South Wales Daily News

MR ALFRED THOMAS, M.P., AT LLANELLY. THE QUESTION OF POOR LAW REFORM. MR CHAMBERLAINS PENSION SCHEME CONDEMNED. A well-attended public meeting was held on Monday night at Moriah Schoolroom, when an address was delivered by Mr Alfred Thomas, ALP., on Poor Law reform.—Mr T. Hughes, who presided, observed that they at Llanelly were in thorough sympathy with Mr Alfred' Thomas's Bill. (Applause.) Mr ALFRED THOMAS, M.P., who was cordially received, said that the time had now come for a. great and complete change in our poor law system. He urged that the lot of the deserving poor should be improved, and to this end the poor law system should be humanised. Mr Thomas proceeded:—The man who serves his country with the spade is quite as valuable a citizen as the man who serves it with the sword. The ploughman and the mechanic are as much entitled to a pension in old age as the soldier. I see that Mr Chamberlain has been re-stating the pension scheme, which has been before the country for some time. His proposals are practically the same as those which have been put forward in greater detail by Canon Blackley and the Rev W. Moore Ede. Mr Chamberlain seems undecided whether he would make his scheme voluntary or compulsory. If the former, it would not be likely to benefit anyone, for there are at present plenty of ways of securing an annuity m old age by those who can pay for it; and if Mr Chamberlain means the latter, then I fear he vV have some difficulty in carrying it through i 'or it must never be forgotten that it is for the poor, and very often the thriftless and improvident that provision must be made, and no number of voluntary methods will secure provision by the improvident against theirold age. Then to make it compulsory might be to force poor people to do a very hard tiling. Mr Cham- berlain would compel poople to provide lor old age by making weekly or other regular contribu- ion towards a fund to be subsidised by the parish or by the State. But Mr 'Chamberlain seems to forget that the very class for which pro- vision is so urgently required is unable to con- tribute to any fund whatever. They are just able to make ends meet. another straw would break the camel's back. Throughout their existence their struggle with poverty is too keen and equally matched to allow any surplus for Uisurance. But when we pension the nien who have fought on our battle fields, we do n3t make it a condition that they shall first have contributed to a fund from which the pen- sion shall be drawn. A grateful country recog- nises their claim. And is it not a fact that persons who contribute towards the support of the State by paying rates and taxes through a considerable number of years, have made the best °f all provision for an honourable annuity when °ld age or infirmity comes ? I propose that our Poor-law system should contain provision for the class of persons for whom Mr Chamberlain has conceived a new-born but not altogether prudent zeal. I would abolish the degrading term" pauper" in the case of the deserving poor, and substitute the more honourable term of State pensioner, indus- trial pensioner, or something to indicate that these persons were respected by the nation. For I hold that insurance against permanent infirmity and old age must be made by means of the rates, and the person who has been a ratepayer has insured himself against adversity and old age. Mr Chamberlain would establish another huge, cumbersome, and costly State department to administer his national pension scheme. But L when we bear in mmd the terrible cost of ad- ministering our present poor law and other departments of State, we are far from sanguine about the soundness of his proposals. Mr (jham. berlain is no doubt an enective critic, but as a constructive statesman he is a total failure, and his latest attempt to catch popular favour is one of the unsoundest economic proposals he has ever made to the country. Mr D. REES EDMUNDS, solicitor, Cardiff, pro. posed the following resolution :— That this public meeting of inhabitants of Llanelly, having heard Mr Alfred Thomas, M.P., explain the Poor La-w Reform Bill, hereby oxpresses its hearty Approval of the principle of the bill, and resolves to d' Petition Parliament in favour of the second reacting of the bill. Mr EVAN EVANS, in seconding the resolution, referred to the valuable service rendered by Mr Thomas in connection with poor law reform. Mr R. C. JENKINS (local guardian) and others also spoke in favour of the resolution, which was carried with acclamation.

SAD FATALITY AT CARDIFF. A distressing accident occurred at Cardiff on Sunday afternoon to a young Frenchman named Emile Champion. The young man, having hired a horse, was riding in Newport-road, when the animal suddenly took fright and bolted at a great Pace. Opposite Roath Court the horse swerved, and its rider fell violently to the ground, sus- taining nast injuries OIl the head. The unfortunate young gentleman was conveyed to his residence in Glynrhondda-street, I Ilee where he died 011 Monday morning. The sad e*ent ia the more distressing from the fact that 6 v ^eoeased had only been in Cardiff a few weeks, having come over to Wales direct from his home in France. He was engaged in the office of Messrs Dueret at the Bute Docks.

The labour party will run Mr Ben Tillett for East Bradford. The Duke of Devonshire attained his 84th year on Monday. £ 10 12s 6d per lb. for tea. This tea was pur- ixBMed by tne Mazawattee Ceylon Tea Co., Loudon

LONDONLETTER, __H_ [SPECIALLY WIRE D.J [FROM OUK LONDON COPIRESPOXDENT. j LONDON, Monday Night. THE NEWFOUNDLAND DIFFICULTY. The Government continue to be placed in a very awkward position by the Newfound- land business, and have not, got out of it very gracefully to-night. The Newfound- land delegates offer to pass a bill in their own Legislature pledging the colony to ob- serve the modus vicendi for one year, that is to say, they promise to do themselves what the Imperial Legis- lature insists upon doing for them. It was this otl'er privately made which led to the hesitation noticed in this correspond- ence last week, which even up to Wednes- day afternoon seemed to promise a settle- ment that should lead to the withdrawal of Lord Knutsford's bill. Correspondence and interviews have been going on daily, but they have not resulted in e bringing about more than is set forth in Lord Knutsford's speech in the Lords. To-night the Government insisted upon passing their bill through the House of Lords, but promised that it shall not be taken in the Commons till after Whitsun- tide, which will give the Newfoundland Legislature an opportunity of carrying out the undertaking to which the delegates pledge it. It is, doubtless, necessary to be on safe ground, but this open suspicion that Newfoundland means, if it finds an opportunity, to play fast and loose is not calculated to draw closer the bonds between the empire and its oldest colony. GLADSTONIANS AND FREE EDUCATION. Sir William Harcourt's remark incidentally dropped in the course of his speech on the Budget scheme, and the loud cheer it drew from the Liberal benches, timously marks the attitude of the opposition on this question. Wherever the surplus comes from Sir William Harcourt declared lie was delighted that it should be bestowed upon the establishment of free education. More he would not say till he had seen the bill. But W that is a good deal, speaking as lie did with the full authority of consultations with Mr Gladstone and his colleagues on the front bench, added to a knowledge of the general feeling in Liberal circles. The fact is free education is a leading plank in the Liberal' platform, and the Conservatives have appro- priated it, only, as they have taken over much else. Mr Gladstone has categorically declared that they would be very glad if Lord Salisbury would take up the Home Rule question, caring nothing for the personal credit of carrying it out, but only desirous that the act of justice should be done. It will be the same with free education. The Liberal party in the House of Commons will loyally support the Govern- ment in embodying the principle in legisla- tion, making the best possible terms to safeguard the taxpayers' money against undue appropriation for denominational purposes. It is quite possible that this sentiment will have practical effect in the direction of closing up the committee on the Irish Land Bill, and so preparing the way for passing the Education Bill on an early date. WHITEHAVEN'S ELECT DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF. Sir James Bain, the newly-elected mem- ber for Whitehaven, made his appearance to-night in circumstances that promise the addition to the House of a member not un- worthy of the eccentric fame of Mr Caven- dish Bentinck. The new member was evidently overweighted with anticipation of the sensation his appearance will create, and had determined to do justice to the occa- sion. Accordingly when, as he walked up the House under the escort of Mr Jemmy Lowther, the Conservatives cheered, Sir James, halting, bowed low Vt gracious acknowledgment of the applause. Advancing a few steps lie again halted. Turning to the left, where the Conserva- tives sat, he made a bow even more pro- found than the first. But it presently ap- peared that his genuflexions were carefully regulated. His final, most graceful, and most gracious obeisance was made when he halted just before the mace. After making this third bow he retired a pace and stood there whilst the clerk vainly held out to him the Bible. After SMUC anxious signalling it was borne in upon the new member that the thing to do was to get hold of the volume and be prepared to kiss it when lie had heard the form of oath recited. This done, the clerk turned and walked over to the roll of Parliament, the new member taking the opportunity of once more surveying the House with an air of comical condescension. It was only when Mr Smith, by violent citort, had managed to reach the skirt of his coat, and firmly tugged it, that Sir James was brought up to the side cf the table, where the clerk was waiting for him to sign the roll. Half-an-hour late, having got through these troubles, Sir James came into un- wonted prominence, being discovered leisurely strolling about-, the House with his hat on, whilst Sir William Harcourt was on his legs addressing the Speaker. There was a short angry outburst of cries of Order," a storm under which the new member sub- sided, and was seen no more during the evening. JHl UOSCHJU* S BUDGET SCHEME EXPOSED. Sir William Harcourt has been making a careful study of the rambling speech de- livered by Mr Goschen on Thursday ni exposition of his Budget scheme. It has been a difficult task, the statement being so involved that as Sir W. Harcourt said, the more he examined it the more bewildering it grew, but he managed to master it. mirl tn -1 irrlit, TVTr> Goscllen's Budget scheme into ribbons. He showed among the other things that in unusually favourable circumstances so far from increasing the momentum of the reduction of the National debt as iie had claimed, Mr Goschen <ic one less than his predecessors. As for his surplus, it was created by the simple JJ n° rp?,1?1*'6 Round device of borrowing monej is year Mr Goschen had borrowed 3% millions. One-and-a-half went to ma,ke both ends meet in the national ex- penditure, and a balance of two millions he called a surplus, whilst, the expenditure had increased mainly through what Mr Disraeli called "bloated arma- ments, the floating debt had been largely augmented, and by a series of shifts and devices mo^e like the proceedings of bankrupt South America Mr Goschen had hidden the fact. Sir W. Harcourt in his incisive speech to-night disclosed the whole truth, which will be found worth while the taxpayer's study.

SHIPMENTS AT BARRY DOCK- The shipments of coal and coke at Barry Dock for the week ending April 25th, were as follows :— tjoai. 4joice. Tons. Cwt. Tons. Cwt. Monday, April 20th 16,948 19 314 0 < Tuesday, 21st. 15,288 15 19 12 Wednesday,, 22nd 11,601 .4 Thursday, 23rd 12,001 0 Friday, „ 24th 16,948 6 Saturday, 25th 7,361 1 Coal 78,159 5 333 12 Coke 333 12 Tot,il 78,492 17

THE SILVER WEDDING OF COL. HILL, C.B., M.P. In commemoration of the silver wedding of Colonel Hill, C.B., M.P., of Rookwood, Llandaff, a ball was given on Monday evening in the assembly-room of the Town-hall, rdlff. The affair was a most brilliant one, triet^ attended by the elite of the dis- u j i Very elaborate and extensive preparations timade for the event, the Assembly-room, hnll hJ!,03*?? *eading thereto, and the entrance • decorated in a profuse and highly artis- t-ir>p-tries In Indian, Chinese, and Japanese VPHPSIV Wh,eh ihe walls were draped, kit an r £ tmV;arm,and Picturesque' aspect *?i a,nd formed a most suit- able background for the v,lrie(1 graceful dresses of the ladie! This portion of the wol^ir^ ^ed to Messrs Howell and CoY n ?ut bythem- The floral embellishments of the hall were superb. They were supped by. Mr J. Cypher, of Chel- tenham. Mr ^t^ens, Gf Quaen gtreet; was the cat •, supper being pro- vided in the chamber. The rnusio was sup plied by Messrs Johnson and Roberts's band. There was a very large attendance, and among those to honour the gathering with their presence were the Marquis and Marchioness of Bute. Dancing commenced at about ten, and was continued until the small hours of the morn- ing.

1'7 The influenza epidemic at Sheffield continues without abatement. Last week it caused 55 deaths, an increase of 48 on the previous week. Seventy-one deaths from bronchitis and 47 from pneumonia also took place last week, these being largely caused by a previous attack of influenza. The mortality is very much higher than it was when the epidemic was at its height last year.

THE IRISH CRISIS. SWEEPING DENUNCIATION OF MR PARNELL. [PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.1 MONTREAL, Monday A slight flutter of excitement was caused in Irish Catholic circles here yesterday by a pastoral, issued by Archbishop Fabre, and read in all the churches of his diocese, in which he urged the faithful to abstain from attending the meeting announced to be held on the 8th of May in this city in support of the Parnell movement. A pastoral on the subject had been gener- ally anticipated, but it was not sup- posed that the document would have been followed up by even stronger comments from the clergy. The pastoral, however, was supplemented at St. Patrick's Church by Father Dowd, who, in a vigorous address, remarked that for some time past there had been a move- ment in Montreal on the part of a few persons of but little influence to introduce the delegates of Mr Parnell to this city. They had a few days ago taken steps in advance by fixing the 8th of May as the date on which the delegates referred to should appear to explain their views. It was well known that the object of their mission to America was to collect funds in order to carry on the warfare begun by Mr Parnell in Ireland against the great majority of the representatives of the country in Parlia- ment, against the great majority of the population of the country at large, against the immense ma- jority of the priests of Ireland, and against the unanimous decision of the bishops and arch- bishops of the faithful in Ireland. "It is this warfare," he continued, which it is intended to strengthen and propagate by the meeting of the 8th of May. The object of the meeting is, therefore, bad and wicked, and must be condemned. The fact is plain that the delegates of Mr Parnell come here as the agents of a faction composed of a small minority of the Irish people. What is the object of their coming ? It is to ask you to maintain and ex- tend the spirit of faction among the minority they represent.. They ask for your money to enable them to keep the wounds of poor Ireland open and bleeding as long as possible, and as they are coming to us in this wicked character we cannot-we will not-receive then. Let Ireland send us a message of their wants, let that message be brought to us with one voice and uttered with- out a doubt, and it will be received, and Ireland's wants relieved now, as they often have been before, though, in order to relieve them, it should cost one-half of the last sbilling her children possess. After again exhorting his flock not to' attend the meeting, Father Dowd continued, "I am unwilling to enter into any details of the miserable case of Mr Parnell, but so unguarded and wicked are the expressions used in reference to the action of the bishops in the matter that some comment is necessary. All the bishops of Ire- land, without a single exception, have condemned Parnell for the repeated com- mission of a crime of the blackest dye— a crime made public in a court of justice, admitted by the silence of the culprit himself, and followed by no one word of regret or repentance. For this crime the bishops, as the organs of the Church in Ireland and official protectors of its morality, have declared Mr Parnell unfit to hold the place of honour as a leader of a Catholic, chaste, and religious people. How could they condone even by silence such a crime without insulting the brave sons and wounding the pure hearts of the daughters of Ireland? It cannot be said that the bishops exceeded their jurisdiction in condemning such an odious crime. Are they not by their sacred office the appointed guardians of the Ten Commandments, one of which proclaims Thou shalt not commit adultery?' They have stood firm in the position God placed them in, and have executed a sacred trust to the honour of the Church of God and the protection of the morality of their flocks."

ACCIDENT TO A MAIL TRAIN. [REUTER'S TELEGRAM.] NEW YORK, Monday. A remarkable accident occurred to a mail train on the Cincinatti, Indianapolis, St. Louis, and Chicago Railway, near Indianapolis, at three o'clock yesterday morning. The train was run- ning at the rate of fully sixty miles an hour down a steep gradient six miles in length, when the wheels on the near side of the last car but one struck a defective rail and broke it. The last coach, a Puhnan car, was conse- quently thrown off the line entirely, break- ing away from tho rest of the train, and turning upside down fell into a ditch, where with its own momentum it ran a distance of over a hundred feet. There were only six male passengers in the car, in- cluding Mr Smith Meyers, formerly Secretary of State for Indiana, all of whom were seriously injured, one of them fatally. An ex- amination of therailshowed it was old andcracked from one end for a distance of eight feet. The crack was quite perceptible and must have existed weeks.

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE BY A LADY. [RECTER'S TELEGRAM.] MONTE CARLO, Monday. Great; excitement has been caused in fashionable circles here owing. to an attempt at suicide by an English lady visitor. It appears that late yesterday afternoon the company on the Promenade de Nice were suddenly alarmed by a lady throwing herself into the sea from the top of the steps leading down the Casino. Fortunately a sailor named Gay, employed in connection with the establishment, observed the act, and plunging into-the water succeeded in bringing the unfor- tunate lady to land. She was immediately attended to, and having sufficiently recovered. was conveyed to her residence.

THE MURDER IN NEW YORK. LREUTER'S TELEGRAMS.] NEW YORK, Monday. Inspector Byrnes yesterday personally arrested the second engineer of the steamer Philadelphia, from Caracas, which ia lying in the dock in the East River. The man, whose name has not been ascertained, is a native of Holland, and his description tallies closely with that of the murderer of the woman Carrie Brown, who subse- quently mutilated the body in a revolting manner. The inspector also arrested another man on board the Philadelphia as a witness. The :victim Brown, whoso maiden name was Caroline Montgomery, was a native of Liverpool.

——— TO-DAY'S WEATHER, 1 A.M. TO-DAY'S FORECAST FOR ENGLAND, S. W., AND SOUTH WALES. Northerly to westerly winds, moderate; rain at times, unsettled.

GENERAL FORECASTS. j-Tu8 fr^owing forecasts wereprepared lasfcnight at the Meteorological Office at eight o'clock 5— .DISTRICTS— 0. Scotland"N. l South-westerly winds^un- I settled rain at times. 1. Scotland, E ) Southerly and south-west- 2. England,N.E.' f erly winds changeable- J some rain. —, 3 England, E. 1 South-easterly and. variable 4. Mid. Counties f ^nds; dull; rain at. J times. Eng S. (Lon. varying breezes, light to and Channel), f moderate, becomnog.rainy. J unsettled. 6. Scotland, W."i 7. Engl., N.W., J-Same as 0. & North Wales. J Q NTrnlhTir) N .1 Westerly"»nd south-westerly' 10 rlr, s' f wmds; fairmeast^showery' i\j. ao. o j ln WeH)i_

CADBURY'S COCOA. — 4 A Coeoa JIKXSSESFRMG valuable flesh-forming quaJitiosand imparfeig strength and staying power. —Health. 1269 THE GREAT CURE FOR CORNS.Munday's Viridine-Still further testimony. A Chemist writes :—4 Will yow send me a bottle of your Viridine ? It is for; my own Use. I get plenty of fcotn cures of the same' colour, hut none of them appear to equal .yours. N» one opght to say his corns ajre incurable until he lias used 11 Viridine." Thousands have been cured, some pi. whom had suffered for over 50 years. of imitations. Sold in bottles Is, by post Is 2d. by the Proprietor, J. Mundav. i Cardiff '1W¡d.a.1l, ¡).<1J9.2

THE PUNITIVE EXPEDITION TO MANIPUR. [REUTEK'S TELEGRAM.] SENGMAI CAMP, Sunday, via Kairong. The Kohima column arrived hete to-day. This is the last halting-place on the road from Kohima Implial, the correct native designation of the capital of Manipur, which is little over ten miles distant. The Maharajah has sent no prisoners to General Collett, as he was ordered to do, and it is therefore possible that he may resist the British advance on the palace. Firing was heard to-day from the direction of the capital. A reconnaiss- ance made to-day found the country deserted. The force will advance down to Imphal to-morrow and act in concert with the Tummu force.

THE LYNCHING AFFAIR IN CALIFORNIA. (REUTER S TELEGRAM], SAN FRANCISCO, Sunday. President Harrison conferred with General Ruger to-day in reference to the attack upon the prison and the lynching of a man by soldiers at Walla Walla, Washington Teritory. The President subsequently sent the following telegram to Mr Proctor, Secretary for War :— The affair at Walla Walla is very discredit- able to army discipline. If there is reason to believe-as there appears to be-that the mob was composed of soldiers, you will order a court of inquiry and see that the responsibility for the disgrace is fixed, and that the guilty are brought to prompt trial." Colonel Compton, the commanding officer at Fort Walla Walla, says that it was only a. misconception of the gravity of the situation that deterred him from taking more active steps to prevent the soldiers lynching the prisoner Hunt. Colonel Compton promises his aid in bringing the guilty soldiers to justice. He has given orders that no enlisted men shall be allowed outside the barracks until further notice. The authorities at Walla Walla have telegraphed to Mr Proctor, Secretary of War, declaring that they are unable to protect themselves against the lawless soldiers, and asking that immediate rction should be taken. They have received what they regard as authen- tic information that the soldiers intended to kill two policemen, named Ames and Morse, and the gamblers Holybroke and Taylor, and to demolish the two gambling houses. A hundred special guards, are on duty- at the fort.

THE CIVIL WAR IN CHILI. SINKING OF ANOTHER IRONCLAD. [REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.] P AIDS, Monday. The;Chilian.Legation has received a telegram,, stating'that Captain Moraga, commanding the' Government Fleet, has returned to Valparaiso,. with the cruisers Almirante-Lynch and Almirante Condell. It is added that, during the engage-, ment in Caldera Bay on the 23rd inst. five torpe- does were sent out against the Congressional; vessels, and that the monitor Huascar was sunk, as well as the Blanco Encalada. The Govern- ment cruisers received no damage. Intelligence from Congressional sources in Chili denies the report received at' the Chilian Legation that oenor Barros Luco, one of the leaders of the Parliamentary Party, was saved from drowning after the destruction of the Blanco Encalada. It is declared that Senor Luco has been for several weeks past on shore at, Iquique. *BDKNOS AYRES, April 24. Chilian advices announce that the torpedo division of the Government fleet has attacked the Congressional vessels off Caldera, when five torpedoes were discharged, with the effect of sinking the ironclads Blanco Encalada. and the monitor Huascar. Delayed in transmission.

THE MINERS' STRIKE IN AMERICA. [REUTER'S TELEGRAM.] NEW YORK, Monday. The Herald's Pittsburg" correspondent says that the agreement of the Hocking Valley miners to work this year at the present rate of wages, nine horns a day, may break the back of the., miners' eight hours movement. It is expected that this decision will compel the remaining miners in Ohio to accept similar terms, and the officials of the United Mine Workers' Association will, it is said, endeavour to secure.a continuance 1 of work on these conditions.

A RAILWAY WATCHMAN MURDERED [HEDTER'S TELEGRAM.] ARAD, Monday. The dead body of a night watchman at thè railway station here was found early this morn- ing, and on an examination of the premises it was discovered that the post-office attached o the station had been broken into, and the registered letters, containing valuables to the amount of nearly 10,000 gulden, had been abstracted. The thieves had thrown a quantity of red pepper into the unfortunate watchman's eyes.

— k NEW YORK PRICES.; [RETTTEE'S TEEEGKAM.1I NEW YOKK, Monday.—Money easy. Sto6ksc at the opening were strong, but subsequently strong reaction set in and the market closed weak at the lowest figures of the day. Cotton on spot quiet but steady at previous rates futures opened .strong but afterwards declined and closed dull. Petroleum is steady, with light demand. Lard declined. Maize closed weaker. Wheat opened weak but dear, and at the dose reacted somewhat^;and left off firm. Flour—the market has been dull, and the-final toue v/as' weak. Cornoed weak, but eventually partially rallied, and closed firm. Sugar in quiet demand, closing, howewer, steady and quotably nnalsered. Coffee advanced on strong European advices, and closed wit" firmer tendency. Tin closed dull, but steady at the fall. Iron quiet, and.without change. ^Copper nominal. GOVERNMENT BO *DS:FTKD RAILWAY'S HAKES. J <^uouin"> Apr hi Apr iiDv:, 1 Call Money U.S. Gov. Bonds 3'A p.c 3 p.c Ditto, other Securities 0% p.c 3 p.c Exchange on London, 60 days sight <+.85' 0.85% Ditto. Cable Transfers 4.89% 4.89 Exchange Paris, 60 days' sight 5.20% 5.20 Exchange on Berlin Days Sib1/* 915% Four per Cent. U.S. Funded Loan! 11 ■. 121 Western Union Telegraph Shares, 32 <. 82% Atchison, Topeka, <fc S. Fe 32% 34% Do. Do. 4 p.c. Mor 80>/« 80% Do. Do. 5 p.c. lEncOMe. 49% 50 Baltimore & Ohio 87% 85 Canada Southern Shares 62V« 52 Canadian Pacific — 79 79% Central of New Jersey 119;( 120% Central Pacific Shares- 307 W1!, Chesapeake & Ohio Common 13% 19 "Chicago, Burlington <fc Quincey.. 90 Vo 91% Chicago & North-Western, 0-rd 109% 111' Chicago & H. Western Preferred. 135% 135% Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul 63% 64% Chicago & Rock Island 78% 79V* Cleveld, Ciu., Ch., & St. Ls. Ord. 64% 65% Delaware & Hudson '1 134% 135 Delaware, Lackawana 1&7% 138% Denver & Bio Grande Shares 19 19 DenverPreferred. 60 M Illinois Central Shares 100 102% Lake Shore & Michigan Southern 111% 1121/4 Louisville & Nashville Shares 79% 80% Michigan Central Shares 95 35% Missouri, Kansas, and Texas 14 15% Missouri Pacific 72 72% New York, Lake Erie, & Western 21% 22% Ditto, Second Mortgage Bonds 102 102% New York Central & Hudson Kiver 103 103% New York, Ontario & Western, Ord 17% 18 Northern Pacific, Common 27% 27% Northern Pacific, P-ferred 71% 71% Norfolk & Western Preferred 53% 54 Ohio and Mississippi Ord. Shares 19% 19% Pennsylvania and Philadelphia, 50 52% Philadelphia and Reading Shares 33% 33% Philadtslphia&Beading5 p.c. 1st Inc 54 54% Do. 00. f p.c. Mer 73% »U% Union Pacific Shares — 50% 51% Wabash, St Louis, & Pacific 11 11% Wabash, St Louis, &c_, Pref. Srs. 22% 23% COTTON AND PBOIHJCIi MARKEr Cotton, day's receipts at U.Sts.por 7,000'- 5,000 Cotton, day's rec'pts at Golf Ports 4,000 3,000 Cotton, day's export, to Gt Brit'n.. 2,000 13.000 Cotton, days expt to Continent.. 3,000 7.000 Cotton futures, May delivery 8.58 8.60 Cotton futures, July delivery 8.75 8.77 Cotton,middling upland New York 8% > 8% Cotton, middling New Orleans. ¡. ■ S/B Petroleum, crude at New York 6.75 Petroleum, sta'dard white, N. York 6.90 • 6.90 Petroleum, st'd whitexhiladelphia 6.85 6.85 Petroleum, Pipe Line Certs. May.. 69 Spirits of Turpentine — 39% 40 Lard, Wilcox's Spot 6.90 f 6.97% Tallow, Prime City 5% >, 5tV Sugar, fair refining Muscovados 3tfe "> Do 96 p.c, Centrifugal 3^ 3^ Corn, New mixed, >Vesiern spot, 83 84 Corn futures. May 74% r t 79 Corn futures, July 701'" 73 Spring Wheat, No. 1, spot 130 131% Wheat, red winter, on the4pot 122%; 125 Wheat, delivery D(laY 118% 121% Wheat, delivery July 114 115% Coffee, fair Bio 19% •• 19% Coffee, good Rio 20 20 Coffee, llio, No. 7, Low Ord., May 17.70; 17.75 Coffee ditto, July del very 17.50 17.55 Flour, ex. State Shipping bracts.. 4.65 -4.85 4 65—4-85 Iron, No. 1, Coltu- 20.10 20.10 Tin, Australiaj:L 19.45 I nom- Copper.May-. nom. nom. "Steel Ra*,L I 29 ¡ 29 ■Freight Grain Liverpool steamers l%d l%d height Grain steamers London ld§ v 2d ^Freight Cotton to Liverpool 3.32 3.32 Silver Bullion 97% 97% "Wheat, Chicago," May-deli very 109% 109% Com, Chicago, May. delivery. 65% J 68% Turpentine, Savannah 36 1 36 (a)exdiv (a)exdiv

I £ 10''125 6d per lb. for tea. This tea.vwas pur-t. -chased by the Mazawattee Ceylon Tea Co., London I" NABBERTII ANNUAL ATHLETIC SPORTS, Pony-. I and Donkey Race?, on Whit-Monday, the 18th May,t j 1891.—Prizes, £ 50. Entries close 11th May. For- I particulars apply hon. sees,, Ang»l Hotel, Nar-: -2104

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT HOUSE OF LORDS.- -ilo-N.DAY. The Lord Chancellor took his seat on the woolsack at a quarter past four o'clock. NEWFOUNDLAND. THE FISHERIES BILL. SPEECH BY THE COLONIAL SECRE- TARY. In moving the second reading of the Newfound- land Fisheries Bill, Lord KNCTSFORD said that when he -introduced the bill on the 19th March he went so fully into its provisions, and explained at so much length the policy of the Government, that ho would not be justified in now calling attention to more than a few leading point3. Since the last time the bill was before them they had had theadvautageof hear- ing a very able address from Sir William White- way, and in connection with that he might say that, although the Government could not assent to some statements in the petition of the New. foundland Legislature, they had never hesitated to assent to the prayer of the petition that the colonial deputies should be heard at their bar. (Hear, hear.) This bill did not interfere with the internal administration of thecolony, nor with the power of the colonial legis- iature., -It was one of an Imperial character, and had for its sole object the fulfilment of our inter- national obligations towards France. Nor had it been introduced until the Newfoundland Legislature had refused to legislate on the sub- ject, and her Majesty s Government were com- pelled to give up the hope of receiving any assistance from them in respect to the fulfilment of the obligations to which he had referred; while the introduction of the bill was further rendered necessary by the refusal of the colony to assent to arbitration, except upon a con- dition and upon a basis ito which it was impossible to obtain the assent of France. In the interest of peace and order, it was absolutely necessary to arrive at some settle- ment or written arrangement in reference to the questions which constantly threatened to bring about a collision between the colonists and the French. And, as the lobster question was the most burning one, it was thought desirable to commence by refcrring- this to arbitration, while negotiations were proceeding with reference to less urgent matters. To that the colony would not, however, assent, and this was another reason why Imperial legislation became neces- sary. Since the introduction of the bill ho observed that a feeling of hesitation as to the course adopted by the Government had sprung up in the colony, .but the information he had received led him to believe that this hesitation was only partial, and did not extend throughout the whole colony. It had been .alleged that the colonists had been taken by surprise, but the fact was that he had more than once informed the Government of Newfoundland that if they would not legislate in the sense of the present bill the. Imperial Parliament would be compelled to do/so. Nor had her Majesty's Ministers ever the .slightest reason to suppose that the Colonial Government had any intention to pass any measure which would enable effect to •be given by our naval officers to the modus vivendi to which we had agreed with France during the pendency of the arbitration on the lobster ques- tion. After insisting upon the necessity of carrying through the arbitration with France, I and a^ain referring to the indisposition of the colony to take any measures which were practicable with this view, the noble lord de- fended the action of the British naval officers against the strictures of the Newfoundland dele- gates, and then proceeded to consider the pro- posals made by the Newfoundland delegates. Looking to our international agreement with France, it would be necessary to pass this bill through their lordships' House, but the second reading would not be taken in the other House until after Whitsuntide. If, in the meantime, the colonial legislature prepared an act which, in the opinion of this country, sufficiently secured the objects which this bill was intended to attain, her Majesty's Government would not proceed further with it; but if the colonial legis- lature did not pass a bill of that kind, it would then be necessary to proceed with the present measure. (Hear, hear.) Her Majesty's Government were not prepared to acquiesce in the demand of the Newfoundland delegates that the pending arbitration should not operate further than the lobster question without the assent of the colonists, but the Government would not refer any further fishing questions to arbitration without previously ascertaining the views of the Colonial Government and Legisla- ture. Her Majesty's Government could not compel the French Government to agree to the unconditional arbitration on these fishery ques- tions which the colonists desired, and, so far as he knew, the French Government were not inclined to any such unconditional and general arbitration. But every consideration would be paid to the wishes of the colonists on this subject if it were eventually found possible to give effect to them. (Hear, hear ) The Earl of KIMBERLEV quite agreed that legis- lation of some kind was necessary upon this question, and if the Colonial Legislature refused to aass such measures as were required to give effect to our international obligations towards France, this duty must be undertaken by the Imperial Parliament. It was also clear that there must be legislation in order to secure the obser- vance of the modus vivendi to which we had agreed with France, pending the arbitra- tion with respect to the lobster question, but he thought it unfortunate that the colonists were not informed at the curliest possible moments, and in the fullest manner, that a bill of this kind was to be intro- duced. The omission on the part of her Majesty's Government to take this course laid them open to the observations of the Newfound- land delegates that if the colony had had timely :1: L_u .L_.L T_1 1_1_ h_- miormaiion iiiai. imperial legislation wis con- templated arrangements might and would have been made which would have rendered it unnecessary. It was, of course, impossible to ?ay whether this would have been the case, but undoubtedly it was rendered pro- bable by the proposals which the colonial delegates were now authorised to make on behalf of the Colonial Legislature. And, although he admitted the necessity for some legislation on this subject, he did not think that the present bill was free from objections. On the contrary, many of its provisions were open to adverse criticism. He regretted that after the proposals which the Newfoundland delegates had made the Government should think it necessary to proceed further with this bill at the present moment. It would produce a bad effect 011 other colonies if we seemed to be putting any further pressure than was absolutely necessary upon Newfoundland. Lord HERSCHELL said that it was not unnatural that the people of Newfoundland should chafe under the restraint imposed upon them by treaties upon which the other party were dis- posed to place an extreme construction. But upon reflection, they must see that the Imperial Government could not assert the claims at the risk of involving the empire in war with France. (Hear, hear.) However onerous they might be, 'the treaty rights of France must bejrespected and ciijoreed, but he did not approve the manner in which the present bill endeavoured to attaia that .object. The jNIarquis of SALISBURY, who was very in- ^distinctly heard in tho gallery, said that this was one of the occasions on which any one in an official position might well be disposed to remem- ber that silence was golden, but having regard te the general feeling of the House he did not think it would be necessary that he should make many observations in support of the bill. On all essential points there was a tslerable amount of agreement, and it was, therefore, hardly worth while tn decry points of difference at any length. The only part of the conduct of her Majesty's Government in respect to the bill which had been made matter of censure by noble lords opposite, was that they had not communicated it to the Newfoundland Government before intro- ducing it into that House. But it must be observed that the Newfoundland Government occupied a hostile position, and that the com- munication of the bill to the Newfoundland Government meant its communication to the Newfoundland Legislature. It seemed to him that it would have been a breach of-the ordinary law and practice of Parliament to communicate to another legislature a measure which it was in- tended to introduce. The colony might indeed have had reason to complain if they had attempted to rush the bill through Parliament, but that had not been done. (Hear, hear.) After the expression of his hope that the Newfound- land Legislature would take the matter into its own hands, and press the requisite legislation, the noble marquis proceeded to express a hope that if there was to be any further reference to arbitra- tion, all the points at issue should be decided at j the same time. The bill was then read a second time. The House adjourned at a quarter-past eight i o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—MONDAY. The Speaker took the chair at three o'clock. LOCAL BILL. The Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway Bill was read a .second time. ORANGEMEN IN THE ARMY. Mr T. JD. SULLIVAN asked the Secretary of State for War whether in view of the fact that the existence of Orange lodsres in her Majesty's army is forbidden by the regulations of that force, be would inquire whether such a lodge exists in the 2nd Battalion of the King's Own (Yorkshire) Light Infantry, now or recently stationed at Quetta. Mr STANHOPE said there was no .'information on the? object in the War Office at present, but the Commander-in-Chief in India had been requested to make enquiries. THE DEATHS OF LUNATICS. Replying to Dr Farqviharpoyi, the HOME SECKH.TAKY promised that the practicability ot the Commissioners of Lunacy appending tfo their futuna reports a table showing the causes of death of all lunatics dying in asylums, hospital, and workhouses would be again considered. POST-CARDS. So^G-EOBGE CAMPBKLL-asked the Postmaster- ■GemCTal if he was doing anything toivai.-ds iatro- rduc&qg-a medium postage-card, such asrwas aised r in ."all other countries, instead of the very thick i-And very thin cards hitherto used in this country. Mr RAIKJES said he was not contemplating the Knitixxluction of such :ucard. He was informed ifhaitithe present stout card was gTowingin.favour THE NATIONAL JLIABILITIES. ';i Sit'WILLI AM HAJICOORT asked the Chancellor of' -the Exchequer whether he would state what were. ;the,figures Clhof Funded ( Deut 1^2; of capital va 1;11 of terminable annuities j ^3) of Unfunded Debt: (4) exchequer balances: (5) aggregate net liabilities of the State in accord. ance with the form of National Debt return, No. 343. Mr GOSCHEN said the figures were—first, £ 579,472,000; second, £ 68,496,000: third. £ 36,140,000 fourth, £ 6,370,900: fifth. £ 679,922,000. ENGLISH AND PORTUGUESE IN AFRICA Mr BRYCE asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs wliether he could state what was the present position of the negotiations pend- ing between her Majesty's Government and the Government of Portugal, with a view to the avert- ing of collisions such as had recently occurred in South East Africa between Englishmen and the Portuguese authorities, and to the adjustment of the territorial claims of the two countries. Sir •! AS. FERGUISSON said a draft convention was recently submitted to the Portuguese Government. Counter proposals had been received from them, and were under consideration by Her Majesty's Government, the Portuguese authori- ties having been instructed not to offer any oppo- sition to communications between the east coast and the interior. There did not appear to be any danger of further collisions. THE LAWS DELAYS Mr KDIBEH asked the First Lord of the Trea- sury when he expected to be able to announce the conclusion of the Government as to the appoint- ment of an additional judge or judges, or as to what other means they would take to obviate the -is grievous delays and consequent losses and anxieties of obtaining justice to which suitors were exposed. Mr W. H. SMITH said there was no doubt a very general opinion, in which the Government were disposed to concur, that additional judges were required in the Chancery Division. He was not able to say when he should be prepared to submit a motion to the House on the subject, but, meanwhile, efforts were being made to diminish the pressure by the assistance of judges from the Queen's Bench Division, where business was in a satisfactory condition. NEW MEMBER. Sir JAMES BAIN, the newly elected Conserva- tive member for Whitehaven, took the oath and his seat for Whitehaven. He was introduced by Mr James Lowther and Mr Parker Smith, and was received with Ministerial cheers. METHYLATED SPIRIT TIPPING. Mr MCNEILL asked the Chancellor of the Ex- chequer if he was now prepared to state what ,teps were to be taken to prevent the use of methylated spirits as a beverage. Mr GOSCHEN said the Board of Inland Revenue intended to take steps to get the taste of methy- lated spirits made more nauseous, though it seemed nothing would prevent some peopledrink- ing them. There would also be a provision for retailers keeping a stock account showing names and addresses of purchasers. THE BUDGET PROPOSALS. SPEECH BY SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT. The House then went into committee of Ways and Means. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved the resolution continuing the tea duty at fourpence in the pound. Sir W. HARCOUBT said that in the interesting speech of the Chancellor of the Exchequer in- troducing the Budget there were a large number of subjects deserving of attention, and on the general scope of the financial scheme he desired to make some observations. (Hear, hear.) There was one poiut in the statement that was surpris- ing and impossible to reconcile with any documents relating to the subject. He meant the statement with reference to what had been done in regard to the reduction of debt. (Hear, hear.) The right hon. gentleman claimed to have made a much larger reduction than his predecessors had done, and of course he ought to have for the reason that by the operation of the sinking fund year by year the sum payable for interest on the debt became less, and the margin available for the payment off of debt became so much larger. But that was not all; for the right hon. gentleman had about eight millions arising from the old sinking fund. THe first statement) of the Chancellor of the Exchequer was that during the last five years the amount applicable out of taxation for the reduction of debt quite apart from the operation of the terminable annuities had been thirty-seven millions. But there was no return corresponding with that statement even if they included the annuities, and that was one ofthe points that required explanation. Then the right hon. gentleman, comparing two periods of four years each, stated that from 1882 to 1885 the reduction of debt amounted to 27 millions, and for the four years ending 1891 to £ 30,800,000, or £3,600,000 in favour of the latter period. But, according to the published returns, the reduction in the last four years amounted to £ 25,953,000, and in the period from 1882 to 1885 to £ 29,889,000, so that the result was exactly to reverse the comparison made by the right hon. gentleman and to show a reduction in favour of the late Government to the amount of £ 3,000,000. (Cheers.) The Chan- cellor of the Exchequer had thrown over all the old traditions of finance, and had, in consequence, three budgets to deal with, namely, the old English budget, the new-fangled con- tinuation extraordinary budget, and the local government subsidy budget. (Hear, hear.) These complications made it almost impossible to un- derstand the actual ponditiou of affairs. The principle of finance in this country, and the great security for sound economy, used to be to raise money that was wanted for the service of the year, and to close the account at the end of the year; and the first effect of the new multitudinous system of account was confusion and difficulty both of explanation and Understanding. The Chancellor of the Exchequer had created four new accounts—the Australian ship account, the Imperial defence account, the naval defence account, and the barrack account. He was not blaming the right hon. gentleman for this, and lie was not saying that he had en- deavoured to hold anything back, or, still less, misrepresent anything. It was the system intro- duced, which had created so much confusion that the Chancellor of the Exchequer was not able himself to clear it up. He was more Conservative, he thought, in matters of finance than the right honourable gentleman was, and he was sorry to see a depar- ture from the principles adopted bv Sir Robert Peel, Sir George Lewis, and Mr Gladstone. It was an extremely dangerous thing for an old- established firm to alter its system of bookkeep- ing, and to enter upon a new-fangled plan altogether. (Hear, hear.) All these things were ingenious, but ingenuity was not what was wanted most in dealing with finance. (Hear, hear.) They did not want small devices for escaping from the fact that they were spending more than they had got. Let them not when they wanted 2% millions—say that they werf not borrowing it, that no one would feel tba burden, that no one would have to pay the amount, but that it would be put some years hence upon the Suez Canal. (Laughter and hear, hear.) When five years hence £ 500,000 a year came in from the Suez Canal the people would have to pay £500,000 more than they would have had to pay in taxes if this mortgage had not been placed upon them. (Hear, hear.) The,, language of si financial newspaper that thesa were the devices of a bankrupt South American Republic was hardly too strong, though hp. should not have used that phrase himself. (Laughter.) But the Chancellor of the Exchequer had also. introduced the new head of local subsidies, which added immensely to the confusion of public accounts, and he had diverted from the Exchequer it stream which would have filled his reservoirs with five millions of money. This year that was stated to have gone in relief of rates, and they had the authority of the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Chaplin) for saying that the whole amount, went to the landlords. (Laughter and hear, hear.) That sum might have been distributed for the advantage of all classes of fhe community. A penny might have been taken off the income- tax. The whole or nearly the whole of the re- maining beer duty might have been remitted, and further relief might have been given in respect of the inhabited house duty. (Hear, hear.) Ac- the inhabited house duty. (Hear, hear.) Ac- cording to the known principles of finance, the Chancellor of the Exchequer would have had no surplus to deal with. The expenditure exceeded the revenue both last year and this, and there was consequently a deficit. The Chancellor of the Exchequer last year borrowed between three and four millions to obtain a surplus of a million and three-quarters, and this year be was going to borrow something like £3,200,000 to produce a surplus of £2,000,000, so that if he had not borrowed there would have been a deficit. He was glad that the surplus,from whatever source it came, should be bestowedtipon free education. (Cheers.) The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the right hon. gentleman was always endeavouring to weaken the effect 'if the great operation—the conversion ofithe, debt-for which the member for Midlothian had always been ready to give the Government the fullest credit. The Government 'I c .1 1 1 n_"¡ were aitacKea ror wnac tney naa Borrunw -,u. for their method of borrowing, but his defence of the method was that they were anxious to make provision for the payment of the money at tha earliest possible moment. The right hon. gentle- man seemed quite incapable of understandmg the arrangement with regard to the Naval Defence Act, (Sir W. Harcourt: Hear, hear.) The mem- ber for Derby was not a good accountant, and when he got among figures got hopelessly involved. As regarded the payment off of debt, his state- ment was not that the present Government had paid off a greater amount of debt than their predecessors had done, but that a greater amount had been paid off out of taxes. (Hear, hear.) Mr H. H. FOWLER held that tbe» gravest charge I -against the Chancellor of the Exchequer was the anticipation of the future profits of the Sues: Canal Shares, and if the right hon. gentleman had not beaten the record as far as the payment off of debt was concerned, he. had beaten the record as regarded expenditure. The Budget was a great political and party/triumph for Mr Chamberlain. [left SITTING.!

DEATH OF REV. J. DAVIES. BLAENANERCH. We regret to announce the death of the above able and eminent minister, which took placet his residence on Sunday, sn the 64tli year of his age. The funeral will' take place on Thursday next, at 1 p.m., the body to be interred at Blaenancrch Churchyard.

A CARD.—AJI important discovery isannounoed 1 in the Paris J'ifjaro of a valuable remedy for nervoua debility, physical exhaustion, kidney diseases and kindred complaints. The discovery was made by ak missionary ill Old Mexico. The Rev Joseph Holmes Bloouusbury Mauion", Bloomsbury square, London, .0., will send the prescription free of charge 011 receipt of a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mention vthis paper 1280 HARRIS,. Merthy*, is noted all over Wales for Oil Portraits and Ph«tographs iw

EIGHT HünS- LtTERATURE. A LITTLE pamphlet has made its appearance upon the eight hours' question. It is written by Messrs Sidney Wcbb and Harold Cox, and as an ex parte statement of facts of a disputed position, could not be much fuller or fairer. Its title if. "The Eight Hours Day," and it is publish 1 by Walter Scott. It is not an attractive work, for it is as dry as a blue book, but it. contains many facts and respectable references to confirm them or illustrate them. The authors hardly explain the difficulty of foreign competition,and capitalisCemigration, but, possibly, this is in the future and what is in the future may never take place. Moreover, the shortening of hours has had no tendency to increase foreign competition, nor is there any lack of capital in Great Britain. On the contrary, capital is over- flowing, and from that reason is forced to find fresh outlets. The decrease in the hours of labour of miners has resulted in an increased individual output. In 1855 every man and boy produced an average of 270 tons of coal per year, working 12 hours a day but in 1888, working eight and nine hours a day, they produced an average of 342 tons. The average abroad, working from 10 to 14 hours, would not. be more than 300 tons.