South Wales Daily News

^ublizstwns. TJlE MINING jy[AN:U^AL;/ FOR 1895, BY WALTER R. SKINNER P°Htains full particulars of .all Mining Companies i blown to the Exchanges of Lobdon and the Provinces, i A separate soction is devotefi to South African Como; tenies. A full list of mining directors is also given The particulars given of each .Mining Company in", Mode the directors and other officials, date of estab- seat of operations, description of the; Property with the purchase consideration, details of; capital, calls, dividends paid, and the latest financial? Josition as disclosed by the accounts. .A feature of this issue is Lho particulars.'given..of *^est Australian Mining Companies. SEVENTH YEÆlt OF PUBLICATION. t- Price, 10s 6d, post free. V LONDON 26, NICHOLAS-LANE, LOMRARP- .s'lteET. E.O. 12&5._ CARDIFF, SWANSEA, AND JSEVV* PORT SHIPPING GAZETTE. Published every Monday ornin., Pnce»^ls per annum, or by^ost 25s. w„ropnRrni B The CARDIFF, SWANSEA, AND NE'JPOKT;, SHIPPING GAZETTE contains Shipping business of Cafdift, Pistol, Neath, Briton Ferry, Burry f0f Oilates among all the Merchants and broker., ot "ie Bristol Channe iPorts, and ^ner^y thiouphout the Jarious ports ^mbarf^»i^dmoSgof0 ttie Chamber of* Co^nerceandis also IUHJ to«»lc«tmg Foreign Ports CHIEF OFFICES :-105. S*- Mayy-street. laiditt J use Published, for Wo Stamps, Ev J. A. BARNES, M-D- (U.S.) a lreau.se, entitled HOW TO ENStTli-fj HEALTH most -M valuable Book oir the Laws Governing and the Causes, Symptoms, aDd Treatment of all Diseases depending on Nervous Debility, Mental and Physical Depression, Palpitation of the Heart, Noises In the Head and Earsrlmpaire sight and Memory, Indigestion, Prostration^ Lassitude, &c. Sent post free on receipt of Two Stamp*-—Address J. A. HARiVEVS, M.D. (U^S.), 48, Lonsdale-SQURre. London. N. 1163 COMPLETELY REVISED AND ENLARGED TO OVER 900 PAGES- Crown 8vo., Cloth. Price Uniied Kingdom, 5s Foreign Countries, 6s Post Free. NINTH YEARLY (EDITION. npHE SHIPPING WORLD YEAH, BOOK Jt. FOR 1895. Edited by EVAN ROWLAND JONES, M.P. A Work of Reference for Shipowners, Shipbuilders, "fopbrokers. Shipping and Chartering Agents, Mer- chants Manufacturers. Exporters, Importers, Har- Jouig and Docks Officials, Master Mariners, Marine '•"gineers, Yachtsmen and others. ..This revised and enMs-ged EtfitioH contains full par- ticular of every Port and Harbour in the British Jslands verified bv the authorities. Pilotage, Towage, Officials Charges: and every other necessary mforma- g°n are included in the Pore Directory. The Foreign £ otts have been specially revised by the British S°nsuls and the respective Port Officials. All the ports are in alphabetical on-ler throughout. This arrangement wjll save time in consulting the book. The Foreign .and Colonial Duties on Imports have UIIen corrected up to the latest possible date. Ex. torters may obtain from this section in a few minutes "formation which extensive correspondence might be sa.r1 to elicit rom Consulates and Government ces. THE SHIPPING WORLD YEAR BOOK CONTAINS :— admiralty Notes. Agreements. Almanack. Astro- nomical Definitions.. „ "fttish Consuls, list of. Bri&sli Snip's Papers. Measures of Different Ports. Consular Fees. Rectory of every Port in the British Islands, giving £ a«iculars as to-Accommodation, Depth of Water, little of Tide, Port and Pilotage Charges, Officials, £ cts of Parliament, etc. Directory of_ the Principal foi-ta in the World, arranged alphabetically. Digest ?f the Shipping Acts, Documents Required for Clear- Vessel^ "guieering*Not»«s and Information. Examination and Engineera.. Money Weights and Measures. Foreign r toafls. Freights, Rates of. French Brokers, List of. Sports and Exports of Great Britain. Instruments .a»d the Weath.ir. vJSothouses Manattementof. Loadhne Tables. al«asuremeuts of \ships. Merchant Shipping Act, N?jp*t of. jSfsr Foreign Navies. Output of Coal and. of Pig Iron. Vjotage Laws. Public Debts of Foreign Countries. to**°Wers of the Board of Trade. Postal Information, of Freight. Removal of Wrecks. Rules. Ship's Documents. Shipping Acts, ^nipping Terms (Commercial). Stamp Duties. Suez ^Tariffs^f^U^Nations. Th £ Tariffs of the Colonies, fhe Pilotage Rates of the United Kingdom and *ictu^nPo?gi^ug' The Weatfier with much other UsefuJ informatIon, all of which has been specially Prepared. i OPINIONS OF THE PRlSsS. (Selected from a. very large number ot. uniformly favourable reviews.) rj-'fe Morning Post.—" 'The Shipping World Year edited by Major Jones, M.P., is one of thoae Xaf j^0113 the full merit of which can only be appre- in 5? thosexjvho are practically concerned with the patters dealt with. But to a reader of the very least experience in commerce or in navigation it must be »DVIQUS that such detailed information on almost *.x conceivable point connected with the working of w>e Mercantile Marine must be invaluable to mer- chants, agents, and ships officers .Shipping and Mercantile Gazette.—"In several in- Stances wehave taken the trouble to test the accuracy of the particulars juruished, and find them strictly correct in every detsfiL The utility of a bonk- „f S kind is beyond question." y of thls Sljf if^"6 S^^VorWYear Book ? is't^the DlacS? anri -re^v.lre 111 whatever Position he may be to 111 w^atever Part oi the world he may sail ta.ial ir«og.—«• The^present volume contains the j nations and: of the colonies, completely up to December 15V tberfirat complete port and "•rDour directory* of the BiditisJi Isles ever published; a directory of all the prJncipa! ports of the world, noised in alphabetical orxier, giving the latest particulars of the aL'«oiamodation, charges, pilotage and towafjje. ^S^rplau —The work contain*a directory of aU the SSdfc* Ports, home and foreign, with the accorn- Chalges. tides, trades,'■■pilotage, towage, o,°ther uselul information," The work should saw much time and ore* hitherto unavoidably expended in consulting consuls and other officials." toj "•nomine,—"This is the eighth issue of a manual tonJH^ted to be of service to all connected with our jSJSS1?0 service. Prov^l10 Opinio?i.—"The important additions and irtt- Usefni only serve to make more pftlpable the of this volume of reference to all connected, is or indirectly, with the shipping interest. It ^n^^us compilation, the usefulness of which ito° ^Shly held in appreciation.' Mercury.—1' it contains practically every- aboirJa*^P°wners or commanders may require to know Shift*J>°rts of the world." to Daily Gazette.—" Major Jones has contrived ^Spen ifi k*8 Year Book' a manual absolutely in- traSe^S10 to aU who are engaged in the shipping PleuJL. ear by year it has grown in bulk and in com- & v?eai^s' and the eighth issue now before us contains do <?f information on nautical snljjects which we J vi ^srto remember to have seem collected ia Aitoeether the 'Year Boofc< is a unique v6?;^ -Arrow.—" The Year Bopk' bears evidence of compilation, and the editor, Major Evan •Jones, M.P., is to be congratulated on the I Kla'de on previous issues." heto jvB^te4 a Gazette.—" Enormous pains seem to have >611 rrftowed upon the volume, whichtis exceedingly *OoirKt Tie work is carefully compiled and well £ e«d i$to date." It is- edited by Majdr Evan R. PilaUnn ud is a monument of painstaking com- Merchants and sliinpers will find. iAlt>-quite of information relating to their special con- Herald.—" Among other matters dealfc'kj'ith to of all nations and of all colonies, reviaod *^boii» J.*1 December last; a complete port anv> the « Rectory of the British Isles, and ;i directory f°ttn P^Jts of the world, arranged in alphabetical ^Cci ^y'uS the latest official particulars regard- u1Kd'tnaiod&tion' charges, tides, etc." s ^*8 at? 90ur^er Argus.—" Tlie great popularity lIlned will be increased by the additions and that have been made." The new issue will be welcome to all j S^jJ-Wisiness men who trade across the seas." 4 {t TelegraphDuring the year we have found the most useful works in our reference "ï:" ONl,ing NewB. No ship should go to sea 8billPin this work, which should also be found in every Jjo&tMnf' Mercantile, and newspaper office. The book JOrtThlf ?0lI1plete information respecting every British T £ °Ui'> or creek, as well as the principal foreign information with regard to shipping is so I as to be really remarkable." c0ttm*ter Guardian.—" A very remarkable example w^. pVCt information relating to the conditions, ^Htiin ges» distances, statistics, and so forth of the k St«aj»^rryinS trade." "The scope of the work is most compre- dftav-an(^ 1>00^ must now be classed as the manual for all who are engaged in trade, and navigation." P^hlwrT Trade Journal.—" This is a staudard oohibining practical mercantile utility i1 bis 5Atei«y ability evinced by Major Jones, M.P., a i0* works. It has reached its eighth annual snore than 100 pages of new matter have since the 1893 edition. A mare list of its *v°U»w? would occupy a considerable space of the Ppintf f indispensable in every office where toiiL tlansactions are made, and where reference to the tariffs of the world." .&hist^—"The editor has' allowed nothing to !?r eye which might be considered of value j^^hed to those who consult his pages. We have » ln,.vain for even the minutest error in this liable wWch may be pronounced one of the most mt^dispensable yet issued." ^WrZ^».In short, it contains a mine I ^iters „ ,on *or merchants, shipowners, engineers CofcT^d 0ffiCers.» ect aVd India.—" Everything that is useful in rj^Pact shipping is dealt with in this neat and Cn to do ^►v.an(^ .everyb°dy who has any tiling what- Py of tl.i Uaritimo commence ought to possess a tr^hlozrfa ^?aost valuable production. tli fund 1n.nan Trade Review and Exporter.—"A \11 foreign 5* f information1 required by merchants in r1' It iV- i uiaaters, eugiueers, and yachts- Pi?* a "aQdy book, well indexed." j~rseur.—" Petit de volume, enorme comme ^Ppiiitt «rfan,se'SneuientK, tel est le Year Book du $World. ''ten^t dl^i^'Museum.—" 'Cuter vielem Anderen «wa an ,ar -Booh eine verliissliche Zusammen- der >7ei'. Masse und Gewiehte, das VVichtigste wSesfttZfc Vi",rtions' £ Uiide) sammtliche englischen 4s* ^as vioii^eroi'dnungen.ctc.Besonders werthvoll ^elt !f ndi^'e Verzeichniss siimitntlicher tiafen j^spesen et wissenswerthen Details iiber aeup0^ieses Nachschlagebuch wird sich in ?thT ^d Hiiif'J Auflago noch sicherer als bisher als Nh 6ien v bewahren, nachdem es nach ver- JckijetM reicher ausgestattet ist. jVr> a^rts- i lichen Inhalt fiir Handels- und echnil™ nSe^Kenheiten war schon in fmberen die Rede und cliirfen vrir J1 7h ganz besonders empfelilen." y? of aii V <->ue of its best features is the full. pna,tions. Among them is our n6W tariif l^^ior. irso,us desirous of learning the tariffs of ^?,uld obtain this book." i4h- SHIPPING WOULD OFFICE, Arundel-street, W.C. 1642 W o ^p^AMS' (PONTAUDAWE) Vf M LOZiiKGES. jh °v^r |pjj ■ ■ t.«ake^^Jth th?yeiUcii tllis ^Wy valuable Remedy lu^te rhintest success. The effect upon 0 given up as incurable) lnS rid of his tormenting pests by ftead or°??eK the thin, pale-faced, inanimate o» '« ^'thy, and lively, the pride, Z Kuardiaas. a,n"H0ze»ges t'We used your Anthelmintic t „ ^cac'ian ,my fami'y. :md fmd them ar ery Ssi.i'0t chili Co,»veni cure Ior ascearides, and their *} ^e"—\V form is a great recomuierida- 3d. 13v", iUxcHiNS0N,^Vioai- of Howdon." JO J°' ll & 9d per box, by most ajniS.8h'»t<-ee? Stamps from J. JJavios, mnto\1Lt «t, Swansea. A list of testi- on aDPlication. 181tsítttss ^titeas«a. NEW AND PO WERPUL SERIAL BY A VERSATILE WRITER WILL APPEAR 1 T H IS W Ell "R n". IN THE CARDIFF TIMES AND 3*0 D T H W A L;E"S WE EK L Y N E W'S: Of an 'Novel'ftorn the pcnvol MR G. A. HENTY, tbe :Popular Author of "Rujub the Juggler," 4t A Hidden Foe," "With Clive in India," and a large number of other works which-delight alLreaders-of fiction,, young and old. 1/ —• THE PEOPLE'S PAPER t 5 IS THE V CARDIFF TIMES AND ¡ SOUTH WALES WEEKLY NEWS. MOST NEWS! < BEST FICTION! VARIED FEATURES I ,If SPECIAL ARTICLES. Tholfollowing are some of the SPECIAL FEATURES which appear Weekly in its Columns. '^rORKMEIS'S rpOPICS. I A Weekly Article, specially written for the Cardiff Times and South Wales Weekly News by Mr WILLIAM ABRAHAM (MABON), on current Labour Questions and the Conditions of Labour in Great Britain. Read by thousands of Miners in the Rhondda. ? FICTION.. THE THIRD VOLUME, By FERGUS HUME. j NEW SERIES OF SHORT TALES, By VARIOUS AUTHORS. i Y GOLOFN GYMREIG, By "DAFYDD MORGANWG." The best Welsh Column published. Read by Welshmen the world over. WELSH GLEANINGS, Interesting Paragraphs of the doings and sayings of Welshmen in every Darb of the world. 1 SONGS FOR THE PEOPLE. Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun, in a letter to the Marquis of Montrose, |, TifnP,i1a ,vefy w^se man believed that if a man were permitted mate all the ballads he need not care who should make'the laws of the. nation." Z"ier th„lsJlea<ling appear weekly Poems dealing with the life, the 'joys, and the sorrows of the People, culled from all sources. BOOKS NEW AND OLD. A special feature dealing with the best books published at prices 'within the reach of the People. GOSSIP OF THE DAY. Bright Tittle Tattle of doings and sayings in South Wales. OUR SATURDAY SERMON. A Pithy Homily weekly on life's duties, selected from the writings. of,the Great Ones of the Earth," & J MUSICAL AND E1STEDDFODIC NOTES. Mateigwyn deals with all the more interesting Eisteddfodic and Musical matters of South Wales. GARDENING NOTES. A weekly column of interest to Amateur Gardeners. COUNTRY COLUMN. By An Expert." Illustrated. x fJIHE HOUSEHOLD. A collection of Recipes and Hints of value and interest to every housewife. A WOMAN'S LETTER TO WOMEN. A special illustrated article on Dress and the Toilet, Written by a Lady Journalist. THE ORDER OF THE ROUND TABLE. The most interesting Children's Column published.—Conducted by Aunt Maggie Symington. WELSH TIT-BITS, Neu Wreichion Oddiar yr Eingion. By Cadrawd. WIT AND HUMOUR. A column of selections from all sources. >- QUEER STORIES. Grave and Gay True and otherwise. JgmOM THE SOCIETY PAPERS. Interesting paragraphs of doings in the World of Fashion; WELSH ECHOES FROM LONDON. Political, Social, Literary specially written by-our-Jjondoii Welsh Correspondent. 14 rjIHE WORLD OVER." J Under this head appears the cream of the Foreign Intelligence of the Week. ,w. U CAPITAL AND LABOUR." The Week's News in the Labour World, In addition to these Special Features the CARDIFF TIMES and SOUTH WALES WEEKLY NEWS contains rjIHE NEWS OF THE WEEK. The Largest, Brightest, and Best Weekly Journal Published in the Princi- pality. All the features of a Magazine and the NeWa of a Great Weekly Newspaper. J THE P EOP L E S JOUR N A L. 72 LONG COLUMNS OF SPECIAL ARTICLES, FIRST-CLASS FICTION, AND THK WEEK'S NEWS FOR ONE PENNY. ORDER FROM YOUR NEWSAGENT A COPY OF THE CARDIFF TIMES AND SOUTH WALES WEEKLY NEWS. OTSTF, PENNY WEEKLY. 'j Easiness ^.bDresaes. OH THE MISERY OW.! THE DREADFUL, STUPID FEELING! •FE OH SFTHE WEAKNESS, THE ENNUI, ::i.{1 ONE FEELS AFTER THE N F L U E N Z A F CONSIDER THIS. Oh Indistinctly-T remember; -it was in the bleak-Deeem- 'ber, And in every single member of my body pains I bore Eagerly I wished the morrow.■» vainly had I sought to borrow From drugs surcease of. sorrow—sorrow for my pains galore And! asked,if I should ever be as healthy as before. Quoth the Doctor-" Nevermore.' "Xouv chest is bad, that's certain your nelll'algia. 'is, 'always hurting, And. your liver is so sluggish that Jife's to you a bore And your heart's so bad at beating that in vain you're sleep entreating, .While from weakness even now you perspire from every pore." "But. Doctor, when shall I be fit to pass the threshold,; ofony door V Quoth the Doctor-" Nevermore." Presently my soul grew stronger, hesitating then no: longer, Nurse, send for GWILYM EVANS'S QUININE BITTERS, I/implore And, the fact is, after tapping one bottle I was napping In the sweet refreshing napping I had known in days -of yore I:: Anal with neuralgia, palpitation, indigestion, and' bronchitis I was troubled never more. Now to all within my hearing, who are these ailments tfearing, I will give the good advice I received myself before See that EVANS' stamp's unbroken, and the bottle Ibears the token OF^ OWN.™ EVANS'S QUININE BITTERS," so* well,, known and praised of yoro ■' Merely this, and nothing more, GWLLYM EVANS' QUININE BITTERS. THE VEGETABLE TONIC ADVANTAGES CLAIMED. 1. It is Purely Vegetable, and contains no'Iron or Mercury. 2. It is a Happy Combination of Quinine with other Medicines. 3. It is Scientifically Prepared. 4. It Enjoys the Confidence of eminent Medical Men. 5. It Strikes at the Source of the Disease, and is superior to all other Bitters prepared, as testified by hundreds of testimonials from all parts of the world. 'GWILYM EVANS' QUININE BITTERS. THE VEGETABLE TONIC. -TESTIMONIALS :— 18, Prescott-screet, off Clowes-street, West Gorton, Manchester, December 7th, 1894. DEAR SIR,-I beg to testify to ;{ the value of GWILYM EVANS' QUININE BITTERS, as I think that you cannot recommend them too well. About a fortnight since I left my work-I commenced my illness by feeling starved, and a nasty stinging and shooting pain in my head a doctor was called in, and he said it was the Influenza, and I suffered for over a week of the pains in my head, and the doctor's medicine did me no good, INFLUENZA till at last the mistress of this house (I am in lodgings here) fell AND ill with the same symptoms of ill- ness till trer- husband advised us to GENERAL try a bottle of your Bitters. He got a Is l%d bottle, and I may tell WEAKNESS. you the first dose gave its relief. After this we got a 2s 9d bottle, and now we are all right and I am at my work now, and I have no doubt that if I had taken the Bitters at first I should have lost no work, and I owe my recovery to the beneficial virtues of your medicine, and I beg to tender to you my sincere thanks for producing such a valuable medicine to suffering: humanity I shall recommend it to all my friends, as I cannot speak too highly of it, as it is worth its veicht in gold. (Signed) JAMES SAGAR. GWILYM EVANS' QUININE BITTERS. GWILYM EVANS' QUININE BITTERS. THE VEGETABLE TONIC. Berkeley-road, Bristol, June 18th. GENTLEMEN,—I have been very ill with Influenza, followed by Con- gestion of the Lungs. Three weeks ago my condition was critical, and when the danger was passed I was INFLUENZA. very Jow and weak. About a fort- night ago the doctor said that I should take a good tonic. I sug- Gwilym Evans' Quinine Bitters." INFLUENZA. "The very tiling," he said, "take it three times a day," Since then I have taken it regularly, and feel wonderfully benefited. It has restored strength to my limbs, and siven tone to my whole system.— Your sincerely, P. B. CHICK. GWILYM EVANS' QUININE BITTERS. Sold in 2s 9d and 4s 6d Bottles. Samples, Is ld size. See the name of "GWILYM EVANS" on Stamp," Label, and Bottle. This is important, as there are numerous imitations. PROPRIETORS QUININE "OITTERS 'ol1 1122 r JY-ANUFACTURING £ <0., J^TD., LLANELLY, SOUTH WALES. JJIGH-CLASS gENSATIONAL F ICTFON. N EW N OVEL, FROM THE PEN OF THE AUTHOR OF MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB." Readers may rely upon a Firefc-olasa Sfcory, fuu of interest irotn the first chapter to the last. THE AUTHOR OF OUR NEW STORY. MR "ERGUS IIUME, Author of "The Mystery of a Hansom Cab," "Madame Midas," "The Fever, of Life]" The Queer Story of Adam Lind," The Red Star, The Lone Inn," etc., etc. We havo pleasure-in informing our Readers that we have arranged with the Author of The Mystery of a Hansom Calb "-perhaps the most widely-read sensational story of recent years—for the right to issue serially his new MS. work entitled FJIHE rpHIRD "^TOLUME. THE rjTHIRD VOLUME, FJIHE rpHIRD ^TOLUME. NOW APPEARING IN THE CARDIFF FjjTIMES AND OUTH w A L LiS wE-,EICLY NEWS READ THE fJIHIRD VOLUME, A NEW NOVEL BY FERGUS H UME. JtJ JLJL Author of The Mystery of a Hansom Cab," The Fever of Life," Madame Midas." "The Red Star," The Lone Inn," &cM &e. DESCRIPTION. THE THIRD VOLUME is a story iull of Movement. Twom.en, apparently of the most oppo- sitecharactersand temperaments, meet in London, after many years' separation. The younger is of a fiery, restless, nomadic disposition,, and, being moderately wealthy and au orphan, is continually on the move. He has just returned from an excur- sion intheAntipodes. Theelder mad is the pink of neatness in dress and surroundings. Heliveslikean i automaton. He resents the introduction into his own life of anything which is -not thoroughly orthodox and conventional. His habits are of the most methodical type, and lie is a pronounced woman hater. His young friend is in a rush of many engage- ments when he is brought to a stand by the re- ceipt of two lettert", one from a woman whose name he, has never heard before, and the other from his lawyer cautioning him against some statement which he beheves this woman intends making. The young fellow proceeds to investigate the affair, and at once finds himself on the brink ot affair, and at once finds himself on the brink ot a shocking; mystery —which up to that time had been lcepb entirely concealed from him, this being nothing less than the murder of his own father over twenty years before, and the trial of his mother for the crime. Overwhelmed with his feelings he takes from the lawyer's hands a bundle of papers for per- usal at home. But, who he asked himself, was the wor-otn who had written him, and what was the statement she wished to make ? NOW APPEARING IN MM ^ARDIFF TIMES JL AND gOUTH WALES WEEKLY NEWS II THE THIRD VOLUME IS A FIRST CLASS SENSATIONAL STORY, WHOLE- I SOME, THRILLING AND FULL OF MOVEMENT.

| COLUMN FOR CHILDREN. DAISIES AND POETS. p Are, you glad to see the daisies again? They' pare so bonnie, and so sturdy, and they bring-such a brave message of things to come that one must :be very dull and dead to have no welcome in one's txeart to give them, Common, did I hear you call them? To those little folks, or big folks, who have got tkeir eyes properly open, some of the commonest things of all are among the loveliest. Poets, as the open-eyed,people are called, have seen many wonderful things in them. Burns callod the daisy, Thou bonnie gem," and Addresses it as wee, niodest, and crimson- tipped." Wordsworth calls it The poet's darling," and, moreover, tells how it protects the .lingering dew-drop from the sun by the shadow that it casts, so you see "it is a sort of Round Table Knight amongst flowers, and none of us would mind how common true Round Table Knights became; we want the world to be full of them. And Chaucer quaintly ,called it the eye of thexlay," an open eye, too, taking- all the sunshine. Milton loved to write of Meadows trim, with daisies pied," and the memory of them r must have shone upon him in his blindness, I think, gleaming like stars in a dark night. If you will think for a moment of these things you cannot do other than welcome, with open hearts and hands, these flowers white and red, such that men call daisies." LITTLE GARDENS. i And I might say "little gai,denerg, too,, for I hope these abound at the Round Table. How busy you all must be just now, digging, hoeing, and raking, to say nothing of the visions you are cherishing of the lovely flowers you expecb will come up in your little garden-beds by-and-bye. I should like some description of your gardens, because I like to dig too and to put in seeds and watch them grow. Do not forget, that I know a little maidie who is anxious to have some early flowers in her garden, and how do you think she is endeavouring to ensure this ? Some time ago, she begged cook to break all the eggs used in the kitchen carefully in the middle, and to save the shells for her; then she put some mould into a large shallow box, and arranged the shells upright in this, half-filled them with soil, dropped some little sweet-pea seeds into each, lightly sprinkled more soil over them, watered them, and set the box in a sunny window. By-and-bye shejwill put out these little plants—eggshells and all-into her garden without disturbing the roots, and so she will get earlier flowers than those who sow their seeds out of doors in the first instance. Do not forget that May 1st is Arbor Day at the Round Table, and that every little member is expected to plant and cherish something on that day. A young Kt. Med. asks me for directions to do this, and I think he will find thefollowing instruc- tions such as he needs. The R.T. has tried them and found them excellent. THINGS NEEDED A box, tin is best; some old newspapers, paper on which to mount the speci- mens, and some gummed paper. METHOD First obtain a good specimen of the plant to be dried the root, or at least a bit of it, leaves, and seeds as well as the flowers. Begin with simple flowers that you know, groundsel, for instances. Fold a newspaper in several thick- nesses, spread your groundsel on it carefully, having first cleaned the root. Take care that it lies on the paper in a natural way, make it as flat as possible, cover it with some of the folded newspapers, and press it under heavy books. Change the paper at the end ef a few days if the plant is not quite dry. Common cartridge paper is best tor mounting it on. Cut your gummed paper into narrow strips. When your groundsel is quite dry, arrange it neatly on asheet uf cartridge paper, fastening It down with little sttips of the gummed paper, doing it as tidily as possible. Then, in one corner, write the Latin name, com. mon name, and also if the plant is known by any especial local name, pub that too place and county where found, date, aud name of collector if you like. These specimens should be preserved in a portfolio, with a little bit of camphor to keep the insects away. The box it to carry home the specimens in. HOW JULES VERNE WRITES. How he writes his scones, I mean, of course. You who love to read these wonderful stories will like to know bow they are built up" and brought out; because the making and telling of stories means thought, and work, and study. He does most of his writing, we are told, in a tiny cell- like bed-chamber. He gets up at five o'clock in the morning, and by lunch-time, eleven o'clock, all his actual work, writing, proof-correcting, etc., is over for tha day. He is gener- ally souud asleep by eight in the even- ingo-éarly to bed and early to rise, you see. Before he puts his I-)on to paper in earnest, he makes up his mind what his story is going to be about he likes to feel quite sure what the beginning, the middle, and the end will be. Then he makes a sort of rough sketch of the plot, draws up a plan of the chapters, dips the pen in the ink, and begins. But it is not all smooth sailing even then, for he says that he can never get a real grip of the subject until he sees his work in print; and after the first proofs come to him he finds something to correct in every sentence, and often re-writes whole chapters. When & story is completed and fairly launched into he world, be does his best to forget all about it. His library looks like the room of a man who works hard. It is lined with book-cases, and the large table in the middle groans under a carefully sorted mass of newspapers, etc. A number of cardboard pigeon-holes, occupying wonderfully little space, contain the twenty odd thousand notes collected by him during his life. These notos have been cut out of every book, newspaper, or magazine he came across, and are all classified according :to subject. If you think charming stories like his can be produced without bard labour, you are very much mistaken. I MY SCRAP BAG. AN INFANT BATTALION.—The Infant Battalion, 'got together to please the little King of Spain, is composed of boys between the ages of 10 and 15, with a litble girl of 12 for their cantiniere. This troop is armed with small guns, and is accurately drilled. It contains 400 soldiers, reckoning officers, corporals, and troops of the line; and the children are drawn from families of every rank. BIRDS IN THE COLD.—An authority says that birds never really die from cold that it is very doubtful if they feel severe weather so much as man does; the peculiar skin of their feeb and legs as well as their feather frocks keep them very warm and if kindly disposed people, and all members of the Round Table, would take care to spare a little food for them when the ground is frozen and snow-covered, the little creatures will take care of themselves. HOW A CHINESE BABY IS BURIED. This all happened a few years ago in China. A baby of five years died. Her name was Fung Oy, and she was the child of Wah Sing and his wife. The little coffin was taken to be buriad, and«in: the carriage with it were placed all the clothes the little one had worn in her life in the second carriage were the relatives, and Gee Lung, a friend, each carrying a large bag filled with scraps of paper bearing a few written words. In China the devil has a habit of racing to the grave and taking the body ao soon as it arrivos but the friends of the deceased throw out these s ips of paper, and the devil, who is very curious, stops to read them, so that the corpse generally reaches the grave before him. There was no exception to the rule when the baby was buried for if the devil stopped to read all the slips that were thrown out of the carriage he would only reach the burial place when the mourners were returning. At the grave a fire was kindled, and the child's clothes were burned, the relative throwing a white powder into the flames, which burned with a bluish light. A board was placed over the grave on which the name of the child was inscribed. A TULIP STORY. What bonnie flowers tulips are So tall, so gay, so captivating. Do you like to bee them in the garden beds ? I hope you will look for their coming this year with redoubled interest after I have told you this story about them. Away down in green Devon lived an old woman, once upon a time, as the story-books say. Her children bad all grown up and gone out into, the world, leaving the poor old woman alone in her cottage. She must have something to interest her, so ter heart went out to the tulips that bloomed in her little garden and because she loved and cared for them they grew and flourished as flowers and children will do when the sun- shine of love touches them. There were fairies in Devon in that long-ago time, and they were so charmed with these gay, big tulips that they brought their elfin babies and put them to sleep inside the tulip curtains, and saug them to rest. Often in the windy night the old woman, waking, heard the fairy lullabies as the tulips ewung in the night breeze. So the blessing of the fairies touched the flowers, and caused them to become as sweet as they were handsome. They became noted all over the countryside, and people came from far and near to see the old woman's tulips, wondering why they themselves could not grow any so fine. They could have done so if they had treated the flowers as the old woman did, but they never thought of that, and would not have cardd to take the trouble even if they had thought of it. Then the angels came and carried the old woman away. and a son who had not been good to her came to live in the cottage. He dug up the tulip bed and planted parsley. This so offended the fairies that they pinched the roots of the parsley, so that neither it nor anything else flourished in the garden for years. A GREAT MAN AND A LITTLE ONE. Up in the North country once lived a famous man, whose name was Thomas de Quincey. He wrote a book called "Confessions of an Opium Eater," by* lwliieh lie is best remembered now. In stature he was a very little man, and was very fond of ohildren. In his later days he lived in a pretty cottage not far from Lasswade, by the river Esk, a few miles from Edinburgh. He was very fond of having a juvenile com- panion with him in his walks, and got to love very much the son of a humble neighbour, who was quite as fond of accompanying him in his strolls round about, or in his walks round his garden, as of playing with companions of his own age. But the familiarity which De Quincay's kindness bred in the boy led to some strange speeches. One day the talk turned on people's ages, and the lad said Well, now I'm only six, and people say I am big for my age; how old are you ?" Well," said De Quincey, I am about 10 timos six now, or thereabout." Oh, my said the boy, and you are no more than that bigger than I am, pufcfciug his hand up a. little above Ills head. Were yon ever a man ? Or have you grown down again V Well, my dear, said De Quincey, I think I have grown down again a little, and that makes me very fond of boys and girls," with a sweet smile. Ab, well," said the boy, musingly, I would like to be a big man, and able to ride big horses like father, but after- wards I would like to grow down again like you and walk about with a little boy like me, just as you do when I come."

Within the last two years more than 2,000 artificial fish ponds have been constructed in Missouri.

THE WELSH CHURCH. TO THE EDITOR. Sir.To show "how the National Church treats i tho Welsh people we need only look at a parish where last year you threw the bull's eye of the Press upon an attempt to kick the Cymry out of a church built, for them. Since the row that spoilt that little game—that was in June last, remember—the incumbent has never taken aSser- vice for the Welsh, but he comes regularly for the English, although they have three other churches English, although they have three other churches in the valley. The Welsh church has several Sunday mornings been without the pretence of a service. At other times the curate has gone up to church and back again without seeing anybody there because people liava got tiredôf all this coolness. Easter Suuday there was quite a revival, there being a congregation of three, and all of them communicants, in a church that will hold over400people. At theold'ParishChurcb, four miles away, there is a Welsh service on Sunday afternoons, where usually there is a congregation of two. There has not been a communion there for over four years except onco last year when the church was re-opened after having been restored at great cost by the late Miss Olive Talbot,I am, &c., MID.GLAMORGAN.

CARDIFF LIBERAL ASSOCIATION. TO THE EDITOR. Siia,-Las t evening when I got home from work I found that the list of subscribers to the Cardiff Liberal Association had been sent I me, and I was astonished to see that only-about 270 persons out of the many thousands in. this large and important town were last year en-1 thusiastic enough to support the good old caused of Liberalism by subscribing to the funds of the: association. There must be something radically wrong somewhere, or the friends of liberty and progress would not, I should think, withhold, financial help in this fashion. Cannob something be done to induce the Liberal voters of the con- stituency to give just a little each towards the support of the grand old cause? Then, what about the members of1 the Liberal Thousand who do not give any financial support ? There must be,upwards 1 of 700 of these not giving a pennypiece towards the organisation 1 This is bad, and very bad, too. Surely if these members wero to try they could average at least 2s each per annum, which would mean an increase the funds of about ;S70. It seems almost a waste <»f time to remind one's friends I that something more than attending meetings and throwing up caps is needed to maintain an organisation like ours, viz., money, and we ought not to depend upon some 10 or a dozen gentlemen to supply the bulk of it. This is written in a friendly spirit, and with the hope that the rank and,file, as well as the representatives of the various wards on the Thousand, will at once consider it their impera- tive duty to supply the officers with the nee(,, -a.y funds to carry to a successful issue the forth- coming campaign.—I am, &c., ONE OF THE THOUSAND.

HEALTH OF THE LARGE TOWNS. LOCAL STATISTICS. The return of the Registrar-General for the week ending Saturday last, April 20th, shows that in 33 of the largest towns of England and Wales, which include Cardiff and Swansea, and contain each upwards of 85,000 persons, there were registered 6,410 births and 4,128 deaths. The deaths corresponded to an annual rate of 20'3 per 1,000 persons living. The rates of mortality in the several' towns, arranged in order from the lowest, were as follow Bradford 16"1 Leeds 20*8 Derby 16-1 Sheffield 208 Cardiff 1&-4 Burnley 20'3 Nottingham 16'8 Halifax 21-7 Oldham 17 0 Norwich 21 "9 Croydon 17*2 Swansea 22'0 Leicester 17*5 Wolverhampton 22'5 West Ham t 17'3 Birkenhead 22'3 Brighton 17-9 Sunderland 24-2 Gateshead. 17"9 Liverpool 24"4 Birmingham 18'1 Plymouth 25'2 Portsmouth 18-2 Salford 26'3 London 18-3 1 Blackburn 26'6 Newcastle-on-Tyne,. 191 Huddersfield 27-8 Bristol 19'9 Manchester 29 7 Preston 19*9 Bolton 34"5 Hull 20-2 To the.' principal zymotic diseases 336 deaths were referred in the towns, and corresponded to a rate of 1 7. the lowest rates among the towns being 0'2 in Bradford, and 0'5 in Bristol, Notting- ham and Derby while the highest were 3'3 in -Manchester and Salford, -and 3'9 in Bolton. The hig,best trates from each ot the diseases were:- From measles, l'2in Plymouth, 1*5 i^Manchester, and 3 5 in Bolton from whooping-cough, 1'2 in Wolverhampton and in Blackburn, 1*3 in Sal- ford and 1'6 iu Burnley and from diarrhoea, 1'2 in Plymouth, and 1'5 in Norwich. Tho rates from scarlet fever and from "fever" did nob reach 1*0 per 1,000 in any town. The deaths from diplitheria numbered 57, and included 30 in London, 5 in West Ham, and 5 in Manchester. One death from small-pox was registered in Liverpool. There were registered in the borough of Cardiff la.st week 97 births, as compared with 89, 120, and 106:in the three preceding weeks the 97 births last week comprising 48 boys and 49 girls, and corresponding to an annual rate of 32 5 per 1,000 of the population, which was estimated to amount to 155,637 persons at the middle of last year. The deaths, which had been 45, 62, and 61 in the three previous weeks, fell agam to 49 last week, and included 33 of males and, 16 of females they were equivalent to an annual mortality of 16'4 per 1,000 persons living, against 20*3 during the? same period in the 33 large English towns, Bradford and Derby being the only towns with lower rates than Cardiff. Among the 49 deaths in Cardiff were included 15 of infants under one year of age, and 11 of persons aged upwards of 60 years, the former being 2 less, but the latter 1 more than the corresponding number in the previous week. Three deaths werejroferred to diarrhoea, and 2 to diphtheria, or in all 5 deaths were-due-to the principal zymotic diseases, and gave a rate of 1'7, or the same as the average for the 33 towns. Two deaths from influenza were registered during the week, as compared with 2, 3, and 4 in tha three preceding weeks. Two violent deaths were recorded, and 3 inquests were held during the week; and 9 of the deaths occurred in public institutions. In Swansea there were registered 96 births (46 boys and 50 girls), which gave a rate of 51'6 and 41 deaths (20 males and 21 females), equal to a rate of 22'0, or 56 more than Cardiff. The deaths included 11 of infants under one year of aee, and 8 of persons aged upwards of 60 years. Four deaths (including 2 from whooping cough and 1 each from diphtheria and from typhoid fever) were referred to the zymotic diseases,, and gave a rate of 2'2, or 0-5 more than in Cardiff. No death from violence was registered, and no inquest was held during the week,. bub 2 of the deaths occurred in a public institution.

Five thousand omnibus employees are out on strike in Paris.

« DAN. THOMAS, THE WELSH- r" MAN," ;<1 fi" .t'< INTERVIEW WITH THE EX. ? PUGILIST. DANGERS OF THE PRIZE-RING. OLD AGE REGRETS THE FOLLIES OF YOUTH. A REMARKABLE CONVERSION. [BY OUR FONTYPRipD RFPEREENTATIVE.) Not many, we believe, of our readers who perused in our Saturday's issue the article quoted from the Licensed Victuallers' Mirror, dealing with the "glorious triumphs" I achieved by "van Thomas, the Welshman,' with-the prize ring 30 odd years ago, would have identified-tho subject of that sketch as Mr Daniel Thomas, colliery proprietor, Pontypridd, a j' Baptist deacon who for over a quarter of a century has consecrated his-life and his property to th!i. advancement of the cause of morality and roligion I among-his fellow men. Ik is indeed difficulb to realise thab the devout Christian of Pwllgwaun— whose princely generosity to the widows, the orphans, the helpless, and the innumerable churches of his denomination has endeared him to many thousands throughout the length and breadth of the land—could at any time have been the central figure in any pugilistic encounter, much less the indomitable champion of the "noble arb" whose triumphs have bean so graphically depicted. Like the great Apostle of the Gentiles, MrThomashas a whole-souled hatred of the incidents of the days of his youth. The sketch which we reproduced dwelt with events of 30 years ago, and few would suppose that the principal figure now occupies so promi- nent a position in he religious life of the county. At Mr Thomas's invitation, I yesterday called e upon him at his residence to look at what he termed the "other side of the picture." I hope," said he, in the course of our inter- 'view, you will make it perfectly clear that I had no hand in the preparatiouluf that article. I have not the slightest idea who the writer of it may have been, nor did I supply any particulars. I should be exceedingly sorry indeed to have done so, and it is this I am afraid of- that the young men of the present day may think that I did so, and thafc I still delight in the recollection of those awful days. I hate the very thought of those miserable days. Why, I many years ago burnt the belt that was presented to me, and even the gold watch I won I threw into the fire, so that my children should never see them and be tempted to take any delight in such a life. I would not; for the world be the means of drawing anyone else to follow the path that I once trod. It is sure to be 30 years now since I gave up pugilism." Why did you give ic up Weil, because I was disgusted with it. Another thing, there was no one that would meet me. After I fought with Gilliam in 1860 no one would meet me for a long time, until at last they brought out that Nolan from Birmingham. I did not want to fight him, but they made me do it. You see, once you commenced this fightiii- there were others putting you on to it-Nat Langham thinking so much of me and others thinking so much or someone else, and so matches and fights were arranged without consulting with me a'; all. Had I had my own way I would have left it off long before I did. I was more troubled in my heart about the business than anyone would think, for I had been brought up to beLter things. My advice to young people is to shun pugilism. There is ruin in it; it leads to destruction. It makes a man proud of himself, and the Bible says, The Lord shunneth the proud afar off.' There is nothing more dangerous than pnde or conceit. A proud man cannot humble himself to carry the cross I am sure of that." In the course of subsequent conversation, Mr Thomas—who, though in his 66th year, is yet strong and sturdy—favoured me with some interesting .insights into his early history. He spoke reverentially of his parents, and pointed out that when 24 years of age he becamea member of the Baptist Church of Libanus at Treforest, which then, as now, was under the pastorate of the Rev. Samson Jones. His connection with pugilism led him to Cardiff, where subsequently he became mine host at the Cambrian Hotel ab the lower end of St. Mary-street, at the corner of Caroline-street, and afterwards he kept the Pine Apple Inn, which in those days stood next door to the Queen's, in St. Mary-street. He became also the landlord of two other public-houses, his last-tenancy being that of the Moira, in Roath. Those were his palmy days in pugilism but though doing the best trade in Cardiff as a licensed victualler, and on the royal road to amass a fortune, he does not seem to have taken kindly to the business. The description be gave of how on Sunday evenings he used to fre. quent Nathaniel Thomas's Chapel," there to ba impressed by that good man's ministry after- wards returning to his duties in the tap-room,, to be horrified by the foul curses of the tipplers,'was., extremely touching. "You may not believe it," he added; "but even then the life was intolerable to me. My home training bad not fitied me for it,"and I knew that in keeping a public-house I was keep. ing a trap laid by the devil. Can you imagine me, then-a publican and a professional pugilist— devoting hours after stop-tap to ponder and cry over Spurgeon's sermons ? And yet I did it.: Coming from Nathaniel Thomas's chapel to hear the cursing at the public-house—it was a veritable hell upon earth to me, and yet, mind you "—and our old friend straightened up proudly-" even in those days no one ever heard an oath escape from my lips and yousmay ask anyone you like." It appears that eventually his better nature asserted itself, and he severed his connections finally with the trade and the ring. and betook himself, with three others, to a colliery,.specula- tion in the Ogmore Valley. • How long ago was that ?" I asked. Ob, about thirty years ago, I should think. My advice to all people is-keep out of the public-houses. I am sure they led me into things which I have spent a lifetime to repent. In after years when financial misfortune overtook me,I was sorely tempted to go back to the trade, but I resisted the temptation, and thank God for it." The misfortunes, whatever their extent, did not long continue, for, as Mr Thomas explained, "the Lord prospered him afterwards," and he is to-day a man of immense wealth, which, like a modorn Cheeryble, he distributes with a. lavish hand. Hav. ing discarded pugilism, he rejoined his church at Treforest, where subsequently he was with others, and among them Mr John Davies, father of the well-known divine, the Rev, David Davies, of Brighton, elected on the diaconate, the ordina- tion on that occasion being performed by the Rev. Nathaniel Thomas. Ten years ago he removed to the Rhondda Baptist Church, where he was again elected ofnce-b&arer—an office which he still retains. "And to what do you attribute your conversion, Mr Thomas!" asked the Rev. Wilham Rees, pastor of that church, who was present at our lew. interview. To Spurgeon's sermons," was the ready answer. "I have taken them in week by week from the first number, and I take them in to this day."

REVEALED BY A DREAM. On Tuesday an inquest was held at Birmingham on the body of Rose Foster (13), 32 Court, 14 house, Camden-street, whose body was found in the canal at Spring^Iill on the 19th inst. The mother stated that her daughter was very nervous and frightened, especially at thunder and light. ning. A little while ago she was told that she was suffering from an affection of the kidneys, which would put her life in danger unless she was very careful. She had been living with her aunt, but on Good Friday she came home of her own free will. On Wednesday she left the house suddenly, and was not seen alive by witness again. Several witnesses were called, who spoke to seeing deceased sheltering from the thunderstorm under the bridge, and Thomas Tarpler said he was in a boat on tie edral near the bridge when the storm was at its height, and he heard a scream and a splash, but he did not see anyone.-Elizaheth Turton stated that on Wednesday she was going with the deceased over Spring Hill Bridge, when witness remarked to her, Oh, that vater Witness said this be- cause about 12 months ago she fell into the water there. Deceased said, I feel as if I could jump over there (meaning the bridge). Witness upon this said to deceased, Oh, you soon want to part with your life. I have not seen enough enjoy- ment yet." Foster answered, You don't know what trouble I have had to go through."—Mrs Jeffrey, of the George Inn, Grove-lane, Smeth. wick, aunt of the deceased, said the girl had lived with her for some weeks. She was sulky, and witness told her she would have to go back home if she did nob behave herself. There- upon the girl left of her own accord. On Tuesday the girl's brother came to tell her she was mis- Piug. That night witness dreamt that she was walking along the towing-path of the canal to her sister's house, and that while stirring the water with her umbrella she saw the face of her niece. Next morning she went to the scene, and fouud the police dragging underneath the bridge. She asked them to drag at the spot where in her dream she 5MV the face. They did so, and at once found the body. It was some distance from the bridge.—The jury consulted for some time about their verdict. The Foreman said it was his opinion, and the opinion of seven other jurymen, that the girl was frightened by the storm, fainted, and fell into the water. Reminded that a verdict of 12 was required—there were 13 in the box- the Foreman returned, and said they bad agreed to a verdict of Found drowned."

PHILOMEL'S SWEET VOICE. "The bird that sings in the shade when all things rest" was evidently beguiled by the extreme fine weather of yesterday to attunt its little throat; at leastsoaveraciouschronicler affirms who heard the bird on Wednesday night in St. Julian's Wood, off Caerleon-road, Newport. The cuckoo always goes to see Lord Tredegar at Trodegar Park, aad in its deer-haunted glades notifies the fact to his Lordship that -ly spring and itself have simultaneously arrived. It is gratifying to note that the cuckoo has not neglected his duty in any way this year. But to the nightingale, or to this particular bird, evidently belongs a democratic tendency, as befits a democratic fig". It tells of wood bursting into leaf and water dancing in the sunlight, of reappearing spring to the artisan, the clerk, and the toiler who dwells in the new residential district around St. Julian's. Or perhaps it was bent upon propitiating the spint of the saint.

PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN GLAMORGAN. ADDITIONS IN PROSPECT. Although Welsh towns generally are to*ih# front in the matter of having free libraries,"?fche rural .portions of the Principality, like the outly- ing districts of Scotland and England, are con- siderably behind in this respect, mainly owinglSo the expense and inconvenience hitherto ex- perienced in taking a poll, and the bogey of the penny rate. Now that Parish and District Councils have been established under the Locai Government Act of 1894, and these having power to adopt the Public Libraries Act. 1892 (55 and 56 Vic., c. 53), much of the dlfficulbyin I the way has been removed, and already there are I signs of a desire in many rural parts of South Wales for the establishment of libraries. The Act specified may be adopted for any rural parish, subject to the condition-that-the maximum rate, or addition-to a rate, to, be levied for the purposee of the Act in the parish, in any one financial year shall not exceed %d, or shall not exceed per but such limitation if fixed at %d may subsequently be raised to or altogether removed; but no rate, or addition to a rate, is to be levied for any one financial year to an amount exceeding Id in the B. County-electors were the voters under-the Act, and-it was for the overseers, on receiving a requisition from ten or more of these to proceed, by means of voting papers, to get the opinions-of the whole of the voters on the questions sub- mitted. Any question with respect to the adop- tion of the Act, and the fixing, raisingland removing of any limitation on the maximum rate and the ascertaining of the opinion of the voters with respect to any matter for which tbeir consent is required, will now have to be submitted to the parochial electors, and their opinions ascertained by a poll, as provided for by the Local Govern- ment Act, 1894. It is not competent for the parish meeting to adopt the Public Libraries Act without a poll, but the procedure for the conven- ing of the parish" meeting supersedes, for the purpose of ascertaining the opinions of the voters, the preliminary machinery of the Act to which reference has been made. A meeting may be convened by the chairman, two parish councillors, the chairman of the parish meeting, or six parochial electors, on 14 days' notice. If the notice with respect to the adoption of the Public Libraries Act does not raise any question an to the limitation of the rate, the opinions of the voters will not be taken on that question, and the maximum rate of Id per;E will be leviable. Where the opinions of the,parochial electors are taken upon a question as to the adoption of the Act, or upon the question as to the limitation of the rate, no further proceeding can be taken for ascertaining the opinions of the electors until the expiration of one year at least from the day of the poll. Questions submitted to the parochial electors are decided by a majority of answers recorded on the valid voting papers. The Act may also be adopted for two or more neighbouring parishes. Mr Bailinger, chief librarian at Cardiff, stated to a representative of the South Wales Daily News on Wednesday that he had received numerous applications from districts in the county of Glamorgan as to the establishment of libraries, andjfrom voluntary libraries as to the stocking' and management of these institutions. In the case of W hitchurcb the voting has been taken, with the result thab the proposal to adopt the Act was defeated. In almost all the mining communities of South Wales libraries have been established by voluntary levies on the men's wages, and contributions in aid by the colliery proprietors and landowners. The frequent inquiries made of Mr Bailinger led him to suggest to the council of the Library Associa. tion of the United Kingdom that a list of about a thousand volumes suitable for such institutions should be prepared and issued under their auspices. The idea was readily accepted, and a list which was prepared by Mr Burgoyne, of the Lambeth Public Libraries, aud himself, is now in the Press, and will be published soon. In addition to the list there will be a short introduc- tion by Mr Brown, of the Clerkenwell Public Library, on the management of small local libraries, which will be found exceedingly useful. This will also be published by the Library Association from their rooms, 20, Hanover- square, London, by Messrs Simpkin, Marshall and Co., at the moderate price of a few pence. These things," said Mr Ballinger, will be of great service in promoting the work, because there is a feeling in rural districts on the part of the people generally that libraries are urgently neoded, which only requires a little guidance for that feeling to find expression; and the establishment of libraries will follow, so that instead of this district being one of the most backward/ it will soon be one.of the best in this respect. I really think we are on the point of a great development in the matter of libraries and reading-rooms. Arrangements are being made for a paper to,be read by Mr Evan Owen, J.P., secretary to the Miners' Provident Fund, at the conference of Library Associations at Cardiff, in September, on the workmenla voluntary libraries alluded to, and I have <no doubt that the information which will then -be given will come as a surprise to most people. Already there are about 50 of .those libraries in operation in fche counties of Glamorgan and Monmouth." In the course of further conversa- tion, Mr Ballinger said he expected the publica- tion of the list of books, and the remarks upon management, would lead to action on the part of those who are interested in districts where as yet nothinglhas been done.

REVIEWS. TEE MINING • MANUAL FOR 1B5.-For 0'tba. seventh year inisOccession the "Mining Manual16 makes its appearance and it may safely beisaiffc' that among publications of its kind it takes.; foremost place. Mr Walter R. Skinner, the? editor and compiler, -is to be congratulated upon ■ the thorough and systematic style in which be has again produced the volume. It goes without sayiDg that all the information has been revised with the utmost care and brought down to date, and as every statement in the book has been sub. mitted to the notice of the company therein concerned, the figures and details bear "that' stamp of offioial approval which gives them a thoroughly trustworthy character. From an interesting and most readable preface we learn that the great features of the year in the foreign mining industry have been the increased produo* tion from the Transvaal mines the opening and development of the territories of the British South Africa Company in Mashonaland and Matabeleland the increase in the importance of the gold industry of Western Australia, where' several new gold fields have-been discovered and, -it might have been added, the greater attention bestowed upon mining shares by French investors. The Transvaal mines have increased their output by 25 per cent, on the Witwatersrand field alone during tho year! The total of 1894 is returned as 21024,164oz.. showing an increase of 545,691oz. over the figures of lo93. Mines outside the Johannesburg district contributed about 104,000oz. beyond the aggregate reported by the Chamber of Mines; and these figures will expand as new batteries come into active work. About 40 miles of the reef forma- tion of Witwatersrand is in process of develop. ment, and at the close of 1894 there were withia this limit 2,700 stamps at work,- which hd crushed 2.824,200 tons of ore during the year. These sta.mps are owned by 68 companies, represented by au aggregate issued capital of 213,364,670. Of the whole number 29 paid divIdends during the year aggregating £ l,873,114, equal to a return of 15% per cent, upon the whole capita!. The market value of these 68 mine? in Johannesburg at the close of 1895 was £ 18,126,000, and at the end of 1894 it had advanced to £ 33,943,300. Thus the value of the gold industry is rapidly increasing, and any work like the one under notice, which gives full and useful information upon it, must become increas- ingly necessary to directors, investors, ^and speculators.

AND PILLS.—Never at burns 9!rt irritations of the skin, soras, ulcers, Hni' scrofulous enlargements of the glands; S cure whinhlnlmel,tijresents a 1-eady anA eas? ™eami never disappoints the most favourable .a,tu>ns- It manifests a peculiar power in re- straining inflammation, removing stagnation, coolinff i,i ':>?O0('' checking all acrimonious or tin- ueaitoy discharges. Whilst thus acting locally, the nusire no less remarkable for their power in improv- ing the general condition and habit of body, which, renders the cures complete and permanent. Under th., general influence of these potent remedies the puny infant becomes the robust child the pale aoif emaciated regain colour and rotundity and the dye peptic ea.ts freely without fenr.

AROTHERHAM MIRACLE, INTERESTING INTERVIEW. An extraordinary easo has just been investigated in Rotherham. Miss Bridges is a daughter of Mr J. Bridges, of 42. Foljambe-road, Eastwood- view, Rotherham. A reporter waited upon Mr Bridges, and elicited the information thab for several months tho health of Miss Bridges had been declining. At first slight importance was attached to her altered appearance at length, however, she became a source of great anxiety. Medicines of all kinds were administered, but withoub any benefit accruing. From day to day she was seen to get worse and instead of being full of life and vigour as a girl of her age should be—she was only seventeen—she seemed to have become prematurely old. She could not eat her food, and, of course, she lost her strength, and the colour from her cheeks disappeared, until, to use the wordsoof ber mother, her complexion was nearly copper colour. Her body seemed quite destitute of blood. Suffering very severely from pal pitation of the heart, she was unable'to sleep at nights, was always feeling tired and weary, and ultimately became very low-spirited and depressed. The poor girl many times said she would rather die than coutinue to live in such a dreadful state. And what is the present condition of her health ? asked the reporter, for Miss Bridges, who had entered the room at this juncture pre- sented very little the appearance of an invalid. "She was never better in herJife titlansheis now," responded her mother and the girl herself con. firmed the statemunt. "She can eat, sleep, and work well now and it has all been brought aboub by Dr. Williams's Pink Pills for Pale People. Since beginning with them, she has had nothing else. I had heard and read of the wonder- ful cures effected by Dr. Williams's Pink Piils. aud we decided to give them a trial. A marked change was soon noticeable. After the first box my daughter was woudeifully better, so she persevered, and the improvement continued. In La short time she was herself again. We could scarcely credit it. Colour returned to her cheeks, and she was as strong, vigorous, and healthy as she need wish to be." The above are the facts written down as given, willingly and gratefully, by mother and daughter, Dr. \VilJirlIDS s, Pmk Pills are shown by this and other evidence, equally weIl authenticated, to be au unfailing remedy for rheumatism, neuralgia, paralysis, locomotor ataxy, St. Vitus' dance, nervous headache, and prostration also diseases of the blood, such as scrofula, chronic erysipelas, &c. Thoy are a splendid tome, and restore pale and sallow com- plexions to the glow of health, a specific for all troubles, and,a radical cure of all cases arising from worry, overwork, or excesses of whatever nature. The Pills are SOKI by all cnennsts, or may be had direct from Dr Williams' Medicine Company, of 46, Holborn-viaduct, Londou, at 2s 9d a box or six boxes for 13s 9d. Dr Williams' Pink Pills for Pale People are never sold loose, and any substitules so sold are fraudulent and useless the wooden box mush be in a pink wrapper bearing the full name, Dr. Williams' Pink Pills for Pale People. I

WHAT BROKE UP THE CO. OPERATIVE HOME. A praiseworthy and painstaking attempt tt solve the difficult problem of co-operative bouse keeping, and thus help to-bring about the social millennium, has ended in disaster, and according to all appearances worse remains to follow. Mr Kippax, who occupies a good position in a warehouse in Wood-street, Cheapside, and Mr Jennings, a bank clerk at Charing Cross, both married men, agreed to increase the amenities of life by taking a house co-operatively, and living together as did the aposbles of old. Their wives agreed, and the community was accordingly formed in "The Holhes," Vicarage- road, Croydon, which was taken for three years at a rental of J345 per annum. Mr Kippax signed the agreement on behalf of the general body of pioneerq. For six months The Hollies was a vision of peace and gladness. No jarring note even of a piano was heard. All was harmony and contentment; in fact, it was like a little corner of paradise let down for a time to earth. Unfortunately the monotony of tran- quillity became wearisome to the ladies. If the gentlemen felt incapable of quarrelling the women felt equal to it and at length thtir incoiupacfibilitj of temper led to the failure of a great experiment, The men remained quite friendly, and ignored th, domestic cyclones of the ladies as much as possible. What they endured a la Caudle the world has no right to know, but even theii benevolent neutrality was forced to an end. A conference between Messrs Kippax and Jennings was held in a Ludgate-hill wine-bar, and it wa& agreed to separate. Mr Jennings and his wife ac- cordingly went away. MrK, Ppax, however, insisted that the first should remain responsible for part of the rent until the conclusion of the three years' engagenient, r until the house was let. On tag other Imnd, Mr Jennings held that he had been expelled from toe community, and renounced liability. Hence■ tue unravelling cf the new version oi Parauise Lost before the Registrar "f the Croydon, County Court, who gave judg. ment for Mr Kippax with costs. "Then cried Z,1 ^titled to take reposJS- the Registrar. WbaTwi'l' rWa i;w al v, llt bake place now on« does not i.ke to contemplate.