Evening Express

TO-DAY'S WEATHEE. The forecast of the weather throughout the West of England and Smith Wales for to-iiar (Tueslar) is as follews :—E. breezes, light, tlieji variable fair an • W hole. whols. WEEK S TEMPERATuKE AND RAINFALL. The following table gives the teniperat-ure And rainfall at Cwrt-y-Vil. Penarth, for 24 hours, as read at 9.0 a.m., and entered to the preceding i day. DATK. -? RAINFALL. TilMFMUTffBK. 1- Max. I Min. ;Meau; Tuesday 8 73 53 63'0 -06 Wt-<I.. sday 9 75 57 66-0 -00 Thursday 10 7 > 5/ 66'0 -00 Friday 11 77 58 67-5 -00 Saturday 12 78 59 6"i*5 *00 %und.iv 13 77 58 67*5 -00 Monday 14 80 60 70'0 "20

POWOERANDSi'OT. ViI IJ I U ù r I D The public works committee of the Cardiff Corporation were making a deue; of a fuse on Monday over an alleged private arrangement that they considered they had found out between one or two contractors who had been making tenders for private improvements in connection with various streets in the Metro- polis. It appears that lessees when building houses are called iipon by the corporation to lay the pavements in front of such buildings, but, with a wholesome knowledge of the idiosynoracies of the corporation officials, such property owners invariably prefer to let the corporation do this worit and then settle matters with them. Property owners are wise in this respect, for it is just as like'v a, not that they may la.y their pavement half-an-itich too high or half an inch too low, which means a considerable expense in re-'aying. • The public works committee, it appears, do not undertake these matters themselves, but let the wor1; out to private contractors. On more thnn one occasion property owners have, I believe, grumbled at what they consider the exorbitant charges for this laying of pave- ments that they have been called upon to pay. If the suggestion of the chairman of the public works committee to the effect that a little private arrangement, has been existing between the contractors be true, then th-ere is no won. der that some of the property holders in Car. diff have found cause to grumble at the heavy charges that they state have been made. Of course, the matter is purely a private one between the contractors and the property holders, with the public works committee as an intermediary—for the ratepayers are not, in this respect charged a single sou. I have only mentioned the fact in a general way, and with the object of shewing how these undercurrents do ftow. I am still, wondering, however, why some member of the committee, whose name does not transpire in the report, should point out in answer to Mr. Chappell's suggestion that the corporation ought to do the work themselves that such a course would be inexpedient, inasmuch as they —presumably the corporation—had sometimes to go to court to recover the amounts. As I understand it, property holders are at present responsible to the corporation, and the corpora- tion in turn, without making the middleman's profit, are responsible to the contractors. I am not in favour of, nor yet against, Mr. Chappell's suggestion, bnt yet must say that if the corporation did not do this work them- selves they would, certainly, escape the lia- bility which in the ordinary way they incur I with the contractor. Still, after all, it is a very l.ttle matter, and concerns more the private property holder than the general body of rate- payers. As a plain boiled-rice journalist, I do not think it is altogether my business to inquire into this matter of the public works committee. It may, however, be permitted to me, on the other hand, to point out that the Sunday closing of tobacconists promises to be a no greater suc- ccss than has been the Sunday closing of public-houses. Of course, our temperance friends will tell you that the Sunday Closing Act has been one of the greatest and most glorious successes that has ever fallen upon this enlightened laud, although to me the success appeara no more evident than the per-sistent misapplication of the word "temperance" does to the small-eyed gentry who see perdition in all intoxicants. However, that useful body of tradesmen who purvey the soothing weed have evidently found out their mistake—a mistake, I am sure, that is more evident to them in the fact that they are depriving the youth of the period of his packet of "Cinderellas" on Sun- days than in the mere sordid thought that they are losing money by keeping their shops closed. After this, I shall look npon the tobacconist as a public benefactor, who thinks more of | cultivating the taste of the rising generation i than the mere matter of his pwn and assisting Sunday rest, One of our poets says the note in Friday's "Express" about the beggars and so forth who use the reading-room at the Central Libi -ary is most timely, and he invites the attention of the ever courteous lief librarian to the following parody:- The shades of night were falling fast. As through the streets of Cardiff passed A tramp with heavy eyes and read Who spluttered sleepily and said. I "Free Libraree!" "Thi,. way the workhouse!" someone cried, "At Cowbridgc-road you're not denied. I A ward for such as you they've got." He tottered on and heeded not: "Free Libraree!" "This way," the bobby gently said, "At Westgate-street you'll find a bed." "Not me," he croaked, "I'm much too fly. A cosier berth I mean to try- Free Libraree!" "There, 'mid the books and magazines, Ensconced behind some handy screens, I'll sit and hid myself to reo" Of all your shelters this is best- Free Libraree!" 0 0 0 0 On the subject of ties it i. stated that M. Lcubet is exceedingly cureless wearing a rea ly- j u.ade cravat instead of knotting his own. Pari* s';an grjmblers an comparing him to M. le Pargy, the ax-t-er, whoso ties are eaid to be the wonder of the worll. So now, whatever else happens, along w.ith the boots- of Blucher, the stone of Scone the nl edle of Cleopatra, the bone", of Bavieca, (he bag of Gladstone, and the bull pup—will go down to priority the cravat of M. Loabet. The excavations wlwh have been, and are still beil g, carried out by the Society of Anti- quarie? at S:icbestc-r. the site of the Callevt Atrebatium of the Romans, have drawn public attention to the importance cf systematically exploring and describing these very interesting records of the former h:story of our own lands. At SilcLfeiter the aim has been not. so much to discover beautiful payments or works of art, as to lecover the plan and arrangement of a Romano-British city, and to throw light on the daily life airl cuitire of its inhabitants. That the wok so ably begun at Silchester should be carried on with equal energy and care in other parts of the country is, it need not be said, a matter of first-rate importance, and sleps have already been taken to excavate and explore the Roman city at Wroxeter, in Shrop- shire. In the West of England, where Roman re- mains are so numerous, there are many oppor- tunities for continuing this kind of work, and it is now proposed to excavate and explore in a similar way some portion of the Roman remains at Caerwen, in Monmouthshire, the site of the ancient Venta Silurum. Caerwent is situate on the Roman road between Isca Bilurum (Caerleon) 46nd Chtptt-ow. and was one of the stations on the fourteenth iter in the; Antonine Itinerary. Like Caerleon it, doubt- less, dates its origin from the time of the sub- jugation of the Silures by Ostorius and Fron- tinus in the years 50-75 A.D. A strong com- mittee has been formed for carrying out the work, with Mr. A. E. Hudd and Mr. A. T. Martin, Clifton, as hon. secretaries, to whom all subscriptions should be sent. *.¡¡. The list of arrests which has served as a little stimulus to the excitement over Dreyfus in- cludes aristocra t'. journalists, sausage-makers, meat carriers, and market porters," a pro- gramme which recalls very nearly certain pas- sages between Cleon and the sausage-seller in Aristophanes' Knights. The list begins or, if you please, ends, with M. 'Deroulede, which suggests a new" nd quite appropriate render-' ing of the much discussed phrase, "Ce canaille II de D-

STRANGE CASE FROM BRECON ACCUSATIONS AGAINST A DOWLAIS SOLICITOR The validity of a bill of =ale WM the ques- tion Mr. Justice Kennedy was asked to decide in the njn-jury action Davies v. Divies, heard at the Glamorgan Assizes oil Monday. Counsel in the cae wera Air. B. Francis-Williams, Q.C., and Mr. Rhys Williams (instructed by 3tr. W. Eeddoe) for plaintiff, and Mr. S. T. Evans, and Mr. Rowland Rowlands (in- structed by Mr. G. C. James; for defendant. In opening the case, Mr. B. Francis-Williams, after remarking that his lordship would be al{ed to decide th question of the validity of Un deed executed on July 16, 1898, said h>J was afraid he should have to re- quest his lordship to say that there had been an attempt by a solicitor and other? to perpetrate a very wicked fraud. Elizabeth Davies, the plaintiff, lived at Abercar Farm, m the Taf Fechan Valley, Bi-econ. and Llewelyn Davies, her deceased husband, at the time of his death, May 1"2. 1899, was aged 91, and was very feeb e and blind. On Saturday, July 16, 1898, whilst, plaintiff was marketing at Merthyr, Thomas Davies, a son of the deceased entered the farmhouse, accom- panied by a young solicitor, named Mr. J. T. Jones, and in the presence of Mrs. Boulton, a niece of plaintiff, induced the old man to sign a document, wiii' ii they stated would secure him a reduction of tithes. It turned out that one of the papers signed was a bill of sale of absolutely everything the old man pos- sessed in favour of Morga.ii Davies, the defen- dant to the action, and grandson of the de. ceased. Counsel stated that deceased made a will 30 far back as 1331, by which he bequeathed his whole estate to his widow, and went on to say that immediately alter the funeral the defendant came to the house and took posses- sion of everything. Thomas Davies, the son, had made two aliidavits, by which he told diiie- rent stories. Mrs. Boulton, the niece, then gave evidence, and said she remembered Thomas Davies coming to the farm with a strange man. The latter said he wanted her uncle to sign a paper to reduce his tithes, and the three of them went upstairs together. The stranger had a paper in his hand, but she did not see her uncle put his cross to it, nor did the stranger read it. At this time her uncle was not able to understand or transact business matters. Counsel: Had this stranger more than one paper with him?—I only saw one. What kind of looking paper was it?—Witness indicated a similar sheet lying on the table. Was there a pen in the room?—Yes, and the strange man took it up. Was the pen given to your uncle?-The strange man put his hand to uncle's to take hold of it. What for?-To put a cross. Did your uncle afterwards ask anything about what had happened?—Yes, he asked, "What did that man want?" By the Judge: She did not see anybody else do anything to the paper. Witness stated that the day after the funeral Thomas Davies and the strange man came to the farm. Counsel: Do you know now who he is?—Yes; J. T. Jones, of Dowlais. What is he?-A lawyer. At the request of the judge, witness pointed him out in court. In cross-examination witness said she could not swear to the ch-tracter of the paper her uncle was a3ked to sign. Mrs. Elizabeth Davies, the plaintiff, said she was 78 years old. At the close of his life her husband was not able to transact business, but his understanding was clearer at some times than at others. In (ross-examination witness said she did not know until the night of the funeral that her husband had made a second will. It came out that this will was in favour of Morgan Davies (the defendant). Answering the judge, witness said when the auctioneer and the other?"came there they told her that they had authority to sell every- thing. Robert Roberts, Llwyn On Farm; David WiI. liams, landlord of the Crown Inn, Merthyr; Mrs. Margaret Jenkins, Mrs. Elizabeth Havard, and William Middleton all testified that the old man's mental state WAS such during the latter part of his life that he was unfit to transact business. This concluded plaintiff's case, and for the defence Mr. S. T. Evans, M.P., said he did not) see how there could be any suggestion of fraud against Mr. Jones. Apparently, the deceased did not want- his wife to know what he wan doing as it seemed be had been annoyed by relatives of hers, who expected some benefit after his death. Mr. John Thomas Jones, solicitor, Dowlais, said in July. 1898, Thomas Davies called upon him at his office. He was at that time a stranger to witness, and was brought by his (witness's) landlord, Mr. Eyan Jenkins. Depo-j nent took instructions, and on the following Saturday, July 9, weint up to Abercar Farm. The old gentleman requested Thomas Davies to retire from the bedroom, and then asked witness to prepare a deed of gift of the machinery, crops, and stock in favour of his grandson, Morgan Davies, and also a will. By the Judge: The will covered everything. Continuing, witness said the old gentlern-n seemed quite intelligent, and he did not see any.hing that would indicate that he did not know perfectly well what he was instructing witness to do. The deceased told a man or maid servant that witness was come about the tithes or the rates, and he instructed witness to return with the documents on the following Saturday, July 16. Witness did so, but the evidence given by Mrs. Boulton tha\ she was in the bedroom was false. He read the docu- ments over in English to the old gentleman, and explained them in Welsh, and he replied, "They are quite right; I m perfectly satis-I fled." The old gentleman then made his mark on the documents, and they were attested. Witness was subjected to a °evere cross. examination by Mr. B France- 'liams. He stated that he had not. yet been paid his cats for preparing the documents, and said h!s reason for not asking the old gentleman for payment was because the coal strike was in progress, and trade was in a bad state.' At the second interview he told the deceaced his charge was C4, and as a consequence of his cavilling witness reduced it to L3 10s. When he returned on the second Saturday, he in- formed Thomas Davies tihat he was come about the tithes or rates. He did not tell Mrs. BOU-Ltoii this. By the Judge: He did not tell Thomas Davies that the statement was untrue. Answering Mr. B. he thought it was rather dishonest, but was only obeying the old gentleman's wishes. who had told him, when he demurred to telling a lie, "It doesn't matter; I only want to keep my wife out of it altogether." Witness suggested that lie should make some provision for her, but he would not hear of it, and said he had been pestered by his wife's relatives for money. He would not provide for her because they lived on terms of unhappiness. Witness had private means, and was not solely dependent upon his profession for a livelihood. The Judge: Did it occur to you that looking at his age, and knowing nothing about Thomas Davies, Morgan Davies, or the testator, you should have insisted upon calling in a doctor? —No, my lord. In further cross-examination, witness said the deceased told; him he wanted to make a deed of gift to avoid the death duties. Mr. B. Francis-Williams: Do you swear that deed of gift to avoid the death duties. Mr. B. Francis-Williams: Do you swear that this blind old farmer in the Taf Fechan Valley wanted to make a deed of gift to avoid he death duties?—Yes; because he had heard that two other farmers in the neighbourhood had i done it. In re-examination, Mr. S. T. Evans elicited that witness was 30 years of age, and served his articles with'Mr. Harry Cousins, Cardiff. There was no foundation for the accusation that be would get anything out of this. Thomas Davies. deceased's son. corroborated. John Davies, hairdresser; Evan Davies, black- smith; Morgan Davic, grandson of the de- ceased; Thomas Davies. and Afe. W. Beddoe, solicitor, also gav evidence. Morgan Davies said he was recently* an ironmaker's assistant v/itli Mr. Evan Jenkins, Dowlais. over whose shop Mr. J. T. Jones's office was situated, but he was now assisting his uncle at the farm. The case. which was opened at eleven a.m., had not concluded at 7.45 p.m., and his lord- ship then suggested, having regard to the serious results involved in the issue, that it would be better to complete the case this (Tuesday) morning. However, he left himself entirely in the hands of the learned counsel. After a short consultation counsel resolved that the better course would be to adjourn, and it was so decided. I This is the last case on the list, and the assizes will, therefore, conclude about midday to-day (Tuesday).

NOW APPEARING IN THE "EVENING EXPRESS." To-day (Tuesday) and for several days to come the Cardiff public will have the oppor- tunity of reading a new story by that most entrancing of novelists, Miss Braddon. "The Chain of our Sins"—for that is the title of the tale-will appear in the columns of the "Even- ing Express," and the story is quite up to Miss Braddon's best style. That standard is well known by those who have enjoyed the wonder- ful creations of the popular authoress's fancy. Such stories as "Lady Audley's Secret," "The Fatal Three," "Sons of Fire," and many other? have helped to make Miss Braddon's name. and we can assure the public that "The Chain of Our Sins" once begun will not be left till the last chapter appears.

THE INHABITANTS OF THE SOLOMON ISLANDS. The adventure which, according to a New York telegram, has befallen Count and Countess Festetics among the Solomon Islands will interest all seekers after a new sensation. To be chased by man-eaters ought to satisfy the strongest craving for excitement. The inhabi- tants of the Solomon group are not the most amiable of savages, and add to other objec- j t-onable qualities an appetite for human flesh. Hie count and countess, while cruising in their cwn yacht, were cspitd too near the shore by the hungry folk on land, who saw the chance of getting "long rig," and gave chase in their | var canoe. Apparently, the count had over- leaked contingencies of this kind, and was un- provided with guns or rifles, for no attempt seems to have been made to give the visitors a fitting reception, and there was nothing to do but take to flight. No doubt, the winli was light, and the savages Had counted on the fact, out a stern chase is proverbially a long one, and the pursuers were eventually baffled. The incident is instructive, says the "Standard," as showing that, easy as travel has become of I late years, there are Quarters of the globe where the amenities of civilisation have not yet penetrated, and disagreeable surprises a..vait the too-confiding visitor. An Indian raid offers unpleasant contingencies to those who wander lar away from the beaten track in some parts oi th, United States; pirate junks still lurk in Chinese estuaries; Australian natives, though peaceful enough in many districts, are ready with their spears in others, and those on the north-east coast are credited with tastes simi- lar to the Solomon Islanders'; while painful experiences may be undergone in Darkest Africa. and even, according to one recent traveller, in Central Asia. Killed, or Be Killed. rennt f.oloinonT Zanders have long had a bad reputation. In wnat part of this extensive group, of which Germany claims one portion and our own country another, this incident occurred is not stated. The inhabitants in some ot the islands are now losing their primitive ierocity, and do not kill strangers on sight, as the group ex'ends in two parallel ciia.ns for some 600 miles, there is room for ai ie..y. For a very long time the islands were unknown to Europeans. Though discovered by en liana as far back as 1567, they were not again visited for a couple of centuries, and it 18 only of late years that missionaries and travellers have ventured among them. S^me nke Mr. Guppy and Mr. Woodford, not to men- tion others, have given the world the benefit oi their experiences. But the islands, with their extraordinarily heavy rainfall and dense tropi- cal vegetation, are not. likely to be generally attractive. The inhabitants certainly are not. They have no liking for a peaceful life, and, as they rarely have the opportunity of attack- ing a stranger, they spend their time in fight- ing amon themselves. Though mostly, if not wholly, of one race-the Melanesian—they are split up into a number of tribes, each of which is generally at enmity with the others. So "kill or be killed" is the rule, and war has two special attractions. Collections of Skulls. The collecting instinct is strong in man, and these savages are no exception to the general rule; but, as postage stamps, or coins, or bric. a-brac are non-existent, and the instinct can- not find one of the healthy outlets wb'ch civili, sation has provided, they colleet human heads, which form the choicest decorations of their hou-:es and war canoes. War, moreover, aug, ments the larder. It is cheaper to eat an enemy than a slave. The former, too, is likely to prove the more nutritious. Not only has the cannibal no fears that his victim will dis- the cannibal no fears that bis victim will dis- agree with him, but he reckons thnt in the II procev? of digestion he will assimilate a portion of his valour and strength. It is a loathsome appetite, but before now hungsr has driven even civilised men to such diet, and travellers to countries without game, such as some parts of Africa, have described the extraordinary craving for meat which long abstinence from it has produced. It is this, probably, which has caused the practice to be so frequent in the islands of the Pacific, for they are very ¡ deficient in the larger quadrupeds.

ENGINEER THRASHED BY A SOLICITOR. At Llandudno Police-court on Monday after- noon (before Dr. Dalton and other justices) John Heyworth, electrical engineer, of Bir- mingham, accused W. Murray, a Manchester solicitor, and who was described as of the Imperial Hotel, of assault and battery. Mr. W. E. Richardson, solicitor, Birmingham, appeared to prosecute, and Mr. R. S. Cliam-, ber'.ain, of Llandudno, defended. The complainant said he had known Murray for three years, and on and off they had partaken of each other's hospitality. Com- plainant spent the Bank Holiday week-end at j Llandudno, and stayed at the Promenade Hydro. On the Monday evening he went to the pier concert. He met a number of his friends, including the defendant, who accused him of insulting a lady whom he did not desire to name. He denied that ht had done any- thing of the kind. He had known the lady nearly twenty years, and always had the greatest respect for her. Defendant said he would see him some other time, and the same evening he called at the Hydro and sent a message in to complainant, who was in the ball-room. He did not go out at first call, as he was dancing, but afterwards saw defen- dant, who said he would be glad to have a chat with him. They went into the portico and sat down. A wrangle started about the lady, and the defendant struck him on the top of the head several times with his stick. Complainant was sitting down, and after the first blow was stunned, and could not defend himself. They were both sober. Cross-examiued by Mr. Chamberlain, com- plainant absolutely denied that he had apolo- gised to the lady, or had dona anything which she could construe into an apology. He had not insulted her. Did you not on the Saturday go on the pier and tell an indecent anecdote to that lady?- It was an anecdote I read in the paper. I have lost the paper, or I would produce it. The witness said he would retail the anecdote to the bench, and did so. Mr. Chamberlain said his client admitted a technical offence. Frederick Chapman, porter at the Hydro, stated that he was passing through the front hall on the Bank Holiday night, and observed a little scuffle taking place in the portico. He -ran to the doorway, and saw the defendant strike Mr. Heyworth four times with a stick. They were very hard two-handed blows on the top of the head with what he believed was a cherrywood stick. Mr. Chamberlain denied that any dangerous violence was used. The Chairman said the bench thought the complainant proved there was very great pro- vocation, but there was no justi^ition for waiting untii the next day. They kad decided to deal very leniently with the defendant, with whom they had considerable sympathy. Mr. Murray must pay a fine of half-a-crown, with- out costs.

CADBURY'S COCOA is absolutely pure, being er.tirely free from kola, malt, hops, alkali. Oi any foreign admixture. Caution! The public shoulS insist -n having CADBURY'S—sold only in Packets and Tins. as other Cocoas are often subswtut4td for the sake of extra. profit. e4

HIS SERVICES TO THE CAUSE OF LABOUR. AN APPRECIATION, [BY MR. D. A. THOMAS, The "Western Mail" has placed its readers under an obligation by re-producing in full the interesting article of the "Times" correspon- dent upon the resignation of Sir W. T. Lewis. The general consternation which that event aroused has, curiously enough, been reflected to only a minor degree in local circles; and few down here, with the exception, perhaps, of Sir W. T. Lewis himself and his immediate friends, recognise the serious character of the situation which the resignation has brought about. The Coalowners' Association itself has entirely failed to realise the grave nature of the position, and, unmindful of the services rendered by the "man who has practically con- trolled the policy of the coalowners since the infancy of the trade," they. with almost inde- cent alacrity, hurried to fill up the vacancy and appoint a successor from among the J'ouug bloods on the sliding'-scale committee. Sir William is, perhaps, not altogether free from blame in thii marked failure of the South Wales public to appreciate the gravity of an event which he himself has acknowledged to be "sufficiently serious," for it is only to be explained on the ground of Sir William's well- known reserve and dislike to publicity. Indeed, save when he has put up some window to per- petuate the memory of those who have been associated with him iu the development of the district, or when the Coalowners' Association has presented him with an address of apjiie- ciation (it is oniy due to the association to say that in addresses of this k; nd it has not been ungenerous), tlv public have hud to look almost wholly to the In..our correspondent of the "Times," or to the independent pages of the Shipping World," for information in re- gard to the doings and intentions of tlii- great captain of industry. Hence the interest which attaches to anything coming from the labour correspondent of the "Times." and the eager- ness with which his contributions are awaited. From him we obtain the opinion of one in- fluenced by no desire to re pay past services, but the independent judgment of one who claims that "he understands Sir William's character and motives at least as well as any living man." "For more than ha!f a century," says this gentleman, "he (Sir William Thomas Lewis) has been the acknowledged leader of the main body of the Welsh coalowners." It is only when reading an article from the pen of the "Times" correspondent that one fully appreciates the length of time during which Sir William has directed the counsels of the Welsh coalowners, and realises the tender age (Fiir William is now a little over sixty) at which he first undertook to guide the policy and control the destinies of the South Wales coal trade. With so ripe an experience, can we feel any surprise at the resentment he shows over the presumption of young bloods? There are two points in the "Times" article to which I think, in justice to Sir William, the attention of your readr5 should be more par- ticularly drawn. Persons not well disposed towards him have suggested that what may be called the "great withdrawal" was due to bad temper aim momentary pique. That Sir Wiillimn, in fact, like a spoilt child too accus- tomed to get what he wanted, said, "If I don't aiways have my way I won't ptay any more," and had gone off in a pout; out the "limes" completely disposes of this ill-natured sugges- tion. "Although he was no doubt annoyeu.. he was not a man to take deciaed action merely because he was annoyed." Then, again, the "Times" correspondent throws a. light upon the character of the great captain of industry, and upon the motives that have guided his policy, which explains much tnat nad been hitherto, if not incomprehensible, at least diitlcuit to understand. His life, it ap- pears, has been engaged in "many a quiet light for the collier against many a petty tyrant, this I know from his own lips," and as though such direct testimony weie not in itself abundantly sufficient, he con1Îrms it from "ex- ternal evidence by au article in the 'Shipping World: The "Times" correspondent describes the pro- l(#ngetl struggle of la-at summer as a victory for the employers, "which was costly, no doubt, but of priceless vaiue. One result of it was the addition to the number of addresses presented to Sir William by his brother coa-l- owners." That single result, had it stood alone, would, indeed, haYe been of priceless value. but it was far from standing alone, and, without in any way detracting from its importance, it may be questioned whether it should even take rank as the chief result. Sir William, in pre- cipitating the struggle by refusing the audit prior to the termination of the notices, and in snubbing the well-meant interposition of Sir Edward Fry, the Government conciliator, has been censured by some of his brother coal- owners. But he knew what he was about—he knew that he was acting the part of the colliers' friend in so doing, and, with that keen foresight of which the "Times" gives such ample proof, and of which locally we have in Barry Docks so signal and lasting a monument, he clearly foresaw the beneficial results that' would accrue to the workmen from the pro- longed strife. He realised that the r- linuance of a slid- ing-scale, with the concomitant evil of under- selling was not to their advantage; that in their interest it should end, and with equal clearness he saw that in their feeble state of organisation, and unless they joined the English Miners' Federation, the workmen of South Wales would always be at the mercy of the petty tyranny of his brother coalowners. No one is more delighted than Sir William to witness the consequences that have so quickly followed upon his bold and enlightened policy, and to see that hif services on behalf of the Welsh collier have helped him to perfeet his organisation, and to bring the sliding-scale within measurable distance of its termination. No one is more pleased to observe the rate of wages now higher than asked for by the men at the commencement of the five months' struggle of last year. In the role of colliers' friend, and with characteristic foresight and consistency, he sees it is not enough to build up and strengthen the organisation of the workmen, but that it is desirable at the same time to. as far as possible, weaken that of the tyrannical em- ployer, and he wisely takes the opportunity of his resignation to entirely withdraw, not only his own collieries, but also those of the Marquess of Bute. from the masters' associa-: tion, rather than become a party to closing the ranks of the employers, to strengthening their organisation, or to increasing their power of resistance by allowing those who have hitherto held aloof to now fall in. The Times" correspondent hardly dwells suffi- ciently on the withdrawal of Sir W. T. Lewis from the association as apart from the resig- nation. He does not. indeed, mention the withdrawal at all. This is unfortunate, be- canse it is, in the judgment of many, the more important circumstance of the two, and it is the withdrawal from the association rather than the resignation from the chairmanshin of the llliriing-scale committee that has caused soreness his late colieaeuea and mem- bers of the association, some of whom do not hesitate to characterise the withdrawal as a betrayal, and picture Sir W. T. Lewis as a of pied piper of Hamelin. but running away after turning the employers to their destruction. If I misrht venture to make a suggestion, it would be that the "Times" correspondent, or the editor of the Shipping World." or some equally independent autho- rity. should elaborate and explain the reasons that have actuated Sir William in not merely revisni'ng. but also in withdrawing. This would do much to remove anv little misappre- hension or unpleasantness that may yet exist. For my own part I welcome Sir William with open arms into the ranks of the non-associated, find congratulate him on the wisdom he has shown in adopting a policy that I have long advocated, but which up to now has been denounced in unmeasured terms by himself and his late colleagues. It Is much to be regretted that the "monn- ments of rainstakinsr r9°earch and shrewd fordiight which, says the Times corre- spondent, Sir William has erected "in the various addresses on th** state and nroRpects of the coal trade which he has deliver?1 to his brother coalowners" have not been un- veiled t.o the nuhlic eye. but, in confirmation of the Times correspondent's estimate of their value may I quote from a monument pre- pared by Sir William in 1891 which has chnnovl to come to my collection? In this he Explains how "coal of other different nations, althoilgh net equal to ours in quality, are able to beat us out of" certa.in markets, and. after dwelling on Pocohontas. he points out that "another serious competition with Welsh coal has been created by the lowering of the railwav rates in France, Germany. and Switzerland, by whieh coal from France and Germany has disnlaced our coal, not only in those countries, but. nlso in the North of Italy. Again, one of the imnortant l'ne of steamers, known as Austrian Lloyd's, which formerlv took the whnle of their require- ments from Cardiff, take but little in some years. As Westphalian coal has cut us out and the Austrian Government give them a subsidy to use some the native coal, apart I from Australian being sent to the China, market and to San Francisco and American coal cutting us out in Havannah, collieries are now opened up in Chili which sup- plies the (pacific Steam Navigation Company, and other vessels on that coast." The extract appears somewhat involved, and the grammar of this particular monument is open to criti- cism, but the meaning of the monument is clear, and we now know what disastrous con- sequences have followed the competition to which Sir William's shrewd foresight in 1391 first drew attention. To eucli an extent "are coal of other different nations able to beat us" that the coal shipped foreign from Cardiff during the first six months of this year shows only an increase of a little over 60 per cent. on the quantity shipped in the corresponding period of 1889. In the case of Newport an increase of le.s than 50 per cent.. is shown during the ten years, while in the case of Swansea the increase is less than 100 per cent. The competition of France and Germany has ec displaced British coal in those countries that, while it must be admitted that our exports to Garmany have materially increased during the past ten years, our shipments to France for the first seven months of this year barely exceeded the total shipments during the twelve months of 1889. I have no particulars of the amount of coal sent by rail from France and Germany to North Italy in recent years, but I find the total export of coal from France to Italy in 1805—only four years after Sir William wrote was no less than 17,809 tons, as against a little over four millions sent from this country. Ih the case of Germany the export to Italy in 1894 was 48,702 tons, and if coke and patent fuel had been iucluded this quantity would have been increased. It is right to point out that since that time the exports from France and Germany to Italy have fallen off, whereas ours have to some extent increased, and are now at the r ite of nearly six million tons per annum; but it will be no exaggeration, as illustrating Sir William's shrewd foresight, to estimate that this year (only eight years from the date of the monument) the combined exports of coal by rail and water frum France and Germany to Italy as a. whole will amount to no less a proportion than .005 of the exports from this country to Italy. It is unnecessary to labour tilt, foresight further, or to discuss the Chilian "collieries which supplies tiie Paci- lie Steam Navigation Company and other vessels." The monument from which the extract has been eu,led is the only one of the kind it has been my privilege Lv> see. I veil Lure to think it sutti- ciently illustrates the profound and world- ] wide knowledge Sir William possesses of the commercial side of the coal trade. There is one matter which I should have iiked the "Times" correspondent to have explained more fully. lie says that Sir Wil- liam in his role of collier's friend objected to ,113 admission of the non-associated collieries because they wished to enter the association with the objcct of levelling down wages; but does this not rather imply that the associa- tion for so many years controlled by the col- liar's friend has had the effect of maintaining wages at a lower level than ruled at certain non-associated collieries, and this would appear to have been hardly to the advantage of the collier. But, perhaps, it was the dis- covery of this disappointing anomaly that has led to the withdrawal. I observe that the correspondent emphasises again the fact that Sir William was the founder of the sliding-scale, and incidentally remarks, "Mr. D. A. Thomas, M.P., said he did not; but let that pass." I feel that in the new light shed upon Sir W. T. Lewis's motives and character some explanation is due from my- self for the error into which 1 fell; but I can- not help thinking that my mistake in attri- buting the foundation of the sliding-scale to Mr. Kussey Vivian was not an unpardonable one. In the first place, the late Lord Swansea laboured himself under the same misapprehen- sion, and the hallucination was so strong that I rccoliect his showing me papers and cor- respondence which on the face of them appeared to bear out hjs contention. Then, again, the minutes of the meeting of the council of the Monmouthshire and South Wales Collieries Association for May 14, 1875, when the sliding-scale was first founded, are distinctly misleading, and, in the interests of accuracy, the earliest opportunity should be taken for amending them. In those minutes it will be found that "Mr. H. H. Vivian, M.P., moved, Mr. Nixon seconded, and it was resolved: 'That a committee be appointed to consider a future sliding-scale of wages for fixed periods to be agreed on, to be based on the selling price of coal,' &c. To this an amendment was moved by Mr. W. Thomas Lewis, but was lost. The amendment was not hostile to the principle of Mr. Vivian's pro- posal; but, still, the founders of great ideas are generally taken to be those who put them forward rather than those who move amend- ments. The explanation of what on the face of it appears to be contradictory is probably to be found in the almost morbid anxiety Sit W. T. Lewis has always shown to give to others the credit for schemes designed to bene- fit the South Wales coal trade. But be that as. it may. and however loth his late colleagues may be to credit him with the origination of the sliding-scale, no impartial man will, I ven- ture to think, be found to deny his title to have been mainly instrumental by his shrewd foresight in expediting its demise. Should this explanation chance to catch the eye of the "Times" correspondent, may I express the hope that he will accept it in the spirit in which it has been conceived?

THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOUTHERNDOWN. A STARTLING PROPOSAL. SUGGESTED PURCHASE OF DUN- RAVEN CASTLE. AND TRANSFORMATION INTO A FIRST-CLASS HOTEL. The development of seaside resorts in the neighbourhood of industrial populations is one of the features of modern civilisation, and in some cases estates owned by distinguished families have been sold to provide means of recreation for rich and poor alike. It sounds like sacrilege to hint that Dunraven Castle, which occupies the site of what was once the home of Caractucus and other old-time wor- thies, may be turned into an hotel, and that the park which surrounds the Welsh home of the Earl of Dunraven may be open to the sport of golfers. This, however, is a scheme which has been seriously considered by a number of local gentlemen who have cast their eyes upon Southerndown as one of those seaside places which will bear development, with a fair chance of the capital expended thereon returning a reasonable amount of interns^. We do not know what the Earl of Dunraven or his next of kin. Major Wyndham-Quin, M.P., may say to this proposal, but we are in a position to state that the subject has been thoroughly discussed, and that the amount necessary to turn Dunraven Castle into a first-class hotel has been estimated at £ 5,000. The construction of the Vale of Glamorgan line has placed the Castle and Southerndown within reasonable of railway communication, and a light railway from Southerndown Road Sta- tion is all that is necessary to reach the pro- posed new hotel. Although the' Welsh resi- dence of the Earl of Dunraven is denominated a castle, it really is a large mansion, and as his lordship is very rarely an occunant it is suggested that he may not be indisposed to part with this portion of his Glamorganshire e-tate. provided there should be no legal difft- culty in the way. and that satisfactory terms can be arranged. In the park thare would be no difficulty in forming grand golf links, without interfering with the deer which roam over the grounds in a sem'-wild state. It mu4 be understood thtit this paragraph is based upon certain suggestions which have been made in Cardiff and Newport, and that we have no authority for supnosing that Lord Dunraven and others interested in the estate will acquiesce. When, however, one nobleman sells the most historic portion of his domains to casual buyers. and another turns him-elf and his estates into a limitel liability c •mpany, no one can say what may happen in this or any other like case.

PONTABDULAIS MAD DOG. RE-ASSURING NEWS FROM PARIS. A Paris correspondent of the "Western Mail," writing on Sunday night, givss re-assuring news with reference to the condition of thi victims of tliB Pontordulais mad dc-.g. He soy-:—"The whole of the eight children from Pontardulaie are doing well. After the fifth day the treat- ment becomes less severe, For the iii-st five days the autnorities inject in both sides, but after the fifth day in each side on alternate nights. This is the fifth' day cf the visit of the Welsh children, so that it is thought that the worst is over. On Friday little Simon Jones was taken ill, and it was fearsd that it was a case of rabies. The hospital doctor was sent for. and went to the hotel at once, He pronounced it to be a case of gastric fever, and prescribed accordingly. The lad is all right now." Our correspondent adds:—"I had a walk round the institute yesterday in the company of one of the porters. It is a very large place. The laboratories are numerous and extensive, with a great many medical students. The secret of treatment, however, is confined to one doctor. There are some hundreds of animals in sheds ready to be inoculated. Most of tham are rabbits, but there are rats, guinea- pigs, cats, chickens, geese, and dogs. The founder of the institute, Professor Pasteur, was born in 1822, and died in 1895. His grave is just inside the entrance-hall, and to his memory a magnificent monument has been erected. There is a large painting of the professor in the entrance-hall.

DEATH OF MR. H. W. CRIPPS, Q.C. Mr. H. W. Cripps, Q.C., died at his resi- dence at Marlow, Bucks, on Monday, after a lingering illness. He was chairman of the Buck. (41vrter Sessions, Chancellor of the Dioc t Oxford, and Recorder of Lichfield.

THE MATCH TO TAKE PLACE AT CARDIFF. That the announcement of a Gentlemen T. Players' match, to take place on the Cardiff Arms Park in a fortnight's time, will be received with general enthusiasm in the dis- trict, I make not the slightest doubt. Cricket, as I have, fortunately, had occasion to point out of late, is fast gaining a hold on the South Wales public, and there cannot be the slightest doubt but that the summer pastime has in this part of the country a great future. For this. in the main, we have to thank Mr. J. H. Brain, in the absence of whom I am quite convinced there would have been no county cricket. It is peculiarly apropos, however, that in this. the first representative match that we have had in South Wales—at any rate, for many seasons past—the Glamorgan captain should have taken an interest. Certainly, we have no one fitter in South Wales to select a. Gentlemen's team than he, and obviously aa. one fitter to captain it. In a few days time. I have no doubt, we shall hear what the composition of the Gentle- men's team, will be. On Saturday afternoon Mr. Brain" was rather afraid of the bowling talent on the Gentlemen's side, and considered that if such players as Silverlock, Bancroft, Russel, Ac., did get set, then the chances of the amateur trundlers getting them out were rather small. It may be so. but I should like to point out that there are several amateur bowlers in South Wales at present whose efforts have been meeting with marked success. L. F. Stedman, captain of the Monmouthshire team, is, perhaps, the first I should mention in county cricket—and in club cricket, too, for the matter of that. H'is average of late has been an exceedingly good one, a,nd, if only for his bowling, it may be deemed advisable to include him in the Gentlemen's Eleven. Again, we have S, Sweet-Escott, S. Biggs, J. R. Porter, H. B Letcher (who-would, of course, be included for his batting independently of his bowling abilities), and possibly F. L. Rees, of Llanelly, who. on Saturday, I note, scored 50 against Swansea and, in addition, took four wickets for 37 runs. In the batting department the Gentlemen would, of course, have the choice of J. H. Brain, W. H. Brain, H. B. Letcher, E. W. Jones, Ll. Lloyd. P. C. Phillips, J. G. Clark, and one or two others—probably, one from the West. Of course, if V. T. Hill and W. Morgan. Cymmer, would play there is very little doubt but what the/ vould rtrungthe.i the Gentlemen's side, both from a batting and bowling point of view. anyhow. I cannot make it out that the Gentle- men's side would be anything like so weak as some imagine, and, indeed, I feel confident th.t. however strong the professional side may be, the amateurs will give a big show. The professional Mde need not be dealt with at any length, for it is fairly obvious how it will be composed. Indeed, only in the case of the eleventh man does there seem any doubt -,s to itr composition. From what I can make out, the side should be something like the fol- lowing-.—Bancroft, Silverlock, Russel, R. Lowe, S. Lowe, Steeples, Mayes, Creber, Willgoose, Davies, i nil Hogg or Binch. From a bowling point of view, the profcGolollal side will be. perhaps, a trifle stronger than the amateurs, but, even supposing such to be the case. the players are likely to lose to the amateurs in the batting department. Of course, four such sound bats as Russell, Silxerlock, Bancroft, and R. Lowe would mean a great deal on a side. Still, af'cr tnem, there i:; a pronounced tail, v.iierca-) the amatouns would havo very little in that direction, so that what they may pos- sibly lone in bowling they will certainly gain in batting. Of couroc, the main thing m matches of this kind in South Wales is the advancement of cricket generally, and I ah quite confident that this match will do much in this direction. Indeed, I shall be surprised, providing there is fine weather on next Monday and Tuceday week—that is, August 28 and 29-if there is not the largest gate of the season on the Cardiff Arms Park. The majority of the professionals— indeed, I may say all of them that I have spoken to on this matter—arc very keen upon the match. They have expressed a desire to keep charges down to just bare expenses, the railway fare, or some trifling expense more. If the gate is large they could, of course, be more generously dealt with. What I should like'to see, however, would be a bumping gate that cculd spare a good round sum to the Glamorganshire" and Monmouthshire County Clubs. There is no doubt both clubs are sadly In need of funds, and a match of this sort would appear to be an fxcellent way of re- plenishing the depleted exchequers. The Cardiff-Newport match on Saturday proved, after all, a rather one-sided affair, the Welsh Metropolitans winning at the finish in distinctly easy fashion. At the same time, one cannot but condola with Newport upon the severe loss they sustained when Silverlock was compelled to retire after bowling four overs. He stopped a. very hard return from J. H. Brain that put out the little finger of his right hand, with the result that he could not take any further part in the proceedings. His loss to Newport was incalculable, for, throughout the season Silverlock has, not only b?cn one of the best batsmen for club and county—as may be judged from the fact that, so far this season he has scored over 1,600 runt—jut his bowling, too, has been invalu- able; and. speaking from memory, I should say that he has taken more wickets than any other bowler in Monmouthshire. Indeed, it is a question if anyone, with, perhaps, the ex- ception of Creber, has rivalled him in this respect. On the Cardiff side J. G. Clark and J. H. Brain opened the innings in strong fashion, both playing the Newport bowling with con- siderable free'Jom. J. H. Brain was out rather unluckily, and then, after Rooney had given a truly Jessoppian display, J. P. Cadogan went in and played one of the finest innings we have seen for some time. He was very quiet for the first quarter of an hour. but then, when he had become settled down, he hit all round the wicket with remarkable free- dom. His best stroke was on the leg, although now and again he got one through the slips in very pretty fashion. Cadogan. by the way, has been most consistent in his batting this season, and, in addition, has proved himself so exceedingly smart in the field that it in a wonder we have not seen him oftener in the ranks of the Glamorgan Eleven. Down West there was. I am told, a very interesting match between Swansea and Llan- elly. Swansea Winning, after a most exciting finish, by ten runs. Creber, of course, had something to do with Swansea's victory, although he did not seem to do so well as in county games. Throughout the season, how over, Creber has not shown, all things con- sidered, to so much advantage in club as county matches. In the match with Cardiff at the Welsh metropolis on July 29 I was told that Bush and one or two other-! were hitting him all over the shop, and yet none of them can do it in a county game, when he evidently puts his heart into his bowling. Iu this respect he reminds me very much of that rare old forward, C. h. NichoJl, who in club matches could not play for "shucks," but in inter- national games was one of the best forwards turned out of this or any other country WELSH ATHLETE.

PRESENTATION TO HAVERFORD- WEST. At the quarterly meeting of the Haverford- west Town Council on Monday the Mayor (Sir Charles Philipps. Bart.), who presided, pre- sented to the council an oil painting of Ir John Perrott, the town's greatest benefactor. It is to be hung in the council chamber.

STEVENS' FINE BREAD. STEVENS' FIN1- CAXE8. STEVENS' DELICIOUS PASTRY- STEVENS' FRENCH BREAD, crisp and nutty. Van will call. 7000