Weekly Mail

TtN-PLATE TBtADE, tt "———— LLT STRIKE ENDED. 11 and 'een representatives of the told ■ and oiHllasters of the Western, Old Satnrrt Ca8tle Works. Llanelly, was ay morning, and, after short •tilj. at. "rp?" satisfactory settlement was Mv^loypj, annealers, however, are the «* W depart WUl receive the 1874 list. «entm »„?ent8 conceding between 5 and ^la* ^Otba f?Uction in wages. In the last and tv,-6 closing of Morewood's estab- to h strik« at the above works are in. wa~naVe caused a loss to the town of w alone.

Une^0'8 "WORKS AGAIN IDLE. ke'itarten+d?yeloPmen't has followed the reniB^u Morewood's Works, Llanelly. ^^tOR^/°Itni?hler6(l that the works were re- IVT^tin?- by £ h- ^go under a twelve months' k do* off +>. ~1(rb the men conceded trying >lh^t}w °n Satt^j ndar<* list. The first "pay" y• an(l was the occasion of [k5pi'ft58j51^nt. T?" scene between the men and ivMe Ola of x.^e former were loud in their thf-i- ^tisfaction at the inroads ered Y. and refused to take the i»?<l in ^bem. On Monday the matter ma 4 81* the 5e 1m€n dropping their tools Iw^.bw^dstill YOI"ks, and now operations are ftfctlleiv! aron«!oj nce again. No little feeling 5o?e0. tjn5,ln the town by the statements aj) r Cent l OI* them declare that no loss 7r,°f thPn; j33 been deducted from them, oL th« not hesitate to say that the Ua ity eral f^enient have been departed ,?f the 'citing scenes took place in the th^I?8, and at one time it was jjo would be an outbreak of ^f^ifi(a!!Tenin? our reporter saw a jj/Je jlr^tion f ancl asked him if there was tJie allegations of the men. h.f'H fr,/0 The men have deliberately I>«a-i^rnePt which is binding upon hw'tf tw wa<!M twelve months. The docu- tt thev i111 their hands days before- 1>l So t^ont a^j&t study ail its details. The aS^t no them to carefully consider ^^tedf^ent ^tion might arise hereafter. Vh? fiarf r°tO, i+signed, and we have not to on a bair's breadth. The 'pay' |L ftacjj *>r°'ViSj Saturday in strict accordance W? it 'and now the men want to tJ: J Their grievance appears to Dn+i- the number of sheets, but, ^•^on^t, the matter before the to T* leave the works, and {?PTT ^^te the whole thingf." AT A STANDSTILL. 'bich has arisen at More- th'«» elly> was as acute as ever aittt^ tei^en refusing to return to work are offered them. On Tues- dumber of the men waited *ter and showed him a letter, o, j^na^er and dated Saturday, ^hich the offer was made to J^.0Q the Old Castle terms until tn to? been drawn out. The men di,?e*ep tie ^osal, and on Monday pro- to 6(1 ib usual. On that day, a, that the manager repu- r,8° rip 'Ite <i be tad signed. This appears th.?e Srievance of the men. They S h at they left the works fit a ley >«l (.Qn °tioe.. Aa a matter of fact, they "as ho Salta,tion -with, the management for IgT.the l on Saturday, the result of which li U* n-^ter already' referred to. On Monday n^^Sern <liscusse<l the situation with the *1, ^at ^t at great length, giving due warn- nj8 the repudiation of Saturday's offer in, they would leave tne works, 1 y ultimately did on Monday after-

^ot^Jv^WRLA AEBITRATION FAILS. at8tnTding' the fact that the men em- C. jT Cwmbwrla Works had written atiy ^ler stating that they would not the representatives to a conference in the y ,0rJly question to be arbitrated upon t)^fe J y °f the agreement under which itig ^6 GnilfTtl5ent working, Mr. Fowler attended ^'hall, Swansea, on Saturday morn- two af,mei there by Mr. Thomas and ^W.lot The men. as was expected, v°im^ nu^^nted, and. after waiting fully ftr. the meeting broke up. Mr. ond+e^!tand' was requested to give v th0l?n>, ^reeuieut. and he replied V^L.A'YTT, t was valid and in force. ^hol^8 fAND THE SMELTERS' UNION. ^tojj vy. °t the tin-plate millmcn of the W ^1 9|« i bave now joined the ranks of ^8o for 6 Union. The Dyffryn men a branch of the same Union. ST »CO^MEW ORGANISATIONS. ■^llmon^63 aPl)0inted by the Tin and tinj, 8 -Association and by the South f SCmei1'8 organisation held meet- n6w °n Saturday, and drafted rules ]low °r^a-niBation8. Jw 8 DE3ftAXD A CONCESSION AT SNw.. ABERAVON. on a 6 workmen, Aberavon, a fi?atur<iay for the purpose of con- redn111^11^ ^rom ^r- Byass for a 17J 11 10 They are at present work- vTE*tcw,t Klt "ORKs IX DEAN FOREST TO BE V CLOSED. ^ill >? that the Lydbrook Tin-plate Thom ° cl°8ed for an indefinite period. ''rably^8 an,l Co. have been handicapped r1 a^ay c;<-rrying on these works owing coai cllar8res and the high price of the cheapness of the manu- bp° Tin-plate making will, there- be carried on at Lydney alone.

UTBLSHIHE CHAMBER OF ^al AGRrCTrLTTJSE- 0r mfeting of the Monmouthshire ,0,Jclav ^r'culture was held at Monmouth the presidency of Mr. F. e-ircular was read from the Car- t boriv Chamber, with a resolution passed V°tirf ^°r » Ur?lnS' State-aid in the raising of ^cultural purposes, and, on the ^8, °nel Walwyn, seconded by Captain 3,8 resolved to adopt and support '"biK a O-im, i an^ resolution.—The chamber as a ° tion in favour of compulsory ♦' lo? referR^meana of eradicating sheep scab. bodi vto 11116 advisability or otherwise NLc1lQeis s. being empowered to deal with -hr^y, a Respectively of the central r,Nt.,nties J?otl°n in favour of giving local power in question was of gatived by a large majority.—The X^tifrrncultnral education and agricul- 118 before Parliament were also

JUGTI WEI-SH MUTTON. *n a^+ Bl8llam at Liverpool on Tuesday K^^laint?# lor libel aSainst Mr. Labou- n^Jh to >, Henry Rooke, supplied mutton k llolvte Vi? ^een bred on Coed-y-Brain and the alleged libel, which advt>—• ^^th." warned housekecners tei- Sements f°r Welsh mutton on miputing fraud to Rooke. The »*fa tJ^tn ntendent of Poiice told one .<><*>Ham°jSQc^ Per3on as Rooke resided on j '4 The result was that Rooke was tried at a former Liverpool assize, ^^Ity-—Plaintiff was severely rt\3at 6 result being so unsatisfac- f, -ary declared they had heard v Judge gave a verdict for the —

ENGINES BUILT IN t>itch AMERICA. ma^V011 -American comi)etition with th^ f cturers I13,9 reached is exem- ha*, tact that the Midland Railway /^t«d <a»e ,^ven an order to a firm in C'lt th«;^ i^8 for twenty engines to be ^Ordin !?e' Tlle engines are to be CV^ll t° the specifications, and the h tlj«icted each less than if they were tX t^dlanH d country. It is only fair tia Railway Company, however, to jfy.^oul<l u°t have given the order MtVi- could have got the engines lri reasonable time in England. ti Owe, they found impossible, owing of orders at the various works. THE COMPENSATION ACT, CASES AT MEE.EYK. CLAIM FOR THE LOSS OF A FATHER. At Merthyr County-court on Saturday (before his Honour Judge Gwilym Williams) Elizabeth Williams. 16, dire-place, Merthyr Va"e. sought to reCDver compensation from Nixon's Naviga- tion Company under the Workmen's Compen- sation Act for the loss of her husband, who was killed at the "Merthyr Vale Colliery on the 25th of October. Mr W. Deninan Benson (in- structed by Messrs. Walter Morgan, Bruce, and Nicholas) appeared for the applicant, and Mr. Arthur Lewis (instructed by Mr. Vazie Simons) appeared for the respondents.—Mr. Benson, iu opening the case, explained that the applicant, who was the widow of the deceased, had died since these proceedings had begun, and ho asked that the name of the applicant should bo altered to that of Mary Prosper, the grand- mother or the two children tvho were now the sole dependents.—Mr. Lsvns assented to the amendment, and said that he admitted the contract, and also that the wages of the man were £1 a week.—Mr. Benson, in relating the facts, said that Williams was a shackler. Ou the day in quest-ion he left work about half- past six o'clock, and proceeded to walk to the bottom of the pit. About 4CG yards down the drift he was found about ten minutes afterwards in a terribly mangled condition. Nobody actually saw the accident, but there could be no question that he had been run over by a journey of trams. It being admitted that the deceased was under contract, that he was going from work at the time, and that the drift was the proper way for him to go, no evidence was offered on behalf of the applicant, and the learned counsel for the respondents addressed his honour. arguing that the fatality had not arisen out of or in tha course of the deceased's employment, and that, the deceased had been guilty of serious and wilful misconduct. Upon the first point his Honour was against Mr. Lewis, and in regard to the second point several witnesses were called to show that just as a journey of eighteen trams started the deceased was standing by the old double part- ing. Four hundred and nineteen yards frcm the parting the deceased's lamp was found, and 56 yards further on his body was discovered, portions of his remains being scattered in the intervening space, and on the last tram but one there were splashes of blood. The conten- tion, therefore, was, tha.t the deceased must have ridden on the journey and fallen off. Other men also rode on the same journey, though none of them seemed to have seen the deceased so doing, and they were prosecuted at the police-court and fined. His Honour, in giving his decision, said he had come to the conclusion that the theory cf the cause of the accident set up by the respon- dents was the proper one for him to adopt. Then came the question whether riding on the journey amounted to serious and wilful mis- conduct. It had been suggested by Mr. Benson that, because this sort of thing appeared from the evidence of the witnesses to have been done, therefore the officials had winked at :t, but there was no evidence to show that the officials had knowingly assented to the practice. He held it to be misconduct of a gross kind, and, therefore, he gave his award in favour of the respondents. The respondents did not ask for costs.

INJURIES BY A FALL. Thomas Jones, Brynteg-terrace, Treharris, sued the Ocean Coal Company for compensation for injuries sustained by a fall of roof at the Treharris CoLiery on October 3. Mr. W. Den- man Benson (instructed by Messrs. Walter Mor- gan, Bruce, and Nicholas) appeared for the applicant, 'and Mr. Arthur Lewis (instructed by Mr. Vazie Simons) appeared for the respon- dents. The responsibility of ths respondents was not denied, and the only question at issue was as to the basis upon which the compensa- tion should be assessed. The applicant was employed at the colliery prior to the strike, but he then worked very irregularly. After the strike ended he went back and worked with greater steadiness, his earn- ings since averaging £1 lis. 6d. a week. The clause of the schedule upon which the case turned provides that where total or partial incapacity for work results from injury the weekly payment during incapacity after the second week shall not exceed 50 per cent. of the injured man's earnings during the previous twelve months, if he has been so long employed, and, if not, then for any less period during which he has been in the employment of the same employer, such weekly payment not to exceed £1. Mr. Benson argued that the contract under which the applicant worked previous to the strike was terminated on the 31st of March, and that when he resumed work in September it was under an entirely fresh contract, con- stituting a totally new employment. Hence the compensation ought to be based upon the earn- ings subsequent to the strike, which, with the 50 per cent. deduction, would represent 15s. 9d. a week, and the earnings before the strike omht not to be taken into account at ail.— Mr. Lewis, on the part of the respondent., said the question was whether the applicant had been in the employment of the same employer for twelve months, bince the strike the applicant had been doing in the very-samc place exactly the same, wpv-k R-B before and it was really the same employ- -nro^l" submitted that the respondents J"41** to base the average earnings Tiron the time the applicant had been working ic>r the same employer without reference what-1 ere, to any contract, and that, therefore, they could take into calculation the earnings for twelve months, a basis which would give the applicant only 8s. 6d. a week-Hi. Honour said he could not make up his mind offhand how to decide, and he would reserve judgment. LOSS OF HUSBAND. Another case was heard, in which Lucy Carter, Bridge-street, Troedyrhiw, claimed £300 from Messrs. Crawshay Brothers (Limited) for the loss of her husband, who was killed in the Castle Pit on the 27th of October. Mr. W. Denman Benson (instructed by Mr. D. W. Jones) appeared for the appli- cant). and Mr. G. C. James represented the respondents. The deceased met his death through a fall of clod and coal whilst remov- "'mv, a e"prwt embedded in the ground. the case f0r the respondents was that the deceased was guilty of serious and wilful misconduct in cutting the post with a hatchet, whereas he ought to have taken it down by means of a "nullinE- jack" provided for the purpose. His Honour said that, in his opinion, the non-user of the "pulling jack" was not such eerious and wilful misconduct as to dis- entitle the applicant to recover, because the machine when used was not employed so much in the interests of personal safety as to save the posts from being destroyed. He was not satisfied that the accident would have been pre- vented even if the instrument had been used. Consequently, he awarded the applicant the £300 she asked, with costs.

AN ABERTIIiLERy JOINER'S CLAIM. At Tredegar County-court on Tuesday (before his Honour Judge Owen) Arthur James Marshall, joiner, soed Arthur Tilncy, proprietor of the Steam Saw Mills. Abertillcry, under t.he Work- men s Compensation Act, for compensation for the loss of four fingers on the right hand. Mr. T. Gwynne Powell. Brynmawr. appeared for the claimant, and Mr. L E. Webh was for the respondent.—'The claimant was employed as an improver in the joinery trade of the respondent, and had the misfortune to have four fingers on the right hand cut eff at the second joint on the 30th of September last. since which time he had been wholly incapacitated from follow- ing his employment. His wages as an improver were 18s. 9d. per week. The nature cf the acci- dent would have the result of preventing him from evr following his trade, as the fingers were severed at the second joint, and he could not giip any ,f his tools.—For the defence evidence was called tending to show that the claimant would not be permanently incapaci- tated from following his employment as a joiner.—His Honour gave judgment for payment of 9s. 4d. per week from October 15 to March 15, and 5s. per week after that date.

SINGULAR CASE FROM BRYN- MAWR. At the same court James Holby, butcher. Brynmawr, was sued by Charles Williams, labourer, for damages amounting to JE50 for personal injuries sustained by an assault alleged to have been committed. Mr. Daniel Evans, Brecon, was for the plaintiff, who was accommodated with a seat-in the court, and Mr. T. G. Powell was for the defence.—The plaintiff auegeu that on January 3 he was in the employ of Holby as a labourer, and the de- fendant returned from Abergavenny Market and ordered him to do some additional work. He demurred, as it was late in the day, where- upon the defendant followed him up to the hay-loft and assaulted him in such a manner as to cause hernia, and he had been unable to work ever since. Plaintiff absolutely denied having suffered from the complaint years pre- viously.—Medical evidence was given by Dr. J. W. Davies, Ebbw Va'.e, A. Lowe, Brynmawr, and W. E. Williams, Abertillery, tending to show that plaintiff had sustained the injuries recently, while for the dcfence Dr. Browne. Brynmawr. deposed to examining the plaintiff the day following the alleged assault, and gave it as his opinion that the injurie-f sustained to the abdomen were not of recent date. He had attended the plaintiff for hernia fourteen years ago, and his condition when he examined him was practically the same as it was four- teen years ago.—His Honour said that the ease had been made out for the plaintiff, and he gave judgment for £35 and costs.

INTIMIDATION AT TREDEGAEr. At Tredegar Police-court on Tuesday (before Messrs. E. J. Williams, J. P. Pugh, and T. Lewis) Michael Healy, Patrick Flyron, and John Evans were charged with intimidating workmen at the Tredegar Ironworks on the 5th and 6th inst. Healy was also, charged with assaulting Police-sergeant Guipea on the 5th. —Healy and Evans pleaded guilty.—Healy was committed to prison for three months. Evans for two months, and Flynn for one month, all with hard labour.

IMPORTANT COLLIERY CASE MERTHYR MINERS AND PROMIS- CUOUS HOLIDAYS. 1,500 MEN IDLE. At Merthyr Police-court on Monday (before Mr. W. M. North, stipendiary) twenty workmen employed at the Castle Pit. Troedyrhiw, were summoned by Messrs. Crawshay Bros. for absenting themselves from work on certain days during the week commencing the 29th of January. Nomina! damages were claimed, amounting to 10?. per head per day. Mr. Vazie Simons appeared for the company, and Mr. D. W. Jones represented the whole of '.he defen- dants.—In opening the case Mr. Simons ex- plained that some of the defendants were colliers and others hauliers. For s me time after the strike work was carried on at the colliery fairly well, but a practice had gradually arisen since on the part of many of the men of absenting themselves on stated days. They came to work on a Monday, which was only a seven hours' day, but they stayed away en the Tuesday, which was a ten hours' day. The men offending had been warned, but the warnings had been disregarded, and the matter had become so serious, because the output, was steadily going down, that the company had init compelled to take those proceedings. On Saturday last Mr. Thomas Thomas. the check- weigher at the pit, and some of the defendants saw Mr. Abraham, the general colliery agent. and offered to pay the costs if the summonses were withdrawn, but Mr. Abraham declined to assent to that course, especially as a general stoppage had been threatened, if the cases were pro- ceeded with. That threat had been carried into execution, for that day (Monday) there were about 1,500 men out. and the whole of the Cyfarthfa collieries were practically idle.— Mr. Rces Howells, the manager of the pit, gave particulars of the time lost by each defendant, some having lost five days. others three, others two, and others only one. He produced a letter received from Mr. Thomas Thomas, dated the 10th inst.. conveying a resolution passed at a, mass meeting of Cyfarthfa miners, whereby it was decided that no work should take place if th<3 summonses were not withdrawn. In the course of cross-examination he said that he would not go so far as to say that there was any organised combination among the men. but on a Tuesday there were generally about 50 absent out of 420. which represented a loss in production of 80 to 100 tons of coal. —Mr. Abraham stated that the dead charges were oyer 5s. a ton. Up to Christmas the men worked s-teadily, but since that time there had been a diminution of output, wc.rh bad been lessening week by week..—Several :,f ihe defendants were ca'.lsd to give the reasons for their abstention, some saying that they were ill. and others that they had overslept them- ::elve3.-Four cases were dismissed.-His Wor- ship assessed the damages at only 63. 8d. per day, and upon this basis two men were ordered to pay £1 13s. 4d.. three jEl, two 13s. 4d., and nine 6s. ad., with costs.

C0A I7F0IILAS~1>A L3LLS. SUCCESSFUL ACTION BY A CAR- DIFF FIRM. In the Queen's Bench Division on Monday (befora Justice Kennedy) the case of Lambert BroE., Cardiff, against the Hesperides Coal Company came up for judgment. Mr. W. Walton, Q.C., and Mr. Laing appeared for the plaintiffs, and Mr. Robson, Q.C., and Mr. Scrutton for the defendants. Mr. Justice Kennedy said this was an action by the plaintiffs, who were large coal dealers of Cardiff, against the defendants for breach of an agreement in regard to the purchase of coal for a large depot at Las Palmas. An agree. ment was entered into for seven years, but, the business not being successful, the defen- dants sold it, and the plaintiffs then entered the action. There was a counter-claim by tho defendants on various grounds. After going at great length into the whole of the dispute between the parties, which was some- what complicated, his Lordship said the judg- ment would be as follows:—Plaintiffs were entitled to £949 on contracts which had been lost through the selling of the depot, and to an indemnity in respect of liabilities incurred by them previously. Defendants were entitled to receive a share of the profits made by plaintiffs by selling coal which should have gone to Las Palmas. If no agreement could be corns to there must be an inquiry as to the indemnity, plaintiffs to have costs down to the payment into court, and after that each side to pay their own costs.

ELECTIMC LIGHTING FOR MEHTRYJL A SCENE AT THE COUNCIL CHAMBER. At the ordinary meeting of the Merthyr Urban District Council on Wednesday, Mr. V. A. Wills in the chair, a letter was read from Mr. Morse, solicitor to the British Elec- tric Traction Company, setting forth certain amended terms upon which the company were prepared to treat with the council for their support to the Provisional Order for lighting the district by electricity.—The Chairman explained that when in London last week upon other business he, with the clerk and the surveyor, called at the offices of the com- pany and also at the Board of Trade in refe- rence to the scheme for the purpose of obtain- ing information, and he gave a detailed account of what passed at the interviews.— Mr. D. W. Jones expressed astonishment at the action of the chairman in view of what he declared to be the fact that the council had dropped the matter because the company had declined to sign the draft agreement sub- mitted to them. and he characterised the chairman's interference as a trick to reverse the decision of the council.—The Chairman called upon Mr. Jones to withdraw the expres- sion.—Mr. Jones: I decline to withdraw.—The Chairman: Then I shan't allow you to pro- ceed.—Mr. Jonet: I will not resume my seat, but 1 will retire from the council chamber because I say it is nothing but a trick, and a base trick, too.—Mr. Jones was on the point of taking his departure when the Chair- man asked him if he would be good enough to say when he transferred his shares in the Dowlais Gas Company. Mr. Jones replied, with indignation, that he had never held any shares in that company, and then retired.—Mr. John Lewis sought to justify Mr. Jones's attack, but upon the Chairman calling him to order he also left the room.— A long discussion ensued, in the course of which the Chairman said he very much regretted that any members of the council had thought fit to impeach his honour. The visits to which he had referred were purely and avowedly unofficial. He had done what he had believing sincerely that he was acting in the best interests of the parishioners gene- rally, and there had been no trickery upon his part in any way whatever. He was very anxious that Merthyr should have a system of electric lighting, and the opportunity now afforded them was one; that ought certainly not, to be thrown away.—Eventually the council determined to enter into an agreement with the company upon the terms now offered.

.v CARDIFF WIFE'S PETITION. Mr. T. W. Lewis, stipendiary magistrate at Cardiff on Monday afternoon was for some time occupied with a case in which Alice Watkins took action against her husband. William Arthur Watkins. a shoemaker, against whom she preferred a charge of persistent cruelty. Mr. Belcher appeared for the complainant; Mr. Joseph II. Jones defended.—The relations between the parties during their married life had been unhappy, and disagreements had hcen frequent. Complainant is now staying with friends at Newport, but formerly she lived with her husband for nine or ten years, the latter part of the time at lo, Arabella-street, Cardiff. Complainant made serious charges cf habitual ill-treatment. She said. among other things, that she had had several mis- carriages through defendant's conduct. Evi- dence was given by complainant's father, and also by his brother-in-law, who is a sergeant in the Newport Police Force. Defendant, in his evidence, denied having ever struck, cr kicked, or in any way ill-treated his wife.—Aftor further evidence, the Stipendiary, in giving his decision, said persistent cruelty had been defined by the president of the Divorce Court as conduct calculated to cause reasonable apprehension of danger to life, limb, or health. and the issue he had to try was whether defen- dant had or had mot been guilty of such con- duct, and had he been guilty of it persistently. It was clear upon the evidence that defendant had been in the habit of using violent lan- guage. that he had been guilty of violent acts, and that his conduct raised a reasonable pre- sumption of danger to life, limb. or health. His worship, in granting a judicial separation, ordered defendant to pay 12s. a week towards the maintenance of his wife and child, the wife to have the custody of the child, to be .no longer bound to cohabit with defendant, the latter also to pay the costs, including advo- cates' fee, amounting in all to eight guineas.

-+- NEWPORT LITERARY SOCIETY. The members of the Newport Literary Society were entertai'i-?i on Tuesday by [he "re-ident Dr. Garrod Thomas. M.D-. J.P.. and Mrs. Gar- rod Thomas, at a conversazione held at the Town-hall. Dr Garrod Thomas, who has been r-resido.it of 1he society for several years, invited about 200 guests, for whom a most sump- tuous entertainment was provided. The greater part of the Town-hall was placed at the dis- posal of the president and his guests, the rooms and corridors being prettily decorated. The programme was by London artistes, assisted by Madams Rose Evans, R.A.M., <he brilliant local uianist; Senor Arbos. violinist to the Queen of Sp -in, who played two Stradivarius violins, gave a most exquisite performance: and Miss Rsgina de Sales sang some lovely soprano songs. Mr. Douglas Beaufort, a society entertainer, gave some extraordinary displays of sleight cf hand dexterity, and showed his versatility by his manipulation of the ventriloquial dolls, and he also gave a musical sketch hitting off society foibles. Refreshments were served in Commit- tee-room No. 2.

CONGREGATIONAL UXIOX AT BARRY. RITUALISM IN THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND. The quarterly meetings in connection with the Carmarthen and Glauin rjan Congrega- tional Union, Eastern Division, were held on Monday at the English Congregational Chapel, Tynewydd-road. Barry Dock, under the presi- dency of the Rev. Cwilym Jones, Penarth. It was resolved that the following grants be ma do to Churcllc-s in the district:—Xnysybwl, £17;, Aberfan, £ 15; Tongwynlais, £ 20; Nanty- moel, £ 12; Caerphilly, £12; Llwynypia, £ 16; Llantwit Major, £i6; Hannah-itreet, Cardiff, £13 Roath Park, Cardiff, £20; Grange. Cardiff, £1:5; Miskin, £15; Aberavon, £20; Hirwam, £15; Senghenydd, £15; Heolfach. £10; LIanhraduch. £15; Porth, £13; and Pcntycymmer, £15. It was announced that the Treherbert Church had juet been freed from debt. Sympathetic references were made to the late Dr. Berry. Mr. Jenkins (Merthyr) moved a resolution in support of the Czar's peace proposals, and the Rev. J. Morris seconded.—Mr. A. Daniel (Mer- tp>i) said lie was not surprised that the Eng- lisa people treated the proposals with insti- liao^e suspicion. The Czar would be better occupied in giving liberty to his Siberian slaves, and freedom and religious liberty to his pe:1sants.-The Rev. J. A Jenkins endorsed tne remarks of Mr. Daniel, and said there could be no doubt uiat they were on the eve of a new era of peace.—The motion was agreed to. The President was gratified to announce that there had been an increase of JE200 towards the funds of the forward movement. It was-pointed out that. owing to the financial responsibilities of the division, a prominent part could not bo taken in the Twentieth Century Fund Movement. In the afternoon the Rev. H. Elwyn Thomas, of Newport, Mon.. addressed a public confe- rence on "Tho Sacerdotal Crisis." He felt it to be his duty as a minister of the Gospel tee denounce Ritualism as a. dishonour to the Bible. Ritualism was an unblushing attempt to rank what was idolatrous in the teaching of the Bible. The ritual of the Church of England was gradually changing the hard- working parish minister into a dangerous enemy of the State. Our most sacred privi- leges were in greater danger of being taken away thaji they had been for the past 300 years. —The President (the Rev. J. Gwilym Jones) remarked that he believed that the laity of the Church of England were gradually awakening to the state of things, and that there would soon be a decided stand taken against Ritualism in the Church.—The Rev. W. Spurgeon believed that until disestablish- ment and disendowment took place the alarming condition of things would continue. —The Rev. J. Williams was of a similar opinion.—The Rev. J. Morris said the greatest dang'er was to the children of the nation.— The Rev. J. Tyssul Evans. M.A., B.Sc., endorsed this opinion.—Mr. Elwyn Thomas, in response to a vote of thanks, said that it was not the survival of the fittest, but of the strongest, and if Ritualism was strong enough it would crush Conformity to-morrow. In the evening a preaching service was held at the same place, when the pulpit was occu- pied by the Rev. II. Elwyn Thomas. The rev. gentleman spoke of the growing tendency there was in the Church to forsake the Bible, and cling to tradition and the teachings of men. There never was a time when the text he had choson ("Sir, we would see Jesus") was more applicable than the present, when the Christians of the Church were so far away from the simple and honest teaching of the Gospel, and the vestures and ornaments and mysteries of the Church awed its flock with a deep and unholy fear.

SWANSEA COUNTY COUNCIL, QUARTERLY MEETING. The quarterly meeting of the Swansea. County Borough Council was held on Wednesday after- noon. the mayor (Mr. R. Martin) presiding.— The Mayor at the outset moved a vote of condo- lence with the family of the late Mr. Thomas Phillips, speaking of the high influence wielded in past years at the council by Mr. Phillips.— Mr. James Jones seconded, and the resolution was carried in silence.—In moving the adoption of the minutes of the property committee, Mr. Tutton said the application of Messrs. Solomon Andrews (Cardiff) for the Quay-parade (Foresters' yard) property had been con- sidered, but the committee were unable to accept the terms.—The committee had further resolved "that this committee ap- proves of the proposal to erect national memorials to the late Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, and a sub-committee, consisting of tho mayor, the ex-mayor, and the chairman and vice-chairman of this committee, was appointed to promote and further the movement in this borough."—The sub- committee having had under considera- ,tion the great danger to the public caused by the emission of steam from the engines used on the railway, and the high speed at which they are driven, recommend that the town-clerk b" instructed to again communicate with the Board of Trade (referring to the correspondence of March, 169B) upon the subject, and that the Glamorgan County Council be requested to sup- port the representations of the town council. Mr. Chapman criticised some remarks made at a recent meeting antagonistic to the Duke of Beaufort with respect to his common rights, and. with a view of approaching the subject of the Platmarl Common in an amicable spirit, moved that the sub-committee be reduced to two members.—Mr. Morgan Hopkins defended himself from the charge of making an in- discreet speech, and said he had a map one hundred years old in his possession, which showed what the boundaries of the common then were, and he was entitled to use the words "legalised robbery" when a duke took that which belonged to the people. Mr. James Jones and Mr. Morgan Hopkins subsequently referred, to the distribution of orders for supplying the Cray Canteen, deny- ing that they received any benefit from any orders to tradesmen, as suggested.—Mr. Jones afterwards intimated his intention to resign his membership of the stores and canteen com- mittee. The works committee referred to the negotia- tions with Mr. W. J. Rees for the shops from No. 27 to 34. inclusive, in Castle-street, and said: — "A valuation of the properties by the borough surveyor has also been considered. Your sub- committee recommend that an offer of £17,000 be made for all interests in the Grove property, and of £16,000 for all interests in the Beaumont property." The report of the sub-committee with respect to 35, Castle-street, was also received, and it was resolved that the prem'ses be acquired by the corporation for the sum of £3.300. such amount to include all costs and charges. The finance committee had passed the follow- ing resolution"That the members of Parlia- ment for the borough and district he requssted to direct the attention of the Government to the necessity of passing a measure amending Section 133 of the Lands Clauses Consolidation Act. 1845, whereby local authorities shall in Act. 1845, whereby local authorities shall in future be entitled to recoup the whole of the local rates instead of only the Poor rate in, respect of new property acquired by railway or other companies until new works come into rating."—This Was adopted.. The water and sewers sub-committee "having considered the several claims for damage resulting from the alleged flooding of sewens, and the town-clerk havinS advised that the local authority were not liable in the absence of negligence in the construction or repair of the sewers or in the flushing thereof, and the borough engineer having stated that there was no negligence in these respects, the town-clerk was instructed to defend any action or actions that may be brought in respect thereof."—This was also adopted, an amendment by Alderman: Chapman that it be referred back to the com- mittee being lost. The council afterwardg adjourned.

HAVERFORDWEST TOWN COUNCIL The quarterly meeting of the Haverfordwest Town Council was held on Monday. Sir Charles j Philipps (mayor) presided.—A vote of condo- lence was passed with the family and friends of the late Councillor Morgan —It was decided not to adopt the Inebriates Act at present.— Dr. Brigstocke, medical officer of health, read his report, m which he said that the death- rate for the last quarter was 1164 per thousand.—Mr. John James moved that joint action on the inspection of the milk supply j be taken by the rural district and the urban district councils, and this was duly seconded and carried.—The council subsequently went into committee on the water question.

THE NEW RAILWAYS FOR LLANELLY. On Tuesday the promoters of the Llanelly Harbour and Pontardulais Railway, accom- panied by Mr. Wedderburn, Q.C., and the engineers, went over the ground, beginning at Llanelly and finishing at Pc-ntardulais. The! Bill is to come before the House of Lords' Com- mittee at an early date, and considerable interest is being manifested In the coming fight. The harbour commissioners have made a <rrant of £1.000 towards the promotion expenses, and will also support the Bill by sending the chairman (Mr. Ernest Trubshaw) { to give evidence.

PEMBROKE SHIRS MEN IN CARDIFF. A large gathering of Pembrokeshire men resident in Cardiff was held at St. John'fi-hall on Wednesday night, for the purpose of pro- moting the proposed Cardiff and District Pem- brokeshire Society. Mr. J. A. Jenkins occu- pied the chair. A code of rules was drawn up and passed for the working of the association, and the following officials were elected: — Chairman, Mr. W. P. Williams; vice-chairman, Mr. J. A. Jenkins: secretary, Mr. C. Griffiths; assistant secretary, Mr. Geo. Picton; and trea- surer, Mr. W. H. Lewis. A committee of fifteen members waø also elected.

I CARDIFF FIIEE CHURCHES'. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Cardiff Evan- gelical Free Churches Council was held at the Jr'arii-nall on Wednesday evening. Dr. Vv. T. Edwards presided over éJ, large audience. The Secretary (Mr. D. Shepherd) read the following telegram from Mr. Lloyd-Gecrge, •M.P."Exceedingly sorry cannot get down; urgent whip on Address.—LLOYD-GEORGE." Mr. John Cory also apologised for non-atten- dance, but Mr. Shepherd explained that they had been enabled, through the kindnc-s of Councillor Morgan Morgan, to secure the ser- vices of Mr. A. C. Morton, ex-M.P. for Peter- borough. The Secretary then read extracts from a lengthy report dealing with the work of the council during the past year, and announced that they now included 80 per cent. of the free Churches of the town, and that a new maga- zine was about to bo published in the inte- rests of the council. The Rev. R. J. Rees proposed a rssolution calling upon all free and evangelical Church- men to assist in frustrating th'3 objects of the Ritualistic party, and work for a successful issue in the struggle for religious libcrtv. Referring to the Ritualistic question, he said they and the Ritualists were divided from one another not in matters of dress, form, or ceremonial, but the line of cleavage went down deep to the fundanlontal idea cf the Church of Jesus Christ. Mr. J. Baker seconded, and the resolution was then put to tha meeting and carried. The Rev. Sylvester H"rne said this country was standing at a most critical point in her history. There was a lot of talk about the freedom of the Church. Well, the Church of England could get all the freedom she wanted if she were w iling to pay the price. (Applause.) Dealing with social questions, the speaker said there were certain endowments in this country left for the clergy, the fabric, and the poor. The clergy had had them, and the fabric had hid them, and they were going to get a large slice back for the poor. (Applause.) Mr. A. C. Morton said he regretted to notice th.tt a number of their Roman Catholic brethren took this Protestant agitation as an attack upon their Church. As far as he was concerned, he did not intend it to be an attack on the Roman Catholic Church at all. (Hear, hear.) They desired that all sects should wor- ship their God in their own way, but they did not want any interference from them. (Hear, hear.) He had no desire to destroy the Church of England as a religions institution, and all his life he had been in favour of Disestablish- ment—partly on the ground of his liking a free Church and a free country, but mainly because he objected to a State Church, and thought that the people themselves should manage and pay for their own religion. (Ap- plause.) He would be satisfied himself if the bi^aops would take the Thirty-nine Articles and act upon them. (Laughter.) Referring to the Archbishop of Canterbury, he said he was one of the mo;t wretched time-servers in the country. Any attempt to coerce the High Churchmen would be a failure. The real solu- tion of the difficulty was Disestablishment. (Anolause.) The usual votes of thanks to the speakers and chairman terminated the proceedings.

A 3L0NEY-LENDING CASE AT YSTRAD COUNTY-COURT. Before his Honour Judge Gwilym Williams, at Ystrad County-court on Tuesday. S. Barnett. a Jew, residing at Cardiff, sought to recover the sum of £12 10s. due on a promissory note by David Luke, John Luke, and Benjamin Richards. Treorky. Mr. D. Rees (from the office of Mr. W. R. Davies, Pontypridd), solicitor, appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. J. Phillips solicitor, Pontypridd, dcfendel John Luke.— This was a new trial. At a former hearing his Honour gave judgment for the plaintiff against Davin Luke (who had received the money), but for the ether defendants, who were sureties, his Honour than holding that as the bill had been altered after the signing of it by the sureties, and without the'r consent, he could not hold thsm liable. It appears that the plaintiff, through his agents (Ivlassrs. Baron, of Trsorky), advanced £10 to the defenhant upon the sureties of J. Luke and Richards. The money, with interest (£4), was to be re-paid in instalments of 15s. each, to be paid fortnightly. Two instalments had been paid, which reduced the debt to £12 10s.-For the defence it was contended that the amount to be paid had been altered by the plaintiff, or someone on his behalf.—Evidence to this effect was given by the three defendants.—Mr. J. Phillips quoted a recent decision of a higher court, which stated that where proceedings had been taken against .joint contractors, and judgment was given against one the debt became merged against that one, and it could not bo recovered from the others. In this case his Honour had given judgment against David Luke upon the pro- missory note. and his furniture had been levied upon, therefore the sureties could not be held liable.—His Honour said he would deliver judg- ment on Wednesday or Friday, and added that it was a very wrong thing to alter these pro- missory notes.

RIGHT-OF-WAY QUESTION AT LLANELLY. THE MYNYDD-MAWR LINE "SHORT CUT." A case of considerable interest was heard at Llanelly Police-court on Wednesday affecting the use of the Mynydd Mawr line. near the Old Castle Works, by the public. The railway has been used as a "short cut" for a great many years, indeed ever since its construc- tion. Now, however, the Mynydd Mawr Com- pany are putting a stop to the practice.—David Harries, 10, Sandy-terrace, and James Lewis Harries, Cwmavon, were charged (before Mr. Thomas Hughes and Mr. Thomas Jones) at the instance of the Mynydd Mawr Railway Com- pany with trespassing on their line on the 3rd inst.. after being warned.—Mr. Plews (instructed by Messrs. Johnson and Stead) appeared to represent the railway company.—The defen- dants did not- appear, but sent their father to plead guilty on their behalf.—After hearing the evidence. Mr. Hughes, the chairman of the bench, said the Bench had decided to inflict nominal fines on the defendants of 2s. 6d. each, including costs. The desire of the railway com- pany was to prevent the trespassing which has been going on for a number of years, and he was sure that, the matter having been thus brought before the court, the public would be very careful in tho future.—Mr. Plews stated that the company had an inclination that the question of right-of-way would be strongly con- tested, and that was the reason he appeared. Ho applied to have his costs paid.—The Bench declined to grant the same, stating that the company had had all they required.

CARDIFF SHOT ASSISTANTS. THE COAL STRIKE AGAIN. Even the organisation of Cardiff shop assistants. who are nothing if not ener- getic and enthusiastic, has been retarded by the recent coal war. At the annual meeting, h?M on Tuesday night in the Central Hotel, under the presidency of Mr. A. Pearso, the report ;'1Jh¡n'tt"ù by the Secretary (Mr. A. Parr) stated that the membership stood at 479. a decrease of 61 comijared with the previous year. "One of the causes." it con- tinued. "which has helped to bring this about was the late dispute in the coal trade, which affected th3 trade of the town and district very seriously, and our class with ether sec- tions of the community." The income for the year amounted to .£323 13s. 9el., and a sum of £105 was paid out locally in sick and out of employment benefits.—The Chairman regretted that, whilst the Union was progressing by leaps and bounds throughout the country, Cardiff, which had for so many years occupied a premier position, was on the downgrade. The fac* of the matter was. the bulk of the members had not grasped the importance of a national organisation or the power such an organisa- tion would be to protect their interests and improve their conditions. He urged a united and determined effort to double the member- fhip during the present year—The following officers were elected :— President, Mr. A. Pearse; vice-president, Mr. E.Williams: treasurer, Mr. T. S.Jones; secretarv, Mr. A. Parr; and assistant secretary. Mr. T. Francis. A strong and repre- sentative committee was appointed, and Messrs. Parr and Pearse were elected to represent the branch at the Bradford Conference.

COLONEL MATHIAS AND EMPIRE. MAKERS. Colonel Mathias, who led the Gordon High- landers at Dargai. was, as stated in our issue of Wednesday, the guest of the Priory Con- stitutional Club, Acton, at their annual Scottish festival dinner. Mr. W. Grant occupied the chair.—In reply to the toast of his health, the gallant officer said there was a gentleman well known in South Africa who had been aptly described as a man who painted the map red. But he was not the only empire-maker. There were many others who were increasing the red spots. Consequently, the work de- volving on the Army was increasing to such an extent that it was absolutely necessary to have more men. Fortunately, at the present time there were hosts of young officers ready to face hardships and death for a mere pittance simply from the love of fighting and sporting instinct. That spirit, he was proud to say, was born in the Briton. (Cheers.) But the question of the rank and file was another and a very serious matter. It was puzzling wiser heads than his how they were to overcome the difficulty.

DIPHTHERIA IN SOUTH WALES. About eight fresh cases of diphtheria have been reported from the Griffithstown district, and four more deaths have occurred since Wed- nesday last. There are fourteen severe cases of diphtheria in the Cross Keys and Risca district, and, as reported on Tuesday, two deaths have occurred.

COLLIS BROWIJE'S,- j^^SiCHLORODYNE K SSI ? !r? K I -9 1/Lv I Mfeisi' "We have nevr»r used any other form: £ J of this medicine tfcari Colli* Lrovn.v C I Mxi THE OREA.T from a :irm conviction that it U deci- Z "> m *v dedly the aisofrom a gSr'"jraflB!^ 9) FOR duty we owe t.o ;he i»: oft^ssioB »nd p CHOLERA, public, as we are of opiuion that C\U uGiis?, 1 \IARRMrfi1 A vcpwrvR v substitution of MIJ tbnii Oollis S 1 JpGENEeSEOARWofH An-H Browne's isuneliberatcbrev:ho(faiih /10LZ>S, JL-Jrndon ontbepartonhcclieim.ttopre*eru*r A STHHA. ^HM^BePdSe^X^afl<ci^ta «id p&tm We are. Sir. faito- A T>R03fCHITIS. !>r. GIBBOIT, Army"M«dicaiStaff. Ca!- SV3iES k CO h eutU.states: 2 DOSES COMPLETE- V- 'TO,« TV-RTJ-CRTT_T,TS~EIROWNBTS „LY cj:i<ED ME of ]>IARRH<J;A." I B CITTrnnnvw Z. TV T C Frmn 6YMES & Co., IJliain:acputica! M^B.. J, COLL18 BROWNE'3 which he coined1 the word CIU-OKO-TV<»OVT. CAHCW, DYNE. Dr. Browne is the SOLE IN- £ £ ?eefPm?dicfn^Tas e^id for'1^ ^O'JHAOHK. KHBPiaATIgtt. VENTOll. and. as^the c°mitself all over the East. As a remedrtl J. COLLX8 BR OWN K'a Chlorodjrie canaou poo.sibiT oe a.i> FJT general utility, we much question JU' CHLOKODV.NE it a liquid n:e- fered by Analysis (.organic SUDS .FU.EE. w]iether a better is imported, and dicine which assuases l'AIN of de;yinseUmuiation!,and!uce Jiefor- h u be glad hear ot ju lindinjr a EVEKY KIND affords a e«lm, tm- ?ulah:!»nevorbeonpubnshed,iti.en- piaceinevervAnglo-Inuivibome. A. freshing pleep WITHOUT HEA1V dent th:tt any statement to the effect- £ ther brands, we a,.e h,ppy t0 Bay, are ACHE, and IN VIGOR .ViK* that a compoundis identical ur. now reieaated to the native bazaars, voua system wlion eiiiiausted. §> Brtw.e* L,lorodyiie nnu. and, judgingfrom their -ale, we fancy TVr rOY.'rTisl&'R o'\FK^k «s C.uitiou i» necessary, as many their sojourn thero will oe but evam's -iJ^J CHLOftODYVi: rt->idlT iiaur persons deceive purchasers by false cen. ^"ecnni'l mulu;ly instancesna* ttl?LJ Zi r V representation^ injini/u»n of tlif extraordinary etliciicy „ BB. J. COI,LI8BEOWNE'S of DR. GO I, I, IS EE OW NE'E! "CHLORODYNE -Vice Ohs.n-I CKI.ORODYNE in I.iiAi'rlxra nnd| iTA^IOii, Ii iSu is ces.it,v sir W. I'AGE WOOD stated) Dysentery,Spasms,Cramps.Nenra^i^i; I MPOfexAjSTT CAUTION. T1« P'.ibiielv in Court that Dr. ,T. COLLIS! the VoiMtirig of i-regnancy, and as JL1M.MENSE SALE of thic KmED? BROtf^-vasUNDOUBTED] A'the general sedative, that have occurred ziven rise to mauv UNSCJlUPt i l'N VENTOIiof CHLORODYNE.thaR underourpersonalobservationdviring 5-JLS IMITATIONS Ee careful M '.Hewholestwrof the defendant Free- many years. In Choleraic Diarrhoea,: unserve Trad.T Ma-rk. Of all Cheruuj 3-in deliberately untrue, and he and even in the more trrrible forms Is. Ufi, 2*. Pel, a;,n 4». ^d. „ roarrottod to say it had N*>:i *worn to «f Cholera itself, w* have \7jtn*o8ea m* Sohx MANWAcrviiEk, •rriSss f»«3W.Jgl-v »th. 1*84. t power, jj. T,DAyj&ZQ

PCRT TALBOT BAILWAY AND DOCKS. HALF-YEARLY MEETING. The ninth half-yearly ordinary general meet- ing- of the Port Talbot Railway and Docks Com- pany was held at the Westminster Palace Hotel. Iiondon, on Wednesday, Colonel J. R. Wright, J.P., deputy-chairman, presided, in the absence abroad of Lord Dunraven.—The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, said that since they last met the company had made steady progress. The gross receipts for the half-year ended December, 1397, were £5,499, for the half-year ended Jane 33, 1898, £ 9,051, and for the half-year ended December 31 last £13,718, the total increase over the previous half-year being £4,695. The effects of the great strike were felt for two months into the period under review, and consequently their revenue was practically earned in four months. They had carried 60,279 passengers, as against 26,289. The railways under the company's Act, 1896, were opened for mineral and other traffic towards the end of 1898, and it was expected that a good revenue would accrue from them. The company would not, however, derive fnll advantage from their railways until the dock works and channel were completed. The key to the situation was the channel. It had now been deepened, so as to permit good-sized boats to enter. When the plans of the engineers were carried out the port would be—as, indeed, it was at the present time—as safe as any port in the Bristol Channel. The piers had had a good testing during the storms of December and January, and they had sustained no damage. It was always a pleasure to announce new sources of traffic. The large j iron works at Cefn, on thi? s line, had been taken over by a now c;m"ny. and the first cargo of ore wonld arrive at the docks in about ten days' time. A large fuel works would shortly be built on the company's dock property, and an agreement with one of the largest firms in the wor'd was being signed that day. As the whole of the output would be shinned abroad. the docks would derive con- siderable advantage.—Colonel C. R. Franklen, J.P. seconded the motion.—The Chairman, replying to questions, said the worldng ex- reuses—71 per cent.-were certainly large, bnt these would be reduced when the whole of their works were complete. It was quite true the contractors were under a heavy penalty— £ 200 per week—over the time of the contract, and the matter would, no doubt, be one for arbitration in the end.—The report was then adopted.-The dividend of 4 per cent, on the preference shares having been declared. Lord Wimborne proposed that the company should subscribe £ 200 towards the relief fund for the wives and children of the two pilots of the port who lost their lives through the gale on January 12.—The motion having been carried, a special meeting was held. at which the com- pany's Bill empowering them to make certain deviations, &c., was agreed to.

ASSAULT CASES AT CARDIFF. On Wednesday at Cardiff Police-court (before Dr. James Mullin and Mr. Louis Samuel) Wil- liam Hughes, a powerfully-built man. was charged with assaulting Annie Pedde'l, 25, Tre- i degar-street.—Prisoner went to the house and asked for a woman named Mary. Mary was away, and then prisoner demanded beer. No beer was obtainable, and he then started upon j the prosecutrix. A policeman was called in. and he also was assaulted.—Inspector Durston said the house was, no doubt, kept for immoral purposes. Prisoner appeared to have been set upon. His coat and waist-coat were foujil in the back garden of an adjoining house.-Fined £2 and costs, or one month. There wa.s a good deal of bard swearing in a caso in which Marion Harriett O'Brien. 27. was summoned for assaulting and wounding Ellen O'Brien in the head with a gla"s in the Royal Eychana-e Hotel, Cowbridgs-road, on the 14th inst. The women, though bearing the same name. were not related.—Prosecutrix deposed that she only knew the prisoner casually, and that she gave her no provocation. Accused drunk half a noggin of whisky, and without saying a word threw the glass at witness. The missile hit her under the left eve, which was bandaged. Police-con-table F. Gurney came up and found prosecutrix in the adjacent lane bleeding profusely from the cut.-Dr. John Evans said the wound was three inches or four inches long, and half an inch deen in the centre. Had it been h;¡!f an inch higher it would have gone across the eye.—Prisoner's defence was that prosecutrix was the assailant, and put in several blows before she acted upon the defensive.—Inspector Durston said prisoner had been charged at the court twice before, but not for assault.—Dr. Mullin said this practice of striking with glass was a dangerous one. and would have to be stopped. At the same time, there had clearly been provocation in this case, and prisoner would be fined 20s. or costs, or fourteen days.

ASSAULT UPON A POLICEMAN AT POSTS. At Pontypridd Police-court on Wednesday, morning (before Mr. J. Ignatius Williams, stipendiary, and other magistrates) Patrick O'Brien, of Porth, was charged with being drunk and disorderly and assaulting the police. Mr. D. W. Jones, solicitor, Pentre. defended. Police-constable Lucas stated that between nine and ten o'clock on Sunday n'ght last bvi saw the defendant near the pnrtil He was very drunk, and used filthy l.anguasre. Witness spofc* to h;-u. -d he thereupon stTuck witness in the mouth and then ran away. Witness followed him. and just as he was about to catch him the defendant tripped him and kicked him when on the ground. The prisoner became so violent that witness had to draw his staff and strike him on the back of the head and handcuff him. Mr. D. W. Jones explained that the defendant had spent some years as a soldier in India. On Sunday some of his soldier friends from Ireland who were going to India called to s'ee him. He went with them to Pontypridd, and lost the last train back. The defendant had also been severely handled by the policeman, and he asked their worships to deal leniently with the prisoner, who had borne a very excellent charac- ter for many years. The Bench fined tho defendant £ 1 and costs.

■ I I I.JMI 111.11 --4 BWLLFA ARBITRATION CASE, At Ystrad County-court on Tuesday (before his Honour Judge Gwilym Williams) Mr. W. P. Nicholas, solicitor. Pontypridd, applied for an order to direct the registrar to tax the costs in the recent Bwllfa Colliery case on the higher scale. His honour gave judgment in this case in November last. The Bwllfa Colliery work- men were the plaintiffs in the dispute with reference to the interpretation of certain clauses in the award as to the prices to be paid for certain work.—Mr. D. W. Jones, who appeared for the men, objected, and said his honour had no power to make such an order, inasmuch as the application should have been made at the time that judg- ment was given.—The application was dis- missed.

DEATH OF THE OLDEST COLLIER IN THE KINGDOM. Mr. Mathew Cobley died at his residence, Sunny Cottage, Bedwas, on Tuesday evening at the ripe age of 75 years. Deceased was engaged in coalmining before the Queen ascended the Throne, and it is said that at the time of his death he was the oldest collier in the kingdom. He was specially selected to take charge of the working coal mine at the Victorian Era Exhibition at the Crystal Palace in the Diamond Jubilee Year.

A Ii EiXl Y STW ITU FIRE BRI GADE S "NIGHT OUT." DISCUSSED BY A CORPORATION. COMMITTEE. A special meeting of the Aberystwitb Fire Brigade Committee was held at the Corpora- tion Offices on Monday evening for the purpose of discussing the extraordinary conduct of the members of the fire brigade on Saturday ni-ght. -The Mayor said the brigade turned out in response to a false alarm, and, attaching their hose to a hydrant in the immediate neighbour- hood of the fire station, they drenched the crowd. He did not know whether this wa3 done by the order of the captain (Councillor Robert Peake), or whether it was done mis- cheviousiy by the men.—Captain Peake said that he had a perfect answer to the chairman's charge. The men were at the station early in the evening together, and he spent the evening in their company. He had told three of them, including the sergeant, that they would have a false alarm before ten o'clock. one of the firemen being told to put on the hooter at the gasworks. When the hose was attached to the hydrant he ordered the men to set the water on the board schools, and a few persons got wet through. The firemen were then hustled about. After the water had been running some two minutes he found that the hose had been cut. some six inches in length. He could not understand the peopie. There were one or two police-constables there, but, instead of helping them to get a bit of order, they stood looking on behind the crowd. Two or three fights followed between outsiders and members of the brigade.—The Chairman asked Captain Peake if it was true that he had made a bet in a public-house that he would get the brigade out in a certain time, but this was denied, as well as a suggestion that a person, complaining of being drenched to the captain, was asked if he would like to have another dose.—Mr. R. J. Jones and the Mayor said the matter was one for inquiry, and it was arranged to adjourn until Monday even- ing next. with a view of inviting the police and the members of the brigade to give their versions of the incident.

IMPROVING THE PENARTH DOCK. "Timber" states that "the Taff Vale Railway Company have decided to erect three more tips alongside the Penarth Dock Basin, in clos,3 proximity to Messrs. Alexander and Co. a timber-yard. The latter will, of course, be closed, and Messrs. Alexander and Co. will open a yard at Barry Dock." One of our reporters endeavoured to get the paragraph verified or contradicted by Mr. Beasley, general manager of the Taff Vale Railway. That gentleman was engaged, but he sent word to the effect that he "had nothing to say about any new tips at Penarth Dock." The information contained in the paragraph quoted has been. however, confirmed from other sources. With the exception of three, the tips at Penarth are not sufficiently elevated to load large steamers, but those the c nnpany n.,w propose to erect wiu OB high enough to load any vessel coming to the dock. The decision of tha company is taken by some as an indication that the Windsor Dock idea has been abandoned, and confirma- tion of this is found in the renewal of friend ship between the Taff and Cardiff Railway Companies. It should be borne in mind that at least five years must now elapse before the Windsor Dock could be completed, provided the company obtained Parliamentary powers next session, and the erection of three tips to relieve the pressure in the meantime cannot be relied upon as an indication that the new dock scheme has been abandoned. It is quite true that the Taff and Cardiff Railway Companies are working in better harmony now than for some vears past. but it is impossible to say how long it will last. It may ripen into an amalgamation or a working agreement, but, whatever happens eventually, we have reason to believe that the promoters of the Windsor Dock are pre- pared in the meantime to make another attempt to obtain Parliamentary powers. With the Bill once more revived, the Taff Vale Com- pany would be in a stroneer position to nego- tiate with their rivals than if the proposed dock were finally abandoned.

OGMORE AND GARW DISTRICT COUNCIL. At a meeting of the Ogmore and Garw Dis- trict Council held on Tuesday evening a letter was read from the Port Talbot Docks and Railway Company consenting to the request of the council to erect a footbridge over the foot- path leading from Nanthir and crossing the stream on to the Maesteg road, but they did not anprove of the requisition made by the council calling upon them to provide lights along this route.-The terms were accepted, and an agreement ordered to be drawn up. With reference to the request made by the council that the train due at Bridgend at eleven a.m. should stop at Pencoed and other concessions in the railway service of the valleys, it was reported that the Great Western Railway Com- pany could not. in consequence of their con- tract to carry the newspapers, afford the neces- sary time to stop at, Pencoed. There was. how- ever. every probability of the twelve noon train from Bridgend for Maesteg, Pontycymmer. and Nantymoel being altered to 11.10 a.m. They could not. however, conveniently allow the same trains to remain at Bridgend until the arrival of the North maiL—The council decided ,v to send a further request for these conveniences. -The Clerk reported having waited upon the solicitor for the Great Western Railway Com- pany and obtained their consent to widen a proposed bridge at Pontycymmer from 20ft. to 26ft.—Dr. Parry drew attention to a large number of houses in the Garw Valley as being absolutely unfit for habitation, and it was decided that the inspector should make a, house-to-house visit.

A NEWPORT MOTHER'S THEORY. Daniel and Bartholomew Hurley, brothers, had summonses answerable against them at Newport on Wednesday, but the mother answered for both. They had been fighting :n -b'otnergiil-street at midnight, and were stripped to "he waist. Two police officers were called by the mother to prevent the young fellows injuring each other. One officer said they looked as if ready to murder each other in their ferocity. The Mother: They were only two brothers. and they will fight quicker than strangers, yor know. The Clerk: It takes an officer all his time V look after this small street. Daniel was fined 20s. or fourteen days, and Bartholomew 10s.

DIVISION OF BEDWELLTY UNION. At the fortnightly meeting of the Bedwellty Board of Guardians held at Tredegar on Wednesday tho assent of the Local Government Board was received to the division of the union into four general relief districts, instead of into two, as at present, and it was decided to advertise for two addi- tional relieving officers at a salary of £ 100 each -one to reside at Ebbw Vale and the other at Rhymney. It was decided to oppose the pro. posal to divide the Bedwellty School Board area and constitute Ebbw Vale into a separate school board district, into which matter a Local Government Board inquiry will be held at Ebbw Vale on the 21st inst.

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