Weekly Mail

THEATRICAL SEASON AT CARDIFF. FORTHCOMING ATTRACTIONS AT THE "ROYAL." As it ia at this time of the year that Cardiff playgoers are expeotantly waiting for news as to the bookings of oompanies at the local theatres one of our representatives on Satur- day saw Mr. E. Fletcher and asked him if he would kindly furnish him with as accurate a list as posssible of the plays which will be staged at the Theatre Royal in 1897. Mr. Fletcher was quite willing to do so. "As you know," said he, "this week we will have The Prisoner of Zenda,' which I have bad the pleasure of witnessing. It is. indeed, a magnificent play, and the tsceinery, particularly that in the coronaticn scene, is especially fine. Following this famous drama, we s'hall have Arthur Rousbey's Opera Company, which, con- sidering that it is a. year isir-ce, we had grand opera in Cardiff, should be an immense attrac- tion. Among ihe operas to be played will be 'Tannhauser,' which has never before been produced in South Wales. Next will came the drama, 'Star of India,' from the Princess Theatre, and after tha.t we shall have 'The Derby Winner,' in which Mrs. Richards Edgar, who is the only lady who has successfully played Mrs. John Wood's part, will appear." "That takes us on for a month. What is the Easter attraction?" "The famous military play, 'Tommy Atkins.' which is always popular. Th-o play inelud,es a scene descriptive of that famous picture, "I*he Last Stand. "And after Tommy Atkins'?" "Well, I cannot for obvious reasons give you the exact dates. but among the 'agreements I 'have here before me the engagement of the great Haymarket drama, 'Under the Red Robe.' When I was in town the other day I tried to see the play, but could not get near the theatre. Inside there was not room even for your feet, and the piece if having a wonderful run. Then, Cardiff playgoers will have opportunities of seeing that much-talk ed-of musical comedy. 'My Girl., which, after a: run at the Gaiety, has now been removed to the Garrick, and similar pro- ductions in the 'Geisha. Girl' and 'The French MlIid' will be here in August and, September." "So there will be plenty of light fare?" "Oh, that is not all. We shall have that screaming farce. 'A Night Out,' played by Mr. George Edwardes's compamv from the Vaudeville Theatre, and another farcical comedy entitled 'Newmarket.' "And turning to drama. again • "W (>11 I may mention amont other dramas 'The Sign of the Cross' and 'The Sorrows of Satan,' which latter play, after all that lias been said of Marie Corelli's famous work, is sure to be a big draw. Then Mr. Henry Neville will appear as the 'Marquess of Uiepstow in the great Drury-lane success. Cheer Boys, Cheer.' this play having additional interest as it was the late Sir Augustus Harris's last re- duction. In the autumn IrOyly Carte's No. 1 Company, fresh from their tour in South Africa, will pay what I will venture to call a very welcome viqit, and, in conclusion, I may mention that I have received a letter from Mr. Bramwell Stoker asking me for a date for Sir Henry Irving's next provincial tour. I trust tha.t the great tragedian may soon be seen in Cardiff. Bv the bye, I should not forget to mention that Mr. Wilson Barrett will in Octo- ber produce his new play, 'The Daughters of Babylon,' which will, no doubt, prove an immense attraction."

LOCAL GOVERNMENT INQUIRY AT BRYNMENYN. On Friday an inquiry was held at the Fox and Hounds Inn, Brynmenin, before Colonel J. T. Manfli, R.E., Local Government in- spector, to consider the scheme proposed by the Ogmore and Garw U.D. Oouncil for the disposal of sewage by means of sewage farms beyond the limits of their district. Mr. S T. Evans, M.P. (instructed by Mr. S. R Stockwood, Bridgend) appeared to support the application of the council, whilst Mr. W. D. Benson appeared on behalf of Lord Dunraven to oppose the application, opposition being also offered by Air. Lewis Richards, Mr. T. J. Hughes, and Air, H. Jonee (Cardiff-j on behalf of certain property owners and parishes ia the neighbourhood. There was a large attendance.—Mr. Evans, in briefly opening the inquiry, sajd that the population to be served by the proposed sewage works was about 14,200. At present there was no system of sewage whatever in the Garw Valley, while the Ogmore Valley was much in the same pre- dicament. They now intended to erect a sewage farm near Brynmenin, for which 175 acres were proposed to be taken, 124 acres of the land belonging to Lord Dunraven. This was the most suitable place that could be obtained.—Mr. G. Chatterton, engineer, Mr. Baldwin Latham, and Mr. J. Blandy Jenkins gave evidence, in support of the scheme.-The inquiry was adjourned until Monday morn- m¥he inquiry was continued on Monday— Evidence was given by Mr. D. Wil- liams (surveyor to the Ogmore Council), Mr. E. B. Bartram (manager of the Merthyr and Aberdare Sewage Farm), and Mr. T. M. Price (mining engineer and land agent) in support of the scheme, while considerable testimony was also brought forward in opposition.—Dr. Williams (county medical officer) said some kind of scheme was an absolute necessity.- Mr Benson, speaking on behalf of Lord Dun- raven, eaid his client tJid not wisa to sell the land at all, and his lordship's objection to the scheme was that it was too costly. The borrow- ing power of the council was for £ 110,000, and he went on to calculate that the land nroposed to be taken from Lord Dunraven, together with the buildings on it the coals supposed to be under it, allowance for compulsory p'T-iiase, royalty, &c., would cost the council altogether £ 77,350. —Mr. J. M. Randall (Lord Dunraven's ao-ent) was called, and valued the proposed site as agricultural land, apart from the minerals, at about JB100 per acre.-During the afternoon Mr. Hy. Jones (Cardiff), on behalf of the Abergarw Brewery Company (who had objected to the scheme because of the liability of contamination to the brewery well) reported that his clients and the oommittee had come to terms, the arrange- ment being to alter the course of one of the sewers.-After Mr. T. J. Hughes having called some witnesses on behalf of the opposition, Mr. S. T. Evans summed up his points, and said it was a curious thing that not a single ratepayer had been called to oppose the scheme. —The inquiry then terminated.

BARRY CLASS, TEACHERS. A general meeting of the meanbesrs of the Barry Class Teachers' Association was held on Friday evening at Barry Docks, when the new president (Mr. R. T. Evans) delivered his in- augural address on the subject of "The Nation and the Teacher," during which he pointed out that the people were continually heaping plati- tudes on the profession, but were very loth to appreciate thedr services by giving increased salaries. Messrs. J. E. Thorpe, A. Jones, and J. Roach favourably criticised the address, and a vote of thanks was heartily accorded Mr. Evans.—A letter was read from the National Federation of Teachers pointing out the danger of teachers holding the certificate of the Irish Board being admitted to employment in Eng- lish schools, thus introducing cheap labour to the country.—Mr. J. E. Thorpe said this was a great injustice and insult to the profession, and hoped the association would pass a strong reso- lution on the matter, and they would ask ihe Parliamentary representative for the division to protest against the same. It was eventually decided to fully discuss the matter at the next meeting.

FISHGUARD AND ROSSLARE RAILWAYS The engineer to the Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbour Company (which was formerly known as the Fishguard Bay Railway and Pier Company) has prepared estimates amounting to £ 397,420 as the cfoet of constructing the projected railway extensions in Ireland from Rosslare to Waiterford. With reference to the railway and pier at Fishgnard authorised in 1893, it is stated that, although "rapid pro- gress" is being made with this part of the scheme, it will not be completed within the time granted by Parliament, and that, therefore, an extension is required for throe years from June, 1898.

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-4. WELSH INDUS- TRIES. THE STEEL AGE. BY CHARLES WILKUTS, F.G.S. Although the general use of steal in this country only dates from about 1860, it must not be thought for a moment that it is a modern discovery. The pTocess for convert- ing iron into steel was well known by the ancients. The Latins called it Chalybo, be- cause the first steel in repute came from Spain —|he very place from whence, singularly enough, now that old Welsh mine has gone out of fashion, we now get the ore for our Bessemer and Siemens' steel. In Spain there was a river called Chalybo, the waters of which were reputed to be the best for temper- ing steel. That myriad minded man, Shakspeare, who appears to have had universal knowledge, which, in a climate less frigid than ours and amongst a people of more soul, would have been rewarded with deific honours, has this evidently in view when suggesting in Othello" that the sword of the Moor had been hardened in a cold stream for he says it had "the ice brook's temper. Referring to this, in his British Association address on tempering steel, Professor Robert Austin said, But cold water was far too simple for many a. sixteenth century artificer to employ, as is shown by the quaint receipts contained in one of the earliest books of trade secrets, which, by its title, showed the existence of the belief that the right use of alchemy was to bring chemical knowledge to bear upon industry. The earliest edition was published in 1531, and the first English translation in 1583, from which the following extracts may be of inte- root: -'Take snayles, and first dirawn water of a red dye, of which water,- being taken in uie first months of harvest when it raynes, boil it with the snayles, then beat your iron red hot, and quench it therein, and it shall be as hard as steele. Ye may do the like with the blood of a man of XXX years of age, and of sanguine complexion, being cd a rnerry nature and pleasant, distilled in the month of May.' This may seem trivw enough," said the professor, "but the belief in the efficacy of such solations survived into the present oentury, for I find in a. work published in 1810 that the' artist is prettily directed to take the root of blue lilies infuse it in wine, and quench the steel in it, and the steel will be hard. On the other hand, he is told that if he takes the juice or water _common beans and quenches iron or steel in it it will be as soft as lead. I am at a loss," continued the professor, "to explain the confusion which has arisen from this source, as must always be the case when the practice of an art is purely empirical. Such procedure was often fantastic, but it is by no means obsolete, for probably at the present day theM is hardly a workshop in which an artificer could not be found with a claim to possess a quaint nostrum for hardening steel. Even the use of absurdly compounded baths, to which I have referred, was supported by theoretical views. Otto Tochen for instance writing of steel in about the year 1666, says'that steel, when it is quenched in water, acquire* strength, be- cause the light already in the water is a true comporter of the light in the iron, and cutlers do strengthen it by the us#* of unim&l?. hence the use of snails. Again, Lemerv explains in much, the same way the production of steel by heating iron in the presence of 'horns of animads. Pliny also refers to tempering steel. The Romans also wised steel in the Romana The Romans also used steel in the Romana Statera, the "Balance" of the Pentateuch. Ono of the eminent philosophers of antiquity, referring to steel says that forged and wrought iron may be cast and hardened anew, and that by reiteration of the process it is reduced to steel. of the Welsh triads, believed to be of considerable antiquity, refers to iron as being converted to steel by the heat of three fires. But for antiquity let us go, as in the notices of iron, to the oldest book, the Bible, where, amongst a great number of references to iron and its uses, we find three references to steel and in all of them the I fighting element oomfS in, not the agricultural. "A bow of steel is broken," exclaims Samuel, and in another place, "A bow of steel shall strike him through." Another instance occurs in Jeremiah, who 5avs, '•Shall iron break northern iron and steel?" Smiles, the indefatigable investigator of industries, has discovered that the Hindoos were especially skilled in the art of making steel, retaining it to this day; also that the Egyptians used Indiaa steel for covering their obelisks and temples with hieroglyphics. This was a step bejond the Jewish record, and shewed an advance from using steel for war purposes to using it in transmitting history and biography. It was left for the western nations to give it still more practiced employment, and to give readers an idea of this I cannot do better than quote Sir Samuel, who tells us that from, in early period Sheffield became distinguished for its manufacture of iron and steel. In' the thirteenth century it was the place that turned out the best arrow- heads, and the Earl of Richmond, who swept the country from Milford to Barmouth, and thence up the Llanbrtuncair valley to Moat Lane for Welsh recruils, owed a good deal of his success at Bosworth, it is said, to the superior length, sharpness, and finish of these steel arrow-heads. Then Sheffield became also celebrated for its ktives, introduced by Flemish workmen, who aided this oountry in many useful manufactures. Then for a time we find an importation of steel into Sheffield and other districts goiftg on, until Sheffield, in turn, began to mak< its own steel, whioh was dona from Daonemwa iron imported from Sweden. To those falniliar with our huge Bessemer converters at Cyfarthfa, Dowlais, and other principal works in Wales, it may be interesting to state tie early simple means used for m-alring steel at this epoch, leaving "snayles" out of the matter. It was by ex- posing iron bars, placed in contact with roughly-grantulated chaTCoal, to an intense heat, the process lasting for about a. week, more or low, according to, the carbonisation required. By this irows what is called blistered steel was produced, furnishing the material out of which razors, files, knives, and swords were product- Another process was that of shear steel ly exposing a bundle of steel rods, with sand sdattered over them as a flux, to the heat of a wind furnace, until the whole mass became of a yeldrng heat, when it was taken from the fire ind drawn out under a forge hammer. The tfrrd and most impor- tant form, and one now if use, is that of cast steel, which, as Sir Sallllel well observes, possesses great cohesion -axd closeness of grain, with an astonishing degfee of tenacity and flexibility—qualities whaci1 render it of the highest value in all kinds tools and instru- ments where durability, polish, and fineness of edge are essential Tequisiws. It is to this material, he adds, wo are tnainly indebted for the exquisite cutting instruments of the tr.irgeon, the chisel of the sculptor, the steel plate on which the engravltr practises his art, the cutting tools emplofd in the various processes of skilled handii^^ts, down to the common saw or the axe. It is gratifying to thijk, and deserves a notice at this stage, that, fhile England was so materially indebted tc Germany for its earliest steel, Sheffield takPg the leading posi- tion in working it up to siit the various needs of industry and commerce the. time came in steel history for WaJes to contribute no small a portion of its steel to SMSeld, in the form of crop ends, which hee borne well the severest test and given thePrincip&Rty a well- earned reputation. To Huntsman, of Gerorf* ancestry, a great deal of credit is due for steel manufacture. His parents came from aamany and resided in Lincolnshire, where he born, and the whole of his life may fbN be regarded as English, from the playtixtf of youth until his death. He is stated to Iu've been of marked ingenuity even when a W« The greater part of his career was one of unceasing perseve- rance and a great deal of failure. Close observers in the neighbourhood of the old iron- works of Wales often caxod across mementoes 91 £ti.!w. wàøl. "Ojp-" Thes* were frequently in the form of a "pig and its litter," which had been carted away to conceal the fact of & mishap at the blast fur- nace. It used to be said years ago that long after Huntsman's death it was a common inci- dent in the vicinity of his house to turn up masses of steel in various stages of manufac- ture, the result of imperfect melting, breaking of crucibles, and bad fluxes. Your truly great man's life is never one straight path of suc- cessful adventure. It is marked with mishap, with misfortune; but it is in the battle with the difficulties that true genius is developed, and eventually he becomes the successful man. Huntsmaa worked in secret. It may be said that not even his left hand knew the labour of his right. Yet, singularly enough, just in a similar way to the tale told of Foley, the founder of the Hereford family, and of Davies, of Penydarran, and of Morrisfcown, so from Huntsman the secret was wormed by a ruse. In one of the standard works on metallurgy the incident is given, and, as this is of general interest and as good as a tale, I quote:—"One cold winter's night, while the snow was fall- ing 111 heavy flakes, and Huntsman's steel manufactory threw its red glare of light over the neighbourhood, a pensonof the most abject appearance presented himself at the entrance, praying for permission to share the warmth and shelter which it afforded. The humane workmen found the appeal irresistible, and the apparent beggar was permitted to take up his quarters in a warm corner of the building. A careful scrutiny would have discovered little real sleep in the drowsiness which seemed to overtake the stranger, for he eagerly watched every movement of the workmen while they went through the operations of the newly- discovered process. He observed, first of all, that bars of blistered steel were broken into small pieces two or three iuehesi in length, and placed in crucibles of fireclay. When nearly full a little green glass broken into small fragments was spread over the top, and tha whole covered with a closely-fitting cover. The crucibles were then placed in a furnace previously prepared for them, and after a lapse of from three to four hours, during which the crucibles were examined from time to time, to see that the metal was thoroughly melted and incorporated, the workmen proceeded to lift the crucible from its place on the furnace by means of tongs, and its molten contents, blazing, sparkling, and spurting, were poured into a mould of cast iron previously prepared. Here it was suffered to cool, while the cru- cibles were again filled, and the process re- peated. When cool the mould was unscrewed and a. bar of cast steel presented itself." It is not known how the tramp escaped detection, but he did, and it was not long before Huntsman's process was turned out at other manufactories.

CIDER INDUSTRY AND R AIL- WAY RATES. CONCESSION BY THE GREAT WESTERN COMPANY, The members of the Hereford Branch of the National Association of Cider Makers recently memorialised the directors of the Greaij Western Railway Company, asking that cider and perry should be included in the list of goods mentioned in the company's schedule of November 25, 1896, of new rates for the conveyance of farm produce by goods trains. The memorialists pointed out that "previous to 1893 cider was carried at a computed weight of ten gallons to the cwt., but on the revision of the rates we lost this privilege, and, in addition, have to pay ad- vanced rates for the carriage of cider. We would point out that, whereas apples and pears, mentioned in your schedule, would fre- quently be valued at from £7 to L20 per ton, the wholesale price of cider, to which your rates would alone apply, would generally average from 25 to £ 9 per ton, so that the railway runs no extraordinary risks in the conveyance of these articles." In reply, Mr. Wilkinson, the general manager, writes, point- ing out that previous to the receipt of the memorial the company had commenced giving reduced rates for the conveyance of cider and perry to various places selected at the request of traders or because traffio was passing. He proceeds:—"Having regard to the apparently unanimous recommendation of the trade, I have much pleasure iD announcing that the charges for cider in casks and perry in casks from the Herefordshire district to stations where the rates are controlled by the Great Western Company will, as from the 1st of March next, be upon the scale for apples and pears set out on page 9 of the pamphlet issued by order of the board of directors on the 25th of November last. It will, of course, be understood that in extending the scale of charge for apples, and making it applicable to cider and perry also, the same arrangements as to consignments, weight, and other condi- tions will apply. With regard to conveyance rates in which other railways are interested, I shall be pleased to submit proposals to the other companies concerned, upon receiving a list of the principal stations from and to which traffic is likely to pass." Mr. C. W. Rad- cliffe Cooke, M.P., in submitting the corre- spondence to the "Times," while giving credit to the directors of the Great Western Com- pany for their response to the memorial, points out that there are inequalities still re- maining in their charges which might be removed with advantage to the home producer and without loss to the company. For instance, the rates to Birmingham from Here- ford have been reduced 20 per cent. on small as well as on large consignments. As a con- sequence, the rates from Hereford to Bir- mingham are now practically the same as from Bristol to Birmingham. But as Bristol is 87 miles from Birmingham and Hereford only 651, in order to give equal treatment to both places the rates from Hereford to Birmingham ought to be 20 per cent,, lower than the rates from Bristol to Birmingham, instead of beinsr the same.

BISHOP OF LLANDAFFS FUND. GRANTS ITST AID. A meeting of the council of the above fund was held on Monday at the Diocesan Registry, Cardiff. Present: The lord bishop (in the chair), the Rev. C. R. Knight, the Rev. Precentor Lewis, R.D., Mr. Jonas Watson, hon. treasurer, and Mr. Arthur Lewis, hon. secretary. The following grants were made: —Towards the restoration of the Parish Chiurch of St. Bride's Minor, Glamorgan, £30; towards the re-build- ing of St. Michael's Church, Abertillery, Mon. (tocœ1£3,500 and seat 750), £ 3C0;for a nii.Esion, room in the pariah of Baary (cost £300, accom- modate 250), £30; for a. stone mission ohuroh at Sengheonydd, in the parish of Eglwysilan (to cost JB800), £ 80; for the enlargement of St. Mafsrarat's Churdh, Mountain Ash (additional accommodation 350, cost £ 3,200), £150; for a. new church ait Newbridge, Mon., parish of Penmaen (to seat 500 and cost £ 3,000), £ 300; for a stone mission church, Victoria, Ebbw Vale (cost £ 1,000), £ 80; for a new church in the parish of Llanhilleth (to seat 350 and cost £ 1,4-00). £ 300; for St Baxaabas Mission-room, Saltmead, parish of St. Paul's, Grangetown (to seat 300 and cost JE400, in addition to a previous grant of £ 70), jElO; for the enlarge- ment of St Detvid's Churoh, Gyfeillon, parish of Llanwonno (accommodate 530, cost £ 3,150), £ 250; and for an iron room at Tylorstown (in lieu of a grant previously made for a propoaed stone mission-room). £ 40. Total, £ 1,270. The total amount already paid to the credit of the fund since its formation, in 1883, including donations, collections in churches, and interest on moneye invested, and profit on realisation, is the sum of jB46,776 17s. Id.. out of which a sum of 234.555 10s. 8d. has been expended in church building and curates' stipends.

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WELSH LAND COMMISSION. TRANSLATION OF THE REPORT. In the House of Commons on Monday, Mr. HERBERT ROBERTS asked the Home Secretary whether his attention had been drawn to the unanimous ■eoommendation of the Welsh Land Commissioners that portions of their report should be translated into Welsh and published offieiaily in that language; whether he had considered, the suggestion of the Commissioners that the determination of the parts of the report which, it was most desirable to translate into Welsh should be left to a committee of the Commission, acting in conjunction with the Loxds Commissioners of the Treasury; and whether, in viear of the fact that without such a translation the report oould not reach a large proportion of the Welsh population specially interested in it, he would take the necessary steps to provide the Welsh translation recom- mended. Sir M. WHITE RIDLEY: I am aware of the recommendation referred to, and have had it under consideration. The cost of this Com- mission has already been extremely heavy, and any proposals involving additional expenditure will have to be very carefully weighed. I am in communication, however, with the chairman of the Commission as to the nature and bulk of the extracts Which the Commission thought might with advantage be translated, and when I have obtained this information I will com- municate again with the Treasury.

CONSERVATISM IN CAEDI- GANSHIRE. SIR JOHN LLEWELYN ON LAND TENTTBE. The annual meeting of the Cardiganshire Conservative Association was held on Monday at the Town-hall, Lampeter, under the pre- sidency of the Earl of Lioburne. There was an excellent attendance of members. Mr. Charles Lloyd, Waunifor, was re-appointed chairman, and the following were appointed vice-presidents for the districts named: —Mr. B. C. Jones, Abexayron district; Dr. Beddtoes, Aberystwith; Mr. Eynon. Bowen, Cardigan; and Mr. John Fowden, Lampeter. Six repre- sentatives from each of these districts were appointed to form the executive committee. Mr. J. C. Harford, Faloondale, was nomi- nated as a. Oandida.te for election as a member of the council of the National Union, and the Earl of Lieburne and Mr. Harford were appointed repri-sentatives to the council of the National Union. South Walles Dmtuon. The Earl of Lisburne was also nominated as a candi- dato for the extvMtn'e committee of tfcts -ame uruion.-At the conclusion of the routine busi- ness Sir John T. D. Llewelyn, Bar., M P., addressed the meeting. In the course of his jemarks ne touchod upon the format' policy of the Government and ether m bõer" of current politics. Referring to the question of land tenure in Wales, he said that, as they knew, he had been one of the Koyal Land Commission. (Applause.) In the report of that Commission they would have seen that the Commis- sion had agreed to a, considerable extent—to an extent in connection with which some of his friends thought he had allowed his name to go too far, although ho did not agree with that—that England and Wales should be treated on the same footing. He could not for- get that the Royal Commission was appointed to report upon the condition of Wales, and Wales alone, but that did not prevent him from saying that he thought that what was food for Wales would be food also for Eng- larid--(hear, hear)—and he should be glad to see the reforms recommended by the Com- mission extended over the whole of the king dom. (Applause.) If there was any line of demarca-tion to be drawn it would be, of course, between the upland and lowland countries, where agricul- ture was on a. different footing, and where there was a very considerable divergence of conditions. He did not desire to eee any real difference between England and Wales, because he did not think there was any great reason 'Ih.y there should be. He was glad to think that the Unionist Government had got, ready prepared, an amended Agricultural Hold- ings Bill, which would be an advance upon the present one, which was imperative because of its cumbrous machinery. There was only one real difference between it and the Bill which the Opposition intended to bring in, and that was the question of the land court. In regard to that, they would see what would be pro- Soaed as to the constitution of the land court, ut the handls of the Unionist mem- bers were clear, because they did not desire, and they had not recommended. a land court because they did not think would m the long run be of advantage to the tenant farmers, aud his own private opinion was that a land court would be food for the lawyers and poieon f,t the farmers. (Laugajer and applause.)—Tuf- meeting closcd with the usual tote of thanks.

ANOTHER REMARKABLE CTJRJEJ FOR RHEUMATISM. The letters which appeared in the "Western Mail" last week from a Mr. Davies respecting the cure of rheumatism in five weeks from the use of Mr. Phil Phillips's rheumatic aonlianofs, after years of suffering, and after several doctors had faiktl in relieving the sufferer from pain, have caused many inquiries respecting these appliances from persons suffering from this terrible complaint. Here is another case of an equally marvellous character:—On the 21st of January, 1897, a Mr. Thomas Hollis. Edingale, Tamworth, Staffordshire, wrote to Mr. Phillips: —Dear Sir,—I saw in the papers what good cures your rheumatic socks had done for people. I have rheumatism in my legs very bad. I am a labouring man, working out of doors. I should like to try them very much. I have enclosed 10s. 6d. for a. pair of your rheu- matio socks, and the pattern of my boots. Please send them by return of post, and with directions how to use them. I was recommended also to try them by Mr. Petty, at Lewisham.—Yours truly, Thomas Hollis.' The socks were sent, and on February 8, just three weeks after com- mencing to wear them, ne wrote again":— "Edingale, February 8, 1897. Dear Sir,—I am fhjd to inform yoa tha% I am much better than have been for a long time, though the pain has not entirely left my hip. I have worn the socks, as yon told me, night and day. I did not fed any of the pricking or warmth in my feet JA. Oil al T T T_ lrvjm enuuu x ou no x astve oeen oomg: —Yours truly, T. Hollis." On February 17 he wrote again:—"Edingale, February it, 1897. Dear Sir.—I write to tell you about my socks. I have felt a great benefit from them. I am a deal better, and I thought of leaving them off in the daytime and only wearing them at night. I can now walk to my work, a mile and a. half from my home, and back, but before I left them off entirely I thought I would ask your advice what I had better do.—Yours truly, Thomas Hollis." Here is a man who had been suffering from rheumatism for a. long time able in one month's time to resume his work and walk three miles a day, in addition to com- pleting his day's work; and yet this is only one of many similar cases. This remedy cures when all other remedies have failed. Mr. Phillips would feel obliged if sufferers from rheumatism would write to Mr. Hollis. and ascertain the particulars of the cure effected Ay his rheumatic appliances; but, as Mr. Hollis is only a working man, a stamped directed envelope should be enclosed for a reply. The fullest inquiry is courted into every case pub- lished. Socks, 10s. 6d.; belts, 10s. 6d.; wristlets, 5s. Send size of boot for socks, size of waist for belt, and size of wrist for wristlets.

THE RECENT PERSONALITIES AT MOUNTAIN ASH. At a meeting of the Mountain Ash District Council on Monday Mr. J. Powell referred to the recent personalities between Mr. Little and the clerk, and, on behalf of a large body of ratepayers, he asked that the unparliamentary expressions used on the occasion referred to should be withdrawn.—The Clerk stated that, in the face of the imputation of positive dis- honesty against himself and his firm, he could not see that he could withdraw hia remarks without admitting the proofs of Mr. Little's word.—Mr. Little, however, deaied that he had imputed dishonesty, and said most frankly that he had not intended his words to convey any euoh impression.—Eventually the clerk accepted Mr. Little's explanation, and in turn withdrew the expressions which ho had used towards Mr. Little.

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PUBLIC BUILDINGS FOB CARDIFF. PROPOSED PURCHASE Oi* CATKAY3 PARK. LETTER TO SIR WILLIAM THOMAS LEWIS. The town-clerk of Cardiff (Mr. J. L. Wheat ley) has forwarded to the members of the corporation a print of Sir William Thomas Lewis's letter containing an offer to sell the Cathays Park on certain conditions, copy of a letter which he (Mr. Wheatley) has addressed to Sir William, asking for further informa- tion, a report by the borough engineer (Mr. W. Barpur), and a lithographed copy of the plan which accompanied dir William s letter to the town-clerk. In his letter to Lord Bute's representative the towa-cierk states that meetings of the general purposes committee and the council have been called for the 24th inst., and, with a view of enabling the council to come to a decision, he asks for replies upon several points which arise upon Sir William's letter. In the first place, the town-clerk points out that, as far as the corporation &re concerned, they would not require Parliamen- tary powers to enable them to purchase the park. If there are any special obstructions or difficulties in the title, these might, he sug- gests, be overcome by the statutory provisions at present in force in'relation to sett!ed estates or by inserting a clause in the present Bute Docks Bill. If the corporation desire to obtain Parliamentary powers, they would have to call certain meetings of the council, and also a ratepayers' meeting, at which any rate- payer has the power to demand a poll." This would put the corporation under very great difficulties, and it is, therefore, suggested that Lord Bute should seek powers to enable him to sell if it ia absolutely essential. With reference to the trees, it is assumed that Lord Bute will grant permission to the corporation to remove such trees as may be actually necessary for the purpose of form- ing roads in laying out the park. No doubt in the near future, the town-clerk continues, the corporation must wjden Park- place, and, by taking land forming a part of Cathays Park for this purpose, some of the trees must be removed, but the corporation would not take down a single tree more than the exigencies of the case required. Mr. Wheatley also desired to know whether the corporation would be right in assuming that the Bute Docks Company and the Glamorgan- shire Canal Company will grant the necessary consents to construct bridges over the docks feeder and the canal without any cost to the town. The corporation would also like to know the terms and conditions upon which the Marquess of Bute would convey the land necessary for the widening of North-road to the east, and also a three-cornered plot south of the feeder which will be cut off from the Castle Gardens by the continuation of the avenue of trees on the western side of the park. A further question put to Sir William was whether Lord Bute would be willing to take back from the corporation the site in Park-place purchased from him for a. museum,at a price not less than its cost. The borough engineer was requested to give an estimate of the cost of widening North- road and laying out the park according to the plan submitted by Sir Wm, Thomas Lewie. This, he states in his report, it is impossible to do until he knows what public institutions are to be erected on the park, and how much land will be required for each. The institu- tions would, of course, contribute their share of the cost of the land, the construction of new streets, sewers, &c. Another point upon which he desired to be informed is, whether the high walls enclosing the park are to be taken down and railings substituted. The construction of the new approach from North- road through Lord Bute s garden, including bridging over the Glamorganshire Canal ana the docks feeder, the widening of North-road at the lower end, and the, erection of new fardener's house, he estimates will cost 110,500. This amount will include the planting of large trees in continuation of the avenue, fence walls, and erecting permanent roadways, with kerbdng, channelling, and gravelled footways.

ASSAULTS ON THE PÓLIOE AT MERTHYR. At MertJiyr Polioe-couit on Monday, Thomas Peters and David Peters, mulattos, together with William Jones, were oharged with being drunk and refusing to quit the Bruoe Arms Inn, Mounta-in Ash; also with, assaulting the police whilst in the execution of their duty. On Saturday night the prisoners and others created a disturbance in the publio- house, and Police-ooostables King and Cooks- ley were oalled in to eject them. The officers were subjected to brutal ill-usage, and Thomas Peters, after searching in vaiii for a poker, actually picked up a fender for use as a, weapon of attack. King, perceiving the danger, knocked the ruffian on the head with his baton, but, although the staff was broken by the force of the blow, it was started to have been devoid of the slightest effect upon the darkey's sconce. For the drunkenness the prisoners were each fined 10s. and costs., or fourteen days. With regard to the assault, the conduct of Jones was held to be the most culpable, because he caused a crowd to follow to the police-station, and he was fined 23 and oosts. or a month. The other two were fined 92 a-piece and costs, with the same alternative term of imprisonment—At the same court Thomas Lewis was fined 10s. and Costs for being drunk and disorderly at Aber- canaid, and was mulcted in a similar penalty for an assault committed upon Police-constable Dove. Four men charged with resisting the constable whilst he had Lewis in custody were fined 59. each a,nd costs. In default of paying fines John Foley was committed for six weeks for drunkenness and disorderly conduct, for damaging Police-constable Powney's uniform overcoat, and further for assaulting that officer aDd Police-constable Phillips.

POLICE OFFICERS AND THEIR DOQS. In a case heard at Merthyr Police-court on Monday, in which one man was oharged with assaulting and four others with resisting hrm, Police-constable Dove, of Aberoanaid, admitted, in reply to Mr. Beddoe, the defending eolicitor, that on the occasion in question, which was at night, he had with him a. retriever dog. How- ever, he said the dog was very quiet and affec- tionate.—Mr. Beddoe, whose instructions were that the dog jumped at the man who committed tthe assault, said that he must protest against any police officer whilst on night duty taking about with him a. dog whose nature was so ferocious as that of & retriever. He directed the attention of Superintendent Thorney to this particular instance, and said he hoped the practice would be stopped.—The Stipe AT'MTV, in dealing with the defendants, said be qvite agreed with Mr. Beddoe that a police officer had no right to take a dog about with lira when on duty at night.

WILL CASE AT SWANSEA. At Swansea County-court on Monday his Honour Judge Wiuom had before him a. case in which John Fuge, of St. Helen' s-avesaue, Swansea, tlhe executor under the will of John Benham, deceased, claimed from William Boyles, of Swansea, the return of a mortgage deed, and savings bank book, together with damages for the retention of them. Mr.Brynmor Jones, Q.C., M.P. (instructed by Messrs. Isaao and Watkins), was for the plaintiff, and Mr. Yiilliers Meager (lnsbructtecf by Messrs. W. Robinson Smith and Sons) for the defendant. The dispute arose over the keep of a daughter of Benham, Fuge asserting that he was entitled to the father's propertv by agreement. Evi- deaoe having been called as to the gift of the deceased, his Honour said he did not think the gift was sufficiently specific, and gave judgment for the plaintiff on the claim with coets, and for Mr. Boyles on the counter-claim for £ 34 odd, and 6s. per week from Maroh 4th, 1891* till September, 1695. in respect of the main- tenance of Florrie Beuliam. No oosts waie allowed, on the counter-claim.

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