The Cardiff Times

OETZMANN & CO., 62, 64, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, and 79, HAMPSTEAD-ROAD, LONDON, W. ALL CARPETS MADE UP FRER OF CHARGE FOR CONDITIONS UPON WHICH GOODS ARt-, SENT CARRIAGE PAID PLKASE SEE ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO HOUSE FURNISHING m9Sn'tni,s#:—Complete Estimates lor Furnishing a' £ 120 ana £ 250, with full-page illustrations; Notet Oil Furniture, by M. F. Frith, late of Lady'* Pictorial. Articles on Artis ic Furnishing rev.rinted from the Lady." 642 |>a<*es, ;inu over 2.0U0 iliustra* tions, vru-ii description nnd price of every ileff required in Cmnj leie HUllS" Furnishinc. GRATL* AND PO;->T FREL. 41(0 III'

ON THE HONEYMOON. FREDDY L-s r.o n«», Arabella, everyone seeina to know wo'id a newiy-inarried couple. ARABELLA Why what makes you think so ? Frjbddy Well, don't yon see the waiter's brought us rice pudding.

WELSH GLEANINGS. Mrs Wynford Philipps will read before the Pioneer Club, London, on June 16th, a paper en- titled Have all the Greatest Women of the 19th Century aspired to Liberty The Island of Steep, off Penartb, at one time afforded asylum to Gildas, the celebrated Welsh historian. It is also related that after the defeat of her husband, the wife of Harold sought refuge in that isolated isle. Cardiff, as its name would imply, was a place of importance during the period of the Roman occupation of Britain, Cardiff is a corruption of castra Didli. Aulus Didius fortified the mouth of the Taff in the first century. Mr Alfred Thomas's suggestion, re the erection of a fitting monument to celebrate the memory of the gallant Cardiganshire farmers who in the memorable "lecsiwn 1868" subordinated their own personal ends to the cause of political freedom, is one likely to meet with great approval throughout the Principality. Last week's number of Black and White contains an illustrated article on the Snowdon railway, which is now in active preparation. The writer is evidently not a Ruskinite, maintaining, as he does, that the charm of the immediate vicinity will by no moans be impaired by the changes consequent upon the introduction of the steam engine. As evidence that Mor o ga.il yw Cymru i gyd," it may be interesting to know that Mr Tom Richards, the able conductor of the famous Pontycymmer Male Voice Party, has been enRnjyed to conduct no less than 27 cymanfaoedd between now and the end of June, and these are in the Congregationalisb connexion only. The efforts made in late years to improve congrega- tional singing are being: crowned with success. There is nothing so popular and successful in old Gwalia to-day than her Cymanfaoedd Canu." Mabon, says the Herald of Wales, is the first working man who has entered St. Stephen's from Wales. Union met him and moulded him, bit by bit, into a paid agitator and a social reformer, placiug him in Parliament as its chosen representative and salaried advocate. He is a model Kymric collier, and has won fame both by his singing and his racy speaking, He is far from the musical stature of Bos Morlais, and somewhat inferior to Bowen Rowlands and Tom Ellis as an orator, but he has bis sterling merits and mental excellencies notwithstanding. An interesting letter from Vancouver Island, on the North Pacific Coast, has been received from the Rev. W. Evans (Monwyson), Wesleyan minister, of Llandudno, who is on a preaching and lecturing tour in the United States. He skates that he has preached and lectured to the four denominations in the United States, and has promised to preach at bhe Welsh Association of the Calvinistic Methodists and the Cymanfaoedd of the Congregationalism. Mr Evans is not expected, home until the autumn, when he will have been absent from Wales for 12 months. A correspondent of the Times deplores an intention to demolish Bute House, Petersham, formerly the residence of the Dowager Marchioness of Bute, and to convert its grounds into a building estate. He says :—The house has for some years been used as a school. A short time since it was purchased by Sir Whiitaker Ellis, the well-kown alderman, at one time member for the Kingston Division of Surrey, which includes Richmond. The lease, subject to which the place was bought, has just run out, and Sir Whittaker Eilie has apparently come to the conclusion that land at Petersham is too valnable to allow 10 acres to be kept as an append- age to a single mansion. Lord Selborne, replying to a leiber of the vicar of Swansea about the Disestablishment of the WsAsa, says the idea that Disestablish- ment without Disendowmenb was either probable or possible seems to him to be one which all the present time no reasonable and practical person could entertain, and any action founded on it was only so much help given to the advocates of Disendowmenb. In whatever respects the present terms of connection between the Church and State might seem to any person onerous to the Church, he was sure that the state of things which Disestablishment would introduce would have dangers and difficulties of its own, nob to be wilfully and wantonly encountered without the most hpavy responsibility. The Wekh Commissioner of the London Daily Newstlms describes the service at a Dissenting ( place of worship in North Wales :—" No manu- script sermon here, but a rousing, impassioned harangue, delivered with all the fire and force of real oratory. The people were held breathless under the sway of an eloquence that I could feel, though I could make out hardly a word of it. Hugged strength and pathetic tenderness, collo- quial ease and fiery declamation swept over the warm hearts of the people, and, as the preacher warmed to his peroration, audible murmurs and subdued ejaculations rose from all parts of the assembly. I came out after the singing of a bymn, but there was a meebing after the service, and hardly anybody lefb. They are wonderful devotees to chapel, these Welsh." At the annual meeting of the Rhyddiau Parish Council, the Rev. Evan Stevens (C. M. minister) was re-eJected. chairman. Mr Tbomas Hughes asked a question concerning the tithe of the parish. Ha desired to know what became of it, and how much was really received by the vicar. To this several councillors objected, and said it was premature to discuss those questions, while the vicar said if Mr Hughes would call at the vicarage he would be pleased to give him all the information he desired. It was like going into the private affairs of a man. The Chairman said it was the question of the future, and other councils were dealing with it. Protests against its discussion being continued, the Council pro- ceeded to the nexb business. A curious dispute, which arose at a meeting of the St. Asaph (Denbigh) Rural District Council a fortnight ago concerning the appointment of clerk, has been reopened. At the former meeting Mr Grimsley, who is the clerk to the St. Asaph Board of Guardians, claimed by virtue of this office the clerkship to the District Council. Mr Walhs-Davies, who was the clerk to the Abergele Highway Board, now merged in the District Council, was also an applicant for the office, and he advised the board that they had full discretion to rppoint a new clerk if they chose to do so. The board accepted Mr Wallis-Davies's advice, and on a division they elected him to the office. Mr Grimsley strongly protested against his dis- missal, aad on Friday he attended the meeting and made a statement. He read a letter from the Local Government Board, which, he claimed, sup- ported him in his ex-offioio claim to the clerkship. Mr Waliis-Davies contested this view. Finally the board decided to allow the applicants to fight it out between themselves." In the mean- time, both are taking the minutes of the pro- ceedings. A correspondent of the London Daily News, having pointed to what he deemed good evidences of Howell-Dda, i.e., Howell the Good, having been educated in London, and of having buil White Hall, Mr J. Lloyd James, of March Cambs., writes :—It set-ms to me that the write has confused the Whitehall in London with another place. Howell the Good was the son of Cadell ab Rhodri Mawr, i.e., of Cadell, the son of Rhodri the Great, and on the death of his father, Howell came into possession of South Wales and Powys 907 and became King of all Wales in 940, until his death in 948. He gathered a num- ber of those well versed in the anoienb laws of Wales at White House, now called Whiteland, a rising little place, and a station on the Great Western Railway, some 14 miles below Carmarthen, South Wales. He had this White House-on-the-Tave built as his resi- dence, and here, as history records, he had the ancient laws classified; codified, "ud made uniform. The names of those who assisted him are matters of history. There stands to this day a farmhouse called the White House, and, as said, on the very site of the one erected by Howell the Good. Of Howell-Dda having become a bishop, &o,, is news to me. who have read most authorities on the history of Wales and Welshmen, both cleric and lay. Some Howell may have1 been Bishop of London for anything I know, but not Howell-Dda,

The Commonwealth in Monmouthshire. I From the following letters some information is obtained as to the names ef the Commissioners of Sequestrations for the important county of Monmouth. In Feb., 1650. Robert Jones, Thomas Evans, of Trelleck, and Thomas Jones, of Trevethin, were appointed. In Nov., 1651, James Sydwell, of Abergavenny, was recom- mended as a County Commissioner for co. Mon- mouth in the place of James Rumsey, who has been mentioned previously when treating of Glamorganshire. At the same time Hugh Jones, of Waiterstone, and Evan Pritchard, of Collenna, were named as fresh colleagues for Wm. Seys as Commissioners for Glamorgan m the room of Edward Bowen, who had been captured at sea by the Freuch, and Matthew Hopkins, who was unable to attend the service. Wm. Seys, of London, was the eighth son of Richard Seys, of Hoverton, and youngest brother to Serjeant Evan Seys, of that pJace, who was M.P. for Glamorgan 1658-9, and Gloucester 1661-81, and Attorney- General for the Glamorgan circuit under the Commonwealth, of which he was an active supporter. Wm. Seys married, first, Jane, dau. of James Turberville, of Sutton, and secondly, Mary, widow of John Hakewell. He had a lease of Weobley Castle from the Earl of Pembroke, 3 June. 1659, when he was described of Hanrbidian. His will was dated 1691. Evan Pritchard, of Collenn, in Llantrisant, belonged tu an ancient Glamorgan family seated for an unknown period all that placc. In March, 1654, Thomas Evans, of Trelleck, was naix'.ed sole sub- eommissioner for co. Monmouth on the establish- ment being reduced and the expenses cut down by Cromwell's orders, soon after being made Lord Protector. He was granted a commission of a shilling in the pound on all sums that he should pay in, but was to pay his own expenses of collection. On these terms he was succeeded at his death m Nov. following by John Ward. After Sir George Booth's Cheshire rising had been suppressed, an attempt was made to revive the old system of County Committees for the purposes of sequestrations, and in Sept., 1659, Philip Nicholas, of Llansoy, Thomas Jones, of Trevethin, and John Morgan-, of Llangum, were named for Monmouthshire, but little, if any, pro- ceedings were taken by them. Philip Nicholas was no doubt a toother to Captain John Nicholas, of Llanmelan, who was Governor of Chepstow in 1659, and M.P. for Monmouthshire in 1656. William BUthin, who was appointed steward for keeping Courts in Monmouthshire in July, 1655, had formerly been a Sequestration Commis- sioner for South Wales. He was probably of the same family as William Blethyn. Archdeacon of Brecon and Prebendary of York. who was Bishop of Llandaff, 1575, till his death in 1590. Chepstow seems to have been the hcadquartt-M of the Monmouthshire Commissioners. LETTERS. Menmouthshire. 1650, Feb, 8.—Allowance in the committee for compounding of Rob. Jones, Thos. Evans, (and Thomas Jones as Sequestration Commissioners in the co. Monmouth. July 12.—Chepstow County Committee for Monmouth to the Committee for Compounding.— You impute it to our remissness that we have not paid the money into the Treasury as other counties have, but our commission was the last of any in England that came to hand, and the remoteness ef this county makes it the more hazardous and difficult to make returns. W. have received Bl.OOO, and desire to know the safest way to have it conveyed, it being dangerous to trust it without a convoy. As to the arrears, we shall give you 3ueh an account as shall render us faithful to our trust and as forward as others for the advantage of the State. 1651, Nov. 25.—Memorandum by the com- mittee for South Wales that it is desired to place James Sydwell, of Abergavenny, in the p!aoe of James Rumsey aa county oommissiener for, Mon- mouth, and Hugh Jones, of Walters80D6, and Evan Pritchard, of Collenna, with Wm. Seys as commissioners for Glamorgan, instead of Edw. Bowen and Matthew Hopkins, Bowen being taken prisoner at sea by the French, and Hopkins not able to attend the service. 1650, May 15, Chepstow.—County Committee for Monmouth to the Committee for Compound- ing. We have seized a.nd secured the estates of Sir Edw. Morgan, of Pencoyd, and 4 others, but cannot find Rees Lloyd. We enclose a certificate that we have taken the oath. June 13, Chepstow.—The same to the same. The Comms. for the Militia are now raising horse, towards which every estate of JB100 a year is charged with a horse and furniture or £14. The estates of recusants and others under sequestration are charged. Is it to be allowed and deducted out of the rent ? June 20, Chepstow.—The same to the same. Pray direct your letters for us to mf, Robert Jones, care of Wm. Walter, postmaster, at the Market House, in the garrison of Chepstow. There are certain lands in this county that have been sold by Papists. From what time are such leases, deeds, or grants to be declared void ? July 2.—Committee for Compounding to the County Commissioners of Monmouth, North and South Wales, and 13 other counties. We find that no moneys have been returned from some counties on the Act \>f 25th January last, not- withstanding votes in Parliament requiring the Lady Day rents to be detained in the tenants' hands. If you had used diligence, money would have been paid in from your county as from others. We impute it to your remissness, and desire better care in future. Send an account of moneys in tenants' hands, or received, or in arrear. Without this we cannot satisfy Parlia- ment, and shall be forced to complain of de- faulters, and take a course to prevent such a course in future. July 2.—The same to the same. Pray send up the moneys from the estates laid in the hands of trustees, and any other moneys you have, Parlia- ment looking for them daily. July 22.-Chepsbow. County Commissioners for Monmouth to the Conimibtee for Compound- ing. The money only waits your answer— whether we shall send it by the carriers or whether some other expedient might be thought of with less risk. Let the answer be left with Dennis Hollister, grocer, High-street, Bristol. September 17t-Tbesame to the same. John Jones, of Dingestow. also sequestered by the late committee, has been also returned to us as a Papist in arms for being in Raglan Castle during the siege. 1651, Juno 16, Chepstow.—The same to the same. We have £1,000 of the last account and some arrears, and desire order for its disposal. We doubt not shortly to have in as much more of this year's rents. If we might return this money by the agent for Ireland in Bristol it would save charge and hazard. November 20, Chepslpw.—The same to the same. We report on your order of 15th October last that Bassalegg Manor, and the rectories thereto belonging, have never been returned to us as under sequestration, nor have we sequestered them, being Bishop's lands, and not at our disposal. 1652, March 21.—The same to the same. We are preparing accounts, but have nob received any return for the moneys in our hands, without which we shall not be discharged. We seldom receive a letter but it is broken open. 1652, April 8.—The same to the same. We carefully observed onr instructions abeut Aber- gavenny lordship, posting it, and inquiring into its value. Most of it consists of ohief* rents, in the bands of 1,000 persons, some of whom pay only 2d or 3d a year. 1654, March 14. Thos. Evans, of Trelleck, was appointed sole sub-commissioner for co. Mon- mouth by the Commissioners of Sequestration, having had experience of your faithfulness and diligence, to manage estates and receive rents after 24th March, 1654, and all arrears, for which we shall allow you 12d in the pound on all you pay in bnt you are to be at the whole oharge of management and payment." ( To be continued.)

Madam Anybody here during my absence !— Girl: Yes, ma'am, a lady call*— Madam Did she leave her card !—Girl No, ma'am.— Madam Who was it ?—Girl I don't know, ma'am.—Madam Was she short ?—Girl No, ma'am.—Madam Very strong ?—Girl: I don't know, ma'am we didn't, fight. A Personal Rumabk.—" Come, sinner, halt and hesitate no longer," shouted the great ex- horter. "Seek the straight and narrow path." Howsh feller jag li* mine go' walk narrow pash T indignantly demanded the red-faced man in the back seat.

THE HOUSEHOLD. I HE Bazaar season is .oming' on fast, and iw, the tic and persua- sive lire the various demarfis that are made friends and their friends' friends for con- tributions to stalls of needlework, and equally helpless are the people upon whom such de- mands are made as to what form their friendship and their tl.-1ustry shall take, hi very cannot afford to ;»|jgEj|ad very muoh monWron such matters, and the great thing is to try Hind make some. thing that costs little and sells for a great deal. Very ordinary domestic ar. ticles can be turned into pretty ornaments with but very little trouble for instance, I once saw au iron potato pot—a three-legged one— which had long sintffe^ot been able to hold water, which was very effectively turned into a waste- paper receptacle. It was first painted a kind ot golden brown, and then shaded all round the brim into yellow after this wasitboroughly dry, a conventionalised wreath of flolers was added, festooning from point to point trtlr the feet, and it really looked remarkably pretty. Another, a pot of much the same description, was very decoratively treated by first covering it with a coat of glue and then sprinkling this with rice, and after that painting it over in oils. Large sized jam-pots, so that the smaller ordinary ones can be fitted into them for breakfast and school- room tea, arealso very saleablearticles; they should be treated roughly with a kind of impressionistic design somewhat after the fashion of foreign pottery. Sometimes the paintings of fruit, such as strawberries, raspberries, clusters of black currants and brambles, indicate the kind of pre- serve that the pot holds. Another article that I found sell for very good pricee, and very readily, is a bag for soiled linen made after a somewhat unusual, but exceedingly useful design. When it is laid out straight, aa will be seen by the accom- panying sketch, it his three inside divisions, which enables one to keep the principal articles separate one from another; of course, ordinary big things may be tumbled together helter-bkelter, but such things fin*, hanrikarchier", chemisettes, 30Ü.u ',11'\ tUG. I lace scarves, and silk shirks are better kept apart from the general wash i«p. The work on the outside of the bag is doneon Russian cross-stitch, and I thiuk on the whole it is better to have such a bag made of red or Uue linen, as white is apt to become such an ugly fhade after repeatwd wash- ings such a bag is an exceedingly useful addition to one's travelling gear. The pockets are about twenty inches in diameter, and are simply hemmed round the edge. Another delightful and useful little piece of work to undertake is a hair-pin cushion for a toilet table; it is delightful for more than one reason. In the nrat place it is net a particularly difficult undertaking sure to give pleasure to the owner of the stall; tond they are nearly always certain to be sold, becatise thry, are the kind of thing that one dew nOfctxr, i iTim i across and yet one can always "usee < You may .arrange hair-pins as neatly as you please in a tray, but they always have an untidy appearance. This little cushion can be made either in a wooden or cardboard box, which measures about five inches across the top, across which is sbretehed a piect- ui knitting done in any shade of wool that goes best with the toilet-table; perhaps a kind of soft moss- green is the besb to choose if it does not actually fight with any other colour. All the way round the sides runs a pleating of filoselle canvas, the bottom of which is edged with a narrow satin ribbon of some pale colour, and on the centre of each box-pleat is a little panel of embroidery done in cross-stitch after the pattern of the detail given here. The pleating should be lined with pale-coloured satin, bows of which to match are tied up on either side. Preltily dressed dolls able to perform an:ore serious duty in life than that ot amusing ohiMreu also are very popular on a work stall. For instance, a doll dressed in peasant costume offering a basket, which may be filled with flowers, if precaution be taken in the first place to insert a tin (a doll's bath will very often perform this office satisfactorily). There is a certain peasant's costume worn at Berne made with a lightish blue silk skirt trimmed with two rows of black velvet, the usual Swiss bodice fastened with little silver chains and ornaments over the white chemisette, and a black cap with a halo of black stiffened laoe, which is secured to the head with silver pins, and two long ends of ribbon hang down the back. There is a little black apron edged with lace, and if a basket of flowers is. not carried this fancifully attired damsel looks just as well with a big box of bonbons, made of silk to match the skirt, hanging over her arm. Straw bats can be made into very pretty bonbonietes with ther linings made extra full and of some pretty coloured silk, which i6 drawn up into a bag and a large spray of artificial flowers laid round the inside of the brim. Natu- turally for this pn.°- trimming on the crown is sim«iflnoa». Another article wiiioa always takes well at bazaars is a scissors case, made so that ib can either hook on a button or be suspended by the loop. It has the great advantage of being very easily inade, and oan be manufactured from almost any material at hand. Of course the best would be to make the foundation of buckram, though cardboard would serve equally well. ETRU.

A clerk in a mercantile house celebrated the 25th anniversary of his first day's connection with the firm. The sentor partner handed him in the morning a sealed envelope superscribed, In memory of this eventful day." The clerk grate- fully received the envelope without opening it, bub at a gracious hint from his chief he broke the seal and found—the photo of his employer i Well, what do you think of it ¥' inquired the latter, with a *rin. It's just like yon, was the reply.

Notes on the Abergavenny Eisteddfod. BY MAELGWYN. There is a sameness about the annual Ei&tvdd- fod at Abergavenny which is not very pleasing. To the seeker after novelty it has at least one redeeming feature in the eyes of those whose business calls them year after year to the great gathering in the little town between the hills. The same tumblo-down cab stand outside the Market Hall with the same notification upon it that from its recesses tickets may be purchased. The same energetic but kindly gentlemen stand at the entrance to the great hall to tell you that if you hold only a shilling ticket you must pass under the red curtains to the left, and if your purse, your pride, or your inclination has dictated to you the propriety of being nearer the platform, that you must pass under another curtain of the'sams flaming hue." Somehow the presence of that cab, of those energetic but courteous gentlemen, and of that red curtain makes me feel at home—they all appear to be integral parts of the eisteddfod, without which the great event could not take place. Inside the hall the change is also un- noticeable. We have the same space in the centre of the building boarded off for the use of the adjudicators, and this boarding is covered with a red material, which, when the sunlight is stream- ing down upon it, makes one turn his eyes to a more restful spectacle. Then, as usual, the reporters' tables are placed on each side of this oasis of red cloth in a desert of chairs. To com- plete the sameness, we have the same officials, the same adjudicators, and the same reporters, with perhaps an exception or two. Poe's figure of the crew who had steered the mysterious ship for so many centuries almost finds its parallel at the Aberga- venny Eisteddfod, where pretty nearly every- thing remains as it did when the great revival took place thirteen years ago. There have been a few changes, of course, but not more than would have been produced on the phantom ship by the variation of sunshine, snow, and rain. This year, again, the president for the year did not trouble us with an address, which was perhaps as well, for eisteddfod addresses, unless they are of the kind that we get from the Marquis of Bute or Llawdden, are not of much account now-a-days. Now for a few words about this year's eisteddfod, leaving those that have gone to sleep in the grave of history or oblivion—it matters not which. Perhaps the most noticeable feature of the eisteddfod was the almost total absence of the old familiar faces which aforetime one always met there on Easter Mon- day. When the Neath Eisteddfod ran its annual course it shared with Abergavenny the patronage of Dowlais and the Rhondda, the two best supporters of the eisteddfod m Glamor- ganshire. This year, however, Mountain Ash and Barry secured the attendance of almost all the eisteddfodwyrfrom those districts, audpreltyilittle Abergavenny was passed over for the newer gatherings. Speaking on the spur of the moment I did not see a single competitor from either of the places named either in the solo or choral contests yet the eisteddfod suffered not from their absence. Monmouthshire and Breconshire sent noble contingents of competitors, and even the proud Salopians honoured us with the presence of some hundreds of their numbers. It should be stated, too, that several of the com- petitors sent down by those places were as good as we in Glamorganshire could produce so while one naturally missed the old familiar faces it can- not in justice be said that their absence wrecked the eisteddfod or weakened it to a great degree as a purely competitive gathering. The very first vocal competition of the day the quartette—brought out some admirable sing- ing, and the winners, who were all perfect strangers to me, sang like so many professional artists. They hailed from Llanover (a name dear to the heart of every eisteddfodwyr), and I am sure that those who heard them will agree with me in wishing that we may soon hear them again. While the pressure of other work prevented me from following the contralto solo competition as carefully as I should have liked to do, it would not become me to question the award, which probably was correct and just. But certainly the second singer, whoever she was, deserved the highest commondation. Her voice was sweet yet powerful and sympathetic, and she sang with rare taste. Her phrasing was not all that could have been desired, but neither was that of one at least of the winners. The tenor solo competition in its preliminary stage was little else than a nuisance, as it almost invariably is. Owing to the wretched want of arrangement, about which I have written year after year without any visible result except that of keeping away good singers, the contest is taken about mid-day, while almost the whole of the officials are at the luncheon in the Angel Hotel. Of course, the audience get tired of listening to a score of singers, many of whom would not shed brilliancy over a penny reading entertainment, and they overcome the monotony and spare themselves the infliction by talking amongst themselves. That settles it. The conductor loses his power over the audience, and, as Aytoun says The dream of power once broken What can give repose again ?" Certainly, nothing •xb an eisteddfod. The hubbub thenceforward continues and lasts until the award on the last big competition has left vacant the erstwhile crowded promenade. Not only does this wretched preliminary test destroy the order m the proceed- ings, but it has an injurious effect upon the singers themselves. Fearing that in the clamour the adjudicators cannot hear them, they begin to shout, and so spoil whatever chance they might otherwise have had of distinguishing themselves. It was so at Abergavenny in the prehminary contest not one of the singers was worth listening to, but in the final the winner did remarkably well, and so, too, did the others who were selected with him. Mr Thomas Allen, the eisteddfod conductor, seems to improve as he gains experience. This year he managed affairs very much better than at previous eisteddfodau, but, unfortunately, he was not supported as he ought to have been. For hours at a stretch he bad to do the whole of the work himself, and if he bad broken down nobody would h ive been surprised. Nature has not given Mr Allen the voice of a Gurnos, and age is Mp) y taking away from him the sprightliness of au Etnlyu Jones or a Ben Evane, and these facts should have secured for him the support of the whole body of the committee. But this support was not rendered. and I was by no means surprised when later in the evening I saw the genial old gentleman looking thoroughly worn out. Probably the question most frequently asked during the day was asked of Mrs Alfred Morris, L.R. A.M Caerleon, and it was" WhYJ Mrs Morris, have you not brought a choir here to compete to-day ?" Lasb year it may be re- membered Mrs Morris eclipsed everything till then seen at Abergavenny by conducting a competitive choir of males and .females, and acbually carrying off the prize. Her femalesingers —the renowned Gwent Ladies' Choir—had been previously successful at Pontypridd and Cruinlin, but the triumph at Abergavenny was something that made all Wales talk. And people looked for a repetition of the event this year, but were denied it. This was much to be regretted, be- cause the presence of the Gwent Choir would have added zest to the second or even the chief choral competition. The first-named was no competition at all only one choir entered, and they secured the prize. It seems that Mrs Morris did not compete this year on account of so many of her best singers being afflicted with the pestiferous influenza, and, added the little lady determinedly when I put tha same question to her as everybody else had done, I was not going to compete with an inferior choir after winning such eulogy from Mr Riseley last year." Next year. howevet, if all goes well the lady conductor will agam measure swords with the he male man things. There were 13 candidates for the soprano solo prize, the test piece being the beautiful, but difficult, With verdure clad." One of the competitors was acbually a boy, and I was told by an Abergavenny musician, who was present, at the preliminary test, that he sang capitally. But he had to contend againsb some well-known and deservedly-popular vocalists, and he failed to get into the chosen three. Still, a boy who can sing With verdure clad must be a most prodigious prodigy, and I only regret that I do not know his name. One or two further incidents of the Abergavenny Eisteddfod shall be tecchedopon week.

Gardening Notes. Flewer Garden. Prepare sites for hardy ferns. They will move safely now, as the growth is backward this season. Alpine or rock plants may be divided and re- planted now. This is necessary occasionally, as many plants do better after removal, and it gives an opportunity for placing fresh soil round their roots. For the most part, rock plants require sunshine—the primula family excepted, as they do better in the shade. Arabis alpma. (rock cress), Aubrietia linichtlini, Cerastium tomen- tosum, Crucia-nella. stylosa. (Crosswort), Lamium variegatum, Linaria pallida, Lysimachia Num- mularia (Creeping Jenny), and Phlox subulata, are pretty creeping over the stones. Flowers for cut- ting are always in demand, and the following are very useful, and may be planted now:— Gaillardias, in variety; Achillea ptarmica, double (ThePearl), Catananche coerulea Chrysanthemum Leucan- themum maximum, Pyrethrum in variety, in- cluding uliginosum, Doronicutn austrincuni (Leopard's bane), Erigeron speciosus, Geum coccineum floraplena (Avens), Gypsophila paniculata, Harpaliutn rigidum, Helenium pumilum, Laihyrus albus (white Everlasting Pea), Lupinus polyphyllus. Lychnis Chalce- dcnica, Peonies, in variety PiipNver nudicaule (Iceland Poppy), P. orientale, in variety (Oriental Poppy) Herbaceous Phloxes, in variety Rudbeckia species, Scabiosa caucasica, Statice latifolia (Sea Lavender), Coreopsis lanceolatn, Delphiniums in variety. Everybody who wants flowers for cutting will grow roses, carnations, and pinks, including the white pink. Her Majesty Roses are being cut much harder back than usual this year. It is, in fact, a necessity to hide the fffc-cts of the winter. I am in favour of fairly hard pruning. A rose-bush not much pruned, in the course of a few years, grows lank and straggling. I have known several amateurs, and professionals also, from having read certain statements in the papers withhold the knife for a time; but they in. variably have to use it again, or see their roses go wrong. We may give fruit trees their head for a few years without much harm being done, but not roses. The knife, when used reasonably, stimu- lates growth, and by concentrating the growing force produces finer blossoms. Sow seeds of biennials and perennials. Break up the ground so as to pet a fine tilth, and sow in shallow drills. Transplant as soon as the seedlings are large enough to handle. Hollies and other evergreens may be planted now. If we get dry, warm weather, see that newly-planted things are mulched and watered. Fruit Garden. Strong soapsuds wiil he valuable to syringe our :ipple and plum trets no-.v. fvjme housewives use a little paraffin on washing days for its cleansing effect, and say it makes the work lighter. This adds to the value of the suds as an insecticide, and the oil and water blend better after being exposed to heat. Under any citcums! nnces, insecticides must be used freely if the trees are to be kept clean, and unless they are kept clean and free from insects the fruit will be valueless. Insects of all kinds emerge from their hiding or resting places with the genial weather in spring. We may not see much of their work just yet, but they are increasing their numbers and marshalling their forces for the grand assault, and those who take time by the forelock wiil profit by it, and it is always better and easier to prevent than cure. Finish grafting fruit trees. Growth is late, and grafting may be done np till nearly the end of April, except in the very earliest districts. Grape vines under glass are making rapid progress now, and the ventilation will require more care. See to it early in the morning, as soon as the sun strikes the glass. The temperature rises, and with the rise of temperature, vapour is lifted and de- posited in the shape of condensed moisture, and if the foliage is left long under such circumstances, without ventilation, the leaves become soft and flabby, and will. soon fall a prey to red-spider. As soon as moisture is deposited, open the top ventilators an inch or so, and increase the size of the openings as the temperature rises. It is not wise to rush the temperature up rapidly and then have to lower it, by giving more air than would, under other circumstances, be necessary. Many a crop of grapes has been ruined by injudicious ventilaton. See that all fruit borders under glass are sufficiently irioiat for healthy growth. Straw- berries in pots in the greenhouse most not be permitted to get too dry. Vegetable Garden. The weather at the time of writing is not very suitable for seed sowing, and it is better to wait till the surface is dry and crumbling, as the seeds grow so much better. The first thing to do is to fetch up arrears. To keep up a succession of peas, fortnightly sowings will be necessary now for the next six weeks or two months. There are plenty ot good kinds of peas now. Most people have their favourite varieties, and it is never advisable to discard a sort which has proved reliable in difficult seasons. Walker's Pxrp tual Bearer bus always been good with us Duke of Albany is a good pea for exhibition, and is a good bearer for home use. Those who rcay wish to try a comparatively new pea, which can be had at a reason- able price, may plant a row or two of Autocrat; it has a strong branching habit, and does not suffer from mildew, must be planted tbinly and the rows isolated. Make new planta- tions of globe artichokes, four feet apart each way. Dust a little soot over onions occasionally for the next three weeks or so, to keep off the onion fly. Sow vegetable marrows under a hand- light or under a frame. Cover the lights at night. as the plants are very tender. Sow dwarf French beans m a warm position. Plant out lettuces from the seed beds and sow again. To keep up a succession, frequent sowings a.re necessary. As soon as one lot. is fairly up. sow another pinch of seed. Prick out celery, including celeriac. Sow intermediate carrots for main crop. Greenheuse, There will be a good deal of work now in shift- iii £ on young stuff. Many ot the chrysanthe- mums will now be in 5-inch Dots in cold frames, freely ventilated, but must be sheltered on cold nights. Late-struck plants must be kept in cold frames to make them sturdy. It is more important to have a strong stout stem than a lot of top growth run up weakly. Move asters, stocks, and other more or less tender annuals, which have been raised under glass, into cold frames, and gradually expose to free ventilation to strengthen growth. Plenty of fresh air is the best antidote to weakness. Shift, on spring-struck zonal geraniums, and keep the plants near the glass. Balsams must have a light position—if far from the glass, they draw up weakly. Pot off tomatoes, and for the present keep them on shelves near the glass. The early-sown plants inbended to fruit in the greenhouse may be shifted into larger puts, using turfy loam, enriched with some old manure. Window Garden, Tuberous begonias are breaking up now every- where, and should be repotted, using clean pots, well drained, and a sweet, open compost of turfy loam and leaf-mould, with enough sand to keep it open. Bulbs, as they go out of flower, should be placed outside, and sufficient water given to prevent a too sudden ripening. Cuttings of the trailing campanula isophylla will strike now uuder a bell glass. Azaleas in b'oom should not stand in the full sunshine. The flowers will last longer if shaded.—Cot'.agc Gardening.

FRIENDS NO LONGER She: Very peculiar weather we're having just now, don't you think so, Aubrey ? AUBBBY Yes, but very similar, if you remem- ber, to the weather we had in 1850.

No Hurry. Parson Drowsie Dowucouoh, of Dallas, met a confirmed inebriate and undertook to turn him from the wickedness of his ways. He said Here you are drunk again. You will keep on until you land in Sheol uuiess you quit drinking." I don't think I'll ever quit, person. It's too late for me to ko into the reform business. I've never bad any experience in that line." It )s never too late to mend. As long as j there is life there IS hope. You can begin right ¡ now to turn over a new leaf," said the parson. You say, parson. it's never too late to quit drinking and reform That's what I say. It is never too late." Well, then, there is no hurry, so I fueas ru wait awbile. It

Welsh Tit-Bits. -&0- Neu Wreiohien Oddiar yr Eingien. [BY cadhawd,] An Interesting Welsh Histerical Picture. In the Assembly-room of the Cardiff Town Hall hangs a very large painting by Frank Howard, representing an episode in the history of Cardiff which occurred in the year 1158. Ivor Cadifor, known as Ivor Bach, is shown with sword in hand dictating to Earl William the terms of peace, which are said to be First, reo granting the right of the Welsh to be governed according to their old laws and customs; second, renouncing certain terri- tory which Ivor considered himself un- justly deprived of." The Earl and Countess and child appear struck with terror, while the aged figure on the right, supposed to be Robert Curthose, Earl of Normandy, is leaning on a harp. The history of the picture is as follows :—About 50 years ago it was determined to decorate certain corridors in the two Houses of Parliament with paintings of historical scenes, and this picture was one of those painted for the competi- tion but the late Duke of Wellington, who was umpire chosen to judge and select the pictures sent in, rejected this one, and the artist then attempted to sell it elsewhere but failed, and finally sent it down to Cardiff in hopf-s the Corporation of that town would be glad to purchase it. But unfortunately for the artist that body had no money which they could use for such'a purpose, and after much waiting and cor- responding; Howard, in despair at the expense of moving such an enormous painting, m^de a final proposal to the Corporation that if they were willing to pay JE:50 for the frame, he would make them a present of the picture. During the time this offer was being con- sidered the artist died, and the picture is still in the Town Hall. It would appear that Mr Frank Howard was posted in the history of his subject by no less an authority than Carnhuenawi, for he made a point of consulting him. In a letter dated Feb. 23rd. 1847, the artist writes thus to the author ot Hanes y Cymry." Sir,—I trust you will excuse my troubling you upon a point of the history of Wales, with which, I uuderstand, you are the most acquainted. The surprise of Cardiff Castle by Ivor Bach, and the treaty signed on that occasion by Robert Fitzhamon, has been suggested to me as furnish- ing a fine subject for a large historical picture, suitable to the decoration of the Houses of Parhament, being in fact the cession of South Wales by a treaty, au importaut fact generally overlooked. I find the invitation to Fuzi.amou to settle in Morganwg mentioned with all necessary details in Caradoc but I have not been able to obtain any authority for the surprise of Cardiff Castle and the achievements of Ivor Bach. Can you oblige me with any reference or information on the subject 1—Apologising for the trouble I am giving, I have the honour to be. sir, your obedient servant, FRANK HOWARD. To the Rev. T. Price. Now a word as to Ivor Bach. This hero lived in the first half of the 12th century in the hill fortress now known as Morlais Castle, which stands about two miles and a half north-east of the town of Merthyr Tydfil. Our knowledge of bis ancestors is extremely limited. His father was Cadigor abCedrych ab Gwaetbfoed, Lord of Cardiganshire. Of the latter it is recorded that he beat King Edgar in chopping logic, and to a Royal invitation to come and testify his submis- sion to his feudal superior by rowing his Majesty's barge on the river Dee, very politely replied that he would first of all see his Majesty consigned to a fire and brimstone immortality, and then he would not. Ivor seems to inherit his great grandfather's dislike to aquatic excursions, and pitched his tent upon the rock atMorfaia. Upon the partition of Glamorganshire by Fitzhamon the Castle of Upper Senghenydd (Morlais) was given to Cadigor ab Uediycii, Ivor's father being the reward he received from the Norman kuigiit for the double service of fighting with leslyn ab Gwrgan, Rhys ab Tewdur, Priuce of South Wales, and subsequently with the Kottu-m Barons against Iestyn ab Gwrgan. Robert liarl of Gloucester came into posses- sion of the lordship at the decease of F itzhamon, and the governor of Cardiff Castle, and soon attempted to enforce the English laws on the "Men of Glamorgan," and when this became known to Ivor he put himself at the head of the Welsh, and rushing on Cardiff Castle, stormed it at once, seized on Robert and his lady, whom he shut m prison until the Welsh were restored to their privileges and laws. The King and Robert ratified these conditions, whereupon Ivor and his men made peace with them. Ivor Bach, though of short stature, Sir E. Mansel terms him a bold man, of great courage, and very valorous." He also states that he took possession of all the castles and demesnes of the supreme Lord, uutil the terms demanded were complied with. Robert Earl of Gloucester died in 1146, and was succeeded by his son William. This baron. forgetting the chastisement which his father received, must needs iufringe upon Ivor's territorial rights but the same courage which had previously characterised his conduct appeared again. For his protection he built the fortress called Castell Coch, and garrisoned it with two hundred men, and Ivor at this time used to boast that he had uuder his command twelve hundred men who were equal to any twelve thousand in the kingdom. There is no mention of Ivor having ever been married, but Carnhuanawg gives us an account of his death and how his property was disposed of. Gwrgan ab Rhys, the bttst and most learned bard of his time, was slain by Ivor, Lord of Senghenydd, and Morgan ab Owain ab Caradoc, to revenge his kinsman's deatii, attacked Ivor and slew him, and gave his lands to his brother Iorwerth ab Owain, Lord of Caerlleon. History is silent as to where he was buried, but tradition relates that his body was interred between Morlais Castle and PontysUcil, under a venerable oak tree near Y Rhiw Goch.

Andrew Fletcher, 01 ISaitoun, In Ii. letter t. the Marquis of Montrose, wrete :—" I know a very wise man that believed that if a man were permitted to make all the ballads he need not care wa. sfceulri mace the laws ef the nation."

HUMBLE TRUST. Man iR moall Godlike, I affirm, Not when he seeks to top the skies, And peer, poor evanescent worm, Into the heavenly Sphinx's eyes; Not when he tries to patter Of gods and heroes, mind and matter. Or cries, with folly sublimated, Lo, I am first of things created," Or flapping further leaden-bodied, A'ssumes a legislative godhead But when, in tears, he humbly kneeling, Prays in the silence of the night, Knows himself blind, and dimly feeling, With frail arms upward, craves for Lighb Then, from without or from within, Comes in that solemn silent hour The miracle which turns his sin To hope, to insight, and to power Then comes the voice from far away, Saying, My love shall be thy guerdon Be of good heart thou poor thing of olay, Soon shall I turn thy night to day And free thy soul from flesh, its burden Robkrt BUCHANAN.

THE DAISIES. They were spinning snowy garuieuts "For God's own," the Angels said. And the children playing, gathered As they fell each broken thread. Busy at their looms, the Angels Did not hear the children stiy, "We will make white balls aud send them To the earth, far, far away." So the white balls they came gliding O'er the lofty jasper wall. And the Dawn, her rose-light shining, Saw what seemed like blossoms fall. So she stretched her hands to clasp them Vainly, from her they did slip, Bearing downward through tbe ether, Touches of her finger tip. Downward till the great sun rising To the day's fair violet wold, Tried to turn their flight to Heaven, With his gleaming darts of gold. Through their damty, downy softness. Ruthless pierced each goldeu dart, And it glittered in its brightness, Like a star upon their heart. As they fell into the meadows, Softly, like a shower of snow. In the green grass-covered meadows Of the earth land far below. And the Angel—Spring—she found them, Gayiy smiled to see the thread. l1^ky^,PPad and beaming golden, Children's flowers vou'll be," she said.

I GOSSIPS' CORNER. I It costs for lomi abowt £5 10s a week to keep at elephant. Doctor*' prescriptions must not be written it Latin in France. It is said that Phi! May receives B30 for eaot of his pictures in Punch. The Income Tax has changed 18 timee eioet 1342, varying from 2d in the £ to Is 4d. Lord J ustice Rsgby and Mr Joseph Aroh a wondertu! resemblance to one another* No vendors of intnxlcltnts will be allowed tC follow the French troops in Madagascar. The drinking of buttermilk is said to be greatlj beneficial in rheumatic And kidney troubles. Senor Canovas, the Prime Minister of Spain, began lile as a subordinate n-i'way employee. There is a perfect rage in Pans at present foi trinkets of Louis XV. and Louis XVI. styles. The Princess dress is steadily coming into favour, and by next spring will be quite estab- lished. Among many recent arrivals at the Zoo tht most interesting are four great tortoises from the Galapagos. More than lOG callings, professions, or occupa- tions are open in the United States to women ot I the present day. Few perhaps know that the clerks of the Houst of Commons always reeeive new wigs when a neu Speaker comes into office. The Atchdukc Francis Ferdinand o Austrit has written a book on his travels, one volumt dealing exclusively with los visit to India. One of the traditions which the early Rom ant cherished as to swallows was that they were the spirits of dead children revisiting their homes. It's a graund ordination—death." This came from a lonely old man a night or two before he died. So records a correspondent of the Spectator, The Persian footgear is a raised shoe, and is often a foot high. It is made of light wood, richly inlaid, with it strap extending from the instep. A nine's are often able to bear very protracted fast in?. In the Italian earthquakes of 1795 a dog was burie 1, it is said, for 23 days, and yet recovered. So large has baen the sale of The Heavenly Twins'' that; the publisher, Mr Heinemann, has lately raised the author's royalty on the book by 5 per cc-n c. For spring wear ( he skirts of dresses are imost exclusively m woollen materials, with bodices or blouses in a totally different fabric. The sleeVM sH:I matelJ the skirt. The marriage of the Dnohess of Marlborough and Lord William Beresford will take plACf quietly at St. George's Church, Hanover-square, on Tuesday, the 30th inst., at one o'clock. Tan shoes will be worn this season not only in the country but also in town in the mornings. For bicycling hr.rdiy any other boot or shoe is worn, black ones shewing the dust so much. Three-tenths of the earnings ot a Belgian convict are given to him on the expiration of his term of imprisonment. Some d them thus save more money m gaol that they ever saved before. So much has the art of dressing, and dyeing feathers been developed that numbers of the seemingly rare feather boas now worn ha.ve simply been made from the plumage of the y For a travelling c. mpany to publish a news- paper of i'.s own in eisch town that it visits is something of a nowit.y, but this is being done in the case of the King Kodak Company, now being uerformed at Cardiff. it is annoumvi amoiig i.bo mosb nove- exhibits at this yogi's International Exhibition at Amsterdam will bs an "electric restaurant," which will serve its customers with a complete dinner automatically and without the assistance of In surgical cpcratioi.s the skin incision iaoftiet the most painful part, and duellists who have been run through the bouy and survived say they were conscious only of something cold passing through them, with ju~t ;i puck at the points of entry and i x.t of the weapon. Queen Maigiserita has granted an audience tc bignor Leoncavallo, the composer of "I Pag, hacci," and hos accepted from him a copy of hit new opera, Tomma,.w Uilatl.ertOIl," The Queen promised him to be present at thciitst repiesenta tiou of this opera, which will take place before lung in Itomc. Tue E mperor of Germany is having a miniature fort put up m his son's playground, designed b, one of Krupp's engineers, and fitted up Willi Krupp's catuiou and all the newest inventions for warfare. This is to ttach the yeiung Princes tht practical working of a furt, and in the minutes* details the toys will be perfect. For afternoon dresses or blouses there are (sayt a fashion writer) no fewer timn 15 different tonef of green from pale to dark, 10 of rhododendron aud mauve, 17 of various b.ues, aud 14 tones ol brown. And, in addition, there are tan-oolour, t.-ria-eo:a, scarlet, criuisou, he-de-vin, puce, grey, mignonette, and heliotrope. The Hammer Hotel at Cardiff, says tbe Hotel, has lately been taken over by an eminent Londor firm, aud is now undergoing all,t-ratiolls; there it to be a wholesale aud retail bottle entrance, with an unique sh p. The inner bar is to be oonverted into a pretty restaurant it. let mode, and the entire basement is to be run en the well-known Bodegc lines. When a proposal wa.s made not long ngo tt tax the bachelors of France, as they were taxed in the days of the first Republic, the fact wat re-called that Republics generally have been hard upon the cslibates. Plato condemned the single men to a fine, and In Sparta they were driven at stated times to the temple of Hercules by the women, who there drilled and castigated them in true military style. I Londoners do not appear to be converted U vegetarianism at a very rapid rate. The quan tity of meat delivered at the Metropolitan and Central Markets last yea- amounted in weight to 340,956 ton-, more than 77,000 tons in excess of the supply for 1893. Of the lll..at received 115,193 tow were couutiy killed, 70,535 tons town killed, ¿O,050 tons were general foreign meat and produce. 71,638 Ions were American killed meat, II and 4-9.908 tons Australian and New Zealand killed fresh meat. I always like to hear of plucky people, and among them, I imagine (says the Nationmi I Observer's gossip), must be reckoned Sir Harry and Lady Burrard. From various reasons this well-esteemed pair have exporienced severe monetary reverses, but, undismayed, they have entered into a new hue of livelihood, and taken Brynmynach Castle, at Barmouth, in North Wales, where they propose to entertain paying visitors. The enterprise should certainly succeed. The host and hostess are popular members of society.

A SATURDAY SERMON. I believe that I have received from the hand oj God crown and sceptre, and that although othei designs may be accomplished by the existence of the material and living things around me, they are intended to serve me. The sun shines that 1 may see the mountains and the woods and the flashing streams, and that I may do the work bj which I live. For me the rain falls, and the dew* silently distil—to cherish the corn which growl for my food, to soften the air I breathe, and te keep the beauty of the world fresh and bright on which I rejoice to look The music of the birds is for me, and the perfume of the flowers. For me it was that forests grew 111 ancient times, and have since hardened into coal; for me tbeftll are veins of iron and of silver penetrating the soJid ttarth and f «r me there are rivers whose sands are goH. The beasts of the earth wen meant to do my work sheep and oxen are giver me for food. Fire, bail, and the stormy wind were meant io serve me. I have authority to compel the lightning, to be a messenger of my thought, and the servant of my will. Man it j placed over the works of Ged's hands for that j works were meant to minister to man's life, flMMfr vnlbure. and man's happiness.

WORKMEN'S TOPICS. BY MABON. STEAM ENGINfcSANO BOILERS. Persons in Charge. Amongst the many proposed Labour legislative tnactments brought before the prssent Parlia- ment is the important measure which will pro- vide for certificates to persons in charge of steam 5ngines and boilers. Thus the primary object of '< Bill is to place all steam engines above j tertain horse power, and boilers for the genera- lion and use, under pressure, of steam for produo- live power, in charge of persons duly conversant, t'om practical experience, with their construction Mid management. The first and principal point to be dealt with ill- Certificate ef Service. tt is proposed in this clause that every person "ho, before the 1st day of January next, has had 1 practical control or management, for a period \f not less than one year, of a steam engine 1ZLeeditig five horse power, or steam boiler, or Uly closed vessel for the generation of steam for ItIch engine, at any works, railway, or manu- actory in the United Kingdom, or on river or lasting steamer of like power or pressure, •ball be entitled to a Certificate of Service, to be 'elivered to him by the Board of Trade on atif,factory proof that he has had such experience Ind is a person of sobriety and general good 'duct. The certificates under the new Ach will be tnown ai (a) first-class certificates, (b) second- Jlass certificates, and (oj certificates of service. fhe first-class certificates will only be granted tfter an examination by duly-appointed ex- aminers; the second-class certificates on application n writing, on a prescribed form, to the Board of Trade such application will have to be accom- panied by testimonials as to character and fitness, "Rued by not less than two persons who 11"5 holders of first-class certificates under Lhe Act, provided that no person under 18 years of age shall hold a certificate except only or the purpose of having the control or charge of \n engine of not more than two horse power. "Jertiticalies of service I have already explained, itid will be granted ad lib. to all that prior to the COmIDencement of the Act have had for one year lb. practical control of an engine exceeding five ^se power. There is also recognised in this proposed Bill lOme difference in class of engines, and the work ione by them, and in granting the certificates Accessary for the various positions, in the case of Engine-drivers in Mines, 10 person unless in the possession' of a first. ,18ss certificate under this Act is to be placed in Jharge of or have the control of any steam engine ^•ed in connection with any coal or other mines '1' the purpose of winding minerals or workmen from those mines, nor shall any person employed about such mines have the control of any steam boilers, engines, or machinery, or main winding engines who is not in possession of a second-class certificate under the Act. In fact, the possession of seoond-class certificate will be indispensable to the control of any kind of engine, machinery, or hoiler in connection with mines. Moreover, no Parson in charge of any winding engine in con. aectiam with the working of any mine, shall, ""der any pretence,-whatever, ualesa relieved by toother person, who would hold for that purpose similar first-class certificate, absent himself or' cease to have continual supervision of such -inding engine during the time it is used in working the mine, so that during working hours, he it either day or night, no, winding engine at a "sine is to be allowed after this Act comes into 'oroe, to be any time whatever without being under the supervision (,f a first-class certificated lilginefir. Moreover, I should have said that applicants for all first and second class certificates *nust give satisfactory proof that neither their hearing nor eyesight is defective, nor are lliey to e subject to any other mental or bodily infirmity lIkely to interfere with the efficient discharge of their duties. With regard to Assistant and Attendant Engineers, Applicants of this olass of men for first-class c*rtificates as colliery enginemen will have to Pfoduoe evidence as to fitness and practical knowledge in the construction or management of *team engines or steam boilers, or have been the folders of second-class certificates for at least *2 months, and during that period have had at three months' experience in assisting at a Ending engine. Towards receiving second-class certificates applicants will have to pro- tv 8 evidence that they have, prior to .e date of examination, had at least six months' experience as assistants in the work- IlIr of engines or machinery used for mining Purposes. Any locomotive fireman or stoker desiring to secure a first-class certificate shall make a written Application to the Board of Trade, and shall fttisfy that board that for a period of not less than six years up to the date of such application be has continuously followed the occupation of a 'Ocomotive fireman or stoker, and satisfy the eXaminers under the Act that he has & practical 1naowledge of the construction or management Of locomotive engines, and is of good character, lie shall be entitled to a first-class certificate of competency. For second-class I Otrtificatie an applicant who has been con- talQonsly employed for a period of not less •has 12 months at work affording him a practical pBowledge of the construction or management of 1°oomotive eDgines, and is of good character, on application and proof, will be entitled to a second- olass certificate. Appointment of Examiners. The Board of Trade is the authority which I "ill from time to time appoint the ex- liners. They will have to possess prac- tJaaJ, and mechanical experience or knowledge I Of steam-engines and boilers to enable them to conduct the examinations of persons applying for first-class certificates of competency. *he Board of Trade also will have power to -noel or suspend these certificates if the holders I Of them be found guilty of neglect, misconduct, Or incompetency, and the board will have power ldfJO to reissue the suspended certificates on an appeal being made by their previous holders, if ftch appeal be accompanied by evidence in favour of such an appeal. Before closing my exposition of this Bill, allow 111. to make a recommendation to all young men that arsanxiouB to earn their livelihood in attending and working steam engines, boilers, etc., to pre- pare themselves at once in all the points that are "WMidered necessary to pass such examinations as "ill entitle them to certificates of competency, *0. For it is provided that the examiners appointed by the Board of Trade will have power from time to time to make, alter, and revoke rulea as to the qualifications of the applicants and many other matter in connection with these Matters, so that, without a doubt, the qualifica- tions for these certificates will be continually taised as time rolls on, in the same way as they have been raised in connection with the certifi- Bttta under the Mines Act. So that it will be I sooner the better the certificates be applied for after the passing of the Bill. I

Understood the Business. First Dude How is it that you get invitations » balls, parties, weddings, and like festivities ? Second Dude It is the simplest thing in the wortd, my dear fellow. When I suspect that any of my big-bug acquaintances are going to give a I tell them that I shall be out of town. *hey imagine it is safe to invite me. They do, 'bd lo and behold, I bob serenely up. Strategy, any boy, strategy.

TooEabltto DEOIDE.-First Boy (who was *|*t at school): How is the new teaoher—cross t— ^eond Boy She had a smile on her face all the "O-ing.-Firat Boy (suspiciously): Mebby she %at bought her teeth.

Our Country Column. -4' A Perfect Milking Machine. A perfect milking machine is a valuable posses- sion, and I believe it is realised in the modern Ayrshire cow. Judged exclusively from the milk- producing standpoint, this is our mosb useful breed of cattle. Whilst this is true from the farmer's standpoint, ib is even more so from that of the cottager, the smallholder, or the country labourer. Personally, I feel so strongly the profitableness of single cow-keeping, that I should like to press it homa. Of course convenience for the cow must be at hand, but the time and trouble which a single animal take up is exceed- ingly small. And just now is the time to begin. I know a road labourer w ho, year by year, has a cow and a heifer always on hand, and in his case- certainly a thrifty one-the cows convert a poor man into a rich one. He lives in a shorthorn dis. tricb and his cattle are shorthorns. I have, how- ever, in previous notes shown that in Ayrshire, the Kerry or the Black Welsh are admirably suited to this purpose, and where the conditions as to pasture are poor I would recommend either of these three in preference to the shorthorn. As to the primary qualities of the Ayrshire she ranks high not only in the quantity of her milk, but also in quality. One cow has a record of upwards of 1,300 gallons of milk in a year, bub between 600 and 700 gallons is nearer the general average. The milk shows 12% per cent. of solids, 12 to 16 per cent, of cream, and 3% to 4% per cent. of butter fat. There are few breeds of cows that can show such a record as this. A cow alluded to above has givon 41lbs. at a milking. The milk of the Ayrshire is pre-eminently suitable for cheese- making, and although in the principal districts where Ayrshires are kept a quantity of butter is made, yet by far the largesb part of the milk is used for the manufacture of Cheddar cheese. Tested, then, in regard to actual quantity, the Ayrshire is far ahead of any other breed, and the man who will take in hand a thrifty Ayrshire cow and treat her generously should have in the year 250!b?!. of butter or Scwts. of cheese. Seassnable Paultry Hints. Poultry needs careful attention both as regards sitting and laying stocks, while those who have young chickens will have to pay attention to their wants. An abundance of fresh clean water must be at hand at all times, and regular feeding should besfcricbly adhered to. Cleanliness in the nests i3 an absolute necessity at this season to keep down parasites, as where these are present the birds, whether sitting or laying, are very tpt to desert their nests and seek more comfortable quarters. It is a good plan to limowash poultry houses every month during the wnnn weather, as this them more plen^- i -md healthy. Hollyhocks. Hollyhocks, when double self-coloured varieties are grown, are very ornamental plants, and have a dignified appearance which few ethers possess while at the same time they are not difficult to grow. The only drawback is that the hollyhock fungus may attack the plants occasionally, but well-grown, strong seedlings appear to stand less chance of these attacks than do the named varieties propagated from cuttings, and for this reason it is preferable to use seedlings for general work. Where seeds have been saved from double flowers, the bulk of the young plants produce double flowers, and in many cases the colours come pretty true, although slight variations will be apparent to a close observer. For general use we prefer prize show and fancy hollyhock feed, and these we treat as follows :-In February or March seeds are sown on good loamy soil on a slight bottom heat, and when in rough leaf the plants are pricked out about four inches apart on a nearly cold hotbed (having about six Inches of soil over the fermenting material), or in an ordinary cold frame. In April the plants should be put oub in hichiy-manured --oil about thirty inches apart, protected with inverted flower post m cold weather at night, and a good show of bloom will ba had during August and September. Of course atten- tion to staking and watering is necessary, but when plants such M.are shown in the illustration can be produced the first year, it is worth while Uouble with UVwm. A^>oith«r plan I 110 sow the seeds at the end ótJunc or early in July in a cold frame, and, when in rough leaf, to put out some in a cold frame, having them six inches apart, and leaving the others under a warm wall. Here they will stand during the winter, being to some extent protected during hard frosts, and in April they should be trans- planted to where they are to flower. By this method earlier flowering is secured, but at the same time there is a greater chance of their being attacked by the fungus which is so disastrous to this class of plants when it obtains a hold on them. It is therefore desirable that these plants should be treated both as annuals and biennials. Pigs fer Prefit. Wherever possible the owner of a vegetable garden should possess one or two pigs, and if bought now good results will be had as to size at a minimum of cost. Taking young animals at about three months old, they will thrive on pollard and such vegetables as are at hand. As the produce of the garden increases, so does the size of the animals, and they will convert all the green waste into valuable manure, while they themselves will also improve in both size and value. This is a matter not to be overlooked, for although we do not believe that pigs will prove more than ordin- arily remunerative to the majority of people who keep them, yeb they are of the greatest use in connection with the garden, This is, however, a question which will bo again dealt with shortly, and those who intend going in for a pig should at once provide it with a good residence. It must, however, be remembered that pigs like company. Two together always thrive better than a pig in solitary confinement; therefore two pigs should be kept where possible. Planting Apple Trees, \Vh9n trees are received for planting, great care should be taken that they are not exposed to frost. If the ground is suitable for planting, a hole is dug sufficiently deep to receive the tree, and with a circumference capable of taking all the roots without cramping any. The jagged ends of the roots should be cut off with a sharp knife. The tree must nob be planted too deep; it is almost better to go to the other extreme, and plant too shallow. The depth the ties should be planted is fairly indicated by the mark lefb by the earth when taken from the nursery. In poor land a spadeful of manure is thrown in with the soil. The tree is placed in an upright position, the roots being well spread out; then fine soil is placed on them and firsnly trodden down, the remainder of the earth being thrown in and also trodden down. A stake should support the tree when first planted for protection against the wind, and a band of sacking or cloth should be placed round and tied firmly to the stake. This band, fastening the tree to the stake, must be loosened every year, as the stem increases. Carelessness in this performance has ruined many trees, either from the string eating into the bark of the tree, or from the stake rub- bing the stem of the tree in times of high winds. Dwarf trees on the Paradise stock are planted in the same way, but require no staking. Young standard trees, for the first four or five years, are pruned tolerably hard, and the branches should be always cub to an outside bud. The cuts should be made clean with a sharp knife ib is advisable not to prune during a severe frost. The after treatment of standard trees is very simple, and consists in keeping the heads well op'm and allowing the sun and air to get in. Answers to Cerrcspontfents. J. N. (Lincoln).-See a note this week. Yes, In the order named—Ayrshire, Jersey, Kerry. (2.) The other breeds you mention are too large. They would require good land and a fair amount of arbificial food. Poulard (Grange).—For meat: Indian game, Dorking, Old-English game; for eggs, Minorca, Langshan, Hamburghs. (2.) The Houdan and Minorca lay white eggs, the Langshan tinted. Mirabelle (Maidstone).—Mirabelle or oherry plums: They require a sheltered and warm aspect, as they bloom early. They are red and yellow in colour, and have a long stalk.