The Cardiff Times

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, CARDIFF. Welcome Grant. At a meeting of the Council of the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire held on Monday Sir Alfred Thomas occupied the chair. The registrar (Mr J. Austin Jenkins) read a letter from the Lords of the Treasury stating that they had decided to ask Parlia- ment to vote-a further to sum of £ 15,000 per annum for five years, commencing with 1909-10, the money to be divided between the con- stituent colleges of the University. The resignation of Professor Lloyd Tanner was received by the Council with expressions of sincere regret and appreciation of his great services as professor of mathematics to the college from its foundation. The chairman, Dr. W. T. Edwards, Principal E. H. Griffiths, principal W. Edwards (Baptist College), Mr Hurry Riches, and Mr E. Thomas and others referred to the great assistance which Professor Tanner had rendered. A committee was appointed to put on record the feeling of the Council in this matter. Reference was made to the singular ability and untiring seal with which be had served the college, and it was stated that the assured posi- tion in which the mathematical section now stands wa-s in a great measure due to his un- tiring efforts. Further eulogistic reference was made to the fact that Professor Tanner had not onlv devoted his energy to serving the college in the capacity of a teacher, but that his high distinction as a mathematician and the original work performed by him bad been recognised by the highest mathematical authorities in the kingdom. During the time be was on the staff Professor Tanner was elected a member of the Royal Society, and this fact is evidence of the wisdom, energy, and perseverance which enabled him, whilst overwhelmed with routine work, to make sensible additions to mathematical knowledge.

"GRAFT" CHARGES. Pittsburg, Monday.—As a result of an investi- gation into charges of graft," six new indictments havo been lodged, including onn against Mr Dallas C. Bycrs, the millionaire manufacturer, and tht-(- members of the municipal council.-Reuter.

The City Temple. CENTRE OF THE NEW THEOLOGY In consequence of the publicly expressed desire of the Rev. R. J. Campbell, M.A., to know how he stood with his own people," a meeting of the members of the church was held in the City Temple on Monday evening, when the following resolution was carried unani- mously with much enthusiasm :—" That this meeting of members and seatholders of the City Temple desires to express to their minis- ter, the Rev. R. J. Campbell, M.A., their con- tinued loyal attachment to him and their high appreciation of his ministry, which they pray may be continued with ever-increasing suc- cess." Mr Campbell, who received an ovation on rising to reply, said a new situation had arisen in the religious world, in which the City Temple was taking a not unimportant part, and he felt they ought to he consulted about it. Owing to the New Theology contro- versy, organised Nonconformity had at present practically excluded him and his ministerial supporters from its fellowship. The triumph of the wider Gospel in the Free Churches, how- ever, Wets only a matter of time. The move- ment typified by the Progressive League had overleaped all denominational barriers without forsaking the churches, and for the first time in modern Christian history Anglicans, Roman Catholics and Nonconformists were combining on a specifically religious basis. He wished them to bear in mind that any expression of support they might think fit to give him on this occasion carried with it recognition of the fact that the City Temple was now practically the centre of the progressive religious move- ment in this country.

G.W.R. APPOINTMENTS. FISHGUARD HARBOUR SUPERVISION. Consequent on the death of Mr W. T. Gray, superintendent of the Fishguard harbour, Station, and quay, which position he had held since the inauguration of the cross-channel ser- vices to Rosslare, Waterford. and Cork, the G.W.R. Company have appointed as his successor Mr Charles Bowen, stationmaster at Carmarthen Town and Junction, and he com- menced his new duties on Monday. Mr F. W. Wheatley, of the Great Western Railway Mr CHAS. BOWEN. Fiahguard.-(Photo. by Giles, Carmarthen.) superintendent's office, Swansea, has been promoted to the stationmastership of Car, marthen Town and Junction. Mr Wheatley- who is a native of Carmarthen, will be m1.1ch missed at Swansea, where his unvarying courtesy and consideration were highly ap- preciated. Mr Bowen has been at Carmarthen for 161 years, and has always taken a keen interest in the company's affairs, and at the same time has worked harmoniously with the public, by whom he is held in high esteem.

NEWPORT ROBBERY CHARGE. "CRACK A SAFE WITH ANYONE." At Newport on Monday Thomas Edwards and Patrick Gillies, no "fixed abode, were charged with breaking and entering the office and warehouse of Mr J. S. Kerslake, corn mer- chant. 13, Portland-street, Newport, and also with breaking open the safe and stealingE66 Is 7d. As previously reported, the prisoners were arrested by the Cardiff police and handed over to Detective-Sergeant Caldicott, Newport, on Sunday, March 14th, the warehouse having been broken into during the previous Thursday night, March 11th. The dbor of the safe had been forced open and the money extracted. A number of burglar's tools were found lying near the safe. Mrs Harriet Spate, 86, Commercial-road, said prisoners, who had been lodging with her from the 6th to the 11th of March, did not occupy their beds on the last-named night, although they had paid for them. Mrs Annie May Damm, wife of the licensee of the Tintern Hotel. Roath, Cardiff, said pri- soners called at her house at 9 a.m. on the 12th March. She thought they were sailors, and they spent money freely. Edwards asked her to keep some money for him, as he did not want to lose it, and he handed to her £ 22 10s in gold, and Gillies handed to her E10 10s. She gave them a receipt for the money, but as they burned it she refused to keep the money ana returned it to them. Witness added that she heard Edwards remark he would back Gillies to crack a safe with anyone. In answer to the magistrates, Detective Cal- dicott said only V- had been recovered. Prisoners pleaded guilty, and were com- mitted to the Quarter Sessions for trial.

FUNERAL OF MR KING DAVIES. The funeral of Mr T. King Davies, Maesteg, In took place on Monday, the remains being in- terred at LlaDgynwyd Parish Churchyard. Mr J. P. Gibbon, M.E., represented Messrs North's Navigation Colliery Co., for whom the deceased gentleman had for a large number of years been an accountant. The officials of the — The Late Mr T. KING DAVIES. (Photo T. D. Davies, Maesteg.) collieries in the town were represented, as also were the professions, the temperance and Friendly Societies, the local lodge of Free- masons, and the churches of various denomina- tions. The Rev. D. Johns, pastor of Canaan Chapel, of which the deceased gentleman was a member, conducted the funeral ceremony.

THE AUSTRIAN TYROL. Mr F. Ormiston Smith delighted a large audience at Cory Hall on Monday evening with his lecture upon the Austrian Tyrol and the Dolomites." As a mountain climber, Mr Smith has the distinction of having chosen less fre- "'quented ground .as well as having artistic percep- tion combined wrthhigh skill as a photographer, and his bioscope pictures taken in the most dangerous positions were unique. He showed some excellent photographs, which, with the bioscope films he secured himself, of the Southern Tyrol, where the Dolomites are situated. The schuhplatte dance of Meren, the capital of the south Tyrol, was pictured, and the slides of the Contina Valley evoked appreciative applause. By means of the bio- scope the lecturer initiated his audience into the mysteries of climbing, and with a vivid realism he showed the difficulties and hazards, the pleasures and dangers of mountaineering. The Englishman's peak on the Cooda-da-lago has only been climbed once before and MrSmith has obtained some fine films which show the climbers with their guides slowly making their way up the sheer rock faces," chimneys," &c. Mr Smith's description of the ascent of the Matterhorn of the Dolomiteswasthrilling in the extreme, and those who heard his lecture and saw his slides and bioscope films, cannot fail to recognise whatever their personal views may be on mountaineering, that the lecturer was master of his subject, and that he had chosen one of the most interesting and exciting topics. The bioscope has been used for many purposes, but never to produce more striking results than when in the hands of Mr F. Ormiston Smith.

(N CARLYLE'S. STEPS. Some amusing recriminations were indulged in at Southwark on Monday in a case before Judge Willis. A barrister representing one of the parties in the suit rose to argue a certain point when the c solicitor representing the other side objected. You keep jumping up," he said, like a Jack-in-the-Box." (Laughter.) Counsel: You must not be impertinent. The Solicitor Oh, I shall be worse than im- pertinent if you go on. When counsel questioned a statement made the solicitor retorted, The rudeness and vul- garity comes from the exalted learned counsel now-not from me. Everything I say is contra- J dicted, so I follow in the footsteps of the im- mortal Carlyle and hold my tongue."

Launch of H.M.S. Bellona at Pembroke Dock. I I The ceremony of launching ttie new tinarrnoured cruiser itfe Pembroke Dock was performed on Saturday by Lady St. Davids.

I-- Mad Irishman's Act. LITTLE BOY KILLED IN EDINBURGH. A sad tragedy occurred in Edinburgh on Monday. The victim was a little boy, aged 6 years, named Francis Demeo, who re- sided at 3, Home-street, his assailant being an Irishman, about six feet in height, and residing in Grassmarket Lodging-house. In full view of the public in the street the man seized the child and threw him over some railings into a public underground lavatory at Tollcross. At first the onlookers thought the man was play- ing with his own child, but when the boy dis- appeared they realised too late the danger. One of the onlookers immediately grappled with the man, and held him till the police arrived and took him into custody. Mean- while other witnessas of the startling.occurrence conveyed the child to the Royal Infirmary, where he expired. The assailant, whose mind appeared to be deranged, sang all the way to the police station. He stated that he had been I a farmer in Dromod, County Leitrim, and had come to Scotland as recently as Thursday last.

HOW IT FEELS TO FLY. Berlin, Monday.—The first description of a trip of the Zeppelin airship ever made public was given by Prince Henry of Prussia, the t Emperor's brother, at a lecture delivered at the Marine Academy at Kiel on Saturday night, before a select audience, composed of Princess Henry and her two sons, the Admirals Commanding and the Governor and chief ad- ministrative officials of the Province of Schles- wig-Holstein. The Prince described in picturesque language his feelings on his first journey through the air, and his experiences during the memorable trip of six hours' duration on October 27th last. After describing the floating balloon shed, Prince Henry gave technical details of the air- ship. He cited, as an example of the vessel's sensibility to changes of equilibrium despite its enormous size, the fact that if members of the crew had to be changed from the car at one end of the balloon to the car at the other end, they had to leave the car? simultaneously and pass one another exactly in the middle of the covered connection gangway. The lecturer admitted that entering and leaving the car required a certain amount of pluck, as one realised how little there was between one and the immensity of space beneath. To prevent derangement of the trim of the airship, orders which were written, since a voice could not be heard above the din of motors, were placed in a carrier attached to an endless wire, and passed along in that way. The Prince gave exhaustive details concerning the dimensions, cost, &c., of the airship, and came to the conclusion that an airship of the size of the Zeppelin one would be very expensive, and its achievements would hardly be proportionate to its cost. Besides the Prince and Count Zeppelin nine persons took part in the trip. five of whom were engaged in attendance to the engines and steering, so that the other six might have been employed for military ptlrposes.-Reuter.

EYE KNOCKED OUT. At Swansea Police Court on Monday three men, Edwin Griffiths, labourer Lewis Lewis, collier and Thomas George, tmworker, were charged with wounding with intent, a collier named J. Phillips, of Clydach-road, Morriston, on February 27th. The case has been several times before the court, but adjourned owing to prosecutor's inability to be present, the injury being the loss of an eye. Prosecutor now said that late on the night in question, hearing a kick at the door, he went out, and saw three men, who, he believed, were defendants, but he was only sure of Griffiths. He was knocked down, and felt his eye going out. Cross-examined, he admitted having been drinking that night, but said he was sober, taking but four glasses of beer. A boy named William Arthur Pugh, said he saw defendants kicking prosecutor's door. Lewis, whom he knew by name, kicked Phillips, but before then a s'tone came at prosecutor, striking him on the eye, and causing him to fall. Defendants, who denied the offence, were committed for { trial at the Assizes, bail being allowed.

BIT P.C.'s FINGERS. On Monday at Ystrad Rhondda John Phillips, collier, Mardy, was fined £ 4 for assaulting P.C. Sadbury, and 10s for drunkenness on Saturday night. According to the evidence defendant had to be ejected from the Mardy Hotel by the officer and upon getting outside he violently assaulted the officer, biting one of his fingers. Deputy Chief Constable Cole said Phillips had six weeks' imprisonment for assaulting the police in August last. Wm. Tewkesbury, a young Treorky collier, was charged with assaulting P.C. Case on Sun- day afternoon at a shed near the Tynybedw mountain. The police were on special duty searching for card players, and came across a gang of 25 in the shed in question. Tewkesbury bit the officer's fingers. A fine of tiEZ, or a month, was imposed.

I The tragically sudden death occurred at Pontnewydd on Sunday afternoon of Mrs Richards, wife of Mr E. J. Richards, J.P., C.C., ex-chairman of the Uanfrechfa Upper Urban District Council. Mrs Richards fell dead in the I bathroom a few minutes after dinner. The deceased had been in failing health for the last two years, and had been under medical treat- ment. She was well-known in the public life ¡ of the district She waa47 years of age.

Scientist's Prophecy. HERTZIAN WAVES TO END WAR. Dr. Gustave Le Bon makes a remarkable prophecy in the Paris Matin." He declares his conviction that within 50 years Hertzian waves will render war impossible. I made a series of experiments with M. Branly for the purpose of finding out the degree of permeabil- ity of various bodies with regard to Hertzian waves. We found that these waves Were able to traverse stone walls more than 3ft. thick, whereas they were stopped by a sheet of tin no thicker than a cigarette paper. A fissure no bigger than the hundredth part of a millimetre (1-2500 of an inch) was sufficient, however, for the waves to pierce the sheet. In space these waves are propagated spherically in all directions. Meeting an obsta- cle, such as a ship, or a powder magazine, these electric radlations would charge the whole metallic portion of the object thus met with. The metallic framework would splutter with the electric sparks discharged. The network, of metallic wires on ships, torpedo-boats, de., would provcke an atmosphere of sparks which would cause the magazines or the shells to ex- plode. The Hertzian waves directed in parallel waves would penetrate the arsenals, casemates, fortresses, or powder magazines, destroying everything on their passage. This application of Hertzian waves is as yet impossible, but the discovery of an apparatus for transmitting parallel waves can be made, and war would thus be rendered impossible. The physicist who finds out how to direct parallel Hertzian waves will make his discovery known by direct- ing methodically his waves on the vessels of a fleet gathered together, let us say, like the American fleet at Villefranche, the English fleet at Spithead, or the German fleet at Kiel. Many millions would be engulfed, some lives sacrificed, but what a formidable power would be revealed to the eyes of the whole world. What an immense service would be rendered to peace." In conclusion, Dr. Le Bon added "I am convinced this is not mere fancy. Our grand- children will see its realisation."

BARRY MAN'S HONOUR. The Barry magistrates (Dr. Howell Rees, Messrs William Thomas, and H. Rees Jones) on Monday heard a case in which George Dixey, boilermaker, of Princes-street, Barry, was sum- moned by Elizabeth Daihton (30), single, to show cause, etc. Complainant declared that the intimacy took place during three months that she acted as housekeeper to defendant, whose wife was ill. Cross-examined by Mr J. A. Hughes, com- plainant gave details of the alleged misconduct, and admitted that she did not shout, in which case defendant's wife might have heard her. She denied telling the guardians any other story, although one of them was in court to prove otherwise. She also denied being dis- missed from situations because of being im- pudent, untruthful, and staying out late." Complainant, asked if she had any witnesses, said, No, only the baby, sir." (Laughter.) The Bench intimated that the case would be dismissed, whereupon Mr J. A. Hughes asked that as defendant had been connected with public life in the town he should be given an opportunity to deny the accusation on oath. Defendant was thereupon sworn, and declared the evidence to be untrue. t-

A MISSING ENGINEER. In the Probate Court on Monday. before the President, Sir John Bighain, an application was made for leave to presume the death of Mr Robert Hughes, formerly of Gronant Inn, Gronant, Flintshire. Mr Bayford, counsel, making the application on behalf of Mr Thomas Hughes, a brother, said he asked for leave to swear the death, and for a grant of administration. Robert Hughes was an engineer, and had resided with his father r and mother at Gronant Inn. On the death of his father he became entitled to iE442, subject to the life interest of his mother. He went to work at various placed in the country, and the last that was heard of him was that he was in a hospital at Bnrton-on-Trent. Since 1898 there had been no trace of him- The President gave leave to presume the death in 1898, and administration accordingly. =:

STAINES MOTOR TRAGEDY, Herbert Henry Kite, chauffeur to Mr Stanley Brotherhood, of Worplesdon, again appeared before the Feltham magistrates on Monday on an adjourned charge of the man- slaughter of Percy Flurry (10), killed in the Staines motor accident on February 13th, when it will be remembered nine children were knocked down by a t'ar driven by defendant at London-road, StanweII. After a short deliberation the chairman of the Bench said they were unanimous that the case would have to go for trial.

HOW TO DEAL WITH CHINESE. Sir Robert Hart. addressing the Authors' Club on Monday night on the habits and attri- butes of the Chinese, said the real thing,when difficult questions arose in China was to re- cognise that/the Chinese might possibly have right on their side. It was not enough to kick them into submission. They should be taken aside and reasoned with. By this means they might get the Chinese to consent. to a great many things without being conscious of being twisted about. They were sensible people. They were awake now, and he predicted that the world would talk more and more about China as years roll on.

Compensation Review. COUNTY COURT JURISDICTION. Important Swansea Appeal. In the Court of Appeal on Tuesday, before the Master of the Rolls and Lords Justices Moulton and Farwell, there came on for hearing the appeal of a workman named Thomas from an order of Judge Bryn Roberts, sitting at the County Court, Swansea, in the action of the Upper Forest and Western Steel and Tinpiate Com- pany, Limited, v. Thomas. Mr J. Eldon Bankes, K.C. (with whom was Sir Meager) in opening the appellant's case said this was the appeal of a workman from a decision of Judge Bryn Roberts, who upon reviewing an agreement to pay compensation, had decided that no compensation was payable after a date in December, 1907. The question raised was a most important one which had never been decided, and that was what was the jurisdiction of a County Court Judge when he had to review an agreement to pay compensa- tion, and how far did that jurisdiction extend. They desired to take their Lordships' opinion upon this point as affecting the jurisdiction of County Court Judges in cases like the present. Counsel described the accident, and the workman was paid compensation. The matter came before the learned Judge on October 8th, and doctors were called on both sides, the employers' medical man stating that the man was ouite well. while the work- man's medical man stated tha* the workman had been ruptured as well as having had his leg broken, and had not recovered. The learned Judge found that he had recovered, and he ordered that the payment must be stopped from the 7th January, 1908. Counsel submitted that the Judge had no jurisdiction to go further back than the day when the dispute was brought before him as to whether the man was or was not injured. Lord Justice Moulton: The agreement is only during incapacity. Mr Bankes said that if the employers had desired to review the matter earlier the Act provided the means for doing that. Lord Justice Moulton: Somebody must decide when the incapacity ceases. Mr Bankes said that in Scotland it had been decided that where an agreement had been registered it would operate as a judgment. The Courts had held that an arbitrator had no jurisdiction to review an amount except as from the date when he gave his decision. The Master of the Rolls I suppose you say that the order of the County Court Judge re- cording the agreement ought not to have been made ? Mr Bankes said that he did. He was sorry that the written agreement was not before their Lordships. Mr Scott Fox. K.C. (who appeared for the respondents) said that he attached very con- siderable importance to this, and as there had been a great difference of opinion between the Scotch and English Courts he thought that the actual agreement should be before the Court. The Master of the Rolls said that before deciding this matter they must have the actual agreement in writing before them, and in order to enable that to be done the appeal would be directed to stand over until Thursday of next week.

IN RESCUING A LAMB. A romantic tragedy is reported from Ponty- pool involving the death of a colliery workman, Mr Israel Jonea (39), of Pantygasseg, a hamlet on the mountain summit between Pontypool and Llanhilleth. It appears that a fortnight ago Mr Jones, a married man with several children, volunteered to descend a disused well near the deserted Pantygasseg Farm, in order to rescue a lamb that had fallen into it. Jones was lowered into the well, which is about 14 yards deep, astride a piece of stick fastened to a rope, but as he was being hauled to the surface and near the top, with the lamb in his arms, the stick broke under him, and he fell to the bottom. Help was immediately summoned, and Jones was brought to the surface. He was suffering from severe bruises, one being a gash on his forehead, and was treated by Dr. S. B. Mason, Pontypool, but he succumbed to his injuries on Saturday morning. 1

GIFTS OF HALL AND ORGAN. 7 At the Hope English Presbyterian Church, Merthyr, it was announced on Sunday that the family of the late Mr D. E. Jones, J.P., had offered to erect a hall in connection with the church, at a cost of Z600, in memory of Mr Jones, who was the senior deacon of the church and one of its founders. The offer, which was made by Mr, Mrs, and Master Glyn Jenkins, Treganna, Merthyr, was accepted with thanks. This is the second gift made to the church during the last few weeks, the previous gift being an organ, valued at "M, by Mrs Gwiiytn- Williams, a member of the church.

WHILE WIFE'S AWAY. Ann Leigh, of .Courtybella-avenue, caused some merriment at Newport on Monday when she summoned her husband, Anthony Leigh, for assault. The Clerk Defendant has been here 19 times and complainant 18 times. The wife eaid that defendant had turned her out of the house. And I am not a drunkard, gentlemen, although I do take a glass or so," she said. Alderman Bear-c I suppose your husband is a steady man ? The wife No, sir. When I go to prison he plays the concertina and has a good time. Defendant was bound over for six months.

SMOKING IN THE MAGAZINE. Mr Bonar Law, speaking in the House of Commons, said, with regard to Admiral Tirpitz's statement about German ships in 1912 v I think the House will understand that in a case of that kind we have not to consider what the Power which may possibly be at war with us says, but what it will do." In view of the crisis, such language can only be regarded as criminal insanity. The other principal artist in international incendiarism is Mr A. H. Lee, M.P., who declared on Wednesday night that the assurance of intention which the Government ifSid received from Germany is not worth the paper it is written on, if indeed it has been committed to paper at all," Reproduced by permission of the Editor of the Morning Leader.

Bute Leases. SERIOUS MENACE TO CARDIFF." As the result of information furnished him on Monday morning, Councilioi- Edward Nicholl drew up the following resolution, which he intended submitting to the meeting of the City Council in the afternoon That, in view of the importance of the matter to the many citizens of Cardiff, and in view of its great importance with reference to the growth and prosperity of the city itself, the Council approach the Marquis of Bute with regard to his lordship's intention as to the renewal or extension on fair and equitable terms of Bute ground leases which arc drawing to a close. Also that the Mar- quis be approached to consider in his own interests and that of the city, the expediency in the future of granting leases for industri:! I purposes for longer terms than are now granted by the Bute Estate also that it be a direction to the Parliamentary Committee, in view of the early hearing of the Bill, to abstain from pledging the Council to support the Bute, Taft and Rhymney AmaJgamation Bill until his lordship's views have been obtained." Mr Nicholl consulted the Lord Mayor (Aid. Lewis Morgan) before the Council meeting opened, when his Lordship said the resolution was out of order, and suggested that it should be introduced at another meeting. Mr Nicholl agreed to do this, and Councillor Sydney Jen- kins promised to second the resolution when it is submitted. Seen after the meeting of the Council by one of our representatives, Councillor Ed. Nicholl said he had been induced to draft the resolu- tion because of certain information which had reached him. The source of that information was such that he placed every faith in it. It was only reasonable to suppose that ii the Mar- quis of Bute could be relieved of his enormous interest in the Cardiff Railway Company, and if he insisted that all leases falling in should not on any consideration be renewed, it would be a serious menace to the prosperity of Car- diff, and would prejudice very considerably the chances of any industries of magnitude being started in or around the city. As I indicate in my resolution," added Mr Nicholl, the question is one of supreme im-. portance to Cardiff, and should, and no doubt will, receive the earnest consideration of all my colleagues on the Council."

THE BYE-ELECTIONS. East Denbighshire. r\ tj 4. f E. G. Hemmerde (L.). Candidates "j sir Foster (C.). Liberal majority in 1905-2,791. The polling in the East Denbighshire Divi- sion, for which the writ was issued on Monday, has been definitely fixed to take place on April 2nd, the nomination day being March 29th. Mr HEMMERDE, who is seeking re- election on appointment to office. Mr Hemmerde was on Monday night formally adopted as Liberal candidate for East Denbigh- shire, and afterwards addressed meetings at Wrexham and Marchwiel. His opponent, Sir Foster Cunliffe, opened his campaign on Mon- day night at Cefn Mawr. It is understood that to-day some of the lteader3 of the Dises- tablishment movement will visit Wrexham to arrange public meetings in the constituency.

SWANSEA REPRESENTATION. LABOUR ASSOCIATION'S IATTITUDE. Executive Recommend Ald. D. Williams. At the annual meeting of the Swansea Labour Association, the Executive Committee presented a report, stating they were unani- mously of opinion that Alderman David Williams, of Swaunseat, ..would,, make thp strongest possible Labour candidate for the Parliamentary representation of the con- stituency. This declaration was agreed to without a dissentient voice, and it was decided to circularise the branches non-affiliated, as well as those affiliated, to the association, asking them to instruct delegates to vote for or against the adoption of Alderman Williams at a forth- coming conference. It will be recalled that the Labour Association some time ago extended an invitation to Mr Stuart, of the Postmen's Union, to contest the seat, and on his declining the association resolved that nominations be invited anew. Alderman Williams says be has decided to await the invitation of the Labour party to stand as a candidate for Swansea. What is more," he added, we are going to win. We are well organised, and we shall start to work at once in fact, we have begun already."

GOWER CENTENARIAN. (Photo by Mr A. R. Way, Swansea.) The above photograph represents the old lady Ann Williams, familiarly known as Nannie," who has just died at the Gower Union Workhouse at the age of 104 years.

VICTIM TO DRINK. Mr D. Rees held an inquest at Llandaff, on Monday, on Mary Davies, licensee of the Railway Inn, Llandaff North, who was found dead in bed on Sunday morning- David Davies, half-brother of the deceased, said she was 42 years of age. She was badlv addicted to drink. and she was half drunk when he saw her at six o'clock on Saturday night. For some reason, which he could not explain, he went to his sister's room, when he discovered that she had not got up, at 11.40 on Sunday morning, and found that she had died and that her face had turned a dark blue colour. Maud Jones, who assisted at the public- house, said that the deceased was under the influence of drink at 11 o'clock on Saturday night. At 8 o'clock on Sunday morning she found deceased, who had evidently been drink- ing, behind the bar. Deceased said she had been getting a drink, and witness was not sur- prised, because deceased usually came down in the middle of the night to get a drink. De- ceased had been drinking brandy and gin heavily for the past six months, and witness could not keep her off it- Dr. Arthur attributed death to heart failure, due to alcoholic poisoning, and a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was returned.

TEACKERS' PENSION S(JHEME. The South-Western^ Wales branch of the Incorporated Association of Assistant IMasters at a meeting held in Swan- sea last Saturday, discussed the report of the clerk of the Glamorgan County Council on the proposed pension scheme for teachers in intermediate schools. While heartily welcoming the scheme as a whole the meeting considered (1) that the retiring age should be 60 instead of 65, (2) that provision should be made in the scheme for incapacitation at an earlier age. Further resolutions were passed supporting the endeavours of the parent associa- tio to induce the Government to start a national superannuation fund for teachers in secondary schools, and urging the claims of the senior examination of the Central Welsh Board o rank with the Oxford and Cambridge senior locals as an equivalent, subject for subject, of the London matriculation.

RAILWAY FUSION BILL. At a meeting of Porth Chamber of Trade on Monday evening the following resolution was passed :—" That the Porth and District Cham- ber of Trade, having considered the provisions of the Taff Vale Railway Vesting Bill, are of opinion that the proposed amalgamations are contrary to the public interest, as they get rid of the competition already existing between the Taff Vale and Rhymney Railway under- takings, and the authorised competition be- tween the Taff and Cardiff Railway Companies and the existing competition between the Penarth and Bute Docks and that Mr John Thompson be authorised to give evidence on behalf of the Porth Chamber of Trade." J

By D. EMLYN EVANS. THE FOLK-SONG. The report of the meeting of the Welsh Folk- song Society recently held at Bangor shows that the Council intends to proceed with the work it has in contemplation energetically, and the liberality of the president, Sir William Preece, and Mr John Mahier, in the matter of providing phonographs will be of considerable assistance, these instruments having proved of great service to the folk-song societies of similar institutions elsewhere in securing a minute record of what old-time melodies may be me1; with in various parts of the country, and possibly, old songs of Welsh origin carried into other lands. The task, however, is one that demands care and intelligence on the part of those who undertake the quest. Or perhaps the rule that all is grist that comes to the mill will hold good. That would seem to imply waste of time and labour, if only a percentage can ulti- matelyhe accepted and utilised, or else burden- ing the society's journal with doubtful material, and more variants of what wepossess already —for according to the report from which we read variations (or different versions) of old airs" are to be included. No doubt the appointed officials will attend to these and similar matters. Liberty is taken to draw attention to them here, as they are such a3 may affect the society's ultimate usefulness and success. The readings of An Old Air often differ considerably in closely contiguous localities. Bugeilio'r Gwenith Gwyn (Watching the ripening wheat) for instance, may be heard rendered in many different wava from the Vale of Neath to the Vale of Glam- organ, while every editor appears to differ more or less from Miss Williams, Aberpergwm's—the original printed version. The differences are not fundamental—vital and one can hardly see the utility of devoting time and space to illustrate these little- divergencies. On the other hand there are versions differing so greatly that a comparison of the various forms is both interesting and useful. One such an example may be found in Morfa Rhuddlan (Rhuddlan Marsh), the grandest of all our minor key national tunes, but which differs very considerably in parts of both North and South Wales. Editors now generally accept the one reading of this air, although very pro- bably the exceptions—and some others in addi- tion to those already known—still survive among the older generation of singers. Those experienced in such undertakings need not to be told that the explorer in this field should be gifted with a retentive memory, and an extensive acquaintance with folk-tunes generally. The enthusiastic folk-song gatherer is possibly given to be too credulous, and in his excitement and desire to secure a numerous collection prone to let his critical and discrimi- native faculties be in abeyance for the time. An English collector took down lately a song which began :— Oh, I can play on the big baas dram, And this is the music to it ;1 Rig tig bum is the big bass drum, And this is the way we do it." Shown to an expert, however, the worda turned out to be from "The Burlesque Band," a modern song by C. F. Root, while the music to which they were sung was quite the wrong tune—and, as it happened, poor stuff as well. We are afraid that the Welshmen is even less circumspect than his brother Saxon in regard to this question. Of course, it is very easy to fall into error in regard to the nationality of the old tunes of past times, and especially in connection with those of the various nation- alities which makes up the population of these islands, and whose ballad-singers, fiddlers, and harpers travelled into each other's country, picking up or leaving behind them fresh examples of song as they went on their way. We are not now concerned with the claims put forward with Mr William Chappell, which if substantiated would rob us of more than one of our national vocal gems but that talented writer, notwithstanding his ability, proved himself to be repeatedly at fault—in his pre- mises, as well as in his evidence. Still, the more careful we are in thorotighly examining and demonstrating our right to whatever songs we claim, the better. In Owain Alaw's popular collection," Gems of Welsh Melodies," one of the numbers is a serenade—" Air Llanover. Taken from a col- lection of unpublished Welsh Airs." To this the veraatije T».lhalarn has written a delight* ful lyric inWeWi and;^ngB»iit-^T Pan fo'r boreu glas yn gwawrio, Canaf benill i fymun" (" Sweet and graceful be the numbers Of the poets' gentle lay.") In a footnote the editor states that the ele- gant melody is the same as "Peggy Band," or Peggy Bawn," and that he cannot per- ceive the likeness which some see in it to the Irish air, Savourna Deelish." In regard to the latter Mr Owen is not incorrect, the simi- larity being too trifling, and practically confined to the last three or four notes of the chief cadence, the which may also be found in other tunes. But he was evidently not aware that Peggy Bawn itself was an Irish air, and which may be found printed at least as early as Bunting's valuable collection, pub- lished in 1796 under the title of Peggy Ban (" Mairgireud Bhan in Irish). Thus we have no other choice than to relinquish our claim to this beautiful ditty—willingly as a matter of right, but regretfully as regards affection. As a reverse example we may mention the fact that in a series of "Lessons in Music," by the Rev John Curwen, which appeared in the" Popular Educator in the early fhties, Cader Idris figures as an Old English Tune"-—we quote from the first edition of the publication possibly the error has been corrected in later editions. None would charge either Mr John Owen (Owain Alaw). or Rev. John Curwen with having annexed these things intentionally. Both were acknowledged to be men of undoubted integrity, and Mr Curwen through his many publications built up for himself a character for considerable accu- racy and painstaking research. These incidents are related here in order to show how easy it is to fall into error, and therefore how desirable it is to be as exact and accurate as possible when dealing with this subject. Our English Neighbours seem to be frittering some energy away just now in connection with the question of folk- songs by certain criticisms and disputations which do not appear likely to be of much benefit to anything or anybody. At one end, or extreme, we get the folk-song ultraist who asserts that the simple rhythmical and metrical form of the folk-song was the basis of all modern instrumental music," for instance —and at the other end learned doctors who dub the folk-singers as fanatics" under the influence of a current craze" We imagine, however, that there is room for sane people to do useful work between these two extremes. Another cause and subject of dispute is the difference between folk-song and art- song "—between the communal or spon- taneously evolved" production, and that which is individual, or haa been com- posed." A still more learned professor lays it down that communities do not compose, evolve, or create songs That is done by indi- viduals by nature specially endowed with musical aptitude, &c. &c." But a greater authority than either, the late Sir George Macfarren, was of the opinion that national songs were often moulded into their final form or shape by the people themselves and with that dictum we humbly beg to agree It matters nothing, however, what the process of producing may have been The song is the thing, and those who are anxious that the Welsh Folk-Song Society should do effective work and prosper, will take care to use their best endeavour not to be tempted into any dangerous side-issues.

WHEN EXPERTS DIFFER. At Haverfordwest Petty Sessions on Monday Dr. F. R. Greenish, who presided, said tha Bench had arrived at a decision in the case iD. which Mr Arthur H. Thomas, the county sur- veyor, had been summoned by Mr Be van, sur- veyor to the Haverfordwest Corporation, in respect of three houses at Prendergast, for alleged defective drains, a badly paved yard, etc. The Bench were prepared to give a deci- sion without hearing further evidence. Mr W. J. Jones (for the defendant) said he had an ex- pert witness from London present, who was prepared to prove that there was no nuisance. The Chairman said the Bench had visited the place, and were prepared to give their decision. This was to the effect that when they visited the place the defects had bCin made good, but inasmuch as a nuisance existed when the sum- mons was taken out they ordered defendant to pay costs (17s), and dismissed the case. The Bench added a recommendation to the Haver- fordwest Corporation to take steps to place their water rents for sanitary purposes on a more equitable basis than at present.

SOLID FOR FREE TRADE. Labour Party's Determination. Speaking at a Free Trade meeting at Black- burn on Monday night Mr Shackleton, M.P < made it perfectly clear that on this subject the Labour party were unanimous for Free Trade. They did not say it was a remedy fct; all the diseases of social life to-day, but they did say it was the basis of industry, and they would not exchange it for Protection. In Germany the cost of living was 37 per cent, higher than in England, and the majority of the 'working men in that count.rv were Free Traders. The tariff they called the hunger tariff.