The Cambrian

GLAMORGAN ASSIZES. ( AT SWANSEA. I ( TRIALS OF PRISONERS. [1 The summer assizes for the county of Glamorgan were opened at the Town-hall, Swansea, on Friday morning (before Mr. Justice Bruce and Mr. Justice Kennedy). The judges, accompanied by the high-sheriff (Mr. John 1. D. Nicholl) and escorted by the county police as javelin men, arrived at the Town-hall from Brooklands, their lodgings, at eleven a.m., and Mr. Justice Bruce took his seat in the Crown Court. THE GRAND JURY. The grand jury were sworn in as follows :— I Mr. W. M. North, Sir Robert Morris, Admiral I Lyons, Mr. Herbert Lloyd, the Mayor of wansea. Mr. J. Newall Moore, Mr. M.H. Williams, Mr. Arthur Giibertson, Mr. Joseph E. Moore, the Hon. Odo Vivian, Mr. Edward Daniel, Lieutenanl-Colonel Morgan, Lieutenant-Colonel J. R. Wright, Mr. Felix H. Webber, Mr. G. H. Strick, Mr. H. N. Miers, Mr. Griff. Thomas, Mr. D. M. Glasbrook, Mr. R. A. Bostock, aud Mr. T. Freeman. THE CHARGE. In charging the grand jury, his Lordship said the calendar contained no less than 75 cases, but, although heavy, it did not. exceed that usually presented at these assizes. There were two murder cases and a number of cases of indecent assaults on women and children. He regretted exceedingly that the calendar should contain so many of that kind of cases. In the rest of Wales he and his brother judge had found not a single case of the kind. His Lordship then referred to some of the principal cases, including the Alitwen Church dispute. It was a dispute, he said, between the rector of Pontardawe and his curate, and it appeared to him that this attempt to settle such a case of disputed right in a criminal court was very inconvenient. The bishop of the diocese bad power under the old Acts to appoint curates in a parish, but the latter Act provided that on a commissioner's report the bishop might appoint a curate and inhibit the incumbent. Mr. Jenkins was appointed under such circumstances, and the rector (Mr. Jones-), being highly dissatisfied with the state of things, went to the church at Alltwen, robed, and proceeded to the reading desk. Police-constable Jenkins, acting on authority, ordered him out of the church, and he contended that this criminally prevented and obstructed him. There were certain points, however, which were not clear to him. The question was whether this was a chapel-ol- ease or a mission chapel of a private character, and whether the rector had been inhibited by the bishop. He mentioned these matters at length because there was a proper ecclesiastical tribunal in which such cases should be tried, and he ventured to say, therefore, that they might inquire carefuliy into the case, and if they thought the act was not such as to be unlawful they might throw,out the bill, for it was not for the benefit of the Church or morality to bring such acts into court, except if necessary.

THE POSITION OF PRIMARY EDUCATION IN WALES. IS WALES A BAD THIRD? DR. MACNAMARA RETURNS TO THE CHARGrE, At the University College, Aberystwyth, on Saturday, Dr. Macuamara addressed a Confer- ence convened by the North Cardigan branch of the National Union of Teachers on this subject. He said that speaking at Merthyr last November he had contrasted the condition of the Welsh Primary Schools with those of England and of Scotland, with the result that in respect of all the essentials that go to make up an efficient Popu- lar School system—the attendance of the child- ren, the age up to which they stayed at school, the money spent on the Primary School, and the quality and number of the teachers employed- Wales came out a bad third." This judgment had been freely canvassed; which in itself was a good thing, for the more people interested them- selves in their Schools, the more those schools would flourish. But the only really serious criticism levelled against his bad third" speech, said Dr. Macnamara, was the fact that it was made by a stranger from London. And to make the thing worse, here ha was again, quite unre- pentant, to drive home with a later set of official figures his crticisms cf last November. He urged Welsh people not to be misled by flamboyant appeals to their local patriotism. Their elemen- tary school system was seriously lacking, and therefore much of their fine zeal for Intermediate and Higher Education must suffer in consequence. He advised them when they shouted Goreuarf arf dysg," to mean it. SCHOOL ATTENDANCE IN WALES. Well now, reverting to the latest set of official figures, what did he findP First of all with regard to School Attendance. The per-centage of regularity of Scotland was 84'3 tor Englaui 81'96; and for Wales 76*61. In other words one- fourth of the children on the rolls of thd Welsh schools were always away. They might say that many parts of Walt a were mountainous aud with scattered populations; but tbe county of West- moreland shewed a per-centage of regularity of 82'88. The county of Aberdeen came out 84'5, and even the Orkneys and Shetlauds shewed a percentage of 78'7. THE MONBY SPENT ON PRIMARY EDUCATION. As to the amount of money speut: In Scotland the latest annual Maintenance Charge was £ 2 lis. 3d. per child in England, £2 7a. 8d., and in Wales, X2 5s. bd. Tiie county of l'em- broke spent £2 Is. ] id. a chdd last year; the county of Argyle, £ 3 7s. 8,td.; the county of Cardigan, £ 2 2s. 3d.; the county of Sutherland, £ 3 4s. lid.; tne county ot Flint, £ 2 3s. 5d; the the county of Perth, t2 18s. Wi" Anglesey spent 92 Os. 8d Buto, £ 3 0». 7!d, and ao on. Tnat wad why so many Scotchmen were exiled in Wales-at the beat posts and biggest salaries. QUALITT AND QUANTITY OF THE TEACHERS ENGAGED. The natural result ot ttie small amount of money spent was seen in the quality and quantity of the leaching staff. In Scotland ö1 per cent, of tae tuactiers were fully qualified certificated adults in England 41 per cent., and in Wales 37 per cent. Practically only one-third of the Welsh Elemen- tary School teacuers were fullyequipped for their work, the otuer two-thirds being either juvenile apprentices or partially or wholly unqualified adults. Looked at in another way, the staff em- ployed gave to each certificated adult 45 children under tue London School Board 71 oliildreu in ail Scotland; 93 children in ail England, and 104 children in Wales. According to the Report of the Welsh Central Board there was a permanent teacher to every 17 children in the Welbh County Scnools. Surely there was need to approximate the method of staffing the Welsh Elementary School to that of the Welsh Intermediate School. The splendid Weisn extort for Uiguec education depenaed for its success on the We.shElementary School. 70 per cent, of trie Welsh Intermediate ncholars came from the Welsh Elementary schools. Therefore the success or failure (if the one system would mean the sucoeas or tailure of tue other. As the receut report of the Cnarity Commission- ers had well said: "InWaies and Monmouthshire, between the Primary and Secondary School, there is emphati. cally an 'open door.' All the more need for vigilanceaud care that the scholars who pass tmough it bring with them such a sound prepar- atory training as will enable them to profit durably by the course of higher and wider study to which they are thus admitted." SUiiGJtSTIONS FOR KBFORM. THE INTKUMKDIATK ACT ABSOKBINO PUBLIC ATTXNTION. But, continued Dr. Macnamara, it would be useless for himto spend his time and theirs proving I and re-proving tnat Wales was a bad third iu Elementary Education, without indicating the means of reform. And the first of these waa gleater public oonem in the well-being uf the Elementary School. From 1880 downwards Welsh educational zeal--of which there was plenty—had really beeu mainly absorbed in the promotion and uevelopment oi the Intermediate Act. JOIUt. Educatiou Committees, Joint Con- ferences, Bursary Scuemej, Central Board repre- sentation, and so on, had so fully occupied their minds that it never occurred to them to consider the nature of the foundation upon which tney were building. From tne discussion which had followed nia comments at Merthyr, he was conii- dent ti.at alt that was required was that Weisti public attention should be seriously called to this question of the position of the Jeileinenlary School. THB INCIDENCE OF THK LC9IL COST. Given greater public concern, tue next thing was to secure something like a reusible method of levying ttie local burden ot elementary educa- tion. Fiistof ad a much greater burden of the cost must be thrown on the Central Exchequer, especially as regards the ruial areas. Mucn of Wales was rurai and poor. As the Welsh Central Board said: The poverty of Rural Wales makes it diffi- cult for children in primary achoois, whether board or Voluntary, to rÖitCU a really satisfac- tory standaid of attainment." Now they must, as he had said, agitate for more generous Exchequer graiitti from theLentral Communal purae for tueir schools generally and their Rural behoold especially. They had their South Wales Borderers, their Royal Welsh Fusi- liers, and ttieir Welsh Regiment. But they did I not levy a heavy local rate for the maintenance of those gallant regiments, which was probably a good thing for the regime its. Aud they must look at the rohool* as national institutions, just as were the three Welsh Regiments mentioned. If they agreed to leave a lutarg,u ot the cost for the iceality-as a sateguard against bureaucratic treatment by the central government and possibly laxity of administration in the loculihes-tueD they must levy for that locul rate on everybody. They mustu't let halt tne population escape on the plea that they preferred Denominational edu- cation, to whiou most of them took precious good care not to contribute, 'i hen they must levy their local margin over county areas, and' not in the grotesquely restricted areas that they did at present. The immediate result of making the parish the unit of local educational govern. ment was the fact that the burden pressed most unfairly and unevenly, and that it was not by any means assured that the village School Board could provide the ri?ht sort of men and women for the local administration of education. THE SMALL SCHOOL BOARD NOT THE BEST LOCAL AUTHORITY. Wales had 337 School Boards for 216,000 School Board children. London had one School Board for more than twice the number of School Board children. That was the anomalous beauty I of British local government. Cardiganshire for- 8,000 School Board children had 38 SchoolBoarda j Cardiff, for 21,000 children had 1 School Board, and so on. The muliplication of the village Boards meant waste of money on unnecessarily multiplied little pieces of autonomous machinery. Take the Verwick School Board, in the county in which they were met. It had one school with an average of 43 children. To look after thes& they must needs have a separate S-hool Board of five members and a paid clerk. A rate of one penny in the £ brought in L7 3s. in Verwick. The clerk's salary and the legal and other admin. istrative charges came to JE16 16s. lOd.—over a. twopenny rate gone before they got to the school at all. The result was that Welsh Village Boards that did their duty were bound to rum their rates up to 2s., 2s. 6d., and even 2s. 10d. in the X-with non Board villages contiguous raising nothing at all locally. They must sweep these anomalies away once for all; levy the local rate by counties let a county authority admin- ister it through representative local mangers to all schools under a Code of Regulations that half-a-dozen men that really meant business could excogitate in half-an-hour. CARDIGANSHIRE AS AN EXAMPLE. Take the county of Cardigan. Half of it, roughly,was locally rated under 38 School Boards; the other half was not rated. The rated half subscribed in round figures about £ 7,000 locally, or something over a shilling in the £ on its rate* able value, be-ides giving something in voluntary subscriptions. The other half subscribed volun- tarily about 21,500, or something under-3d. in the £ on its rateable value. The mean rate for the rated portions of Wales was 10ld. Why could not the Cardigan County Council levy, say, a tenpenny rate all round to be dispensed to the schools, as he (Dr. Macnamara) bad suggested t That would mean about X12,000 locally, as against £ 8,500 from all local sources as at pre- sent. It would mean more. It would mean far more effective local government; supervison by an effective county authoiity; and a great saving of money through the unification and simplification of the local machinery. He ear- nestly asked the consideration of his hearers to some such reform as he had outlined. Given more generoui central aid suffioiont local wt——~ for all schools under fair conditions and effec* tive County Authorities they could soon put their elementary schools on such a substantial basis as would enable them to bear effectively the superstructure of Intermediate, Technical, and University Education.

The Prince of Wales, with the Duke anel Duchess of York, was present on Saturday at Queen's Club, when the international University sports took place between teams representing Oxford and Cambridge on the one side ana Harvard and Yale on the other. Out of nine events the Englishmen won five. Cambridge took the mile, the half-mile, the quarter, and the three miles; Oxford the long jump; and Harvard the hundred yards, the hurdles, the high jump, and the hammer. Great interest is being taken in a Chinese mission sent to Japan with powers to discuss A treaty of alliance. The Dowager-Empress's recent leaning towards the reform party is now believed to be merely a move in the game of conciliating Japan. Among the last awards made by the Royal Humane Society is a medal to Mr. Harvey James, of Ipswich, for saving two persons and assisting to save a third from the river Orwell. While in the water Mr. James was the victim of a despicable theft, his watch and chain being stolen from his vest, which he left on the landing stage before plunging in. According to the latest reports from the Soudan, the Khalifa is now at Kurum, near Jebel Jedir. Abdul Samad, Sheikh of Kadaro, with a large following of tribesmen, is reported to have left Kadaro towards the enj of June, in order to attack him. Two young medical men of Bordeaux, Drs. Vergely and Constantin, fought a duel with, pistols on Saturday morning, with the result that Dr. Constantin was so severely wounded that death resulted after a few hours' great suffering. During a terrific storm at Galatz a cloud-burst formed a torrent of water, which rushed along, sweeping away everything in its path. The water filled a deep gully, and surprised an en- campment of gipsy labourers, drowning eighteen persons-men, women, and children. A fire broke out early on Saturday morning at Bridlington Quay, on the premises of William Storr and Sons, cabinet makers, and spread to the Wesleyan Day Schools, the older portions of which were burnt out. The damage is estimated at about £ 4,000. Mrs. Anne Somers-Cocks, seventy-three years of age, the wife of a clergyman, and a relative of Lord Somers, was found dead in her bath on Friday morning at Fawcett-street, Kensington. The deceased was in the habit of taking a hot bath every day. Dr. Hunt said either the heat of the bath or the heat of the atmosphere would. cause the sudden failure. A free fight occurred among Major Marchand's Senegalese at Toulon, arising out of an accusation on the part of some of them against Captain Mangin, who, they said, retained the money sub- scribed for them in Paris. The money was after- wards given them, but their shore leave was. stopped. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, speaking in the Dominion. House of Commons, said there were only two ways of settling the Alaskan boundary question. —war and arbitration—and the latter was the only solution. Mr. Elibu Root, a prominent New York lawyer,. is to be Secretary of War in Mr. Alger's stead. The Democratic conference at Chicago has shewn: that Mr. Bryan's ideas still guide that party. He expects either to be again a candidate for the Presidency at the next election or to select a- candidate. The new patriarch of the Catholic Coptie Church, nominated by the Pope, has been en- throned in Alexandria. The relations between this Church and Rome are thus renewed, after having been broken off for seven centuries. It is officially reported to the Colonial Office that the bubonic plague, which has been raging in Hong Kong and Mauritius, has extended to the French Island of Reunion. As to Mauritius, the official return for the week ended July 20th shews that thirty-six cases of plague occurred during the week, and that no less than twenty- nine of these proved fatal. Two boys were fishing in the river at Knares. borough on Saturday when they came across the c body of a man floating in the water. It was subsequently taken out and identified as that of George Wheelhouse, aged forty, a painter. Deceased, who was engaged to be married this week, is supposed to have committed suicide. He had been missing for a week. At Belfast, Chief Baron Palles sentenced ten prisoners, convicted of riot on June 5th, ta twelve months' liard labour, and put them under rule of bail for live years. Two were sent to gaol for six months, with hard labour, and placed under the same bail, while other prisoners were acquitted. —

_n_- poet's (Corner. THE WIFE OF ALLAN CAMPBELL. There came amongst the Campbell clan, A stranger lassis pale and wan, From Popish France she hither ran Because her mother now was gone To join the blessed martyr-throng Who suff'red rather than be wrong. The Scottish ladies lov'd her not Because she felt them strange, severe, And wond'red why they all forgot Her sadly yearning heart to cheer. And she, poor fragile, lonely thing, Ne'er cared their Scottish songs to sing. But wandor'd forth the stream to hear Utter its low ton'd murmuring, For in the limpid brooklet clear, She felt a sympathising thing. Beware sweet maiden so forlorn Lest something wor.-e befalls than scorn. For jealousy's a cruel thing, And envy wrankles in the breast, And jealous envy darts will fling At bird ta'en home to Allan's nest, For Allan is the Dingles' King, And tho' for him the joy bells ring Yet sorrow lurks in ev'rv heart That royal eagle choose to mate With birdling from a foreign part Who is not e'en of high estate. 80 wand'rer exil'd from thy home What hast thou chanc'd on yonder stone ? Sure 'tis no lady of the clan, Could brook that Allan Camnbell look, With eyes of love behind the fan, Of foreign maiden in the nook. She hath with modist courage Where Scottish clansmen plough'd and till'd. But certes 'tis the stalwart chief, Finding the drooping violet, Bending fcer-head in lovely grief, Beside the gentle rivulet, Its sweet head in rev'rent trance And lost his heart in that one glance. Beware now, Allan's wife, beware Lest gathjjr'd soon ye early die. For scarcely conlds t thou bear the glare Of hatred fierce and jealous eye. The dames and damsels of the clan Resent the alien choice of Allan. To tempt him from allegiance true They sometimes tried but love defied Such serpent rules. He never knew A moment when bi-s honor died, Or car'd for any one beide The gentle lady who had died Of sheer neglect, had he not ?pied The kerchief raised to lower'd eyes That gleaming, when his steps had hied To watch his paddocks mown with scythes And lifting there a weeping head Had found the woman he must wed. And Allan's wife has bolder grown. Than was the slighted maid from France. Love sure and strong doth quite atone For every mark'd and bitter glance. I'm Allan's wife, and all my life Will hold myself aloof from strife. "My time will come to win their love It is not mine own self they hate But they are clamish, and above All other things they arrogate The right to keep unto themselves The love of chief, and chieftains' dells." But Allen noted her disgrace And calmly will d that otherwise His wife be treated in the place Which own'd him chief. So in disguise He entered once a friend's abode And with him also took a load Of silks from France, and pleasing gauds, Which he unfolded one by one, Then as he packed away hi< hoards. Said These are from the French king's son To Cousin Campbell. Where is she? I've brought these straight from o'er the sea. Can you direct me to your laird, His lady was by us beloved But she had very badly far'd When France by bigotry was mov'd. And now she is desired at Court Her stay amongst you must be short." "What is her hi-tory ? thpn they cried Is she patrician indeed ? Why from her country did she hide ? Have we depriv'd her of her meed? We did not love her, but indeed She never seem'd our love to need. We thought her lovely and unfit To re our chieftainess. But now you tell the opposite Imperial thinks her sweet meekness, Which bore our hunt and insolence What must she think of our pretence ? She is, mesdames, of noble birth Her mother died for love of truth, And thought this land cf all the earth Would shield the best her child. Sad ruth Be yours, if Allan's wife, denied By you her due, wearied and died." Then skilfully the pedlar drew Some charming tale, as from his bale He brought some silks of lovely hue. Or tamboured lace, or piece of whale. Their interest alive he kept Until for sympathy they wept. How krowest than of Allan's wife So many pretty tales ? How knowed thou her Scottish life Since stranger to these vales? Then Allan laugh'd aloud and threw His French wig on the floor, and drew His black moustache and beard away, Now gentles will ye bid me hie, Or let me stay another day, For fain would I, the red deer spy Beyond yon mountain pass, Or course the fleet hare o'er your grass." His merriment infections prov'd And all did haste to say That" such a clever pleader mov'd All hearts, and won the day." Bide this one night, the next one pass, At home with thy beloved lass. Ard tell her we implore that she Will still remain our dingle queen. We cannot really bear to see Her sad as she hath been. Bring her unto oar next hunt ball We'll warmly greet her one and all." CHORLTON.

Varieties, «&c. A quiet wedding.—Mr. Anxious (reading a pajiT': is a wedding in which the itride and and minister are all deaf mutes." Anxious (sarcastically): "That one of those quiet weddings the papers of." lrncle Sam may not be exactly cold toward* ti 10 Nicaragua Canal." said Rivers, resuming the argument. ubut he is certainly distant." "ISut still keeps up a sort of acquailltall(,t"" stoutly maintained Brooks. "I notice he h;i-u't cut it." Bridget: "There's a man in the parlour wants to see you, sir." Mr. Anlup: be there in a minute. Ask him to take a chair." Bridget: "Sure..sir, he says he's going totakeaH the furniture. He is from the instalment company." J<nif>: "Herbie, it says here another octo- genarian's dead. What's an octogenarian?" "Well, I don't just know what then- ar. but they must be awfully sickly creatures". You never hear of 'em but they're dying." Visitor: "Johnny, how are you getting a long wit it your geography in school?'* Smail boy: ••Teacher says I'm doin' great." Visitor: "Tell me what is the capital of "W York State?" ismail boy: "I don't know, sir, but Havana is tiie capital of Cuba." Maude. "Funny, what curious eves some people have! I shewed my new photograph tn the Nellisons to-day. He said it was awfully pretty, and she said it didn't look a !ilx•» me." Edith: "So it seems that husband and wife can think alike, doesn't it ? Mr. Catkins: "Lot me see, my der. what was the date of that celebrated marriage ?" Mrs. Catkins: "I'm sure I don't understand you, Jove. You men are so incomprehensible at tinvs. Did you ever hear of a marriage that wasn't cele- brated ? W. Childers Kydd (looking for hoard and lodg- ings "Oh, I forgot to mention that two of my party of four are small children. I hope that will make no difference." Mrs. Hashton (sweetly): "Oh, not at all. I always charge just the same as if they were grown up:" Despairing lover: "Bertha, have you nothing to say in answer to the letter I wrote you last Thursday ? Do you know that all my future is bound up in your reply to that letter ?'" Vaii maiden: "I haven't looked at it, Horace. Tuesday is my day for opening sealed proposals.' "Those two fellows over, in the corner seem to have a very interesting subject. They've been talking to each other as hard as possible for an hour and a half." ono of them in" a little boy who has just leamt to w alk, and tV othar's baby cut its first tooth day before ytsU-r-

_a THE CHILDREN'S CORNER. [CONDUCTED BY UNCLE ROBIN.j Between the dark ard the daylight, vv lieu the uijlht is beginning to lower, Comes a pause in the da\'s Tlut is known .is the Children's Hour. 504] [504! Uncle Robin's Society now numbers 504 members. Au additional list of members will'shortly bipuiblished.

THE WELSH DICKY BIRD SOCIETY. FOUNDED BY UNCLE ROBIN, MARCH, 1899. FOR THE PROMOTION OF KINDNESS TOWARDS BIRDS AND ALL LIVING THINGS. I am going to tell you a true story about A GOOD DOG. who, when his master died, preferred to dia too rather than live without him. Not long ago a wealthy doctor possessed a fine St. Bernard dog of great size and thorough breed- ing, called Duke of Somerset, a descendant of the famous prize St. Bernard dog, Sir Bedivere. Duke, as he was called, was a little more than three years old, and weighed 2781b. He was greatly devoted to his master, and very jealous of the appearance of other dogs about the premises. When the doctor died Duke was apparently quite aware of what had taken place. He followed the funeral procession to the grave with every evidence of yrief; he had been allowed to look at his master's dead body. He then refused to take food; nothing could induce or compel him to eat. For one kind of delicacy—a sort of egg-nog —the dog had always shewn extraordinary fond- ness, and some of this was prepared and brought to tempt him. He refused it. He moped about the barn, and sometimes wandered from one place to another which had been favourite resorts of his late master. Everybody met him with a kind word and greeting, but Duke paid no attention to such advances. A neighbour whom he knew, and who was also a doctor, took him in and tried to turn the current of his thoughts. All this was useless, and eight days after the death of the doctor Duke died, and was buried in the cemetery, at his master's feet. There is much to be learnt from dumb animals. Many human beings are deficient in the noble quality displayed by poor dog Duke. SMALL THINGS. An Eastern vizier (so runs an ancient tale) had offended his master, and was shut up in a high tower. His wife came under the window to weep. "Cease your grief," cried he; "go home, and return hither when you have pro- cured a live beetle, together with a little ghee (or buffalo's butter) and three clews, one of the finest silk, another of stout pack-thread, and another of whip-cord; also a stout coil of rope." The woman having done as she was commanded, he told her to touch the head of the beetle with the ghee, to tie one end of the silk thread round it, and to place it on the wall of the tower. The beetle, smelling the butter above it, and imagi- ning that there was a store of ghee there, climbed to the top of the wall, thus enabling the vizier to get possession of the thread; he drew up the pack-thread by means of the silk, the cord by the pack-thread, and the rope by the cor 1, and so was able to let himself down from the tower and escape. SOMETHING ABOUT THE GOAT MOTH. Can you distinguish a moth from a butterfly? I will tell you of two ways. Look at the antenme, or horns. Those of the butterflv are clubbed, or mobbed, at the end. Those of the moth are pointed, and often they are also feathery. Look at the wings. Those of the butterfly, when at rest, stand straight up over the back; while those of the moth fold up, turn down, and lie straight by the side. By noticing such little things you learn to dis- tinguish. The size of the goat moth is about three inches across from the tip of one wing to the tip of the other. The body is short, but the head is large, and has two fine antennae, or horns, which, along with the shape of the head, might lead you to think that it is called the goat moth because of them. But in this you would be mistaken. All moths have antenna; of some sort. This goat moth was once a very different- looking creature. It existed first as an egg. Then it camo out of the egg a tiny larva or caterpillar, and lived on, or rather both in and on, a willow tree, or, perhaps, an elm. It was then a much hungrier animal than it is now. It had strong toothed jaws, with which it gnawed its way into the trunk of the tree, making long passages, or tunnels, in all directions, and, of course, doing the tree very much harm. How much havoc a number of these larvie of the goat moth can make in a tree you may judge when I tell you that each one spends from three to four years in the larval stage of its life, and during most of the time it is gnawing away at the wood as fast as it can. The caterpillar grows to be nearly 3in. long, and as thick as a man's finger. During this period of its life this creature has a peculiar odour, resembling that of goats, and gives this odour to the wood it inhabits. This is why it is called the goat moth. When it has eaten enough, and grown big enough, it passes into the pupa, or chrysalis, stage, and, of course, you will understand that this is true of insects generally. Before changing from caterpillar to chrysalis there are some im- portant preparations to be attended to. First it makes a cocoon, which, in the case of the goat moth, is a little chamber made out of the gnawings of the bark, and built together with a sticky substance which the animal makes for 1". The outside of the cocoon much resembles the rough brown husk of the Brazil nut, but is rounded in shape, and usually so joined to the bark of the tree on which it is fixed that at a little distance it cannot be distinguished from the hark. inside it is lined with soft silk, which also the caterpillar makes for itself. When it has got its little house made in this way. it tucks irself inside, closes up the end nearest its head, and goes to sleep. Now, seeing that it has closed itself up so securely, you may ask, how docs it manage to get out when at length it wishes to do 30? And that is a very interesting question. Could it not eat its way out ? Xo, for, as a chrysalis, it has lost the use of its teeth; and as a moth no longer has any. Well, it is said that in building the cocoon the caterpillar always takes care to make the part near the head very thin, so that when the time com-s to ot"in the third stage of its life as a beautiful moth it has only to give a push with its head and a hole is made sufficiently large to allow it to escape. Now I hope I have said enough to interest you about the goat moth.

A MOST DELICIOUS LEMONADE. Eiffel Tower Lemonade is made from the finest lemons, and the great advantage is that it is partly manufactured in Italy in the midst of the lemon orchards. The lemon3 are taken direct from the trees to the factory to comaience their transformation into Eiffel Tower Lemonade. A 4d. bottle of Eiffel Tower Lemonade makes 2 gallons of delicious Lemonade. If you cannot get it frcm your Grocer, send 4-jsd. to G. Foster Clark and Co., 4,048 Eiffel Tower Factory, Maidstone, for a bottle.

The Prinews of Wales, who has spent several weeks at Sandringham with her dauehters, Prince-s Victoria and Princess Charles of Denmark. left on Monday to join the Prince of Wales at Cowes. and at the end of this week or I)eginnine of next her Royal Highness will leave for Copenhagen, where she will remain some time, Sir Stafford and the Hon. Lady Northcote are staying at Hardwirke Hon.je, Oxfordshire, I where they will remain until the end of September. It is now declared that Admiral Dewey did actually make the statement about the possibility actually make the statement about the possibility of an American war witn Germany, but it was in the course of a private conversation, and not intended for publication.

CADBURY's COCOA 11 I I ol u A Refrtsker. maintains i t.A graat superiority as a reiii-tti- ing, invigorating drink, I and a nutritions food. It is COClJ;¡ unit ("0,1 only—not a eombinatloll of drugs, or a high- j ——■ soundiitgaikaliedarticle. j ——■ The \1tdtcal say": CADI.CRY',s is without question the < favourite Cocoa of the day. For Strength, for j Puritv. and for Nouri ah- I seat, thaw as nothing superior to be found."

TRIALS OF PRISONERS. i'RIDAY. George Ford pleaded guilty to breaking and entering the residence of Margaret Davies, at Heathfield, Swansea, on April 1, and stealing £ i) and some jewellei-y.-f lie prisoner, who bad done odd jobs as gardener at the house, said he was without a lodging on the night named, and, seeing the window open, was tempted.— A sentence of nine months' hard labour was passed. Mr. L. M. Riohards mentioned the case of John Shea, charged with the murder of Laura Moletski, and said that the prisoner had died in Cardiff Gaol whilst awaiting trial.-His Lordship said that he must have the evidence of identifi- cation. This was furnished by the clerk to the prosecuting solicitor, and the Judge declared himself satisfied. John Henry Mills, 19, for obtaining by false pretences three jerseys from Mr. P. Simms. Neath, was sentenced to three months' hard labour. Edward Malone and Thomas Simpson pleaded guilty to obtaining 9s. 6d. by false pretences from Mary Ann Andrews on an advance note at Barry.—The prisoners put the blame on one another, and attributed their conduct to drink. —Sentenced to six weeks each. Elijah Stuart, 1(5, fireman, was charged with placing two trolley wheels and an iron chair on the line of the Cww Pit Railway on June 20. .-He pleaded guilty.—The Judge called the father of the lad before him, who said his son was fifteen years of age. His lordship put the prisoner back, in order to consider how he might avoid sending him to prison. William Bennett Symmons, 26, grocer, was charged on three indictments with forging a Post Office money-order for 110, and with issuing as an officer of the Post Office money- orders with fraudulent intent amounting to X25 Is. Mr. W. D. Benson prosecuted, and Mr. S. T. Evans, M.P., defended the prisoner, who pleaded guilty.—Mr. Benson said that the prisoner, who had been a sub-postmaster at Glyn-Neath, had defaulted to the extent of X109 in his accounts. His Lordship sentenced prisoner to twelve months' hard labour. Thomas Madden, 24, seaman, was charged with on the 13th of April feloniously stealing a watch, the property of Stephen Galick. Mr. Villiers Meager prosecuted. The prisoner, who appeared to be a rather sharp fellow, produced good seaman's discharges, and was sentenced to three months' imprisonment only. CHARGE AGAINST A CARDIFF AUCTIONEER. -Louis Bloom, 37, auctioneer, was indicted for stealing ten £ 1 postal orders, the property of Waldemar .l'hirsoh at Cardiff. Mr. Lloyd Morgan prosecuted, and Mr. Arthur Lewis defended.—The prisoner was alleged to have abused the confidence of a Russian seaman, who gave himEIO to get postal orders and address them to his (the seaman's) father in Russia. Instead of that it was alleged that prisoner directed the envelope to his own address in .Cardiff.-Bloom was found not guilty, and dis- charged. MURDER CASES.—True bills were returned in the Swansea and Cardiff murder cases, and the date for hearing the latter was fixed for Monday. No IRUK BILL.—No true bill was returned in the case of Patrick Curry, 60, sailor, charged with stealing 15s. from the person of John Henry Williams at Barry, and he was discharged. The court then adjourned till Saturday morning. CIVIL COGRT. [Before Mr. Jnstice Kennedy.] BILLS or EXCHANGE—Mr. C. E. Dovey, estate agent and auctioneer, of Cardiff, brought an action against Mr. Walter Francis Bell, Chepstow, respecting certain bills of exchange. Plaintiff was represented by Mr. Abel Thomas, Q.C., M.P., and Mr. Sankey (instructed by Mr. T.H.Betcher, Cardiff), and for the defendant appeared Mr. B. Francis-Williams, Q.C., and Mr. S. T. Evans, M.P. (instructed by Mr. John Moxon). Mr. Dovey was trustee under the bankruptcy of one Thomas Rees, and claimed from defendant a sum of £ 600, of which JB500 was upon fivebilis of exchange accepted by the bankrupt for the defendant's accommodation and zElOO upon a cheque drawn by Thomas Rees in favour of the Metropolitan Bank, and endorsed by the bauk and the defendant. The bankrupt and Mr. Bell were guarantors of a brick company, and the main issue, so far as the plaintiff was concerned, was whether or not the money was really a transaction carried on for him or whether it was a transaction for the defendant. On two or three occasions his lordship remarked upon the complicated nature of the case. A number of witnesses were called, and the court adjourned till Saturday. SATURDAY. CRIMINAL COURT. ATTEMPTED CUIMINAL ASSAULT.—Thomas Hopkins. (27), labourer, was charged with criminally assaulting Ellen CHara, aged 14, at No. 5, Park-place, Gilfach, on the II.Ith June. Mr. Lleufer Thomas prosecuted. Evidence having been given, the jury returned a verdict of attempted assault, and prisoner was sentenced to twelve months' hard labour. INDECENT ASSAULT.—John O'Connell, (36). labourer, was indicted for having on the 4th 1 July, indecently assaulted Elizabeth Ptielle. aged 14, a domestic servant at the Greyhound Inn, Tiefoxest. Mr. Gwynn Morris prosecuted, and Mr. St. John Wiiliams defended. Prisoner was found guilty and sentenced to 1ive month./ imprisonment with hard labour. A MISCHIEVOUS YOUTH.—Elijah Stuart, was brought up to receive sentence for putting an obstruction on the Cwm Bit Railway on June 20. The Judge said he would not send I prisoner to gaol because he did not think it < would do him aoy good but he would sentence the lad to twelve strokes with the birch as a warning to other boys. HEAVY SENTENCE.—Richard Thomas, (47), seaman, was indicted for on the 16th of July, at Swansea, crimi aally assaulting his niece, Rose Smith, a girl of the age of only nine years. His Lordship commented on the atrocious nature of the case, saying the defendant, being her uncle, would naturally have been looked to for protection and not for outrage. He sentenced him to seven years penal servitude. The court adjourned till Monday morning. THE PONTARBAWE CHURCH DISPUTE.—The grand jury returned a true bill in the case of the llev. J. A. Rees and Police-constable Jenkins in connection with the technical assault in church at Alitwen, Pontardawe. NISI PRIUS COURT. [Before Mr. Justice Kennedy.] BILL OF EXCHANGE TRANSACTION. DOVEY V. BELL (part heard).—This common jury action upon certain bills of exchange was resumed. The plaintiff was Charles Edwin Dovey, acting as trustee under the bankiuptcy of one Thomas Rees and the defendant was Walter Francis Bell, of Cruk House, Chepstow. Mr. Abel Thomas, Q.C., M.P., and Mr. Sankey (instructed by Mr. T. H. Belcher, Cardiff), appeared for the plaintiff; and Mr. B. Frauci* Williams, Q.C., and Mr. S. T. Evans, M.P., were for the defendants. The jury returned a verdict for the defendant. ACTION FOR SLANDER. DAVIES v. DAVIES.—This was an action for damages for slander, brought by Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Davies, wife of Thomas Davies, engine- teuder, against Wiiliam Davies, collier. The parties reside at Rhymney. Mr. S. T. Evans, M.P,(instructed by Messrs. Powell and Hughes), appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Lloyd Morgan for che defence.—Mr. Evans in opening said that they were quite willing to allow of the case being withdrawn if defendant would apologise and pay the costs. The slander complained of was uttered on the 3rd of December of lat year when defendant, counsel stated, said that he knew what Davies's wife was, and that he could go into plaintiff's house 4' at two o'clock in the morning as well at eight o'clock." The plaintiff's husband was an engine-tender, and had occasionally to be at work all night consequently, the statement would affect her character.—The words were utterly denied by defendant. The jury found a verdict for plaintiff, with £ 5 damages. The court then adjourned till Monday. A DEFAULTING JUROR.—Mr. H.W. Leaker, a juryman, who had been sitting on a partly- heard case in the nisi-prius court, was called up and cautioned by Mr. Justice Kennedy for being late and keeping the court waiting. The juror was not put in the box, but neither was he allowed to leave the court. SUNDAY. On Sunday morning the judges attended St. Mary's Church in state, together with the High Sheriff (Mr. L. D. Nicholl) and the Sheriff's Chaplain. Their Lordships were met by the Mayor and Corporation at the Town-hall, and were conducted through the plincipal streets to the Parish Chnrch. The procession was on a large scale and attracted much attention. The service was conducted by Chancellor Smith and the Rev. W. Morgan curate. The Assize sermon was preachel by the Sheriff's Chaplain (Rev. Mr. Creighton, lioath). The choir sang magnificently t\e "Te Deum" and the anthem, Praise the Lord, 0 Jerusalem)," was rendered with excellent effect. Mr. Radcliffe accompanied on the organ. After the service the judges were driven back direct to the Uplands. MONDAY. CRIMINAL COURT. THE CARDIFF MURDER CASE. Charles John Caveill, (27), labourer, was indicted for the wilful murder, on the 15th March, 1899, at Cardiff, of Margaret Josephine Caveill. Mr. W. U. Benson and Mr. L. M. Richards appeared for the Crown, and Mr. Ivor Bowen for the defence. At the outset the question was raised whether the prisoner was fit to plead. Dr. Pringle, medical superintendent of the Glamorgan County Asylum, was called. He deposed to visiting the prisoner on several occasions, and said that visiting him that morning he found him dull and listless in manner, confused in thought and frequently incoherent in his state- ments. He did not think he was in a fit state to understand his position Replying to counsel for the defence, he said that from his examina- tion of that day he did not think prisoner was of sufficient intellect to understand his position. By Mr. Benson He is insane. In answer to his Lordship, witness stated that when he asked prisoner if he knew for what reason he was brought there that morning, he replied, Yes; for my trial." Prisoner had been told that, but he did not know whether his wife was dead or alive. The man was also full of illusions about bis wife having tried to poisoa him many times. Dr. Treharne, of the Cardiff Prison, also deposed to the confused state of prisoners' mind. The Judge, addressing the jury, said that in order that a man might plead he should not onlv be able to say whether he was guilty or not, but also to instruct Counsel for his defence. If a man was in that state of mind that he did not understand what was going on about him, he was not fit to be tried. It was for them to say whether prisoner was fit or not. While the jury was deliberating, prisoner arose and exclaimed I did not poison my wife I loved her with my whole heart and soul." The jury decided tbat the prisoner was not fit to plead and he was ordered to be detained during her Majesty's pleasure. ALLEGED CONCEALMENT OF BIRTH. Blanche Young, a young woman, was charged with having on or about the 9th June last, endeavoured to conceal the birth of a male child. Mr. Lovat ifraser was for the prosecution, and Mr. Arthur Lewis and Mr. Douglas Lewis for the defence. The jury having been sworn, Miss Jenner, bowing to his Lordship, said, May it please your Lordship, I plead for my fallen sister." She went on to say something about the prisoner being respectable and industrious, and that she was present at the expense of the ratepayers to plead for her fallen sister." The Judge said he was afraid he could not hear her. Miss Jenner Then I ask yonr Lordship to deal with her under the First Offtn lers' Act. Evidence was then called, but his Lordship said it was very slierhi, and not sufficient to connect the prisoner with the child that had been found, although the prisoner had herself admitted giTing birth to a child. The jury agreed with his Lordship, and the prisoner was discharged. ALLEGED MANSLAUGHTER AT MERTHYR. Norah O'Regan, (22), married woman, was charged with the manslaughter of her child, Daniel James O'Regan on the 2nd April, at Mertbvr. Mr. North more Jones appeared for the prosecution, and prisoner was undefended. Whilst the jury was being sworn, however, Miss Jenner, addressing his Lordship, stated that she appeared on behalf of the ratepayers of MClthyr. The Judge said she was quite at liberty to instruct counsel, whereupon Miss Jenner moved over to where Mr. Rowland \aughan Williams was sitting, and, putting some money into the barrister's hand, remarked It's public money your lordship." Mr. R. Vaughan Williams then undertook the defence. Ruth Williams, a married woman of Merthyr, stated that on the 3rd April the prisoner came to her house with her baby. From there the woman went to a public-house, and, after drinking there for some time, returned to witness's house, where she laid down upon a bed with her child. Some time afterwards witness found that the child was dead. Dr. Ward stated that death was due to overlaying, cases of which were only too common. The jury broughtin a verdict of "Sot guiity," and the Judge, in discharging the prisoner, said she had acted very carelessly towards her child. ATTWKLL AGAIN—George Attwell, (26), laliourer, was charged with as-saulting Elizabeth Jarvis, and stealing from her person an umbrella, at the same time using personal violence towards her, on tl e 24th May last. Mr. L. M. Richards (instructed by Mr. Laurence 1 Richards) was for the prosecution and Mr. Lloyd Morgan (instructed by Mr. Hy. Thompson) defended. Prisoner, at the last Assizes at Swansea, was sentenced by Mr. Justice Wills to a severe flogging for a similar offence to the one with which he was now charged.—Prosecutrix stated that on the even- ing in question, she was proceeding home about eleven o'clock, and when in a rather quiet part of the town, the prisoner, who bad followed her for some considerable nistance. came up to her. He seized her roughly by the arm, and pushed her against the wall. She screamed out for assistance, and three men appeared on the scene, whereupon Attwell ran away with the umbrella which he had taken from her. Cross-examined by Mr. Lloyd Morgan prosecu- trix stated that prisoner was not drunk. He did not hit her. but the pressure of her shoulders against the wall hurt her considerably. Two brothers named Chard, and another man named George Hopkins, of the Mexico Fountain, Neath-road, deposed to seeing the prisoner going away with the umbrella, and P.C. Cross; gave evidence as to the arrest. When charged, Attwell exclaimed, Good God" and commenced to cry. He admitted walking away with the article, but denied ever touching the woman. The jury retired for a short time and on returning gave a verdict of guilty of robbery without violence. The Judge sentenced prisoner to eighteen months' hard labour, saying that if he came there again he would be sent to penal servitude. Br GAMY.—A respectably attired woman named Martha George, (29), surrendered to bail on a charge of bigamy by marrying Arthur Jones this year, when the hushand- whom she had married in 1893, Thomas jleorge, was still alive. Mr. T. Walter Williams pnsecuted. Defendant admitted the offence, bat added that she didn't know she was breaking the law.—The Judge said it was a very serious offence, and ordered the woman to stand down until the following day. SENTENCES. William Henry Newton, (25), fish-curer, pleadedjfguilty to {stealing a horse, cart, and harness at Pontypridd on June 28. Mr. Lloyd Morgan prosecuted. Prisoner, who got away to Cardiff with the horse and sold it for £4, had been previously convicted of false pretences.— Sentenced to nine months' hard labour. Rose Riley pleaded guilty to window smashing at Cardiff, to the extent of £ 11.—t She was sentenced to nine months' hard labour. Edward Mitchell, (21), labourer, pleaded guilty to three charges of obtaining articles by false pretences at Cardiff. He was sentenced to eighteen months' hard labour. George S. Jenks was charged with forging an advance note for £2 19s. Cd. at Cardiff. He pleaded guilty.—Mr. Tudor Howell, who prosecuted, said that the county police had another charge pending against the prisoner on another advance note. Detective Scott said prisoner was a fireman of previous good charac- ter.—The Judge said that he intended his sentence to cover both offences, aud would communicate with the county to that effect. He sentenced prisoner to twelve months' hard labour. Samuel Brown, an aged" printer," pleaded guilty to picking the pocket of Mary Thomas, at Cardiff. Mr. J. Walter Williams prosecuted. Prisoner had been previously convicted on many occasions in Dorsetshire, but they had not been charged in the indictment.—Prisoner handed a paper to the judge, who said he must sentence prisoner, who appeared to live by crime, to a long period of imprisonment—eighteen months' hard labour. George Westgarth,aged 21, pleaded guilty to forging a colliery pay-ticket by altering the figures in the shilling column to the extent of 10s. He had been convicted several times at Bristol, and was described as a pilferer.—He was sentenced to three months' hard labour. CIVIL COURT. [Before Mr. Justice Kennedy and a Special Jury.] BRECONSHIRE COMMON RIGHTS. EVANS V. MERTHYR DISTRICT COUNCIL.— This action will be remembered as having occupied a considerable time at the last Summer Assizes, whither it had been remitted from the Court of Chancery. The jury then found that the land in dispute, Torglas, was in the parish of Llanfrynach and, further, that it was commonable land. This finding ended a dispute between the parishes of Cartref and Llanfrynach, who stood by the decision that the land in dispute was in Llanfrynach. Since the last assizes, the case had been to the Court of Appeal, and his Lordship was now directed to decide whether a specific piece of land on Tor Glas was commonable or freehold. The nature of the action was one for specific performance of an agreement. Mr. S. T. Evans, M.P., Mr. Ivor Bowen and Mr. Raymond Allen (instructed by Mr. D. T. Jeffreys) represented the commoners, and Mr. B. Francis Williams, Q.C., and Mr. Rowlands (instructed by Mr. G. C. James) appeared for the Merthyr Tydfil District Council. In an opening statement Mr. S. T. Evans explained that the question to be decided was whether a piece of land comprising 8a. 1r. 24p. was common or freehold land. The Merthyr Tydfil District Council in the Session of 1895 promoted a Bill in Parliament for the acquisition of certain land in the county of Brecon for the purpose of extending their water supply, and a certain agreement was arrived at by the promoters and those interested in the common land by which the commoners were willing to accept £40 per acre for any extinction of their commonable rights. Upon the passing of the Bill the District Council took, among other plots, the piece of land on Tor Glas in dispute, declining, however, to pay the agreed sum for it on the ground that it was a freehold plot duly conveyed to them by Mr. Gwyn Holford, the lord of the' manor of Pencelly Wallensis, or Welsh Pencelly, in which manor Tor Glas is situate. The manor existed as far back as Henry VIII.. and Tor Glas had been treated as waste land both by the parishioners and the predecessors in title of the manor of Welsh Pencelly, being used by them as sheep walks according to the Welsh custom of arosfa. The manor was held as a Crown manor until the year 1816, but prior to that, in 1762, Mr. Tbynne Howe Gwyn, the great-grandfather of Mr. Gwyn Holford, was appointed under the Crown as steward. He accounted for rents, but he was steward so long—about 55 years—that he appeared towards the end of that period to have come to the conclusion in his own mind that the manor belonged to him. That appeared from certain legal proceedings in order to perpetuate certain testimony taken in 1816, when Mr. Thynne Howe Gwyn brought an action against a man. named Clifton for damages for trespass upon land not far from the piece in dispute. The trial took place at the Hereford Assizes, and while the parties were fighting Mr. Clifton stole a march upon his opponent and ascer- tained that Mr. Gwyn was not the proprietor but the steward of the manor, and ultimately bought from the Crown the land over Mr". Thynne Howe Gwyn's head. For the purposes of the trial a survey of the manor was made by a surveyor of great eminence at that time, Mr. John Cheese, of Hereford, who in his report said the manor had been so long held by Mr. Thynne Howe Gwyn that it was impossible by any information to ascertain the boundaries on the enclosed lands, but he was able to give. along with three other pieces of waste land, the area of Tor Glas and boundary as the commoners claimed existed to-day. In 1824 there was a sale of the manor by Mr. Clifton to Mr. Thynne Howe Gwyn, who died two years later, and by the testator's will the whole of the manor- ial rights of Welsh Pencelly went to the second son, but with an option to purchase in favour of his granddaughter, who subse- quently became the lady of the manor, and upon her marriage Mrs. Gwyn Holford, the mother of the present proprietor, who sold to the District Council. That was the history of the manor, and to show that Tor Glas was waste land be relied first of all upon the survey of Mr. Cheese and then upon various presentments to the Court Leet, by which it 1 was set forth that it was held as a sheep walk in connection with Blaentaff Farm, and that parishioners from the adjoining parish of Cartref had been fined for using the arosfa rights on Tor Glas. By another presentment it was shown that in 1783 an ancient roan of éO years with others perambulated the manor and in detail gave the boundaries of all the waste lands, including Tor Glas, which agreed with the boundaries of to-day. Coming to the title of Blaentaff Farm. counsel said that although Mr. Gwyn Holford was the lord of the manor, yet he did not possess a single yard of land in the parish of Llanfrynach. He had shown how Mr. Gwyn I Holford came into possession of the manor, but he was sorry to say that he was not able to show any title by which he could claim land in Llanfrynach. The farm down to 1847 was held by Mr. De WTinton, who sold to Mr. Richards. The latter thought he was entitled to the freehold of Tor Glas, but about the year 1880, whilst the District Council was taking over land for the purposes of their water works under previous Parliamentary powers, it suddenly dawned upon Mr. Gwyn Holford that he should obtain all he could, and he accordingly sent down his agent to Mr. Richards saying he must give up his rights to Tor Glas. Why Mr. Richards never knew, but being unable to engage in a law- suit with so powerful a person as the lord of the manor, he consented to enter into an agreement, which the agent proposed, by which he was to pay 5s. a year for the pasturage on Tor Glas. An act of that kind, however, was not binding upon the commoners in general, who subsequently broke down certain boundary stones that the lord of the manor had put there, and proclaimed the common free again.—Evidence was then called, and the Court adjourned till Tuesday. TUESDAY. CRIMINAL COURT. AN OFFENCE AGAINST SOCIETY."—Martha George, upon whom sentence was deferred on the previous day, was now sentenced-to six months' hard labour for bigamy, the Judge commenting upon the seriousness of her offence against society. LENIENCY.—Thos. Collins (1G), labourer, who had pleaded guilty to a charge of criminally assaulting, at Barry, Mary Ellen Ellwood, aged eight years, was brought up to receive sentence. The Judge sentenced him to 12 strokes with the birch rod. SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A POSTMAN.— David Hanbury (31), postman, surrendered to his bail upon a charge of stealing postal letters containing money and cheques.—Mr. W. D. Benson (instructed by Mr. J. C. Thomas, Merthyr,) appeared for the prose- cution, Mr.' Ivor Bowen (instructed by Mr. Jeffreys, Neath,) defended.—John Chas. Jones, grocer, Cwmavou, deposed to giving prisoner, who was a postman for that district, four letters to post. One contained half-a-sovereign in cash, two others cheques, and the fourth contained a receipt. Witness also gave prisoner money to buy stamps, and he put the letters in his bag.—Mr. Jenkin Jones, to whom one of' the letters in question was addressed, proved not receiving it.—Mr. Morgan Thomas, post-master of Port Talbot, and Miss Joseph, an assistant at the Cwm- avon sub-Post Office, having given evidence, Wm. Thomas Edwards, an inspector, was called. He stated that, having received instructions to investigate the reported loss of the four letters, he had an interview with Hanbury. The latter, in the course of the interview, said he remembered receiving the four letters. He purchased stamps and posted them. Hanbury afterwards contra- dicted himself, saying he put the letters in his pocket and forgot all about them. On finding them in his pocket nearly a week afterwards he got frightened and placed them in the fire. — Learned counsel having addressed the jury, his Lordship summed up. He said it was essential in the interests of the public that letters put to the post should be properly delivered, and that persons employed in the service of the Post Office-- and they were generally persons of good character—should discharge tceir duties in a proper manner. The jury, after a brief consultation,' returned a verdict of guilty.—In passing sentence, the Judge said the jury could not have come to any other conclusion as the evidence was very clear. It was very sad that a young man should have forfeited his character in such a manner. Cases of that kind must be dealt with severely, but he would deal with him as leniently as possible. The sentence would be nine calendar month's imprisonment. SEQUEL TO A CARDIFF STREET FIGHT.— Margaret Ellen Rees (24), Cardiff, was indicted with killing and slaying Catherine McCarthy, on the 5th April.—Mr. Lloyd Morgan prosecuted, and Mr. St. John Williams Idefended. — It appeared from the evidence that the prisoner and deceased met at the Salutation Hotel, Bute-street, Cardiff, on April 5th. They had a quarrel, which ended in a fight taking place in the street. Prisoner struck McCarthy a blow behind the left ear, both fell down, and the latter the following day succumbed to his injuries. A doctor was called to give evidence, and he said the clot of blood which caused death might have been caused by a blow, but it was more probable that it was caused by a fall.— In his address to the jury, Counsel for the defence contended that what was done by the prisoner was in self-defence.—The Judge, in summing up, however, said no one was justified in defending himself unless he was unable to get away, which was not the case in this particular case, because prisoner was the stronger party.—The jury found the prisoner not guilty," and she was dis- charged, the Judge advising her to keep out of street brawls in future. FRAUD. — Francis Sidney Wellman (26), saddler, pleaded guilty, to fraudulently obtaining, on the 21st July last, at Llanwonno, £11 of the money of Morgan Jones, with intent to defraud. Sentenced to 12 calendar months' imprisonment. Mr. Rhys Williams prosecuted. FRAUD AT CARDIFF. — Henry Bruton Abberley (24), clerk, well educated, was Abberley (24), clerk, well educated, was charged with, on or about the 17th of January, at Cardiff, feloniously altering an order tor the payment of a banker's cheque with intent to defraud.—Mr. Ivor Bowen and Mr. Plews prosecuted.—The prisoner was secretary of a club at Cardiff called the Antediluvian Institute of Buffaloes, and he was proved to have altered the amount of a cheque from £2 to £2 lis.—The prisoner, a smart young fellow, conducted his own defence.—He was found guilty, but recom- mended to mercy on the ground of the laxity shown by the club authorities, and his lordship sentenced him to six months' hard labour only. SECOND CROWN COURT. [Before Mr. Abel Thomas, Q.C., Commis- sioner.] THREATENED WITH THS "CAT." — Evan Bevan and John Lewis, Aberdare, were indicted for robbing with violence a man named Henry Griffiths, at Aberdare, on Saturday night, July 1.—The jury returned a verdict of guilty, and the Commissioner, in passing sentence, questioned whether he should not order the cat." However, they had not been previously convicted for stealing, and he would only sentence them to six months' hard labour. ROBBING A CARDIFF CHAPEL. — John Williams, fifteen, and Alfred Broom, eighteen, were charged with breaking and entering Roath Congregational Chapel, Cardiff, on April 20, and stealing 3s. from the vestry.— Mr. Trevor Lewis prosecuted, and Mr. Vaughan Williams appeared for the prisoner Williams, Broom pleading guilty.—The jury found prisoners guilty, but recommended them to mercy on account of their youth.— Broom was sentenced to one month and Williams was liberated on his own recog- nisances. UTTERING A FORGED CHEQUE.—Catherine Page, fifteen, was indicted for obtaining from Ethel Fryer, at Cardiff, on June 21, two skirts, the property of Winter Lates, by virtue of a forged cheque, well knowing the same to have been forged.—Prisoner pleaded guilty.—The Commissioner ordered the girl back to gaol to be dealt with by one of the judges later in the assires. A CARDIFF SHOOTING CASE. — Charles i Trenchard (37), hairdresser, was indicted for feloniously, unlawfully, and maliciously shooting at John Davies, at Cardiff, on May 8, with intent to do him grievous bodily harm. Defendant, who had been liberated on bail, pleaded not guilty.—Mr. Kelly prosecuted 1 and Mr. Arthur Lewis appeared for the ] defence.—The jury found the prisoner guilty, and the Commissioner, in passing sentence of < nine months, hoped it would deter others j from committing a like offence. < CIVIL COURT. < THE BRE'JONSHIRE COMMON CASE. J EVANS V. MEBTHTRTYDFII, URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL. —»-When the Court resumed its 1 sitting on Tuesday further evidence was < failed for the plaintiffs, and Mr. B. F. ] Williams, Q.C., in opening for the defendants, t traced the history of the lands in question back for several hundred year3. Coming to < more recent times, he devoted his attention to < the Parliamentary survey of 1651, and (

Cheese's survey of 1816. The latter, on which the plaintiffs had rested a good deal of the case, was, he contended, erroneous and unreliable in several particulars, which he should prove. The plaintiffs had referred to the Parliamentary survey of 1631, and this proved that rents had been paid for the very lands which Cheese claimed as common land in 1816. At the conclusion of counsel's speech the court adjourned until Wednesday. [CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 J