The Cambrian

LxVTEST NEWS. MONEY Markbt, THURSDAY.-The directors of the Rank of England met to-day, but made no alteration in the rate of discount.

THE FENIANS AT WORK IN LONDON. At an early hour on Thursday morning the Scotland- yard detectives apprehended three men in Lmdou who had a large quantity of liquid of a highly explosive nature in their possession. i The facts, so far as they have been ascertained on inquiry, are extraordinary. There is a quiet, re- spectable hotel in Southampton-street Strand, known as Delamotte's private hotel. On Wednesday morning a respectable man called there and stated that he wished to engage a room there for a Mr. Oimont, medical student, who was about to commence his studies at one of the London hospitals. About half-past eight a person arrived there m a four-wheeler, and ssid his name was Mr. Ormond, desiring to be shown his room. His luggage consisted of a. small wooden box, bound with iron, and having two locks. It was very heavy, and the man who carried it upstairs, who is believed to be an accomplice, com- plained of its weight The box having been got up to his room, Ormond occupied it until midnight, when he was quite unexpectedly visited by two detectives from Scotland-yard and several of the Irish detectives now in the metropolis, and taken into custody.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—.THURSDAY The Speaker took the chair at four o'clock. ARRESTS IN LONDON. Sir W. Harcourt, in reply to Sir S. Northcote, stated that at seven o'clock this morning a man was arrested in London who was found to be in possession of 1| cwt. of a liquid substance, in indiarubber bags, of a highly explosive character. The man was found to have come from Birmingham, and a second arrest had been made of a man who was also in possession of another large quantity of the same explosive substance. A third person had been arrested who had in his possession a large sum of money, chiefly in American notes. THE BUDGET. The Right Hon. H. C. E. Childers, Chancellor of the Exchequer, made his statement on the Budget. He said he was not about to propose aTiy great changes in taxation, because he thought such changes should only be made after long and careful The Srivfrf £ 247°000*fS £ .ndermted the growth ha, a ast six or seven w«ek3ai;ount coming in. The large increase 1 receipte for th* year had SLiW £ 89cmOoSN&Exceeded the' Budget i nfiQ 000 the July estimate by £ 1 500j000 and the February estimate by £ 750,000. ge^had Wen a continued tion of ^spirits. JJ^s er of the people or t^a faHmg off m tbe consummg P Incom £ .J » great change in their habit ghown and telegraph rece p the estimate, including Coming to expenditure tog was jesg^OOO. The the supplementary = 960,000, showing, as com- actual expenditure was lug Qn mn whe t0iW attention to the fact that during £ 98,0001 He called attend oyernment | the past three years the pre themselves or their off for war Purposes, mcurr eee"» No-l.. The total estimated vear by £ 3 117 mn less than the expenditui^ of know that fh It might be of w ^I7 (wl »nd the amount of the reduction been £ 30,517,000, and be a little over £ 8,000,000. during the year 1883-4 wouia ed wlien st » • (H\thtUkht+hat tht.frtsh terminable annuities to take to be taJceni to> create fr and wlthout disturbing the plaoe of those falling in, hon. friend opposite the arrangements madebyhianng;t.eg) PP onnmnn f 000 000 standing to the credit of £ 30,000,000 of the £ 50,000^ National Debt Commis- the savings bank with tn three sioners, and create with t The result of wQu]d !ve;ut?^an\twen /nvythe debt would remain the same n^har/e IIInext twenty years; but at the — £ 28,000,000—for the hout interfermg with the n11, onn aw his right hon. friend's (Sir 'Uf arrangements, would fall in for Stafford Northcote s) ar^ gin 1885, there would be a the benefit of the taxpayer tonCeOf £ 102,000,000, reduction in the debt taKingP tfae Exchequer would and that the then Chanc. g in either for the bene- have £ 3,374,000 of annui .i creatioH of other annuities, fit of the taxpayers or foi came to the revenue for The right hon. gentleman a^e(j the Customs at the year 1883-84. He year; the Excise £ 19,750,000 agains* Ung 935 000 Income-tax, at £ 26 900,000 against 'Q()0 £ 7,300,000 £ 12,400,000; Post-office, -7, > £ 171o;000 Miscel- Telegraph, £ 1,750,000 „ 260,000. The total tax laneous, £ 4,380,000 against^ £ '733^000, and the revenue, then, was estnn-i QQQ or a total revenue f ^onaLrevenu-e a+ jF89 004,000 last year, and of £ 88,480,000 against nared with the estimated leaving a surplus, as compa £ 2,691,000. What expenditure of £ 85,789,000, gurplu3 ? H(J prQ_ he pr°p°se to <1° 0f bonding for silver- date V'l1 u 9ayfter a short time enable him hi ov v r°w without allowing a drawback, to abolish that duty ^V^ity. He did not think g £ ■ £ 177,000 £ ef» £ £ istm>. ThJ?Sa»otio»« SofthlV00'53 Thia '9U,pl°'of 4240'000' A XT +wte did not propose at that moment Sir Stafford ^o^Hi'discussion on the details of f? ™lse, lust congratulate the right hon. the Budget, but he must con statement *He was gentleman on the had given way to the the^ right hon. „ feie(n-ams the other night. He nn!f Ti SU c emmorted the Government on that and his colleagues that the vote should have occasion and it was singular^ entered hi t had such immediate enect. £ >+„• 1 r, against the statements, reserving fnrther detailed remarks till another occasion. desired to ask the Prime Minister when the Government would proceed with the different portionsof the Budget. A general discussion ensued, and the deflate was adjourned.

A VISIT TO SIR HUSSEY VIVIAN, BART.'S SHORT-HORN HERD AT PARK-LE-BREOS. Taking advantage of the occasion of the first annual dinner of the Gower Farmer's Club at Knelston last week, and of the fact that Sir Hussey Vivian, Bart., M.P., was on that day at Park-le-Breos, a party of gentlemen from Swansea paid a visit to that excellent and scientifically-managed farm, to see the now widely- celebrated Shorthorn herd, and other stock, and to inspect the general arrangements of the establishment The afternoon was not a highly propitious one as to weather. There was a south-west wind blowing, which rattled the umbrellas and wetted the clothes of the gay and festive occupants of the two-horse break," as it wended its way across the unsheltered Common into the depths of Gowerland. But what a pretty secluded drive it is. along the road that lead's from Park Mill to Park-le-Breos That Norman rascal, "Black Sir William." who has left his name to the estate ^vhich is now Sir Hussey Vivian's, had certainly t aa eye for the beautiful when be chose this spot a" the summer centre of his baronial wickednesses, which have left such a. black mark all through local tradition. What a paradise of primroses, violets, hyacinths, and ferns, will there be in a week or so to come on thesa high banks that border the roadway Already the hart's tongue is out in richest profusion and li'stre.— Mem: One of the visitors declares that hart's tongua ? a capital remedy for a flesh-burn —Presently, after passing a trout pool. and some very old land-slips, where the dark grey lime-stone is exposed and moss- grown, we emerge into the meadow land. Here there are grou-p' of women and men very liberally manuring the land. with a liberality, indeed, which calls forth the remark that the farmer must be a capitalist! And this impression becomes more apparent the further you proceed, and is strikingly evident when you near the farmstead No untidy farm yard in front, with heaps and pools of solid and liquid manure offending sight and smell No loose animals running riot through the place. No lazy hinds standing about with careless gaze and hands in empty pockets The place is large but orderly. It is so well arranged as to afford the greatest amount of convenience with the smallest amount of work, and thus, wherever possible, hand labour has given way to machinery, which in turn is actuated by the natural wattr-power of the place. No smoking allowed in the rickyard" is the first thing to meet our gaze as we walk through, which leads yours ohediently" to the extinction of the fira on their cigar tips; and this takes place only just in time, for, the next moment, we are in one of the chief oattle sheds, and shaking hands with the honourable Baronet, who both utters and looks a welcome which very happily sets all the visitors at their ease in a moment. Sir Hussey Vivian is always kindly ap- proachable to everyone who meets him in public life, except to arrant bores and impertinents but to see the hon. Baronet at his best and kindliest, he must be seen at home, pleasantly dilating upon the museum of ancient and artistic curiosities at Singleton and Park- wern, or pointing out with undissembled pride the merits of his prize cattle at Park-le-Breos And this it was the lot of the visitors of last week to experience in a most marked manner for, with that happy versa- tality which enables him to turn from metallurgy and mineralogy to the question of higher education and with that breadth of knowledge of men and things which gives him such a grasp of the vast intermediate range of subjects, the hon. Baronet put easily aside for a moment the courtly bearing of the honoured and favoured host of the Prince and Princess of Wales, and descended with equal grace to play the part of show- man on his own prize farm. Sir Hussey"s brief but pithy remarks as he went about from cow-box to stable and to pen were of the utmost assistance and value to some of his visitors, who, it must be confessed, were not all cattle fanciers," though they were all cattle admirers. Nay, if the truth untrammelled be told, there was at least one gentleman present who could scarcely distinguish between the forehand and the hindhand of a beast, and who thought the "bris- ket was the same as the buttocks," but he made up for afly little deficiency of that sort by the attention he paid to the remarks of others, and the energetic way in which he repeated them. In the first box we were shown a splendid little short- horn animal, only nine months old, but well grown, and, what is more, most perfect in shape. This, Sir Hussey directs special attention to, and his own opinion of the beast is sufficiently attested by the name he has given her, namely The Pride of Glamorgan." Go inside the box, and tell me what you think of that, Mr. Rees," says the hon. Baronet. Mr. Rees, of Garth farm, Swansea Valley, the well- known sheep-prize taker, feels the animal with the hand of an accustomed judge. She is a beauty, indeed," he says laconically. "She'll give the prize-takers in her class some trouble as she grows up," says Sir Hussey, "I have a very high opinion of her, indeed." She will give them something to do to beat her," replies Mr. Rees, of Garth. And then the Echo-Visitor is heard holding forth to those behind: "Splendid animal! She'll give her class some trouble as she grows up." Descended from the finest cow of the Duke of Manchester," Ac. Next we come to a fine cow of the Moss Rose strain. She took the second prize at the Bath and West of England," says Sir Hussey and, the first at Tredegar, and she brought me the fine bull calf which I shall show you directly. Lord Tredegar offered me 150 guineas for her, though I gave only £60 for her so she has paid me well." The really handsome cow is much admired, and as the party passes along, the wide awake ear may catch the Echo at it again She has paid well," and so forth. Here we come up with Mr. Robert Marsh, of Peny- bedd Farm, Pembrey, himself a large farmer and stock breeder, and owner of the handsome rich brown stallion Young Lincoln," which is claimed by the owner to be the best blood ever introduced into Wales." Mr Marsh had gone ahead among the shorthorns, and was regarding and feeling with critical eye and hand the quality and the good points of the herd, saying little, and that little not always in unqualified admiration but giving an opinion that was evidently practical, and that called forth Sir Hussey's recognition of its frank- ness before the party left the Park. In this way we go through shed after shed, passing "Rosabel," sister to Lord Pigot's "Rosalba;" and the "Red Rose" cow, the mother of two splendid heifers; and "Patience." This cow," says Sir Hussey, was bought for fifty guineas, but I sold her first bull calf for fifty- guineas, and she has since given me the calf which I have called the Pride of Glamorgan," so that I hare lost nothing by that transaction." "That's the way to do your stock business," says the Echo in the rear sell your first calf for the same as you gave for the cow, and so get the cow and all other offsprings for next to nothing Sir Hussey manages his model farm as he does his great metal works'' whispers another'; on a reason- ably good commercial basis, which is the best basis of all!" Then we come to "Dainty," which the Duke of Manchester gave 200 guineas for, but which was acquired for Park at the much less price of £44. And so we pass along through the well-built and well- ventilated sheds, noticing "Pretoria," and a monster cow which Sir Hussey calls a "Grand Old Wreck," and many another, until we come into another part of the building, where we are introduced to a superb animal which the hon. baronet has called the Maid of Glamorgan." Great is the admiration expressed at the sight of this, and You are keepingthe best till the last, all the time, Sir Hussey," says Mr. Rees, of Garth; and so indeed it seemed, for this was a magnificent animal, with wonder- fully straight lines, and remarkable fulness of meat. In another part of the farm was a fine lot of young bulls, destined to be sent on the very next day to the Show at Birmingham. Still another shed contained some very nice young calves, one of which was especially praised for its shapeliness. In the milch cows shed there were many excellent animals, some being of good blood and some extraordinary milkers. Sir Hussey pointed out one cow Singleton," no less than 19 years old, and which gave last year as much as 4,900 quails of milk Her neighbours were also remarkable, in that one gave 4 500 and another 4,300 quarts of milk during the twelve months. Thus the Singleton cow, old as she is, yields her owner the handsome milk supply of nearly 131 quarts per day all the year round In the roomy and wholesome farm-stables there were several animals of great strength and usefulness. Es- specially noticeable were the couple of handsome Clydesdales, which Sir Hussey Vivian is naturally very proud of, and which he hopes will be the means of im- proving .the farm horses of Gower. The Clydesdales are immensely strong, without being too heavy, and they are so well fed and cared for that they look as skittish as a couple of kittens. Of these, Mr. Small, the veterinary surgeon, who was of the party, was able to appreciate and point out the merits. In the horse-box occupied by a mare related to Sarpedon, there is an interesting little colt not more than four days old. In passing from the pigs to the sheep, a peep was taken at the monster bull, the Grand Duke," once the property of Lord Fitzhardinge, and which we are again frankly told came into the possession of the hon Bart at so low a price as 60 guineas. "When animals go up to very high fancy prices," Sir Hussey Vivian said, while looking at another ani- mal, I allow others to purchase them. In the sheep pens, Mr. Rees, of Garth, was of course at home, and he felt the Shropshire Downs with high approval. Open up the wool, Armstrong," says Sir Hussey to his Bailiff, who came round with the visitors, and as Mr. Armstrong does so the fine fleece is seen to have a fibre of from four to five inches in length, with the delicate pink flesh behind it. I Having thus, in this article, skimmed over without touching the merits of the really splendid herd of short- horn a.nd other stock we pass on to the food preparing, chaff-cutting, corn-grinding and other sheds, where the machinery, all of the newest patterns and occupying but little room, is driven by water-power. As we stand by and look at the turnip-slicing and other work which goes merrily on, Sir Hussey describes the method of working, and the cheap source of the power used. On a hill at some distance from the farm, a.nd a.t an elevation of 120 feet above the rickyards, a small pond has been constructed, and a six-inch iron conduit laid to the farm. The pressure of this column of water is 501bs. to the inch, or equal to rather more than 9-horse power. For the utilization of this power there is, in one place, driving one set of machines, one of Bailey's cheap and simple high-pressure water motors, and in another a small iron turbine wheel motor, both of which work admirably, and these at a wonderfully small original cost, a.nd still less cost of maintenance, do all the machinery work on the farm by using up the forces of nature which, on most farms and large estates, are allowed to run heedlessly to waste. Nor are the ^ater-power appli&nceathe only wans adopted for the saving of labour. The food preparing sked^ue in the centre of the hard sheds, and from this point, radiating in several directions and running past all the principal sheds and stables, ha b.-ea laid a narrow tramway, along which small trucks do all the haulage, and so save men and wheelbarrows. One thing more remain* to notice in this ha"ty sarvej, and that is the manure heap, which is not out ia the open, as is ordinarily the case, but is situated in a de- pression in the ground and thoroughly under cover. What do you think of that. Mr. Marsh," asks Ss* Hussey, in effect: "You aee, I wish to sa ve all the arOCMl qualities of my stable and shed manure, and not ta have the ammonia washed out by the rain." All very well, Sir Hussey," grumbles Mr. Marsh, in the true tone of the British farmer, but that costs something." Very little, I assure you," replies Sir Hussey. "I could easily tell you the cost of the whole of the sheds and stables they are put up very cheaply." But a tenant farmer could not venture to put up such things," says Mr Marsh "he has no security for his outlay, no legal right to compensation for im- provements." This is a home-thrust, and Mr. Marsh knows it, far the Hon Baronet is one. and by no means the least, of the 652 legislators representing the Commons of the nation. It was not a little cruel to the Hon. Member for the County, but it is a sort of penalty every promi- nent public man has to pay. to be thus bearded in his own home. and reminded of the shortcomings of the House of Commons. At Park-le-Breos he is "lord of all he surveys," whose will there is none to dispute," but at St. Stephen's things are different. If P.i.rk-?e- Breos were managed by the "gathering of first gen- tlemen in the world" at St Stephen's, it would be all the worse for Park-le-Breos, but if our national affair* were managed with half the knowledge and skill axd orderliness" which prevail at Park-le-Breos, it would be all the better for the nation." Sir Hussey, however, is equal to the occasion, and be meets Mr. Mar-h's murmurings against the legisla- tive disabilities of the tenant farmers' position by the cheery promise that security and compensation aresooa to be granted them by the Liberal Government. Then the company were invited into the comfortable dining-room of Park-le-Breos house, where a mast acceptable little lunch was provided,- and Sir Hussey did the honours in the kindliest of kind manners. In the course of the repast, while the guests were praising the position and beauties of the Park estate, the Hon. Baronet indulged in a little sentiment. I sometimes almost wish," said he, that I coold shake off the trammels of business, and (smilingly) the disappointments of such things as the College ques- tion! and retire to my little heme her?, to live i* peace and quietness." The guests join Sir Hussey in his smile, for they cas- not help feeling that, however plea-ant, and however well earned his retirement might be to himself, irons the public point of view it would be nothing lurt of an irremediable loss. In one of his speeches a.t the Albert Hall on the needs of Swansea, Sir Hus>ey^ said, with great truth You have a fine geographical posi- tion, and very great mineral and other resource?; what you really want now is more men of capitaJ aad knowledge and enterprise to develop them." Ncvex were truer words spoken. Nor can those wise heard them forgot that, as the heir to the lamented J. H Vivian in the management of the great copper works, as the architect of another industrial fortaae under the name of H. H. Vivian," and as the typi- cally hard working and successful man of private business and public affairs. Sir Henry Hussey Vivian stands facile pri-nceps. He passess all his competitor* as easily as his high-stepping horse, trotting through a ploughed field on the way to Knelston that afterMMB,. passed the heavy break'' containing the visitor* bound to the same place. The remarks of the party as they left the Park were not uninteresting: "SET Hussey is, indeed, in physique and in mind, the £ a* old English gentleman. "He does justice to the position he holds," and so forth. This rambling article would not be complete, it would not be fair either to the public or to Sir H avasyr Vivian, if we did not repeat in effect what he said and reiterated more than once I am very glad to you at the Park, gentlemen and, whether I am at home or absent, I shall always most willingly and Lap^ pily allow any one or any party interested in farming and stock to visit and inspect the farm and the herd."

SWANSEA POLICE COURT.—Thuk.SBA*. [Before the Stipendiary and Mr. E F. Daniel.] DISORDERLY.—Joseph Hopkins and Benjamin Hopkia", both of the strand, were fined 10s. and costs each, î« being drank and disorderly, at the King's Arms, e. the 24th March.—William Henry Thomas, of Matthew-street, quite a lad, was ordered to pay 10s. for being drunk smd disorderly on the 28th March. REMOVING GOODS FROM THE BOVKOA."—Mr. WSHtJt Eilmond, of Mount Pleasant, applied to the Bench tm the neceasary power to call in the assistance of the police to recover some goods and stock-in-trade which had beaa removed to evade a distraint for rent. Mr. Edrnond he was the owner of the house in Castle-street, kept by Tom M. Benson. On the 25th of March last, there wasdse to him one quarter's rent, amounting to £M.JIll Saturday, the goods and stock-in-trade were still in the house, and on his calling on Monday, he found they wer» removed. He believed that that was done in the nigk* tima between Saturday, and Monday. He had siaee heard that the goods had been removed to Mr. Eva's 1&- premises in Oxford-street. By the removal, he (Ifc- Edmond) was prevented distraining for the rent due te him. Under these circumstances, he wished to have the authority to have the aid of the police to recover tie goods. The application was granted. ADULTERATED GIN.—Joseph Davies, landlord of the York Hotel, Fisher-street, was summoned for selling quantity of adulterated gin. Superintendent Flyua wetX to the hotel on the 5th March, and purchased half-a-pasi of gin. He divided it into three parts, and haif < analysed, when it was found to be adulterated tc tM extent of 3; degree'. The defendant, in answer to the Stipendiary, said that he could not account for tàiI- adulteration, as he had an instrument which he alwajp used. Dicharged with a caution. WHOLESALE ROBBERY OF MATCHES FROM THE WESTEBN RAILWAY STATION.—Thomas Olden, 14, Was- John Stratton, alias "Renoden." 12, and Henry Smith* 12, were charged with stealing a quantity of matefefV from a truck in the Great Western Goods Station, Halo-d* of the value of £2. Mr. Lawrence, (Smith and Law- rence), prosecuted. The lad Stratton, was allowed to give evidence in the case. Michael Gittings, one of the Railway checkers at the High street Station, said tbd he checked the cases of matches on the 28th February. They were then safe and in good condition. They wee* not so on the 16th March. The cases were then broken and the matches stolen. Thomas Jones, foreman at tfee Hafod, proved that on Friday, 16th March, hisattent»oe was called to a case of matches. It was in a broken condition, and some of the matches gone. William John Stratton, alias Renoden, was then put iait the box and said that he was playing near the Good Station with the other two prisoners the week befere last. He saw Thomas Olden there, who said to him thØ he knew where there were some matches. Witness asked, where? We then went with him to the Goods shed. Smith having been kept outside watching for th* policeman. Olden broke open the box and took away a parcel of matches, as many as he could carry. They aft then carried away some matches, and then sold theae about the town. His share amounted to 6s. He went a* the theatre with the money. He could not tell tew much Olden and Smith's share amounted tj. They wect to the tracks four or fire times each day and each tine they took away some matches. They found the traclr locked. By the Stipendiary He never saw any porter there. Examination continued The matches produced are the same as those they carried away. They sold the matches in different public-hoases at the rate of l £ d per dozen. In answer to the bench, the prisoner Olden that Strt. tton had cheated them of Is. 7d, (Laughter). la answer '.o the St p ndiary, Thomas Jones, the foremaa, said that the trucks with inflammable materials, TTTS placed outside, and could not be better looked after. Evidence of the selling of the matches and the appre- hension of the prisoners having been given, the Stipes- diary, addressing the bovs, said they had committed a very serious offence, and they hesitated as to whether they should not send them to the Reformatory ScbeoL He was afraid, although there was no proof agaiug them, that they had done this kind of thing over aa4 over, and were confirmed thieves. The prisoners "818 then sent t) prison for 10 days aad to be once whipped. The witness Stratton was told that he was as big vagabond and thief as the others, and he hoped this would be a warning to him. STRANeE CONDUCT.—Patrick Collins, of labourer, wa. brought up in custody for stealing a hat, of the value of 211. 6d.—Elizabeth Williams said she lived in Graig-terrace, and was going through Dyvattv- street, on Saturday-night. As she was going along, file prisoner came up and caught her by the shoulders behind. She asked him to let her go, and he said no! She struggled and got off, leaving her hat behind. He was a stranger to her. The hat produced was hers. To Mr Glascodine, who defended the prisoner: He did aot waat to kiss me. He did not call after me, saying, Vow. have lost your hat." I don't know whether he ww drunk. P.C. 19 proved seeing the prisoner coming towards him. Hearing a cry of murder, he stopped b. and found the bonnet underneath his coat. He ww sober. Prisoner was then charged with accosting another woman later on the same evening. The woman's naaee is Martha Jewel. He caught hold of her and struck her on her chest. He brandished a knife before has; and cut her pocket handkerchief and broke her 11m- brolla, and then ran away. Mr. Glascodine severely cross-examined the complainant as to the knife, and con- tended that the case was one of the most improbable stories he ever heard, and the evidence was entirely QD- worthy of belief. The prisoner was sent t) prison for 4 months' with hard labour for the second offence only. HABBOumiNG PROSTITUTES. — George Phillips, lord of the Three Horse Shoes," F sher-street WIlD summoned for permitting prostitutes on the premises am the 31st ult. P.C. Payne proved seeing prostitutes scitm in and out of the premises with some men, and using sive language. The defendant, who was represented be his wife, was convicted and fined £ 5, including cort? License to be endorsed. « vu^ia. ASSAULT. George Mitchell v. Catherine MitcheP This was a domestic quarrel between man and wife *««, the 26'h ult. Case dismissed. TRANSFERS. The license of the Princess Royal" Wm transferred from David Roderick to Thomas the "Prince Albert" from John Fisher d^iS?^ Jeremiah F^her; the «Landore Inn" from Esaa Jenkins, deceased, to Sarah Jenkins the "Fo* and Hounds "from t John Healy to James Darmody: fee (Golden Lion, from Sarah Jones to John Jones, of the Leopard the White Lion," Goat-street, from Gee. Obourne to Alexander George Evans. of Oxford-street the rlopemakers Arms," from James Darmodr c. John Nomutfc.

reminder, which they received from Mr. James, that there is some danger of the Swansea Grammar School being changed, under the recommendation or sugges- tion of the Departmental Committee, into a merely First Grade Science School. We stated last week that a Bill with some such intention had either been, or was in process of being, drafted with that object in view. But the committee practically shelved itself, on the understanding that it be called together again on the publication of the Bill. We fear this means the waste of all present enthusiasm. and the retention by the advertised local subscribers of all the money promised in aid of Education. If this be ao. and if the Grammar School be metamorphosed, it will indeed be Hie transit gloria Swansei. It will never do to allow this to take place. Messieurs the Committee If you will not act. then we must raise theory of Swansea's interests in danger EITHER the servants of public governing bodies enjoy unfairly great privileges, or steady going and deserving servants of private enterprises suffer a wrong. Whioh is it ? Chief Warder Paddon, upon his retiring from service at the County Gaol has just had voted to him for the remainder of his life the handsome pension of JE100 a year! And quite right, too, if the retiring chief wwrder has rendered long and worthy service. But then what an avenue of sad suggestions this little fact opens up. The man who by good luck has become a Government official i", if his conduct has been good, provideifor till death; while the far more hardly worked and lesser paid employe in private life. when he falls into old age, has only the cold discomfort of the workhouse before him. It is full time for the establishment of a national system of insurance and superannuation. The legis- lator who can carry such a scheme will remedy incal- culable misery, and relieve the minds of his fellow men of the dire dead load of gloomy apprehension as to their immediate earthly future. Many a fine nature is warped from its highest purposes to sordid pursuits by reason of the looming fear of ultimate decrepitude a.nd poverty MR. WILLIAM THOMAS, of Lan, is an enthusiast if he is anything. He is evidently a arm believer in the Shakesperian adage—" 'tis not in mortals to command success—we'll do more, we'll deserve it." And a con- siderable amount of success has already attended the exertions of the worthy Alderman in his efforts to preserve inviolate and free from the spoliation of the builder and speculator the various green spots which are to be found in and around Swansea. Men, women, and children cannot live by bread alone —they must also have free air and open spaces. This is the prac- tical argument of the Alderman, and few there are who would be inclined to quarrel with the proposition in the abstraet, or who would dispute the soundness of the policy when these essentials to the health and comfort and happiness of a community can be obained upon anything like reasonable terms. As a rule, there are far too few of these open spaces or "lungs" pro- vided in large cities and crowded communities, and the inhabitants are as a consequence "cribbed, cabined, and confined," unhealthy in body, and wretched and miserable in all their surroundings Who can tell what salutary effect half-a-dozen "open spaces," in the centre of the town would have had upon the generation of the present day had our forefathers been prudent enough to have provided such health and pleasure resorts for the people The past, however, cannot be remedied, but the future is before us, and it lies very much within the power of our Council and public men to mould the Swansea of the next generations and to guard our children and children's children from the manifold evils attendant upon over-crowding and narrow and ill-ventilated streets. Properly utilised, Swansea has abundant building sites, within a short distance, sufficient for the wants of many generations yet unborn, and these the property of the Corporation. One of the principal things which strikes a visitor is the fact that our hill-sides and tops have not been terraced and covered with buildings, whilst the flats" which should be preserved for parks and open spaces, have been built over. What splendid sites for building does the Town Hill estate offer The only difficulty or obstacle in the way is that of an easy approach but it is certainly within the range of possibility, if not of probability, that with a small reservoir placed on that estate, an hydraulic "lift" would carry passengers up and down Constitution Hill with an ease and rapidity which would practically annihilate the hill difficulty, and open up vastly more healthy sites than are offered by the flats and lower parts el the town. The contention of Mr. Alderman Thomas is that some such plan as is now briefly sketched out is feasible, and in that event the fine open space known as the St. Helen's Field could be preserved for many years as a park for the residents of the Sandfields and the adjacent districts. The question to be solved is whether the ever increasing demands of the local Chancellor of the Exchequer will allow any very great extension of the Park scheme in our midst. At the same time all must admire, if they cannot altogether endorse, the indomitable pluck and perseverance of Mr. Alderman Thomas in his efforts to secure what he con- scientiously believes to be a priceless boon. On Wednes- day next the vexed question of what to do with the St. Helen's Field will again come under the consideration of the Council. Mr. Thomas wishes to prevent if possible the whole of that space being immediately opened up to building operations until the demand for houses in that locality is far more urgent than at present. If one half of that conveniently and delightfully placed field could be preserved from the spoliation of the builder and kept open for a few more years, the inha- bitants would doubtless appreciate the boon; and if the scheme for laying out the Town Hill estate and providing an easy access thereto could be carried to a successful issue, much of the St Helen's Field could be saved. That is the question which will be discussed —and we hope settled—at the meeting of the Corpora- tion on Wednesday next.