The Cambrian

"A PEEP INTO THE TALMUD." INTERESTING LECTURE AT ROYAL INSTITUTION. (Continued Iron, our last.) Moses received the law from Sinai and transmitted it to the children of Israel during their wanderings in the desert. Aaron, the High Priest, was then honoured by appoint- ment to repeat, for the improvement of Israel, all the learning and information taught by his brother Moses after him, it was repeated by his sons and finally by the elders; and then the Israelites gathered themselves in thou- sands and thousands in their respective academies for the study of the law. The following is an exact account of the various presidents and their respective councils, from Moses to Ravashy and Raviny, by whom the Talmud was compiled and formed, about four hundred years after the destruction of the second Temple:—Moses, our preceptor, the servant of the Lord; Joshua, the son of Nun; Phinehas, the son of Aleazar, the son of Aann, the high priest; Eli, the high priest; Samuel, the prophet; King David, before and after he was king Ahijah, the Shilonite, the prophet; Elijah, the prophet; Elishah, his disciple, the prophet Jehoiada, the high priest; Zechariah; Hosea, the prophet; A mos, the prophet; Jesias, the prophet; Micah, the prophet; Joel, the prophet; Nahum, the prophet; Habukkuk, the prophet; Zephaniah, the prophet; Jeremiah, the prophet; Baruch, the son of Neriah, in the time of the Babylonian captivity; Simon, the righteous, was the last of the great assembly, and was president and high priest after Ezra, the scribe; Antigonus, a citizen of Socho; Jose, the son of Joeser, president, and Jose, the son of Johanan, vice-president; Joshua, son of Perachia, president, and Simeon, the son of Shotach, vice-president; Jehudah, the son of Tabai, president, and Simeon, the son of Shotach, vice president Shemaiah and Abtalion, the first president, and the second vice-president: they were both Proselytes; Hillel, president, and Shamai, vice-president; Rabbi Johanan, the son of Sachai. president, and Rabbi Simeon, the son of Hillel, the aged vice-president; Rabbi Gamaliel, the aged; his son, Rabbi Simeon; his son, Rabbi Gamaliel; his son, Rabbi Simeon; Rabbi Jehudah, the prince, who was called the holy or pious Rabbi; Rabbi Johanan, president, and Rabbi Samuel, vice-president; Rabbi Huna; Rabbah; Rova; Rabbi Hashi, president, and Raviny, vice-president; the compilers of the Baby- lonian Talmud. According to the words of the late lamented Rabbi Hirsch, long before the commencement of the third century of the Christian Era, at which time the reduction of the Talmud to writing was begun, its contents were operative as oral tradition and teaching in the hearts and minds of the nation, as is testified by the writings of Josephus and Philo, and even by the religious books of the Christians themselves." During the time of Alexander the Great we meet with an accomplished traditional Judaism, and when we consider that the country was in a condition of such external and internal weakness, we conclude that the traditional Judaism could not have been accomplished in 100 short a time, but must have been already in existence in public life. The destruction of the Temple and the civil wars which were prevalent during the second Jewish Empire, together with the many invasions, were the 1 cause of empowering the Sanhedrin to issue positive and negative commandments. These laws constitute also a part of Talmudical matter. At the time of the return from the Babylonish captivity, Rabbi Judah, surnamed the prince, president of the great Sanhedrin, collected the whole of the traditional law of the wise men, who had preceded him (which extended over some 800 years), which was called Midrash (derived from the word drash, meaning to study or expound). This pious and learned Rabbi began arranging this Midrash, and it was completed and perfected some years after by other Rabbis in a book called the .Mishnah (from the word shyne, meaning secondary or explanatory law). The Mishnah was commenced about A.M. 2964, and is the oldest part of the Talmud. The Mishnah is divided into six parts, and these are again sub-divided into chapters and para- graphs. (1) An explanatory treatise on agri- culture, enlarging greatly on the Levitical laws. (2) Concerning the seasons of the year and the festival. (3) Concerning marriages, and women generally, and treats also of the validity of vows. (4) Of all money matters relating to trade and partnership and dis- putes it speaks also of idolatry, and witnesses and oaths, &c. The fifth relates to sacrifices; and the sixth goes into details on the subject of clean and unclean. This book may be said to be the introduction of newer studies, and was again supplemented by the Gemara—from gamar, to complete-this latter work is a sort of commentary on the Mishnah. The Mishnah develops and enlarges the Pentateuch. The Gemara, again, taking the Mishnah expansion as its text, develops and still further enlarges it. The second con- stituent part of the Talmud is known to us as the Jerusalem Talmud (this contains the teaching matter which had been taught in the Palestinian Schools). This book was compiled about A.D. 300. Partly through the revolts of the wild Hans, and partly through the schools in which the wise men expounded the law being burnt to the ground, a collection of teaching material was commenced at Mesopo- tamia about the year A.D. 375 by Rabbi Ashi, head of the school at Sura on the Euphrates, and although he devoted the greater part of his life to this gigantic work, he bad not the privilege of completing his task, the work bavin"- been accomplished by his successor, Rabina, about the year 500 C.E. This work is called the Babylonian Talmud, and is that which is commonly called the Talmud. I may say en passant before I proceed to answer my second query that there are commentaries on the Talmud itself, the most celebrated of which are those of Rasha and Tosaphoss, and that the language in which they are written is not pure Hebrew. The Talmud is written in different dialects, taking the impress of the different times and countries in which the pious authors lived. One must be familiar, to dive into this vast storehouse of learning, with Chaldaic, Syriac, and Hebrew. The Talmud was first printed in the year 1520. What are the contents of the Talmud ? Does the Talmud only contain the Mishnah as its text, and the Gemara as its elucidation ? The Gem,ira is again divided into two great divisions, namely, the Haloche-meaning law —and the Haggodah, meaning discourse or dissertation. That which explains, so to speak, the Mishnah is called the Haloche. In the battle of opinions we find six, seven, and even more Rabbis opposed to one another, and it is in this respect one quickly perceives the mental keenness and ability of the parties so eiwved. It reminds me most forcibly of the Socratic method. I am unable to adduce an example of these dialectics it cannot be rendered to anyone who has not a deep know- ledge of the subject, figuratively speaking. It is called in the Holy tongue a crushing of the mountains." We are apt to trace back the course of modern philosophy through Schellino- to Descartes and Spinoza, and there is no doubt that Spinoza owed his logical acumen to the study of the Talmud. The second division into which the laltnud is divided is called the Haggodah (discourses and essays). This part of the Talmud has been inserted both by the side of and between the Haloche. The Haggodah has no connection with the Haloche. ')2 ited (j 0 be continued.)

Mr. G. FrLa^r^rhlTobtained aistone hammer with a polished cushion-shapeci a. torn the Thames at Hammersmith. It is ? 9i if e, veined claystone, and measures y 3 y 3 inches. Hammerheads of this tj Pc f11' paratively rare, and some of them arc of so fine a material and finish as to lend colour to Mr. Lawrence's suggestion that they were heieditaiy marks of chieftainship and badges ot omce, u e the beautiful jade weapons of .New Zealand. The Cremation Society, which has just issued its annual report, announces that the number of cremations at Woking last year was 99, against 54 in tiie previous year. At present, Woking is the only place in England that has a crematorium but another is being erected 1Il Manchester, and Liverpool will have one shortly, while steps are bein" taken to obtain powers lor the erection of another at the City of London Cemetery at Ilford. At present the cost of cremation appears to bo about zC5, the cremation fees for the 99 having produced ±1497. CAOBUBY'S COCOA.—" Of fall strength ;of a higmy economical nature, free from added starch aud sujtar. -Health. (72

COMMERCIAL FAILURES. According to Stubbs' Weekly Gazette, tiie number of failures in Kiiglsmd and V\ ales gazetted during the week endingFeb. 13, was 171. The number in the correspond- ing week of last yeir was 115, showing an increase of 53. The failures were distributed amount the following trades, and for comparison we give the number in each in the corresponding weeks of I391 and b9L1. „ 1391. 1890. Builders, Building Materials 12 Chemists and Drysatters 2 2 China, Glass, Earthenware 4 2 Confectionery. Toys, Fancy Goods 1 3 Corn, 1 oals, Minerals 8 5 8 Drapery, Clothing Textures 2i 12 27 Farmers 6 9 12 Furniture, Fpholstery 2 4 Horses. Vehicles + 2 6 Jewellery, Watches 1 1 3 Leather. 9 4 8 Metals "t" 7.5 5 Paper.Printiug.&c. 1 3 1 Provisions 30 29 39 Wines, Spirits, Beer, Tobaccos 2.) 10 15 Miscellaneous 32 17 2 tf" I il 115 153 The number of bills of sale in Enirland and Wales registered at the Queen's Hench for the week ending Feb. 13, was 218. The number in the corresponding week of last year was 191, and the corresi onding weeks for the three previous years 152, lsl, and 287. The re- ceiving orders gazetted nnmber 10:" showing an increase of 3(3, and the number of registered deeds of a rrangement was t6. an increase of 20. In Ireland there were 51 judgments registered, a decrease of 5 bills of sale 4, a decrease of 8 bankruptcies gazetted was 1. a decrease of 1, and the registered deeds 01 arrangement 8, a de crease of 2. The Scotch returns show that we have published 29 recorded protests, an increase of 1, and 3i failures, being an increase of 0. The totals for the portion of the year to Feb. 13. are bills of sa!« registered fcr England and Wales, ],15a, an increase of 23 the receiving orders gazetted number 479, an increase of 27, and the registered deeds of arrange- ment 367, an increase of t3. In Ireland the totals are judgments 315, an increase of 13; the bills of sale 33, a decrease of 21 and the bankruptcies gazetted number 21, a decrease of 4, and the registered deeds of arrange- ment. 33, a decrease of 4. In Scotland the totals are recorded protests gaeetted 152, an increase of 29, and the failures ls3, an increase of 17.

The United States Treasury has received from England X2 from an anonymous conscience- stricken resident of London, for unpaid duties on ) some article imported into the States.

(ftcmmcrce aub I-nfcustn). The granite trade in Aberdeen has been brought to a standstill by a strike of the stone-polishers for a nine hours day. The masters met on Monday, and resolved on a general lock-out of ail the polishers in and around the city. Should this lock- out continue several thousands of men will be affected. On the motion for the second read-ng of the Eight Hours Bill for Miuers. Sir F..Milner will move this amendment :That, in the opinion of i this House it is desirable that the hours of labour to be worked by adults in mines should be de- termined in conciliatory confeience between the miners and their employers, Mod should not be the subject of legislative action." A strike of 2,000 engineinen and stokers was threatened in South Wales. It is the rule with these workmen that their wages should rise and fall with the colliers. The latter accepted a 7; per cent, reduction on the 1st January, but as this was not brought about by the operation of the sliding scale, the enginemen and stokers refuse to accept it and have decided to tender notices on 1st March. In view of the manufacture of Mannesmann tubes at Lahdore, it is interesting to note that a paper was recently read before the Polytechnic Society in Berlia on the Developments in rhe Manufacture of Maunesm«ni» Tubes, by Herr Krause, engineer. In the paper the military applications of the tabe were described, such as steel projectiles, ordnance tubes, rifle barrels, steel lances, &e. Reference wa.s aiso made to the manufacture of carriage poles, telegraph poles, and water conduits bv this process, and specimens were also exhibited of the bending resistince of the tubes. The demand for tubes te be used iu the manufacture of cycles is already overtaxing the productive capacity of this branch of the works. LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERX RAILWAY.—The report of the directors to be submitted to the pre- prietors at the half-yearly meeting to-day (Friday states that 'be traffic and miscellaneous receipts for the past half-year amounted to £ 2,897,305, an increase of £11 ,a.39 over the corresponding half of last year. Including a balance of 6t,70C from the previous half year, the amount available for divi- deed is otto, an increase or Jbo.U/O. It is accordingly recommended that dividends at the following rates be declared: Four per cent, per annum on each £ 100of guaranteed stock. £ 302,008 4 per cent, per "nnUID on each £ 100 of preference 4 stock, 401,012; 7f per cent. per annum on each £ 100 consolidated Btocic (as against 7% per cent in the corresponding period;, £ l,502,8tiis; amounting to £ 2,206,488 leaving a balance of £ 92,109 t) be carried forward, as against £110,099111. the corres- ponding half-year. The amount received from passen3eis was £ 2,033,307, an increase of £ 56.824; and for merchai dis-, &c., 13,458,495, an increase of £ 33,370. The increase in the number of passengers was 1 195,50-4, the increased mileage of passenger trains 161,429, and of goods and mineral trains 171.772. The increase in revenue receipts tnis halt-year is £9:3,2:;4, and the increase in ex- peudituie is 70,575, «s compared with the corre- sponding half-year cf 1890. The directors who retire from office at this meeting are Mr. John Pares Bickersteth, Mr. John Bateson, the HOD. Willia in Lowtoer, M.P., Mr. Miles Maclnnes, M.P., and the Marquis of Staff, rd, who will be proposed for re-election. Votes of the proprietors are re- quested for £ 257,801 for various works, including fur doubling the Swansea line, and for providing siding and other accommodation at Swansea, Central Waies, Llandovery, Llanwrda, &c £ 82,808. MIDLAND KAILWAT.—The report of the directors to be submitted to the half-yearly general meeting of the proprietors, to be held at Derby to-day (Fiiday), states tint the traffic carried upon the railway for the half-yeai ended 31st December, 1S91 as compared with the coiresponding hal -ar of 1890, shows an increase from coaching. £ 59,640 • au increase from merchandise, £ 01,913; an increase from cattle, £ 6,>i03 and an increase from minerals £ 55,450. Total increase, £ 183,806, leaving a,ailai Is for dividend the sutu of £ 1,794.012. From this bd-ince. the directors rt-commend tbe declaration of the following dividends (less income-tax j, payable on and after the 27th day of February inst. ;— £ 3 10. on each £100 consolidated ordinary stock X2 on each £100 four per cent. consolidated perpetual guaranteed preffrcntiil stock £ 2 on each £100 four per cent, consulidaied perpetual preference stock, unregistered stock of 1885, and such of the EIL shares as hive not yet been consolidated; leaving a balance of £ 59,567 lis. lid., to be carried to the accoun^of the cuirent half-year. The mileage of trains for the half-year has been—of passenger trains, 8.501,450 wilt's; of goods and mineral trains 12,69'i.862 miles the total being 21,198.312 miles; showing an increase, when compared with the correspoding period of last year, of 005,491 miles. The company's business has coutinued to expand durins the haif-year. but the additional cost of working and the interest and dividend upon new capital outlay Lave absorbed the increased receipts-, A resolution will be proposed at the half-yearly meeting to authorise the creation and issue as new ordinary stock of the company of the capital authorised by the Midland Railway (Additional Powers) Act 1890. A resolution for the excercise of the borrowing powers under the same Act will al-o be submitted. The directors retiring hy rotation at this mteting are Mr. Paget, Sir J. J. Allport, Mr. Behren. all of whom are eligible for re-election. STATE OF THE SKILLED LABOUR MARKET.—The following memorandum has been prepared for the 1 Boaid of Trade Journal by the Labour Corres- pondent to the Board of Trade:—During the past month the state of the skilled labour market has been again much distuibed by disputes; not so much because there has been au increase in the number of strikes, as because some of those which have takoD place have been of considerable im- portaLce in respect of the industrial interests and number (,f persons concrrued. The number of strikes during January was 63, and, so far as any idea of their dimensions can be formed, these must have directly affected not less than 50,000 work- people. Of these stoppages, 21 took place in the co-1 trade, chiefly in the South Wales district. There were 13 disputes in the cotton trade, three in the woollen, and three in miscellaneous textiles, though in these c^ses the numbers involved were not gieat. In engineering and iron ship-building four were reuorted, and these were of great im- portance, effecting at once large numbers of workers and likely, if they continue, to iu- directly involve a much larger number of work- people. A large dispute in the boot and shoe trade affected about 15,000, but that was. fortunately, arranged by arbitration after a short duration. From these causes the numbers of unemployed re- ported by the chief trade unions of skilled trades bave considerably incieased. Nineteen tzade unions have seBt in reports to the Board of Trade, and, wi< h few exceptions, these show a larger number of members on the unemployed list than they had In the previous month. The total membersn;p of the unions refrrred to was 245,588. Of these 12,197 were out of work, as against 10,713 in the month preceding, an iucrease of 1,4S4. The per- centage of unemployed members is there- fore now 4.97, as against 4.37 in the previous month. In the corresponding month of last year the peicenfage was 3.37. The general remarks made by the several reports show that IS societies consider trade as moderate," and butome as g,d." THE CORN TRADE.—February is a rather ea!"y date at which to begin prophesying about the wheat c;op, which should be leaped in August, but which the experience of several recent years almost forbids our hoping for before September. At the same time the importance of coming througu the winter satisfactorily is not to be denied, and there is nothiug unduly anticipative in stating that miG- February" gives every prospect of a good wheat crop. Tbe pjant is exceedingly healthy in habit, of good colour, and has giown very evenly. If we have a dry season as a whole, and a fairly hot summer, we m. y t.a\e a very tine yield, which the smallness of the acreage will prevent from becoming at any time a <. Jru" in the market." A few energetic farmers in E -st Anglia have already set about barley sowing, and the land is in a very suitable condition. English wheat has recovered 61. of the Is. dt cline allowed durirg the first six days of the month but trade has been difficult, buyers being mostly well supplied. English wheat from March will have a special value from the comparative scarcity of that particular sort, as well as on its own merits. The average price of English wheat is now in normal relationship to the average price of Califcrnian, which is a fair index sort for the better descriptions of foreign. The present prices averages for February 6) are English, 33s. Id; California!}, o'Ja.; while a year ago they were English, 32<. of.; Californian, 38s. 6d. The difficulty of the situation is mainly with respect to flour, of which a formidable quantity is now afloat. This is a branch of trade wherein we get no help from the Continent. Of the 600.000 sacks of flour now aflo,t, evt ry sck will enter our ports and will have to be disposed of. The stocks of foreign wheat and flc.ur now in British granaries are estimated at 3.402,800 quaiters as compared with 1,947,000 quarters a year ago, and 1,894,300 two years since. Tbe wheat afloat for the continent is about a million quarters, which is 350,000 more than at this time last year, but a small rather than a large quantity when the large import requiiements of France, Gtrmany, aLd the Netherlands are con- sidered. At the present moment the chief hope of Britisn holders is in the prospect of a gv-od demand for wheat for the Contnent during tae spring. The quantity of wheat on passage to the a L uited K ngd rn is heavy for the time of year con- sisting of 2,245,000 quarters, against 2,197,003 quarters a week ago. The quantity ot flour i-fioar, 600,000 sacks, is very heavy, and shows an increase of 40,000 stcki. from the previous week. Spring corn has. s noe September 1, bt-ii r-cived in the following qu ni i: es :—Barley, 3,235.0C0 quarters; oats. 2,013,000 quarters; and m iz y,443,0Jy I qu,¡rt.'è'I', c' ".i:.5' ?,411,000 quart-rs ot bailev, 2,246.000 quarters of Oats, and 2,867,000 quarters of ma ze in the same period of lastceie lyr..r. At Maik Lane on Fr day all sorts of spring coru were steady, nor were lower prices accepted at the country i markets on Saturday.—Mark Lat.e Express.

REtONDDA AND SWANSEA BAY RAILWAY. NINETEENTH HALF-YEARLY MEETING. THE OPPOSITION OF THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY. STRONG CRITICISMS BY SIR J. J. JENKINS, SIR H. H. VIVIAN, MR. M. B. WILLIAMS AND OTHERS. The nineteenth half-yearly ordinary meeting of the Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway Company waa held at the Mackworth Hotel, on fueaday, at 12 noen. There were present Sir Joh.u Jones Jenkins, Chairman of the Company, presiding; Sir H. H. Vivian, Bart., M.P., Mr. M. B. Williams (vice-chairman), Mr. Thomas Cory, Mr. J. Richird- son Francis, Mr. Ed. Strick (Solicitor), Mr. S. W. Yockney (Engineer), Mr. H. S. Ludlow (Secretary), Mr. Aid. Thomas Freeman, Mr. Daniel F. Sugrue, Messrs. Thos. Yorath, A. P. Steeds, Chas. Davies, C. H. Perkins, W. S. Marsh, Henry Short, E. H. Parry, James Hazel, H. W. Griffiths, W. Lloyd, Evan Lloyd, W. Biddle, T. G. Tarabochia, R. J. Roberts, H. Thomas, W. Thomas, D. R. Knoyle, William Evans, D. E. Williams, William MacHole, John Roberts, G. E. Cook, J. H. Rosser, D. Williams, H. Deacon, Julius Smith, Evan Johns, George Parkin, R. John, E. H. Perkins, Evan David, W. D. Lodge, John Grace, E. E. F. Sweet, D. Robertson, J. Richards, J. Luty, S. Arthur, D. Rees, D. Phillips, E. Davies, Rees Davies, N. Bernescone, Owen Harris, Evan Davies, C. Ham- mond, S. S. Mock, Morgan Thomas, E. H. Davies, W. Clement, John Watkiu, D. Davies, L. R.Lewis, T. Francis Jones, W. L. Jenkins, James Francis, Joha Burchell, D. Rees, F. C. Burgess, D. Mans- field, John H. Thomas, E. Evans, John Jones, John Clutton, Joseph Robottom, W. D. Thomas, Thomas Thomas, F. G. Davies, Thomas Griffiths, &c. 1. r The secretary (air. juuaiowj reaa ine notice con- T'3ning the meeting, and also the minutts of the last half-yearly meeting, which were confirmed. The repoit, which was taken as read, was as follows:— The accounts submitted show gross receipts for the half-year endiDg 31st Deoember, lfc91, amounting to £ 16,479 2s. 6d., and after deducting working expenses and other charges, including the interest on the debenture stock, there remains a net revenue of £ ,4,'280 7s. 8d. The Directors recommend that after providing for the dividend on the Preference shares, the available balance be applied to the payment of a dividend on the ordinary shares for the halt year, at the rate of 1 per cent. per annum, leaving the sum of £359 8s. 3d. to be carried for- ward to the next account. Notwithstanding the loss in the receipts, caused by the stoppage of one of the largest works at Cwmavon, the traffic for the past half year shews, as compared with the conesponding period of 139 ,an increase from all sources of £ 4,u29 12s. 7d., viz :— £ 1,J43 If-s. 9d. from the carriage of passengers and parcels, and dBl,191 9s. 4d., from the earnings upon merchandise, mineral and live stock traffic. An arrange- ment has been entered into with the Post Office Authorities for the conveyance of mails over the railway from Aberavon to the Rhondda Valley the Company's railway will therefore shortly be in use as a mail route. A new collifry is about to be opened adjacent to the Company's line at Cymmer and the Directors nre glad to report that coal has also been struck in the new siukings at Abergwnfy. The Port Talbot Dock Company are contemplating various improvements in their coal shipping facilities by providing modern hydraulic appliances, &c., which the directors have arranged to assist in carrying out. As the outcome of the proceed- ings in Parliament last Session, the Directors have de- posited a Bill, the main object of which is to obtain direct and independent access to Swansea by a bridge across the River Neath at the site approved by the Neath Harbour Commissioners. The Directors feel confident that the construction of the proposed works will enable tnem to charge such rates, and to afford such facilities to freighters, as must attract to the port of Swansea that share of the traffic of the district to which it is fairly entitled, and from which it has hithert* been excluded by the want of adequate and suitable railway accommo- dation. The approval of the proprietors will be asked to the Bill, which aiso contains powers for a line to JSeath and some subsidiary junction lines and works. The Directors who retire at this meeting are John icliardson Francis, Esq., and Morgan Bransby Williams, Esq., who, being eligible, offer themselves for re-election; and one of the auditors, Mr. R. G. Oawker, also retires and offers himself for re-election. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the re- port and accounts, said: You will find from the re- port just submitted to you that the dividend is not so satisfactory as we could have wished although upon that part of the line that has been opened a fair amount of traffic has been carried during the past six months. It shows there is great vitality in the line, and if it had been completed to Swansea, or if the agreement which we entered into in good faith with the Great Western Railway CoMpany had beeu carried out in the same spirit, we should now have a dividend of five or six per cent., and not of one. During the past half year —during the whole year in fact trade in the Afan Valley has not been so good as formerly. One of the largest works in the district has been idle during the whole of the time, and consequently our receipts from the lower portion of the line have been very small indeed during the past six months, These receipts were very important to us, because while we were constructing our line into the Rhondda the Cwmavon Works were working full time, and enabled us to pay a small dividend on the whole capital. We congratulated ourselves upon that fact, but unfortunately, during the whole of the last six months, these large works have been totally idle, and nearly the whole of the traffic has been carried on between the Rbondda and Port Talbot, and a little to Swansea. If you look at the increase in passengers from the Rhondda, you will find that it is satisfactory. In the corresponding half of last year we carried 197,623 passengers in the half year terminating last December we carried 239,670 passengers, This realised £6,778, being an increase in the number of passengers of 42,047, and an in- crease in receipts of £ 1,541. You will also find from the report that there is a slight falling off in merchandise, the tonnage we carried last half year being less by 24,000 tons; but the loss IlíI revenue consequent upon that was only £ 127. The reason for that is that the mileage upon the merchandise was greater than in previous years, and for the reason which I have just stated — that large quantities carried over a short distance last year entirely ceased during the past six months, and which accounts entirely for the falling off in merchandise. In the carriage of coal and coke there has been an increase of 22,000 tons, with an increase in revenue of £1,]29. There has been an increase in other minerals of 2,682 tons, representing J6454, and live stock has increased by £ 35. In sundries there has been a decrease of j326, and our receipts from the coal-drop at the Prince of Wales Dock have been 1:1;021. We have not been working that drop to its full capacity. We are under a rental to the Harbour Trust, and its working will leave a loss on the six months of between £150 to j3200. There are some encouraging features in connection with the railway. The large colliery near the tunnel — Abergwynfi — is being opened, and I understand they have struck coal, so we hope in a short time to receive a large quantity of traffic from there. There is also another colliery being opened, which it is estimated will, within six months, turn out about 400 tons per day, and this will all come upon our system. These are encouraging features; but until we get Parliamentary powers to complete our system to Swansea, I don't think we can hope for the success we have looked forward to since we first projected the undertaking. The quantity of coal we carried from the Rhondda was only 99 7Q7 tmis That is because we cannot get rates to'compete' with Cardiff and Barry. We have done all we possibly could to induce the Great Western Railway to allow us to compete with those rates; we have gone so far as to offer to carry at the Cardiff r^tes, the whole reduction to be borne by this Company for that would be better for us than no traffic at all. But they have declined to agree to a rate which would compete with the rates that are in vogue on other parts of the system. Conse- quently, we cannot compete for the carriage of Rhondda coal. as we are situated at present, with the Cardiff and Barry lines. Therefoip, the whole of the trade is passing us. As regards Swansea, gentlemen, it is an unsatis- factory feature that the town is so completely in the hands of the Great Western Railway Company. I do not know wlHtber you have all seen tiie report r"s"r of the Superintendent, of the Harbour Trust for the year just closed. I may tell you that in making his report he simply nvikes a record of facts, and he is not iuspired by any membi-i of the Tiust. I mention that because several of the. Trust mcmbeu are proprietors uf this Company, and because I have the honour of being its chairman so it may possibly occur to some that the Supeiintandent's report, being so strong as it is. although it is only a record of fact-, might have been inspired. I assure you it is the report of the Superintendent- without any communication from any members of the Trust, and certainly not from me. He stys: I have again to call attention to the falling off in the coal trade from the Aberdare and Mertbvr districts. In my last report I pointed out that the quantity of coal shipped from these districts had dwindled away from a tonnage of 459,3St in 18:2 to 109,t89 tons in iSSO, and this figure has now dropped to the lnsiuniticant total of 91.227' tons in la9i. The G-re it Western Railway Company still profess their inability to remedy this state ot things, and uniess the concerted action which has been so guested between the Corporation of Swansea, the Harbour Trust, and the Chamber of Commerce, should result in a substantial reduction in the rates on coal irom the eastward, I fear there is notbilJlllut to hope for the development of coal working in the districts which can only be served by Swansea, until such time as the Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway Compmy have completed their line thronsch to the Prince of Wales Dock." Well, gentlemen, you see from the policy of the Grent We.-itern Railway Company—which it is ciitlicult to explain from a business point of view, though, of C'.urse, they know their business best— that it is not only prejudicial to tire RhondJa coal, but is al.o the means of diverting the major portion of the coal from Aberdare and Mert'.iyr to Cardiff. A large colliery proprietor in Abeiilue told me that his colliery is so situated that he could send coal to S^van.-ea by the Giear, Western Railway at a rate a tiifle cheaper tnan it would cost him to send it to Cardiff; hut tiie way the. trtiic was conducted here, and the dtlay and detention of the trucks was so teiious, that lie prefers .-ending the whole of his coal to Cardiff. This gentleman is one of the largest colliery proprietors in the Aberdare Valley, and he also told me that unless this state of things is remedied, we, in Swansea, may look in the near future to the loss of the whole trade from the Aberdare Valley. Coming again to our working expenses, we find that in 1891 they were 50'57 on the gioss receipts, being rather in excess of what they were in 1890, when they were 47'6. The receipts per train mile during the last six months have been 6s. 6d., as against 5s. 7d. in the corresponding half-year of 1890. The working expenses for the half year were 3s. 3d. per mile as against 2s. 8d. in the correspond- ing hall year of 1890. Of course, our working ex- penses increase in proportion to the mileage we run, and iijcjproportiou to our receip a, and taking themsotoey bear favourable comparison, lor, while our receipts have incieased lid. per mile, our expenses have increased 7'7 per mile. The receip :s from passengers par mile of line during the past half-year were £ 426 19s. as against £;327 3s.; irom goods, X611 as against £450, showing an increase of -6160. So you will see from what I hitve Mentioned that, aotwithstanding great opposition, we have really an excellent property—a property which cannot be fully developea until we have found a location at Swansea. Comparing our working expenses with other railways, we bear a favourable comparison, and I may say that in this respect, the Board has had great assistance from the traffic manager, Mr. David; from the engineer, Mr. Yuck- ney, and indeed everyone conuected with the line. I nave had great experience with working men; I have been connected with some very large cou- ceina, but I must say I have neTer found the meu to have the interests of the Company at heart so much as the men on this line. I must acaaowledge our obiigation to them lor the hearty way m wuion they have assisted the directors in carrying out the busineaa of the Company. (Applause.) In cou- sequeuce of that bearty co-operation, we are enabled to show you a satisfactory state Of affairs bo far as our working expenses are concerned. A comparison with some other lines will be of some interest. The Rhyniney's expenses are 52.01 of the receipts; the Great Western Railway, 52'i65; the Taff Vale, 59'58; the Barry Dock and Railway, 46'4,5; but, taking the railway alone, the proportion is 51*91. So you see, although our receipts are not large, we bear favourable comparison with any railway in the kingdom. Sir John then moved the adoption of the report. Mr. Morgan B. Williams seconded. He said: In doiug so I wish to take the opportunity of impress- ing upou you that not oniy the shareholders, but the general public, and especially the inhabitants of Swansea, should fully realise the important issue that is raised by the bill which we now have before Parliament. It not only closely concerns the prosperity and the development of the trade of the town and disiiict, but upon it depends whether the interests and conveniences of the whole com- munity are to be sacrificed to the selfish and greedy policy of an overbearing monopoly. No railway was ever commenced under better auspices or brighter prospects than the Rhondda railway. Its declared and real object was, and is now; to supply a great public requirement-a direct and independent communication between the Rhondda and the port of Swansea. The enterprise had and still has in it, if we can only get fair play, all the elements of a great financial success. But what has been its history? For nearly ten years every effort on our part has been m#t by the persistent and vexatious opposition of a powerful Corporation. We on our part had always shown the strongest desire to work harmoniously with the Great Western Railway, because we feel our interests are, or ought to be, identical. There ought to be no antagonism between us. We were opening up a new and important source of traffic, from which we have been completely excluded up to that time. As you are aware, trusting to their good faith, we entered into a working" arrangement with them, and, practically, became a feeder to their line. But no sooner did they find that they had us in their power than they turned upon us, and by throwing every possible obstruction in our way they endeavoured to depreciate the value of our property. Fortunately, Parliament last session recognised the justice of our appeal and relieved us from a state of affairs that was absolutely in- tolerable. Now we are free, and with your support and co-operation we will assert our independence. (Applause). Experience has taught us that the only way in which we can secure that share of the traffic of the district to which the port of Swansea is fairly entitled, is by offering similar or better facilities, and by charging similar rates to those charged on the railways which lead to the ports at the other end of the county. As an independent Company we can do this we can and we will do it; but in conjunction with the Great Western Railway it is utterly impossible. Their excuse is that they cannot agree to our rates, because, for- sooth, it would compel them to make a similar concession to freighters on other parts of their system. I ask you how does this consideration concern us in any way ? That is not all. They have the effrontery to tell us "If we cannot join you, we will take good care that you alone do not satisfy the reasonable and just claims of the public." I ask you, Is this a policy worthy of the Great Western Railway Company, that has had conceded to it by the State large and extensive privileges as a great public trust? No, gentle- men. It is entirely wrong; it is contrary to every principle of right and decency, and depend upon it, strong in the justness of our cause and carrying behind us public opinion, we shall not appeal in vain to Parliament for the protection we want, and it will greatly lighten our task if we feel- that we carry with us your full and entire con- fidence and support. Alderman Thomas Freeman asked what effect the new railway bill would have upon the freights, and whether any opposition was expected from the people of Neath ? Mr. Thomas asked if there was any special reason why the percentage of working expenses was not incorporated with the report, and did not the colliery at Abergwynfi, referred to by the Chair- man, belong to the Great Western Railway Company ? The Chairman said the colliery referred to be- longed to Messrs. Perch and Co. There was another colliery, too, the Cwmmer, Glyncorrwg. The railway rates would not affect them in any way. The Port Talbot Dock Company proposed to erect drops on a superior and modern style, and to deepen the channel. The directors of the Company had agreed to secure to them a sum of zE300 per annum, and the tolls they were receiving now amounted to a fair proportion of that. In doing that they saw their way clear in the future to receive more than £ 300 a year from coal dues. One of the great objections and drawbacks to carrying on the blast furnaces at Cwmavon was the difficulty of getting ore there, because steamers could not get quickly loaded with coal, and freighters found it more economical to discharge their cargo of ore and then go to other ports for their coal, and also in consequence of the high freights. Looking at it from a business point ot view, the Rhondda Railway when completed would supply the coal. They had come to terms with the Neath Harbour Commissioners, from whom they were not likely to have any opposition in the coming session. (Applause.) With reference to the insertion ot percentages in the accounts, that would be done in future. The reason it bad been omitted npw was because they were so much pressed for time. Sir H. H. Vivian, Bart., M.P., moved that a dividend be declared of 5 per cent. on the prefer- ence shares of the Company, and 1 per cent, on the ordinary shares. He said I cannot say I rise with any pleasure to propose this resolution. It would be very pleasing if, instead of the figure one, I could propose five or double five. (Hear, he,ir.) But that is not possible. It has been a very anxious consideration throughout the past with the Board to endeavour, as far as possible, to develop our line, so that may stand shoulder to shoulder with the great local lines of our district. It appears to me that the local lines, pure and simple, in this part of the land are the most successful in any portion of the United Kingdom but when a lire is only a partial line, and not complete it is nlmost impossible that it should be successful. I certainly had hoped, when we made that famous agreement with the Great Western Railway Company, that they would have worked in ptrfect amity and cordinlity with us that they would have regarded our iuterests as well as their own, und that they would ha-ve lowced upon the two lines as one concern. I venture to think that their iuterests would have been—to the extent of our truffle at any rate—forwarded if they had take» that view of it. I thought, when that a-jreeu-.enc was made, that we bad so worded it that they should h*ve charged us the same rates on their liue from Port Talbot as were charged on the Twff, the Barry, and the Hhyniney Railways. The words of the agreement—I have not a copy before ,ne—were substantially these—" That the rates should have regard to thoi-e charged from time to time to other ports in the distiict." That was a sulemn agreement sntered into between us and I would ask commercial men and men of l'usiness whether those words did not mean that they should charge, us the same lates over their line as were charged Wy the other great loed lines. I certainly honestly believed at. the ti.: e that that was their iutfntL o, and I believe still t"S¡; that was their intention. Now, if the words. As aie charged on the Taff, the Barry, and the Rh.vmney Railways" had t een inserted instead of utlll!' lines leading to other i.otts in the district, there could have bfcn no ques'ion about it; but the plain meaning of these words hft., I alii sony to say, been absolutely ignored. What is the meaning of "lines leading to other poits. What other meaning could 1 e placed upon it than that the rates on the other lines to Cardiff to Barry, aud to Newpoit should govern our rates Instead of con- forming to that interpretation, the only interpreta- tion that could be placed upon the agreement, we have been met with a direct; refusal to grant us those lates; and it has heeu pretty well intimated tu us that it would be largely against the interests of the Great Western hallway t) give us those rates, inasmuch as it would be leading them to reduce them on their general system. We have nothing to do with that; we have nothing to do with the rates charged by the Great Western Rail- way ou their own line to other ports. Our sgree- rnent was that the whole of the rates should be governed by those charged on the different linps leadiug to other ports of this district. Therefore, I myself feel very strongly thai the Rgri»#meBt was not properly acted up to. If it had been acted up, to I have not the slightest doubt but that we should be doing at the present time a large mineral traffio to this port We have no power to enforce that view. They know their interests best, but as a man of business, as one who believes that half a loaf is better than no bread, I think that, even if they had not been able to get their own rates on our traffic, still it would have been better for them to have had tla, traffic at a smaller rate than to have tonH at all. The same thing applies to the passenger traffic. Every obstruction has been thrown in our way thus far in the development of our passenger traffic. I cannot but feel it would be very much to the interests of the Great Western Railway if they had met us. We have met with nothing but obstruction, and tha terms proposed to us, as the users of the Swansea station, for a guarantee npon each train that it shall not have less than a certain amount of money attached to it, and various other most onerous conditions, which were sought to be imposed upon us, have made it practically im- possible to develope traffic as we should have. The moral of all this is that we must have an independent line. We cannot work, apparently, with the Great Western Railway if they, for some occult reason, do mot take that view. We are driven into haviny an independent line of our own. It appears to me, as I have said, that the indepeadeut local lines of tkia district ara among the miost successful in the United Kingdom. The Barry, for instance, pays nine per cent; the Rhymney eight per cent; and you know, in its time, the Tatf has paid 18 per cent., but it now pays 5g per cent. on the old stock. The local lines are successful, and we must become a local line, complete and direct front end to end. That is the moral of the whole thing. Struggle as we may, we cannot be successful so long as we cannot work our whole traffic thoroughly and independently. I hope we shall have the support of our shareholders, not only in Parliament, but when we ask for tke money to I carry through this undertaking. The Board, so far as I know, has done its best; our Chairman is a most able man of business: and our deputv- I Chairman has great railway experience. The Beard is a thoroughly practioal business board, and I think they have done their best to promote the interests of the Company but so long as we are hampered and dogged, as we have been, it is impossible for u« to give you a better result. (Cheers.) Mr. Richardson Francis seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously. Aldorman Freeman moved the re-election of Mr. M. B. Williams and Mr. Richardson Francis as directors. Both these gentlemen had rendered most valuable services to the Company. Mr. Richardson Fianoig was one of the first to bring forward this great undertaking some ten years ago, and during that time he had worked most actively for the benefit of the Company. He only wished the officials of the Great Western Railway were within hearing; the speeches just delivered would have had some effect on them. He could assure the directors that th., shareholders would give them every possible support. (Applause.) Mr. Geerge Mansfield seconded, and the propo- sition was carried unanimously. ■nir. M. li. vv llliams heartily thanketl them for the renewal of their confidence, and it would be his earnest endeavour to continue to deserve it. Mr. Richardson F.ancis also returned thanks. He said it was his privilege and honour some ten years ago to assist in bringing this project fnrward before the notice of Swansea people. During these ten years they had had a very up-hill game to play. They thought to carry more in Parliament thxn they had; that they had been unable to do by reason of the opposition they had encountered. He did not recapitulate all the difficulties they had to contend with. The selfishness and obstruc- tion on many sides, and especially at the bands of what had grown to be a huge monopoly which, although in earlier days it did great things for this district, had, the bigger it got, become more aud more exacting upon the smaller lines with which it came into contact. He referred, of course, to the Great Western Railway Company. It senmed to becoMe the great absorbent of every original attempt to develop the district, and as sooaag they absorbed each individual capillary feeder it died a natural dla\h in the great main artery of the Great Western Railway. The Rhoudda Railway Company, he confessed, had been very Bear feeing caught in its net. But they were clear of it now, and their coutiauoas and anxious feeling was that they did not get into it again, and become as the Vale of Neath and othfr lines. (Cheers.) They would do everything they could to pteveet such a. result. The Great Western Rail- way Co., from what they bad seen in the various oontests in Parliament, notwithstanding that it had a large and iuflacuti-ti Board, seemed to be getrereed by a lawyer. Their Chairman could not help sty iug, at the end ef his speech at the general meeting ef the Company at Paddington last week, that, personally, htt bated law, but that in the presence of their solicitor, he did net like to say what lie thought of lawyers. (Langbter.) That scomed to explain something to them, and to put them behind the scenes, for as Sir Hussey Vivian bad just said-as a man of besiness he could not understand why they bad bees so obstructive. No business man could expiain it; it could only be a lawyer. In their last contest they fortunately bad the Great Western solicitor in the box, and he gave his evidence in a most uncompromising manner. But the Committee granted the Bill nevertheless—so they could draw their own inference. They were now very near arriving at a most desired end they had in view from the start, viz., the crossing of the Neath River. They had a bill before Parliament, which they had carefully studied and considered, and they thought they had good chances of success. They were going to Parliament with clean hands and with a very strong case, and he hoped and believed Parlia- ment would be satisfied that they were there for protection, and not only to further the interests of the Company, but for the general development and benefit of the whole district. They saw the Great Western Railway Company were also in Parliament, but with a very poor record. They were entrusted with power to pass over the Neath River some six or seven years ago, but they had not moved a step to exercise that power, notwithstanding the pressure brought to bear upon them. It did not suit them to do so they went to Parliament for that which they did not want. He believed the Rhondda Railway Company would carry their point this time, and then they would have one complete line, from the Rhondda Valley to Swansea (Applause.) Mr. Thomas Yorath said he had every con- fidence in this undertaking, and that it would ultimately be for the great benefit of Swansea, and be the means of supplying the teeming populations of the Rhondda with the products of this district. Lieut-Colonel Mock moved that Mr. R. G. Cawker be re-elected auditor. Mr. Yorath seconded, and it was carried. Mr. E. R. Daniel moved that the cordial thanks of the shareholders be given the chairman and directors for their attention to the interests of tha Onmmnv. Hn was morrv thev could not COn- gratulate themslves upon having a 10 per cent dividend but they could congratulate themselves upon the able management of the chairman and directors in keeping down the expenses, which lsore favourable comparison with other lines, j Ha hoped that before long they would not Dnly have a partial but a complete line, and then they would have control of the traffic from the Rhondda to Swansea. That would, of course, very much increase their dividend. Mr. A. P. Steeds seconded. They were entirely pleased with the directors, who had had to face almost untold difficulties. The motion was carried with acclamation. The Chairman, is returning thanks, said they appreciated very fully the kind compliments paid them, and he could assure them that their best effort* would be devoted, in the future as in tbe past, to the best interests of the Company. I This was all the business of the ordinary meeting. SPECIAL MEETING. At the conclusion of the general meeting a special I lfIeeting was held for the purpose of submitting to the proprietors a bill for enabling the Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway to extend their railways to Swannea and Neath, and for other purposes. Mr. Edward Strick (Messrs. Stricks and Belling- ham) briefly explained the previsions of the bill. Sir Hussey Vivian moved that the Bill submitted be aDprovfd of, subject to such alterations as Parliament may think fit. He said the cost of the additional line would amount to about £ 143,000. He gathered from the sense of the meeting that they were all of one mind in having these new powers obtained so as to have a complete aud direct line to Swansea. Mr. Thomas Cory seconded, and it was carried unanimously. Mr. W. D. Thomas (Merthyr) urged upon those preseut, and especially upon Swansea people, to assist the directors in every possible way. The people of Merthyr would agitate the whole district to get such a benefit as was now within the grasp of Swansea. He should like to see them holding I public meeting", appointing deputations, and pay- ing their own expenses—soas to assist the directors in the great fight. Tradesmen of Swansea should also be up in arms, for the benefits would materially I affect them. Alderman Freeman I can assure my friend that Swansea people will be up and doing at the proper time. (Applause.) The meeting then terminated.

Whereas the total population of India, accord- ing to the preliminary resulta'of the census pub- lished some montha back, was 284,614,210, further revision and examination of the returns brings out the still larger total of 288.159,692, or an I average density of close upon 188 persons to the square mile. WSBBBK AND NON "B OPTieSj [155

WEL-H VOLUNTEER NOTES. rBY oua SPECIAL VOLUNTEER CORRESPONDENT.] I hear that when Captain'Dickinson gives up the Adjutautcy of the 3rd Gi>.morgan Rifle Volunteers, at 8-vansea, which he will do in a few montha' time owing to the expira-ioi) of his regulation five years' service, his successor as Adjutant of the Swausea Ba.tilion will probably be Captain Tindal, who will next week vacate the post of Adjutant of tile 2ud Battalion Welsh Rfgiirient ht Aldershot. Captiin Tindal would undoubtedly make an ex- cellent Adjutant of a Volunteer Battalion, for he has had plenty of experience of the dutits ot an Adjutant cf a regular battalion. Last Friday Colonel C. J. Bronihead joined at Brecon, and took over command of the 24th Regi- mental distr,ct. As soon as possible Coi. Bromhead iutends to make him-df acquainted with each of the four Sou th Wales Volunteer Battalions attached to his district. Some people appear to be under the impression that Culon^l Bromheul is the officer who dis- tinguished himself in the Z tlu. war at the Defence of R .rke's Drift, and a statement to that effect was tie other day made by a South Wales newspaper. Colonel Bromhead, however, is not the officer who earned a name for himself at Rorke's Drift. It was his younger brother, !lLjor Gouville Bromhead, V.C., who died last year in Itidia when serving with tiie 2ad Battalion South Wales Borderers. It is not the first time Colonel Biomhead and an elder brother serving in the Indian Staff Corps—Sir Benjamin Broti.head—J ave beeu mistaken for their brother, the late M jor Gouville Bromhead, V.C. On Colonel E. Lyons, C.B., being transferred from the School of Gunnery to the command of the R >y <1 Artillery in this district, lie will be succeeded as Chief Instructor at the School of Gunnery by Colonel Stewart, A.D.O. to the Queen, who is best known to local Volunteers ai having oeeu for the past two seasons Commandant of the camp of th," National Artillery Association at ShoeOuryness. The Glamorgan Artillery Militia will bejembodied at Swansea on the of June, for the annual training, which will take pl»ce a; Foit Hubberscone, Miiford Haven. The general officer commanding the north- webtern district, of which Nurth Wales forms Piut, has called the attention of commanding otJic-rs of Volunteer Battalions in his district to the impori- ance of tr lining their men in field tiring, and tie points out that where suitable ranges exist field firing should always be indulged in. In bringing this matter prominently forward, Major General Julian Hall, the officer indicated, has undoubtedly done good service to the volunteers. Of lot", field firing has been much practised by the regular infantry, though, in connection with the Volunteer Infantry, this important matter has been, to a ceitain extent, ignored. This is not as it should be. Tra.ning in field firiug is as necessary in connection with the volunteer as with tegular infantry, for it teaches men whit they would lJaVe to do in action. Tue h n: thrown out by M jor General Hall might be well taken by thr- co uuiandiiig officers of South Wales Volunteer Battalions, as well as by the Colonels of corts in the district which the General commands. Shooting has, to a certain extent, improved dur- ing the past official year in the South Wales j Vulunteer Battalions, tnough rhere is still room lor v.ry great improvement as regards the musketry efficiency of the battalions in tue whole of Wales and Monmouthshire. Iu mauy parts of rhecountiy the waut of adequate range accommodation is the great drawback which prevents local Corps showing up well in musketry matters; but tuis does not apply in every case, and it is to be hoped that the improvement which has of late been noticed in con- nection with the shootiug of the batt »lions in Wales and Monmouthshire will continue, that in time local curps will obtain high pliers on the list in order of merit as regards shooting among the Voluuteer Battalions of the United Kingdom. This week Major-General Montague delivered a lecture to the members of the Bristol Tactical Society, upon Tactical Lessons from the Boer \Var," a campaigu which demonstrated more than any war I of, how necessary it is in wodera warfare for infantry soldiers to be expert iu handliug their rifles. This fact was much com- mented upon by General Montague in his lecture, and be shows bow each of the actions we fought with the Boers was decided by rifle fire, and that alone. Every volunteer knows that the Boers are expert marksmen, aud this gave them that superiority which enable 1 theta to defeat our troops at the actious of Laings Nek and Majuba Hill. All who are intereei^d in shooting, and every vo,unteer rifleman should be interested in that matter, ougi.t to ponder well over the lessons to be learned from our unfortunate campaign with the Boers eleven years ago. The arrangements have now been made for the annual trainings of the Pembrokeshire, Montgomery and Denbighshire Yeomanry cavalry regtmeuts. It has contended that the Yeomanry should, when up for training, carry out work in connection with the volunteer artillery and infantry. In time of war, these three branches of the service would have to co-operat.and consequently it is imperative that they should, in time of peace, have frequent opportunities afforded of working together. I am not aware that in Waies there will this year be any such co-operation between the Yeomanry and the Volunteers, but in some districts the experiment will certainly be tried this year. The supply companies of the several volunteer infantry brigades are in a very unsatisfactory condition, and in some cases it has been found impossible to raise a supply company. There is, I believe no supply company yet raised in connec- tion with the Welsh Border Volunteer Infantry Brigade, but the supply companies in connection with the South Wales Brigade and the Severn Brigade are in a fairly flourishing condition. The former is commanded by Captain and Quarter-Master J. B. Davies, of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion Welsh Regiment, while the supply company of the Severn Volunteer Infantry Brigade is under the command of that excellent officer, Captain and Quarter-Master Coleman, of the 3id Volunteer Battalion Welsh Regiment. Each of these officers have however a thankless task. This is shown by a letter I have received from a volunteer officer, who is the supply and trans- port officer of a volunteer infantry brigade in England. He says -"The supply detachment, from the highest to the lowest, are really men who do what you might call the drudgery work of the brigade, and would have no cudos for the trouble and hard work they experience. In carrying out the intentions of the authorities in forming these detachments, is bound to entail, as just indicated, a great amount of extra work upon the shoulders of each member, and that in addition to his ordinary regimental duties, because I see by paragraph 563 of the volunteer regulations, that capitation allowance cannot be drawn for supernumerary officers, unless they have fulfilled the neeessury conditions of efficiency, and the non-commissioned officers and privates remaining on the establishment of their own battalions would also. I presume, have to make themselves efficient in the ordinary way. I think that it a special uniform for the supply company ^ere allowed, it would render service popular, tor there would be a ceitain amount of etprit de corps attached to the uniform, distinctive of the services the supply company is rendering to the brigade to which it belongs."

HOME CITRIC FOR DKAFNKSS.—A book by a noted Aural Surgeon, describing a System of Curing Deafness and Noises in the Head, by which a self-cure is effected at home. The Rev. D. H. W. Hurlock, of the Parsonage, Mllton-under-Wvchwood, writes Try the System by laa means, it is first rate, and has been of the uiinoxt gervice to me." Post free 4d. De Yere and Co., publishers, 22, Warwick lane, London, E.C, 145

I NEATH AND ITS DISTRICT. COOKEBT.—A series of ceokerv lessons are now f btrim yiven the Town Hall under the patronage of the Hon. Mrs. H. C. Bruce and other iufluential laoies in the district. NEATH TOtry COUNCIL AND LOCAL RAILWAY BILLS.—At a meeting of thi* Council, held on Monday, the Mayor (Mr. J. D. VèwelJp.) presidins, it was resolved to file riot'ee cf opposition to the Great Western Railway Bill anil the Rhondda and Swansea Bay Rail way Bill, now pending in Parlia- ment. THE LIBERAL CLUP.A new iird i,ery comniodious club stnd billiard room was opened 011 Tuesday night, and we learn that the building will bearcom- parison for comfwrt and general utility with any room in the district. New members are constantly being enrolled, and the Club 16 in a prosperous con- dition. COL*NTT COUNCIL.—Mr. Edmund Law bus issued Co U,-TTY COUNCIL.—Mr. Edmund Law bus issued his address to the el&ctors at the forthcoming el- c- tion, but we four he possesses a rather forlorn chance in opposition to Ald-rman i-towlarid, a well- experienced and Li^hlv popular candidate. Mr Law advocates Home Rule, und states that he comes forth in response to the wishes of a large number voters. PRESENTATION.—On Tuesday evening, a vpry handsome nmrble timeptece was presented to Mr. Otven Hopkins, accountant at the drapery estab- lishment of Messrs. Davids and Evans, formerly Lewis, New-street-square, hy the snop a.,Sist;ints in the various establishments, in recognition of his valuable services as hon. secretaiv of the Associ;- tion. A very large number of persons attended at the presentation, and the highest praise was be- stowed upou the lecipient. SCHOOL BOARD FUR COEDFRAXK.—The ratepavers of Coedfrauk are going in for the luxury of a School Board. A poll of the ratepayers of the parish of Coei'frank took place on Saturday in connection with tho application for a School Board. The polling terminated at eight o.clock, and soon afterwards the presiding officer (Mr. Howel Cuthbettson) announced the result as follow,For the Sch(iol Biaral, 201 votes; against. 188; inaioi-i-v for, 13. It is said that steps will be immediately taken to give effect to the Jpci,ioIJ. •MORE LIGHT AT LLANTWIT AND .\EATH PARISH.— Much dissatisfaction has been expressed in this district in consequence of thewantof propf-r light. The Veo. Arelidnacon Griffiths sat at Liantwit Church lately, and took a poll of the ratepayers on the question of the public lighting with gas of Tonna Rnd MeliDcrytlian, botii in the parish of Liantwit. The poll was open from three to seven o'clock. One hundred and twenty-four declared themselves in favour of public lighting, and 74 against. Mr. A. S. Gardner has worked energetically and consistently to briog about the above named result. HEALTH OF NEATH.—Dr. Ryding, the Medical officer of the borough, in his report to the Neath Town Council, just issued, states that the total nnmber of deaths from all causes was 239 during the year 1891, beinar at the 'rate of 21.8 per 1000 per annum. The rate for 1890 was 19.7 per 1000 per annum, being an increase of 2.1 per 1000 per annum during 1891. The averages for the past five years were as follows:—1887. 21.8 per 1000: 1888, 15.2 per 1000; 1889. 16.8 1890, 19.7 1891. 21.8. The total number of deaths from either of the seven principal zymotic diseases was, viz., one death resulting from all attack of measles, two from scarlet fever, one from diphtheria, nine from whooping oough (all children), one from typhoid fever, and two from infantile diarrhoea. Whooping cough has been rather prevalent throughout the last four months of the year 1891. Neath Urban District was absolutely free frem zymotic infections during five months of the year. Six cases have been reported of fatal 'innuenza' during the year. Irrespective of the one ca-e of diphtheria and the nine fatal cases of whooping cough 86 out of the 239 deaths, resulted from diseases of the chest. The greatest mortality especially during the last period occurred amongst persons over 60 years of age, and young children under one year. NEATH COUNTY POLICE —FBIDAT. [Before Charles Evan Thomas and T. S. Sutton, Esars.] NEW RATE.—A poor rate of Is. in the pound for six month-, was allowtd and signed for the parish of Michaelstone Higher. STEALING COAL.D.vid William John, D,Yid Jones, and David Davies, charged with stealing coal, of the of the property of the Main Colliery Co., were hoed 51. and 7s. 6d., or seven days. DISORDERLIES.—-John Johns for being drunk at G'yucorrwg J tin" D.ives for being (iru ik at -N-ath Abbey J> hn Er,1hF, of Cwmavon, do. and John Williams", of Giyncorrwg, were tined from 2s. 6d. to 7s. 6!. for Deing drunk and disordeily. NEATH BOROUGH SESSION?.—MONDAY. | Before the Mayor and ex-Mayor.] ASSAULTS.—Two persons, named John Reynolds and David Morgan, both residents, were charged by the Head Constable with committing a breach of the paace, at the Crown Hotel, Cattle-street. The parties met and bad a general tight, until, as one of the witnesses jocularly observed, the hobby" came upon the scene. P.C. William Morgan proved the facts, snd the Bench made an order to keep the peace for thrne months, and PRY costs in the case.- David Morgan was summoned by Reynolds, for lia assault arising out of the foregoing charge. Dis- missed, each party to pny their own costs. Mr. H. P. Charles i.ppeared for Beynolds. Oae or two charges against persons for neglecting to send their children to school completed the charge list. ♦

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. In the House of Lords, on Monday. Lord Cross moved the second reaning of the Indian C< uncils Act Amendment Bill, which passed the Upper House in 1890, but, through pressure of hasiriess failed to pass the House of Commons. Its object is to enable m-mbers of the Legislative Council uf India to interrogate the Government on certain subjects, and to provide for the enlargement of the Legislative Councils of India. The bill was favourably received and was rrad a s_'cl>Dd time. Eirl Cowper called atrentim to the subject of technical instruc ioD, and the d;ffi :ulties in which county councils are placea oy not Knowing wnecner or not they can lely upon a permanent annual i Government, grant for its promotion. The Marquis of Huntly expressed a hope that the grant would be made permanent. Lord Norton objected to the aid of the State being a,ked tor objects which ought to be carried out by individual or local efforts. Lord Craubrook, in reply, pointed out that of sixty-two county councils, fifty-two were apply- ing the whole of the Government grants to technical education, aud nirlf' were partially so applying it. He did not think the tune had yet arrived when it was desirable to make the applica- tiou of the grant for techuical education compulsory. The East India Officers' Bill was read a second time, and their Lordships adjourned at 5.¡5. The debate on the Address in reply to the Speech from the Throne was continued by Mr. Sexton, who moved an amendment declaring that the Imperial Parliament was unable t) legislate for Ireland as her distinctive interests required. He declared that the Land Purchase Act had utterly i failed, and he asserted that the present Parliament had broken the record, not only cf blundering, but also of despotism. Lllr. Jackson, the Irish Secre- tary, in reply, denied that the Land Purchase Act bad proved a failure. Mr. Sexton, he said, had told them that the sole cause of the condition of Ireland was her poverty, and yet, he added amid loud Ministerial cheers, the hon. member pro- posed to rewedy that poverty by separating Ireland from a country which wasasststing her by its credit. Sir George Trevtlvan said that he would support the amendment, partly out of good-will to Ireland, but still mere because be desired the abolition of a system under which the kingdoms of which the empire was composed were a source of material hindrance and impediment to the legisia- tion which each required. The chief incident of the evening was, however, the speech of Mr. John Redmond, as representing the Parnellite section of the Irish party. He gave but a grudging support to the amendment, which he described as dealing with the question ia a very half-hearted manner. J He cdled upon the Ghidstonian barters to state in precise terms the nature of the Home Rule Bill which they proposed to introduce and in reply to Sir William Haicourt's assertion that, whil; the Gladstoniaus were in favour of Home Rule they were opposed to Mr. Parnell s Fenian Home Rule Bill, he empbhaticaily declared that the sc-called Fenian Home Rule Bill of Mr. Parnell was the measure which the people of Ireland demanded. In the House of Commons on Tuesday, Sir M. Hicks Beach expressed a hope that no long time would elapse before something could be done for the reduction of patent fees. Mr. Sedt! Hayne then moved the second reading of the Justices of the Peace Bill. Ii proposed to give county and municipal councils power to appoint a certain number of justices ot the peace in proportion to the inhabitants; to provide that the chairmen of boards of guardians and of urban sanitary authori- ties should be ex-officio justices of the peace; to í abolish the property qualification aud to sccure the retirement of yentleme i who imd long since j ceased to disch ,r6e m inister al functions. Sir Charles Russell c insidcre the essential principle of the measure worthy of recepiion by the Hu„se, but the bill was strongly opposed by the Home Secretary, and it was eventually lejec vd by 168 votes to 125. In the House of Commons on Wednesday after- noon Mr. T. E. E lis (G., Men. neth) gave notice ot a question in reference to the g"ld ) roquet, at the Noith Wales gold mines. The sitting was de- voted to the consideration of two Irish Hils iu- troduced by private members. The House rose at 5.40.