The Cardiff Times

IN PERIL IN THE TIVY. "Home Guards" to the Rescue. On Friday evening a boat capsized in the river Tivy, near the Priory, Cardigan, and there were narrow escapes from drowning. A party of young ladies and gentlemen had been for a trip into the bay in a steam yacht, and had just returned, the yacht being moored in the middle of the river. To convey the party ashore a small punt was utilised, and several journeys were necessary. The punt had re- turned for a second time and two young ladies and a young man got aboard, but in pushing off from the yacht the punt capsized, and all the occupants were thrown into the river. Immediately two young men, also passengers on the yacht, jumped into the river to the rescue, and a punt put off from shore. The young ladies laid hold of the punt, but all ■were in a position of peril when word was sent to the Drill Hall, where the local company of the Territorial force was assembled. Both officers and men at once rushed to the boat- house. and launched two or three craft, and in a short time the imperilled party were picked up safely. The young ladies (Misses May Nicholas and James, Tyrhedyn, Llandudoch) Were in an exhausted state.

COFFINS FOR PAUPERS. At the meeting of" the Llandilo Board of Guardians on Saturday, Mr Henry Herbert in the chair, Mr Evan Davies raised the question of the inferiority of the coffins supplied for the burial of paupers. He described them as simply boards nailed together without varnish or polish, and with no handles. In his opinion and that of others it was a disgrace to the board. He suggested that they should increase' the amount given to the contractor by about 10s in order to have a little improvement. Mr Herbert said 25s per coffin only had been paid as long as he could remember. The Clerk (Mr R. S. Lewis) said that the late contractor had had that amount for a considerable number of years, but recently he had been allowed 10s extra for a hearse. H0 had to pay 5s or 6s burial fees out of the 25s. Mr J. Llewellyn did not think it made much difference whether or not the coffin was polished. It was agreed to &ck for tenders.

Banished Wife. 11 WOMAN'S PATHETIC EFFORT. A Judge's Comment. A wife's petition for an order for the restitu- tion of conjugal rights was before Mr Justice Bucknill on Saturday. There were very sad elements in the case, as his Lordship sug- gested. The petitioner was Mrs Turner, the wife of Mr H. J. Turner, a solicitor, of Moseley, Bir- mingham, and the case had been opened a week or two ago and adjourned. On that occasion it was shown that the parties were married in March, 1886, and they lived at various places, and finally in Church-road, Moseley, Birmingham. There were five chil- dren. For a time they lived happily, but towards the end of 1902 respondent had many quarrels with his wife. The petitioner gave way to drink, and eventually there was a very violent quarrel, and the wife made certain allegations against her husband. Respondent thereupon ordered her to leave the house. In February, 1905, Mrs Turner went to a cousin at Liverpool, and stayed for some months. In July, 1S05, she thought it would be prudent to go to a home for a time, and accordingly in August of last year, she entered the home at Ashford, Middlesex. She was to stay there twelve months, and, according to her own story, she understood that her hus- band would receive her home at the end of that time. In January, 1906, the husband wrote again proposing that she should remain there for twelve months longer. Mrs Turner in her evidence said that her husband told her that the agreement he wished her to sign could be rescinded at any time by mutual consent. It was only a tem- porary one. He also said that if she would not sign the agreement the children would not come to see her nor write to her, and that he would be as disagreeable as he could be over money matte re. She finally signed the paper. In view of this evidence, his Lordship sug- gested that the respondent should be com- municated with. and told that in this un- defended suit a charge had been made against him of having improperly dragged the signa- ture of the lady out of her. Counsel on Saturday morning read the letter that Mr T. H. Aldous (the solicitor) wrote to Mr Turner, in which he recited the evidence, and added :— Having conferred with my client, may I again ask if it is not possible for you with her to bury the past and live together again ? I am convinced she is genuinely desirous of doing so, and anxious to be wth you and her children. She has now for some time past, as I think you must know, entirely overcome the weakness which contributed at first to the separation between you. I feel sure that would be the best ending to this unhappy matter, and trust you will see your way to adopt it. In reply to that Mr Turner admitted that so far as his wife's statement was concerned as to what took place in connection with obtaining her signature to the document, he Was not in a position to deny it. "I did," he added, "bring pressure upon her to sign. At the time I thought I was justified in doing so. I regret now I did not allow her to consult a solicitor on her behalf. Und3r the circumstances, therefore, I do not see that any good can be done by accepting his Lordship's kind offer to allow me to come and defend the petition. I must, therefore, leave the matter in his hands." His Lordship, in granting the decree, said the case was a most genuine one of a wife attempt- ing to be taken back again. Her children appeared to be devoted to her, and she to them. Finally, he thanked the solicitor for carrying ou the wishes of the court in the letter, which stated the case and his own feel- ings most excellently.

WEDDING DRAMA. Vicar Refuses to Marry. Bristol provides a full-blown romance in a tale of a wedding that was frustrated through the intervention of the vicar of a fashionable suburb of the city. The facts only transpired on Saturday, but it was on Wednesday that he received notice of a marriage by licence the following day of a Russian count and a widow lady of the parish, aged 45, and possessed of an ample yearly in- come. Having doubts as to his position in the matter the vicar ascertained that according to the law if either party belonged to the Greek Orthordox Church the ceremony must be per- formed consonant with the rites of that Church. The wedding was fixed for eleven o'clock, and the prospective bridegroom forwarded the vicar the licence he had procured from the city registry. At a quarter to eleven a brougham, drawn by a pair of smart grey horses, drove up to the church, andthe count,his prospective bride, and her son alighted. The bridegroom was dressed in a frockcoat, with a gay buttonhole of flowers, and wore a red, white, and blue sash across his breast. The widow was costumed in white, and sported orange blossoms in her hair. The coachman wore a huge bouquet, and satill ribbons fluttered from thfc whip. Quite a small knot, of villagers watched the weddingparty enter the church, but soon word went round of a swell wedding being about to take place, and the church became fairly full. The parties were conducted to the vestry by the curate and left there awaiting the arrival of the vicar and the Russian and American Consuls, the two latter having been invited to be present to advise as to the law. Time went by and the anxious bridegroom sent out several inquiries as to the cause, of the delay. Scene in the Vestry. The vicar then entered the vestry and, addressing the count, said I believe you are a Russian subject." The' answer being in the affirmative the vicar said he was sorry the ceremony could not proceed owing to the legal difficulties. The bridegroom vainly endeavoured to per- suade the vicar he was now of the Protestant faith but the clergyman said he must satisfy himself on this point and would go to London the next day and consult the Russian Embassy. The count became excited and created a scene in the vestry, gesticulating wildly and demanding that the ceremony should proceed. Asked how long she had known her pro- spective husband, the widow, who was greatly agitated, replied three weeks, adding, I trust him implicitly and wish to marry him." The vicar advised the man to calm himself and restrain his indignation. He reaffirmed that he could not proceed with the wedding until he had satisfied himself on. the legal points. Meanwhile a large congregation had assem- bled, and as the time was drawing near for a uneral in the adjoining churchyard an attempt was made to get the wedding party out of the church by the side door, but as the carriage could not be driven up they elected to run the gauntlet of the crowd of the village sightseers. The count accompanied the bride down the centre aisle. She was pale and agitated and extremely nervous, and plainly on the point of fainting. The vicar proceeded to explain to the congregation that there could be no wedding owing to certain technical difficulties. He added that he had nothing to say against either bride or bridegroom. Later the vicar saw the bridegroom at his house. The count demanded the return of the licence which he had leftwith the vicar, saying he would not now be married in the church for a thousand pounds. Very well," replied the vicar, and he handed over the licence. The parties drove to the railway station, and are understood to have booked for Reading.

THAW IN THE WITNESS-BOX. Is He Rational P Poughkeepsie, Saturday.—After the hearing of the evidence of experts called by Mr Jerome in the Thaw case yesterday, Thaw's counsel brought forward as witnesses the chaplains at the Tombs Prison, and the alienists, Dr. Jacoby and Dr. Hamilton, who all swore that Thaw was rational in his mind. Dr. Hamilton declared Thaw was not a paranoiac, and was perfectly sane. Late in the day Mr Jerome put Thaw in the witness-box and asked him whether he appre- ciated the purport of the action. Apparently perplexed, Thaw hesitated before replying that he was seeking the rights of an American citizen. Mr Jerome next asked witness whether he would allow his (Mr Jerome's) alienists to ex- amine him, but the Judge did not permit Thaw to answer that question, suggesting he should first confer with his counsel, who might decide that it would be wise to grant the re- quest. Thaw and his counsel then withdrew and re- turned in an hour, when it was announced Thaw would submit to examination by six alienists hitherto unconnected with the case provided the examination was confined to a personal study of himself without reference to evidence given at the trials. Mr Jeromete- fused to accept the condition, and then closed the case. Briefs on the constitutional question whether Thaw is legally incarcerated will be submitted on Monday next,and the dceision will probably be given on the 25th instant. Meanwhile Thaw remains in the Duchess county gaol.—Reuter.

PORTHCAWL LOVERS' WALK. At Bridgend on Saturday Ethel Gammon, single, of Railway-terrace, Porthcawl, sum- moned Gwilym Edwards, collier, of Cwmparc, Rhondda Valley, to show cause. Mr J. T. Howells, Bridgend, represented the girl, and Mr T. Milward, Pontypridd, the defendant. Complainant said that in August, 1906, the defendant spent a fortnight's holiday at a house in Porthcawl where she was araomestic servant. They went out for walks frequently. On the following Christmas Day defendant paid another visit to Porthcawl, and that night they went for a walk along the Locks- road, which complainant's solicitor described as a sort of lovers' lane, and there impropriety took place. She gave birth to a boy in Sep- tember. Defendant denied paternity, but ad- mitted courting the girl, and up to the time (f the child's birth had intended to marry her. An order of 3s a week and costs was made.

Ammanford Bigamy Case. "THOUGHT SHE COULD WEU AGAIN." Separation Order Misapprehension. On Saturday, at Ammanford Police Court (before Mr G. H. Strick and other magistrates) Mary Jones, of the Farmers Arms, Penygroes, Carmarthenshire, wife of John Jo:1 Water- street, Kidwelly, was charged by ■• ice-Supt. John Evans, that she on the 1/el' day of February" did feloniously marry and take to husband Thomas Hughes, Farmers Arms, Penygroes, her former husband being then alive." Mr Hugh Grismond Pliilipps, solicitor, Llandilo, appeared for the prosecution: defend- ant was represented by Mr Wiiliam Howells, solicitor, Llanelly. Mr Philipps said that in 1899 defendant mar- ried John Jones, at Pontypridd Registry Office, whilst in 1908 she went through a form of marriage with Thomas Hughes, Farmers Arms, Penygroes. In July, 1907, she had had a separation order against her former husband at Kidwelly. William Hughes, of Edward-street, Tylors- town, said he was present at the Registry Office, Pontypridd, on July 2nd, 1899, when de- fendaut was married by the registrar of marriages to John Jones. The last-named was now in court. P.S. James, of Kidwelly, pro- duced a copy of the certificate of the marriage referred to. David Oswald J ones, registrar of marriages, Llandilo, produced a copy of a certificate of marriage of Mary Ann Jones, widow, and Thomas Hughes, of Penygroes." The' marriage took place at the Llandilo Registry Office in February last. Police-constable W. Thomas, of Penygroes, said that when he served a copy of the sum- mons on the prisoner she said that she thought the separation order at Kidwelly entitled her to marry again. Defendant was formally charged and pleaded not guilty. Mr Howells, for the defence, cited cases, and submitted that a bona-fide belief and reason- able assumption that a party was dead con- stituted a defence, and inasmuch as defendant was under the impression thatshe could marry again under the separation order he claimed that there was not a guilty mind. The Bench committed defendant for trial at the Assizes. Bail was allowed. Thomas Hughes, of the Farmers Arms, Penygroes, was then charged with marrying Mary Jones, knowing her husband to be alive at the time. P.C. Thomas, of Penygroes, said he had a conversation with th, defendant android him that his servant Mary Jones was a married woman and had a husband and children at Kidwelly. Defendant said I am glad you have mentioned it" In January, 1908, de- fendant informed witness that he had spoken to his servant, who had told him that. she had a husband at Kidwelly, and that their two children were with her mother at Kidwelly. On February 12th witness saw defendant, who told him he had been married to Mary Jones. Witness said he remarked he did not believe it, but defendant then showed him the certificate. Cross-examined by Mr Howells, witness said he felt it his duty to tell defendant Mary Jones was a married woman, because it was common talk about the place. Defendant was committed for trial at the Assizes, bail being allowed.

SUFFOCATED BY TIP FUMES. FATAL REFUGE FROM THE POLICE. Inquest at Merthvr. A verdict of Found dead from suffoca- tion was returned by a coroner's jury at Mrthyr on Saturday which investigated the circumstances of the death of Elias Jones, a Rhymney collier. Jones, it appears, had lived apart from his wife for the last eight or nine years, and his two children were now in the Cottage Homes at Tredegar. The Monmouthshire police, having in their possession a warrant issued by the Guardians' for Jones's arrest for the non-maintenance of his wife, discovered that he was at Merthyr, and were searching for him. Jones, who had been living in Toomey's lodging house for some time, under the name of Rees Williams, hearing of this, went to sleep out on Thursday night. He selected an old tip at Upper Pentre Bach, which had recommenced burning after having been quiet for some years, during which time the Corporation had utilised it for a refuse tip. He lay down in a gully with his overcoat thrown over his head, and kept in position by a large stone. While lying thus he was suffo- cated by the fumes from the burning tip. On Friday afternoon, as already reported, some small boys. seeing him lying there in. imminent danger of being burned, threw stones to awaken him. One stone struck him on the temple and another cut his cheek. See- ing that he did not move, the boys ran to tell the police, and P.C. Lynch discovered that the man was dead, having apparently been suffo- cated in his sleep. The constable told the Coroner on Saturday that, had the man's clothes not been saturated with rain, he would have surel;. been burned. The jury's verdict was Found dead from suffocation."

OTTER HUNTING. Mr Clay's Hunt Meeting. There was a well attended meeting of Mr Clay's hunt at the King's Head Hotel, New- port, on Saturday, under the presidency of Mr S. H. Deakin, RoSs-on-Wye, who was supported by the Master( MIl H. Hastings Clay). the hon. secretary (Mr W. B. Pilkington, Pen- craig, Ross on-Wye), Captain V. Phillips, Peupergwm Mr J. Treharne Rees, Mal pas, Newport; Mr Arthur Waldron, Peterstone- super-Ely, Cardiff; Mr R. Pryce-Jenkin, Raglan Mr Willie Cope, Bridgend Mr H. George Thomas, Caerleon; Mr .T. W. Sims, Newport; Mr Tom Davies, Melrose Hall, Castleton Mr H. G. Kelly, Michaelstone. Mr Deakin referred in laudatory terms to those generous members who had voluntarily doubled their subscriptions when they became aware of the adverse balance at the end of last season. Mr Clay said the recommendation of the committee to take a 5s cap from non- subscribers had been heartily responded to. It was resolved that subscribers of over £2 shall be entitled to wear the hunt costume, and those over 10s wil be presented with the hunt button. The secretary announced that the foil owing ladies and gentlemen had consented to act as local secretaries :—Chepstow, Mr H Burder, Tidenham Raglan, Mr R. Pryce- Jenkin; Whitchurch, Hereford, Mr A. Goold Adams, Goodrich, Hereford Ross-on-Wye, Mr S. H. Deakin and Mr W. B. Pilkington Pontypool, the Rev. A. A. Williams, Panteg Dinas Powis. Dr. Roche Cowbridge, Bridg- end, and Porthcawl, Mr Willie Cope, Porth- cawl Newnham. Glos., Mr Russell Kerr, jun., Broughtons; Caerleon, Mr H. George Thomas, Abbotsford Newport, Miss Alice Heard, Win- chester House, and Mr J. W. Sims, Mill-street; Abcrgavenny, Mr H. Gething, The Firs, and Captain V. Phillips, Pempergwm St. Briavels, Miss Whitley Cardiff, Mr Arthur Waldron, Peters tone-super-Ely Mr Tom R. Davies, Melrose Hall, Castleton and Mr H. G. Kelly, Michaelstone-y-Fedw.

LAD SHOT AT SAUNDERSFOOT. A shooting occurrence of rather a serious nature took place at Saundersfoot a few days ago. A lad named Albert Reginald Davies, son of Mr David Davies, postman, had been play- ing in Railway-street with another lad named Willie Jenkins, who is about 12 or 13 years old, when he ran home crying that Willie Jenkins had shot him with a gun Dr. Clement Evans was quickly called, and he found that the boy had been shot in the upper part of the head. The gun had been loaded with small shot, several of which were extracted from the boy's forehead and scalp, while one penetrated the right eye, which it was thought for a time would have been rendered useless. His cap was riddled by the shot. For a time his condition was regarded as critical, but hopes of his recovery are now entertained. The gun, a double-barrel breech-loader, has been taken possession of by the police. It is said that Jenkins fetched it from his brother's stables in Railway-street, and loaded it in the presence of the lad Davies, with whom he was at play.

CREATOR OF SAM WELLER. In his speech at Liverpool on Friday Mr Birrell described a visit by Charles Dickens to the city. He came here—being, like others, a good-natured man—(laughter)—to give away certificates to some school of art. You all know the sort of thing. (Laughter.) Piles of certificates and rows of young ladies, bows and smiles, and the reading out of the names of the successful candidates by Dickens on this very platform. On his marvellous face my eyes were riveted all the time. Suddenly I observed a strange gleam in his eye, and noticed a momentary hesitation in reading out one of the names and then the name came ringing through this hall. And what was the name, do you think: It was Miss Weller. (Laughter.) You can conceive the situation— all sorts and conditions of people, young and old, rich and poor, gentle and simple, mer- chants and craftsmen, the policemen at the door, and in an instant, by the mere pro- nouncement of a name, all alike, without ex- ception, exploding in a roar of delightful laughter born of humorous recollections. There, amidst that laughter, stood the author. the creator of Sam Weller, receiving what I thought at the time, and still think, in a most exquisite form, a universal and unpremeditated tribute to his genius.

FRIENDLY SOCIETY LAW. At Bridgend on Saturday William Rees, Cornelly, "formerly secretary of the True Ancient Briton Lodge, Cornelly, was sum- moned for not supplying an annual and a quin- quennial return under the Friendly Society Act. The lodge itself was also summoned. Mr Fox. London, prosecuted on behalf of the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies. The de- fendant, W. Rees, said the returns were be- coming so complicated that he had failed to prepare them in time. There were two summonses against W. Rees and two against the lodge. Ho \vasfined£2 and costs in each case. The lodge was fined £1 and costs in each case.

Fishguard for Mails. ELDER DEMPSTER SERVICE. We understand, from a reliable source, that arrangements have been completed between the Great Western Railway Company and Messrs Elder Dempster Company for the land- ing of passengers and mails from the West Indies at Fishguard by the Elder Dempster liners. The first of the "Port" vessels will call early in July. Careful calculations conclusively show that mails from the West Indies via Fishguard will reach London some 24 hours earlier than by any other route. The importance of this to the commercial world is incalculable. There is no port more easy of access than Fishguard in all winds and weathers, and when the present project of enclosing 150 acres of harbour is completed—seven years is the time calculated to finish the scheme—it will form one of the finest deep-water harbours existing. Already the work of sounding for thepiers of the new bridge to span the Parrog-road has begun. The Booth Line. which was the first to adopt Fishguard as a port of call, are maintaining a regular service, and, as announced in these columns, the Anselm, which will be the fourth steamer of the line to call at Fishguard, is due there on Saturday next to land passengers from South America.

MR 0. BEYNON EVANS, Chairman of Cardiganshire County Council. Mr O. Beynon Evans, of Pendre, Cardigan, the new chairman of Cardiganshire County Council, proved last Thursday at the annual meeting that the right man had been appointed for the right place. An enormous lot of work of an important character was accomplished in a four-houis' sitting, and but for his tactful and decisive ruling much of it would of neces- sity have been deferred. Mr Beynon Evans, who is in the prime of life, is known in his native county as a, most practical, outspoken, useful, and straightforward public man. He is the only surviving son of Mr D. Beynon Evans, house deoorator, Cardigan, who died when Mr Beynon (Photo by Roberts, Llandrindod.) I was a lad. In 1878, however, he started on his own account as a house furnisher and decorator, and eventually owned and con- trolled a large and successful business at Car- digan. He was a town councillor for 17 years, and occupied the civic chair in the years 1889 and 1890. He is a J.P. for the borough and county of Cardigan, the chairman of the Car- digan Mercantile Co., a director of the Cardi- gan Gas and Coke Co., and was one of the prime movers of the Gwbert Improvement Syndicate which developed the southern coast of Cardigan. For 14 years he has been a county councillor, having helped to establish under the old scholastic regime the Inter- mediate School of Cardigan. He was one of the six temperance Mayors of South Wales who were present at the memorable Cardiff banquet which was given in their honour. For a long period he has been the provincial corresponding secretary of the Independent Order of Odd- fellows. He is a Welsh Congregational deacon, a Sunday school teacher, and a friend and supporter of many societies which make for the social and intellectual welfare of the com- munity.

QUEEN'S FAVOURITE ARTIST. The late Mr Edward Hughes, whose death was announced on Saturday, became famous at an early age, for his paintings were hung in Burlington House when he was only 15. His genius for depictinar femiqine >eauty was noted by Millais, who said Very many artists can paint a portrait of a man, but very 1, 11 few can paint the portrait of a lady, and Edward Hughes is one of those few." None of his pictures has appeared at the Royal Academy for 20 yeps. He declined to send in again owing to one of his works having been, as he considered, badly placed. (Photo, by Alice Hughes.)

STABBING AFFRAY IN CARDIFF. Arabs Before the Bench. At the Police Court on Saturday (before Mr F. J. Veall and Mr J. Morcom) Morsi Shahine, an Arab, was charged with cutting and wounding Ali Ben. When the prosecutor entered the witness-box it was noticed that his wound behind the ear was bleeding, and Dr. Buist accompanied him to the cells to further dress the injury. Subsequently Ali Ben Hadji Hassein reappeared, his head swathed in bandages. As he was very weak from loss of blood, he was accommodated with a seat. Soon after 9 o'clock, he said, the prisoner and he quarrelled and were separated. Witness afterwards went out, followed by prisoner, who came up to him, caught hold of him by the head, and stabbed him behind the ear with a knife. He said nothing, but ran away after- wards. Dr. J. J. Buist, in describing the injury, said that Ali had lost a considerable quantity of blood because a vein had been cut, but the wound was not dangerous otherwise. Prisoner, who was committed for trial at the next Assizes, said that After the quarrel in the house the prosecutor followed him to the street and caught him by the throat.

MOTOR CAR AND CYCLIST. Near Brighton, early on Sunday morning, a coastguardsman named Henry Catt, was cycling on the main road between Blackrock and Roedean, when a motor-car proceeding in the opposite direction collided with him, smashing his machine and throwing him with great violence on the road. The car, which contained four occupants, besides the driverj was not stopped, but when it reached a Brighton garage two of the party started to walk back, the reason they subsequently gave to the police being thatthey thought they had hit something. On reaching the spot they found Catt 'unconscious with seven ribs broken and his left hand fractured. He is in a very grave condition. An interval of one hour elapsed between the time of the accident and the discovery of Catt.

LLANTRISANT PATERNITY CASE A Bet as Evidence. A paternity case came before tt: Llsmtrisant magistrates on Saturday in which Bella Miles, single woman, Common-road, Llantrisant, sought an order against Arthur John Hopkins, labourer, Swan-street. Mr James Phillips, Pontypridd, was for applicant, and Mr T. J. Hughes, Bridgend, defended. Applicant stated that defendant kept com- pany with her for two years, and was the father of the illegitimate child. For the de- fence Wm. Cawson spoke to seeing applicant entering the coach-house of the public-house where she was engaged with a man at one o'clock in the morning and leaving three hours later. Another witness, George Woods, said that he had a bet of 2s with the landlord of the public-house that the man alleged to have been in the coach-house with Miles would not marry her. This man was called into the room and affirmed his intention of marrying the girl, and witness had to pay over the bet.. ( Laughter.) The magistrates stopped the case and dis- missed the summons.

1 Paupers and Pensions. MERTHYR GUARDIANS' PROPOSAL. The Rev. J. Hathren Davies presided at a meeting of Merthyr Board of Guardians on Saturday. Notice was given by Mr John Prowle that he would move at the next meet- ing of the hoard a resolution in the following terms :—" That this board views with regret the clauses in the Government's old age pen- sion scheme whereby those in receipt of actual pauper relief will bQ deprived of its benefits; and that we petition the Government to place them on an equal basis with other recipients of the benefits of the Ad." Mr Thomas Andrews (Treharris) moved that the Government be asked to amend the law relating to insurance so that boards of guar- dians would have priority of claim upon insur- ance funds upon the death of a pauper. Mr Andrews said that the present state of things was a scandal. He mentioned the case of a. man who was picked up in a ditch by the roadside. The doctor reported that he was ill, and the relieving officer had to take him to the workhouse, where he died. His relatives took the body away for burial, and subse- quently a sum of £100 was paid over under a policy of insurance. Another case was that of a widow who re- ceived out-relief for a number of years. She made a will in favour of a relative, and aftpr she had died in the workhouse and had been buried by her relatives, the will was dis- covered. The relieving officer found that there Avas nothing in the will worth following up. Afterwards it was discovered that people who were not relatives of the deceased woman benefited under insurance policies to the extent of £1,100. The motion was seconded by Mr Augustus Davies. and carried. On the recommendation of a sub-committee, the clerk was directed to prepare a return of salaries paid to officers, with a list of salaries paid by neighbouring boards to their officers. It was decided to add JE5 per annum to the salary of charge nurses. It was decided, on the report ot acommittee .that had been considering the question of site for a sanatorium for consumptives, to approve their choice of a site at Pontsarn on the new road just below the junction with the old tram- way. It was decided to ask Messrs Guest, Keen, and Nettlefolds the terms upon which they were prepared to lease or sell the land required. Alderman David Evans called attention to the antiquated state of the law in relation to the appointment of overseers and their powers," and he moved that the board peti- tion Parliament to place the constitution of these authorities upon a more modern and equitable basis. Alderman Evans said there was urgent necessity for a system of assess- ment which could be understood and which would be uniform. Mr John Prowle seconded, and the resolution was carried. Mr Hugh Jones submitted a motion that the Local Government Board be asked to take the 1 necessary steps to make phthisis a notifiable disease, and this was carried by a large majority.

PEMBROKE DOCKYARD. A Grievance Removed. In July. 1907, a new table of working hours was brought into operation at the Royal dock- yards by order of the Admiralty. In accord- ance with that table one hour only was allowed for dinner on Mondays, but workmen were not permitted to leave the dockyard. An hour and a half was allowed for dinner on other days, and workmen arc allowed either to leave the yard or to remain in it, but .they must deposit their attendance tickets in the general muster office at 12 o'clock, and take them up again at 1.30 p.m before resuming wor. This option was expressly denied them on Mondays, and a very large number of the workmen at Pembroke Dockyard, to whom an hour is ample to enable them to proceed to their homes for dinner, complained very bitterly of the injustice of the arrange- ment. The principal yard authorities sym- pathised with the men in this complaint and made representations to the Admiralty with a view of enabling them to leave the dockyard on that day as on others, and impressed upon their Lordships the urgency of dealing with the matter some months ago, but no answer was received until last Thursday. The following is the text of the notice publicly issued at the dockyard as the result of the communication then received. With reference to Controller's letter of the 13th May, the officers are requested to inform' the workmen under their supervision that, in future, they most deposit their tickets at the muster station immediately after bell-ringing at the noon outmuster on Mondays, and take them up, before resuming their work at the afternoon in-muster. This must be done whether they desire to leave the yard for the dinner hour or otherwise." This arrangement will give satisfaction to the majority, but an optional out-muster was what most of the men desired, inasmuch as that would have enabled those who wished to leave the dockyard to do so. and those who did not would not have needed to leave the immediate vicinity of their work, as will now be necessary.

G.W.R. PROVIDENT SOCIETY. At the annual meeting of the Swansea dis- trict of the Great Western Railway Provi- dent Society, held at the Assembly Rooms, Carmarthen, on Sunday afternoon, and presided over by Mr W. Hughes, Carmar- then, Mr J. Bevan (Cockett) moved the fol- lowing resolution; which was seconded by Councillor Nathan Griffiths (Llanelly), and carried unanimously :—" That this meeting, representing 18.000 workers, welcomes the be- ginning made by the Goernment in providing a. more humane system of dealing with the aged people of this country, but respectfully urges as an encouragement to thrift and in es- timating the income of applicants for pensions, any amounts received by them from aFriendly Society or Trade Union, in the form of sick or pension benefits, or voluntary grants in ex- ceptional circumstances, shall not be taken into account." Mr J. Griffin (Landore), said that in spite of the extraordinary amount of sickness which prevailed last year their society had been able to save over £2.500. In one week alone last year they had paid ovev. JESOOin sick relief. He was sorry to say the amount of sickness this year was still heavier, for in one week they had paid out over JE600. Their member- ship last year increased by over 700. A motion by Mr Richards (Landore) to reduce London delegates' expenses from 10s to 7s 6d a day was defeated, as also was an- other motion for dispensing with the services of the special sick visitor which the society had appointed. Mr David Davies (Swansea) asked whether it was not a fact that the number of super- numeraries employed by the Great Western Railway Company was calculated to reduce the financial basis of the society. Mr Griffin (the delegate) replied it did, and they had been taking up this matter with the company for the past two years.

A LLANELLY APPEAL In the Divisional Court of the Royal Courts of Justice on Saturday, before Justices Philli- more and Darling, the appeal case of Davies v. Williams from a judgment by Judge Bishop at Llanelly County Court came on for hearing. Mr Lleufer Thomas (instructed by Mr E. M. C. Dahne, Swansea) was for the appellant, and Mr Norman Craig (instructed by Mr J. Lewis Phillips, Llanelly), for respondent. Mr Thomas said the whole question turned upon the inter- pretation that should be put on a building contract. The point was whether the defen- dant had a right to deduct from the amount due to the plaintiff for work done any penalties for work not done within a specified period and extras and variations. The defen- dant deducted £35, and the defendant sued for that amount in the County Court, but judgment was given for £19 without costs.—Mr Justice Phillimore Is that all in dispute ? £16 and costs ?—Mr Thomas Yes, my lord. The learned counsel went on to say that a question arose as to a waiverer. and the contention was that this invalidated the previous arrangement or agreement. The County Court judge held to the contrary, and in giving judgment for the smaller amount—wrongly, counsel con- tended—deprived his client of his costs.—Mr Justice Darling said he was of opinion the County Court judge was absolutely correct, and that the appeal should be dismissed with costs. Mr Justice Phillimore concurred. In his opinion the County Court judge was right on every point. Judgment accordingly. Appeal dismissed with costs.

DROWNED AT DEVYNNOCK. Near Devynnock village. Breconsbire, on Saturday evenihg the dead body of David Jenkins, labourer, of Devynnock, was found in the River Senny, a tributary of the Usk. The body was lying in about nine inches of water, face downwards, and wedged between two stones. Deceased left Devynnock about a quarter past 10 in the morning to go fishing, and about five yards from the body—higher up stream—his rod and line were found, and also a bag containing three trout. Deceased, who was highly respected in the district, was badly afflicted with fits, and there is every reason for believing that the fatality resulted from one of those seizures.

CARMARTHENSHIRE HUNT CLUB. The annual meeting of this club took place at the Boar's Head Hotel, Carmarthen, on Saturday, Mr Thomas Parkinson, Castle Pigyn, presiding. The accounts disclosed the fact that some of the members had not paid their subscriptions, in consequence of which there was a deficit. The promoters of the hunt were exceedingly gratified with the excel- lent financial resultsof the rceent ball. Captain Spcnce-Jones, who has ceased running the Pantglas hounds, of which he was the M.F.H., wrote a letter, in which he tendered his sin- cerest thanks to the members and to Mr R. H. Harries, the master of the Carmarthenshire foxhounds, for kindly affording him country to hunt in. It is, therefore, taken for granted that the Carmarthenshire."? will now have a bigger field, seeing that Major Spence-Jones's hunting country extended from Llandilo 1 owards Carmarthen and over part of the Llangendeirne district. ♦

Democratic Finance. SIR S. T. EVANS ON TAXATION. Need of Readjustment. At Wliitefield's Tabernacle, Tottenham Court-road, London, on Sunday afternoon, the Solicitor-General (Sir Samuel T. Evans, K.C., M.P.) delivered an address to a crowded audience on Democratic Finance." The Rev. Sylvester Horne occupied the chair. Sir Samuel Evans said the subject matter of his address had been given to him by their much beloved minister, and in choosing a text there were two texts which he could fall back upon. One would be. Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's," and then by way of warning and not accusation the 5th chapter of James, which was full of wisdom. They would forgive him if he gave utterance to elementary matters, because it was necessary to give a somewhat complete picture of how the finances of this country were dealt with. He should not deal with local but national finance, though the former had a very important bearing on the welfare of the working classes. Questions of high rates would have to be more closely considered in the future than they had been in the past. (Cheers.) In order to keep the people contented it was necessary that finance should be put on a right, proper and moral basis. There had been times in; the history of the world when undue taxation by the rich of the poor had been the root of great national difficulties, disasters, and upheavals. Fortunately in this country we were not suffering that burden now and were not likely to again because the days of democracy had nearly come. (Cheers.) No Injustice to Property. There still existed inequalities which had to be put right, but in any proposals they made they did not want to do an injustice to owners of property. The party to which he belonged was often accused of doing grave in- justice to certain classes and owners of pro- perty. They knew perfectly well to what he was making covered reference. (Cheers and laughter.) That was not the policy of his party, and it was not the policy of the democracy to be unfair or unjust to any class. They were willing to render unto Csesar that which was Caesar's. (Cheers.) He wished to remind them of the position every citizen was in in this country respecting the National Debt. Everyone born in the king- dom who became a citizen was born with a considerable sum of debt to his debit account, and they had to start with that when they arranged their national finance. The National Debt was due almost entirely to the expendi- ture and ravages of war. In 1776, the year be- fore the outbreak of the War of American Independence, our National Debt stood at £126,000,000. Tn 1792, the year before fhe great war with France, it had increased to £237,000,000; whilst in 1816, the year after Waterloo, it had reached £846,000.000. In 1854, the year before the Crimean War, it had dropped to £794,000,000, but at the close of the campaign it had again risen to £826,000,000. From then until that most unfortunate war in South Alfrica the National Debt was being reduced and got as low as £697,000,000. In 1903, at the close of that war—he was not speaking of the whole cost of the campaign—it stood at 770 millions, but the total capital liabilities reached 798,000,000. He was glad to say, however, that by the courage- ous finance of the present Prime Minister— (cheers)—the estimated total National Debt in 1909 was down to £696,000,000. with about £50,000,000 to be added by capital liabilities. Every man, woman, and child had a lability under the National Debt of JE17, or each family Cost of the Services. The expenditure on the Army for this year was £27,000,000, and on the Navy upwards of £32,000,000. The cost of those two services put together meant JE17 for every man, woman, and child. The Civil Service was more satis- factory and productive. Of the £30,000,000 spent nearly one half went in the education; of children. (Cheers.) As to the estate duties and property and in- come tax when the late Sir William Harcourt passed his Death Duties Bill there was a great wailing and gnashing of teeth, and it was said that it would drive capital out of the country. Those prophecies were always made when there was an attempt to readjust the burdens of the people. So far the millionaires had found England was as pleasant as anywhere else to live in, and there were no indications that they were going away. (Cheers and laughter.) The truest and fairest taxation was to adjust the burden in accordance with the ability to bear the burden. (Cheers.) Mr Asquith in- creased the death duties last year, but whether he increased them enough he (Sir S. T. Evans) had his opinion and no doubt his audience had theirs. There should be gradua- tion of income tax on all amounts. At present it only applied to salaries of £700 a year and lower, but why, he asked, should a man earn- ing JE800 a year pay on the same scale as a man in receipt of £8,000 or even £ 40,000? Graduation was a perfectly sound system, but they wanted it extended. (Hear, hear.) What the Workman Pays. By indirect taxation the workman earning 30s per week was taxed to the extent of 2s 3d in the dE, and he therefore thought the wage- earning class were entitled to more relief, whilst the richer classes might without any unfairness or injustice be called upon to pay a little more. They wanted to try and remedy some of the existing inequalities. He hoped to see the people of this country taking a greater interest in financial questions which so materially affected the working classes. He exhorted them to set their face against wars and do their utmost towards preserving peace between England and the whole world. War was almost always wicked, it was always wasteful, and the burdens under which they were now suffering were due to that horrible thing which he would like to see wiped away. He desired the people of this country to maintain peace almost at any cost, and he hoped the day was not far distant when men would not lift up their swords against each other, and that peace would eternally reign among all the nationalities of the world. (Loud cheers.)

RHYMNEY VALLEY HOSPITAL. Powell Duffryn Company's Offer. A mass meeting of the whole of the work- men employed at the Powell-Duffryn Collieries in the' Bargoed and Aberbargoed districts was held at the Hanbury Assembly Rooms, Bar- goed, on Saturday evening, to consider the hospital question. It will be recalled that the Powell Duffryn Company generously offered to erect and equip a cottage hospital and hand it over to the men, provided arrangements be made for maintenance. The men took a ballot and by an overwhelming majority decided in favour of acceptance, and to contribute one- halfpenny per man per week for maintenance. The company then intimated they had selected a site at the rear of the Workmen's Institute, Aberbargoed. The New Tredegar section of the company's employees decided, after hold- ing two meetings, not to accept this site, con. tending that the building should be nearer New Tredegar. At the meeting held on Saturday of the Bar- goed and Aberbargoed District men, Air Richard Pugh presided, and County Coun- cillor E. Thomas reviewed the whole of the circumstances. He emphasised the value of the gift and its advantages to the workmen gener- ally, adding that in all probability a horse ambulance would also be provided. With the completion of the new road to Cwmsyfiog the site at Abergargoed would, he submitted, be more accessible. Mr Edmund Jones, checkweigher, Bargoed, said that for that colliery alone he had in 1905 issued no less than 87 indoor and outdoor tickets for Cardiff Infirmary. In 1907 the number was 102. Apart from the convenience of having a hospital close at hand, there would be a great financial saving to the workmen. It was unanimously aggreed to acccpt the company's proposal as to offer and site, and also to undertake the responsibility of main- tenance, in the hope that in a very short time their fellow workmen at New Tredegar would reconsider their decision.

C A N TO NPOI SO NIN G"^OASE. A Sad Sequel. A few months ago a kennel man named Hale, living with his wife and children in Can- ton, attempted, it was alleged, to poison his wife and to commit suicide. Mrs Hale was taken to the Workhouse Infirmary in a serious condition, but recovered, and Hale also re- covered from the effects of poison said to have been self-administered. He was committed by the magistrates for trial at the Assizes on the charge of attempting to murder his wife, but at the Assizes, which were held on March last, the Grand Jury threw out the bill. Hale then returned to his home in Llanfair-road, Canton. Subsequently he became ill and very depressed, and last week the attention of Mr Pritchard, warrant officer to the Cardiff Union, was called to him. As a result Mr Pritchard at once took steps to have him examined by two medical men, the outcome being that a magistrate's order was obtained for the removal of the un- fortunate man to the Mental Hospital at Whitchurch, where he was admitted at the end of last week.

COAL FIND AT KENFIG HilL. The celebrated 6ft. seam of coal was struck at the new developments of the Bryndu Mill Pit Collieries last week. The seam is 5ft. 8in. in thickness, and of excellent bituminous quality. This is the second seam proved at this place, and under the able management of Messrs D. J. Rees and Richards it is expected that the discovery will prove a great boon to the neighbourhood and a great success to the Margamestate.

KilLED HIS MOTHER. A frightful crime, due to drunkenness, was committed on Thursday at Douarnenez, in Finisterre. A man, named Yves Cam, aged 34, who had that day been sentenced to three months' imprisonment for beating his sister, turned upon his mother and killed her with his wooden sabot. The murderer at once went to give himself up to the gendarmerie, but his talc was disbelieved, and he was told to go away. It was not until some hours afterwards that he was arrested.

TALKS ON HEALTH. By DR. ANDREW WILSON. About Styes. The Spring season is a period when a con- siderable number of minor ailments affect us. It is the time when colds and chills are liable to leave their effect upon our frames, these effects varying from lung troubles onwards to the development of rheumatic attacks. Among the minor ailments which appear to be characteristic of the present season, styes have also to be reckoned with, inasmuch as the fre- quency of this common eye trouble is much more to be noted in the earlier part of the year, as it is also noticeable when the colder season of autumn succeeds the warmth of summer. From •tiiese remarks it might be concluded that a stye was a direct product of cold and chill, but this, however, is hardly to be re- garded as an explanation of the cause and origin of this troublesome affection. A stye forms an inflammation of the borders and edges of the eyelids, and its origin and course of de- velopment strongly suggest the presence and course of that particular disease process, if so it may be called, to which the name inflam- mation is commonlv applied. Wherever in- flammation exists.accompaniedbythe develop- ment of "matter," we have clearly to as- sume the presence of infection bv means of microbes or germs. The stye is therefore no exception to this rule, and if cold and chill as commonly regarded play any part in the de- velopment of styes, they can only exert an in- direct influence, possibly by lowering the tone of the body, so that infection becomes more easily acquired. Their Nature. Along the borders of the eyelids we find a number of glands whose duty it is to supply a certain amount of moisture, keeping the parts in a flexible and pliant condition. We must also keep in mind that we have to deal with the eyelashes or hairs, each of which possesses, as every hair does, a distinct root arising from a little sac in the skin or hair follicle as it is called. It so happens that hair follicles everywhere are extremely liable to the attack of certain kinds of microbes which, passing into the little sac, breed and multiply, giving rise to the symptoms of inflammation. with the consequent development of matter. Whether a stye be due therefore to the infec- tion of a hair follicle by microbes, or to a speci- fic inflammation of the little glands already alluded to as existing in the edges f the eye- lids is immaterial so long as we recognise that, infection by microbes having occurred, the inevitahle result of inflammation must neces- sarily follow. The Constitutional View. There is yet another point regarding styes which may be said to add to their trouble- some and painful nature. In delicate children especially, and in adults as well, the occurrence of one stye is followed by the development of successive inflammations. In such cases a whole series of these annoying growths, if so one may term them, appears, and for the time being the person's life is rendered miserable owing to the pain and discomfort which the affection is well-known to cause. Now in such a case we must look beyond the stye itself to some condition or other affecting the gene- ral health of the body as representing the real cause of the trouble. Until this bodily weak- ness is corrected it is highly improbable that the development of styes can or will be pre- vented. In such cases there may be found an evident need for a general toning up of the whole body. The food should be of generous character, and if the person affected shows signs of bloodlessness or anaemia.ten to fifteen drops of dialysed iron should be given in a little-water twice or thrice daily after food otherwise an ordinary iron and quinine tonic may be given after meals. It will be well, also, to supervise the general surroundings of the patient. There seems to be some ill-under- stood connection between an unhealthy house or dwelling-place and the development ofstyes. this fact being particularly noticeable in the children of the poorer class houses. An abun- dant supply of fresh air and general cleanliness of the surroundings form an important part not merely in the treatmant of styes, but, what is more to the point, in respect of their prevention. Treatment. On the first appearance of a stye it should. be bathed with water as hot as can be borne, a Ititle boracic acid being dissolved in the water. Some authorities recommend that if the stye be taken in time compresses of cold water with boracic acid dissolved in it should be kept constantly applied to the part. By this latter treatment the inflammation may be cut short, and the stye prevented from devel- oping, otherwise hot. applications will tend to bring the inflammation to a head, and so to terminate the affection by the formation of matter. If a particular eyelash is seen to be affected, it may be carefully pulled out, and where any necessity exists for the matter being evacuated, this is best done by sterilis- ing a needle in the flame of a spirit lamp, so as thoroughly to clean it, and when it has cooled the needle may be passed through the sub- stance of the stye, and tb, matter allow escape. In the case of children a very valuable tonic is one that consists of iron compounds. It is pleasant to take. and a fair dose is a tea- spoonful in a little water, administered after meals. The process of healing of a stye will be expedited if a little boracic ointment be applied night and morning to the edges of the eyelids. A Red Nese. It is astonishing to discover how many per- sons complain of redness of the nose, and seek advice in order to remove what they probably readily enough consider is an annoying and disfiguring condition. The annoyance chiefly arises from the fact that there exists a common idea, that a red nose is due to one cause alone, that cause being the abuse of alcoholic stimu- lants. But as this affection is probably more common, if anything, in persons who are ab- stainers, we are forced to look beyond the mere question of the use of alcohol for an explana- tion of the condition in question, more es- pecially as many persons who indulge in alcohol, not only to a moderate extent, but even to an excessive extent, do not necessarily develop this somewhat disfiguring condition. Recently in the columns of a medical journal the opinion was stated that in the case of a youth who developed extreme redness of the nose, this ailment was cured when he WAS made to give up excessive cigarette smoking, part of his enjoyment having been represented by his bringing the smoke of the cigarettes down his nostrils. This hint may be taken to heart by smokers who troubled with the condi- tion we are discussing. Hints Regarding Cure As, however, extreme redness of the nose occurs in non-smokers and in women, it is obvious that we must look beyond one cause of the ailment in order to discover other modes of its origin. The most common condition which is at fault in this question will be found to be some disorder of the digestive system. Persons naturally of a weak habit of body, and and in whom the circulation especially is not as active as it should be,are frequent sufferers. In their case it will be well if they could brace up their system by taking an additional supply of fatty food, such as is represented by an in- crease of the ordinary fatty meats, and also by the addition to the diet of a little cod liver oil ,and malt taken after meals. So also, the admi- nistration of iron as a tonic after food may be recomniended. If definite symptoms of indi- gestion be present these also, of course, re'quire to be corrected by the alteration of the diet and by the taking of simple foods, whilst constipation must be corrected in a similar fashion, a little Apenta water being taken if necessary in the morning. So far from alcohol being the cause of redness of the nose in the vast majority of cases, it may, indeed, be found that a little Burgundy taken by weakly subjects at dinner will act medicinally in toning up the system, and by so doing tend to obviate the development of the annoyance to which they are subject. -T-

BOYS FOR MERCANTILE MARINE A New Home in Kent. On Saturday in connection with the Swanley Orphan Home, Hextable, Kent, Lady Furnesa laid the foundation stone of anew building,the gift of Sir Christopher Furness. M.P., which is to be erected for housing boys destined for the mercantile marine of Great Britain. A large company travelled from London to take partvin the ceremony, at which Mr Edmund S. Hanbury presided, and a vote of thanks was passed to Sir Christopher and Lady Furness, on the motion of Sir William Hart Dyke, seconded by the Bishop of Rochester. Sir Christopher Furness, M.P., in responding, said the home would be a new departure in connection with the Swanley institution, which had already borne such good fruit. As a nation England claimed a pre-eminent position as shipowners throughout the world, but while our vessels were commanded by Britishers and officered by British subjects, it was a grave reflection upon us that so many of the men be- fore the mast were foreigners. (Applause) It was with the object of assisting to remove this reproach that he decided to establish this new home, and he earnestly hoped that the example would be followed in various parts of the country. (Cheers.)

TOOTHSOME RAT PIE. The Lincolnshire woman who recently ob- tained a separation from her husband, a rat- catcher, and alleged as an example of his cruelty that he brought home rats to be cooked for the family meal,would have met with little sympathy in this particular complaint from the Rev. J. G. Wood, the popular naturalist. Mr vYood was very fond of cooked rats, espe- cially in pies. His son also, Mr Theodore Wood, sings the praises of this unpopular dish in his Farmers' Friends and Foes." I may here remark," he writs, that but for the influ- ence of prejudicc, which prevents us from avail- ing ourselves of much wholesome and palatabla food, these stock and barn-fed rats might be profitably employed for culinary purposes. From much personal experience (adds Mr Wood) I can assert that the flesh of the rat is both delicate and well-flavoured, and that. when prepared in the same manner as that of the rbbit, it forms a dish in every wa., l superior,"