Monmouthshire Merlin

MAGISTRATES' OFFICE, HIGH-STREET, NEWPORT, SATURDAY. re.ient-Rev. Thomas Pope, Rev. Chancellor Williams, John Russell, Thomas Gratrex, and W. H. M. Style, Esquites. HIGHWAY ROBBERY AND ASSAULT. William Hendy, Daniel Welsh, James Hendy, ballast- heavers, and John Palmer, seamen, were charged with steal- ing from a lad, named William Watkins Taylor, a bottle of ginger wine, and a cloth, the property of Mr. Darker, County Court High Bailiff; and with assaulting Mr. Darker, at the same time, on the Chepstow road, near Maindee, on Thursday evening last. Mr. Cathcart prosecuted; and Mr. Blakey defended. The first witness called and examined was William Watkins Taylor, aged 1-5, who said I am in the service of Mr. Darker, at Christchurch. I was in Newport on Thursday night, and when I left I had a bottle of ginger wine, a cloth, and a book, in a basket. I was going along the Chep- stow road, about nine o'clock, carrying these things; and when I was near Mr. Polak's new house I saw four men, and another party of three women and a man. I met the four men first; and the others passed me. Three of the first party passed me quietly enough, but the other man jumped at ii-? and asked me what I had got. The prisoners at the bar w the men and Daniel Welsh was the man who spoke to me. I ran from him, and he ran after me, and caught me by the throat, just by a gate. With the other hand he seized me by the collar. Then he took the bottle of wine out of my basket, with the hand he had had on my collar, lie ran off, and cried out, "John, I've got a prize." This was said to the other three men-all of whom could hear what he said. The:, I followed them, and met the man who was with the three wo- men, who asked me what I had lost. I told him, and he went up to the four men, and spoke to them. He was struck in the face violently by one of them. Welsh then ran on, and I fol- lowed, and met MV master, just opposite Mr. Graham's house. I fold him that Welsh had robbed me. The four were then near together. Master went up, and asked him for the things, and held up his stick. Welsh then held: up the bottle, as if he would strike him, and would not give back the bottle. The other men were near enough to hear all that passed. William Hendy then struck Master on the face, and ran off. Welsh then ran away down the road, behind Mr. Willmett's. Mas- ter went after him, and caught hold of William Hendy, who was following with the other Hendy, and said, I know you." Then William Hendy struck master a second time, and striking him again, knocked him down, and kicked him. James, the brother, then ran up, to help me to pull William off Master; when William called out Daniel." Master and I cried out "Murder" Then I saw Daniel run up, and kick master, who was still on the ground. Some men then came up, and the three ran off. John Palmer had done nothing up to this time, and walked away, without interfering at all. Master and MO, and the three men who came up, followed the three men across the fields, to the ballast bank, and got some sticks from a house there. Then the three men turned back, being afraid. Master and me then went off fur the police. Later that night I was near the Town-hall, when I saw the four prisoners walking along by the Town-hall. Police-constables Williams and Goold were with me, and I said I thought they were the men and the officers took them into custody. The bottle I had in my basket was like that produced. I had it from Mr. Sheppard, the grccer, where I had gone with a book, for the wine. It was full when I had it. Cross-examined by Mr. Blakey It was about a quarter to nine when I met the men. It was bright light. I never saw any of them before, that I know of. The three men were perhaps twenty yards off, when Welsh took the bottle from me. They had nothing to do with taking the bottle; but Welsh was in their company again, in less than three minutes. James Hendv was drunk. Neither Palmer nor James Hendy had anything to do with attacking master, nor with stealing the bottle. I saw the bottle again the same evening, when the policeman had it. To Mr. Gratrex: The' three men did not stand- they were walking from me, when Welsh took the bottle. To Mr. Cathcart: Yes the man who took the bottle, cried out to- the others, I've got a prize." It was a small tea cloth in the basket, and like the cloth produced. Mr. Thomas Darker, sworn: I am High Bailiff of the County Court. About nine o'clock on Thursday evening I WAS on my way home, on the Chepstow road; and when near Mr. Willmett's residence, I met my boy, the last witness. I saw a lot of men there, and some women going along. The boy espied me, before I saw him, and called out "Master! that fellow has taken some things out of my basket." He pointed to Daniel Welsh. Seeing the bottle in Welsh's hand, I went up to him, and said, Give up the bottle, and what yon have got." He held up the bottle in a flourishing atti- tude, as if about to strike me. Welsh then ran away up the road, and turned into the lane leading across the fields, to the ballast bank. I did not catch him, but cried out, I know you, young gentleman and will do very well with you to-mor- ( row." I then came back, and, facing the cottages near Mr. Willmett's wall, called on a man for God's sake to come and help me, a dozen times, I suppose, but he would not come. Then I saw two of the prisoners, William and James Hendy, and called out, You rascals, you are of the same party." I don't recollect whether they struck me but they ran off after Welsh. I had no one with me, and could get no assistance; but the moment I got up to William Hendy, he turned round short, and gave me a blow in the face, which knocked me down at once. I got up pretty sharply, and had scarcely re- covered myself, to strike him down with my stick, when he gave me a second blow, and knocked me down in a moment; and then began to kick me as hard as he could. I am now black and blue all up my side, from his kicks. Then he called Daniel Welsh, who jumped over the gate, and rushed at me, like a thorough brute, and gave me a tremendous running kick; and both went on kicking me all the time on the ground. At that time, James IIendy came up, and said Hold hold and took hold of Welsh, and tried to stop him, or I should have had it worse. I then called out "Murder!" and my boy ran for assistance. Some men were then coming around the wall, and the gang cut off across the fields, towards the ballast bank. I do not remember seeing Palmer at all. I fol- lowed them, with the men who came to my assistance, but I was so knocked and kicked, I could scarcely follow. Then we saw William Hendy standing on the bank, who cried out, "Gome on, we are ready for you." "No, no," says I, and then we went off for the police, and met P.C. Williams at the bridge, who told me a man had complained of being struck also, on the Chepstow road. I saw the men all taken, at the station, and identified them, except Palmer. It was fortunate for the whole I was not as well provided that night, as I am generally, or they would have suffered, or lost their lives. Cross-examined by Mr. Blakey: I did not see the Hendys before I told them they were of the same party. I was not HOMING up my stick, when Welsh held up the bottle in a me- nacing attitude. William Heady and Welsh were perfectly sober. Edmund Morgan, Maindee Common, a labourer, said I was on my way home the Thursday night, when I heard the cry of Murder!" in a lane by Mr. Willmett's. I ran down, but the men had then escaped. I went on, and came in sight of three men, whom I followed across the fields, when the shortest (William Hendy) fell; and then I got up with them; but Welsh, who wore a pair of white trowsers, turned, and held up the bottle to strike me. I fell. They ALL. ran off to- wards a hoiise on the ballast bank, and, on coming out again, pelted me with stones, which drove me back. I did not see their faces, but I believe they were the two Hendys and Welsh. I P.C. Williams sworn: On Thursday night last, I was on duty near the Chepstow road, when 1 met Mr. Darker and his servant. Blood was running down the left side of Mr. Darker's face, and he appeared as if he- had been very much abased. He gave me information, and I procured P.C. Goold, with whom I went to Welsh and Hondy*s houses, OH the bal- last bank, with Taylor, but- could not find the men. I re- ceived some further information of their having crossed the river, in a boat; and then turned back to town, when we met ) the four .prisoners coming from the direction of Pillgwenlly. We took them into the Town-hall, and told Welsh, James Hendy, and Palmer, I charged them with robbing and assault- ing Mr. Darker and his servant, and stealing the bottle of wine. "When J&oold came in with the bottle, Welsh .said, So help me Goo I've hot been on the Chepstow road to-day." Palmer and Hendy made no reply. I found 16s. 2d., on Welsh. I went to Welsh's father's house, on the ballast bank, and found two bundles, one of which contained the cloth, and a white pair of trowsers, marked with blood, and marks on the knees. I took the bundles to the police-station yard, when Palmer AND William Hendy told me one bundle was Welsh's; and when Welsh came down he claimed the bundle in which the TROWSQRA^ AND. cloth were; AND this morning he asked me to ISRIU **PFRNAEY frock out, of it,, for him'to wear to court. W AUN. tola me he had tied up the clothes, to GO tose& next morning, IN the Othello. They had biscuits and bacon in their p-3i- wh- we took them, which they said the cap- tain of the Othello gave them. They said they WEREROINFT to V sea m that vessel in the tnaniing. Cross-examined by Mr. Blakey: I took away the bundles oa the following morning. It was about 20 minutes past nine, when I saw Mr. Darker near the bridge; and about eleven when we took the men. PC. Goold proved taking the ^PRISONER Walsh into the sta- tion. I found on the prisoner, William Hendy, the bottle of ginger wine produced. He said he had bought' IHE bottle at Pill, for 3s. 6d. The original cork appeared to hare been fosced into the bottle. The prisoners here admitted crossing the river on the even. ing in question. This was the case. Mr. Blakey submitted there. was no case against James Jlendy, or Palmer. He acknowledged that two of the men had committed an unjustifiable assault on Mr. Darker, but said they had done so while drunk. Mr. Cathcart said he was quite -willing to abandon the case against James Hendy and Palmer. These men were accordingly discharged; and WilliamHendy and Daniel Welsh were committed for trial at the assizes.— Bail was refused. DISTRAINT ON THE SOUTH WALES RAILWAY. Mr. Benjamin Lewis, assistant-overseer, applied to the Bench for a distress warrant against the South Wales Railway Company, for JE27 poor-rate, which the company had been or. dered to pay, last Saturday, when Mr. Fisher, on their behalf, promised to send a cheque from London, for the amount; but such amount had not been received. Mr. Lewis said there was a truck at the station, which he had looked at, and which would satisfy the claim. (Laughter.) WANTED, A CONVENIENT OFFICE. Last Saturday, the small and inconvenient room in which the county magistrates transact business, exhibited convincing proof of the necessity of more capacious accommodation, if the convenience of the legal profession, the press, and even the magistrates themselves, is a matter deserving consideration. Five magistrates were present; and only four could obtain sitting room; two legal gentlemen had important duties to perform, and while the assistant of one took his notes of the depositions, with his back fixed against the wall, and two or three stout yeoman, jamming up his elbows to his sides, the advocates themselves were forced to encroach on a corner of the magistrates' table, at which to conduct their business- sitting room or comfort being entirely out of the question; whilst the reporters were only able to perform their duties at intervals, when the restless prosecutor and witnesses standing behind them, ceased for a moment to be energetic and gesticu- lative. As to the prisoners—they sat in a corner, on an in- verted chest, indistinctly seen, though, perhaps, not un- wtfTchecT; AND thëwlfnesses and friends on each side in cases where warring passions and conflicting interests were involved, stood jumbled together, and, coming into frequent collision, more angrily than proper, in a court of justice. We need say nothing of the impurity of the atmosphere in an office so "cribbed, cabined, and confined;" but we may incidentally remark, that the keen air which swept through the passage on the outside, with anything but a welcome sharpness and fresh- ness to many of the public who could not get into the office, would prove far from unwelcome to those were suffer- ing from semi-suffocation inside, if now and then a refreshing draught had been allowed to sweep in. Surely, the free use of the Town-hall, which has been kindly offered, should be ac- cepted before the dog days," come, or who knows what will be the result T TOWN HALL, NEWPORT. MONDAY. Present—Stephen Iggulden, Esq., mayor, and T. Hughes, John Hellicar, and James Rennie, Esqrs. 11 Catherine Collins, aged 18, was charged with stealing coal, the property of James Brown, Esq.—The prisoner had been previously convicted. She now said there were thirty girls, BOMTTES herself, stealing coal, and when they all ran away, the policeman took her only. —George Best, in the employ of prosecutor, proved the case.—Three weeks' hard labour as a vagrant. Margaret Collins was also charged with a similar offence. A watchman on the dock proved seeing the prisoner steal a quantity of Mr. Brown's coal. Remanded till Thursday. Mary Lloyd was charged with stealing sixpence, and a pockethandkerchief, the property of David Frence, a soldier. —The prosecutor did not appear, and the prisoner was ac- cordingly discharged. John Ponton alias George Smith, was charged on suspicion of stealing two workboxes, the property of William Prosser, Corn-street. The superintendent said the prisoner was one of a gang of Bristol thieves, now in town, all of them being pricked with the usual blue marks of the fraternity. A number of borough poor-rate cases were disposed of. A conversation took place on the bench, in respect to the non-lighting of the town with gas, which, last evening, oc- casioned exceeding confusion in the streets, when congrega- tions were coming out of the churches and chapels, and on Stow Hill, caused one or two women to fall off the high foot- path, into the street. It was also stated that persons of bad character had full fling" in the crowded streets, aided by the absence of gaslight.—The Mayor said it was a matter rather for the council than the court; and no doubt it would be considered by that Board. THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PICTURE. LETTERS FROM AN AUSTRALIAN EMIGRANT. The following letter HAS been received in Newport, from Mr. F. W. Brogden, formerly one of the staff in the MERLIN office: 1 Melbourma, December 2, 1852. Although high wages are eatiied by men in regular employ- ment, yet the discomforts of this place are more than equiva- lent to the increased pay. I neither like the climate, manners, nor customs, half so well as England. The heat, dust, and flies are terrible nuisances. I have been to the diggings, but like three out of every five, returned unsuccessful; however, I intend to make another attack on them in a few months. Rent, bread, wood, water, cheese, butter, eggs, hams, fruit, spirits, beer, cider, furniture, glass, china, and earthenware, &c., are enormously dear. The only things moderate are beef, mutton, tea, and sugar. Lodging and board in Melbourne for a single man, six or eight sleeping in the same room, 35s. or 40s. per week; washing, extra, 10s. per dozen. So that from Y,2 to JE2 5s. is the average weekly expense. I could not conscientiously advise any one to come here, unless they are determined, energetic men, with a capital of from L200 to £ 500; such I have no doubt might do well. Thousands are pouring in, and although labourers are wanted on the public roads at £ 3 per week, yet a man with a family could save but littlp at that, besides having to live in a tent instead of a com- fortable English home. To such as have good situations in England, I say keep them! for although many good for- tunes are making here at the gold fields, and many at trade, yet the proportion of the unsuccessful is so much greater than the successful, that the whole affair is a lottery. A man may go with two or three companions, and work like a horse for months, without even paying the expenses of his food, while another perhaps will clear one or two hundred pounds in the first week. As I am here, I shall make another effort or two. My last was at Mount Alexander, about 100 miles to the north of Melbourne, near the Loddon river, where we saw plenty of natives, with their wives, children, and dogs. Carpentors have been getting 25s. per day, but they are now down to 15s. However, it is one of the best trades going in the colony, and will keep up good wages for years to come. The sawyer's is an excellent trade here. Carpenters, sawyers, bricklayers, blacksmiths, and tinmen, are about the best paying trades here; and will, no doubt, continue good for some time. Printers were getting a good price when I first arrived—2s. 6d. per thousand it speedily fell, however, to 2s., again to Is. 6d., and I have no doubt it will be still lower. I only worked for three weeks in the Herald office before we all struck, to resist a threatened reduction. However, I earned £ 24s. 15s. in the three weeks, which will keep me for twelve weeks, or sixteen weeks, if I live a mile or two off. m The Oddfellows' lodges here, in consequence of the gold mania, are in a state of disruption, sometimes only eight or ten present during the evening; and numbers going out of compliance weekly, who, having made a few hundreds at the diggings, THINLY they never can be poor again. Poor wretches, many of them, from their prtaint course of life are likely to die of starvation in the ditches before many years are past. I will just enumerate a few of the present prices here. House rent—brick, three rooms, Y,2 10s. to £ 3 10s. per week; wood, £2 5s. to zC,2 15s two rooms, brick, S2 to £ 2 10e. per week, wood, zCl 10s. to JE2 5s.; wood (no coal).12 to Y,2 10s. a small cart load; water 3s. 6d. per barrel, butter 2s. 6d. to 3s. per lb.; cheese 2s. 6d. to 3s. per lb., milk h. per quart, bread 28. the four pound loaf, (was 2s. 6d. until within the last fort- night), ham 28. to 2a. 6d. per lb., eggs 6s. per dozen, fowls 9s. each, geese (fat) tl to ZI 5s., apples Is. per lb., oranges 4d. to 6d. each, cauliflowers 9d. to Is. each, peas Is. per quart, shells included, spirits very high, beer Is. 6d. to 2S. per quart, cider 3s. 6d. per bottle, and scores of other things at like prices. The only things moderate are-beef from 4d. to 6d. per lb., mutton from 3d. to 5d. per lb., tea 2s. 6d. per lb. sugar 4d. per lb., treacle 4d. per lb. Send this letter to some of the MERLIN boys, and a few old friends. Remember me to all very kindly. I remain, yours, &c., F. W. BBOGDEN. FAIRS FOR APRIL. MONMOUTHSHIRE.—Pontypool, 2; Magor, 12; Bedwelty, 15; Usk 19. OL,&MOILGAtqsuiRz.- Aberdare 1; Bridgend, 1; New- bridge, 3; Caerphilly, 5; Cardiff, 13; Cross Inn, 14; Cwm Nearth, 15. GtatJCESTEKSHiEK.—Tethory, 3; Gloucester, 6; Tewkes- bar, 13; Cheltenham, 14; Campden, 23; Iron Aoton 26. HBBJBFO&DSHIRK.—Wigmore, 16; Orlaton, 24; Dorstone, 27; Longtowne. 29. SOMBILSXTSHiRz.- Bishop's Lydeard, 5; Bruton, 23 Hinton St. George, 23 Midsomer Norton, 25-, Shipham, 27 W iveliscombe, 30. "TRAIN STOPPAGES." —A paragraph under this heading appeared in the last member of the MERLIW, in which a com- plaint was made by One who has been often stopped," that the luggage train was permitted to obstruct the level crossing ill Thottias-street, daily, for some twenty minutes; preventing thereby the numerous workmen in that busy neighbourhood from going to and fro to their meals. We have pleasure in stating, that the attention of Mr. Edwards, the efficient super- intendent, having been drawn to the subject, he at-once took measures to prevent the obstruction, which, he informs us, will not recur. TESTIMONIAL TO A CLERGYMAN. Several members of the church and congregation at Trinity, Pillgwenlly, presented the Rev. A. Woodroofe, their much esteemed minister, a testimonial on his leaving for another town, accompanied by the following letter :— We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, beg to present to you the acconpanying testimonial (a Silver Snuff Box) as a mark of our esteem for the high character you have sustatained during your residence in this district, and, at the same time, to express regre: that your ministerial connexion with us has ceased. Signed on behalf of the donors, JOHN B. ROBERTS, Church Warden, pro. tem. MR. WOODROOFE'S REPLY. MY DEAR AND VALUED FRIENDS,—I have received with feelings of the deepest gratitude your very kind testimo- nial and the valuable token of affectionate regard which accompanied it. Deeply impressed with a sense of my own weakness, and humbled by a review of my past labours amongst you, I cannot but consider the great mark of kindness which you have bestowed, as undeserved and un- merited on my part. I shall, therefore, always regard it with the most grateful remembrance, and beg you will accept my sincere and warmest thanks. For the many proofs of kindness I have experienced from you during my residence here, I have also to express my gratitude. I leave you with feelings of the deepest regret, though assured that our separation has been ordered by the Lord for the accomplishing of His wise but mysterious purposes. We shall all meet again in another, and I hope a better, world and I pray earnestly that in that day, when the Lord will make up His jewels," you and I, beloved brethren, "may adorn the Saviour's crown in glory, through the merits of his finished work. Believe me to be, my dear and valued friends, Your faithful minister in Christ, ABEL WOODROOFE, M.A. Pillgwenlly, Newport, 24th March, 1853. To Mr. John B. Roberts, for the Inhabitants of Pillgwenlly. PREVENTION OF RAILWAY ACCIDENTS. [TO THE EDITOR.] SIR,—In passing through Newport to-day, on my return home from London, I read an important leading article of the MERLIN newspaper of last week, on the frequency of railway accidents, with their alarming and fearful consequences. You have also given some very valuable suggestions for the better management of railways, if possible, to prevent the recurrence of those calamities which have caused such fearful results of late, besides the loss of an enormous amount of railway pro- perty, with other expenses for compensation for loss of limbs &c., &c. My only object in penning this hasty note to you, by your kind permission, is, to inform the public, through the medium of your widely-circulated journal, the MERLIN newspaper- and as this part of the country is now being intersected by rail- ways, those who travel by rail will be pleased to know-that an invention has been patented by me for instantaneous commu- nication between guard and engine-driver. The passengers may also make the communication by the same means, should it be deemed desirable. A description of the invention will be found in the accom- panying newspaper (the Morning Chronicle of the 5th instant), which, perhaps, you will do me the favour of copying. A scientific gentleman connected with the Morning Chronicle es- tablishment, and who wrote the paragraph alluded to, met me by appointment, and examined the invention. I have since then had an interview with Capt. Simmonds, R.E., Secretary to the Railway Department of the Board of Trade, whose kindness and attention while examining the working models of my invention, I must not pass unnoticed. His scientific at- tainments enabled him to make some very important sugges- tions to me in connection with the invention, to facilitate the method of applying it, &c., and for which I feel much obliged. The invention met with his approbation, and he pro- mised to see some of the railway directors on the subject, at his earliest convenience, with a view to its being submitted to them for approval and ultimate adoption. The other invention, the particulars of which I shall not enter into at present, is for the purpose of giving notice of the approach of trains to tunnels and stations. The wheels, in passing, touch the point of a detached lever, fixed hori- zontally and parallel with the surface of the rail, causing the depression at the fulcrum to make metallic connections, and complete the circuit of electricity, giving instantaneous notice at the tunnels or stations, by the ringing of an alarm bell, of the approach of the trains two miles, or any distance required. It may be fixed advantageously,on the curves of roads, and other places considered to be dangerous, and would always be found a great assistance to the men on duty. This invention f .t being self-acting, requires no attention when once fixed up. After the carriages pass, the lever returns, to its former posi- tion, ready for the next train. These inventions were first regfetered by me in 1851 since then I have spent a vast amount of time and labour in perfect- ing them. But should my humble exertions in this direction secure to the public a greater amount of safety in railway travelling, I shall feel a pleasurable reflection that my labour has not been entirely lost. I remain, sir, Your humble servant, DAVID LLOYD PRICE. Newport, March 22nd, 1852. COMMUNICATION BETWEEN RAILWAY GUARDS AND ENGINE- DRIVERS.—We had, on Saturday, an opportunity of inspect- ing an arrangement patented by Mr. D. L. Price, for effecting by electricity an instantaneous communication between the guards and drivers of railway trains. The models on a small scale are exceedingly simple and effective for the purpose; how far, however, it may be practical on a working scale is a question upon which those practically conversant with the working of railway trains will be best able to form an opinion. The arrangement consists of a battery, placed in immediate proximity to and under the control of the guard, connected with a bell placed upon the engine, within hearing of the driver. Permanent wires are fixed under the body of the car- riages, the ends of which are secured to metallic reels, having closed springs, and upon which a metallic tape is rolled. The connexion between the carriages is formed by drawing out a portion of the coiled tape from the reels,, and securing the ends, by means of clasp-bolts or otherwise, to metallic pins, in con- tact with the conducting wires. The spring contained in the reels causes the tape to keep in a state of permanent tension, and the circuit of electricity passes through the entire coil of the tape, and communicates by contact with the guides," through which it passes. The hammer is so arranged as to be made to act upon the bell by breaking as well as by making contact. By this means, in the event of any portion of the train becoming1 detached, by. the breaking of the' fcOUpling irons or other cause, an iustantaneous communication would be con- veyed to the engine-driver, even though the carriage contain- ing the guard and the battery were completely severed from the tr^in. The models may be inspected by any person in- terested in the subject, at No. 31, Chancery-lane." I £ TO THE EDITOR.] J SIR,-The newspapers contain severe animadversions on Mr. Seijeant Adams, the learned Chairman of the Middlesex Quarter Sessions, for having increased the transportation of a prisoner (a woman) three years for having screamed out to a policeman, You pig! Oh, you gig L yon p £ rj.ured thiefl" This waa: an extraordinary stretch of powpr, undoubtedly, and according to the letter of Mr. John Hunter, one of the jurymen on the trial of Thomas Edwards and William Johns, for stealing Messrs. Latch and Co.'s coal, which appeared in the last MERLIN, it seems that some of the jurymen on that trial, who had sworn on the book to give a verdict according to the evidence, declared that they never would believe policemen on their oaths, like the convict above, and not Relieving them, they did not believe the other witnesses, and then they gave in a verdict to which Mr. Hunter says they did not all agree. It seems the stream of justice flowing through the Usk jury- box is of a very impure character. It may not be known to your readers that, after the trial was over, one of the jury clapped Edwards on the back, saying, I told you I would atick to you f This is trial by jury!! Yours, ti. IR-J OBSERVER. i *iff* THE TOWN MAPS. The following letter was read at the last meeting, of the Newport Board of Health, in. refereme, to a question brought before the Board by Mr. H. J. Davis, as to the: town maps: To the Mayor and Member» of the Local Boari of Health. Gentlemen -Mr. H. J. Davis having applied to the Board on behalf of the Tredegar Wharf Company and Sir Charles Morgan, for copied of the whole town surveys, and having made a complaint in my absence as to tho amount asked by me for making such copies, I beg to submit to the Board a statement of.the particulars of the case which Mr. Davis has, I regret, compelled me to lay before you. Mr. Davis premised hvdirst application, by stating that a survey of the Tredegar Wharf Company's property, which now turned out to be very inaccurate, had been made by a gentle- man connected with the Tredegar Office, and he was now re- quested to correct hit own plans, or obtain an extract. from the town survey. Mr. D. went on to state that he also wanted' plans of Sir Charles Morgan's property, and of every other property in the lorongh; in short, wanted an authentic copy of the whole of the toWh surveys. I offered to furnish'the required plans, &c., for £ 150, to be copied, of course, from the drafts belonging to myself and Mr. T.' L. Morris. Mr. Davia considered this an extravagant sum, but he stated* himself that the survey above referred to of the Tredegar Wharf Company's property had cost X200, although, if accurate, it would only involve (on account of its scale, the extent of the property, &c.) about one-fifth of the work on the town surveys. Upwards of X400 have been recently paid for a survey, on a small scale, of a portion of the borough not nearly so exten- sive as the property of the Tredegar Wharf Company. I consider j6160 only a fair professional charge for copying (taking into account the damage necessarily done to the drafts by several months' wear), and it is certainly not one-sixth of the value of the surveys. The request, as it comes before the Board, is, that copies of the whole surveys may be taken by landowners from the ap- proved documents in the Town Hall, and I would beg the Board to consider well the effect of admitting the principle, for by doing so they will allow the plans to be spoiled, and give away the copyright to those who have paid a mere nothing towards the cost. Several large ratepayers, who, in the aggregate, pay more than ten times the amount paid by the parties on whose behalf the application is now made, have already intimated to me that they shall expect copies of the town -maps if any rate- payer be permitted to have one. Of course many others would follow, and the originals would soon be very seriously damaged. The making of extracts and copies at reasonable charges (from which the ratepayers could not, under any circumstances derive profit), may, with advantage to the landowners who re- quire such extracts and copies, and without injury to the rate- payers, as the public documents would not be touched, pro- duce some small return to parties who have lost a large sum of money by completing the contract for the maps,—a contract by which the Newport ratepayers have already derived a be- nefit of about £800, in obtaining for E.250 a survey equal to that which cost the Cardiff ratepayers £ 1,100. At Cardiff no copies are allowed to be made, and in fact no taking or making of copies (but merely an "inspection") is contemplated by the Act of Parliament under which these surveys are made. I am, gentlemen, Your very obedient servant, ALFRED WILLIAMS. Town Hall, Newport, 21st March, 1853. THE TELEGRAPH.—The wires have been laid between Gloucester aud Swansea on the South Wales Railway, and ex- perimental communications, with entire success, "forwarded between some of the stations. We understand the telegraph will be in full operation next week. SAVAGE AND COWARDLY ATTACK.—It will be seen on refer- ence to the report of a charge of highway robbery and assault, heard before the county magistrates at their office, High- street, Saturday, that on Thursday night, Mr. Darker, the respected high bailiff of the county court, was assailed by two ruffianly fellows, violently, who, after having knocked him down two or three times, severely kicked him on the ground, so that the wonder is how he was enabled to appear against his savage assailants before the magistrates. Mr. Darker, though ad- vanced beyond the prime of life, stuck to the fellows with the courage and endurance of a much younger man; and intrepidly used his stout walking stick. Had he been provided with a double-barrelled pistol which lie usually carries, there is but little doubt human life would have paid the penalty of the attack.