The Cambrian

SWANSEA SCHOOL BOARD. The usual monthly meeting of the Swansea School Board was held on Wednesday afternoon at the offices in Fisher-street. Mi". John Roberts (chairman), presided, and there were present:—Revs. Canon Richards, Canon Gaantlett, W. Evans, and Joseph Evans, Dr. John Evans, Dr. W. Morgan, and Messrs. W. Howell, D. Harris, and James Howell. SCHOOLS MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.—This committee had met twice, at a special meeting on the 12th inst., aud at an ordinary meeting on the 19th. At the first meeting, the committee recommended that all appoint- ments to the office of pupil teacher be made from caudidates who will have passed two examinations specially conducted by the inspector of the Board Schools for that purpose; attention to be given to position in the examinatlODs, ability in teaching, and physical health, one examination to be held before the appointment of Monitors, and the other before the ap- pointment of pupil teachers further, that the attention of this committee being called. to the very unsatisfactory result of the inspector's examination of pupil teachers, it is resolved that if the result of H.M. Inspector's examination be not more satisfactory, this committee will feel it their duty to recommend the Board to terminate the engagements of those head masters and headmistresses whose pupil teachers have failed; and that the Clerk be instructed to send every teacher a copy of this resolution. It was also resolved that the follow- ing placard be posted in all the Board Schools :—" All scholars desirous of becoming pupil teachers are eligible to attend the examination by the inspector of Board Schools. The examination will be in the 7th standard. Candidates are requested to send their names to the Inspector of Board Schools, and due notice of the examination will be given also that the examinations be open to children from all schools, whether Board Schools or other in the district; and that the Clerk be instructed to send copies of the placard to the voluntary schools, and that the further consideration of this matter be adjourned for three months. At the second meeting it was decided to article Emily Watkins at the Terrace-road Board School. A letter, dated the 17th inst. was read from Miss E. Mann, asking for a testimonial on her application for the post of Superintendent of Cookery under the London School Board, and in the event of her obtaiDing the post asking permission to leave on finding aD trhcient substitute. The clerk was instructed to give "'■ann a good testimonial. A letter, dated the 19th lOst. was read from Mr. W. T. Samuel, inquiring whether he was to continue the singing lessons to the assistants and pupil teachers. It was resolved that the Board be recommended to engage him until the annual examinations to go round the Schools and perfect the children in singing. Also that the teachers of cookery and drill, and Mr. Samuel as teacher of sing. ing be instructed to make entries in the teachers' time books, and that the Inspector of Schools be instructed to report on the state of the entries generally in the time books.-Rev. Canon Richards, in moving the confirmation of the minutes, said that at their meeting on the 12th inst., they considered the important question of the studies and capabilities of the pupIl teachers. A con- siderable amount of information was laid before the committee, but it was of such a nature that the majority of them considered it wise to postpone this special question for three months, not with any wish to shelve it, but with a view of gettiug fuller information with regard to it. He went on to assure the Board that the committee, in framing its recommendations in favour of a double examination for pupil teachers, to which all scholars who desired to be teachers should be eh-gible, the examination to be thrown open to all the schoois, had been actuated by a desire to go to the very root of the matter. The recommendations bore the impress of thorough earnestness of purpose, and a, .s0„0 ^?en^ss °f view and fairness in thus dealing impartially with all the schools in the town. The recommendation to terminate the engagements of those head masters and mistresses whose pupil teachers had failed, might, at nrst sight, appear to be in the nature of a threat. rfom the reports of the last three or four examinations, it seemed that there were certain schools, and certain head teachers, whose pupil teachers had not been successful, ana that markedly so. It was the wish of the commi tee not so much to employ a threat, as to trust conhden y to the co-opeiation, earnestness, and emulation or tt>e head teachers, to endeavour to produce more successful results than hitherto. They wished to give forth their expression of confidence that the head teachers would do their best to bring about those results, but, at the sa™e 'ime, if occasion arose, they would not hesitate_ to take extreme measures,—Mr. \V. Howell took exception to two point, in the report, and moved an amendment as to one. IIe did not approve of the suggestion ^°f the examinations to all the scholars. The fact that nearly two-thirds of the children of the country £ e euucated in the voluntary schools, the latter adopting the imncipie of not taking any teachers from the Koara Schools, coupled with the further fact that the training colleges were nearly all in the hands of denominationalists, tended practically to keep out of the teaching professioll the Nonconformists and children educated in i»oar Schools. Although, as Canon Richards had said, it mignt show » large view of things, and a charitable deposition yet, in fairness to the children educated in the Board Schools, they should give the preference to their own scholars. Under the circumstances that had been stated, it was tiot difficult to imagine a considerable introduction ot children from the voluntary schools into the Board bchools to the exclusion of their own children. However, he did not move an amendment as to that, because he saw no chance of carrying it, but he did move an amendment with regard to the continuance of the emPloyment of Mr. W. T. Samuel to give singi°S less°ns. ]yjr Samuel had been employed for about fi*e years- He was first employed for the purpose of instructing teachers, the assistants, and the pupil teachers, in or,jer that they might be able to teach music i" schools. Now, it was reasonable to suppose that if Mr, Samuel had attended to his duties during the last five years, and be did not for one moment say that he had not, that every head teacher, aud every assistant teacher under the Board, would be in a position to teach the children ging. ing by tonic solfa. He had nothing to say against Mr. Samuel personally, and believed him to be a most capabie teacher—(hear, hear)—but he did not believe in S.Upple- menting the already large salaries by bringing In ex- traneous help to do that which their own teacbers ought to be able to do for themselves. (Hear.) Why should they continue to employ Mr. Samuel only to save their own teachers ? If there were any teachers Who could not do the work, then they were not worth so much as those who were able to do it, and the °J Person employed should come out of the salaries ot tne inCap able teachers. He therefore moved as an amendment that the portion of the minutes that bad reference to Mr. Samuel be omitted.—Mr. Harris seconded. Ke*- Oanon Gauntlett explained that the committee weie gieatly influenced by a desire that Mr. Samuel's services be continued until the examination, so that they might lose nothing in the shape of grants. He supposed they might take it for granted that Mr. Samuel could not possibly continue beyond that point, unless tne appoint, ment was renewed. He thought the followmg amend- ment would meet the case, viz., "That the Olerk be In- structed to notify to the head teachers that Mr. Samuel's engagement will absolutely terminate after tne examma. tiou."—Rev. Canon Richards agreed with the amendment, remarking that if they had to bring in outside assistance to teach singing, and thus make up for the incompeteney of their own teachers, they might also have ° a mathematician or a scientist to go roond. m. W. Howell supported the amendment, and withurcw is own in favour of it.—Mr. James Howell was also 10 of the amendment. He said that be attended a meeting of ratepayers recently, at which objections *° employing Mr. Samuel at all. It was objected tnat Mr. Samuel did not provide opportunities to teac onic 8u u ant* was also stated that in a pa|"ticu a c °ol head teacher was incompetent, and the d eie fulfilled by one of the pupil teachers, w urged, should receive the fees he whlc!1 went now to the head master. T^e a™end- ment, on being put, was cairied.—Mr. mm, then rose and moved that the minute in I8VO«r of the pupil teachers' examinations being open to cniidren from all the schools, be referred back for further discus. sion,—Mr. W. Howell seconded.—Rev. Joseph Kva"8 differed from Mr. Harris and Mr. Howell 1° J1!8 they had expressed, and said the great desire o he committee was to have the best pupil teachers they could get. They did not care where they came from. atT, did not follow, from the examinations being open, that candidates from the voluntary schools would have a pre- ference to their own. They would not be In any case preferred, unless they were better.—Dr. Morgan thought it a fact that many Nonconformist children at ?iDj Vie Voluntary Schools, and were in no way trammelled. He agreed with the suggestion to throw the examinations °Pen-TMr- W. Howell was also anxious that they should have the best teachers, and he believed the Board had already as good teachers as the Voluntary Schools. He repeated that they should keep their own pupil teacher- ships for their own scholars. Only two or three colleges in the country were open to Nonconformists. unless they became Church people, and he did not think that the teaching profession ought thus to be kept in the hands of onedeaomination. Seeing that the denominational schools insisted upon having, as pupil teaclj children from their own schools he considered that the School Board ought to be loyal to those who supported them, and sent their children to their schools.—Rev. Canon Gauntlett thought the last speaker was not quite accurate in the remarks he had made, and gave one instance in which a pupil teacher from a national school received an anpointment in one of Board Schools. Although the preference should be given to their own schools, it would be a pity to narrow the range of choiee.—The Chairman was in favour of the recom- mendation of the committee. The reason they were called upon to take this step was the deplorable condition of their pupil teachers. The results of the examinations I611* ^mentable. If the pupil teachers were so bad it foUowed that the head teachers of the future would be a sample of the same sort. If they could lm- &n°w*eir ilait\on by Siting pupil teachers from the Voluntary Schools, they should do so. By that means they would improve the tone of their schools, and set an example to the Voluntary Schoois. (Hear, hear,)-Rev. Canon Richards pointed out that as the Board Schools were supported out of the rates, paid in common and belonged to the burgesses, the latter could claim a right with regard to them. Although they were Voluntaryists, at the Board, yet the Board Schools were theirs, or they would not be there to take part in their admiuistration. There was, therefore, a quasi-ng-it, which overcame the objection raised by Mr. Howell. The competition would give an immense support to their own pupil teachers, and he had no doubt that the lion s share would fall to them. The result of the competition, would, he was sure, be advantageous —Mr. J. L. Owen felt that if they could not improve the candidates presented in their own schools, they would have a succession of competing candidates presented by voluntary schools, until their own children might possibly be shut out continually—The amendment, on beiug put, was lost, and the resolution, as previously amended, was carried. f. SCHOOLS BUILDING COMMITTEE.—THE DANTGRAIQ QUESTION AGAIN.—Mr. W. Howell moved the adoption of the minutes. They included the following. The Clerk of the Works reported that Ynistawe School was completed with the exception of connecting the water service, which would be done in a few days. The tender of Mr. David Morgan (Brunswick-street), was accepted for certain work at Cwm and Plasmarl Board Schools. The Committee authorized repairs, &c., at Pentrepoth, Tirdeunaw, Cadle, Trinity place, and Waun Wen Board Schools.—The sub-committee appointed to con- sider the care of the Board Schools after school times, and the lighting and cleaning of the same, called the attention of the managers of Brynhyfryd, Danygraig, Plasmarl, and St. Helen's Board Schools, to the large consumption of gas at these schools. The Committee also suggested an arrangement with the teacher of Waun Wen Board School, Infants' Department, to have the residence attached to the school, and the issue of an advertisement for a caretaker to reside there, on such terms as may be decided on.—The following letter, in reference to Danygraig Roman Catholic School, was read from the Rev. Canon Wilson: — "St. David's Priory, Swansea, 20th February, 1889. To Mr. W. Howell, Chairman of the Building Committee, Swansea. School Board. Dear Sir,-—I shall esteem it a great favour if you will kindly put the question to the Committee over which you preside, wh3ther the time has not come when the Swansea School Board may reasonably and honourably allow the agreement made between me and the Board, re the Danygraig Roman Catholic School, to lapse. Now that the population of the district is increasing so rapidly, the Board School can fear no injury from any addition to the numbers of our school. The arrangement agreed ta is so unprecedented, and so far outside all powers given by the Act of 1870 to the School Boards that I think the Board might without hesitation recede from the position they have hitherto taken, and give an absolute assent to the necessity of our school. We have frequent applications from new families settling in the district to admit their children, and we feel it a great hardship that having the accommodation we are compelled to refuse admission. I am, very respectfully, yours, A. P. WILSON." The Committee resolved that the application be not acceded to.—Mr. Howell, in moving his resolution, said there were only two points in the report to which he need call attention. The first had reference to the appointment of a caretaker at Waun Wen Board School. So little care had been bestowed upon the schools that they had been greatly damaged in various ways. There had also been a very large expenditure for gas, &c., a good deal of which might be avoided if they had some one to look after the premises. The figures had been carefully considered by the sub-com- mittee, who maintained that if a caretaker were appointed at £60 a year, they would save the money of the rate- payers, and their property would be in a much better condition than it was now. If the experiment was successful, as the committee believed and hoped it would be, they would ask the Board to extend it to other schools. The second matter to which he wished to allude was that of the Danygraig Roman Catholic School, and the letter of Canon Wilson. He might say, briefly that the reasons that induced the committee to decline to accede to the request, were to be found in the agreement on the last page of the triennial report. That agreement was made in March, 1888. In the first place, it was distinctly stated that it was the intention of the managers to seek to educate none but Roman Catholic children. It was also distinctly provided that the Board withdraw its objection, on condition that Canon Wilson limit the number of school-places to 120, with the intention, as he said, of educating only Roman Catholic children. The agree- ment was come to between the Board and the managers of the school as a compromise. The question had been before the Board for several years, and had given rise to many discussions, more or less angry than pleasant. The general feeling was that it was better to give way a little on each side, and to bring the matter to as satis- factory a conclusion as possible. The compromise was based upon the agreement, and in their opinion nothing had since occurred to justify them in revoking the agree- ment, or allowing it to lapse. Rev. Joseph Evans seconded the adoption of the report. Mr, J. L. Owen suggested that if they gave to the CRretaker, B50 a year, instead of SCO, they would have a sufficient number of applicants.—Mr, W. Howell at once adopted the sugges- tion.—The Chairman asked ivhat would be the total cost of the caretakers per annum. Mr. W. Howell replied £ 600.—Mr. Owen made a. statement which showed that, taking 10 of the largest schools..8750 per aunum was paid for cleaning, &c., without a caretaker, and, therefore, their suggestion would lead to a considerable saving.— Rev. Canon Richards, reverting to Canon Wilson's letter, re the school at Danygraig, said it was very clear upon the face of the letter, that Canon Wilson did not make application for any further concession under the terms of the compromise, but he asked them to allow the com- promise to lapse. He was prepared, unless they took the step he a-iked them to take, to keep to his engagement with fidelity. But at the same time they were perfectly free to allow the engagement to lapse if they wished to do so. Naturally Canon Wilson came before a new Board, newly constituted, under the special circumstances of a lar=>e increase in the neighbourhood, and of the report of the majority ef the Royal Commission, in which the question of Danygraig was involved.. The idea could not be entertained that Canon Wilson wished to back out of the special specific promise originated by the Board, aud accepted by him as a compromise, as the only mode by which the school could exist at all. It was "chill penury that repressed his noble ra¡;e," and made him coaie to a compromise. But Canou Wilson was still under a disability, and Danygraig was tho only element- ary school in the United Kingdom that was under such a disability as they had imposed. Canon Wilson came to them trusting, perhaps, that the new Board had a better and a larger mind, and he asked not for a few more straws to complete his educational bricks, but for liberty and independence. He (the speaker) appealed to Canon Gauntlett. Four gentlemen on the Board were natarally considered as representatives of Voluntary Schools, and three were absent from the committee meeting. Canon was obliged to retire before the decision as to SSl i to. ,o practically h. (ft- oanygra g reDresentative of the voluntary th. He tra,wth.t Canoe GauntLt's withdrawal was an accident ^e couM not believe that those gentlemen, other than himself, who were returned to represent the voluntary principle, would depart from the dignified traditionsof those who repre- sented the principle before them the lion-hearted Dr. Walters, who so vigorously fought the "ghts of the Voluntary Schools, and the out-spoken and independent Mr. Wolfe, whose generous support of Canon ilsononly lapsed with his ceasing to be a member of the Board. He noticed that in Canon Gauntlett s election address Me of his chief points was justice to Voluntary schools. appealed to Canon Gauntlett to do justice, so far as lay in his power, to the school at Danygraig, and to vote for Canon Wilson. He confidently appealed to them not to allow this disability to continue any longer, and, in conclusion, moved an amendment that the applica- tion be acceded to.—Rev. Canon Gauntlett was not quite prepared to second the amendment. As to his leaving the committee meeting when he did, it was a matter of necessity, and he hoped he would never shrink from any duty incumbent upon him. As to the question of justice to elementary schools, that was in his (the speaker's) election manifesto; but it ha.d reference rather to the possible effort of the School Board so to place their schools that the voluntary schools might be placed at a disadvantage. He would like to consider this question further, so far as he was personally con- cerned, because it was somewhat new to him.—After further discussion, Rev. Canon Richards was simply amazed that a gentleman professing voluntary principles should make the statement that Canon Gauntlett had made. He could understand it only on one principle—that the mandate of those gentlemen came from the Vicar of Swansea, who had said in public meeting that his mission in this place was to combat The corruptions, superstitions, and abomina- tions of the Church of Rome." He felt that the justice that would be given to any other denominational school had not been given to Danygraig because it was a Roman Catholic School. He said with the greatest deliberation that hatred of Roman Catholicism predominated over the sense of Justice which members of that Board had as repre- sentatives of the voluntary principle. He moved an amendment that the question be referred back for further consideration. — Rev. Canon Gauntlett seconded.—Rev. W. Evans would like to explain that his absence from the meeting was unavoidable.—Rev. Canon Richards said that no explanation was necessary.—Rev. Canon Richards, having had the opportunity of saying what he wished to say, withdrew the amendment.—The report was adopted. TEUANTS' SCHOOL COMMITTEE.—On the motion of the vice-Chairman, seconded by Dr Evans, the report was adopted. FINANCE.—This report was next adopted as usual. A deputation was appointed to meet the Swansea Higher and Lower School Board, with reference to School Board districts, under the Corporation Bill. SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.—The minutes were adopted on the motion of Rev. Joseph Evans, seconded by Oano Gauntlett. TECHNICAL EDUCATION.—Dr. Morgan ann his intention of bringing forward at the nex g the desirability of the Board taking up the question of technical education. APPOINTMENT OF NEW MEMBER.—On e tion of Mr. Harris, it was decided to cail a special meeting for that day week, to elect a successor to the late Mr. J. Reea. =

WHKAT WEEVILS.—The Agricultural Department has published a report on these insects The Indian wheat and rice weevil i('Calandra SttophÛY:8 oryztx, Linn.) attacks chiefly the soft varieties especially the Delhi Buxa, and Hanskhala wheats, while hard red wheat is comparatively free from its stacks. The damage occasioned by its ravages is estimated at from to 5 per cent., which means an annual loss of over £ 150,000 on the wheat exported from India to this couDtry alone, the average export being roughly £6.000,000. The report contains a minute description of the insect in its various stages, and compares and contrasts it with the English corn weevil (Lalandra granaria), and then pro- ceeds to discuss the various theories which have been ad- vanced as toits origin. Mr. Cotes thinks that the weevil originates in transit in carts, boats, railway trucks, and especially in the godowns or granaries." He says that all samples which he had tested when they came straight out of the so-called village pits "-even when the gram had bin therp for T°avs—were quite free from the insect, which he attnbut. L0 fche fact that the pits are nearly air-tight. Mr. Cotes goes on to recommend tha granaries should be most carefully disinfected aDd cleaned, as well as all carts, trucks, and boats after each clearance aD<^ suggests the use of coal tar, kerosene, fanV,oi vegetable substances and flowers, such as hops, elder flowers, the odour of which expels the weevil and points out that spreading grain in 'V, 7 ,cf" cious in driving away the insects. Tha 'a or/ito! thrives in England only at excep'' «, y arm periods has been proved by exp«riments unde taken by Miss Ormerod.

OPEN SPACES IN PARLIAMENT, 1889. OBJECTION TAKEN TO THE MUMBLES AND THE DEVONSHIRE SCHEMES. Until recently the effect of the private Bill legislation of a Session on the commons and open spaces of the country was prejudicial,>nd prejudicial only, "says The Times. Railway companies annually absorbed considerable slices of common land and irretrievably damaged larger areas by cutting them in pieces. Companies and corpora- tions promoting waterworks and other industrial under- takings seized upon waste lands for the purposes of their reservoirs and engine-houses. A private Bill throwing land open, or confirming the public in the uninterrupted use or a common or park, was almost unheard of. All this is now changed. Thanks to the viligance of the Commons Preservation Society and the growth of public opinion n favour of the necessity to open spaces, the private Bills of a Session sow do more to preserve and enlarge the Public breathing-grounds than to curtail or jum> for sample, the Metropolitan Board, the Tunbndge Wells Commissioners, and the Bournemouth Commissioners all ask Parliament for power to protect and regulate open spaces in the public interests, and even a railway company, the St. Helens and Wigan Junction Railway Company (its name should be written in red letters), is fouud petitioning for power to buy laud compulsorily for dedication to the public. On the other hand, three Railway Bills on the face of them threaten open spaces already made public property. The Great Northern Company propose to take an acre and three-quarters of Wood-green, which is Th*:™?, ma»asement of the Tottenham Local Board. BtriDS of OM <j*Rai>lway ComPany seek to acquire two out as a niihii ,Dcra8 Burial Ground, which is laid hpL TUiP»»IC^garden- Aad the Shortlands and Nun- J f Company cut in two the meadows recently Local Board at u ground the Lewisham Local Board at Catford-bridg0, Each company, how- ever, is said to be ready to buy and add to the ground it despods a piece of land of grater value to the public and the Shortlands and Nonhead Company will also « divert their line so as to crosb the recreation ground at a narrow neck. Assuming these professions of good will to be converted into binding provisions of theirActs the public will have no complaint to make. There are other r Railway Bills of which so satisfactory a report cannot be th" given. The Mumbles Railway and Pier Company asklhi, for leave to take two aert;8 of Mumbles-hill, a place ofk^ resort of the people of Swansea. This is not the firstfij?' attempt upr>n the common laud in this neighbourhood. fL0 A few years since a tramway company promoted akt, 1 scheme which would have had the effect of excluding thetf il public from a long strip of common by the seafolbore. Thebllt present Bill is believed to revive this scheme under a newih^ name; and it is to be hoped that it will meet with thej+n same fate as its predecessor. In any case, there can be %„C no excuse for taking two acres of land on Sid the coast, open to the public and in Xa immediate neighbourhood of a DOBUIo, Another offender is the Val;> of Glamorgan R.,il wa irn' K* In the neighbourhood of the Barrv i v40' spaces are likely, sooner or later, to be of tle^reaTest^' lJU*e' k^° jDeS a!re out 011 cummon la"d quite in the {J? old-fashioned style, ten acres and a-half being absorbed, Ca, while wide areas are cut up and injured. But the Bill, W1 that is, on the face of it, open to the mos^t series objection of J is that promoted by the trustees of the great Devonshire UhJ property known as the Rolle estate. The objects of this of ? measure, as described in the title, are pre-eminently l)e harmless—the vesting in conservators of the management of certain common lands in the borough of Great Torrington and the owners of the Rolle estate. A lord H» • of the manor, however, seldom asks Parliament to settle 1 questions between him and his commoners unless he sees some substantial advantage resulting to himself from the T. process. In the present case it is proposed that th« owners of the Rolle estate shall be quieted in the posses- £ sion of a commonjof 29 acres, s tuated in the midst of h T? "srv1"5 »id to ■»"» *°ab'. 2 s ShtT exiS* %,Cour9e'^nnot be worked while common exTrcised WlU als0 Set rid "f comtDon St, of lammJ l ha.rvest and seed-time over 109 acre* eat acres of it 'w1 an, Wl11 ol?taitI a freehold title to U but forme,;1y P.a,t °f Great Torrington-commor> h0L but enclosed in the last century and now held oo to v renewable lease, under the Corporation. In exchange, s J t ey gave up to the town (to be represented by a body ot eh- n.r,ri8+i. 0 20 aores of meadow by the river Torridge, and they surrender all claims as lords of the manor ol bj PomL™mngt°n- t0 Great Torrington and Castle-hiH S c,omP™ing together 297 acres. So far, al< iu •1 lsdoubtful whether the borrough of TorrinetoD ctn-C ing a good bargain, it is possible that the oped an paces enjoyed by the public might not be substantial!/ curtailed, for the laramas land is said to have been practi' t cally enclosed for some years. But the people d iorrmgton, while giving up an open common of nearlf W thirty acres, do not propose to keep open all that the/ tshil get in exchange. The meadow land is to be held by the "hi new conservators on the widest trusts, and may be builf all on the year after it is made over. A popular vote on suc> Cot a question is notoriously untrustworthy. The desires J Ca>! the moment may point to enclosure, and the interests of tbe posterity are disregarded. It is said that the people of thi, Great Torrington want land for building, because tb«i s owners of the Bolla estate will grant none ^ut short! leases. Parliament 18 not likely to assent to the ef s; closure of common land in order to enable large land' cor owners to gratify a m in the management of thetf of property. U?^rsJh £ Pr<"n°ters of the Bill and 5 J0 Corporation of Gr t Torrington are prepared to dedicate opi irrevocably to the pub ic the whole of the common an«J ( £ rtn stmd

j s^^irn^ Briejj's appeal against a sentence of J.° mrtTclpation ?rPI1S0Dment pwsssd ulwn hi'n allege^ TCenmare a consP1r«cy to induce tenants on tb« ^1 before Judcm n DOt to their legal obligations, catfe Tuesdav JIT ftt Killarney Quarter Sessions J*' Leonard, agent of the estate, was unde' rninati°n when the judge inquired whether some settle £ r< not be arrived at. Mr. Healy thereupon & Z? newed his offer to refer the dispute to three arbitrator* two of them te be English members of Parliament (oOe chosen by either side), and the third to be the judj^ himself. His Honour determined to withhold judgmefl'' vP' on the appeal until 10th April, by which time Mr' I Leonard was to lay the offer before the trustees of tb6 estate, and intimated that in the event of a settlement would reduce the term of imprisonment under appeal sO as to make it coterminous with that of four montf w passed on Mr. O Bnen at Carrick-on-Suir. The iu.dg' i ment it was arranged should be delivered at Tralee. THE PROPOSED PAPER SYNDICATE.—The Pre*3 h°n Association aaysit is stated that the syndicate whi^j ift, has been formed to secure the control of all Ensiis^l se, cheap paper-mills have, after considerable difficultie-l 8u at terms with practically the whole 0 8e these mil's. The syndicate will purchase the millsl and, as the whole of the existing proprietors ø.tC strongly supporting the change, it is believed that do price paid for each mill will be one of considerate advantage to the present owners. As soon as the mi^ hi are taken over they will all be controlled by a centif! In, start, located either in Manchester or Loudon. It 0( claimed by the syndicate that a central authority le, T6sult m a considerable saving of expenses, and economical working of the mills. On the other haP^ Vr it is contended that the change will be in every disadvantageous. It is pointed out that the syndic^. will probably have to float their undertaking at a pri". so of about 50 per cent. increase upon the combiJ10 1 tit capitals of the existing companies; that a centtll; gi authority cannot work the mills so economically Tl under the present system of personal supervision ft0, V that the cumbrous management will check the const*11', bj improvements which are being made in paper-maki*1', in under the present system of open competition. C°\ <Ji siderable doubt is therefore entertained as to the puh'1 coming forward in support of the high demand whi^i it is understood, the paper syndicate will make whe^ in their prospectus is issued. In the meantime the newspaper proprietors are already banding themsel^i so together to oppose the operations of the syndicate, &K bi the Belgian, German, and American paper-makers opening up communications with them. < CADBURY'S COCOA sustains against fatigue — incref* 4 muscular strength — gives physical endurance and stayjr ^1 Dcwer. it Is absolnte'y pure. [00 H 'a £

GOOD INTENTIONS. Fair thoughts of good, and fatasies} as fair, Why is it you're content to dwell confined In the dark cave of meditative mind, Nor show your forms and colours other where Why taste ye not the beautiful free air Of life and action ? If the wintry wind. Rages sometimes, must noble growth be pioed And fresh extravagant boughs lopped off by care. Behold the budding and the flowering flowers That die, and in their seed have life anew; Oh if the promptings of our better hours With vegetative virtue sprung and grew They would fill up the room of living Time, And leave the world small space to noun II weeds of crime. LaLD HOUGHTON.

—♦ THE OLD GREY MARE. We'll keep the old grey Whate'er the neighbours say, John True, lad, she is no longer young, But we are old to-d.ty, John. I mind me of that market day, When coming home from fair, John, I gave my heart away to you When driving home tue mare, John She teok us to the village church The day that we were wed, John; I think she knew the wedding bells. The way she held her head, John And after, on his chrissom day Whose baby gr,ive is there, John Our bonnie laddie loved her too, We'll keep the old grey mare, John Ah.Jad, this life has ups and downs, W e've shared them all since then, John I sometimes think that poor dumb things Are tru. r fnends than men, John. For ^homeless wand'rer at the «ate e'v- aye a crust to spare, John, So for the sake of those dear day, We'll keep the old gv; y mare, John CLIFTON BINGHAM.

larieties, •Sec. The greatest wag ever known A woman's tongue. The nearest of kin—the napkin. It's our bosom friend. When you see a couple on the street, if the man carries the bundles they are engaged. If the woman carries the Bundles, they are married. 0" A Calif rnian newspaper is said to have been sued for libel by a widow for speaking of her deceased husband as having gone to a happier home." The foreman of a printing office received a note the other day reading as follows Please eggscuse my husband for not coming to work to-day. He is ded. Hood suggested that the phrase, republic of letters, was hit upon to insinuate that, taking the wjole lot of authors together, they hadu.t a sovereign amongst them. Husband-" I have just been seeing poor Mrs Blackedged. How captivating she looks in widow's weeds." Wife-"It is unf .rtunate, my dear, that we can t be all widows 'Tis love that makes the world go round," we are informed hy <-hp poets. It is a somewhat notable fact that a very limited quantity of poor whisky will produce the same effect. Ar. old lady, entirely out of the hearing of the preacher's voice, being found sobbing, was asked why she wept, since she couid not hear the words of the minister. Oh," said she "I can see the holy wag of his head." jjunel' Harry Well, Johnnie, and how did you like the ride 011 Uncle Harry's knee?" Johnnie. "Oh, it was very nice but I hall a ride on a real donkey yesterday." Among the questions put at a recent University examination was, "1.t is the difference between the major and minor prophets?" The answer is unique,—"I have made it my invariable rule never to make invidious distinctions. The fi st st^p towards wealth," says an author, "is the choice of a -.rife.' And the first step towards securing a goo wife is the possession of great wealth," said another. Here we have one f those good rules which work prettily both ways. A young lady at a refreshment bar surmounted a difficulty very neatly the other day, when she said to a gentleman who had omitted to pay for his liquor, "Sir, if you happen to lose your purse afterwards, remember that you did not take it out here," Mr Dolan," s;[.1 the coroner at an inquest over a man who had been shot, can you tell how the deceased came to his death?" Regoriah, sor, he niver came to it at all. It wor comin' to him, and deuce a minute did he have to git out av it3 way." A fawner and hi3 wife went into a dentist's. How much do yuu charge for ftllin' teeth ?" 3Sked the farmer. "From lOs. to £ I." "And for pulling?" "Two shillings and sixpence." << Maria," he said, turning to his wife, "you'd better get it pulled." •• And if I should die, dear," said a sick husband. will you sometimes visit my grave?" "Yes, John," she replied, brokenly: "every pleasant Sunday afternoon I will take the children. Poor little things, they don't have very much pleasure!" A bachelor says that all he should ask for in a wife would be good temper, health, and understanding, agreeable phsiog- nomy. ligure, good connections, domestic habits, resources of amusement, good spirits, conversational talents, elegant manners—money! In company the other evening Henrietta heard some one across the room quote the familiar phrase, Man proposes," and turning to a sister wall-flower she remarked that she was tired of hearing those old sayings that didn't have a single word of truth in them. An Englishman who was spenlUng his summer holidays in America last year. happening to take up a book on geography, for the use of schools," saw the following question and answerWhere is London?" "It is the chief town of a small island off the coast of France." The finer the nature, the more flaws will it show through the clearness of it. The best things are seldomest seen in their best form. The wild grass grows well and strongly one year with another but the wheat is, hy reason of its greater nobleness, liable to a bitter blight. A journalist went into a barber's shop to get his hair cut, and fell asl ep durinsr the operation. The barber, who awoke him when he had finished, said to him, You are tired. I understand it. It's the same way with me when evening comes. Ah. this head work is something terrible A gentleman recently came home in the" wee sma' hours ayorit the twal' and was surprised to find his wife clad in black Why are you we .ring these mourning garments ?" he said, somewhat unsteadily. "For my late husband," was the reply. He has been in the house at ten ever since. A man came into a shop, bought a cigar, and threw down a bad threepenny piece on the counter. He was hurriedly departing, when the dealer called after him, "Hold on, hold on, it's bid "Sever mind," answered the purchaser, as he quickly passed out. I'll smoke it anyhow." An Englishman went to Xew York and put up a sign, Established ;804," and rather prided himself on the antiquity of his establishment. The next day his Yankee, rival across the way burlesqued his sign in this way— Established yesterday. No old goods on hand." A Russian is not legally a man until he is twenty-six years old. Fancy a. Russian mother saying, Alvirawiska, who was that sitting so close on the sofa with you last night?" and Alvi replying. "Only Chipmunkiwiski, a little boy from over the way. We were celebrating his twenty-flfth birthday. A French gentleman who supposed he had mastered the English language, was sadly puzzled tho other day when a friend met him aud asked How do you do ?" Do vot ?" I mean, how do yon find yourself?" "Sare, I never loses my- self," But hew I 0 you feel?" "Smooth; just feel me." What to him was love or hope ? What to him was joy or care ? He stepped on a piece of Irish soap the girl had left on the topmost stair And his feet flew out like wild, fierce things, But he struck each stair with a sound like a drum; And the girl belo* with the scrubbing things laughed like a fiend to see him come. She said to her grocer not long since, 1 bought three or our hams a couple of months ago, and they were very tine. Have you got any more like them?'" Grocer—"Yes ma'am. There are ten more of thjse hams hanging up there." "Are you sure they are off the same pig ?" Yes, ma'am." Then I'll take three of them." How is it, llr. Brown," said the mill-owner to the farmer, that when I came to measure those live barrels of apples I nought from you I found them nearly a barrel short?" "Singular, very singular, for I put them Hp in some of your own flour oarrels." Ahem Did, eh ? Well, perhaps I ma.de a mistake.^ Fine weather, isn't it?" An American longshore man and a swarthy son of sunny Italy were engaged in an altercation on one of the New York wharves, when the American, thinking to close the argument with a clincher, exclaimed, Get out, you foreiWi-" ^VVhata say? You calla me a foreigner! Me from Genoa and Chri3tafaro Columbo discover America? Who the foreigner A bear broke into the house of a Nevada miner the other night. He was away, and his wife thought he had come home inebriated. She did not wait to light a lamp, but began operations at once. When the bear finally got away it is said that he did not stop running till he had travelled eight miles: into the heart of the mountains, and he was such a sight that the other bears would not associate with him, A young Parisian, noted for his grace and readiness as a second in many duels, was asked by a friend to accompany nim to the mayor's office to affix his signature as a witness to the matrimonial registry. He consented, but when the scene was reached forgot himself. Just as the mayor was ready for the last formalities, he broke out: Gentlemen, cannot this affair be arranged? Is there no way of preventing this sad occurrence ?" "Lulu," he queried facetiously of his affianced on Sunday evening, as he turned the light down to a mere shadow of its former self, Why am I like a newspaper?" I don't know," hazarded Zulu, hesitatingly, "unless it's because you try to m.^ke go many poor jokes." "That's not it,' he answered, W1."h a tinge of coldness. •' Why, then?" Because I am just going to press And everything being revised and made up, .« v11118 were locked, and the first impression registered. ..J must push matters a little, James," said the druggist "by calling a customer's attention to this o-L™article, you can often effect sales." Yes sir," rf^?riV y' and then he hastened to wait upon an elderly femaie who \vanted a stamp. Any thin' else, mum?" inquired te ambitious boy, politely; "hair dye, cosmetic, face powder rheumatic drops, belladonna, mole destroyer—" The elderly the stamp viciously, and left the door open as she went out. GENERAL following characteristic story is told of the "jkief o{ the French army in the Crimea:— Pelissier, on parade one morning, g0t angry with a gous-ojt.ccr of a cavalry regiment, whose tenue seemed to him quite defective. He aousea the man most violently, and cut him across the face with his whip The man seized one of his pistols, and endeavoured to Are at his commanding officer; but the pistol missed fire. ^Ussier weanng a fearful oath,' but otherwise quite calm, sa ,Lo r,yo?, a three days' arrpqfc fnr not having your arms in better order. Mother—" What novel Reading again Mary?" daughter (pulling up the heel of her slipper)-" Well, there's nothing for me to do. Yon do everything about the house." II. I have to. I'm sure I don't know whats to become of y*u, Mary. Yo* can't cook; you can't make bread; I can't trust you to make a bed, If your father and I were taken away, what would become oi you V D.™, married." M-"But suppose you couldn't get married ? I>. Well, if the worst comes to the worst I can go out as a servant somewhere. The parish minister of C was examining a class of small boys on their rpadinc exercises. The lesson was on the life of a pious man. The minister, in order to test the intellect of the boys, told them he would give a penny to the boy who should first tell him what a pious man was. Silence for a moment reigned, when a "tousle headed urchin at the bettom of the class, whose joyful face proclaimed that he was in possession of the grand secret, snaps his finger m great glee and shouts out—•• I Sen't T ken't Mr Minister. „ Well, my little boy will you kindlv' inform me what it means. It s a man hat bakes pies, air. An old Breton peasant having met with a slight accident, sent for his doctor, who assured him that there was no serious injury, and prescribed a draught, ordering at the samehme some leeches to be applied. As leeches were not easily pro- curable, the patient asked the doctor to get them for him. This he promised to do, and the next morning there arrived a b e containing half a dozen fine leeches. The farmer s wile, being in doubt herself, applied to a neighbour for advice how to cook them. The result was that they were fried. The patient disliked the bitter taste of the first one so much that he declined eating any more. However, his wife insisted that as they had to pay for the "medicine it ought to be taken, ao the poor man actually ate the whole of the fried leeches. He was afterwards siezed with a severe and fatal illness, which was attributed to poisoning by the leeches. The widow brought an action against the doctor, who, however, was exonerated from all blame by the court.

portfolio. MIND TOUR OWN BUSINESS with your absolute heart and soul but see that it is good business first. That it is corn and sweet pease that you are producing— not gun- powder and arseni*.— Buskin. While the locks are yet brown on thy head, While the soul still looks through thine eyes, Yearn to the greatness of Nature Rally the good in the depths of thyself. —Matthew Arnold. He enjoyeth great tranquility of heart that careth neither for the praise nor the dispraise of men. Thou art not the more holy though thou be praised, nor the more worthless for being dispraised- If thou consider what thou art in thyself, thou wilt not care what men talk of thee.—Thomas A Kempis. OUR LIFE,—Oh. what a world is this Change rising after change, cycle growing out of cycle, ir majestic progress ever new and ever widening, like circles wieathed from the flame, enlarging as tbey rise, and finally lost in the empyrean. If all we see on earth or sky, if every sun and star in the universe, be but a mirror wherein we behold the images of eternity, immortality, and God— if all this be but one phrase of being, rolling onward evermore, what must be the Creator, the Preserver, the Guide of all-He at whose beckoning flowers and stars come from nothingness, and again dIsflppear; who's name amid all things is a lone existence-I am that I am-the all-encompasser, the all-sustainer, lie who wraps and holds all these gorgeous heavens, who, un- assisted. uncounselled, unchanged^ and unchangeable for evermore, sustains the fabric of His own awful being !— Professor Nicholl.. KEEP TO THE SUBJECT.—Our minds are so constructed that we can keep the attention fixed on a particular object until we have, as it were, looked all round it. It is this much more than any difference in the abstract power'of reasoning, which constitutes the vast difference between the minds of different individuals. This is the history alike of the poetic genius and the genius of discovery in science. "I keep the subject," said Sir Isaac Newton, ''constantly before me, and wait until the dawnitigs open little and little iuto a full light. It was thus that, after long meditation, he was led to the invention of fluxions, and to the anticipation of the modern discovery of the combustibility of the diamond. It was thus that Havvey discovered the circulation of the blood, and that Davey laid the foundations of that grand series of experimental researches which terminated in the decomposition of the earth and alkalis.—Sir Benjamin Brodie.

— SWANSEA POLICE COURT. SATURDAY. [Before J. C. Fowler (Stipendia y). J. G. Hall, and Stephen Thomas, Esqrs.] DRUNK ON LICENSED PREMISES. — William Jones and Abraham Rogers, steelworkers, G-owerton, were fined los, each, including costs, for being drunk on the licensed premises of the Commercial Inn, Eittay, on Sunday, the 10th inst. P.C John Williams proved the case. STRAYING DONKEYS.—Thomas Isaac, an old man, a black- smith, living at I/oughor, was summoned for allowing two donkeys to stray on the 11th inst., and was ordered to pay 5s. If ON-MAINTENANCE.—Abraham Boyle (63), cab driver, Porth, was charged for non-maintenance of his wife, the arrears amounting to dEl 5s. Defendant had been up before on a similar charge, and was now ordered to pay the money forth- with, or go to prison for 21 days with hard labour. ASSAULT.—G-wenny England (23), was charged with assaulting and wounding Mary Lucas by striking her on the head with a beer glass in the King's Arms public-house. Defendant was tined 29s. including costs. „ MONDAY, [Before J. C. Fowler (Stipendiary). L. Tulloch (ox-Mavor), and T. Cook Davies, Esqrs.] AN OLD OFFENDER.—Elizabeth Huxtable, of ill-fame, was charged with being drunk and disorderly on the Strand on the 23rd inst. This was prisoner's 74th appearance, and she was now sent to prison for one month with hard labour. THEFT FROM A SCHOOL. Wm. Henry Coker (17), labourer, 14, Baptist Well-street, was charged, OR remand, with stealing a boy's overcoat, value 8s., the property of Walter Lee, from the cloak-room at the Higher Grade Board School, Trinity- olace; also with stealing a silk square shaw. from the same place, value 2s. 6d., the property of Fanny Jacob, on the 11th inst. This case was adjourned for the purpose of the police making enquiries as to the whereabouts of a lad named Jones, whom Coker alleged took part in the theft, and that the scarf found on him (prisoner) belonged to Jones's mother, and in which they carried away the overcoat and square. The police now stated that they could find no trace of the lad Jones, but that his mother would give evidence. —Mrs. Jones said she lived on the Strand. The scarf (produced) did not belong to her Her son had left home nearly a fortnight. Prisoner and her son had been in the Truant School together.—Fanny Jacebs a young girl, said the square shawl produced was her property and she last saw it when she placed it in the cloak-room at the school. —Detective Griffiths deposed to arresting and charging the prisoner, who now pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to prison for three months with hurd labour. ALLEGED ASSAULT WITH A POKER.—John O'Brian (35), rag and bone collector, 31, Carmarthen-road, vas charged, on remand, with unlawfully assaulting and wounding Mary Murphy, by striking her on the head with a poker on the 16th inst.—Mr. T. Glasbrook Richards defended, and now cross- examined the prosecutrix.—Witnesses were called for the defence, and ultimately prisoner was discharged. A STRANGE STORY. —Charles Smaldin, fireman, 3, Hall- terrace, was charged with stealing a silver lever watch, £9 in gold, some silver, and meerschaum pipe, value in all £ 14, from the person of John Collins, on the i3rd inst.—The prosecutor said he was a fireman on board the s.s. Embledon, and on Saturday night last he was in the" Welcorne-to-Town public- house, in company with a man named Mark Adams. He went into the back yard and counted his money, and also looked at his watch. His money was loose in his pocket. In order to catch his vessel, which was leaving the port that samt: evening, he left the public-house accompanied by Adams,and immediately followed by prisoner. They proceeded down the Strand and called in a p"blic-house and all three had a 4Iuantity of rum. They then left the house, and were on their way to the docks, when they heard the whistle of a steamer. Witness at once commenced to run, when he staggered and fell. He became insensible, and did not remember anything more until he found himself in the police station, when he missed all his money.— Sergeant Payne, 5, said that late on Saturday night he found the prosecutor lying in an insensible condition alongside the tin-sheds at the Prince of Wales Dock. Prisoner and tne man Adams were with him. Prosecutor appeared to be very ill, and witness suggested that he should be taken to the police station, a course which prisoner strongly objected to, remarking that he would be looked after on board his own ship. Witness, however, had prosecutor conveyed to the police station, and from what he was told on the following morning he arrested and charged the prisoner.—John Addison, landlord of the Welcome-to-Town public-house, said the pipe (produced) was given him by the prisoner, who said hf: had picked it up when Collis fell down, and that he forgot to give it to Sergeant Payne. Witness had known the prosecutor for some time, having lodged at his house. On Thursday last he lent him money-about 4s.although he had only been paid off on the previous Monday. In reply to the Stipendiary, prosecutor said he borrowed the motley not for people to think he had any. He had had the nine sovereigns in his pocket since September last. He had not shown the money to anyone.—The Stipendiary- said the evidence given by Collis was of no value. It was strange that he should horrow monev when he had nine sovereigns in his pocket. Prisoner was discharged, and on asking the Bench as to how he could be compensated for the trouble and disgrace he had been subjected to, the Clerk referred him to a solicitor. AFFILIATION.—Evan Davies, 3. Pentremawr, labourer, was summoned by Margaret Sullivan to shew cause, etc. This case was heard at great length on the 3rd December last, when it was dismissed for want of corroborative evidence.—Mr. W. R. Smith defended.—Jchn Jewell, 1, Scyborfach-street, said he knew the parties, but had never seen them together. He had not spoken to either of them about the case. He had had intercourse with the complainant, but before he was married.—It will be remembered that on the first Mearing Jewell was spoken of as being the father of complainant's child.-Mr. Smith now went through all the evidence, after which a few witnesses wera called and some hard swearing indulged in. The case was adjourned for a week. V T liSDAY. ( TBeforeJ C. Fowler (Stipendiary), Thomas Phillips, D. Jones l and J. Evans, Esqrs.] INDECENCY.—Ann Ottoway, of ill-fame, and John Pratt I labourer 13, Clifton Hill, were charged with being drunk and indeceutlv exposing themselves in Dynevor-place, on the 25th inst P C. Johns, 10, proved the case, and the female prisoner was' fined 40s., or one month, and Pratt 20s., or fourteen daf>RUNK.—William Thomas was charged with being drunk and disorderly in Terrace-road, on the 25th inst. Sergeant Coward Droved the case, and a tine of 5s. and costs was imposed. A WARNING TO PAUPERS—David Jeremiah (31), labourer, an inmate of the Union, was charged with refusing to work at the Union when requested by the Master. George Elliott, porter at the Union, gave evidence, but as there was some extenuating circumstances in the case, defendant was dis- charged wIth a caution. WEDNESDAY. [Before Dr. J. G. Hall and P. S. Bishor, Eso 1 THEFT OF BooTS.-Sarah Lewis, of ill-fame was charged with stealing a pair of boots, value 3s fid frArTo! Mr. McAvera, High-street, on the 26th inst' °P cally admitted the offence, and having been prevWlv^on" victed, was now sent to prison for two months iously con- A WARNING TO PEDLARS. Sarah Smith, Medlar wa., moned for hawking without a certificate on the* 15th in^" Defendant admitted the offence, saying that she was too rjoor tn pay for a certificate. Fined Is. poor to FOOTBALL.—Timothy Driscoll, a newsboy, was summoned for playing football in Wind-street, on the 11th inst. P.C. Lewis proved the case, and defendant was fined Is. and cautioned. COUNTY BUSINESS. AFFILIATION.—David Davies, Pontardulais, was summoned hv Ann Britten, to shew cause, 4c. Mr. McLachlan was for the nomnlainant. Defendant did not appear, but had admitted the paternity to P.C. Latherin. An order was made for 3s. 6d. per WDRUNK AND REFUSING TO QUIT.—Edward Williams, steel- worker, Gowerton, was summoned for being disorderly and refusing to quit the London and North-Western Hotel, Gower- ton Mr W. Smith prosecnted. Mrs. Barrah, the landlady, said that on the 16th inst., the defendant used abusive and insulting language towards the barmaid, and on being requested to leavef he emphatically refused. Defendant was fined 30s. AN^U^LICENSED DOG.—John Morris, haulier, Gowerton, was summoned ^keeping a dog without alicense^n the Uth inst. P.C. 274 proved the mse, and defendant^as,'ine^15s- DRUNK, 4c.~James Quirk, an old offendei ■ was^mimmed for being drunk and disorderly at Sketty. P.C. Shaddick proved the case, and defendant was fined 15s., and cautioned against getting drunk.—Hopkin Davies, plasterer, Pontar- dulais, was summoned for being drunk house, Pontardulais. P.C. Letheren proved tne case, and a fine of lis, was imposed.-John Phillips, collier,'Dlydach, was summoned for being drunk and refusing to quit the JHicUana Hotel, Morriston, on the 9th inst. P.C. Abraham gave evidence, and defendant was fined 15s. „ „,no ILLEGAL PRESENCE.—Phillip Rosser, tinman, Cockett, was summoned for illegal presence in the Black Buoy, KIllay, and with giving a false name and address on the 10th inst. j WIllIams. 106, proved the case, and defendant was fined 30s.. or 14 days.—John Rosser and William Jenkins, Cockett, weie for a similar offence at the Black Buoy public- cKllJay- on lhe 17th inst. P.C. Williams gave evidence, AtWWe each flned 30«-> or 14 days- mnlloj kC *1 vrLT"—Margaret Doolan, Mumbles, was sum- >r t, y Mary Jane Davies for assault on the 9th inst. Mr. fdioni'-npH' Was for fche defendant. The case was

NEATH AND ITS DISTRICT. JK™ H?b,sb and FLANNEL FAIR.—This fair was on, Wednesday. There was a somewhat small supply of horses, and dealers who had come from a dis- th^f disappointed. In the flannel department flip brisk business. At the close of the day isfied with resiflts. ^pressed themselves as quite sat- DEATH OF MB, JOHN BRIGHT.—The news of the death -Nipoth hTth'p fr> Patriot and statesman was received at to his memorv wa1°fh' atnonSst the first to do honour \nn?» hni? i the Conservative Club, where the flag was at once hoisted half-mast. The sad intelligence was received in the town generally with profound regret THE WEECK OF THE Be*AN.-A Better's telegram from Plymouth gays that among the passengers by the P and O. steamer Carthage, which arrived on Monday morning from Australia, were Captain Burns and part of the crew of the ship Benan, of Neath, with a cargo of coals from Cardiff for Hong Kong, which was wrecked on December 23id off Cloate, on the north-west coast of West Australia. The Benan ran on a reef, havine been carried out of her reckoning by unusually-strong currents. The crew remained three days at the place where the wreck occurred, and then walked eighty miles through the bush to a sheep-station, where a cutter was obtained which took them to Camerons, West Australia. Thence they were conveyed to Albany, where Captain Burns embarked on the Carthage. The court of enquiry, which was held to ascertain the cause of the shipwreck, exonerated the captain from blame. RAILWAY ACCIDENT AT NEATH.—A special engine arrived at Neath Junction from Swansea at 3.20 o'clock on Sunday morning and proceeded to pick up some wagons. Before coming out of the siding the engineman (Mr. Tom Church) observed the ground signal in an "all right" position. It appears that after the engine had started the signalman at the box heard a whistle, which had apparently been blown at Neath. Consequently he reversed the points, with the result that the engine ran into the dead end and over the embankment, landing in a oitch about 20 feet from the top. The engine turned over on its side. The escape of the engineman and stoker may truly be described as miraculous. It appears that they clung to the lever and maintained their hold. Otherwise they would certainly have been killed. The engineman s slop was burned by the fire, but neither he nor the stoker, Daniel Morris, sustained the slightest in. jury. ACTIONAGMNSTNEATH HABBOUB COJOHSSIONEBS.— On Monday, at the Bristol Assizes, the case of the Western Counties and South Wales Telephone Company against the Neath Harbour Commissioners was again brought before Mr. Justice Wills. His Lordship gave judgment in this case, which was tried last week the action having been brought to recover damages against the defendants for cutting a telephone cable laid across the Neath Harbour.—Mr. Bompas, Q.C., and Mr. Austin were counsel for the plaintiffs, and Mr. Bucknill, Q.C., and Mr. Simonds were counsel for the defendants. His Lordship said the cable had been laid across the harbour and the Harbour Commissioners removed it as being an obstruction to the harbour. He referred to the in- fluential witnesses who had been called 011 behalf of the Harbour Commissioners. The real danger and mischief was when they came to pull up an anchor, at the critical moment it might catch in the cable, and the ship there- upon became pivoted upon her own stem. If they had a narrow channel in which there was scarcely room for a ship to swing round, and they had the stem or stern pivoted and the water-way worked in the rest of the vessel, if the water was going in the same direction as the obstruction was pointing, round the ship would go. The statements made by the witnesses for the Commissioners showed the very good reason that anything which would foul the anchor at the moment It was wanted to come up free must be a source of danger. He was satisfied that the cable as laid, whether temporarily or not temporarily, was replly, aud not chimerically or theoretically a sub- stantial danger to the navigation of ships us'inK the harbour. There must be j udgment for the defendants — Mr. Austin said as to the question of law, the Telephone Company might like to question his Lordship's decision. They might have some difficulty as to the fact. He asked that execution might be stayed for a fortnight.— His Lordship consented to stay execution. SERIOUS FIRE AT NEATH.—Enrly on Tuesday morning a serious fire was found to be raging at the warehouse and manufacturing shops belonging to Mr. J. A. Ilees, coach- builder, situate in Rectory-road, Neath. The police brigade was in attendance as promptly as possible, but it was past five o'clock before a supply of water was brought to play upon the mass of flame. Twenty-eight carriages, a large number of carriage lamps, and a quantity of birch, mahogany, and walnut wood were destroyed. The premises were gutted, even the walls on one side falling in. The damage done will amount to at least £600, and the insurance is only paitial. The cause of the fire is a perfect mystery, as the premises were locked up for the last time at middle day on Monday, A CURIOUS OCCURRENCB. — Whilst patrolling their beats on Saturday night last P.C.'s Barnes and Merriman discovered a man whose name was ascertained to be John Irving, a labourer, from Maesteg, lying in the gutter iJ a most drunken condition, and on making enquiries they saw that the poor fellow had been seriously injured doubtless from a fall whilst drunk. He was conveyed to the police-station and Drs. Russell and Davies, the parish surgeons, called to attend. Dr. Russell positively refused to attend, whilst Dr. Davies could not be found. Ultimately Dr. Thomas attended and stated that Irving had broken his collar-bone Dr. Thomas ordered his removal to the Union, where the unfortunate tippler remains, pending his recovery. NEATH BOROUGH PETTY SESSIONS.—MONDAY [Before the Mayor and Ex-Mayor.] DauNK.-John HutClhiDsoD, a blacksmith, of Glyo. neath, was charged by Superintendent Evans with being drunk in Green-street en the 16th of March. The case was adjourned, His Worship declined to adjudicate on the case in the absence of defendant, who neglecred to appear.—A charge against James Allford, a scavenger of Melincrythan, was also similarly adjourned -George Harwell, John Mitchell, and David Williams.summoned by Mr. James Allen, for non-pay- ment of rates were ordered to pay the same and the expenses. A VAGABOND,—John Hickey, a tramp, was charged with being drunk in Orchard-street. P.O. Evans. 9, proved the case, defendant being committed for seven days. Defendant tore up his trousers at the cells and was sent to prison with a sack covering for his behaviour. NEATH COUNTY PETTY SESSIONS.—FRIDAY. [Before Rev. Walter Griffiths, W. Leyson, W. Hunter, G. H. Davey, and T. S. Sutton, E-qrs. DISORDERLIES. — Jacob Evan, for being drunk at Cwmavon, on the 12th inst., was fined DS. and costs. William Morgan, collier, of Resolven, washned 7s. and costs for the same offence. —Thomas Williams and John Pttrry, colliers, were ordered to pay 7s. oa. each for drunkenness at Cwmavon. — Ann McNeill, tor Deing drunk at Cwmavon-road was fined 7s. 6d., or ten SUNDAY TRADING.-George Gorvett, Half-Way House, Briton Ferry-road, was summoned for "P^1118 J. e on Sunday, the i7th of February. Mr. Tom ^lliams defended. The Bench considered the case proved, and fined defendant 40s. and costs, or 14 days y was paid. E. Summerfield, John Mayers, tind W. Chamberlain, the three men found on the P 5 fined 5s. and costs or 5 days for uniawful present» MARRIAGE A FAILURE. Elizabeth EIOTARTRMR^^ and Mr Tom WilliamsJe endec « hearing ADULTERATION. w pav,es grocer, Briton- fiSrr' £ £ .to "r < £ SSf-t "SN XVUH»m?defePffi oertiSiaie star.,] t°g suthotWe"a* Somen"4 de'end- AFFI I J ACTION -Hannah Lewis, Cefn Coed, Briton Ferry, summoned Robeit Prosser to shew cause, etc. It transpired that the ^efe^ant had absCOnded. An order was made of 3s. bd. per week, 10s. f0r midwife, and costs of the case. NEATH HIGHWAY DISTRICT BOARD. Themonthly meeting of this board was held in the Town-hall, Neath, on Wednesday, at noon. There were present the Rev. Walter Griffiths in the chair; Kev. David Griffiths Dr. Whittington, and Messrs. W. Leyson, J. B. Paddon, Herbert Moore, Wm. Jones, W. Pa<Wison, Lewis Jones, Hopkin Charles, John Davies, Roger Davies, B. A. Griffitha Meredith Davies, W. Jones, Abergwynfe, and Rees Jenkins- Kempthorne, in the absence of his father, officiated as clerk. GLYNNEATH BRIDGE.-The Committee appointed to visit this bridge stated that the structure had been com- pleted in a workmanlike and satisfactory manner, the only part remaining unfinished bemg the ^aPProEiches. The report was adopted, and on the m°™°n of the Rev. D. Griffiths, the approaches and theordered to be completed at once. oLer KrCtor > paid the extras due, and the Condnpfinr>. Davies, was allowed £ 1 ncj i- sale of the timber remaining on toe» gj»nd, whlch realised £ 17 15s., after deducting the expenses^ LLANTWIT WALL. ^tract for thk w II T again took place respectingtbe • a m V was event" uallv siened by the chairman,, at so much per yard. It appears that the c°D f* of £ 20™t"Ced the work an'| now amdied f°r a -j This was not granted until a committee had paid a VISIt to the place, and were Satisfied with the nature of the work. SURVEYOR'S Surveyor reported that the improvement which had taken place in the weather had enabled him to order the repair of the various roads. He reported the bad state of the roads in the neighbourhood of Pencaerau, 10 consequence of an overflow of water from an A there. After a conversation, it was decided that the matter should staad over for the present. Mr. William Jones directed the attention of the board to the roads between Cymmer and Abergwinfe. He com- plained that the roads were in a shameful state, and although they, as residents, paid rates and taxes, still nothing was done towards improving the sanitary con- dition of that district. Many inquiries had been held there upon persons dying frem fever, and more would have to be held again, unless something would be done to im- prove the roads and the drainage. The necessity of the case was admitted but no definite order was made on the subject, beyond reporting to the Surveyor. IMPROVEMENT OF THE ROADS.—Mr. J. B. Paddon directed attention to the objectionable state of the roads in the district, and thought that the time had arrived when something should be done and a better system of inspection adopted for the improved maintenance of the roads. He did not blame the Surveyor, hut the system, and if they adopted what he intended to suggest, be believed that the cost would afterwards amount to shillings instead of pounds which they paid under the present system. Mr. Paddon then moved :—" That for the purposes of a better maintenance of the roads in his i charge, the Surveyor be directed to employ two or more 1 working inspectors whose duty shall be to pass over an allotted length of road every fortnight, and report to the Surveyor the result of their inspection and the work done by them. And that the Surveyor be directed to briefly report to the Board at their meetings the work done by each Inspector, and especially every instance of any defect •• which has remained unremedied for one montb.Mr. Herbert Moore quite agreed with Mr. Paddon, and seconded the motion, but after a short discussion, as this was the last meeting of the year, the Rev. D. Griffiths suggested that the matter, although very important, should be deferred for the present. Mr. Paddon concurring, withdrew his resolution, not, however until Mr. B. A. Griffiths declaimed against the present expensive mode of dealing with the roads and the high salaries which were still paid, notwithstanding several parishes had separated from the Neath Union THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.—This committee was ap- pointed to meet on the 8th April to go through the ex- penditure of the year. Any member who desired to attend could do so. ACCOUNTS.—The Surveyor produced a large number of bills for payment, and the Chairman and others com- plained that so many accounts had not been sent in before. Complaints were also made that that the orders for goods had not been more equally divided amongst the tradesmen, Mr. S. Evans bill for ironmongery, amount- ing to JE14 odd.—It was ordered that in future all bills should go through the hands of the Clerk. This was all the business. NEATH RURAL SANITARY AUTHORITY. w»^>!«MthS.Hi?hway Board) a meeting of this authority -^eT« Walter Griffiths in the chair. The Tnhn TV T?re Present with the addition of Mr. SUE?»od Mt- p°» Sunnlv Commfttrep of the Cadoxton Proposed Water resolved +hat » T r.ead and adopted, and it was resolved bat application be made to the Local Government Board for sanction to borrow £ 400 to carry out the necessary works. A committee was appointed to consider what steps could be taken « !^Pri°nffi sanitary condition of Abergwinfi. The Medical Officers presented their annual reports but they contained nothing special. In the bills presented exception was taken by Mr. William Jones to the account sent in by the Clerk ,in re appeal against the Earl of Jersey, amounting to JE24 odd.-After some ex- planation, Mr. Cuthbertson consented to reduce the bill to £20, and it was passed.