Evening Express

-T DATIC. f- Trmpkrator*. I Rainfall I Max. Uill- .Mean. 9 a.m.!9 p.m. Total Tuesday [14! 49 39 U40 '33 "33 "66 Wednesday. 15| 54 ,44. 49'5 '56 'CO "56 I liursday .i 16 f>7 48 &i"5 "12 "00 "12 Friday Il7j 53 45 49"0 '02 "00 02 Saturday 18: 47 40 4j*5 "00 '00 *00 Sunday 19 46 39 42*5 *00 *-60 *00 Afouday'20' "00

Telephone: National. 502; Post-office, 95. Telegrams: Express," Cardiff.

CARDIFF UNION FINANCE COMMITTEE. The monthly meeting of the Cardiff Union Finance Committee was held at the Union Offices on Monday, under the presidency of Alderman Jacobs. One of the matters before the committee for settlement was the question as to additional representation in the Cardiff borough parishes of the union as a set-off against the proposed increase of two members for the Barry Dock district. After considerable discussion it was decided to recommend to the Cardiff County Council and the Glamorgan Council, who have to decide the matter, that an addi- tional member be appointed for the Roath parish and one for the Canton parish, together with two additional members for the Barry Dock district.-The question of bringing into force the new arrangements proposed and sanctioned by the Local Go* veinment Board for the relieving officer's districts was brought forward, and it was decided that the new arrangements should be operative from the commencement of the New Year.—The question of providing a central relief station was thought to be of such importance that a sub-committee was appointed to consult with the relieving officers as to the best method of carrying out the decision of the board. An apph- cation was made by Mr. W. Cox, assistant collector, for an increase of salary, and, after some discussion, it was agreed to recommend an increase of £ 10, making his remuneration JL:110 per year.—Mr. Scott applied for extra remuneration in conse- quence of his having contracted typhoid fever whilst engaged in his official duties as clerk of works, and a sub-committee was appointed to go into the question and report to the board.—It was also decided that a recommendation should be made to the joint urban and district councils in favour of dividing the parishes of St. John and St. Mary into two districts, and thz! clerk was instructed to prepare alterna- tive schemes showing how* this. could be done.—It was decided that the yacant offices in the registrar's buildings in Charles-street should be offered to the registrar of births and deaths at a rental of £ 30 per annum inclusive of rates and taxes.

LIBERALS AND THEIR PRO- GRAMME. SPEECH BY SIIv H. CAMPBELL- BANNERMAN Sir H. CampbeIl-Banneriran. M P was the guest of the Scottish Reform Clnb at a dinner in the Royal Hotal, Edinburgh, on Monday, over which Captain Sinclair, M.P., presided. Sir Henry, replying to the toast of his health, referred to the late Sir F. Lockwood as a gen in 1, able, iloquent, charming fellow, who was thoroughly sound en all Liberal questions. As Liberals they had during the last dozen years been tried in the fire. Year by year they had been abused and derided with a recklessness seldom equalled in the history of political war- fare, for no other reason than that they were seeking to apply in practice the principles which their party had always held. It was on those principles and ideas that was based the political system of the whole of Western Europe, of the States of both Americas, and of every self-governing Colony under the British Crown. The supporters of the Government had been asking the party to frame a programme. It was not wise in any warfare to give earliest information to the enemy. Details would settle themselves. No one doubted on which side the Liberal party would be ranged in the great questions of the day that were, aud nwuid be, before the country. (Cheers.)

Cardiff Boundaries. A well-attended parish meeting was held on Monday night in the National School- room at Llandaff to consider the represen- tation by the Cardiff Corporation to the Local Government Board for an alteration of the boundary of the county borough -so as to include therein the whole of the Parish of Llandaff. The Rev. J. R. Buckley (vicar), as chairman of the parish council, presided, and opened the proceed- ings with a lengthened statement of the scheme the corporation propose. The Vic&r said they were told first there were residents in Llandaff who had made their money in Ca-rdifi. WeJl, these gentlemen, he supposed, had contributed to the pros- perity of the town, and had paid, and still paid, their fair share of the rates. (Hear, hear.) It was said they were indebted to Cardiif for their water supply. Quite true, but that was purely a commercial transac- tion between the Llandaff Rural District Council and the Cardiff Corporation. The latter agreed to lay the mains, subject to a minimum^rental of £ 400 a year, and it had been to the interests of the corporation to supply them. Then it was said Cardiff markets were largely used by the inhabi- tants of the district, and that was true, not only of the places proposed to be taken in, but of all the -surrounding parishes, to their mutual advantage. (Hear, hear.) further, it was agreed that Llandaff enjoyed the use of the parks and open spaces, and that the corporation had agreed to the purchase of Liandaff fields. But they enjoyed the Llandaff Fields already, and, as to the parks, they were surrounded by Nature's parks. (Hear. hear.) Gas. after inclu- sion, they were told would be supplied by the gas company, but surely it was to the interests of the company to increase their lighting area. It was perfectly true, also. that they used the infirmary and other charitable institutions, but the funds that supported the infirmary were largely con- tributed by outlying parishes. The pro- moters claimed that the scheme would im- prove their legal administration, but, so far as he knew, they in Llandaff had never had reason to complain, and were well satisfied with the services of the great unpaid. They were at the same time to have a sana- torium, while they themselves, had endea- voured to find a site for an infectious hos- pital of their own. As to electric lighting being a source of revenue, it might turn out to be so, but it was within their knowledge that certain enterprising people had already applied to the rural district council to light Llandaff and Llanishen by elec- tricity. After referring to questions of drainage and sanitation and other matters of local interest, the Vicar said they would like to know what the new rating would be supposing they were included in the borouo-h The average in Cardiff for the years 1895-7 was 5s. ljd. in the £ In Llandaff for the same period it was only 3s. 5d.. and this year it was only 3s. 2d. (Hear, hear.) He contended that the present system of con- trol was equal to any emergency, and that if they became part and parcel of Cardiff they would have no greater advantages. Mr. Jonas Watson proposed a resolution formally disapproving of the scheme and pressing the Local Government Board'to rem-e the aWiea-tioii. Dan Harding seconded. Mr. Fitzgerald proposed an amendment to the effect that on social, sanitary and economic grounds it was to the best'inte- rests of Llandaff that the district should be incorporated. The speaker referred to certain defects in the sanitation of Pont- canna and Gabalfa, and to various improve- ments which he believed would be more expeditiously carried through if the district were taken over as suggested. Mr. Arthur Lewis, barrister-at-law in supporting the original resolution, saij he thought the mover of the amendment could hardly have been in earnest when he inserted the word "economic" in his proposition, because if there was one thing more certain than another it was that absorption would mean a large increase in the rates. (Hear, hear.) Mr. John Gunn suggested that the sub- ject should be looked at in a broad and comprehensive spirit, and that the meet- ing would act wisely to consider whether reasonable terms could not be entered into with the corporation to secure that Llan- daff ratepayers for the next ten years should pay no more rates that at present for the advantages prospectively put before them. (Hear, hear.) He believed that sooner or later Llandaff would be incorporated—(cries of "Yes" and "No") —and become a portion of the greater Cardiff of the future. (Applause.) After further discussion the amendment on a division was lost, and the resolution was carried with only a few dissentients, and, on the motion-of Mr. Dornford. it; was further resolved that signatures of the inhabitants be taken to a-petition in oppo- sition to the scheme. AT THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE. At the Cardiff Parliamentary Committee 011 Monday several letters from govern- ing bodies outside the borough were read in reference to the pressed extension of the boundaries. The Whit- church School Board were opposed to the scheme, but gave 110 reasons for their opposition. The Penartn Urban District Council were strongly opposed to the inclusion of their district in the borough, and consequently a meeting between representatives of the two bodies would be useless. They were prepared to take their share in the removal of the turnpike gate on Penarth- road, but, with reference to tramway comtniLni- cation, the Peuarth council reminded the cor- poration that last year they blocked a scheme for an electric tramwav between Cardiff and Penarth.—Mr. Warren, clerk to the Llandaff and Dinas Powis Urban District Council, wanted ten more copies of the scheme, and it was resolved that they be supplied on payment of the cost of printing. The Cardiff Board, of Guardians gave no reply to the town-clerk's-letter.—Mr. Frauk- len, clerk to the Glamorgan Joint Standing Committee, pointed out that there was no pro- vision to compensate the county for two police- stations which existed in the district proposed to be added, or to compensate the magistrates' clerks of Penarth audi Llandaff in regard to patty sessions, or himself in respect of quarter sessions. —The Town-clerk said these were matters whidl cculd be arranged nt the proper time. In 1875 two county police-statioiis were included 111 the 1-crov.gh, one at Roatli, and the other at Canton. The corporation took over the Ho.Üh station, but the county preferred to keep the other.— It was resolved that the Cardiff Railway Com- pany s Bill be not opposed on standing orders, on the company giving a siniibu- undertaking in respect of the corporation Bill and supplying the. borough engineer with a copy of the com- pany's plans. CASE FOR THE EXTENSION. The Town-clerk of Cardiff /Mr. J. L. Wheat- ley' has just prepared the representation to the Local Government Board for an 'alteration of the boundary of the county borough. The statement has been admirably prepared, and the town-clerk was personally congratulated dt the meeting of the Parliamentary committee on Monday morning on the comprehensive docu- ment that had been produced.' The book—for such it is—makes 118 pages, exclusive of the index, and includes many valuable a.nd interest- ing extracts from old charters and agreements affecting the government of the town. There is also a statement of the debts and ratable value of the various parishes and districts sought to be incorporated, together with an exhaustive statement of the present position of the county borough.

ALDERMAN W. JL. v MORGAN AND IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT. Alderman W. H. Morgan, of Pontypridd, has received a copy of the printed report of the debates in the.1\" ev, ZeH 1<111d Honse of Repre- sentatives, in which he finds that during a dis- cussion upon the Imprisonment for Debt Aboli- tion and Small Debts Prevention Bill Mr. G. Fisher, the member for the city of Wellington, quoted at length a letter written by him (Aider- man Morgan) and published in the London ."r;mes" on the 24th of June lust, describing evils arising from tlia exploiting of small aebt\- by debt collectors and limited liability com- panies foniied to force p.'or debtors to discharge their liabilities in full under pain of imprisonment, Mr. Fisher fully agreed with the sentiments ex- pressed by Alderman Morgan.

THREE MINERS KILLEI? NEAR BARNSLEI. II fall of stone oecurred at the &.utb Hiendlv Colliery, near Barnsley. on Monday, by .willeh three miners "'ere killed. No person witnessed the fall, and the men were found dead close by each other.

On Monday afternoon, between four and five o'do<k, <.n extraordinary acüldent happene to the horse and trap belonging to Mr; Thomas Parry, sen., butcher and farmer, of Walford- on-Wye, near Ross. It appears that Mr. Parry was in Ross, and had driven to the Royal Hotel Taps on business, and the hors«* and trap was left standing outside ;n the road, when the animal boftecj along the road 1.;awn" into the Wiiton-road, and when near tlie Royal Hotel, where there is a very sharp turn, darted across the'road and wall opposite, and fell over into the Wilton-roiul, a distance of about 50lt. The horse was injured and the trap considerably daunt zed.

Details of Local Bills. INTENTIONS OF THE CAR- DIFF RAILWAY COMPANY. A SWEEPING MEASURE. c- NEARLY FORTY MILES OF NEW LINES. IMPORTANT CAPITAL CLAUSES. The Cardiff Railway Company have deposited their Bill for nsxt session in the Private Bill Office of the House of Commons. The Bill is, without doubt, one of the most important of the long series of Bute Dock Bills which have been introduced into Parliament in recent years, and a mere glance through the 83 clauses, which are compressed into 63 pages, shows it to be one which is certain to meet with fierce opposi- tion at every available stage. The Bill is oivided, for the sake of convenience, into six parts. Part 1, which contains but three clauses, deals only with preliminary matters, such as the short title, the incorporation in the Bill of the Lands Clauses Acts, 1845, and the Railway Clauses Act, 1863, and the interpretation of certain expressions used in the Bill. NEW RAILWAYS. Part 2 of the Bill embraces Clauses 4 to 40. and contains the really contentious sections. By Clause 4 power is sought to construct the whole of the twenty-five sections of railways which were iully set out in the company's Parliamentary notice—in fact, so far as this clause is con- cerned, the projected railways are described in words identical with those of that notice, except that m the Bill the exact length of each rail- way is given. Railways 1 to 7, which will bt hereinafter known as the Cardiff Lines, are cf an aggregate length of six miles three furlongs three chains, whilst Railways 81.0 25, which will be known as the Canal Lines, are of an aggre- gate length of 32 miles 5 furlongs 5'60 chains, thus bringing- the total mileage of new railways sought to be constructed under this Bill to within a few chains of forty miles. The aggres- sive character and the object of these railways were fully set out in the "Western Mail" of November 22, and the fact that all the lines mentioned in the Parliamentary notice have found their way into the deposited Bill would seem to indicate that the company have no incen- tion at present of abandoning any part of their important projected extensions. The time sought within which to complete the proposed railways is seven years from the passing of the Act. DIVERSION OF MELlNGRIFFITH FEEDER. By Clause 5 power is sought to divert the Melingriffith feeder at a point on the north *side of the branch of the Glamorganshire Canal within the Melingriffith Works, and for this purpose it is proposed to acquire certain lands in the parishes of Whitchurch and Radyr, and 10 maintain the existing weir known as MelinerifKtli W-ii-, "so as to divert the waters of the River Taff into the feeder on the lands acquired and thereby through the diversion of the feeder into the Car- diff section of the Glamorganshire Canal." C'ause 13 enacts that, notwithstanding anything in this Act contained, it shall not be lawful for the coin- pauy to take of the common or cnmmonable lands known as Craig-Evan-Leyshon Common, situate in the parishes of Pontypridd, Llanwonno, and Merthyr Tydfil, more than seven acres, and it shall not be lawful for the company to takg any other common or commonable lands. Clause 14 it is proposed to empower the company (in the case of constructing any railways in tunnels at a depth of 40ft. and upwards below the surface) to purchase only the rieht to con- struct the tunnel under the lands without being obliged to purchase the surface of the land over the tunnel, unless the jury or abitrator to whom the question of disputed compensation is sub- mitted shaJI determine that such a ri-rlit cannot be acquired "without material detriment to the remainder of such lands or property." BRANCH RAILWAYS TO COLLIERIES, kc. Clause 24 provides that the company may from time to time enter into and carry into effect agreements with any owner or lessee of lands or of a colliery or of any other works adjoining or near to any of the railways as to the construc- tion, management, maintenance, working, and use of branch railways, sidings, and junctions on lands belonging to them, to be connected with the railways of the company, and the pro- vision of funds for that purpose. Among the numerous provisions relating to the construction of the proposed, railways, power is sought to 'acquire by agreement for "extraordinary pur- poses" any area of land not exceeding 50 acres. Power is also sought to cross one public road in the parish of Llanwonno on the level, to alter roads, &c., .tempbrartly. and to divert four high- ways in Pontypridd, four at Merthyr Tydfil, one- at Aberdare and one at Lkrnwonno. A clause is also inserted to, require owners to sell parts only of certain lands and buildings, and provisions are inserted "for the conveyance of passengers on the railways." The maximum rates fixed for passengers are the ordinary 3d.. 2d., and Id. per mile for. lst, 2nd, and 3rd class passengers respectively. EXTENSIVE RUNNING POWERS. By Clause 31 the company seek extensive run- ning powers over the whole of the Rhymney Railway system, including that company's leased railways and the Bargoed Taff Branch. Running powers are also sought over so much of the railway in the Taff Valley belonging to the Great Western Company and the Rhynmey Com- pany jointly as lies to the northward of the intended junction of the company's proposed railway; the private railway of Crawshay Brothers, Cyfaftlifa (Limited); so much of the Merthyr Branch Railway belonging to the Brecon Company and the North Western Company, jointly, as is situate to the northward of the junction of the proposed railway with that branch railway; the railway between Rhymney and Nant.ybv.-ch belonging to the North Western Company and the Rhymney Company jointly; the railway of the Great Western Company between the junction therewith of the company's proposed railway and their Cardiff station, in- cluding that station; the railway of the Great Western Company between the termination of the company's proposed railway and the Pond Siding at Hirwain; the railway of the Grout Western Company between the junction there- with of the joint railway of the Great Western Company and the Rhymney Company mm' Glynd vrys Popd and the Merthyr Tydfil Stauon, including that station; the railways of the Brecon Company between Gilfach Junction (in- cluding that junction) and Rhymney tnj dl lines now connecting, or which may be con- structed under the authority of any Act, of Par- liament passed during the present -session, whether in the hands of the Brecon Company, the Barry Railway Company, or of any other company, so as to connect the Brecon and Mer- thyr Tydfil Junction Railway with the Rhymney Railway, and also the railways of the Brecon Company northward of the point of junction therewith of any such railway, and also the rail- ways of the Brecon Company north of Deri Junction. FACILITIES FOR THROUGH TRAFFIC. Clause 33 provides that in respect of all traffic destined to or from the company's railways to the railways of the Rhymney, the Taff, the Great Western the North Western, the Midland, the Alexandra (Newport and South Wales) Docks, the Brecon, -and the Khondda and Swansea, Bay Companies, the following provision. is to have tffect: Each of those companies respectively shall give to the company and all persons lawfully working or using their railways or any part thereof all such facilities as are usual and useful for the convenient working and development of railway traffic. Clause 34 empowers the com- pany to enter into agreements with the Rhymney Company, the Taff Vale Company, the Great, Western Company, the North Western Com- pauy, the Midland Company, the Alexandra (Newport, and South Wales) Docks and Railway Company, the Brecon and Merthyr Company. and the Barry Company. STrINGENT OBLIGATIONS ON THE TAFF VALE COMPANY. Clause 35 enacts that the- Taff Vale Company shall punctually .ntdregnlarhri-orwaTd and afford all reasonable facilities for goods and mineral traffic destined for or coming from the under- taking of the company from or to Treforest or any place northward thereof at rates per mil- not greater than the lowest rate which shall for the time being be charged by the Taff Vale Com- pany for like traffic to or from the docks at Catdiff, Penafth, or Barry, and shall deliver all such traffic into and take the same from the ccnipi.ny's sidings at Treforest, without any terminal or -other charge in respect thereof, and the company shall in <;H respects be placed on at least as favourable a footing as any other company. with regard to traffic exchanged with the Taff Vale Company. A further provision enacts that if the Railway Commissioners shall decide that the Taff Vale Company have failed to forward such traffic or to give the necessary facilities, and shilll not remedy such failure, then the company shall acquire the right to run over so much of the railways belonging to, or leased, or worked by the Taff Vale Com panv as is situate to the northward, or westward, or eastward of the junction with the Taff Vale Railway of Railwav No. 6 authorised by the Act of 1897, provided always that whenever the company shall exprcise these running powers the TJaff Vale Company shall during the period of such powers being exercised be relieved and discharged from any obligation to deliver traffic to the company at Treforest. ABANDONMENT OF LINES. By Clause 38 the company are empowered to abandon several sections of the railways autho- rised last session, the construction of which will become unnecessary if the projected railways are all sanctioned. ACQUISITION OF THE CANAL UNDER- TAKINGS. By Part 3, which comprises Clauses 41 to 51, the company are empowered at any time within three years from the passing of the Act to require the Glamorganshire Canal Company and the Aberdare Canal Company to sell to them their undertakings, "for such consideration in cash or shares of the company, or partly in cash and partly in shares, and on such terms and con- ditions as may be agreed, or. in default of agreement, as may be settled by arbitration." Upon the transfer of the undertakings being com- pleted the respective canal companies are to be dissolved. With reference to these canals, the preamble of the Bill states that the Glamorgan- shire Canal Company have now no mortgage debt, and that tho mortgage debt of the Aber- dare Canal Company only amounts to £ 6,000, which is now vested as to jE2,000 in the Marquess of Bute and as to. the remaining £4,000 in trustees for the Glamorganshire' Canal Com- pany. CLOSING OF CANALS. The fourth part of this Bill, which comprises Clauses 52 to 58, confers powers on the company to close for traific the beds of the two canals, "and of all navigable cuts or branch canals con- nected with either of them, and to stop up their to\ving-]x;ths, and to divert their waters into the River Taff or the River Cynon, as the case be, except as regards the portion of the Glamorgan- shire Canal which lis34 southward of the Melin- griffith Lay-bye, and the company shall not be under any obligation td maintain or keep open the said canals, or either of them, or any lock, wharf, quay, or other work connected therewith pxcept the said portion of the Glamorganshire Canal." As regards this section of the canal, which is referred to in the Bit! as the Cardiff section," power is piven to the company to deepen, dredge, scour, alter, and improve" it, and with reference to the canal lands, "or other lands acquired by them," and not required for the purposes of the projecied railways, power is conferred on the company to dispose of the same by sale or lease, and to apply the proceeds to any purposes of the company to which capital is properly applicable. PROVISIONS AS TO WATER SUPPLIES. By Clause 57 it is enacted that "if any s'pply of water which either of the two canal ec m- panies is at the date of the transfer legally bound to afford to any person for trading or manufacturing purposes shall be prejudicially affected by reason of the closing of a portion of the Glamorganshire Canal under this Act, the company shall be liable either to afford an equally good supply from some other source or to pay compensation in respect of the loss or diminution of the former supply, and the amount of such compensation shall in case of difference be settled by arbitration." Sub-section 3 of the following clause also enacts that for the pur-, pose of supplying the Cardiff section with water, and also for the purpose of supplying water to the proprietors of any works 01 oU;persons who may at the passing of the Act be entitled to a supply from either of the two canal com- panies, the company shall have, in addition to any other rights or powers conferred on them by the Act, and may exercise and enjoy all such rights and powers of diverting, taking, or appro- propriating water from the River Tail or from any other source as were possessed, exercised, or enjoyed by either of the two canal companies before the passing of the Act. As regards the Cardiff section of the Gla- morganshire Canal, the Bill provides for the continuance in force of all existing bye- laws and of all provisions of the Glamorgan- shire Canal Acts and the Bute Docks Acts, so far as they are applicable to this section of the canal. IMPORTANT FINANCIAL PROPOSALS. Part 5, which comprises Clauses 59 to 76, deals with the new financial proposals. ByCiauseb9 power is sought to raise additional capital to any amount not exceeding in the Wiuch is to be in addition to any i'ully-p ui shares or stock which may be given as the con- sideration for the purchase of tne undertakings of tiie two canal companies. The clause further provides that the new capital shall be raised "by the issue of new ordinary shares or stock or new preference shares or stock or wholly or partially by any one or more of those moo' respectively, pxovided that the preferred ordinary stock of 1896 shall be entitled to dividend in priority to any shares or stock, (including any such fully paid shares or dock as aforesaid) issued under the authority of this Act, subject, Ile,_(, nevertheless, to the right of the company to issue stock or shares to rank pari passu with the preferred ordinary stock of 1896, and carrying 11011-cumulative dividends not exceeding £ 4 pei centum per annum to a nominal amount, not at any time exceeding altogether one-half of the nominal amount for the time being of ordi- nary shares or stock bona fide subscribed for and issued by the company after May 26, 1896, and paid or liable to be paid for to the full amount in cash." Clause 65 provides that for the purpose of the ascertainment and declaration of dividends oh the ordinary stock of the company the preferred ordinary stock of 1896 and any other preferred ordinary stock issued under the Act and rank- ing therewith, shall without prejudice to the pre- ferential dividend to which such stock is or mav he entitled, be ordinary stock of the company, so that the company shall be deemed for the pur- poses of the Trustee Act, 1893, and for all pur- poses to pay such dividend on their ordinary stock as they could have paid if the dividend paid on such preferred ordinary stock as afore- said had been equally distributed over the whole of the ordinary stock for the time being created and issued. NEW BORROWING POWERS. By Clause 66 it is provided that when the undertakings of the two canal companies have been transferred to the company they may bor- row on mortgage of those undertakings any sum not exceeding one-third of the consideration given for such transfer, and upon the additional capital of £ 600,000 proposed to be raised under the powers of the Bill further borrowing powers may be exercised to an amount not exceeding £ 200,000. Clause 69 gives the company power to exercise these borrowing powers by the issue of deben- ture stock. By Clause 73 power is sought to pay interest not exceeding 3 per cent, out of capital during the construction of the proposed railways, but the aggregate amount to be so paid for interest is limited to £ 50,000. In the event of this power being exercised the borrowing powers of the company are to be reduced to the extent of one- third of the amount paid for interest. CONVERSION OF ORDINARY STOCK. Clauses 75 and 76, which cover nearly four pages of the Bill, confer power on the company to convert their ordinary stock, which is expressly defined to mean "any ordinary stock of the company already issued, or which may hereafter be issued, exclusive of the pre- ferred ordinary stock of 1896." The scheme, as set out in thic part of the Bill, provides for the conversion of the stock, by resolution of aii extraordinary general meeting of the company, into "Cardiff Railway Preferred Converted Ordi- nary Stock" and "Cardiff Railway Deferred Con- verted Ordinary Stock:" £ 50 of the Preferred Converted Stock and jE50 of the Deferred Con- verted Stock is to be issued for any L100 of ordinary stock, and so in proportion for any greater or smaller amount of ordinary stock. Notwithstanding the conversion, the company arj to continue to declare their dividends on the amount of their ordinary stock as "if no such conversion had takpn place," but in the dis- tribution of the dividend the preferred converted stock is first to receive a fixed maximum divi- dend not exceeding 4 per cent. per annum, as shall be determined by the resolution creating the same, and the whole of the remainder (if anv) in payment of dividend 011 the deferred con- verted stock. If in any year the profits Ihould be insufficient to pay in full thp maximum divi- dend on the preferred converted stock, "110 part of the deficiency shall be made good out of the profits of any subseoueht year, or out of any other funds of the company." MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS. Clause 77 provides that with respect to the constri ction of the canal railways, so far as they arj dependent rn the closing of the canals, the powers contained in this Bill "shall only be exercisable in the event of the acquisition bv the company of the undertakings of the two canal companies." DIRECTORS. By Clause 78 it is provided that the number of directors of the company may be any number not less than five, nor more than fifteen, and the sections in the Bute Docks Transfer Act of 1886 limiting- the number of directors to not more than nine are accordingly sought to be amended.

TAFF VALE RAILWAY TO NEWPORT. ABANDONMENT OF THE TREHER- BERT JOINT STATION. OBLIGATIONS AT THE BUTE* DOCKS. THE 23rd CLAUSE OF THE BARRY ACT, 1888. The Bill which will be introduced into Parlia- ment during the ensuing session by the Taff Vale Railway Company has been deposited in the Private Bill Office of the House of Commons under the title of "A Bill to empower the Taff Vale Railway Company to construct a new railway and other 'works and acquire lands; to confer upon them running powers over certa.n railways of the Great Western and Rhymney Railway Companies and of Lord Tredegar; to abandon certain authorised railways of the Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway Company, and to amend certain provisions contained in tit" Acts relating to the Barry Railway Company and to thp Bute Docks; and for other purposes." PROPOSED NEW RAILWAY. The only extension sought to be constructed under the powers contained in this Bill is a short line 7 furlongs 2 chains in length, commencing in the parish of St. Woollos by a junction with the railway of the Alexandra (Newport and South Wales) Docks and Railway Company, and ter- minating in Newport on the west side of Her- bert-street, near Clytha-crescent. The period sought for the completion of the railway is five years from the passing of the Act, but tbe powers of the company for the compulsory pur* chase of the necessary lands are to cease after the expiration of three years. By Clause 9 power is taken to construct and maintain a footbridge over the Glamorganshira Canal at a point in Pontypridd near the Work- men s-hall at Cilfynydd. ADDITIONAL LANDS. By Clause 10 additional lands are proposed to be taken for the accommodation of their traffic: (1) In Cardiff on the southern side of the Penarth Dock and Harbour Railway between the bridges carrying that railway over the Great Western Railway and over the Leckwith-road (2) in the parish of Ystradyfodwg betwpen the houses numbered 41 to 52, inclusive, in Jonfib-streft, Blaenclydach, and (3) the premises in Ponty- pridd occupied as a marble and stone mason's yard near the Rolling Mill. EXTENSION OF TIME. Under Clause 14 the powers conferred upon the company by the Taff Vale Railway Act, 1895, for the compulsory purchase of the lauch: which were then authorised to be acquired <tIe extended and mav h2 exercised by the commlt!v until the 6th of July, 1900, which is two years beyond the lime originally granted by Parlia- ment. ABANDONMENT OF THE PROPOSED JOINT STATION, &c., AT TREHERBERT. Clause 16 enacts that the Rhondda Company shall abandon the construction of the Railways No. 4 and No. 5, authorised by the Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway Act (1890), to be con- structed by them at the joint expense of the Rhondda Company and the company, and shall also abandon the construction of the joint station at Treherbert referred to in Section 31 of that Act. As the result of the insertion of these powers, the Bill contains all the usual clauses for giving compensation in respect of the railways abandoned, or for damage to any lands occa- sioned by the entry on such lands of the Rhondda Company for the purpose of "surveying, taking levels, or probing to ascertain the nature of the soil." RUNNING POWERS. By Clause 19 the company seek running powers over (1) the Taff Bargoed Railways (2) so much of the Great Western Railway as lies between Llancaiach and Quakers' Yard Stations; (3) so much of the railway of the Great Western Railway Company as lies between the junction therewith of the Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Junction Railway near Bassaleg and the High-street Station of that company at Newport, including that station: and (4) the railway belonging to Lord Tredegar, and known as the Park Mile Railway. The terms upon which the above lines are pro- posed to be run over are to be settled, failing agreement with the owning company, by an arbitrator to be appointed on the application of either party by the secretary for the time being of the railway clearing house. AMENDMENT OF THE BARRY ACTS. ire. With reference to Clause 22 of this Bill. the preamble states that by Section 23 of the Barry Dock and Railways Act. 1888, the company "re required to afford facilities as therein mentioned for tlw traffic therein described, a11d at the rates therein specified, and by Section 2 of the Barry Dock and Railways Act 1888 (Amend- ment) Act, 1894, and Section 32,of the Taff Vale Railway Act, 1896, the provisions of the first- mentioned section were explaiued and enlarged or amended therefore, and it is expedient that the said Acts should as regards the matters aforesaid be further amended and explained, and that further provision should be made in respect of the rates and payments to be made and the facilities to be afforded by and the obligations imposed upon the company by the said sections respectively. In accordance Willi this recital, Clause 22 enacts that "froni and after the passing of this Act the harbour defined by Section 2 of the Ely Tidal Harbour and Rail- way Act, 1856 (commonly known as Penarth Harbour) and the sidings, works, and con- veniences at or near thereto, and at or near to Penarth Dock, and connected with the said harbour or dock respectively by a line or lines constructed and used for traffic to or from the said harbour and the said dock or either of them, shall, for the purposes of Section 23 of the Barry Dock and Railways Act. 1888, and Section 2 of the Barry Dock aud Railways Act, 1888 (Amendment) Act, 1894, and Section 32 of the Taff Vale Railway AcL, 1896, be deemed to be a portion of the docks at Penarth, provided always that the company, in the exercise of their right to declare and adopt a point as the stan- dard or charging point at the docks at Penarth, shall not declare and adopt any point which shall be at a less distance from Treforest and any place northward thereof than is the ter- minus of the Taff Vale Railway at the west side of the Bute' West Dock at Cardiff- OBLIGATIONS AT THE BUTE DOCKS. By Clause 23 the company again ask Parlia- ment to relieve them from the. obligations they are now under in respect of their traffic to and from-the Bute Docks. The following is the full text of this clause, which is certain to give rise to another Parliamentary conflict:—The company shall not be required from and after the passing of this Act to provide any accommo- dation or render any services at or in conncctior. with the Bute Docks in respeel < f tr.tPic conveyed by them to or from the Bute Docks other than such accommodation and services as any other railway company are by any Act of Parliament or agreement in force on November 19, 1895. reouired to provide cr render in respect of similar traffic, nor shall the company in any case be required in delivering wagons containing coal, coke,, or culm traffic* or m re-conveying or removing any such wagons when empty to and from the Bute Docks o"er the railways or sidings of the Bute Docks Company to make more than twi shunts upon such railways or sidings, or to perform any other services than those provided for by Section 41 of the Bute Docks Act, 1882. Anv provision contained in any of the Bute Docks Acts, or in any agreement or award scheduled to or made under any of the said Acts, t in the agreement scheduled to the Taff Vale Railway Acf. 1884, imposing upon the com- pany any obligation in respect, of the before- mertioned traffic is to the extent to which such provision is inconsistent with this section hereby repealed. NEW CAPITAL POWERS. The new capital sought to be crated under this Bill is £75.000, with power to borrow a further sum of £25,000. The additional capital is proposed to be created by the issue of new ordinary shares or stock, or new preference oshares or stock.

AimLLERY VOLUNTEERS AT CARDIFF. SPEECH BY SIR EDWARD HIVl, M.P. At Cardiff Drill-hall on Monday evening the annual prize distribution in connection with the 2nd Glamorgan Volunteer Artillery took place. A fairly large number of members was on parade, and they were inspected by Colonel Sir Edward Hill, K.tJ.B., M.P. The officers on parade were Colonel H. Oakden Fisher, Colonel Fisher, Colonel Fry, Captains Handcock, Cook, Shepherd, Simpson, and Lewis, and Lien- tenants H C. Vivian, P. C. Tweedie, W. U. Morel, and E. Gunn. Amongst those present on the platform were Lady Hill. Mr. and Mrs. Trevor Thomas, Mr. and Mrs. II. Lewis (Tyiiant), Mr. icitd Mrs. Marcus Gunn, Mr. Lionel Taylor, Mr. Newman, and Sergeant-m<ljor Attwiil (for- meriy chief instructor at Cardiif). Colonel Sir Edward Hill gave an address before the prizes were distributed, in the course of which he referred to the work done by the regiment at Shoeburyness and at camp. and aI-o at th3 Jubilee celebrations, adding that he hoped that neither officers nor men would rest satisfied until they had brought the Queen's Prize back from Shoeburyness. (Applause.) He regretted the fact that although there had been a marked improvement in numbers during the vear, they Imd not yet gained their proper strength. ne had no hesi- tation in repeating bis opinion that if, in such a I'o\lnl"ll" phice as tho\- could not maintain their full strength, some fault mn«t rp.st .dth the officers aud non-commissioned officers. It would be unbecoming on his part if hetonehed upon certain phases of the ques- tion, but he could not refrain from expresssing his pleasure at the fact, that the Army. wonld occinv ;1 vi-ominent, ncsition during the coming; se-=:on of Parliament. The conntry must have. :111 \Jmy that, although i, numbers might be, small comparatively, would be efficient in every way, He hoped that some measures would he taken for making the profession or the Army a desirable career. Sir Edward went on to speak of the importance of the auxiliarv forces, ;d said 'there WH" a difficulty in obtaining officers that ought not to exist. The fact that there W.18 a sineie vacancy amongst the officers of any Volunteer regiment was a disgrace. T.adv Fin then dis»'-ili'ifed the after which a hearty vote or thanks to her ladvship was accorded, on the motion of Colonel Fisher.

TRADES IXJON CONCERT AT CARDIFF. A smoking concert, promoted hy the Cardiff branch of the Operative Stonemasons' Society, was held on Saturday evening at the Black Lion Hotel. Councillor Robert Hughes presided, and was supported by Alderman P. Carey. Councillors Courtis, Crossman, Allen, and a larg-e company. Councillor Hughes, in open- ing the proceedings, asked those present to join him in congratulating Councillor Crossman on his recovery from his recent serious illness. Alderman Carey and Councillors Courtis and Allen 'supported, the company present joining heartily, and Councillor Crossman met with a flatLering reception. Au interesting pro- gramme was gone through, and Professor Howard, Messrs. S. Thomas. F. Balby, A. Gedcych, H. John, W. Lewis, H. Lock, aud Alderman Carey and Councillor R. Hugligs and others took part in the proceedings.

MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT CARDIFF Between nine and ten a.m. on Sunday the cook and steward of the ship Ocean Belle, then lying in the West Dock, Cardiff, disappeared, find has not since been heard of. Later in the day a carving knife was found lying in a pool of blood in the forepeak of the vessel, and it is surmlsed that the cook, who was a Dane, named Bijorn, had cut his throat with the knife and had then jumped overboard. On Monday morning Bute Docks-constable Owen and Sergeant Perkins were engaged in dragging the dock, but without result. The Ocean Belle has proceeded to sea.

Captain Chatoner, M.P., at Penarth. MEETING AT THE CONSERVATIVE CLUB. MB. LASCELLES CARR AND THE NEED OF CLUBS. One of those pleasant and instructive smokers which have been so delightful a feature of the Penarth Conservative Club's season took place on Monday evening in the billiard-room (cleared for the occasion), when a large number of members assembled in anticipation of a speech from Captain Chaloner, M.P., who was the guest during his stay of Mr. Lascelles Carr, J.P., at Cwrt-y-vil. The concert-room was nicely deco- rated with plants, flags, and mottoes. Mr. Carr presided, and was supported by Captain Chaloner, M.P., Mr. Tlios. A. Sutton (chairman of the club), Mr. H. Cecil Riches, Mr. H. S. Wilkins, Mr. Thomas Leyshon, Mr. B. W. King, Mr. J. Foster, Mr. E. Waddingtun, Mr. W. J. \V Wells (secretary), Mr. J. Lr. Dodds, Mr. W. M. David, Mr. C. G. Booker, Mr. J. B. Maddocks, Mr. T. R. Wadley, Mr. R. Y. Sketch, Mr. H. Grant (Barry Dock), Mr. J. Court, Captain Young, and others. Mr. Lascelles Carr, who was cordially received, in introducing the speaker of the evening, remarked that it was gratifying to know that the Penarth Conservative Club, phoenix- like, had risen from its ashes, was now in a condition of great prosperity, and would be an important factor in the political future of the district. Dealing with the need for clubs, the Chairman said they were a protest against the tyranny of the times. Referring to Captain Challoner as brother to Mr. Walter Long, the Chairman remarked that no man had Captain Chaloner as brother to Mr. alter Long, the President of the Board of Agricul- ture. (Hear, hear.) Captain Chaloner, who had a very hearty reception, said he had very great pleasure in 'being amongst them, partly in order to fulfil a debt of gratitude to Mr. Waddington, who had rendered him very great assistance in his own elections, and also because he had Welsh blood irihis veins-he was born in Mont- gomeryshire, and, therefore, was gratified to go amongst any section of the residents of the Prin- ( cipality. (Hear, hear.) He had a very great 01 inion of clubs, such as the one he was in at the present time, and he was of opinion tint there was a great work to be dons in clubs. They did a lot to strengthen th° education of Conservatives in the principles of their party, apd the principles upon which depended the wel- fare of the country. They were also useful in drawing men of all classes together, rubbing off the rcttgh corners, and finding out that tbeie are others in the world but the individual. (Hear, hear). For helping one another flong the road of life a club was one of the greatest institu- tions in the country. Dealing with the grounds and reasons why they were Conservatives, he L.aid that they wanted every elector to find out facts for hÎ1melf, and probe to the bottom every question wi'rf.h was submitted to the country. They were bt-md to admit that the work of the present Government during the time it had been in office was worthy of the great party that. it represented. The first item in the programme upon which the Government was returned was the increase of the Navy. (Hear, hear:) But he did not say that everything which ought to be done for the Navy had been done. The next thing that they had done was the legislation for voluntary schools, which was not, as had been asserted, a Clergy Helief Act. bUl was passed on fair alld just terms to help schools which would secure the continuance of that religious teaching that their fathers had cherished. (Hear, hear.) Then there was the Coal Mines Regulation Act, the Truck Amendment Act (passed entirely in the interests of the working man), and the Work- men's Compensation Act. With reference to the last measure the Government had been sub- jected to great abuse. and, ill the opinions vf many employers, it was going lo impose a very heavy burden upon them. Well, he had con- sulted a number of other employers who were well in a position to know, and they assured him that it was not going to lead. to such disastrous results. He held that the working man who depended upon the muscles of his right arm for the support of himself and his family should not, when he met with an accident, be deprived abso- lutely of the means of earning his liveli- hood, and be driven into the workhouse. That would bea shame and a diag-ace. At present the litigation which workmen and em- ployers had to resort to led to miserable results to both parties. It was said that the new Act would lead to a heavy impost, buL so did the present system—a charge which was unkno>oVll and uncertain. In addition to certain results tho new system would lead to more- friendly relations between employers and workmen. (Hear, hear.) Another Act, passed by the Govern- ment was for infant life protection, and there was also the Prison-made Goods Act. (Hear, heaB.) The la-st represented only the thin end of the wedge, and he hoped to live to see the day when the thick end would be driven home. (Hear, hear") But what did the Government propose to do r.ext session? There was local government for Ireland, so that there should be Justice for that country and no 11Iore grievance against England. There was, however, one subject which he hoped to see dealt with even before local government for Ireland, and that was Army reform—(hear, hear)—so that a soldier should get what was held out to him, viz., Is. per day, and instead of fictitious free rations and a. free kit real rationa and kit free. There should be no deferred pay, but an increase of pay to those who cared to xtay on for the longer ser-ice. (Hear, hear.) He also wanted to see an expansion of trade, and he wished that Trade Uniomsts would, in- stead of trying to keep up a fictitious rate of wages, seek ta keep up the pt'ic3 of die article upon which wages depended. If in relation to protection the Go ernment of this country was only given the right to impose protective tariffs, they could say to other countries, "If you will take the charges off our goods we will not impose charges 011 goods coming into our coun- try, but if you do not take off tariffs we shall impose them in this country." He beieved thlt Uwt would be sufficient to make other eoun- tries place England on equitable tenns. (Hear, hear.)* ■ A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Captain Chaloner for his address". The musical programme was contributed to by Messrs. David, Booker, Butlaud, Wall, Lucas, Porter, Sorbv, Dodds, and Forster.

IdiXl LAW CASE, C. BREBNER V. THE URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL OF ABERDARE. On Monday, in the Court of Appeal, consist- ing of Lords Justices A. L. Smiih. Kigby, and Collins, the arguments in the appeal of the plaintiff from an order of Mr.'Justice Day in chambers, confirming the Master in referri, tfertain maLters in dispute to ,lll arbitrator, weiv resumed.-—Mr. G. A. Scott (for plaintiff), in con- tinuation of his arguments, submitted that the district council, by refusing to pay on the cer tifieate of JE350. had committed a breach of contract which justified the plaintiff in repu- diating and rescinding it altogether. This was a matter which did not come under the arbitra- tion clause, because it did not cover such an issue, and, therefore, the order referring tne matters in dispute to Mr. Fox, the engineer, should not be allowed to stand, because lie could not very well decide whether by what the council had done they had entitled the plaintiff to rescind his Contract.—Lord Justice Smith gave judgment without calling upon counsel for the respondents. He said it was.quiLe clear that Mr. Justice Day had made the right order. The agreement provided that if any disputes which a.mounted to a, breach of the contract arose they should be settled by the engineer, Mr. Fox. The appeal would, therefore, be dismissed, with costs.—Lords Justices Rigby and Collins concurred.—Mr. -Danckw^rts said that he should like to say -that the local board, as a matter of fact, never refused to 'pay. The plaintiff assumed they would, and went off to Scotland to consult his solicitor.—Lord Justice Smith Speaking for mvself. I think the board would have done right had thev refused to pay. —Mr. Danckwerts: But they did not, my lord. —Lord Justice Smith: All the better. Call the next case on.

DARING Rl KULARIKS AT SWANSEA,. Winter evening depredators have commenced work at Swansea. A daring burglary was com- mitted duriug Friday evening m tbe residence,aa.. Brunswick-street, 'Swansea, of Mr. Howells, superintendent of the Pearl Life Insurance Com- pany. Collections of agents amounting to over £40 had been received during the evening and placed by Mr. Howells in a drawer in his office, which is ill the front of the building. Later on ho went into the room for the purpose of taking the money upstairs with him, when he discovered that it had been stolen. A pane of glass which hud just recently been put in had been removed by the thieves, and the window thus opened. It is further stated that a burglary took place a few nights before at Sea View-terrace. Swansea, when a box was broken open and JE18 abstracted.

MILITARY PREPARATIONS IN AJNATOLIA. A Central News telegram from Constanti- nople on Monday says :-The Porte' eOIl inues to make military preparations on a large scale in Anatolia, especially in the provinces of Van, Karput, Diarbekir, and Moosli. The expendi- ture of these provinces is being estimated upon a war scale, the military accounts taking pre- cedence of UIe civil, and salaries are every- where suspended. Each of the provinces named is excused from paying its taxable quota to th» Imperial treasury. Several superior officers of the irregular Hamidich Cavalry are here under special summons to receive secret in- structions direct from the Afmister of War

A Reuter's telegram from Constantinople ov Monday says: —'two hundred and fifty liberate; Greek prisoners of war left here to-tbsy.