Weekly Mail

DEATH OF "OUIDA."j < t DIES IN GREAT POVERTY IN ITALY. Mile. louiise de la Ramee. the well-known English novelist and writer, who will be beet recognised by English people under her pen name of Ouida," died on Saturday Tt ^'r Ln?ca- wbere for some time 5^L «■ TiDg in retlrement and tKa^ew8°U a*55 01 Poverty.-Oen- The death of the famous lady novelist will be no surprise to those who rememtr the T?Iw V^iJ- a few :months ago from wht h fCribln? the (condition in Was sPending ner declining years, in n fici ^>en I^u°ed to poverty, and lived T™3n T",8 cottage on the beautiful Tuscan coast, alone and unattended, save by LTT of her favouHte doge. Much money ha-d flowed into her purse, but she spent it lavishly and recklessly, having no head for financial matters. Friends and admirers made repeated attempts to do something to ease her straitened circumstances, but she prPu~. y declined any assistance, and sternly rebuffed any efforts at interference. Ouida has been practically out of the world for many years, but there was a time, 30 or more years ago, when she was the centre of literary circles in three capitals-London, 1 aris, and Rome—when her novels, which still have hundreds of thousands of readers were eagerly looked for as they oame from her busy brain. Her real name was Louise de la Earned the pen name by which the world became familiar with her novels being derived from a child amusing attempts to pronounce Ixvuisa. --he was born in 1830 at Bury St. Edmunds, her mother being English a.nd her rather t rench. Much of her early life was ™T«1 *n, ghuid' and the Langham Hotel was her favour: fc residence at a later period. j removed to Italy about the year 1877 and made her home just outside Florence in the Palazzo Pontiacchi. There she lived in spinsterhood, surrounded by beautiful objects of art, giving free rein to the pride and eccentricity which were marked characteristics of her temperament, Her sreat fondness for dogs was illustrated, not only by the animals which were her daily companions in her drives, hut in the cemetery of her dead canine pets pro- vided in her beautiful gardens, where-their remains lie beaoath tombstones of white Carrara marble or blood-red porphyry. She was a familia.r figure in the streets of Florence, and when driving out in her brougham was usually dressed in orange- coloured batiste lavishly trimmed with lace; a mantilla of black guipure lace was thrown over her shoulders and arranged so as to fall over her arms and wrists; her hat of tulle and laoe, with openwork broad brim, rested upon a maeeive heard of hair. Though Ouida never married, few writers of action have surpassed her tender, hapnv Pictures of child life. For thirty years she had a great vogue among readers of fiction and it is not too much to say that, while the critics derided her work, there were claeses by whom her books wore devoured with an eagerness which was bestowed on the works of few other authors. Although her novels abound with women surpassingly beautiful, princes and peers 2nd millionaires, with the vulgarity of riches and the voluptuousness of aristocrats, which made the critics say they were intended for schoolgirls and bank clerks, there were in many of them most picturesque descriptions ('f places and landscapes, several attractive and well-drawn characters, a.nd much grand prose. It is said of on of her descriptions of a horse race that it is almost the finest in the English language, yet she had never been on a racecourse. Ouida was not without hobbies, one being the collection of lace and another, strange to say. the collection of stilettoes!

PLAYGROUND FOR CHILDREN MR. JOHN CHAPPELL AND THE "VILEST OF PEOPLE." A letter was read at the Cardiff Parks committee on Monday from the deputv- that°th (Mr" ?' C „ Vivlan)- ^gSg that the committee should provide a play- ground for the children of the South Ward. and referring to the Loudoun-square Gardens as a suitablo site. The Cbairman CMr. J. Chappell) said that the uth Ward was very badly catered for as far as the children were concerned At present the children had to remain in the streets and associate with Asiatics and with the vilest of people. He knew that there T J opposition from the residents of !UDSare t0 sorting the gardens into a children s playground, but he did not mind opposition as long 86 the little ones wert seen to. After some discussion it was decided to ask Mr. Pettigrew to present an estimate of the cost of macadamising or asphalting the northern side of une gardens, and also to approach the Bute estate as to the poesi- bility of securing the land at the end of Hodges-row for the purposes of a play- ground. "PEOPLE LIKE YOU." I think you should display a little more courtesy towards the members of your com- mittee than you do," said Mr. G^ to t^e 2ovnkpain KMrYT" Th* rebuke Was y e chairman's remark to Mr is 1X501)16 like y°u" who had delayed certain administrative action in connectiou with the oorporation allotments. ..a8ked tile c-hairman what he withdrawal o1°?lf Ukt y°U'" and want^ a as It wa" decided to give twelve months' extension retiUired the cerne^ Mr. Harp^f DI5F€ C^ETBRT. fitted a pian of tL enJill6er- t-he extension of the £ U^age He estimated at £ 3 536 +^ Cemetery, the drainage of the extension of Cemetery. He estimated at £ 3.5^ tht IdUJ dradning and making roads S °f portion south of the Heath lower dens, and the Jt of boundary at £ 5.073. It was stated w that was ^beolutely ue^earv that this work should be takp-n y (once as the present bn^llSe^.at rapidly filled up. Whether decided to carry out the whole or part^f th! scheme at the present time notice would hi™ to be given to the allotment holdersto ap possession. crs to tiSiT i^ed}° Uke only the lower por- tion in hand at present, and to asV tho c0m:mit^ to obtain sanction for a loan to oover the outlay. a ROATH PARK SKATING. ground in Roath Park for reatK)ia during froetT^ f0r bating purposea The Chairman (Mr. j puor^m had in his mind the said he rink for Toller skating ourtw an ^r^ficial court*, but that would vl f' £ consideration later on. maUer for

MERTHYR POLICE FORCE, NUMBERS AND SALARIES OF THE; NEW BODY. The following official statement was issued on Friday giving the scale of rnvaxi police foroo:- fS50' «* by IW acting-sergeants, 32s. 6d ner FiftY-eight constables, sTtTaTkr week. ^Subject to the Action of the Home Secre- Merit will be one merit olass ff}r sergea.nts a.nd constables, carrying up to !S. 6d. a week. Allowances.—Sirt>enr« allowed to all ranks in h wil1 1)6 Rent Fund.wl Z °f. ^s. tion as at present in the < £ un?v dedtK" Pension Fund.-Thie WIIMS *V" county, and if the riew f«Lvf SMne as the Glamorgan OooetabulaS^ Association, it is bell«Jz?tUal Ben^t iQ34o to carry it Tnto CaD

A SCHOOL OF MINING. PRINCIPAL GRIFFITHS' SCHEMF FAVOURED BY MANAGERS. The annual dinner of the South Wales nnj Monmouthshire Branch of the National Association of Colliery Managers was held on Saturday night at the Park Hotel Gar diff. Mr. D. Davies (Coegnant Colliery) nre sided. 3i pre* Principal GrifBths, in proposing the toast of the Coal Trade." outlined the scheme of a school of mining which he would like to see established in the Principality. Mr J P. Gibbon, in reply, emphasised the import ance of scientific training.—Mr Maltbv Colliery Manners.In reply, the CJhair- txprea8ed the h°P8 that Principal STSS'tSSr ^°Uld 156 carried in*° ^ect. oame migbt h^ve

OUTRAGE ON A BANK. TEN THOUSAND ITALIANS DRIVEN TO FRENZY. Remarkable scenes were witnessed in the Italian quarter at New York, where an attempt was made to blow up one of the large banks patronised by the poorer class of foreigners in the city. The authors of the outrage, whose object was clearly to raid the bank during the con- fusion, placed a bomb under one of the windows unperoeived and decamped. A, terrific expioswn ensued, and the window and half the wall were blown out into the street. Nea.r the window were bags containing Duiuon to the value of over £8,000, all of which shared the same fate. No one wm injured, and scores of police- men were soon on the spot. and effectually ^fe+\fn any attempt-to obtain possession e money, all of which was subsequently recovered. The news of the outrage had meanwhile spread through the district, and the entire reign Population turned out panic-stricken. lue rumour spread that the bank had been chared out, and hundreds of small aepositors rushed about the streets uttering despairing cries and working themselves up into a state of frenzy. The sctne was an extraordinary one, and it is estimated that 10,000 Italians were con- m'-tfey roun<1 the bank demanding their Tne situation became so serious that the Police reserves had to be called out, and even, then order was not restored for many bours.—Central Xews.

MIDWIVES IN CARDIFF. SAID TO BE 50 PER CENT. TOO MANY OF THEM. At a I1l<:e.ting of a SQb-coonmittee of the Technical instruction Committee in me City-hall on Monday' afternoon, Coun- cIllor J. fetanfield presiding, the question of ee studentships in midwifery was men- tioned. Dr. Robinson was of opinion that there was at present a sufficient number of mid- wives practising in Cardiff, and 50 per cent, too many. The circumstances attending the training at the Nurses' Institute were considered great length, and it was decided to ask Dr. Walford (the medical officer of health) to report on the qualifications of any midwife who, in his opinion, would be capable of training pupils. It was further agreed that not more than twelve free studentships per year be awarded, and that these be limited to those women who intended practising in the city Dr. Walford was also asked to make application to the Queen's Nursing Institute, asking the terms upon which resi- dent and non resident students would be accepted for training.

DEARTH OF MIDWIVES. Systematic inquiries all over the country have shown that a large number of the prac- tising midwives have not enrolled themselves under the Act of 1902. having decided to retire from practice rather than face the rules and regulations, and the still more formidable examination which all women calling them- selves nndwivea are now required to imss. The conditions relative to the equipment of a certified midwife, as laid down by the Mid- Central Board, are somewhat exacting, for the candidate, after gaining a thorough practical experience of the work, must tit for a, stiff theoretical examination in obstetrics. Most disappointed candidates turn their attention to monthly nursing, for which it is much easier to obtain the necessary quali- fication. While a midwife must undergo six- teen weeks' training, a monthly nurse is let off with about seven, and the total cost of training in her case need not exceed £ 13. For the midwifery course the fees run up to £20. Of course, the monthly nurse's duties are far less responsible than those of the midwife, but the ironical part of it is that she is incomparably better remunerated. It is difficult to give the fees, as they vary considerably, but we (says the "News of the World" writer) are well within the mark when we say that £75 per annum is considered a good income for a midwife in regular practice. Monthly nurses, on the other hand, can command from 12e. to 14s. a week a.nd over in addition to their board. The position of things is thus somewhat anomalous, and it is not surprising that a large number of midwives give up their practice and enrol themselves as monthly nurses.. What is needed in England and Wales is not so much free midwifery as inexpensive midwifery within the m€ans of the rural Poor. Even as the law stands, it is permis- sible for county councils to provide training for midwives-though only half of them have done so, but they have no power to con- tribute to the support of the midwives after training. County boroughs are debarred, on the other hand, from maintaining out of public funds maternity hospitals which would form training sohools. The solution wouJd 800m to liè in every county giving .a.du3:te grants to maternity hospitals within, its border, or to other training institutions which may be available. In Monmouthshire, for instance, twelve grants for training midwivea are given annually to the district centre, with such satisfactory results that. after more than two years' work, the maternity home a.nd training district are almost self-supporting. What is needed at the preeent time is an extension of this practice, and a uniformity of method in all th.e counties. But even if this end ia attained, it will probably bo found that in the sparsely-populated districts a national fund will have to be provided. The certified midwife must be assured of a living wage. Her's is a strenuous and exact- ing work. Once the profession becomes re- munerative there will be no dearth of suit- able candidates.

SOUTH WALES MOTORISTS. CAPTAIN HUGHES-MORGAN GIVES A CHALLENGE CUP. There was a fairly good attendance at the annual meeting of the South Wales and Monmouthshire Automobile Club, which was held at the Park Hotel. Cardiff, on Monday evening. Mr. H. M. Gregory (Pontypridd) presided. Tho committee stated in their report that the financial position of the club was still very satisfactory. The remainder of the sundry loans account had been paid off, and the club was now free from debt. and it only remained for the members to prove their loyalty by inducing others to join to place the club in a still more satisfactory position. Captain Hughes- Morgan had kindly promised a challenge cup for competition during the coming season. The club were greatly indebted to the police and magistrates of Cardiff and Glamorgan for their consideration and sup- port to motorists generally. The statement of acoounts showed that on the past year the income exceeded the expen- diture by £98, and that the debt on the motor-hoase, which cost over £300. had been wiped off. Mr. J. Thompson Willows and the Rev. M. Whiteside were re-elected hon. secretary and hon. treasurer respectively, and the follow. ing new members were elected on the com- w- Eastabrook, I. Shearman, T. Butt Ekins. W H Brain and Ralph E. Morel. Mr. B. H. TrinneTnd Mr. J. MTaggart were appointed hon. audi- tors. Captain D. Hughes-Morgan. Dr. Tenieon Collins. and Mr. J. Thompson Willows were appointed representatives to th* Onion and Mr. P. c. ShMtel "ch^ch. "Sf Cardiff, was appointed hon. solicitor After considerable discussion it resolved that the club retain toe Jreeme^ at present existing between it f? Royal Automobile Club and Motor Club Lmon until the 31st of December neit. rhe annual dinner has been fixed for P*>K. S the W^all HSus PaS: Sto"° 0h*i<»

RETIREMENT OF COLONEL D. R. LEWIS. COMPLIMENTARY REMARKS BY BRIGADIER-GENERAL. Thj\ flowing extract from the orders ifned ^he bngadier-general No. 4 Military District, dated Shrewsburv January 24, 1906. is published for informal tion — "The brigadier notices with regret the retirement from the service of Colonel David Bees Lewis. V.D., who for the last six years so ably commanded the 3rd Volunteer Bat talion the Weioh Regiment. For an uninter- rupted period of 464 years Colonel Lewis has been a member of the Volunteer force and has shown such a bright example of patriotism an loyalty that the brigadiar- general cannot allow the incident to Dass without special record. Colonel Lewis's suc- cessor is to be congratulated in taking over the command of a battalion so numerically financially, and efficiently strong, which will' fnnt^^Laa!Ure £ or il a Prominent position in the Territorial Army."

=- MRS. WINSLOWS SOOTHING SYRUP T^ifilNO. Over 60 years' ? the best remedy known fcv children s diarrhcea. It regulates the bowels nwrther'56 tJl to tho cMld aad rest to the'

MINERS v. JUDGE. ♦ STRONG CRITICISM IN THE RHONDDA. At the monthly meeting of the Rhondda (No. l) District of Miners, held at the Washing- ton Hotel, Porth, on Monday, under the presidency of Mr. T. Lewis (Cilfynydd), some severe strictures were passed, in regard to some of the recent judgments of Judge Bryn Roberts whilst sitting as arbitrator under the Workmen's Compensation Act, and steps suggested with the view of getting up an agitation for the purpose of securing the removal of his honour to preside.over another circuit. Discussion on the matter was initiated through an application being made on behalf of a man named H. Price, of Treorky, for the support of the district, it beings-stated that Price had been incapacitated from working through meeting with an accident, a.nd it was now intended to get up a prize drawing to provide him and his family with the means of subsistence, as the action taken at court to recover compensation in respect of the accident had proved abortive. Two other similar oases were cited where local lodges were making organised efforts to help to maintain the families of men who, it was alleged, had met with accidents, but who had not been able to succeed in the claim made for compensation. One of the delegates compared his honour to Judge Jeffreys, and added that it was time that they, as workmen, should make a move in the direction of "getting rid of a man like ti, and putting an end to this political time-server." Mr. D. Watts Morgan, the miners' agent, remarked that he quite agreed that the time had arrived when something should be done, and he would again draw attention to the matter, notwithstanding the criticism of the "Western Mail" and the oufeide public in regard to the expressions used by Mabon and himself on a previous occasion. The three oases referred to by no means exhausted the list of cashes where the men had failed to obtain compensation, notwith- standing the expert medica-1 evidence pro- duced by the Federation, at a cost of about £500 during last year alone, showing that tc. unfortunate men concerned did actually suffer from the accidents. Ho would toll the "Western Mail" that he was not one of those who believed that all the workmen were white shce.p-he dared say they had amongst them a percentage ci black sheen, like every other section of the community; but he knew of dozens of workmen who had, to their own dangeir and lcsP, made greater sacrifices than any other e!:1£;S toO follow their employ- met. when unfit to do so. consequent upon injuries which they at the time disregarded, in the hope that the ecnscquences would not prove serious. There was now a man on the bench in the pers<wi of Judge Bryn Roberts who was a new Herod, a.nd knew not Joseph or his brethren. Hie honour ed to believe absolutely that all workmen were bent upon, "doing" the employers; that there was no honesty among them; that they would stoop to everything degrading in order to Lay idle and receive oompensation. It did not matter how consistent the story of a workman might be; unless there had been strict, conformity with the technicalities of the law in regard to giving notices, &c.„ they might as well give up the ghost as ask his honour for sympathy or for permission to amend a claim Unless workmen were abso- lutely certain as to the consequences which might follow a slight accident, the time had almost arrived when they should give notice of the slightest mishap and cease work, and if they did this, then the compensation which the colliery companies would have to pay in the future woald be very much heavier than had beer, the case in the past. He (Mr. Morgan) wanted to refute the insinuation that they as workmen, wanted, to have it in their own hands as to who should be appointed judge or stipendiary, but they did want to have that proportionate voice in the matter in comparison with other classes in the administration of the law. What he com- plained about was that Judge Bryn Roberts was entirely out of P^oe in presiding over a court of iustice ia an industrial locality of the conditions of which he knew next to nothine Then the legal expenses of the *• also going up, as oases lasted Federation were ai»^ ». ,e th° °rt ''TV'S the'evidence. Mr. Morgan a rSototiM Wh had been p.<»d .da re' with wnich he expressed hLTer'^cSlete sympathy and which w that steps be taken at once and tran:-fer. Of JUdge to some other district, where Bryn l^berts to r M he would■ v™ *A habits of the people, stapie ind-u-try moved the adoption of A Delegate then by Mor j resolution^ t0 unanimously. an\ftlrlS Zme further discussion it was understood that the Federation lodgee in their respective locality should alao a«l^ in the direction of giving expression to th«r protest against the, action of the judge in rTrdDt0WatSrMo^aJmre^orted upon what he termed the changed attitude of foyers m regard to Srta«d"th"t this .-Bte discussion at the Concili^lc>n ing at Cardiff next Saturday. DOWN ON JUDGE ROBERTS. ABERDARE MINERS CONTEMPLATING A PROTEST. The monthly meeting District of the Miners' ™Qmls on Monday at Aberdare m Stephens (Cwmaman) presiding. reported there were a fc* fen still under contractors on '(Tyrr r lieries in the district, and the ^entJKv^C B Stanton) stated that those colliers who had not .implied the executive to send Tepf ^n £ .ifir.rine the conference, with a view o he had S'l o« » « £ £ in certain of the not to return £ ? fa and a deputation had seen ^Rees Llewellyn (managing direct of the ^ant- melyn Colliery), before whom he ha placed oortain facts with rega,rd to the evan.ce, and Mr. Llewellyn promised to consider the mffrersta,nton explained that the district was incurring a great outlay owing "slowness" of his Honour Jndge Bryn Roberts in dealing with compensation c e The effect of this "want of celerity" was tha.t caees had to be adjourned, a procedure which necessitated the dual appearance of expert witnesses, whose feeB had to be paia. In nine cases out of ten he (Mr. Stanton) found that judgment went the workmen, which proved to him that his honour was biased against the workingman. In Mr. Stanton's opinion this "bias" ought to arrest the attention of the Labour group and other parties, who should see that a judge over a district like Aberdare ehould be a person possessing some knowledge of mmes and mining matters.—It was resolved that the matter be relegated to the lodges for the purpose of going into the advisability of offering a public protest against Judge Bryn Roberts's attitude- AN AWKWARD POSITION- Mr. John Kemp, one of the trustees, having been aaked to resten his position as trustee owing to hie acceptance of the post of secretary of the Rhondda Labour- Liberal Association, the matter of the legaJ aspects consequent upon a change of trustee was difienssed, and it was now resolved to refer the matter back to the lodges, a letter being read from the Federation solici- tors pointing out that the transference of mortgages, &c„ would involve an expendi- ture of between £50 and £100, and if the- trustee refused to give his consent, then the position would become very awkward. Mr. D. Watts Morgan and another de,1 gate -were appointed to reprint the district at the meeting of the JlineTS' Federation of Great Britain to be held a-t the Westminster Palace Hotel on the 29th iMt., the circular convening the meeting containing the inti- mation that the Durham miners had now joined the ranks of the Federation. NEW APPOINTMENTS. Mr. D. Watts Morgan reported that eighteen nominations had been received for the poet of treasurer, vacated by Mr. Tom Evans consequent upon his appointment as agent, and twelve nominations for the post of financial secretary, and it was agreed that the salary in respect of each office should be year. Fourteen candidates were also nominated for the three vacant seats on the executive council. Mr. D. Watts Morgan reported upon the settlements of the price-lists arranged for the Yard Seam, Ynysfedo, and the Seven- foot Seam, Standard Colliery, Ynyshir.

DEFECTS IN COMPENSATION, LAW. MR. JOHN WILLIAMS. M.P., ADDRESSES THE MINERS. At a mecttag of the Western District of Miners at Swansea on Saturday, Mr. John Williams, M.P.. delivered a speech explanatory of the working1 of the Work, men s Compensation Act. He referred to the large amount of law costs incurred in the already brought, and said that the shilling per month allocated would be insuffi- cient to meet the charges in that district, and something would ha.ve to be done to amend the Act of Parliament. He suggested that a deputation should wait on Mr. Asquith. The attendance of widows at registrars' courts to -receive moneys awarded was objecstionaible, and he suggested that gome better syBtem—eanettttng lew of panpertsot-^oelcl hew to be heooglit- abaot.

MINOR MATTERS. + POLICE-COURT AND OTHER! PICKINGS. FATHER AND DAUGHTER. At Merthyr on Monday John Hocking, Angel- buildings, Merthyr, was brought up on the charge of assaulting his daughter fourteen years old. The prisoner was committed for trial. PRISON FOR LOITERING. A fortnight's hard labour was the sentence passed upon Joseph Taylor, a youth, at Barry on Monday for loitering with felonious intent in a lane at the rear of Kingsland-creecent, Barry Dock. A DANGEROUS RIDE. William Harvey, collier, Abersychan, was fined loss, at Pcntypool for being drunk whilst in charge of a pony and trap at Abersychan on January 24.—Police-ser- geant Jones discovered defendant sleeping in the bottom cf the trap. 78 CANDIDATE FOR £2 A WEEK. The Pembrokeshire Education Authority bad before them the appointment of a clerk of works for the intermediate and elemen- tary schools in the county at a salary of per week and certain expenses. There were 78 candidates. Mr. George Marley, of Pem- broke, was appointed. NAKBERTII EISTEDDFOD. The Narberth Choral Society's eisteddfod was a very successful event, Maenclochog, Taff, and C-ledar Male Voice Party and Bethesda Glee Party, Narberth, taking premier honours. Mr. W. Palmer Morgan, C.C., presided. Mr. Dunn Williams, Car- marthen, was adjudicator of the musical events. MURPHY'S WAYS. At Merthyr on Monday Alice Murphy was fined 10s. and costs or fourteen daya for being drunk and disorderly at Merthyr, and she was further fined 2s. 6d. and costs and ordered to pay 6s. 6d. dam- ages for breaking, with her boot, thirteen panes of glass in the window of the cell in which she was placed at the police-station. BOOTY FOR A PILLOW. John Boxall, a farm labourer, was sent to prison for one month with hard labour by the Newport magistrates on a charge Cof breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Thomas Lewis, a stone-cutter. Kemeye, on Monday last, and stealing a shirt, value 3s. 9d. The prisoner was found in a barn sleeping with the shirt under his head. LAMPETER CHARGE FAILS. Frederick Kirby, late of Walters' Hotel, porter, was brought up at Lampeter in custody of Police-constable Rieharde, charged with stealing a bicyck- c-f the value of £3, the property of Mr. David Smith Jones, Ivy Cycle Works, Lampeter. The prosecutor produced a letter he had reoeived from the accused at Tenby, stating that he was returning soon. He was discharged. WHAT O'SHEA SAW. Disorderly and using obscene language in Bute-street was the charge preferred at Cardiff on Monday against Edward O'Shea. 27. Asked by the magistrates what he had to say. prisoner replied that he saw Mr. Lloyd George kick-off at the match, and it mode him excited. Alderman Trounce: That was no justifica- tion for using bad language. Defendant was ordered to deposit 2s. 6d. in the poor box. WORK STOPPED FOR FUNERALS AT TALY- WAIN. The workmen employed at the Llanerch Colliery. Talywain, finished work at one o'clock on Saturday for the- purpose of attending the funerals of the two young men, Flynn and James, who were killed at the colliery on Tuesday. Fiynn was buried at Trevethin Church and James at Varteg Burial Ground. Both funerals were the largest seen in the district since the Llanerch explosion. TOOK THREE CONSTABLES TO SEARCH HIM. John Rickus, a labourer, was fined 10s. by the county magistrates at Newport on Mon- day on a charge of being drunk and dis- orderly at Pontymister on Sunday night.— Police-constable Crane said he found prisoner on the road at Pontymister on Sunday night, with a large crowd around him. Witness endeavoured for twenty minutes to get him away, but eventually had to lock him up. At the police office he became so violent that it took tlrree constables to search him. ONLY A JOKE. A youth, named Robert J ones, was told by the county justices at Newport on Saturday not to play any more practical jokes. He weo charged with stealing an umbrella from Machen Reading-room, the property of Henry Chivers, the caretaker. The lad saw an um- brella in the stand on January 16, and as it was raining he took it, and when the policeman oalled at his house he acknow- ledged that he had it. The Bench found that there was no case of larceny and dismissed the charge. MET AT THE FAIR James Dumphey, of Sunnyside-terrace, • Cymmor. a foreman ganger, was at Aberavon on Monday summoned by a single woman named Margaret Ann Buckley, 11, Nantybwr- cottages. Mr. Lewis M. Thomas a-pp*ea,red for com- nt. and said the parties first met, sixteen months ago, at Neath Fair and had since been sweethearts. Evidence in support was given by Com- plainaait and Emily Price. An order of 5s. per week for fourteen years was made, with costs and advocate's fee TROEDYRHIW CLUB LITlGATIO At Merthyr County-court 0n Honour Judge Bryn Roberta concluded the hearing of a case in which Evan n builder, sued the nuttee, the trustees, comm.it^i surer and secretary of th<» Constitutional Club for £ 41 ins^?edyrhl £ done. It was 6ta.ted that the n-o'm-01" wc acquired by Mr. Eli "2" contention ot the defendants 'v; Waddington the Pe„on rSn3ble the payment of the money —Hfc> Honour Srddi^r'r faVOM' Md THE MORALS OF on ta/f/thi'Ynt?"lS !1 e ny6faoi' Coke Ovens and also line Davies.UP°n imm^al earnings cf "The oman stated that sb.e ha.d been ° about" with the prisoner for three years, and during that period she had ^glVm5 lm aJl the money she had pro- cured. The only time he had worked, she S3 £ Tvf « she ■lia'd been in gaol. hrst offenoe the prisoner was com- mitted for a month, and for the second for three months A DANGEROUS NAVVY. An elderly man, named Alfred Wall, applied to the com-nty juetioss at Newport on Satuirday (through Mr. Lyndon Moore) that a navvy, named Henry Roff, should be bound in sure- ties to keep the peace in consequence cf threats to do Wall bodily haa-m. Wall is secretary of a club at Baesaleg, and Roff had a grievance, real or imaginary, against the club. Mr. Moore put in a number of written pe.pers in which he said that thrroaAe of raarious sorte were directed a<gainst Mr. Wall, who is an older and smaller man than the defendant. Defendant was bound over in £5 to keep the peaoe for six IDmLtbe.. MUST MAINTAIN THEIR PARENTS. A dozen men, living in the parishes of Machen, Graig, Risca, and Rogerstone, were at Newport on Saturday summoned to show cause why maintenance orders should not be made upon them at the instance of the Poor- law Union in respect of the maintenance cf their parents. Mr. J. H. Griffiths, the general relieving officer, stated that, in the case of colliers, the guardians recognised that they had much less rent to pay than persons living, say, in Newport, and they were also better off in the sense that they had their coal at 5s. per ton at the pit head. The Magistrates made orders on all the defendants except two, whose oaeee were adjourned for further inquiry. HUSBAND, WIFE, AND WITNESSES IN CONFLICT. David Evans. a Gorseinon oollier, was summoned at Swansea County Police-court on Saturday by his wife. Lily, for persistent cruelty. Mr. Viner Leeder appeared for the wife, and Mr. Carl Dahne for defendant. The couple were married in 1906, and there was one ohild. The defendant, it was said, had treated her cruelly on many occasions, and had told her she could go "on the town." There was a contest amongst the witnesses on both sides as to who was at fault, neighbours being called who declared that they saw the wife kick her husband twice and use filthy language. One of these wit- ness, however, said the kicks were in the abdomen." and the next witness in the back. The Bench made an order for 12s. 6d. a week maintenance. FARMER'S FAMILY DIFFICULTIES AT MARGAM. Evan Jones, Llantanygroes Farm, Margam, appeared on remand at Aberavon on Mon- day, summoned by his wife, Catherine JOitltCS now residing at Maesteg, for £8 arrears on a maintenance order, made on her behalf in June. Mr. Evans, for the defendant, said that the oa&e had been adjourned for a fortnight. The defendant intended applying for an order to reduce the order. Defendant had already paid JE20 on the order, and still owed £8. He would have to leave his farm in April, and could not afford to purchase any etook, and was now working about farmsi at 3s. 6d. per day. Defendamt was prepared to pay £2- This offer was accepted, and the case adjourned for a. week for the variation appli- cation.

;i CANNED FRUITS Thanks to W3 may now look for Summer fruits all the yerar round. Straight from the on)h.ar-d. it would be diffi cult to tell t-lie difference between and fres-hjy stowed fruit-s." Sept. 23, 190ï. CHIVERS' & SOS, HISTON-, CAMBS. with CHIVERS'CUSTARDS, f

MISSING RELATIVES. This column is open for genuine cases of -n, Missing Relatives only, but not for runaway husbands and wives. Persons inquiring must write very distinctly, and express themselves clearly in giving par- ticulars, and must state relationship. Tho fall name and address of inquirers must be given for publication in each instance. Foreign and Colonial papers are requested to copy. B.A. (Samuel Owen), last heard of engaged by P.iS.N. Co.. Hulli, Lima, Valparaiso, South America, June, 1905. Inquirers, parents. Address, James Bann, 2, Church- Ptreet, Shrewsbury. BOULTER (family cf Henry), emigrated to Illinois from Penybor.t, South Wales, 1847. Inquirer, cousin, David T. Jones, 7, S-axon-efcree't, Morthyr Tydfil, Wales. GREGORY or PERRETT (Robert), left Bristol 1853, then aged fifteen, for Australia, last heard of Kilmore, near Mclbocumc. lTl- qitirer, sister, Julia Cox, 23, Priez-owood- read, Arhton, Bristol. HAM I'Ernest Thamic-). aged 29-30, csurpenter, last a-ddresses, Ontario-street, Montreal, Canada, and Shawingham P.O., P.Q., Canada, 1905. Inquirer, sister Emmelino, now Mrs. J. Lang, 6. First-avenue, Rec- tory, Dovonpnirt, Devonshire. HOARE.—'Mr. Arthur Hoatre, 8. BivemsdaJe- road, Plumstead. Kent, seeks brothers, Joseph a.nd Philip, sons of William and Sarah Hoare, of HaverfordwiCist, Pern- broke, amd later of G6!ilingham, Kent, last b c-, a, rd of 1873 and 1887 respectively; may be in Australia, or South America. PATRICK (relatives of James), bom Inisttick, near Newport,, Salop, and married at M-a-er Church, near Newcastle-tinder-Lyme, left Maer Heath many years ago, iaeit Soeien Londbn 1883. Inquirer, greater amdenn, George Clarke (son of Mary Olarke, for- merly Mary Patrick)- Address, 7, Good- win-terrace, Newfieid, Tunstall, Staffs. SEDDO'N.—Mrs. Barlow, 19, Wood-street, Eoclea, near Manchester, formerly Anne Sed-ion, seeks brothers, Ernest Joseph, last heard of leaving Famworbh, Bolton, Ijaii.es., for Bristol, 1903, and Charles Percy, last heard of transferred from Mounted to Poet Police, Natal, 1902, prior to working under Mr. Bruce, traffic manager, South African Railway. TIX},UCH £ .—Messrs. Joseph and Paul Tin- nuohe, address, Tadmor House, Bynea, n-ear Llanelly, Wales, who left Soho, London, about 1S68, seek parents or other relatives. WILLIAMS (Joseph Amtircee), collier, left Chap'sl-street, Rhosymedre, Ruabon, North Wales, 1871, and married Sarah Jones. In- quirer, sdster Jane, now Mrs. A Hunan, 10, (xer net-street, Sal ford, Manchester. WILLIAMS.—Driver John Arthur Williams (Xo. 29.532). 48th Battery, R.F.A., DuiKba'k, I'11d (soa or Councillor Thomas Mabey W"i iialm" West Ham), seeks relatives.

UNACCEPTED CHALLENGE. DISSENSION AMONGST TEMPER- ANCE REFORMERS. A conference of the temperance reformers in the Aberdare Valley was held at Trinity Church, Aberdare, on Monday afternoon. A resolution was brought forward expressing gratification at the forthcoming licensing measure. and also the conviction that, inter alia the reform proposed should include ihe amendment of the Welsh Sunday Closing Act and- ita extension to the county of Mon- raoutb. Sunday doelng for Encla,Dd. aborter. noore of sale, full control of clube, non- employment of barmaids, suoh reforms to be untrammelled by any proposal for so-called (lisinteregted management." The clause relating to disinterested management" gave rise to some dissension the resolution having to be submitted with and without the clause, which was eventually deleted before tne motion was agreed to. At an evening demonstration a resolution was proposed practically advocating local veto, which was supported by Mr. Sloan, M.P. Some lively passages were caused towards the close of the meeting by a letter, forwarded to the chairman. The Rev. Morris Morgan was asked to read the letter. Rather reluctantly, the rev. gentleman took tho epistle, but &aid he did not think he would read it. The communication contained .a challenge for a discussion on the subject of disinterested management, and the speaker paid he had something more profit- able to engage his time. At the afternoon convention only about nine or ten persons voted against it out of 300. (Voices: No, IlO! ") The Chairman afterwards explained that tho letter contained a personal challenge to Mr. Morgan or Mr. Phillips from Mr. John Davies, of the Aberdare branch of the I.L.P., and he (the chairman said he would return the letter to Mr. Morgan. Mr. Morgan: I don't want it. The Chairman: If Mr. John Da vice will come up here I will hand it to him. This closed the incident, and the resolu- tion was then carried unanimously.

INFAMOUS AND ABOMINABLE "TEMPERANCE" LANGUAGE IN CARDIFF. i There was a large attendance in the Cory- hall, Cardiff, on Saturday evening, when a meeting was held by the Cardiff Temperance and Band of Hope Union in support of the local veto demand. Principal Edwards, who presided, said that he was glad to know that over 100 churches were represented. He denounced clubs as being more infamous than public-houses, and grocers' licences as abominable. The Rev. W. J. Zeal moved a resolution pressing for a local veto clause in the forth- coming Licensing Bill. Mr. Lewis Williams seconded, and the resolution was carried. Mr. T. H. Sloan. m.P. for South Belfast, also j addressed the meeting. I

CENTENARIANS AND BABIES. INTERESTING STATISTICS FOR THE YEAR. The report of the Registrar-General on the births, marriages, and deaths in the United Kingdom for the year 1906 states, inter alia, that there were 270,038 marriages. equivalent to 15.6 persons per 1,000 in an estimated population of 34,547,000. Of these 676 had been previously divorced. The aver- ago ages of the happy couples were respec- tively 28.45 for the men and 26.37 for the women. One hundred and seventy thousand cut of the 270,030 marriages were celebrated a.ocording to the rites of the Established Church. The total number of births registered was 935,081, or 27.10 p-er 1.000 of the population— the lowest rate ever recorded since registra- tion was established. Thirty-seven thousand three hundred and ninety of the children were illegitimate. The total deaths registered numbered 531,281, giving a rate of 15.4 per 1,000 of the population. Of these 123,895 were infants urder one year of age, a proportion of 132 per 1.000 births. This rate was 4 per 1.000 above the rate for the previous year, but 15 per 1.000 below the mean proportion in th-3 preceding ten years. Among the deaths recorded there were 65 of reputed centenarians, 16 of whom weN males and 49 females.

MAIDEN SESSIONS AT CARMARTHEN. RECORDER ON THE PROBATION ACT. Carmarthen Borough had another maidea quarter sessions on Friday. The Recorder (Mr. E. Milner Jones), addressing the grand jury, said it was a subject of considerable congratulation that there were no prisoners to be brought before them. There had just come into operation a very important Act of Parliament, and one of the most bene- ficient, which enabled magistrates to deal with first offenders. He did not know whether in that borough a probationer officer had as yet been appointed—perhaps a. joint probationer officer might be appointed over a larger district-but the appointment of such an officer was a matter of great importance. It was important that he should be a man in every way qtTalified for such work. Under this new Act a magistrate could, instead of sending a man to prison, put him on probation over such a period as he considered advisable. During the. time on probation, if the person behaved himself, he would h ar no more about it. The proba. tioner officer was to be a man in no way connected with the police. He must wear no uniform, and should do his utmost to obtain the man employment and generally look after him. To send a man to prison very often meant the starting of a criminaJ career, and it was hoped that to place a defendant on probation instead of sending him to prison would be the means of A'YU. many men.

AGITATION ON THE BARRY RAILWAY. MR. BELL APPEALS TO THE EAB& OF PLYMOUTH. The disaffectiou which has prevailed oa the Barry Railway for a oon«iderahl^— has at last reached a oriais, the iwflrniore particularly thoee employed in connection with the locomotive department, having, through Mr. R. Bell, -V.P., tb" general secret tary of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, approached the chairman of the company, the Earl of Plymouth, with the view of having an opportunity of laying their grievances before the directors. The board held a meeting in London, when the case of the men was referred to by his lord- ship, and it was decided to allow the men to appear by deputation before the next meeting of the directors at Barry, when the men's representatives, it is understood, will be accompanied by Mr. Richard Bell. A meeting of the Barry railwaymen was held on Sunday, when the communication from the company was read. During the past week the air has been full of rumours of certain official changes on the Barry Railway, but although it is under- stood that the contemplated change is maturing, it is yet premature to make m definite announcement in the matter.

CARDIFF LIBRARY HELPS BUSINESS MEN. DECODING OF TELEGRAMS AND CABLEGRAMS. In connection with the telephone inquiry department at the Central Library, Cardiff, quite a demand has arisen for the decoding of telegrams and cables sent in one or other of the standard codes. Copies of these codes are very expensive, and it is a great conveni- ence to commercial men to be able to decode telegrams either at the library or through the inquiry department there. In response to numerous requests, the libraries com- mittee has added copies of the ABC Tele, graphic Code (fourth edition) and the Uni- code to the other codes already in the library. The following is a revised list of the codes available:-A B C Telegraphic Oode (fourth edition), Scott's Shipowners" Telegraphic Code, Sell's Registered Tele- graphic Addresses, Unicode, and Watkin's Telegraphic Oode. The telephone inquiry depa-rtment of the library is a great success and a source of convenience to commercial men.

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