Weekly Mail

REVIEW OF TflE_C0RX TRADE. The Jutrl- Lane Repress of Monday says With the exception of one slight rainfall in the Western counties, the weather during the week has con- tinued dry, the temperature at its close becoming asr.ivi mild and spring-like. In some districts spring sowings are being carried on vigorously, and every where, as a rule, spring work is in an exceptionally forward condition. If the present open weather continues, spring seeding will be done unusually early, and ^unusually well, for much of the land is- in excellent working order. The growing crops continue in a very satis- factory condition, and the posilion begins to con- tain 'elements of solid promise. Trade for breads tuffs has become very restrictive, and, with the exception of the finest qualities of native wheat, lower prices have had to be accepted in order to effect sales; there is now an active inquiry for seed parcels of spring corn but con- sumptive demand is very slow. Foreign bread- stuffs off the stands would appear to be almost an unsaleable commodity just now. Trade througii- out tile week has been remarkably quiet in all the principal markets of the country. The Fanner of Monday' says:SLIPP]ieq are good, except of maize, and the market generally is discouraged. Prices lower. English wheat Is. cheaper generally. Foreign samples Is. to Is. 6d., and trade slow at n. decline. Flour, 6d. to Is. lower. Maize steady, at previous rates. llarley irvegulaiyand lower; sale small. Fine oats firm. New oats slow, at Friday's 3d. decline. Beans and peas make late rates. The course of business is inan imate under good future prospects.

EKONDDA VALLEY SHONNY- HOYS" AND THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. TO THE EDITOli. SIR,—On Thursday week the senior member for Mcrthyr stated at the Memorial Chapel, Farring- don-street, London, that down to 1368 Wales had been politically almost liko the Valley of Dry Bones Ezekiel saw, but that in that year the breath of life came," and, according to the hon. gentleman's own showing, one of the very first of the "dry bones" to stand up was himself. It is true that some of the hon. member's many friends alleged that the bone in question was a jaw" bone, and that, ever since the breath of life" swept over the valley it has wagged vigorously. Long may it wag for whatever difference of opinion may exist between Mr. Henry Richard and others on political ques- tions, there is not the slightest doubt that. on Welsh social questions his tongue was the very firs'' to do justice to the Welsh nation in the English Parliament, and on the platforms of England. Let no one burke the truth, for myny ,<7"7'' e> (truth will demand its place) is a true old Welsh proverb, and those who have dared to oppose it have ever, in the end, come to grief. ::> But with all the vigour the breath of life in- fused in the dry bones of the valley little was it anticipated that the breath would raise tho lihonddaites to such a pitch as to threaten to in- vade the House of Commons, as was done a few nights ago by a bone," -who, apparently, loves water above all other liquids, viz., the Rav. J. Williams, Hafod. Tiie rev. gentleman declared the other night that if Mr. Warton, M.P., succeeded in imperilling the Welsh Sunday Closing Act., "the people of the Rhondda Valley would go up to Lon- don and frighten the House of Commons." Should this ever come to pass may I be there to see and describe the interesting event for the Western Mail. Poor Mr. Wa ;t,on! If there be any truth in the old Welsh notion that the ears of a man censured grow hot, whatever may happen to be the distance between him and his unfavour- able critics, Mr. VI ^rton's ears must be now ex- periencing many an uncomfortable quarter of an hour; for from a thousand Welsh platforms he is assailed nightly for the part he took and still con- tinues to take in opposition to the Welsh Sunday Closing Act. This may account for Mr. Warton's fondness for snuff. 1 rhis threat to invade the House of Commons by the people of the Rhondda Yalley reminds me of an amusing incident which occurred in the (lt,L same valley during the Tichborne trial, illus- trating further the importance attached by some of our friends in that. teeming valley to their position in the body politic. The writer was on his way from Treherbert along the highwav. When near the Red Cow, below Treorky, he was accosted by a middle-aged Shonny-Hoy" of the highest grade. "Morion" (he spoke in Welsh), said he," how is the 'Tikborn' e:so getting on now V" I told' him how" to the best of my ability. People tell me," lie continued, with knitted brows and threatening aspect, that the judges are not giving the poor chap (the claimant) fair play (chvxcreu tey). Is that true y" Tho moment I had answered him lie said, with a signi- ficant shake of the head, and striking his right fist against the palm of his left hand," Well, by they'd better take care, for they are getting very excited about the matter in Cwmpnrk there He then requested me, in the interest, it was supposed, of public safety, <to mention the fact in the Western Mail, which I promised faithfully to do. One is led to believe by the utterance of the Rev. J. Williams that a similar idea as to the importance of public opinion in Cwmpark prevails at Hafod as regards other parts of the Rhondda Valley. After all they may be right, and that the Rhondda is destined to become the crater of the social volcano. Who knows ?-I am, &c., MORIEN.

LITERARY AND OTHER NOTES. The Athen&nm states that Lord Archibald Camp- bell is engaged in collecting legends and traditions regarding the Campbells and Argyleshire. Mr. Louis Stevenson, a well-known essayist, is engaged critical biography of William Hazlitt. Mr. p. M. luornton has in the press a third volume, bringing his Foreign Secretaries of the Nine- teenth Century" from 1834 up to the last general election. The Clarendon Press will shortly issue the tnncl and fourth volumes of the "History of Agriculture and Prices in England," by Mr. ThoVold Rogers, J^-1. fhe_ fu-t t published sixteen years ago, *? with the period 1259-1400 in- clusive. ,T -,e(-poneXr two will contain the period 1401-ltn^- rhe principa] topics in tho survey are the prices of provisions and labour; but there is hardly anv article in medisvval use the pnee of which is not recorded Theodore Effemu Karsa.be lately got into trouble at Constantinople for the production of political squibs and caricatures- lie has restored himself to Imperial favour by abandonin, politics for romance writing, which has given more pleasure to his patrons- Dr. Schliemann1 intends to re- commence his excavations in toe Troad on the 1st of March. The Council of the l.oyaI Academy has determined to include in the next Winter Exhibition (1883) a large collection of the works of John Linnell. It is hoped that owners of such paintings will aid the Academicians in making this gatherin,, as rich ana completely representa- tive as possible. The intention, is to fill one or two of the rooms in Burlington House in this manner. 1

DETERMINED OPPOSITION OF THE FREIGHTERS. On Saturday Mr. William Thomas Lewis, general manager of the Bute Docks, and Mr. Lewis Vincent Shirley, the legal representative of the Trustees of the Marquess of Bute, received a. deputation of freighters and others connected with the trade of the port at the Dock Office for the purpose of considering the clauses of the Bute Dock Bill now before Parlia- ment, by which it is proposed to largely increase the dock accommodation of the port of Cardiff; There were present three principals—Messrs. Archibald Hood, of the Glamorgan Coal Com- pany J. O. Riches, of Messrs. D. Davies and Co.; and R. Cory (Messrs. Cory Bros, and Co.); and six agents—Mr. Taylor, for Messrs. D. Davis and Sons; Mr. Duncan, for the Glamorgan Ccal Com- pany Mr. Ferrier, for Messrs. Burnyeat, Brown, and Co. (Limited) Mr. Jones; Mr. Bregeon and Mr. W. H. Lewis, for Messrs. Geo. Insole and Son. The following large colliery owners were unrepre- sented :—TheDowlais Company; Nixon, Taylor and Cory Powell DufYryn Wayne's Merthyr Tylor and Harris's Navigation. Mr. A. HOOD, who was the only speaker on be- half of the deputation, said that the gentlemen he represented were largely engaged in the coal trade at this port, and were anxious to come to an amicable arrangement with the Marquess of Bute in regard to the construction of the New Dock. Referring to what had taken place at previous meetings, when the mattery had been dis- cussed between the Marquess of Bute's representatives and a Joint Committee of the town council and chamber of commerce, Mr. Hood remarked that the site now finally- decided on for the New Dock was not where they were led to believe that it would be, nor was the dock itself so large as was contemplated, and the speaker suggested, or rather appeared to imply, that there had been a breach of faith on the part of the Marquess of Bute's representatives and engineers in placing the New Dock at the eastern end of the Roath Basin instead of on the foreshore. Mr. W. T. LKWJS, in reply to this statement, said that the change of site was entirely due to a desire on the part of the engineers to construct the dock as speedily as possible, it, having been ascertained that the Dock as nov/ designed could be. made and opened for traffic in less than half the time that would be re- quired to make a Dock with a separate and inde- pendent access from the sea. It was quite true that the original intention had been to construct the New Dock on the foreshore, but so far from the Marquess of Bute having stolen a march upon the freighters in the matter of altering the plan, he had made an appoint- ment for the Joint Committee, with Mr. Rees Jones as their chairman, to 'meet him, and discuss the plans of the substi- tuted site several weeks before they were placed in the hands of the lithographers. Mr. Rees Jones at first acceptcd that appointment, but afterwards wrote to say that no meeting could be held, inas- much as the committee was, from the 1st of November, absolutely defunct. Under these cir- cumstances, he (Mr. Lewis) failed to see. how the Marquess of Bute couid be charged with having purDoselv kept the freighters in the dark. Mr. HOUD then proceeded to say, on behalf of the .trade present., that they had fully considered the deposited plans and Bill, and they found that the Marquess of Bute sought to take power to charge in respect of terminals and siding services an ad- ditional maximum toll of Id. per ton on all coal shipped at the Roath Basin and the New Dock. | N'AV. it was his duty to state that, the freighters had quite come to the conclusion to oppose the Bill unless these clauses were struck out and the Marquess of Bute consented to make a dock in accordance with the provisions of the Bill of 1874. In fact, the trade had determined not to submit to any further charges being made under any circum- stances whatever, and unless Mr. Lewis was prepared to accept these terms it would be useless to spend time in discussing the matter further. Mr. LEWIS said that under those circumstances he had only to inform the gentlemen presant in the clearest possible terms that the Marquess of Bute could not be advised to spend one penny in dock extension, nor would he do so, unless he could get a fair return for his outlay. He had hoped that this small inciease of toll" would have been cheer- fullv acceded to, and considered to have been reasonably purchased in consideration of the great, advantage which the construction of the New Dock would confer upon the trade of the port, par- ticularly as regards the greatly increased facilities for despatch which it would afford, but as that was not the case, and in view of the attitude tak-en up by the members of the coal trade present, there did not seem, as Mr. Hood said, any reason for prolonging the interview. The deputation, after thanking Mr. Lewis for their reception, withdrew. THE OBSTRUCTIONISTS REPUDIATED BY LEADING FREIGHTERS. We are in a position to state that several of the largest and most, important coal freighters at the Bute Docks, feeling so much dissatisfaction with the conduct of a certain section of the freighters' committee in taking up a position of hostility to the Bute Dock Bill, on Tuesday morning for- mally intimated to the secretary their withdrawal from the comrllittee, and that they will decline to subscribe to the fund which is being raised for opposing the Bill. DECISION OF THE CARDIFF SHIPOWNERS TO SUPPORT THE BILL. On Tuesday the committee of the Cardiff ship- owners had a further conference with the repre- sentatives of the Marquess of Bute in reference to the Bill which is now before Parliament for the construction of a ew dock. Tho gentlemen com- prising the committee stated their views on the various clauses, and, after a brief discussion, certain amendments in some of the clauses were agreed to. The committee expressed themselves perfectly satisfied, and promised to select four of the most influential representatives of that body to go to London to support tHe Bill.

THE BUTE DOCK OBSTRUC- TIONISTS. T f one of the principals of the Bute Dock obstruc- tionists is to be believed.a scheme is all but complete for establishing a new dock away from Cardiff which would bo more convenient and economical to the whole of the coal trade of South Wales. He declares that the money is all ready, and that expe- rienced engineers have reported favourably on the proposed site. Thus the high-handed poiicy of the liute Trustees would be effectually avenged, and the craven-spirited town council, which had mcekl v bowed its neck before the iron heel of tyranny, would learn that their miserable sycophancy was unprofitable as well as unmanly. It is probable that all this talk has little, if any, foundation in fact; but the spirit of the man who was boasting about it on the Dock Chamber pavement on Wed- nesday morning is notexltctly the spirit of the man into whose hands the welfare of the port and town of Cardiff should be even remotely entrusted.

TO THE EDITOR. SIR,—I think I can explain how the error has arisen into which Mr. Cory and the other Dock Obstructives have fallen in respect to the charges which are authorised by the New Dock Bill. Ac- cording to Clause 39, which you quoted in your excellent leader yesterday, it is quite clear that the trustees will be entitled to charge a maximum toll of H. per ton for the use of their sidings, and a further toll of equal amount for the delivery and removal of such coal from their storage and sort ing siding to the ship's side. I do not understand under what principle fair-minded men object to these charges. Messrs. Cory, Riches, and the rest of the; obstructive party arc known to be pretty keen hands at a bargain. It is to that prominent characteristic of theirs that they owe their success in life. And some people—myself amongst others —are beginning to think that, their present policy of Dock obstruction is simply a. dodge to make advantageous terms for themselves in regard to their shipments of coal. Be that as it may, I quite agree with you that the effect, of the new Bill will not be to increase the tolls more than this possible maximum of a penny per ton. But unless it, were explained, a casual reader of the Bill might easily imagine that Clause 37 would impose a further burden upon the Cardiff freighters. That clause is as follows :— The undertakers may demand and take in respect of the use of the railways bv the Bute Docks Act, 1866, authorised, or any part theroof, for all coal, coke, culm, steel, iron ore, or other ore conveyed on the said railways or any part thereof, five-sixths of a penny per ton, and if conveyed in carriages belonging to the undertakers an addi- tional sum per ton of five sixteenth. of a fenny, and the undertakers may demand and take for; the use of engines for propelling carriges on the said railways a toll which shall not exceed five-eighths of a for each ton in addition to the other tolls or sums by this Act authorised to be taken. Now, it ought to be clearly understood that the various charges specified above are all for services which in the ordinary course of things the rail- way companies render to the shippers of coal. Take the Taff Vale for example. It will bring down the coal from the colliery to the Bute depot, charging its ordinary mileage rate for so doing, just as at present it takes the coal to the Penarth sidings. It is inconceivable that this Company will make a preferential cliarge in favour of the one dock as against the other, more especially as the lead to the Bute depot will be considerably shorter than to the Penarth sidings. This being the case, Lord Bute will not be called Upon either to provide carriages or engines, or to convey the traffic for any part- of the distance from the colliery to the Bute Docksdepot, and, consequently, he will not be entitled to make any charge whatever up to that point. The additional penny referred to in Clause 39 will be for services rendered after the railway company has fulfilled its part of the transaction, and will consist of the use of ample sidings a.nd the shunting and shifting about of the coal trucks which is necessary to give the requisite despatch to the loading of vessels. Under these circumstances I trust that we sliall hear no more of the absurd nonsense propounded by the Dock obstructives, that Lord Bute is seeking to in- crease the tolls by the sum of 4d. per ton. One word; more, and I have done. The obstruc- tionists have sought to raise a cry against the Trustees taking: power to provide the trimming necessary in loading vessels at their docks. This would probably prove prejudicial to half a dozen very large coal shippers, but it would be the greatest possible boon to the smaller colliery owners. At present a big firm gets hold of a tip, puts a vessel of 2,000 tons capacity under it, and after loading three-quarters of her cargo finds a tem- porary difficulty in supplying the remainder. If Lord Bute's people attended to the trimming the I matter would be simple, for the 1,500 tons would be got rapidly on board, and the vessel would be shifted out to make room for another, whilst the remainder of her cargo was got ready for her. But such despatch would not suit the big coal shipper. So, before the last few hundred tons of the 1,500 that hehasreadyfor shipment are loaded, he puts the screw on the trimmers and the tip is judiciously nursed hour after hour—that is to say, the coal is put slowly, instead of expeditiously, on board until the remainder of the waggons from the colliery come down, when the entire loading is completed. It is to prevent abuses of this sort that the powers of the new Bill in respect of coal trimming are sought. And everyone who likes to see fair play, and small men getting their chance as well as big ones, will be only too glad when these powers are granted.—I am. &c., THOMAS THOMAS. Cardiff, Feb. 14. TO THE EDITOR. SIR,—Mr. Richard Cory is reported by your con- temporary as having stated at the Council Chamber, in his famous speech in favour of Cardiff, that the wharfage on coal is 25 per cent. more at Cardiff than at Swansea. Now,"if Mr. Cory will only take the trouble to make authentic inquiry, he will discover that the larger portion of the coal shipped at Swansea has to pay dock rate and wharfage charges (which two charges are equiva- lent to the wharfage charge at Cardiff), amounting to 2¥!. per ton, or 25 per cent. more than the Cardiff charge. Mr. Richard Cory also might have mentioned, if lie were friendly disposed to Cardiff, that the shipping charges on coal at Newport (by night) are considerably more than at Cardiff.- Thinking my fellow-ratepayers may desire to be aware of their town councillor's fidelity to their interests, I am, &c., OBSERVER. Cardiff, Feb. 15.

CARDIFF CORPORATION SUPPORTS THE BILL. The quarterly meeting of the Cardiff Town Council was held in the Council. Chamber of the Town-hall, Cardiff, on Monday. The Mayor (Mr. A. Thomas) presided, and there were also present Aldermen Jones, Evans, Elliott, M'Connochie, Winstone, and Lewis Councillors Bird, Fulton, Jacobs, Rees Jones, Treseder, Yorath, Stone, Cory, D. Jones, Enoch, Lougher, Proger, Trounce, H. Jones, Blessley, Waring, Trayes, Morgan, Johnston, E. Jones, Vaughan, T. Evans, J. Evans, and Rees. THE BUTE DOCK BILL. The minutes of the Parliamentary Committee, dated 7th February, contained the following sen- tences, viz. -.— Moved by Alderman Jones, seconded by Alderman David—" That the council be recommended to approve the draft agreement between Lord Bate's Trustees and. the corporation, as to the Bute Dock Bill, 1282, and Ihe eommon seal be affixed thereto, and that the town-clerk beinst.ructed to prepare a petition in favour of the Bill. and submit the sawe to the next. meeting of the eouncil for adoption aud sealing, subject, to the rights ,,1' the cor- poration being defined allll reselyed to them as to the water mains and supply of water to vessels as at present existing. As an amendment-moved by the ex-Mayor (Mr. Councillor Rees Jones), seconded by Mr. Councillor Hee-' That the corporation remain neutral in the On the amendl!1tnt being put, to the meeting, two voted in favour of it and six against. The original motioH was then put and carried." The minutes of the sub-joint dock and joint dock committees, which were read by the Deputy Town-clerk, contained a correspondence between the town-clerk and Mr. W. T. Lewis, and the re- port of the committee. At a meeting of the docks committee, held on the 13th of February, there were present the Mayor (chairman), Alderman Evans, Alderman Jones, Councillors ii. Cory, jun., Bees Jones, Stone, Bird, T. Kees, Trounce, and Trayes; Messrs. A. Hood, O. Kiches. C. Thompson, J. Moore, J. Duncan, P. A. V. Kobinson, E. H. Capper, Jonas Watson, Louis Tylor. J. H. Wilson, and Alderman Elliott. The following report of the sub- committee was read Your committee have, in tne first place, to state that,at the meetings of the Town Council and of the Chamber of Commerce held siniu taneously on the 10th of October, 1881. the report which this committee then presented, and which was unani- mously adopted by both sides, recommended that support should be given to a scheme for dock extension at Cardiff winch the Bute representatives had intimated their intention 91 applying for on the condition that the clauses in the Bill were equitable to the trade generally, and the present, dock charges left undisturbed.' On a perusal 01 the Bill promoted this session by the Bute authorities for new docks the committee found thesd conditions had not been complied with, nor is the proposed dock in the position or of the size your sub-committee wen led tj expect at their last iuterview*wVai Lord Bute's representatives. In short, the. proposed dock is an instalment of the Roath Dock authorised in 1874 whereas your sub-committee were led to believe that power was to be sought to build a dock at least equal in size to the said Roath Dock, with. a separate entrance capable of admitting larger ships than thesxisting entrance to the Roath Basin. The com- mittee have failed III thelr endeavour, within the last fortnight, to get a meeting with Lord Bute's representa- tives, but several members of your sub-committee had this opportunity on Saturday last. wheu they hec\rd Mr. W.T. Lewis state that he could not recommend Lord Bute to make a new dock without increased charges, not only on the proposed dock but on the existing docks. As this confirmation of what the Bill contains is directly opposed to the terms on which this committee recom- mended the support of the town cOtlncil and the chamber of commerce, it is thought unnecessary to further detail othel" valid giouuds of objection, and the committee can see their way to no other conclusion than to recommend that the support of the coullcil and cham- ber be uot ;£iv..n to the proposed Bill.H was moved b" Mr. A. Hood, and seconded by tlr, J. O. Riches That the report bc adopted,Mr. Louis Tylor moved as all amendment: "That the committee hegs | to tender it3 thanks to the snb committee appointed to confer with Lurd Bute's representatives on the subject of dock extension; and that, inasmuch as that sub-committee has not presented any report, this committee declines to pronounce any opinion whatever on taose negotiations, except to regret, thnt, sv fat., these have not resulted in a detinit-e arrangement."—Mr. Jonas Watson seconded the amendment.—On the amendment being put, four voted for and twelve against. The origi- nal motion was then put, when twelve voted for and seven against. The original motion' was, therefore, carried. Alderman JONES then moved the adoption of those minutes. He said that the report of the docks committee was really an addenda to those minutes, and it was impossible to have it printed and circulated owing to the fact that it was only presented to the docks committee by the sub-com- mittee that morning. He was not conyinced that the report was adopted with the overwhelming majority of which Mr. Cory spoke. Seven voted against the resolution and twelve for it, so that the great majority was five. And those who voted for the resolution were not all members of the corporation. It was necessary in discussing this question, which was one of great magnitude to the town, that the whole matter should be con- sidered, and not that they should simply consider a particular report which had been brought, for- ward by surprise or otherwise. The docks committee met that morning; the sub-committee had no report to present, and that report was only prepared a little before the town council assembled. In the negotiations or attempts to provide dock accom- modation for Cardiff years ago there had always been a difficulty experienced in dealing with the trustees of the Marquess of Bute. Any question which arose between them and the corporation was met in a rather haughty manner, and alleged grievances on the part of tho corporation were often not discussed at all. The consequence was that the corporation, in self-defence, were obliged to lodge petitions to get a locus standi in Parliament. Although they were anxious to pro- mote the schemes, they were compelled to put themselves in a position of apparent opposition in order that they might be allowed to give evi- dence against those proposals which they deemed injurious to their interests. In this case#it was different. They, as the corporation, had certain points to look after relating to the sewerage and water supply of the town, and they were met by the trustees and agents of the Marquess of Bute in a most open manner. As the result of those negotiations the corporation would be in a better position if the Bill were passed than if it were defeated or aban- doned, because their water rights would be secured to them, whereas they were now in occupation on sufferance. Independently of the clause which guaranteed to them their water rights, there was a clause which guaranteed ail the existing rights of the corporation, whether under Act of Parliament, agreement, or otherwise, and that clause gave satisfaction both to their Parliamentary agents and to the town-clerk. The public works committee had discussed the question of the diversion of the main outfall sewer, and the proposal of the trustees of the Marquess of Bute had been accepted bvthem. The waterworks committee had given duo: consideration to the clause relating to water supplied to vessels in the New Dock, and were also satisfied by the way in which they had been met by Lord Bute's representatives. Therefore, he took it that the corporation as a corporation had no grounds upon which they could oppose the Bill. Another matter which had been raised in this discussion, and which had been made use of against the Marquess of Bute, was the utilisation of the foreshore. When Lord Bute first pro- posed to make the New Dock it was suggested that it should have a separate entrance from the channel, and that it should be situated near to the Low Water Pier. In this case about 300 acres of the foreshore would have been required. But an alteration was made in the plan. The trustees of the Marquess of Bute, instead of making a new entrance to the south of the Roath Basin, determined to utilise the Roath Basin, and to continue the dock north-east. The dock for which powers were obtained in 1874 was to turn sharp to the left, and then to go up northward in a parallel with the present East and West Docks. That scheme-however, was to be abandoned, and a dock about two-thirds the area of the dock then contemplated was to be substituted, and to form a 'continuation of the Roath Basin north-east. The effect of this would be that the foreshore, instead of being at the south, would be at the east side, and, instead of 300 acres, 120 acres would be taken parallel to the present tip, running nearly from west to east. The dock would, as he had indi- cated, be less than the one proposed under the Act of 187*, and instead of turning off at a sharp angle to the north would continue onwards to a point just below the Tharsis Company's works. The 120 acres of land would be taken for the purpose of making the dock, the sidings, and the ballast tips, and the land which would have been required for the Roath Dock would be devoted to other purposes, to the obvious advantage of Lord Bute. His lord- ship would, therefore, receive certain additional benefits, and he (Alderman Jones) did not see why this should not be the case, if his lordship went to so great an expense. Lord Bute would sink his money in making the dock, and he would make the foreshore of value to the corporation as a rate- paying property, whereas it was now worthless. He next came to the question of dues. It was pro- vided that certain dues should be charged in excess of those at. present imposed, and of this excess gentlemen interested in the shipping trade of the port complained. But all through it had been understood that some increase in the charges was to be made. He did not say that that would be right, nor did he say that it would be wrong. But they were in this position. Lord Bute had said be did not want to make a dock, that he had laid out as much money upon his undertaking as he thought he ought to lay out; but, in conse- quence of representations made to him by the public and the corporation of Cardiff, his lordship eaid he would make a dock upon certain conditions. And all through there had been an evident determi- nation on his lordship's part not to make the outlay unless a better profit than had hitherto accrued to I him were ensured. The members of the dock com- mittee had all along appeared to expect this; and he maintained now that the question was one for the shipowners and freighters themselves to dis- cuss,and notfor the corporation to take action upon. They were told that the gentlemen at the Docks represented six-sevenths ot the colliery value of the county, that they [could command half a million of money at a moment's notice, and that they were prepared to buy everything that was wanted for their trade. And yet those gentlemen came before them, and said it was necessary, for the protection of their in- terests, that the corporation should stand between them and the Bill now in Parliament, or. as they put it themselves, to show a bold front" in order to compel a reduction in dues, with which the corporation were in no way concerned. It might be that the proposed addition of one penny per ton would not be a just charge. If so, it would not receive the sanction of Parliament. He con- tended that it was the duty of the corporation to support the Bill, and he would be sorry if, in con- sequence of any action of the corporation, the New Dock, of which the port had so long been in need, were to be abandoned. If the dock were made it would be absurd to suppose that the dues would be restrictive. Lord Bute, as the owner of the dock, would be put in competition with Newport and Swansea, and his lordship would be bound in self-defence, and in order to realise a revenue, to give to persons using the dock equal advantages with Newport. and Swansea. Mr. MORGAN MORGAK had great pleasure in seconding the motion. Mr. R. Johnston, Alderman David, Mr. H. Jones, and Mr. D. L. Lougher supported the resolution. Mr. REEs JONES said he would move, as an amendment, that the clause in the niin ites of the Parliamentary Committee recommending thattliey petition in favour of the Bute Dock Bill be ex- punged, and that the minutes be adopted with this alteration. Mr. R. COIn" seconded the amendment. Mr. Thomas Rees, Mr. R. Bird, Alderman Elliott Mr. William Treseder, Mr. W. E. Vaughan, Mr. D Jones, Mr. T. Waring, Alderman Lewis, Mr. T Evans, Alderman M'Connoc hie, Alderman Evans and the Mayor took part in the discussion. A vote was then taken for the amendment, with the following result;—Against: The Mayor, Alder- men Watkins, Evans, Jones, Winstone, Lewis, and M'Connochie; Councillors Yorath, Treseder, Fulton, Jacobs, D. Jones, T. Evans, Lougher, Proger, H. Jones, E. Jones, J. Evans, Blessley, R. Johnston, T. Waring, and Morgan Morgan. For: Alderman Elliott, Councillors Rees Jones, Cory, Stone, Bird, T. Rees, Vaughan, Beavan, and Trayes. Xeutral: Enoch and Trounce. This gives 22 against, 9 for. and 2 neutral. The original re- solution was then submitted and carried. The TOWN-CLEKK then read the petition in favour of the Bill, which, after the usual preliminaries, ran as follows:— ran as follows:— (1) A Bill (hereinafter called the Bill) has been intro- duced into, and is now pending in your right honourable House, enttled a Bill for conferring on the trustees ami others claiming under the will of the l»te Marquess of Bute power to extend their docks :tiid railways at Cardiff, and for other purposes. (2) The trade of the port, and town of Cardiff has of late years rapidly in- creased, and is still increasing, and your petitioners are convinced that extended accommodation in the form of docks and railways, and other works connected therewith, is urgently required, and the providing thereof will be of great local and public :id- vantage. (3) From time to time, and especially during j the last ten years, the want of extenued dock accom- modation at the port has been urgently felt, and fre- quent representations as to this want have been made by leading merchants, shipowners, and others^ to your petitioners with a view to such measures as rai^ht be necessary being taken for satisfying it, and the an- nonncement of the intention of the Marquess of Bute and his lordship's trustees to apply to Parliament for powers to provide extended dock accommodation has given the liveliest, satisfaction to the inhabitants of the town generally. Your petitioners, therefore, humbly pray, Ac. On the motion of Alderman WATKINS. seconded by Mr. T. EVANS, this petition was approved, and the mayor. deputv-mayor, and town-clerk were requested to support the Bill in Parliament.

CARDIFF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. The annual meeting of the Cardiff Chamber of Commerce was held in the offices of the chamber, Cardiff, on Wednesday, Mr. J. O. Riches (presi- dent) in the chair. There were also present 1 Colonel Page, Messrs. C. Thompson, G. Griffiths, F. de C. Hamilton, J. A. Ie Boiilanger, P. A. V. Robinson, D. L. Owen, C. W. Ingram, R. Duncan, j. R. Ferrier. W. B. Gibbs, Lusty, F. Edwards, K. H. Capper, C. E. Stallvbrass, K. P. Munes, W. Jones, H. Vellacott, W. Bissett, B. G. Boyer, Coionel E. S. Hill, C.B., C. O. Young, J. Bovev, A. R. TelJefsen, O. H. Riches, J. Balmer, T. H. Stephens. G. H. Wilis, E. Hancock, W. Ronn- feldt, T. M. Hevwood, J. Hancock, J. E!h >tt, G. James, W. Johnson, T. Watson. (T. S. Stowe. T. A. Richards, F. j. Beuvan, T. Webb, Louis Tylor, T. W ii. Plain, A. Dalziel, M. J. Begg, A. Calaminus, L. Turnbull. J. Moore, J. Carrel. G. Tavlor, G. H. Noel, J. O. Lewis. B. Lewis, A. Foa, E. C. Downing, J. P. Down, Rees Jones, and J. Davies. F. P. Down, Rees Jones, and J. Davies. REPORT OF THE DOCK COMMITTEE. The CUAIRMAX called attention to the note on the agenda in reference to the report of the dock committee. He had, therefore, to move that the business-of the annual meet- ing, so far as the election of the officers was con- cerned, should be adjourned until that day week. when a special meeting be called, and the report of the dock committee considered. The motion was carried. The LHAHIMAN', in reply to a remark made by Mr. E. U. Capper, said that not the smallest grain of importance would attach to a petition from the chamber in regard to the Bute Dock Bill, as it would be laid on the table and not, looked at. What they ought, to do was to appoint a number of gentlemen to give evidence in support of the de- cision at which they might arrive. Colonel HILL said he believed, as the result of the experience he had had. that a petition from the chamber would carry some weight, and would be received with a considerable amount of respect. THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CHAMBKK.—MR. KICHKS' TO HIS CRITICS. The sixteenth annual report was then presented to the meeting. The report opened with the usual statistics as to the track of the port, showing, as compared with the preceding year, an increase in the shipments of coal foreignwise of 10 percent.. a decrease in the shipments of coke foreignwise of 23 per cent., an increase in the shipments of coal coastwise of nearly 8 per cent., an increase in the shinments of coke coastwise of 24. per cent., and a decrease in the shipments of patent fuel and iron and steel of lOt per cent: and 25J, per cent. respectively. After narrating the proceedings of the chamber during the year, the report concluded with a reference to the number of seamen enter- ing the port, in which it was stated that desertion had increased to 1-19, against 218 in 1830, the highest total reached being 1052 for Penarth Dock last quarter. Tile abolitiun of advance. notes did not seem to have materially checked this offence. The CHAIRMAN said that before the adoption oi this report he would ask Mr. William Jones to put the Question of which he had given notice. Mr. WILLIA:.I JOFS then asked the chairman if he entertained the view that, the South Wales coal- fields would be exhausted in about 25 years'time ? He said that in consequence of a speech which the chairman delivered at the recent shipowners' dinner an impression had got abroad that. lie held this view, though he was nor, reported as having- made the statement in either of the local papers. The CHAIRMAN The object I had in asking that this question be put now is, that I may have occa- sion to refer to it indirectly in proposing d"3 adoption of the report. But I may say at once that no such idea, no such expression, has ever been made by me'either in reference to the whole of the South Wales coalfield, or in reference to that part of it to which I did allude, namely, those collieries which have the shortest, and easiest access to Cardiff. Why one shouH have been mis- represented I leave to your own judgment, 1 think there must have been a motive for it. which it is not, very difficult to divine. (Laughter.,) He (the Chairman) then proposed the adop- tion of the finnual report. He said: In doing this, it ha.s been customary with your presi- dents to go through the statements of the report, showing the increase which has taken place in exports and imports during the twelve months. The object of that has been, I presume, to give you some idea of the improvement which may be anticipated in the future. I have no hesitation in, to some extent, following the example which they have set, though possibly I may not arrive at exactly the sqme conclusions. What I sav j3, that if you look it the map of this district you will find that these collieries which have the easiest and shortest access to Cardiff, which nre the collieries from Dowlais, including the Merthyr Vale, Aberdare, and the two Rhonddas, on to the Ggmore, where the collieries are all opened, comprise the coalfield on which at nresent Cardiff entirely depends for its outp'ut of coal. And I contend that in relation to the progress of Cardiff and the extension of its shipping, one of the most im- portant questions which this chamber can consider is how far the development of this district will go on indefinitely increasing. It is a question which has a personal side, every one present, being more or less interested, and that is my apology to you for going into the matter in proposing the adoption of the report. Then, I say, if you take the whole of that coalfield, and if you allow a margin within the district, which is yet possible—-I say that there is no means of which I am aware by which the output of coal available to Cardiff-not the output of coal from 'the South Wales basin, but the output of coal available for Cardiff as its easiest and best place of ship- ment—can long continue to increase. There are large areas yet to be developed, no doubt, but, considering the depth and the cost which would be involved in the sinking, I say the output from them would not do more than make up for the lessened output—mind you, not, exhaustion—but for the lessened out put of tho older collieries of the district. And because I say this, there is no ground for asserting that I predict the downfall of Cardiff in a period of 25 years. On the contrary, the real and only conclusion that can be drawn from my remarks is that 25 years hence we shall not only be shipping as much coal as we are ship- ping now, but as much coal plus the increase that is yet to come from the collieries not yet developed, and from those sinking, because that quantity. I eontend, will be maintained by further sinking that may take place. I hold in my hand a list of the cual i pits within the district to which I have referred. They number 100 pits, and the whole of those have, been sunk, to my knowledge, within thr- past 25 years. I do not suppose I have included all that have been sunk during that period—most likely I have not..And,in addition to these, the whole of the coal from Dowlais, Pendoylan, Cyfarthfa, Plymouth, Hirwain, and Aberamaa, and part of the coal from Gadlys, has been thrown into the market, whilo before those places con- sumed all, and shipped none. You cannot put that down at less than a further two or two-and- a-half million tons. But can you tell me where, available to Cardiff, even another hundred pits could be sunk ? I say if they could you could not sink them for twenty millions of money. I do not name the "maximum output which we shall reach. It may be reached within a year or "two, but you must bear in mind that all mining operations are attended with more or less of uncertainty. Among other uncertainties is the competition of other ports for portions of the coal which already comes to Cardiff. That you will find presently is, perhaps, a more serious matter than any of you gentlemen now understand. Then there is the physical difficulty, then there is-1 the demand, and then there is that still more im- i portant question, upon which for obvious reasons I will not enter now, and that is the labour ques- tion. I say that all those points should be considered in relation to the collieries re- cently sunk, and those which are arriving at their full development. Now, the districts that I omit from my calculations are the districts beyond Aberdare and Hirwain, which contain what is ordinarily known as bastard anthracite. I omit the large area of coal to which Mr. Thomas Joseph has referred because I do not think it enters into the discussion at all. He has projected a railway which runs from Swansea to the Rhondda, and he shows on his plan that, at Abergorky and the Rhondda the position as to distance to Swansea and Cardiff will be the same. But the centre of the held would be about seven miles nearer to Swansea than Cardiff, and, therefore, it would mean that this coal is to come a distance of 29 miles to Cardiff, while it is within fifteen miles of Swansea, still nearer to all the other western ports, and on the direct route for Milford Haven, which is likely to become a port of some impor- tance. The very pretpncc on which this line is pro- jected into the "Rhondda is that the Rhondda is to be placed at equal distance from both Swansea and Cardiff. Then Mr. Thomas Joseph refers to the Maesteg district. You know something about Maestee-, and what I am going to say in reference to it will apply also to the Garw and the Ogmore. I say that Cardiff is not, and will not, be the nearest and most advantageous outlet for any of the coal of that district. There existed, and will exist, means of shipping the whole of coal, which will put the question of its being brought to Cardiff in any considerable quantity entirely out of the question. That disposes of the coal to the north, and the whole of) the coal to the west. Isow we come to the cast. In tile east there is, DO doubt, a large field of coal. The districts around Harris'^ Navigation, and away to Monmouthshire, between Aberdare Junction and Pontypridd, com- prise, so far as the steam coal is available for Cardiff. I think about the whole of it. And the depth of the pits in the latter district would not be less than 700 or soa yards. They would not take less than seven years to sink, and each pit would cost from £250,000 to £300,000. And in re- gard to the collieries around Harris's Navigation, lot me call your attention to this fact, that, al- though Harris's Navigation has access to Cardiff on reasonable terms-lower terms than most of us —it has access to Newport on the same terms, it has easier access than any other colliery in the neighbourhood to London, Liverpool, and the whole of the inland districts, and it can even get to Swansea upon almost the same terms. If that is the case with Harris's Navigation, what hope have vou of getting coal to Cardiff from further inland in the direction of Newport? W e have seen enough of the enterprise of Newport, and Swansea to come to the conclusion that thev are not going to remain quiescent for want of accommodation while coal is being taken from their very doors to be shipped else where. We must believe, I think, that they will ship the coal that can be shipped at those ports che iper and better than it can be shipped a.t Cardiff. And now, gentlemen, I submit that I have proved my case. But it is s:1id, further, that I am inconsis- tent in hRving advocated docks for so many years, and now turning round and saying that we do not want any docks. I am sorry to see that Mr. Tylor has gone, because he has put himsplfin a somewhat similar position. When the committee commenced operations Mr. Tylor made outeln borat. calculat ions to show that we required no more docks either for what we were then shipping or for anything we had in prospect, I submitted then, as 1 submit now, that we require more accommodation for our present business. I submitted then, as I submit now, that a large increase to our present busin.s.s will be available within the next veer or two. You cannot expect the additional produce of these pits to remain in the ground simply because Cardiff cannot supply the accommodation. Does it not stand to common sense that markets must be found for this additional produce elsewhere, and if that, be done, as it assuredly will be done, will it do for you seven years hence to say vou have now got, the accommoda- tion ? I maintain that the docks ought to be avail- able now, and that to have them available when other markets have been established will be to have them available too late, because I am-satisfied that when coal has been thus diverted, and diverted for four, five, or six years, you will not be able to bring back too trade which has been so recklessly sacrificed. Then we must not forget the fact that we have for some time past been sending to other ports large quantities of coal which would have come to Cardiff if Cardiff had been in a position to receive it. Therefore, to pretend that there is anything inconsistent in my contention th::t the docks ought to be ready now, and that a new dock in seven years hence will not meet the emergency, is very much like moonshine. Now I am charged with inconsistency. I say now, as I said before, that I believe my figures were within the mark, and that we have not yet arrived at our maximum. But I do not believe that the rate of increase which has been going on during the hist four or five years can by any possibility be maintained. If it could, where should wo be in seven years, by the time this dock is finished? We should require upon thate»tiinate at the end of seven years accommodation for three and a half million tons, and at the end of fourteen years accommodation for seven million tons, and this seven million tons would be equal to our entire present shipment. Is that a reasonable pro- bability? If it be, then the proposed new dock will be a mere mill-pond com- pared with the extent of the accommo- dation that ought to be provided. Mr. Riches then went on to reply to his theoretical critics, one of whom had said that they had from 45 to 90 feet thickness of coal to work upon. which would probably last them for 750 years. He plr. Riches) said that in the Rhondda Valley they had got through tJle steam coal measures from the top to the bottom. The vision which had been presented to them was so delightful, that he felt prone to adopt it; but then there was the dark shadow of Aberdare. Aberdare had all the thicknesses of coal the Rhondda possessed, but couid they point out to him one single colliery in the district which, having worked out one or two leading scams, had been able to keep up its quantity and to maintain its reputation? Mr. T. H. KIEPHKNS seconded the adoption of the report. Colonel HiLI. said it was a great, satisfaction to him and to others to find that the opinion they had fortoed of the cliairman's views was erronequs. I The same subject was gone into very exhaustively bv Mr. Vivian, who represented that there was an almost inexhaustible supply of coal in the South Wales basin. And he knew that collieries which had been worked out as regards the house coal had been sunk down to the deeper measure, and had I produced large quantities cf steam coal. How far that process could be continued he could not sav. but even according to Mr. Riches their limit of output had not been reached. Col. Hill thon went on to speak of the rival advantages of Cardiff as a port, and said that the shipowners of the Channel preferred the absolute safety of the Penarth Roadstead to the danger ot the Mumbles, where vessels were exposed to the prevalent gales. Alluding to the proposed new dock, he said there would be such a healthy competition between the South Wales ports that the Marquess of Bute would be prevented from imposing any undesi- rable charges. lIe thought there could be no doubt whatever the time had come when addi- tional dock accommodation should be provided in Cardiff, and he regretted that, they had not at that meeting an opportunity of fully discussing the subjct, becanse he would have liked to have seen a resolution passed to support the Bill which was now before Parliament. The CHAIRMAN, in replying to Colonel Hill, said that Mr. Vivian's statements related to the dis- tricts in the west which were not available to Cardiff. Notwithstanding the excellence of the Pena.rth Roadstead ships were chartered every day at Newport and Swansea at 6d. and even Is. a ton less than they could be chartered for at Cardiff. Whatever was the competition to which Cardiff would beexposedhe contended that as thero was a monopoly the powers obtained as regards charges would be employed, as in the case of every monopoly, to their full extent. fie added that it was nonsense to say that the additional charges for which the Bute Dock Bill provided amounted to only Id. per ton. He maintained that as the Bill stood there be no limit to the additional charges which might be imposed both on the ship- owners and on the freighters. The report, was then adopted, and the meeting dispersed.

THE SOUTH WALES COALFIELD. PORT OF CARDIFF, AND DOCK ACCOMMODATION. TO TR1-: EDITOR. SIR,—Since reading the report of Mr. J. O. Riches's speech on the above subjects, at the Cardiff Shipowners'Association dinner on the 1st inst., I have been expecting someone, among the many practical men who are competent to do so in this district, to point out the fallacy and delusiveness of his statements as to tho continuance of the supply of- coal for shipment at Cardiff. The bold and sweeping way in which Pur. Riches deals with the capacity of production of this coalfield, and that without any practical knowledge of it, may possibly mislead people at a distance, but the question had better be tested by evidence and facts. The workable section of coal has been proved at so many points that we cannot go far wrong in estimating the undeveloped portions of the, Coalfield by tliOoe proofs. The workable coals down to 3ft. thick or even 2ft. 6in. which have betn worked since the Jend of the last century along the north outcrop give a total aggregate thickness of about 40ft. If the seams of coal down to 2ft. thick are added to this, thev will give an average thickness ot quite 50ft" which will produce 50,000 tons or large coal per acre. In taking into account toe large quantities of coal that have been worked for the use of the ironworks for so many ysars past, it surprising that th.v have made such a small impression upon the coalfield, and in most cases mere are workable coals left, now within half a mile of the outcrop for f^letter appeared in your issue, since the above speech was delivered, estimating the thickness of unworked coal across the lower part of G-elhgaer parish at 60ft. thick; tnat is too high to my know- ledge. A pain, I am aware that Mr. Hussej V lvian, M & much greater tliickncss ot workable coal than I have done. I believe there is a thicker section in the Swansea district than there is in what may be called the Cardiff and ,.Newport districts. I know that in the Maeste" Valley, and near the anticlinal line, there is a workable thickness of coal seams of 90ft. Having sunk through and developed each one of the steam coal seams in th", Merthyr and Aber- dare Valiavs, and in this valley, down as low as have been proved during the whole period j from 1837 until now, I simply give the results ot I | my own experience putting down ti e thick-1 ness of seams hitherto worked at a boat 40ft.. and by adding on to theii .scorns of 2:1. in thickness increasing the wboir. t1 50ft. I iray add that I have repeatedly -,i izF 4 -i-ionce be:ore Pariia- mentarv Commit-tees based Ull thefri f ores, ad my conclusions have never L-en challenged. However, I shaJ be glad to have them reviewed bv ln mining men I beg to submit the following figures, putting H: in the briefest form, but the details of Wh1,>f: t.re carefully prepared, and I shall be happy to pi doee them, 11" required. Thi; statement was given when the Taff Vaic Railway (New Powers) Bill, 1879,was before Parliament. I Area oi coal and co"I to be worked Norked. Acres. Tons. Aberdare Vallcv to Navigation 12,600 3VT,0X>,0-V31 Taff Valley •••• 20,000 711,OOC,OOC j Klicndda Fawr and Ehondda Vach 30,500 63,100 2,257.OX,Cue | The district east of what will lairlv be worked out through the Taff Yo-Ie is very large, but is net taken into account in the abqve statements. They do not include anything west of Ystraayiodwg either, By dividing into these figures anv estimated annual quantity worked and shipped it is not difficult to arrive at, the probable duration^ of the supp;y. which it is evident will continue for a very long period. Mr. Riches's misconception may arise from only estimating the working 01. one or two seams, and that over a small area, without, takmg any- thing more^nto account. 0 Let us procecd now to the dock question. The present, difficulties of the trade for want of dock accommodation are very great, and the folly of the opposition to the Bute Dock Jiili of 1874, which resulted in the throwing out of the Taff Dock, which formed part of that, Fall, must be felt by all who were concerned. If powers had been given for making the Taff Dock as well as the Roath Dock there is even- reason to believe that both would have been made, and the shipment of coal at Car- diff would not be hampered as it is at present, The trade is be:ng choked back. Steamers delayed and under demurrage by one shipper or another almost daily, and such a block of loaded coal at Cardiff that it is very difficult to get the empties returned with any degree of regularity and despatch, thus causing a very great loss continually, notwithstanding that the railway and dock authorities are doing all that is j possible under the circumstance^. As far back as September, 1880 (and since then the shipments have increased more than 2.000 tons a, day), when a deputation waited upon the directors of the Taff Vale Railway Company, asking for a reduc- tion of tolls and increased dock accommodation, it was stated and admitted that the block caused at that time was equal to a toll of lid. a. ton upon all the coal brought down, by the detention of the waggons for want of more tips. The powers for making the dock extension at Penarth, authorised last year, wil1 give some little relief, but it can scarcely amount to anything like a million tons per annum. To oppose in-such a state of things the preamble of th„ Bute Dock Bill now before Parliament seems to me to be a suicidal course on the part of the freighters, and I have, therefore, declined to join the opposition. A petition upon and for clauses 1 would be quite a legitimate course, and ought to give rise to no feeling of hostility on either side, and I would venture to suggest to all parties an addition to the Bit! by way of a, maximum net dividend clause, based upon agreed figures of the cost of the various docks, rail- wavs, and works, made md to be made. Such a clause would control »ny undue charges, or what would appear to be undue charges in the opinion of some of the shippers, by- stopping the dividend at a 1'nir maximum, the surplus going in reduction of tolls and charges, land nothing could work better than a provision similar to that in the oid Gla- inorganshire Car.ai Act. which was fixed at 8 per cent,, and is still ia operation, i per cent., a. When I sent coal by the canai I usually had 75 to 77^ per cent, abatement off the account. In going in for the proposed dock, with an esti- mated outlay of half a million of money, tho Marquess of Bute and his trustees have to face all the probable competition (and all fair competition is healthv) of Swansea, Newport, probably some docks that may be made between Cardiff and Briton Ferrv, and also Milford Haven, and with the increased facilities which arc being afforded for 11 utli- sending coal to Birkerihead, Londou, and South- ampton bv the lines now made and in progress, so that, I am at a loss to understand the seeming hostility to the proposed Bute Dock Act which ^I find among some of the freighters. Mr. Riches is quite correct in saying in his speech, Instead 01 having the docks now to make we ought to have had them made and in readiness but to say that the dock will not be wanted seven years hence is beyond mv comprehension. 1 believe, judging from past experiencv of the trade, and learning that, the great ship- building yards in Europe'and America are in- cessantly working upon iron steamers of the largest size, that much more coal will be required of the quality which the South Wales coalfield produces thar. we have yet estimated, and there is an ample source of supply for atime to come. I am strongly of opinion that, if the facilities can in any way be afforded in time, the shipments of coal, which since 1841 have increased from forty- thousand tons to over six million four hundred and thirty thousand tons last year, will be at least ten. million tons in 1890, and this in addition to all that may be taken away to Newport and inland; and also, I hope and trust, by the Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railwav, the Bill for which is also this year before Parliament, and, failing the construction of which, the outlook for facilities for the shipment of coal from the Rhondda would be dark indeed. There are very important questions raised in Mr. Riches's speech which require careful conside- ration in connection with the future development of the coal field, and the cost of doing so; besides which there is the labour element, which does not seem to have entered into his calculations at all. although it, will have a more important bearing upon the future of our ccal mining than even capital itself. The ccal at shallow depths that will suit for shipment for steam coal purposes has been nearly all entered upon: and there is but little left without going to a greater depth than four hundred yards, but the acreage unoccupied at, shy, of from five to eight hundred yards. in depth, is very extensive, espe- cially now that coal of such bituminous qualities is being taken freelv in the si earn coal market, Mr. Hichcs lsks. Where are you going to find another Rhondda Valley Let me Stay there is a Rhondda VaHev. or coal"of the same quality as that, from Abcrgorchi to LlwynpiJo, on tne upper six miles of the south side of the Avan Valley, from the western end of the intended tunnel of the proposed Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway, down to the Hendreowc-n faut, at depths varying from 500 to 700 vards. There is also coal equal to that in the Rhondda Valley from l'otty- pridd to Quaker's Yard. with a large portion of Llanwonno on the one side. and the common on the other, at a depth at Aberdare Junction of about 600 yards. Also, another district of coal of the same quality as that worked in the lower five miles of tl)e RllonMrU Valley, from Pontypridd to Pontvpool in one direction, and from the anti- clinal line northwards to JOin Earnss Navigation and the ironworks collieries of Monmouth- shire. In this very large ditrict the coal can he sunk into at depths of from 600 to 300 yards. So much for the extent of the acreage for future suppiv. In regard to the cost of opening collieries, the South Wales coalfield has entered upon a new phase. The collieries of the future, as Mr. Riches justly observes, will cost perhaps £ 500,000 per comery" to sink and furnish with plant, and, probably, "about seven years will be occupied in the work in each instance." The collieries will require to be very large, something in the style of Harris's Navigation, where everything has been so admirably done, but with a prosperous trade, and the demand strongly in excess of the supply, and consequently high prices for coal, capital will be again attracted to the coalfield as before, to increase the supply for an ever-increasing demand continuing in excess of the supply, and with every prospect of a long period of high prices. It would never do to enter upon such heavy outlays with the prospect of the minimum price of large coal being below 10s. per ton in the waggon atBthe colliery, and it, is fully time that the prices should ba advanced to that mark. Now that the demand is so firm and sound there is no reason why tlJÍs advance should not at once be made, and higher prices will soon follow. It will, I think, be a great safeguard to the trade that the collieries ot the future will require, such heavv outlays that they will not be entered upon without every prospect of a. continuance of | high prices. In regard to what Mr. Riches calls j "the enormous amount of capital brought j j suddenly into the coalfields of this neighbotnliood in consequence oi the high prices that, prevailed from 1872 to 1874, and which led to the ii n,, sinking of a large number of additional pits," there is another feature which has been in a great measure overlooked, and which conduced, I Lc- lieve. more than anything else to the seven years' depression from over supply that. we have passed through, and it was this The simultaneous stop- ping of the working of the ironstone which had been cliiellv used at the ironworks from Aberdare to Blaenavon from tie of the trade up to 1875, and the substitution therefor of Spanish and other imported ores, threw upon the collieries of South Wales and Monmouthshire about 10.000 miners; and, but for the great emigration that took place, this increased labour would have been equal to 3.000,000 tons of coal per annum. At it was, it led to an increase in 1876 over 1875 of 800,000 tons in the coal exported at Cardiff, besides what it may have done at Newport, and Swansea. Notwithstanding this increase of the labour element, labour has become more scarce for the last two years, and it is no wonder when we consi- der that the shipment of coal at Cardiff alone has increased from under 3,800.000 tons In 1874 to 6,4-30.000 tons last year. This will have a most material effect in preventing the increase of the output nt the collieries keeping pace with the demand, or anything like it. until wages will be advanced, following the rising prices of coal to such a degree as to attract back to us large num- bers of the Welsh mining population from Penn- sylvania, and labourers from agricultural districts at. home. Although many of our large collic-ries are working to the full extent of their capacities, there are others not so favourably circumstanced, which, but for this scarcity of labour, would be nble to turnout a much larger quantity—probably half-u-niiilion tons in addition to the present out- pot.—1 am, &c., THOMAS JOSEPH. Tydraw, Treherbert, Feb. 9. Sib,—I am afraid Newport in your yester- day's issue is attempting to make too much of i Riches's reckless statement with reference to tne duration of the Cardiff coalfield. Now, for argu- ment -ake. Cardiff and Newport coalfield are as one, therefore this coalfield extends from Fonty pool ou the cast, to Maesteg on the west, say twenty miles, to keep within the east crop. Then, ag%in, take another imaginary a north of Nantgarw, extending it to Mertny r (say ten p'pIps) which gives this ii6id 200 square miles, cr 128,000 acres. At the present output, or, say seven million tons per annum, or otherwise, ex- hausting 175 per annum, the questtoot resolves itself into ó n.rv simple one indeed, which, gives at this "ate 731 ears. Say 31 years has been exhausted of this SL ,^ui;t, 700 years still remain, j and this is well known to <i( experienced mining engineers, who possess with heir profession the science of practical -I am, kc., Sea Lock, Cardiff, ROB .CRT A. BLAKE. Feb. a.

THE PROPOSED NEW U0Lr EGE. A REVIEW OF THE MEETING. By NO.NCOX. QCILL. I As the proposed South Waves College is D"W occupying public attention, and the controversy rf^ardin^ the locality bast fitted for it is growing aahy me, interesting, I propose reviewing the arguments adduced in the great meeting held at bwansea. 1 quite agree with Mr. Vivian. M.P., that the Commissioners committed i an error, which will grow in magnitude as the discussion goes on, in not approximately fixing upon the site of the proposed college. Had they done so the lovers of education ail through South ) Wales, from Pembroke Dock to Newport, would contribute more or ies. towards its establishment, not in donations as handsome as those given at Cardiff, jut what would be -wanting in amount would be made up in number. £ 18,000 contributed in small amounts by 801 thousand people would go just is far as the same ;"um contributed by only ten gtntle- men. But in practically pitting Swansea against Cardiff they have initiated a feeling of rivalry j whici-i is already becoming unhealthy. tisan" of Swans-a show a strong tendency to abuse -Cardiff; the partisans of Cardiff will not willingly contribute towards Swansea. A few patriotic gentleman. however, win lend their aId wherever the college be located but in a nation, movem-c-nt It is a pity the currp-nt has b,ri divided. Mr. Vivian is quite right in lamenting the Com- missionoro' want of "backbone. I regret the speech of Archdeacon Griffiths has not b-en more fully reported, for he is more in- timately associated with the mental movements of the Principality, eisteddfodic and collegiate, than any man living. Though he did not tr.vour the Commissioners in his evidence with many details, having, perhaps, as an ide:»l Welshman, no details to glve-for what Welshman ever aired about figures and statistics r—yet all Wales knows that hL views on thj subject, In its national bearings, ars more worthy of con-,ider. tion than those of almost any man we can name, From a letter in a recent issue of the Western Mail, I gather the archdeacon endeavoured to raise the discussion from a local to a national standpoint. Not what is best for Swansea or Cardiff, but what is best for South Wales. Com- mercial men are in danger of making 01 it a trade question and men who have studied the subject for a lifetime, and laboured in season aid out of season to support tHe tottering fabric, of W dsh education, find themselves all of a sudden pushed aside by "pilgrims and strangers,' whose know- ltdge of Wales is not experimental, but based upon a few published statistics. All honour to the pilgrims and sti-anfler- greater honour still to the true-born natives who kept the lamp of educa- tion burning before the question attained its present popuhrity. Alderman Yeo, in the uhort report ot his o-peech, charges the document issued wuLr the signature) 01 our genial and popular mayor with '• audacity, ingenuity, and inaccuracy." Audacity' I hope we all have audacity enough to follow the truth r it gootli. Irgenuit-, And is not ingenuity a virtue ? Is not that one end of col- iegiate education, to encourage ingenuity and develop the inventive faculties? Inaccuracy*! Kind Mr. Yeo, will you be good enough to put your finger on one inaccuracy ? Only Úilt., Mr. Alderman Yeo. To make sweeping charges betokens weak- noss, unless you are prepared to substantiate them. The figures have been carefully compiled from public and authenticated statistics • they are right or the y arc wrong. If right, admit it; if wrong, prove it. How is it that in the public meeting no authenticated statistics, were produced to contradict those of C..rdiff Even Mr. John Jones Jenkins, M.P., only pro- duced "such as he could lay his hands upon." Rather a haphazard way of proceeding. It will never do for one town to try and steal a march on the other—the question is too important for .stealing of any kind but if one town can honestly irin a march upon the other, it has a per- feet right to do so. Let the discussion be upright, rtraightforward, and courteous on both sides, and carried on in a spirit of fair-play for we du not mean to sacrifice Wales to feed the vanity of either town. Mi.John Jones Jenkins,M.P., was the only speaker who attempted to grapple with the circular issued bv the Ila N-or of Cardiff. Mr. John Jones Jenkins asserted that the manufactures in the neigh- bourhood of Swansea are more varied than those in the neighbourhood of Cardiff, Men who ought to know seriously dis- pute the statement, and declare that even- induslrv carried on in Swansea is carried on in Cardiff with two exceptions, whereas Cardiff, on the othir hand, has four or five industries which Swansea lacks—their names will doubtless be in time. The Warden of Llandovery College kid stress on the Swansea copper work and the scientific training necessary to their successful working but. perhaps he will be surprised to learn that the Cardiff copper quotes higher prices in the market. One would- think from the tone of the Swansea speeches that the poor students are to be sent as workmen to the factories to cam their bread and cheese. Mr. John Jones Jenkins further affirmed that, comparing acreage with acreage, the population of Swansea is greater than that, of Cardiff. But it is evident that the acreage he gives is not that of the towns, but pro- | bably of the union oi parishes which have their centres in the towns. When he said that the area of Cardiff is over 81,000 acres everyone knows t-hut that cannot be the area of the town or inum- diottc neighbourhood. Even London would hardly cover so many acres—all the way from Treforest to Cowbridse. This argument, therefore, is hardiy pertinent to the subject in dispute. Moreover, in insisting upon the central position of Swansea, its accessibility to the Western counties. lic. in common with the other speakers, ignores the existence of Lampeter and Aberystwith, both of which are to be included in the university scheme. Though Aberystwith is recommended as the North Wales College, yet it will he open to all students who may wish to go there. Suppose, then." the new college be located at Swansea, there would then be three colleges within a radius of 27 miles of each other, as the crow flies, in a sparsely popu- lated district, whilst all the rest of Wales, with a population twenty times as great, w ould be totally unprovided for. What has this particular corner of Wales done that it should claim the three j Government endowed colleges r The proposition I on the facc of it appears preposterous. | Mr. Vivian, delivered an elaborate speech. But onlv twopoin's require examination. He laid stress on the fact that the Swansea Corporation is prepared to offer an excellent site. Very good i but I trust the Cardiff CorporatIOn before another week is past w-ili follow the noble example of their Swansea friends—I beg pardon, Swansea rivals, The Swansea site may be excellent in itself and very valuable, but 1 venture to say that it is a very inconvenient one for the object in view. It is too far out of town, making it. practically inaccessible to students from Neath, Morriston. and Llanelly. Anv college, to be successful, must be placed in the"centre of the town, whether it be Cardiff or Swansea. The history of all provincial colleges proves that they succeed more as mght than as dav colleges. The day students in Bristol are only about 150 the night students over 300. It will be precisely the same in South WaIf); hence the great necessity of fixing the college in the midst of the population. Two miles' walk insult hinds of weather will disastrously interfere with the attendance. The Cardiff Corporation. I have no doubt, guided by the same shrewdness and sagacity which have guided them so far in con- nection with this movement,, will fix on a site in the heart of the town, equi-distant from all the suburbs. If there is not a site ready, doubtless they will make a site, for all things are possible to him that bclieveth." and Cardiff people believe in thit movement. The chief point, however, in Mr. Vivian's speech is that which refers to taxa- tion in support of the proposed college. It is not quite clear what he meant, for in one part of his speech he put it to the people of Swansea whether they would yote to be taxed or to subscribe. s W. Now, if Swansea merely proposed to tax itself, outsiders would have no reason to complain for it would not matter much to the rest iof the world whether Swansea provided the necessary money by taxation or sub- scription. In eitlter c ase the money would have to come out of their own pockets. But Mr. Vivian makes it evident 1D ÜIC succeeding part or his speech that his motion was that all South Waie* should be rated for the behoof of Swansea. No wonder the Swansea people raised their hands in its favour, aproposion not simply to tax them- selves, but to tax us and the whole of South Wales for the honour of putting up a college in the best rite in the world. J was going to say the best site out of the world; a little further and it would j be cleufi out. Now, CardhTprotests against that, especially as it is prepared with the money. Taxation should never be adopted where yolun-| tarvism suffices. But taxation, sajs Mr- IVMn> is" preferable to the fitful aid of personal voluntary subscriptions." But he forgot for the moment that one fit'' is all that is necessary; the Govern- ment will provide for the annual maintenance, Cud iff in one fit" has done enough to secure a suitable edifice and remember, we are not out of our fit vet; we are only iust falling into it. The £ 18 OOO' have been conti-ibuted by only a few gen- tlemen before many weeks pass I trust the town will be canvassed, hundreds being ready to help, everyone according to his ability. If many fits" of this kind were needed. doubUess Mr. Vivian's notion would carry with it a great deal of reason but as one fit'" suffices, we ought not to complain. One word more and I have done for the present. The Commissioners very properly dwell upon the national characteristics of the Welsh. Mr. Lewis Morris emphasised this in his Carmarthen speeches. I am glad Earl Jersey practically adopted their sentiments. As a n, I want to see the svstem of educa- tion so adapted as to bring out the excellencies of the national character, and its peculiar traits. The speakers at. Swansea. did well to dwell upon the need and importance of scientific training. But we must not forget that the forte of the Welsh na.tion has never been in science, but in literature. Mr. Matthew Arnold in his delightful book points out the innate love of theCelts for fine, euphonious, ornate word-; Carmarthen and Carnarvon being words, says lie, which no Saxon could ever invent —they carry too much music in them. Mr. David Ala,qo-i. the professor of literature till lately in the University of London, mentions somewhere that the English owe all their poetry to the strong Celtic element in their btood, con. sequent upon the intermarriage of the Saxons v.ith the aborigines of the island Bards and bartHsm are an institution in Wales from tirue immemorial. This love of belle: let-i-es indicates a marvellous aptitude in oui countrymen fur literary studies. The ear has beer trained through the ages to catch rhythmic move^ ments in speech ana song; tne tongue has baear taught to speak in sweet and measured cadences This ingrained love of literature must not be over- looked or slighted in any attempt at the educa- tional reconstruction of the country. "The reasoc of man is the candle of the Lord and if you ligh' this candle within the Welsh nature mystit "&cings will be flung upon the ages, different front -thing hitherto seen; bewitching hues wil the centuries, fleeting and impalpable eve; u ;ng Celtic is, but all the more beautih* oeca.: its spirituality. Study science to mkI. mone, a; literature to make books. "Mai does uot ,Pon bread alone," and espacially íi Weisrmiar h' ad rather read a good e%,gly-n tl-, sit down t, -ichest banquet that mayor o« £ ba^T'Li ever pre) Let us go in for but t he fvrte of th -n has been, .is, and-will b4 its aptitude for 1 • *ru,v..

MR. HUSlY M.P., ON THI FUTUF, E OF SWANSEA. Theforty-seventii ar.-iUal meeting of the Swanse; Sailors' Society was held in the Seamen's Chapel, A deiaide-street. JI Monday eDing. Mr. Hy. Hussej Vivian, M P., presided. There were also present- Mrs V;v-i*n, Miss Vivian, Mr. Ernest Vivian, tb* Mayc Alderman Thomas Davies), the Revs. Dr Reefc Williams (Argyle;, J. M. Gibbon, J. G. Davit* ames Owen, and Messrs. L. Tulioch, P; Jerkins, &c. TfAe Earl of Jersey, Mr. Dillwyn, M.P., and Mr .i j. Jenkins, M.P.. who had been announced as speakers, sent messages of apology for non-atten dance, as also did Mr. John Crow Richardson (tiw high sheriff) and Mr. E, R. Daniel. In his opening address, the Chairman sau this was the twentv-seventh occasion on which it had fallen to i0t to occupy the chai^ at that meeting. (Applause.) Their missu^ r .n"'O- '_1 .L_l_r. wasto meet, so uney couia, wk* sjiunuai of seamen, and a great deck of 23 acres, and 60,00? ieet of frontage, with the magnificent coalfields at its back, could not iail to attract an enormous trade; and an enormous trade in stopping meant tin enormous number of seamen frequenting theii port, and the number of seamen wus the measure of the exertions which the society was bound u nut forward in order, as tar as possible, to meet their spiritual wants. Well, he thought thert could be no doubt that tliit great work would bt eminently successful. There were many seamen present upon this occasion, and when he remindec th641 that there would be a depth of watei 2 at average neap tides always of 24-- feet, and at spring tides of 32ft., he thought th<n would not doubt but that the dock would be very largely frequented. He hoped that by this time next year lie should be able to tell them of the great'progress which had ensued upon the opening of that dock. He was happy to say that the returns which they had received that day at their annual harbour meeting, when the accounts of the past vcar were presented to the trustees in a compendious form, showed that, although there had been considerable depression generally throughout the length and breadtn of the land, their port had held its own. There had been a slight diminution, but it was scarcely worthy of mention. On the v. iiile, the port had held its own, and was in a sound, substantial, firm., and good position. He believed they had a great luture before them. There were at that moment men busily at work in endeavouring to carry out those measures which would bring down the great, riches of their coalfields to be shipped at that port. There were at thit moment three schemes on foot to connect Swansea with the Rhondda alley. He had no doubt that it they were not all carried out one or two of them would be, and they would be placed in direct communication with tin1 Rhondda. Valley, which at present was being most actively developed. The western portion of the coalfield of South Wales was by far the largest. When Mr. Clarke and himself were charged with investi- gating the quantity oi coal in an area represented by ti line drawn to the north from Bridgend. they found that the portion lying to the westward wit larger than the portion !in,, to the eastward. Bf went into the matter witli the greatest possible care, and with the assistance of an ablfcengineer m-lic was well known to them, Mr. Evan Daniel. Thev went into it with the same care as a person would adopt if he were buying a mineral property, and thev found, after great labjur, that there were nineteen thousand two hundred and seventy- eight millions of tons of coal workable in the western portion, and still unwrought. (Applause.) In the eastern portion his friend Mr. Clarke found there were thirteen thousand millions of ton* oi COK,. These figures were so enormous that one s mind was as incapable of appreciating them as it was of appreciating the distance of a fixed star or a planet. They might use figures, but really it WAS impossible to conceive the enormous amount of fuel which had been stored up by a gracious Providence. Be that as it, might, he oBA-,7 mentioned tliose figures to show the enormous future which was before a port situated like the port of Swansea. He believed that in creating this great dock which thev had recently created, thev were commencing an era of unbounded prosperity for their ancient town. He simply mentioned- these facts because he thought they bore directly upon the necessity of increased exer- tions to extend the benefits of this most excellent society. There wa no such thing in these days as standing- still. They must go forward.

WELSH NOTES FROM THE METROPOLIS. Another Welsh concert has been announced for St. David's Day. This will be given at the Albert- hall. Eight vocalists have been engaged, tha Welsh artistes being Madame Edith Wynne ana Mr. Jambs Sauvagc. Mr. John Thomas (Pencerdd Gwalia) will also .ippear, and give selections upon the harp. In connection with the China Inland Misswn 3 very interest ing meeting was held on Friday-night, at the Welsh Congregational Chapel, Fetter-lane. The chair was taken by Mr. Abel Simner, who, ID the course 01 his opening speech, referred to the good work which had been done in China by thf missionaries of this society, and quoted, in support of this statement, the evidence given by Mr Alabaster, one of her Majesty s consuls. Parti- culars of the society'^ work were given by the secretary. Mr. Broomhall, and by Mr. Ballad, ont o,, it-, missionaries. In an eloquent Welsh speech. Mr. Hugh Edwards, of the Shirland-road welffli Calvinistic Methodist Church, defended the action of the society in employing female missionaries, and drew attention to the fact that in these days there existed a. tendency to give women a bo^oer position in secular matter:?, and to open to them wider spheres of usefulness. He thought tuat this course might with advantage be lollov^d in religious matters. Addresses were then deliTfrea by three ladies, who will leave on Monday next foi the mission field in China. Miss Evans, of Carmar- t,hen—'one of the missionaries—spoke m English and Weish, and appealed in a most earnest manner for the svmuathv of her hearers. Mrs. Tavior, tne wife "t" 1%1 Hudson Taylor, the founder of the China Inland Mission, also addressed the meeting. end explained that female missionaries were abso- lutely essential in China, as the women of the country would not be allowed to attend the sei vices held bv mis,iDnä.ri8s of the male sex. The Rev. D. Bui-ford Hooke, formerly of Mold, now a minister to an English Congi-egitionalist Churcb in London, in his speech referred, to the fact that some of the foremost men on the mission roll were Welshmen. The Rev. Mr. Elvet Lewis, now of Buckley, Flintshire, but formerly of Carmarthen, delivered a spirited address, partly in English and partly in Welsh, in the course oi which IK. re- minded the audience that Carmarthen had for many years been renowned for its missionary spirit, that it had been the cvweiling-placc of cucii men as diaries and Jones, Heoi Awst, and that it WiI" a place eon^crattd by the blood of the martyred Bishop Farcer. The meeting con- eluded Pi a Ticurtv yote of tiianks to the clian man. movi d bv tlie-Rev. OWfn Evans, Fetter-lane, and seconded'by the Rev. R L. Thomas, of the Borough.

SCHUBERT.- AS ANECDOTE. In the course of some recent investigations into the biography of Franz Schubert, the composer, P little incident has turned up which will not be without interest, to many readers with whom this writer is so great and just-a favourite. It is well-known that verv shortly before his death ht made arrangements for a course 01 lessons in counterpoint—that, is to say, the art of writing n fugues, or, in other words, of combining vanou; 0' melodies in harmony-from Sechter, a well-known professor of the "day iu Vienna. None of his ten u what was th. occa- sion on which Schubert took the step in ques- tion-what it was that led him to chooe this particular disastrous moment rather than an earlier one. Dr. Kreissie von Hellborn alone informs us, and that not in his larger and well-known bio- graphy of the composer, but in a smaller sketch, which he published first, and which is all but un known. It seems that at the time in question, or very shortly before, a number of scoresjof Handel s oratorios had fallen into Schubert's hands, and tha perus:d of these works, in the choruses of which polyphonic counterpoint is used at once with a. freedom and a strictness surpassing that of all other writers, had made a great impression on him, so great that he remarked to his friend Anna. Frohlich, the singer, 1 now see bow very deficient 1 am in this respect but it is not too late, I will work hard with S/echter, and make up for lost time." But this is not all. We may well ask the question—How did a set of scores of Handel's oratorios thus happen to fall into Schubert's bands 1" They were published in London. Handel has never taken deep root on the Continent, and his oratorios were comparatively little known in Vienna. But not two years before the time we are speaking of, a set of Arnold's edition of Handel, in forty volumes, had been sent by Mr. Stumpff, of London, to Vienna, to cheer the deathbed of the giant oe the Choral Symphony and the Mass in D- Beethoven had the big volumes on to his bed and read theui eagerly He is the greatest of all musicians," said he. 11 1 can still learn from him." Beethoven died on the 24th of March, 1827, and by the following Christmas his books and possessions were sold. Among them ^.tbe catalogue is still extant) figure the "forty volumes of Handel's works; half-bound. London edltlon," which fetched the modest figure of 104- florins, or at the then worth of money about £ 4 10s. Less than twelve months after came Schubert's appeal Sechter. Surely the volumes which revealed hiP shortcomings were those which had soothed the last hours of a still greater genius than himself. At any rate, the question is one well worth in- vestigating a little further, and we hope someone mav be found with sufficient command of thr musical history of Vienna to do it.

The Sundsiy Times says that the Christiai religion has changed Charles Reade from the os- ferocious of egotists into a gentle and onassuminf man.