The Cardiff Times

8A!LOR DROWNED AT CARMQAN ¡ A sailor, named Richard McKenna, aged 26, a widower, who hailed from Skerries, county DuMin, a member of the crew of the ketch Marjotri, of Milford, wa.s drowned in the river Tein. opposite Lloyd's Wharf Cardigan, on Saturday afternoon, in the presence of other members of the crew and a number of residents, who were, however, to render any assistance. The vessel was being prepared to the harbour, and deceased jumped into a boat, which left the ship's side before the mate could join her, in order to prepare to have the vessel- towed down the river, there being no wind to sail her. In endeavouring to scull the boat back alongside the vessel the oar slipped aod deceased fell overboard, aod sank before assistance could be rendered.

Christmas gifts were distributed to members of the Panteg Fire Brigade on Sa.torday night by Mrs Wallace, wife of the captain. Subse. quently the men. their wives, and visitors st<t down to a supper, and an enjoyable evening was speub. Ca,pt- W. R. James.Abersychan, con- gratulate the brigade upon their smartnes3 and upon their success: at the competition at Ebbw Va.Lc. ?

Dyrnun'r i'n gohebwyr Cymreig gyfeirio cu gohcbta.etha.u. Itytra.u i'\v hadolygu, de., ¡ tei y caulyn:—" bA.o. Cil Hedd. Berth win street, Cardiff."

AT Y BEtRDD. DeH Ckivon i gann'n awgrymiado!, er nad yw ei Batas mor newydd ag y gaJiasai efe ei adeiladu. Darn gwir gymeradwy yw un Crwnfab ond ceisied ochel ambriodoideb nigyrrau yng ngoleu'r ''yfnewidiadau. PfnhiHion ag ynddynt amryw syniadau ta. rawgar yw rhai Perthonydd. A gymer yntau y cyngor a. roir i Grwnfab ? Mae'n andwg fod Hinos Wyre yn edmygydd diragritti o'r Bardd," a'i fod befyd yn cyd. ymdeimio ag ef ym ei diodt. Diolch iddo t

BARDDONJAETH. NADoZiG Gysegredig, ion Nadotig. Cunfu'nswyno'th gtyd; Swn dy droed sydd nefot nwsig Yn nghlust cuog fyd; Peraidd dant yn nhelyn cariad Wyt, yn can Ganwyd i chwi heddyw Geidwad "— Aer y Wynfa lan. Gain NadoMg, an.furwoldeb Yn dy wyneb sydd Yn Surfafen t! agwyddoideb Ti wyt" Seren ddydd Gwc dy wisg yw Ymguawdoiiad— Cwlith tangnefedd Haf' Wyn Nadolig rhosyn cariad Ar dy fynwes g.).f. JMouutam Ash. Rbuddoni&n.

Y PALAS. Yma.'n mheH o frwydr bywyd, Bendigedig yw a hardd, Fel rhyw Eden dawel, hyfryd. Heb un sarph o fewn yr arddi Cy!ch o gcedydd sydd yn gwytio Hwn rh&g stormydd ga.uaf oer Mown dyst&wrwydd inae'n breuddwydio Drwy y nos dan wenau'r Uoer. Yn y coedydd wrth y cacoedd CaYia'r adar man yn ngbyu J Dyma fan sy fei y uefoedd— Dyna. gan i gyd. Nid yw'r tlodion a'Q hangbenion, Na thraJJodioti, byth Vl1 ca D'od i fewn—dim ond awcton 8y n caet d'od i ddeCro'r daiL Yma. ca,wn borfpydd irwe!ltog Gyda.'r dyfroedd tawe]. c!ir, Yma cawn y dyn cyfoethog Yn mwyniLau ei ehuoes hir. Ni aJt enajd Ln QA gofvn, Beth annghySawrtder ma.wr?" Pan yn gwcled hen ga,rdol;tyn Hcb un He i rot'i ben i !awr. Cleivon.

? DAW HINDDA WEDI GWLAW." Ystcrmns ydyw hynt y Hawd, A Hawer pryd mewn sioni Y mae wrth odrau mynydd tiawd, Dan lid y gawod drom Ond ofer iddo ytnbruddhau, Can's gobaith etc ddaw '.Does unrhyw storotn yn parh&Ut Daw hindda wedi gwlaw.' ? Di. weithiwr cated yn y byd, .Heib'dus yw dy ran A cb?u go?fal sydd o hyd Yn ctwyfo'th gaton wan Omd dan dy gur paid Hwfrhau, Fiy dy bryderun draw Mae dyddiau gweit yn agoshau—* Daw hindda wedi gwlaw." Araddifad bach heb gar na brawd< Dau gawod wg y byd EfaUai mai yn bLeo.tyn ffawd Cyn hir coi fyw yn glyd <3s ydwyt heb un Me i ffoi, A phavoiJ yn cadw draw, JMae &mgylchiadau r byd yn troi: Daw htndda wedi gwlaw." Bcrerin ben mewn ingol friw, My'n tciado yn ddihedd, Cpi gartfef gwc!I ar fyr i fyw, Tuhwnt i boen a bedd Ac er dy fod yn teimjo ofn, I gwynfyd y tu draw I afon yr lorddoaan ddofTi: Daw hindda wedi gwtaw." LIangennech. Crwnfab;

"AC N1 BYDD NOS YNO." Tra. mewn aniaJ bydd y Creation, Rbaid ymlwybro yn y DOS, os nn iomir ci Surfafen A gwyaob sa-fTt diox. ddewr a themt:tsiynau, A gwyneba'r don ddihedd— Ton gvnyrcha yn ei galon Ofn a. dychryn—cysgod bedd. Pan ar dd'rysu mewn tywyUwch, I Cymyi adfyd o bob tu, Ctomen cariad gtuda iddo Ddeilen gobaith oddi Jry. Ceafydd Sydd yn e?lur ami Y r addend a-m fwynhad— Gwlad ddi-noa yn nghwrnni lesu, A than wen ci Ddwytol Dad. Dyma'r fro roe enedigat-th I*)* boreuddydd cymta' 'rioed; Yma'i ma.gwyù am ganrifoedd; Nid yw eto'a ddiwmLod oed. gwyn ogoaiant Duwdod Hyd tr:graaau'r Ganaaa wiw; DiSydd mos wrth ddringo i Satem} Dydd sy'n oihobman Ue bo Duw< Nt cheir cwmwt da yn Uechu Yn wybrenau'r nefot w!ad} Ni ddaw cysgod nos i guddio ei brodorion mad. Nid oes dsigr, icg, ca go6d, Yn y net yn blino'r plant: Ni an nodau Hon yr anthem Enyn cos yn ena.id sant. Yn Surfafen y gogoniant A oes rhyw orilewin prudd— Ue i nos mown dwfn dawclwch Dori bedd j gjaddu dydd ? Nosau du y gorthrymderau Wn& y Cristion yn fwy pur, I fwynhau caaolddydd Henn Yn y Wynfa cya bo hir. D. Luther Johnsoa (Perthonydd)<

Y BARDD. Yr eiddil fardd, aneylaidd wedd, Mewn hedd hirwalttog erys, Beb gyfoeth byd o'i gryd i'w fedd, Nac anedd a.nrhydeddua. Fy Awen bêr. rho ddarlun byw. rel huan Duw. o hoco; Un o wroniaid Cymra yw, A'i wlad yn fyw pan gano. Fe eRyr ddor am gywir ddydd, A rhydd i'r byd o!enni; Ei ddrychfeddyiian glocwon sydd Yn gtodydd t farddoui. Hyfrydwch bardd yw chwilto Lanerchau pêr feddyliau; Nai diwyg newydd hwyro! ser, Daw ge[ll1.U Ner i'r goiau. Drwy lent cudd, yn nilaen ac ol, Yn wrol syll i waelod Dutelwch 3iud ar eang ddol Awenot ei fyfyrdod. Crwna holt ];;¡.ncrchau heu'dd ein byd Yn erddi ctyd barddoniaeth, A (ha.wn eu swynion tcr o hy<j Mewn hytryd awenyddiaetb. Eeirdd Bodau ar ddeiliawg ban Yw awdtau'r grea.àigil.eth; Mae'r diwyd o hyd yn gw&u Peonodau ei wybodaeth. Gwybodaeth bardd a gaf o hyd Yn hyiryd yu ttwynu; Bbydd wera i bawb yn nrws y byd, A bywyd mewn barddoni. Gwych uoddwr i lenyddiaeth wir, A'i gan yn bur a newydd; Rhcd megys afon drwy ein tir: Digonir enajd beunydd. Rhydd hwa ei fsrn o hyd yn rhad Mewn canad awenyddol; Mae'n goron aur ar iron ci wlad, A de.Üiad i'r dy!odol. H<?ird.- liwiau teg liHod ha' DdarLmua ya ei e!fen A char biTdfertbwch gwywol iA Pan rew y <Mae&pen. Fe chwitia hwn oriefan cudd Wybrenyddglany Duwdod t Esbonia'r oM ntal goleu ddydd Az rosydd da.ear isod. 'Rhyw bur tarddoniaeth gaeth ei broa Yn gyson o'i }&n feusydd, .Ei awen wir sy mef!ys thn Ar hyd gwaelodion newydd. Mac ca!on bardd yn for didrai 0 fErydiAu byw'yr awen; Edmyga'r gwu-, a, y gan, Gaa hau groaynau addicn. Ehydd nodau !!eh ar fwrdd ei wiad Mewn cariad ma.d, deniadol, ji Hon ei wedd, ar sedd mwynhttd Eneiniad awcnyddoi. I fwngla.wdd ben Hcnyddiaeth Ir A'n bybyr iawn i geisio Heirdd emau teg barddoniaeth but——- Ei lafnr Duw iendithio J Fe foddia 'i bunaa ddydd & noa, Mal eos yn y Uwyni; Rhydd ganig bêr ac alaw dloa Ar dyweil nos i'n Honi. Yn Tjcbel Eden meddwl teg Bob adeg mae'r awenydd: Yn rboddi ITrwyth ei datent chweg Yn anrheg i'r darlleuydd. Adfywiol fardd mae'th emau di Yu berlau bri gwirionedd, Os gwag yw'th lagc! wron hy', Tal Duw i ti'n y ditvedd. Adiono) fardd awcnydd byw LIae Duw o hyd yu dyner Ei Ddwyfol glust, heb ust '"a glyw Ei enw mewn cyfyngder. Handain. UinQS WV7

?M9 Ct? ??j?s !?gt? TMMTH??gMM! FOR BOYS AND G!RL3. Wow Dick Burgess caited up tile Fire Bngade. BY HUGH EVANS. A bitter co'd north wind had been howling drearily aJt day in the trees which surrounded Rose Cottage, where lived DickBtirgess and uis widowed mother. In summer the cottage was almost buried under a. heavy load of the fra- grant bloom from which it took its name. Hut now it was shorn of all its S!!ory, and judging by the skywhtch had gradually become covered by dull, leaden clouds, it seemed des- tined shortly to wear the white mantle of win- ter's nrst snow. Dick's father had been head gardener at Fairfieid Hall, a large, old. ivy-clad pile of buildings. Situated &t the entrance to the drive. Rose Cottage was rea,Hy the lodge, and when two years before, Tom Burgess had die<l after a short illness, Squira Bancroft gcnerousty allowed the widow to remtdn there, telling her tha.t when lie wanted a.ny rent be would ask for it. What little mouey Tom Burgess hiA saved up soon melted sway. and his widow was faced with the dimcult question of how to make ends meet. for Dick, only twelve and small for his years, was too young to go to work. There was nothing for it but to turn to laundry work to provide for the .simple needs of herself and chi!d. Dick had little time to himself, for in addition to tending the smaJl garden which supplied them with vegetables, he had to coUect from I and return to the owners in the neighbouring town the I inen which his mother made to look so spotlessly white and ciean. But he never complained. He adored his mother and did all he could to help her. as did Bob, the sturdy. coa?-black. Shetland pony, who carried the Lnen in panniers siting to his sides, and as Dick said, I Could do almost everything but talk,' After seeing Bob snugly housed for the night on this dreary, bitter day, Dick retired to bed early, and was soon asleep, despite the rattling of the windows and the roaring of the wind in the chimney. A<j the night wure on. the wind died down. and midnight had only jost struck when the stillness waa suddenly broken by the wild clajiging of a bell. Dick. fast as!ecp. did not hear the sound, and he was considerably startled when his mother woke him up, drew his attention to the bell and told him that she feared there mast be a nre at the HaiL In a few minutes the pair stepped out on to tbe drive and into a white world-for the expected snow bad silently come and was now fajling thick and fast. The belt continued to ctang out loudly. and when they arrived breathless on the scene. Dewburst, the bnHer, wns pnll'ng the bell- r 'pe with frantic energy, while his <viie, aLrnost beside herself, wrung her bands and cried. "Oh, ivhatwiU the master say ? What will the master say ?" Dense clouds of smoke were issuing from a .second-floor side window, and a faint red g'are told that the fire was getting a good bold. With difSculty Mrs Burgess gleaned from the agi- tated butler that all the horses and gfooms were away with the Squire and family, and that lie someone would be aroused who could ride into the town and give the alarm. Ob, mother here broke in Dick exci- tedly, Shall I go ? It's only two miles, and Bob will carry me there in no time Mrs Burgesss hesitated. He seemed such a little chap to be sent out riding in the teeth of a snowstorm at dead of night and on such a vital errand. But already the glare was brighter, and as the Hal! would surely be doomed if help was not quickly forthcoming, she consented, kissed him tenderly and told him that all now depended on him. Dick never thought of the loneliness as be new down the drive, and hastily unlocking the stable door with a key be always carried, lit a lantern, and without waiting to saddle or bridle Bob led him out, and after opening the big gates wide, put, him at the faoteSt) speed that the astonished pony could mtwter. With the sight of the half-lighted lamps, there flashed into Dick's mind an idea which he was not stow to act upon. Only a few days before be had stood and watched a voung man talking into an iron box with a glass front, Axed on one of the lamp-posts, and he won- der however anybody could squeeze inside such a narrow thing as a lamp-post, for an answer- ing voice seemed to issue from within the box. His mother had expained that it was a nre- ajarm, and in case of 6je, on anyone breaking a glass, a little door wooH Qy open and enable them to speak to the first station, to sav where the fire was. There waa a box half-a-mile ftbead. I No one saw the lonely littte figure direct his parting steed to the box, nor did the noise of his elbow, splintering the gtass, disturb anyone near but in the lighted room of the fire sta- tion a mile away. his action caused plenty of commotion. The man on duty was hoping that the brigade would not have to turn out on such a cheerless night when the alarm sounded. Then in answer to his lusty Hallo !which made Bob JLLmp—" Please are you the fire briga-de ? Fairneld Hall is on Bre." came in boyish accents, the watchman knew there was serious work before his comrades now asleep in the rooms above. The press on a button, the pulling bark of several tiny levers, and the scene changed like magic. The place became flooded with light. doors ftew open, two well-trained horses dashed out of the stables, and ranged themselves against the pole ready for the harness, men came sliding down poles andquickly donned bel- meta and uniform, and almost before Dick, from Bob'a back, had finished telling his story the first portion of the brigade rode forth, and were qaickly blotted out in a blinding whirl of snow. Bob had almost recovered his wind and was wondering what the next move was g-,)ing to be. when Dick heard a rumble, and saw two bright points of lights gradually getting larger. Vault- ing on to Bob's back again, he waved his lan- tern, the men on the vehicle giving a shout of surprise as they espied the smait horse and rider vanishing into the darkness ahead. What with the snow ctogg'ng the wheels and the impene- trable white curtain before them, progress was stow. and would have been slower had not a faint twinkle of light, lik a guiding star, one moment vanishlng, yet alway re-appearing like a will-o'-the-wisp at some unexpected turning, kept just. ahead of the straining horses. But to return to the HaJl. When Dick had rushed oS, Mrs Burgess put the half-demented butler's wife in charge of the bell-rope, and got the butler himself to bring out the appliances held in readiness for coping with an outbreak of fire, and after what seemed a terrible delay, a. stre&m of water was poured on the blazing part. By this timf quite a small crowd had collected, and at Airs Burgess's request they began to carrythevaluables and furniture from other parts of the Hall into the empty stables. The small quantity of water poured on seemed to have no appreciable effect on the burning mass, and Mrs Burgess was anxiously wondermg whether anything had befallen Dick, when a load outburst ot cheering arose. How her heart beat, and how proud she )c!t when, just emerging into the circle of light caused by the names, she saw the outline of a pigmy-like horse, without saddle or bridle, its rider half-covered in snow. carrying a lantern, and close on his heels the bright helmets of the Bremen, and the drippicg danks and glaring eye-bat!s of the two powerful horses, who had so nobly responded to the heavy e-B made upon them. Attacked on aJl sides, the fire was quickly mastered, and as the firemen prepared to return, the sapenntendent ta:ned to bissmoke- begriincd men and said, Now, boys, tbreo cheers for Dick Burgess and his gallant little steed." These were given in such hearty fashion that Bob turned tail and galloped off in the direction of home, and so for the second time that njght he kept in front of the brigade. The story of the are and the part played by Dick and Bob soon got noised abroad, and when they had their photographs taken— exactly as they appeajred on the night of the fire-and printed iu the newspapers, they were the heroes of the hour. But the proudest moment of Dick's tife was when the Squire sent for him and laid his ha.nd kindly on the lad's shoulder, a,nd with a sus- picious huskinesa in his voice said Dick Burgess, I'm proud of you. Your mother is also, and so would your father have been had he been alive to-day. I'll not forget how much I'm indebted to you and y(mr mother, my boy." Several years have parsed sincf that day, and Dick, now engaged in the Squire's service, ves pronuse of some day taldng up his father's position as head gardener- The portion of the Hall whtch was burned down has been re-bnnt and the ivy is again slowly creeping over it. Dick's legs have grown too long to tuck away under Bob, who, installed at the Hall for life. is almost daily in danger of being hugged to death by the Squire's grand-children. The promise the Squire made to Dick was not forgotten. At the bank there is a sum of money which will keep Mother Burgess in comfort for the rest of her life. Her chief joy nowadays is to repeat the story, to which certain yonugp<*opte are never tired of listening, of how her Dick rode off through the midnight and the snow to caJi up the Bigtown nre brigade.

Young man," said the stern parent to the applicant for a berth as son-in-law, "I want you tc), know thtLt I spent a thousand pounds oa ucc my daughter' education." Thanks," re- joined the youth, who was trying to break the family circle, then I won't have to send her to schovl apaiu."

Uanhiiieth Sensation. ALLEGED SHOOTING AT A W!FE. Serious Charge dismissed. 0 At the Pontypoo!. poiice Court on Saturday Sidney Griffiths, a Llanhilleth collier, who wa<t defended byMrT.Hughe.s. Mbbw Vale, was charged on a warrant with shooting at his wife, Gertrude -iry GrifHths, with intent to do her grievous bodi!y harm at IjfanhiHeth on Novem- ber 21st, 19M-. Gertrnde Mary Griuitbs, the wife, said she was married, on September 12th, 1904. On the date named in the charge she metherhuabanf.! in High-street, Llanbilleth. She W0 :It hOL'1(, with him. and he ordered the landlady to .'cave. He then locked the front door, put the key in his pocket, and bo!ted the back door. He took down n gun fro;n over the mantelpiece and placed two cartric..tg"s in it. remarking I intend to mnrder you." She asked him to spare her life for the sake of her chiid, aad screamed Murder." Whilst she was i-unnii-ig out of the room dcfeada.nt discharged one of the ba,rrels on to the Qoor. The land- lady broke mto the house through the back and as she ran towar her (lefendant foi-iowcd and Qred the second ca.rt)'id(;e somc- where in the back. None of the shots struck her. The police w-ere sent for, but defendant ran s.way before they arrived. and she did not again see h:m until eleven months had elapsed, MrHughes cross .examiaed witness at con- s:dera.b!e tength, but she adhered to the state. meet that she bel'eved that the defenda.at in- tended to murder her that day She admitted that prior to the aEa'r on November 21st. 1904, she had been on bad terms with her husband, a.nd that they had not been living together. In October, 1905, the defendant promised to mend hLsways if she would live with him aain. This she consented to do, and they had lived together November of this rer. David Rarria. comer, of Lia.nhllleth. said he heard a gun discharged in th<* house of the de- fendant. He endeavoured to got in. but found both doors closed. Short"yifLerward- Griffiths came out carrying a g'-m- There was a charge inthegu.n,whiehexpjodedas he caught hold of it. Mr Hughes addressed the Bench for the de- fence, and submitted that there was no case to be sent for tria. The Bench dismissed the case,

Selection of Welsh Labour Candidates. DETAiLS OF PROCEDURE Mr Thomas Richa.rds.M.P.. general secretary of the South Wales Miners' Federation, has ia.?Ded a circular to the Federation officials in the vnrious districts setting 'forth the procedure to be adopted in the s,-Iection of Labour candidates in Breconshire, East Gla- morgan. East Carmarthen. Merthyr Boroughs. Mid-Glamorgan, North Monmouthsuire, and South Monmouthshire- After stating the deci- sion of the Executive Council to select Labour candidates for these divisions undertbe Miners' .Parliamentary represenbation scheme, the circular proceeds :— You are therefore to invtte your lodges to nominate persons for any ot the abovedi vis ions within your distrift and to forward their names to you,afterwhich you will communicaif with the secretary of any other district having members m the division or divisions you have to deal with for the purpose of jointly making arrangements for submitting the names of the persons nominated for 3 our division to a ba-Hot vote of all members of the Federation resident, in the division." At.tbpendofthecirculara.re the following cicht rules of procedure' I.-Each district secretary to receive nomi- natior.s from the lodges of his own district. 2.-Where more than one district are inter- ested in the same Parliamentary division a. joint meeting to be held sfter the receipt of nominations to make arrangements for ballot. 3.—Ballot papers with the names of the division and candidates clearly shown thereon to be supplied by the district or the joint meeting secretary. 4.-Each member to vote only in the ballot taken for selecting a candidate for the divi- sion in which he res'de.s. 5.—The names of the candidates to be placed upon the voting paper in alphabetical order. 6.—Vote? to lie counted at collieries or lodges, and number of votes recorded for each candidate to be sent to district secre- tary, who. after taking a record thereof, will forward them to general secretary. 7.-Each member to vote for one candidate only. 8.—Any member of the South Wales Miners' Federation is eligible for nomination as a candidate.

WESTERN VALLEYS MtNERS' COUNCIL. At the monthly meeting of the Western Valleys (Monmouthshire) Miners' Council, beid ?tAbefMHeryonS&turda?y evomm?. under the presidency- of Mr Tones, the foilovvl*" g new oSicot's were cycled ior the cn:-iuing 12 months :-t>resident, Mr A. C. \Vi)i;s, Aber tiJIery and vice-president, Mr H. Gibbs, Abcr- tillery Air W. Harria (executive member) Mr J. Waters (treasurer). and Mr 0. Purnell (secretary) were re-elected. Mr W. Brace, M.P., gave an exhaustive report upon various matters, and said he had had an unsuccessful interview with the management of LIanhiileth Colliery respecting the dispute over the recent award with regard to the payment for raising bottom coal. Mr M. Roach (agent) in his report referred to various minor disputes and to a number ofcom- pesaation cases. A number of men at the Ceiy- nen Cotliery had been prevented from working for three days by the management, and a claim bad been entered in the Newport County Court for payment for the lost time. Mr G. Barker, an old member of the Council, now in China, wrote complimenting the district upon its work, and sending the compliments of the season to the members. The secretary was instructed to reply suitably. Edward Gill. Abertitlery. and Levi Bullock, Abercam. were recommended by the special committee as the two best candidates for the district studentship at Ruskin Hal), Oxford. and it was decided to make the final choice between the two by means of an essay test, the Principal of Rnskin Hail to be asked to judge. A grant of JE50 was made to the workmen who have been idle at the Celynen Cotlicry owing to pink eye amongst the horses, the Council refusing an application for further financial aid for the men in question. A motion from the TiHery Lodge was approved to the effect that -? genera! show card" should be held quarterly throughout the coalfield. Miners' Agent's Widow. The South Wales Miners' Federation have been collecting subscriptions towards a testi- monial for the widow and family of the late Mr Tom Davies, miners' agent, OgmoreVaie It is hoped to collect at least -E100. On Saturday about £70 of the money already collected was handed to Mrs Davies.

LLANELLY HARBOUR DISPUTE. Huge Sum of Money Involved." At a meeting of the Llanelly Chamber of Commerce on Friday night Mr F. N. PoweU said he gathered there was a great dispute be- tween the Harbour Trust and Messrs John Waddell and Sous and the Mynydd Mawr Rail- way Company affecting the Harbour Act of J901. and also rotating to th? payment of har- boiir dues for shipping at the North Dock. He thought the Chamber of Commerce luiglit approach the Trust or Messrs Waddeil and Sons with a view to od'ering some solution or help towards the solution of this long outstanding dispute. The President (Itr G. F. Bla.ke), speaking unofficially as a member of the Har- bour Trust, said the Joint Committee, which consisted of two represetitative.s of the B:mk of Engif.ud and two members of the Trust, hAd this matter in hand. He was not one of those who hurried the Joint Committee, because he felt the matter was in safe hands- A huge sum of money !vas mvotved, seriously affecting the interests of the port of LianeUy. Mr William Bowen said that on a previous occasion when the Chamber of Commerce interfered their ser- vices proved very v:1lua.ble. He thought it was very possibte, if they offered their ser- vices, to again bring the parties together Wh- out submitting to arbitration. They had spent enough money iu .LIaneUy already without going to more law or arbitration. It wa? de- I cided that the matter be placed on the agenda. for the next meeting.

NEWPORT G.W.R. SUPERINTENDENT. Presentations at Swindon. Pre-entat-io" were made on Friday evening in the Masonic R<Mm at the Swindon G.W.R. Station. the recipient being Mr H. Simpson, who lias recently been appointed to the post ot divisiona.1 superintendent at Newport. Whilat he has been in Swindon—where he has acted as divisional superintendent of the loco, and carriage ruacing department—Mr Simpson has made many friends, ajid these took the oppor- tunity of his removal from Swindon of gi-v-ijig expression in tangle form tu their feelings ot apprecia bi<3D of his exce'ient qua.Mties and their best wishes for his future prosperiby. Thefe were two presents—one from the outside staR, which took the form of a handsome suite of bedroom tHrmture, suppHed by Mr A. J. Gilbert, Swindon. and the other a silver cake basket and accessories from the clerica.! staff- &nd the presents were handed to Air Simpson at a specia.I'y'a.traaged smoking concert, at which aU grades of Mr Simpson's former depart- ment were represented. Mr W. H. Waister presided, amd he was supported by Messrs G. H. Read (Newport). R. Davis (Reading), W. A. Stainer. T. Piggott. 0. Barker. C. TimbreU, J. Brewer, H. U. King, E. W. Noble (secretary), and letters of apotogy for absence were received from Ale-z,rs A. Martin, E. G. Waimrright, W. Rowed, H. K. Nob'e, and T. H. Roberts.

Brass-pitching is still ptayed in Cumberland dales. It is an old game of unknown oripi-rY (the dalesmen say it was bronght into the bobbin-makers) very much after the type of quoits, save that. instead of stect ring. bra.F3 I disea about the sixc of a cc-own piece are thrown at a stake ptace in the centre of a patch ot.' ciay. Tbrowing the hammer is ah .) usually to be.seem.at tbLe,%w-

Roya! Treorky Choir. ——-<"—— THE UNiTED STATES TOUR Conceding Concerts. A correspondent with the Roval Treork? Male Choir m the United States, \Tting t'L-on! Philaficlphia under date December 15th, says —After an exhilarating trip through the Stated of New York, New Jersey. Penn.sytvania Ohio' and JHino;s, the choir continu.'d jt: highly .succe?.sfut tour through Wisconsin and Indiana, Wisconsin ait'otdcd LM another experience of the loyalty of the \Vc'sh people. At Columbus, Wis., we receiver! a great welcome. and found the people inn, sta.t,c ot fervency, which b2c:unt> unbounded at thf concert. We found that testimonials had preceded the choir. and i quote an extract fr<'L:i one. The Rev' Robert T. Roberts,M.A.. Ph.D.,ofWiikesbarre. in a letter to the promoter. Mr J. A. Jones- druggist. said :—" Thia city (Witkesbarre) Li simply ''apt.ivatfd by the Roya,! Welsh Mats Choir. and when we consider that \-Vilke3barr6 is the home of the famous Dr. Mason's <jriea Ciub. it is remarkable that the Roya' Wctsh the choir is certainty a superior one in th? highest possibfe sen?o- J trust they will b6 highest possibfe sen?o- J trust they will b6 greeted by a full house at Cotumbus. Thi selections thoy give are of a high order as to artistic execution and moral taste." Ishkosh wa. our furthest point north, anc! here we experienced the bitterness of the sharp frost, [or the fh'st time. At the concert wera people from every point for mites around, and showers of praise were bestowed upon conduc- tor and choir n ft he close of a. reaiiyune per- formance. Cambria, Wis., proved true to itself, and we were simply iion'sed. Here. aa in many other centres, the promoters feared the resnit. but every scut in the Opera House had been disposed of, whiie on the following ntght (Sunday) a t.-acred concert held in the sajne efUiiee attracted a record crowd. Both f'ùilccrt" showed the choir at their very The Welsh e!en"<'nt here was decidedty strong. Mitwaukee, a great musica) centre, where Dr. Dan Protheroe is tocated, was visited on Mon- day night with unaua-Uued success. The papers were high in their 'praise, and especiahy com- ptimeuted the öf Dr. Protheroe'S chorus. The Crusaders." A return visit was mn,do to Chicago on the Tuesday, and agam a most enthuStastic a.udi' cnce ajembled. there vocifcrou- re* clem_ands for mall} 1b0 -Ü.U"l'it0 num- bers Among wjio oRei'd con" grat.ulat;ions wa. Professor Lovctt. formerly of Maesteg, a. noted musician, and holding :-10 position of cmmencc. Ap:\1.adoc was there again to greet us and las cnthu.¡;.¡,sm knew no bounds. His v-'rdiet was that the chorus wa3 the greatest ever sent out from Wales. Indiana was next visited ajid concerts were given a.t CMnton and Eiwood, where furthe!' Royal welcom&s were recetved, :md two excellent performances were given. At Clintoo w€ were introduced to Mrs Mathews. wtdow of the late governor of the State. Columbus, the capital of Ohio, was the next stopping place. and on the occasion of the concert- the Board of Trade auditorium was full. and included the elite of tiie place. Jt was a capital concert ajid highly eulogised. The Cambridge Glee Club gave us a. banqueh at the close, and interesting speeches were delivered. Braddock, Pittsburg, received m oext. and we .stayed there over Sunday. Frostburg. Maryland. Cirardville, Pa, and La nsford com- pleted the list of engagements to time of writing, unqualified success being met with ail along the route, while the hospitality of the people has been lavish.

SWANSEA DOCKS DISPUTE. Am!cab!e Settlement. The threatened labour trouble at the Swan* sea Docks is removed, an amicable settlement having been arrived at. on Sa,tu'*day between the representaiivt a of the Harbour Trust and the representatives of the Amalgamated. Labourers'Union. Two .joint meetings of the representatives of both sides had been pre- viousiy he'd. and at the coneiusion of the meeting on '.rhursclay last such progress had been made that only two points remained for settlement, and the men's representatives re- ceived an intimation that they would receive the Harbour Trust representatives' decision on Saturday morning. Instead of a decision, however, Mr Law, the general manager of the Harbour Trust, specially requested the attend- ance of Mr Harry Williams, general secretary of the Union, t-o a further meeting, which waa held on Saturday afternoon. At this confer- ence it was agreed that an advajice of wages be made of 5 per cent. to dredger-men and gener&l labourers foremen to be pajd 61d per hour and labourers 5:)d per hour. Thus there haa been granted an all-round advance of wages, roughly estimated to amount to a,bout .E2.000 per annum. The new rates are subject to the approval of the Excutive Com- mittee of the Trust ,and the men coQc<*rned, but this is a foregone conchtjsion. So the, 1abou.r1AbÅe. which.{or ..a, time threatened to givea tne increasing bùsiness of the por!: has been settled iu a most satisfactory manner. It is the new rates will become operative' fro..n January 2nd next.

LANeUAGEQUEST!ON !N WALES HEEDOF600D ENGUSH. Professor Lewis Jones's Views. Speaking a.t Llanberis County School prize distribution. Professor Lewis Jones, aAer a scathing retort on recent critics of Welsh edu- cational institutions, said that in thoroughly Wetsh districts, like Hanberis. it was of the highest importance the language of the home shoutd be inteHigcntly taught in itself and intelligently used in the acquisition of other subjects. They were constantly hearing about the need of encouraging the teaching of Welsh. but might he, as a teacher of Enghab, venture to urge upon them the even more pressing importance of sound, careful instruction to Enghah. The secondary schools of Wa-les had no more importa,nt function than that. It was deplorable how many pupils passed through them to colleges unable to express themselves in correct and forcible English. A working knowledge of Engl'sh was one of the most difficult things to teach the Welsh speak- ing child. It had to begin of course very early in elementary schools, but it was the special function of the secondary schools to complete the instruction. It was only in the la,ttef period the children could really master the dtSiculties of English idiom and the right use of words, which waa the life-long stumblivg block to a vast number of Welshmen who ha& school education.

LLANGOLLEN NATtONAL E!STEDDFOD. A meeting of the Executive Committee arrange ing the Wetsh National Eisteddfod n.t Hango len was held on Saturday night at Hangollen Town Hal), Mr E. FouJkes Jones, presiding. A letler was read from Mr J. Herbert Roberts, M.P., viz :—" I understand the Fina.nce Com- mittee of the Eisteddfod a.rc about to issue a. preliminary list of subscriptions to the fund of the Eisteddfod. I .need not say that I take 3 specia.. interest in this undertaking, and I have had much pleasure in ouering a prixe of &0 for a, history of Denbighshire. I am. however, conscious that the nnancia.1 responsibility in- volved is a heavy one. a.nd I wi)i be glad for;yolJ to put my name down for a further sum of JtSO upon the subscription list. (Appiause.) The Welsh Foik Song Society. Bangor. wrote offer- ing prizes of -E10 10s a.nd .25 5s for collections of folk songs of Wales, and the Educational Publishing Compa-ny.Merthyr, offered 25 guinea* for prizes in the arts and crafts section, in addi- tion to 20 :guineas to be devoted to; liter.M'y subjects.

OSTLER S8ROKEN*N ECK. Mr R. J Rhys held an adjourned inquest at Troedyrhiw on Saturday on the body of Wm. Ka,y (44). an ostler employed by Hill's Ply- mouth Co., who died after falling oS & cart which lie was loading on Wednesday. Dr. Mordaunt, who was called to the scene of the accident, found th&tdea.th had already taken place when he arrived. He examined the. body and came to the conclusion tha-t dea-th wa'3 due to heart disease, probably brought on during Kay's long service a. a soldier in ndia,y and made fatal by the jerk of the horse starting suddenly. There were no marks whatever on the body, and nothing in its appearance to lead to any other conclusion. '.rh Coronel' said 04 Friday that he could not accept that theory:, and adjourned the inquest for a post-mortem examination to be made. That examination (so Dr. Mordaunt deposedl revealed that the second vertebra was broken< a.nd that death was due to a broken neck. The jury returned a verdict of'Accidental death."

MR M. ROBERTS-JONES. Receiving Order Made. At Cardiff County Court omces on Saturday, before Mr Registrar Cousins, the hearing too!! place of a bankruptcy petition which had beec placed ontheilie byMrR. J. Thomas, soli* citor. of Swansea, against )ír M. Roberts* Jones, the wen-known so'icitor, of Cardiff. The amount of the indebtedness on the peti- tion waa £133 odd. Alter hearing Mr Roberts-Jones's represen* tative (Mr B'owcr) and Mr Gr. F. Forsdike. wh< acted on behalf of the petitioning creditor, The Registrar made a receiving ordet against the debtor.

"TO CARRY H!M OVER." Debtor's Curious AppH&ation. In Dublin Bankruptcy Court on Friday M) Gifford applied in the case an debto)' that the assignee should have liberty tc pay his client .ElO to carry him ever Christ' mas." (Laughter.) Thtrewaaa largo sun' coming to the debtor from a sale in the Land Commission, and the petitioning creditor? Mr Justice Boyd sai<f that this was practically an application for t Christmas box. However, bf woutd make