The Cardiff Times

"T-H B E TRY IT.

WORKMEN'S TOPICS. THE HOUSING AND BEAUTIFYING OF HOUSES QUESTION. By MABON, M.P. pA deputation from Germany—The German .y Association—over 200 in number, paid a t° this country last week to study the tK that have been made in certain parts of Kingdom to solve the Housing problem. Qeir first visit was paid to the model village „ Earswick near York. where they were wel- ii ^^d with characteristic British cordiality the even wiring a message of greeting to ern. j. These visits of German representatives to Ii lltaln, and of the British people to Germany, i, e> ° £ course, of special interest at a time when Jingo Press in both countries is urging the xPenditure of untold millions, to bridge as it fi-6^6' North Sea with Dreadnoughts. These eternal meetings must have a great innu- „ Ce in dissipating the false conceptions K^^ed by the mischief makers and the dis- rbers of peace in both countries. But the objects of such an influential deputa- in ? as that entertained last week should ueed command special attention, for it com- j '?es eminent men from all parts of Germany, a most natural inquiry is to ask ether we, 1e hethr we could discover a similarly repre- I ntatlve party sufficiently interested in Hous- tn •re^nrrn make a tour of our own land for tarL PUrPose of estimating the value of the at- gr> s are being made towards solving cim? P°rtion at least of the Housing diffi- e.s" And equallv natural it is to ask why 5ie ullage like the one named, for instance, draw men from all parts of Germany, im sh°ul(l fail to arouse an equal amount of in < rest among the thousands of householders our own country anxious to bring about a ir,Uc^ Deeded reform in rural and urban hous- 8. We have of late years heard from hundreds Platforms urgent demands made for ^gislative action to facilitate reform, and yet dere We have an illustration of what can be Ille under existing circumstances to provide tw,'n"s that nine-tenths of our working jpPle Would be most glad to call their homes, the Housing reform is as difficult a t *erri as any ol' the larsre number of re- &S that we have to face. The fact, I Relieve, » heen realised more definitely by the pio- in the movement for creating garden wes or villages than by our politicians, even K thought, more money, and more energy On e.keen expended in working out the schemes Hi vogue than will ever be fully appreci- y.j • And so considerable has been the success Ending these experiments that it is a master v^Urprise that greater advantage has not been y ,v^ by progressive corporations, associa- bf°ns> and councils of the experience that may h., their service by simply inspecting the re- J' of others' labour. a-11 the case of Earswick some of my "iork- J""6 friends inform me that the original aim s to build convenent and -wholesome, and at Sa«ie time attractive, cottages in which the R.eri,;ies of life could well be maintained, and jp'h shall be associated with ground for gar- and recreation. It was not thought of. I to be a philantrophic work, bub an t(-rprise that could be made to pay a com- ercial rate of interest. The spirit of philan- g ^?Py had, of course, to be called into ptay to the means to make the opening qotperi- n the means to make the opening cmpen- But the results are now there, and it is to the civilised world to profit thereby, hjthout any initial expenditure from the success has been achieved. My friend tells me that Earswick Trust have grappled with the ^oblems of planning, of architecture, of road ?*aking, of sanitation, of beauty, of conveni- and of cost, which combined seem to to reTj^lm the would-be performer who wants exists n 096 smaUes* communities. There h0llr,, Qo Unsightly outbuildings in that neigh- Ula *°0rl, no monotonous rows of houses lets are Qot allowed. There every living room W<5 a,!Ul1 quantum of sunshine, and the dwell- fllll q loyr.i- seem to have been pitched amidst the })y lest surroundings that nature, stimulated iJjj-.j, afQan effort, can produce. Even there 7101«\Js more room for further improvements, P'ac 'Standing the fact that seemingly the °Vd pls Sreat advance upon the best of our 0j^§lishand Welsh villages. There it stands, s^hi] 'Ject lesson for the whole country, and Press 't Germany is greatly im- lt ec*, and moved, charmed possibly, \ypi not to be felt that English, ^ain anc^ Sqptchmen even should re- ^rohI llnrnoved- Germany has her housing °llrs \V evidently it is not the same as rrlat(" While they have much to teach us in the thes f'-r town planning, still we are directing J>r0y- J.^eais in types of dwellings, and in the to *>°n of convenience in working. It seems °nrkC that it is possible for us to revolutionise ac}j?|0using system to the benefit of the race by fo»> fr upon the knowledge that may be ours ke asking. The Maypole Colliery Disaster. °Ur f6.'°ng and inhaustive inquiry, in which a r.lGr)d and colleague Mr Brace, M.P., took On Ve and important part, came to an end the rrf inst. The inquiry will rank among ^ke searching investigations ever under- lto n by a coroner and jury. It occupied G 22 days. A very large number of ^sos were examined, and very minutely "f Xartlined. Evidently, too, the find- iilg Nrer" well weighed. For in arriv- at them the jury occupied some e^t»l rs' and their judgment that the 7r osion, which brought the death of 0l's°us, was caused by gas and coal dust, express the belief that too much n put in the permitted explosives, iix (,a,'s° that there was a lack of supervision is ,at Part of the colliery where the explosion fo tbVed hy the experts to have originated. his verdict they add the recommendation dumping and watering of the ways in mines is essentially necessary" to pre- similar accidents in future and that a necessity for the appointment of re niine inspectors. 0UPe evidence given, and this pronouncement tli6 f e 3ury upon it, have placed beyond a doubt fcajg^t that not only the disaster at the May- c}jie„Polliery, but others as well have arisen Vas }y from preventable causes. The Maypole e>'ond the least possible doubt a dry and ^ine. Dust, dry and fine as powder, lay ^ntf 'lase and in the working places appa- jj.y; and it had been carried by the venti- ° /'irrents through all the main roads, hy as yet, has not| been insisted upon Mines Regulation Act, and even water- Act 1101 always done effectively where the tha.t nlak"s it compulsory. Notwithstanding Qai. cxpert investigations of men liko PrQfessor of and Mr Henry Hall. H.M. Inspector fi-Uij proves that such dust is stirred up Suited by a blown out shot." Such blown °ts are well known to have become in- transformed into a blast of gas before 1.'11 nothin human dr animal can live. lUfijf611 there is the question of shot firing Can it. be safely guarded against by any SpecHerniations ? Perhaps this calls for a i treatment in seme future but c*ay. As in this colliery the <usual regulations seem not to (haee tio^ ylly carried out. The present regula- Siv0s '° allow the use of certain explo- SesIU certain quantities, and at prescribed vtitnH They also, however, permit a certain Oty ari(' discretion in the practice thereof, mines adjoining the Aiaypole, and the same valuable seam of coal—the coal—the practice has been, and is, to use explosives unless the colliery ^pt neai'eci 0f everybody except the men .^rUyT engaged with the shot that was to be shnf the case of the Maypole, howevei*, ^llrj j8 were fired when hard drift stone men ,• ourers who stow the old workings ttoy3 the mine, and thus, as the event really w<-re running undue risk. Though the °n the point was more or less circuin- J*Ut, n there remains, as the coroner y>ointed s^.0,reasonable floubt that the firing of a ecisi "riginated the .disaster. The .jury's vT*' a'so- that the quantity of explosives e in ia§ Sreat is a serious reflection on Vc*tihl8mofct exercised. Here aaain is a pre- e cause in the list of coal mining cala- '■f he t.ali ora. of the inquiry is brief-that in e }v^th coal dust, the revision of the lr,Iig regulations, making greater cau- I)Ulsory, until it is prevented alto- will render the extremely perilous ° °t the miner relatively safer at least |HpSe c°idents on a large scale. And to see that S aP^"ecautions are observed, more inspec- 'hat,J' needed," and more of them of the class illbs pUld have to more closely examine the llsefi i0rn a practical point of view, would be and effective addition to the present

PONTYPOOL CHARGE. 11A I! K^da^011 "V;!S caused at Pontypool on Wed- ]t.WL!'n J- Ellis (20), son of the landlord of » i"ury Arms Hotel, GarndifEaith, v.'as ViVinm>efoi"e the Jocal Bench charged wiV.i ^'lliarr,"1'' to criminally assault Elizabeth Bp s',a"c 13, at Garndiffaith, on July 11th. aIXcJ1 adjourned the case until Saturday b 'an!! allowed bail in two sureties of £ 50 | a accused himself in £ 50.

South America Again! RIOTERS ATTACK LEGATIONS. New York, Monday.—The latest telegrams from La Paz (Bolivia) state that the mobs are pillaging the capital, and the Bolivian authorities are powerless to protect the lega tions and foreign residences. Yesterday a fierce attack was made upon the Peruvian and Argentine Legations. Troops and police are endeavouring to pro- tect the inmates, and the rioters, according to the latest news, do not appear to have cap- tured the buildings. The Argentine Minister and his wife, however, were forced to flee, and they are now taking refuge at the residence of the'President of Bolivia. There is every sign that a war between Bolivia and Peru and Argentina will follow un- less the rioting is immediately quelled and satisfaction accorded to the aggrieved coun- tries. It is probable that the boundary dispute between Bolivia and Peru will be submitted to further arbitration.—Central News. Santiago de Chile, Sunday.-A telegram from La Paz states that disorders continue there, and that the Peruvian and Argentine Legations have again been attacked by crowds. The ani- mosity against Peru and Argentina is spreading throughout Bolivia. The President of Bolivia has informed the diplomatic representatives that he strongly reprobates the disorders, and will sternly suppress them. Buenes Ayres,Monday.- The Argentine Gov- ernment is communicating direct with the Bolivian Government through Senor Fonaeca, the Argentine Minister at La Paz, who has pre- sented to the Bolivian Government a demand for an explanation of the attitude of the Boli- vian Minister inBuenos Ayres,and of the attacks upon the Argentine Legation at La Paz. The Argentine Foreign Minister has received de- spatches from Senor Fonseca, stating a fifth demonstration, hostile to Argen- tina, has taken place at -La Paz, in spite of the presence of the troops. One party of demonstrators attempted to attack the Argentine Legation from the rear. The Legation staff, becoming aware of this, called for troops and prevented the attempt. Senor Fonseca has advised the Bolivian Go- vernment, if the present situation continues, he will leave La Paz. Eight hundred troops are now guarding the Legation. A despatch from the Argentine Vice-Consul at Tupiza, Bolivia, states that hostile demon- strators there insulted Argentina, stoned the Consulate, and broke the windows and flag- staff, and afterwards attacked Argentine citizens' houses.- Reuter.

REVOLTING CRUELTY STORY. St. Petersburg, Friday.—A revolting case of cruelty to a young girl is reported from Ostra- vetz. The victim is Sophie Kistenberg, aged 17, and her two brothers are now under arrest pending inquiry into an astounding story. It appears that on reaching the age of 21 the girl will be entitled to a sum of 6,000 roubles. Three years ago her brothers, it is alleged, de- termined to put her out of the way in order to secure the moneyfor themselves, but instead of taking her life they confined her in a, cellar, having first bound her arms and legs so that she could scarcely move. Here, incredible as i may seem, she remained until quite recently, when by the merest accident the story leaked out. Amidst the filthiest and most terrifying sur- roundings the unhappy prisoner had almost completely lost her reason. Rats and other vermin had actually devoured parts of her flesh, while she was unable to speak and hardly able to see. On being approached by anybody she trembled and cried in a pitiable manner. She is now in hospital, and it is stated that sHf has a chance of recovery.— Central News.

A TOO ANXIOUS SIGNALMAN. Life-Saver's Candid Admission. The inquest on Carl John Wilhelm Veigal, who lost his life in the railway accident at Wembley on July 2nd, concluded on Wednes- day. Signalman Benjamin Berry gave evidence statins that the train to which the accident occurred passed his box at the rate of about 15 miles an hour. ThiAking it had pawed over the points and was clear he altered the-points again to deal with the traffic. He felt no resistance on the lever, and it was not until he looked up that he found the train had not passed the points and that the accident had accurred. He wanted to get another train out of the station in time to clear the road for the Scotch express. Further questioned by the Coroner, witness said there was no doubt he broke the rule of the company. That must have been caused by his anxiety to get the other train away. The District Superintendent said Berry had a good character, and four months ago was re- warded for saving life at Wembley. The jury returned a verdict of Death by misadventure," and added that the. accident was caused by over anxiety on the part of Berry.

TIRED OF LIFE P Saltmead Sensation. Mrs Martin, an elderly woman, living in Saltmead-road, Grangetown, is alleged to have attempted to commit suicide on Tuesday by taking a large dose of iodine. As soon as her condition was discovered Dr. Dillon was sent for, and later the woman was removed to the Cardiff Infirmary. It is stated that Mrs Martin has been in a depressed state of mind for some considerable time. Wife in Asylum. On Tuesday the body of a man named Ephraim Hackford (43), Gordon-terrace, Onllwyn, was taken by P.C. Griffiths from the river at Pont- neath-vaughan. Deceased, whose clothes bad been found on the river bank at Glyn-Neath last night, leaves five children. His wiflow has been in an asylum for 18 months. The,body was conveyed t Onllwyn. Razor Slipped from Hand. At Caerphilly on Tuesday Henry Fox, a hair/ dresser, of Hengoed, was charged with attempt- ing to commit suicide on Saturday last. Lewis Thomas, barman at the Hengoed Junction Hotel, said he served prisoner with a few glasses of liquor on the night in question. Later in the evening witness saw prisoner with blood on his neck and collar. Asked what was the matter, prisoner said. "Leave me alone, I want to die." Witness took a razor case from prisoner's pocket. P-C. Price arrested prisoner, who had a slight cut on the front part of the throat. It was not bleeding then. Asked what made him do it, witness said that prisoner replied, I meant to do it, but the razor slipped out of my hand down in the grass by the river." Replying to the charge, prisoner said he had been worried alotabout different things lately. Fox was sent to the Assizes for trial. j

LORD TREDEGAR'S REFUSAL. Arbitration Proceedings at Cardiff. An arbitration is taking place at the Park Hotel, Cardiff, between Lord Tredegar and the International Colliery Company, Abc-rerave, Swansea Vallev. In 1898 the colliery was sold for some £ 50,000 to M. Depaux, on behalf of a prospective French company, but was not conveyed because of the refusal of Lord Tredegar, the superior landlord, to give a licence to assign on the ground that several breaches of the covenants of the lease had taken place. The representatives of the French company, contending that no such breaches of covenant had occurred, moved the Court of Chancery, which called upon Lord Tredegar under the clauses of the lease, to have the matters in dispute determined 'by arbitration. Mr D. T. Alexander, of Messrs Stephenson and Alexander, Cardiff, was appointed receiver and manager by the Court of Chancery, and as the representative of the Court the pro- ceedings are instituted in his name. Mr Alex- ander is represented by Mr John Sankey, K.C., Mr McSwecney, of the Chancery Bar, and Mr Graves, also of the Chancery Bar, and Mr B. Francis Williams, K.C., Recorder of Cardiff, leads Mr Shee for 'Lord Tredegar. Mr C. E. Wales is the umpire, and Mr Westgarth Brown and Mr Henry W. Martin are arbitrators. The solicitors engaged are Messrs Ryder, on behalf of Lord Tredegar, and Messrs Leighton. London, on behalf of the receiver (Mr D. T. Alexander). The proceedings, which were continued on Wednesday, are likely to be of a protracted character.

HUSBAND'S BRUTAL ASSAULT. At Abertillery on Wednesday Lewis Charles Carpenter, collier, Six Bells, was-brought up in custody charged with assaulting his wife, Annie Carpenter, on July 7th. Mr A. H. Golman, who "prosecuted, said the parties had been married since September, and prisoner had not provided a home for his wife. On July 7th the wife was on the-mountain side, and prisoner went up to her, struck her, and also kicked and attempted to strangle her with his muffler. She became unconscious. The wife bore out the opening statement. Prisoner Annie, you wicked little thing Prisoner: Did you not throw me down ?—No, I did not. Prisoner Oh, thank you I have flnished with you. Mrs Fletcher, living at Six Bells, said she saw r. man kicking something on the mountain side. She 1 bought, at first that he was kicking a sack of ferns down the mountain, but she heard a scream The Bench committed Carpenter for six months with hard labour.

Welsh Monuments. LLANDOVERY CASTLE. There is almost as little known of the history of this castle as there is of stones left standing one upon another. The name appears to be derived from the Welsh Llan ym Dyvri-" the Church of the Waters," which is an allusion to the position of the Parish Church standing on a tongue of land between the river Towy and a stream formed by the junction of the two rivers Bran and Gwydderig. The founder of the original Llandovery Castle is not known, but there is evidence that a fortress of some kind existed here in the year 1113, and that on3 Richard de Pons was the lord of it, for three years later it was assaulted by Gruffydd ap Rhys and after a long and desperate fight he succeeded in burning a portion of it; but though he slew many of the garrison it was done by the sacrifice of so many of his own men that in despair he raised the siege and retired. In 1159 Walter Clifford was Lord of Cantref Bychan. He made an incursion into the terri- tory of the Lord Rhys, slew many of the inha- bitants, and carried away a valuable collec- tion of loot. This was done in times of peace, and a complaint was laid before King Henry. As the King did not move, by way of reprisal, the Lord Rhys seized Llandovery Castle. How long he occupied it, and when and how he gave it up, is not clear, but again in 1163 he captured it, and according to one of the er- sions of the annals, his, son Hywel took it a third time in' 1192. It re- mained in Welsh hands from this period till the final subjugation of Wales by Edward 1. But Llandovery Castle frequently changed owners in this period. Meredydd, one of the sons of Rhys, was made Lord of the Cantref Bychan, and resided at Llandovery. from which home, however, he was expelled in 1201 by his brother Gruffydd, who died a month afterwards, stricken down by the judgment of heaven fop so unfraternal a deed." says history. We are not informed why heaven took so close a notice of this brotherly squabble and passed over so many others of a similar character in unhappy Wales. The fortress of Llandovery, after Gruffydd's death, fell into the hands of another brother, Maelgwn, irom whom it was wrested in 1204 by his nephew, Rhys Gruffydd's son but Maelgwn, by the aid 4f Groenwynwyn, Prince of Powis, expelled him. He returned again in a short time. In 1208 Rhys Fychan, brother of Maelgwn, and uncle of Rhys, the Lord of Llandovery, with the aid of a body of English troops, be- leaguered Llandovery, and the garrison were forced to capitulate. King John's interference was sought by Rhys of Llandovery, and the Royal decision was given in favour of the nephew, directing that the eastle should be restored to him. This was not done, and English troops arrived in 1214. They took the stronghold and gave it to Rhys, but he could not, keep out his irrepres- sible uncle, for it was in his possession in 1226, when he gave it as the price of his liberty to his son, who had taken him prisoner. The family feud had extended and was continued. When Edward 1. conquered Wales he put an English garrison into Llandovery, and these were expelled by Rhys ap Meredydd shortly afterwards. The insurrection was subsequently put down and Llandovery lapsed again to the English. In these battles of Kites and Crows, Llan- dovery Castle must have seen a vast expenditure of blood its subsequent history is a blank. There is a tradition that it was dismantled by Cromwell, it is very probable that this may have been done by his orders, but there is no reason to suppose Oliver ever saw Llandovery Castle. q ''Y, 41 LLANDOVERY CA STL-I,: .-(Photo by H. Mortimer Allen.) —

ARMY OF THE EMPIRE. Lord Kitchener, who has accepted an invita- tion to visit Australia, will, it is stated, on his return home have his services utilised in con- nection with the preparation of all the forces of the Empire on a common plan for service. Although no definite decision has yet been arrived at, the whole matter is under considera- tion in connection with the scheme outlined by Mr Haldane for the formation of a common Army of Empire. A new post. designated Chief of the Imperial General Staff," will be ? Lord Kitchener. created, and it is understood that Lord Kitchener's name is officially associated with the first holding of this post. All the oversea States have accepted the principle of having a common general staff, so that officers every- where may be trained on a unifrnn plan. His proposed to interchange officers between the Home and Indian stations and the Dominions oversea, in orde.r that, a wide general experi- ence of Imperial conditions can be gained. The control of a wide scheme of common tra ining for war would need an officer of exceptional ability, and. as Lord Kittcbener is to advise the j Australian Government on defence matters, he will add to his Egyptian, South African, and Italian services a comprehensive grasp of Australian needs, as well as those of New Zea- land. His lordship is to come home via Canada/ where he will complete the sum of his know- ledge in Empire requirements.

SPANISH BATTLE. Moors Attack Railway Workers. Madrid, Saturday.—The following acount of yesterday's events in Melil-,g, Territory is officially published here. The Governor of Melilla reports to the Minister of War that at 8 a.m. on the 9t h inst. bodies of Moors at- tacked labourers working on the railway, and killed several of them. The Spanish authorities at once despatched a discip] inary brigade and < six companies of African troops with artillery to the spot. The enemy were located on the heights overlooking the Moorish road as far as Zebel Iidi Ametil Sach. Fighting was over nt, 1 o'clock. The troops remain in occupation of the captured positions. The casualties were one lieutenant of the disciplinary brigade killed, and a captain and lieutenant, wounded. Of the rank and file the killed and wounded number 30. Melilla', Saturday.—In yesterday's fight the Spanish had 20 men wounded. They eaptun d 18 natives. The INJooiisb force numbered some 4,000. A daughter of Ka.id Soaldz is arh^ngthe prisoners.—Router. Melilla is a fortified convict settlemenl belonging to Spain, on the north coast of Morocco, which in 1893-91 nearly led to a war between Spain and Morocco. c-naral ,Nlai,* Melilla, Saturday.—General Marina has established his camp at Mount Atalayon. The night passed quietly. At dawn the Kaids of the Nador and Barraca tribes came, in and asked for clemency. General M rina received their surrender. it is believed that the kaids of other tribes will follow their example. The burial of the men who lost their lives in yesterday's fighting took place here this morning in the presence of all the troops in the town and an enormous crowd.—Beuter.

PARIS BOULEVARD MYSTERY. Paris, Sunday.-A package containing humn bones has been discovered in a disused cellar in the highly respectable Boulevard Perriere. The remains were wrapped in a Paris news- paper bearing a date in 1889 and containing the report of the trial of Michel Eyraud, who. with Gabrielle Bompard, murdered the bailiff Gouffe and packed his body in a trunk, a crime which at the time created a great sensa- tion. A partially-obliterated label showed that the parcel had been sent from Lyons to an address in the Rue de Suez. Paris, and it was at Lyons where M. Gouff^'s murderer attempted to dispose of 1 the remains. The police are endeavouring to elucidate the mystery by tracing previous tenants of the flat to which the cellar belongs.—Reuter.

FROST IN ITALY. Rome. Tuesday.—Amazing weather is reported from the north. Devastating hail- storms occurred to-day at Mdlesino (Genoa). and in various districts of, Piedmont, accom- panied by a remarkable drop in the tempera- ture, as many as 10 degree^ of frost being regis- tered. In some places the hailstones wreaked enormous damage in the agricultural districts, and instances are mentioned in which fields were covered to a depth of eight inches.— Central,News. ——

TERRIBLE SPANISH DISASTER. 750 Miners Entombed. Lisbon, Sunday—According to telegrams to the Lisbonpapers a catastrophe has occur- red at a colliery J}elme«, Spain, an explosion of firedamp having occurred whilst 750 men were at work. Several of the galleries collapsed, burying aliye the miners employed in them. The latest reports state that 17 dead bodies have been recovered, while 42 men have been brought up aliye a state of semi- asphyxiation. Of tbe.se nine are so terribly burned that they are nqtexpected to repcover. The work of rescue ip proceeding.—Central News. Feared Heavy toss of Life. St. Petersburg, Sunday.& telegram from Jusowka (Ekat-erinoslav) states that an ex- plosion of gas has occurred at the Makewska mine in the Don district. A large number of miners were underground at the time. Relief parties have already brought up 14 dead bodies, two miners severely injured, and eight others slightly injured. Relief work continues. The cause of the explosion, is not yet known.— Reuter. -L-

INDIAN PICKET ATTACKED. Shpla, Tuesday.—On the morning of th.eJ.0th a large gang, chiefly composed of Khost out- laws, attacked a picket at Kajuri Post, in the Tochi Valfey, consisting of one- havildar and seven men. All were killed with the exception of the havildar, who was wounded. The men the post with a convoy of 50 men from "'the 1st Sikhs repulsed the raiders, killing three of them. Two of the latter were notoriously bad characters.—Reuter. The Bengal Boycott. Calcutta, Tuesday.—Great, preparations are hplno- TYIoo,-lr¡, h, "O l r\ L J .I. „ L._ .1. Doing made by Bengalis in Calcu- tta to cele- brate the anniversary of the boycott on August 7th. Mr Arabindo Ghose, in a speech, expressed the hope that Bengalis would assemble in their tens of thousands. He added according to a report he had received a message from the police saying he was opening his mouth too much. He wished, however, to im- press on his audience that gaol life was not terrible. [f they had a mind to serve their country, sufferings could be borne by all. If they paid the price required the country*would surely rise.—Reuter.

THE PERSIAN CRISIS. Thp fitting between the Shah's forces and Lakht iaris in the vicinity of Teheran, conti- nues, and the reports are very unfavourable to the Royalist troops, which are said to be in retreat, and even utterly demoralised. The 1 lkiiani, or ruling Chief of the Bakhtiaris, is a poweriully -built man of Sornewhat more than The ilkhani, Prince ol the Bakhtiaris. middle age. He is the descendant of a long line of Bakhtiari chiefs, one of his ancestors being mentioned by Ibn Batuta, who visited the country about the year 1335. He is a most determined man—in fact the only strong, man in Persia at the present moment, and is the ruler of the only well armed and well-trained race in the country. It is believed by many that, should he wish to take it, the crown of Persia is within his grasp.

FIGHTING IN MOROCCO. Paris, Sunday.—A Tangier telegram to the Paris Journal reports a. sanguinary but indecisive battle before the walls "of Fez be- tween the Hafidist troops and those of El Roghi. Panic now reigns in the capital, and the lofty bridge over the Selin outside the prin- cipal gateway is guarded by Imperial soldiery, there being 8,000 of the enemy on the opposite bank ready to give the assault. On the orders of the Sultan, Raisuli is re- ported to be marching on Tetua,n.-Central News. Madrid, Monday.—In several journals the view is favoured that an international confer- ence should be invoked, to which shall be sub- mitted a proposal for placing Morocco under a protectorate, in order that the constant, state of anarchy in that empire may be brought to an encl.-Central News.

PLAGUE AT HONG KONG. I The Governor of Hong Kong, in a telegram to the Secretary of St;1,te for the Colonies re- I ceived at the Colonial Office on Monday, states that four cases of plague were reported during the week ended July 10th, the number of deaths being two.

YOUNGEST FLAG OFFICER. Rear-Admiral Sir Colin Keppel, who has received the appointment of Rear-Admiral in the Atlantic Fleet. is the son of the late Ad- miral of the Fleet, Sir Harry Keppel. He has been in command of His Majesty's yachts and of the Victoria and Albert in particular, since August. 1905, when he succeeded the present Vice-Admiral Sir Archibald Berkeley Milne, Bt. He was in Egypt in 1882, and again in 1884-5, and was in command of the gunboat flotilla on Rear-Admiral Sir Colin R. Keppel I. I I the Nile in 1898, when he was awarded the D S.O. and thanked by Parliament for his ser- vices. He served as equery and flag-lieutenant to the late Duke of Edinburgh (the Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha), and after he reached the rank of captain, ten years ago, he commanded the Rainbow and Grafton successively. Now lie passes, on August 26th next, to the Atlantic Fleet, of which Vice-Admiral OrfnW Louis of Battenburg is Commander-in-Chief. Sir Colin Keppel is only 46 years of age, and is the youngest flag-officer in the service.

THE POWERS AND CRETE. Canea, Tuesday.—A supplement to the Official Gazette published to-day contains the following;— The British Consul-General as doyen of the Consular body sent the following communi- cation to the Executive Committee at 10 o'clock this morning :— Declaration of Consuls-General of the pro- tecting Powes.—The Consuls-General of the four Powers declare on behalf of their Govern- ments :— (1) That continuing the execution of the measures laid down in principle in their collec- tive note of July 23rd, 1906. and precisely de- fined by the note; addressed to M. Zainus on May 11th, 1908, they will carry out the com- plete withdrawal of their troops on the 26th inst., confident in the wisdom. of the Cretan people, and relying on the energy and loyalty of the authorities constituted for the mainten- ance of public order and security of the Mussul- man population. (2) That they will continue to take benevo- lent interest in the Cretan question, but they consider it indispensable not to leave anyone in ignorance of the fact that it is their duty to watch over the maint enance of order ani safety ot Mussulmans in Crete, reserving to them- selves to that end the right of taking such steps as they may consider necessary for re- establishing order shou'd disturbance arise and the local authorities find themselves unable to suppress them." The signatures of the four Consuls-General follow.—Reuter.

EARTHQUAKE ALARMS. Marseilles, Saturday.—Fresh earthquake shocks occurred at 9 o'clock this evening throughout the region recently visited. They lasted from 4 to 5 seconds, and the movement was from cast and west. At Rognes, Lambesc, St. Cannat, and other districts of the province of Aix the terrified inhabitants left their homes and camped out in the open air. The shocks were as violent as those last month, and were distinctly felt here. Tiieyj were specially strong at the Hospital of the'Conception, where the frightened patients left their beds asking what was happening. Thev were, however, quieted and sent back.-Reutei- Messina, Saturday.—At 20 minutes past mid night there was a strong shock of earthquake, followed bv a rumbling noise. This was suc- ceeded by further shocks shortly afterwards.- Reuter. Sydney, Sunday -Severe earthquake shocks have been felt in New Britain (Bismarck Archi- pelago), and considerable excitement prevails among the population. It is believed there were no fatalities.'—Reuter.

JAPAN SUSPICIOUS. St. Petersburg, Tuesday.—The Novoia Russe states that trains loaded with artil- lery and munitions of war are daily arriving at Mukden, -where there arc now 22,003 Japanese. It is added that it is believed that, the role undertaken by Russia in Persian affairs has influenced the attitude of the Japanese. Japan appears to distrust the new relations between Russia and China and to be affected by the recent circular of the Minister of War announc- ing that henceforth young men in the Amur provinces will be required to fulfil their military obligations.—Central News.

As a result of the carnival held at Newport on Saturday last it is expected that jibout 1203 will be handed over to the funds of the New- port and County Hospital.

Ex-Monmouth Doctor. AWARDED SLANDER DAMAGES International Footballers Action. On Wednesday in the King's Bench Division, before the Lord Chief Justice and a sptcial jury, an action was heard in which the plaintiff was Dr. Ronald McLean Stokes, who for ten ye&rs practised in Monmouth and was a pro- minent figure in athletic circles in the district as an International football player. Dr. Stokes sued Dr. Charles Alexander Lauchlan, of Clap- ham, for damages for slander. Mr C, F. Gill, K.C., for the plaintiff, said Dr. Stokes in 1904 came from Monmouth to take up a partnership with the defendant at Clapham, and until 1907 matters went along in a very amicable way. In August of that year, how- ever, Dr. Lauchlan wrote plaintiff a letter peremptorily determining the partnership, but plaintiff did not agree. However, negotia- tions took place, which resulted in plaintiff being paid by the defendant the sum of £200 and being allowed to continue to practise in the district. Soon afterwards plaintiff heard that impu- tations which were injuring his reputation were being made, and after considerable difficulty he ascertained that they emanated from Dr. Lauchlan. He found that the defendant had told a fellow medical man that he was getting rid of Dr. Stokes because he had taken to drinking and was going the round of the local public-houses in the evenings. He made simi- lar statements to other people, but there was absolutely no foundation for them. It was true that plaintiff was fond of a game of billiards, but he never made a practice of frequenting public-bouses. Evidence was given by Dr. F. W„ Brooks, a medical practitioner of Ciapham, who said he had great confidence in the plaintiff, and although defendant made the slanderous state- ment to him he did not believe it. Plaintiff, in the witness-box, denied that the statements made by the defendant were true. At this stage Mr F. E. Smith. K.C. (for the defendant), said his client wished to unre- servedly withdraw all reflections he had made regarding the plaintiff's sobriety and conduct. Plaintiff would receive damages. The Lord Chief Justice intimated that the case had come to a very proper termination. He would enter judgment for the plaintiff for J6150.

THE LATE LORD RI PON. Requiem at Westminster. Representatives of the King and Quesn afei of the Prinoe and Princess of Wales were pre- sent on Wednesday morning at a solemn requiem mass which was sung at Westminster Cathedral for the repose of the soul of the late Marquis of Ripon, who was one ot the founders oi ihe cathedral. His Majesty the King was represented by Lord Herschell, the Queen by Earl Howe, and the Prince and Princ. ss of Wales by Sir William Carrington. Major Murray attended the service to represent the Duke and Duchess of Connaught. Monsignor Howlett (administrator of ihe cathedral) ani Canon Norris received the Royal representa- tives at the west door, and conducted them to their seats. Members of the Government who attended the service were the Prime Minister,Sir Edward Grey, Mr Lloyd George, Earl Carrington, the Earl of Crewe, Mr Haldane, Mr Her- bert Gladstone, Mr Sydney Buxton, Mr Lewis Harcourt, Mr McKenna, Mr Runci- man, Mr John Burns, the Master of Elibank, Lord Pentland, and Mr Herbert Samuel. Mr Birrell was unavoidably pre- vented from attending. Others present were the Earl of Cromer, Viscount Esher, Viscount Althorp, Lord Airedale, Lord Stanmorc, Lord Welby, Lord Granard, Lord Tt nmr. n. Lord Eversley, Lord Ekho, Lord A!!i:rt< Lord Macdoncll. Lord Acton, T, >ivt and Lady Courtney of Penwiih, Countess Carrington, the Countx ss of Kimherley, Lord Ribblesdalc, &c. The Archbishop of Westminster was at the throne during th • r.utss. thp celebrant being the Rev. Donald bcrimshire, parish priest of Chelsea. With the exception 01 the Dies Ine and Offertorium the music of the mass was that of Crazio Vecchi for eight voices (double choir), a short but dignified composition, be- longing to the older Venetian school of the 16th century. The Dies Irae was sung to a setting by Anerio for four voices, and the offertory to one by Vittoria for six voices. All the music was sung unaccompanied under the direction of Mr R. R. Terry, the rubrics not permitting instrumental music during the offices of the dead. Mendelssohn's Funeral March was played after the service. The funeral took place at Ripon amid mani- festations of general mourning. The bdy of the deceased Peer lay in state in St. Wilfred's Church, where requiem mass was celebrated in the presence of a distinguished congregation, which included Lord and Lady de Grey. Lady Juliet Duff, Admiral Lord Walter Kerr, and the Mayors of several Yorkshire towns. Father Levick celebrated mass, assisted by Bishop Cowgin. The funeral sermon was preached by Father Bernard Vaughan, who said during 60 years of his long life Lord Ripon fought his way to high official posts by sheer force of character. At the close of the service the body- was conveyed to Studley, agid thence to Stii- bary's Church, where it was deposited in the vault of Stilbary's Church near the remains of the late Marchioness. At the graveside the concluding portion of the funeral service was conducted by Bishop Cowgill.

ACTION OVER A NOVEL. Publisher Obtains Injunction. In the Chancery Division on Wednesday, Mr W. Heinemann, the well-known publisher, claimed an injunction and damages in respect of the alleged infringement of a copyright by the defendants, Smart Set Publishing Com- pany, Limited." In January plaintiff pub- lished a novel by Laurence North, called Syrinx," and in the March number of the maazine Smart Set" was what purported to be the complete novel Syrinx." The de- fence was that defendants, who also published in America, had the authority of Messrs Duf-' field, who were acting for plaintiS in that country, but Mr'Heinemann said Messrs Duf- field had merely authority to deal *with the serial rights in America. Judgment was given for plaintiff, and an inquiry was ordered as to damages, defendants undertaking not to con- tinue the publication complained of.

RUSSIA'S SECRET POLICE. M. Harting's Movements. Paris, Wednesday.—The St. Petersburg cor- respondent of the Journal telegraphs that M. Harting, the late head of the Russian secret police in Paris, and the central figure in the alleged scandal brought to light by M. Jaures, is reported by manv persons to have been in St. Petersburg on Monday conferring with the secret police officials. He is said to have been granted the same day a pension of 5,COO roubles a yrear, and to have left immediately afterwards for London,whence he will probably proceed to South America. It is confirmed that M. Harting was to have accompanied the Czar on his visit to France and England.— Central News.

PENARTH PILOT & HIS WIFE. At Penarth oi^ Wedneaday W. B.WIlson, pilot, was summoned by his wife, Agnes Catherine Wilson, for desertion. Mr Harold Lloyd, who represented the complainant, intimated that defenSant had consented to an order for the payment of 50s a week, and they now desired the magistrates (Messrs J. M. Jennfngs and S. Thomas) to ratify that agreement. Com- plainant was called and said there were five children, the eldest being 12 years of age, and the youngest nearly two years. Her husband had deserted her since June 21st, previous to which date there had been disagreements. Her husband's average earnings as a port pilot were JE305 a year for the last three years. Mr Harold Lloyd said that defendant would become a channel pilot in the course of time, and then it VIilluld be competent for them to apply for an increased order. The magistrates^ granted the order desired and allowed five guineas costs.

AFRAID TO FACE HUSBAND. Mr L1. Cooper, deputy-coroner, held an inquest at Newport on Wednesday on Mrs Bessie Ayres (38), of Livingstone-place, whose husband was a second mate on board ship. Dr. Scott, house physician at the Newport Hospital, said de- ceased was admitted on Monday. She showed signs of having taken poison.and admitted that she took two penny packets of salts of kmon, adding that she had had some trouble. To the police-constable the woman stated it was the result of drink and bad women. She had a good husband, but she had spent a lot 0 money, and was afraid to meet him. A verdict of Suicide whilst of unsound mind was returned.

SEQUEL TO CRITICISM. At the Aberdare Police Court on WTednesdav Mr William Thomas applied for a temporary transfer of the Belle Vue Inn, Ahercynon, to Mr Benjamin Nicholas. The previous licensee was fined at the last court, and the stipendiary then made some strong remarks in reference to the conduct of f he house. Mr Thomas now assured the bench that Lhc owners had done everything they could to prevent the house being improperly conducted. The bench granted the transfer.

WELSH GLEANINGS. News and Views in Lighter Vein. Lord Rendel has passed his seventy-fifth birthday. He has done a great deal for educa- tion in Wales and has done it without parade or ostentation. It is stated that there are 200 applicants for the living of Penmaenmawr, rendered vacant by the death of the Rev. Canon David Jones, Penmaenmawr is a particularly pleasant place. The industries are granite quarrying and the entertainment of visitors. Tkere appears to ,be a scarcity of Welsh- speaking nurses. The Holywell' Guardians recently advertised for a nurse with such a. qualification, but failed to get a single satis- lactory response. And this in North Whales The Carnarvonshire people, who are perhaps the most musical in North Wales have got it into their heads that Anglesey music is very bad, and the peculiar term thev apply to it is—' Canu coch Sir Fon.' This is what Sir John Rhys said to a North Wales audience last week. An ardent Welsh cricketer leaving a busy central station the other day saw in turn the following evening paper posters :— Collapse of England. Collapse of Kent. Dam Collapses. And the good man felt grateful that the last of sentimente*! qUately exPressed The famous poet-preacher-Huw Tegai has two sons and one daughter* still living in America They are Michael and John Qaincy Hughes, Ltica, and Mrs Martha Owens. New York. Quite, recently Thomas Hughes. another son, who hved at East Bangor, died at the age of 76. ° 1\IrJ. G. Morris, of Welshpool, recently found on a fish-hawker's barrow three bound vohnaeB of Shropshire newspapers for the years ISM. 1844- and 1850. One of the volumes had already been partially used for wrapping up fish/hSt m riS res,cued what remained, together with tii- ■two other volumes, and sent them to the National Library of Wales, where they received a hearty welcome. i f°!klore of Radnorshire has been a neg- lec.ed quantity in the Eisteddfodic world but thanks to the efforts of the London Com- mittee of the National Eisteddfod, there has' now been secured in the essay of •' Giraldus a collection which was highly commended by the adjudicators (Colonel Bradney and Mr fi^ nn, T!n(,'V-i f°r ilS extensiVeness and dih cme. Tae winner, it now appears, is the Rev. Lewis Dav.es Congregational minister Pains .;st,e. Erwood, though, inadvertently, another candidate was announced as the wmner at the Eisteddfod itself. We have r'T>iw! the Programme of the Alaska- Yukon-Paeific Eisteddfod Ur lie held at the Exposition Auditorium, Seattle. Washing Eistcdafod, and the Eisteddfod Association 01 lS ?, e conpituiated on the substantia p anc. the practical nature of the for competition. Fifty dollars are offered foe the best essay on The Advantages of Rural Life m Washington State," and 30 dollars for another essay on The Welsh in the State of W ashington. For the chief choral a thousand dollars arc. offered, male voice 500, and the. ladies chorus 200 dollars. Among the quaint traditions of Builth are many concerning Prince Llewelyn. The old people firmly believed that no broom grew in the parisn oecause Llewelyn's bloody head was conveyed to Rhuddlan Castle in a bush of broom with the branches tied above. It is a. pretty tradnion. During Whitsun one of the wonders in the immediate neighbourhood of ihe spot where Llewelyn was slain was a field of broom in the glory of its flower. It was also commonly believed that the Irvou had shifted from its old because Ueweis^n had said it would do so if his Norman pursuers should cross it. The Rev. Dr. Thomas Johns, of LiancV.y. stated on e at, a public meeting ti!.1t il" w ii, tall and slim by reason of the fi ecju nt use ot the "Welsh Note" when he was a 1:1 at school. The" Welsh Note" was a square piece of board pierced bv a. strina. with th ominous letters "W.N." writ large on it. Ic any boy mentioned a word of Welsh the fling was drawn over his head and the puni;!i;n.-nt of carrying theboaru lasted tiil another boy similarly forgot himself. The older hanfi easily got rid of the baiter when playing ti:na came round. The innocent ones were provoked into anger, and the inevitable result was an agonised outburst in Welsh. The Welsh Note in some bands had other more forcible uses, and Dr. Johns' reference was to this second form of punishment. Carto has largely been abolished in th3 collieries of to-day. It used to be tiio cruel- lest form of labour imaginable. How many hearts were broken dragging the wheellesa '• cart along low levels will never be known. The late Watcyn Y\ yn, in his Reminis- cences," has drawn a vivid picture of the ^ungster sweltering under the burden. The training was sufficient, he said, to turn out not only ordinary sojdiers, but generals Before the dawn broke and long after the sun had gone down the lad 4uld toil with his heavy vehicle. The occupation has been preserved in Watcyn W7yn's matchless Song of the Shirt." One verse runs :— Cart, cart, cart, Yw bloedd y collier cas Cart, cart, cart, 'Nawr dere oddna was Cart, cart, cart, Mae'r halier ar y tip, 'Nawr dcre oddna, a dere'n smart, Neu ti gai fias y whip." We have heard a lot of Workhouse poetsw The latest outburst comes from Carmarthea* shire, where a white-haired bard, fallen on ill; times, has exercised his muse on matrimony, One of the verses reads— Fe ddwedodd Duw nid da bod dyn Ei hunan yn trigianu Ac mae'r menywod o un fryd o hyd yn meddwl hyny. Nid yw gwyryfdod iddynt hwy Ond clwy' a thrymder calon, Nis gallant feddwl byth am fod Yn unig heb ofalon. The stern resistance offered by the miners fa the employers' demand for the introduction a double shUt" on coal into the South WalaS collieries lends interest to a booklet published, in 1867, dealing with the dangers of the single shitt" system. In this book an endeavour is made to prove that the single shift was the cause of nearly double the loss of life as com- pared with the multiple shift. The late Mr John Nixon was a champion of the doable shift and made many efforts to introduce the innovation into South W ales., but the colliers had a rooted objection to the principle. A. failure to attain his objective led Mr Nixon to advocate strongly the intervention of Parlia- ment to enforce the double shift system by legal enactment. There has been an inherent objection to the double shift in South WateS for the past 50 years. Dyfed contributes to the July Nationalist" a valuable article on the Eisteddfod. An attempt is made to analyse the weakness and strength of the Eisteddfod, and while some of the conclusions may not be agreed with, no one will deny the Archdruid credit for trying to make the festival a living power to-day, not merely preserving it as an antediluvian fossil. The Eisteddfod," he says, is in a position to effect much good. and it should be carefully watched lest it should run wild—lest it should foster a taste for mere show and vain display. This is the tendency these days. Reforms are being gradually introduced, and I am wish- ful that they should be hastened, and even extended," and Dyfed has already made it impossible for any rhyming Tom, Dick, and Harry to get a Gorsedd degree. Let every practical friend of progress in Wales help him further with his reforms. There has been a Welsh Whip in every Liberal Government for many years. In Mi Gladstone's short Administration of 1886 one ot the three Junior Lords was Sir E. J. Reed, the member for Cardiff. In tbe Government which, first under Mr Gladstone and then under Lord Rosebery. held office from 1892 to 1895. the Junior Lords represented London. Cornwall, and Scotch constituencies. But tWnles was better off at this time than ever, for Mr Tom. Ellis served as the Patronage Secretary to the Treasury, and became the Chief Whip. The primary measure for next year concerns Wales very closely, and there i8, therefore, a strong case for a Welsh Whip next Session. There is unrest in certain pnrtij of North Wales qver the activity of one railway company and the sleepiness of another. Mr H. R. Olley, headmaster of the Llangollen County School, has put his views before the local authorities and asked their co-operation. I have had a correspondence with the general manager of the Great Western Railway on the subject," he says, pointing out what a valuable asset they are neglecting, and that Llangollen is equal to Bettws-y-Coed, that Cader is a set-off to Snow- don, that iq Bala they have the only lake in North Wales, that t.he Barmouth Estuary waa described by Ruskin as the most beautiful thing in these islands, that although they had not the North Coast. Riviera they have a property nearly as attractive, and that in Llangollen they have the loveliest place near- t the big towns-"