Weekly Mail

MINES INSPECTOR AND MEN'S AGENT. INCIDENT AT AN EBBW VALE INQUEST. An inquest was opened by Mr. J. B. Wal- ford, district coroner, at Bbbw Vale into the circumstances attending the death of Stephen Charles Morris (sixteen), which occurred at No. 1 Marino Colliery, the property of the Ebbw Vale Company, on Wednesday. The deceased and a man named John Nioho lis wore working in the Barry, when a piece of clod and coal fell, covering both. Morris was killed outright, a'nd Nicholis was so badly injured that he was taken to hos- pital. Mr. J. S. Martin, chief inspector of mines, was present; Mr. Thomas Jones, colliery manager, represented the company, and Mr. Evan Da vies, sub-miners' agent, was for the famiiy of deceased. Jacob father, gave evidence of identification, and said he was working about 40 yards from the scene of the acci- dent. He heard a shout, and on going to the place where his son was working he saw his son stretclleod out. He had been released from under the string. Joseph Williams said he heard a shout, and aiterwards found a clod and some coal had fallen. Nicholis and deceased were undarneath. The former was brought out alive, but the lad was dead He saw a, wedge behind the eoal, and two mandrils were found under the fall. EJ lis W iiliams, day fireman, Eiaid he saw two pieces oi timber that had apparent'y been discharged. There was a stick there about 5ft. 6in. long that would have been suitable for a sprag, but there wa-s nothing to ehow that it had been fixed. The piece of clod was overhanging about eighteen to twenty inches. He was of the opinion that had four inch stamping been allowed and the stick properly set it would have been sufficient to hold the clod up, and the situar tion would have been saved. In reply to Mr. Martin, witness said the clod was very heavy. The piece that feU was fifteen to sixteen inches thick in the middle. A careful workman would ha,ve placed two sprags there, and had he (wit- ness) seen the place before the accident he would have ordered two to be put there, snd properly stamped in. Mr. Martin: On the foUowing day you saw the next place to where the accident occurred ?—Yes. Was that properly spragged?—No, it was not. The Coroner: That is interesting and im- portant between you and Mr. Martin, but it does not, come under our jurisdiction. The Coroner several times interposed when Mr. Martin was examining the witness, and then Mr. Evan Davies expressed the opinion that it was unfair that Mr. Martin should refer to anything that had taken place out- side After some discussion the inquest was ad- journed indefinitely for the evidence of N ic-holls. THE AGENT'S OBJECTION. At Saturday's meeting of the miners Mr. Evah. Davies referred to the incident. He sa.id he objected to an inspector, because certain things had been said outside, making use of an inquiry, to ventil.3,te his spleen and endeavour to place the blame upon the workmen. It went so far as to reflect upon the man who received injuries, and as the assertions were made behind his baok he asked for an adjournment so that he could attend the inquiry to clear himself.

SENTIMENT RUN MAD. NEATH COUNCIL, THEIR CON- STABLES, AND FEMALE PRISONERS The Neath Town Council met on Friday under the presidency of the mayor (Sir Grif- a' fith Thomas). Mr. S. Phillips moved that the watch com- mittee be ordered to make an arrangement so that the officers conveying female prisoners to Swansea Prison should be in plain clothes. —Mr. Harry seconded. Alderman Charles thought that sentiment was running mad. In his opinion, it was more desirable that tho officers should be in uniform while in charge of female pri- soners than men. Alderman Morgan pointed out that if a soners than men. in uniform while in charge of female pri- soners than men. Alderman Morgan pointed out that if a plain clothes policeman was seen in the company of a bad character it might place Lira in an awkward position, whereas if he were in uniform people would know that he was in the execution of his duty. Mr. S. Phillips said he had seen some very unseemly things even at Neath Railway Station. If the county police could do what he advocated, why couldn't they a.t N.h? The motion was lost by twelve votes to four. The market committee reported that the fair tolls amounted to £ 533, an increase of E109 over last year's takings. They recom- mended an honorarium of £5 to the market inspector for his extra work. Alderman Phillips said that rumours had been afloat that they were driving the fair out of the town. Tills was foolish talk, with- out even a substratum of truth. As a matter of fact. they had many more applications for spaces than they could possibly enter- tain. The report of the committee was adopted. A lerter was read from the hon. treasurer of the Neath Nursing Association asking for an increase in the council's subscription. It was decided to postpone consideration until December, when the subscription is due.

ABERYSTWYTH COLLEGE. THE AMAZING RESULTS OF CRETAN EXCAVATIONS. The inaugural address of the present session at the University College, Aberyst- wyth. was delivered on Friday by Mr. Arthur J. Evans, keeper of the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. Sir John Williams presided over a large attendance. The subject of the address was "The Palace of Minos and the Pre- historic Civilisation of Crete." Mr. Evans said that perhaps the most salient result of the recent revelation of a high early civili- sation in Crete would be tha.t a new horizon had been attained, and a new point of view for surveying the civilisation of our own modern world. ALmoet as many centuries before the age of Classical Greece as had :ince elapsed a large proportion of its material advancement hud already been anticipated on its own soil. Architecture, painting, sculpture, and a whole array of minor arts had already attained a high level. For some years Mr. Evans had concentrated himself on the site of Knossos, the centre -of the old legendary lore. Tho excavations there had brought to light the actual palace of King Minos, extending over an area of some six acres, and exhibiting the remains of a brilliant civilisation preceding that of Mycenaaby at least a thousand years. Culture here went back in regular stratifications some sirte,en thousand years. Here in Crete were the real (origins of our European civilisation.

WOMAN AND STEPFATHER. AMAZING ALLEGATIONS IN CAR- DIFF CASE. Amazing allegations were ma.de in the summons for desertion brought by Mrs. Mary Crowley at Cardiff Police-court en Friday against her husband John Crowley. Mr. Harold Lloyd (for the complainant) 6aid the parties had been niarried ten years, and before that the wife resided with de- fend.ant and his first wife for four years. C,ompladnaiit was then a married woman, bnt her husband was killed in a. colliery explosion. The defendant, had a step- daughter by his first wife, who was, of course, no blood relation, and there were ro children at the time of the marriage. They lived together in Glamorgan-street, and on August 28 last a row occurred, which re- sulted in the wife leaving defendant. The step-daughter of Crowley was 30 years of age. Ci\>wley seemed to have fallen in love with her, and for the past three years this woman of thirty had occupied the same room as Mr. and Mrs. Crowley. That caused no end of row, and the climax came when Crowley and his step-daughter were found together. Mr. Sydney Jenkins (for the defendant) said he need hardly remaTk that his friend had taken him completely by surprise with such sensational allegations, and he would like an adjournment to meet the charge. Mr. Miliier Jonee thereupon adjourned tho case for a week.

PENSIONERS ON PARADE. LORD TREDEGAR'S INTEREST IN NEWPORT VETERANS. The Newport Army and Navy pensioners held their annual church parade to St. Luke's Church on Sunday afternoon. A good deal of interest was added to the affair by the presence of Viscount Tredegar, who took a keen interest in the men, and also read the letsson at the service. Although there was a heavy downpour of ra.in 54 veterans attended out of a total membership of 59 in the Pen- sioners' Aid Society. They represented an aggregate serj-ice of 1,276 years, with aD aggregate agt, of 3,526,

A DIAMOND WEDDING. Mr. and Mr3- Lear, of Radyr, recently celebrated their diamond wedding. Mr. Lear was born near Taunton on May 15, 1826, and Mrs. Lear was born at Llantrisant on SIR. AND MRS. LEAR. [Photos. A. and G. Taylor and Williams and Williams. December 23, 1827. They were married at Llantrisant Church, and had fourteen chil- dren, five of whom are now living. There are many grandchildren and great-grand- children. Mrs. Lear met with an accident 1 thirteen years ago, which incapacitates her from a very active life, but she still takes a great interest in all that is passing. MT. Lear has put in 50 years' eervioe for the Taff Vale Railway Company, and he has been presented with a goid watch and chain for good conduct and long service. Mr. and MTs. Lear were the originators of the cause of Methodism at Radyr Eventually the Tatf Vale Railway provided them with a wooden structure on their own grounds, which enabled them to carry on the cause until recently, when they built the present place of worship.

COAL-CUTTING MACHINES. GARW VALLEY COUNTY-COURT ACTION. Before Judge Roberts and a jury at Bridg- end County-court on Friday William Ev-lna, a Pontycy.miner collier, sued the Ffaldau Col- lieries Company for £13. balanoe of wages alleged to be doe. Mr. A. T. James, Ponty- pridd, appeared for the plaintiff, ajid the respondent company were represented by Mr. C. Kenshoie, Aberdare. Mr. Ja.mes said the plaintiff's claim was for work done in driving 26 yards in a narrow heading at 4s. icd. per yard, and a similar number of yards of Fkip at 2.2d. a yard and percentages. The price-list provided for the payment of ,13. lod. De:' yard in narrow head- ings, a,s a consideration for the greater care which had to be exercised and the better olass work which was necessary compared with stalls, the heading being a permanent road. It was contended for the defence that after the introduction of the coal-cutting machine the method of working the colliery was changed to the long-wail system, and the place in which plaintiff was employed was no longer a na,rrow heading. Tho jury found for the defendants.

CHILD'S LIFE SAVED. PRESENTATION TO RHONDDA TRAM MOTORMAN. During an athletic programme in connec- tion with the Rhondda Tramways Recreation and Sports Club the presentation was made to Motorman Herbert Harrison of a gold medal, suitably inscribed, as a recognition of his presence of mind in pulling up his car at Pentre when a little child, the daughter of Mr. James Reynolds, suddenly ran in front of it. The child handed over the medal. The Traffic Manager (Mr. George Roddy; said that it was the motorman's prompt action which averted what must otherwise ILavo been a fatal accident.

NEW CUNARD CHAIRMAN. Mr. A. A. Booth, deputy-chairman of the Cunard Shipping Company, has been appointed cliairmaa.

REPRESENTATION OF MERTHYR. CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE RECOMMENDED. It is now a settled fact that the two sitting menibers far Merthyr—Mr. D. A. Thomas and Mr. Keir Hardie—are not to be allowed a walk-over at the next general election. There is a Conservative candidate in the field. Mr. Herbert C. Lewis-ool1 of Sir William Thomas i Lewia, Ba.rt., K.C.V.O.—who made such a gallant'flgjht in 1895, having" declined to stand again, overtures were made to Mr. A. C. Fox- Davies, a London barrister, who had inti- mated his readiness to come forward if invited, and on Saturday night, at the Mer- thyr Constitutional Club, Mr. Fox-Davics met a deputation representing the various branches of the boroughs Conservative Asso- Ration and the different Constitutional Clubs in the constituency, these g'entle-men forming practically a committee of selection. Mr. Vm. Griffiths (Merthyr) presided ovei the conference, at wixich there were pfresent Colonel D. Sees Lewis, Mr. W. W. Meredith Mr. T. Nibloo, Mr. A. P. Jones, Mr. T. Llüyd, and several other stalwarts of the Consorva- tive cause. Mr. Arthur Charles Fox-Davies is 38 years of age, having been born in Bristol in 1871 His father, a member of the Society of Friends, was a native of Cardigan town. Mr Fox-Davies was at one tiiu9 editor of Dod's Peerage, and he is at present editor of a book styled "Armorial Families." He has achieved farno as an author of various works, including many novels, the best known of which probably is "The Mauleverer Millions." He has also distinguished himself as a journalist, having contributed to the press a vast number of very interesting special articles. Four years ago he was called to the Bar. and he has chambers at 23, Old-buildings, Lincoln's Inn. prac- tices at the Old Bailey, but his work lies chiefly in the Chancery Division of the Hig-h Court, and although he has only so recently donned the wig and gown. he has made great strides, and has already been engaged in some very important cases. Mr. Fox-Davies is married and has two children. He ia a. Churchman.

SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS AT LAMPETER COLLEGE. The following scholarships and exhibitions have been awarded on the results of the examination held last week:—Mr. W. H. Harris, St. David's College, "Traheme" £ 30 (Welsh); Mr. 1. M. Haines, St. David's College, "W. D. Llewelyn," L30 (hjstory); Mr. W. A. J. Marsden, St. David's College, "Griffiths," JE50, a.nd "Burton," zelo (classics); Mr W. N. Pere- grine. St. David's College, ''Traherne," £30 (history); Mr. A. E. Jones, St. David's CcUege, "Butler," jE25 (history); Mr. G. A. Davies, St. David's College. "Butler," £ 25 (history) Mr W. E Jones, St, David's College "Butler'' £ 25 (history); Mr. E. H. Saunders, St. David's College, Salisbury, £ 21 (mathematics); Mr. David Thomas, St. David's College "EIdcn" £20 (Welsh); Mr. G. E. Fussell, St. David's College, "Phillips," £ 20 (history); Mr. H. G. Davies, St. David's College, "PhiIIips." £20 (ordinary); Mr. Enoch Jones, Ystrad Meurig School, "Phillips," jEZO. and "Bates," £ 13 (Welsh); Mr. John Thomas, College School, Lampeter, Phillips," £ 20 (mathematics); Mr. R. j. Hughes, College School. Lamp,eter. "Philiips." jE30 (history); Mr. Evan Jones, University College of North Wales, "Phillips," £ 20 (Welsh); and Mr. W. J. Hiokin, Llanidloes County School, Van Mitdert." £20 (science). t.

MIKADO'S HEIR. + CROWN PRINCE OF JAPAN AT CARDIFF. Prince Yoshihito, born August 31, 1879, and proclaimed Crown Prince (or the Mita) of Japan in 1889, passed through Cardiff on Saturday on his way to Torquay. Our reporter found the Prince on the up platform of the Great Western Station, and his Imperial Highness at once and kindly granted an interview. The Prince said he had been staying for two or three days in Cork, and had come that morning from Queenstown by the Fish- guard route. He was most pleased with the fine weather and the beautiful, rugged scenery of the Welsh coast. It is his first visit to the United Kingdom, and he has come to study the country, its people, and customs at first hand. He had been greatly struck by the! affability of tho Irish, and, though most of those he met had no idea who he was, they had invariably treated him with the utmost courtesy and good feeling. He had come across a number of English- men, and he expressed his great admiration for them all. I Of course," he explained, I have met English people in my own country, and from my knowledge of them I must say I esteem them very highly indeed, and at home we I are all very proud of the alliance with 00 great a country." It is remarkable," he went on, how Englishmen ruled the world, apparently without knowing it. Wherever I go. I find all things and all people giving way to the English. They are respected everywhere, and I am only too happy to bo able to join in that respect. Everything seems rather strange." he i continued, but I do not expect to find other countries like my own, and I am constantly finding something to interest me." In reply to the question, the Prince said the Welshmen ho had met had interested him. and all were most kind. The Prince then boarded the 10.10 a.m. train to proceed by express to Torquay.

FIRE AT TALIESIN. A serious fire broke out at the premises of Mr. H. R. Jonee, grocer and general dealer, Free Trado-ball, Taliesin, near Aberystwyth, on Saturday. Tho outbreak was discovered in the early hours of tlie mocning by the Rev. W. J. Arter, Wesleyan minister, a brother-in-law of the proprietor, who was awakened by the sound of falling glass. Mr. Arter aroused the other occupants of the haute, a.nd they escaped from the burning building in the nick of time. The staircase bad become ignited before they left, and they had to fly in their night attire. The shop and dwelling-house were in a short time gutted. With the assistance of a large body of willing helpers, the flames were prevented from spreading to an adjoining warehouse, in which was stored a large quantity of goods. The damage, which is estimated at severaJ thousand pounds, is covered by insur- ance. ■

FATAL DELAY. THE TRAGEDY ON THE RAILWAY AT MAESTEG. Mr. Howel Outhbertson held an inquest at Maesteg on Friday on William Price (53), labourer. Maesteg, who was killed on Wed- nesday evening in the wreck of a runaway train at Garth, Maesteg. Edwin Price, a lad, the son deceased, said he and his father rode on the engine. His father was standing behind tne smoke stack. He had never been warned not to ride on the engine. The train t>ega.n to skid and run wild. The driver bad all his brakes hard on. As the train skidded witness jumped off, and called to his father to do likewise, but he did not, and was orusaea to death. It was stated that the engine-driver, Bow- kett, who was suffering from sbocK. would j not be able to attend, and the inquest was adjourned for a fortnight.

A DISPUTED LOAN. 4 MR. NIXON GRAY SUED AT CARDIFF. Mr. John Nixon Gray was sued at Cardiff County-court on Saturday by Alexander Patten, formerly of the Coldstream, and now of the Rhymney Hotel, for £5 lent. Defen- dant denied the loan. stating that he spent the money at the Coldstream on a fcstivo occasion in 1907, and had returned it to Patten's wife, now deceased. Mr. Tom John was for the plaintiff, and Mr. Gordon Wil- liams defended. The case came before the deputy-judge (Mr. John Amphlett), and a crowded court was deeply interested in the evidence. Plaintiff, in answer to Mr. John, swore that when he was licensee of the Coldstream Hotel Gray borrowed from him first £2, and afterwards JE3. and subsequently handed him a cheque, which was never cashed, and he never received the £ 5. His Honour: Do you dispute the loan? Mr. Williams: Yes. There is a good reason why the cheque was given, and defendant knows it. Was there a drinking bout on this occasion? -No. Did he (Gray) stay the whole day, and get very drunk?—No. Was not the whole of the S5 spent on drinks for everyone in tho bar?—He never spent one Penny. You never lent him a penny?—Then why should Mr. Gray have given me the cheque? Your wifo went to see Mrs. Gray, and Mrs. Gray paid her £ 5?-No. m i? £ 2 a ccuPie months later in the ar Tavern in Church-street?—No. DEFENDANT'S ADMISSION. •^r- Gray in evidence said in June, 1907, he went to the Coldstream, and got very drunk and stayed there. The next morning plain- tiff made no reference to any loan, but he was supposed to pay for the drinks, though Patten did not tell him how much was due. He gave the C5 cheque because "he did not WrvT any bother" and to "shut it up." Do you remember his wife coming to Colum-road?—j was not there. Did you meet Mrs. Patten in April of last year in Church-street?—In SIt. John's-square. *1 v Say. anything?—She said. "Come and have a drink," and we went to the Old Arcade Hotel. Did you give her anything?—She asked for the balance, and I gave her J-2 Who was there ?-My wife. His Honour: I thought you said you never borrowed the money?—i gave this to shut it up and have no more bother. Mrs. Gray was then called. She said she remembered Mrs. Patten coming to her when she was living with her husband in Colum- road, and he was away on the occasion. iShe (Mrs Patten) said E5 was owing for drinks, and upon witness saying it seemed a lot Mrs. Patten observed that drinks soon add up." Witness replied, I don't know whether that is so," and gave her £ 3. This was in the presence of the charwoman, and, there being no etamp in the house, Mrs. Patten said she would send a stamped receipt. On another occasion, in the Old Arcade, she asked, "Can I have the balance, as we are hard up and out of business?" ancl Mr. Gray gave her E2, again without any receipt in the process. His Honour: Judgment for the amount claimed— £ 5. MY DEAR GENTLEMAN." Vvilliam Fcx, a grocer's assistant, sued a man named Muller, a second-hand clothes dealer. The plaintiff's husband told the court that he didn't authorise his wife to sell the goods. and to some people he had issued a warning. Defendant: I purchased the goods, and said he could have them back if he (plaintiff) would take them, but he won't do it. His Honour: He offered you a profit on the transaction. A wife has no authority to sell or pledge her husband's goods. What better title have you than the wife? Muller scratched his head with a dramatic gesture, and repeated what the lady said to him, upon which the judge said, "You took the risk," and gently reminded the witness that "ladies say funny things sometimes." (Laughter.) Muller: Yes, my dear gentleman—(laughter, in which his honour joined)—I would give the things back "with playzure" if he would pay the expenses. His Honour: It was a good bargain, and you have lost nothing. Muller: But my dear gentleman- His Honour (interposing): You are address* ing a judge. (More laughter.) Judgment was given for £5 or the rotunt of the goods and payment for their value.

CARMARTHEN HOUSING SCHEME. There was a good attendance at a meeting held at Carmarthen under the auspices of the National Vigilance Society. The Rev. W. D. Rowlands directed attention to the sluma that existed in the town. A state of things which tolerated seven or nine persons to sleep in the same room was not conducive to morality. The housing question was in an acute stage in some parts of Carmarthen. where dwellings were not fit for animals to live in. let alone human beings. The houses in Mill-street were a disgrace to any Christian community, and he would heartily re-echo the sentiments of a certain lady who told her husband that if she had the means she would buy up Mill-atreeit so that she could afterwards demolish it.

8 H.M. THE KING. H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES. H.M. THE QUEEN. COLMAN S J MUSWD MUSWD V /s j ALL ovE-R THE WORLD I Supreme Honours wherever Exhibited. | I Special Royal Appointments, J Discriminating people insist on having the zn j product of a house with more than a century's reputation. Colmaifs •: Mustard | REFUSE ALL SUBSTITUTES. J

MABON8 STERN WARNING. + HASTY RESOLUTIONS BY THE M.F.G.B. MINIMUM WAGE AND PIECEWORK. SOUTH WALES OPPOSES AGE-LIMIT. The Miners' Federation of Great Britain concluded the sittings of its annual confer- ence (tt Xewcastle-on-Tyne on Friday, lir. Enoch Edwards. M.P., presiding. The first motion discussed was that of payment of miners for long distance travejjing underground to their work a.t the coal face. Mr. M'Guk (Lancashire), in proposing the resolution, said when the Eight Hours Bill was before Parliament one of the subter- fuges of tho employers was that, owing to the extremely long distances workmen had to travel underground, they could not devote more than "Six hours at the coal face. The conditions in some of the pits were no better than a common sewer. OPPOSITION OF SOUTH WALES. Mr. T. Richards, 11. P. (jSouth Wales), said he could not agree that nine- tenths of the accidents were due to piecework, but he agreed that there was some truth in the statement, and a good many accidents were caused by men working on piece. Many times it would be found tha.t a man had gone on getting coal when he should have been putting up a prop to save his life. South Wales had decided in his absence from their meetings to oppose the resolution, and he should not like to cast his vote against it. He thought that a workman ought to have his day's wage assured to him at the beginning or his shift, whatever the result of his work. Every day the miner was working in a new workshop, with new conditions. The miner at times did mot know whether he was going to get any- thing or not; whether at the end of the day ho would have earned a penny or Lot. He ought to be protected from that and be assured of a day's pay for his work. It was a great reform, and like otner reforms they would require to have time to consider it. They said they had a minimum wage. It was true thai a minimum wage vas assured to a large number of workmen, hut no system of tonnage rate and piece- work wojJd give a man a stipulated mini- mum wa.ge. Li South Wales many men had gone into the pit and come out again after a day's working with scarcely enough to keep themselves, to say nothing of their wives and families. They ought to see whether they could net devise some method fcy which a man who went down the shaft in the morning and worked for eight hours ehould have so much ray. He was of the L opinion that their system cf getting wages was very far from satisfactory. When was-es were at the highest point, 50, 60, or 100 per cent. on the standard, and everybody wos crying out that the miners were making fortunes, some of their men were always gohng home with insufficient money. The President eaid he did not consider the conference was entitled to instruct its mem- bers of Parliament to introduce a Bill on this subject, as it had not been brought under the observation of the 600,000 members of the Federation. Mr. W. Whitefield (Bristol) said he repre- sented the lowest-paid mining district in the country. While it was true that they had the lowest wage, -o far as money earned, they had an individual minimum wage. Although the men were paid on tonnage, if the place in which they were working was so bad that they could not earn that money they had succeeded in forcing the employer to pay 11:0 wages. The resolution was withdrawn. DEMAND --On A MINIMUM WAGE. Mr. John Wadsworth, M.P. (Yorkshire), pro- posed that the time had come when a special effort should bo made to extend and raise the present minimum to at least 8s. per da.y. and remitting to the executive to devise the best means of raising the minimum to that extent. There were few, he scid, who would contest the claim that a demand for a mini- mum of 8s. a day was a. moderate demand. There were thousands of men working under- ground to-day for less than 5s. a day. The miner ought to be paid a fair wage for the risks and the dangers under which he fol- lowed his employment. Mr. Herbert Smith, who seconded, said that in Yorkshire they had determined that the time had come when the position of the miner should be considerably improved. Mr. Carr (Nottingham) contended that an increase of 371 per cent. on the 1888 basis was not a living wage, considering the increased cost of living. In Nottinghamshire the wages at present were 7s. Ed. per day, and hundred-s of men were only working four days a week. Did they think 30s. a week a living wage for a man? The resolution was carried. MABON'S WARNING AGAINST HASTY RESOLUTIONS. Mr. Brown (Scotland) moved a resolution in favour of weekly payment of wages at all collieries. He stated that in some parts of Scotland men were paid fortnightly or monthly, and men were degraded by having to obtain loans oi part of the money which they ha.d earned. Mr. W. Abraham, M.P. (South Wales), wished to know if all these resolutions that were being passed with so much rapidity and no attempt at discussion were to be carried out in the immediate future. Were the districts that had not yet finished their agreements to be compelled to carry out tuis resolution and the resolution for a mirvimum of 8a. per day? If so, let him cell the conference that they were placing some districts in a difficult and impossible position, and they would have to prepare for a general strike in one of the largest branches connected with the Federation. There was scarcely a word to be said against either of these proposi- tions at the proper time, but while they were yet in the throes of a dispute with regard to getting the tight hours fixed, was it wise, it discreet to burden them with this impossible proposal? Mr. Smiliie (Scotland) said these resolutions would not make any district break up agree- ments, but would seek to bring up agree- ments to this standard. The resolution was carried. PROPOSED AGE-LIMIT FOR MINES. Mr. Twist (Lancashire) moved that a Bill should be introduced to prohibit men from starting working in coal mines after they tad reached the age of eighteen years. He said no industry suffered more from the influx of workers in other trades. Mr. W. Whitefield (Bristol), who seconded, contended that evidence showed that accidents were more frequent among men who 'entered the mines when over eighteen years of age, and for the protection of skilled workmen he would prohibit their employment. In Bristol they were absolutely overrun with men who had absolutely no experience, and who were never likely to become efficient colliers. STRONG OPPOSITION OF MR. A. ONIONS. Mr. A. Ouions (South Wales) said he was just ds anxious to do everything to safeguard the life and limb of the workmen in the mines as anyone in the conference. He wae also just as anxious to protect their calling against unskilled labour in their mines as anyone could be, but he certainly thought that would not be accomplished by this pro- posal. The principle underlying this pro- position was that for all callings in life persons must make up their minds before they arrived at eighteen years of age, and if they had not done it before they could int do it after. If it was to be applied to mining it must be applied, at any rate, to other dangerous occupations. He could not subscribe to that principle, and, therefore. he opposed the resolution. He did not know that they had any right to assume that if they adopted this proposition they would make mining safe and protect life and limb in their mines. He thought a young man going into the mines after eighteen years jf age was likely to be more careful and com- petent to look after himself than a boy going in at fourteen. To adopt this would be to seriously injure a large section of their own mining com- munity. There were hundreds of miners who put their children to some other occupation outside the mines, but. perhaps, for some reason cr other, after they had reached eighteen years of age they were brought by their fathers into the mines. This would preclude anything of the kind taking place. A MOST VICIOUS PROPOSAL. Mr. G. Barker (Monmouth) said this resolution struck at the basks of individual

SIXTY HOURS CLAUSE. MR. RICHARDS DENIES AGREE- MENT WITH OWNERS. The President (Mr. EUBeh Edwards) made a personal explanation with reference to the recent deputation of miners on the Eight Hours Act, when he stated that there was no difficulty in South Wales, and that their representatives did not wish to speak. He was referring to small troubles in connection with the putting into operation of the Act, and not to the clause relating to the working of an additional hour on 60 days. The depu- tation had nothing to do with that question. Mr. Davey (Northumberland): Is it true that the South Wales miners have entered into an agreement with the owners to work the 60 hours? Mr. Richards: Perhaps, as the question has been asked in the presence of the press, you will allow me to give an answer. No, it is not true. Mr. Davey: He has given a direct answer in the negative, and I say it is not true. The conference then closed. POSITION OF MESSRS. BURT AND FENWICK. At a private meeting of delegates of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain held at Newcastle on Friday to discuss the refusal to sign the constitution of the Labour party of Messrs. Burt and Fenwick, the Northumber- land miners' M.P.'s, it was decided that the Federation could not depart from the posi- tion taken up at Chester last year, which mea.ns that Messrs. Burt and Fenwick must sign the constitution or lose the miners' sup- port Mr. Fenwick was present at the meet- ings. >,

MEMORIAL TO ALD. D. JONES. 1 UNVEILING CEREMONY AT CARDIFF. Relatives, friends, and colleagues of the late Alderman David Jones assembled in large numbers in the magnificent marble hall of the Cardiff City-hall on Monday and witnessed the unveiling of a portrait in oils and a marble bust of the late alderman. The dual ceremony was performed by the Lord Mayor (Alderman Lewis Morgan) and Sir Alfred Thomas. M.P., and Alderman IIltyd Thomas, as chairman of the memorial oommittee, presided. The life-like portrait so admirably executed 'by Mr. Parker Hagarty, of Cardiff, is hung in Committee-room A, and was unveiled by the Lord Mayor, while the marble bust, which is also a fiife specimen of the sculptor's art, and which was executed by Mr. Merridale, of London is placed near one of the entrances to the council-chamber. On the other side of the doorway is a similar bust of the late Alderman Daniel Jones, a brother of Alderman David Jones. The Town-clerk (Mr. J. L. Wheatley) read the insoriptiom on the pedestal setting forth the public services rendered by the late alderman, who was an honorary free- man of the county borough of Cardiff, a dis- tinguished member of the town council for 31 years, mayor of Cardiff in 1888-89, an alderman for nineteen years, and chairman I of the waterworks committee for 21 yeaTS. Both the Lord Mayor and Sir Alfred Thomas paid glowing tributes to the noble and self-sacrificing services rendered by Alderman David Jones over an exceptionally J long period of years, and congratulated the painter and sculptor upon the excellence of their work. Mr. Albert Nash (son-in-law) and Mr. Lester Jones (nephew) acknowledged on behalf of the members of the family the gifts of the memorial committee to the corporation, and the Lord Mayor, in formally accepting the gifts, promised that they would be protected and respected. Mr. Parker Hagarty and Mr. Merridale thanked the speakers for their kind refer- ences to their work, and votes of thanks to the Lord Mayor and Sir Alfred Thomas were proposed by Mr. T. H. Thomas and seconded by Sir John Duncan, and the Lord Mayor, in response, dropped a significant hint as to the higher position that would probably be occupied shortly by Sir Alfred through his elevation to the peerage. Sir Alfred simply smiled, and made no comment upon the Lord Mayor's prediction, and the proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to Alderman IUtyd Thomas for pre- siding.

[Photos by tile At Home Portradt 00.

A PASSENGER'S DAMAGED LUGGAGE. SUCCESSFUL CLAIM AGAINST G.W.R. COMPANY AT CARDIFF. An interesting action was heard at Cardiff County-court on Saturday before the deputy- judge (Mr. John Amphlett), in which Mrs. Isabel Gibbons, of Kenilworth, lleoldon-road, Whitohurch, sued the Great Western Rail- way Company for £ 8 17s. damages to her luggage and goods through the negligence of the defendants at their Cardiff Station on June 12. Mr. R. Edwards-James appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. St. John Francis- Williams (instructed by Messrs. Vachell and Co.) represented the defendant company. The plaintiff stated in reply to Mr. James that she booked from Haverfordwest to Cardiff on June 12, and that she had with her four packages, two of which, containing a hat and some rare willow pattern dishes, she was allowed to take with her into the carriage, whilst the remaining two packages, containing pictures, decanters, globes, &o., were placed by a portM- hi the van. Having arrived at Cardiff Station, all the packages were removed to the central platform for transfer to the next train for Whitchurch. The company's porter left the goods on a truck not far from the bay running into the platform, stating that he would return in time to place them in the train. There was a sharp drop in the platform in the direc- tion towards the bay, and whilst the plain- tiff was walking: up and down the platform she was horrified at seeing the whole truck slipping towards the bay and falling over the platform to the rails with a crash. Plaintiff stated further that she had told the porter of the nature of the goods, that he had removed the willow pattern dishes from one portion of the truck to another to ensure greater care, and that he subsequently admitted in the presence of other officials that he had omitted before leaving the truck to lock its wheels The plaintiff was cross-examined by Mr. Francis-Williams a3 to the coverings and contents of the packages, and denied that she ha. thanked the porter and stated she would no longer require his services. Mr. Thomas Gibbons, plaintiff's husband, stated he was present at the interview between the deputy-station-master and the porter, and had heard the porter admit that the wheels had been left unlocked. The judge closely examined the plaintiff, who claimed to be a connoisseur in rare china, as to the value of the goods, and. the plaintiff's case being closed, Mr. Edwards- James submitted that the payment into court by the defendants of the sum of £1 56. 6d. in respect of one hat and five picture paries and without any denial of liability amounted to an admission by defendants of the whole of the claim, subject only to proof of value. A lengthy legal argument followed, and the point was hotly contested by defendants' counsel, who argued that the payment into court could only operate as an admission of liability for the articles paid for, and not of the whole claim In the result, his Honour allowed the contention of Mr. Edwards- James, and gave judgment for the plaintiff on that ground for the full amount claimed, with costs. Defendants' counsel asked for leave to appeal, which was granted. —

THROWN INTO THE HEDGE SEQUEL TO COLLISION WITH MOTOR-CAR NEAR. TENBY. The Tenby justices wero occupied for a long time in hearing a charge preferred by William Powell, a rurai postman, against George Aaron Lectham, a chauffeur in the employ of Sir Thomas Meyrick. Bart., of Bush, Pembroke, of negligently driving a motor-car on the Narberth Road, Tenby, on September 13. Mr. R. D. Gilfcertson, Pem- broke, appeared for the defendant. It appeared that complainant, with his -wife, child, and brother, was driving in a trap into Tenby, and when near the Throe Bells defendant, who was going in the same direction, ran into him, with the result that they were thrown into the hedge, and received more or less injury. For the defence it was urged that com- plainant drew out into the road, and this caused the accident. Had he remained on the side of the road there was room for the oar to pass. The Bench inflicted a fine of L3 3s. and costs.

CARDIFF MAN AND MISSING MOTOR-CYCLE. POLICEMAN COMPLIMENTED ON HIS SMARTNESS. Edward Jones, a respectably-dressed young man, of Strathnairn-street, Cardiff, was charged at Bristol on Friday with stealing a motor-cycle, value £ 27, the property of Wil- liam L. Bate, accountant, Carlton-chambers, Baldwin-street. The prosecutor said the bicycle was left in the lobby, and when he came for it ho found it missing. Police-constable George Giles, of the Cardiff City Police, said that on the afternoon of .October 1 he was in St. Mary-street, Cardiff, when he saw the prisoner riding the motor- cycle produced. He saw that the tablet F.B. 129" corresponded with that on a bicycle stolen at Bristol. Witness stopped him and asked him where ho got the machine from, and he rop:ed. "That's my business; it is my own." Witnes.s arrested him on sus- C' picion of stealing it, and lie said. "But it's my own; I am Jenkins, the man who lost it." He was afterwards handed over to the Bristol police. He took Mr. Bate's licence from the bag on the mo^or-cycle end handed it to wit- ness. On the way to the police-station he asked wdtneas. What is the bost thing for me to say? Is it any good saying I bought it from a man I don't know?" Prisoner: I didn't say Is it any good?" I said: I bought it from a man I ditIn't know." Detective Wood, who fetched the prisoner from Cardiff. s,, he said "I hope yon won't expose me m the streets any more than you can help. aS 1 am well-known here." The prisoner J"an;ic-4 in a. long written statement in which he said that he was sitting in a caf-9 in Cardiff reading the motor- cycle advertisen^tHs iu the" Western Mail," when a man sitting behind him asked if he wanted to buy a hiotor-cycle. The man pro- duced a licence with the name Bate on it, and he bought it from him. The man said he had ridden it from Bath, and wanted £ 20 for it. Prisoner applied for bail, stating that he had a youn» wife at Cardiff. The Magistrate committed him for trial, but refused to allow him bail, as there had been other convictions against him. The magistrate commended the Cardiff constable for his astuteness in arresting the prisoner. =-

G.W.R. MAIN LINE. NEW ROUTE PROPOSED IN EAST CARMARTHEN. Definite statements of an interesting character as to the plans of the Great Wes- character as to the plans of the Great Wes- tern Railway Company for the shortening of the Irish mail route in South "Wales are given in the "Llauelly Star," which made its first appearance on Saturday. The railway company is already making a new line froni Dynevor, near Xeath, to Hendy, near Pont- ardulais, and the view has long been expressed that it is the further intention of the company to continue the line further west to Carmarthen Junction. This would shorten the main line considerably, but it would place Llanelly off the route of express trains, and wou:,d increase the drawback from which Swansea already suffers. Our contemporary says that the company are determined to shorten the distance between Fishguard and Paddington still i BLore. and with that object will construct a new line to run across country between Llangennech and Carmarthen via Cross Hands. By so doing they would cut off the Lianolly section entirely and avoid an expen- sive scheme of extensions which would other- wise he necessary at Llanelly, where the traffic has grown out of all proportion to the accommodation. The section of the line on either side of the Llanelly Station is much congested, and to add to the difficulty there are two important level crossings in this section. If those proposals are carried out the inte- rests of Llanelly are bound to suffer, aoid it is suggested that the local authorities should approach the Great Western Railway in the matter with a view to offering them facilities so as to induce them to keep Llan- elly on the main line. A new bridge acrose the line at Station-road is suggested, together with the widening of the station and its ap.pro.aches. It is stated that as a preliminary to con. structing the new line the Great Western Railway have commenced running a service of niotor-'buses from Tumble, Cross Hands, amd the intermediate district be,tween Car- marthen, on the one side. and Llandebie, on the other.

TERRITORIAL STRENGTH. ELEVEN OFFICERS AND 273 MEN REQUIRED IN WEST WALES. Tabulated returns issued up to the 30th of September show that the Territorial units in the counties of Carmarthen, Cardigan, and Pembroke require the following numbers to complete their strength:— Pembroke Yeomanry: Four officers and thirteen men- Cardiganshire R.F.A.: 25 men. Pembrokeshire R.G.A.: Two officers and 70 men. Welsh Field Company Royal Engineers: One officer. 4th Battalion Welsh Regiment: Four officers wnd 165 men. Pembroke (49) and Carmarthen (46) show the greatest deficiency of strength in the last- named unit. ■CT———I —n—c—

freedom and liberty. It w;.>i-ld make mining a special preserve. It practically said they were to never follow the old Eastern practice that a child must follow in the occupation of his father. It would be just as right for any other trade to adopt this restriction. As for miners, the question from the stand- point of safety had been carried to an ex- treme point. The boy going into the mine at fourteen years of age had less judgment and common sense than the young man of eighteen. It -was a most vicious resolution, containing the most vicious principles of the Tariff Reformer. Mr. S. H. Whitehouse (Somerset) said this proposal was of great importance in a small coalfield like Somerset, with a big agricul- tural district all round them. The introduc- tion of a youth over eighteen, knowing nothing of mining work, was a prolific cause of accidents. The resolution was adopted.