The Cardiff Times

••TUBERCULOSIS IN CATTLE. The Warranty Movement. '^Councillor W. H. Hankin, of Neath, told one at oar representatives that he believed that a j 'conciliatory spirit would work wonders in bring- ing about an adjustment of the matters in dispute between the farmers and auctioneers on the one aids and the butchers on JtSe other. Councillor Hunkin was one of the founders of the Neath, Aberavon, and Dis- trict Batchers' Association three years ago, and belias been the association's president for that period. He would like to see a grand combina- tion of farmers, auctioneers, and batchets. The farmers,' said he," have been too tardy in making their voices heard. They knew of the Catcher's difficulties, and how tbey beset him, but they showed no interest, Indifference is often worse than open hostility. The farmers now feel that they must not in their own interest be indifferent any longer, and so we ate hearing much from them and their friends the auctioneers. But good will come out of it all, 1 firmly believe. It is more than likely that the farmers will so talk as to be heard by vtheir landlords, and the landlords having far reaching influence will stir the Hotises of Parlia- ment to move more briskly, starting by issuing the report of the Royal Commission on Tubercu- losis." May not the risk to the farmer or /salesman be covered by insurance ?" asked our representa- tive. Certainly," waa the answer given without hesitation, at any rate until legislation affords indemnity. Insurance would cost 6d or Is per head, and for my part I should be willing to forego lack money to help over the difficulty."

fATHER AND STEPSON. At Cardiff Quarter Sessions on Monday Luther Wall (30), hairdresser, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with unlawfully and ^maliciously wounding Wllliatn Powell on the 1st -ef^ne«t Cardiff. Prosecutor said the accused was his stepson. They were out together on the 1st of Jane, and when tbey returned accused went upstairs. Subsequently be came down, and attacked him without any provocation or warning, saying, 1'11 finish yen this time." He liadsomething.m hisi hand, but witness could net-say whether 46 was-a-knife. With tbifJ be .delivered a blow. and a scuffle ensued. After- wards he found a cut on his arm and several wounds on the head. He was treated at the In- firmary. Defendant, on oath, said he and bis í stepfather had been drinking together all day. He sent the latter for a shilling bottle of I whisky with a two-shilling piece, and went up- stairs. While there he heard bis father and mother quarrelling, the latter saying, Why don't you give the lad his obange" He came downstairs, and his step father said be bad spent the change. He asked him why he had done that after he had been treating him all day. His stepfather then got mp to come for him, and he then caught hold of ^im. They fell against the tea table, and some of the things were knocked off. They straggled on the Soor, got up, and fall again. The prosecntor received hia injuries by falling on pieces of broken crockery. The jury found accused not guilty, and be was discharged.

ASHORE, AT PORT TENNANT. MUMBLES LIFEBOAT OUT. On Monday the Mumbles lifeboat went to thereliefof a two-masted schooner, the Irma, |)l«t had.goqe ashore near Port Tennant, Swan- aea. Bay, at a point about 500 yards in a direct jjpoe from the West Pier, having evidently missed the entrance channel to Swansea Dock, and got Ashore pn the bank. The tide was out it the time, and the wind blew strong from the south- and the sea was very broken where the vessel struck. On the arrival of the lifeboat it wa&fouod there was no immediate danger, and the lifeboat stood by. :Eha Irma. waa towed off at-balf tideinthe caning. She was leaking, and was therefore put on the mud to await survey.

0-. SUARDiANSAND RATE COLLECTING. 1 A Grickhowell Decision. At the Crickhowell Board of Guardians on Monday Mr 3. 3. Watkins moved a resolution effing nponthe board to issue a separate precept to the overseers for that portion of the poor x*t'e designated county rate, and that in future the county rate portion be kept quite distinct from the other portion of the poor rate, fall particulars of each portion to be given on the Bafik of the demand note for each portion of the poor rate, and separate receipts issued. Mr Watkjna said the county rate and poor rate were now lumped together in one earn, which was dis- tinctly MBfajr. Mr J. Ward Davies seconded. Rev. T.J.Bowen thought it was not right to dictate to tbe overseerll what they should do, .aM Mr S. H. Cowper Coles suggested that Mr Watkinshad brought the matter forward for political purposes. Mr Jones Parry and Mr A. Beckwith both deprecated political allusions. Itfr.Watkins in reply said he laid all political considerations aside in broaching this matter, and had simply asked in the interests of the rate- payers. The motion was carried by a majority of three votes.

'¡; Bf DWELLTY WORKHOUSE EXTENSIONS AbertHlery Council Protest. AbertHlery District Council on Monday even Tttjrfcgam discussed tbeprooosed extensions and "alterations' of the Bedwellty Union Workhouse at Tredegar. Mr W. P. Thomas pointed out the cost would be over £ 27,000, and urged that the gaardiana should be asked not to spend this money at Tredegar until it was ascertained whether something could not be done in the jjeftpewbat awkwardly situated Western Valley pMiion of the Union. It was ppintedout that the contract for the worki rtus practically ■qkttfadl It resolved that the guardians be "Teiirrested to defer the train alterations "and ex 't^D^nX until the completion of the proposed -cottage houses, and to consider whether a better :1a.u of btrtdoor relief could be given. tt:

On Saturday, in the 'foreman's office at the loco tbodaof the CJvW ,R. Company, Cardiff, Mr C. Hb Donovan, clerk, was presented with apuiae of gold, by the enginemen, Qiemea, mechanics, etc., as a token of respect on the occasion of his marrii.i-'«

CARDIFF COUNCIL. A meeting of the Cardift County Council was held On Monday, tbe Mayor (Alderman Edward Thomas) presiding. The proceedings were of a prolongedcharacter and extended from 11 a..m. until four in the afternoon. Cardiff's New Asylum. A curious blander in connection with the contract for the new asylum foundations was revealed. The contractors (Messrs Davies and Sons) wrote that on com- pletion of their contract they wrote to the architect for a certificate for payment to them of the balance of the contract money—viz., £ 1,600, less jE300 retention money, which was then due, according to tbe terms of the agreement in their (the contractors') possession. The architect re- plied that according to his copy of the agreement the balance was not to be paid by the Corporation until six months after completion. It transpired on further investigation that the architect's copv was the correct one. The contractors pointed: out that as the error was not their fault they should be paid at once. Councillor Courtis said it was important to know how the mistake arose in the two copies. Who furnished the copies of j the contract ? Councillor Veall (chairman of the i Asylums Committee) said there was a palpable I mistake somewhere, for it was never the inten- mistake somewhere, for it was never the inten- tion of the committee to retain £1,600 money for six months after completion, but that JE500 should be so retained. The matter was referred to the Asylum Committee with full powers to settle. Sub-Contracting Objected To. The Asylums Committee having agreed to a request of Messrs King and Sons, the con- tractors of the new asylum, that they be allowed to employ sub-contractors to do the slating, Councillor Jenkins raised the question, and moved that tbe recommendation be deleted. Councillor Crossman, who seconded, said that if I' sub-contracting was allowed the Cardiff plasterers would not by the rules of their society be per- mitted to take any part in the building. Coun- cillor Sessions and Alderman Mildon declared they shoald vote against any sub contracting whatsoever. Councillor Veall said the sub-con- tractors had agreed to the fair wage clause. It was quite a common practice of Cardiff builders toaub-Iet the slate but he was willing that the question should be referred back to the com- mittee, and this was eventually agreed upon. Maindy Bridge. It was reported that the Maindy bridge, owned bv the Taff Vale Co.. was unfitted for locomotive traffic, and the company declined to strengthen the bridge. Councillor Courtis said that as the Council were making a vast improvement at Maindy Dip, he suggested the present was a suitable time for the Cardiff and Glamorgan Councils to see if something could not be done to strengthen the bridge. Aid. Ramsdale said that the committee had already had several inter- views with representatives of the Glamorgan Council, and they were not prepared to do any- thing. He did not think that this was the time to take action. No order was made. Sales in the Streets. With regard to the sale of vegetables in New-street, the Property Committee recom- mended that the head constable be instructed to warn all persons causing obstructions by selling from carta in that street and adjacent thorough- fares, and that in the event of the warning being disregarded proceedings be instituted under the Towns Police Clauses Act. Councillor Fox wished to know what was the legal position. Did he understand that any per- son selling from a cart was transgressing the law? The Town Clerk replied that a number of com- plaints bad been made of obstructions in New- street, caused by vegetables being sold from carts. With a view to preventing this it was deemed advisable to instruct the head constable t to take proceedings against those who offended in this way. What had happened was that New-street had been converted into a market. Councillor Fox inquired what wae the position with regard to wholesale dealers who sup- plied the greengrocers and fruiterers of the town. ) If they sold from carts alongside the wholesale stores, would they be transgressing the law ? The Town Clerk Certainly if they cause an obstruction. Councillor Chappell pointed out that the Cor- poration had provided markets, and yet they were allowing the highway to become a market. Councillor Evans said that if these people would make application for spaces in the markets the committee would do their best to meet them. The matter then dropped.

LLANELLY DOCK DIFFICULTY. Negotiations with the Companies. At a special meeting of the Llanelly Harbour Commission on Monday, Mr W. Wilkins (the chairman) said the negotiations with theMynydd Mawr Railway Co. and Messrs J. Waddell and Sons as to the opening of the new dock had proved abortive. Whatever the Commissi on srs' policy had been in the past. he had endeavoured since he assumed the chair to hold out the olive branch to the two companies. He did not wish to have a one-sided arrangement for either of the parties, and at the outset he suggested that they should forget the past. They succeeded in getting from the representatives of the companies certain proposals, and the Commissioners ob- tained the services of an expert to go thoroughly I into them, and they had been guided throughout by him. The Commissioners in tnru submitted counter-proposals, and until Monday of last week there was every prospect of agreement. Unfortunately on Tuesday they found that something had happened, because Mr Waddell emphatically told them that be would not be satisfied with any settle- ment except in accordance with the proposals which he had submitted, although they had been discussing the counter proposals of the Commissioners. It was pointed out to him that it would ha.1 e saved considerable time if he had made that clear at the outset, and not at the close of the negotia tions. There was con- sequently a deadlock, and as their expert had re- ported, if they had accepted the proposals of the other side it would have been Waddell every- thing and the Commissioners nothing." As the companies had asked the Commissioners to en- gage an expert, it was suggested that the railway company should adopt the same course, but this they blankly refused to do. They said that they knew what they wanted, and nobody else could know. With tbe limited financial means and the dredging plant at their disposal, the Com- missioners bad from the first to the best of their ability endeavoured to carry out certain works so as to be in a position to open the dock. With regard to the forthcoming meeting of tbe I Chamber of Commerce tbey would welcome their assistance, bat before moving any resolution he hoped they would first of all ascertain the facts. SOLICITOR ASKS, fOR AN INQUIRY. Mr D. Randell, solicitor to the Lianelly Har- bour Commissioners, attended a meeting of the authority on Monday, and made a statement as to the neW dock difficulties. He said the publica- tion of the discussion on the motion to terminate the engagement of tbe clerk and solicitor was calculated to injure his professional reputation. Some time ago, when the Commission decided to consider the reports of the clerk andsolicitoit on the question of notice to treat," they deferred further action until the arbitration had been concluded. Nothing had since been done. He had been calumniated, and had been accused at a public meating in Llanellv of negligence on the question of" notice to treat." The nature of his illness at that time was such that he could not be communicated with, but when he returned home he ma.de a report. It was necessary, in order to get to the whole truth, to go back to the negotiations, and for this purpose it was essential to get the examination of witnesses. He had offered himself for examination. I He disclaimed all responsibility in the matter of not giving notice to treat. Further, he dis. claimed all responsibility for the Harbour Act of 1901, which as recently as Saturday night last had been described by their vice-chairman as more injurious than not giving notice to treat. He thought when witnesses bad been examined and papers which he enumerated were forthcoming they would be able to judge who was responsible for the omission to give I notice to treat. He thought he might say with- out any doubt whatever that he was not consulted at all in the matter. As a matter of fairness and justice to himself he respectfully but firmly asked the Commissioners to institute an in- quiry. The Chairman explained that he had given permission to Mr Kandell to make this explanation, but he could not now at any rate allow any discussion, as the meeting had been called for other important business.

ODDFELlOWSHIP AT CARDIFF. The quarterly meeting of the Cardiff District of Oddfellows, Manchester Unity, was held at Cardiff on Monday evening. Bro. J. S. Dewar, Prov. G.M., presided, and there were also pre- sent Bros. J. Holloway, Prov. D.G.M., T. Jeu- kins, P P G.M. (treasurer) John Jenkins, Prov. G.S. and 49 delegates. The following nomina- tions were made for Grand Master and Deputy Grand Master, viz., Messrs J. HoIIoway, W. Le Liszt, T. W. Beames, W. F. Bcauiley, F. H. Simpson, W. Dalton, G. R. Thoma3, J. Gosling and Edgar James. The nominations for the A.M.C. to be held at Manchester were Messrs Tom Roberts, W. Liszt, Hy. Beavan, W. J. Spiller, T. J. Rendell, Chas. Evans, W. H. Atkins, Evan Jones, D. Thomas, J. S. Dewar, J. Hollowav, D. Richards, and J. Bowen. For dis- trict auditor there wetenominatedMessrsT.Hunt, W. Chaplin, E. Roberts, J. Gosling, J. Neat, R. G. Gavin, G. H. Williams, A. H. Williums and W. H. Atkins. A report had been brought for- ward from the last meeting dealing with the ques- tion of whether the higher scale of benefits waa likely to be successful. The amounts of the higher scale are 15s, 18s, and 20s. The report was favourable.and a report made by the C.S. con- taining the receipts and expenditure in connec- tion with the higher scale of benefits for the five years ended J902 was acccepced, and the lodge secretaries and corresponding secretary of tbe district were cordially thanked for their labours in regard to this matter, which will be further dealt with at the next quinquennial valuations. A letter was received from the Cardiff and Dis- trict United Beoefit Society requesting to be admitted a branch "of this district, and the matter was referred to the next meeting.

SEAMAN AND COLLIER. Albert Hant, seaman, was remanded at Shields on Monday charged with murdering James Coxon, a colliery hand. It is alleged that during a quarrel early on Saturday accused drew a knife and stabbed deceased in the arm, severing an artery. A young woman named Georgina Sibberton, who hail been detained for iuquifies, was liberated on -Monday.

I SWANSEA HARBOUR TRUST OFFICES. v On Monday was performed the ceremony of opening the new harbour offices, which have been erected at Swansea to meet the increased requirements of the port. The harbour trustees present on the occasion were the chairman (Mr Griffith Thomas, the Mayor), Sir John Jones Jenkins, Messrs Graham Viyian, Morgan Tutton, Howel Watltins, F H. Glynn Price, F. Oory Yeo, R. W. Beor, J. Glasbrook (High Sheriff of Glamorgan), J. Livingstone, D. Mausel Glasbrook, W. Evans, W. Watkins, E. Williams Cook, W. H. Spring, R. Martin, T. Merrells. D. Williams, and Roger Thomas Mr W. Law fgeneral superintendent), Mr Talfourd Strick (the clerk and solicitor), Mr Schenk (the engineer), Mr F. Edwards (the treasurer), Mr Seward,'Cardiff (the architect), and Messrs David and Daniel Lloyd (the contractors). Mr Seward presented the chairman of the Trust with a gold key, bearing an inscription, the coat of arms of the Trust, and the chairman's monogram. The Mayor thanked Mr Seward for the memento of the occasion &.nd, amid much applause, opened the main doors and declared the premises duly opened for the transaction of the business of the port. An inspection was then made of the build- ing. The public offices, a. spacious, lofty room, replete with every convenience for the expeditious despatch of business, came in far general com. mendation, while the handsome board room elicited the warmest admiration. The furnishing, no less than the architectural fea- tures of the board room, was highly praised. In the centre of the board room is an oval table of solid oak, with panelled legs of original design, the centre being lined with rich bluecloth. Around it are 30 chastely designed solid oak chairs covered in crimson morocco leather, the backs being richly embossed with the Harbour Trust coat of arms in gold. The chairman's seat has a carved panel top, showing the coat of arms, cut out of the solid oak. The floor is covered with a specially designed Turkey carpet in shades of red and bine, and the windows being draped with a soft cream sbade of silk curtains, a pleasing effect is given to the tohe of the room. It speaks well for the local firm of Ben Evans aDd Co. that they have been able not only to supply such cabinet work. but to make the whole in their own workshops. The Chairman, in the course of an address, congratulated the trustees and the port on the fact not only that such offices had been erected, but that the growing trade of the port made thsm an absolute necessity. His Worship said he had to thank personally Mr Seward, the architect, for the beautiful key he had presented to him, f11J l -r r and he thought he could safely congratulate him on the excellent design he had sllbmitted-I), design which took the first prize out of over a hundred sent in for competition for adjudica- tion by the president of the Architects' Society. (Hear, hear.) They had, moreover, offices which bad been built to the architect's full satisfaction and that of the Trust by Messrs Lloyd Bros(, of I Swansea. (Hear, hear.) It was also a matter of I satisfaction to know that the whole of the furni- ture, which had been so much admired, was sup- plied by a Swansea firm. He had been looking up the history of the old offices which had been just vacated. He found they were bnilt from designs piepared by the late Mr William Richards, of Swansea, in September, 1859, and constructed by the 3rm of Evans and Co,, of London, for the sum of JE2,000 There was no formal opening on that occasion, the only trustees present being the then chairman (the late Mr Starling Benson), Mr T.,Price, whose son was with them that day —(hear- hear)—and the late Mr George B, Strick. -(bear. hear)-and the late Mr George B. Strick. Mr Seward, the architect, in response, ex- presses his indebtedness to the trustees and their officers for the kindness, consideration, and businesslike attitude they had adopted towards him in the carrying out of his design. With regard to the contractors, he must say he had never bad the pleasure of working with builders in his professional experience of 30 years who bad bad their heart so thoroughly in the work as in this case. He wished also to bear testi- mony to the services of Mr W. David, the clerk of the works, saying in all respects where con- tractors and clerk of the works could contribute to the success of the building they had done so. (Hear, hear.) Mr David Lloyd, on behalf of the contractors, also spoke, saying he trusted the building would speak for Itself. Sir John Jones Jenkins, as the senior trustee present, said itwai) quite possible that even those new offices might prove too small when the great new dock undertaking was carried to a success- ful issue. They had only to look at their ship- ments for the past nine months and compare them with those of the corresponding nine monthB to find what a satisfactory incieabe had taken place even in that short period. And the increase had been going on from year to year. Thus it was that the trustees had been encour- aged to make large outlays, and though in some things they had done they had been subjected to some degree of criticism, yet on the whole the way they conducted the business of the port I would compare favourably with any civil busi- j ness in the United Kingdom. (Hear, hear.) It ) was satisfactory to know that the best business men of the town from time to time devoted them- selves to the service of the Trust entirely for the sake of the port. He had no doubt that under the able guidance of so excellent a. chairman, I' even more valuable service would be rendered, and that the great prosperity now attending the port would continue to grow. (Cheers.) Mr Tutton also delivered a short address. and subsequently the trustees met in the chair- j I man's room and drank success to the new under. taking. I f DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDING. The new building occupies a prominent position on the orner of Adelaide-street, within a stone's throw of the Town Hall, and forms a valuable addition to the architectural adornments of Swansea. Of bright red Catty- j brook bricks, with bands of Portland stone, the i building is replete with all modern conveniences. A striking feature is the tower roofed with copper, and carrying a very handsome vane in j beaten copper gilt, representing a ship in full ? sail. A massive railing surrounds the building, which is set well back from the street. The I board room is commodious and artistic, with an elliptical ceiling in plaster surrounded by a high dado. Most of the ground floor is covered with a very effective pavement in mosaic and I terrazzo. The front of the building and the j tower are decorated with a series of beautifully- I carved figures in Portlahd stone, representing I commerce, engineering, shipbuilding, etc. A I very interesting piece of decorative work, repre- j senting Swansea in the early days of its ship- building, to adorn tbe end of the board room, is j being carried out by Mr Morton Nance, of Penartb. A wing completing the origh^r design I is also being erected, and it will contain cam-! mercial offices on the first floor, the ground floor to be occupied by the Capital and Counties Bank. There are two chief entrances, one direct í to the shipping department, and the other com- i municating with the officials' rooms and the 1 central staircase. The building has been 1 erected by Messrs Lloyd Bros.. Swansea, from the design of Mr Edwin Seward, F.R.I.B.A., < Cardiff. The carvers Were Messrs G. Houghton, 1 Swansea, and T. Jones, Cardiff. Other work was carried out by Messrs Hardman, Powell & Co., Birmingham; Mr H. Coles. electrical engineer, Swansea Messrs Hill and Smith, Brierley Hill Henry Hope and Sons, Mr J. Gibbin, Wolver- hampton Berwick, Ward and Co., John Legg and Sons, Messrs J. S. Brown, electrical engineers, etc., Swansea, and Messrs Brawn and Co., Birmingham.

MISSING LUGGAGE. I Cathays Man Convicted. At Cardiff Quarter Sessions on Monday Henry I Webster (41), mason, pleaded not guilty to the fol- lowing indictments Stealing a tin box contain- ing a suit of clothes and other articles, the pro- f perty of the G.W.R. Company, on the 30th May, at Cardiff stealing a. leather bag containing a quantity of printed music and other articles, the property of the G.W.R. Co., on the 3rd August, at Cardiff and stealing a leather bag contain- ing two blonses and other artictes, the property of the Taff Vale Railway Company, on the 3rd August, at Cardiff. Mr Arthur Lewis, who prosecuted, said in regard to the first charge, that the tin box and suit of clothes belonged to Henry Kitson, a gamekeeper, of Brynmennin, near Bridgend. On the 30th May last he was travelling from Ironbriage, in Shropshire, to Brynmennin, and he saw the box on the platform at Cardiff ready to be placed in the train for Bridgend. The box, however, dis- appeared, and nothing transpired with regard to it till the 6th August, when a constable visited 48, Minny-street, Cardiff, where the accused was living, and found a tiu box in a bedroom contain- ing a number of the articles that had been missed by Kitson. Subsequently accused was chal- lenged in the street by a constable and said, I am not Henry Webster, and you are making a mistake in taking me into custody. If you take me to the station you will have to pay for it." With regard to the second charge the following articles were found in a Gladstone bag at accused's house in Minny-street One pair of trousers, one pair of boots, one pair of shoes, a bottle of hair wash, two pairs of stockings, several hand- kerchiefs, a shirt, two fronts, and a tooth brush. I At the place where accused. was lodging at Mountain Ash these articles were found ;—A fancy waistcoat, shaving soap, shaving brush, razor, three handkerchiefs, and a hair brash. All these articles were set out on the bench, to the right of the recorder,and they were also iden- tified as his property by Mr Alfred Ernest Floyd, organist, Mungotlen, who said he last saw them while travelling from Llangollen to the Eistedd- fod at Lianelly on the 3rd August. He valued them at V,7 13s. Accused gave a long circumstantial account of how'tbe things came into his possession. The snbstance of his statement was that a man,giving the name of Robert Harding, horsekeeper, came to lodge at his house in June, and stayed to the middle of July, when accused lent him 15s to go to his parents in Cornwall on his leaving as security a portion of the articles that accused was charged with stealing. He did not see the man again till August Bank Holiday, when be came to his house with the bag and articles that had been identified by Mr Floyd. He said the articles were of no use to him, and gave them to accused as a present in return for his kindness in lending him the 153 to go to his parents iq Cornwall. Cornwall. The foreman of the jury intimated that th?.y had found prisoner guilty of stealing in the first two cases, but one juror dissented, saying he believed prisoner to be guilty of receiving only. The Recorder did not notice that one juror dis sented until prisoner called bis attention to the fact. A further discussion by the jury ensued, and the foreman intimated they wished to retire. They were all in favour of guilty of stealing except one. The Recorder said it did not make much difference whether the verdict waa steal- ing or receiving," and be did not think they need retire. The foreman then briefly consulted his confreres, and said they found prisoner guilty of receiving in the first two cases. With regard to the third charge Mr H. O. C. Beasley prosecuted for the Taff Vale Company. In this case George Morris, who was going from Ferndale to Weston-super-Mare, lost at Cardiff a bag containing clothing which he valued at JE4. The articles were afterwards found at prisoner's residence. The jury found prisoner guilty of receiving in this case also. and Detective-sergeant Stephens said be had been sentenced to eight months and twelve months' imprisonment for housebreaking. One of these convictions was at Barnstaple Ses- sions, and the other at Exeter Assizes. The Recorder said persons who received were in hia opinion as bad as those who stole, and passed sentence of 18 months' imprisonment with hard labour.

NEW VICAR OF ST. MARY'S, CARDIFF. The Rev. Gilbert Heaton, M.A., the new vicar of St. Mary the Virgin, Cardiff, on Suuday morning read himself in," and at the evening service delivered his first sermon as vicar before a large congregation. After paying a tribute to the work of the retiring vicar (Rev. G. A. Jones), the preacher said his first desire was to relieve the minds of the parishioners of any unnecessary anxiety. To many of them the traditions of that church were very dear those traditions were, indeed, known throughout the length and breadth of the land, and many in the congregation were doubtless anxious as to whether those traditions were to be maintained. He hoped, by God's grace, to keep all the essentials of their teach- ing and the worship of the Church just as they had learnt to appreciate them but in whatsoever minor changes he might from time to time think it desirable to make, he would ask them just to trust him. Ho would not make any changes solely from any selfish reasons, or from any private prejudices but any changes that might be made would be made because be felt they would be good for the souls under his care, and good for the Church as a whole. He would try to strengthen all the organisations that remained in the parish before undertaking any new organ- isations and above all he hoped to labour for the Sunday schools, that they might gather in the children, for they must always be the strength of the Church. If they had strong Sunday schools they would have strong congre- gations. They must have the Sunday schools as feeders of tbe Church, and the Communicants Guild to leaven the whole lump.

STEAM PRESS BURSTS. Two men named Watson and Bennett and a girl named McCutcheon, received shocking in- juries on Monday in Newtonards Hosiery Co. s establishment, near Belfast. Work had just com- menced for the day when a large steam press burst., scalding both men very badly. A portion of the machinery was forced by the explosion into a room on the floor above, where about 50 girls were working at knitting machines. McCut- cheon was struck on the head, and fell through the bole in the floor into the debris below.

GentleRebuke.-Husband (very la.tehome from the club) H'm. I told you not to sit up for me. Wife (sweetly): I didn't—I got up to see the i»au rise.

PONTYPRIDD LOVE TRAGADY. f Shot Himself in a Fit of Jealousy, At Pontypridd on Monday Mr Ll. B. Reeca, depoty coroner, held an inquiry into the circum- stances attending the tragic death of Charles E. Fry, aged 21, who on Fridav was found dead with a bullet wound in the right temple at the month of a disased colliery level in the Lan Wood. The deceased was a cornet player in the local Salvation Army Band, and had for about three months been an agent with the Army Assurance Association. John George Fry, of Reading, identified the deceased as his brother, wlttlm he had not seen for about 12 months. He had no reason to leave home, which he did five years ago. He was of a cheerful and of a roving disposition, and had been at sea, and worked as a miner. When the small revolver which was found near the spot where the deceased was found was produced, witness said that his brother had told him he always carried such a weapon on board ship. Alfred John Lang, 18, Middle-street, a Salva- tion Army insurance agent, stated that the de- ceased had lodged with him for 16 months. lie had never seen anything,jfloc>my about him, and he first saw the revolver produced 12 months ago. It was theu loaded, and witness put it under lock and key for two months, and when the de- ceased inquired for it he returned i'j to him oa I condition that he unloaded it and put it away. Fry's explanation was that be had had it for three years,and carried it when aisea. He last saw him on Wednesday afternoon when he (deceased) went to the Post Office to send assurance money away to the head office. In reply to Dr. Daw- kins, witness said that the doceassd was of an excitable disposition, and easil:7 irritated. t Walter Harries, Ynyiybwl, spoke to finding the body, the lower part being in a pool of water, as a companion and himself were strolling through the wood. They did not know whether i the deceased was dead or asleep urtil they went on. j P.S. Jones stated that thb deceased was lying on his back, with water up to the waist. Wit- ness noticed a bullet wound in the right temple. The body having been sent to 18. Middle-street, a search was made for the weapon, and after the pool had been drained the revolver was found in the bottom, four of the six chambers being loaded. In the deceased's possession witness found some insurance papers, money, and a letter. J The letter was handed to the coroner, and an- other which the sergeant stated had been received by the deceased's young lady." The coroner glanced at them, and said they were alike. He handed the letters to the jurors. In them de- ceased wrote that he was very jealous of the young lady with whom he had been keeping com- pany for some time, and be would do something to himself. I Dr. Dawkins, who made the post-mortem ex- amination, stated that a bullet was found lodged I in the surface of the brain, and had travelled slightly backwards. The shot Fcoald easily have j been fired by deceased, and witness was of opinion J that death had taken place on Thursday. j This was all the evidence, and the Coroner re- J marked that the case was a very sad one, and I that what the jury had to consider was the state of deceased's mind. They bad read the letters, in each of which he had stated that he was very jealous of the young lady. and that that was the reason he was going to do this rash act. The jury returned a verdict that deceased had committed suicide during a fit of temporary insanity. insanity.

CATTLE FOODSTUFFS. I Alleged Thefts at Cardiff. 9 Something was heard at Cardiff Quarter Ses- j sions on Monday about the importation of Cana- dian cattle to Cardiff. Wm. Cole (29), labourer, and John Thomas (29), milk vendor, were charged with stealing nine bales of hay, five sacks of meal, and one sack of oats, the property of Messrs E. J. Poole and Sons. Mr Ivor Bowen defended Thomas, who pleaded not guilty. Mr ;■ Arthur Lewis, for the prosecution, said Messrs Poole were importers of Canadian cattle. With these cattle a quantity of hay and meal was sent for their maintenance during the voyage, and while they remained in the lairs at the dock awaiting slaughter. They bad to bo slaughtered within ten days of their arrival. If there was any hay or meal left unconsumed it was taken to Messrs Poole's premises. The last-named never sold it. A specimen of thfa Canadian hay bales was produced in court. The hay is darker in tex- ture than English hay, and is bound round into a compact mass with wire. Cole was in the employ of Messrs Poole as a handy man, and it was alleged that he stole the hay and meat referred to and took it to the premises of Thomas in Stacey-road. Against Thomas it was alleged that he sold two lots of the meal and five bales of hay to other persons. When arrested and charged by Detec- tive-Sergeant Davy, Thomas said, The last five bales were put in my by someone I don't know who. Three of them I took down to Sayes, and there are two in the ]oft• Cole SBid, I don't know anything about it." Thomas on oath said someone left four or five j bale's of hay at his place. Be did not know who it waa that left them. He bought the meal off ] a man, who said be hadpujehased it cheap, being sweepings at the docks. He bought a sack of oats and four or five binles of bay from another man. He did not know either of these men. In cross- examination Thomas said he believed one of these men had either a light 0mt or a dark suit on. (daughter.) He did not know what kind of clothes the other man had, as he did not take notice. >■ The jury found Cole gnilty of stealing and Thomas guilty of receiving, and the Recorder sentenced each to nine months imprisonment.

NOTABLE GAOLER DEAD. I The deatii took place at his residence, Winson; green, on Friday, of Mr William Brown, for- merly chief warder of H.M. Prison, Winson- green. Mr Brown entered the prison service on j September 8th, 1850, retiring from it with a pen- sion on November 30th, 1893. He had therefore put in 43 years' service as warder in prisons. The humane warder Evans in Charles Reade's novel, It's Never Too Late to Mend, was Brown, for Charles Reade based his atory upon the revela- tions made as the result of the Royal Commis- sion to investigate the atrocities perpetrated in Winson-green Prison between the years 1851 and 1853. Brown was one of the very few officials of the prison who came out of that inquiry without blame being attached to him, and almost the only one who was complimented by the Commis- sioners en the way in which ho had so often attempted to lessen the snffuringH of the wretched prisoners, taltinar into consideration, of course, the stringent regulations which he had, with others, to carry out by order of the governor,

j PORTTALBOT A CUSTOMS PORT J Gratifying Commercial Progress i Mr Edward Knott, secretary to the Port Talbot rlailway and Docks Company, received on Saturday morning from the Lords of the Treasury the gratifying information that Port Talbot has been made a Customs port. With an independent Custom House establishment, Port Talbot will be raised to the status of an indepen- dent port of the country, and will no longer suffer the disadvantage of being styled a .-reelt of the port of Swansea." Colonel Wright (chairman I of the Port Talbot Railway and Docks Com- panyi, Mr Edward Knott (secretary), Mr D. Brynmor Jones. K.C., M.P., Mr S. T. Evans, K.C., M.P., the Mayor of Aberavon (Councillor Burgess), the chairman of the Margam District Council (Major Gray, J.P.), and others have co- operated earnestly to bring abont the consumma. tion so long desired. Mr Brynmor Jones made a special visit to Port Talbot in April, and, accompanied by Colonel Wright, Mr Edward Knott, and others, made a thorough inspection of the Port Talbot Docks and premises, the extent and admirable equipment of which deeply impressed him. The movement which has culminated so happily began three years ago, when a petition from the Port Talbot district was presented to the Treasury, praying that Port Talbot might be I appointed a port for Customs purposes. The Secretary to tbe Treasury replied that the Lords Commissioners were not at the time prepared to I accede to the request, but that they would watch j the development of the business at Port Talbot, I and in the meantime would consider what addi- i tional staff would be required for Customs par- poses there In April, 1901, the Commissioners were again approached, and in May of the same i year a letter signed by Mr Austen Chamberlain was received stating that the port had hardly reached the point at which it would be entitled to be placed under the charge of a collector, but that the growth of business was being carefully watched by the Customs department. Amongst the inconveniences which the old arrangement carried with it, it was insisted with great cogency, were the necessity of journeying to Swansea, a distance of 14 miles, to deposit docu- ments, and the fact that there was no bonded warehouse nearer than Swansea. After the visit of Mr Brynmor Jones to Port Talbot a deputation, which included the Mayor of Aberavon (Councillor Burgess) and the chair- man of the Margam District Council (Major Gray), waited unon Mr Elliott at the House of Commons. They also interviewed Sir George Ryder, the chief of one of the Customs depart- ments, who said he felt that the demand was thoroughly reasonable. Subsequently Mr Rob- son, the Surveyor-General of Customs, visited Port Talbot, and, spending some days there, made the fullest inquiries, and on the spot veri- fied statements which had been made by the advocates of the proposal.

CARDIFF TOBACCO CASES. Appeal Lodged. Formal and official notice of appeal has been given in the actions known as The Cardiff Tobacco Cases in which the plaintiffs were Ogden's Ltd. and the defendants Messrs Nelson and Telford. In the origiual action the plain- tiffs, it will be remembered, claimed for goods supplied. The claims the defendants admitted, but counterclaimed for much larger amounts as damages alleged to have been sustained in conse- quence of Ogden's Ltd., not carrying out an agreement to share profits and distribute bonuses They also counterclaimed for shares of such bonuses and profits. The action was tried last term before the Lord Chief Justice of England, who found for the defendants on the counter- claim. Against this the plaintiffs are now appealing, the whole of the judgment being attacked though no special grounds are stated.

'4_ CARDIFF QUARTER SESSIONS. The Michaelmas Quarter Sessions were com- menced at the Town Hall, Cardiff, on Monday, before the Recorder (Mr B. Francis Williams, K.C.) The Ex-Mayor (Conncillor F. J. Beavan) was foreman of the Grand Jury. In charging the Grand Jury, the Recorder said there were 25 casei to come before them, though there were 27 cases on the calendar. One of these cases would be dealt with by the Court without the assistance of the Grand Jury and in the other case a true bill was brought in at the last Sessions. The cases to be dealt with were chiefly for larceny, of which there were 13. In addition, there were three cases of housebreak- ing, one of burglary, three of wounding, one of doing grievous bodily harm, and one in which a mother was charged with neglecting her children. If the facts as stated in the depositions were cor- rect the Grand Jnry would not have the slightest difficulty in returning a true bill in each case. The cases dealt with by the Conrt are reported elsewhere.

STRUGGLE IN A SIGNAL-BOX. Particulars of an exciting scene in a signal-box were reported to the North Staffordshire Police on Saturday. On the previous evening a signal- man, named Henshall, on duty in a box near Scropton, saw on the rai I way line a man named Young, who said he had been trying to drown himself. Henshall got him into the signal-box, but while he was pulling the lever Young opened the Poor and rnshed out. A goods train was com- ing down the line, and, in order to prevent the man committing suicide, the signalman rushed after Young. A fierce struggle took place on the signal-box landing, but eventually Yonng broke away, and threw himself on to the railway line just as the train came by, and was cut to pieces.

RHONDDA WOMAN'S LEAP. Mary Jane Sherlock, married woman, of 18, Tyisha road, Gelli, was before the Ystrad magis- trates on Monday charged with attempting to com- mit suicide. It transpired that defendant threw herself into the lihondda River on Thursday night when she was under the influence of drink. The river is close to her house, and the daughter hearing a scream coming from that direction sent her brother to see what was the matter. The latter saw his mother in the water, and jumped in. A struggle ensued, and both got under, but were rescued by "defendant's husband and Edward Mason, Alexandra-road. Defendant accused her husband of ill-treating her when charged by P.O. Church. The Bench complimented Mason for his conduct, and remanded the prisoner in lue- tody for a weeii.

I "LIFE OF GLADSTONE." I Mr Morley's Great Work. I iMASTERLY AND ENGROSSING VOLUMES. "°. Messrs Macmillan publish this work in three handsome volumes. No time lot its issue could have been more opportune than at the end of j this stirring and eventful week. Mr Gladstone lived in what he himself called an agitated and expectant age "—terms equally true of our own day. There is therefore special appropriateness in the fact that this particular masterpiece of biography should first appear in a season of con- troversiai storm. Any similar turmoil of con- tending policies and Ministerial stress would in his time have led the public to listen eagerly for the sound of a voice that is still. But "although dead he yet speaketb," and that in more than a metaphorical senRe, because many of the autobiographical notes left by the departed statesman directly bear upon some problems which now command revived attention. Mr Motley makes large use of those notes and also of the mass of letters, diaries, memoranda, minutes, despatches, and other documents, num. bering between 200,000 and 300,000, and care- fully preserved at Hawarden. He also draws upon the intimate knowledge of facts derived by himseli as a trusted friend and colleague of Mr Gladstone. But in this he is scrnpulous to respect the injunction laid upon him by the late Queen that the subject should be handled in no spirit of faction. Whilst avoiding the tempta- tions of partisanship, the biographer does not disclaim every trace of bias. Writing in loyal and affectionate remembrance of a great leader, he expressly repudiates any idea of indifferent neutrality, but takes credit at the same time for having at least no bias against truth. Before turning to the result of his arduous labours there is only space to note that in interest, genefal fairness, and literary value this biography will not disappoint the high expectations with which it has been long anticipated. The only other preliminaries-to note are that these three bulky I volumes, each numbering more than 600 pages, are enriched with several fine portraits of Mr Gladstone himself at different periods of his life—Gladstone, his father and Hawarden that the worK includes an elaborate chronology and index that every page contains a marginal note showing the date to which it refers as well as the showing the date to which it refers as well as the then age of Mr Gladstone (IUd that there is also a copious appendix, to which the author has wisely transferred the fuller text of letters or documents to which only passing reference could i conveniently be made in the body of the book. 'I EARLY CAREER. Mr Gladstone's long spell of strenuous life was spent amid such a constant blaze of publicity that no full record of it could be expected to I reveal much absolutely new to adult readers or politicians. But one advantage of this authentic i and authorised narrative is that it throws many interesting sidelights upon his career, corrects some misapprehensions, and illuminates various episodes hitherto involved in a certain degree of j obscurity. Speeches, debates. Bills, divisions, and I manoeuvres of party, as the author remarks, are j alike the manna that fed the children of Israel in the wilderness, losing their savour *nd power of j nutriment on the second day. This is, of course, still more true after the lapse of a long series of years, which suggests that time need not be occu- pied in heie recounting annals that belong more J to the domain of national history, although the fact be undeniable that Mr Gladstone was the j chief force, propelling, restraining, and guiding his country at many decisive moments. It is already common knowledge how the future Liberal leader, after his Eton schooldays and his Oxford training, was first elected under ducal influence for the pocket borongh of Newark as a Tory, but it will be news to many that in pre- viously writing a long letter to his father abont II the choice of a career he had expressed a strong predilection for the clerical life. This idea of taking holy orders was at the time discouraged by the prudent parent, who advised that it was better at least to delay such a step until he had gained a fuller knowledge of the world. When still in his teens at Eton t he youth took part in the proceedings of the school debating society. The manuscript of one speech he made there, preserved through all intervening years, reveals some amplitude of rhetorical form which be- tokened a long way in advance some of his coming power in oratory. TIMIDITY IN PARLIAMENT. In an autobiographical note, written in the later days of his life, when he had become the only Commoner left who had sat in the old burned House of Commons, Mr Gladstone says —" I took my seat at the opening of 1833, pro- I vided unquestionably with a large stock of schoolboy bashfulness. The first time thatbusi- ness required me to go to the arm of the chair- to say something to the Speaker, Manners Sutton I —the first of seven whose subject I have been— I remember the revival in me bodily of the frame of mind in which a schoolboy stands before his master. But apart from an incidental recollec- tion of this kind, I found it most difficult to believe, with any reality of belief, thttt such a poor and insignificant creature as I could really I belong to or really form a pftrt of an assembly which, notwithstanding the prosaic character of its entire visible equipment, I felt to be so august. What I may term its corporeal conveni- ences were, I may observe in passing, marvel- lously small. I do not think that in any part of the building it afforded the means of so much as washing the hands. The residences of members were at that time less distant, but they were principally reached on foot. When a large House broke up after a considerable division, a copious dark stream found its way up Parliament-street, Whitehall, and Charing Cross." DOUBTFUL OF HIS SPEAKING POWER Considering the mastery he afterwards acquired I and so constantly exercised as an orator it is curious to read that even after his first introduc- tion to office, Mr Gladstone was extremely dubious of his powers or prospects as a. public speaker. Upon this point he writes of a speech he made in 1835, when he was 26 years of age. On all occasions, and to-day especially, was forced upon me the humilitating sense of my inability to exercise my reason in the face of tbe Honse of Commons, and of the necessity of my utterly failing unless God gave me the strength and language. It was after all p poor perform- ance, but would have been poorer had He never been in my thoughts as a. present and powerful aid. But this is what I am, as yet, totally in- competent in effect to realise in speaking any. thing, however small, which at all satisfies my mind. Debating seems to me less difficult, though unattained. But to hold in serene con- templative action the mental faculties in the turbid excitement of debate, so as to see truth clearly, and set it forth such as it is, this 1 can- not attain to. I am sure that it must be long before I am enabled in any reasonable sense to be a speaker according even to the conception which I have formetl in my own mind.'1 HIS VERSATILITY. In contrast to this modest and depreciatory estimate of himself, it may here be worth while to quote Mr Morley's appreciation of what the young politician lived to become and to accom- plish, viz. :— We are dazzled by the endless versatility of his mind and interests as man of action, scholar, and controversial athlete as legislator, adminis- trator, leader of the people, as the strongest of his time in the main branches of executive force, strongest in persuasive force, supreme in exact- ing details of national finance master of the Parliamentary arts, yet always living in the noble vision of the moral and spiritual idealist. This opulence, vivacity, profusion and the promise of it all in days of early prime, made an awakening impression even on his foremost con- temporaries." MR GLADSTONE'S TORY RECORD. The first volume of Mr Morley's work is so full of personal matter that the reader will be tempted to linger over it even more perhaps than over those which deal with the better known features of his subject's later career. It is of interest in this connection to note the record of his original Toryism as chronicled thus by the biographer, viz. :— Besides his speeches he gave a full number of party votes, some of them interesting enough in view of the vast career before him. I think the.first of them all was in the majority of 428 against 40 upon O'Connell's amendment for Re- peal, an occasion that came vividly to bis memory on the eve of his momentous change of policy in 1886. He voted for the worst clauses of the Irish Coercion Bill. including the court martial clause. He fought steadily against the admission of Jews to Parliament. He fought against the admission of Dissenters without a. test to the universities, which he described as seminaries for the Established Church. He supported the existing corn laws. He said No to the property tax and Aye for retaining the house and window taxes. He re- sisted a motion of Hume's for the abolition of military and naval sinecures (February 14th), and another motion of the same excellent man's for the abolition of all flogging in the army save for mutiny and drunkenness. He voted against the publication of the division lists, He voted with Ministers both against slioiter Parliaments and against the ballot, a cardipal reform carried by his own Government forty years later." APOLOGIA FOR HIS TORYISM. In one of the autobiographical fragments already referred to Mr Gladstone himself explains the origin, true inwardness and declension of the political faith with which he started. He writes It has been my experience which has altered my politics. My Toryism was accepted by me on authority and in good faith I did my best to fight for it. But if you choose to examine my Parliamentary life, you will find that on every subject as I came to deal with it practically I bad to deal with it as a Liberal elected in 1832. I began with slavery in 1833,ttud was commended by the Liberal Minister, Mr Stanley. I took to Colonial subjects principally, and in 1837 was commended,for treating them liberally by Lord Russell. Then Sir R. Peel carried me into the Board of Trade, and before I had been six months iu office I wanted to resign because I thought his Corn Law reform insufficient. In ecclesiastical policy I had been a. speculator, but if you choose to refer to a speech of Shiels in 1844 on the Dissenters' Chapel Bill, you-will find bim describing me as predestined to be -a champion of religious equality-all this seems to show that I have changed under the teaching of experience. HIS PROTECTIONIST STAGE. Apropos of the now revived agitation on fiscal questions it is of peculiat interest to read of Mr 'I Gladstone's positIon ill 1842, when he was 33 years of age, aadeactibcd in another autobio- graphic fragment of his last years, viz.:—" When I entered Parliament in 1832 the groat contro- versy between Protection, or artiiiciul re^aaint, ■■■' 1. —aguM-1 and Free Trade, of which Cobden was the figure, did not enter into the popular confl'01W the day, and was still in the hands philosophers. Free Trade, for thefirst six jot** or so of my Parliamentary life, was in no party question, and it only became strictly j in 1841, at, and somewhat before, the jg Election, when the Whig Government in proposed a fixed duty upon corn. My mind in regard to it a sheet of while paper, but accepted the established conditions in the and could hardly do otherwise. In 18401 bad dabbie in this question, and on the wrong s it." The right hon. gentleman proceeds I i narrate how, later, the stones of which my<* Protectionism was built up began to get £ fortably loose, and," he adds, my tion of office at the Board of Trade was by hard, steady, and honest work, and every so spent beat like a battering ram on the ucsa fabric of my official Protectionism." w Dealing in a later chapter p.) m what he deSCflbet as the end of Protection, Mr Morley The Parliament wa3 now dissolved (July y 1 1852) to decide a great question. The repe&' the Corn Law, the ultimate equalisation of sugar duties, the repeal of the Navigation had been the three great Free Trade measures the last half-do7en years, and the issae befo the electors in 1852 was whether this policy # sound or unsound. Lord Derby might faced it boldly by announcing a moderate V*?" tection for corn and for Colonial sugars. Or might have openly told the country that be changed his mind, as Peel had changed his about tbe Catholic question and about Trade, and as Mr Disraeli was to change» mind upon franchise in 1867. and Mr Gladaton upon the Irish Church in 1868. Instead of '"j. all was equivocation. The Derbyite, as was *e said, was Protectionist in a county, neutral iD small town, Free Trader in a laige one.. was for Maynooth in Ireland, and against it' Scotland. Mr Disraeli did his best to mystIfY the agricultural labourer by phrases ab,at set- offs and compensations and relief barf>e° seeming to loom in the future.' He rang changes in mysterious new principles of taxatioØt but what they were to be he did not disclose. TD great change since 1846 was that the workiw class had become strenuous Free Traders. Tb0? had in earlier times never been really convince" when Cobden and Bright assured them fall in wages would follow the promised fall the price of food. It was the experience of years that convinced them. England alone gone unhurt and unsinged through the fiej7 furnace of 1848, and nobody doubted ttiat jj* stability of her institutions and the unity of people were due to the repeal of bad laws, be" lieved to raise the price of bread to the toilers IØ order to raise rents for territorial idlers." FIRST BOOK. One of the achievements of Mr Gladstone* early youth was the publication of that first boO* on "The State In itsRelations with the Church, which provoked Macaulay's scathing criticism I!I the Edinburgh Review." Writing upon tbi' matter in a set of fragmentary notes m 1894. and headed, Some of my Errors, Mr Gladstone himself says :—" It may perhaps be thought tb»* among these errors I ought to record the tion of that book in 1838. Undoubtedly it written in total disregard, or rather ignoraD^j of the conditions under which alone action was possible in matters of religion. involved me persorally in a good deal of embar- rasament. In the sanguine fervour of yont"t having learned something about the natare 0 the Church and its office, aud noting the roanY symptoms of revival and reform within he* borders, I dreamed that she was capable of covering lost ground, and of bringing back t" nation to unity in her communion." In some later comments upon his faroot18 subjects, strong and constant ecclesiastical biaS. Mr Morley writes:—"It was the affinity of great natures for great issues that made Mr Gladstone from his earliest manhood onwards take and bol fa?t the affairs of the churches for the objects of his most absorbing interest. He was one tho same man—his genius was one. His persistent incursions all through his long life into tbe multifarious doings, notonlyof bis own Anglican Communion, but of the Latin Church of the West, as well as of the motley Christendom of the East, puzzled and vexed whippers-in, wire: pullers, newspaper editors, leaders, colleagues i they were the despair of party caucuses, an they made the neutral man of tbe world smile, a9 eccentricities of genius' and rather sing-ula.rIY chosen recreations. All this was in truth of tbe very essence of his character, tbe manifestation of its profound unity. What, is extraordinary the career of this far-shining and dominant character of his age is not a development o* specific opinions on dogma, on discipline, ordinance, or article or sacrament, but the fact that with a steadfast tread he marched along tb: high Anglican road to tbe summits of liberalism which it was the original object of to0 new Anglicans to resist and overthrow." MR GLADSTONE'S LATE QUEEN'S LETTER. Limits of space forbid us at present the vivid narrative given in the second and volumes of the stirring course of Mr Gladston* long political career. Passing on to itspatheti close, it may, however, be well, as they have nO previously been published, to give his letter SO Queen Victoria announcing his retirement ÏroØl public life, and her Majesty's brief but grAcioo" reply as follows — The letter tendered to the Queen was this Mr Gladstone presents his most huwb'0 duty to your Majesty. The close of the S08* sion and the approach of a new one ba.e offered Mr Gladstone a suitable opportunity for considering the condition of his sight and hearing, both of them impaired, in relation to his official obligatious. As they now vlø.Ce serious and also growing obstacles in the waf of the efficient discharge of those the result has been that he has found it duty humbly to tender to your Majesty resignation of the high offices which Majesty has been pleased to entrust to him- 1*^ desire to make this surrender is aocompan10 witll a grateful sense of the kindnesses which your Majesty J.as graciou8 shown him on so many occasions duriDg various periods to which he has bad t to serve your Majesty. Mr Gladstone will n needlessly burden your Majesty with a recit of particulars. He may, however, say although at 84 years of age he is sensible ot diminished capacity for prolonged labour, is not of itself such as would justify his Prftj. ing to be relieved from the restraints and e* gencies of official life. But his has become in Parliament, and even in 4 e Cabinet, a serious inconvenience in which b must reckon on more progressive increas^ More grave than this, and more rapid in growth, is tbe obstruction of vision WblC t arises fiom cataract in both eyes. It has c him off in substance from the newspapers a from all except the best types in the best lights, while even as to these he cannot ma8tcjj them with that ordinary facility and despa* which be deems absolutely required for the <• despatch of his public duties. Iu other respe" than reading the operation of the compl.,lo- to not as vet so serious, but this one he deems be vital. Accordingly he brings together tb0 two facts, the condition of his sight and "fjja iug, and the break in the course of pu o(fairs brought about in the ordinary way ,t the close of the Session. He has, therefore, > that this is the fitting opportunity for toe t* ignatiou which by this letter he humbly ptØo your Majesty to accept. tI In tbe course of the day her Majesty w what was her last letter to him :— Windsor Cattle, March 3rd, 1894)1t Though the Queen has already accepted Gladstone's resignation, and has taken 16 of him, she does not like to leave his tendering his resiguation unanswered. ° therefore, writes these few lines to say that thinks that after so many years of ar.a?jp(? labourand responsibility he is right in to be relieved at his age of these arduous d«i e and she trusts he will be able to enjoy P0.^ and quiet with his excellent and devoted 7*^1 in health and happiness, aud that his eyel'?v# may improve. The Queen would gladly conferred a peerage on Mr Gladstone, but knows he would not accept it." Enough has probably been quoted to 'n4,Cen* lo intending readers of these masterly at<d grossing volumes what excellent use Mr Morley has made of the wealth of W»tc placed at his disposal.

REFUSE PIT SUBStDENCE. Extraordinary Occurrence at A sensational accident .occurred on at Merthyr. Thomas Barton, who has for ttlrøtr years been in the employ of Mr Vicary, ø. noil, bish contractor to the Merthyr District COUrt eØ was backing his horse and laden rubbish c the edge of the Penydarren Pit when, Pf ably owing to the recent rains,the grounds away beneath tbe cart. Barlow treid to sft horse,but the weight of the cart was so gr0 he was compelled to relinquish his hold to Bave himself. P.C. Thomas Davies, wB nessed the accident some distance when the horse and cart had fallen 50 1 about half-way down the steep gra<1*e.rt«j shafts snapped, and the horse bounded #J»IC^ air, falling with terrific force. The^animft1, .was worth about £ 18, died almost instant'" reaching the bottomof the pit.

WHEN THE SLEEPER AWOKE. — aijd .?u To go to sleep in a railway carriage, ^i'^ wake up and find that you are being P1 nutshells is a novel experience that j happen to everybody. But it Thomas Walter Roberts, a grocer, who. on 0 jj»i last, was travelling from Charing Cross t jø sb ing. Being tired, he dropped off to sleePed bY ø corner of the carriage. He was awaken fusilade of nutshells, which were being at him by two fellow travellers, named (b0- and Taylor. Notwithstanding his continued to throw the shells at him. be »>* Sloane-sqaare and South Kensington f sbiØC; that he had had enough of that sort o jj t" and that he. would stop the train and guard. He got up, ard Taylor ^n,he down. Then With:n kicked him »n ffi The railway officials were called at Boo h& tf sington. ami the men given intocustody-^jtli^ JJ 'ing to the police evidence given ag&ins1L and Taylor at Westminster Bolice Saturday the two men had been drinj5 Pj4 Shell said he had a good mind to se° 03, ot Sobers to gaol, a ^ned eac^* of them days' hard laboui b,!J

A twelve year old pu-]. F.'J. been missing from 8 r; ;koe; rvn, tbe ffi A since Saturday aflerr j vvh° at Cwmbran on Mon weak intellect, was ow«-fcr-1 • j| her uiovmtml*. j» her UlOVWt)ULIh8 A