The South Wales Daily Post

THE "POST" DIARY. CHE EMPIRE. Two performances every evening at 7 and 9 o'clock. xranci ThEatre.The Destroying Angel every evening at 7.30 p.m. March 28.—Gymnastic display at the Albert Hall by the .pjembers of the Y.M.C.A. March 29.—Property Sale at the Royal Hotel, High-street, Swansea, by Mr. F. E. Tun- bridge. March 29.-Sule of Leasehold Property at Cameron Arms Hotel, High-street, Swan- sea, by Mr. E. Roberts. March 30.—Orchestral Concert at Shaftes- bury Hall, Swansea. March 30.—Sale of Machinery, Plant, etc., at Birchgrove Works, by Mr. David Roberts. March 30.—Sale of furniture at No. S. Brook- lyn-terrace, Mumbles, by Mr. F. C. Tun- bridge. March 31. Sale of furniture at Paraclete House, Newton, Mumbles, by Messrs. James and James. March ol.-Property Sale at the Royal Hotel, by Messrs. J. F. Harvey and Co. March 31.Sale of Furniture at 46. Mansel Street, Swansea, by Mr. Dd. Roberts. March 31 to April 1.—Navvy Mission Bazaar at the Mission Ha-li, St. Thomas, Swan- sea. April 4.-Messrs. J. M. Leeder and Son will conduct a Property Sale at their Auction Rooms, Goat Street, Swansea. April 4.—Sale of Brynrntlin Hotel at Messrs. J. M. Leeder a-id Son's auction rooms, Goat-street, Swansea. April 4.—oak- of Property at Royal Hotel, Swansea, by Mr. David Roberts. April 6.—Sale of property and ground rent at Royal Hotel, Swansea, by Mes&rs. Hig- man and Co. April 8.—Grand Concert at the Albert. Hall by the Royal Treorky Male Voice Party. April 11.—Grand evening Conceit at the Albert Hall by Mr. Ben Davies.

NOTES & COMMENTS. The provision of electric tramways for Swan- sea is truly a slow process. Of course the con- cern is not yet actually transferred, and this may account for the delay, but certainly the transit of the Tramways Company's under- taking at the last moment has already—if w-e were to believe the owntrs of the latter con- cern in October last—'throvrn the business back for six months. Mr. Kincaid wrote to the; Corporatiun in October stating that "in viaw of the urgency of the matter, and having re- gard to the work being a-bomt to be proceeded with dur ■ g the next few weeks," a reply at the very earliest date to the proposals of tih" Company would oblige. Afterwards the Com- pany paused to consider whether they should sell, then ifchey sold, and now the Traction Company have, we suppose, yet to begin negotiating wirtii the Corporation as to their plans for re-laying the line, constructing addi- tional double lines, -,d pu tting in the poles fQi the overhead constructions. This part of the business might surely be advanced somewlhat before the concern is transferred, for we have heard so much about electric cars that we wish to see them as early as possible, and it will be provoking if there is any hitdh between the Company and the Corporation after another moDltl or two have passed over our heads.

The Mayor describes the position, of matters in connection with the Gas Company's injunc- tion against the Corporation as a "pretty kettle of fish," and saY3 the case wul be taken u> the Court of A], peal. On the face of it, it would appear as if to is would make the kettte still letter hI' the "fish''—by which is meant the corporation, although we should havo shrunk from usir.g 6uch a term for such an •lugust body. More law means more expense. The question is 'whether there is any possib.1- ity of altering iiw deNRion already come to .r* nd it appears to us that no question of law is .r volved at all; but one simply of fact. M- Justice North did not give any new decision ci law. He simply dealt with the facts before ium, and declared that to class this opposition with me sort which do not require a rate- payers' meeting was "ridiculous." He did not declare the price of gas to be nniiuportant, as Lhe M, iyor says. What tihe judge said in effect was that trie- Company's Bill did not affect that price in such a way as to make it an attack on the existence, property, privileges, rights, or duties of the Coi poration as to warrant them in opposing without formalities. Is this a question of interpreting law? or is it an opini n I of fwi4? And if it is the latter, and can stiU be appealed upon, are the judges likely to aJter the judging of their brother below to the ex- tent of saying that what he thought "ridicu- laus" was, in point of fact, a sober reality. There is a suggestion that the Corpuratiol will be cool enough to add to th-s Mayor's salary sufficient to cover the expenses. This possibility of dealing with the matter on the question of "salaries," did indeed occur to us, but rather in the curtailing than in the adding to ta«m. To find out who is responsible for the action of the Corporation, and dock him of the amount, would be retributive justice of a delightfully amusing kiqd. Does not that look a little more sensible, ye ratepayers of Swan- sea?

If Great Britain is pre-eminent for music nowadays, it may be said that Walts has done much towards it. We caqlnot maintain a musical festival, but we certainly can provide the choristers. Sir Arthur Sullivan the other day told an int--rview,-r: -Great Britain is easily first in many ways—in the possession, for instance, of the greatest singers and the host chorus singing. Nowhere can. we get such a public for oratorios, whilst all-round execu- ta.:it ability has reached a very high standard; but during the last twenty years music has been treated, with a respect whioh it did not receive in my earlier days. When I first, came hack from Germany, there was hardly anyone who coind sing a good song, and if you did rind such a one, he or she was not listened to The attempt to sing a song in a drawing-room was the signal for general conversation. This state or things has now passed away. Every- where, added Sir Arthur, you find people who ltnow how to play and h:. w to sing, and what is more important, people who know how to hsten." -u_- n_

THE PRODUCTION OF ARMOUR PLATES. To the Editor of the "Daily Post." Sir,—In reference to Mr. Go^'chim's state- ment in the House of Commons on. the 10th instant that the Admiralty do not think they could rely upon such an Lutput of armour as would justify them in hastening the construc- tion of armoured ships early in the comiing financial year, the Executive Committee of the Navy League have addressed inquiries as to possible outp-at, to manufacturers of armour plate, and have received t'ne following replies. —Yours, etc., W. C. GRUTCHLEY, Secretary. The Navy League, 13, Victoria-street, London, S.W., 25th March, 1898. Vickers, Sons and Maxim, Limited.—We beg to say that we could, of course, increase our output of armour plates to any extent by spending xnoiriev, which we- should be quite ready to do df we were sure that the enor- mously-expensive plant would not be idle. The difficulties expeifenced of late in supplying the armour plat- s required by the Government have been purely of a temporary natfire. I John Brown and Company, Limited, Shef- field.—We are, at the present time, largely increasing our armour plate plant, and shall be quite capable of dealing with any orders which we are at all likely to receive from her Majesty's Government. Charles Cainm/ ll and Cc., Limited, Sheffield. —We have recently been engaged 1m recon- structing our plant to change the system of manufaoturj from the Harvey to the Krupp plates, which we have only just completed, and that we are now making further extensions which, when completed, w'hich will be in the course of the next few months, will enable us to produoa about 10.000 tons of this improved armour arciually, but if sufficient orders for armour were guaranteed to us, there is practi- cally no limit to our capacity for extension.

THE ILLTREATMENT OF SEAMEN. LETTER OF THANKS FROM THE MEN. To the Editor of the "Daily Post." Sir,—Would you kindly allow us, through the columns of your most valuable paper, to tllank the officials of the Sailors' and Firemen's Union for the interest they have taken in our case with respect to the illtreatment and stop- page of wages on the sMp lroop, which arrived at Swansea from Tacona, ariate of Washington, L.S.A., on Friday, the 18th irst? Mr. E. Cathory, the secretary of the Union, along with Mr. J. C. Battye, the Swansea branch secretary, on hearing of our illtreatment, eom- menced at once to investigate onr case, and finding at was a case of a most tirutal char- acter, and that we had been charged two months' advance, told us to meet Mr. Cathory at the shippting office when the ship paid off, or when we got our account of wages. On re- ceiving our account of wages, he told us to disputs the two months' advance, as it was not legal under Section 140 of the Merchant Ship- ping Act, 1894, which we did. He advised us to take proceedings to recover our full amounts as signified on our account of wages, less one month advance, and also if the statements were true as to the alleged illtreatmerit to take pro- cecdings for the alleged assaults on the high seas. This we did, with the result of the court finding that which has been published in your columns. We therefore cannot speak too highly of those gentlemen for the great kiterest they have taken on our behalf as strangers to the country, and we hope that every sea going sailor and fireman who are not in the Union will at once join, and help to make the Union strong, and so help to put down such cruel illtreatment as that practised on board of some of oar deep-water ships. We also wish to thank our noble young solicitor, Mr. Thompson, for the able manner in which he jiiloted each and every case through the court; also the "South Wales Daily Post" for the prominenoe you have given in your columns to this exposure of the dreadful conditions often connected with a sailor's life on a deep- water ship.—Yours, etc., F. H. BROWN. WM. H. WEYMAN. C. CAULSON. GEORGE WELTZ. ADOLF D. JURY. ANDY WILLSON. AUGUSTA GILFENS. J. J. BAREP, C. S. CUNNINGHAM. CHARLES E. ANDERSEN.

A paragraph in our Saturday's issue stated that a woman's clothing had been found on the canal bank, and that another mystery is provided for the local police. Probably it would be considered a very heart-less thing if we suggested, thar/ we devoutly hope the woman was not playing oft a joke upon us, for that would mean (hat we hopsd she was really '-n the canal. At the same time, when we see! little elaboratoons"of toilet before the supposed happy dec-patch., we generally begin to be doubtful as to whether a proper degree of earnestness had been introduced into the occa- sion—especially during these cold days. On the whole, we lean-as may, we hope, be seen by the tone of the above remarks—'to the opinion that the mystery may possibly be cleared up in tJb:0 woman's own family aircie, and not before the police; audi that a hus- band, who—like the public, possibly—was given "such a turn" by tha discovery on chi canal bank, may btfore now have had his mini eased by the return of his terrorising spouse.

Even yet we do net believe there is going to be wai. The occupation of Pert Aithur by Russia can iiarily be niada a 'casus belli. It may be unjustifiable, and it may force us into an undignified scramble in which, with our resources, we should certainly not be behind other nations. But, an ice-free port in China has been conceded to be necessary to Russia, and if her pledge holds good that the ports he takes are to be open ones the action, though unjustifiable, can (hardly be a cause of war. In regard to the Maine explosion, the circum- stances are so overwhelming against Spain that we should say abe would unquestionably "pa)" -as she cannoc expect sympathy after such a terrible event in her waters. At the same time, a demand that the Cubans should be properly assisted and relieved should also be -now successfully forced upon the Spaniards. But 'WatI' Iiaab is hardly likely in these days.

THE POST BAG* -'¡-+- A Swansea mam sa.ys he has opened a joiat banking account with his wife. He money in, and his wife draws it out. To evade his friends and creditors, Mc* Gurgler has removed his residence to the upper pa.rt of the town. [This is official. It is in gentleman's own handwriting.—Ed.] It is ruaaoured that if on« of the for tha Board of Guardians should be tlec the efi'sct will probably be that a near relate will be taken off the rates. McGurgler backed "Little Joe" f°r Grand National, and now he swears by sacred memory of his mother-in-law that will join the Anti-Gambling League straig off. A fashion paper annouices the interesting fact that gentlemen's summer clothes this year will probably be in dark material. Swan-140 ratepayers will adopt this with peculiar mean ing. i Say "a policeman's life is not a happy" °n8' indeed! An interesting little event ^hi b -on" came off in the family circle of one of ¡:;WZW" sea's bobbies a few days ago has gained plenty of congratulations. There is a proposal on foot to establish a home for the w.t:ary Willies who Lave taken up their headquarters under \Yind-stre»» Bridge. Special facilities will be offered fot rendering work unnecessary. A man was found laughing hysterically in the Strand the other evening, and when ask by a Mend "w lilit"n, the joke?" replied when he regained his breath, that he had been war- ried for seventeen years, and he had never see his wife's face washed before. Great Pears. There is trouble in the west end. A young gent sent his Matilda a song, untitled, "WeJ1 we were young," and the following InOrn"lg he received a brief but emphatic note stating that their little affair was "off." That V-0 the cruel refrain of the "song that reached his heart." The cuckoo has not been heard in the neigh- bourhood of Swansea as yet, but there several indications of an ^arly summer. • Gurgler has purchased, a white box bat, W Uncle Penry Lewis has already obtained. iig season ticket for the as. Brighton's marine trips. A young Swansea miss entered the lendillg library the other evening with a boiok, j she had brought it back as her uiaromn h said it was not fit for her to read. The y01^ man behind the counter assured her her m<>1 must be mistaken. "Oh, no, die isn't; I read it myself, was the indignant reply- Miss Brock thought it wise, after petif once, to give up her seat on the jy Guardians. It seems a pity that auother •_ should seek to take up the seat discard one of her own sex and moreover, put a to the expense of an election which might_ avoided, Couldn't Miss Brock enlighten lady and explain matters? The great family of Jones is well at the Swansea Police Court now and agaJJ1.. A few days ago a summons Wets issued by Frank Jones on behalf of Mr. Jenkin > The name of the justice who signed the ment wara Mr. Jones the name of the summoned was Jones, and the name policeman entrusted with service was What more do you want? j J gjj^P Dear, dear," remarked a crusty walking down High-street on Saturday' a town Swansea is for red noses. W the name of Tom All-alone did he mean fer?" March winds doth blow and then ° snow, and what can a fellow do then, thing?" As the immortal Bill Adams^^ rejoin, "If a chap's face does Italian sunset, it's not his fault." The only rœïdoot9 of the lIigØ- The only diversion the residents of tne street Arcade have during slack times watch the keeper of the building chasing the balcony mischievous urchins. Being sessed of some weight in tne world the p1^ is often funny. A delinquent maiden ^ie/> j. diay led the keeper a nice dance round the ing. The way lie polkad, gelloped,^ waltzed, and mazurkad, ultimately down a flight of steps, was the sight ° a time. Young Arthur de Jones, who is enga^ a brok.r's office at the docks, went ^gge's girl's house to tea last Sunday. nine-year old brother was there, and, Ipre, re- most boys of that tender age, he is veO^ cooious. His chatter was endless, and ]. Therese was constrained to remark, ^y Heavens! who would be bothered with a like you?"' "You'd have to be xpec- sent you on.e," was young Tommy s un ted retort.. A tall and huge footed coloured 1 impel: into a Wind-street boot shop on • day last and began to complain that been swindled. "Dese byar shoes, je5' "suhtinly is de wust I ebah seed. juan' natchelly got me all tied up in knots. 0jy know what de matter. It seems iike soi done cast a spell on dem boots yon so Fust dey feels all right, an' den de 11 dey hu'ts mos' defful." The assistaui ined the boots, and then began to ?" "You're not used to wearing ooes, are yoU :'1 he asked. "Well, boss," was the doan' weah dem much, da's a fach. ^x(fr4 the trouble is, you've got them on ^iene?r«; feet." "No, sah—no, sah, cried the^ dez am nuffin' wrong wif mah feet! dealer having explained the difference right and left, the customer left t- happy. A Low** To the de&ectois of de "Upper an ot districts.—Laades and: people, at de r"' a large body of influenza rate play^1*5'$, at last, descended to be denominate couple or seats on de Board of ^ar, playerS reputation in dealing with our rate Jana, money is too well known to need y e1'ho8S tion. In fact I is in no wise >*o*' money I spend1, as long as I have nw 'iut 0ut dare is one ting dat 1 should bke ^tirigs ° to de public, and' dat is dis. De late have been too quiet. To qtue ^1^0'^ there is no business in dem, why 0n« 0 nor de police, have rot been call fac^ does meetings fee a long long time- I don't believe a single blow 'has liolirf for months. Now de next question caj" 1 of labour. Now I tiixk dat one aflj quiet enough to work for rrotaing. ^0T^ hour to dinner out of dat. I no^ j sp6^, is, I have been a sky pilot mysel sljon from experience. Now de nex^ q deal with, and I fink it is a < one, and diat is about do frand tohoco. Now two pounds oi Wt ^orK- sack of spuds ought to be <nouga it 1 ing man a dinner. At'd as for bee ha a standing diagiace After a p< be finished his da^s work he has got jet fied with 3 or 4 pint* ->f beer;I^_ man have own so lxeA pound get a drink when h^ Twnts it. k 0ut t° tobacoaadoneboxof^gftrsperweeK j ample. No ragarettB allowed. t in dat if de rata players mony was ?"oreciat^l above manner it would bs r^y mVf„vol}r \.0 So all da good' people dat is m nv put g jeetins me at deceit delection kindly^ following figures against my j 0000, and oblige, yours ever grim. SAM ,8 .JP