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GLAMORGANSHIRE QUARTER SESSIONS.
GLAMORGANSHIRE QUARTER SESSIONS. (Continued from our Sixth Page.) FIRST COURT. [Before Mr. R. O. Jones. Mr. C. W. David, and Mr. G. Phillips.] FRAUD BY A SWANSEA GROCER. Thomas Lloyd Thomas, 35, grocer, was charged with obtaining by certain false pretences from one James Griffiths certain goods, to wit, one dog cart of the value of £21, with intent thereby to cheat and defraud him of the same at Swansea, on the 26th day of June, 1880. Mr. B. F. Williams, (instructed by Mr. Jellicoe, Swansea, for the Treasury) appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Bowen Rowlands (instructed by Messrs. Smith and L iw- rence) for the defence. In opening the case, Mr. YVil- liams said that it was out of the ordinary run of cases of tho sort in the way in which it was carried out, and in the nature of the false pretence, because a considerable amount of skill and cleverness had been displayed by the prisoner, and he had no doubt the prisoner flattered him- self that he had not brought himself within the pale of the criminal law. It appeared that the prisoner at one time carried on business at Swansea as a wholesale grocer •—at any rate, he called himself a wholesale grocer. As early as January, 1879, in got into difficulties, and there were then a great many executions out against him which could not be satisfied. In the November of 1879 he was what was popularly called" sold up." From the middle of May, 1880, no business had been cirried on at his shop, and the shutters had been kept up. This being the state of things, the prisoner, on the 22nd of June, sent this letter to the prosecutor, who was a coach-builder at Ludlow: Have you got in stock a. strong dog cart ? If so please let us know, having seen your name in Hay Show, and oblige, &c. This letter was written on a form containing a printed heading, such as was commonly used by tradesmen, and it was evidently intended to convey that the prisoner was in a sucsessful way of business. The heading was:—"Thomas LloSd Thomas, aud Co., 64, High-street, and 43 and 44, Mariuer-street. Telegrams to be sent to Mariner-street." Some correspondence took place, and the dog-cart, together with a set of harness, was sent to the prisoner, who also asked for a wagonette and a business cart. The prisoner offered both the dog- cart and the set of harness for sale before they arrived, and subsequently he put them up for sale by auction. It was obvious he did not rtquire the dog-cart and harness for his own use as he had no horse, and the inference they were compelled to draw was that he obtained them simply in order to turn them into money. Thomas Lewis, chief bailiff of the Swansea County Court, deposed to having sold the prisoner's effects in November, 1879. From the sale he realised jSlO 4s. He had had eleven executions against the prisoner since, but none of them had been satisfied, because there were no goods to levy upon. James Walker, yeast merchant, said the prisoner wanted to sell the dog cart to him for £10 or £12. Prisoner's stock was of a very varied character—he obtained articles from all parts of the country, and advertised them for sale at about 10 per cent. below cost. He cheated hundreds of people before he cheated prosecutor. He often called at Thomas's shop to see the great swindles that were being transacted." (Laughter.) E. Crapper, auctioneer, said that prior to his July sale he received a letter from the prisoner asking him to enter a dogcart and harness. He knew that the prisoner had nothing of his own to dispose of, and he beleived he threw the letter into the fire. The prisoner did, however, bring the dogcart and harness, and they were offered for sale. The dogcart was to go for £2:), and the set of har- ness for £6, but no purchaser was found. Wm. Usher, money-lender at Swansea, said the prisoner's stores in Back-street, were taken down twelve m JUths ago. This concluded the case for the prosecution, and Mr. Bowen Rowlands intimated that he did not intend to call any witnesses for the defence. Mr. Williams then addressed the jury, and called attention to the remarks of Baron Pollock in the case of the Queen against Cooper. Those remarks applied to the letter written by defendant in the case, and were as follows —" As a whole, it is a letter of a man who desires to convey that he is what he is not, namely, a substantial dealer, able to take this large quantity as a sample. Words could not, he added, have been framed more applicable to the circumstances of this case, a.nd he urged that the jury could not avoid finding that the prisoner had been guilty of the offence of fraud by false pretence. Mr. Bowen Rowlands, in addressing the jury, submit- ted that the case of the Queen against Cooper was different in material points to the case now before the court. If every person was brought within the ejopa of eiimiual law who left the impression by his shop front. hIS billheads, &c., that he was in a successful way of osiuess, there would be a much larger number in the position of the prisoner than there was at present. It was because such persons did not come within the ciiminai ]a^ tkat Bankruptcy Acts had been passed, and provision introduced whereby it was made criminal for a man to oraer goods on the eve of his bankruptcy, being aVl f debts. The mere representation of t 1 y Pay at some future time was not a false pre- nce, however immoral it might be, and, he contended, p sonai- had cot made any absolute misrepresentation in ThpaplaC^°ni with the prosecutor. co il Chairman, in summing up, said that if the jury hima if the prisoner was not that which he represented if the-- F° w.as guilty of false pretence, aud then, that ih that it was on account of this false pretence crimr. 6 Pl'osecutor sent his goods to the prisoner, the rp* Wo d be complete, and it would be their duty to Th Vei'dict °f guilty. t-bow ^ound the prisoner guilty, and added that cauTinnol1 f* IfBtbs did not take the ordinary pre- T- ™ e sendir,g tho goods. ^jie Chairman I think you are quite right. i- Pri8°ner when asked if he had anything to say, %?Va ?he native. you -Vla*rm^u then said The jury have rightly found nefari^ ^on 'lave apparently been carrying o:i a that ifQS 8 Pvocea<iings, and tho Court are not agreed five vo W?1 ""k have been their duty to send you for ais Peial servitude, but for the previous chaia tar month "m'J iT°i korne. You will be sentenced to 13 s iiard labour in the Queen's Prison at Swansea. rP>F „ SECOND COURT. IL.fore Mr. J. C. Fowler, Mr. M. O. Jones, aud o Major Lee.] SDI-U^EX?ES- 1 Sen^Dce was passed upon Rachael senten™ with stoaung a rug at Cardiff, whose be im • J*1 elj > au<^ s'le '•'as now ordered to labo^rP11Sn?i? ^°r tvveij,° calendar months with hard ste&lln rr pll^°"er' Charies Asgar, indicted for fowl hard kfbour ay' Wa3 sentenced to twelve months' SPIRITS AT SWANSEA.—Martha Thomas, a hnv o W0IQan, on bail, who appeared with a babv in a nn lUr\' Was ^n^'cfced for stealing three pint bottles and irin aU^X brandy, one quart bottle and a quantity of n an? on? P'nt bottle aud a quantitv of sherry, tho bnn Gla,;e Evans, the Willow Tree public- T> ^ansea, on the 21st of December, 1880. Mr. W. harl K11 prosecuted. It appeared that prisoner abp 1 efCfn^eC,V!^h0 b-ar of Prosecutrix's house, and after nn i.i u bottles in question were missed. Subse- quently she was seen carrying bottles of spirits and Jine and when the police got to her house she was 0 ^'Ur^ recomrnended her to mercy on account of her condition, she having been confined three weeks Sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment without hard labour. THE PONTYPRIDD WOUNDING CASE —Edward Evans, 41, fitter, was indicted for unlawfully and maliciously bounding Fanny Lawes, at Pontypridd, on the 16th No- etnber, 1880. Mr. Griffiths prosecuted. Fanny Lawes li^ri u Was °f William Lawes, from whom she naa been separated daring the last two years, During Tvtl u6 had been cobabiting with the defendant at 1 • if 8^e recently left him also, and went to the house of Henry Elliot, Station-terrace, Ponty- pridd. On the day in question the defendant made his house Elliot was not there at the «n i "e*en<lant asked her to make breakfast for him, !wifn«^WM?8 asked her t0 So upstairs with him. She rautht (i,«niproceeding to light the fire when he shefelt 8om»fK- °/^ei' face with bis light hand, and 1-rdfe in defendan £ .^v" ,She als0 saw the blade of a throat was about threnf V Tile wouu<1 on her through, and there was Wood'on 11' H^asked" °Ut to the pantry with him, but 8he caught hold of his^an l^ asked him to put down the knife, and said, You inte.'d to kill me." Ho said, No, I don't want to kill you I want to make friends with you. She then asked to be allowed to go and put water on the fire, and he con- sented, so she left the house and did not return. Defen- dant now said he was in such a condition that he reraeru- bered nothing about what had happened until next day. The Chairman remarked that he saw no giound for con- sidering the case as a common assault. The jury found the prisoner guilty, and the Bench sentenced him to 12 calendar months' hard labour. CANNIBALISM AT FKRNDALE.—Richard Evans, a J ng man, on bail, was indicted for unlawfully and maliciously wounding Ebenezer Jones, at Ferndale, on the 6 th 1880. Complainant and another man left the Dutiryn Arms, Ferndale, after stop-tap on the night in question, and in the course of a row which took place the com- plainant and defendant fought, and the defendant bit a piece out of the complainant's lip. Defendant was found guilty, and sentenced to eight calendar months' hard labour. WOUNDING AT CARDIFF.—Lucas Georgias, a Greek, was charged with wounding James McCarthy, a bailiff, ^?l'diff- The complainant went to defendant's house, 18, Bute-terrace, Cardiff, to levy, under a bill of sale, for T^^a^eig' Sentenced to twelve months' hard labour. • "Rischargiei>-—Frederick John Hill, a boy, on bail, was indicted for obtaining by false pretences from Esther Jones 5s. 3d., the money of Ellen Burnell, at Swansea, on the 28th of September, 1880. In consequence of the ill- ness of the principal witness for the prosecution, the case had to be abandoned, and the jury being directed t) bring in a verdict of Not guilty," the boy was dis- charged. THEFT OF CLOTHES AT CARDIEF.—William Johns, 29, fireman, was indicted for stealing a bundle of clothes, the property of John West, at Cardiff, on the 31st of Decem- ber last. Mr. Fyffe prosecuted. He was found guilty, and a previous conviction having been admitted by him, Qe was sentenced to fifteen months' hard labour. LARCENY AT SWANSEA.—Frederick Hoskins, 32, fitter, was indicted for stealing one 141b. weight and one 211b. Weight, the property of John Dyer, corn merchant, Swansea, in the month of May, 1879. It was stated that the prisoner was employed by the prosecutor to cut the letters" lb." on the weights in use. The prisoner did work on 25 weights. When he left the two weights were missed. Prosecutor gave information to the police. The weights were subsequently found by the police at the whop of Mr. D. Lewis, College-street, Swausea. They tore the initials of the prosecutor on them, and they had teen sold by the prisoner, who was then undergoing an Imprisonment for felony. When released from prison he Was apprehended on this charge. The defence was that the assistant of the prosecutor had lent them to him. This was denied. Prisoner was found guilty, and a pre- vious conviction being proved, he was sentenced to nine months with hard labour. WOUNDING WITH A POKBR. AT CARDIFF. William Mitchell, 26, labourer, respectably attired, was indicted for unlawfully and maliciously wounding Mary Mac- kenzie, at Cardiff, on the 20th of November, 1880. Mr. Jeffries prosecuted; Mr. B. Francis Williams defended. Defendant was found guilty, and sentenced to eight months' hard labour. This ended the business of the sessions.
OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.
OPENING OF PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS. The Second Session of the Tenth Parliament of Her Majesty's reign was opened yesterday by Royal Commission. Their lordships assembled at two o'clock. The Royal Commissioners, who took their seats in front of the Throne-which, as usual, was uncovered-were the Lord Chancellor, Earl Sydney, Earl Spencer, the Earl of Cork and Ossery, and Lord Monson. The first peer to arrive was Lord Saye and Sele, who was quickly followed by Earl Sudeley, Lord Norton, and the Bishop of London. There were a few diplomatists in the side galleries, but an entire absence of peeresses. The attendance of the Commons was then desired in their lordship's House. The Speaker and a large number of the members of the House of Commons having come to the bar, the Lord Chancellor read THE QUEEN'S SPEECH. MT LORDS AND GENTLEMEN, I have called you at a period earlier than usual to the resumption of your labours, as some affairs of more than common urgency. demand your attention. My relation with Foreign Powers continue to be friendly and harmonious. The main question relating to the frontier between Turkey and Montenegro has been settled. The Powers are now engaged in communications which have in view the determination of the frontier between Turkey and Greece. Some important portions of the treaty of Berlin which have so long remained without fulfilment con- tinue to form an object of my anxious attention. A rising in the Transvaal has recently imposed upon me the duty of taking military measures with a view to the prompt vindication of my authority, and has of necessity set aside for the time any plan for securing to the European settlers that full con- trol over their own local affairs, without prejudice to the interests of the natives, which I had been desirous to confer. I regret that the war in Basutoland still continues, notwithstanding the efforts of the Cape Govern- ment. It would cause me much satisfaction if a suitable occasion should present itself for friendly action on my part, with a view to the restoration of peace. The war in Afghanistan has been brought to a close, and, with the exception of the Candahar force, my troops have been recalled within the Indian frontier. It is not my intention that the occupation of Candahar shall be permanently main- tained, but the still unsettled condition of the country, and the consequent difficulty of establish- ing a native Government, have delayed for a time the withdrawal of the army from that position. Papers on the several subjects to which I have adverted as well as further correspondence on the military estimates of India will be presented to you. Gentlemen of the House of Commons,—The esti- mates for the services of the coming year are in a forward state of preparation, and will be speedily laid before you. My LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,— There has been a gradual though not very rapid improvement in the trade of the country, and I am now able to entertain a more favourable expectation of the Revenue for the year than I could form at its commencement. The anticipation with which I last addressed you, of a great diminution of the distress in Ireland, owing to an abundant harvest, was realised, but I grieve to state that the social condition of that country has assumed an alarming character. Agra- rian crimes in general have multiplied far beyond the experience of recent years. Attempts upon life have not grown in the same proportion as other offences, but I must add that efforts have been made for personal protection far beyond all former prece- dent, by the police, under the direction of the Exe- cutive. I have to notice other*evils yet more widely spread. The administration of justice has been frustrated with respect to these offences, through the impossibility of procuring evidence, and an ex- tended system of terror has thus been established in various parts of the country which has paralysed almost alike the exercise of private rights and the performance of civil duties. In a state of things, new in some important respects, and hence with little of available guidance from other precedent, I have deemed it right steadily to put in use the ordi- nary powers of the law before making any new de- mand; but a demonstration of their insufficiency, amply supplied by the present circumstances of the country, leads me now to apprise you that proposals will be immediately submitted to you for entrusting me with additional powers necessary in my judgment not only for the vindication of order and public law, but likewise to secure on behalf of my subjects protection for life and property and personal liberty of action. Subject to the primary and imperious obligations to which I have just referred, I continue to desire, not less tlian heretofore, to proseeute the removal of grievances, and the work of legislative improvement in Ireland, as well as in Great Britain. The Irish Land Act of 1870 has been productive of great benefits, and has much contributed to the security and comparative well-being of the occupiers j of the soil, without diminishing the value or dis- turbing the foundations of property. In some re- | spects, however, and more particularly under the strain of recent and calamitous years, the protection which it supplied has not been found sufficient, either in Ulster or the other provinces. I recom- mend you to undertake the further development of its principles in a manner conformable to the spe- cial wants of Ireland both as regards the relation of landord and tenant, and with a view to effective efforts for giving to a larger portion of the people, by purchase, a permanent proprietary interest in the soil. This legislation will require the removal for the purpose in view of all obstacles arising out of limita- tions on the ownership of property with a due pro- vision for the security of the interests involved. A measure will be submitted to you for the establish- ment of County Government in Ireland, founded ,t upon representative principles, and framed with the double aim of confirming popular control over ex- penditure, and of supplying a yet more serious want by extending the formation of habits of local Self- Government. Bills will be laid before you for the abolition of corporal punishment in the army and in the navy. You will be asked to consider measures for the further reform of the law of bankruptcy, for the conservancy of rivers, and the prevention of floods, for revising the constitution of endowed schools and hospitals in Scotland, for the renewal of the Act which established secret voting, and for repressing the corrupt practices of which in a limited number of towns there were lamentable examples at the last general election. I trust that your labours, which will be even more than usually arduous, may be so guided by Divine Providence as to promote the happiness of my people. In the House of Lords the address in reply to the Queen's Speech was moved by Lord Carrington, and seconded by the Earl of Yarborough; and in the Commons a similar motion was made by Mr. Iwtvt*' ^endel (Montgomeryshire), and seconded half (Manchester). Mr. Parnell, on be- amendmSf* notice of an Wo i 1, e d,aaress in tne ioixowmg terms: we are rorlvfv. assure Her Majesty that land cannot Ko peace and tranquility in Ire- tbr^hts of °;rt0,d by spending or curtail- Ungthe iights of the Insh people." Mr. Parnell also g +0 ona™0 -on f°r tire appointment Of a committee to enqmro mto the alleged outrages in Ireland. M • ^Ic-arthy gave notice Qf a further amendment, pi aying Her Majesty to refrain from using her military, naval, and constabulary forces for enforcing cj men non-payment of rent until the measure for amending land tenure in Ireland has been dccidedbyParhamont, Lengthy debates took place m both Ho ses. The sitting was suspended at twenty-minutes past two o'clock^ ^r^ntONS. The House of Commons was summoned for two o' (dock, but long before that ho £ a considerable number of members were m attendance. ^veial seats were taken as eaylya^ half-past clevcn by twelve o'clock there were nearly o0 l^ts on t ie Ministerial side of the House. The membeis of her I Majesty's Opposition were not quite so carl;y in the field, but the Fourth Party appeared to be stl0n« { reinforced, their front bench below the gan0 y being filled with hats shortly after noon. At a quarter to two Mr. Speaker was announced in a loud voice by Captain Gosset, Serjeant-at-Arms, and the crowd of members on the floor at once retired to their places on each side of the House, where they received the right hon. gentleman standing, and returned his three bows with respectful defer- ence. At twenty-three minutes past two the Speaker re- turned from the Lords, and walked through the House, and the sitting was suspended until four o'clock.
Jacal Intelligence.
Jacal Intelligence. GBAMMAB SCHOOL.—At the recent examination held at the Grammar School to fill four vacancies, twenty- four candidates presented themselves from different schools, and among the list of successful ones we find the name of Stewart Richmond, who stands second on the list. For the past two years he has been a pupil at Trinity Place Board School. It reflects much credit upon one so young (not eleven years of age) to hold such a position. MADAME ADELINA PATTI has just concluded her en- gagement at Madrid, where her success has been unparal- leled. r d. by the King aurl Queen of Spain, loaded with felicitations, and honoured in receiving overwhelm- ing tokens of admiration, she is now en route to Monaco, to fulfil an engagement for which terms are offered altnos; incredible. As a lasting mark of special favour, Madame Patti has been presented by the King of Spain with the portrait en groupe of himself, the Queen, and the Infanta, with the autograph of their Majesties. WESLEYAN CONCERT.—On Thursday evening a concert was held at the Wesleyan Schoolroom in aid of the Wes- leyan Improvement Society. Mr. Angel, of Swansea, occupied the chair. Mr. Wal!, the Well-known violinist] gave three solos, and was accompanied on the pianoforte by Mrs. John Lury. He was loudly cheered. Among the amateurs who rendered valuable assistance were Mrs. Anderson. the Missjs Moiiis and Jones; Messrs. Ches- mon, Kingdom, and Jones, who were all well received. After the concert fruit was given to the audience, and every one spent a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Too much praise cannot be awarded to Mr. Yeo, the hon. sec., for the able manner in which the whole affair was carried out. SHOCKING OCCURRENCE AT A COLLIERY. — Jonah Thomas, a colliery engineman, was on Monday committed for trial at the Assizes charged with the manslaughter of the overman at the Teforchrew Colliery, Cwmaman. The overman, David Richards, and the engineman it was proved had been drinking liquors on Christmas mornin" the engineman being said to be more than half drunk! Richards and a lad had to be lowered, and Thomas set the engine in motion so fast that the rope recoiled faster than Vllen the Cl the carriage descended. When the carriages met they collided, and Rickards fell to the bottom, his body being frightfully mulilated. BROWN V. GKBIT WBSTESV RAILWAY COMPANY. In this case, the plaintiff, James Brown, of Newport, filed an information against the Great Western Railway Company, citing them to appear before the Railway Commissioners for certain alleged illegal and excessive passenger fares charged by them between a number of their stations. Upon this information being served upon the Great Western Railway Company, the latter applied to the Court of Queen's Bench for a. writ of prohibition, to prevent the plaintiff frebn proceeding further in the matter, and also disputing the jurisdiction of the Railway Commissioners in regard to the matters complained of. The notice to show cause why this writ of prohibition should not be issued having been duly served upon the plaintiff, the question will shortly come before the Court of Queen's Bench and will then be rudy argued. The Attorney-General, Sir Henry ^me8' appear to resist the application of the Great Western Railvvav, and the latter will also be represented by counsel. SUDDEN DEATH.—The sudden death of Ifr. Thomas Elford, one of the Justices of the Peace for this Borough, 'a, at his residence, on Sunday last, will be received with feelings of regret by a large number of attached friends. Mr. Elford attended his usual P' £ oe. Worship in the morning, in his ordinary state °* .a^ and we believe partook of dinner, or was about doing so, when he com- plained of feeling unwell and removed into his easy chair. It was then seen by the members ot the family who were present that he was indeed seriously indisposed and before medical aid could be procured he quietly breathed his last-heart disease being the presumed cause of death. Mr. Elford was connected with the wed-known and eminent firm of Wl^ aitls> Poster, & Co. for twenty years, and for ten ye^sL hljd the entire management of their extensive ooppe works and rolling mills here. Since that period he has carried on a large business here and at Landore. was Be of our principal metal merchants, a member of the arbour Trust, a Magistrate of the Borough, and former y a member the Town Council, Although som .t brusque in manner and conversation, he bad a W<1 beart, and his friendship cnce formed was always valued, as it was sincere and cordial. His death causes other void in the list of our public useful men, and is a P ored by the town generally. SHIPPING NEWS -The Lady at., of Cardiff from Seville for London, laden with Ult, has put into Dover with damage to the stem, after Collision about three o'clock on Friday, off Dungene lt^ English barque Eeta, of and from London tor Ibice.The Les- tris, st., from Swansea for Gibraltar, dl laden, arrived at Falmouth on Monday with a lea n her bow.—The Delta, barque, of Swansea, from r*r ansea, when coming to anchor off Penningt?11 "Jonday lost an anchor and a quantity of chain- p,, Wilkinson, st., of Sunderland, from Cardiff foj rng5 la(jen with coals, was fallen in with on iria^y, < out three miles west of St. Catherine's Point, wi "^ry disabled, and was towed to Yarmouth, Is'e 0^ "y the Light- ning, tug, and has since P^ce?v-e w n^U^amPfcon for examination and repairs.—The >»• • .stoae, barque, from Dunkirk for Swansea, in bringing P in the Downs, December 30, during a hetfvy sq«a .rove folli 0f Alpha, st., of Bergen, from the -Bal S^en, then at anchor, carrying away the ^hboom and doing other considerable damage, The actler has since left for Dover Harbour. Damage o q e, jf an ascertained.—The Nanlioran, s°"° Carnarvon, passed Deal on Monday ^lue JacklW aw;,y> having been in collision witn in" schooner, from Shields for Caen. The latter R into Dover Harbour with loss of main-boom and c v damage to stem, and was assisted in byJ „ ;a atiMeu.—-Ttie Petunia, from Swansea for Algoj Bay, ePorted from Pernambuco to have arrived at that po eakiQg jn upper wotks. Pp,.T „ THE COLLIERY EXPLOSION AR L ^RATG. — At Pen-y-graig two more bodies have bee ^d, and ex- plorers are still energetically P^r8U"?s.„. wi.; 1°urs. The main arteries from the pit are the pla eh have been most damaged. Dr. Pusey has sen rthe relief fund, and Mr. Henry Richards has a 00 from the balance of the distress fund of tw0 1 C. H. James, M.P., has sent £ 25. More es were got up on Monday. It is sta-tsd t Mines Commission will meet at Cardiff nex 1 d take evi- dence as to the explosion. The folI0"' ? from Mr. Samuel PlimsoII has been received fiers of the Pen-y-graig Colliery Madeira, 1880. Dear Sir,—Have just received fro ari °f the Nineteenth Century a cheque for e;irs jn t) .artiele of mine on colliery explosions, which api • Us month's issue of that journal. Being un.efx^.lS X\\y u receM)t caused me some temporary perplexity*' ji, thought in writing was to make money by ad 'fort ,Qe cause of the collier. I therefore could not c wn.?,Use the money myself. To return it to the e ^oujj ^d only be to increase my perplexity to him, and besides, be a 2<«m'-reflection upon other write • last mail brought us the sad news of the explos In common with others, I grieve °^ei been 11Ille^y end of the many brave men whose lives na og(J °st, and I sympathise very deeply indeed wit w°men who have lost their husbands. There ^eg(. ^.ably be a subscription to ward off hunger an ti 11 from those poor women. It is little to *iem, poor things, but it is ail we can do. Wm } y hand the cheque to tho3e who may take the ni' |?arid, and oblige, yours truly, SAMUEL PLIMSOLI" Owners of Pen-y-graig Colliery." TRADE CONFERENCE AT CARDIFF- Terence of representatives of trade in South jVa jig. '■oninoilt|1_ shire was held at the Town-hall. j,jw' n Moaday afternoon, under the presidency of 01 J. Reed, K.C.B., M.P. It was expected that F *0uld have been a large gathering of members ^ttient pre- sent but, excepting the chairma ^^oarles H. James, member for Merthyr, ]ar<*e one who attended. There was, however, ^legates*Uln';)er of colliers' and tin-plate workers absencf» Present. Letters apologizing for nnavoida 'Carrnawuerc read from Mr. B. T. Williams, M.P- forMr > Mr. Evan Williams, M.P. for Radnor -'oclrick, late Liberal candidate for Monmouth5 > • Menelaus, manager of the Dowlais Works > emnies' Maesy- tynon, and other notable Welsh, 0jjcy ^^yers, who all urged adherence to free-trad P, 4 Ir. James, M.P., moved the first resolution, w benefits this conference, recognizing the en0lIB0„n;tion of ^^ch this country has derived from full recog unnL princi- ples of free trade, desires to exPre8 ecrVCt th-it'Vi6^ Confi- dence in these principles, and its r o they have not received an equal recognition ^Untries." Mr. James said that import duties 1 on y the time of Sir Robert Peel were .cUar°^1 °ver 1,000 articles, but now they were litrnte 02 »n or This fact was itself patent and e ? °f the ^np.inles m ^'eat T>„ • progress of free-trade princip"5' ^-Britain.. Coupled with these circumstance t additional impressive one that the trade of tB 1 J' ^ad within the intermediate perion increased j • Mr. James ridiculed the idea of returning bac ntr(iQ superseded system of protection in the United o n, ail(j CQn eluded a warmly-applauded address y^g ng the work- ing classes on in the course they f frf)n^Ursuing of dispersing far and wide the prinpipie trade. Mr. J. Jenkins, miners' delegate, Llanv ceonded the resolution, whioh was supported by /|ev. Edward Davies, Rhymney, aud Mr. W. T. Be "erdare, and carried by acclamation, as was also xt resolution, "That in the opinion of this c0° J e British Government should continue to Govern- ments of other countries the desnao y 0f removi all restrictions from British and otaei 1 Ppr;s> 8Q ag to secure for all nations the advantages ot free trade." Mr. Abraham, who had for tbe last c°>*ple of mont^s been corresponding with the Cabinet Min sters upoa the subject of import duties, supported tins resolutiOIlt The labouring classes of England had, he argued, a r- t ask the Government to seek to have removed the duties which told so oppressively upon their products in forej,ra lands, and if, as Lord Granville implied in one was doubtful whether such a movement as hat of that day would in any wise influence beneficiallv Governments abroad, it was surely beyond dispute im- perative on the part of Great Britain to still further stimulate her neighbours by example, and remove all restrictions now placed by her on foreign articl;s home ports. How could England expect its cotton to go to China untaxed while she persisted m taxin- the tea which China exported ? The chairman observed that he would bring this point under the direct notice of the Foreign Office. Mr. William Lewis, tin-plate delegate proposed the third resolution, That this conference suggests the desirability of convening a meeting of dele- gates of all trades throughout the three kingdoms in order to secure their co-operation." Mr. Philip joae8 Abertillery, seconded the resolution. The arrangement for the general conference were relegated to a represents tive committee. LOCAL REVENUE RETURNS.—From an official paper just made public by order of the House of Commons we have collected the following interesting figures relating to the Midland Revenue Collections of this district :-Swans"a. The total of this collection was £ 30,141, and included the following—For beer dealers' licences, 2416; beer retailers, £ 4,336 spirit dealers, £ 832 spirit retailers, £ 8,583; wine dealers, £ 178 wine retailers, £ 1,183 brewers, £ 1.904; maltsters, £ 134; manufactuaers of tobacco, £ 10; dealers iQ tobacco, £ 809; retailers of methylated spirits, 212 chemists and others usim stills, L5 male servants, JM33; dog licences, £1.021; car- riages, 22!211 armorial bearings, JB322;gun licences, £ li5; licences to kill game, £ 1,271 to deal in game, £ 28; refreshment house licences, £ 39; makers, dealers, and retailers of sweets, £ 16; hawkers and pedlars, £ 116 appraisers and house agents, £ 40 auctioneers, £580; pawnbrokers, £ 2iU; dealers in plate, £ 259 medicine vendors, £ 32 inhabited house duty, £ 4,840. Cardiff. — In this collection the sums received were--From beer dealers' licences, ho 12; beer retailers. £7,996; spirit dealers, £ 1,583; spirit retaaers> £ 14,190; wine dealers, £ 522 wine retailers, £ 2,333 brewers, £ 4,246 malt- sters, £ 151; retailers of methvlated spirits, £ 16 chemists, £7; male servants, £1,001; doz licenses, £ 2,483; carriages. armorial bearings, £ 436 gun licenses, £ 381 licences to> kill game, £ 1,410 to deU in game, 231 refreshment house licences, £ 99 manufac- turers and retailers of sweets, £ 114 hawkers and ped- lars, £ 206; appraisers and hoUse agents, £ 62; auctioneers, £ 1,000; pawnbrokers £ b60; dealers in plate. £ 663 medicine vendors, ioo, inhabited house duty, £ 12 233 manufacturers of tobacco £ 47. (jealerg ia tobacco, £ 1,338. The total amounted to £ 58 025. ST. JOHN'S NBW PARISH CHUHCH, SWANSEA—The Christmas decorations of this beautiful church, which are still standing, are neatly and tastily done. The chan- v cel, which is the work of Mrs. Stephen Davys, of the Vicarage, assisted by Mis. and Miss Jones Evans, Hafod- terrace, has upon its super-alter a cross of white flowers in the centre, and a beautiful bouquet each side. Upon the centre of the framework above the dosel stands another cross, surmountea with a crown. Two texts, Emmanuel," and "Messiah," ia antjque ]etters u white ground, are suspended each side of the window, -which is itself a magnificent piece of workmanship,- and a monogram in red letters under the centre of each. Another text, He is come to save that which was lost." spans the wall in a line itu the super alter, while the r -st of the space to the nooi is decorated with trellis- work. The whole is veT "jcely done, and presents a most pleasing appearance, ihe pulpit, which is of Bath 9 s'one. of elegant design, is made still prettier by wreaths of holly leaves and a white cross in the centre, which is the work of the Misses Monger^ of Aberdyberthy-bouse. me lont is neatiy v^arr) ot the copper_ works School, with wreaths of holly leaves, white flowers aud moss while the windows are decked with evergreens aud mouograms of various devices by Miss Findlay, of the Copper-works Schools, assisted by Miss Brotchie. Its coronal are also prettily decoiated with light festoons, which adds very much to the beauty of the whole. Mrs. Harry. Miss Lawson, Miss Lewis, and others, rendered valuable assistance, and the ladies interested may take to themselves the credit of having successfully decorated their already beautiful church in a neat and becoming style. The service on Christmas day was fairly attended. The Vicar preached from St. Matthewjlst chap., and 23rd verse, Emmanuel, which being interpreted is God with us." Holy communion followed. OIl Sunday a distin- .()In guished party from Parkwein attended the morning ser- vice, when the lessons weie read by Mr. H. Hussey Vivian, M.P. DESTITUTION IN SOUTH WALES. — Oa Monday, con- siderable excitement prevailed at Pentre in reference to a working man named Thomas and his wife, both 62 years of age, and a daughter. On proceeding to the house, ac- companied by Mr. Davies, a most wretched scene was witnessed. The so-called house was a cellar with a grate in it. The first object that met one's gaze was a working man lying upon an old bench formed like a so; a His hair was dishevelled, and on his face was a gash iust above the left eye. He was moving restlessly from one side to the other, while his wife was incessantly tryin» to prevent him from rolling on to the floor. ne both hands, and seemed to be mechanically counting his fingers. Not a word escaped bis lips. Mr. Davies de- olired that he bad been reduced to that condition through lack of nourishment, and that had he not, on Saturday night, provided him with beef tea and milk at his (Mr. Davies's) own cost, he would have died in a few hours. It seems that the man came to the neighbourhood from the Merthyr Ironworks some twelve mouths ago debilitated it is supposed fromjthe effects of his arduous in great heat- He and his family were then allowed parish relief by the Ystradyfodwg relieving officer. The allowance was so small that he was unable to pay any rent, and the landlord, in consequence, expelled him. About five months ago he obtained employment at Pentre, but what he received as wages for the work he was able to do was hardly enough to keep the wolf from his door Three weeks ago he mat with an accident which laid him up, and he had to again apply to the union. By this time a daughter, who had been unfortunate, had sought and ob- tained the shelter of his cellar. There was not the vestige of a bed in the house, all, including the wearing apparel of the family, having been pawned to obtain food. The sumthefamityof three received from the pu-ish was 3s. 6d. per week. THE COUNTY LUNATIC ASYLUM.—A lunatic asylum is not exactly the place where one would look for a grand fancy ball and concert, and the outside public would doubtless imagine that if such did take place in our asylum, that the dancing would egregiously fail in all the essentials of the terpsichorian art, and'that the singing would be of the most discordant description. A little reflection, however, will soon convince that both such suppositions may be fallacious,—that it is possible to have a really enjoyable ball and concert in an asylum, and that the artistes should themselves be the inmates. We must remember that a large number of those who are confined in our asylums are monomaniacs—that is, perfectly sane upon all but one special point; and we are told upon high authority that true genius is near akin to madness" so that when under proper supervision a ball and concert are feasible of being carried out. And that such are looked forward to with pleasurable antici- pations and afford real enjoyment to the inmates cannot b3 doubted. It is a break in the monotony of every day life, and the means of rendering less sad and pitiful the lot of the unfortunate inmates, whose condition all must deplore. It is with pleasure we find that Dr. Pringle, the very excellent and esteemed superintendent of the County Asylum at Bridgend, gave a Fancy Ball and Concert to the inmates on Christmas-day last, when the following well-arranged programme (printed in gold letters, by-the-bye in the Asylum) was executed with, we are informed, very creditable effect: Rule Britannia," Band. Country D mce. Song," The Bonny Bunch of Roses," T. llees. Duet, "Larboard Watch, J.Jones and J. David. Song, The Gallant 24th," W. Davies. Lancers. Song, The Two Letters, C. David. Song, Good Company," E. Kogers. Glee, "On the Sea," Glee Party. Overture, "L'Emotion," Band. Polka. Au Interval for Refreshments. Duet, "The Minute Gun at Sea," C. David and M. J. Bowditch. Catch, The Aberdare Cries," E. Rogers and others. Song, Iiinie Lisle 'E*Abel. Glee, "May Day," Glee Party. Quadrille. Song, "The Lost Chord," M. J. Bowditch. Comic Song, Run for the Doctor," H. Harris. Cornet- Solo, "Keel Row and Auld Robin Gray," J. Palmer, Anthem, "Hail Messiah," Band. Schottisclie. Fan- tasia, The Picnic," T. Morgan. Song. "Come Birdie Cjme," Mrs Sheen. Song," The Beggar Girl," E. Rogers, Comic Song, Biddy the Ballet Girl," W. Davies. Cir- cassian Circle. Glee, "The Cambrian Plume," Glee Party. Song, Within a Mile of Edinburgh Town," C. David. "Pretty Swallow Homeward Fly," Mrs. Adams. Valse, La Jolie Hongroise," Band. Caledonians. An Interval for Refreshments. Trio, Bells of St. Michael's Tower," E. Rogers, C. David, and M. J. Bowditch. Song, Who will care for Mother now," A. Rosser. Song, "The Vacant Chair," Mrs. Sheen. Varsoviana. Comic Song, The Mulligan Guards," T. Collins and W. Daviep. Sons, Hen Wlad fy Nhadau," J. Davies. Fantasia, Les Chevaliers," Band. Sir Roger de Coverley. Finale, God Save the Queen."
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NEATH AND 1'1\3 DISTRICT- NEATH POLICE COURT.-FRIDAY. (Before Messrs. Howel Gwyn J H. Rowland WilUam Leyson, and the Rev. Walter Griffiths, B.D.) RATto] AixowANCBS.-The Justices allowed a poor-rate for Blaengwrach at Sd. in the pound, and for Baglan HSELLIKG1BEER DURING PROHIBITED HOURS.—Thomas Lilwall, of Panrhiewtyn, the holder of an out-door license, was summoned by Mr. Superintendent Howlett selling beer during prohibited hours on Sunday, the 26th 111st The bench considered the case proved, and administered a suitable caution to defendant who was also fined 20s. and costs.-Mary Ann Watkius was charged with being present in the house for the purpose of obtaining beer during close time. Defendant said she was much pressed when some strangers came to see her husband, and she fetched the beer for their lunch after walking a long dis- tance. Fined 5s. and costs. DRUNKENNESS, &c.—John Hughes was charged with being drunk and disorderly by P.C. David Lewis, near the Smith's Arms, on Christmas Eve. This being his first appearance before the magistrates he was fined 5s. and coats —Thomas Roberts, of Glyncorrwg, was charged by Mr. Superintendent Howlett with being drunk and disorderly. Fined 10s. and costs. TRIWASSING IN PURSUIT OF GAME. -Frederick Cook, of Neath, collier, was summoned by Tiuiotby James^o trespassing in pursuit of game on the ^ioll g1 > rented by Mr. John Basse t Wayman. Comp^n he saw Cook, with two other men he did no, tweeu 9 and 10 on <Christmas terrier dog not Bryna wood, one of the men signa^ wh(m Jam(?g to bark, and another P10^^ off leaving a net and went towaids them. T tjjey saw they were pur- ferret iu a d stones and threatened James sued Cook st,oodpick«JopHe refua(jd g.ye the nameg f H fishermen Defendant did not appear,but being an old offender was lined in the full penalty of 40s. and costs.
Advertising
Tbe Italian Ambassador to England, Gen. Menabrea, ^1 jn Home, on furlough, about the 15th. After nroceediug to Sicily to confer with King Humbert, he will probably go to Savoy to spend his vacation. V VILUBES IS 1880.—According to some statistici just iasined bv Mr. Richard Seyd, F.S.S., the number of failures announced last year was i3,147, of which 1478 in the financial, wholesale, and manufacturing branches of trade, aud 11,669 in retail trade, professional Pursuits, builders, publicans, among the working classes &c The suspensions in the wholesale trades were dis- fHWed as follows, viz. In London 38o Liverpool, 39^ Manchester, 102 Lancashire, 74 Yorkshire, 183 Birmingham and Midland iron district, 133 Newcastle, MiTdle&gb, Hull, and district,. 62 Bristol Cardiff Newport, and Swansea, 51; Provinces, 328; Scotland, 99 and Ireland, 22.
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PUBLIC ANALYST.-At the last meeting of the Council of the Borough of Haverfordwest, Mr. William Morgan, Ph.D., of Swansea, was appointed public analyst for the town and county of Haverfordwest. CHRIST CHURCH.—A Christmas Tree and Grand Soiree are announced to be held in the Music-hall on Wednes- day aud Thursday next, in connection with Christ Church, St. Helen's, Swansea. Mr. Charles Bath will preside. A capital programme of music has beeu pro- vided, and the Wizard of the West" announced for eight o'clock.-See Advt. IMPERIAL TAXES. Our advertising columns contain some valuable information to all who are liable to the payment of Imperial or Queen's Taxes. It will be seen that heavy penalties are imposed upon all who keep dogs without licei se,, which licensee are payable daring the preslot montl. Taxes upon carriages armorial b'ttrings. &c., are also due, and should be paid without further delay.—See Add. DINNER AT THE PARK HOTEL, PARK-STREKT.—The annual dinner to the friends and customers of the above house was held on New Year's Eve, when about 40 sat down to a good repast, which was served up iu excellent style by host and hostess Mr. and Mrs. Lewis. After the cloth was removed, Mr. G. Turtle occupied the chair and Mr. Naish the viee-chair; the usual loyal toasts were proposed and duly responded to. Several good songs were sung by the following gentlemen—Messrs. Naisb, Morton, Sweeney, Bales, Hurne, Mitchell. Tucker, Neck, and Francis. The company broke up at 11 o'clock after heartily enjoying themselves. PUDDING DAY" AT THE COTTAGE HOMES.—Thanks to the generosity and kind consideration of Mr. David Howell Thomas, the medical superintendent, the children of the Cottage Homes, Cockett, have for several years past enjoyed what has been termed Pudding Day" cn 4-ro .L- i ■. ° y mc mm; uaji ui me new year, ana we neea scarcely say that such is greatly appreciated, affording much pleasure to the inmates. This year they were Dot forgotten. Why every child, even the very youngest in the Homes, had a hand in the making of the puddings, each child giving a stir" to the savoury compound. When we say that there were becween 70 and 80 children to be provided for, and that there was no stint upon the occasion, our readers may form some idea of the prodigious quant ty required to satisfy the demands of; these youngsters. The dinner on Saturdiy last was laid out in the long room, and never apparently were appetites more keen nor pudding more relished- After dinner a large box of oranges were distributed, and later on "snap-dragon" (all provided by the same generous donor) was played. Most of the children had nivjr feea '"snap-c'r gon" before, and their fun and laughter were unbonded. A right merry evening was spent, the children having cause to remember the kind- ness of the donor and "(pudding day" at the" home." CHRISTMAS ENTRRTAtNXHNTS. —On the 29th December a tea meeting and a sale of fancy articles were held at the Hafod Copperworks School, in aid of the building fund of St. John's New Church. Each of the following ladies superintended a table, supplied entirely at her own cost: Mrs. Edward Rice Daniel; Mrs. Dr. Davies; Mrs. Stephen Davys Mrs. Dryden Miss Edwards Mrs. 4-vans; Mrs Gear; Miss Hibbert; Mrs. Lewis; Mrs. Llewelyn; Mrs. Marsh Mrs. Monger; Mrs. Ridley, and Mrs. Thomas. A large number sat to a much-praised tea, and were well entertained. Mrs. Stephen Davys held a stall for the sale of fancy articles, and realised about £7 10s. Mr. Herbert Monger, with a company of young men, added much to the amusement of the evening by an "exhibition of wax figures." The dresses were kindly lent for the occasion by Mr. Melville, of the Star Theatre, and the figures themselves answered to the greatest names of the day, and further astonished the spectators with glees and songs. The room was neatly decorated, and by the courtesy of Captain Ford several flags and some bunting enlivened the place. On Thurs- day evening a concert was given in the same room, when the following programme was gone through Part 1.— Glee, Awake seolian lyre song, Phoebe dearest," by Mr. Philip Jones; pianoforte solo, by Miss D. Rice Daniel; duett, Two jolly sailors," by Mr. Silas Evans and Mr. R. Thomas song, When the heart is young," by Miss Jenkins; pianoforte solo by Miss Jones Evans; trio, The magic wove scarf," Miss Jenkins, and Messrs. P. Jones and J.R.Williams. Part 2.—Pianoforte solo, by Miss Jones Evans song, Rocked in the cradle of the deep"; song, "The bailiff's daughter of Islington," by Mr. J. R. Williams; song by Mr. Philip Jones; serio- comic duet, "Mr. and Mrs. Bell," by Miss Jeukins and Mr. J. R. Williams fiuale, "God bless the Prince of Wales." Mr. William Joues, organist, accompanied at the piano, Mr. Silas Evans acted as conductor. Owing to the unfavourable state of the weather the proceeds have fallen short of the profits of last Christmas twelve- month's entertainment. SWANSEA PUBLIC LIEKARY.—A monthly meeting of the committee of the Public L'brary was held in the institution on Tuesday. The Mayor, Mr. John Jones Jenkins, presided, and tha vice-chairman, Mr. Edward Bath, and about a dozen members of the committee were present. The minutes of the last committee were read and confirmed. The committee first sat as the Finance Committee, over which Mr. E. Bath presided. Mr. T. Islay Young, the hon. treasurer, read his report, which stated that the present debt of the Free Library was JE651. The ordinary expenditure of the library was about £618, and a penny rate, which was the maximum amount which could be levied, would produce about JE800. It was therefore desirable the committee should devise some means for laying aside some of the annual income for the extinction of the present debt. Mr. James Strick said that for the past four years the penny rate had produced rather over R1000 a year he should be glad to know why it was now reduced to about JB800. The treasurer said that the penny rate was levied in accordance with the ruling of the Town Clerk. The i chairman said that formerly the committee issued a precept upon the Corporation, who directed the oversers to collect that amount and they did so, but now it was decided to pay the Free Library Committee only the amount raised by a penny rate in the borough. He believed the present plan was in accordance with the terms of the Act. Mr. Strick said that for the past four years the Town Clerk had been of opinion that the penny rate could be paid upon the gross rental and not the rateable value. He should like to know upon what grounds the change had now been made. The Chairman said that doubtless the Town Clerk found he had made a mistake and now levied the rate in strict accordance with the terms of the Act. Mr. Thompson, the librarian, cited several instances in which the rate of one penny in the pound was levied and paid upon the gross esti- mated value of the borough and no deductions, made for vacancies, &c. In fact in one borough the treasurer had actually paid the library committee the amount of va- cancies, &c. which had been previously deducted. Mr. Strick said that as this involved a loss of C250 in income, they ought not to accept the Town Clerk's ruling on the point. The Chairman said the words of the Act of Par- liament were that the rate should be collected upon the annual value of property," and the precept was now made out in the exact words of the Act. After some further discussion, Mr. Strick proposed that counsels opinion be taken as to the basis upon which the penny rate should be collected. This was seconded by Mr J. H. Jenkins, who said that after what bad fallen from the librarian it was evident a difference of opinion existed upon the matter, and the opinion of counsel would pro- bably settle the question for once and for all. The resolution was then carried unanimously The Mayor proposed that the resolution ordering the closing of the branch library, at Morriston and Landore, be rescinded. Mr Clare seconded the motion and it was agreed to without discussion. This concluded the business. AND DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD.—The monthly meeting of this Board was held at the Guildhall on Wed- nesdav the following members being present .—The Rev. W Williams, in the chair Mrs. Higginson, Rev. Canon Wilson, Mr F. S. Bishop, R. Martin, Rev W. P. Wil- liams Joseph Rosser, W. S. Jenkins, Rev. Canon Sards, Edward Roberts. Tbe schools management committee reported that they had appointed a sub- committee to inquire into the fees charged at the Goat- street school. The sub-committee had met, and come to the conclusion that the master had reduced the fees without authority. The master attended the meeting, and stated that what he had done had been done with the intention of keeping as many children in the school as possible. The management committee adjourned the matter for a month. The schools building committee recommended the board to accept a transfer of Penllergaro Boys' and Girls' Schools (which had been given up by Mr. J. T. D. Llewelyn), to arrange for opening them as public ele- mentary schools, to issue advertisements for teachers, and to instruct the committee to look out for a site for new buildings; to adopt a plan for the extension of St. Helen's Shool, and to instruct the committee to enter into negotiations for the purchase of tbe necessary pro- perty and of the fee simple reversion of the whole site. The clerk reported that a census return had been made, which showed that there were in the district 18,283 ^Idrenof school age. Deducting one^seventh (or ..1- ^?nhe'd to nf the lusher classes, total of Art.— be dealt with under the Elementary- Canon Wilson P^f.n.-Mr. Rosser moved The Chairman seconde^^ the 0f extending an anient men referred back to a sub-committee if had8been appointed to deal with it, but had not t'repoiW —Mr. Roberts seconded the amendment, Ind Mr- Bishop supported it. The amendment was adopted—The financial committee estimated that the expenditure of the board for the year ending 25th of March, 1882, would be £ 11,771, and that the rereipts would be £ 5.805 5s. This would leave a deficit of £ 5,965 los and after allowing JE534 5s. for contingencies, a sum of £ 6,500 would have to be provided for out of the rates. The committee recommended the is-sue of a precept on the rating authorities for £3,300 to meet the expenses of the board up to the 29th of Sept., 1881, The Chairman said people imagined that the board were saddling them with an enormous expense with those stand buildings and the salaries of so many officers, but when they came to look into it the cost was not so heavy after all npon each individual. A man who paid a comparatively small cost t Tonkins seconded Mr.' Rishopf ThenH ^s^rather Urga^amount m^pite itemhaM?BoCbearts™ai amlfraid it will become heavier. Mr Bishop: I am afraid it will.-The clerk said it would he 'a trifle more than last year, but since then the rate- able value of the district had gone up from £ 217,000 to £ 245 000 —Mr Bishop: Then it is really greater than it appears —Mr Roberts: It was 5Ad. last year, was it not ? —Mrs. Higginson: Yes.—The motion was carried.—A little formal business concluded the proceedings. The Citizen states that the trust properties of the city companies will by-and-bye be shown to have in- creased during the past twelve years by upwardi of £ 100,000 a year. 4 The reduction of the French wine duties carue into force on Saturday. In Paris the reduction of the Go- vernment tax. combined with that of the octroi, will diminish the cuty by llf. 4Hp, Parliament opened on Twelfth Night." We extrafcfc from Shakespeare's play of that name a few words which may be useful advice to members of the Fou- ti Party • "My masters, are you mad? or what are you? Have you no wit, manners, nor honesty, but to gabb-e like tinkers at this time of night ? My lady (Sir Stafford) bade n:e tell you though she harbours you as her kinsmen she's nothing allied to your disorders. If you can separ.te yourselves and your misdemeanours you are welcome to the House if not, au' it wouli please you to tak* leave of her, the is very willing to Lid you fare- well. A ROMANCE OF THE SULTAN'S HAREM.—A pretty story- comes to us from the East, where it is atErm J to be scrupulously exact, at.d quoted as the moth e f that hatred t wards ihs Greek Christians which all recent travellers describe as being the most prominent feature of tl e Sultan's policy. About two years ago the favour- ite wife of the Sultan eloped from the harem with & Greek doctor, and took refuge in Athens. The lady did not fly enipty handed. She took with her a quantity of jewels belonging to the other ladies of the harem, and worst than all, the two little girls she had bcrne the Sultan, and to whom as she knew well, he was devotedly attached. But the mother soon finding the children a burthen, placed them with a Greek lady, who finding- their expenses unpaid transferred theui to the Christian Hospital for the foundlings at Chichli. Theucs oue of them was placed only as a little drudge and servant to a certain M. Vaccaro, an Italian merchant, where the child was well cared for, clothed and fel but made to work hard. About a month ago the mother confined tLe secret of the destination of this unfortunate child to Yitalis Pasha, who is a Frenchman by birth, and aide-decamp to the Sultan. This gentleman immediately set out for Chichli, accompanied by the Chief of Police, an l. sum- moned M. Vaccaro to deliver up the child a: once. This was accomplished without difficulty under the f-ign andlseal of Sister Martha, thesuperiorof the Foundling Hospital at Chichli. The child is said to be of ;sui passing beauty just nine years old, of fair complexion, anct bighiy-deve- loped intelligence, and the Sultan's gratitude to Vitalis Pasha is reported to have been exhibited in the most generous manner. Who knows what may be the destiny of this little princess, whose story seems the ion of The Illustrious Tregona, that charming fiction of C-rran- tes. Her restoration to the Imperial harem took place immediately with all the honours due to her rank, and the Sultan betrays the most lively delight in her com- pany. Of the other child, just one year younger, no trace has been found as yet. Sister Martha declare? that she was taken away by a traveller about to start for Cephalonia, where he declared he poFS6?sed a vine- yard, and where he resided with his wife and family. Reference was given to the Italian Consulate Con'tanti- noble, whose memory fails him entirely WTMI reg-trd to the circumstances of the case, and so Vktr-i- Pas!) a has been despatched once more in quest of this second stray blossom from the Sultan's family tree—whose a -ventures may, perhaps, be even more curious than those "f her elder sister.—Court Journal. Some interesting facts respecting the hierarchy and priesthood of the Roman Catholic Church in these king- doms are contained in the Catholic Directory for the new- year, published by Messrs Burns and Oates. under the auspices of Cardinal Manning and the rest of his episco- pate. It appears from it that there are now six cardinal bishops, 50 cardinal priests, and 14 cardinal deac 'ns in the Sacred College at Rome, only one living member of which, the Archbishop of Prague, owes his scarlet cap to Pope Gregory XNI. 50 still live who were raised to the cardinalate by his successor, Pius IX. and 13 more have been created and proclaimed by Leo XIII. The nime of John Henry Newman figures last but two among the car- dinal deacons. Although there are only 13 Roman Catho- lic Sees in England and Wales, and six more in Scotland, there are no less than 28 bishops in Great Britain, those unaccounted for being mostly coadjutor sr.-l auxiliary bishops. The number of places in Great Britain which have churches or mission chapels and are served by resi- dent clergy, are about a thousand in all and the clergy, secular and regular, amount to nearly 2,300; thus show- ing that the ministry of the Roman Catholic Cb arch in this country has doubled itself in little more than a quar- ter of a century. The Roman Catholic me!;d>e; s f the peerage in the three kingdoms are 3S rhe list runs as follows The Duke of Norfolk, the Marquises of Bute and Ripon the Earls of Denbigh, Newburgh, Ashburn- hani, Westmeath, Fingall, Granard, Keninare, Oxford, and Gainsborough Viscounts Gormanston, Netterville, Taaffe, and Southwell; and Barons Mowbray and Stour- ton, Camoys, Beaumont, Vaux of Ilarrowden, Braye, Petre, Arundell of Wardour, Dormer, Stafford, Clifford of Chudleigh, Asbford, Herries, Lovat, Louth, Ffrench. Bellew, De Freyne, Howard of Glossop, Acton, O'Hagan, Endy, and Gerard. No less than 47 baronetcies of the three kingdoms also are held by Roman Catholics, the youthful Sir Henry Tichborne standing at their head, and the last being Sir J. O'Connell. There are afso seven Roman Catholic members of Her Majesty's Privy Council. Lords Ripon, Kennsare, Robert Montagu, Buiy, Howard. of Glossop, Emly, and O'Hagan. Throughout -I,e world. there are, it would appear, 173 archiepiscopal stes a ad 710 sees of bishops in communion with the of Rome, and acknowledging the Holy See as the mother unci mis- tress of all Churches. But the total number of patriarchs, primates, archbishops, bishops, apostolic delegates, and bishops in partibus infidclium, including those who have retired from active duties, is given in the Directory as 1,346. THE COST OF COAL ox RAILWAYS.—It is very well known that the low price of coal and coke for I comotive purposes has bad much to do with the smallness of the effect of the past depression in traffic receiprs (>0 di- dends. But it is not so, generally known that t'e is very great variation in the cost of cool and eo:;e loco- motive purposes to the great railway comp..T-iw<, be" ac- tually and proportionately. Whilst the London and North Western Railway spends in six months ;t;,lD"I(),; for coal and coke for locomotive power, the cost t) the Great Western Railway is only B75,000, and the:e a,- similar discrepancies in the amounts paid by oru.-rs of the great companies that have many points of similarity. But if we take a truer test-that of the proportion that the cost of coal and coke bears to the trair mileage- run. -we shall find that though the disparity is lessened, it still exists in some degree. Thus, on the London and North Western Railway the cost of coa' and coke for locomotive power in the last six months was Dearly JE7,500 per million miles run on the North Eastern Railway the cost was about £8.000 per million miles; on the Midland it was about £6,200 per million miles on the Lancashire and Yorkshire R.ilway it "1: jM GOO on the Great Northern Railway i as ovct JE7 500 and on the Furness Railway it wa' jiy heavy —approaching jEl 4,000 per million miles r -this Ime and the Metropolitan having a large consu lion. It is evident that this is a rough method of r .parison, but there are, so far as we know, no mean: of ascertaining the cost ia anything but the total, nc means of deter- mining what proportion on each of the lines is for mine- ral trains, and what portion for passengers. It is true that the consumption per train mile of different ciassea of engines is known, but this helps very little. The pre- ponderance of one or another class of traffic woulu aifect the comparison, and it is obvious that there are two other circumstances that also affect it. One is the manner in which the mileage run for other companies and for bal- lasting purposes is dealt with, and the other is how any company is situated with reference to proximity to the sources of its coal supply. If a company traverses a coal field, it is evident that its locomotive power should cost it less proportionately than that of a company distant from the coal-field, and the fuel supply of which I" bur- dened in cost with heavy carriage. TLus, for example, under recent contracts the London and Brighton Com- pany appear to have paid Sl per ton for „.wl, while the Great Western Company paid less than 7s. per ton. But; after making allowance for this, the variation in the cost of coal and coke, as shown in the above statement, is so great that it is evident that there is SODe need for addi- tional information, or for the presentation of the details in such a manner as to allow of a comparison being Let- ter drawn between their cost on the different systems of railways. A FREE TRADE UNION.—In the last wc-ek of February this year an important conference of the representa- tives of the Chambers of Commerce in different parts of the Empire will be held in London on the subject o». free trade, and the best means of creating uniformity in the Customs duties throughout the {Jura's dominions. The arrangements for the conference have been nearly two years in course of preparation, and it is anticipated that all parts of the Empire will be represented by dele- gates. The different Chambers of Commcrco in r-ns.and will send 48, Canada 10, India 9, and from two to four each. The leading be tained by the conference will be the establishment, by special regulations, of reciprocal trade advantages be- tween the mother country the dif^ient colonies of the Empire and between those colonies tnemselves. Even if tbi* desirable object should not be attained, tbe con- ference will afford an opportunity for collecting and mak- ing public the fullest information relative to the trade of the different colonies, their delegates being specially in- vited to furnish statements of their imports and exports to and from Great Britain, the colonies and Inrtia, ana foreign countries respectively, and of tbe available surplus for exportation of the different products of each. The broad proposal to be submitted to discussion is that, by uniform or, at least, reciprocal fiscal regulations, all par » of the British Empire should be induce to trade witn each other rather than with foreign countries. A con- sideration of the vast resources of the widespread British Empire will show that such combination L-jtween all of it* members would enable them all to interchange all the products on which the commerce and wellbeiv.g of a. country depend, witheut having: occasion to reiy on other countries. The largest exception wou! probably be fa the item of wine, for our supplies ofl ich we mainly rely on France and Spain and other C ntinental coun- tries; but Sooth Africa, New Zealand. Australia, and even Canada and India, are already, or might soon be, producing excellent wines, and would toon be able to uiabe up the deficiency in the unlikely event of the whole of the European wine-producing countries refusing to enter into such a trading partnership as is suggested. An important feature in connexion with the subject is the fact that the above proposal emanates from the Dominion Board of Trade of Canada. Canada has lately adopted a. protectionist tariff which has been much criticized and has given rise to much opposition in thi» country, against whose interests it seemed in certain quarters to be levelled. Events have proved that the trade between England and Canada has increased as largely as that between Canada and the United States has fallen off since the policy was adopted and it is satisfactory, therefore, to see that a proposal, which> hf* so much to commend it to the attention of polity economists and upholders of the unity of theEmpireaa that which we have had under consideration. have originated in the Dominion of Canada, and shou.d be supported by many persons most mfluentially con- nected with its political and commercial progress. •printed by Steam Power, and PuWi^heu 'ty WALTERS \VILHAMS, at the CAMBKIA> omc., ISO. Wind-street, 8w.\nwa.—FRHJAV, JAS. 7. 1&tt.