The Cambrian

MONEY MARKET.—THURSDAY. REDUCTION IN THE BANK RATB. The Bank of England Directors, at their weekly court to-day, lowered the rate of discount from to 3 per cent. No business of importance is taking place in the Stock Exchange Markets, and. as a consequence, the changes in quotations are few. In Foreign Bonds, Peruvian and French Scrip show the only alterations worthy of notoce, b«ng respectively i and 3-16 higher. There have been some fluctuations in American Securities, but of no mag- nitude. The same may be said of English RaUwaya.A telegram from Florence informs us that the Italo-German Bank has undertaken the reorganisation of the Roman Byways, the Maremmana system being connected with them will also partake of the benefit of the scheme. Telegraph shares are steady. The Western and Brazilian Telegraph Company has received intelligence that the cabl« has arriyea at Pernambuco in excellent order. Tne soundings all the way to Vara are 2,000 fathoms level. Although the business in Mining Shares is very little. Quotations are very firm, which is also the case witn Miscellaneous.. Consols are quoted 92 £ 928 'or Money, »od 92 9-16 92 11-16 for the Account. I

THI GRKAT WESTERN RAILWAY DIVIDEND.—We have received the following communication from the secretary Great Western Railway Company :— "With the view of making the.public.aware at the earlist practicable period of the dividend likely to M declared by this Company at the ensuring general meet- ing, I am authorised to state thatthe amounts which have been this day submitted to the Dirwtors, »ow a balance sufficient to admitof half-year on the Consolidated Ordinary Stock of th Company, as the rate of J. per cent, perannum, carrying over a balance of about £ 25,000. The London carmen are agitating for shorter hours. They ask for a working day of twelve toara. The total ooBt of the Bev. Newman Hall s new will be £ 45,000, of which there is already in hand about £ 30,000. A .J J '•■ '■?, L: ) ::11 11 IV<*

REPORTED LOSS OF TWO STEAMERS. News has been received of the loss of two fine steamers in the Indian Ocean, with, in one case, loss of life. Tele- ( grams received in London name the ships Singapore and the Kwangchow, and state that they were both lost at Guardafui, Aden, but there is some improbability in this. Information received at Liverpool says that the Singapore, with most of her officers, was lost at Guardafui, and the Arracan was lost on an island of the Maldive group, the crew and passengers being saved. The Singapore was bound from Shanghai to London, and the Arracan from Rangoon. The saved from the Singapore are in the hands of Arabs, who, it is feared, will treat them roughly. The vessel, of course, pillaged.

THE IRON AND STEEL INSTITUTE AT LIEGE. At the grand banquet which was given on Wednesday night, there was a brilliant assemblage of guests. The toasts of The King," and Prosperity to the Iron and Steel Institute," were proposed by M. Prasenster, and met with a warm response. M. Purrot then proposed the health of Queen Victoria," which was also enthu- siastically received. Several other toasts followed. In the evening there was a splendid display of fireworke. Wednesday morning's sitting was principally occupied by a discussien upon scientific subjects, after which the Congress was formally closed. On Thursday evening there was to be a grand reception and banquet at the Royal Palace in Brussels. » WALES AND THE EISTEDFODD.—The Hour thoroughly and entirely approves "of the spirit which suggests the tribute of honour to the Celtic language and literature which these Eistedfodds constitute and the secret of Eng. land's greatness, national and literary alike, is, to a great extent, Celtic in its origin. But the age in which we live is not heroic but practical. English is the language of the subjects of the English Crown in the every-day pursuits of life. If the inhabitants of the Principality are to achieve success in the prosaic vocations of existence, it is English which they must select as the medium of their speech. But this implies no surrender of the instincts and associations of which Welshmen are so proud, and perhaps the chief fault in Mr. Gladstone's speech at Mold was that he failed sufficiently to insist upon the indispensable necessity of this condition." THE MOLD EISTEDDFOD.—The Telegraqh thinks that apart from its eloquent pleading on behalf of cherished Welsh customs, the address spoken by Mr. Gladstone had a wise political significance. He justly said that the episode in British history en which he had dilated was full of great lesssons to Government, applicable to all subjects and to all people. It taught not only the error of attempting to break with, or even to undervalue the past, but the equally conspicuous mistake of striving to do good to nations against their will. The best the most lasting changes in nations are those which grow up almost insensibly, or attract attention and provoke hostility at the moment when they are matured and ratified. The policy applied to Wales was not a Libe- ral policy, or one that now-a-days can find any rational advocates; and it is not the least merit of Mr. Gladstone's speech that it brings out in high relief a principle we have repeatedly forgotten and may yet forget in the management of internal as well as external affairs. The statesman, worthy of that name, is bound to make national feeling a great element in his calculations, and his genius is shewn when he converts what might have been a source of weak ness into a pillar of strength. The stability of British progress has its reason in the fact that national assent, brought about by free and full discussion, procedes national enactment. Hence we are spared these violent oscillations which fill other lands with tumult and disorder, and are enabled to link and novel present to the solid, deeply-routed foundations of a venerated past. At the Mold Eisteddfod a prize of B20 was awarded to the Birkenhead choir, for the best rendering of selections from "The Messiah," and JMO to Newton, Montgomery- shire, for rendering a chorus from St. Paul." In the evening a new work by Mr. Brinley Richards was pro- duced. GREAT JEWEL ROBBERY.—A robbery of jewelry of the value of upwards of £10,000 has lately been effected on the premises of a well-known firm of jewellers in Bond-street, under somewhat mysterious circumstances. The firm in question had received an order from the Shah to sub- mit to him a certain amount of jewels, and several packages, very small in bulk, but containin2 articles of large value, were accordingly prepared for His Majesty's inspection. In the course of that preparation one of the packages, consisting of four large diamond crosses, a splendid necklace of large diamonds, several brooches, rings, and earrings, set with diamonds, rubies, and eme- ralds, worth more than £10,000, was missed, and up to this moment not the slightest clue has been obtained as to the actual circumstances of the robbery. All that is known by the firm is that the package was in their hands on the 18th of June, and that it was gone—no one knows where—on the 1st of July, whether it was lost in the streets by an assistant or stolen from the counter while the shopman had momentarily turned his back is not at present knewn. Inquiries were set on foot by the police, and on Thurs- day last the gold mountings of the ornaments, but with- out the stones, were discovered in the bed of the river, where they had evidently lain for some weeks. The mountings had not been submitted to the action of aquafortis, and it is, therefore, now surmised that some apparently unprofessional and unskilful hand had ex. tracted the stones. On the other hand, it is considered altogether improbable that an ordinary thief would have been content even to lose the value of the mountings in his attempt to destroy the traces of the robbery, seeing that they alone were worth a considerable sum. Thus the matter stands at present. The following advertisement on the subject appeared in The Timuof Tuesday:—"Ex- tensive Robbery of Diamonds and Precious Stones.—Five Hundred Pounds Hcwarft —ictu June and the 1st July last a robbery of diamond orna- ments was perpetrated on the premises of West-end jewellers, in amount to upwards of £10,000; and whereas she diamonds, rubies? and emeralds so stolen have been removed from the settings, and gold mountings, and the latter discovered in the bed of the Thames, supposed to have been thrown from the Embankment, —the above reward will be paid by the undersigned solicitors to any person, who, within 3u days, shall give such informatien as may lead to the detection of the thief or thieves. Informa- tion to be furnished to Messrs. Lewis and Lewis, 10, Ely- place, Holborn, solicitors; or to Superintendent William- son, Detective Department, Scotland-yard." It is con- sidered prudent by the police and the solicitors that the name of the owners of the property should for the time be withheld. The missing jewels can, it is said, be identified by the firm.

TO CORRESPONDENTS. T&~ ROMEO.—As your letter reflects upon the conduct of private individuals, we cannot insert it without your name and address attached. Probably the gentlemen named by you may have good and pro- per excuse for their absence on the occasion to which you allude.

CQ[ht Cambrian. SWANSEA, AUGUST S2, 18 73. THE GAS QUESTION AGAIN. WE plead guilty to the soft impeachment which has been laid to our charge of endeavouring to get up an agitation against the present gas mono- poly. Nay, we are rather pleased and gratified to hear that we are so accused, and gladly accept all the responsibilities and incur all the pains and penalties which the pleading guilty to the accusa- tion implies. We do desire to get up an agitation against the gas monopoly as it at present exists, and we desire to do so because we are firmly and fully convinced that it is most unwise and indis- creet to permit the continuance of so huge a mo- nopoly as that which places a large and rapidly increasing community entirely at the mercy of a private company. Monopolies of all kinds are essentially injurious to all but the possessors, but there is something which is especially inimical to the public interests in allowing the perpetuation of a system which permits some sixty or seventy thousand inhabitants of a town to be dependent upon any one company in so important an article as that of gas. Nor do we see that the Swansea Gas-Light Company have any strong claims for the further sufferance and sympathy of ourCorpo- ration or the public. They on their part have never eyinced any desire to give the public the advantage of cheap fuel (in days gone by), ot tne many economic changes which the genius an ability of eminent gas engineers have discovered, or of the benefits derivable from more economic management. Whatever concessions have been made have only been after the very highest divi- dends allowed by law have been paid to the lucky shareholders,—have only been wrung from them as the result of a long agitation which could no longer be deferred, and when there have been no more works of ornamentation upon which to make a most lavish and extravagant expenditure. Not only so, the past policy of the Gas Company has been to increase the charge to consumers upon the slightest possible pretext; and now the Di- rectors find that they cannot increase the price to the public for the supply of gas to the lamps, they ( resort to the somewhat undignified method of raising the cost for lighting and extinguishing the sameby fifty per cent., thus adding some 2801, or 300Z. per to the public burdens. This last attempt on the part of the directors is conclusive proof that they are determined upon getting their "pound of flesh" out of the public. Any hope of reduction upon present prices is evidently vain, and at once removes any claim for further sufferance on the part of the Council towards a company who are desirous of protecting the in- terests of their shareholders, so long as their monopoly will give them the power, altogether irrespective of the interests of the public. Upon all points the Gas Company has enjoyed its. monopoly long enough, and it is high time that. • f ■ • J • !•> i i: J •» »' b our Council took the necessary steps to manufac- ture their own gas, and thus very materially reduce the price to all consumers. It was a fortunate thing for the Swansea gas shareholders which placed Mr. William Henry Michael in the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors. He is a gentleman of considerable ability, and as a barrister by profession is quite an adept in defending his co-directors from any charge or charges made against their management. But Mr. Michael, like many other special pleaders of his profession, skilfully and carefully evades the real questions at issue. The Corporation allege that at Bath the price of gas is 2s. 10d. per 1000 cubic feet, and that in some 30 or 40 other towns, all remote from the coal districts, the price charged is much below that paid in Swansea. In discus- sing the question of the price of gas we do not care to accept the data of Mr. Michael. Possibly argued from Mr. Michael's stand-point, the price of gas will bear comparison with any town in England and Wales. Mr. Michael states that two of the principal tests by which the price of gas should be ascertained are—the amount of capital expended by the Company, and the amount of revenue received from each mile of pipes laid. And it is just on these points that issue is joined. The allegation against the Gas Company is that the capital of the Company has been lavishly ex- pended upon ornamental decoration of works (which never have and never can pay a cent dividend) and miles of pipes laid from which no adequate return can be had for many years to come. We have only to look at the offices and works of the Company in the Oystermouth-road in proof of the first allegation, and to instance the carrying of the mains to the Mumbles in proof of the second. Looking at these things they are pretty conclusive, at all events to the uninitiated, that the Directors have hitherto ex- pended their capital or spent their surplus re- venues on, to say the least, works of questionable utility, rather than make a reasonable reduction in the price of gas to the consumers. Mr Michael also states that the Swansea Gas Works are a credit to the town. That, again, depends upon the stand-point from which the question is argued. If the spending of hundreds and thou- sands of pounds upon external and internal de- corations of offices in a poor part of the town is creditable, then the Swansea Gas Works have certainly earned the reputation. If, on the other hand, the Directors have wastefully expended their capital or their surplus revenue, rather than give the consumers the benefit of a reduction of gas, then the works are not creditable to the town nor the policy of the Directors such as can meet the approval of the public. We are told upon excellent authority that the Swansea Gas Company has no less than 47 miles of mains under their charge. It would be an in- teresting investigation to ascertain how many of these 47 miles pay a fair per centage upon the ex- penditure made. Of course, all parts of the borough should be equally and fairly lighted, and consumers generally must pay any loss incurred by the mains being carried into localities and districts required by the Corporation. But it is quite clear that the enormous expenditure under- taken in carrying the gas mains to the Mumbles is not remunerative and as the Mumbles does not form an integral part of the borough, but is five miles distant, it does seem somewhat hard that the consumers of Gas in Swansea should have to pay indirectly for the lighting to the Mumbles. If, therefore, the cost of useless exterior and in- terior decorations, and the outlay involved in carrying the mains to unpaying districts were deducted from the capital expended by the Com- pany, we think that the Directors would be able to make a substantial reduction in the price of gas to the town consumers, and at the same time pay to the lucky shareholders the maximum dividends allowed by law. The skilfully-worded letter of the Chairman of the Gas Company suggests many other topics upon which issue may be joined, but to which we can- not this week afford space to reply. We can only say in conclusion that Mr. Michael has failed to give any adequate reasons why in the first place the price of gas in Swansea should be higher than in a large number of other towns in England and Wales and secondly, why the present monopoly should be perpetuated—a monopoly which in ten years hence (such is the rapid growth of the town and district) would be almost unparalleled in the kingdom. The future supply of gas is now the question of the day, so far as Swansea is con- cerned. The voice of the public is almost unani- mously in favour of the Corporation becoming their own manufacturfT-n +'h", uioxerore, have no choice left, if they would carry out the desire of their constituents, but to at once take the initiatory steps towards such a beneficial work. The Town Clerk has already reported that in his opinion the Council have the power in their hands, without applying to Parliament, to erect works and supply the town. Why, then, further delay in a matter of such vital importance ? We hope the day is not far distant when such will be done and we, on our part, are quite ready to incur all the pains and penalties resulting from the attempt to get up an agitation against the present monopoly possessed by the Gas Company.

The Bristol, Cardiff, Newport, and Southampton Chambers of Commerce have addressed a memorial to the directors of the Great Western and London and South-Western Railway Companies, calling their atten- tion to the defective railway communication between the South Wales and Bristol districts, and the Southampton and Portsmouth districts. The memorialists sav that in consequence of the difficulties of communication bu- siness transactions between wholesale firms in Bristol and retailers in Southampton are next to -w- Between the latter place and Cardiff and NMT facilities for railway travelling areWh w7,P°rt takes a person 8| hours to travel from Sonthn V 88 ». Cardiff—an average speed, including stonnafrM^f0" over 13 miles an hour. The memorialists do ™ it unreasonable to ask that there should be tiling ov.r the 79 milM ampton m 3 £ hours each way, involving a u f 23 mile, ;a Soar. public,LX concerned in this matter, will also be of opinion that the request is not an unreasonable one. What in q ^Oh.mter „f Com-™, .bout also in this matter of railway travelling? SureW complaint. »bich .pply to Cardiff and NewZt^-m aDply with double force to Swansea for B Bristol per the Great Western line is a most seriou7un°- dertaking, involving some five hours time. The distance is we believe some e.ghty miles, so that the travelling eluding stoppages is at the rate of about 15 0^16 mZ an hour. Our Chamber of Commerce wnl a n to help forward the effort which is being madf to nbbSn more expeditious travelling in these dals^St 0 u depend, upon the facilities afforded to traveUOTs? m

A rumour has reached us from a nn»»u. we plaoe the greatest reliance, but it is °\Whl°h and gratifying character that we are almost think it is too good to be true. Our readers k^ f ll well that we have always been advocates for fu sion of the railway to the Mumbles^the landing pier or stage to allow of the w™yingJouJt- charge of steamers at all states of the u18" bringing into more close and unbroken J™ fc^us this town and the whole of South Wales BUO!01'1011 work of railway communication which Jn i j, n< £ opened up at Ilfracombe. We believe thlt !f T bo were earned out not only would the ti^* immediate district be greatly benefited tuallv the trade between the teS^uwL^ "T developed as to pay a fair dividend on 2w .i° oieuslv made. The London and North-&r0li y i pany have now formally taken possession n ?" lmg the Swansea and Llanelly lines and ™ are informed that one of the first works of they contemplate undertaking is the mi!v^ r to&oMUm6l-,tbo.rMionof. £ 'd"« »' the placing steamera on regular daiU .Pl6^ and the Mumbles and Ilfracombe. W« T1.0? between Directors of this Company will arriv/^ J a tb*fc Tuesday next, and on Wednesdav will • Swan,8ea ?n with the view of carrying out these K;'u*iPe<^ Blt6 works. We can only hope the reDort lmP?r^an'' will prove correct, as we shall tak. „ u U8 earnest of the desire of the LondonTnrf w an Company, HOW they have succeeded in • ?ter? access to Swansea, to do what thev obtaining direct develope the trade and resources of H? !? further knowslnow that the Chano^uifhSe.dl,t"ct- Who gives the London and North-WfmUpn cceeded whioh ning powers ever the Llanelly system1^^?1^ fUn" yet lead to still greater results and ft* they may be induced to take the iniHaf^ i eventually Swansea on the main line, and to erect f!7 ps to central station worthy the importance of thulta gene d that the disgraceful apologies for statin^ u* exists may to utilised fSr gSods onlv or whl<* n0W purposes than that to which they are now de^S^L*

The Builder of Saturday last has some strnr,» K fear only too just comments upon the decad-nHf p of the most important branches of English art and° in- dustry, aseTidenced by her contributions at the Exhi- bition at Vienna. Many of the leading journals aswell as many of, the most eminent authorities have for some J va J i d *>;i a." time past contended that English manufacturers and English workmen must loek to their laurels if the fame and prestige of Old England is to be maintained in the production of those articles of usefulness and elegance in w'1Îch we formerly excelled. Whilst the Vienna Ex- hih tion may not afford any criterion of any material a /ancement on the part of England in the arts and manufactures for the past quarter of a century, it is *ome satisfaction to find that the country is awaking out of the lethargy which has too long characterised it in this respect. The importance and necessity of general scientific instruction is now universally recognised, and schools of art are more extensively patronised by all classes in the present day than for many years past. We hope and believe that the various efforts which are now employed to promote a love for the arts and sciences, will act as an incentive to our manufacturers and workmen in the production of articles which shall retrieve the name of England and enable her to again take her position amongst the foremost nations in the world in the invention and manufacture of those articles of utility which bespeak the genius of a nation. We append the views of our contemporary in the hope that they may inspire a determination on the part of our manufacturers and working men to do what they can to uphold the fame of England, and to advance in those works of science and art which have achieved for us our present greatness as a nation. Our contemporary says:—"England must be adjudged by her works, as exhibited by her best-known men, and thus judged, condemned; for there is not only no evi- dence of progress sinoe her record of 1851, but a strong presumptive evidence of decadence in some most im- portant branches of art industries. Many of the prin- cipal works in the precious metals, brass, and iron, to be found here, have been on public exhibition any time during the last quarter of a century, and have long since become familiar to those who have never seen the originals, through the medium of photography, litho- graphy, and woodcuts. All that could be said for or against them has been said a hundred times, and their presence at Vienna is an anachronism and a shameless evidence of self complacency or want of enterprise in our leading manufactures which cannot be too seriously de- precated. Setting the best of these well-known works aside, there will be found very little in the English de- partment at all calculated to advance her interests or enhance her fame. Objects in the precious metals are as thickly studded with jewels as children's pasteboard boxes with sea shells, or so bedaubed with coloured enamels that their gold and silver substructures can be valued only by their weight. In the latest developments of "cups" and "shields" the human form has become crushed out of all semblance to humanity. Our china, decorated out of all fitness for table use, has become pic- ture-books of natural history, and all the semi-mon- strous forms of animate and inanimate nature are re- produced (reckless of the disgust they must cause) upon our dinner-plates and drinking-vessels. Glass has lost all resemblance to itself in the admixture of crude and opaque enamels, and will presently rival in ugliness the most treasured specimens,of its monstrous birth whilst wooden furniture, in its highest phases, has been made into the vehicle for the display of preposterous inlays, and rendered utterly useless for any domestic purpose by fragile and delicately-carved mountings of ivory. Since our contemporary penned his observations the committee of the Vienna Exhibition have issued their awards, and we are glad to find that several English manufacturers have received diplomas of honour. Nay more, we are glad to find that a Swansea firm has also come off victorious—the Landore (Siemen's) Steel Com- pany having the diploma of honour awarded for manu- factures in the metal trade. The following are the English firms to whom the diplomas have been granted: In the agricultural department, Messrs. Fowler and Company, London J. and F. Howard, Bedford; Ran- somes, Sims, and Head, London. In textile fabrics, Messrs. Brook Bros., of Huddersfield; Christy and Com- pany, of London; Horrocks, Miler, and Company, London. In the metal trade, Messrs, Henry Bessemer and Company; the Broughton Copper Company, Man- chester; Messrs. Brown and Company, and Cammel and Company, of Sheffield; Messrs. Elkington, of Birming- ham and the Landore Siemens Steel Company. In furniture, Messrs. Jackson and Graham, London. In glass, china, and stoneware, Messrs. Minton and Co., Stoke-on-Trent; the Worcester Porcelain Factory. In the paper trade, Messrs. Cowan and Sons, of Penicuick, Scotland. In decorative art, Mr. Owen Jones, of Lon- don. In machinery, Galloway and Sons, Manchester: Lawson and Sons, Leeds; Piatt Bros., Oldham; Sharp, of Manchester. Scientific instruments, V. Kullberg, London; Messrs. Armstrong, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Naval meterial: The Washington Lighthouse Department, In group 22, the South Kensington Museum, London.

foal Intelligence. UNIVERSITY COLLEGE FOB WALES.—In our advertising columns will be found a. list of Scholarships to be com- peted for at the commencement of the next term. One of these Scholarships is J650, subscribed by the working men of Festiniog. ILFRACOMBE CATTLE FAIR.—This fair, which has gained considerable celebrity, will be held on Wednesday, *»>« 3rd of September next, and orohphW — cursions will run From Swansea. XJealers should there- fore make arrangements accordingly. On Saturday a child, between three and four years old, the daughter of Mr. J. Grove, carrier, Port Eynon, had her right hand crushed between the cogs of a chaS cut- ter. The fore-finger and thumb were much injured, the end of the finger being pinched off. It is hoped the thumb may be saved, though the joint will probably be stiff. SWANSEA HOSPITAL.—The secretary of the Hospital has much pleasure in acknowledging the receipt—per Edw. Howard, Esq.—of j312 Os. 6d., being the nett pro- ceeds of the late cricket-match and athletic sports on be- half of the funds of the Hospital. Also the receipt of a fine buck, kindly sent to the Hospital by Sir John Armine Morris, Bart. THE RECENT ATHLETIC SPORTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE SWANSEA HOSPITAL.—At a committee meeting, held at the Castle Hotel, on Wednesday evening, for the pur- pose of winding up the accounts of the athletic sports, which took place at Bryn-y-mor, on the 24th of last month, it appears that after paying expenses incurred, netwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, it is gratifying to the Committee to find they are enabled, and have instructed their Secretary to hand over the balance of JB12 0s. 6d. to the funds of the Swansea Hospital. VISITORS AT THE MUMBLES .—Mrs. Sydney Davis, 2, Roseland-terrace; Mr. R. H. Hooper, Rose-terrace, from Bath • Mrs. Cumming and family, Mount View, Church Park' from Charlton Kings, Cheltenham Mr. and Mrs, Whittle, 5, Sheffield-place, Brecon; Mr. and Mrs. N. Mackay, Cambrian Cottage, The Boyn, Dowlais; Miss Jones Master H. L. Jones, 1, Langland-villas, fr#m Shrewsbury; Mr. K. C. Smith, Liverpool and Maderia, and Mr. Arch. Chanter, R.N., Portishead, at Ship and Castle Hotel; Mr. F. A. Heamons, Clifton, at Rose Hill- terrace; Miss Francis, Whitcombe, Shrewsbury, at 2, Claremont villas; Mr. and Mrs. Palmer, Neiland, Glou- cestershire, at Bath Hotel. COPPBR OBE SALES. At the Swansea fortnightly ticketing, on Wednesday, the sales of copper ores were as follows Copper Miners' Company, 126 tons; Nevill, Druce, and Co., 84 tons Vivian and Sons, 67 tons; Williams, Foster, and Co., 563 tons; Mason and Elkington, 72 tons and Landore Copper Company, 7 tons. The averages en the whole sale were as annexed:—Average produce, 221 per cent. Price per ton of 21 cwt. dry weight, £17 4s* 9d.; ditto, Cape ores, JE26 17s. 7d.; price per unit of produce, 15s. 6d. standard, j686 19s. 6d.; ditto, calcu- lated for 9 per cent. produce, j698 17s. 3d. As compared with the previous safe, there was an advance of 7!d. in the price per unit, and ofj62 18s. 3d. in the standard cal- culated for 9 per cent, produce. The aggregate of the whole sale amounted to 917 tons, which realised £ 15,807 10s. 6<L, being an average of JB17 4s. 9d. per ton. SWANSEA PUBLIC HALL COMPANY.—The annual meet. in? of the shareholders in this company was held at the Music-hall yesterday (Thursday); Mr. D. Evans, chairman of the directors, presided. As usual, there was consider- able difficulty in obtaining a quorum, but ultimately ten members were got together, and the business was proceeded with. The following report of the directors was laid before the meeting:—" In calling the attention ef the share. holders to the annexed balance sheet, your directors are pleased to be able to inform you that after some tedious delay they have paid off the claim of Messrs. Thomas, Watkins, and Jenkins for principal, interest and costs, amounting together to no less a sum than £2255 8s. 2d. The completion of this business, however, was not effected in time to be included in the past year's statement of accounts. Towards enabling them to make the abeve pay- ment your Directors, acting in accordance with the reso- intions passed at a meeting of the shareholders, have taken the sum of £ 1,200 on mortgage of the hall, at 5 per t interest, and created preference shares bearing a of 10 per cent, to the extent of £ 1000, of which, hnarcver £ 7^0 only have already been taken, leaving Zq) to te still taken up, and pending their being issued directors have procured this amount on a tempo. « loan. It will be seen that the gross receipts the lettings amount to about the usual average, ^d the same may be said of the expenses, and the K -Mintf is reported to be in a fair state of repair." TV!« Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, iSd that the last year had been a very important one in !t- history of the company; they had been in Chancery, !i had narrowly escaped losing their valuable property; were now happily at last in a more satisfactory bu they might safely calculate upon being able to ^68 the preference shareholders their BlOper cent., and +* have something over to divide among the original u ~hn1<tars. Mr. A. Davies seconded the motion, and lsosDoke very hopefully of the prospects of the com- awo He mentioned that it had been necessary to apply ^cMisiderable portion of the revenue to purposes of lanital by constructing heating apparatus, &c.; in future •t was to be hoped this would not be necessary, and that thimoney earned might go towards the payment of a The motion was then agreed to. The retiring ^iTtors were next appointed, Mr. E. Roberts and Mr. Bradford chosen among the number. The Chair- mon said that about £ 200 remained to be raised by the r~ 0f preference shares. He invited those present to m»ke up this amount; the £ 10 dividend was about as ™,r« as anything well could be, and it was desirable that thTsum should be mads up and the account set straight. The various gentlemen present volunteered for additional ■hares*, and in the course of the sitting the whole sum required was raised. There was no other business of importance transacted. — • .4o;)o1' 0-T( ivu UJt .i Entries for Green Crops should be made on or before the 26th inst., for the West Glamorgan Agricultural Society. CAUTION TO TBADBSXEN.—Some spurious sovereigns of a somewhat dangerous character have recently appeared. They are made of platinum, gilt, and are almost identical in weight with the genuine coin; and, although upon examination they may readily be detected by ringing, and by a general sharp roughness of manufacture, they are calculated to deceive the public when carelessly taken. There is reason to believe that these coins are manufac- tured abroad. THE CARMARTHEN BOROUGH ELECTION.—It is an- nounced that in the event of Sir John Stepney's retire- ment from the representation of this borough, the Libe- ral candidate will be Mr. J. W. Bowen, Q.C. Mr. Bowen is connected with the borough by family ties, and the early associations of his life. He is known, not only as a prominent leader of the Bar upon this circuit, but also as a generous landlord and a genial and kind friend. But what the Liberals consider of greater importance is the fact that he intends to contest the seat upon advanced principles. He is prepared to give his support to the best Liberal Government that can be formed. He is in favor of a national system of secular education, and is ready te support Mr. Miall's resolution for the separation of Church and State. ROYAL INSTITUTION OF SoUTH WALES.—A very large and perfect specimen of Neptune's Cup (Thalassema Neptuni) has recently been added to the collection in the above Institution. This extraordinary natural pro- duction is a species of sponge. It sometimes measures four feet in height, and of corresponding width. A teacher has been known to impart to her pupils the very valuable information that it was an Old Roman Wine Jar." The schoolmaster certainly wms abroad" then. It is one of the exotic sponges, being found only in the hotter seas. The funnel-sponge is nearly allied, and, perhaps, as remarkable as the .above.—Vide Nat. Hist., Rev. J. G. Wood, pp. 770, et seq. Of a very different character to the above, but to be inspected in the same place, is a copy of the "Evening Mail" of the 18.th of June, 1815, containing the earliest information of the Battle of Waterloo.—Communicated by JOHN NAISH SMART, Hon. Treasurer of "Royal Institution of South Wales." CAST ASHOBE.—It may interest frequenters of our beautiful beach to learn that a very large piece of wreck- age (about 28 feet in length, and of, perhaps, 4 feet in girth), covered with the barnacle (L. Anatifera), is now on the Sands, about high water mark and a little to the eastward of the small stream of Bryn Mill. This mol- lusc is in vast numbers, certainly approaching three or four thousand, and the greater part in a living state, apparently uninjured; in size about 6 inches, the tubular portion of a pale chocolate colour and the shell being about the magnitude of a small mussel. The timber must have been washed on shore by the tide of Monday after- noon, and has in all probability been much assisted in its north-eastern progress by the Gulf Stream. An old Salt" happened to be near at the time of my observation, and he remarked that the timber appeared to be the covering board" of a large ship, and that it was very probable that the Gulf Stream had been instrumental in landing it in our locality.—JOHN NAISH SMART. SHORT HAY MOWING COMPETITION.—On Saturday last a company of short hay mowers competed on a meadow onLlachartfawr farm, near Pontardawe, kindly placed at disposal for the occasion by Mr. Howell Jones. It may be safely said that there is no neighbourhood in the world that would be able to compete with this part of the country in mowing short hay (gwair mawr). Eight mowers entered the meadow, the competition being divided into two classes. In the first class the prizes were awarded as follows:—1st prize, to Hopkin Jones, Nantymelin; 2nd, to William Jones, Llachartfawr; 3rd, divided between Evan John, Brynmawr, and Wm. Thomas, Rhydyfro. In the second class, the 1st prize, Wm. Owen, Gellyfawr 2nd, divided between Daniel H. James (Goitregarth), Howell Rees (Gellylwcarfach), and Howell Jones, jun., Llachartfawr. The mowing was good throughout, the boys in the second class promising to become good mowers of short hay. The judges were Messrs. Llewelyn Thomas, Cwmbryn; Philip Morgan, Heolddu; David Rees, Pantyrheol; and David Lewis, Rhydyfro.—Correspondent. THE COPPBR TBADB.—It may be viewed as a sign of serious import that upon receipt of advices from Valpa- raiso for some time past there has been the continuous announcement of increase in the stock of copper in Chili; and now that the West Coast has been brought so near to our own shores that a few weeks suffice by steam com- munication to transfer the stock in Cbili to the stock in England, the increase of stock there, if not tantamount to an increase of stock here, must yet exercise a very po- sitive and important influence upon the home market. The cause, then, of the comparatively small charters which have been received of late does not arise from the falling off of supplies, but must be looked for in another direction. It appears to be chiefly owing to difficulties con. nected with freight. From 80s. to 85s. has been given for nitrate, but shippers of copper are indisposed in the present state of the market to pay a proportionate rate, and are, consequently, holding back supplies. A fleet of ships is even now on the way to Chili, and as these arrive in quick succession, and are taken up for shipment of produce, it is more than probable that freights will fall to such a figure as shall induce larger shipments of cop- per, and that future charters will be in excess of what they have been. On Monday last telegrams were re- ceived from Chili announcing Charters for the first half of July of 1400 tons, consisting of 400 tons of ore,and regulus and 1000 tons of bars, all for England. The esti- mated stock on the coast had increased from 6700 tons, at which it had stood at the date of the previous advice, to 6800 tons. WELSH RAILWAYS.—Fortunate Taff Vale sharehold- ers Not only are they to receive a 10 per cent. dividend 1: ,I. ,1.1. 10.1. ,1\1J.I.J.i0..4 'I bonus of 1 per cent. This is, if we mistake not, the largest distribution ever made by the company, being equal to 12 per cent. per annum and when the increased working charges of the half-year, caused in the advance in coal, iron, materials, and labour, are taken into con- sideration, the dividend is eminently satisfactory. In the last and corresponding half-years the dividend was at the rate of 10 per cent., but there was no bonus given. The traffic continues to show the most gratifying expansion, the increase in the first five weeks of the present half- year being nearly £3,000. There is an opinion still pre- valent that the line will not be long an independent com- pany, but it is difficult to reconcile this with recent Par- liamentary decisions in regard to amalgamation. The Rhymney report is moderately favourable, but not to the extent that many anticipated. The available balance for disposal among the ordinary shareholders is only JS3046, out of which it is is proposed to pay a dividend at the rate of 1J per cent. per annum, as compared with in the previous and nil in the corresponding half-year. This undoubtedly marks some advance in the position of the company, and if the working charges can be confined to from 50 to 55 per cent. there is no reason why the Rhym- ney should not be a 5 per cent. line in the course of a very short period. Five per cent. perannum is the divi- dend of the Sirhowy for the half-year, as compared with 10 in the previous and corresponding half-years. The strike for the first three months of the year was the main cause of this falling off in the dividend.—Hcrapath. FORESTRY—A special gathering of the officers & members of Court Mariner's Pnde, A. O. F., recently took place at the Somerset Arms, Somerset-place. Swansea, for the purpose of initiating his Worshipful the Mayor, T. Ford, Esq., into the ancient rites and mysteries of Forestry. The room was very tastefully decorated with banners, flags, mottoes, and evergreens for the auspicious occasion. Brother Enright, the Chief Ranger, conducted the cere- mony of initiation, in his usual impressive manner and Brother H. Goldman, in a very warm address, congratu- lated his Worship in again meeting him as a patron, and setting an example to the working classes to foster provi- dent habits amongst themselves. His Worship, in reply, said he felt highly pleased with the interesting ceremony he had just gone through, and he believed that the many morals it pointed out and the duties it imposed, could not fail to make members successfully fulfil the various duties in life that Providence had allotted them. He always felt a pleasure to forward any good work or cause which had the tendency to elevate the working classes, for the upraising of humanity, and of bringing them in closer contact, for the mutual benefit of the employer and employed. Brother R. D. Reed, district secretary, gave the toast of Prosperity to the Officers and Mem- bers of Court Mariner's Pride," together with the name of their indefatigable and worthy Secretary, Bro. J. W. Powell, who had been the mainspring of that Court, in getting so many members to join the Society. Brother Powell, in reply, said he had only done his duty, and it would always be the watchword with him—Onward for the welfare of each and every member and the body politic. Various toasts, songs, and recitations were agreeably rendered during the evening and the proceed- ings terminated at the usual hour, all well pleased with the enjoyment of the evening. LLANSAMLET.— MARRIAGE or THE VICAR'S DAUGHTERS. Wednesday, the 13th inst., will long be remembered by the villagers as the day on which two of the Vicar's daughters, Annie and Manr, were married, to Dr. Mair, of Morriston, and Mr. E. Sidney Hartland, of Swansea, solicitor. Extensive preparations had been made by the parishioners for several days prior to the event, giving to the old church quite a lively appearance. At 11 o'clock, with the sun shining, the two brides were escorted into church by their brother, Dr. Morgan, of Neath, who gave them away. The school children were drawn up in lines along the pathway, all supplied with flowers, which they strewed along the pathway. Such a gay gathering has never before been seen in the church. The bridesmaids were-Mia R. Leyson, Penyrheynhor; Miss R. Edmond, Clasemont; Miss J. Gardner, Tunbridge Wells: and Miss M. Walker, Bristol. Groomsmen: Mr. D. P. Powell, Morriston; Dr. Chapman, Swansea; Mr. J. R. Morgan, The Vicarage; and Mr. J. Hartland, Cosham, Bristol. While the nappy "quartet" was leaving the church, the "Wedding March" was played by Mrs. Roper. Owing to the illness of the father of the brides, Dr. and Mrs. Bagot, of Forest Hall, kindly gave the breakfast, to which a numerous company sat down, consisting of Dr. and Mrs. Bagot, Mr. Edward Bagot, Dr. and lira. Mair, Mr. and Mrs. Hartland, the bridesmaids and groomsmen, the officiating clergy, Mrs. M. R. Morgan, Rev. and Mrs. E. J. Hartland (Bristol), Miss Hartlaad, Rev. and Mrs. Bray (Manchester), Mrs. Cook, Mrs. Richard Hughes, Dr. and Mrs. John Williams, Mrs. Henry Davies, Mrs. Boreham, Mr. F. S. Boreham, Dr. C. R. Morgan, Mr. P. Cook, Rev. O. D. Thomas, BeT. and Miss Evans, Ilr. and Mrs. Hulm, Mr. G. Bagot, Mr. and Mrs. Evan Daniel, Captain and Mrs. Dahne, Mr. S. Davies, and Mr. John PowelL In the evening, Mr. and Mrs. Bagot entertained a large party to a dance. Amongst the numerous pre- sents given to the brides, we must mention two cake- baskets, which were subscribed to by the choir and con- gregation of Llansamlet Church. The presentation took place in the Schoolroom, on the Monday previous; the pleasing duty was entrusted to the Rev. B. Lloyd Davies, who in an appropriate speech made feeling mention of the regret felt by the departure of the Misses Morgan from the parish. Several other speakers followed. The Rev. W. B. S. Morgan responded for hi« sisters. In the afternoon the children belonging to the Sunday and day- 4&ools were regaled with tea and cake. MABINE EXCURSION TO TENBY.—Mr. J. W. Pockett, the spirited proprietor of the Swansea and Bristol steam packets announces the only marine excursion of the sea- son to Tenby on Thursday, the 28th inst. Those who can enjoy an invigorating sea-trip, cannot have a more plea- sant one than to Tenby, and as the times cf sailing will allow of several hours' stay in the charming watering- place, there will probably be a goodly company.— See advt. MEMORIAL CUP.—A richly-chased silver cup, to be presented to the South Wales Choral Union by the Lon- don Committee of the Welsh Choir Prize Fund to com- memorate their success at the National Musical Competi- tion meeting in July, 1872, is now being exhibited for a short time at Mr. Streeter's, 37, Conduit-street. The cover is surmountd by a model of the ancient Welsh harg, bearing a Welsh motto signifying "the soul of mu- sic. On the shield are engraven the arms of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales; on the reverse the arms of North and South Wales and the Royal Princes of Wales. The engravings are beautifully finished, HONESTY OF A TRADESMAN.—About twelve months ago a gentleman in this town either lost or had stolen, from him a valuable diamond ring; a short time since a man named William Beynon, shipwright, living in Pottery-lane, took the ring to the shop of Mr. BL Levenberg, watchmaker and jeweller, of No. 45, High- street and asked the value of the same with a view to its disposal. Mr. Levenberg who had formerly repaired the same at once identified and detained it, taking the man to the owner of the ring—the man stating that John Snow of No. 38, Swan-street, who said he picked it up twelve months ago in the street, and gave it to Beynon'e sister, who, Beynon said, gave it him. Thus the ring, although a good reward was offered and its loss published, was only recovered through the caution and honesty of Mr. Levenberg after the parties had it so long in their possession. BRUNSWICK WESLEY AN CHAPEL.—Our readers will see from the advertisement in the first page that the New Wesleyan Chapel, St. Helen's Road, Swansea, is to be opened on Thursday next by the Rev. G. T. Perks, M.A President of the Wesleyan Conference. The occa- sion will be one of great interest and will no doubt bring together a large number of friends. The chapel is a very beautiful structure, and both the interior and the exterior are greatly admired. On the following Sunday sermons will be preached in both the Wesleyan chapels., and in connection with the opening the Rev. John Burton, ef Leeds, formerly of this town, Dr. James, and the Rev. C. Prest, both of London, are expected. We hope that the friends of the cause and also all Christians anxious to encourage the growth of true religion and piety" in our midst will attend the services and contribute liberally towards an object which ia calculated to do so much good. THE DIORAMA.—We are glad to find that the Die- rama now exhibiting at the Music Hall, illustrative of Irish scenery, continues to draw crowded houses. It is gratifying to find such is the case, because the exhibition and its accompanying lecture not only tends to make the people of this country acquainted with some of the most charming scenery of the sister isle, but also to break down the prejudices which unhappily prevail in some quarters against the Irish race. The views, as we stated in our last, are certainly most admirably painted, and graphically depict the views intended to be repre- sented. The lecture by Mr. Porter is both interesting and edifying, whilst the songs, &c., of the various artists are exceedingly good. We find that Mr. Pat. Barry, a really clever delineator of Irish song and character, takes his benefit on Tuesday evening next, Miss Annie Vernon and Mr. J. Porter take a joint benefit on Thursday, whilst the charming little cantatrice, Miss Florence Leslie, ap- peals to her friends and the public for their support on Friday—this night week. We have seldom seen a more pleasing actress than Miss Florence Leslie, or one more deserving of encouragement and support, and we therefore hope there will be a bumping house on Friday evening next.—See Advt. LATEST ARRIVALS.—Andromeda, from Bona, with 188 tons ef iron ore, for Poingdestre and Mesnier Havre (ss.), from Havre, with 15 tons of copper regulus, for H- Bath and Son Louise, from St. Nazaine, with 220 tons of pitwood, for J. Morel; Agostino Repetto, from Car- thagena, with 744 tons of pitwood, for Landore Steel Company; Rose, from Pormon, with 1,060 tons of iron ore, for Landore Stell Company; C. A., from Bilbao, with 150 tons of iron ore, for Governor and Company., Dame Adolphus, from Morlaix, with 50 tons of pitwood, for Stephen and Rees; Rachel, from Morlaix, with 120 tons of pitwood, to order; Lizzie, English, from Mara- belle, with 840 tons of ore and 40 bushels of grapes, for Richards, Power and Co. Maggie, from Carloforte, with 425 tons of zinc ore, to order Osprey, from Huelva., with 475 tons of sulphur ere, for Vivian and Sons Gustafod, from Sundswall, with timber, for Gregor Brothers; John Kendall, from Antwerp, with 130 tons of pipe clay, for Charles Wessler; Stratton of Jersey, from St. Malo, with 175 tons of iron ore, and 2! tons of pitwood, to order. PRESENTATION. — A meeting of a very interesting character was held on Friday evening last, at the Great Western Hotel, High-street, for the purpose of present- ing Mr. D. Jenkins, late foreman at the Swansea Yard of the Great Western Railway, with a testimonial from his fellow-workmen. It appears that Mr. Jenkins was the oldest servant in the employ of the Company, at Swansea, dating back to the time previous to the Line being opened; during which period (nearly a quarter of a century) he had faithfully served his employers, as foreman of the Goods Department of this place, but for some unaccountable reason he was compelled to resign. His fellow-workmen, to show their sympathy with him, and their sorrow at parting with so highly respected a fellow-servant, subscribed amongst themselves a hand- some testimonial, and presented it to him on the evening above mentioned. Mr. Jenkins, during the evening, handed in his discharge and character for inspection, 1 K-c fl Rounf "0 monajpr, who expressed his sincere regret that he had decided to resign. There was a goodly gathering of his fellow-servants and friends. The Chairman presented the purse and con- tents to Mr. Jenkins, who said he scarcely knew how to express his feelings for the kindness his fellow-workmen had shown him, and he hoped they would not receive the same treatment he had received after giving the Company all his best days, The meeting was a very interesting one, and closed with all wishing Mr. Jenkins success in his new employment. ANNUAL PIONIC OF ST. JAMES'S CHOIR.—This annual treat, which is provided by the liberality of some members of the congregation (who most kindly contributed in very many ways to the enjoyment of the choir), took place on Wednesday last, the spot selected being at Resolven, Vale of Neath. The day was most unpropitious, it rained heavily during the whole of the morning. Dispiriting as this was, it had not the effect of damping the party who started for Resolven in excellent spirits at about 9.30 a.m. in three brakes provided by Mr. Bullin. the whole of the choir numbering 30 having first beenphotographed by Mr. Andrews. The ram came down in torrents during the whole of the journey to Resolven and this spoiled the effects of the beautiful scenery through which the route lay. Arrived at Resolven, the party found it necessary to dismount m order that the horses and brakes might ford the river, there being only a small bridge for foot passengers at that point. The party, headed by Mr. Alexander Phipps, the organist of St. James's Church, then proceeded to the Vaughan's Anns Hotel and partook of luncheon, after which an excursion was made to the falls and here it was found that the rain which had contributed so much to the discomfort of the excursionists had so swollen the stream that the fall had become magnificent in its grandeur and presented a sight which can seldom be witnessed—thus repaying the visitors for all the incon- venience they had experienced. With sundry adventures and escapes involving several partial duckings, the party then prooeeded underneath the falls where the roar of the falling waters was deafening, and they afterwards clambered up the rocks to the top of the precipice over which the stream precipitates itself, and watched the foaming waters as they tumbled headlong over the fall. After enjoying the view for sometime the party returned to the hotel to dine and partook of an excellent repast which had been provided for them. After dinner the weather cleared a little and the party took other walks and amused themselves in various ways until teatime. When the time arrived for the return journey some consternation was caused upon its becoming known that the water in the river had risen to such a height that the brakes could not recross. After a consultation with some of the inhabitants it was however ascertained that there was a back road to Neath, which was eventually used and proved to be a very rough one, but after sundry ups and downs the whole party arrived safely at their destination. The greatest praise is due to Mr. and Mrs Phipps for their indefatigable kindness and for their untiring labour in providing for the amusement and bodily comfort of the large number whom they had under their charge for the day. The members of the choir at length separated with the heartiest geod wishes for them and for the others who had so kindly contributed to the day's enjoyment. SWANSEA VALE RAILWAY COMPANY.—The following is the thirty-seventh Report of the Directors of this com- pany, which will be submitted to the proprietors at the half-yearly meeting to be held on Wednesday next. The annexed statement of the accounts for the half-year ending the 30th June, 1873, duly audited and drawn in form preacribed by the regulations of Railways Act, 1868, presents the following results: Net proceeds of the half-year's working £9,899 lB. lid.; balance from last account B246 lis. 9d.; disposable balance B10,855 13s. 8d. which enables the directors to recommend that the usual dividends in full be paid upon, all preference shares, that a dividend at the rate of 8 per cent, per annnm be paid upon the original shares, and that the balance of £716 lis. 3d. be carried forward to the credit of new half-year The expenditure for 'IS?? every charge and liability to the 30th June, 1873. The accounts for the past half-yew Aew an mcrose OVOT the corresponding period of £ 4521 17a and of B2687 18s. 7d. in tfce ex^jMure- The grow working charge* h&vo been ui tfie ? « The LoOp line, via Clydach to Glais, baa been pa.rti&ll, opened for mineral traffic as farj".y.rthelavin» of a» to. to of a» to. to general traffic. The co.tract for the C&eilliau bn.neJa at Ynisygeinonis y opened for public traffic. Pascoe St. Leger Grenfell, Esq., and Auditors ofthe^mwT George Young, Esq., retire by rotation, b^^Sle. offer themselves for re-election. The pro^sesof tlus linehasbeen remarkableduring thepast threeor four years, and indicatestheprosperity of the trade ef the Swansea Valley and alse the ability of the general management. For many years no dividend whatever was paid shares, whilst one or one and a half wasthe highest dividends paid two or three years since. Eight per cent upon the original shares has now been fairly earned. Apparentlv the lin« will b« a second ".Taff Vale" with a Jf 10 ™ cent, and a bonus, in addition in the couraeo f a few more 'i k. ,j