Weekly Mail

MR. LLOYD-GEORGE. A LONDON PHRENOLOGIST GIVES A NEW "READING." A large crowd is to be seen at most hours of the day outside an office at the corner of Ludgate-circus, in London. The office is kept by a phrenologist, who, from time to time, Bets up his reading" of some prominent person's character. The.cha.rt postsd just now relates to Mr. Lloyd-George, and the reading that accompanies the hon. mem- ber's portrait is as follows:- There is something stimulating in the mere appearance of Mr. Lloyd-George. Just to look at him is enough to quicken one's pulse, and a-rouse one to a greater sense of the worth of life. It is n<1t the man's intellectual capacity that strikes you, so much as hie activity, his ambition, Iris eagerness, his push,' his determination to make the most of himself. He is alive, and you see it in every glance of his eye, he-arr it in every word he utters, feel it in hitS handshake, detect it in his every movement. He lives longer in one day than most men do in a, month. Yet he is perenially youthful; he will be something of a boy still when many who went to school with him are grey in hair and grey in out- look. In proportion to his size he has a very large brain—and it is large all over,' there are no deficiencies. It is especially large in the region that lies behind the actual fore- head and in front of the ears—the region that is concerned with sympathy, with idealism, with constructive imagination, and with sense of humour. The largeness of this brain area, coupled with the fact that the whale brain is of immense activity, makes Mr. Lloyd-George an enthusiast. With it all, however, he has a Welshman's caution and secretiven ess, indi- cated in the great width of his head at points above the eairs. He is capable of intense devotion to a cause. At the same time he craves sympathy and praise, and is not without vanity. He is not self-sufficient. And herein, perhaps, is his weakness. He is not sure of himself. He has not the self-confidenoe that characterises, let 118 say, Mr. Arthur Balfour, or the Chief Secre- tary for Ireland, and that enables them to look down with a kindly, tolerent superiority on other men. In this respect Mr. Lloyd- George has more in common with Mr. Cham- berlain. Both have, at bottom, a sense—-not wholly reasonable—that they are political parvenus. Because of it the one flits from cause to cause to keep on top, while the other -our gubjeet—tends to cultivate a brilliant but not spontaneous wittiness, that may keep him, as it has kept others, from ever being trusted with the highest offices and responsi- bilities.—STACKPOGL E. OTVRT.T.

THE WILSON PATROL; REMOVAL OF THE REMAINS TO THE MA TO to HILLS. Beuter's Agency is informed that Sir William Milton, administrator of Southern Rhodesia, has telegraphed as follows to the British South Africa. Company in reply to an inquiry addressed to him regarding the reported agitation on the subject of the removal to the Matopo Hills of the remains of Major Alan Wilson and his comrades from Zimbabwe The removal of the remains of Wilson's party was carried out by representatives of the Rhodes trustees, with the approval of the Church authorities, and after consultation with the minister of the English Church, who was present at the exhumation. The adminis- tration was requested to allow the magistrate to give such assistance as was necessary. The removal took place quietly, in accordance with the usual practice, and in compliance with the expressed wishes of the relations. It was considered that the proper time for a cere- monial was the dedication of the mausoleum in the Matopo Hills, on its completion, by the Archbishop of Capetown. This will pro- ba'bly take place at the beginning of June. The Victoria District Volunteers have asked to be allowed to furnish a guard of honour on the occasion, which has been agreed to. The strong feeling which was expressed in the Victoria district has now subsided, and the ma.tter is at rest."

A HOUSING PROBLEM. A deputation of municipal representatives, chiefly from Glasgow and the West of Scot- land, waited upon the Secretary for Scotland in Edinburgh on Tuesday, and urged him to support the principle of Mr. Cross's House- letting Bill, which makes the periods of letting of houses correspond to the times of payment of rent. Mr. Graham Murray, in reply, said that in the East End of London, where there was a sudden inrush of immi- grants, a landlord might suddenly raise the rent of tenants, and if the family were unable to pay they were thrown into the street. He favoured the Bill to the extent of giving his support to the second reading, but could not pledge the Government without consulting his colleagues.

DEATH OF SIR T. G. FROST. The death took place on Wednesday of Sir Thomas Gibbon Frost, J.P. He was thrice mayor of Chester, and was knighted when the King (then Prince of Wales) opened the New Town-hall in 1869. The deoeased in 1874 un. sttcessfully cotrtested Chester in the Liberal interest against Mr. Raikes. He was aged 83.

WELSH M.P.'S GOODS SOLD. The goods of over forty passive resisterg, including those of Mr. Moss, M.P., were atObMbar on WeduayderstU.

LONDON LETTER. -t A COLUMN OF INTEREST TO ALL OUR READERS. LONDON, Thursday. That his Majesty has a warm corner in his heart for the Emerald Isle has been known for a long time past, and there is ceason for believing that much of the remedial legislation suggested for Ire- land during recent years lias received the King's hearty approval—apart from the constitutional assent. It is, there- fore, pleasing to note that again a pro- gramme of goodly proportions is arranged for the forthcoming Royal visit. That the King and the Queen won golden opinions when in Ireland last is shown by the greater exhibition of the desire to do the honours." It is true that one instance of the spirit of opposition has been shown, but it was so small in ohar- acter as to be insignificant. That the King should visit JPunchestown Races, where an Irish horse that he purchased not long ago will, probably, be one of the competitors, was an excellent suggestion, for Ireland produces some of the best horses in the world, and the sons of Erin are true sportsmen. MAJOR SEELY, M.P. Some of the papers and clubs trying to parody the proverb about making a virtue of necessity by halloaing about the unopposed return of Major Seely as if it were a great victory. But beneath it all there are two sources of disappointment. The friends of Mr. Baring do not like the regulation that has been exercised upon them, whilst the more truculent of the Free Traders arwdisappointed at having had no election fight. The decision not to offer Unionist opposition was a clever move. It has robbed the Free Fooders of an oppor- tunity to parade once more, and has pre- vented their new hero from coming for- ward in the guise of a theatrical martyr- dom. MR. JUSTICE BYRNE. Most great men have a peculiarity of some sort, and that of Mr. Justice Byrne seems to have been the habit of walking from his house at Lancaster Gate to the courts. But, besides that, he had proved himself a keen collector, mostly of antique curios, and, as in this hobby he was assisted by Lady Byrne, his collections are of unusual interest. As a judge he was always in a kindly mood, but everything he touched had to be brought into perfect order. Like some of his brother judges, he had an experience of the House of Commons, and several excellent stories are told of what befell him from time to time in his election campaigns. MORGANATIC MARRIAGE. The death of the Princess Edward of Saxe-Weimar serves as a reminder that morganatic marriages are more frequent amongst Royal personages than we are apt to think. Although recognised in England as the Princess Edward, she was, according to the rule of Courts, only Countess of Dornberg. One would have thought that the fact of her being a daughter of the Duke of Richmond would have been sufficient to bridge over the disability, but by his marriage with her the Prince had to forego the heirship to the Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar. The present Grand Duke is Heir-presumptive to the Dutch Throne. QUESTIONS IN LAW. Although the courts are not sitting, a few questions are being discussed by the law papers and in the law columns of the daily papers. Two subjects under notice have been dealt with by Lord Justice Vaughan Williams, i.e., codification and the establishment of a school of law. But towering above these in acute interest is the proposal to alter the dates of the Long Vacation. This year the holiday commences on August 13 and ends on October 23. The proposal is to com- mence with the beginning of August, and so include the Bank Holiday, the Michaelmas sitting to begin at a corre- spondingly early date. Up to the present the Home Office has not seen fit to make the alteration, so that the efforts of the General Council of the Bar have proved fruitless. And still we are told that law enjoys a too powerful influence upon Par- liament. RICHMOND PARK. The King's gift of Richmond Park to the use of the general public has raised innumerable claims. One set of people want it for one purpose, another set have another scheme, and so on, until one is almost constrained to become a disciple of Carlyle's one-man doctrine. Oddly enough, a report comes up from one of the small towns of Wiltshire, where a member of the local authority promised to give £400 towards the cost of providing a. new council-chamber. Immediately sugges- tions sprang up, thick as leaves in Vallom- brosa, until the town is threatened with the prospect of a set of municipal build- ings that would be large enough for Swansea. OUR AMBASSADOR IN ST. PETERSBURG. It is now definitely announced that Sir Charles Scott will leave the British iLimbassy at St. Petersburg within the next fortnight, and his successor (Sir Charles Hardinge) is to commence resi- dence there early in May. The latter will be heartily welcomed, as he already enjoys a good name amongst the people of the Russian capital, native and British alike. At one time there was a fairly large colony of British on the banks of the Neva, so strong in numbers as to be able to estab- lish and endow what is there caUed a "British Factory," under which a. large library (with reading-room) for the use of English residents and visitors and also a very ornate church are maintained. The endowment is so rich that a chaplain and assistant chaplain are on duty there taking frequent services at Schlusselburg: and also a librarian and organist. This is in addition to a separate chaplaincy for duty at Cronstadt, where the officers and crews of British vessels form the bulk of the congregations. During recent years, however, there have not been so many Englishmen and Scotchmen in the employ of the Russian Government, so that the colony is not so strong numerically as it was in the davs when the engineers and artisans at the dockyards were not re- garded as so trustworthy as they are now. LORD MAYOR AND THE CITY TEMPLE. The recent experiences of the pastor of the City Temple seem to have operated all for the best. That Mr. Perks and others thought fit to subject Mr. Camp- bell to severe criticisms aroused a lot of comment, and the effect has been to direct more attention to what is going on at High Holborn. For that reason the forthcoming visit of the Lord Mpyor, when his lordship will preside over a luncheon given in connection with the social work of the Church, has assumed almost national importance. It is not the first time that the City Temple has been honoured by civic visits. The pulpit (which cost about £300) was given by the corporation, and more than one chief magistrate has attended at the church. This week's fixture is in the direction that the pastor most likes, as it emphasises the fact that his mission is not sermon- preaching only. His ideals included that of making the City Temple a centre for the social side of a Church's work. THE VOLUNTEERS. The Easter manoeuvres for the Volun- teers have helped to enforce one somewhat unsatisfactory fact connected with that branch of the services. It was thought when there was such a ready response to the call for volunteers for service in South Africa that one effect would be to popu- larise the Volunteer foroe amongst the classes of people able to assist either ty membership or subscription. But in spite of the sudden outburst, and also of the fact that the Government has recognised the value of the force by giving greater assistance to the battalions, there has been a. regrettable decline in both officers and men. This decline in interest is brought home to us when we read that for the Easter camps the numbers in atten- dance are less than in almost any year since the force was established. For the first time in their history the London Scottish have formed no detachment for the camp, and the same reports are to he made with regard to the Queen's West- minsters, the Victoria and St. George's Rifles, and the Artists. The contentions contributing to these conditions are that the new rule compelling members of the force to go into army corps for the purpose of manoeuvring with the regulars at mid- summer interferes with business arrange- ments, p-id that the financial grants from the Tre:^ary should be sufficient to cover ixaseffiiV' and ot&ec expensee, c"

WEEK BY WEEK. LIGHTER SIDE OF CURRENT EVENTS. "Mabon," M.P., has now returned home from Mentone, and his health is considerably improved. The Rev. R. M. Spoor, who has died under such painful circumstances at Folkestone, was once stationed at Merthyr. Wales possesses three or four benefit societies which are racy of the soil. One ot them is the Order of Ivorites (Urdd yr Iforiaid), so called from Ivor Hael (Ivor the Generous), of Maesaleg, the patron of Dafydd By arrangement with the Bishop of St. Asaph it is now intended that the Rector of Hawarden's (the Rev. Stephen Gladstone) resignation shall take effect at the close of next August. It will be news to many playgoers to learn that the song composer "Florian Pascal" is the pseudonym of Mr. Joseph Williams, the music publisher. Mr. Williams has published under that name nearly 300 songs and twelve comic Operas. The new chief resident medical officer of the asylum, Kingston, Jamaica, is a Cardi- ganshire man-Dr. D. J. Williams, eldest son of the late Mr. E. Williams, J.P., Bron- caradog, Ystradmeurig. Dr. Williams received the appointment from the Colonial Secretary. The interest taken by Unionist delegates in the Llandrindod Conference was purely passive. Not one of the Cardiff Unionists ventured to put in an appearance, and one of the Swansea men, accordingly, wept at the approaching extinction of one side to the question. March seems on the whole to have been a drier month than its namesake of last year. We give a few rain returns, those for March, 1903, being in parentheses:—Roath Park, Cardiff, 3.10 (2.27); Witla Court, Rumney, 2.59 (5.24); Dowlais, 2.82 (9.35); Ash Hall, Cowbridge, 3.03 (5.64); Llandilo, 2.48 (9.33); Pembroke, 1.77; Aberystwyth, 0.60; Holyhead, 2.92. A correspondent writes:—"According to an old book published in Paris in 1566, called 'Lex Dialogi,' a wonderful image of a cross was discovered in the soft centre of an old ash tree blown down by a violent storm at St. Dunot's, in the Vale of Glamorgan. It would be interesting to learn whether it has been preserved anywhere." Goldsmith's parson "passing rich on forty pounds a year" is eclipsed by a Welsh curate whose case is mentioned in the Annual Register" of 1788. He served four parishes, received a salary of £35, had nine children, and was expecting an addition to his family. No wonder that he was unable to find them shoes or stockings, and that the provision of food was a difficult matter. That vigorous Welshman, the Rev. J. Mor- gan Gibbon, of Stamfoird Hill, London, is likely to be strongly supported for the chair of the Congregational Union of England and Wales at the election which takes place at the annual meeting of the Union in May next. The election of Mr. Gibbon would be popular in the Principality, especially as the autumnal meetings of the Union are to be held at Cardiff in October. The present is not the nrst time that a Guest has appeared in Cardiff politics. Sir Edward Reed's first appearance as a candi- date for the seat was in 1880, and his Con- servative opponent was Mr. Arthur E. Guest, a brother of Lord Wimborne, who was defeated by 348 votes. It is curious that the beginning and the ending of Sir Edward's membership should be associated with a Guest. A Welsh speaker in East Glamorgan referred to the new Education Act as a "pwnc llosg- edig" (burnt question). Probably, he meant pwnc llosgawl (burning question). Still, a verbal slip very often contains a truer meaning than the words intended to be spoken, and who can say otherwise that the educational bonfires in Wales are slowly burning out, and maybe the last one will be witnessed at Llandrindod to-day. The marriage of Inspector Drew, of London, to Mrs. Wood, of Hampetead, will take place at Marylebone Parish Church on the 28th inst. Inspector Drew is one of the best known amongst the band of Metropolitan detectives, having taken a prominent part in discovering the perpetrators of a number of criminals in what are regarded as "large" cases. Mrs. Wood is the widow of the late Mr. Edward Wood, solicitor, who resided for some time a.t Rhayader. A remarkable instance of a lifelong friend- ship is related from North Wales. Henry Price and Robert Ellis struck up a friendship as boys. When young men they emigrated to Australia, and lived and worked together for more than fifty years. Two years ago they both returned to their native village of Rhos- llanerchrogog, each having amassed consider- able wealth. Last week Price and Ellis died within twenty-four hours of each other, both being over eighty years of age. Boya already regard the attendance officer as the enemy of mankind. What will they lay when they read that a conference of attendance officers in Cardiff yesterday advo- cated making attendance at secondary schools compulsory till the age of sixteen? Parents would have something to say to such a pro- posal. But if the attendance officers had gone further, and suggested that only those who go to universities should be allowed to vote, they would receive the support of many old Tories, who prefer to weigh brains than to count noses. Three important hostelries in the Ruabon district are closed through an unparalleled sequel which has followed the recent decision of tba Roabon justices in refusing to renew the licences of the Black Horse, Oefn; the Fox a.nd Barrel, Rhos; and the Royal Oak, Strytissa. Notice of appeal against the magis- terial decision had been given, but through a legal oversight the recognisances were entered into within seven days instead of five, as stipulated in another Licensing Act. Consequently, the owners are dispossessed and debarred from appealing. The Royal Oak licence had extended over 200 years. Welsh jackdaws are nothing if cot resourceful. A North Walian writes:—The jackdaws, later in beginning their domestic duties than the rooks, which are now sitting, were busily engaged in bringing sticks to the spire of the church to-day. Yesterday, in the strong west wind, I saw one bravely try- ing to carry up a large branch; it waa a difficult feat, and over and over agaion bird and branch were whirled away from the desired haven. At last by beating slowly up against the wind the clever bird managed to get far enough to windward to drift down and settle on a gargoyle, whence it oragged the stick through a window to add it to the accumulated pile. According to the report read by Mr. Jere- miah Williams, M.A., headmaster of Abergele County School, at the prize distribution last week. Sir Alfred L. Jonee, who has a residence at Llanddulas, has offered annually four addi- tional scholarships of £5 each, tenable at Abergele County School, to pupils from the Llanddulas district, as the result of special attention drawn by Mr. L. J. Roberts, his Majesty's inspector, to the promising work done by some Llanddulas pupils in the county school scholarship examination. Sir Alfred Jones's generosity in educational matters is truly American, for this is only a tiny drop in the ocean. He has of late years given thousands of pounds to Welsh education. The members of the Welsh Language Society will learn with interest how matters stand in Gaelic Scotland. At a recent congress held in Inverness it was decided to ask the educa- tional authorities to .recognise Gaelic as one of the subjects qualifying for the leaving certificate. Replies from the Highland mem- bers of Parliament have not been very encouraging to those who wish to secure official sanction to the retention of Gaelic as a living language and as part of the ordi- nary education of children in the Highlands. While none of the members of Parliament declare themselves hostile, there is expressed a view that Gaelic should not be allowed to curtail education in other branches and thus send the children away from school with nn equipment of knowledge inferior to that possessed by children in the Lowlands of Scotland. The Oban Mod has, evidently much missionary work to do in Scotland. With reference to the retirement last week of Mr. William Davies, superintendent of the Vyrnwy aqueduct, it is mentioned that he was one of the first officials to proceed to Wales in connection with the scheme which now provides the eity with so plentiful a supply of most excellent water. It was in 1831 that the foundation-stone of the works was laid by Earl Powis, and from that time Mr. Davies has performed most valuable services in his superintendence of the aqueduct. His retirement dated from the day following the opening of the new storage reservoir at Prescot; and, as Mr. Davies was present at the function then per- formed by Lady Derby, his colleagues unanimously expressed the hope that he might long be spared to enjoy that well- merited rest upon which he has entered. An amusing incident occurred in a pic- turesque North Pembrokeshire Parish Church after confirmation service last week. A hail. storm kept the congregation and clergy in the church, the Bishop of St. David's tarrying in the vestry after the clerics had doffed vestments and donned overcoats. Presently the bishop asked for his overcoat—the only one remaining-and had ready assistance in putting it on. Feeling the coat rather tight caused his lordship to look for the usual dis- tinguishing buttons, but finding none, exclaimed, "This is not mine! Immediately a search was made among the clergy. One rotund vicar was espied wearing the missing coat. Holloa," said a brother cleric, noticing the buttons on the left sleeve, how, and since when were yon elevated to the Episcopacy?" Perceiving his mistake the vicar, with profuse apologies and no little embarrassment, hastily doffed the episcopal coat, which was duly tendered to the rightful owner who was no little artptake.

WELSHMEN ABROAD. SUCCESSFUL EISTEDDFOD AT BIRMINGHAM. The seventh annual chair eisteddfod, open to competitors within a radius of fifty miles of Birmingham, was held on Tuesday at the New Temperance-hall, a large and handsome building in the oentre of the city. The pro- gramme was huge and varied, and included competitions principally in music and litera- ture. The competitors numbered aljput a hundred, and the most interesting item was the contest between the male voice choirs, for which five well-known local choirs entered. There were also several solo competitions and awards for essays on various subjects, recita. tions, translations, freehand sketches, title- page designs, &c., and prizes for knitting and other work open to children. The programme also included a children's solo competition for competitors under twelve years of age, a pianoforte solo competition for competitors under eighteen, and children's choir competi- tion. The afternoon and the evening meet- ings were well attended. The Rev. J. Oginore Morgans, who presided at the first gathering, in a short address, expressed the pleasure he experienced at seeing so many Welsh people gathered together to hold up their Welsh traditions and practices, when isolated, as it were, amongst English people. Those of them who were Welshmen and in England did not have too many opportunities of culti- vating and developing their national traits. It was only when they could get together on occasions like the present that they had the opportunity of meeting socially and of pre- senting their Welsh characteristics. They were ail proud of the Eisteddfod, and as a nation they owed a debt of gratitude to it for what it had done to develop the Welsh national character. The chairman at the evening meeting was Councillor W. Roberts, of Handsworth. The musical adjudicator was Mr David Evans, of the University College, Cardiff, and the con- ductor Councillor T. J. Williams, of Bangor. The proceedings concluded with the chairing of the conductor of the successful choir.

ST. DAVID'S WELSH CHURCH, PADDHsGTON GREEN. The annual tea and competitive meeting were held in connection with the above Church on Easter Monday. Tea was provided I by the kind generosity of Mr. and Mrs. J. Watkin Davies, members of the Church, and commenced at 3.30 p.m., and from that time onwards till 6.30 the tables were kept going. The hall, which will seat 350 people, was quite full, and the champion solo competition, open to any voice, called out a goodly number of competitors. Mr. Dyfed Lewis, of Hampetead, adjudicated the music, while the Rev. J. Crowle Ellis, vicar of St. llenet's, and Mr. James Williams, churchwarden of St, David's, judged the readers and reciters. Mr. David Jones, organist of St. David's, was the accom- panist for the evening, and Mr. David Evans, of Park Hill-road, Hampstead, presided. A most enjoyable afternoon and evening were thus spent by a number of young Welsh people, who preferred a literary and musical competition to the senseless din of "an out- ing." Miss Ann Thomas, of Hackney, carried off the champion solo prize of £1 ls. for a splendid rendering of "Y Wlad Well." I

CAPITAL & LABOUR SLAG-FILLING DISPUTE AT TREDEGAR. A meeting of colliers was held at Tredegar on Saturday in connection with the dispute respecting deductions for slag-filling. Mr. F. Gray presided.—Mr. A. Onions (the agent) addressed the meeting, and said the question of filling slag with coal was becoming very acute at the Tredegar Collieries, and had been brought to a head by the action of the management of No. 2 Whitworth Colliery in stopping a man for sending up slag in his tram of coal. He (Mr. Onions) understood that in this particular case the slag com. plained of was "steed" running through the bottom section of the coal, and not loose dirt deliberately filled when clod came down. The result of this action of the management was that the whole of the men in that colliery refused to work on the following morning, and he understood that action to be taken with a. free knowledge of the consequences of such action. He now learned that summonses had been issued against 100 men employed at that particular colliery. He regretted that the men had taken this extreme step, as it was simply playing into the hands of the other side, and he did not think much good would accrue therefrom. They had a far more effective method of dealing with that kind of thing. He believed the action of the company in stopping the man without giving him proper notice was distinctly illegal, but the men had a proper remedy in their hands. He had obtained legal opinion to the effect that the mode of deductions for slag-filling adopted in the Tredegar Collieries was illegal, and that the workmen had grounds for claiming against the company.—A resolution was adopted condemning the method of making these deductions, and a deputation was appointed to wait upon the manage- ment requesting them to discontinue it. Failing this, the matter will be referred to the miners' agent and the district solicitor to take what steps they thought necessary.

PROCEEDINGS AGAINST 100 TRE- DEGAR MEN. At Tredegar Police-court on Tuesday David Summers and 99 others were summoned by the Tredegar Iron and Coal Company for leaving their work at No. 2 Whitworth Colliery, Tre- degar, without notice on the 17th ult., and causing damage to the amount of 10s. each. Mr. T. S. Edwards, Newport, who was for the whole of the defendants, intimated that the summonses were only served that day, and this had not afforded sufficient time to his clients to give him proper instructions, and he asked for an adjournment. Mr. Kenshole, who was for the company. telegraphed to say that he agreed to an adjournment. Mr. Edwards said that very important ques- tions, as counter-claims, would be made by the workmen, and he suggested that a special day be set aside for the hearing. The Bench consented to an adjournment, and fixed Monday, April 18, for the hearing

LLANELLY DISPUTE. The dispute at the Mwrwg Vale Colliery, Llanelly, has now been closed, and the men have returned to work, the points in dispute having been referred to arbitration. Mr. Tom Hughes, J.P., has consented to act as umpire, and the arbitrators are Mr. Daniel Williams, J.P.. for the company, and Mr. Richards for the men. About 300 hands are affected.

RAGLAN COLLIERY, HEOLYCYW. Raglan Colliery, which has hitherto been owned and worked by Mr. Hall Hediey, Pont- ardawe, has just been transferred to a limited liability company, with a registered capital of £7D,OOO. It is understood that Mr. Hedley retains a large interest in the undertaking, which at present employ about 250 hands and has an output of about 250 tons per day, butt which it is the intention of the new company, which includes Glamorgan and London capitalists, to develop on an extensive scale in the immediate future.

BLAENGARWS DOCTOR QUESTION. At a general meeting of the International workmen held on Wednesday it was unani- mously decided to accept the resignation of Dr. J. L. Thomas, who has accepted an appointment at Brynmawr. The question as to whether the old method of paying the doctor should remain in force or a new Bcheme be drafted was discussed, and it was decided that a ballot of the workmen be taken upon the subject.

OFFICIALS PROMOTED. Several important changes in the manage- ment of the Powell Duffryn Company's Rhymney Valley Collieries have recently been made. In view of the rapid derelopnient of their collieries at New Tredegar a.nd Bargoed, Alderman N. Phillips has been appointed agent to the company in the Rbymney Valley; Mr. G. G. Hann, son of the general manager, has been transferred from Bargoed to Aberaman, and Mr. Lewis Watkins appointed resident manager of the Bargoed Collieries. Mr. Fred. Wilcox, under- manager at the Elliot Collieries, has been appointed manager, with Mr. Price, formerly of Blaenavon, as his deputy.

COLLIERS' WAGES REDUCED. At a meeting of the Northumberland Coal Trade Conciliation Board held at Newcastle on Saturday afternoon it waa agreed that the wages of underground workmen and banks- men be reduced 2j per cent., and other classes of surface labour in the usual proportions, i making the wages of underground workmen and banksmen 183 per cent, above the basis of 1879, and other classes of surface labour 15 per cent. above that basis.

MINERS AND THE EXPORT COAL- TAX. At a meeting of miners' officials at Dalkeith on Saturday afternoon letters were submitted on the subject of the proposed interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer concerning the coal-tax. Intimation was made that Scot- tish coal exporters and colliery owners would join to secure a representative attendance upon the Chancellor, who hae consented to receive a deputation in London. Arrange- ments were made for the Lothians Federation to be represented.

THE TIN-PLATE ARBITRATION Sir Kenelm Digby. the arbitrator in the tin-plate wage questions, has written in reply to the recent invitation of masters and men stating he will be very pleased if he can be of any assistance in bringing about a. settle- ment, but his engagements are such that he cannot oome down to Swansea till the early pa.rt of May, bat could deal with the matter in London or by written statements a.t any convenient date.

MR. R. BELL, M.P., AT ABERDARE. A meeting, under the auspices offcfcae Amal- gamated Society of Railway Servants, was held at the Publio-hall, Aberda.re, on Sunday afternoon. The chair was occupied by Mr. Â. E. Knight. The chief speaker was Mr. R. Bell, M.P., who spoke at great length upon the industrial topics of the day. Mr. Bell referred to the argument put forward by the mineowners in South Africa, that the mines there would not pay when worked by white labour. He gave a list of fabulous dividends paid by several of the mining companies in South Africa. If that argument held good in South Africa, then it applied to Great Britain likewise. If indentured Chinese labour was necessary to make South African mines pay, it was equally necessary to get indentured Chinese labour for the Hirwain colileries and others in this country. (Laughter and applause.)—A resolution pro- ) testing against the alleged efforts to crush Trades Unions, and favouring increased wasres for railway servants, was passed.

BRIDAL PARTY'S GALLANT ESCORT A wedding party at the Tillage of Great Bentley met with a pleasant surprise on Bank Holiday. The A squadron of the Essex Imperial Yeomanry, cycling and riding through the village after their sham-fight near the east coast, overtook the party returning from the parish church. The bridegroom was acquainted with some of the Yeomen, and their comrades, entering into the spirit of the unexpected meeting, j thronged round the carriage to join in the chorus of congratulation. Acting upon' good-humoured impulse, they unharnessed the horses, and twenty or more of them seized the shafts. Another Yeoman took the place of the driver, and, with the rest of the squadron as escort, the wedding party returned is state to the brMs's parental j hQBM.

MINERS & CONSERVATIVE MEETING$ PONTYPRIDD. A largely-attended mass meeting was on Tuesday on Pontypridd Common to ea,e(r Conservative members of the Miners' tion of Great Britain to protest against to- compelled to pay levies towards the J>ar^,a^dr tary Representation Fund of the Miners ration of Great Britain. A number of railway trains had been arranged for» huge procession was marshalled outside Tail Vale Railway Station, and, keadefljl brass bands, passed through the Pr"*iyif streets of the town to the place of fj There were between 2,000 and 3,0C0 present. "J t Mr. L. Gordon Lenox, J.P., presided said the subject they had to deal with t English love of fair play. No doubt, all read the questions put by their po*1 agent in the "Western Mail" a few to Mr. Brace, tie (the speaker) was aS to find that Mr. Brace declined to t*W notice of such burning questions, and put them politely by, with a suggestion j| they should apply to their lodges, jjjjf j seemed to him a very strange thing tb»« [ oompulsory payment of one shilliPjS^ political purposes should be enforced, the question of assisting men who in want and thrown out of emroi* was left to casual levies. (Cries of "No, "Yes.") Proceeding, Mr. Lenox dwelt j the importance and usefulness of CoP^t^ } tive Clubs, and declared that although Clubs did not seem to flourish in South —{laughter}—there was a very well-cond* Radical Club in Pontypridd—(hear, and he emphatically declared that the of being "nothing but drinking dens," { levelled at clubs by people who j frequented them did not apply to the P0* r clubs of either side in Pontypridd or t surrounding districts. (Applause.) jr Dr. Rutherfoord Harris, who h*4 j announced to speak, wrote stating th* f was sorry he could not attend. He had { indoors for two days, and was the annoyed as he thought he could help Wyndham-Quin on the Chinese question. Colonel Lindsay and Mr. (Cardiff) also regretted their absence. wft Mr. Lewis (Merthyr Vale) proposed resolution, which was: — That we, the local Conservative of the Miners' Federation of Great strongly protest against the attempts are being made to convert our Trades 11 Society into a Radical organisation, further, resent the coercion which coJJl, ø us to pay a levy towards the support 4 Radical member of Parliament number of Radical candidates for mentary honours. We further agree to sue our constitutional agitation until grievances shall have been redressed. The speaker stated that he had not buted a penny to the Parliamentary lev*cil< to maintaining members on a district Mr. William Griffiths (Ferndale) Mr. William Griffiths (Ferndale) the resolution in Welsh, and it was c-- unanimously and with acclamation.. ifi « Colonel Wyndham-Quin, M.P., on riawgr ( address the meeting was received with y s longed cheers, the huge gathering joini°~jjj J piercing unison in singing For he's ^0 j good fellow," but during the course » speech \m<et with a few interruptions, 1 were silenced by cries of Turn him | and vociferous cheering on the part O'jyf | majority present. He said that no on* f had listened to the speeches delivered f help realising the monstrous injustice of [p was oomplaiaed of. (Applause.) He his hand the report of the monthly < of the Rhondda District of the Federat which stated that "Colonel might be fairly ranked as an y the people." (A Voice: "That repof^yf for members' use only." Appla-uae.) 1 that Colonel Wyndham-Quin QpP~^i< t mining legislation for working ^/t He had always consistently supported le^ tion for the benefit of the working cl (Applause.) Ha had never voted for shilling tax on coal. He found it wa* sistently stated that he was one of .» p did so, but it was not the case, and motion were brought forward for the of that tax he would be prepared to it. (Applause.) He had supported an vfflf hours day for miners. During the the passage of the Compensation Act he steadily and consistently for it thrott* jff. all its stages, and if they agreed Abraham, M.P., they would agree th»* wf Compensation Act was the greatest boon conferred on the working classes. Were the actions of an engmy of the people. He maintained, and he thought every else would who had studied history f°rji<* past twenty years, that the Conser**|jrf and Unionist Government had done m<?ff># labour interests than any Radical or Government. (Applause.) Beforrinff to CUEf labour, the gall-ant colonel saf«i were told that the proposal of the G«\lv9 ment to introduce Chinese labour South Africa was nothing more nor less slavery. (Hear, hear, "No, no," aaM plause.) What was slavery? He £ it would be that a labouring man would to work a number of hours and for j#* over which he would have no control- fore, where did the slavery come in? ChiLese who came over to work in the of South Africa came of their own and, in order that they should understand what was required of wages they were to receive, and what the terms of the contract, the G verv ove had a representative at Hong Kong to matters to every labourer before be 1* j* own country. The ship the men yf complied with the conditions laid dow -e the Board of Trade. There was a Gc ment representative m South Africa, told the Chinese on their arrival the of the engagement, and if they return they could do so. The rn«n accommodated in a "compound" under comfortable circumstances. (A Voice: (') wonder would you be comfortable there "Well," replied Colonel Wyndham "I have been there." (Laughter applause.) Then, prooeeding, he exP^fv^^ that a Chinaman was allowed to V his family with him if he wished- Ja, was only employed for three j and at the end of that time he j if he wished, be sent home at the e of his employer. He (the speaker1) did n it was a good thing, but a reported that it was absolutely impoas^. fi get in South Africa a sufficient ^0 workmen to carry on the business .Hi*: mines. Therefore, there was no a-ltertjfjie' As to the question of high dividends reP" in connection with some of the pointed out that those dividends upon original shares, and in one i°^pll/ a dividend of 90 per cent. worked out to 6 per cent., and it watf i» sible to carry on the business at sXl 4^ depended upon white labour only. impossible for the white man and the col^ I man to work side by side, as it was maintaining the re»p«ct of the black yellow man, or the Indian for the whit* that they could hope to govern such a (jtfJ as India. They must, therefore, get tt* svilled labour done by the coloured the skilled labour by the whites. (A.pP*j^ There was one question which he was was going to cost him his seat, and th* the education question; but he that the Education Act gave much control of the voluntary schools to the than previously existed. (Applause.) yjP On the motion of Mr. Powell J Ash), seconded by Mr. Noble (Hafod), a of thanks was accorded to the sp on the motion of Colonel P seconded, by Mr. Waddington -similar compliment was paid to the ebsi for presiding. ^0^ Mr. Hurford, eta tion master, was he*T Jp thanked for the splendid assistance whiob had rendered in making the demond suoh a great success.

BREAD LAWS.. There is a curious provision in th« vfjc* Acts of 1822 and 1836, which are still to the effect that "every person who make for sale, or sell, or expose for 8*» bread made wholly or partially of 0* beans or potatoes, or of any sort of c° grain other than wheat, shall cause bread to be marked with a large It would thus appear that the chooses to put potatoes in his bre»" escape the charge of adulteration by øt the loaf in the manner described.

RAILWAY SMASH IN A TuNØ' The south tunn*l of the London and ,2>4 Western Railway Station at Birmrnghai>% on Monday blocked through the wrecki two coaches, which jumped the points X being shunted. The heavy holiday greatly impeded. One coach was J violently against a signal box, reduced almost to splinters. No if** injuries resulted. A break-down g*" soon on the scene, but some hours pied in getting the debris out of the toO*

No Fire øft You need warm water, washday only for woollens comfort; cold is as good everything else. Hot water destroys Naptha; makes it no # than some soaps. » WQIM mm ugm** '■ :|lj

hotels* LONDON. J ■>X&.CJcO¥ £ 9"*frWMh FIRST-CLASS FAMILY HOTEL. Bedrooma from 4s. 6d. Sitting and Bed! „ Room from 15s. boims from 21s., including electric light and attendance. Ibotobh terms, from 12s. per day. Wedding Receptions. Turkish Bath. Electrophones connected with Principal Theatres. wi. J. R. CLEAVE, Proprietor. NOW IS THE TIME. NOW IS THE TIME. NOW IS THE TIME. At this Bewon of the Tear no one should be without GWILYM EVANS' QUININE BITTERS GWILYM EVANS' QUININE BITTERS GWILYM EVANS' QUININE BITTERS THII BEST mnomy MB WKAKNESS, KERVOtrSKESS, INDIGESTION, LOBs OF APnTITE, SLEEPLESSXESS, LOW SPIRITS NEURALGIA, CHEST AFFECTION'S. INFLUENZA. IMPURE BLOOD. GWILYM EVANS' QUININE BITTERS GWILYM EVANS' QUININE BITTERS GWILYM EVANS' QUININE BITTERS THE FAMILY MEDICINE. Owilym Evans' Quinine Bitters is recom- mended for— Indigestion; Its different forma, such as sick headache, heartburn, cramp, flatulency, 1e118e of tulne.t18 and oppression after eating, drowsiness, and pains in the region of the heart. m It is without exception the best remedy for Depression of Spirits and Melancholy. Being vegetable "pick-m&-up," ÎB strongly reoom- mended for nervous dll5e&ses, such as undue anxiety, despondency, fainting fits, neuralgia, and nerve pains generally. CJ) It has successfully treated, after all other bown preparations had failw, severe cases of a1!ectioD3 of the chest, such IUI common oolds, bronchitis, asthmatic colds, shortness of breath, influenza, &c 10 It purifies aad enriches the blood, and is a heatthv and safe tonic. It should be taken by all who are delicate, as it strengthens the lIYStem, and by 50 doing 8.8511,1;,5 nature, thereby promoting good health. fS) To children growing', and to people suffering great either after an illness or through long confinement in ill-ventibtted rooms, or any other cause, it Is most valu- able. GWILYM EVANS' QUININE BITTERS GWILYM EVANS' QUININE BITTERS GWILYM EVANS' QUININE BITTERS Beware of imitations. A5k for Gwilym Brans' Qntaiae Bitters, and see that you get it with aarae "Gwilym Evans" on the label, on the stamp, and on the bottle, without which none is genuine. IOLD EVERX WHERE. Gwilym Evans' Quinine Bitters is sold every- where in lottles, 2a. 0d. and 4s. 6d. each, or will he sent, on receipt of stamps, carriage free, direct by THE SOLE PROPRIETORS: — QUININE BITTERS MANUFACTURING COMPANY (LIMITED), LLANELLY, SOUTH WALES. W1500 p [ Ail Butterick jj e are now sold at the uniform price of ft Patterns I 6d Each (Post"*ree-] I VI • ■ 119 Unified Kingdom mxlj S For NEW STYLES see each month— g The Delineator, 6d.; by Post, 9d. I Fashion Guide, Id.; by Post, 2d. i Fashioai for Young People,Id.; by Pest,2d. 1 !• At All Bookstalls. | BUTTBB.ICK PATTERNS Are 9d. in the Colonies, & except British America. Eft List of Pattern Agents and ) FREE • Fashion Catalogue f from I THE BUTTERICK PUB. CO., Ltd., 1 Street, Finsbury, E.C. y 1M TELL COOK KtsnKSKm K/LLS w 7fosOrs{y Xj fc-HTARCHERaCWli {GOLDEN RETUPS 1 3 fito*miU #/ One-Ounu Packet, Archer's Golden Returns Vha Parlfeetitti of Pije Ttkat* Swzsr, ajtb ftASJl.A!C1'. MMt 'Otjj) ^««7|«AVE YOUACOUCif^ cr TAKEN COLD ? COLD J I Ak USED PROMPTLY BALSAM j WILL RELIEVE W"' STOPS 1 AND CURE. "<5UKS t COLD J lara!u»bl» la Nursery. COUGH j BL Jjj Cash Prices, M t.. 1/0. 2». Jfr GIANT SWEET PEAS. GRANDEST VALUE EVEB. OFFERED. Why pay exorbitant prices? Collection of 10 large paoketa of lovely new sorts for Is. Money- gavinf lint of seeds that grow, free.—HARRIS (13), Seedsman, DeTollport. w434 I 4o not ask you to spend money to test whether my remedy doe* or does not cure Fits, Epilepsy, St-Vitus' Danca, *c. All I ask of you Is tosendiora FREE Bottle sod to try It. I abide oy the result. A sale remedy— approved by the Medical Profession, H. 6. ROOT, flStlrt. "9 aTeadsKHgti ttardens, London, W.W.

The" WEEKLY MAIL" ispvblished on Fridays and Saturdays, and can be obtained from your local newsagent- If you find any difficulty in obtaining the paper, please communicate with the Manager, Western Mail Offices, Cardiff. The" Weekly Mail" will he sent by post on payment of a subscription in advance on the following terms;- s- a. One Quarter J 8 Half Year 3 3 One Year 6 6 m

The Bishop of St. Asaph has been guilty of a little episcopal joke. He has been making April fools of his critics. A state- ment appeared purporting to contain his proposals for amendment of the Education Act. The proposals were discussed, dis- sifted, and triumphantly eviscerated and disembowelled. Judge, then, of the di&- may and disgust of the objectors when they learnt that the bishop's amended Bill is not yet drafted, let alone published!

Weather forecasters are not in high favour in this country. They make too many mistakes. They prophesy all right, but the stupid weather declines to play up to their predictions. Mr. Young, of Llanelly, has reason for believing we shall have a fairly fine summer. He bases his forecast on a system of his own, which he has employed for some years, and which has never failed him. His prophecy is, therefore, entitled to considerable respect. We trust it may be abundantly verified.

A woman of great force of character and warmth of heart has passed away in Miss Frances Power Cobbe. She devoted the whole of her long and strenuous life to the propagation of humanitarian views, to the uplifting of her sex, and to the protection of defenceless animals. Miss Cobbe took a strong line on vivisection, and she will be greatly missed by those who abominate these methods. She lived in North Wales for many years, and Dolgelley will be the poorer for her death.

"MY LADY MOLLY." TO BE PRODUCED AT THE THEATRE ROYAL, CARDIFF. "My Lady Molly," the latest success from Terry's Theatre, London, will be the attrac- tion at the Theatre Royal next week. "My Lady Molly." the new comic opera, which suggests, with its eighteenth century tavern and country hall, its jovial squire, and chorus of accommodating huntsmen, its two pairs of lovers, and its oomical rascal, an obvious indebtedness to a certain "Dorothy," so refined, aud, by comparison, so artistic an entertainment, is an agreeable relief from the rambling and sophisticated buffooneries of modern musical comedy. Conventional as may be Mr. Jessop's story of the adventurous lady who assumes the garb of a jilted, but beloved, suitor to prevent his marrying another damsel, its interest is briskly sustained amid the clash of duelling swords and the swish of gorgeous gowns, and is immeasurably heightened by the sprightly and inelodious, if scarcely Old English, score of the popular composer of the "Geisha" music, thanks to Mr. Sidney Jones's lively dances, lusty choruses, impassioned lyrics, and elaborate oortcertecl numbers, to handsome mounting of the piece, also to capital interpreters. Miss Beatrice Kdwswds will play the principal role, that of "Lady MoUy." She is possessed of a graceful and pleasing stage appearance, and, in addition, is gifted with a high and similarly pure soprano voice. Miss Ethel Newman will be seen as the fascinating "Alice Coverdale." The principal comedy part, that of "Mickey O'Dowd," will be played by Mr. Wilfred E. Shine. Mr. Arthur Appleby, who plays the part of "Captain Harry Rornnoy," is a sound baritone, and the love ballad, "At My Lady's Feet," which he sings in the second act, is one of the most beautiful numbers in the piece. Mr. John M. Hay plays die part of "Lionel Bland," and Mr. Albert Chapman "Sir Miles Ooverdale." Others figuring m the cast are Miss Olive Eltone and Miss Zoe Gilfillan. Miss Beatrice Edwards is well known in Cardiff, being her native place, and it is also a curious coincidence that it will be her birthday on the opening night of "My Lady Molly." It is now three years since her appearance hore, having been to South Africa for eighteen months. It will bo the first appearance here of Miss Edwards in male attire. There will be a matinee on Saturday at two o'clock for the convenience of visitors from the adjoining towns and villages.

MR. CHAMBERLAIN AND THE KING. An interesting story, which purports to give the real reason of Mr. Chamberlain's sadden resignation, is published on the high autho- rity of the "Weiner Allgemeine Zeitung," Vienna, a paper with good diplomatic con- nections. According to this journal, Mr. Chamberlain has fallen a victim, not to hi8 fiscal policy, but to King Edward's efforts to bring about a convention with France. Always an enthusiastic friend of France, the King saw with sorrow the estrangement between the two countries widening during the Transvaal War, and since his accession to tile Throne, made it his task to bring about a thorough reconciliation and close rapproche- ment. But it was cleatr to his Majesty that all efforts to obtain this would be vain as long as Mr. Chamberlain, who was hated and dis- trusted by French statesmen, remained in the Colonial Office. Thus, seeing that his person had grown an insurmountable obstacle to con- fidential approach on the part of France, Mr. Chamberlain determined to meet the King's desire by giving as a pretext for his resigna- tion his fiscal policy.

SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT. Sir William Harcourt, acknowledging a communication from the Glasgow Liberal Council, writes: Grafton-street, London. Dear Sirs,—It is with feelings of heartfelt gratitude that I have received the resolution you have been good enough to convey to me on behalf of the Glasgow Liberal Council. Some indulgent recognition of efforts, how- ever imperfect, is the true and best reward of those who have spent their lives in the public cause. I have always cherished with pride the recollection of the occasion when, in the earliest days of my official career, I received the distinguished honour of the catSBenship of Glasgow, and it is a satisfaction to me to know that in the closing years of my poli- tical life I retain the esteem of my fellow- citizons.—I remain, yours most sincerely, W. V. HAROOURT.

DOUBLE FEES. Discussing the considerable dissatisfaction which exists among clients in the matter of briefing leading counsel on motions in the Chancery Division, the "Law Times" says Where a motion was transferred from Mr. Justice A. to Mr. Justice B., solicitors have had to brief another leader and pay another leader's fee. No doubt the system of leaders atts-ohing themselves to a particular court in that division may have its advantages, but clients who are laymen and do not under- stand the etiquette of the Bar fail to appreciate the necessity of employing a second leader and paying additional fees on the same motion. Owing to representations made by the Bar Council, the grievance is likely to be remedied.

SPRINKLE IT LIGHTLY^ when you use so strong a disinfectant as CALVERT'S 15 per cent Um| Carbolic Powder Its regular use is an excellent precaution against small-pox, fevers, and other infectious diseases, and is useful to destroy unpleasant qnd noxious odours. 6d., 11-t 1/6 tins, from Cfomistt, Stores, Ac. F; C. CAtvtitT 11

DEATH OF MR. JUSTICE BYRNE. Mr. Justice Byrne died on Monday night at his residence, 33, London, from bronchial pneumonia. He was engaged in his court last Monday week, but next day contracted a chill, and was advised by his medieal attendant to remain indoors. On the Wednesday symptoms of bronchial pneu- monia developed, and hie lordship took to his bed. Hie gradually became worse, and expired at half-past ten o'clock on Monday night. The deceased's relatives have received many mes- sages of condolence from judges, members of the Bar, and others. Sir Edmund Widdrington Byrne was born in London in 1844, and was the son of a solici- tor. He was educated at King's College, Lon- don, called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn in 1867, took silk 21 years later, and in 1897 was appointed a judge of the Chancery Division of the High Court in succession to Mr. Justice Chitty. From 1892 until his elevation to the judicial bench he represented the Waltham- stow Division in the Conservative interest.