The Cardiff Times

S U N'C, LA D -SHAG'T o BACCO T B ES T TRY IT. I ■ li n—aam

BRITAIN LEADS IN FREE TRADE. By MARON, M.P. BRITAIN LEADS IN FREE TRADE By MARON, M.P. .A White Paper just issued by the Board of *rad<» relating to trade and commerce of Certain foreign countries and British posses- sions for the seven months ending July 31st, Contains the following statistics *— Imports. 1909. 1910. £ & Waited Kingdom.. 298,021,000 320,241,000 Germany 241,721,000 242,394,000 United States 173,018,000 191,164,000 Prance 145,177,000 151,801,000 w Exports. United Kingdom.. 212,422,000 242,974,000 176,817,000 203,559,000 United States 183,699,000 186,529,000 127,474,000 137,283,000 This not only indicates a better improve- ment in the English figures than in those of Other countries but the net result is to show tlximstakabl-y once again how surely, thanks w the elasticity of our Free Trade Astern, the shadow of commercial de- pression touches this country last and •eaves it first. No amount of Protectionist can upset the figures which show J? What proportions the great commercial ira- s are benefiting by booms in the world's "QI,Qe and which disprove that our industries JjPe in the decaying position which the Protec- tionists and Tariff Reformers mourn with Jttch delight. If their assertions were true, then these figures, instead of proving British su- premacy in the unmistakable way they do, ght to prove the contrary, and that Germany and the United States are taking Qpeafc Britain's place in the commercial "haggle that is so constantly and continually toing on. But the Board of Trade figures. Smarter after quarter, and month after month a different tale. A Huge Coal Output. Turning to coal, I find that the official Jt-atistics show the output of coal for fte year ending 1910 was 860 million tons, or an ^crease of 23 million tons on the output of the ^ar before. »,As compared with its population, 1 n»d t the production of coal in the United King- 4ODa still surpasses that of the United States. amounts to six tons per head, while in the "ttited States it is only four and a half tons |*er head, in Belgium three and a fifth tons Pfir head, in Germany about two and a quarter and in France under one ton. In 1908 the output of British India amounted JQ 12,770,000 tons, an increase of about 1$mil- tons compared with 1907. In both Aus- a and Canada the output has reached S^out 10,000,000 tons per annum. In New Zealand a small increase occurred, and the ag- § £ egate output of the Colonies now forming the £ nion of South Africa was greater in 1908 by ^,000 tons. In British South Africa as a ^hole the annual production is now nearly 6-000,000 tons.. .The number of men employed in copi mining £ 1908 was as follows United Kingdom, i!«6,000; United States, 690,400; Germany, France, 190,000 and Belgium, 145,000. the gross and net exports of the United ngdom and of Germany in 1909 were the ffeatest on record. The total quantity from United Kingdom during 1909 was 63,677,000 as compared with 62,547,000 tons in the ^ar before.. The imports of coal into Germany m 1909 Counted to 13,294 tons, about two-thirds of yhich was obtained from the United Kingdom. Moreover, I find also that the imports of coal into Germany during the last two tears have been on a scale more than twice 46 large as ten years ago. The consumption of 2?al in the United Kingdom last year was >284,000 tons and in Germany 129,738,000 whilst tbfe provisional figures for the, ^^ted States are 379,659,000 tons. .Jhe Steel Industry Of the United States* Look what is happening in that possible k^adise, the United States of America, for *°rkmen. The Steel Trusts there have ^tablished, a monopoly behind which is a ^hedule of high import duties carefully Ranged for their own interests, of which 2?ey take advantage to tha last cent. In con- J^quence the cost of living is rising beyond all 5°Unds. In the annual report of the United states Steel Corporation it is shown that the Hj'ofits exceed the pay-roll thereof by some pillions of dollars. It shows that if this J^rporation had paid 50 per cent, more in *ges it would still have received as profits £ r its inflated stock an amount equal to one- of the sum paid to all its workers and ^anagers, who were the only real producers en- J^Red in the industry. The steel industry has 5*ade more millionaires than any other in- j?8try in that country, and yet now the con- Onagers, who were the only real producers en- J^Red in the industry. The steel industry has 5*ade more millionaires than any other in- j?8try in that country, and yet now the con- rations amongst its employees are the worst ^existence. » In this the hour of their dire distress—when J^taan endurance ha s reached its utmost limit— J««se oppressed workers turn to Trade Unions relief. Let our fellow-workers who are in days denying the Unions, and saying the Trade Unions have been played out, i^ember that so far the Trade Unions have ~?jken the leading part in every movement to jjfeck the aggressions of greed in the attempt apital to grind Labour below existence J^int. Yet it is the Unions that have so far r^cceeded beyond all else in the endeavour to Meliorate and elevate their conditions of ^bpur and life. The Labour cause is no different from any J^her human movement in its requirement of ~JUcerity by its participants as a requisite to recess. But it is sufficiently established to mind that it does not require the same jr^ree of pertinacity just how because its r^oievements are so well known, as also are other movements in the same direction, history of our Labour Unions is well r^culated to inspire the fainthearted even with ^ftfidenc e, provided they will enter upon the ™°rk with sincerity and tenacity.

England Ahead of all Other Nations. Learning that a large number of the readers this column have had no opportunity to c^ow the sentiments of the President of the repeal Government Board upon the above J^ject, and inasmuch as it is a subject appro- bate to the object of • this article, perhaps will allow me to use a few extracts from *hat he has recently said on it. 'Correcting a Tariff "Reformer" the other day, Burns, with flashing eyes, said that to 5ear some of the Jeremiahs talk about Great retain and Ireland during the last few years would think that pauperism is sole product of this country; JJ* the opinion of some people we are sup ?^8ed to have a monopoly of misery." He then J^'d us that this year, 1910-11, we shall wit- the lowest pauperism on record in the jJ'tory of Poor Law in this country. Further- more, as Minister for Health, he ventured to that 1910-11 will witness the lowest general F^ath rate ever seen in this country, and the *^est infantile mortality that this or any ?^Qer comparable country has ever been able record. Adding another to the many com- parisons that had been made between the pre- state of affairs in this country and the Jj^te of affairs 60 years ago, Mr Burns stated J*at during the past 60 years pauperism in country had decreased from 62 per 1,000 to ? out-door pauperism had declined from 54 j? 15 and, better still, child pauperism had ^creased from 26 to 7, and the able-bodied Door bad diminished from 12 to 2 per 1,COO. A significant thing, as indicating the greater •inanity with which the poor were treated i*1 addition to the increased expenditure was also the fact that Poor Law nurses 40d d from 200 to 1,050 in 1900 and "10 in 1910, and medical officers, dispensers, /^d others had increased proportionately. _ie said also that a most remarkable feature our pauperism is that it comes from a com- U^.tively small number of families—124,000 ^tnilies produce on an average '100,000 per- 118 dependable upon Poor Law. Striding Comparisons. fie asserted also that there were 11 000 fewer Public-houses 10 years a^o, and as the public- ?°Uses had decreased the death rate had popped. He gave us also the -news that while of the greatest commercial and indus- ^al countries are getting more drunken, is t Britain is getting more sober. Yes, it 1 it ? sad fact, according to him, that alcoholism increasing in Germany almost to the same jPftent as it is decreasing in Great Britain. In 2*hclusion.Mr Burns made a powerful appeal the humanity of employers to see that their workpcoplc lived and worked under such con- 'tion3 as woi^ld ensure them against want, fji B, Wou'd leave them sufficient leisure and jH^icient margin to provide them with a fair B^re of comfort and health to enable them to uJoy life.

c The 1 jocal Government Board have issued a Oftmunication showing that the transfer the justices to the local authorities of the C^er of making closing orders in the case of ^^ses unfit for habitation has had an imme- t ate effect in securing increased activity.

M. Briand's Bold Course. ? ¿-4 CABINET RECONSTRUCTION. Premier's Position Strengthened. Paris, Wednesday.—At the conclusion of this morning's CabiArt Council, M. Briand handed the resignation of the Ministry to Pre- sident Fallieres. The Premier at the' outset of the meeting stated that the recent Parliamentary debate had assumed a character of indisputable gravity, and he recalled the very violent per- sonal attacks upon him and attempts to un- dermine his authority. He had even been accused of secret designs upon the public liber- ties. The Chamber had done justice to these attacks and the Republican majority had testi- fied its confidence in the Government, but after such a debate and in view of the result it might produce in circumstances so very different from those in which the Cabinet was formed it seemed to him the better, broader, and more loyal interpretation of the Repub- lican constitution would be to leave the matter in the hands of the President Fallieres by handing him the resignation of Ithe Cabinet. M." iviant, Minister of Labour, declared he was determined to retire. He remained, nevertheless, the faithful friend of M. Briand. Ministers agreed with M. Briand's views and signed .the resignation. I As the result of his subsequent interview with the President, M. Briand has undertaken to construct a new Ministry. It is said M. Briand intends to make some important alterations. He will retain M. Pichon, Minister of Foreign Affairs General Brin, Minister of War Admiral Bosie De Lafeyrere Minister of Marine, with their former portfolios, and, perhaps M. Jean Dupuy, formerly Minister of Commerce and Industry, with charge of portfolio. New Ministers will be appointed' in most of the other departments. Among those whom M. Briand may call upon later- are Messieurs Klotz, Moins, Chaumel, Raynaud, and Noulens. M. Briand is acknowledged-on EJIhandbto, have emerged from the strike debate with en-, hanced prestige and undiminished authority; but the next task of the Cabinet, that-ofv devising measures to safeguard the country?) against anarchy, requires a homogexiconstantly solidly united Government.—Renter.

AMERICAN STRIKE SCENES. Society Ladies as Leaders. Chicago, Wednesday.—Serious rioting oc-l curred here yesterday in connection with al strike of clothing factory employes. The, mounted police made charges, among the crowd and many arrests were effected, including a number of well-known society women, who, wearing the attire of ordinary. factory hands, had been leading the strikers and championing their cause.—Central News. Express Men and Mayor Gaynor. New York, Wednesday.—The leaders of-the- striking express men bitterly criticise the atti- tude of the police, who, they declare, system- • attcally discriminate against the strikers in dealing with the disorders. Rioting continues, and the strikers threaten that if the police per- sist in guarding the express companies, wagow they will call out all the truckmen and chau-. ffeurs. Mr Gaynor has spared no effort to settle; the dispute by methods of 0liiliation, but so far without avail. It is estintfated that the com- panies are losing 100,000-dollars daily.Central-. News. Mr Ashton, general organiser of the Brother- hood of Teamsters, issued a statement to the effect that if Mr Gaynoiy the Mayor, wishes to avoid a strike of teamsters in sym- pathy with the strike of express men, he must remove the police guards who accompany the express waggons. Mr Gaynor was given until to-day to consider the matter. Later.—The Mayor has yielded to the demand of the strikers for the removal of policemen from the Express waggons, and announces that the strikers have agreed to arbitration, and will return to work pending the decision of the arbitmtors.-Peuter.

VISIT FROM U.S. WARSHIPS. Full details of the forthcoming visit of the United States Atlantic Fleet to England have been given by the American Ambassador. Mr Whitelaw Reid says it is proposed that the third division of the Atlantic Fleet, consisting of the'Georgia; Nebraska, Rhode -Island, ana. Virginia, should be at Gravesend on November 14th, and will remain about three weeks. These ships will be followed by the Minnesota, Vermon, Mississippi and Idaho, comprising the fourth division, which will arrive on Decem- k ber7th and remain until December the28th. Be- sides the visits to Gravesend, the first and second divisions of the Atlantic Fleet will in turn pay a vist to Portland, each remaining for about three weeks. Of the ships men- tioned the Vermont and Minnesota are the i —— Rear-Admiral Seaton Schroder. I most modern, being 16,000-ton battleships, each carrying four 12in., eight 8in. and twelve 7in. guns. They have a speed of over 18 knots. The Mississippi and Idaho are 17-knot battle- ships of about 13,000 tons, carrying similarguds, The Georgia, Nebraska, Rhode Island and Virginia, the ships comprising the third division, are faster than the others, being all capable of doing over 19 knots. Their dis- placement is 14,948 tons, and their armament is similar to that of the Vermont and Missis- sippi..Many of the ships took part in the famous tour round the world undertaken in 1908 and 1909 by the United States Fleet. Rear-Admiral Schroder, Commander-in-Chief of the Atlantic Fleet, will be in command. The dates, however, are subject to revision.

SITUATION IN SPAIN. Startling Rumour Discredited. A rumour was current in official circles in Paris early yesterday morning that a revolu. tion had broken out in Madrid. Telegraphic communication with Madrid and Barcelona was, however, uninterrupted yester- day, and it was declared that tranquillity pre- vails throughout the country. Up to yesterday evening the British Foreign. Office had received no news whatever tending to confirm the rumour, and was inclined to. discredit absolutely the report.

EARTHQUAKE IN FRANCE. Paris, Wednesday.—Sharp shocks of earth- quake were experienced yesterday evening in several districts of the Bouches-du-Rhone De. partment. A Marseilles telegram to the J'our- nal states that at Salon a panic broke out among the inhabitants, who left the houses and cafes and ran terrified along the streets and boulevards. The shocks lasted two seconds and caused the collapse of several walls. Shocks were also, felt at Alleins Pellissane, Lambese, and other districts which suffered in last year's visita- tion, causing great alarm.—Central News.

REVOLVER SHOTS IN THEATRE. f Rome, Wednesday.—At a theatre in Palermo, just before the curtain. rose upon the third act of the Countess of Amalfi," the first violin, Rosario Profeta, stood up, whipped out a re- volver, and fired four shots. Two bullets struck a 'cellist named Oliveii, and a third struck another 'cellist named Beauf. Amid a scene of wild disorder and panic Profeta was arrested. The wounds inflicted proved to be slight.— Central News.

-.0. CARDIFF TRADER LOST. A cable from Vera Cruz (Mexico) states that the steamship VaJmaseda. is ashore on the Rio Cano beach, south of Vera Cruz, and is a probable total loss. H t crew have been landed. The Valmaseda, a vessel of 20-11 tons gross register, built in 1892, is outward bound from Cardiff for Central American ports. In August, while on her present voyage, she went 1 ashore in a bad position near Miami, and when refloated a fortnight later she was very seriously damaged.

WELSH COUNTRY HOMES. 1 XLVII.-Caldicot Castle. A TALE OF SEVEN CENTURIES. Greatness in Medieval Days. ROMANTIC HISTORY AND ASSOCIATIONS Of all the great castles which were reared in mediaeval days in South Wales and Monmouth- shire, not more than half a dozen are still habitable.. Of these, Glamorganshire and Pembrokeshire can claim at least two apiece— I the former Fonmon and St. Donat's, and the latter Picton and Manorbier. In this select circle Monmo uthshire can, by the possession of Caldicot, also obtain representation. The pride of place which Fonmon takes as being the oldest inhabited dwelling in Morganwg, must be conceded in Gwent to Caldicot Castle-the ancient de Bohun fortress which is to-day the residence of Mr G. Wheatly Cobb. Caldicot, like Manobier, fell into decay, CALDICOT CASTLE FROM THE SOUTH, SHOWING THE GREAT GATE HOUSE. though from neglect rather than from hammers and crowbars as did Caldicot, and was in ruins for several centuries. Within the past thirty years, however, each has been res- cued from its desolate state, for each is to-day inhabited, and ea?h owes its rehabilitation to the antiquarian enthusiasm of Mr Joseph Richard Cobb. F.S.A., the father of the present owner of Caldicot. CALDICOT CASTLE-THE WOODSTOCK TOWER. How it Impresses the Visitor. Eleven miles east of Newport, on a alight elevation above the lowlands, on the north bank of the Severn Sea, the frowning battle- ments of the great Castle of Caldicbt, com- mand the eastern end of the willow-strewn level which bears its name. It is a proud and imposing fortress as you approach it from the CALDICOT CASTLE-THE KEEP AND WEST CURTAIN. Note the figurehead of the "Foudroyant" and the Well. south, where the great Gatehouse dominates everything with the sense of mediaeval magnifi- cence. You at once recognise its right to a place among the great chain of castles along the southern seaboard, in which succession it forms thp link between Chepstow and Newport. The beautiful proportions of its gateway and towers, the massive character and splendid workmanship of its masonry, cannot fail to form an immediate impression. Before we speak of the Caldicot of to-day, however, let us turn back 3even or eight cent- nries and outline its beginnings and the roman- tic story of its successive owners. The Saxon and The Name. In pre-N orman timegw when the bowl of [ the wolves could be heard through the dense forest of Wentwood, there was an arm of the sea extending in a northerly direction, from what is now known as Caldicot Pill, to the walls of Caerwent. Its extent may to-day be estimated by a sarvey of the well watered meadows which bound the Nedern brook. It is a well defined landmark of the history of that region, that in 1063, three years before Hastings was lost and won, the last Saxon King Harold crossed the Severn, drove h"ck the Celt, and began to build for himself a resi- dence there Before it was completed, how-- ever, Harold was called away to meet a sterner foe, and the fierce Welshmen fell upon those who remained, and having slain the builders, set their seal to the matter by demolishing their worIL. Archdeacon Coxe states that part of Caldicot is believed to be Saxon, and subsequent writers have, without troubling to investigate, helped to perpetuate-the fallacy. There is no Saxon work in Caldicot Castle. The site of King Harold's ill-fated palace was at a point south west of Portskewett Church, and to this day the twyrau or mounds which mark its site are known as Harold's House." But the Saxon left another legacy, in the name of Caldicot," which, to quote Me Wheatly Cobb, to whom we are indebted for much-valuable historical data contained- in this article, is a corruption of Cold Cot," comparable to "ruined homestead, deserted dwelling place." In Early Norman Days. Then the Norman came, and William Fitz Osborne, Earl of Hereford, became Governor of the Marches. To him the erection of the first mediaeval fortress at Chepstow and Mon- mouth is usually attributed. Doomsday book in 1086 mentions Caldicote, stating that. it was held by Durand, the Sheriff of Gloucester- shire, and adds" He has in desmesne there three ploughs and fifteen semi-villeins and four serfs and one man-at-arms. All these have twelve ploughs. Hfere is a mill Worth ten shillings. All this is worth six pounds." Durand was succeeded by his brother Roger, and the latter by his son, Walter, Earl of Gloucester. In those days land taken by the sword could only he held by the same potent weapon, especially when. as was the case at Caldicot, the fierce Celts were ever I ready to rush down from the hills and be re- venged upon the alien who had dispossessed them. A fortress was needed and it is prob- able that it was Walter, Earl of Gloucester, who selected the site and built the first strong- hold at Caldicot. Of that first Norman strong- hold, which must be attributed to the first half of the 12th century, nothing remains in situ, but there are evidences of this structure in the foundations of the keep and one or two other places. Earl Walter's son Milo, who succeeded him,/ married a daughter of Bernard Newmarch, Lord of Brecol, and when in 1144 Milo was accidentally kPled by being shot by an arrow while hunting in the Forest, of Dean, he left four sons who were successively Lords of Caldicot. All, curiously fnougli, died without issue, and the catv' < passed to his three daughters. The De Behun Era. Of these daughters, Margaret, the eldest, married Humphry de Bohun, and lie, as the result of this alliance became Earl of Hereford and Constable of England, the latter office being that by the service of which to the King Caldicot Castle was held. Thus Caldicot passed into the possession of a family of strong men, some of whom were destined, during the suc- ceeding two centuries, to make history, and, what was far better, to materially assist in forcing unwilling monarchs to concede principles which are among the foundations of the rights and liberties which we enjoy tc-day. Humphry do Bohun, who married Margaret and her possessions about 1170, is regarded as the probable builder of the massive round tower on the north western side of the present castle, and now known as the keep. This tower formed at the outset a fortification by itself, for it was surrounded by a ditch, which was not covered, as now, by the curtain walls. The entrance on the first floor was reached by a moveable ladder and was barred from within by huge wooden beams. There were two storeys above the basement, and above the upper floor a rampart and battle- mented parapets Below the basement level was the dungeon. The work of building the Vralls of the great courtyard began soon afterwards, and they were constructed on arches resting on rough piers, but most of these have since been either re-cased or re-built. Humphry built the big horse-shoe tor at the south-eastern angle, the first floor of which was occupied by the Great Hall of the Castle. To this day may be seen the remains of the fireplace which occupied a position on its western side. Mr Cobb is of opinion that this work was all accomplished between 1170 and 1200. The Second Building Period. Eight generations of the De Bohun race held Caldicot. Among the features of the castle are the many indications which it beard of altera- tions and additions, and most of these must be attributed to the era of the De Bohuns, and of their immediate successors. The De Bohuns added a story to the keep. They raised the south-eastern curtain and they built the east curtain, erecting in each case buildings against them. A subsequent generation raised the bouth-eaflterb curtSTft stilt furthfer ajid putrhi" the row of, great decorated .windows which form such a feature of the south front. These windows evidently formed part of an earlier building. Three of them are clearly not ecclesiastical, but the fourth may have been, though there is evidence that the building it. came from was part of the castle. While on this point it may be noted (hat in many parts of Caldicot there are evi- dences of this having been the case. Carved mouldings and other fragments have frequently been found built into the fabric. Some of these doubtless belong to the chapel, which stood in mediaeval times in the courtyard. The De Bohun race had in the meantime made their mark in the nation's affairs. The fourth Humphry married the sister of a Scottish Kipg, and it was their son who, with other powerful barons, forced King John to concede the foundation of our civil rights. The Fifth De Bohun followed in his father's footsteps, acting on the side of the people in curtailing the powers of the Crown. A King Defied by a De Bohun. The Seventh De Bohun was also a noble pos- sessed of grit, of which he provided evidence on a notable occasion, when King Edward I. ordered him as Constable of England to go with the Earl of Norfolk, the Earl Marshal to fight in Flanders. Both Earls flatly refused, and addressing Earl Humphry, the King exclaimed By God, Sir Earl, you shall either go or hang By God, Sir King," was the bold reply of the Lord of Caldicot, I will neither go nor hang!" It was evident that Humphry knew what he was about, for he did not go, and he was not handed. HIs son, the Eighth Humphry, married Elizabeth, the King's daughter, and in the reign of Edward II. fought at Bannockburn, where he was taken prisoner. On his death, at the fight of Boroughbridge in 1322, the suc- cession passed to his four sons in turn. The tenth and last Humphry died in 1372 leaving two daughters, Alianore and Mary, who became wards of the Crown. One of the last acts of King Edward III. was to grant their estates to his youngest son, Prince Thomas of Woodstock, until such time as the wards should come of age. Prince Thomas, of Caldicot. We now reach what may be regarded as the brightest period in oar castle's history, an era when a King's son wedded a De Bohun heiress and held High Court there in the latter part of the 14th century. Prince Thomas of Wood- stock, who was subsequently created Duke of Gloucester and Earl of Essex, married Alianore, the fair De Bohun heiress, and forthwith began the work of completing the castle in a manner worthy of his rank and position. The magnificent gate-house, which is one of the glories of Caldicot was erected by Prince Thomas, and it remains to-day one of the finest examples of mediaeval masonry in the country. Our illustration of the south-front of Caldicot will give an idea of its fine pro- portions and imassive character. It was Prinde Thomas, too, who erected the beautiful Woodstock tower which is on the northern side, while the other work which he accomplished included a large oblong building extending north-east and south-west on the southern side of the Woodstock tower. Con- cerning these we shall have a pretty story to relate in our next article which will complete the tale of Caldicot Castle, and will describe its condition to day and the work which has been carried out there during the past couple of decades, whereby desolation, waste and ruin have given place to habitation, utility and picturesque restoration. Next Week—CALDICOT CASTLE (continued).

UNITED COUNTIES SOCIETY. A Curious Mistake. A meeting of the Council of the United Counties Agricultural Society was held at the Boar's Head Hotel. Carmarthen, on Wednes- day Lieutenant-General Sir .Tames Hills- Johnes, V.C., G.C.B. (Dolaucothi), presiding. Discussion took place over a curious mistake with regard to the challenge cup offered by Lord St. Davids. It appeared* that in 1908 Mr Thomas (Bwlchgwyn) won the cup outright, but through some inadvertence the cup was again entered in the schedule for competition in 1909, and Mr J. W. Griffiths (The Court, Penally) now claimed the cup as having won it in the latter year. Mr Mervyn Peel (Danyrallt) said that if Mr Thomas won the cup outright in 1908 they could not take it from him. I It was decided to write to Mr .T. W. Griffiths stating that as Mr Thomas won the cup out- right in 1908 it could not be competed for in 1909. It having been decided that the United Counties Agricultural Show should in future be held in different parts of West Wales, letters were received inviting the show to Ammanford, Newcastle-Emlyn, and Cardigan. A committee was appointed to visit the three places and report.

Royalty in South Africa. CONFERMENT OF HONOURS. Cape Town, Wednesday.—Escorted by a de- tachment of the Cape Mounted Rifles the Duke of Connaught proceeded at 10 o'clock this morning to the City Hall, where he began a heavy day of engagements by receiving addresses from his Masonic brethren of the four constitutions existing in South Africa. While this ceremony was being performed the Duchess of Connaught proceeded to the Drill Hall, where she opened the Exhibition of the South African Fine Arts Association. At noon the Duke of Connaught presented certificates of the St. John Ambulance Association, and in the afternoon opened the Medical Congress. In the speech in which he opened the Congress the Duke of Connaught commented upon the healthful properties of the atmo- sphere of South Africa, the abundant sunshine, and the country's freedom from what in European and Eastern countries were most fruitful causes of disease. In the evening his Royal Highness held an investiture at Government House, and con- ferred the following decorations :-Lord Gladstone, Grand Cross of St. Michael and St. George General Lord Methuen, Grand Cross of the Victorian Order; Mr Ernest Kiplin, secretary to the Union Convention, Knight Commandership of St. Michael and St George Sir Lewis Michell, Knight Commandership of the Victorian Order. Vice-Admiral Sir George Egerton, Commander-in-Chief of the Cape of Good Hope Station Sir Thomas Cullinan, and Sir Frederick Smith, the Mayor of Cape Town, also received the patents of their respective knighthoods.—Reuter.

A NEW K.C. Mr Timothy M. Healy, who figures in the list of the newly-appointed King's Counsel, is one of the ablest debaters the House of Commons has ever listened to, and one of the wittiest. HiB command over the complications of the Land Act of 1881, as shown in debate, gave rise to the remark that there were only three people who understood the Bill-Gladstone, Lowe, and Tim Healy. He did a great stroke for the tenants by securing what is universally known as the Healy Clause "—the clause which provided, that no rent should be pay- able in respect of improvements made by the Mr T. M. Healy, M.P. I tenant or his predecessors in title. Mr Healy began life as a clerk—first a railway clerk at Newcastle, and afterwards a merchant clerk in London. He made his mark, howe irer, as London letter-writer to the Nation." It was to Mr Parnell that Mr Healy owed his first chance. Mr Parnell, when on his American tour telegraphed for him to come as private secre- tary. Mr Healy added to his Parliamentary reputation for oratory by the brilliant speech he made in the second reading debate on Mr Birreirs Education Bill in defence of religious teaching by teachers of the child's own faith. He was born in Bantry in 1855, and his wife is a daughter of Mr T. D. SnUivan.

't>' DICKENS' STAMPS. 'stam^sha^eT^rv^^ed^To^SjN^ Stamps have been forwarded to the Ty the Dickens" Centenary Testimonial Committee Delivery of the first million of the stamps has been promised by Messrs. Tuck for about 10th November, the technical character of the stamp itself being responsible for the delay. It has been engraved on steel and printed on special hand-made paper. Every stamp bear? a water-mark to ensure against forgery. The committee hope that at least ten million of these centenary stamps will be sold as a cen- tenary testimonial to the descendants of Charles Dickens, but this can only be done if every owner of a copy of Dickens shall match Dickens' Memorial Stamp. I that copy with one of these certificates of a super-royalty fee of one penny having been paid. Amongst those supporting the scheme in the United Kingdom are Lord Rosebery, Lord Alverstone, Lord Tennyson. the Bishops of Durham and Winchester. Sir L. Alma- Tadema, R.A., Sir Gilbert Parker, Sir E. Ray Lankester, Sir A. Conan Doyle, and Messrs Hall Caine, Rudyard Kipling, Andrew Lang, Thomas Hardy, Theodore Watte-Dunton, and Percy Fitzgerald. In America the support ac- corded to the centenary stamp is, if possible, even wider. The most eminent citizens in the Republic, in politics, commerce, literature, the arts, and journalism, are active members of the Centenary Testimonial Committee. One of the first to lend his name and counsel was ex-President Theodore Roosevelt, and also the late poet and philanthropist, Julia Ward Howe. It is expected that the sale in America will vie with that of England.

FIRED HIS OWN Mill. Incendiary Sentenced at Exeter. Charles Reynolds (50), millowner, was sen- tenced at Exeter Assizes on Wednesday to five years' penal servitude for setting fire to the Round Tree Mill, Exeter, with intent to de- fraud an insurance company. The case was first heard at the last Assizes, when the jury disagreed. Prisoner yesterday went into the box and emphatically denied that he set fire to the mill. He was cross-examined as to his financial position, and declared that he was solvent and not in need of the insurance. The jury, who earlier in the day had visited the mill, arrived at a verdict of Guilty after half-an-hour's deliberation, and Mr Justice Bankes, in passing sentence, said he agreed with their verdict.

BOOKMAKER'S CRUELTY. Separation Order at Swansea. When summoned by his wife, Gertrude Williams, for persistent cruelty, at Swansea on Wednesday, Frank Williams, of High-street, asked the magistrates to adjourn the case because he had split his head open and was not in a position to conduct his case. He thought that if he could only see his wife they would reach an amicable settlement. Mr H. Thompson, who prosecuted, thought that if the case was adjourned and the woman returned to her husband she would have to undergo more cruelty. The woman said defen- dant last Saturday returned home with his head covered with blood. When she bathed it for him he said she was not doing it properly, and ran after her with a poker, shouting, Clear out of the house, you She stumbled and fell, and then, she alleged, he kicked her. She said her husband was a book- maker's tout. Defendant: No, a bookmaker. Mr Thompson I am very glad to hear that. It may mean a more substantial order. The Magistrates made a separation order, defendant to pay 109 a week towards the maintenance of his wife.

SURVEYOR RETIRES. Mr J. W. Butterworth, the chief engineer surveyor of the Board of Trade for the South Wales District-which includes Bristol-is retiring under the age limit next month. He is a north countryman by birth, but was asso- ciated with Bristol for over 19 years. In 1906, on receiving promotion to tho office of Chief Engineer-a position subordinate only to that of Principal Officer-he moved back to Cardiff.

WELSH GLEANINGS. News and Views in Lighter Vein. Mary, what must we do first before we can expect forgiveness for our sins ?" We musfe sin firat," the little girl answered. The City Dispensary for consumptive case* has already proved its need. Over 100 casr* are being treated by the medical staff. Play the man," was the text of an address by an Aberdare minister on Sunday to the newly-fcrmed brotnertiood. We have it on good authority that football was not men- tioned. The Cardiff Libraries are always up to dat*. The committee have placed in a prominent position on the shelves of the Lending Library The Conquest of Consumption and Coa- quering Consumption." Some three hundred girls have passed through the St. David's Diocesan House of Mercy during the past few years, and of these some 50 per cent. have been re-established in life. In "The Smallholder a portrait is given of Mr Tom Jones, the Welsh smallholder, who has won in open competition more prizes for vegetables and flowers than any cottager in the country. t "i?no!irn' admired, and loved everywhere." In these terms the « Baptist Times describes the Rev. Charles Davies, of the Tabernacle, Cardiff, who has just published a volume of 20 Welsh sermons. A Rhondda school teacher last week con- ceived the idea of making his class of baM engage in a Rugger match, christening tte sides Scholars v. Duffers." The Duffers woo by a substantial score Whenever and wherever I toach weWa history," said Mr Kyrle Fletcher at Rhiwderto the other evening, "I always find that the Celt will never take a blow lying down. He Is hiTprincjS. and m*ke8ACrifiC,a,*C* n^IT,o^pT»°f Peilarth' fche widow of the late th;tehPa £ 7'is at a visit to She ^faed New York on the Snpe^0net°f her passengers being "The Housing a new monthly, deyoted to model housing, some good pIctures of cottages shown at the recent Swansea Exhibition. Three hOU8e8 ùa a lock, each having three bedrooms, a living room, bathroom, etc., cost oraii siw to £180. Jfc £ M.P who has taken 80k. R^orderofRi^6 in 1887' •»* has be £ °ld farmer was complaining bitter>v of parish0611" h4pvesU°the minister of the parisn. You have cause to complain." said ber that IVovS'8^i^Uj you sllou,d retnem- nff^ ce 18 kmd' a™1 that even tb» birds of the air are provided for." Ay." hiH the farmer significantly, off my crops." A man who wanted to buy a gold trinket for aiancv & C?,rmarthen jeweller, took K a Masonic square and compass h in a glass case. After it had been packed m a box and paid for, the jeweller said, "I suppose you are a bt"wn t.. No, was the reply, "I am a carpenter." ^ng 1x5 wake «P and be true to its motto, Deffro, mae'n ddydd." Thes city fund of the Welsh National Memorial has one lone solitary subscriber-the Lord Mayor. Swansea, Newport, Neath, Llanelly, Barry. Kidwelly, and other towns have been quite awake for weeks. A day or two ago Mr D. A. ThomM, M.P., while on the Cardiff Exchange, was seen play- hoether well-known Docksmaa an observer, I should 'a pulse to get a grip of tQe situ|^K^ coal trade affairs, for I'm we shall be soon," Comparisons are sometimes Qdious, even in educational matters. Alderman Lewis Mor- gan claims modesty for the Education Com- mittee^ m spending £ 12,000 on the boys' inter- mediate school, when it is recollected that a suggestion was made to spend S25,000 on a fire brigade station for Cardiff. The point raises doubts. The Jones Llangan exhibits in the Cardiff Central Library include pocket diaries for 1T98. 180i, 1S05, 1807, 1808, and 1810; MS. Prayer in English; MS. sermon in Welsh on Luke xiv. 22, first delivered May 26th, 1765; collections made for Salem Chapel at Penycoed, in the parish of Coychurch, Glamorganshire, together with the disbursements for the build- ing of the said chapel; account book relating to the living of Llangan spectacles, seal, and inkpot. dA caustic correspondent suggests that a "eputation from the South Walt* Coal Trade Conciliation Board at Cardiff should go flown to Swansea and attend a meeting of the Tinplate Conciliation Board, and thus ascer- tain what the word conciliation" means. Or, adds the correspondent, if this excursion should be exposed to the perils of a free fight in the train, the Cardiff Board might spend half a crown on a popular dictionary and look up the^ord there. According to Professor Green, of Lampeter, the chancel of the parish church of Cardigan is the best finished and the most splendid speci- men of church architecture in that county. It was erected in the reign of Henry VI. The beautiful stained glass of the east window was removed early in the last century by Colonel Johnes, and was afterwards totally destroyed in the great fire at that gentleman's mansioa at Hafod. Some preachers are in the habit of using words and phrases which are unintelligible to the majority of the congregation. About 50 years ago the minister "of Rhyd-y-bont was guilty of this, and once the church sent a deputation to him imploring that he should not speak in such a scholarly fashion. The rev. gentleman asked his visitors to give ex- amples of what they meant, and one of the deacons pointed out to him worda such as these :—Logic, anecdote, and politics. It was at a "seiat" in the Vale of Clwyd that the children were reciting their verses. One of the little ones recited the verse, Remember now thy Creator, Ac. and the little ones were catechised by the minister on the latter part of the verse regarding old age. The minister asked them if there was no plea- sure in old age. The children were unable to reply, and the minister appealed to the elders, mentioning one by name. The reply promptly came, There is the old age pension, at any rate." The cry is still they come. The establish- ment of Welsh National Societies will cer- tainly total up to a high record this winter, all readers cannot peruse the most obscure news- paper in Wales, or news of 'the furthermost corner of the Principality, without finding that it has founded a Cymmrodorion, a Cymreig- yddion, or some other kindred organisation. This means a busy time for lecturers, and. judging from the programmes that have already been published the character of the subjects chosen for discussion are of a very high order indeed. The most striking Memorial of Balaclava Day at Tredegar House is the grave of the charger upon which Viscount Tredegar rode into the Valley of Death upon that his- toric day. It is surrounded by shrubbery, and the inscription reads In mempry of Sir Briggs, a favourite charger he carried his master, the Honourable Godfrey Morgan, Captain 17th Lancers, boldly and well at the battle of the Alma, in the firat line in the Light Cavalry charge at Balaclava, and at the battle of Inkerman, 1855. He died at Tredegar Park, February 9th, 1874, aged 28 yeart." Mr Ormsby-Gore, M.P., who threatens to draw the rusty sabre of his ancestors in dê. fence of the rights of property, is the eldest. son and heir of Lord Harlech, who not only has an ancestral sword, but also a ruined castle, on which he bases the title conferred upon his uncle, a useful Conservative politician, as recently as 1876. The present Lord Har- lech, who succeeded Ms father in 1904, was formerly a Tory member for Oswestry, and he signalised his accession t6 the Peerage by breaking the convention that Peers shall take no part in Parliamentary elections, making a pointed appeal to his tenants and employees to vote for Mr Bridgman, the new Tory candi- date. One of those tenants, giving evidence before the Welsh Land Commission in 1893, said he had only seen his landlord, the late Peer, once in 13 years, and that at a cattle show. The noble Lord lived out of Wales, and was an Englishman, a Tory, and a Church- man, while his tenants were Welshmen and Nonconformists. If Mr Ormsby-Gore insists on drawing the sword, he ought not to rely too conflden tly on being followed by the men o lech.