The Cardiff Times

EIGHTEENTH CENTURY PASTOR PONTNEWYDD CONGREGATIONALISM. In Memoriain Monolith. A monolith of. Scotch granite on a base of Forest stone, standing 7ft. 4in. high, has been ded to the memory of the Rev. Edmund Jones, better known as Pwrphct, Jones of the Traoeh." the fownder of Elxmozer Congrega- tional Chapel, Ptontaewyuydd. in the lath century. The monument, whif-h is also in memoriam of the founder's wile, has been raiscil in the chapel burial rotmd. l and was unveiled on .Monday by f Mr John Davies. the senior deskcoji and secretary of the church. The monument the follewiog inscriptions — '• This monument was erected by Congregational Church, assisted by friecKis in this country and tb United SWfcttM of America. February Here lyeth the body of Mary Jc»ne«. the wife of the Rev. iidmutid Jones, who dies) August. 1st, 1770, aced V& a rare, esrct-Hent^' Christian. [' one of the be^t of ministers' wives not kind to temptation, as too many professors .ire Strict in tho way of hoHnoss and strona on Goers c: very* careful of the church under husband's care, and fearful lest herself and wo should dishonour (tod. Blessed be God. Y CyfiawR fydd rnevm CoffadwriactJb. Here also lies the of the JR-t. Edmund Jones, who died November 30th, aged 91 years and ? months. Fouadcr of Ebenc^cr Church and its mator for 51 years." -:A

ENDLESS-CHAm PRAYER. BISHOP LAV/RENCETS REPUDIATION. The eodlesfl chain prayer, to which 1ft! have nrerioasly made reference has hNft repudiated by Bishop lAWrcrlcC. of Massachusetts, name, it. appears, was ^Viit* tt&waTrantafcty med in cunueetmn with if" Mr D ,J1$ Williatrw, tlie Aisrwricari Cardiff, cammuuicated with BKtiwp L«cwrcceo on the subject, aad has received the fttlkrwites reply BtshO}> Lawroiice has your oommuaication He is cooataatty rFceiviag so ma.ny simitar ones that lie is obliged to uae this lorm of a«k»owied^tnent. He has toad nothing what- ever do with, and is ia to way respon- sible for, the end loss-chain prayer, and he hopes that those receiving them will destroy them. Denials to this effect have been pub- lished by Bittho Lawrence and others in many papers. As so many people have been rtrstiirlxrd by the tto-eat you wdl oblige him by having a denial pabh.^ited ia your local paper R M. fclui). Secretary. In a private letter to the Coftsu^ Bishop Lawrence states 116 the m*«loaxne fwar other OBCl'fessK-haili pralnwpo. Int&ekist few fiaVS I have received ihelftJrotn South Australia, Kagiaed. Jiietil wkf, Califtarcfia, *tid varions parts ot A^iaatic States. am in bo waj- respfefcsible for such a but aft iOEg as people aloe superttitio«s< e&outfh to pay any attention to sricfa a thing t hey wlU he res|Ktasibic for the distribution."

Aa the ship MiS« HnnMey was passing through tho North Dock, Swansea, she got jammed between the walls of the lord;, the wind pre- venting the boat from keeping straight course. When she got into the dock itself the wind carried her with considerable violence against thc qudy Wall, and then against the side of ahother ship. Fortunately, no damage w%a done. • J

You ng Welsh Liberals. O CARDIFF BRANCH OF NATIONAL LEAGUE Speeches by Mr D. A. Thomas and Mr..Ellis Griffith. iVl.P.'s. A meeting was held ;1 t the <i>ry liall. Caniitr, on 'Alondav night under the auspices of the Xatiouni League of .Young Wc!ii Liberals for the purnose of forniing a brraich-of the l.'nion in Cardifr. This new oriaiv:s>ition aims at- vn-ating a bond of uuioit between voting AVeisli Liberals in and outside Wales, to footer •-•pnorttinities for service in the highest interests of the Principality, and to secure practical recognition of the principle of separate treatment the distinctive neels 0:: Wales. Mr D. A. rnomM.M.P. preside;], and the attendance wag II10.i; encouraging. There were ou the platform 3tr Ellis Jonas G riitith, M.L' Mr J. Hush Edwards, ML-G. P. Forsdike, Mr Beddoe Rres, Mr Walter T. Williams^ Principal Edwiirtls,. D.D., Hcy. n. 31. Huglies, and others. Letters of apology were read from Sir Alfred Thomas end the Hon. Ivor Guest, and the Rev. H. Elvet Lewis, who were unable to be present. The Chairman, in opening, dwelt upon the courage of Mr liilis Jones-Griifith, who lie rather fancied intended pressing forward the cause of Welsh Disestablishment. He might, however, find himself in the guardroom before long, and they might hear of him and the chairman, loaded with chains, being thrown into the dungeons of Carnarvon Castle. (Laugh- ter., VVales could claim to have given birth to the largest number of political organisations, but he thougnt it was the tomb or organisa- tions too. Laughter.) There was room, however, for such an organisation as that; in support of which they were met. He referred to the resolution passed 14 years ago by the Welsh members threatening that it elsh Dis- establishment were not pushed forward they would have to reconsider their attitude of support to the Government and take an inde- pendent course. He did not think they were justified in making anything in the nature of a, threat towards tne Govern cnent. He would like to see the Welsh members insisting upon Welsh Disestablishment being taken as tho principal measure of next Session, 1903. (Hear, hear.) If they did not lind it in that position then he hoped the whole of Wales would be w^used, and that a more drastic course would I bo taken by the Welsh members, but if tho Government decided to take the opinion of the country at an early date m regard to the House of Lords—and they a.Iked all sections of the Liberal party to unite on thai question and set aside their special claims-then he thought Wales should do NO, and b3 guided by tnat advice. (Applause.) Mr EMLs Jones Griffith, M.P., the prssident of the J..eag,w, who wa. received ,¡Ib loud cheers, said that since 1368 the paramount question in Wales had been the Disestablish- ment and Disendowment of the Church in W ales, and at every election VV ales had sent a great majority to Parliament until to-day ihey hed a unanimous vote in its favour. When Liberalism in England was routed, and wavered in Hcotland, Wales remained true to its allegi- ance and had kept its faith intact with a con- sistency almost unknown in the life of the Celtic nation. Now was the time to speak, for Welsh members did not hold the:r seats by servile silence. He had begged the Liberal leaders before the General Election to place the question clearly whether they intended it to be in the Liberal programme. The Prime Minister." declared the speaker, midst rousiug cheere, gave an assurance that Disestablish- ment would be introduced at the first available opportunity, but it would be more satisfactory had a public declaration been given." Pro- ceeding Mr Griffith raised his audience io an enthusiastic pitch when he appealed Let it come before Parliament gets old—before enthusiastic pitch when he appealed" Let it come before Parliament gets old-before its vigour and virility arc gone." Mr Griflfith then turned hi attention to the Guardroom speech, and said he would abandon Disestablishment if tbe Government really mean t business with the House of Lords, but if there was going to be any cup-mling they had a bitter drop from Wales to put. in it—the bitterest drop of all. But the Government, instead of turn ing their artillery upon theHousa of Lords, only turned their attention to it. which was a very different question, and several questions which used to be behind Disestablish- ment. had now been placed before it..Becom- iug more militant, tho member for Anglesey said that niwsrure must, he brought to har. for the JVe'sh people had made up their minds to g" Di;;3Ülblí.hm.nt. passed iu th9 third Hessiem. Wo Want tho Celtic fire to flare a little less ;u»d burn a little more," he added. the Government goes to the country, it will be. against tbe House of iiOrds phis Iheinessnres which they had reject'd. and unless Disestablishrscu t. c, introduced iu this Parliament it will not he before the country at the General tioft," They dared not, he added, imperil the fruits of lbe victory the people had obtained last year, and they must hive Disestablish- merit the main and the (.rimarv Bill,'but he hope thai the Government, seeing them de- termined, trouid 1dl them not t I.) fret llicm- sdves. (L&ttght-er 3ud appianse.) Mr T. Hugh Kdwards impressed uponthose present that tie1 ir object was 1 o form a. I.eague and not a clique they were seeking to have in Wei what already existed in England and Scotland. In 11.1., future they raust be in grint earnest, and they should expect their Parlia- njentary representatives to bo likewise. (Hear, hear.) Principal I'd warns moved a resolution ex- pressing the undoubted and burning desire of tbeLiberd. of Wales that a Bill for the Dises- t«.b!i?hnicnt and Disendomnent of the Church in Wales should be introduced into Parliament early next .Session and pressed forward with unwavering decision and firmness, and calling on all the Welsh members to press on the Government the necessity of adopting this course if it desired to retain the loyalty and support, of Welsh Lihera>s. (Applause.) Tho Re. 1L M. Hughes seconded, and the resolution was carried.

LLANELLY GARDEN TRAGEDY. MR ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. Before the Llaneliy magistrates on Monday Mr G. F. Blake, president of the Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Harbour Trust, and late agent of the. Stradey Estate, appeared to answer a charge of attempting to commit suicide by cut-ting his throat o-i January Hlb. Mr D. l. Edmunds represented Mr Manse! Lewis, of Stcadcy Castle, and Mr David Randall, of the 1itÛ\ of Randal) and Saunders, defended. Upon the application of Mr Randall, defendant was aJlovvtjd to take a.,seat near him, instead of iu the dock. Mary Owen. housekeeper to the defendant, said that on the 14th January Mr Blake -oft for his office hont DIne o'clock in the morning, and returned about 11 0 clock. Shortly after that she consulted him a« to whether he was coming in to lunc h^and he replied in the affirma- tive- At about 12 o'clock she had occasion to go into the garden to fetch some vegetable j. The Magistrates' Clerk Teti their Worships what you saw. Witnese I saw my master lying on the ground near the green-house, which -a about one hundred yards from the house. He was partly on the footpath, and partly ui the garden. He was bleeding, and his coat collaruvas turned up. Did you speak to him ?—Yes. Did he answer ?—No Whit (lkl you do 1 hen I telephoned for as-sistunce, and Mr Willie Lewis and others arrived. Witness (continuing) said Mr Blake had not been cmite in ilis usual health for a short, time before Jauuary 13th. He was not taking his so well, but he had never said anything about doing something to himself, norVaw there anything in his man- ner which wouid mate her fear. William l-ew:s, Ynyswen, New-road, chief clerk at the stradey Estate office, said that defendant was agent of tlie f-state. Mr Brodie (the ckrk) Was he agent of the estate Oil January 14th ?—I presume he was. On that, day, witness proceeded, Mr Blake was in the oftics up tilt 1115 in the morning. He had a general conversation with him. He appeared to be i n hi" usual health. When he saw him in the garden the wound in his throat was bleeding very much, and there was blood on the ground He asked him, "Good God, what have yon done, sir > He appeared to speak., "ut witness did not know what he said. Dr. Evan Evans said that when he was called he found Mr Blade in a very collapscd state and suffering from an incised wound in the front of his neck. It was a. clear cut wound four or five inches long: extending across the neck, and it was certainly done by a sharp instrument. He had now practically recovered. Homicidal Paroxysm. Dr. Evans said that shortly after his arrival he was handed a bloodstained razor. He did not think defendant wris responsible for his actions oft the 11th January- Mr David Randall Assuming there was a committal, which I do not suppose there will be. would the suswnse have a detriment*! effect upon his isiind ?—I think it Would. Sergeant Brittai.i said defendant, when ar- rested, said. I have no recollection of what took place." Dr. Evans was recalled, and, tn reply to the clerk, said he had been told defendant Was severing his connection as agent of the Stradey Estate Was that sufficient to cause what happened ? —In some cases it would have been qaite suffi- cient. The Magistrate It depends upon tlie man's rcK-ntiil baianLV.. Mr Brodie: Is titers a possibility of this utter.tal failure Wit&ess Apjjareutly Mr RwdaU haviiw addressed the Court, The Bench said Uiey had only tto eourKes ope& to thttn-either to commit dtfeudatttfor trial or to discharge him- After hearing tire medical evidence, although it was not within their province to inquire into the defendant's mind at the time of the occurrence, they con- sidercd that with swcii evidence no jurywowd convict, and they decided to discbarge defen- dant..

_J- As Mr Joha Jones. Bryngwyn. was returning from L'andyssul or> Saturday evening, driving a horse and cart, the animal bolted, and Mr Jones I tell out. and the Wh1 passed over his body. Mr C. Williams rendered aid and sent for Dr. E. R. Evans, who prmnpHy arrived. Mr Jones sustained severe injuries.

TRAMS RUN WILD. Crash Down a Slant. TRIMSARAN DRIFT DISASTER. Six Workmen Killed. FIVE SERIOUSLY INJURED. A terrible disaster occurred at 1 o'clock on, Saturday afternoon (as reported in the later editions of the •' K< ho that day) at Trimsaran Colliery, near Llanellv, re- sulting in ti de ,f -ix men and five being mole or less severely injured. There is practically no mystery about the cause of the accident. Trimsaran Colliery is worked by means of a Slant which is about 800 yards in length, and the gradient is 9 inches in the yard, or one iu four. The last journey of coal was being brought up at 1 o'clock, consisting of nine trams. The journey had reached the top of the slant, and the first tram wes being tilted over when the hitching plate broke, and the other trams consequently ran back wildly down the drift. It is believed that about 50 men were down at the time of the disaster. Many of ,these were walking up the drift, while a good number remained in the bottom of the s ant. awaiting the trams. Those who were walking up had no time to run to the top-holes for shelter, and the runaway trams caught some of them and killed them on the spot. The trams became derailed and knocked some props out and caused a fall of roof about six yards long. Eleven of the men. alive or dead, were buried in the debris. Four of them had a most miraculous escape. David Williams lay down dat on the ground and was not hurt. Benjamin Moyd clung to the knockenvire and held his Ixwly back as the trams passed and so saved himself. The most thrilling experience was. however, that of Thomas Griffiths, of the Pelican With great presence of maul he sprang into the sump, and he pulled in a young boy named John Owens with him. He was hemmed in by the debris, and there was a fall above him, which locked him up in a most uncomfortable position, while in this groove was the orphan hitch boy, who was crying piteouslv and praying most earnestly to be saved from death. They were two and a half horns in this awful plight before they were rescued, and Griffiths could not then stand on account of the pressure 0\1 his legs for so long a time. He v.as put in a tram aud conveycd to the surface. The Killed. Benjamin Da vies. Waunyrlyn-road, about.30 years of age. married, one child. Albert Liley. Mountain, near Kidwelly, single (18), lived with his father. Jiihn ltees. Cape!, near Llandurry Churci (16), livedwith his father. David Lodwig, Waunlm. close to the collier;, (28), lived with his father and mother. David Davies, Pwll, near Llaneliy. David Price. Heol ddu, Trimsaran (died at the Llaneliy Hospital.) The Injured. Joseph J. ,11 II, \Va Il!1 yd YJI, single, i lH'i;f'd wound on tlie eJlf of the right leg; sealp wounds contusions of the right thigh. Thomas Griffiths, Pelican, contusions on t.he head and buck saved Very we'll. John Ovens, W.-mnifor-road.Trimsaren (15). general contusions about the body, limbs, and chest. David Williams. TrimsaVan-road, lacerated wounds *>n the scalp contusions on the right 'andlel't leg and on the head rents about the fingers. William John Powers, compound fracture above the right ankle lacerated \\ounus of the sealp (sent to Llaneliy Hospital). DAVID DAVIES, of Pwll. THE RESCUE WORK. Immediately after tne occurrence rescuing parties were organised. TJiere was a gang of men under the (iirceMon oi: Mr T. H. Evans, the manager of the. colliery, at the upper part of the fall, and the colliers who had not come up from the pit and who were working Ixdow the fall commenced at the other end. One by one the unfortunate men were rescued. Ttisa strange coincidence that none of them were over 30 years of age, and several of them -ere mere boys. As they were rescued", those cached by the upper gang Were at-once taken o the surface, and 1 >r. HoWells, of Trimsaran, vas immediately called, and being within one mhdred yards of tho colliery at the time he was here [to attend to the injured as they appeared it thef drift entrance. The lirst attended to was V. who had sustained a compound "radiire of -tbe right ankle and lacerated scali), ami haying rendered first aid to him, the doctor ordered Jiis removal to the Llanellv Hospital. The bodies of Ben Davies and Liley were then brought up, and it ri,,tilyitil o'clock that all th<* killed and injured had been recovered, and it Was not unt-1 half-past seyen o'clock that Dr. Howells had completed his "work of attending to the injured, and in the maritime assistance had been given hy-Dr Koderick, of Llaneliy. and Dr. Griffiths, of Kidwelly. The injured first of all con- veyed h; the lamp room and tlw electric instal- lation room for treatment. The provision of ambulance apparatus was rather deficient. The scene at the pit's mouth after the accident wa:s nof: su harrowing as is sometimes t 1-it at colliery disasters. There-were- nu women and children cm the spot, but-, about a huudrcdcöllicl's 'employed at the Trimsaran, Gwendraeth.and CapeFJvan Collieries were thero rca.dy to give any help in their power. Trimsaran ia a quiet village nestling in a valley the Carmarthen side of Pembrey Mountain, and the workmen in the colliery- live in a scattered area extending to Kidwelly in one direction, and almost to Pembrey on the other The colliery, which employs between 150 and 200 men. awl raises about 200 tons of coal a day, has been practically immune from disaster in the past. The district being so scattered, the news of Saturday's disaster did not spread rapidly to the homes of the dead or injured. In many cases, indeed, the home folk did not know of the calamity until their breadwinners were brought home either injured or dead. Heroic deeds were performed by the rescue parties. Although the timber's had been knocked out, thus causing a serious roof dis- turbance, the rescuers, including Mr T. U.' E vans, the manager, worked regardless of the possibility or probability of a further fall of debris, and their efforts to extricate their com. rades from their dreadful plight, whiLt Mr W. J. Graham, a director and agent of the colliery company, directed operations at the mouth of the drift. p.C. Bees was also promptly on the scene rendering all the aid within his power. Two only of the VlctImswerc conveyed to the Llaneliy Hospital, the l'ést being taken to their homes. David Price died shortly after his arrival at the hospital, where he had been at- tended by Dr. R Evans. The other patient at the hospital, W. J*. Rogers, who is su-ffeviiig from a compound fracture of the right ankle. and a lacerated wound on the shoulder, was on Sunday reported to be pretty comfortable, and strong hopes are entertained of his re- and strong hopes are entertained of his re- covery. The other patients, who were taken to their homes, have sustained no limb fracture. although all of them, with the exception of Thomas Griffiths, the Pelican, are suffering from wounds. J

.A r.'ew o? the Collierv buiJdincs, showing t he ""indmff-hoitse on (lie'•'I'L and the tram hues Jcading to the mouth of the driff. (Photo- graphed for the .S.W.D.N, by William Harris, a collier working at the Trimsaran drift.) j

0_ -< -I_< TREDEGAR HOUNDS AT CROSS FARM. Lord Tredegar's hounds met OD Monday at Llancriarne Crosd Farm, the country residence t and stud farm of that popular sportsman, Mr W. J. Tatem, who, with Mrs Tatem, gave a hearty welcome to those present. Amongst tha company were Viscount Tredegar, Colonel Court enay llorgan. Colonel Lindsay, Mr David Lindsay, Colonel Lewis (M.F.H.h Mrs Lewis, Mr Itupert Lewis, Mr and Mrs Stewart, Green- meadow Mr and Mrs Chas. Williams, Heath; Mr Chas. Williams, Mr Kobert Williams, Mr Claude Williams. Uoath Court: Mr George Llaurumney Mr Lewis Shirley, Major Reade, Major Lucas, Miss Martin, Mrs j GUDU. Miss 'I\irnbuh, Miss LYIl Thomas, Miss Kellick. Cardiff Colonel Stockley, Lieutenant Le Brassev, Mr Edward Phillips. Mr Godfrey Phillips. Mr Mann, Mr Tr;gg, Newport Mr Edgar David, Fairwater Mr Walter Shirley, Woodlands Mr Thackeray. Gian Ely Mr W. E. (). Williams,Mr Duncan. Ll¡tndaff; Mr Brain Vaindre Halt; Mr Hiliier, Coedkernew Mrs Aisbett. Mr Whittaker, Llanishcn; Mr WalterShirely, Woodlands Captain Fisber, Mr Bert. Fisher, Mr Philip Fisher. Radyr Miss Morgan, Treforest House Misses Bees. Holly Homw; Mr Blake Cogan Ball Mr Tom Da vies, Melrose Mr W. Comptou. Mr Docker, Mr T- D, John, Cardiff Mr Jenkins, Mount Mr Titus Rces, Lisvane; Mr Pidgeon, Castle- ton, Mr and Misses Gann, Ty-to-Maen. On making a start the first fox was found at Penygroes, and gave the field some heavy going over to L'wyn-y-graat, Tyncoed, into Coed-y-Goras, whence they had some covert hunting. Ueynard then broke away and was viewed in the direction of Garswig Farm, but Mrs Gunn's Tally Ho! was not sufficiently strong (o get the hounds on his track. Reynard made for Cefn Mably. Later the pack were put on the line, but failed to- pick it up, They then drew over to the Queen's ani Well Wood, where they found the quarry taking the same line of country, Llwyn-y-grant, Tyncoed, into Coed-y-gora-, und at the bottom ot the woods by the dairy house he ran into a drain, where some time was spent with terriers, but without success. The colonel then took his hounds over to Woods Covert, and here they found a twister, taking them across over the previous run to Coed-y-goBas, the fox then putting his mask for I the Mount on to Llwyn-Celyn, over to TaL I Mawr, Graig Lisvane, and down in the big wood by tho month of the Caerphilly Tunnel, where ultimately tbev lost him after some good hunting over a stiff country with any amount of fences, the run not finishing much befora 6 o'clock. The top picture shows the huntsman awaitinq the Master (Lord TYedogar). The bottom ¡ view is of the Master just before hounds move off to covert. In the r ght haud corner is Mr Tatcm, at whose farm the meet was held (,* S W.D.-N." photos).

RAN AWAY THREE TIMES. Au application was made to the Merthyr magistrates ou Monday by Mr Pulliblank. on behalf of the Merthyr Guardians, for an order committing a boy named Ernest Victor Morgan to the Cliftou Industrial School. It appenrg that the boy was an inmate of the Aberdare Industrial Schoo!. He wns sput with another boy to attend the service at a Nonconformist chapel. Instead of attending the service he ran away and was traced to Dowlais. The relieving officer was bringing him back from Dowlais to Merthyr when he escaped again, and after an exciting chase was captured and handed 'n!'1' to an officer of the Aberdare school at the Merthyr Railway Station. The officer went to the ticket-office to get a ticket ard the boy again escaped, and was eventually caught and taken back to the school. The Stipendiary .on being told that no officer was sent with the bovs to the chapel, remarked that it, was very strange, because chapel was not particularly attractive to sonje jrrown peop>eVnd it was certainly lew attractive to boys- These boyk were evidently trusted too much. He committed the boy to the school at Clifton, and told the boy that if he wanted to run awav aga in he would have to find his way

I PASSIVE RESISTANCE. In connection with the sale of goods belong- ing to Padditegton passive resistors on Monday a protest meeting was held at the Primitive Methodist Chapel, Seymour place, Dr Clifford presiding Hr. Clifford sxid the passive resistance move- ment was reviving. There could be no contro* versy about that. People in the provinces were more enthusiastic now than they were at the start of the movement. Another thing they ought to remeiftber was tha-t the Arch- ¡ bishop of Canterbury was exceedingly uncom- fortable. He has described the situation as one I that could not possibly continue. Considering that 100.000 summonses had been issued, and I there had been 320 imprisonments, passive registers would be inclined to agree with the Archbishop in that opinion. The Archbishop had suggested a gathering together of moderate men, He (Dr. Clifford) would like to know where these moderate men were. If the Arch- bishop himself was to be taken as a moderate man, he would like to keep as far a way from him an possible in this matter. There could be uo settlempnt or this strife until the churches, <s churches, the clerics as clerics, whether onfotmists or Nonconformists, were entirely (ctaded from State education. -Mtjh.

Little Deficiencies. LLANELLY HARBOUR DISCUSSION. Mr John Macaulay's Protest. At the monthly meeting of Llaneliy Har- bour Trust, on Monday, certain questions were asked and 8tatements made to which Mr John Macaulay, one of the Bank of England repre sentatives, took strong exception. He said that if they had a dirty linen to waeh it should not be washed in public. The reporters were present, and ho asked the Press to use their discretionary powers and not to report state- ments which would be d-triment-al to the town. It was false to think that they would m"ko the port a success by publishing to the world all their deficiencies— The Chairman (angrily) Tt is not deficiencies that are being preached about, but what rc said to be deficiencies- All the questions that have been put this afternoon give a false im- pression. Mr John Waters The people of Llaneliy don't know what is being done. There arc too many secret, meetings- The Chairman (interrupting): It is not a question of secrecy at, all. Mr Waters: It is continual secrecy. The Chairman Why don't you bring motions to the Trust to have thijig,, altgred ? Mr Waters I hav hrollght dozens, but still it k private. This is the only meeting we hold in public, and Mr Macaulay thinks we arc washing dirty linen. 1 i is iiotliitigoft,he kind- Mr Macaulay Mr Waters is making state- ments which I am sure he would not do if he knew tbe facts. It is not to the interest of the Trust thai every little deficiency Should be broadly published- The matter theii dropped. The Superintendent reported that he had seen Captain Jarrad with regard to his report upon the diversion of the Lpughor river. Captain Jarrad wanted certain tide velocities taken. and suggested that a current meter be pur- chased. Mr John Waters said the whole thing seemed to him to be absurd. Their engineer. who was on-the spot, had sufficient, experience to supply this information. The recommenda- tion was ultimately adopted. Mr E. Willis Jones asked the clerk to explain what the functions of the Joint Committee were, and what matters had already been re- ferred to that body for consideration. The Clerk said the obligations attached to the Trust's representatives were the same as those attached to the Bank's representatives. After further discussion the Chairman said I sup- pose the best thing would be to ask the Trust's representatives on the Joint Committee to give an account of their stewardship. Mr Jones I don't want to put it in such a form as a vote of censure. If things are as 1 think, there is no necessity for my coming to the meetings. The Chairman: I think there is every reason why you should com here. The motion should be put into writing in order that it might be considered by the committee- Mr Jones said he would submit a notice of motion.

DUPED THE DETECTIVE. An Escape from Cardiff. At the Westminster Police Court on Mon- day. William Henry Acton, a young man. de- scribed as a tyre tester, was finally examined before Mr Horace Smith on charges of stealing bicycles and violently assaulting a detective- pergoa-ut to resist lawful apprehension- When apprehended, on a charge of bicycle theft from Chelsea. prisoner, as already detailed, knocked down Detecti ve-sergeant Reid and jumped out of a bedroom window, escaping over roofs and chimney stacks. Re-arrested recently at Saf- fron Hill by Detective-Inspector Hailstone and other officers, with a." jemmy and other burglarious accessories in his possession, he was only secured after a desperate fight, being eventually forced into a shop and there hand- cuffed. A further charge or stealing a bicycle last. August from West lIampatcad was in- vestigated, the machine and prisoner being traced to Cardiff. Detective-constable Little, of the Cardiff Police, detailed the singular story of prisoner's escape on the 301 li August. The stolen lrULchie: and prisoner were found at a common, lodgibo- house at Bute-street, Cardiff. Prisoner, who was washing himself with his coat off, when interrogated said he felt ill and requested pet.. mission to remain awhiie in the lavatory. This was allowed, but the detective becoming sus- picious at the length of time he was kept waiting, eventually burst the door open. It had been wedged and bolted inside. At the mo- ment the door was forced the detective saw prisoner's leg disappearing through tile Nviti- dow, the easement of whteh had been forced out. Prisoner dropped 10 feet or more into a back lane and escaped. 1 fc was said that the aperture through Which he scrambled was two feet by 18 inches. 18 Prisoner WM committed for trigaun all the charges.

SHOPLIFTING AT MERTHYR. The Merthyr Stipendiary on Monday sent Timothy O'Regan to prison for 14 days for stealing a coat from the shop of Simon Harris. Castle-street, Merthyf and Michael O'Keefe and Florence McCarthy to prison for 14 and seven days respectively for stealing a chair from the shop of Gabriel l'reedman, Dowlais. Keefe met McCarthy and sold the chair for If. explaining afterwards that they were thirsty and wanted a drink. 'I¡!

SAILING CRAFT CUT DOWN. Feared Loss of Seven Lives. The Newcastle steamer Holmside pub into South Shields on Monday evening and re- ported having been in collision with a sailing ship, winch sank. The collision occurred about m'.dnight 011 Sunday off South wold, and the weather at the time was foggy: The sailing vessel 'got athwart the steamer's bos, anti after collision sank 'immediately. The crew >• the Molmside promptly launched their fooa's but none or tfae sailing-'vessel's crew were p:ckedup and they are believed to halve 'perished. A lifebuoy was recovered hcarlBg the name ofta; and therè i", a. vesspl nf that name in Lloyd's register. She probably carried''six or 'seven liana's.

BARRY-LADEN BARQUE WRECKED. A Middlesbrough telegram .slates that the barque Ida. of Christian,sand, from Barry for the fiiver piate, founded on the 14th inst. 36 utiles N.N.W. of Ushant: The crew were landed at Middlesbrough by the steamer Cor- dova, from Hornillo Bay.

DISMANTLING BLAINA WORKS. Important Development. Another landmark in the tinplate trsde is about to disappear, owing to the forthcoming dismantlement of the lilaina Iron and Tinplate Works. They ranked amongst the largest and best known in the trade, and constituted 12 mills, driven by six powerful tandem high and low pressure mill engines, nine sets of cold rolls, 12 tinning sets, and the other usual depart- ments pro'rata. The site on which these works stand was origi- nally acquired about 1815 by the firm of Levick and Simpson, who erected mills, etc about this date for the rolling of rails, bar: etc. They earned a. world-wide reputation for the excel lence of their manufactures, and secured a large share of the unequalled prosperity ex. perienced in those early days of the iron trade. About 1858 the works were disposed of by them to the renowned Crawshay Bailey, and merged into the business of J. C. and C. Bailey, whose fame is a, matter of local histo«"v. and ran by them with no less marked degree f success than that which was secured by their pi e Jecessors, until the year 1871, when they agxin changed hands, being taken over by the Nanty-r;oaud Blaina Ironworks Company, Limited. About this period <1. wave of depression swept over the iroi) industries of South Wales, and after work- ing for the next few years with more or less success, it was decided in August, 1878, to finally close the works, th plant bcing eventually dismantled during the early part uf tue follow- in year. In August of this year (1879) the site was leased by the Nantyglo and Blaina Company to Captain P. S. Phillips, and. under the super- vision of the late Mr W. R. Davies (who after- wards—until his decease—filled the important post of general manager to the Hhelton Steel, Iron, and Coal Co., Ltd., of Stoke-on-Trent) the works were remodelled for the rolling of tinplates. Two years later, in August. 1881, Captain Phillips transferred this business to the Blaina Iron and Tinpla.to Company, Ltd., aiid for some few years this industry was fnl. lowed with unqualified success, until in the late "eighties" the works suffered, amongst many others, from the blow intlickd ou the tinplate trade of South Wales by Nthe passing of the McKinley tariff, and in 1902 the company went into liquidation. In March, 1903, the liquidator reassigned the works to Captain P. S. Phillips, since which date they have only been worked intermit- tently. It has already been notified in our columns that the works have recently been purchased by the Pyle and Blaina Works, Ltd., and it is understood that large developments are anti- cipated by the new owners of this historical site under the able management of Mr E. Poulaine. It is rumoured that it is their in. tention to erect a couple of new furnaces, &c., for the further manufacture of fcrro-manganese, which will necessitate the entire removal of the plant, machinery, &c,, connected with the old tinplate works. It ha.s been announced that the whole oE this plant, machinery, &c.. has been disposed of by them for dismantlement to Mr James Clements, iron merchant, of Newport, who is well-known throughout the iron trade for tlie many contracts of a. similar nature that ho has previously undertaken and carried through to a. successful conclusion. It is understood that the work of clearance is to be put in band forth- with. a.nd within few months the Blaina TiDplato will have ceascd to exist.

WRANGLE WitH A J.P. Extraordinary Brecon Case. At Brecon Police Court on Monday Mr Stephen George Payne, proprietor of the King's Arms Wine and Spirit Vaults, applied for a reduc- tion in the amount of a maintenance order of 12s 6d a week in respect of hj,¡& wife (Mrs Mary Payne). Applicant, upon entering the witness-box, read an extract from a letter sent him by his wife prior to the present application, and having reference to his weekly payments. The extract was as follows :—" I must summon ) au as mv dearest and most valuable friend advised me. namely, Lewis Williams." In. quirics followed upon that communication. Applicant objected to Mr Lewis Williams sitting on the bench. Alderman Lewis Williams: I bave not advised your wife in any shape or form except to see a, solicitor. Applicant: The letter is in my wife's hand- writing. Alderman Lewis Williams I advised her to see a solicitor. I don't listen to tittle-tattle out of court. Applicant:! strongly object to your sitting in judgment on mo. Alderman Lewis Williams You males mis. take. I shall do what is right. I told her to see a solicitor. Applicant: If Mr Lewis Williams sits I shall not go on with the Ca.III". The Mayor (Mr John Williams): I don't think you have anything to fear from Mr Lewis Wil- iiamN. Applicant: I object to him. He showed his animus last time. Alderman Lewis Williams I have never animus. You showed your cowardliness in the way you treated your wife. (Sensation.) Applicant (to the Bench) You have a full quorum without, Mr Lewis Williams- Alderman Lewis Williams We are not to bo dictated to by you as to a quorum. Applicant: I don't think lam going to bo dominated bcrein this Way. Alderman Lewis Williams We pre not. going to be dictated to by you. Your wife called 011 me, and I told her I never listened to anything out of Court: and the best thing ahe could do was to see a solicitor. There she is now. Applicant: It is not the first time she has quoted your name to mc, sir- Aid. Lewis Williams The Benchie not going to be dictated to by you. As Aid. Lewis Williams still refused to leave the Bench, the applicant walked out of court, and the Bench decided to strike out the appli- cation. Aid. Lewis Williams (to the wife): I told you. when you saw me, it was not the right thing to see a justice of the .peace, and that the beat thing was to see a solicitor. Mrs Payne Yes.. Aid. Lewis Williams And it was not until last Friday you called on me Mrs Payne Never till then. Tbe Bench- mulcted the applicant in costs, including advocate's fee of a guinea. -u_

MYTHICAL RESOLUTION. The question of salaries paid to the assistant overseer and the collector of rates of the Gelli- gaer parish occupied the attention of the Parish Council on Monday at their meeting at Hengoed. Mr Rees Thomas presided. There was discussion on a motion brought forward by Mr W. Hammonds, to rescind a resolution, uaid to have been adopted in 1904, authorising the payment of f.60.a.ycar to Mr -T. Joues as clerk to "tho Council. Mr Hammonds eaid this wns illegal, and could not be paid. The deputy clerk said no such resolution was recordedcu the. tniuutf books, aud no such amount had been paid- The motion to rescind was therefore not proceeded with- The question of payment, as certified in the abstract of the. L'hion Itccount5 to-tb assistant overseer oi £.31:>0 per annum, and to his brother the catc collector, of a, like amount, was then raised, and a long discussion ensued. Reference was made to the figures in 1906,when, it was said, the increase was approved and made retrospect i ve Mr B. Hammonds ques- tioned the KISS ing of any such motion. A com- parison was macfe by Mr D. Roberts, showing the increase jn the ratable value of the parish as compared with 1904, and the aaditiohal houses, entailing greater labour in the collection of rates. Finally it wait decided to defer t he matter pending the result of the application for urban powers for the parish.

CRAWLING CHILD AND CANDLE. Cardiff Coroner Criticises Mothers. Another fatal case of burning was investi- gated on Monday by Mr E. B. Reecc (coroner), the victim being the 16 months' old child of Mr and Mrs Dibble, of Hereford-streec. The circum- stances attending the accident prompted the Coroner to remark. Yon mothe-rg are so thoaghtlesa and careless yon deserve to have families, any of you:" It seems ihat on the 13th inst- Mrs Dibble left her little girl In the front part of the pass. age while she went to the cupboard under the Stairs to get some (oal. She had a lighted candle, which she placed on the floor. While she carried the coal to the fire in the kitchen the child crawled to the candle with the result that her pinafore caught alight. The little mite's screams'drew Mrs Dibble's attention, and when she got into the passage she saw that the child's clothes were ablaze. After re- ¡ ceiving mcdieal attention the child was removed to the InMrmarv, where she died on Friday, the 18th. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death," the Coroner observing tbat he did not know what to make of some moth* < death," the Coroner observing tbat he did not know what to make of some motl." <

[Channel Fleet Command. WHAT LORD CHARLES SAYS. New York, Saturday.—Lord Charles Beres- ford, ilL ;111 interview with the Mexico City correspondent of the Herald," said that the report that, he had refused the command of tlira Channel Fleet wa* a mistake." '•Upon my return to London from tlw» Mediterranean," his Lordship said. I declined ■ to accept the command of the Channel Fleet without certain modifications. The Admiralty approved these -modifications, aud I acceptod. Uie command belore leaving for Lord Charles declined to state what, were thai modifications he-had urged on the Admiralty. To the Mexico City correspondent of tho Suit Lord Charles iiere.sford said lie could. neither ailirm i)or<;eny- the report that he had rcfused the command of -tho Channel Fleet- "It ia now a matter between the Admiralty and lLW. and the end of it witlhe known wheal return to England-"—Central News. The Mexico City correspondent of the LOftooi don "Tribune" cabling- yesterday says When Admiral Lord Charles Beresiord arrived at 1 o'clock this aHcrnoaulle was promptly advised of the rumour current in London that he had declined the command of the Channel Fleet unhss the Admiralty accepted his views regarding its proper strength. I am astonished at such a, report," he ex- claimed. However, f mllst not discuss the subject,s a t is a matter which rests exclusively between the Admiralty and myself." Alleged Petticoat Conspiracy. A Naval Expert writes to a London con- temporary.:—The recent rumour of Lord Charles Beresford's refusal to take up the commaud pf the Channel Fleet, which ho had already accepted, is part of an intrigue to drive Sir. John I'r-her from oflicc. Determined and unscrupulous efforts have been made to dis- credit, the First Sea Lord with the Sovereign and the nation, and petticoat, influence has been energetic- in tho work. Sir John Fisher's resolute methods have infuirated a certain, element in smart society, which ha endcavoued to retaliate by aspersions, OIl the purity of his English descent. According to some of these talc-mongers, his mother was a Malayan woman; according to others she was a. Singhalese. She was neither. She was a, pure-blooded Englishwoman, bom within the sound of Bow Bells. Her great- uncle was Lord Mayor in 1790. after holding the aldermanic dignity for some years. Alderman John Boydeli's niece and heiress, Ann Philpott, married Alfred Lambe, of New Bond-s reet, London, and their daughter Sophie married Captain William Fisher, of the 73th Highlanders, who at tbe time of his mar- riag • was aide-de-camp to Sir Robert Wilmofc HorlOii. Oovarnor of Ceylon. Their eldest SOH is the me ■ 't First Sea Lord, whose doings at the Aduiialtj for good or evil will be talked of lCO years hence by students of character. It is an Open secret, that the Kiug counts him among his four greatest freinds, and that bis success at Court is ibe result of a whole-hearted devotion to the business of makmg the Navy ready for war. The efforts made by his opponents to turn him out. of office and to promote him to a Colonial Governorship, and to urset, tho schemes of reform which he has instituted, are numerous. The fact is that the country has trusted Sir John Fisher to such an extent that. for the tiwebein. he is in tbe position of being practically irreplaceable. There will be no alteration in the Taff Vale Railway trains for March. w fimw——1

REFUSED TO GO DOWN. Messrs Crawshay Sue Colliers. "Messrs Crawshay Brothers, proprietors of the Cvfarthfa Collieries, summoned 124 of tbeir workmen from the Cwm pit at the Merthyr Police Court on Uollday for breach of con- tract and damages in consequence. MrCharJes Kenshole appeared for the plaintiffs, and Mr Nicholas, Pontypridd, instnieted by Mr Joha Williams, miners' agent, defended. Mr Kenshole said that three hitchers had g.Ten notice to terminate contrach, and attht end of the month other workmen thought that some arrangement should take place whereby these three men should be re-instated. But: they were not re-instated, and the company made other arrangements. The miners' agent, saw the management on January 1st, and the manager suggested that the matter should remain over until 1 he next, day, but on the same evening the men when they cam to work did not goto the lamp room, but hold a meeting and afterwards returned home without saying anything to the management. The consequence was that the pit was stopped during the -night. and a resultant loss to the company 111 tlie way of standing charges of £2:> 2s Id. also loss of profiton 223tons of coal, divided between the 1¡4 men, amounu to 5a 6d eaHt. Mr Howcil Jouea, 11" Ú\ tt 3 licries, gave evidence in supportcf tho ment, and Mr Nich""as.whlkt, adraifctin-f thft. breach, argued that the figures had been srrtiwd at upon a wrong basis of average, as repairers should not be included- The Stipendiary, in the end. made an order for the payment of 4s 6d per man, which wai stated to be satisfactory to both parties.

SOLICITOR WHO WAS LATE, Merthyr Stipendiary's Attitude, A young marrried couple from G ilfach Bare goed came before Sir Marchant Williams a.t Merthyr on iVlonday for a settlement of theil matrimonial differences. They appeared on a summons brought by the wife. Hannah Mary Powell, 21 years of age, against her husband, David Powell, a colliery haulier, for persistent cruelty and desertion. Mr F. P. Charles appeared for tbe complainant. Defendant said that he had instructed Mr Meredith to appeal for him, The Stipendiary made an order of separation, defendant to pay the costs and 6s a week. Sir Marchant Williams declined to reopen t bl) case when later on Mr Meredith appeared and said he had been detained in his office and unable to come into Court and put before the Bench an aspect of the ease that might. have altered their decision. He was willing to pay the costs if the Bench would .vc-opcn the casd then or re-hear it. another day. Sir Marchant Williams said ho was always anxious to he considerate to barristers and soli- citors engaged in eases before him, but this was a matter of business, aud the business of tho Court and the time of genl lemsn who were not paid for attending could not be wasted because a gentleman who was paid for attending was detained by other business.

SWANSEA PUGILIST FINED. At Swansea Police Court on Monday Bf111 Morgan, the Swansea pugilist, was charged with being drunk aud disorderly in Oxford* street all Saturday night. P.C. Reynolds stated he was called to the Alexandra Hotel. Oxford- street, to eject Murgan. whom-he found fighting with another man. He refused to leave, and being very disorderly was forcibly ejected. Morgan asked the police officer. Didn't you lock me up before I had a chance to quit?" The officer replied, No." Morgan 3aid. in defence, that he and his wife had been to the theatre, and had gone in to tha Alexandra Hotel after coming out. He put-a few coppers in the piano, and the man started a row with him. and struck him and his wife. He was immediately afterwards arrested by the police without being 1Skecl to quit The magistrates said Morgan had not been in court since July lat. but there could be no doubt he was druuk and disorderly on Saturday u'ght. He was lined 10s.

ABERDARE LIBERAL CLUB. The annual meeting of Aberdare Liberal Club washcld on Monday evening, MrMorgaft Watkins preisding. The balance-sheet showed that the excess of assets over l ability at the close of the year was £951 4s 9d. It Was re- ported that the directors of the Aberdare Liberal Club and Coffee Tavern Company had voted £30 to tbebullding fund. A resolution calling upon the electors in the district to support only Progressive candidates at tbô forthcoming County Counci! ejection waø passed. Among other resolutions passed was one urging the Government to introduce a Disestablishment X*ill in the next Session of. Parliament, and one mvitmc tb" Adminis" tration to introduce a. Bill for secular education The following were appointed officers ■ -^President. Mr D. A. Thomas, M-P. t vice-presidents, Mr Morgan Watkins, Crosrf eet, and Rev. J. Morgan Jones, treasurer, Mr R. H-Miten librarians, Meastv Hall and Hintou auditor, Mr Winston Rees

CLUB MANAGER A;ND; G'IRjL-fv Much interest, was taken In a case referret to at Merthyr Police Court on Monday, in whick" Frank Parry, married, and manager of th< Constitutional Ctub. Tirphil, was cliarged wift having carnal knowledge ol Margaret SaraJj James, a girl under the age of 16. Mr P. p, Charles, prosecuted, and Mr Harold M. Lloyd, Cardiff, defended. Mr Harold M. Lloyd stated that prisoner Wa1 only arrested late on Saturday night, and that he (Mr Lloyd) bad not had time to prepare defence. Prisoner was a man who bad nothing against him, and he urged that he should hi allowed out on reasonable bail Mr Charles stated that bail was one for th* Court; to dccid. The Stipendiary (Sir Marchant Willianwf allowed bail for prisoner for £5), and remanded him until Monday next Bail was forthcoming.

COFFIN BYFALSE PRETENCES A remarkable case came before the magis trats at Fetland, county Tipperary, on MOB; day. A young man, named Mara, was charger, with obtaining a coffin by false pretences frou a Ioeal undertaker, to whom he stated tbathif mother wis dead, and also with obtaining < ■quantity of-drink for hr-r «r;tke. The cai-perite* who was employed to rnotke the coffin w&! amazed to find, when going to his dinner, that tbe prisoner's mother waa aiivj and Well, Th* discovery led to tbe arrest of Mara, an*i he wif .committed tur trial at the A.ssil.ett.