The Cardiff Times

The April number of Celtia," the Pan- Celtic organ, has just been issued, and as usual contains articles and poetry in Welsh, English, Bretagne, French, Irish, and Gaelic.

Fifteen-Mile Flight. BROTHERS WRIGHT'S GREAT FEAT. OVER-SEA JOURNEY. Mantao, North Carolina, Saturday.—Wright Bros.'s airship yesterday performed a flight of 15 miles out to sea at aheight of 1,000 feet, and, after circling, returned to the starting point. The wind velocity during the trial was ten miles an hour, but this in no way hampered the movements of the airship, which was under absolute control.—Reuter. Romance of Invention. There is every element of romance in the conquest of the air by the Wright Brothers, once simple cycle makers of Dayton, Ohio. From their early years they experimented with models in mechanical flight, later de- voting their vacations to soaring experiments on the Carolina shores with wings of wood and canvas. Gliding flights of considerable distance having been achieved, their next step was to fix to their machine a petrol motor of primi- tive type and low power, with which they persevered to such effect that the world was recently started into incredulity by the news that with an improved machine they had achieved at will flights of distances ranging up to 25 miles. Though responsible witnesses vouched for the feat, the reticence of the aviators pre- vented them from receiving the credit of aerial conquest. Their experiments suddenly ceased in face of public curiosity, and they devoted their energies to negotiations with the various Governments. These seem to have culminated in a con- tract with the U.S. military authorities, and recently the flights are in the nature of prac- tice for a severe Government test. This, it is promised, will include a great flight from Kill Devil Hill in North Carolina to Cape Henry, a distance of 75 miles and back. The flight of 15 miles over the sea easily beats the records established by flying machines. M. Delagrange's best flight was about six miles, marred on two occasions by contact: with the ground, which was a considerable advance on Mr Farman's longest voyage in the air. The Wright aeroplane is shaped like a long box, 40ft. long and 8ft. wide, with a buoying surface of 640 square feet. The forward half of the box, both bottom and tip, is of closely woven canvas, and is in- chned upwards like the breast of a bird. The engine occupies a central position, on the lower side of the box, and is of 20-h.p. The propellers are of wood, each with two blades, and the rudder extends back between the propellers. In front another box-shaped construction regulates the elevation. The correspondents have already reported several successful flights by the intrepid brothers at Kill Devil Hill. Each time the machine rose with ease, and its contacts with the ground were without mis- hap. There were no efforts to make long dis- tances, the flights being to further test the new design of stRermg gear, which now works to the entire satisfaction of the inventors, as well as for observation in rising and landing. Apparently the machine can fly with perfect safety as long as the supply of gasolene for the engine lasts. This is computed to be suffi- cient for flight over at least 1,000 miles. The machine always starts head on to the wind, gliding along the mono-rail track until it acquires velocity enough to rise. In a good breeze it leaves the track within 100 feet from the starting point. The speed of the aeroplane on Friday was estimated at nearly 60 miles an hour.

WELSH ARTISANS' UNION. MEETING AT CARDIFF, Approval of Government Pension Scheme. A meeting of the Council of the Welsh Artisans' Union was held on Saturday at the Railway Temperance Hotel, Cardiff, under the chairmanship of the president, Mr Joseph Jarvis, Morriston, who in the course of an address directed special attention to the pro- posal on the agenda with regard to members in receipt of compensation for claims for legal assistance. That brought to mind the good work done by their Union in connection with the Workmen's Compensation Act. He was afraid that their members did not realise the benefits conferred ill that respect. It seemed to him that for the contributions paid, if there were no other benefit than watchfulness over compensation claims, a member of the Artisans' Union would be receiving good value for his money. Of late there had been, he thought, a greater tendency by insurance com- panies to take cases into court, and he had been struck by the number of cases in South Wales that of late had been decided against the workmen. Litigation in connection with compensation was very costly, but they had the satisfaction of having helped those who, but for them, would have been helpless to secure money rightly due to them. As things were, a case might cost up to £50 or more in the County Court, and then further costs might be incurred on appeal. It was clear, therefore, that the ordinary individual work- man was helpless from want of means when his compensation was challenged. Delegates should make these things known to the men who sent them there, and when the members realised what they might have to for- feit by being in arrears with their contributions they would be careful not to go beyond the Union limit. Referring to the Artisans' secretary's libel action, he said it was deplorable to him that so much money had been wasted, but the allegations made were such that, in the words of their solicitor, their general secretary must have a withdrawal or must himself withdraw from industrial matters." The alle- gations also involved the whole management of their Union, and meant that their Execu- tive Committee, blindly and without reason, carried on an eight weeks' strike at Raven Works, and, also allowed a number of other strikes to take place for no other purpose than to gratify the disposition of their general sec- retary. They, as officers of the Artisans, had always taken rightful pride in the splendid management which had characterised the Union, and they knew that there Was no other Union with an existence of nearly 20 years which had so successfully avoided strikes, and yet did so much for its members. They found that they had to vindicate themselves at all costs, and through the libel action they had done it. (Applause.) Mr David Harris (trustee) submitted a recommendation of the Executive Committee to the Council that the salary of the general secretary be increased. Only one branch (Swansea) declared itself against. The Secre- tary pointed out that some portion of the libel costs would have to be paid by the Union,and for that reason he had decided and made known that he would accept of no advance that year, and asked that the matter be left where it was, and this course was agreed to. It was announced that an arrangement had been made by which the Artisans' Union would now form part of the Conciliation Board. Mr J. H. John (general secretary) moved a resolution expressing satisfaction that the Government had laid down a good foundation for the building up of a good old age pension scheme, and calling upon Labour members in the interest of thrift to press for an amend- ment ensuring that Friendly Society or Trade Union superannuation should not be taken into account in the 10s limit. At the close of the meeting hearty thanks were voted to the general secretary.

OTTER HUNTING. Mr Clay's Hounds' First Kill. Rain was falling all the morning prior to the meet of Mr Clay's hounds at Little Mill. There was consequently only a small and select company to enjoy a particularly fine day's sport, which resulted in hounds accounting for their first otter of the season after over three hours' brilliant work. Mr Hastings Clay (the master) and his son, Master Harry Clay, Mrs Pilkington and Mr Pilkington, jun., Ross- on-Wye the Rev. A. A. Williams. Panteg Mr I. Treharne. Rees and party, Mal- pas, Newport; Mr Littledale; Mr Powell, Little Mill, were amongst those present. Berthin Brook proving blank, hounds were taken down stream and were soon feathering to a cold trail, followed shortly after by a joyous chorus proclaiming the presence of game in a deep pool below the railway bridge, which was maintained right up to the finish under the arch of the bridge just after the otter had doubled in the water underneath the hounds, one of which (Grace- ful) dived at and grabbed her, both going under water together. Mr Clay thus handled his first otter of the season—a bitch, 161b. There is a lot of water in the streams, and the water is still very cold.

BARRY GAS WORKS APPOINTMENTS. Protest Against Alleged Delegation of Power. At the Masonic Hall, Barry, on Saturday evening a mass meeting of Barry gas workers, other municipal employees, and local Trade Unionists was held to discuss the action of the Barry Gas and Water Committee, who, it is alleged, have delegated full power to the new gas and water engineer and manager with respect to appointments in that department. Mr W. White, Barry Dock, was chairman, and two resolutions were put to the meeting. The first was That this meeting of organised workers" of Barry record sits protest against the delegation of power to the gas and water en- gineer by the Gas and Water Department, which it ought to retain in the interests of local government, namely, the granting to the engineer a free hand as a condition of em- ployment which contains the right to dismiss any one of the employers without the right of appeal to the committee responsible." The second resolution was one calling upon the Gas and Water Department to recognise the principle of promotion according to seniority where it could be clearly shown that com- petent men for the vacancies were amongst the staff. The resolutions were carried unani- mously.

Conviction Upheld. Druce Perjurer Fails in Her Appeal JUDGE IN "I WONDERLAND." On Saturday the case of Mrs Margaret Jane Louisa Hamilton, the Druce witness who was found guilty of perjury at the Old Bailey, and had her sentence postponed for consideration of points of law, came before the Court for the Consideration of Crown Cases Reserved. Mr Jellicoe argued the points before the Lord Chief Justice, Mr Justice Ridley, Mr Justice Darling, Mr Justice Channell, and Mr Justice A. T. Lawrence. Counsel began by stating that the 18 assign- ments for perjury could be summarised under three heads :— 1. That the prisoner falsely swore that her mother died when she was born. That she was the daughter of one Robert Lennox Stewart. That her father had brought her to Eng- land when she was very young, and placed her under the charge of Mr and Mrs Atkin- son in Westmoreland. 2. That she falsely swore that a sum of Y,3,500 which she had received on the death of a Mrs Stuart had been voluntarily given her by the Atkinson family. 3. That she falsely swore that one T. C. Druce was the same man as the fifth Duke of Portland. M Jellicoe proceeded to state thatone of his principal submissions was that falseness of evidence required to be sworn to by two wit- nesses. Corroboration by hearsay was insuffi- cient. The case for the Crown was That the prisoner was the legitimate daughter of Mr and Mrs Atkinson. That her mother did not die when she was born. That Mr R. L. Stewart was not her father. That he did not bring her to England and place her with the Atkinsons. Mr Jellicoe now criticised what he said were deficiencies in the Crown case. The Crown, he said, had produced a copy of the certificate of the Atkinsons' marriage. This copy had not been duly certified, and ought to be inadmissible as evidence. Air Jellicoe now made a submission on which he laid emphasis :— What his client had said about Mr Druce and the fifth Duke of Portland had been held to be untrue because what she had said about her parentage was held to be untrue. But if his (counsel's) contention was right, and if it was not properly proved that Mr Stewart was not her father, then her story about the Duke of Portland was unaffected. Counsel continued to advance arguments about the inadmissibility of evidence at the Old Bailey. From time to time he was interrupted by members of the court with criticisms. At length Mr Justice Darling said "I have been in this court for over an hour, and I have been wondering whether I have been sitting in the King's Bench Division or in Wonder- land." (Laughter.) When Mr Jellicoe had concluded his address the Lord Chief Justice said the Court did not wish to hear MrAvory, K.C.,on the other side. Mrs Hamilton, who is on bail, will ap- pear for sentence at the next sitting of the Central Criminal Court.

NEWPORT MAYOR'S OFFER. With reference to the speech of Colonel j. Gaskell at Barry, in which he alleged that three licences were granted at Newport on the understanding that EP,,000 was subscribed by the owners of the licences to the Newport In- firmary. Councillor T. Parry, the mayor of Newport, as already reported, states that the magistrates granted the licences without any condition. In conversation with our represen- tative on Saturday he added, I felt perfectly justified in securing S6,000 (for two of the licences) for a local charity. No one has suffered by my doing so, and if Cot Gaskell feels that he and his firm have been had by having paid through my instrumentality 0,000 as a monopoly value and £4,5GO which, he states, the premises cost them, I am prepared to find a purchaser to take the premises off his hands at a sum of £ 7,500. This licence was granted seven years ago and they have had the profits ever since, yet if they are dissatisfied with what they did they can even now have a purchaser at the full price they have paid. There are dozens of people who would jump at it."

SEQUEL TO DUMA SCENE. M. Stolypin Threatens to Resign. St. Petersburg, Sunday.—There has been a somewhat startling sequel to the indignant speeches which were made in the Duma on Friday with reference to the phrase" Thank God we have no Parliament in Russia," which was made use of by M. Kokovtsoff, Minister of Finance, on the previous day in the course of a discussion on the railway question. M. Khomyakoff, the President of the' Duma, said that although he had no right to criticise M. Kokovtsoff's phrase or to call upon him to withdraw it, he would advise the Minister to listen to the voice of conscience. It appears that in consequence of the severe attacks made upon him by members of the Duma M. Kokovtsoff yesterday appealed to M. Stolypin, the Premier, for protection, with the result that the latter has addressed a letter to M. Khomyakoff calling upon him to withdraw his comment upon the Finance Minister's phrase, and declaring that unless he does so he (M. Stolypin) will resign. -Central News.

MOTOR CAR FATALITY. One Killed Two Injured. A motor car accident, resulting.in the death of one man and serious injury to two others, occurred early yesterday morning at the bottom of Adam's Hill, on the outskirts of Nottingham. Mr Edward Dould, of Quorbdon, a Derby manufacturer, was driving home in company with two of his employees, Howard Stone and Frank Peters, both of Derby, and when at a bend in the road the car collided with a cab with great force.' The car was smashed, and all the occupants were thrown into the road. Stone and Peters who were seriously injured, were removed to Notting- ham Hospital, where Stone died soon after admission. Peters's skull is fractured, and his condition on Sunday night was most critical. Mr Dould was also injured, but could be removed to his home. The driver of the cab was slightly injured, and the horse had to be shot.

CARDIFF I.L.P. A Victimised Curate. The Cardiff Independent Labour Party held six large and enthusiastic meetings on Sunday. At Llandaff Fields in the afternoon the Rev. W. B. Graham, from Colne Valley, a curate of the Church of England, was the attraction. Mr Graham also spoke at night at Roath Park to one of the largest open-air meetings ever held in Cardiff. In the course of his address Mr Graham said he had been turned out of his curacy at Colne Valley for supporting Mr Victor Grayson," M.P., but would rather lose ten curacies than cease his advocacy of the principles of Socialism, which, he was glad to say, were spreading rapidly among the clergy. Meetings were also held at the Monument and North-road addressed by Mr J. H. Read, of the Anti-Vivisection Society, while Mr Walter Ayles (A.S.E.), of Birmingham, accom- panied by Mrs Ayles, spoke to very attentive audiences outside the Gladstone Schools in the morning, and at the Newport-road tramway terminus in the afternoon.

DEATH OF A LLANELLY PILOT. Thrilling Experience Recalled. On Saturday afternoon the remains of Captain Dan Rees were interred at St. IIltyd s Church, Pembrey. Captain Rees was a native of Llanelly, and for some years acted as one of the pilots of the port. He had a thrilling experience 38 years ago, when a fleet of vessels sailed out of Llanelly when nearing the Holmes they encountered a heavy ground sea, and a number of them became total wrecks, and many lives were lost. Captain Rees, how- ever, safely piloted the vessel he had in charge to her destination. For some years he was master of the tugboat Ranger and after- wards of the Tiger. He was in his 81st year. Captain Bees was a very old member of the Prince of Wales Lodge of Freemasons, Llanelly, and the funeral on Saturday was attended by Bro. Gavin Henry, W.M. of the lodge, Bro. Aaron Stone, P.M., and a number of other brethren.

MAYOR BACK TO STA6E. Mr F. W. Gregory, who was elected Mayor of Tenby last November, has resigned his office. He has been away from Tenby since the early part of the year, having returned to the stage. He retains his membership of the Town Council.

NEWPORT BELL BUOY. Mr Lewis Haslam, M.P., has been interest- ing himself with the Board of Trade relative to the additional cost of lighting the Newport Bell Buoy being placed upon the General Lighthouse Fund, but as the Board of Trade decline to reopen the question unless the New- port Board make an effort to share the cost the Harbour Works Committee recom- mend that a portion of the expense of keeping the buoy lit be paid. The return of imports and exports for April show imports 53,174 tons. compared with 33.804 in April, lOOT-steel and iron bars and ingots 25,263 tons, compared with 10,005 tons. Pitwood and potatoes also show an increase. The exports of coal were 241,771 tons, com- pared with 341,365, Foreign coke, patent, fuel, railg, sleepeis, tinplates, and galvanised sheets show substantial increases.

The Representation of Pembrokeshire. PROSPECTIVE VACANCY. Liberal Party's Choice. MR W. ROCH, CILGERRAN. A large and representative gathering of the Pembrokeshire Liberal Three Hundred was held at Haverfordwest on Saturday afternoon, Dr. Griffith presiding. The meeting was held for the purpose of selecting a candidate. Four gentlemen attended with the object of placing their views before the meeting, but the unanimous choice falling upon Mr Walter Roch, Cilgerran, no speeches were made until after the selection of a candidate. The other gentlemen who were present for the purposes of an interview were Mr H. Seymour Allen, Crescelly Mr E. D. Jones, Fishguard, and Mr Mr Crawshay Williams. Speech by Mr Roch. Addressing the meeting after his selection, Mr Roch, who met with an enthusiastic recep- tion, dwelt upon his devotion to the county of Pembroke and his strong belief in Welsh National questions and Liberal principles. (Ap- plause. ) Lie wished them to understand that they had chosen a poor man to fight their battle. He did not say that with a motive of any kind, but he did not think financial con- siderations of that kind weighed with Pem- brokeshire men. The first plank he should make was Disestablishment and Disendowment, which he should support whenever the ques- tion came up for settlement. (Applause.) Wales was in a very strong position with regard to this question now; she had been loyal to Liberalism in fair weather and foul. It was unnecessary for him to say very much about education. Personally, he had always been in favour of the secular solution—(ap- plause )—but he had no objection to an un- sectarian system secular education, however, he believed to be the only right solution, and he thought it was inevitable. Public schools must be publicly controlled there must be no tests for teachers, and there must be no dogmatic teaching of any kind. (Applause.) He passed from religious equality and educa- tion to land. That was a dangerous question for him, for although he came of a landowning class he occupied the unfortunate position of not owning any land. (Laughter.) On this land question he did not advocate any fundamental change he wanted to level everybody up. There were good and bad landlords, and he had noticed that whenever they had a land- owner who recognised the principles of fair rent and security of tenure they had a con- tented farming population. (Applause.) On the Licensing Bill, he believed he was an extreme man. He believed the present Licens- ing Bill, which he supported, had been greatly misunderstood. On the question of Free Trade, he said that Tariff Reformers advo- cated different tariffs in various districts. Mr Chaplin assured them that there would be no rise in prices. That would not appeal to the Pembrokeshire farmer who was in favour of Tariff Reform. He did not know whether there were any other subjects on which he ought to give his views. (A voice, Woman's franchise.") That, continued Mr Roch, was a delicate subject. He was, unfortunately, in favour of votes for women, even if he had a kind of feeling that some noisy women did not deserve it (Laughter and applause.) Still, whatever other women might do, he had too strong an opinion of Pembrokeshire women to say that they should suffer an injustice because of the actions of some of their class. Referring to Ireland, Mr Roch said it was fashionable for some Liberals to say they were not in favour of it, but he had advocated Home Rule in the first debate in whichhe took part and he was going to advocate it now. (Applause.) Mr H. Seymour Allen, president of the Three Hundred, also addressed the meeting on the education question, which he regarded as so important that they ought to try and come to some settlement. Mr E. D. Jones, Fishguard, said a very de- termined attack was to be made on their position in Pembrokeshire. He impressed on Liberals the necessity of absolute unanimity, and he promised to give Mr Roch every sup- port in his power. He was opposed to all com- promise and equivocation on the political questions of the day. (Applause.) Mr Crawshay Williams also spoke. He men- tioned that his father bad represented South Glamorgan for ten years, but since then the constituency; fortunately for them, but un- fortunately for him, had selected Mr Brace as their candidate. Therefore he had to look elsewhere for a seat. He had no desire, how- ever, to stand in the way of a good Liberal I MR WALTER ROCH. candidate, and on the present occasion he had asked permission to withdraw his name. He agreed with Mr Roch on all political questions save that of votes for women. (Laughter and applause.) Mr Williams then spoke on Welsh national questions, and said that Wales was not content to be always dragged at the heels of England, and in a few years he hoped they would arrive at the same position as Ireland and Scotland. Mr Wynford Philipps Denies a Rumour. Mr Wynford Philipps, M.P., desired at the outset to say that although he had been pre- sent he had taken no part in the selection of a candidate. This was a question which the Liberal Three Hundred were quite capable of settling for themselves. He predicted a splendid victory for Mr Roch, whom he regarded as a young man eloquent in speech and possessing unusual ability. (Applause.) Continuing, Mr Philipps said that since the last meeting the Press had suggested a future for him. They had made him choose a successor, they had given him a title, they bought him an estate, and they made him retire from Parliament immediately. He was exceedingly, obliged to them for all this, but there was no foundation for any of it. The present Governmentmight last another three or four years, but if the House of Lords threw out the Education and the Licensing Bills, or meddled with the Old Age Pension Bill, there might be a dissolution very soon. Therefore, he thought it only right to let the Liberal Association know the position in order to choose a candidate at once.

BRIDGEND OUT-RELIEF POLICY COST DOUBLED IN SIX YEARS. Mr Hugh Williams, Poor Law inspector, attended Saturday's meeting of the Bridgend and Cowbridge Board of Guardians, Mr T. C. Jones presiding, and delivered some remarks on the out-relief policy of the board. He said he appreciated that the guardians had diffi- cult problems to deal with, and that when dealing with statistics they ought to try to remind themselves sometimes that these figures represented human beings. The indoor administration of the Bridgend Board was satisfactory, both at the Cottage Homes and the Workhouse. As to out-relief, it was all very well to be kind and generous, but the guardians must also consider what effect the giving of out-relief baa upon the people out- side. If they relieved people other than those who were destitute they were increasing the claims. In 1902 the expenditure of the board on out-relief was J7,022, while this year it was considerably more than £ 14,000. He thought it was time that the guardians should take stock of the-out-relief payments. He did not propose to criticise very severely that day because he had only partial information, but he proposed to inquire into a good many of the cases, so that be might be in a position to say either that the board were right or wrong. The Chairman remarked that he thought the majority of the board had realised that they ought to reconsider their policy.

SOUTH WALES HOUSING EXHIBITION. At the Swansea Guildhall on Saturday after- noon, the ex-Mayor (Mr D. Harris) presided over a meeting of delegates from all parts of South Wales and Monmouthshire, convened for the purpose of further considering the arrangements for the South Wales and Mon- mouthshire Housing Exhibition, to be held at Swansea next year. The Plans and Sites Committee submitted a site plan for the laying out of 50 acres of Corporation land on the Town Hill estate in the proportion of 12 to the acre-or about 600 houses-in ad- dition to open spaces also one one- acre site and two half-acre sites for public buildings. Mr Aldridge described the site as a delightful one, the onlv difficulty being an approach which, Mr Livingstone pointed out, would in the future be overcome by a cliff railway, but not in time for the exhibition. The report was adopted, and it was also decided to invite architects, builders, and surveyors from all parts of South Wales and Monmouthshire to compete for the laying out of the sites, &c., the judges selected being Messrs Hoskins (Swansea), W. H. 1-ever (Port Sunlight), Dunhill (Letchworth), and Tyre (Bourn ville). Mr Aldridge reported that the guarantee fund amounted to X450, and Col. Morgan ) offered a further £50. Mr Aldridge said he 1 fl guarantee would reach £ 1,000.

Statutes of Wales. A NOTABLE WORK. MR IVOR BOWEN'S NEW BOOK. This volume (published by Mr Fisher Unwin, London) is the first of its kind respecting Wales that has yet been published. The Par- liamentary enactments relating to the Princi- pality are not easily accessible; and the mention of statutes provokes an idea of crabbed Latin or Norman-French, with complexities of obsolete Welsh and out-worn English. But Mr Bowen is kind. He has collected into this volume all the Acts of Parliaments and parts of Acts that relate to Wales, and has put them in English before the reader, who thus secures easy reference to the documents that have determined the constitutional develop- ment and history of the Welsh nation. The labour of gathering and preparing the vast mass of material was commenced many years ago professional duties have hindered its progress but the task is now done-and done well. To range from Howel Dda to the latest Education Act, extracting points of im- portance from all the bewildering mass of legislation, was a bold adventure, even in design to have carried through such a pro- ject evidences industry and determination of a high order but to have accomplished the work in a manner which compels the reader to follow along page after page of a lengthy introduction, his Interest Enchained in the story of conquest and revolt, of national vitality and renaissance, is a con- spicuous triumph in authorship. For this long record, dug from the depths of legislation century after century, might have been told with accuracy and skill, yet might have proved very tedious. Mr Bowen's great success lies in having made the dry bones live. Called together by his literary power, they have been reclothed with substance, and invigorated with life; so that the Welshman's part in our great island story "—in MagnA Charta, the Commonwealth, the Revolution, and so very much else-stands out prominent and credit- able. The book opens with a chronological table of the statutes, showing the year of enact- ment, giving title, stating how repealed, or modified, and also giving the page of the book wherein the text can be found. Then follows the introduction, which summarises the Acts and gives explanatory matter—ostensibly for the student who is not a lawyer,but the general reader will read it closely, because of its facile style and attractive outline of historical circumstances. Nearly 300 pages follow the Acts (or portions relating to Wales), being re- printed in full; and afterwards comes a glossary for the use of non-legal students and a good index. It would be difficult to exaggerate the value of the volume in its direct bearing upon Present Day Affairs. For instance, there was an assertion made recently by one of our correspondentr, that the grants which William Herbert secured from the boy King as his part of the general plunder of those times were not valid because of the disregard of Welsh law and custom but this book shows that Henry VIII. abolished the Welsh customs and rules of descent, and therefore his son's grants cannot be challenged on the ground that our correspondent alleged. There is the Act, too, which has explicit re- ference to eases like that of the induction to the living of Tonna, it being provided that the bishops can refuse institution of a clergyman unable to perform hirl duties in the Welsh language and this Act (1838) was only the confirmation of a principle laid down by a judicial decision of the time of Queen Eliza- beth. The work of the present Church Com- mission ma,v also involve reference to the Acts of 1840,1843, &c., which vested in the Eccle- siastical Commissioners all lands and endow- ments of Llandaff, St. David's, and the colle- giate church of Brecon; and charged that body with the duty of providing income for the diocesan and capitular dignitaries, and to make provision for the college at Lampeter. Troubles with Clergy. During the reign of Henry VIII., the most important statutes relating to Wales were passed. Clerical privileges were then vigor- ously attacked by Parliament, and there was evidently sore occasion for those attacks. One petition presented to the Crown averred, that clergymen declined to bury their parishioners unless they were rewarded with the most precious jewel, suit of clothes, or other pos- sessions of the deceased person and the petitioners prayed that every incumbent should be compelled to administer the sacra- ment or to bury the dead, upon penalty of S40. At that time, mortuary fees were one of the enormities of the clergy," who exacted dues even from widows, children, and servants. Poor men were driven by the curates to sell their goods in time of sickness if there were such goods as were like to be their mortuaries. If a man died in one parish and had a house- hold in another, mortuary fees were claimed by the clergy in both places, and no religious burial would take place till they were paid. The House of Commons passed a Bill abolish- ing these imposts, but it met with great op- position in the Lords, and was passed only after intervention of the King. Tithes gave trouble so far back as 1548 be- cause of a custom by which the parsons and curates" levied tithe on such cattle and goods as hath been given with the marriage of any person." These were declared by Parliament to be grievous and unreasonable," and were therefore abolished. Henry VIII. it was who Incorporated Wales with England, extinguished the lordships marchers, created some and enlarged other Welsh counties, abolished the Welsh language in the courts as part of a reform of the judicial system, annexed Monmouthshire to England, conferred the right of Parliamentary representation, finally abolished the Welsh system of land tenure and partition on death, established the famous Court of the President and Council, which was seated at Ludlow, and has the un- enviable distinction of having been associated with the infamous Star Chamber, and made so many other important changes. It is note- worthy that only a few years sufficed to show that the attempted extinction of the Welsh tongue was vain, and that it had to be recog- nised and accepted again. The Courts of Great Session that were then set up were peculiar to Wales, and they continued till 1830. Welsh Records Rotting. By the way, it may be asked—When will the records of those courts be properly calendared and made accessible ? They contain matter of immense value,of surpassing importance, espe- cially to South Wales. A law suit concerning mineral rights in Monmouthshire which had dragged along for 16 years was finally disposed of in 1891 by the discovery of a judgment de- livered in the Court of Great Session about the middle of the 18th century. Many tons of docu- ments belonging to these courts were taken from Cardiff to London after the courts were abolished, and they lie virtually rotting in the Rolls or Record Office. A very small grant of public money would ensure their examination and calendaring. I Payment of M.P.'s. Legislation providing for the payment of members of Parliament was the final Act of Henry VIII.'s reign concerning Wales. The sheriffs of the counties of Wales and Mon- mouthshire were liable to a fine of S20 if they did not levy and collect sufficient funds to give every knight of the shire four shillings per day for his attendance in Parliament but the borough representatives were to have only two shillings Although this Act has been re- pealed, there remains a right to payment, as is shown by Mr Bowen's note on the subject The ancient right of English members of Parliament to receive wages,' though it has long fallen into desuetude, was not created by any statute, neither has it ever been repealed by statute. It was a right to receive 4s a day if a knight of the county, and 2s a day if a citizen or burgess, and so it hath been time out of mind, which is par- ticularly expressed in many records.' National Revival. We must pass over many matters, even the reference to the national revival that followed Henry's reign, and come to the important religious feature of Elizabeth s spacious days." By the Act for the translation of the Bible and Prayer Book into Welsh (1562), a new era opened out. The bishops were com- manded to see to the translation parishioners were to pay one-half the cost of the books, and the vicar or parson the other half and services were to be conducted in the Welsh tongue. The Reformation in England had not deeply affected Wales. The majority of the Welsh-speaking people had accepted with equanimity the Tudot policy affecting the Church.. • • They continued in their old beliefs just as if no Parliamentary mea- sures relating to ecclesiastical affairs had been passed. They returned under Mary without difficulty to their old faith and under Elizabeth Protestantism again secured qualified approval. It was owing to the efforts of able and zealous Welshmen, and the Act with which we are now dealing, that the real Reformation in Wales began. In 1567 the first Welsh New Testament and the Welsh version of the Prayer Book were published by Salesbury and Richard Davies. But the translation as ordered by this Act of the whole Bible did not occur till 1588, when Dr. William Morgan did the work. This translation vitally influenced the religious and literary life of the Welsh nation it gave a new stimulus to the con- tinuance of the Welsh language it pro- duced a demand for education and laid the foundation of the modern national move- ment in Wales." A Rich Mine of History. We might go on quoting from the intro- duction, so many parts of it-such as tho concern of the Commonwealth for religion in Wales, the occasion of the Rebecca riots, the early legislation as to the shifting sands near Porthcawl-inviting reference but it is im- practicable to do more at present. There is incidental mention of the Act of Uniformity, and of the grave crisis which led 2,000 clergy- men of the Church of England to abandon their livings rather than allow the secular authority (with tho Royal blackguard Charles II. at its head) to dictate the methods of, religious worship, 106 incumbents in Wales also surrendering their homes and incomes and these brave men, the Nonconformists who had ¡¡- the courage and honour to suffer for the faith which modern Ritualists prate of, and only prate, while they deride the Nonconformity which cost their predecessors so dear. Whether describing the part that Welshmen played in wresting Magna Charta, and main- taining their ancient customs and rights, or reciting the steps whereby Wales gained free- dom of language and religion, or in effecting reforms of local administration, the style and matter of the book are alike admirable clear, condensed, sufficient in explanation, and not overladen with detail. Every reader who has enough knowledge of Welsh history to enable him to appreciate its quality will accord a hearty welcome to the Statutes of Wales," recognising in it a most material contribution to a great study, specially notable for its sug- gestive and directive character. It is a valu- able addition to the ever-growing list of books that throw light upon Welsh life in the past. The author acknowledges his indebtedness to the Welsh Library of Cardiff, and to Mr Ballinger, the librarian as well as to Messrs C. H. Glascodine and H. S. Stowe, of the South Wales circuit, and to Mr J. H. Jermine.

ALMSHOUSES FOR THE AGED. Mr Steadman Makes Some Suggestions. Mr W. C. Steadman, M.P., Secretary to the Trade Union Congress. Parliamentary Com- mittee, expressed to an Observer represen- tative his strong approval of the Government's scheme of old age pensions. "It is not all I should like to see it," he said, but at the same time it is a start, and we must be thankful for that. It is a great thing to get the question considered after the many years it has been dangled before the people, and we must now work in the direction of getting further concessions as regards the age and income limits. I think myself that the scheme should be made universal, and that there should be no limit whatever as to income. I would give the pension to rich and poor alike, if they liked to apply for it. Theonly exception I'would make would be criminals. This would, of course, increase the number of applicants enormously, but I would meet the whole expenses of old age pensions by a graduated income tax. In other words, I would make the rich keep the poor, and I think a graduated income tax is the fairest method of all. I would make the age limit 60, as in these days of keen competition a workman is played out in the workshops at 50 in many cases. I should like to see the Bill altered at any rate to 65, though I am afraid there is no hope of it; but we shall have to keep pegging away until we get the age lowered. As to the economic difference between liv- ing in town and in the Country, that is a ques- tion I do not see we can touch on. Five shillings a week is better than nothing for an old man living in London,- and we cannot ex- pect the State to give a pensioner double be- cause he is living in London and not in the country. I should not approve of making any difference between town and country, as it would induce men to come up to London. They will always come after the big shilling,' and that is the reason why we get overcrowded in London, because the wages are higher, and there are too many men for the work. I should like to see workhouses in time entirely abolished, and in their places I con- sider the State should find employment for the young and cottages for the old in the country. I would select certain localities, and build there little villages of almshouses. They would not cost much, and the whole of the cost would be provided by the graduated income-tax. West Derby has already got a system of cot- tage homes or almshouses for the aged poor, supported by the ratepayers. One improvement I should like to see made in the scheme is to include in those eligible for pensions men who get disabled by accident in their work, no matter what their age may be. I have just been asked to take the chair at a benefit concert for a man who met with an accident and is now unable to follow his em- ployment. His employer paid him half wages up to a certain time, and then went bank- rupt, and the man is thrown on the mercy of the world without a penny piece. That man, I consider, is as much entitled to a grant from the State as anybody else, although he is not of the proper age to receive the pension."

SUPERIORITY OF. FREE TRADE. A Practical Lesson. The Economist says the Budget pre- sented by Mr Asquith to the House of Com- mons on Thursday afternoon is one of the most important' in ojr history, not only be- cause of the direct and obvious benefits which it confers upon the people of the United King- dom, but also as a practical lesson in the superiority of the Free Trade system of finance over the systems of Protectionism and favour- itism that prevails in most other countries. The figures speak for themselves with un- adorned eloquence. There is no getting over them, no getting round them, and if there were any difficulty in understanding them, or any concealed ambiguity, the difficulty vanishes, and the ambiguity disappears, before the lucid and orderly march of Mr Asquith's exposition. The Economist ventures to predict that the stimulus given to the sugar- using trades (by the reduction of the tax) will be so great that Mr Asquith's estimate of the loss to the revenue will prove to be ex- cessive. But however that may be, a sum of more than E3,000,000 sterling has been added to the purchasing powtr of the people, and will fructify in innumerable ways to the advantage of innumerable industries. As regards old age pensions, our contempo- rary remarks that the scheme is modest and simple, and that if the administration of the Act is as careful as the proposal itself many of the dangers and difficulties which shrewd and far-sighted people have feared will be reduced to a minimum. If the new Chancellor of the Exchequer can continue and improve on the policy of economy in other departments of the State, there is no reason why this scheme of old age pensions should involve any addition in taxation. It is surely a good augury that in a year when il,200,000 is provided for old age pensions and E15,000,000 for the reduction of the National Debt, the Government has been able to take L3,400,000 from the shoulders of the taxpayers.

RUSKIN'S IDEA. It was Ruskin who first propounded the policy of old age pensions. In his lectures at Manchester in 1857 on The Political Economy of Art," he pleaded forpensions to "soldiers of the ploughshare as well as soldiers of the sword," and three years later he developed the plea in his Unto this Last." The essays republished under that title originally ap- peared in the Cornhill Magazine, "then edited by Thackeray. The novelist was a friend of Ruskin, and not a timorous person but so loud was the outcry at the appearance of such disreputable heresies in so respectable a maga- zine that Thackeray was constrained to stop Ruskin's papers.

DEATH OF MR J. A. CAMPBELL The Political Cleavage in the Family. The Right Hon. James Alexander Campbell died on Saturday morning at his London residence, within three weeks of the death of his brother, Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman. Mr Campbell, who was 83 years of age, had been seriously ill for some time past. There were present at the bedside at the time of his death his two daughters, Mrs Adamson and Mrs Elsie Campbell. The funeral will take place at Stracathro, Brechin. Mr Campbell was the eldest son of Sir James Campbell, and was born in Glasgow in 1825. The greater part of his life was associated with Glasgow, where he was in business until 1876 in the warehouses which founded the fortunes of the family. He was also cohnected with the Manchester firm 01 Bannerman, and it was not until he was 55 years of age that he entered Parliament as the Conservative member for the Universities of Glasgow and Aberdeen, which he represented to the end of the last Parliament, when he retired from political life. During his 20 years in the House of Commons he was rarely known to make. a speech. He was 11 years older than the late Liberal Prime Minister, and their political cleavage followed family tradition, for their father and uncle, who were partners in J. and W. Camp- bell and Co., were divided in politics and religion, too. James Campbell, the father, stayed in the Auld Kirk at the Disruption, and William, the uncle, went with the Free Kirk, while in politics James was a staunch Conservative, and William a prominent leader among Glasgow Radicals.

PENTYRCH OCTOGENARIAN. Dinner and Presentation. Mr Charles PriChard, of Pentyrch, now in his 85th year, is a much-respected inhabitant of that village. For 32 years he was master at the National school, and for 60 years asisstant overseer, besides acting as land agent for the late Rev. Owen Jenkins and his successors over a period of 40 years. Two months ago Mr Priehard, who has club feet, attended a friend's funeral, walking on that occasion eight miles. Mr Prichard has passed all the chairs in the Pentyrch Loyal Castell Lodge M.U.O.F., and acted for mapy years as secretary. On Saturday evening he was entertained at a dinner at the King's Arms, Pentyrch, under the presidency of Mr Isaac Williams, P.P.G.M. of the Castell Lodge, who was supported by the Rev. H. Williams (rector), Mr Prichard (the guest of the evening), Mr Tom Prichard (son), P. D M. Pontypridd and Rhondda Grand United Order of Oddfellows, Mr Henry Llewellyn (secretary), Mr Daniel Richards, P.G.M., Mr Jenkins, Prov.G.M., Mr Thomas, P.G.M. (Lis- vauc), Mr Llewellyn (Llwyndaddu), Mr Sam Phillips (Cardiff), Mr Lewis Llewellyn, N.G. (Penygarne), Mr Thos. Morgan, Prov.C.S. (Rudry), and Mr John Christopher, secretary Foresters. The vice-chair was taken by Mr Thos. Williams, P.P.G.M. In the course of the evening Mr Charles Prichard was presented by Mr Thomas Wil- liams, on behalf of the company, with a purse of gold, reference being made to the good ser- vices Air Prichard had rendered the Lodge, as well as in the parish of Pentyrch. Responding in Welsh, Mr Prichard spokei of the progress of the Lodge, and concluded by singing a song of six verses composed by himself for the occa- sion.

TALKS ON HEALTH. By DR. ANDREW WilSON. Some Nose Troubles. Although the nose does not figure very pro- minently in connection with disease, there are, nevertheless, sundry minor troubles affecting this organ troubles which may in themselves prove both painful and irritating, even if they cannot be considered to be of dangerous char- acter. It will be interesting for a moment if we consider the relation of the nose and nos- trils to the mouth and throat at large. We may, in the first place, keep in mind that the nostrils form the natural breathing apertures, and therefore, when the mouth is closed and complete, what may be called the natural channel of communication is presented be- tween the outer air and the lungs through the cavities of the nose. Physiologically, the nos- trils may be regarded as the proper channels through which we should breathe. The reason for this statement is found in the fact that over certain bones entering into the composi- tion of the nose there is spread a membrane very riclily supplied with blood vessels. The effect upon air passing over this membrane is to warm it. Therefore the air we breathe into the lungs through the nostrils we can see is received in a heated condition, and is more suitable for breathing than that inspired directly by the mouth, the latter air being of colder temperature. One might go to the length of saying that the nose in this respect forms a natural respirator, which not merely warms the air we receive into the lungs, but which may exercise yet another function, namely, that of intercepting, in part at least, the dust particlvs and germs which the air we breathe contains. The Lining Membrane. The lining membrane of the nose is of a sin- gularly delicate nature, and amongst other structures presents us with the ends of the nerves of smell, or olfactory nerves, as they are called. The ends of these nerves present cer- tain delicate microscopic cells known as olfac- tory cells, with which the particles of any sub- stance which gives off odour come in contact, the sensation of smell passing to the brain, there to be translated into the knowledge of the odour in question. We have already seen that the lining membrane of the nose serves as a kind of screen in respect of its intercep- ting the dust particles, many represented by germs which the air everywhere contains. Part of this screening action is no doubt due to the action of the natural secretion or mucus which the lining memb-ane of the nose throws out. This secretion becomes, as we know, remark- ably increased in amount when inflammation of the lining membrane of the nose occurs, a condition only too frequently represented in that most common ailment, a cold in the head." It is curious to note that the lining membrane of the nose exhibits a peculiar irritability to pure water. Nothing is more irritating in fact to the nose membrane than pure cold water brought in contact with it, whereas if any substance of the nature of salt or other chemical be dissolved in the water this irritability is found to be absent. Polypi in the Nose. Among nose troubles, those which deserve attention at our hands arc represented chiefly by growths of various kinds which affect the lining membrane of the nostrils. It is no un- common thing to find small growths termed polypi growing in the nose. These polypi are growths which most frequently exhibit an elongated or staiked shape. Their presence may be suspected when difficulty in breathing occurs along with a certain alteration of the voice, which assumes a character similar to that experienced when a person suffers from cold in the head. A certain amount of pain and inconvenience is also experienced, and the patient will complain of stuffiness of the nose.. So also it is found that the natural discharge from the nostrils becomes somewhat increased, and it is no unusual. thing where polypi are present to find occasionally the nasal discharge stained with blood. Blowing the nose, even under ordinary circumstances, is also apt to cause pain and inconvenience if the growths we are considering are of fair size, and if they are in any way numerous. It need hardly be said that where the symptoms just mentioned are present, a surgeon should be consulted. It may at once be enforced that no treatment whatever can be available for these polypi in the nose except their removal, this being a simple operation which can be also rendered painless, and therefore should be all the more willingly undertaken. Adenoids. Another class of growth troubling the nose are known as adenoids. Whether or not this disease has become more frequently represen- ted of late years, or whether its existence has been more clearly and rightly defined by sur- geons is a difficult matter to determine. Suffice it to say that one hears of more cases of ade- noids existing and being treated to-day than was the case in former years. Adenoids are typically found in children, and a child can, as a rule, be suspected to suffer from this com- plaint if we find in addition to difficulty in breathing a certain amount of swelling of the nose, or alteration of the voice, and especially a habit of breathing and sleeping with the mouth widely open. Nose-breathing, 4, becomes more or less impossiblc from the pre- sence of adenoids, because these growiAs as a rule, appear at the hack of the nostril, and thus tend to obstruct the easy flow of air from the nostril into the windpipe. The affected child snores at night, and will wake up in the morning with a dry throat and a coated tongue. In appearance, the child also seems to be dull and sleepy. As in the case of polypi the discharge from the nose mav be occasion- ally streaked with blood. Physicians incline to the belief that where adenoids are not properly and promptly treated they exercise a very deleterious effect on the child's general health. The brain development of the child is apt to be interfered with in some measure, and the development of the child's skeleton, and especially that of the chest is said to be liable to b hindered, whilst it need hardly be said that the sense of smell, and along with this sense that of hearing, is liable to suffer. Treatment. As in the case of polypi, adenoids can only be adequately treated by a simple operation. Simple cases are sometimes treated by the little patient being made to sniff up a solution dt salt and water. All local remedies are apt to prove unavailing, and therefore the removal of the adenoids by a surgical operation is the only course which a parent anxious for the future of his child should be inclined or ad- vised to adopt. After the growths have been removed, it would be well that the child hould be taught the practice of certain breathing exercises. The chief of these is that of mak- ing the child close the mouth and take a deep breath through the nose. The lungs having been filled in this way, the mouth is opened and the air allowed to escape. By breathing in through the nose, and breathing out from the mouth, and in this way carrying out the principle of deep breathing, the nostrils tend to,resume their natural functions. It will also be well in connection with any treatment of adenoids that the child's general health should be thoroughly supervised, an d amongst the remedies for building up its frame which phy- sicians are accustomed to rely on, no one is perhaps better adapted for the restoration of health than the giving of a small quantity of eed liver oil with malt extract after food twice or thrice a day. Bunions. An inquiry has been made regarding the proper treatment of that annoying ailment— bun ions. The first stage towards treatment must be that of obtaining boots which fit the feet properly, and it is generally recommended that such boots be made with the inside bor- ders straight from heel to toe,and not taperecL In this way it is possible to avoid the big toe being displaced and so made to press on the other toes. AVhen bunions become inflamed, hot fomentations should be applied, and if painful the anplication of a little of a mixture of equal parts of glycerine and belladonna liniment may be tried. It will be well, also, it the patient sits with the feet elevated.

NEWPORT PRINTERS. Visit of Mr G. D. Kelly, M.P. Mr G. D. Kelly, M.P., South West Man- chester, was the principal speaker at the annual dinner of the Newport Printing and Kin- dred Trades Federation held at the New Bridge Inn Hotel, Newport, on Saturday evening. Councillor Charles Thomas, J.P., who pre- sided. submitted The Printing and Kindred Trades Association." Mr G. D. Kelly, M.P., responding, said that those engaged in the printing trade had a very important movement on foot; they were going in for an eight hours day or 48 hours a week. Personally, he would have preferred to go in foi a 50 hours week. At present they worked 54 hours, and to ask the employers to bring the total down to 48 hours was rather a big jump. However, he was not going to stand in the way of the proposal for 48 hours. What was still more important, was the amalgamation proposal in the printing and kindred trades. They had the Typographical, the London Society of Compositors, the Machine Managers, and the Dublin Society. There was a proposal that these should amalgamate and there was no reason against it. The binders were also moving in a similar direction. Thero was also a proposal to form a Conciliation Board of Printers. This would mean, however, that they would be expected to surrender part of the independent line they had hitherto fol- lowed, and while he agreed with conciliation^ he was not going to surrender that. (Ap- plause.) Mr J. Elias, Cardiff, said that in that city there was the best of feeling between em- ployers and employed. Mr H. W. Moultoi* Newport, also responded. Other toasts followed.

LINER SUNK IN COLLISION British Steamer Damaged. Hamburg, Sunday.—In thick fog this morn- ir g a collision occurred near the Elbe lightship No. 3 between the British steamer Violet and the Deutsche Levant liner Pyrgos. The latter sank, but the crew Were saved. Thl:" Violet was able to proceed without assistance to Hamburg for repairs. Her bow is damaged and severai plates are stove in, the hole being 2ft. abo. water line.—Reuter.