Weekly Mail

IMPROVED METHODS. QAHDIRFF AUDITORS' SATISFAC- TORY REPORT. ^V'hafc^^ Jderman Robert Hughes described 11 eminently satisfactory report was 0a>Me.°ted to the finance committee of the eltaf Corporation on Monday by the two Os^V"? auditors—Messrs. J. S. Taylor and In • <-5o^ema:n- be^n report it was stated that there had a great improvement during the past ,ln the system of collecting of rates, lighting, and water ren>tals. The of viable arrears on the 31st of Maroh last «i the general district rate wore £ 2,233 less those for the ooa-respondiDigr period of „, > leaving recoverable balaoioes <yf £ 4,478, J'hich wae principally made UP by large founts tntatandine on appeal. There was It! incase in the actual water collection ^f ^7«fa4d.. and the recoverables outetand- were olily 2s- > as against £ 1,680 V 7d., showing the marked improvement of 462 is. 1d. -i? compared with jlr. ilarks's in the previous year of £1,4D5 the salaries of the collectors now totalled £ 855 8s. A saving of £ 553 Of Jy had been effected in the collection T,eTlta' £ In the electric light ^^rears*011*' outstanding reoavera.ble •^196 i!fa close of the yeftr were only as against £ 457 5s. 4d., in the year. ^?a^ririan (Alderman F. J. Beamn) a-nd the report was most satisfactory, th- °°rrectly reflected the spirit in which work was done in the city treasurer's ^Pa-rtmeiit. f0p • John Alloock thanked the committee g- their kind expressions of opinion, and d that he would oomvey the feeling of the ^^auttee to his staff.

PERILS OF THE PIT. MAESTEG HAULIER'S BACK BROKEN. j5a.rry Pugh, a haulier employed at Messrs. On r'8 Navigation Colliery, Maesteg, was v Monday knocked down by a winding rope ^t^een some trams. His back was broken Q, llQ the head severely hruieed. Pugh lies in Critical state. ABERGWYN-FI MINEM IN PERIL. Orchard Williams, collier, employed at the Jsorthern Ck>lliery, Abergwynfi, ^^ared on remand at Aberavon on Monday ^Urged with being found asleep in one of colliery headings with a lighted lamp by • He had also been fined on a previous ^^ion for a similar offence. 8e_k'eChairman (Dr. Aniallt Jones): The man Els to be of a very low order of intelli- ''pe. and should not be employed in the to the danger of the men. tjj^endanit was fined 20s. and coats, with bit 811 Sffestion tha.t defendant should in ilJ.'re be employed above ground. 0 THE OFFENDING MATCH. j^Wen Wild, collier, engaged at the Duffryn ^Hdxia Colliery, Oymmer, was fined Is. an/d at, Aberavon on Monday for having a in his possession in the colliery.

H.M.S. CARACTACUS. Ñ:E'V CRUISER BEGUN AT PEM- BROKE. ceremony of formally laying in the slip the first keel plartes of a new W^mou^ed cruiser of the Boadicea class a.fjT Place at Pembroke Dockyard on Monday Jj^ tTioon. The ceremony was performed by te>.j KiogBford, wife of Captain Superin- H. Goare Kingsford, E..N: It is liis that the vessel will be known as ship Caractacus. In anticipa- the event, a large quantity of Jkj.e^rial had been wrought and otherwise for working into the ship, and, excePt ion ally rapid progress is to be made with her construction the initial stage. Her principal Psions will be: length, 385ft. Extreme breadth, 42ft. Mean load draught, 13ft. 6in. Displacement, 3,350 tons. will be fitted with turbine propelling ItU?1 of1"7 of 19,0W) h.p„ her estimated speed inots. The armament, like that of ^•ioea- will be six 4in. quick-firing 5 Su'tv,3,11^ 8^1'e carry two torpedo tubes. will be spent for labour s the current financial year, and the of the new vessel will be £ 350,000.

MIDNIGHT DITTIES. ————— o'L 51 of age> wa,R changed ►h^rlv on Monday with being dis- m Somerset-street on the 14th inst. a charge of assaulting of?nstabl° Frank Brooks in the execu- JCor duty. at midni^ht on Friday disturbed g,n<j and two other men who were shout- 4 ^nfiltl'girLS and using obscene language K; vioWr f.y house. Prisoner struck Brooks T1 ah^, low in the stomach, and, kicked Cut the body- rati"n • Police-constable Welsher ^l^^edrife<i "aceful" the ditties >y the empty house choral party. y,JtTe 39 Previous convictions, six of Poiil assaults, and three of them upon J* (court misfrionary) said pri- hehaved better lately, and upon f8 ot'll<ir representations the magis- °ut the mitigated penalty of £ 1. days.. r 8. brother, Edward (26), was assaulting Police-constable ^tj^her on the same occasion, and r^itted for a month.

A KING IN DANGER. MOTOR-CAR COLLIDES WITH A CARRIAGE. According to a dispatch from Ae-coli-Piccrno, King Victor Emmanuel narrowly escaped a serious accident while motoring. The Royal automobile, in which wore his Majesty and four other persons, collided violently with a oa.rria.ge coirt,ai-ning the mayor and another municipal official of one of the neighbouring Communes. It was at first feared that serious injury must have resulted from the collision, for thi> carriage was completely overturned; but, for- tunately, all its occupants were able to jump clear, and escaped practically unhurt. The mayor, who was not enlighten-ed at the time as to the distinguished persona-lity of the motorists, declared his intention, of claim- ing compensation for the damag-e caused to his carriage; but the affair will probably be settled privately cm behalf of the King.- Central News.

FRIENDLY SOCIETY AND BANK SYSTEM. The annual meetings of delegates of the Hearts of Oak Benefit Society were concluded on Saturday. The president (Mr. A. J. Palmer, Plaistow) occupied the chair. Mr. I. T. Spackman submitted and moved the adoption of a report of the finance com- mittee on the payment of contributions and benefits through a bank. The committee stated that it must not be forgotten that a dual system in operation in the society's office would create confusion and, in all probability, prevent that smooth running of the machinery which, in an organisation so immense as theirs, was so absolutely neces- sary to afford freedom from errors on the part of the clerical staff and satisfaction to the members. The committee felt that this was a matter of the gravest importance, and until the bank system could be made applic- able to all members it would be unwise in the highest degree to have two different systems in operation. Mr. Matthews moved, and Mr. Baylis seconded, an amendment that the report be referred back with instructions to the executive council to open up negotiations with a view to facilities being given to members to pay their contributions at their various branches. This amendment was lost, and the report of the finance committee was adopted by a large majority.

MARRIED AT MONTREAL. Miss Elaine Griffin, A.R.C.M., a young lady well known in Welsh musical circles, was married at Montreal on the 17th ult. to Mr. H. R. Dudley Smith, a gentleman whose home is at Calgary. Mies Griffin is a native of Staines, and up to the age of fifteen years lived with her family on the Surrey side of the River Thames. Her father was well MISS GRIFFIN, A.R.C.M., [Photo, Wills, Cardiff. I known and much respected in financial circles in London, but owing to his having monetary losses and subsequent death, Miss Griffin took up music in order to obtain a livelihood. For a short period prior to Mr. Griffin's death the family lived at Aber- gavenny. It was there that Miss Elaine Griffin was placed under the tuition of Mr. Arthur Angle, having previously obtained several medals and certificates for the violir at London academies. When her familj returned to the town of Staines it was- arranged for Miss Griffin to reside in Cardiff and continue her studies under Mr. Angle. This resulted in her becoming an Associate of the Royal College. It was then her mother's desire to place her under a well- known master, but Miss Griffin having then formed a good connection in Cardiff and neighbourhood, she could not be persuaded to abandon this, and in gratitude to her master she remained at her post and ren- dered him able assistance, playing the viola in his quartettes, and later leading his orchestra, many members of which were her own pupils. It will be remembered that Miss Griffin took a great interest in her promising young pupil, Miss Ada Woodford, and so determined was she to secure this young lady's future prior to giving up her public life that she made great efforts on her behalf, details of which have already appeared in these columns. Prior to leaving Cardiff Miss Griffin was approached by a well-known London firm to dispose of her Cardiff connection, but she preferred that her master should benefit by her retirement.

OUTSTANDING RATES AT GELLIGAER. Mr. W. Hammond brought up a serious matter before Gelligaer Council on Monday. It arose from a letter read from the clerk I to the county council at the Merthyr Guardians on Saturday, in which the threat was made that unless the outstanding rates of the parish were paid by an early date, the ratepayers would be charged 10 per cent. as interest. The Clerk (Mr. F. T. James) said there was a precept of £7,955, and only r £ 1,000 had been paid on account. He did not know whether the ratepayers of the parish were paying their ratos and taxes ho pre- sumed they were—but they did not go into the hands of the treasurer.—It was resolved to write to t/ie overseers.

WOMAN STRUCK BLIND. SIX MONTHS FOR A TREDEGAR LABOURER. Cornelius Sullivan, a labourer, was charged on remand at Tredegar on Monday with assaulting Elizabeth Carroll, a woman of the tramping class, on May 2. The prisoner met the complainant on the mountain, and struck her violently with a stick on the eye, completely destroying that organ. She previously had only one eye, and II she is now totally blind. The prisoner, who had been in custody for about six weeks, was sent to prison for six l jnonthe with hard labour.

SOUTHERN MINES SHIELD COM- PETITION. An ambulance competition was held in the Drill-hall of the A and B Companies of the 2nd Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment on Saturday afternoon for the shield presented by Mr. J. S. Martin, his Majesty's inspector of mines to the Southern Mines Inspection District. The first two teams receive bronze medals, and also gain a place in the final competition. The teams were placed in the following order, 180 marks being the maxi- mum obtainable:- Tirpentwys No. 1 Team, 165! marks; Cwm- bran Hanbury, 154; Blaenserchan NO.1 152' Cwmbran Xo. 1. 147: Llanerch, 144; Blaen- serchan No. 2, 138.; Garndiffaith, 13<ij; Blaen- avon, 134; Tirpentwys No. 2, 130; and Cwm- bran night men, 1264- c

MR. HUGHES' NEW LAW. f BOOKMAKERS ARRESTED ON A :'1 RACECOURSE. Disorder almost amounting to riot i 3 reported from the Gravesend race track, N, If York, where a large force of police w/* -e present to enforce the new Anti-Bettig lg Law. The orowd caught and beat a detect ive ivho arrested a bookmaker's clerk. The bookmakers were in the depth, s af despair (says the "Daily Telegraph" COl res- pondent). There was no open betting,, but. on the quiet some business was done 01 the English credit system. Small and unfa town bettors oould not stake a dollar for 1<j ve OT money. money. Only a few sportsmen were preser 4 is and were very gloomy, predicting that, horse- racing will be killed, unless the Antiff Jetting Law is repealed. The order to the< Jockey Club to close the ring was not obeyq/ 1. The Police Commissioner stated that betting must. absolutely stop, and that every offender caught would be immediately arrest ed. There is talk of several big sta-bj* ■ :a remov- ing their entire establishments to England.! All betting whatsoever is prohibits ,d in the State of New York. and anybody w ho makes a bet or takes a bet is liable to a year's imprisonment. It is estimated tf iat 400,000 persons in the United States are af cected, and £ 20,000,000 worth of property. The racing associations and aJl others concerned are taking active steps to resist the law as unjoonstitutionial, and | > bring the case to issue. T1 3 law courts wi§ 1 be invoked, and several yeajs may elapse b efore a final decision is given.

BICYCLE TAKEN W HILE HE SLEPT. Daniel Jenkins, Cardiff, aw d Thomas Wat- kins and Joseph Thomas, J iberkenfig, were charged at Llandaff on Mox*» lay with stealing a bicycle, the property of Morgan Roderick, Aberdare. The prosecutog • stated that on Tuesday he was riding froj n Cardiff to Aber- dare, but on reaching Wlr .itehurch Common he felt tired, and after dismounting slept for 8Joemt twenty minuter J. When he awoke the bicycle had disappof tred. He informed the police, with the rem alt that the defen- dants were arrested. Af ter giving these par- ticulars he told the be nch that he desired to withdraw the charf e. This course was assented to, and defea dants were dismissed. Mr. Cross (Messrs. Haf rold Lloyd and Cross) was present on behalf L of Jenkins.

BREAKDOWN AT ABER TIN- PLATf ] WORKS. At the Aber TÍIr -plate Works, Llansamlet, on Monday eveni ag the three-mill engine, with the oold-roli s plant attached, was ren- dered totally idle through a serious breakage of mal hinery. Both the cylinders of the engine, the bea, and other parts were broken, and the damage cannot be re-placed for at t least six months to come. There are onlj two tin-plate mills now in operation, ani l the breakage is the most serious one tb at has ever occurred since the present firm, took over the works.

DEPUTY CHIEF-CONSTABLE APPOINTED. several important promotions amd ohan.ges arc being made in the G1 amorsranshire Con- stabulary, and the official announcement may be expected in the course of the next few days. Consequent on the retirement of Snperin- tcndent Giddings, it has become necessary to appoint a deputy-chief-constable for the county, and we understand on good authority that Superintendent Cole, of Pontypridd, has SUPERINTENDENT x. WILLIAMS. practically been promote to this important Dffice. Besides being entitled to promotion on the ground of seniority, Superintendent Cole is a most capable and painstaking officer who has rendered valuable services in the ooanty constabulary. is promotion will meet with general approval. Oth-er important ohfljiig^g and promotions are also about to be ria<ie. No official infor- mation is je o tain^'v,,]^ l>ut the following list, y (>u':r ilistrict correspondents, indicates the more r;ipo;-tant changes:- PRtOM}:)TIONS. Inspector D. orriff to be superintendent at BarTY Dook. Inspeoto,r J. Willia,Il1A (Ton pen.tre) to be af Port"Talbo?n,W(N'&a-tll} to 00 inspector at port Talbot. ar^wiaisJ' EVa'lS (^*>les) to be inspector Sergeant Tiiorian (Ferndale) to be merit- cicrit sergeant 2 t Pontypridd. A'C-itin.g'-S'ergeaiii Clinch (Pontypridd) to be sergeant. Act Price to be sergeant a.t LLa.ntrisant. Merit-oonsita.fcTe G. Davies to be acting- sergeant at Morthyr. INSPECTOR THOMAS, MERTHYR. Merit-constable J. Harries to be acting- 9 ergeant at Port Talbot. transferred. Superintendent Menhenniok to Bridgend from Snath. Inspector Edwards to Ton Pentre from Port Talbot. Inspector W. Canton, Dowlais to Merthyr. Inisipeelt,or R. Thomas, Merthyr to Barry Dock. Seirgcaait Rees, Pcntyp-rttld, to act as chief clerk to Superintendent Williams at Ne,ath. Sergeant Jones from Llantrisant to Mumbles. Sergeant Kavamagh (Perth) to act as chief clerk at Ponitypridd.

THE NEW DEPUTY CHIEF. Superintendent Cole haa been for nearly 40 years in the Glamorgan Constabulary, which he joined at Canton, Cardiff, in July, 1868. Ria promotion was gradual, and he had been in the force for upwards of 24 years before he was made third-class inspector, being advanced to the first-class nine years later. He was then stationed at Aberavon, and afterwards transferred to Merthyr, where he remained until June, 1897. In that year he was appointed superintendent in charge of the Pontypridd and Rhondda division, a post he has occupied ever since. Superintendent Oole took a great deal, of interest in Free- SUPERINTENDENT MORRIS. masonry. and has been Worshipful Grand Master of the local lodge. His professional career is of a compara- tively uneventful character. Undoubtedly the most notable incident in which he has been concerned-wliieh ma-rked him out as a. most useful officer—waa his con- nection with the Lovelock sensation, This was while be was stationed at Aber- avon, and it will be re-oalled that Mr. Love- lock was regarded as one of the leading and most respected residents of the place. There were certain disclosures, in which allegations of wholesale defalcations were made aga,inst Mr. Lovelock. He decamped, and Superin- tendent (then Inspector) Cole traced the fugitive to (Spain. It proved to be a most anxious time fo,r the officer, who, it is said, never lost sight of his man day or night for a whole week. He eventually brought Mr. Lovelock back, and the culprit was tried and eeaiteaoed to penal servitude. Supeiiiitejident I Cole, is most popular, both with the force and the general public. I SUPERINTENDENT D. MORRIS. BARRY. Superintendent David Morris is one of the smartest, finest-built, and most popular mem- bers of the county force. He joined the Gla- morgan Constabulary 25 years ago, having previously served for eighteen months in the Swansea Borough Police, under Captain Colquhoun. Leaving Swansea, Superinten- dent Morris served ten years at Merthyr, and it was during this period that the notorious and desperate Cwm Gang con- ducted their lawless depredations in that distdct. To break up this gang Constable Morris and another constable were sent to Dowlais, and it was on a memorable Satur- day night in the winter of 1888 that a riot ) took place at Cwmrhydybedd, in the sup pression of which the police distinguished themselves highly, Constable Morris and hid brother officer fighting the men for some time single-handed, and although they were attacked with knives, stones, and other dangerous weapons, and the gang wrought havoc upon several houses, each constable arrested two men, and fifteen others of the gang were subsequently secured, and were sentenced to long periods of imprisonment. Constable Morris Was highly complimented by Mr. Walter North, the then ftiper,diary- magistrate of Merthyr, for the conspicuous bravery which he displayed on that occa- sion, and Mr. North, writing to the chief- constable. told him he ought to be proud of haviftg such men in the force. Superinten- dent Morris has also been complimented on several occasions by his Majesty's judges of assize, including Mr. Justice Wills, the latter in connection with the celebrated Porth outrage case, when the prisoner was sen- tenood to penal servitude for a gross attack upon an old woman in her lonely dwelling on Llanwonno Mountain. Superintendent Morris gained his sergeancy in eight years after joining the force, and was promoted to the rank of inspector and transferred to the charge of the Barry district nine years ago, having previously served at Merthyr.- Porth, Penarth, and Llandaff. During the nine years he has been resident at Barry Super- intendent Morris has had charge of three murder cases, and has conducted the police supervision of the district in a manner that has gained not only the approval of the chief-constable, but also the respect and admiration of the townspeople generally, amongst whom his promotion as superinten- dent of the E Division is highly popular.

EBBW YALE COAL CO. THE SHAREHOLDERS DIS- SATISFIED. j The general meeting of the shareholders of the Ebbw Vale Coal. Steel, and Iron Com- pany was held in London on Tuesday. Mr. Joseph Brailsford (chairman) moved tlic adoption of the report and balance- shoot. Mr. T. Morel expressed great dissatisfac- t.vc:> with the report, and referred to the charges for law costs. He asked if that referred to recent litigation. If it did j he thought that if local direoors were on the ■board, or anyone who knew local customs, that litigation would not have taken place, He added that the litigation did not redound to the credit of the company. The Chairman ruled a discussion on thai point out of order, as (he said) litigation in the matter was still pending. Mr. Morel said that made his remarks all the stronger, but he would obey the chairman's ruling. Mr. H. J. Giffin also referred to low ra.tes of profits on the coal transactions, and said it showed there mast have been very small profit on the steel trade done by the com- c, E pany. Mr. J. B. Feirrier a.Uuded to the amount of profit, and said that it was low compared with what was done by other companies in South Wales. He asked if the Ebbw Vale did not work a lot of coal free of royalties. Mr. J. Herbert Cory said he was at first dissatisfied with the report, but after the chairman's explanation that there had been a greait increase in wages he was satisfied. The Chairman, replying to Mr. J. B. Perrder, said the amount of coal free of royalties worked by the company was very small. The report was adopted; and Mr. Allen, re- plying to Mr. Wainwrighit, said that they had heard nothing with regard to the great steel combine. If they had they would, no doubt, take advantage of any benefits to be derived from it. An extraordinary general meeting fol- lowed, at which resolutions altering the articles of association were adopted, although there was slight opposition.

IDLE DAYS IN THE PIT. CURIOUS POINT IN COMPENSATION CASE. His Honour Judge Owen arbitrated in a number of compensation oases at Tredegar on Tuesday. James Rees, Bargoed, claimed compensa- tion from the Powell Duffryn Company. The applicant was injured, and received compen- sation, and was then put on to do light work at his old rate of wages. But he was unable to work on several days because of stoppages at the colliery, and compensation wa.s claimed for those idle days.—Mr. Parsons opposed, and said that if the application were successful the injured man, receiving compensation, would be better off than the man who had npt met with an accident. The employers had no control over breakdowns of machinery and other c i re unl stances stopping the colliery. His Honour said it was, the want of work, and not partial incapacity, which prevented applicant from working. The award was in favour of the respondents, a stay of costs being granted. The Tredegar Company applied through Mr. Parson| for the redemption of the com- pensation paid to John Sullivan, Sirhowy.—■ Mr. Sankey opposed, and submitted that after the redemption was made the company could turn away the man in a month, or he might be unable to work through ill-health. -His Honour reserved his decision.

A FORGIVING WIFE. The forgiving wife was again in evidence at Newport on Monday. Henry Evans, a docker, was charged with being drunk and I disorderly and committing an aggravated assault on his wife. The wife, though exhibiting a terribly battered face, was very reluctant to give evidence. It was only after a lot of hard pressing that she took the oath, and then said he was a good husband when sober, but was a madman in drink. The police evidence was that prisoner knocked his wife down in the passage, kicked her brutally, and threatened to kill her. When on Saturday he was looked up she said he had given her eight black eyes in nine months. But for the pleading of his wife he would, the benoh told him. have gone to prison for three months. Under the circumstances he was fined 40s. and bound over for six months.

LABOUR CANDIDATE FOR SWANSEA. MR. BEN TILLETT'S CLAIMS GENER- I, ALLY ACKNOWLEDGED. It is stated that the L.R.C. movement at Swansea, to select a Labour candidate for the next election has so far r^ulted in the claims of Mr. Ben Tillett being generally of Mr. Ben Til1et,t bedn.g g¡eneraUy acknowledged. Mr. Tillett is expected at Swansea next week.

GOVERNMENT ASKED TO INTERVENE. The President of the Board of Treie was asked in the House of Commons on Monday by Mr. MYER (R., Lambeth, N.) whether his attention had been called to the fact that a steel combine, with a capital of £ 75,000,000, had been successfully executed, and that the leading firms of this country and of Germany, Russia, and the United States were allied in the combination, the object of which was to control the inter- national export trade; and whether, in the interests of the trade of this country, the Government would initiate a method to render such combinations illegal. Mr. CHURCHILL said he had no official in- formation as to the matter referred to, and his Majesty's Government had no intention of introducing legislation making such com- binations illegal.

THE MORGAN COMBINE. The annual meeting of the stockholders of the International Mercantile Marine Com- pany (the Morgan Combine) was held at I New York on Monday. The report for the fiscal year ended Decem- ber 51 last shows that the gross earnings were nearly £ 8,030,000, the largest in the his- tory of the combination, while the net earn- ing were £806,746, of which £ 800,000 is transferred to the depreciation fund. All payments during the year for new steamships have been made from current funds. The depreciation and insurance funds now aggregate £ 2,200,—J. Operating expenses increased during the year by £ 600,030, chiefly owing to dearer coal and greater cost of labour.-Central News.

THE LATE DE. GARRETT HORDEK, [Photo, Freke, Cardiff.

I BACKWARD CHILDREN. SHOULD EXAMINATIONS LEAD TO HIGHER STANDARDS? Mr. Isaac Vaughan Evans, the chief inspec- tor of schools in Cardiff, reported to the school management committee on Tuesday upon the number of backward children in the schools of the city whose age was higher than the average, and this was due to the fact that these children were kefpt back through failing to pass their annual exami- nation. The Chairman (Alderman Robert Hughes) described the system as a bad one, and said it ought to be abolished. Mr. J. J. Jackson (director of education) pointed out that the backward children were not coached, the present mode of teaching beimg rather by lectures than individual tuition. The opinion was expressed that children should pass to, higher standards every year irrespective of examination results, but no resolution was passed. AN APPOINTMENT. Forty-nine applications came before the committee for the post of head-master of Crwys-road School, rendered vacant by the death of the former head-master, Mr. George Cook. The committee decided that Mr. Her- lbert Crabtree, head-master of South Church- street, be transferred to Crwys-road School, and the list of 49 applicants was reduced to the following ten :— Messrs. F. Brown (Wood- street), Lyster Harper (Park), J. T. Parry (Adamsdown), Edgar Trewartha (Court-road), t W. Waters (Pupil Teachers' Centre), Charles Wilkes (Marlborough-road), W. Arnold (Municipal Secondary), Philip J. Price (Rad- nor-road), John Francis (Splott), and Thomas Morgan (Grange). This list will be reduced .by the education committee to a short list of five for subsequent promotion in order of position on that list.

A CONSTABLE'S LANGUAGE AND THE SEQUEL. Police-constable Tucker, a young Swansea officer, was summoned at Swansea on Mon- day by Margaret Kneath, a married woman, of Aberdyberthi-street, for using abusive language to her. The complainant stated that the offioer was chasing some boys who had been play- ing football. The boys ran away, and the constable then kicked the football through the window of a shop. The proprietor "r the shop came out and ascked who had dene it, and the officer said he did not know. She (complainant) then told the proprietoi that it was the constable who did it, whereupon the constable called her a —— cow. The Magistrates said it was a very oppro- brious and offensive expression to use, and fined the offioer 20s. Morgan Kneath, a nail maker, husband of complainant in the last case, was then charged with violently assaulting Police- constable Tucker. The officer stated that a.bout a fortnight after the occurrence in the other case the defendant passed him in Neath-road and said, YOIU you will have to go through it," and passed on towards his. own resi- dence. The constable having occasion to go that way subsequently, on turning a corner was struck by defendant with the buckle of a military belt. The Bench said that, after everything had been taken into consideration, on defendant's behalf, it was a very serious offence, and a fine of dB5, or one month, would be imposed.

CAME AT ME "LIKE A LION," ALLEGED SWANSEA LODGING- HOUSE AFFRAY. William Morphet, a tall, powerful-looking rag and bone collector, was brought up in custody at Swansea on Monday charged with doing grievous bodily harm to Arnold Morris on May 23 last in a common lodging- house in the Upper Strand. Mr. Lawrence Richards, who appeared to prosecute, asked for a remand for a week, stating that the prosecutor is lying at the union infirmary in such a serious state that his depositions had been taken. His injury was alleged to have been caused by a blow from the prisoner. Mr. Thompson agreed on behalf of the prisoner, who was remanded accordingly. In his depositions, taken at the workhouse, the prosecutor said, On Saturday, May 23, I got my money about one o'clock, and got home between six and seven after having had some drink. About «half an hour after- wards Bill Morphet came into the room like a lion," and came on to me as I was sitting on the sofa, and struck me unawares on my left eye with his fist. He said nothing before or after he struck. I fell on the floor and hit the back of my head oa something, and I think I became unconscious. I know of no reason for the assault." The prosecutor was cross-examined by Mr. Thompson, and denied that he was struck with a saucer by one of the women in the house. On Monday the ma.n was still in a critical state, alt-hough no worse than on Sunday.

(■ mam Vip* m with valuable I fr" XA Vegetable Ian Bail ■ additions. A Breakfast Cup for a Id. I

few Ladders far Bunders, F&lstere, PlaatereTS, «fl siMa at Cpttrell't old-estabUahed • Bristol. v2W

SCENE AT THE PENARTH INQUIRY I MR. NORRIS CROSS-EXAMINING MR. PICKFORD.

EARL DERBY DEAD. A DISTINGUISHED POLITICAL CAREER. The Earl of Derby died suddenly from heart failure on Sunday night at his resi- dence at Holwood. Kent.' Earl Derby, who was born in 1841, was educated at Eton. He joined the Army in 1S58, and retired from a captaincy of the Grenadier Guards in 1865. He entered Parliament in 1865 as the Con- servative member for Preston, which division he represented until 1868, when he was returned for North Lancashire. He was a Lord of the Admiralty in 1868, and Financial Secretary for War 1874-77, and then ne became Financial Secretary to the Treasury. In 1878 he was appointed Secretary for War. | He went out of office with his party in 1880, and in Lord Salisbury's Government he was Secretary for the Colonies from 1885 until i 1886, and in the latter year was appointed President of the Board of Trade, and raised to the peerage with the title oFLord Stanley of Preston. In 1888 he became Governor- General of Canada, and in the same year succeeded to the title of Earl of Derby. He was mayor of Liverpool in 1895-6. and since 1897 had been lord-lieutenant of Lancashire. Lord Derby married in 1864 the eldest daughter .of the Earl of Clarendon. His eldest son. Lord Stanley, succeeds to the title. Lord Derby was a large landowner, chiefly in Lancashire, where his chief resi- dence, Knowsley, is situated.

AMBULANCE HALL FOR VOCHRIW. HANDSOME GIFT FROM MESSRS. GUEST, KEEN, AND 00. Probably, in no part of South Wales are the colliers on better terms with their employers than in Vochriw, and this good feeling has brought tangible reward in the gift of a substantial ambulance drill-hall from Messrs. Guest, Keen, and Co. It accom- modates 200, excluding a committee-room, and was built by Mr. Wm. Watts, Dowlais, from designs by Mr. Vaughan, M.E., Dowlais. The opening ceremony was presided over by Mr. J. H. Jones, a very popular manager, and Mr. F. A. Gray, his Majesty's inspector of mines, performed the oereanony with a silver I key handed him by Mr. H. W. Martin, J.P. Mr. J. W. White, assistant-commissioner of No. 7 District, spoke very highly of MT. Wm. MaoMurray, the officer in charge, whilst Mr. Herbert Lewis, another assistant-commis- sioner, appealed to women to form a nursing institution. An inspection took place on the moun.ta.in side. The brigades present were:—Fochriw Division (Superintendent W. J. Ballard), Dow-1 lais Division (Second-officer S. Jones), Red- linog Division (Superintendent E. T. Owen), and Troedyrhiw Division, No. 2 (Superinten-1 dent Davies). The first officer in charge was Mr. William MacMurray. The Fochriw Brass Ba.nd, under the conduc- torship of Mr. William Mantle (in the absence of Mr. W. Powell, who was in competition with the Deri Band at Rhymney), headed the huge procession The following gentlemen composed the com- mittee: Chairman, Dr. Eleazer Davies, J.P.; and Mr. J. H. Jones (colliery manager). Ser- geant Williams, Mr. H. Evans (mechanic), Mr. James Williams (head clerk at the collieries), Mr. David John Evans (under-manag-sr), Mr. Thomas Roberts, sen. (under-manager), Mr. Thomas Roberts, jun. (under-manarfer), Mr. W. Davies, and Mr. Edmund Griffiths (station- master). Th-b secretary is Mr. Edward Lewis, and the treasurer Mr. Chas. Payne.

"MARRIED TO ANOTHER I MAN." HUSBAND'S REASON FOR NOT PAYING. James Edwin Jenkins, who formerly resided at Melincrythan, was brought up in custody at Nearth on Tuesday in respect of £ 1, arrears of maintenance due to his wife. I He admitted the order of the court and the I arrears, but said he wouldn't pay. "Why?" asked Mr. Evans Bevan (the chairman of the bench). Because," replied the prisoner, "I have found a certificate showing that she is ma-rried to another man." The magistrate perused the certificate of marriage with the prisoner, and Mr. J. D. The magistrate perused the certificate of marriage with the prisoner, and Mr. J. D. I Llewellyn observed, "You describe yourself here as a. single woman." Prisoner's Wife: Yes. Mr. Llewellyn: Is your first husband dead? Prisoner's Wife: Yes, sir. Was he dead wher. you worried the prisoner?—Yes, sir. I The case was adjourned, prisoner being admitted to bail.

BLACK EYES FOR A LAUGH,' Frederick Jones (25), a Llanbradach collier, was summoned at Caerphilly on Tuesday on a charge of assaulting Mrs. Mary Edwards. Mr. Tom Phillips prosecuted. Complain-ant said she simply laughed, and she was struck between the eyes, both of which were blackened. Defendant: When I was in 'partments with yon —— Complainant: Yes, you owed me a fort- night's rent. (Loud laughter.) Defendant alleged that the woman received the marks on her face by her husband chas- ing her over the backyard walls. The case was dismissed.

PONY'S EYE KNOCKED OUT Evan Pettiss (30), a gipsy horse-dealer, was charged at Caerphilly on Tuesday with maiming a horse by knocking out its eye at Heolddu, Bargoed. Mr. Goodfellow defended. Ernest John Morgan said defendant struck the horse on the head with a stick. On being pointed out the injury he remarked, "It is not your fault." Polke-comstable W. H. Williams arrested the man at a fair. He said that Morgan told him to hit the pony. He was fined LZ and costs, or fourteen days

MILITARY ROMANCE. ♦ SERGEANT'S LOVE FOR LADY OF MALTA. Aldershot is ago? with a Maltese low romance. A non-commissioned officer in the First Army Corps at Aldershot returned not long ago from Malta, where he had spent some years' service. He had made there the acquaintance of a charming dark-eyed little lady of Malta, the proprietress of a well- patronised boarding-house, and she soon gave proof that she was not averse to his advances. Indeed, it was not long before the Army," as represented by the sergeant. had become a recognised authority in the boarding-house, and finally was regarded as the husband of the lady charmer. In the course of time a pretty little daughter was presented to the couple. Alas! that the exigencies of the service should have upset so charming a dovecote, but so it was, and, after much lamentation, the non-com- missioned officer tore himself away. A few days ago the pretty little Maltese lady arrived at Aldershot. Hardly had the trooper sailed ere the lady sold up her boarding-house and, with the child, sailed for England. Despite the fact that she can scarcely ma-ke herself understood in the English tongue, she located not only Aldershot Camp, but the missing one. Me want my sweetheart; me want you marry me!" was the burden of her plea (says the Star"). The soldier entreated, the soldier stormed, but all in vain. She appealed to the officer in charge, but in vain. As the soldier wouldn't—or couldn't—marry the lady from Malta she had to leave the camp disconso- late. In this plight the lady appealed to the Aldershot police, who, of course, had no means of enforcing her demands. But Superintendent Hawkins interested himself in her case, and found a Maltese lady living in the town, who was most willing to befriend her countrywoman and to look after her and the child until something is done. What that something is still hangs in the balance, but there is considerable sym- pathy for the lady in Aldershot.

RUSE TO GET WHISKY. UNSUSPECTING LICENSEE FINED AT LLANDAFF. William Griffiths, landlord of the Railway Tavern, Taff's Well, appeared at Llandaff Police-court on Monday to answer charges of three offences against the Licensing Acts: —(1) Selling intoxicating liquor to a drunken person; (Z) permitting drunkenness on his licensed premises; and (3) keeping his house open for the sale of drink on Sunday. Mr. St. John Francis-Williams, barrister (instructed by Messrs. Spickett and Sons, Pontypridd), who appeared for the defen- dant, said that if the first two charges were withdrawn he would advise defendant to plead guilty to the third, which, as he would explain, was of a technical character. The police had agreed to this course. being adopted. The case was rather an unusual one. On a Sunday, about five o'clock, two men, named Palmer, father and son, called at the house for refreshments. They were quite so-ber, and said they came from Caer- philly, which would entitle them to be served. They had two pints of beer each, and were perfectly sober when they left, at 5.30. Before leaving, however. Palmer, the son, said his father had met with a bad accident, and, as they had a long way to walk home, asked for ninepennyworth of whisky in a bottle. This was supplied, and subsequently the younger Palmer was found to be drunk, and was convicted. Mrs. Griffiths, who served the whisky, was not aware. that it was contrary to the law to sell intoxicating drink on a Sunday for con. sumption off the premises, and, therefore, a technical offence had been committed, for which the defendant was responsible. Mr. Griffiths had for years held the licence of the Bush Inn, Treforest, without complaint, and had recently purchased the Railway Tavern. The Bench agreed to the first two charges being withdrawn, and with regard to the third they found that a technical offence had been committed. The defendant would be fined the nominal envo. of tOs, and oosts.

CLAIMED TO BE 103. DEATH OF A LLANDTSSUL CENTENARIAN. There died at Llandyssul on Monday a <■ retired farmer, who claimed to be 103 sears old in September of this year. This claim be made out by adding up the number of years spent at each house he occupied in the course of his long career, and these were not many. William Davies was born in Danoapel, in the adjoining parish of Llangeler, some. where about 1805 or 1806—the registers do not exist—in the days when George III. was King, so that he lived through the reigns of the three succeeding Sovereigns, and a portion of that of our present King. He left home when 26 or 27 years old, and farmed Cwmul (Llandyssul) for 47 years; the next thirteen years were spent at Graig, in the adjoining parish of Llanfihangel-aj"- arth. He next removed to Dol'llan Farm, where he lived three years before finally retiring from active work to a private house near Llanfihatigel Bridge about ten years ago. Ho, was in full possession of his faculties, and his memory for events happening in his youth being good, he possessed a fund of personal reminiscences. He was a moderate smoker, and liked art occa6ional glass of beer, without over-indulging. He married three times, and one of his two sons is a grandfather.