The Cardiff Times

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(By MABON, M.P.) COMMITTEE'S REPORT UPON SWEATING. •p. i e Select Committee who have for about lalj^^tha been considering the conditions of in trades in which home work prevails, W 10 whom the Sweated Industries Bill Referred, have now issued their report, by p their recommendations are carried out thJ^liament, and the Committee declares Parliament ar y interference is urgently *6t&nSary' a ?reat deal will be done to swf!?6 the evils t o which attention has con- iw1? been drawn in various newspapers, ft is Sweating ? term sweating is understood to that the employer grinds the face of P»y^°r making an Altogether inadequate j^fQient for work upc>n which he obtains a quite disproportionate profit, the Of iT^'ttee hold that although there are cases jjje kind, sweating of this description is not S o!w>S*' important factor in the problem but *to0H + °^er hand, sweating is under- • mean that work is,paid for at a rate J*, in the conditions under which many of 411itvvorkers do it yields an income which is abta^ ^sufficient to enable an adult person to h** anything like proper food, clothing and tlwf accomadation, then, say the Committee, !*t* 18 no doubt that '.sweating does prevail The Committee do not mean by ftf^^ting the process of grinding the face -P°or by middlemen who make large ^^Proportionate profits, though such cases OpJ.; but they are not, in the Committee's very numerous. The sweating to •jgf/1 they attach the greater importance is a under which home workers (and ^ally women workers) receive a wa?e Sufficient to enable an adult person to ho^111 anything like proper food, clothing, and Ve accommodatkm. e Committee have found sufficient evi- to convince them that many people are eated in this sense. They may toil for toR.^ely long hours, and yet earn insufficient tL^tain iife ,n the most meagre manner. W really is not only unsound econo- h{au\vr> but it lowers the standard of national and efficiency, and therefore the Com- make the following 0. Important Recommendations. That there should be legislation,with bOtn to the rates of payment made to the 4w? Workers who are employed in the pro- or preparation of articles for sale by (2T Eers°ns. 1$^' That such legislation should at first be (J/Ve and experimental, and be limited in ^Uo-pe t° home workers engaged in the s^irtnaaking, underclothing, and 'men trade3, and in the finishing pro- rQachine-made lace. The Home Sec- tat, b to be empowered after inquiry made to (3) ligh Wages boards for other trades. f ttt That wage boards should be established Keep trades to fix minimum time and iates of payment for home workers in (?\ mades- QJfJ That it should be an offence to pay or th Wer rates of payment to home workers rM kff trades than the minimum rates which 11 fixed for that district by the wages i*terayParagraph which may perhaps here- "ec°me famous as a landmark in the 4^ 'aw and public opinion in this ttj*. tf?' the /Committee express the opinion 's quite as legitimate to establish a of remuneration as it is to q, standard of sanitation, clean- ^"a-Uon, air space and hours of also, as it is to be seek clearly, the b^t)v.p,e °f a minimum wage and the para- also to my lie*; the argument by which the Com- W ^justifies it and the State has already, <WS°toe of the laws in force, recognised that a minimum stand ard msanitar-condi- r8'and jn the case of women and children, ^^y rate a maximum in hours of labour desirable in the interest o £ the commu- tjj/' In my humble opinion, toallow individual "t gens to work in conditions which in respect ^j*itToundinga or houses fall below the «T?Ula standard necessary from the point °f public health, is to imperil the Qcy and well-being of the whole. And ?* I understand things, is the broad 11 on which the Select Committee base /e^°mmendations respecting the legisla- S"i, 7? deal with sweating. As I have already. L do not mean by sweating the ^^df3 Siding the face of the poor ■by r -toen who make large and disproportion- PPQfits, so much as the system under home-workers, especially women- —receive a wage quite insufficient to e adult person to obtain anything like HQJJ r/?°d required and house accommoda- Moreover, the evil is one which almost ^i(j^vely affects women, single women, f' deserted wives, or wives of husbands employment, wives and daughters of regular employment who add to the tooome. One is not surprised that the jftottee were not able to ignore the disease, is n0t enough to judge by the rate of simply. A rate of pay that might be remuneration to one party may starvation to another—the conditions S°ti extremely diverse. In fact they vary Wthe t^ge, and health, and capacity of the Il> and also they vary with the tools 4j>?fe used. a large proportion of home workers ^Oj^Raged in the production of articles in i^i°n ^th machinery and unfortu- Qy yt°T them, the cost of making the articles ^Jj^hinery, generally speaking, fixes the pay for that article and therefore chance have they, say, against rapid machines specially adapted for each °f Work, and vfhen driven by power will out four times as much work as can be Mtk f ky an ordinary treadle machine, and *Jip ^ess Physical strain upon the worker ? V>j.Ke if the same rate is only paid the home- ^ter and the other well, the factory- will be earning fbur times the wages the home-worker. Then while the r?. Per week of one may be fairly good, and all belonging tp him will be ^tog. MS? » is not only the pompetition of Vj^ery whc.h makes the caSe of the home often so pitiable. Women's work is ^lkfai*^y worse paid than that of of men. .WomeI1 reduced to casual labour, Paiison still goes against them. They are, too poor and helpless to be within j^^h of even the thought of organisation an easy prey to the fierce competi- cival employei-s who under-bid each ,and then seek to recoup themselves by ^^tog the remuneration of their workers, the Committee state that they had evi- that material difference exists in the *t(Wj payment usually paid by different ^cnh°^ers in the same town at the same It ^or the saftne work. todeed a terrible state of things that gOjjj is ao real protection whatevex, apart Ce^taLin control under the Factory and Ilealth Acts in regard to sanitation, i^WarLd it remains therefore for the Com- formulate proposals for dealing with ..Wu^tinr evils. ^regard to the licensing suggestion and j^ueme for applying the Trucks Act to V^me workers, there will be general 18 Vhhy- the real interest of the report found in the frank and unanimous V°« °f the wages board scheme. On the 1011 of principle, the Committee is deci- and they see no reason against ^(U^tog wages, more than regulating the employment in factories. They Australian example without hesi- v0i Ttiey do not think that this is a case a|jtoiitary treatment—they know, as well jitter Wh° have paid real attention to this that to propose a non-compulsory 0^^ w°uld be to trifle with the subject. ^annot but regret that the Committee POg^, ed out from the operation of their pro- ^ea-tvrf factory workers, and this not because S factories has ceased to exist, is very doubtful whether the *11 s- sweating in factories has diminished the Dtmraven Committee greport °lish''earS aS°' nor i3 't with any idea of home work, though there may be a ^ment for that, yet the limitation of ^UtiQ^to'am wages board to the home workers .hut drive the work into the factory jith t>, • minimum wages do not exist— mcyitable result that ultimately, in w; °p^ tv,°n't must be applied to both and th hat Parliament when it comes to deal toay be of that opinion also.

Seymour Allen, J.P., Crasselly, gave L?^°ols treat to the children.of the Council ^Saturday, the children being enter- ^ests ^esselly grounds. Over a thousand ac,, Present. A hearty vote of thanks K^&h A11 H. Seymour Allen and Mr I e votf»6 k ,^°r their interest in the children, "eing proposed by Alderman W, and seconded by the Rev. T. Crravell. Mr Hugh Allen responded.

CLASH OF ARMS. Paris, Monday.—After working hours this evening an enormous crowd assembled outside the Bourse du Travail, and matters' speedily assumed a threatening aspect. Some shots were fired, and a policeman was wounded in the right leg. Reinforcements were hurried up, and after a series of charges the Place de la Republique was cleared, but shortly afterwards a large party of anarchists, numbering about 150, attempted to erect barricades in the vicinity. They were driven off by the police—Central News. Paris. Monday Evening.—A gang of about 100 demonstrators gathered in and about a wine bar opposite the entrance to the Labour Exchange and created severaL- disturbances during the evening, and jeered at the police officers and gendarnes. They sang the Inter nationale," and hooted police agents who were standing about in groups. An jnspector endeav- oured to calm them, but ttbe result of his interference was to inflame the men, who hurled footstools, chairs, and tabletops at the police. The affray lasted about a quarter of an hour, after which the police cleared the bar, which was ordered to close. Many arrests were effected, the prieoners being taken to Chateau d'Eau Barracks. Several persons were injured. A number of policemen were knocked about by chairs, whi< h were thrown when the bar was being cleared. A syphon was flung at the police from a window in the Labour Ex- change, but no one was hit. A score of strikers sought refuge within the Labour Exchange. One of them knocked down a policeman and hit him. He was arrested Further arrests were also made by the police. Fresh charges were made on the Boulevard Magenta and the Place de la Republique. In front of the Chateau d'Eau Barracks an attempt was made to rescue the arrested de- monstrators, and one man fired a revolver at a policeman, whom he missed. The bullet, however, struck an inspector named Dupuy in the thigh, through which it passed. The man who fired, named Branquet, was seized and taken into the barracks. The number of demonstrators was increased considerably during the afternoon. The police in the Place de la Republique were reinforced, and mounted guards occupied cer- tain points. At 8 o'clock, however, order was restored in the Place de la Republique, and the Prefect of Pollute sent the troops back to barracks and some of them were per- manently withdrawn. About 15 arrests were made to -day, mostly of known Anarchists, several of whom were carrving revolvers. These were confiscated. One of those arrested, a man named Taupen, was found to have on his person a formula for the manufacture of explopives.—Reuter.

MANIFESTO BY THE UNIONS. Paris, Tuesday.—The Part" Steamboats Company announces that it has received from its employees a sufficient number of applica- tions to enable it to resume its usual service to-day. The General Labour Confederation is having the following manifesto posted up throughout Paris ;— The General Labour Confederation and the Amalgamated Unions of the Seine in reply to the massacres— Without any long preparation and inspired by generous indignation, the Parisian workers have replied to the Government's premediated fusillade, on July 30th, by a 24 hours' strike of sympathy, even of protest. M. Clemenceau's crime brought about what did not seem possi- ble, what a prolonged propaganda could not have effected. The massacre at Villeneuye-St. Georges is the climax of the series of crimes which have so odiously marked the career of the present Government. The terrible tragedy which sickened the heart of every man ani. mated by the ordinary sentiments of humanity ranged the workers in an expression of pro- test, which has just terminated by this volun- tary 24 hours' strike. Workmen, bethink you of this Govern- ment! Nantes, Narbonne, Raou l'Etape, Draveil-Vigneux What a death-roll What mowing What distress caused to the workers No Government has so savagely served the interests of capital: no Government has so brutally opened the eyes of the exploited. It has shown them that they have nothing to expect, except by their own efforts, their class- enemies only reserving for tb,em misery, prisons, or bullets. But their organisers remain undismayed, confident in their Unions —that is to say, in themselves. The Paris workmen have as one man spontaneously replied to their call, and the provinces, too, are moving. In Paris, in spite of the provocation of the police, the 24 hours' strike passed off in accord with our expectations. With a little more cohesion the movement of censure would have been formidable. Henceforth, having learned by experience, Governments will know that massacres will not pass without sequel. That is the lesson of these sad events. We place it on record, and in order to make it of more value let the workers rally together in their respective Unions. More frill of life than ever the General Labour Confederation pur- sues its work.—Reuter. Ministers and the Confederation. Paris, Tuesday.—The Echo de Paris states that at its meeting to-morrow the Council of Ministers will consider the advis- ability of dissolving the General Labour Con- federation. The opinion prevails, however, that M. Clemenceau and M. Viviani are agreed with M. Briand not to go to this length, but to allow the Confederation to be reorganised under another style. Thé" Matin" connrms the report that all works of construction and repair in the streets of Paris are to be suspended on Saturday next on the desire of the employers of labour. The Chamber of the Union yesterday in- formed its members of this decision, which will be communicated to thewockmenon Saturday. Among the most important works which will be affected by this step are those on the Metro- politan Railway. The newspapers agree that the 24 hours general strike received a. check.—Reuter. Dockers' Agreement Denounced. Cette, Tuesday.—As the result of several stoppages of work on the part of the dockers employed at the harbour here the shipping companies have written to the Dockers Union denouncing the agreement between them and the Union representatives. The two parties met under the presidency of magistrates to ^consider a settlement, but the negotiations proved abortive, and work will cease in. a few days.—Reuter. Dancy, Tuesday.—Almost all the employees of the State tobacco factory were idle yester- day. This morning they appeared at the fac- tory to return to work, but found the doors closed against them and a notice posted up informing the employees that in accordance with a Ministerial order the factory would be terhporarily closed.—Reuter.

CHICAGO CONFLAGRATION. Eight People Lose Their Lives. New York, Tuesday.—A terrible fire occurred at Chicago yesterday, in which eight persons were-killed and more than 50 injured. The outbreak—which, it is stated, was due to some person throwing down a lighted cigarette amongsome dry shavings—occurred in a dis- trict containing a number of large grain ware- houses, and the flames, with this inflammable mateiial to feed upon, speedily swept through a large area and ultimately gained complete hold of six blocks. The majority of the ware- houses were owned by Armou s and by the Union Elevator Company, and these two fhms alone lost nearly two million bushels of grain. Several firemen were hurt, and manses of nam ing grain borne by the wind set fire to many dwelling-houses, the occupiers of which were the chief victims.—Central News.

CINEMATOGRAPH FLARE. Bari, Monday.—During a cinematograph display at Colignano the machine burst into flames. A ranic ensued. As a large audience tried to fight its way out, a woman was killed. Many were injured.—Reuter. While a cinematograph exhibition was being given on Monday night at the Islington Empire Musical Hall some celluloid films came m contact with the flame, and in a moment the machine was on fire. Fortunately, the audience was unaware of what had happened. and, the curtain being lowered, left without panic. The fire was restricted to the cinemato- graph machine, but two men were badly burned on the faces and hands.

A MARRIAGE TRAGEDY. A young woman named Digby was to have been married at Witham (Essex) on Monday to a young man named William Noy, a native of the same town, employed on the Great Eastern Railway at Harwich. The wedding party were awaiting the arrival of the bride- groom by an up train when a telegram was received stating that his body had been found in a pond near Halesworth (Suffolk).

FATAL EDELWEISS. InnsbruckJVIonday.—A tourist named Hein- rich, of Leipzig, has been killed by a fall on the Laruca Peak, near Pregusina. The body has been recovered. A foreigner has lost his life by falling on the Penegal while looking for edelweiss.—Reuter.

Took Husband's Savings P ALLEGED THEFT AND ELOPEMENT. Catherine Fitzgerald and Edmund Lewis were brought up at Bridgend onWednesday, the former being charged with fraudulently con- verting to her own use the sum of E174 17s 3d, the property of her husband, Daniel Fitzgerald, of Aberkenflg, and Lewis with aiding and abet- ting her to commit the offence. Mr T. J. Hughes (MessrsHughes and Lewis), who was for the prosecution, said that Mr Fitzgerald, who was a mason, married the female prisoner some few years ago, and shortly afterwards he went to South Africa, Mrs Fitzgerald living with her mother. During his stay in South Africa prosecutor sent to his wife subst-antialrem ittances from time to time, and a short time before is return he sent her £250, telling her to put it in the bank. She wrote to him acknowledging the receipt of the money. When he arrived home in 1906,he found that his wife had left three or four days previously and it transpired that the other prisoner had gone with her .She took care to withdraw from the bank the balance of the money which her husband had sent her, and prosecutor could prove that JE174 17s 3d was still remaining to the credit of the account in her name. Mr FitzGerald had madeevery effort tofind out her whereabouts, and a warrant was issued in July 1906, but it was not until Tuesday that they were arrested at Abergavenny, where they had been living. He applied for a remand until Saturday. Mrs Fitzgerald, asked if she had anything to say why she should not be remanded, replied, He sent the money to me and I thought it was my own, and that I could do what I liked with it." The other prisoner said, I have nothing whatever to do with the money." Prisoners were remanded until Saturday, bail being refused.

DRINK AT COUNTRY SALES. Interesting Case in Somerset. Much interest was taken in the re-hearing at Bridgwater of a summons against Mr Cuthbert R. Morris, Mr C. W. Morris, and Mr J. G. Peard, of the firm of Messrs C. R. Morris, Sons and Peard, auctioneers. North Curry, of having on April 28th sold beer by retail, without having a licence authorising them so to do. Mr A. J. Mawer, of Wells, prosecuted on behalf of the chief constable, and Mr F. E. Weathefley (in- structed by Mr C. E. Hagon) represented the defendants, who pleaded not guilty. Mr Mawer, in 6pening, explained that on the last occasion the four magistrates comprising the Bench were evenly divided and directed a re-hearing of the case. He pointed out that the Issue involved was a very simple one, the Bench having to direct their attention to one fact,1 viz., whether there was by the defendants a sale in law of intoxicating liquor. On April 28th last the defendants conducted a sale at Spaxton, and prior to the sale tickets for luncheon were sold at Is each. The ticket the prosecution contended, entitled the holder to bread and meat and beer. Mr Mawer said the' contention of the defence on the last occasion was that the tickets were for the food only, and that the beer was given away by the vendors. He maintained, however, that it was impossible to distinguish what was a gift and what was a sale. Evidence in support was given by P.S. Allen, P.C. Catley, Superintendent Williams, Mr Walter Belcher, printer, of Bridgwater, and Mr Edwin Tom Harris, farmer, of Charlynch. The defence set up, and in support of which evi- dence was given by the three defendants and others, was that the Is ticket covered the cost of food only and that the drink was the gift of the vendor. It was also contended that the purchasers of tickets on entering the luncheon place could not demand liquor with the food supplied them. The Bench decided that. there must be a conviction, v and they fined the de- fendants Is and costs. Mr Weatherley asked whether the Bench had found as a fact that the liquor was given away to persons, whether they had tickets or not. The Chairman No, we can't answer that question. It is a mere technical offence. Mr Weatherley My only reason for asking, was in order to decide which way we should go, if we decide to proceed further. Learned counsel added that probably the defendants would appeal against the deci- sion by way of a special case, or by appeal to Quarter Sessions.

WARRANT FOR WITNESS. Development of Neath Charge. At Neath onWednesday Dd. Lewis, labourer, of Bowen-street, was again brought up on re mand charged with stealing a mackintosh coat, value 5s, the property of John Courts, on Saturday. At Tuesday's hearing prisoner stated that the coat was given to him by a man named Davies, who was called as a witness, but swore that he had never seen the coat. On the other hand, a witness named Gwyn deposed that he saw Davies in the Butchers' Arms carrying the mackintosh, and that he had actually asked him to buy it. The evidence was so conflicting that the case was adjourned, and, as a result of enquiries by Chief Constable Higgins, the man Davies was arrested and to-day charged with stealing the mackintosh, while the charge against Lewis was amended to one of receiving, well know- ing it to have been stolen. After the case had been opened it was found that James Gwyn, a fitter, of Llewellyn-street, who is a material witness, was not present. Cb,ief Constable Higgins said he had personally warned Gwyn to be present, but he then stated that he would probably be away at work. Witness was also informed last night'that he must attend. Under the circumstances, the Chief Constable applied for a warrant for his appearance. The Bench granted the warrant, and re- manded the prisoners until to-morrow.

TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS' SERVICE. The Rev. John Sharp, who is retiring from the British and Foreign Bible Society, has been connected with the society for twenty- eight years—twenty of which were spent in the secretarial office and the latter eight an the editorial desk, where he has had control I Rev. John Sharp, of the society's translations. His retirement is due to advancing years, for Mr Sharp was born in Yorkshire in 1837, and in 1861 became a Church Missionary Society missionary in India. He was also lecturer in Telugu and Tamil at Cambridge from 1878-80.

CYCLIST AND HORSEMAN. Terrific Impact in Dean Forest. At Woolastone, on Wednesday, Dr. Macartney, coroner for the Forest of Dean, held an inquest on the body of George Price, a young man of Woolastone, Woodside, who was killed while cycling on Monday night. Deceased had spent the day at Lydney athletic sports, and was returning home on his cycle at 10.45 p.m. When descending Swan Hill, his cycle lamp was only dimly/ burning, and evidently failing to discern a man on horseback in front of him he ran into the animal's hind quarters, and was thrown off his machine right across the road. Both the horseDfall and the wheelman were riding on their proper side. The horse man, Mr Harry Haines, immediately dis- mounted and rendered assistance, as also did Mr George Stenchcombe and Mr George Perrett. Neither the equestrian nor his horse suffered any injury. Upon examination it was found that the cyclist's neck was broken, and his back sadly mutilated. Dr. Mackay said death was due to fracture of the base of the skull. The jury found a verdict in accord- ance with the medical evidence.

FINANCIERS IN TROUBLE. New York, Wednesday.-The New York Times to-day declares that certain insurance brokers here are faced with exceedingly heavy losses, one group of 18 individuals having losses estimated at overl,600,000 dollars, owing chiefly to hazardous fire risks and losses on automobile policies, and also on Canadian mills. It is stated that several banks will find themselves in difficulties as a consequence.— Central News. I

Earthquake in Algeria. PANIC-STRICKEN INHABITANTS. Constantine (Algeria), Tuesday.—A strong shock of earthquake was experienced here this morning, and panic occurred. Considerable damage was done to property.—Reuter. Constantine, Tuesday Evening.—The first shock of earthquake occurred exacty at 2.20 this morning and lasted six seconds. Suc- cessive shocks followed up to about 8 o'clock. Great excitement was caused, the terrified people pouring out of the houses half dressed and screaming with fright. For hours panic- stricken crowds filled the streets and squares, but towards 8 o'clock the people ventured back into the houses. Great material damage was done. The ceil- ings of Zouave Barrac.ks threaten to fall, and the "nilitary hospital had to be abandoned. The walls of the Credit Minier building, the theatre and market are -cracked, and a fissure 200 metres long and 50 centimetres ? wide has aupeared in Mansurah-place. Many houses in the Arab quarter threaten to collapse. Nobody was injured in Constan- tine. Great damage was done in the surrounding district, especially at Rouffach and Conde and Meudon. It is reported that several persons were buried under falling debris at the latter place. Generally the smaller houses have suffered most. In the suburb of St. Jean much damage was Ceilings and walls collapsed, and the frontsW houses are cracked. The streets are littered With stones, broken tiles, and plaster, and the (Quarter looks as if it had undergone a bombardment. Inside the houses furniture and crockery were smashed, and the rooms are fllledtarith debris. In Rue Ledru Rollin an old lady was nearly killed in her bed bt the collapse the ceiling, and was with difficulty dragged fifpm the wreck. The suburb of El Kantarah suffered equally heavily. At Sidi Mahrouk a house collapsed, and the inmates had to fly for their lives. Small native houses and huts were completely destroyed. The Military Club in Constantine is badly damaged. Two enormous cracks have appeared in the walls. The balustrades have given way, and the roof has fallen in.—Reuter. Parig, Tuesday.—Telegrams from Constan- tine (Algeria) state that a severe shock of earthquake occurred there this morning at 2 o'clock. The oscillations lasted ten seconds, and serious damage was (Occasioned. It is feared that there has been loss of life, but it is not possible to state this with certainty-— Central News.

Vienna Scandal, DESPAIR OF YOUNQ COUNTESS. Vienna, Sunday.—On Thursday and Friday last the Criminal Court was busy with a trial which threw a curious light on the secrets of Vienna's fashionable youth, aristocratic and plutocratic. Marcel Veith, styling himself a Roman count, was tried for having given up to a life of shame his own daughter, the beauti- ful Countess Mizzi Veith. who for the last few years has occupied a quite exceptional position in that little Vienna cabal, the existence of which is only from time to time revealed to a larger public. She was only 18 when, three months ago, her corpse was washed ashore by the Danube. It was supposed that she could bear no longer the life which she was forced to live by her father, who had no other means of subsistence than the money given him by the girl. The last letter of Countess Mizzi, read before the Court, proved that she committed suicide when the police began proceedings against her father. She declares that the thought is un- supportable to her to see the best of fathers prosecuted in consequence of faults she has committed. Notwithstanding this declaration, sufficient evidence was brought before the Court to show that the girl was sold by her father. During the proceedings in court it was remarked with resentment that none of the young aristocrats concerned in the case was called as a witness, but only coachmen, waiters, and other sub- ordinate personages. This omission is much commented upon by the Vienna Press, as some suspicion arises that it Wa$on account of the part played in the affair by certain individuals of the privileged class that Qtemt Veith was left so long undisturbed in his doings Defendant himself explicit*^ stated that he remained unmolested as several high police officials were not quite correct in their dealings with his daughter. In consequence of this serious allegation against the Vienna police, the Court adjourned its proceedings in order to clear up the matter.

STORMS AND FLOODS. St. John's (Newfoundland), Friday.—The total loss ascertained so far as the result of the storm on the Labrador coast is 40 vessels. Three men have lost their lives and 400 men are without food or shelter. The steamers Virginia Lake and Louise, and the cruiser Fiona, with the Governor on board, are rendering assistance to the destitute sailors. The reports received cover 100 miles of coast, including Indian Harbour, Tickle Harbour and King's Bay.—Reuter. New Yprk, Saturday.—A terrific storm raged yesterday in North Carolina and large tracts of land are under water. Much damage was caused by the lightning, and two persons are reported to have been killed. The crops have received immense damage, and four railway lines have suffered so severely from the floods that traffic is entirely at a standstill.—-Central News. F

AUSTRIA AND ITALY. Reuter's Agency learns that in response to a telegram sent by Signor Moulta and Baroness Von Suttrea, announcing the formation of an Austro-Italian Friendship Committee at the International Peace Congress, in London, Signor Tittoni, Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs, has telegraphed as follows :—" Your communication is in itself welcome to me, and coming from two personages of weight and authority it hasvincreased value in my eyes. The formation of this Committee corresponds with the aims of the Italian policy which is devoted to the peace and brotherhood of the peoples. I sincerely welcome tn^ action of the Austrian and Italian delegates at the congress and offer them my heartiest good wishes.— (Signed) Tittoni."

HQ FIRE AT CHICAS0. Tons of Grain Destroyed. Chicago, Monday .—A disastrous fire occurred here to-day. It was caused by the explosion of chemicals in Burlington Dock transfer ware- house. The warehouse itself as well as a hun- dred box cars and two elevators containing over half a million bushels of grain belonging to Messrs Armour and Co. were destroyed Reuter. v

£ 40,000,000 DAMAGE. New York, Tuesday.—Statistics issued by thfe National Board of Fire Underwriters, show that last year's losses by fire in the United States total nearly 200,000,000 dollars, whilst th ■ losses óf the past five years represent the gigantic figures of 1,257,716,955 dollars—Cen- tral News.

SMILED ON THE SCAFFOLD. Thomas Siddle, a Hull bricklayer (29), was hanged at HQll on Tuesday for the murder of his wife. As Siddle did not make adequate provision for his wife and children, the de- ceased woman obtained a separation order, and subsequenly a commitment order against him. The latter called at her lodgings, osten- sibly to say Good-bye before going to prison. He held out his hand to her, and then suddenly cut her throat. Prisoner ate a hearty breakfast and walked with-a smile to the scaffold.

HEAD NEARLY SEVERED." At Newport (County) Police Court on Mon- day Thomas Baker, a tramp, was remanded until to-day on a charge of stealihg a fowl from Herbert George Jenks, Carpenter's Arms, Rumney, on Sunday night. P.C. Stephens said he found the fowl in prisoner's pocket alive, but with its head nearly severed. The prisoner was violent andhad to be handcuffed.

MEN FROM PILL. In the cases in which Alfred Prosser, James Corrigan, and Richard Marsh, of Pill, were charged at Newport on Saturdayafcith indecent behaviour, Mr Mackie, for the defence, urged that the word bloody could not be con strued as indecent behaviour.—The Magis- trates' Clerk Dr. Johnson saye it's a term of endearment. (Laughter.)—P.C. Edwards said it was a common practice with the men from Pill to go out to the country and misbehave themselves, and then to refuse to give their names and addresses because they thought the County police did not know them. After a lengthy healing defendants were fined 40s each.

At Penarth Edward Foote, labourer, was sentenced to one month's imprisonmnent for failure to comply ^Hth an order to contribute 6a 8d oerweek toWarde his wife's maintenance.

Poisoned Husband. AMAZIN8 STORY BY AN IRISH WIFE. A sensational story was told m Letterkenny Police Court, co. Donegal, when John L. Tease (40). a prominent farmer of the locality, was returned for trial on a charge of having incited Mrs Catherine Buchanan to administer strychnine poison to her husband, David Buchanan, with intent to murder. Mrs Buchanan came forward in charge- of a prison wardress to relate her story to a crowded court. She swore that on three different occasions Tease gave her poison, and suggested that she should use it by putting it in David Buchanan's broth. Tease later told her to put poison in the cream and sugar used by her husband. On the first two occasions she received the poison from Tease she returned it to him, whereupon Tease became angry and threatened her. ENOUGH TO KILL THREE MEN." On the third occasion Tease gave her a bpttle, saying it contained sufficient poison to kill three men. Prisoner told witness how to use the poison. Witness admitted that she put a portion of this poison in the tea prepared for her husband. The directions she received from Tease were circumstantial. He told her that when David Buchanan seemed to die from the effects of the poisoned drink she should put the small bottle in her husband's pocket. Prisoner ex- plained that when the police found the bottle they could conclude her husband had com- mitted suicide, and that therefore their suspi- cion would not fall upon herself. Mr Moore, chemist, Letterkenny, stated that the prisoner purchased 40 grains of strychnine in witness's shop less than three years ago. Tease signed the chemist's register of poison sales, and said that he wanted the strychnine for dogs. A farmer, who lives near Tease's holding, stated that he heard prisoner say, It would be better for David Buchanan to take a lump sum and clear out of his farm before worse should happen to him." Witness also heard Tease condemn Mrs Buchanan for acting slow at the attempted poisoning of her hus- band." "A HELLISH PLOT." Witness retorted that it was a hellish and damnable plot to destroy the life of an old man. Tease then went* away from witness. Prof. Barclay, public analyst, Belfast, gave evidence as to the finding of about two grains of strychnine in sand brought to him by the constabulary from the barn where Mrs Buchanan stated that she threw the remnant of the poison she received from Tease. Asked by the "Crown Solicitor whether the strychnine would retain its potency to kill for three or more years, the witness replied that strychnine had power to kill for far longer in fact, It was practically an everlasting poison. After hearing the evidence, the Bench sent prisoner for trial as stated. A NEIGHBOURS'QUARREL. The circumstances leading up to the foregoing proceedings have been very remarkable. David Buchanan is about 70 years of age. His wife is younger by from 15 to 20 years. Buchanan, who has a comfortable farm, gave notice last c May of his intention to bring ap action in the High Court against John L. Tease, his neigh- bour, the proceedings bringing in the name of Buchanan's wife. On the morning of 16th June Buchanan sat down to his breakfast. After drinking some of the tea e found it bitter, and mentioned to his son there was something wrong with it. Mrs Buchanan came into the room, snatched up the bowl containing the tea, and threw out its contents. A few minutes later a dog in the farmyard commenced to whine, and soon died. It is believed the animal lapped up some of the contents of the bowl. Meantime, Buchanan, becoming violently ill, staggered to his bedroom, and Dr. Browne, called in by one of Buchanan's sons, found the patient in great agony, and exhibiting all the symptoms of strychnine poisoning. He vomited twice into a tin basin, and the con- tents Mrs Buchanan sought to get rid of. Despite the attempted cleansing of the basin, an analyst found in the washing of it one-eighth of a grain of strychnine. The medicinal dose of strychnine is one-fifteenth of a grain, yet no less than 2f grains of the poison were found to have passed through^ Buchanan's system, and the doctors marvelled that he should still be alive. These facts were stated at Donegal Assizes in July, when Mrs Buchaasw was tried before Judge Madden for attempting to poison her husband. The jury found her guilty, and. she was sentenced to 20 years' penal servitude. .Prisoner collapsed in the dock on hearing the lsentence. After Mrs Buchanan had been removed to Londonderry prison it transpired that she made, a written statement covering several sheets of foolscap. Three days later John L. Tease was arrested by District-Inspector Phankey, and lodged in the same prison. While awaiting the present charge he was defended in the civil action brought.by David Buchanan, in which a verdict for the full damages claimed, £ 1,000, wasgivenagainstTease.

VIOLENT TRAMCAR SCENE. Newport Footballor Fined. Cyril A. Fisher, Risca-road, a Newport foot- baller, was fined £ 3 at the local courtonWednes- day for assaulting Victor Harris, conductor of a tramcar, and Percy Kirby, an inspector, on the tramways, while a further fine of 5s, in- cluding costs, was inflicted for breaking glass in the tramcar. The tramway officials alleged that Fisher was under the influence of drink, used bad language, and had a stick with which the assaults were committed. Fisher denied the offences, and said he tried to keepsome soldiers who were in the car swearing, in order. In doing this his stick accidentally went through the glass. The Rev. H. Abraham said that since defendant had been put on the proba- tioners' list in January he had behaved well.

A FAMOUS COUNTRY HOUSE. Lord Brassey's mansion, Normanhurst, Battle, Sussex, which has been partly des- troyed by fire, was one of the most beautiful' in the south of England. It was built by Lord Brassey's father, in the midst of charm- ingly wooded grounds, and within sight of the sea, which Lord Brassey loves so ardently. I Normanhurst. The mansion was stocked with many choice and valuable pictures and some rare and mag- nificent furniture and art collections. Lord Brassey kept at Normanhurst most of the marvels he collected on his world-wide travels. The treasures in the house include relics taken from the tombs of the extinct race of Peruvian Incas, Japanese work, hundreds of curios brought from all parts of the world ih the famous voyages of Lord Brassey's yacht, the Sunbeam, and a fine collection of tapestry and sculpture.

RESULT OF LITIGATION. Cwmo&rn Ex-Hotel Keeper's Affairs. Richard Thqmas Taylor, late of the Cwm. carn Hotel, Cwmcam, gave as the cause of his difficulties at the first meeting of his creditors, held at Newport on Wed- nesday, litigation in connection with the estate ot my deceased wife and her former husband, and taking over her busi- ness with her heavy liabilities." The liabilities were given as E410 17s 4d, while, amongst the assets was the amount of M 'cash at bankers," the deficiency being just £ 3 17s4d. Th Official Receiver, in his observations, stated that this £407 was subject to further litigation over the will of the debtor's late wife. The Official Receiver remains trustee.

BURGLARS INVADE A CLUB. Challenge Cups Stolen. In the early hours of Wednesday morning Mildmay Radical Club, Newington Green, North London, was broken into by burglars and four large silver challenge cups won by members were stolen, together with a quantity cf ,rd-v and about 800 cigars. I

Free Trade & the Budget SPEECH BY MR ASQUITH. Fresh Taxation May be Necessary." Mr Asquitb^ speaking on Tuesday night as the guest of the Cobden Club at a banquet attended by dev iates to the International Congress, said he was delighted to be asso- ciated with the men of the other nations in a cause whose fortunes he believed to be bound up with the best interests of the world. Cobden was not only a great patriot, but a great international statesman, who was a Free Trader primarily because he held that the abolition of Protection had become a matter of vital interest to this United Kingdom, and that Free Trade was one of the greatest safe- guards for progress. Neither Free Trade nor Protectionist countries could escape from periodical slackenings in the wealth-making power of the world. We might have to relax the rate at which we had been reducing our debt; we might have, instead of remitting, to impose taxation hut he saw no.thing-and he said it deliberately, and after a very careful survey of the whole field—which led him for one moment to doubt that our Free Trade finance was capable of bearing thQ strain of any reasonable programme of social reform. Among the guests who had seats allotted them at the banquet were Lord Glantawe, Mr A. J. David. Mrs S. E. Evans, Mr VJ Evans, Mr Ellis Griffith, M.P.. Mr W. Jones. M.P., Mr Russell Rea, M.P., Mr J. Rowlands, M.P., Professor Redmayne, Mr Henry Vivian, M.P., Mr T. A. Williams, and Mr J. H. Wilson, M.P.

To Convert England. r FATHER VAUGHAN'S MISSION. Rome, Monday.—Father A. P. Doyle, rector of the Mission House in Washington, who is described as being intended for the conversion of the English -speaking people toCatholicism, after having been received by the Pope, had a long audience with Cardinal Merry Del Val on the results of his work. When Father Doyle mentioned the recent action of Archbishop Bourne in sending Father Vaughan to the Mission House to prepare for the work in England, the Cardinal said, Yes, I have read in the English papers of what Arch- bishop Bourne has done, and the project com- mends itself to me as a most feasible way of putting new life into the movement for the conversion of England. The choice of Father Vaughan for the work is a most happy one. I know hipi well and he has all the qualities that are most apt to secure the best results. This mission work was very close to the heart of Cardinal Vaughan in his latter years, but he had not the strength to carry out his plans completely. To Father Vaughan, however, has fallen the providential role of carrying to ulti. mate success the projects of his uncle, the Cardinal. He is a Vaughan, and he has in- herited the qualities of mind and heart that will ensure success in the working."—Reuter.

A Magnificent Achievement. H.M.S. Indomitable, with the Prince of Wales on board, arrived at Cowes at 9.40 on Monday evening. According to official computation, the average speed of H.M.S. Indomitable from land to land was 24'8 knots per hour. The Prince of Wales on Tuesday unofficially took farewell of the officers, and made presents to each also leaving a sum of money for the men. The Indomitable left the Canadian shores in a thick fog, but fortunately escaped the tornado which swept Labrador. After reaching ppen water only three hours fog were encountered, but there were plenty of icebergs. One passed shortly after Belleisle was left behind, look- ing almost like the Rock of Gibraltar. About fifty bergs were passed. The entries in the log show that one day the vessel did 26-4 knots, amj povered over 600 miles in the 23 hours. Other officers declared the Indomitable sailed like a witch, and notwithstanding the high speed there was no vibration. The engineer- commander said it was Mi amazing per- formance for a maiden trip, and everything worked splendidly. We all took turn in the stokehold," said another omcer, "including tha Prince of Wales, who threw in six shovelsful for luck."

Equipped for Active Service. Daily Telegraph says :—The achieve- ment of the Indomitable is all the more re- markable, because she has carried the heavy guns of a Dreadnought, a thick coat of armour, her magazines full of ammunition, and all the equipment of a warship able to take her place in the forefront of an active engagement. Prince of Wales as Stoker. The King and Queen, accompanied by the Prince of Wales went for a cruise off Cowes on Tuesday in the King's cutter, and witnessed Brynhills victory in the race for his Majesty's Cup. It transpires, telegraphs the Ceutral News Cowes correspopdent, that during his record voyage home from Quebec the Prince of Wales shovelled coal, stoked a furnace, and performed other duties, forming part of a stoker's ordinary routine. His Royal Highness donned the uniform adapted to the purpose and in this unconventional garb posed to an ama- teur photographer on board the cruiser. A Wonderful Ship. The Indomitable is the fastest, most costly, and most powerful cruiser afloat. Her length is 530ft., beam 78|ft., and draft 26ft. The ar- mament is much superior to that of the average battleship, comprising as it does eight 12in. guns, which is only two less than the Dread- nought. Each gun is 45ft. long and capable of firing a 8501b. shell ^twice in a minute. The guns are mounted in pairs in four turrets, these being so arranged that all the eight big guns can fire broadsides on either side. and six of them ahead or astern. She has a displacement of 17,250 tons. Her ten turbine engines are capable of pro- pelling her at the rate of 25 knots by means of four shafts and four screws. The total horse- power is 41,000, and the vessel's fittings and engines are interchangeable with those of her sistercroisers, the Invincible and the Inflexible. On the Clyde she attained a speed of 28! knots. The Indomitable was known as the Mys- tery ship,as the details of her construction and those of her sister vessels were kept strictly secret. On her return home she will join the Nore division of the Fleet at Sheerness.

Delight on the Clyde. The achievement of the cruiser Indomitable hascau3ed great satisfaction in Clyde shipbuild- ing circles, and her builders, Fairfield and Co., Glasgow, have had congratulations showered on them. The Iudoroitable's construction was shrouded in mystery. Those who had a part with her design being sworn to secrecy as also those who had under their charge the main parts of her construction and engines. At the time it was surmised that the mystery was Confined to transforming the first design as & first class cruiser into a battleship. This was in a measure correct as the Admiralty ordered very material changes in her hull to permit of her carrying guns of the Dreadnought calibre, but what was chieflyattempted to disguise was her great fipeed. It was only in specified circles. even when the cruiser left her builder's yard for her steam trials, that it was known she was likely to far eclipse any cruiser afloat in the matter of speed. From the very start the Indomitable more than exceeded the expec- tations of the Admiralty. The First Lord of the Admiralty, replying to a written question by Mr Bellairs as to what practical purposes were the engines of the In- domitable subjected to the strain of racing at full speed across the Atlantic, says in an answer circulated on Tuesday, the practical purpose served was that of an endurance test at high speed. 11

A THEATRE WRECKED. Mystery of Thermal Springs. Paris, Wednesday.—The correspondent of the Petit Parisien" at Constantine (Algeria) telegraphs that the damage caused Tjy the earthquake yesterday was very serious. Many persons were killed, and there were numerous cases of injury caused by the falling debris. Among the buildings wrecked was the muni. cipal theatre, which was spilt in halves, while the military hospital was also so seriously damaged that the patients had to be removed. Some extraordinary phenomena resulted from the earthquake. Springs of water, usually cold, became warm, and at the Hamma thermal springs the water suddenly turned red. Had the shock lasted only a few minutes longer no doubt the 'town of Constantine would have been entirely destroyed.—Central News.

A mistake which proved fatal was made by Eugene Hartigane (52), lftbourer, Blaenllechau, Ferndale, on Sunday evening. The deceased had partaken of a meal and went to a cupboard to obtain some wick to place in a lamp. On one of the shelves was a flagon beer bottle, which contained a disinfectant fluid, and Hartigane, believing the contents to be beer, took a quantity to drink. He soon discovered his mistake, and acquainted his sister, who sent for medical assistance. Hartigane, how- ever, was beyond human aid, and he died in half an hoar after drinking the fluid. i

WELSH GLEANINGS. News and Views in Lighter Vein. I Hundreds of Welsh visitors are now drinking the health-giving saline and sulphur waters at Builth Wells. The Swansea Cymric Society is showing signs of new life. This summer trips to historic haunts with lectures somewhat on the lines of those arranged by Cymry Cymraeg are con- templated. From a Swansea contemporary :—" Swansea is an old town, and in the matter of relics can beat Cardiff, or any such mushroom city, quite hollow." Messrs J. Hyde, Builth Wells, and Luther James, Glascwm, bagged 10 badgers in the neighbourhood of WernduVant, Gladestry, Radnorshire, a few days ago, and succeeded in conveying six home alive. A Cardiff gentleman, on his return from Mumbles, insisted upon confiding to his friends that while on Mumbles Pier he "listened to the band 1!IDd saw the sound- ultimately explaining that Mumbles had an Outer and an Inner Sound, which separate the lighthouse from the mainland. Huwco Penmon was one of the most interesting figures at the coming of age rejoic- cings at Baron Hill, the beautiful residence of Sir Richard Williams-Bulkeley, last week. When taking the young heir by the hand 'Huwco told him he was 93 and had witnessed the coming of age of his father and his grand- father. A London clergyman appeared on the plat- form of the Cardiff Eisteddfod on Monday, and nearly won the tenor solo. Mabon, the conductor, when the adjudicator had an- nounced his decision, said that he was afraid the prize was going to the Church and not to the State. Fortunately for his peace of rninH the State beat the Church. Mr M. E. Watkin, French master at the Municipal Secondary School, Cardiff, who acted as interpreter for the Glamorgan mining students on their tour in the North of France coal mines recently, is having plenty of experience in colloquial trans6 lation. Last year he was busy with the Bt eton party at the Swansea. National Eisteddfod, and the year before that at the Celtic Congress at st. Brieux, in Brittany and we hear that he is visiting Alsace-Lorraine for a similar purpose at the end of August. Both Mabon and Cynonfardd kicked against a rule which prevailed at the eistedd- fod on Monday. All winners were compelled to wait for half an hour after the adjudication before they received their prizes. "This," declared Mabon, is against the custom of Welsh eisteddfodau, and "we must condemn it unmercifully. It is a rule that must not pre- vail, for it is too much like paying every fort- night and keeping a week in hand." the Rev. Father Kane, of Tullamore, who has just passed the Gorsedd examination, is an authority on Celtic bibliography, and took part in the discussion on that subject at the Cymmrodorion meetings held in connection with the last National Eisteddfod. He gained his bardic degree by an examination in Welsh poetry, and will be initiated as a druid. He is the first Roman Catholic priest during the past twenty-five years to acquire the right of entry into the inner circle of the councils of Welsh bards. A well-known musical adjudicator declarer 'f ehat there is a tendency among some of ous religious people in Wales to discourage choral singing, so that our singers find it difficult to get one evening out of six in the week i tQ "practise music owing to the mul- tiplicity of different meetings. The forming of village choirs oug t to be" a part of the educational Beeme of all our churches. Country life is too sad and mourn- ful, and the cultivation of choral singing and orchestral playing would soon transform rural life into brightness and happiness all round. The committee of next year's National Eisteddfod of Wales, to be held in the Metro- polis, has decided to invite Welsh composers, who sute natives of Wales, of Welsh parentage, or who have had a permanent residence in the Principality for seven years prior to the 15th of June, 1909, to submit a short, original work, never previously performed in public, prefer- ably also on a Welsh subject, and written for a male voice choir, soloists, and orchestra. or failing that, a work (under the same coimi- tions) written for a. mixed choir. Preference will be given to a work for male voice choirs. The committee are prepared to produce the work during the Eiateddlod week. The Rev. H. O. Rowlands in his reminis- cences of Wales 40 years ago, contributed to the American Drych," recalls his meeting with Ceiriog at Llanidloes Station. Pwt a ddyngwisgi, lion a llawen," with the inevitable white waistcoat, bearded face, and stove-pipe. hat. The writer referred to his reputation, especially in America, as The Bums of Wales "—a compliment which pleased Ceiriog but when Mr Rowlands urged the unequalled beauty of Myfanwy he stopped him with a laugh. I have no time," Ceiriog said, to listen to naked old rhymes, but if you have some genuine American poetry out with it at once." Mr Rowlands says he found Ceiriog a really good fellow." The holidays have begun, and for the next month a large proportion of the population will have left comfortable homes filled with every convenience, and be at the mercy of railway people and lodging-house keepers. The latter and their customers must arrange in the way that suits them best, but in respect of railways there is a good deal that can be remedied. Stuffy waiting-rooms and the offices" re- quire attention in almost every district. In & run lately through South Wales this was very evident. The need of pure air for ventilation, and a plentiful supply of pure water was only too apparent. One would have thought that stationmasters would not have required to be reminded of this. I would suggest that one of the staff be told off to visit each station in turn, and send in their report of the con- ditions found. A Celtic correspondent, referring to the Gaelic derivation of London, says that the idea that Welsh was spoken exclusively in Britain before the coming of the Saxons is founded on the mental confusion which arises from thinking that Welsh and Celtic are synonymous Welsh is no more synonymous with Celtic than Spanish is with Latin. To begin with, Spanish is merely one branch if the Romance family, and when it became detached it was modified by other influences. So it is with Welsh. In dealing with pre-Saxon Britain we have to regard (1J the Iberian, (2) the Gael, or old Celt, and (3) the neo-Celt, usually called the Brython. Of course the people were never known by these names, which are only symbols like A, B, and C, to distinguish them. It is said that the language of the Iberians is lost—although the tongue of the wee bla4k Pechts (Picts) seems to have been spoften in Scotland up to the time when sp many perished at the battle of the Standard. But there are names like Towy and Cib, which defy any adequate explanation, Welsh or Gaelic. What' too of the name Garonne (France), Corran (Scotland), and the Goronwy and Carron, brooks in Cumberiand ? The suggestion that the word is derived from Garw (rough) is too silly to be argued with seriously. It may be Pictish (or Iberian), or it may be an Aryan root cognate with the Latin" curro" and our own current." Moreover, Welsh is ever pure Brythonic. It is saturated with Latin from ffenestr for window to aradr for plough. The Ancient Britons no more spoke Welsh than Horsa and Hengist spoke English. Discussing the etymology of the name "London," Morien writes:London is known, to Welsh literature under two names, namely, Caer-Ludd, or Luth. That name, it is per- fectly certain, refers to the fortified city in which St. Paul's Cathedral now stands. Lludd was a King of Britain 'at the time of Juliusr Cesar's invasion in 55 B.C. That name, therefore, comes within the purview of authentic history. Then comes the name London-" That is not Caer-Luth or Ludd. The river Thames is originally Tavwy, or Broad Water, being in meaning the satue as rivep Taav, which Philistines converted to Taff Tav as in Tavod, (tongue) was ancient" Kimmric for flat and broad. The Llyn-Daen, or Broad Lake, as the origin of the name London," is only found in Bedlam. What, then, is 'the name London ? Like Lan in Lancashire, Lon is Lla,n, meaning Hfigb Place of Worship. Later it came to mean a church. Like Caerdyth and Caerdav, Caerludd and London are two distinct places. One refers to Ludgate Hill and the other to the Great Mound on Parliament Hill, where the State Council of the Druidic Hierarchy used to assemble on solemn occasions. It; is highly probable it was there that the uprising under Queen Boadicea of Middlesex was sanctioned. In her march towards Chester, on her way towards Mona, in her chariot drawn by twotiery horses with a pole between, her army annihilated (states Tacitus) the IX. Legion. Welshmen generally have forgotten who they are Dihunwch