Weekly Mail

itV ttkl! mu. ? ?-j? ,.fI' SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1904. I Me WEEKLY MAIL" ispioblished en Frida.1;s and Saturda.'l/s, and can be obtained fruln your local newsagent. If you find <tMy difficulty in obtaining the paper, pLease feMMM?n'<'<t(< uitia the Manager, lJTutern Mail Offices, Cardif. 2%< Weekly Jfail" wt'M be sent by post CTt payment of <t subscription in advance on thefolloving t<rmt;— s. d. One QMa)-<<r. 7 8 Bet/TMr. 3 3 One y«tr. 6 C THE WAR. Events in the Far East have dragged so much the past few days that sensation- levers were agreeably relieved on Wednes- day by the receipt of news navoured with something like excitement. The news was from Port Arthur, but, coming via Russia, we may read with a grain of salt the details of the heavy reverse inflicted on the Japanese. It is not impossible that our aJlies may have been a trifle over- daring, &nd, if so, a sharp reminder may do them signal service. Uninterrupted victory is one of the most demoralising things in the world, and for Japan up to now it has been one brilliant success. We need, however, feel no surprise if the fortunes of war should favour Russia now and again. She has "her back to the wall," and she will no more accept defeat at the hands of a people site despises than we were prepared to accept humiliation at the hands of the Boers. People are too apt to forget this, especially those who are not old enough to remember the tremendous nght that the Northern Colossus made in the Crimea. Russia had "her back to the wall" at Sebastopol, and a splendid stand she made, and, unless harassed by grave intemaJ dissensions, we iray take it that she will do the same again. Meanwhile, urgent efforts are being made in certain quarters to draw France into the struggle, and if France foolishly gives way we \muBt follow suit, and the fat will be in the nre. Arma- geddon wdl be at our doers. It is earnestly to be hoped that events may not take a turn so appalling as this.

THE KING AT PORTSMOUTH. INSPECTION OF THE NAVAL ESTABLISHMENT. The King left Victoria Station at 11.35 on Fri- day morning in a special saloon attached to the ordinary train for Portsmouth. His Majesty was attired in the undress uniforni of a.n admiral of the Beet, with overcoat. and was accompanied in his drive from Buckingham Palace by Cap- tain the Hon. Seymour Forteacue, naval equerry, and Captain Fritz Ponsonby, mili- tary equerry. He was received at the station by his principal naval aide-de-camp, Admiral Sir Henry Stephenson, and also by Sir Arthur Otway, on behalf of the railway company. Lord Esher, Sir George Clarke (a. member of the War Office Re-organisation Committee), Lieutenant G. F. EIIison, and the Hon. Maurice Brett (Lord Esher's eon). On arriving at Portsmouth his Majesty wae received by Admiral Sir John Fisher, and went direct to Admiralty House to luncheon. The weather was brilliant, and his Majesty seemed in high apirita. In the afteruocm he made his 6rst ae,tLaintonee with a, submarine ship, and also inspected Neison'e Victory. The King was favoured with fine weather for his visit to Cowes on Saturday. His Majesty and a number of naval omcers, in- cluding Prince Louis of Battenberg, Sir John Fisher (comma.nder-in-chief at Portsmouth). Sir Charles Arbuthnot (nag captain), and others, crossed from Portsmouth on the Royal yacht Alberta, on the way passing between two lines of manoeuvring torpedo-destroyers travelling to and fro at high speed, and a number of submarines which were at prac- tice in Osborne Bay.t At Oowes his Majesty entered a closed pair-horse carriage. With the King rode Lord Esher. Major-general Sir Stanley Clarke. and Admiral Sir Henry Stephenson. The Royal party were driven to Kingston, on the eastern shore of the River Medina,, where the Royal Naval College has been buiit. His Majesty proceeded to Oeborne College, where he inspected the cadets and watched the boys at dinner. One of the youths rose, and. amid the cheer? of his comrades, proposed the health of the King, to which his Majesty, surprised and looking much pleased, made a brief reply. His Majesty next paid a visit to Osborne House, where he inspected the arrangements made for the reception of convalescent omcers. At the .entrance the King was received by the t'irst Commissioner of Works (Lord W!nd?or/ and the Secretary iSir Schomberg M'Donnell). besides the omcials of the establishment. The return was then made to Portsmouth. The King experienced inclement weather at Portsmouth on Sunday, but he carried out the futi programme of engagements. He attended morning service at the Dockyard Church. His Majesty next intrp'ected the Cumberland. the lateat-delivered of the County dags of cruisers, and then returned to Admiralty House for luncheon. After the repast his Majesty and suite rode to the new naval bar- racks. and afterwards visited the Royal Marine Artillery headquarters at Ea-stney. It transpires that the King injured himself slightly by falling whilst inspecting the cruiser Cumberland on Sunday. His Majaaty was walking under the armoured deck, a-nd. although the ship was well lighted, struck his foot against the threshold of a water-tight door, and fell. injuring his leg. The injury waa only slight, and he was able to walk from the ship, though it, apparently, troubled him a little later in the day. The King was early astir at Portsmouth on Monday, an;d soon after breakfast went on board the Commander-in-Chief's steam launch to visit the nn.val ginnery school at Whale Island. Admiral Sir John Fislier and the members of the Royal suite were in I attendance. The weather was beautifully fine. On reaching the island his Majesty. who wore a naval uniform, v/ae received by Captain Percy Scott, and at once proceeded to the parade-gTound, where he inspected the sailors and the boys under training. He a!so watched some naval ginnery teaching, paying special attention to the appliances invented by Captain Scott for the purpose. His Majesty was next conducted to a part of the islaad where a demonstration was given Of naval brigade work on shore. A wall had been built up to represent a fortified position, with a dummy Chinaman peering over the parapet. By a mechanical contrivance he was made to fire rapidly on the advancing tars. Rifle in hand, the advance party of naval skirmishers made short work of the Chinaman, and, rushing the wa-11, were follower by a second contingent dragging a twelve-pounder netd-guu, which they unshipped from its carriage. The main body now advanced with a 4.7 gun on a Percy Scott mounting, ae Ufed in South Africa, a,nd, this being too much to haul over the obstruc- tion like the twelve-pounder, a way waa clea<red by blowing a breach in the wall, the brigade advancing triumphantly to the tune of A Life on the Ocean Wave." The King afterwards paid a visit to Captain Scott, and went round the ofHcere' and sea- men's quarters before proceeding to Portaea Mand, where torpedo and submarine mining experimantt were arranged by the Vernon Torpedo School. He saw damocstrated the va,riolia waya of using submarine mines and torpedoes. The methoda of counter-mining and blowing up harbour boom defences were likewise shown by experimente. The King appeared greatly interested with the display at Whale Island, which occupded BO much time that the subsequent pro- gramme had to be curtailed. His Majesty remained at Portsea Island only long enough to see a torpedo run by the Vernon staff. The King then crossed to Foston to pay a brief visit to the Royal Ma-rime Light Infantry depot'. He was received by Colonel Chapman. and, after inspecting the battalion drawn up on parade and the children from the schools attached to the barraeks, :paœed into the omoers' quarters, where he remained for twenty minutes. His Majetty lunched at Admiralty House, and, after taking leave of Sir John Fisher, left in a specia.1 train on his return to London at half-paet two.

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NO AMENDING BILL LIKELY IN THE LORDS. Misleading statements have been published from time to time purporting that tthe Government had coi&e to an arrangement with the Welah memibers of Parliament, whereby the dimculty created by the unlawful opposition to the Education Act would be removed. It was stated that this arrange- ment would give the Nonconformists practi- cally all that they asked for. We are now in a position to state authori- tatively that it ie not in the I&ast probable— were any Welsh peer to introduce an amend- ing Bill into the House of Lords, which is now considered unlikely—that the Ministerialists, including the EpiscopaJ Bench, would give the measure their sympathy, much less tjieir practical support.

PROGRESS OF THE "SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT." Mr. Lloyd-George in his eager hunt for sub- scribers to his solemn l&ague and covenant haa shouted long before he is out of the wood. He has just sent to the Carnarvon Free Church Council a letter congratulating them upon the success with which they have con- ducted the education fight. The success waa the capture of three Church candidates who subscribed to the solemn league and cove- nant. It wa.a betCer." said Mr. Lloyd- George, for us to securr; the adhesion of tha small remnants of Tories on the council to our policy than even to substitute Liberals for them." But the inventor of the new league and covenant had counted without hie host. In hia own constituency there are at least two wideawake Church dignitaries, to v<it, Dean Roberts of Bangor (better known to our readers as Canon Roberts of Llandaff) and the Archdeacon of Merioneth. These per- ceived the danger of Church members on the county council being led astray by any will- such as had danced before the eyes of the all too confiding Toriee of Car- narvon. and took steps accordingly, with the result that at the very meeting at which the above letter from Mr. Lloyd-George was read another communication was read from one of the thrae Carnarvon Churchmen, Mr. Richard Thomas, whose scalp Mr. Lloyd- George thought he had hanging at his girdle! Mr. Richard Thomas said that he had been misled into supposing that the Government and the Welsh members had arrived or were about to arrive at a mutually satisfactory arrangement of the Education Act dimculty, and had accordingly subscribed to Mr. Lloyd-George's form of oath. Finding, how- ever. that there waa really no foundation for this cock-and-bull Ftory, he unhesitatingly withdrew his adhesion to the league and covenant, resumed his individual liberty of action, and appeared as the avowed cham- pion of law and order and the upholder of Church of England schools and their right to a share of the rates. A resolution was adopted by the political Dissenters as follows:— That this council learna with painful surprise and deep regret that Mr. Richard Thomas has seen nt to break the dennite compact into which he voluntarily entered with this council with reference to the future administration of the Education Act in this county. Having regard for the fact that any possible Free Church candi- date in opposition to Mr. Richard Tho .s has been placed under obvious disadvantage by having, through relying absolutely on Mr. Thomas's word of honour, withdrawn from canvassing the electorate, leaving Mr. Richard Thomas an open field for &o long a period, this council feels compelled to say that in its opinion, if Mr. Richard Thomas found himself unable to carry out his written pledge, the only honourable course left J!or him under the circumstances was also to withdraw his own candidature absolutely and unreservedly. This resolution was sent to Mr. Thomaa, a Free Church opponent waa also found to him in Mr. Robert Gr'mth, and the council further decided to support the two other Churchmen who have 6Coopted the conditions of the league and covenant if the Churchmen opposed them.

CARMARTHEN EDUCATION OOM- MITTEE. A meeting of the Carmarthen Borough Education Committee was held at the Cruild- hadl. Prebendary Brown, principal of the South Wales Training College, presiding. 'ihe town council, as the eduction autho- rity, requested the committee to furnish before March 1 an estimate of their probable receipts ajid expenditure for the year ending Ma-rch 51,1905, distinguishing the r&ceipta and expenditure for non-provided schools irom those of the provided school The com- mittee were aiao aeked to report to tite council whet it wOnId ba toeeetMXM'y to J¡ make any provision from the rates, in aooh estimates, for the non-provided clerk (Mr. Thomtus Walters) waa instructed accordingly, hia returns to be submitted to a special meeting of the committee beiore they were forwarded to the council. The sigmmg of the !&t. Mary'a Catholic School agreement relative to the appointment of a head teacher having b0t;n deterred for further conslderadon, the committee received a letter from Messrs. and Colegrave, the London eolicitJora acting for the Catholic Church authorities, who noted that the only portion of the agreement to which exception waa taken was that part of Clause 3 which related to religious instruction. "We have already pointed out," the letter continued. "that your conunittee have no right whatever to dictate what shall or what fdiaU not be contained in the agreement with reference to religious instruction to be observed m the echool. Their duty is denned by the Act, being simply and solely to consent to the appointment of the teaoh&r. We there- fore, only consider your letter aa a refusal of your committee to approve of the appoint- ment of the te-ajcher on other than educational grounds, amd shall, accordingly, adviee our client to take the necessary tftepa to bring the matter before the notice of the proper authority." Mr. Walter Spurrell: What, will be done if it be allowed to lie on the table? The Chairman: The committee have refused to give authority. I don't see what nae there is in it. That tesolntion will have to be rescinded before you can do anything. Mr. Spurrell said i'he terms of the resolu- tion showed that the question waa deferred for the preemt. Father Fabian: There was a distinct r&fLaal. I was asked to write to the Board of Education on the subject, and I did 60, but, so far, I have received no reply. The Chairman: As neither the proposer nor seconder of the resolution is here to-night nothing can be done at present. There ia however, no extreme hurry in the ma.tter. Messrs. H. E. Blagdon Richards and William Roberts, two Nonconformist managers, who had been appointed to act ao managers of tha Catholic school, wrote aa followa:— Inasmuch as We are of opinion that our position aa managers of the Mill-etreet (Catholic) School is of such a nature ae not to allow us a particle of voice in the manage- ment of the aa<id aehool. and inasmuch as the permanent majority, allowed under the Act, of the Roman Catholic denomination renders abortive any effort we may put forward to further the general interests of the ratepayers of this town; and as we can see no pfoba- bility of any such efforts on our part receiv- ing consideration so long as the Act remains in its present uoBa.trsfaetory state; and as we do not feel jostined in wasting our time in attending any meetings where any assump- tion of innoence on our side ia essentially farAcal, we have decided to tender yon here- with our resignation of the poet of managers of Mill-street School. Wà, a.t the same time. thank you for the compliment of selecting uS at the outlet for the appodntMent."—There waft no discussion, but Father Fabian inti- mated his intention of eventually applying to have the vacancies nlled. In order to encourage regularity of attend- ance at all the schoota a ha-lf-holiday ia to be given on the last day of every month and a nrst prize to the child who obtains 95 amd a second prize to the one securing 92 per cent. of attendances in the year. Sum- monses are aJeo tp be iaaoed against <dl parents who have been before the attendance committee on more than one oooaoion. It waa decided to include cookery in the curriculnm, and the comity council's terma for the use of the services of M;ies Jennie Wil- liams. the county instructrees, are to be ascertained. The Rev. Joseph Harry had given notice of the following motion:—"That, in reply to the inquiry of the town council, this committee desireo to report that, inacnmoh as voluntary sehoola do not requdre a,ny aid from the local rates, no provision from the rates be m&de in the estimates for the ensuing year in respect of those schools, and tha-t, accord- ingly, thia committee begs to advise the town council that to increase the education rate beyond the amount levied at the end of 1901 is altogether unneoeaMry."—In view of the instractiom to the clerk for the preparation of the returna required by the town council, Mr. Harry postponed hia motion till tha specia.1 meeting of the committee is he!<t.

RHONDDA ROMAN CATHOLICS AND THEIR SCHOOLS. An indltrnation meeting representing the two Bhondda Valleys wao held at the BonMm Catholic schools on Sunday. The Rev. Father GrimttM occupied the chair. Mr. James Brooks (Tonypacdy) moved. the following resolution:— That we, the Catholic l'I&tepa,yera of the Bhondda Valleys, at a meeting speci-ally convened for the purpose, formally protect against the attitude of the Rhondda Urban District Council Educa- tion Committee towards the Tonypandy Catholic schools, and consider that the action of the oooncil # <tuite nnjmtti- ma.Me. becatMe it is in contravention o't the Macaftion Act of N02, omd wa this protest to be sent to the Rhondda. Drban District Council Education Committee, a.nd respectfully ask their attention to it. Mr M. O'Brien seconded the reaolution, which was tlnanimously. A further resolution was proposed by Mr. Kinstloy:—"Tha.t we, Catholic ratepayera of the Rhcndda. Valleys, determine to combine and take an active part in the coming election for the purpose of securing just treatment for our schoola and recognition of our claims to equal treatment in all public matters." Mr. H. Milla seconded the motion, which was carried.

CARMARTHENSHIRE COMMITTEE. A special meeting of the Carmarthenshire Education Committee was held &t the Guild- hall, Carmarthen, on Saturday, when Pro- fessor D. E. Jones presided. It was decided to advertise for an architect j at .B200 a year, with ;E25 expenses. The Clerk reporter that the voluntary schools which had ueen transferred to the old school hoards in the county were Bettwa, Cwmduad. Caio Village, Crugybar, Henllan Amgoed. Felinfoel, Llangathen, Llanllawddog, Llanpumpsaint, Cwmbach. PwII, and Esgair- dawe. He was inatruoted to publish in the minutes the conditions of the transference in each instance. Mr. H. Jones-Davies (Glyneidda.n) moved, and the Rev. J. H. Reea (Burry Port.) seconded, that the clerk be instructed to furnish a return showing the chancier of the religious teach- ing, if any, given at the council schools.—After a, discussion the motion was lost by the cast- ing vote of the chairman, but the vote being challenged it was declared carried by six votes to five.

CHEPSTOW GUARDIANS TO TAKE COUNSEL'S OPINION. At the fortnightly meeting of the Olie-tow Board of Guardians on Saturday (Mr. G. Seys prc-siding) the Rev. W. H. Williams rr.ised a.n impoTta.a.t Question in connection with the stand ta-ken by the Monmo'uthphire County CoTincU in respect to the new Education Act, came'ly, their alleged decision to levy a shiliing ra<te for educational pufpoaes. but not to apply a<ny of the money so ra.ieed to the voluntary or non-provided echoed. He described tha proposed administration as dis- honest. Whilst the Gloucestershire County Council were only going to levy a 4id. to 5d. rafte and administer the Act in all the parIS'heø' the Monmouthshi'"e CoTmty Oncil were going to levy a Is. rate and only par. tially administer the Act. The point he raised was whether, if the Monmouthshire County Council levied the rate with the a.vowed inten- tion of not applying it to the purposes of the Act, could the board refuse to pay it.—It was decided to take counsel's opinion upon the point ra-ised.

THE NO-RATE POLICY. A meeting of Nonconformists at Neath on Monday night (presided over by Mr. Hopkin Morgan) passed a. resolution endorsing the Welsh county councils no-rate policy pend- ing the repeal of the Act, and declaring the opinion that Nonconformists should not send their children to non-provided schools if other schools were available. ALr an addreas by the Rev. J. M. Gibbon (London), the Rev. G-riStth Thomas, of Car- marthen. a Church Defence lecturer, asked Mr. Gibbon to give the name of the clergy man tv whom he bad alluded as having' denied the validity of baptis-m by a Nonconformist minister.—Mr. Gibbon said he waa not 'pre- pared to give the name in a public meeting, but on hia return he would ascertain whether he might give the name of the person.—Mr. Thomas then asked if the 20.0CO head-teacher- ahips to which reference had been made were ever open to the public.—Mr. Gibbon: There ia now introduced an element of injustice, and they are now paid out of the public funda.—Mr. ThoTnaa: Are Churchmen rate payers or not?—Mr. Gibbon: That quest on had better be aaked of the overseers of the parish.—When the meeting dispersed Mr. Thomas, who had been asked to the platform, shook hands with Mr. Gibbon.

NEATH EDUCATION COMMITTEE. The monthly meeting of the Neath Educa- tion Committee was held on Tuesday after- Bjoon, Alderman H!. P. Cha-rlee pres.idins. The nnmce oomBMttee recommended a oa.11 of JB1.700. A connaunicaAion was read from the secretary of the Independent Order of Good Templaa-a asking the committee to adopt scLentinc temperance teaching in the local schools.—The Chairman said that already a lecturer at and it agreed to write informing the secretary of this fact.—The question of appointing manar gers for the aeveral achools waa adjourned for a month, as also was the oterk's report on the at&fnng of siohoo-Is.—Mr. Kopkin Morgan raTsed the qTMstion of the appointment of tea-ohiera at Alderman Davies's Schools, and it was agreed on hia motion, seconded by Alderman Trioh, that in future no appoint- mente should be made unices the- list of CM- dida-tea be sent to the committee, and it was deeded to ask for pa.rhMO.I&re of the laet a;ppo4nttnent tm&de by the rnanagers.-The etKMtMMtm <M!d Cimmoillor tBoddm Itortpam wefa ilppotnted tA S&tbmit t&<& me" of Uw county ootHlei! coiaaHttee a<b CardttF next week with the view of ta,ying before them the position of the Netath autonomous district in regard to secondary education.

MOUNTAIN ASH CATHOLIC SCHOOL The fortnightly meeting of the Mountain Aab Education Committee was held on Tuesday, Mr. D. Rogers (Ynysybwl) presiding.—A com- munica-tion had been received from the Bo3.rd of Education enclosing attendance forms regarding the Roman Catholic School, which the committe-o were asked to fill up smd return. A long discossion entrued, in the course of which Major Morgan favoured compliance with the reqaeat of the Board of Education.— Mr. John Powell moved an amendment that the forms be not nlled up, on the ground that such a step might mvolve the committee in an obligation to take Over the school, which they had declined to do, on account of the Btructur&l inemoiency of the building.The Rev. J. F. Williams seconded Mr. Powell's amendment, which was carried by six votes to nve.—Another letter wa< read from the Board of Education, to the effect that the Roman Catholic School would be closed at the end of the year unices the managers had in the meantime executed the repairs as required by the committee.

ASSISTANT TEAGHERSHIPS AT ABERDARE. At the fortnightly meeting of the Aber- dare Education Committee on Wednesday the Clerk, (Mr. John Morris) read a letter from the Rev. C. A. H. Gicen (vic&r of Aberda.re), which was a reply to a communication forwarded recently by the committee to. the managers of the non-provided echoo-la with regard to the appointment of aseisuamt teachers. The ns.a)nager9 were ptepared to concur in an a,rr!M!gem'an't whereby the local education committee tthould advertise for assistant- teachers required from time to time a.t the respective schools, and nominate ca.ndidat'ea to fill the vacancies, though they wanted to reserve the right of ana.1 selection of appoint- ment.—The clerk was instructed to write to the maxmg-ers of the nfom-provided schools to the effect tha.t if they were not prep-ajped to come nearer the wishes of the education com- mittee than the teatna contained in the vicaor's letter all Mgotiations would be dropped.

BURDEN ON THE RATEPAYERS. Upon the motion of Mr. Hugh Jones. seconded by the Rev. J. H. Daries, and sup- ported by Mr. David Evans (Merthyr). the Merthyr Board of Guardians passed the fol- lowing reeolution: — That this board desires to call the atten- tion of the GoTernntent to the hea,ty bttrden of the education rate on urbsm and rural ratepayers, and urgea the necessity of placing the coat of teaching in elementary tchoole upon the Imperial Exchequer, a largo portion of the coat beinf already paid out of such fund.

PURITY OF MERTIIYR WATER. At a meeting of the waterworks committee of the Merthyr District Council on Wednes- day, Mr. N. F. Hankey presiding, the Clerk reported that the water in Dolygaer reeerToir had been analysed. A sample was taken from a ta,p a.t the Town-hall, and the antdyat reported that it oonta-ined no erid.emce of any contMnination by sewage, animal, or Tege. table .ma-tter.

MR. STANTON AND Ttllg HIRWAIN DISPUTE. The workmen's committee and the tradesn?* of Eirwain met on Monday at the Puddlef Anns, and a deputation of the worknica committee was appointed to see Mr. Staa?" and to ask him whether he would allo? deputation of tho men themselves to go ? se? the management. Mr. Stanton reph? that as far ae be was personally concerne" he was quite prepared to agree to t' coarse, bat he could not give a, deSnite ?°?? until be bad consulted his colleagues o& t executive at CardifF. He promised to collity a definite answer to the men by WednesdaY' Another meeting was held subsequently. ? enabia the deputation to make the resold ? their visit to Mr. Stanton known to the in<?' The tradesmen were present at tbia tDe< ing. It was decided that if Mr. Sta?o* gives hia consent a deputation sha!l ?? upon the management, with a view of brin?* ing about a resumption of work on th? bas" of the offer which the tradesmen made to t Federa-tion a fortnight ago.

TRADES UNION TROUBLE AT FEBNDALE. The aosiatamts of the FermdaJe Co-operatf.a Storea, who have handed in notices to tat, minate their oontra<te on Sa<tnrda.y, held public meeting at the Tudor-haJJ on wedDet" day nig'ht, Mr. Pearce. OardiIF, presiding. JU. M'Pherson stated that the committee of tb- stores had repeatedly refosed to recogniM deputation appointed by the Union to diwItO the eoa-le of wagaa. acme gUgffeStiOM Vroo made in order to bridge over the difrcuu* bttt nothing waa decided mpon.

LONDON LETTER. A COLUMN OF INTEREST TO ALL OUR READERS. LONDON, Thursday. Very disquieting rumours have reached town concerning the health of Mr. Chamberlain. Upon what they arc based I have no information, and merely give the news for what it is worth. Only a. few days ago Mr. Austen Cham- berlain had a. very favourable telegram, o the enect that his father had greatly benented by the voyage, and had recovered from the shock which the sudden death of his old friend Mr. Powell Williams had given him. Whether he has had a, relapse since then I am not in. a. position to say, but the rumours are of a dis- quietinrr character, and suggest that the distinguished statesman will not be able to resume his political duties for some timetocome. PRIME MINISTER'S HEALTH. Friends of tlie Prime Minister earnestly hope that lie will not resume his Parlia- mentary duties until he is quite nt and recovered from the weakness which has followed his innuenza attack. He is hope ful of being able to return to Parliament on Monday next, but members of Parlia- ment who have seen him at Brighton fear that flits will be far too soon, and that it would be more prudent for him to make a visit to the South before he commenced his Parliamentary labours. The atmo- sphere of the House is not at all favour- able to an innuenza subje<"t. Already several breakdowns have occurred, and even those very strong and robust appear unable to' undergo the fatigue and hard- ship of a session. KILLING WORK. Mr. T. P. O'Connor has often said that no man can do much brain work in the House of Commons. When engaged in literary pursuits he is always compelled to take his pen and paper away from the precincts of the House, and seek a more quiet and restful spot at a club or his home. This, no doubt, has been his saJva- tion, for the percentage of journalists who day by day work at high pressure in the House of Commons and have to give up work either for a period or permanently is abnormally large. This session has mot yet lasted three weeks, yet four very prominent journalists have already fallen victims to Parliamentary influences. One very popular member died somewhat sud- denly last week, and three other eminent journalists have been ordered complete rest to recover from attacks of nervous breakdown. In each case the men were of strong physique, and the very last whom their colleagues thought would be a prey to such attacks. The insidious influences of the House are no respecters of persons or of physiques, and this is why the friends and supporters of the Prime Minister are very nervous lest bis return should pre- cipit&te another and severer attack of the disease to which he is so subject. A BAD ATMOSPHERE. Last year scientific aid was sought to analyse the atmosphere of the House. It was discovered tha-t the system of ventila- tion adopted killed all the vitality of the air, and when it is con- sidered that 1n the winter the air is heated before it enters the House and in the summer frozen this is not sur- prising. Some modincations have been made in the system recently, but mem- bers have detected no great improvement, and, certainly, the condition of members does not show that any real improvement has taken place. Mr. Balfour strong and well will, no doubt, be able to resist these influences, but he is not yet strong enough to get round the Brighton golf links, and this would indicate that he has not abso- lutely recovered his full strength and vigour. ATTORNEY-GENERAL AND HIS CRITICS. Another member of the Government w'ho has been away from the House on account of illness is the Attorney- General. On this account no amend- ment was pressed upon the Government daring the debate on the Address concern- ing the Whitaker Wright prosecution. But this matter will be raised at the B-rst moment. Mr. George Lam- bert has given notice that on the vote for the salary of the Attorney- General be will move a reduction of ;S1,000 in order to call attention to the refusal of the law omcers of the Crown to initiate the recent prosecution of Whitaker Wright. The Attorney-General has already given a forecast of the line he will take, that when the matter was brought before him it-did not contain evidence which was given in court. He is, I believe, supported by the best lawyers in the country in the line which he adopted. THE RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR DEPARTS. The departure cf the Russian Ambas- sador for St. Petersburg caused! a nutter of excitement in certain circles. Coming simultaneously with the announce- ment that the French Ambassador bad also left for Paris, there was, doubtless, some cause for the gossip to which it gave rise. The omcial explanation was that' Count Benckendorn' had been called to St. Petersburg on urgent private aSairs but; this was evidently an explanation of expediency and not the, real cause for the Ambassador's departure. I understand from other sources that the real cause of the count's departure was in response to a summons to consult with the Govern-! ment at St. Petersburg on the present critical of an'airs. It is believed that the count has a better knowledge of the true inwardness of the situation as it affects Japan and this country than any other man, and the greatest importance is attached to his counsels. There is a rumour to the effect that th-e count has incurred his Imperial Majesty's dis- pleasure in allowing Russia to drift into war. It is thought that he should have known how dangerous it was to prolong the negotiations, and should have advmed his Government accordingly. This rumour does not obtain credence in the hesMnformerf circles. Count Bencken- dorir. naturally, did not know how far th.a Imperial Government intended to go, and. as he was not conducting the nego- tiations, he certainly was not called upon to give advice. The departure of the French Minister is quite a coincidence. Our relations with the French Govern- ment were never more friendly than at present, and Fljnister rumours to the con- trary are without the slightest founds- tion. "COLONEL" LYNCH. Amongst the visitors to the Honse of Commons this week was "Colonel" Lynch, the ex-member for Gahvay. The colonel" looked considerably more care- worn and aged than when I saw him last at the Law Courts. Nearly two- years of imprisonment soema to have told severely upon his constitution, but since his release from Lewes Gaol his health has greatly improved. He was warmly wel- comed bv many of his Nationalist friends in the House, and was the centre of &n animated throng. DISSATISFACTION WITH WELSH M.P.'S. Welsh Radical members are highly indignant at the criticisms which are being levelled against them by a. certain section of London Welshmen. For months past these free and independent critics have been railing at their representative's, accusing them of incapacity and of other offences against political morality. They have gone so far as to accuse them of being fraudulent trustees of their countrymen's interests. One or two exceptions have, I believe, been made to this general indictment—but only one or two. Radical members have, in conse- quence, a common theme for sympathy and discussion—one which they have not had for some considerable time. Welsh members think it outrageous that these enthusiastic lay politicians should expect thefn to be up and doing a,Il the time. They must always, they contend, keep in mind the fact that they are members of a great party, and that the welfare of their country has been entrusted to their charge. They a.r'e incensed that theae critics do not take a more commonsense view of the duties of a member of Parlia- ment, and realise that Parliament does, not, after all, only concern itself with Welsh aSaIrs, and that occasionally it has far more important matters to consider. Unfortunately, their critics have no cognisance of the&e matters. The critics ask them to show in what particular way, either general or local, they have distin- guished themselves. They even point to the division lists, and show th&t t h&ve been greatly lacking in their daties in this

WEEK BY WEEK. Jj LIGHTER SIDE OF CURRENT EVENTS. I The bardic friends of the late "Tafolog" held a meeting at Machynlleth on the day of his funeral, and they decided to raise a, fund for placing a memorial column over his grave in the Machynlleth public cemetery. At a, recent concert in a small rural chapel th.o chairman, who was proud of his bilin- gual abilities, translated the title of each son? on the programme. "We will now," he said, "have 'Pa. Ie mae'r, Amen,' or 'Where is the hidden treasure.' The Rev. Ricba-rd J. Beee, M.A., of Aber- ystwyth, formerly of Cardiff, has been chosen as one of the special preachers at Mansfield College Chapel, Oxford, during the present session. Mr. Rees was among the first batch of students who received their theological training at Mansfield College under Principal A. M. Fairbadm. Although Mr. Clifford Cory is said to be the probable Ra.dica.1 candidate for Cardiff, he is not slackening his efForts to capture St. Ives. During the past fortnight Mr. Cory has been busy in the constituency and has made the personal acquaintance of many of the rank and file of the party in the rural districts. Mr. J. Davies Brown, M.A., Lewis' School,! Pengam, writes to say that Ynyshir does not! mean "Long Island" but "Long Meadow." He adds that in mediaeval Welsh "ynys" is frequently used for "meadow," more especi- ally "the land adjoining a river." This is ita significance in such farm-names as Ynys- da,we and such p,lace-names a-s Ynysforgan. Even the sweeps in the Rhondda Valley are organised. Sometime ago a resident in tha Valley employed a sweep to clean out his chimneys, but neglected to pay him. Not & sweep in the whole length of the Rhondda would have anything to do with that resident afterwards until the first sweep had been paid. The combination was effective, and r the debt was paid. Mr. Christopher Williams has been pointing the portrait of "Hwfa Mon," the arohdruid. During the sittings the artist spent a pleasant time, and a few days ago the archdruid spoke as follows:— Rhyw od gwafriwr digyfryw-yw Willia,mg, 0 Wa,Iia yr hamyW: Lliwiedydd digoll ydyw, Dam ei baent y da.w dyn byw. One of the elder speakers of the London Cymru Fydd caused considerable amusement. I was boTn in the yea-r 18—, and my family consisted of my grandmother, my mother, and me," was OTie of his announcements, j Another was at the end of an account of! a vieit to market, where two bushels of Egyp- ttaji barley were purchased. My mother carried one home on ome back." he explained, and my grandmother carried the other- well—on the other back!" A wind &torm swept over East Denbighshire on Sunday night. The track of the storm was marked by uprooted and dismembered trees, unroofed farm outbuildings, and general &s,rucrtion. Parties of worshippers coming into Llangollen to service from the villages beyond the mountains had in several oasea to remain in the town all night, the force of the tempest on high levels rendering it impossible for pedestrians to make head- way. Mr. Lloyd-'G'aorge iB another exajmple of the truth of Lord Beaoonsneld's dictum that facility in speaJdng and facility in writing rarely go together. Beady as he is on the platform, the hon. member has just been confessing to his constituents that he ha<s "a perfect horror of letter- writing, and that a dozen speeches worry him less than the writing of one decently long letter. The ornly way to get a..reply from Mr. Lloyd-George is to send him a tel3- gram with the reply Repaid. Builth Wells, although a sma,H town of some 2,000 inhabitants, has nursed more orack Association footbaJlers than any other town in Wales. In the Welsh international team just selected to play England, Scotland, and Ireland we find two Builth boye. Viz.. A. G. Morris (Notts Forest) amd A. T. Jonss (of the same tip-top team). They are not. (of the same tip-top team). They are not. however, the first Builthia,ne who have played -d for Wales. Lieutenant E. G. Howells, who did eo well for Wales in past international matches, is a.Iso a native of the pioturesaue little town on the Wye. His Homour Judge GwiYym WilI4a,ms said I to a girl who appeared in plaoe of a. defen. dant at Swansea, on Monday, "Run away; I don't ta,Ik to little girls." Unconsciously Me honour quoted "Pooh-Bah's" very words. To a. young fellow who, when called, stood in the I gaJlery doorway, striking grotesque attitudes. his Honour shouted, Are you a )?ta.tue, or a're you posing for your photogra.ph ? Bring youraeMfdown here." The caJl wae obeyed. I His honour on another occasion tareatened a group of women who were gobbling in court that he would send them out of court, or down to the look-u-P," if they didn't desist. In acknowledging the receipt of a< copy of Professor J. Morris Jones's chart of the Welsh Cynghaneddion, D; S. Chr. Stem, the eminent Celtic scholar of Berlin, states, I a<m very glad to have a, copy of the system of Welsh versinca.tion exhibited by a scholar so competent aa Morris Jones. It will prove, no dombt, an easier guide into the snbtilitiea of the ma.tteT than the old a.uthois from whom I made. some years ago. an abstract for my use." Dr. Heinrich Zimmer, Pro'f&ssor of Celtio Philology in the University of Berlin, in a Welsh letter which he wrote acknowledg- ing the receipt of a. copy, refers to Professor Morris Jones as Gwr Ty Coch, .LIamfair Pwllgwyngyll." Two men were walking along Westgate- street yesterday in the storm, and their hats blow ofF. There WM the usu.a.1 undignined race, and one man overtook the flying hat soon, but found tt w?as the wrong one. Look- ing round he sa.w the other man—who was stout and heavy—gazing despairingly at the fngiMve sail ing gently over the wall into the Cardiff Arms Park. But the stout man was determined; be clambered over the wall, dropped Borne nfteen feet into the ne!d. recovered the hat and walked round to the gate, and climbed 'ovef it back into Westgate- street. Here he met the ofher man, who said aCa,bly, "Thanks very much; that's my hat.. I caught yonrs just before you went over the wall. Carma-rthensMre is gradually putting its! new education system into businesslike order. The task is becoming a aeriou.B tax upon the omce aocommoda.tion aA the dispoaa,! of the county council, and it is almost inevitable that the pTovision of an additional pubHo building will have to be wrestled with in the near future as an urgent question. At pre- sent the county surveyor and a aec'tion of! tiTe education staff are accommodated in a private house, and the last inch of room avail-' able at the Shire-ha-ll for omce purposes was allocated on Saturday, when the judge's retir- ing room was given over to the county trea- surer' Where the new "education architect, to be appointed in March, is to be accommo- dated is a, puzzle. Liverpool and Manchester are a-s fond of girding at one another as Cardiff and Swan- sea. Thus the "Liverpool Mercury":—"Do Liverpool cyclists ever visit Lake Vyrnwy? A Manchester wheelman who formed, appa- rently before the rainy season set in, one of a pa.rty which rcda and climbed to Vyrnwy, via B¡da, has just been writing in highly- appreciative termi! of the MeaeTy and the lake. endorsing the opinion that Vyrnwy is both the largest nnci. the prettiest lake in North Wales. Doubtless, if Lake Vyrnwy had belonged to Ms.nchc'ster instead of to Liver- pool, many more such tributea would have noon paid. The Manchester visitor when out in the country certainly gaine comparatively more by contrast, and must return home most reluctantly."

"Olr" IF YOU FEEL LIMP AND LISTLESS, ??? ?L? are worried and upset by ??!) ? trifles, can't think, can't work, ?! ? can't smoke, or enjoy your food; if ?a ? society bores you and work is irk- ? ? some, you need a root and herb ex- ? ? tract like Mother Seigel's Curative ? ? Syrup to cleanse ana give tone to ? ? your tiver, assist digestion, brace ? g? up your nerves and invtgorate -? ??. your system. -«a MOTHER ??gg? 4yrtwp jS?Nurse Douglas, writing from 3'?? t5?' Cromwelt Road, Redhin, Surrey, ?g ? says: "About five years ago I ?? "? began to suffer from indigestion ?g ? and biliousness, and for eighteen '<?t ? months my life was a misery. No- ?Jt ?' thing I tried did me any rea! good ?W ? until I commenced taking Mother ?Sa ? Seiget's Syrup. Then I began to ?? y mend. It seemed to put new life J?a! Br? into me and soon fully re- .\? M?f? stored me to health." \t?H ?? W!LL RE-!MV!8CRATE yOU.

S MR. C. B. STANTON CORRECTS j MISAPPREHENSION. In refere'n'ce to the statement tha't Mr. Stanton was prepared, so far as he was p aonaJly concerned. to allow a deputation ?- the workmen thomselves to go and see t management, but that he could not give definite answer until he had consulted b!<* cotle?gues on the executive at Cardiff. ? &tanton cays that -n-hat he really to? the workmen's committee wae that was quite willing to take no part any negotiations tending to bring aboa' a settlement upon the lines of the tradesmen's offer as to compensation, pr0- vided it were the wish of the execute council that he should so act. Mr. Stanto** left for London on Wednesday mornioX. where he will consult thoa& of his oolIea.gu who will be present at the genera! conference of the Miners' Fed-eration of Great Brita*" and South Wa.les with regard to the requ?* of the Hirwain committee, to whom a reply will be forwarded as early as poesiMe.

TO BE FURTHER CONSIDERED Bt THE FEDERATION.. We are informed that the deadlock will bd considered by the Minera' Federation at (JaJ" di3 next Monday.

THE OONOILIATION BOARD CHAIR" MAN. Messrs. Dalziel an<t Richards on Wdneeda1' evendng saw the Lord Chief Justice in re? rence to the independent chairmanship ? the Conciliation Board. Hia lordship under, took to make an appointment at as early date as possible. MINERS' MEETING AT CAERPHILLY. A special meeting of the executive couieill, of the East Glamorgan Miners' Assooiatlo" was held at the Clive Hotel, Caerphilly. unden the presidency of Mr. W. Morgan. Neløon. for the purpose of considering a dispntw at the Windsor Colliery, Abertridwr, in rMpec*, to the dismissal of Messrs. lahmael v, Thomaa Richards by the management Ilj' consequence of a fa!l of roof tht.t occarrcC in their working pl-we. After bearing deputation, Messrs. H. Jenkins and WilliaJO, Thomas were deputed to interview Mr' Grimths. the manager. It was resolved tØ support the ;0 rien out of the funds of th4!' association during the continuance of thf dispute. BRYNCETHIN COLLIERY BE-aTARTTNCK The news having spread that oneratimo had commenced at Bryncethin Pits, -formerl' owned by the Barrow-in-Furneea Company. large number of men came there on Mdndsy in search of employment. It is probable tb** the re-opeming of the pito will be proceed with shortly, but. to save uisappointmen? would be well for coHiera and othera to beef in mind that there a.re plenty of men in ? pia?-e and immediate vicinity to meet ?* requirements for a. comsidershble time. LONG STOPPAGE NEAR 6WANSEA. The Foxhole Colliery Company's pit AS Bonymaen. near Swana<m, M evidently o0< likely to be r&?started. aN the horBce ? harneaa are advertised for sale. The 090. look for oolliertt at Bonym&en is very glooU11.: SIX HUNDRED COMJERS IDLE AT SE SISTEBS. The men at the Seven Sistera Colliery. *e? Nea,tJi, which property ia own?d by Meee? Evans-Bevan, ha-ve been idle for the paSt fortnight, owing to a hitch with the manale; ment. The number au'ected is over 600, bUJI it is expected and hoped that an amicabn settlement will be arrived at this week. COLLIERY DEVELOMCBNTB AT GOWEBTON Developments are ProceedinB; at the hil t'wyd r, e belteved, etnployBite? wtuntMmXteIybegive!? to about 800 m'en. A drift 800 yarda long ha.? been excavated and four s&ams of coal"h been touched. A railway siding has bee constructed, and a bridge 114ft. long bui ove<r. TAFF AND CYNON MINERS' MErTllfo.), The monthly meeting of the miners of thcf TaBF and Cynon District wa,a held on Tuesda.1' at the Workmen's Institute, Mountain Ash' Mr. E. Lovell in the chair.—Mr. John po"el (secfetary) reported in regard to the Mi&ïdn Colliery dispute that he hoped to bring abOUt., a. satisfactory solution shortly.—The question of contribntine to Mabon's Parliamentarf FujMl was aabmitted for oonBideration to the' ViM-ioae lodges.—The contribntioos totalled L I

!< RAILWAYMEN'S GRIEVANCES, CONFERENCE OF GREAT WESTERN. MEN. At a conference of Grea.t Western Railwsri goods' guards, brakesmen, and shunters' held at Gloucester for the purpose of considering the repliaa of the company to I memorial that had been sent by the øeØ asking for improved conditions of service. the fOllowing reaolnttMM wesrw una.niIDOlllJJ' passed:— That this conference of Great wes Railway goods guards, brakesmen, a.n ahmnter<(, having heard the reporte of the interview granted, and considered the repl1 of our directorate, hereby expresses its ke« dMaatLefaction at the meagre coucemion ST&nted, and appeals to the honourablo board to agajm grant an interview to Our representatives to discosw outotgLudigO claims on oar programme. That this conference of Great Westet* Railway goods guards, brttk&smen. aJ1 shunters weleomes Mr. R. BeH, M.P., into oat conference, and thanks him for his past eefW vioee to the railwaymen generally, expressOO its complete oonndence in his actions, an troets he may long be spared to ampi our riehte.

THE TIN-PLATE TRADE. It is not erpect<ed that there will be' a211f. develoorncnta of the friction tro A%iøtl at two local tin-pla-te works with respect. fÀ) "omoo annealing" under the award. TIO m&n't demands have, it is a&id, been met.

PENDERTN QUARRY DISPCTS SETTUED. The diopnte which has been pending røf eome montha at MeseM. W. P. Powell ajKi Co limestone qoa-rriea, Penderyn, M to the ho*? of working haa been ajnica?bly settled. ? lajrsra nNi!BLber o!f men resumed work on W?o* needay.

There is. no resisting the fact that one of the best breakfast and supper bever- ages is ?gs8? ELjEsr coa i