South Wales Daily News

NEWPORT BOARD OF GUARDIANS. On Saturday the annual meeting was held, and there were present—Messrs P. Woodruff. G. B. Gething, J. Brown, W. Jones, T. F. Lewis, J. W. Bebell, H. R. Evans, C. Lyne, S. Scard, J. Richards, B. Samuel, M. M. Cope, H. P. Bolt, W. Price, D. Davies, N. G. Price, J. H. Hillier, W. Jones (Micbaehtone), P. James, T. Stroud, E. Morgan, E. Thomas, S. B. Jones, P. Rees, D. Baker, T. Moses, and J. Harris, and the Revs J. Griffiths, F. B. Leonard, and J. C. S. Darby. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN AKD VICK-CHAIBMAN. Mr T. F. LEWIS proposed the re-election of Mr Wood- ruff as chairman, and said their experience of him was sufficient to entitle him to the honour. (Applause.) Mr SOARD seconded the motion, which was unani- mously adopted. The CHAIRMAN returned thanks, and said his re-elec- tion he accepted as a proof that his services had given satisfaction. His duties were outside the board room as well as inside, and he hoped to do all to the best of his ability and the time at his disposal. He was pleased that the out-relief had decreased in the past two years, but he still thought £ 9,000 a year was too much to spend in out-door relief. He would do his utmost to lessen the burden, and he believed by so doing he would be assisting to prevent a system of creating paupers. He thanked Mr Evans, the clerk, for his valuable assistance, and all the officers of the establishment, than whom, from Mr Needham to the nurses, he did not think they could meet with a better class of public ser- vants. He said this because he visited other workhouses from home, and never met with better officers than their own, and he looked upon them as patterns. (Applause.) In conclusion, he hoped Mr Gething would be re-elected vice-chairman, as he had received great assistance from that gentleman. (Hear, hear.) Mr H. R. EVANS moved the re-election of Mr G. B. Gething, and highly complimented him on the way he had done his duty. (Applause.) He hoped the day was not far distant when the chairman would also be an ex-officio guardian. The Rev J. C. S. DARBY seconded the motion, and it was carried unanimously. The VICK-CHAISMAN acknowledged the compliment and said he was willing to do his best to serve the board in that capacity. COMMITTEES. The committees were appointed and a few changes made according to the altered composition of the board. Mr LYNX suggested an alteration in the method of recording the attendances of committees. The Clerk presented a return of the new board. The CHAIRMAN, in reply to Mr E. Thomas, said all members of the board were at liberty to visit the house, and he hoped they would do so, as he was sure they would be pleased. xwcoTiotrs. Mr H. R. EVANS, pursuant to notice, moved that a memorial be presented to the Local Government Board, calling attention to the present unsatisfactory mode of conducting elections of guardians, the resignation of candidates, and the term of office of elected guardians." He read the memorialwhich he proposed should receive the seal of the board and be forwarded to theLocalGovernment Boat d. It further set forth that in consequence of the multifarious duties of guardians, they should be elected for three years; that one-third of the number elected retire annually; that regulations as to the resignation of candidates be made; and that as far as practicable, the mode of election.be assimilated to that oi town councils. He especially urged that this change was desirable on the ground that the assessment committee had very onerous duties, and that the ratepayers would benefit by securing to the guardians a three years term of office. The Rev J. GRIFFITHS seconded the motion, which was adopted after a brief conversation. BSPORT OF ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE. This report stated that the valuation of the union had been raised from £ 276,554 to £ 328,818 or an increase of £ 52.264. The report was adopted and ordered to be sent to the Local Government Board. The board then proceeded with the relief list.

DREADFUL EXPLOSION AT CYMMER. THIRTEEN PERSONS KILLED OTHERS INJURED. IMMENSE DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY. HEROIC CONDUCT OF ONE OF THE WORKMEN. OPENING OF THE INQUEST. [FEOM OUR OWN REPORTER.] On Friday night a terrible catastrophe occurred at the tunnel now in course construction on the new line connecting Glyncorrwg and Maesteg,Llynvi and Ogmore section. The headings are being driven in three sections above, and in advance of each other for several yards. The night shift or gang of men had taken their places in the lower heading, when suddenly a frightful explosion hurled about 13 men into eternity. No less than 160 lbs. of dynamite and 50 lbs. of gun cotton having, from unexplained cause, ignited. The whole of the centre beams and supports of the masonry were blown clean through the mouth of the tunnel, a distance of 150 yards. The men on the upper heading had their lights blown out, but were otherwise comparatively uninjured. The bodies and remains of the killed were collected as soon as possible, eleven being carried out and laid in the hut outside. Major Beaumont, chairman of the con- tractors' company, was soon on the spot, and also a strong body of police to assist the explorers. Two men are missing, but one rib, and a piece of a man's beard could be found in the debris. MAESTEG, SUNDAY. One of the most fearful catastrophes that has taken place in this district for many years, and one almost unparalleled in the great destruction of property and the loss of human life under very appal- ling circumstances, occurred near this place on Friday night. As in many of the explosions in our coal mines, so here, the chief agent, by whose want of care or skill the accident occurred, is among those who have suffered from it. At present the origin of the disaster is surrounded with mystery, and it is very doubt- ful if the actual cause of it will ever be discovered. A pparently every care [was taken by the agent of the contractors to protect human life, and not the least blame is attached to anyone who is now alive. Although the operations, which are being carried on at this place, are attended with great danger, scientific appliances of the most modern kind are used, and the work is done under the personal supervision of a gentleman whose skill as an engineer is well-known. THE GLYNCORRWG RAILWAT. The village of Cymmer is situated about four miles from Maesteg, and in the midst of a large and valuable mineral district, which is as yet almost entirely unworked, owing to the want of direct railway communication. The Llynvi and Ogmore line, which was constructed many years ago, principally with the view of assisting the transit of material to and from the great iron works of Maesteg, stopped at Twytith, about a mile beyond. Several years later the South Wales Mineral Railway, cutting through Avon the Valley from north to south, was opened, but between the South Wales Mineral and the Llynvi and Ogmore Railways the BIaen Llynvi Mountain and the Valley of Avon intervened, the one rising more than 300 feet above Maesteg, and the ether being at a lower level than either the South Wales Mineral or the Llynvi and Ogmore lines. Although one railway ran at almost right angles to the other, to connect the two systems appeared for a long time a work of impossibility. A few years since a very eminent engineer projected a scheme for a railway which would be be a continuation of Llynvi and Ogmore, to pass through the Llynvi mountain by a tunnel one and a half miles in length, crossing the valley of Avon by a viaduct 150 feet high, and the new railway would be united with the South Wales mineral line. The district was known to be rich in coal deposits, but the enormous work of making a line and the engineering difficulties to be overcome, deterred capitalists from entering upon the work. When the Llynvi and Ogmore Railway became the property of the Great Western Railway Company, the scheme for the extension of this railway was revived, and measures were shortly afterwards taken to carry it out. The prin- cipal object in constructing the new branch line was that a large number of collieries were on the SouthWales mineral line, the output for which was Briton Ferry, but the coalowners desired that Cardiff should be the port of export, and at present coal is frequently carried round by Briton Ferry to Cardiff. The new line will shorten this distance to Cardiff by twelve or fourteen miles. Two classes of work were required to be done; to cover the Avon Valley by the viaduct, and to construct a tunnel through the mountain. The erection of the viaduct was placed in the hands of Mr Hansen, a con- tractor of the neighbourhood, who has nearly completed his part of the undertaking. The side of the mountain near Cymmer is cut away for a short distance, and this forms the entrance to the tunnel. The construction of the tunnel from Cymmer to Maesteg was let by the Great Western Railway Company to the Diamond Rock- boring Company, and they entered upon their labours about twelve months since, commencing the excavation for the tunnel on each side of the mountain. The Blaen Llynvi mountain is composed of strata of a varied character. Some of tJle coal measures have to be cut through. Then there are beds of the Lower Pennant rock, then again loose shale and earth, and the work is attended with considerable difficulty and danger. A section of the tunnel shows that it is of an oval shape, about 16 feet high, with a flat basement on which the rails will be laid but to admit of sufficient masonry to form the tuenel, the oval driven in the mountain is really more than 20 feet high. The work of blasting and exca- vating is carried on without intermission by three sets or relays of men, who each work eight hours a day, and in this way,rafter twelve months'labour, only about 300 yards of the tunnel have been completed on each side of the mountain. In consequence of the height of the tunnel the boring parties are divided into two sections. The lower half of the tunnel is first bored and blown out, then a tramway is laid down, and wagons are sent in. The upper section is then bored, and when blown out the broken fragments of rock fall into the wagons beneath. In this way a large amount of hand labour is saved, and tha most dangerous portion of the work is carried out without risk to human life. The diamond rock drill is used whenever the nature of the rock requires it, but in many instances the hand drill, which is worked by a machine, and which breaks off the rock by percussion, is preferred. Outside, a stationary engine pumps the water from a mountain stream into the tunnel, where the drills are at work. Four-inch pipes are laid down,and the engine forces air from the outside into them, and drives it to the face, 300 yards off, whence the men are boring, and they are thus constantly supplied with pure air. As dynamite is used for the purpose of blasting, a store of it is kept near the entrance, but inside the tunnel and, as manholes are placed along the walls, one of them, secured by an iron door and locked,is utilised for the purpose of a store. When the blasting takes place all tne men are drawn from the tunnel, with the excep- tion of the one man whose sole duty is to prepare the dynamite cartridges for explosion by putting caps on them just before they are used. Dynamite when fired gives rise to a sulphurous gas similar to choke damp in a coal mine, and, after each blast, an engine is sent into the tunnel to drive out the gas before the workmen are allowed to re enter, and even then the "gaffers," who are men of consider- eel able experience, precede the men and ascertain that all the gas had been removed. There are three gangs, and gaffers" to each gang, and such has been the care used that although the men in cutting through the mountain have passed through some of the most danger- ous strata, only very slight accidents have occurred up to Friday night. THE EXPLOSION. The little village of Cymmer a short time since con- sisted of a farmhouse and a few cottages. When the work of constructing the tunnel commenced huts were erected by the contractors near the mouth of the tunnel. They-are ordinary wooden buildings, covered with tarred felt, which renders them impervious to wet. There are two rows of them, one for the miners, and one tor the masons, but as the accommodation here is insufficient for the number of men employed, many of the em- ployes live at Maesteg and other places adjacent. On Friday fourteen men were at work at the heading, or furthest extremity of the tunnel from the entrance, boring holes with hand drills. Thirteen were engaged in various ways between that part of the tunnel where the masonry had been completed,and the upper section of the tunnel which had yet to be blown down. About 8 o'clock in the evening, Richard Parsons, a ganger, who had charge of the dynamite store, was told that two holes were driven to a sufficient depth for blasting. The only men then left in the tunnel, as the masons had left work, were fourteen miners in the extreme end, the eleven men near the portion of rock to be blown down, and the ganger Parsons. Having satisfied himself that all was ready, ne went back to the store to prepare the cartridges. As he was near the place, a little boy, named John Clemence, entered the tunnel with a drill, a large iron bar that had just been sharpened by the blacksmith. Out of curiosity to see what Parsons was doing, or at his request, the lad stopped near the dynamite store. The next thing that was heard was an explosion, which those on the surface of the mountain say resembled the firing of cannon in their midsts. The huts trembled as if shaken by an earth- quake, and the old Glyn Cymmer farmhouse near, seemed about to fall to pieces. Everybody ran out of this house to see what had occurred, and they beheld a dense volume of smoke coming out of the mouth of the tunnel. The whole place became in a state of painful excitement and terror, At ten o'clock the men who were at work would have been relieved by another set, and many were near by at the time. Several of them ran down the embankment to the entrance of the tunnel, but the thick smoke which rolled out in black clouds for some minutes kept them away. There the group remained, none daring to enter. FINDING OF THE BODIES. While numbers of the men were standing by, an elderly man, named John Elliott, a foreman over the miners, descended the embankment. The smoke had scarcely cleared away when he entered the tunnel. The others still kept outside. He went on. and about a hundred yards from the entrance came to a fall. Here the whole arch ot the tunnel, aod the northern side of it, had fallen in. The massive stones, many of them blocks eighteen inches square, were piled one on the other in a ruinous heap- For nearly twenty yards he grouped his way with a light along the heap of stones, which, for that distance, the explosion had brought down, in places almost hlling the entire cavity. He knew that the men were all at the extremity of the tunnel, and his ob. ject was to reach them. From the place where the dynamite was stored to the extremity of the works the whole of the upper portion of the masonry had fallen. The lights attracted the attention of some men, who shouted to him, and he shouted to them to come on. They were the Men who had been atwork at the extremity of the lower section of the tunnel. The force of the explosion had extinguished their lights, and threw them up against the face of the working. As soon as they recovered from their surprise they made their way towards the entrance. He told them to go on, and to the left, as the right of the tunnel was entirely choked ur. They soon passed on, and he went in further until he came to what he at first thought were the bodies of five men, but he soon heard two of the poor fellows groan, as if in great pain. Three of the number were sitting up against the wall of the tunnel, but they were dead. They were not mutilated, the after-damp had evidently caught them, and they had died from suffocation. He took hold of one of the others, and tried to lift him. He succeeded for a few moments, but the foul gas began also to have an effect upon him, and after staggering a few paces he was obliged to let go the man, who all the time, he sai was groaning terribly. He stood up, blew the choke damp from his lamp, and then stooping down caught hold of the man again, but the second time he breathed the foul gas, and his strength forsook him. He fell into the water that was at the bottom of the tunnel, and soon became insensible. He recollected nothing further until he several hours afterwards found himself in his own cottage, attended by two of the medical m»n who had come to the scene of the accident., in a short time after Elliott had entered the tunnel a number of miners volunteered to go in and explore the place, and with lighted candles in their hands they soon arrived at the spot where Elliott had fallen. He was at once taken oul, and Dr Davies, the surgeon of the works, his brother, and also his assistant, who bad been summoned from Maesteg, were ready to render assist- ance. The two men whom Elliott had endeavoured to save, were William Tyler, and William Donavon. Donavon had been seriously injured by the explosion, and Tyler when brought out was to all appearance dead, but was, with Donavon, conveyed to Elliott's hut, and after remaining unconscious for a long time was restored. After Tyler, Donavon, and Elliott, had been sent out of the tunnel, the exploring party consisting of about a dozen men, went on, and shortly. came upon the body of John Barkle. He was a miner, and had only recently come from St. Agnes, Cornwall. His body was fearfully cut and bruised. He had apparently been blown for a considerable distance. His legs and arms were broken, and his face much dis- figured. The body was placed on a stretcher and brought out. The next body was that of James Oats, a miner, 45 years of age, and who lived at Taibach. He was found on the floor but little disfigured, and his death appeared to have arisen from choke damp. At a little distance a cluster of four dead bodies was found. These had evidently died from choke damp, although the marks on their faces indicated that pieces of stone, or some object of a similar nature, had been hurled against them. Near to the face of the upper section of the tunnel, five more bodies were found, all close together. They had been apparently thrown down by the force of the explosion, and the choke damp had then done its deadly work. The finding of these eleven bodies occupied nearly the whole of Friday night. Major Beaumont was present, and encouraged the men to proceed with their labours. The tunnel was searched from one extremity to the other, but neither the body of Richard Parsons, the ganger, who had charge of the dynamite, or that of John Clemence, the boy, could be found. As soon as daylight dawned on Saturday morning the task of removing the fallen masonry was commenced. It was conjectured that the bodies of both the men just named were buried beneath it, and as each wagon-load of broken stone was brought out search was made amcng the stone. Small portions of a human body were found, and these, by marks or by pieces of clothing hanging to them, were believed to be parts of the body of Parsons. After 12 hours'labour the debris was entirely removed from the tunnel, and although Par- son^ was a very fine stalwart fellow, the whole of his body that can possibly be recovered does not reach more than fourteen or fifteen pounds, S) terrific was the force of the explosion. The heaps of is tone were searched with the greatest care, and small portions of flesh were found scattered under the debris, in places many yards asunder. As a very large quantity of wet mortar came down with the falling stones, it is presumed that minute portions of human flesh may nave become mixed with it. The boy Clemence when last seen was carrying a large iron bar used as a drill. It was about three feet long,and two inches thick. That has been found very much bent, and a thumb and a toe are the only remains of his body that can be traced. EXCITEMENT A.T CYMMER. As large numbers of the men at work in the tunnel resided at Maesteg, Cymmer and the neighbourhood, the news of the explosion spread rapidly, and hundreds of colliers, carrying their lamps in their hands, came over the mountain to Cymmer. The wives and families of the men who were either below or about to enter the tunnel came also with them, and in a few hours the place where the accident occurred was surrounded by hundreds of persons. Police-constable Evans, stationedat Cymmer, sent for assistance, and in a short time a body of the county police arrived, and prevented the crowd from blocking up the entrance, to the tunnel. During almost the entire night the crowd remained, eagerly inquiring for the names of the persons whose dead bodies had been found. On Saturday morning the crowd dispersed for a time, but when the works stopped thousands of persons went to view the spot. With few exceptions, the men who are killed are old residents of the neighbourhood. The extreme dulness of the coal trade has induced many miners to leave their collieries and obtain work at the tunnel. Among the dead are three men who resided at Maesteg, named David Hitchins, Edward Morgan, and Robert Weeks. Edward Morgan had only been at work at the tunnel three days, and David Hitchins^ had given notice that he would leave on Friday, as he did not like the work. Both of them were married men, and leave families- James Oats, another married man, living at Taibach, bad only commenced work on the day previous to the explosion. Joseph Moore. John Pearce, and John Osborne also commenced work at the same time. LIST OP THE DEAD- Richard Parsons, Avon Vale, foreman of the miners married, but no family; killed by explosion. John Clemence, 15 years, lived with his parents at Cymmer: killed by the explosion. John Barkle, foreman of miners, late of St Agnes, Cornwall; leaves a wife and one child; killed by the explosion. James Oats, miner, Taibach; married man with five children killed by choke damp. Morris Jones, miner, Glynoorrwg; single killed by choke damp. Evan Davies, miner, Quaker's Yard; married, and leaves a family of five children; killed by choke damp. George Moore, miner. Taibach, single killed by choke damp. Joseph Pearce, miner, Taibach, 28 years of age; leaves a wife and two children killed by choke damp. John Osborne, miner, Taibach, single; killed by choke damp. # Robert Quick, miner, Taibach wife and two children; killed by choke damp. Daniel Hitchins, miner, Maesteg; wife and three children killed by choke damp. Robert Weeks, miner,'Maesteg, single, killed by choke damp. Edward Morgan, miner, Maesteg; wife and two children. When the bodies were brought out they were taken to one of the empty huts at Cymmer. where they remained until Sunday. An order was sent (own to Maesteg to prepare coffins for them, and on btmday nearly all of them were carried on the shoulders of the friends of the deceased to Cymmer, the bodies were placed in them, and they were then borne to their homes. THE INQUEST. The inquiry was formerly opened on Saturday by Mr Cuthbertson, at Cymmer. The jury viewed the bodies, and the inquiry was then adjourned till Saturday. ISJCRY TO PROPERTY. At present it is impossible to estimate the extent, of the damage caused to the tunnel. The labour of many men during several months was spoiled in a moment, and in addition the masonry now standing may, upon exarnination require to be pulled down. Thesidewalloof the tuniie. are 18 inches thick,and in many places formed with blocks of stone of that thickness. Either in the fall or by the force of the explosion, these blocks were broken, and will scarcely be available for use again. The mountain itself was so shaken by the terrific force of the explosion that some portion of the strata may have beea displaced, and to admit of any of the strata falling uown all work will be suspended for a week or ten days. That the explosion arose from the firing of the dynamite does not admit of a doubt,but how the dynamite was fired there it no evidence to show. The quantity of dynamite kept in store is not made known, bat such results, it is said by some, could not be produced by a small quantity. The dynamite cartridges were kept in a state which required prepara- tioa before they could be used. and the deceased man Parsons was in the habit of fixing the caps upon them just before they were used. He bad the sole duty of discharging the dynamite, and was always very careful in handling it. As dynamite would only explode bv percussion and with the detonator, the impression prevails that something fell on one of the cartridges prepared by the deceased, and the shock from that one exploded the whole of the cartridges which he had capped. The acci- dent will entail a loss on the Diamond Boring Company amounting to many thousands of pounds. Major Beau- mont ordered everything that was required to be supplied to the wives and families of the deceased. He also provides for the interment of the bodies, if the friends desire it. THE MEN IN THE HEADING. The men who were at work ot the extremity of the tun- nel had a miraculous escape. According to one of them, they were busy drilling some holes when they beard the sound of the explosion and felt the ground under them shake. This was followed by a rush of air that blew them like little birds'' up against the face of the heading. The force of the current only lasted a second, when it seemed to rush back towards the entrance. They at once coujectured what had taken place, but the fear of the choke damp stopped them for a time from attempting to escape. Their lights were blown out by the shock, and after waiting a few minutes for the gas, as they believed, to subside, they began slowly to grope their way fo the entrance. As soon as they had left the heading where they had been working they heard groans all round them, but, being in the dark and apprehensive of their own safety, they could not stay to render assist- ance. Elliott's light gave them hope, as they were assured on seeing it that all was right in front.

THE DISPUTE IN THE BUILDING TRADE AT CARDIFF. It will doubtless be remembered that a few weeks ago the artizans employed in the building trade made a formal demand for an advance in wages of Id per hour, which the masters refused to grant, but consented to refer the matter to arbitration. After much deliberation in the choice of an arbitrator, the settlement of the dispute has been vested in Mr Samuel Morley, M.P., who will come to Cardiff in the course of a few days to hear evidence and make his award.

DESPERATE SHOOTING CASE AT CARDIFF. On Saturday evening an attempt was made to shoot a well-known boarding master, in Bute-road, Cardiff, which had it not been for the sharpness and self- possession of the intended victim must certainly have proved fatal. It appears that a number of foreign sailors commenced quarrelling on the pavement, when Mr Clery, a Greek boarding master, interfered. For some reason he struck one of the men, whose name is Barracbini. Whether any further blows passed or not we are unable to state, but the result was that Barrachini, who is a stalwart fellow, about six feet in height, ran away and rushed into the house of Mr Kinmouth, No. 200, Bute- road. Mr Clery followed, and found that Barrachini had taken refuge in the siiting-room on the ground-floor. r On his entering that apartment Barrachini drew a revolver, and going down on one knee presented the muzzle towards him. Clery immediately said in Italian, "You surely don't mean to shoot me, do you?" to which the man replied in the same language, Yes, you ass," and fired. Mr Clery, by a dexterous man- oeuvre, when he saw that the trigger waa being pulled, succeeded in preventing the shot from striking him in the head. As it was, the bullet passed through his hat, finally lodging in the wall. Immediately after firing the shot Barrachini escaped into the back yard, whence he made his way into Christina-street, being ultimately captured in an upstairs bedroom of a boarding-house. The man entered that house in a state of wild despera- tion, rushing upstairs in a manner which much alarmed the inmates. The revolver was picked up on the follow- ing morning in Kinmouth's back yard- Five barrels were found to be loaded, and one was empty. The house of Mr Kinmouth was the scene of a tragedy perpetrated a little more than a year ago by a man named Richards, who murdered his wife.

PARLIAMENTARY AND MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. The report of the Select Committee of the House of Com- mons appointed to inquire into the working of the existing machinery of Parliamentary and municipal elections has been issued. The committee recommend immediate legislation, which, they think, can be effected without difficulty, for the purpose of rendering clear the construction to be placed on the directions given to the voter for the marking of his paper contained in the Ballot Act, which have been the subject of contradictory decisions in the English. Scotch, and Irish courts." The committee entertain the opinion that no ballot-paper should be rejected unless it appears clearly to the returning officer that the obligatory portion of the Act has not been complied with, and that the mark- ing of the ballot-paper in a manner not in accordance with the directions" should not cause its rejection, unless it appears to the returning officer that such departure trom the directions has been for the purpose of identifi- cation, or would necessarily afford an opportunity for such identification being effected, or unless the returning officer is unable to determine for whom the voter intended to vote. Several of the witnesses have recommended the adoption of a black bal- lopaper, the square intended for the cross remaining white; these could be adopted without any change of the )aw, and the committee believe that the use of them would simplify the act of voting. Some witnesses have recommended the abolition of the official stamp, and hold that the real check upon traud lies in the counting the number of papers in each box, and comparing that number with the presiding officer's return. Other witnesses have recommended the stamping of the papers in advance, coupled with a careful return of the number so stamped, but the committee are also inclined to believe that this system would be open to objection. If the use of an official stamp is to be continued, the committee con- sider that the requirements of the Ballot Act should be carried out to the full; and as in boroughs where a great number of voters poll at one particular period of the day, there is a temptation to the presiding officers to neglect some of such requirements, the committee think & Home Office circular to returning officers should touch this subject. It has been suggested by some witnesses that a paper with a special watermark might be adopted as an additional precaution, or in substitution for the use of the official stamp, tnd that all the ballot-papers might be supplied from London, and only printed locally. The committee are of opinion that, considered as an additional precaution, this change in the law would be unnecessary, so long as the official stamp is preserved aud that, considered as a substitution, it would not prevent the whole of the frauds against which the official mark is intended to guard. The committee admit that all the special provi- sions for the assistance of the illiterate voters should be abolished, and that no voters save those who labour under some physical disability should receive assistance in the marking *f the ballot-papers. In any general amendment of the Ballot Act, it would, m the opinion of the committee, be desirable to afford an opportunity for curing any defects in relation to the nomination of candidates which may be pointed out by objection taken at a period of the nomina- tion when it is, under the present system, too late to cure such defects. As to the provisions for taking a poll, the committee point out that the law does not clearly lay down how many representatives the candidates may appoint, It is doubtful whether, in municipal elections, they may have a distinct right to appoint representatives at all. This power, the committee think, should be distinctly given them; and, as to both Parliamentary and muni- cipal candidates, provision should be made by a clause in the Corrupt Practices Bill, the introduction o'f which in the present year has been promised, that each candi- date should have the right to appoint one representa- tive at each polling station at which papers are lblivered to voters. The clause might also prescribe the cumber of agents to be allowed to be present at the counting of the votes. These counting agents should take the declaration of secresy not, as at present, neces- sarily before the opening of the poll, but at any time be- fore the commencement of the counting. The committee are further of opinion that the declaration of secresy should be maintained, and that candidates should be directed to take that declaration in all cases in which they intend to enter a polling-booth, or to attend the count- ing of votes.

MR GLADSTONE AND THE ROYAL TITLES BILL. The Hon. W. E. Gladstone, in the course of a letter to the Obse-rver, in reference to the rumour that Her Majesty had been pleased to suggest to two late prime ministers the proposal which has now become embodied in the Royal Titles Bill, denies that either this or any similar sugges- tion was mentioned to him by Her Majesty while he had the honour to be in her service.

THE "DAILY RECORDER." Mr. Commissioner Kerr, at the City of London Sheriff's Court, Hasinghall- street, had before him on Saturday the case of Neck v. Burridge. It appeared from the evidence of plaintiff that he had purchased the plant of a news- paper company for 12,000 some months since, for the pur- pose of printing the paper. He was the owner of the paper, but had nothing to do with the company, whom chief managers were Sir George Prescott and two well- known bankers.in the Bank of England. The entire capital of the company was £ 48.000. Some months pre- vious to his purchasing the plant. Ac., for printing purposes, a compositor had brought an action against the company for the sum of four guineas for work done in con- nection with the paper. He (plaintiff) had known nothing of the matter until, a few weeks ago, his goods were seized in execution for the payment of the four guineas, the exe- cutants believing him to be one of the company, whereas he was totally distinct from them. The company had offices both in St. Mary-axe and in Leadenhall-street. His offices were in St. Mary-axe, in the same house, and the executants evidently mistook him for the com- pany. He had bought the plant, &C.. from the mortgagees of the company, and not from the proprietors, and he therefore trusted the court would be satisfied with his paying the four guineas, and order the restoration of his seised goods.—His honour said, if a man had goods on the premises of a bankrupt and neglected to paint out to the executants which were his gools and which those to be levied upon, he would have to risk the result. The mat- ter was then ordered to be brought up again on the 27th

ALLEGED POLITICAL ALMSGIVING. A special telegram in the Leeds Mercury says the protest of the Nonconformist ministers against the distribution of gifts by Mr. Bates, of Liverpool, among his constituents at Plymouth, on the occasion of his son's marriage, has been forwarded to the mayor of the boaough. The protest, which bears the signature of every Dis- senting and Wesleyan minister in the borough, with the exception hereafter explained, says :—'• Many regard these gifts as partaking of the nature of a bribe, and we believe such to be their tendency, and know that in many cases they have operated as such. Some of us took part in the distribution when the whole question was doubtful and obscure; but now it haa been made clear and certain by the discussions which. ensued on the refusal by Mr. Wilson last year to unite in the transaction, we can no longer do so. It is always a pleasure to communicate benefits to the poor, but we cannot forget our profession requires that we should act quite as earnestly as the guardians of social morality a* the almoners of a person's bounty. Moreover, we are by no means certain that by sharing in this distribution we shall not be guilty of violating the law of the land, and we shrink from doing anything calculated to swell the corruption which is already too wide and deep." This protest was accompanied by 1,200 returned tickets out of a total of 4,000 issued. The average value of the clothing represented by each was 5s. One Nonconformist minister returned his tickets immediately they were- reoeived. One distributed his previous to perceiving the- true character of the affair. Three others are out of town, and their tickets have not been dealt with. The Wesleyans are in perfect accord with the Nonconformista, and several of the clergymen have declined to be per- sonally mixed up in the matter, delegating it to assistants. The matter has created immense interest, and political agents are watching the proceedings closely, with a view to use the evidence on petition after any subsequent elec- tion. Some of the articles obtained by the deserving poor by means of these tickets have been immediately sold by them, and re-exhibited by Liberal shopkeepers in their windows as trophies.

KAY'S COMPOUND ESSIHCK or LINSMD, for Colds and Couc curesnine cases out of tea. i;iold by al'x ChemistsT 6fi6 TBTBT.—The Medical Journals highly recommend Davie5' Alialme saline, being infinite]/ TOperiS^ ^e scxJled Citrate of Mag-nema, Seidlitz PowdS^and otto Saline preparations, owing to is unique properties of becomfaur UkaUne whi«h render it Antacid and Alterative for Bilious Oonstitstk>na. Conitimtini, Acidity, °f the Blood, ErupUve Fe^ ^d ?^ position to Gout, &c. In Bottles ls6d and 2s 6d each. Orierrf Chemists. Maker, DAVISS, Chemist, Tenby. -(ABVT) HOLLOWAYS OINTMENT AND PILLS.—In ALL .orP« wounds, bad le<s, and sprains of any kind this Ointment is the most efficient application. It at once gires ease by altarine inflammation and moderating the flow ot blood to the oert. ii^Ler malady has been of long standing the Ointment should be assisted by Holloway's purifying: Pills, which act mma the stomach and liver, guarding digestion from f^nw into tibat disordered state which the pain, restlessness, and fever attead- ing them ailments is apt to produoe, and which much retards recovery, and sometimes even makes serious the slightest em. No mother or nurse should be without these noble remmed;es they are equally applicable to all agos and constitutions They purify the blood, regulate its circulation, renew itisriful strut* tares, and invisorate the svstem^

SACERDOTALISM; OR THE RULE OF THE PRIEST. WE have received from Father WILLIAMS more last words," and his letter purports to be but the first of a series. Indeed, the letter is intended lib be but a trifling overture to the more solid performance which we are told is to follow. Father WILLIAMS calls it" commencing my reply," and at the conclusion of sixteen folios of closely written manuscript he says, "Having thus cleared away some of the cobwebs, I will in my next letter approach the substance of your second series of articles." Now we confidently sub- mit that we have conceded to Father WILLIAMS every advantage and right of reply which he could possibly expect. He alleged that in our criticisms upon Mr PULLER'S letters, and in our facts and figures, we had reflected upon the Roman Catholic Church and creed. Desirous to act with scrupulous fairness, and to give every person who is aggrieved Or who fancies he is aggrieved, by our strictures a full and unfettered right of rerly, we put no gag upon Father WILLIAMS, but allowed him unlimited liberty of speech. We did not suppress a single line or a solitary word of his defence, and per- mitted him to state his own case in his own way, and and to whatever extent he pleased—and seven columns of closely-printed letters testify to our readiness to give FatherWILLlAYS ample scope and room enough to exhaust whatever he had to say. Even he himself seemed to be surprised at the extent of our editorial generosity, for he says at the close of his last letter, In conclusion I must tender you my heartfelt thanks for the fairness, even generosity,which you have shown me in giving me free use of your columns. It is a sort of justice we are little accustomed to receive from the Protestant Press of this country." But to allow Father WILLIAMS to re-open the controversy by another series of letters- which will only draw fresh replies, and these again fresh rejoinders-would be unfairly to occupy our columns with one question to the necessary exclusion of some other questions which have equal, if not more, legitimate claims upon our space. We must, therefore, respectfully deotine to renew the controversy, and would suggest that Father WILLIAMS should now allow the South Wales public-the selected tribunal-to decide between him and us.

DB D* JONGHS LIGHT-BROWN COD LIVER OIL-In Consumption its efficacy is unequalled. Dr Nedley, physician to the Lord-lieutenant of Ireland, writes Of all the prepara- tions of that valuable remedial agent., Cod Liver Oil, the most uniformly pure, the most palatable, and the most easily retained bv the stomach, Is Dr de Jonah's Light-Brown Oil. I have habitually prescribed Dr de Jongh's Oil in cases of Pulmonary Consumption, with very beneficial results, and I can confidently recommend it as the most efficacious kind." SOld oaly in capsuled imperial Half-pints, 2s fcd; Pints, 4s 9d Quarts, 9s; by all Chemists. Solo Consignees, Angar, Harford, and Co., 77. gtraad. London*

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS, REUTER'S AGENCV PRESS ASSOCIATION, AND CENTRAL NEWS.) THL RELIGIOUS QUESTION IN SPAIN. ROME, Saturday.—Queen Isabella has addressed a letter to the Pope, in which Her Majesty offers to intervene with her son, King Alfonso, with regard to the religious question.

THE TURKISH REBELLION. CONSTANTINOPLE, Saturday.—Rumours continue current to the effect that the Turkish troops have received orders to enter Montenegro without delay. They are, however, incorrect. A camp will only be formed at Scutari, as already telegraphed, but it is understood notice has been given to Monte- negro that unless she maintains strict neutrality, the Turkish troops will immediately cross the frontier.

THE MURDER OF MR MARGARY. CALCUTTA, Saturday.—It is announced that seventeen of the persons implicated in Mr Margary's murder will be executed at Bhamo on the 5th proximo.

THE BLACKBURN MURDERER. The Blackburn murderer. Fish, arrived at Liverpool on Saturday, and was lodged in the county prison. The prisoner having been recognised in the train during part of the journey, several persons entered the carriage anc audibly expressed their horror of the crime.

WIFE MURDER AT HULL. A seaman named Charles Allons, at Hull, has mur- dered his wife by cutting her throat with a sheath knife. He then cut his own throat and ripped up his abdomen. He is hot expected to recover. The wife's intemperance is rumoured to be the "rin of the quarrel which preceded the crime.

DISTURBANCES IN BARBADOES. The following telgeram has been received by the West India Committee:- BARBADOES, WEDNESDAY. mu ery So?°Tul dl«tu;Wea throughout St Joseph, St 1 nomas, fat John, St George, and St Michael parishes. Joe's River and other estates pillaged, provision fieldl plundered, fires frequent, condition perilous.

FIRE IN GLASGOW. A fire took place on Saturday morning in BucRaoan* street, the principal thoroughfare of Glasgow. The fire was, after about three hours, got under, although the flames continued fiercely for hours. The Glasgaw berald office has been greatly damaged. Great excitement pre- vailed in the city, and large crowds gathered tc witness the conflagration. The damage is estimated at £ 12,000.

NORTH NORFOLK ELECTION. The polling for North Norfolk took place on Friday. The official declaration of the poll was made on Saturday at noon, at the Town Hall, Alysham, when the numbers were- Colonel Duff (Conservative) 2,302 Sir Thos. Fowell Buxton, Bart. (Liberal) 2,192 Majority 110

RAILWAY COLLISION AT GLASGOW. On Saturday afternoon a violent collision curred between an empty mineral train and a passenger train near the Glasgow (south-side) Sta- tion of the Caledonian Railway. The driver of the mineral train had been engaged taking in water at a tank a few yards from a crossing, and not noticing that the signals were against him he ran right ahead on the main line, when be was met» by a crowded passenger train- From 30 to 40 persons were more or less injured, but not very seriously.

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DJ41RXAY happened to te absent from his post, meeting could elect one of their number dent pro tempore. Now, adopting the latter and following it out to its logical con- take the liberty of informing Mr Of 4"fID that his election as Chairman of the Board Guardians was quite unnecessary, as any gen- WK cou^ be chosen by his colleagues to preside e*»ever a meeting was held. The same argu- which can be* advanced in favour of the Action of the CHAIRMAN himself, can be ad- ^d ■with equal force in favour of the jj 1011 of a second vice-chairman. That Mr knows sufficiently well. We are not 1Honing what is either impossible or improbable suggest that the CHAIEMAN and the "VICE- might be both absent at the same time or both ill, or one ill and one absent, Board consequently left without any the-^ constituted head to direct its affairs for being. Now, the importance and the ^ity of having a second vice-chairman are "•^fent to the mind of any man of business. A occupying the position of vice-chairman ^jUires a knowledge of the business of the Board, influence from his position which render efficient, and much better discharge the duties of president fe- absence of the chairman than any tleDlan not occupying the position of otb Airman could possibly be. Mr DAVID'S argument in reference to the three committees was as nonsensical as that gentle- to d* lubterfuges usually are when he is seeking Vert the minds of his audience from the real Qj^ ^fore them. Nobody proposed or wished there should be three relief committees, nor H the election of a second vice-chairman render, relief committees necessary. Then what *11 was the reason of Mr DAVID and Mr wish to have no second vice-president ? their zeal for the public interest ? We have T ^es8rs PRIDE and DAVID themselves 6^ know, that the non-election of a second vice- not conduce to the promotion of public interest, but that it is very likely to inimical to the public interest. If Alderman 11 and Alderman DAVID have not the courage U the public why they object to a second will take upon ourselves that Hat 3VIe*8ra PRIDE and DAVID—actuated by must regard as a petty spirit of lnf ^'minded exclusiveness—are afraid of the °a of any new blood into the small domineer- PkrtY whose counsels predbminate at that Tiley *ear that their influence is (Jn the e* They feel that the power of that fading °' ^odel aldermen—so amiable, so respect- foj' *° antiquated in their opinions—who years- have so mismanaged the befoj. °f Cardiff, is fast decaying 6 the enlightened activity wHich has lately ^ttsed in the borough. The first blow at tib ridancy was struck by the election of a ef etal School Board the second by the return cf eininently practical and public-spirited body to the Town Council, and the last remain- h ton8hold remains yet to be carried. Cardiff, lfcCll?r ^our of enlightenment, has shaken off an fog Us which consisted of the predominating 6 °* antiquated and privileged party; 1fotk ig not yet completed. Mr Alderman ^«nd* a* of the Guardians, and his HIXJ i, AND hplpmate, Alderman PRIDE, are lie commanders of an obedient buco- ^allU W^0' wken they do occa- lo attend the meetings of that Board, do ^«Uost for the sole Object of carrying out the of two or three individuals. It was by the u °f that thoughtless body of country guardians Mtv, ^ES»RS« DAVID and FRIDH were enabled, 1ithoilt argument and without reason, to set at CrA the motions df Messrs LEWIS and STONE *tTttday, and, despite the obvious require- ^oti °* Board, to reject by 29 to 4 the for the appointment of a second vice-chair- >0 successful, however, was the CHAIRMAN I to that other act of injustice which we tteady commented upon in these columns, ^J^^FORTUNATE woman EDITH THOMAS, who was by the CHAIRMAN for being "rather Irided "—whatever that may mean- he^ 411 appeal to the Board by letter for a fair It is true that that appeal was not suc- Wfyj » but it was rejected in a manner which n 6 unsatisfactory to the public, which the CHAIRMAN is himself by no Wojjj* *° be congratulated. The letter of the poor was couched in most respectful terms, aad, in effect—" I wish to be brought face to, the Master of the Workhouse, who has Dle unjustly with drankenness. You too alldired that slanderous. accusation to I lI1a4e behind my back. I desire, in all fair- to have an opportunity of refuting it. to 0Pportunity you have hitherto refused ^ne would have thought that and moderate request, coming from an '\1. woman, whose twelve years' unexception- has been destroyed by persons Of atatementa do not carry even the probability Would have met with a response in any Ch^bly 0f Englishmen. EDITH THOMAS was with drunkenness, because it was found assertion that she was feeble-minded met contempt it deserved. In any other oa ftd, perhaps, we should also add, with any gentleman in the chair—the person so would have been told to her Uhw the nature of the charge, and 1rho made the accusation would have been Co upon in the presence of the Board or before tt" to substantiate their statements. of condemning people unheard, and ^8 a fair inquiry when the allegations are feog^^ioted by influential members of the Ml peculiar to those who at present exercise ^JJdisputed sway over the Cardiff Board of Mr DAVID, on Saturday, did not ill to justify the course which he has taken matter by argument. He has signally any attempts of that sort- He con- to a contradiction of our that he had dismissed the Nurse **ith ) Out having previously been authorised isolation of the Board so to do. We beg ,t0 therefore, to repeat that we a*e prepared ^o>».OYe by the notes of our reporter, who took shorthand the report of Dr SHEEN and note of the dismissal, that no such Wlus P*"9^ as that indicated by Alder- It is not that we desire to contra- ct ^AVn>» but the facts of the case contra- il ft10* and we have got a reoord of those facts, •t tk will excuse Vis if we express our sense • impropriety <>f bis conduct when he by a dexterous manoeuvre to suppress whilst he Was in the act of moving his ¡,Of ution., That was a most discreditable thing any ehaimutt of a nubHr. to attempt. The resolution of Mr STONE was rejected by nine votes to four. There were 39 guar- dians present when the proceedings commenced, and although some half-dozen had left before Mr STONE'S motion came on—not wishing to vote against those in authority at the Board, and not daring in the face of public opinion to support the refusal of an inquiry there must still have been upwards of 30 members present. Even the absent members must have been aware of the motion. Yet out of 39 guardians the CHAIRMAN could only find nine who could reconcile it with their consciences to support him. We venture to assert that, if the array of impassive and silent individuals who sat all around the room had had the independence to vote in accordance with their convictions, Mr STONE'S motion would have been carried, and the CHAIRMAN would have received such an overwhelm- ing defeat as could not have failed to inculcate upon him a lesson that is much needed. The CHAIRMAN subsequently stultified himself by accepting that portion of the resolution which related to an inquiry into the conduct of another female official, who is said to be ad- dicted to habits of insobriety. We fail to see why one official should be allowed an inquiry more than another. The CHAIRMAN and his supporters have refused an inquiry in the case of the unfortu- nate Nurse; why does he not refuse all? That would be the logical course, though we admit that it would be an injustice.