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WORKMEN'S NOTES. «
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WORKMEN'S NOTES. « RENEWED MENACE IN THE COALFIELD. [By MR. WILLIAM BRACE, M-P.] I read with exceeding regret, if not dismay, in your issue of last week the opinion expressed by a leading South Wales colliery owner in the following words:—" You may depend upon it, we shall see a strike in South Wales within the next nine months." I have no doubt at all about the accuracy of your repre- sentative's statement, for such words as these have been addressed to me several times by different parties during recent days. Personally, I have rebutted with- out reservation such a fatal idea, first, because I see nothing in the situation that would warrant such a conclusion, and, secondly, were the future shrouded in the deepest gloom and doubt, it is not the policy for any man who really desires peace to assist in the creation of an atmosphere that makes the maintenance of industrial peace almost a miracle. I have always held that the greatest enemies any nation can possibly have within her gates are the people who propagate the theory or doctrine that war between given nations is inevitable. It is this doctrine that is the first cause of the really heartbreaking burden of arma- ments that nations have to carry in these days. It is not so very long ago since it was preached with much confidence that war between Britain and Russia was inevitable. Then war between Britain and France was given a turn, and now it is Germany. A little ordinary business commonsense would save us no end of unliappiness and expenditure, speaking from the nation's standpoint; and the possession and exercise oi the same attri- bute would be most valuable among those interested in the South Wales coal indus- try at the present time. Danger of Fatalism. I say with strong conviction that if leading South Wales colliery owners are going to hypnotise themselves into the belief, or allow anyone else to hypnotise them to accept the belief, that a stoppage of work at the beginning of next year is inevitable, then a stoppage will assuredly follow. It is a peculiar, and. perhaps, mysterious, phase of human life that men cannot readily appreciate that there may be a wiser and better policy to follow than the one they have allowed themselves to drift into believing as inevitable. To talk as this colliery owner does is a form of fatalism highly dangerous to the welfare of the whole community. it only requires a few workmen's leaders to join a few leading colliery owners in the refrain that a stoppage by way of a strike or lock-out is bound to come, and it will come as surely as night follows day. If this doctrine would advantage anyone one could under- stand and forgive it, but inasmuch as it must mean disadvantage and loss, is it not time to cease such prophecies and rather preach the gospel that there is nothing in the situation to justify a stoppage any more at the beginning of next year than there was at the beginning of last July!" I have always held, and hold now, that there never will arise any question affecting Capital and Labour that cannot be settled without a stoppage of work if both parties will go into con- ference determined to find a peaceful solution of the difficulties to be faced. The real serious danger to industrial peace is when one party commences negotiations under the fixed impression that the other is out for a rupture. In such an atmo- sphere of suspicion and want of confi- dence, how can it be humanly possible to conduct negotiations to an amicable end? Inadequate Haulage Underground. The coalowners' discontent over the shorter hours Act of Parliament I do not propose at this juncture to discuss, but it may be of interest to mention that many colliers complain about shortness of trams, and some of the most level-headed among them reluctantly suggest that everything is not being done that could be to give them the opportunity to send out as much coal in the shorter-hour shift as they did when longer hours were worked. Whether it is part of an agreed- upon policy to have a reduced output for the time being, so that Governments may be warned off dealing with measures of this character in future, or that it is desirable to demonstrate to the public that the coalowners were correct in their contention that a reduced out-put was bound to follow a reduction of working hours I do not venture an opinion, but the fact remains that given clearance the colliers at many collieries could send to bank more coal than they have been doing for the weeks the Act has been in operation, and to the degree that the management can rectify this the com- plaint about output will pass away. I note the hauliers are being blamed in a general way for this, but instead of making general charges, which are so diffi- cult to reply to, it would be fairer to par- ticularise, so that a proper investigation could be undertaken. In many collieries the hauliers haul by the ton as the colliers cut by the ton, and are as much dependent upon keeping up their output to earn wages as the colliers are. It will, therefore, be seen that to talk as if hauliers suffer no loss, however the out- put may be reduced, is not in accordance with the facts of the case. Menace to Trade. I do not propose dealing with this phase of the question further upon this occa- sion, as the point I wish to emphasise and enter a protest against is that of preach- ing a doctrine of inevitable strike at the end of March next. I am told that the fact that notices were given by* the employers last June nearly crippled all business in South Wales for months. People lived from hand to mouth. No money was spent other than for absolute necessities, and the reason why the out- side public felt so relieved when they learned the threatened stoppage had been averted lay in the hope that trade would recover itself immediately peace was assured. Yet here comes a leading colliery owner with an equally unsettling declaration, and for what? To benefit himself and his colleagues? I imagine not, for ordinary buyers of Welsh coal will not be encouraged to place contracts in a coalfield when some of its leading authorities declare, without a shadow of doubt, that that coalfield will not be in position to fulfil its obligations in a few months' time. If these are the business principles dominating some leading colliery owners upon the Cardiff Coal Exchange, one need not be surprised that it was only after years of bitter experi- ence that producers of Welsh steam coal remembered that they were not working their collieries primarily to supply foreign buyers with cheap fuel. Industrial peace, present and prospective, is as necessary a factor to secure the placing of paying con- tracts as anything one can conceive of. To threaten or suggest with confidence that a stoppage at a given date must and will ensue may be pardoned to a man who knows but little of the delicate manipu- lation essential to induce buyers to favour the South Wales coalfield with their orders, but for a leading South Wales eoacowne.r to so recklessly indulge in this is, indeed, impossible "to understand. Having done so, it will not be for him to complain if the South Wales coal trade will have to pay some penalty by wav of loss of trade because of his indiscretion.
PEMBROKESHIRE HEROES.
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PEMBROKESHIRE HEROES. Amon? those who were presented with the Board of Trade bronze medal for gallantry a.t sea when King Edward held an investiture at Buckingham Palace last week were Mr. Wil- Lam Tyson, kue chief-coast guard officer at bt. David's, Pembrokeshire, and one of his crew, Mr. James Cole, commissioned boat- man, who is a native of Johnston, near Haverfordwest. The British brigantine Try Aca-in stranded at Bodmin Point, Cornwall, on Octooor61ast. Two of her crew managed to climb the cliffs, leaving tile master and two hands on the vocks. Search-parties, under Mr. Tyson, chief officer, and Mr. Mitchell, went up and down I the cliffs in a dense fog in search of them, and, hanns discovered the three men.' brought, them at great risk to the top of the cliffs. Mr. Tyson still suffers from the effect* ■of his adventure, having an injured knee.
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PREMIER WAYLAID. . -+
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PREMIER WAYLAID. -+ A MAN WHO CLAIMS TO BE A NEW MESSIAH. A young ma.n who claims to be the Messiah endeavoured to obtain an interview with the Prime Minister, and so persistent was he tha.t he had to be forcibly removed by the police. The young man, who gives the name of Edward Legge, has, it is stated, written Mr. Asquith on the subject several times, but not receiving any response to his letters, he called at 10, Downing-street, for the purpose of having a personal talk with Mr. Asquith. He was courteously received at the door and invited into the hall, whilst his name was submitted to the Premier. Mr. Asquith was dressing for the Government dinner to the Colonial delegates at the Foreign Office ":1 Friday evening, and, therefore, could not receive the eallcr. Ijegge protested, and demanded to see the Prime Minister, and refusing to leave was ejected by a police- man, who is always on duty near "No. 10." Legge claims that it was revealed to him five years ago that he is the incarnate Son of God. and if the heads of the Government and tho King and Queen woul,d only recog- nise him the whole world would soon acclaim him as such. Disappointed and very angry, he left the street for a few minutes, and on his return took up his stand near the entrance to the Foreign Office, where Mr. Asquith would pass on his way to the dinner. When Mr. Asquith crossed the street Legge made a rush towards him. but was restrained by a police offioer, with whom he (unconsciously! had been conversing in the meantime. The man appeared to realise the futility of .his effort, and shouted, "Coward, Mr. Asquith!" several times. Legge was taxen to the police-station, and is now detained at the Fulham Infirmary. It is stated that he is known to the police, and is alleged to be a harmless imbecile.
| HARBOUR TRUST LOAN.
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HARBOUR TRUST LOAN. LLANELLY DISTRICT COUNCIL AND THE RENEWAL. At a special meeting of the Llanelly Urban District Council on Friday night, Mr. E. T. Jones presiding, a long discussion took place with regard to the harbour trust loan with the Bank of England. The Chairman observed that five years ago next September the town pledged itself to the Bank of England for a 2s. rate and the income derived from the town estate as the security for a loan of £2.:)7,01)(). which was then borrowed. The term of the loan expired in September next. and the harbour trust took steps to negotiate with the Bank of England for its renewal upon more favourable terms than those hitherto existing. They would recollect that the trust formerly paid 4 per cent. interest, and they ultimately approached the Bank with a view to renewing the loan at 3i per cent., and provide a sinking fund of J per cent. The Governor of the Bank of England suggested amended terms for the continuation of the loan for a period of 55 years at the interest of 3 per cent., and the trust t.o set apart 3 per cent, of the total loan as a sinking fund, which must be controlled by the Bank. In return for this loan at 3 per cent, they asked the town to give a definite security for the whole loan. Personally, he thought the proposal was a very fair one. It was a pity the Bank did not offer these terms five years ago, because it would have saved them the necessity of going to Par- liament to seek definite powers at a cost of £8.000. They promoted a. Bill to borrow £35,000, £11.000 being capitalise:] interest, which left them £ >},C00 to borrow, The trust had received £5,000, and there was £ 19,CG0 outstanding, and for this they had paid £8,GOO. He believed it would be neces- sary to promote another Bill in order to carry out the intentions of the Bank. That being so. the responsibility of spending th" money should be handed over to a certain number of the repreeentativee of the urban district council. The Clerk said the capital they had to deal with was £260.946. and that was taking into consideration the sum of £19,000 which the Bank had not yet advanced, but were willing to advance when the proper object of the expenditure was in view. In reply to Mr. Willis Jones, the Clerk said that his authority for saying that the Bank representatives on the joint committee would be abolished was a director of the Bank of England. The Bank had given them notice that the money was paid to date, and they had to find it, and he did not know where. The trust had merely approved of the pro- posals as put forward, but, of course, there would be a considerable amount of details to be arranged. Mr. Nathan Griffiths protested against the matter being rushed through that night. No sane man would say that half an hour would be sufficient to pledge the town's credit to a quarter of a milJion sterling. Mr. D. James Da vies: We are not doing that. I should like to make it clear that we are not committing the town to a quarter of a million, because we are committed to it already. After farther discussion it was decided to convene a further meeting of the council to consider the matter.
COMPANY LAW PROBLEM.I
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COMPANY LAW PROBLEM. PEMBROKESHIRE ENGINEER AND A SALE OF ASSETS. The case of Thomas v. the United Butter Companies of France (Limited) was argued on Saturday before Mr. Justice Eve in the Chancery Division on a motion by the plain- tiff. Mr. B. A. Thomas, engineer, of Saunders- foot, Pembrokeshire, for an injunction restraining the company until judgment or further order from acting upon or carry- ing into effect resolutions sanctioning certain agreements for the transfer of the defendant company's assets and under- taking to a French company. Mr. P. O. Lawrence, K.C., and Mr. Beebee appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Jessel and Mr. Hall represented the defendant com- pany, which, it was stated, was holding a meeting to confirm the resolutions at the same time the case was being argued. Mr. Lawrence, for the plaintiff, stated that he was the holder of 503 £1 shares, for which he had paid £750. He contended that under the Companies Act, 1908, the agreements of transfer were ultra vires. Mr. Jessel opposed the motion, and after considerable legal argument as to the effect of the Companies Acts, His Lordship gave judgment. He said the case raised a question of difficulty and novelty, and he was sorry there could not be an immediate appeal by reason of the Long Vacation intervening, because the effect of an injunction might be to inflict an injury on the majority of the shareholders. The question arose in this way: The defendant company had been formed for the purpose of carrying on a business in France, and the main assets were situated there. In order to continue the business it had become neces- sary to raise further capital. Efforts were made to raise it in this country, but the response was altogether inadequate. Recourse was had to persons more inti- mately acquainted with the company's business in France, with the result that there had been found persons in France prepared to put the company in funds so as to give the company a chance which, it was said, would leal to success. These individuals stipulated that the administration of the capital should be committed to a corpora- tion domiciled in France, and that seemed to he a reasonable and intelligible stipulation. The only way in which that could be given effect to was by winding up the English com- pany and selling the assets to a French com- pany. The French capitalists who were will- ing to find the capital for carrying on the business were not prepared to find additional capital to purchase the assets. Therefore, the company had agreed to sell its assets for shares to be issued out of the capital of the new French company. The proposal now was to wind up the English company, and then allow the liquidator to sell the assets for shares in the new French company, to be issued to the liquidator or his nominees. There were among the English shareholders certain dissentient shareholders, one being the plaintiff, and he claimed an injunction to restrain the defendant company from carrying out this arrangement. He based his claim for relief on the ground that the sale of assets in the liquidation to a foreign company for shares in that company was a transaction which was ultra vires of the sell- ing company under the Companies Act of 1908. With great reluctance he came to the con- clusion that he must gTant an injunction to restrain tho company from acting on the resolutions. Costs of the motion would be costs in the action. Order accordingly.
GIFT OF .£100,000.
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GIFT OF .£100,000. HOME OF RECOVERY FOR CON- VALESCENTS. The property purchased by Mr. Ernest Frederick Sohiff, of Carlos-place, London, with a portion of the £100,000 whioh he has given in aid of the proposed Home of Reco- very for Surgical Convalescents is known as "Bevendean." Oxshott. Surrey. The house ie surrounded by 44 acres of well wooded and turfed land. The distance from London is seventeen miies. The cost of the property was less than one-half of the donation, and the balance will go towards the fund for endowing" the sixty or seventy beds which it is preposed to have. This sum, together t wi&i a £ 13 .COO Uagaoy recently left by a Mre. :EIr.autS ijaai snfescrintio-ns, make a total amiofunt -of about £ Vyt&BD.
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GLAMORGAN MINING SCHOOL—OPENED FOR THE YEAR Bl" THE EARL OF PLYMOUTH ON MONDAY. [Photo Wills.
SCIENCE APPLIED TO MINING.…
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SCIENCE APPLIED TO MINING. + MR. A. T. DAVIES AND VALUE OF OBSERVATION. The inaugural lecture in connection with the Glamorgan County Council Summer Mining School was delivered in the Engineers' Institute, Cardiff, on Monday by Mr. A. T. Davies, Permanent Secret.ary of the Board of Educa-tion (Welsh Department). There was a large number of students and others present. The following members of the mining com- mittee were present:—Alderman John Mor- gan (chairman), Alderman D. H. Williams, Alderman Morgan Williams, Alderman Jea- kin Hill, Alderman D. Prosser, Councillor David Hughes (Aberdare), and Councillor M. J. Harris (Aberdare). Amongst the others S'p present were Alderman Wilson (mayor of Mer- thyr), Mr. Herbert Lewis, Mr. Skirrow (Govern- m-ent inspector of secondary education), Mr. H. Davies (lecturer on mining). Miss E. P. Hughes (Barry), and Mrs. Lester Jones. Prior to meeting the Lord Mayor (Alderman Lewis Morgan) gave a reception to the students a ad others in the institute. The Earl of Plymouth presided over the meeting, and was supported by the Lord Mayor, Principal Griffiths, and others. Lord Plymouth expressed the pleasure it gave him in taking the chair at the opening of the mining school for another year. Every one of them who was at all concerned in the great mining industry of the country must have gone throug'h a period of some anxiety lately at a time of considerable unrest, and it was only at this moment that the people of the country could realise—even if they did so now-what that meant to the great coal mining industry. (Hear, hear.) He thought that even now they could partly realise what a dislocation there wauld be in the whole of the industrial operations in Great Britain if any dispute occurred which shouid paralyse the mining industry at any particular moment. Ho sincerely trusted that the good feeling' and good sense on both sides would see that we had not got to go through a crisis, which would be a. very serious one, and he trusted that they might start again another session of the mining school with the hope and the conviction that it would have very great benefits for those engaged in the mining industry. He hoped that all of them who came up to go through the school would not only profit from it themselves, but that the whole of the coal mining industry in the district would profit from the inauguration of the school, which was due to the com- bined efforts of the county council and the college. (Applause.) Mr. Davies, in the course of his lecture. said he was very glad personally by bis presence to show his appreciation of the work that the school was doing, and explained that he was not there that day as a Govern- ment official, but simply as a fellow-country- man who wished to have a little plain speak- ing with the members. In matters of scientific discovery, he pointed out that the best suggestions wore those arising out of the humblest instances. It was. therefore, to the seriously minded student that he addressed himself that afternoon, and to speak to them of the things they stood in eome danger of forgetting in !<hes& days of hurry and scurry. They could not live merely on work. They must have ideas, courage, inspiration, and determination used and applied. There were many things | neither Boards of Education nor Committees at Whitehall or London could give, and yet these were the things that they most wanted to cultivate. He impressed upon the students the necessity of studying how to observe. What they taught themselves must be more useful than what they learned from others. Consider for a minute that the coal j mines of South Wales were particularly fiery, and, for that reason, more liable to explo- sions than in other parts of the country. One would expect, therefore, that the number of deaths would be exceptionally large, yet the reverse was the case. The! number of deaths was comparatively email M.R. A. T. DAVIES, Permanent Secretary Welsh Education Department. when compared with the other fruitful causes of accident, for which no one was less responsible than the unobservant man. During the twelve years from 1896 to 1907 the total number of deaths from coal dust in South Wales was 6.5, from falls of roof 47, and from accidents due to other causes 46.5. When they read that minor accidents were capable of being reduced in number, the thought he would ask them to remember was how few would be the number of accidents, how great would be the saving of human life, if the habit of observation and all that fell in its train were only more assiduously cultivated. A perusal of the latest Blue Books led one to see the magnitude of the loss of life and limb because of the absence of these simple precautions in dangerous occupations. He found in every page of the mining inspec- tor's reports, whether for Lancashire or South Wales, evidence of the same disregard as Lister had to contend with against disease,! dearth, and preventible causes. If every one! of them went forward determined to do something to reduce the considerable rate of mortality that, now afflicted the field of coal mining, then the.re would be few<>r accidents for which the disregard of ordinary precautions were the main cause. (Applause ) It required merely opportunities such as fe-U to them in the course of their daily calling; to bring about great and scientific! mechanical conclusions out of the most ordinary facts. (Applaiise.) Next he advised them to avoid the vice of generalities. They led the student, into a bad habit of thinking tha.t by using grand phrases he was talking philosophically, wherea.- he was really using, not words at all. Nothing war- more im- portant than the cultivation of +he right use of words. They should study not only how to observe, but how to express themselves, ■ and no.t lead themselves to believe that they understood a thing unless they could reduce i-t to WTitin.g and explain to others the mea,n-i ing that they themselves had grasped, Generalities were the refuge of the ignorant! ttnd the superficial. What Wales wanted waa| men with conceptions beyond that. (Hear, hear,) They must, learn not to be content by being hewers of wood and drawers of wa,ter, but must take themselves seriously. Let them aim high, essay something, and not feel discouraged because what they essayed was beyond them. When he looked round and ,aw about, a million souls employed in that one industry with which -they were connected. and when ho was told that in certain coalfields one in five j during his employment met with an acci- dent entailing inoapacition from work. even if not loss of life, then he felt inclined to ask them to determine that in so far as in them lay they would try to improve that terrible condition of things. He asked them next that they would try to do some good hit of original work. The great outstanding benefit of all original work was that it enabled a man to teach to others what he had seen through his own eyes. Nothing was more opposed to research than the habit of being content with mere mythical generalities. Finally, when they had done all this, let them see to it that they kept within themselves a sort of little temple to which, they could retire, and forgetting every- thing that their lecturers and teacliers had told them, give rein to their imaginations. In giving to their country they gave to the world at large, and that giving would be the highest expression of which they were capable. (Applause.) THE PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE. Principal Griffiths, in Proposing a vote of thanks to the lecturer, congratulated the students on the address, which would live i long in their memories, and in his cwn particularly, as Mr. Davies had emphasised i in a more able way than be !tbe speaker) could the doctrine which he had endeavoured to teach in Sou'h Wales since he came there, i He assured the students that there were great possibilities in front of them. As regarded the matter of accidents in the South Wales coalfield, he did not think they were basing all their energies 011 scientific principles and applying them to this par- ticular matter. The men who had to apply them had always to think of the pounds, shillings, and pence, but what was wanted was independent men to act in this matter, and they were going on the right direction in getting them as students there. (Applause.) If they were to face the. world he believed they could only do it by pursuing the path of the highest education, irrespective of its cost. No great scientific discovery or advance had been made by the direct incentive of mere financial gain. It was the pursuit" of knowledge, unallied with any other self-seekiag motive, which would not only repay the individual, but the com- munity at large. (Applause.) Alderman John Morgan seconded the motion, which was carried, and Mr. Davies having briefly replied. Alderman D. h. Williams moved a vote of thanks to the Lord Mayor for his reception. Alderman Morgan Williams, seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. The T/ord Mayor in reply moved a vote of thanks to the Earl of Plymouth 1'or pre=,id- ing. Councillor David Hughes seconded the motion, which was unanimously agreed to. Lord Plymouth in reply said it would give him the very greatest pleasure if the same expedition were mgde from there to St. Pagan's as the students made before they 'separated. (Applause.) The address they had listened to, he thought, was the most thought- ful and the most helpful that he almost ever heard, not only to the students of the mining school, but to those who also had the privi- lege of attending. (Applause.)
PAST INVASION SCARES.
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PAST INVASION SCARES. JUDGE WILLIS OX SHAMEFUL STATEMENTS. Judge Willis has found time in the inter- vals of his labours in Southwark County- court to write a pamphlet on Invasion Scares." The judge refers to the invasion scare which has recently been foisted on the Eng- lish people as shameful. "It has been created," he says, "by the most shameful statements respecting- the nation with whom we should be Oil the most friendly footing." The English people are ever ready to take fright, and p-o-litic.al writers in the press have availed themselves of this English weakness to create the fear and dread which have lately been manifested. To those who are unacquainted with the past, the blindness of the people has appeared almost incredible there was no more use in speaking to them than to a man in a fever." He says that he has been strengthened in his disregard of the anonymous scribblers by the recollection of six or seven dreaded inva- sions which have occurred during his life. In a most intere.sting retrcspect Judge Willis refers to the time when England was in the grip of a French invasion panic. "I was a child of six or spveu then," he says, "and Brighton was mentioned as a place* without defences which might easily be -destroyed by the enemy's fleet. But Louis Philippe was not to be on invader; God had marked Mm for exile, and within a few years of the dreaded invasion he arrived at Brighton in the humblest guise, and under the simple name of 'Mr. Smith. The judge also re-calls the invasion threats of 1859, when Louis Napoleon was said to be looking upon this country as a fresh field for conquest. "Poor prognostication!" is Mr. Willis's comment. "There was no storm to meet Lord Palmerston gave way to the public fear, and expended twenty millions of money in building fortifications to guard the entrance to Portsmouth Haroour-a. shameful waste. I lived to see in after years the fleets of France and England lying peace- fully moored around those useless fortifi- cations."
FELL BACK DEAD.
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FELL BACK DEAD. SAILOR'S END AT A CARDIFF PLACE OF AMUSEMENT. An inquiry was conducted at the Cardiff Law Courts on Tuesday by the coroner (Mr. i\. L. Yorath) into the death of Dedes Vali- kiotic (29), a Greek sailor. Jos. Warmsley, Orbit-street, an attendant at a local pla-'o or amusement, said that deceased while thero on Monday evening groaned and. fell back. He was promptly attended to, and Police-constable Price, when called in, formed the opinion that Valikiotis was dead. This view was confirmed by Dr. J. J. Buist, who arrived a, few minutes later. Mrs. Do,zino, Bute-street, said she had known deceased for sixteen years as a man of temperate habits and healthy. A verdict of Death from heart failure" w.as recorded. SUDDEN DEATH AT POKTHCAWL. An inquest, was held at Porthcawl on Tuesday touching the death of Mr. Edgar Dukes, whose sudden death occurred there 011 Saturday morning, as already reported. Mrs. Dukes, the widow, stated that her hus- band had complained of his heart some days previously. Dr. Alexander stated that when he was called Mr. Dukes was lying dead on the sofa. In his opinion death was due to heart disease of long standing. Verdict accordingly. The jury expressed their sympathy with the widow. The funeral of the deceased took place on Tuesday after- j noon.
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LADDEES.—Ladders for Builders, Painters, Plasterers, Private Use. &c., all sizes at Cottrell's old-established -Mandatory,-Ba.cMtTMt, Bristol. w;)313 1
---:::_---SHACKLETON AND THE…
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SHACKLETON AND THE SOUTH POLE. > WILL AWAIT THE RETURN OF CAPTAIN SCOTT. i Beuter's representative on board the Armadale Castle had an interview with Lieutenant Shackleton, who expressed the following views with regard to future South Polar work. Lieu tenant Shaekloion said:— For myself, I have no immediate plans, my intention being not to attempt any further South Polar work until the return of Captain Scott. Soot a.fter my arrival from the South Captain Scott told me that he pro- posed to make a trip, and I assured him that I would await his return before I mad", a fresh effort. Captain Scott's expedition, I under- stand, wil] start as soon as possible. Obviously, it. is not my province to make pnbh: the details of his expedition. In the cste of an expedition following ray late sortie, it is evident that the ground already traversed will take an explorer within 97 miles of the Pole ilself, and over what is now known land. If Captain Scott is able to land 011 King Edward VII. Land he is on entirely new ground, and has, in addition, the prospect of reaching a high latitude. "If ever I go South again, I should cer- tainly start from the Weddell Sea side. This is very little known. I would form a base on Macmurdo Sound, whence I would despatch a party to meet the Weddell Sea party. The former party would go to the top of the great. glacier which we tra.versed."—Press Associa- tion Foreign Special.
AMERICAN'S GUIDE.
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AMERICAN'S GUIDE. SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT LONDON. Londoners will discover many facts of which they were. unaware in a. guide to Lon- don which Mr. C. A. Gillig has written for the benefit of his American compatriots. Everyone knows there is an old Roman bath in Strand-lane, but how many persons are acquainted with the following details concerning it:— It occupies a vaulted chamber, and is 15ft. long, 6ft. wide, and 4ft. 6in. deep. It is all undoubted relic of the Romall occupa- tion, and its clear spring" water is still used by private families. Again, v;hat Londoner knows tha.t Somerset House cost ha6 3,000 windows, and 1,600 officials, with salaries aggregating £ o5(),GC0? But it is in dealing with the Law Courts that Mr. Gillig's genius far statistics is seen to the best advantage. He states:— Its frontage is nearly SCJl't. In its con- struction 35.000,000 bricks and 1,003,000 cubic feet, of brown stone were used. Including corridors and staircases, there are 1,100 apaitmeutf. The land for this immense structure £ 1,453,000, and the contract price for the buiiding was C750,000, but the contractors claim to have sunk some hundred or more thousand rounds in the work. Mr. G, i" include." in his book interpreta- tions en"'iibus conductors' cries: Bink- buiKc: •" r. nK-chipsiderbink," he explains, TEfsns ,u.t the omnibus goes to the Bank thrvf<?h Cheapside; "Reluke." he declares, is ronfi'-rese for Royal Oat"; and I'o'b'n" "-1: •High Holborn.
A SKILFUL QUOITS MAN.
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A SKILFUL QUOITS MAN. EX-ENGLISH CHAMPION PLAYS AT TON PENTRE. Mike Evans, the ex-English champion quoitsman, paid a surprise visit to Deri on Saturday, prior to going to Ton Ventre, where he was to be engaged in an exhibition, game with T. Barker, of Ton Pentre, the erstwhile champion of England. There were MIKE EVANS, Ex-English Champion Quoitsman. Ex-English Champion Quoitsman. nearly 500 spectators present on the Ton grounds to witness the important encounter. Ev^.ns proved the better man by ten points, the score being:—Barker, 51; Evans, 61. Evans was loudly applauded for his magnifi- cent display. Evans, who is a skilful exponent of the game, has played for Iron Bridge Quoit Club for nearly 25 years, during whioh he has never been defeated in a club match. In addition, to being a, quoitsman, he is a skilful air-rifle shot. He has also played for Wrex- h,am Association Football Club as centre-for- ward. "Mike," as he is popularly known, is prepared to make a match with any quoit- thrower, either in England o-r Wales, for any sum of money, or an exhibition game (if preferred), the proceeds to be devoted to Gny charitable institution or club.
IPOSTAL PLEBISCITE ON -..;.CANTEENS.
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POSTAL PLEBISCITE ON CANTEENS. The action of the Postmaster-General in recently ordering that a vote should be taken as to whether intoxicants should be aold at the various canteens and refreshment bars which are to be found in London post- offices has created a.good deal of excitement and some amusement in the postal sel,viee. The result of the vote was a surprise to everyone, as an overwhelming majority declared themselves against the sale of intoxicants. A story which is now going the rounds to explain the vote is that all those who wanted to get a drink for luncheon or supper voted against the proposal to noil liquor on the premises, as the per- mission which is now given to go out, and visit the nearest place within the meaning of the Act would have been withdrawn if the result of the vote had been different. and any person buy- ing a second bottle of beer might then find himself subject to official notice. It is now said that the only people who voted for the sale of drink on the postal premises were the teetotalers, who wished to see the olficial restrictions on the saje of a. suppfeunMiuu-y drink put into force. The u!j30sli.!e. is twtfc, both sides now claim -a '^ictociy,
REVELATIONS" BY MR. R. J.…
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REVELATIONS" BY MR. R. J. RHYS. The first report of the Departmental Com- mittee appointed to inouire into the law relating to colliery inquests gives details of the evidence of Mr. K J. Ithys. Aberdare, who hai, been coroner for the northern divi- sion of Glamorgan for 23 ycaits, and who holds on ail average 40Q inquests per annunj. Mr. Elly" stated that in colliery districts there was a great objection to viewing bodies, and instanced disagreeable cases whnü the deceased men had been killed by j falling down pit shafts. He also suggested all odd number in the jury, which, in his opinion, shouid consist of £ «ven or nine. Many post-morteros in his district, he said. were carried out on kitchen tables, owing to lack cf suitable places. Many people lived under a Box. and Cox system, the day men sleeping in a bed at night, and the night men tumbling into the same bed in the day. It was a common occurrence, added Mr. i Iihys, for bodies in a decomposed state to be ke]>t fits or six days <-o as to secure a suit- able day for a larg-e funeral. Answering a. question, Mr. Rhys said he was sorry to say that conspiracies were some- times formed with a view to securing com- pejeatiou, and perjury was very rife. It was very shocking to him to see the number cf young people who swore deliberate lies. Mr. I-'rtys further expressed the opinion that it was unwise for a medical practitioner to aN a,s coroner, and he gave an instanco. without names, in which he alleged personal spite and jealousy had been displayed by the |medico in tae capacity of coroner. "To my mind," said Mr. li-hys, it was playing the j game very low indeed."
KING WHO HANGED CORONERS.…
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KING WHO HANGED CORONERS. II MYTHICAL REPORTS OF BEING BURIED ALIVE. Mr. J. Brooke Little, who was also a wit- ness, spoke of the origin of the office of ooroner. Ho said it was very doubtful as to its antiquity. What was supposed to be the first trustworthy h.nowle-dp"c of the office was u direccion in 11S.. by the Crown to the justices of Eyre that they should choose in I each county three knights and a clerk for the keeping of the King's records. King Alfrci seemed to have had a, predilection for hanging his coroners because they did what was unjust. At the present day practically the only office of coroners was to hold inquests on dead Jjodies and on treas-ure I trove. Formerly their duties in holding inQuetsto on dead bodies were more compre- nensn-e. If a jury found there was murder or manslaughter, thc-y had to value the chattels oi the accused person, and if he was convicted the goods were forfeited to the Crown. When any person was killed the object by which he was kiiied had to be valued, and the value was forfeited to the Crown. If he was killed by a bull, the bull was valued, and the price was forfeited to the Crown. The bull itself was killed. But it was a serious matter when it came to a question of the running down of a man by a ship and of confiscating the ship. There was a great case where the jury did assess the value of a steamboat, and it was only by getting the inquisition qua-shed on a tech- nicality that the owners got off having it confiscated. Professor Pepper, of tho Home Office, expressed the opinion that coroners ought to be allowed to order and pay for a post- mortem examination before deciding to hold an inquest. Under the present system of death certificates there was practically no danger of anyone being buried alive. Nearly all the cases of reported live burials were myths. The Chairman (Sir Mackenzie Chalmers): You think that the present scare which is going on in England is absolutely unfounded? Baseless. He was very strongly in favour of retaining the jury system, but he would not make viewing the body compulsory, although the coroner in every case ought to have a view A PHYSICIAN" ON DROWNING. Sir T. Lauder Brunton, hon. physician to St. Bartholomew's Hospital, giving evidence as to deaths under an anaesthetic, said he divided such oases into three classes. First the anaesthetic might be the cause of death. secondly, the anesthetic, pluis some other condition, might be a contributory cause- and, thirdly, it might- be a mere accidental concomitant. For instance, hemorrhage or surgical shock, and very often asphyxia, might be the cause of death. He himself was once very nearly drowned in a swimmin^ bath because a single drop of water had got into his nose and q^aused spasm of the larynx. The same thing occurred to him once again when walking along the street shortly after a meal. Some food regurgitated, and instead of the whole being again swallowed a minute particle seemed to have got into the larynx and caused spasm of the glottis. He had to stand at a shop window trying to fill his chest with air, and was quite unable to do so for a time. At last the spasm yielded with a,, loud crowing inspira- tion. and be got relief. Half the people killed by falling into water died of shock or fright, not from the wa.ter.
MUSIC IN WELSH EVENING SCHOOLS.
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MUSIC IN WELSH EVENING SCHOOLS. ASSISTANCE FOR CHORAL SOCIETIES. Speaking at Pwllheli Chair Eisteddfod on I Monday, Mr. David Jenkins (Abcrystwyth). I musical adjudicator, remarked that it would be a. great thing if Welsh people would avail themselves of the grant which the Govern- merit gave to evening schools for developing music. Thousands of pounds would go into the pockets of the people of Wales if they availed themselves of this system, (Cheers.) j^e appealed to them to take it up next winter. Mr. Evan E. Davies, president, who 's secretary of the Carnarvonshire Education Committee, endorsed Jir. Jenkins's remarks. aii-d added that the county education com- mit-tee intended carrying out an enterprise on the lines indicated by Mr. Jenkins next winter. They proposed giving an chors! (societies every support. He hoped that the Eisteddfod would be the means of helping them as a nation to develop upon national lines, and not emulate English people. (Applause.)
!TWO WOMEN BURNT TO IDEATH.
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TWO WOMEN BURNT TO DEATH. Inquests were opened at Hull on Monday on the hodies of Mary Butler and Maria Clark, who expired after heing- burned through the upsetting of a lamp at their home. Before dying in the infirmary Clark said, "We were getting ready for bed when Rutler knocked the table, and the lamp fell and exploded, I tried to put out Butler's blouse, which oaaiglit fire, when my blouse also caught. fell back and expired." The jury ■jsjk.. vbtihtU,- ,Bu2r«ris^-deai}i was a-ctildtiatal.
IMINOR MATTERS. I+
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MINOR MATTERS. + POLICE-COURT AND OTHER PICKINGS. SWANSEA SANDS THEFT. At Swansea on Tuesday Francis Naylor, described as a steeplejack, and having a. very bad record against him. was sentenced to three months' hard labour for stealing sweets and toys from a. stall on Swansea sands. YSTRADFELLTE PARISH TRANSFER. Tbe ca t 11 Board or Guarciialls met on Tuesday, Mr. \V. Howell, J.P., presiding. A letter was read from the Local Government Board stating that the question of trans- ferring the parish of Ystradfellte was still under consideration. FATAL ACCIDENT AT PANT-EG STEEL- WORKS. Mr. M. Roberts-Jones held an inquiry at Abersychan on Saturday into the death of William John Jones (32), labourer, Sebastopol, who died in the Pontypool Hospital after being injured in the Panteg Steelworks. He had asked a crane-driver to run a tram up into the works, and immediately after was seen to fall from between the buffers. He was picked up badly injured.—A verdict of Accidental death was returned- TRESPASSING ON THE G.W.R. Mary Davies, married, and Ruth William*. married, of Nantymoel, were summoned Bridgend on Saturday for trespassing 011 the Great Western H.ailway. Inspector W. J. Nickless, of the Great Western Railway, said that some officials of the railway company were visiting the di?- trict in a saloon carriage, and saw tho trespass. Mr. Leaning stopped the train md sent witness hack after the women, each of whom had a child with her. They were fined 10s. each. RINGS ON THE HAYES, Samuel Braoh, (27), of Roa-th, was charged Cardiff Police-caurt on Tuesday with .a,ling a clock, value Is. 6d., owned by ■ ames Harrington, from a "ri.vgs" stall on :.1;) ?iayes- It was stated that a card on the stall indicated that a score of twenty would secure a prize. Brooks scored 2Z and claimed the clock. He was told that 25 was needed to win it. It was alleged that he picked up the clock and marched off. The Bench considered tha.t there was no felonious intent, and dismissed the caw. WEARING TKR.EE STOLEN SHIRTS. Pat-risk Sullivan and Michael Sullivan were each sentenced to two months' imprisonment1 at Merthyr on Tuesday for stealing a bundle of eight shirts from the doorway of the ehop of Mr. Harris Freedman, pawnbroker and outfitter, Dowla-is. When the prisoners were arrested at their lodgings Michael was found to be wearing three of the stolen shirts, and wa.s in the act of putting on a fourth. The other man had also clothed himself in two of the shirts, the other two being upon a. table. TRAMPING BURGLAR SENTENCED AT BLAENAVON. James Williams, a tramp, was chargro ",to Blaenavou on Tuesday with burglariously entering the dwelling-house of Hugh Millard on July 25 and stealing a box. containing 4s., and articles of food. There was a furthei charge of stealing a cloth and some food, value Is., the property of Rees Palmer, labourer, on July 29. Prisoner admitted both offences, and was sentenced to three months" imprisonment on each charge, the terms to run concurrently. ALLEGED SERIOUS ASSAULT AT TROEDY- EHIW. George Vaughan was charged on remand at Merthyr on Tuesday with doing grievous bodily harm to William Thomas by fractur- ing his jaw and inflicting a wound over the right eye at Troedyrhiw. The injured man. who has been in the Merthyr General Hospital since the alleged assault, and who for a considerable time was unconscious, was stated to be now out of danger. The case was further adjourned for a month, the prisoner being admitted to bail "SIMPLY LARKING." A young man. named Charles David Llewellyn, the eon of respectable parents, was at Newport on Saturday fined 10s. for being drunk on licensed premises—Church House, Portland-street—and 20s. for assaulting John Waite outside the Tredegar Arms Inn. Church-street, by pulling him off a ladder whilst he was cleaning a window. Defen- dant said he was not 60 drunk as not to be entitled to go on licensed premises, a.nd as for the other offence he said he was simply larking and did not intend to do any harm to the youth. FIRE AT SHIPS' STORES. A fire was discovered just after midnight on Saturday at No. 15, West Bute-street, Car. diff, a ships' stores owned by Mr. Wade. The flTe-steamer from the central station and the hose from West Bute-street quickly reached the spot. and it was then found. that some straw on a cask of oil in the basoment was burning, but the blaze was extinguished with- out much damage. The straw was in a sack, and was used for softening the fall of oil- casks when lowered to the cellar. Mr. Wade says everything was apparently all right when the premises were locked up at 6.30 p.m. THREE CHARGES AGAINST A COLLIER. Thomas Jones (21), collier, of no fixed abode, was charged by a B-argoed collier of the same name with stealing a shirt, value 4s. Prisoner was aleo charged with obtaining a ,money order for 10s. by false pretenoes from iarriet J. Evans, while a third charge, one of -.rgery. was preferred by Eddie J. Evans, of Merthyr Vale. Police-constable Canning arrested prisoner, who admitted signing the name of Eddie Evans on the order, and also that he took the shirt from the prosecutor'* house, leaving an old one instead. Prisoner asked to be sent for trial, but the case was adjourned for a week. SWANSEA CHILD'S MYSTERIOUS DEATH. A curious oaee of the sudden death of a child was investigated by the Swansea coroner on Saturday. Dr. O'Sullivan said that when he saw the child he found symptoms similar to those deyeloped in spotted fever, and as oJ. precaution he ordered its removal to the faver hospital, where it died. After death a post-mortem examination was made. but no signs of the disease were found, nor any mark of injury. His opinion was that the child had fallen out of bed, and had suffered some brain injury. A verdict of Natural causes" was returned. TRAMPS CHARGED WITH FRAUD AT ABERAVON. Cornelius and Rose Sullivan, trampe, were charged at Aberavon on Tuesday with fraudulently attempting to obtain relief from the Neath Board of Guardians at Port Talbot Polioe-station. Polioe-inspector Can- ton said he was authorised by the guardians to grant relief to tramps. On Monday the defendants came to the police-station, the male defendant being under the influence of drink, and both stated tha.t they had no money, and applied for relief and a ticket for lodgings. On being searched, however the sum of 4s. lid. was found upon them. Defendants were each sentenced to fourteen days' hard labour. AS IT CAME FROM THE COW. Morgan Lewis. Cefnseision I aim, was sum- moned at Neath on Tuesday for selling milk not of the nature and quality demanded. Mr. T. Hunter defended. Mr. W. Bowen Davies, inspector, eaid that the sample con- tained 5.9 per cent. of added water. Thomas Lewis, defendant's son, said the milk was sold exactly as it came from the cow. The case was dismissed. George Henry Seluy, Brynna Farm, was summoned for a similar offence on June 29. In this case the sample taken contained 9.5 per cent. of added water. Defendant pleaded the milk was sold as it came from the OOW, and had not been tampered with in any way. —Tho Bench imposed a fine of 10s. and costs. CYCLIST COLLISION AT HIRWAIN. At Penderyn-road, Rirwain. on Monday a young man, George Walton (19), 38, Cardiff- road, Mountain Ash. was cycling towards Brecon, when. approaching Trebanog Farm, on a curve in the road he collided with another cyclist, John Thomas Davies, of 10, Abergwawr-street. Aberaman. Sir W. T. Lewis, accompanied by Miss Lewis, his daughter, was motoring by, and directed his chauffeur to convey Walton in the motor-car to Hirwain for medical attendance. Walton vat in an unconscious state, and was con- veyed to the Old Crown Cafe, where his injuries were attended to by Dr. Ieuan G. Thomas. He its lying in a critical condition. ILLEGAL TBOUT-FISHIXG AT TALGARTH- Talgarth justices had before them a case in which Harry Leah, Bronllys, a game- keeper, summoned George Lewis, Mill, Tal- garth, miller and haulier, for taking trout from private waters on Great Portliainel Farm, near Talgarth. Defendant pleaded guilty, observing he had mistaken the field. Complainant caught Lewis fishing in the brook with rod and line. He had two trout. weighing 9oz. and 14oz., and worth 2s. 6d. The fishing rights belonged to Captain Glyn Kidston, Gwern-y-Fed Park, and the waters were 300 yards from those of the adjoining farm. occupied by Mr. Davies, Porthamc-1. Defendant, who had not obtained leave to fish anywhere, was fined £1 inclusive. "KICKED LIKE A MADMAN." William Druce, William Walsh, and James Ryan were charged at Merthyr Court on Tuesday with being drunk and disorderly at Yn-ysgau on Saturday and with assaulting Police-constable John Davies. Welsh smacked the officer in the face. Druce kicked him from behind, and Ryan caught, him by the legs and threw him to the ground. For the first, offence the prisoners were fined 10s. and costs, and for the a,i""a1l1tE0 and costs, or a month Similar penalties were imposed npon William Henry Christopher for being drunk and disorderly in the same locality and for assaulting Detective-constable Tom Evans. The prisoner gave the constable a back- handed blow across the faoe, and whilst they were both on the ground he was stated t? h.a.ve- "kioked like a madman."