Weekly Mail

LLANDAFF COUNCIL IN LITIGATION. OOAST RECLAMATION AND ELEC- TRIC SUPPLY. At the meeting of the Llandaff and Dinas Powis Eural District Council at Cardiff on Wednesday, Mr. R. Forrest, J.P., presiding, I the clerk (Mr. Warren) reported with refer- ence to the objections by frontagers to private street improvements in Whitchurch- road, Llandaff, that the objections would be heard at Llandaff on Monday next. Objection was taken by 21 owners, and the point involved was an important one, and had regard to a strip or land being added to the existing highway owing to building operations. The question was whether the council was responsible for the carrying out of these improvements or the frontagers. He understood the objectors had retained counsel, and he had made arrangements for retaining Mr. Sankey, who would appear on behalf of the council.—The action of the clerk was approved. The Surveyor (Mr. James Holden) reported that the council were again being treated with indifference by the contractor for mate- rials at Rudry. The whole of the district had suffered from want of material during the past few years, and he suggested that the present contracts be terminated, and the council take over the Cwm Leyshon Quarry at a nominal rental and arrange for stone-breaking and hauling. The clerk was instructed to give seven days notice to the contractor. A letter was read from the Royal Com- mission on Coast Erosion asking whether any land in the council's area had been reclaimed during the past century, and, if so, by whom. The Clerk stated that he was unable to answer the question himself. He knew of no land so reclaimed except, perhaps, at Aherthaw. Mr. O. H. Jones stated that there was some such land in that locality, and he gave a promise to let the clerk have some particulars. The council decided to apply to the Board of Trade for an Order amending the Llandaff and Dinas Powis Electric Order of 1901, so as to authorise the council to transfer a portion of their undertaking which relates to the parish of Badyr to a company, and to extend the authority for the compulsory carrying out of the works' throughout the district for a further period of two years.

TO SING BEFORE THE KING. LLANELLY CHOIR'S VISIT TO WINDSOR. The committee of the Llanelly Choral Society, with Mr. Joseph Roberts as orga-! niser, are completdfig the arrangements for the visit to Windsor Castle on November 13. The Royal personages to be present will not only include the King and Kaiser, but the King and Queen of Denmark and the King: and Queen of Spain. The concert will commence at ten o'clock. The choir number 2o0. After the concert the members of the choir will be entertained to supper at the Castle. The programme has been arranged as fol- lows G?i *n thunderstorm" (Schubert). ^Codiad yr Lbedydd" (Welsh air). xr Haf (Gwilym Gwent), "Hail, Bright Abode" (Wagner) "Songs of the Vikings" (Faning) "Ar Hyd y Nos" (Harry Evans)" "Harlech," "Gwlad y Bryniau" (Mrs. John I Thomas). "Got lia" (hymn tune composed by the late, Prince Consort). "Aberystwyth" (Dr. Parry1.. "God Bless the Prince of Wales" (Welsh and English words), "Deutchland, Deutchland" (German hymn) 1 "Fair Land, We Greet Thee" (Pinswti), "Hen Wlad fy Nhadau." "God Save the King."

WHAT TOOK PLACE. It is understood that in opening the con- ference with the railway magnates on Fri- day Mr. Lloyd-George ma-de an introductory statement, in the course of which he reviewed the position of the railways, and also indicated the limited powers of the Board of Trade to deal with the questions at issue. He then invited those present to express their views freely, and to give him as much information as they could with regard to their position. A general discus- sion followed, most of the chairmen present making brief statements. In every case the chairmem stated that there was no possi- bility of their agreeing to entertain the demands put forward by the Amalgamated Society, and pointing out that, while they; were not particularly antagonistic to that Sir G. E. Paget, ohairman of the Midland I Company, entering the meeting [Photo World's Graphic Press. footing.they Put every on the same Mr. Lloyd-George in the course of his speech said he could recognise that all the speakers were sincere in their views, and he did not wish to do anything as President of th? Board of Trade which would bring him into antagonism with the companies. All hi desired, and desired most strongly, was to prevent a strike, which would have disas- trous effects upon the whole of the oom- munity. He thought that a way could be found out of the difficulty without any sacri- fice of principle on either side. Mr. Lloyd. George then proceeded to indicate certain suggestions which had been submitted to him by his advisers at the Board of Trade and by others whose opinions were entitled to consideration. Conference then adjourned, and no !n ftxod for ite resumption; but inthe meantime it was understood that the President of the Board of Trade would see Mr Bell and ascertain how far he could count upon the co-operation of Mr Bell's executive in any or all of the suggestions discussed at the conference. Immediately after the conference, and by a prior arrangement, the majority of the directors and managers adjourned to the Charing Gross Hotel, where over luncheon I the suggestions put forward at the confer- ence were discussed. No actual decision, how- ever. will be come to until the directors I have placed the proposals before their respective boards. The invitations to the conference origi- nally issued by Mr. Lloyd-George numbered only eight or nine, and were all addressed to the chairmen of the companies. Within th, last few days, however, the President of the Board of Trade extended the list, and, I in view of the suggestions which were to be pat before the conference, intimated to all the chairmen that, if convenient, their general managers might accompany them.

HAUNTED BY HIS WIFE'S FACE. Where-ver I go your face looks at me in the most reproachful way." Thus the guilty conscience of a husband v/ho was divorced recently caused him to writs to his absent wife. It was his protes- tation of innocence in letters from South. Africa that first aroused in her mind the suspicion that he was guilty of infidelity. Mr. Algernon Alfred Abrahams, an archi- tect, was married to Catherine Abrahams in 1902. They lived together, not very happily, till 1905. "¡ Mrs. Abrahams had to complain of several acts of ili-treatment. On one occasion, when her husband was playing cards at a rela- tives house, she asked him to desist on the ground that he could not afford to lose. He thereupon chased her from the room and locked her out. In a struggle in the garden she had fallen into a flower bed. In 1905 he went out to South Africa, and his letters suggested that he was carrying on a flirtation with a "Mrs. D He wrote: Aly dear Girl,—The lady in question has been staying at the hotel for a mon/th. We certainly have been good friends, sitting, at the same table, and nothing more. She I' is musical and well-bred. A certain man has spread a report about her and me. In another letter Mr. Abrahams said:- I am feeling very unwell, indeed. Wherever I go your face looks at me in a most reproachful way. I should not be surprised if her husband proceeds for a divorce, and then poor me will be dragged in as a co-respondent. Again he wrote:- 11y dear old girl,—Since writing nry weekly budget I have had more trouble 1 the unhappy bloke that has to suffer. To his fachar-in-law Mt. Abrahams was more outspoken:- My dear Guv'nor,-I have been intending to write to you. Mrs. D- was left to her devices. Do not look upon what I have done as an awful offence. I am a young man away from home, and the temptation was more than I could stand. When Mr. Abrahams returned to England he was met by his father-in-law. After what he had hintod, his wife refused to welcome him. Mr Justice Bars rave Deane, in giving his decision, said that this was one of the cases in which a husband's confession was suffi- cient proof of infidelity.

SECOND MARRIAGE SEQUEL Curious legal complications were men-! tioned in a petition for divorce presented by Mr. Charles Albiu Gillig'in the Divorce Court, London, on the ground of the misconduct of his wife with the co-respondent, Mr. G. Miles, who was stated to have an office in John-street. The suit was undefended. Mr. Boxa.ll, K.C., explained tha.t petitioner riarried. in July, 1899, Carrie Alta Osgood, a widow. He alleged misconduct in 1904 at Cambridge, and in 1905, and on other occa- sion.?, at Balham. Petitioner was formerly in America, and came to England in 1878, when seventeen years of age. In 1883 he married his first wife, and in November, 1891, she obtained a divorce in South Dakota, United States of America. The husband put in an answer to the petition, but he did not appear to defend the case. After his second marriage differences arose between the hus- band and wife. Tie former desired to obtain a divorce, but he was advised that as he could not prove the divorce of his first mar- riage he had better apply for his seootnd marriage to be declared null and void. When those proceedings were commenced his first wife applied to intervene, bust his lord- filiip in May, 1905, held that the court had no jurisdiction, and she could not intervene. Agh-o then presented a petition under the Legitimacy Declaration Act, 1858. When the .petition was heard the question of the hus- band's domicile was raised. He was described •as an American dtizem, although he had. lived in London for many yeajs. In the end the -as an American citizen, although he had. lived in London for many yaaas. In the end the court decided that the decree was valid in England. His Lordship: And that her children were accordingly legitimate. The husband was, therefore, free to marry again. Counsel said the nullity suit was dismissed, and petitioner had. not been able to prove inrisooiidiuict against his wife until June this year, when the respondent gave up some letters written to her by the co-respondent. Petitioner gave evidence, and stated that. although he had not taken out any letters ot naturalisation he decided to reside perma- nently in this country about 29 years ago. Letters were read by his lordship, in which the co-respondent wrote to respondent: I am going to Deptford on Saturday, and will be home that evening. He also wrote: Dearest Carrier—I am driving out to-night, so cannot come round. Perhaps you could come to lunch to-morrow. A further letter said: I hope to be in your neighbourhood on Sunday afternoon, and will look you up about six o'clock. Will it be safe to stay? Let me know your views. In another letter he wrote: I am sorry I shall not see you to-morrow. I am going away. If I had known before we might have arranged to meet in Paddingfcon. Some day we may arrange to meet at Reading in the evening, and go to v Oxford and have a nice little outing. It was stated that when the writ was served on the co-respondent at his office in John-street, he answered that he would take no notice of the proceedings. A decree nisi was granted.

A TEMPTATION TO SORTERS. LOOSE MONEY IN A LETTER STOLEN AT POST-OFFICE. At Gloucestershire Assizes recently Wil- liam Thomas Bedder (nineteen). Post Office sorter at Coleford. surrendered to his bail 'to answer an indictment charging him with stealing on August 3 at Coleford. whilst a servant of the Postmaster-General, a postal packet addressed to one Mrs. W. Stranger, 129, Sweetman street, Whitmore Breams, Wolverhampton, containing a written com- munication, a florin, and a sixpenny piece, the property and moneys of the Postmaster- General. Mr. Mordaunt Snagge appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Jordan for the defence. The prisoner pleaded guilty. Mr. Mordaunt Snagge stated that the jmoney was posted in an ordinary postal Ipacket, and it failed to reach its destination. ,In consequence of oomplaint.s about this and wther missing packets, an inspector of the Post Office was sent down, with the result that the prisoner was arrested on a warrant dated September 12. He had been four years lin the employ of the Post Office. Mr. Jordan, addressing the court in the 'interest of the prisoner, said when money :wa.s posted in this way it placed a great temptation in the way of sorters. Up to now Itho prisoner had bome a good character, and Mr. Williams, in whose home prisoner had been brought up, was prepared if his <1ordahip could see his way to deal leniefitly with nim to take him back and find employ- ment for him, and so give him a fresh start fin life. The Judge: Do I understand there are other cases besides this ? f Mr. Mordaunt Snagge: Yes, -a very con- siderable number, extending over about five months. His Lordship, addressing the prisoner, said Tie was very sorry to have to send him to prison. If he followed his own inclinations he should be disposed to do something more lenient than he was going to do now. And (he would explain why he could not do it. .'Persons in the employ of the Post Office ,-were E-ervants of the public, and people put 'their letters into the Post Office feeling that ■they would be all right. It was very neces- sary that they should be protected. Until recently—the last ten years, perhaps—judges iused to treat this as an offence which must be punished by a fixed rule of penal sern- 1 tude. Ire remembered one sentence after another of the kind. It was absolutely neoes-1 ■ gary that the prisoner should be punish it was absolutely necessary as an example to others that he should give him a punish- ment, and it would give him time to Reflect upon this system upon which he was afraid upon this system upon which he was afraid he had started. Then when he came out he was delighted to think that Mr. Williams, "ho had been his protector since babyhood, would take him back again. The sentence | must be one of six months, with hard labour. I

ADRIFT WITHOUT FOOD. The steamer Deutschland has arrived at i Copenhagen from Philadelphia with a French fisherman, Francois Molard, who was rescued! in mid-Atlantic. MoLard was washed over- board from the fishing smack Pacific, while returning from Newfoundland to Bretagne.) He succeeded in getting aboard the jolly- boat at the stern of the Pacific, but the tow- line broke Six days be drifted on the ocean without food, and when rescued was in an I unconscious condition* I

CARDIFF LANDLORD AND GUESTS ARRESTED. The Cardiff City police made a big raid on Wednesday afternoon, and succeeded in makin g a haul of men alleged to be engaged in betting. The police are stated to have driven in a furniture van to the house where the arrests were made. Eight arrests were made altogether, includ- ing the landlord of the Duke of York, Wel- lington-street, Canton, where the raid took place. The men were conveyed to the Canton Police-station, and charged with offences under the Betting Act. Superintendent Yelland and Inspector Davey were in charge of the raiding party. The raid took place about two o'clock, when, armed with a warrant, Superintendent Yelland, Detective-inspector Davey, and other police-officers visited the Duke of York Public-house, Wellington-street, and arrested the landlord, Frederick Price, a bookmaker, named George Leonard, and six others. „ LIKE A PACK OF WOLVES." Shortly after one o'clock," said Mrs. Price, the landlady of the Duke of York, "a furniture van drove up to the corner of Wellington-street and disgorged a number of plain clothes policemen, who descended upon us like a pack of wolves. There were some- thing over a dozen of them, and, spreading themselves out, they came in at all the doors of the house, closing them behind them. Many of our customers who came from the adjoining works wished to go out, but were not allowed to do so until they had been searched, and ultimately some eight, including my hu&baiid, w4ere taken away in cabs to the Carston Po&ce-etatkxn, where, I understand, they have been detained. It was just after one o'clock—about-1.25— when the police entered, and it mast have been Quite an hour later, "added Mrs. Price, when the police a.nd the eight- they had in charge, inclnding my husband, left the house."

POLICE-COURT PROCEEDINGS. Considerable interest was manifested at Catr-diff on. 'i nursday in the potioe-ocwEPt pro- ceedmgs resulting frotm the morol betting raid on the previous afternoon. There wiae in court a crowd of well-known "epants" attracted by the case, amd wiboee attaint km seemed to fee exclnciveiy directed to the brieE introduction of it. Frederick Price, 52, was charged that he, being the occupier of the Duke of York Hotel, No. 89, Wellington-street, permitted the house to be used by George Leonard (one of the prisoners) for the purpose of betting on the 18th, 25th, and 30th of October. George Leonard, 39, was charged with un- lawfully tiding the premises for the purpose of betting on October 30, 25, 22, a.nd 18. Andrew Harkness, 39, Thomas Phillips, 42, Samuel Bagshaw, 31, Thomas Easter, 29, William Norris. 37, and Thomas Easter, 29, William Norris. 37, and George Hutohins, 25, were charged with illegal presence for the purpose of betting. Mr. F. W. Ensor (from the town-clerk's office) appeared for the prosecution; Mr. A. F. Hill appeared for all the prisoners, except Leonard, who was defended by Mr. Frank Forsdike. Norris was not present when the case was called, but he turned up later. I Mr. Hill, for the defence, applied for the proceeding's to be by way of summons, because at present it was not known what charges they would be called upon to answer. Prisoners might now be discharged and have summonses issued against them. Mr. Hill added that Norris, not being present, his application applied only to those who were there. Mr. Forsdike sa-id his client (Leonard) had been in custody all night, although the police held some £ 100 which was in his possession when arrested. He also preferred proceed- ings by summonses. Mr. Ensor: The only question is that it is a matter of bail.. I object to bail for a book- maker unless it is for a substantial amount. Mr. Forsdike was in a position to offer sub- stantial bail, and Leonard was well known in the town. Mr. Ensor said the reason, for the police objection to bail, other than substantial bail, was they did not know whether this was the man's only place of abode, as when arrested he grave a wrong address. Mr. Forsdike consulted with his client, and said he understood sureties would I)e-forrth- coming. Mr. F. J Beavan (who was on the bench with Mr. J. Howard) said summonses would issue. Mr Forsdike: Perhaps your worships will Bail what the proposed bail is. Mr. Beavan ooneeoted to accept sore ties of iM each. Friday next was fixed for the hearing of the case. Quite a crowd of interested men followed defendants out of court. Norris afterwards appeared, and a sum- mons was issued against him also. Mr. Harold Lloyd defended Norris.

DASHED TO DEATH. AGED BELL-RINGER'S FALL FROM THE CHURCH BELFRY. Frederick Ellis, chief of the bell-ringers at Hasoom.be Church, near Godalmirag, has met with a terrible death. He fell from the church belfry to the floor on Tuesday even- ing1, and sustained such severe injuries that he died next day. Ellis was 61 years of agfe.

MR. LLOYD-GEORGE AND THE MAGNATES. The conference between Mr. Lloyd George and the representatives of the principal railway companies to discuss the present crisis was held at the Board of Tade Offices on Friday. The official statement, which was issued later in the day, described the meeting as private and informal. In the course of the proceedings various suggestions were made with a view to facilitating a settlement of the questions which have been raised. The meeting, which commenced at 11.30, adjourned at one o'clock to enable those present to consider, further the various points raised during the discus- sion.

OFFICIAL STATEMENT. A private and informal meeting took place at 11.30 this (Friday) morning at the Board of Trade between Mr. Lloyd-George and the chairmen, directors, and general managers Mr. Lloyd-George, the President of the Board of Trade, arrivin-g at the office of the Board of Trade on Friday morning to attend the conference with the railway directors. [Photo World's Graphic Press. of a number of the principal railway com- panies. There were present:— Lord Stalbridge, chairman of the London and North Western. Sir Ernest Paget, chairman of the Midland. Lord Allerton, chairman of the Great Nor- thern. Mr! A. Baldwin, MJP., chairman of the Great Western. Lord Claud Hamilton, chairman of the Great Eastern. Sir Charles Sootter, chairman of the Lon- don and South Western. Sir A. Henderson, chairman of the Great Central. Mr. J. L. Wharton, chairman of the North Eastern. Mr. H: Cosmo Bonsor, chairman, of the- South Eastern. Lord Cottesloe. chairman of the London and Brighton. Sir G. Armytage, chairman of the Lan- cashire and Yorkshire. Sir C. Renshaw, deptEty-ohairznan of the Caledonian. Earl of Dalkeith, chairman 01 the North British. Mr. P. T. Cadrd, chairmaxt o £ the .Glasgow and South Western. CokttiaL Locktrood, M.P., director- of the North Western. Sii, F Banbury, X-P.. director of-the Great Northern. Sir Herbert Maxwell, director of- the South Western. And the foiJowiny GENEBAL > Mi3LfcQ!EES. Sir Frederick Harrison, Lcmdoa. and North Western. Mr. Guy Graaiet, Midland. Mr. Oliver Birry, Great Nonrthern. Mr. James Inglis, Great Western. Mr. J. S. Gooday, Great Eastern. Sir Charles Ovrens, London and South Western. Mr. Sam Fay, Great Central. Mr. Sheath (vi^o Mr. Vincent Hill), South Western. Mr. Forbes, London, Brighton, and South Coast. -Ir. Aspinall, Lancashire and Yorkshire. Mr. Millar, Caledonian. Mr. Jackson, North British- Mr. Cooper, Glasgow ajid South Western. Mr. Lloyd-George was accompanied by Mr. Hudson Kearley, M.P. (Parliamentary Seore- tary of ti,3 Board of Trade), Mr. H. Llewellyn Smith, C.B. (Permanent Secretary of the Board of Trade), Mr. G. R. Aslrwith (assis- tant secretary in charge of the Railway Department of the Board of Trade), and Mr. W. H. Clark, C.M.G. (private secretary). In the oonrse of the proceedings, which were private, various suggestions were made with a view to facilitating a settlement of the Questions which have been raised between the railway companies and their employes. The meeting adjourned at one o'clock to enable those present to consider further the various positions raised during the discus- sion.

SCENES IN THE STREETS. There were touches of humour in the scenes which accompanied the assembling of the conference—though it appeared that some of the gentlamen who participated in it were unwilling to see anything comic in the army of photographers and journalists. The photographers were grouped around the doorway, and there was no escaping them by anyone who chose to arrive at the main entrance. Lord Claud Hamilton dis- played great objection when a pushing snap-shotter clicked his camera quite close to his face; but the most demonstrative protest was that of Lord Allerton (Great Northern), who waved his umbrella at a laughing photographer and declared that his behaviour wag most unfair.

ANOTHEEt CONFERENCE. Mr. Lloyd-George met a deputation of the railway oireototos on Thursday at. the offices of the Board of Trade. On Friday last Mr. Lloyd-George made certain, proposals to the directors and general managers who met him on that day. Since then these proposals ha.ve been considered by the latter and 'I'hurod.ay'S anee-tirug was to infocrtm the. President of the Board of Trade of the result of the deliberations. The President's visitors were six in all, and they arrived a± 11.30. They were:— Lord Claud Hamilton, ehairmaa of the Great Eastern, Lord Allerton, chairman of the Great Northern, Lord Stalbridge, chairmou of the North Western, Sir Ernest"Paget, chairman of the. Midland, and Sir C. B. Renshaw, depaty-chairman of the North Eastern, with one other. Mr. Lloyd-George had with, him again on! Th Hire day the Permanent Secretary cC the Beard of T>ra<&> and the cMef of tihe Kail-, way Department of the Board of Trade. Lord Alierton and Sir E. Paget left the- conference at 25 minutes to two. way Department of the Board of Trade. Lord Alierton and Sir E. Paget left the- conference at 25 minutes to two. In conversation with a representative of; th-s prosa Lord Allerton said it was impos- sible for him to make any statement for publication. After a two hour sitting, during which no conclusion was reached, the parties to the conference separated for luncheon, and arranged to resume their deliberations this afternoon. They are likely to meet some- what late, and to have a late sitting. In the meantime no information was obtainable as to the nsatiire of the delibera- tions. Mr. Lloyd-George, through his secretary, authorised the annoumesmeitt that there was nothing yet to be obtained, and that it was impossible to say whether or not an official communication would be possible after the afternoon sitting. After the afternoon sitting it was under- stood, however, that the department would i'in any case circulate some statement to the press, although there was t much prospect of its being more informing than the state- ment of last week.

A CRITICAL MOMENT. j Telegraphing at four P-m., the Picas Asso- ciation says. The railway directors aie expected to re- assemble at the Board of Trade at any moment. Mr. Lloyd-George has just returned to the Mr. John Burns, M.P., in active discussion outside the Local Government Board Offices on Friday morning as the railway directors were assembling. [Photo World's Graphic Press. I office, and an announcement will probably be made at the end of the day. Mr. Lloyd-George returned to the Board of Trade shortly after four o'clock, but up to 4.20 there was no sign of the directors, and it is understood that the adjourned meeting does not commence until five o'clock. In these circumstances Mr. Lloyd-George thinks it extremely improbable that any announce- ment will be possible before seven p.m. He will t henmake a state-m-ent to the press if he is in a position to do so. THERE IS STILL A CHANCE The Press Association telegrahps that both tha railway directors and the President of th-3 Board of Trade recognised that the points at issue could be dealt with more readily in the first instance by a small gathering than by so large a meeting as that of last week, and this explains why only seven directors met Mr. Lloyd-George on Thursday. However conciliatory and impartial the Pre- sident may desire to be, there is little chance that he can influence the men to abandon their position, even if he desired to do so, seeing that his department has practically no hold over the men The President's chief hope is. therefore, with the masters, and he can -no more expect to induce them to retract all they have said than he can the men. The utmost that can be looked for is the middle course of some sort, and a beard of conciliation, with equal representation and an i:-depciident chairman, is a suggestion which is likely to be placed before the department. One of the chairmen stated to the Press Association representative this afternoon j that they had been requested by Mi-. Lloyd George to m.ake no announcement as to the course of to-day's proceedings, and were bound in honour to keep silence. COUNTING THE BALLOT. At the offices of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants the counting of the ballot-papers is proceeding rapidly. Asked by a press representative on Wednesday afternoon how they were getting on, Mr. Bell said, "You had better come and see for yourself and decide whether we, have not more than the 19,000 papers Mr. Coliison. the secretary of the Free Labour Association, says we have." Accordingly, an adjournment was made upstairs to the registers department, on the third floor, where the executive committee were hard at work round a large oblong table. Each had before him a good number of papers, and about eighteen high 6tacks; of opened papers stood at the end of the table. On the floor was an untidy heap of envelopes and manifestoes torn from the ballot-paper proper. In the corners of the room were piles of unopened parcels. Mr. Bell said vhe pa,pers were being arranged according to grades—driver, fireman, porter, signalman, &c. The thirteen members of the executive were working from about eight in the morn- ing until eleven or twelve at night, and two OT three clerks of the office staff were in the basement doing nothing else but opening envelopes. Mr. Bell -added We are, I should say, two-thirds through now, and we ought to finish by Thursday night. It is a big job, though." Mr. Bell also stated that thirteen hundred new members had been enrolled in the society this week up to Wednesday. He had nothing new to communicate about the! Albert-hall meeting, except that numbers of requests had come to the office from men who wished to be informed how thfe hall could be best reached from various parts of ■ London. He had not heard, either, from Mr. Lloyd- George with regard to the conference. It George with regard to the conference. It is very likely," he said. that he is not going to see me before holding the adjourned con- ference with the chairmen. At least, that lIs the conclusion I have come to, as he has been eo long before communicating with me. I Possibly, some suggestions were made by Mr. Lloyd-George, and he wants them to think them over and come to a decision before seeing me. If he wanted to see me he would have moved. before now.

MID-GLAMORGAN. MINERS AND MR, S, T, EVANS, M.P. 3 At a meeting of the council of the South Wales Miners' Federation held at Cardiff on Monday, over which Mr. W. Abraham, M.P., presided, a letter was read from the s-ecretaty of the conference that had recently been held of the miners in the Mid-Glamorgan Division for the purpose of considering the question of seleoting a labour candidate, and intimating that the result of the conference was that Mr. Ha)tltshorn had been selected. It was re- eolved that, inasmuch as the council bad made provision for making this selection by ballot, the workmen be inert., rue ted to take a roBot of the men resident in the Parliamen- tary division. The paragraph given above is the official report of the proceedings. From other sources we ascertain that a very heated dis- cussion tool: place on this question. The sup- porters of Mr. Hartshorn contended that the ciioioo of the conference should be accepted as the desire of the whole of the miners in Mid-Glamorgan. On tho other hand, it was stated that the oon-ference did not represent the majority of the workmen. Many of those present at the conference supported tho claims of Mr. John Thomas, who is an older representative of the miners than Mr. Harts- horn, and at the coirncii meeting Mabon h.a,d great difficulty in preserving order. Voioes, as well as feelings, ran high, and Mr. Hartshorn became very excited, or, as one of our informaiats described lt, "hysterical." He denied the righit of the council to over-ride the decision of the con- ference, axul added tb24 if they did so he uld make a present off the seat to Mj. John Thomas, and fwjht it on the I.L.P. piatform. This steatenceiDt, of occiise, gave- vim to the discussion, because the Miners' Federation, have not yet decided to adopt. that pisiform. There waa rc/odh tmrmoid for a time, many "members bemiz, on tibedir feet srimaJtaiieoiisiy. It was pointed ooit to Mr. Hartshorn thai a bodigt of the whole of the members should be taken, but tfefes Mr. Hartshorn and his anspporfcexs would -net agree to. He toad been selected as Lafooror candidate for the dryi- sion, aJDd refused to give way. Maifeters were aesmnrimg' a rather ugly aspect, but the president, with his usual suavity, succeeded in calming the turbulent elements, and a vote was taken on a resolu- tion whether there should be a ballot of the members of the Federation in Mid. Glamorgan to select a candidate. A resolu- tion in favour of this procedure was carried by twelve votes to six, and it is understood that this vote will decide the claims of Mr. John Thoma.s and Mr. Hartshorn. After the vote had been taken Mr. Harts- horn raised no objection, and did not repeat hia threat to go on the I.L,P. platform. While the discussion lasted some very strong remarks were made by both sides, and it is not impossible that this dis- cussion will have an effect upon the second ballot on the question whether or no the Miners' Federation shall join the Labour Eepresen-tatioin Committee. On Monday the feeling of the representatives of the miners wa.s evidently against such a coarse.

£ 5,000 DUE TO BOOKMAKERS PROMOTER OF A WELSH COMPANY ADMITS OTHER FAILURES. M" The first mesting- of credito.rs was held at the London Banfcruptcy-court on Tuesday under the receiving order recently made against Henry Warwick Fyde, of 21, Great Winchester-street, E.C., trading in partner- ship as Walter Darby and Co. The debtor, as Henry Bernard, was prosecuted in coniiecticm with the Brinsmead Company fraud, in which the omoial receiver, as liquidator, recovered judgment for £ 60,000. He afterwards changed his name by deed Poll, and with his partner, Walter Darby, promoted the Welsh Slate Quarries (Limited) and the Norrth, Wales Slata Qitarries (Limited) to acquire quarri-es at Lianidloes, Festiniog, and Bala, North Wales, both in liquidation. In thoee proceedings the promoter and directors were publicly examined by Mr. Harold Brougham, official liquidator in companies' winding up. He is an undis- charged bankrupt as Bernard, and since then has carried on business in partnership as Walter Scott end Oc> Walter Darby and Co. and. the City of London Investment Corporation, at Great Winchester-street, Bldon-street, and Lotshibury. Amoagst the companies promoted was the London and Hull Soap Works, which was purchased from Messrs. Harrison and Walker for XS,750, pay- ableoQd to X-25ainca--handthe balance by way of nxxrtsage on the property, on the under- etandj-ttg: th- the mortgage was to be trans- ferred to the company when formed. Owing to delay the maortgage was never transferred, to the ooaupany. and. Messrs. Harrison and Walker instituted the banfcrcrptcy proceed- i ings in respect of the interest due under their mortgage. The debtor held 10,000 shares I in the company, the value of which he was unable to give. He was previously bankrupt I in April, 1900, under the name of Henry Peter Bernard. The liabilities were £ 30,300. with assets nil, and he was not discharged under those proceedings. The debtor has lost money at Monte Carlo, racing, and at cards, and is now owing £ 5,000 to bookmakers on the turf. To those losses he attributes hie failure; ailao to losses in the business of Darby and 00., and litigation in respect of various companies. Replying to the chairman, the debtor stated that the business the firm had lately done was very little. The company formed to take over the soap works at Hull had, he believed, gone into liquidation after having carried on business for eighteen months and obtained between 2,000 and 3,000 customers. Its failure was brought about by want of capital and quarre.'s among the directors. The case was left to the Board of Trade.

PHTHISIS IN IRELAND. SANATORIA TO BE ESTABLISHED FOR CONSUMPTIVE PATIENTS. ?,fr. Birrcll received at Dublin Castle on Monday a. deputation from the County Councils' General Council, who laid before him the views of that body as to the measures which the Government should take for dealing with the problem of tuberculosis. Mr. Birrell, in reply, eaid the time had come when all public bodies and all right-thinking English men and women must do all in their power to combat consumption, and, if pos- sible, in time to destroy it. Irish public bdies had been devoting attention to this problem, and it was gratifying to know that sanatoria were to be established in Belfast, Cork, and Dublin. Sanatoria capable of accommodating 400 patients were contem- plated. He would suggest to the Local Government Board that they should ascer- tain how many workhouses there were which were no longer required to servo their original purpose, and which might be ittilised for the purposes of sanatoria. The' hospital accommodation was required for persons who were completely victims of the disease. Statutory obligations on medical practitioners to notify pulmonary disease were eminently desirable. He would base a representation to the Treasury for assistance in meeting the urgency of destroying this dreadful disease.

THE INDIAN MONSOON. SCARCITY OF RAIN INDICATES' A FAMINE IN THE SOUTH. ":p The official statement of the Governor- General of India, telegraphed to the India Office, states that light to moderate rain has fallen during the week in Burma, Eastern Bengal and Assam, and Bengal; good showers were received in so-me Madras districts. Except that in Bengal some anxiety is felt as to the- prospeots of the winter rice crops, which are suffering from want of rain, prospects are generally falr in these provinces, as they are ailso on the whole in Bombay, where, however, the situation requires careful watching in some of the northern districts. Over the rest of India the week was pructioaliy rainless, and the gravity of the situation is increasing in tracts which were mentioned last week as causing most anxiety. Labour is still in demand in the United Provinces, and no serious general distress has made its appear- ance yet, but test works will probably have to be opened in at least one district in the next fortnight. Prices continue abnormally high, with a tendency to rise still further. .y.'J.s.'i1 u'.if '.y !"r

CASE OF LAJPAT RAI. ACTION FOR DAMAGES AGAINST .A. LONDON PAPER. Mr. Gokhale, a member of the Viceregal Council, intends to interpolate the Indian Government on j Friday next concerning the case of Lajpaitf Rai, the l>'u:nJa'bl barrister who, it will be remembered, was deported to Mandalay in May last for being one of the leaders and organisers of the seditious movemenit in the Punjab. The interpclaitiioii of Mr. Gokhale relates to the question of obtaining legal authority for Lajpat. Rai, recently refused by the prison superinten- dent in Mandalay, to institute an action for damages against a. Iiondon newspaper for publishing a report to the effect that Lajpat Rai interviewed the Amir with regard to a plot to overthrow the British Government in India. Mr. Gok'ha.le will also ask the Govern- ment to re-consider the case of Lajpat Rai, with a view to the revocation of the sentence- i of deportation.Cen-tral News.

NATIONAL CONVENTION + MR. LLOYD-GEORGE ATTACKS THE LORDS. RHYL, Wednesday. The convention of the Welsh National Liberal Coamcil was opened hero to-day under peculiarly depressing weather condi- tions. There was a strong attendance of delegates, South Wales, however, being but poorly represented. Mr. Lioyd-George, referring a.t the outset to the railway crisis, said that a great strike would in itself be so great a disaster to the trade of the country tha.t he appealed to all clasees of the people to support him in anyfair step he should take to prevent it. (Applause.) Beverting to the agenda, Mr. Lloyd-George eaid that the Disestablishment resolution was one adapted unanimously at the Cardiff Convention. It represented the demand of Welsh Liberals. He S'poke with a full sense of responsibility when he said that they must stand or fall by it. (Cheers.) It was a demand that had been made election after election, for Welshmen had not changed. It was the stupidest charge to bring against the Celt that he was fickle. In other countries the popular pulse beat now fast, now slow, but the Welsh pulse was steady, which was the best evidence that the heart. was sound. He had not the eLightest doubt that the Government nicant to deal with tb.eiqus- tion. The corner-stone, of the glorious new temple of Welch nationality was to be reli- gious equality. This would start next year with the schools. The educational proposals were a branch of Disestablishment and Dis- endowment. lie was glad of the talk they had at Cardiff as to Disestablishment. It cleared the air and united them oh the ques- tion of the obstacle in their way. He had claimed, and he claimed again. that before legislating they must clear out of the way the one great obstacle in the way of all Welsh reform-tho House of Lords. (Ap- plause.) LOBD CAWDOB ATTACKED. No part of the country had the same inte- rest in getting rid of tibe Lords. One part of the Education Bill thrown out by the Lords particularly affected them—the clause creat- ing the Welsh Council of Education. He demanded autonomy in education. Their intermediate system was the best in the Empire, because it was their own. In I primary education Wales stood third, because that part was not their own. In their educational ladder the top rungs were good, made and owned by themselves. The I lower rungs were made by somebody else. and were rotten, and Welsh children could not climb. They wanted the bottom rungs to be Welsh-made of Welsh oak. But the House of Lords said, "Out with the clause." A Highland laird, of the name of Cawdor, a noisy orator of the tuft-hunting style, pre- sumed to speak for Welsh interests, and appealed to the House of Lords to throw out the clause, and they did it noisily, rowdily, and ignorantly. There was no ques- tion of prejudice. It was only a proposal to trust a. people with the education of their own children. Will you trust anything to them?" asked Mr. Lloyd-George, warming to the subject. They might as well think of taking train to Bangor without piercing a tunnel as to take Welsh trucks through the House of Lords without first finding a clear way through the veto. He had no^-ersonal grievance against the Lords; they nad treated, him rather well; he had sent up a large number of Bills, and they Messed them, largely because they didn't understand. them. (Laughter.) OBSTACLE TO REFORM. As a Welshman, he told his fellow- countrymen that they had no greater interest than to move this obstacle out of the way to Paradise. With regard to Dis- establishment, if there was domestic legisla- tion in the fourth session, Disestablishment mitst be in. (Cheers.) I agree with Mr. Ellis Griffith," said the speaker, that if it is to bo a question of filling the cup, then Whales must be in the cup." (Oheers.) But he would strongly protest against inter- ference with the general and staff. (Oheers.) It was they who must decide the time of the attack, and the army could make no bigger mistake than to interfere with the strategy and tactics of those in comn&ind. If you doyt trust us, turn us out. If you know of better men, send them up," but until they did so, they must trust the judgment of those who had charge of the whole field of action. When the time came they would strike, and he believed they would strike home. (Oheers.) SOCIAL KEPORM. He was glad that Disestablishment did not represent the beginning and end of their policy. He was delighted to find a resolution dealing with social reforms, the question of the aged poor, removing the slums that were a libel on their Christianity, and protecting i-he bonnes of the people from the ravages of drink. He beJAe-wed thM. the banner of Non- confarmity was to .lead again in tbe future as it had in the past. The Free Gbuircihee were tlie most potent organisation in Europe, apd if they would cast the whole of their inflponce on the side of. eociaJ reforms the work would be soon done. Liberalism did I not mea.n redressing their own wrongs, but attacking every evil. It was no eelfisih creed, and while they were fighting for Disestablish- rnent they were not forgetting the aged poor and the slums—the halls of perdition where people were punished for sins not their own. In a, land that bad been the cradle of chivalry they could have no nobler adm than to help in the redeeming of this wTetched multitude of the poor from their doom. (Land oheers.)

TRAIN-WRECKING GANG. PLOT TO KIDNAP HEIRESS. An astounding report has been published at New York to the effect that a train conveying Miss Helen Gould had been waylaid and held up on the journey from Jones>boro, in Arkansas, to St. Louis, and that Miss Gould had been forcibly abduetedl, to an a.ddress unknown, where she was held to ranizvom. The ne ws of Kaid MacLean's capture by Raif.rJi created far less sensation in Europe I than this reported outrage on a private lady which was the leading feature of Saturday's news until the evening, when we were relieved to find (says the correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph") that the wealthy lady, though actually sought by a gang of kidnappors, was not actually in their toil3. 7 In some parts of America it is just as easy even nowadays to hold up a train and rob the passengers as to loot a bank, and it was for that reason, apparently, that few people in New York questioned the amazing story at first published. Varying reports are given of the plot to kidnap Mies Helen Gould, but they are a,ll based., as I learn from special inquiry which I instituted, upon the knowledge which had come to the Wabash, Missouri, and San Francisco Railroads, that a brazenly bold plan had been concocted to wreck the train bearing Miss Gould and her party on her Western tlip. Apparently one of the train- wrecking gang became disaffected and dis- closed the first information. Hundreds of detectivas were immediately commissioned to run the plotters to earth- Tho detectives worked very quickly J*!™ r silently, and three of the train-wreotong gang were at last found coming down the river in a skiff. The miscreants were heavily armed, and they successfully repelled t-ic approach of the railroad detectives. The fears of the chief special, agent of t.J10 Missouri Pacific Railroad and the special agent of the San Francisco Rairoad were thoroughly aroused, and they decided as a precautionary measure that the tracks of the Wabash Railroad upon which Misa Gould was to travel in a few hours, should be heavily guarded. This Plan was carried out" and when the Missouri-Pacific train bearing Miss Gould and her party left for Joneth^ Arkansas, a pi.ot engine was sent ahead tA gmard against possible efforts to wreck ^the Miss Gould herself refused -k„ ■ and expressed perfect cr>nfi/i excited, ability of the officials^ Se Th? all their passengers. rC the safety of

VICAR OF ABERPERGWM ON THE RUSSIAN DUMA. ThornZ1CV l* ^erpergwm (the Rev. J- LI. Thoma^, M.A., F.R.G.S.) delivered a lecture at Ystradmynach on the subject of "Russia Re-visited: Two Thousand Miles on the yolga," before a large and appreciative audience. The vicar (the Rev. Lemuel J. James, M.A.) was in the chair. The lecture (which was illustrated by lantern views) was in connection with the Ystradmynach Church league, of which Lieutenant-colonel Morgan Lindsay is president. Referring to the Duma, the lecturer said that ..the third Duma will shortly meet, and it will soon be seen if it will be an improvement upon. the two former ones. However indiscreet Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman may have been (and he was blamed by many at the time for such a reference to a matter of Russian domestic concern) by his utterance on the occasion of the dissolution of the first Duma, "The Duma is dead; long live the Duma!" the Russian Parliament has, un- doubtedly, come to stay The reactionaries will never suoceed in inducing the Czar to withdraw the Constitution which he has f ~untry: frequent disso- ™ that S2?«2o A" the ^rse of the first two vapanese had beei1 panted +>i rv* +■ + Emperor had to dissolve i ten times. The Japanese Diet was a Vi_ 111. many respects, even to the [ Mother of Parliaments."

DEFICIENCY OF £ 35,000. COALOWNERS' AFFAIRS: A CARDIFF PARTNERSHIP. The first meeting of the creditors of the estate of John Savile Blindell and Chaises Edgar Wakeford, trading as John Blindeil, Black Vein Steam Coal Coliierv, Pontypool. and C. Edg'ar Wakeford and Co., 5, Exchar;ge. Cardiff, was held at Newport on Tuesday. The gross liabilities were returned at £ 76,309 16s. 3d., liabilities expected to rank for dividend £ 33,673 4s. 8d.; deficiency, £ 35,012 9s. 4d. According to the observations of the official receiver the two debtors acquired the colliery from the Ebbw Vale Company in June, 1399, on a lease for thirteen years at a dead rent of E2,000 a year, merging iiUi) a. royalty of 7 £ d. per ton. In 1900 the debtors also took a twelve years' lease on 75 cottages at Pontypool. In July last Mr. Biiadell commence.d an action against his partner, Mr. Wakeford, and Mr. Charles E. Dovey, if Cardiff, was appointed receiver of the part- nership assets. Mr. Dovcy made arrangements for the Ebb-v." Vale Company to keep the colliery open and account to him. A private meeting' of the creditors was held at Mr. Dovey's ollioe in August last, at which a statement was presented showing unsecured liabilities £ 10,170 las. 2d., assets to realise £ 4,169 CG. Sd., after deducting preferential claims amounting to £3,803 5s. 7d., leaving .t deficiency of £ 5,001 18s. Id. The difference between the liabilities in that statement and the liabilities in the summary was accounted for by the claim of the bank (amounting to £ 23,407 17s. 6d.) being treated in the latter as a liability to rank. The last balance-sheet, prepared up to the 31st of December, 1903, showed a lose for the previous six months of £ 4,799 5s. 6d. The liabilities of 66 unsecured creditors— £ 31,956 18s. 7d.-include £ 28,407 17s. 6d. for partnership banlk overdraft secured by property belonging to the separate estate of J. S. Blindeil. The remaining unsecured liabilities were for trade debts, all contracted in the present year, except £ 54 19s. contracted in 1906. The contingent liaTjilitiee, amounting to £ 33,504 14s. Id., wlero made up thus :-Damageg for non-delivery of coal under contract, £ 4,365 17s.; claims for wages in lieu of notice, £ 3,131; workmen's compensation to four workmen, £ 300; separate estate of J. q. Blindell guarantee for firm's account, ditto lien to secure firm's overdraft, jE29,407 17s. Id. Mr. C. E. Dovey, chartered accountant, Oardiff, was appointed trustee, with the fol- lowing committee of inspection:—Messrs. W. J. N. Bonner (manager Metropolitan Bank, Bute Docks branch, Cardiff), J. Winstone (miners' agent, Pontypool), Walter Brundrett (Ebhw Val-o Company), Charles H. Jones, oil merchant (of J. O. Dibble and Co.. Newport), and G. W. Westgarth (Messrs. Craven and Speeding Bros., Sunderland).

HOWELL'S SCHOOL PRIZE DISTRIBUTION. LORD TREDEGAR AND A RIFLE RANGE FOR GIRLS. THE LADY WHO WANTED TO BE IN THE THICK OF BATTLE. As popular a function as ever was the annual gathering for the distribution of prizes and certificates to the scholars at Howell's &hool, Llandaff, which took place on Tuesday afternoon. It is an event which j Lord Tredegar habitually attends, and he was again found in the chair, with a gentle and a cheery word for every pupil who came before him as the recipient of one of the beautiful books given as prizes or a certifi- c-a te His lordship was supported on tiio I platform by Miss M. Kendall (the head- mistress), Miss Hughes (Ferndale), the Bishop of Llandaff, Major-general H. H. Lee, and others. In presenting the annual report, Miss Kendall said that in the Central Welsh j Board examin.a.tions they had taken eight honours certificates, om the results of two of which county exhibitions ot £ 40 a year, renewable up to a third year, were awarded. Teit senior certificates had been gained, five of which were equivalent to matriculation, and 24 junior certificates. Four girls passed the examination for matrieula- tio.i for tho University of Wales, whilst two girls passed the London matriculation. More pupils were now taking German. They naturally desired that as many subjects should be given as would be useful to a g-¡d in her future career, but it was not tempiated that a girl, after the lower iora1^' should take up every subject taught th^j' At present they had the highest numbe 89. pupils in the history of the school, via-' to Miss Kendall concluded with a refer^ cleaiTa-bdlit-y of lia-vingr a» swimming r wt whidli tk- papiifi applauded heartily. Lord .barons distillmted tll^ | priaas and oeart&floEutes, £ t Tcyte of thauks &o t-lio o/iadnna-n vizus proposed L:/ the Aaron Eovies, and seconded by ICr. F. li. Jotham. Lord Tredegar, in response, said that evo"r day fresh addresses were delivered on tDo subject of education by great meu- On MO day one gentlemian would say that tbe machineiry of English education need^ re-organising. On Tuesday an equally clever man would say that the English system was quite the best that oould be found, whil £ t on Wednesday a German would come here and say that there was nothing of anY value taught. (Laughter.) A lady of rank the other day had to address a lot of school- girls, and she said she must try to find some- thing out of her long past to fit in with their long future. He felt just the same him- self. If he had been addressing a gathering of boys he could very easily have found something out of his long past to interest them, but it was quite- different when an old gentleman had to find something out of his long past to interest a gathering of girls. (Laughter.) He believed that the institution was quite up-to-date. Just previously tho headmistress related how she told a governor that they needed a swimming bath, and he answered, Oh, you are always wanting something." (Laughter.) If Miss Kendall had said to him that she wanted something else he would have replied, Oh, I know what that is. It is a riding school or a rifle range." (Loud laughter.) A rifle range was much cheaper than a swimming bath, but it was much more dangerous. The idea about the rifle range struck him because owing to their having so many gymnastic feats the tone of young ladies was some- times rather masculine. other day that just before the So^th Afncan war a lad//ef -wS asked whau Je ^ent- i want some excite- be a war correspo^ the thick of battle." ment. I wan did not get what ehe SLSf "™ a"re at thu wantea, (LainghtCT.) E?hen^e'list mentioned the following suc- CeMatriealation at the University of Lon- don.-Lilian Banks and Ida Hawkins. Matriculation at the University of Wales. —Division. I., iiary K. Evans and Lili^31 I>avid; Division II Tkir-s p™ i and Phyllis Eichards Brockmgton Davenw>rf was ma^e °f Isat^^ Glamm-P-i orotbea Cooke, who gaiDe f pan County Council scholarships ° year, and "who divided a leavifl^ offered by the school governoll of £ 0i., renewable for three years.

CARDIFF CHILD IN FLAMES. CORONER EMPHASISES THE NEED OF FIREGUARDS. Mr. W. L. Yorath, the Cardiff coroner, held an inquest on Wednesday touching the death of Daisy Jenkins, aged three. The imother, who lives at 43, Stonghton-etreet, Saltmead, stated that on Tuesday morning eho was washing when the little girl was sitting beside her on a bench near the fire. There was no fireguard. She went out to buy some soap, and was no( away more than four minutes, but on her return she saw the deceased 0;1 fire. The llamas were extin- guished, atid the child was takto to Dr. Can- tillon, who advised her removal to the infir- mary, when she died the same evening. The Coroner stated that some little atten- tion ought to be given to avoid occurrences Boeh as these, and ho did think the jury should warn parents about any neglect of providing safeguards against fire. The .iury returned a verdict of "Death from shock, caused by burns," and added a rider that parents ought to be warned about the recessity of providing fireguards where there were children.

THEATRICAL TRAIN AFIRE. "THE BEAUTIFUL FIEND'S" GLORY GOES UP IN SMOKE. A theatrical train from the West of Scot- land took fire on Monday morning, when it was conveying several companies to various English towns. When near East Fortune, on the East Coast, the driver observed that smoke was issuing from a wag-on containing all the baggage and scenery of "The Beauti- ful Fiend" Melodramatic Company, who were travelling from Dundee to Wencehouses. A few miles further long the line the train was drawn up alongside a water column, and a copious supply of water was thrown upon the burning wagon. Despite the efforts of the theatre party and the railway officials, however, it was completely destroyed. the damage being considerable. The train proceeded on its journey after having been delayed two hours.