The Cardiff Times

THE DOWLAIS MEN AT THEIR WOBK. MOVEMENTS OF THE CYFARTHFA AND PLYMOUTH MEN. MERTHYR, MONDAY EVENING. As advised in my letter to you last night, the Dowlais men returned to their places, and [ am reliably assured that the Rhvmney colliers have been equally faithful to their promise. The majority of workers in other districts were of course oblivious of the movements at Dowlais until the publication of the newspapers this morning consequently, in accordance with previous custom, men who had not been duly advised stayed out to-day in order to see what others intended doing. There appeared to be an immense proportion of absentees, for certain thoroughfares were at times li erally blocked by tawny- fisted sons of toil, who appeared to diligently discuss the position of affairs. Taking advantage of the crowd, as a plausible corroboration of his criminal suggestion, some lover of strikes busily circulated a fabulous rujnour to the effect that the Dowlais men had not redeemed their j pledge to commence work this morning, and the presence I of a few Dowlais workmen was pointed to as affirmative evidence. It was, however, speedily elicited from the Dowlais representatives that the report was forgery, and that the mass of assembled colliers, &c., comprised those trom the Plymouth and Cyfarthfa pits. Later in the day it was established beyond doubt that the report about in Dowlais was totally unfounded, and that there was | not a greater proportion of absentees than was generally observed on Mondays, and especially the first Aloiiday in the new year. The anticipation expressed in the South Wales^ Daily News this morning as to the prompt general adoption of the movement at Dowlais would have been realised to-morrow, had not pre- vious arrangements been made for a general delegate meeting of the men here on Wednesday. Three delegate meetings of a quasi-private nature have been held at various parts of the parish to day, but the proceedings bear no public significance, the special object being to nominate local delegates to represent certain pits at yS/ednesday a meeting. In the meantime it would be impossible for an "impartial" bearer to move among the masses just now without becoming impressed with the fact that men are fully alive to the bad state of our staple trades, when viewed together, and that there is a wide disposition to follow Dowlais. At the conclusion of the delegate meeting on Wednesday there will be a pub- lic meeting at the Temperance Hail, although it is pretty well understood already which way the men intend going; indeed, it is rumoured that several will resume work to- morrow. I am informed that at Aberdare Valley, inclu- ding Mom, tain Ash, the men, with certain exceptions, have left their tools in the pits, so that there can be little gratification for the bitter end prognostication's, which appear so acceptable to the conductors of a contemporary. The Aberdare men appear very conciliatory, and await the proceedings of Wednesday. We can expect but a limited output in the district during the present week, a result not without precedent at this festive season of the year. ABERDARE, MONDAY. Meeting of ironworkers was held this afternoon at # • v. n the special business being to advocate faithfulness to the union. Prom the general discussion, however, it appeared that the only difficulty was the scarcity of coal. CAERPHILLY, MONDAY. The men belonging to the Llantwit Basin Cctfd Com- pany have made arrangements with their masters to work on at the old rate until a settlement in the other collieries has taken place. These men went to their work this morning, but owing to the non-signing of the agree- ment drawn up they all returned heme, with the pros- pect of working on Tuesday. A promise was git en that the agreement should be bigned by the proper party. PENGAM, MONDAY. Things are very quiet here now, there being but few men to be seen in their working clothes. Still, there are a few at work. The following will show what collieries are working here at the old rate :—Gilvach, Church Pit, Hengoed, Penrheol-felin, Glyn Gaer, Buttry Hatch, Trebyn, Gelly Haf, Gellyraes, Tir Philkins, Blackwood, and at Maesycwmmwr, Gelli and Gwerna. These works are but small; still, they give employment to a very large number of men and boys when counted together. and already they are working on the double shift system, to make place for those who are out oil strike, this morning a great many of the men obtained work at some of the above-mentioned collieries. The men at the Waun-Borfa Level did not have notice last month, but on Friday, the 1st instant, notice was put up, terminating all contracts at the end of the present month, so that they are workiDg on for this month at the old rate of wages. I am informed that on Saturday evening a letter was re- ceived here from the executive council of the Amalga- mated Association of Miners, stating that the society ti-hvo i.yt. ill a pooiUoii iu rentier them any us.sl::lWuu;tI. Iriuw far this is true I am at present unable to say; only this I know, to think that it is nearly time to manage for them- selves in South Wales, and to look after their own money. MONDAY EVEHING. Just as I was about to close this parcel I am informed that some of the men in the employ of Messrs. Protheroe, at the .New Place, Old Placa, and Libanus (Blackwood) Lave been told to hold themselves in readiness for a meeting, to try and come to an arrange- ment to go to work. This is looked upon, if true, as a sign that the present strike will end, very probably, before the close of the present week. A THREATENING LETTER. To the Editor of the SOUTH WALES DAILY NEWS. SIR,— May I ask you to publish the annexed threaten- ing letter which was found under the door of David Llewelyn's house at Cap Coch, on Sunday morning last? David Llewelyn aud Harey Ood," who are to have their "bodey to bury some time in 187.3," are engaged in look- ing after the ventilating and pumping engines the former to keep the workings free from gas, and to give pure air to the horses, and the latter to keep the work- ings from being inundated with water. These men are not at all affected by the notice of re- duction, as they are working under an agreement, and I simply ask you, without comment, to publish the follow- ing letter, in order that the public may see to what ex- tremity men will resort.—Yours, &c., GEORGE WILKINSON. Middle Dufrrvn Colliery, Aberdare, 4th January, 1875. January th 2, 1870. David Llewelyn.—This i3 to informe you that if you carrey on work on this term that we will have your blood to right you the next letter, so I hope that you and Harey Ood will have some feeling belonging to you, and ltyou dont we shall have your bodey to bury some time ^.l^and so soon as wa possibly can, so I hope that this will be a token for you. All so we hope that yon and all of you that is working in the Midel D^Sren will have your blood all of you, so I wish you to <trop it at once before we begin on you; and if you don't obey by this letter it will be worst upon you than aney one in America, so if you will not obey to this you must stand to all circumstances, so I hope that this is a warning to you all."

PAST ADVANCES AND REDUCTIONS. WORK RESUMED AT LLANTWIT AND CAERPHILLY. THE DOWLAIS MEN STILL AT WORK. RESOLUTION TO STRIKE AT TREDEGAR. T V MERTHYR, TUESDAY. 1 nave little of public interest to communicate to-day although between here and the Rhondda Yallev there is abundant scope just now for sensa- tional writers. Crowds of unemployed Workmen throng the thoroughfares of our colliery towns, and, as strike-loving writers would perhaps say, "bear upon their countenances an impress which too strongly reveals the terrible pain of injustice under which they at present labour, and a manifest determination to fight it out to the bitter end." I visited two large works to-day, for the purpose of satisfying myself as to the rumour circulated by the union agents, to the effect that an acceptance of the pre- sent reduction would practically result in a return to the former state of things. Figures andiacts are appended, with a view of proving to the contrary. In March, 1870, there was a 10 per cent advance; in March, 1871, there was a reduction of 5 percent in June, 1871, an advance of 5 per cent; in March, 1872, an advance of 10 per cent; in the month of June following another 10 per cent; and again in September a further advance ef 20 per cent. Then followed the reduction of 10 per cent at the commencement of 1873, which led to a strike. This was, however, given back in the month of March of that year, and in the following month of May there was another advance of 10 per cent. This made the net advance of 50 per cent, or, taking it at com- pound interest, it would be equal to 60 per cent. The bituminous colliers in some cases have been advanced as much as 97 per cent, and, iu other instances, 100 per cent. The reduction actually effected upon the above ad- vances are, in June, 1874, 10 per cent; in September, 1874, 10 per cent. and the 10 per cent. now in dispute, which, if carried into effect, would, upon the gross earn- ings, be a total reduction of about 27 per cent. It would, therefore, appear from these figures that an acceptance of the proposed reduction would not bring workmen to the old state of things. The Dowlais men are all at work to-day, bat a rumour prevails to the effect that certain agencies will be exercised to-morrow to bring them out again. I feel assured, how- ever, that the men of Dowlais would not, in the present state of things, commit themselves to so puerile an act as staying from work after so honourable a start, and furtbennore,neither union nor non-union agents are likely to tempt the men from their stalls. It need hardly be stated that such a course would be followed by ruinous consequences. The result of the delegate meeting to be held at Merthyr to-morrow is anxiously looked for, inas- much as it will decide further action. MOUNTAIN ASH, TUESDAY. A very crowded meeting of colliers was held this after- noon to select delegates to go to the Merthyr meeting. The majority of the workmen in this place had decided to take the reduction till April, when theywill give notice J' to the masters for an advance, but the overwhelming ) majority at the Merthyr meeting left them no alternative as unionists but to take out their tools and strike. They are now resolved to continue the strike till they see what other works will do. The correspondent of the South Wales Daily reported to-day that the Moun- tain Ash men bad left their tosls in, which is not correct, as I have made a strict enquiry into the ease. EBBW VALE, MONDAY EVENING. Things here are unaltered. The action of the Dowlais and Rhymney men appears to find general favour, and it is openly declared to be the best policy under the exist- iug circumstances. All the mills and puddling furnaces are, for the first time, idle, and the valley pre8er..ts one long line of inac- tivity. If the colliers do not determine their line of action, and declare a positive policy ere long,! Mr Richards, the manager, will order the blowing out of the furnaces, The Bwlch-y-Gain Pit, which belongs to the Nantyyio Company, is at work; but we understand their engage- ment is conditional. TREDEGAR. TUESDAY. It was generally thought that the colliers here would for a short period submit to the reduction, but the con- trary has been decided upon. This action is to be deeply lamented, as a great amount of suffering prevails in the town. A meeting was held to-day, and a large assemblage was present. Mr David Powell was voted to the chair. Mr MoRKia ROBERTS said that as others had began to work elsewhere, he would propose that they should work at Tredegar. The weather was cold, the shop-keepers had decided not to give credit, the company decided not to give coal, and under the circumstances they should submit at once for two months. The CHAIRMAN referred to the dissention amongst them. As they were divided into sections they were unable to fight. Mr WILLIAM EVANS seconded the proposition to work. Mr DAVID POWELL (not the chairman) proposed a strike. It was said that they should tight two months' hence but would they be better able to fight after sub- mitting to a reduction? This proposition was seconded by a man named WILLIAMS, who preferred "lighting the utmost, and fighting to death." It was agreed to appoint eight tellers to wait—four at each of the two doors, and receive everyone's vote. When all had passed through the doors, the result was declared as follows :—For work, 215; against work, 275; majo- rity for resisting, (;0. The executive committee was then appointed to meet in the evening, and appoint two dele- gates to represent the Tredegar colliers at the Merthyr meeting of to-day. CAERPHILLY, TUESDAY. The men belonging to the Llantwit Basin Colliery having received the agreement properly signed, resumed woik to-day. There is some talk that an attempt at conciliation between the men and masters of the other collieries will be made to-morrow. It is hoped that tins is true, as the majority would so much like to have a settlement, and resume work. MAESTEG, TUESDAY. A deputation from each department of the works be- longing to the Llynvi, Tondu, and Ogmore Coal and Iron Company (Limited), met Mr A. Progden, M.P., at Tondu, on Monday, and it was decided to work according to the old rate of wages, until a reduction is enforced in other works, when the reduced rate is to apply at the same time to these works, the arrangement to continue for 13 weeks. On Monday night a very large meeting of colliers was held in the Maesteg t-'chool room to hear what agreement was decided upon. Mr John Evans, the chairman of the local association of miners, presided. The deputation stated that Mr Brogden received them in a most cordial and gentlemanly manner, and appeared desirous of acting in a fair and equitable manner with his workmen. The an- nouncement of the settlement was received with acclamation by the meeting, which wa3 unanimous in applauding the generous conduct of their employer. During the last few days there has been a very great influx of strangers to this valley, which the old work- men dislike, as it will affect their earnings to some ex- tent. Many of these have been employed in the Garth I and Oakwood collieries. Work will be resumed by all to-day, so that the valley will be in full activity. The dispute respecting the doctors has, it is said, been finally settled at Tondu.

DELEGATE MEETING OF COLLIERS AT MERTHYR. DETERMINATION TO RESIST THE REDUCTION. DOWLAIS, PLYMOUTH, AND CYFARTHFA MEN TO CONTINUE WORK. BLOWING OUT AT EBBW VALE. WORK RESUMED AT PENCLAWDD. MERTHYR, WEDNESDAY, 6 P.M. The much anticipated delegate meeting of colliers has been held to-day at the British Workman large room. Punctually at eleven o'clock the representatives of the Press presented themselves for admission but, after a brief consultation in private, it was agreed to exclude re- po; ters. Therefore, I am not in a position to state the subjects which engaged attention during six hours'sitting further than the fact that the delegates eventually arrived at a resolution to the effect-tirstly, that the ten per cent reduction be resisted, and that, if necessary, the men would hold out for three months; secondly, that no sec tion of the men be allowed to resume work. This provision ¡ definitely applies to the men employed in the Rhondda, Aberdare, and Neath Valleys, together with the Mon- iljoiithshire districts; tm. Dnwlstia wilI zo on a, ø. ysyaant.. It is doubtful whether any delegate was present at the conference to represent Dowlais, it being rumoured,on pretty srood authority that the men engaged at Dowlais have adopted an independent course, and will pursue the industrious path which has characterised them in the past, judging from the output during the past two days. It is stated that the case of the Plymouth and Cyfarthfa men was discussed at length, and that the sentiment of the meeting was in favour of these sections of men return- ing to their places, but a definite decision on the point was deferred to the more authoritative vote—aye or nay —of a mass meeting, which has been announced for seven o'clock this evening, at the Temperance-hall. It is impossibile at this moment to express an opinion as to the practicability of the course marked out on behalf of the men for it is evident that they contemplate acti- vity on the part of three of the largest concerns, in order that these may form auxiliaries in support of union men during the strike. It remains to be seen whether the immense proportion of non-union men will endorse the action of the Amalgamated Association at an apparently inopportune season. The prospect of a strike—if only partial and for a brief period—is viewed by the more experienced and respon- sible section of workmen with much abhorrence, but the youthful, giddy class, who have no further encumbrance than the clothes they wear, show fight" almost without exception. I should not omit to state that at the outset af the delegate meeting, a delegate from Cousin Jonathan's side of the Atlantic presented himself at the British Work- man, and solicited permission to address the delegates, with the object of impressing upon them the advantages to be gained by settlement in Canada. It need hardly be stated that this gentleman was a paid agent of the Cana- dian Government; but the president of the day politely answered the emigration agent that the business to be transacted was of suali extent and importance as to pre- clude the concession of even a few moments. The ener- getic agent, however, was not to be thwarted in his desire to publish the advantages to be gained by settlers in this golden colony, for a very short time found him promi- nently perched in the Market-square, where he spoke for about an hour to an appreciative crowd, who lustily cheered him upon his departure. Intense anxiety is manifested as to the result of this evening's meetii-jg. Hopes are stilf entertained that not only will the Cyfartha and Plymouth men agree to follow Dowlais, but that those who profess to hold them- selves responsible for the guidance of their fellow work- men will consider twice before they definitely decide on so suicidal a course as a strike on so wide and extensive a scale as is designed, for most unpleasant rumours are in circulation as to the intended action of the Masters' Association should any sectional course of action be adopted by the men for their own convenience. At the time of writing our main thoroughfares present a busy scence of locomotion, and hundreds appear to be drifting their way towards the place of assemblage. ° MERTHYR, WEDNESDAY EVENING, 9.15. Contrary to expectation, the meeting held at the Tem- perance Hall to-night was conducted with closed doors, so far as the representatives of the press were concerned. No reason was assigned for this exclusion. Various con- jectures are advanced as to why the workmen's agents fear publicity. The tradesmen, who are indirectly interested in the matter, naturally suspected that there was something about tke proceedings which would not bear favourable criticism. I shall express no opinion but direct attention to the figures set forth below in a brief re- port of the meeting, subsequently furnished from an occasional correspondent who was favoured with admis- sion. Those figures reveal the fact that the delegate meeting of to-day only speaks pro and con. on behalf at 19,00Q colliers out of the large mass of Monmouthshire and South Wales employees. As I anticipated, the meeting to-night has resulted in the Cyfarthfa and Plymouth men returning to work to- morrow morning. This, I hope, will have a good effect upon the men in other districts. Hundreds of non- union men congregated outside the Temperance Hall, and lustily cheered the decision. The meeting to-night was generally expected to be a public one, but this was found not to be the case. The meeting was confined to colliers and miners, A man stationed at the door prevented any other workman from entering. The building was not crowded, there being as many persons outside as in. A Cyfarthfa workman having been appointed chairman, Mr CONNICK, miners' agent, Troedyrhiw, was called upon, and in a very temperate speech addressed the men for some twenty minutes. At the outset he stated the result of the delegate meeting held that day in the British Workman, when some 19,430 men were repre- sented by their delegates. The result* at that meeting had been a determinotion to resist the masters' notice for a reduction for the next three months. They had met together that evening to consider what was the best course to pursue under present circumstances. He did not intend to advise them to take any particular course, but he would tell them that they had now to de- cide whether they would accept the reduction for a time or endorse the decision of the delegate meeting, to stand out. The speaker rather reflected upon the men for not having been ready for the present conflict by being united in the union He repeated several times that it was the duty of the men now to decide whether they would go in and be ready for another fight in a few months-for that was inevitable. He argued that every collier and miner should join the union, lor, as sure as they were assem- bled, they would have other weighty matters soon to grapple with. He maintained that the price of coal was going up, and in the face of that why, he asked, should the masters seek to enforce another reduction of 10 per cent. ? No masters would persuade him that a reduction was needed. At the last conference at Cardiff with the masters that point had been urged. The masters I replied that the coal must go down, and he said—leave it alone, let it come down and then proceed I to reduce the men's wages. Whatever they determined to do that evening, whether to resist or accept the reduc- tion, they might depend upon it he would assist them to the utmost of his power (loud cheers). Dowlais and Rhyiimey had gone in, and it would be for them to say whether they would follow guit. After again ad- vising the men to remain steadfast to the union, and thus be prepared for another battle, Mr Connick resumed his seat amidst loud cheering, and Addresses from Air Lewis Williams, Cyfarthfa (the Chairman), Mr William Williams, Abercanaid, and others, followed. Mr Connick also spoke in Welsh, somewhat to the same effect as he had spoken in English Other bpeakers were unanimous in their condemnation of the necessity for a reduction, and, having in mind their present position, they counselled a resumption of work at the masters' terms. This acceptation of the re- duction, it was understood, would be ønly for few months, when an application would be made for the ten per cent. now taken off to be put on again. The meeting seemed unanimous in favour of resuming work, and such was the unanimity that, without formally passing a resolution declaring such a decision, they re- solved to resume work to-morrow morning at all the Cyfarthfa and Plymouth collieries. This resolve was followed by loud and enthusiastic cheering by those in the interior, and when known, the cheering was taken up with renewed vigour by the immense numbers congre- gated outside the hall. EBBW VALE, WEDNESDAY. As stated last night, one of the furnaces is being rapidly blown out, and special orders emanated from headquarters to-day to prepare for blowing out the second. The decision of the Tredegar men yesterday h!s had a most depressing effect in this valley, more especi- ally amongst the ironworkers, rail men, and all out-door labourers, who are, as the result of the strike, all idle. The fitters are a!so placed on half time. Many of the men appear to be waiting the action of the delegates. Trustworthy evidence was brought here ) to-day from Rhymney to the effect that everything was in full tiiug at those >vorks. But very few men may be seen lounging about the streets now as was the case during the last great strike." The Western Mail of Monday says that there were thousands hanging about in idleness at the corner of the street, and which is contrary to the facts. At one time it was hoped that the splendid steel works would be kept going, but we regret to state that such is not the casie, as everyone, except a few fitters, is at a stand-still. We hear that it is intended to give notice to all colliers living in the Company's houses to vacate them if the strike continues. The coal supply is being cut off for domestic purposes, and should the struggle continue long the greatest incon- venience will be experienced by hundreds from this cause alone. There is no doubt as to the blowing out of the furnaces here. It is an undeniable fact. PONTYPOOL, TUESDAY. A great meeting of colliers took place at the long room Globe Hote], when a resolution was passed to the effect that the meeting disapproved of any number of men connected with any pit resuming work at the old rate, except the whole of the men employed at such pit agreed to do so. One of the colliers called attention to a report which appeared in the Western Mail from Pontypool, viz., that men who struck work had already, with their wives and children, began begging. A resolution was passed con- taining an emphatic denial of the statement, and adding I that if such had been the case the beggers must be im- postors. PENGAM, WEDNESDAY. To-day the colliers at the Messrs. Protheroe's collieries brought their tools out. At the New Place and Libanus pits tools were fetched out on Tuesday, and the Gwladis men brought theirs out on Monday, so that at all the works where the men are idle the tools are out, and the men are beginning to think that a serious strike is at hand. PENCLAWDD, WEDNESDAY. The men belonging to the Penclawdd Colliery have made arrangements with their employers to resume work at once, the question of reduction or no reduction to be decided by the settlement in other collieries. This morning, I am glad to state, all resumed work, with the exception of about a dozen, who were employed at a par- ticular seam. The false reports of the withdrawal of notices were at the root of the strike in this place but, having read the South Wales Daily News and Cardiff Times, the men are now truly convinced of the false and misleading reports of the Mail. COMPROMISE REJECTED IN THE FOREST OF DEAN. The Eorest of Dean colliers held a large meeting at Cinderford onWednesaay,and rejected an offer of compro- mise from the associated masters. A committee waa formed to assist one hundred young men to ether coal- fields.

DISPUTE IN THE TIN-PLATE TRADE. CWMAVON, MONDAY. Another difficulty has arisen in connection with the tin-plate workers of this place. It appears that some new rules are about to be enforced, as the masters have determined to equalise the wages of the various branches in the tin-plate departments. This morning a notice was posted up to the effect that all men employed at the tin- plate department would not be allowed the usual quan- tity of coal monthly after the 4th of January, but that they must buy coal for their use, which would be sold at the rate of sixpence par cwt. A deputation waited on the managing director, and it then transpired that the house rent would be advanced as well. It was always understood that four shillings per month for the present house reut was charged for coal, but under the present arrangement the amount usually. charged for house and coal is kept solely for house rent, and coal is to be bought aa an "tr¡¡,. The **nVot (>f t.Ma I.. H, all tliw r. affected left work at mid day, thereby bringing the whole concern to a standstill. The men say that if these houses would bear some comparison with workmen's houses in some places there would be some reason for the charge, but they are in many cases unfit to be called dwellings for human beings.

THE BRISTOL REFRESHMENT HOUSE CASE. On Monday the Bristol Police-court was crowded with persons anxious to hear the decision of the magistrates (Messrs. F. Terrell and H. J. Mills) in the case reported in the South Wales Daily JVeivs last week, in which Mr James Pearce, of Christmas-street, Was charged by the excise authorities with having kept a refreshment-house, j liable to be licensed, he having taken out no license. This is the first case of the kind that has been heard in the county, the evidence against the defendant being that on the 24th of October he kept a shop in a crowded thorough- fare, at which fish and vegetables were sold. On the night in question, between the prohibited hours, 40 per- sons, ordinary street passengers, consumed oysters and mussels, tupplied by the defendant and his wife, some of the customers eating inside the shop, and others on the pavement. The magistrates decided that the shop must be held to be a place of resort as laid down by the Act, and they thought the. requirements of the Act had been met, and that the defendant had incurred a penalty not exceeding £20, which they mitigated to JE5. Mr Clifton, who appeared for the defendant, applied that the bench would state a case for the Court of Queen's Bench. Mr Brice (magistrates' clerk) said the justices did not see how they could, as there was nothing but a question of fact, the only possible point of law being whether the words entertainment" and refreshment" in the statute were cjuxdtm generis. Mr Clifton then asked if the penalty might be further mitigated, as this was a representative case. Mr Brice said the magis- trates would mitigate the penalty to Is if they had power, but it was an excise case, and no mitigation could take place below one-fourth. Mr Souter, who appeared for tbe Excise, stated that he would recommend thean- thorities to reduce the fine to the nominal sum of Is. This decision has produced much consternation among many retail tradesmen in Bristol.

GREAT SNOWSTORMS—THE SCOTCH RAILWAYS BLOCKED. The whole railway system of Scotland on Saturday was completely blocked. Trains are stuck fast in snow wreaths on the Caledonian, the Great Northern of Scotland, the Deeside, the Dingwall and Skye, and the Highland lines. The through traffic on the Caledonian was stopped near Glamis, where there was snow on the rails five feet deep for nearly a mile. On the Dundee and Forfar .line the snow was as high as the funnels of the engines, and carriages were abandoned and soon disap- peared among the snow. A mail train with three en- gines and snow plough was blocked at Dalwhinnie, the highest point on the Highland Railway. Such a night as the last has not been experienced on the Scotch railways for the last thirty years. During a terrific gale and snowstorm which visited the north-east coast on Friday night the Conaett branch of the North Eastern Railway became blocked up with the snowdrifts, and up to two o'clock on Saturday morning three passenger trains (the last due in New- castle at nine o'clock at night) had not reached their destination, although men had been sent to dig them out. The Waverley route was also blocked, and the North British train, which was due at Newcastle at nine o'clock at night, had not reached that place at two o'clock in the morning. Where the train stopped is not known. In Weardale there was a heavy fall of snow, and in the Cleveland district the line was blocked for hours. Fears were entertained that the North Eastern line weuld be stopped should the gale con- tinue, as the trains had great difficulty in making head- way against the gathering snow and terrific wind. < From Inverness a correspondent says -The snow- storm of yesterday has proved more serious than was at first reported. No trains have arrived at Inverness, and the Caithness, Skye, and Perth lines have each several trains snowed up. Manual labour and snow ploughs have alike proved unavailing in effecting a passage either way. The Highland Railway Company have supplied provi- sions where the trains were accessible.

A gun accident, through what appears to have been criminal carelessness, is reported from St Giles, North Devon. A farmer named Bowman went out shooting, and on his return, the gun being wet, he placed it loaded in the open fireplace of his kitchen. Two of his children, a boy and girl, were there, the girl aged six years only. .The boy went to get a pair of tongs from the fire-place, when the gun exploded, the charge entering the shoulder of the girl. Her arm had to be taken off at the shoulder joint, but she still survives. COCOA. —GRATEUL T AND COM- FORTING.—" By a. thoi oujfh knowledge of the naturaJ laws which govern the operations of digestion and nutrition, and by a care- ful application of the fine properties of well-selected cocoa, Mr. Epps has provided our breakfast tables with a delecately fla- voured bever which may save us many heavy doctors' hills It is by the judicious use of such articles of diet that a constitu tion maybe gradually built up until strong enough to resist every tendency disease. Hundreds of subtle malailieg are floating around us ready to attack wherever there is a wealt point. We may escape many a. fatal shaft by keeping ourselves well fortified with pure blood and properly nourished frame.—Civil Service Gazette. Made simply with Boiling Water or Milk. Sold by Grocers in Packets only, labelled.—' JAMES EJoP8 & Co., Homoeopathic Chemist, 48, Threndneedle-street, and 17 Picoa' dillr :Works. Euston Road and Camden Tewn, London-" 193 256 A FACT WORTH KNOWIHG.—Mr. Lewis. Spalter Maestesr, writes" Your Toothache Pills at once cured me. shall never be without them.' Nuaierous other testimonials can be had on application. So'e Proprietor, John Davies, Chemit* Pontypridd. Boxes, Is. lid. and 2s. 9d.; per post, Id, extra. Sold by all respectable Chemists.

EPIPHANY QUARTER SESSIONS. GLAMORGANSHIRE. The Epiphany Quarter Sessions for the county of Gla- morgan was opened at the Towu-hal!, Cardiff, on Monday. Mr H. O. Jones, chairman of the quarter sessions, pre- sided. There were also present—Mr J. C. Fowler, deputy-chairman Lord Aberdare, the Hon. H. Bruce, Mr G. T. Clark, Mr S. J. Batchelor, Mr C. W. David, Mr C. H. Williams, Mr G. C. Williams, Mr Howei Gwyn, Mr J. T. Jenkin, Mr N. P. Cameron, Mr G. Llewellyn, Mr W. Gilbertson, Revs H. T. Tyler, C. R. Knight, H. H. Rickards, W. D. Williams, Mr Evan Williams (Duffryn Frwd), Mr J. S. Corbett, Mr B. Richards, Mr J. Brogden, Mr E. S. Hill, Mr C. H. Page, Mr R. H. Rhys, Mr H. Jenner, Mr W. Jones. The CHAIRMAN explained that no printed copies of the finance committee's report had been received, and to avoid this in future he should suggest at the close of the court to suspend the standing orders, to enable him to propose that the finance committee in the future meet on the Thursday week before the sessions, to enable the re- port of the committee to be printed before the com- mencement of the sessions. The report of the Governor of the County Gaol showed that the prisoners had been very much over- crowded, there having been generally 148 prisoners, while they bad only cell accommodation for 107. In accord- ance with the direction of the visiting justices, 12 males were sent to Brecon Gaol and 10 to Hereford. The charge for the cost of maintenance per day was Is 5d in the former, and Is 2d in the latter. Swansea Gaol was also very full. FINANCE COMMITTEE'S REPORT. "Your committee report that the several bills and claims upon the county have been laid before them that those relating to the expenditure at tke county prisons have been passed by the visiting justices, and have been certified by the auditor, and that those relating especially to the office or the Clerk of the Peace have 'been returned by him as correct. They, therefore, recommend that the several bills and claims on the county, which are as fol- lows, be paid:—For the general county expenditure, £1,874 6s 5d; for the county gaol, £5511ls10d for the House of Correction, £798 6s lid. There is now a. balance of S2,315 15s 7d due to the treasurer on the gene- ral county account, and your committee having estimated the expenditure for the ensuing half-year recommend that a rate of one penny half. penny in the pound, pro- ducing £9,:341 2; 3d, be gra.nted. Your committee have considered the report made by the county surveyor on the present state of Wych Tree Bridge, and recommend that a new bridge, consisting of twu arches, be built. Your committee also recommend that the chairman and vice-chairman of quarter sessions and the chairman of the Finance Committee be a committee to take all neces- sary steps for protecting the interests of the county in the matter of the Cardiff Improvement Bill, Your commit- tee have had submitted to them a further statement re- specting the desirability of providing three cottages at the county lunatic asylum. They find that the Whole of the works hitherto ordered have been completed that there remains a sum of due to the contractor and the architect. There is a sum of ;1;:286108 in the treasurer's hands belonging to this account. They recommend that a sum of £500 should bs granted to the committee of visitors, to enable them to build three cottages upon a plan to be by them submitted to the court of quarter ses- sions, and in crder to provide this sum and the monies necessary to pay the sums now due to the contractor and architect they recommend that the sum of £2,600 should be borrowed. Your committee are informed that the maintenance of lunatic paupers will in future be 10s in- stead of 10s 6d a week. The clerk of the peace has laid before your committee nine tenders which have been sent in for carrying out the new works at the. county gaol, and they recommend that the tender cf Messrs Webb, amounting to the sum of £ 24»7QQ, be accepted, subject to arrangements to be made with thepa by the visiting justices as to the removal of the gravel from the excavations, the pulling down or retaining of the existing wash-house, and any other minor point on which the justices may see occasion to have alterations made before the contract is finally entered into. The clerk of the police has also laid before your committee six tenders sent in for carrying out the new works at the house of correction, and they recommend that in the absence of certain information from the architect the consideration of these tenders be adjourned. The auditor has not yet submitted to your committee a report upon the salaries paid to the clerks in the several petty sessional districts, showing the amount of receipts in the several districts during the last three years, and your committee recom- mend that the consideration of this report be remitted to them, with directions to report to the easter sessions what the salaries should be in each case. The committee annex to their report the treasurer's statement of balances in his hands his ab&tract of the receipts and payments during the last quarter; and an estimate of the probable expenditure during the current half-year." On the motion ot the CHAIRMAN, a county rate of ld. in the £ producing £9,341 2s 3d, was ordered. The Chairman said the estimates showed that £11,000 was re- quired. and the sum to be raised by the county rate, with the sum to come in now due, would meet the requirements for the ensuing half-year. The other suggestions of the finance committee were adopted, and the report passed. On thej motion of the CHAIRMAN, the Rev. H. H. Rickards, the Chairman of the Visiting Justices of the County Gaol was elected a member of the finance com- [ mittee. I POLICE COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The report of the police committee was then read. "Your committee have had before them notice3 for the appointment of additional police constables in the Newbridge and Swansea districts, and having consulted the Chief-constable thereen, they recommend that one constable be appointed in the Swansea district, and that I the consideration of the appointment of further constables in the Newbridge district be postponed. Yout committee I ok-5 ..irasiitttd the COX Mto Oecvtioa of Sk lock-up in the village of Glyncorrwg, and they recommend that temporary accommodation be provided. Your com- mittee have had their attention drawn to the amount of the Police Superannuation Fund, and te the charges now upon it, as well as to the probability of those charges I being shortly increased. Your committee have had re- ? turns made to them by the Chief constable on the subject, but considering the probability of the whole matter being brought this session before Parliament, they recommend that the further consideration of the matter should be postponed till the Midsummer Sessions." On the motion of the CHAIRMAN, the following police rates were granted :—Merthyr district, £1;000; JN ew- bridge district, £1,550; Ogmore district, £650; Swansea district, £89£. The County Lunatic Asylum Committee was re- appointed. TWO JUDGES OF ASSIZE. The CHAIRMAN said he had desired the Clerk of the Peace to communicate with those parties to whom such communications should be addressed to know if they were to have two judges of assizes at the spring assizes. I To this communication they had not received any reply, and he presumed that as the Act was not altered that things would remain as they wero at present. The committee appointed at Swansea with the mayor had visited the present judges' lodgings, and they had promised to give an estimate of the cost of enlarging the premises to accommodate two judges, and he had no doubt that everything would be done that was required, and the matter was now under their consideration. He had not received any official communication from the Corporation of Cardiff, but in conversation with the mayor he had no doubt that everything would be done to provide accom- modation for the two judges of assize. At present no- thing could be done, as there was no doubt that only one judge would bo sent to the Spring Assize. A discussion followed on the desirablity of building a foot bridge by the side of Wych Tree bridge, at a cost .of £1,000, or of building a new bridge at a cost of £2,600, and it was resolved to build a new bridge with two arches, as suggested by the county surveyor. It was also resolved to empower the comauittee of the County Lunatic Asylum to build three cottages, as they I required, at a cost not exceeding £500, and to borrow £2 600 to pay off all claims by the contractor and archi- tect, and so close the capital account on the bailding. The reports of the medical superintendent showed that there were at the present time 243 males and 246 females in the Asylum, against 250 males and 230 females last year at the same time there was a de- crease of 7 males, and an increase of 34 females. The Visiting Committee suggested that some provision should be made at the various union workhouses in the county for the reception of harmless imbeciles, or that thoso who did not require the discipline of an expensive institution like the County Lunatic Asylum should be sent to tneir friends. On the motion of Mr JENKIN, was granted to Mrs Cox, late matron of the Swansea House of Correction. The sum of £6 a year was directed to be paid to some person for playing the harmonium during Divine Service at the County gaol. EXTENDING THE JURISDICTION OF JUSTICES AT PUTTY SESSIONS. Mr J. C. FOWLEK had given notice to call the atten- tion of the court to the expediency of extending and amending the jurisdiction of justices in petty sessions on criminal charges, and the punishment con- nected therewith. He said he rose to ask the concurrence' of this court to represent to the Secretary of State the desirability of amending the criminal law in such a way as he had indicated in a petition which he proposed should be sent from this court to the Secretary of State, and which he would then read to them. He might say that although he brought this subject before them as a volunteer, yet they were well aware that questions had been transmitted to all the petty sessional divisions throughout the kingdom by fhe Home Secretary, calling the attention of the justices to matters connected with this subject. To the Right Hon. R. A. Cross, M.P., Secretary of State for the Home Department. The justices of the peace for the county of Glamor- gan, in quarter sessions assembled, beg leave to represent to you that in their opinion it is expedient to alter and amend the criminal law in seme particulars, with a view to the more effectual, speedy, and less expensive adminis- tration of justice. They submit for your consideration their opinion—1st. That it is desirable to repeal the sections of the Act 18th and 19th Victoria, chapter 126 (commonly called the Cri- minal Justice Act), by which the jurisdiction of justices in petty sessions over charges of felony is defined and limited,* and to substitute for them enactments empower- ing such justices to try all charges of simple larceny, stealing from the person (without force), stealing as a clerk or servant, obtaining goods or money by false pre- tences where they are under the value of and receiving stolen property knowing it to have been stolen, within the same limit of value, provided the accused has not been previously convicted of felony or fraud, so far as it can be ascertained, and subject also to the right IJf the accused to demand a trial by jury, and to the ciacre- i tionary power of the justices to remit any case for trial < before a higher tribunal. < "The justices further submit that, in order to mable ] them to deal with cases falling within auch enactments, it i would be necessary to enlarge their power of awarding < sentences of imprisonment to nine calendar months; also, that in cases of conviction of juvenile offenders for the < first time, and of others so convicted of simple larcmy, it I would be expedient t8 empower the judges or justices £ before whom such offenders shall be convicted to dispense with imprisonment at their discretion, and in lieu thereof c to discharge such offenders from custody on entering into a recognisances, together with one or more sureties, to be of t good behaviour for one year at least, and making restitu- tioa of all property stolen, or the value theieof. The justices further represent that they are of opinion that the judges of assize and the courts of quarter sessions ought to be empowered to order a limited number of lashes to be inflicted on any male person convicted of any kind of assault on any women or children, in addition to or in lieu of imprisonment, and to add the same to any sentence, after the conviction of any male of any crime attended with personal violence, whether to males or females. "Lastly, the justices represent that they deem it desir- able that every court having jurisdiction over juvenile offenders should be empowered, on conviction of boys under the age of sixteen of any crime or offence, whether under the Juvenile Offenders' Act or any other, to order whipping, either in addition to or in lieu of any other puuishinent by fine or imprisonment." As he stated before, he hoped to obtain the concurrence of the Court to these representations. He had had a conference with the Chairman of the Quarter Sessions upon this subject, and he was inclined to the opinion that he had on this matter generally the concurrence and sanction of Mr R O. Jonts. He (Mr Fowler) thought that it was time that they should consider this question, and consider also the circumstances of the county—the extraordinary number of crilllinaL-g which were sent for trial from one January to another and he had no doubt any representation made from the Court would receive the fullest attention and consideration from the gentle- men in authority at the Home-office. The Criminal Justices Act to which the petition referred was passed 18 or 20 yearo ago, and enabled the justices in petty sessions to deal with charges of violence, and he had no doubt that their experience of the operation of the Act had been such that they had come to the conclusion that it had worked in a satisfactory manner. He was glad that they had among;them thatdayLordAberdare, the late Secretary of State, and he would tell them whether any complaints had been made with reference to the administration of justice under the Criminal Justice Act. The effect of this Act was to enable criminals to be brought before the justices without delay, and justice administered not only speedily but much more economically than by Bending tbe case for trial at assizes or quarter sessions. The dif- ference of the cost of prosecution at petty sessions to that when the criminal wai dealt with at quarter sessions or assizes was as from 18s to £ S, or £13. Although this was not the point to be looked at solely, yet it was one of the elements worthy of consideration. With re gard to the class of cases which he had suggested should be dealt with summarily in the eveut ot a Bill being brought into Parliament in accordance with the sugges- tions in the petition, they were cases which, generally speaking, involved no ditiiculty in dealing with them at all. They required generally only a knowledge of the Acts under which the charges were made, and the application of good, sound, common sepse and judgment in the administration of justice. Most of the cases were lar- ceny, with aggravation, in the sense of the larceny having been committed by a clerk or servant obtaining goods or money by fate pretences,when under the value of and receiving stolen property knowing it to have been stolen within the same limits of value. The larceny by servants or clerks Was an offence that seemed, for some reason, to be on the increase; but to enable the justices to deal with this class of cases, it was necessary that powers must be conferred on the justices, or their powers extended from six months, which was now the limits of their juris- diction, to nine months, which would cover the limits which would be required for these classes of crime, as it was the first offence of the petson charged. Under these circumstances, he was of opinion that nine months' im- prisonment would be sufficient. Another clause in the petition to which he was anxious to obtain the concur- rence of the court was that the justices should have the power to dispense with imprisonment altogether (hear, near). The CHAIRMAN: We have power now not to pass a sentence. Mr FtfWLER said they had, but they had not the power to do anything else. The person musD be discharged, a.nd what he,.proposed to do was to ask the Government to enable the magistrates not to discharge the prisoner un- conditionally to enable the magistrates to take security for the future good conduct of the prisoner to place him under the charge of some one who would become a kind of persoBal guarantee of the prisoner's future good con1- duct, and. exercise a kind of supervision over him. The classrof persons to whom this clause would be particularly applicable was a class that was exceedingly difficult to deal with- They had coming before them at times a young person fifteen or sixteen years of age, just too old to be sent to a reformatory school, and thEŒ found him convicted of some small act of pilfering. They asked themselves what they would do with him. but they had no power to deal with him exceot by committing him to prison. Now, as it was the first offenpe, they naturally hesitated before doing this, and he believed it would be the means of inducing that young person tOilead in the future a better course, if some means could bejound whereby he could be saved from becoming familiar ^vith the inside of a prison (hear, hear). This course wàs suggested to his mind more than twenty years ago, when he was attending the midland circuit as barris- ter, by the Court of Quarter Sessions at Birmingham. The gentleman who presided over the court was a gentle- man of high authority, and he took upon himself the onus of discharging young persons in this position, although it was not strictly in accordance with law; but he would make inquiries if there was anyone present who would enter upon a surety for the behaviour of young persons charged, and if any one was willing to become security, he allowed prisoner to leave as it were en bail. With regard to crimes of violejjpe to which the latter clauses oi the petition chiefly referred, he had not any general statistics referring to the country at large to bring before them, but he had no doubt- that their own experience and information. would convince them that although there might not have been any great increase in the number of crimes committed, there had been a very serious increase of the quality of the offence. During the last twenty years be had Deceived an adverse tendency in the tamper of vviiat he might call the rough population. When he travelled the Midland circuits ke had no recollection of having such a large number of cases of violence, of cases of stabbing and wounding, of assaults, brutal assaults of kicking, &c., which they were continually hearing of new. He had in his hand the calendars—seven calendars of quarter sessions forty- fiveears ago, and these calendars contained a smaller number of prisoners than they would have brought before them to-morrow for trial. These calendars contained 65 prissners, while Major Knox had informed them that they would have 75 prisoners brought up for trial at this session. Out of the whole number there were thfcn only two cases of assaults. Now Major Knox informed him there were twenty charges of this nature. This fact seemed to show to him that simple imprisonment was not sufficient to deter this kind of crime, and he thought they would agree withhim that the lives of the unprotected public required from the legislature some more efficient protec- tion than they now had (hear, hear). As simple imprison- me?\ • L R ,ert° heen their only protection, and this had failed to repress these crimes of violence, he had coire to the conclusion, though very reluctantly that imprisonment was insufficient. Then came the conside- ration what was the other punishment to be substituted, or added to it. He was sorry to say that, after looking around in every direction, be had failed to discover any remedy besides the infliction of a limited number of lashes with some instrument. There were two classes of cases which had occurred within his recollection, and in which the power to use the lash as a punishment had had ai most salutary effect. In the first of these cases, when atrocious attacks were made upon Her Majesty, power to inftict the lash was added to the punishment for the crime, and the offence had disappeared. Still more re- cently there was a great outcry about garrotting, but when the infliction of the lash was added to the punishment he thought the offence had al- moSt entirely, or to a very large extent, disappeared.. He had himself from his youth upward a great abhorrence of the lash, but he must admit that within his knowledge he had found that the lash had had a most deterring effect. Within the last year he had seen the lash inflicted at the reformatory schools, where it was but very seldom used; but it was surprising how great was the terror with which its infliction was viewed. It was a kind of punishment which ought to be inflicted with the greatest caution, for nothing would do morehartn than its frequent infliction. He must say, however, that the present state of things appeared to him to call for some alteration in the punishment inflicted, and, inasmuch as he could not find any other substitute but that to which he had referred, he hoped the court would concur in the recommendation of the petition, and em.power judges of assize and courts of quarter sessions, under extraordinary circumstances, tempered by certain limitations to inflict this punishment (hear, hear). With regard to the cases of obtaining goods by false pretences, limited.to the value not exceeding .£5, this was done with the view that the extent of the magistrates' jurisdiction nin. months—was. about sufficient toj cover such a class ef offence (hear, hear). Lord ABERDARE said whenever Mr Fowler addressed the aourtas a matter of his own experience—they had always the advantage of having set before them very clearly, very forcibly, and very wisely, a graat deal of thought and a great deal of experience, and if he differed from Mr Fowler in anything, he only did so with the utmost diffidence. The general effect of these proposals was to obtain a very largely increased power, as well as discretion for the magistrates. Now he came pretty freeh fromt office in which, during the last five years, he had had frequently to consider cases which had been decided" by the magistrates, and the general result of I his experience had been that charges were often made against the magistrates, but that the eharges were, as a general rule. unfounded; but he could not say that I this had been universally so, and he could not say that in all ces where the discretion of the magistrates had been exercised it had been exercised with. such discretion as should have been used by persons in such responsible positions. If they considered for a moment how magis- trates were appointed, they would see at once that any very large accretion to their power, such as was proposed in the petition, would not be lightly granted by Parlia- ment. The subject was one that required the most mature consideration of the Legislature. How were magistrates appointed ? Those present knew very well that any per- són of a certain Social position and character, and net ab- solutely deficient of a certain amount of intelligence, might hope to be appointed as a magistrate. Now, his own experience proved to him that there were strong benches of magistrates and there were weak benches throughout the country; and in the case of a weak bench, whenever a decision was made not in accordance with facts and good common sense) the Press soon got hold of it, and they found that the matter soon got before Parliament, and a great outcry was made, especially against the unpaid magistrates. Now if this was the case when the powers which the magistrates exercised were comparatively limited, what would they expect when their powers were increased so largely as was suggested in this petition. It was true that Mr Fowler asked in the first place for an extension of the jurisdiction of the magistrates only in such cases where the magistrates had already jurisdiction, but he proposed to absolutely with- Iraw the limits in which those powers were now exer- ised. No deubt it might be very good to deal with many of these cases summarily, and to give some milder [orm ef punishment as the result of the first )ffence; but if a man stole a small sum of noney, probably by picking of persons' pocket, he act was in itself the same as if he lad stolen a thousand pounds, but the punishment l generally would be very different. As a general rule it vould be found that when the sum stolen was a large me the matter became more complicated, and it required i> person of greater authority to deal with it than with hose offences which were generally dealt with under the Criminal Justiees Act; and such oMences as these b* had been generally dealt with by judges, recorders, chairmen of quarter sessions, and tfiese, with the tion of the Uhaiiinan o £ Quarter Sessions, necessarf had received a reyular legal training, and in the CJoII8 1 Chairman of Quarter Sessions he was pretty sure to. person who had secured the confidence 01 the j listI < and probably by his legal knowledge, md al#^ by his ability. They now proposed to alisc the Government to extend the jurisuictH 1 of the magistrate?, not merely of me Ie trained magistrates out of the magistrates in a bo4) and to put into the hands of any lU, al bench of may1 1 tratea the power to exercise enormously moreastd PQ 1 botn wllh respect to jurisdiction and to tile extent 1 imprisonment they now had the power to impose. < did not know what might be the views of the nia,gistrJW 1 generally—what they might desire to recommend to tjf Uovermnent but he, for one, would not de.ire to on the Government, except with great care, to inc. those powers would be exercised with more aicre the power of the magistrates without greater security tti < They had power now to dispense with imprisoning when they thought it undesirable to impose a sentefl ] they could allow the prisoner to go at large. The si gescion was, he supposed, that a sentence would be J J posed, but the man allowed to go on bail, and if he 19 conducted himself he would be imprisoned tie Aberdare) supposed, and suffer the term of his prisonment. Air b ovvLER said he did not intend that any sentflj should be imposed, but that it should be in the d.serew of the court to discharge the prisoner on a kind oi bail»! ? Lord ABEKDAKE saiu if this was the case he iailecb see the distinction between that and discharging a. tm 1 soner without a sentence. There seemed little difference between discharging a prisoW 1 before imposing a sentence and letting out on bail. In the limiting of the Juris 3 tion of the magistrates to cases of obtaining moafff' goods by false pretences under J::5 in value, lie it aiose from the idea that casts above that vame likely to be of a more complicated caaract r. MrloNVLEu sa'.d that cases where the value was c!5 frequently involved a poiut of law, wlnca w,, not I case in the more simple class of cases. j i Lord ABERDARE said he had been asked by Mr Fa to state his experience of the way in which the 1 trates had din",arged their duty under tile ;:)u!)1lJ1 J urisdiction Act, and he was bound to say that on whole tne magistrates had exercised their powers well. The great object lately had been, it seemed, to » pose heavy sentences. These were probably desir*! when the prisoner had been previously convicted, bolf great object was the reformation ot the criminal, would remind them of the cry that was raised waeJt Government determined to abandon trtuu&poxtli(j £ j when it was feared that the thousands of peis^ns whQ, hitherto been sent to the Colonies would be UIIOVNII the country when the period of tueir penal sei vitije expired, and the country would be flooded with who made iight of the lives and property of the tants. i he number of persons who were ported was enormous. N ow the nUUlberof l't-n¡ùn, penal servitude Wa3 reduced by more th,1u OUt: halr,{ia<^j and property were more secure than they were then, the great crimes had decreased enormously. The plete success of that mode of punishment had been Wat established, and the reformation 01 the offenders prW* Persons who had been previously convicted were mOle likely to be let off when the cases were dealt *af summarily than when the prisoner was commit ted" JJ[ trial, and time given to allow ot the previous histc the prisoner to be inquired into; and there were 3*1 cases in which sentences of six weeks or two months ? prisonment were inflicted which, if the previous histolf the prisoner had been known, would have subjected hill a much longer term of imprisonment. WithJ gard to crimes of violence, if Mr. Fowler looked at the returns of the whole country he f found a decrease but 140 doubt in a county like Glafl gan, where the rural population had been supplanted a large manufacturing and mining one brought quarters ot the world, there was very probably an in, in these crimes, Men under the influence of good far in excess of that to which they had been accustom and being unable to properly appreciate the advaoMi they gained by it, spent their excess in drinking 1 quantities of liquor and when there Was a large iacti of wag'*s under such circumstances there \ras an incr# in crimes of violence, while there was a decrease in oil classes of offences. For the last two or three there had been a vetji,) great increase in the rat* wages, and people who did not know how to J it properly spent the money in drink, and the result I ■ that for the last three or four years crimes of viol had been on the increase; but he did not at all be that the falling QiÍ of one class of crimes- violence was due to the cause Mr Fowler had 9* gested. He believed that crime bad decreased in parison with the population by 45 per ceat. of all* great and important crimes, ana they would tind that! compared with the population, there were now lPg more than 6^ per cent, of what thqy were 40 years 4B the result, as he believed, of improved education improved condition cf lif" of the ptfprfatior gtaewlii He believed that crimes of vioit^e had decie«*ed frffl the same cause rather than lroaa liar punishments inflicted, sfe suggested jS Mr Fowler. With regard to garrotting, this crime atfn suddenly upon them in London. It broke out in_ JWg and for a short time a great number of cases occurred, rj| unfortunately the offenders escaped punishment; but Jj| October the streets of London were filled with yolice#B|l in plain clothes; 80 or tK) persons were secured the 9th November .thejwhole of these garrotteri wer**T custody, and the offenge disappeared during the mon November. After then, there were 25 cases said tO|r done by garrotters,' but the investigation of the [i^p| showed that only one of these cases was Jfwj by garrotting—that of aa old woman on PricflSl Hill, from wbotn they stole 18" The offlwj Uceorpp .-a u ^fashionable °n £ », v and flH person who went home wltli"aljlack"eye or* soiuethialffi thatnatllre had been garrotted. Mr Adderley In theflW lowing March brought in hia famous Bill for the puriM ment of garroters by the lash. The Bill was came into operation in the August following, bu offence had entirely ceased eight or nine months bt0S it became law. Since then this particular form of c$f§ had not been fashionable among thieves and robbers this kind of violence had decreased. He did not, tkfQ fore, attribute any particular success to this fort*jl punishment; but then came the question whether it expedient for the protection of society that more st and severe punishment should be inflicted upon p found guilty of. committing crime. of viol He quite agreed with Mr Fowler in persenal dislike to the last. He thought it was S brutal punishment, and only to be resorted to whepJB was absolutely necessary that it should be. He thoitfjf they would incur great danger in introducing the into the hands of the magistrates at quarters esatons.t The CHAIEMAN said it was only intended to give power to judges of assize and courts of quarter session^. J Lord AHICRPABK said his observations referred to justices, but still he was not prepared to go.aven asf-r had now been suggested. He did not believe it have any effect in repressing crime. The magistrates power now to inflict bard labour in addition to imprtS^C j ment, and he should be inclined to think that t&Sfi mode of punishment was not carried out to the might. It was not that the law was inadequate to tfff? the peculiar class of crime, but because judges had t#^ an inadequate view af their duty; and, in many cat, where judges had power to inflict six monthff impris6?' i ment, only six weeks or two months were With regard to cases of husbands beating their wive*tW many instances the wife was to blame for the violent**? provoking her husband.. He dW not mean to say t#* there were not cases in which the violpnce was not wbo^r due to the brutality of the husband bat the wif often great power of provocation, and it was well-It: that they did things which justly annoyed it'. husbands. In such cases he doubted whether Ai was wise to add flogging to the sentence. A man misjb* ■ be imprisoned for beating his wife, and it was to &§ hoped that his affections were then not wholly alienate from her, and that when he came out of gaol he might turn and live with her again but this would never the case if the husband was flogged for tbe offence. did not think if a Bift was brought into Parliament he could vote for that portion which proposed rem large increase of powers to the magistrates, by giving tM power to order flogging into the bands of judge»»ii?> Courts of Quarter Sessions for this class of otfences. After some remarks from the Chairman, Mr. Divw and the lie v. C. It. Knight, it was resolved to print th*' petition and circulate it among the magistrates, I bring the subject again forward at the next qú sessions. Several magistrates, with the Chairman of Qaiftfl* Sessions, were appointed to watch the Cardiff Im.atr1 ment Bill.. Plans for a new police-statian at Bridgend were oi3ferew to be obtained. i An additional police-constable was ordered fair th** Swansea district, all other additions to be defeneduntiJ the Cardiff Improvement Bill had been before Parlia- ment, as in the evfcnt of the Bill being carried, several constables at Canton and Roath would be thrown: <en county. ? The.court was thea adjourned. TUESDAY. (Before Mr R. O. JONES agd Mr G. PHIIXIPB») The court opened this morniag at ten o'clook, aadmi following gentlemen were swore on • THE GRAND JURY, Mr Thomas Roaoh, draper, Merihyr (toyman); M John Copeland, draper, Merthyr M. Evans, fanner St Nicholas; W. Francis, farmer, Dinas Powis; V¡" Green, accountant, Cardiff; Phillip Hufsband, farnMir./ Lis vane W. James, ironmonger, Merthyr Taos. farmer, Pencoed Thomas S. Jones, draper, Pontypridd David John, innkeeper, Ystradyfodwg; JohnTjoyd^t draper, Ystrad; Thos. Morgan, engineer, Mwfcbyr; I W. H. Martin, shipbroker, Cardiff;- W. Philips, ¡ licensed tictualler, Merthyr; Peter Price, Crockhert- j town, Cardiff; Richard Pardoe, ironmonger, Aberdare$4 A. W. Sargaunt, accountant, Cardiff; and li. H. dtroag*! tug proprietor, Cardiff. f THE CHABOB. | Tbe CHAIRMAN, addressing the gran^, jury, said tb* £ ,j the calendar which would be laid before them wo»$J b#^l found to be a very large one indeed for dis time ortbt?] year. The October session was held in the middle that month, and therefore but little more than two months had elapsed since the last of those pHsonersthei* j tried was committed, and yet ther»; 41 prisebel* now to be tried, at the present sessions. The case* generally consisted of 3 cases of unlawful isBaulta, li cases of malicious wounding, 3 cases of; frt.uI.2 cases ot larcenies by servanta, 26 cases of comf4r: ü.rcenies, j t cases of breaking and entering into a house or premises, i i charges of receiving stolen goods, 18 cases of stealing from the person, 3 cof embezzlement, Lease of exposing I a child, 1 case of indecently assaulting a I girl; one case of stealing to the value of £ 5' from a dwel' ling house • one case of destroying Jetton, and othef offences. With regard te the cases of Ooniaon larceny* j af/which there were always a large number brought here I for trial, many of them arose from the charge being f brought against the prisoners when near the time ovi quarter sessions being held, and the persons charged pre f ferred being tried by a jury to being de»lt with by tho<[ magistrates' court of petty sessions, or because they had 1 been previously convicted. Then there were the usual., cases of wounding and violent assaults, whish were not ordinarily dealt with at petty sessions. There were at. this moment inquiries beingmade by the Home Secretary, who waa endeavouring to elicit the opinion the magis.