The Brecon Reporter and South Wales General Advertiser

THE public have again been startled and alarmed by a series of those railway accidents which occur so frequently at this season of the year. The greatly increased traffic on the various railway lines, which is the natural result of holiday time, appears to be prolific in accident and disaster. Whether it is that the companies' servants are un- duly taxed, and their attention overstrained, by the additional work imposed, or simply that the wear and tear of the material of the lines'is in- creased beyond the proper limit, it is certain that the excursion season has been for the last few years a time-of dread to all habitual travellers by rail. We have come to look for railway-accidents in May and June as confidently as we look for the budding fruits and flowers and, unfortunately, we have not this year been disappointed. The first of the railway accidents which now occupy the public mind occurred at midnight on Whit-Tuesday, on the Great Western Railway, near Bristol. The 'down passenger train which left London at 8.10 p.m. was stopped on a steep em- bankment, the driver believing that there was either some imperfection in his engine, or an obstruction on the line. He left his post to ascer- tain the cause that had suggested his fears, and, finding everything right, returned to continue the w journey. Meanwhile, the passengers-had become alarmed at the stoppage of the train. Some of them were aware that a special mail train left London about half an hour after their own, and that it must now be close upon their heels. They besought the guard during the stoppage to open the carriages, and let them leave the train, which was clearly in danger of being run into at any moment. The guard refused, and most of the travellers were compelled to retain their seats. In the rearmost passenger carriage, however, sat a commercial traveller, who happened to have a key which would unlock the door. He used it to liberate himself and his companions in the same compartment, and in this manner, apparently, their lives were saved. The train had scarcely resumed its motion when the mail train ran into it from behind, doubling up the first-class carriage from which a few passengers had just escaped- cAshing, we are told, a hat-box that remained jn}t, like a piece of board. Many of the passen- gers who remained in the train sustained very serious injuries. To show how little margin is left for safety in the ordinary management of railway traffic, it must be added that shortly after this accident, the mail train was itself run into by a line of empty carriages from Bath, and further injuries to passengers were the consequence. Now, with reference to this accident, we should like to know by what right the travellers in a railway carriage are made prisoners for the time, .through being locked in by a company's servants. We are not aware that there is any clause in any Act, which gives a railway company power to infringe in this manner upon, tt.,It liberty of the subject which is a priihary principle of the law of the land. In this case it is clear that some of the passengers were indebted for their lives to the accidental possession, by one of their number, of the means of escape from confinement, in which, as we believe, they had illegally been placed. This is by no means the first occasion in which railway passengers have been perfectly aware of an impending danger to life and limb, but have been unable to avoid it by leaping from the train. If it is argued that such attempts to leave a train, in motion or otherwise, would be too frequently r!or»rr<vp ia the inability of the passengers to leave the car- riages when a breakdown occurs. Hardly any one but a madman would think of recklessly jumping from a train in motion; and for the companies to argue that such cases would often occur would, prima facie, be to say that few others will, as a rule, make excursions by their trains. In candour we must add that the com- panies appear to have been doing their best to ensure that no persons urtpossessed of a certain amount of recklessness will venture on travelling by rail. The two far more serious accidents which followed closely upon this— the one on the Shrews- bury and Chester, and the other on the South- Eastern Railway near Staplehnrst-appear to be attributable to nearly the same cause, the repair of the rails occurring at a time when the exigencies of the traffic demanded that all should be in proper working order. As the circumstances attending each of these accidents are now being sifted before coroners' juries, we will, for the present, make no attempt to attach the blame to the proper quarters but the lament- able loss of life which has occurred is sufficient to show that the public safety should not be left to measures which may be adopted by the companies at their discretion. The Government are, in our opinion, bound to take some steps, through the Board of Trade, to ensure that the companies shall adopt all those precautions which experience has shown to.be necessary. One proline cause of accidents is the wants of proper intelligence or. vigilance on the part of railway servants. As a rule they are both underpaid and overworked. It is impossible in the latter case that the tenison of the faculties which their duties demand can be maintained for a sufficient period and if the pay be reduced, as it generally is, to the lowest amount for which lllPn can be engaged, it is hardly likely that the services of competent and responsible men can be sscured. The companies appear to have much yet to learn in these particulars and the sooner the .lesson is enforced upon their attention by the Board of Trade, the better for the public.

BOROVGH PETTY SESSIONS. These Sessions were held on Monday last, at the Town Hall, before George Cansick, Esq., mayor. John Price, a militia man, was summoned, charged by Supt. Lee, with committing a breach of the peace.—Fined Is. and costs. David Jones, haulier, was summoned, charged by Supt. Lee, with cruelty to animals, on the 20th of May last. P.C. Davies proved the service of the summons. Supt. Lee deposed that on the above date the defendant was going up Ship Street with a load of bark after three horses, they came to a stand still, but after a great deal of plunging and whipping, they got to top of the hill. Fined £1. Thomas Pritehard was summoned by Thomas Harris, a river watcher, charged with assaulting him, on Saturday night last. Thomas Harris deposed that on Saturday night last, Pritchard attacked him on Llanfaes bridge, and challenged him to fight; he wanted him also to go down to the green to fight. James Edwards corroborated the foregoing statements.—Bound over to keep the peace for six months, himself in £10 and two sureties in the sum of £5 each.

POSTAL ARRANGEMENTS. The following reply to the Memorial, forwarded by our Lord Lieutenant, has been received by George Cansick, Esq., Mayor- General Post Office, June 2nd, 1865. "SIR,- Witb reference to theMemorials forwarded I by, you from Hay and Brecknock, for increased postal accommodation, by the use of the Hereford, Hay, and Brecon Railway; I am directed by the Postmaster General to inform you that the hours at which the Trains are now running are not suitable for the Mail Service, and that the Railway Com- pany decline to establish Trains at the times re- quired by the Department, except at a cost quite out of proportion with the correspondence to be benefited. I have to express to you, therefore His Lordship's regret that he is unable to comply with the Memoralists' request. I am, Sir, Your obedient Servant,— HILL."

HlMtfj. June 2nd, aged 45, after a short illness, beloved by all who kn e* her, Elizabeth, wife of Mr. J. Williams, master of the Brecknock Union.. She was. faithful and zealous' in the discharge of her duties, her irreparable .loss aud .kindness will be

VALE OF CRICKHOWELL RAILWAY (WESTERN EXTENSION.) Last year the promoters of this Railway, obtained an Act for a line from Llanfoist (that is practically from Abergavenny) to Crickhowell.. The Bill this year was for powers to make an extension Westward to Talybont station on the Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Railway. It will be remembered that this Bill was allowed to pass on standing orders of both Houses of Parliament, upon fresh plans and sections being deposited correcting some engineering errors. The Bill came before the referrees upon engineering details, on the 15th of May last, when it appeared that the Duke of Beaufort, Lord Tre- degar, and G. W. P. Gwynne Holford, W. W. Lewis, and David Downes, Esqrs., and others, had petiti- oned against the Bill. Mr. D. Thomas, of Brecon, was solicitor for the Bill, and Messrs. Cobb and Price, also of Brecon, were solicitors for the Petitioners against. Mr. Henry Conybeare (the Engineer for the Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Railway), Mr. Geo. W. Hemans and Mr. A. Henshaw (the Manager of the Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Railway) were examined to prove certain en ()-ineeri ,ects of the line, and to prove that it was badly laid out by the promoter's engineer. The two first named gentlemen said the junction was a bad one, being between two steep gradients, one of 1 in 38 for If miles, and the other of 1 in 40 for between 6 and 7 miles, and that this junction would destroy the existing sidings and engine shed at Talybont Station, and that the limits of deviation of the line were too short. Mr. flenshaw's evidence was that the Junction was so bad that it would be a very dangerous one indeed to work, if it could be worked at all. Mr. Isaac Davies the engineer fur the Bill, was then examined in support, who said he was com- pelled to confine the limits of deviation in conse- quence of the river close by, and admitted that the sidings proposed to be substituted for those to be destroyed would be out of the limits as laid down on the plan. Mr. Ed. Wilson also gave evidence in support, to the effect that wherever Mr. Davies had placed his limits, the works must nave been where they were, .in consequence of the floods of the river, and that the sidings might be put within the limits, and that the junction was a good one of the sort. The Referees reported that it was complained that the proposed railway would destroy the sidings, that it would be desirable, if possible, to avoid effecting a junction with a railway so near to such long and steep inclines, but from the nature of the country, if a junction was to be effected, it could not be made without some such defect, and as the control of the trains and signals would be vested in the Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Railway Company, the Referees were of opinion that there were not any engineering objections to the construction of the proposed Junction. That the sidings in question would be destroyed, and it was suggested that certain sidings should be provided in lieu thereof —but those laid down in the plan produced to the referrees, were not wholly within the limits of devi- ation contained in the deposited plans, and con- sequently could not be affected within the powers contained in the Bill. The Bill came before the select committee of the House of Commons, on the 30th of May last, when the formal proofs of the deposit of the amended plans were first taken. Mr. Karslake and Mr. Jeffreys appeared for the promoters, and Mr. Millward and Mr. Thomas for the petitioners against. There were some twelve or so witnesses ex- amined in support of the line, including the Mayor of Brecon, who said he was a brewer, and got his malt from Bristol, Gloucester, and Great Grimsby. In reply to Mr. Millward: He said the- Welsh people were addicted to taking beer, and that recently they had driven him to Great Grimsby for his malt, and that he consumed not less than 50 quarters a month, but that he was not putting forward this line as at all necessary for accommo- dating the Grimsby maltsters, but it might be a competing line. Several commercial men from Bristol were also examined. in support. Mr. Isaac Davies the Engineer's examination was also commenced, when it was adjourned until the 1st of June, on which day his examination was resumed, when he was severely cross-examined as to his knowledge of the financial position of the Company,, and who the Directors were, and who f jund the money deposited, but Mr. Davies would not admit knowing anything about those facts, except that he knew.of only five directors. Mr. Millward then said that the Act of last year authorized only six directors, and that the existing directors of the Company should be the persons in whose names the deposit should be made, and that the money had been deposited in the names of three gentlemen (beside the five directors) as being directors or persons having the management 6f the 11 9 affairs of the undertaking, thus making eight, whereas the Act only authorized six and he con- tended that the money was not under the control of the directors. At the request of Mr. Jeffreys, it was agreed the point should stand over until his leader, Mr. Karslake, returned, and upon his re- turn the point was argued, and Mr. Karslake called the Secretary, Mr. E. J. C. Davies, Solicitor, Crickhowell, who was examined, and admitted that although he was the Secretary for the Company and attended their monetary affairs, he did not know who found the money deposited, and that he knew nothing of one of the gentlemen in whose name the money had been deposited and that this gentleman had never been appointed a director. Mr. Karslake and Mr. Millward again addressed the Committee, when the latter said they would not give any opinion upon the question raised, but wished the promoters to conclude their case. Mr. Isaac Davies's cross-examination was then proceeded with, when he admitted in his previous examination before the referees having said that one of the existing curves at Talybont, was two chains, but he had since found that was a mistake several other witnesses were afterwards called, and the promoters closed their case, and without calling upon the Petitioner's Council the Committee de- cided that the preamble of the Bill had not bees proved. Oornrn unicated.

TRUE IVORITISM. r' The Brychan Brycheiniocr Lodge of True Ivorites, Bull Inn, Glyntarrell, held their twenty-sixth An- niversary on Whit-Monday, the members, about 80 in number; assembled in the Lodge Room at the appointed time, and proceeded to Pontestyll Cltapel, headed by a part of the Brecon Rifle Militia Band, when the Rev. David James, Minister of the place, delivered an appropriate and impressive sermon from Titus, chap. 2, verses 11, 12, and 13. Divine service being over the procession re-formed and took its usual route up the Merthyr Road as far as Glanrhyd, where they halted, and every member partook of a pint of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis's Civrwda, and Mrs. Lewis presented every member and spectator with a slice of cake which she prepared for the occasion, after which they returned, to their j Tl>, -1, r.f,> mnçf,py(',pllp.nt..dinner, provided by the Host and Hostess (Mr. and Mrs. Evans). The cloth being removed the Rev. David James was elected to the chair, and Mr. Wm. William (Gwilyins ap Rhys), to the vice-chair. The usual loyal and patriotic toasts were gone through, eloquent speeches on various subjects were delivered by the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Mr. Rees Davis, Blaenrheon, Mr. John Probert, Garngaled, &c. several pieces of poetry, composed for the occasion, were given by the Chairman and Mr. John Probert; songs were sung and the band played at intervals which added greatly to the conviviality of the meeting. Two little girls, Miss Jane Davies, of Gadleys Street, Aberdare, and Miss Margaret Williams, of Libanus, showed great skill and talent, by singing several songs especially Hen Wladfy Nhadait, in such style as could not be easily sur- passed by the best professionals of the day, in fact a more pleasant Anniversary dinner was never spent, and the proceedings terminated in good time peaceable and orderly.—Communicated.

I 1-0 WHY SHOULD THE SPIRIT OF MOHTAL BE PROUD? BY PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 0, why should the spirit of mortal be proud ? Like a swift-fleeting meteor—a fast-tying cloud- A flash of the lightning—a break of ',he wave- He passetli from life to his rest in the grave. The leaves of the oak and the willow shall fade, Be scattered around, and together be hid As the young and the old, and the low and the high' Shall crumble to dust, and together shall lie. The infant, a mother attended anclloved- The mother, that infant's affection who proved— The father, that mother and infant who llest, Each, all, are away to their dwelling of rtst. The maid on whose brow,on whose cheek,in -"bose eye, Shone beauty and pleasure—her triumphs are by: And alike from the minds of the living erised Are the mem'ries of mortalsv. ho loved her anc praised. The hand of the king, that the sceptre hath borne, The brow of the priest, that the mitre hatl. worn, The eye of the sage, and the heart of the brave Are hidden and lost in the depths of the giave. The peasant, whose lot was to sow and to rap, The herdsman, who climbed with his goats up the steep, The beggar, who wandered in search of his tread, Have faded away like the grass that we tretd. So the multitude goes like the flower or wed, That withers away to let others succeed So the multitude comes, even those we beh)ld, To repeat every tale that has often been toll. For we are the same our forefathers have bien We see the same sights our fathers have setn We drink the same stream, we see the sane sun, And run the same course our fathers have lun. The thoughts we are thinking our fathers rlicthink From the death we are shrinking our fathers did shrink To the life we are clinging our fathers did ding, But it speeds from us all like a bird on the wing. They loved—but the story we cannot unfoil; They scorned—but the heart of the haughtyis cold They grieved—but no wail from their slumbrs will come They joyed—but the tongue of their gladness is dumb. They died—ah! they died-we things that a'e now, That walk on the turf that lies over their how, And make in their dwellings a transient alode, Meet the things that they met on their pilgrimage road. Yea, hope and despondency, pleasure and pin, Are mingled together like sunshine and ran And the smile, and the tear, and the song, tnd the dirge, Still follow each other, like surge upon surge. 'Tis the wink of an eye, 'tis the draught of a breath, From the blossom of health to the paleness of death From the gilded saloon to the bier and the shioud- Then why should the spirit of mortal be proid I Primitive Methodist Magazine. Sent by E. RCGERS.

IN MEMORY OF J. T. JONES, PENYCRUG. Mother, mother, let me kiss thee, Once again before I die Let me clasp my arms around thee, On thy bosom let me lie. Earth is fleeting, fast decaying From my weary, weary, sight— Dearest mother, let me kiss thee, Ere I bid a long Good night!" Ah how sorely it doth grieve me, Gentle mother, thus to know That I did not live to cheer thee, When thou art oppressed with woe. Thus to leave thee, and for ever, From my home and friends to part; Every tie of love to sever, That have bound my hopeful heart. Oh 'tis painful, very painful, Thus to meet the silent tomb, Torn from all that's bright and lovely, To endure a fearful gloom Forced from all the little pleasures That have ioy'd my youthful mind, Innocence and love and friendship, Every cherish'd thing resigu'd. Tlark the little birds are singing Sweetly now their evening lay See: the glorious sufi is setting Oh! how beautiful its ray Farewell all ye lovely visions, Beauteous nature fare thee well Longer I may not behold thee, Native earth farewell, farewell. Mother, mother, I am going, To a land of peace and rest, Where the bitter tear of anguish J, Never dews the aching breast, u Where the soul escaped for ever v From its tenement of clay, j-i;- Beams irradiate with splendour KOf a bright eternal day. Mother, mother, I must leave thee, See the clammy death frost now, Herald of the king of terror, Standing fearful on'my brow, Ah! the beauteous peaceful heaven Of that blessed land, in sight, Mother, mother, Jesus calls me, I must go "Good night," "Good night." ■■. £ recob, June 14tk, 18f5r;. E.J'.M.

NOTICE. | THE presentation of the Testimonial by the Farmers of this neighbourhood to Mr. Win. Mathews, woolstapler, of Llanfaes, in this town, will take place at the Bridgend Inn, on the 7th of July next. All subscribers who have not paid, are requested to do so as early as possible. A dinner will be provided at a moderate charge. June 14th, 1865. RED HO-USE, EATING ROUSE, WATTON, BRECON. EDWARD WILLIAMS PESPECTFULLY informs his friends and the "public generally, that they can be accommo- dated at any hour of the day, with hot or cold joints, soups, sausages, and brawn, of the best quality, tea, coffee, &c., &c., at the most moderate terms and shortest notice. All hinds of Vehicles at the shortest notice. [A CARD.] VT- IFt- K I1'TG3 COACH MAKER, Lion Street, and Saint Michael Street, Brecon. Repairs neatly executed atinodei-ate, charges. PERAMBULATORS REPAIRED AND MADE TO ORDER. VEGETABLE PILLS, Without a particle of Mercury, Antimony, or other mineral ingredient, require no confinement in- doors, nor any special rules with regard to diet, their operation having a strengthening tendency, and recommended for HEAD-ACHE, BILIOUS COMPLAINTS, AND kLL DISORDERS OF THE HEAD AND STOMACH. IMPORTANT MEDICAL TESTIMONY. COLERIDGE HOUSE, SWANSEA, Jan. 18, 1864. I have examined the Pills which go under the name of KERNICK'S PILLS," and I know their composition. I have also tested their effects. I can truly certify as to the absence of all mineral or injurious ingredients and I can safely recom- mend them as one of the best aperient Pills for ordinary use in constipated habits that I know. JOHN BALBIRNIE, M.A. M.D BRISTOL, September, 1862. Sir,—After trying many doctors for the Liver Complaint, and all of them failing to do me any good, I took one box of your Pills, and to my astonishment found instaht relief, and before the second box was consumed was entirely cured. RICHARD REES, The celebrated Cheap John. THESE INVALUABLE PILLS ARE PREPARED ONLY BY S. P. KERNICK, 23, DUKE STREET, CARDIFF. May be obtained through any Chemist, OF his ap- pointed Agents, in Boxes at Is. ld. and 7|d. each. 2 WHOLESALE AGENTS, LONDON BARCLAY & SONS LOCAL AGENTS.: Trecastle., Mr. Watkins, Manchester House; Brecon, Mr. Jones, Stone-cutter; Llanfaes, and Mr. W. Evans, Gunsmith Crickhowell,. Mr. Cristopher, Chemist.

BRECON CHARITIES. By indenture, dated 24th October, 1800, Henry Davies conveyed to William Jones in fee, certain premises in the town of Brecon, subject to a charge thereon of 40s. a-year, for ever, to be distributed in bread to the poor of the town of Brecon, on every Holy Thursday and Good Friday, in equal proportions and to a further charge of 20s. a-year, for ever, to the vicar of the said town of Brecon for the time being, for a sermon on each of those days. The property charged as above stated now con- sists of six dwelling-houses in High-street superior and Lion-street, occupied respectively by Mr. Richard Hall, druggist, Mr. Roberts, and others. We are informed-that the above charity has not been complied with, in consequence of the money not being paid. The sermons have been preached, but the bread not distributed. We hope the pro- per authorities will enquire into the matter.

BRECKNOCKSHIRE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION. The above Association was held in this town, on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday last, at the Market House, the attendance was very large, the weather proved remarkably favorable The follow- ing ministers preached on the occasion—Revds. Dl. Davies, D.D., of Aberavon Thomas Davies, D.D., Theological Tutor of Haverfordwest- College; Thomas Price, A.M., Ph.D., of Aberdare; John Williams, of Newport; John Evans, of Abercanaid John Jones, (Mathetes,) Phymney; Nathaniel Thomas, Cardiff; John Rowlands, Cwmafon, and Cornelius Griffiths, Merthyr. Dr., Thomas Davies and the Rev John Williams preached in English. The kindness of the inhabitants of the town on the occasion is deserving of-the highest praise.

PRESENTATION TO SERGEANT MAJOR HARGEST. In May last, the Angelsea Militia were iqspected by General Sir John Jones, at the conclusion of the drill, Colonel Williams, on behalf of the Officers, presented Sergeant Major Hargest with a gold", hunting watch (of the value of £30) as an acknow- ledgement upon his retirement from the regiment, of the efficient manner in which he had discharged the duties of the position which he held among them. The Sergeant Major acknowledged the compli- ment in a most effective speech. After which he was presented by the non-Commissioned Officers and Men*'with a very handsome tea and coffee service. „ J i,ii