The Cambrian

SWANSEA BOARD OF GUARDIANS. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Swansea Board of Guardians was held on Thursday afternoon. Mr. Philip Jenkins presided pro tem., and there was a full attendance of members. Sir John Llewelyn, to whose longeonnection with the Board Mr. Philip Jenkins had briefly alluded, moved, with great pleasure," the re-election af Dr. Gomer Lewis, who had fulfilled his very onerous duties with dignity and with credit. Mr. J. H. Stevens seconded. The Chairman supported, and said in the words of another that Dr. Gomer Lewis left no tender word unsaid in dealing with poor people. Mr. Richard Watkins opposed the motion on the ground that the Board could not honour one who was a minister of the gospel, but the resolution was carried, and Dr. Gomer Lewis took the chair amid applause. Messrs. Glynn Price and Philip Jenkins were re-elected vice-chairmen, Mr. W. H. Mill. who was nominated, declining to stand. The committee appointments previously made were practicallv agreed to, but in re- gard to the Asylum Committee, Mr. Solomon proposed that there be no such committee, but. that the Board should select t-herepresen- tatives to make the periodical visitations to the Asylum. Mr. Sims seconded. Sir John Llewelyn, in support, generally advocated a small committee, in order to cause as little disturbance AS possible to the Asylum authorities, but in the present year, having regard to the grave business before the Board as a consequence of the possible separation of Swansea- from the institution, he thought a very representative committee should be carefully selected. (Hear. hear,) The motion was agreed to. Mr. Philip Jenkins moved a vote of thanks to the retiring Assessment Committee, attd said that they deserved well of the town in consequence of their having successfully steered them through the new assessments. He alluded in particular to the services of Mr. Glynn Price, the chairman, and Mr. Johnson, the vice-chairman. Mr. Lloyd seconded. Mr. David Davies, as a member of the com- mittee who did not seek re-election, observed that the' committee during the year had done an enormous amonnt of work, and that ex- ceedingly well. The motion was carried unanimously. Mr. Glvnn Price, who was received with applause, briefly acknowledged. Sixteen candidates delared themselves for the twelve vacancies on the Assessment Committee, and the following were appointed —Messrs. Glynn-Price, J. W. Johnston, D. Griffiths. Dr. Gom^r Lewis, W. H. Mill, G. Devonald. H. A. Peacock, Griff. Davies, J. Harvey, J. H, Stevens, D. Williams, George Rowe. tfpon a letter being read from the public vaccinators, it was decided to pay the whole of the bills for vaccine used during the recent SCar instead of only one-half as recom- mend.ed by the Finance Committee. This was the principal business.

"THE MESSENGER BOY." AT THE GRAND NEXT WEEK. ;jjr G^rge Edwardes' company is due at the Grand -Theatre, Swansea, next week, in the second edition of the successful musical play, The Messenger Boy," with full chorus and augmented orchestra. The Messenger Boy" ia the production of the collaboration of Messrs James T. Tanner and Alfred Murray, the lyrics being by Adrian Ross and Percy Greenback, Stnd the music by Ivan Caryll and IJonel Monckton. ThIs wil] be its first visit to Swansea, and no doubt local playgoers will take advantage of the opportunity afforded them of making the acquaintance of so merry and tuneful a play. The story is a most in- teresting one; the songs patriotic, satirieal, humorous—are all practically new; while the dresses are gorgeous, and in the groupings present a series of beautiful pictures. Instead of the usual Saturday night performance, a matinee will be given at 2.30 on Thursday, May 1st, and the company will leave for Cork on Saturday afternoon.

V-ir, wife of Mr. Herman iVeain, the | well-known Shakesperian actor, who had been | suffering from mental ms con&nitted suicide at Margate.

OLD SWANSEA. SOME VERY INTERESTING REMINIS- CENCES. [BY A NATIVE.] "I could a tale unfold." Hamlet. In addition to the mail coaches in and out of Swansea there were competing drags with four horses, owned as speculations by private individuals—they were equally well-appointed horsed, and fast, the competition resting in the fares more particularly, but for all practical purposes were just as comrortAo e. and commodious. I recollect one excellent coach called the aCwmrw," which, indeed, possessed a guard, who played the key bugle. I remember his name, too, being Goodwin" —he was a bit of a wag-a well-spoken man who had seen better days. He used to say that the estate he had been done out of by his ancestors was the "Goodwin Sands!" But apropos of the London Mail, we must not forget the Merthyr Mail, which travelled from Swansea and back, along the Neath Valley. This coach was also a fairly fast one, and horsed "unicorn fashion," and I do not remember more than three horses at any time, but the specially notable circumstance connected with this service was the coachman, who enjoyed two distinct forms of greatness. One was that he was a good all-round in- telligent and amusing man on the box, and quite a public character. And the other was his being of enormous proportions-a real "Daniel Lambert"—and these were not op- tically condensed by his habiliments and genera 1 get-up-a regular out and out "Jarvie," who could, with his long thong, flick a fly from the leader's ear as well as any "whip"—a veritable "Tony Weller," but I think more expansive—a twenty-stone man at the least—it was, in facti, a matter of wonderment how his tailor managed to take the measurement of his waist band. There must have been one or two assistants in this, or he must have pinned the tape foot by foot as he walked round him. The old man, for he was well on to the seventies, I think, was always well dressed, in horsy tyle, and well groomed: wore a broad brimmed, low- crowned beaver hat, a dark cloth coat, fawn coloured knee-breeches, white stockings, and shoes, with a clean white necktie. I never saw him in top boots, nor in trousers, nor yet with gaiters, though I suppose he must have donned these in the stormy weather. As a rule, it was white stockings throughout, and his calves were a spectacle of them- selves; fillets of veal were nothing to them, yet, withal, he had a thin, small voice entirely out of keeping with his proportions. He managed to get up to his perch with great difficulty, sometimes landing on the foot- board of the box-seat on one knee, but when settled there, and the ribbons were handed him, he was quite at home, and, I believe, with the exception of the half-hour's refresh- ment on the way, never faced the difficulties and consequences of a descent until his jour- ney was complete. I have likened him to Mr. Weller, sen., but I don't think he could have taken the role of that gentleman, whose latent powers of activity were brought into action in his treatment of the "Rev. Mr. Stiggins," when he cried, 'Come on! and giving that in- dividual a preliminary tap on the head, began dancing round him in a buoyant and cork-like manner which, in a gentleman at his time of life. was a perfect marvel to be- hold." Again, I cannot mention names. I should state that the mail coach office was at the corner of Green Dragon-lane, and therefore on part of the site of Messrs. Brader and Son's present music shop, and on the arrival of the bags, they were at once taken, as was stated recently in "The Cam- brian." across the street to the Post Office, next "The Cambrian" Office, which had been a private residence, and was approached, two steps up, by a narrow passage. The premises were, many years afterwards.. opened out as a shop, in which Mr. Sanguinetti, the London tailor, had a branch establishment. The Post Office then turned up in Fisher- street, and there remained, under the man- agement of Mr. John Davies. postmaster, as- sisted bv a Mr. Owen, until the new and commodious establishment was erected on the site of the old Town Hall. I do not remember "Mrs. Lemon," Swan- sea's only letter-carrier, but Christopher MacAdam, who was, I believe, her immediate successor, I well knew, and he had an assis- tant named Thomas or Jones, and so "crescendo!" as the years went by. One of the most interesting places in which to pass an occasional hour or two in old Swansea was the museum, which occupied the first floors of a house at the top of Castle-square, then called Market-square. I think it was next door to the business pre- mises occupied by Mr. Moyse, afterwards Moyse and Sibbering, and is now part of Ben. Evans and Co.'s place. It was, I recollect, a fearfully hot situation in summer time, facing as it did the direct south, and to it the sun seemed, somehow, to be unusually attracted. Of course, iti was all the better for the contents of the museum. Varieties of stuffed animals, birds, fish, reptiles, etc., with most interesting specimens °* Pr°ducts, ancient coins, and numerous other things, were there to be seen ad infini- tum. The museum was under the charge and superintendence of a person of the name of Mack, who, I think, when the contents of the place were removed to the more commo- dious institution on the Burrows.. afterwards called the Royal Institution of South Wales," passed tliere with them The new abode became the receptacle of a very much larger collection in a short time, and, with its accompanying development as the location of scientific research with a library, lecture theatre, etc., soon resolved itself 'into an undoubted adjunct, important to the prestige of Swansea. Another association ot my early years was the family doctor, for I remember powders, in jam and out of jam, distinctly and truly it was "Jam satis!" These were closely con- nected with a local celebrity m those days, Mr. Long, who had been the much trusted friend and medical attendant of my relatives. I don't think there were more than about six doctors in the place! This Mr. Long was, years after, succeeded by Mr. William Harris who, subsequently, took the name of Long, and was a. good general practitioner and clever operator. There were as compeers of the original Mr. Long, Dr. Bird, "Dr. Tom," father of Mr. Owen Gething Williams Dr. WIll. Rowland, Dr. Nicol, Dr. Howell, and Mr. Wm. » The lawyers were few, the higher branch being solely represented by Mr. CounselJer Socket, as he was called,—a stuff-gownsman, who lived in High-street, and existed very much without briefs. The attorneys were Mr. Jenkin Berrington, brother of Mr. Berrington, of Woodland Castle; Mr. "Tom" Thomas, Town CeTk and Recorder; Mr. John Jenkins, succeeded by the late Mr. John Gwyn Jeffreys; Mr. Jackson Price, Mr. George Thomas, Mr. Charles Collins, the Coroner, and hia pre- decessor, Mr. James, I think; Mr. Williams, afterwards Williams and David, the latter of whom, that genial gentle practitioner so well known and respected, ultimately acting solely. The clergy were also few in number, there being but two churches then in the borough, St. Mary's (the Parish) and St. John's, at the top of High-street, the former being in charge of Dr. Hewson as vicar, and the latter of the Rev. Mr. Jones, a sou of Mr. Calvert Jones, of Heathfield, and sub- sequently of the Rev. M. Crowther. The dissenting element, however, was powerful, as it is at this day; there were several chapels in the town, namely. Lady Huntingdon's, York-place, Mount Pleasant, Bunker's Hill, the Welsh Trinity (near Union-street), Castle-street, the Unitarian, the Welsh Presbyterian (in a court near the Bird-in-Hand, High-street), the Quakers' Meeting House (High-street), the Methodist (in or near Tontine-street), and, I think. others in that quarter; then there were the Jews' Tabernacle (Goat-street), and the Roman Catholic. Coming away from such topics as the fore- going there are yet innumerable things which now and again occur to my mind, but which, when I want them, instantly get beyond recall. The Chartist riot^t, however, are cer- I tainly matters to be noted. I remember them well. They took place at Newport, and "Frost" and "Jones were names with which I was deeply impressed, 1 receHect, also, being told that it was not considered safe for any person in the streets of Swansea to talk Chartist politics for fear of the "police force," then consisting of William Rees, the Chief Inspector. John Luce, many years afterwards hall-keeper; and our old friend, Lodwick, of whom I shall say something later on; and afterwards was added Thomas Jones, nicknamed "Tom Below," a very fussy bird of the same feather, who had the repu- tation of doing deeds of daring in fights and scrimmages and in the detection of burglars and marauders. These policemen were tho- roughly well known by all Swansea's small population, and valued at what they were worth; I am therefore relating no special knowledge of my own in referring to them. With regard to the riots, I distinctly recollect the accounts of the firing on the mob by the soldiers and the attack on the Westgate Hotel, a subsequent personal examination of the staircase of that hostelry on passing through Newport by coach on the way to Bristol, having revived the impression of my still younger days, for I was able to see with my own eyes, the bullet holes in the woodwork, which was retained in that condi- tion as a souvenir of the battle. In those times it took two good days to get to London by the mail and other four- horse coaches. By degrees, averaging 12 miles, with no stoppages, except those stages for a rapid change of horses, which were already waiting in the roadway, we had de- lightful travelling at a swinging pace, the view of the country traversed by its hills and dales being then infinitely more charming than in these days of straight and level railways. Bristol was the first day's journey by way of the passage," which was, indeed, a ferry on a large scale, situate not very far west of the point at which the G.W.R. now enters the- Severn Tunnel. Here an open boat, with sails, took the travellers and mails on board, and too often met with acci- dents, sometimes, I fear, fatal ones. for on one occasion I remember hearing that the boat had capsized or been swamped in the attempt to cross that wild and exposed river, a veritable sea., in fact, at high-tide. On reaching the opposite side all were met by another coach similarly appointed, which, in due time. with the aid of the guards' clarion, cheerfully took them through the then narrow and dirty streets of the ancient city of Bristol^ and, finally, pulled up by "The Rummer." I never travelled the whole dis- tance to London by the coach, but several times to Bristol and. also, so far by the steamer County of Pem- broke, another mode of transit from Swan- sea. In after years, of course, the G.W. Rail- way being opened from Bristol, the Metro- polis was reached thereby, the coaches being off the read. The establishment of this railway, which was my first experience of steam locomotion, presented many strange aspects. A striking circumstance next to the little divided com- partments of the first-class carriages of that broad guage line was the great number of dark green fustian porters at the chief sta- tions, who struck me as an excessive quan- tity, tumbling over each other, in fact, and who were ready to do anytfhing and every- thing for Pasf,eTlfej8' a'though, mind you. the age of "tips" had not then come on; but alas, in a few years induced, no doubt, by the expense, the number of these minions became reduced, and still further reduced, for the benefit of dividends, until, as now. the activity and usefulness of the breed is very much to be measured by the amount the ready left hand expects to receive. Now "revenons a nos moutons," let us hark back to Swansea proper, for I have a thle to tell you about a personage whom, for a cansiderable period, occupied a very nromi- j nent position there, and that is the "Boron Spolasko." It may be that some of the later generation have never heard of him. but, for a time, he was a power I can assure you. One of the earliest items in my memory, I and I must confess I did not think it was J so capacious as it proves, wag the grand entrance into the town of the Bnron Spol- asko. He was a quack doctor. who had made a reputation elsewhere by attending Welsh colliers and others. His advent was well advertised by the dissemination of small handbills and leaflets for weeks, nav months, and when he arrived the whole district was in commotion, thousands of people Iiiied-tbe route, but after all, the grandeur was not so extensive and, rather, savoured of the ridiculous; yet, it was in the nature of a. Royal progress. A large, elegant yellow car- riage with certainly four, if not six horses, in splendid trappings, with postilions in brilliant colours and cockades, a blackman servant in gorgeous livery and shoulder-knot, yellow silk breeches and white stockings. sitting alone in solemn dignity immoveable on the centre of the box seat, the "Baron" inside, bowing right and left, midst the roar- ing swell of cheeping that beset him on all I Hands. That seemed to be the alpha and omega of the equipage, for I cannot bring my memory to the fact that I ever saw it again- that is to say, the carriage, horses and out- riders-the "Nigger," however, remained in the service for a long while, though, to a certain extent, he was improvised for the special occasion, and went by the name of "Massa Quashee. The Baronial Doctor soon became the "heal-all" of the com- munity of artisans, copper men, colliers, and others employed in the various works near Swansea, the legitimate members of the pro- fession being nowhere! until one day he made a mistake, and, in due course, found himself in the prisoners' dock at the Assizes—man- slaughter! This small matter, not a last- ing disqualiifcation, was, however, butt a temporary inconvenience. He soon phcenixed, and again became the idol and general re- feree of the masses which, indeed, as often occurs, appraised him on martyred principles at higher rates than ever. This quack rode with a good seat, a well- bred bay horse, I remember, and looked, on horseback, every inch a gentleman, his heels decorated with gilt spurs, giving him a military bearing which was even increased w^6in J dismounted, for he walked and clicked on the pavements like a veritable dragoon. He was always well dressed, hav- ing an elaborate gold framed eye-glass, and wore under his nose a large black moustache (I think dyed), which was a capillary growth not then common in private life. I lorget where he resided at first, but in later years he rented a house, since pulled down, in Adelaide-street, next to Lady Huntingdon s Chapel, afterwards also rased, and on which the Exchange was built. He erected good stabling at the rear of his house, to which lie opened an entrance without permission from the little "cul-de-sac" in Cambrian-p ace, next to what was called Murket's Folley, a smaH castelated house, ,01Jnd that by so doing he had invaded the rights of other parties, and the doorway he had made was literally built up for him and all access there stopped. The Baron, however, Was not going to be done in this way; he taught his horse, a nice, docile, well-bred animal to walk up his door steps, several in number, in Adelaide-street, and to pass atong the hall and passage, just three feet wide and so to the stables behind. The floor of this passage being of wood, the heavy tramp of the hoofs was plainly heard after the door was closed. Poor horse! I often thought him a "jolly sight" too good for his proprietor. The doctor's practice, after some years, languished, and the doctor himself, w^5LY.as ultimately recognised as one "John "illiams," a former surgery boy to a regular practitioner in England, entirely evaporated to no one knew where!!

At Birmingham Iron Market last week it I was announced that an order for 15,000 tons of steel plating bars for rolling into sheets far galvanising Purposes had been placed with a South Wales firm. This order, which represents an aggregate value of £ 75,000, is the largest of the kind ever given out in the Midlands, and indicates the confidence felt in the revival of trade. It is under- ttood that a large proportion of the sheets are to be shipped to South Africa.

MEY'S WATCH SPRING CORSETS, THE JIOST SHAPELY AS WELL AS THE MOST DURABLE IN THE TRADE. Once tried always worn. ] DlPOT RHYS THOMAS, RHYS THOMAS, 81, OXFORD STREET, SWANSEA.

SWANSEA AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY. "PATIENCE" AT THE GRAND THEATRE. A CHARMING OPERA SUCCESSFULLY PERFORMED. The Swansea Amateur Operatic Society, after the performance of Messrs. Gilbert and Sullivan's charming opera Patience, or Buntborne's Bride," at the Grand Theatre on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, almost belies its title. Last year a fine production of "Iolanthe" was given, but the society's claim to professionalism is well-nigh assured by this latest effort to augment the funds of the local charitable institutions. Splendid!" was the general verdict of a good "house" on Wednesday evening, as the curtain rang down upon Mr. Gilbert's delightful hit-off against the former craze for sestheticism, and it was done very finely indeed, taking all the circumstances into consideration The plot of "Patience" is not very deep, but the combination of Gilbertian wit and humour and Sullivan's fascinating music will always cause this charming opera to be among the host of captivating produc- tions that have emanated from this famous collaboration. Perhaps in Patience" more than in any other of his librettos one detects Mr. Gilbert's high appreciation of Robertson, the inventor of stage management. "I have been to many of his rehearsals" be has said and learned a great deal from them." Robertson showed how to give life, variety and nature to the scene by breaking it up with all sorts of little incidents and delicate by-play, and it is here wehre -1 Patience," so far as the book goes, is simply delightful. Watch, for instance, the twenty love-pick maidens, whose "tastes have been etberialised. our perceptions exalted as they crowd round Buntborne, who is in all the agonies of the composition of a poem. Finished! at last! Finished Bunthorne exclaims. He then staggers, overcome with the mental strain, into the arms of Col. Calverley. "Are you better now? the Colonel asks. "Yes," is the reply, "I am better now The poem is finished and my soul has gone out into it. It was nothing worth mentioning, it occurs three times a day." What could be better than this bit of by- play on the part of the sham aesthetic, and Mr. B. Percy Rees, of Llanplly, who filled the role of Bunthorne, acted it excellently. Indeed, but for just a tinge too much of the" theatrical," the Bunthorne of the piece was splendid throughout, but never better than in the first interview he has with Patience," in which both Mr. Rees and Miss Bertha Seaton, of Margam, were the central figures in a sweetly pretty bit of acting. Here is the charming dia- logue :— Patience I beg your pardon-I interrupt you- Bunthome: Life is made up of interrup- tions. The tortured soul, yearning for solitude, writhes under them. Oh, but my heart is a-weary. Oh, I am a cursed thing. Don't go. Patience Really, I'm very sorry. Bunthorne: Tell me, girl, do you ever yearn ? Patience (misunderstanding him) I earn my living. Bunthorne (impatiently): No, no! Do you know what it is to be heart hungry ? Do you know what it is to yearn for the Indefinable and yet be brought face to face, daily, with the Multiplication table ? Do you know what it is to seek oceans and to find puddles ? to long for whirldwinds and to have to do the best you can with the bellows ? That's my case. Oh, I am a cursed thing Patience: If you please. I don't understand you—you frighten me This last remark was said by Miss Seaton, who has a taking personality and a sweet soprano voice, with just that demureness that was quite natural. Or what can be more effective stage-craft 1 and yet true to life than the open- ing of Act I., where we find the group of maidens all attired in Liberty gowns of various tints, lying in a semi-circle profie upon the green sward in a delicious glade, while Grosvenor (Mr. John Roberts) recites to them. In our view, this was one of the prettiest bits of stage effect that has been seen for some time, and seemed as though a rainbow had alighted on the grass for a moment or two. Space forbids further detail on this point. Suffice it to say that on Wednesday evening Patience lost none of its charm, either in the way of acting or mounting. It is but attempting to paint the lily to praise Suih van's music, and here again the Company of Amateurs did splendidly with, of course, just an exception here and there. Madame Hannah Jones, who took the part of The Lady Jane," was quite at her best. Indeed, she can scarcely be classed as an amateur any longer for she displayed her histrionic gifts to a rare degree, while her contralto voice was beautifully rich, particu- larly in the duet with Bunthorne, "So go to him," which was three times recalled, and in the solo Silvered is the raven hair." She was enthusiastically recalled on several occasions. Miss Seaton we have referred to. She was probably heard at her best in the ballad, "Love is a plaintive song," for which she was encored. Patience," it was generally allowed, could not have been en- trusted in better hands. Mr. Percy Rees shone more as an actor than a singer, though he gave, with much effect, If you're anxious for to shine in the high aesthetic line." The Archibald Grosvenor of the piece, on the other hand, is the possessor of a really fine tenor which was especially fine in the old favovrite, "Prithee, pretty maiden,-prithee, tell me true," and "A magnet being in the hardware shop" (for which he was twice encored). Miss Cecile Donnet as The Lady Angela, Miss M- Trickey as The Lady Saphir, and Miss Gwen Howell as The Lady Ella, also acquitted themselves admirably, Miss Donnet in- troducing into a somewhat heavy part a graceful naturalness that was very becoming to the character. Messrs. W. Arthur Davies (Colonel Calverley), Arthur James (Major Murgatroyd), and S. J. Curnow (Lieut, the Duke of Dunstable), as the officers of the Dragoon Guards, played and [ sang with effect. Mr. W. Kelleher as Bnnthorne's Solicitor, had a very light part. The choruses throughout went splendidly, and they were rendered by Rapturous Maidens: Misses B. Nicholson, G. M. Owen, B. Donnelly, L. Seaborne, G. Donnelly, M. Norman, F. Kaufman, R. Siedle, Ethel Williams, M. P. Brown, L. Andrews, M. Hutton, V. Lewis, E. Ashton, M. Williams, and Mrs. D. W. Lott; Officers of Dragoon Guards: Messrs. L. J. Kempthorne, W. H. Protheroe, W. J. Evans, Dan Morgan, T. Edgar John, A. Andrews, C. L. Vanderpump, Gerald Rich- ards, W. H. Curtis, Chas. Williams, J. McSweeney, Cyril Roche, G. B. Bowen, S. E. Whyatt, Stephen W. Thomas, and T. H. Henderson. Mr. Donald W. Lott conducted the augmented band and full chorus, and the dances in the piece, which were very prettily done, were arranged by Miss Kate Gaydon. The hon. musical director was Mr. \V. F. Hulley; and the chairman of committee was Mr. E. A. Cleeves, hon. treasurer, Mr. C. C. Vivian; and joint hon. sees., Messrs. W. H. Protheroe and A. Andrews. Mr. E. H. Siedle was the stage manager, while the orchestra was composed of :-lst violins: Mr: G. Oliver (Principal), Mr. R. Hulley, Mr. W. Hoare; 2nd violins Mr. B. Jones, Mr. Pound; violas Mr. F. Tunbridge, Mr. R. Palmer; 'cello and basso: Mr. C. Hulley, Mr. A. Smith nutea Mr. G. Horn, Mr. J. Tunbridge; oboe: Mr. Finlan; clarinets: Mr. M. Goudm&n, Mr. J. Strawbridge: bassoon Mr. P. Draper born Mr. E. Pearce; cornets: Mr. Hawkes, Mr. Mansel; trombones: Mr. Hanney, Mr. Murley timpani: Mr. Hallett. The performance will be repeated t"ni6 (Friday) and to-morrow (Saturday), and we predict a brilliant dress circle and a crowded pit.

Cynonfardd, the versatile Welsh-Americau1 pulpiteer and eisteddfodwr, is cnce more on a visit to his native land. To the late Dr. Join Davies, o" TJftesic- whose deaiige wasr*ported in "The Cambriø.n ¡. last week, is generally attributed the "bringintr lout" of Mr. S. T. Evans, M.P., into the political WHi

MESSRS. BEN EVANS AND CO., LTD. r COMPANY IN A SOUNDER POSITION THAN EVER BEFORE. The seventh annual meetiing of the pro- prietors of essrs. Ben Evans and Co.. Ltd., was held on Tuesday morning, at the Com- pany's premises, Castle-square. Sir Joseph Renals, Bart. (Chairman) presided, and he was supported by the other directors, Messrs. James Jackson, Gwilym Evans, James Par- ker, and John White (managing director), and the secrf/llry (Mr. W. H. Aynsley), while among a good attendance of shareholders r were:—Lady Renals, Mrs. John White, Mrs. Morgan W. Davies, Capt. George Symons, Messrs. W. H. Morgan, S. Picton, C. Hooper. DI. Williams, Evan Rees, E. G. Davies, D. Evans., Arthur H. Fowles, C. Reed, J. N. Evans, Hiram S. Jones, J. G. Ellerv, A. C. Wright, G. W. Mayhew, (Counting* House). D. Grey and others. Annual Report. The seventh annual report was as follows: The directors have much pleasure in sub- -ij' i _L.1.1" +.:1. ii mining to tne snareuuiums uuen s-fvenTn annual report, profit and loss account and balance-sheet for the year ending February 28th, 1902. During the twelve months a profit of £15,351 9s. 4d. has been made, from which has to be deducted £ 6,249 17s. 6d. for interest and other fixed charges, leaving a. balance of £9.101 lie. lOd. for dividends, of which JB4,700 have already been paid on the Ordinary and Preference Shares, leaving a balance of £ 4,401 lis. lOd. in addition to the £ 1,083 9s. 2d. brought forward from last year, making together £ 5,485 Is. available for further Dividend on the Ordinary Shares and the dividend on the Founders' Shares. The directors recommended that, including the interim dividend at 31 per cent. already paid, a dividend at the rate of 7 per cent. per annum be paid on the Ordinary Shares for the year ending February 28th, 1902. This will absorb £ 3,500, leaving jEl,559 18s. lid. to be carried forward to the Ordinary Share Dividend Account; that a dividend at the rate of 3s. per share be paid on the Founders' Shares for the year ending February 28th, 1902. This will absorb J3450, leaving jB84 18s. Ild. to be carried forward to the Founders' Share Dividend Account. The sum of Lgo 3s. 2d. is carried to the reserve account, in accordance with the articles (f association. The buildings, fixtures, and fittings have been kept in a thorough state of repair, out of revenue. The retiring director is Mr. Jas. Parker, who, being eligible, offers himself for re-election. The auditors (Messrs. Percy Mason and Co.) also retire, but are eligible for re-election. The Chairman's Speech. Upon rising to propose the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, together with the dividends contained therein, the Chairman was received very cordially. At the outset, he made a complimentary reference to the presence of the ladies, and went on to char- acterise the balance-sheet and accounts as eminently satisfactory. Such a condition of things, he thought, were reflected in the pre- sent appearance of the beautiful premises, with its electric light inside and out, and what was of more value than anything else, the businesslike air which pervaded every department. (Hear, hear.) He was sure that everyone connected with Messrs. Ben. Evans and Co., Ltd., would join with the directors in the feeling of satisfaction they felt when going over the building, and in their dealings with the company. If the directors had at any time been lax, he was perfectly certain that their very up-to-date managing director would take good care that if the firm were not absolutely ahead of the times that at any rate it would always keep abreast of them. (Applause.) Their valued, and he believed, appreciative clientele knew perfectly well that everything that the West End of London could give, Ben. Evans and Co. could supply. He thought they would agree with him that they had no right to complain of their year's trading. He did not hesitate to say that it was the most successful balance-sheet—the most promising -as representinga most successful year in the history of Ben. Evans and Co., Ltd., and what was very satisfactory from a share- holder's point of view, they had the largest balance to their credit at the bank that the history of the concern had known-(applause) -and that despite the fact that their man- aging director with his usual astuteness, had made use of the cash at his disposal, so as to pay cash upon every parcel that he pos- sibly could, which of course, meant an ad- ditional percentage to the shareholders. They had, and always would have, he sup- posed, some drawbacks, but the business had flourished despite the disastrous effect the baneful war in South Africa had had upon trade and commerce. On this point, he hoped that the peace prospects were about to herald the dawn of more prosperous times. (Hear, hear.) They would notice, from the balance- sheet, that they could have paid more than seven per cent. upon the ordinary shares, but their directors thought that it was sounder finance to carry forward a larger balance towards the next year, rather than pay a bigger dividend than seven per cent. at the present time. Of course, the amount carried forward could not be allocated to any other than the ordinary shares, but they had not only the present to consider, but, in a certain measure, to provide for the future. They might have a bad year. and it was thought a wiser policy to have something in hand to meet it and equalise dividends if at any time it was found to be necessary. Moreover, they must not forget that the greater majority of the shareholders were in. vestors, and not. those belonging to the speculative public. If any proof were wanted of this it was the small amount that went to the credit of the company in respect of transfer fees. It showed clearly that the shares were held firmly by those who believed in the business in which they had their money. He hoped the shareholders would also approve of the policy of the directors in charging everything to "revenue that they possibly could, because if they did that sys- tematically and were then able to pay sub- stantial dividends, they knew that the con- cern was healthy. One thing he had not the slightest hesitation in saying was that Ben. Evans and Co. Ltd.. was never in a sounder or more satisfactory condition in all its previous career than at the present time. (Applause.) And they would, further- more, be pleased to hear they had started the first month of their financial year—the month of March—with a very substantial in- crease over and above that of March of last year. (Hear, hear.) He thought that was a good omen for the future. In conclusion, Sir Joseph paid a warm debt of thanks, on behalf of himself and brother directors, to Mr. John White and the loyal staff that sur- rounded him, and -added that whenever he (the Chairman) came to Swansea he always found the heart and soul of their manager employed in the best interests of the share- holders. (Applause.) Mr. Gwilym Evans seconded, and aJ,o. said that the firm had never been on a better basis than at the present time. He knew perfectly well the greatest care was taken in stock-taking, and that at rock-bot- tom prices, so that if ever there was a forced sale, they would get full value for their assets. He considered the success of the concern was due to the able management of Mr. White and his staff. (Hear, hear.) In answer to Mr. W. H. Morgan, the Chair- man said that a scheme was under consider- ation by which they might do away with the Founders' Shares, and that. from what he knew of Mr. Mendel, who held two-thirds of them, and whose consent would have to be obtained, he was very hopeful that it would succeed. At the same time he pointed out up to the present those shares had caused no harm, as, after presiding for sevee per cent. on the ordinary shares and pay- ments to the reserve fand, only an equivalent to five per cent had bt'fn paid on them since the company was started seven years ago. The resolution was unanimously agreed to. Other Resolutions. On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr. White, t.he retiring director (Mr. Parker) was unanimously re-elected, as were also the auditors, on the proposition of Mr. Morgan, seconded by Mr. Mayhew. Mr. Jackson submitted a vote of thanks to the Chairman for presiding. Mr. D. Evans seconded, and this was cor- dially adopted. TTl renh-, the Chairman said he saw no to aiiacipa.tt> tlxci. Ben. Evans and Co., Ltd., would go back upon its past bttcces;. I Mr. S. Picton proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. John White (the managing director), the secretary (Mr. Aynsley),, and the other members of the staff for their services during the year. Mr. Grey seconded, and this motion was also cordially agreed to. Mr. John White, in reply, said the staff had done their best in the interests of tihe company, and had had nothing to regret. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Mayhew, Mr. Aynsley. and Mr. Reed also acknowledged the compliment, and the meeting terminated.

THE TRADE OF THE PORT AND DISTRICT. j SPECIAL 1KPORT BY OUR OWN OOBEESPOSTDEKT SWANSEA, THURSDAY. There has not been so much activity in trade at the docks during the week, as was the case the previous week. and com- pared with the corresponding period of last year there is a slight falling off in the import trade The entries of shipping were also limitad. The arrivals of shipping in ballast 18,324 tons, as against 24,193 tons the previous week. and 25,919 tons last year. The imports include-France, pitwood; Norway, pyrites, copper ore and timber; Spain, iron ore and pig iron United States, copper matte and bar copper: Canada, timber. Shipments of coal include-France, 19,526 tons Spain, 1,260 tons Germany, 6,450 tons Sweden, 2,415 tons; Italy, 2.340 tons Greece, 1,500 tons Algoa Bay, 1,700 tons San toFranclsco, 3,100 tons; and United States, 1,320 tons. o Qt f«el-~France> 2,515 tons; Spain. 2,980 tons; Italy, 2,700 tons and Greece, 1,100 tons. In the general export trade but little was doing, the only clearances being for France, 360 tons; Germany, 400 tons Copenbagen, Libau &c.. 850 tons Holland, 400 tons and Philadelphia and Baltimore, 220 tons. Imports CoFtstwise pig-iron, 520 tons; scrap iron and steel, 883 tons copper ore, 110 tons; pyrites, 200 tons pitch, 410 tons manure, 365 tons; building material, 422 tons; grain, 640 tons sundries, 1,402 tons. o Imports, foreign.—France, pitwood, 800 tons Norway, pyrites, 750 tons copper ore, 117 tons timber, 511 tons Bilbao, iron ore, 1,000 tons; pig iron, 600 tons; Galveston (U.S.A.), copper matte, 799 tons; bar copper, 418 tons Canada, timber, 900 loads. Imports, 11.092 tons, and exports foreign, 51,216 tons, compared with 13,811 tons, and 52.575 tons respectively last year. Exports, Foreign.—Coal, 39,751 tons; patent fuel, 9.235 tons and tinplates and general goods, 2,280 tons.

BRUTAL ASSAULT. SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A MILITIAMAN. On Monday, at the Swansea Police Court, John Logan, 22, of 2, Elephant-row, was charged with doing grievous bodily harm to a woman named Johanna Rowe, on April 12th, at the bar of the Empire Palace. The priso- ner wa.s arrested on Friday last, and brought to Swansea late on Saturday evening. His dress was the uniform of the Royal Engineer Militia. Superintendent Thomas explained at the outset that this was the case in which the woman wa.s lying In a precarious state at the hospital. Under the circumstances, he only proposed to offer sufficient evidence to justify a remand for a week. Elizabeth Thomas, sister of Mrs Rowe, was called, and stated that on Saturday night week she saw the pri- soner fighting with the husband of Mrs Rowe in the bar of the old Empire. Mrs Rowe tried to separate them, and then witness saw Logan kick her in the stomach. Prisoner was re- manded for TS week. On Wednesday Mr Henry Thompson applied to the magistrates that the man Logan should be released on bail. Captain Colquhoun, how- ever, said the woman was in a critical state, and prisoner might be wanted at any moment to be present at the taking of her dying depo- sitions. The Bench refused the application. Mr Thompson: Perhaps your worships will see fit to order that the prisoner should have an interview with his solicitor without the presence of the police. Captain Colquhoun We shall be very happy to lock Mr Thompson up in the cell with the man, sir. (Laughter.) Mr Thompson That will meet my views, sir.

SWANSEA APPEAL CASE. HODGENS v. M'KEVITT. In the King"? Bench Division of the High Court of Justice. London, on Friday, the case of M'Kevitt v. Hodgens came before the Lord Chief Justice and Justices Darling and Channell, sitting as a divisional court, on appeal from a decision of Judge Williams at Swansea County Court on the 19th March, 1902. which, was asked, might be set aside, or, in the alternative, a new trial granted, on the ground that upon the evidence the defendant was entitled to judgment in law. The claim for the plaintiff was for the maintenance of her child, in regard to which she said defendant had come to an arrange- ment to pay her £9 15s. per quarter. De- fendant denied that he had made any such arrangement, and if there bad been defen- dant said he was released therefrom by reason of the plaintiff's verbal and written repudiations thereof, and the plaintiff was not entitled to recover anything in respect thereof. Mr. Abel Thomas. K.C.. and Mr. Richards appeared in support of the appeal, and Mr. Vaughan Williams for the plaintiff. Mr. Abel Thomas said that the defendant, Mr. Hodgens, was a man of some money living at Swansea, and the plaintiff was a widow keeping a boarding-house a1 Ilfra- combe. He proceeded to relate the circum- stances of the case, which have already been dislosed, and remarked that Mr. Hodgens had already paid the plaintiff something like JB400. whilst a paternity order for 5s. a week had been made against him in respect of the child. The learned counsel was continuing his opening statement when the court ad- journed. The hearing was resumed on Tuesday. Mr. Abel Thomas, K.C., renewed his argu- ment on Tuesday in favour and support, of the appeal, alleging that the County Court Judge was wrong in respect to the alleged agreement as to a specific sum for the main- tenance of the child, because the evidence was clear that there never was any agree- ment. On the contrary, the plaintiff had refused to enter into any agreement, and as to the claim for board and lodging, he submitted that nothing was owing on this claim. Mr. Vaughan Williams having been heard ÏI1 support of the judgment of the County Court Judge, The Lord Chief Justice said the Court did not see its way to interfere with the finding of the County Court Judge in regard to the maintenance of the child. The judg- ment, so far as the £ 42 5s. was concerned wouldi. therefore be affirmed. With to the claim for £ 9 inasmuch as the reJa 10*V of the parties were what they were and larg sums of money were paid by the d'v to the plaintiff, it was not consistent witn the state of things that his bed an fast were supplied on the terms that they were to be pa1 a? i^r-it be—j sSfSf*- ™ 1 °Vhe *othei°Iudge= eoncrnTed, and an appli- to appeal, was refused.

THE PROPOSED CONVALESCENT HOME In consequence of Mr. Wm. Lane having withdrawn his tenaer .or the erection of the Convalescent Heme a spec ial meeting of the Hospital Board of Management was held on Friday morning. M.ss Dillwyn, who pre- sided, stated that Mr. Lane's excuse was that he had not seen the place- when he tendered, and that he tendered upon insuffr-ient know- ledge. It was a. great pity. and the Chair- man suggested that. in future there should be a penalty imposed.—The next lowest ten- b. L4,047 13s. M., was accepted, subject to b-=-in§" approved by the Building I Comadttee. Mr. Lane's tender was £ 3,645.

AT YOUR OPTION! DUNLOP TYRE5 WITH OR WITHOUT WIRES. Ask to see trade mark (Dunlop's head) on air-tube and outer cover. THE DUNLOP PNEUMATIC TYRE CO., LTD. Para Mills, Aston Cross, Birmingham. 160, Clerkenwell Road, E.C., London.

WEEK IN SWANSEA. LOCAL "GAZETTE" KEWS. A receiving order in bankruptoy has been made against Abraham Levy, 8, Beaufort- buildings, New Orchard-street, Swansea, gene- ral draper. MISSING BOYS. The two boys, Geo. Charles and Isaac Roberts, who had been missing from their homes at Landore, Swansea, since last Mon- day, returned home on Saturday night. They stated that they had proceeded to Neath, and had got employment there, being able to earn their living. Considerable anxiety had been felt as to the lads' whereabouts. | SUNKEN WRECKAGE. The s.s. Boileau, the Swansea steamer which was picked up in the Bristol Channel minus her propeller, and towed to the Mumbles Roads by the Norwegian steamer Hilda, since proceeded to Barry, docked on Thursday morninor at the Albion Dry Dock for repairs. The Hilda fell in with her off Lundy. The captain of the Boileau expresses the opinion that the cause of the mishap was sunken wreckage. SWANSEA TRAMS. The report of the Swansea Tramways Com. mittee shows gross receipts for the half-year of j513,405, an increase of jBl 040. The ex- penses (including debenture 'interest) were JB9,428, an increase of £ 2,494. The directors propose applying £ 1,000 to the reduction of the company's debt to the British Electric Traction Company, to pay preference divi- dends. and to bring the ordinary dividend up to 21 per cent. for the year, while alai. is carried forward to the next aoooujkt- DISTRESSING ACCIDENT. On Wednesday evening a painful accident occurred to a little girl named Jane Carroll, aged 10, residing at 34, Strand, Swansea. She was near the New Cut at the time, wait- ing for the bridge to be closed, when by some means or other one of her feet got jammed between the rail and the bridge. The poer little thing was released as soon as possible from her painful position, and immediately conveyed to the Hospital, where it was found necessary to amputate the toes on her injured foot, which were badly crushed. SWANSEA HOSPITAL. A special meeting of the Board of Manage- ment of the Swansea Hospital was be.d on Wednesday, for the purpose of considering certain recommendations from the Building Committee re alterations to plans of the Nurses' Home and other similar matters. Col. Morgan presided. The chief matter decided was to remove and sell a fuel econ omiser which cost £90 four years ago, and which was practically useless as it was placed in the wrong position. Furthermore, an additional means of egress was required from the boiler bouse, on the recommendation of H.M. Inspector of Factories, and the site of the economiser is to be utilised for the purpose. COST OF VACCINATION. The Swansea Guardians' Finance Commit- tee have had before them a number of ac- counts from the public vaccinators. The minimum fee of 2s. 6d., where cases art- performed in surgery is allowed in Swansea, but still the total cost runs up when the 5s. fees payable when the vaccination is 'e' performed at the houses, and the is. fees lor birth registrations are taken into considera- tion.—The Clerk (Mr. LL Jenkins) observed that before the new Vaccination Act came into force in 1898, the annual cost to the Guardians in respect of vaccination fees was jB357, whereas last year, when there was no "scare," the amount was £1,049.-Tlw Chairman (Mr. Mill): The total cost this year will be over £ 2,000.—-The accounts were passed. SWANSEA CYMMRODORION MUSICAL SOCIETY. The annual dinner of this society was- held at the Cafe Monica, Swansea, on Thursday evening, under the presidency of Councillor Tarr (vice-president). The toast of the even- ing was given by Mr. John Thomas, who said he did not think any musical party in the kingdom had such a record as the Swansea Cymmrodorion, and he wished the society continued success. Mr. J. D. Thomas (the conductor), in response, said considering the disadvantages under which the society had laboured he considered it had done very creditably. The future, he added, was very encouraging. Mr. J. Davies also responded. and alluded to the fact that at Newport the cheir had won the greatest money prize evt-r offered in Wales. DEATH OF MR. FREDERICK W. MARTIN. We regret to record the death of Mr. Fred Martin, after a long illness, at the age of 47 years, Mr. Martin was well known, and very popular amongst a large section of Swansoa people. The funerul took place on Tuesday last, leaving the house, 49, Walter-road, for the Swansea cemetery, only members of the family and a few personal friends attending. The mourners were Mr. Henry Martin, Mr. Arthur Martin and Mr. Percy Martin (brothers), Mr. T. Martin, Mr. R. Maxtin (cousins), Mr. Sara, Mr. William Lean, Mr Mclnerny, Mr. A. Moffat and Mr. W. B. Jones. A number of very beautiful wreaths and crosses of flowers were sent by the family and friends. The service was conducted by the Rev. W. Watkins Edwards, vicar of St. Mark's, and tue arrangements of the funeral were carried out by Mr. D. C. Jones, < a«tle- square. COMMERCIAL LAW. On Monday night, at the Swansea Free Library, Professor T. A. Levi, M.A., of Aberystwyth, concluded the series of lectures he has been delivering on Commercial Law, under the aegis of the Swansea Technical Instruction Committee. There was again an excellent attendance-in fact, as was stated at the end, the course ha ^»en most successful from that. aspect—an'" lessor contrived to infuse consider into the necessarily dry bo '-e, but lucid discourse "c;. Tlle professor working of the limitations. J1 that infants, foreigners*, < -a a unpol; lie added, bankrupt detailed of the had r pub" bee' Vr 81