Weekly Mail

LOCAL MILITARY APPOINT- I MENTS. The London Gazette of Friday week contains the following:— War Office, Pall Man, Jan. 27,1882. THE WELSH REGIMENT. Lieutenant Arthur Porter Newnham-Davis, from the 3rd battalion of Seaforth Highlanders (Ross- shire Buffs, the Dukeof Albany's), to be Lieutenant, vice E. M. Woodhouse transferred to the Rifle Brigade (the Prince Consort's Own). Dated 28th inst.

THE BRISTOL MURDER. A Government reward of £100 has been offered for such information as will lead to the apprehen- sion and conviction of the murderer of Margaret Blades, aged 26, of Bristol, and a free pardon to any accomplice not being the actual murderer. Blades was seen talking to a man on the bank of the Froom just before midnight on the 7th inst. She was heard to exclaim, Oh, don't," "Oh, don't," and thereupon the man was seen by three persons on the other side of the river to push the woman into the water. She clung to the bank for a few moments, and was then washed away and drowned. The man ran away, and the police have obtained no trace of him.

THEFT BY A SERVANT GIRL AT NEATH. On Tuesday, at the Guildhall, Neath, Sophia Jones, a native of Maesteg, was brought up in custody charged with stealing two pieces of cloth. a silk dreM. a number of neckties, two gold rings, and several articles, belonging to Mr. Jas. Cameron, Neath, with whom she was in service. Prisoner, when charged with the offence, admitted she had taken the things, and said some of them were in her box at her uncle's house in Maesteg. The Bench remanded her till Monday, to enable in- quiries to be made.

DISEASE AMONGST HORSES. The Liverpool Mefciiry states that the disease among horses has made its appearance in Liver- pool, and is inflicting serious losses upon cart- owners. It appears, however, from the facts already collected that out of a total of 1,367 horses in 69 infected stables no fewer than 45 have died, while 268 are prostrate with the disease. These figures, of course, represent but a fraction of the horses to be accounted for in Liverpool, the mem- bers of the Cartowners' Association alone posses- sing over 15.000. The epidemic is prettv general throughout the country. It has also made its ap- pearance in the Isle of Man. In some respects it appears to be not unlike the Texan fever which recently ravaged the herds of some parts of Western America.

BRUTAL WIFE MURDER AT CHESTERFIELD. Shortly before twelve o'clock on Saturday night William Goddard, a slater, about 30 years of age, murdered his wife by kicking her savagely four times on the body. He went home under the influence of drink and accused his wife of being drunk. A quarrel ensued, and the wife ran upstairs. The man followed and inflicted the injuries mentioned. The woman escaped into a neighbour's house and told the inmates how she had been kicked, then fell on the floor in a pool of blood and bled to death. The husband attempted to escape, but was captured by the police. He denied having kicked his wife, but the neighbours heard her screams. Deceased had been frequently illused by her husband.

DISGRACEFUL SCENE AT A FUNERAL. An extraordinary and disgraceful scene was witnessed at a funeral at Leicester on Friday week. The wife of a man living in the north of the town had died, and it was alleged by the neigh- bours that the husband had been visiting places of amusement with another woman while his wife was lying dead. This woman, on arriving to keep the house while the funeral took place, was turned out by the man's brother-in-law, and she was then seized by a large crowd, pelted with ruddle, flour, and black lead, and her clothes were torn into shreds. The crowd hooted the husband as he left for the funeral, and on his return a number of policemen had to protect him from personal violence.

ALLEGED STARVATION OF A CHILD. At the Greenwich police-court on Friday week Catherine Tubbs was finally examined on the chafge of wilfully causing the death of her child, ten months old, by neglecting to provide him with proper food and nourishment.—According to the evidence of Dr. Forsyth: corroborated by Dr. Hartt, the deceased child, which was illegitimate, had died from inanition and chronic starvation, the weight at death being only 6tlb. Starvation must haye been g0ing on for at least a month, and the witness thought there could have been no food in the stomach for three days.—Several witnesses living in the same house as the prisoner were called, and stated their belief that she was a. good mother, but they admitted that she sometimes left the child alone at night for three or four hours.— Mr. Marsha m committed her for trial at the Old Bailey on the charge of manslaughter.

OLD CUSTOMS OF GLAMORGAN. An interesting incident, occurred in the neigh- bourhood of Llantrisant last week which deserves special record. Mr. David Williams, ex-High Con- stable of Merthyr, lately built a house at Ynvstaf, a few miles from Llantrisant, wherehefarms several hundred acres of freehold. Last week, to the as tonishment of Mr. Williams, on visiting his resi- dence, he found no less than eighteen of the neigh- bouring farmers hard at work upon his land with their own teams. They had come unsolicited, and, according to ancient custom to a perfect stranger, to give one day's service in putting his land into order. It is pleasant to hear of genial acts of this description. In Breconshire a similar custom pre- vails, and amongst the smaller farmers service is annually rendered. One neighbour helps to sow, and another to reap, and teams go from one land to another in the freest of fashion.

DEATH OF A PONTYPRIDD GENTLEMAN IN SOUTH AMERICA. The friends of Mr. William Robotham, M.E., who was born at Pontypridd, and whose parents re- sided during many years at. Treforest, have just received the melancholy tidings of his death from sunstroke. The sad event occurred at Venezuela, South America, to which place he proceeded seven years ago for the purpose of superintending the development of gold and silver mines, where he had lately succeeded in floating, by the co-opera- tion of London capitalists, two companies to work the said mines. Mr. Robotham, who, at the time of his death, was only 37 years of age, entered the Bristol School of Mines at fourteen years of age, and he was awarded three silver and gold medals for proficiency in geology and mineralogy He attracted the notice of the" late Sir Charles'Lyell and Sir Roderick Murchison, and at eighteen years of age he was appointed by the Government to take charge of the laboratory and mining classes at the said school. He leaves a widow and two little children, who are in this country. His un- timely death, at a time when his friends were anti- cipating the brightest results from his enterprise, has cast a gloom over the circle where he was best known. Mr. Samuel Robotham, Colwinston, Cow- bridge, was his father.

THE THOMAS AND JENKINS WILL SUIT. On Saturday, on Sir James Hannen taking his seat on the bench in the Probate Court, West- minster, Mr. Bargrave Deane asked his lordship to pronounce for the will of 1830, in favour of which the jury found on Friday night.—His lordship did so, but asked whether the application was limited as to that.— Mr. Bayford said he had to ask that the costs in the case should come out of the estate. There was evidence to show that the old woman haù made certain statements that wer-- calculated to mise the impression that she laboured under delusions, and that she did so there was the evidence, given by the medical gentlemen engaged in the case.—Sir J. Hannen said he could not go as far as that. Two pleas had been put on the record —namely, undue influence and fraud. He should not allow all costs to come out. of the estate, but, under all the circumstances, he should direct that each party pay their own costs.—Mr. Bargrave Deane asked that the costs of the son, the heir-at- law, might come out of the estate.—Sir J. Hannen said his presence was not required. He had not been put in the witness-box, he had not pleaded, and. in fact. said nothing about the matter, either himself or by his counsel. He must refuse the application. In making the order he did he reserved all questions as regarded the residuary legatee.

A DARING IMPOSTOR AT COWBRIDGE. Rarefy ha. ve newspapers had to chronicle a suc- cessful imposture in the ancient town of Cow- bridge. Seldom has anyone succeeded in gulling the inhabitants of ancient Bovium, for, although The knights are dust, Their swords are rust, there nsed to remain sufficient of the old feudal spirit in the' hearts of the inhabitants to induce them to ask, in reference to any stranger they saw in their midst, who" before they would trust him. Whether the young blood of the Cow bridge Farmers Club has infused so much of the democratic spirit into the place that it is beginning to cause the Boviumites to forget oH traditions, is Mncertain but the following' narrative, which is taken from the Tifst <r Dydá. seems to hint as much :—" A few days ago. says the above-named journal, "a young woman called upon the Rev. Wm. Lewis. Caivinistic Methodist minister, Cowbridge, and told him that she had come from the headquarters of the Salvation Army, London, and that General' Booth -was about to declare war against 'the enemy in that locality. General Booth,' she said, and his daughter are coming here on Satur- day next, and we shall then fire our guns against the defences of the enemy.' She was taken into the seiati, and at the close of the meeting she was asked to offer up a prayer, which she did with so much eloquence and feeling that one old brother was so moved that, in a Llangeitho htcyl, he cried out Amen!' frequently during its delivery. A committee meetiinr oi the elders was then held, and it was decided to lend the chapel to General' I Booth. On the morning following Captain' Jones was not to be found. It was, however, ascertained that this 'captain' in petticoats ha.d gone to Llantwit Major, where she preached that night, and again on the night following, each night making a collection for the general fund of the Army.' She has not been seen since."

WRECK OF TWO WELSH VESSELS. A "Lloyd's" telegram, dated Mondav night, savs:—The brigantine Annie, of Swansea, from Ainlwch for Barrow, collided outside Holyhcad with the schooner Mary Anne, of Carnarvon. The latter sank, and the former went on to the rocks and filled with the tide. The crews were saved.

THE FEVER IN THE YSTRADYFOD WG DISTRICT. On Monday a meeting of the committee, con- sisting of Drd. H. N. Davies, James, and Idris Davies, and Mr. John Davies and Mr. David Evans, was held at Pentre Chambers, to consider the best measures to adopt with aJ view to stamp out the fever in the district. The proceedings were pri- vate, but it was stated by the members after the meeting was over that the fever cases were decreasing in number.

SERIOUS ASSAULT UPON A CHEPSTOW TRADESMAN. On Tuesday, at Coleford police-court (before Licut.-CoIoneI Davies, Dr. Batten, and Messrs. Trotter and Blandy;, Amos Jones, an iron mine manager, was charged under remand with having, on the night of the 19th of January, unlawfully and maliciously done grievous bodily harm to John M'Geoch, of Chepstow. Mr. Mab, from the office of Mr. R. Fryer, clerk to the justices, prose- cuted, and Mr. Goold. barrister, Oxford Circuit, instructed by Mr. Goldring, defended. The main facts were reported in the JVeMemi Mail last week. After a lengthy hearing the justices sent Jones to prison for six months.

THE BURIALS ACT. A considerable amount of sensation has been caused in the village of Bramshott, near Peters- field, by a Roman Catholic funeral which took place on Saturday in the churchyard of the parish church, under conditions which are not provided by the Burial Laws Amendmefit Act, 1880. It ap- pears that the coffin, followed by the mourners and friends, and headed by the Rev. Dr. Crowther, Roman Catholic priest, and his assistant clergy, was taken into the nave of the church and placed upon a bier, amidst the burning of incense and the performance of the funeral rites of the Roman Catholic Church. After the coffin had been placed in the grave in the churchyard a procession was formed, which proceeded up the nave of the church to the chancel. Here, from within the altar rails, the Rev. Dr. Crowther, who was fully robed, delivered an elaborate addregg; and con- cluded a somewhat imposing service. One of the curates of the parish, the Rev. C. Leadbeater, was present throughout the service as a spectator. The rector, the Rev. W. W. Capes, is temporarily absent from the parish, being in residence at Queen's College,Oxford. Several of the parishioners have resolved to memorialise the bishop of the diocese on the subject.

SINGULA^ OCCURRENCE IN DEAN FOREST. On Tuesday, during the administration of relief at the fortnightly meeting of the Westbury-on- Severn Board of Guardians, a singular case was reported, in which it was alleged that a miner named Wood had carried away his wife, a lunatic, in a sack. The woman is the daughter of a late guardian of this union, and she was Wooed," as reputed, because of pecuniary advantages as a preferable clement to other qualifications. She was always of weak mind, and has been, as reported of late, a lunatic, wandering about the Forest enclosure. Asceituining that his wife was to be removed to the asylum, Wood sought her and carried her off in a sack, and it was further added by the relieving officer that the.last he had heard of Wood was that he had gone to the North of England. The woman had been in the union some time, and was allowed to leave on her husband—who is reported to have married another woman—undertaking to provide a comfortable home for her. The vice-chairman and other mem- bers urged that the man should be called unon to pay S is- cost of the carriage sent ?0l the mad woman's removal,

SHOOTING A BOY AT CWMBACIL At the Aberdare police-court on Tuesday (before Mr. J. Bishop, stipendiary, and Mr. D. P. Davies), David Jones, aged eleven, was charged on remand with feloniously shooting James UphIll. a lad about twelve, on the 4th of November last. This was the first time that the injured lad was able to put in an appearance. The circumstances of the case have already been reported. Our readers may re- member that Uphill and a number of other lads were playing near defendant's house. Defendant ordered them off, and, finding they would not go, went in, brought out a gun, and fired it, the charge lodging full in Uphill's head and eyes. Ac- cording to the evidence of Mr. R. H. Leigh, surgeon, who w'as called in immediately after the occurrence, the poor boy on the occa- sion of his visit was lying upon a table bleeding profusely, and apparently dying. He had fourteen or fifteen gunshot wounds about the eyes and fore- head one eye being totally destroyed at the time, and the other badly wounded, although witness then entertained some hopes of its recovery. The sight of that eye was now gone as well, but, as far as could be ascertained, the lad had otherwise re- covered. Three, if not four, of the shots had entered the eve, and some had penetrated the outer plate of the skull, while some others might have found their way into the brain, where, if encysta- tion had not taken place, they might yet produce mischief, perhaps in years to come. The Stipen- diary, after saving that serious blame attached to the prisoner's "stepfather for leaving the gun within reach, remarked that, although the bov had done an act for which a grown-up man would be held criminally responsible, it was not probable that a jury at the assizes would convict. The accused was consequently discharged.

SANGUINARY ENCOUNTER WITH NATIVES IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC. According to advices just received from Sydney it appears that her Majesty's war schooner Beagle has arrived there after a lengthv voyage in the South Pacific Ocean. The first island to be visited was Macado, where it appears a most sanguinary conflict had taken place between the crews of three vessels and the natives of the islands. The latter had murdered a white man named Schmidt, who was described as an inoffensive Germah. Immediately after the murder the natives threatened to treat all white men in the same manner. The crews of the schooners Loelia and Sea Nymph and the steamer Genie, which anchored at the island, went on shore, and demanded the mur- derers of Schmidt to be given up. The natives not only refused the request, but also made an attack on the white men, who, however, were thoroughly prepared for their assailants. There was quite a sharp encounter until the natives were beaten off, leaving about thirty Of their dead comrades on the ground. Commander Maturin, of the Beagle, and Mr. Romilly, Commis- sioner for the Western Pacific, visited the island where the affrav had taken place, and held an in- vestigation into tho matter, with the result that the action of the crews was fully upheld, inasmuch as they were fio-hting in self-defence. Matape was the next island°visited by the Beagle, where it was learned that an independent gentleman named Lyttleton had been murdered. The Beagle, ac- companied by her Majesty's war schooner Con- flict, proceeded then to the scene of the outrage. An armed partv of thirty men landed on the island, and, guided by some friendly natives, marched on the village- On becoming acquainted, with th. intention of the expedition the natives fled, leaving their village deserted. Failing to capture any of the culprits, the blue-jackets burnt the homesteads to the ground as a punishment to the owners. Port Moresby was the last place visited.

-t-- EXTRAORDINARY CONDUCT OF A JURY. At the Hertford Assizes last veek, Albert Bentley a young labouring man, was indicted for being un- lawfully on land at night in company with three other persons, armed with a gun and in pursuit of game, on the property of Lord Stratlinairn, near Royston.—Mr. Birch prosecuted, a.nd the prisoner was defended by Mr. J. W. Cooper.—Prisoner was positively sworn to as the n)an who presented a gun at the keepers, and the only slight qualifica- tion to their evidence in this respect which was elicited by their learned counsel was that when examined before the magistrates they stated that the prisoner was one of the men to the best of their belief; but they explained that they used this expression in constquence of the form of the question that \yas put to them.— The case, however, came to a sudden and unex- pected conclusion.—A witness named Newbury was about to be. examined, when one of the jury interfered, and said they thought it would be a waste of time to proceed any further with the case, as they had already made up their minds as to the verdict.—Mr. Justice Grovt said he did not know what verdict they intended" to deliver, but he thought it would be better they should hear the case for the prosecution to the end before they decided.—The juryman repeated that they con- sidered it would be a W8At. of time. They did not believe the evidence of the keepers, and they therefore found the prisoner not guilty.—Another juryman at the same time said that he would not agree to any other verdict, whatever further evidence might be given.w_Mr. Justice Grove in- quired if the jury were unanimous in agreeing to a verdict.—One of the juiy paid he was not pre- pared to agree to a veidict of not guilty, and he desired to hear the case to an end.—Mr. Justice Grove said he thought that after what had been said by one of the jury, it would be very unsatisfartorv to go on with the trial.—Mr. Birch asked Ills lordship to discharge the present jury from giving a verdict, and allow the caBe to be tried by another jury.—Mr. Cooper submitted that the leamtd judge had no power to discharge the jury.—Mr. Justice Gr^ve said that when a juryman had ofenly stated that he was determinea to return a particular verdict without regard to any evidence tiat might be adduced, he thought he was justifiedin discharging the jury.— The jury were then discharged from giving a verdict, and the prisoner was set at liberty upon hi" entering into a personal recognisanoe in the sum of £30 to appear on a subsequent occasion and take his trial.—The jury, with the exception of the juryman who. had protested against the case being stopped, were then requested to leave the box, and subsequently a letter, signed by six of them, was handed to the learned judge, in which they stated that they did not concur in the course that had been taken by one of their body, but desired to hear the case to the end.

ELECTION INTELLIGENCE. PBESTON.—The nomination of candidates for the vacancy at Preston took place on Tuesday. The following nominations were handed in:—The Right Hon. Henry Cecil Raikes, Conservative, nominated by William, Philip Park, and seconded by George Brierley; William Shaw Simpson, Liberal, confectioner, of Liverpool, nominated by Henry Blackburn, and seconded by William Wiston.

STRANGE FREAK OF A BOY. A singular affair has occurred at Bedworth. While a young lady named Meakin, possessing fine, flowing hair, was near a shop window, a lad about eight years of age went up to her, struck a match, and deliberately threw it upon her head. The young lady's hair and bonnet were speedily in flames, and it was only by the timely assistance of a passer-by that she escaped serious injury.

THE LEFROY REWARD. Sir William Harcourt, the Home Sacrctarv, has just granted Mrs. Bickers, the landlady with whom Lefroy lodged, the sum of £20 for the losses she has sustained in having to remove from her house at Stepney in consequence of her other lodgers leaving her, and the expenses incurred in her re- moval. It seems an unpleasant notoriety has fol- lowed her to her new home, and she cannot let her rooms. The public believed that she had received a. portion of the reward, but this is not the case, the solicitor's clerk having been paid the £200-- the whole of which he has kept.

EXECUTION AT DEVIZES. Charles Gerrish was executed at Devizes on Monday morning, for the murder of Stephen Cole- man, at Devizes Union Workhouse. The con- demned man, who was between seventy and eighty years of age. had throughout shown no signs of contrition, nor expressed the least regret for his crime. He ate and slept well, and seemed wholly indifferent to his fate. The only persons present were th under-sheriff. the governor, chaplain, and warders, besides the representatives of the press. The culprit walked firmly to the drop, and ap- peared quite unmoved. The body fell a depth of ten feet, and death was instantaneous.

FRESH OUTBREAK OF SCARLET FEVER AT MKRTHYR. lVc regret to state that scarlet fever has again made its appearance in Merthyr and the adjacent district. Several deaths have been recorded. It is to be hoped that there will he an immediate recourse to the means employed in stamping out the last epidemic. Crowded chaDels, large funerals, and prayer meetings held in the infected houses have been pointed out in the most forcible manner as a certain means of propagating the terrible disease. It is strongly recommended by medical men that no scholar should be allowed to attend school from an infected house, and the duty of preventing this might well be managed by the school examiners, aided by reports from the various members of the medical profession.

POACHING AFFRAY NEAR PEMBROKE. On Tuesday morning two gamekeepers, Wm. Tippin and Wm. Raymond, on Lord Cawdor's Stackpole estate, were watching at Underbill cover, near Orielton Mill. About two o'clock in the morning they saw two men, well-known poachers, named Charles Nicholas and John Rudd. the latter of whom was carrying a gun. The keepers rushed upon them, and after running a little way and jumping a fence, Rudd turned and fired at Tippin, who was following close upon him. The shot took effect in Tippin's left arm. Had he not slipped at the time that Rudd fired he would, no doubt, have received the charge in his chest. The poachers got off, but were apprehended the same morning and brought before Dr. Bryant. Tippin's evidence was taken, and the prisoners were remanded until Saturday.

THE WEST OF ENGLAND BANK, It will bo remembered that £10,000 was sub- scribed for the relief of Devonshire shareholders of the late West of England Bank, 120 of whom have been assisted to make a fresh start in life. but 57 others, above 60 years of age, remain on the fund. Of these persons some were shareholders who sunk as much as jE3,000 in the bank, and there are Several who are now over 90 years of age. The payments are in proportion to the sums the share- holders would have received as interest on their shares had the bank continued a going concern. In the course of five years the entire fund will be exhausted. Among the recipients are two whose loss of means was followed by their loss of reason. Another who wag in bU5iness aU his life, and in- vested all his savings in the bank, is now an inmate of an almshouse. At the annual meeting of the subscribers on Monday the Bishop of Exeter presided, and general satisfaction waB expressed at the administration of the fund.

THE RHONDDA VALLEY TRAM- WAY. A special meeting of the Pontypridd Local Board was held on Tuesday afternoon, for the purpose of considering what clauses they should insert, for their own protection in the above tramway scheme. There were present Mr. C. Bassett (in the chair), Mr. G. J. Penn, Mr. A. Cule, Mr. W. Griffiths, and Dr. Lewis Morgan.—The Chairman said he had glanced over the General Tramways Act, and he believed that that sufficiently provided for the protection of their interests. It gave the local board, or a number of ratepayers, the power to appeal even if the company did something with which they did not agree. The clerk said the only question was whether they wished to have clauses inserted in the scheme to cover any peculiarity in the district through which the tramways were proposed to be laid, and after just reading to them quotations from the Confirmation Acts of Cardiff and Mer- thyr, which contained some very strong provisions, and other very useful ones, they might draw up the heads of clauses, and he and a committee could go into the matter afterwards and draw them up formally. This was agreed to, and the board went into details as to the construction of the line, &c.

HOW EXPLOSIONS ARE CAUSED. At the Pentre police-court on Monday (before Mr. Gwilym Williams), David Powell, collier em- ployed at Ynisfe.io Colliery, was charged with opening his lamp underground in contravention of the special rules.—It appeared that the defen- dant worked in a place called No. 7 North Heading at the said colliery. For some days previous to Satur- day last the firemen and colliers had smelt, tobacco smoke brought with the airalong the return airway. The authorities soon had reason to suspect that the smoke came from the stall in which the prisoner worked. On Saturday morning last 278 men, in- cluding the prisoner, descended into the colliery. Alfred Lewis, the chief manager, instructed John Shepston, fireman, and Edward Hughes, brattice- man, to watch the prisoner. They did so by staying in darkness in the roadway of the prisoner's stall within view of him. By and bye they saw him deliberately opening the lamp with a key. Both watchers lost no time in pouncing upon the offender and caught him with the key in his hand, and as Shepston caught hold of his hands a tobacco pipe dropped from them to the ground. Hughes gave corroborative evidence.—His Worship dwelt on the serious cha- racter of the offence, which was the first ever brought before him in which the offender was caught in the very act of deliberately infringing the Act of Parliament. The statute empowered him to inflict a penalty of three months with hard labour, but he questioned whether that was suffi- cient punishment for the crime which had been brought home to the prisoner, for he had endan- gered the lives of 277 men as well as his own. The prisoner, who seemed to be in a very dejected con- dition, was then sentenced to three months' impri- sonment with hard labour.

THE SOUTH WALES ASSIZE CIRCUIT. »■ — Mr. Justice Williams, in his charge to the grand jury at the Breconshire Winter Assizes on Tuesday, said his attention had been most prominently directed to the necessity for'some alteration in the holding of these assizes. He had been now to Haverfordwcst, Carmarthen, and Cardigan, where a large number of persons were collected from various parts of the countios, and had been brought from their homes at great trouble, expense, and inconvenience. He had not seen one prisoner at either of' those three places. At Cardigan there was a civil cause for trial by a special jury, but they were unable to have a special jury, for of all the gentlemen sum- moned he believed only three answered. He felt it to be his duty to fine those who did not answer to their names. That morning lie had received from all those fined letters containing explanations of various kinds for their non-attendance. He was bound to say that a majority of the excuses, perhaps not legally admissible, were not of an ordinary character; but they indicated the utter absurdity of holding assizes at places like Cardi- gan. One gentleman particularly ventured to state that he was willing to pav the £10 fine ]f the attention of the judges and authorities were called to the inconvenience and expense of what he ven- tures to call the absurdity of summoning men of business trom Aberystwith to Cardigan to attend on Monday morning. This required these men to leave their homes early on Saturday morning, travel all day, and when they got to Cardigan there was not, he said, any proper or sufficient accommoda- tion for them. Then the people were, perhaps, unable to get home again until the Tuesday or Wednesday following. He (Judge Williams) en- tirely concurred with what the writer stated; and he would take care attention should be called to the matter. He only now asked that the atten- tion of the magistrates and the county gentlemen should be called to the matter, for before long their attention would be directed thereto in a more formal and official manner, viz., they would be asked what recommendation they could offer as to the most suitable place for holding the assizes for a combination of counties. To do as at present I hold the assize in remote place? with but little accommodation and practically nothing to do, was a thing that could not continue. No one could doubt it was a system which must come to an end. The question was, what place would they select ? He heard that day from a high authority in the county that the Metropolis of South Wales was Brecon—(a laugh)-hut in considering the matter and in making their observation they must show that there was sufficient accommodation, that its position was central, and that there were railway conveniences for all the various persons—officials and witnesses—who would be summoned there, if any considerable number of counties should be connected, for the trial of both prisoners and civil causes. This was a matter which they should turn over in their minds.

CHARGE OF ABDUCTION. Ernest Cooper, clerk to his father, a solicitor, was charged, on remand, at the Worship-street police-court, London, on Tuesday, with taking from the custody of her guardian a girl named Kate Hancock, under sixteen years of age. Having given her version of the circumstances under which she stayed away from her home, a constable deposed that when he took the defendant into custody he said the girl had told him she was eighteen, but the girl herself said she was four- teen. Mr. Hannay stated that as far as the case had gone he felt it his duty to send it for trial.

FEVER AND STARVATION. At the Pentre police-court Sarah Williams, Heolfach. was charged with obtaining groceries by false pretences from Mr. William Williams, grocer, Mairdv, and Mr. David Fenwick, Tylorstown from the first-named on the 7th of December, and the last on the 27th of January. It seemed that the prisoner had, at the time the offences were com- mitted, four children ill of fever, and that she had no food in the house for them. Dr. Idris Davies gave her a note to the relieving officer for relief. She proceeded with the paper to the said officer, but he declined to give her any relief. She then acted in the way mentioned in the charge. Prisoner, who cried bitterly, pleaded guilty to both charges, and stated that she was driven to it by poverty. She was committed for trial at the assizes.

DASTARDLY ASSAULT AT PONTYPRIDD. On Monday at the Pentre police-court William Evans, a youth of 18, was brought up in custody charged with wounding Thomas Morgan, keeper of the toll-bar on the Llantrisant-road, near Pontv- pridd. Mr. Superintendent Mathews stated that the complainant was unable to attend owing to the serious injury he had sustained at the hands of the prisoner. The prisoner was quarrelling with a woman to whom he had made indecent proposals as she was walking from Pencoedcae to Pontypridd. The complainant interfered )n behalf of the woman, when the prisoner picked up a stone weighing about one pound and hurled it, striking him a terrib1^ blow on the face. He fell to the ground in an insensible condition, and had been confined to his bed ever since. The prisoner was remanded in custody for a week.

CLOSE OF QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY, DUBLIN. The Queen's University Senate met on Wednes- day for the last time, to confer degrees, a number of which were honorary. The Duke of Leinster, Chancellor, presided, and at the opening of the proceedings observed that the Queen's University met that day under circum- stances happily without parallel in the British Empire. A university which had well discharged its functions had its career now closed in the very plenitude of its vigour. Honorary degrees were conferred, amongst others, upon Sir Robert Kane, Yioe-Chancellor, President Sullivan, President Moffatt, Professor Allman, and Mr. Porter, Solicitor- General in the Queen's Bench Division.

ACTION AGAINSrr A TELEPHONE MANUFACTURER. An important action, brought by the United Telephone Companv (Limited), the proprietors of Professor Graham Bell's and Thomas Alva Edison's patents, against Mr. Maclean, of Edinburgh, to restrain him from selling or using a carbon trans- mitter and magneto telephone, concluded in Edinburgh on Wednesday, after five days' hearing. The respondent not only questioned the similarity of instruments used by him. but attacked the validity of both patents on various grounds. Lord Maclaren gave judgment in favour of complainers, upholding the validity of both patents, and also holding that the respondent had infringed rights of complainers, and granted injunction asked.

DARING RECKLESSNESS AT A RHONDDA VALLEY COLLIERY. At the Pontypridd police-court on Wednesday John Collins, collier, Coedcae, who did not appear wlien his name was called, wag charged with opening his safety lamp in the workings of the said colliery. Mr. William Davies, the rnanag-er; was present.—John Davies, collier, stated that the accused and he worked in the same stall of the said colliery. On the night in question both were sitting in the mouth of the stall near the heading "waiting for the haulier," that is, for the haulier to bring trams from the distant bottom of the shaft for them to fill. He (witness) left his companion, and proceeded along the heading to ascertain whether he could hear the haulier coming. On returning to the accused, he found him with a naked light in his hand, and discovered that he had taken the gauze top of the safety lamp off, and was in the act of topping "—snuffing' the wick—the lamp with his fingers. Called out to him, "What are yon doing?" He replied, "Only 'topping' the lamp." Oh, lake care," continued wit- ness, if not for the sake of your own soul, for the sake of the souls of the many others in the colliery." Defendant then put the top back, and screwed it on with his teeth. Both then went home. On the night following—it was bv night they worked—he (witness) went to inform Evan Rees, the night overman, what the accused had done the night before,-A warrant was issued for the apprehension of Collins.

A CIIAPEL DEACON CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL ASSAULT. At the Pentre police-court on Monday (before Mr. Gwilym Williams), Thomas Davies, a man about 40 years of age, end a deacon at one of the chapels at Heolfach, was charged with committing a criminal assault upon Mary Jane Rees, who was thirteen years of age on the 2nd inst.—Mr. David Rosser appeared for the defence. The complainant, a small girffor her age, stated that she had been for three months, and down to Fridav last. a servant with the prisoner and his wife at Heolfach. She left their service on Fridav last. A week last Wednesday, about seven o'clock in the evening, she went upstairs and asked prisoner if he would have a cup of tea. He was in bed at the time. He asked her if his wife had sent the tea to him. Witness said," o, she did not, sir." He then said. "Keep your tea." As she was leaving the room he made use of a vulgar remark. Witness made no reply, but went downstairs. Last Tuesday prisoner and witness were in the front room. and he made indecent proposals. On Friday last she was in the back kitchen, and prisoner was there also. He asked her to scratch him a bit. She did scratch his back." Complainant then pro- ceeded to state that the prisoner, after this, made certain proposals to her, and committed the assault complained of. The complainant, m answer to the Bench, said that the first time any impropriety had taken place between them was on last Sunday week, and the second time on last Sunday fortnight. She also stated that after the assault had been com- mitted upon her on Sunday morning she pro- ceeded to put tea in the "jacks," to be taken by the men to the works. Being reminded that they did not go to work on Sunday morning, the com- plainant said, hurriedly, Oh, I had forgotten." In answer to Mr. Rosser, the complainant stated that there were two lodgers and the prisoner's wife upstairs in the house at the time. The com- plainant then floundered in a series of self-contra- dictions Dr. Idris Davis having stated the result of his examination of the complainant, the case was dis- missed, and the defendant left the court with his wife.

TRAVELLING ON THE TAFF VALE RAILWAY WITHOUT TICKETS. At the Pontypridd police-court on Wednesday (before Mr. GwiJym Williams, Dr. Leigh, and Mr. H. Jackson), John Thomas, Cefncoedycymmer, was charged with travelling from Pontypridd to Porth Station without having previously paid his fare.—Mr. H. Ilurman. traffic manager of the Taff Vale Railway Company, prosecuted.—It seemed that the defendant is a "travelling bookseller, and that he frequently visits the Rhondda Valley. There is another traveller named Fox for the same firm, who resides at. Newport. The two bad arranged to meet. at Pontypridd Station, one coming vid Cardiff, and the other vÙ1 Merthyr, to arrange there for the day's duties in the two valleys—the lesser and the greater Rhondda. The defendant appeared at Porth Station with a ticket from Mer- thyr to Pontypridd only, but tendered the excess from the last-named station to Porth, which was refused by the station-master. It was alleged by refused by the station-master. It was alleged by the prosecution that the defendant had not ten- dered the excess at Porth until after he dis- covered that the station was a closed one, and that he could not enter the station to get a ticket from Porth to Ferndale without producing the ticket in his possession, and that he then pro- duced his ticket from Merthyr to Pontypridd, and offered the excess of fivopence. During the delay that ensued the Ferndale traha departed without the defendant. For the defence the defendant said he had only taken a ticket from Merthyr to Ponty- pridd because Fox and he were to arrange at the last-named station their respective districts for the day, and that it was during the "journey from Pontypridd to Porth it was agreed by them that they would open their parcel of books at Porth, and for Fox to proceed to Ferndale. and the defendant to Cyinmer first and then to Treorky by another trnin, and that he had not intended going to Ferndale. Defendant called Fox, who gave evidence to the above effect. In answer to the Bench, Mr. Truman stated that he could not swear the defendant had told him, when he tendered the excess, that he had intended going to Ferndale.— The Bench said It was a suspicious case, but there was not sufficient evidence to convict, and it was dismissed accordingly. Alfred Humphreys: sen.. and Alfred Humphreys, jun., Merthyr, were then charged with travelling to Porth when they had only tickets for Hafod. The defendants, had tendered the excess, but that' was refused by the station-master, in obedience to ] instructions which he had received from Mr. Hurman. The first-named defendant said they had gone beyond the station where they had in- tended stopping when they took the tickets for Hafod. It seemed that Mr. Hum- phreys had gone into the station at Porth, and tendered the excess before anyone had discovered that it was a ticket to Hafod he had. Mr. David Rosser defended. These cases also were dismissed, but the stipendiary magis- trate intimated that in all future cases the fact s that the railway company had at one time accepted payment of excess when a passenger had travelled beyond the place to which he had taken a ticket would not be taken into consideration by the bench. It was easy for a passenger when he found it necessary to travel beyond the station he had at first intended to mention the fact to the guard.

LOCAL LAW CASE. ACTION AGAINST RAILWAY CON- TRACTORS OF MILFORD HAVEN. On Tuesday afternoon, in the High Court of Justice, Queen's Bench Division, before Mr. Justice Denman, without a jury, the case of Rowell v. Appleby and another came on for hear- ing. The action was brought by David Rowell and Co., iron wire-rope and fencing manufacturers, of London, against Messrs. Appleby and Lawton, of Milford Haven, the contractors for making the Rosebush and Fishguard Railway, to recover JE160 6s. 8d., the balance of account for some wire fencing supplied for use on that railway. Mi. Castle appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. M'Coll for the defendants. It appeared that in October, 1879, an order was given by the defendants for the materials for eight miles of fencing, which were delivered by the plaintiff, but the defendants disputed their liability to pay for two miles of the fencing, on the ground that the plaintiff sent the whole eight miles of fencing before they were ready for it, and they declined to accept the same or pay for it. It was also stated by defendants that it was agreed at one time be- tween the parties that four miles of fencing should be delivered at once, and four miles when the defendants were prepared to receive it, and they stated that it was further agreed when they declined to receive the entire eight, miles that the balance of the price of the said fencing,amounting to £ 100 13s. 4d., should not be paid by the defendants until they had obtained possession of the land of a Mr. Arden, for fencing which land about two miles of the fencing was required. There was also a difference in account between the parties amounting to JE60, the defendants stating that the plaintiff had credited the cost value,° £ 175 only, instead of £ 235, for 47 shares, at £ 5 each. His Lordship gave a verdict in favour of the plaintiff.

EXPLOSION IN THE FERNDALE VALLEY. On Saturday night a sad event took place at the Cwtch Colliery, a short distance up the Ferndale Valley. About twelve men were engaged in sinking, and they had fired several holes, and then ascended to the surface to be out of the way when the holes exploded. The shots went off, and they then re-descended. No sooner, however, had they reached the bottom than another hole, supposed to have been charged by the former shift, went off in their midst, killing Daniel Matthews on the spot, shattering his body fearfully, and at the same time seriously injuring Nicholas Rimron and Ben Jones. Many of the other men were slightly hurt. On Tuesday Mr. E. B. Reece, coroner, held an inquest at the Rickards Arms, Trebanog, touching the death of Daniel Mathews, 38 years of age, sinker, who met his death on Saturday evening in the new pit belonging to the National Steam Coal Colliery, in a locality known as Cwtsh," a short distance Above Porth, in the Ferndale Valley. Mr. Rees, her Majesty's deputy- inspector of mines for South Wales, was present; also Mr. Lewis, the! chief manager of the colliery. The pit in which the unfortunate event took place is now in course of being sunk, three shifts of men, of about a dozen each shift, being employed. A depth of 400 yards has been reached, and a splendid seam of coal—known as the Two Feet Nine," but which is here over six feet in thickness—had been recently struck when the accident occurred, being the first to happen there since sinking operations were commenced. The foreman of the jury was Mr. Davies, Cvmmer Schools. After hearing the evidence the jury returned a verdict of "Acci- dental death."

MORTALITY STATISTICS. According to the Registrar-General's returns the death rates of the principal English towns for the past week, per thousand persons living in each places, were as follow :— Leeds 18'5 Birmingham. 23'0 Hull 19'4 23-o I'r.dford 20 0 Blackburn 23'5 I'r.dford 20 0 Blackburn 23'5 Sheffield 20'1 Manchester 24'1 Halifax 21-6 Halford 25'5 Bristol 22 1 Oldham 26-2 Newcastle 2h-6 London 26"4 Hu<Idersfield. 23'0 Liverpool 23'7 Preston 23 0 In London alone the births in the past week were 2,665, viz., 1,324 boys, and 1.341 girls, the total being 115 below the average of the corres- ponding weeks in ten years. The deaths in London show considerable increase, rising from 1,700 to 1,971, passing the average by 118, and raising the annual rate to 264, a decidedly high one for the Metropolis. Small pox has risen very slightly. Whooping cough has increased markedly, and so have various djsease, of the organs of respiration. At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean temperature of the air in the past week was 36 8. and this is said to be three degrees below the aver- age of the corresponding weeks in twenty years. For the corresponding week last year the mean was 32'5. The deaths in the country continue in the aggre- gate far below the average, and show compara- tively few fatal cases of contagious disease. Good reports are given for most of the large towns, saving that scarlet fever is seen to be still some- what, fatal in Hull. Altogether it is seen from the current returns that an excellent state of the public health still prevails generally. THE HEALTH OF CARDIFF. « It is reported that the births of 67 children were registered in the borough of Cardiff in the course of the week ended on Saturday last, the 28th of January. They relate to 34 boys and 33 girls, as against 74 for the corresponding quarter last year. It is also reported that 39 deaths were placed on record in the same period as having occurred within the limits of the borough. This is an ad- vance of five on the previous total and accord- ingly the annual rate of mortaiitv advances from 20 5 to 2o5 per thousand inhabitants, placing the borough in a midway position in the current returns. Four deaths took place in public institutions situated in the borough, two were in- quired into before the coroner, and one was due to violence. The rate of infantile mortality has declined in the week, the deaths of children under one falling from twelve to nine. At 60 and up- wards the number merely changes from seven to eight. Scarlet fever shows but little change, three fatal cases having been placed on record, the exact average of the three previous weeks One death was attributed to whooping cough, and one to diarrhoea; on the whole, then, the current return is hardly as satisfactory as could be wished.

SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST AN ABERDARE PUBLICAN. At the Aberdare police-court on Tuesday (before the stipendiary, fur. John Bishop and Messrs. R. H. Rhys, D. E. Williams, and D. P. Davies), Richard Price, landlord of the Bruce Arms Hotel, was brought up under a warrant, charged with steal- ing a double-action Erard harp, valued at 48 guineas, the property of Messrs. Thompson and Shackell, the well-known music sellers.—Mr. C. Kenshole appeared for the prosecution and Mr. Thomas Phillipg,defended.-The case appeared to excite considerable interest. Mr. C. T. Codd, Cardiff a. clerk in the employ of Messrs. Thompson and' Shackell, who was first examined, produced an agreement signed by the prisoner according to theBterms of which he was to pay the prosecutors a sum of Y,50 8s. for the harp, the subject of the charge, by monthly instal- ments of 15s. each. In case of his failure to do so the instruraent, was to revert to the owners, and the agreement contained a further clause that he was not to remove it from the Lord Raglan Inn, the house which he then occupied, without their leave. After the instalments had been all paid up the harp was to become prisoner's property. The last instalment was paid in November. Application was made for another in December, but to no pur- pose. Defendant never obtained leave to remove the harp. Witness identified the harp now pro- duced as the property of Messrs. Thompson and Shackell. J Cross-examined by Mr. Phillips: In addition to the three instalments paid by the prisoner, there had been deducted from the original amount a. sum of X9, allowed him on account of another harp taken in exchange. From April, when the agree- ment was signed, up to the 27th of January there would be about ten instalments due, and these would be covered bv the amount deducted: De- fendant only paid 'every two months, and the fourth instalment was not expected of him until January. There had been several transactions between the firm and the prisoner, who was paying for other instruments besides this one, but wit- ness, not having his books, could not tell what was the balance due from him upon the general account. Re-examined: The third instalment paid bv defendant was due in respect of the months of August and September, and the instalments were to run from the date of the agreement without taking into account the £ 9 allowed for the other harp. Police-constable Evans (72), stationed at Merthyr, who was next called, deposed to receiving prisoner and the harp from the Queenstown (Cork) police on the previous Friday. The man and his wife had taken passage for America. On being told the contents of the warrant, prisoner observed that he thought he had already paid enough for the harp, and that he intended remitting from America as much money as would cover all his debts at Aber- dare. Mr. Phillips asked the bench at this stage whether they considered that a primA facie case had been made out? The Stipendiary: A primd facie case ? certainly. Mr. Phillips: Then I shall reserve what I have to say for a jury at the trial. Prisoner was then formally committed to the assizes. Mr. Phillips offered bail for his appearance, but the application was refused.

Charles Cofield was fined 40s. and costs, with the alternative of a month's imprisonment, in London on Tuesday, for stealing a copy of the IHmes of the 23rd ult..

I FUNERAL OF THE REV. J.MORGAN EVANS AT CARDIFF. The funeral of the Rev. J. Morgan Evans, pastor of Ebenezer Welsh Congregational Chapel, Cardiff, and an ex-chairman of the Welsh Congregational Union, who died at his residence, 5, Edwards- terrace, Cardiff, on Wednesday last, took place at Cardiff on Tuesday atternoon. The high esteem in which the deceased was held throughout the Prin- cipality led to the assemblage of a large concourse of mourners, and the obsequies were of a solemn and imposing character. At 12.30 p.m. a brief service was held at the house of the deceased, at which the Kev. J. Morgans, of Cwmbach, officiated. A procession was then formed, and the coffin was conveyed to Ebenezer Chapel, the pall bein: borne by deacons and members of the con°re^ gation. The service at the chapel, which Was crowded to excess, was opened by the Rev. D. Jones, B.A., of Swansea (late pastor of Ebenezer), who offered prayer and read a portion of Scripture. The Rev. Dr. Thomas, of Liverpool, then delivered an an address in the vernacular from Isaiah IviI., 1—2 After illustrating the character of the good man as being just in principle, generous in disposition pure in hfe, and showing how this delineation applied to the deceased, and representing the peaceful final rest of such a character, the preacher tendered in the name of the family their thanks to the members of the Church and congregation for their unvarying and unwearied sympathy with their late pastorand their practical kindness to him singling out for special mention Dr. Edgar Jones, who had attended him, not as a medical man onlv but as a dear personal friend. He concluded his remarks with the beautiful and pathetic wish, The Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead." ■. ^he ^ey-, Dr- of Swansea, afterwards aeiivered a short address in English, selecting as TlVZ? • 35th verse of the 5th chapter of John. 1 he service was concluded by prayer, which was offered by the Rev. Professor Morris, of Brecon Congregational College. The procession was then re-formed, headed by the ministers present, amongst whom were the following, viz. The Revs. f. J. Hughes, Maesy- cwmmer; J.Jones, Carmarthen; D. Richards Caerphilly; R. G. Levi, Cardiff; R. Ll. Morgan' Cardiff; T. G. Jenkin, Llwynpia; D. G. Rees, Whitchurch D. Jones, Mynyddislwyn; W. Edwards, Aberdare; J. Ossian Davies. Swansea J. Foulks, Aberavon; J. Davies, Aberdare; A. Tilly, Cardiff; P. Jones, Cardiff; J. Waite, B.A. Cardiff; W. Russell, Tongwynlais D C. Jones, Merthyr; R. B. Williams, Marsh- field; D. M. Lewis, M.A., Hirwain; J. R- Richards, Cwmpark; D. T. Hughes, Ebbw Vale J. C. Evans, Gilfach Goch; J. Williams. Tre- hafod; H. P. Jenkins, Ystalyfera; W. E. Evans. Bonvilstone; H. Oliver, B.A., Newport; W. Davies* Bryncethyn; H. Parry, Cardiff; H. A. Davies, Cwmaman, Aberdare; Jason Jenkins, Bristol; W. C. Davies, Llantrisant; M. Jones, Tynewydd W- Jeffrey, Treherbert; T. George, Dinas B. Davies, Treorky C. T. Thomas, Groeswen J. Rees, CWID- llv nfell; D. Roes, Rhydfelen; D. Griffiths, Cwm- dare;J. Morgan, Cwmbach; J. T. Evans, Bodringallt; James Evans, Usk; D. Thomas, Cymar N. Thomas, Cardiff; D. Griffiths, Llantrisant; J. Davies. Tai- hirion; T. Selby Jones, Aberdare; J. Hale Stephens, Cardiff; T. Davies, Abercwmboy W. L. Davies, Llwydcoed; W. Rees, Glandwr; J. B. Jones, B.A., Brecon; W. E. Jones, Morriston D. Morgan, Can- ton T. Evans, Cardiff; D. T. Evans, Rhvdry T Jones, Llwynpia; R. T. Howell. Malyern Link; M. C. Morris, Coedpoeth, Wrexham; W. G Williams, Penarth; A. T. Jenkins, Ferndale; D. Evans, Pentre; T. Davies, Ogmore Vale; T. Anthony, Bethesda J. A. Roberts. Nantymoel; A. S. Rowe, Trelyn R.- Humphreys, Tredegar j' Morris, D.D., Brecon J. R. Davies, Cardiff b" Williams, Swansea; D. Jones, B.A., Swansea; T. Rees, D.D., Swansea; T. R. Williams, Dowlais; J. Thomas, Llanrwst; L. T. Maclaine, Cardiff; E. Winks, Cardiff; T. T. Jones, Cardiff; J. Morris, Ebbw Vale. The following also walked in the pro- cession :—The Mayor of Cardiff, Councillors Rees Evan Jones, and G. A Stone Messrs. L. Williams, Cardiff; R. Davies, Cardiff; T. Williams, J.P., Gwaelod-y-Garth; W. Beddoe, Nelson: J. Smith, Wenvoe; R. Rees, Treorky; W. Phillips, Treorky; T. Thomas, Tynywetn; T. Thomas, Tonystrad D. S. Thomas, Ystrad E. Davies, Lla ntrisant; Idris Williams, Porth; J. M. Griffiths, Tenby; E. Thomas, Maendy Hall; T. Evans. Porth; D. Thomas, Pentre; E. Phillips, Aberda,re, and others. Behind came the hearse and mourning coaches. In the mourning coaches were the Rev. S. and Miss Evans, Hebron; the Rev. J. and Mrs. Morris, Ilfrncombe Mr. E. W. Morris, Mr. David and Mrs. Evans, Miss and Mr. George Evans, Mr. D. Edgar Jones (medicalman), Mr. Henry John, CastcllCarw; Mrs. Roach, Liverpool; Mr. J. M- Griffith, Penally Court, and Mr. T. Picton, Bristol. In the rear of the mourning coaches came a. long array of cabs, the total length of the proces- sion being about half a mile. On arriving at thet New Cemetery the remains of the deceased were interred, amidst many expressions of affection and regret. A short address was then delivered in Welsh by the Rev. J. Davies (Taihirion), aaid prayer having been offered by the Rev. J. Waite, B.A. (Cardiff), the proceedings terminated.

THE CHARGE OF SHEEP STEAL- ING AGAINST A LLANTRISANT FARMER. '» At the Pontypridd police-court on Wednesday (before Mr. Gwilym Williams. Dr. Leigh, and Mr. H. Jackson), Thomas Williams, Bwlchgwyn Fa<rm, Castella Valley, I-Iantriaant, was chareed with stealing two sheep, the property of Mr WiYliam Evans, Glyn Farm, which adjoins that occupt^^ the accused. Mr. J. Edwards Price appeared for the prosecutor, and Mr. Walter Morgan for the defence. William Evans, son of William Evans, Glyn Farm, Tonyrefail, said his father had recently lost some sheep. On the 8th of last month he "noticed that his father had lost a sheep with a black breast, and the ears bore his father's ear-marks. He gave information to the police, and subse- quently Police-constable Weeks took lam to the currier yard of Mr. Jenkins, Pontypridd, where ha saw a sheepskin bearing the said marks. Police-constable Weeks said that in oonsequence of what Mr. Jenkins told him, he went. to Edmund Williams, butcher, Hafod. In consequence of what he told him, he apprehended the prisoner at his home, Bwlchgwyn Farm, and brought him to Pontypridd Police-station. Here the skin with the black breast was shown him, and he said it was the skin of the sheep of William Evans, Glyn. and that he (prisoner) had sold it to Edmund Williams. Cross-examined: The conversation took place in the police-station in the presence of Mr. Supt. Mathews, Sergeant Jones, and witness. The questions were asked by the superintendent, who asked him if he knew the skin. He said he did# and it belonged to William Evans, Glyn Farm. The case was adjourned until that day week. The prisoner was admitted to bail, himself in £100 and two sureties of £50 each. It was stated that Mr. William Evans, Glyn Farm, has lost about 77 sheep from his farm since November, 1878. The charge against the prisoner has caused a sensation in the district, and the court was crowded with friends and neighbours of the parties.

THE RHYMNEY IRON COMPANY (LIMITED). tIALF-YEARLY MEETING. On Tuesday afternoon the usual halfryearlv meeting of this company was held at the Cannon* street Hotel, London, E.C. Sir HENRY W. TYLER, M.P., presided, and' moved the adoption of the report, which stated thut the production of the" orks up till Sept. 30 had been— iron 15,321 tons, and steel 33,067 tons, which was at the rate of 96,000 tons per annum. The benefits which would otherwise have been derived from this large make were, unfortunately, to a large ex- tent, counteracted by the unprofitable nature of the trade in iron rails, for which {pending the completion of the extensions of the steel works) the company had a large number of orders on hand. These orders for iron raiis were, how- ever, entirely worked off by the end of October last, since which time the works have been engaged exclusively upon steel manufacture. The two Bessemer Pits" now possessed by the company are working admirably, and may fairly be consi- dered to possess a converting capacity of from 2,500 to 3,000 tons per week, being in excess of the anticipation of the directors, as expressed in the circular of 1881. Keeping the converters fully supplied with a sufficient quantity of Bessemer pig was the principal difficulty against which the board had now to contend. The num- ber of blast furnaces had not been increased as that would be very costly, but those in existence had been considerably improved. In connection with three of the furnaces, it had been decided to erect four stoves of Whitwell's latest desiS 65ft. S by 22ft. in diametei, which would both increase the make and lessen the cost of production. Amongst the more important improvements carried out since the 3lst of March last has been the erection of a new cogging mill, comprising a pair of reversing engines, and the necessary plant for working and cutting blooms. This had been entirely executed at the works. The miH was started at the end of November to meet a. large demand for blooms which set in from America; and which by the arrangements the company were able to produce at a profitable rate. Coke had been bought at such a low rate that the directors had not pressed for the completion of the 72 additional coke ovens on the Coppee principle, but the price was now rising consequent upon the. rise in thf coal trade, and in a short time they would prac- tically be independent of outside supply. Tiie American account had kept the steel rail market well sustained, without, however, any material improvement being obtained in price, this sink- ing towards the end of last year to jES per ton tor rails of heavy sections. Exceedingly high rates of freight had prevented any increase in the business with America. The price of coal had advanced, and the output for sale purposes had been increased. No interim dividend would be declared at that time, as the board considered it not prudent so to do, considering that the steel works had only been in operation during the second half of the half- year. Hopes were expressed, owing to the im- proved state of the msyket, that at the conclusion, of the current financial year the results would ba satisfactory. The whole of the new shares had been allotted, thus placing the company in a better position to meet the large demands for keeping sufficient stocks of raw material on hand, and also for the greatly in- creased production of the works. The company were now in a more satisfactory position financially than for many years past. The retiree ment of Mr. Scudamore, managing director, waj regretted by the directors, and in his place Mr. Hildebrand Ramsden, of 26, Upper Bedford-place, Russell-square, and 150, Leadenhall-street, haa been elected.—The report was seconded and adopted unanimously, as were votes expressing regret at the loss of Mr. Scudamore, after 45 years' service, and thanks to Sir HJnry W. Tyler for presiding.