The Cardiff Times

HOUSING REPORT. The report of the Select Committee on the housing question i now to hand. It deals mainly with problems arising in ihe country districts, because the Bill ou which the Com- mittee was a ppointcd to report is, iu effect, a rural Housing Bill. This measure proposed to enlarge the powers of Rural District Councils considerably, and to give them more favourable terms for loans. The Committee, however, think that the admi- ristration of the Public Health Acts and the Housing Acts should both be in the hands of one authority, and that authority the County CounciL They would. however, remove the existing restriction on the District Council?, and give them power to proceed uod r Part III. of the Housi. g Act—that is to purchase land and build on iL-wii.h th ■ consent or the Local Government Board. They would also give the District Councils pow^r to eall the County Council to book if it failed in the discharge of its duty. "lYe can conceive this to be a. very important privilege in many ways, but the Rural Councils as at present constituted are not. likely to show much enterprise under Part III. for fear of higher r1..(,5. To reduce this apprehension- often, just o:w-certain proposals are made for relieving the charges which would now attend any such development, a relaxation of unneces- sary stringency in the building bye-laws, easier and cheapcr methods of acquiring land, and better terms lor loans, viz.. the reduction of in- terest charges and the lengthening of the periods of repayment. It is thought preferable by the Committee that the County Council should act where possible, and that the cost of schemes should be borne partly by the parish concerned and partly by the county as a whole. It is shown that if a cottage with land, water supply, &c., cost £OJ. and if money could be borrowed at 3 per cent, for 50 year3, then the loss on 500 cottages at 2s weekly rent would be £1,9(X) a year. If a rate were put on the county for the purpose, there are only two counties among those dealt with in the report where the rate would be more than Id in the Manv questions affecting rural administra- tion are dealt with in a very broad spirit by this report. It realises that the existing evils are widespread and fundamental, and that if some ol: the money which has been spent on relieving congestion in towns had been pre- viously devoted to keeping peopie in the country it would have been a wiser expend i- ture. Much sympathy is shown with the idea that" in the country means not only the provision of cottages, but of land, and how to improve and increase the provision of land for the labourer and the small holder is con- sidered in detail. We draw attention to the following sent- ences :— What is primarily wanted is that the young labourer* should have a fair prospects of being uble to progress by the exercise of thrift and energy from the position of labourer to that of an independent occupier. The present eontV- lions are of such a character that any ad. vancement in life is surrounded with the ut- most difficulty. Though he may be eudowed with qualities that make for success in other callings in life, the labourer recognises that the land holds out but tittle hope or reward to him. and sees nothing before hha but to live and die a labourer-" There can be no doubt that this is at the root of the trouble of the migration of rural you'h to our big towns, Give the labourer the hope and reward of a career in the country something better than that of the mere labourer on a labourer's w.iges-- with the rural work- house at the end of the vista—and he wiil stay in the country. Do nothing and he wiil con- tinue to rush to the town. Legislation on the lines of the Committee's report would un- doubtedly establish a very efficient piece of machinery for the improvement of rural Hie and conditions. Whether the Rural Councils- or even the County Councils—as at present constituted, would set the machinery to work Is a moot point. But it is always within the power of the people to niter that constitution. People who are interested in tho land ques- tion in general will read the following para- graph with pleasure :— "In tho opinion of the Committee no solu- tion will be satisfactory that does not enable a local authority to purchase lan compulsoriiv for any public purpose (including housing, drainage, small holdings, tc.) upon the basis of its ratable value. The present system, under which land is rated by a local authority upon one valuation, but can only be purchased by the same authority upon another valuation, having no necessary or recognised proportion to the first, seems to them both complicated and unjust. If the procedure is to be simplified, and land made easily available, these two values must be brought into relation, so that local authorities can ascertain beforehand not merely the value upon which rates will be paid, but the capital value at whieh the land can be purchased. If this principle were once estab- lished, an additional price both for severance and for compulsory purchase might fairly be included." This is a statement in other words of a principle that has been contended for by all supporters of the taxation of ground values.

RUSSIA AND THE FAR EAST. St. Petersburg, Mondav Morning.—It is announced that it is the" intention of the •loyevnmect to extend railway communication to the Amur Province, in Eastern Siberia. The announcement is not without peculiar interest in view of the njarmi>.t statements recent'y made as to the unsatisfactory progress of the negotiations with Japan and the alleged designs of the latter on Northern Sakhalin.— "entral News.

LOCAL PILOTAGE. Amalgamation Question. RISKS OF EXISTING SYSTEM. Alteration Advocated. REPLY TO OBJECTIONS RAISED. (BY MR WM. PATTERSON, BARRY.) When the question of pilotage amalgamation is taken into consideration, with its ensuing advantages, as abunuantly proved at ports which have discarded the system at present ob- served at Bristol Channel ports, it seems incre- dible that no definite steps have been locally taken to bring about the change. The first, and perhaps the most conclusive, argument in favour of amalgamation is that the danger of boarding vessels would be consider- ably less, that is. it steam were adopted. The reccnt Joss of life in this Channel can certainly he attributed to our obsolete system, and this is a strong argument in favour of a change. I do not think anyone tvho knows anything of the business wiU contend that there i. not a great amount of unavoidable risk in boarding during bad weather, witb tb very small punts now available, and necessarily small for want of space on pilot cutters to carry larger, and also want of men to handle them even if there was room to carry them. This danger, great as if certainly is in the daytime, is largely in creased at night. Added to this is a consider- able amount of anxiety as to the ability of the man left in the punt to safely board the cutter, and also the safety of the cutter itself. I may say here, to give weight to this part of the ques- tion, tl1at pilots are bound to board vessels at night as well as during the day. Take the recent death of Mr Cummcrford. the Newport pilot, and the loss of the cutter I as a case in point. No monetary compensahon —even if that were certain—is equal to the loss of human life. If amalgamation were adopted, and steam cutters are the best means of carry- I ing out that system, this risk would be greatly minimised. A larger boat for boarding could be utilised, with two or three men to handle her i instead of one, and thus tiie general comfort | and well being of the pilots would be con- i siderably enhanced. Again.in bad weather uuder | the existing system it is almost impossible to have anything like decent food cooked at the very time when food is needed most, but in a properly eauipped steam pilot boat this dis- advantage would not be present. t Danger to Navigation. Another argument, against the continuance of the present system the great and increas- ing number of pilot cutters cruising about in the Bristol Channel, which in the opinion of many competent men is becoming a positive danger to safe navigation of ships. Question of Expenditure. The question which maybe considered next in importance is that of expenditure. A pilot is compelled to provide and keep a cutter in good and efficient condition, according to the rules laid down by the pilotage authority by whom he is licensed. Each cutter has to be licenced and pass an annual in- spection to see that those conditions ape ful- filled, and this leaves no possibility for the pilot under the present system to curtail hU expenditure. In fact. of late years expenses have increased considerably through competi- tion and other reasons. Many pilots go as far as from two to three hundred miles below the limits they are paid for. and it stands to reason that every mile they go beyond that limit before they get a vessel must be a dead loss. New let us take the annual minimum average expenditure of. say .the 14 Channel boats main- tained at Barry, in order to give us some idea or the cost of the present system. Average, including wages, food, wear and tear. ore., at JE5 10s per boat per week, £26:) per annum; cost of 14 boats, £.3.&1-0 per annum; average insurance of £200 per boat at JE5 5s per cent., £147 total yearly upkeep of 14 bl..ats, £3,787. This sum, considerable as it is, docs not In- clude any provision for damage incurred by collision or otherwise, and is only the minimum cost for the obiects referre i to. There is no doubt that quite two-thirds of this expenditure would be saved under a system of amalgama- tion. Another important factor for considera- tion is that all would bo working for mutual benefit, which would create a better fesliug among pilots generally, and do away with a great deal of the unpleasantness that the pre- sent season unavoidably creates. Reply to Objections. Now let us consider some of the objections that might be offered to the proposed altera- tion. In the tirst place, there is the question of the satisfactory disposal of the existing pro- perty, viz.. the cutters. This is not an insur- mountable difficulty, and could be safely left in the hands of a committee or any body that might be appointed to formulate a scheme, which would have to bo approved by the general body of pilots before its final adoption. Another objection, which is held principally by the younger pilots, is that they can work harder and make more money, on account of their age, under the present system. This is very doubtful, if they take into consideration whether they could make more than the two- thirds that wouid be saved of the present ex- penditure, which amounts to £2,524, and there i-; also to be taken into account that there would not be the initial outlay in providing a cutter, which in many casej is obtained at a heavy rate of interest-. There is another matter which might be raised as an objection. I refer to the question of those pilots who hold double licences, but thiq also is not an insurmountable objection, and it conld be arranged in the general terms of settlement. With a vieW to definite steps being taken towards accomplishing the end in view, which mlls inevitably come sooner or later, I would suggest that general meetings of the pilots of Cardiff, Newport, and Barry he held separately, each body at their own port, to form a small working committee, say, three from each port, whose business it would be to draw up a, scheme. This committee, I think, should met jointly, because of the difficulty already re- ferred to, viz., the question of double licences, and the result of their deliberations submitted to the geucrai body they represent for coaurma- tion or othf rwise. I should like to say before concluding that if this suggestion be carried out, no matter with what. res.¡!t, it would have a tendC3CY to kili that indifference which seems prevalent among pilots generally when any question of collec- tive interest is raised.

LADY BUTE. Lady Bute (says the Scots Pictorial ") has been coming to the front lately as a pubile speaker, and seems anxious to do her best by the country she adopted on her marriage. Hhc ought to go far, for in addition to the lact that she is young, rich, pretty, and the holder of a great social position, she has ready wit and plenty of common sense. Her hope that the two societies-which at present exist in Edin- burgh for assisting needy gentlewomen would by and by be induced to amalgamate required courage to utter, but was eminently timelv. The two associations are doing exactly the same work, and much time and money could be saved if both worked as one for the common good. Lady Bute is a distinct acquisition to Scotland She is not merely a social forcp- possibly society in the ordinarv meaning fit the word does not geatlv attract her—but sue is full of practical ideas for increasing 1 he happiness of that part of the human race with which she is brought in contact, and she has the skill and the means to carry her ideas to fruition. She is almost as keen a Celt as Lord Bute him- self, and beLween them they ought to animate the dry bones of Gaelic feeling in theil,titular island. Lady Graham is working with Lord and l^ady Bute in the effort to revive the. ancient Highland spirit in Arran and Bute. There is. of course, no vast utility in any effort? of the kind but are we not nowadays a- little too much jllclincd to care (July 101' Hlc utilitarian.

CARDIFF INFIRMARY FUNDS. Workmen's Contributions. The Cardiff cabmen have made up their con- tribution to the fund for remodelling the out- patient department of the Cardiff Infirmary to the handsome sum of S.9 4s. Their good friend. Mr N. J. McNeil, of Avonrlak, Barry, who in hon. secretary to their sick benefit fund, handed their collection to Co!. Uruce Vaughan onSatur day. In this generous contribution the]' have shown the real spirit of charity, viz., the love of their fellow men. and of their readiness to deny themselves to give to their brothers and sisters what they cannot afford to get for themselves. This is an example to all other workers as well as to the men of small incomes, who can be as selfish as the most callous of the wealthv. Cabmen make no claim to vaunted respecta- bility, but as a class they arc kindly, courteous and generous, and as such deserve well of the community.

THE~NEWIRiSHROUTE. Record Traffic at Fishguard. An enormous increase of traffic marked the Christmas holidays at the Fishguard Harbour. On Friday. Saturday, and Monday the Great Western Railway Company's turbines. St. Patrick and St. David, carried 450 and 420 passengers respectively on each trip to Rossla.re. while the mail ham- per? and bags were reckoned by the hundred. Cattle and poultry and other pro- duce were brought over for the home markets in large quantities. Splendid passages were the rule, the weather being favourable, and, notwithstanding the increased labour involved, the trains and boats were despatched almo-t to scheduled times. It is abundantly clear that the new short roule to the South of Ireland via Fishguard is growing in favonr with the public as well as the trading community.

MAIL BAGS ROBBED. Tripoli.' Monday.—The mail bags which arrived from Malta by the Italian steamer Sumatra were found to have "been tamp ered with, many registered letters having been opened and the contents abstracted. Much indiçonation is expressed hy thPInprcRTlt¡; c '11\' munity, and .-in inquiry is being held into the ) matter.—Renter.

THE LORD OF MISRULE. I- What; does it mutter wliat I put into the fire so long as I can make llie pot boil! Cartoon by F. C. Gonld. Published by arrangement with the Westminster Gazette."

ABERAVON OFFICIALS' NEW APPOINTMENTS. Presentations by Employees. An interesting Junction took place on Mon- day evening at the Globe Hotel. Aberavon, when many of the employees of the Aberavon Tinplate Company. Ltd., gathered to do honour to Mr Daniel .]. Hee;, chief clerk a-id accountant for the last seven years, who has just been appointed managing director and secretary of the Edlogan Tinplate Companv, Pontrhydynin Works, and to his brother, Mr Wiliiam R. Rees, tinhouse superintendent, who also leaves to take up a similar position at the same works. Previously to coming to Aberavon Mi* Daniel J. Rees was fol, 14 years at Messrs W. Gilbertson and Co., Pon tarda we. Mr D. Baker Davies, outside manager of the Aberavon Tinplate Works, presided in the unavodable absence of Mr Oliver Adams, pro- prietor. The chairman, in making the pre- sentation, which consisted of a timepiece and bronzes, said they had met to express the good feeling which had subsisted during the last seven years between Mr Dan Rees and the whole of the employees. He wished both Mr Dan Rees and Mr NVilliam Rees every success and prosperity. Mr William Rees wa3 presented with a silver mounte,d walking stick and pipe and case. Speeches were also delivered by Messrs Sam Taylor. Philip Davies. Hop- kin Morgan, William Morris, John Snook, Henry John, and D. J. Bowen (successor to Mr Dan Rees). Mr Dan Rees f x-lingly re- plied, and said he was sorry to leave them, as be had made many friends at Aberavon and Port Talbot. Mr William Rees also responded. During ltic evening songs were rendered by Messrs Teddy Morris, Rees Edwards, J. O'Brien, W. Edwards, D. Hopkins recita- tions by Teddy Morris and gramophone selec- tions by Jacob Williams. Mr Xat Rees accom- panied.

YSTALYFERA DEVELOPMENTS. PURCHASE OF TINPLATE WORKS. Colliery Extension. The report thai Messrs (iibbins, Melyn- crythan. and W. N. Jones. Tirydail, have pur- chased the Ystalyfera Tinplate Works, has given the greatest possible to the inhabitants of the Swansea Valley. There is no tinplate firm more enterprising than the brothers F. Gibhins, of the Eag;" Works, and Harold Gibbins, of Melvncrythan Works. The latter also controls the Vernon Works, Briton cor Ferry, and it is he who is connected with the new undertaking. Mr Jones, of Tirydail, is also a man who has won an important posi- tion for himself amongst the business men of Carmarthenshire The taking over of the Ysta lyfera tin works is a matter of great impor- tance to Ystalyfera and neighbourhood. One of the results will be the immediate opening up of the new colliery of the Y stalyfera. Collieries Company.

PRIZE FIGHT STOPPED. Mounted Police Interposition. A prize fight for £ 10 a-side was arranged on Monday morning between Thomas Price, col- icr, Ynvshir. for whom Samuel 1 homes (alias Sam Butcher) acted as seconder, and William Henry Gregorv, collier. Watts town, for whotn his brother, Thomas James Gregory, acted as seconder, the stakeholder being James Cole. The fight, which was to have taken place on the Ltanwonna Racecourse, was kept very secret, but the police got an inkling of the affair, with the result that they surprised tho party, which numbered altogether about 300 people, and the live persons referred to were there and then arrested by P.C's Mitchell and Protheroe (Perth) and P.C. Lucas (ofTrehavod) just as the light was about to begin. After being taken into custody the five men were formally charged and subsequently liberated on bail.

ENVELOPED IN FLAMES. Carmarthen Child's Death. On Monday afternoon an inquest was held at Carmarthen Guildhall by Mr Thomas Walters (borough coroner) on the body of Howard Percy Mason aged two and a baJf years, ,a of John Mason, farm labourer, Pilroath. IJanstephaii-road. The mother, Annie Mason, sa/d that at 4 o'c oekon Friday afternoon she went out to order some e jal from a pi'ssinsr meivhant. and on retu* .;ng found her child, whom she had lef. un- attended, in flames. Sire immediately caught hold of him, undressed him, and after applying linseed oil .sent for Dr. Carver, who on the following day ordered the child's removal to the County Infirmary at Car- marthen. Dr. Frederick Bailey, house surgeon at that institution, attributed death to shock, following the burns. Verdict acorduigly. Coronei, and the Infirmary Authorities. There was., on the former occVe ion, some dis- pute as to the arrangements made for inquiries into deaths at the Carmarthenshiie Infirmary, 'n w and now the Coroner wanted to know why this inquest had net taken place there. The house surgeon said he had no explanation unless it was due to inconvenience. It was really a matter for the House Committee. Mr Compton Griffiths (foreman of the jury) said that the reason ass.gned on the previous occasion for not having the inquest at the Infirmary was because souie of the witnesses had made a, dreadful mess in the building. However that might be, the Co-oner thought it was highly inconvenient to hold inquests away from the institution.

WHY HE WAS SUSPiCiOUS. At Ystrad Police Court on Monday John Evans, an elderly collier, of Trehavod, appeared in custody on a charge of stealing a suit of clothes from the outside premises of the Brit- tania Trading Co., Pqrth. on Saturday evening I ist. P.C. J fernpson said he observed Fvans carrying some bundles, and his suspicions were aroused by noticing him quickening his pace as soon as he espied witness. Subsequent in- quiries resulted in prisoner being arrested, and upon being charged the latter replied, I didn't steal them. I picked them up in the road." Upon the application of Police-Inspec- tor Williams defendant was remanded in cus- tody until Thursday pendinG further inquiries.

DRIVER AND FOREMAN AT BARRY.* Landon H. Williams, described as a driver in the employ of the Barry Railway Company, was summoned, at the instance of a foreman named Griffith R. Davies, at; the local Court on Monday, before Messrs G. Thomas and J. H. Jose, for assault Mr Downing, solicitor, ap- peared for the complainant, who stated that on the 11th December he saw defendant at the locomotive sheds. Defendant came suddenly near him and struck him on the side of the bead. As defendant did not appear, a warrant was issued against him.

About 10 o'clock on Monday night John Harvest on, a- seaman, of 67. Kent-street. Grangetown. and his sweetheart, a young woman residing at the same address were passing the Great Western Hotel, Raunders- road, when he appeared to be seized with a fit. and fell. His sweetheart .and Police-sergeant Thomas raised him from the ground and liy her desire he was put in a cab ar.d taken home, but on the way he expired.

CHURCH EXTENSION AT YSTRAD MYNACH. RE-OPENING OFMHOLY TRINITY BY THE BISHOP OF LLANDAFF. I-Toly Ti-initv Church, Ystrad Mynach, was reopened by the Bishop of LJauùuff on .Satur- fillY in the presence of it large congregation. The following clergy were present :—Revs. Jesse Jones, rural deta D, Lewis, rector of Merthyr D. Evans, vicaj* of Penydarren Jonathan George, vicar of Fieur de-Lis: ólnd 11. W. Roberts, rector or Bedwellty J. A. Williams, Maerycymmer: Hugh Phillips. Black- wood Gwylim Francis. Porth David Roberts, Mountain Ash T. Timothy, Llanbradac-h J. Morgan. Brithdir W. Griffiths, Pontllanfraith, and Robert Duvics. Nelson Lt.-Colonel Morgan Lindsay, H.E., and W. John Rowe, cburch- warden, illr F,)resti(, Di,. Le;gll, I.lanfabon Mr Arthur Pro'oert, and others. The Bishop read the rc-opcllir.g prayers and afterwards preached au eloquent sermon from the text, Except the Lord build (be house their labour is but lost that build it—except the Lord keep the city the watchman waketn but in vain." The vicar, the lie v. Samuel James, read the service, and Colonel Morgan Lindsay the lessoiis. Afttrtlie service the visitors were entertained by Mrs Morgan Lindsay at Ystrad Mynach House. The Enlargement. I The church, whIch has been enlarged, was a wei I-designed modern building of the early I eighties, consisting of a nave, chancel, norti. transept, vestry, and south porch, and accom- modated only 124 peopte. 'j lie wails were bud 1 with native stone.with grey Forest of Dean stone dressings. The tower, which is quite a feature of the building, rises to a height of 55 feet, and is finished with a pointed roof covered with stone slates. The extension, of which Mr Bruce "N aughan is the architect, is made bv adding 30 feet to the length of the nave, with an addi- tional transept built on the south side. and the old vestry has been enlarged to provide space for the organ and choir. The whole of the work has been carried out strictly in accord- ance with the old structure, and the extra accommodation piovided is .182 seats. making tho lotal sitting accommodation 306. The interior has been greatly improved bv the addition of very elYectively-carved and traceried choir seats and clergy desks of Austrian oak. Tneahar has been emphasised by a beautiful froutHJ, with a carved, gilded, and decorated re-tab!o, and a fine dorsal with wing curtains and side hangings, designed by the architect. Messrs Gougn Bros., Wellfield-road, Cardiff, were the contractors, and the additions have been carried out at a cost of £ 2,000. The late vicar, the Rev. Henry Thomas, whose untimely death was deplored by the whole of the parishioners, initiated the scheme of enlargement to meet lie growing need If extra church accommodation in the district, and saw the work actually commenced, and it is deepiy regretted by everyone that lie did not live to see its consummation. But th present vicar, the Rev. Lemuel James, one of the Church's best and most active defenders, has seen that the scheme has been reverently and carefully carried out, and the additions reflect great credit upon everyone concerned in this nnch-necded additional accommodation for church worship in a growing centre of colliery ,-i:histry. YSTRAD MYNACH CQURCLL

-n- MERTHYR HOUSE WRECKERS. A TERRORISED DISTRICT. Fouiteen small boys who were last week summoned for doing wilful damage to a house in Brecon -road, M ~rthyr. on .Sunday, December 9th, were again before Sir Ma reliant Williams at Merthyr on .Monday. ) who appeared to prose- cute, said that since last week he had been in- i able to secure witnesses. as the parents of t he hoys had terrorised the.whole of the district. Knowing the place as he did he wa;s not sur- prised, and in these circumstances he proposed to withdraw the summons against one of the boys, W lliam Morgan, and he served him there and then w'th a witness summons. The boy. wss put mio the witness-box, and in reply to questions he described how his brother obtained a. hammer, and battered down the door of a house which was empty. Once they got inside he and the other boys pulled down tue part. tions, and nearly wrecked the place. tions, and nearly wrecked the place. The Stipendiary said he would like to send all I the boys away for three or four 1 years, but he would fine each of them 10s, including costs.

I OLD MAN AND GIRL. I At a special sitting of the county magistrates on Monday at Newport. William Brown (67), farm labourer. Glas.lwch ill the parish of St.. Woolo.s, was charged with having carnal knowledge of Xlosiria Wat kins (14), domestic servant at the eame farm, between the 14th October and the 23rd December. Mr Lyndon Cooper prosecuted, and ashed that the case be remanded until next Monday. The girl h; d I been medically examined and a doctor's ecrtiti- cate was liindoi ill- Prisoner was remanded in custody until the following Monday.

V.C." HERO MARRIED. Major Frank Aylmer Maxwell, V.C., D.S 0., of the Indian Staff Corns, who won the Vic- tciria Cross for gallantry in saving the Q Bat- tery at Koorn ."pruit in 1900 during JUie Boer war, was married On Saturday ÜtrI:loon at St. Paul's, Kn ff'dsbridge. to Miss Charlotte Osborne, daughter of Uw bc Mr P. fj. Os- borne and Mrs O-borne, of Carrandooley, New South Wales. The hrkte was giveu away by Iter brother. M" £ ». M. Osborne, and General Hubert Hamilton- D.S.O., was itrian.

CORONER AND DANGEROUS TRAFFIC. At the Citv Coroner's Court on Monday Dr. Waldo held an inquc-t concerning the death of Arthur Albert Horncword, rgcd :;8. a labourer, of Barn;bur v, who died in St. Bartholomew's Hospital after being knocked dowu by an L.C.C. elcctiic tram car in Upper-street, Isling.- j ton. The accident occurred on Thursday after- j noon, near Barnsburv-strcet. The deceased iran from the paement to cross the road behind i a van, and was caught by an L.C.C. car that j was proceeding towards, the Angel. lie was thrown some distance beneath one of the wheels of the van. and was also kicked on the head by the horse attach el to the vehicle. He was conveyed to St. Bartholosuew's Hospital, and died the following day from fracture of the skull, without having regained consciousness. The driver of tit,- said he was travel- ling at onlv about eight miles atv hour at the 1 time of the accident-, though the limit was 16 miles an hour. The Coroner, in suramh'-g up, said he had recent! v held inquests on several persons who had been knocked down by mechanically pro- pelled vehicles, and London Ftrcei-s were undoubtedly becoming moi e dargerous every day. Whether it was "reasonable to r How a maximum speed of 16 miles an hour it was not, for him to say. but if such a speed continued to > ibe permitted pedestrians wank! certainly have J rto be more careful than they had hitherto been. During the month-; of July and August 12 deaths resulted from motor car accidents, six d:aths frOln n1nt,(",¡>lm; accidents, ar.d three deaths from other mechanically propelled vehicle-, while the number of deaths from accidents in connection with horse drawn vehicle* wa, 3J. The skidding danger seemed to him to be one of a very con^iderai-!e import- ance. The jury returned a ver lict of Accidental death." and attached no blame to the driver of the car.

IN LLANELLY MARKET. Alleged Pocket-Picker Committed for Trial. At 1/lanelly Police Court on Monday a man giving the name and address of John Jones, 3, Williain-atreet, Leicester, was charged with un- lawfully attempting tosteat from the persons of Mrs Williams and Mis Elizabeth Francis. De. tective-sergeant Hodge Lewis stated ih,-ttlic watched thedefendant moving amongst women at the Christmas iiiar,cet on Thursday hist. Defendant was feeling about the women's skirts, and when he placed his hand in Mrs Elizabeth Francis' pocket witness immedi- ately seized him by the arm. On being searched money amounting to £ 5 10s 7d wajs found in his possession. Defendant Why didn't, you arrest me when you Üt's!i saw me attempting to find a pocket ? Sergjant Lewis I wanted to see what you would do. Defendant It is your piace. as an office,- to prevent a man committing crime, and not wait for him to commit one. John Lewis, Croft Cottage, Pemberton. stated that he saw the defendant closely following a woman in Stepney-street for about 12 yards on Thursday morning last. Defendant was trying to tind heL* puckct, and when she walked into a shop ho went away. By defendant: What did you do tiien ? Witness 1 went after the woman and asked her if she had missed anything, and she replied that she had not. Defendant You see a man trying to do some- thing wrong and you don't have him arrested. The majority of men don't, act in that way. I think your evidence is very unsound alto- gether. Superintendent I'liiliips, in applying that the defendant should be committed for trial, said he had been in communication with Scotland Yard, who reported 12 convictions against defendant, the sentences ranging from three years to 21 days. Defendant asked that his case should be finished with that day. The Bench committed defendant to take his trial at the Quarter Sessions.

NATIONAL EISTEDDFOD. Royal Patronage at Llangollen. Their Majesties the King and Queen have intimated tlufough Lord Knolly.s to Lord Kcnyon. one of the. Lords-in -Waiting, who has been a, most enthusiastic worker in the matter, that the*' are prepared to"give then* names m patrons of the Royal National Eisteddfod ox Wales, which is to be held atLlangolien in 1903 Lord Kenyon, in conveying the intelligence to Mr E. D..Tones, the general secretary of the National Eisteddfod of 1903. expresses the hope thatf this decision on the part of their Majes- ties may help to promote the success ot the Eisteddfod.

EISTEDDFOD AT NEATH. An Eisteddfod in connection with the Ebeuezer Welsh Wesleyan Church, Neath Abbey, took place on Saturday at the Gwyn Halt, Neath. The conductors were Mr J. Jay Williams, London, -ind -Air- J. C-. Hosser, Showen adjudicators, music, Mr T. G. Richards, Mountain Ash, and Mr J. Phillips, Abcravon recitations, Mr James Clement, Skewen prize bags. Mrs Dr. D L. Jones, Skefcen. The awards were as follows :-Boy; solo—I.Ed win Neill.Llansamtet; 2, T. Williams, Resolven. Girls' solo—1, May Watts, Morris- ton 2. Emily Ivy, Llansarrilet. Pianoforte solo (children)—l,.f. M. Nicholas, Port Talbot 2. Edith Feirer, Moi'riston. Drawing—1. E. S Evans, Bryncoc'a N. School 2, W. Evans, Skewen C..School. Sopra.no golu--I, Mag. Williams, Rhos 2. n. Parr, Melyn. Contralto r-olo-1, A. Williams, Skewen 2. Louise Llew. elyn, Port Talbot. Prize Lizzle A. Jones. Clydach 2, Sarah Jones, Skewen. Ten<.I' solo—W. T. Williams, Maesteg. Baritone rolo -1, W. T. Walters, Neath 2. S Jones, Cymmer. Recitation' (children)—1, II. Jonc3, Skewen 2. D. W. Roberts, Skewen. Hedtn- tion (adults)—1. Tom John. Neath Abbey 2. Tom Rosser. Duet—1, W. T. Williams, Maes- teg, and S. Jones. Cymmer. Male voice parties —winners. Llwynbrwydra (W. Davies). Chief choral!" Y m;,dw::in Ölnf ")-winners, kc\cn Music Lovers (W. Davies).

A bricklayer named Allen Anderson, em- ployed at Cyfarthfa Works. Merthyr, was en- gaged at a furnace on Sunday night when he fell off the scaffold, and broke his leg. lie was removed to the Merthyr General Hospital and tliu,-e for

15 DAYS ENTOMBED. Miner's Awful Position. San Francisco. Friday.—The rescuers digging for John Hicks, the entombed miner at Bakes- fidd, were not abln to got. him out. last. Bigbt, be- cause it was found that several steel rails which had been displaced from the tramline in the mine by the landslip had become firmly em. bedded in the path of the cutting. These have had to be sawn through, and the work has necessarily been exceedingly siow, as the cutting, in order to prevent the roof of Hicks's small cave from collapsing, is only a little biggcr than a man's body. This afternoon, however, an opening was made big enough to pass water and food through. The water was handed in a basin far the poor fellow to bathe his face with, for which he was exceedingly grateful. Though Hicks is very weak with his long imprisonment he is immensely encouragpd by the proximity of his rescuers, and now feels certain of getting out. This afternoon he even began joking with the men who are sawing the rails. I'll bet a I box of cigars," said he, "that T will be out before suppertime," and, he added,pathetically, I hope 11 lose. for I owe the boys a treat for they way they have stood by me." Ricks seems to have no delirium now, since he is able to keep up a constant conversation at close range with his mates. Bakersfiell, which is a busy manufacturing town, is preparing to celebrate the release of the man from his fifteen days' confinement. New York, Sunday.—Advices from Bakers- field, California, state tligt HicL-s. the i-niner ieleased last Friday, was lying the whole time of his imprisonment under sixty feet of mine earth. Alogether he was underground fifteen days.—Central News.

THROWING OFF ROME. French Bid for Freedom. Paris, Sunday.—The Democratic Union gave a banquet to-day in honour of M. Viviani, the new Minister of Labour. M. Cheron, Under- Secretary of War, presided, in the absence of M. Briatid, owing to Illness. Jie gave un- reserved praise to M, Briand's energy and wis- dom in the midst of the difficulties raised and incited Iw Rome, the irreconcilable and fanatic. M Vivian! expressed the Government's desiro to assure in politics the supremacy of the lay State over the pretensions of Rome, and in social life to prepare the life of the new regime which must aim at the suppression of social in- equalities. The Minister paid a tributr to At. Briaud, and [¡dc'e.! We will resist all Romish attempts to deny the French law." He recog- nise i the struggle would be a, long one, but said it must not be forgotten, when attempting to solve the social problem, that reason and sc;ence were only of use when they were paving the way to the advent of social justice.— Reuter. Rome. Sunday. No concealment is now made at the Vatican that important. documents iromthe Paris Xunciate were transferred long before tne search to the Embassy of a Catholic Power which is not Haly, Illd the cipher confis- cated was that used by the Nuncio Mge. Clad, and afterwards changed.—lleuter. Archbishop Bourne's View. Archbishop Bourne, preaching in London on Sunday, severely criticised the action of the French Government during the past few days in expelling Cardinal Richard and closing St. Sulplice seminary. He declared that it was a direct, violation of the r:ght or property and the right, of individual liberty, and said it was the real and bitter persecution which struck at the yery root of religion in France.

BIRTH OF A FASHION. As an example of the tailor's influence in the starting of a lashiou, Men's Wear says :—Assume that jackets have been worn loose-fitting and comparatively short. The tailor may suggest that a, little change may be advisable, siigtit in itself, but calculated to create an impression of some significance; II change in the collar may be advised. One or more of I he suggestions may appeal to obser- vers, ivho wiil mention to their tailors that, such a detail may bo desired in their own clothes, and-a, fashion is started. On the whole, Men's Wear is inclined to ih ink that the tailor has more influence on the fashions than the customer. The aristocracy," it says, is a class extremely conservative in its attitude towards dress. They buy good stuff, and often, but will tolerate no experiment. Rather it is the smartmihtary man or the sport- ing .individual who is the willing exponent of idciis—which may be his owu or another's."

.ot.. RAILWAY CLERK'S SUICIDE. A PATHETIC MEMO. At the inquest, on Monday on the body of 1Jr John Banes, chief clerk in the goods depart- ment at New Brompton Railway Station, found dead on the railway on Saturday, a verdict of 1. Suicide during temporary insanity was re- turned. It was stated that deceased had been told tilCIe would be an audit of the accounts of his department. In a memo, book foand on the deceased were the words — Wife and children know nothing about, troubles at offiro. It was t here when 1 took it over as a. legacy for me. Wife to draw superannuation mOlleyand club, Koresters' money. J shall be out of everybody's way n v.v."

If. ROCKEFELLEiToN WEALTH. c. A Terrible Burden." New York. Saturday Morning.—Mr J. D. Rockefeller, iu. an interview published in the Anic, says :—" The increasing extrava- gance of the people is the result of our unprece- dented prosperity. This extravagance should be curbed. We are not saving up for a rainy day. Great wealth is a terrible burden it may be a great blessing or a great curse. The posses- sion of great, wealth confers only a stewardship, so that. the holder may do good to his fellow- man."—Central News.

AMERICAN RAILWAY SMASH. Brother of Lord Charles Beresford Killed. New York. Monday.—Ten persons were killed in the railway collision at Anderllll, North Dakota, on Sunday, and one of them who was at first described as Air D. J. Reresford proves to be Lord Delav.il James de la Poer Beresford. uncle of the Marquis of Waterford, who owned extensive ranches? both in Canada and Mexico. Lord Delaval Beresford was a brother of LoW Charles Ber,s ford -Itc-ut,(.r.

--u. PLAGUE ON A STEAMER. Patients Landed at Suez. A Lloyd's telegram says the German steamer Berlin, nora Adelaide to Amsterdam, has riv(- at Suez amS landed two cases of plague.

A child mmel Francis Thomas Emerson, aged live, living at Herbert-ntreet. Maindee, was admitted to the Cardiff Infirmary at 3.30 on Monday afternoon suffering from bum* ou the body and face. The child died shortly after 8 o'cL:ek last evening.

Fifty Years in China. A WELSH MISSIONARY. STORY OF DR. GRIFFITH JOHN. It is not. a matter of surprise that the story of Dr. Griffith John's fifty years in China, written by the Rev. R. Ward- law Thompson, foreign secretaiy to the London Missionary Society, should have so quickly run to a second edition. The first edition, issued by the Religious Tract Society only in Seplemher last, has already been exhausted, and the second edition, revised, 13 now before us. South Walians are deeply re- gretting that during his present furlough Dr. Griffith John baa not yet seen his way to visit old friends in Swansea and to those who have only a superficial knowledge of his life story we recommend most heartily this book of JUt" Wardlaw Thompson's. Not only is it a biography of a great Welshman who has been most suc- cessful in a great enterprise, but it is a work of peculiar value to the social and political student just at this time when China IS awakening and shows signs of following Japan in that afsimitation of Western ideas an" methods which has brought the latter country so prominently before the world. Dr. Griffith John after half a century of strenuous life 111 the ancient civilisation of the Celestial Empire has much to teach and the politician no less than the ordinary student of missionary litera- ture has a very great deal to learn from this record of his experiences. Born at Swansea. in 1331, his father being a foreman in the employ of Vivians. Griffith John was trained for his future work in the Sunday school of Ebenezer Chapel. It is notable that he was admitted a. member of that church when only eight years of age and that among those to whose in* fluence he attributes much of the successor after life was Mr William Rees, of Kantyglo, who came to reside at Swan- se3., and was his Sunday school teacher. The minister of the church at that time was the Rev. Thomas Davies, one of the famous preachers of Wales, and by his encouragement and advice Griffith John became a preacher when only 16 years of age. His first sermon was at On Llwyn, and in this biography written an amusing account of his experienced with deacons at Alltwen, who hesitated to entrust the boy preacher with the conduct of the service, but promptly changed their mind and urged him to persevere as soon as they had had evidence of his qualifications. When 19 years of age Griffith John entered the Brecon College under Professor Griffiths, who was then the principal and it is one of the good features of this book that in reference to inci- dental matters, such as the collegiate course of its subject, there is historical and personal de- scription which gives it peculiar value to Welsh readers. Mr Thompson briefly traces the his- tory of Brecon College and of some of the men who were the contemporaries of Griffith John at the tim he was a student. Offering hiinsdf as a candidate for the mission field to the London Missionary Society in 1833, and desiring to go to Madagascar, it was upon the request of the society's directors that Mr John took up the work in CJÜTJa, His predilection for Madagascar was doubtless due to his engage- ment to Miss Griffiths, daughter of the Rev. David Griffiths, a missionary trom Madagascar, who had been when the suppression of Christianity was attempted. This lady ho married in May, 1855, the ceremony talcing place at Ebenezer Chapel, Swansea, in April of that year. Almost immediately they sailed for China and it is distinctive of the character of the missionary that with him on shipboard, in addition to a small theological library, which he studied on his five months' voyage, he had a chemical apparatus and electric machine, a, microscope, aud a stereoscope, so that I may give the Chinese some idea of these things." In referring to these when writing to a friend be said A missionary need not forget the civilisation of the people among whom lie labours." They landed in the city of Shanghai, one of the filthiest in the world nothing to be compared to it ia dirt and filth, It sur- passes everything." And through all the politi- cal upheaval occasioned by the Chinese War, all the unrest and disturbance of the opening out of the new treaty ports, the disputes as to the opium trade, and the breaking up of the old order, Dr. Griffith John has lived and worked for half a century. In part, the book is autobiographical, ttrs giving it a special value so far as regards ita references to Wales. Mr John spent a long fur- lough in England during the years 1C71 and 1872, visiting Machynlleth and Swansea, and doubtless many among our readers will remember the returned missionary of those days. But. it is during his later years, in the colossal task of translating the Scriptures into Chinese, and in the high position he has gained among the Chinese themselves—the statesmen and mandarins no less than among the common people—that the chief interest of his story centres. Into that story in detail we do not enter. Our purpose is to direct attention to a work of peculiar interest and value to Welsh- men, especially in this part, of Wales. The great favour with which the book has already been received indicates for this second edition aafUU^ v wider sphere of acceptance, aud to those who are considering the* question of Sunday school rewards, gift books for examinations, and the like, it will be enough to suggest this record of the great Welshman, who notwithstanding his 75 years, yet looks forward to a return to China, and a continuance of his labours for the Chinese. Griffith John. The story of 50 years in Chtua. London: Religious Tract Society.

Imprisoned in a Tower. .4 — AGED COUPLE'S ADVENTURE. The Dublin correspondent of theCentral News says :—An old mllrtello tower, the property of the Earl of Pembroke, at Sandymount, Dublin, was the scene of a strange misadventure last week-end, the effect of which was that the caretaker*, an aged couple named Molloy, were imprisoned in their own stronghold for many weary hours. The door of the tower is about 12 feet from the ground, and it is reached by means of an iron ladder. On Sunday afternoon a man who was passing the tower heard cries of distress, and on mounting the steps was in- formed by Molloy that his wife had mislaid the key of the door and that they had been locked in and helpless since Saturday morning. The police were called to the spot and also the Earl of Pembroke's steward and a number of his men. Ail efforts to force the massh'c door with crowbars were unsuccessful, and finally a long ladder was obtained, and an entry was effected through the roof of the building. Mrs Molloy was found to be in a state of collapse, and was removed to the City of Dublin Hospital. Tho husband informed the police that his wife was of weak intellect and could not remember where she put the key He himself was very near-sighted, and searched in vain for it.

ARMY REFORM. New Advisory Board. Th" British Medical Journal announces that the Secretary for War has decided to recon- struct the Advisory Boardfor the Arrpy Medical Services, making it more distinctly advisory in its functions and to dissolve the Army Hos- pital and Sanitary Committee. The new Board will consist, in addition to the Director- Genera]. who will be chairman, of a civil sani- tary expert, a civilian physician, a civilian surgeon, and a civilian physiologist, an officer of the Royal Army ijedical Corps specially qualified in sanitation, with special knowledge of tropical diseases, an officer of the Royal Engineers from the department of Director of Fortification;! aud Works, and the president of the Medical Board, lnd:a Office, as well as the Deputy Director-General, who will act as vice- chairman. An annual repea t will be made to Parliament.

"-ftIIII8'IMII8- TELEGRAM SHOULD HAVE GONE ELSEWHERE. Mr-; S. James, Y:-t radfai, Felinfoel, near Llarieily, ha 1 a painful uho-k last week. She was informed by telegram that her 01dest, daughter. Miss Lily James, who is a uurse in London hospitnl, had died. Not having heard of Miss James's illness, a, wire was sent, re- questing further particulars, and to the iamily's unspeakable joy they learnt that ji., was all a mistake. It transpired that one of the nurses in the same hospital had made a mis- take, and that the telegram should have gone elsewhere.

FELL DOWN A FLIGHT OF STEPS. Tredegar Labourer's Death. Mr W. R. Dauncey, Deputy Coroner, held two inquests at Tredegar ou Monday. The tirat had reference, to the death of John Thomas, a labourer, 63 years of age, who resided at 20. Morgan-street, Tredegar. Deceased, who was suffering from the effects of a rupture sustained three months ago at the colliery by lifting timber, fell down a flight of eight steps at the back of his house ou Saturday night. He fractured his skull and died a tew hours later. A verdict of Accidental death by fall- ing down a flight of steps," was returned. The second inquest was on the body of a.n infant, who was found daad in lied. Death was attributed to convulsions. Verdict accord- ingly.

MACHINERY BROKE DOWN. The ss. Conception has been towed into Swansea with damaged machinery. She left Port Talbot on Sunday, and whila still in the Bristol Channel her machinery broke down. She was taken in tow and brought to Swansea on Monday. For some time the vessel was at a standstill and at the mercy of the waves, but fortunately tho coasting steamer Iron King was sighted,and she towed the Concepcion i:.to (he safety of the Mumbles Roads, whence she was taken on tow into Swansea, where it was found that her sSraps had given way.

At a meeting of Geilyceidrim colliery work- men on Saturday it was unaniranuslj* agreed, all or reviewing the position, that no further public meeting be held until the manner cx- pressed a desire to confer with the committee*