Evening Express

LOCAL AMUSEMENTS. Theatre Royal, Cardiff. The Carl Rosa Company gave a splendid performance of Gounod's "Fauat" before a full house on Monday evening. There were several points in which the company showed to greater advantage than upon their last visit One was that the general action was freer; the groups were allowed to move about more, and the consequence was a pleasing change from the statuesque character of the "crowds," especially in the background. The relief seemed to give the performers more interest in their work, and the ensembles went with better swing. The orchestra had been strengthened, and, with a total of over thirty performers, gave an interpretation to the setting that was very effective. The overture especially was noteworthy as a performance. and the audience broke out into loud applause as it finished. The "Marguerite" was Miss Lucile Hill, an artiste of sterling worth. Her singing was delightful and her acting very impressive. In the famous Jewel Song" she gave an interpretation fall of feeling and intelligence. Although the difficult passages were negotiated skilfully, there was an absence of the vocal athletic display that so often mars th.3 solo. It would be difficult to find-or even imagine—a better Mephis- topheles than Mr. Alex. Bevan. He seems to have a fim grip upon all the meaning of the character, and his sardonicism was exquisite. Mr, Arthur Deaue was even more successful than before as "Valentine." Throughout the evening he sang with fine power, and in the death-scene his acting was intense. As the hero of the piece, "Faust," Mr. E. C. Hedmondt gave a very finished per- formance. meeting the requirements of the cast with nicety in the acting, whilst his admirable vocal powers were exercised forcibly and, at the same time, tastefully. Miss Cecilia Waldron was excellent as Siebel," Mr. Sydney; Poyser proved an amiable "Wagner." and Miss Douglas Wilson made capital use of her few opportunities as "Martha." Tho choruses were sung well, and the "Soldiers' Chorus" was heartily re-called. Thia (Tuesday) evening "Carmen" will be given, with Itiss Winifred Ludiam in the title role and Herr Julius Walther as Don Jose." Grand Theatre, Cardiff. The return visit to Cardiff this week of Messrs. Dottridge and Longden's ^rnupany in the powerful drama. "The King of Crime." was looked upon as Quite an event by the habitues of the Grand Theatre, and. conse- Quently. the audience on Monday night was macli larger than the average. Tbo com- i pany is a splendid combination, pnd the pro- duction for smoothness and effect was voted to be even better than before. Mr. Samuel Livesey, as "Ronjane (the King of ALLme)," gave a finished interpretation of his complex and varied part. His strong personality carried everything before it. A criminal by: force of circumstances, he was yet. capable of, being stirred by the temlere«t of feelings, and that was best brought out in his conduct, towards his blind wife, "Henrietta." Miss Florence Dooley, ms "Henrietta," was capital, and to was Mr. Wall ford t-) !yn, the villainous son of "Gandelu," the murdered miser. Mr. Walter T. CItlfo-d and Miss Maggie Edwards took leading parts well. Mr. Hy. Ronsby. as "Mick," was funny as well as clever. Judging > from the volume of applause at the close, j expectations had been more than realised. The Empires.. CARDIFF. for uu .ii-e audience the songs of the tlder generation still possess their original charm, and, alth >i»gh it may be a little diffi- cult to see why it should be necessary to dress up in labouring ducks and simple home- spun and to carry a mortar-hod in order to sing "Excelsior." it must he confessed that Bmwn and Robinson, the labourers, contri- buted one of the best turns to the programme of the Cardiff Empire on Monday evening. Their garb. it, is true, did add a little touch of incongruity which made their splendid singing of "Excelsior." "Genevieve." and "Love's Old Sweet Song" all the more interest- ing. The star of the week, however, is T. K. Dunville, who brings with him some of hia most eccentric songs, the best being "The LighthoMe Keeper," in the course of which he descants upon the methods adopted in preventing ships from "knocking corners off the coast," and upon the humorous aspects -if there are any—of the keeper's occupation. The O'Kahe Japanese family give one of tiia prettiest performances we recollect in hand- balancing and kindred acrobatics. They are undeniably clever in their tricks on peri- lously-balanced pedestals and in foot-to-foot somersaults. Athletics of a different Borl- and none the luesi novel and clevEr-are pro- vided by M'Phe-e and Hill with the triple hori- zontal bars, and there are, besides, a number 1 of happy singers and dancers, such as Fred. Lincoln, who pj*>du«;s a long catalogue of his woes a" a married man; Marie Weston, a pretty singer, dancer, and instrumentalist; Violet Wagner, who has the inevitable ping- pong^ parody of "The Honeysuckle and the Bee"; the O'Malleys, whose dialogue is jprfnkled with humour, and Wilson and Lei- cester in a melodic little act. NEWPORT. George La&hwood, the well-known actor- vocalist, who has always been so smart a success here and elsewhere, is again more in;, evidence than ever-tbe dash, the strength, and the captivating style are all more pro- nounced than ever before. George Spry and Florrie Austin, who combine broad, droll comedy with the sweetest melody, have quite a new programme for this welcome re-appea- i ranee, and are one of the biggest successes in a strong bill. The Tourbillon Troupe of bicycle acrobats a re very daring. Their double staircase trick and somersault over a table form a breakneck and sensational perfor- raance. A capital burlesque turn is given by the Griffiths Brothers. Drury Lane comedy favourites Fox and Melville, in illustrated songs; Clarioe Netta.. vocalist; Jenny Bel- more. comedienne; and the Sisters De Van, in an original perch act, are also in a capital programme. The Lyceum, Newport. Messrs. Crichton and Carpenter's specially- selected company achieved an unqualified success at the Newport Lyceum on Monday ly evening in the sparkling musical comedy, The Lady's Maid (in two acts), written by C. A. Lord; the music by Ernest Haatinga. It is a pretty, vivacious, and rippling produc- tion. The vagaries of Alison Grey" (Mitt Aimee Rowe) and her maid, "Minnie Taylor (Miss Lillian Beszant). are quite delightful, a-nd the tripping of the gay lady quintette from the Minerva Music-hall, the antics of Josiah Bifftns" (a. retired undertaker), and of his nephew, Charleo Marchmont," and the sweet simplicity of the peasants make up a clever comedy.

UNITED SrATES NAVY: A GLOOMY VIEW. A New York telegram says:—The Chairman of the Naval Committee in his report says: —"While we have either built or are building all told 138 shipa. yet comparatively few of them have any real fighting value. Our naval prowess lies almost entirely in our eighteen battleshirs. eight armoured cruisers, and 21 protected c.i'isers. The rest of our ships would cut bn" little fiswe in actual war. Ships of battle and of the lino praoticaUy alone determine the naval strenjfth of a nation." The Chairman accompanies thia report with a statement of the enormous naval armar menla and programmes of other countries, particularly Germany. The Committee recommends tha building of two battleships of 16,000 tons each. two armoured cruisers of 14,500 tont, and two gunboats of 1.000 tons.— Router. f-

LLANDAFF MILLION SHILLING FUND. A contribution of 331 tlullitiTS has been sent fro oi the parish of Kadyrto eke Llaaduff Do- ect&B Million Shilling Fond. I

| REQUEST FOR INFORMATION. Fieaders who may experience any diffi- culty in obtaining the "Evening Express" in their locality will oblige the proprietors if they will send particulars to this office.

j Telephone: Nat. 502. Post Office, 95 Telegrams: Express, Cardiff." "1,

„ --v- Mainly About People. Miss Jeanne Langtry, who has quite a pretty talent in music, has set Rudyard Kipling's lines Follow me 'ome" to music, which, in addition to her other little song, My Rose," is included in the musical pro- gramme at the Imperial Theatre. Miss Cecilia Loftus, who has made her first appearance as i! Margueritein "Faust," at the Lyceum, has given a really pretty account of the way in which she came to be selected for tho part, of which she is very proud. Si. Henry Irving and Miss Terry visited an American treatre at which Miss Loftus was playing one of her best parte. Sir Henry was in a box, Miss Terfv in a stall. So favourable an im- prassion did the young actress make that Miss Terry scribbled on the back of her programme the words, "Here is cur Mar- guerite," and sent the note to Sir Henry's box. The great actor-manager nodded his entire approval across the theatre—and the thing was done. Madame Melba's beautiful home in Great Cumberland-place is being set in order for her return. The prima donna, like thousands of other dwellers in London, considers it her duty to have her house made glorious within and without for the Coronation. Madame Melba has lately been singing with success in Berlin and Wiesbaden. The greatest triumph, however, of her career she made at Monte Carlo a few months ago in the part of "Margaret" in Berlioz's highly dramatic setting of "Faust." The work was origi- nally destined for the stage (says the Lady's Field "), but until the last year or two has only been heard at orchestral concerts. One imagines the" Faust" of Berlioz should be appreciated at Covent Garden, where the audiences are nothing if not progressive. Madame Melba will appear, as usual, at Covent Garden during the season, will sing the Coronation Ode at the gala performance, and later on be heard at a musical festival held in Shef- field. The heiress of the Earl of Perth, who died the other day at his place, Melfort, is his granddaughter, Miss Druminond. She is possessed of very good looks, but, in order to help her mother to support the baim.s, works behind the unappweiative wires of a Brooklyn telephone exchange. She i. American to the finger-tips, and las flatly declined to exchange her birthright as an American girl for the best title that Scotland can bestow." In fact, she does not intend to pursue her claim to the pro- perty though it is quite clear. The rent- roll was once thirty or forty thousand pounds a year, but now the Perth title is I very scantily endowed. The late earl had two sons. One died chiidle* and the 1 other, Viscount Forth, made a love-match with a girl who was far beneath him in social rank. Consequently he was dis- owned by his people, and in turn himself renounced the title that he owed to them. He went to America, (says "Points on People") where after roughing it with his young wife he rose to a good po&ition and died in 1887. Tho domains will now doubt- less pass to some distant cousins of the late earL i The Marchioness of Bute is now in the South cf France with Lady Margaret j Crichton-Stuart, and they will not be back for some weeks at St. John's Lod^e, j Regent's Park. It is not generally known, by the way (says Points on People"), that this charming residence is Crown pro- perty. The late marquess considerably arWed to its value by building the private chapel and ball-room and laying out the beautiful gardens. Here, too, is housed the j celebrated collection of pictures assembled by the first earl. It includes a large landscape by Cuyp, and thereby hangs a tale. Did you hear," the late Lord would say sometimes across the walnuts to a friend, how Lord Rothschild wanted to buy my Cuyp as a pendant to one which I understand he has in his gallery? He sent Mr. W the dealer, over here one j day in a brougham with a basket crate on the top, to fetch my picture away. Mr. W I may say, was armed with a cheque signed by his lordship and left blank for me to fill in the figure absolutely at my own discretion." Asked how it was that the Cuyp still hung in St. John's Lodge, the millionaire host would quietly reply "Well, not being in immediate want [ of cash at the moment, I declined the deal, Besides," he would add, with a twinkle in his eye, "I thought that probably I enjoyed looking at my Cuyp quite as much as Lord Rothschild was pleased to behold his own." So true is u that money is not almighty I I The expenses of the approaching Coro- nation are estimated at £ ii0,000. In the last century George IV. easily held the record for extravagant magnificence, the cost of the ceremony in his case being a I million. William IV. was content with £50,000, and omitted to hold the- usual State Banquet in Westminster Hall. For Queen Victoria, the original vote was £70,000, but this was subsequently in- creased. I hear on excellent authority that there will be a Rothschild earldom after the Coronation. The name is not very com- j mon over here; through it heads a picture- shop nEqt to a side door of her Majesty's Theatre. But in Bavaria it is by no means rare. Another earldom (says "Points on People") is reserved for Mr. Cassel, who has been able to be of considerable service to his Majesty in the past and is now to prove that Edward VII. has a virtue over and above those usually ascribed to kings by the impartial Muse of History, namely the virtue of gratitude. It was, we think, Lord Wolseley who once told a number of boys that if he had been compelled to be a shoeblack it would have been his ambition to be the most I excellent shoeblack that shined a boot. President Loubet (says Country Life ") has been saying sometmtig equally heartening to a. gathering 01 French oooks. Be careful of your sauces," he Mtd; put your talent into tnem. Main- tain French cooking at the front rank, where your forefathers have brought it. Thanks to your cocking, plebeians like you and I vecaive crowned heads at our table." A* the o.d saw has it., Many a true word is f.pokt'H i."» and the command to do things "irl1 might" is applicable even to a I', f wef.. If the witty Presi-» cfeut can iiuci -ij'1"10thing equally nice to av to the iv,ivibcif or every other calling, kb populuiiiy is aoiitrea.

--1: THE ARTICLE CLUB. Three Actions Against Mr. Labouchere. LORD SUFFIELD'S CLAIM AGAINST "TRUTH." As we reported in our Special and later editions yesterday. Before Mr. Justice Lawrance and a. special jury in the King's Bench Division on Monday the action of Lord Sufneld v. Labouchere and Another came on for trial. The court was packed from an early hour with ladies and gentlemen interested in the case, Mr. Rufus Isaacs, K.C., Mr. Schiller, and Mr. St. John Morrow appeared for the plaintiff; Sir Edward Clarke, K.C.. Mr. Shee, K.C., Mr. Bankee, K.C., and Mr. Shearman represented the defendants; and Mr. M'Carthy watched the case for the Chinese Ambassador. In this case—the first of three—the Right Hon. Lord Suffield, Permanent Lord-in-Waiting to his Majesty the King, claimed damages for libel against Mr. Henry Labouchere, M.P., as proprietor, and Mr. Horace Venice. as manager of the weekly newspaper. "Truth," in respect of certain alleged defamatory articles which had appeared in that paper. Defendants admitted publication, and pleaded that, ia so far as the words consisted of state- ments of fact. they were true in substance and in fact; and. in so far as they consisted of expressions of opinion, were büna. fide comment on matteri of public interest. Mr. Isaacs, in opening the case, said the ground on which Lord Sufneld brought this action against Mr. Labouchere was because Mr. Labouchere had thought fit, in the oour&e of certain articles that he had written in "Truth" commenting on the proceedings of the Article Club, to make serious reflections upon too personal honour of Lord Suffield. He would say at once there was not a tittle or shadow of foundation for any suggestion that could be made with regard to Lord Suffield's personal honour. The criticisms that Mr. Labouchere had made on the Article Club only amused him, but when those criti- cisDis took the shape of insinuating that Lord St$osM had identified himself as president of a swindling concern, he could not allow the matter to pass. The Article Club and a paper called "Commerce" were managed by a Mr. Lawrence Cowen. "Commerce" was a paper which every week published an illustrated descriptive account of one great represen- tative comi-iercial Arm, who in consideration paid for an advertisement at the ra.te of tix guineas a week for a year, and became a member of the Article Club. The first presi- dent of the club was Lord Winchilsea. In 1897 the Earl of Jersey was president, in 1898 Lord Strathcona, and in 1339 Lord Suffield. Before plaintiff became president he satisfied himself by inquiries from the previous presi- dent that it was fife for him to accept the position. Except for presiding at the monthly trade dinners, at which distinguishc guests were generally present, including statesmen, Ambassadors, judges, ike., he had nothing whatever to do with the financial aspect of the club. In 1599 the Chinese Ambassador became interested, and dined several times at the club, and a tour was arranged j under the auspices of the club, the Chinese Ambassador visiting all the great firms that were members of the club. Mr. Labouchere, in February. 1900, commented on that, under the heading, "The Celeetial Pilgrim's Progress." Lord Srffield would say that everything connected with i that tour was straightforward and honour- abie. Mr. Labouchere in that article said "as president of the club there is a noble lord not unknown in the City." Lord Suffield objected to the insinuation, conveyed in that impnta- j tion most strongly, having regard to public revelations in the past of the connection between certain noblemen and company pro- moting. Mr. Labouchere also wrolo:—"What about his fellow-members on the council of the Article Club? How much longer will these distinguished personages continue to patronise such a piece of impudent and transparent humbug?" In April, 1900. Mr. Labouchere wrote:—"The duty of the members in this matter fall specially on those who are directly connected with the management, and who those were will be seen from the following list The Right Hon. Lord Suffield, K.C.B., P.O.. hi. Excellency the Hon. J. II. Choate (United States Ambassador), his Excellency the Chinese Minister, his Excellency the Servian Minister, ^Cardinal Vaughan. the Earl of Jersey, the Earl of Donoughmore. Viscount Duncanuon, Viweount Templeton. Lord Stanmore. Lord Strathcona, Lord Charles Beresford. the Right Hon. J. W. Mellor. M.P.. Sir W. H. Wills. Bart., M.P.. Ac." Further on he wrote:—"If Lord Suffield and his colleagues regard all these proceedings as strictly honourable and legiti-! mate, they will find themselves at issue with a large portion—I should say an overwhelm- ing majority—of the members of the club, and with everybody outside it who knows the i facts." In the same article Mr. Labouchere wrote:—"The consultative council ie. I I presume, a more or less ornamental body. It must be pointed out, however, that if the whole concern is. as many of the members consider it. a 'ramp,' they are. whether orna-1 mental or active members, personally par- ) ticipating in that 'ramp.' They serve, in fact. like the ornamental personages on the front page? of company prospectuses, for purposes of decoys. Those of them, therefore, who are dignified with consultative functions Will, if they consult their own reputations and that of the* club, at once take comrael as to the best means of placing the constitution of the club on a. more respectable footing, eliminating the commerce element, and guarding both present and future m6Dl- bers against the financial designs of the club's honorary secretary. This remark applies more particularly to Lord Suffield, the presi-1 d&nt of the club." Continuing, counsel said apparently the source of Mr. Labouchere's information was a Mr. Richmond, who had been requested to resign his mem- berahip of the olub. There was such! a thing as legitimate criticism, but he sug- gested all theso libels were part' and parcel of f a. vindictive design on the part of Mr. Labou- chere to injure Lord Suffield. Under those ciroatnatanoes he asked the jury, after they had heard Lord Suffield's explanations, to award him subotantial damages. Ju&t before Mr. Isaacs concluded hie speech ] the Judge said he had received a.n intimation from a member of the jury to the effect that he was a. member of the Article Club. This announcement produced great laughter in court, and the learned counsel engaged looked at each other as if at a loss what course to pursue. The Judge aaid he supposed the .best way! would be to discharge the gentleman and go on with eleven members, Sir E. Clarke said he had no objection. He should, however. like to spare the gentleman's feelings. (Lond laughter.)—The juror in ques- tion was then discharged, and the case pro- ceeded. Lord Suffield in the Box. Lord Suffield was then called/and explained how he fiwit became connected with tho Article Club. He said there was not the slightest foundation or justification for saying that the Article Club was a swindle, or that it was run almost entirely in the interests of Lawrence Cowen. In further examination Lord Suffield said he accompanied the Chinese Ambassador on his tour, and his Excellency! visited works which belonged to persona who were not members of the Article Club. The Chinese Minister paid the expenses of him- self and his suite. He admitted he had been connected with some City companiep, •but, with ovs or two email exceptions, which he specified, he had paid for all the shares he held in those companies. None of the mein- bers of the club had ever complained that the club was a swindle. On the contrary, they had all said they got great advantages from belonging to it. In cross-exam i nation Lord Suffield said the members of the Article Club paid about £3<JO a year each to the paper "Commerce" for advertisements, &c., and he supposed that money went to Lawrence Cowen. but there were many expenses to be paid. None of the members troubled about the financial arrange- ments of the club. Those were left tcj Cowen j and a committee, but he could not say who ] the committee were. Lord Suffield, further cross-examined, said he was totally unaware of the financial state of the Article Olub. He left all those matters to Cowen. He believed the club was turned into a limited company in 1901. but he was not aware that he held ono of the shares, Cowen fifteen, and that there were only 25 shares in the oompany. (Lauchter.) He did not know if he was chairman of the company, unless he was 80 by virtue of being president) of the club. He wns not aware that Cowon was writing to chambers of commercc before the Chinese Ambassador's tour suggesting that they ehonld send up names of people to become members of tho olub, but he did not see any special ha.rm in it. Questioned! further, witness said it was untrue that when the Chineae Ambassador and himself went over the Worcester Royal Porcelain Works they made the inspection as Mr. Page and party," and paid sixpence a-piece for admis- ■ion. (Laughter.) The hearing was adjourned. =

SERIOUS ILLNESS OF MRS. RUTKERFOORD HARRIS, Mrs. Rotberfoord Harris, wife of Dr. Rather- foord Harris, lies seriously ill at Llangibby Caat-le. Dr. 0, E. B. Marsh, of Newport. !i -■» been in almost constant attendance for > day*. and. as Mrs. Harris's condition v ac serious, it was decided to send to Loudon for Bir Frederick Treves, the eminent specialist, who (ravelled down by special train«

WELSH PATAGONIANS Arrangements Complete for Removal. 250 LEAVING FOR CANADA IMMEDIATELY. Important cables from Patagonia were received yesterday by Mr. W. L. Griffith, the hon. secretary of the Welsh Patagonia Com- mittee. These messages entirely dispose of the mischievous rumours that the settlers had changed their minds about leaving the C'hubut Valley for Canada. The only regret felt is that the money at the disposal of the com- mittee (some £ 2,000) imposes a limit on the number who can be assisted to leave. The amount in hand was communicated to the committee acting on behalf of the settlers, and they were asked to make their arrange- ments accordingly. They cabled on Monday that 250 will avail themselves of the proffered ansist.,anee, and that others would leave by the same boat. these latter paying for their own passages. It is clear from the cablegrams received yesterday that the settlers' committee has been obliged to make a careful selection of the persons to receive assisted passages, and that if another £1,000 were available it would be gratefully used in increasing the number of Welsh people who wish once more to live under the British flag. Arrangements will now be made at once to send a ship to take the settlers away from Chubut. It is interesting to bear that the settlers have put up a sub- stantial caeh deposit as a guarantee of their desire to leave.

» OUR LEGISLATORS. The Navy as a. Means of Defence. EXPENSES OF TECHNIOAL EDUCATION. HOUSE OF LORDS —Monday. The Lord Chancellor took his seat upon the Woolsack at a quarter past four o'clock. Lord WEMYSS moved a resolution that. "Looking to the possibility of our being at some future time at war with one or more European Powers, it would not be wise to trust to the Navy alone for security against invasion, and the more so as the general power and effectiveness of the Navy the world over would be pro tanto thus lessened by the necessity of retaking in our home waters a sufficient navalyforce for the defence of the United Kingdoto." The Earl of SELBORNE said it would be a bad day for this country when we ceased to rely upon the Navy as our main source of national strength. The function of the Navy in war would be to follow the ships of the enemy wherever they were to be founcjf Lord Wemyss must have a very imperfect conception of naval strategy if he thought the function of the Navy in war would be merely to do a sort of sentry-go up and down these shores. The duty of the Na.vy would, under all circumstanced be to find the enemies' ships and to defeat them. (Hear, hear.) No Minister in his senses would say this country did not require an Army. Their lordships divided, and there voted_: For Lord Wemyss' resolution 6 Against 53 Government majority 47 Lord REAY asked the Lord President of the Council a number of questions as to the funds in the hands of technical education com- j mittees. The Duke of DEVONSHIRE, in reply, said: the noble lord was quite right in assuming that it was intended that the local expendi-1 tnre-by which he meant expenditure on even ing schools other than that which was pro-! vided by the Government grants-iihould in fnture be provided by the local authorities under the Technical Instruction Acts. The existing local authorities under the Technical Instruction Acts had by no means exhausted the funds at their disposal applicable to the purposes of education. It was possible, how- ever, that the responsibility for the whole of the evening school work, as contemplated by the new regulations of the Board of Education, for last year and this year might involve local authorities in an expenditure which their present resources were unable to meet. The Bill now before Parliament provided addi- tional and ample resources for all parts of the country except London. In consequence of the decision in the Cockerton case, the Board of Education were advised last year that they could no longer continue legally to make grants for evening schoole provided or main- ta.ined W school boards for persons other than children or for instruction other than elementary The present policy of the Board of Education was that evening schools, the great majority of which were intended for persons older than children, should be pro- vided and maintained by the local authori- ties for secondary education and receive grants under the regulations of the board relating to secondary education. Their lordships rose at 5.40. — 1 HOUSE OF COMMONS Monday., The Speaker took the Chair shortly after three o'clock. Lord Charles Beresford. Lord Charges Beresford (n,), introduced by Sir William Walrond and Sir John Colomb, took the oath and his seat for Woolwich, in plaoe of Colonel Hughes, resigned. He was cheered by the Ministerialists. Mr. Hugh Law (N.), introduced by Mr. Swift MacNeill and Oapta.n Don el an, took the oath and his seat for West Donegal, in the room of Mr. James Boyle, resigned. Colonial Marriages. General LAURIE (U,, Pembroke Boroughs) presented a Bill to amend the law of inheri. tance in the case of certain Colonial mar- riages, and it was read a first time. Flour and Sugar. Mr. KIMBER (U.. Wandsworth) asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he was aware that flour was used in tho manufacture of grape sugar (glucose), which was already taxed in proportion to its value as compared with ordinary sugar; whether he was pre- pared to make an exemption of flour1 so used from the proposed new duty on flour, or, as an alternative, to allow a rebate off the existing Excise duty on grape sugar; and whether, fail- j ing such an exemption or rebate, the effect would be that imported grape sugar would only pay jES 15s. per ton import duty against R,3 5&. per ton paid by the home manufactured article. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER: My attention has been called to this matter. I do not think that any exemption would be possible, but I will consider whether the alter-! native suggested in the question could be adopted.

LORD CHARLES BERESFORD. Loses No Time in Making His Presence Known. Lord Charles Beresford, who took hit seat in the House of Commons on Monday, has lost no time in exerting his Parliamentary influence upon some of the questions with which he is especially associated. His lord- ship has already determined to move a reduc. tion in the salary of the First Lord of the Admiralty by JElOO. and also to reduce the salary of the Secretary of State for War by a similar amount, in order to call attention to the want of direct responsibility in the administration of both services, and to move a. resolution.

LIBERAL LEADER TO SPE A TIC. Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman will address a. meeting at Darlington on Saturday, May 71, in connection with the annual meeting of tho Northumberland and Durham Liberal Federa- tion.

The Primrose League banners have been awarded as follow, :-The champion banner, for the best work done in the last three yenrs, Cheltenham Habitation; the blue baumr for two years' work. Wnterloo Habitation (South-, port Division); the- red banner for one year. Hastings and St. Leonard's Habitation; the London banner, St. George's, Ranker square, Habitation.

THE MISSING CHILD. Evidence at the Inquest Yesterday. VERDICT OF "DEATH FROM EXPOSURE." —— The inquiry into the circumstances attend- ing the death of Willie Llewellyn was opened at the Tynewydd Hotel, Tynewydd, yester- day by Mr. R. J..Rhys, coroner for the divi- sion. Mr. G. Matthews was elected foreman of the jury. During the hearing the streets in the vicinity were crowded with people, who eagerly discussed the affair. The identifying witness was Anne Llewellyn, mother of the lad, who gave her evidence in Welsh. She said: "My husband ia George Llewellyn, 100, Heolygerrig. The proper name of the child was William. He was five years and one month old. I took him to the stores at Aberaman in a cart which belonged to the Co-operative. It waa on a Friday, and we started at 12.50 mid-day. We went direct to the Co-operative, but were put down at the Rose and Castle. The lad came into the shop Rose and Castle. The lad came into the shop with me. I did not see him go out. It was not five minutes before I found he was missing. I went out immediately, but could not see him. That was the last time I saw him alive. He had not lately been with me to* Aberaman, but was there once in a shawl. He had. how- ever been to Llwydcoed. He was a sharp little lad, but could not speak English. I gave informa.tion to the police, and Rill certain that the lad found on Saturday was my son. Questioned by the jury. witness said the child was in school, but attended very irregu- larly. owing to his frequent indisposition. The shop was full at the time, and when she called later she heard he had gone up Mill-0tr«t. The lad did not. go very often to Merthyr. iHe was a good walker. A year ago he walked home all the way from Cwmtan. The Coroner asked for the father, so as to be certain as to the identity. This witness identified his son by his clothes and general appearance. Alderman Walter Morgan, J.P., said: I was out hunting on Saturday. The dogs got off the path. We wero coining back from Blaen- gwrach. and just at the top of Carn-y-Moeaau we turned, with the horses after us, and found the lad lying about 200 yards from the highest peak. The Coroner: How far was he from the path?—About twenty or thirty yards. The lad when we found. him was lying quite naturally on his left side, with his arm under his head. His clothes were then dry. I cannot say if they had been wet. He put a jacket round him, and Llewellyn carried the child as a new-born babe all the way. The body could not be seen from the path. But for the dogs we would not have noticed him. Many might have passed that way without seeing him. The Coroner incidentally remarked that the affair was quite clear. The boots were then examined, and the Coroner observed that they were well preserved. One of the jurors said it was remarkable that the lad could could have walked all the way in such boots, seeing they were so clean. The Coroner said it was possible to walk in patent leather boots such as these were with- out dirtying them very much. In fact, a walk in the grass would clean them. Refer- ring to the mountain, the coroner said it was quite possible to walk right down to Resolven without seeing anybody. The Foreman of the Jury at this stage got up and 8aid a statement which appeared in an evening contemporary, to the effect that part of the body had been eaten, ought to be corrected. The Coroner; We will have medical evidence as to the condition of the body. Dr. Wm. Hinde, assistant to Dr. Warburton, said he saw the body at 1.15. on Saturday afternoon in the Tynewydd Hotel. He made a careful examination of the body. The clothing was intact. There was a little blood on the collar on the right side. Tan days at least had elapsed since the lad died, and he might have been dead fourteen. There was no fracture at all. There was a slight dis- colouration on the right cheek and forehead. The countenance was quite passive, but the eyes were sunken. The marks on the cheek and forehead were quite superficial. There were abrasions on the hands which looked somewhat fresh. Decomposition had set in. The clothing had the appearance of having had a considerable wetting. The shirt was saturated through. The Coroner said that the rain of laet Tues- day would account for that. Dr. Hinde further stated that the side nearer the ground was wetter than the other. One of the hands was quite eoddened. The Coroner: Everything goes to show that the child had been thåe for many (lays. The Coroner then proceeded to sum Ul). The child, he said, had very likely got confuted, and before he laid down took of? bis jacket as if he were going to lie down in bed. Very likely it was then dark. and the lad had possibly died during the night. lIe (the coroner) did not suppose that he had lived to see the following day, because if he had he would have seen some house, or would have had his attention drawn to something elae. If he had got to the edge of the mountain ho would have been able to see several houses, a.nd there were a few people passing that way every day. There was no doubt that the child had been at the bottom of Rbiw Mynach that afternoon. How he got there they could not say.. From there to the top was not a very great distance. He might have got confused between Merthyr and Aberdare. Once he would have got to the top of the hill there was a considerable distance to Carn-y-Moesau. The child might have rambled over those placeø every day of the week for a month and not see anyone. One might be working within 300 yards of another person without being seen. He (the coroner) could quite believe that the child had lost his way and got right up to Carn-y-Moesau. There was nothing in the case to suggest foul play. Sup- posing the child had been murdered, there would be a fracture or other aien of injury. The expression on the face was quite placid and peaceful. The child looked as if he were Mleep, ao that there was nothing in the way of terror before him. and there was nothing, aa far as he (the coroner) could suggest, to show that the child had been stolen by any- body and taken there to be lost. The kid- napper would have turned him loose some- where else. He thought that the boy lost his way and took the wrong direction, and that he died from exposure. .The jury unanimously agreed with this view, arid returned a verdict of Death from exposure." Body Brought to Merthvr. The body was subsequently conveyed to Tre- berbert Railway Station. Previous to its being taken from the hotel a large crowi had congregated, and they sang the old "welsh hymn, Bydd myrdd o ryfeddodau." The procession was headed by the Rev. J. Rees (vicar of Treherbert), the Rev. John Davies (curate of St. Mary's, Treherbert), and the Rev. Mr. Davies (Horeb). Swansea Boy Missing. Robert M'Loughlin, a Swansea lad, has been missing from his home at Cwmhwrla since Friday. He was allowed out for half an hour in the evening to play, but did not return. The boy, who is ten years of age, was not used to roaming about, and it is feared that harm has happened to him. The water in two ponds in the neighbourhood haa been let out, but nothing found.

PENARTH PIER TOLLS. Decision to Return to Last Year's Charges. The annual meeting of the shareholders of the Penarth Pier Company was held at the secretary's office. Docks, Cardiff, 011 Mon- day. The directors' report showed that the profit for the year was £80, making, with the balance from the previous year, a total sum available for dividend of £214. The direc- tors recommended a dividend of 21 per cent. per annum, the balance of £69 to be carried forward.—The report was adopted and the dividend formally declared. In consequence of the diminution of profits, the directors had thought it advisable to raise the tolls by an additional penny, but. after a brief discussion, it was decided to return to the charges of last year, viz., entering pier. Id.; embarking,, Id.; and dis- embarking, 2d.-makinr: 4d. in all. The question was raised as to the desirabi- lity of selling the pier to the Penarth Dis- trict Council. The feeling of the meeting was in favour of such a coursc, provided the council were prepared to pay a. reasonable price. The Tetirinp: directors. Major Forrest and Mr. Edmund Handcock, were re-eleoted.

SWANSEA WOUNDING CASE. At Swansea Police-court on Monday the I Militiaman John Logan, was asivin brought np charged with causing srievous borlily harm, but on the application of the TIead-constable I he was again remanded for a week, the prose- cutrix boing still at the hospital and too ill to attend. I

01AMO N D WEDDING AT MA EST EG Mr. W. Powell, lato past-master of Maesteg. and Mrs. I'oweli ce'eorated their dia.-noiiu wedding yo^tcrday. They were married In Marfan) Chmcn in and are now 85 and 34 year? of respectively.

KpEVF-Nb' BRLAD. Noui'iehing. Wives au aptt!-ite.

T II!I RHYMNEY RLY. BILL. Proceedings before the Lords Committee. STRONG OPPOSITION FROM NEWPORT. The Bill promoted by the Rhymney Railway Company, which seeks power to extend their system by the construction of three amall lines, came again before a Select Committee of the Honse of Lords on Monday, Lord Pir- bright presiding. The promoters were represented by Mr. Littler, K.C., Mr. Moon, K.C., Mr. Joseph Shaw, and Mr. G. S. Robert- son. The following counsel appeared for opposing petitioners:—The Hon. J. D. Fitzgerald, K.C., and Mr. Ram. K.C.. for Lord Tredegar; Mr. A. C. Thomas, for Mary Llewellyn and another; Mr. Baggallav, K.C., and Mr. Trevor Davis, for the trustees and receiver of the Meyrick Estate; Mr. Ram, K.C., and Mr. Noble, for the Alexandra Docks and Railway Company; Mr. Pember. K.C., Mr. Freeman, K.C., aad Mr. Rhys Williams, for the Barry Railway Company; Mr. E. H. Lloyd and Mr. G. J. Talbot, for the Newport Chamber of Commerce; and Mr. Ashworth James, for Mr. Herbert Percy Davies Phillips. The Chairman at the opening of the sitting announced that the Committee had decided to allow the locus standi of the Alexandra Docks and Railway Company, Newport. At the same time, it was only fair to say, without pre- judging the case, that it was rather difficult to allow opposition to be brought against a Bill simply on the ground that one particular place might possibly get an advantage over another. It was merely a question of trade rivalry. There had been ün. indication, to the mind of the Committee, that the trade of Newport might to some extent be damaged, but it was rather hard to deny facilities to a. place because another place carrying on the same trade might be injured. Mr. Ram pointed out that in the case of Lord Tredegar the matter stood on altogether different grounds. His lordship had a very keen interest in the trade of Newport. The Chairman assented, remarking that that was quite a separate question. Mr. Talbot urged that there was no justi- fication for the proposed new lines on public grounds, because the existing facilities were amply sufficient. The effect of the Bill, if passed, would be to give Cardiff a. fictitious advantage over Newport. Mr. Hann, manager of the Powell DufTryn Company, continued his evidence. Cross- examined by Mr. Freeman, he admitted that a Bill on similar lines was thrown out in 1900. and that no change had taken place since then. Re-examined by Mr. Shaw, he said that the Bill would put the new collieries in exactly the same position with regard to Cardiff and Barry 'as the Aberdare collieries were with regard to Newport. It was necessary for the regular working of the collieries that they should have access in the straighteet possible manner to Cardiff. In his opinion. Lord Tredegar would be benefited by the carrying into effect of the provisions of the Bill. The Chairman: If the proposed new lines were not made would the carriage of coal to Cardiff from the collieries near these pro- posed new lines be diminished?—In the exist- ing condition of things, certainly. In what way would Newport be prejudiced by the construction of the proposed new lines?-1 do not think the trade of Newport would be prejudiced at all. The collieries might be prejudiced. Is the increased output of the collieries in the immediate vicinity of theee now lines such as to necessitate new sidings?—Certainly. For that large and increasing output of coal we have not adequate facilities. Mr. Wilson Taylor, manager of the Trede- gar Iron and Coal Company, next gave evidence. He agreed with Mr. Talbot's statement that the shipments of coal from Newport amounted to three million tone a year, compared with fifteen mil/ion tons from Cardiff. The dock accommodation at Newport was sixty acres, while that of Cardiff was a, hundred and sixty acres, 80 that while at Cardiff there was five times the coal ship- ment there was not thre^ limes the dock accommodation. Newport could easily accom- modate more shipping than it did at present. Asked by Mr. Ram whether his company were asking that Lord Tredegar should be forced to sell land now leased to them which he had no degire to sell, witness replied that. they must buy land in some way. In answer to Mr. Shaw, he said that as a matter of practice the buyers wanted the ooal to go to Cardiff and not to Newport. The more facili- ties they had for working the coal the better it would be for Lord Trtdegar. Mr. A. S. Tallis, cohiery manager of the Tre- degar Iron and Coal Companyi stated in evi- dence that his firm employed 3.3CO men. In his opinion, if No. 2 line were constructed valuable additional facilities would be given to the company to obtain access to Cardiff. Without such facilities there was the greatest difficulty in getting there. Mr. Lundie, general manager of the Rhym- ney Railway Company, said that the whole of the traffic which sought Cardiff from New Tre- degar passed over the company's system. Their route was the only replly effective route to Cardiff in existence. It was in the inte- rests of the public that the company suggested this easy and convenient route between the Rhymney Valley collieries and Cardiff. It was also in the interests of the royalty owners that the lines, should be constructed. Lord Tredegar was not the only royalty owner in the neighbourhood. The present scheme was really a development of the original scheme conceived many years ago. With regard to the opposition, the Newport Chamber of Com- merce seemej to think that because coal now went from the Rhymney Valley to Newport it should never go to any other place. That also seemed to be the attitude of Lord Tre- degar. The Barry Company's line was nothing like so good a connection as the pro- moters of the Bill proposed to d'ive. It was very important that the coal should be handled by oni company. As to the opposi- tion of the landowners, no damage could be done by the proposed lines which could not be met by compensation. There wa.s nothing exceptional in the way in which these lines passed over the property. Mr. Frederick Harrison. general manager of the London and North Western Railway Com- pany, said the proposed lines were not tail- waya in the ordinary acceptation of the term. If one were laying down a railway to serve the collieries, those lines would be the spure which would be put in in the ordinary way. They were the natural corollary of the exist- ing railway. If the Bill passed the London and North Western Railway Company would have powers to run over the three lines. Professor Galloway, mining, engineer, .esti- mated that each square mile in the Valley contained twenty million tons of coal. The length of the valley was about fifteen miles, and assuming that the valley was worked to a distance of one mile on each side the area wou.d yield six hundred million tons. The case for the promoters having con- cluded, Mr. W. J. Orders, ship broker, presi- dent of the Newport Chamber of Commerce, said that that body had passed a resolution on March 8 deciding to petition against the Bill on the ground that it would be prejudi- cial to the trade of Newport. They had at Newport accommodation for three times the quantity of coal they at present dealt with. At Cardiff there was considerable congestion of trafilc, and anything that tended to increase the traffic would augment the con- gestion and leave the docks of Newport un- used. The harbour accommodation was very good at Newport; there was no more difficulty than there was at Cardiff in getting up at a low state of the tide. The chamber of commtrae maintained that the accommoda- tion of Newport was not being utilised ae it ought to be. They did not want to prevent the coalowners taking their coals to the best market. They simply wanted to take the coal to its natural port. The docks of Newport would accommodate the largest ships engaged in the coal trade. Mr. W. E. Heard, sliipbroker, expressed the opinion that the proposed railways, or sidings, were simply intended to divert the traffic from Newport to Cardiff. He corroborated the previous witness in saying that the dock accommodation of Newport was unsurpassed. They had had steamers leaving the port carrying 12,000 tons of coal. Mr. Talbot addressed the Committee on behalf of the Newport Chamber of Commerce, contend- ing that there was no case for giving fresh powers to the Rhymney Railway Company. Newport was as fine a port as any in the kingdom; its dock accommodation was some- thing like 60 acres, and all the appliances were thoroughly up-to-date, and yet at pre- sent it was not used to half its capacity. He did not see why Parliament should be asked to concentrate more' coal upon Cardiff a»rl to add to the congestion there. The Committee adjourned.

FORGED NOTES CASE. At the Mansion House, London, on Monday, the eight men against whom charges are pre- ferred in connection with the extensive forgery of jM Bank of England notes were committed for trial. All pleaded Not guilty," and reserved their defence.

DR. PARKER UNWELL. Dr. Parker is lying ill at his residence at I-tampEtead. and we learned OIl inquiry on Monday night that the rev. gentleman had been in great pain all day. I A later message says that the health of Dr. Parker occasions no <t1!xicty. He is suffering Trom iHtcrual neuralgia, and it is expected will require a short rest and chp.nge of scene before resuming active work.

The NEW DOROTHY SPICED PRESSED BKEF. 2a. p.r pound. e8644

A GALLANT SEAMAN. e Salving of a Swansea Barque. SECOND OFFICER AWARDED £600. In the Admiralty, Ac., Division of the High Court yesterday the President (Sir Francis H. Jeune), sitting with Trinity Masters, had before him the action Houlder Line (Limited) and others v. the owners of the Lord Clyde and her cargo and freight for salvage services rendered to the barque Lord Clyde, of Swan- sea, her cargo and freight, in the Atlantic Ocean and the English Channel, from the 29th of January to the 12th of February last. In theso circumstances it appeared that the steamship Urmston Grange, belonging to the Houlder Line, of Liverpool. when on a voyage from Ruenoa Ayres to that port, came up with the Lord Clyde in the North Atlantic. and, in responee to signals, went to her assistance. She had been out since the 8th of May. 1891. ancl had experienced very bad weather and sickness among her crew. During a heavy gale on the 24th of January last the wheel and steering compass had been washed away, and nearly all the sails had been blbwn off the vessel or split. She, after leaving the West Coast of Panama on the 8th of May, 1891, lost the chief officer and several of the crew, who died before reaching Valparaiso; but, while re-placing the members of the crew, she was not able to get another officer in place of the ma.te. When the Urmston Grange picked her up her crew consisted of boat- swain, steward, and eight sailors. The second officer of the Urmston Grange was allowed bv the master to go on board and take command of the Lord Clyde. After provisions had been placed on board of her she was navigated in safety into Plymouth Harbour, but three of the crew were laid up with sickness when she arrived. The second officer was in charge of the barque from the 29th of January to the 12th of February last, when a new master arrived at Plymouth to take charge. By reason of the services the Urmston Grange was delayed four or five hours. and her second officer was in charge of the Lord Clyde till February 12, when a new master relieved him. Daring the time he was in oharge he was the only certificated officer ou board, and suffered much anxiety and fatigue, and was also exposed to considerable danger. The defendants admitted the services, but said they were much exaggerated. The value of the salved property was £ 7,381. Mr. B. Aspinali, K.C.. and Mr. Dawson Miller appeared for the plaintiffs, and Mr. F. Laing, K.C., and Mr. Lewis Noad for the defen- dants. The President, in giving judgment, said there was no doubt that the Lord Clyde was in a very difficult position. The only olficer I remaining on board her was uncertificated, and he was, therefore, not qualified to take chirge iu ordinary circumstances, and cer- tainly not in the extraordinary ciroumstances in which he found himself. There was no doubt that but for the presence of the second officer of the Urmston Grange (Mr. Charles Polking- horne) on board the Lord Clyde the crew would have left their ship and she would have become a derelict. The second officer's duties were very difficult, and he rendered a very efficient service indeed. In volunteering to go on board the barque he showed himself to be a very gallant officer, and he (the judge) could not forget that the chief officer was unwilling to volunteer for the service. Under the cir- cumstances lie should make a total award of £1.075. giving £250 to the owners, JE75 to the master, £ 600 to the second officer, and £150 to the crew, with costs. Judgment accordingly.

THE LICENSING BILL. Inebriates and Clubs Important Amendment. The House of Commons Standing Committee on Trade met yesterday, under the chair- manship of Mr. John Ellis, to consider 'he Government Bill on lioensing, the object of which is to amend the law relating to the sale of intoxicating liquors and to drunkenness, and to provide for the registration of clubs. There were twenty-two pages of amendments down for disenssion. Clause 1 of the Bill provides, "If a person be found drunk in any highway or other public place, whether a building or not, or on any licensed premies, and appears to be incapable of taking care of himself, he may be appre- hended and dealt with according to law." Mr. HERBERT ROBERTS m., Denbigh, W.) moved to add after "place," "or upon premises which are used for public entertainment or resort." He said he brought forward this amendment in the interests of public safety at such gatherings as cricket and football matches, and on the ground of common-sense. Mr. RITCHIE opposed on the ground that the clause merely provided an alteration of the machinery. In doing that they ought not to alter the words of the Act to which this Bill referred and which created the offence. The amendment was rejected by 21 to 15, and the dause was passed unamended. Clause 2 provides. "If any person is found drunk in any highway or other public place, whether a building or not. or on any licensed premises, while having the charge of a child apparently under the age of seven years, he may he apprehended, and shall, if the child is under that age, be liable on summary con- viction to a fine not exceeding 40s. or to imprisonment, with or without labour, for any period not exceeding one month." The clause, unamended, was ordered to stand part of the Bill, as was also Clause 3, which provides that "where a person is con- victed of any offence mentioned in the list of offences contained in the first schedule to the Inebriates Act, 1898 (as amended by this Act), the court may, either in addition to or in substitution for any other penalty, order the offender to enter into a recognisance to be of good behaviour." Discussion took place on Clause 4. which pro- vides that "where a licensed person is charged with permitting drunkenness on his premises, and it is proved that any person was drunk on his premises, it shall lie on the licensed per- son to prove that he and the persons em- ployed by him took all reasonable steps for preventing drunkenness on the premises." Mr. WHITTAKER (R.. Yorkshire, Spen Valley) moved to insert words to throw on the publi- can the onus of proving that he did not know. The amendment was negatived. Th 3 clause was passed, as also was Clause 5, which relates to protection for the wife or husband of a habitual drunkard. Clause 6 deals with prohibiting the sale of liquor to persons declared to be habitual drunkatd". Mr. BOSOAWEN ro., Tonbridge) called atten- tion to an amendment which provided that notification should be furnished to sellers of intoxicating liquors by retail and to secre- taries of cluba registered under Part III. of the Act. Mr. RUSSELL (I., Tyrone) confessed that he could not understand the Government's tenderness to clubs. Mr. RITCHIE remarked, in this matter of the black list. that a club was regarded. rightly or wrongly, as a placc in which a man consumed lienor as in his own house. Another MEMBER said that Mr. Ritchie had told them that it was impossible to prevent a man getting drink. If that wayi so. it was an argument against the clause altogether. The Bill wonld have one effect—that th" wife and children would not be able to get drink as formerly for a drunken father. Notifica- tion should be sent to clubs, which were more enticing places for chronic inebriates than either public-houses or beershops. If the Com- mittee accented Mr. Boscawen's amendment there would be equal rights for all white men, whether drunk or sober. (Laughter.) Mr. RITCHIE suggested that the amendment should be withdrawn for the present, so as to enable the Committee later on to take a deci- sion with reference to cluba. irrespective of any other question. This course was adopted. Mr. BOSCAWEN asked the Committee to extend the Bill to such a length that a black- listed person might no longer be able to go to a club and obtain liquor which he would not. be able to get elsewhere. Mr. RITCHTE opposed the proposal, because he thought that if they did everything they could to prevent an habitual drunkard from obtaining liquor "n licensed premises they could not carry the provisions very much further in safety. Mr. GOULDING (U.. Devizes) asked what would be the use of blacklisting a man if he could go and drink at a club to his heart's content. Mr. Boscawen's proposal was opposed by Mr. RITCIITE. but was carried by 40 to nine. The Committee adjourned. — Our London correspondent, writing from the House of Commone on Tuesday night, says:—The teetotal members of the Stand- ing Committee on Trade, which is just now considering the Licensing Bill of the Govern- ment, turned up in force ou Tuesday, and. amongst other things, included clubs in t he- operations of the clause relating to the black list. Both the Ho>ne Secretary and the Attorney-General vigorously objected to the proposal, but they were in a minority, and. to the delight of the temperance party, the proposal was carried. When the Bill ulti- mately does come before Parliament this pro- posal will inevitably be rejected. The spec- tacle of police-constable presenting- himself at the Carlton, Reform. Athenseum, and, other clubs with a list of drunkards who must, not be supplied with liquor is too ridioulouB for practical consideration. It is hy such acts that the teetotalers defeat their own ends. -4'-

STEVENS' BliEAD. Nourishing. Gives an appetite. &3o4h

A WEEK OF WAR. 128 Fewer Boers to Contend With. REINFORCFMENTS IN CAPE COLONY. The War Offk: on Monday night issued the following dispatch from Lord Kitchener:— PRETORIA, Sunday. Since the 21st of April columns report 2B Boers killed. 78 prisoners, and 25 aurrenders; 50 rifles, 600 rounds emaJI- arm ammunition, ten wagona, and some stock. Reinforcements have arrived in extreme west of Cape Colony, and are in touch with Cokiep. which has repiJlsed all attacks, inflicting loss on the enemy. Ic the North-east of the Orange River Colony Colonel Rofhefort's columns have been chelating unsuccessfully against Badenhorsfc's commando. General Elliot's division has moved against the Boers who have lately been active in the neigh- bourhood of Brindisi. In the Western Transvaal columns under General Ian Hamilton are em- ployed in systematically clearing the country west of Harts River. In the Eastern Transvaal General Brrce Hamilton's column have swept west of the South African Constabulary line, eoutli to Heiceiburg, but found only a few small parties of the enemy. Burghers in Conference. A telegram from Mr. Bennet Burleigh, war correspondent of the Daily Telegraph." dated Johannesburg, Friday, say — General Delarey'a commandos held a meeting last Tuesday to discuss matters. General Delarey came into Klerksdorp yesterday with a lew members of his staff. The columns, under Generals Ian and Bruce Hamilton are again operating. BALMORAL, Saturday. General Lucas Meyer, Mr. Krogh, and Mr. Van Veldar came in here yesterday. They left on the same day by the ordinary mail train for Middelburg and Belfast, where they will hold farther meetings with the burghers. We'sh Officer's Success: Major J. C. Yale, D.S.O.. of Madryn Castle, Pwllheli, who. on the transfer of Lord Kit- chener's brother to the generals list a couple of years ago. was appointed second in command of the 2nd Battalion the Prince of Wales' Own West Yorkshire Regiment ("Fighting Fourteenth") in South Africa, was on Saturday specially promoted lieutenant- colonel to command the 1st Battalion at j Quetta, India. Colonel Yale is a very fortu- nate officer. He has only held field rank for three years, and this step takes him over the head of Major Mills, who has been a field officer for ten years, and has been second in com- mand in India for three years. The new chief had never seen active service before the present war. He has been in the Army twenty- two years, and he had his company in 1888. He was adjutant of the 2nd Volunteer Bat- talion of his regiment for five years. Colonel Yale has already been mentioned in dispatches, and appointed a Companion of the Distinguished 3ervice Order daring the present campaign. -——— local Casualties. The War Office on Monday night notified the following:— Condition of officer-29th Company Imperial Yeomanry. — Lieutenant Pearch. slightly improved. April 25.

PONTARDULAIS SHOOTING ACCIDENT. Extraordinary Cross-Swearing at Swansea. At Swansea County-court on Monday (before Judge Gwilym Williams and a jury) David Gomer Jones, of PontardulaW!* colliery repairer, claimed JE50 damages from George Walters, of the same place, for injury sus- tained to his eye by the negligent firing of a gun by the defendant. This waa a new trial ordered on the question of fact whether defendant fired the gun or not. Plaintiff on Christmas Day whilst cleaning out his pigsty heard the report of a gun, and felt that he had been shot in the eye. The plaintiff's case was that George Walters was seen at the time to fire his gun t from the high road through the hedge.—The defence was an alibi, as, though defendant was shooting in the morning, he could not possibly have been there at the time men- tioned.—The jury found for the plaintiff for £3Ü and costs.—On the occasion of the last hearing, without a. jury, the judgment was for JEM only. Coata in both caaee follow this result. )

MINERS' FEDERATION AND POLITICS. Dissatisfaction of Conservative |; Clubs. i At the monthly meeting in connection with the Pontypridd District of the South Wales Miners' Federation a.t Pontypridd on Monday some of the delegate* reported that there waa growing dissatisfaction ait having to pay the Is. levy to the Labour Representation Fund. and that this dissatisfaction was felt in districts where there were Conservative cluba.—Mr. Ben Davies and Mr. Mose8 Severn explained that the fund was for non-political purposes, and waa to support Labour repre- aentation.—It was resolved to aak the execu- tive of the South Wales Federation for a further explanation on the matter, and to circulate the explanation amongst the mem- bers. | ( There was also some discussion on a motion that a, subscription be made to the Rhondda Liberal and Labour Association. The majority of the delegates were in favour of the motion, and urged that "Mabon" had ren-! derod yeomain service to the South AValea miners. This was agreed to by the opposition, who argued that they should keep the Federa- I tion funds apart from either political party. —Mr. Beer (Llwynypia Surface Lodge) pointed out that the Federation was fast becoming a political organisation.—It was eventually resolved by 93 votes to 85 that a subscription of £20 be given to the Rhondda Liberal and: Labour Association.

PROPOSED SWANSEA DOCK, i i Stock to the Amount of Two i Million Pounds to be issued. i: Arrangements are in progress for an early issue by the Swansea Harbour Trust of the necessary stock for the building of the pro- j posed new deep-water dock, amounting to < nearly £2,000,000.

THE ROYAL VISIT TO WALESJ Distinguished Visitors for the!: Vaynor House Party. The house party at Vaynol during the visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales next month will consist of Lonl and Lady MoStyn, Lord and Lady Boston, Mr. and Mrs. George Cornwallis-Wesl, Lord and Lady Spencer, Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlain, Lord Rosebery. Sir Richard Bulkcley, Sir Watkin Willianss-Wynn, and Lord Balfour of Burleigh.

LAMPETER COLLEGE. j- Forthcoming Visit of Archbishop Tempie. In October next will occur the severity-fifth anniversary of the opening of St. David's College, Lampeter, and the authorities pro- pose to celebrate the I ey-ent in a niauner worthy of the history and statue of the iueti- tmion. Many distinguished visitors will be present on the occasion, including his Grace the Archbishop of Caxterbury. It is only once before an archbishop has visited St. David's College. That w:1s on the occasion of the opening of the new wing. a function per- formed by ihe late Archbiahop Benson.

WELWITN-pIATE "TRADE. The diapntes and wages board of the Tin- plate Unions will meet on Wednesday, and tho joint board of employers and repreeenta- lives of the ruefi will hold tbeir arranged con- ference on Thursday. The area" qnesLion will again be the bone of contention. ra——————l.

I Cochfarf's" Comments. *•— j It is not difficult, after a careful survey of children's ways, and particularly of the ways of the precocious and healthy kind, to come to the conclusion that Willie Llewelyn wandered unaided from where he was last seen by his mother to the bleak spot on which his body was found at Carn-y-moesau. Such excursions, but somewhat less adventurous, are recorded in the history of every family where boys have been brought up. It is a very common thing to find boys wander- ing from neighbouring villages to Cardiff, many of whom would be lost in the same way as little Willie Llewellyn, only the highways are well fenced and the neighbourhood of a town is well policed, so that the only risk that besets such little wanderers is that of being run over by passing vehicles. A month has not gone since the writer and a neighbour found a diminutive nve-year- old lad in the corner of a front garden at a late hour of the night. He had wandered from Cairns-street to Windsor- place. He had cried until he could cry no more, and was half stupid from exhaustion, having left his home at schooltime in the morning. Only a week ago I was visiting the Cardiff Police-station on official business, and my ear caught the chirrupy sound of a child's voice coming from the retreat of the matron of the female police cells. "Rather a youthful prisoner," was my remark to Superintendent Hayward. "Yes," was the reply, ''he was found wandering about the streets by the police, and so far no one has inquired for him, but I daresay before many hours have gone he will be sought after. It ip quite a common occurrence." The little chap could not have been more than be- tween three and four years of age, and the matron was caring for him as only a woman can care for a child. He had also made- friends with the kitten owned by the matron, and had even given it a name. The kitten had submitted to the new name and its rough nursing with marvellous resignation, whilst its nurse seemed to have forgotten about his deserted home and all its associations. I have no doubt he has found his way back to his parents ere now. Arising out of the recent football disaster at Glasgow, and in view of the grand stands and other temporary struc- tures that will be called into existence by the coming Coronation festivities, the question has been asked whether govern- ing authorities have any control over such structures. It may be useful if I here quote Section 37 of the Public Health Act of 1890. Says this section:—"Whenever large numbers of persons are likely to assemble on the occasion of any show, entertainment, public procession, open- air meeting, or other like occasion, every roof of a building and every platform, balcony, or other structure, or part thereof, let or used or intended to be let or used, for the purpose of affording sitting or standing accommodation for a number of persons, shall be safely con- structed or secured to the satisfaction of the surveyor of the urban authority." This is a statutory provision that is very often overlooked at galas, fairs, and shows, and it seems to be so clearly phrased as to meet every reasonable need for the protection of the public at times when great gatherings of people are expected. The "Westminster Gazette" has a good word to say for salad. We have heard its praises sung before, and when it is well made wo believe in it quite as loyally as the "Westminster Gazette"; but, unfortunately, the name is given in England to what' Continental caterers would regard as merely the crude article. An idea of salad is ful- filled when we get any of the kind that are common in British gardens, fresh, if pos- sible, soused under the water tap, and then dumped on a dish a.nd placed on the middle of the breakfast, dinner, or tea table. Says the writer in the Gazette "Water and oil will not mix; hence the washed salad shoultf be thoroughly dried, and the salad oil will then coat the green limbs lovingly," but it must be re- membered that oil must not be men- tioned in the hearing of the average Britisher—he is willing to forego that Injury in favour of the foreigners, who will eat anything." Nevertheless, the Britisher will eat salad so made unctuously, for he forgets that salad oil does not taste like castor oil, although he imagines it when he is conscious of par- taking of it. It is a grave culinary oversight at this season of the year not to have an intelligent appreciation of the, dietetic value of early salad and the. many ways in which it can be pre- pared as a companion to every meal of the day. Now, the modest beetroot is obtain- ablaat a price that the poorest can com- mand, and can be so dished as to satisfy an epicure, and yet I can recall irstances when a guest of conservative table habits nearly fainted when asked to partake of what he erroneously thought to be— mange Is The difficulties of salad making are reduced every season, for, although a salad made with ingredients that are mixed on the spot is far more palatable than the ready-mixed article, found at tHe grocer's, yet the latter is ahead of the concoction that is prepared by people who will not take the trouble to regulate the quantities aud fulfil the con- ditions necessary to make a perfect dish. I do not quote from the Westminster Gazette," but I will ask lovers of salad to select the oarden produce they like best, wash them well, dry them well, cut them into very fine pieces into a salad bowl, and from a small bottle of salad mixing—you can get it at any first-class grocer's—drench the whole and serve. Mr. Richard Bell, M.P., was able to give his audience at Tondu on Sunday last au instance of how our views have changed in ten years regarding the duties of public life. Ten years ago Mr. Bell was occupied in the unromantic task of working coal trains between that place and Swansea. He was subsequently removed to Corn- wall, and then to the Pontypool working district, and this was the place he laboured in when he was elected general secretary of the Amalgamated. Society of Railway "Servants, and very shortly afterwards to represent the Par- liamentary constituency of Derby and railway servants generally in the House of Commons. It is not difficult to under- stand why his old companions in labour wished to hear him at Tondu opart from the desire to .strengthen the interests of the railway servants society in that dis- trict. To the greater number of the railwaymen who congregated at the Tcndu Board School on bunday last his face and voice were as familiar as those of their own household. It remains to be seen whether his visit will prove as fruit- ful as it deserves to be, for where only a quarter of the railwaymen are amalga- mated there is surely room to canvass for an increase of members with a good prospect of success.