Weekly Mail

fEHRIBLE EXPLOSION IN HOLLAND. A WHOLE TOWN WRECKED. [FROM out! COHRKSPONOEKT.] AJISTKUDAM, JAN. 19.-A tearful disaster occurred this morning at the large gunpowder factory near Muiden, and about ten miles from this place. The works in question are owned by Messrs. Bredins and Son. and are so extensive in character that they cover several acres of ground. This can readily be understood, asthebuildings were inmost r-nses distinct from each other, and in some instances removed some distance from any other building. The manufactory of gunpowder was first com- menced on this spot in 1733, and the business has been in the hinds of Messrs. Bredins and Son since 1848. All the work at the factory was carried outunder the supervision of the War Office to whom Messrs. Bredins were large contractors. At twenty minutes to eight this morning the whole country fOI. mile" round was startled by a series of terrific explosions, which shook the earth itself by its force. Immediately it was feared that some dreadful catastrophe had happened at the well- known powder works, and the apprehension was speedily confirmed as a cloud of smoke and then uright "flame was seen to bo rising from the spot. j'ho fire engine from Muiden was got out at once jnd tuken to the factory, which, by the time it .rvived; was burning fiercely. Then a new anxiety lest some of the gunpowder magazines vhich were still intact might explode, causing further loss of life a.nd destruction of property. Undaunted at such a prospect, the firemen from vluiden immediately set to work to subdue the Humes and prevent the fire spreading to the adja- cent buildings, wnere it was known that quanti- ties of explosives were stored. Happily their efforts were crowned with success, and the arrival of troops in hot haste from the NHarden Garrison brought plenty of willing hands to aid in the work. Not, however, for some hours was it certain that all danger was at an end, but the continuous efforts of the firemen and soldiers at length made itself felt. The fire at four o'clock this afternoon was completely under control. The factory itself is totally ruined. Those build- ings whicii.escaped the fire have collapsed by the terrific violence of the explosion, and now lie in vast heaps of crumbling wreckage. A complete exploration of the ruin is not yet practicable, but :t, is known for certain that five are killed and eleven are missing. It is hoped this may prove the extent of the disaster so far as loss of life is con- cerned. The excitement in the town of Muiden after the explosion was of the strongest character. one knew for a moment what had happened. The terrible reports, followed by the rocking of their houses, induced hundreds of the inhabitants to fly from their homes into the streets, where the falling chimney-stacks, broken glass, and cracked walls ridded to their terror and confusion. Then, as other reports followed, the people became almost frantic and ran in all directions to escape their impending destruction as they thought. Muiden fully one mile distant from the gunpowder factory, but scarcely a whole pane of glass re- mains in the town. Some of the streets are almost nlocked with the fallen rubbish. Roofs of houses have been lifted off bodily and carried some dis- tance. Massive walls are cracked, and slighter -tinctures are split from roof to basement. N-nmbers of houses arti unsafe for human habita- ion. fact' a 3trarwer arriving in the town -õ&fØj-TW,& ¡ 'ould only account for such general destruction the supposition thnt an enemy had bombarded he town. Nor was the loss confined to Muiden alone. All the neighbouring village suffered severe shocks. Even here the windows in exposed situations were hopelessly shattered. The disaster had the effect of drawing thousands of spectators from miles around to view the scene of devastation. The local authorities, and likewise the higher officials, from this town were on the scene directly after the calamity occurred, and rendered good service in directing the efforts of those seeking to prevent further disasters, and in organising arrangements to keep the ever-increasing crowds from encroaching on property. Up to the present no trustworthy information has been forth- coming as to the cause of the explosion. The rail- way line runs very near the factory, but no damage was caused to the" permanent way. A steam tram- way also passes in close vicinity to the spot, and only a few minutes before the explosion the tram- way car passed by, but all escaped unhurt, and the traffic was not in any way interrupted. A Government inquiry into the probable causes of the disaster will open forthwith.

THE IIOUNSLOW TRAGEDY. 4, CLOSE OF THE INQUEST. VERDICT OF THE JURY. ["PRESS ASSOCIATION" TELEGRAM, j HOUNSLOW, THURSDAY NIGHT. The adjourned inquest concerning the suicide of Dr. Edwardes was resumed, in the billiard-room of the Red Lion Hotel, Hounslow, to-day, beiore Dr. Diploek. The popular mterest in the case, though it has lately somewhat abated, was greatly revived by the knowledge that Dr. Whitmarsh was to be examined. Mr. George Lewis and Mr. Barber ap- peared for the widow and relatives of the deceased, Mr. Crispe for his father-in-law, Mr. Jarvis for Dr. Whitmarsh, and Mr. Stephen Lynch for Mrs. Bignell, while Inspector Darcy watched the case on behalf of the police. The Coroner said he proposed to call Mrs. Wheeler and Dr. Whitmarsh, and he thought the inquiry might then close. Eliza Wheeler, wife ot a labourer, said she lived next door but one to Mrs. Bignell, and had been iu the habit of going into the house of the latter when Dr. Whitmarsh or Dr. Edwardes came to see j her. Dr. Edwardes called on the Friday before Christmas, but she did not go into Mrs. Bignell's house on this occasion. When he left, Mrs. Bignell, looking Hushed and worried, came to her. This was about one o'clock. After she had been there about a quarter of an hour she said, in answer to her inquiry what was the matter, that she did not like to tell her. Witness then said to Mrs. Bignell that if she did not tell her what had occurred she would think she had been as bad as him—meaning Dr. Edwardes—for she thought there was some- thing wrong. Mrs. Bignell then said Dr. Edwarde had attempted to kiss her, and that she would tell her husband. This was all that Mrs. Bignell told her, although she remained with her till six o'clock At eight o'clock she again saw her, and Mrs Bignell, then standing at the door smiling, told her that Dr. Edwardes had assaulted her. A Juror: If there had been any disturbance in Mrs. Bignell's house you would have heard it? Mrs. Piercey would be certain to have heard it as she lived next door, and was perfectly quiet. You can hear anything in the next house, even a person walking aeros the floor. Mr. Lewis Mrs. Bignell laughed when she told you that Dr. Edwardes had taken liberties with her. Did you doubt her Statement ? I believe that if it was true she was as bad as him.—You believe she had given him encouragement ? Yes.—And that he had availed himself of it ? I did not know what to think of it. Dr. Edwardes was as nice a gentleman as ever I met. Dr. Whitmarsh was then called, and as he entered the room he was loudly hissed. Coming forward, and bowing to the coroner, he said It is impossible, if I am to be hissed in this way, for me to give evidence. I decline to give any evidence what- ever if these unseemly demonstrations are to take place. 1 am not to be put in this position. I have come here to give my evidence in a plain, straight- forward, impartial manner, and I ask my British fellow-countrymen—(loud cries of derision)—I shall decline to give evidence. The Coroner I think you are perfectly justified, and at the least demonstration of approval or dis- approval I shall certainly clear the court. The evidence given at a previous hearing by Dr. Whitmarsh was then read over. Dr. Whitmarsh, examined by Mr. Jarvis, said the first he heard of this affair was from Dr. Edwardes, on the Sunday morning. The latter called at the surgery and said to him, Good God, I have got into a devil of a moss; a woman has charged me with an indecent assault, and I am a ruined man." Ho put his hand in his pocket and handed him the letter of Mrs. Bignell. Dr. Edwardes repeated that he was ruined, and asked if he should bolt." Witness replied, Certainly not; we must stand or fall by each other. If you are ruined so am I." Dr. Edwardes then asked him if he could suggest what was the best thing to be done. Mr. Garrett was taken into their confidence. Dr. Edwardes then asked him to go over to Mrs. Bignell and see what he could do for him. He and Mr. Garrett went to Mrs. Bignell and asked her what this letter meant. She declared that what she had written was quite true, and told him the details of the assault. He asked her if she had not made a little mistake, and if Dr. Edwardes had not merely been examining her medically. She &aid it was not an examination, but an assault but she would be satisfied if Dr. Edwardes would come and apologise. He went back and reported what had occurred to Dr. Edwardes, and then re- turned with him to Mrs. Bignell. Dr. Edwardes said, You do not really mean to say, Mrs. Bignell, that this is true?" She replied, Yes, doctor, you know it is perfectly true." Dr. Edwardes made many appeals to her to tear the letter up, and at last she tore it, and signed a retractation, but kept on declaring that sho only did this out of consideration to his wife and family, and that her charge was perfectly true. On Christinas Day witness went to Mrs, Bignell and asked if she had burned the letter, and when he found that she had not he got it from her, and afterwards gave it to Dr. Edwardes. On Boxing Day Dr. Edwardes came to him, and said he was resolved, since the scandal was leaking out, to prosecute Mrs. Bignell for libel. Witness sug- gested the employment of Mr. Barber, the solicitor, and they went together to his office. After Dr. Edwardes had made his statement, produced the letter and retractation, and authorised proceod- ings against Mrs. Bignell, witness turned to Dr. Edwardes and said he thought he had acted in an unjust and dishonourable manner in getting the retractation and letter and then using them against Mrs. Bignell. He felt bound in these circum- stances to inform Mrs. Bignell of the proceedings which were about to be taken against, her. Her hus- band said they had better consult, a solicitor. Witness replied that that was a matter with which he had nothing to do, but he did not want to see them rounded on." He had on Christmas Day gone to his medical agent in London to consult him as to what he should do, and had been advised in the interest of the practice to have the matter cleared up. Mrs. Bignell and her husband instructed Mr. Lay, the solicitor, and the latter called upon him. Dr. Edwardes was sent for and told by Mr. Lay of his instructions to take out the •summons. Dr. Edwardes replied, "It docs not matter, I am ruined all the same. The slightest taint of such a charge as this, whether proved or unprcved, is sufficient to ruin any medical man. The sooner I get, out, of this the better. What will you give me. Dr. Whitmarsh, to go out of the practice ?" He replied that he would give him £500, and take the liabilities of the firm, which were about £100. He added. There is one thing you must bear in mind—the popular man is I going out, the unpopular man remains behind with a tainted practice. What is it worth r" Dr. Edwardes said, "I do not know; How much will you give me for the book debts?"' He repeated his former offer, and said he could give no more, but he was willing to have the matter settled under the arbitration clause of their agreement. Dr. Edwardes said he thought he would take his offer, and asked him to put it in writing. He replied that his word was as good as his bond, and he would not do so. Dr. Edwardes left about half-past twelve that night. He had been drinking whisky and water with them, and left them all in the friendliest way. The next morning he heard that Dr. Edwardes had poisoned himself This horrified him not a little. The witness then gave a great deal of evidence regarding the value of his practice and what he had received from previous partners for a share of it. This was in order to prove that he had not mis- represented its value to Dr. Edwardes. Mr. Lewis read the letter Dr. Edwardes left behind him, calling down curses upon Dr. Whit- marsh, and then asked Did you treat your partner with kindness ? Yes. —Then, how do you account for his writing the letter just before his death ? He must have been suffering from temporary insanity.—Was he not sane enough when he left your house an hour before ? Yes.—Then the insanity came on in an hour ? You can become insane in a quarter of an hour.When Mr. Lay informed Dr. Edwardes that he was going to prosecute him was the latter not horrified and alarmed? No, or he would not have drank whisky and water. I was alarmed at Dr. Edwardes wanting to run out of the practice. I did not want, this. (Laughter).—If Dr. Edwardes had signed the deed of dissolution would the prosecution not have been abandoned? It had nothing to do with it.—Did Mr. Lay not say after Dr. Edwardes left that the latter was a likely man to commit suicide? Mr. Lay said Dr. Edwardes was a man who would be likely to com- mit suicide rather than be prosecuftd.—When you were shortly afterwards sent to go over to Dr. Edwardes did you not refuse to do so because you believed he had committed suicide? I would rather have given him £2,000 than that he should have done such a thing.—Did you not get Mr. Lay to try and terrify Dr. Edwardes into signing a deed of dissolution? No. — Is it a common thing for hysterical woman to make charges of indecency against men ? Yes.— I ask you, lastly, whether it was not a conspiracy between you, Mr. Garrett and Mr. Lay, to get this poor fellow terrified into signing the deed of partnership ?—Certainly not. By Mr. Lynch: Mrs. Bignell was not like a woman suffering from hysteria. Can you conceive it possible that a man could drink your whisky and water and shake your hand and then, within an hour, call down those terrible curses upon you, unless he were mad ?—No; or unless he were guilty of the offence. I do not say anything about that. '4 Dr. Whitmarsh was hissed as he left the room and loudly execrated as he drove off from the hotel. The Coroner then summed up the evidence. The jury, after retiring for an hour, returned into court with a verdict "That Dr. Edwardes died from prussic acid, administered by himself whilst in a state of temporary insanity." To this verdict was appended these words: Thev desire to express their opinion emphatically that he was driven to his death by the pressure brought to bear upon him by his partner, Dr. William Michael Whitmarsh ia using the false charge df Mrs. Rose Bignell as a means of driving him to H dishonourable dissolution of partnership." The jury weve then thanked for their atten The jury weve then thanked for their atten dance. The proceedings then terminated. There was considerable excitement in the neighbourhood when the verdict was announced.

THE OUTRAGE ON A BRECONSHIRE FARMER. THE VICTIM INTERVIEWED BY "MOIIIEX." ATTEMPT TO HUSH UP THE SCANDAL. 1£3,000 C031PENSATION DEMANDED. Morien," writing from Treforest on Thursday night, saysI have just paid a visit to the bed- side of my relative, Mr. Jenkin Morgan, the victim of a shocking outrage at the hands of Mr. John Harris and Mr. Thomas Harris, Bodwigiad, Breconshire, and Trefarig, Llantrisant. Mr. Jenkin Morgan resides on a farm called Taicwpwl, which is a part of Bodwigiad estate. The sufferer is a relative, and no very distant one either, of the Messrs. Harris, as will be shown later cn. Taicwpwl Farm is situate in the parish of Penderyn, and about eight miles from Aberdare. The farm has been in the occupation of Mr. Jenkin Morgan about twenty years. He him- self is about 65 years of age, is married, but has no children. There reside with him and his wife two brothers a little younger than himself. It appears that the three brothers retained, down to the present outrage, a tender regard for the present two representatives of the old Morgan family of Bod- wigiad, of which they themselves are descendants. 1 found Mr. Jenkin Morgan in bed inall upstairs room still unable to move in consequence of the injuries he had received in a delicate part of his body, and the condition of that part seemed to be such as to cause grave anxiety as to the result. Dr. Henry Naunton Davies, Cymmer, and Dr. Jones, Hirwain, visited the sufferer before my arrival. Now, before I begin my narrative as to the out- rage. particulars of which he gave me, it is just to the old man to say that he seemed to hesitate from fear that the consequences to the Messrs. Harris might be very serious. He stated that he had done all he could to save them from the conse- quence of their act, but that when it became a question of life and death he consented to have a medical man sent for. He said that on the 30th of December it occurred to him that the two young gentlemen might like "a little sparerib," and he took over to Bodwigiad House about Slbs. He was shown into the parlour, where he found Mr. John Harris and Mr. Tom Harris. Both received him with groatcordiahty, Mr. John Harris, the owner of the estates of Bodwi- giad and Trefarig, coming to meet him as he entered, and shaking him by the hand. Directly afterwards Mr. John Harris filled a large glass of spirits. "Their glasses," he said, "are very large, and the spirits awfully strong—people say the strongest, that can be got for money. The first dracht' — draught — nearly took my breath away," and it seemed by the grimaces he made when speaking of that drink that he still retained a lively recollection of the experience he underwent. He was compelled to drink that glass, and two others followed. He was "as drunk as a wheelbarrow before he took the third glass. But after that was disposed of he became insensible, and had no knowledge of what took place until he found himself on the fol- lowing day (Sunday) in an upstairs room, not in a bed, but lying on something." He managed to stand up. and found that his shirt had been torn open in front, and his vest and trousers were open. After arranging them as well as he could he staggered downstairs into the kitchen. He was dazed, and has but a slight recollection of what took place in the kitchen. He remembered seeing a servant girl there, and of sitting on a settle. He remembers, too, seeing Mr. Thos. Harris putting something on his face. He partook of more drink at the hands of someone and became again insensible. The next place in which he found himself was upstairs on Tuesday morning. He managed to crawl downstairs. Here the servant girl told him his face was all black, and she brought him water and soap, and he washed himself, and then noticed that the backs of his hands were deeplv scratched, but had no idea that much greater injuries had been inflicted upon him. He was still so much under the influence of drmk as to have lost all sense of feeling. The girl made breakfast for him, but he could not touch anything. Without having seen anyone that morning but the servant girl he left Bod wigiad House and went slowly over the fields towards his own home. He felt by this time very ill, and walking even slowly was very difficult, especially when going up hill. After reaching home he went immediately to bed, and it was late in the afternoon that his wife noticed the shocking condition in which he was. His hair, eyebrows, and beard had been clipped off. Large wounds were outside and inside his thighs, and, sense of feeling having re- turned, he experienced the most terrible agony. The other injuries one cannot for obvious reasons describe. But, as hinted above, the injuries to delicate parts of the body are very serious, and appeared to a non-profes- sional eye to be very gravo indeed. One of the parts indicated is greatly swollen, and there are marks of violence on another part in the same region. It seemed incredible that human beings could perpetrate such deeds upon a fellow man. and that man an aged relative, with hair and beard as white as the driven snow. Tho old man, not- withstanding his sufferings, spoke kindly of his tormentors. What could have possessed the poor fellows to 'meddle' with me in this way?" was one of lu's expressions. Ho also said, I hope they will not have gaol for it." I may add that throughout the district in which the outrage occurred intense pity is felt for the sufferer, who bears a high character for his good humour and industry.

ALARMING BOILER EXPLOSION AT HIRVVAlN. HIRWAIN, FRIDAY KIGHT. At twenty minutes to one o'clock to-day an alarming boiler explosion occurred at Aberdare Rhondda Colliery, Hirwain, the local manager of which is Mr. R. Bedlington, Gadiys House, Aber- dare. At the time stated a loud report betokened some catastrophe, and the usually quiet village of Hirwain was instantly thrown into a state ot ex- citement which can hardly be described. Hun- dreds hastened to the colliery to learn the cause of the report. The first thing to attract attention was the scene of destruction all round—ocular evidence, if it were needed, of the alarming and serious nature of the accident. At the colliery there were two long boilers, which supplied the steam for working the colliery, and one of these had exploded with such terrific force as not only to perfectly shatter the framework of the colliery, but to almost destroy the engine-house and the adjoining buildings. The framework was blown down and tho roof of the engine-house fell in, whilst large pieces of the exploded boiler were carried several hundred yards away. There was 31 perfect shower of bricks and stones, which would have caused much injury had there been many persons employed in connection with the colliery outside. Happily there were few persons about the pit at the time, and the consequences have, fortunately, not been, therefore, so serious. The stoker, Morgan Powell, a married man, was killed on the spot. At the time of the explosion he was standing in front of the fire and received the full force of it. A portion of the poor man's head was blown clean away, and neither it nor the cap he was wearing can be found, l'he deceased was also scalded terribly. Only a few moments before the catastrophe three other men employed in connection with the colliery were also in front of the fires in conversa- tion with Powell. These men, whose names are William Bigwood, Joseph Hopkins, and John Williams, have also been injured more or less, Bigwood so very seriously that but faint hopes are entertained of his recovery. Besides having several ribs broken Bigwood has sustained serious internal injuries. The injured men were promptly attended by Mr. Jones, surgeon, who was soon on the spot. Police-Sergeant Emanuel was one of the first at the scene of destruction, and was most active in attending to the sufferers. Such was the force of the explosion that the exploded boiler was actually lifted out of its bed and carried some feet away. The cause of the explosion is not known.

STRANGE POISONING CASE AT SWANSEA. Benjamin Austin, mariner, aged 58, of 8, Sloane- street, Swansea, died suddenly on Wednesday evening from the effects of poisoning. The rumour that deceased committed suicide gained currency on Thursday, but up to the present nothing has transpired to show that this is the fact. It appears that deceased was discovered by his little daughter vomiting and foaming at the mouth and appearing to suffer great pain. She called in some of the neighbours, and medical assistance was immediately summoned. The poor man, however, died an hour before a doctor came. Subsequently a bottle containing some carbolic acid was found in the room. Deceased had been using the acid for a skin affection, and it is believed he swallowed some of it. Mr. Ebenezer Davies, surgeon, who was called in shortly after six, said he found Austin in bed partly undressed, he being quite dead and the body still warm. The aspect of the face was very calm. Witness subsequently made a post-mortem examination. The inside of the lips was whiter than usual, and there was a faint smell of tar about the mouth. There was a smell of carbolic acid upon the body being opened. The stomach was shrivelled and corroded, as though from the action of a fluid, and the smell of carbolic acid was very strong. Witness attributed death to the man having taken carbolic acid.—Dr. Evans, Cradock- street, also gave evidence, the same bein" corrobo- rative of that of Dr. Davies.—The verdfet of the jury attributed death to the taking of carbolic acid whilst deceased was labouring under a fit of temporary insanitv.

13ERIOUS FIRE IN SWANSEA TWO CHILDREN BURNT TO DEATH. GALLANT RESCUE BY A POLICEMAN. Early on Sunday morning a fire occurred in Swansea, which resulted in the loss of two lives and the destruction of the entire contents of an oilman's shop, as well as in serious injuries to a police-constable and damage to two houses in I Beach-strcet. Swansea has enjoyed a happy im- munity from fatal fires for a very long period, the last calamity of the kind being the great fire in Temple-street about seventeen years ago, in which six persons perished. The scene of Sunday morn- ing's conflagration is a shop on the corner of New Oxford-street and Beach-street, which was occupied by Mr. R. Williams, his wife, and their six children. The building consists of two storeys and an attic. Police-Constable Jones (72) was on duty near the Hospital a little after one o'clock, when he saw a reflection of fire in the fan-light over the shop door. He ran to the place in com- pany with Mr. F. G. Lawrence, a plumber carrying on business in the Strand, and Mr. T. Collins. When they reached the shop 'they saw Mr. Wil- liams hanging from a hrst floor window. The constable alarmed the people living in the adjoin- ing houses in Beach-street, while Lawrence assisted Williams to reach the ground, and Collins went to the Oxford-street Police Station for the reel and hose. Police-Constable Jones next kicked in the side door, which is in Oxford-street, and was immediately confronted by Mrs. Wil-. liams, who had a baby in her arms, and cried out, 2" Save my children." The two men went through the passage, with the intention of going upstairs, but the whole of the staircase was on fire. Police-Constable Jones tried to creep up on his hands and knees, but the flames were too fierce, and he was driven back. About this time two of Mr. Williams's grown-up sons managed to escape from the burning building by dropping from the first-floor window into the street. Children were heard inside crving." Mother, mother," and Mr. Williams was running to and fro in the street in a state of frenzy, shouting," For God's sake, save my two boys; they are in the back room." A ladder was then placed against one of the win- dows in Oxford-street, and an attempt was made to enter, but it was seen that the floor had fallen in. The ladder was next, taken to the Beach-street front, but it was found impossible, owing to the strength of the fire, to enter the house from that side. Tho ladder was afterwards moved to another window on the Oxford-street side of the house, and Police-Constable Williams (4-6) ascended it and saw a little child lying on its back on the floor in the middle of the room with the flames raging around it. Williams took up the child, which was about two years old, and handed it through the window to Police-Constable Payne (16), who was standing on the ladder. The crowd which had by this time assembled in the streets called out "There are four more there," and Payne thereupon went into the room, but failed to find any other person there. Jones then made an attempt to burst open the door of the shop, and found that it was barred inside. Payne succeeded in forcing open the back door, and raising a ladder to a first floor window. He then went up and saw a child on the bed and the room in flames. He entered with his coat thrown over his head, but was driven back by the fire. Having exchanged the coat for a wet sack he courageously made a second attempt, but with the same result. Then Police-Constable James Dee (71) performed a most heroic act. He boldly walked into the burningroom, seized a boy between eleven and twelve years of age, who was on the bed, and handed him out to Police-Constable Parry. who was waiting on tile ladder. Dee then went back into the chamber, and was searching for the other boy, when someone in the crowd cried, "The other child was got out in front." He could not see anything of another boy, and when he heard this statement he came to the conclusion that all the inmates had been saved, and, therefore, came out of the room. Unhappily this proved not to be the case. The alarm of fire was received at the Guild-hall and High-street Stations about 1.15, and by 1.35 the fire brigade and their appliances arrived at the scene of the conflagration. The reel from Oxford- street Station reached the spot within five or six minutes after the fire was discovered. So rapidly did the flames spread, however, that by thi9 time they were issuing from the windows, and part of the floor had fallen in. Argent, the turncock, was called out at 1.14 a.nd ran about for ten or twelve minutes opening and shutting valves in the mains, in order to send a pressure of water to the neighbourhood of the fire, but it was not until 25 minutes past one that the force was sufficient to send the water as high as the first floor windows. From that time the supply was plentiful enough. Acting under the belief that all the occupants of the house had been saved Captain Colquhoun directed the whole atten- tion of the fire brigade and of those civilians who assisted them to tho task of putting out the fire and preventing its spread to the next houses in Beach-street. One stand-pipe was fixed in Beach-street and another in New- Oxford-street, and to one two lengths of hose were attached. A hole was cut in the roof, and three copious streams of water were poured on the flames. The contents of the shop—barrels of oil, picture frames, toys, &c.—being of a highly inflammable nature, the fire raged with great fury, so that, notwithstanding the united efforts of 32 members of the police force and several civilians, it was not finally extinguished untit quarter-past three. Everything on the premises had then beer. consumed, and little was left except the bare walls. Before the flames were entirely subdued it was stated that one child had been left in the house, and as soon as they were put out Police-Constable Parry entered the room from which Dee had rescued the boy, and found the terribly charred remains of another youth of fourteen lying under the bed. It is probable that he was suffocated before he was burnt. The poor lad who was brought out by Dee was much burnt about the body. He was immediately taken to the hospital, which is close by, but lie died almost as soon as he was ad- mitted. His death is partly attributed to suffoca- tion. Dee himself was very much burnt about the face, neck, shoulders, and hands. With assistance he succeeded in walking to Oxford-street Police Station, and from there he was taken to the hos- pital. He is progressing as favourably as can be expected. Police-Constable Williams had his eye- brows burnt off, but sustained no further injury. Tho highest praise is due to the Head- Constable, to Superintendent Holland, to Inspec- tors T.Jones and Flynn, and to the other members of the fire-brigade, and all those who assisted them for the way in which they worked. Considerable damage was done by water to the house adjoining Mr. Williams's shop, on the Beacli-street side, but the damage was not so serious as it would have been if some of the furniture had not been removed.'] The house beyond this one also suffered some in- jury from the water. The unfortunate family, who arc at once bereaved of two of their number, ancl rendered homeless by this sad calamity, have found a refuge with some friends in Borid-street. The scene of the firo was visited by thousands of persons on Sunday. Mr. Edward Strick, the Swansea coroner, opened an inquiry at the hospital on Monday evening into the circumstances attending the death of Robert Charles Williams, aged twelve, and Ellis Williams, aged fourteen, sons of Robert Williams, general dealer. 63, New Oxford-street, who perished in the fire which occurred at their father's shop early on Sunday morning. Captain Colquhoun, the head- constable, watched the inquiry on behalf of the police. Robert Williams, the father of the deceased lads, said his family consisted of himself, his wife, and six children. His stock was composed of general goods, such as ornaments, toys, and picture frame mouldings. He also kept paraffin in the back yard in a barrel. He carried the oil into the shop a few gallons at a time, as it was required for sale. He carried in two tins of three gallons each at mid- day on Saturday, and poured them into a square tin on the counter, which was capable of contain- ing ten gallons. He used to keep benzoline, but had none on the premises at the time. He had one or two gallon tins of varnish in the shop—he thought it was only one—and that had never been opened. He kept a stall in the market, and was there on Saturday until eleven o'clock, when he went home to the shop, which had been left in charge of the deceased Robert Charles. His wife and his two eldest sons—one eighteen and the other sixteen—were in the market on Saturday, and the other four children were left at home in care of the servant. His wife returned to the shop about nine o'clock.and the two boys returned with witness at eleven. He found everything in the shop apparently in order. The shop was lighted with two paraffin lamps. Witness pút up the shutters and put out one of the lamps himself, leaving the other burning on the counter. He afterwards put this lamp out, and about quarter-past twelve he, his wife, the baby, and the two eldest sons, went to bed. The other children had gone to bed earlier. There was no fire about the shop when ho left it, and no one went into it after he did. During the day there had been a. fire in the back parlour be. hind the shop, where witness worked, and some boards had been drying by it. He saw that this fire was out before he went to bed. He also put out the lamp in the kitchen. Witness, his wife. I and the two youngest children slept in the room over the shop, the two deceased boys slept in the room over the back parlour, and the two eldest boys in the room over the kitchen. The servant slept at her own home. There were only three bedrooms in the house. There was an attic, but that was fillod with goods. The two youngest children were unwell, and witness kept a light in his bedroom all night. Before he went to bed he saw that there was no light in the room where the deceased boys slept. He did not go into the room occupied by his eldest sons. After he went to bed he fell asleep, and was awakened by a tremendous crash, as if all the shelves in the shop had given way and the goods were falling. Smoke was coming up from the shop, and witness was nearly suffocated. He took one child, and his wife took the baby. He went into the room where the eldest boys were, and broke the window. He got out through a window himself, and they did the same. His wife and the baby went out through the door. He went back into the house two or three times. He called for help, and a policeman and two other men ran up. The fire must have originated in the shop, which was full of flames before witness knew anything about it. He could hardly remember what transpired, but he believed he saved the child he brought out from the bed- room by handing it out through the win- dow. When the hose was pointed at the back window there was no force of water on. If there had been a sufficient pressure of water his children would have been saved. The policemen removed the barrel of paraffin from the back yard. Witness tried to get into the back room with a wet sack over his head, but could not do so. He could see that the door of the room was open, and the smoke coming in through it. The inquiry was then adjourned. The Head-Constable then handed in a certificate, from the borough analyst, who had tested the oil saved from the premises. The certificate said it gave off inflammable vapour at a temperature of 69 degrees Fahrenheit. Police-Constable William Tones said he was I « I standing near the Hospital a few minutes after one o'clock on Sunday morning, when he saw a faint light through the glass over Mr. Williams's door. He ran to the place, and saw Williams escaping through the first floor window in Beach-street. Two men, named F. G. Lawrence and T. Collins, ran to the shop at the same time. One went to the Oxford street Police- station for the reel. Witness broke open the door in Oxford-street, and Mrs. Williams with the baby came out. He tried to go upstairs, but was pre- vented by the flames. Then he went round to the back and saw Williams there, who had broken a pane of glass in the window of tho room where the deceased boys were. and was standing on a ladder. He also tried to go into the room, but the place was all on fire. After that he helped to work the hose. He saw one of the deceased brought out by Police-Constable Dee. Francis G. Lawrence, Kensington-terrace, a plumber carrying on business in the Strand, said he was standing near the Hospital at ten minutes past one on Sunday morning. A man named Collins was with him. They saw the last witness there. They heard a window being smashed, and all three ran to Williams's shop. After helping Mr. Williams down from the window he went to the dfitor in Oxford-street, and saw Mrs. Williams coming out with the baby. Witness went to the bottom ciI. the staircase, and saw that the upper part W8Ø on fire. Williams ran up the stairs two or tnree times, and came out through the window from which witness first saw him hanging. He was quite frantic, and did not reply when witness asked him where the children were. Witness knew nothing of a back room. If they had known Xhe children were there they could have got them out by the ladder be- fore they were burnt. He did not think there was any fire in tho back room then. Immediately they arrived at the shop Collins went for the reel. It had arrived, and the stand pipe had been fixed in about seven minutes after he left to fetch it. The full pressure of water was not on until 25 minutes or half an hour after Collins went to the station. Thomas Collins, 13, St. Helen's-crescent, plumber and gasfitter, gave corroborative evidence. In his opinion it was twenty minutes from the tima he started for the reel to the time the full pressure came. Lewis Richard Lewis, landlord of theBcooklands Hotel, which is nearly opposite Williams's shop, gave similar evidence. Police-Constable Williams said he went to the scene of the fire with the reel, and in company with Police-Constable Payne. As soon as they arrived they placed tho ladder against the window over the kitchen, and. Payne asked," Is there any- one inside ?" The crowd shouted The other window," and they moved the ladder to the next window in Oxford-street. The crowd then called out again The other window," and they took the ladder to Beach-street. The flames were coming out through the door and windows on tha.t side. The ladder was taken back to the window against which it was first placed, and witness went up and saw a child lying on its back on the bed. He threw himself through the window into the room, and crawled on his hands and knees until he could reach the child, which he then handed out. He looked round carefully, but could see no one else there, and so he came out. His eyebrows were burnt off and he was blind for a minute or two. The people in the crowd said there was another child there, but witness was satisfied there was not. Payne then went up, but did not see anyone., Witness and Lawrence and Collins then burst open the side door in Oxford-street with the ladder, and went to the back bedroom, where Williams said the boys were. Dee went in and brought one out, and the crowd said the other had been got out through the front. Police-Constable Payne said that when the ladder was placed against the back bedroom window he was placed against the back bedroom window he went up with a coat over his head, but the room was all in flames, and he was driven back. He saw a boy on the bed. He made another attempt to enter the room with a wet sack on his head. but the sack dried in a moment, and he was burn- ing; He then went to look after the water, thinking that they might drive back the fire, but the force of water was at this time quite insufficient. It was about fifteen minutes after he arrived that the full pressure came. Police-Constable Parry said he went up the ladder against the back bedroom window, and Police-Constable Dee followed him. He could see the boy on the bed, and he called out, Come on, Dee." While witness was getting into the room Dee jumped right into the middle, and caught hold of the child and brought it to the window. Witness received it and passed it down the ladder. The child was alive then. Dee returned to see if there was another child, and witness went down the ladder. The people in the street then said all the children were out, and witness went to ply the hose then. When the fire was nearly put out the people shouted that a child was missing. Witness went into this room with his lamp, and found the body of the deceased, Robert Charles, under the bed. Wm. Argent, Wyndham-street, the water turncock, said this district was supplied from the Velindre Reservoir. No force was loft on at night. It was turned off at night in order to supply the higher districts. He was called up at 1.14 on Sun- day morning. He first of all opened a 9-inch valve at the top of Wyndham-street, and then another near Dillwyn-street. He next shut one in Richardson-street; opened one in Beach-street; shut one in Bond-street, one in Fleet-street, one in St. Helena-crescent, and one in St. Holen's-avenue; closed one in (iorsH-hme, one in Catherine-Street, and one in Phillips-parade. This had the effect of concentrating the pressure upon the spot where the fire was burning. When he me to th» last valve it was 26 minutes past one by his wáteh. Further evidence was taken, and after a short consultation. The Jury stated that they had come to the con- clusion that thfli deceased lads came to their death by fire, and that the fire, according to the evi- dence produced, was the result of accident. Thev added that the police lost no time in collecting the different appliancesfor extinguishing fire, but that great delay was experienced in getting the full force of water. They also expressed the opinion that if a full pressure .of water had been obtained the lives of the deceased might havo been saved. The jury complimented the police and Messrs. Lawrence and Collins for the way in which thev had behaved, and made special mention of Police-Constables Williams and Dee. The latter, thev remarked, at the risk of his own life, performed a most daring and heroic act in the cause of humanity. Mr. Williams's premises were insured for £400 and the contents for another -6400. Police-Constable Dee is progressing favourably. He was visited by the Mayor and Mayoress on Sunday.

WINTER ASSIZIS. PEMBROKESHIRE. On Saturday the Winter Assizes for the county of Pembroke and also for the town and county of Haverfordwest were opened fit. the Shire-hail, Haverfordwest, before the Right Hon. Lord Justice Brett. His lordship, accompanied by the high-sheriff of the county, Mr. Philipps, of PictonCastle, took his seat shortly after 11 a.m. The following gentlemen answered to their names and were sworn on the grand jury:—Sir Owen H. P. Seourfield (foreman), Mr. H. G. Allen, Q.C., M.P., Mr. C. H. Allen, Captain F. Barclay, Mr. George W. Crookes, Mr. George Goldwyer, Mr. C. H. Harries, Mr. J. L. G. P. Lewes. Mr. Price Lewes, Colonel F. W. Lambton. Lieut.-Colonel H. C. Leach, Mr. R. W. Mirehouse, Mr. E. H. Massev, Mr. j C. Mathias, Mr. M. W. L. C. Owen, Mr. F. W. Ll. Philipps,Mr.U. Penn, Mr.N. A. Rocli, Mr.W.F. Roch, Baron De Rutzen, Mr. W H. Richards. Mr. A. B. 0, Stokes, Mr. H. W. Walters, Mr. J. G. Worthington, and Mr. J. Westby. A CHRONOMETER CASK. The only civil cause for trial was that of Thomas Parry, retired master mariner, of Dinas, Pembroke- shire, v. Messrs. Oousens and Sons, nautical in- strument makers, Swansea. Mr. Abel Thomas (instructed by Messrs. Davies and Co., solicitors; Haverfordwest) appeared for the plaintiff de- fendants did not appear either by counsel or per- sonally. The action was brought to recover a sum of £3Õ alleged to be due trom Messrs. Cousens to the plaintiff as the value of a chronometer which had been placed in their charge. The contention was that plaintiff sent it to them with instructions that if they could not get a price for it in sale they might hire it out with reasonable care. It was let out to a Captain Roberts, of the ship Agnes, which vessel whilst on a voyage was lost, and the chronometer with it. His Lordship said the case had been got up in a most ex- traordinary way, and the plaintiff had been very ill-advised in bringing the action. In the first place the principles of he law upon which it was based were most astounding, and then there was no evidence to support the case. The jury had no choice but to find a verdict for the defendants. Verdict accordingly. CARDIGANSHIRE. The commission of the Winter Assizes for the County of Cardigan was opened in the Shire-hall, Cardigan, on Monday afternoon, before the Right Hon. Sir William Baliol Brett, Knight, one of her Majesty's Lords Justices of Appeal. His lordship was accompanied to the court by the high-sheriff, Mr. C. Lloyd, Waunifor, and the under •sheriffs, Messrs. W. M. Griffiths, Carmarthen, and W. Picton Evans, Cardigan, and the assize chaplain, the Rev. J. Lloyd, M.A., of Hay, Breconshire. At 10.30 o'clock on Tuesday morning the judge attended Divine Service at St. Mary's Parish Church. His lordship took his seat in court at 11.30. The Judge commented on the absence of crime from the county, the calendar containing the name of only one prisoner, on a charge of larceny. The prisoner in question was then put on her trial. Her name was Eleanor Jones, alias Eleanor North, a tramping pedlar,and she was indicted for stealing a quantity of note paper and envelopes, value 61" the property of David Lewis, publican, Llandyssil. Prisoner admitted taking the paper. Prisoner had been previously convicted. She was sentenced to eighteen months' hard labour. The Judge, in delivering sentence, said he had power to commit her to seven years' penal servitude; whereupon the woman exclaimed in Welsh, 0 Almighty! Don't give me that much, or I will not come out of prison alive." CARMARTHEN. The Right Hon. Lord Justice Brett, accompanied by Lndy Brett, arrived by train at Carmarthen on Wednesday, at 12.30, from Cardigan, to open the assizes for the county of Carmarthen, and also the borough of the county of Carmarthen. His lord- ship was met at the station by the High Sheriff of the county, Mr. Thos. Morris, of .Coombe; the chaplain, the Rev. Rees Lloyd the town-clerk, and a body of the borough police. His lovdship drove to the judge's lodgings, in King-street, and at 3.30 p.m. the commission was formally opened. Divine Servico was then attended at St. Peter's Church. There are four prisoners for trial.

The trial of Dominick Mossorella, at the Leicester Assizes on Wednesday, for the murder of James Green, at Leicester, on Sunday, November 5, terminated about seven p.m. No evidence was called for the defence. The jury found the pri- soner guilty of manslaughter, and sentence was deferred until TUuradaj.

TERRIBLE ACCIDENT IN THE GELLY PIT. MELANCHOLY TERMINATION OF A PLEASURE TRIP. LADY VISITORS CRUSHED BY A TRAM. SHOCKING INJURIES TO MISS SKYRME AND MISS CASSY JOHN. Morien writes :—Between eight and nine o'clock on Friday night the following party descended Gelly Pit, Rhondda Valley:—Mr. D. Thomas, the manager of the colliery; Mr. lsance, cashier of the Bodryngallt Colliery; Mr. Rees Griffiths, Lewis' Foundry Mr. Wm. John, Rentre Hotel; Mr. Thos. Lewis, Llewelyn's Arms, Pentre; Mrs. D. Thomas; MissSkyrme, Post-office, Pentre Miss Cassy and Miss Anne John, Pentre Hotel Miss Lewis, Llewelyn's Arms; Miss Broom, Bath; and Miss Morgan, Swansea. The pit is between 200 and 300 yards deep. It seems that the young ladies had for some time past expressed an ardent desire to see the interior of a colliery, and had frequently solicited Mr. Daniel Thomas, manager, who is nearly related to most of them, to take them down the Gelly Pit. After having put the matter off from time to time he at last, unfortunately, acceded to their per- sistent request. The male members of the party accompanied the manager, some of them tor the double purpose of gratifying their own curiosity and of taking care of the young ladies. The descent, which was supposed to be the most trying ordeal they would have to undergo, was performed with perfect safety. Each carried a Clanny lamp. and each seemed to greatly enjoy the novelty of the scenes around them. They walked along the main level heading from the bottom of the shaft, Mr. D. Thomas walking tn front with Miss Skyrmeand Miss Cassy John on either arm. Then followed Mr. Thos. Lewis and Miss Morgan, the latter being both deaf and dumb Mr. Griffiths and Mrs. Daniel Thomas, Mr. William John and Miss Broom, and Mr. Isance with Miss Anne John and Miss Anne Lewis. They had gone about 300 yards from the bottom of the shaft when they were startled by a tremendous roar in front of them. Mr. Thomas's first impres- sion was that a haulier with a team of trams was approaching rapidly. Fifteen or twenty yards ahead of them was a large door across the heading, placed there for ventilating purposes, andthey were in the act of moving from the road to the sides when a tram loaded with coal crashed through the door at lightning speed. Mr. Thomas, with great presence of mind. pushed Miss Skyrme and Miss Cassy John one to each side, and all three rolled in the dust. How he himself escaped being killed is inexplicable, for he was in the middle of the road. All the party rolled in the dust, and the lamps of most of them were extinguished. The runaway tram dashed a little farther down against another tram. Meanwhile the party were groaning and struggling to their feet. It was soon ascer- tained that Miss Skyrme had sustained dreadful injudes to one of her legs, from which blood was flowing freely. She, however, got up without assistance. Miss Cassy John was also seriously injured, but not to the same extent as poor Miss Skyrme. One of her legs, from the knee downwards, was literally shattered to pieces. The others fainted. Most ot the party were moro or less bruised. Mr. Daniel Thomas was injured in the back and hips, but not very seriously. Miss Skyrme and Miss Cassy John were conveyed out in a tram, while the others, all covered with coal dust, walked out, the young girls weeping bitterly. Tidings of the disaster preceded them to the top of the pit, and medical aid was immediately sent for. The following gentlemen were soon on the spot:—Dr9. James ( Pentre), Warburton (Treher- bert), Parry (Ferndale), and their assistants. It was soon seen that Miss Skyrme had sustained such dreadful injuries to the leg that amputation was necessary. To this Mr. Skyrme, her father, who is postmaster at Pentre, objected until Dr. Price, of Cardiff, the family medi- cal man, had seen her. Ho arrived at'Ystrad on Saturday, and, after examining the injured limb, came to the same conclusion as the other medical men in attendance. The patient was placed under chloroform and Dr. James performed the operation. Down to Sunday afternoon the poor young lady was unaware that her limb had been amputated. The most intense sympathy is felt for her and her parents. At the time the train left the valley on Sunday afternoon Miss Skyrme was as well as might be expe ted, and Miss Cassy John. although still unable to move in bed, was progressing favourably. The others are, though much shaken, out of danger. It is stated that the tram which did the mischief escaped from a haulier named John Evans, who was engaged at work in a cross heading, and it dashed into the main heading and met the sufferers as described. Our Ystrad correspondent writes :—I have much pleasure in stating that Miss Skyrme, the young lady who was so seriously injured on Friday even- ing at the Gelli Colliery, is making rapid progress towards recovery. Miss Skyrme noticed the well- known Morien on Sunday, and in consequence expressed a desire on Tuesday to se the Western Maili bat her request was not complied with, as, in reading the account of her misfortune, she would elicit the fact that her leg had been amputated, a sad circumstance of which she is not yet aware. Mr. and Mrs. Skyrme act with much discretion and fortitude. Inquiries are frequently made as to the young lady's condition by a large number of people. She will not be able to leave Mrs. Bodycombe's residence for some time. A correspondent, signing himself "Justice," writes:—I beg to state, in justice to Dr. J. N. Davies and his assistant, Dr. Hamill, that your report is misleading in referenco to the matter of medical attendance. At about 8.50 on Friday night a messenger was sent to the surgery, requesting Dr. Davies's im- mediate attendance at Gelli Colliery, and the medical gentleman was at the scene ot the disaster in about ten minutes. He had to make his way through crowds of people who were very much ex- cited and who informed him that Miss Skyrme and Miss John were most seriously injured, and re- quired immediate attention. On his arrival Dr. Davies was first called to Miss John, whom he found bruised and suffering greatly from the shook. With his usual kindness and forethought, Dr. Davies had ordered his carriage to be got ready in case of an emergency. On its arrival Miss John, together with a few of her friends, were driven to the Pentre Hotel, where she was examined by Mr. Rowlands, Dr. Cuthbertson's assistant, and I am glad to say was able to be up on the following day. After examining Miss John Dr. Davies immediately went to assist Dr. Hamill, who had been in attendance upon Miss Skvrme since the party were brought to bank. He had suc- ceeded in stopping tho hemorrhage from her wounds, and had given her some stimulants, as she was exhausted and suffering greatly from the shrck. The medical gentlemen then applied the usual instruments to prevent any hemor- rhage that might afterwards occur. Mr. Daniel Thomas, manager of the colliery, who was one of the unfortunate party, although suf- fering himself, remained on the spot doing all in his power to assist. He was informed by Dr. Davies that it was a case for amputation, and re- quested to send for Dr. J. R. James, Pentre, and Mr. Skyrme, the father of the injured vounp lady. They were sent for, as was also Dr. B N. Davies, Porth, the latter of whom arrived at 1.30 a.m. In the meantime Dr. Davies suggested to the company and her friends present that Miss Skyrme should be removed to some house near at hand, the night being so cold and wild. They all agreed that this suggestion should be carried out, and a Mrs. Bodycomb kindly placed her parlour at their disposal, where a bed was instantly fixed, and everythmg put in readiness to receive the poor. young lady. This kind person also thoughtfully sent wraps for covering Miss Skyrine on her way from the pit to the house. She was then placed Ion the stretcher which is usually employed for the colliers. On arriving at the house she ex- pressed herself easy and comfortable, and glad that she had not been taken the whole way to Pentre. Dr. Davies, Porth, and Dr. James afterwards arrived, but an order had been sent by Mr. John, Pentre Inn, that there was to be no interference until her father had arrived from Cardiff. Mr. Skyrme reached the place between five and six o'clock in the morning, about the same time as Dr. Warburton, Treherbert. A thorough ex- amination of the injured limb was now made, and an unanimous opinion expressed that amputation was the only course left to save her life. Mr. Skyrme was communicated with, and he said he could not consent to an amputation until Dr. Price, hia medical adviser from Cardiff, had arrived, which he did, together with Mrs. Skyrme, by the second train on Saturday morning. Both he ftnd Dr. Parry, Fefrndale, came to the same con- clusion as the medical gentlemen in the first instartce, namely, that she would have to go under the operation at once. There were present at the amputation, which took place shortly after, Dr. Price (Cardiff), Dr. James, Dr. Hamill (representing Dr. J. N. Davies), Dr. Warburton, Dr. Parry (Fern. dale), and Dr. Candy.

STOPPAGE QF THE BRITON FERRY IRONWORKS. 1,000 HANDS THROWN OUT OF EMPLOY. Mr. G. H. Davey, manager of the Briton Ferry Ironworks, and who has been connected with those works for the last 29 years, received instruc tions from the trustees in liquidation of Town- send, Wood, and Co. to stop the whole of the above works as soon as possible. The puddling was stopped on Saturday morning, and the other por- tion will cease working in a few days. The manager and clerks received notice to leave in a fortnight. Through this stoppage upwards of 1,000 hands will be thrown out of employ. This, taken in consideration with the stoppage of the Vernon Tin-plate Works, which occurred five weeks ago, has cast a sad gloom over the whole of the neigh- bourhood, as the population, which is about 6,000 depend entirely upon those two works.

At a meeting of the Burns Bust Committee, held at Glasgow on Wednesday, the secretary intimated that £$10 had been received in shilling subscrip- tions from all parts of the world. The announce- ment was received with great satisfaction that Dean Bradley had granted a request for a site in Westminster Abbey on the stone screen in Poet's Corner, near Shakespeare's bust.

STOPPAGE OF A FOREST OF DEAN COLLIERY. 500 MEN OUT OF EMPLOYMENT. The colliers of the Great Western Forest of Dean Coal Consumers' Company, numbering about 500, have been thrown out of work in consequence of an order for the winding up of the company.

DANGERS V. ADVANTAGES OF LIMITED OUTPUT. [BY MABON.] In addition to what, has been already said with respect to the inevitable eonsequences of over-production—or, in other words, the increased production of coal v. the decrease of prices—it is palpable enough that the same cause has produced similar results in other countries as well as in our own. This fact is revealed by the interest- ing statistical data communicated by the Belgian Minister of Public Works to the Belgian Chambers with reference to the Belgian coal trade. The Colliery Guardian, which, it is recognised, speaks upon these questions from the coalowners' point of view, in its last week's issue shows some anxiety upon this point. It says The weak point about Belgian coal mining in l881 was that the production effected was not in har- mony with the value realised. This is shown in the fact that while the production of 1881 was 7,253 tons in excess of that of 1880, the value of the coal made avail- able for consumption was zC239 less than the correspond- ing value of 1880.11 In 1873 it appears that the Belgian mines produced 15,778,401 tons of coal at the value of 4513,505.483. But in 1381,16,813,551 tons were produced, at the value of only £ 6,548,160. In other words, it mav be stated that in 1873 the coal in Belgium sold wholesale at 17s. 2d. per ton, while in 1881 it sold at only 7s. 9d. per toil. The abova ligures show an increase of production of over one million tons but a decreased value of 9s. 5d. per ton, or about 120 per cent. In connection with these facts the words of the editor of the Guardian may be re-echoed heartily. He justly remarks that, "It was not desirable that the ex- travagant prices of 1873 should continue in subsequent years. Nevertheless, it is unsatisfactory to observe that Belgian coal quotations appear to be gradually tending downwards." This is emphatically true ever since the year 1873. The same journalist makes a notorious obser- vation, which is worthy of attention by every miner. He says that" One fact which should be borne in mind, and which affords some compensation for the reduced price of Belgian coal is the increased amount of work apparently done by each working miner in 1880 and 1831, as compared with the years 1873,1874, 1C75, and 1878." Let me ask, compensation to whom ? Toeveiy- body but the miner. The coalowner and the public proiit by this increased production. The coalowner for a time profits by the reduced cost of production, and the public by haviug cheap coal. But the only way in which the poor underground workman is compensated for his long hours of toil is with wages that are insufficient to afford him even an approximate decent existence. In thousands of instances where the extreme penalty of the Irausgresseil law is suffered, it disallowes him* the necessaries of his daily life. But, alas 1 this is not, the whole of the sad tale respecting the Belgian coal trade of 1881 for the owners of 98 pits that were laid idle, and of the 83 others that were conducted at a loss, must have shared heavily in the same unwelcome and unsatisfactory result. That this state of things should exist in Belgium, when last year, out of the 101,301 persons employed in the subterranean workings of her collieries, 8,059 women, 9,083 boys, and 5,351 girls under sixteen years of age were employed, demonstrates clearly how futile all attempts at cheap working are when the ratio of supply of the article produced exceeds the demand. Is there not a necessity for some effort to arrest the downward pro- gress which brings ruin to so many employers and employes? Again, over-production produces the same effect in all trades in all countries. One of the last re- ports issued by Mr. John D. Prior, late geneiv.1 secretary of the Amalgamated Societv of Carpenters and Joiners of Kngland, &c., and now one of the Government Inspectors of Manufactories, contains the returns of weekly wagee and hours of labour of carpenters and joiners in ii41 cities and towiis in England and Wales, 13 in Ireland, 6 in Scotland, 11 in the t'nited States. 5 in Canada, 5 in Kew Zealand, and 1 in Australia. In Bug- land the hours of labour range from 47 to 64, and. strange as it may appear, all the ligures given show that the longer the working day is the less the wage paid. The following is an extract, from the tables :— j -"N £ s "i Bi Town || U § 3 ofc as ° jto-0 K js:10 c? £ s. d.j £ s. d. Atrincham .I Hour 52 47 1 16 lOj 1 13 3 Barnct Hour 56| 56} 2 0 0j 2 0 0 Barnstaple Day 60 55 1 2 0 1 2 0 Birkenhead. Hour 55 47i- 1 17 10 1 15 7 Brecon Day 60 60 170170 Bromley Hour 5l- 53J 2 0 0 1 17 10 Dartmouth. Day 64 64 1 2 0 1 2 0 Deptford Hour 52 £ 47 1 19 1 15 3 Falmouth Day 62 4 0 1 4 0 Liverpool Hour 5o 55 J Manchester. Hour 52 47 1 19 0 1 15 3 London Hour 52 £ 5^ 1 19 4 1 19 4 Edinburgh Hour 51 J Dublin Dav 60 60 1 16 0 1 lo 0 Cleverdfljls!) _l)_ay__l 60 54$1300 99 00 The statistical data produced in this and the former letters ought to demonstrate clearly to every unpie- judiced observer that over-production is ail evil that both employers and workmen should endeavour to avert. It is noteworthy also that the strong and influential body of workmen that at present are advocating restric- tion of output have not evinced any antagonistic spirit towards their employers in the matter at all. Their expressed wish is that both may profit by limitation. That a reduction of the hours of labour would result in a reduction of wages in the same proportion is a con- clusion not founded upon facts and experienee. On the contrary, the nine-hour system established in the various' trades of the country, as compared with the hours ten and twelve, fifteen years ago, proves the contrary, the nine-hour system established in the various' trades of the country, as compared with the hours ten and twelve, fifteen years ago, proves the assertion made by Mr. George Howells, of London, in his work on the subject, that with a reduced working day must ever come, sooner or later, a corresponding in- crease in wages to the value of the time so reduced." Personally, I am of opinion that employers and work- men would equally be gainers by the hours of labour being fixed at sueh periods of time as nature plainly shows Is the maximum time that men can toil without producing such exhaustion as to unfit them for any- thing but to lie down and sleep when t,heir day's work is over. I contend that men should not toil for a bare sub- sistence at the very top 01 their epeed. A fair day's work everyone has a right to render. More than this is un- fiUr, and ends In tha long run Injuriously to all con- cerned. • «-

MEETING OF RHONDDA AND OGMORE. HOUSE COAL DELEGATES. PROPOSED CONFERENCE AS TO OVER- PRODUCTION1. THE MAESTEG DOCTOR'S QUESTION. A special meeting of the house coal delegates of the Rhondda and Ogmore was held on Monday at the New York Inn, Porth, Mr. Ooombes, Owmclydach, in the chair. Mr. Isiac Evans, Neath, and Mr. Koyall, mem- bers of the Bliditia Scale Coiniiiittee, were present, the first by special invitation. Mr. W. Morgan, Blaen- clydach, acted as secretary. Mr. Isaac Evans in the course of all address he delivered dwelt upon the necessity of having organisation in the districts, and especiallyin this district, which was a source of great strength to the general organisation. He expressed a hope that the Rhondda, Cwmgarw, Gil- fach, Olyduch. and Ogmore men would act in t horough unison, and that at once, so that their power should be felt in the deliberations of the house coal men of South Wales and Monmouthshire. He painted out that the house coal men of the Rhondda Valley had at one time been the leaders of their fellow workmen in matters appertaining to their trade-they had even eclipsed the steam coal men, although they were, perhaps, in some respects, weaker; and he saw no reason why they should not, by acting together, achieve the same position again.—In the course of a discussion that fol- lowed, the delegates present geiiemllytigreed, and it was resolved, that the district organisation for t he Hhondda, Cwmgarw, Glyncorrwg, Gilfach, and Ogmore be re- established, and that the secretary communicate with each colliery at once upon the su' .K'ct, and that another delegate meeting be hplJ on the 19th of February.—Mr. Koyall tendered his resignation as district, agent, of the Rhondda house coal men.—Reference having been made to a circular issued by the promoters of the Leeds Conference, CiUllng attention to the resolutions passed at that Conference, and asking whether they would send to another conference to be held at Manchestor, a discussion ensued, in the course of which it was shown that the delegates did not feel inclined to send to Manchester, and that they did not think the irterests of Wales and England in these matters were so identical as to render such joint conference.) necessary or advisable. It was felt that the opinion of the men should be obtained from the various distrints before any action was taken, though the statements as to over-production indicated that some action was necessary. Mr. Powell pointed out that it was ad- visable that England and Wales should co-operate in matters of legislation, but only in those. Ultimately a resolution was passed to the effect that, after hearing from Mr. Evans his remarks as to the output of coal, the meeting considered it advisable to call a general meeting of the house and steam coal delegates of South Wale3 to consider the question of output as early as possible. Mr. Ev ns commented upon tho large number of hours worked by men at some collieries. It was stated in respect to the dispute as to the works doctor at Ogmore, where the men protested against their money being stopped to pay a doctor of whom they did not approve, two testy summonses for the county court had been taken, and the matter placed in the hands of Mr. W. H. Morgan, Pontypridd, but it appeared that by that morning the money had been paid. It was then re- solved to send to Mr. Gladstone the heartfelt congratula- tions of the meeting at his rapid recovery from ill- health, and a hope that he might be long spared by God Almighty to give effect to those political principles which he has so long and so honourably advocated with such distinguished success.

THE DOCTOR'S QUESTION AT MAESTEG. On Thursday evening the workmen belonging to the Maesteg Fund held a meeting at the Old Works School- room to consider their present position with respect to their sick fund. Mr. W. Abraham (Mabon) was in attendance. One of the workmen presided, and after a few brief remarks called upon the members of the depu- tation which waited upon Mr. Blakemore, their general manager, on Wednesday, to inform the meeting of the result of their interview. One of the deputation com- plied, and said Mr. Blakemore's answer to the deputation was that he was quite prepared to allow all the men in No. 9 wishful- to join the Maesteg Fund to do so but as to giving to Dr. Thomas the power of signing applica- tions for obtaining their money out of the Llynvi Fund, which they must have if both the funds were amalga- mated, that was a question out of his hands altogether it rested entirely between themselves and their fellow workmen. It was reported also that a day or two previously books were sent to all departments of the works, and that all persons desirous that deductions should be made towards the medical fund were requested to sign their names in the books, and it appeared that a great many of those present had been asked to sign the same that day and had refused. Mr. Abraham addressed the meeting briefly, and pointed out that, in his opinion, the company in asking the men to sign those books at present, while the action be- tween themselves and their Tynewydd workmen in the Ogmore Valley upon their right to deduct their work- men's money against their will and without any agree- ment to that effect was pending, showed a weakness in thaircase, and proved that they themselves doubted that theyever had such right. If that case went, against them, and he fully believed it would, then all the money that had been deducted from the men's wages against their will—especially tliat which had been de- ducted for purposes that the same men could not avail themselves of when needed—could be easily recovered through the county court. With respect to what was agreed between the deputation that. he accom- panied some time ago and Mr. Blakemore respecting the doctor's question, he stated that when he met the deputation he found that on the day previous they had agreed with that gentleman that the workmen who wished to subscribe to the Maesteg Fund would be at liberty to do so, but that those who worked in Dr. Davies's department would have to subscribe to his medical fuull and that the same liberty should be given to any of the Llynvi workmen respecting their fund." Now, the only addition that was made to that on the following day was the obtaining of Mr. Blakemore's consent to have their doctor's money kept back in the same way, which was 2d. extra, added to the Id. for the sick fund, and his promise to prepare books to be put in the various departments of the works for that purpose. He was sorry to find now that neither the doctor's money nor the contributions towards their sick fund were kept in that way.

THE DEAN FUR EST MINERS. GREAT MEETING AT CINDERFORD. On Saturday night the Cinderford Town-hall was thronged with'colliers and their wives 011 the occasion of considering several matters which had come before the local executive and remitted for the general votce of the colliers. Prominently was a letter received from Mr. Arnold Thomas, one of the proprietors, to Mr. Rymer. the miners' agent, who had written asking that a meeting might be convened of employers and workmen to form a Board of Conciliation. In reply Mr. Thomas wrote In your letter of the 6th of January you say, on l> half of your association,« we are Sully detetmtaea (hal wage; shall, be ,paid weekly,* In I our letter of the 25th of December you describe the ■art which we took in a meeting, at which you and you: usoeiation were treated with courtesy and considera- t,ion, as wriggling and wrangling.' As it is clearly of no use to discuss a question on which one party have made up their minds, and as we are not disposed to subject ourselves to a repetition of the terms above quoted, we cannot meet you again." The miners'agent, referring to this letter, read also his reply, in which he asked the masters to consider that the expressions he used were the" direct result of the very unfair report which the masters sent to the Dean Forest Mercury on the wages question," and the manner in which you wrangjed with us when we met to form the Board of Conciliation." As to the words determined to have," the agent wrote saying it was "in relation to the weekly wages which the words were forced from him, from the very fact that the em- ployers refused either to concede weekly wages or to give any answer on the subject though the question had been fairly put to them s veral t imes over. Believ- ing, as I do, that this is a right which the employers should be willing to concede, 1 used the words you com- plain of, not in a threatening sense to cause you injury, or in any way to insult any of the employers, but to express our determination to agitate the weekly wage question until we gained our object." Mr. Brown premised a long and conciliatory speech by adverting to his connection with North Staffordshire, where he said the masters were as anxious to accumulate wealth as any in the kingdom, but they did not forget they themselves were but one portion of the human family, and that their workmen had rights to maintain as well as duties to perform. The series of resolutions, which were carried enthusiastically, included a resolution in which the miners assembled pledged themselves to support the claim of iMr. Bradlaugh in demanding, as his just right, his seat ill the House of Commons as one of the mem- bers for Northampton.

HEAVY FAILURE IN THE COAL TRADE. On Wednesday a petition in liquidation was filed in the Dudley County Court on behalf of John Bradley, lately a coalmaster, of Shavers J<:nd, Dudley. The liabilities are estimated at £ 60,000. The assets have not yet been ascertained,

THE COAL AND IRON TRADES OF SOUTH WALES. The week just ended has again been very busy at all the Bristol Channel ports, and although in Cardiff there is not quite so WHch pressure upon the dock accommodat ion, still the demand for coal remains quite as animated as ever. Qualities which a month ago were not realising more than 9s. 6d. to 9s. 9d. now fetch fully Is. per ton more, and it se-ms certain that this state of things will continue at least for some little time longer. House coals have participated all through In the briskness, and the same remarks apply to these qualities. Small steam coal seems in considerably less active request, but for contracts sellers are holding out for high prices still. Iron ore is very flat, there is little demand, freights rule excessively low, and the trade is altogether iiiadepressecteorlditioii. In pitwood there is not much change to record. The chartering market remains ex- tremely dull. For the whole of the coasting and French ports, as well as the Mediterranean Sp;tni3h Coast, minimum rates only can be obtained. The upper part of the Mediterranean is a little firmer. The coal ments last week were:—Foreign: From Cardiff, 133,718; Newport, 30,135; Swansea, 21,736 tons. Coast- wise From Cardiff, 16,151; Newport,. 17,491 Swansea, 8,261 tons.

THE WEEK'S MARKETS. CORN. CARDIFF, Saturday.—(From Messrs. D Lougher and Son's hel)ort.)-Tlie home-grown wheat on offer at this day's market, in consequence of the damp muggy weather, was very much out of condition, and was therefore practically quite unsaleable. The tone for foreign wheat is decidedly better, and prices for some kinds have advanced fully Is per qr. Malting barley, in consequence of the bad condition of the same, is also in sluggish demand; grinding samples firm. Maize easier. Flour in very good consumptive request, and values have advanced fuiiy 6d per sack since this day se'nnight; ot-her urticles unchanged. Lui, Low, Monday.-A good attendance to-day. Fair samples of wheat offering, which advanced Is per qr. little altei-ittioll in other kinds of grain. Prices :-EI1- llsh wheat, per bushel of 761bs., white, 6s 3d to 6s M; red, 5s 6d to 6s 2d. Barley. 32s to 34s per qr. Reans,379 to 38s per qr. Oats, 2<s to X5s Od per qr. Flour, per sack of live bushels, or 280ibs., best. 38s seconds, 35s. CowaKlDGE, Tuesday.—Trade slightly improved, and last week's quotations maintained. TIle annexed are the piijes —iV heat from 4s d to 4s 611 per bushel; barley, Is to 4s 6<1 per hushd; and oats, 2a 7d to 2s 3d per bushel. N KWPOHT, Wednesday.—A fair attendance, ana prices about the same as last week. llKKEKoKW, Wednesday.—English wheat in small supply, and the condition middling, he samples sidl- ing at an advance of Id to 2d per bushel foreign kinds bd per qr. higher. Flour 6d to Is per sack dearer. I-ieans firm. Oats unaltered. Maize Gd dearer. Best, malting barley 6d per sack more money. CATTLE. MONMOUTH FORTSIGHTLY STOCK MARKET, Monday — The market to-day was not largely attended, but. prices m bed und mutton were better. The pig trade was very dull, and the demand small. Prices ruled as fol- low :-Fikt beasts from ot17105 to 226 per head, or about 9d per lb. Sheep Fat, ewes, 60s to 70s each, or about 10d perib. ditto wethers, 60s to 70s, or about lid per Ill. Store beasts Two years old bullocks from 414 to J.:J8 each; cows and calves, £15 to !;2; barreners, £9 to £15; yearlings, £ 8 to £ 11. Store sheep: Ewes, 45 s to bis'- ditto in yean, 60s to 70s each. Pigs: Fat baconers, 9s to 9s 9d per score porkers, 9s 6d to 10s strong stores, 389 to 45s three months old pig, 12s to 14s two months ditto (no demand);;breeding sows, 45s to 55s each. CowniiinOK. Tuesday,—Iieasts were very qc irce, and last week's prices were fully maintained Fat cattle made from 8 £ d to 9d per lb. Store cattle: Cows and calves, very tew offering at from £ 18 to £ 23. No fat sheep or store cattle on offer. NKVVPOKT, \Vf:'lll1es!tay.-A good attendance at mar- ket to.(ky, and a lage supply of stock on offer, with a good business done at last prices. HUKKFOIU), Wednesday.—There was agood supply of fat boasts on offer to-d;iy, and trade was by no means brisk, and last week's prices barely maintained. Store cattle, especially cows and calves, were very dear. Calves were in very small supply, and sold at high prices. A moderate supply of sheep, more than of late, and prices lower. Pigs were in large supply, and a moderate trade done. The following are the quota- tion Beef, 8d to 9d per lb.; veal, 9d to lOd; mutton, lOd to is and pork, 6d to 6td. LONDON, Thursday.—The following are to-dav's a ni- val a :—Beasts, 630 sheep, 1,910 calves. 30; including foreign beasts, 0. Prices Beef, 4s 4d to 6.. per 81 bs.; she#L>, 6s 6d to 8s Od calves, 6s Od to 6s lOd; plus, 3a fS'l to 4s 8rt per Slbs. to sink the offal. BIRMINGHAM, Thursday.—-Prices: — Beef, 75-dto 9d per Ih. Veal, 8Jd to 9jd per lb. Mutton, 9d to 10d per lb. Pigs: Baconers, k)s Od to 10s 3d per score; sows, 8s 6d to 9s Od; and porkers, 10s Od to 10s 3d. DUBLIN, Thursday.—The numbers at market to-day wereCattle, 2,256 increase, 234; sheep, 3.024 — decrease, 673. The market decidedly worse for all classes of stock, but there was a moro marked depression in N ef, which was fully 10s to 15s per head lower, 80s per cwt. oeing the extreme price. Prime mutton from lOd to lid per lb. PROVISIONS. MONMOUTH, Saturday.—To-day's market, was a small one. and prices ranged as follow Dressed poultry: tieese varied from 55 6d to 7s 9deach, or about lOd per lb.; giblets, Is per set ducks, 2s 6d to 4s each; fowls, small size, from 3s 9d to 4s per couple larg« ditto, 53 to 8s per couple, or about 9d. Live poultry Fowls varied according to duality at from 3s 6d to 5s 6d per couple. Hen eggs, 10 to 12 for Is. Butter, new milk. Is 6d to Is 7d per lb. Home-made lard. 8d per lb. Pigtneat: Griskins, 8d per lb.; spareribs, 7|d Fruit: Cooking apples, lOd to Is per qr. medlars, Is per qi\ V egetables: Sekale, 4d per dish; Brussels sprouts, 6d per gallon turnips, 4d potatoes, Gd to 7d perqr. oeiery, Id to 2 I per stick parsnips, large size, tid perdOL. meat (prime joints only quoted): Beef, 8d to lOd per lb. Mutton, wether legs and best joints, lid per lb.; ewe ditto, lOd per lb. Pork, 7d to 8d per lb. LLANDILO, Saturday. The market to-day was well attended, but priocs ruled higher. Aaverage prices:- Live poultry: Turkeys, 9s 6ti to i 0s per couple; ducks, 59 Od to 6s Od per couple; fowls, 4s 6.1 to 5s Od per couple; chickens, 3s 6d per couple. Trussed poultry Ducks, 5s 6d to 6s Od per couple fowls, 4s 6d to 6s 3d per couple; chickens, 3s to 3s 6d per couple. Prime fresh butter. Is 5d per lb.; in tubs, is lsd per lb. Welsh cheese, 2jd to 3d per lb. Kggs, 14 for 1s. Vege- tables: Potatoes, 7s to 8s per cwt.; brocoli, 3d to 6d per head; turnips, ljd per dish; onions, Id per lb.; parsnips, 41bs. for fill; rhubarb, 6d per bundle of five sticks. Butcher's meat (prime joints only) Beef, 9d to lid per lb. mutton, lid to Is per lb.; veal, 7d to 9d per ib. pork, 8d per lb. BKiSToli, Wednesday. (From Mr. Francis Bar- nard's Circular.)—Bacon Since last Wednesday there has been no material variation in C. F. anti 1. values, and my cable ad vices Indicate. that American markets are iirm and active. The trade on this side is quiet, owing to considerable arrivals. Cheese Imports are now of a trifling character. Extreme prices are being obtained for finest, and other sorts are in better demand. Butter: ltates continue firm in the United States and Canada, but during the week some decline has taken place in our markets, and there has been a reduction in Continental prices. Lard With larger arrivals the trade is quiet, but C. F. and I. and spot quotations still remain without material alteration. Flour: A good trade doing in line qualities, but low deseriptioua are difficult of sale. MEAT. LOUDON, Thursday.—There were moderate supplies of meat to-day, and trade steady. Prices :—Beef, 3s 4d to 5s 4d per gibs; mutton, 4s Od to 6s 8d; veal, 5s 8d to 6s 4d; pork, 3s 4d to 4s 6d per 81bs. by the carcase. BUTTER. CARMARTHEN, Saturday.—There was a small supply of butter on the market to-day, which sold at from Is Id to Is 2d per lb., Cheese, 23s to 26s per cwt. Conn, Thursday.-Firsts, -s; secouus, 138s; thirds. Ills; fourths, 84s; fifths, 64s. Salt kegs: Firsts, —s seconds, —s thirds, -3; fourths, 80s fifths, —s. Mild cured firkins-. Superfine, -s; fine mild, -3 mild, —s ditto kegs, superfine, —s fine, mild, — s mild, 135s. Firkins in market, 141; kegs, 11. SUGAR. G REITOOK, Thursday. A quiet market to day, and a small business done, with prices hardly up to those of yesterday. The official report states :-M Iarket again quiet, and prices barely supported for sugars under 26s. HAY. LONDON, Thursday.—Fair supplies on offer to-day, and trade very dull; prices a shade lower for hay. Quotations: Prime clover, 100s to 120s per ton inferior ditto, 60s to 95s; prime meadow hav, 80s to 87s inferior ditto, 50s to 80s straw, 30s to 42s per load. HOPS. WORCXSTRR 'Sattirday.-(Fi-om Messrs. Piercy, Long- bottom, and Faram's Report.)-The market was barely supplied with new hops, and the demand is retail at late lutes for old hops. The demand is good, and full prices are realised for good qualities. HIDES AND SKINS. BRISTOL, Saturday. Hides: Spanish, -d to -d per lb 93lbs aud upwards, 4jd to Od per lb; 83lbs to 921bs, 4j|d to Od per lb 731 bs to 821bq, 31,1 to Od per lb; 631 bs to 721bs, 3id to Od per lb; 54ibs to 621bs, 3itl to Od per ib; 53lbs and untler. 31-d to Oct ppr lb; cows, 631bs and above, 3td to 3Jd per lb; light, 3}d to Od per lb bulls, 3Jd to Od per lb heavy cuss, 0d to 0d per lb; light and Irregular, 3gd to Od per lb. Calf skins: 171bs and upwards, 5id to Od per lb 121bs to 161bs, 7d to Od per lb 91bs to lllbs, 7Jd to Od per lb under 91bs, 6id to Od per lb cut and irregular, 4Jd to Od per lb; chance, 0d per lb. Horse hides, lis 3d to 16s 6d 1st kips, 4d to Od per lb; 2nd ditto, 2jjd to 0d per lb. Fat Mutton, 3id; beef, 3-Jd rough, 2|d. Wools D, 2s 7d; C, 3s 7d B, 5s 7d A. 7s 3d X, 8s 10d. Forward prices to Thursday.—Wools D 2s 6d C, 3s 8d B, 5s 7d A, 7s 5d X, 8s lOd. Fat, 21<1 3!d to 31d.

m-tb*, jflamages* mratb!g. BIRTHS. COUSINS.-On the 24th inst., at No. 8, Westbourne- crescent. Cardiff, the wife of Harry Cousins, solicitor, of a daughter. FRANK.—On the 19th inst., the wife of William Frank, jun., of 268, Bute-street, Cardiff, confectioner, of a son. THOMAS.—On the 23rd inst, at Southville, Swansea, the wife of Abel Thomas, Esq., barrister-at-law, of a son. DEATHS. GAT.UVKH.—On the 20th inst., at Plymouth-place, Penarth, John GalJiver, aged 83 years. HAnrim.-Oll Sunday, Jan. 21, at High-street, Haver- fordwest, Gwvnne Vaughan Harries, aged 72 years. JONES.—OJ » the 23rd inst.. at Tirherth, near Pen gam. Margaret, the beloved wife of Afr. John Jones. The funeral will leave at two o'clock Oil Friday afternoon for Hengoed Baptist Chapel. LLOYD.—Margsret, the beloved wife of Thomas Lloyd, Pwilyfelyjt Fhrm, Llandyfodwg, Bridgend, aged 68 years. SMITH.—On thf- 20th inst.,at 13, Castle-street, Tredegar, Elizabeth barah (Bessie), the beloved wife of W. L. Smith.

THE MAOKETAIRE.—It will be seen from Mr. R. Lonsdale's advertisement in another column that that gentleman will remain at 63, Crockherbtown, Cardiff, one more week. He has other engagements in various towns, and therefore cannot possibly remain in Cardiff much longer.

BANKRUPTS, LIQUIDATIONS, &-C; (From Friday night's London Gazette.) BANKRUPT. John Davies, Llwydcoed, in the parish of LlanotU Carmarthenshire, land and mineral surveyor, lately a partner in the Caerbryn Colliery Company trading as colliery proprietors at Llandebie, Car- marthenshire. LIQUIDATIONS. John Tomlins, Globe Inn, lkftrket-strelto Laugharne, Carmarthenshire, saddler and licensed victualler. Thomas Sansom, White Lion, Ferryside, Carmar- thenshire, hotel keeper. David Jas. Williams, Llanelly, Carmarthensliirei surgeon. David Baines, 13, Commercial-road, Tredegart furniture and china dealer and collier. Geo. Ball, Orchard-street, Neath, trading as Geo. Ball and Son, painter and house decorator. Alfred Lougher, 21, Gower-street, Swansea, and- of 43, Queen-street, Neath, house painter and paper hanger, trading as William Lougher and Son. Samuel Lewis, of Porthcawl, near Bridgendri Glamorganshire, grocer and draper. (From Tuesday night's London Gazette.) BANKRUPT. Edward Williams, of Bwlchgwynl, near Llnyn-e, gronwen, Cardiganshire, farmer. LIQUIDATIONS. Robert Prosser Watson, 2, The Hayes, Cardiff, jeweller. Wm. Nichols. Fourth-row. Georgetown, and Com- mercial-road, Tredegar, grocer and draper. Wm. Henry Banks, 36, King-street, Blaenavon, in Llanover Upper, Monmouthshire, grocer and insurance and shipping agent.

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It tion to exertion-if you have HOP BI1TERS. any of tliese symptoms you arj suffering from | J op BITTERS. LIVER COMPLAINTS, H OP BITTERS IUHI HOP BITTERS will cure vou. ¥ ff OP BITTERS CLKANHE, PURIFY, AND ISNKU'H YOUR BLOOU WITH j lTOP RTTTPR^ Ilop BITTERS, i AND voir WIIJ, HAVE XO- w if rvp m-rTl'P^! ^ES.S, OR SUFFEIClNtr. B jr OP BI TTERts. OK DOCTOR'S BILLS TO PAY. HnTTTPni be ol,tained of all Chemists I-I OP nITTER. and Druggists. J |T>P BITTERS. RE,i.D UHAT^mE PEOPLE j i_ SAY. II J or BITTERS. Oct. 30,1832. j -jl From J. (I. KOYuE, M.A., HOP BITTERS. Clw.piaiu to the Right I-itin. Lord Borthwick, 'v tt op PITTPDA Ravenstone, hithorn, N.B» ■ | Ut nil il.K.-v TO THE HOP BITTERS CO. v Jrn„ Bear Sirs.—I have lately l~H f-IvS. finished my first bottle of Hop Hop niT-ru-nq Jil ters After having for mi^ny OF BITTERS, year# suffere acutely from rncu- ,,„nTrD £ .die gout (inherited and still || Or 1511 il'.KSi in my system), I feel so muoU Sl JL. better, and can walk so moeli Sl H better, and can walk so moeli PF MOP BITTERS. h'.felv, should like to con- tinue the use of it, I write to- HOP KfTTFRQ a5k how many bottles you will Of Bill bRs w me haye*for £ 4i 9o that r may always have some in stock. HOP BITTERS. 21, Ber-street, Norwich, June 20. 1882. OP BITTERS. TO THE HOP BITTER8 CO. Gentlemen,—Having suffered HOP BITTERS for many years from biliousness, accompanied with sickness and T, nrriT> TJTTTPDQ dieadful headaches (being great- ■ | Or I5irili.Ks. ly fatigued with overwork and TT Fni) BTTTma long hours at business), I lost all B—fi 1511 11 .K^>. energy, strength, and appetite. Jl JL 1 "^as advised bv a friend in: HOP BITTERS, whom I had Seen such beneficial effects to try Hop Bitters, and a HOP BITTERS. hot ties have quite altered and restored me to better health -*r w-on than ever. I have also recom- |-8 JHiitn. mended it to other friends, and ^5 ■ „„ am pleased to add with the like ¥_¥ OP BITTERS, result. Every claim you make Jl JL for it I can fully endorse, and HOP BITTERS, recommend it as an incompar- able tonle. HOP BITTERS. Iam, gentlemen, Yours faithfully. J- (OP BITTERS. S. W. FITT. *fV»p ihttfrS Charles-terrace, Yersen road,' H 0P BITIkKM. Colchester, Aug. 18th, 1882. ^"■Srr.n TO TilK HOP B1TTKU3 CO. 3~fi[ LITIERS. 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