Weekly Mail

tt gJi1. SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 1902. THE BUDGET. Considering that Sir Michael Hicks- Beach had to meet the country once again with heavy war charges still hampering the Exchequer, it will be admitted by most reasonable people that his Budget is a manful and honest attempt to grapple with the situation. Of course, some critics are up in arms; but what would they do were they in the Chancellor's place? The bills must be met, and the secret of alchemy has yet to be discovered to the world. A lot is said about the tax on imported corn and flour, and some talk as though bread would soon be at star- vation prices, as, for instance, during the Crimean struggle, when it was nearly one shilling per quartern loaf, or as in 1800, when it was two shillings. Of course, those who talk in this way are simply play- ing to the gallery. There is not likely to be any increase in the price of bread; whilst, on the other hand, it must not be forgotten that tea, sugar, beer, and so forth are left undisturbed. The new duty means half a farthing on the quar- tern loaf, and the fluctuations in markets are constantly introducing elements as serious as that. Yet the public does not feel them, and is not likely to with the keen competition amongst bakers. The additional penny on the Income-tax is annoying, because the tax at best is always most unpopular, and justly so; but we trust it will be reduced at the vary earliest opportunity. As for the increased duty on stamps and the like, it is even said that the Chancellor was moved to take this course by leading bankers to choke off" those people who are fond of paying small sums of a shilling or two by cheque! Of course, additional taxation, whether direct or not, is dis- agreeable, but if we call the tune we have to pay the piper, and we are now about at the close of one of the most serious crises in our history. Happily, that crisis has taught us valuable lessons, has shown us who are our friends and who are our foes, and has manifested to the world at large that we are stronger, more united, and more self-reliant than ever. We have had to pay heavily for this war in blood and treasure, but not even the extremest pro-Boer can deny that the struggle has been to us a blessing and a God-send in disguise. Recognising this, we shall pay our taxes with equanimity, earnestly looking forward to that peace which may at any moment be proclaimed.

By the death of Dr. Talmage America loses one who was probably her greatest pulpit orator since Beecher. Not only did Talmage preach to listening thousands in his own church and in the many cities and towns he visited, but through the medium of the press his eloquence descended on millions upon millions of readers. Perhaps his sermons were even more extensively read than those of Mr. Spurgeon. Talmage relied on brilliancy and originality-nay, eccentricity but that he did Hot always succeed is evident from his largely circulated reply to the freethinker Ingersoll. The reply is pathetic and flowery and beautiful in the extreme, but not one tithe so convincing as the crushing lcgic with which an American Catholic priest about the same time pulverised this powerful adversary of the Christian Faith. The catastrophe on board the Mars demonstrates sadly what terrible monsters these battleships are. The explosion of a great breechloader tore eleven men to shreds, and wounded many others. What must have been the bloody scene in the barbette immediately after the explosion may hardly be imagined; and we can but heartily sympathise with the relatives and friends of the hapless officers and men thus hurled into eternity. Such an accident happening (as it might) during a naval engagement would be a grand thing for the enemy. The mechanism of the modern battleship is most complex and disastrous, and when it fails, woe betide the bystanders. Let us hope the search- ing inquiry that is certain to be made will save us from similar catastrophes in future. We have just now at Aberanian that one touch of Nature which makes the whole world kin. "A little child shall lead them." It was but a tiny tot, this lost lamb, yet all the pits closed down, and all the colliers turned out, scouring hill and dale and every crack and crevice a+ \wild anx* romantic neighbourhood. At the time of writing the little one is still _undiscovered. There are several still undiscovered. There are several theories to account for its disappearance: one is that it has been kidnapped the other that it has slipped (as it might easily do) into one of the numerous dis- used pits that abound in the neighbour- hood. Let us hope that all doubt will soon be dispelled by the recovery of the missing one. Great, then, will be the joy among a rugged, but sympathetic, populace. For the present, at all events, Cardiff is not to have Sunday trams. The council has rejected the proposal by the narrow majority of one. We quite sympathise with those who long for a quiet, peaceful Sabbath, and we think it would be a public calamity if our country lost the Sunday rest to which it has so long been accustomed. Still, there is another side to the question.. Modern civilisation allows the toiling masses practically but one whole day for recreation. If a work- ing man wants to take his wife and chil- dren out of a large town like Cardiff into the fresh air of the country how is he to do it ? Must he and the missus and the kids walk miles. If they cannot walk they will take what vehicle they can, and this being so it is best for Cardiff that they ride in the town trams than in private conveyances. Those who want a quiet Sabbath should themselves on all occasions set the example. They should not write letters for delivery on Sundays, nor rido in Sunday trains, nor indulge in heavy Sunday dinners, nor buy their paper on Monday mornings. Let them try all this practically, and they will soon see how easy it is to rush headlong to extremes. We are often told that our Army is un- popular abroad, as, indeed, it ought to be amongst the King's enemies! Still, we are not without our friends, and they are so few that it is well we should recognise them. For instance, there are the pro- prietors and managers of the bathing establishment at the celebrated bath of Roucegno, San Remo, who have offered to provide ten officers of the English Army with baths and water free of all cost, allowing them at the same time a reduction of 30 per cent. in the usual J>ension" terms. This is a generous offer, and we hope it will be taken advan- tage of. Certainly, it is a' sign that, perhaps, after all, a good deal of the present ill-feeling is mere surface froth. We must not forget how extremely—how Pharisaically—indignant we were with our neighbours over the Dreyfus case! Welshmen will cordially welcome the movement on foot amongst their Cornish cousins to found a Cornish society. They will only wonder that this has not been done before. The aim of the new society will be to preserve from damage and destruction, and to study, the stone- circles, cromlechs, menhirs, hut-circles. beehive dwellings, camps, and other remnants of antiquity; to revive the Cornish language, and to conserve care- fully every national custom, especially the truly Cornish sports of wrestling and hurling. All Cornish people and Kelts of other countries are eligible for member- ship. The secretary of the new society is Mr. Duncombe-J ewell, Yeolmbridge, Launceston. The society's prospectus is printed in English and Cornish, and the latter is not difficult to understand, by anyone conversant with Welsh,

WELSH HOME RULE. MEASURE REJECTED BY THE COLMONS. In the House of Commons on Wednesday, Mr. FRANK EDWARDS (R., Radnor) moved the second reading of the Local Government (Wales and Monmouthshire) Bill. He remarked that the term "Home Rule" implied the grant of legislative powers, but there were no such powers in this Bill. It was confined to adminis- trative functions. It had two objects. The first was to transfer to county councils and to the councils of the county boroughs certain administrative functions which were at present performed by the departments of the central Government, and which were specified in the schedule. Some of these powers were now vested in the Home Secretary, and some in the Privy Council, but the greater part were centred in the President of the Local Govern- ment Board. He instanced the Public Health Acts and the Housing of the Working Classes Act as statutes which could be better adminis- tered locally than from London. Much useful work which was greatly needed was not even begun because of the fear of the tedious delays which were sure to mark the procedure. (Hear, hear.) The second object of the Bill was to provide machinery for the construction of joint county boards of five or more councils. The Local Government Act of 1888 conferred' certain powers of combination, and, therefore, there was nothing inherently objectional in a scheme like this. which the House had already sanctioned. The Bill would certainly secure that local work was done with greater knowledge and with more expedition if the responsible Ministers of the Crown wished to delegate some of their duties to the joint county board. Every facility should be granted to them for doing so. A joint county board scheme having been framed, it would, the Bill stipulated, require a hostile resolution in both Houses of Par- liament to make the scheme null and void. Experience had shown that some devolution of administrative work was necessary. The Bill dealt with matters of business, and when a business concern was overworked it was our duty to employ more hands. (Hear, hear.) One objection offered to the Bill was that it applied only to Wales, and it was asked why Wales should be treated exceptionally. He answered that the position of Wales geographically was made the experiment safe there. He cited the precedents of the Welsh Intermediate Act and the Welsh Sunday Closing Act for the beparate treatment of the Principality. The county councils of Wales were keenly inte- rested in the question, and their past record showed that they would use the proposed powers with an honest intention to promote the interest of the country. (Cheers.) Mr. HERBERT ROBERTS (R. Denbighshire. W.) seconded the motion. Objections to the Bill, he eaid. had been raised on the ground of expense, but he thought this was a matter which might very easily be adjusted between the local authorities and the central depart- ments, who would be relieved of a certain proportion of their work. Major WYNDHAM-QUIN (U., Glamorgan, S.) said the Bill was not demanded by any con- siderable number of people in Wales, and that if carried into law it would in no way tend towards the improvement and efficiency of local government there. He objected to sepa- rate legislation for Wales, and thought the Principality should be content with the exist- ing county councils. He moved that the Bill be read a second time this day six months. Mr. IVOR GUEST ro., Plymouth) seconded the motion for the rejection- of the Bill. In the course of his remarks in 6bj6ction to the constitution of the proposed joint county boards he remarked that they would not attract the best men in the community. He had heard of charges of jobbery and corrup- tion in connection with various municipalities Mr. HERBERT LEWIS (R. Flint Boroughs) demanded to know if the hon. gentleman alleged corruption or jobbery against any municipal or county bodies in Wales. Mr. GUEST replied that he was only speaking generally of the municipal bodies of the whole country. Lord Roaebery himself had heard that municipal government did not attract the best men to its service. Mr. BRYNMOR JONES (R., Swansea District) said that he had absolute confidence in the county councils of Wales; and believed that they would welcome any reasonable increase in powers. The hon. member for South Glamorgan (Major Wyndham-Quin) had urged that there was no effective support of the Bill in Wales. He would suggest to the hon. and gallant member that the mere fact that from his constituency no individual demand had come from any elector asking him to support the Bill was not a good test of a general demand. In the first place, his constituency was chiefly rural, and, in the second place, it so happened that it was cut off from the general sentiment of the country by particular causes. Mr. JOSEPH LAWRENCE (U., Mon- mouth Boipughs) the .Bill on the ground that, there wa8. no demand for it. fiefore snch an impor- tant step was taken inquiry ought to be made as to the wishes of the local authorities, who up to the present had not been consulted. Speaking for Monmouthshire, which was an English county, they objected to be classed with the Welsh. Mr. WALTER LONG (President of the Local Government Board) said that if devolution could be satisfactorily carried out he was convinced that no opposition based upon the views of permanent officials would weigh with any Government department. The debate had clearly shown that devolution as a theory and devolution Applied in, practice were two very different., things. Jponid had been told by the deputation. which had waited upon him that the new body could deal with, homes for inebriates. So far as he understood there was nothing to prevent counties interested in homes for inebriates forming a joint committee for the purpose. But the House could not be asked for the first time to set up an association of county councils without any definite power and with- out any definite idea- of what they were to do, on the slender ground that they could set up a joint home for inebriates. Another point which had only lightly been touched upon in the course of the debate was the provision of a proper staff of experts and the cost of them. The Government had the advantage in their medical departments, surveyors' and engineer- ing departments, and in the architectural departments, of men who had worked under and for lOCal authorities, and who had technical and expert knowledge of the I highest kind. Let the county councils under- stand, if they had seriously made up their mind to take over these powers from the central department, that whereas the cost relating to them were now being paid by the Government they would fall in future upon local authorities, and he doubted very raucti whether many of the county councils, when they found they bad to employ a large expert staff and pay for those men, would relish much this considerable addition to their dignity and power. (" Hear, hear," and laughter.) Holding those views, and believ- ing the Bill was open to wider criticism than he had time to disclose, he found it impos- sible to accept the suggestions made either to support the second reading of the Bill or its reference to a Select .Committee. Sir WILLIAM HARCOURT said Wales was a country which had wants, habits, and customs of its own, and, there- fore, it required what might be called local treatment more than any other part of the United Kingdom. In Wales this desire for devolution was a sentiment which was prac- tically and substantially unanimous. The House divided, and there voted— For the second reading 163 Against •••• 201 Majority against. 48

CYFARTHFA MAN'S DEATH. A locomotive fireman, named Joseph Holy- oalc, suffered a terrible death at Cyfarthfa Steelworks on Wednesday. The slag-tipping ladle, which is used for tipping molten slag, would not act. and, upon Hoiyoak going round to The other side, the ladle was sud- denly tipped, a considerable portion of the contents falling upon the unfortunate man. Holyoak received frightful injuria, part of his right leg being completely burned off. Fatal results were inevitable, and the poor feHow succumbed in a. little while.

The proof of the Starch is the result of the ironing. Colman's Starch is a Starch that makes good ironing. See that Bu„.s Hea<j ? 3, SIM are on Name and the Box. COLMAN'S STARCH Regi..

GAMING DEN RAID. INNOCENT FOREIGNER'S BIG LOSS. At Westminster Police-court, London, on Wednesday Darcy Middleton, 30, of 36, Back- ingham-gato, Westminster; John Castles, 25, of 4, York-street, St. James's, gentleman; Charles Forrester, 41, of 36, Bucking- ham-gate, and Edward Lovelock, 29, of 15, Jermyn-street, St. James's, wool sorter, were charged on warrants with being con- cerned together, during the months of Feb- ruary and March, in keeping and using James- street-mansions, Buckingham-gate, for the purposes of unlawful gaming. Mr. Muskett prosecuted for the Commissioner of Police; Mr. D. Dutton and Mr. Conway defended.— Mr. Muskett, in opening the case, said the defendants were charged, not to mince the language, with robbing young gentlemen of large sums by card sharping. The premises to which these young gentlemen were taken were most elegantly and luxu- riously furnished. The police had received many complaints, and had secured the attendance of one gentleman, who lost JE66 at one sitting and JE228 at another. It was hoped that now the men were in custody others who had suffered would be willing to assist the course of jus- tice by coming forward with their evidence. Inspector Fuller, of New Scotland Yard, deposed that at 1.30 that morning he went to 36, James-street-mansions—premises which were let off in flats. He proceeded to a large flat on the second floor. Middleton opened the door. The rooms were magnificently fur- nished. and consisted of a ping-pong room, billiard room, and bedrooms. The other de- fendants and a fifth man were in the dining-room. A lady known as Mrs. Middleton was also there. Wheu the warrant was read Middleton laughed and said, "That's funny." Witness took posses- sion of a large number of documents and packs of cards. Mr. Emil Waechter, of 30, Langham-street, Portland-plare, gentleman, stated thai, he made the acquaintance of Lovelock on the last Sunday in February at the Carlton Hotel, where he was dining. Lovelock invited him to call and see a friend of his, who was not well, and who resided at Buckingham-gate. They drove to 18, St. James's-etreet-mansions, and Lovelock introduced him to Forrester, Castles, and Middleton. They played ping pong on a beautiful table, nad some music on a fine electric piano, and then had tea. A little game of cards was afterwards suggested. He said he only played now and then. They played a game called petit paquet, which he had never seen before. There was no limit as to stakes. He never won at any time, but always lost. In the early evening, when he left off playing, he had lost JB66 On another occasion they said, "Let us have another ganre; perhaps you will win to- day." They again played petit paquet, and that night he lost JS227 or £228. He made arrangements for the payment of his losses, and gave an I O U for £200. He had not paid that amount. He came in touch with Inspector Fuller, and gave information about accused. Before swearing an informa- tion he saw Middleton and accused him of robbing and swindling him. a.nd demanded the return of his money and I.O.U.'s. Middleton said he could not pay. Witness said, You are chard sharpers, and you robbed me." Middleton took no exception to what he said, and, in fact, admitted it. By Mr. Dutton: He was 29. He never gambled in England before. He had been two years in this country. The defendants were remanded.

FUTURE OF CANTON MARKET SITES FOR BOARD SCHOOL AND TRAMWAYS DEPOT. Plans of the Canton Market were under con- sideration at a meeting of the property and markets committee on Wednesday, with the view of deciding upon a site for a board school. Alderman David Jones, who repre- sented the school board, stated that unless something was done speedily to increase the accommodation in that district the Education Department would probably put into force certain powers they possessed. — The site having been agreed upon, the question of terms were discussed. It was suggested that the corporation should charge Is. per yard for the frontage and 6d. a yard for the remainder of the land, fixing the capital value on 25 years' purchase. Eventually Mr. Veall movedThat, subject to arrangements being made with Messrs. Bailey, Giller, and Telfer (who have a horse repository on a portion of the proposed site), 5,516 square yards be offered to the school board at 6d. per square yard for the land, the price for the freehold to be calculated on 30 years' purchase, or a total of £4,137 10s., the school board, in case of satisfactory arrange- ments being made with Messrs. Bailey, Giller, and Telfer, to bear the expense of transfer- ring their premises to a. site on the horse fair ground." Mr. Veall explained that it made very little difference whether they charged 6d. per yard for the whole, and capi- talised it at 30 years, or 6d. for the back land, and Is. for the frontage at 25 years. An amendment in favour of 274 years' purchase, proposed by Mr. Chappell, and seconded by Mr. Norman, was lost, and Mr. Veall's resolution was then agreed to. Alderman Jones remarked that the com- mittee were a hard-mouthed lot." He would, however, submit the terms to the next meeting of the sites and buildings committee of the school board. The Clerk read an extract from the minutes of the tramways committee, who asked that the horse fair ground should be reserved for corporation purposes. — No resolution was passed in reference to this subject. THE FISH MARKET. The manager of the fish market reported that the receipts for the week, ended April 5, were £15 3s. 10d., compared with JE23 15s. 2d., in the correspond- ing period, a decrease of £8 11s. 4d.; and for the 12th of April JE15 4s. 4d., compared with £20 158., a. decrease of £5 Os. 4d. — The Chairman remarked that the receipts had been very much lower than they were at present

THE LATE MR. L. E. WEBB. His Honour Judge Owen on taking his seat at Pontypool County-court on Wednesday morning referred to the lamented death of Mr. Lewis E. Webb, solicitor, Pontypool. His Honour, who was deeply affected, said:—I wish to express publicly my great regret at ohe death of the late Mr. Webb. He came to this town to practise as a solicitor soon after I was appointed judge of this court, and he passed the whole or nearly the whole, of his profession in this town. He was a man of ability, and had a good knowledge of law. But, beyond that—in my mind, much more important than that—he was a man honest and honourable in all his duties. I believe in his death both the neighbourhood and the profession will suffer a great loss."—Mr. A. E. Bowen, solicitor, on behalf of the solicitors practising in that court, concurred in what the judge had said.

FUNERAL AT MORRISTON MOTHER OF SIR JOHN JONES JENKINS BURIED. The funeral of Mrs. Sarah Jenkins, Bath Villa, Morriston, mother of Sir John Jones Jenkins, took place at Clydach Churchyard on Wednesday. The body was encased in an oak coffin, with heavy furniture, which was covered with choice wreaths. The inscription was:—"Sarah Jenkins. Died 13th April, 1902. Aged 88 years." Those present included Sir John Jones Jenkins, Mr. Bransby W. Oliver (nephew), Mr. E. A. Watkins, Swansea; and Messrs. A. Tench, G. Bowen, William Wil- liams, J.P., Maesygwernen; Henry Clement, Beaufort Tin-plate Works; and E. Daniel, high-sheriff.

SUDDEN DEATH AT MERTHYR. Mr. John Thomas, butter merchant, Tudor- street, Merthyr. died very suddenly this morn- ing at his residence. The deceased, in addition to carrying on the business of a butter mer- chant. worked as a collier at the Canal level. He went to work as usual on Tuesday mornmg, but he returned home about noon "nd com- plained to his wife of feeling unwell. He went to bed about nine p.m., and came down again at half-past eleven saying that he felt better. Mrs. Thomas retired to rest at twelve o'clock, leaving him sitting in a chair in the kitchen. She awoke at about half-past three a.m., and, finding that her husband waa not in bed, went downstairs, when, to her horror, she discovered him quite dead, seated in the same chair as tbat in which she had previously, left him.

DYNAMITE CARGO. CARTED THROUGH STREETS OF CARDIFF. A meeting of the Cardiff Property and Markets Committee was held on Wednesday, when Mr. W. Evans presided.—Mr. T. C. Major, inspector under the Explosives Act, reported that at two p.m. on the 3rd of April the smack Water Lily discharged at the Old Sea Lock 10,0001b. of gelatine dynamite from Hamburg, consigned to Messrs. John Williams and Sons (Limited). Cardiff. The explosives arrived in Cardiff Roads about April 1 on the sailing vessel James Bibby. This vessel being too large to enter the Old Sea Lock, Messrs. John Williams and Sons engaged the Water Lily to transport the explosive. This boat, with the explosives on board, was lying in the entrance channel to the Bute Docks at one a.m. on the 3rd inst. with the intention of entering the Old Sea Lock. Owing to Messrs. Williams and Sons delaying the discharge until ten a.m., the canal authorities would not allow the Water Lily to enter the canal on that tide; consequently, the vessel did not enter until two p.m., when the discharge took place. Mr. Major was informed by Captain Furney, the dockmaster, that the reason for not allowing the vessel to enter the canal in the morning was the danger of having explo- oives lying in the canal so many hours before discharging. The explosive was carted through the town during the busy part of the day. The reason given by Messrs. Williams and Sons for the delay in discharging was that the representative of his Majesty's Customs could not be there earlier to take samples. If the discharge had been arranged to take place at sunrise probably the canal company would have offered no objection to the vessel enter- ing the canal at one a.m. The carriage through the town would then have been com- pleted before eight a.m., as was usually the case. The Chairman said there appeared to have been some neglect on the part of the Cus- toms authorities, and he moved that the town- clerk write to them and to Messrs. Williams and Sons. Mr. Blow asked if it was not possible to get the explosives discharged and removed during the night. The Inspector stated that the Government would not allow explosives to be discharged between sunset and sunrise. The Chairman remarked that the com- mittee endeavoured to get explosives removed as soon as spon as possible after sunrise, but in this case there was some hitch. The Inspector remarked that there was in- variably some difficulty with Messrs. Williams and Sons. The Chairman's proposition was then agreed to.

BRYNMAWR RAILWAY BILL. SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION BY THE PROMOTERS. The Brynmawr and Western Valleys Rail- way Bill was on Wednesday considered by a Committee of the House of Commons over which Mr. Samuel Hoare presided. Counsel for the promoters were Mr. Littler, K.C., Mr. Pcmber, K.C., and Mr. Moon, K.C., and the opponents—the Nantyglo and Blaina Iron- works Company—were represented by Mr. Ram, K.C. The application was for an extension of time for the construction of a railway already sanctioned by Parliament between Nantyglo and Brynmawr. Mr. Pember, K.C., for the promoters, explained that in 1899 Parliament sanctioned the construction of a line for passenger traffic, nearly two miles in length, between Nantyglo and Brynmawr. The promoters of the Bill were the Duke of Beaufort and other land- owners in the neighbourhood, and the period allowed for construction was three years. The Great Western Railway Company and the London and North Western Railway Company were naturally jealous of a bit of line like this running between their two systems, and, con- sequently, difficulty arose in regard to the construction. Now. however, an arrangement had been come to by which the London and North Western and Great Western Companies had jointly undertaken to construct the line. The fact that the line was needed had, in fact, been conceded by Parliament, and the only thing the Committee had to consider was whether they thought it right to grant a further period of three years for construction. Mr. Cowper Coles, agent for the Duke of Beaufort, gave evidence as to the arrange- ment which had been entered into between the London and North Western and the Great Western Railway companies for the acquisi- tion of the proposed line. The people of the district had waited for this bit of line for years, and Parliament had already decided that .it was in the public interest that it should be made.—In cross-examination by Mr. Ram, witness said the Bill was promoted entirely by private persons in 1899. Witness did not admit that the promoters obtained the Bill merely in order to sell it to the two great railway companies. He knew that was suggested by counsel at the Parliamentary inquiry in 1899. but he denied it. By Mr. Moon: There was no arrangement for the Duke of Beaufort to dispose of the line to the companies. The attitude of the promoters throughout was that they were per- fectly ready to make the line. Mr. Wilkinson, general manager of the Great Western Railway Company, said hitherto there had been no opportunity for people to get between Nantyglo and Brynmawr except by omnibuses, which were subsidised by the Great Western Railway Company. It would be practically impossible for this little piece of railway, which was less than two miles in length, to work by itself. The only reasonable way to work the traffic on it was that pro- posed. I Mr. Ram opposed on behalf of the Nantyglo and Blaina Ironworks Company, who own a tramway for the carriage of minerals between the points affected by the proposed new line. He said a bargain was arrived at between the original promoters and his clients that the line should be constructed in three years. That had been broken, and the petitioners would be considerably damaged if the two com- panies, who were in some respects their lessees, got possession of the line. After a brief consultation in private, the Committee announced that the preamble was proved, and the Bill proceeds to the third reading.

ABERYSTWITH PUBLICANS. MR. LLOYD-GEORGE'S VISIT TO CARDIFF SHEBEENS. The fourth annual dinner of the Aberyst- with Licensed Victuallers took place at the Lion Hotpl, Aberystwith. Councillor R. Hughes, J.P., of Cardiff, occupied the chair, and he was supported by Councillor R. J. Jones (mayor), Alderman E. P. Wynn (ex- mayor), Councillor G. Fossett Roberts, and Mr. Taliesin Morgan, of Cardiff.—In propos- ing the toast of "The Trade," Councillor Roberts described the Pure Beer Bill- as all nonsense. The heer now brewed was as good as the beer of the old days. and a minister at a meeting of a rural council declared that a glass of pure beer was better than a lot of unwholesome tea. (Hear, hear.)—The toast of "The Trade" was responded to by Mr. Taliesin Morgan, of Cardiff, who in the course of his speech referred to the fact that the temperance associations of the United King- dom had between them an annual income of £40,000, and it was only by united action they could hope to contest them. They were not afraid of any honest measure of legislation which the Government might propose.—In replying to the toast of "The Visitors," Coun- cillor Hughes said that a Bristol firm, in order to meet the Children Messenger Bill, had introduced a system of sale by flagons which would do infinitely more harm than was done when the children were sent by their parents. (Hear, hear.) He felt "are that if the retailers were represented in the House of Parliament they would be of great service to the country. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Lloyd-George, M.P., came down to Cardiff with the object of getting to know something of the working of the Sunday Closing Act. At the invitation of the editor of the "Western Mail", he (the speaker) obtained introductions for Mr. Lloyd-George to the shebeens, and Mr. Lloyd-George had a very warm time of it (Laughter.) He was invited to pay for drinks of port wine by Irishwomen. Mr. Lloyd-George also paid a visit across the border to Mon- mouthshire to see how the Sunday Closing Act worked, and he came back and told a representative of the" Western Mail" that it was hell upon earth. He contended that they could not make men sober by Act of Parlia- ment. (Hear, hear.) This could only be done by enlightenment and an appeal to the better instincts of the people.—Mr. Taliesin Morgan also responded.

NARBERTH HORSE SHOW. The annual show of entire horses took place at Narberth on Wednesday afternoon, in a field adjoining the Commercial Inn, and was largely attended by farmers and others. There were four classes, with a keen competition in each. The judges were Mr. R. H. Harries. Treffgarne Hall; Mr. Benj. Webb (Messrs. Idris and Co.), London, and Mr. E. T. Williams, of Toch. whilst Mr. Palmer Morgan acted as secre- tary, and Mr. R. H. Buckley as steward. The following are the awards:—Best cart horse: 1st, Mr. J. W. Phillips, M.P., "Pioneer VII. 2nd, Mr. Philip Lewis. Pantglas, "Penyfai Squire." Best thoroughbred horse: 1st. Mr. J. Wynford Phillips, M.P., "Gold Medallist"; 2nd, J. F. Rees, Carmarthen, "Avancez." Beet hackney or carriage horse over 15 hands: 1st, Mr. Thos. James, Myrtle Hill, "Agility"; 2nd, I Mr. Thos. Thomas, Rosemary Common, "Druid- atone." Best cob or pony, not exceeding 15 hands: 1st, Mr. John Jones, Rhiwlug, "Wood-j cock"; 2nd, Mr. Thos, James, Myrtle Hill, "Myrtle Gentleman."

CAMBRIAN NOTES. ANTIQUARIAN, TOPOGRAPHI- CAL, AND CURIOUS. [CONDUCTED BY ARTHUR MEE.] Suitable communications are inrited for this depart* ment. To ensure insertion they be aa,¡shorl and concise as p06sible; very plainly written. in ink on one side of tile paper only; signed with the foal r.ame and addreM of the sender; and addressed "Cambrian Notes and Queries," "Weekly Mail," Cardi1!. A nom de plume may be usetl in the column if specially desired. No controversial matter, polio ticaf or religious, ili admissible. REPRINT OF THE NOTES. "Cambrian Notes and Queries," "ith other suitable mat" ter, will be re-printed in quarterly parts, at 2s. 611' per annum. Subscribers are requested to send lit their namell at once.

REPLIES. J" DICK ABERDARON. [C.N.Q., March 22.J Richard Robert Jones ("Die Aberdaron"), 1780-1840, was a native of Aberdaron, a small village in Carnarvonshire. His father was at carpenter; therefore, Richard did not enjoy any great educational advantages in his youth. It is said that he could read Welsh fluently before he was six years old. Between, ten and eleven he began to master the English language, which he considered a very difficult task. He travelled a great deal about the country, but he was of very eccentric habits. The Rev. William Cleaver, D.D., Bishop of Bangor, encouraged him to pursue his study of different languages. At Mold in 1837 his linguistio knowledge was tested, and on good authority it is stated that he read portions of 35 languages. Though he could read, ex- plain, and derive words in so many languages, it is said that he knew but very little about the subject matter of any book. Among the great men who interviewed him may be men- tioned Dr. Parr, of Oxford. Poor old Die. with all his queer habits and wonderful knowledge, died in 1843, and was buried at St. Asaph. JOHN EVANS. Aberbank.

NOTE. THE ABERPERGWM FAMILY. Most of our antiquarian readers are familiar with the Aberpergwm family. The present representative, Mr Morgan Stuart Williams, possesses an unrivalled collection of antiquities, not the least being a manuscript volume of songs of Neath Valley. His pre- decessor was a great traveller. He had a friend, an Italian count, in whose possession he left a box of pictures. They were un. claimed for 30 years. In the old age of the count he met a friend of the family from South Wales, to whom incidentally he men- tioned the case of the box on finding that they were acquainted at Aberpergwm, and eventually, full legal security having been given, the box found its way to .Aber- pergwm, and there remained 80 cumbersome a chattel that it was kept in the gardener's cottage. There one day Mr. M. S. Williams saw a picture of value, and found that the bottom of the box had come out, and the picture for security had been nailed to the wall. What became of the others it would be interesting to learn, as the collection is said to have been of extreme value. Merthyr. C. WILKINS. TURNIP AND LEEK BROTHS. [C.N.Q., March 29.] "Esmwyth cwsg cawl dwr" is an old saying in Cardiganshire, especially in ilia parish of Llandyssil. About the year 1830 my great- grandfather was constable of the parish, and Lla-dron Defaid'" was very popular at tha* time; so old Siams Isaac, of Pantrhedynen, was called from his bed one winter night to take a prisoner to Cardigan Gaol, who was caught red-handed in the act of killing the sheep in his house. On the road going from Horeb to Newcastle-Emlyn the constable and prisoner went into a public-house and called for a pint of beer and bread and cheese each. After resuming their journey for about a hundred yards, the landlady of the public- house called after them that the man had stolen a knife from the house. A search was made, and the knife was found in the pocket of the Lleidr Defaid." After the usual compliment of a few rounds of old-fashioned boxing, he was taken safely to a place of cor- rection, and never returned to Tregroes. So the old woman who happened to live next door always said to John, her husband, "Esmwyth cwsg cawl dwr, John bach." Lampeter. j. D. OLD TRAMROADS. [C.N.Q., Nov. 30, Dec. 14, Feb. 8.] In addition to my note on the above sub- ject, which appeared in your columns some time ago, I beg to state, that.'the extension of the tramroad from Hirwain to Glyn-Neath was made early in the first decade of the last century by the brothers F. and R. Tapping- ton, the then proprietors of the Abernant Works, Aberdare, and did service for them to carry their iron from Aberdare. to meet the small coasters that came up to Neath, until the Aberdare branch of the Glamorganshire Canal was opened in 1811. This was before the halcyon days of Mr. Morgan Phillip Rhys- Mr. Rhys's predecessor as contractor of the mine levels and patches of Rhigos was Wil- liam Herbert, a Resolven man, who became the second husband of "Sarah o'r Plough," Rhigos, the grandmother of the late Mr. Griffith R. Jones (H Caradog")-; but they were not very well mated, and he left her and went to America. Then Mr. Rhys had the management of the mines, and was most suc- cessful. I remember his hounds hunting at Penderyn, and knew his huntsman, "Shon William Rhys, yr helwr hwylus," very well- This short digression is made in consequence of the suggestion of Mr. Phillips, a descen- dant, I presume, of this once-celebrated family, that the road was made by Mr. Rhys. J. H. A.

LONDON LETTER. COLUMN OF INTEREST TO ALL OUR READERS. LONDON, Thursday. Until a definite announcement is made by the Government it will be as well to receive with more than the usual grain of salt all the rumours which are now in circulation concerning peace overtures. Mr. Balfour has undertaken to make public at the earliest moment any definite issue of the present negotiations. It is manifest that so long as these are on foot no possible good could be gained by discussing them, or even allowing the public to get a glimpse at their character. To-day in the lobby it was openly said that a very serious hitch had arisen, which might lead to the negotiations being suddenly broken off and the war continued with increased vehemence. The origin of the rumour was said to be a member of the Government. Doubt- less, it was this fact which led to a far gloomier view being taken of the situa- tion than the situation really warrants. Those whom I have seen, and who can speak with authority, are of opinion that the negotiations must be of a pro- tracted character. The Boers from time immemorial have always con- ducted diplomatic negotiations in the fashion of what is known as a Kaffir bargain, but which is familiar enough to most travelled Europeans from their experiences in Oriental bazaars. The idea is in both cases that if your first bid is very preposterous you will gain more in the final deal than if you had started by making a reasonable offer. So wide is the margin between what is asked and what it ist. intended to accept that the reduction tie vendor hopes will be counted to him for righteousness and moderation. We generally start where we mean to end, and compromise is, there- fore, out of the question. Hence many of the difficulties which have arisen in the past with the Boer Republics. To-day it is believed the Boers are negotiating in exactly the same old way, and hence the delay in settlement and the mushroom- like growth of many alarming rumours. That, however, a crisis has been reached may be inferred from to-day's hurriedly- convened meeting of the Cabinet and the Prime Minister's visit to the King, but until a definite official statement is made prudence will suggest the maintenance of an open and cheerful mind. WELSH NIGHT IN THE HOUSE. Wales and Welsh members monopolised the attention of Parliament to-day. For some hours they almost had a monopoly of the House itself. With the exception of Mr. Grant Lawson, who represented the Government, and one or two enthu- siastic Conservative Parliamentarians, none but Welsh members were present when Mr. Frank Edwards introduced his Bill. As these did not number the requisite forty necessary to keep a House, it was not surprising that Mr. Winston Churchill shortly after the commencement of the debate moved a count. There were, however, other members in the library and dining-room, so the Speaker had little difficulty in securing the neces- sary forty to allow of a resumption of the debate. Sir William Harcourt did not enter until a little later, and he and Mr. Asquith were the sole representatives of the Opposition Front Bench for some time. Behind them sat Mr. D. A. Thomas, Mr. Bryn Roberts (who on occa- sions when he is denouncing the anti-Boer proclivities of the Government patronises the back benches), Mr. Brynmor Jones, and Mr. Osmond Williams. Mr. Lloyd- George occupied his corner seat below the gangway, Mr. Alfred Thomas, Mr. Her- bert Lewis, and Mr. Frank Edwards being his neighbours. Mr. Herbert Roberts, Mr. Aeron Thomas, Mr. Vaughan Davies, and Mr. Moss occupied less prominent positions. Mr. George Kenyon was indisposed, but. witn this exception, the other Welsh Unionist representatives were present, and took an active part in the discussion. THE DIVISION. Although the debate was confined exclusively to matters of local govern- ment, Mr. Lloyd-George, who afterwards intervened, could not keep the Colonial Secretary out of his speech. I am not," he said, a great admirer of the Colonial Secretary, but I am bound to praise the manner in which he has administered the Local Government Act in Birmingham. I only wish," he piously ejaculated, amidst tho unstinted laughter of the House, that he had confined bis attentions to this matter." Mr. Walter Long, who opposed on behalf of the Government, had little difficulty in exposing the hollowness of the Bill. Devolution in theory and practice were, he said, two entirely dif- ferent thfngs. They had heard much to- day about the theory, of which they were all in favour, but little or nothing about its practical application, and, in order that the House should realise how impracticable the scheme was, he treated them to a. few administrative facts—facts which Sir Wil- liam Harcourt, in a very laborious effort, tried most unsuccessfully to conti overt. The division was taken immediately after- wards, with the result that the Bill was rejected by a majority of 38, the smaU- ness of the majority being due to the lack of interest in the measure and of a few Unionist abstentions. MR. LLOYD-GEORGE AS AN ORATOR. Quite casually I heard to-day that Mr. Balfour, referring to Mr. Lloyd-George's recent speech on the South African situa- tion, said to one of his friends: Of course, I am not at all in agreement with it, but I must say it is the best speech I have ever heard in the House of Commons." Whatever opinions are held of Mr. Lloyd-George's actions, no one denies his great ability, and during his campaign against the war policy of the Government, he has delivered speech after speech of great brilliancy, and, like the one mentioned above, they have compelled the unwilling admiration of his opponents. LATE LORD KIMBERLEY. A very eloquent tribute to the memory of the late Lord Kimberley was made in the House of Lords by the Prime Minister this afternoon. Few men had better opportunities of estimating the real worth of the deceased nobleman. The two were constant antagonists, and though the Radical peer was always overweighted in the contest, he had too high an appre- ciation of the genius of his opponent to allow this fact to embitter his personal or political relationship. Lord Spencer was little less eloquent, though it seemed a little unfortunate that in his endeavour to praise the zeal of the deceased peer for Parliamentary work he should belittle the abilities of the Marquess of Ripon. He was pointing out that on one occasion Lord Kim- berley's doctor absolutely forbade him to leave the house. Lord Kimberley was, however, so much concerned about the Parish Councils Bill, which was then pass- ing through the Lords in charge of the marquess, that he felt it imperative to get up from his sick-bed and take charge of the Bill himself. The reflection upon the marquess was an unconscious one, but had not the occasion been a solemn one it would have undoubtedly moved the Lords to laughter. The marquess seemed very unhappy. FIRST OF THE FESTIVITIES. The first of the festivities in connec- tion with the Coronation will take place on Saturday, May 10, at the Criterion Restaurant, when a banquet will be given to the gentlemen of the Colonial and American press by representative London editors. His Excellency the American Ambassador will be present. The chair will be taken by Sir Douglas Straight, and the other members of the preliminary committee are Mr. Arthur W. a Beckett, Mr. J. Nicol Dunn. Mr. W. J. Fisher, Major Arthur Griffiths, Mr. Bruce S. Ingram, Mr. Harry L. W. Lawson, Mr. C. Arthur Pearson, Mr W. D. Ross, Mr. Clement K. Shorter, Mr. J. Alfred Spender, and Mr. Joseph Watson. Special facilities will -be provided the Colonial pressmen in the Press Gallery of the House of Commons during the Coronation ceremonies.

BOTH VESSELS TO BLAME. In the action for damages brought by the steamship Holyrood against the steamship Bernard Hall, arising out of the recent colli- sion in the Atlantic, the Judge in the Admi- ralty Court on Wednesday found both vessels to blame—the Holyrood for neglecting to stop her engines when she heard the defendant vessel's whistle, and the Bernard Hall for proceeding at an excessive speed in bad weaker.

CARDIFF NEW TRAMWAYS. BOARD OF TRADE INSPECTION NEXT WEEK. The town-clerk of Cardiff (Mr. J. L. Wheatley) has received a notification from the Board of Trade that Major Druitt, R.E., and Mr. Trotter, electrical advisor to the board, will inspect the electrical tramways on Tuesday. It is understood that as soon as the board's certificate is received the service of electric cars will commence on the completed routes. The f611owing resolution, passed by the executive committee of the Cardiff Property Owners and Ratepayers' Association, has been sent to the town-clerk:—"That this associa- tion respectfully suggests that the opportunity should not be lost of adding £1,500 to £2,000 per year to' the income' of the borough by advertising on the electric cars."

QUERIES. SIR JOHN PRICE, OF THE PRIORY. Where was Sir John Price born? 119 played a very prominent part in bringing about the union of Wales with England. He was the son of Rhys ap Gwilym Gwyn, of Porthyrogof, Ystradfellte, a very ancient family, who were descended from Bleddin aP Maenarch, Lord of Brecknock. His birth- place is not given in Jones's "History of Brecknockshire." Two of his father's brothers resided in this parish, viz., Llewelyn Gwilym Gwyn, Garregfawr, and John Vychan, Porthyrogof. Ystradfellte. R. POWELL. DAVID RIZZIO. I have heard it said, and have seen it in print more than once, that David Rizzio, the Italian secretary of Mary Queen of Scots, who was murdered by Darnley and his ruffians. WM a Welshman, and that Rizzio is an Italianised form of Rees or Rhys. Indeed. 1 have heard it said that he was the father of our great Grammarian Doctor Shon Dafydd Rhys. It would be very interesting to know if there is any foundation for the assertion. The different dates will suit right enough- We know that Shon Dafydd Rhys lived in Italy for years, and his connection with the Stradlings is well known, but the remainder of the story is shrouded in mystery. Who will explain? J. H. A. ANCIENT MODES OF BURIAL. Has the history of this question in its re^ tion to Wales ever been treated fully and satisfactorily? It is probable, I think, that the ancient Druids burnt their dead. In Christian times, where belief in the resur- rection of the body has prevailed, burial various forms has been the castom. remember joining the Aberdare Naturalists some years ago and visiting one of the nume- rous cairns on the mountain between Aber- dare and Merthyr. Inside it a cist or chest of stone slabs was found, measuring 4x3x3. If this were ever a grave, as is likely enough, then the body must have been deposited in it in a sitting posture. There was no trace of any remains. Probably other folk, however, had been there before uø. Though coffins may have been in use among the rich for some centuries, it is quite pr0* bable that the poor up to quite recent times were buried without. Instead of the biers now in use, lees than a hundred years ago some were in box form, in which the body-. enveloped in some kind of covering, was con- veyed to the grave, and there dropped down- The Welsh "elor" or "gelor" (bier) throws no light on the subject, and the elo;r-feirch, when translated "a hearse," leaves us equally in the dark. I remember an old gentleman, who died in 1879, aged 93, describing an "alor-- feirch" as one which was conveyed between. two horses walking side by side. R. J. J.

ACCIDENT TO A CURATE. The Rev. W. J. Morgan, curate of Ø>ga,:n. Leckwith, and Llandough, met with a rather serious accident near Lampeter on Monday evening. Mr. Morgan, it appears, was staying for the benefit of his health at Maeshonydd, Llanycrwys, and rode iD^° Lampeter on a pony. About six o'clock in ¡,he evening he started towards home, accom- panied on foot by Mr. Gravelle, one of the masters at St. David's School. After crossinS the Lampeter Bridge into Carmarthenshire and when near Cwmanne the pony shied, causing the rev. gentleman to fall on his head- Several young men from Lampeter rendere-» first aid, and the patient was taken to Dr. Ahe1 Evans'. Mr. Morgan left Penarth about tlvtJ weeks ago for his father's home. A telegram on Wednesday evening says Mr. Morgan is in a critical condition and unconscious. Dr. Abel Evans and Nurse Jarmyn are doing everything that is poIJible for him.