Pontypool Free Press and Herald of the Hills

EXTRAORDINARY SHOOTING CASE. At the Lambeth Police Court, Joseph Cook, forty- two, living at Hyde Farm, Clapham-park, hat been charged on remand before Mr. Biron, Q.C., with causing actual bodily harm to John Harvey, jun., by shooting him in the face with a gun at 46. New Park Road, Brixton HilL It appeared that the prisoner went to the shop of the prosecutor, a confectioner, a few days back. The prisoner, who knew the injured man, said he had brought a gun to show him. and then, as it was alleged, he held it up and discharged it in. the man's face. There was no shot in the gun, but the prosecutor's face, aad eyes especially, were badly injured by the gunpowder. The prisoner when charged, declared it was a perfect accideut, and that he had no idea the gun was even loaded with powder.—Polioe- sergeant 53 W informed his worship that the in- jured man was still in such a condition, owing to his injuries, as to be unable to attend.—Mr. Biron, under those circumstances, again remanded the prisoner, but agreed to accept bail for his appear- ance.

EXTRAORDINARY CASE. An inquest has been held at Woodgreen on the body of Francis Weare, aged fifty-six Eiisa Weare. aged thirty-nine, his wife; and Sydney, aged three years. their son, who were found dead in their beds. Mrs. Roots, mother of Mrs. Weare. said Mr. Weare attempted to suffocate them all three years ago by turning the gas on.-A witnest said the Weares had lived on good terms until lately, when coolness sprang up between them.- Mr. Mitchell stated that he was in company of the Weares the other day. In the evening Mr. Weare went out, and on returning said to his wife. I have been to several shope to get that, but I cannot get it." The wife replied. "Oh can't you ? "-By the Jury: A daughter of witness stated that she did not like to go and stay at Woodgreen, as she had dreamed Frank had killed Eliza. Hit daughter went, and said she had spent a happy week.—Inspector Baruett said on receiving infor- mation from Mrs. Roots he proceeded to Weare'« house, and found there were no signs of a struggle in the room where the bodiee lay.—Two medical gentlemen who examined the bodies said death was doe to poisoning. On a chair witness found a glass quite empty, and on a table another glass containing yellow liquid. A bottle containing a similar liquid was also discovered.—A witness stated that Dr. Campbell came to the house, and he had supplied Weare with prassic acid for a thermo- meter. Further evidence showed that Weare's mind was affected by money loses.—Dr. Wyldes stated that he made apost-nutrtem examination,jand found all the deaths were doe to prassic acid poisoning.—The jury returned a verdict that the wife and ehild wece murdered by Francis Weare, who afterwards committed suicide, and that the eause of the act was financial difficulties.

A LETTER ON THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO. Another- teresting document relatiug to the Battle of Waterloo b.a0 turned up in the shape of a private letter from Baron von Mnffliaer written ?• of days alter the i\ght. which has been pub- lished oy the Prussian Ministry of War, and trans- lated by Captain Macbean, R.A. After speaking with ad iraticn of the cepulse of eleven cavalry charges by an English battalion of the right wing, this distinguished Germaa officer thus refers to the English soldiers; 4 Por coolness, bravery, and interior discipline, there uaothing like them in all Enrope; but on the othet- hand, they have little j manceu vring power, and are extremely slow. The Duke of Wellington himself said to me, when I urged him at Quatse Bras to press the attack more quickly, that that would not do- that one must give the English time, anj not attack until they are fully formed. Ah I sighed, 4 would that the situation were reversed 5 would that the English were in position, and the Prussians ready for the offensive t From what I see to-day,' said I to the Duke, 4 we should then he invincible. When'(he continues) we had to retreat on the 17th, and the Duke asked my opinion as to what was to be done, since Bonaparte wo:tfd infallibly fall with his whole force upon the En glish army, he immdiately agreed when I propo.ied to him that he should {dace himself on the de tensive at fc6 of Soignies. and leave the oft ensive to Prussians. I did not conceal from him the difficulties of his situation in case he were beateu. but he had already recognised them at a g'tance. we arrived there I said to the Duke, If only there were an apparently weak point in ^he flank of your position, so that Bonaparte mit assail it furiously, and neglect his own right wing" I to such all extent that he should fail to discover the march of the Prussians 1' And lo when we arrived, there lay the advanced post of Hougo aont upon which he (Bonaparte) indeed feU."

PIMPLES, BLOTCHXS, ECZEMA.—Snlpholine I Lotion drives away Eruptions, Spots, Blotches. Redlnew, AOae, Disfigurements, Roughness and Scurf; leaving a clear, spotless Skin. Shilling Bottles of Snlpholine. Everywhere.

ITEMS OF INTEREST. 1 An old woman named Pike walked into the har- bor at Lowestoft the other day, and was drowned- A young man named Herring tried to save her, but almost lost his own life. Further information has been received relating to the British reverse in Nyassaland. It appears that Captain Maguire was drowned after destroy- ing two slave dhows. The foreign residents at Tangier, have addressed an appeal to the European Governments to adopt vigorous measures there, owing to the disturbances in Morocco. The Bristol boot and shoe manufactures resolved to give out no more work to their rounders and finishers until the disputed award of arbitration over classification of good s shall be settled. An explosion of gas by which nine persons were injured, has taken place in Loc hee, Dundee. The building in whichh the accdent occurred was wrecked. The village of Cheriton, Kent, has just benefited by an order made in Chancery to the exteut of P.10,000, which was left some years ago by a lady for the building and endowment of a church in that parish. Her Majesty's Government have resolved to ad- jvise the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire as to the adequacy of the present water supply of London, and. if inadequate, the means Iof increasing the supply. Canon T. H. Blundell. of Halsall Rectory, Orms. kirk, has been appointed by the Queeu honorary chaplain to her Majesty, in place of the Rev. J. E. Welldon, who has been appointed chaplain in ordinary, in the room of the Bishop of Hull. Archbishop lenison's throne, in the restoration of which the late Mr. G. Cavendish Bentinck, M.P., evinced an active interest has been re- erected in Canterbury Cathedral, the site chosen for it being the south-eastern transept. A fire has occurred at the Woolpack Inn, Hali- fax. Fivs persons were sleeping in the house, 'but all escaped readily except Mrs. Stott. the landlady's mother. She was bravely rescued by Frank Crossley, baftnan. The Portuguese Ministry has resigned. The Premier announced that a disagreement had arisen because the Minister of Finance had authorised a loan of 13,000,000f. to the Royal Portuguese Railway Company. The Baptist denomination this year celebrate the centeuary of their missionary organization. A fund has been started and has already reached a large sum. including two anonymous gifts of £ 1,000 each. Anarchist disturbances are reported from Bornos, near Xeres. The rioters attacked the village with stones, and a detachment of cavalry had to be summoned to restore order. Several arrests were made. The French trawler St. Paul, whilst gettiu g her trawl on board in the Channel 20 miles off Start. Point, was run into by the barque Cambrian Chieftain, of Liverpool, which struck her on the port bow, cutting her clean in two and o ausing her to sink in two minutes. A correspondent at Newcastle (New South Wales) says:—The board of miners' delegates as. sembled here have decided upon a fortnights notice of the cessation of work being given on the 25th inst. to those colliery owners who belong to the Masters' Association. Thomas John Crabb, a carman, has been charged at Southwark Police Court with being concerned with others already in custody in the illicit dis. filiation of spirit. at Bermondsey. The still had been in use about two years. The accused was remanded, bail being allowed. Dr. Mills, vicar of St. Michael's, Coventry, stated at a large meeting of parishioners the other day that the Crown bad called upon him to defend their rights as patrons of the living regarding the vicar's rate, and he should, therefore, enforce payment by parishioners at large. It is the intention of the Local Government Board (the British Mcdlcal Journal understands) to confirm and approve the pension of 4210 a year Dr. Collie, late of the Eastern Fever Hospital, re- commended by the Metropolitan Asylums Board at their recent meeting. Instructions have been given for the discontinu- ance of the sale of flasks of wine and spirits on the platforms of the G.E.R. stations. This was in response to a complaint from the honorary secretary of the Manchester and Salford Temper- unce Union. At Bishop's Stortford, Arthur Tabner. groom, of Worlington, Suffolk, has been committed for trial at Hertford Assizes for the wilful murder of Elizabeth Curtis, his sweetheart. It is alleged that in a fit of jealousy he plunged a knife iuto the girl's body. A young Austrian lady, Dr. Anna Beyer. has been named Government doctor for the hospital at Dolnja Tusla, in Bosnia. She is appointed ex- pressly for the benefit of female patients who. have religious scruples against treatment by a male doctor. The death is announced of the Rev. Sir William Cope. Bart., which took place at Southsea, in his eighty-second year. Sir William, the twelfth baronet, was the son of Lieutenant-General E. R. Cope, He was formerly a minor canon at West. minster and chaplain to the Westminster Hospital. The Pope will (says the Daily Chronicle't Rome correspondent) make it a condition of the estab- lishment of a Catholic hierarchy in Egypt that diplomatic relations are re-established between England and the Vatican. It is feared that this I way clause an interruption in the negotiations. j

I A RAKE APPETITE.—When depressed, unable to eat with relish, try Pepper's Quinine and Iron Tonic. Tonic. I

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For females of all ages these Pills are invaluable, as a few doees of the carry off all humours, and bring about all that is required. No female should be without them. There is no 1Decticin8 to be found to equal Beecham's Pills for remov- ing any obstruction or irregularity of the system. If taken acoordinr to the directions given with each box. they willsooc restore females of all ages to sound and robust health. For a wesit stomach, impaired digestion, and all disorders o' the liver, they act like "MAGIC," and a few doses will be found to work wonders upon the most important organs in the human machine. They strengthen the whole muscular system, restore the long-lost complexion, bring back the keen edge 01 appetite, and arouse into action with the ROSEBUD of health the whole physioal energy of the human frame. These art :fACTa" testified continually by members of all elsom of Society; H one of the best guarantees to the Nervous and DebLuated is, BXSCHAM'S P:LLS have the Largest Sale of an* Patent Medicine it& the wond. BEECHAM'S MAGIC COUGH PILLS. As a remedy for Coughs in general, Asthma, Bronchia AJlectiODl, Hoarseness, Shortages of Bl, Tightness and not Chest, Wheesing, ftc., these Pills stand unrivalled They are the best ever offered to the public, and will speedily remove that sense of' oppression and difficulty of breathing which nightly deprive-the patient of rest. Let any person give BEECHAM'S COUGH PlLLg a trial, and the most violent Cough will in a short time be removed. Prepared only, and, sold wholesale and retail, by the Pro. prietor, T. BilSolitAN, at. Helen's, Lancashire, in Boxes 9Jd, Is 1 Jd and as. H. each. Sold by'all Druggists and Patent Medicine Dealers every where. N. i;nu directions are given with each box. OUT WEST AT BOOM CITY. Eastern inlitio-" Ye*, 1 liko this climate nnd have about concluded to send for my family and dettle here." Boom Ci i,y Man—" Well, air, I can ehow you some of the finest lots in Eastern bluti I can'b afford to build. ] inueb live in a rented house at the start. By the way, where ie this Boom City you have been talking about ?" Boom Cit-y Man —" You are in Boom City now. This railroad dojwt is at the foob of Metro politan Avenue, facing Monument Square." Eastern-Man But where are the houses < There isn't olle In sIght," Boom City Man—" Jee here, young fellow, if you are so dangeri nnajstlietie that you cltlk,t enjoy the beauties of nature without having it spotted all over with houses you d better go back east." AS SHE APPEARED IN THE NOVEL. American Author's Wife My dear, yon are always limiting for people to pat in novels. Why don t you put me in a novel 1" Author I have already." Yon have ?" "Yeo." Why In the world didn't yon tell me?" 1 was afraid you might not like it." "WhatasiUy 6oy« Of course I shoald it." Wltat the n*m6 of the eliaraoter I sug- gmted ? ol Yon won't be angry t II Of course uot!" JaM, Terror of Trescow ulob !III CROWN HOTEL, I PONTYPOOL. B. TANNER, PROPRIETOR. WHOLESALE AND BOTTLE DEPARTMENT. SPIRITS SCOTCH WHISKY- GAL. DOZ. BTLE. Good 16/- 32/- 2/9 Old 18/- 36/- 3/2 Very Choice and Old 24/- 48/- 4/2 IRISH WHISKY— GAL. DOZ. BTLE Good (Half-proof) 10/6 21/- 1/9 Extra Quality (Strong) 15/- 30/- 2/8 Very Fine 20/- 40/- 3/6 Fine Old Dublin (Choice) 22/- 44/- 3/10 LONDON GIN- GAL. DOZ. MC. Half proof 9/- 18/- 1/6 Fine London 12/6 26/- 2/3 Nicholson's Superior 14/- 28/- 2/6 BRANDIES- GAL. DOZ. BTLE. Good Sound 16/- 33/- 2/9 French 19/- 38/- 3/2 Very Fine Old 27/- 54/- 4/6 MartdVt and Hennessey1* ° 00 (100 at Store Prices. RUM— GAL. DOZ. BTLE. Half-proof 10/6 21/- 1/9 Good 15/- 30/- 2/6 Fine Old Jamaica 16/- 32/- 219 PORTS- GAL. DOZ. BTLE. Nice Fruity Wine 10/s 21/- 1/10 Good Invalid (Sandeman's) 16/- 33/- 2/10 Fine, Old Crusted Ports, in Great Variety, from 361- per Dozen. SHERRIES— Carefully Selected Pale and Gold from 1/2 per Bottle to 5/- CLARETS— From 1/- per Bottle to 6/ Pints, 2/- per Double Dozen Extra. PONTYPOOL PERMANENT BUILDING SOCIETY, PONTYPOOL. PROSPECTUS. TRUSTEES. (For the purposes authorised by the Act of Parliament, 37 an d 38 Vict.; C. 42, s. S5 & 28. Mr. William Collins Mr. Edward Jones, J.P., Mr. Edward James Phillips,* J.P., Mr. Alfred A. Williams, J.P. DIRECTORS. lir. a. A.1 Williams, J-P-, MaesderwenChairman of Directors. Mr- S. Powlert-Pontypool,.Vice-Chairman"of Directors. Lieut.-CoL J. R. Wright, J.P. Mr. J. Goodenongh, Panteg. „ Gowerton. Mr. W. H. Haskins, Ponty- Butler, J.P.J'anteg pool. iirv' TX- Collins, Pontypool. Mr. J. Morgan, Pontnew- Davies, Abersy- ynydd. ■MV K°J?AN- Mr- H. A. Saunders, Panteg. J „E)avi8, PontypooL Mr. D. E. Williams, Panteg mr- «. Feather, Griffiths- Mr. J. W. Upstone Ponty- iVTr moiL [pool. Mr. K. B. Ford, PontypooL Mr. W. R. Williams, Ponty- BANKERS. The Bristol and West of England Bank, Limited, PofltypooL SOLICITORS. Messrs.(Edwards^Le Brasseur, & Bowen, Pontypool. SECRETARY. Mr. John Walters,:Griffith6town. TREASURER. Mr. William Collins, Pontypool. ARBITRATORS. ^0l<i5r ny £ H Qoytrey. Mr. LI. Llewelyn, Abersychan t, Llewellin, Pontypool. Mr. W. L. Pratt, J.P-, i on newynydcl. Mr. David Williams,Pontnewynydd OBJECTS OF THE SOCIETY: To offer a means of investing large or small sums by monthly subscriptions, or otherwise, at a good rate of interest, and To Iend the monies so accumulated for the purpose oi purchasing or building houses redeeming mortgages, &c. .MONEY NOW READY TO ADVANCE. For further information, reports, &c., apply to the SECRETARY or the MANAGER, Bristol and West of England Bank, Pontypool DO YOU KNOW THAT TEE PPP 000 NN M TTTT Y Y PPP 000 000 L p p 0 0 N N N T y y p p 0 0 0 0 L ppp 0 0 N N N T YY PPP 0 0 0 0 L p 0 0 N jf N TYPOOOOL P 000 N NN T Y P ;000 000 LLL FFF RRR EEE EEE PPP RleK EEE 8Ms aws P BEE E PPBBE B B FF BBB EE EE PPP BBS EE BBg 08- FBBEE P RRE F R V ICKE EFE P KB sees Von HAS THE BEST CIRCULATION OF ANY CCC 000 U u NN N TTTT Y Y PPP A PPP EEE RRR coo U U N N N T y -T P? A A P PER B C 0 0 U U N ST N T YY PPP AAA PPP EE RRR C o 0 U U N Nil TY PAAPEBB CCC 000 UUU NNNT Y P A A P EEE R B IN NORTH MONMOUTHSHIRE, AND IS THEREFORE THE BEST MEDIUM FOB A DDD V V EEE RRR TTTT II DSS_ EEE MM MM KSE Wf W g88g *A D D V V E RR T II a B MM MM B NWN T AAA n D v v EE HRE T II EE M M M M EE N N N T °S8fl A A BN VVE RBTLISGE MMMME NXNT A A DDDD V EEE R E T II SSD EEE M MM M EEE N NN T SEND FOR TERMS. FOR CIVIL and MILITARY TAILORING. FOR CLERICAL and LADIES' GARMENTS. pOR LIVERIES of ALL KINDS. FOR FIRST CLASS FIT. FOR FIRST CLASS STYLE FOR FIRST CLASS MATERIALS. OR FIRST CLASS WORKMANSHIP. =OOR FIRST CLASS TAILORING in ALL its BRANCHES tJoR the CHOICEST SELECTION of WOOLLENS, &c., of -T ENGLISH, SCOTCH, and FOREIGN MANUFACTURE, FOR MACKINTOSHES in ALL STYLES. ,) FOR "THORNLEYS" CELEBRATED SHIRTS. FOR THE BEST VALUE AT MOST REASONABLE PRICES, TRY tr A. H. BABBIDG E, ■ £ » PRACTICAL TAILOR AND CUTTEB, POL GEORGE STREET, PONTYPOOL. (OPPOSITE THE CROWN HOTEL). FURNITURE. \1 I FURNITJTRE DAVIES & SANDBROOK, CRA NE-STREET, PONTYPOOL, HAVING taken the EXTENSIVE PREMISES NEXT DOOR are now showing a LARGE AND VARIED ASSORTMENT OF HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE SELECTED FROM THE BEST MANUFACTORIES IN THE KINGDOM, J Which they are Offering to the Public At such Prices as must command a Ready Sale. Before Fv&ighWg your Houn, COMPARE QUALITY and PRICES DA VIES & SANDBROOK'S, PONTYPOOL. I F V M N I T V BE! I PUB NI 2 URRO j POHTYPOOL.—Printed BR tbe Proprietor, HENRY HUGHES. J unior of Tiwoantin t*>e pMiah of Tfvtethin and pobusbtt %t it» Fm JtaMS Offices. CHborne Road-Jan. 22, 1882.

THE GENERAL SECRETARY AT PONTYPOOL. On Wednesday eveaing a pubhe meetir^ w^s held** the Waverley Temperance Hotel,P<»ty- pooi, for the purpose of hearing an address from JVfc\ Duncan Kennedy, general at Loral Ordter of Ancient bfeepherds, who is at present making a tour ptjkz fX RoaS amd Welsh districts by instruction <st the Board ^The Kev^H. B. Robinswm, F.R.G,S-, presided, and these ws a good al^^C^i3r^th a tives of the Blaenavon ^strict togeth^, with* couple of members represent^ the Atxuj ffaven*v district. Mr. Kennedy met with B.\erj cordial reception, and the proceedings through- out were very interesting. t; • J The Chairman, in opening the meeting, said, he was very much obliged to them for the honour th^y had doae him by asking him to pre- side that evening, though he most frankly con- fess that he felt a little diffident, because he scarcely liked to preside over a meeting unless he knew something of the matter about which he ought to talk. He was there in the position of-a hearer rather than of a speaker, as he did not know very much of their own special work and progress. He hoped, however, that by the end of the meeting he should have learned some- thing more than he already knew concerning their ancient and honourable Order. Be came there as a neighbour and a friend to wish them God-speed with all his heart m theirgoodwork. {Hear hear.) Siace he had been there lie naa been thinking that if they <x»M have I«^ed in that room some of the great characters in his- iwry who rejoiced in calling p herds, they would have one of £ e Jf gatherings ever seen on earth. After reie:ence 2 AbralSm, Moses and David and their con- aection with pastoral purfeuits. P P eeeded to refer to the fact meat concerning the Saviours advent was made to shepherds, men whose 3tate of heartwas best adapted to receive and spread the good news they then received. He (the Chairman) con- cluded an interesting addressby urging upon the members the desirability of their emulating the shepherd-like qualities of courage, strength, and kindness of heart. Mr. W. Price, Cwmabrn, P.C.S. of the Blaen- avon District, who was next called upon, said that when he joined the district it comprised some *3 or 14 lidge«- They made progress by opening other lodges round tfbout the neigh- bourhood, until at last they arrived at the great number of 70 lodges. By the present time the number bad been augmented to over 100 lodges. He was pleased to say that to-day the Blaenavon district was in a flourishing condition. By the terrible explosion at the Llanerch Colliery, a great demand was made upon their funds but he was glad to say that they were able to meet that demand, and not only so, but the deficit they had expected had since been made good. (Hear, hear.) An appeal was at that time made throughout the Order, and their brethren every- where came to their help. Their great aim in life was to help one another, and he hoped that in that respect the Blaenavon District would continue to follow the example of their Great Shenherd. (Cheers.) Mr. J. Evans, Pro. Cor. Sec. of the Blaenavon District,, said he thought all present, if not Shep- herds, belonged to some Order or other. The Blaenavon district was established in 1867, and he thought they could claim since that time to have done some good for the welfare of humanity. (Hear, hear.) He was not in a posi- tion to give them information as to the amount they had expended in connection with sickness and funeral claims but the greatest calamity that ever befell the Blaenavon district re- sulted from the explosion at the Llanerch Col- liery. Then they thoroughly understood what it was to belong to a Unity. (Hear, hear.) Had they been a single lodge or a single district, they would have been ruined; but their Lnity ex- tended through the United Kingdom and to America and Australia. An appeal was issued to their brethren, and was nobly responded to so that they could testify to the advantages accruing from their connection with the Order. (Cheers.) „ Mr. Isaac "Wathen, P.C.S., Blaenavon, in the course of a' brief address, referred to the fact that the funds of the district had increased in the past year by £51. (Cheers.) It behoved them as a district to put their house in oj^er and make themselves thoroughly solvent. Tae business of the district was conducted on very good lines, the books were kept in a perfect state, a ad they had a very good secretary. (Cheers.) Of course the secretary had not the management of the whole district but if they co-operated with him and the other officers, they could expect to prosper. (Hear, hear.) Mr. W. G. Farr, who next addressed the meet- ing as a representative of the Abergavenny district, referred to the fact that the funds of that district had been increased during the year by some £36, and extended fraternal greetings to the general secretary on the occasion of his first visit to the district. Mr. Duncan Kennedy, who was received with applause, said it was perhaps desirable that he should explain why he was there. When it was purposed that he should come down to South Wales, it was not intended that he should address meetings of the members in their public capacity, but rather that he should go round regarding organisation to some of the districts whose position, for some years had not been as satisfactory as it shoula be, it being found necessary, with respect to three ef the South Wales districts, that something should be done to have a clear understanding regarding their mutual obligations, and the carrying out and fulfilment of the promises they had made to their members as to preparing for times of difficulty and distress. And he not unnaturally thought thatif it was desirable to spend money to teach inen to do their duty, that those who had already done their duty without requiring to be taught were at least entitled to some little con- sideration while he was in South Wales. (Hear, hear.) And, therefore, whilst he came ostensibly to deal with those three districts, he also, at J some little inconvenience, arranged to visit those districts which did not require any teaching, to see them, to talk to them, to sympathise with them, and also tc encourage them in their one common work, and in promoting their one great and common object. (Hear, hear.) He had no reason whatever to find fault with their work in tb.-d district. It had been excellently carried en, and they had an excellent secretary. (Hear, hear.) He had no hesitation in saying that the growthand development of friendly societies was amaagst the most important social phenomena of the present century. He went further, and said that during the reign of her Majesty the Queen he knew of no organisation in this country that had Iarogressed at the same ratio, had been so successful, and had done its work so quietly as the ,friendly societies of Great Britain and Iceland.and to.the credit of those who con- stituted those societies, the work had been done by the members themselves in a manner not only satisfactory, but he ventured to say that in many localities it had been done in such a manner as ought to command the respect and sympatiagr of the inhabitants of the place in which they resided, iln this locality they had had their misfortunes, and had proved the value of conukiwation. (Heat) hear.) As to the general prosperity of the Order, he was pleased to say, notariths taooing. the trying ordeal friendly societies had recently been and were still passing through, thejy had as an Order made progress almost bevaud anvtijiner knewn in their past his- rtory. (Cheers.) iHfee malady of influenza had ic some instances lowered the funds of lodges to a very great degree. They had had to some ea&ent, and he waa afraid thoy would have to a Still larger extent, to eontendiagainst those who, whilst professing to he their friends, were at- tempting to bring in lejgislatien upon the ques- tion of friendly societies. iRe said they were better able to minister to .the wants of their members, an,l theyaould do it in more success- ful and indei>en<fent way than ihe Government -of thiaor any other (jowntiy could do it for them. ((Hear hear 1 As far .as their .*rder was con- cerned, he was pleased to say that for 1890 (the returns for 1891 iW not jet eomeiio hand), not- withstanding the heavy rate ot sickness conse- quent upon the ii \fluenxa epidemic, they had a ciear surplus upon the years transactions of ilS,384 6a. 9d. (Cheers.) Is the game year they added 14,327 now meiabers Jmt ne was sorry to say they lost 6,066. That pity, and the -question o f leakage woulu^ha e to fee faced by the lodges. He believed m O e a Shepherd always a Sheph ercL (Cheers.) question they would have to faee before long would be not so much the hutiatioa of meeabers as the keeping of members. Notwithstanding the 6,000 they had lost, they had a clear gaui of something like 8,000 on their roll, so that feac- tionally they stood as follows 1'04 districts, con- stituting 1,131 lodges and a iaemberabi-p of I of 95,789; and he was confident L"Jmt by to-day they numbered considerably f) Ter 100,000. During 1890. too, their honorary members were increased by 471. (Hear, hear.) As re wded the Blaenavon district, though the membership had not increased in prouortion to the iaeaease in the population, yet they had suc- ceeded in carrying out the true principles of Christianity. The district now comprised 12 lodgee and 948 members; and during the past ten yettn they had paid out for sickness alone £ 7155 3s. lOd in funeral claims they had paid £2149, and for medical attendance 9102 12k. 9d.,

or a total for the ten years of no less a sum than £9413168.7d. They had thus paid for the past ten years nearly £1000 a year for the relief of sickness and distress and besides that, they had accumulated funds amounting to 12786, proving beyond all doubt their value as a power for good in that community. (Cheers.) After referring to the importance of adopting the suggestions of the valuer, the speaker dealt at length with the old-age pension scheme proposed by Mr. J. Chamberlain, and concluded an interesting address amid applause. Mr. Wm. Williams, an honorary member of the "Flower of the Forest," next addressed the meetin —/ On the proposition iof Mr. T. Williams, Garn- diffaith, seconded by Mr. J. Evans, a vote of thanks to Mr. D. Kennedy for his attendance and address was carried by acclamation. A similar compliment to the chairman termi- nated the proceedings.