motion of Mr. A. Mason, seconded by Mr. C. L. Batk, a resolution of thanks and Confidence was unanimously passed to &ir John, after which the meeting separated. ?-

THE DEATH OF AN HOSPITAL CHAPLAIN. An inquost was held at Sea ford, Sus-cx, c-n Saturday on the body cf the R*v. Josiah Mills, chaplain at St. Thomas's Hospital, London, who was found dead underneath the cliffs on Friday morning. A medical witness said that dea, was due to a fractured tkuli, apparuitly, causcd by failing from a. height.—The jury re- turn* d a verdict accordingly, adding that there was no evidence to show how the fall occurred.

On Saturday, at the weekly meeting of the Merthyr Hoard of Guardians, a resolution, passed in December last, fixing a period for re-payment of 50 years was rescinded, and it waj agreed that the £ 12,410 to be borrowed for the purpose of erecting the workhouse infirmary should re repaid by such equal half- yearly instalment* as reckoning principal and interest would wipe off the loan in 30 years.

Football Competition LAST WEEK'S WINNERS. The defeat of Newport was evidently unex- pected by the majority of the competitore in our football competition this week. Out of about 4,000 eoujjons received OIlly some twenty bore thu names of the correct winning teams, and out of that number only four had one score absolutely correct. After a very careful scrutiny, we have awarded the first prize, a Bound Volume of Stoddard's Portfolio of Photographs of Scenery and Cities, value l&s., to Mr. J. JAMES, 117, Inverness-place, Cardiff. Who sent in the following coupon: — Probable win- Points Points W'ng ning team. for. agst. points. Cardiff 9 0 9 Swansea 6 0 6 Llanolly 3 0 3 Bristol 505 And the Second Prize, "Beautiful Britain," value 12s. 6d., to Mr. J. HASTINGS, 166, Broadway, Cardiff, Whose forecast was:- Probable win- Points Points Wng ning toaut. for. agst. points. Cardiff 11 3 8 Swansea 3 0 3 Bristol 6 3 3 Llanelly 3 0 3 The actual result was Winning team. Points Points W'ng for. agst. points. Cardiff 12 0 12 Swansea 7 0 7 Bristol 12 11 1 Llanelly 3 0 3 SATURDAY'S RESULTS. SCOTLAND V. IRELAND. Final ecore: — Scotland-—Eight points. Ireland—Three points. CARDIFF V. PENARTH. G. T. M. Cardiff 0 4 0 P^arth 0 0 1 SWANSEA V. NEWPORT. G. T. M. Swansea *114 Newport 0 0 3 'Dropped goal. LLANELLY V. ABERAVON. Final Ecore: G. T. M. Llanelly 0 10 Abeiravon 0 0 0 MOUNTAIN ASH V. PONTYPRIDD. G. T. M. Mountain Ash *2 0 5 Pontypridd 0 0 3 penalty. NEATH V. BRISTOL. NEATH V. BRISTOL. G. T. M. Bristol 210 Neath 1 2 0 LLWYNYI'IA V. TREORKY. G. T. M. Lhvynypia 2 3 0 Treorkcy 0 0 0 BRIDGEND V. l'ENYGRAIG. (J T. M. Ppnysraig 1 2 0 Bridgend 0 10 MOUIvTSTON" V. LAMPETER fOLLEGE. G. T. M. Morriaton *3 2 0 Lampeter 0 1 2 *One dropped. CARDIFF RESERVES V. PENARTH SECONDS. (i. Y. M. Cardiff Reserves 10 4 8 Penarth Second* 0 0 0 CRUMLIN V. TREHERBERT. G. T. M. Treherbert *2 0 0 Crunilin 1 0 3 One dropped and one penalty. SWANSEA SECONDS V. NEWPORT SECONDS. G T. M. Newport Seconds 0 2 0 Swansea Seconds 0 0 0 PON'milSTKR V. MACKINTOSH (CARDIFF). G. T. M. Pontymister 3 3 0 Mackintosh 0 1 0 TOXDU V. FEItNDALE. G. T M. Tonrtu 1 2 0 Ferndale z. 0 0 2 BARRY V. PONTNEWYDD. G. T. M. Fontnewydd 7. 0 1 2 Barry 0 1 0 CARMARTHEN V. LLANDOVERY CO f.LEGE. G. T. M. Carmarthen 2 4 3 Llandovery College 1 2 0 OTHER LOCAL MATCHES. (Played in each case on the trround of the first- mentioned club.) Al>ergavenny, three goals and one try; Pontymoile, one try. Maindee, one try; Risca, nil. St. Andrew's Viee-catitain's Team, (ne goal and three tries; Captain's Team, two tries. Poi typridil A, one goal and ane try; Pontyellin, one goal and five tries. Wellington United, four tries; Talbot Stars, nil. LbndafT. nit Harlequins, one try. Christ College (Brecon), one try; Brecon Town, two goal* (cne (lrapped). Llanelly A, nil; Hafod (Swansea), one goal and one try. Cinderford, three goals (one penalty) and one try; Btymnawr. penalty goal. Pembroke Dock. two goals; Pembroke, nil. Llwynypia A, nil; Caerphilly, one goal and one try Merthyr Vale, three trips; Ehhw Valp. nil. Cinderford v. Brynmawr.—Played at Cinderford in grand weather. Final score :—Cinderford, three goals (one penalty) and one try; Brynmawr, one penalty goal. ? Gloucester v. Cheltenham.—Played at Cheltenham in gorand weather. Final score:—Gloucester, five tries; Cheltenham, nil. COUNTY MATCHES. ). At South Shields. Durham, three goals and two trips; Westmoreland, nil At Castleford. Cumberland, three tries; Yorkshire, one penalty goal. ASSOCIATION. Coals. Swansea 3 Brecon 1 CARDIFF TEACHERS V. ROATH JUNIORS. Goal*. Cudiff Teachers 3 Roath Juniors 1 BARRY DISTRICT V. EBBW VALE. Barry District 5 Ebbw Vale 1 OTHER LOCAL MATCHES. St. Margaret's Reserves v. Cowbridge School.— Abandoned. Penarth, seven croali; Barry, nil. llogerstone v. New Tredegar.—Not played.

BILLIARDS. THE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH. A great attendance patronised the Roherts-Peall contest of 24,000 up, in which Peall has 12,000 start, on Saturday afternoon. At the outset, neither man could make anything like a. decent break, Peall in particular cutting up badly. Roberts put some life into the proceedings with a 176. Still continuing to do best, the scratch man further compiled 79, 63, 46, and 45, while Peall did nothing beyond a 52. Roberts then began to play in his best form. He amassed breaks of 401, 233, and 70. Peall finished up play with a 66. He only scored during the after- noon 311 points in 25 innings, and Roberts aggregated 1.265. Interval fcares :-Peall, 17,313; Roberta 5.118. In the evening the champion commenced in marvellous form, and, scoring 259, 110, and 186, locked like having matters all his own way. How- ever, when at 17,337 against 9,682, Peall set to work in earnest, and immensely improved his position with successive breaks of 108, 136, and 149. Then Peail remained idle for a while, and RoI>crts, continuing to plav finely, ran up 100 and 317, reaching 10,154 to 17,759. At his next opening Peall put in one of the prettiest breaks of the evening—173, the last 90 of which were off the red ball alone. Afterwards Roberts mads 123 and 52, and Peall 30 and 27 un- finished, the totals at the close being—Peall, 18 002 Roberts, 10,357. The latter is thus 1,643 behind his requisite number of points.

RAID ON A LONDON CLUB. At an early hour on Sunday morning the police raided the premises known as the Cosmo- politan Club, Earl's-court, Leicester-square. London, and effected 51 arrests. It is stated tint the police Oil entering found gambling in progress. ?-

At the usual meeting of the Monmouth Guardians on Saturday Thomas Jones, who has been fifteen years superintendent of labour at Pontypool Workhouse, was appointed master of the Monmouth Workhouse, to fill the vacancy caused by the strange disap- I>ea»ancB of the former master (Mr T. fiunter). There were 21 applicant* fur the aituatfem,

The Gould Dispute I DECISIVE ACTION BY THE j NEWPORT CLUB. WILL RETIRE FROM THE ENGLISH UNION. Probable Course of the Welsh. Union, —-Likely to Withdraw FROM the 'I International Bo.ird We learn that the Newport Club will to-day withdraw from the English Union, and that it is among the imme- diate probabilities that the Welsh Rugby Union will sever all connection with the Inter- national Board. 0000:

Welsh Athlete's Notes on Saturday's Matches U There was at least one surprise in South Wales football on Saturday, that is the defeat of Newport- by Swansea. Still, wbca one comes to consider the absence from the Uskside orga- nisation of Could. James, Dauncey, and 1'ar- sons, it must inevitably occur to one's mind that the Newport ranks were cotn-idcra-bly weakened. Llanelly had, by ail accounts, a narrow escape for their record, whil.-t the bad luck that has followed Neath of late stuck to them on Saturday. Saturday's results bring the records of the South "Wales clubs up to date a. follows:- Club. Matche3. Points. P. W. L. D For Ag. Llwynypia 25 24 0 1 447 36 Llaneilv 22 20 0 2 197 31 Newport 20 17 2 1 268 43 Mountain Ash. 25 18 2 5 325 43 Swansea 25 19 4 2 272 55 Aberavon 20 15 5 0 209 42 Cardiff 20 14 5 1 196 71 Penarth 23 12 8 3 133 98 Neath 27 8 15 4- 110 12b In the Glamorgan League there was only one game played, that between Llwynypia and Treorky, so that there is no material alteration in the list .which is as follows Club. Matches. Points. AV. L. D. F. A. L.P. Llwynypia 9 0 1 197 9 19 Treiierbert 6 0 3 113 13 15 Mountain Ash. 6 1 3 139 27 15 Pontvpridd 5 7 1 53 145 11 Barry 3 6 3. 34 41 9 Penvgraig 3 5 1 27 44 7 Merthyr 3 5 1 26 141 7 Treorky 3 8 0 62 113 6 Ferndale 1 6 0. 7 68 2 Coming to club matches, the game between Cardiff and Penarth was regular ding-dong game from start to fini^i. There was no question as to which was the better team. for Cardiff were quite four times across the line better than the seaeiders. The locals have gone down a good deal of late. They opened the season in a most promising fashion, but they have had the bad luck to lose a number of good men, and their area of selection being so exceedingly small they have never been able to properly fill the vacancies. Against Car- diff they played a hard, vigorous game, but they were outclassed, Shepherd at half being, perhaps, the only man on his side that anything like held his own. The forwards were a bit smart in the loose, and one must give them credit, for the fact that they stayed, perhaps, a bit longer than Cardiff did. One or two of them, however, displayed an unappreciable tendency to pflay on after the whistle had blown. There were one or two changes in the Cardiff pack, G. Dobson and M'Intyre being included. There is no doubt that both of them justified their selection. G. Dobson played as good a game as his brother, and that is saying a good deal. M'Intyre worked hard, and did plenty of following up. Of the old 'uns, T. Dobson, Abbott, and Phillips quite maintained their big reputation. Of the half-backs, both Biggs and Klliott- did a Hot of good work. Shepherd, on the other side, I have mentioned above. Nicholls, of course, stood out head and shoulders above any other back on the field. He is playing a wonder- ful gams just now, and is unquestionably the finest centre three-quarter in Wales. Both Driseoll and Thomas did well, but Jones per- sisted in hanging on a bit too long. He has just that requisite amount of devil for a dash- ing wing, but, to my mind, lacks discretion as a centre. None of tlle Penarth three-quarters were any great shakes, whilst their fufll-bax-k, as compared with Clenience, is a long way behind in point of merit. Wuifield was the better back of the two, but even he did not come up to the reputation that he enjoys. Swansea distinctly popularised themselves amongst their supporters on Saturday by their very pretty win over Newport-a, win which appears to have been gained on their merits, although Newport in the first half had more tlmr. one case of distinctly hard lines, notably Pearson's attempt at a drop goal, the ball striking the posts. Nevertheless, no one will begrudge Swansea their victory after the form they showed in the last twenty minutes of the game, when Newport had to play fcr all they were worth to keep down the sccro. Talk about the new rules and lying on ihe ball, boys! By Jove, Newport could not afford to be very particular towards the end on Satur- day. The game, on the whole, was generally voted one of the at any rate, one most full of incident—ever seen on the Swansea ground. Rarely have so many exciting things been compressed 4nto the short space of one game, and the teams went at full speed from start to finish. The absence of Gould, Daunoev, and Jamea from tho three-quarters must, ut course, bo remembered in connection with the deieat. W hat would have been the ca- e if they had been present it is, of course, impossible to foresee. Considering that Newport have always managed to put their best team ;n the held against Swansea, w hilst Swansea are generally at tixes and sevens when they meet, n is, perhaps, not altogether such a matter of regret to see things tho other way for once. Possibly, Gould, Dauncey, and James might, by their superIOrIty over the Swansea, quartette, have changed the aspect of the game, notwithstanding the evident advantage held by Swansea, at forward and half, but 1 can hardly believe this, because- it was the inability of the halves to get the ball which brought about the defeat. Another thing, if the. question is dispas- sionately thought out, one cannot believe that the Newport quartette were at all inferior as constituted on Saturday to the four Davieses, who have been brought together from all parts and met (as a whole company) for the first time on Saturday. I believe the Newport lot to be at least their equals, and when they got the ball they wore always more dangerous. So that, to follow the argument out, the three- quarters being fairly even, tho match was a fairer test of the all-round merits of the teams than if, say, A. J. Gould had run in a couple of tries individually, only to see the Newport lot afterwards pressed all through the second half, as was the case on Saturday. General regret was expressed at Swansea over the absence of Gould. Newport at the opening showed some of their smartness, and the quartette ware by no means found wanting when they got the ball. Indeed, Swansea seemed so slow that it was "all the world to a red herring" but that they would be handsomely beaten on this form. Gradually, however, matters changed, and it ninct be con- ceded that the Swansea forwards gradually woro down the Newport eight, and prevented the backs getting the ball except on very rare occa- sions. It was whiilst the game was going fairly even, however, and the ball was travellmg from end to end of the field, that Swansea scored their drop goal and try, not when opposition had been worn down and Swansea seemed to have it all their own way; then they never scored at all. Pearson had bad luck in the first half. To get up to the line twice with a good chance of crossing, and then to throw back and lose it, was perhaps partly bad management; but to strike the posts with the ball was distinctly ill luck. Notwithstanding what I regarded as mistakes near the line on Saturday, however, Pearson played, on the whole, a splendid game, and was played, on the whole, a splendid game, and was of great use to his side. The two Newport halves would unquestionably have been upsides with the Jameses if the forwards had been able to give them the ball. However, the Jameses got the ball three times out of four, and the quartette did very fairly with it, although the passing was often slow. George Da vies's drop- goad was a smart and clever one. He appeared to be about to hand the ball on, when he took a drop on the run, and it succeeded beautifully. Swansea's try which followed was a luc-kv one, and wa" due to Hannen throwing out the ball wildly in his 25, with a view of removing play. Da vies snapped it up, and got in without diffi- culty. After this, however, Swansea, with moderate luck, dhould have added two tries. Jackson threw one away in exactly the same way as Pearson had done. The best thing done by the new three-quarter, Tom Davies, was his run from over hdlf-way right to 1he Newport line, and he well deserved a try, but it appears he knocked down the corner flag and got into touch somehow, after a grand effort. It will be seen from this that there was ill-luck cn both sides. Thomas was safe at full back for Newport, and in this respect compared favourably with Bancroft, who was at his gallery tricks again, but t-ha internatiosai'n fc^Mkiw*. was twice ■» in mm«uimjuj «umMii.lii.mniiimi«u,i> wib -? as big as Thomas's. The three-quarters, as I have said, were well matched, but Swansea's lot got most chances. Beasley justified his selec- tion for Newport, he and Pearson being pro- bably better than the two Swansea wings opposed to them. The centres were hardly as good as the Swansea men. The halved I hava spoken of as good ail round. Amongst the for- wards, A. Jones. Grey, and Jackson were tho) choice pickings of the Swansea eight, whilst to give three names out of a very even Newport eight I should select Groves, Sawteii, ar.d Porter. To sum up the whole game, both teair.s had pool luck and lost chances of scoring on Saturday, but, on the whole, Swansea were quite seven better than Newport in a. very fast and exciting coniesi. Llanelly (eays my Aberavon correspondent! were exceedingly lucky in their win over Aber- .H OIl. as on the day's form the Afonites were the better team, and should have smudged the visitors' record, or, to say the least of it, the match should have been a drawn one. The try obtained by Llanelly was a very soft one. and Aberavon is much to blame for it. Where the Afor.itea had a distinct pull was at forward. Never before did the Afon lads show up so well; they completely overpowered the visiting pack in the tight serums and in the loose. Vigorous onslaughts upon the Llanelly citadel were made continuously, but to Llanelly much praise must be given for the gallant mauner in which they defended their position. D. Jones, as usual, made some grand open- ings. but the lightning tackling of the visitor* prevented the Afon quartette getting in motion as much as they would have done. What passing took place was done "by the Afon quar- tettp. Llanelly's opportunities were verv small, but when an opening was made thfv took full advantage of it. Both hackts did ail that was required of them, and played a sterling i^ame. The 1'iat-ch be'ween Neath and Bristol w.is one of 15ie most interesting -iiid exciting gain»>s ever played on the Bird-in-Uand Field. Up to-the (last moment the issue was in doubt, end the visitors may thank their lucky stars for that g-nt I of Burras. dropped in the first five minutes of the game, for it enabled them to win by a point. L do not mean to sav that Brist.ol did not play a good game. They are a vastly improved organisation. Bui; their win was not a meritorious one on Saturday, for reallv the better team lost. At forward Xeath held the pull all the way through. The eight, promi- nent among whom was Johnson, the recruit, all piayed a sterling game, and outclassed the opposing pack in all respects. Neath crossed the visitors' line five times altogether, but two of the points were disallowed for irregulari- ties. At half ('. Powell did not do very well, and Hopkins, his partner, had very little chance o-f shining, although the home forwards were Lenl- ing cut in grand style. Had AV. J. "Williams been playing with Hopkins. I think the home quartette would have done TIt U'.h letter. II. Jones and J. Rees were unquestionably- the pick ) of the home four. Alec Cross was off. I can- not remember that he gave W. M. Jones a. single chance during the whole of the game. Once, in front of the, posts. Cros3 tried a i-hot for goal when a pass to Y\. M. Jones would have remlted in the latter scoring easiily. Tn the circum- stances. one cannot blmne W. M. Jones. At full-back George Brooks played a fine game, and was Illuch better than Sinithson. Now as to the Bristol team. The forwards, although outclassed, played with dogged per- sistency. The backs, for the most part, made their own openings, and in the&e circumstance* it speaks volumes for their ability to state that they were much better than the Neath four. Parsons was the "giant" among his fellows. His brillliant run practically the whole length of the field was one of the finest features of the game. The other incident, which for combination was the best, was the fine try scored for Neath by Hopkins, after some inter-passing between Harrv Jones and J. Rees. Needs was the cleverest half on the field, althollg-h the old recruit, I'earce, did fairly well. I have seen Smithson give many better exhibitions than on Saturday. Pontypridd are about the most unlucky team in the Glamorgan League this year. They are still sore about the hard lines they experienced 'It aii ace o when they came within an ace of beating Llwynypia, and the Fates denied them more than a draw. On Saturday they had to swallow a defeat by Mountain Ash, and content them- selves with the probabilities of the issue had not their proverbial hard luck again assailed tr.f/Il1. Pontypridd have suffered from a chopping-and-changing policy, which left them an ill-combined rear division, but the hopes of their supporters rose when the new committee was appointed, and a ra.pid improvement has been visible. The magnificent form they showed a week ago was not repeated oil Saturday, but they were still strong enough, playing fourteen men three-parts of the time, to keep Mountain Ash from crossing their line more than once, and they were strong enough to find good cause for complaint against the luck which kept them so near, and yet so far, from the Mountain Ash goal. The back division still is the weak spot in the team, but there were many signs on Satur- day that, with better-studied combination, Pontypridd will be able to put a. really dan- gerous lot on the field. The combination they lacked on Saturday lost them the match. Strangely enough—and there are evident con- clusions to be drawn therefrom—they played a considerably stronger game in the second half than in the first, and played it, too, with Chick disabled and only seven men in the forwards. Take the game all round, Mountain Ash had the better of it, but Pontypridd were not up to form. Both teams had a trio of absentees, and what with that, the terrible blotches of sticky mud on the field, the late start, and the presence of irregular players in the teams, the match was a disappointing one. Mountain Ash supporters are also growling about their committee's selections, and its members are freely accused of eccentricity, and worse. For- ward the teams were well matched; behind. Mountain Ash had a decided pull, thanks mainly to Phillips and Hoskins. Pontypridd came out of the contest with honour, if not with victory. The favourite forward on Satur- day was Phillips, certainly one of the best forwards on the field. Considerable dissatis- faction is expressed at Mountain Ash at the fact that the club representatives did not put hun iOruard as a nominee for the League team. Penygraig had almost the same team on Satur- day against Bridgend as the week previous, when they defeated Mountain Ash. The asvlum town team was also well represented, and a reDllr good game was witnessed, the play being fast and open all through. Although the visitors won by a goal and two tries to a try, they had very little if any, advantage in actual play, and Bridgend had often very hard lines in not 1 lie new rules were not, popular, nor did they enhance the interest of the game from a spectator's point of view. D. Evans, Rhapps, and Davies did some sterling work forward for Penygraig, and their fuUl-back, T. Jones, played a magnificent game, kicking grandly, and show- ing sound judgment on all occasions. The throe-quarters had not much to do, Salmon. Thomas, and Glendenning parsing nicelv together when they got the ball. On the home side Hayman, H. and W. Deere, Bevan. Emery, Hitt, and Pratt are deserving of special 10 mention, and, indeed, the whole team plaved one of the finest games they have done this season, and had there been a little better com- bination, Penygraig would have found them a much harder nut to crack. Tha match between Llwynypia and Treorky aroused the utmost interest in the Rhondda Valley. In the northern part of the vade people were on the tiptoe of excitement, for, although it was never seriously expected that the Llwynypia record would be smudged, yet the fact remained that ,ori their own ground Treorkv play a very determined game, and are by no means an easv team to beat. This fact was rwognised by Llwynypia themselves, and their captain deemed it advisable to take up the strongest team he could gather. In doing thid lie displayed wisdom, for, although the cham- pions won by nineteen points to nil, the match was by no means a gift or one-sided affair. As a matter of fact, the score, in my opinion, does not adequately represent tho nature of the game. Llwynypia deserved to win, and to win fairly substantially, but Tieorky had very hard lines in not scoring at least one and poesibly two tries. They started off at a terrific pace. and, much to my surprise, they lasted better than the champions. But. although they excelled in determination and dash, they lacked combination, and they always seemed to fail at th3 critical moment. That they can play the passing game. if thev choose, was proved by one very smart bout of passing between the three-quarters, but this was practicellv the only occasion on which the quartette got in motion. Llwynypia, on the other hand, showed some very smart handwork, and three of their five tries were directly due to tricky passing. Bob Jones's trv was a very soft thine, and ought never to have been obtained. Treorkv were caught napping. The whole of the five tries were scored in the first half, and Treorkv are to be congratulated upon the plucky way they played in the second moiety of the game. They did most of the pressing, and although Llwyny- pia occasion silly broke awav with a typical burst it must be admitted that the homesters had slightly the best of matters. To sum up, I can only repeat that Llwynypia were the better team and deserved to win, whilst Tre- orky's pluck should have been awarded bv a score Forward the tea mp were well matched, but behind the scrums the Rhondda champions held an advantage.

Mr. D. Sirm Rees, agent for North'8 Steam Naviga- tion Colliecy. Maesteg, and Mr. David Davies, the manager cf the Ktme. col'-iery, were summoned at Bridgend Petty Si'ssious on Saturday by Yr. Robson. her Majesty's chief inspector of mines. for contra- vening Ruics ] and 10 of the Mines Act by not having adequate ventilation in the mine, at Ma^steg, on December 14 and January 7 After hearing evt* .dthe jBtudakates disrajawA tba CM