The Cardiff Times

i&JiSTHAR OF THE MERTHYR COUM'Y-COURT. The ojiuounceujent that his Honour Judge Falconer lias conferred on Mr D. Keee Lewis the office, rendered vacant by the death of Mr J. W. Bussell, must have occasioned sop\e our, prise. Judge Falconer has lopg and deservedly been esteemed as a man of sound judgment, kindly disposition, and .independent spirit. This only makes it the more ditticult to understand the reasons which have influenced him to confer the office of Registrar of the Merthyr County-court upon a gentleman who, w ith all due respect to him, can hardly be regarded as the most likely of the candidates to occupy so honourable aud lucra- tive a post. Surprises like these are not, how- ever, without precedent, and while we give his Honour all credit for acting conscientiously, we are scarcely prepared to say that he has verified the good old proverb, "palmam qui meruit ferat." It would not be difficult to name at least one Merthyr solicitor whose abilities and public services are incomparably superior to those of the fortunate candidate.

THE POLlCE AND THE PUBLIC OF SWANSEA, The sensation created upon finding one of the guardians of our hearths and homes in the unusual position of a defendant is the very reverse to comfortable, and this feeling is considerably en- hanced when the grade of the alleged offender happens to be above the ordinary level. The Swansea magistrates on Thursday had before them as a delinquent one who often appears in the very different capacity of a deponent to the offences of others; and, notwithstanding the diploma of merit which is supposed to be indi- cated by a three stripe decoration, the local bench were not slow to a point a moral," if nothing be said about adoruins; a tale. Owing to the conditions of life in provincial towns, the dis putes arising between the public and tbe police are happily oat of proportion to the number which occur in the metropolis, where no man knows his next door neighbour, or anybody whom he meets. But in the instance under notice it would appear that the complainant, Air Bloom, a tradesman, of Gower-street, Swansea, was no stranger to the policeman. Sergeant Barnett, \\>hO;;6 very summary and hasty treatment elicited the censure of the borough magistrates on Thurs- day. It would be exceedingly undesirable to say Word calculated to damp the legitimate ardour of a police-constable, who has many difficult duties to perform but it is at the same time highly necessaiy that respectable people should be free from that petty tyranny which is quite as irritating, although Dot 80 portentous as the martial surveil- lance of a continental const.ibuJary, Since the Connection of Captain Colqulioun with the police force of Sw ansea, the general behaviour of that body has been of such nn exemplary character that it v ould be only fair to regard the offence which led to the psocee >ings un ier notice as most exceptional and isolated. As the proceedings of the Watch Committee of S ansea are quite open and public, the people know eveiything toniir.g before that body, a. d it is very seldom in these days that the conduct of a constable— as much liable to error as any other man -—is called in question. The officer Barnett day have acted within printed ijv»ttiv.ii,n3 when he demanded, at mi .ni\ht, the name of a «traggling bearer of portable pi operty," whom be was not supposed to know b ,t I e undoubtedly took advantage of that little bnef authority jn ^hich lie was dressed when lIe fieized Mr Bioom by the naie of the neck, and hunhd him on towards durance vile." 'J'i-is was the ligut and Ploper -view hkh the magistrates took of the c^o, notwithstanding the evi itnee of two other tons'ables, elaborated in what Mr Glascodiue in. t. n led to be au effective speed).

A Gl,'NTIENIAN'S OA li HI AGE AT SWANSEA. SINGULAR CASE. At the Swansea borough police-court, on Thurs- day, Albert Claikscn and Win. Hurroll, labourers, I'lasmaii, were charged with assaulting John r^ewis. Complainant, who is iu the employ of Mr •&. li, Daniel, Swansea, said that on the night of the 14th he took a dog-cart to meet his matter at l^anJoro station. On the ay there tbe defendants *to, pel the trap by laying bolt! of the horse and *to, pel the trap by laying bold of the horse and •ausing it to plunge. The sh,it got under its leg, and witness was thrown out on his head, but was ftot hurt. Harroll tnen took bold oi the Wheel and tried to upset the cait. Botti the men were drunk, and used bad language. One Of them afterwards broke a..ay a piece of the harness, and pushed it into witness's face. A lamp was broken by them, whilst the harness was damaged to the amount of £ 5. Josiah Jones gave V)r. ol)(krative evidence, and defendants were each feh'euGed to one mot.th'd imp isonmeut, without the option of a fine.

The- Siamese Ambassador and suite have left iion iou for Siam. The Rev. Albert Reynolds Palmer has been remanded at the Hammersmith Police-court on the charge of obtaining some antique furniture on false pretenoes*

HIGHER EDUCATION IN WALES. We have received the following communica- tion :— "To the Nonconformists of Wale?.—We, the unde sii;ne. being visitors now staying at Llan- diinuod ells, hail with sincere gjatitude the in- quiry instituted by the Government into the state of intermediate and higher education in Wales as showing that it is desirous of extending to onr country that recognition of its claims, which has long ago been accoided to Scotland and Ireland, an ot removing disadvantages which have so seriously deuressed and crij pled the energies of its inhabitants. We believe the Govenmentto be ii fluenced by a wise and just desire to devise the most efficient ;.nd equitable means of promot- ing the intellectual ami *ocial culture of tne neoi.le. It will accordingly be the duty of the gentlemen appointed to conduct <his inquiry to ascertain the necessities of the country, and to su,-g, st, a scheme for meet ng them of such catho- licity and b'.eaoth of sympathy as to supply the wants of our countrymen, with their diverse aims and aspirations, at a cost i ro, ortkn ate to their ci.cumt.mces. We deem thu procedure of the Government of such vital iin; o:t >nce to the in- tt-reats of the Principality that we consider it highly expedient for the Nonconformists to^dopt the best means of securing con- certed action, and of giving an autbori- tati ve and adequate expression of their views, Raving given the subject our best con- sideration, we venture to urge on our country- men to take steps for convening as speediJy aa possible, a conference representing the difieient sections of Welsh Nonconformity, which shall be em, owered to discuss and prepare a. scheme, and to appoint a standing committee, whose duty it shall be to communicate their views to the Government, f-n I to take any measures they may think m-cewary. As the commissimi will enter upon its duties early next month, there is no tune to be lost, and we therefore trust that an immedi- ate and lieaity lesponje will be given to the initiative recently taken by the Baptists and uaiviDiiJiJw aa-4Wales on tho part of all the other Nonconformists of our native land. W.Ree?, D.U., Chester Thomas Jones. late Melbourne John Hughes, D.D., Liverpool; H. Griffith?, F.G.S., BHrnet; E. J. Evwfs, Ph.D., London W. Oliver, M.A., Brecon j) Leu is, Ex-M .vor, Cardiff Brinley Richanjs, London W. IS'idyh Jones, Morris on W. Powell. Pembroke; S. W. Kelly, Cardiff; J. Jenkins, Trefdraeth Edward Griffiths, Dol. gellev T, Phillips, Ferwu; R. Rowlands, JBethesda; J. G, Jones,, Portm»d<)P; Thomas Davies, Cardiff. Llandrindod Wells, Aug. 1.8th, 1880.

LLANDAFF DIOCESAN MORAL FESTIVAL. The annnal festival of the English choirs in the Glamorganshire division of the diocese of Llan iaff wap held at tlie Cathedral, on Thursday, This event is always one that attracts a large a umber of £ he principal residents of the county, and during the re earsal of the choirs, which preceded the service, the nave of thj .Cathedral was nearly filled by the snbscribers'to the association and a body of police had to be stationed at the Western door to keep back the crowd of persons anxious to obtain admission as soon as the doors were opened an4 the service began. The choirs which took part in the service QU Thursday were—Canton, 21; Duffryi:, Neath, 28; Eweany, 17 Ferudale, 32; G-lynt iff, 46; Llandaff Cathedral, 30 Llandaff Vicar's choir, 75; Llangynu yd, 17; Llanishen, 23 Llwynpia, 54; Maesteg, 41; ivlountain Ash, 50; Newcastle. 23 Pen mark, 19 Pentre, 39; Ponty- prid,J, 25; St. Pagans, 19 St. James, Cardiff, 28 St. John's, Tonvrefail, 30; St. Teil's, Cardiff, 17 Treherbert, 30; Whitchurch, 48; Ystrad Rhondda, 29 making a total of nearly 750 voices. The-e choirs had been trained singly, and then collectively in divisions, by Mr Seaton, the or- ganising master of the association, but they had never before Thursday been brought aij to- gether. The Great Western, Taff vale, and Rhyu)&ey Railways brought down the choristers at reduce I fares. They were accotni-auied by a large number ot their friends, so that it seemed impos- sible, large a-s is the nave of the Cathedral, that all the visitors could find even standing room within it. Mr Gibbons, a pupil of Mr Williams, the organist at the Cathedral, presided at the organ. A rehearsal of half au hour, under the direction of Mr Seaton, brought the whole of the choirs into something like harmony, and although there were large numbers ot the younger members present they soon learned to fo.low Mr Seaton's baton very correctly. Last yeay a Gregorian" festival was held in the cathedral; this year the music was entirely Anglican, ;inlf white there was a large number of choirs present, there were few of those where the musical part of the service in thei,r churches is chiefly Gregoriau. The Te Deum and the Jubilate were by JJemy Smart, the ser. vice being known as Smart in G." The service commenced as usual by a procession of the surpliced choirs and the clergy from the Prebendal-house. The other choirs were ranged to the west of the clioir stalls, inside the cathedral, and took up the processional hymn on the proces. sion entering the western doors. Among the clergy who formed part of the procession were the Revs. C. P. B. Wood, Penmark G.Woods, Sully; V. Saulez,Canton; J. R. Buckley, Llandaff; J. L, Jones, S.t, James's, Cardiff W. David, St. Farads; T. Rees, IJanishen T. R. Jones, Glyn. taff i J. H. Protheroe, Mountain Ash R, T. Tyler, Llantrithyd; R. Gibbon,"Canton J. Lewis, Ystradyfodwg; H. Lewis, Pendoylan W. Clarke, Whitchurch — Kirkham, St. Teilo, Cardiff: W. Ward, St. Mary's, Cardiff; A. H. Russell, St. Johns; W. W. Allen, Porthkerry; T, Fishbourne, Ross, Minor Canon; J. Llewellyn, Coychurch W. Hughes, Newcastle H. Bowen, Newcastle T. Rees, Spelta Jones Ewenny J. Evans, Rhymuey; J. Howell, Maoateg. &c., &c. The precession was closed by the preacher for the day, the Rev. R. Valpy French, LL.U., Rector of Llanmartin, near Newport; the Right Rev. Bishop Perry, Canon of Llandaff; J the Lord Bishop of Llandaff. The Venite was sung to a psalm by Mr R. Seatou, and tJtis, as w ell as the Psalms, were given .very steadily and correctiw although, as is always the cape at these festivals, All those who attend as choristers do not sing. The Te Deum and the Jubilate were also well sung. The anthem was, Who is this that csm- eth from Edorn ?" (Kent), It commences with a trio, then a bass solo, then a trio again for an alto and two tenors, followed by a quartette, and con- cludes with a chorus. The whole of the first por- tion of the anthem was entrusted to the cathedral choir. The effect was remarkably good, for al. though the nave was crowded, hundreds standing on the steps leading from the western door, the silence was so perfect that the softer passages were distinctly heard outside. The chorus, which is very full, was sung with spirit by the paroohial choirs. The choirs perhaps joined most heartily in the hymn, O Qod, our help in ages past." p hich was sung to an old tune by Barber. It was a well-known tune, often sung at churches, and the voices probably rung clearer, with more expression, and with better effect than in other pieces. It was sung throughout with great spirit, the timbers in the nave roof ec' oing back the sound of the choristers' voices. The retro- cessional hymn was also well sung, and on the whole the musical part of the service has seldom been surpassed at a choral festival. Much credit is due to Mr Seaton, the organising master, who has taken great trouble to train the choirs so as to enable them to render sacred music with effect, and select such compositions, the rendering of which becomes in time easy for amateur voices. Mr Gibbons ably presided at the organ, and as- sisted by his skill in rendering the musical part of the service attractive. It is only to be regretted that a more efficient instrument is not provided. The service was intoned by the Rev. E. A. Fishbourne and the Rev. Mr Ross,minor canons of the Cathedral. The first lesson was read by the Rev. G. Wood, Sully, and the second lesson by Bishop Perry, The special psalms were xlvii., xcvi., and cviii. These were all suug to single chants. The sermon was preached from the fourth verto of the 16th chap, of tiie Book of Proverbs, The Lord hath ma le all things for himself." It was an excellent appropriate addresa.showing that even in the lireuiotent ages vocal and instrumental music was associated with the worship of God. In the early Biblical records they found that music among the Jews formed part of every cere- mony vised on great occasions, and with it was as- sociated an idea transforming, as it were, the apt. vices of the Church below to the everlasting-songs of nraise above, as symbolised in the white-robsd choristers singing before God and the Lamb. From the moment that God established his Church in Israel music and singing were always associated with the worship of God, and there was not only singing. J-ur, prob- ablv alio instrumental music, in all i.e Jewish churches. Sineing and music La been called prophesying, for David was sa'i to have i<ropheiie "n the harp. There we-e also _l>o. k*, like the'Psala s, Lamentations, and Job, nrittru ill a meUical style, and it was said Uiat 20.000 musicians w. re engo^e-l ill the solium s.rvic<! of the dedkatÏtH, ot the iemp'.?. lhe v Chris- tians did not forgft t.o prat.-e uod, b;.t their te-vices were often 1 el 1 in caves and hole!} ia rocks. • r h the Ca!ft.:<»i<.bs of Rome, In the four. h ceii i u. y rit. Ambrose wr>'te some nieces of eacred m fi ,.11:1 in the bih century Sr. Gregory en-}eav. ured lo improve the character of sajred music. It WJUJ not known w hat t)ge organs were introduced into the Onnrch, but it; was men- tioned that tlieLmperoi Coustajitine had done »o in the eighth century. This continued,i.p to the ti re of the Reformation, when K great deal of mis- directed zeal was directed against the use of choral music in the SHivioea of the Church, Luther placed music second to theulogy, aUti wilen we;ghed do, with cue s iii, some hytun *b a solace to the mind. The very elements of harmony were de- rived from nature, and, tran was hut a musical instrument of God's own form. The faculty of vas a8 wondei ful as the faculty pf s. tech, andbein" God's own gifts there could be no nobler ^1 witl, an euruest id les, to the choristers on the duties and re pon- sibilities they bad undeitaketi. At the close of the service a collection was male in aid ot tlie funds of the assoc! ti (. pliced choirs aud the clergy then returi p_ order they had entered the Cathedral to tne bendal-house. The choirs subsec|ueutiy » luncheon provided tor them at the Liianc.au National Schoolroom and at other places, and also at Cardiff. In the evening they were again con- veyed home. The arrangements for the choirs and the festival wero vety admirably mide aud carried out under the direction of ti.e 'Rev. W. David, St. Fagans, one of the secretaries of the association.

Ole Bull, the celebrated violinist, is dead. In consequence of the general bad harvest in Germany, there bus been a renewal of the agita- tion for the prohibition of the exoort of own and --1Af:nAa.

KHYMNEY RAILWAY COMPANY. I HALF-YEARLY ^EETIJSG. The half-yearly meeting of the libymney Rail- way Company was held on Thursday afternoon ar. the Cardiff Arms Hotel, Cardiff. Air John Boyle, the chairman, presided. The attendance of shareholders was liinite<[. The CHAIRMAN, in moving the ADOPTION of the report, which has been already published in these columns, said he felt a difficulty in making his usual address to them because he had so little to tell them beyond what they had alrea y seen in therepcrt. Still there were one or two matters, in alluding briefly to which he might not be con- sideted tedious and which it nlight, be of interest to them to know. First of all he thought the share- holders might, as had been ra her usin l for the last four or five years* congiatubde themtehes upon the work done and the position they were now in. He did not say, however, but that the, e u as some cause for anxiety, because ttiese large dividends Fometinies brought about feelings of exultation. Satisfaction he ceitainly felt, but exultation he deprecated entertaining. There were lions in their paths, which might perhaps cause a change in their cir- cunist .nces—he did not. mean a violent change, but a change which might alter the present very favourable state of thing.. to one less favourable. Again, very large ilividtnds, such as tuis company were now paying, h d often led to increased demands being made upon those who ;ai them. Freighters, for instance, might turn round and say, If you are paying these large dividends, wl-y should not we reap.some of the advantage in lowered rates ?" It would be for the shareholders to judge whether something of that kind might not be said to them but tie did nut know that any such claim upon the company could fairly be made, seeing that it was known their receipts were made from very reduced rates--raies below what other people charged—so that he did not think the Rhymney "ould be called upon in th s way at all events, and he believed a,t the same time that the compayy might fairly claim to keep their rates at the present figure. 1 hey must, however, Natcli the future that fa ces of this nature might not be brought to bear against them. (AppJause.) It would, lIe thought, be desirable they should not ft el positively certain that the dividend would remain at its present figure, much as he hoped it would, There were other sources from which forces might, come which would tell Uj on it. For the benefit of the coal- owner lie trusted coal was going to be sold at a much better figure than the present rates—they might probably see an increase in the price very soon, and that ould, of course, increase the ex- penses of the company. Prices were rising already. (Hear, hear.) The working expenses of the line con- tinued at that veiy low fig-ure which, he was happy to state, had become normal of thtir career, and which people were now satisfied was a wholesome and natural one. arising from the great care exercised in the administration of the resources, in the workshops, aud on the line generally,_ in the outgoings necessary for the purpose of Keeping it ip a gt^te of efficiency. In their annual visitation of the tinp, the directors, as it Tfras their duty to do,visited the workshops, and he migbt be allowed to say that they were very much gratified with the sta^e of things in these establishments, Speaking for himself, he might say that he formed a very strong ,opinion that work was carried OlJt there with a great deal of intelligence, and that work of a lchtd which other companies had to put out to get executed. The process of the recreation of the stock was always going on, their old "engines were ripped up and renevved, nothing was wasted, and a great deal of the prosperity of the line was, felt sure, due to this watchfulness an 1 great industry. (Hear, hear.) leaving visited almost every part of the line, the directors took upon themselves tqsfY that it was in excellent order. A better judge than they (Mr Lundie) could, if desired, speak to e 0 ch a.irtr i;s c-ndition but he (t(ft chairman) hardly thought Mr Lundie could ?ay much more th.in he himself had done. There was no subject over the whole system, nothing which would require any greater outlay than usual during the current half-year, so that the share- holders might look ..forward again to the retention, at a low figure, of the per-c^ntage of the working expenses upon receipts..(Hear, hear.) A feature in the report laid before them was thd adoption of the Westinghouso brake, agreed to by the directors after long considera- tion, and acting under the advice of Mr Lundie. present the brake had not been supplied to all passenger trains, but it was intended that all should be. If the rolling-stock (goods trains) all belonged to the company they might be fitted up with the Westinghouse apparutus as well, but. there was the rolling-stock of the mineral fereigbters, and there would be a great difficulty in insisting upon the adoption of the Westing- house brake in every case. As an instence of the advantage of the brake, he might mention that the other day an engineer came to Mr Lnndie and said: "How glad I was to have that West- inghouse brake—on such and such a journey—for without it we should have killed a mare and foal on the line." He believed the brake wonid there- foie be of use in cases of emergency in saving not only the lives of mares and foals, but of human beings. (Applause.) The total revenue receipts of the half-year amounted to 275,738 16s 8d, which, taken all round, showed an increase of £2,089 3s 7d on the receipts of the first six months of 1879. But in the coal and coke traffic, the shareholders would observe that there was a de- crease of JB3,461 12s 4d. This was capable of explanation. The Great Western Railway Com- pany and the Rhymney Railway Company worked in alternate ye rs what was called the domestic traffic from Dowlais. On the present occasion it was the turn of the Great Western Railway Company, and three-fourths of the decrease was thus accounted for. The Dowlais domestic traffic was not a paying traffic, but carried it must be by agreement with the Dowlais Company. Mr AUSTIN seconded the adoption of the report, which was at once agreed to without discussion. The Board recommended that a dividend of 10 per cent. per annum should be declared upon the ordinary stock, which w ill absorb £ 13,800 and that there should be carried to the reserve fund, which will then amount to £ 3,500, the sum of jEl,000, leaving £1,098 2s lid to be carried to next account. The capital expenditure during the half-year had been as follows :-On lines open for tramc, Bl. 44111s Id on working stock, £ 890 13s 4d -total JB2,332 4s 5d. On the motion of the CHAIRMAN, seconded by Mr AUSTIN, a dividend of 10 per cent per annum was 'declared. The CHAIRMAN next moved that a sum ofjm,000 should be carried to the reserve fund. Sir THOMAS DAKiN seconded the proposition, which was at once adopted amid applause. Mr GEORGE CROSS SAT.CE .(of Messrs Thackeray and Sayee) reminded the meeting that he had foretold that Rhymuey stock would yet be of the same value as Taff Yale and Rhymney stock had now changed hands at 188, which he thought a good deal under the market value, considering the dividends now being paid, and also taking into consideration the fact that the company w as able to put .money by ia reserve. Herapatk's Journal talked of 20 per cent. being the dividend of this company in the future. Whilst lie thought that was somewhat unreasonable, he did not see why within two years the Rliynaney Railway Company should not pay 14 per cent. dividend, the dividend the Taff Vale Railway were now paying, for a net weekly in- crease of jS200 would suffice to pay nearly Bi per cent. on the ordinary and the Six per Cent. Pre- ferential Shares of 1861. He )3:1.W no reason why the Rhymney Railway Company should not im- prove greatly in its prospects during the next two years, and so confident was he that the .shares would rise in value that he had resolved to in- crease his holding. So far as lie could judge there was nothing to fear from exceptional expenses, eepeci.-ly if they went on increasing their reserve fund. In connection with this he asked the direc- tors to take into their consideration whether it would ot be better to invest the reserve fund at compound interest. If this were done, even if. no additions were made to the reserve fund, it would double itself. The plan had been already adopted by some companies, in one of which, indeed, he was interested. It seemed to him to be a very good idea to keep the fund distinct, and to allow the interest to go on accumulating for years. The whole subject ap- peared to him to be worthy of serious consider- ation. Auother very important point which struck him was the proportion the Rhymney Company now paid for borrowed money as com- pared with that paid by the sister line, the Taff Vale Railway Company. The Taff had to pay £3 19s Hid, and the Rhymney now had only to pay 3J per cmt more, or £4 Os 2Jd per cent, which was now their average interest payable on debenture loans and debenture stock; and the difference would be swept away entirely were the directors to issue stock at what he considered its market value—he should be glad to take some himself. In case of any misapprehension, he might say that hi.* holding was simply prefer- ence he himself had no ordinary stock, but friends of his had to the extcnu of something like £ 100,000. That was the w..y, and the only way, iu which he was interested. He was, therefore, at liberty to say that bethought it would be shoeing a considerable want of cou- fidence if stock were to be sold by them at its pie- fent market value; and be hoped that no one WOill<! sell stock at anything utider present prices. On behalf of seveial shareholders, he said that if any company wished to grab the Rhymney up, he hoped the very great improyement in the affairs ot thu company would receive due consideration. He knew that one of the directors of a large and powerful line wished to do so. No doubt the directorate would receive a 1 communication in time with reference to this subject, so he would not at present mention names; he would only ex- express a hope that they would not think of selling at less than £ 300 for every JElOOof ordinary stock. Peo:Je u heci in and took Great West- ern Railway shares,, but any day the Gieat Wes'eru Railway might have a very Berions uccidert to a passenger train, which would < ost that, company much more than an acci- dent to a mineral t.ain-the most likely-would cost the llhymi.ey Li .ii v.iy. He believed that our local liii^K h ut bem xery much under-valued, aud the p iblic ere now beginning to see the value of the:'1. Take, for instance, the Llanelly, the L'ynvi and Ogmo;e, and the Monmouthshire, lhe K'.vm.ev, b'j believed, would become of ;eit value, for they had only got one-fifth in ordinary st^ck •, aw<'t in conclusion, he disclaimed til jealousy wi;h th»- competing line, because he believed the R .yn-ii^v would go a-head very j in kly. He concluded by moving a vote of ^):iuks to the chairman, the directors, and jfficiula. Mr AUSTIN said that the amallness or their ordinary stock was an element of uncertainty in their position, because a comparatively small Jiminution of the traffic would rrodnce a greater dTect than w')uld otherwise be the case, and the ike was the case when there was an increase. [f, however/they might take it that South Wales tvould make for .1 a'd progress, that the minerals jf the country would increase in value, that the general traffic of the country would increase, lie thought in the ordinary course of events the pro- babilities were that they should fare better iu the future than they had in the past. (Applause.) ]VIr .^ayce had talked about 14 per cent dtvkjend— a dividend which he (the speaker) did not know would be vej-y acceptable in the eyes of the coun. r try generally and the freighters, who might not consider the times of adversity they had gone through. Only the other day the London. and North-Western Railway Comoany issutd a con- siderable amount of ordinary stock at par. Now, I s: ppusing lIton. y was wanted by till, company,] the natural course of events would be that they j should Utcrfae the ordinary sock so as to bring it. nearcrin proportion to the whole of the stock. Suppo-ing t'ey donbl ii t^e ordinary stock, nl supposing they allowed each shareholder £ 100 for eacti share of £ 100, and the comp nv were able to pay additional dividends, see what, ad- vantage that would give the present shareholder of ordinary stock—it woul 1 at once double the premium. He remembered the time w en the Taff Yale Railway Railway effected all arrange- ment of II. Sump." h;tt similar character to tlllS, aud made presents of £100 stock. MR GEORGE CROSS SAYCE Twice. Air AumiN And their £100 stock at present does not repl esent the original 1:100 stock. The Taff Vale Company had enjoyed these a ivan- tages; the Rhymney had not. The Talf Vale was in middle ape but the Rhymuey was in its youth. Of course there was 1111 un.-ertainty in the possible diminution of rates, or the possible diminution of the dividends; but he thought, if they had patience and held together, their pro- gress would be in the forward dbection, (Ap- plause). Nothing I'o ilil please him better than to see a good result of the labours of the directors, in a great company coming forward and huying I he line at a good and sufficient price; if th>-y should p u t with the property, let them part with it at its pioper value. He was quite sura tbe director; would do everything iu their jiower to further the inteiests of the shareholder*.—whose interests would be before everything.. IMr T, HTKPHUN.S seconded Air Sayce's motion. Mr Stephens said lie had the greaiest confidence ill the administration of the officials of tile 13011- way, The confidence cf the public in this line had not been misplaced, as was shown year after year in the balance-sheet. (A plause.) The motion was adopted amid applause, The OHAIBMAF, in reply, fpoke ill high terms of the services rendered by Mr Lundie, Mr Mein, &c. ;-and the proceedings shortly afterwards ter- minated.

A POLICE'SERGEA NT FINED AT SWANSEA. At ;:ka.,nilea uorough police-court, on Thursday, before Mr J, C. V. Parmiutei and Alderman Powell, Police-sergeant Barnet, of the borough foice, was summoned for assaulting Israel Bloom, gen ral dealer,' Gower-^freet. Mr Glaacodiue oefendgd.—Complainant said that last Thursday night, between midnight and one a.m., he was going hpme through High-street with a looking- g!a.ss 011 his shoulder, Police-sergeant Barret stopped him and asked him where he was going. He told Barret he was going home, and the officer then apked him his oaimj. Complainant: then asked Barnet whether he was iu fun or in earnest, as he (Barnet) knew him quite e11. He told the officer where he had the glass from, ;>nd gave him his name ai,id full address. The officer took it down, and he (complainant) then passed on a couple of yards. tie remai ked to a Mr Harris, wlio was with him,that he thought Barnet had had a glass too much. Upon that the officer shouted out fp him, and asked his first naipe. He (complainant) then reulied," I have given you my name a dozen times find it put." With that Barnet took him by the neck and shook him very much. He begged the officer to let him alone, saving he wdtld walk to the police-station by himself but he would not alio > him. The officer shoved him along, and put him into the High-police police-station.—Crost-examined bv Mr Glascodine: I have lived in Swansea six years. I was once fined £5 at Cardiff for assault- ing a wnman. Barney asked me my name about a dozen times, and I g~ava it to him every time. He took me to the station by the neck all the way, and shook me very much. At the police-station I gave him my card.—Moses Harris corroborated, and added that there were several other police constables present,—Crosp- examined by Mr Glascodine, witness said that Bloom did not give his first name until at the police-station.—Mr Glascodine, iu addressing the bench, quoted from the police instructions a par- agraph which stated that if between eight o'clock in the evening and six in the morning, a consta- ble should notice any cart, wheelbarrow, or person employed in removing furniture, he must detain the cattle until inquiry concerning it, or until the person could satisfy the constable that he was removing the goods legally, and without any in- tention to evade the payment of rent. In all cases the constable must take the name of the person and his place of abode.— P.C. Done said he was piesent 011 this occasion. When Bamet first asked complainant for his name and address, he replied "I shan't give it." He never heard complainant give any name at all, although he heard the sergeant ask him for it five or six times. Bamet was not under the influence of liquor. In taking the man to the station he simply laid hold of his coat collar.—P.C, Coker said that Barnet did not use any unnecessary violence, and denjed that he was the worse for liquor,—Inspec- tor Flyn said he was in the police-station when Blooiy was brought in. He did no^4ee any uu- necessary violence. Bloom said to Barnet iu the station, "You are drunk; but if you are not you smell of drink.—Mr Parminster said the bench were satisfied that Barnet had exceeded his duty, and fined him 10a and costp.

FRACAS ATTSWANSEA CIRCUS. AN AMUSING CASE. At Swansea borough police-court, on Thursday, i Wm. Buzano, mannger of a variety entertain., ment held ill the circus, Richardson-street, was summoned by Wm. Young, one of the company, for assaulting him. Mr Woodward defended.— Young said that on {Saturday, the 14th, about a quarter to seven in the evening, a great number of the artistes assembled at the circus as usnaj., In the morning they agreed with the defendant to' go shares," as he could not pay their salaries. At a quarter to seven defendant had not turned up. They then decided' to put Miss Bryant, one CM the company, ia the pay box. Defeudant arrived at seven, and attempted to drag the lady out. The other members of the company told him he should not go near the box, as they had a right to appoint anyone they thought proper. Defendant then made some remark, rolled up bis sleeves, and struck witness in the face. He retaliated by attempting to strike him, but he did not think be actually touched defendant-, £ hey closed, and defendant bit him on the cheek, causins the blood to run freely. A policeman was sent for, and after his arrival defendant struck him again, as also did a woman who called herself defendant's wife,—Cross-examined by MrWoodward I have received only a portion of my salary from defend- ant. I am a negro performer. I was not •' blacked," I was not supposed^o he blacked at the door.—Henry Hoswell also gave evidence, and in reply to Mr Woodward, said that Young struck defendant in the face, but not until after the latter bit him.He also eaid.that'Buzauo and the defendant on a) riving, wanted simply to go into the pay box, but Young would not let bim.-Griffith Isaac, a joiner in connection with the circus, said that on dividing the results of the after- noon performance, the company found they had only 9d a jiece —(laughter)—and they therefore put Miss Bryant in the box as a check.—Answer- ing Mr Woodward, witness said that Mr Jinnette had let tjae circus to Mr Buzano for three monk s at £12 a week.—David Williams, a bailiff at the circus, also gave evidence.—Mr Woodward: There are two African apes in the company, ,U 9 ham and Jacko," which are you ? (Laughter.) Witness Neither my name is Williams. (Loud laughter.)—A police-constable, who was called to the spot, said that he saw both Buzano and Young strike each other. Buzano bled from the eye, whilst bloodcame from the other man's check. A cross summons was then taken, Buzano charging the following with assaulting him :—Wm. Young, Nelly Jacko, Reveno, Griffith Isaac, two S wt Alfrano," and another named Cather- ?.UJSWi0 «t»ted that on going to v named fae found a woman of loose character in the paybox. He made an ad- ^ed o^n tht !J°»* Wi^n YOUOK struck him, f ?i n°w lads," and the whole of tlie com- ? i Lw £ n m" (Laughter.) Buzano, who wore a shade over one eye, added that tlie two negroes, who really were pugiiiats, "illuminated" t8- [acf—(rene.w'ed Slighter) —in the manner which the magistrates could now see. Buzano was cross-examined by several of the company in succession, and the answers given by him excited so much feeling that the magistrates had several Limes to caution the audience. Bichard Morgan coal miner, from the ltlmndda Valley, also gave evidence. Ultimately the magistrates dismissed the cases, saying that the affair was a disgraceful one all round.

MONMOUTlF ATHLETIC SPORTS. The fourth annual sports were held at the Cricket Field, Monmouth, on Thursday, The weather being fine and the programme attractive the attendance of visitors was large. The judges were Messrs T. R. Hyam and J. Thomas; starter, Mr T. Kees; handicapper, Mr ('. Her- bert, During the afternoon the band of the Royal Monmouth Engineer Militia played 011 the grounds. We append the result of the events On mile scratch bicycle race—1st, W. L. Powell, Monmouth 2nd, \V. Stokes, Monmouth, 220 yards flat race (club only)—1st, C. Edwards, Mon- mouth 2nd, J. Sliellard. Monmouth. 120 yards handicip—lafe, J. C. Clark 2nd, J. Sliellard 1 Vt" Barney, One mile flat race, 12 Btarted —1st G. F. Harding, Newport, 70 yards 2nd, I. Ihornton, Wenlock, 70 ynrds W. R Josephs, Koss, 95 yards. Five mile bicycle race—1st, T. Rate, Cardiff, ICOvKrds 2nd, W. Powell, Mon- romitb, 110 } ^rd, W. Stokes, Monmouth, 180 yarns. High jump—H. Hagget, Llandenny, the only competitor, won. jumoing, 4ft, lOin. 440 yards handicap—1st J. Jex Wood, 2nd W. H. Norris, 3rd A..T. Evans. Won by three vards. Three-quarter-mile steeplechase— 1st, Thornton Wenlock 2nd, J. Conoannon, Widnes. Three- legged race (club onlv)—1st, W. L. Powell and U. Mdwards; 2nd, F. J. Banks and A. J. H. Williams, Boys' race, 120 yards—1st, J. Brown; 2nd, W. Evans. Sack race (club only)—1st, flowells 2nd, A. J. H. Williams; 3rd, M, Stokes. 120 yards consolation race-Hees, of Usk, beat Barney, of Birmingham. Two ran. Mr C. H. Crompton Roberts distributed the Irize tickets, with which the winners could purchase what they pleased to the amount of the prize.

A BICYCLE FEAT Sir H. Blackwell, member of a London German gymnasium club, has just accomplished tlie re- narkable feat of riding from Land's End to John [) Groat's, a distance of 890 miles, withiu 13 days, [>eing an average of over 68 miles a day for the whole perioj.

THE OLD CHURCH AT BALA. After restoration, the old parish church, one of the n ost iuterresrin^ ecclesiastical antiquities of Wales, and celebrated as the burial place of the Hev. T. Charles, the founder of the British au4 foreign Bible Socie y, was on Wednesday re-opened. The Bishop of St. Asaph, Archdeacon Ffoulkes, and the Vicar of Wrexham were th# preachers. Sir W. W. Wynn, Bart., M.P., pre- sided at the public luncheon.

UNT'OBTONATE FOR AUTHOKS,—Only men who can't write make their mark. A IÆGAL ANOMALY.—Compelling a to iqoear in court by a man-damua.

THE CA HDIFF ELECTION. COUNTY-CO JUT DISCLOSURES. TORY CANVASSERS. At the C'ar.iili County-cour OJ: Thursdaynfier- nOOIl, befne Judge Herbe t, ,J o.ln O'Bihm,brought anaotion against AJ r J. A. Le BOll laliger for!), which he claimel for wages for canva-smg nd ott er work during the late Caidiff i aiiiamentary eh-c- ti-iu done in ihe interest ot Mr A tinir E. Goest. There v. ere other claimants—Joseph Russell, for £4 10s Richard Barry, for £7 Eugene O'Connor, jL;6, and all brought claims against Mr J. A. Le Bo danger. Mr John P, ice appealed on behalf of the plaintiffs, Mr Ingledew for the deftndant-i. i\l !• Price op.ne;1 the case for t e first plaintiff,and stated that jlÎsc1i,'nt worked fOf the Gue.-t party among the Irish residents hero. ThiJ Judge: I rememoer, during election time hearing a dilty- Mr Guest is sure to w'n, The Irish vote will bring him in. (Laughter.) Mr Price: It appears that he did rot. Pro- bably if lie had we should not have had these actions. (Laughter.) The first witness called was John O'Brian, a tailor, who said he recollected on the 17th bein,'asked by Timothy O'Brian to come to the Hastings Hotel. In the evening I went there anl saw Air Boulanger an I Mr O'Brian. Mr Boulanger told me and Mr O'Brian to open a committee-room in the Rose and Sham- rock Hotel, for electioneering business. Mr Boulanger Instructed us to make the best of can- vassing for Mr Guest ue could. We had a 0011'- mittee-room at the Rose Hncl Shamrock Inn, fed w<' were to be pai 110s a dHy forservices rendered. There was a meeting of the committee on Wed- ne-d >y evening, at which Mr Boulanger promised to attend, but did not come. On Saturday evening Mr Boulanger came there very late and said, I forgot you altogether. I have aid at all tke otheT committee-rooms but this, and I borrowed £5 off Hit friend, Mr Carey, until I got to the bank on Monday." He gave me £1 out of t e £5, and the rest to the o hers. He promised to pay the balance on Monday evening, but lie did not, and the balance had never been aid. Xu answer to the judge I am not a voter. In reply to Mr Ingledew I aln not a member of the Catholic Association. I was working tor Mr Guest according to Mr Bonlanger's orders. We canvassed for the Conservatives, but exclusively among tne Roman Catholics, and in a very few streets. The Judge I hope I shall learn something as to how elections are conducted from t is, (Laughter). I knnw nothing abo t it at present. (Laughter.) Cross-examination continued: I wis not going to work for notning. I was promised my vages, but I know nothing about subscriptions being got up to pay such expenses. We sent oir names to the committee for the money due t> us by Mr Boulanger. I was in charge of the committee- room a fortnight, and was afterwards engaged in canvassing with Mr O'Brian. Joseph Russell, master rigger, remembered the 17th March last. I saw Tim Morris then, and in the evening 1 went to the Rose and Shamrock committee-room. There I saw four or five com- mittee-men and the secretary. On tie Saturday afterwards I saw Mr Boulanger. He sa,id he was very sorry he had forgotten us altogether, but he baa come up now to distribute £ 5 anpngst us for the present, and he would be up on the Monday afternoon and pay every man in full. « Mr Boulanger said he had borrowed the ¥5 from his friend Carey, as he found, after paying all the othercommiuees, that he was short of money. We did not see him 1 again until the polling day, and then he told us to put on more men if necessary, and to complete the canvassing properly. I was a caivasser from the 17th March to the date of the election. I only reçeiveti£410., for my services but I had stated that I required 10s par day, and that if I did not get that I would not have agylbillg to do with It. Cross-examined: I am iot a voter; I am a Roman Cat olic aud though not a mem- ber of the association, I was asked t. attend and protest against the insult offered by the Liberal party to the Catholics of Cardiff, by their oppos- ing the appointment of a Catholic aurse at the union workhouse. I was asked to do that. I had somewhere about nine votes to look jfter—I was quite willing to take 100 if they had been offered me—and I have charged 10s per day. The Judge That is £1 per head. (Loud laugh- ter.) Witness (puzzled) I charged 10s per day. The Judge: Then you could only get one voter in two days? (Laughter.) Witness Yes I spent 18 days in canvassing nine people, but I had a deal of work with them. The Judge They required a great deal of per- suasion. Witness: Yes, and all that required a great deal of labour. The Judge: And they were only persuaded after your eloquence. (Laugliter.: In reply to Mr Inerlede w, witness said that he made out his bill to Mr Richard Williams, solici- tor, because be saw an advertisement 111 the uapers to send accounts to Mr Guest's agent. His claim was against Mr Boulanger, as sub-agent of Air Williams for Mr Guest. The Judge thought the case need not be carried further, for the plaintiff was put out of court by his admission, and would be non-suited. The other cases were withdrawn.

IMPORTANT DISPUTE IN THE TIN TRADE. THE DEDUCTIONS FOR WASTE. The case of Charles Bevan and another v. Messrs Thomas and Co., Lydbro >k, came on on Monday, before his Honour fudge Herbert, assis- ted by Mr James Lewis, of Ystalyfera, Swansea," on behalf of the men and Mr James Greenham, of Swansea, on behalf of the defendants. Mr Cbfton, of Bristol, appeared for the plaintiffs, and Mr Smith, of Swansea, for the defendant*. This was a special sitting of the court, and the case was a test case, the entire proceeding involv- ing a very large amount of money, The proceed- ings were started in the June court. Mr Clifton, in opening the case, said the plain- tiffs .were tin-plate workers in the mill, and had been in the employ of the defendants, who were tin-plate manufacturers carrying on large works at Lydbrook, between Monmouth and Ross. It would be shown that Bevan had entered into an agreement with Mr Thomas that an allow- ance by the men of one box per 100 should cover all waste in the course of manufacturing the plates, This w is adopted, and continued in force until April last, when a sum of £2 4s 10d was de- ducted on the plaintiffs'pay-tickets in addition to the one per cent. The only notice which had been given of the reduction was on the pay sheet which bad been given to the plaintiffs. It ap. peared that the owners had gone into their stock and had found a deficiency, which they sought to recover front the millmen, which was a. moat novel proceeding, inasmuch all all tbe burden of the deficiency was thrown upon the millmen, while other branches of the manufacture were let off. There had been no agreement between the parties for this deduction. The men could not get any redress, and then wrote to the secretary of the Iron and Tiu-plate Makers' AstOcifttifB, who ultimately took this action. In effect the masters said to the men" you been have overpaid, and the stock does not show that the wot k has been ch»ne." The iron was weighed out to the men who had to make about 16 boxes from it per ton of block plate; it was then passed on to the stock- taker, who certified for it, and upon liia certificate the men were paid. The company bad every means of protecting themselves in their own hands, and he thought it a most inequitable proceeding to try and cast this burden upon the millmen alone. The plaintiff, Charles Bevan, was called and corroborated the statement made by Mr Clifton. In cross-examination he denied that it had been the rule in the works to make these deductions, and that he had never had any deduction of the kind before, except about two years ago, when the men grumbled. Mr Smith, for the defendant, stated that the same principle of deducting for overpay at the end of each year bad been the rule of the works for many years, and that the payments made to the men every month were provision to such deduction, and not absolute, while the one per cent, deduction was an arrangement of many years'^standing, and was not a new one. It was a principle adopted in all works in some way or other, but not always in the same form, aud it wasa necessity. Mr Thomas (defendant), Messrs Haines (manager), Gimblett and Card (clerks) were called, and it was clearly shewn by the books and the witnesses that the plaintiff had been in the liabit of allowing such deductions for years, while any new arrange- ment was denied. Mr Clifton said he felt the manner in which he had been instructed so falsely most acutely. Bevan had declared to him on several occasions that he had not bad the deductions made from his earnings before, and that an arrangement had been entered into that one box per hunched should cover all waste. In all the circumstances he was Sorry he had troubled tlp- His Honour gave judgment for the defendant, and Mr Smith did not ask for costs.

THE MONMOUTH CUAH0IANS j AND L00AX TAXATION. At Monmouth Board of Guardians, on Satur- day, a deputation was ap ointed to meet the Westbury-onTSevern guardians, at the Speech House, for the purpose of discussing the local taxation in Dean Forest. It was shown that the Crown only contributed towards the rates in respect of its vast property a kind of gift, which amounted to but I-25th of what it would have to pay if the property was assessed. The assistant schoolmistress tendered her resignation, which was accepted, and it was decided not to advertise for another, as the number of children under instruction had considerably diminished.

THE WELSH BAPTIST UNION AND MR GLADSTONE. In response to the resolution passed at the re- cent conference of the Welsh Baptist Union, con- gratulating Mr Gladstone ou his rapid convales- cence, the following reply h 's been received :— lù. Downmg-strept, Whitehall, Aug. 16tb, 1880. Reverend Sir,—Mr. Gladstone desires me to ac- knowledge the receipt of your letter of the 13th ilJht., in ^vhich you forward a copy of a resolution lassed by the Welsh Baptist Union, Car Jiff, con- gratulating him on his convalescence, and, in tendanug to you his sincere thanks, I am to say that he is very sensible of the kind terms in which it is expressed.—I am, rev. sir, your obedient servant,HORACSSJTMOUH.—Rev. William Morris.

SHOCKING ACCIDKNT ON THE SWANSEA TLIAM LINE. On Saturday night a woman, about 60 years of age, was knocked down by a tramcar at Landore, near Swansea, and received injuries which at the time of writing were expected to end fatally. Both her thighs were fractured, and the injuries gener- ally were of such a dangerous character that Dr. Howel Thomas, who attended, considered her unable to bear the journey to the hospital. She was taken to A house close by, where her injuries • vera attended to by Dr* yitomas.

THE LATE Mil WILLIAM LEWIS, OF CARDIFF. Ti e mortal remains oi the late Mr William Lewis, of Cardiff, were interred in the New (jeme- tery^ 011 Tnnrsday afternoon, in a v-.ult near that of his biother-in-law, Mr John Williams. The oak coffin, with blass furiiitu e, was supplied by Mr G. A. Stoni', wi.o had u ider his care all the funeral arrangements. It bore the si pte inscrip- tion—" William Lewis. Died the 15th August, 18d0, age 68 years." The funeral was a public one The procession started from Ghimorg-au Villa, Newpo. t-road, ubout t o in the afternoon. There were a hearse ;-¡nd two mourning coaches. In tre fi st mourning coach ther.' w> re Mr Rees Lewis, Mr W. H. Lewis, Mrj- Hely Roberts, and r Lewis Wi]liani3 m (he secùl,d 1IJ0nrni!Jg conch there were the Rav. J. Roberts (Treforest), Mr J. B. b'errier, the Rev. H. Burton, and Tvir.lohn Williams. Mr Lewis Williams' ca-ri 118 followed with members of Mrs Le is's family. In nil there w'ereabour 80 persons present. These included representatives of the Town Council an theBonrd of Cuardinns, amongst whom were Alderman Winstone, Councillors W. Sanders, D. Duncan, Rees Enoch, Jacobs, G. W. Armstrong, R. D ivies, and Mr L. Herne. The pall be .rels were Air William Davies, Mr William Senders, Mr G. W. Armstrong, Mr R. Davies. The ltev. Henry Burton, Wesley an minister, conducted the service at the grave. The following resolution, passed at the East Ward Liberal meeting 011 Monday, has been re- ceived by the relatives of the deceased Gentleman —" Cardiff, Aug st 16th, 1880.—At a meeting of the E st Ward Liberal burgesses, held this day at the Swiss-hall, Crockheibtown, it was unani- mously resolved-That havin; learned with pro- found regret the decease of our veteran comrade, Mr William Lewis, of Glamorgan Villa, we do t'taceonrecordonr high sense of his faithful, con- sistent, self-sacrificing, and life-long labours in the cause of true Liberalism we mourn his loss, and would convey to his respected widow and other relatives our deep sympathy anl condolence in this time of sorrowful bereavement*"

CARD 1 !■' 1' COUNTY-GOUItT. 1 On Thursday, at tie Cardiff County-court— before bis honour Judge Herbel t-tbe adjourned case of Mjasters v. E. H. Pearce came on for hear- ing. Mr Hcott, of Cardiff, appeared for the plain- tiff, who was before bankruptcy a builder in tiiis town Mr Norris, barrister-at-law, instructed by Mr John Jones, for the defendant. It may bte remembered that this claim was for £22 10s, that amount, the plaintiff alleging, being due to him a.S wages for superintending tlie erection of some houses in Riches-terrace. The plaiutiff clailljed for 10 weeks' wages at £258 per week, from January the 12th to March the 20tli, 1880.—The defendant, on the previous occasion the case was before the court, denied that he had engaged the pla.intiff,and an adjournment was agreed to. Pearce when Masters failed in business, entered into a contract to complete the buildings, and Pearce now came forward and said in answer to questions that he employed Clarke to do the carpentry and masonry, Towser to do the painting, and Chant the plastering. Had not given Masters any order to do any work, nor had ne employed Masters in any way directly or indirectly. Pearce further said that no claim was made upon him until after the account bad been taken.—Masters, in auswer to Mr Norris, said thut Mr Lovett, the trustee in bankruptcy, had found the money for this action. He had done some work for Clark, but only for a few hours.— Pearce, in answer to bcott, said that he had told no man to take instructions from Masters. Indeed he had told them not to have anything to do with aiasters. He gave Clark a letter setting forth that he (Clark) was in charge, and that he was to send Masters away if he came on the premises interfering. Towser was told to do the same. Masters bad come to his office and asked for money, but nev^j-for money due on wages, merely as a loan. He had given Masters mouey because he said he was so hard up that he had not food to put in his mouth,—Thomas Clark, examined by Mr Norris, said that Masters did not exercise any superintendence whatever over him. In reply to Mr Scott, the witness stated that he saw Masters, whose house was only a few doors off, on the premises almost every day. Did not remember anything being said to Masters, and had not received instructions to turn Masters off if he came there.—His Honour, after hearing further evidence, reserved his judgment until to-day (Friday.) Application was subsequently made by Mr J. F. Norns, instructed by Mr John Jones, on behalf of F. H. Pearce, for an order directing the sale of the property in Riches'-terrace, upon which Pearce holds a mortgage. The order « as granted, and it was left to the registrar to settle details,

A NICE POINT OF FISHERY LAW. At the Cat mar then county petty-sessions, on baturday, David Williams, jun., Penybock, near Ferryside, was charged under 28 and 29 Victoria, c. 121, see, 36, with using a weir for catching salmon without a licence. Mr W. M. Griffiths, solicitor, represented the Board of Conservators, and Mr W. Howell, solicitor, Llanelly, was for the defendant. Mr Griffiths said the geueral facts of the case were admitted on both sides, but the contention of the prosecution was that the instru- ment used by the defendant was a weir within the meaning of the Act. The section seemed to have been put in to meet the case of such engines. Two water bailiffs were called to prove that on the morning of the 21st July they saw the defendant take two fish, which proved to be sewen, out of the net. In answer to Mr Howell, one of the bailiffs described the engine as a small wire cham- ber with wings of netting placed across a small brook, the sides Of which were boarded, running over the sands, about 200 yards from the Kidwelly river. When the tide was in, the witness said .the water covered the spot where the engine was placed. Witness had never seen such an instrument before, and did not know that the defendant's father and ancestors had used the net for generations.—Mr Howell contended that no evidence had been brought that the net was used within the district. The offence muse be committed within a salmon river; of that there was no evidence, Then the seizing of the sewin found on defendant was illegal, because it was the open season, and anyone might have fish in their possession, The instrument was no more than a stationary net; it was not a weir, baulk, orgoryd. There had been a great deal of corres- pondence with the Fishery Commissioners abont the net, and great doubt existed. Therefore it would be very hard to convict tbe defendants— Mr T. Sanseu, of the White Lion Hotel, Ferry. side, who for six years had been head water bailiff in the district, and now is a member of the Board of Conservators, was called for the defence. He said he had watched the net for six years and had fished it himself, but had never found salmon. The engine was not peculiarly adapted for catch- ing salmon. The witness was proceeding to say that he bad taken Mr Walpole and Mr Buckland to see the net, when Mr Griffiths objected to such evidence.—Mr Howell said it must be a poor case, if the opinion of the greatest authorities on fishing was objected to.—After further addresses by the advocate, and citing of ca&es bearing on the point, the Chairman said the bench bad decided that the case was proved, and fined defendant £10, or double the licence-doty, which was the lowept penalty,—Mr Howell asked if the magis- trates considered the engine to be a weir, and if they would grant a case for ap^oal.—The Bench assented to both questions, and allowed defendant a fortnight to pay.

VITRIOL THROWING BY A COUNTESS. -r ILLICIT LOVE • A WIFE'S REVENGE. The trial of the Comtesse de Tilly, for throwing vitriol at the mistress of her husband, was com. menced on Tuesday at the assizes of the Charente Inférieure, held at Saintes. The case is exciting' great interest throughout the country, on account of tbe rank occupied by the accused and of the peculiar circumstances under which the offence was com- mitted. The feeling in the small town where the trial takes place is rather in favour of the prisoner than of the victim, while the indignation is so great against the Comte de Tilly, the real cause of the trouble, that he has been obliged to leave the neighbourhood. The case commenced with the examination of the accused by the President of the Court. Madame de Tilly frankly acknowledged the crime. She bought the vitriol of a chemist. On arriving home she lost her nsrve, and was about to throw the destructive liquid away, when she perceived her husband's mistress, Marie MaréchaJ. walking in the street, and the sight of this girl brought all her resolution back, The Countess firmly main- tains that she had no intention of tilling t e girl, or of even destroying her eyesight; but asserts oi* oath that she only wanted to destroy her beauty, so that M. de Tilly might net marry her after the death of his wife. It appears that the Com- tesse discovered the intrigue between her husband and Marie Marshal about a year and a half before the crime; and, during the ensuing period, M. de Tilly's conduct towarns his family waa of the most heartless kind. He was entirely en- grossed by his passion for the girl. whom lie took every opportunity of meeting, even speaking to i her whilst he was conducting his children to school, and giving her assignations in his own house. So much infuence had she obtained over the Count that she had persuaded him to cease going out with his wife and to give up wearing his w ending ring. While Madame de Tilly was giving this painful evidence, the spectators fre- quently gave vent to marks of sympathy with her, which were renewed on her dechringtha1. her bus- band, in addition to taking a dislike to her, had also conceived an antipathy towards their children, whom he ^used to beat furiously. Madame de Tilly was much exhausted at the close of her examination, which was followed by that of the witnesses. The medical man who attended Marie Martkshal gave a dreadful account of the in- juries caused by the vitriol. The left eye is com- pletely gone an t closed up. her face and bead being a mas3 of horrible wounds. The doctor also testified to the anxiety expressed by Madame de Tilly as to the progress in the health of her victim, and how she implored him to send for a doctor from Paris to attend her. The next witness called was Marie ManScbal ljerself, whose appear- ance naturally caused a ttirill of excitement in ourf, which was repeated when the unfortunate girl remove I her hat and the bandages from her head, expos:ng the frightful extentof eriujuiies. Besides one eye being closed up, the left nostril and theforeheal are paten into by tr e vitriol, leav'ng the entire face a hideou< spec<'aole to behold. The girl related that tbe person w ho v i, ed the vitriol from her face was M. Tilly_ bin self, but she was so overcome that the remain ler of her evi- dence had to be read by the Presidmt from her previous deposition, ft lie acknowledged lier inter- course with M. de Tilly,'but denied ever l aving hal any i-'ea of marrying him 011 the death of his wife. She aLo deyieJ h-^ing provoke 1 Ala lame de Tilly in the street. The cross-examination I elicited a fact which told lsrgelv in favour of the prisoner, uauiely. that tlie Cointesse de Tilly had, since throwing the vitriol at Marie A'ar^chal, made her a present of 20,000f. and paid the me'li- cal exj enses consequent < n the crime. A number of w itnesses were next heard w ho t'es ified to tjie excellent character of the accused as a wife au<l a mother aud to the cruel behavour of lux h^baud. The,court then adjourned*

STHANGE DEATH OF A CHILD AT COLEFOttD, ALLEGED FATAL QUARREL AMONGST CHILDREN. At the Coleford police-court, on Tuesday— before Lieut.-CuIoneI Davies (chairman), Messrs C. Palmer, J. Trotter, and Dr. Baiteu—Frank Baker and George Pace, boys, aged eight and ten years respectively, of BNadwell-1ane End, were charged with assaulting Hannah Brown (10), de- ceased, the daughter of William Brown, colliery proprietor, who resides near Coleford. Mr Goldney defended. The charge was instituted at the suggestion of the Coroner, who last week held a'l inquiry as to the cause of death. From tbe statement upon which the charge WM laid, it appeared ¡hat some boys and girls wcre plaving together near the public schools when Raker struck the deceised girl several times. The boy Pace awd Walter Herbert (seven) also struck deceased, who. on running away, fell down, and froth was observed coming from her mouth. She tried to get up, but again fell, and was shortly fterwards found to be dead.—At the inquest Mr L. B. Trotter, a medical practitioner, of Coleford, who had made a post mortem examination, gave evidence, but was unable to account for the cause of death. He thought that death might have been caused by flight and shock to the system, under the circumstances described. -The father of de- ceased demurred to the remarks of the coroner, and stated that His child had been murdered, and snid that he wanted the punishment of the boys.— There was a second charge, iu which defendants were summoned for assaulting Alice Ellis.—Mr Goldring submitted that there was no locus standi in the first charge, because it was necessary t! at the party aggrieved, or some party in their behalf, nhd r the authorisation of the injured person should give its sanction, whereas the alleged as. saulted person was dead.—The bench over-ruled the objection, and decided to hear evidence. Alice Ellis, eight years of age, said they were playing at "cat" when Baker knocked both wit- ness and deceased. She also saw Frank Baker and a boy named Walter Herbert strike deceased. In reply to Mr Goldring, the wituess said she had been told the defendants struck dtceased. James Wooles, nine years of age, was produced to give evidence. He (the witness) saw defend- ants and Herbert strike deceased several times on the back. Mrs Decimer Wools, wife of a shopkeeper, swore that she saw deceased fall, when a boy, unknown to her, struck deceased several times on the back. She got up, and on rtnining across the road fell do ndead. After deliberating at some length, the bench discharged the defendants for assault, and in. structed Superintendent McRae to prefer a charge of manslaughter against the defendants at a special day. The second summons \Vas withdrawn.

CHARMING EXTRAORDINARY IN PEMBROKESHIRE, [FKOM A CORRESPONDENT.] In this enlightened age it ig almost incredible that the belief in charms of various kinds should hold sway over the minds of not only the ignorant masses of this cpuuty, but also those whose fortune it has been to prpcure a fair education. Yet. in Pembrokeshire this is the case to a great extent. In one little village charming is carried OIl most extensively, and is thoroughly believed in as being efficacious in cases of erysipelas, or, as it is called in that county, St. Anthony's fire. This art is confined to one family, transmitted from father to daughter or moiher to sog, in direct succession, for several generations, in the recollection of some of the oldest inhabitants of the village. Many are the cases of complete cure related, when doctors had given up the patients. The manner of applying the charm is simple and unique. The patient is brought to the house (sometimes on a featherbed, if unable to walk), the charmer takes a long straw, breaks it into niue pieces of about an inch in length, and places them on a table near the patient; then, with ancther long straw, describes an imaginary circle eleven times around the patient, during which time some mystic, incoherent sentences, supposed to be taken from the Scriptures, are muttered. Then one of the broken straws is thrown away. This form is repeated until the nine straws are ex. hausted. Then the charm is complete, and the p itient is supposed to be relieved. Two or three visits of this sort will, it is believed, effect a cure. The virtue of the charm is believed to rest in the mystic words, which words are kept a profound secret. No charge is made by the charmer no money is taken even as a gift. But instead, presents of tea, or sugar, or floor are made as a recompense for the trouble taken. Any direct charge would, it is believed, destroy all effect or as believers say, break the charm." The greatest virtue that appears to us in this gross superstition is that the charmer will have nothing to do with any patient unless a solemn promise is given that the patient will abstain from all stimulants, especially spirituous liquors. The writer of this article being a Pembrokeshire man, but who has been absent from his native county for many years, was astonished to find on a re- cent visit to this county that the superstitious belief in charming, which was extant in the days of his childhood, is almost as rampant now as it was then. How is this ? Let us hope that the School Board will bring about a better state of things before another 20 years have elapsed.

ABERDARE COUNTY-COURT. His Honour Judge Falconer held his monthly court for the district of Aberdare, on Monday. There were set down for hearing a total of 890 cases, viz., 280 new plaints, 30 adjourned ditto, 60 judgment summonses, and 20 adjourned ditto. ACTION FOB SOLICITOR'S COSTS. Messrs LintOn and Kenshole, solicitors, sued Mr Abraham Smith, of Newport, to recover a sum of jE5 4s, the amount of a bill of costs for pro- fessional services in connection with the letting of a public-house in the town. Mr Kenshole," in stating the claim, said that the defendant had entered into an agreement with Mr Edward Roberts to purchase the Railway Bar for jBl 200 The agreement provided that the defendant was to pay a deposit of £50, but of this Mr Roberts had only received £25. He (Mr Kenshole) was sent for, and received, both from the plaintiff and defendant, instructions to prepare an assignment of the property for £1,200. and the copy of the agreement was handed him by the accountant and valuer representing the parties. He was sent for on the 28th of April, and the purchase was to be completed, according to agreement, by the 6th of May. The assignment was prepared and engrossed, but on the SOth April he received a telegram from Mr Smith's agent, stating that the purchase w as likely to go off, and that lie was not to do anything further in the matter. The usual bill of costs, and a letter signed by the firm, was sent to the defendant, and repeated applications had been made for payment, of which no notice had been taken by the defendant. The defence set up by Mr Smith was that he had never en- gaged the plaintiff. His Honour, however, gave judgment against the defendant; and ordered him to pay the amount forthwith. ACTION AGAINST THE GREAT WESTERN KAITWAT OOMPANT. James James, butcher, of Mountain Ash, sought to recover £8 5s 8d, damage alleged to have been sustained by him owing to the non-delivery at the proper time of some skins at the Bristol Mart. Mr Gwilym James appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr Ensor, of Cardiff, for the defendant com- pany. In opening the case to his Honour, Mr James said that on the 14th of May last plaintiff carried afcins to the Bristol and Western Counties Hide and Skin Company, Limited, at Bristol, for sale upon commission. These skins should have been delivered at their destination on the evening of Saturday, the 15th May. On the Monday fol- lowing, Mrs James.motherof the plaintiff, had oc- casion te go to Bristol, and on Tuesday she called at tbe company's offices, and found that the skins had only been delivered that morning. Owing to their unreasonable delay in transit, the skins were alinost completely spoilt, by which a loss of £3 5s 8d was sustained by the plaintiff. When the skies were delivered at Bristol on the Tues- day morning, the person who received them wrote across the consignment note, stating that the goods were entirely spoilt. He maintained tMat there must have beeu wilful misconduct on the part of the company's servants, when it took three days to deliver goods from stations only 60 miles apart.—Mr Ensor said that, before wit- nesses were called, he would be willing to rest his case upon the statement made by Mr James, and mainlined that something more than negligence was required to be shown.—His Honour remarked that carriers could be made to carry and deliver goods in good condition, but if the consignors paid the lesser amount for carriage, they becamethe insurers, and accepted that obligation themselves. The plaintiff, Margaret James, his mother, and John Weaver, traffic manager to the Great Western Company at Cardiff, were then examined, the latter stating that as the Roods were not spe- cially sent, and did not fill a through w agon, they would be delayed 10 hours at Pontypool, and a similar time at Newport and Gloucester. In cioss- examination, this witness also stated that he had traced the goods in transit, and found that there had been no unnecessary delay, The goods arrived in Bristol at 13.40, too late to be delivered en Saturday night. There was no delivery on the Sunday, and the following Monday was Bank holiday, when the consignees' premises were closed at 10 in the moruing.-His Honour dwelt at some length upon the legal aspects of the case, and vithout hearing the witnesses for the defence, gave judgment for the company, with costs.

LLANELLY HARBOURTCOMMIS- SlONEns. The monthly meeting of this board was held on Saturday. Present, Messrs J. S. Tregonuing, Wm. Rosser, John Randell, David Evaus.grocer David Evans. merchant, and B. Jones, solicitor; and R. Glascodine. It was resolved that a cornUJit. tee, consisting of the chairman, Mr C. W. Nevill Mr B. Jones, Mr Glascodine, and Mr H. j! Howpll be appointed, to consider the notice from the Llanelly and Myuydd Mawr Railway Com- pany, for the taking cf certain lauds required for the purpose of their railway, and to report to the lifcxt meeting. 1 he collector reported an increase in the exports of tiu-plate. The harbour master reported a crack in one of the plates in Wbitford lighthouse, and that he was having come tepaired. A letter was read from the Great Western Rail- way Company, upon the subject of encroachment upon the proi-erty of the Commissioners, by the erectiou of a nignal-box, and prOinisinj a full reply iu a few days.

r A girl five years old, named Gertrude Mary Belcher, of Bristol, has met her death from falling into a quantity _,of liDle, by which the was fea: fujiy burnt. THE "LIVKITROQL JOURNAL or COMMERCE."— We understand ti at this influential shipping and commercial newspaper is about to be iiiate ially e darged. This step has been rendered necessary since Mr Birchall assume 1 the proprietorship by the increased demands upon its space, through t-ie es'aliiislm ent of sgencics &t. tl.e business centres throughout the country, together with contributions from numerous correspondents both i«wae &ud abroad. ?

[SPECIAL REPORTS FROM OUR TRADE CORRES- PONDENTS AND EXCLUSIVE SOURCES.] CARDIFF TRADE REPORT. [SPECIAL REPORT BY OUR OWN CORUESFOKDENT.'J CARDIFF, Thursday Night.—After a falling off of 4,000 tons mentioned iu my last report, and a. further falling off iu the week just ending of some 7,000 tons more, the ex ort coal trade cannot be said to be in a satisfactory condition. Shippers generally ave been far from busy, and interrup- tions of work at c'jlherifg of more frequent occur- rence. Tonnage ready for loadine has been scarce, au4 ships "hich have been available have been loa-ed with exceptional despatch. Of course, un ier these circumstances, prices do not show the slightest tendency to improvement, but there is nothing in the present situation to cause any serious apprehensions concerning the immediate future. In fact, many in the trade are as confi- deiit as ever of seeing higher prices before the end of the year, and lo,,k for a marked improvement as soon as our autumn and winter business flows in. As the; e is a prospect of important orders from several sources the present depression may be considered to be of a. temporary character. In the f-eight market there is no great number of orders ou hand for execution, but as the supply of stea.m a ;d sailing tonnage seeking em- ployment has been rather more plentiful this week, rather more chartering has been done. There has been a slight improvement in some of the French coal freights. Rates outv\ ar s with coals for the Spanish ports are steady, as are also those homeward; thence with ore both from the Mediterranean ports and Bilbao. Italian coal freights are firm, with no alteiations in the quota- tions. There is a good demand for the princip d Mediterranean coaling depots, especially for Malta. Coal freights for the higher Mediter- ranean ports and Black Sea are steady, but the homeward chaptering from thia quarter is very quiet. East Indian business is very quiet both outwards and homewards. Hatet: for coal to the West Indian ports are some- what lower, but there is not much doing. There is only a limited demand at the moment for the ports of Brazil and River Plate. In general Transatlantic steam chartering there has been nothing doing. In iron for the United States there has been rather more doing, both for sailing tonnage and for steamers, but rates keep about the same. -=;' Exports for the week:—S7,107 tons of coal, 8,998 tons of patent fuel, 1,415 tons of iron, and 905 tons of coke. Entries outwards of vessels arrived for loading dttrmg the week equal to loading about 85,000 tons. The imports of iron ore for the week consist of 9,493 tons from Spain, aud 3,360 tons from other sources. From France about 1,150 tons pitv\ood have arrived, and 246 tons from other sources.

SWANSEA TRADE REPORT. [SPECIAL REPORT FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. J SWANSEA, Thursday Night.-The total ship- ments of coal and fuel show a slight increase over those of the previous week, and business generally is rather brisker, but not sufficiently so to justify aily deductions. The Mediterranean trade is par- ticularly dull, there being but few orders on band, and consequently no improvement in current quotations for freights, T ne shipment of patent fuel continue heavy, makers clearing off as fast as they can make. The French trade has been rather better this week, though,owing to frequent fluctuations, the quantities shipped are hardly up to, certainly not beyond, the average of tlie past three months. There is nothing new in regard to freights, very little business doing. The clear- ances foreign are divided as follows .-—France 7,879 tons coal, 4,415 tons fuel, 13 tons copper; LMbon 175 tons coal, 30 tons copperas, and 5 tons tin-plate; Spain 1,000 tons coal, 800 tons fuel • Eusenada 610 tons coal; Quebec, 400 tons coal; Santos 1,017 tons coal; Cape Town 590 tons coal; St. John's 260 tons coal Coquimbo 530 tons coke, 220 tons bricks Tucacas 196 tons fuel, 180 tons coke. Impo,.t"The arrivals have been very few, the only items of importance being 1,500 tons of iron ore from Bilbao, 810 tons of copper regulus from Carrizal, and two cargoes of deals, one each from Sundswall, and St. John's, N.B.; also a cargo ef Swedish oats. The arrivals in ballast have also been scanty, and the South Dock is very empty. Coastwise there has been a consider- able increase in pig-iron and a corresponding falling off in iron ore, but otherwise nothing of note. The quantities of raw material taken by the local tin-plate works continue very heavy,and show that a large if not very remunerative busi- ness is carried on. The make of tin-plates in the district is heavier than it has ever been before and though prices have not improved much they are still better than a month or two back, and orders are freely taken; the competition proving that there is still a margin of profit.

NEWPORT TRADE REPORT. tarZCIAL REPORT FROM OUR OWN CORmcSPQKDJ £ NT# NEWPORT, Thursday Night.—Tlie amount of { business doing during the week has shown no diminution, and, whilst there has not arisen many complaints as to detention, the cause is to be found more in the increased facilities for dis- charging and loading than in any falling off in the tonnage, loading and discharging. The price of coal continues nrm, and there is more demand for local descriptions of best qualities. The out- put is also in many cases limited, and a certain amount of demurrage has bad to be paid. The shipments of rails are increasing, and the orders at the works are said to be sufficient to keep them going for some time to come, even if no others were to come into the market. This, however, is not likely to be the case, as the iron markets are firm, and will probably remain so, notwithstand. ing the bearing operations that have recently takeu place in the North of England, &c. Imports have been numerous, a large number of steamers and sailing vessels having arrived from the different. ports where ore is shipped, many of them of large tonnage. Of pitwood, the quantity imported is small comparatively, and this has enabled stocks to be reduced. There has also been several vessels arriving with timber, deals, &c., and three or four with potatoes from France. Freights remain as before, with little alteration in any direction. If anything, the demand for France is less. West India rates are firmer, and quotations have an upward tendency. From Bilbao there is a slight lull,but with a fair demand for ore,and the approach of winter rates will prob- ably go up.

NORTH OF ENGLAND REPORT. [SPECIAL REPORT PROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.! MIDDLESBOROUGH, Thursday. — The pig iron trade has been quiet this week. The Stockton races — the Teesside carnival — has taken away both masters and men to a large extent this week from business. The ironworks are idle during the races this week, and business is largely at a discount. Hence there was a very quiet market on Tuesday, and since the trade has remained dull and inactive, with lower rates than those whiqh ruled last week. At the same time there has been a. slight stiffening in prices, for while No. 3 was quoted as low as 42s 6d on Monday, and was even it is said done at that price,on Tues- day it could not be bought under 43s. The con- dition of the market is such as to cause no anxiety, notwithstanding that a relapse of Is per ton has taken place, The makers are so well sold that in only about two instances are their stocks in hand. They are. at the Same time, pretty firm, and look for higher rather than lower rates. Hence they quote fully Is 6J per ton more than merchants have been selling at,and seem inclined to hold until they get it. The shipments are very la.rge. Scotland is taking a considerable quantity of iron just at present relatively more than South Wales, which, within the last week, has received lets iron. The quotations for pig metal are about 43s No. 3, and 42s No. 4 torge net. The rates for manufactured iron are Iron rails, Z 15s; ship- plates, J:6 15s to R7 bars, £5 17s 6d to £6 angles, 96 2s 6d sheets, £8, less 2! per cent.; puddled bars, S3 17s 61 to 24 net. The class of trade on which Cleveland, as well as South Wales formerly flourished, and on which both districts chiefly depended, has here nearly come to nothing. There has been but little inquiry for some time past. No new orders have been placed, and the production of rails has nearly ceaBed. The Dar- lington Iron Co., Limited, which mostly did this class of trade, a week or two since laid off all its puddling furnaces, and have not been doing very much. They are, however, busy turning out steel rails, for which there is a good demand at the pre- sent time. The Eston Works are rapidly iu course of being doubled. There is some danger of the make of iron being overdone. The Messrs Downey last week blew in a furnace, ma.king 113 itl blast in the North of England, and the Teesside Engineering and Iron Company are also about to blow in one at their works. The Consett Iron Company, it is an- nounced, has made a profit for the past year of above £100,000. Besides paying 20 per cent for the year, the company will give a handsome bonus to its shareholders. There has been rather more inquiry for steam coals within the past fortnight at the north- eastern ports. Prices keep stationary. The quotations for steam coals range from 7s Gd to 9s per ton f.o.b. Tyne, according to quality. First- class coal keeps its position pretty well, but all second-class qualities have had a difficulty in meeting the competition with other steam coals. We may, however, expect that with the strike in the Scotch trade there will be a better inquiry for North of Ehgland second-class samples. Other coal dull of s It. Coke no change.

WEST MIDLANDS TRADE kEPORT. [SPECIAL REPORT PROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] BIRMINGHAM, Thursday.—On 'Change this after- noon it was reported that the ",marked bar houses were dull, the competition from other makers who produced a branded bar, although not of the quality reckoned as the "marked" standard, being severe. Nor would it seem that the mailced" houses who are now quoting £ 7 10s per ton, are getting many more orders than those w ho maintain the £ 8 standard, or than the Round Oak Works at £ 8 12s 6d. Medium and common bars are selling well-the former at a! out k- i tok6 10s per-ton, anl the latter at k6. The mills that produce snch i, on are running steadily though largely upon a hand-to-mouth business, which necessitates masters keeping a sliaru look out for specifications. Amongst the distant co.mtiies for which rods are just now being rolled India an I China may be mentioned. Sheet makers reported that orders wereMWTlvlng almost as fast as they could, alike from customers and from n erchants. The chief local consumers are the giivamsers, and next come the japanners and the stampers. All these are buying freely. Me.rchaut custom is mainly oh account of the Russian and Indian maikets, Contracts are being rolled off witii ill peed, and favoured make is hive t eir boolfs H. I Mr the ensuing couple of months. Tbc> emain willing to accept forward contracts .t present prices, but not forward such ;> t4 of time as n^ny buyers would be glati i.ceorders. "Sitt I,s werc generally q11 .¡¡ £8, doubles jS9 10s, :.nd lattens JE11. It T- uce'y a secret, however, that a few mut;J selling singles at ti 10s to 97 15-s and do • £ 9 to £ 9 5s. The ..g i on trade was reported quiet. Prices of all ulv Options were strong. Ail-mine Stafford- shire 80 :!&. BOir$YK« COOtCMJ to 0&4T pigs, k&YG not seen any rise, but were quoted at the old figures of 93 10s to R3 12s 6d and £3 15s for hot. blast qualities, and 1:4 15s for cold blast. Lilies- hall (Shiopshire) pigs ate at present relatively che..per than St df"rd"i,ire mine pigs, Parkmin. pigs vary greatly,accoidirip to the n))xture.ut m <y be set dow 11 as at £3. Cinder pi-s a: e £ 2 2s 6«1 te 1:2 5a, and one or two makers are asking for special brands 50S, which is a rja" of 2s 6d upon the fortnight. Spring Va'e pigs a, e quoted C2 58 for ordinary qualities, and .t;-¡ 5s for best. The coal trade is languid. Supply contuiuet largely in excess of iieiuHiul, and prices show 00 signs of improvement. Tt.e com; etition between the forge coal of the Cannock Cimse distiict and the older South Staffordshire tifkia is severe. [ANOTHER REPORT.] BIRMINGHAM, Thursday.— I'heie was not a large attendance. It was reported that marked bar houses were dull, the competition from other makers who produce a brande I bar, although not reckoued as of the marked standard, being severe, Those bar firms who are accepting 1:7 10s per ton do not appear to be getting many )no;eo).ier< th;ui those ho maintained the £ 8 standard. Sheet makers reported that oi der., are arriving an fast as they can, and some houses have contracts ahead for two months. Pig iron > as quiet, ana prices of all descriptions were strong.

NEWCASTLE-TRADE REPORT. NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE. Thursday. — The coal trade has been moderately bri,k for exportation, but the demand for household purposes for the coasting trade is still quiet, the wa. tn weather no doubt materially affecting it. The iron trade haa been easier, but fluctuations in price have been particularly due to speculative movements and forced sales. A very steady demand continues, and the dividend and bonus of the Cousett Iron- works, amounting altogether to nearly 20 per cent, had a favourable effect, as it indicates a satisfactory and substantial improvement in irade. and the prospect follo,, ing on the dividend of the North Eastern Railway Coml any must have a good effect on looal trade, as it must throw a good fled of mouey into local hands. Shipping has also shown some improvement, although some steamera have had to go to Quebec on escalation. The wood trade is. however, improving, and the ad- vance in price is sure to lead to carrying power being required. The chemical trade maintains ita improved position, although prices do uot materially change, the fluctuations being due to tempera: y circumstances, SOUTH WALES COAL AND IROIf SHIPMENTS FOR 1880. The shipments of both coal and iron last month from all the South Wales ports was asain very large, and during the first seven months there has been a gradual increase in the quantity shipped as Compared with the shipments for the correa- ponding period of 1879. The increase iu the ship- ments of iron is also very considerable. This in- crease ia greater at Newport than at any other South Wales ports. America still continues to send large orders to South Wales ports for steel rails, and these now form the chief item in the exports of iron. There is also an increased demand for South Wales Coke in foreign markets, CARDIFF SHIPMENTS, 1880. Coal. Iron. Coke, P. fnel Ja.n.424,759 13,318 1,438 9,430 Feb 3S0.851 10,295 2,637 7,4(2 Mar 400,706 17,7UO 550 9,148 April 451,820 24,706 1,487 8,690 May 406,558 17,260 1,457 8,803 June 330,788 18,082 749 .13,021 July 393,952 9,054 4,827 7,999 of; 2,599,434 .110,503 .13,145 .64.491 The chief places to which steam coal was sent last month were the coaling Mtationa—Gibrakar, Ca.pe de Verde, Malta, Ac. Port Said, St Nazaira, Nantes, and Havre, also took la pe owantitiee. One thousand tons of rails" ere sent to New York, and a similar quantity to Cronstadt. SWANSEA SHIPMENTS, 1880. Coal. Iron. Coke. P. Fuel. January .73,444 848 528 16,7S2 February 5!),341. 333 645 11,380 March 70,635 1,803 .1,024 15,493 April 86*757 2,355 613 15,660 May 62,110 1,259 255 18,105 June 64,685 2,293 631 20,015 July.71,976 1,941 983 19,087 488,948 10,832 4,679 116,522 Dieppe, Montreal, Rouen, and Sables d'Oloana were the chief places to which coal w £ eeot. NEWPORT SHIPMINTS, 1880. Coal. Iron. Coke. January 84,675. 11,039 398 February 75,488 8,576 573 March 84,332 11,657 C2 April 94,634 23,467 665 May 91,068. 18.325. 1,455 Jnne 91,803 18,597. 258 July. 88,374 22,379 1,098 610,374 114.021 4.409 The chief coal shipments were to Barcelona, Genoa, La Rochelle, Savona, and Malta. New York took over 6,000 tons of rails; Calve, too, 4,500 Montreal 3,500 tons. TJLANELLY SHIPMENTS, 1880. Foreign. Coastwise. Coal. Coal. January 6,234 7,390 February 5,509 6,972 Maich 10,123 11,293 April 9,644 11,658 May. 5,752 14,054 June 8,445 9,501 July. 7,477 ,9,985 53,184 70.553 The coastwise shipments were :—Cardiff, 80,393 tons; Newport, 68,170 tons; Swansea, 42,551 tons. For July, 1879, the coastwise shipments were :-Cax., 56,182 tons; Newport, 71,971 tons Swansea, 40,755 tons. COLLIERS' WAGES IN STAFFORD- SHIRE. The colliers throughout North Staffordshire oa Saturday gave 14 days' notice for a rise of 10 per cent in wages. From fifteen to sixteen thousand underground workers are affected by the notice. The improvement in tr de, and the promise of the employers at the time of the last reduction to reconsider prices when trade improved, are assigned as reasons for the steps taken by the men. In well infoi mec circles the notice is thought premature, and fean exist lest either by strike or the masters comply* ing with the demand of the men the satisfactory improvement going on in the iron trade might b4 interfered with. TEXTILE MANUFACTURES. MANCHESTER, Saturday.—Little or no chasg< has made its appearance in the market during thi past week. The home trade is still neglected, and iu other departments a quiet business is proceed- ing. More would be done if the prices generally offered were better. The Italian and other Mediterranean markets are sending in a few more orders, but with this exception there is no altera. tion in the foreign advices. The cloth trade is still the best feature of the market. WhiltS the sales of Indian staples are net as a rule large, here and there orders of importance are placed, and some few good liues for China are occa. sionally heard of. Prices remain steady. Printing cloth is Fomewliat irregular, being now and then a little weak, but other classes show no alteration. T cloths, Mexicans, and other heavy goods are dull. Should the present fine leather continue until all anxiety for the harvest is over the home trade in cloth will pro. bably receive a much-needed stimulus, but so far firms in this field have not increased their pur- chases to any material extent. Yarns are in poor request both for home and export. In the former branoh there is, it anything, a slightly better feeling, but rates are lower than spinners care to accept. Spinners generally, whilst Milling to operate at current rates, will not make any sacri- fice to promote business. AMERICAN IRON MARKETS. The Ironmonger publishes the following cable despatch, dated New York, August 13th :-The markets during the past week have shown con- tinned improvement, higher prices ruling in nearly all branches, especially in the demand for Scotch pig iron, which continues very strong. To-day's prices are Glengarnock, No. 1, 25 dollars Colt- ness, No. 1,26 dollars Eglinton, No. 1, 23 dollars. Glengarnock, 6s higher; Coliness, 10s higher; Eglinton, unchanged. Very good business is being done in scrap and old rails, the demand continuing active and strong. Present quotations Scrap iron, 30 dollars old rails, 29 dollars. Scrap iron has risen 8s; old rails, unchanged. Transactions in steel rails ha.ve been very good during the past webk, and, although the market is at present free from excitement, the last quotation remains firm, viz., 65 dollars. Tinplates are increasingly active, large sales are being made, and prices are tending upwards. Ordinary cokes 5 dollars,1 50 ceuts; Ordin *ry charcoals, 6 dollars 50 cents. An ad- vance of Is on cokes. The market for Cleveland pig iron is by no means brisk, and the small turn. over effected has been done at about an average of 20 dollars. CLEVELAND IRON MARKET. MICDLESBOBOVGII, Tuesday.—The iron market was quiet to-day. There has been but little tairi- ness doing. Prices are abo it 9t1 to Is per ton be- low that of last Tuesday. No. 3 is 43,i, and No. 4 forge 42J. Buyers offered about 6d less than them rates, but holders generally refused to sell. Maker* wanted 449 6d No. 3, but are out of the marked as there are no buyers at such rates. Ai wanes Connal's stock of warrants is practically the same as last week. The shipments were large last week, being ab ut 20,000 tons. There is a steady Ua4» doing in finished iron. Fresh inquiries are ratbag small, but there is a large output proceeding thla week. However, there will be a stoppage at th« mills,owing to Stockton Race*. Veiy liitle change appears in the prices of manufactured iron. The figure for ship plates is t6 15s to 1:7. bars £5 17s 6d to 26 angles, £ 6 to £ 6 2s Cd all Icaa 22 per ceut; puddled bars, £3 17s Cd net. THE SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE IRON TRADE. WOLYEEHAMPTON, \Yednesday. —It seemed ip. day that the revival has .for the present teached its limit. Nevertheless a satisfactory tone pre- vailed, and prices of all commodities weie fiinu Sheet makers have two months work ordeied, much of it on Russian and Indian account. Tna hoop makers are next best off, and fresh American orders are arriving. Good plates were JJK 10a t and minimum qualities £ 8 to £7 10s. Medium bars, £ 7 to £ 6 lOs. _Hematites » ere too dear to lieU; the Camtoi th Uompauy a^ked 90s delivered. HARVEST PROSPECTS IN THE WEST OF ENGLAND. ^Reports trom agriculturists in all pa*ts <>f tl\» three western counties concur in giving flowing iccounts of the harvest now fully in piogi ess. la some parts heavy rain labl the cat, but ii.i> ))..w r.' ,t affected the yield, although more manual labour ia thus required iuste <d (.f 111 ichinery. Wtieat. oats and barley oue much abovo the aver- eg". Straw is abundant and strong. Much hay is kii lout, but heavy cargoes are being saved im good condition. Green crops are unusually good, the fly being experienced ia one district. Potatoot are a full crop, and comparatively fret froqt diaeoee; but apples are ec&rc^ • -i

I live." This is an inter- | °cuinent, which at first sight strike# I l* on'y j>>' reason of its oddity. But I think that nig .jetween the lines v. e n ay find in it a ess n i,i the char ccer of the Irish peasant hich MWouldbediHicuktof.btinfrommo.erreten- IOU. sources, \e fce !.ere how simple and yet low c iniiiu<r he js> with what ready instinct lie urns to i arliampnt to hi Id bin iu his trouble, m'e\ Wrill" £ llis 3eUer* after returning from a il^ hich /ie has denounced toe Saxon and "&t is his. We also s> e his selfishness and tvis tl S0rTCe °f l,r''>ci;'le. He wan s smuggled thiough ou^e of Commons an Act of Parliament enable hi hi to break the liw but tlie e t is to be exclusively his, an when he dies ls seidotn that the announcement of a lady's ^pp oachirjy; marriage I as created such universal 'o'lation an 1 even anger as -hurtles round e ^conscious head of the Baroness Burdi-tt- Oults. ijel. la lyship is unconscious only to a tain extent, for many of her personal friend "6 dared to risk her displeasure by their protests. is Quite true that the Queen wrote with her hand, urgintr upon her favourite peeress the "Q is iom and even the absurdity of her projected enterprise, Ihe Queen wrote tdiarily but it is that lier Majesty's cuvtness and choice of P ain language as even excelled by that of the angered bride that is to be. I hesitate to repro- uce the terms of the Queen's note to the Baron* ^ss. though tiiey are freely current here. Suffice « to say that ti ey were brief and to the point. n the mind of the populace who never saw <>r »p>-ke to the B .rouess, the angry feeling is traceable to one or two plainly discerned reasons, In the first place,there is the wholesome "cling of revulsion with which the sentimental public regards a matoh founded on other grounds ^hau those of affection. Thent ere is the absurdity a bride sixty-six and a bridegroom considerably kss than half tliat age. Finally, there is the 8ellse that the wealth which has long been in sense a puViic institution is °-huut to be Erected to the benefit oi This feeling, held merely on general grounds by the p iblic, is more acutely presait iu the board tooms of our charitable institutions It is no secret that many charities that have been accustomed to benefit by the systematically dispensed revenues of the Baroness had looked v.ito certainty to a comfortably legacy at ber de;uh. It is even said that one institution has dscomted this pi bility, and will find itself in a very awk ard financial position. Auo"er class, for whom a feeling very different from sympathy vjll ba felt is the noP army of begging. letter writers. '1'he pnsteraation and honest indignation which fills aeir breasts at the propect of the goose that hxfi mg laid golden eggs being removed from their «wh «ludicrous in its in- teunty. A friend of ™ at Scotland Yard vv ho was quietly on duty* the Savoy Onapel, on Tuesday, tells me th in the ^owd asaemb ed With intent to give a*«n reception to the blush- ing bride and the for*aM bndegropm, were some of the oldest and unsuccessful begging-letter ItT'ths^enforce^1'^P°ne01 en" of the holidays, I have been read .*«* Twrfp., last book "The Tramp Abd- Next to a run through Switzerland, I do t know anything more ex- til ,rating or ref*lln £ tllan this book, more especially for t» ^o know the localities touched upon, patfuiw some exquisite fooling, > but this is bnHP "« foundation of shrewd observation, ar.happy description of men aud places that amis to true genlug-