The Cardiff Times

NOTES "OFAGRICULTURE. LBY A PRACTICAL JABMJiR.J CORY. LONDON, Saturday.—The general result of the week's markets may be summed up in six words, viz, there is no change in value. At some inlying provincial markets, 6d to Is per quarter more money has been obtained, but this was merely because a few millers wanted a few more quarters than there were samples on offer. Then a demand for any fine white wheat beyond the supply has occurred, which added a'trifle per quarter to its value. But all this is exceptional, and has nothing to do with the general trade, for al- thougharrivals of foreign have somewhat decreased, there are known to be 15,625,000 bushels of wheat at the various points of collection, the result of which is that purchases for delivery a month or two months hence are made with cau- tion, while offers are made at something under the present low prices. So there is no chance of a rise for some long time to come. Barley, beans. peas, oats, and maize are dull of sale, or cheaper. Maize comes under the latter condition, for, in the face of a large supply, the increase in Ameri- can depdts has amounted to 1,000,000 during the last few days, which makes the quantity available, when telegraphed for, no less than 12,250,000 bushels, Here I may appropriatelyadd, in regard to the growing crops, that I went down to Wiltshire en Monday, and back to London, and down to Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire] on Wednes- day, as I intimated last week I was going to do. I may say that I saw no improvement in the crops that might have been expected in June. Indeed, on Monday it rained from 9 till 11 a.m., and poured from that hour till noon, during which time I was in the Royal Show Yard, at Kil- burn, aed shortly after leaving Paddington there were signs of" the fall of wet being still heavier, for on reaching the Thames Valley at Maidenhead, and on to Didcot, Swindon, and Chippenham, brooks were overflowing with thick water, while furrows were everywhere full on low ground, and in many cases the stetches were covered also. At Swindon, Chippenham, CaIne, and Devizes, I learned that the rain had literally poured down for four hours on the morning of Monday. This is very lamentable to relate, after the condition in which I have previously described the growing crops. I may now say that the corps are less promising than when I said they were the worst that I have seen them, so far as I remem- bered, since the disastrous year 1848. Yet grain does not rise in value THE ROYAL SHOW AT KILBURN, All other agricultural questions appear to be eclipsed by the anticipated greatness of the coming great Metropolitan meeting at Kilburn. to begin on Monday week. I must confess I am trembling for its prospects. The site of the show-yard is a strong clay, and when I was there on Monday last, during the downpour of wet mentioned, an empty cart would have cut through the turf, an horse would have trodden down to the depths of his hoofs. After the rain we have had later in the week, and as we have had five hours heavy rain this morning, the condition of the surface cannot be improved, indeed it must be worse. How the heavy implements can be got into position, there- fore, is a serious question. But I have been in. cidentally informed this morning that four ship- loads of deal baulks have been contracted for, and, from other information I received, I con- clude that these will be laid down between the sheds for the wheels of the railway vans and trollies to run on. This is certainly the only feasible plan for getting the machines and engines into their places in time. I shall, however, be up there three or four days next week, when I shall see more of these difficult proceedings. I am, at the same time, informed that the London and South Western Railway Company have a large stock cf burned clay near at hand, and they have placed this at the disposal of the Royal Agricultural Society, for covering the worst part of the yard during or preceding the show week. But if this expedient should have to be resorted to, the present enormous expenses will be > greatly in- creased, and the coming meeting will therefore turn out to be a far greater financial failure than was the Metropolitan Show in Battersea 1 ields, in 1862, when the society lost several thousand pounds. A little description and a few facts connected with this coming she v will, no doubt, be greatly interesting to my readers. But as I have been travelling much this week by day, and writing by the yard at night, I will borrow a few paragraphs from our excellent contemporary, The Field, all the points in which I have verified. After giving similar description of the ground to the above. it said :—" To come now to a few details, we may first mention the facilities for conveying visitors to the gates of the showyard. The Metropolitan District Railway will convey them from any statiQn between the Mansion House and Aldgate- street, while special trains will be run by the llTortii London, South London, and other district railway companies. Lines of omnibuses will also run from the city, west-end, and other parts of the metropolis, and. as the showyard is only a little over two miles from the Marble Arch, cab fares will be at a moderate rate. The showyard consists of 103 acres, in which are erected eight miles of shedding. The entries may be roundly described as more than double the number that have been made on any previous occasion. The horses number 815; cattle, 1,007; sheep, 841; pigs, 211. The prizes offered are corresoondingly increased. The total is no less than £13,188. Of this sum £3,390 is offered for British and foreign horses, asses, and for British cattle; and £2,220 for foreign cattle-in some of the classes of the latter, however, it is expected there will be no competition £1,755 is the large sum offered for British sheep, while £250 is set apart for foreign sheep B300 is offered for pigs, and goats are promised such substantial official atten- tion as amounts to £60. Then there is the sum of £1,760 for distribution in prizes of such products as hops, 'seeds, corn, wool, butter, cheese, bacon, preserved and fresh meats, honey, and other articles. In the implement department the collec- tion of "ancient" implements is of great interest. The original Bell reaping machine will be there, and also a reaping machine made by Burgess and Kev that took the first prize at the Carlisle show in 1855, There is also a Cornish engine that is reported to have beeu "btiilt" in 1711. There are, besides, a number of primitive win- nowing machines, formed of cross bars, with cloths fastened to them, which, by being turned rapidly, formed a current of air that separated light and heavy seeds or grain when thrown or sifted into it. There are also waggons and carts, and hay tedding machines, wooden ploughs and so on, which are too numerous to mention in detail, that were made in the last century. Foreign implements of ancient construc- tion have at the same time not been neglected, for there are carts and ploughs of real primitive type from Cyprus, India, and China, if we re- member rightly, and other distant parts of the world. As an instance of tho general interest I taken in this meeting, and of the ultimate good it is likely to do, we may mention that deputa- tions or commissions are coming from several uropean states and colonial dependencies. HOME GROWN MUTTON AND FOREIGN WOOL. Uur agricultural contemporary, Old Bell, as it is commonly called, had a lengthv description and critical report of the Bath and West Show, at Exeter, one point of which, asregards the animals, appears to be a valuable suggestion beyond its immediate application. For the following views apply with equal force to the white-faced long- wooled sheep that are kept on the low lands of Wales, Herefordshire, ane other western counties, as it does to the Devon longwools." Our con- temporary says :—"If we had a flook of such thin-fieahed, open-coated sheep as some of the Devon long-wools are that we have seen, we would procure the thickest and best Hampshire Down ram we could, and thus imitate -atthe. Oxfordshire down men have done by establishing a breed from a first cross between a ridown ram and Cotswold ewes. Devon A. woald be a much more sonorous title than would while the value of their mutton nroduced aAenny per lb» the wool if not nnifo 1 better quality, and nearly, too te lhnntJf^7 ,>6r 1fleec«- 1° all probability! and Now 7a; 1 a 8uPPly of wool from Australia of nrdinaT-iT i harye enough to keep the price of ordinary home-grown down, and although the nfow "ad, it applies, as regards mutton, more to white faces than to finer qualities, and the P., SP °.^ peuny per lb increase in value is, all S times nct t0 be despised in these diffi-

THE LATE WEST OF ENGLAND BANK. West England Bank are erroneous. It is not ITd t* ThenysZPr!1Cation wiU be ™*de f<» fefr dav&. The summonses, when issued, will whil%wrnabIe within week from tL hp^n^ 'h f r° panted, but the exact date for the heating before the maeisf-rifps will IRRFF HG&G?.««' im •ffto Wt.kefa offfl'f oTS'i.'n1 *hom»y poaaibly be defendant^ e,"tle,ne" .ho may possib.1v be defendant;

A S»°LMRILI)ISA1BLED BY ARI1LLEUY PRACTICE. wegfaq sohoo.uer Blonde, laden with spirits, anchored behind notwithstanding that danger s.gna!s were Shotawere°nred daoh Bide of the target to give warning, but with. out causing the schooner to remove. In firing at the target subsequently a shot glanced off the target and struck the Blonde's forecastle just above watermark. Signals of distress were dis- played, and the schooner was towed into dock for repàirs.

"Weston completed 550 milos by 11 o'clock on Saturday night, being 67 miles ahead. Holloway Prison is about to be Considerably enlarged. The foundations are already laid for extending oiie of the wings. It is proposed to build 130 additional cells for male prisoners. On Saturday moruipg, the Queen, Princess Beatrice, and suite arrived at Windsor at ten minutes to nine o'clock, having travelled by special North Western train frum Scotland.

ECHOES OF THE WEEK. lEY PETER PLAYFAIK. J THE LAOK OF PUDLW SPIRIT IN CARDIlF. The barrister's opinion respecting the Free Library of Cardiff has created much discussion, but no action. I was talking the other day to one of the shrewdest men in Cardiff, who did good service to the party of progress when the "Conservative screw" was vigorously worked, and he was deploring the want of public spirit in the borough. What is everybody's business is noboJy's business, and the few who have busied themselves in thepast about parks, libraries, etc.,are evidently waiting to see what is about to turn up. I, for one, object to the Wharton and Trinity- streets sites being thrown away when it is pro- posed to build shops and offices at the 1,' Let there be shops by all means, but instead of offices, Free Library rooms. For the lite of me I can see no objection to this. Can you, reader ? MAD DOGS. The Cardiff police should be more than usually careful as to mad dogs. I saw, the other day, not far from Roath Church, a poor brute evidently suffering from rabies, and I was informed that it had bitten several boys who had attempted to take hold of it. It was crouching under a hedge, and was said to have been roaming about the locality for a week. It is dogs of this neglected class which are usually attacked, and a neglect of police precautions may endanger valuable lives. Superintendent Hemingway will, I am .sure, understand the hint. CARDIFF WORKHOUSE BUILDINGS. After a most prolonged period of discussion, the Cardiff Board of Guardians have accepted a tender for the proposed workhouse buildings. The committee having the matter in hand sug- gested that the tender cf a Manchester firm be accepted, but Mr Jacobs urged that the lowest tender (for £23,550), being that of a local builder, should be preferred, and this was accordingly done. All things being fairly equal, I think it is sound policy to accept the lowest tender for public work, all the more so if the lowest tender ,is made by a local person. A BATHING PLACE FOR CARDIFF. I notice that the Marquis of Abergavenny has consented to a portion of a field, his property, above Llanfoist Bridge, on the Usk, being set apart as a bathing-place for the inhabitants of Abergavenny. I should much like to see a simi- lar arrangement as to the Taff, especially as it would likely prevent the cases of drowning among boys reported yearly — everyone of which I view as manslaughter, so long as proper open-air bathing facilities are wanting. SUNDAY CLOSING. The movement in favour of the Sunday closing of public-houses m kes slow but steady progress in South Wales and Monmouthshire. The locality most recently tested is Varteg and Cwmavon (Mon.), and the following is the result of the can- vas :—251 in favour of Sunday closing; eight against; 16 neutral. There are 283 hou-eholders in the two districts, 4 publicans in the two places 1 for Sunday closing, 3 neutral. Only two per- sons refused to sign in the whole of the district. SWANSEA HOSPITAL, I see that the annual meeting of this excellent institution is this year to be held in the evening, so as to afford opportunity for all who feel disposed to attend. I have often wondered how it was that whilst most other charitable and philanthropic institutions celebrate their anniversaries by a public gathering in a suitable building where attention can be drawn to them, and their claims advocated, the Hospital, the chief of them all, has hitherto been content with a day gathering, which only a few can conveniently be present at. This is now to be altered, and the meeting held in the evening, in the new wing of the building. The place is very appropriate, and will no doubt suggest the desirability of still further increased effort to en- able the building to be occupied by the full num- ber of beds it is intended to accommodate. SWANSEA FREE LIBRARY. The secretary and committee of management of the Swansea Library are very anxious it should be understood that they have not "outrun the con- stable "in the matter of recent alterations and additions. It seems that the committee made application to the Corporation to pay the sum, and that body finding itself unable to do so (an adverse opinion having been given by counsel to a similar question in connection with the Cardiff Library), graciously gave permission for the amount borrowed from the Treasury. The committee intend, hOlever, making both ends meet without recourse to a loan, but it should be borne in mind that every penny thus expended is so much the less available for new books. A young institution of this sort stands in special need of funds for this purpose, and though Swansea is under great obligations to a few generous donors who have helped materially to make the library what it is, yet the appeal for funds to extend the number of volumes on its shelves has, after all, been only partially responded to. Many of my readers might therefore do far worse than take a good look round their shelves, with a view to dis- covering a few volumes which they could very well spare, or failing that, remember that the most successful libraries are everywhere those which in addition to the public support of the rate have enjoyed the further assistance of private munifi- cence. MUNICIPAL MATTERS AT SWANSEA. The municipal elections in November next are already beginning to form subject matter for dis- cussion, and speculations are rife as to probable candidates. The retiring members are in the South Ward, Mr James Rogers, the present mayor, and Mr Daniel Jones, who was elected last year to fill the office of Mr Livingstone. A contest is looked upon as almost certain, it being highly improbable that the unpopularity which the mayor has con- trived to bring on himself will be allowed to evaporate without an attempt being made to visit it on him with the loss of his seat. It is said that Mr Buso, who was rejected last year, and thus lost not only his seat but his anticipated mayoralty as well, will again strive for the coveted honour, and I hear several other names mentioned, some however, without much authority. In the West Ward, Mr John Ivor Evans retires, and ha also will probably hwe to fight for bis re-election, should he seek it. A new school board has also to be elected about the same time, so that alto- gether there bids fair to be a lively time of it in Swansea next autumn. NEWPORT AND THE LATE PRINCE IMPERIAL. It is ofttimes said that the worth of au indi- vidual is not fully known until he is dead. The truism holds good in the case of the now lamented Prince Imperial of France. The sad intelligence, uhen received in Newport on the arrival of Thursday morning's papers, was the cause of in- tense sympathy. It was not till then that public expressions of appreciation, respect, and admira- tion of the heroic conduct of the young prince were given utterance to. So far as I kno v, with one solitary exception, every individual regretted to learn that he had fallen a viotim to the murderous weapons of the Zulus. Since the sad event became known, the death of Eugene Louis Napoleon, at the age of 23, has been the chief topic of conversation. The fact that he was the only son of his mother, and she a widow, has deepened the feeling of sorrow 110 universally ex- pressed. I was gratified to notice the half-mast nag floated over the Town Hall in token of sym- pathy, by order of the Mayor of the borough. INNOCENT AMUSEMENT. "All work and no play makes Jack adall boy." I have never seen thta adage so thoroughly exemplified as during the past week. Passing through one of the thoroughfares of Newport, I found it waB partially blocked by a gang of robust sailers playing marbles. They were following the game with much zest, as if they bad been children of minor years. No less than 25 men v re either engaged in or eagerly watching the players. Had it been a Spanish bull fight, eagerness could not have been more clearly de- picted on the countenances than was apparent on these marble players. It would have done the heart of boys good to see how men can play, when they have nothing else to do. I viewed the scene from the standpoint of a political economist, and ventured to express the opinion that there was a great waste of physical labour. All I recei ved in reply was, that sailers could not play marbles on board ship. This retort capsized my political economy, but it was in some degree counter-balanced on being informed that even playing marbles may keep unemployed men out of mischief. THE IRREPRESSIBLE Mil CORDES, cc Cordes and moderation" is to be the Tory watchword at the next election for the Monmouth boroughs, if we are to accept the recorded advice of a "Tory True Blue," who would have shown his colours more effectually had he subscribed himself XXX. It would be interesting to ascer- tain the precise definition of "moderation"—pro- pounded for the benefit of the electors, and to what extent this electoral adviser practises mode- ration in his own individual consumption of alco- holic liquors. Unless this be clearly defined, little heed will be paid to the spurious advice, and Permissive Bill advocates have little to fear from such an adviser. This is the effusion which has been published under the head Poetry :"— THOMAS CORDE, RSQ., PERMISSIVE T rue Blues unite for the common fight, II ark forward every Tory, Obtain your right in spite of might, M ake one more fig-ht for glory A man may think that war with drink S nould bè his future mission. C an that alone force us to link O anelves with prohibition ) R emember, abuse, and not the use, D oth make the abomination, E at, drink, enjoy, needs no excuse, 8 o it's 'vordes and moderation.' X. Y. Z, if A Permissive Bill friend of mine has handed me another acrostic, which puts an entirely new con- struction on the Tory watchword—" Hoorah for Cordes and moderation :— IN PROSPECT OF THE OEKSR.VL ELECTION. T he Tories of Newport are strangely advised, H ow best they may fight to win noxt election, o n banners of blue the watchword ;is devised— 111 oderation and (Jord s !a novel selection A s when" Beer anù the Bible" tbe Liberals defied, So" Corù)3 anti moderation" are now closely allied. C ordes moderate." indeed he ha to rely o n Imperial masters, or Whip they apply. Rely on Liberals van may-their banner, sWI bright, D oes justice to all, and gives freedom and right. E very hireling to Dizzy Is little less than a slave, S lekly, servile, and loathsome, an electoral knave I TH* SALVATION ARMY AT NEWPORT. Happy Tom" and Hallelujah Amos," officers in the Salvation Army, have been removed from the command of the Newport forces, amid the general weeping and regret of the troops, so it is said. These weeping setdiers may now dry up their tears, for other officers have been placed in command. This is the official notice issued from hea l-quarters :—"Lookout. Arrived at last. Oapt. Kate Boyce and Sister Coveney, the halleu- jali pickler, will speak and sing for Jesug on Sun- day next, in the morning at eleven o'clock, and at three (and every evening during the week at eight), in the Salvation Temple and in the evening at Victoria Hall. Coma in crowds. Where will you spend eternity?"

HOME LESSONS.—-The excellence of housekeep- ing is In the talent, experience, and regard for economy the applies in her purchases of pure food and drink, and Where these prevail the benefits to the family both inheaIth aud comfort cannot be over-estimated; many buyers say, "It is so very difficult to know when to get fure articles qffood, when the quality cannot be judged y its outward appearance)" this anxiety is, with re- gard to Tea, got rid of by purohasing that Imported by Messrs Hornhnaa it bas fùr 40 years beea recommended from family to family, because it is the thong-est, cheapest, and th,e bejt.—6,000,000 (five million) packets Were sold last year by Messrs Hornlman's Agents this atone is c.m(j!U¡;ve of the high estimation of the public. For list of traders seliirg Horliiman's Packet Tea in thU ttctehbomfUQoil see advertise n-ent in this paper.

EMIGRATION TO A ME 111 CA. A SERIES OF LETTERS TO INTEND. ING EMIGRANTS. [UY THE ltEV. ,T. DAYIES, rASTOR OF CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH, KOU'-VICH, CONN., U. S. ] No. 10.—THE STATE OF KANSAS. In the letters I have sent you up to this point I have tried to set before you some of the material and moral attractions which thie country offers to persons who wish to emigrate to it. I am con- scious that I have done this only in a very general and imperfect way. My communications have been written in the midst of many professional labours, and I have had no time to elabomte or polish them. Of one thing, however. I am sure, and that is that the statements made in my letters are reliable according to the best of my knowledge and belief. In preparing them I have by the kindness of friends in Washington been furnished with Government documents, and I have made it my duty besides freely to consult those who were thoroughly posted on the points I have referred to. If I have spoken too glowingly of America, and seemed to disparage England. I have not done the last-named thing intentionally. I know the strength and excellences of England, and ho, e I appreciate them. But I must say my heart warms when I think of the offers which this country makes to industrious, capable, and deserving men among you. I am an enthusiast on the subject of emigration here. And believing, as I do, that in America thousands of persons now in England could vastly improve their condition by coming here, I have wanted, in what hr-s been written, to induce them to make the attempt. It is in furtherance of this object that I want now to write three letters on three of our great States, each of which is just now attracting great numbers of people from different parts of Europe. In this letter I shall deal with the State of Kansas. For many years past this has b en one of the most popular emigrant States in this (Jnion, and I believe it will become more and more so as it be- comes more widely known. Those who settle in it write enthusiastically about it. and almost every settler draws to it his friends and acquain- tances. I have known many persons who kuow the State well—some of my friends are living in it, and I have never known any person who was not enthusiastic over Kansas. It is, therefore, fast filling up. Kansas is bounded on the east by Missouri, on the west by Colorado, on the north by Nebraska, and on the south by the land given to the Indians. Within these bounda- ries lie 52 millions of acres, known as the State of Kansas. You will get an idea o f its size when I tell you it is about as large as England, and is more than twice the size of Wales. Eng- land, if I remember correctly, is about 365 miles long and 280 wide. Wales is 136 miles long, and about 90 at its greatest breadth. But the state of Kansas is 400 miles from east to west, and 200 miles from north to south. It is so laid out as to make you think of a checker-board, being also perfectly oblong in shape, except that at the north- east corner of it just a little land is wantiug, which now belongs to the State of Missouri. At present Kansas has 70 counties, and of its 52 mil- lions of acres only a little over six millions are under cultivation. If, therefore, all Wales should decide to come and settle in that one state there would be room for you, though of late our negroes have fled there from the persecutions of South- erners, and for years many emigrants have been pouring into the state. Yet there would be room for all the people now in Wales. But if you should come, be sure and bring the publishers of the South Wales Daily News with you, as I should now miss that excellent paper if it should cease publication. To show how rapidly has been the growth of Kansas, let me quote a few statistics from official documents. It was at the close of our Civil War in the year 1865 that this state began to grow rapidly. At that time there were only 140,179 people in it, only 273,903 acres under cultivation, and the state had hardly a mile of railroad in it. But on the 1st of March, last year, the popula- tion of Kansas had risen to 708,497, an increase of 568,218 in 13 years. Since that time also-1S65- the people in the state have broken and put under cultivation over 6,000,000 of acres of prairie, have organised 40 counties, and built over 2,800 miles of railroad. The state has now over 2,000 post-offices; it has 4,520 school houses it has nearly 650 churches it has over 200 newspapers; it has 700 mills and factories, and over 200 banks. Besides which I find it has a State House, State University, State Agricultural Cottage, State Normal School, C-two asylums for the insane, an asylum for the blind, and one for the deaf and dumb. These statements, which I believe to be as accurate as it is possible to make them, will show you the rapid and substantial growth of Kansas. It seems to me it is growing as fast as any other state in the Union, and her growth appears sub. stantial and promising. In the last year I find her farm products were equal to 100 dollars for every man, woman, and child in her borders. The value of her property if distributed would give 820 dollars to every inhabitant; her wheat crop last year ".was equal to 43 bushels, and her corn crop to 141 bushels to every person in the state. She has a school house for every 175 of her popu- lation, a church for every 1,000, a newspaper for every 3,500, a mill or factory for every 1,000, a post office for every 350, and a mile of railroad for every 308 inhabitants. You will remember, of course, in reading these figures, that many of the pnhlic buildings and cities mentioned are not sik things in Wales. Some westeri. iv-i, and" churcheg," and "post-offices!" are very unpretentious in appear- ance. Indeed, you must walk by faith and not by sight when you look for them, or you will be dis- appointed. A "church" may be a plain, wooden building a "post-offce" may be in some store and the "city may consist of only a few houses scattered here and there over the prairie. But then, woman said of a five pound baby, it will be bigger some day if it lives. J So we may say of these cities. They grow very rapidly here, end in a few years become great centres of trade. Still, though some of these things mentioned are small, the figures given show the rapid and steady growth of the state. Now how is this to be accounted for ? What makes Kansas so popular? I must answer in a single sentence. Its climate is mild and health- ful—not too hot nor too cold. In Darts the surface of the soil is undulating land cheap; Govern- ment lands plenty; the soil is deep, rich, dark loam. On many portions of tha state there are good springs, streams, and rivers. Timber is also abundant in places. The land is excellent for wheat-growing and for stock-raising. It affords capital dairy farms, has good markets, aad the Society found there is some of the best. As I say, in Kansas there is plenty of good Government land, which you can obtain in any of the ways mentioned in my second letter. The Land Offices for the State, there spoken of also, are in Kirwin, Phillip's County, Hays City, Ellis County, Salina, Saline County, Tapeka, Shawnee County, Concordia, Cloud County, Lorned, Pawnee County, Wichita, Sedwick County, and Ind Independence Montgomery County. These Land Offices are in the midst of land districts more or less extensive, and to some of them you must apply if you want Government grants. From the last reports sent to the Government by the registrars of these several districts, I send you brief statements about the land now at their dis- posal. The reports were all 8en. in 1878. From Kirwin, Mr L. J. Best, Receiver, writes There are now left in this land district about 3,387,509 acres of Government land they are in the counties of Jewell, Mitchell, Smith, Osborne, PhillioB, Rooks, Norton, Graham, Decatur, Sheridan, Rawlins, Thomas Cheyenne, and Sher- man. Very little land, however, is left in Smith, Phillips, or Osborne counties. But west of them there is plenty." From Hays City the Registrar writes :—" There remain now on hand, subject to entry under the Homestead Law, about 47 millions of acres in this district." From the Salina land district the Receiver writes :—"There are about 115 millions of Government lands still left in this districtt." From the Tapeka land district the Receiver writes :—" There are no good lands left in this district, but parties can purchase land readily from 5 to 15 dollars per acre. From the office at Con- cordia the Receiver writes—"There are in this district from 50,000 to 60,000 acres of land belong- ing to tho Government, considerable portions of which are to be found in the counties of Pattawa- tomie, Riley, Clay, Mittchel, and Lincoln." The Receiver of Arkansas Valley district, at Lorned, eays-" I have about 4.700,000 acres of Govern- ment lands in my district, and about 2.500,000 acres which can be purchased at 1 dollar 25 cents per acre. In the Wichita district there were, on the 7th of August last year, 1,316,900 acres of land at the disposal of the Government. Of course all of this land is not of uniform excellence. But then plenty of first-class land is among these millions of acres, and will be for years and yeirs to come. I would advice you, therefore, to get a good map of Kansas, find out where it is situated, and then ask yourselves if you do not want some of it. If you have a little monev, so that you can buy land which has been improved, and which is nearer to the centres of population and the railway, you will find abounding opportunities to invest well in Kansas. Good farms in this state can be had for a little money comparativeJy. nnd it you have money vou need not go far into Kansas to find them. Last year the centre of population, as we call it—that is the point round which most of the emigiants settled, was in Morris County. This is situated about 100 miles west of the Missouri river, and in the middle of the state from north to south. This country has some of the finest advantages to offer to settlers which can be found in any part of this country, It is located near the source of the Neosho river, in a district abounding in springs and streams. This country has a population of 6,000, has 418,000 acres, 75,000 of which are under cultivation. Of the land, 15 per cent is bottom—85 per cent upland, 10 per cent forest, and 90 per cent prairie. The principal towns of the county are Parkerville, Council Grave, White City, Skiddy, and Dnnlop, all of which are on the railroad. Now, for those who have money there is no better part ot Kansas in which to settle than this. You may get just as good land here as you can in the more remote parts of the State. In fact, all along that Neosho river the land is ex- Cellent.and the opportunities of getting good cheap farms canr*>t be surpassed. Anywhere in the counties of Morris, Allen, Woodson Chase, Lyon, Greenwood, a man who can buy a farm can do well. Good land in this district can be obtained from one dollar to five dollars per acre. for the latter price as good land as can be had in Kansas. Most of it at present belongs to the railroad com- pany, but they make very liberal terms with settlers. Their rule is to require one-fourth of the purchase-money down, then they will allow you to be two years without further payment, charging 7 per cent interest, and then you must pay one-fourth for each of the three remaining years till the debt is wiped out. l' In case after you purchase you should be success- (uL. ami be ablfl to pay feffore the five rears, they allow you a discount for the amount so paid. In r this way a good stock farm could be purchased, consis iug of 640 acres, for about £200, Or you Cot:, get a good corn and wheat farm for £300, consisting of the same number of acres. To stock or work such a farm you would have to pay from m0 to £:20 for horses or mules, from £2 to JE6 for a waggon. Farming implements and household furniture you can get about as cheap as they are to be had in the Eastern Scates. While fur your wheat you would get about 3s per bushel; for corn, Is 3d; for potatoes you would get from 2s to 2.3 6.1, and for eggs and butter you would get in this section 5d per doz., and 6d to 9d per lb. For a labourer you must pay from £2 Ss to £3 per mouth. Now, as I say, if you have money, and can come here and invest it, there is every chance of your doing well, Let me suppose 1:0 v that you wish to do it. I will imagine you Lave a few hundreds of pounds, and yo 1 want to buy a farm in this country, on which to settle and bring up your family. In this Neosho Valley you can so manage that every year your income will be increasing, and before long you will be a rich man. You can get land at 4s per acre. Suppose you buy 160 acrES, and pay for" it that will cost you lGD dollars. You can get two hoises and a wagon for 180 dollars you must give 17 dollars for a plough 8 dollars for a harrow; 25 dol- lars for a cow and you can get a farm-house, with three rooms in it, for 250 dollar-, that will cost you altogether 640 dollars, or £1:!8. And for that you have a good farm which will increase in value every year. In a few years it will bs worth double what yon gave for it if you want to fell it, or it will afford you support for life if you keep it. But while I thu3 speak of the Neosho Valley, I do not wish to be understood as saying it is the only part of Kansas in which men can buy good farms. I think if I were going to that state I should certainly make for this part of it. But there are other parts of the state that are full of advantages. A friend of mine who has just come back from Kansas City says that for S500 he could have bought a large 160-acre f;. m of well-im- proved laud, well stocked and with good building thereon. I have no doubt it is so. All over that great and growing state there are plenty of advan- tages for industrious people. The man with no money can enter it and select a homestead for himself and family, and the man with a little means can buy well-improved lauds and enter on a career that will make him wealthy in a few years. I don't wonder that hard-woiking men in these Eastern States save a little money and make for the West. "On to Kansas" is the cry of many around me. I think when the struggling and industrious in England kuow the advantages of that state many of them will raise the same cry.

TEE STRANGE BREACH OF PROMISE CASE. In the Queen's Bench Division, on Monday, the case of Hall v. Schelizzi, an action for a breach of promise by a widow against a Greek merchant, residing in South Kensington, terminated in a ver- dict for the defendant.

suicide oFTfarmer, The body of Edward Jones, a farmer, residing at the Knowbury Clee Hill, near Ludlow, was found in Witton Pool on Monday morning. Deceaseo, at halt-past two o'clock in the morning, walked two miles to Witton Pool, tied his legs with his pocket handkerchief, stuck his walking- stick into the ground, and threw himself into tha pool. The house dece -sed resided in is being sold, and this it is said caused him great trouble.

DEATH OF MR CRA YEN ROBERT- SON. We have to announce the death of Mr Craven Robertson, which took place on Monday morning at Aston. The deceased gentleman was for many years associated with the celebrated "Caste" Company. Mr Craven Robertson belonged to a family of celebrated actors, and was the brother of Air T. W. Robertson, the author, and Miaa Madge Robertson.

SAD DIVORCE CASE. On Saturday, the case cf Sharp v. Sharp and Sturt was before the President of the Divorce court. It appeared that the parties were married on the 25th of August, 1870, The petitioner was at the ti:ne a Miss Taunton, the daughter of a gentleman of independent means, residing at Chester, and the respondent was an officer in the Oxfordshire Militia, Laving an independent in- come of from £2,000 to £3,000 per annum. The mairiage turned out to bo a very unhappy one. A week after it took place the respondent was alleged to have treated his wife with great cruelty. In 1872 her husband ill-use 1 her s.) that she was pre- maturely confined, and the child was defective in formation. Throughout their married life the wife clung to the child, and it was not until the latter part of 1878, when she found out the re- spondent was taking steps to have it removed from her, she resolved on disclosing the whole matter of her husband's treatment towards her, and appealed to her friends. She thereupon left her husband's house on the 12th of December last ear, taking the child with her. She wrote to her husband, complaining of hig dissolute habits, and i of his brutality towards her, and that she could not J longer put up with the treatment which she had experienced at his hands. He wrote to her ex- pressing his regret for what had taken place, and imploring her to return to him, If she did so he promised that he would become a teetotaller. Mrs Sharpe, however, did not believe in his promise, and they never again cohabited. She filed her petition in December last year, and to that peti- tion the respondent made no answer, but it- March last he filed a cross petition, alleging that his wife had been guilty of adultery with Colonel Sturt, but it would seem that there was no foundation for the charge, whereas it was proved that the re- spondent had not only been guilty of gross acts of cruelty to his wife, but that he had been also guilty of adultery. The petitioner denied the truth of the allegation that she had been guilty of misconduct with the co-respondent. Other wit- nesses proved the adultery committed by the re- spondent. Dr Deane did not put the respondent in the witness box in support of his allegation of his wife's misconduct. The courtJpronounced a decree nisi, and gave the wife the ,charge of the child.

SOUTH WALES COAULXPORTS FOR 1878. MR H. H. VIVIAN'S RETURN. The return' of the exports of coal from all the ports of the country during the year 1878, moved for by Mr H. H. Vivian, and which has just been published, indicate minutely the quantity of coal exported from each of the ports, the Customs returns, from which our monthly returns are com- piled, usually grouping several of the smaller ports together, and giving only the totals for the whole. This bears especially on the smaller South Wales ports, several of them being grouped with Swansea, and others with Llanelly. Coastwies, according to this return, Cardiff exported last year 814,871 tons of coal, 479 tons of coke, and 527 tons of patent fuel, making a total of 815,877 tons. Swansea exported 236,950 tons of coal, 1,439 tons of coke, and 420 tons patent fuel, making a total of 238,899 tons. tons of coke, making a total of 192,713 Briton Ferry exported 192,623 tons of coaL and 90 tons Port Talbot exported 67,940 tons of coal; Porthcawl, 67,476 tons of coal Llanelly, 123,415 tonu of coal Milrord, 32,818 tons of coal; New. port, 876,3S7 tons of coal, 231 tons of coke, mak- ing 876,624 tons Gloucester also exported 202,135 tons of coal, derived from the South Wales coal-field. This return also gives the quan- tity of coal, &c., shipped to foreign ports from the same places. Cardiff shipped last year, to foreign ports, 4,076,432 tons of coal, the declared value of which was £2,002,192; 19,429 tons of coke, of the value of £13,547; and 97,899 tons of patent fuel, of the value of £52,382; making a total value for these exports of £2,068,121. Swansea exported 641,562 tons of coal, of the value of £271,60g; 2,859 tons of coke, of the value of £1,979; 101,014 tons of patent fuel, of the value making a total value of these exports from Swansea £328,065..Briton Ferry exported 19,010 tons of coal, of the value of £7,858; 1,272 tons of patent fuel, of the value of J6716, making the total value of the exports £8,574. Port Talbot exported 8,032 tons of coal, of the value of £3,878. Porthcawl shipped 129 tons of coal, of the value of £58, and 601 tons of coke, of the value of £316. Llanelly exported 70,265 tons of coal, of the value of £ 2S,S34. No coal was shipped from Mil- fcrd for foreign ports. Newport shipped 755,754 tons of coal, of the value of £366,893 4,307 tons of coke, of the values of £1,957, making a total of £368,830 as the value of the exports for Newport. Gloucester shipped 650 tons of coal to foreign parts, of the value of JE545. According to this return, the price at which coal was sold in the Bristol Channel and the South Wales ports varied considerably. The price at which coal was (shipped at Gloucester averaged 16s 91d per ton throughout the year. The price at Bristol, 12s 41; the price at New- port, 9s 8id per ton the price at Cardiff, 9s 9!d per ton; at Swansea, 8s 5d per ton; at Briton Ferry, 8s -3d per ton; at Port Talbot, 9s 7N at Porthcawl, 9s; at Llanelly, 7s nd. At Newcastle the average price was 8s 7d per ton, at Sunderland 8" 4d per ton, and at Hartlepool 8" lid per ton at Glasgow 9s 2d per ton, and at Leith 10s 10J1 per ton. The price at which coal was sold to ditferent countries varied, but not to any considerable extent. The average price at which it was shipp-ed to the northern or southern ports of Russia was 9s 61 per ton France. Ss lid Italy, the same Spain, 10s 81 Portugal, 9s 3d per ton British India, 10s 3d China, lis United States of America, 12s 31 the West Indies 9s 6d per ton Central America, 14s 6d per ton, &o. The total quantity of coal exported to foreign countries from the United Kingdom last year was 14,998,527 tons, 274,239 tons ot coke, and 221,867 tons ot patent fuel, the totd value of which is returned at £7,330,414. Of the total quantity shipped coastwise, .London absorbed 3,198,309 tons of coal, while the railways and canals also conveyed 5,606,026 tons of coal to the same place, making a total of 8,804,335 tons of coal consumed in London alone in one year.

Early in the recess the Home Secretary is to address his constituents at Leigh. Messrs punville and Co. are the largest holders of Whisky in the world. Their old Irish Whisky is re commended by the medical profession in preference to French brandy. It is supplied in casks and cases for home use and exportation, and quotations may be had on application to Messrs Dunviile and Co., Royal Irish Distilleries, Belfast, 7427 HAPPT DAYS.—There is something of regret and gloom In the first appearance of grey hairs; our prospects are often blighted by their premature appear- ance. Mas S. A. AiiLEN 9 WORLD'S HAltt RESTORER happily affords a safe and sure means for restoring them again to the freshness and beauty of youth- It is the old established standard and reliable article known and spoken most highly of in evrery civilised country It requires only a few applications to restore grey .hair to its youthful colour and lustrous beauty, and induce luxuriant growth, and its occasional use is all that is needed to preserve it in its highest perfection ;and beauty. Dandruff is quickly and permanently reproved. SPM to aU ChemUte fttHi Pfriumarit

r PAUPERISM IN SOUTH WALES AND MONMOUTHSHIRE. From a Return just published, we are enabled to give some statistics that will show the increase of pauperism in South Wales and Monmouth- shire, as a result of the deprcssiou in the staple trades of the district. The total number of pau ers in the 649 unions of England and Wales on the Lt of January, 1877, was 732,523; on the 1st Jolv, 1877, the number had decreased to 709,933; on the 1st January, 1878, the number had again increased to 747,811, and again de- creased on the lit July, 1578, to 725,830; whilst on the 1st January last the number was no less than 805,030, an increase of 57,253, or 7'7 per cant., since the 1st January, 1878. Oa the 1st January of the present year, one person in every 28 iu England and Wales was a pau;er. The in- doir paupers on the 1st January, IS78, were 171,421; on the 1st January, 1879, 179,541, an increase of 8.120, or 4'7 per cent. the outdoor paupers during the same period increased from 576,3"0 to 625,539, an increase of 49,149, or S'5 per c-nt. The adult able-bodied paupers increased during the year from 97,927 to 118,933—an increase of 21,006, or 21'5 per cent., the very large increase in this class being, of course, consequent on the lack of em- ployment. It may interest our readers to learn of what classes of paupers the whole number are composed, and v>e, therefore, append the follow- ing- table :— Paupers, 1st In-door. Out-door. January, Able- Not able- Able- Not able- 1879. boded. bodied, bodied, bodied. Total. Ma!e3 (Adult).. 9,355.. 49.74").. 24.480.. 75,470..158,850 Females(Aduit)13,495..33,5(i7.. 7l,S03..lG0,3i7..309,712 Children under 16 .16,751.. 36,565..185,89,5.. 33,197..272,403 VagTvats 4,193.. 458.. 4,654 liisa,,e-maleg. 6,C13.. — 18,939* 25.682 Females 8,767.. — 24,105« 32,902 „ Children 687.. 437* 1,124 Total „ ..43,597..135,944..232,636..343,055..8)5,232 The majority of insane paupers hero classed among the out-door are in asylums. Chillrcn relieved with able-bodied parents are classed as able-bodied; but children relieved without their parents, or relieved with parents who are not able-bodied, are classed as not able-bodied. Coming near home, we find that pauperism in South Wales did not increase so largely during 1878 as during 1877 but in Monmouth the in- crease was very large, as will be Been in the annexed list of total paupers :— 1st Jan, 1st Jan. 1st Jan. Inc. percent 1877. 1878. 1870. on 2 years. South Wales 33,312 85,117 36,274 8'9 Monmouth 8,496 9.191 10,519 25' North Wales 21,252 20,622 20,633 2*9 dec. Total Welsh Di- vision. 62,970 64,930 67,526 From 1st January, 1878, to 1st January, 1879, the increase in South Wales was 3'3 per cent, Monmouthshire 14'4 per cent, and North Wales Monmouthshire 14'4 per cent, and North Wales 0*1 per cent. In Monmouthshire the paupers on 1st January last were 1 in every 20 of the popu- lation (1871, in South and North Wales 1 in every 21. The able-bodied paupers in the Welsh division stood as follows at the dates given :— Indoor. Outdoor. Total. Increase per cent in 1878. South Wales 459 4,490 4,949 4'8 Monmouth 177 1,192 1,369 111.9 North Wales 238 1,823 2,061 1*6 The per-cen tage of able-bodied pau pers, in door and outdoor, on the total paupers was in South Wales 13*6, in Monmouthshire 13 per cent., and in North Wales not quite 10 per cent. in all England and Wales the per-centage was 14'6; showing that the Welsh division has not had so many able- bodied paupers to support as the rest of England and Wales. In order that the ratepayers of each Union in SouthiWales and Monmouthshire may .w see how their local pauperism stands contrasted with the rest of the kingdom, we have compiled the followinz table :— SOUTH WALES. A B C D E Cardiff 7-6,701 646 2,873 81-6 46 Pontvpridd f)' 701 188 2,850 94-0 58 Merthyr 104,239 899 2.629 87 "0 23 Bridgend 31,671 173 1.639 90-4 57 Neath 44,063 176 2,616 93-9 63 Pontardawe 17,488 852 4S Swansea 70,425 419 3,174 83-3 51 Gower 9,290 40 245 85-9 80 Llanelly 34,732 94 1,894 95-2 57 Llandovery 14,046 87 fiG1 93-8 42 Llandilo 16,976 39 797 93'4 43 Carmarthen 3\627 113 1,973 94'5 58 Narberth 20,332 69 1,023 93'7 43 Pembroke. 28,956 111 959 89-6 87 Haverfordwest 34,480 137 1,997 93.5 61 Cardigan 17,585 52 1,144 95 "6 6? Newcastle Emlyn., 18,818 21 1,1,55 98' 56 Lampeter 9,973 21 374 04-6 29 Aberayron 13,377 19 882 95-2 29 Aberystwith 27,439 76 709 90'3 28 Treg-aron. 10,677 11 304 96'5 29 Buiith 8,264 5 8 224 78*8 34 Brecknock 17,724 111 486 81-4 88 Crickhowell 20,147 152 918 859 6S Hay 10,797 59 382 86*6 40 Knighton. 12,930 73 592 87 0 45 Rhayader. 6,824 499 73 Total. 765,502 3,294 32,98) 90'9 47 MONMOUTHSHIRE. Chepstow IS,431 162 609 79• 42 Monmouth 31,598 242 1,465 85'8 54 Abergavenny 22,862 160 755 £ 2*5 40 Bed wellt v. 51,763 304 1,894 8 VI 42 Pontvpool 33.892 193 1,972 91* 63 Newport 61,252 427 2,336 84*5 45 Total .219,708 1,483 9,031 85*8 49 Eng. & Wales..22,708,302 179,541 625,533 77*7 35 A.—Population in 1871. B.-Totai number of indoor paupers, c.— outdoor r.—Proportion per cent of out-door paupers on total. E.—No. of paupers per 1,000 population (1871). On the 1st January, 1878, in the unions of South Wales and Monmouthshire,the figures stood as follows:— ,4: B r 0 D E Cardiff 682 8,128 81'8 49 Pontypridd 191 2,467 92*8 51 Merthvr 445 2,378 S4- 27 Neath 168 2,28 1 93"1 55 Swansea 443 3,398 86*9 48 Newport. 394 1,840 82'3 36 Bedwellty 322 1,707 84.1 89 South Wales 3,381 31,741 90" 3 45 Monmouthshire. 1,419 7,772 84-5 41 It thus appears that in Cardiff the number of paupers on the 1st of January, 1879. was 316 less than on the first of January, 1878; in Pontypridd there was an increase of 380; in Merthyr an in- crease of 204 and increases of 328 in Neath, 195 in Swansea, 529 in Newport, 169 in Bed-.veil ty 1,157 in South Wales, and 1,328 in Monmouth- shire. It must be a source of satisfalion to the rate- payers of the Cardiff Union to find that whilae all the other Unions of large populations in South Wales and Monmouthsbire had to bear an increase of pauperism last winter as compared with the winter of 1877-8. the number of pau- pers in Cardiff decreased as much as 8'2 per cent. On the 30th April last, the number of paupers in England and Wales was 733,058; showing that a decrease of 72,022, or nearly 9 per cent, had taken place in the first four months in this year. In the Welsh Division, on the 30th April, the number was 66,946—a decrease of 1,580, or 2l per cent only. It thus appears that while the pauperism of the rest of the kingiom decreased largely, an evidence of improvement of trade, that of Wales nearly remained stationary.

THE CARDIFF WORKHOUSE. THE NEW BUILDING. The Cardiff guardians on Saturday accepted the contract of Mr C. Burton, Oakfield-street, for the erection of the extension to the present workhouse building, for the sum of £ 23,550. Al- though the proposed alterations may be called an enlargement, they form so comprehensive a por- tion of the whole, and the thorough setting aside of the original plan, that the building when com- pleted may be regarded as a new one. No por- tion of the old, ill-designed, and badly ventilated workhouse will remain, and the board-room, tramp ward, infirmary, &c., erected recently from a de- sign by Mr Stephens, will form part of the new building as a whole, Messrs James, Seward, and Thomas, the architects for the building about to be erected, had a difficult task to accomplish. The area of ground was limited, a parallelogram with its narrowest end to the Cowbridge-road. Had the front been on the longer side the design could have been varied considerably. The archi- tects for the Local Government Board had the plans before them for several weeks, as the Local Government Board at first objected to the arrangement of the blocks of buildings, but theyvwere compelled to return them, and with the acknowledgment that the architects had designed the best form of building that could be placed on the site chosen for them. This was by no means a light testimonial in favour of the skill of Messrs James, Seward, and Thomas. Gentlemen of the highest professional skill, who had approved or disapproved of the design for every workhouse in the country,and who were desired to alter the plan if they could for the better, after weeks of deliberation, admitted that the design was the most suited for the requirements of the guardians, and the ground upon which the building was to be erected. The old building, which now stands to the west of the "board-room block," will be re- moved entirely, and its jilace will be occupied by a handsome building, with a central portion three stories bigh, surmounted with a clock-turret, in which it is proposed to place a clock, and also a bell for summoning the inmates to meals, etc. This elevation will be built with Newbridge stone and Forest stone dressings, with Radyr stone string courses, giving a very effective appearance to the general design. The central portion consists of the "administrative block" residence for the master, porter's rooms offices, waiting rooms, etc. There will be au archway in the centre, forming an entrance to the in- ternal portions of the buildings beyond. ,ts The master's house or residence will be detached, except where connected by a corridor to the other portions. On each side of the entrance hall there will be porter's rooms, master's offices, waiting- roo:ns, and other rooms for the inmates. Adjoin- ing also and at either end will be store rooms for the clothiug of the two classes of inmates, male and female receiving wards, bath rooms, and at one end a room fitted with Leoni's disinfecting ap- paratus for disinfecting the clothes of persona who become inmates of the Workhouse. The central part of the ground at the back is occupied by a large diniug-hall, 86 feet by 43 feet, and about 27 27 feet high. This will also be used at present as a chapel on Sundays. Adjoining are the usual appurtenances, store rooms, larders, bakery, bread room. etc, There are only two entrances at one end for the inmates, one for the men and the other for the women, with a central space between the tables for the officials of the Workhouse. The hall has an open iron girder roof, is well venti- lattld and lighted, and if at some future time a chapel should be erected, an ouen space of ground between the new buildings and the Workhouse Infirmary is available for the purpose. To the feast and west of the dining-hall, and on the extreme boundaries of the land stand two blocks of buildings, three stories, for the male and l female inmates. They consist of large double wards, divided by a central partition, and ag in divided into blocks 60 feet long, and about 40 feet clear breadth between the walls. These are I\p. proached by stone staircases, having bath-rooiris and other necessary arrangements attached. They a'e well lighted and ventilated, and the warming by means of fire-places has been carefulle con- sidered. The fire-places are constructed on the Gallon principle, that of wanning the air as it is admitted into the room. Each of the floors are eleven feet high. These blocks are connected with each other and to the administrative block by covered ways, which afford good shelter to the aged and infirm inmates from tile sun and rain. Besides these blocks theie are two others, each containing six rooms for married couples. The accommodation provided is sufficient for 605 in- mates, including the infants, which are now located in one of the rooms erected as a vagrant's ward. The plan, when complete, provider for another series of blocks still further to the north, with yards between and covered corridors con- necting them with the other portion of the building. At present it is not contemplated to carry out the whole design, but when completed there will be sufficient accom- modation for noo inmates. At the extreme north of the ground a large laundry will be erected, and this will be, like the administrative block, made suiliciently large for the whole build- ing when complete. By this arrangement every economy has been studied. No part of tile Dmld- ing need be interfered with, but when the neces- sity arises the additional block of wards can be elected on the space of ground that will be left for the purpose. The design, with the exception of the principal front, is extremely siuiple. No money lias been proposed to be spent in ornamentation, while all the modern requirements of the Poor- law administration in the arrangements of the workhouse have been complied with, and the com- fort and heaitn of t; e inmates carefully studied. To carry out the decin, and complete the build- ing, the guardians have arranged to borrow the sum of to he repaid in thirty years, and. on the rateable value of the Union, the paying off of the principal and interest of this sum will only be an additional burthen of d in the pound, while some considerable sums of money will be saved annually in repairs, and the systematic classification of the inmates will also enable a further reduction of expenditure to be effected.

GWENT ANIMiORCANWG MUSI- CAL ASSOCIATION. I ANKUAL MEETINGS AT CARDIFF. v During the past three years the Gwent and Morganwg Musical Association, founded for'the purpose of improving the congre- gational psalmody amongst the Calvinistic Metho- dists, has been instrumental in effecting a great change for the better. As its name implies, the association embraces a wide area, taking in the districts of Cardiff, Newport, Khymney, Rhondda, Llantrissant, and Cowbridge. There is a central committee, to which each district sends represen- tatives and the working of this has become so well known and so highly appreciated that the association is cognisant of the separate practices going on at each congregation. The importance att died by the Welsh people to the cultivation of music is seen and heard to great advantage when large assemblies sing simultaneously with expression, with power, and correctly. Certainly the Gwent and Morganwg Musical Association and its worthy secretary, Mr Daniel Davies, Ystrad, deserves every encouragement. They make no attempt to gain monetary profit, all their efforts are with the single object of encouraging the cul- tivation of sacred music among the congregations of the Calvinistic Methodists. With the lessons which three years' experience have taught, the association seems likely to go on and prosper Ieuan Gwyllt did a great deal in the direction of improving psalmody, but his work requires to be taken up and carried out in actual practice. The annual musical festivals held at Cardiff have always been successful; and though in point of numbers the festival on Monday in Wood-sfcrppt Chapel, Cardiff, compares rather unfavourably with that of the previous year—to be accounted for perhaps by the prevailing depression in trade in this district—there was no falling off in the heartiness and unanimity characteristic of these gatherings, x iob&bly about l,o00 singers ,wer6 pre- sent The lower part of the chapel was well filled, and effective arrangements had been made for seating the different choirs- and for apportioning tue voices. The Taff Yale Ylaii way Company ran a special train from Treherbert, stopping at Ireorky, Ystrad, Llwyupia, Pandy, Porth, H doj, and Pontypridd, and though it was fro:n this district that the main body came, Rhymney, Nev?i:>ort, Bridgend, Pontlottyn, Caer- pliilly, Pentyrch, and Treforesfc, also contributed. MrGwilytn Williams, of Miskiu Manor, presided at the forenoon meeting; the Rev E. Matthews at the afternoon. The conductors^ were—Mr_ D. Jenkins, Trecastell, Aberystwith, in the morning Mr Rees. Llaneilv (Alaw Deiu)" in the afternoon I and Mr J. Tho ma's, Blaenanerch, in the evening. Miss Davies Canton, presided at one harmonium, and Mr Gouier Trehearne, Ystrad, at another. Both instruments were placed in the centre of the chapel. Among those present were the Revs T. Davies, Caerphilly William Jones, Ystrad LL Harris. Ti eforest, D, Evans, A Grelii^aer Ehys Morgan, LI vynpia .T. Cynddvlau Jones' VV. Ji,. Winks. Nathaniel Thomas, Cardiff; Ed- monds. W. Watkiss, St, Mellons. At the com- mencement of the morning meeting, Mr iLLiAirs, who spoke in Welsh, said they had to thank the committee for having such a poor chairman. He understood that most of the respectable inhabitants of the valley had come down, (Applause.) He regretted he could not speak much in Welsh, for though a Welshman, and though quite able to express himself privately in his own native tongue, he was not able to make an oratiou in it. That being the case, no doubt mmy in the audience were astonished at seeing him occupy the position he did. He would do his best, and he asked that if he failed they should not blame him—they should blame the secretary or the committee of management. (Applause.) But there was this in his favour, and in their favour—the Rev. E. Matthe.vs was present, and Mr Matthews would do more than make up for any of his deficiencies. When listening to fr Matthews he always felt that he did not want to hear anybody else. (Applause.) Although he was a poor chairman, he did not think that even Mr Matthews felt more interest in congregational singing than he had always done. One thing in this connexion had struck him very forcibly, and that wai the enormous improvement that had taken place in congregational singing since he was a boy. Looking over Ieuan Gw.vlJt s introduction to his book, on the previous day, he (Mr Williams) noticed that lenan Gwyllt complained rather that the ministers of reJigion, at that time, did not place sufficient importance on, nor give due encouragement to the cultivation of music as an element in public worship. In past times the deacons considered themselves too great t. go to a singing meeting, A great revolution had, how- ever, taken place; and, in fact, the go d that leuan Gwyllt had done was almost incredible. (Applause.) If he was alive to-day, and present at tins immense assemblage joined in congrega- tional smgmg. he would undoubtedly be delighted. (Applause.) The class to which he (Mr Williams) belonged, neither that of minister nor deacon v. ere allowed to do very httle in connection' with the ordinances of religion, and in public worship they were hardly allowed even to say "Amen," the only way in which they could express their feelings" being in the ringing after the sermon. (Applause.) The chapel people might with ad- vantage follow the example of the Church people, and allow the general congregation opportunity to express their feelings. He was not a Church- man, but he believed that there ought to be more in common in public worship between the congre- gation and the pastor; that the congregation should, say, read every other verse, or at least that the pastor and congregation should say the I Lord's prayer together. As it was now, the only way in which the majority of the congregation could express their feeliugs was by joining in the singing. (Applause.) There ought, at all events, to be an opportunity afforded to the ordinary members of the congregation to pray in public. He did not wish the Calvinistic Methodists to think that he desired to propose any revolution among them. He had always found them very good people, but still they should reo member that among the Calvinistic Methodist* there was room for improvement in their mode of conducting public worship. (Anvilause,) He entirely agreed with what Mr Matthews had written against turning chapels into halls for practising for eisteddfodau. The present fes- tival, however, did not at all partake of that cha- racter. In his opinion, chapels should be kept for public worship and for religious usea. (Ap- plause.) The first hymn sang was <;Wele'r dydd yn gwawrio draw "—the day is dawning in the dis- tance. The singer* followed the conductor in the joyful tune, "Melton," with care and great spirit, and, it may be added, correctly; but there was an earnestness in the rendering of "Trugaredd dod i mi, Duw o'th ddaioni tynei which seemed to carry the audience along with them. The be- seeching expression so necessary when Wirks- worth" WM being suug was given in ad- mirable taste; and at the Bime time the devotional element was strikingly present. The next hymn sang may be translated in English as "Against all obstacles." It was very well exe- cuted in excellent time and tune, and the same may be said of Peraidd ganodd ser y boreu"— "Sweetly sang the morning »tars." Mr J. HORTO, Oxford, addressed the assembly. and said that, although he did not understand the words sung, he had been delighted with the extreme beauty and harmony of the melodies, which might seem to him more melancholy than the words implied. Th9 new arrangement by Mr Jenkins of the old Welsh air, "Old Derby," which seemed a great favourite, was sung with taste and expres- sion. The anthem, in Welsh, "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son," followed by "Ai lesu mawr, Ffrynd dynolryw?'' sung feelingly to Llan- dloes. Various other hyinns were sung, and to tunes such as Nashville and Tyndali, and the morning meeting was brought to a conclusion. In the afternoon there was again a large attend- ance. The CHAIRMAN, in the course_ of his address, advocated the claims of music, and men- iioned that he had placed himself in the hands of Alaw Ddu, and was in hopes that he might yet become a thorough musician. The devotional part, already mentioned, was particularly maifest, in the rendering of Ni ganwn am gariad Creawdwr yn ddyn,"—"We sing of the Creator's love to man,"—to Ware- ham." The parts were well kept, and it was mar- vellous with what accuracy time and tune were observed. Evidently there had been careful practice. The conductor remarked that this was a fair sample of what congregational singing ought to be—devotional and with feeling and expression, joined in by all. The next, "Nis gallodd angau du ddal Iesu'n gaeth,"—" Hideous deathjcould not hold Jesus captive "—was given with the effective emphasis required by "Siloah." The Rev D. EVANS, who then addressed the singers, said he considered it a treat to be pre- sent. After Sunday it was generally black Mon- day for a minister, but on this occasion it was white Monday—it was so like Sunday. (A; plause.) He considered they had sung with sr>irit and power, and the meaning of the words had been correcly interpreted. (Applause.) The Welsh version of Moodv and Sackey's I love to tell the story," was joined in with great energy, and the music blended remark- ably well. Then came the favourite Yn y dyfroedd mawr a'r tonau.—" In the deep and Polity waters," BUBS by the entombed miners at Tynewydd, the first of which commences, "O anfeidrol rym y cariad ''—How immense thfl power of love! The entire body of singers seemed t > catch the spirit of the hymn, and to the tune of "Alexan ier it was sang with deep feeling. The id -a of triumphing over difficulties sought to be conveyed was not lost sight *<f. TM Key. J. CYNDDYLAN JONES then rose, and said I don't feel my.-elf iu the right mood to speak. You sang that last hymn and that last tune so that it Grove the desire to speak out of me entirely. However, I am here on this the third occasion of holding these festivals, I am always very glad to be here, and I always cancel eve other appointment in order to be present. ft gave n:e great pleasure to see and hear Mtf Mnttliews speak so strongly in favour of these festivities. I think the ministers of the town of Cardiff, each and.all.feel deeply interested in these us.-embiies. One face that we have had with us for 10 years formerly is not with us to-day. I allude to the llev, John Morgan Jones, but doubtless he wo il 1 be here had circumstances per- mitted. He is called away from home in con- nection with the general assemblv, which will explain the reason, I have also been specially requested by the liev. "Wiliiam James, of Canton, to say that were it not for some appointments lie had in London he would be with us. Neither of these brethren are absent through any coldness OJl their part, but OWiE2" to engagements they could not break. I am very glad to see so many of yon present in this festival; it shows that sacred musi has taken a deep an and profound hold of voul souls. I felt very proud this morning that I could invite some Englishmen, utter strangers to Wales and Welsh society, to a festival of sacred music; and I am delighted to hear that the impression was or tLe iiio.st favourable and saln. tary kind. I trust we will go on cultivating the art and the spirit of music. I know now very welt where music began liS aa art. Commentators say t:at there is a hint in the Bible that it began all: an art or science in the family of the ungodly. You know that Jubal was a descendant of Cain. and it is stated in Genesis that Jubal was the father of all such as handled the harp or the organ. Some commentators come to the conclusion that mURíc "as first cultivated ill the familv ot Cain. Iu Arabia and Persia, singers are "still called Canutes. And I am not sure but that the Welsh word Can, a song, might come from the source, and that in Welsh, as in Arabic, singers are called aftsr the name of Cain. But be that as it may, the spirit of Cain is not the spirit i of Welsh musicians. Rather is the spirit of the Welsh musician akin to the Spirit of God, We fincf I that good singing and deep religion always gel together. I thiuk I could give you a compendioaC history of religion by giving a compendious hiac tory of the sacred art of music. I have bee;1 very particularly struck by one expression in the Bible. Again and again it is said that they prophesied with the harp. Jeduthun prophesied with the harp Isaiah prophesied with the tongue. Yon must have the same inspiration to make a good singer that YOU must have to make a good pro- phet. Jeduthun was inspired by the same divine spirit as Isaiah, but his way of prophesying waa to sing, and in order to sing like him. it was neces- sary to be inspired by the same divine spirit; and there was as much ot the divine spirit inspiring Jeduthun prophesying with the harp as Isaial prophesying with the tongue. And I am proud to tl1Ïnk that tbis inspiratiou ill si:1ging has no died out yet. We have heard the chairman pro- phesy with the tongue before now we have seea and heard him under divine inspiration, have felt inspired by his power. But I felt that there was divine inspiration iu the sintring this afternoon. When you were. singing this last hymn I felt something go through me—I could not give it a name very well—some- thing like a cold wave going down the nerves of thespiue. something which then touched the optic nerve—the spirit of God sweeping through one's'nature. And I hope you will have more of these divine breezes, I hope you will feel the spirit blowing through you. Oil for more of the diviue breezes !—"Oam deimlo awel o Galfaris fryn." (Applause.) The Welsh version of the chant-" Unto Hu. who loved us and washed us from our sins in His blood," was not so well rendered as the fpther pieces. More practice of this class of singing is required. Alaw vdu said that altbongh the hymns of Williams Pantycelyn were good, there was nothing like singing the verses in the Bible pure and simple. Hymns were sung to the tunea of Ballerma, Braint, and Free Grace, The anthem, "Teach me Thy ways," wai passed over in favour of a fine Welsh hymn, surg with great effect, to the tune of Caerllyngoed. The two series, commencing "Ti Farnwr byw a meirw. sydd ag a'lweddau'r bedd o fiaen y fame rhaid sefyll, ie, sefyll cyn bo hir," were simg t'^ice. One of the most delightful pieces of the day WM that sung to "Moriah," "Nid fy nef yw ar y ddaear, pe goreu man dan gwmptf haul"—» My Heaven is not upon this earth." \> ith this the afternoon meeting concluded. In the evening the chapel was crowded. The first item on the programme was the Welsh versian of Moody and Sankey's hymn, "Lord I hear of showers of blessing"—" Arglwydd, clywaf swn cawodvdd gwlaw dy gariad odeb fry. But "Newvddion braf a ddaeth i'n bro, was sung first. No exception could be taken tg either. But when it came to Nol marw brenin hedd, A'i eiJdo i gyd yn brudd When the King of Peace laid down His head." the quality of the Hlices and the character in the singing became again clearly manifest in Water. stock. jJilyn Crist," an anthem set to music by Alaw Ddu, was repeated twice. Hymns to the tuues of Capel Cynon, Manheim, were sung. The rendering of the chant, "Coffayr hen drugareddau," was not quite up to the mark. But ti e Hallelujah Chorus made up for any deficiency in this respect. The Rev Mr WATKISS, in the course of an address, said the celebrated American preacher, Talmage, now on a visit to this country, was once asked which he thought the most effectual way of presenting gospel truth to the people, and his reply was, "Sing it. (Applause.) Now his (the shaker's) impression was that singing the gospel had done a vast amount of good. He was afraid that preaching was to a grreat extent failing in our day. Singing seemed to be taking the lead. And he thought we ought to have some colleges in which the preachers might be trained as singers then he thought they would be able to get along. At any rate, it seemed to him that singing did get hold of the hearts of the people. He believed it was calcu- lated to elevate us, and to lift us up. He was not at all a professional singer, but he had been always able to make some sort of sound, and he sang with the heart. Indeed, his impression was that however much understanding we had, if the heart was not with it. it was not of much accountc It was well when they could have both combined. Singing was then made complete. He felt that we wanted in our various places of worship move singing of the right kind. (Applause.) The Rev. Mr Davies, Caerphillv, and M* David Evans also addressed the meeting, which was brought to a close shortly after eight o'clock.

MR gladstoseasFdisestab- LISHMENT. „ The following letter, written by Mr Gladstone to the Rev Principal Rainy, is furnished for pub- lication :— My dear sir.—I have received the letter ia which vou express apprehension lest the leaders the Liberal party should give a virtual pledge that they will not touch the question of disestab- lishment during the next Parliament. I do not fall within the description of a leader of the party but, for one, I have never at any time given such a pledge, to my knowledge, in regard to any question before the public of whatever kind. It is remarkable that nearly at the same time there should have reached me an opposite intima- tion from decided opponents to disestablishment in Scotland, Their fear is that the organisatioa of the Liberal party may be employed to procure or favour the return to Parliament of persona friendly to that measure, and their desire is that the question should not be raised by the party until the Scottish jieople shall have it presented to them as a substantive or main issue, and not merely as a side issue, or one mixed up with othes issues of a more pressing character. I agree in the opinion that the organisation of the party at large should not be employed for or against persons of any of its particular sections, but should be used impartially as between them all, and I certainly desire that this question* which has been recognised as pre-eminently fof the Scottish people to consider, should not be raised by the party until the Scottish people should have pronounced upon it in a mannei which is intelligible and distinct. But I do no( find the phrases main issue' and side issue ta be sufficiently free from ambiguity to lead me te choose them for the conveyance of my own senti. ments, while I think a distinct and intelligible expression must be all for which such gentlemen as I have described would wish to stipulate. = In my present sentiments on the subject there is nothing to conceal. They have been matured, I think, as far as the present stage of the discussion admits, and they have been expressed as far as they have beea matured. I refer to ou: discussions in Parlia- ment, and I adhere, also, to h" declaration of Lord Harrington. Those who have done most te advance the agitation of the question were, ;n my judgment, the authors of the Patronage Act of 1874. It is no part, however, of my duty either to urge the question forward or to keep it back. ward. On this principle, and in a spirit of cordial respect and goodwill to all concerned, I hare acted and I mean to act. As I perceive that mÍ8r apprehension and jealousy are apt to arise from separate correspondences carried on in what are, on a subject like this, opposing quarters, I have thought it best to embody in my reply to you all that I have to say in the present state of things on the question of Establishment or non-Estabr lishment in Scotland—a question which, I feel satisfied, will receive careful and dispassionate con- sideration, and wirh respect to which I cannot profess that, in the present condition of imperial affairs, it occupies the first, or nearly the first, place in my mind,—I remain, my dear Sir, faith- fully yours, (Signed) W. E. GLADSTONE. Rev. R. Rainy, DD."

THE IRISH UNIVERSITY BILL. The Press Association says that sixty-six publti bodies denominat-ional, ecclesiastical, and political, have recorded decisions adverse to the Irisk University Bill.

SUMMER IN SCOTLAND. There was a continuous downpour of rain ovet the North of Scotland on Saturday night and Sunday, followed by a thunderstorm of some severity. The snow now lies in large drifts in the Crieff district, and, although there have been a few hot days, summer appears as distant at ever.

KRATING'S POWDER" destroys BUGS, FLKAIIS MOTHS, BEETLES, an Jail other whilst quite h&rauea* to domestic animals. In exterminating Beetles the suoces of this powder ili extraordinary. It is perfect:y C,ea.1I im application. See the article" you purchase is KRAT- ING'S as imitations are noxious and ineffectual. Sold iP Tins, Is ait,1 28 Oil each, by all Chemists. Aliltlt. i THE CERTAIN CURE FOR WORMS IN CHILI>m» is 1, KEATISO'b WORM TABLETS," very pleasant to tM taste, so mild in action that the youngest infant maj t-Ja thow Price le "H 'H'-bbA" A d Tt.