The South Wales Daily Post

THE UNEMPLOYED, MEETING OF THE PARLIA- MENTARY COMMITTEE. SIR HUGH OWEN'S FURTHER EVIDENCE. Mr. David Ran dell M unable to say w hen evi- dtnee touching upon the distress now prevalent in Wales will be admitted by the Unemployed Committee. The mayors of Cardiff and Sw,iii- "ea and the officials of the tin-piate trade axe, we are informed, ready to give evidence at any mouieiU, and testivniny from Moinnoiith is likewise in readiness In some qua-rters it is openly stated tliat local evidence will be suiorner«d entirely, and that the eOfltrolier" of the Committee have no intention of obtaining it before isauing their interim report. The method of protiedure is c-itwing much adverse t-nticisin, and it is generally regarded that this latest dodge of the (lovernmeut's to secure popu- larity will recod on their own htads. As « result of the inquiriets already mssde. a certain •* ^'tion of the Committee liave ec-uie to the c«m- t-iuston tha,t it will be imjHj.iWe to adeoua-teiy grapple with the distress without State aid. In their opinion it will be necessary for the Govern- ment to contribute to each centre a fum pro- portionate to the amount T- ved for the pur ptMe in the locality itself.. q impossible 1.0 say whether tins scheme will be recommended or not. The peat objection thai will be rawed against it is that every town or district which M the recipient ot State aid will at once became a Mecca for the tramp and loafer. If this dce.- not prove fatal it will, at any rate, delay action, and it will be prudent for local authorities not to lely too much upon expert assistance from dns emergenoy ComJuittee. The Select Committee appointed by the Kcu.-ic- of Commons to inquire into the ques- tion of distress from want of employment met again on Wednesday, Mr. C;«npbell- Harmerman presiding.—Sir Hugh vwen. permanent secretary to the Local Govern ment board, continued his evidence. In reply to Mr. John Burns, he ^id tlie Local GovenunentBoarrl addressed a letter to the vestries on tie 11th of February. The number of p",rsou.í r«e*'l>r of relief In December," 1.34, .ill.)wed a decrease in the first three weeks compared with 1893, but in the fourth week there was an increase of 4,000. The totals were;—December, 1892, 693,000; •7-728,000; December, 1894, VA.OOO. Comparing 1893 with 1894, there was a decrease of 0 1 per 1,000 of the popula- Wou Thc ieturns for England and Wales for the .ourt-h week m January showed an increase (- <mpa>ed with 1894 from 741,000 to 770,000, bemg an increase of 0 7 per 1.000 of the population The circular *ent out by the board on February 11 was addressed to the town council:, all other urban authorities, >»i strict and parish councils, and Metro- politan vestries. This circular suggested thai these local .luthorities should afford employ- meat as far as possible. About 40 replies had ;>eei, received. In many cases tlie authorities stated that they were providing work, and -others referred to relief funds. F1ü- Hugh Owen stated that a number of report-* had been received from boards and inspectors as to the extent of the pre,ailing Restitution. On the suggestion of Mr..John urns, it was agreeri to have tliese piloted for the infonnation of th* «>mm:ttee. Witn-sc< said it appeared f-om th- imports that TT. UIV I agncultnrai labourers had been thrown out of work hut in a great many cases farmers 1. weie still continuing to give employment and rtoing their best to provide work, In cross-exammation, Sir Hugh Owen said I guardiant- had now all the powers thev required for giving adequate relief in all cases of destitution where thev were applied to for aid. He couldl not realise that titer", I v'.oukl ever be any serious dHlkuJtyin their racing rates required for that purpose. The powers of guardians should be limited, to dealing simply with destitution to be relieved by moneys compnlsoriiy levied by rates.

S WALLO WExTXI^OKK. STRANGE DEATH OF A WIDOW, On Tue-iday Mr Wynne E. Baxter held an inouiry 1:t th.. Poplar Town-hall (.-oneerniTisr the j death of Mary Ann James, ag»-d 60. i widow, lately reading ai 17, Mamw-.t: «et, Bromiev, who died on. Sunday last, under singular circumstances. It ap^-ar^ that the decea^d ww invited out- to dinner at. Mr. and Mrs. Tomiin g, of St. Leonard s-iwl. Sfce was left in the kitchen while. Mro". Tomlit. went upstairs. On coming down again the latter found deceased walking -tbout, and she remarked that "a bvseuit has KOne down throat. Dr. Hope wa«= called in, and said tha. on applying a pair of pir-er. lie extract.-d from MNf. James' throat a full-sized fork. *!ie died tnree minutes later. Dr. Hooe had ■uiv-e n.ade a post-mortem exiiininatioii and fount, a piece of meat l^in. square oic^e lo the orifice of the stomach —The Corow said it was a remarkable case, and the jury returned a verdict of-"Death from mi^ad veuture."

A MISERABLE DEATH. At) old man, named James M*Dougal. 70 years^ of age, who kept a tobacconist's shop at 15, i^ssejt-road. Islington, has been found dead .nder ghookinsr eireum»tiiDcea. The deoeased, who has always Iive> 1 in a gtate of peDwy, wao looked upon a? a iriif>e,r—in fact, it was known thafc he wa*. ciie fr^holde-r of some of the most valuable land in the parish. As he did not or>tr: his shop as usual on Monday Police-ser- Sjeant Green 'WAA called in, and he burst open the door of frh»> first-floor back room. The oltl man was then found, in a state of nudi'tv. lyu.g on t1he floor quite dead. Although it i • f0^ tliat no trace of firing or food oould be 'D ^"c there were cans in the fh^ sovereisms. It is believed iVff ^deceased waa worth it least- £ 30,0C0. Nation £ £ ^have been cmsed by narvat10n and cold.

COLD IN AUSTRIA. TWBNTT-TWO PERSONS FROZEN TO DEATH. T>,Ce°wieKeW^el^m hom —The weather throughout Austria^Hun^ry contmues te^xblv severe. During the last few days no fewer than twenty persona have been frozen to death m Galu ia. and two women suf- fered a similar fate near Arad, 1Q Southern Huiigary.

HEALTH OF THE QUEEN. The Queera. who drove on Wednesday morn- ing in her pony chaise in Buckingham Palace grounds, ssfcood ibe fatigue of Tutsday's fmie- tion very well, aad appeared in excellent !w*alHh on Wednesday. Her Majesty. with the Court proceeded to Windsor on Wednes- day ^veiijnz. Leavitur PadTHiurton at 5..10..

NOTES FROM THE METROPOLIS. RMM OCR LONBON CORRESPONDENTS, j LONDON, WEDNBSDAT. ANOTHSR ROCK AHEAD. To-morrow will be another night of jeopardy for Ministers. They are now to stand or fall on the great question of the Indian ijottvu duties, which is exercising the minds of Lancashire. A meeting of the Lancashire members of both parties was held this after- j noon, a.t. which it W"¿¡oS finally decided that Sir Henry James's motion for the adjourn- ment of the House in order to bring on this urgent public question should be made to- morrow night. This decifHon is, of course, dependent on the sanction of Mr. Speaker, who lias it within his power to decide whether' the subject is of such definite urgent public importance as to justify the putting of the motion. It is felt, however, that Mr. Speaker is not likely to veto so Zre&t ;>nd thrilling a sidnect. and we may, therefore, look for a full-dress debate. MINISTERS ANXIOUS. In Ministerial circles the chances of the debate excite the liveliest apprehension. A red-hot and red-lined whip of the most mgeut character has been sent out. and Ministerialist supporters are in dire distress. Many of them a.re between the devil and the deep blue sea in that, while they are impelled bv divers considerations to vote with Sir Henrv James, there is the peril of a dissolution rl thev vote against the Govern- lent. The situation will be rendered less tense when it becomes known that 'he Onpo- sition will not discuss the motion from a party point of view. Nevertheless, the Manches- ter men have such strong support on both skies of the House that the position is n. tremely cntira.1. On this point I hear it is not unlikely that Ministers will themselves invite a fall. It is regarded as a favourable question to go out upon. Moreover, rhe loss of Colchester has served us in good stead. As usual when thev gain a slight electioneer- ing advantage, Ministerialists are puffed up with pride, and on the strength of Colch&{t-er feel t-qua.1 to winning a g"ns ral election. It may tempt them into a fatal dissolution, a.* the present Sir Edward Clarke's capture of Souths ark tempted the Tori<s to disaster in 1830. Certain it is that defeat and dissolu- tion are in the air. They are whispered about not timidly by followers of the Government as a reasonable way of escape frcm an increasingly intolerable position. If the motion for the adjournment of the debate t).e enrried to-morrow night, the only imme- diate result will be th?.t the House wil" at once adjourn. This mdtion is very rar-.dy .rrned. The last time, I believe, was in connection with the notorious Cass vise. The carrying of .such a motion against the Govern- ment would not nee ^sarilv be i vote of want of confidence. In tiie col-Ion denies case, however, it would chow the rfon.-se to be Lu onpomtion to Ministers on a lefin te and important point of policy. MTSCELLANKOTTS. Mr. C. P. Huntington, the Gladstonian member for Darwen, fainted while atten-'ing the meeting of Lancashire members this after- noon. r-f. however, speedily recovered, and I was able to :"0 home. General gratification vi<s-n expressed at the return of Mr. Sneaker from the sick lirt, but there are still a number of niemb-fs absent from illness. Among them is Mr. Gerald B*lfonr. who, having caught a violent chill a few days ago, was unable to be pre- sent to move the second reading of the Ratine of Machinery Rill. As the time for the county council election approaches the leaders Oil both sides are girding up their loins to take part in the Irav. Lord Rosebery has been pre,rnleJ on to address a meeting in St. -Tames's-hall on February 26. Two days later Mr. Balfour will address a great meeting a.t the Surrey Theatre. Ii; became known this < vening that Mr. Balfour WaE unwell. I am sAad to learn that our leader is onlv snffevuig from a slight chill, and has taken advantage of an -df-day to nurse himself wpll again. An interesting notice apyrears in the "Cktaette-" to-ni^ht of the posting of (j-eut-le- rnan Cadet Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill, from tlJP Royal Military College, to be ;*eeona-lieu tenant In the 4th -lussirs. Mr. Winston Churchill is the eldest son of the late Lord Randolph ChurchiU. RATING of MACHTNESY. The Rating of Machinery Bill occupietl the House all the afternoon. Having been five or six times debated already, the BiH has become rather stale. It is not a party measure, aathongh Mr Heury Matthews, from the Front Opposition IVach, spoke against it as a. lawyer, whilf from the Treasury Bench Mr. Shew-Lefevre and Sir Frank Lockwood defeixied, The conflict of opinion was mainlv a batt'e between the agricultural 111- terest and t.he manufacturing interest. It was distinguished by the facility, uot to say ferocity with which Mr. Byles and Mr. Spicer 'sJimir 1-sts of Scripture at their oppo-, nents. The opponents of the Bill weOe thoroughly unsuccessful, even in their forlorn hope to have the Bill referred :o a Select Committee on Trade. COLCHIS^TKR iNEXPMCAyLB. The Colchester result iR more than a SUT- prise. The circumstances are Mi'h as call for th-; mcst stringent investigation, and steps in that direction will at once be taken. If suspicions that now exist are sustained, immediate proceedings will be taken to have justice executed. It is the first time for many years that Tory calculations have hopelessly broken down. The failure is the more extraordinary in that unusual precau- tions were takeu to ^secure accuracy. The Tory estimate was that the poll could not exoeert 90 or 91 per cent, and that the Tory candidate was certain to win up to a 92 per cent. poll. The actual fact is a poll of 93 per cent, of the name? on the register. Deducting the dhad or voters otherwise un- pollable, there remain only 150 votes unpolled. This is cutting it suspiciously close. But the most shrewd suspicion is not a gainst personar tion—it involves an inexplicable change of vot*i5. The Tory poll in 100 less than was expected, after ^la-bora te precautions had been tjken. There was a double canvas. conducted by separate organisations acting indepen- (fentlyon Captain Verekcr's behalf, and their figures came within < en of each other. On the calculation, all the doubtful votes weic given to tlie Radicals, aad 20 per cent, was deducted from the definite promises to vote for the Tory, At the previous election 15 per cent, was deducted, and the poll came within a 1 dozen of the estimate. This time 20 per cent, was deducted, and yet the estimate is 100 wrong. Under the circumstauccs, it two; become a public duty of the Tory organisers to set on foot a- searching inquiry as to thp means used to induce the transfer of the votes of a considerable number of elector* who had definitely promised to vote Tory. THE SPFIJNRA'S DITTIES. Although no one would presume to recom- mend any interference with the duties of the I Speaker as long as the present honoured occupant of the ehiir continues to preside over the deliberation?- of Parliament, it is possible that an attempt may be made to ter the conditions of the office when Mr. Peel resigns. This, it is expected, will be at the t-c-minaiion of the present Pariiaanent. The duties are so exhaustive that it is felt to be necessary to render therr- less irksome. If any pronosal be made it would be that, instead of Mr. Speaker leaving the House for a f, 'v minutes to snatch a. furtive meal, he should take two hours' rest in the dull time from eight o'clock till ten. when the House is almost emptv and only unimportant speakers are beating the air with their nm eloquence. During that time, of course, the chair wiIl1 be occupied by a Deputy- Speaker, and! Mr. Spewktr himself "would be w it inn call, if necessity arose. THE PRINCE SHAKES IT OFF. The Prince of Wales agreeably disappointed the a-brmmfcs. who last uidit circulated rumours of hi* serious illness by appearing in Whitehall to open the new buildings cf the United Service Institntioa. The Prince's I husky voioe was the only symptom of cold he bore, and it is quite evident that he has I been able to shake off the influenza symptoms that have prostrated so many persons. He was attended bv his son. his brother (the Duke of Coima-usphi), and several ofluer Royalties. The Queen is having a quiet day. Although, her Majesty has not suffered from Drawing Room fag; siie hoc decided to-lay to confine her outdoor exercise to the spacio-us I private ground* of Buckingham Palace. Rut the Empress Frederick took her accustomed public dnve.

BALFOUR FRAUDS. PROSECUTION OF LIBE- RATOR DIRECTORS. FURTHER MAGISTERIAL HEARING. At the Guild-hall, London, on Wednesday morn- ing Aldenuan- Divies resumed the- hearing of the charge of conspiracy and fraud against five directors of the Balfour groups ,JÍ companies, Messrs, Cotdwells, G. E. Brock, George Dib- ley, Morrell Theobald, and Major Wright. 1 he cade had been adjourned uoin 'i hurbdaj last, and in the interval the defendants were oui ou bail. Major Wright ww:, the first to put in an appearance, and a.t oiiee took a seat a.t the solieitors' table, wiuoh haes beea allo- cated to the use of tlie accused directors, lie wm quickly followed by Mr. Coldweils, M l' with whom he entered into close conversation. Next came Mr. Theobald, vvho at once pro- ceeded to consult his j un lor coenael, Mr. Cou.p- ton Smith, who appears with Mr. Atkeriey- JOl.bS. MR DiBLEY STILL ABSENT. Mr. Dibley. who is suffering from illness, wac again absent. On the Alderman taking his seat, Mr. Avory, for the Crown, said he should like to know what was going to be said about Mr. Dibiey. Mr Church (Mr Dibley's solicitor) was sorry to say that Mr. Dibley would be unable to bi present. He would call Dr. Fletcher to speak to this. jir. Avory said he should like to see Dr. Fletcher Dr. Fletcher hero arrived in court, and went into the He said that he saw Mir. Dibley on Tuesday, and he way somewhat improved- He wu-s weak, alld ill il1e long run his ailment would be serious. He wa. not in a lit gt-ate to come out. Mr. Avory: Is it still the weather ? Do you I think he will be able to come oui in milder weather? Witness: Yesl; but hk disease is very serious. Mr. Avory: Do you agree with Dr. Pepper —that, with a ohange of weather, Mr. Dibley will be able to come? Witness: In all probability he will. The bronchitis is almost gone. It is now" ^eak- ness. Hie heart is weak, and he is losing flesh rapidly. Will h? be able to be here on Monday next flesh rapidly. Will h? be able to be here- on Monday next if all goes well?—in all probability. The Chairman: It all depends upon the weather? (Laughter.) Witness His condition is very seriou?. Some- thin* serious, might happen to him a* any moment. U1 j i CI AL LIQU 1DATOR CO-. TlIS t.TES. la the meantime the evidence of Mr. Wheeler, th-i criicial reoei\ei and liqudator of the com- paiiy, was resiimed. Mr. Avory called Lis attention to two cheques referred to on the last 0Cü..1.ISlOll, and lelatuig to tlie sale of the Romford property, lie saiu I ho found a third cheque drawn by the Lands Allotment Company, for £4,6\J0. payable to the Liberator Building Society, and dated tlie I M.sfc of March, 1888. it was endowed by H. H. Rook, tecretaxy. A 1thougil dated ciie 31sfc of Maroh, 1888. it was not credited to MM, Liberator until the 50th of April. The I 30th of March was the Uwt day of the financial }« of-the Lands Allotment Cuwp:my. Although apixw eutly not received by the Liberator until the 3t)th of April it wae debiWI in the Lauds Ailotui-ent Ccmipany's book under.- date March 31, 1888. Mr. Avory (to the .-dd*miaui: You will observe, sir, that the 31st of March is the last- day of the financial year of the Lands Allot- ment. MR. Vr HEELER CONTINUES. Mr. V. heeler'* evidence was then resumed. He said that the Romford land was üCljllired by the Lands Allotment. Company in 1883 from trie Liberator. Tiiore was a. minute chat, on the 23rd of June, 1883, at a meetingr attended by Messrs. Brock, Dibley, and Theobald, it was resolved to allow H. G, Wric-ht, the soliei tor, to part with his interest in the land at Romford. At that time the Liberator had ad- vanced to H. G. W right £ 32.636 on that land, j The entry appeared in the "short term" ledger of the Liberator. A second meeting of the same three directors of the L,md.< Allotment held, at which it was wulved to purchase the Romford E-?te of "10 acres at £200 p*-r acic, ma-king a sum of JB102,000, which the Lands Allotment Company agreed to pny. There were conveyances of the land from H. G. Wright to the L<?\-ds Allotment Company, by which the sale was n»rne«l out. No moiie.y jnssed in respwt to the .sue, but on June 25. 18S3. he saw that the sum of £72,000 nnpeaied by the books of the Land-; Allotment Com- pany to liave been paid by the company to the Liberator, leaving the balance of £ 30,000 re- maining on mortgage. On the same date, June 25, 1885, the Liberator advanced £69,336 to the Lands Allotment Company, and the Lands Allotment Company passed that sum (over to H. G. Wright, who passed it back to the Libe- rator. About tha «uiit time the Lands Allot- ment paid H G. Wright a. further sum of £2,363, making- the total nearly £ 72,000. He could find no trace of the Lauds Allotment Company havinir done anything between 1883 and 1888 to develop the eetate. From the banks the estate appeared to have produced a gros income of £1,200. In each of the years 1884, 1885. 1886, and 1887, a. sum of money was entered in the books credited to the value of the estate under the heading "Interest and Profit." The sum in each year thus added was over £ 6.000. On March 31, i887, by these ad- ditions the estate stood as an asset in +he com- rar.v's books for £121,716. The valuation of the estate, made bv Newman in Febroajy, 1887, was £ 1US.)71. At the time, when Wright sold the estate to the Lands Allotment the Liljerator took credit in their account fur the sum of £37,000 as profit made by them ou the ti ansae- i tion. He did not know how the profit was arrived at. The Alderman asked what wa-s originally mid for the estate. itness replied tha.t th9 Liberator acquired the property thro-ugh H. G. Wright, and ad- vanced him £ 37.000 ou various contracts respec- ting it. Wright originally had a contract, throvish a man uaii:"d Steele, to actjuire fho property for jeSlOOO. Wright and Steele ap- peared to liave made £15,000 out of the transac- tion. and the Liberator £ 37,000. He meawt, of course, that the book? went to show such a pronto The Liberator did, in fact, receive £3"(,000 from the Lands Allotment Company. It coat the Lands Allotment Company £104,000 aitoerether up to the date of the liquidation. Re found that the sum of jBo4,891 was added by the Lands Allotment to the original profit under the heading "Interest and profit." That was apart from the income of the state. The amount included the alleged profit on the sale to Newman in 1888 of these 67 acres. Newman did not, in fact, pay any portion of the pur- chase monev for those 67 acres. In the balance-sheet at the end of the financial year 1888 two of j'he largest items wnre Tllurt;agor8 and purchasers—mortgagors. £ 185,744, and Durchasers. £ 198.668. In the item of mortga- gors he found there was included JE80,852 owing bv Newman and Co. to the company. In the item of uur-jllasers there was included the sum of £149,707 owing by New- man and Co., making a total of £229,939 owin^r by Newman and Co. Leaving 1889, he tame to 1890. He fou:,J. amcng the assets, a sum of £ 186,616, owing by Newman and Co., under the, head of mort- gages, The purchases included £261,01\.9, owing by Newman and Co., making ;.£:447,665, owing by Newman and Co. to the Lands Allotment Ccmpany. He found on the credit- side of the profit and loss account, under the head of profit OIL sales, contracts, commissionJ, &c., £3ù,98â, hich insluded £35,000 nitcr-o in the books as profit received from the House ind land Trust. In substance, tlie £35,000 was the profit of the vear. As to that sum, he found a board meeting of .the Lards Allotment Company on the 17th of Marieh, 1890, at which defendants Brock and Thtobald w-=>rf present. According to the minute book, letters from J. Newmnn and Co., of the 8th and 10th of March, liW, were read, iiid considered, and it was resolved thereon that the Lands Allotment Company should advance to Newman end Co. £ 150,000 in weekly draws of £1,000 in aid of the proposed out-lay by Newman and Co. of £220.000 on the Albert hall property, for which mtere-t wa.< to be paid by Newman and Co. at the rate of 7 per cent., and a premium of £3D,OOO was to be paid down by Newman and Co. to the ccmpitnv for the accommodation. At the same meeting he found there was a. letter from J. W. Hobbs and Co. (Limited), of the 17th of March, 1890, which i?a- received ?nd considered, after which it was resolved to advance to them jE 110,000 in weekly draws of £700. to enable them to complete buildings in Salisbury-street, Strand, interest at I ha rate of 7 per oent. to be paid, and a premium of B20,000 to be peid down by Hobbs amd Co. for the accommoda- tion. It was also resolvr*! to apply to the House and Lands Investment Trust to make them two advances, and to offer to the trust for go doing tlie interest which was to be paid, and one-third of the premium, or, in Tound figures, J315,000 as a bonus for their co-operation. The two pre- miums would amount to £50.000- In I the minute-book of the Hot'se and Lands t Investment Trust of the 20th of March, 1890,. there was a record of the meeting of the 20th of March, 1890, at which the defem- dams Brook, Wright, and Coldwelis wer? pre- sent. with others, and at which, a letter from the Lands Allotment Company to the trust was read, relating to the proposed ar- rangement with Newman and Co.. and Hobbs and Co. On the 26th of March. 1890, a letter was received bv the Lards Allotment Com- aany fraa tha House and L-nds Trust, acoer.t ug tiie pi-oposal. B-iock and Iheobald were present, with otters. at ciie meeting of the Lands AlioUntaib L-ouipaaiy Oil the 26th 01 Marolii, 1890. The Lands Allotmeut Company, on the 31st of March, 1890, drew a cheque for £ 30,000 in favour of Newman and Co., Messrs. Brock and i'attison signing the cheque. On the same day the Lands Allotment Company drew a cheque for £20,000 in favour of Hobbs and Co., the cheque being signed by the same persons. Newman aud Co.. on the same day, drew a cheque on the sa;ne bank for £ 30,000 in favoul of House and Land Trust. On the same day Hobbs and Co. drew a. cheque for £ 20,000 in favour of the House and Lands Trust. It wa", signed by the defendant Wright and J. W. Hobbs. On the same day the House a^d Land Trust drew three cinques Oti tiie same bank in favour of bhp uaiids Allotment Company as follow -1;35,000 £9,000, and £6,000, all three ben-. gned by Brock and Coldwell-s. In the Lands Allotment books Newman and Co. were debited 'with the £;){),OOO Oil the 31st of March. On the saute day Hobbs and Co. were debited with the £30,000. On the same day the House and Lauds Trust was credited with the two sums of JE9,000 and £6,000. On tlie Kuue day the Lands Allotment Company took credit for £35,000 as a profit made by them in thict tran- saction, it being put under the he-ad of profits un sales, Ac. It was then carried to the credit of profit and lose account and taken oredit for as a profit made in the financial year. A PROTEST. Mr. Avory: In fact, did the Lands Allot- meut Company teoeive one penny U1 money 111 connection with the -transaction?—No. Was it anything more than an exchange of cheques bdween tlit a:.mpa.luc.;?-No, rwt in my judgment. Mr. Compton Smith objected to his friend leading. The Alderman: Mr. Avory was quite in order. He is showing the manipulation of these cheques. Mr. Compion Smith: I protest against his method. The Alderman: You may protest, but I rule him in order. Mr. Avoiy (to witness): You have examined the books of the House and Lauds Trust with- out going into details. Do you find that the House and Lands Trust took credit in 169C for this sum of £15.000 (£9,000 plus £6,0(0) as a M-oti learned bv them ? Witness: It so appears in tho published [ accounts. Can vou find up to the 31st of March, 1890, when, the £35.000 was taken credit for, any trace of an advance of JB35,000 to Newman and Co ? Mr. Avory So they took oredit for a pre- mium befo-e they had advanced a single penny. t t. there any trace of a single tarthing of the jB110,000 having beeu advanced to Hobbs and Co. on that- date?—No. Have vou examined the books to see what v as the total amount we advanced to Newman and Co. under this agreement?—Yes. And the amount is £ 500 on the 20th of Sep- tember, 1890. Tiiat a,pi>e.ar3 to have been ad- vanced bv the Houaa and Lands Trust. What about the, actual advances to Hobbs and Co. ?— There were various sums, amounting to I!] 2.000 advanced hv the Hou&e and Lands Trust-, through the Land- Allotment Company, be- tween 1890 and 1392. The Alderman That is out of the reputed £110.000, Witness went on to say that the Lands Allot- ment Compauy took as security with respect to the Hobbs and Newman advances, a charge in ths buiidincr asrreement. At the time there wa,« a niortfisurw of £ 365,J00 on the Strand site. On the 31st of Marcb, 1890. Hobbs and Co. were indebted to the Liberator in oyer a million of monev. Wright, Coldwelb. and Brock were at this time directors of the House and L'Wd8 Trn"t Brock was the auditor of Hobbs and Co. J. Wricht was the chairman of Hobbs af*l_0o. Newman vras indebted to the Libera- tú" in a )a rye sum—he could not say whether it was £186.00). The Court here adjourned for luncheon. ESTATE AGENT IN THE BOX. On the court resuming, Mr. Robert Colyer Driver, senior partner in tho firm of Messrs. Driver, esttte agents. Whitehall, was inter- posed. He said, in reply TO Mr. Avory, that Mr. Rinfield Bird: was, some years ago, a clerk in Ill" office. He knew him as an estate agent in the Isle of Wi -hi. On the 7th of March, 13?6. Mr. Bird called on him, and on the 8th of December he received a letter from him, which he produced. A L f > K K M A N GETS ANGRY. Mr Moore (for Mr. Brock) objected to the letter. Mr. Avo.y contended that the letter was relevant, aa Bird was the agent of Dibley. Mr, Moore replied that there must first be proof of agency. Tlie Alderman I shall admit the letter. Mr. Moore asked on what grounds. Tlie Alderman I shall admit the letter. Mr. Moore asked on what grounds. The Aldea iii-.vuT i oettr give any reasons for what I do. I, Other legal gentlpmpn representing defen- dants also objected. The Alderman The same answer will ftnply to you all O-.ddretising Mr. -.Moore), and I wish you to understand that when I give an answer it is my derision, and I do not wish to be cross" examined upon it. Mr. Moore: It is my duty to represent my client, and to take objections when I think -essary. Tli;> Alderman Well, I wish you to under- stand in future that you must not cross- examine me, if you please. WITNESS RESUMES. .The letter whii h contained instructions to Bird as H> tho valuing the estate in conjunction with Mr. Driver was then put m. 'Witness went on to say that he and Bird inspected the estates in 1886, and, aftt-.r same differences, they fixed tb value at £35R.350. While the report and va-luaition were in draft, witness communicated to Messrs. Dibley and Brock that the valuation wouia bo fixed at plxmfc £360,000, Ti*y never eent in the mp-m. &0., but Mr. Bird had a press copy. Asked why he never seut in the report to the Lamb Allotment Company, witnr^s said it was in oa.vjquraice of a communication on the 10th of PVhxruary, 1887. whivh he reoeived from Afr. Bird. Ue read' t-Bst record of his inter- view with Mr. Bird. Witness knew nothinsr as to a subsequent report made by Mr. Bird as to the value of these estate: until he sa.w it in the, papers a few aayu ago. Cross-examined by Mr. Moore (for Mr. Brock), witness said he was not aware that he waa valuing property in connection with the proposed ¡"8Uè of dp-ljenturee. He had I no reason to doubt the Jitegnty or efficiency of Mr. Bird at the timie in question. If New- man arrived at figures much larger than his >V'JJ. lie should not at that time have con- idered it. any ground for attacking hia in- tegrity. Thin inquiry, however, had led'him to ?dter his opinion, (Laughter.) After further evidence the hearing was ad- journed until to-day (Thursday).

ENGLAND AND EGYPT. A CRISIS IMMINENT. THE iiPvlTISH PROTECTORATE- A Reuter telegram from Parig on Wednesday says :—In an article on the situation in L'gypt, the "Journal des Debars" remarks that the Eng- lish press sooms to liave lost, together with the sentiment of respect dua to the Khediv i-, the CApability of appreciating the real position of ariairs. ■ "ItJ the Fuiopea-u (-ha,noelleriee," the journal cotitinuetj. there is no readiness to admit tlie existence of a British Protectorate on the bank# of the Nile. and if the British re- pre3e»itatives in Egypt hold suoh views, it is easy to uuderstaud that it is difficult for them to maintain a good understanding with the Sove- i-eign. Tlie journal also publishes an article on Egypt, violently attacking LQre1 Cromer's policy, and adds -"The part which France and her d^»ton\cy nave to plaÿ begins to be clearly deaneil. Now the task before us is to I rouse Lurc-pe, from her apathetic indiiference and to oa;we l-'er to give an unmistakable demonstra- tion of her sympathy with Egypt as against Great Britain." The journal concludes by saying that inquiries which it recently addressed to all the chief political persona.tfev-; in Ihirope asking their opinions on the Egyptian question, have shewn that the whole of Europe considers itself wionged by the indefinite ocoupat;on of Egypt. A Cairo telegram through the samo agency says:—Mr. Gorst has returned from his tour of inspection in Lower Etrypt. He stated that the institution of local municipalities in some of the larger provincial towns appears hitherto to have had very small pffert in improving their condition, but adds that the now system is too recent ti enable him to judge of the result. The I M.uclira and icool officials, he savs, want waking Up. an,1 need to be encouraged to display g-.lt1it.er interest in the good administration of tlieir dis- tricts. There is plenty of material in the vil- lages of the Delhi, adds Mr. Gorst, out of which 'to make good Omedehs aud Sheiks, who, when appointed, will work for law and order, and cusc a large decrease in crime. The Cairo newspaper "El Aliram," which is edited by a Syrian under French protection known to be at present one of Khedive's chief advisers, published an article ecidertly iu-pired by the Khedivn himself, which in effect- I charges Lord Cromer with having misrepresented what took place between him and the Khedive at his last audience in reference to his High- ness's reported dissatisfaction with the Ministry of Nubsr Pasha. According to a 'Times" ti V graui "El Ahram"' proceeds -,o gr.v that the English doubtless do not desiie a change of Minist:,y; but that unless the Ministers charge their attitude and serve their Sovereign and country insftead of the English a ev es mtist be imminent. The special correspondent in Cairo says that the members of the Ministry, oon- aoioiis that the I'hediv? has no lesri tiro ate grievance s>5riin«'t- them, y^ fnr d-t- inii ed not to re<i-.ru so long ;v* tli-r.v .e of Hi .linh Su-.1.")- t.

LATE REV. J. AND MRS. WYNDHAM LEWIS. DOUBLE FUNERAL AT CAR- MARTHEN. — — THE LATE REV. J. WYNDHAM LEWIS. (From a photograph by Howell and Adams, Carmarthen.) Carmarthen.) TIie remains of the late Rev. J. Wyndham Lewis and the late Airs. Lewis, his wife, were interred together at the Carmarthen Cemetery on Wednesday aiternoon. Tiie fame of the deoeaned preacher, cut off ill the imdtt of his usefulness and popularity, added to the inex- IH-eassbly sad circumstance of Nbs. Lewis dying only a. day before lum, made the o^-casion iuw u Uian UeUaily impressive and solemn. Diffe- rences of oreed or of politics did not disbar any from attending, and the tuiieral, which waiS a puL-ihc one by express desire, was one of tht larges»t seen at "(Carmarthen for many y<.ars. Ministers of all denominations and iiom :¡.d parte of the Principality were present, raid the- thinn^s of that veneer which marks Churehimui from Noiioonformist, but which is utterly swept away on an occasion of common grief and sorrow, was strikingly dliiotrated by the presence of the Bishop of Swansea, his curate-1, tlie churchwardens, and tlie Rev. T. R. W aiteff, vioar of St. David's, akl of whom desired to pay a. tribute of respect, to one who never said on- did anything disparting of the Church of England. Shortly after two o'clock the funeral procession started from Hamilton House, the re-idence of the deceased, to Water-street Chapel, of which Mr. Lewis was the pastor. The order was maintained arl follows :—(1) Clergy and ministers of a-11 denominations, (2) students for the ministry, (3) general public and uiemiiers of Sunday Schools (males), (4) deacons of Water-stret-t Ohapel,* (5) tlie bodies, borne by members of the Church and congro- gation, a.nd (6) the mourners, including Miss Lewis and M i -s Clara Lewis, Mr. D. J. Lewis, ami Mr. Mansei Lewis (sons and daughters), the Rev. Daniel Lewis, vicar of (Caerphilly (brother of Mr. Tiewis). Mrs. Jones, A be rd are (a sister of Mrs. Lewi^), and others. ITien came mem,bers of the leute Mrs. Lewis's Sunday School class, and, finally, a large number of womesi and young girls. In defe- rence to the wish of the family^ there were no flowers. At Water-street Chapel a some- whalt lengthy service was held. The, pulpit and the pillars of the chapel were heavily draped in deep mourning. The Rev. E. Davies presided over the siervioeu which, at times was very emotional. Tlie Rev. Thomas Thomas read a portion of the Holy Scriptures, after which the Rev. William Jones, Morriston, offered up prayer. Letters and resolutions conveying the sympathy and condolence of various Churcha- in the Mythodwt Connexion were then read, and panegyrics were delivered by the Rev. G. H. Rolvrts, president-elect of the Welsh Bap- tist Union: the Rev. D. S. Davios. of Union- street Independent 0>apel. Carmarthen: thp Rev R. Da.viM: the Rev. W. Evans, Pembroke Dock: the Rev. Thomas James, Llanelly, and the Rev. Morris More an. Swansea, After praynr by the Rev. J. Walters, St. Clears, and the singing of the well-known hymn com- mencing 0 anfeidrol rym y oariad," the large concourse re-formed into procession and pro- ceeded to the cemetery. gg-a,in, the pro- ceedings were very impressive. Further addresses were delivered not the least signi- ficant being t-hat by the Rev. T. R. Walters. Tlwt winging of Bvdd mvrdd o ryfeddodau concluded an cxx"a<»ion full of solemnity and impressive n esa.

GAS EXPLOSION AT EBBW VALE. NARROW ESCAPE OF THE INMATES A terrific gas explosion occurred in a house situated in Wall-street, ELLw Va-Ie. late on Tuesday night. The house, is occupied and owned by Mr. Gardner, with whom lived his daughter a-iid son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. J. Barber, and their two children. In the trout room of the house the, is a water-slide than deber. and the severe frost had split the tube so that the water had run out. The gas having been turned on in other paits d the house, all extensive leakage took place through this slit. Mr. Gardner and the two rhildrm had retrired to bed. and Mr. Barber, thinking there was a leakage of gas some where, opemd the back and front doors. Mrs. Barber pro- ceeded toward* the front room with, a. lighted caudle The- gas whiih was esaap:ig thi'-ugh the. passage ignited, and a terrible expiofion was the result. Mr. Barber was km .eked down senseless, tlie front, door was Viewn « distanoe of fifteen yards, whilst other windows and doors were blown out. and each room was filled with debris. So great was the force that it rc-e the ceiling and joists abo'-t 4in. to Sin., and moved the UUIM roof. In the meantime Mr. Barller recovered conscious- ness. and perceived that the fr.>it renn was in flames. He, however, succeeded in extin- guishing the fire, but not before he -was le> ribly burnt about the hand^ and face. Mr. Gardner, who was in bed in the room above, was badly shaken, and was almost buried beneath the plastering, &c., which had fallen. The two children and Mrs. Barber. strange to say, escaped unhurt. The greater part of the furniture 1100 been more or less damaged.

-f DEATH OF MR, CHARLES TROWNSELL, ST, PAGAN S We regret to announce the death of Mr. Charles Trownsell, late of I.oughor, which took place, at the residence of hie daughter, Mrs. Jeffries, St. Fagan'e, on January 27. He was partner in the firm of John Bacon (Limited), of Liverpool, s-nd for a great many years had been chief engineer of the steamship Jane Bacon His death will be regretted in shipping circles, where he had become very widely knawn and highly respected. The interment took place at 'Loughor Churchyard amid many manifestations of grief.

DEATH OF A CENTENARIAN AT NEWBRIDGE A venerable old woman, named Elizabeth Williams, has just passed away at Newbridge, Monmouthshire. The oH lady had insured her life, and. according to the testimony of the insurance agent, she had reached the advanced age of 105. According to the registrar's certifi- cate, however, the deceased would have com- pleted the century had she lived a day longer.

ECHO OF THE CILFYNYDD DISASTER. UNDERTAKERS QUARREL OVER THE PRICE OF COFFINS. A cage was heard- in Pontypridd County- court on Wednesday which involved a dispute between two local undertakers as to the once to be paid for making coffins for the victims of the Albion Colliery explosion. The/ plaintiff in the case, hearing that the defendant had ob- tained more money for the coffins thari he had stated, sued for the difference, but- was only partly successful, as the judge awarded him only 30s. per cofiin net, whereas it was alleged that the defwvdaiit had received £3.

| LOCAL LAW CASE. TAPSON V. THE EBBW VALE IRON, < STEEL, AND COAL COMPANY (LIMITED). In the Queen's Bench Division of the" High Court of Justice on Wednesday this case, •which was commenced on Monday (before Mr. Justice Mathew, sitting without a. ju".P, was concluded. It was an action by Alf.cd Tapson, coal merchant, of Newport, to recover £ 1,836 2s. 8d. for short delivery of cual uDder a contract.—The defendants dented liability, and alleged that the plaintiff failed to taJre delivery, and, consequently, counter- £ 1,836 2s. 8d. for short delivery of cwal under a contract.—The defendants dented liability, and alleged that the plaintiff failed to take delivery, and, consequently, counter- claimed £ 735.—Judgment was given for the defendant?' on the cbtim with costs, and for th^ plciotiiT to- t im without costs.

CHARGES AGAINST A RHONDDA POSTMASTER. ALLEGED FORGERIES AND EMBEZZLEMENT. MAGISTERIAL PROCEEDINGS AT PONTYPRIDD. John Jones, the sub-pastma&ter at Treaiaw, Rhondda Valley, wa", again brought up in custody at Pontypridd Police-court on Wed- nesday charged with forging a.nd uttering a Post Office Savings' Bank withdrawal notice for J640, and also a warrant for the. said amount. Tlie magistrates on the- bench were Messrs. T. P. Jenkins and W. Williams, Mr. Ward (of the firm of Ward, Elisor, and Gilling, solicitors, Cardiff) again prosecuted on hehalf of the postal authorities, and Mr. Latham (from the office of Mr. W. R. Davies, soii-itor, Pontypridd) defended, 011 behalf of Mr. D. Rees Edmunds, solicit" r, Cardiff. The proceedings were conducted in the seoond court, and the prisoner, whose incarceration had effected no change m his »( ;K. vranoe, was accommodated with a seat near the table. THE EVIDENCE. William Morris, a collier, living at 34, Prim- rose-street, TonyptMidy. stated that he had an account in the Post Office Savings' Bank, and identified the deposit-liook produced as his. The amount standing to his credit should be JB57 and interest. Witness denied that the mark attesting to his signature on the withdrawal notice for JB40 on the 4th of January of last year wati his; Iwither had he authorised anyone to make the mark nor to apply for the £ 40. The signature on the warrant acknow- ledging the payment of this sum had not been made by witness, neither had he authorised anyone to do so He had Dot received a penny of the £4-0, and no one else had received it on his behalf. Andrew Whit-ton, of 7. Mornington-crescent, London, a. clerk in the home mails branch of the General Post, Office, stated that in January last year ho was engaged in the Savings' Bank Department at the General Post (WW-, where he received a notice of withdtxtwnl for B40 on the 5th of January. The amount was to be withdrawn from the account of W. Morris, the last witness. Witness prepared the withdrawal, which should have been sent direct to the address of Mr. Morris, Mid wnf. in fact, ad- dressed to him. Mr. Macdonald. of Bexley Heath, Kent, a clerk in the Post Office Savings' Bank Depart- ment. who had been -cut down to Treaiaw to make inquiries into the irregularities in the prisoner's accounts, gave evidence as to the statement made by the accused that lie had ob- tained the £40 and .'>).ijroi>riat;-d it to hi:; own use. Witness described the method adopted in connection with withdrawing moneys from accounts in the Post Office 'Savings' Bank. I Witnesa also produced a savings' bank account sheet dated the 8th of January, 1894, in respect to which it was claimed that the B40 had been paid, and which was included in the cash account furnished by the sub-postmaster of Treaiaw for the 8th (yf January. PRISONER MAKES A STATEMENT. Witness tlrPn proceeded to say that on the day he questioned the prisoner he handed him a written statement. Mr. Latham: I think hi .• mten statement is unfair. Witness replied tliat the prisoner had volun- tarily handed it to him. but he told him that he could retain it. because if witness kept it he would produce it against him in court. ATr. Lftthitm It was obtained under pressure. Witness replied that, as far as he wa.¡¡ con- cerned. it was not 80. Mr. Latham Then you will admit this is an extraordinary way of ohtaining- evidence. Witness No, Flir; I don't admit that. I told lum that I did not wish to keep it if he had anv obiection. Mr. T. P. Jenkms Did he write it in your nreserice? Witness No. sir. Mr. Latham Then you cannot prove it Y Witness I can prove that I received it from the prisoner. Mr. La-t-ham That is not a course of action which should be adopted hy any prosecution, especially bv the Otneral Post Office of Enarland. Witness then submitted memorandum books containing the list of the amounts which prisoner i said IKPI had withdrawn from time to time. He asked him if he kept the books from which he pre- pared this list, and prisoner replied that he kept no books, and that he made the list from slips of paper, which he had destroyed. The £ 40 from Morris's accoiuit was included in the list. Mr. Latham: Is it a. custom for Post Office officials to inveigle admis.-dons from those wj^om thev suspect without "warning"tiiemiT' Witness No. I Mr. Latham asked whether the salary, com- mission, and rent allowed to prisoner was under B40 a year. Witness replied that, as far as lit: knew, it watf between £50 and £60. the amount of the prisoner's bond being £200. Mr. Latham .And ycu virtually allow him to carry on the business of the poet-offioe at the magnificent salary of £40 a year? Witness: I don't admit that, and it not for me to say what the General Postmaster is to give in the way of remuneration. We have already had many applications for this office, although it is not yet vacant. Mr. E. Castle, Pontypridd, head postmaster of the Poiity]iridd Postal Div^ion,in which Treakw was included, said that in his visits to the Treaiaw Post-office he had not discovered any discrepancies in the accounts, because the pri- soner kept his daily accounts correct, and he could not see the depositors' accounts because they were not kept '{here. He had no doubt that the signatures on the withdrawal notice and othør documents wen those of tlw prisoner. George Henry Fry, a constable in the Metro- politan Police Force, ..toted that he had given the prisoner into the custody of the To iypandy police on January 31, after which Police sergea.nt HJyle, Tonvpandy, said tha.t when he charged the pri- soner with forging a requ-st note for £ '0 he replied, It is quite true, sergeant. I want to make a clean breast cf it all." Asked whether he wished to consult a solicitor, he replied that he did not, as he could not do him any good. OTHER CHARGES, j This was aU the evidence in this catJe, and Mr. Ward then stated that he had three or four other charges to proceed again,.t the pri- soner, including one of stealing a, post letter, and also with embezzling. The prisoner wa* then formaHy charged with forging the £40, and his only reply was that he would reserve hip defence. ALLEGED FORCERY AND ALSO EMBEZZLEMENT. After the adjournment five other charges were preferred against the prisoner, arid the hearing lasted se-.eral hours. The charges were-; — 2 Forging the ranie of Helina Wall, at Ticalaw, on the 10th of May, 1894, to a request for payment of jE51 15s. 6d. also a. similar offence on the 2nd of I nly, 1894, for payment of £50; also forging a receipt for £5] 15s. 6d. on the 12th of May. 1894, and again for £50 ou the 4th of July, 1894. 3. Forging the name- of S. Sugar and G. Sugar to a request for iKiynu-nt of j329 ou the 3rd .f Augitsf., 1894; al.o similar requests for J615 on 'the 26th of October, 1394; also forging receipt-: for £29 on the 8th of August, 1894, and for ;1;;15 on the 12th of October. 1894. in the name of S. and G. Sugar; also with stealing, on the 28th of October, 1894, a certain letter containing a warrant for payment of JC15 4s. 4. Forging the name of John George to a request for payment of £55 on the 9th of January, 1S94, and forging H. receipt for f.55 on 'the l?th of January. 1894. 5. Forging the name of 'sane Morgan to a recioest for payment of £50 on the ilth of Mav, 1893 also a similar request for £?O on the 18th of August. 1894: abo forging receipt-" for £50 on the 15th of May, 1893. and the other for B20 on the 15th of Augu-st. 18P4. 6. Emlieazling the sum of £18 on the 5th of July. 1893, and also embezzling the sum of £9 on the 1st of December, 1893. After a protracted hearing, the prisoner was committed to tako his trial a t the next assizes upon all the charges, bail being refused. In the evening he was ajrain removed to Cardiff gaol, STATEMENT BY THE PRISONER. During the h-saving oi the case Mr. Ward handed 111 a statement which had been made by the prisoner and handed by him to a Post Office official prior to his arrest, and in it the prisoner virtually admitted his guilt.

MARRIAGE OF THE VICAU OF LLANELLEN. On Wednesday, at St. Mark's, Newport, the Rev. W. D. Jones, vicar of LlaneJlen, and ohaplain to Joint Conntios Asylum; Aber- gavenny, wa.s married to Emily, the youngest daughter of the late Mr. Richard CaMieott. St. Ia, Geld Tops. Newport. Mr. Jones ig well known in the diocese. having held the two im-1 portant curacies of Rhymney and St. Wooios, Newport, where he worked successfully and made many friends. The Rev. Canon t'Tirs, ricar of Rhymney and hen. cfcnon of Llandaff Cathedral, wa.s the celebrant.

!1' | ILLNESS OF LOltD ■v- ABERDARE. Lerd Aberdare, who i* in tondoriir. connec- tion with the Agftd Poor C mmission, hoe con- I (.mi-ted aserior.s clii' no-lying seriously- "I

PONTYPRIDD EISTEDDFOD. A CLAIM AGAINST A GUARANTOR Before his Honour Judy<> Owen, a.t Car- diff County-court on Wednesday atternoon, an action was brought by his Honour Judge Gwdlym Williams, Messrs. David Leysbon, David Evans, Phillips, and f>ther members of the local committer of the National Eistedd- fod, a-gainst John Da vies, landlord of the Victoria Ho'tei, Pontypridd, for £21,. which, it was alleged, he guaranteed towards the ex- pensed of the Pontypridd Eisteddfod. Mr. Bailliache (instmcted by Mr. Bowcn Rowlands, of Pontypridd) appeared for the plaintiifs: and Mr. Aithur Lewis- (instructed by Air. J. H. Jones) defended.- Thoma-s Williams, one of the canvassers for guarantors, deposed that he went to defendant's hotel and asked him to become a guarantor. He hesitated, but even- tually gave his authority to become a guarantor for twenty guineas, and witness, with his con- sent, signed his- name on the paper pro, duced for that amount. The guaran- tors became the general committee, and subsequently meetings wer" heid. At one of the,se meetings, held in tIll- parish room at Pontypridd, he observed defendant among the "coTIgrega ti()i\1. (Laughter.)—Mr. Lewis. Was there a sermon, then? (Laughter.)—Witness, in cross-examination, persisted that he signed defendant's name at his request.—Mr Lew is pointed out to -him that his handwriting was shaky, and embellished with certain graceful curves, but witness denied that that was through his twing under the i,nflllc,nee of drink. As a fact, he was !?ober, and wrote in a hurry. — Mr. Phillips, secretary of the committee, Raid defendant liar I never communicated with him denying tha.t he \\as the guarantor. A list f. f guarantors was published, ? which defendant's name appeared.-—Defendant and his brother, the latter of whom acts as barman, II ere called, and alleged Itmt Williams came to the, hoi el the worse for drink. He asked defendant (who was unable to write) for permission to "put his n.).me down," when defendant told "fnm f.6 get OlJt :0.1,(1 "clear oft: as "he woul t)a"e nothing whatsomever to do with it." Defendant added that he had never attended any of the committee meetings, nor had any doenme-nts been put before him in vliieh his name appeared as a guarantor.—His Honour decided that the ease had been made out. beyond all reasonable doubt, and gave judg- ment for plaintiff with casts.

LLANDUDNO EISTEDDFOD. Air. Joliu Jones, chairman iesided oii Wed- nccday ovc a meeting of the executive co<u- li,5ttoee of tho Lla-nd idno Nruional Eistoddj'-l the following bad consented to act as adjudi- cators on poetry:—The Rev. Canon Ellis Roberts, Convoy; rheHev. EUet I.è,yi, ("Elfed"), Llanelly the Rev. Evan Reos ("Dyfed"), Cardiff: Mr. O. G, Owen ("Ab" I fou"), Y-poldy, Carnarvon: ar.d Profestor J. 3i .lon:.>8, M.A., University (Jollege, North Walts. it was agreed that the following l¡., attktd to officiate -as ad judicators of prose: llie Rev. G. Hart .villi Joi;as, rector of Nui- field. Surrey: Professor O. M. Edwards, M.A., Oxford: Professor J. E. Lloyd, University j College, Bangor; Mr. J. G. Evans, M.A., Oxford; and Mr. Charles Ash ion. literary policeman, Diuas .Vav.dJwy. The adjudica- tors on tho essay as to the causes of agricul- tural depression and suggested ret 'edies are the Rev. John Owett. M.A., and Mtbsr*. B. Jones Williams, Penmaehno, and John Jones. Llan- dudno. Mr. E- E. Bone offered a prize for Ith- best primer of Welsh littrat-uit similar to Alec u'Hari'n shilling serie.s. The Chief item in ti e ,iiiuute8 of the. mush at committee wa, that Mr. F. H. Cow en bad agie '<1 to adjudicate on the £ 50 prize for the best iw tata, the c-m- pef it<-rs to nt- natives of Wales or Alor-mouth- sbire. The cantata is to lie for mixed voices, with net more than four soloists, the chief work to be given to the chorus, the words to be in any language, and the cantata to occupy about one boar in performance. On the motion <)1 the Chairman, a hearty vote of congratulation was passed to Professor John Rhys on his ap- potjntmeqt as principal of Je-us C? liege, Oxford. The motion was received with loud and eon- tinned applause,—Mr. John Littler gave notice that he would move st the next meeting that a request should be made to tlie local urban district council to provide a pavilion in winch to hold the ei*teddfod.

III CASE OF A TEKI3Y WOMAN. CHARGES AGAINST v'AKM Vlti'H KN ASYLUM. "Truth" says:—Last Thursday a poor woman, who bad become a raving lunatic after being confined, was taken from Teuby to the int Comities Asylum at Carmarthen, a dis- I. tance of 30 miles. The necessary papers had been obtained, but when the party arrived at the asylum if wae found that the date had been omitted froU1 the magistrate's order. On this ground the authorities refused to receive t'i\e woman, or to give her temporary shelter until the mistake could lie rectified. Conse- quently, the afflicted woman had to be driven back to Teuby, malting altogether a journey of 60 mile* in the most bitterly eold weather. T understand that the matter is to be brought 1;efore the Pembroke Guardians, and I trust steps will be taken to have the asylum offic als severely called to account.

CHURCH DEFENCE. ACTIVITY AT PEMBROKE DOCK. On Tuesday night a preliminary meeting of Church people, was held in the schoolroom, St. John's Church, Pembroke Dock. under I the presidency of Mr. H. W. Leach. Ba-ngeston, for the purpose of form- ing a parochial Church Defence ^>mir.itLee, in conjunction with Ihe London Institution. Dr, F. J. Stamper. J.P., and Mr. H. W. Leach were unanimously appointed chairman and vice-chairman respectively. It was decided that at the next, meeting an executive iv.m- mittee- be appointed, seleetpd from the general committee, to osrry out the noces^-ai v require- ments, and Mr. Morris, manager of the London and Provincial Bank, consented to become

trea-surer. .-> A CARDIFF MYSTERY. The body of a. newly-born female child, which was on Tuesday found in Canton Market, formed tho subject of a. coroner's inquiry on Wednes- day night. —The evidence of a- little lad, named Norman Newton, showed tha.t he noticed a mreel wrapped in calico and brown paper lying in a. sheep pen in the Canton Market a.t about two o'clock on the 19th inst.—Inspector James, whose attention was called to the matter, round that, the parcel eoutaiaed the body of a female i-rhild.—Dr. Roach, who examined the hmh, was t ouitif 'satisfied that the ehild had u«ver had a v-> ,do" ■: wi a verdict "V ;s :tl1T"JH'"

SHIPPING STEiVMERS MINING ANI>j4^4- The following vessels, as overdue, were posted a* 1j. of ? ne-day as missing:-—Tlie Lom^^tfP1^ wluch sailed from Cork for c-u-go of rnaiize on December steamer Romeo, of Rouen. U of Burry Port for Rouen with a on1 Lfc Tanuary 17 last. Tb,e having been heard of since the "fl* are considered very much overcu- A¡.e", of Bi idgvvai °r, Bridgwater for Liverpo<jl on J L op: aud from Afumbles on Decern tory, of Carnarvon, which 1 gj iagton for Dundrum on j.VcetnD^. the Enterprise, of Padstow. 7^v Penzance for Runcorn ou Decern from Milford on Deccmb.-1! 21.njp SHIPWRECKED CREW LA^ LIVERPOOL. t te9 A Central Mcvn tclegriim Wednesday the Canard Vmzr Cat** ff' j Boston, landed at Liverpool and ten ol the orew land say, from A pad hiclncola, oa Alonday in the Atlantic. Wo the Lindsay had 4ft. of water W was practically unmanageable, were short or prorisiona.

THE LOSS OF THK THE STORY 01' THE The Press Association correspondent states mat Georg was steering the Crathie wheu t the Elbe, has arrived at his Uoinc The Ell*, he says. :.me phantom, dragged -c, OratW round, and passed av c.y saw her lights nearly tbree-qu-*? v after the collision. He repuo1^ (tot -V# utmost indignation the sa* ran away from the Elbe. ,rnd (1^ was a large and powerful vessc > that she had been -ci iously j 't&ue occurred to them. Tin-'V expec vessel to founder eve:y "-e gjjd time- thev had cleared their ho* taiiu-d their condition the L r<),ixie'i \i"r p -c.red, as thev tho::u''t. t'íl her suTialled for assistance them^e o0tt^c< astounded when thev heard at terrible result of the r<isiou-

BHOTHER SAVES BROJ. — r "0 ft. STORY OF A STORM GALLANT The "Munchene -ieue aTc^hl tiie lOi.ovvitig incident }rOUV_ng stein -One cold, stormy W til# of a fishing village were shot out at sea. tla<-toning to saw a ship wrecked on a re- away. The orew were in lifeiioat \\a6 immediately run '^yt- i & the leader of the new, rjaiO men, however, rowed out, i. W -each the wre-c-k. Tlie < r^w TUT but one remained Ivluud. » • the mast, half frozen, and, & iiioreasing, and tlie already, it was deci i^d tfef* t'.M' fctclied down. When to shore IIaero hao whether everyone had. told that one remaiuevi T *'1' him, said Harro; w-tU^ v But the men refused, imjiossible. "rhell [ vvi'-i ( Ha-ri'O, and he sprang jnt:) this moment h.M mother f""rttt> She liegged him not to vevf-1' that both his father an<Llr1' been drowned. Uwe brother, and,, as he had i'«^ years, was supposed to bo:, of me.' the mother begged, the man on the mast,' ex< £ Yun sure that. he has no .<cl. A death?' Harro's mother &ui,'C her sou. and four men 1 ,n'r. 11 wreck was now quite ttudc waves were so furious tr.i approach. But in, l.ct it Harro climlied the stili n fetohe<l the half-frozeii m* la'.d in tiie bottom of th-- • over him, and renvai" ,<.) near the slime t' heard. Then he waved a'*•' to the sp.K.'tators, "Ivb 's' have saved Uwe.'

-—-f PORT The contractors of the pt- Railway a<Kl Dooks (Aies" are losing no t.ime in contract, as on AlorCay li~ w necessary plant arrived, JJ. J,; '• in the unloading of the trur.* J ,v ■ » to Proceed with the -v-rrk J" J k raiiwav and docks will, ) ried on. Mr. Squire i? r and has able coadjutors •> Mr. PlavtMs. The livelier ■ Port Talhtit at the wort. it is anticipated that ai^ire': are thrown out- of empb'+\. of several works in Pon find work. •

-• -f* SHIPPING^. 1 SIGNALLED Feb. 20.— P.JSS-J. r-'4 Liverpool, of Dublin Britannia, of Sundcihtn don; City of Truro, fro i .hickaboming, from -seW*> "X,i • don: HepUrchy, of of Southampton Pav;»: :>v for Plymouth, New Y »fSi. Sarmatia, from New Oriean^1 3 JJ from New York for ,1M of India,, of Livi-i'pool, iu to\ Dortmund, of Dnbliu if* puol Heleiu- Rickmers. ot »«< j;r Botha, both of Newoastt" both of Loudon City Aiphonse Par ran. of Glasgow; North I)eV& °l > E.N:E„ strevg; hazy sea, rough b* mil SIGNALLED OFF TB! Feb. 20.—Wind, S-■ very hazy and fine sea- Steamers Bon, of Giafigw* cS'M ifiefyfrt pool; Actif, oi Caen- *}' Wilberferce, of W hitb* v,jo- T j>- Mournw, of Newry Received Orders.- S'eS' Swansea, for Cardiff- S W" A NS E A- Veb. 19 —Sydenham, "1," Feb. 2iJ.Öount fl'-V-sp II; AmlMOse, s. 7ffi, 'jt*. ."><11' 94H, Antwerp, nil Queer. gtiU, cc^i, t-.fv y B soin-n • 'r- Feb. 19.—Ciievingion, WJoy, ai, 44^, CanJttf, zaaee, jr. feb. 21).—KgUuiois, 0 r of Feb. 19.—Alice Uepea>i-\ Feb. 2O.-Chir.ago City r f,.A r:, v- '• Feb. 19.—Tyne. « ic-v lienHymont- I;1' Feb. 20.—t. Mh'i'- >. i Feb. 19.—Race J-'ianf' J'- Fisher, s Flee^ --vf. Diosfherta Lucy (i ScieV. I'Hi Ni K OF V. Y Feb. 19.—Amira! haiieet, s (Imck). Kew *"•^ t-, BNi'EIlEI> 0VrWA- Nsw York, Ciiieago <.1tv, liuayaqnil. Dc Bay, a. Vftitr. Scareman^i, a, j Itnd David uilMf*-1" Genoa tux I jjeir'nej-n, i" Henderson h Co. j* St. Naaaire, fcira, s. B, 'y j», Kouenr Oonnt d'iVsprew?^- K. Davies A 00." ys —- f.č.j, CUEABEDf Oua>"ii<jvit, De Bay, i 81.njn,. Halt-, a. B, C&en. Albis. «. fJei-, 8off (;e!)(oQ awi Peghnro, cok". S00 fuel. 35:Y, -;¡. JMl'ORTS.—c- New Yorlr, Chicagc copter matte. Vivian nangs, 131 bags zipe '*•».- t&r*> •kui-mitigR, l>ill«yn James .■ IMPORTS Siiloth, Queen'H «!hann«V >ea Gaa Company ;• „ London, An-brose. s, 2» Sons: 100 tons itont»f U iui i-cment and Liverpool. Sunlight, s, 1, :.i!tu-gow, via Uardift, !»p .tnd Bro. Nn. port and Cardiff, lsef p**y.s &■ t t. i* via Belfast, i* Bin. j ?*•' iielfiat, Kglir.Wn, s. c^* HirripK Bros. t" Printed and Puh!ls!l I ftAVrt) J,Y;J; "See-a Wales

SERIOUS RIOTING NEAR, PONTYPRIDD, SEQUEL TO A COLLIER r DISPUTE. A serious disturbance occurred on Wednes- day evening a.t Llantwit Vardre, near Ponty- pridd. For eeverai months a dispute has existed at Yskrad Barwig Collwiy in reference to the prices to be pitid for work, ami on Tuesday evening a number of the old hands devaded to resume work upon terms agreed upon. This they did on Wednesday, and wheu a.bout a doiitui of them were proceeding to the railway station to go home to Pontypridd, they wero met by an excited crowd, coiupo»ed mam iy of tlwse workmen who had declined to accept the tjnus. The strikers made a. rush towards the workmen, .striking theiu with heavy staves and stones and clinkers which they found lying about 011 the incline. So violent, indeed, was the attack tliat, despite the eiforts of the men to de- fend themselves, many were very seriously- dealt with, and more or lass badly hurt. Mr. Taylor, one of the proprietors of the colliery, happened to be going towards the station at the same time, and he quickly proceeded to the assistance uf-hi" workmen. The strikers, how- ever, apparently took little or no heed of his presence, and continued their attack uijun the men, some of whom were somewhat advanced in years. The master shared the same fate as his men, and received a nasty blow on the head one of the strikers also severely bit one of his htM dg. Police-sergeant C. Melt-on Daviee (124) and Police-constable Davies (301), who are stationed in .the village, happened to be in the vicinity of the station, and, hearing some disturbance and attracted by cries which ea.iuo from the. direction of the incline, thev hurried thither and soon found themselves in the midst of the tiesperate fray. Fortunately, they succeeded, wah the aid oi i>m- men who had been set OIl, in keeping the strikers at bay, and they proceeded in a, body towards the rail- way station, followed by tho rioters, whose noisy actions soon brought a crowd upon the scene. The rioters again assumed a threatening attitude in the vicinity of the railway station, and two ùf them assaulted the constables, and were promptly arrested and com eyed to the Pontypridd Police-station. Here the officers at once laid an Ll1 formation, and warrants were issued for the arrest of a number of those vriio had ioined in the attack. Later in the evening a posse of policy was despatched from Ponty- pridd to the scene of the disturbance for the purpose of arresting those men against whom warrants had been issued. It is expected that the prisoners will be taken before t'uy bench at the Llanirisaut Polioe station to-morrow e'ridiivi _————